Hunks: Opposites Attract Read online

  “Hey, I never told you I wouldn’t take you up on this challenge of yours,” Sapphire tossed back. It was her own driving need that shocked her. She needed to spend some extra time with Brian.

  “Wonderful,” he grinned then winked at her. “Let me grab the skates I stashed in the hall closet when I unpacked my stuff. After Nash told me about the pond, I knew I had to bring them with me and then I’ll meet you by the front door.” Walking around her, Brian went out the door and Sapphire couldn’t help but admire how his jeans cupped his toned ass.

  She had to fight her own battle of personal restraint not to reach out and grab it. For so long, Sapphire let herself believe there was no room for romance in her busy schedule, but all of those beliefs left once she laid her eyes on Brian.

  Denying that she would be able to fight her attraction to Brian was long gone; it was truly an awakening experience that left her reeling.

  “Are you ready to get your butt kicked?” Brian hollered at her from the hallway.

  “Somebody is going to lose, but it isn’t going to be me,” Sapphire promised as she left the family room and met Brian in the hallway.

  He was completely dressed for the cold weather with a coat, gloves, stocking cap and a pair of old black hockey skates tossed over his shoulder. He looked as if he was going to win this bet against her, but he was dead wrong.

  “Let’s go,” Brian said as he spun away from her and walked towards the door.

  “What are we playing for?” Sapphire asked as she followed behind Brian. Maybe she should have inquired about the rules first before jumping in with both feet without a security net.

  “Live for once in your life. Find out what you have to do after you lose to me,” Brian taunted.

  “A real man would tell me.”

  Suddenly, Brian stopped and spun around so fast that she ran into his chest. Reaching out, he grabbed her by the upper arm to steady her while holding her firmly against his chest.

  “Sapphire, I’m a real man and if you need proof I’ll be more than happy to prove it to you. Care to take me up on it,” he challenged. His heated gaze dropped down to her mouth as her body came alive with a burning need before their eyes reconnected. “I won’t have a problem at all kissing that beautiful mouth of yours.”

  Sapphire’s breath hitched in her throat as she imagined how good Brian’s mouth would feel pressed against hers. She could almost literally feel his tongue brushing over hers tasting and sampling what she had to offer him. Standing on her tiptoes, she brought her lips within a whisper of Brian’s; she noticed how his gray eyes grew a shade darker.

  “I just don’t kiss any man. He has to work for a kiss from me,” Sapphire whispered against Brian’s mouth before stepping away and walking around him.

  “Nice one,” Brian laughed as she opened up the front door going outside into the cool afternoon air.

  She couldn’t keep the grin off her face and she realized how much she smiled around Brian. He was really good for her. Not once had she thought about what was waiting for her back at work.

  Little by little Sapphire saw she was becoming less rigid. Not once had she over thought anything since Brian’s arrival. His appearance could just be the thing she needed in her life now and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

  Chapter Eighteen

  “I hope you’re ready to lose,” Sapphire taunted as she stepped onto the frozen pond. “I wasn’t lying when I told you how good I was on the ice. I even skated professionally for a few years but decided competing wasn’t for me.”

  “I’m not worried about losing to you,” Brian tossed back as he placed his boots next to hers on the ground.

  The snow covering the ground and trees made Sapphire feel like she was inside of a snow globe with the simple beauty of her surroundings. She skated around on the ice loving the freedom it gave her. Back home she never got the chance to do this because something was constantly coming up ranging from work, or hanging out with her two best friends to family issues.

  Constantly, it seemed like one of her needy family members was always calling her about something because they thought she had all of the answers when in all honesty, Sapphire knew if they put a little effort forward, her two older siblings could handle their own problems just fine. However her brother and sister would rather call to either boss her around or complain about her choice of career. Being a dentist was important to her, but Terrell and Tamara didn’t care at all.

