Chapter 31

Chan was still deep in thought when, suddenly, she felt a warm, strong arm wrap around her back and another beneath her knees. Just as she looked up, she found herself airborne. She gasped out in fright, and in response, her arms flew to wrap around the muscular neck belonging to Lilly's dad.

She was shell-shocked for a moment, wondering if she was currently dreaming about such a situation.

Sam glanced at her and gave her a smile. "Stop looking at me like that," he said teasingly. "I'm not likely to leave a damsel in distress to fend for herself, now am I?"

Chan licked her lips, her heart racing. "What are you doing? And where are you taking me?"

"Taking care of that ankle of yours," he said, heading toward the elevator. "Or would you rather not let me help you at all? From the look of things, you can't even walk without crying out in pain."

Chan couldn't protest his logical argument. "Thanks. But I don't even know you."

He chuckled. "You know Lilly. That's enough."

She swallowed. "Lilly? You mean your daughter."

He nodded as they got into the elevator. "The Thursday market a few months back."

Chan was impressed. She couldn't believe he still remembered that day. She couldn't believe he still remembered her. The thought delighted her in the most unimaginable way.

Sam moved closer to the side of the elevator as the door closed. Chan tightened her arms around his shoulders as he somehow managed to balance her while pulling out a card from his pants pocket. Then he swiped it through the security system.

"Can you push the button for the fortieth for me?" he asked.

Chan nodded. "Sure," she said and pushed the button at the very top that was marked a different color from the rest. Then she wondered if there was a nurses' station or something on the fortieth floor that'd help treat her sprained ankle.

When Sam stood back, the elevator started ascending, and Chan suddenly wondered why he wouldn't put her down. After all, she could stand. Not to mention she wasn't very comfortable being in his arms in this flimsy cocktail dress.

She was about to suggest he put her down when he interrupted her. "I'm Sam by the way."

Chan licked her lips, blushing profusely at the fact he was looking at her intensely. Couldn't he at least look at something else? Even though they were in such a confined space, surely there was at least something else more interesting than her face.

She bit her lower lip in worry when he smiled at her. The silence was killing her, for God's sake. When she couldn't stand it anymore, she said, "I'm Chandra Chandler."

"Chandra," he said softly.

The way he said her name made her body squirm deliciously. Why he had so much effect on her, she hadn't a clue. Why was she so attracted to him?

The elevator finally stopped on the fortieth floor, and the door dinged open. Sam walked out into the corridor, and Chan noticed the place was classically elegant and tastefully decorated. It must be very expensive to get a room up here, she thought in awe. Even Jayden and Alex only managed the presidential suite on the thirty-ninth floor. What could be up here? she wondered.

They came to a door, and Sam finally put her down. Chan leaned on the wall for support as Sam swiped his keycard to get the door open. Once done, he returned his attention to Chan, who suddenly took a step back.

"I can walk," she said adamantly. "Honestly."

He chuckled. "Like I'm going to listen to that lie."

Even with much protestation, she still ended up in his arms. Sam then took her in through the door, and as they came into the space, the light flickered on by itself.

Chan scanned her surroundings with interest. She noted the expensive comfy sofas and chairs in one corner. A mahogany table with at least eight chairs filled another section of the space. Then there was a grand desk near the end with a leather chair situated behind it. The view of the glittering city to the side of that chair was breathtaking.

It was an office, Chan realized, not a hotel bedroom. And it was definitely not a nurses' station.

"What are we doing here?" she asked, confused.

Sam put her down on the sofa gently. Chan unwrapped her arms from his shoulders and made herself comfortable.

"Treating your sprained ankle, I believe," he said, turning on his heel.

She watched him as he disappeared around the corner. She wondered what he was up to. A moment later, he returned with an ice pack and first aid kit.

Chan was indeed very surprised. The man was well prepared for whatever eventuality.

Sam came to sit on the coffee table before her and gently grabbed for her leg. Chan jumped in response. When he put her ankle on his lap, she bit her lip and said, "I can manage."

He ignored her attempt at retrieving her leg and gently placed the ice pack on her ankle.

"Eeeee…" She gasped out at the contact. It was ice cold.

Sam smiled. Then he wondered if she'd make sexual cries in bed similar to that and had the sudden urge to find out. But not now. Hell! Definitely not now.

After that passionate kiss and seeing how affected she'd been, he was concerned. He certainly didn't want to frighten her any more than she'd already been. Even though she'd been the one to initiate that kiss. And damn! It was the most amazing kiss he'd ever had. He couldn't wait to sample more.

Chan, on the other hand, was a little more than uncomfortable as she sat there, her leg resting intimately on Sam's lap while he watched her. It didn't help matters that the hem of her skirt kept riding up her thighs. She hoped the odd position didn't reveal her panties. She'd surely die of mortification.

Consciously, she moved her hand and clamped her skirt down between her thighs. That involuntarily drew Sam's attention. His gaze drifted from her face down to her hand there, clutching the flimsy skirt between two lovely legs.

Sam stared, and… Shit! He was turned on. Long, slender limbs spread out before him in an almost inviting position. He gazed long and hard at the V-shape between her legs, his own body responding to the visual effect. Then his gaze drifted up the small waist to the bust area. The flimsy material did nothing to hide the shape of her breasts, which were round and beautiful. The nipples! The shape looked perfectly ripe for the plucking. He could just imagine popping those delicious little buds into his mouth, licking, kissing, and sucking at them, rolling them with his tongue until they were glistening wet.

Chan's body tensed as Sam continued to stare at her body. She noted the lust in his eyes and simply wanted to die of mortification. The atmosphere was hot and heavy, and it was making it hard for her to breathe. When Sam started to subconsciously caress her leg where the ice pack resided, she surrendered to the inevitable.

Her body shook in shock at that revelation—that she wanted him that bad. The man who was already taken.

The phone rang, and Chan jumped back to reality.

The sound did the same to Sam, and he shook his head. He couldn't believe he'd wanted to seduce the innocent beauty here and now.