by Dyanne Davis
She wasn’t going to get caught like that. “What am I to you, Jared? Am I just an unfinished story?”
“You don’t trust me, do you?”
His lips came down to cover hers, then stopped but a kiss away. She was sharing his breath, the need to cling to him overcoming her good sense. His muscles rippled beneath the fabric of his shirt.
Toreas could feel the evidence of his desire as he lowered his lips the last fraction of an inch and kissed her, melting away her doubts, replacing them with a hunger that frightened her.
“Trust me, Toreas,” he moaned into her ear. “I could fall in love with you very easily if I’m given the slightest bit of encouragement.”
God, how she wanted to believe him. She smiled up at him, resisting the pull of lust in his eyes. She had to try to inject some humor, anything to get them away from discussing their feelings.
“You’re a reporter. A critic.” She tried her feet; they could move now. She walked away from him and back to the safety of her overstuffed chair.
She had expected him to follow and tease her but he didn’t. He stood his ground, staring after her, a half frown on his face. His look was making her nervous.
“I haven’t said a demeaning word about romance writers in weeks. Still you don’t trust me.”
She saw he was serious. “Jared, you haven’t had a job in weeks. You haven’t had an opportunity to attack us.” She was half joking with him but he wasn’t smiling. Instead, his frown deepened.
She realized her remark could be construed as insensitive. “Jared, I was only joking. I’m sorry.”
Only then did he make a step toward her. “Do you believe that’s the only reason I’ve stopped my attacks? I thought things had changed between us.”
She didn’t like the way he was gazing at her. He was making her believe in magic, in love. She couldn’t hold out that hope. The kiss in the kitchen was an ending because of the month they’d shared. She couldn’t think it meant anything more than that to him.
Toreas wanted light, she wanted to chase away the sudden thickness of the charged air. He was descending on her, his eyes all over her at once.
She looked away from him to think. “Well, something has changed, Jared. You don’t call my clothes ugly anymore.”
He stopped and laughed. She breathed easier, knowing she had accomplished what she wanted.
“But they still are atrocious,” he answered her. “Why do you buy things that look like this?”
He was standing in front of her, his hand touching the well worn fabric of the heavy cotton shirt she had on. This shirt she thought was pretty. There were flowers and beads covering it in different patterns.
“Are you trying to hide from the world so no one sees you?”
She felt the warmth crawling over her body. “I buy things I can afford, Jared.”
“But why do they have to be so big and look so awful? If I didn’t know better I would think all of your clothes came from a thrift shop.”
Toreas laughed and touched her shirt. “I thought this was nice.” She laughed even harder as the shock of truth hit Jared.
“I don’t believe it. Why? And don’t tell me again you do this to save money.”
“Being wasteful is a sin,” she scolded.
“Even if the clothes are three sizes too large and look like this?”
He was pointing at her, sputtering, unable to say what he really thought and she knew he was trying hard not to be mean.
She didn’t care. Jared Stone talking about her wardrobe she could take. Him looking at her with his eyes turning smoky with desire she couldn’t handle.
He sat in the chair opposite her, scratching the tip of his nose with his left index finger. “You do that very well.”
“What?”
“Distract me. We started out with me asking you to enter The Purple Plum. Now we’re talking fashion.”
“I didn’t know that I was doing that.”
“Of course you knew it.”
Toreas laughed. “Okay. Guilty.”
Something happened then and they both felt it. Jared stood with a question in his eyes, watching as Toreas licked her lips, her eyes never leaving his face, giving him silent permission. Her breath was coming out in little pants. A look of total lust filled her eyes before fear obliterated it. He was losing her. He had to think of something fast.
“Toreas, I think it’s time for another lesson. I know you have the kiss down pat but there’s more.” He stood in front of her. “Are you ready to learn?”
