“I need some space,” she said and shoved away from him. With quick clipped strides she hurried back to the table where some of the couples had already returned.
As she sat, she caught a quick glimpse of Tommy from the corner of her eye as he stood on the dance floor, hands jammed into his pockets and his jaw tight with tension. Before he could join them at the table, the band leader announced that everyone should take their seats for the toast.
Tommy approached the singer and the man handed him a microphone and a glass of champagne. He sauntered over to where Nickie and Jase were sitting at a head table just for the two of them, raised his glass, and began his speech.
“I've known Jase for nearly all of my life. He's like a brother to me and I always knew that any woman would be lucky to have a man as honorable and loyal as Jase. I'm glad that it's my wonderful sister Nickie who will be able to share her life with him. Dude, we are all so glad that you're now officially a member of the family. We wish the both of you many many happy and healthy years filled with love and joy.”
He held up his glass and finished with, “May this one special night lead to so many more nights and years together.”
She raised her glass with a shaky hand, but as she did so, her gaze met Tommy's and there was a hint of challenge there. A dare for her to let go and explore this night together as well.
She took a sip and the chill cooled off some of the heat rising in her at his dare.
She'd never been one to refuse a challenge so she wasn't going to ignore Tommy's and the attraction that had immediately flared to life. It was time to take a chance and enjoy herself.
“You look . . . different, Doc,” Trevor said as he examined her in the dim light.
“Must be the civvies,” she teased, wanting to keep the moment lighthearted, but unfortunately that ploy didn't work.
“You belong in a uniform, Doc. Not handing out aspirins on a stateside base,” Trevor said.
“So you're really not coming back, Doc?” Jim asked as he caught on to the discussion.
“I'm not, Jim. As much I love all you guys and want to be with you, I know I couldn't do right by you with the way I am.”
Stunned silence followed her announcement and she braced herself for the barrage of questions that was sure to follow.
Luckily, Tommy returned to the table just as the band leader was asking couples to join Jase and his mom during their special dance.
She bolted to her feet, grabbed hold of Tommy's hand, and pulled him toward the dance floor. Once they were there, she moved into his arms as he said, “Color me confused.”
“Join the club,” she muttered. Although just moments earlier she had needed space from his sexiness and temptation, there was something comforting him about him also. Something that she sensed could help her handle the conflicting emotions she was experiencing about so much in her life.
* * *
Tommy looked over at their table where an animated discussion was going on. He didn't need to be a rocket scientist to understand that Jasmine was the topic being discussed.
“Mind telling me what's up?”
She shot a quick glance back at the table and rolled her eyes. “You wouldn't believe me if I told you.”
“Try me,” he said and placed a hand at her waist, She surprised him by moving closer and he took advantage to wrap his arm around her to keep her near.
“They want to know why I'm not going back,” she said with a heavy sigh.
“Going back? As in back to Afghanistan?” he asked. He'd heard her mention something about it to Jase earlier on the receiving line, but wanted to make sure he had understood correctly.
“Yeah, as in back there. I've only got a few months left and I'm going to finish my tour with shore duty.”
He didn't question her as to why she'd made that choice. He was sure she had her reasons and from all that he'd heard about “Doc” from Jase, he had no doubt they were good ones.
“I know it probably wasn't an easy decision to make.”
“It wasn't,” she replied curtly, obviously uneasy, so he tried to make her more comfortable.
“Would I be a dick if I said I'm glad because it means you're here and we can get to know each other better?”
The corners of her lips tilted up in the barest hint of a smile.
“No, it wouldn't make you a dick, unless 'getting to know each other' is code for fucking my brains out,” she kidded and a becoming flush worked across her cheeks.
“Damn, you figured out the code. Does that mean you're not interested in my fucking your brains out?”
She grinned and a small chuckle exploded from her. “Are you always this determined?”
“Always,” he confirmed.
She shook her head and her grin broadened. “Then tonight is sure going to be interesting, Tommy,” she said and shifted closer.
He wasn't quite sure what tonight was going to be like, but he'd go with her seeming acceptance that they'd spend some time together since he really liked the feel of her curvy body against his and the way she laid her head on his shoulder. The lush wavy strands of her hair brushed the underside of his jaw and he imagined what they'd feel like if she pillowed her head on his naked chest. Of course, she'd be naked as well which had his erection springing back to life against the softness of her belly.
Fuck, he thought and forced himself to think about other things. Baseball. Football. No, soccer, definitely boring ass soccer, but then she surprised him by tipping her head up and meeting his gaze.
A second later, she shifted her hips across his growing erection, eased the hand at his shoulder down beneath the fabric of his jacket, and down to his waist to keep him close. The tight nubs of her breasts played across his chest, stoking the need growing inside him, but also inside her, he realized.
Her cheeks were awash with color and her gaze was wide, her cinnamon-dusted hazel irises darkening to deep cocoa.
