Page 57 of Jack

"To no promises," he echoed, hisvoice a rough whisper that sent shivers down her spine.

As they drank, her mind raced, plotting hernext move with calculated precision. She set her glass down andstepped closer, the heady aroma of champagne mingling with the scentof his cologne. Her hands reached out, tracing the lines of his chestwith a feather-light touch. "Now, where were we?" sheasked, her voice low and provocative.

He needed no further prompting. With afluid motion, he set his glass aside and pulled her into a ferventkiss that consumed all rational thought. His hands roamed her body,exploring every curve, every contour as she melted into him.

In the haze of passion, she knew she had tomaintain her facade, had to keep the walls up even as they threatenedto crumble under his touch. As his kisses deepened and his hands grewmore insistent, she whispered against his lips, "Don't holdback."

With a hoarse growl, he complied, andtogether they tumbled into a night of reckless abandon, where wordswere unnecessary, and promises were forgotten.

His hands were shaking as he undressed her.Standing in front of her, he studied her upturned face, the partedlips, the tumble of dark brown curls with the tips dipped in gold andthe desire deepening her golden-brown eyes.

And he discovered that he wanted to takehis time. For the first time in his life, he wanted to prolong themoment. Was invested in giving her the greatest pleasure. He hadnever been a selfish lover, but neither was he a selfless one. In thepast, with other women, it had been just sex. A meeting of the bodies– on his part it had been calculated. A precise and controlledmovement, where the boundaries were maintained. But now it wasdifferent. He was involved in every way. And no matter what he triedto tell himself, this was not the usual order of things.

Ending the potent kiss, he wondered if itwas the champagne that he tasted on her lips that was making him soheady, but he knew better. His hands curved at her neck, massagingthe skin with his thumbs before sliding down to unbutton the shirt.

His voice hummed inside his throat as hegazed at the stark black lace cupping her breasts. The bra wascleverly designed with a deep plunging front with the material barelyclinging to the already rigid nipples. With a flick of his fingers,the clasp sprang open. Sliding the shirt and bra off at the sametime, he covered her breasts with his palms, eyes meeting hers as herubbed circles around the skin.

Zuri held her breath and stared at him,body vibrating with need.

"I intend to take my time," hepromised, voice raspy and hoarse with need.

"I don't mind," she whispered."As long as you get it done."

A smile touched his lips briefly.

"Oh, I will." Lifting her intohis arms, he laid her on top of the cover while he set to work,taking off her shoes. This was also a first for him, he thought inwonder as he slid his hands up to take off her pants. He had neverundressed a woman before. Never felt the inclination to do so. But hefound that he was enjoying himself. He was so caught up in the momentthat it took him a minute to realize that the material covered bareflesh.

His eyes flew to her face, heart thuddingwhen she smiled slowly. "I wanted to save you the trouble."

"Christ!" he whispered hoarsely,hands moving over her smooth thighs and up to her stomach. "It'sa good thing I didn't know you were bare assed under your clothes."

"What would you have done?"

"Take you right there on the balcony,"he rasped. Rubbing his hands up and down her thighs and relishing thesmoothness of her skin, he took a moment, before rising to get rid ofhis clothes.

Turning on his side as soon as he facedher, one hand drifted through her soft curls, watching in fascinationas the light from the unadorned window touched on the goldenhighlights. "Is it difficult to deal with?" He did notrealize he was having a conversation with a woman in bed for thefirst time in his life.

"A little bit, but I have gotten usedto it."

Twisting a fat curl around his finger, hepulled at it and watched as it sprang back as soon as he let go.

"It's lovely." The complimentsurprised both of them and had her staring at him.

"Thanks." Her fingers curled intohis chest hairs, marveling at the play of muscles as she toyed withhis flesh. His hand moved to cup her face, and she watched with batedbreath as his head descended. When his mouth touched hers, shesighed, her hands coming to wrap around his neck. Somehow she sensedthat his resistance was crumbling. His mouth was gentle, his handscradling the back of her head, fingers wrapped in the strands of hairas he held her steady for his kisses.

Shifting so that his body was coveringhers, he tangled his tongue with hers. She tasted of champagne andhoney, her potent sweetness tumbling through him like an aphrodisiac.He could go on kissing her forever, he thought in wonder. The tasteof her swirled, hot and heavy, the kiss drugging and drawing him inuntil he was completely lost.

As he kissed her, his hands roamed herbody, exploring every contour and curve. His touch was gentle, yetpossessive, making her shiver with anticipation. The soft moans thatescaped her lips fueled his desire, driving him to deepen the kiss,to lose himself in her taste and her scent.

Sensations exploded inside her body,causing her to arch towards him. She needed more, would die if shedid not get more than she needed.

As if sensing her unspoken plea, Jack endedthe kiss, trailing his mouth along her smooth cheeks and then kissingthe sides of her mouth. He was lost in her. The taste, the scent ofher perfume, the lingering taste of her mouth.

Edging down, he tongued the hollow of herthroat, his teeth nibbling on her satiny flesh. Pleasuring her wasgiving him a heady sense of power and he wanted her writhing andmindless with desire for him, only him.

He wanted to make an impression that wouldwipe out every other relationship she ever had. He wanted to be theonly one on her mind.

Zuri clutched at him, fingers driving inhis hair. Her body arched and his name escaped her lips as he coveredher nipple with his mouth. His tongue teased and tortured, until shethought she was going mad. Her fingers tugged at his hair as if tourge him on, but he was determined to take his time.

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