He saw the warm flush that touched her cheeks. He saw how her nipples had hardened against the sheer material of the pegnoir. She licked her lips again and his groin tightened. Instinct told him to pull back and regain the professionalism he’d lost when she began making it sexy, but knew it was too late. The invitation in her gaze told him all he needed to know, all he wanted to know . . . for the moment.
Justice noticed Blake had stopped using his camera and was staring at her. “That’s it for now?” she asked nervously, licking her lips yet again.
He shook his head and slowly closed the distance separating them. He lifted her chin with his finger to hold her gaze to his. “Yes, that’s it for now.”
Then, he lowered his head and kissed her.
Six
This isn’t going to be a kiss, this will be torture, Justice thought the moment she felt Blake’s tongue touch the very center of her top lip, stroking it gently and making her mouth open for his.
Her body shuttered the moment she tasted him, breathed him in as her tongue willingly and eagerly mingled with his. But he didn’t let her take the lead and refused to give her control. It soon became evident that he was determined to play a game of slow seduction, making her concentrate on every aspect of what he was doing to her mouth.
Like she could think of anything else.
Their mouths were in perfect alignment, opulent harmony. The sensuous slide of his tongue tasting her everywhere, exploring her fully, possessed a tantalizing heat that took the act of kissing to a whole new level for her. She was not just being kissed, she was being absorbed, tasted senseless and consumed. He was taking his time, lingering, not rushing. It was as if he intended to learn everything about her, starting with her taste.
She couldn’t stop the moan that escaped her lips when he deepened the kiss, intensifying the flavor, heat, and desire. When he pulled her closer to him, shifting his hips slightly in the process, she felt the hard length of him press through the Chantilly lace.
Her body trembled at the contact that seared her like a molten flame. Red-hot sensations poured through her bloodstream, making her incapable of doing anything but staying latched to his tongue the same way he was latched to hers.
No telling how long they would have stayed that way, kissing, absorbing, tasting, if they hadn’t heard the none-too-subtle sound of someone clearing their throat. Too fired up, to overcome with desire to care that they’d been caught kissing, both were reluctant to stop and slowly released their mouths, but not before Blake’s tongue touched the center of her lips one final time. This time the soft stroke wasn’t a form of torture but a promise of more to come – later.
They both turned and met Tonya’s smiling hazel eyes. She had caught them kissing and seemed pretty damn pleased about it.
“So, how far did the two of you get without me?” she asked glancing around the room with a smirk on her face.
Not as far as we would have liked,” Blake replied in a voice that bordered on annoyance for his cousin’s lousy sense of timing. As far as he was concerned, tasting Justice had changed everything. Whether she knew it or not, the kiss had only fanned the flames between them and had not put them out.
“I guess we should get back to work,” Justice said softly.
“Yeah,” he said, detecting the disappointment in her voice. She wanted more like he did and he decided they both would get it. “How about going out to dinner with me later?” he asked, ignoring Tonya, who had the decency to pretend she was busy studying the proofs again.
Justice smiled and it was a smile that tempted him to pull her into his arms and kiss her again. “I’d like that, Blake.”
“Good. Will seven o’clock be okay?”
She nodded. “Yes, that will be fine. I’ll give you directions to my place before I leave.”
“All right.” He forced his gaze from her mouth and picked back up his camera before he was tempted to kiss her again. “I guess you can go change into another outfit so we can start up again.”
She met his gaze. “Okay.”
He watched her walk away, appreciating the sway of her hips. Usually it didn’t matter to him if he got to know a woman mentally before things got physical between them. In fact he usually preferred it that way. Things became less personal. He had a preference for getting into a woman’s body and not her head. And he hadn’t wanted anyone this bad since… hell, come to think of it, he hadn’t ever wanted anyone this bad, so a night of rolling between the sheets should be a satisfying conclusion.
But for some reason with Justice he wanted things to be different. There was something about her that pulled at him, something besides wanting to devour her mouth again that made him want to get to know her better. He was curious as to what she liked and what she didn’t like. What turned her on and what turned her off besides the thought of getting married.
He didn’t want to rush things, which really was crazy since he had only three weeks left in Alexandria. In fact, he was willing to let her set the pace between them. She would definitely let him know when she thought he was going too far, too quickly. No doubt the time they spent together alone would be hot, intense and passionate.
But there was more. She had the ability to stir his emotions each time their eyes met and when he had kissed her, she had unleashed within him secret desires and hidden pleasures that he’d never before shared in a kiss. Why? And what kind of woman had the ability to break down his defenses that way?
He sighed deeply. Starting tonight he would find out.
***
Justice looked at herself in the full-length mirror and thought, this is unbelievable. No, not the length of her dress, which she had to admit was unbelievable, too, but what she was thinking about was the fact that in less than ten minutes Blake would be arriving to pick her up for dinner.
What was so unbelievable was that for the first time ever, she felt she was dating a man outside of her element, a man completely outside her scope of experience. No man had ever bestowed a kiss on her that had taken a full twelve hours to calm her racing heart and make her change her panties twice just thinking about it. If this kept up she would have to carry a spare pair around with her.
