She frowned. When had her sister become a mind reader? Not willing to elaborate on emotions she felt so uncertain about, she said, “I’ll think about it and let you know tomorrow morning, okay?”
“Sure.”
Pam’s voice cut through the intercom on Jade’s desk. “Jade, there’s a man here asking to see you. He says he’s here to deliver a private message.”
Since Pam had met Kyle before, she knew it wasn’t him. And if it wasn’t Kyle, then who was this mystery courier? And what kind of message was he attempting to deliver? “I’ll be right there.”
Smiling, Mariah stood. “Hmm, sounds intriguing.”
Jade rounded her desk and headed out of her office with Mariah following close behind. “It’s probably just a note from a client.”
“Probably.” Mariah’s tone was dubious.
The older man waiting in the reception area wasn’t your normal messenger. He wore a black suit, black gloves and a black bill cap. When she identified herself, he handed over an envelope. Her stomach fluttered when she recognized her name written in Kyle’s bold scrawl.
She thanked the man, but he didn’t seem inclined to leave. Instead he clasped his hands behind his back and told her he was supposed to wait for a response.
Curious, as was her avid audience of two, she opened the envelope and withdrew the floral-embossed card tucked inside. Mariah leaned close to read the message, but Jade tilted the card away and gave her sister a look that conveyed she wasn’t about to share the personal note.
Jade,
The man delivering this message is a hired driver.
There is a limousine waiting outside for you to take you on a special adventure, a fantasy, if you will. Do you trust me? If so, go with the driver, as you are. If not, tell him his services are not required and I’ll understand.
Kyle
Jade put the card back in the envelope, trying to still the wild beating of her heart. Her decision was an easy one, driven by her feelings for Kyle.
“Well?” Mariah asked, her exasperation and impatience evident.
Jade glanced at her sister and laughed, feeling carefree and reckless and more than ready for Kyle’s adventure. “It looks like my plans for the weekend have just changed.”
* * *
The adventure Kyle sent her on consisted of a fun and playful scavenger hunt. The first stop the limousine driver made was to a florist, where two dozen dark red roses awaited her, arranged in cellophane so she could enjoy the rich, floral fragrance. The attached card read: This is only the beginning.
On the driver went, this time parking the long stretch limo in front of a candy shop. He returned minutes later with a gold foil-wrapped box secured with a wide gold ribbon.
While he headed to their next destination, she opened her newest surprise. As soon as she lifted the lid, her mouth watered at the delectable fragrance teasing her senses. She grinned, then laughed to herself when she realized the contents: Peach wedges dipped in chocolate. She was tempted to sample one, but the enclosed card read: To share later, so she waited.
Her journey continued on to P.J.’s Lingerie and Things, a lavish and exclusive boutique. She watched through the tinted window as the driver entered the establishment, then returned with a box tucked beneath his arm. He opened the back door, set it on the seat opposite where she sat, then retrieved a small envelope from the breast pocket of his coat and handed it to her.
As the limousine merged back into traffic, Jade read Kyle’s latest offering. The short note was enough to send a prickle of apprehension skittering along her nerves.
Wear this for me tonight.
There was no doubt in her mind the box contained his selection of intimate apparel. She didn’t reach for it, too lost in the past, and another man’s slow and methodical transformation of her appearance. Just like this note, it all had started so innocently…subtle suggestions that gradually escalated into specific demands that eventually shaped and molded her into a compliant, docile woman.
She chewed on her bottom lip as she stared at Kyle’s note, rereading his command. She’d sworn three years ago that she’d never let another man have that kind of control over her, would never let another man dictate her choices.
She looked at each one of his decadent gifts, knowing this last present, like all the rest, was just a part of the special evening Kyle had planned—no other ulterior motives involved. Kyle wasn’t trying to change her, would never manipulate her emotions or steal her self-confidence. She’d like to believe she knew him that well. She’d like to believe her judgment hadn’t failed her again.