  Sapphire was so lost in her thoughts that she didn’t hear the sound of another pair of ice skates gaining ground on her as she moved around the pond until Brian tapped her on the shoulder.

  “Shit! You scared the hell out of me,” she snapped at him.

  “I told you that you wouldn’t beat me,” be bragged as he flew past her.

  Sapphire’s eyes widened from utter shock. She couldn’t believe it as Brian turned around on his skates like a professional ice skater. He was as good as he told her. She never thought anyone as big as Brian would be able to take to the ice with such ease let alone grace as he was doing.

  She stared, realizing he was not what she thought. He was an ever-changing mystery.

  “You’re actually good,” Sapphire hollered as she hurried to catch up with Brian as he turned back around.

  “I told you, I’ve been on skates since I could remember,” Brian said as she came up next to him.

  “Who taught you how to skate?” Sapphire asked as Brian grabbed her hand pulling her along with him. The familiar tingle of awareness settled into her body making her want to be even closer to Brian.

  “My dad was a professional hockey player, so as soon as I could walk he had me up on skates along with my siblings. Enough about me,” Brian said as he stopped skating and pulled her towards him as snow started to fall down on them. “I won the bet, so I’m ready for my prize.”

  Sliding his hand behind her hair, he gently pulled her to him until her nipples brushed against his chest. They immediately became hard from the slight contact.

  “Do you know how stunning you look right now with the snow falling on your hair?” Brian asked as his thumb stroked the side of her jaw. “I thought you were beautiful before but being out here with you like this is amazing. I’m dying to kiss you.”

  Running the tip of her tongue along the bottom of her lip, Sapphire couldn’t help but wonder what kind of kisser Brian would he. He had totally thrown her off at every corner since he came into her life totally unannounced. She wanted to know if he kissed as good as he did everything else.

  Sapphire watched as Brian’s gray eyes followed the movement of her tongue. “I want you to kiss me too,” she admitted, throwing caution to the wind. She was here to break out of her shell and have fun. Why shouldn’t she do it with Brian?

  “I’ve never been a man to deny a woman what she wanted.”

  As his head descended, Sapphire held her breath in anticipation when Brian cupped her cheek. She couldn’t believe this was finally happening.

  “Are you sure about this?” His warm breath whispered against her mouth. “I know once we kiss that I won’t be able to go back. I want this kiss way too much.”

  Sapphire thought about pushing Brian away or disagreeing with him, but she didn’t have a rebuttal. Brian took her silence as her acceptance for what was about to happen between them. The first kiss would determine if they were compatible with each other.

  He brushed his mouth against hers; her heart thudded against her aching breasts. Slowly, he ran his tongue over the seam of her fuller, bottom lip. While the pad of his thumb teased the side of her jaw and the cold was forgotten as the heat Brian created warmed her from the inside out.

  Just when Sapphire thought her body was about to crumble on the ice skates and hit the pond Brian’s arms snaked around her waist anchoring her body fully against him as their kiss continued.

  Drawing her bottom lip between his teeth, Brian sucked at it as his hand found her ass underneath her coat giving it a good sque
eze.

  With a long groan, he eased away from her blowing out several deep breaths. “Damn, you taste so fucking good but we need to stop. Now isn’t really the time for our first kiss. I got carried away and I should apologize.”

  Blinking a couple of times, Sapphire stared at Brian as she tried to clear her head. How was he able to think so clearly let alone form a complete sentence after that kiss? She was still trying to find her way back down from the high.

  “Please. Don’t apologize,” Sapphire finally said. “I...” She swallowed trying to get her thoughts together. “I enjoyed our kiss a lot.”

  “Sapphire, I thoroughly enjoyed our kiss myself,” Brian’s desired filled voice told her. “If we weren’t out here in the cold, I would still be kissing you.”

  The surprised confession shocked and pleased Sapphire. She wasn’t the only one who felt the need to continue kissing like they were starved for each other.

