The arousing scent of chocolate filled his next breath, and he found a small envelope lying on top of a waxed paper liner with his name written in a feminine script. He smiled, an undeniable rush of anticipation making itself known as he opened the card and read the note inside.

I thought you might like to sample my latest creation. A Chocolate Orgasm. Enjoy. Kayla.

He smiled at the risqué name Kayla had chosen for her newest candy, especially since it inspired sinful thoughts of how much pleasure he'd derived from her multiple climaxes a few nights ago. He was bound to enjoy this edible orgasm, too, he was sure.

He removed the paper liner, revealing six chocolates, and his brows rose in what he would have sworn was a figment of his imagination. He picked up one of the treats, and upon closer inspection realized that from one angle the candies looked like the petals of a flower, and from another viewpoint they did, indeed, resemble the curve of a woman's… well, her genitalia.

He chuckled and shook his head, amused by Kayla's new line of candies, and damn curious to find out what this Chocolate Orgasm would taste like.

He took a bite, and out oozed a gooey, white cream center that took him by surprise, but shouldn't have considering the name of the candy and all it implied. He quickly popped the rest of it into his mouth before the thick, sticky filling dribbled down his fingers and made a mess, as always seemed to happen when he sampled Kayla's desserts. He chewed, and moaned at the sweet mixture that combined rich vanilla cream flavored with a hint of almond. It was a simple recipe, but the decadent taste and texture was like ambrosia, and managed to spur all kinds of carnal fantasies in his mind-mainly, of tasting Kayla's orgasm on his tongue.

The image of pleasuring her in such an intensely erotic way caused his heart rate to increase and a throbbing pressure to take up residence in his groin. He ate another candy while reliving the other night with Kayla in his mind, and wishing she was here with him now.

It had been two days since he'd seen her, and though they'd talked on the phone, it just didn't compare to being with her in person. He missed seeing her smile and that sparkle in her green eyes. Missed the easy way they teased one another. Missed kissing her and immersing himself in everything honest and pure that made Kayla Thomas such an extraordinarily giving woman.

Absently, he ate another Chocolate Orgasm. Kayla was like an obsession he couldn't shake, an addiction that gave his life new meaning. He wanted more than just her body… good Lord, he was beginning to want inside her heart, too. And if the only way to get there was through hot, hungry sex, then he'd just have to sacrifice himself in the process.

Oh, yeah, like that would be a real hardship. Well, he was hard as steel right now, his entire body hot, his skin too tight-just from thinking about her.

He definitely had it bad, and it felt so, so good.

He shifted in his seat and glanced at his watch. He, had an appointment with the City of San Diego to obtain building permits for Tremaine's Uptown in an hour and a half-which left him plenty of time to stop and see Kayla on the way. And if he was lucky, she'd be willing to help him do something about this excruciating condition of his.


* * *

Kayla picked up the office phone on the second ring.

"Good afternoon, Pure Indulgence," she recited automatically.

"I'd like to speak to Kayla Thomas, please," came a soft female voice she didn't recognize.

Disappointment dissolved the glimmer of hope Kayla had harbored that it was Jack on the other end of the line. She'd checked with the courier service a half hour ago to verify that her package had been signed and delivered to Jack, but she'd yet to hear from him. Either he hadn't eaten her candies, or her being out of his sight meant out of his mind. And was it really fair of her to send him the aphrodisiac chocolates with such great expectations? No, it really wasn't, she thought on a sigh.

If he'd eaten her candies, the man was probably walking around with a hard-on to end all hard-ons, wondering what in the hell was wrong with him that he couldn't control his libido.

The thought made a giggle tickle her throat, which she promptly swallowed in favor of greeting the woman on the phone in a professional manner. "This is Kayla. How can I help you?"

"This is Audrey Mann with the Seaside Gallery. We met at the Chamber of Commerce dinner last week."

"Oh, yes, I remember." The woman had raved about the desserts and had taken one of Kayla's business cards. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm hosting an art show for an up-and-coming artist next Friday evening, and I'm expecting at least a hundred guests," Audrey explained. "I wanted to do a dessert table, and I'd like your bakery to cater the job."

