Delaine lowered her lashes, sent a mental “cut it out” to the big black cat and then looked up at the tall, ruggedly handsome man. Lord, he was fine. What had she been thinking, walking over here like this? Her stomach churned and her thighs burned. Oh please, please, please let her steak and veggies stay down. Water. Maybe a sip of water would unclog the lump in her throat. Then he smiled and Delaine felt her barely-in-place facade melt completely.
The two women sitting at his table glared daggers at her while the man glared daggers at the two women.
“Time to go,” the attractive hunk said in a voice so smooth, it made her think of Luther Vandross on a rainy night, sprawled out on a plush fur rug in front of a fireplace. Delaine prayed harder for her veggies when his eyes twinkled mischievously. He winked, and steered her toward an empty table in a corner of the room.
He pulled out a chair and motioned her into it. “Good evening, gorgeous. I’m Justin.” His chest tightened with what could only be described as pure male satisfaction when her dimpled cheeks turned a sweet shade of caramelized pink. “Glass of wine?”
He ordered a glass of rare white merlot for himself and nodded in appreciation of good taste as Delaine ordered a small glass of their best dessert wine…Sandeman’s Twenty-Year Tawny Port. When she also ordered an apple tart for them to share, he tilted his head to the side and embraced her with his eyes. Skip the apple tart— he looked like he’d rather just eat her.
“So, what brings such a beautiful woman here tonight?” Justin asked charmingly.
“I, well, um,” she stammered, but caught herself quickly. She forced her breathing to slow so she could answer the damn question. Whew, he was just too good looking for words. And Sapa ran around in circles in her head like a fool. Looking down into her glass, she respectfully asked the great lioness to quiet down and lend her some of her quiet, royal strength. Sapa immediately quieted and sent a flood of calm confidence through their bond.
“I just moved here,” Delaine finally answered as calmly as she was able. “A friend of mine suggested this group was a good way to meet other professionals. I’m a bit too old for the meat market, wham bam, dance club scene.” Whoa! Had she actually said something so blunt to this man? Perhaps Sapa had given her too much gumption? Oh, he was definitely turned off now. Good. Better to get it over with so she could go home and throw up then kick herself in the butt for being such a babbling idiot.
Her annoyance with herself quickly became surprise and then utter amazement when he reached across the table and dipped his finger into the whipped cream of her apple tart.
“I like a bold woman.” His grin could only be described as sensuously wicked. And way he locked eyes with her as he licked the frothy whip off his fingertip? Oh lord!
She watched his tongue swirl around the cream on the tip of his finger before his lips wrapped around it and sucked the rest of the whip away. Okay, the upset stomach was a thing of the past. Her heart beat so fast she figured she’d just pass out and wouldn’t have to worry about throwing up after all.
“So what kind of work do you do?” he asked, still eating the whipped cream from his fingers. She kept telling herself to stop looking at that long index finger as it disappeared into his mouth but her eyes wouldn’t listen.
*Stop looking! You cannot have a decent conversation if you are drooling, Suta Winyan.*
Delaine mentally nodded, thanking Sapa for intervening in her major duh moment, and took a fortifying gulp of rich, sweet port. The potent wine tingled as it slipped down her throat and calmed her churning tummy. Justin wiped his fingers on a linen napkin. Good, no tan lines on his ring finger. She looked up to his face and her gaze settled on his mouth. She’d never seen a white guy with lips like this except on television. This man had full, Steven Tyler lips. Firm, kissable lips. Oh lord, she had to get a hold of herself. Must be the wine. Sapa snapped her out of her examination of his mouth.
*He asked what kind of work it is you do, remember? Of course, you cannot tell him.*
‘I know, Sapa. Geez, I’m not that far gone.’ Delaine thought she heard a sarcastic snort resonate along the psychic bond as she answered the man’s question. “I’m a technical consultant,” she finally answered.
“Technical, as in…?” he queried.
“Technical, as in pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturing hierarchy development.”
