She was smiling at him or at least he could tell she was smiling at him by the way her jade eyes sparkled, for her smile was hidden. She was even more enticing then he envisioned when he allowed himself the luxury of fantasizing about her this afternoon. However, he didn't count on the feeling of raw desire that gripped his stomach, causing his arms and legs to tingle with anticipation of something yet to come.

She looked like a genie sprung from a bottle and he had only one wish. To forget everyone on the other side of his bedroom door and take her into his arms and to his bed so he could exhaust her with the raw passion he felt welling up inside. His reaction to her came so sudden and was so violent he wondered if it showed. 

The look in Christian's eyes threw her. Such passion had shown there but he quickly looked away. So quick, she had wondered if she imagined it. The feel of his eyes caressing her heated her skin. Her temperature rose and her body blushed from the heat. She never remembered anyone looking at her with such longing but then he seemed the same old Christian when their eyes met again. She must have imagined it, perhaps because it was what she wanted.

"Sorry, to stare but you look...well you're incredible," Christian told her pushing away from the door and walking closer toward her. "Are you ready?" he asked tucking his hands in his pockets because his palms positively itched to touch her in some way.

Sheila shook her head. "Honestly? I don't know," she told him. "I'm nervous."

"You should do this Sheila. You need to and deserve it for all those times James has led you on and every other woman he has ever been with. And with that outfit... well it'll be more than vengeance. It'll be more like torture," Christian said although at this point he wasn't sure if he was still referring to James or to himself.

Sheila threw her arms around his neck and held on to him for a moment. Her action took him off guard and he instinctively wrapped his own arms around her. God, she felt so good in his arms.

Sheila knew she was holding on to him slightly longer than would be considered a friendly hug but could care less. "Thank you," she said pulling herself slightly away from him. His hands still rested casually at her hips, her face, inches from his.

Christian breathed in deeply. Which became a mistake because she filled his senses. The fragrance of jasmine and something else, something that was purely Sheila filled his nostrils and inflamed his need for her. Her lips were within inches of his own. If it hadn't been for the thin veil covering her lips Christian knew it would have been impossible to break away. God how he wished to taste those juicy pink lips to torturously devour her until he heard her moan with pleasure, but now was not their time.

"Get a grip," he told himself but that was the problem he did have a grip. Beneath his hands lay soft supple skin, heated so that he felt the burn against his palm and his hands wanted desperately to explore. "Still playing the fool?" the thought was like ice water dumped on his heated libido. His hands dropped from her waist and he placed them back in his pockets. "You're welcome," he said giving her an almost sad, reluctant smile as he took a step back from her.

"I can't believe I just threw myself at him," Sheila thought not allowing herself to meet Christian's eyes just yet. Thoroughly embarrassed by her own behavior she had no idea what possessed her to do it but what disturbed her more was her willingness to do it again.

"I'll go out first and introduce you properly" "You see that door to your left there?" Christian asked nodding in the direction of a door that stood perpendicular to the bathroom door. "As you may have discovered, it's another exit out of the suite. You can leave through there and enter through the front door on my cue."

Sheila nodded that she understood.

"Good luck," he told her before he slipped back out of the bedroom.

Sheila looked longingly at his retreating figure. She smoothed her hands over her waist, lingering a moment where he touched her. It felt good to have him hold her. In fact, it felt a little too good. Was she getting desperate? Christian just recently reenters her life and she's ready and willing to tumble into bed with him. It was completely unlike her, but the way he looked at her sent chills down her spine. She ached in places she didn't realize was possible. Well, another time perhaps, right now it was showtime.

Christian felt emotionally and physically shaken. God how he wanted her. His fantasy displayed before his eyes, her body silhouetted by that thin sheer fabric, tempting him as she stood before him. The view of her with his large bed in clear view behind her was an image, he believed, was now permanently etched in his brain. "Hell," Christian thought running his hand through his hair, "she isn't a fantasy. She is a full-bodied, hot-blooded beauty that I, for one instant, held in my arms."

Christian quickly collected himself before facing his friends. He strolled over to the TV and was greeted with several groans as he turned off the game, the Eagles were winning. "Sorry, gents, but I need your attention for a moment," he began, "First a toast to my best friend James, who is bravely forfeiting his freedom for a measly few million dollars. We salute you."

"Here, Here." The rest of the groomsmen chimed in. "I have a special treat for you, my friend," he said, "and it all starts with this gift." Christian handed a wrapped box to James.

James figured it had to be a gag and opened it with care expecting something to pop out at him. When he reached in and pulled out an old brass oil lamp he looked at Chris as if he had lost his mind. Christian was positively beaming as he stood in the corner of the room, leaning against the door. "Read the inscription," he told James.

