***
The two stayed up into the wee hours of the morning drinking wine, talking, and laughing. Val expressed her desire to escape her six brothers, an overbearing mother and ex-husband who couldn’t get it into his thick skull he was no longer married to her. Turner admitted he had no idea what it was like to have that much family around. Brought up by an elderly uncle, the only family Turner had left in the world was his twin brother, Sam. “Sam was always the tender hearted one,” he told her. “I think that’s why he fell so fast for his wife and let me tell you, that bitch was a nightmare.”
“She died, right?”
“Yeah along with his infant son.”
“Aw, that’s awful.”
“Yeah, my brother couldn’t handle it…not even a little…he just fell completely apart. Stopped eating. Didn’t clean himself and just stares at the television all day...I’ve never seen anything like it. His not eating is the real problem though. I’ve hired cooks around the clock to get him to eat. Each time, he finds some reason to get rid of them. Either that or they quit on their own, like this last one. ”
“Are the two of you identical?”
“Fraternal and we’re are nothing alike. In fact, our features are so different that if I hadn’t seen our birth certificates I’d say we weren’t even twins.”
“Well, I look just like my brothers,” Val admitted.
“Oh, I doubt that,” said Sam with a grin. “I bet I could tell the difference.” He poured more wine into Valentina’s glass. “This has to be the last one,” she said. She’d already moved to his side of the sectional, her bare feet perched on his lap so he could massage her feet. “Oh god, that is so good,” she moaned. “My arches were so swollen from being in those high heels.”
“Swollen huh,” Turner said. His fingers slid along her ankles. His hand curled around the underside of her kneecap where he rubbed the skin there—gentle as a kitten. A glean of deviltry crinkled in his eyes. “This okay?”
She nodded, trying to inhale the oxygen which had mysteriously been sucked from her lungs. His gaze slipped lower to her cleavage. If only they could stay like this forever. Him rubbing her feet and her rubbing his… Pulling her feet out of his lap, she tucked them once again beneath her.
She needed to keep her wits about her and she needed Turner’s help to stay in the country. Sleeping with Turner would just make everything more…complicated. But he was sooo…nice. When was the last time she had…nice? Sweet talking, toes-curdling, everything’s right with the world kind of nice? Try, never. The man definitely knew how to give a killer foot rub. What else was he good at?
Turner’s eyes darted to the bedroom. Desire flickered in his eyes before he took a deep breath and said, “Well…I guess we better get some shut-eye before morning.
What? No!
“Who knows what time these guys are gonna get here. You can have the bigger bed though.”
Damn! Always the gentleman. It was definitely a mistake to sleep with him anyway but it would have been nice if she turned him down. Well, technically she had. Earlier. She couldn’t help feeling even more aroused by his refusal though. If that was even possible. It was nice to meet a man who actually listened to what she said for a change.
Irritated with herself, she slammed her feet down on the floor and headed toward the bedroom upstairs. “I’ll see you in the morning then.”
“It’s the one at the end of the hall,” he called after her.
Four Hours Later
Val grabbed her pillow and headed down the hall toward the stairs. Unable to sleep in Turner’s bed—it smelled like Turner, she’d decided the couch was a better choice. Besides, the couch was on the first floor, directly across from Turner’s bedroom making it easier to fantasize about him. She couldn’t get the thought of his naked body out of her system and for some screwball reason she wanted to be closer to him even if it was two rooms away.
Wrapped in a soft chenille robe, she lay on her side, staring at Turner’s closed bedroom door. She thought of that chiseled chest above the towel he’d worn. What was the name of those muscles? She’d known once when she took an anatomy course in high school. Back when she thought she could do anything. Even become a doctor one day. It all came back now. Pectorals major, thick fan shaped muscles attached to ribs and sternum. A sternum that was rock hard. Hard and nearly hair free. Oh god, what if he slept in the buff?
