Out of Control

by Toni J Strawn

  “Could you please excuse us one moment?” I asked Mia sweetly. I pushed her back inside the apartment and shut the door behind her before wheeling on Blake. “What the hell are you doing? I thought we agreed last night would be a once-only. That anything else was a complication.”

  The corner of his mouth twitched. “You agreed. I didn’t.”

  He looked so charming, with those gorgeous dimples creasing his cheeks, his kissable mouth wide and smiling. Still, he had the grace to look a little repentant. A very little. My lips still tingled from our latest entanglement. I wanted to throttle him, but also to rip his clothes off and have him on the landing. I twisted my fingers in my hair and retreated a step, my back hitting the door.

  “Don’t try and pretend you didn’t enjoy last night,” he continued, closing in on me. “That you don’t still want me,” he whispered, his breath fanning my cheek.

  For a moment I contemplated doing just that, except my mouth was too busy watering as the smell of hot, hungry male hit me. I needed fresh air. I glanced around, frantically searching for any way out of this situation. No magic genie appeared. I was trapped with nowhere to run except toward Blake.

  His finger lifted my chin until I was forced to look at him. “Is that what you’re trying to tell me? That you’re not thinking about what we did last night?”

  “No. Yes,” I said, my voice low and husky, full of need and wanting. I swallowed. “I— I just wasn’t expecting…consequences.”

  He laughed softly. “All actions have consequences, little Ms. Lila. Some good.” He tilted his head and his tone darkened. “Some bad.”

  Right now, I wanted bad. For him to drag me back into his arms so I was tight up against every inch of him. I knew he would be erect and hard, just as I knew that if I touched myself between my legs, I would come away dripping.

  I closed my eyes and stuffed my hormones back in my leggings.

  “You sound just like my mother,” I said, backing away from his grasp. My butt hit the door and I straightened, drawing a shaky breath. I didn’t need him or anyone else lecturing me about actions and outcomes. My mom had tried that all through my childhood. It’d never stuck. Obviously. I still did stupid things. Hot, steamy, stupid things.

  “Not exactly what I wanted to hear.” He let out a short laugh.

  “Well, how would you categorize last night?” I asked dryly. “Good, or bad?”

  The creases in his cheeks deepened. “You know the answer to that. Why else would I have come back? I’m taking you out. On a real date, not just a pickup at a bar.”

  I blinked. “You want to take me on a date?” I hated the way he did that, kept saying things that caught me off balance. Damn it. That was my trick. “I can see I’ve made it far too easy for you.”

  “Easy?” He tilted his head.

  “Yes. If you weren’t friends with Mia’s brother, you wouldn’t even have known my name. You wouldn’t have been able to find me again, let alone ask me on a date.” I grinned humorlessly. “I don’t think that’s in the rules.”

  “Fuck the rules,” he said darkly. “After last night, I would have found you.” The glint in his eyes let me know he was telling the truth. So damned confident.

  I narrowed my gaze. “And this has nothing to do with Mia?” I asked, wondering whether he would have come back if Mia weren’t the connection. He’d been on a fact-finding mission last night, on behalf of Mia’s brother. If he’d decided he wanted to snoop, I was the perfect way into her life.

  He put his arms on either side of my head. Leaned in. “She’s not the one I want to find out about right now,” he murmured in my ear. I shuddered as he ran his nose along my jawline. Found my mouth. “Say yes,” he whispered against my lips. He grasped my bottom lip with his teeth, just on the pleasurable side of painful.

  I pulled back and he released me with a soft pop. I found the tender spot with my tongue, ignoring the tingle of pleasure that chased the ache all the way to the pit of my stomach, leaving me breathless and wondering why the hell I was trying to fight the inevitable.

  I sighed. “Okay, then. A date.”

  “Perfect.” One last chaste kiss, and he opened the door behind me. By the time I’d untangled myself and turned around, he was waiting for me in the foyer. “Go and get changed.” He swatted my ass when I walked past and made a beeline for Mia.

