She watched as he headed for the bed. Still, she was held speechless as he sank down on its side. He popped the cork with ease, and her fascination grew as he raised the bottle to his lips.
He patted the space behind. “Come on, join me,” he murmured with a slow sexy smile. “It’s getting rather lonely over here.”
She swallowed hard.
Obviously, her earlier bravado was beginning to fade.
More than that, her forbidden lover made her tongue-tied.
How could a woman like her respond to a man like him? She barely knew how to maintain a conversation with a male colleague let alone a sexy masculine creature like him. Yet, somehow, she found the courage to edge forward. Once she reached the bed and sat, she was careful to place some space between them.
Wrapping both arms around herself, she glanced towards the window.
At the moment, looking at him was too much…
“It’s a beautiful sight, isn’t it?” he asked as his gaze fell in the same direction. “Without a doubt, this is the best part of a day, watching it fall prey to the secrets of the night.” He took another fast swig of the liquor. “When the night shields us from the rest of the world, we’re free to be whom and what we are. Don’t you agree?”
“I-I suppose so.” Suddenly, on the verge of tears, she could only whisper her next words. “What am I doing? I shouldn’t be here with you. This is wrong.”
“Wrong---maybe so. But, then again, it depends on whom you ask.” Being extremely careful, he placed the bottle on the night table beside the bed. “Did you consider the ramifications when you signed on?”
“No, I---I just did it,” she mumbled in a hasty rush. “On the spur of the moment. Now, though, thinking about it, I guess that I should have considered things.”
“Well, allow me to be the truth-teller, Sweetness, and my very words may be disappointing and enlightening at the same time. There’s nothing saintly about this place or me. Deep down, you know that saintliness isn’t what you’re after anyway. You’re here tonight for one reason and one reason alone: and that’s to be with me in an intimate sense. Once you accept that truth, you’ll be good.” When she failed to answer, he stood before positioning himself in front of her, and then released an exasperated sigh. “Damn it, look at me.”
“No,” she whispered defiantly and shook her head fast. Then, she kept her teary gaze trained on his trouser-clad thigh. “I can’t.”
“Why?” Still, though, he made no moves to touch her. Yet, the same fiery heat emanated from his strong form, and it seared her from her position on the bed. “Are you afraid of me?”
“Y-you’re a stranger. I don’t know you,” she said in a trembling voice. To no amazement, she was shaking all over. Swallowing hard, she stood up fast. “This is a mistake.”
But, her actions only brought them into dangerous proximity.
She seized a desperate breath.
He held his stance.
Rather than stepping back, he grasped her chin.
Their gazes connected and held.
While hers held uncertainty, his hazel-green orbs had determination.
One thing was clear.
He wasn’t about to let her flee.
“You’re speaking of mistakes. Right now, I can only think of one, and that’s you denying yourself.” Another forward edge from him brought them dangerously closer, so much that their bodies touched. “And I won’t let you do that.”
She trembled against him.
Already, her traitorous body was beholden to his.
Like an enslaved creature, it sought its master.
Against her near-naked form, she felt every ridge of his masculine one.
But, this shameful, shameful, shameful trembling of hers…
It wasn’t due to fear, but what she felt inside.
Truth was, she did want this stranger to touch her.
She wanted him to do scandalous things to her body.
Weeks ago, when she’d gone to the escort website, she’d been drawn to him instantly. Every other male image on the screen had been a blur…she’d seen him and only him. Her attraction to him had been instantaneous, and she’d been captivated from the start.
Now, seeing him face to face, it had only intensified that very attraction.
But, again, she was scared.
Of herself……
That shame was too crippling, she realized, finally lifting her gaze to his.
“Why can’t I be normal like other women? I’ve never really been free to be one. There’s always been so many obligations and expectations to meet. That part of me that I’ve longed for has been dying a slow death,” she whispered quietly, holding his gaze, and a fat tear plopped against her cheek. “Because of it, I’ve been alone. I’ve never known how to be a woman. I’m not interesting enough or beautiful---”
“If a man fails to see what a treasure you are, then, he’s a damn fool. As for you not being a woman—you’re dead wrong,” he rasped hoarsely, searching her face. For some reason or another, his words convinced her. Framing her face in his hands, he drew her further under his spell. “You’re a woman in every regard, even more so than most. You are a fucking beautiful woman.”
She looked at him misty-eyed. “You’re just saying that.”
“No, I’m not. You’re incredibly beautiful, not to mention very passionate, though you don’t see or understand that yet. It’s a truth that I’ll stand by.” Gently, he brushed a stray tear away with his thumb, and his gaze was dead serious as it held hers. “Wrap your arms around me.”
Falling silent, she followed his softly ordered command.
She stiffened further as he hugged her close.
“You need to relax.” Against her tresses, he breathed the soft sensual words. Then, tightening his hold, he began slow-dancing although no music played. “I swear on my life that I’m not going to hurt you.”
Following his lead, she matched his every step.
With every passing second, the tension began ebbing from her body.
They danced to the silence.
The simple act was so blatantly intimate.
