Watch Me

by Shayla Black

  Now, he gave off the vibe of a predator. Shanna swallowed and raised her chin as he sauntered closer.

  “Can I take your coat?”

  Feeling too vulnerable for her comfort, she unbelted the garment and stripped it off. The red corset underneath and the matching black thong, garters, and stockings went way beyond suggestive. Being naked would make her feel more clothed.

  Del whistled, looking her up and down, lingering on her breasts. “You look hot. Damn hot.”

  She cleared her throat. His hungry gaze eating her up when she’d last been on stage with Alejandro had turned her on. Being alone with him, having him this close, while he wore that ravenous expression? Disturbing.

  She shrugged off his comment casually. “A costume like any other.”

  “You and Ali got a real thing going?”

  Shanna frowned. When this was over, it was unlikely she and Alejandro continue to see each other. They were from different worlds. Whatever they might have had would be another casualty to her ambition. It didn’t bother her. Well…it shouldn’t.

  But something wretched and heavy that felt an awful lot like regret smothered her. Pain followed. It wouldn’t do anything but distract her, so she shoved it down.

  “No.”

  Flashing her a hot smile, Del leaned in until he was invading her personal space. “That’s good news. Very good, in fact.”

  The rapacious way he watched her gave her major pause.

  “When you and Ali are done here…maybe you and I could hook up?” he dragged a fingertip down her arm, leaving a prickle of unease in his wake.

  Did Del really imagine that after having sex with his friend and business partner, she was just going to throw Ali over and hop in his bed?

  She put space between them. “I don’t think so. Get your hand off me.”

  He complied slowly. “If you and Ali don’t have a thing going, why not? You’re a gorgeous woman. I’ve seen you in action, and you make me hard. I’ll treat you right, make you scream. I hear you’re good at switching partners. C’mon. What do you say?”

  He reached around her and slung his hand low on her hip, almost on her ass.

  Fury erupted in Shanna’s gut. She grabbed his wrist, squeezed his pressure point until he winced, then shoved his hand away from her backside.

  “What the hell are you thinking? No, the better question is, which part of your body is doing the thinking for you? I’m pretty sure I know the answer.” She cut a derisive glare in the vicinity of his crotch, then shot a quick glance to the door. Where was Ali?

  “What’s the problem, baby?” He moved in closer again.

  Her temper flared. Douche bag!

  She lifted her foot and dug her stiletto into his toes. He swore, and she smiled. “The problem is, I’m supposed to have sex with your friend in less than five minutes. Let’s focus, shall we?”

  His voice was strained as he reached down to cradle his injured toe. “You don’t get sentimental about your partners. And you said you weren’t involved with Ali. So why shouldn’t I ask a gorgeous woman if she wants to hook up?”

  Why, indeed? Del was attractive physically. She doubted he would be demanding of her time or try to delve into her psyche. Del would never take her to his bed after a wild night on stage, love her privately, and rip past the barriers around her heart. He would probably never press her for more than sex.

  But if she disliked Alejandro for all those things, why wasn’t she eager to spend alone time with his sinfully good-looking friend?

  “Alejandro is your business partner and best friend.”

  “Yeah, but if you’re not into him, that makes you fair game.”

  Shanna was still processing Del’s words when he grabbed her and crushed her body against his. His mouth swooped down, and he captured her lips. At the first swipe of his tongue against hers, she knew nothing but panic.

  And pure rage.

  She twisted in his grasp until she delivered a hard knee to his balls. He backed away instantly, doubled over and clutching himself.

  “What the hell is your problem?”

  “I’ll tell you exactly what I’ve told Alejandro: I have the most important competition of my career to focus on. I intend to win, and anything else is just a distraction I don’t need.”

  “And that’s your only reason for turning me down?”

  Alejandro shoved the stage door open. It collided with the wall, echoing across the stage as he strode inside. He had the distinct impression he’d interrupted something.

