in recognition of her attraction to him.
Passion, even in its mildest form, had the ability to liquefy her bones. All he had to do was look at her, and she was lost.
His mouth curved into a musing smile as he crossed to her side.
‘Let me fix that for you.’
He was close, much too close. She felt her body quiver as his fingers brushed her skin, and she was conscious of every breath she took, the heightened sensuality as she caught the faint aroma of his cologne, the male heat that was uniquely his.
Tasha felt his hands shift to her shoulders, the brush of his mouth against the sensitive curve at the edge of her neck.
‘Beautiful.’
She caught the slight huskiness in his voice, and deliberately stepped away. ‘If you don’t shower and change we’re going to be late.’
There was a moment’s silence, then he shifted and turned her round to face him. ‘Bad day?’
The query was softly voiced, and she met his narrowed gaze with equanimity.
‘Something like that.’
‘Want to talk about it?’
Tasha shook her head. ‘We don’t have time.’
Jared caught hold of her chin between thumb and forefinger, and tilted it. ‘We can make time.’
No, they couldn’t. This was going to take a while if she was going to do it right. And there shouldn’t be any distractions or time restriction.
She knew if she said the word, he would delay their departure for as long as it took. And part of her wanted to, very much.
His presence at tonight’s event was expected. Reneging without good reason was unthinkable.
She managed a faint smile. ‘It can wait.’
He cast her a brooding look, unable to define much from her expression.
‘Really,’ she assured.
‘Later.’
It was capitulation, and she released a silent sigh of relief as he tossed his jacket down onto the bed, pulled off his tie, then began to discard the rest of his clothes.
Half an hour later she slid into the passenger seat of Jared’s late-model Jaguar and sat in silence as he traversed the ramp to street-level, then eased the powerful car towards the city.
She’d gained a reprieve. But only a temporary one. At evening’s end, Jared would have the facts and be aware of her options.
CHAPTER TWO
THE evening’s legal soirée followed the pattern of those preceding it…superb venue, tastefully decorative bite-size food offered on silver platters by an array of uniformed waitresses, while the drinks stewards hovered, presenting guests with champagne and orange juice.
It was all very elegant, Tasha observed. Dinner suits and black tie for the men were de rigueur, and the women excelled themselves in gowns of varying design, length and colour.
There were colleagues to greet and spend time engaging in pleasant conversation before moving on. Notable peers who were important to acknowledge.
She found it vaguely amusing to be partnered by one of the latter, aware of the difference between dignified patronage and obsequious awe as members of the legal fraternity sought Jared’s attention.
Something he handled with friendly professionalism, never faltering in recalling a name or the firm for whom they worked.
‘How do you do that?’ Tasha asked quietly.
A slight smile curved his mouth, tilting the edges and deepening the vertical line slashing each cheek. His eyes were dark and held a musing gleam. ‘Memory training.’
Something he’d honed to perfection during his law-school days. An asset that was equally lauded and feared by his contemporaries.
She selected a canapé from a proffered tray and bit into it, then took a sip from her glass…orange juice, when she would normally have chosen champagne.
Dinner was a splendid meal, the food superb, and their table companions provided interesting conversation.
There were the customary speeches, and Tasha listened attentively, aware throughout the evening she was merely acting an expected part.
If Jared noticed, he gave no sign, although there was more than one occasion when she became aware of his lingering gaze, and she caught the faintly brooding quality evident.
His presence at her side was a constant, and she was supremely conscious of him, the light touch of his hand at her waist, the warmth of his smile.
All she had to do was look at him to feel the blood pump faster through her veins, and sensation unfurl deep within. It became a fine kind of madness that was entirely sensual as heat consumed her body and liquefied her bones.
Those large hands could wreak magic to each and every pulse-beat, and his mouth… Dear heaven, even thinking about what his mouth could do wrought havoc with her senses.
Almost as if he knew, he reached for her hand and threaded his fingers through her own. His thumb-pad soothed the criss-cross of veins pulsing rapidly on the inside of her wrist, and she curled her fingers, letting the fingernails bite into his flesh a little.
Did he know what he did to her? Without doubt, she alluded wryly. She’d been his from the start, ensnared by the power, the sheer male magnetism that was his alone.
The question that needed to be asked…and answered, she ventured silently, was how she affected him? Sexually, what they shared together was good. Better than good. Earth-shattering. She’d have sworn on her life his loss of control wasn’t faked.
But was it love…or merely lust? Sadly, she couldn’t be sure.
‘Let’s get out of here,’ Jared drawled as he pulled her close. ‘The evening is just about done, and we’ve fulfilled our social obligation.’
His gaze narrowed fractionally as he caught the edge of weariness evident on her features, the faint shadows beneath her eyes. Dammit, she looked fragile. The onset of a virus? She’d admitted to a difficult day at the office, which was most unlike her. She excelled with challenge of any kind.
Tasha made no protest, although the thought of exchanging a social comfort zone for what would inevitably prove an explosive situation accelerated her nervous tension.
It took a while to escape, for there were certain courtesies to observe, and Tasha sat quietly in the car as Jared sent it purring through the city streets.
They entered the apartment close to midnight…the witching hour, Tasha acknowledged, and wondered at the irony of it.
‘Coffee?’
‘No, thanks.’
Jared
