Love And Games: Taste The Heat Part 11

His body jerked, and he fisted his hand in the back of her hair. "Now it's my turn."

Crushing his mouth over hers, he released her hair and slid his hands down her sides. Goose b.u.mps sprung in their wake. And when his hands dipped lower, grasping the hem of her dress, a full body shiver racked her from head to toe.

This was actually happening.

He whisked the gown over her head.

Jason trailed the pads of his fingers along the red lace of her bra. A muscle clenched in his jaw. "So beautiful," he whispered.

Colby released a shaky breath, and Jason grabbed her hips, pinning her in place with his hands. They hadn't bothered with the lights when they fell into the room, so the soft lamp in the corner and the moonlight filtering through the plantation blinds were their only illumination. But under Jason's intent gaze, Colby suddenly felt as if he could see all the way to her soul.

It had been a long time since she'd stood like this in front of a man. A very long time. And now that she was, the only thing she could think about was all the pilates and aerobics cla.s.ses she'd skipped over the years. She had curves. b.r.e.a.s.t.s and hips, and an a.s.s that was on the generous side of padded, thanks to her love affair with truffles and lasagna. Compared to Jason's chiseled body, did hers measure up?

Something in her face must have given away her thoughts because he shook his head. "Beautiful," he said again, this time with more force as he pulled her toward him. The lace of her bra grazed his chest and he hissed. "So d.a.m.n beautiful."

Then his mouth descended, and any thoughts she held about her padded backside flew straight out of her head.

Scooping her up in his arms, Jason carried her to the huge bed, setting her down and climbing over her without breaking the pa.s.sionate kiss. His tongue stroked deep in her mouth and she clutched the back of his head, demanding more. She wrapped her legs around his hips, and realized he still had his pants on.

"This won't do," she said when they broke for air. She felt his smile as his mouth trailed kisses along her collarbone. Yanking on his belt, she made quick work of the b.u.t.ton and zipper then shoved at the fabric.

Jason chuckled and the sound zinged through her core. He palmed her calf, leaned up, and nipped her chin with his teeth. "I'll be right back."

What the what?

She didn't even attempt to hide her groan of frustration, which only made him chuckle again. He slid his wallet out from the seat of his pants, grabbed a silver square from inside, and tossed it on the night table. Oh. Then, dark eyes on hers, he pushed his pants and boxer briefs down over his hips and stepped out.

"So men really can look like that," she said, too stunned to be embarra.s.sed that she'd once again spoken her thoughts aloud.

Jason exceeded every fantasy Colby had ever had. Long lean muscles. Curling dark hair. Washboard abs. And those mystical deep indentations above his hipbones. She pushed on to her knees and crooked a finger. "Come here."

He stayed in place, eyes raking over her, and she slid her bra straps off her shoulders. His mouth lifted in a grin, then opened as she reached around and flicked the clasp. Colby raised an eyebrow and repeated, "Come. Here."

Jason's throat muscles worked as he swallowed hard. "I-" His hoa.r.s.e voice broke off and he cleared his throat. "I told you I had plans for dessert."

She tilted her head, watching as he zipped open his duffel bag. "I kinda thought we were in the middle of that plan right now."

Had she misread some kind of signal? You'd think a situation like this would be pretty hard to misread but if anyone could misconstrue something like this, it would be her.

"Oh, we are," he confirmed, riffling through his bag. Relieved, Colby took a moment to admire his strong backside and sighed. Michelangelo's David had nothing on this man. "I just thought we'd take things up a notch," he continued, lifting what appeared to be a jar and a paintbrush.

She watched in confusion as he stalked toward her, holding the objects in his hands. He grinned and asked, "Ever used Chocolate Body Paint?"

Chapter Fourteen.

Long after Colby fell asleep, his father's words kept Jason company. Shadows stretched across the floor as muted light crept through the blinds, and when dawn finally broke, and Jason looked down at the woman in his arms, he felt his world shift.

He was falling for Colby.

That truth didn't terrify him as much as he'd expected. Probably because he'd suspected it all along. But it did bring guilt. For so long, Jason had been content only loving one woman in his life. Ashleigh was irreplaceable. When she died, Emma became his entire world, as she should have. But after a night of holding this woman in his arms, Jason realized he now wanted more. Companionship and a wife with benefits weren't going to be enough for him. Would never have been enough with Colby. He wanted something real.