Inwardly she groaned. Stupid…stupid…stupid. What the hell was she doing? Fantasizing about a man she knew was out of her league. Besides, that, she had one objective here. She needed money and she needed a way to stay in this country. Perhaps, Turner could help her with that but she refused to act the whore just to get what she needed. If he helped her, fine. If he didn’t, she’d move on. No ties to either one of them. It would take every neuron in her fevered brain to figure all this stuff out. Fucking Turner would just muddle things.
She punched her pillow for the umpteenth time. She was sleeping…or not sleeping…for that matter…in one of Turner’s silk shirts. It smelled of his cologne. Hot and spicy. Every time she rolled over she got a fresh whiff of it, her nipples caressed chafed at the stiff starched linen.
And she wasn’t wearing any panties. She was so wet from the shower, she wouldn’t have slept in them anyway. In fact, she probably should have taken another shower. Preferably a cold one.
How was a girl supposed to sleep when the hottest man she’d ever met was on the other side of that door? Perhaps he wasn’t sleeping either.
If she could just get a glimpse. A quick little peak. Just to see what position he slept in. Certainly he slept naked. A man like that. So full of confidence and power. Did he curl himself up like a baby, sleep on his back, his dick pointed north by morning? Or did he drool into his pillow?
The leather sectional sofa squealed in protest as Val rose up on her knees. She squinted through the shadows. She needed to see him. Needed something to soothe her imagination. Then maybe she could sleep.
Throwing off her robe, she tip-toed across the carpet. A clock dinged somewhere and she nearly jumped out of her skin. Shaking like a leaf, she felt like a peeping Tom. No. Cat woman inside Batman’s cave. Meow! And Cat Woman never did sleep with batman. At least she didn’t think so. She was strong, just like the super hero. She could do this. She could control herself just fine.
Before she reached the end of the carpet, a light flickered beneath the door and she scurried herself back in record time, hiding behind a potted plant that couldn’t possibly cover her whole body. She went over in her head what she would say if he caught her there. She was looking for an earring? She thought she saw a mouse?
More footsteps and then nothing, as if he were pondering what to do next. She’d not heard the bed squeak so she was fairly certain, he hadn’t gone back to bed. Was he thinking about opening that door? Her heart raced, pulse thumping against her ears. If he did open the door, he’d see her right off. Her face warmed, just thinking about it. What kind of a woman tells a man point blank she’s not interested and then tries to see him naked? Frozen, she waited, hardly breathing. She contemplated about running back to the couch but her legs felt like they were nailed to the floor.
Another door closed from inside the room. Water running.
The shower. He was going to take a shower.
Yes! Curiosity kills the cat.
I don’t care.
Moving from behind the plant, she tiptoed toward the bedroom door again and leaned her ear flush against it. Was that a groan or was she imagining it?
Pumped with adrenaline, Val tried to picture the tall, dark-haired, god-of-a-man soaking wet, hot jets scalding that delicious muscular body. She imagined the soap gliding across his skin. He’d use those tiny bars you get in hotels. Impossible to hold. In her mind’s eye, she saw him bend over to pick up the soap, his package fully revealed between his legs. Long and thick with two plump balls just begging to be squeezed. Fuck, the man was hotter than a porno king. And he was sweet too.
Val’s temperature soared. How was a woman to resist…that? She just had to take a peak.
Tentatively, she turned the knob. She poked her nose inside a crack. The bathroom door was open but not enough that she could be seen if she slipped inside. Unfortunately, she couldn’t see him either, which she should have anticipated. Weren’t there frosted doors over shower stalls? Deciding not to risk being caught, she stood still, listening to him in the shower. As she imagined, she heard a bar of soap clattering against the tub. I knew it! Turner muttered a few obscenities. She imagined thick suds lathering chest and genitals. Mmmm.
Then he groaned. A low, guttural sound of pure lust. He sounded like an animal, all growly and wild. Oh god. Her face flushed hot. Her nipples tingled. He did it again, the guttural groans thumping against her ribcage. She opened the door wider.
“Ahhh!” The glass doors shook.
Oh god.
