Full Bloom

her nature. No other man had ever had that effect on her. Emily reached up and put her arms around his neck, urging his head down to hers.
    "All you'll have to do is lie back and enjoy it," she promised in a reckless, throaty whisper.
    "Is that right?"
    "Trust me." She brushed her mouth lightly against his, careful not to hurt his cut lip. He groaned and his fingers fumbled slightly as he finished undoing her buttons. All of a sudden Emily was brimming with excitement and the thrill of feminine power.
    Deliberately she loosened his tie, letting the two ends dangle around his neck while she went to work on his shirt. She paused briefly when she saw the bloodstain on the cuff, but when she looked up at Jacob she knew he did not want to waste any time explaining it. His eyes were glittering now with a familiar hunger. She dropped the shirt on the floor, leaving the striped tie still dangling down his broad chest.
    "My turn," Jacob muttered, starting to peel off her blouse.
    "No, not yet." She caught his prowling fingers in both hands and held them still. She smiled up at him with a sensual promise. "You're wounded and out of action tonight. I'm in charge." She unbuckled his belt and found his zipper.
    "Did you learn this in your assertiveness training class?" he asked with deep interest as he stepped obediently out of his slacks.
    She looked down at the hard, thrusting shape of his manhood outlined by his white briefs. The knowledge that he wanted her, that his body was vibrating with his desire, inspired her. Her fingers trailed over his shoulders. "My instructor insisted we all learn to improvise so that we would be able to handle any occasion that arose."
    "Something is arising, all right." Jacob captured her questing fingers and guided them down below his waist. He held her hand against him, letting her feel his readiness. "Think you can handle it?"
    She touched him intimately, cupping him gently. The heat of him filled her palm, and she shivered as her own desire flared. She drew a deep breath and then wriggled her fingers free of his insistent hand. "I graduated at the top of my assertiveness training course," she assured him. She took hold of the dangling ends of his tie and boldly began to lead him down the hall to her bedroom.
    For the first time Jacob balked. "Uh, Emily, this bit with the tie may be overdoing things a little. I feel like a bull being led out of his stall." He chuckled slightly and started to pull the tie out of her grasp.
    Emily tightened her hold on the silk strips. "Think of yourself as the spoils of battle."
    His eyes narrowed slightly. "Little witch" was all he said, but his hand fell away and he allowed himself to be led into the bedroom.
    Emily was delighted with the small triumph. It was the second one this evening. "First a blue ribbon and now a taste of real power," she said with a soft laugh. "What an evening."
    "Just so long as you don't try to pin that ribbon on me," he growled.
    "Don't worry. I've got more interesting things to do to you than pin ribbons on you." She led him into the white-on-white bedroom and pushed him lightly onto the bed. He went down obediently under her hands. She stood looking at him, trying to think of what to do next.
    He sensed her uncertainty and grinned invitingly. "Tell me about these interesting things you're planning to do to me."
    The teasing element in his voice was enough to goad her into further action. Emily gave him an up-from-under look through her lashes and then, feeling more daring than ever, began to undress herself. The gray fire that leaped into his eyes was ample indication that she was on the right track.
    Jacob said nothing as first her blouse and then her skirt slipped to the floor, but his eyes roved over her with unmistakable possessiveness. When she began to slip off her bra and panties, there was nothing humorous left in his expression. He was aroused and hungry for her.
    "Come here, witch," he ordered softly when she stood nude before him. He did not move from where he lay back against her pillows but he held out his hand in a not-so-subtle command.
    Emily ignored the extended palm. She smiled at him, instead, confident now of her power over him. It was so good to know that she had the same effect on him as he had on her. Paying no attention to his imperiously outstretched fingers, she moved closer to the side of the bed.
    "There's no rush," she said, aware of the fire in her own pulse. He looked so big and powerful and sexy