whoâs being so generous?â
âIâll remain anonymous.â Therinâs bright gaze was still focused on Kianti.
âNot a problem.â The waitress cast one last lingering and blatantly flattering gaze at her mysterious customer.
Therin stood and dropped a few bills to the womanâs tray and then graced her with a sly wink before turning to make his way out of the club.
Â
Dammit, Key, get over it!
Kianti smacked the soapy loofah pad against her thigh while issuing herself the order. She was acting like some love-struck girl whose family was moving away and taking her from a boy sheâd known all of two seconds. Granted, sheâd known the sexy ex-ambassador for a little longer. Still, nothing had happened that meant anything meaningful or otherwise would come from it.
Otherwise. She let the word linger in her head and felt a heat that had nothing to do with the shower spray hitting her skin. She would have enjoyed experiencing otherwise with Therin Rucker.
She smacked herself again with the loofah pad. All that would have gotten her was a trip to the hospital. Ifher heart struggled to withstand exertion from a piano performance, how would it withstand a sexual encounter?
Smirking then, she told herself that it might withstand just fine. Therin Rucker came across as quite the gentleman. If that persona carried over into the bedroom, perhaps there wouldnât be much exertion required.
Kianti applied more gel to the pad and considered the idea. Something told her the dashing politician left his manners at the door when pleasure was at stake. She sensed a fire, something unrelenting at rest beneath that polished exterior. Yes, there was a side to the man that, if unleashed sexually, could require muchâ¦exertion on the part of its recipient.
She pressed a hand to her belly and moaned. Sheâd gone so long without indulging in that very enjoyable pastime. Only to herself would she admit that given another couple of days in Therin Ruckerâs presence, she wouldâve had him in her bed and exerting herself to the fullest.
The loofah smacked her thigh a third time. âGet over it,â she growled.
Somewhere a phone rang. Kianti leaned out of the shower to grab the wall mount next to the stall.
âMs. Lawrenceâ¦Casey OâDell down here at the gate. Youâve got a guest here. Mr. Therin Rucker.â
Her hand returned to her belly and then to her mouth where she tapped her fingers to her lips.
âMs. Lawrence?â
Kianti took stock of her appearance in the mirror across from the shower. âSend him up.â
Â
Therin inhaled the second he stepped from the elevator that deposited him in the middle of a room that whispered serenity and expansive comfort. Softly lit, the living roomâs mellow appeal was evident not only by the cream-on-gold furnishings but also by the long window overlooking the ocean from the homeâs rocky perch. He smiled then, further eased by the sound of her voice.
âMr. Ambassador.â
Therin turned and any ease he was experiencing was quickly replaced by need. Somewhereâsomehow he was able to latch on to restraint.
âIâm sorryâ¦â He bowed his head while uttering the apology. âI, um⦠Your guard didnât tell me youâ¦â
Kianti tossed back her head. âItâs okay. I told him to send you on up.â
âI promised to say goodbye.â He spouted the first thing that came to his mind.
She bit her lip on a smile. âWell, I hope youâre not about to do that. â
Therin rolled his eyes. To hell with it. Itâd serve her right for greeting him in a towel with that gorgeous mane of hair piled atop her head and bubbles still clinging to her cinnamon skin. With that in mind, he bounded over, snagged the front of the towel and drew her close.
Kianti was an eager and immediate participant in the thorough kiss. Her moans raised an instant after
Tom Clancy, Steve Pieczenik, Jeff Rovin