Closing her eyes tight, she pressed a cheek against his bare chest and listened to the thundering tattooed beat. Relaxing further, she released a gentle sigh before edging closer.
“Are you alright, now?”
“Yes.” As she tightened her hold, she inhaled a fast whiff of his musky cologne. The intoxicating smell of him was damning to her already clouded senses. It was a thrilling feeling that she liked. “I am.”
“Good girl.” He smiled against her head. “For a minute there, you had my mind completely fucked up. I must say that I’m not accustomed to a response like yours. Most women run to me rather than away.” He paused. “The truth is this---you’re real. In this jaded world, you are a rarity and I definitely like that. Never believe that you have to change. It’d be an absolute mistake if you did.”
They continued to dance.
She lost track of the time.
But, her fiery attraction to this beautiful stranger intensified…
The mood changed in the room.
In their bodies…
It was a feared, yet welcomed feeling simultaneously.
One thing was for certain.
She wanted them to be closer.
Much closer.
Obviously, he sensed the change as well.
Pulling back slightly, he studied her close.
His expression was serious and knowing at the same time. Halting their movement, he peered into her face. “Are you alright?”
“Yes,” she nodded with a shy smile. “I’m fine.” Then, an embarrassed flush warmed her features. “I’m sorry for turning into a slobbering mess.”
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said firmly, and again, understanding swirled in his hazel-green eyes. “That was how you were feeling in that very moment. You had every right to attend to your emotions.” He flicked his eyes over her face. “What do you want t
o do now?”
“I---I don’t know,” she said, blushing, and gave a shrug. “What do you suggest?”
“No, I’m leaving everything up to you,” he insisted, and her heart flip-flopped at the sight of his wicked grin. “You are going to determine what happens between us. It’s your call.”
“Can we dance some more?” she asked innocently, grasping his waist. “I’d like to do that.”
“Sure,” he agreed. “But, why don’t we play a little music this time?” He released her before striding to the stereo. After he pressed a few buttons and surfed through a few selections, the sultry music began to play. While it played low, the heavy bass accentuated the lyrics more. His sexy gait was slow as he sauntered towards her. When he reached her, he offered her another smile. “Now, where were we?”
This time, she stepped into his arms without any hesitation. As his strong arms wrapped around her scantily clad body, she eagerly welcomed the embrace. But, this time, their dancing rhythm was much slower, more erotic in nature.
“Why don’t we try this?” he suggested in a low husky tone. Then, taking her arms, he looped them around his neck. “I think that we’ll both enjoy the dance more in this position.”
And he was right, she realized, breathing a sweet sigh of contentment. Against her soft body, his hard one felt right. Every ridge, every line of his masculine form fit against hers perfectly.
She dared a risk upward.
Their gazes collided and locked.
With his eyes, he sought permission from her to take their forbidden dance further.
Her breathless gasp was clear acceptance.
As his hands trailed down her sides and onto the space above her hips, she embraced the wild torrid currents of sensation. His hot touch seared her bare flesh and branded it with a fiery need.
The CD stereo switched songs, and now, an intense love song began playing.
Somehow, it fit the atmosphere with finesse and mirrored the damning emotions that were sweeping her senses. Within the music and their movement, she became lost.
He held her closer.
She clung even more.
Suddenly, their dance movements mimicked those of the one that she’d witnessed in the club earlier. With his hips, he thrust against her, making her feel the hardness of his erection. Releasing a breathless gasp, she accepted the scandalous stroke against her body. On instinct, her treacherous body responded and moved along with his in a time-old language---one that it easily understood.
The tides swept over her…plunging her deeper into a forbidden world…one where she wanted to flee from and embrace all at the same time…
Her breath hitched as his hands moved again.
With an expert slowness, they descended, finally molding along the contours of her hips. The hot heat pulsated between her thighs, and it was the same familiar ache that’d haunted her many lonely nights. Only now, the ache was fiery and overwhelmingly intense.
She snaked her tongue along her lips.
With heady disdain, she realized that she wanted him to kiss her. Not a simple chaste kiss, but one that’d leave her even more breathless than she already was. Suddenly, she couldn’t control the shivers of need that coursed through her. “Please, let’s stop,” she said abruptly and disentangled herself from him. Turning away from him, she edged towards the bed. Then, looking at him wide-eyed, she sagged down on it. Their forbidden dance had caused an upset to the balance that they sought.
For a moment, he stood within the darkened space and watched her. A dangerous primal expression lined his sexy features. Though she was an innocent, she recognized that his dark needs mirrored her own.
As he crossed the room, his hazel-green eyes swept over her with open interest. But, he didn’t say anything as he sat down beside her. The silence was heady, yet it was rife with unspoken words of deep want.
But, what now, she surmised, staring across the room.
Any other woman would know what to do. Any other woman would know how to proceed and asked to be seduced. Any other woman---
When he clasped her trembling hand in his, her coherent thoughts fled. Startled, she turned her attention to him. Again, she was rocked by her deep-seeded attraction to him, and she couldn’t help but to ogle him. Under her close perusal, his expression became unreadable, and she was disappointed that she’d never know the real man.