Before she could answer, Jared dipped his head down and captured her trembling lips in his own. He heard her moan and swallowed it. “To…re…as,” he said, intentionally caressing her name. “Are you ready?” Moving closer, he nipped her ear, allowing his hands to roam over her body. She wasn’t talking, just breathing hard.
Jared could feel his flesh swell and harden. His erection was pushing against her and she attempted to move away but he held her in place playing with her behind. He twirled his tongue into her ear, licked the perspiration from her neck, the scent of her becoming a part of him. He groaned and bent to lift her into his arms.
“Jared?”
“We’re just going to take it to the next level, Toreas. Anytime you want me to stop all you have to do is say so. I promise I will stop.”
God, if she said the word stop, he didn’t know what he would do, because stopping wasn’t in his plans. Jared wanted to make love to Toreas. The thought of being buried deep in her wetness made the flesh in his pants jerk.
He had to be careful, she was skittish, that much he knew. Her head was buried in his neck and he could feel her body heat. But the heat from her face was different. He didn’t have to look at her to know she was embarrassed as hell. He walked toward what he was praying was her bedroom and knew immediately that it was when her hand went out to the door jamb to block his entry.
“Jared,” Toreas moaned, “I don’t think we should.”
“We haven’t done anything yet. Come on, I have something I want you to experience. You told me you’d never had your eyes to roll back in your head. Have you ever had an orgasm?” Jared tightened his arms to keep her from jumping out of them. “Toreas,” he said softly, “I don’t have to do the deed to make you come.”
“Jared?”
“Jared what,” he teased. “You think I’m too vulgar?”
“A little.”
“Then I guess I shouldn’t tell you that right about now I want to lick you all over and have you scream out my name. I’ll tell you what, I’ll get your pad and paper and you can write down your sensations. What do you think?” He stopped a step away from entering the bedroom, dropped his head down to hers and kissed the top of her head before exploring her ear with his tongue again. “Do you want me to take you back to get your pad?” he whispered hoarsely.
“No, I think I can remember.”
“If you can’t I can always do it again.” This time he was barely able to get the words out. He was choking, barely able to breathe over the delicious delicacy he held in his arms. God, he could come right there just from holding her, but he had to do this right. He had to give her time to adjust. He had to make her believe that he was falling in love with her.
Damn. Jared took a step toward her bed and another. Her eyes opened finally and her head raised to look at him. Her brown eyes held his and the look slayed him. “I’m not going to hurt you, Toreas.”
“Jared, I feel so…turn out the light.”
“I want to look at you, Toreas, you need me to. How are you going to write about the lust you see in my eyes if you don’t see it?”
He laid her gently on the bed, afraid that once he did she would kick him from the bedroom but she didn’t. She did, however, try to scoot as far away from him as she could get.
Jared grinned. He loved a challenge. He blinked. The miles and miles of clothing she had on would indeed prove to be a challenge. At least it was only the oversized shirt that he had to wor
ry about.
“What are you going to do, Jared?”
“I’m going to show you the proper way to write a love scene.”
“I thought you said it was trash?”
“Trash done right is glorious.” He grinned again at her.
“Do I have to participate?”
Now that stumped him. Jared narrowed his eyes and took a good look at her. Surely she had to be joking. But she wasn’t. Do I want her to participate? His eyes closed as he imagined her hands on him, touching him, caressing him, her fingers running up and down over his too hot flesh…
“Jared?”
He blinked as he opened his eyes. Another beautiful image shot to hell and back. He wanted to laugh but more than anything he wanted to fall on his knees and thank God that this woman he was falling in love was so inexperienced. He’d have to amend how many times he wanted her. It was beginning to feel like he’d want her for a lifetime.
“Jared, have you changed your mind?”
“God,” he groaned, and made his way toward her on his knees. Kisses, he decided. He’d start with kisses. Toreas needed to relax and Jared needed to taste her. He slid upward, lay beside her and stretched his legs out in front of him, knowing she was watching. He adjusted his head on her pillow and sighed, reaching for her hand. “Let’s talk, Toreas. You said you’re not a virgin, right?”
