Bending Over Backwards (10 page)

“Oh, Leo.” She sighed as the water pulsed over her skin. “This is perfect.”

“This is good, but I think we can work on perfect.”

He grabbed a loofa from the shelf and squeezed some liquid soap onto it. The aroma of lavender and something else filled the humid air as he began washing her back.

Had she ever experienced anything this sensual in her life? Jasmine had taken showers with men, of course, but usually they got right down to sex more than anything this luxurious.

Not Leo. Leo seemed to enjoy washing every inch of her skin—spending a little extra time working the sponge between her thighs until she was digging her fingers into his shoulder to stay upright. He soaped her stomach, then her breasts, and let the water rinse the foam away before he returned the sponge to her back. He sucked her nipples so sweetly, one, and the other, all the while moving that sponge over her back, her bottom, her thighs.

Jasmine wanted to make this last as long as possible. Reaching back to grab the sponge, she pulled away slightly, meeting his eyes.

“Your turn.”

He complied, and she set to washing his strong, muscular legs. She followed the progress of the sponge around his wonderful body with kisses and licks as the water rinsed away the soap. When she came to his injury, she was gentle. She took her time, as he did, and massaged the area gently under the hot water for him, laying her lips to his scar when she was done.

His hand trembled slightly as he pulled her around front and stared into her face for a long moment. Something in his eyes was different, but she focused only on the desire.

“I spent a lot of time in the hospital, being tested in every possible way,” he said, kissing her forehead. “I can’t remember the last woman I was with, but I can tell you that medically, I’m healthy, and I haven’t been with anyone since it all happened.”

She knew what he was asking. She nodded.

“Me too. I’ve only been with one man over the last year and a half, and we were both healthy, and careful. I’m on the pill. So I think we’re okay.”

It was a calculated risk, but she wanted Leo. Right now.

They didn’t say anything, but kissed and kissed some more, washed by the warm jets of water that were like hundreds of extra touches, urging them on. Leo sat on the curved bench under the soft splash of the waterfall, hard and ready. He pulled her forward, facing him.

Jasmine straddled his thighs, folding her legs behind his hips and lowering herself down over his thick shaft. He filled her tightly, touching every part inside.

“Oh, that’s good.” She gasped as they settled in. She pulled him close, hugged him tighter, deeper.

Leo kissed her, their arms around each other as they sat, melded, mouths playing and teasing. He planted his feet on the floor to thrust upward, and she pulled back from the kiss.

“Don’t move…we’re fine.”

“But—”

“Trust me.” She smiled against his lips.

He nodded, his eyes burning into hers as he dove a hand into her hair, massaging the back of her scalp.

“Oh, yes.” She leaned back into the touch, which allowed him to nuzzle her breasts again.

She ran her hands lazily along the sides of his thighs, and then his upper arms and shoulder. Heat built between them until the water felt cool against their skin. Jasmine put his hand on her lower belly and placed hers on top of it.

He looked at her curiously, but didn’t take his hand away.

“Breathe in with me, follow my rhythm,” she said, not breaking eye contact.

He did, and after a few long, sensual breaths his eyes widened as he felt it too—how the deep breathing seemed to fill them, making the contact inside even better, increasing the pressure.

Jasmine closed her eyes, focusing and contracting her inner muscles around him. Leo caught his breath in surprise.

“How did you—”

She put a finger to his lips. “Just breathe…long on the exhale. Focus on this chakra point, and think of the color orange. I usually think of a large, orange flower, blooming. But just focusing on the color is good.”

“Okay.” He sounded a little hesitant, but he followed her breathing until they were both in sync.

Jasmine took it a step deeper, moving her focus deep into her body, to where he was inside her, connected to her. She tightened and loosened, moving around him from the inside out. They held on to each other, trembling. Finally, they broke together in a chorus of soft moans and deep kisses as the strong, steady orgasm pulsed back and forth between them.

It was deep, and Jasmine continued to breathe through it, lengthening it for both of them as much as she could before letting it recede slowly.

Leo was slack against the wall for several seconds, his arms falling at his sides until he reached to turn the water off before resting his forehead against hers.

“That was wild. I’ve never come like that before, not that long, not that…hot. I mean…I felt literally hot inside.”

She smiled happily. “A little tantric yoga practice. The breathing generates the heat. It all comes down to focus and muscle control. There are people who spend their entire lifetimes studying Tantra, which really isn’t about sex at all, like most people think, but more of a spiritual pursuit. I really only learned some basics on my own. Much of the heavier stuff is very esoteric and not really my thing.”

“Well, that was incredible.” He pulled her close for a slow kiss. “I feel like I took a vitamin. I’m not tired. In fact…” His eyes widened. “I’m completely jacked up, ready to go again.”

Jasmine grinned. It was fun to share this with someone. She hadn’t tried it before and she didn’t know if it would work. Clearly, it had.

“Me too. That’s a side effect of the
chi
, the energy traveling through our bodies. It’s energizing instead of depleting. It’s why Tantric lovers can extend their lovemaking for hours, if not days.”

“I have some ideas how we might use that chi, back in the bedroom.” He nibbled her neck, finding every sensitive spot along her throat. “I don’t know anything about Tantra, but I might have a few moves we could try.”

“Lead the way,” Jasmine whispered into his ear. She couldn’t wait to find out what Leo had to show her.

Chapter Nine

Leo rolled over in bed, reaching for Jasmine, but there was only scrunched-up blanket where she had been sleeping. Disappointment sank low in his chest as he fell back to the pillow. She’d left again?

But as he quieted, he heard a voice, someone talking downstairs.

