Remembrance: A Contemporary Erotic Romance (Iris Series Book 4) (9 page)

“I’d take my tongue and taste between her lips, taste how sweet she is,” he whispered.  “Then take command of all of her senses,” he said, rolling the words around his tongue as if savoring each one.  “Devour her mouth, the softness of her lips.  I’d push her up against the nearest surface and touch her, tease her.  Discover all those erogenous zones that make her moan, make her go wild.”

She continued watching his lips move as they formed his words, mesmerized.

“I’d make her put her hands above her head.  She looks so beautiful that way, vulnerable but trusting, waiting for me.  Then I’d use my fingertips and feather them down her arms to explore every part of her.  Feel for her heartbeat on the inside of her wrist to see how fast it pounded for me.  Move my finger down to that tender spot inside her elbow.  Sink my teeth in just behind her ear while my hand worshipped her breasts, her nipples.  Feel her curves and all that softness.” 

His tongue flicked out to touch his upper lip and he continued quietly, softly, his voice low and hypnotizing. 

“I’d stroke my hand down her body until I can feel that sweet wetness on my fingertips.  That wetness that shows me she’s ready for me, she’s desperate for only what I can give her.”

He stopped talking for a moment and the silence played out until she realized he was quiet.  Just as she blinked out of her haze, he said, “Then I’d take her.  Take what belongs to me, my hands and lips bringing her to the heights of pleasure, ecstasy, branding her so there was no doubt in her mind who she belonged to.”  He murmured, “Until she was gasping for air, until she was almost there.  Just on the brink.”

A breathy noise escaped from her mouth before she could stop herself.  Embarrassed, she lifted her eyes to meet his, already heavy lidded with desire.  The corner of his mouth was up in a lazy smile.  “How ya doin’, Janie?” he said in a husky voice. 

“Hm?”  What had he said?

His finger pulled a little harder on the curl he was still holding.  “I said, how are you doing?”

She finally blinked just as the limo came to a stop and she realized they were outside her loft.  She literally had to shake her head to clear her thoughts.

“Fine, fine,” she said.  “I’m fine,” she said one more time as if to convince herself. 

“Mmm.”  He pulled her curl straight only to let go and watch it bounce back.  “Your face is flushed.”  He let his finger touch her cheek.  “It’s a good thing you’re home.  I’m sure you have a fire extinguisher here, right?” he asked, his eyes crinkled at the corners in humor.

She narrowed her eyes.  There was no way he was getting the upper hand in this.  No way.

“I do, yeah,” she said clearing her throat.  She licked her lips and gave him a sultry stare.  “But you know what?”  She cocked her head.  “I think I can come up with some other ways to,” she gave him a pointed look, “take care of that fire.  Thanks for getting me started, Luke.  I’m about to go have a very enjoyable ten minutes.”

Kenneth opened her door then stood on the sidewalk, waiting politely for her to get out.  “But,” she continued lowering her voice and nailing Luke with a look dripping with pure sex, enjoying the expression on his face, “we didn’t get to the part where you made her
scream
.”  She bit her lip.  “Hm.  I guess I’ll just have to use my imagination.  And I have a pretty good one, too.”  She gave him a saucy wink and was about to get out of the limo until she felt his hand grab her wrist.

Behind her, he said, “Next time you challenge me and wan
t to play, Janie, you better remember something.”

She stopped and turned back to look into his eyes.  They were practically shooting icy blue sparks, burning into her.  “What’s that?”  Her question came out breathy.

“When I play for real, I always win.”  He paused on the word ‘always’, drawing out the syllables.

What the hell did that mean?

“You enjoy your ten minutes.”  He smiled with satisfaction.  “I’ll see you later tonight.”

Shit.  She’d completely forgotten that they’d all be going out dancing later that evening. 

“I’ll swing by and get you before picking up Mike and Emily.  Be ready at seven.  But listen to me prattling on,” he said.  “I didn’t mean to stop you.  I know you’re in a hurry.”