He splayed his hand across her back and dipped his head so that they were cheek to cheek. Her skin was so smooth and her smell . . . God, but she smelled so good.
They moved together silently to the music until the band wound down the song and asked the couples to sit so Nickie and her dad could take the floor.
They drifted back to the table, his hand still at her back, reminding her that he intended to be part of her night. The tension in her body was obvious, but luckily there was silence as they sat back down. When the dance ended, the wait staff served the first course of the meal and hunger took over to maintain some sort of silence.
Sort of because Sally couldn't seem to stop chatting. When he'd talk to Jase about his unit, his friend had always referred to Jim as strong and silent. Now Tommy knew why. He probably never got to say much with his talkative wife. Not that Jim seemed to mind as he glanced at his wife with love written all over his features.
It was fascinating to watch the interaction between the others as they shared the meal. As an up-and-coming businessman, he'd learned to study people to gauge how to handle them.
Jim was clearly the “old man” of the group even though all six of the men were pretty much the same age. Trevor, with his boyish looks and easy-going personality, seemed far younger, although all of the men seemed older than their years, maybe because of what they'd seen during their service.
As for Jasmine, she truly was an unknown commodity to him although he was eager to find out why she ran so hot and cold. Especially since he liked it when she was running hot, although the warning bells in his head said that she was the absolute worst kind of woman for him.
She was too strong and determined. A woman used to going it alone. He had no doubt she'd be leaving to pursue whatever it was she wanted out of life.
He had no desire to get involved with another woman who would leave him, he thought again as the waiters brought over the main course. But one night. One special night. Yeah, I could handle that, he thought.
She licked her lips after a sip from her drink and he s
wallowed hard, wondering how they'd feel against his. Would they be hot or cold from the soda? Sweet or demanding?
He dipped his gaze down to avoid more thoughts of those lips on his, but he was in equally dangerous territory at the sight of her sexy tits and all those dangerous curves. He remembered how that gorgeous womanly body fit against him so perfectly. Imagined tasting her full breasts and sucking the hard tips that had felt so good against his body just moments earlier.
His balls tightened and his erection flared to life again, but luckily the table hid his renewed reaction to her as he attacked the main course, a delicious surf and turf combo, with feigned interest. He'd much rather be kissing Jasmine than eating, but there was a time and place for everything.
She dug into her meal with gusto and it was nice to see a woman who wasn't afraid of the calories piled on her plate.
“It's good, isn't it?” he said as she polished off the last of the lobster and licked a bit of melted butter from her lips. In his pants, his cock did an excited little dance at the thought of her licking him like that.
“I love lobster, not that I get to eat it often,” she said and since he still had most of his tail on his plate, he motioned to it.
“Have mine. I'm not really a fan,” he replied even though it was one of his favorites also.
She narrowed her gaze and examined him before smiling playfully. “Liar, but I won't pass it up.”
He scooped the lobster tail onto her plate, appreciating the relish with which she ate. Certain she'd give that kind of eagerness to other things in her life since she didn't seem like the kind to shy away from things.
Except maybe me, he thought. When there was only one piece of lobster on her plate, she looked up and met his gaze. Misunderstood the hunger there since she forked up the morsel, dipped it in butter, and offered it up to him.
“Hungry?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered quickly and thought, But only for you.
She brought the lobster to his lips and he surrounded it with his mouth. The melted butter dripped onto his lips and she swiped it off with her thumb, sending a blast of desire straight to his groin with her touch.
He quickly swallowed and when she went to wipe off another smear of butter, he grabbed hold of her hand, licked his lips, and then licked the tip of her finger.
She sucked in a deep breath and met his gaze. Watched as he kissed his way down her finger to her wrist, where he dropped another kiss and smiled as a soft moan escaped her.
She shot him a glance full of both innocence and daring.
Since the rest of the couples were luckily involved in an animated discussion about which branch of the service was best, Tommy decided it was time to explore what he was feeling for the exciting woman next to him.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” he asked.
Chapter 4
Jasmine knew that their walk was going to involve a lot more than just a stroll on the beach. Common sense told her it would be crazy to go, but with every cell in her body alive and humming with need, there was no way she'd say “No.”
It was time to take a chance and the consequences be damned. She'd deal with the aftermath of her decision later. Much later, she thought.
“I'd love to go for a walk,” she said, her voice sounding surprisingly husky even to her own ears.
He popped out of his chair eagerly, that tempting smile on his face, and she realized that he was a man who'd never be good at hiding his emotions. He'd always be open and honest and full of life, and she found that undeniably irresistible.
She'd spent too much time around so many strong silent types in the military. It was refreshing to find a man who was so open and unrestrained.
She accepted the hand he held out to her and walked with him past the many tables filled with guests and toward the short boardwalk that led down to the beach. With the main course finished, there were other couples moving about the lawn and terrace, letting them pass unnoticed to the boardwalk.
They crossed up and over the dunes that were covered with sea grasses and aromatic wild roses and which protected his family's home from storms.
