Chapter Four
The heat of the sun overhead warmed her skin and intensified the scent of the ripe, plump peach her lover held to her lips. Her mouth watered for a taste, and she closed her eyes and licked her lips in anticipation.
“Take a bite,” he murmured.
She did, sinking her teeth deep into the lush fruit. A sweet burst of flavor filled her mouth, and she moaned in pleasure before taking another bite. Juice dribbled down her chin, and she lifted her hand to wipe it away.
He reached out and caught her wrist. “Don’t. I’ll do it for you…when I’m done.”
She shivered at the promise in his gaze, and the deliberate way he squeezed the peach in his hand, mashing it into pulp. With his thumb he dug out the pit and flicked it onto the grass. A slow, wicked grin lifted his mouth.
Guessing his intent, she attempted to scramble away. He caught her around the waist and playfully tumbled her onto her back on the soft blanket beneath them. He straddled her waist, pinning her arms to her sides with his muscular thighs.
All play ceased, but that’s exactly what she wanted. Her breathing deepened as, slowly, he undid the buttons on the front of her dress and spread the sides open. Unclasping her bra, he pushed that aside as well. Her breasts swelled beneath his dark gaze and her nipples hardened into tight peaks. She arched in subtle invitation.
Obliging her, he smeared the cool, slick pulp over the curves of her breasts, kneading and shaping the plump flesh in his hands before he lowered his body alongside hers and feasted on the fruit. His tongue lapped her breasts in long, languid strokes until finally, his mouth closed over a nipple and suckled deeply.
A sharp gasp caught in her throat and she speared her fingers through his hair, holding him to her breast and twining her legs around his as breathtaking pleasure flooded her limbs and her body softened just for him…
* * *
“Christ.” Breathing as though there was a lack of oxygen in the room, Kyle swore again, more bluntly this time, and tossed Jade’s journal onto the bed next to where he lay. His body was rock-hard, his mind just as seduced by her fantasy. He scrubbed his hands over his face in frustration and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to banish the images that were sending blood straight toward his groin.
Stupid idea. All he could see was Jade, spread out on a blanket in a meadow, her breasts shimmering from sunlight and peach nectar, and her dress tangled around her thighs, revealing long, slim legs splayed enticingly. And all he could think about was sliding between those thighs, wrapping those incredible legs tight around his waist and burying himself to the hilt. He’d give her more pleasure than she could imagine, and he’d take her places her fantasy lover didn’t even know existed—dark, provocative places where inhibitions weren’t allowed, and every adventurous thrill and erotic fantasy was fulfilled. By him.
He stroked his hand over the thick bulge in his jeans, and groaned deep in his throat. Popping the button, he unzipped his fly to release some of the pressure. Unfortunately only one person could ease the ache. Jade.
Drawing in a deep breath to reduce the tension in his body, he stacked his hands beneath his head and focused his thoughts on something other than sex. Staring at the shadows on the ceiling cast by the lamp on his nightstand, he steered his mind toward another topic: the complex facets of Jade Stevens.
Her fantasies told him a lot about the woman who seemed so wary of men. As he read further along in her journal, Jade progressed in intimacy with her lover, becoming bolder and less reserved in her explorations. The first fantasy had been sweet, an awakening of her sensuality. A testing of boundaries and establishing them. Now, she was using that sexual confidence to fulfill her secret desires. He’d found all kinds of fantasies, some playful, some intense, and a few that were downright erotic and wild, yet in none of them had she and her fantasy lover actually gone all the way.
Jade’s imagined lover had more willpower than he possessed, Kyle thought wryly, but then that was the crux of Jade’s fantasies. She had complete control over what happened between her and her lover. And for some reason, she was avoiding the ultimate act of intimacy with the man she’d created for her private pleasure.
The way she’d physically responded to him during their midnight swim, then suddenly retreated, led Kyle to believe Jade’s resistance was more of an emotional issue. Her fantasies had all the earmarkings of a passionate woman who wanted to be cherished and desired, but feared losing a vital part of herself in the richest culmination of intimacy.
He wondered what idiot had burned her badly enough to make her suspicious of the male population on such a personal, private level.
He intended to find out.
And he intended to have her.
But first, she had to be willing, her mind and emotions in sync with the demands of her body. He wanted more than superficial sex, and no less than her complete surrender.
Body and soul.
