Chapter Seven

As they drove, CJ snuck glances at the man beside her. There was a quiet strength that surrounded him, unlike quite a few of Italian men she knew who went overboard in showing themselves off. She liked that about him. He didn’t shove his masculinity in your face, but he had an aura about him that said if he thought it necessary he would do just that. He was a man’s man who didn’t need lots of pretense and arrogance to prove himself to the world.

Her gaze remained fixed upon him in the darkened interior of the car. CJ knew it would be no hardship to stare at him all the time. “So,” she said, trying to rein her thoughts before they got out of control. “How is everyone else in your Team doing?”

Osten smiled. He knew she had been checking him out and was trying to play it off. “They are all do-ing wonderfully. Ernst is engaged to be married and is blissfully happy. So it is now half and half on the Team.”

CJ laughed. “You sound worried about that.”

“Well, Lex, who’s Scott’s wife, seems desperate to get all of us married. Especially Maverick.”

“Maverick,” she responded. “He was the tall, silent one, right? I believe his name is James?”

Dark-brown eyes narrowed at that; Mav didn’t share his first name with many people. “That’s right.”

CJ was quiet for a moment. “I see. Well, good for him. He should get married.”

“He has no intentions of doing so,” he assured her.

With a shrug, she replied easily, “Maybe he just hasn’t met the right woman yet. I’m sure there’s some-one out there for him.”

It sure as hell ain’t you, sweetheart. “That could be, or it could be he is perfectly happy being a bachelor.” Osten glanced at her and shook his head over the grin he saw on her face. She was teasing him. “You are a spunky one, Ms. Jackson.”

A flash of white teeth gleamed in the glow of the car. “I like to joke around. Besides, you got all surly sounding so I couldn’t resist having some fun.”

He nodded. “Okay, but I’ll remember this.” Reaching the location, Osten steered the car into a parking spot and shut it off. They got out and walked up to the door of the establishment.

“I’ve heard this place was wonderful, but I hadn’t eaten here yet. Thanks for bringing me.” CJ touched his arm tenderly.

*

Standing in front of her apartment door, Osten took her keys from CJ and unlocked it. “Thank you for a lovely evening,” he murmured.

“Would you like to come in for a cup of coffee or something?” CJ offered as she stepped into her apartment.

“I would love to, but I can’t.” Osten halted her with a hand on her arm. “Rain check?”

CJ nodded. “Sure.” I guess he didn’t have as good of time as I did.

Apparently, his observant gaze didn’t miss the look of dejection that crossed her face, for Osten stepped closer to her and slid his hand behind her neck. Gently his lips touched hers. The jolt spread through them both at first contact.

With his tongue he gained entrance to her mouth. His other hand dropped her arm and landed on her back, singeing her through the jacket and shirt she wore. Osten’s tongue swept from side to side in her warm mouth. He learned her taste and taught her his.

As her body sank into his, he slowly withdrew from the kiss. “I really have to go,” he murmured in a gravelly and hushed voice. “I will see you tomorrow at school.”

Eyes heavy with longing, CJ licked her lips and enjoyed the flare of desire in his rich stare as he watched her. “Tomorrow,” she mumbled.

“Goodnight, insegnante dolce.” His thumb traced her bottom lip before he stepped away and walked off down the hall.

Closing the door behind her, CJ slumped to the floor. Her body was on fire for that man’s touch. She could feel the dampness on her thighs, and whatever he had called her only added to the flood her body seemed to produce.

That night her dreams were chock full of a strong man with olive skin and dark-chocolate eyes whose kiss could send her into convulsions. Osten Scoleri.

*

The rest of the week passed with Osten finding time to send her heated looks and winks. His tone was always professional when he spoke, but his gaze never failed to set her blood to boil as he visually stripped off her clothes.

Friday afternoon found CJ sitting at her desk after the final bell had rung. She was grading her last pa-per of the day and didn’t want to take it home to work on it. So into her task, she failed to notice her door opened wider.

“Hello, beautiful,” Osten’s voice filled the empty room.

CJ looked up and smiled as the blush ran up her cheeks. “Afternoon, Osten.” She placed her pen down on the desktop and put the full intensity of her eyes upon him. He held the box in his arms.

Moving into the room, he placed it down in the normal spot where he kept it. This time however, he didn’t leave. Instead he approached the desk, his uniform showing off the predatory moves he had as if they were part of his genetic makeup and he’d been born to them.

Two large, strong hands placed themselves on her smooth desk. Osten leaned down closer to her and asked, “Did you miss me?”

Dragging her eyes away from those hands of his and forcing her mind to focus, CJ licked her full lips. “No, why would I? I just saw you at lunch when you and Angela ate in the cafeteria.”

A smug grin cracked his face. “And here I thought you didn’t see me in the cafeteria. I tried to get your attention and you acted like you didn’t notice me.”

CJ flushed again. It was true. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Shouldn’t lie to me, gorgeous. We both know you saw me. I would have rather sat next to you at the table.” He reached for her face with one hand and stroked the silken skin with his knuckles.

CJ trembled at the contact.