Sex Drive (5 page)

He winked. “Didn’t say I don’t like women. But I do spend a lot of time alone.”

“What do you do?”

Crap, he’d walked into that one. If he told her, it’d break the growing connection between them. Fortunately, he could avoid the question because he saw Carmen coming with their desserts. “That looks good,” he told her as she handed him a platter with strawberries, grapes, and slices of kiwi fruit and papaya, plus crackers and small wedges of four different cheeses.

“Enjoy,” she said, voice flat, obviously still ticked at him. When she’d finished with the meals, he’d have to have a word with her, try to make things right. Ensure she wouldn’t tell anyone about his “engagement.”

Theresa took a spoonful of her chocolate Cointreau mousse and her expression told him she’d forgotten her question about his occupation. Her full attention was on taste sensations that appeared to be almost orgasmic.

He’d have liked to be responsible for putting that glow of sensual pleasure on her face.

She spooned up another bite, then sucked it slowly off the spoon, eyes closed, and his cock jerked as he imagined those lips wrapped around it.

To further torture himself, he selected a ripe, medium-sized strawberry and reached over to dip it in her mousse. Her eyes opened, narrowed in annoyance, then he held the strawberry to her mouth. She smiled and reached up her hand to steady his, the way he’d done when he’d eaten salmon tartare off her fork. Her mouth opened, then she closed her lips around the chocolate-coated tip of the strawberry.

Oh yeah, he was definitely erect now.

The warmth of her soft fingers against his hand, the glaze of sensual enjoyment in her eyes, the way her lips wrapped around the red fruit. The damned berry was even shaped a bit like the head of his cock.

As Theresa took her time nibbling the fruit from his fingers, he was glad for the napkin across his lap. Especially when Carmen came along to pour coffee.

“Enjoying your dessert, I see.” This time her tone bordered on snarky. Unprofessional, yeah, but it had been shitty of him to come on to one woman, then ditch her for another. Sure, all he’d done was flirt, but he and Carmen both knew where they’d been heading.

When she’d gone, he watched Theresa add milk to her coffee and stir. Her bare arm moved in circles, graceful and feminine. A smart, strong woman, yet vulnerable and wary. She must have had other lovers since her divorce, but her ex had done such a number on her, she still mistrusted men. How could a guy be cruel to Theresa? “About your husband,” he said abruptly.

The spoon clicked the side of the cup as her hand jerked. “What? Oh, enough said. It’s in the past.”

“Yeah, but all the same, I’d like to meet up with the bugger in a dark alley. I’d punch his lights out.”

His words, the grimness of his tone, clearly weren’t what she’d expected. Her eyes widened. “Day! That’s…you wouldn’t. That’s so…uncivilized.”

“You’re saying civilized meanness, like white-collar cheating, is okay, but being physical isn’t?”

“Well…” Her tongue came out and ran across her top lip as she considered. Color rose in her cheeks. “Violence isn’t a solution.” Her lips tipped up at the corners, then the smile took over, widening on her mouth, making her eyes light. “All the same, I’d like to see it. Jeffrey would…” She gave a snort of laughter. “God, he’d be no match for you.”

Damien loved seeing her laugh. Man, she was beautiful. “Theresa? The guy was a fool. A woman like you shouldn’t be taken advantage of, you should be appreciated. Slowly and thoroughly. By a man who wants to make you feel like the beautiful, sexy woman you truly are.”

The laughter had faded from her face as he spoke, to be replaced by wonder. “Day? That’s a really nice thing to say.”

He shrugged. “It’s the truth. Any man in his right mind would feel that way.”

“Not so as I’ve noticed.” The humor was back, this time wry.

“Then you haven’t been looking in the right places.” He picked up a strawberry. “Want another?”

“I think it’s your turn.” She took the berry from his fingers, dipped it in mousse, and held it out to him.

He nibbled the treat and with the last morsel sucked the tip of her index finger into his mouth.

She gave a startled, “Ooh.” A flush colored her cheeks and the exposed V of her chest. Under the thin sweater, her nipples tightened.

It was those nipples he imagined as he sucked on her finger. When he freed her, he teased, “Do you blush when you’re teaching at the uni?”

Her hands went up, covering her cheeks. “No.”

“Why not?”

“I guess because I know what I’m doing. I’m confident.”

“But not with me?” He put a slice of cheese on a cracker and offered it to her.

