She sighed in remembrance as she pulled a sheet of cinnamon sugar cookies from the oven, placed them on a cooling rack, then slid another tray in to bake. Jack had most definitely sent her soaring-numerous times-but she had to give credit where it was due. Her Love Bites had no doubt spurred his lust, and her own unfettered passion, and the result had been combustible, spectacular sex.
Unfortunately, she hadn't been able to shed every inhibition with Jack. Sexually, she'd been insatiable, but when he'd suggested they take things into the bedroom she'd been stricken with a sense of dread at the thought of him seeing her completely naked, all her flaws and imperfections on display. Despite the effects of the aphrodisiac candies, some insecurities were harder to break than others, and she was grateful he hadn't pushed the issue.
Humming a cheerful tune, she cut up German chocolate squares and put them on a tray to go in the display case out front. Much to her delight, Jack's amorous behavior had carried beyond their night together. She hadn't seen him in two days because of their busy schedules, but he'd sent her a gorgeous bouquet of roses the day after with a note telling her what a great time he had, and he'd called three times since for no other reason than "just to hear your voice."
She couldn't deny that she enjoyed the attention, but a part of her questioned if his romantic overtures were due to the enhanced candies she'd been feeding him on the sly. She'd experienced enough proof to know that they could stimulate arousal, but she'd begun to wonder if the aphrodisiac could possibly have a lasting effect beyond sating sexual desire.
The possibility made her heart slam hard in her chest, forcing her to admit that her feelings for Jack were subtly changing, that outside of physical attraction he was a man she could fall hard and fast for.
If she allowed herself.
Which she certainly would not.
Jack was a temporary lover, she reminded herself. And she knew and accepted that once their business deal was over he'd have no reason to be in such close contact with her. No reason to eat her aphrodisiac candies. No reason to lavish her with arousing caresses, drugging kisses. No reason to be the lucky recipient of that magnificent body of his stroking deep within hers.
The thought caused an empty sensation to settle in the pit of her belly. Yes, she'd eventually have to give up Jack Tremaine-because she certainly couldn't feed him an aphrodisiac every day for the rest of his life to keep him as her own-but she still had a few more weeks until she completed his dessert menu and they went their separate ways. She needed to use that time wisely.
Her gaze drifted across the stainless-steel table to the new batch of candies she'd created earlier that day. She bit on her bottom lip, contemplating the sexual power of her candies beyond the arousal Jack experienced after eating one of her sweets. She wondered if her chocolate confections would affect him when they weren't in the same room together, and what the results would be. If he ate her candies without her being present, would he still want her?
She was more curious than anything, because her naughty thoughts went beyond any preliminary testing she needed to do. But she couldn't deny that she found the possibilities of her idea very intriguing. And too tempting for her to resist.
Chapter 6
"Mr. Tremaine, there's a delivery out front for you. The courier said you need to accept the package personally."
Jack glanced up from the inventory spreadsheet on his computer to the hostess working the lunch shift at Tremaine's Downtown. "Thanks, Tracey. I'll be right there."
He saved the file and closed the computer program, then made his way from his upstairs office down to the hostess stand, curious as to what awaited him, since he hadn't been expecting a personal delivery of any sort.
A young man dressed in a navy-blue courier uniform handed him a small gold box secured with a matching ribbon, and asked him to sign a delivery form. There was no information on the outside of the parcel to indicate who it was from, or what Jack might find inside. Not wanting to open the box with too many employees and lunch patrons watching when he had no idea what to expect, he took the package back up to his office. Sitting in his leather chair, he removed the ribbon and lifted the lid.
The arousing scent of chocolate filled his next breath, and he found a small envelope lying on top of a waxed paper liner with his name written in a feminine script. He smiled, an undeniable rush of anticipation making itself known as he opened the card and read the note inside.
I thought you might like to sample my latest creation. A Chocolate Orgasm. Enjoy. Kayla.
He smiled at the risqué name Kayla had chosen for her newest candy, especially since it inspired sinful thoughts of how much pleasure he'd derived from her multiple climaxes a few nights ago. He was bound to enjoy this edible orgasm, too, he was sure.
He removed the paper liner, revealing six chocolates, and his brows rose in what he would have sworn was a figment of his imagination. He picked up one of the treats, and upon closer inspection realized that from one angle the candies looked like the petals of a flower, and from another viewpoint they did, indeed, resemble the curve of a woman's well, her genitalia.