  In the middle, Shanna stood wearing the corset, garters, and thong he’d sent her—and looking every bit as drop-dead sexy as he’d known she would. Though his dick was already hard at the thought of being inside her, this outfit added to the red blood cell count below his waist.

  But the righteous anger on her face made him pause. Especially when he saw Del two feet away, hunched over, clutching his balls and glaring at her.

  What the hell?

  “She’s got a mean knee, man.”

  “He’s got the disposition of a manwhore.”

  Anger crashed into Alejandro with the same impact as driving a hundred miles an hour straight into a brick wall. “You made a move on her?”

  “Yes!” Shanna shouted.

  Del tried to stand up straight and shrug. “You said she had a habit of switching dance partners. I wondered if that extended to sex. She swore you two had nothing going. If that’s true, why would she kick me?”

  Then his friend did something bizarre. He winked.

  Ali frowned…until everything started falling into place. Del had been testing her. If Shanna didn’t care a thing about him, Alejandro knew she would have gone for Del. Women did—in droves. Shanna had been turned on by him watching her just days ago. Why not follow through?

  Ali suspected that the only reason Shanna had kneed his pal was because whatever feelings she had developed between them since their last scene together were stronger than she wanted to admit. And Del had pissed her off.

  Suddenly, Ali resisted the urge to smile. Hope curled in his belly, warmed his heart, made his dick even stiffer. He’d test his theory tonight.

  “We have no time to argue. Let us start this party. Del, show the crowd in. Security tells me they are lined up down the hallway. Shanna, turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

  With a nod, Del turned and headed for the door.

  No surprise, Shanna hesitated at his command. She’d assumed he would be angry that Del made a pass at her. She’d assumed Ali would behave possessively. If he hadn’t known Del for years and hadn’t known quite well how his friend’s mind worked, Ali would have been.

  Instead, he intended to enjoy the fireworks between he and Shanna before he got to the bottom of whatever was in her heart. Del was just helping him along.

  “Is there a problem?” he asked. “People will begin filing in soon. We should be in position.”

  “Fine.” She presented him with her back.

  What a luscious view! Feminine shoulders tapered down to a narrow, red-corseted back. The black thong bisected a firm, feminine ass he’d fantasized about fucking. Those garters and black thigh-high stockings hugging the toned curves of her legs damn near had him on his knees.

  And if he played his cards right, she would be all his.

  Forcing his stare back to her wrists crossed at the small of her back, Ali grabbed them. With a flick and two quick clicks, he secured her in handcuffs.

  She whirled on him, murder in her eyes. “What the hell are you doing? Unlatch these! I didn’t sign up for this. We didn’t discuss—”

  Ali cut off her tirade by cupping her nape and covering her mouth with his. She struggled…for a moment. Then he swept inside her mouth, tunneled his hands in her hair, and kissed her as if his very life depended on it.

  She melted.

  With a gentle nip and a soothing kiss to cover the sting, he pulled back and whispered, “We have an audience.”

  Releasin
g her, Ali walked a half circle around her and cozied up to her back, letting her feel the heat of his body and his erection. She gasped.

  The curve of her neck beckoned, and he trailed his lips up the graceful line and soft skin.

  Briefly, he opened his eyes and discovered at least twenty-five people in the room—and more filing in. Perfect. Maybe they would catch the asshole tonight.

  Then he put everything out of his mind—except Shanna.

  He started at her shoulders, but his hands seemed to develop a mind of their own. Down they plunged, right over the curves of her breasts, pushed up by the tight corset. But having those nipples covered wasn’t going to do.

  In a few seconds, Alejandro brushed through the little fastenings holding the garment together. It fell to the stage in a boned rustle of fabric.

  Men groaned in the audience as he bared her breasts to them. Shanna tensed. Ali could feel her shivering. Cold? He didn’t think so. Nerves? Maybe. Excitement. Definitely. He could smell a hint of her arousal.

  Eagerly, he reached around and cupped her breasts in his hands, squeezing her nipples between his thumbs and fingers. She writhed, wriggling her ass against his cock.

