“Hey.” He grinned, the expression so perfect. It was as though he’d been made for smiling. Sure, it felt like a cliché, but it was true. Smiles on Jared’s face lit his eyes and made him twinkle. Not to mention it made Felicity go boneless with warmth and joy just to see him happy, even more so when it felt like he was smiling because she was here.

“Hi.” She shifted on her feet, still a little unsure of this whole situation. What if this whole lingerie thing didn’t work? Maybe she should stick to just dinner and not worry about seduction.

“Let me get that.” He reached out and slid her overnight bag off her shoulder before she could react and set it down by the door. And then he was curling his hand around her now-empty fingers and tugging her toward him. He maneuvered her to collide with his body as he pushed against her, using their bodies to close the door so fast that her head spun and arousal shot through her like wildfire.

He closed the door and then crowded her against it. Their bodies were pressed so close together that they fit perfectly, like two halves coming together. He nuzzled her neck and then kissed her lips, slowly, sweetly, holding her close. His roaming, exploring hands were gentle, but seductive in their caresses, making her squirm for more. Felicity shivered at the wonderful feeling of arousal and security—she felt both when she was with him. She curled her arms around his neck, arching into him.

“After a long day, seeing you made it worth it,” he whispered. “You look good enough to eat,” he murmured in her ear as his hands roamed down her back and over her ass. He lifted her up and pinned her against the door. A bolt of heat shot straight to her clit, and she moaned at the feel of him pressing his body against hers.

“Good enough to eat?” She laughed softly and kissed him back. God, the man was perfect. Forget homework and dinner—I want to go straight to the bedroom.

Another teasing kiss, a duel of tongues, and she was set back on her feet. He made a soft moan of disappointment. “Fuck, letting go of you is practically impossible, but if I don’t stop now, we’ll end up in bed, with me making love to you for days.”

Her legs shook at the thought. “Would that be so bad?” she asked.

His wry chuckle made her smile. “It would be fucking incredible, but I made a promise not to derail you from your studies.”

The heated gaze that traveled the length of her body told her he wanted her to skip the homework. But they both knew that figuring out how to work around problems like these was the only way they’d get to be together. If his work or her studies were compromised, it would destroy everything.

“Right.” She sighed and skirted around him and walked over to her bag and retrieved her books. He left her alone so she could settle on his couch. Even though she had to focus on her reading, she didn’t want to be too far away from him.

He walked toward the kitchen and started putting steaks in a searing pan.

The apartment was quiet—too quiet. “Where’s Tanner and Layla?” She noticed her friend’s absence by the silence and stillness in the apartment.

“They’re staying at a hotel tonight, my treat, so we’d have some privacy.” Jared leaned around the open fridge door as he spoke, grinning wolfishly, waggling his brows. “I wanted you all to myself tonight.”

Her face heated and she glanced away, afraid of revealing too much of how she wanted to be alone with him. It would be so easy to get carried away and forget all about the books in her lap.

Focus, stupid, focus. You can think about the hot guy making you dinner later.

She flipped open the top book to the chapter she needed to read.

Over the next hour, she pored over her books, working through the chapters and taking detailed notes. Nothing distracted her, not even the occasional noises from the kitchen. Finally it all went quiet, and she was done with her assigned readings. She tucked the books back in her bag and looked around the room. The lamps near the couch were now on, and night had taken over outside. The dining room table was set for two, and two plates of food were set out along with two glasses of red wine. Jared was seated in one chair, his feet propped up on the chair next to him, lounging back, completely at ease. In one hand he held an old, worn paperback book. From where she sat she could just see the cover, which read Tales of the North by Jack London. As though sensing her focus, his eyes lifted from the page and she stilled. Their dark warm depths were hot and compelling, almost magnetic. Her pulse beat to life, and she bit her lip.

“Dinner’s ready.” The way he said it sounded like he meant something else entirely, something more sinful.

Felicity swallowed hard and got up from the couch. She was torn between the desire to hide and to run to him. How did he have such power over her? The ability to confuse her? She was frightened of how much she was starting to feel for him, but there was no turning back. Like a drug, he was addictive, and she couldn’t walk away.

He rose from his chair and pulled out the seat next to him. When she sat down, he pushed her in, ever the gentleman. Then he took his seat again.

“Steak, grilled asparagus, and mashed potatoes. I hope you like it.” The flicker of hesitation, of worry in his eyes, punched her in the gut.

“It looks and smells amazing.” And it did. The scent of spices coming off her plate was mouthwatering.

“Good. I had to have Angelo walk me through the preparation. I don’t usually cook.” His admission had her smiling. “What?” he asked, seeming to notice that she was grinning at him.

“So you aren’t perfect after all?” She couldn’t resist teasing him.

“No. I rarely have occasion to cook. I can grill, but nothing special. This tonight is a first for me.” The look of pride in his eyes melted her heart.

Felicity giggled, then tried to stop. “So…you gave me your cooking virginity? Sounds like a fair trade.” She winked at him. The incredulous look on his face had her bursting with laughter.

“You’re going to pay for that later…in bed,” he promised with a dark smile that lit her inside with throbbing arousal.

“I’d be fine with that.” The saucy, breathless reply was so unexpected from her, but it was completely true. She would be fine with that. She craved him, desired to be with him, especially in bed.

