"At a guess-family pressure."
"Oh. So it wasn't my fault. It really, truly wasn't me. He would have been the same with any woman. I thought I must be ugly, that there was something missing. I thought … Wait a minute. That explains why Michael didn't want me. However, it doesn't explain why, in a building full of girl-crazy guys, not one of them has so much as looked in my direction." Except according to Steve, Jake had warned them all off her. Jake watched her, his blandest expression on his face, giving absolutely nothing away. If she wanted to find out anything more, it would have to be a full frontal attack.
She leaned toward him and stared him straight in the face. "Did you tell them all to stay away from me?"
Jake smiled, a slow curve of his lips that didn't reach his eyes. "I may have suggested that it was more than their jobs were worth." He paused, the smile becoming positively feral. "That combined with the promise to break most of the larger bones in their bodies seemed to be effective."
"But why? Why did you think you had to protect me from them?"
"Because you needed time to get over your marriage, that's why. I was damned if anyone was going to pick you up on the rebound. You've obviously got no sense where men are concerned. It's a big, bad world out there, and you've been protected whether you knew it or not."
"Whether I like it or not, you mean. I've felt so safe over the last few years and it's all been a lie."
"Isn't that what I promised when I helped you leave Michael, to keep you safe?"
"Yes, but … " She hesitated, unsure how to put her feelings into words. "I thought at last, I was strong, that I could stand up on my own."
Jake waved a hand as if her independence was unimportant. "So, you're telling me that you'd like someone to show some interest in you?"
"Well, why wouldn't I?"
"And you've picked that half-wit Steve?"
"He's not a half-wit. And besides, I didn't pick him for his brains. I'm looking for sex, not intelligent conversation."
Jake leaned back on the edge of his desk, arms folded across his chest, and she squirmed under the penetrating scrutiny.
"That's it? You want sex?" He gave her a slow, lazy smile. "And you didn't think to come to me?"
Chapter Four
Had Jake just suggested she come to him for sex?
Kim decided she needed to be very clear before she stuck her foot in her mouth and made a complete idiot of herself. "Come to you for … ?"
"If you want sex, I'm here for you."
"I'm not sure I want it that much," she muttered.
For a second, the muscles tightened in his jaw, and then he visibly relaxed. "I've sorted out every other aspect of your life-why not sex?"
"Because you're my friend."
"And friends can't have sex?"
Could friends have sex and stay friends? She pushed out of her chair and paced the room as she tried to come up with a valid argument.
"But you're going out with Nadia."
"I told you-she's history. Besides, I never slept with Nadia."
Her brows knit together. "You didn't? That's not what she said."
"She lied."
Kim jerked to a stop and stared at him, her eyes widening. "Hey, don't tell me you're gay. Not that that's a problem or anything. I mean-you can be as gay as you like."
He pursed his lips. "No, I'm not gay."
She paced some more. What did she think about getting up close and personal with Jake? Frankly, the idea terrified her. With a start, she realized the reason she'd picked Steve was because he reminded her-physically at least-of Jake, though the similarities were superficial. While both men were tall and dark-haired, there was a raw, almost overwhelming masculinity unique to Jake.
What would it be like to have that focused on her?
He still leaned on the edge of the desk, arms folded across his broad chest. As usual, he wore all black: black pants and a black linen shirt open at the collar-Jake never wore ties. She could see the triangle of golden skin revealed at his throat. His legs were long, his hips narrow, shoulders broad. Her gaze skittered over his groin, then darted away; she wasn't quite ready to reexamine that particular part of his anatomy yet.
Why would he offer himself as a sex partner now? For years, he'd never shown the slightest interest in her sexually, rarely even touched her. No way did she want him to make love to her out of misguided pity. That would be too embarrassing to live down.
She forced herself to continue her inspection, finally reaching his face, and the muscles in her stomach clenched. He was so beautiful. His short hair, midnight dark. His eyes, brilliant blue over sharp cheekbones. His long jawline was shadowed with dark stubble-he must have come straight from the airport.
He watched her, waiting with the stillness of a predator.
"Why me?" she asked.
"Because I've wanted you for a long time."