* * * * *
Justin lifted his eyebrows with a perfected dumb-as-a-rock, need-more-information-please look. He knew it had the intended affect when Delaine chuckled.
“I work for a company that specializes in providing analytical solutions to pharmaceutical and biotech manufacturers. We help them map out their production processes in a hierarchical manner. Then they can retrieve data from multiple databases for any part of their process. It enables them to do analysis just like that,” she explained with a quiet snap of her fingers. “My job is to work with my customer’s business community and scientific process engineers. I help them determine how they plan to use their data for analysis then we can build the graphical representation of the process, or hierarchy, appropriately. Make sense?”
Justin nodded. He knew exactly what she was talking about, but he kept his expression neutral. This woman was alluring, sexy as hell, and he was instantly attracted to her. But she’d just confirmed that she was definitely involved in what he was investigating at Astin Pharma. When he’d sighted her in The Vault, it hadn’t been an interesting coincidence after all. Damn.
“So, Justin, what do you do?” Delaine asked. Mimicking his behavior, she dipped her own finger into the whipped cream on their dessert then licked it off with a mischievous grin.
Justin’s eyes zeroed in on the pucker of her mouth as her dark cherry lips curled around her finger. He couldn’t decide if he should choke on his wine or swallow his tongue. So he did both.
Out of her seat in a flash, Delaine circled around the table and starting thumping him right in the middle of his back. Damn, the woman has a strong hand, he thought, wondering if he would have bruises where she whacked him in her effort to clear his windpipe.
“Are you all right? Oh goodness, my first outing in this town and I’ve already half killed a man!” Delaine growled, and kept right on beating the hell out of him. Justin’s hacking cough turned into a raspy chuckle. She’d sounded so sincere, he couldn’t help laughing.
“I’m fine, Delaine, really,” he wheezed around a final hack. He held up his hands to ward her off in hopes that she wouldn’t pound him again. Well, the physique he’d glimpsed when he’d watched her disappear down the tunnel in The Vault obviously hadn’t been a play of the dim lighting. He smiled big and shook his head in delight. The woman was a treat. The smile vanished when, all on its own, his mind filled with thoughts of his tongue sliding along her smooth cocoa skin to discover what this rich treat tasted like. His cock filled right along with his mind. Hungrily he watched her pretty almond-shaped eyes turn all soft and feminine, then widen as he reached out and took one of her hands. He leaned forward and spoke quietly, his fingers a feather-light caress over the back of her hand.
“Thank you for saving my life, beautiful.”
Delaine settled back into her chair, her face on fire with a fierce blush. She’d totally overreacted to his little bout of choking, but here he was thanking her. And looking at her like she was the most beautiful female on the planet. His gaze slammed into her and those damned butterflies stirred once more.
She could only nod. His expression was so lusty she couldn’t look into his eyes another second. It did funny things to her belly, made her want to pull him across the table and jump his bones on top of the remainder of her apple tart.
“Delaine, I know a little jazz club not far from here. You game?” he asked, not bothering to hide the huskiness in his voice. He watched her body language closely and her eyes flashed such a wide range of emotions so quickly he couldn’t catch them all. His eyes followed her tongue from one side of her inviting mouth to the
other as she licked her lips nervously. For a moment, he thought she might turn him down. Relief stilled an uneasy flutter in his gut he hadn’t noticed was there until she nodded and allowed him a glimpse of her dimples once more.
“Wait here, I’ll be right back.” He left the table, strode to the coat check. From a distance Justin could have sworn she was mumbling to herself, but as soon as she saw him approaching, she stilled. He slipped the heavy black cloak around her shoulders and put on his own coat before offering his arm to her again.
She looked up at him warily, her brows knit in a tight furrow of suspicion. He hadn’t realized until this moment that he hadn’t asked which coat was hers but had simply retrieved the one his investigator’s mind logically picked out—an ankle-length black cloak with fox fur around the large hood that said “class” loud and clear. He knew exactly what she was thinking. Softly, he said, “Baby, I’ve watched you from the moment you walked in the door. You’re the only woman here classy enough to wear something like this.” He fingered the thick, soft material at the neck and secured the clasp, grazing her soft cheek with the backs of his fingers.
