soon as I give in to either of them, the game’s over. They’ll lose interest.”
“Yes and no. As soon as you abandon yourself body and soul, they’ll lose interest. But there are all sorts of things you can do that are sexual yet fall short of complete surrender.”
“Should I have gone farther with Josiah?”
“No. He would have been suspicious if you’d given in without a fight. But he’s experienced enough to know you wanted more than a kiss.”
“How should I behave tomorrow night?”
He stared across the room, almost as if he could see through the wall and into the house across the street. “ Let me give it some thought. We’ll strategize before Chase picks you up tomorrow night.”
Chapter Three
Katie slipped a bobby pin into the side of her upswept hair and stepped back from the full-length mirror. A simple black dress skimmed her figure rather than advertising every curve and hollow. The scooped neckline only revealed a hint of cleavage while most of her back was bared by the dramatic V. She’d always liked this dress. It was flattering without making her self-conscious.
“Lovely.”
She spun around with a gasp and pressed her hand over her heart as she teetered on her high-heeled sandals. Loki sat on the side of her bed, looking utterly indolent. “You can’t just pop in like that. You’ll give me a heart attack.”
“We can’t have that.” He chuckled. “I’ll call your name next time.”
Turning back to the mirror, she picked up her lip gloss and applied a light coat. “Chase will be here any minute. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to verify the strategy for tonight.”
“I’m going to be as charming as I can to everyone but Chase.”
That drew a confused look from Loki. “He’s insensitive, not masochistic.”
“You didn’t let me finish.” She tossed the lip gloss back into her beaded clutch and faced him again. “Chase wants a complicated woman, one with lots of layers. I’ll be the perfect lady while we’re at the party, attentive and polite. Then as soon as we’re alone, I’ll become sexually aggressive.”
Loki’s soft chuckle made Katie cringe. “Have you ever been sexually aggressive in your life?”
She gave him her best you’re-an-asshole glare and reminded, “This is a role, a character. I can sell it. Trust me.”
“Show me.” Loki stood up and motioned her toward him. “Get in character and kiss me.”
It was a challenge, a test. He obviously agreed with Josiah and Chase. They thought she was sexless and dowdy, content in her solitary life. Determination calmed her nerves and channeled her nervous energy. She set her small purse on the dresser and smoothed her skirt down over her hips. Then she walked toward him, gaze locked with his.
He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just watched her with calm assessment. Rather than trying to be clever, she let her body do the talking. She ran her hands up his chest, locking her fingers behind his neck. Then she kissed the corners of his mouth, the touch light and coaxing. When he didn’t immediately open his mouth, she traced the seam between his lips with the tip of her tongue, easing farther inward with each pass. He finally angled his head and accepted her tongue, but there was no rush of heat or breathless excitement. She stroked her tongue over his and pressed her breasts against his chest. Still, the kiss was pleasant, nothing more.
A chuckle rumbled deep in Loki’s chest. “This is aggressive?” In one smooth motion he turned her and pressed her against the wall with the weight of his body. His mouth came alive, awakening her senses in turn. He grasped the back of her neck and tilted her head as he took the kiss deeper.
He separated their mouths as suddenly as he’d taken command of the kiss. “ You’re not naturally aggressive. Don’t try to convince him you are.” His mouth hovered over hers, his warm breath teasing her lips. “He wants to wear down your
“Yes and no. As soon as you abandon yourself body and soul, they’ll lose interest. But there are all sorts of things you can do that are sexual yet fall short of complete surrender.”
“Should I have gone farther with Josiah?”
“No. He would have been suspicious if you’d given in without a fight. But he’s experienced enough to know you wanted more than a kiss.”
“How should I behave tomorrow night?”
He stared across the room, almost as if he could see through the wall and into the house across the street. “ Let me give it some thought. We’ll strategize before Chase picks you up tomorrow night.”
Chapter Three
Katie slipped a bobby pin into the side of her upswept hair and stepped back from the full-length mirror. A simple black dress skimmed her figure rather than advertising every curve and hollow. The scooped neckline only revealed a hint of cleavage while most of her back was bared by the dramatic V. She’d always liked this dress. It was flattering without making her self-conscious.
“Lovely.”
She spun around with a gasp and pressed her hand over her heart as she teetered on her high-heeled sandals. Loki sat on the side of her bed, looking utterly indolent. “You can’t just pop in like that. You’ll give me a heart attack.”
“We can’t have that.” He chuckled. “I’ll call your name next time.”
Turning back to the mirror, she picked up her lip gloss and applied a light coat. “Chase will be here any minute. What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong. I just wanted to verify the strategy for tonight.”
“I’m going to be as charming as I can to everyone but Chase.”
That drew a confused look from Loki. “He’s insensitive, not masochistic.”
“You didn’t let me finish.” She tossed the lip gloss back into her beaded clutch and faced him again. “Chase wants a complicated woman, one with lots of layers. I’ll be the perfect lady while we’re at the party, attentive and polite. Then as soon as we’re alone, I’ll become sexually aggressive.”
Loki’s soft chuckle made Katie cringe. “Have you ever been sexually aggressive in your life?”
She gave him her best you’re-an-asshole glare and reminded, “This is a role, a character. I can sell it. Trust me.”
“Show me.” Loki stood up and motioned her toward him. “Get in character and kiss me.”
It was a challenge, a test. He obviously agreed with Josiah and Chase. They thought she was sexless and dowdy, content in her solitary life. Determination calmed her nerves and channeled her nervous energy. She set her small purse on the dresser and smoothed her skirt down over her hips. Then she walked toward him, gaze locked with his.
He didn’t move, didn’t speak, just watched her with calm assessment. Rather than trying to be clever, she let her body do the talking. She ran her hands up his chest, locking her fingers behind his neck. Then she kissed the corners of his mouth, the touch light and coaxing. When he didn’t immediately open his mouth, she traced the seam between his lips with the tip of her tongue, easing farther inward with each pass. He finally angled his head and accepted her tongue, but there was no rush of heat or breathless excitement. She stroked her tongue over his and pressed her breasts against his chest. Still, the kiss was pleasant, nothing more.
A chuckle rumbled deep in Loki’s chest. “This is aggressive?” In one smooth motion he turned her and pressed her against the wall with the weight of his body. His mouth came alive, awakening her senses in turn. He grasped the back of her neck and tilted her head as he took the kiss deeper.
He separated their mouths as suddenly as he’d taken command of the kiss. “ You’re not naturally aggressive. Don’t try to convince him you are.” His mouth hovered over hers, his warm breath teasing her lips. “He wants to wear down your
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