She glared at him and got out of the car. 

A minute later, Janie nearly ran into her loft, tossing her purse onto the floor once she was inside.  She frantically slid the metal front door closed behind her, leaned her back against it, hyperventilating.  If she didn’t get off within the next minute she swore she’d implode. 

Trying to catch her breath, she turned to press her forehead against her door.  Raising her arm to prop herself up against the surface, she reached her other hand over to cover her breast and let out a breathy moan.  She’d never been this turned on in her life, and all she could hear were Luke’s words in her head.

As she pictured his face, she let her fingers find her nipple.  She plucked at it then squeezed it, shutting her eyes as she raced toward climax and bit down on her lip.  She whimpered then tore at her pants, unbuttoning her jeans as fast as she could.  She unlaced her boots, the thought that Luke had given them to her only spurring her on to move faster.  Kicking them off then peeling her jeans off with her panties, she stumbled to her bed and landed on her back.

Her hand went to her pulsing sex.  It was drenched, so wet for him she couldn’t hold the groan inside her lungs.  Breathing heavily, she dipped her fingers into her weeping center and spread her arousal all over, sliding it gloriously over her clit which was screaming to be touched.

“Ah,” she moaned in relief, only to increase the pressure of her fingers, bringing her closer to completion.  Her other fingers went back to her nipple and pulled on it over her shirt, her hips bucking into her other hand.  His words played over in her head.

…then I’d take her, take what belongs to me, my hands and lips bringing her to the heights of pleasure, ecstasy, branding her so there was no doubt in her mind who she belonged to…

“Luke,” she gasped, imagining him looking at her, tasting her, touching her.  She bucked faster and faster, her moans getting louder and louder until she let out a low growl as her body shattered into a thousand pieces, her hand grinding into her clit to carry her through to the end.

She lay there gulping for air, her body finally going limp after snapping the tension she’d been holding in all morning, but most especially from the last fifteen minutes with the man who’d always been in the forefront of her mind.  She turned onto her side and let out a sigh, the reality of the day finally sinking into her psyche. 

She wanted him.  And today was the first day he’d actually toyed with her.  Hell, she’d been toying with him for weeks, months really.  But today was the first time he’d taken some of the bait, proving he was much more experienced at these games than she.  She didn’t want to think he was laughing at her right then, but she couldn’t seem to stop the pictures of him in her head…of him in the dressing room unzipping her dress, him touching her foot, him telling her how he pleased a woman.

Vanessa’s face appeared out of nowhere and she grit her teeth together, trying to hold in the growl of frustration and humiliation.  She’d pushed him today, every chance she had, and in the process now felt more vulnerable and fragile than she’d felt before.

Her phone was going off in her purse which she’d left by the front door.  Half naked and depressed, she made her way over to the satchel and dug for it.  A text message had come in.

LD: 
U left so abruptly that u forgot ur bags in the trunk of the limo. Kenneth wanted to bring them up after u walked away but I didn’t want to interrupt ur very enjoyable 10 mins, so I took them w/ me.  So sorry to interrupt u.  Please go back to doing whatever it was u were doing.

She nearly slapped her head in stupidity at leaving her bags.  Shit. 

She thought for a moment before texting back, an evil smile on her face.  If he wanted to push back like he seemed to be doing all day, she would play.  It was the first time he’d ever shown this side to her and if she got hurt?  Well, then she didn’t give a damn anymore.  She would play for as long as he would.

JC: 
Thanks, Lukey.  They must’ve slipped my mind given I was in such a hurry to be alone, if u know what I mean.  If you’ll forgive me, I need to get back to it.  10 mins isn’t going to be nearly enough.  In fact, that’s another trait u can add to the list when finding a man for me:  Endurance.

She sent it, biting her lip.  Then she waited.  His response came back a minute later.

LD:
Endurance is indeed a worthy trait in a lover.  So we have skill and endurance in the bedroom.  Anything else before I start my search?