  She cast me a look and I ducked my head. What could I say? Half of me wanted to ask what I should wear, the other half wanted to tell Blake to go screw himself. But then he flashed those dimples and I found myself following his orders, walking to my room to get changed.

  I couldn’t exactly wear jeans and a pajama top out on a date, after all. No, I needed appropriate armor. Something that screamed hands off but came apart in his hands when we were done playing nice in public. I’d need to keep my wits about me where he was concerned. He was too darned smooth for his own good. No doubt he was in the kitchen now, weaving a story, filling Mia in on his newfound fascination with me. Finding an angle to ask about her job.

  That didn’t mean I was going to swallow his bullshit. No, I’d only take out of this quasi-relationship what I wanted. Sex and a fun time. Someone to show me around the city sights. No more, no less. I might be impetuous, but I wasn’t stupid, and no way was I ready for another relationship, especially not with an obvious control freak like Blake.

  “What the hell is going on? Blake? Really?” Mia came in while I was pulling my shoes on.

  I pressed my lips together in a slight grimace. “Sorry. I can tell him no if it’ll make things weird with us.”

  But I realized as soon as I said the words that I didn’t want to. I was nowhere near finished with Blake Hanlon yet. Just the thought of tasting him again, being taken by him, had me hot and horny. I wanted another opportunity to have him in my bed—playing by my rules this time.

  Mia got it. “If you want him, have at it.” She wrinkled her nose. “To be honest, I don’t think I’ve ever seen him act this human. Jeez, a real date. Although, I don’t know that I’d bother getting all dressed up for him.” She regarded me up and down, taking note of the little black dress I’d slipped on, my glittery stilettos, and silver necklace with a tiny drop diamond. “You’re not his usual type.”

  “Type?” That would figure, that he had a type.

  “Women have always chased him, so like natural predators, the beautiful bitches tend to rise to the top of the food chain.” She laughed. “They never last long. Come to think of it, I don’t know that Blake’s ever had to ask anyone out. Don’t worry,” she hurried to say when I made a face. “I’m sure he’ll keep it casual.”

  “So, not a dress, then,” I said, glancing down at myself. I looked damn fine, but Mia was right. This wasn’t really me.

  She looked me over again. “It wouldn’t matter what you wore. Blake is good at making people feel comfortable. He used to do it with my mom all the time. Probably why she liked him so much.” Mia leaned forward conspiratorially. “I think it’s a control thing.”

  “You think?” I dead-panned.

  “So, what happened last night?” she asked, as I started stripping off the LBD.

  “What did Blake say?” I was glad the dress was up around my ears so she couldn’t see my flaming cheeks.

  She gave a short laugh. “He told me to mind my own business.”

  “That’s probably good advice.” I kept my back to her as I hung the dress in the closet and picked out a red silky top that had slit sleeves and a gathered waist.

  She suddenly sucked in a breath. “Oh my God, you slept with him, didn’t you?” She grabbed my arm and whirled me around. Her face said it all. Horror…along with a streak of pride. A very thin streak.

  I crossed my arms. “Only because you were too busy working. I was doing you a favor when you left me in his terrible clutches.”

  “A favor? Is that what you call it?” Blake said from the doorway.

  I glared at Mia, who was trying to hold back a grin. I shook
my head, giving up. “Both of you. Out. Now!” I ordered.

  I changed into a flared black skirt that fell just above my knees. My fingers shook as I did up the buckles on a pair of strappy sandals. Now Mia was gone, I had no one to distract me from my thoughts, like What the hell was I doing? Sure, in bed there was no denying Blake Hanlon spun my wheels all the way around. I blushed just thinking about what I’d done—what we’d both done to each other. The memories made heat crawl up my spine, locking on my nipples and making them stand up tall, begging for attention. Blake’s attention.

  And it wasn’t only his hands, his lips, and his mouth that I craved. I wanted to believe it was all about the sex, but the flutters in my belly told me otherwise. I was nervous about going out with him. The sight of him today had made my heart pound. I wanted him to want me. To like me. And that worried me. I had only just found myself again after my last relationship. What I needed was someone soft and pliable that I could have harmless fun with. Soft and pliable were not words I would ever associate with Blake. Hard. Unyielding. Demanding. That was him. And I had loved it.