Why didn't that feel like cheating on Ashleigh's memory?

The vows he took may've said till death do us part, but the mother of his child deserved more than that. Or, so he thought. But after hours of torturing himself, the only thing troubling Jason's heart was wondering if Colby could ever love him back.

That might make him a bad husband, or maybe it was a healthy part of moving on. Either way, he was done guarding his heart. Colby broke through every line of defense he'd built up anyway. He wanted a lifetime of waking up with her in his arms, her long dark hair fanned across his chest. Of days spent laughing, teasing, and flirting. And nights spent just like the one before. Wrapping his hands around her sleeping body, Jason breathed in her floral perfume.

A soft sigh escaped Colby's silken lips. A smile touched his mouth as he lifted his head and glanced at the clock. Nine a.m. Colby had to be at the restaurant by eleven. With the thirty-minute drive back home and her having to get ready, it didn't leave them much time.

He pressed a kiss on the crown of her head. "Time to wake up, baby."

"Uh huh," she muttered, flinging her long leg around his hip. She crawled up his body, burrowed deeper into the crook of his arm, and buried her head against his neck. Morning person she wasn't.

Skimming his fingers down the notches of her spine and over the gentle curve of her backside, he lifted her higher, loving the feel of her tight body pressed along his. Colby sighed again, her warm breath fanning across his neck. "I guess we could just stay in bed all day. I'm not on shift; you can play hooky. We'll spend the whole day together."

Actually the more he thought about it, the more he liked the idea. He hadn't had enough of her yet. He doubted he ever would.

After a short pause, Colby's shoulders deflated. "Fridays are always crazy busy," she said drowsily, finally lifting her head. She pushed her dark waves away from her face, and the warm, satiated look in her gray eyes absolutely slayed him. "As incredible as your offer sounds, I have to go in."

"You sure I can't tempt you to stay?" He combed her hair to one side and dipped his head to the sensitive skin between her neck and shoulder. Last night he'd discovered kisses there had the power to put her in a very agreeable mood. "I'm sure there's a little more chocolate left in the jar-"

Scooting up, she slammed her mouth against his with a squeal. He chuckled, then proceeded to devour her, thrusting his tongue past her lips and spearing his fingers through her hair. Yep, the body paint had been an excellent idea. He grinned as his hands teased the surprising areas he'd uncovered thanks to the thick, sweet chocolate. Remembering how he'd licked and sucked it off her skin had a certain part of his anatomy jumping for round two.

Today, he was buying stock in the company.

"Shower," Colby declared after another minute, sinking her teeth into the lobe of his ear. "Now."

He groaned. "G.o.d, that feisty streak of yours turns me on." Her wicked grin said that was exactly what she was going for, and Jason slapped her a.s.s as she leapt off the bed. "Consider me your love slave, woman. Your wish is my command."

"Hmm." She shoved aside her wild tangle of hair, and her smoky eyes darkened as she rimmed her top lip with her tongue. "The possibilities could be dangerous."

Shooting to his feet, he grasped her hips and yanked her against him. "Bring it on."

The joyous, playful sound of her giggle as he stole another kiss was like an electrical jolt to his heart. d.a.m.n, he really was falling for this woman.

Giving her s.p.a.ce today to think was going to be h.e.l.l, but it would be worth it. Colby needed to come to the same conclusions he had and he knew she had to do that alone. Away from him. The thought that she could decide to push him away was terrifying. It made him want to latch on and drag her with him everywhere. But this was something she needed. And along with his daughter, Jason would always put Colby's needs ahead of his own.

She rubbed her nose against his, crinkling it as she smiled. "Ready to wash all that sticky chocolate off me now?"

He leaned back, giving her luscious curves a thorough examination. "I licked every inch of this skin last night," he said, watching the spark of desire flare in her eyes. "But, you can never be too meticulous about this sort of thing."

Seizing her shoulders, he spun her around and tugged her back so she could feel exactly how the image of her tight, soapy body affected him. Colby hissed a breath. She reached around to clutch his hip, and Jason grinned.

"Let's get you clean."

