Degrees of Passion (17 page)

‘Crepes with shrimp,’ Kevin answered, without hesitation.

‘Well done you.’ Zoe nodded in approval.

‘Did you get me steak and lobster?’ Ryan queried as he returned to the table.

‘Something like that,’ Zoe told him, chuckling. Then, to the waiter, she said, ‘Add the lobster rolls, too.’

‘We’re sharing, so bring empty plates for the table. Throw in a couple bottles of merlot and afterwards we’ll all try that
glögg
.’ Kat grinned at the waiter. ‘That should be everything until dessert.’

‘Oh, no
glögg
for me,’ Zoe said, waving her hand. ‘It’s too early.’

‘Might I warn you,’ the waiter said, ‘the
glögg
is a very strong drink.’

‘We’re warned,’ Kat agreed.

‘Very good.’ The waiter collected the menus and left.

‘This is very generous of you,’ Kevin said to Kat.

‘Generous nothing.’ Kat waved her hand in dismissal. ‘You all are helping me out. My in-laws will see this on their statement along with my donation and will be so happy they might actually leave me alone for a week. They always say, when you marry the man, you marry his parents.’

‘I like my in-laws,’ Zoe said.

‘Me, too.’ Jackson kissed his wife.

Sasha tried not to look at Kevin.

‘Did Mom tell you she got an email from Ella?’ Zoe asked. ‘She’d been on a shore assignment in Alexandria, Egypt, and got to see a bunch of the ruins there. She sent pictures.’

‘I thought you said she was in the Atlantic,’ Kevin said.

‘We thought so, too,’ Kat said. ‘Ella’s not exactly great about keeping everyone informed on her location. We often don’t find out until after the fact. Mom’s keeping a map for her. She’s been all over the world these last few years – Hawaii, Australia, Egypt, the Mediterranean, Spain, Russia. She mentioned possibly seeing Brazil and China, as well. I think she’ll keep travelling once she’s finished.’

‘I’m jealous,’ Sasha admitted, wishing she was daring like her youngest sister. Instead, she hid in schoolwork. ‘I’d love to travel the world.’

‘Yeah, but not on a ship like she has. I’ll bet she’s seen more ocean than land.’ Kat picked up her water glass and took a drink. ‘I don’t know what gene pool Megan and Ella swam out from, but that whole life-in-danger lifestyle they have terrifies me.’

‘Grandpa was a pilot in the war. It could be from him,’ Sasha mused.

‘If I could travel anywhere, any time, I’d travel back in history,’ Zoe said with a soft sigh.

‘Me, too. I’d love to—’ Kevin began to agree with Zoe.

Sasha put her hand on his arm. ‘Um, she means romance-novel history, the cleaned-up kind with conditions.’

‘Conditions?’ Kevin inquired.

‘I’d have to be rich, noble, unable to be killed, allowed baths and Jackson would have to be there in tights.’ Zoe grinned.

Jackson grimaced. ‘We aren’t doing the medieval thing. Though I think I have a Civil War uniform somewhere. That’s about as good as you’re going to get.’

‘You actually own a uniform?’ Kat laughed.

Jackson lowered his voice, deepening his Southern accent. ‘The South will rise again!’

Zoe giggled. ‘We’ll see.’

Sasha again became jealous of what Zoe had. She wanted that kind of intimacy. She’d had it somewhat with Trevor, but everything had always been so secret in their relationship. What would Kevin be like in a relationship? She doubted he’d be the kind of guy to hide his girlfriend from the world. But surely there’d be other problems – like how he’d grow bored and disinterested intellectually. Or maybe he was so smart that he’d forget things like Kat’s husband did. Kat didn’t seem to mind Vincent’s absentmindedness, but Sasha didn’t think she could live with such a quirk – even if the man loved her more than life itself. And why was she thinking about them in terms of a relationship. Kevin hadn’t indicated he’d like more than sex from her.

Just flow with it, Sasha told herself. Don’t make plans. Just ride it out until he gets bored and then leave him before he can leave you. Affairs are not relationships.

The waiter came back with the wine and began to pour after receiving Kat’s approval. Sasha felt Kevin’s muscle flex beneath her fingers and realized her hand was still firmly planted on his arm. Warmth spread through her hand and she slowly glided it down his arm before letting go. Beneath the table, his thigh bumped hers and she wondered if it was on purpose. One thing she knew for sure was that the desire between them was hot and alive. He might not be in love with her, but he did lust for her. Last night proved that much.