“No thanks, I’ll stick to fruit and chocolate.”

He ate the bite himself and fixed another. “You didn’t answer my question.”

“It’s not you, Day, it’s men. I’m not confident with men. As colleagues and students, yes, but not, uh, socially.”

That was nuts. She had so much going for her. How could she have let one man destroy her confidence? “Jeffrey has a lot to answer for.” He broke a grape off the small bunch on his plate, dipped it into her mousse, then held it out so she could take it from his fingers, her soft lips a tantalizing whisper against his skin.

“It wasn’t only him. I was always years younger than the boys in my classes. Like, graduating high school at fourteen? You can bet no one asked me to the prom.”

“I see what you mean. But once you reach a certain age, when everyone’s grown up, the differences don’t matter so much.” He fed her a slice of overripe papaya and a bead of juice trickled over her bottom lip and down her chin.

He wanted to lick it, but she caught it with her finger. “Yes, but by then I had my doctorate.” She stuck her finger between her lips and sucked it, which made his cock jerk inside the confinement of his jeans.

“I’d missed out on all the girlie stuff,” she said. She slanted him a glance, wet her lips. “And on Sex.”

Sex. The word, coming out of her full lips, sent a surge of lust straight to his already aroused groin, and he could barely suppress a moan.

“Sure,” she went on, “I knew the textbook facts about male/female relationships, but that’s not the same thing as being a normal teenager. Trying to decide if a boy really likes you, having your first kiss, wondering how far to go. Knowing when you’re in love versus in lust. Knowing when a guy’s in love versus just using you.” She’d gone from sounding wistful to bitter. Thinking of her ex again.

“Okay. But hell, Theresa, you’re grown up now. A beautiful, intelligent, interesting woman. You must’ve gained a bunch of experience since Jeffrey.”

She shrugged. “I wasn’t interested in trying again.” Quickly she added, “Look, I’m not completely pitiful and naïve. Jeffrey wasn’t my first and he wasn’t my last.”

“I didn’t mean that.” Only that she was vulnerable. Perhaps he ought to back off. He didn’t want to hurt her.

Theresa jabbed a finger in the middle of his chest. Hard. “No!”

He jerked and almost knocked his food tray off balance.

“I see that look in your eyes.” She jabbed him once more. “I hate that ‘poor little smart girl’ look. Don’t you go making decisions for me. If I let you…” she went even pinker, “uh, feed me dessert, it’s because I want to.”

Feed her dessert? The woman had to be aware that the dessert was foreplay.

“Not,” she went on, “because I’m some loser who’s desperate for the attention of a handsome guy. And I want you doing it because you want to, not because you feel sorry for me.”

He gave a surprised laugh. His throbbing cock sure wasn’t sorry for her. She was damned fine to look at, sexy, and he enjoyed talking to her. He was having the most fun he’d had with a woman in a very long time, even though they were both fully clothed. “No fear of that. But I don’t want you getting hurt again.”

“God! You and your massive ego.” Interesting to note that billabong eyes could spit fire. “Day, I won’t give anyone the power to hurt me. If we do—whatever—it’s going to be fully consensual. If we’re using each other, it’s for our mutual pleasure, and that’s all.”

Using each other? Nah, that’s what he and Carmen would’ve been doing. Her wanting to fuck a celebrity, him just wanting to get his rocks off. He reached over to spoon up some mousse, then held the spoon to Theresa’s lips. “Consensual is good. But, Prof…”

Slowly she licked chocolate from the spoon, her gaze holding his.

“Prof, if we…share dessert, or anything else, it’s not about using each other. Mutual pleasure, yes. Using, no. Got it?”

“Y-yes. I do.” Her eyes were luminous.

Gently he used his thumb to clean a smudge of mousse from her upper lip. Then he licked the chocolate from his thumb. Her eyes widened. Glittered with sexual heat. “Mutual,” he said. “Pleasure.”

She nodded as if hypnotized.

Damn, but he was impatient for the cabin lights to dim and give them some privacy.

Fortunately, Carmen and the flight attendant who handled the other side of the business-class cabin were clearing away dinner trays and offering final refills of coffee and tea. Passengers rose, stretched, headed for the lavatories.

Across the aisle, the great-grandparents were yawning and unwrapping blankets. She’d put her crocheting away. Damien would bet his next advance that they’d be dozing off, not staying up to watch a movie.