The 985 was swarming with half-drunk women and overeager men, all looking to hook up. Colored lights streamed over bodies gyrating to a techno-remix of Taylor Swift singing about love. Colby pushed through a cloud of sweat, cologne, and stale cigarettes to one of the tables along the edge of the dance floor and plopped her exhausted b.u.t.t on a stool.

Robicheaux's had been slammed, thus keeping the swarm of confusing thoughts and feelings banging around in her brain pleasantly at bay. When closing time came and Sherry suggested a girl's night, Colby had jumped at the idea, shoving her aching feet into a cute pair of boots. Tonight felt like a Tequila night.

Over the giant speaker to her right, the DJ's seductive voice coaxed the crowd. "All right, ladies, hope you're ready to shake it. For your line-dancing pleasure I've got Big & Rich's 'Fake I.D.'"

A shout of feminine woots preceded the sc.r.a.pe of chairs as a horde of women, and a few brave men, poured onto the dance floor. Colby glanced at Sherry with a mystified expression.

"It's from the new Footloose," she explained, her eager eyes following the crowd.

"I know you know this one," the D.J. continued as the music rolled in. "So come on out here and shake what your mama gave ya."

With the tw.a.n.g of the guitar and the pulse of the drum, cowboy boots began stomping in rhythm. Beside her, Sherry marked the time from her seat, shimmying and jostling the table until Colby gave her a good-natured shove. "Get on out there."

Her sister shook her head, but the excitement in her brown-eyed gaze gave her away. "I'm fine. I can totally hang here with you-"

"GO!"

Colby cringed. She never snapped at Sherry. It hadn't been her intention to do so now. All day her tension and confusion had been building, crackling under the surface. Messing with her during the lunch and dinner services. Causing her to make mistakes. And now she'd officially lost it. When she'd agreed to come out tonight, it was in search of a much needed distraction-not to have a freaking babysitter.

She forced a smile and tried again. "Go on," she said, more gently this time. She lifted her chin toward the clapping crowd. "Go show 'em how it's done."

Sherry's head tilted to the side and she shot a glance toward the dance floor. "If you're sure..." Colby nodded, and she flashed a grateful grin. "I shall return!" Then she scooted off the chair and the girl was gone.

Now it was time for Colby to get her drink on.

She waved at a waitress pa.s.sing by their table. "Excuse me, can I get a margarita, please?"

"Sure thing, darlin'." The woman sent her an authentic smile from behind a pound of makeup. Grabbing an empty gla.s.s from the table beside them, she asked, "Frozen or on the rocks?"

"On the rocks." She deliberated and then said, "Better make that two."

The woman winked. "You got it."

Turning toward the crowded dance floor, Colby tried losing herself in the chaos. But as they had all day, her thoughts drifted right back to Jason.

Their night together had been amazing. But it proved what she'd feared all along-one night would never be enough. A summer with him wouldn't be long enough either. The glorious ache in her chest wasn't just some high from having s.e.x again after the longest drought in history. The man had stolen her heart. And so had his daughter.

Last night she'd had a dream she was teaching Emma recipes in her childhood kitchen. Emma wore Colby's old checkered ap.r.o.n and the young girl called her mom. Colby didn't know the first thing about being a mother-yet, being with Emma was so natural. As much as the domesticated scene had rocked her, Colby had woken up surprisingly happy.

If Cane knew Colby was even considering staying in Magnolia Springs, he'd be thrilled. Well, after his reaction the other day, maybe not thrilled about the reason, but ecstatic about not having to hire another chef. Sherry would most likely begin planning their wedding. And Emma...well, it was obvious what that girl wanted. She wanted a family again. And if Colby stayed in town and began a real relationship with Jason that was exactly where they'd be headed.

But am I ready for that?

In her experience, fidelity was the stuff of fairy tales. But Jason's parents had somehow found a way to withstand the trials of marriage. So had her grandparents, and more aunts, uncles, and cousins than she could name. They all seemed to make it work. Maybe staying faithful wasn't just some mythical concept. Maybe her choosing a cheating boyfriend, after having been born to an unfaithful man, had simply been a case of severe, c.r.a.ptastically bad luck.

It was hopeful thoughts like these that had her tied in knots all day.

When Colby thought about the meaning of faithfulness, she thought about loyalty, trustworthiness, dependability, and consistency. Characteristics that Jason Landry not only had, but embodied. More so than any other man she had met.

