AllFreeNovel
Share Us
‘Go to bed.’ His words were soft, it was the nicest he’d ever spoken to her. The pad of his thumb wiped away a few stray tears. But he was just being nice, wiping away her tears like he would those of a niece or a cousin, because a man like Iosef Kolovsky could never look at someone like her as a woman. So why then were his lips on hers, why wasn’t she gasping in shock at his audacity, why, why why, were her own lips moving to his? The velvet of his flesh was on hers and it was as soothing as it was disturbing—because if ever there was a perfect kiss she’d found it now. There was none of the awkwardness that usually accompanied a first kiss—no ducking to the left as he moved to the right, almost like kissing a long-time lover, his touch, his mouthfamiliaralmost. But never, not for a single second as his tongue chased hers, not for a single second as his hand pressed her face deeper to his, was itaccustomed,each stroke of his tongue, each taste of him causing a mini-riot inside her. The only awkwardness was in a mind that was whirling frantically, yet her mouth, her body was utterly at peace with the barrage of sensations he delivered. And most unfamiliar of all— for someone so gauche, for someone light years in experience from the man she was kissing—was the inner confidence, this deep primeval knowing almost, as she kissed him back, that he was lost in it too. Enjoying, relishing it just as much as she was, and as she pulled away and stared long, long into those gorgeous eyes, she knew that no other kiss would ever equal the sheer perfection of this one.
‘Go to bed.’
She could taste him on her lips, her tongue running over them, sucking in the last dregs, seeing her own moisture around his full mouth and shamelessly wanting to kiss it off. Impetuous decisions took but a second to come to, and her mouth opened to deliver a reckless offer.
‘Bed!’ He barked the order, cutting off whatever she was about to say, and turned and slammed the door shut. She wasn’t upset or disappointed at his rapid departure, just stunned at the turn of events. She stood in her hallway, her heart leaping inside, veins thrumming, twitching with lust, stunned, incredulous as she savored again every delicious, breathless, silent moment.
Thatwas his kiss!
If that was his kiss, what the hell would it be like to make love with him?
Chapter 5
Itwasa fabulous wedding!
All the meticulous preparations paid off in the end. The bride was glowing, the flower girl was adorable and the bridesmaids were stunning!
Despite Annie’s reservations, the spray-on tan hadn’t turned her orange and her hair was still perfectly in place when the speeches ended and the dancing started.
‘Thank God that’s over...’ Melanie was working her way down a bottle of champagne and frantically looking around to see where George was. ‘Do you think we’ll get the old Jackie back now?’
‘Don’t be mean.’ Annie laughed. ‘We’re all grateful for her relentless attention to detail when it comes to the patients—that’s just the way she is.’
‘Do you think George likes me?’ Melanie asked, looking longingly over to where he stood in a little group.
‘You know he likes you.’
‘Well, do you think he’s ever going to do something about it?’
‘Why wait for him?’ Annie asked. ‘Go and ask him to dance.’
‘No way!’ Melanie said indignantly. ‘If he wants to dance, he can ask me!’
‘And I thought you were such a modern woman!’ Annie pointed out.
‘Well, some traditions are fine just as they are.’ Even as Melanie answered, her attention was distracted from George. Her eyes, like those of every other female in the room, were turning to the door where Iosef was making a rather late but spectacular entrance. Annie could feel her heart relocate to her mouth as he walked towards Jackie and gave her a kiss then shook Jeremy’s hand. She found herself waiting, bracing herself almost for the fabulous Candy to suddenly appear beside him, but by the time he’d shaken a few hands and kissed a few cheeks, it was clear that he’d come alone.
‘He’s just gorgeous!’ Melanie sighed.
‘I thought you liked George.’
‘George is a keeper... ’ Melanie explained her strange logic. ‘Iosef would be a forgivable crime of passion. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about him, too.’
‘Not really.’ Annie blushed beneath her foundation— he was all she’d thought about since that blistering kiss! ‘I mean, yes, he’s good-looking and all that, but he can be really rude at times.’
‘Which is why he isn’t a keeper!’ Melanie explained patiently. ‘Oh, my goodness, he’s coming this way.’ Jumping up in delight as he approached and braver than she’d been about asking George to dance, she simply stepped into Iosef’s arms and Annie was left a sudden wallflower as Iosef danced with her friend.
Withallher friends.
He was actually a great dancer, Annie observed as he worked his way through the women, and she didn’t know if he was teasing her or tempting her, but whatever it was it was cruel. No matter how hard she tried to ignore him, no matter how hard she pretended not to care, or how busy and full her evening was, she was at every turn supremely conscious of him.
Supremely conscious that he wasn’t even looking at her!
He’d kissed her because he could, Annie decided long after Jackie had left, when the crowd was starting to thin and she was dancing with George, but her mind was a million miles away. Iosef had kissed her because, no doubt, that’s what he did best—he’d probably forgotten all about it by the time he’d hit home. Not for a second would it have had the same sort of impact on him.
‘Should I ask her out?’ George was dancing with Annie but gazing over at Melanie. And Annie was dancing with George and trying not to look over to where Iosef was dancing with Beth.
‘Of course you should.’ Annie nodded, giving up on being subtle because the two of them were driving her crazy.
