Bending Over Backwards (9 page)

She loved her work with her heart and soul, and he respected that. It also made him sad, he realized, to have lost that part of his life. He must have loved his work, too, but in spite of his flash of memory earlier in the day, he still couldn’t recall his actual job. In fact, the longer he was here, the longer he was away, the stranger it all seemed.

“How did you get into it? Yoga, that is.” He shook off the blue feeling that suddenly overcame him.

She looked down, fussing with her food before she answered.

“I was going through a tough time about ten years ago. I’d just moved here and had no idea what I was going to do. I was broke and I was out of a really bad relationship. I picked up a job waitressing, which was about all I was qualified to do. One of the girls at the restaurant went to yoga. I went to a class with her and I loved it. My practice grounded me. It helped me feel settled for the first time in years. Focused. I found something that filled the empty space in my life, I guess, and I grabbed on to it and didn’t let go. Now here I am,” she said, taking a big bite of potato salad.

Leo knew there was more to it. The way she was slow to trust, the way she took care of herself and didn’t want to rely on anyone. He wondered what in her past had left that “empty space” and asked as much, especially about the bad relationship. Everyone had scars, he knew, inside and out.

She shrugged again, breaking eye contact. “The relationship stuff is ancient history, and the rest was family issues.” She met his eyes. “I really don’t want to talk about it. It’s in the past, and this is too lovely an evening to dredge it up.”

Leo nodded. “I understand. I didn’t mean to pry.”

She smiled, visibly relieved. “Thank you. I needed this, and the company, the distraction, more than you can know.”

Leo was more at peace than he had been for a long time. The sun was down below the water, darkness falling over the beach. The evening air was cool as it usually was, and he took a deep breath, as if absorbing the moment into himself.

“Feel like a walk?” he asked Jasmine.

“After all of that food, definitely.”

They brought their plates back into the kitchen and then walked back out to the beach.

“I forgot how much I loved the ocean,” he said as they walked through the shallow waves left by the diminishing tide. “I also loved things about the city, but I grew up with the beach outside our front door.”

“It’s wonderful, even in winter. I like the cold, stark gray of it off-season too, though it’s not for everyone,” Jasmine agreed. “I lived in the city, and we took holidays near the water, on my father’s boat. He was usually bringing along someone he was trying to impress. It was never like this. Quiet, peaceful. I couldn’t wait to get home.”

She got quiet, as if she’d said more than she meant to.

“You didn’t get along?” he ventured.

“We did, when I was young. Less so later.”

Feeling the door shut on the conversation, Leo lightened the moment by reaching down and scooping a handful of water in her direction, the splash taking her by surprise.

“Leo!” As the cold water caught her in the face, he laughed.

The next thing he knew, he was down on his ass in the shallow water, and she was laughing above him.

“Did you just sweep my ankle?” he asked in shock.

Jasmine nodded, laughing harder. Leo grimaced as another icy wave crept up the sand and into his shorts.

“My former boyfriend taught me a little jujitsu.”

“Really? So you like to wrestle?” He pushed to his feet and squeezed out his shirt.

“I know enough to be dangerous.”

“Me too,” he replied, moving fast.

Before she could anticipate, he grabbed her arm and pulled her in tight to his body, taking them both back down into the surf.

Jasmine landed on top of him with a thud, and Leo rolled them both neatly, pinning her under him. The receding tide sloshed up around them as if getting in one final, chilly lick.

“I can’t believe you did that,” she huffed in outrage, but he saw the laughter burbling under the surface. “Oh my God, this is freezing.”

She squealed as a wave washed up around her shoulders.

“It is, isn’t it?” he teased evilly. He couldn’t help but notice her nipples hardening against his chest.

“Couldn’t let a girl take me down and have my manliness called into question out here in front of everyone. I had to even the score.”

He pushed some wet hair back from her face. She was so damned beautiful. He started to overheat in spite of the icy water.

“Don’t worry. I would defend your masculinity if anyone gives you a problem.”

The teasing note in her voice pleased him. He’d so rarely seen Jasmine play.

“Really? You’d do that for me?”

He shifted his weight, pressing against her. She had to know how turned on he was, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“I would. Though if you get up and walk down the beach sporting that big boner, I won’t have to say a word about it. The evidence will be clear.”

Leo choked on a surprised laugh and fell to her side as she joined him, the two of them rolling in the sand and waves, laughing like kids.

It was one of the best, sexiest moments of his life.

When the laughing passed, the heat remained. Luckily, his huge boner, as she put it, had also quelled for the moment. But looking at her, wet hair, wet clothes, damp skin, made the fires kindle again.

“Jasmine—” he started, unsure of what he was going to say, but she interrupted him.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Apparently of like mind; Leo was almost afraid to hope.

Back at the beach house and inside the sliding door, Leo started to say something, but Jasmine put fingers to his lips.

“Enough talk. No talking, no thinking. Just this.”

Leo didn’t argue when she took his lips in a fierce kiss. It made him forget what he was going to say anyway.

Chapter Eight

Jasmine meant what she said to Leo. She didn’t want to think. She’d been thinking for every damned second of the last sixteen hours and none of it good.

Right now, she wanted to feel good. Leo could do that for her better than anyone. She could make him feel good too, and she was about to show him how much so.

Falling to her knees on the tile floor in front of the double-deck doors where they had come in, she slipped her hands around his butt, then up to the band of his shorts. Deftly, she undid the button there, then the zipper, sliding them down and closing her eyes in utter bliss as she found only skin beneath.

