Who better to face the future with than a man who made her burn as no other had? Not only had she allowed herself to be seduced, she took what he’d offered and demanded more, but it was the way he’d looked at her afterward that stirred longings for a chance at happiness, though.
Desire, awe, and satisfaction.
And he wanted to see her again. She grinned. Mr. Wilkins did have a campout planned for the weekend. They were pitching a tent in his front yard. It was perfect timing, actually. She could meet Rafe for dinner, a movie… maybe a hotel room. Definitely, a hotel room. No way did she want memories of Rafe in her bed if it didn’t work out between them.
But if it did…
She took a deep breath to settle the butterflies in her belly and turned the knob. “Do you like pizza or…”
Her words drifted off at the sight of the room. Empty.
He’d left.
Her shoulders drooped. Guess the truth sank in, and he realized he didn’t want to deal with her baggage.
Really, could she blame him? No. She couldn’t, especially when her baggage came with feisty cubs who bit.
She sighed and grabbed the car keys from the desk. Well, at least she found out what kind of man he was before they ended up in a hotel room. She flung open the door.
Rafe leaned against the wall on the opposite side of the hallway, ankles crossed and thumbs in his front pockets. “Hey, beautiful. I was starting to get worried.”
“You waited?”
He closed the distance between them. With one hand pressed against the door over her head and the other by her hip, he surrounded her. Petite wasn’t a description she’d use for herself, but next to Rafe she felt small.
“Is that why you took so long? Hoping I’d get bored and take off?”
Captured by his intense stare, she couldn’t form words.
A long, heart-stopping moment passed before he bent closer. With a swipe of his tongue, he gently prodded at the seam of her mouth. She opened to him on a sigh. Instead of thrusting inside, he licked her upper lip then the lower, as if savoring her flavor. The low, appreciative sound that rumbled in his chest suggested he liked her taste. She arched into him, silently asking for more.
The slow, drugging kiss rekindled her passion. She linked her arms around his neck and clung to him while he led her in a wicked dance. They moved together, adjusting the depth and angle of their strokes as if they’d been lovers their entire lives and what they shared was foreplay, not a simple kiss.
She closed her eyes, loving the sensations he stirred within her. A featherlight caress along her side had her arching into him.
Jazz stood on her tiptoes and deepened the kiss, needing him. Another hungry noise escaped him. He tilted his head and devoured her, kissing her as if he was starved. His response excited her. She wanted to tear down his control, making him as wild as he had done for her. She linked her arms around him, trying to show him how she felt.
He lifted her with a hand on her bottom. The easy show of strength appealed to her as much as the way he touched her body. The man was literally built for sex. She had no doubt he could pleasure her all night long. The thought fed the burning lust consuming her.
She wrapped her legs around his waist. More. She needed more.
What they were doing was naughty. Wild. Completely unlike her. It only made her crave Rafe more. She loved the humming energy buzzing through her.
“Jasmine,” he groaned against her lips.
She heard the unspoken question, but the music drifting to her ears reminded her the hallway wasn’t the place to indulge in each other. “Not here.”
He twisted the handle and shoved the door at her back open with a push of their bodies. They stumbled into the office. Without breaking their kiss, he lowered her to the couch.
Somebody clearing their throat froze them both.
“I’m sorry, but you’re not allowed back here.”
Jazz looked past Rafe’s shoulders. Susan, the head waitress, stood at the doorway, her gaze downcast and a blush staining her cheeks.
“I really don’t want to call security, but I will.” The pleading tone in Susan’s voice was clear.
“No need.” Rafe stood, pulling Jazz with him. “We’ll make our way to the bar.”
“I really should—”
“One drink, Jazz.”
She opened her mouth to tell him she couldn’t. She was driving. He pressed a finger to her lips.
“No excuses. You can have a soda. Call your neighbor. Tell him you’ll be a little late.” He held out his cell phone for her.
“I already did. The boys wanted to watch another episode anyway.”
“Then you have no reason not to have a drink unless you’re not interested in getting to know me.”
Not interested? Here she was trying to stop dreams from taking root, and he was suggesting she didn’t want to learn more about him? Then again, she had tried to push him away earlier. “One drink, and then I really need to leave.”
Rafe smiled, triumph in his eyes. “Perfect.”
He took her hand, twining their fingers, and walked by Susan without so much as glancing in her direction. Jazz did, though, and caught Susan ogling Rafe’s backside. The nerve of her. Jazz glared at the woman, but Susan gave a thumbs up and winked. The flash of jealousy eased. Jazz grinned.
They made their way to a darkened section of the main bar area.
Rafe wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. “I’m sorry. I thought she’d walk by. I should’ve closed the door behind us.”
“It’s probably a good thing she interrupted us. It’s late. I really need to start enforcing a bedtime. The boys are going to kindergarten in the fall and waking up before noon is going to be a shock to them.”
They’d sleep most of the day away if she let them. Their animals liked