  I took a deep breath and faced myself in the mirror. Wide, gray eyes peeked back at me from beneath a curtain of hair. My mother’s eyes. I heard her voice in my head. For once in your life, use your common sense, Lila. While my own inner voice screamed, Fuck the date, take him straight to bed.

  Perhaps I could aim my sights somewhere in between. I smoothed down my hair. For once the kinks had decided to play nice, and apart from the little kick at the ends, it fell straight to my jawline. I tucked one side behind my ear, then crinkled my nose and flipped it out again. Better to have a cover to hide behind.

  I straightened my spine and swiveled around, lifting my chin as I made my entrance into the kitchen. Blake’s nostrils flared, and his eyes went all hot and buttery, sliding down to my toes and all the way back up every inch of my body. A thousand-orgasm stare. I fought to get a good lungful of air, wanting to slink up next to him, run my hands under his shirt and down to the waistband of his pants…

  “You kids be good.”

  Oh yeah. Mia. She flickered into my periphery, and I wrenched my gaze from Blake’s to find her standing right beside him. A flash of a smile told me he’d noticed my distraction.

  I gathered up my bag and my dignity at the same time. “Don’t worry. We’ll be very good,” I said dryly. Much more of this and I wouldn’t be leaving with him, at all. I’d forgo the date and drag him down the hall to my bedroom. I shuddered, a fine tremble that ran up the back of my legs, tingling around the tops of my thighs.

  “We’ll be back later. Maybe then we can have that chat.” He nodded to Mia, then took my elbow and escorted me from the kitchen before I could say anything to the contrary.

  “There’s nothing to chat about. You don’t have to worry about me,” she called from behind us.

  He stopped and turned, dropping my arm in the process. “We worry because we care,” he said. He spread his arms. “Humor me, okay?”

  “Or you could just mind your own business,” she said, the pissed-off look back on her face.

  “Ahem.” I cleared my throat, drawing their attention back to me. I raised a brow in his direction. “I thought this visit was all about me?”

  His dimples deepened. “By all means, let’s make it about you.” He held out his arm, indicating I should precede him to the door. Playing the perfect gentleman in front of Mia—not at all like the wild, out-of-control man who’d been in my bed last night. There had been nothing polite or refined about him then. Just pure, animalistic desire.

  His fingers brushed mine and I almost purred in pleasure, knowing he would put away the polite civility and bring out the other Blake later, when we were alone.

  I expected to find his car at the curb, or a waiting cab, but instead he turned down the street and we walked a few blocks, toward the city center. When we came to the first intersection, he reached down and took my hand, like I was a toddler needing assistance crossing the road. I turned to say something scathing, then his thumb caressed the back of my hand and a prickle of warmth ran up my arm and down into my belly. He smiled as my eyes widened and I snapped my mouth shut.

  “Not far to go,” he said.

  We ended up in a crowded pub, not at all what I’d imagined. I thought he’d take me somewhere a little more intimate, a place where he could isolate me in a quiet corner, ply me with drink, and unlock all my secrets…or at least my panties. Instead, we were caught in a cheery, shabby-chic bistro, crushed up with the after-work rush of young and up-and-coming couples grabbing a drink and a bite on their way to somewhere else. The place was jumping, conversation a loud hum that barely drowned out shouted orders and the rerun of the last Terrapins game.

  “They serve a great steak,” Blake said, as he raised his arm at the older woman working the dining room. She must have known him, because she nodded and a table was magically cleared in the corner by the window.

  “Do you live around here?” I asked as I plonked myself into the still-warm seat facing the wall. This didn’t look like his kind of place. The table was pitted and scarred from a thousand knives and forks, but it was clean, and the blue-and-yellow checked napkins gave the room a homey atmosphere. I glanced around. Wood paneling was the decor de jour, light-grained wood for the tables and the long bar lining the back wall, with dark timber planking for the floor. The place was clean, but well lived in. It made me think of a London pub. Not that I’d been there, but I’d watched many a binge-worthy English TV series.