Luckily for her things had gotten real busy after she had changed outfits and had returned to continue the photo session. But still, there had been something about watching him move around with that camera, seemingly concentrating on her with the same intensity she was concentrating on him, especially when she’d studied his mouth knowing she’d gotten a real good taste of it. Heat had settled deep down in the pit of her stomach each time their gaze had met.
She jumped at the sound of the phone and quickly wondered if perhaps Blake was calling to cancel. Maybe he’d thought over things and decided he didn’t want to become involved with her after all. She quickly picked up the phone. “Yes?”
“Boy, don’t we sound anxious?”
Justice’s brows arched. She wanted to be annoyed with Tonya but couldn’t be. Although they hadn’t had a chance to talk, Justice had recognized a set-up when she saw one. Tonya had set her up. “If I do sound anxious it’s all your fault,” she said, not being able to keep the smile out of her voice. “I don’t know whether to thank you or strangle you.”
“Go ahead and thank me. Besides, I thought I would be doing you both a favor, especially after I saw the flowers Blake bought you and listened for five full minutes to the lame excuse he was giving me for getting them. I figured the two of you had it bad and didn’t need me around for a while. I would have stayed away longer had I known things had started heating up.”
Justice giggled. “Yeah, your timing was pretty lousy.”
“Evidently. Trust me, I didn’t relish walking in on the two of you with locked lips, but I figured you had to come up for air sometime. Now, enough of that. Tell me what you’re wearing tonight.”
After telling Tonya about the outfit she had chosen to wear, Justice wasn’t surprised that her friend had clapped with approval. When
the two of them had gone shopping a few weeks ago, it had been Tonya who had seen the scarlet red, curve-fitting mini dress and had talked her into buying it.
Justice had thought the dress was beautiful but way too short for her, but Tonya had convinced her that there was nothing wrong with showing her legs since she had such a gorgeous pair. She hoped Tonya was right because she would definitely be showing her legs tonight as well as parts of her thighs. In fact she would have to make it a point not to bend over since the dress was just that short. But a part of her had to admit she looked good in it and the high heels complimented the outfit.
“Okay, I got to run. Blake will be here any minute,” she said, suddenly feeling nervous.
“All right, and remember what we talked about the other day.”
Justice frowned. The two of them talked often and about so many things that she wasn’t sure just what particular conversation Tonya was alluding to. “What did we talk about?”
“How we would start dwelling on realistic expectations of a relationship.”
“Oh, yeah, that’s right.” But what she had failed to tell Tonya that day was that her expectations of a relationship were quite different from Tonya’s. Tonya was in love with Bryan and always had been, and deep down a part of Justice believed her brother loved Tonya as well, but he just hadn’t recognized those emotions for what they were yet. No doubt Tonya’s expectations involved getting Bryan to realize that she was meant for him and only him.
As far as Justice was concerned, she wasn’t meant for anyone. Unfortunately Harold had assumed she was meant for him and had asked her to marry him. She’d known that one day he would realize she had really done him a favor and get on with his life, and from the looks of things, evidently he had.
She sighed deeply. Her only expectation from the relationship she wanted with Blake was sex. For some reason she was tired of being a shy, good girl who played it safe and protected her heart.
Justice considered herself a lot smarter than that. She knew the score and was ready to be bold and adventurous. She wanted excitement and a hot encounter that would send her up in smoke and still have her insides sizzling long after Blake left town. After twenty-six years, she wanted that. She deserved that.
And from the way the area between her legs was quivering, she needed that.
When she heard the sound of the doorbell, indicating Blake’s arrival, a part of her was determined to get that.
***
Talk about making it sexy…
Nothing, Blake thought, could have prepared him for the woman he saw when Justice opened the door. She had looked gorgeous all the other times he’d seen her, and had certainly raised his temperature while modeling all those outfits during the photo sessions, but nothing, and he meant nothing, could be more sensuous than seeing a full-figured woman in high heels and a mini dress that fit her voluptuous body to a T. The sight had his breath coming out slow and tortured.
“Would you like to come in for a drink before we leave?”
He blinked upon realizing Justice had spoken to him. He cleared his throat, knowing he had to refuse her invitation. Once inside her house alone with her, and he doubted he would be able to leave. And he had made reservations for them at B. Smith’s, this exclusive restaurant near Union Station in D.C.
“No, I think we need to get going to avoid traffic. Are you ready?”
Justice smiled. “Yes, just let me grab my purse.”
A few moments later he was walking her to the rental BMW that he was using during his time in Virginia.
“Nice ride,” she said as he opened the door to let her slip inside.
Nice set of thighs, he thought when he glanced down at how the already short dress had ridden up when she’d gotten into the car. He suddenly felt perspiration forming on his forehead. “Thanks, I like it. It delivers a smooth ride.”
As soon as he’d spoken the words, he wished he hadn’t. An image suddenly formed in his mind of her giving him just as smooth a ride in the bedroom. He would bet all the camera equipment that he owned that a BMW’s performance would not be able to match hers.
