Homecoming (18 page)

Jake racked his brain; if she had, it was when he was either so preoccupied with a task or simply not listening. “I don’t know. You know how I get sometimes—missing half of what’s being said if there’s too much going on or I’m distracted. I was probably on another planet when she told me.”

“Yeah, I know. Doesn’t matter, though. It’s a hot film, huh?”

Jake slapped him on the back. “Man, it’s a great film!” He pulled Daniel to him and they finally embraced.

“You mind if I get back inside?” Daniel said, shaking off the hug as he looked around to see if anyone had seen them. “Got someone in there who’s waitin’ to dance.”

“Right. Go on. I’m right behind you.”

Daniel flashed a dazzling smile as he hurried back into the ballroom.

Jake picked up the statue and raised it above his head like a barbell.

“Looks heavy.”

He spun around at the low sultry voice.
Julia?

“Sorry I’m late, darling. I left you a message....”

She was dressed in a black halter dress with a split front that was cut down to her navel. It was the kind of dress that the slightest movement offered glimpses of her breasts to anyone who wanted to look, a wardrobe malfunction just waiting to happen.

He shifted his gaze to her face. “You just get here?”

“Just in time to see the award ceremony—congratulations.” She shortened the distance between them and put one hand behind his neck and brought his lips to hers.

Jake lifted one hand to her shoulder, squeezing it gently before he pushed her away, stopping the kiss that she had already turned fiery.

When her smoldering eyes opened, her mouth pulled into a little pout. “Not much of a welcome after I worked so hard to get here to be with you.”

“I’m with someone,” he said, wiping her red lipstick from his mouth with the back of his hand, a little surprised at what he
didn’t
feel from the kiss. Normally her kiss would have made him want to seek out a dark corner to see exactly how much skin was accessible in the silky dress she was almost wearing. Not tonight. Tonight she had kissed him as though she was on stage; passionless, all for show.

Then he saw why. Cory stood in the doorway of the ballroom, her arms folded across her chest, her chin tilted up defiantly, her eyes ablaze.

“And that someone is me,” she said as she walked forward and stepped next to Jake.

Cats seem to go on the principle that it never does any harm to ask for what you want.

Joseph Wood Krutch

Chapter 11

Cory felt her blood pressure rise, her heart hammering in her chest as a result. The woman who had just kissed Jake had stopped at her table and asked for him, making her believe she was a client of Think Tank’s...
snake number two
...so Cory had escorted her to the foyer to help her find him.

Jake’s hand found her waist and Cory forced a polite smile on lips that desperately wanted to snarl at the woman.

“Cory Wells,” he said, “Julia Montagne.”

“We’ve met.” Cory leaned into Jake’s warmth as she purposely didn’t extend her hand, then waited for the woman’s next move.

“So, you two are old friends?” Julia asked, taking a model’s stance in front of them that offered a view that barely covered the nipples of both breasts.

“If you’ll excuse us, Julia. I hear the band warming up and I promised Cory the first dance.”

Grateful, Cory reached for Jake’s hand and they left Julia in the foyer to bluster.

As they walked toward their table, she felt him tug her back toward the dance floor.

“Oh, no. I get my dance.”

She turned toward him to see the wide grin he only seemed to allow when he was truly pleased. She’d seen it a few times—when he’d finally memorized his speech, when he talked about Tillie—and it was on his face now.

“Okay. Something easy, though, and absolutely no dipping.”

“You have my word—I know better than to mess with the Barracuda.”

Good. Things were better—easier—when he was teasing. She felt his hand slip around her waist and she relaxed into his arms as though she belonged there.

He pulled her a little closer, then began to weave her through the couples as skillfully as he steered his fancy car at top speed. As they made their rounds, once again colleagues and clients congratulated him; countless times their dance was interrupted to chat with people who wanted to be near the man of the hour. Cory fell into the easy supporting role of the ever-smiling date, and “yes, she was proud of him too” and “yes it certainly has been a glorious evening...one to remember forever....”

She was glad to do it. It was his night, and one he deserved.

The music slowed and it seemed as though the crowd of well-wishers had finally finished their back-thumping. The lights dimmed lower and the band’s female vocalist began to sing a sensuous bluesy song.

Cory didn’t resist at all as Jake pulled her closer still. His body felt firm and strong, and it was as though all her curves knew exactly where to best fit against him.

She allowed her eyes to close as she nestled her head against his shoulder, her body melting into his. Her fingers found the nape of his neck and she explored the softness of his hair. Then she felt finger tips on the bare skin of her back, sending a delicious tingle rushing through her. He brought her other hand in closer to his chest, pulling her nearer until she swore she couldn’t breathe. But it didn’t matter. It was as though they breathed together as they swayed to the music, barely moving out of their spot on the dance floor, unaware of whatever else might be happening around them.

She felt his warm breath against her neck, then his lips touched her ear and he murmured something so softly she couldn’t quite hear. Forcing her heavy eyelids open, she lifted her head back just enough so she could see his face. “What?”

“You are so damn beautiful, Cory. Do you know how stunning you are—how every man here wishes he were me right now?”

He wasn’t teasing. His eyes were filled with something she’d never seen before...or had she? Maybe once. Maybe that last night in Faythe when they were too young to even know what it really was, let alone what to do with it.

But she wasn’t too young now. And tonight she had the courage to be the kind of woman he wanted...no, needed her to be.

“Take me home,” she said firmly. When his brow furrowed she sensed his confusion and added, “To your place.”

***

Jake slid the card key into the slot on the elevator and saw the slight tremble in his fingers.

