Mad About You

bodies stilled, but they did not release one another.
    Slowly, oh so slowly, Ladden lowered his head, his gaze riveted on her mouth. She had plenty of time to stop him with a movement or a protest, but Jasmine simply listened to her heart pound and wet her lips in preparation for his kiss.
    With his mouth a whisper away from hers, he stopped, as if giving her a last chance to resist him, but she could not. Instead, she flicked out the tip of her tongue to invite him inside. With a groan, he captured her mouth fully and crushed her against his chest as if he were afraid she would escape. She opened her mouth to his tongue and moaned as he explored inside. He tasted of salt and mint, a tantalizing combination. His hands kneaded her back slowly and she sensed a restraint in his caresses that made her tremble.
    Feeling tiny and pliable in the circle of his arms, Jasmine timidly snaked her hands around his neck. Her fingers skimmed over the knotty muscles beneath his shirt. He raised his head and lilted her off the floor as he dipped his head lower to rain kisses along the length of her neck. His hands strumming her back ignited so many fires, Jasmine thought she would surely be consumed.
    Ladden rasped her name against her neck and licked at the sensitive skin of her exposed collarbone. She rolled her shoulders and leaned her head back, arching in his arms, fully supported by him. Her skirt had shimmied up to expose her thighs. When his hand skimmed over her buttocks, she groaned.
    But he stiffened. Immediately, she sensed his withdrawal. He lifted his head, his chest heaving, and lowered her to the floor as if she were a priceless, breakable object. "I’m sorry," he whispered, his eyes large and apologetic, "This isn't how it should be, how I want it to be."
    Lowering her arms, she smoothed down the skirt of her dress, still reeling from the blow his body had delivered to her senses. "You're right, of course," she said shakily. "I don't know what came over me."
    He smiled wryly, not attempting to hide the hard ridge of his erection. "I would have if we hadn't stopped when we did."
    Grateful for his humor in such an awkward moment, she returned his smile.
    "Thank you for the dance," he said, inclining his head.
    Struggling to control her breathing, Jasmine checked her hair in the mirror and offered Ladden a tissue for the lipstick stains around his mouth, although she couldn't offer much help for the red smear on his collar. Like two high school kids making repairs before going home, they righted their clothing and hair. She drew on her lipstick with a shaky hand, trying to squash the panic that threatened to overwhelm her.
    "Jasmine," he said quietly, squinting as he re-tied the horrid floral tie. "Will you go out with me?"
    She caught his gaze in the mirror. "Out?"
    "You know, maybe dinner and a movie?"
    Inhaling deeply, she applied another layer of color to her lips, hoping to erase the lingering sensation of his mouth on hers. "Ladden, I think we have a more imminent problem."
    "Which is?"
    She put down her lipstick and stared at him in the mirror. "How are we going to get out of here?"
    Shrugging his big shoulders, he said, "I have no idea."
    Unable to resist, she ventured, "You could use your third wish."
    "My what?"
    "Your third wish," she teased. "Don't you have one left?"
    A mischievous light flared in his eyes, causing her pulse to kick up again. Moving behind her with animal grace, he lowered his mouth to her ear and whispered, "I would be ready for a straitjacket if I used my last wish to get away from you."
    A loud knock on the door sent her heart to her throat. Ladden jumped as well, then waved her farther into the rest room as he approached the door.
    "Ladden, are you in there?" Betsy's voice rang out.
    She saw his shoulders drop in relief. "Betsy," he called, "the door locked behind me—I can't get out."
    The woman's laughter reached Jasmine's ears, a bit brassy, but a welcome sound. "Are you alone in there?" she asked, her voice lilting. "Maybe I should come in."
    Ladden glanced back to Jasmine and gestured frantically for her to hide. She weighed her choices, then jumped in a shower stall and pulled the curtain closed.
    "Come on, Betsy, let me out," he yelled.
    Jasmine heard rattling and thumping, then Ladden proclaimed in a loud voice, "Whew! It sure is nice to be out of this place. I think I'll prop open the door with a rock so no one else will get locked in."
    "Why are you yelling?" the woman