Intimate Seduction - Brenda Jackson [29]
“What if I promise to make any training session worth your while? And it doesn’t have to be learning how to play pool. Is there anything you want to learn how to do for the first time or learn how to do better?” he asked, his voice deep, strong and quietly seductive.
While deep longing and need seemed to wrap her in their strong embrace, Natalie studied his eyes with the same intensity that he was studying hers. She could not deny that something was building inside of her, an urgency she wasn’t familiar with or used to.
Her eyes shifted from his eyes to his lips—full, sexy and kissable. It was then she remembered something that Karl had once told her; she couldn’t kiss worth a damn. It had only been his opinion but it had still hurt, and she hadn’t felt inclined to kiss another man for fear of him rendering that same verdict. Karl’s remarks about her kisses had been rather kind compared to the score he’d given her lovemaking skills.
“Tell me,” he repeated, his tone remarkably patient, “is there something you wish to learn how to do or learn to do better?”
Natalie swallowed. She had to regain control of her senses or else she would be spilling her guts to him, telling him about every deficiency Karl claimed she had and asking him to prove her ex-lover wrong. Further complicating matters, she would probably go as far as asking him to disprove some men’s belief that a woman who possessed a high IQ was nothing more than an intellectual geek who didn’t have a sensuous bone in her body.
For one instant she was tempted, but then she realized her limitations with this man. He wanted an affair, which was something she could very well do without. That pushed her to say, “No, there’s nothing new I want to learn and nothing I want to improve at, although that doesn’t mean I’m perfect in everything.”
He continued to look at her as if he was trying to read her mind. “If you’re sure…”
“I am.”
“All right, but if you ever change your mind, let me know.”
She opened her mouth to tell him that wouldn’t be happening when Xavier and Farrah returned to the table. She could tell by the smile on her friend’s face that she was enjoying Xavier’s company.
“Who won?” she asked.
Farrah made a face. “He did, of course. But I think I surprised him.”
Xavier laughed. “You most certainly did.”
At that moment music from the live band began playing, and before Farrah could settle into her seat, Xavier had captured her hand and was pulling her back to her feet. “Come on, let’s dance.”
“All right,” Farrah said smiling and off they went.
“Let’s not allow them to outdo us this time,” Donovan said, pushing his chair back and standing up.
Natalie stretched her neck to look up at him. The band was performing a slow number, and she wasn’t sure it would be a good idea for them to dance together. The thought of their bodies connecting, rubbing against each other, while the smooth, often sensuous melody of slow music surrounded them was too much to consider.
She opened her mouth to decline when he held out his hand to her. “Don’t be afraid of me, Natalie.”
His tone was quiet, not challenging nor mocking. There was no way she could explain to him that at the moment her emotions were too strong for a slow dance. “I’m not afraid of you, Mr.—”
“No, not tonight. I am not Mr. Steele tonight, or are you afraid to call me Donovan?”
“I’m not afraid of anything,” she said drawing in a controlling breath.
“Then prove it.”
A part of her felt she didn’t have to prove anything to him, but another part knew she had to prove something to herself. It had taken her months to get over Karl’s mental abuse, to build up her self-esteem. She would be the first to admit that other than her coworkers at the university, her students, her professional affiliations and the few neighbors she’d gotten to know, she basically lived a solitary