The limousine came to another stop, and Jade resolutely tucked away the doubts and fears that had kept her so isolated and lonely for three years. She wanted this evening with Kyle, and whatever the night might hold.
Her door opened, and the driver smiled down at her. “This is your final destination, Ms. Stevens.”
Placing her hand in his gloved one, she stepped from the limo and gazed up at the posh, elite hotel towering in front of her, feeling breathless with anticipation. A bellboy automatically stepped up to the curb and loaded her few items on a cart. The limo driver handed the friendly young man a key and a tip, then another envelope to Jade, instructing her to read it once she was in her room.
“Right this way, miss,” the bellboy announced, and led the way through a lobby inlaid with marbled floors. A gorgeous gold-tone fountain dominated the center of the hotel, and a huge, sparkling crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, casting incandescent prisms all around her. The hotel was exquisite, the furnishings rich and opulent. So was the suite she ended up in. She couldn’t help but think how much this wonderful adventure of Kyle’s had cost him. A fortune, no doubt.
Once the bellboy unloaded her things and placed her roses on the coffee table, he graced her with a pleasant smile. “Enjoy your stay,” he said, then closed the door behind him as he left.
“Wow,” Jade murmured, in awe of the extravagance of the suite. She stood in a living room twice the size of her own with a couch, loveseat and huge screen TV—which she guessed wouldn’t get much use during their stay. Plush cream carpet covered the floor and complimented the other accents in the room. There was an adjoining dining area with a table set with fine china, gorgeous cut crystal goblets and gleaming silverware. There was even a small kitchen area with a stocked refrigerator.
There certainly was no need for them to leave any time soon. The amenities were fabulous and extravagant and made Jade feel like a queen. The only thing missing was Kyle.
Remembering the note she held, she opened the envelope and read the enclosed card. Go into the bedroom and follow the trail of rose petals.
Intrigued and excited, she opened the double doors just off the living room, revealing a master bedroom with a four-poster Victorian bed covered with a beautiful floral spread and lacy, frilly pillows. An armoire was situated against one wall, along with a matching oval dressing mirror. A chaise longue sat in the far corner. She smiled when she saw the trail of silky red petals sprinkled on the carpet. Breathing in the subtle scent of roses, she followed the path into a sumptuous bathroom.
She gasped, enthralled and delighted by the romantic ambiance someone had so painstakingly created. The sunken tub, large enough for two, was filled with steaming, fragrant water, a froth of bubbles, and topped off with more rose petals. Candles were lit around the tub, soft music played from the speakers built into the ceiling, and a bottle of wine chilled in an ice bucket on the second step leading into the tub. Propped against the fluffy cream towels placed on the rim was yet another brief note. Relax and enjoy your bath. I’ll be with you soon.
Smiling at that thought, she went back into the living room and brought the box from the boutique into the bathroom, leaving the contents to be revealed later. Pouring herself a glass of chilled wine, she kicked off her heels and curled her toes into the plush carpet. Leisurely she slipped out of the blouse and skirt she’d worn to work, then stripped off her unde
rthings.
She switched off the vanity lights, leaving the flickering candles as the only source of illumination, then slid into the bath. The warm, silky water, the wine and the music lulled her until her entire body felt boneless. Sighing blissfully, she closed her eyes and sank shoulder-deep into the water.
Her mind drifted, recalling a fantasy she’d written long ago. The setting was similar, the atmosphere drenched with the same provocative sensuality. A steamy, fragrant bath…candles…and strong hands sliding over her slick skin…
Something brushed along the curve of her breast beneath the frothy water. She thought she’d imagined the fleeting caress until that same something glided along her belly. Her eyes flew open on a startled squeak the same time her hand swept through the water, latching on to a wrist that wasn’t hers.
Heart lodged into her throat, she stared at the golden-haired rebel who’d become her fantasy lover, in her mind and in reality. He sat on the second step of the tub, his blue eyes filled with heat and sin. And a tenderness that made her ache deep inside. He was shirtless, his chest magnificently bare, his skin warm and inviting looking.
“Close your eyes,” he murmured.