He closed the door and quickly moved around the car to the driver’s side to get in as he struggled to breathe. He needed to get to the restaurant fast. He was suddenly having a snack attack and what he had a taste for was a woman by the name of Justice.
Now how unjust was that?
Seven
“So, what do you think are the Redskins chances of winning the Super Bowl next year?”
Although Blake asked the question, he really didn’t give a royal flip. He merely enjoyed watching Justice’s mouth move. They had enjoyed what he thought was a succulent meal and was now enjoying a cup of coffee. The taste of the coffee was good but not nearly as good as he knew her mouth tasted.
“Umm, I’m not sure but I would have thought the Savoys’ allegiance would have changed now that your cousin Lance is playing for the Dolphins.”
Blake smiled. “It has changed to some degree but we’re hoping he gets traded next season to Washington.” He felt comfortable, relaxed. The photo sessions he’d committed to for Tonya were over and now he could enjoy the rest of his vacation.
“Where are you headed when your vacation is over?”
Justice’s questions reclaimed his attention, not that she had ever lost it. Over dinner they had discussed a number of things such as the state of the economy, the recent war with Iraq, and how much they each enjoyed what they did for a living, although he’d seen that wistful look in her eyes when he’d told her of all the places he had traveled to.
“I’ll be flying back to Texas for a week or so to go through my mail and check on my parents. Then I’m off to Canada for a while.”
“Canada? I’ve heard there’s a lot of beautiful country up there.”
He smiled again. “There is and I enjoy photographing it. If you ever decide to check it out, let me know. I very seldom get visitors while traveling.”
“I’m surprised you would want them. Wouldn’t that take the focus off your work?”
He chuckled. “I doubt anything can take the focus off my work, but then I know how to work and I also know how to play. The only time I feel pressured is when I’m up against some kind of magazine deadline.”
“Does that happen often?”
“No, not too often.” It surprised him that she was interested in his work. Most women he took out always cut to the chase and inquired about his financial worth.
“So tell me, Justice, why aren’t you involved with anyone?” He decided to cut to the chase himself and ask the one question that nagged at him. He could tell that the question had surprised her. She wasn’t expecting it. He watched as she took a sip of her coffee and for a while wondered if she would even answer it. Then she did.
“Sometimes it pays to be by yourself and not have to answer to anyone. The last guy I was involved with, we dated exclusively for over two years and he assumed a lot, like the fact that we would eventually marry.”
He lifted a brow. “After two years I would think that was a reasonable assumption to make.”
Justice shrugged. “Maybe for some women, but not for me. Like I told you earlier today, I don’t intend to marry.”
He nodded, thinking he wouldn’t ever forget that piece of information she’d shared. “Had you not told him at some point that his expectations weren’t yours?” he asked.
She sighed. There was that word again – expectations. It seemed to be creeping into her conversations a lot lately. “Yes, I thought I had but I guess he figured he knew me better than I knew myself.”
“Or maybe he thought he could get you to change your mind.”
“If that was the case then it was a complete waste of his time.”
Blake felt compelled to ask the next question. “Do the two of you still communicate?”
“No. In fact he’s engaged to be married in a few weeks.”
His hands stilled as he tried to detect anger, hurt, or regret
in her voice and resumed breathing normally when he didn’t. He wondered what the hell was wrong with him. Why would the thought of her carrying a torch for an old boyfriend bother him?
“And I wish him the best,” she added.
He watched as she took a sip of coffee, thinking she may wish her ex-boyfriend the best but as far as Blake was concerned, the man had lost the best when she refused his offer of marriage. At the moment he couldn’t think of anything or anyone being better than her.
Blake leaned back in his chair. The last thing he needed was to be swayed by a beautiful face and a gorgeous body. His ex-wife had shown him that both could cause a man nothing but misery. But he was smart to know that all women weren’t alike. There were too many good, honorable women in his family to believe otherwise. However, he was cautious and accepted that the hard job was trying to find a woman who was true and honest to the things she believed in and held sacred.
“More coffee?”
Blake glanced up at the waiter who’d come back to their table. “No, that’s it for me.” He glanced over at Justice. “What about you?”
She shook her head. “No, that’s it for me too.”
After the waiter left Blake met Justice’s gaze. “Ready to go?”
He watched as she swallowed nervously. Like him she wasn’t sure just how this night would end for them. “Yes, I’m ready.”
***
First, Blake decided, as he drove away from the restaurant, he wanted to seduce Justice’s mind. By the time he reached her house he wanted her to have decided what their next move would be. If they didn’t make it to the bedroom tonight that would be all right with him since there would be a next time. Already he was considering another date with her, which would be a damn good reason to let the chemistry sizzle and build, and whenever they did come together, he could count on one really big explosion.
He had no qualms about taking a woman to bed on their first date as long as he kept things safe. One-night stands never bothered him, but for some reason the thought of a one-night stand with Justice did and it had nothing to do with the ties she had with his family. They were both of legal age and consenting adults and what they did was nobody’s business.
ALL HE DESIRES (Voluptuous Woman Series) Page 14
