When he pulled away, she felt wobbly, and she was sure her lipstick had been erased by his lips. “Wow,” she said. “Does losing at bocce ball bring out the beast in you?”

“Maybe it does. Maybe bowling does too. Maybe arcade games as well.”

“In that case, I’m hiring a bocce ball tutor and a bowling expert so I can beat you every time,” she said, with a wink and a sashay of the hips.

“You can beat me at any game any time, as long as I can kiss you like this.”

“Does that mean you threw the game to get a little piece of me?”

“Never. But I’ll take it,” he said in a low, growly tone, then ran his hand along the back of her thigh, his fingertips darting near the hemline. She wore a simple, sleeveless black dress that fell to just above her knees. The material was soft cotton, and the skirt was flared, so the material allowed for easy access. Yes, Michelle was a planner, and this dress suggested possibilities. She wanted all those possibilities planted in his head.

“Purple?” he whispered in a question.

She shook her head. Every fifteen minutes or so he’d tried to guess the color of her lingerie. He’d been wrong. She loved that he kept guessing. She also loved that he couldn’t seem to take his eyes off her, especially her legs. She’d worn her strappy black Louboutins. Four inches high, they made her legs look strong and toned. God bless heels and the natural enhancement they brought to a runner’s calves. Even a temporary runner, such as herself.

“Rest assured I won’t stop until I find out what color you have on,” he said.

“I have no doubt.”

“By the way, have I told you how sexy you look in this black dress?” He ran his hand along the small of her back. She arched into him, like a cat being pet. She might start purring any second. She wasn’t used to someone wanting to have his hands on her the whole time. Jack seemed incapable of keeping his hands off her. She didn’t mind that.

Not. One. Bit.

“No. Why don’t you tell me?”

He raked his eyes over her, from her face, to her neck, to her breasts, to her waist. “It’s perfect for you. For that whole sexy-librarian look you have going on.”

She laughed deeply, his comment catching her off guard. “Shouldn’t I have on glasses to complete that look?”

He raised an eyebrow, his lips curving up in a naughty grin. “Do you have some? And can you pin up your hair too?”

She had a hunch he’d like to see her dressed up in something terribly naughty. Engaged in role-play. Yeah, she could picture Jack getting into those kind of sexy games—the boss and the secretary, the teacher and the student, the delivery service.

“Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer the French maid costume I have back at my apartment?” she posited.