Chapter Ten
Ithought Iwould be nervous that night. Though I would deny it with my last dying breath, my fear that he would reject me had prevented me from taking this step before.
Somehow, talking to the girls had helped me let go of that fear a little. Grier was right. I knew what Jordan’s actions were saying—that he was giving me the relationship I wanted, which meant evenings together that ended with kisses on my doorstep.
But I was ready for the next step. More than ready.
After I slid my feet into my black pumps, I walked over to the framed full-length mirror in the corner. The slinky black halter dress I wore was more suited to summer than the cold chill of February, but I didn’t intend to leave the house tonight so it wouldn’t be a problem. I would never have chosen it for myself, but Tessa had given it to me last year at Christmas with the intention of livening up my love life. I’d promptly stuck it in the back of my closet and forgotten about it. Now I was glad that my pushy sister had given it to me and I knew she would be ecstatic if she knew that it was being used as she intended it—to get me laid.
The sleek, shiny material tied at the nape of my neck and draped over my breasts, clinging to every curve. A narrow swathe of pale skin was exposed down to the bottom of my sternum and the back plunged into a dangerously low drape above my ass. The bodice bloused over a short, tight skirt that was just long enough to cover the tops of my thigh highs. The black stilettos I wore clearly stated, “Fuck me.”
Jordan was an intelligent man. I was confident that he would get the message as soon as I opened the door.
If he didn’t, well, I’d just have to say it louder.
I left my hair straight, the sleek bob brushing the tops of my shoulders and I kept my make-up simple and hopefully smudge-proof. The finishing touch was a dab of perfume behind each ear, on my wrists, and between my breasts.
As I straightened up the bathroom, my nerves buzzed beneath my skin. No, not nerves. Anticipation. Yes, I was a little nervous because I’d never seduced a man before, but more than that, I was excited. Ready. Even eager.
I’d had a long dry spell and I intended to make up for it.
I turned off the light in my bathroom and walked into the bedroom. I had several candles burning on my dresser and my bedside lamps were on. The overall effect was inviting but not over the top.
In the living room, I had a bottle of red wine open and ready to be poured and the scented candles I liked were all burning.
The stage was set.
The doorbell rang and the low hum of nerves beneath my skin increased. I smoothed my hands over the skirt of the dress and walked down the hall from my bedroom to the living room. Before I unlocked the door and opened it, I took a deep breath. My heart was pounding, with excitement or anxiety I wasn’t sure.
The first thing I saw when I opened the door were white orchids. Probably two dozen of them. When my eyes lifted to Jordan’s face, he didn’t meet my gaze. No, he was looking down, at my dress. His eyes moved over my body slowly and though it sounded fanciful, even to me, I could swear I felt the heat and weight of them like a physical touch.
When he finally looked me in the eye, I no longer felt warm. I was scorched.
“Good evening, Tanya.” His greeting was formal, almost stilted, and I began to wonder if I’d made a mistake. Until I met his burning blue gaze again.
No, I hadn’t made a mistake. Still, two could play that game.
“Evening, Jordan. Thank you for the lovely flowers,” I replied, holding out my hand to take the bouquet. “I’ll put them in water. Make yourself comfortable.”
As I turned and walked into the kitchen, I once again felt the weight of Jordan’s eyes on me, running along the bare skin of my spine. I ignored the way my hands trembled as I took a vase from the cabinet and filled it with water. I removed the brown paper wrapped around the stems and slid the orchids into the delicate crystal cylinder.
As I arranged the flowers so that each stem was submerged, heat enveloped me from behind, warming the skin of my bare back. Jordan’s hands rested on the counter, fencing me in between the cabinets and his body.
“Your dress is…incredible,” he murmured in my ear.
“Thank you.” My voice was barely more than a whisper as I watched him reach out and take a single stem from the vase.
He stepped into me, his lower body brushing mine, and I felt a tug on the material tied around the nape of my neck. The fabric loosened then slithered down the front of my body, leaving me bare from the waist up.
“I’m inclined to believe it’s an invitation,” Jordan continued, moving closer until my hips were trapped between the counter and his body.
I watched as the hand holding the orchid lifted and he slid the fragrant petals over the skin of my chest. “Yes, it is,” I murmured, gasping as the flowers moved lower, caressing my breast with agonizing gentleness.
“Then I accept.”
He tucked the stem back into the vase and repeated the caress with his hand, his palm sliding across my chest then down over my breast. While the orchid had been soft and titillating, his hands were demanding. The heat and texture of his palms seemed to sear my flesh as he cupped my breast and tugged lightly at my nipple with his thumb and forefinger.
His other hand reached up and swept aside my hair, baring the skin of my neck. Knowing what was coming, I tilted my head, offering him what he wanted.