  He was about to lose his mind.

  With a yank, he tugged the sheer thong from her body. Another collective groan rang from the audience. Guys shifted weight from one foot to another, adjusted themselves in their pants, sat forward in their chairs. Shanna began to pant.

  Ali dragged his palms down her abdomen. He itched to feel the silk of her pussy, see just how wet she was.

  Moments later, he had his answer. She was wet, welcoming, lush. Shanna might lie about her feelings for him, but her body couldn’t.

  Now was the perfect time to start testing his theory…

  A quick point at Del brought his friend up on the stage. Shanna tensed again. This time, he didn’t think it was due to excitement.

  Before she could say a word, he whispered, “I want to watch your breasts be sucked. Del will help us out.”

  “No,” she whimpered.

  “You change partners all the time. Why does it matter?”

  Del approached her and pressed his body close to Shanna’s. Ali didn’t say a word, just lifted her breasts up to him.

  Just before he bent to her, Del sent her a smile that said he was ready for scorching hot sex.

  “It just matters,” she whispered. “Please no.”

  Lifting dark eyes to Ali, Del waited for a cue.

  Ali had what he wanted for now. He shook his head.

  With a wry grin, Del contented himself by placing a chaste kiss on the curve of her breast. But to show he wasn’t going to be dismissed, he took a seat on a nearby pillow and sent a scorching stare her way.

  In truth, Ali knew they had to play along, just in case their blackmailer was in the room. But he wanted nothing more than to get Shanna alone. Soon, he promised himself.

  Turning her back toward him, Ali watched her stage smile collapse. She looked at him with a mixture of hurt, anger, and relief. Apparently, swapping partners did matter to her. And he sensed that the sooner he got her to admit that about dance, the sooner she’d settle into having one man in her life.

  Impatient to touch her, Ali tore down the zipper of his leather pants and freed his stiff cock. “Suck me.”

  He kicked a pillow under her knees. Shanna hesitated, then sank down, bent her head, and consumed him.

  Oh, hell. Her mouth was a silken oven, soft and scorching and robbing him of breath. She damn sure knew what to do with that tongue of hers, caressing the length of his staff, curling it around the head. She sucked deep and hard, all the way to the back of her throat.

  His heartbeat rattled in his chest. His ears buzzed with the excitement. Faintly, he was aware of male groans and a “fuck, yeah,” from the audience. But focusing beyond Shanna’s hot mouth was growing impossible.

  As wonderful as it was, it had to stop. They had a show to put on for these guests—and a potential blackmailer. A blow job was all well and good, but not blackmail-worthy, compared to Kristoff’s show.

  With a groan of regret, Ali cupped her cheeks and lifted her mouth from his cock. Then he helped her to her feet. In four steps, he had her bent over the huge, cushioned bed, her breasts pressed to the silk comforter. A few seconds later, he was sheathed and deep inside her.

  She gripped him like no one ever had, like every contour had been formed just to clench around him perfectly.

  He seized her hips and tunneled deeper. Then set a ruthless pace.

  She cried out. The sight of her all spread out under him, her hands still cuffed at the small of her back, her pussy taking every inch he had…hell, he wasn’t going to last long. And he didn’t want to go off alone.

  “I ache to play with your clit and feel you orgasm around me…” He hadn’t even finished the sentence before he slid a pair of determined fingers right over the button of her nerves.

  With his other hand, he gripped her hips tight. He thrust inside her repeatedly, dragging the head of his cock right over that sensitive spot that had her muscles tensing, shaking.

  In moments, a low, feminine groan split the air. Almost there…

  “Come for me,” he demanded. “Come!”

  With another brush and press of his fingers over her clit, she screamed. Around them, the audience groaned. Several stroked their own cocks…even Del.

  Then the rippling walls of her sex contracted, tightened, gripping and coaxing him, blotting out all other thoughts. Ali closed his eyes and focused on her. He shouted through clenched teeth as he followed her into ecstasy.

