She didn’t care. The chance to watch his muscled back and toned buttocks walk up that path were worth any revenge she had to endure.
Chapter Five
“Come on. Answer!” Mimi tapped her fingers impatiently against the desk as Jasper’s voicemail kicked in. She rolled her eyes at his cheeky phone message and left hers after the beep. “Jasper, it’s Mimi. Can you please call me back? The people who make the other fireman calendar say we’re infringing on their copyright and that, if we go ahead, they’ll take legal action. Call me back!”
“What did I just hear you say?” Alyssa bustled through the door and dropped her bag onto a chair before leaning on Mimi’s desk. “They’ll try to stop it?”
“That’s what they said. The woman I spoke to was really nice about it and suggested we make some changes. They want the general public to be fully aware it’s not endorsed by them.”
“Why don’t they just endorse it?”
Mimi stilled. “I don’t know. I didn’t think to ask. We’ll need to adjust our plan, so they don’t chase us.”
“So do you think Jasper will have a suggestion, or do you just like calling him?” Mimi rolled her eyes and Alyssa laughed. “You can’t blame me for asking. By my estimation, you’ve had dinner with him at least once that I know of and fielded multiple phone calls from him. I think you might be getting attached.”
“I’m not getting attached. How do you know we had dinner?”
“Ruben, one of those hot firemen, told me. I saw him in the post office yesterday and he was eager to discuss the love life of one Jasper Collins.”
“Was he?” Mimi tried to appear nonchalant as she busied herself cleaning out her top drawer. “That’s nice.”
“Oh, come on!” Alyssa flopped into a chair. “Spill, lady. Why did you have dinner together? What was it like? More importantly, are you going to see him again?”
“I saw him yesterday at the first photo shoot.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it!” She made her best sulky face. “I can’t believe you’re holding out on me.”
Mimi sighed. “I’d hoped to keep our dinner a secret. There’s nothing to tell. We had dinner last week and he walked me home. We did the photo shoot yesterday and I drove him home. That’s it.”
Liar!
“I’d like to believe you, but your bright eyes and twitchy hands tell me otherwise. That photo shoot was nude, wasn’t it? I better not find out you slept with him and didn’t tell me!”
“I promise I have not slept with him.”
“Would you, if he asked?”
“Jasper is not the kind of man to ask something like that. He seems like more of a take action type of guy, don’t you think?”
“Maybe. I’d sure let him take me, whether he asked or not.” She giggled and Mimi rolled her eyes. “Anyway, Ruben is super cute. I might set my sights on him, right after I check out what he’s packing at his photo shoot—because I’m coming tomorrow, by the way.”
“At this rate, there won’t be another shoot. Do you have any ideas on how to change the calendar?”
“I do, actually. What if we included just a couple of the firemen—just the ones who agreed to be nude—and then add some other community members to the team? A local gardener, maybe—he should be pretty fit—or a post office worker. That hot guy that runs the café on the corner in the junction—”
“Chris? Jasper knows him.”
“The great and powerful Jasper can hook you up, then. If we could get some local business people starring in the calendar, they could sell them from their shops for us, too.” Alyssa stood from her chair and started writing the details on the whiteboard. Her excitement increased as her hand flew across the board, writing names and business ideas one after another. “This is kind of perfect, you know—a great way to be different from the fireman calendar and be more inclusive of the community.”
“Just like in the movies,” Mimi mused. “Have you seen that one about the elderly women who make a calendar for some good cause?”
“No, I haven’t, but it’s genius.”
“The second shoot is scheduled for tomorrow. It’s really short notice to get new people to commit and be there in time. Also, it seems a bit mean not to include the guys who were supportive, but wanted to be photographed with their pants on.”
“What if…” Alyssa tapped the marker against her teeth. “What if we keep to the shoot tomorrow? We’ll get Cate to do all the naked shots for full page spreads and then we join some of the others together and get group shots? We can make one month about a group of people. We’ll need shots for the inside covers, too, don’t forget—or we could do a 15-month calendar. Penny told me the prices she quoted were for spiral-bound calendars up to 20 pages. If we increase the months, we can add extra pages.”
Mimi laughed at Alyssa’s triumphant expression. Her ponytail bobbed around, appearing to be just as excited as she was. “Tell me again why you never finished that marketing degree? You’re a natural at this.”
Alyssa rolled her eyes. “I know—my mum mentions it every other week. I just wasn’t cut out for the cutthroat marketing world.” She tapped the board. “This can totally work, though. We’d just have to schedule another date with Cate to get the community photos done.”
“I completely agree. Next time, I’ll call you instead of Jasper when I’m having a disaster.”
“Oh no, babe, you keep calling Jasper. I’m keen to see where this thing between you two goes. I can honestly say his mate Ruben is as interested as I am!”
Chapter Six
“Hey, Jasper.”
“Hi.” His voice sounded distant through the phone. “What’s this about the calendar?”
“Oh, it’s okay. We sorted it out.”
“Sorry I wasn’t around. We were on a job and I just got back.”
“Was everything okay?”