He chuckled and shook his head, amused by Kayla's new line of candies, and damn curious to find out what this Chocolate Orgasm would taste like.
He took a bite, and out oozed a gooey, white cream center that took him by surprise, but shouldn't have considering the name of the candy and all it implied. He quickly popped the rest of it into his mouth before the thick, sticky filling dribbled down his fingers and made a mess, as always seemed to happen when he sampled Kayla's desserts. He chewed, and moaned at the sweet mixture that combined rich vanilla cream flavored with a hint of almond. It was a simple recipe, but the decadent taste and texture was like ambrosia, and managed to spur all kinds of carnal fantasies in his mind-mainly, of tasting Kayla's orgasm on his tongue.
The image of pleasuring her in such an intensely erotic way caused his heart rate to increase and a throbbing pressure to take up residence in his groin. He ate another candy while reliving the other night with Kayla in his mind, and wishing she was here with him now.
It had been two days since he'd seen her, and though they'd talked on the phone, it just didn't compare to being with her in person. He missed seeing her smile and that sparkle in her green eyes. Missed the easy way they teased one another. Missed kissing her and immersing himself in everything honest and pure that made Kayla Thomas such an extraordinarily giving woman.
Absently, he ate another Chocolate Orgasm. Kayla was like an obsession he couldn't shake, an addiction that gave his life new meaning. He wanted more than just her body good Lord, he was beginning to want inside her heart, too. And if the only way to get there was through hot, hungry sex, then he'd just have to sacrifice himself in the process.
Oh, yeah, like that would be a real hardship. Well, he was hard as steel right now, his entire body hot, his skin too tight-just from thinking about her.
He definitely had it bad, and it felt so, so good.
He shifted in his seat and glanced at his watch. He, had an appointment with the City of San Diego to obtain building permits for Tremaine's Uptown in an hour and a half-which left him plenty of time to stop and see Kayla on the way. And if he was lucky, she'd be willing to help him do something about this excruciating condition of his.
Kayla picked up the office phone on the second ring.
"Good afternoon, Pure Indulgence," she recited automatically.
"I'd like to speak to Kayla Thomas, please," came a soft female voice she didn't recognize.
Disappointment dissolved the glimmer of hope Kayla had harbored that it was Jack on the other end of the line. She'd checked with the courier service a half hour ago to verify that her package had been signed and delivered to Jack, but she'd yet to hear from him. Either he hadn't eaten her candies, or her being out of his sight meant out of his mind. And was it really fair of her to send him the aphrodisiac chocolates with such great expectations? No, it really wasn't, she thought on a sigh.
If he'd eaten her candies, the man was probably walking around with a hard-on to end all hard-ons, wondering what in the hell was wrong with him that he couldn't control his libido.
The thought made a giggle tickle her throat, which she promptly swallowed in favor of greeting the woman on the phone in a professional manner. "This is Kayla. How can I help you?"
"This is Audrey Mann with the Seaside Gallery. We met at the Chamber of Commerce dinner last week."
"Oh, yes, I remember." The woman had raved about the desserts and had taken one of Kayla's business cards. "What can I do for you?"
"I'm hosting an art show for an up-and-coming artist next Friday evening, and I'm expecting at least a hundred guests," Audrey explained. "I wanted to do a dessert table, and I'd like your bakery to cater the job."
"We'd be happy to," Kayla replied enthusiastically, seeing this opportunity as yet another way to gain exposure for her shop. "Would you like to make an appointment to come in and discuss what you'd like, or would you prefer to do it over the phone?"
"Over the phone is fine."
"Great." Kayla pulled out an order form from her desk drawer and grabbed a pen, her mind firmly in business mode. "Tell me what you have in mind and we'll go from there."
Audrey asked for Kayla's opinion on what to serve and the best way to accommodate two hundred people, and Kayla gave the other woman numerous options in different price ranges, depending on Audrey's budget. It seemed the gallery owner wasn't concerned about money, because by the time they'd settled on a menu Audrey had picked the most expensive items and racked up quite a bill.
They'd agreed on a dozen of Kayla's most popular cakes, along with a large assortment of pet its fours and éclairs filled with a variety of different custards, and a variety of other finger pastries. The cut-up fruit and fondue sauces were added to the order, as well. Audrey had her own employee to serve her guests, which meant all Kayla had to do was supply and deliver the desserts.