Well, Jasmine, strut your stuff, he silently challenged as a long rippling mane of very lustrous brown hair rose from the driver's side, the kind of hair that would look good on a pillow. Feel good, too. A tingle of temptation touched his fingertips. He clenched his hands to wipe it away. This was not the lime to let a woman get to him. So she had great hair. No big deal.... The workings of the brain under it probably had no appeal at all.
She turned to close the door and lock the car. Collins attention was galvanised. Leonard hadn't lied. He hadn't even exaggerated. Jasmine Leclaire was a stunner. Helen of Troy
came to mind. Here was a face that could definitely launch a thousand ships.
It seemed to simmer with sexual promise, aided by the erotic positioning of a deep pink flower over her right ear.
The tingle in his fingertips moved to his groin and there was nothing physical he could do to remove it. He tried willing it away. Impossible mission. She moved to the back of the car to join up with her sister and the full view of her was enough to blow any willpower right out of Collins head. Even his side vision was affected. Favour Leclaire blurred.
Only jasmine remained in sharp focus.
She had a mesmerising hour-glass figure, mouth-wateringly lush femininity encased in a slinky little black dress with a short flirty skirt that barely reached mid-thigh on long shapely legs that Chloe thought would feel fantastic wrapped around him. She was tall—tall enough to wear flat black shoes, though they looked like ballet slippers with straps crossed around her ankles. Somehow they were erotic, too, more so than kinky stiletto heels.
His gaze leapt back to her fascinating face as she came nearer. A slight dimple in her chin, a sultry full-lipped mouth, straight nose, angled cheekbones that highlighted the unusual shape of her eyes, more triangular than almond, amber irises, glinting golden between their black frame of thick lashes. Cat's eyes, he thought, but they didn't conjure up the image of some tame domestic cat, more an infinitely dangerous panther, capable of clawing him apart.
And why he should find that idea exciting he didn't know. Didn't think about it. It just was. He fell something dark and primitive stir inside him, wanting to take up the challenge she was beaming at him, wanting her submission to the desires she aroused, wanting to possess every part of her until he'd consumed the power she was exerting over him.
______
A Class-A hunk, Jasmine thought when she first saw Leonard's friend.
Tall, dark and handsome with a body brimful of strong masculinity, his tight black jeans and the short-sleeved, open-necked white shirt showing off his impressive physique. Lots of surface sex appeal, but undoubtedly a bloated male ego to go with it.
"Oh wow, look!" Favour murmured approvingly. "Leonard's friend sure measures up."
Probably worked out at a gym in front of mirrors. Jasmine was determinedly unimpressed, yet as they strolled towards the two men, a flutter started up in the pit of her stomach. It was the way he was looking at her, she argued to herself, assessing her female assets which, unfortunately, were on blatant display in Favour's dress.
She hadn’t eared earlier, even letting Favour put the silly pink flower in her hair. It matched the spray of pink flowers featured on the black fabric of the dress, spreading diagonally from the left shoulder to thehem of the skirt. Favour was into flowers in her hair this summer, using them as accessories to her outfits, but it wasn't Jasmine's style. Not that it mattered tonight, except...she hoped Leonard's friend wasn't seeing it as some flirtatious come-on.
On the other hand, if he wasn't too full of himself, he was certainly attractive enough to flirt with. Though that could be a dangerous play.
She wasn't used to partnering a powerfully built man, and as she got closer, this man seemed to emanate power, the kind of big male dominant power that suddenly sent weak little quivers down her thighs. Robert was no taller than herself and his physique was on the lean side.
His attraction lay more in a quick silver charm than sheer physical impact. Jasmine had always found eye contact and conversation sexier than actual bodies. All the same, she couldn't stop her eyes from feasting on this guy. He had an undeniable animal magnetism that tugged out a wanton wondering about what it might he like to have sex with him.
Different, she decided.
Not quite civilised.
Dark and intense.
Like his eyes...now that he was looking directly into hers.
Jasmine sucked in a quick breath as her heartskipped into a wild canter. This guy had it in spades. With one searing look he burnt Robert right out of her mind and stamped his own image over the scar. It was a stunning impact.