She couldn’t see him clearly through the frosted glass but she could see enough. He was so big, the movement of his hand so frenzied, it was clear by his performance. She crept closer to the door jamb. The doors shook and jiggled on their track. He groaned. Male and heat-packed. “Val. Valentina!” Her name was like a song. A low growly erotic song. It sizzled inside her ears and she swooned with pure pleasure as she saw what looked like his head rolling back, one arm braced against the wall. A vigorous pumping and his breath started to hitch. He wanted her. It had been no joke. This man. This heart-stopping gorgeous rich man who had wined and dined her, admitted he wouldn’t force her into sex, truly wanted her. No man had ever bought her anything, not even a simple trinket or breakfast without expecting to get something…anything…in return. Turner’s honesty, the desire they obliviously shared for one another’s bodies, gave Val second thoughts about ignoring the passion she felt for him and he for her. It wasn’t just sex though. Something drew her to him. Like an invisible thread. The pull was incredible like nothing she’d ever experienced. A woman could only take so much.
Chapter 8
Turner
Lowering his head slowly, Turner shook the last of his load into the warm running water. Valentina. God, she was hot and sleeping all alone in practically nothing on the other side of that door. How he wanted her beg him to be fucked. Stop, he told himself. She wasn’t interested and he’d never made moves on any woman without knowing she was indeed interested. Just once, he yearned to do that though. Not to actually force a woman but a challenge would be nice.
He watched the thick goopy cream circle around the drain and then threw his head back, groaning. Hopefully this was the last time for such torture around the woman. That long dark hair yearned to be touched. It simply begged to be tussled. Just being in the same room as her was driving him crazy. Oh, well. Once he helped her retrieve her clothes, she’d be gone. It was a new feeling. This sense of loss he felt and she wasn’t even gone yet. Just sleeping above him in his bed. His bed. Fuck! He could feel his cock growing again so he slapped that shit down. He’d never get any sleep at this rate.
Stepping out of the shower, Turner toweled off his hair and groin. He pushed the bathroom door leading into the bedroom open and stood there in shock, staring straight ahead. He sucked in a breath. The last thing in the world he expected—three in the morning no less—was Valentina sleeping in his bed.
Towel wrapped quickly around his torso, he shut his eyes tight and then opened them slowly. Was he dreaming? A trick of the shadows? Nope. Still there—her dark silky hair splayed prettily upon his pillow, naked back glowing in the nightlight. He grew hard. Again.
“Oh,” Val said rolling on her side. “You’re done.” She smiled up at him and threw back the covers. “Come. Let me warm you up.” Without questioning, he dropped the towel and then crawled across the bed.
A huge smile warmed his heart. This was how it always happened so why was he so surprised? It was normal for pretty girls to make themselves available to him. Especially when they found out who he was. What he was. His notoriety overwhelmed them and dollar signs shone in their eyes. But this felt different, didn’t it? Not his normal. He was ready for her. Oh, so ready. He didn’t want normal anymore. He didn’t want nice either. He wanted heat and passion, her screaming his name into the dark.
He sat up on the bedcovers, cock pointing up, and caught her fevered stare. “Why?” he asked.
She looked at him, incredulous. “What?”
“Why. And how do you plan on warming me up?”
Val chuckled. “Isn’t it obvious?” She threw a lock of hair behind one shoulder. God, those breasts! They seemed enormous with incredibly dark areolas. It was all he could do not to dive right in and take one in his mouth. Then she arched her back, pinching herself. “Mmmm. I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Not what you said last night,” Turner replied.
“Girl can change her mind. Can’t she?”
Skepticism crossed his mind. Maybe she was after his money after all. “You didn’t answer my question, Val.”
“I can’t believe we’re playing twenty questions here. Damn, it’s hot in here.” She kicked off the blankets and he could see that she wasn’t naked after all. She still had on her underwear. No! His boxers.
“I need to know exactly what you want from me, Val.”
“Want?” she asked, her face a picture of innocence . She drew the sheet to her chin, grinning.
“Yes, what do you want and be explicit.” He gave her a wolfish grin and he knew—just knew—he was making her panties catch fire.