  “I guess we better get back to the cottage,” Brian suggested, rubbing his hands together. “Since I was occupied with better things before, I hadn’t realized how cold it has gotten. I think we should start a fire when we get back.”

  Sapphire could only nod her head before she followed Brian off the ice. Her mind was still replaying the outstanding kiss over and over like a home movie. How could she have waited so long to kiss him?

  Brian had set her on fire from the moment their bodies touched. She was outside making out with a guy like she was a seventeen-year-old girl instead of a twenty-eight-year-old woman.

  She was more than positive that Emerald would never let her hear the end of this if she ever found out, but she was never going to tell her girlfriends about this. So, there was no worry in her mind about it ever happening.

  Falling down on the bench next to Brian, Sapphire unlaced her skates totally unaware that Brian hadn’t taken his eyes off of her since they sat down.

  “Are you still thinking about our kiss?”

  Turning her head, she saw Brian had his boots back on feet and his skates were laid down on the ground. What was she supposed to say? Yes, the memory of our powerful kiss is still in my head because it’s one of the best kisses I’ve ever experienced in my adult life.

  Should she also confess how she thought about going back to the house and getting naked with him in front of the fireplace?

  Instead of her mind being on food, Sapphire was fantasizing about a totally different fulfillment, that burned calories instead of making her gain unwanted weight.

  “Yes, I am. Who wouldn’t be?” she questioned, deciding to go with the truth instead of a lie. It wasn’t like Brian didn’t know how much she already wanted him to do more than deliver her mail.

  Sapphire finished zipping up her boots as Brian slid closer to her on the small iron bench. “How about another kiss before we leave?” Brian asked. His voice deepened sensually, sending a ripple of awareness through her body.

  “I’d definitely like that,” Sapphire answered, barely aware of her own voice as she turned her head.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Hooking his hand behind her neck, Brian didn’t give her a chance to utter another word. He slid his tongue along her bottom lip, and then started to nibble at it trying to coax it open..

  For a spilt second, Sapphire thought about denying him, but changed her mind. A kiss from Brian was too good to pass up. She craved this more than a piece of Hershey’s chocolate late at night.

  As his tongue eased its way into her mouth, Sapphire moaned. At the same time Brian consumed her with passion as her arms wrapped around his wide shoulders.

  Her tongue danced with Brian’s as his hand slid up her jeans clad thigh, working its way over her hip and around her waist until it rested on the curve of her ass. She gave a surprised whimper as Brian pulled her up and straddled her body across his hard thighs.

  Sapphire tore her mouth away from Brian. Breathing hard, she tried to become the level-headed one in the situation. No doubt about it, Brian was a damn good kisser.

  “We need to stop,” she said and the words sounded weak even to her own ears.

  “Are you sure?” Brian asked as his hand rubbed the outside of her thighs. Lowering his head, he flicked his tongue against the side of her neck then licked her skin heating it up.

  “Yes,” Sapphire moaned as she unconsciously slid her lower body over Brian’s growing erection.

  What was he doing to her? Brian had this power over her that she couldn’t get away from. The heat between her thighs was driving her crazy. He had to know what he was doing to her. How could he not feel the same things as her?

  His wide hand circled her waist tugging her against his hard chest as he recaptured her lips in a long, tender wet kiss. Minutes later, Brian reluctantly separated their mouths and pressed his forehead against hers staring into her eyes.

  “Baby, you sure do have a way of a making a man forget he’s sitting outside in the cold on a bench, but I think we both need to get back to the cottage and warm up. Not that your kiss wasn’t burning me up.”

  Smiling, Sapphire trailed her fingertips down Brian’s chiseled jaw. Compliments were going to get Brian moved to the top of her list. ”I thought you wanted to stay out here in the snow and cold since you decided to continue our make-out session instead of leaving ten minutes ago.”

  Honestly, she could have spent another two hours here with Brian and not given it a second thought.