* * * * *
Arm in arm, they stepped out of the dining room and made their way out of the mansion. Claim tickets in hand, the valets were immediately off to retrieve their vehicles, leaving Delaine and Justin alone under the cloud-covered moonlight.
To Justin, the four seconds it had taken the attendants to turn their backs and move off into the night was four seconds too long. As soon as they were out of sight, he gently pulled Delaine to him, just close enough for the front of her cloak to whisper against the smooth leather of his jacket. He leaned forward, his voice a deliberate and seductive whisper.
“I’ve wanted to get you alone all evening,” he breathed into the soft down of her hair.
Usually ready with a smart-assed reply, Delaine’s throat closed up and every thought flew right out of her head. Her hands lifted to touch his shoulders all on their own while she fought with the rest of her body to keep from rubbing up against him. He moved closer, blatantly inhaling the scent of her skin as his lips gently explored the soft contours of her face. The kiss that wasn’t quite a kiss had her practically melting. Damn, it was so erotic, she barely felt the chill in the air as her body warmed from her scalp down to her pinky toes. She wanted him. Badly.
Justin gently rubbed his nose against hers. His nostrils flared as he inhaled her natural scent. She smelled like allspice and ginger. Spicy, sweet. He liked it. He rubbed his lips against her cheek, brushed over her mouth and nibbled along her jawbone. She wore hardly any makeup, skin so baby smooth he could stand there and rub his cheek against hers until she tired of him doing so.
He worried her diamond stud with his teeth. After endless moments of bathing in the sensual fog that was Delaine, he managed to string together a few words against the tempting lobe of her dainty little ears. “May I kiss you?” he whispered against her skin.
Unable to gather enough air to speak, Delaine mouthed the word yes, almost desperate to feel his mouth moving against hers. Her head screamed, Hurry up and kiss me already! She couldn’t tell if it was her, Sapa or the both of them. Strung so tight, her whole body hummed with the effort it took to stand there and look like a woman halfway in control of herself.
By the time he finally got around to it, she was ready to grab him by the collar, rise up on her tiptoes and lay one on him. She’d never had this kind of physical reaction to a man. Neither had Sapa, so beside herself, if she purred any louder in Delaine’s mind, she was sure even Justin would be able to hear it. Oh lord, she almost hoped he would say something stupid to ruin the moment. Give her an excuse to shut down and bow out. All this stomach fluttering was just too much.
Justin played it out for as long as he could, but now he couldn’t wait another second to claim her lips. He slanted his mouth tenderly over hers but couldn’t hold it there. It just wasn’t enough. Pulling her body flush against his, he deepened the kiss like they were in a private room with nowhere to go but to bed. When she began to move her mouth under his, his arms tightened around her until she was wrapped completely within the cocoon of his large body. He groaned brokenly when she eagerly opened for him, allowing him full access to her lovely mouth. He tasted, teased and then plunged deeply, entangling his tongue with hers. She was delicious, like apples and fine wine. Her ready response made his thighs flex and stomach clench wildly with need. She made him feel…untamed.
A quiet uh-hem caught his attention. The valets had arrived with their cars. Damn, already? Broke the kiss on a sigh but couldn’t resist another taste or two. His mouth kicked up into a half grin when she smiled up at him, lips parted, and slightly dazed.
Justin stepped back, admired the sleek machine idling at the curb and caught Delaine’s unabashedly smug expression. She drove a black on black Jaguar convertible. Exactly like his. Yep, the woman had class.
He pulled open her door and settled her behind the wheel. “Follow me, beauty,” his sensual whisper a promise of things to come.
Chapter Four
Delaine followed Justin to a jazz club about a mile from the Duke Mansion. The four-minute drive gave her too much time to contemplate her ridiculous physical reaction to the man. What was it about him that made her want to jump him? How did a man she’d just met turn her on more with a look than her ex-husband ever had with his whole body? This just wasn’t like her.
