Bliss
Coming in Summer 2010
from St. Martin’s Griffin
J. M. smiled. So his perfect woman didn’t believe in Tantra. But she had read his book, which meant she’d at least given it a chance. He was sure that with a little time and the opportunity to show her the benefits of Tantra, he could convince her of its merits.
He probably should have told her he was the author of the book before the conversation had gone too far, but he’d wanted to hear her honest opinion. He couldn’t tell her now. At least, not right away. There was no point in embarrassing her.
The seat belt sign flashed on and Kara buckled her seat belt. She glanced at him nervously, then gazed out the window. He was fairly sure her jitters were less from the idea of landing than from his invitation to spend more time together.
Although she had flirted shamelessly in the airport, it had been clear, especially when she’d seen him in the seat next to hers, that she’d never intended it to lead anywhere.
Given the obvious attraction between them—and the fact that he knew she was the woman who he had manifested as his perfect mate—he fully intended to convince her to spend the night with him. He might know they were meant to be together, but he still had to convince her of that.
Kara’s stomach clenched as the aircraft came to a stop at the gate and people rose from their seats and filled the aircraft aisle. Once off the aircraft, she knew she could just excuse herself and slip off to the ladies’ room, or whatever, and give J. M. the slip. But . . . did she really want to do that?
She watched him as he stood up and opened the overhead compartment. He pulled out her carry-on and placed it on the seat.
My God, not only was he a gentleman, he was observant— remembering exactly which bag of the several up there was hers. He was a sensitive man, too. Warm and concerned for others’ feelings. She could tell that by their conversation. And she liked being around him. That and he was extremely sexy. The attraction between them was blazing hot and . . . she hadn’t been with a guy for a while.
As the line of people began to move, J. M. waited for her to move in front of him, then followed her toward the front of the aircraft.
Maybe she should look at this as a golden opportunity. She could have a one-night stand—something she’d never done before—with a sensational guy. And she didn’t have to worry about the repercussions, like the awkwardness the following morning when they promised to call each other knowing full well they never would, or the potential embarrassment of running into each other again after breaking that promise.
Of course, he was a great guy and maybe she would want to see him again . . . but that point was moot since the likelihood they lived anywhere near each other was remote. Just because they flew out of the same airport didn’t mean anything. She lived nearly fifty miles from the airport and he might live fifty miles in the opposite direction.
“Good night.” The airline hostess nodded as Kara stepped past her. “I hope you enjoyed the flight,” she said as J. M. passed her.
The more Kara thought about it, the more she realized she did not want to let this chance slip away.
They walked through the long tunnel leading from the plane to the gate, then stepped into the bustle of the terminal. The flow of people headed toward an airline representative who was waving them toward a counter along the side. A long line was forming.
J. M. slowed, then rested his hand on her arm and guided her out of the flow of traffic.
“Hold on a second,” he said.
She nodded as she watched him pull out his cell phone, flip it open, and flick the keypad. A moment later, he turned away while he talked to someone, then he flipped the phone closed.
“I don’t really want to get caught up in that,” he said, nodding his head toward the horde of people heading to the airline desk to retrieve their hotel voucher, “so I just reserved a room at Angel’s Inn, a small hotel just a few miles from the airport.”
Kara knew that with so many people arriving all at once at the hotels where the airlines would be placing people, it would probably be hours before they got a room. There would be lines to get the vouchers, then for the shuttles to the hotels, then to register for their rooms, etc.
Oh, damn. Was this goodbye?
She remembered the warmth of J. M.’s hand on her back, and the calm that had resonated from his touch. She had no doubt the heat of his touch could elicit far more than a calming response. An electric zing spiked through her at the thought of his arms encircling her, drawing her close to his body, of those full lips capturing hers in a smoldering kiss.
She was sure he was as interested as she was, but . . . she hadn’t given him any hints. With her luck, he’d walk out of her life any second, if she didn’t do something. Now.
She stepped toward him and, before she could change her mind, settled her hands on his shoulders, pushed herself upon her toes, and pressed her lips to that sensuous mouth of his. An electric tingle shimmered through her and her hormones danced in delight. Their mouths parted and she stared at him, allowing the heat she felt to shine in her eyes.
At the sight of his brown eyes, dark with desire, her breath caught. Oh, God, she wanted to feel this man’s arms around her. To feel his lips plundering hers. To touch that magnificent body of his.
His arms slid around her and he pulled her against him, his mouth finding hers again. His
