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I gulped air, and whatever was left of my rationality and lucidity, I surrendered them all in one heftysuccession.
It took every ounce in me not to shudder in ecstasy. I willed myself to remain blasé, unperturbed by his closeproximity.
Without daring to spin on my heels and face my kryptonite in fear I’d hyperventilate to a full-blown heart attack, I appeared calm, unhurried as I silently basked in his presence. His sheer masculinity permeated the air even though he was a hairsbreadth away fromtouchingme.
As steadily as I could muster, I responded, “Pleasure.”
He leaned forward, and I had to bite back the urge to moan as his lips brushed against my lobe. “What do you do for pleasure?” His hot breath teased my diminishingresolve.
And it just dawned on me; if I relented right this instant without baiting him further, he might disengage and find someone else with more challenge in them. So, with that thought in mind, I knew this flirty banter had to last longer if I craved to have himtonight.
“Is this how you seduce women to your bed?” I snickered, feeling quitewicked.
“You tell me…” he responded huskily, amused. “Is itworking?”
“Still deciding…” The heady rush of seducing the man of my dreams thrilled me like no other. Gradually, my nerves eased a little so I wasn’t abasketcase.
We were interrupted when it was announced for the guests to take their designated seats. Jared, like a true playboy and a gentleman put together, pulled out my chair, ensuring I was seated first before taking his right nexttome.
The candlelit affair was as intimate as it was gorgeous. Mrs. Rinaldi sure knew how to throw one lavish soiree. My eyes properly took in the scene just as Hank and Josephine Rinaldi began thanking their guests for coming on his specialnight.
“Where’s your plus one?” he murmured faintly enough for our newly seated guests not tocatchon.
My brow arched as I cocked my head to him, amused. “Where’syours?”
“I guess that makes us both single.” He threw me a sexy, devilish smile, making my heart palpitate for a goodsecond.
I suppressed the crazy need to roll my eyes as I lightly chuckled at his not so subtle innuendos. “What do you do apart from flirting with strangers?” The flow of conversation between us was great, and just when I was starting to come out of my shell, I saw Wyatt wink at me five tables to myright.
Fuck. I nervouslylookedaway.
I’m going to skin him alive, I silently swore before I diverted my attention to a more pleasingsubject.
“Oh, I do plenty,” the man uttered just as the wait staff began to serve or refill our alcoholic beverages. Once Jared took hold of his cognac, powerful blue eyes held me hostage. “I only flirt when somethingpleasesme.”
God, if only I could devour him right this instant, I wouldn’t hold back. How was it possible to want and crave someone I had barely touched? “What pleased youtonight?”
He leaned closer to my ear before divulging his secret. “I’m looking at her,” he succinctlystated.
I made a coquettish smile while my heart galloped against my chest. “You’re skilled in making a womanblush.”
“My skills arelegendary.”
Sending him a scrutinizing look, I took the provocative route. “Care to elaborate on those skills ofyours?”
His eyes glinted, the candle’s reflection dancing before his arresting face. “If I give my secret away, then they wouldn’t be legendary any longer, now would they?” His eyes lingered on my lips as he spoke. “I’m more of a direct approach, hands on kind of man. My hands are my weapon. My head, the mastermind. It thrives on new ideas, eager to thrust for new experiences and enthused in exploring wicked thrills. Its inventive pursuits are relentless…utterlyruthless.”
My throat dried. We both knew he wasn’t referring to his “head,” but his notoriously legendary penile pursuits. My body flashed hot and cold, unsure if I should ask him to relieve me of my unbidden thoughts or to run the other way as far as I could. My riotous emotions were unnerving. But there was no mistaking how much I longed for his touch. One hasty look at his handsome face, and all doubt leftmymind.
Since his words were loaded with sexual innuendoes, I resorted to safer subjects such as world hunger just to diffuse the escalating carnal tension between us. There was no question I needed a break to reboot my wavering confidence. I still intended to walk into the lion’s den, so to speak. But before I did so, I’d need to load my system with hefty amounts of alcohol. Losing one’s virginity was a terrifying ordeal. And after witnessing the animalistic glint in his depths, I knew he might not begentle.
Unless I beg him to be, my mind countered, planting analternative.
Throughout the five-course meal, our conversations were enlightening. For a moment, I wondered if he altogether dropped his sexual intentions with me since he stopped leaning close and whispering into my ear. In between courses, he actually excused himself to speak to someone, a couple, but the woman seemed too flirty for anyone’s comfort. So, while he was engrossed in conversing with someone, I quickly darted my eyes towards my friends, and I was greeted withthumbsup.
Upon returning to the table, Jared and I carried on in a friendly manner. Powerful men came and went from our table as they whispered into his ear, some congratulating him, some desiring to do business with him. As my father’s top person, Jared’s ideas had navigated the company to new territories. He was brilliant, and although his ingenious mind was impressive, I simply wanted him…without the accolades, the fame, andfortune.
As dinner drew to a close, the string quartet upped their momentum. I was just about to mention something hilarious to him when his forefinger lightly touched my arm, sending goosebumps, fireworks, and exploding stars, causing an electrically charged supernova to burst into my system, engulfing my body in flames, liquefying my insides as it sent a tingling sensation in betweenmylegs.