“Hush up and eat before I skip dinner and head straight to dessert.” He licked his lips, and Felicity was sucked into a fantasy of him shoving all the dishes off the table and spreading her out instead. Her body heated, and she felt a little dizzy with sensual hunger. Maybe they could just skip to dessert… She dropped her fork. The loud clatter of silverware on ceramic jolted her back to awareness, and she focused on her food. The first bite was fantastic, almost orgasmic in her mouth, just as she expected it to be.

“It is perfect,” she told him. The smug look of triumph on his face was strangely endearing, as though it was one more insecurity he’d conquered. The man didn’t have many.

“So, did you get all your work done?” he asked.

“Yeah. I did. The rest of the week, I’m done for reading. I usually try to get them finished early on so I can focus on working at Sabine’s over the weekend.” She nibbled a piece of asparagus. He’d lightly spiced it with salt and pepper and sautéed it in butter. Simple but delicious.

“Good. I thought we could finish the movie we started last time,” he said. No sex? She tried not to let her disappointment show. Maybe he was trying to take it slow? They were a little too late for that. She’d just have to use that babydoll and heels to convince him otherwise.

“So what about you? How was work?” It felt a little silly to ask. She might as well have just inquired about the weather.

A flicker of shadows trespassed across his eyes for an instant before it vanished.

“I worked on the purchase and sale agreement for Thad’s new hotel. There are some issues from the other side’s counsel.”

“Issues?”

He chuckled and leaned back in his chair. “Oh yeah. When you buy and sell real estate, there’s a lot of posturing and bluffing. Mostly on the seller’s end.”

Felicity slid to the edge of her seat and continued to eat and listen. “Such as what?”

His brows rose. “You really want to know?”

She actually did. He was interested in his job, and what interested him interested her. She wanted to see him filled with passion, and real estate transactions were his passions.

“Okay, well, for example, there’s this thing called due diligence.” Jared cut a piece of his steak, looking pensive, but also amused at her new interest.

“What’s that?”

“Well, when you want to buy a property, you need to check it out before you sign on the dotted line. In case there are issues in the building that could cost your client in the future. Like mold or broken appliances or structural issues.”

Felicity nodded. “It makes sense. You want to buy something without problems.”

His brown eyes burned like sienna fire as excitement lit him up from within. “Exactly. When you buy something, it’s always on an as-is basis.” He inched his chair closer as the natural teacher in him took over. “But as a buyer, you want to make sure you don’t get screwed. The due diligence period gives the buyer time to escape out of everything and figure out what might be problematic. Then it’s my job to work it into the contract and try to get prices reduced or get the seller to fix the items before closing the deal. Since the hotel Thad and his father are buying is old, it’s really important for them to have a longer period of due diligence. That’s what I’ve been haggling about with the seller’s counsel. Extending that period of due diligence.” He finished his wine and stood up as he collected the dishes.

Felicity sat back and admired the sight of him as he put dishes in the dishwasher. He was so smart, so passionate about his work—it was no wonder Thad and his father wanted him as their attorney.

“Are your parents lawyers? Is that where you get your passion?” She left the table and joined him in the kitchen, finishing her glass of wine. She was ready to put Operation Seduction into motion. That was what Layla had called it, anyway. Felicity nearly smiled.

“My parents, lawyers?” Jared’s laugh caught her attention. He walked over to her and pinned her against the counter next to the fridge.

“So not lawyers, then,” she answered. He stroked a fingertip down her chin, over her throat, then traced the shape of her collarbones where they were exposed beneath her boatneck sweater. Heat blossomed wherever his lightly questing fingertip traveled.

“Mom’s in real estate, and Dad’s a private wealth manager. What about your parents?”

Oh no, she wasn’t going there. He didn’t need to know how far apart their worlds really were. It was too embarrassing.

“Hey, princess, focus on me.” His tone was a little more commanding, and it pulled her out of the creeping darkness of the past. “Share something with me. We’re building trust. You can do it. Just one detail.” His hand circled her throat, the possessive hold oddly comforting, not frightening.

What could she share of herself?

“My favorite color is red,” she tried.

He blew out a little huff, half frustration, half amusement. “What shade of red? I know you’re an artist, so what shade of red?”

She considered the question seriously. He was right. There was a multitude of reds, countless subtle changes in the tone of the color.

“A red that’s somewhere between burgundy and black cherry.” It was as close as she could get to describing the shade she meant.

“Sounds nice. I like red, too. More like pale pink, like your lips.” This last bit was murmured as he slowly lowered his head and kissed her.

His tongue teased the seam of her mouth, enticing her to open, and she surrendered. He moaned softly against her lips right before he deepened the kiss. His hands spanned her waist, holding her to him as he explored her. It was far more innocent than some of his other kisses, but at the same time, she’d never felt more aware of his strength and the physical power he held over her—not to force her, but to seduce her.

The world began to spin a little, and Felicity clutched at Jared’s shoulders, clinging to him. When he separated their mouths, she actually whimpered at the loss.

“How about that movie?” He tugged at the tie at his throat, his face flushed as he stepped away from her.

What? Her inner self was just as dazed as she was. Her entire body hummed with unfulfilled desires and longing, and he was just going to watch a movie? No. Hell no.

“Why don’t you get changed into something comfortable, and I’ll get the movie cued up,” Jared suggested, the tone of his voice almost brotherly. Was he trying to piss her off? A guy didn’t just give her mind-blowing sex and then put that part of their relationship on ice. If he hadn’t just kissed her like that she might have given up, but he wanted her. She knew that now.

“Okay.” She walked a little unsteadily out of the kitchen and grabbed her overnight bag.

Operation Seduction was a go.