Debra Webb - In His Touch Box Set (Here To Stay, Up Close, Tempting Trace, Basic Instincts) (54 page)

Before she could analyze his mood, he took her hand in his and led her swiftly across the crowded dance floor. He didn’t look back. Uncertain, but not enough so to pull away from his firm hold, she followed him through the dancers, the maze of tables beyond the dance floor and down a short, dimly lit corridor. He turned on her then, his dark gaze intent.

The music wasn’t so loud here. Meredith wanted to say something, to ask his name, but his eyes stopped her. His gaze traced her body, inch by deliberate inch. A sensation of heat suffused her skin wherever his gaze lingered. A muscle ticked in his rigid jaw, giving away his own rapidly building tension.

Unable to move for fear of breaking the spell, she allowed her hungry gaze to devour his amazing frame as well. Tight, faded jeans gloved his body. His legs were long and muscular, his arms tanned and every bit as muscular as his legs. Thick, dark hair curled around his nape. Her gaze riveted to his mouth. He licked his lips. Full, wide, perfect lips. Kissable.

He moved closer, his scent, leather and citrus, filled her. She lifted her gaze to his, told herself again to ask his name, but all thought deserted as he parted those awesome lips as if to speak. No words came.

Slowly, he lowered his head until their lips almost touched. He paused, his warm breath fanning over her sensitive skin. Her heart seemed to stall.

“I want to kiss you,” he murmured.

“Please... do,” she whispered, her eyes closing of their own accord. Just standing this close to him sent a thousand sensations washing over her. But nothing could have prepared her for the feel of his lips on hers. Her body went limp with the first contact.

His kiss was gentle, sweet, and unbelievably hot. She melted on the spot. Desire consumed her, sending a warm, tingly feeling racing through her. Somehow, his hands found her face, his fingers splayed over her skin. His touch proved as gentle as his kiss. Beneath the gentleness, she felt his fierce hunger building. Her own need was out of control. She needed to touch him the way he was touching her.

She flattened her palms against his solid chest. He groaned deep in his throat and the sound vibrated through her. She smoothed her hands over him until her arms wound around his neck. Her body responded instantly to the rough feel of hard muscle and denim. Her arms tightened around him, the movement pressing her body more firmly against his.

His tongue tentatively touched her lips. She instinctively invited him inside. Need, hot and volatile, erupted with the first taste of his tongue. She sucked him deeper, evidently destroying the last bit of his control. His hands moved feverishly over her, touching, caressing, the way she had dreamed of. His palms molded over her breasts, sending a thrill straight to the center of her. Her nipples rasped against the silk of her dress and heat pooled between her trembling thighs.

Those masterful hands moved lower to cup her bottom and pull her against his thick arousal. Her feminine muscles tightened in instant response. She gasped, her breath captured by his mouth. When his fingers encountered the bare curve of her bottom where it met the top of her thighs, everything inside her exploded into an unexpected climax. Her body jerked with the force of it. A cry tore past her lips, only to be lost in his. He rocked her hips twice more against his own.

The swoosh of a bathroom door and feminine giggles snapped Meredith out of her ecstasy. The reality of where they were and what they were doing hit her like a slap of cold water in the face. She tensed in his arms. He drew back, his breath as ragged as hers. His hands shook slightly.

“If we don’t slow down, I’m going to make love to you right now, right here.” His words were desperate, strained. He closed his eyes and pressed his forehead to hers. “And I don’t even know your name.”

Still weak with aftershock, she dragged her fingers down from his thick hair, along his square jaw. She braced her hands against his chest and grappled for control. “Merri,” she whispered breathlessly. Dear God, she had just climaxed in a complete stranger’s arms. How long had it been since she’d had sex? Too long, obviously.

One long, tanned finger curled beneath her chin and lifted lt. Reluctantly, she met his gaze. Humiliation burned in her cheeks, but his sweet smile made her heart leap with joy.

“Merri.” He made an agreeable sound that sent a shiver up her spine. “Nice to meet you, Merri.” His thumb slid over her lower lip, his gaze followed. “I’m Jake.” He released a long, slow breath. “I have to tell you, nothing like this has ever happened to me before.”

It was Meredith’s turn to smile, faint though it might be. “That makes two of us, then.” Embarrassed, she tried to look away, but he wouldn’t let her. “I’m not sure I understand it.”

