Predatory Game (GhostWalkers, #6)(46)
Mari took her hand immediately, a welcoming smile on her face. “It’s so good to meet you.”
Ken not only took her hand, but covered it with his other one. If they knew about her, they were too good to show fear. “So you’re the woman who has finally put Jess in his place.”
For a moment she thought she hadn’t heard right. “It’s not like that…,” she began to protest, but Jess reached up and took her hand right out of Ken’s and kissed the center of her palm, his gaze locked with hers. She lost her train of thought.
“She’s the one,” Jess admitted. “She’ll deny it, but that’s because she’s an outrageous little liar. We were just about to dance.”
Ken leaned close to him. His voice was a pseudo-whisper. “It was Mari who dragged me here too. I sympathize greatly.”
Mari smiled and shook her head. “I can’t dance at all. Ken loves it.”
Ken wrapped his arm around her waist and took her out onto the dance floor. She slipped easily into his arms. They didn’t dance so much as hold one another and sway.
Jess’s black gaze burned possessively over Saber. He glided easily onto the floor and held out his hand to her. Saber’s smile was slow, unconsciously sexy, blue eyes clinging to his. She slid onto his lap, circling his neck with her slender arms, slowly relaxing against the wall of his chest, head on his shoulder. Jess’s hand slid up her back, his other swaying the racing chair to the slow, sensuous rhythm of the music.
She was unbearably soft, her skin hot through the thin separation of their clothing. Their hearts beat together, his body stirring to a fierce arousal all too noticeable against the back of her bare thigh. She smelled fresh and sweet and Jess couldn’t resist sliding his tongue along her neck, tasting soft, scented skin. His teeth nipped experimentally, the hand at her back drawing her even closer so that he could experience the reaction of her body. She laid her head on his shoulder, her hand tapping out a rhythm on the nape of his neck.
Saber was lost in the music, in the hard strength of his body. It was a melting heat, a merging of souls, a slow, erotic pulsing of blood and instruments, body and mind. It lasted an eternity, forever, it lasted a heartbeat, a moment.
As the soft strains of music faded away, the real world forced entrance to their private sanctuary. Bereft, Saber lifted her head, eyes starry, breath impossible to control. She looked as if he’d made love to her and for a moment Jess tightened his hold, almost forgetting where they were.
A swift upbeat number had couples breaking apart. Ken clapped Jess on the back. “Enough of that, you two,” he reprimanded. “Let’s see some moves.”
Reluctantly, Jess allowed Saber to slide from his lap, closing his eyes against the savage ache as her firm, rounded buttocks slid enticingly over his lap.
“Is that some kind of challenge?” He winked at Saber, his voice a little bit husky, his breathing not quite under control.
Ken nodded. “You got it, Calhoun. You and Saber are supposed to be so hot, at least that’s the word from Max.” He winked at Mari. “Well, maybe you already are.”
“Very funny.” Saber moved back, hips swaying to the beat of the music, feet picking up the rhythm. She didn’t know who Max was, but they’d all obviously discussed her in the context of her belonging with Jess, and she was absurdly pleased about that.
Jess smiled, a slow sensuous response to the rhythm of her body, easily tilted his chair, balancing on two wheels, moving with her, around her, Saber around him, close, apart, eyes locked on one another. Her body flowed with all the grace of a ballerina and the strength of a gymnast. She was a wild little thing of pure beauty, music mysteriously coming to life.
It was obvious they were in a world of their own, the only two people on the dance floor. It looked as though every moment had been choreographed to perfection, a swirl of man, woman, and machine. Jess’s ability to spin, jump, and glide in his wheelchair was phenomenal. Their soft, muted laughter and wild, skillful dancing continued for several songs.
Ken and Mari, laughing together, joined Saber and Jess at their table.
“So are we the champions?” Jess asked, grinning at his friend.
“I give up,” Ken conceded. “You two can keep your crowns.”
“I can’t dance at all,” Mari admitted. “Ken makes me look good, but I don’t think I’ll ever get the hang of it. Where’d you learn to dance like that, Jess?”
Jess sipped his drink, eyes on the perfection of Saber’s face. “This lady right here. She loves to dance, and has music going all the time. She’d nag me all the time, until I had no choice.”
He smiled at Saber tenderly.
You have it bad, Jess. Ken sent the thought telepathically. She’s definitely a GhostWalker, but Mari has never seen her before. Have you checked her out?
Jess tried not to react to the faint hint of suspicion in Ken’s voice. If the positions had been reversed, he would have been suspicious as well.
“Well, she taught you well,” Mari said, shyness in her voice. “You’re very good.”
Saber had the impression Mari wasn’t used to crowds. Ken slipped his arm around her waist, bending to brush her temple with a quick, tender kiss. They were obviously not pretending to be married for her benefit and that made her feel safer. Maybe Jess hadn’t called in his team. His friends would want to check up on him, visit him and make certain he was doing all right. She wanted to believe Ken and Mari were just at the club to have fun with Jess.