“Hm.” He had to think about that for a moment. The wordeasydidn’t have any connection to Penny. “Okay. I’ll let you know the next time we do something together, but what do I get in return?”
She sighed and folded her arms over her slim chest.
It only took him five seconds to realize that she hadn’t been lying earlier. She was really cold. And God, she wasn’t wearing a bra again. He suppressed a groan.
“My M&M’s?” she offered, holding out the pack to him.
“Oh no, I was thinking more along the lines of a favor.”
“What kind of favor?” she asked suspiciously.
“I don’t know. I still have to think of one. But I have a feeling I might need one at some point. So, you’ll have to give me a rain check.”
She nervously tugged at the hem of her pajamas. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said quietly. “Because you seem extremely creative to me.”
He grinned. “Oh, I am. But that’s the deal: I’ll help you with the team and you owe me a favor.” He held out his hand.
Penny stared at his hand for a few endless seconds and then sighed heavily and shook it. “Fine. We have a deal. Although, I bet I’ll regret it at some point. But Future Penny can worry about that.”
“Future Jack is looking forward to it.”
She smiled. “I’m sure. However, a warning to Future Jack: I may not be a boa constrictor, but I do have access to some.”
He chuckled softly, feeling Penny’s fingernails scratching lightly against his palm. “Is that a threat?”
“Yes,” she replied even though her voice sounded uncertain.
“Well, you can try threatening me,” he said quietly, taking a step toward her. “But do I need to remind you that I’m a lot bigger and heavier than you?”
“Oh, not that much. I think I could wrestle you down,” she said confidently, lifting one corner of her mouth.
He had no doubt she could because all she had to do was ask him to lie on his back and he would do it. “Well, there’s the matter of me possibly taking a threat personally. And then, for revenge, I’ll let something personal about you slip out in front of the press.”
Penny’s eyes glittered as if she was more than ready to take on a fight with him. “Oh yeah? Like what?” she asked rebelliously.
He tilted his head a little lower until they were breathing the same air. “Like you enjoy biting earlobes when you climax. I bet some gossip magazines might be interested in that.”
He heard her swallow. Saw her pupils dilate. She didn’t back away from him, though. She stayed where she was so he could breathe in her scent of sun and Penny. “The press would be much more likely to wonder how you know that,” she informed him quietly, her gaze anchored in his.
“I could give them a detailed report. My memory is excellent.”
She laughed and small wrinkles formed around her light brown eyes. “Are you flirting with me again? Even though I forbade it?”
He made a face. “Does no oneeverflirt with you? Or am I so bad that you always have to ask?”
She laughed louder and put a hand on his upper arm. The touch was absolutely innocent, as light and easy-going as the humor between them, in stark contrast to the heat burning through his shirt. “It’s my fault, really,” she assured him. “It’s been a long time since anyone has used their charm so shamelessly to get me into bed again.”
“How am I using my charm?”
“You’re standing way too close to me, aren’t you?” she murmured as her fingers wandered along his bicep. “And my memory is excellent, too. No matter how much clothing you wear.” Her fingers reached his palm and drew circles over the sensitive skin.
Shit, since when were hands erogenous zones?
“So, you can imaginemenaked but I can’t imagine you?”
“Yes,” she whispered, smiling. “Because I’m your boss.” Her hand wandered to his chest and down the button placket, causing goosebumps to break out on his body. “And you do it anyway. Whether I forbid it or not. And I understand. But it is a stupid idea.”
His throat tightened. “Orgasm number five, you mean?” he whispered, grabbing her hand and pressing it to his chest so that it was right over his heart, which was behaving like an excited schoolboy just before the bell rang for recess.
