Chapter Seventeen #3
That he’d planted a sexual trigger inside her head would always be between them. She wasn’t stupid. The man was just going to embed it deeper in her consciousness, especially if she was willing. And she was pitifully aware she was very willing indeed at the moment.
His hand stilled, but he continued to cup her breast possessively. “That’s why we’re going to do a bit of sightseeing today,” he mocked. “Just so you know it’s not all about sex.”
“Oh yeah? And what do you propose we do this early? Hiking is so unromantic, Jed.”
“We can take a boat out on the lake. Check out the dam. Talk.”
She considered for a few moments. A date with Jed McNeil. She had wanted to get to know the man better, hadn’t she? No file in any agency could give her a better insight than the real thing. She grinned and pulled his hand from under her sweater.
“Okay,” she agreed. “Bet you can’t keep up with me.”
She was sure he’d been there before, but he let her set the pace, following her down the steep path toward the dam. The canyon was just breathtaking to look at and she stopped to take a picture. There was a mountain hut near the gorge and they ate a simple breakfast there before hiring a row boat.
The sun, the lake, the quiet bobbing of the boat set the mood. She felt absolutely comfortable with him, just talking, exchanging jokes. This was a side of him she doubted many people saw, and she wondered privately why he was allowing her in.
They crossed the lake and explored the seventeenth century church built on the plateau.
At one point, he held her hand as they examined the faded frescos, his fingers lightly playing with the fleshy mound under her thumb, while he pointed out little details of the painted scene.
He compared them with other similar frescos he’d seen in other cathedrals.
Again, he surprised her with his knowledge about art.
That he was well traveled didn’t come as a surprise, but she hadn’t thought he would be the artsy-fartsy type.
She found herself enjoying this man very much.
They drove to Lake Ohrid in the afternoon. Feeling the effects of jetlag, Helen nodded off. When she opened her eyes, they were outside a hotel.
“We’re Mr. and Mrs. Jones, if you need to sign anything to the room,” Jed said.
He was giving her that look again and her heart was waking up before she did. “Can’t you be a bit more imaginative?” she complained. “Mr. and Mrs. Jones?”
He looked more relaxed than she’d ever seen as he pulled out a small travel bag from the trunk.
His hair was tousled. He had tied a scarf loosely around his neck.
She suddenly wanted to kiss him again. Except for holding hands, he hadn’t touched her all day, making a point, and building a slow fire inside her with his long looks and smiles.
“American tourists, Elena, unless you prefer Frau and Herr Schnitzel.”
Helen laughed, following him inside. It didn’t take long before they were alone in a beautiful and tastefully decorated little room. She was glad it wasn’t impersonal, like most luxury hotel rooms. Jed had certainly planned this to the last detail, making everything memorable.
“Hungry?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Later.”
She backed away teasingly, wagging a finger at him. He followed leisurely.
“Room service, then,” he said, pulling off his sweater. “You know, we’ve never done that before.”
“What?”
“Eat after making love.”
She caught her breath. Coughed. He just didn’t do subtle, did he?
“Are you nervous?” he asked, amused. He came closer, his hands on his belt. “I promise I won’t use it.”
There, he’d brought it up, the thing that hung between them. She watched him pull the belt, and her mouth went dry when he reached for the top button of his jeans.
“But as long as you have the power, I won’t always be totally comfortable,” she pointed out. “Or totally trust you.”
He nodded. “I know.”
“But you aren’t going to remove it, are you?”
“No. I can only promise I won’t use it tonight.”
“Why?” How could she be sure he wasn’t just playing a game, using her attraction for him, just to deepen the trigger?
“Because I want to prove what you’re feeling for me isn’t my doing. It’s more than that. I want you for yourself too.”
He wasn’t an easy man to deal with one-on-one.
Up close and personal, in an intimate setting, she felt the full sensual force of his masculine determination.
The sexual charge of a man desiring a woman, taking his clothes off slowly, teasingly, using everything in his power to seduce—everything he’d cloaked from her in public had dropped away.
The sound of his zipper brought her attention lower.
He was so sure of getting his way with everything.
“You...you like to negotiate.” Helen licked her dry lips. “What I want is total control of you this time. You manipulate me enough in VR and RV, Jed. Let me take back some of that power in real life. What do you say?”
For a heartbeat she thought he was going to refuse. Then his hand dropped to his sides. His silver eyes were brilliant gems in his tanned face. He nodded.
“You don’t have to use NOPAIN, Elena. I’m all yours.”
Helen smiled slowly. She was so going to enjoy making him pay for all those past torments.