“Commando.” The word was uttered on a breath as she smiled up at him.

His eyes were hot, his jaw tight with anticipation.

Jasmine didn’t plan to disappoint.

Reaching down, Leo helped her peel the wet fabric from his body, taking off his shirt, as well. Jasmine left her clothes on for the moment. She felt powerful, in charge, even though she was kneeling in front of him.

Her gaze drifted down his sculpted chest to his narrow waist and hips. Her hands followed her eyes, exploring secret hollows and hard edges. Brushing her cheek against his powerful thigh, she inhaled him, salt water scenting his skin, still a little gritty from the sand.

She hadn’t allowed herself this luxury before, studying him, touching him and exploring all of the hidden places that his body offered. She did so now, exploring until he groaned. He was so hard he was trembling, jutting toward her in jerky movements of need. She hadn’t touched his cock, yet.

When she did, offering a light kiss to the broad head, he swore under his breath, his legs locking at the knee as he braced himself on the door with one arm.

Bringing both hands around to his ass, she squeezed the hard muscles there and pulled him in, experimenting with taking his length in her mouth, seeing how deep she could go.

She had almost all of him inside her, nudging the back of her throat when she pulled back, drawing her lips tightly along his shaft and sucking hard on the head before ending with a lick that was as satisfying for her as it was for him. She did it again, then again. Losing herself in pleasing him, she played with different touches, some light, some hard, adding in a little scrape of her teeth that Leo’s guttural groan told her he liked. A lot.

“More, Jasmine. Deeper.” His voice was raspy as he put his hands in her hair and directed her, helping her set a new rhythm. His touch was light enough that she could pull away if she wanted, but she had no thoughts of that.

In fact, she put her hand on his and curled it shut. She wanted him to hold her tighter. When he dug his fingers in and held her more firmly, her hair tugging a little, the sensation shot straight down her body to her clit.

Leo was breathing hard, telling her how amazing she was—how fucking amazing, to be exact—and Jasmine loved every second. She loved his taste, loved how he filled her and all she wanted to do was find every single way she could to surprise and push him to the edge.

When he seemed close, their movements changed from her sucking him to him fucking her mouth. She brought her hand up to cup his balls, stroking the skin behind ever so lightly. He yelled out her name as he filled her almost faster than she could swallow what he gave up.

It was barely over when she fell down to the floor, shaking from head to toe as she stripped her wet clothes from her hot skin. Above her, his hand still braced on the wall, Leo looked down at her, his chest still heaving.

“Make me come, Leo.” She was so turned on from his reaction. “Please.” She needed him so much, she was willing to beg.

He practically collapsed to the floor, landing between her legs. He wasted no time taking her in his mouth, sucking her clit and fucking her with his fingers until she was bucking on the floor, screaming out her own release only seconds later.

It was rough, feral, fast—and exactly what she needed. She wanted more. Much more. Jasmine had no intention of leaving tonight. For the moment, she would ignore reality. She needed as much of Leo as she could take. As much as he’d give.

He rolled over, catching his breath as he looked at her.

“You okay?”

She smiled at him, feeling wicked in the most delicious way.

“That was awesome. But the sand is starting to dry, and I think I could use a shower.”

He grinned, pushing up to his feet and offering her a hand, pulling her up too.

“Mind if I join you?”

“I was hoping.” She leaned in to press a kiss to his lips.

Their tastes mingled and it was enough to make her body tingle in wonderful places.

Leo pulled her in, holding her tight to him as he deepened the kiss, his tongue rubbing lazily on hers, stoking new fires.

He was semihard against her thigh, and Jasmine wrapped her arms around his neck, pressing against him good and tight, letting him know she was all in.

For tonight, anyway.

When she got up in the morning, her focus would have to be her business and getting her life back together. But for now, all of her attention was honed in on this very sexy man.

“I need you again, Leo,” she whispered against his mouth when they broke the kiss. “I think I’ll need you a lot tonight.”

Something in his face softened, his eyes warming. A little caution flared in her mind as her heart warmed. He’d been worried about her. He took care of her. Fed her. Held her. He was interested in her life, but he didn’t push past where she wanted to go.

Except when it came to sex. With that, she was pretty sure she’d let him take her anywhere, anytime. Give him anything he wanted. The thought caused a little shiver to work down her spine as he led her to the large upstairs bathroom where she spied the shower he had mentioned.

“My God. That’s the biggest shower I’ve ever seen,” she said, truly impressed.

The shower unit was practically its own small room, built with walls of—as far as she could tell—natural stone. The way the faucets were set would let water splash over the ledge, very much like a waterfall more than a traditional shower. The floor was designed in clever tile and stone patterns of browns, beiges and greens. It was like being in a secluded glade. There was a broad stone bench along the back wall that ran the length of the unit. Convenient.

“This bathroom must cost more than my entire house did. Oh my God…” She investigated the power panel. “This can turn into a steam room? Are you kidding me?”

“Nice, huh? Neal’s been very successful, though he doesn’t get out here much. His wife probably designed this. It’s what she does, interior design.”

“How could they not come here, if only to use this beauty?” She ran her hand along the smooth, dappled glass door. “There must be enough room for four people.”

“Six if they’re friendly,” Leo joked, kissing her back.

Her head fell forward, encouraging him to move his lips down the length of her spine, sending off sparks of desire with every touch.

Then he came around her, turning on the “waterfall” and some of the shower jets, testing the water as he turned to face her.

Jasmine was happy to join him, gasping as the first pulsing jet of warm water washed over her thigh and another hit her lower back, and another her shoulders.