mattered.”
“Thank you.” This time she actually smiled as her gaze took in his casual garb.
“For what?”
“It suddenly occurred to me that you are missing the party tonight to be here. Because of me.”
His eyes searched hers and saw they had softened. “You need to understand something. What happened tonight doesn’t mean that they don’t like you. Men see the world differently than women. To you this was hurtful; to them it was just part of the game. In some ways, it’s almost a compliment. They see you as an adversary, but an equal. Little by little, you’re wearing down their defenses.” He helped himself to a bite of the pizza. “This is incredible.”
Nikki nodded and for the first time really grinned. “Let’s order another one.”
—
When they finished the meal, Nikki was surprised again when she found out the team had picked up the check. “I guess they figured it was the least they could do after standing me up,” she said when the waiter had departed. “If I’d known that, I would’ve ordered the expensive wine.”
“I did,” Jake confessed with a grin. He helped her into her coat, and together they walked out the door. As they stood by Nikki’s car, he reached up and pulled her collar firmly around her neck. Their eyes met and she gave him a mischievous grin even as she held out her hand.
“Well, I guess this is good night. I remember you wanted to take things slow, get to know each other.”
“Right.” He stared at her outstretched hand and took it into his own. But instead of the polite shake she was expecting, he cursed. “Oh, what the hell.” And then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
The attraction between them, long suppressed, exploded. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Jake yanked her up against him and his fingers tangled in her hair, holding her firmly as he ravaged her mouth. His other hand slid impatiently inside her coat to the small of her back, wanting even more contact as his erection pressed firmly
there,
where she was on fire for him.
Frantically, Nikki kissed him back. He was too hot, too hard, and every cell in her body cried out for more.
This is desire
, she thought,
the
“I don’t care if we get caught” steamy, reckless kind.
He had her up against the car, and she felt the icy coolness of her fender against the back of her knee.
“My God,” he breathed, wrestling with the buttons on her coat. “You are so beautiful, so hot—” Finally, he got her free, and he tugged at the zipper of her dress.
He glanced up as another couple approached. Jake assumed a protective position, bracing his arm against her window and effectively blocking her from their view. Fortunately, they seemed engaged in their own drama, for they argued as the woman slammed the door and the car sped off.
Chuckling, Jake lifted her face to his. “I don’t know what it is about you,” he whispered. “But you make me crazy. In a good way.”
“That was close,” she breathed, pulling up the zipper, still stunned by what had transpired between them. Her eyes met his. Was he still so determined to stick to the program? “Now what?” she challenged him.
His gaze took her measure. “I had really wanted to take this slow, but I find I can’t stay away from you.” He gently stroked her cheek, and then brushed his thumb against the fullness of her lip. He heard her indrawn breath.
“Then don’t,” Nikki said softly, and then said what was in her heart. “I want you.”
Any hesitation on his part now seemed long gone. “Your place is probably closer than mine,” he said decisively.
Nikki smiled, relief flooding through her. “Well then. Follow me.”
Chapter Thirteen
She’d barely unlocked the door of her condo when she was in Jake’s arms. Their need, enhanced by the delay, was overwhelming now, and Nikki met his lips with a sense of urgency as she shrugged out of her dress.
Jake did the same, drinking of her as he tossed his
“Thank you.” This time she actually smiled as her gaze took in his casual garb.
“For what?”
“It suddenly occurred to me that you are missing the party tonight to be here. Because of me.”
His eyes searched hers and saw they had softened. “You need to understand something. What happened tonight doesn’t mean that they don’t like you. Men see the world differently than women. To you this was hurtful; to them it was just part of the game. In some ways, it’s almost a compliment. They see you as an adversary, but an equal. Little by little, you’re wearing down their defenses.” He helped himself to a bite of the pizza. “This is incredible.”
Nikki nodded and for the first time really grinned. “Let’s order another one.”
—
When they finished the meal, Nikki was surprised again when she found out the team had picked up the check. “I guess they figured it was the least they could do after standing me up,” she said when the waiter had departed. “If I’d known that, I would’ve ordered the expensive wine.”
“I did,” Jake confessed with a grin. He helped her into her coat, and together they walked out the door. As they stood by Nikki’s car, he reached up and pulled her collar firmly around her neck. Their eyes met and she gave him a mischievous grin even as she held out her hand.
“Well, I guess this is good night. I remember you wanted to take things slow, get to know each other.”
“Right.” He stared at her outstretched hand and took it into his own. But instead of the polite shake she was expecting, he cursed. “Oh, what the hell.” And then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.
The attraction between them, long suppressed, exploded. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Jake yanked her up against him and his fingers tangled in her hair, holding her firmly as he ravaged her mouth. His other hand slid impatiently inside her coat to the small of her back, wanting even more contact as his erection pressed firmly
there,
where she was on fire for him.
Frantically, Nikki kissed him back. He was too hot, too hard, and every cell in her body cried out for more.
This is desire
, she thought,
the
“I don’t care if we get caught” steamy, reckless kind.
He had her up against the car, and she felt the icy coolness of her fender against the back of her knee.
“My God,” he breathed, wrestling with the buttons on her coat. “You are so beautiful, so hot—” Finally, he got her free, and he tugged at the zipper of her dress.
He glanced up as another couple approached. Jake assumed a protective position, bracing his arm against her window and effectively blocking her from their view. Fortunately, they seemed engaged in their own drama, for they argued as the woman slammed the door and the car sped off.
Chuckling, Jake lifted her face to his. “I don’t know what it is about you,” he whispered. “But you make me crazy. In a good way.”
“That was close,” she breathed, pulling up the zipper, still stunned by what had transpired between them. Her eyes met his. Was he still so determined to stick to the program? “Now what?” she challenged him.
His gaze took her measure. “I had really wanted to take this slow, but I find I can’t stay away from you.” He gently stroked her cheek, and then brushed his thumb against the fullness of her lip. He heard her indrawn breath.
“Then don’t,” Nikki said softly, and then said what was in her heart. “I want you.”
Any hesitation on his part now seemed long gone. “Your place is probably closer than mine,” he said decisively.
Nikki smiled, relief flooding through her. “Well then. Follow me.”
Chapter Thirteen
She’d barely unlocked the door of her condo when she was in Jake’s arms. Their need, enhanced by the delay, was overwhelming now, and Nikki met his lips with a sense of urgency as she shrugged out of her dress.
Jake did the same, drinking of her as he tossed his
Similar Books