Jasmine hadn't even begun to recover from ii when she heard Leonard start the introductions.
"Favour....Jasmine...this is my friend, Collins Templeton."
Another stunning impact.
She knew him. Or rather, knew of him. Who didn't in the computer graphics business? Collins Templeton was already reaching legendary status for what he had achieved in special effects. He produced amazing stuff. And he was Leonard's friend...her blind date?
Very white teeth Hashed a winning smile. "I'm delighted to meet you both. And I wish you a very happy birthday, Favour"
He offered his hand to her first—a perfunctory courtesy as Favour thanked him—just a quick touch— then to Jasmine, who found her hand captured by his for several seconds, making her extremely conscious of the warm flesh-to-flesh contact.
"I appreciate your giving me your company tonight, Jasmine" he said very personally, his voice pitched to a low, deep intimacy.
Her stomach flipped. She'd thought of Collins Templeton as some clever computer nerd with a weird creative genius, occupying some planet of his own. Yet here he was, right in front of her, so dynamically sexy she could scarcely breathe. It was a miracle she found the presence of mind to produce a reply.
"My pleasure." she replied.
His smile was quite dazzling, given the dark tan of his skin. He had a strong nose, strong chin. His eyebrows were straight and low, his eyes deep-set, somehow emphasising their penetrating power. His hair was a mass of tight, springy black curls which should have had a softening effect, but perversely added a sense of wound-up aggression.
"Nice car," he said, nodding to where she'd parked. "I like it" His eyes leased as he asked, "What does it say about you?" She already felt under attack from him and instinctively she fended off the probe that was asking her to reveal private feelings. "Ermmm... Does it have to say anything?" Jasmine asked "Cars always say something about their owners." Collins replied and withdrew his hand. Then gestured to his friend. "Now take Leonard here. His BMW says he's made it. He's solid. He likes proven performance." "Right on," Leonard agreed. "So what car do you own?" Jasmine asked Collins, wanting to learn something about him.He grinned. "I don't. If I need a car, I hire one." "Don't let him fool you, Jasmine" Leonard quickly inserted. "Collins is a bikie from way back. He's got a whole stable of bikes to suit whatever mood he's in and whatever he wants to do." "An open road man," she observed, thinking Collins had to have the kind of mind that would hale any form of confinement.
He paused to consider. His eyes beamed a speculative challenge as he answered, "Whatever two strangers want to make of it." "'Without a tomorrow." jasmine asked. "Tomorrow I'm gone." he replied. Well, that was laying it on the line. No future with Collins Templeton. Not that she had had time to even think of one or consider whether it might be desirable."Then I'll just take this one night experience with the man behind the name," she countered, pride insisting that his schedule did not affect her expectations from this blind date, which had been zero before she met him anyway. Sexual invitation simmered back at her. "I wonder if you will." She hadn't meant a one-night stand. Another wretched blush goaded her into being uncharacteristically provocative. "You win some. You lose some." It was a warning for him not to assume anything. He grinned. "The game is afoot. And you can't cut and run because your sister is watching and she'll kill you if you do." He laughed, trying to lig
Her long throat moved in a convulsive little swallow. Dry-mouthed from the heal coursing through her? The low V-neckline of her dress pointed into the valley between her breasts, shadowed by the soft swell of lush feminine flesh on either side. He wanted to fill his hands with her, wanted to... "Coffee, anyone?" The waiter deftly removed the emptied dessert plates as choices were made around the table. "Short black," Jasmine said, Strong and dark, Collins thought, which was how he wanted it, too."The same for me." he said. He didn't hear what the others ordered. The waiter departed. Leonard suggested they walk on down the hill to the Crowne Plaza after they'd finished their coffee, disco the rest of the night away. Favour applauded the idea. Jasmine smiled al her sister but said nothing, waiting Collins reaction with no persuasion from her either way. Hours of ear-blasting music and hot, sweaty dancing didn't appeal to Collins. Nor did a long sexual tease with Jasmine that promise
