“It’s to protect my hair while I sleep,” she replied. She reached for her scarf and wrapped it around her head then tied in it place. A small smile lingered on her lips; she felt him continue to observe her when he leaned back against the vanity.
“Protect it from what? How hard do you sleep, woman?”
“I sleep just fine, but I don’t want it getting snatched on anything. It’s a Black woman thing. You, sir, don’t have to worry about your hair care.” She pointed at his thick dark hair.
He combed his fingers through the strands. That damn sexy grin of his had her heart beating double-time. He reached out and snagged her hand and brought her in front of him. He spread his legs wide so she could stand between them.
“Do I need to start sleeping in a scarf? At my age, I don’t want my hair falling out.”
“Last I checked, your father still has all of his hair.” She couldn’t help but reach up and push the longer lengths ofhis hair back away from his face. He was forty-two and had a few speckles of gray. She tilted her head to the side and smirked. “Maybe we can get you a bonnet.”
“What the hell is that?”
“It looks like a shower cap, but on the inside it has a silky material meant to protect your hair.” The first little giggle escaped her, then with the image of him wearing a bonnet coming to mind, she fell into a full fit of them.
His smile widened at her. His hand came to rest on her waist. Her laughter died down, and both of their smiles disappeared. His eyes darkened as he took in her nightgown.
“Did you wear this specifically for me?” His voice dropped low.
It was warm and rolled over her, sending a slight shiver down her spine. She bit her lip and shrugged.
“This thing?” She tried to play it off. She had thought of him when she had picked it out. It wasn’t what she would call sexy lingerie, but it did make her feel beautiful. “It’s one of my favorites. Why?”
She held her breath waiting on his answer. The way his gaze roamed over her, he might as well have used his hands. Goosebumps appeared on her skin, and her core was slowly seeping her honey. In just a matter of seconds, her body was already responding to his.
“The color looks good on you. The material is soft, and it hugs you in all of the right places.” His hand went south to the small of her back which was left half bare thanks tothe deep cut of the gown. “It covers you, yet I can still see everything.”
“Everything?” she echoed.
She couldn’t take her eyes off him as he drank her in. The man’s eyes alone had the power to weaken her knees. He lifted his hand and brought it to her neck. He gently drifted his fingertips down the column of her neck to stop just at the edge of her gown. Her nipples beaded, giving away her aroused state. Even though she’d been chilly before, her body was warmed up and close to being set ablaze.
“I can see the shadows of your areolae. Your nipples pushing at the material. They are begging for my touch or maybe my mouth,” he rasped.
His fingers trailed down to the center of her chest. He didn’t touch her breasts. She was close to begging him to. He brought in the other hand and rested both of them on her waist.
“These hips of yours, your ass, all are highlighted by this little nightgown. So I ask you again, did you wear this for me?”
He pushed off from the counter and stood to his full height. He was significantly taller than her, so she had to tip her head back to meet his heated gaze. In the depths of those blue orbs was a fire that she remembered.
“Yes,” she whispered honestly.
“And has anyone else seen you in this?” he demanded.
Her breath faltered because she knew the answer. It had been a while since her last sexual encounter. At least a year with her ex-boyfriend. This gown, she’d purchased after she and Ben had broken up.
“No.” Her voice was quiet as she basked in the feeling of his hands on her.
He brought his hand up to cup the back of her head. His head swooped down where he nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck and shoulder.
“You still wear the same perfume,” he murmured against her skin.
She closed her eyes and had to pray her knees didn’t give out. She found herself leaning into him. He wrapped his other arm around her waist as if sensing she needed assistance remaining upright.
“I’ve never forgotten what you smelled like. Or what you taste like.”
If he hadn’t been holding her up, she surely would have crumpled to the floor.
“Vic.” Her voice was hoarse. Emotions swirled around inside that she had no explanation for. Her body trembled under his touch. What was this man doing to her?