“Right, I’m not.”
“Have you ever actually touched a man?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t mean his face or his chest. I mean have you ever helped a man to achieve an arousal, have you brought him to orgasm with your beautiful fingers?” he asked, playing with her fingers.
The fear was creeping back into her eyes. “Have you ever used those beautiful soft lips of yours and made a man see heaven?” To his surprise Toreas laughed.
“How do you know whether I could make a man see heaven?”
“Because you have done nothing but run from me and already I’m so damn near heaven I could burst. I want you.”
“But, Jared…”
“I know.”
“Did you mean it? If I ask, you’ll stop at any point?”
“Oh yes, but if I do my job correctly you won’t say stop.”
“Your job?”
“Let me tutor you.”
Toreas couldn’t help being a little disappointed. So he wanted to tutor her, did he? His hand was sliding underneath her blouse, his fingers cool and making her shiver. Toreas felt wetness pooling between her thighs and wondered if it were truly the cool touch or the hot fever Jared produced in her body. Her breath hitched and she squirmed. What she wanted to do was throw off all her clothes and attack Jared, but she didn’t want to appear too eager. Toreas laughed softly in embarrassment.
“Are you laughing at my efforts?” Jared asked.
“I’m laughing that you’re pretending this is for either of our books.”
“Oh, you think I’m lying, Toreas? I do plan to write about this. Now if you don’t want to have this experience then let me know.” He pretended to pull away. “But I bet it will make you a better writer.”
“What about my imagination?”
“Hmm, let’s see.” Before Toreas could stop him he’d lifted up her blouse and was blowing kisses on her abdomen a moment before his tongue dipped deep inside her belly button and a moan filled with lust escaped her pretty mouth. “So tell me, Toreas, does your imagination compare with this? Would you like for me to stop?”
Stop? Was the man kidding. “No, Jared, don’t stop,” Toreas said, feeling a physical ache for the first time in her entire life. She was in need of the things this man was doing to her. Jared was making her feel things she’d never felt and she wanted more.
A snap of her pants brought her out of her reverie. “Jared, we agreed.”
“We agreed that when you wanted me to stop, you would tell me and I would do it. Do you want me to stop so soon?”
His voice dropped several octaves. “Toreas, please,” he moaned. “I just want to touch you. Listen,” he said, trying hard to talk. “I need help with my scene too. Can’t you help me?” He saw her lips curl into a smile. She didn’t believe it, but she wanted a way out of saying no, a way to soothe her conscience and he’d just handed it to her on a silver platter.
“Okay, if you really need my help.”
Her voice was husky, filled with desire and lust. Jared dared to glance at her. Her brown eyes were alive with fire.
Oh God, he thought, how had this delicious treasure been overlooked? How could any man have had her and not allowed her to enjoy it. A damn shame, he thought, then smiled. But the shame of the man who’d taken Toreas’s virginity and hadn’t known what to do with it was Jared’s good fortune. He knew exactly with to do with Toreas and her desires.
Make him stop? Hell no, Jared thought. She would be begging for more and so would he. He was already imagining being buried deep inside her. A shiver claimed him and he rocked his erection against the side of Toreas’s leg. He bit his lips to retain control. His hand slid inside the band of Toreas’s jeans and down a coupled of inches. She refused to budge.
“Toreas, you need to lift your hips so I can take your pants off.”
“I’m not taking my pants off.”
“Then how am I going to give you what I have for you?”
“I’m not taking my pants off.”
Jared leaned on an elbow and looked at her. “Okay, but can we pull them down a little more? There is so much of you I want to see. I want to see what you’re hiding in the vee of your thighs. I want to see your panties. Are they cotton, Toreas? Is that the reason you don’t want me to see them? Are they some god-awful thrift store seconds?”
He watched while her toasty brown skin reddened and she became angry.