His smile faded into something undeniably serious. “Maybe we should back up and start over,” he suggested softly. “Slow things down a bit.”

She tried to read his gaze, but couldn’t. “What did you have in mind?”

“How about having lunch with me tomorrow?”

Meredith blinked. They had gone from hot-and-heavy making out to having lunch. This was too surreal and completely out of control.

“Just lunch,” he assured her when she didn’t immediately respond. “I’m having a family picnic for my construction crew tomorrow. I’d love for you to come.” He smiled, another of those sexy, sweet smiles that sent her heart into a tailspin. “Maybe then I can find out more than your name.”

Meredith paled. That couldn’t happen. No matter how her traitorous body responded to the man, she could never, ever tell him the truth.

This was research, nothing more.

Chapter Three

“This will never work.” Meredith shook her head and let go a frustrated breath. “How could I have thought this would work?” She pivoted sharply and stormed to the other side of Shelley’s living room, then turned to retrace her steps. She was now fully convinced that she was certifiable.

“It seems to me that your plan is working particularly well,” Shelley countered. She crossed her arms over her chest in defiance as she met Meredith in the middle of the room. “This is what you wanted, right?”

Meredith stalled. She pressed her fingertips to her forehead and closed her eyes in frustration. “No,” she said on an impatient sigh. “This is not what I wanted.”

Shelley flung her arms upward. “I give up.”

Meredith braced her hands at her waist and leveled her gaze on her annoyed friend. “I’m supposed to be a professional. I’m not supposed to” she shook her head “to react like that. To be so—”

“Human?” Shelley arched a speculative eyebrow.

Meredith threw up her own arms and groaned. “That’s not the point.”

Shelley went toe-to-toe with her. “Why don’t you explain the point, girlfriend? Because I’ll be honest with you, I’m lost here.”

Meredith opened her mouth to speak, but snapped it shut. She shook her head and willed herself to calm. “How,” she began again, trying to be patient, whether with Shelley or herself, she couldn’t be sure, “can I be objective about my research if I’m too swept away to pay attention?”

Shelley cocked her head and pursed her pink-glossed lips. “By research I assume you mean Jake—the other human involved in this little field assignment.”

Meredith expelled a weary breath. “Yes, that’s precisely what I mean.”

It was Shelley’s turn to whirl and march away. “I see.”

Exasperated, Meredith dropped into the nearest chair. This was hopeless. “No, you don’t see. You’re taking this all the wrong way.”

Shelley turned and recovered her steps. She paused directly in front of her friend. “Really?”

Meredith clasped her hands in front of her and dangled them between her knees. “This isn’t real, Shelley. This is basic biology. He’s a man and I’m a woman. I simply need to document the impulses that draw us together. And I can’t do that if I can’t maintain objectivity.”

Shelley collapsed into the adjacent overstuffed armchair. “But he’s perfect, Meredith.” She put on a dreamy expression. “He’s handsome and sweet, and, by your own accounts, a master at the art of kissing. Why can’t you do your research and enjoy it at the same time? What can it hurt? I mean, if you’re hot for this guy, I say go for it. Have your cake and eat it, too.”

How could she get this through Shelley’s head? “That would be unethical. I can’t allow this research to go beyond a certain point. It wouldn’t be fair to Jake. I’ve crossed a line as it is by keeping my identity a secret.”

Realization dawned in Shelley’s green eyes. “Oh,” she said contritely, her expression wilting. “I hadn’t thought of it that way.”

“What a mess,” Meredith admitted, feeling guilty. Who was she kidding? This research had already gone too far for her liking. No man had ever made her feel this way. Jake cut through all her carefully maintained defenses with just a smile. He made her want him like nothing or no one she had ever wanted before. She couldn’t sleep, she couldn’t eat. She could only crave his touch, his taste, his scent.

“Wait,” Shelley announced suddenly, an elated grin spreading across her face. “You’re being hard on yourself for no reason.” She rose, her inspiration obviously gaining momentum with each passing second. “What’s the big deal? It’s the twenty-first century, men and women have affairs all the time. You and Jake can have an affair.”

Meredith groaned loudly in protest. And here she’d thought things couldn’t possibly get any worse.

