She walked to the door, opened it, and immediately wondered where the air went. Jake looked as he had the evening of the benefit—tall, confident, and sexy as hell. A bona fide fashionado, Dominique quickly took in the tailored black suit, stark white shirt open at the collar, and the effectively understated platinum jewelry. There was also a large spray of fragrant roses in his left hand, but their scent was not nearly as intoxicating as Jake’s darkening eyes, square jaw, and plush lips. He licked them, and Dominique felt moisture that was not created by the Santa Ana heat. A need arose—sudden and powerful. A need to be touched, held, kissed... loved.

Realizing that not one word had passed between them, Dominique leaned against the door. “Hey, Jake.”

Jake’s eyes narrowed as he gazed at the alluring woman before him. He doubted she realized the picture she painted, wide hips and part of a luscious breast resting against the door, accenting curves so sharp she should have been required to wear a caution sign. Eyes darkened with desire, mirroring his own. Lips painted with a color evoking berries that he wanted to lick off. She was wearing another one of those form-fitting dresses, the kind that had him needing more room in the groin area of his slacks. A lot of oversized women wore black, but not this chick. This dress was tan with a subtle abstract design that caressed her thighs before flaring out just above the knee. Her muscled calves were shapely and the tall, strappy sandals minimized the reality of her size 10 feet.

“Hey, Nick.”

Dominique fixed him with a look.

“Ms. Clark.” Jake presented the flowers.

“Thanks, Jake. They’re lovely. Would you like to come in while I put them in a vase?”

Without waiting for his answer, Dominique turned and walked into her living room. Later Jake would swear his blood pressure rose a notch as he watched her luscious backside sway from side to side encased in that soft, flimsy material that he felt he could tear off with one good pull—and wanted to.

Dominique walked over to where a collection of vases sat on a shelf, trying to rein in the fire that burned down below. Her legs were shaky, and it took a Herculean effort for her to casually reach for one of the larger vases to fill with water.

Jake’s control wasn’t as strong. Her butt cheeks winked at him with each step she took. They were like twin magnets, pulling him forward. When she turned around, he was right behind her. “You look good, Dominique.”

Their bodies were separated by inches; his shaft grew by inches.

“Uh, you look good too, Jake.” Dominique attempted to walk around him.

But no go. Jake reached out and grabbed her arm. “I want to kiss you.”