She'd already decided that Jack was exactly what she was looking for in order to evaluate the effects of her aphrodisiac candies. And witnessing that glimmer of interest in his eyes gave her the boost of fortitude she needed to follow through on her plan to seduce him, in any way she could.
Even if that meant feeding Jack her enhanced confections in order to spur his lust for her.
Undoubtedly, this was the man she wanted to satisfy her sensual yearnings, to give her body the kind of pleasure it craved and to leave her with a whole lot of sexy memories to recall once they went their separate ways. She wanted Jack Tremaine, and she had no illusions that a physical relationship between them would be anything more than a very satisfying fling.
With that plan in mind, she refocused her attention on transferring a piece of the Chocolate Mint Truffle Cake to a plate for Jack. "Here you go." She placed a fork on the dish and pushed it toward him. "Let me know what you think."
He took a big bite, and she worried on her lower lip as he seemed to savor the taste, the texture, but gave her no outward clue if he liked the dessert, or hated it, other than an undefined, "hm," that could have meant either.
She shifted on her sandaled feet, her own anticipation making her restless. She observed his pensive expression and the way his dark brows furrowed in intense concentration, and took note of his calm, controlled body language.
He was completely absorbed in this moment of judgment, which was exactly what she would have expected from a professional like Jack. After all, he had his restaurant's reputation at stake with the desserts he approved.
There was nothing sexual about his response to sampling the cake. This gave her a starting point from which to judge any change in his composure once she coaxed him to eat one of her aphrodisiac candies. It was going to be interesting to see if, and how, her new creations might alter that serious demeanor of his.
He'd eaten half of the cake before finally breaking the silence between them. "Got milk?" he asked, then grinned at her.
His playful reply was so outrageous and unexpected that she burst out laughing. "Yes, I have milk." She went to the refrigerator, poured him a tall glass, and returned.
He drank half the milk in one long gulp, set the glass on the table, then met her expectant gaze. "I think this dessert is a winner."
She clasped her hands in front of her, giddy with excitement and relief. "So you liked it?"
"I thought it was outstanding." His tongue darted out and cleaned off a smudge of chocolate on his bottom lip. "It was smooth and delicious, and I really like the pleasant mint taste it left in my mouth. All in all, very nice."
"I'm thrilled. Does that mean you're ready to approve this one?" He nodded, and she reached for a file folder, opened it, and withdrew an approval form for the dessert, per their agreement. "Then if you'll just sign right here, the recipe is exclusively yours."
Taking the pen she handed to him, he scrawled his signature on the form, and she gave him the carbon copy. He folded the piece of paper and tucked it into his back pocket. "Looks like you're free to move on to the next recipe."
True, but she wasn't ready for him to leave her shop just yet. "Since you're here, could I get your honest opinion on something?"
He shrugged those broad shoulders of his, seemingly not in any rush to leave, either. "Sure."
After retrieving the container she'd put on a nearby shelf, she opened the lid to reveal the enhanced candies. Kayla couldn't believe she was actually going to go through with this, but how could she not? Jack Tremaine was the model candidate for her experiment, in so many ways. He was sexy, she wanted him, and she was determined to seduce him.
With a little help from her aphrodisiac sweets, of course.
"I'm creating a new line of candies at Pure Indulgence, and I'd like to know what you think of the taste. Here's the first one I've made." She held the container out to him, and he took one of the chocolates.
He examined it for a moment, then popped the entire piece into his mouth. He chewed thoughtfully, taking his time to enjoy the flavor, just as he had the Chocolate Mint Truffle Cake.
She watched him over the course of the next minute or so, waiting for any kind of specific physical reaction. She had no idea how long it might take for the stimulant to take effect on Jack. She'd read on the Web site that everyone's reaction was different, depending on frame of mind, mood, and how one's body chemistry mixed with the additive. Some people had an instantaneous reaction once the product was consumed. With others it took longer to achieve any sign of arousal.
"Mmmm," Jack murmured after a moment, the rumbling sound strumming along her nerve endings as effectively as a caress. "Espresso and caramel. I like it. What is the candy called?"
"Heavenly Kisses."
A slow, purely male smile curved his lips as he considered that, setting off a conflagration of heat in the pit of her belly. "The taste the name" His gorgeous blue eyes darkened with desire as he stared at her mouth. "It conjures up all kinds of possibilities, don't you think?"