"We'd be happy to," Kayla replied enthusiastically, seeing this opportunity as yet another way to gain exposure for her shop. "Would you like to make an appointment to come in and discuss what you'd like, or would you prefer to do it over the phone?"

"Over the phone is fine."

"Great." Kayla pulled out an order form from her desk drawer and grabbed a pen, her mind firmly in business mode. "Tell me what you have in mind and we'll go from there."

Audrey asked for Kayla's opinion on what to serve and the best way to accommodate two hundred people, and Kayla gave the other woman numerous options in different price ranges, depending on Audrey's budget. It seemed the gallery owner wasn't concerned about money, because by the time they'd settled on a menu Audrey had picked the most expensive items and racked up quite a bill.

They'd agreed on a dozen of Kayla's most popular cakes, along with a large assortment of pet its fours and éclairs filled with a variety of different custards, and a variety of other finger pastries. The cut-up fruit and fondue sauces were added to the order, as well. Audrey had her own employee to serve her guests, which meant all Kayla had to do was supply and deliver the desserts.

"By the way," Audrey said after they'd wrapped up the last of the order. "You're welcome to attend the art show yourself and bring a guest if you'd like."

"Thank you." The woman's invitation made her smile. "That sounds like fun, and I might just do that."

Kayla hung up the phone with an exuberant "Yes," just as her office door abruptly opened and Jack walked in, bold as he pleased. It occurred to her that since her employees knew she was working for Jack and he'd been here before, they'd most likely assumed he had an appointment and told him to come on back to her office.

She jumped up from her seat and rounded her desk, glad to see him, yet surprised that he hadn't called first. Unless he'd wanted to catch her off guard-which was a distinct possibility, judging by the determined set of his features and the blue heat in his eyes.

"Jack! What are you doing here?"

He closed and locked the door, then leaned back against it, looking primitively male, and very sure of himself. "I'm here to extract a bit of revenge for you sending me those candies. You're very naughty, you know that?"

She shivered at the low, rumbling timbre of his voice, her body humming with acute awareness. "You sent me flowers and I sent you candy." She shrugged, striving for nonchalance. "I just thought you might enjoy trying my latest creation."

He lifted a dark brow, obviously questioning her motives. Pushing away from the door, he slowly strolled toward her, an undeniable sexual energy radiating off him. For every step he took forward, she took one back, her pulse accelerating as he neared.

"I'm thinking you sent those Chocolate Orgasms on purpose," he murmured, a soft accusation in his tone.

She didn't confirm or deny his suspicion. Meanwhile, he moved closer and closer, until he had her backed up against the wall next to her metal filing cabinet.

"You wanted me to eat them, and think of you, think of us together like we were the other night." Bracing his hands on either side of her shoulders so she couldn't escape him, he lowered his mouth to her ear "With me deep inside you and you so tight and warm around my shaft."

A strangled sound caught in her throat, rendering her speechless.

"Well, it worked, sweetheart." His damp lips touched her neck, followed by a warm lap of his tongue that made her tremble all over. "I'm horny as hell, and getting homier with every passing minute."

His admission thrilled her, and gave even more credence to the idea that her candies truly were an aphrodisiac. He'd eaten them, and hadn't been able to stay away from her.

His hands lowered to her waist, and he ground his hips tight against hers, fitting his erection right at the crux of her thighs. He was long and thick beneath the fly of his khaki pants. Aggressive and demanding.

"You did this to me, Kayla," he rasped against her cheek as his palms slid over her jean-clad bottom and lifted her higher, closer. "You made me hard and aching for relief."

Her head fell back against the wall as her body instinctively arched into his. No, her candies had done that to him. She was just fortunate enough to be the beneficiary of all his pent-up lust.

He increased the pressure against her sex, and the friction of her jeans and the damp silk of her panties against her sensitive flesh touched off a series of spasms deep inside. "What do you plan to do about this problem of mine, Kayla?"

She closed her eyes, caught up in the pleasure simmering just below the surface, beckoning her to let go. "I… um…" She couldn't talk, couldn't think. She just wanted to feel. And Jack made her feel exceptionally well.