At the base of the stairs, she stopped to take off her sandals. She grabbed them in one hand and continued to hold his hand with the other as they slowly ambled down the beach and away from the party, although a few guests were starting to filter onto the beachfront. It was quieter on the sand, with the distant noise from the guests and the music muted by the dunes. The sounds of the waves rushing toward shore and the occasional squawk of a seagull filled the air instead.
Above them the sky was darkening quickly as dusk advanced in the late summer night.
They walked in peaceful silence for about fifteen minutes before Tommy paused by the boardwalk leading to another large mansion. With a gentle tug on her hand, he turned her to face him and her gaze connected with his as it skipped over face.
The barest hint of a smile was on his lips as he raised his hand and skimmed the tips of his fingers along her cheek. “You’re very beautiful,” he said, the tones of his voice low, strumming alive need deep inside her.
It had been too long since she’d done this dance and worse yet, she knew he wouldn’t feel the same way if he ever saw the scars on her body. Because of that, she tried to downplay the comment. “I bet you say that to all the girls.”
He grinned and chucked her under the chin. “Only the pretty ones.”
She chuckled and met his gaze again. A playful glitter filled the dark cocoa brown of his eyes, but there was more there. Definitely more, she thought and he confirmed it by slipping his thumb up across her lips before he bent and kissed her.
Sweet lord, but his mouth was heaven, she thought. Soft. Hard. Warm. Cool. Delicious, she thought as his mouth invited her to play until they finally broke apart, both of them shaking with need.
He gestured toward the dunes and said, “Would you like to sit for a moment?”
After a nervous glance at the sand and growing awareness of what might follow, she nodded. Together they moved toward the protection of the dunes and as they neared a spot thick with grasses and the fragrant roses, Tommy whipped off his jacket and laid it on the ground for her.
“It'll get ruined,” she said, fearing the worst for the fine fabric of the tuxedo.
“Don't worry. It can handle a little sand and I don't want you to get your dress dirty.”
Her dress which probably cost only a fraction of what his designer duds did. The thought made her hesitate and prompted him to ask, “What's wrong, Jasmine?”
She motioned between the two of them and said, “This. You and me. I don't normally do this kind of thing and even if I did, now is not the right time.”
He jerked a hand through the wavy strands of his hair with obvious frustration and looked away toward the surf. It had grown darker, but a full moon was emerging, casting all kinds of shadows along the chiseled lines of his features. Those mobile and sexy lips were a harsh line amidst all those shadows. As he faced her again, those beautiful brown almost almond-shaped eyes were filled with pain.
“I don't normally do this either, Jasmine. And for shit sure this isn't what I expected for tonight, but I want you. I thought you wanted me, too.”
She had never been one to play games. “I do want you, but . . . I’m not normally into one night stands.”
“Me, either, but maybe it’s time to be different. Maybe it's time to give in to something we both really want,” he countered and cradled her cheek in his big hand. He skimmed his thumb across her cheekbone and said, “We can take it slow, Jasmine.”
She had no doubt about that. Despite his assertions that he didn't normally do things like this, he struck her as the kind of man who knew just what to do to bring a woman pleasure. Deliciously toe-curling pleasure and if only for this one night, she was going to let herself feel alive again.
“Slow is very very good, Tommy,” she said with a smile and the tightness in his features evaporated like the wash of
the ocean against the sand.
Together they scooted down onto his jacket and sat there for a long moment, anticipation building between them.
As the breeze picked up and blew her hair across the side of her face, Tommy brushed it away and then lingered, his fingers threading into her hair to cradle her skull. He urged her to meet his gaze as he tardily lowered his head until his lips were so close that his warm breath spilled against her face.
“You are amazing,” he said and softly brushed his lips across hers. So softly that for a moment she wondered if he'd even done so, only her lips were tingling and that feeling was spreading down throughout her body as he returned to nuzzle her lips again.
“You're not so bad yourself,” she teased back and his smile grazed across her mouth.
“I was worried you hadn't noticed what a sexy guy I am,” he said with a chuckle that vibrated against her lips and heightened the rush of awareness coursing through her body.
Before she could reply, he covered her mouth with his, deepening the kiss. His lips warm and inviting as he coaxed hers to open and accept the slide of his tongue.
He tasted decadent, like the rich foods and wines they had savored during the meal. Clean and crisp from the lemon ice the waiters had brought around to clear their palates before the next course.
She dipped her tongue in to explore him, stroking it all along his tongue, and laid a hand on his strong shoulder to steady herself as she leaned into the kiss.
He grasped her waist, then languidly moved upward until his hand rested beneath her breast. Her nipples tightened in anticipation, but he didn't rush, content to kiss her like there was no tomorrow.
Which there wasn't, she reminded herself. There might not even be a later, so she enjoyed the kiss because damn he was an amazing kisser. She relaxed against him until the tips of her breasts teased the muscled wall of his chest.
One Special Night Page 3