by Tara Nina
“Let’s say that I found her and she’s an advocate for strict privacy,” she stated without releasing his heated stare. Jack’s eyes held a sexual promise, which increased her hunger to explore this hot young morsel, but there were ground rules she needed in place first. She wanted to make sure he understood that if anything happened between them, it stayed between just them and no one else. She slid her hand from her glass and prayed he didn’t notice the slight tremor before she folded it together with her other hand and laid them on the table.
He leaned forward, reaching across the table to capture one of her hands in his. The heat of their touch sent chills up her arm, which darted directly to her nipples as if guided there by his thoughts. His deep, sensual Southern drawl tickled her senses as he stated, “Consider me to be a treasure trove for secrets. A new toy to be enjoyed.”
Her mouth dried and her heart skipped a beat. Damn. He opened the door of invitation for her and she wasn’t about to let it close before she entered. She tilted her chin, leaned as close as the table allowed and swirled a circle with her fingertips in the palm of his hand. His eyes widened, hinting he liked the sensation.
“There’s an issue of trust and dominance in any adventure. Who leads? You or I?” Would he demand to take the lead, rule their pleasure and force her into submission? She desperately needed to know. Not that she didn’t like the man to take the lead on occasion, she just preferred being in control of her own pleasure. Years of playing with toys taught her how to push all the right buttons. Would he be willing to learn? She refused to look away and waited for his answer.
He leaned to within millimeters of her face. The heat of his words graced her lips on a soft promise. “We share. Sometimes you. Sometimes me.”
Pure heat sizzled in the fractional gap between their mouths. For a split second, she contemplated kissing him, tasting what she longed to have, but a movement she caught out of the corner of her eye made her sit erect in her chair. The waitress made her way to their table and they hadn’t even glanced at the menus. She picked up her menu and leveled a seductive stare across the upper edge and issued a promise she planned to keep. “I like being the boss.”
A devilish grin split his lips as he picked up his menu, opened it with a snap and met her gaze with one filled with erotic intentions. “Me too,” he replied. “But that doesn’t mean I don’t take direction well. Lead and I shall follow.”
Shelley arched an eyebrow and he winked, then lowered his gaze to his menu. A challenge. Umm, she liked that. It’d been a while since she’d found anyone as interesting as this man. Young though he may be, his bold sexual nature intrigued her and ignited a form of lust she’d never realized existed within her. He might be just what she needed to make life more interesting. Shelley sat back, glanced at the menu, then at him. He discussed a few of the options with the waitress, then returned his gaze to her.
“Know what you want,” he stated with a pause, giving her a heated look emphasizing the innuendo in his tone, “to eat, Shelley?”
“Always.”
Chapter Three
Their verbal tit for tat spurred his desire to investigate her every nuance. The detective in him awakened. Sitting back in his chair, he studied her body language as she skimmed the menu and placed her order. Curiosity sprang to life. Did she have a special toy situated beneath her clothing? Jack shifted in his seat at the thought that those silver balls could be tucked inside, stimulating her pussy. He took a sip of his drink, trying to cool his rising internal temperature. Or was it that cute butterfly-shaped clit stimulator? A shiver shot down his spine in anticipation of learning which toy thrilled her most.
Hopefully, her favorite would be his cock. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips, but he swallowed it when the waitress turned to him. In a smooth efficient tone, he ordered, then returned his attention to Shelley as the waitress walked away.
“So, Jack, how long have you been a cop?”
Not exactly the line of questioning he’d expected, but he had suggested this dinner was for getting to know one another. The tone of her question hid nothing from him. “I take it you don’t like cops.”
She leaned back in her chair, swirled her drink, then stated, “I’ve dated a few. Let’s just say,” she paused, tilted her chin, then added, “I haven’t been impressed by the macho cop attitude. It’s been quite the letdown.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jack replied, trying to hide his humor.
