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“Come on, then.” Keeping hold of my right hand, he leads the way across the bar.
My heart is hammering. Jesus, am I really going to do this? Some of my friends use Tinder for one-night stands, but I’ve never done it. I’m under no illusions, though. That’s what this will be, if we go back to his place. This isn’t the beginning of a beautiful friendship. It’s lust, pure and simple.
He pushes the door open, and we go outside. It’s cooler out here, but still warm. The street is busy, the restaurants and bars heaving with people coming and going from Christmas parties. Fairy lights are visible through most of the windows, and they also twinkle in the trees. There’s magic in the air.
James leads me across the road, stopping outside a closed bank, where it’s quieter. He turns to face me, and brings me up close to him.
He cups my face in his big, warm hands, and strokes my cheeks with his thumbs. “You’re incredibly beautiful,” he murmurs.
It’s the nicest thing a man has ever said to me, and I blink a few times, unused to such an effusive compliment. “Thank you.”
“Are you always so polite? Or are you on Santa’s naughty list?” He gives a wicked smile.
“Me? I’m a good girl.” I can’t keep the touch of wistfulness out of my voice.
He lifts an eyebrow. “But you don’t want to be?”
I look at his mouth, gather my courage, and give a small shake of my head. Oh my God, I can’t believe I’m doing this.
His gaze drops to my lips. “We’ll have to see what we can do about that.”
I shiver.
“Can I kiss you?” he asks.
I nod.
He tilts his head a little to the side, then lowers his lips.
I hold my breath as he presses his lips to mine once, twice, and a longer third time. Then he lifts his head and gives me an amused look. “Don’t forget to breathe.”
I exhale in a rush. “Sorry.”
“It’s okay.” He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “Are you sure you want to do this? We’ve both had a lot to drink, and I know you said you had a bad day. I don’t want you to do something you’ll regret in the morning.”
“I’d never regret being with you,” I tell him.
He smiles, but I can sense his hesitation. Oh jeez, I think he’s having second thoughts.
Before my nerves get the better of me, I lift my arms around his neck, slide a hand into his hair, and pull his lips down to mine. Opening my mouth, I touch my tongue to his lip. He groans, deep in his throat, and strokes his tongue against mine.
Ooh, yes, that’s lit the touch paper—fireworks go off between us, and the temperature rises by about thirty degrees. He pushes me up against the wall, deepening the kiss as he presses his body to mine. I’ve got sparklers in my eyes, rockets going off in my brain, and a big Catherine wheel spinning in my stomach. What’s it going to feel like to go to bed with him?
He kisses me for ages, still cupping my face, delving his tongue into my mouth. When he finally lifts his head, I’m breathless and dizzy, filled with an ache deep inside.
“The Clarence is just around the corner,” he says, his voice husky with desire. “I can see if they have a room available, if you like?”
“Yes, please,” I say, and he grins, grabs my hand, and walks off briskly, pulling me with him.
“So polite,” he teases, striding out. “We’ll definitely have to do something about that.”
I laugh with sheer exuberance, half-jogging to keep up with him. I’m so excited, I can barely breathe. I glance up at him as we walk, my heart thundering at the thought that this gorgeous guy is interested in me. He winks at me, then, as we turn the corner, leads me across Cathedral Square. I barely glance at the half-built Cathedral that was damaged so badly in the earthquake in 2011. Instead, my gaze is drawn by the newly built Clarence Hotel, whose windows glow in the darkness, drawing your eye toward it.
I’ve honestly never stayed in a hotel. When I visit family in Kaikoura or Timaru, I stay with them, often kipping on the sofa or even the floor. I look up with wide eyes as he leads me through the automatic doors at the entrance, and we find ourselves in the lobby.
It’s quiet and elegant, with a polished wooden floor, a curved reception desk, subtle uplighting, and ferns in stylish pots. A man is sitting behind the desk. James goes up to him and says, “Hey, Vic.”
“Hello, Mr. Rutherford,” Vic says. “Looking for a room?”