  Leaning away from her, Brian ran his index finger along her bottom lip. “I love your mouth. How could I stop kissing you? When you have something good, you want it more and more.”

  Reading the honesty in his eyes made Sapphire’s pulse quicken from excitement and a little longing. She’d known since she was young how her looks drew men, but none of them had ever looked at her like this. She felt her body growing warmer from his intoxicating gaze.

  Brian had a direct way about him and it made her want to dig deeper into his mind, so she could figure out why someone as gorgeous, funny and intelligent as him didn’t have a ring on his finger.

  “You’re right. We should get inside. The cold is beginning to come through my coat. I hate getting cold.” Sapphire got off Brian’s lap trying not to notice the huge bulge displayed in his jeans.

  Damn...damn...damn. Sapphire knew she shouldn’t miss how good it felt being pressed against Brian, but she did feel empty now. Which was strange since they were still just getting to know each other, but what a way to get to know him? She wouldn’t mind a replay of what happened a few minutes ago.

  “I can think of another way to warm you back up once we get back to the cottage, if you’re up for it,” Brian teased as he bent down to retrieve his ice skates. “I’ll understand if you tell me no.”

  Walking around Brian, Sapphire grabbed her skates off the ground. Was she game enough to take him up on his offer? Did she want to know what he had planned? Could Brian actually top his earth shattering kiss from earlier? There was only one way to find out.

  “Can I get a hint of what you have in mind?” She knew he wouldn’t tell her but she could at least ask him.

  “I think I’ll leave you in suspense. I can’t let you know everything I’m planning before hand, can I? Where is the element of surprise? Are you ready to go now?”

  Holding out his hand, Brian waited for her to take it. Sapphire didn’t even give it a second thought before sliding her hand inside of Brian’s large one. Everything about today was turning into a surprise for her and honestly she was getting lost in every minute of it.

  Walking back home next to him, she took a peek at Brian from the corner of her eye as the snow continued to fall down around them. Today had to be one of the most romantic days she had ever shared with anyone.

  How was it possible that ice skating with a man who had got tossed into her life out of the blue made her feel so special and even...? She hated to think it because she barely knew Brian, but loved.

  Is this how Shauntie fell for Nash so fast? All Brian did w
as kiss her and she was seeing him in a totally different light.

  Was it the stirring of something deeper she felt for Brian or only buried lust because she hadn’t been with a man in such a long time?

  Ever since she was ten years old, Sapphire secretly dreamt about having it all: a career, a husband and family before she hit thirty. But she never thought it would happen. Since she was so career driven all other things had gotten shoved to the sidelines for so many years.

  Was Brian going to fit into the picture of Prince Charming she’d seen in her head as a young girl? People, along with their ideas, changed over the years as they grew up, but hers never wavered.

  For as long as she could remember, Sapphire remembered writing in her journals all the qualities her perfect man would possess and Brian had those qualities and more.. Even only knowing him this short period of time, she could tell he was a good man. But the question was could Brian Terry be the man for her or should she keep looking?

  ****

  Brian was worried.

  As he held Sapphire’s hand, he could feel the tension in her body. Had he made a mistake by moving too fast with her? But the moment seemed so perfect with the snow falling down around him and Sapphire watching him with those big hazelnut eyes of hers.

  How could he resist such an open invitation from a beautiful woman?

  He didn’t know what Sapphire might be expecting out of their time here together, but he was hoping it could be the start of a relationship.

  Pleasing Sapphire was driving him to meet all of her expectations and needs. He could tell she had been thinking about kissing him, but was going to back out so he took the decision out of her hands. He would seduce her with charm because he hoped to be in her life longer than the New Year’s Eve weekend.

  Chapter Twenty

  Taking the skates away from her, Brian placed them near the door then pulled her into his arms. “Why don’t you go upstairs and freshen up while I check on the steaks I sat out before we left for the pond? I know it’s a little cold outside, but I want to grill us some steaks.”