Thankful for the few minutes she’d had to get herself together, she managed a small smile when Justin appeared and opened her car door for her. He ushered her into the club with his hand at the small of her back. She couldn’t help tensing at the intimate contact. His fingers burned through her coat, sending an uncontrollable tingle up her spine. Damned traitorous body.
The place was large and tastefully decorated with dark leathers and leopard print chairs. They sat in an intimate corner at a table just large enough for two. Mauve linen tablecloths, the subtle scent of fresh cut flowers and candles set the perfect atmosphere for lovers.
They listened to the band do covers of some of her favorite jazz songs. In the middle of a smooth Anita Baker set, the hackles on the back of Delaine’s neck stood at attention. She felt the lioness rise to prowl back and forth for a moment before speaking calmly but firmly to her charge.
*There is an enemy is in this place.*
‘Who is it?’ Delaine queried along the link that secured their bond.
*The one you hunt.*
Baker was here? Of all places for the man to be on a Friday night, he had to be at the same club she was. Double damn.
*Excuse yourself, Suta Winyan. Take us to the ladies room.*
“You all right, Delaine? You look a little peaked,” Justin asked, concern etched across his smooth brow. His fingers sought hers from across the table and stroked the back of her hand.
“Oh sure, I’m fine. Justin, would you please excuse me a moment? I need to run to the ladies room.” Heat crept into her cheeks on a blush when he stood up with her and kissed the back of her hand. Such a gentleman, drop-dead gorgeous, tall, nicely built… Sapa prodded her out of her reverie and she hurried off with sure, solid steps.
Delaine stood in a typically long line for the bathroom. The lioness prowled restlessly until she could duck into the first available stall, lock it quickly and close her eyes. She blocked out the sounds of the club, pushed the saxophones and deep bass far away. The smooth, sultry voice of the lead singer floating through the speakers in the ceiling faded into the background.
Delaine summoned her companion with a thought. ‘Please assist me, Sapa.’ The lioness sprang forth and a vision began.
Through her spirit’s eye, Delaine saw a short blonde woman sitting in her very own living room pleading for Delaine’s help. Then the vision flashed to another woman sitting in a chair. Her hands were tied tight behind her back and a large canvas bag was over her head. This woman appeared to be in a large dark room that was completely empty. In the background,
Baker’s face drifted in and out, a maniacal gleam in his jewel-green eyes. Then the vision winked out and Sapa was back in Delaine’s mind, growling low in her throat.
‘Thank you for your foresight, Sapa, but what does it mean?’
*It was not revealed to me, but you will know when the time comes. I will be with you, my Suta. Now go, enjoy the rest of your evening. The one you hunt departed while we waited in the long ladies room line.*
The vision showed Baker was involved in something sinister, but she’d already known that. The identity of the women and their part in this play was a mystery. These women had to be important. Sapa only shared these kinds of visions if there was danger. At least one good thing had come out of her little trip to the restroom—Justin hadn’t been in the vision.
* * * * *
Justin stood as he watched Delaine make her way back to their table. He held out her chair and was gifted with a brilliant smile. She seemed to have a bit more bounce in her step. That must have been one hell of a special trip to the ladies room, he thought.
“I ordered a drink for you. Hope you don’t mind,” he said, flashing a smile of his own.
“No worries. Thanks.” But her expression was distant, far-off. He caught a glimpse of the wheels turning in her head and knew he’d given her too much time to think about something other than him. For some reason, jealousy rose up in his chest at whatever or whoever had her attention. Probably not good, but he wanted her focused on him and him alone. He reached across the table, took her hand again and looked directly into her beautiful root beer colored, almond shaped eyes.
“I love the shape of your eyes, the way they tilt up at the sides. You look…exotic.” She looked at him like she didn’t believe him, but he was genuinely interested. “Let me guess. You’re mixed with Indian, perhaps?”
Eternally Bound: Paranormal Romance Boxed Set Page 4