Cold as Ice Ch. 01

"Shall we?" He said it with a perfect calm he wasn't feeling. He wasn't even sure what he was feeling, only that his body was hot and he wanted to see her hair down. The thought made him smile.

What a cliché. He wanted to take her hair down and get her out of her buttoned-up clothes. He didn't know if a wild woman lurked beneath or if she'd be as serious in the bedroom as she'd been all week. He only knew that he wanted to find out.

They walked out of the bar and headed for the elevators. A group of hotel guests were coming out of one and they got on as the people filed out. On the elevator, Jared could feel waves of apprehension coming off the woman beside him and he sensed that she wasn't any more sure of her attraction than he was.

He supposed he understood. They didn't know each other. She'd told him that she was only there for one more night. He didn't know how much longer he'd be there either.

He glanced down at her, saw her shift her weight and look up at him. A pretty color stained her cheeks and she looked away, knotting her hands in the strap of her purse.

The elevator dinged and they walked off on their floor. Jared followed her to her door, watched with a smile as she fumbled in her purse for the key card. When she dropped the card after missing the slot, Jared put a hand on her shoulder.

"I'll get it." He bent to pick it up and brushed beside her to slide the key in the lock. He watched the light turn green and opened the door.

Alexis turned to face him after taking a step inside. She held the door open with her body and Jared saw her fingers clenched around the strap of her purse.

With an inward sigh, Jared smiled and leaned a shoulder on the doorframe. He wanted her, he knew that much. Maybe she wanted him as well, but he could see the nervousness plain in her face. Maybe this was how she always looked before inviting a man into her bedroom but he couldn't, and wouldn't, push her. He didn't know a lot, but he knew that much about himself.

"You look as though you've come to a decision." He put the ball in her court.

A relieved look crossed her face. "I suppose I have." She glanced down at her hands and relaxed her fingers before meeting his eyes again. "I enjoyed talking with you, Mr. Marshall."

He leaned closer with a smile. "Jared."

"Jared." Her eyes widened and he backed off. "But I don't think it would be a good idea to have you come in here."

He wasn't sure about that. It would take ten minutes to change her mind, and his, if he was being honest. He was more surprised by his willingness than anything else. He wasn't young anymore, or the type of guy to pick up women in every city or hotel he visited. Hadn't been that type of player in a long time.

"I understand."

"You do?" She relaxed even more and Jared's attraction to her increased a notch. She was a beautiful woman already but when the little parts of her true self showed through, Jared thought she looked even more lovely.

"Sure. It's like you said before. We're only here for a short time and what's the point?"

She nodded but something flickered in her eyes that he hadn't expected. Disappointment, maybe? Desire tightened his chest.

"Thank you for the drink."

He grinned. "I wanted to buy you dinner, you know. I really did."

"I know." She smiled. "Thank you for the offer anyway."

With a nod, he straightened. "It was very nice meeting you, Alexis."

"It was nice to meet you too, Jared."

They stood there for a moment, not speaking. Jared knew she was waiting for him to walk away and he knew he should. Except he didn't.

Instead, he reached for her with one hand. He cupped the back of her neck and pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers. She was startled, he knew. So was he. But her lips softened and parted under his and when he heard the soft sigh she made, it was all he could do to keep from backing her into the room.

So he made the moment count. He kissed her good and hard. He stroked her tongue, sucked on her lip and held her close until he felt breathless. She pressed her hands to his chest and the feel of her warm touch was incredible. For a second, her fingers clenched and he felt the pressure of her nails through his shirt. His body hardened in an instant and he knew he had to back off now. He'd promised himself he wouldn't push her.

With reluctance, he eased back. He watched her eyes flutter open and brushed a light kiss over her lips before drawing away.

"I'm sorry." His voice was hoarse.

"For what?" She sounded breathless, which did nothing to calm the roaring of blood in his body.

"I didn't mean to kiss you."

One eyebrow went up and he grinned at the look she gave him, kissing her once more before letting her go and taking a step back.

"I'll let you go to bed now."

Alexis nodded and watched him walk away. He didn't look back but it wasn't until he stepped out of sight into his own room that he heard her door close with a snap.

With a groan, he leaned back against his door and closed his eyes. He thought of burnt meatloaf and ice baths and gutting fish for several minutes until his arousal started to fade. When he was able to, he walked away from the door to set his coat on the desk chair. It was then that he realized he still had her coat that he'd carried from the bar.

He eyed it, a smile spreading across his face. Well, now he had a reason to see her in the morning.