“Clarissa would definitely have had something to say about that.”
“So what?” He frowned. It was obvious he couldn’t see the problem. Then again, he didn’t know Clarissa.
Scarlett had the overpowering urge to confide in him, but he wouldn’t care about her personal troubles.
With a sense of disbelief, she realized she was once again stroking his chest. He’d think she was totally depraved. The problem was, she couldn’t seem to stop herself.
“It’s not Clarissa I care about upsetting. She has my dad wrapped around her little finger and he just wants rainbows and unicorns for her.” It was a little annoying the way her father indulged every tiny whim of Clarissa’s. “What I mean is, she’d complain to him if I assaulted her precious cousin. I wouldn’t want to cause Dad any upset.”
Jackson was still frowning. “You’re too nice.”
She guessed he meant it as a compliment. But something about it scraped along her nerves. Because she was sure Jackson Grayson didn’t date nice girls.
Where the hell did that come from? “It’s got nothing to do with being nice.” She hoped the waspish tone was all in her head. Jackson didn’t deserve to be on the receiving end of her pique. “It’s because my dad… he’s not very well. I won’t be responsible for putting him under any additional stress.”
Jackson grunted. Scarlett stared at him, her irritation forgotten. He was genuinely pissed…on her behalf.
“Edward,” he said the name as though it offended him, “sounds like an abusive asshole.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to automatically defend Edward but the words lodged in her throat.
Her own grandmother had suffered years of emotional abuse from her husband. Scarlett’s mom had set up a women’s shelter in her memory, and Scarlett volunteered there. She was aware of the warning signs. But she had completely missed the red flags with Edward, instead making excuses for his possessiveness and unwarranted groping.
Then again, she wasn’t in a relationship with Edward. Even so, the fact that it had taken a virtual stranger to point his dangerous behavior out to her wasn’t exactly comfortable.
Jackson stared at her. His frown was gone and the smile he aimed her way drove every sane thought from her head.
“The dancing has started,” he said.
Chapter Four
Scarlett blinked in apparent surprise. “You want to dance?”
Dancing was optional. I just want you in my arms. And, he had to be honest, to show that prick Edward Saunders she most definitely was off limits.
He had to stop thinking about that jerk. It wasn’t as though Scarlett had ever been out with him. But his kind pushed his buttons—a fucking dickwad who thought a woman’s only function was to service his needs.
He’d seen enough of that type in his life. His own father had been one of the worst offenders.
With a suppressed shudder, he shoved the image of his father from his mind. Bastard was long dead, and thank God for that. He pulled his focus back to Scarlett.
“Dancing was part of the deal, remember?” He grinned when a frown creased her forehead. It appeared she wasn’t thrilled with the reminder that she’d hired him, although he couldn’t figure out why that pleased him. “Plus we haven’t explored the major tongue penetration yet. I always aim to give full satisfaction in all areas.”
Scarlett made a strange noise, as though she was choking. But then she let out a long breath and shook her head. Her curls bounced around her face.
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you know if I’m not… fully satisfied.” Her last words were breathless, and a sexy blush heated her cheeks.
His cock stirred. Shit.
She’s a client.
And as Ella had so kindly pointed out, he did not fuck clients.
But she was only a client for another eight hours.
Scarlett pushed her feet into the wickedly high heels she’d kicked off. He had the feeling he was becoming obsessed with the idea of having her. Was it because he knew the chances of her agreeing to a quick fuck were next to zero?
She might have hired him to be her fake date. She might be willing to make out in public. But there was something about her that told him she wasn’t the type to have a one-night stand.
Scarlett was a commitment kind of girl. And commitment wasn’t in his vocabulary.
She bent over to fiddle with the delicate straps on her shoes and he couldn’t tear his gaze away from her ass. The slinky material of her dress clung like a second skin. Was she wearing anything underneath? Sure as hell didn’t look like it.
He wished she’d forget about her shoes and stand up. The temptation to run his palms over her butt was powerful. It took a considerable amount of self-restraint to keep his hands to himself.
They were in public, and for fuck’s sake, he wasn’t a horny teen. Oh, and he was on the job.
Yeah. If only she wasn’t so…
Maybe Scarlett wasn’t into commitment as much as he imagined.
Finally, she stood up and wobbled. “Damn shoes.” She glanced over her bare shoulder at him. “Have you changed your mind?”
He was still enjoying the view. “I don’t change my mind.” He led her back into the marquee. An orchestra was playing, and the bride and Scarlett’s father were waltzing around the dance floor. Yeah, wouldn’t catch him doing any waltzing. When he danced with a woman it was all up close and personal.
He glanced at Scarlett. She was watching her father with a brooding expression. She obviously had issues, and he was willing to bet it was more than just not wanting to upset him because of his ill health.
Good thing she hadn’t hired him to sort that out. He was no good with issues that involved parents. The nearest he’d had to a father figure growing up had been his older brother Alex. And look how that had turned out.
He shoved the memories aside. Shoved the guilt aside. Alex was doing great now. More than great. He was, after all, the driving force behind the whole concept of Graysons’.
A few other couples strolled onto the dance floor. He wound his arm around Scarlett’s waist.