He understood her statement about the macho cop attitude. It was a dark void many in his line of work fell into, but not him. Being a cop, a detective, he felt, was an honor to serve, not a right to be abused. The Marines taught him honor and self-control, which he carried as his badge, not the metal shield in his jacket pocket. That was just a trinket needed for the public. Hopefully, she’d realize he didn’t fit the typical cop mold and give him a chance. Looking at her, he knew an intensely sexual woman lived within her skin. Was he man enough to handle her? Swallowing the cocky smile that threatened to surface, he decided he was willing to try to fulfill her sexual desires.
The soft background music changed and he noted her gaze turned to the dance floor. Several couples were already engaged. No loud disco beat boomed from the speakers. It was one of the reasons he liked it here and had chosen this place to meet her. Though noted for its phenomenal cuisine, romance topped the agenda at Dino’s. He stood and extended his hand.
“Would the lady care to dance?”
Shelley stood and took his hand as her answer. He guided her to the floor. Holding her close, not stepping on her toes, he was grateful his older sisters had used him to practice their dance steps. He glided her across the floor with ease in a sensual slow sway. Palm flat against the exposed flesh of her lower back reinforced the connection he sensed growing between them. One of her hands lay casually on his shoulder. The other he snuggled in his. Warmth caressed his palm as he leveled his gaze on hers. A polite slender gap separated the pair.
Few couples were dancing. The corner of the floor belonged to them. He liked the way she fit within his arms and matched his strides. Her smooth graceful steps, the subtle motion of her hips to the rhythm increased his hunger to taste her. Unable to resist, he brushed a soft kiss to her lips. Then moved to her ear and whispered as he sealed the gap between them.
“Not only are you beautiful, you dance well. I like that.”
“Thank you,” she stated on a heated breath, lifting her gaze to his. “I have to admit, I didn’t think the youn—” A faint red hue tinted her cheeks as she stumbled over the word, cleared her throat, then said, “Your generation cared for the art of dance. I thought it was a bunch of bodies in a pit slamming into one another.”
Jack’s laugh couldn’t be stopped if he wanted. He’d done that once on a date. The bruises weren’t worth the effort. He tugged her close as he replied in a low sultry tone. “I’ve never been one to follow the trend. I like the old favorites, waltzes, ballroom dance.” To prove his point, he spun her gracefully, captured her in one arm, then dipped her and lifted her upright with the ease and style of a professional dancer. “But I have to admit, it’s the slow body-to-body renditions that I prefer.”
He emphasized his meaning with a sexy swivel of his hips to the music, which subtly caressed pelvis to pelvis. The dilation of her irises and the slight part of her lips made him smile. She liked to dance and, if he had to admit it, so did he. True, he’d griped the entire time his sisters took turns forcing him through the routines of their classes, but now…he pressed into Shelley, gliding her around without a missed step. He owed his sisters an apology. They’d taught him well.
This young buck was a total surprise. Never had she enjoyed a twirl on the dance floor as much as she did with Jack. His style impressed her. Grace and elegance wrapped in an extremely masculine package. Shelley couldn’t believe her luck. It had been years since she’d done the tango. When it started, he maneuvered her through the steps without a hitch. The two moved like a well
-practiced pair. Heat sizzled in her veins. The rush of blood pounded through her ears. Her heart raced. This was the most fun exercise she’d had in a decade. Aerobic classes at the gym didn’t pump her up as much as dancing with Jack.
Maybe it was simply the man who excited her system and not just the physical actions of grooving to the music. She smiled, letting the thought sink in. She did like the way he moved, the touch of his hand and his hypnotic scent, which permeated her olfactory senses whenever he held her close. Not strong or overwhelming, the smell suited Jack, masculine with a hint of woodsy musk. It made her mouth water. The desire to taste him fueled to life. An image flashed inside her head—her on her knees, his cock in her hand and her tongue savoring his flavor. She faltered in her step but Jack’s expertise compensated, keeping them in sync with the rhythm.
God. She needed to keep her mind on the dance before she fell flat on her face. It wouldn’t be the first time with him. The memory of being face first, ass in the air in a freezer threatened to crack the surface, but she slammed it shut in the box of humiliating life events stored in the far reaches of her brain.
