Naturally Naughty - Leslie Kelly [65]
Neither had he. Not that he reminded her of that.
“What else do you like? Any other replicas of body parts?”
She shook her head. “Not really. My favorite thing we sell is probably the lingerie. My partner has real talent. Bare Essentials goes well beyond your average teddies, thongs and push-up bras.”
He managed not to come in his pants at the image of Kate in any or all of these seductive items. “Oh?”
Nodding, she pointed to a stack of folded cloth. She picked up something off the top and shook it out. It took him a moment to realize what it was. “Crotchless tights?”
“A big hit in Chicago in the winter. It’s too cold for thigh-highs, or even regular panty hose. And, for some reason, men seem to get off on women in tights.” She shrugged. “I think it’s the same reason men like blondes on trampolines.”
He understood. “Or cheerleaders. It reminds them of that whole teenage thing where boys are one six-foot-tall pile of testosterone and the girls know it.”
She laughed.
“So, do you wear them?”
She gave him a coy look out of the corner of her eye. “Maybe. Most women who do like the naughtiness of it. They like knowing that even if it’s twenty degrees outside, they can go for something outrageous in the back of a limo if the right man happens to be around.”
His smile tightened. “Speaking from experience?”
She didn’t try to lie. “No.” Raising her hands, palms up, she shrugged. “What can I say? I live a pretty boring life in Chicago, in spite of being the sex toy queen of Michigan Avenue.”
He was damn glad of that. He hated even thinking of Kate with another man. His own possessiveness surprised him. Jack had been involved in enough casual relationships to know women had as much sexual drive as men. Where they chose to fill that need had never been any of his business, once they’d left his bed.
Kate was a different story. He had a feeling he could get damn near violent thinking of her with anyone else.
Which completely floored him.
“There are some pieces of lingerie I’ve used.” She bent at the knee, almost kneeling at his feet. Looking down, seeing the top of her head about level with his groin, Jack had to fist his hands to try to gain control.
She hunted around in a box, then said, “Aha.” Standing, she showed him what she’d found. “My favorite.”
She held a pretty, lacy, pale blue bra. It had straps, un-derwire, a satiny strip of material to go beneath a woman’s breasts—but nothing to cover the rest. A front-less bra.
“You, uh, wear those things?”
“Sometimes. Especially when I’m wearing cotton or silk.”
They both glanced at her cotton T-shirt.
Though almost afraid to ask, he had to. “Why?”
“The different textures of fabric feel amazing against my nipples,” she admitted, something dark and erotic flashing in her eyes. “It’s empowering to give yourself a thrill throughout the day, without anyone ever being aware of it. Like the tights.”
He swallowed. Hard. Then he stepped closer, until their bodies nearly touched from neck to knee. Looking down at the sharp points of her breasts, he finally managed to ask, “Are you wearing one of those bras now?”
“Maybe.” She didn’t step back. Instead, she reached for his hand and pulled it toward her body. Dropping her voice to a purr, she said, “Why don’t you see if you can tell?”
Dangerous. Like reaching out to touch a blazing red burner on a stove…you know you’re going to get burned, but you just can’t shake yourself out of the spell.
Jack didn’t care.
He touched.
10
“YES, I THINK YOU MIGHT be wearing one now,” he murmured.
Kate didn’t reply, couldn’t even speak as he traced the tips of his fingers across her sensitive nipple. Then he moved his hand lower, to cup her breast. Stepping even closer, until their hips brushed, he brought his other hand up. When he passed his open palm against her other breast, making the fabric of her top scrape the other distended nipple, she shuddered.
“Jack…”
“Shh,” he whispered, his mouth so close to her hair she felt the warmth of his breath. “I’m not