Sasha’s hand fell beneath the table. His leg bumped hers a second time as he shifted in his seat, hitting the backs of her fingers. When he pulled away ever so slightly, her hand went with him. Kevin glanced at her in surprise, before reaching under the table and slipping his hand over hers, engulfing it with his heat. He didn’t try to move her hand to his cock, didn’t force her to rub the length of his thigh, but merely held her hand with his.

‘Did your sister tell you she’s been invited back on the TV show
Battle Chefs
to compete as a regular?’ Jackson kissed his wife’s temple with pride. ‘They still talk about the other chef’s tantrum.’

‘That’s great!’ Sasha said, happy for her sister, but more focused on where Kevin touched her hand. She barely heard any of the other responses. By the time the food came, she could barely breathe. Every part of her wanted to pull Kevin’s mouth to hers and not just to initiate a base sexual drive, but for the intimate contact and taste of him.

His eyes had a softness in their depths and she pulled her hand reluctantly away so she could eat. By the time they finished their meal, Sasha could only remember about a fourth of what those at the table talked about. What she could recall was the number of times Kevin’s eyes met hers – 27. The times he laughed, a deep, rich sound that made her shiver – 33. The times his legs brushed against hers – 46. The times she felt so desperate to kiss him she forgot to chew – OK, she’d lost count on that one. Her mind clung to each moment, analyzing what it could mean, wondering if her attraction was too obvious.

Kat ordered boiled pears with ginger and whipped cream, Swedish torte and slices of almond cake to come with the
glögg
. Sasha sipped the mulled wine, taken slightly aback by its warm potency.

Kat took a drink and coughed. ‘As kids we used to watch the adults drink this at Christmas while we were served hot apple cider. I had no idea our parents were getting so liquored up for the holidays. This stuff will knock you on your ass.’

‘The waiter did warn you,’ Zoe inserted.

‘I like it,’ Sasha said, taking another strong sip. ‘It’s a good thing we have a driver.’

Kevin lifted the plate of almond cake slices and offered it to her. ‘Would you like one?’

‘Oh.’ Sasha looked at the plate, instantly squashing the urge to say yes. ‘I don’t eat desserts. I already overdid lunch.’

Kevin passed the plate to Sasha’s other side. The gesture brought his mouth close to her ear and he whispered meaningfully, ‘I know what I’d like for dessert and it wasn’t on the menu.’

Sasha nearly choked on the mulled wine. Little droplets spewed from her mouth, staining the white tablecloth before her. She set down her glass mug and grabbed her napkin, coughing hard into it. Kevin’s hand slid over her back, tapping lightly as if to help. His touch only made her breath catch and the sensation worse.

‘Are you all right?’ Ryan asked.

‘Sash?’ Zoe and Kat said at the same time. Their concern was evident in their worried voices.

‘Fine,’ Sasha croaked. ‘I’m fine. I just . . . Whew, strong. What do they put into this?’

‘Red wine, port wine, brandy,’ Jackson answered, only to be cut off by the table’s laughter.

‘Lots of stuff,’ Sasha finished for him. Her head swam, and she knew she was feeling the effects. ‘It’s a good thing Prichard’s not expecting us back today. I don’t think I could make it.’

Kat waved over the waiter, handing him a card to pay for the meal without bothering to look at the bill. Then she took out her cell phone and called the limo driver to have him meet them out front.

While everyone was distracted watching Kat, Kevin said, ‘Come home with me.’

‘I can’t,’ Sasha protested. ‘I don’t have a change of clothes.’

‘Borrow mine,’ he insisted. ‘And use my washer.’

‘Everyone ready?’ Kat asked, keeping Sasha from continuing the conversation. ‘I have to get home to Mariah, but the driver will drop you off wherever you need to go after that.’

‘That was fun.’ Zoe leaned her head against her husband. They sat opposite Sasha and Kevin in the limo. ‘We need to do that more often.’

Sasha smiled at the couple. The car hit a bump in the road, lifting them off their seats. They dropped Ryan off first where Vincent worked so he could meet up with his wife. Vincent came out to the limo without a winter coat to give Kat a quick kiss before they left. Next, the driver took them to Kat’s so she could be with her daughter. Zoe and Jackson lived close to Kat, so they would be taken home next. Then the driver had instructions to take the remaining two passengers back to the Village.

