Chapter 4

Stephanie lifted her wrist and checked the glass face on her watch as she walked through the busy hotel lobby. She smiled as she saw it was exactly five minutes after seven; late enough that she didn't appear too desperate or eager yet early enough to be courteous to Paul by not keeping him waiting on her too long. Of course that's if he was even inside the bar yet. God, she hoped he was. All day long she had been thinking about him and counting the hours until she would see him again. She had felt like some silly kid with a crush. But the way she had felt when Paul had kissed her was anything but childlike. He had left her reeling and overwhelmed. He had left her wanting so much more.

Letting out a calming breath, Stephanie's hand smoothed down her black dress and she tentatively walked into the bar glancing around for any sign of him. She didn't have to look far as she saw the unmistakable head of soft blonde hair positioned in the exact same seat as the previous evening. Her heart flipped in her chest as he lifted his head and his face lit up with his smile when he saw her standing there. As Paul stood up from the stool to greet her, she let herself admire him thinking how handsome he looked in his black pinstriped suit and white cotton shirt. The top few buttons were undone exposing his thick, tanned neck allowing her to imagine her lips touching him there, tasting his skin.

"Hey you."

His deep gravelled tone lifted her from her haze and Stephanie felt the heat rush to her cheeks as she quickly drew her eyes away from the column of his throat.

"Are you okay? You look like you were off in your own little world there." he asked her.

She nodded her head as she licked her lips and tucked a loose curl behind her left ear. "Sorry. I was just thinking how warm it is in here tonight. Are you warm?" she asked him as she swallowed thickly and tried to disguise the real reason why she was feeling so flustered. Paul's deep brown eyes twinkled back at her.

"Well I have to admit the sight of you walking into the room did raise the temperature a couple of notches."

He grinned at her and she felt the butterflies flutter madly in her chest.

"Oh and by the way, this is for you."

Stephanie's mouth parted in surprise as Paul produced a single pink rose from behind his back. She smiled at him gratefully as she took it from his outstretched hand, touched by the sentiment as she brought the soft petals to her nose and inhaled the sweet scent. "Thank you Paul. The flower is beautiful."

He lifted his shoulder in a shrug. "It's not as beautiful as you look tonight."

Her cheeks flushed once more at his compliment as she gave him a bashful smile.

"So, are you ready to go?"

Stephanie nodded as she clutched the rose and her purse in her left hand. She felt a tingle of pleasure as she felt Paul's arm bump against her before shyly lacing his fingers through hers. Her lips twitched with her smile as she relished how warm and soft his touch felt and at the same time so safe and secure. Her stomach bubbled with excitement as they made their way towards the hotel entrance.

"Where are we going anyway?" she asked him as they stepped outside into the cooling evening breeze as the low evening sun began to set behind the tall granite buildings.

"It's a little Italian restaurant just around the corner." smiled Paul as he raked his hand through his hair. "The food is fantastic and I reckon the company will be just as good tonight."

He winked at her flooding her whole body with heat as they walked in hand in hand down the tree lined street and towards the restaurant.

A couple of hours later Stephanie was leaning back in her chair as the low sound of some classical tune played in the background and her hand rubbed across her slightly bloated stomach. As she glanced around her, she knew that Paul had been absolutely right about this place. The food had been fantastic so much so she had polished off everything on her plate and now she was absolutely stuffed full. She wasn't sure she could move let alone walk back to the hotel. Maybe she could persuade Paul to carry her instead. Smiling at that thought, her blue eyes looked at him across the table. It really had been an amazing night tonight. Paul was so much more than she could have ever dreamed of. He was polite, considerate, smart and funny and she just loved being with him. All through dinner she kept having these thoughts about him; thoughts that told her just how badly she was falling for him, that's if she hadn't fallen hard already. She was experiencing all these feelings inside her; feelings that told her what she already knew. Paul had captured her heart. The only question was, had she captured his? As his brown eyes lifted to meet hers, she'd like to think she had. Her facial expression was soft as she sat forward in her chair.

"I don't think I'll be able to eat anything for a week." she told him.

Paul laughed as he pushed aside his empty plate. "You don't fancy dessert then?"

Stephanie puffed her cheeks out as she shook her head that was pleasantly buzzed from the mixture of food and wine. "Absolutely not. I couldn't. You have some though."

"What I want isn't on the menu I'm afraid." grinned Paul wickedly raising his eyebrows at her as he rested his thick forearms on the white linen tablecloth.

Stephanie decided to play him at his own game. "So what? Now that I've had dinner with you, you're expecting me to keep up my end of the bargain and have sex with you?" she teased, her big blue eyes sparkling back at him.

Paul snorted as he pretended to look shocked. "I wouldn't have put it so bluntly. For a lady, you're very forward you know."