“Yep—there’s just one less tyre factory in the world now.” He chuckled and she imagined him grinning on the other end. “So, tell me what happened.” She explained the call she’d received and what Alyssa had suggested to stamp the calendar with their own brand of personality. “That’s a great idea. Alyssa is smart. So, you still need the guys tomorrow?”
“We do. Cate has organised a third day of filming. She’ll be busy doing shoots outside her studio for the rest of the week, so she can leave the lighting and everything set up. We’ll have to do the last one on Saturday, though.”
“Who are you going to get from the community?”
“Alyssa talked her favourite post office worker into coming down and we have a local handyman, an Olympic swimmer, and a big, beefy security guy lined up. I’ve been asked to find out if you will convince your friend, Chris, to come.”
“You want to see Chris naked? You work fast, Mimi—I only just introduced you!” He laughed, but underneath the sound was a hint of something else.
“Jealous again, Jasper?” she mocked and imagined his face. She didn’t mean it for a second—the last person she wanted to make jealous was him.
“Not unless you give me a reason. Anyway, how about we catch up tonight? Second date time, I think. That should remove any thoughts of other naked guys from your imagination.” His cocky tone reassured her that he didn’t think he had any competition for her affections.
If only he knew how little competition he really has.
***
Jasper hadn’t told her where he planned to take her for dinner. It was a fairly warm night, so she chose a loose-fitting skirt, instead of jeans. She turned in front of the mirror, looking this way and that, trying to decide if it was too short. Was she sending the wrong message by wearing this? Maybe a longer dress would have been better. Before she could choose something else, there was a knock on the front door.
I guess I’m wearing this!
She pulled the door open to reveal Jasper and Tiger both staring at her. “Making friends with all the key people, I see?” She stepped back to let him in and he
put the cat down just inside the door.
“It seems smart to be in good with the pets—it’s my best chance of avoiding claws wrapped around my ankles at some point in the future. You look nice.” He reached for her wrist and stepped in close. A hand slipped past her cheek and into her hair, and before she had a chance to react, Jasper’s mouth was on hers. “Mmm… hello.” He grinned and pushed his forehead against hers. It was such an intimate gesture—one that sent goose bumps sliding over her skin.
He kissed her again and the flip-flop inside her stomach urged her to get him out the door. Too much kissing and she was likely to take this too far.
“I’m going to have trouble keeping my hands off you, I can see. Maybe you should have worn jeans.” He grinned and opened the front door as she picked up her handbag and keys. “It’s a bit safer for you out here.”
Tiger sat a few feet away, observing them with interest. Mimi picked him up and put him back outside as Jasper pulled the door closed. “Sorry, dude. You can come in when we get home.”
The atmosphere between them was very different from their last date. Jasper held her hand every chance he got; she resisted staring at their intertwined fingers as he drove. All of his actions seemed intimate to her, but maybe this was just something he did with all his dates.
They pulled into an underground carpark twenty minutes later, and Jasper led the way through a series of laneways until they stood outside a sushi bar. He frowned before they entered. “You like sushi, right? I didn’t ask.”
“I love sushi. That’s a great idea.”
The conversation flowed easily between them. They talked about school friends, teachers they still saw, and who had married who. As they ate, perched on stools, Jasper made a valiant attempt to keep his eyes above her shoulders, focussing on her face, her mouth, and his meal. The cut of her skirt meant he had a perfect view of one toned thigh, and the sight of it wreaked havoc with him every time his eyes wandered down. He’d told her they were seeing a movie next, but all he wanted now was to take her home and find out if the inner face of her thigh was as perfect as the expanse of skin he could see.
The movie was an action thriller—one he’d imagined might lead to a certain amount of comforting required by his date. He couldn’t have been more wrong. Mimi chatted about the outcome all the way home, making him think he shouldn’t have ditched his plans to take her dancing. At least she’d have spent some time in his arms, laughing and twirling, instead of gripping his hand while he daydreamed about running his palms along her milky thighs.
All the way home, he thought of valid excuses to get her to invite him in. The cat? He could take care of himself. Seeing her safely to the door? Nope—she was more than capable of walking the few feet on her own. Flat tyre? Gas explosion?
Every idea he came up with was lame, so he finally settled for saying nothing at all. He parked the car a block from her house and slipped around to her side to help her out. Her hand slipped into his and they moved up the street to her home.
Just a few more steps and I’ll have to kiss her goodnight.
He wasn’t ready to let her go, yet, and kissing like last time would be his undoing. There was only so much control a man could cling to in the company of Mimi Fletcher.
Chapter Seven
“I want you to come inside.”
Oh, thank God!
“That sounds more like an order than an invitation.” He cupped her cheek in his hand. “You keep surprising me. You seemed so much shyer than you’ve been on our dates.” He kissed her, pulled away, and ran his tongue over her bottom lip. “Of course I’ll come inside. Are you prepared for what happens when I do?”
“I’m prepared. It’s all I can think about.” Her honest words shocked him as he kissed along her jaw.
She tilted her head back and he gently bit her neck. “Me too.”