  More than one groan of satisfaction split the air within moments. Ali didn’t care. All he knew was that underneath him was the woman he would not let go of. They had seen to business.

  Now it was time for the real pleasure—and hopefully, the future—to begin.

  8

  A pleasure cloud. Heavy limbs, light head. A gentle throb between her legs pulsing as it slowly abated. Alejandro’s embrace providing warmth, even as he gripped her as if he’d never let go. Ah…

  Shanna could happily stay here, connected to him for a while. A long while. There were reasons she shouldn’t, she knew. She just couldn’t remember them now.

  Then Alejandro slipped free of her body and broke her sensual haze. She lifted weighty lids to watch him walk past her and snap the curtains shut between them and the audience. Del remained on their side of the drape, and Shanna was suddenly conscious of her nudity and Del’s dark eyes on her.

  “Keep them the hell out of here,” Alejandro growled in low tones.

  Del clapped his gaze on his buddy, who was now buttoning his pants and wearing a sly smile. “You got it. Tomorrow?”

  Ali smiled. “Maybe the day after.”

  What were they talking about? It should be obvious, but her brain was so clouded by satisfaction that thinking was just a lot of effort right now.

  Del’s laugh barely registered when Alejandro turned and stalked across the floor to her. In seconds, he uncuffed one of her wrists, grabbed her up in his arms, and headed for the stage door.

  “What…? Where are you—?”

  “Alone.” He said the word like a vow. “No one except you and me, being us together.”

  Just in case others could hear, she whispered, “But the blackmailer—”

  “If he was here tonight, he already got what he came for. Del will call me if they captured something on the security cameras. Now, this is about us.”

  “But you said we would stay all night, if necessary.”

  He stopped. “Is that what you want, for me to fuck you again for an audience? Shall we invite more people in this time?”

  Sarcasm. Anger. And she understood. Something inside her rejected the notion of more audience time, too. “No.”

  “Good. I’m done sharing you with other hungry male eyes.” He pushed through a door, out into a bright hall, past the open door to security. Laughing and clapping ensued fro
m the crew inside the office, and Shanna buried her head in his neck.

  “I’m naked!” she shrieked.

  “They just watched us on the cameras. They are not seeing anything they have not yet seen. Which is another reason I want you all to myself.”

  Shanna didn’t have the chance to speak again before Ali opened another door and let it slam behind him. Now it was dark, and Southern California’s summer evening sky simmered all around them in a velvet hush. Frogs and crickets hummed in the sultry breeze. The lights of the city beyond the hill twinkled and winked as far as she could see.

  “It’s beautiful out here.”

  “That I would rather look at you should tell you how I feel about your beauty.”

  Shanna snapped her gaze up to Ali’s. No smile. His stare was full of gravity—and rising need.

  “Alejandro, maybe we should talk about—”

  “No. Tonight is about you and me. No conversation, no people, no blackmail, no cameras. I need to feel you like I have never needed before.”

  She gaped, totally unable to deny the breathless rush of joy at his words. Did he…care about her?

  There was no time to ponder the answer before he spirited her into his cottage, through the intimate cocoon of the hushed night, straight to his bed. In the shadows, she could make out its straight lines and modern flare. It was big, dark, exotic—just like the man.

  Then his mattress was at her back, and he grabbed the empty cuff dangling from her wrist, and Shanna expected him to attach it to his bed somehow so he would have her at his mercy.

  Instead, he attached the cuff to his own wrist.

  They were joined. Together. Bound.

  “Alejandro?”

  He didn’t answer. Instead, he tossed the handcuff key somewhere on the floor, far out of reach, then covered her mouth with his own.

  Shanna expected his ravenous hunger, a hard-edged boom-fast-now kind of touch. She was shocked instead by his soft insistence. His kiss was seduction itself. Thorough, unhurried. Slow, deep. Unabashedly intimate, as he conveyed his every want, spoke with his soul, communicating only using his mouth.