3
“LOVE SLAVE?”Luke couldn’t believe she’d just used that term. Was she a kinky, black-leather dominatrix once the lights wentdown?
Oh, man. He didn’t mind a woman dominating him once in a while—in fact, it was a total turn-on when a lady called the shots. But he liked his turn in control,too.
If she was of the leather and whips persuasion, he respected her right to her pleasure. He just didn’t share that particulartaste.
She must have caught some of his thoughts, for she pinkened. “I didn’t meanlove slavein any kind of pervy way. I mean, I want you to act like that at the wedding. As if I’m the most fascinating, intelligent, gorgeous womanaround.”
“Sexy, too,” he added, thinking that was one of her greatestcharms.
“Well, yes, of course. Sexy, too. While we’re at the wedding you won’t even look at another woman, you’ll pretend to be completely smitten withme.”
He could see her enthusiasm building as she outlined his role for him. Her sparkly chocolate-brown eyes lit up with excitement, her whole body radiated purpose and energy—he could easily imagine himself crazy about her. “Shouldn’t be too tough to pull off,” he assured her, grinning when the pink in her cheeks deepened at thecompliment.
When he’d first met her, he hadn’t pegged her for the blushing type, but those cheeks bloomed roses at the slightest provocation. He wondered if they pinkened when she was aroused. He wondered if he’d ever get the chance to findout.
“Well, thanks,” shesaid.
“So we’ve got four weeks to get me in shape for the bigday.”
“That’s right. I’m talking expensive suit, hairstyle, the fulldeal.”
Luke hated weddings. Usually, he attended to witness another walk down the aisle for dear old dad. Still, if sticking himself in a suit and tossing rice around was the price to pay for Shari’s cooperation with his book, he’d pay it—and make sure she followed through on her part of thebargain.
“And a month means we can do a chapter a week. We’ll learn about each other. Four weeks from now, we’ll be able to fool anyone that I’m your devoted loveslave.”
“A week for every chapter, huh?” She stepped back and crossed her arms under her breasts. “I don’t know. I think I’m having second thoughts.” She stared at his mouth as though trying to decide how she felt about kissing him. If she stared at his lips much longer, she was going to findout.
“Well, I’m not thrilled about putting on a tie to watch a couple who dissed you in college get hitched.” He shrugged, knowing this was his moment of truth. “Yourcall.”
She glared at him, then down at the invitation clutched in her hand. “Oh, all right. But just to chapter four. Kissing is my limit.” Then she opened the door and made scooting motions with her hands. “I have to do some sit-ups.”
He stopped at the doorway and gazed into eyes already sparkling with the light of battle. Look out B.J. and look out Luke. “I don’t think you need sit-ups. Your body looks perfect tome.”
Their gazes caught and held and her lips parted in an unconscious offering. He had to restrain himself from leaning in to kiss her. She was adorable, sexy and delicious. Why was she stressing about co-ed heartbreak? “I think you had a lucky escape. Any dork who’d dump you deserves to spend the rest of his life withB.J.”
She laughed shakily. “I think there’s a compliment in theresomewhere.”
“Sure is.Night.”
He waited until Shari’s door shut behind him and he was back in the deserted corridor before he leaped in the air and pumped his fist.Yes, yes,yes!
She’d gone for it. Shari, the babe of his apartment block, had agreed to work through the first four chapters ofSex for Total Morons.And he hadn’t lied to get her help. He hadn’t even stretched the truth. All he’d done was ask her to work through the exercises in the book with him. He hadn’t said he needed the lessons. If she made assumptions, that was herproblem.
Of coursethere was a price to be paid. He wasn’t a big fan of weddings at the best of times. Having attended all four of his father’s—although admittedly he’d attended the first in utero, so he couldn’t be expected to remember it—he’d developed a cynic’s aversion to the wholeceremony.
On one point he was determined—no woman was dragging him up the aisle. No rice showers for Luke. Free and single suited himfine.
If his dad had kept his brain in his head instead of his pants, he might have figured out the same thing. Some men weren’t cut out for commitment or settling down with one woman. Some men needed the excitement of new partners and the adventure of thechase.
His father was one of those men. He never should havemarried.
Luke was his father’s son in that regard. But he was smart enough not to fall into the velvet trap of marriage and then spend the next few years gnawing off his own foot to escape, littering bitter ex-wives and lonely children in hiswake.
Luke liked and respected women too much to ever commit to one. He was always up-front about that, so there were few tears and tantrums in his love life. Not a lot of deep meaning, either, but about that he was philosophical: you can’t haveeverything.
There were twelve chapters in Lance’s masterpiece. Shari had committed to a month, one chapter a week. Of course, if the book was worth the paper it was printed on, four weeks of seduction ought to ease her into chapter five as smoothly as a man eases an eager woman onto silksheets.