“My underwear is my business.” Toreas said, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“But it’s cotton, isn’t it?”
“Jared, let’s stop.”
“I’m sorry, I like cotton. My briefs are the tighty-whities. They’re cotton so I shouldn’t talk. Would you like me to show you what I’m wearing?”
Before Toreas could answer Jared sprang from the bed and took off his pants. He smiled proudly at the way his underwear tented. And then some vague knowing pulled at him and had him thinking, Oh Oh. Think quick, Jared, you’re going to lose her. “I’m sorry about that, Toreas, you have that effect me, but it’s nothing to worry about.” He swallowed. She wasn’t buying. She was closing her eyes, determined to end this game, but he hoped not yet. There were so many things Jared had to show her.
Toreas felt as though she were drowning. She was doing things with Jared she’d never done with her two boyfriends and Jared wasn’t a boyfriend. He wasn’t even a date or a one night stand. Heck, she didn’t know what he was, only that she was falling in love with him. That wasn’t right. She wasn’t falling, she was already there. Toreas loved the way they were together when they were alone. She was beginning to trust him with her feelings, her work…now her body. She shivered. He was talking dirty to her and prude that she was, she hoped to God he never stopped.
Toreas stared at Jared. His underwear was tented. She knew she should stop gawking but couldn’t. She’d had sex a total of eleven and a half times. Four times with the guy she’d given her virginity to at the age of twenty-four, just to see if it was worth all the fuss. It wasn’t. After the fourth try neither of them had been satisfied. She’d done the deed, but she’d refused to allow him to touch her in her private area. In fact, she’d thought he was downright nasty, especially when he expected her to put her mouth on him. Toreas had thought good riddance and he’d come right out and said it.
Then there was Fred two years later. At least they’d had a relationship of sorts. One of her brothers had set them up. How they’d ever had sex in the first place was still a mystery. It was after that last half time, the one where Fred was done before he’d even entered her, that he’d proposed and they’d skipped their
happy time behinds to the courthouse. It was at the courthouse that some sense came to Toreas. She didn’t want to spend a lifetime of half getting there. She didn’t care if her brothers kicked her behind and Fred’s. Toreas had half suspected that Fred’s reason for asking her to marry him was so as not to get his butt kicked by her brothers. Even if it wasn’t the reason, her running away like an imbecile from the courthouse gave Fred his out on a silver platter. Since they were both still alive, it was safe to say Fred had not blabbed.
In the eleven and a half times she’d had sex it had been in the dark so no, Toreas had never seen anyone standing there with their underwear tented. It had been three years since Fred.
Toreas wasn’t sure if her natural urges had finally kicked in, urges she’d thought she didn’t have. Or maybe it was Jared, or that since she’d begun trying to write romance she’d suddenly turned slutty.
“Toreas, what’s wrong?”
Toreas blinked and looked at Jared. What the heck did he think he was doing? He was moving forward much too fast. This had started out as a game, and now he’d turned it into something more. Who the heck did he think she was?
“Put your pants back on.”
“I…I…”
“I…I…nothing, put your pants back on.”
“I only took them off so you could see my underwear, its cotton,” Jared finished lamely.
“I don’t care what it is, put your pants back on.” She reached for the pillow behind her head and threw it at him. “What did you think we were doing here, Jared?”
“We were having fun,” he said, hopping on one foot as he dodged another pillow. “I’ll have to tell you, Toreas, this is definitely not how to write a love scene.”
“You’re crazy. Get out of my bedroom now,” Toreas said, then burst out laughing. “Jared, you’re too much.” He turned toward her and she hopped quickly from the bed. “Thanks for the lesson.”
“You’re welcome,” Jared groaned, wishing he’d waited a little longer, not pushed so quickly. He took in the image Toreas projected as she marched back into the safety of her living room. One of these days he would see what she kept hidden behind all of the dowdy clothes.