Her choice was clear: believe in Jason and trust her heart, or let her past dictate her future.

She knew what she wanted to do. She just wasn't sure she had the courage.

"Fake I.D." ended and Sherry flounced back to the table, fanning herself with both hands. "Oh my G.o.d, that was fun!" She slid onto her chair and exhaled with a big old cheesy grin. "You should've come out there with me."

"What, and risk breaking an ankle? No thanks." The waitress set her drinks on the tabletop and Colby smiled her thanks. "Do you not remember what happens when I try to do coordination?"

Sherry stuck out her tongue then eyed Colby's drinks. "This one for me?"

She shook her head. "Nope. Get your own. I'm getting my drink on." Then she winked to show she was teasing and pushed the second gla.s.s toward her sister.

Sherry watched Colby take a sip of her cold, extremely yummy drink before taking a sip of her own. Smacking her lips at the tartness, she then leaned her chin on her hand. "So tell me, chica. Is this a celebratory get-your-drink-on, or a depressed one?"

Colby took another sip and shrugged. "I don't know. A little of both? Not ready to talk about it yet. Still too much swirling around in here." She twirled her finger over her head. "Distract me. Tell me about your love life. Are things going well with Waiter McHottie?"

"Ben?" Her voice took on that dreamy quality normally reserved for mint chocolate ice cream or candlelit bubble baths. "Things are better than good." Biting off a smile, she glanced down at the table. "This is gonna sound crazy, but I think he might be the one."

Margarita spewed out of Colby's mouth. Her sister may as well have declared she was thinking of becoming a nun. "Are you serious?"

A frown line appeared between her eyes as she peeled a wet napkin from Colby's second drink. Wiping at the table she said, "I know we've only gone out a couple times, but he's worked at the restaurant for a few months. It's not that crazy."

"No, I know," Colby said, her mind still reeling. "I-I just didn't realize things were like that between you."

Or that Sherry even believed in settling down. She was the wild child. The girl who had a new guy every week. The one who threw crazy parties on the weekends and loved defying social conventions. Not someone who believed in finding "the one."

"Everything is so different with him, Colby. Ben makes me laugh, and he's wicked smart. He's back in school to finish his degree, you know. He doesn't plan on waiting tables forever. And d.a.m.n, the man is s.e.xy as h.e.l.l." She made a lip-smacking yummy noise and Colby laughed. This was the sister she knew. "I get goose pimples just thinking about him. And don't even get me started on his tongue."

When her eyes rolled back in her head, Colby interrupted. "Bordering on TMI, Sher."

Sherry giggled. "Prude," she teased, sitting up in her seat. "For real though, it's not like we've had 'the talk' yet or anything, but...yeah. Things are getting pretty serious."

Disbelief would be one way to cla.s.sify her reaction. Shock would be another. They had been dating for like a second. Still, if her sister was happy, then she was happy. "That's great, Sher. Ben's a lucky guy."

She beamed. "Hey, maybe you and Jason can double with us next weekend. We can go see a movie or something."

And there went Colby's thoughts, straight back to the s.e.xy fire captain. So much for her distraction.

Nodding, she picked up her drink. "Yeah, maybe." She took a long, extended sip and shook her head at the sharp punch of tequila. Coughing, she shoved away from the table and grabbed Sherry's hand. "You know what, though? You're right, tonight does feel like a dancing night."

Surprise lit her sister's eyes. "Really?"

"Yep," she said, popping her lips around the word. "Let's do this thing."

Out on the dance floor, Colby chased her distraction, grinding to the beat of "Country Girl." Her hands flew over her head. She tossed her hair and spun Sherry in a circle. Skimming her hands over her hips, she shook them like the lyrics directed. To her sister's delight, Colby broke into the Carlton, the Running Man, even the MC Hammer. She tried getting Sherry to do the Kid 'n' Play, but Sherry was too busy cracking up. Colby didn't mind-she was having fun. The few sips of her drink combined with the music had a warm tingle spreading across her skin and for the life of her, she couldn't remember why she'd hated dancing so much. The bar didn't have a mirror on the dance floor, which was a d.a.m.n shame, but she was positive she looked absolutely fabulous.