James lifted a hand to the nape of my neck and pulled me towards him, his mouth on mine, the intensity of our kiss building. He tasted like the champagne and his tongue against mine sent more of those magic shivers through me. He broke the kiss and for just a moment I was disappointed, until his mouth found my throat and sensation took over conscious thought. His lips trailed down my chest as he held me to him with one hand and caressed a nipple through my dress with the other.

I was in heaven.

“Sarah …” A throaty whisper broke into my reverie. He looked up and met my eyes. “Bedroom.” I nodded, understanding completely. We needed each other, completely, unencumbered by the logistics of sex on a couch covered in throw pillows.

He stood quickly, but gracefully, pulling me up with him. He grabbed my hand and, with what seemed like a sense of urgency, led the way upstairs. He dropped my hand only long enough to flick on a lamp next to the bed.

Then he turned me around gently, kissing my neck and trailing kisses down my shoulder. I felt his hand on the zip of my dress and he pulled it down in one swift movement. He pushed the straps over my shoulders and the dress fell to the floor.

I stepped out of it and turned to face him. He looked the length of my body and met my eyes. “My god, you’re beautiful.” I had never felt more desired and any self-consciousness I’d felt, all the nerves I’d battled during the car ride, vanished. I wanted James in a way I’d never wanted any man before.

I wanted to lay myself bare before him and let him ravish me. Which is exactly what I did.

*

We were lying next to each other, both of us staring contentedly at the ceiling like they do in films—only I didn’t have a sheet pulled up to my chest for modesty. James had explored me so thoroughly, and enough times, that I didn’t feel the need to cover myself.

When he’d said in the gallery that he wanted to make love to me, he had meant it. I felt utterly worshipped, and I’d shared something with him I had never shared with another man—even Josh. For the first time ever, I didn’t think, I didn’t worry, I didn’t try to please. I just let myself be, right in every moment. I had let James make love to me. It was glorious.

I rolled over onto my side and propped my head up on my hand, so I could look at him. “Hi,” I said, smiling at him.

He turned his head towards me, “Hi.”

“You are very handsome—do you know that?”

He laughed. “Thank you.” He looked back at the ceiling, a slightly embarrassed smile on his face. It was nice to see James being self-conscious, even just a little bit. It made him more human, more accessible, more like someone who would want to spend time with me.