“What do you want to do now?” Regarding her openly, he caressed the back of her hand with his thumb. “You just want to sit here and talk?”
“T-that’ll be good,” she stammered with a brisk nod of her head, and the heat rose in her face. “We can talk.”
But, she wanted more.
She wanted him to touch her.
Disrobe her fully…
She wanted him to do all sorts of wicked things.
“Why don’t we start with how you’re feeling now?” he related, inching closer to her, and his own breathing seemed uneven. “Tell me about that.”
“I’m fine,” she murmured low, staring into his eyes. “There’s nothing to tell.”
“You’re not being truthful with me. With your words, you say such a blatant falsehood. Your eyes…your sweet body…they speak the true language of your feelings. They’re outright betraying you.” Then, he raised her trembling hand to his lips before pressing a soft kiss against it. His eyes beseeched hers as he did so, and easily, he breathed in the dark needs that emanated from her. “I know what you want.”
She did know what she wanted, she mulled, swallowing hard. Wasn’t she just too afraid to voice her feelings and thoughts out loud?
“Why don’t you make yourself more comfortable?” he said, rising to his feet, and then walked across the room towards the wet bar. “I’m going to make us both something to drink.”
There was little doubt that this was far out of her element, she realized, crawling to the middle of the bed. She leaned against the plush shag pillows, but still their softness did little to alleviate her tension.
“I don’t think that a glass of white wine will hurl you into a world of insobriety,” he said jokingly and poured the smooth alcohol into the matching goblets. Then, clinching a glass in each hand, he returned to the bed. His expression was guarded as he passed the full goblet to her, but still a fire smoldered in his hazel-green eyes. “And here we go---a glass of wine for my beautiful liar.”
She accepted the goblet with a question. “Why do you call me that?” she asked, stiffening against the pillows, and then took a tiny sip. “I’m a lot of things. But, a liar, I’m not.”
“That’s where you and I will have to disagree.” He held onto his own goblet as he took the space beside her. Casually, he crossed his legs at the ankles, and then cast a sideways look at her. “The very moment that you walked in, I understood that you are.”
Her hand shook as she stared back at him. Inside, she was fuming. Was part of what he was saying the truth? Instead, she said testily and swallowed the alcohol too fast. “I don’t have to be insulted like this---”
As the alcohol strangled her, she fell into a fit of ragged coughing.
Mortified, red-faced, she struggled to catch a breath.
“Believe me, it’s not an insult. I just think that you need to face the truth about yourself. Now, give me that,” he said seriously, whisking the goblet from her hand, and then placed it on the night table. He placed his down as well before patting her on the back gently. Stalling for a moment, he watched her with concern, and then relaxed upon seeing that she’d recovered. “The last thing that you should do is try to chug alcohol down fast regardless what kind it is.”
“This is a mistake,” she mumbled again with a hint of embarrassment and raked a hand through her hair. “I—I shouldn’t be here---”
“Shouldn’t, wouldn’t, couldn’t—but, the fact remains that you are here.” The mattress sagged under his weight as he moved. Now, he sat on his haunches in front of her on the bed. Although, a little space separated them, she still felt the
lingering madness that continued to rise. “How long are you going to play this game with yourself anyway?” A deep challenging look lined his features. “You’ve been doing it since you’ve been here.”
She bit her lip. “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Bullshit. I have one question for you. When are you going to grab that insecurity by the jugular and say to hell with it? Just being with you in this short time, I sense that it’s stifling you in every area of your life.”
Was she that transparent?
An unwarranted anger surged through her. How dare he judge her! “You have no right to say such a thing,” she said, and her chest rose fast. “You don’t know anything about me---”
“I know enough to realize that you want me to fuck you right now. But, while you’re too afraid to accept that fact, you’re eager to at the same time,” he said knowingly, running an appreciative look over her. “You want me to put my hands on you and touch you. Guess what, my beautiful liar. I want the same thing.”
His confession rocked her.
Of course, she’d sensed that he wanted her, even though her innocence was blinding. Still, hearing him say it was enough to shake her fragile foundation of reality.
But, was it possible that she was reading more into his reaction? After all, it was his chosen profession, seducing women like her. Certainly, she had no right to expect anything from him. It was a burning truth that she didn’t quite know how to accept.
The deep hurt lanced her and she released the ugly words. “You’re a whore---”
“At the moment, I’m your whore,” he said smoothly, and again, she sensed a sensual challenge. “And right now, I want to do unspeakable things to you, things that are guaranteed to leave your virginal ass dripping wet. I want to defile the hell out of you. By the time this week is over, you’ll know what it feels like to be a woman in every sense.” His smile was lethal and dangerously sexy all at the same time. Again, it seared every level of her inhibition, slaughtering it into a flimsy shield of nothingness. “Somehow, someway, fate knew that I was the man for the job, and it’s a task that I eagerly accept.” He paused. “While that’s true, you have to find acceptance with yourself first.”
“Find acceptance with myself?”
Reign on Me Page 4