Now he knew for certain Christian lost his mind as he looked down at the useless object in his hand. Staring at it he saw the writing engraved into the side of the lamp. The inscription read: For a good time you must rub me the right way. James laughed as he read the inscription and decided it was in his best interest to play along.

He took the lamp in his left hand and began polishing it with his right shirtsleeve, which he pulled over his palm. Christian nodded to one of the groomsmen who turned down the lights while a second turned on the music. "It seems, my friend, that you've got the magic touch," Christian told him, he opened the door and a woman stepped through.

The room that was once a buzz of activity stilled as she entered. The only sound coming from the music player that played the exotic Egyptian tune Sheila set up to dance to. She chose the classic Egyptian style of dance to complement the music, giving her the freedom to work the perimeter of the room. She shimmied up to each groomsman and twirled away just as they made to reach for her. The music guided her steps as she worked her way into their inner circle, heading toward the guest of honor. She had no problem picking him out. He looked as devilishly handsome as he did in college. He couldn't even give her the satisfaction of a gray hair, but thankfully although he remained the same she was years away from the naive girl she'd been in college.

He sat watching her from his perch in the middle of the sofa. She closed her eyes and allowed the rhythm of the music wash over her. When she opened her eyes, she gazed intensely at him. Feeling empowered by the way his eyes locked on her hip movements. In fact, every male eye was drawn to her body like moths to a flame as she danced in the middle of the room.

"Christian was right. Who needed a stripper when you had a vision like her to dance for you?" James wondered. She was beautiful. No, she was beyond beautiful she was breathtaking. He found the way she moved mesmerizing. He refused to look away. Afraid that should he blink, she may disappear.

Sheila circulated the room once more, pulling the scarves from her belt as she danced. She tossed them carelessly to the men who enthusiastically fought over trying to catch one. As Sheila pulled the last scarf from her belt she stood directly in front of James and leaned forward to drape it around his neck, giving James a tempting display of her breasts.

Christian knew Sheila was enjoying herself but seeing her like this was torture for him. He quickly pinpointed the flaw in his plan. He still wanted her for his own. When he pictured her dancing it was for him, but she wasn't dancing for him. She was dancing for James and that idea irritated him beyond belief, even if it was his idea. He was now forced to watch helplessly as Sheila bowed her back looking quite feline in posture. She leaned in even closer to James slowly, closing the distance between them. Christian closed his eyes briefly. If she kissed him, he could not bear to watch and yet...

Sheila made her move, pulling James closer and closer to her by the scarf she casually draped about his neck. "Not that James needs the urging," Christian thought gloomily who was unable to look away. He watched their faces come within inches of one another. The room seemed to crackle with the sexual tension her display caused.

James couldn't take it, forgetting completely about Lanie, being engaged, getting married next weekend, he moved in for the kill. Striking it seemed with lightning quickness.

Christian saw it coming, the desire James felt clearly showed on his face, and as James went to claim what Sheila was offering, Sheila waited. Prepared for the attack she left only a paused breath between James taking her lips and receiving only her veiled cheek instead.

Christian exhaled not even realizing he had been holding his breath. His body relaxed and he unclenched his palms, which were balled into fists.

James breathed in her scent and he immediately decided his contact with her was all too brief, but before he could make another move Sheila released her hold on the scarf causing James to fall back against the sofa. Giving her the small window of opportunity she needed to get away.

As Sheila turned from James, she saw Christian ready with the door open and she gave him a knowing wink. He knew she was smiling and found it difficult to not to smile back.

Like the vision, she was James watched her disappear. It wasn't until the music stopped and the lights were turned up that James awoke from his daze and sprung into action. He leaped from his seat and went to the door to go after the vision but Christian held him in check with a hand at his chest.

"Whoa, there. And where do you think you're going?"

James looked lost for a moment as if having difficulty comprehending Christian's words. He ignored him opened the door and peered down the hall. "Damn!" he said sharply. He slammed the door shut with more force than was necessary.

Christian felt a wave of relief wash over him. Glad, Sheila had made it back into his bedroom before James could make a scene chasing after her.

"How the hell did she disappear so fast?" James brooded and then looked at Christian. "Why did you let her go?" he asked moodily.

"She was paid for only a half an hour not an entire evening," Christian said patting his friend on the back. "So I take it you liked my surprise?"

James grinned. "Like is not the word I'd use to describe what I just experienced, my friend. You have got to get me that girl's number."

Christian became immediately alarmed. "I don't even know who she is," Christian lied, "how am I suppose to get her number?"

The rest of the party started getting back into full swing and James grabbed himself a beer. "Her work number then," James said handing a second beer to Christian.

"They're not going to give you any information on her. They don't even give you their real name. Most likely for the girl's protection," Christian informed him hoping James would allow the subject to drop.

James nodded. "That makes sense but man... there has to be a way of finding out who she really is."