“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 su
re 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.
“Oh, Leo.” She sighed as the water pulsed over her skin. “This is perfect.”
“This is good, but I think we can work on perfect.”
He grabbed a loofa from the shelf and squeezed some liquid soap onto it. The aroma of lavender and something else filled the humid air as he began washing her back.
Had she ever experienced anything this sensual in her life? Jasmine had taken showers with men, of course, but usually they got right down to sex more than anything this luxurious.
Not Leo. Leo seemed to enjoy washing every inch of her skin—spending a little extra time working the sponge between her thighs until she was digging her fingers into his shoulder to stay upright. He soaped her stomach, then her breasts, and let the water rinse the foam away before he returned the sponge to her back. He sucked her nipples so sweetly, one, and the other, all the while moving that sponge over her back, her bottom, her thighs.
Jasmine wanted to make this last as long as possible. Reaching back to grab the sponge, she pulled away slightly, meeting his eyes.
“Your turn.”
He complied, and she set to washing his strong, muscular legs. She followed the progress of the sponge around his wonderful body with kisses and licks as the water rinsed away the soap. When she came to his injury, she was gentle. She took her time, as he did, and massaged the area gently under the hot water for him, laying her lips to his scar when she was done.
His hand trembled slightly as he pulled her around front and stared into her face for a long moment. Something in his eyes was different, but she focused only on the desire.
“I spent a lot of time in the hospital, being tested in every possible way,” he said, kissing her forehead. “I can’t remember the last woman I was with, but I can tell you that medically, I’m healthy, and I haven’t been with anyone since it all happened.”
She knew what he was asking. She nodded.
“Me too. I’ve only been with one man over the last year and a half, and we were both healthy, and careful. I’m on the pill. So I think we’re okay.”
It was a calculated risk, but she wanted Leo. Right now.
They didn’t say anything, but kissed and kissed some more, washed by the warm jets of water that were like hundreds of extra touches, urging them on. Leo sat on the curved bench under the soft splash of the waterfall, hard and ready. He pulled her forward, facing him.
Jasmine straddled his thighs, folding her legs behind his hips and lowering herself down over his thick shaft. He filled her tightly, touching every part inside.
“Oh, that’s good.” She gasped as they settled in. She pulled him close, hugged him tighter, deeper.
Leo kissed her, their arms around each other as they sat, melded, mouths playing and teasing. He planted his feet on the floor to thrust upward, and she pulled back from the kiss.
“Don’t move…we’re fine.”
“But—”
“Trust me.” She smiled against his lips.
He nodded, his eyes burning into hers as he dove a hand into her hair, massaging the back of her scalp.
“Oh, yes.” She leaned back into the touch, which allowed him to nuzzle her breasts again.
She ran her hands lazily along the sides of his thighs, and then his upper arms and shoulder. Heat built between them until the water felt cool against their skin. Jasmine put his hand on her lower belly and placed hers on top of it.
He looked at her curiously, but didn’t take his hand away.
“Breathe in with me, follow my rhythm,” she said, not breaking eye contact.
He did, and after a few long, sensual breaths his eyes widened as he felt it too—how the deep breathing seemed to fill them, making the contact inside even better, increasing the pressure.
Jasmine closed her eyes, focusing and contracting her inner muscles around him. Leo caught his breath in surprise.
“How did you—”
She put a finger to his lips. “Just breathe…long on the exhale. Focus on this chakra point, and think of the color orange. I usually think of a large, orange flower, blooming. But just focusing on the color is good.”
“Okay.” He sounded a little hesitant, but he followed her breathing until they were both in sync.
Jasmine took it a step deeper, moving her focus deep into her body, to where he was inside her, connected to her. She tightened and loosened, moving around him from the inside out. They held on to each other, trembling. Finally, they broke together in a chorus of soft moans and deep kisses as the strong, steady orgasm pulsed back and forth between them.
It was deep, and Jasmine continued to breathe through it, lengthening it for both of them as much as she could before letting it recede slowly.
Leo was slack against the wall for several seconds, his arms falling at his sides until he reached to turn the water off before resting his forehead against hers.
“That was wild. I’ve never come like that before, not that long, not that…hot. I mean…I felt literally hot inside.”
She smiled happily. “A little tantric yoga practice. The breathing generates the heat. It all comes down to focus and muscle control. There are people who spend their entire lifetimes studying Tantra, which really isn’t about sex at all, like most people think, but more of a spiritual pursuit. I really only learned some basics on my own. Much of the heavier stuff is very esoteric and not really my thing.”
“Well, that was incredible.” He pulled her close for a slow kiss. “I feel like I took a vitamin. I’m not tired. In fact…” His eyes widened. “I’m completely jacked up, ready to go again.”
Jasmine grinned. It was fun to share this with someone. She hadn’t tried it before and she didn’t know if it would work. Clearly, it had.
“Me too. That’s a side effect of the chi, the energy traveling through our bodies. It’s energizing instead of depleting. It’s why Tantric lovers can extend their lovemaking for hours, if not days.”
“I have some ideas how we might use that chi, back in the bedroom.” He nibbled her neck, finding every sensitive spot along her throat. “I don’t know anything about Tantra, but I might have a few moves we could try.”
“Lead the way,” Jasmine whispered into his ear. She couldn’t wait to find out what Leo had to show her.
Chapter Nine
Leo rolled over in bed, reaching for Jasmine, but there was only scrunched-up blanket where she had been sleeping. Disappointment sank low in his chest as he fell back to the pillow. She’d left again?
But as he quieted, he heard a voice, someone talking downstairs.
She was still here. Silly relief swelled, and Leo knew it was dangerous to be so happy she’d stuck around, but it was what it was. Last night had been one of the best of his life. Who could blame him for being excited she’d stayed?
He pulled on some on jeans and went downstairs, where he saw Jasmine in the kitchen with her cell phone, a local phone book, a sheet of paper and a cup of coffee. Strike that—looking at the half-empty pot, he figured this had to be at least her third cup.
She was intent on her call, sounding a bit stressed, but still sexy as hell with her hair pushed up on her head and the sleeve of her tank top sliding down one shoulder. Leo bent to place a kiss there, but she hardly seemed to register it.
“Are you sure there’s no room in your schedule until October?” she asked, her voice strained, then followed by a sigh. “Okay, thanks. Yes, I will.”
She hung up and sagged down in the chair as Leo joined her.
“How long have you been up?”
“Since early. I still had to meet my morning class out on the beach.”
“You were up for yoga this morning? I didn’t even hear you go out.”
“I didn’t get much sleep.” She smiled faintly. “I’m not complaining, and class was very nice. Everyone was so supportive. It made me feel a lot better.”
“Of course they would be.”
He saw the flicker of doubt in her expression, the surprise in her tone when people backed her up or were good to her. What the heck had happened in her past?
“Then I came back in, made some coffee and got to work here. Sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t, don’t worry. Looking for contractors?”
“Yeah, and being shot down like a target duck. Everyone is busy, unless you can pay them enough to make it worth their time. Most are telling me they could put me on the schedule for October, when things lighten up—October! I can’t wait that long.”
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