Her breath caught in sharp waves when his hand settled on his dick. Just rested there, ever so lightly. Her lips parted and a tiny tongue came out to lick them. “You. I want you, Turner. I can’t make it any clearer.”
“Oh, I think you can.” He raked his fingers through her hair, making her shiver, his breath blood hot beneath his other hand. He squeezed himself, not even aware that he was doing it.
“Do I have to beg you?” she asked.
“Actually yes.”
A thought of deviltry filled his heart. Maybe games were what were lacking with all the others. This could be fun. If he was never going to see her again, he wanted it to be fun. And hot. Hotter than hell, actually. “Say it. Say what you want me to do to you, Val. Say it and I’ll give you whatever you want.” He realized with a start, the words screamed ‘pay me and I’ll go away.’ Not how he meant it to come out.
She seemed to ponder this for a moment and bit her lip. Was she angry? Uneasy about his request. Fuck, he just didn’t know how to talk to women, did he? Actions were always his better game.
He slipped beneath the blankets and lay on his back. He clasped his hands behind his head and sighed. The bathroom light suddenly extinguished but there was still a nightlight in the corner. Shadows fell over Val’s lovely face giving a smoky glow to her cheeks. She leaned toward him, sliding a tongue along his neck. He caught her by the wrist, stilling her movements.
“Okay okay,” she snarled leaning into his hot upper body. She smelled of hot sweat and sweet wine. “I want…Turner, I want you to…um…damn…this is hard.” He slid her hand beneath the covers. “Aint that the truth?” They laughed. “Try again?” he coaxed.
They were so close. Her hair tickled his ear, moist lips a breath away from his earlobe.
She didn’t beg him though. Nothing as simple as that. She actually turned the tables on him. A refreshing hot lip-suckling switch of erotic demands. He kissed the top of her head, the tip of her nose, and then sank into a hot melting erotic kiss while she caressed him with her words. And just to make sure there was no confusion, he repeated back her expectations and in what exact order. “Wait a minute. What?”
“If you come before I climax, you give me a thousand dollars,” she said.
Turner’s eyes widened. He gave her a sideways smile and then chuckled helplessly. “Sweetheart I can go all night. Well…not all night but assure you, that won’t be a problem. You shall have your pleasure and then some.”
“So
it’s a deal?”
“A woman who strikes good deal. I like that.”
Val frowned. “Maybe we should shake on it,” she said, her tone serious. She shot a hand toward Turner but he pulled her on top of him. “Now what was number one again?” Oh yes. Kiss the girls.” He couldn’t stop laughing until she braced herself over him. Her breasts dropped over his head. Hot need shimmered in her dark eyes.
“Both. I need both sucked.”
“Right. I see my little senorita is not a submissive.”
“Was there any question? Oh, that’s nice. Now the other.” He was caged in her arms, his member heavy against her belly. He fondled one nipple while nipping at the other. Val moaned. Her fingers fluttered in his hair. “I want to taste you too,” she said.
He couldn’t lose his power over her. Her female bossiness, although cute, would not satisfy her in the end. And he wanted to satisfy her. He wanted her to know, he wasn’t like all the men before him. A small part of him wanted to redeem mankind but more importantly he cared about her experience as much as his own. He didn’t want her to look back and regret any part of this.
“Swivel your body around on the bed,” he demanded.
“But…”
“Sixty nine. It’s next on the list, isn’t it?”
“Yes but…” Hesitating for a just a few seconds, she rolled off him. “My rules. Remember?”
“Your point?”
Of course she had none. He could see that. There was fire in those sultry eyes, a desire, fueled by anticipation. Oh, she was liking this. Him taking control like a caveman.
“On your back, woman!” Then he added. “Please.”
Her breathing became labored, her voice exaggerated with every word. “Thousand dollars, Turner.”
“You let me worry about the money, sweetheart.” And with that he covered her with his body half kneeling half lieing on top of her. “And no touching. Got it? That’s my rule.”
“What? Why not?”
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