* * *
Jade glanced at her watch as she made her way toward the entrance of The Black Sheep, and cringed. She was forty minutes late for her five o’clock appointment with Kyle. Her earlier appointment ran behind, then she’d gotten stuck in rush-hour traffic on Pacific Coast Highway. She’d called from her mobile phone and left a message with Kyle’s bartender, Bruce, to let his boss know she was on her way.
It had been a hectic day, and although she was exhausted, she was looking forward to starting her newest project—transforming The Black Sheep into a restaurant and bar that would give Roxy’s a run for their money. It was exhilarating to think that the new Black Sheep’s success depended significantly on her ability to make over the place so that it would draw people into the establishment. Good food, service and atmosphere would keep them coming back.
She pushed open a heavy oak door and stepped inside. The lighting was dim, and it took her eyes a moment to adjust, though she could tell by the din of voices and raucous laughter that happy hour was well underway. A chalkboard just inside the entrance boasted tonight’s drink special: Peach Daiquiris.
Moving deeper into the large, sectioned building, she glanced around, taking in the raw basics she had to work with, and hoping to find Kyle in the process. The place was just as she’d imagined—a hole-in-the-wall kind of establishment. A place where people met for a casual drink after a long day at work to unwind and shoot the bull.
A scarred mahogany-and-brass bar stretched the length of one side of the room, where a good-looking, dark-haired man poured drinks and set them on the counter for the bar waitresses to deliver. Booths upholstered in red vinyl rimmed the lounge area, along with wooden tables and chairs, most of which were already taken. Sawdust covered the hardwood floor, and a game room adjoined the bar area, where customers tried their hand at darts or played pool at one of the two tables there. Musical entertainment came in the form of a jukebox belting out country-western tunes.
There was a certain appeal to the place, a warmth and friendliness that drew a person, despite the establishment’s outdated furnishings and rundown appearance. From a designer’s standpoint, the place showed a whole lot of promise. With the adjoining restaurant opening soon, The Black Sheep had the potential to be one of the hottest nightspots off Pacific Coast Highway.
The Black Sheep’s clientele was unpretentious and laid-back, she decided. There wasn’t a designer suit or stuffy executive in sight. No, the dress code slanted toward denim, leather and cowboy boots.
Dressed in a pant suit and three-inch heels, she felt as out of place as a sheep in a den of wolves…and the wolves were eyeing her as if they hadn’t eaten in weeks.
Shrugging off her unease, and ignoring the bawdy laughter at a nearby table, she strolled through the lounge and toward the bar. The cocktail waitress gave her a curious glance as she passed with a tray full of drinks. The bartender’s gaze was speculative as well, though his smile was friendly and very welcoming.
“Excuse me, do you know where I can find Kyle?” she asked, loud enough to be heard over the din. “I had an appointment with him, and I’m a little late.”
“You must be Jade.” At her nod, the bartender wiped his hand on a towel and extended it toward her. She shifted her attaché and purse to her left hand and shook his hand. “I’m Bruce, the guy you spoke with on the phone. I hear you’re going to give The Black Sheep a new look.”
She grinned, feeling completely at ease with Bruce. “I’m going to give it my best.”
“Kyle went to the storeroom to get more peaches.” He shook his head ruefully and cleared the empty glasses off the bar top that the waitress had left. “I thought he was crazy when he suggested peach daiquiris for this evening’s special, we don’t sell a lot of them on the whole, but it seems they’re pretty popular tonight.”
Now I know why you always smell like peaches. Ripe, juicy peaches. I can’t help but wonder if you taste just as sweet. Jade’s stomach dipped at the memory of Kyle murmuring those words in her ear just a few short weeks ago. She wondered if the special was for her benefit, and couldn’t contain the involuntary pleasure that spread through her at the thought.
“There he is now,” Bruce said, nodding his head toward the opposite end of the bar.
“Thanks.” Jade started toward Kyle, trying to keep her balance steady under the crunch of sawdust beneath her heels. The sawdust, she decided, would be one of the first things to go. Especially since it covered a beautiful hardwood floor that would gleam once it was refinished and polished.
He glanced up from the colander of fresh peeled peaches he set on the service area of the bar, and smiled. “Welcome to The Black Sheep.”
Returning the smile, she slid onto the last bar stool and set her belongings in front of her. “Sorry I’m late.”
His eyes danced with humor. “Thanks for calling so I didn’t think you stood me up. How about a peach daiquiri?” Picking up a paring knife and a peach, he began slicing the ripe fruit, filling the blender in front of him with the fat chunks. “Tonight’s special is in your honor.”