She was still here. Silly relief swelled, and Leo knew it was dangerous to be so happy she’d stuck around, but it was what it was. Last night had been one of the best of his life. Who could blame him for being excited she’d stayed?

He pulled on some on jeans and went downstairs, where he saw Jasmine in the kitchen with her cell phone, a local phone book, a sheet of paper and a cup of coffee. Strike that—looking at the half-empty pot, he figured this had to be at least her third cup.

She was intent on her call, sounding a bit stressed, but still sexy as hell with her hair pushed up on her head and the sleeve of her tank top sliding down one shoulder. Leo bent to place a kiss there, but she hardly seemed to register it.

“Are you sure there’s no room in your schedule until October?” she asked, her voice strained, then followed by a sigh. “Okay, thanks. Yes, I will.”

She hung up and sagged down in the chair as Leo joined her.

“How long have you been up?”

“Since early. I still had to meet my morning class out on the beach.”

“You were up for yoga this morning? I didn’t even hear you go out.”

“I didn’t get much sleep.” She smiled faintly. “I’m not complaining, and class was very nice. Everyone was so supportive. It made me feel a lot better.”

“Of course they would be.”

He saw the flicker of doubt in her expression, the surprise in her tone when people backed her up or were good to her. What the heck had happened in her past?

“Then I came back in, made some coffee and got to work here. Sorry if I woke you.”

“You didn’t, don’t worry. Looking for contractors?”

“Yeah, and being shot down like a target duck. Everyone is busy, unless you can pay them enough to make it worth their time. Most are telling me they could put me on the schedule for October, when things lighten up—October! I can’t wait that long.”

“What needs to be done, exactly?” Leo sat back with his own cup of coffee and wished he had something in the house for breakfast. Normally he didn’t eat in the morning, but he’d spent a lot of energy the night before.

“Well, the windows and sign have to be replaced, the walls have to be cleaned and repainted, and a few holes have to be repaired. I have to fix or replace the water feature, redo most of the decorating, and I don’t know how they will get the paint off of the brick. Sandblasting, maybe?”

Leo paused, considering. “Probably. Or paint over it, if you want to. Is there anything there that you could work on yourself—or with some help from willing friends—to get the place fixed up enough for classes? Just in the short term?”

She looked at him like he was talking about bunnies and aliens.

“What?” he asked. “Some things could be done easily ourselves. Why not? I can help, and if you know a few people who might pitch in—”

Jasmine seemed to consider.

“I’ve done a ton of renovation on my house, but I was so rattled by this, I didn’t even think about fixing up some of the damage on my own.”

He walked over to her and framed her face with his hands. “Not on your own. With friends. With me.” He said the words softly, looking into her pretty green eyes.

She smiled, but pulled away.

“I appreciate that, but you don’t have to put yourself out that way.”

Her tone had taken on the polite note most used with strangers or acquaintances—not with men you slept with. Twice.

It kind of pissed him off, though he took a breath—hanging out with Jasmine was teaching him all the things a deep breath could do. She’d been through a lot, and he had to be patient.

“I don’t see it that way. I’m not being put out. I’m helping out a friend.” He smiled, hoping to dispel the tension that had suffused the kitchen. “You know, if you can get a water feature, I might be able to install it, if the plumbing is already there in the building. I’ve been getting handier lately. I like fixing things. It makes me feel useful.”

She frowned in a way that he thought was cute—bad sign. He was halfway to being in over his head with this woman, and he wasn’t sure she was so much as dipping her toe in the water.

“I can look into it. I don’t think we can do anything right now, though, because of the insurance. I don’t dare touch anything and give them grounds to refuse to pay for the damage, especially with the premiums I’ve paid. It’s nice of you to offer, but it should all be covered. The question is when and getting someone to do the work. But I’ll keep at it.”

“Okay, that makes sense.” He decided to change the subject. “How about some breakfast? I’m starving after last night.”

He enjoyed watching her cheeks warm at his reference to their sexy night.

“I could use something to balance out the caffeine. I’m not used to so much of it. My blood feels like it’s buzzing through my veins.”

“Been there. There were times I worked all night at the firm, and I’d suck coffee from this little automatic machine I kept near my desk. I was so buzzed the next day I couldn’t stop—”

Leo paused, stunned. He nearly dropped the coffee cup he was holding.

“Holy shit,” he said, falling back into his chair. “Holy shit,” he repeated under his breath.

“Leo, are you okay?”

He shook his head. “I
remember
that. How I worked late, drank too much coffee to keep going. I can almost see the office, my desk. Like it’s at the edge of my mind somewhere. It popped out, without even thinking about it. Like yesterday—”

“What? You remembered something yesterday too?”

He grimaced. “When I was at your studio, and I thought you were hurt, I saw the police tape, the cops… I guess it shook something loose. I could hear the screams, the gunshot. I couldn’t see it, not clearly, but I remembered the sounds. Jeannie screaming, being shot. And I remember what the bullet felt like.”

Self-conscious, he gripped his hands together when he realized they were shaking. Embarrassing, but he couldn’t stop.

“Oh, Leo.”

She was there, and not only her arms but her body wrapped around him as she pressed her cheek to his. After a few seconds, his heart stopped slamming.

She pulled back and studied him closely. “This is good news, right? It’s coming back? You’re healing.”

“I guess. It doesn’t feel good. I can’t explain it,” he said, shaking his head again. “But I guess it’s a good thing.”

“Maybe you should see a doctor to get checked out. I have someone you could trust here.”

Leo didn’t want any part of hospitals unless he absolutely had to be in one.

“No, I’m okay. It’s startling when it sneaks up like that. I believed it was really gone, forever.”