Shelley shook her head. “No, no, hear me out.” She settled back into her seat and fixed Meredith with a this-will-work look. “You need this research. You’re an adult; Jake is an adult. No promises, no strings. This would be an affair, plain and simple.” A mischievous gleam flickered in Shelley’s eyes. “I’d bet my new Versace handbag that it wouldn’t be his first.”

“That’s beside the point. It wouldn’t be fair for me to purposely deceive him.”

Shelley’s mouth gaped in disbelief. “People do it all the time. No one is ever perfectly honest up front. Besides, are you trying to tell me that you don’t think sex, pure and simple, was his goal last night?”

Meredith blinked, taken aback. “Well, I suppose—”

“You’re damned straight it was,” Shelley cut in. “He wants to have sex with you, Meredith. He doesn’t even know you; it couldn’t be anything else.”

Meredith’s chest tightened at that thought. Deep down she knew Shelley was right, but it didn’t feel that way. She had felt... Damn, she couldn’t be sure what she felt. But she’d sensed there was more.

“I don’t know, Shelley,” Meredith said slowly. “It seemed like a lot more than just sex.”

She took Meredith’s hands in hers. “Look, I know you aren’t the affair type, but trust me, I know all about them. I’ve had more than my share. And this, my dear, is what you’re about to embark upon. Jake wants you, you want him, end of story.” Shelly gave her a knowing nod. “Bottom line, you’ll get your research.”

Meredith chewed her lower lip for one hesitant moment. “Somehow it feels all wrong.”

“Honey, I’ve seen Jake. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that picture. He’s perfect.” Shelley winked. “Relax and enjoy, girlfriend. Pretend you’re on vacation and let go a little. Hell, the man’s barely touched you and already he’s given you an orgasm.”

Meredith blushed. She shouldn’t have shared that little detail. “Thank you for that unnecessary reminder, Shelley.” Meredith threaded her fingers into her hair and massaged her aching head. This was too much. Oh, she hoped Jake hadn’t noticed just how deeply he had affected her.

“Okay, let’s look at it this way then.” Shelley stood, moved to the back of her chair and braced her hands on it. “Today, there’s a picnic with Jake’s coworkers.” Shelley shrugged thoughtfully. “There will probably be wives, kids, maybe even grandmas and grandpas in attendance. Today will be the test. If this thing between the two of you is just physical, then you both should be bored to death with each other’s company. I mean, after all, you don’t even know each other and don’t have anything in common.”

Shelley tapped her chin with one finger. “You love soft rock, long walks in the park, solitude and all that jazz. He probably likes country, football, and loud parties.” She nodded resolutely, pleased with her estimation. “I’ll bet by the time Jake brings you home this afternoon, you’ll know one way or another if the attraction is only superficial.”

Meredith knew she was in trouble now. Shelley was actually beginning to make sense to her.

The chiming of the doorbell cut through the silence that followed Shelley’s summation. Anticipation zinged Meredith, scoring a direct hit to her stomach.

“He’s here...” Meredith breathed the words, her heart pounding harder with each syllable.

“Calm,” Shelley reminded her. She inhaled a long and deep breath in illustration. “Be calm, Merri. Remember, today will tell the tale.”

The chimes rang out once more. Meredith jumped to her feet. Calm. She could do calm. She knew all the techniques for relieving stress and tension. Hell, she had even designed some of them, had taught patients how to properly execute the steps. She gave Shelley a tight smile and headed to the door. She would be polite and professional today. No raging hormones. No sweating palms. No racing heart. She would be herself.

Except she couldn’t be herself.

Meredith blinked. Merri Lang.
Merri Lang,
she repeated silently. Taking one more deep breath, she wrapped her fingers around the doorknob and twisted.

Jake stood outside the door, looking as if he had just stepped off the cover of GQ. Khaki shorts and a navy polo shirt showed off his muscular frame. His tan looked deeper against the contrasting colors. And that smile... Meredith melted in spite of herself. How could a mere smile be so breathtakingly beautiful?

“Ready?” That deep, whiskey-smooth voice flowed over her skin, making her shiver. Those dark eyes sent heat shimmering through her.

Meredith essayed a smile. “Yes.” She stepped across the threshold and closed the door behind her without looking back. The urge to turn tail and run was almost overwhelming.
You’re a professional
. Cool, composed, objective.

He took her hand in his, and her last thought evaporated like a drop of water in a hot skillet.