Propping her elbows on the mahogany surface, she laced her fingers and rested her chin on top. “You’re mighty presumptuous. What makes you think I like the taste of peaches?”
“Don’t you?” With his brow arched mockingly, he picked up a thick, succulent wedge of peach, braced his arms on the top of the bar, and leaned toward her, teasing her bottom lip with the cool, sweet piece of fruit. Her tongue automatically darted out, catching a drop of juice before it trickled down her chin.
“Take a bite,” he murmured.
It wasn’t a request, but a challenge, issued in his usual bold manner. All she had to do was sit back to break the spell, but the dare in his eyes kept her from retreating. There was something about Kyle that made her feel wild, spontaneous and reckless. The lush scent of peach filled her senses, awakening a memory—a long-ago fantasy that blended the warmth of summer with slow hands sliding on her body—but then it quickly faded.
At the far end of the bar out of sight from the customers, Jade gave in to the temptation in Kyle’s eyes. She bit into the wedge of peach, and nearly groaned at the delectable sweetness that filled her mouth. Savoring the taste, she let Kyle feed her the last of the fruit until it was gone. He watched her, his eyes darkening to an arousing shade of midnight blue.
Dragging his thumb across her damp bottom lip, he brought that same finger to his mouth and sucked off the juice. “Ummm. I guess I was right after all. You do like the taste of peaches.”
A pleasant hum of awareness rippled through her blood, and she managed a smile. “Yeah, I do,” she admitted.
“Then you’ll love my special peach daiquiri.” Straightening, he grabbed another peach and finished filling the blender with the fruit.
Drawing a deep breath, Jade glanced around while Kyle prepared her drink. Bruce and the bar waitresses wore what was obviously the bar’s uniform, a black T-shirt with The Black Sheep emblazoned across the chest in white lettering and black jeans. That would have to be modified, too. Nothing drastic, and the look could still be casual, but it didn’t make sense to give The Black Sheep a new look without including the staff’s attire as well.
Hooking the heel of one of her shoes on the brass rung at the base of her stool, she crossed one leg over the other and returned her attention to Kyle. He seemed completely at ease behind the bar, lightly flirting with the cocktail waitresses as they waited for their orders and greeting customers by name as they passed through the lounge. He excused himself from her side of the bar for a few minutes to help Bruce with the overflow of drink orders, then spoke with each patron sitting at the bar as if they were old friends before returning to finish blending her daiquiri. The atmosphere suited Kyle, and she found herself enjoying him and the friendly, laid-back ambiance of the country-western bar.
“How long have you been bartending?” she asked.
“Since I was twenty-two.” He added a shot of liquor to the peach mixture in the blender and glanced up at her as he hit a button that whipped the concoction into a thick, smooth drink. “I was fresh out of the service and looking for a job. I started out as a busboy at a seafood restaurant in Venice Beach, figuring it was income until something better came along. Within six months they moved me up to bartending, and I loved it, especially meeting new people. Not an impressive career goal, but it paid the bills and kept a roof over my head.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said, waving her hand to indicate everything around him, “you look pretty successful to me. It’s not easy owning your own business.”
A crooked smile canted his mouth, but there were shadows in his gaze that reflected a bitterness she didn’t understand. And a glimpse of loneliness that made her heart catch. “It’s been a long, hard road getting to this point, but it sure beats the hell out of being a lawyer.”
She grinned, trying to envision Kyle in a suit and tie and a GQ haircut, and failed. He was too much of a rebel. “It’s hard to imagine you as a stuffy lawyer.”
“Too bad my father doesn’t understand that.” He reached for a glass and set it on the cocktail napkin he placed in front of her, then turned off the blender. “My family doesn’t exactly approve of my chosen profession.” After pouring the thick mixture into her glass, he poked in a straw and set a peach wedge on the rim. “Actually, when it came to me, there wasn’t much they approved of at all. But I have to admit that I didn’t make life easy for them. According to my father, I was nothing but trouble since I was three and crawled into his Mercedes, managed to put the car into Neutral, and coasted down the driveway and crashed into our neighbor’s house.”
She burst out laughing, and even though he chuckled with her, she realized that deep down, there was so much more to Kyle than his carefree ways. There was a complexity to the man that included a seemingly unsupportive family and a past tangled with resentments. Not to mention a child out of wedlock.
She ached for him, and that brief connecting emotion surprised her. She didn’t want to care about Kyle, didn’t want to think that beneath his flirting there was a man who had flaws. A man who might be as lonely as she, but had resigned himself to being a bachelor because it was safe. She identified with that feeling all too well.
