direct. Raising her gaze to his, she braved herself to smile. Its just not something Ive ever experienced, or expected.
She wanted him, and she also wanted to be more liberated about her sexuality, yes. Perhaps she had sensed that about him, that he could show her the way. Shed been drawn to him on several levels. Raw lust, and something much deeper. Identification, a yearning for a kindred soul perhaps. Affection was in there, too, growing fast, she couldnt deny that, even if she thought she were being foolish.
Andrew, her ex, had never encouraged her to whisper her fantasies to him. Warren was one of the reasons shed ended it with Andrew, although back then she had no clue that Warren would ever ask her out. It wasnt about that. Warren never gave her any cause to think that he would. He offered friendship, teasing flirtation, yes. No one knew much about Warrens love life, but there was the occasional casual remark about flying out to Prague, Paris, or Berlin for the weekend, and speculation was rife about who the women he took with him might be. Anya had often wondered about it. Shed also imagined that it was her that he was flying out to meet.
That alone made her admit there was something up with her relationship at home. It had been off the boil for a long time. The attraction to Warren was the last nail in the coffin. She didnt ever want to end up having an affair, because that went against her core beliefs. She would rather be on her own. And she had been, for a few months. Then Warren had gradually gravitated closer, and each breath of space he closed between them impacted on her, profoundly, readying her for this moment.
We trust each other, dont we? His voice was husky and low, both reassuring and suggestive at the same time. He meshed his fingers with hers across the table, connecting with her directly and making her skin sizzle.
As old friends becoming lovers, he added, and he said it so easily, locking down the flirty conversation into a direct statement of intent.
They were going to become lovers.
Anya nodded, unable to say more right then. They were at the start of something, and she craved it all. She trusted him to open her up to things she had only ever fantasized about.
And were consenting adults, arent we?
Yes, she responded, the flame of her desire flickering ever higher, we are.
Chapter Two
Youre coming in, right? Anya smiled up at him as they drew to a halt outside the building where she lived, a Victorian town house converted into studio flats. Dusk was falling on the Camden side street, but the midsummer air was still warm, the street life on the main thoroughfares vibrant.
Warren hesitated. Walking her home had made this moment inevitable. If he went inside and she wanted him, there wouldnt be any holding back. He was never so sure of anything than being right there with her, he just wished he knew if it was the right time for her. Hed been desperate for the chance to get closer to her, but what if it was too soon? Hed been warned by her friends at the office. Keep it light, theyd said. Make it about fun.
He was trying to do that.
He knew they were probably right. Shed been with Andrew a long time and there was still a chance she might get back together with him. Warren didnt want to think about that, or what it might do to him if it happened. He wanted her too much to even contemplate it. If she had even mentioned her ex, Warren would have backed off immediately.
He nodded, trailing his fingers along the underside of her jaw. As he did, her brown eyes darkened to black, and her lips parted. She was lushlush and ready for physical contact, he had no doubt about that. Watching her arousal grow as they talked over dinner had made him want to overturn the table and lift her into his lap so that he could push that dress of hers up and wrap her legs around his hips. He ran the back of one finger down the soft skin of her