  “With Declan’s apartment so close, I was a frequent visitor when he lived there.” Blake laughed dryly. “This was our Friday night spot, and Declan got into enough trouble that he made himself memorable.”

  “What about you?” I grinned. “Did you get into trouble, too?”

  “I got him out of trouble enough times that, yeah, they remember me, too. Declan and Mia lived together for a short while before he left for L.A. You never know, she might have made a name around here, too.”

  “Declan lived with Mia?” No wonder she was sick to death of her brother and his friends interfering in her life. She probably hadn’t had a minute to herself since she was a teen.

  “It’s his condo you’re staying in,” Blake said. “He rented it to Mia when his job took him to L.A.” Blake gave me a look. “He’s always been very good to his sister.”

  “What about you? Do you miss him?” I asked.

  Blake’s face clouded, and his gaze dropped. “Declan saved me, and I saved him. He’s family.”

  I was dying to question Blake about his real family, his parents or any siblings he might have, but the waitress appeared at our table before I had a chance.

  “What can I get you?” She pulled her notepad out at the ready.

  “We’ll have two steaks,” Blake answered, not bothering to confer with me. I hadn’t even opened the menu.

  “What if I’m a vegetarian?” I huffed.

  He tilted his head. “Are you?”

  “No, but—”

  “Then, two steaks,” he told the bemused waitress and she left. He turned his grin on me. “Believe me, you don’t want to miss out on this.”

  “It doesn’t look like I’ll get that chance. Are you always this much of a control freak?”

  “Pretty much.” He grinned, totally unrepentant. “Now you know everything you need to know about me. So, what about you?”

  “What about me?” I snapped, my head still spinning from his easy acceptance of how much of an arrogant ass he was. He really didn’t care.

  “What are your plans?” He leaned back in his chair to survey me, and a trickle of heat followed his gaze. “I looked you up. Your boredom buster app was a good one, but you did well to sell it while you could. There are a hundred more like it on the market now.”

  “Thank you.” I decided to ignore the fact he’d stalked me on the internet. I couldn’t blame him. I’d done the same thing and found out exactly how successful he really w
as. “Actually, selling the app was nothing but dumb luck, but the idea did catch on pretty fast.”

  “So you’re working on your next project?”

  I picked at my napkin. “I don’t know. I’m kinda out of inspiration right now.” Moving halfway across the country and dealing with a dickwad ex had thrown me off my game.

  Hell, who was I kidding? The app had come about from me spending way too much time moping over Austin while we were together. I’d found something to take my mind off how shitty he’d made me feel. Now that the app was signed, sealed, and delivered, I had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. If anything. In the meantime, I had signed up for a few online business courses and was researching a couple of new ideas. Nothing serious.

  “I’m guessing your parents have money to shore things up if life turns sour?” he said.

  I blinked. “My parents?” I couldn’t help but let out a laugh. “No, I won’t be calling on them anytime soon.” They were too busy cozying up to Austin, waiting for me to come to my senses and go back to him. “What about you? Where did you get all of your money?” I asked more harshly than I intended. His game of twenty questions was getting to me.

  His chin lifted. “I made it myself. Hard work. Zero social life.”

  “No wealthy parents or guardians, then?”

  “No,” he said. “I would never rely on someone else to get me anywhere in life.”

  I looked him in the eye. “Neither would I,” I said, making sure he understood me.

  He inclined his head with a look of respect. Point taken.

  Our steaks arrived, big fat cuts that took up half the plates, slathered in thick mushroom sauce with crispy potato wedges and a hint of salad. Blake dove straight in and I followed suit. Damn. The steak was good, all pink and tender and juicy.

  “Okay, I’ll admit it’s pretty awesome,” I said around my second mouthful—or was it my third?

  “Told you so.” He had to say it, along with the accompanying smug look.

  “Ugh.” I tucked back into the steak, determined not to let him get to me.