They hadn’t talked at all during the short cab ride back to his building. She’d simply snuggled up next to him and dropped her head on his shoulder.

The elevator zoomed to the top floor and opened to the foyer; he unlocked and pushed the apartment door open for her and she floated past him, leaving a scent behind that would forever be linked with his memory of the evening.

He reached inside the doorway and flicked on the lights which also started a Keb’ Mo’ CD playing softly in the background. He followed her into the living room and placed the bronze statue on the mantel of the fireplace. It dawned on him it was the only personal ornamentation in the room, the only thing that was really his in the entire room.

“Looks good there,” she said, standing at his side as they both gazed at it. “It’s a nice piece; lots of emotion in it. You should be proud, you know. You had an incredible impact on Daniel, regardless of what you might have thought before tonight.”

He turned to read her expression. She faced him, and her face glowed; maybe just a trick from the light, but he didn’t think so. Her skin seemed to shimmer and there was something new, something daring about her eyes...eyes like simmering chocolate, tempting him to do the thing he had wanted to do the minute he’d seen her glaring at him from underneath Tillie’s big maple tree that first night.

He reached a hand to her face, caressing her chin with his thumb until her lips parted just a little. Her eyes didn’t move from his as she seemed to be searching for something. Answers? Promises?

“Kiss me,” she whispered.

He took a sharp breath, then tipped her chin up and dropped his mouth hungrily to hers, drowning in the sweetness of her lips, feasting on her.

Time ceased to exist as he felt her lean into him and deepen the kiss. Minutes or hours passed when finally he came up for air, his lips tingling; he was fully aroused, and scared out of his mind.

“Cory.” His voice came out hoarse and unsteady.

She smiled at him, her eyes half-closed. “I have a proposition,” she began, keeping her arms wrapped around his neck. “Let’s have this one magical night—let’s drink champagne and eat strawberries. We’ll get this out of our system, no strings attached. Agreed?”

Was she serious? He studied her eyes, only seeing the sincere and honest woman he’d ever seen. No games. No illusions.

“If you’re sure—”

“Open the champagne.”

She released him and he untied his bow tie on the way to the bar. Behind him he heard the rustle of her dress as she settled on the leather couch and slipped off her shoes. He pulled the cork out of the Dom Perignon and filled two flutes, then put bottle and glasses on the tray of chocolate-dipped strawberries and brought it all back to the coffee table.

She picked up one glass and handed him the other as he sat beside her. “To the man of the year, and to this magical night.”

He touched her glass with his and took a healthy swallow of the sparkling liquid. When he looked back at her, he saw she’d done the same. Was she nervous too?

Picking up a strawberry, he held it out for her to taste; he watched her teeth sink into the berry and her lips quickly wrap around it so none of the juice dripped onto her dress.

“Yum. You need to try one,” she said.

He grabbed one from the tray and popped it whole into his mouth while she nibbled the rest of hers from his fingers, giving his fingertips a playful bite.

“Have I told you lately how fabulous you look tonight?” he asked.

“As a matter of fact, I believe you said something about me ‘cleaning up real nice.’”

He grinned. “And your hair...it looks...”

“Short?”

“No. Oh, I don’t know. Different. Nice. Very sexy.” His last word caused her eyes to darken and her cheeks to redden. Was she so unused to compliments?

“You think?” she asked, bringing her free hand to her hair and combing through it with her fingers.

Hell, he wanted to
be
her hair at that moment; feel her fingers running over him. God, she was beautiful.

“More?” he offered as she finished her champagne.

Cory held out her glass. “Just a little.” Warmth coursed through her body, and the ice cold liquid—though it felt good in her parched throat—was adding its own heat to her body. She watched him finish his own glass, set it down, then stand up to take off his jacket. Was he feeling the heat too?

“It’s only for show,” he said, “but would you like me to turn on the fireplace?”

“Sure.” Was he stalling? Maybe he was changing his mind. She finished her half-glass of champagne and set the empty glass on the table.

After hitting a wall switch that produced instant fire, he rejoined her on the couch and she saw the internal flame in his eyes.

He moved closer and leaned in to kiss her. Closing her eyes, she gave herself to the kiss; his lips brushed hers softly at first, caressing her mouth more than kissing it. She lifted her arms to circle his neck, her fingers linking, and almost simultaneously felt his warm open hands on her back. A shiver of pleasure followed as gooseflesh formed on her arms and legs. They came together fully, with just as much heat as had been between them on the dance floor.

Jake pulled his lips from hers and studied her face; lips swollen from their burning kiss, eyes smoky with passion. She wanted this as much as he did.

The thought almost ended him.
Slow down.
He brought his fingertips to the front of her, running them along the soft flesh of the tops of her breasts, then lay the palm of his hand above her heart to feel its quickening, so in time with his own.

She reached for the buttons on his shirt and undid them, then put her hands on his chest and reached around to his back, squeezing and kneading his flesh. They came together again, their lips finding each other ravenously; this time when he deepened the kiss a shock wave surged through him.

He wanted to touch her, feel her skin...he reached behind her to unzip her gown, and she pulled away. She stood up and finished what he’d started. Her dress fell to the ground and she stepped out of it, then waited.

He was paralyzed at the sight of her. White lace barely covered her full breasts, her skin gleamed above the bra as her chest rose and fell with her ragged breathing. All he could think about was how beautiful she was as he struggled to rein in his passion and regain at least a little control.

He got up from the couch and shrugged out of his shirt, then stepped in front of her. The creamy skin on her shoulders seemed to shimmer in the firelight and he reached for her, gently pulling her to him so he could feel her skin against his bare chest. So soft...how could her skin be so soft?