She unlocked the door and he closed it with a thud behind them. Her handbag slipped to the ground and he watched as she slipped off her shoes. The loose skirt that he’d longed to slide his hand up all night flowed around her, and he licked his lips at the thought of the thighs that had teased him all evening. Finally, he’d have his chance.
“Are you sure about this?” He stood rooted to the spot inside the door. The moment they crossed this line, there was no way he would be able to turn back. He needed to know this was really what she wanted.
“I'm sure.” She stepped into his arms and curled her fingers into the back of his hair. Her breasts pressed against him and her sparkling eyes looked up with a mischievous twinkle. “You seem uncertain. That's not the Jasper I’ve watched bring women to their knees all these years.”
He slipped his arms around her and cupped her bottom. The soft material under his fingers allowed him to feel everything. Her panties rode up over her ass cheeks, and the thought of exploring her body made him instantly hard. She sighed a happy sound as he bunched up the back of her skirt and ran his hands over her skin. He ground himself against her, moving back and forth, teasing sounds from her throat. Her eyes were already closed and he watched as her mouth fell open. God, he wanted to do things to her mouth—wanted to fuse his flesh with hers.
He bent his knees and gripped her tightly before lifting her. Her legs wrapped around his waist and she moved her lips to his. “I wanted this to be slow,” he said between kisses, “but I don't think that's going to happen.”
“We can go slow the second time,” she said, and the breathless urgency in her voice had him moving past doorways, searching for her bedroom. She pointed down the hall and he pushed the door open with his shoulder. A large bed piled high with perfectly arranged cushions greeted him.
Of course there are cushions!
He draped her across the bed, running his hands across her taut stomach and gripping her thighs. In the darkness, he could just make out her smile. He watched as her hands reached down and pulled up her skirt, inviting him to continue what they had started. He didn't need to be asked twice, and he quickly slipped his fingers inside her panties and pulled them down. Throwing them aside, he pulled his shirt off and lay above her on the bed. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, squeezing him close and kissing his neck. Her blazing hot passion sparked a familiar hot longing deep in his groin, and he ground himself against her mound.
Their tongues made magic together, twisting and twirling as their sounds mingled. His hands roamed her body, and she cried out when he dragged her shirt down and exposed one breast. Warm wetness teased her as his tongue found its target and swirled around and around. She held him tightly against her while her other hand ran down his back. The sounds she made captivated him; he yearned to possess her.
Her fingertips ran around the back of his jeans until they slipped inside to caress his naked ass. She pulled her mouth away from his and exclaimed, “You're not wearing underwear!”
“I very rarely do when I'm not at work.” Her fingers continued exploring, and the sensation of her skin against his ramped up his arousal. When he pulled away to undo his pants, she sat up to help him, and they dragged them down together. Her mouth was perilously close to his dick, and she licked her lips before he lifted her head to look at him. “Oh, no you don't. I'd last about 20 seconds if you put your mouth on me now.”
“Damn! I guess we’ll save that for later.”
“Promise?”
“Definitely. Now come here, I can't wait anymore.”
“Just one sec.” He dragged her shirt up and over her head, before expertly undoing the clip on her bra. He threw it over his shoulder with a grin and pushed her back onto the bed.
With a groan, he covered her body with his once more, his mouth seeking her breast and his free hand tweaking the nipple he’d licked earlier. She arched her back and pressed against him, loving the feel of him above her. He pulled away and pushed her legs apart before gripping himself and guiding his cock to her entrance. She spread her legs wide, all of her usual shyness forgotten. At least in bed, she could let herself go.
/> His male scent was maddening, and her clenching pussy yearned for him. She grabbed his shoulders and pulled him forward as he pushed his hot length deep inside. Delicious feelings engulfed her as he started a steady pattern of movement between her legs. He withdrew and drove home again, filling her and watching her writhe below him. With each stroke, he touched her in places that had been neglected for too long. She felt him everywhere.
His greedy mouth took possession of hers as she focused on the sensations rushing through her body. Her hands moved across his back and smoothed the light sheen of sweat that had broken out. He pummelled her, moving from side to side, groaning against her lips when she squeezed tightly around him. The driving force built up the intoxicating tension between them as urgent shockwaves pulsed from her core.
She pulled away from his mouth and arched herself shamelessly against him, every thrust squeezing new sounds from her throat. His hands gripped her breasts as he pounded into her over and over. The torment was too much, and she let herself go, riding a sensual crest as sensation took hold of her body. As the sounds accompanying her explosive orgasm filled the room, Jasper immediately shuddered his release, spilling his seed deep inside her and slapping his flesh against hers until he was spent.
He collapsed on top of her, careful not to crush her as he caught his breath. Her hands wrapped around his back and she kissed a trail along his shoulder blade. Their gasps mingled in the darkness, each of them deeply satisfied.
Jasper rolled to the side and pulled her with him. “Your turn to be on top.” She giggled and settled herself above him, sliding her wetness along his shaft.
“You can't possibly do that again so soon.”
Tap That! (Panty Dropper Series Book 1) Page 4
