I’m momentarily stumped. I’ve never known Jordyn to wish for one guy to make her feel wanted and needed. “One day, when you least expect it, Jord, some man is going to sweep you right off your feet.”
She laughs without humor. “Chickie, I’ve been swept off my feet many, many times.”
“I don’t mean carted off to bed. I mean someone special will capture your heart and vice versa.”
“Never gonna happen,” she says with sad resignation. “Ignore my bout of weakness. Too much champagne. Too much watching you and Mick in action. I don’t do relationships.”
“Why not?”
“I just don’t.”
“But I don’t get that,” I whisper through the dim interior, dappled by the city lights. “Your parents are happily married. And so is your brother. You’ve been around marital bliss your whole life! Why wouldn’t you want that?”
“In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not the kind of woman men want to settle down with. I’m not sweet and demure like my mother and sister-in-law. Or sophisticated like Lexie. Or at all feminine like you are. You’ve heard that adage that men want a lady in the parlor and a tigress in the bedroom…I’ve got half of it right. The lady part, forget it. So why pursue something I’m gonna suck at?”
“Oh, Jord.” Understanding the feelings of inadequacy, I twist in my seat to give her a hug. “You don’t give yourself enough credit. You’re a beautiful, successful woman with a generous heart. You make people laugh and yes, you’re tough and speak your mind. A strong, confident man will find that exciting and challenging.”
“Yeah, well,” she says glibly, “Mick’s already taken. So let me know when you come across another one of those.”
I ask Stiles to drop Jordyn off first. In her mood, she’d likely proposition him. I decide to stand between my friend and something she might regret.
I’m disappointed when I don’t see Mick’s car. Using the spare key, I unlock the door and find my house dark and empty. Worry creeps into my thoughts, but it’s erased by his text minutes later.
B there soon. Leave the necklace on.
My stomach feels as though it has psycho butterflies for contents. But the crazy flutters are the good kind. I remove the dress and slip on a short black nightie with peek-a-boo lace cups and a bias cut that drapes softly around my body. It doesn’t hide much, but gives me that added layer of confidence. Next, I undo my hair and shake the curls loose. As a final step, I dab a refresher of perfume on my pulse points, beating the subtle scents of vanilla, bergamot, and lavender to life. I close my eyes and imagine Mick’s lips brushing me here, touching me there. I’m still imagining his talented mouth while I light several candles.
I stand them inside tall brass candleholders on my dresser, so they can more safely burn out on their own. I turn off the overhead light. The candles cast a pale glow, and my bedroom fills with the sensual smell of jasmine. I close the drapes partway, allowing just a bit of the moon to slant through. After peeling off my panties, I climb beneath the cool cotton sheets.
Waiting.
Anticipating.
A BRONZE SHADOW MOVES OVER me. My heart sings as he lowers his solid weight onto my body and his lips cover mine, kissing me slowly, sexily, tasting of dark promises. My senses rejoice at the woodsy scent of his warm male skin, in the ripple of his back muscles beneath my palms. In his flagrant virility as he cradles my hips through the silk and makes room for his hot, hard arousal between my legs.
With repeated forays, his sleek tongue plunders my mouth, dipping, seeking. It’s wet, lusty, and wonderful. When he finally pulls away, he doesn’t go far. I can feel his breath misting my lips. I open my heavy lids and blink him into focus.
“Mick.”
“It had better be,” he murmurs.
“I thought I was dreaming. What happened?”
“I just kissed the hell out of you.” He smiles the smile of a man who knows he’s got a woman exactly where he wants her.
I smile back, not minding at all. “I meant, what happened that took so long.”
“Mm…you smell good.” He sweeps his nose along my neck and I arch into him, breathing into the pleasure of his touch.
“Tell me what happened.”
“They snapped a few pictures. Then I drove around for a while to be sure I wouldn’t be followed to your place.”
“That. Sounds. Awful.” Each word catches as he works his mouth down the column of my throat to my necklace.
“What was awful was not being here.” He pauses at the pendant and looks up with a restless expression, need and want sparking in his eyes. “I fantasized about you the entire time wearing nothing but this. Now I’m here and I’m done fantasizing.”
I was hoping to avoid the naked part. I removed the panties earlier so that we could make love while I kept my nightie on. My handful of lovers accepted that I never totally disrobed, but I should have known Mick wouldn’t. He likes to look.
