Page 30 of Entice

“Let’s go say good-bye to Max and Sierra.” Jordan stood and pulled her to her feet. He kept his arm around her waist as they said good night.

Crystal went into the ladies’ room and retrieved her things, then met Jordan by the front door. Thank goodness he’d pulled on a t-shirt and changed into loafers. Once they were inside his vehicle and on their way, her brain began working again.

Maybe that wasn’t right. It had been working, but more on a sensual level than a logical level. Now her logic was kicking back in.

“I think I have a plan of attack for Sage’s case,” she said as he pulled out onto the main road.

“We’re off the clock. No shop talk.”

“But…” He reached over and put his hand on her bare knee since her coat was open. Crystal swallowed.

“Not tonight. Relax while I drive you home.” He removed his hand.

Easy for him to say. A single touch from him made her body sit up and go “let’s play”. Crystal stared out the window. She had to figure out a way to handle this attraction. If a single touch did that to her, what would a kiss or an intimate caress do?

Wait a second. He’d already kissed her. If one could call a quick brush of the lips a kiss. What if he gave her one of those deep, penetrating, sensual kisses she’d read about. Her body heated. She shifted in her seat to calm her throbbing clit.

This was so unfair. She wasn’t a virgin, and she wasn’t as closed up as her family wanted her to be. Ice filled her veins at the thought of her family. How many times had their remonstrances and condemnation filled her with shame? Even the most innocent of actions could mean hours in the sin closet. And even now, when Crystal’s life was her own, she could feel them passing judgment over her.

Thank goodness they were still in Kansas. She lit out of there the second she turned eighteen, no longer willing to live under the thumb of their warped beliefs.

She talked to her parents around the holidays, but that was about it. She hadn’t visited them in years, mainly because, on her one trip back, after she graduated with her degree, they tried to convince her a woman with a job was a sign of the devil at work.

Crystal had smiled and left for home. Her home. She loved her parents, but she wouldn’t allow them to control her life. Not like her brothers and sisters. Her siblings still lived in the same town and followed their parents’ example. How the heck she had four brothers and three sisters was a mystery. Then again, maybe not. Her parents considered sex outside of wedlock a sin.

Sometimes she missed her family, but she had friends here. Sierra and Tessa.

“Crystal.” A touch on her shoulder caused her to jump. “Sorry,” Jordan said. “You were lost in thought. We’re at your apartment building.”

“Oh.” So they were. “Sorry.” She reached for the door handle.

“Sit there.” Jordan opened his door, came around to hers, and helped her out of his SUV and locked it.

“I’m fine making it to my apartment,” she said.

“My mother raised me to escort a woman to her front door.” He cupped her elbow.

“Your mother raised a gentleman.” She loved his manners. Old-fashioned, some might say, but she didn’t mind. They were real manners, not the faked ones because your family told you to be nice.

When they got to her apartment, Crystal opened the door. Jordan entered, turned on the lights, and looked around before he allowed her to enter. She shook her head.

“Why did you check out my apartment?”

“To make sure you were safe.” He snagged her around the waist and drew her to him. “Until tomorrow.” He paused. “I want to kiss you. Is that okay, my beautiful Crystal?”

“Yes,” she whispered. She wanted to taste him.

He lowered his head.

Their lips met. Crystal melted against him when his tongue brushed over her lips. Then her lips parted. He tasted of mint as their tongues tangled and dueled with each other.

Her breathing stuttered as he pulled her tighter against him, and his erection pressed against her leg.

“So damn beautiful,” he whispered as he broke the kiss. “Lock the door behind me, and don’t worry about what time you come into the office tomorrow.” Jordan released her, grabbed the door, and shut it behind him.

Crystal stood there.

“Lock the door, Crystal.”

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