Jared's Counterfeit Fiancee - Brenda Jackson [43]
A smile creased the corners of her eyes. “Can you imagine standing out there under those stars?”
It was on the tip of his tongue to say he would rather be lying down under those stars and making love to her. He picked up his own glass and slowly walked over to her. When he came to a stop in front of her, a thick silence hung over them as he held her gaze, watched her uneven breathing and smelled her scent.
Aroused.
He was an experienced man. A man who knew women. And he would recognize that scent anywhere, especially with Dana. It was the same scent he’d drowned in that night they played Red Light, Green Light. The same one that had almost driven him over the edge while watching her first orgasm. If there was any way he could bottle that scent he would. Tonight it mingled with the fragrance of the seductive perfume she was wearing and the combination was a very passion-stirring force.
“Let’s make a toast.”
Her words broke the silence and his deep concentration. “And what would you like us to toast, Dana?” he asked huskily. Intense desire was mounting within him. It wouldn’t take much for him to drop to his knees, lift her dress and go straight to the source of that scent. Both his fingers and his tongue itched to—
“I propose that we toast life.”
He met her gaze as his mind was jerked back to attention. “Life?”
“Yes. It can be taken from you in a second, a minute, at any place, anytime. That’s why you should live life to the fullest. Enjoy it. Appreciate it. Because when it’s gone, it’s over. And there’s nothing you can do about it.”
Jared considered her words. Life. He couldn’t help but think of how different his had been since she had walked into it. Stormed into it was a better word. In a span of less than eight weeks, he had met her, introduced her to his family and given them the definite impression they were engaged, had purchased a very costly ring for her—one he intended for her to keep—and had spent the last couple of weeks pretending to be a man very much in love. To say that Dana Rollins hadn’t affected his life would be an understatement.
“Okay, we’ll toast to life,” he said, lifting his glass to connect with hers. They took a sip of their champagne.
“Umm, want to have some fun?” she asked, holding his gaze over the rim of her glass.
Jared lifted a brow. “What kind of fun?”
A smile turned up her lips. “I’d like to play a game,” she said softly.
“A game?”
“Yes. A game of hide-and-seek. I hide, you find me.”
Jared smiled. He liked the thought of doing that. “And what happens when I find you?”
She returned his smile. “That depends.”
“On what?”
“Where I’m found.”
Jared downplayed the possibilities as he glanced around the room. “There aren’t many places you can hide.”
She grinned. “Oh, between my room and yours I’m sure there’s a few.”
Jared was tempted to tell her that hiding from him wouldn’t do any good since her scent would give her away. When it came to her, his nose was like radar.
“All right. So what do you want me to do?” he asked, more than willing to play this game she’d suggested.
“Leave the room for about ten minutes. When you come back, the suite will be totally dark, and remember I’ll be either hiding in my suite or yours.”
Jared nodded. This was the second game they had played together, and for someone who usually lived a structured life, he was enjoying letting go and being adventurous with Dana.
He began walking toward the door. “Ten minutes. That’s all I’m giving you. Then I’ll be back, whether you’re ready or not.”
Dana watched as he gave her one last stomach-churning smile before opening the door, walking out of it and closing it behind him. She slowly crossed the room and dropped down on the floral-printed sofa and kicked off her sandals. She inhaled deeply and smiled seductively.
She would definitely be ready when he returned.
Jared returned ten minutes later. Ten minutes on the nose and not one second more.
He opened his door and stepped into the darkened room. He couldn’t help but be amused as he switched on a light. Dana must