“Don’t expect me to do any fancy stuff,” he warned her.
She linked her hands behind his neck but didn’t press her body against his. Probably just as well. He wasn’t sure he wanted her to feel just how hard he was. It was one thing to flirt and mess around. It was another if she realized he wasn’t doing it simply because she was paying him.
It had nothing to do with the fact he was still under contract.
He’d shred that contract as soon as he got back to the office.
“Fancy stuff?” There was a faintly mocking note in her voice. “Like Dirty Dancing you mean?”
He slid his hands over the curve of her hips. It didn’t help his resolve to keep things purely professional between them.
His jaw grazed the soft skin of her cheek. “I can do dirty.” He breathed the words against her ear. “I just don’t do the dancing.”
So much for keeping it professional.
She edged a little closer. Without his meaning to, his hands slipped and he cupped her ass. Lust spiked through his groin. God, that was the wrong move to make. She fit him perfectly. With a silent curse he molded her waist instead.
“I can do the dancing.” Scarlett’s whisper was husky. “Looks like we’re evenly matched, Jackson.”
He tried not to think about all the dirty things he’d like to do to her. With a primitive growl, he tugged her tight against his body. She gasped, whether at the way he held her or because she could feel his dick digging into her, he wasn’t sure.
“You want to test that theory further?”
What the hell was he doing? He didn’t want to start rumors that he did escort work. His brothers would kill him if they found out he’d slept with a client.
Eight more hours. They’d never find out…
Scarlett’s fingers stilled in his hair. Her glossy lips parted. It appeared he wasn’t the only one havin
g trouble dragging air into his lungs.
“I might.” Her whisper was breathless, and for a second he didn’t have a clue what she was talking about. “What do you have in mind, theoretically?”
Was she serious? Or just continuing their game of fake flirtation? But if she wasn’t playing, he needed to set the ground rules from the start. “Theoretically.” He drifted his lips across her soft hair. Whatever shampoo she used drove him wild. “For a no holds barred one-night stand?”
“Yes.” Her voice was so low he didn’t hear the sound, just watched her lips form the word.
It was only a theoretical yes. It didn’t mean she was going to wrap her legs around him. Except the way she looked at him, and the way her fingers tightened in his hair, told him something different.
Thank fuck for that.
He wrapped his hand around the back of her neck. Her curls teased his knuckles. He leaned toward her until their foreheads touched and their breath mingled.
“I’ll take you down to the river.”
“How would you take me?” Her whisper cut across his fantasy, but in the best possible way. “Would you carry me?”
He liked the way her mind worked. “Over my shoulder.”
“Neanderthal.”
“Then I’d strip you naked.” He thought of something. “Except for your heels.”
Her fingernails trailed along his nape. It pushed his control dangerously near the edge.
“You like my heels?”
“I like you wearing the heels.” There was a difference.
“What about you? Would you be naked too?”
“Down by the river? No way.”
She pouted. Her lips begged to be kissed. He wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold off tasting them.
“That hardly seems fair.” Her voice was all kinds of husky. “You’d be having all the fun.”
He brushed his lips across hers. Her breath caught, and he lingered, savoring the feather light touch.
“Babe, you’d have plenty of fun. Trust me, you have no idea what I can do with my mouth.”
For a moment he didn’t think she was going to answer. Then the tip of her tongue slid over her lips, as though she was tasting the words, assessing his challenge.
And then she spoke.
“I wouldn’t mind finding out.”
Chapter Five
What the hell had she just said? The blood burned in her cheeks, but she couldn’t tear her gaze away from Jackson. He gave her a smile so full of wicked intent, she had no idea how her legs managed to keep her upright.
She had just agreed to have sex with Jackson Grayson. A one-night stand, no less, something she’d never done.
No way was she going to back out of it. For tonight, at least, she was done with being a nice girl. Tonight she was going to let her inner vixen escape and enjoy everything Jackson offered.
“You want to get out of here?”
The music faded into the background, and the other guests became strangely ghostlike. The erratic thud of her heart pounded in her ears.
He wanted her. Here and now.
Holy fuck.
“Sure.” She hoped she sounded sultry and not as though she was battling a flood of nerves. For a moment, the image of her hotel room flashed through her mind. They’d be comfortable and safe from unexpected discovery there. But tonight wasn’t about being comfortable or safe. “The river, right?”
As he slowly maneuvered their swaying bodies around the other couples on the perimeter of the dance floor, his mouth brushed against her ear. “If we make it that far.”
She clutched his shoulders for support. She’d never been so turned on by a guy’s words before. Then again, no guy had ever spoken to her the way Jackson did.
Was he really going to follow through on his promise to strip her naked? Outside? As they left the marquee a shiver raced over her bare arms. She wasn’t sure whether it was caused by anticipation or alarm.
“Cold?” Before she could tell Jackson she was so hot she might spontaneously combust, he shrugged off his jacket and draped it around her shoulders. “Better?”
She didn’t need it, but his body heat enveloped her in a silken cocoon. She inhaled the subtle scent of his woodsy cologne.
