Page 24 of Dreams That Bind Us
Anna cringed as several ear-splitting shrieks rang throughout the room. Annette bent toward Anna. "I told you it would be popular," she said out the side of her mouth.
"Let's make a toast to Louise's visit. Grab your glasses, ladies! Oh, and gentleman, too, of course!" Miriam called out as she handed an alcohol-free cocktail to Annette. The group scurried to the bar and sangria sloshed around as glasses were filled.
A glass was pressed into Anna's hand as Miriam lifted hers in the air. "We have several things to celebrate tonight. To Louise Marlowe and her renowned talent."
"Here, here!" the group exclaimed.
Anna squirmed as Miriam's amused gaze dropped to her, then shot to James. "And let’s raise a toast to our book club's newest members, Anna Kingsley and James Armstrong."
"Cheers!"
"Wait a minute," Iris cried out. "Aren’t we all technically new members? Since this is our first meeting and all?"
"Oh, hush, Iris." Sadie smacked her friend's leg with a playful swat. "You're ruining all the fun."
"And to the inaugural meeting," Miriam continued, giving the ladies a side eye, "of The Steamy Clams Romance Book Club."
"Well, that's a mouth full," James commented with a sly grin.
"That's what she said!" Hazel yelled out, cackling and clapping at her own jest.
Shouts and laughter rang out as the group sipped the dangerous sangria.
This evening is the perfect recipe for very bad things: alcohol, a steamy book, and the man of my dreams. What could go wrong?
That thought sent Anna’s mind spiraling into the dream she'd had the night before, with visions of tangled, sweaty sheets, and the sexy stud whose intent gaze followed her around the room.
Anna wiggled to her right, trying to edge away and get some distance from the maddening man who lounged comfortably next her in the love seat.
It was cozy—waytoo cozy—for her peace of mind.
James spent the last hour doing everything he could to invade her personal space. He seemed to enjoy pressing his leg against hers or grazing her hand or arm with his. She found it difficult to concentrate on the ongoing conversation about the novel.
Anna blinked, trying to focus. Iris was droning on about a very spicy sex scene in the western that included an alpha cowboy who’d rescued a young woman from the clutches of an evil mine owner. The heroine had thanked her hero in a variety of interesting ways.
Anna's core clenched as Hazel eagerly dove into a discussion of one of the steamier scenes, questioning whether the position described was realistic or physiologically possible. It made it even more impossible to ignore the sex god sprawled next to her, seeming to do everything he possibly could to inch closer into her personal space.
James stretched his left arm along the couch back behind her, looking utterly delicious. His body was angled toward hers, creating an intimate atmosphere between them that made her heart rate kick up. She shifted in her seat, horrified that there were brief moments when it was difficult to rememberwhyshe was resisting him.
Masochism? Self-torture? A previously unuttered vow of celibacy?
Out of the corner of her eye, she couldn't help but notice the way his blue shirt molded perfectly against the defined muscles of his arms and chest. The man definitely kept himself in top shape.
She could glimpse his smooth tan skin in the vee of his collar and the dark curls of chest hair that peeked out. She wanted to lick that spot.
Sigh…I've always loved chest hair on a man.
She knew what that chest hair felt like against her breasts. Or at least she’d felt it in her dreams.
Would it feel the same in real life? Or even better?
She squeezed her eyes shut and bit back a moan. She had to get a grip or this had the potential to spiral out of control. A warm puff of air brushed her neck, and she jumped as goosebumps erupted along her arms.
"Are you okay?" James muttered in her ear. Tingles exploded deep in her belly as her desire ramped even further.
"I’m fine." She squirmed, trying to inch further away from him, but she never seemed to get anywhere. Either that or he was following her. They did seem to be migrating slowly toward the edge of the sofa.
"Anna, are you alright?" Annette asked from the other side of the room. "You look a little flushed."
