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She laughed. "Hardly. My parents could spend an entire meal not saying one word to each other, or to me. And, if there was a disagreement, it could sometimes last a week or longer."
He reached over and grazed his knuckles against her cheek. She felt the shock, a tinge of excitement that warmed her from the inside.
"That'll never happen here. You're already family here, cher."
Before she knew what was happening, Aidan leaned over and brushed his lips against hers. Her insides sizzled at the brief touch of his mouth. She breathed him in, that essence of male that so mesmerized her. His lips tasted spicy and faintly of wine. She licked at his lower lip, then tugged it lightly with her teeth, shocked at her bold behavior.
Their kiss lasted an eternity as he tasted her, licked her lips, gently probed the recesses of her more than eager mouth. Then he pulled away and she realized what had seemed like forever must have lasted only a few seconds. Aidan smiled at her, his eyes blazing desire. She shuddered and tried to clear her head, then realized where she was and closed her eyes against the mortification that washed over her.
Once again she'd shocked herself at her behavior. Here she was at the dinner table with Aidan's entire family, and she'd allowed him to kiss her. Kiss her! A business associate, and nothing more.
Appalled at her reaction to him, she opened her eyes, intent on apologizing to his family.
She and Aidan were completely alone in the dining room.
No way had she been so wrapped up in Aidan's kisses that she would have missed a mass exodus of people. And yet the room was empty. The dinner plates had been removed and a bustle of activity could be heard in the nearby kitchen.
When had everyone left, and how could she have been so immersed in Aidan that she had tuned them out?
*
Aidan could have laughed at the stunned expression on Melissa's face when she looked around to find his family had left the room. He made a mental note to thank them later for instinctively knowing he wanted those few seconds of privacy to touch his lips against hers.
She'd tasted sweet like wine, and spicy, too. A promise of heat and an element of raw passion that shot through him like an electrical current. He'd hardened instantly, realizing how wild they could be together in bed.
The thought of taking her right there in the dining room had flashed through his mind, especially when he'd connected with her and tasted her essence. But he also knew that fucking Melissa in his family dining room wouldn't fly, no matter how liberal his parents were.
But he'd been damn tempted.
Now, watching her wash dishes side-by-side with his sisters, stabbed him with a pang of longing he'd never felt before. He'd never brought a woman home, a fact that wasn't lost on him. And even though his mother had insisted he bring her to dinner, even though she was only a business associate, it didn't change the fact that he'd never brought any woman home to meet his family, business or personal.
So why Melissa?
And what was all that destiny stuff his mother spouted off about him and Melissa? He was well aware of the family history, knew the magic associated with both his parents, recognized the powers he possessed. But destiny? Him and Melissa Cross?
Not likely.
Then again, watching as she laughed with his sisters, she looked like she belonged there. It felt like she belonged there. With them. With him.
Shit. He didn't need this complication. He had a job to do with Melissa, and that was all they'd be doing. Granted, he'd like to explore a sexual relationship with her, but that would have to be one with no ties. If she was agreeable to those terms, great. If not, he'd go without.
Aidan jammed his fingers through his hair and blew out a frustrated breath.
"Problems?" Logan whispered behind him.
"I wish you wouldn't sneak up on me all the time, "Aidan said, not even turning around to look at his brother.
"I didn't sneak. I practically stomped in the room. You couldn't hear me because you were focused on the gorgeous blonde over there."
"Was not."
Logan laughed. "You used to argue the same way when we were kids. As I recall, you always lost."
Aidan turned and found Logan smiling smugly at him, his arms crossed. "You're full of shit and obviously have a faulty memory. I always won."
"In your dreams, little brother."
Shannon poured wine for Melissa and Kaitlyn. The three heads, one midnight black, one sable brown and the other honey blonde, tilted together like some teen-girl conspiracy was at play. A fit of giggles erupted shortly thereafter, and Melissa cast a glance in Aidan's direction, her eyes widening before turning back to his sisters and shaking her head negatively.