On the last beat, he laid her back in his arms, faces close in a dramatic dip to the tango’s end. Flushed breaths warmed each other’s cheeks. Streaks of electrified pulses shot through her system, which hardened her nipples and excited her clit. Their gazes locked. Time seemed to stop as each breathed deep.
Seconds ticked inside her head in anticipation of his kiss. She felt the heat of his lips hovering near hers. So close only a piece of paper could slide between them. An intensity she couldn’t describe as anything other than erotic sexual desire darkened his autumn brown eyes. Moisture coated her skin and dampened her pussy. She swallowed hard. If he made her this wet and horny with a dance and a heat-driven look, what would his mouth and cock do to her?
Determination to find out steeled her core as Shelley closed the slender gap and placed a butterfly-soft kiss to his lips. Not long or too short, just enough to experience the texture and taste of him. His response pleased her. He followed her lead and didn’t press for more than the brief connection.
A soft melody drifted from the speakers. His biceps barely flexed beneath her hands as he lifted her upright. Sheer strength rippled off him, yet his movements provided a gentle touch. Jack’s hand at the small of her back guided her to the table. This night had definitely gotten off to a great start.
Would it end just as well?
She shot him a slant-eyed glance across her shoulder as he held her chair. God, she hoped so. His romantic flair astounded Shelley. On her last couple of dates, the man didn’t even open her door, much less assist with her chair. In an age when she’d thought chivalry had died, Jack showed her differently. He may have been young, but he knew how to impress a woman.
The moment they settled in their chairs, the waitress returned with their appetizers and a fresh round of drinks.
“So, Jack,” Shelley broke the silence as she toyed with her food. “Where’d you learn to dance? Did you attend classes?”
The sheepish grin that split his lips made the cleft in his chin deepen and her nipples tighten. That cleft turned her on. Shelley shifted her focus to his eyes and forced it to stay there.
“I have three older sisters. They took classes and needed a guinea pig to practice on at home.” He shrugged. “I was that guinea pig.”
Shelley laughed deep in her throat, giving it a sensual sound before she said, “For a guinea pig, you dance exceedingly well.”
“Thank you, milady,” Jack replied, with a mock royal wave of his hand and tip of his head. “If it pleased you, then the torture during my teenage years was worth the suffering.”
Before she could stop herself, words spilled from her lips. “I doubt you suffered. Methinks the gentleman doth protest too much.”
“Ah.” He laughed, reached for her hand, lifted it to his lips then stated, “A woman with as many charms as toys, I hope.” Then he planted a kiss to her palm. The tip of his tongue shot a thrill straight up her arm, which speared her through the heart.
Smooth. She had to hand it to him. The man was smooth. He had her pining for his touch, his taste and his cock with limited contact, selected wording and eyes that broadcasted his intentions in a single look. A one-night stand wasn’t something she normally did, but with Jack, it readily became a possibility.
What harm would it do to test the waters of the younger gene pool? According to the law, they were both consenting adults—though she was a bit older than he. But by how much? She couldn’t figure that one out. Should she ask him? Nah, she decided. It might offend him. And if he asked her age, should she lie or tell the truth? Would he be turned off if he discovered she hovered on the back side of forty?
The last words of his sentence hit her, causing all thought to stall. Did he just hint he liked toys? Shelley took a settling breath and forged onward. If he did, then this night promised a grand adventure for both of them. She couldn’t stop the smile as she leaned forward, not releasing his hand, and held his heated gaze.
“Toys aren’t a problem. It’s finding the right playmate to share them with and explore their,” she paused, licked her lips for effect and noted his pupils dilate, “multiple uses.”
Damn. He swallowed hard. The perfect woman for him sat on the opposite side of the table. His dick stiffened at the thought of playing with Shelley and her toys. Unable to resist, he closed the distance between them and stated on a graveled breath the one thing that tormented his mind since she walked in the door.
“Tell me, Shelley, is there a toy tending to your needs while we dine?”
