“The surprise you mentioned?”
She reached for her glass of champagne with her free hand. “That’s right.”
“If it’s anything like this fantastic chest rub you’re giving me right now, I’ll love it,” he said in a distinctly drowsy-sounding voice.
She looked down at him and saw that his eyes were closed. “Hey! You’re not getting sleepy, are you?”
He peeked one eye open a slit. “Um…no.”
“Uh-huh. Well, you look sleepy. And you sound sleepy.”
“Your fault, sweetheart. Between the sex, the hot shower—complete with more sex, the food, the wine and now the chest rub, you have no one but yourself to blame.”
“Then I guess I’ll just have to revive you.”
“Shouldn’t prove too difficult. With one touch you pretty much do to me what rocket fuel does for the space shuttle.”
“Excellent. Then my surprise should really send you blasting into orbit.”
He peeked open his other eye. “Okay, that got my attention.”
“Good.” She lifted his head, eased out from beneath him and stood. “On your feet, lazy bones,” she ordered, holding out her hands to help him up.
Once he stood he yanked her into his arms. “Anyone ever tell you you’re really bossy?” he asked, nuzzling her neck.
“All the time. I deal with those individuals very harshly.”
He bumped her pelvis with his. “Sounds…kinky.”
“Hmmm. Feels like you’re already more than halfway to being fully revived.”
“Again, all your fault.”
She laughed and eased from his arms. Nodding to the chair by the desk, she said, “All you need to do is set that by the fire, then sit back and relax. I’ll be right back.”
“Sitting back won’t be a problem, but relaxing?” He shot a pointed look at the bulge beneath his robe. “Not likely with you around.”
“Don’t worry,” she said, blowing him a kiss. “I’ll take care of that for you.”
“I think those are my new favorite seven words.”
He made a playful grab for her, but with a laugh Jessica eluded him. After a quick stop at her overnight bag, she headed into the bathroom to ready herself for Eric’s surprise. When she was done, she cast a critical gaze in the mirror. The black lace push-up bra definitely gave her cleavage a boost and the low demi-cup allowed just the tops of her nipples to peek out. Like the bra, the black lace boy-cut bikini panties covered just enough to tease. Perfect.
Or at least she hoped so. She’d never done anything like this before. But then no other man had ever owned her heart and soul so completely. It wasn’t until she met Eric that she realized she’d always held part of herself back in previous relationships. But not with Eric. They just clicked on every level, their personalities and goals meshing perfectly together like letters in a crossword puzzle. Even the topics upon which they didn’t agree made for interesting debates, but they agreed on all the important stuff. Besides, he was the most honorable man she’d ever met. And he made her laugh. And he was great in bed.
Definitely an irresistible combination.
Now if only this damn family feud would end—
She cut off the thought. Tonight, this weekend, was about her and Eric. No one else. They were going to concentrate solely on each other and their relationship.
After slipping on her black strappy four-inch heels, she donned her robe, then slipped the last of her props into her pocket.
Let the score-evening begin.
When she re-entered the main room, she found Eric sitting in the chair, half-empty champagne glass dangling from his long fingers. With his hair tousled from her fingers, the trace of evening stubble darkening his square jaw and his robe gaping open at the throat to reveal his muscled chest, he looked deliciously rumpled and more sexy than any man had a right to.
She put some extra sway in her hips as she approached him, which he clearly noticed based on the way his gaze heated. When she stood directly in front of him, she leaned down and settled her hands on his forearms, which rested on the chair’s wooden arms.
“Ready for your surprise?” she asked in her sultriest purr, then leaned forward to lightly run her tongue over his bottom lip.
“Are you trying to get me to say yes?”
“Absolutely.” Another brush of her tongue along his lip. “Is it working?”
“Absolutely.”
Straightening, she took his glass and set it on the floor, then slipped her hand into her pocket and withdrew two silk scarves.
“What’re those for?” he asked, eyeing the material with interest.
“Remember how I said you need to keep your hands to yourself and allow a girl to pay her debts? Well, this is to ensure that you do just that.” She looped the length of silk through the arm of the chair.