She wasn’t sure how to take this.  Was he really going to look for a guy for her, or was he just playing around again?

JC: 
Who said it needed to be in the bedroom? Up against the ‘nearest surface’ sounded pretty good to me.

LD: 
Duly noted.  We’ll add creativity to the list. U should probably hold off on dating anyone else until I gather my findings.

She laughed at that.

JC: 
Yeah, like that’s gonna happen.  Perhaps we should have a deadline.  A woman has needs, u know.     
 

LD: 
I’ll have someone for u by Cmas. 

She frowned.  Was he being serious?  Was he really going to find a guy for her?  Shit.  She thought…

JC: 
That’s nearly a month away.  What am I supposed to do w/ myself until then?

LD: 
U said u had a pretty good imagination. Perhaps you’ll need to use it in the meantime.

Grr.  She wasn’t done with him yet. 

JC: 
U said you’d tell me how u make a woman scream and u didn’t finish ur description. I feel a little deprived.

LD: 
Deprivation will only make the release that much better when it’s reached.  I’ll add patience to the list.  A man who’s patient and can teach u that quality as well can stoke the flames for a very long time and show u the delicacies of waiting.  Patience is definitely a must.  Especially w/ ur temperament.

She was wet again, unbelievably aroused as they sexted back and forth for the first time.  She’d like to think she was causing him some discomfort, but as always, he seemed to have the upper hand. 

It pissed her off.

Don’t act like a baby girl, then. 
She grabbed the phone and texted back.

JC: 
I agree, Lukey.  I can be quite a handful.  Fernandez was definitely patient w/ me.  Perhaps I ended things too quickly w/ him.  I’ll need to think on that.

LD: 
I’d wait for me to finish my research first.  I can be pretty thorough and I’m sure u won’t be disappointed w/ my choice.

She growled with frustration.  She couldn’t tell if he was kidding or not.  She’d learned early on in Yoga that one needed to be present and focused, content even in the midst of discomfort, happy regardless of circumstances.  As much as she would enjoy talking to him over the next month about what she wanted in a guy, she wanted him to catch a clue and realize that
he was the guy
.  He couldn’t be that dumb, could he?

JC: 
I still think I’ll need to keep my options open until Cmas.  You’ve got 3 and a half weeks.  After that, I’m kicking u to the curb.

LD: 
We’ll see.  One more trait: Authoritative.  Someone who can take care of that mouth of yours.

Janie chuckled. 
I’d love for you to take care of my mouth.
She grabbed the phone.

JC: 
We’ll chat later.  Right now, my hands are in the middle of something and I’ve gotta get back to it. 

She waited, wondering what his final word would be.  It finally came through.

LD: 
That definitely sounds like fun.  You’ll have to tell me about it later.  Enjoy.

She did.  For a second time that day.

Seven o’clock that evening rolled around and just as Janie was swiping the last of her lip gloss on her lips, her call box went off. 

Right on time, loverboy.

She strutted her dark brown skirt clad ass with high heeled wedge tan boots and multi-layered off the shoulder fitted top to answer the door.  Her tousled hair was piled on her head, her curls escaping everywhere, and her long earrings swung as she slid open the door.

Hell-o, Luke Daniels.

He eyed her appreciatively if not a bit humorously and crossed his arms, leaning his shoulder against the door jamb.  Deep khaki colored slim cut chinos with a pinstripe button down under a gray club room sweater never looked as good as it did on this man.  His coat was a plaid blazer and he had on leather brown shoes.

“Hey.  I hope I didn’t interrupt anything,” he said innocently.

She smiled as if she didn’t have a care in the world.  “Not at all, Mr. Daniels.  I just need to get my coat,” she said with a flirty eye, and turned to grab her things, adding a little more sway to her hips.  She felt his approach behind her before she heard him.  He took her long sweater coat from her hands and helped her on with it, sliding his hands down her arms once she was encased in the soft wool.  As she turned around, he pulled on one of her curls, watching it bounce back into place.