He waited for her to comply, his intense gaze never leaving hers. Go with the fantasy, her mind urged. With a shiver that stripped her reserve, she did. Releasing his hand, she reclined in the tub and let her lashes drift shut.
The next sensation she experienced was the big bathing sponge she’d seen next to the spigot. The texture was soapy soft and luxurious as he dragged it along her shoulder, then dipped beneath the water, lightly grazing her skin from the peaked tips of her breasts, down her belly and between her thighs that automatically parted for him. He took his time washing her, and arousing her, stroking along sensitive, aching places without fulfilling the promise of his touch. She bit back a moan, feeling feverish and too close to the edge.
Her body hummed and her breathing grew ragged. She was so lost in sensation, so caught up in the fantasy he orchestrated with such unerring accuracy, that it took her a few moments to realize he was no longer touching her. She waited, then slowly opened her eyes and looked around.
Her fantasy lover was gone.
Chapter Nine
Jade stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror, pleasantly surprised and pleased with Kyle’s taste in women’s lingerie. Before opening the box from P.J.’s, she’d expected to find a sinfully erotic negligee, a scrap of nothing that left little to one’s imagination. Instead she’d discovered something infinitely more delightful.
The apricot-hued chemise Kyle had chosen was an old-fashioned blend of romance, innocence and sensuality, appealing to her softer, feminine side. The delicate stretch lace bodice shaped to her breasts, with a thin ribbon lacing up the center that tied into a dainty bow. The gown itself draped softly along her body to just above the knee, hinting at curves rather than ostensibly clinging to them. The matching bikini panties were made of the same stretch lace, sheer as a sigh, and nothing innocent about them.
Drawing in a deep breath, she met her gaze in the mirror. Gone was the sassy, carefree woman she’d displayed to the outside world. The woman with the green-golden brown eyes staring back at her was the Jade she’d kept hidden from everyone for the past three years. The vulnerable Jade. The Jade who wanted to believe in romance and happily-ever-afters so badly she’d created fantasies for just that reason.
But tonight was no fantasy, but reality in its purest sense.
And she was ready for it.
Before the jittery feeling in her stomach convinced her otherwise, she opened the bathroom door and stepped into the bedroom. More candles had been lit, giving the room a soft, iridescent glow. The bed had been turned down, the mattress sprinkled with more rose blossoms.
A movement from the corner of the room caught her eye. Glancing in that direction, she found Kyle sitting on the chaise longue, long legs stretched out and hands clasped over his belly. Dark, sexy eyes traveled from her face and slowly swept the length of her, making her body flush with a wanting so strong her knees threatened to buckle.
She didn’t know what to do. Didn’t know what an earthy, sexual man like Kyle expected. Her very limited experience in sex consisted of losing her virginity to a guy she’d been dating in college, a quick awkward romp in the back seat of his Mustang. And then there’d been Adam, who’d expected her to behave the way he thought was appropriate for a lady, in public and in the privacy of his bedroom—accommodating to his desires.
And the fantasies she’d written since Adam were just that—her own fictional version of romance and sexual desires. Now that she was facing reality for the first time in years, doubts and uncertainties surfaced. What if she didn’t please this man who’d so expertly pleased her? Worse, what if he found her lacking?
“You’re nervous,” he said perceptively, his voice a rich, low rumble of sound in the shadowed room.
“A little,” she admitted, her heart beating heavily beneath her breast. “It’s been a long time.”
“Yeah, for me, too.” His smile was warm and tender. “But you were definitely worth the wait.”
So was he, she realized. Confidence restored, she stepped toward him.
“Stop right there,” he said, his tone commanding and compelling enough to make her immediately comply.
She waited for him. He didn’t move, just sat there on the chaise. His gaze held hers, mesmerizing and disturbingly intense.
“Do you trust me?” he asked.
She remembered the note he’d sent her that had started this provocative adventure of his. “I came here, didn’t I?” Her tone was as impatient as she was starting to feel.