Kevin sat next to her, but with enough space so they weren’t touching. Sasha was all too aware of his heat. It had been tormenting her all through lunch. Her entire left side tingled and she wanted to rub it hard to get the sensations to go away. Sure, the feelings were pleasurable in all their needy longing, but they were impossible to act on.

‘Sasha, are you sure you don’t want to come over for a while? You’d be more than welcome,’ Jackson said. Sasha’s grin widened. How many people could actually say they genuinely liked everyone who’d married into their family?

‘I would, but I’ve got too much to do. My workload is pretty heavy this semester.’ Sasha sighed, the liquor warming her blood and adding a numbness to the tingling desire she felt for Kevin.

Jackson’s gaze moved to Kevin at her response and if she wasn’t mistaken a small, knowing smile curled across his features. To his credit, he didn’t tease her about whatever it was he was thinking. The limo slowed.

‘This is us.’ Jackson held out his hand to Kevin. ‘Nice meeting you.’

Kevin took it in his. ‘Nice meeting you both.’

Sasha gave Zoe a quick hug, promising to call her soon. Zoe winked secretively at her so Kevin couldn’t see, whispering, ‘Be good.’

Kat never made the driver get out into the cold to open the door, so Jackson did it himself. Zoe gave one last wave before the door slammed shut. Jackson and Zoe made a run for the front of their apartment building. ‘You have a great family. I’m glad I—’

As soon as the image of her sister disappeared, Sasha made a weak noise cutting him off. Her body moved towards him of its own accord. A moment of surprise shone from his eyes as she grabbed the sides of his face. She didn’t hesitate. Sasha pulled him to her mouth, kissing him hard.

The taste of red wine and
glögg
mingled on his lips, flavouring their embrace. Hands wound around her waist, dragging her onto his lap. She straddled his thighs, instantly feeling the rising press of his arousal between them. She put all she had into the embrace, tugging to free him of his coat.

Sasha ran her hands over his shoulders and neck, desperate to feel the flesh beneath his clothes. ‘I’ve wanted to touch you all day.’

‘Mm,’ he moaned into her mouth. ‘Me, too.’

Their mouths warred for dominance as their hands fought to dislodge clothing enough to join their bodies. She unfastened his belt as he worked on her waistband. Sasha groaned, tearing away to gasp for breath. Leaning on the seat, she tugged on her pants, pulling the jeans from her hips along with her panties. She struggled with her shoes, finally managing to get them off along with half her clothing. Kevin jerked his pants down around his ankles, letting them stay exactly where they fell. The stiff mass of his cock stood to attention.

Sasha eagerly devoured him with her eyes, feeling his hot gaze on her in turn. An unspoken urgency drove her back into his arms. The decadence of the limo, combined with the knowledge that the driver was only a few feet away and could roll down the window any time, excited her to feverpitch.

Kevin grabbed his cock, stroking the full length. Sasha watched his hand and licked her lips. Seeing the action, his hips jerked and his lashes fell heavy over his eyes.

Sasha knelt on the floor, feeling the uncomfortably stiff fabric pressing into her bare knees. She raked her fingernails slowly over his thighs, pushing up beneath his shirt to touch his flat stomach. Tracing the definition of his muscles, she moaned, wetting her lips again so he could see her intent.

Kevin’s hips jerked once more and the harsh sound of his breath made her want to give him more, to see how much he could take before he exploded. Her stomach tightened in anticipation, so tight she wondered how long she would last before she spread her legs and demanded he pound her into submission.

‘I want to taste you,’ she whispered, darting her tongue across the tip of his shaft. ‘I want to suck your cock so it’s nice and wet from my mouth.’ She licked him again. ‘Would you like that?’

‘Ah, y-yes,’ he stammered. Dim light from outside ran across his impassioned face.

‘I’m so wet for you right now. My pussy aches to take you,’ she boldly continued, not knowing why she suddenly felt empowered. Trevor never made her feel this uninhibited. As she parted her lips to take him deeper the smell of soap and cologne mingled with the pure masculinity that was Kevin.

Tiny noises escaped the back of his throat, coming out in incoherent moans and pleas. She continued to rub his waist and thighs, reaching around to grab the sides of his very cute ass. A ripple of pleasure coursed through her. She wanted this moment, wanted it desperately.

He touched her shoulders, urging her mouth down. ‘Please, Sasha, do it. Suck me.’