Araminta opened her eyes and gasped. It was dark and she had no idea where she was. Her entire body was trembling with a combination of fear and cold. A bead of sweat rolled down her spine and her heart pounded at her ribcage as though it wanted out.
Where was she? And what had happened? She blinked and looked around. She wasn’t home. She could make out the shape of a television directly across from the bed and a small table and two chairs in the corner.
The hotel. Relief hit her with the force of a sledgehammer. She was still at the hotel in her room. And there was light coming in through the window. Not a lot, but enough from the streetlamps for her to see the shape of the furniture in the room.
“I’ve got you.” A sleepy male voice beside her gave her a jolt. Before she could move, a heavily muscled arm wrapped around her and pulled her down beside him. The fact she was on a bed registered in her racing mind. And she was with a man.
Was it Rick from the bar? Had she decided to meet him after all? Had he slipped something into her drink? She’d read about that kind of thing happening to women when they met strange men in bars.
He nuzzled the top of her head and soft hair stroked her bare shoulder. She sat upright so fast she smacked her head off the bottom of his chin. He gave an oomph and grabbed her before she could lunge off the bed.
“Where are you going?”
Her eyes widened as she stared at the large man sprawled out in her bed. He wasn’t Rick from the bar.
“I’m naked.” She was totally scandalized. How had this happened?
“I know,” came his satisfied reply.
She kept the sheet pulled over her and some space between them even as he managed to maneuver her back down beside him. He wasn’t hurting her, but his grip was like iron.
“Who are you?” God, had she ever been this embarrassed in her life? She was naked in bed with a complete stranger, which might be okay in a dream, but was definitely not okay in real life. That gave her pause. Maybe she was dreaming again. Maybe this was nothing more than a continuation of the carousel dream. It was too confusing to figure out.
“I am Leander. Who are you?”
His name sounded exotic and mysterious, much like the man. She couldn’t place his accent, but it was sexy as all get out. “Araminta Davidson.”
“Araminta.” He said her name slowly, as though he was savoring the sound. “A beautiful name. I like it.”
This was truly the most bizarre experience of her life. She was exchanging names with a man she was naked with. “Umm, how did we get here?” She had to remain calm and use her head. Whatever this situation was, she could get out of it with her dignity intact.
The light from the window was enough for her to see one broad shoulder shrug. “I’m not sure.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck and pulled her toward him. His breath was warm on her lips. “But I do know that you set me free. Thank you.”
Before she could ask him what he was talking about, he leaned down and kissed her. And oh, what a kiss it was. His lips were warm and firm against hers. He took his time, caressing and nibbling his way across her lower and then her upper lip. He traced his tongue along the seam of her mouth and she parted it on a gasp. He took advantage and made several quick forays that left her wanting more.
Her tongue touched his and he groaned. Liquid fire shot through her entire body, leaving her breasts swollen and tender and her sex aching. He tilted her head to one side for a better angle and deepened the caress.
Araminta had only been kissed like this once before in her life—in her dream last night. It was all consuming and went on and on. Leander took his time, making her feel as though there was nothing he’d rather do but kiss her.
It was intoxicating and seductive.
She gripped his shoulders, anchoring herself to him. He didn’t need to be standing for her to know he was a big man. Muscular too.
It was her fantasy man, which meant he wasn’t real. Disappointment shot through her. She was dreaming again.
He eased back from their kiss. “What’s wrong?” He sprinkled soft kisses on her chin and across her cheeks.
The fact that he’d sensed the change in her was concrete proof that the guy wasn’t real. What man broke away from physical contact with a naked woman to ask her what was wrong? None that she’d ever met, that’s for sure.
“You’re not real. You’re nothing more than a figment of my imagination.” And that was a stupid thing to say, but she really wasn’t thinking clearly at the moment. Between the dizzying carousel ride and the mind-altering kiss, it was a wonder she could string two words together.
“If I’m not real then you won’t mind if I do this, will you?” He trailed his lips over her jawline and up to her ear. He rasped his tongue over the whorl of her ear, making her shiver. Goose bumps trailed down her arms and over her legs, and she clenched her thighs together over the growing ache. Pure need shot through her. Dream or real, she wanted this man.
“You are so beautiful.” He whispered the words, his breath warm against her ear, and then captured her lobe between his teeth and carefully nipped. She dug her fingernails into his skin, an erotic punishment. He groaned and shifted so she was flat on her back with him on his side looming over her.
She should have been scared to death. After all, she was completely at the mercy of a man she didn’t even know. She would have been terrified if this was real. But it wasn’t. Nothing made sense, but she felt totally safe in his arms, absolutely free to give herself to him.
Araminta tunneled her fingers into his amazing hair, wishing she could see what color it was. It fell around his shoulders like a silky cloud and each strand was an erotic caress between her fingers. It was as soft as she remembered.
He groaned and tilted his head so she could reach more of it. The movement reminded her of Percy. Her cat did like getting his head scratched and so, it seemed, did Leander.
She couldn’t see the color of his eyes, but she could make out most of his features now that her eyes had adjusted to the light. His face was strong lines and angles, more rugged than handsome. His nose was flat and broad, his jaw sturdy. His was the epitome of masculinity.
Something hard and thick pressed against her side and she knew he was aroused. Instead of worrying her, it made her feel powerful, feminine. This incredible man wanted her. Maybe he wasn’t real, but so what? The dream seemed real enough and there was nothing wrong with taking what she wanted if it was all in her mind.
Her imagination had always been vivid, but she could hardly believe she’d conjured up a man as incredibly appealing as Leander. There was something about him that tugged on her emotions. Made her feel as though she knew him even though they’d never met before.
He propped his head up on one hand and stared down at her. Even through the faint light from the window, she could make out the intensity of his gaze. He traced his fingers over her lips and she opened her mouth, touching the tips with her tongue. His cock flexed against her side and her pussy spasmed.
He sucked in a breath, his chest expanding. He continued to study her face, running his fingers over her cheekbones, down her nose and across her forehead. She should have felt self-conscious, but for some reason didn’t. Leander seemed utterly enthralled with her and, if that wasn’t a turn-on, she didn’t know what was.
He reached for the sheet that was still between them and slowly pulled it down, exposing her breasts to his view. A low rumbling sound, much like a purr, came from deep in his chest. “You are exquisite.”
Beneath his gaze, she felt exquisite. It was a totally new experience for her. She usually tried to downplay her overlarge breasts. For the first time in her life, she was happy to have them.