"They're talking about you," Logan said. "Shannon's probably warning Melissa away from you, and Kaitlyn's no doubt trying to plan your wedding."
Aidan had to laugh at that one. Kaitlyn's favorite events to coordinate at The Rising Storm were the weddings. She'd get a glow about her that would last for the entire planning period. "You're probably right."
"Better run for your life now, while you still have the chance."
"Nah, I think I'm strong enough to resist being dragged down the aisle."
"It's not a wedding I'm worried about. With you it's the bedding part. Keep in mind that Melissa Cross is Chesapeake Casinos. Don't screw up this deal."
"Don't know what you're talking about. There's nothing going on between us. She's an ice queen. Definitely not my type."
Logan raised a brow. "I might be busy, but I'm not blind. There's something between you two." When Aidan started to object, Logan held up his hand and said, "I know, you're thinking Mom and her destiny stuff. That's not what I'm talking about. I don't believe in that crap at all and you know it. I'm just saying there's some connection between you."
"Like magic?" Aidan loved to tease Logan about the family power. Of all the siblings, Logan was the only one who refused to recognize or use his.
"No, not like magic. More like sexual chemistry. It damn near hovered visibly in the air between you two over dinner. No magic in that. Just don't let it get personal. This deal's important to the hotel, Aidan. More important than you getting your rocks off with Melissa Cross."
"I'll try to fight her off for as long as I can, then." Aidan winked at Logan who shook his head in disgust and walked out of the room.
He turned his attention back to Melissa.
That dress she wore had nearly reduced him to a puddle of melting testosterone when she'd opened the door to her suite. A bright green that brought out her emerald eyes, it clung to her body in all the right places, making him want to slide his hands over her legs and lift the hem to see what treasures lay underneath.
Damn, his cock was twitching again. Even taking matters into his own hands hadn't assuaged the hunger he felt each time he looked at Melissa.
He wanted her. Purely and simply wanted her. Wanted to taste every inch of her skin, touch every secret place on her body, and sink deeply between her legs until his hunger for her went away.
Adjusting his now tight jeans, he stood and walked into the estrogen throng.
"You ready?" he asked Melissa.
She glanced up and smiled, then nodded. "Yes."
Funny, he hadn't elaborated on what he wanted to know she was ready for. And that thought had him needing to make a quick exit before he embarrassed himself with a huge hard-on in front of his sisters.
"I'll talk to you at work, tomorrow," Shannon said. Aidan was shocked at the warm smile Shannon bestowed on Melissa. Usually she was much more reserved with people she didn't know.
Kaitlyn, as was typical for her, had never met anyone she considered a stranger. She threw her arms around Melissa and told her to stop by the office and see her tomorrow.
Melissa smiled genuinely at his sisters, and said goodbye. They found his parents snuggled up together in front of the television.
"Thank you so much for having me to dinner," Melissa said.
They s
tood and hugged her. "You're welcome in our home any time," his mother said. She kissed Aidan and told him to behave himself.
He got them out of there as soon as he could.
Behave himself, hell. He'd have to exercise some serious control to keep from ravaging Melissa right there in the car.
"You have a wonderful family," she said as they drove away. Her voice sounded wistful, almost as if she coveted something she couldn't have.
"Yeah, they are."
"You have no idea how very lucky you are."
He glanced at her, noting her hands folded neatly in her lap, her gaze focused on them. "I know I am."
She went silent again and he let her be, trying not to focus on her long legs, that sexy curve of her collarbone that just begged for his tongue, or the way she licked her lips. He wasn't confident the 'vette was big enough for both him and his hard-on.
Then he heard her hum, a soft, sweet melody that was some oldie about New Orleans. It made him smile.
"You like to sing?"
She looked up at him. "Sing? No. Why?"
"You were humming."
"I was not."
"Yeah," he said with a slight laugh. "You were. Just now."
"Really?"
"Yes."