Dismissing the direction of her thoughts, she lifted her glass and took a healthy sip of the drink. She made a sound of pure pleasure as a rich, creamy peach-and-vanilla flavor sank into her taste buds. This was like no drink she’d ever tasted, and knew Kyle had forever spoiled her for just any ordinary peach daiquiri.
“Good?” he asked.
“Delicious. It tastes like a peach Creamsicle.” She licked her bottom lip and took another drink, wondering if Kyle had secretly discovered the way to her heart. “I have to admit that it’s the best I’ve ever had.”
“Not quite the best you’ve ever had,” he said, his words oozing sexual connotation. “But we can easily change that.”
Knowing he was far more potent than one-hundred-proof liquor, she said, “I’ll stick to the drink.”
He grinned but didn’t pursue his seduction. Instead, he grabbed a damp rag and wiped down the counter. “So, what do you think of the place?”
“I think you’re sitting on a potential gold mine.” She swirled her straw in her glass and glanced around, seeing a piece of coal that had the ability to shine like a diamond. “The bar area is a little rustic, but once we put our ideas and suggestions together and find the right blend that keeps the casual, comfortable atmosphere you want with a more polished image, you’ll appeal to a broader range of people.”
He looked pleased by her quick evaluation, and excited at the prospect of implementing new changes. “That’s exactly what I want. Come on, I’ll give you the ten-cent tour so you can see the rest of the bar and the new restaurant.”
“Okay.” She slid from her stool, drink in hand. When she picked up her attaché and purse, he took them from her and with her permission, he stashed them in a cupboard behind the bar. He made sure Bruce had things under control before he led the way into the adjoining restaurant, which for the time being, was separated by a doorway draped in thick plastic. He held it aside and let her pass, then followed her through.
He flipped an electrical switch, lighting up the structure, which was in its rawest, most basic form of construction. They walked through the entire restaurant, and Jade took mental notes as she slowly sipped her drink and Kyle told her what he envisioned. On a professional level, his stylish and tasteful ideas impressed her. He wanted hunter green as the primary color, and when she suggested beige as a contrast, he agreed. When she mentioned a ballpark figure on the improvements, he didn’t cringe, but instead asked if the cost covered a night out with the owner.
She’d laughed and almost said yes—that’s how comfortable and relaxed she was feeling after one of his specialty drinks.
Nearly an hour later, brimming with ideas for tile samples, draperies, and upholstery selections, she followed him down a corridor just off the far end of the lounge to his office, where he had an extra set of plans to give her.
Kyle shut the door behind him and turned to find Jade taking in his sparse office furnishings, an old wooden desk, a credenza, a four-drawer file cabinet and an old worn couch he’d crashed on a time or two.
She turned, her finger absently caressing the stem of her glass, empty except for the peach wedge still on the rim. “Are you planning on redecorating your office, too?”
“We might as well.” He retrieved the tube and set it at the end of his desk, between his stapler and a framed picture of Christy. “What’s another grand or two when I already owe the bank my life?”
+She grinned in understanding. “Give it a good year or two and you’ll see a big turnaround.”
He smiled ruefully. “I’m counting on it.”
Her expression was bright and dazzling. “From what I’ve seen and what we’ve discussed, you’ll be counting your way right to a fat savings account.”
He stared at her for a long minute, something deep within him shifting. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had believed in him, supported him in a decision he’d made. To the outside world he was confident and sure of himself almost to the point of being cocky, but that was a facade he’d developed after years of being compared to an older brother who could do no wrong. There was always an ingrained sense of failure just beneath the surface, a feeling of inadequacy he constantly had to battle against. Unknowingly, Jade had offered him something no other person ever had: her unconditional faith in him.
Their gazes held, and gradually the tension in the room changed, drawing tight with a heady sensuality. He breathed deeply, drawing in the scent of peaches clinging to her skin. Knowing those soft, kissable lips would taste just as delicious, and hungering for a sample, he started toward her, his advance slow and easy.
Awareness filled her eyes and she stepped back, her bottom coming into contact with the edge of his desk. “You know, it’s getting late and I ought to be going.”
He moved closer, trapping her between him and his desk. “Not yet,” he murmured, unable to let her go until he touched her, kissed her, made her see how good they could be together.
Not until he fulfilled the fantasy he’d slowly cultivated all evening.
Relieving her of the death grip she had on her glass, he set it on his desk, then placed his hands on the silky brocade outlining the flare of her hips. She sucked in a sharp breath. He’d expected more of a physical resistance, if not a verbal one, but she wasn’t denying her body’s response to his touch.
