Nikki thought about pushing away from him. But somehow, some way, she found her hands reaching up and touching his chest, her fingers gripping the expensive material of his shirt as if that were the only lifeline in her world.
She felt the world tilting and her hands clung to the only solid part of her world. When she looked up, she was in his lap and she felt more of him. The panic broke through the lust that had taken over her mind and she stiffened. He immediately felt it and lifted his head, looking down at her curiously. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice thick and husky.
“I can’t do this!” she gasped out. “I don’t even know your name! I don’t know anything about you!”
His hand slid slightly higher on her rib cage and she almost jerked away. With a sigh, he lifted her back to her seat. “I’m sorry. I’m moving too quickly for your comfort level.” He smiled derisively. “My only excuse is that you take away my common sense.” His hand drifted along her neck, pushing back the hair that had fallen out of the clasp that had been holding it back. “Stay and have dinner with me,” he offered. “We’ll talk. We’ll get to know each other. And you may call me Nazar.”
Nazar heard the words come out of his mouth, offering her the use of his first name and he was surprised. Almost no one but family used his first name. And it had never occurred to him to have it any other way. He couldn’t remember what the other women in his life called him and he wasn’t sure if that was because he hadn’t cared, or if this woman so completely occupied his mind that she’d pushed all other women out. Either way, her calling him by his first name just felt…right.
“Nazar,” she replied, feeling out the name. He liked the way it sounded when she said it. He’d never heard it spoken with that slightly southern accent before. He’d heard American accents, but this beautiful woman’s voice was gentler, slower, as if she were caressing each word. Hell, was he turned on by her accent as well?
Nikki looked up at him, her whole body still tingling for something. She was afraid it was his touch so she moved back on the sofa, putting more space between the two of them. “I really need to go,” she said, hoping he wouldn’t stop her this time.
“You may go as long as you tell me that you’ll meet me for dinner tomorrow night.” He stood up then reached down and took her hand, pulling her directly into his arms. “I know I scared you a moment ago, but I can hold back until you are more comfortable with me.” He smiled, “And I’ve even overcome your second issue. You know my name.”
“I think I have a few more objections,” she mumbled and glared at him for his deep, husky chuckle.
“Tell me you’ll have dinner with me tomorrow night,” he commanded, retaining her hands even though she was trying to wiggle them out of his grasp.
She bit her lower lip, wondering how she should respond. She actually had no intention of dining with him or ever seeing him again. But would he let her go now if she told him that? Probably not. He didn’t look like the kind of man who would accept rejection. She wasn’t sure what he would do to stop her from leaving though.
“Dinner tomorrow,” she finally replied. “What time?”
Nazar saw it in her eyes. She was just trying to get away from him. Astonishingly, he even thought that was cute. And sexy! He’d never met a woman who didn’t throw herself at him. He’d never even realized what a turn on it might be to have to pursue, or convince a woman to be with him. Damn! He liked just about everything he’d discovered about her so far.
“Give me your cell phone,” he replied, not believing her for a moment.
Nikki hesitated, wondering why he wanted her cell phone. “Um….” And this is where it becomes awkward. “I left my cell phone downstairs.” When he continued to look down at her, she shrugged one shoulder. “In the employee locker room.”
He smiled slightly. “Is that where you acquired your enticing ensemble?” he asked, holding out her hands to view the horrid maid’s uniform. “I’ll admit, the sight of a maid’s uniform is a turn on to some men. But this one might be the exception.” He pulled her closer. “Where are the fish net stockings and the short skirt that flares out with a lace petticoat?”
Nikki blushed, knowing that there were stores that sold sexy maid uniforms. “I’m sorry. You’re going to have to hire someone to work through that fantasy for you.”
He threw back his head and laughed, delighted with her stony expression even while her cheeks turned a lovely shade of pink. “Perhaps another time.” He called out to someone and a man appeared immediately at the door. “Ms. Stewart,” he started out, hesitating over the use of her last name as if he didn’t believe it was hers for a moment, “has left her clothing and purse downstairs in the employee locker rooms. Could you have someone retrieve them for her?”
The man bowed. Actually bowed! “This task has already been seen to, Your Highness.”
“Excellent,” Nazar replied, his eyes showing her his amusement over her predicament. “Why don’t you follow this gentleman and change clothes? My staff will see to the return of the badge and maid’s uniform.”
Nikki grimaced, still not sure how she was getting out of here. But she followed the stiff looking man to a small ante chamber, one she hadn’t known existed. Apparently there was a whole staff area that she hadn’t searched. Shoot! Could Bri be here somewhere? She grabbed her clothes and quickly pulled them on, folding the maid’s uniform neatly. She then went through her purse, trying to discover if anything had gone missing. Ironic, she thought, that she was worried about someone taking things when she’d just stolen someone’s uniform and security badge.
Thankfully, everything seemed to still be in her purse. She slung the bag onto her shoulder, adjusted her sweater over her jeans and stepped out of the room with her jacket slung over her arms. As soon as she stepped out of the room, she saw the same stiff man waiting for her. “This way, ma’am,” he said with grave formality and moved towards the door from which they’d come only minutes before.
Nazar was still standing there, his tall, muscular body looking awesome with the autumn sunshine streaming through the windows. “I can’t say that’s much better,” he said as he approached. “You should be draped in silks and satins,” he told her, his eyes showing that he mentally had already dressed her in other clothes. “I’ll take you to Paris and make that happen.”