He made it sound intensely sensual, made her feel intensely sensual. She took refuge in sipping coffee again, trying not to wonder just how elemental he was and how he would look as nature had fashioned him.The open-necked shirt had been tantalising her all throughout dinner, giving her a glimpse of tight black curls arrowing down his chest. His forearms weren't hairy, their darkly tanned skin gleaming like oiled teak. She imagined his whole body would be mainly like that with a sprinkle of black springy curls in the most masculine places. The desire to know, to touch, conflicted terribly with the sensible course of simply wishing him well and waving him goodbye. He wasn't going to be in her life.Except for this one night.Leonard paid the restaurant bill, insisting it was his party treat for Favour. Everyone had drank their coffee, it was time to go. Nervous tension gripped Jasmine as Collins moved to hold her chair back for an easy rise from the table. She looked at the full moon
Oh, he knew how to kiss. His tongue mated with hers in a rhythm that exactly matched the pulsing it set off in her body. Fireworks sparkled along her nerve endings, making every inch of her so sensitive that the merest brush of clothing against her skin seemed overwhelmingly sensual and sexual.He shifted, pulling her closer and pinning her body to his, so they were locked together and her throbbing center was out of reach even as it grew heavy and aching with need.All from a kiss.Her body wanted to fight the imprisonment until she felt his hardness against her belly. She understood then. He wanted her every bit as much as she wanted him. Somehow that freed her in a way desire alone couldn't have.He continued to hold her close with one arm as he kissed her, but his other hand began to wander. He stroked her side from breast to thigh, to the point where his leg trapped hers, then swept it up again, slowly...oh, so slowly.And as it returned upward, she gasped.She arched a little, b
There was no struggle over any sense of right or wrong in his conscience. It was full steam ahead for Collins Templeton. And maybe that was part of his strength, part of his overwhelming attraction. He knew what he wanted and went after it with single-minded purpose.They turned right at the end of Crystal Street. The car climbed a steep hill—the head land—went over it and down the other side, turning sharp left and coming to a halt in a large dead-end parking circle that wasclosed in by a nature reserve, a thick belt of trees and bushes cutting off any sight of the ocean.Shadows from overhanging foliage put them in a pool of darkness.There were no other vehicles here. The sense of being very much alone with Collins Templeton sent a quiver of apprehension down Jasmine's spine. Was she mad to do this? Was she?Then he was opening the passenger door, drawing her out of the car and into an embrace that shot a flood of positive responses through her body, swamping any chilling fears. He
Her whole body was wire-tight with anticipation when his arms slid around her waist. She almost crumbled at the contact, the need for it was so intense. She leaned back against him, revelling in the sense of being encompassed and protected by his hard, warm strength, wanting to feel a togetherness that could face anything and survive intact. He rubbed his cheek over her hair and she felt his chest rise and fall as he breathed in its scent, mingled now with the smell of the sea. 'You should have been called Eve,' he murmured. The beginning of time, she thought, elated that he was in tune with her own feelings. 'And you, Adam?''The caveman in me has definitely been stirred tonight.' Was it the cavewoman in her responding? It didn't matter. Having surrendered to whatever it was, she simply wanted to be swept along with it. His hands slid up to capture her breasts, fingers softly kneading, savouring their fullness. She closed her eyes, inwardly focusing on his touch and the sensation
They hugged. They kissed. They touched. They revelled in the sensual magic of the night, strolling along the wet sand with the dying froth of waves caressing their feet, swimming in the rock, pool, their bodies sliding around each other in the buoyant water, teasing, inviting, savouring the freedom to give and take every pleasure in being together. To Jasmine, he was wonderful. She couldn't have enough of him. And he shared her greed, her lust to have everything possible packed into this one night. Nothing wild was too wild. There was no shame in anything. They loved each other in the water, on the sand, against a rock with the spray of the sea showering over them. What words were spoken did not relate to any other time or place orcircumstance. The past and the future had no bearing on what they shared. There was no breaking of that mutual understanding, no attempt to break it, or change any of the parameters of that one promise...a night to remember. They didn't sleep. They left