Her wide-eyed expression answered him even before she spoke. “No, I normally don’t play in public.”
Shelley sat erect and took a nervous sip of her drink. Her gaze darted to her food as if it embarrassed her that he knew she’d worn those balls in the grocery store. That wasn’t what he’d meant to do. Jack took a breath and scrambled through his thoughts, taking a moment to select his next words wisely. He sensed the heat between them. The hunger for sex hung in the air, thick and raw with desire that he had no intention of dousing with the wrong statement.
Images of the first time he saw her flashed behind his eyes. Knowing what he did now, a smile threatened his lips but he deliberately kept it from surfacing. He gathered her hand and reached across the table to cup her chin and force her gaze to meet his.
“I think you liked the sensation of experimenting in public. When I first saw you, I wasn’t sure what was happening with you. You walked a little off balance. Occasionally, you paused as if you needed a moment to catch your breath. After finding those shiny balls, I knew what had you on edge.” Jack leaned as close as the table allowed and stared deep into her eyes. Pure heat filtered through her gaze and her lips parted as if she wanted to deny it but couldn’t. “Was it the balls or the fact you were getting off in a public place that turned you on?”
Her lips trembled and her gaze darkened. He read honesty in her eyes and heard it in her whispered reply. “I don’t know. It was the first time I tried something like that in public.”
“Want to experiment and see which thrilled you the most? A public place or the toys?”
“Are you suggesting…”
Jack interjected in a low, sensual tone, “Right here. Right now.”
Her gaze held an undeniable flicker of curiosity mixed with an edge of fear. Would she or wouldn’t she? Jack eased back in his chair, lifted his drink and waited, giving her the chance to decide. He’d attempted a sexual feat in a public place once with a girlfriend long ago. At the last second, fear got the best of her and she reneged on the adventure. From Shelley’s expression, he sensed the idea piqued her naughty side’s interest.
When Shelley excused herself and headed to the ladies’ room without a word, Jack’s balls clenched. Had she decided yes or had he insulted her with the proposition? Man, he hoped for the positive. Jack smiled as he watched her walk. The sway of her hips, th
e sexy way the material of her dress clung to her bottom had him ready. When he caught her glance toward him the split second before she turned the corner for the ladies’ room, he didn’t miss the cue. At least he hoped it was a cue. Jack slid from his seat and did a casual stroll in the direction she disappeared.
No one stood in the narrow hallway that led to the restrooms. Hand on the knob, Jack hesitated. What if he’d read her wrong? A quick glance from side to side, then he opened the door, slid inside and locked it behind him. Shelley turned from the sink to face him. Indecision shone in her eyes but he didn’t give her a chance to change her mind. He intended to please her in a public place.
He crossed the room, tugged her against him and captured her mouth in a crushing kiss. There was no time for delicacy. Not if they didn’t want to get caught. But wasn’t that the thrill, the possibility of someone finding them? He broke from their kiss, lifted her to sit upon the vanity, then lowered to hover between her knees. Inhaling deep, it warmed him to the core that the scent of lilac coated every sensual area. He’d never smell that scent again and not think of Shelley.
His eyes held hers as he separated her legs. When he looked, the sight of her uncovered pussy caused his cock to twitch. Pure shaven glory sat perched for him to taste. He slid his hands up the thigh-high silk stockings as he planted kisses along her inner thigh, making his way to heaven.
Jack wasted no time. In quick strokes, he lapped her slit from her divine opening to tickle her clit. Capturing her clit in his mouth, he suckled and tugged. Her whispered sighs warmed his soul. The hitch of her legs over his shoulders spurred him on as he delved his middle finger deep into her soaking heat. In and out he stroked her as he tormented her tender bud. The dig of her spiked heels into his back issued a pleasurable measure of pain to the thrill, causing his cock to throb.
Wet and ready, he slipped a second, then a third finger into her and pumped furiously. Shelley leaned back into the mirror, pushing her hips into his face. Jack released her clit with a pop and licked the insides of her thighs as far as he could reach without losing momentum with his fingers buried within her pussy.
