Your Desire by Francis Drake, Dee S. Knight Page B

soon as they’d entered the house, she could almost smell the arousal from some of the women. If Victoria Haber had literally licked her lips in anticipation of eating him, it wouldn’t have surprised Derica. Instead, Victoria satisfied herself by latching onto Kailen immediately, taking charge of introducing him to the mixed group of family and company employees. The men had eyed him warily, as though they, too, scented the change in the room and were uncertain of how to handle it.
    Kailen dealt with their visit in the most perfect manner, charming the women and making “man talk” with the guys, remarkably antagonizing no one. Before dinner the men had found their way into the den to watch the obligatory game. It surprised her that even Joel Miller, the man with whom she was in competition for the promotion, followed the group into the den. How many times had he told her he hated football? Yet there he went, like a sheep.
    Instead of joining the men in the den, Kailen played catch in the backyard with the six or seven children who’d come with their parents. At the few other casual social events she’d attended, she didn’t remember anyone paying attention to the children, and they were thrilled with the notice. As she watched, Kailen played with the children, and Victoria and a couple of other women hanging on the sidelines played with the thought of Kailen playing with them. Fat chance. Flashing her smiles when he caught her eye and taking her aside for a scorching kiss when he came in to wash up for dinner, he left little doubt who was on his mind.
    He’d relaxed with her after their meal, until the older boys—eight or nine years old, she guessed—cajoled him into a match of badminton. Then, with a smile as his apology, he’d gone off to swat the birdie over the net until now, when the kids looked ready to collapse.
    “Time for cake!” Martha, Hannah and Daniel’s daughter, called to the group.
    Derica stretched her arms over her head and forced herself out of her indulgent, lazy mood. When she stood, she glimpsed Martha disappearing into the dining room where the two of them had earlier arranged the cake and gifts. The elaborately decorated cake with its discreet single candle was visible from the patio, while the table piled high with wrapped presents stood to the side. She hoped Martha’s son had retrieved her gift from the car and placed it with the rest of the packages, but as she directed her gaze to the tall, dark-haired man making his way from the lower lawn, she could think of only one gift she wanted unwrapped. A quick glance at her watch showed they couldn’t leave quite yet. But soon…
    Whoops of glee greeted the announcement of birthday cake, and the children dropped their rackets as one and headed for the house at a run. Kailen followed at a more sedate pace, but looked no less eager.
    “You like cake, huh?” she said when he met her on the patio and gave her a hug.
    “If it’s chocolate,” he said with a note of hopefulness.
    She shook her head, and his smile drooped.
    “It’s okay. I’m just happy to find a way to end the game. Usually I can handle opponents under ten with no trouble, but this bunch was about to wear me out.”
    Laughing, she pulled the door open. “Yes, it looked like it.”
    He dragged her into the small washroom just inside and kicked the door shut with his heel. Wrapping his arms around her, he looked into her eyes. “Actually, I’m better at other games.”
    “I know that very well.” Evidence of the kind of game he was great at poked her in the stomach. She rubbed against him.
    “Watch it, woman! Today is the longest time we’ve been with each other and yet not, if you know what I mean. We’ve hardly even kissed, so you can imagine the state I’m in. Don’t tempt me unless you want to handle the consequences.”
    “I want to handle every consequence you’ve got.”
    He groaned and crushed her to him then used his tongue to explore her lips and