“Yes, but what’s going to happen tonight is going to change a lot of things between us. And before anything happens, I want to hear that you trust me enough to do anything I ask.”
Desire and ingrained apprehension mingled. “I…I do.”
“Then untie the bow on the front of your nightgown.”
Despite her promise to trust him, the part of her that refused to be dominated or controlled rebelled. She wasn’t sure she liked where this game of his was heading. And she certainly wouldn’t put up with being ordered around. “Kyle, I don’t—”
“Do it,” he said, cutting off her protest, “or the fantasy ends.”
His use of the word fantasy startled her, made everything within her snap to full awareness. “Fantasy?” Her cautious question demanded an explanation.
“Yeah. Mine, yours and soon to be ours,” he said mildly, a private, beguiling smile brushing across his mouth. “The latter is solely up to you.”
The choice was hers. She could either stop this erotic game of his now, knowing she’d regret her decision later, or she could go with Kyle’s fantasy, their fantasy, and see where it would lead.
Misgivings and inhibitions fled. She reached for the satin ribbon and tugged. The bow unraveled, the ties loosening as her breasts swelled and her nipples strained against the stretchy lace bodice.
She thought she heard him groan, but couldn’t be sure. His gaze was hooded as he watched her. Her eyes drifted lower, where his wide, bare chest expanded with each breath he took. The erection confined beneath the zipper of his jeans gave her a thrilling rush of feminine power she’d never experienced before.
In that moment, she realized she held her own share of control in this seduction. And she decided she was going to use it to drive him crazy.
Her mouth curved with a sultry smile of a woman confident in her sensuality. Without waiting for further instructions, she slipped her finger beneath the thin strap of her chemise, eased it over her shoulder and down her arm, then repeated the slow process with the other strap. The stretchy lace molded to her breasts, but she teased the edge with her fingers, gradually dragging it lower, until the lacy material bunched around her ribs and her breasts sprang free, full and aching.
This time Kyle’s groan was unmistakable. So was the quiver of excitement blossoming wit
hin her.
What had ever made her think this chemise was innocent? At the moment, it was the sexiest, most enticing piece of lingerie she’d ever worn. Daringly, she hooked her thumbs beneath the scrunched lace, inched it down her belly, then shimmied it over her hips. With a final push, the gown slithered down her legs and pooled at her feet. A sudden surge of modesty kept her from removing her panties.
Kyle moved off the chaise and toward her in a lazy, unhurried stroll. He circled around her without touching her, and she began to tremble with a need so great it was all she could do to stand still.
He stopped behind her, and with his hands on her hips, he moved her two steps to the left, until they both came into view of the oval dressing mirror. Another fantasy flashed through her mind, of watching her lover arouse her, but she refused to let it intrude on this wonderful reality.
She stared at their reflection, haloed in a golden glow from the candlelight. Kyle towered over her, his broad frame visible behind her in the mirror. His smoldering gaze met hers, and he smiled as he glided his large hands over the indent of her waist and up to cup her full breasts in his palms. His thumbs grazed over her sensitive nipples, making them peak and tighten. A moan rolled into her tight, aching throat.
“So beautiful,” he purred against her neck, his breath a warm caress that sent shivers through her. He slipped his fingers into the sides of her panties, caught the elastic band around his thumb, and whispered in her ear, “Watch.”
She was too mesmerized to do otherwise. Her gaze remained riveted on the mirror as Kyle slowly dragged her panties over her hips, then inched them down her thighs, baring her. His warm, damp mouth nuzzled the nape of her neck, then pressed kisses down each vertebra as he slid that scrap of lace lower. By the time his sweet, tormenting lips reached the base of her spine and her panties tangled around her ankles, her entire body thrummed with a wanting greater than anything she’d ever known.
He nipped gently at her buttocks, and shock waves of pleasure rippled through her. When his tongue gently soothed the love bite, she all but melted. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides. She wanted to touch him, feel his strength beneath her fingertips, make his body come alive the same way he was making hers burn.
Her Sexiest Fantasy (The Sexiest Series Book 2) Page 14