But still, it wasn't enough. "Wrap your legs high around my waist," he said.
She did, her thighs clasping his hips and her ankles locked at the base of his spine. The position caused her bottom to lift, her hips to tilt, and he buried himself to the very base of his shaft.
"Oh, yeah," he growled. He slowly ground against her as he trailed hot, openmouthed kisses along her jaw, her throat, and then gave her a love bite on her neck.
She sobbed in frustration, her body arching, straining against him, trying to urge him to a wilder rhythm. In his own sweet time he eventually gave her what she wanted, gradually surging faster, harder, deeper, until both of their bodies submitted to the inevitable… a glorious, stunning climax that drained them both.
As the tremors faded, he lowered his mouth to Kayla's and kissed her, their bodies still joined, and the beat of her heart matching his. He let go of her hands and touched her face, and everything within him went still as he felt something wet against his fingertips. Even without the lights on, he knew exactly what that moisture was, and all he could do was pray they were tears of joy, not regret.
Kayla woke up alone in her bed, but the sounds coming from the kitchen assured her that Jack was still there. Smiling drowsily and with more contentment than she could ever remember feeling, she stretched beneath the covers, completely naked and thoroughly sated-her body, heart and soul.
She sighed, remembering the way Jack had held her so intimately during the course of the night, never letting her stray very far before he'd pull her back against the heat of his body and snuggle close. Kayla had to admit that she loved the feel of his warm, strong arms around her, of having him cradle her as if he never wanted to let her go. And despite knowing that the morning could quite possibly bring heartache, she'd reveled in his attention and affection.
Because she loved him. Kayla swallowed hard as she forced herself to acknowledge the overwhelming, terrifying emotion she never expected to become a part of her affair with Jack. She'd set out to enjoy a sexual relationship, and to test her aphrodisiac candies on a hot, sexy guy. But in no way had she believed it could lead to something more.
Yes, she had. Kayla couldn't lie to herself anymore. The entire time she'd been intent on seducing Jack, she'd allowed herself to be seduced by him in return. Not just her body, but her emotions, as well.
Her heart squeezed tight in her chest. She had no one to blame but herself for letting her emotions become involved in her affair with Jack. Her candies might have spurred his lust and interest in her, but she knew without a doubt that they weren't responsible for the way she felt about him. Her emotions were real-too damn real-and while she ached for something more, he'd never promised her anything beyond what they'd shared. And since she'd gone into this relationship without any expectations, she had to leave it the same way.
A part of her had instinctively known all that last night, hence the tears that had fallen before she could stop them.
The sound of coffee percolating, followed by the tantalizing aroma drifting into her bedroom told her it was time to get up and moving. To get dressed and face the morning, and whatever it might bring.
While the coffee finished brewing, Jack searched the refrigerator for something to make for breakfast. First they'd eat, then they'd talk. They had a whole lot to discuss, and he figured it was better to do it on a full stomach, rather than an empty one.
After last night, telling Kayla how he felt about her seemed as natural as breathing. He hoped it would be just as easy for her to believe. He might not have told her verbally that he was in love with her, but there had been an undeniable emotional connection between them that should have left no doubt in her mind that he cared deeply about her.
He found eggs, bread to make some toast, and a half of a cantaloupe. Perfect. He set the items on the kitchen counter and pushed aside one of those gold boxes of candies that Kayla was always feeding him, along with a file folder that was in his way. A few of the papers slid out, and he automatically tucked them back inside the folder. The words written on the file tab caught his eye, and his attention: Aphrodisiac Candies.
Undeniably intrigued, he opened the folder. The lined papers were filled with handwritten recipes, all of which he recognized as the candies Kayla had been feeding him over the course of the past few weeks:
Heavenly Kisses, Love Bites, Chocolate Orgasms, and Caramel Caresses.
Frowning in confusion, he withdrew a package of a white powdery substance and read the information on the label, which included a statement that made him go very still inside: Aphrodisiac for lovers. An all-natural stimulant guaranteed to increase your sex drive and bring out the lust and passion in the one you desire.
He shook his head in stunned disbelief, certain he'd misread the fine print. Unfortunately, a second glance did nothing to change the meaning of the words on the package, and everything it implied.
He swore beneath his breath, more than a little upset at what he'd just discovered. Yes, Kayla had told him right up front that she wanted his opinion on the new line of candies she was considering for Pure Indulgence, and he'd actually enjoyed sampling her more erotic creations. But she obviously hadn't divulged her hidden agenda. He'd been nothing more than an experiment for her.
The evidence against her was glaring, and he held the proof of her deceit in his hands. While he hated thinking that everything they'd shared had all been part of some elaborate plan he couldn't help but hope there was some kind of logical explanation.
"Good morning."
Kayla's soft morning voice pulled him out of his turbulent thoughts, and he turned around to face her. She stood just inside the kitchen doorway, her hair slightly tousled, her skin flushed from a night of great sex, and she was wearing a silky robe that made her look extremely sensual and damn appealing. If he hadn't discovered this incriminating evidence, which definitely required an immediate explanation, he would have stripped off that flimsy garment and made love to her again this morning, right here in the damn kitchen.
But he wasn't about to allow anything to distract him from finding out the truth about those candies she'd been feeding him.
"Morning," he replied evenly. Forgetting about his breakfast plans, he indicated the open folder on the counter that revealed her secret recipes. "What's this?"
She sucked in a startled breath, her eyes widening with a glimmer of panic.
"I…" She shifted on her feet, swallowed hard, and tried again. "Umm, those are the recipes for the new line of candies I'm considering for Pure Indulgence."
"I gathered as much," he said, unable to keep the wry tone out of his voice, which was a helluva lot tamer than the anger welling inside him. "I've been lucky enough to have sampled each one of these candies. But it's not the candies I'm questioning, but rather what you've been putting in them. According to these recipes, it appears you've come up with some very interesting concoctions. And I'm assuming you fed them to me as some sort of experiment?" The thought made his stomach cramp.
She winced, obviously knowing exactly what he was referring to. But to her credit, she didn't lie or try to play dumb like most of the women he'd known would have attempted to do.
"Yes," she whispered, looking mortified. "I wanted to know if that aphrodisiac I bought really worked, so I asked you to eat the candies so I could gauge your reaction to the sexual stimulant."
He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Couldn't comprehend the possibility that she believed in such ridiculous nonsense. "And what kind of conclusion did you come to with these candies and my reaction to them, Kayla?" he asked, curious to know what she thought she'd accomplished.