Desire flared in her bright gaze, and a deep, shuddering breath escaped her. “Kyle…” Her voice was husky and damned sexy. As a protest, it wasn’t much.
“Relax, Jade, and let it happen,” he urged in a low, soothing voice.
She gave her head a short, frantic shake. “I…can’t. We shouldn’t.”
Subtle fear threaded her voice, but having knowledge of its source from her fantasies—the fear of intimacy—he felt better equipped to handle her apprehension. He was taking a slow, easy, nonthreatening approach. Let her feel in control, even if he was the one leading.
“Yes, we should.” Lifting her, he scooted her bottom back onto the edge of his desk until she was sitting on the flat surface. The movement caused her short skirt to bunch higher, giving him a glimpse of the lace band of her stockings and her firm thighs.
He swallowed a groan. Oh, man. His heart hammered in his chest and his skin warmed and tightened. His arousal throbbed almost painfully. Slow and easy was going to kill him.
Knowing this moment would shape any chance he might have at a relationship with Jade, he furrowed his fingers into her soft, fragrant hair and used his thumbs to tilt her head up and force her to meet his gaze. “Kissing you is all I’ve thought about tonight. I want to know if you taste as good as you smell, like peaches. It’s gonna happen, and if you let it, it can be real good.”
To his surprise and pleasure, her lashes drifted shut and her lips parted. He felt her surrender, her desire. Gently he touched his mouth to her neck, skimmed his lips along her jaw. She issued a soft, surrendering moan and turned her head toward his. Feeling a spurt of triumph, he brushed his lips across hers, tenderly nuzzled them in a soft, fleeting kiss…then hovered there, a breath away from her lips.
He didn’t have to wait long for her to seek his mouth. Whimpering in frustration, she dragged her hands up his arms, twined her fingers around his neck and pulled him the last inch to her satiny soft lips.
With a low, masculine groan, he gave her what she sought and what he craved. A deep, rapacious kiss. A greedy, giving, shockingly intimate kiss as lush and sweet as peach nectar.
Her fingers plowed through his hair, then slid toward his face until her palms pressed against his jaw. Not to push him away, but to pull him closer. She opened her mouth wider beneath his; he filled it with the thrusting heat of his tongue and coaxed her to give him the same.
Blindly he reached for the wedge of peach on her glass and found it. Touching the cool, damp piece of fruit just below her earlobe, he slid it to the base of her throat. She jerked back with a gasp, breaking their kiss to stare at him in shock.
A seductive grin tipped his mouth. “I want to taste you.” Before she could do or say anything he lowered his head and followed the path of the peach with his tongue, swirling, gliding downward, lapping the sticky sweetness in long, slow provocative strokes.
His free hand worked the buttons of her jacket, and once it fell open he eased it down her arms, leaving her clad in the laciest, sexiest bra he’d ever seen. In less than a heartbeat he’d unsnapped the front closure and her breasts spilled forward, her nipples tight and hard. The erotic sight of her half-naked on his desk, her breasts growing full as he watched, and her skirt shoved high around her thighs, was enough to make him weak in the knees. He groaned deep in his throat, a low male sound that combined masculine appreciation and a deeper, more elemental need no other woman had ever evoked in him.
He glanced up. Jade’s eyes were shut. He supposed that was the best way for her to experience her fantasy, but he wanted her to look at him, know exactly who was satisfying her deepest desires.
“Jade, open your eyes,” he whispered. “I want you to watch the way your body responds to me.”
Her lashes fluttered open, and his heart caught at the hint of vulnerability he saw in the depth of her eyes. Determined to replace her apprehension with pleasure, he glided the peach down the slope of one breast and leisurely circled her nipple until it was stiff and wet with nectar. She trembled, and he continued to the other breast, giving the tip equal attention while waiting patiently for her to grant him the liberty to appease his appetite for her, and to experience the sweet flavor of peaches on warmed skin.
