“Welcome to my home,” he said, and stepped forward to take Asia by the hand and pull her into the room.
“Rico, what a…surprise. I thought I’d be meeting you at a restaurant.”
“That was the original plan,” he admitted, "but at the last minute I changed my mind. I decided I wanted to make you dinner myself.”
“You?” She stared at him, incredulous. “Can you cook?”
He gave her a wounded look. “Is the lady questioning my abilities?” “No,” she said with a quick laugh. “Not at all. I look forward to enjoying a meal made by your hands.”
And enjoy it she did. Roasted chicken flavored with red wine, baby carrots steamed with tiny potatoes in a garlic sauce, and a vegetable pot-pie with a crust that melted in her mouth.
“You did all this?” she asked.
“Well, I did have some help,” he said with an almost guilty smile, “from my chef.”
“I knew it,” she teased.
“But, no,” he said, putting his hands up as if to profess his innocence, “I really did most of the work. He was just there to guide me from time to time.”
“Well, however you did it, I’m impressed. I really enjoyed it.”
After dinner they moved to a private sitting room where Rico left her for a moment. “Dry eyes,” he explained. “Need some eye drops.”
When he came back he was wearing glasses.
“So that’s what you look like in glasses,” she teased. “Mr. Four Eyes.”
“Who’re you calling Four Eyes,” he growled and reached for her then dragged her into his arms. “I should punish you for that.”
“I didn’t do anything,” she said, giving him a look of innocence.
“Shall I list your sins?” he asked, as he smiled down at her. “First you avoided me all week.”
“I did not,” she protested.
“You know you did,” he said, his voice adamant. “Every time I called, you were rushing off somewhere. I know that trick.”
She bit her lip, feeling guilty. “I’m sorry,” she said. “You’re right. I was avoiding you but only because I thought you needed some space, in case you had regrets…about us.”
“You crazy woman,” he chided. “What the heck are you talking about? I have none. Do you?”
She shook her head.
“And are you ready for sin number two?”
“I have a second sin?”
“Yes. You called me Four Eyes. Now come take your punishment like a man.”
She began to giggle at his lame joke but he put an end to that when his mouth swooped down and captured hers in a kiss that made her toes curl. When he finally released her she was gasping.
By this time Asia was a mass of tingling nerves. Every inch of her was aware of Rico - the feel of his lips against hers, the solid breadth of his chest as it crushed her br**sts, his masculine hardness as it pressed into her. She wanted more of him, so much more. But was she treading in dangerous waters?
She had to break the tension. Without warning she reached up and slipped Rico's glasses off his nose. Before he could react she pulled out of his arms and skipped away.
“Hey, why’d you do that?” He blinked then squinted, trying hard to see her. “Come back here, you little devil.”
“Never,” she chortled, and went to stoop beside an armchair in the corner. So she was being immature, acting like a bratty kid. So what? It was fun having the upper hand on Rico.
“Are you trying to add to your list of sins?” He put out his hands and began to creep around the room, trying to find her. “Once I have you, you will be punished. Best to give up now before it’s too late.”
She only giggled some more. She realized that was a stupid thing to do when he turned and headed in her direction. Everything was a blur to him but there was nothing wrong with his hearing.
She dashed away just in time and laughed when he bumped into the standing lamp. Luckily it didn’t topple over. She decided to put an end to the teasing. This cat and mouse game was fun but it was ratcheting up the sexual tension that had been building inside her. She’d thought the game would take her mind away from her desire for Rico but instead the hunt, playful though it was, had only made her want him more.
“Rico,” she called out from the other end of the room, “let's make a deal. I’ll give you your glasses back if you agree to do everything I say.”
“Everything?” he asked with a lascivious smile.
“Everything,” she replied, her tone breathless.
“Deal.” He held out his hands, palms upward. “I am yours, mademoiselle. Do with me what you will.”
Gosh, that sounded good. Her mouth went dry in anticipation. He was offering himself to her and she planned on taking full advantage. She straightened her back and with a sniff she walked over and took his outstretched hands. She’d hooked the glasses onto the front of her dress. She wasn’t giving them back, not just yet. She was enjoying keeping him slightly off balance.
“Take me to your bedroom,” she said boldly. “I have an assignment for you. Let's see how well you execute.” She released his hands and reached up to pull his head down. “If you do a good job,” she whispered in his ear, “I might just give you your glasses back.”
She heard the laughter rumble deep in his chest but he did not say a word. He simply nodded and taking her hand, he turned to leave the sitting room.
Rico had no problem finding his bedroom without the help of his glasses. He led her down the hall and within seconds he was pushing open the door to a massive bedroom with a king-sized bed in the middle.
Asia pulled her hand from Rico’s grasp and pushed the door shut behind them. Then she sauntered over to the bed and sat down. “Come to me,” she whispered and held out her arms. She was warming to the game, getting into her role as seductress. She’d set out to tame this man and she planned to do it in more ways than one.
When he came to sit beside her, Asia ran her fingers through his hair then stood up so that she was the one looking down at him. Then she lowered her lips to his forehead, his cheeks, the tip of his nose, giving him heated little kisses that were just a hint of her passion for him.