Theresa slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder and rose. “Excuse me, Day.” She headed up the aisle to join a small queue.

While she was gone, Carmen refilled their coffee cups and offered chocolates. “Or has your fiancée had enough chocolate?” she asked sarcastically.

“Can any woman ever have too much chocolate?” He took one and put it on Theresa’s tray, beside her coffee. “Ta, Carmen.”

“Right,” she said coolly.

Now was his chance for a private conversation. “Look,” he said softly, “I acted like a jerk, flirting with you. It was stupid. I’m sorry.”

Her face softened a touch. “That’s it? An apology, with no attempt to excuse yourself?”

He shook his head. “I was wrong. Period. Again, I’m sorry.” He tried out a low-powered version of the smile he knew many women found irresistible. “It’s a knee-jerk reflex, flirting with a pretty lady. And this being engaged thing is so new, I’m not used to it. We really want to keep it a secret for now, so please don’t spread the news.”

“Well, I have to say, you’re gonna break some hearts when women find out you’re off the eligible list, Damien Black.” Her expression was a degree or two warmer when she moved away to serve the people behind him.

He wondered what she’d think when his engagement was never announced.

When Theresa returned, she said, “They give us chocolates, too?”

“It’s their version of the chocolate on your pillow.” He winked. “Speaking of which—pillows and all—you weren’t planning on watching a movie, were you?”

“I really should work.” Her voice lacked conviction.

So should he, but hell, this opportunity—this woman—was too good to pass up. “Don’t want to disillusion Carmen. She’ll figure our marriage is doomed to failure.”

“Oh gosh, I’m
so
worried about Carmen’s opinion.”

He chuckled. “Besides, remember the ‘all work’ thing? Isn’t the prof allowed some time off to play?”

“Well…” Her cheeks were pink again. “Dare I ask what you had in mind?”

“I think you just did.” He gave her his full-wattage smile. “Whatever we feel like. A little more talk. Maybe…” With his index finger he smoothed hair away from her temple. “A kiss, right about here.” Then he touched her nose. “Another, here.” And, finally, her lips. “And definitely one here.”

“You’re—” Her voice came out croaky. She cleared her throat. “You’re giving me warning you intend to kiss me?”

“Let’s say hope rather than intend.” He studied her face, which reflected a mix of embarrassment, uncertainty, and arousal. The physical signals—flushed cheeks, gleaming eyes, beaded nipples—said she was turned on. But would she get over her hang-ups and acknowledge her desires? “Figure that might be more fun than grading exams?”

Humor sparkled. “Undoubtedly. But…” She ducked her head. “Maybe you shouldn’t have asked. Maybe you should have just gone ahead.”

“No. I want you to opt in.”

Slowly she raised her head and gazed into his eyes. “To what, exactly, Day?”

“Three kisses. Temple, nose, lips. And then we’ll see.”

Those enticing lips curved. “That doesn’t sound too awful.”

“If it is, we stop there.”

The curve deepened. “And if it turns out to be enjoyable?”

“Then it’s your turn. You pick the next three things. Kisses or anything else you want.”

She sucked in a breath, and he wondered what she was imagining. Something that made her cheeks flame again, and that could only be good as far as he was concerned.

Before he could ask, Carmen stopped beside them. “More chocolate?” She’d lost some of her attitude, he was glad to see.

When he and Theresa both turned down the offer, with thanks, Carmen went on. “We’ll be settling in for the night. Do you have everything you need? Pillows, blankets, water? You know how the video screen works? There’s a movie guide in the side seat pocket.”

Theresa said, “Could I get a bottle of water, please?”

“Make it two,” Damien said.

“Of course.”

When Carmen had gone, Theresa said, “I don’t believe it. She’s acting more civil.”

“Yeah, well, I apologized.”

“Apologized?” She studied him with some surprise. “Hmm. That’s kind of sweet.”

Sweet. He rolled his eyes. Then he made a trip to the loo, taking the toiletries kit so he could shave and brush his teeth.

When he came back, he noticed that the older gent across the aisle seemed to be dozing, sleep mask covering his eyes. Beside him, his wife was taking out her own sleep mask and earplugs. “Have a good night,” she said softly. Was that a twinkle in her eye?

“You, too.”

Throughout the business-class cabin, there were a couple people with computers out, another couple reading, and a few who were focused on their video screens. But, for the most part, people were settling down to sleep. Rustlings and hushed voices died away.