"You're kidding me."
He had the most beautiful mouth. She tried to imagine him kissing her. And couldn't. Some things were beyond the ability of the brain to manufacture.
Instead, she dropped her gaze to his hands and tried to imagine them touching her. He had elegant hands with long, tanned fingers.
She'd never experienced pleasure with Michael. He'd hardly touched her during their short marriage. She wasn't a virgin, but she was the next best thing. Maybe she was frigid. Maybe she'd be a huge disappointment.
She chewed on her lip. She had to get out of there. "I'll think about it."
"Kim?" His voice stopped her before she'd taken a step.
She turned back slowly.
"Come here," he ordered.
She didn't want to. But her feet wouldn't take her to the door. Instead, the traitorous things took a step toward him. He unfolded his arms and pushed himself away from the desk.
"Don't you want something to think about?" His voice was a low, husky purr. He'd never sounded like that before, and it sent shivers over her skin. "A … sample to help you make your decision?"
She shook her head but couldn't get any words out.
He was so big, not only tall, but broad at the shoulder.
Suddenly, she felt woefully underdressed. Totally inadequately covered as his cool gaze wandered over her. He lingered on her breasts, and for the first time in her life, she felt them tighten. Glancing down, she saw her nipples clearly visibly under the thin Lycra.
She took a deep breath. "No."
His lips quirked. "You afraid?"
Oh yeah, she was afraid. Afraid of where this might lead. Or rather, how it would threaten the relationship they had now, if things went too far. "Of course not."
"Prove it then."
She could do this. This was Jake, her friend. Besides, she never backed down on a dare.
Her gaze flickered to his mouth and her own went dry. She swallowed and took a step closer. Now she had to tilt her head to look up into his face. His eyes were half-closed, gleaming behind his thick lashes. He didn't make any move toward her, just waited for her to come to him, and she took the final step. Now, she could reach out and touch him.
"What sort of sample were you thinking of?" she asked.
"A kiss?"
For a moment, she thought he meant her to kiss him, and she didn't know if she could. Then he curled his hand around her neck and tilted her head up to him. He stroked his other hand down her cheek. She couldn't have moved now. Not for anything. With one long finger, he traced her lower lip, and the skin tingled under his touch.
She kept her eyes open as he lowered his head to hers, her stare fixed on his mouth. At the first gentle touch of his lips, something inside her twisted up tight. The muscles of her belly locked.
"Relax," he murmured against her skin. "This won't hurt at all."
Then he slanted his mouth over hers, and unbelievably, Jake was kissing her. She kept herself very still. He nipped at her lower lip, and then soothed it with his tongue. "Open your mouth, Kim."
"Oh."
As her lips parted on the word, he pushed his tongue inside like hot, wet velvet stroking her, and the knotted muscles in her belly unraveled. How could she feel a kiss low down in her body?
His hand on her neck held her in place as she started to kiss him back.
She wanted more. She didn't know what. Well, she did-she wasn't that naive-but she didn't know how to go about getting it. Or even if she should. This was still Jake. Her friend. But his kiss felt so indescribably good. As though his mouth had connections with the rest of her body, awakening nerve endings she hadn't known existed.
When he pulled away slightly, she barely managed to hold back her groan of dismay. She stared up at him blinking. "Wow."
He chuckled. "More?"
He stepped away as if to give her space to think, but she was beyond thinking. And they were only kissing. What harm could it do? Even if in the end, she did the sensible thing and told him no, a few little kisses wouldn't hurt.
She nodded, not trusting her voice.
He stepped toward his desk. Leaning across, he pressed the button to lock the door. She heard it click, and her heart fluttered like a trapped hummingbird.
His eyes gleamed as he moved his hands to the buttons of his shirt. He flicked one open, and her breath caught.
He didn't need to take his shirt off to kiss her, did he? But she couldn't get any words past the breath lodged in her throat. Instead, she stared as he slowly unfastened his shirt, baring vast amounts of smooth golden skin. She'd seen him work out in the gym wearing little more. There, she'd been able to objectively appreciate him. Here, locked in the office, just the sight sent heat flooding through her body. "Is this more of the sample?"