“Much better.” She hoped she sounded like a provocative siren. At least Jackson wouldn’t guess she’d never done anything this daring before.
She hoped.
He pulled her close and she snuggled against his solid strength. She hoped to God he had a condom handy. The thought caused an exquisite ache to spiral through her, and she wound her arm around him. He was so big.
Was he that big all over?
Tiny fairy lights had been strung through the branches of the majestic jacarandas, illuminating the purple blooms in a magical, fluorescent canopy of lace. In the distance, the river glinted, and nerves danced in the pit of her stomach.
He really was heading in that direction.
Then he veered to the right, away from the river, where shadows beckoned in trees not draped in wedding finery. With every step away from the celebration inside the marquee, Scarlett’s heart thudded harder against her ribs. In the silvery light of the moon she saw the predatory gleam in his eyes. It was dangerous and exhilarating.
Without warning, he swung her around and pinned her against a tree. She gasped and flattened her hands against his chest. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”
His hands cradled her face. “No, it wasn’t.”
“Second thoughts?” Her fingers dug into his rock hard pecs. Frantic denial fluttered through her. He couldn’t change his mind. Not now.
She hadn’t been with a guy in months. Was that why she wanted him so badly?
Or maybe it was just him.
“No second thoughts.”
She let out a ragged breath. He didn’t change his mind and he didn’t have second thoughts. It might not be a great way to live your life, but it sure suited her for tonight.
“One more thing.” His thumbs stroked her cheeks. The gesture was oddly tender. “None of this has got anything to do with the job you hired me to do. It’s because I want you.”
He moved closer. Her hands were squashed between their bodies and her back jammed up against the bark of the tree. The hard length of his erection burned through the silk of her dress, branding her.
He really was that big all over. “So…” She licked her lips. What did she want to say? “Not the river, then?”
“I like it here just fine.” His hands slid beneath his jacket and over her bare shoulders. “Ever fucked under a tree before?”
She’d only ever done it in bed. With the lights off. No way was she going to tell him that.
“Have you?” She finally managed to move her hands from between their bodies, and palmed his ass. Commando. If only his damn pants weren’t in the way.
“Can’t say I have.” His hands cupped her breasts and she stifled a moan. “First time for everything I guess.”
She writhed helplessly, and the flimsy thong she was wearing stretched tight over her sex. That was so good. But it wasn’t enough.
“Jackson.” I need you. She couldn’t say it. His body tensed, as though hearing her say his name triggered a primitive reaction.
“Scarlett.” It was a raw whisper, and then his mouth claimed hers.
He wasn’t gentle or refined about it. His kiss was savage, punishing, and so fucking hot. She gripped his butt, forcing him closer. But it wasn’t close enough.
It was dirty and wild and she loved every frenzied second of it. And then he pinched her nipples and she forgot how to think at all.
“Now.” Oh God, I’m begging. “Please.”
He panted in her face. I did this to him.
“You sure? I don’t think I can stop once I’m inside you, so tell me now.”
“I’m sure.” For one brief moment, sanity hit her. “Do you have a condom?” She’d die if he didn’t.
“Yeah.” His voice was low and grav
ely and did nothing to cool the rabid need raging through her blood. He pulled out a packet from his pocket and ripped it open with his teeth.
Her hands slipped to his hips as he dragged open his fly. This was really happening. “Now.”
“It’s not going to be pretty.” He speared his fingers through her hair and forced her to look at him. No one had ever grabbed her hair like that before. It was shockingly arousing. With his other hand he tugged her dress up her legs. “It’s going to be hard and fast.”
Her knees wobbled. Hard and fast sounded perfect.
“Good.”
His fingers brushed against her swollen flesh, and in spite of the tree at her back she might have collapsed if Jackson wasn’t still gripping her hair.
“You feel like silk.” His husky words inflamed her as much as his touch. No man had ever talked to her like that.
A low moan escaped. She was so close to the edge. Didn’t he know how badly she wanted him?
His lips brushed hers. “You’re so fucking hot, Scarlett. Hot and wet. Do you want my cock inside you? Is that what you’re waiting for?”
She clutched onto his shirt. Was he honestly waiting for an answer?
It appeared he was. She hitched in a shallow breath and found her voice. “Yes.”
“Yes what?” He sounded feral, but still continued to torture her with teasing strokes and tantalizing dips into her wet cleft.
She licked her dry lips. She had never talked dirty in her life. But this was okay, because she was never going to see Jackson again.
“I want your cock inside me, fucking me hard and fast.”
She couldn’t believe what she had just said. Nice girls didn’t say those kinds of things. One night stand. Sex under a tree. Tonight was obviously going to be a trifecta of firsts.
Jackson shoved her thong aside. His eyes never left hers. Thrills chased through her at the riveted look on his face. He obviously found their conversation as electrifying as she did.
He shifted his angle and the head of his erection pushed into her. He was as big as she had imagined. She gripped his hips, pulling him closer, and his grin stole her breath.
“You want more?” His fingers teased her swollen lips, stretched wide by his penetration. She choked back a moan and flexed her internal muscles. Jackson let out a pained breath between his teeth.
Hold Me Until Midnight Page 3