A deep, internal shudder rippled through Jade at the hot, lustful look in Kyle’s eyes as he painted her breasts with the fragrant wedge of fruit. Her head swam from the intoxicating scent filling her every breath, and she could feel herself growing warm and damp…and shamefully aroused. Almost as if they had a will of their own, her thighs tightened around his hips, drawing him closer…
This was wicked. Decadent. But she couldn’t bring herself to stop. She thought again of the fantasy he’d tapped into, and knew she wanted to feel his mouth on her. Just this once…
Very tentatively her hands touched his shoulders and eased around his neck. Sinking her fingers into his hair, she drew his mouth to her breasts. The first touch of his tongue electrified her, and then she got lost in the thrilling, frenzied riot of sensations. His lips and tongue were at once tender and greedy with his exploration. He bathed her skin with infinite care, licked the sensitive curve of her breasts, and curled his tongue around her nipple. Then finally—oh, God, finally—he suckled the aching crest deep into his mouth.
She felt out of control, frightened by how fast and easy it was to lose herself with Kyle. It only took a gentle tug on his hair for him to lift his head, making her realize how in tune he was to her, and not the demands of his own body. The restraint she saw in his dark eyes was admirable.
He smiled, his lashes falling half-mast. “You taste just as sweet as you smell.” Slipping the rest of the peach into his mouth, he brought his sticky fingers to her parted lips, then slid one long finger into her mouth. Automatically, brazenly, she swirled her tongue around the tip.
He groaned and withdrew his finger, lingering for a moment on her soft, kiss-swollen lips. “You do that well,” he said huskily.
Her face flushed at his meaning. In gradual increments, cognizance returned and finally hit her like a dose of cold water. “Oh, Lord,” she groaned in embarrassment, pressing her hands to her flaming cheeks. “I can’t believe that you, that we…that I…” I can’t believe that a fantasy could be even better in reality.
He chuckled, the sound strained. “Yeah, that was pretty damned incredible.”
What have I done? She shook her head in dismay and fumbled with her bra, trying her best to snap the front closure while her hands shook. “This is definitely not a good idea.” She managed to button her jacket though it hung on her in a haphazard way, and tried to wriggle around him.
He backed away, just enough so he wasn’t crowded between her slim thighs, but kept her pinned to his desk by bracing his hands on the edge on either side of her. “After the way you nearly came apart for me, there’s no way I’m going to let you dismiss me or what just happened with a quick, easy exit. Give me one good reason why you think we aren’t a good idea and I’ll consider it.”
“I don’t mix business and pleasure,” she said primly.
His mouth lifted in a lazy smile. “If you expect me to choose between the two, it’s pleasure all the way.”
Jade shivered at the thought of the endless pleasure this man was capable of giving her. “Kyle, I’m not looking to get involved with anyone.”
“Sweetheart,” he said, his tone patient, “what we just shared is enough to tell me you’re more involved than you think.”
She frowned at him for being so rude as to point out the obvious. “I don’t have time in my life for emotional entanglements.”
“Then how about a no-strings-attached affair?” he offered, but there was something else in his gaze that gave his words a deeper meaning and contradicted his flippant offer.
“I don’t go for casual sex.” Heck, she hadn’t had sex, casual or otherwise, in three years!
“Neither do I,” he reassured her. “There’s a chemistry between us, we both feel it, so why not go with it and see where it leads?”
Because she was afraid of where it might lead, afraid of getting so lost in emotions that she forgot all the things that were important to her. Her identity, her independence, being in control…
Unexpectedly he swooped down and captured her lips in a hot, thorough, needy kiss she automatically returned with maddening fervor. Finally he lifted his mouth from hers, leaving her feeling antsy and eager and restless.
Masculine satisfaction glittered in his eyes. He tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, his fingers lingering there, making her go all shivery inside. “I want to be lovers, in every sense of the word,” he told her.
“So, you want sex,” she said flatly.
“Yes, eventually, when you’re ready to take that next step,” he said, putting the emphasis on her calling the shots. “An affair isn’t just about sex. It’s a seduction of the mind, senses and ultimately the body. We’ll take things slow and easy or fast and wild. You set the pace.”
She stared into his eyes, drawn like never before. For the first time in a long time she physically wanted a man, slow and easy and fast and wild. A no-holds-barred wanting, no caution, no restraints. A satisfaction of mutual wants, needs and desires. What he was offering her was exciting and thrilling. And she wanted this fling. With him. For as long as the attraction and fascination lasted. Without the complication of any emotional entanglements.
Especially that.
She grew giddy with anticipation. Isn’t that what her independence was all about? The freedom to make her own choices, control any situation to her liking? To give only as much as she wanted and walk away when it was over, emotions intact?
Absolutely.
And for the first time in three years she wanted to test that feminine power, and Kyle was giving her the perfect opportunity.
Taking a deep breath, she plunged headlong into the forbidden before she lost the nerve. “All right,” she agreed. “We’ll have an affair.”