"Heavenly Kisses."
A slow, purely male smile curved his lips as he considered that, setting off a conflagration of heat in the pit of her belly. "The taste the name" His gorgeous blue eyes darkened with desire as he stared at her mouth. "It conjures up all kinds of possibilities, don't you think?"
Oh, yeah, the possibilities were endless. "Try another," she urged breathlessly, amazed by his gradual transformation from businesslike to much more personal, and aroused by the sexual magnetism that radiated off him.
By all appearances, Jack's system reacted fairly quickly to the aphrodisiac.
He picked up another piece, bit off half of it, and chewed. But instead of finishing it off, he lifted the candy to her mouth, tempting her. "Your turn," he said, and gently slipped the chocolate past her parted lips.
Her tongue touched his finger as she accepted his offering, and he groaned deep in his throat. Her heartbeat quickened beneath her breast He didn't pull his hand back, but instead traced her bottom lip with his warm fingers, then smoothed his thumb beneath her chin. When he tipped up her face, she found herself mesmerized by the erotic heat flaring in his eyes, the lust that was solely for her.
With his free hand, he took the container from her and set it on the table and out of their way. "How about we see if that candy of yours lives up to its name?" he murmured wickedly, then lowered his head and brushed his lips over hers, slow and seductive, imploring her to let him in.
Coaxing her wasn't necessary, not when she ached for his kiss more than her next breath. She wanted this, wanted him, and she wasn't about to refuse the inviting opportunity that had presented itself-even if his lust was induced by an aphrodisiac. For her, the candies had nothing to do with her desire for him. It was stunningly real.
Slanting her mouth beneath his for a better fit, she sighed and welcomed the lazy stroke of his tongue against hers that made her breasts swell and her nipples tighten into hard little points. He tasted so good like espresso and sweet caramel and hot, aroused man. She couldn't get enough of him.
He stepped closer, bringing with him the delicious heat of his body. She felt him tug the clip from her hair, felt the heavy mass fall to her shoulders and caress her shoulders in a wild disarray. He sank his fingers wrist-deep, twined the thick strands around his fist and held her steady for a long, lush kiss that threatened to consume her senses.
A tingling, insatiable hunger unfurled within her, one she recognized all too well. Unable to stop herself from fully indulging in the reality of Jack kissing her so passionately, she placed her hands on his solid chest. He groaned just as those defined muscles of his flexed beneath her palms.
Emboldened by his reaction, she slid her arms around his neck and arched into him until their hips met and the tips of her breasts pressed against his chest. In return, he skimmed his splayed hands down her back, molding her body impossibly closer to his.
He caressed his palms over her bottom, squeezing and kneading her there before grasping her waist. With a strength that astonished her, he lifted her up so she was sitting on the table-all without breaking their deep, devouring kiss.
His hands slid down her thighs to her knees, urging them apart so he could step in between and press up against her with shocking intimacy. There was no mistaking the thick, unyielding erection beneath the fly of his pants.
He was hard, for her. So gloriously, magnificently hard that her breath caught in her chest.
Shamelessly, she wrapped her legs around the back of his thighs to increase the exquisite pressure right at the crux of her sex, and she felt him shudder in response.
Never letting go of her mouth, he worked her shirt up to her waist and slipped his hands beneath the hem. She immediately stiffened, her first instinct to suck in her stomach, but then he feathered his fingers up over her ribs in such a soul-stirring way that she forgot everything but the sexy way he made her feel. His touch was feverish on her cool skin, and when his thumbs grazed the underside of her heavy, aching breasts she thought she'd unravel right then and there.
He teased and tormented her with the brush of his fingers, heightening her desire, but not quite quenching it. She made a mewling sound she didn't recognize as her own. Like a lover completely in sync with his partner's demands, Jack understood her unspoken need. He cupped her breasts in his large palms, found her throbbing nipples through the sheer lace of her bra with his fingers, and scraped his thumbs across the pebbled tips in the most excruciatingly arousing way.
She felt herself growing wet, felt that frenzied, desperate need building right where he was moving against her in a slow, rhythmic parody of sex. The urgency within her crested, and just when she thought she'd topple over the edge of what she knew would be a stunning climax, he pulled his mouth from hers, buried his face against her neck, and stopped the provocative thrust of his hips against her.