Stephanie leaned over as she covered his hand in hers. She wasn't sure if it was the alcohol or her desire for this man but suddenly she felt extremely bold as she stared at him seductively. "Well then you won't be shocked when I say to you to hurry up and pay the bill so we can get back to the hotel."

She let her eyes linger for a second before reaching down to retrieve her purse as she made her way to the restrooms. She sensed Paul was watching her as she disappeared among the other diners so she let her hips sway that little bit more and tried to ignore the tiny knot of guilt in the pit of her stomach; the tiny knot of guilt that reminded her she was engaged to another man. A man that had never entered her head the entire time she had been with Paul and that alone told her something. But she wasn't going to think about that right now. In actual fact, she wasn't going to think at all. Rightly or wrongly, she was simply following her feelings; feelings that she trusted without question because if what she felt for Paul was wrong then she didn't want to know what right was and she owed this to herself. She needed to explore these emotions and know for sure if Paul was the one for her although deep down she knew she already had her answer.

Stephanie smiled softly as she looked at her reflection in the mirror. By the time she had returned to the table, Paul was standing looking around him almost impatiently as he waited by their empty table. As he turned his head, he noticed her approach him and Stephanie felt her body tingle with anticipation as he grinned at her.

"The cheque's paid McMahon. Let's get the hell out of here."

Stephanie screamed in surprise as he grabbed her arm and whisked her through the restaurant and out the door. Her laughter carried in the wind as they stepped out onto the street however she could feel the tension building between them the closer they got to the hotel. But she never second guessed herself. She knew she wanted this. She needed this with everything inside her.

They were silent as they made their way to Paul's room. She could smell his cologne as he escorted her inside and as she looked around the neat and tidy space, her eyes fell to the large king sized bed. She swallowed thickly as she placed her purse and her rose down on the blue wingback chair and felt her body shiver as Paul stood behind her placing his big hands on her bare shoulder. She felt her body lean into him as he dropped a kiss there.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" he breathed against her ear.

She didn't hesitate for one second as she turned in his arms and reaching on her tiptoes, she gently brushed her lips over his. Her body sighed as he eagerly kissed her back. She could taste the mixture of alcohol and mint on his hot breath as his mouth parted slightly, his tongue flicking out to tease her bottom lip before slipping inside to taste her. Her heart raced as their tongues moved together and tingles of desire shot up and down her spine. Paul began to slowly guide her towards the bed. The back of her legs hit the mattress as his mouth sought out her neck. She whimpered softly as he sucked and nipped at her skin and his long blonde strands moved over her. Her hands slightly trembled as she began to fumble with the buttons on his shirt. She needed him so badly. She wanted to feel close to him in every way possible.

As she pushed his shirt off his shoulders, Paul lifted his head from her throat. His brown eyes were dark and intense as he watched her; his breathing quick and heavy and Stephanie realised he wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him. She let out a gasp as he lifted her up and she wrapped her long legs around his waist as he kissed her once more. Her long fingers tangled in his hair as he lowered the straps of her dress from her shoulders.

"Paul!" she sighed, his name falling from her lips as his mouth covered her creamy breast. Her head fell backwards and she closed her eyes as she felt the material pool at her waist. She arched her back against him giving in to his touch. He was rough yet gentle. He was driving her wild. His mouth moved to her other breast, his tongue wet against her skin. She could feel the heat from his body as she shifted her legs. Her body was aching for him. Christ. She wanted him so much. When he pulled his mouth away, Stephanie shivered. Paul smiled slightly as he carried her to the bed and gently placed her on the mattress before slipping off her dress. The covers crinkled underneath his weight as he hovered over her. He kissed her hard as his hands ran up and down her body and Stephanie closed her eyes and lost herself in him…

They both lay beside one another as they tried to control their breathing. No words were spoken as Paul wrapped his arm around Stephanie as she nestled her head against his chest. Only a few minutes had passed when he felt her breathing even out as she drifted off to sleep and he turned his head kissing her hair. A wave of emotion rushed through him as he pulled her even closer into his body. The truth was he just couldn't have Stephanie close enough. The experience they had just shared was nothing short of amazing and Paul knew that there was no turning back now; not for him at least. This went beyond anything he had felt for anyone before. It was like there was some sort of connection between them; some sort of bond that had joined them body and soul. He had known instinctively what Stephanie had needed and vice versa. The simple fact was he was completely overwhelmed by the woman in his arms and he knew without doubt that Stephanie was the one; the girl he was meant to be with. And that was absolutely crazy on so many levels but he knew what he felt. More than that, he trusted it.

As he let his mind drift, Paul's eyes began to blink heavily as Stephanie's breathing began to lull him into sleep. His eyes eventually closed and kissing her hair one more time, his fingers brushed through her long strands and his hushed voice echoed in the darkness.

"I think I'm in love with you."

Moments passed as he eventually fell into a deep slumber and Paul failed to hear the words that filled the silent room, quietly answering him.

"I think I'm in love with you too."