Recipe for Temptation

by Gina Gordon

  He tensed up. “That’s not the reason.”

  “I know.” She brushed her hand through his hair, soothing his tension. “And it’s not why I’m offering myself to you. You know why.” She sat back and locked eyes with him. “You’ve always known.”

  At least she hoped he knew. Because there was no mistaking their sexual tension. It was as heavy and thick as the smoke from a five-alarm fire.

  He hadn’t said no yet. That was a good sign. If he was going to turn her down, he would have already done it.

  “Isn’t there something you’ve always wanted to do? Something you’ve fantasized about?”

  He cleared his throat and brought his stool closer to hers. But he wasn’t trying to get closer to her, he was trying to stop her from talking so loud. She knew by the way his eyes kept darting to the bartender and the few other guests who sat at tables only a few feet away from them.

  “Nothing?” she coaxed. “A little role play, maybe. Sex tape?”

  He shook his head vigorously.

  Point taken. His family didn’t have the best track record with sex tapes.

  His legs were scissored with hers. She wondered if he realized his finger continued to caress her center. But if she just scooted forward, she could lock his knee between her legs. Rub out the ache, prove that she wanted this badly. But he just stared at her blankly. He was too controlled to voice his needs.

  “What about handcuffs?”

  “Christ, Penn. Would you lower your voice?” He looked around her to where the bartender stood, but he was oblivious.

  “No one’s listening.” She bent forward and whispered, “Besides, the fact that you have your hand between my legs tells them everything they need to know.” She opened her legs a little more, giving him greater access to the scorching heat that now radiated all over her body.

  A rumble sounded from his chest as he graduated from a gentle caress to grabbing the crotch of her panties, the backs of his fingers pressing against her slit. He made a fist and jerked her forward by the sturdy lace.

  She lightly licked his earlobe and whispered, “What if I told you I want you to take me back to my room and fuck me?”

  He gulped. “You…like talking like that?”

  “You mean talking dirty?” She hadn’t moved away from his ear, but he didn’t have to answer. “Mmm-hmm. It turns me on.”

  His breath was warm against her neck. She was slowly breaking down his resolve. He was getting closer to her, his back moving farther from the chair with every word she whispered into his ear. But she wasn’t there yet.

  “What turns you on, Cole?” She flicked out her tongue again and licked his ear. “Would it turn you on if I said you’d be the first to conquer my tight little ass?”

  His back hit his chair in a sharp movement, but he was smiling. The tiny vein that throbbed in his neck, and the way he squirmed in his seat, confirmed his desire for her. He was going to say yes. He just needed a little more coaxing.

  She placed her hand on his thigh and traveled north until her fingers touched his pelvis. Looking up into the chocolate depths of his eyes, eyes almost black—as black as the cloud of sadness he carried around with him—she wished she could change that. To soften him somehow.

  She squeezed her thighs, trapping the hand that still gripped her panties between her legs.

  Through a heavy breath, he whispered, “You’re a tease.”

  Dating a coworker was never a good idea. But sex wasn’t exactly dating. One time in the sack couldn’t ruin her chances for being appointed to the board, could it?

  Besides, she needed to feel like herself. Being with Cole brought out the best in her. And her family was nowhere to be found, nowhere to question her motives.

  With a tilt of her head and long, languid swipe of her tongue across her bottom lip, she whispered, “I’m not exactly teasing, am I?”

  Chapter Five

  Cole knew if he said yes, it would be a mistake. A big, risky, potentially-monumental-disaster mistake.

  But that didn’t stop him from sliding his fingers against her slit. It didn’t stop him from pushing his knuckle between her folds. She shivered when he groaned, reveling in the wetness that greeted him.

  “I’m going to kiss you.” The words came out on a choked breath. He didn’t have any dirty words or actions. But he knew what he wanted.

  Penn.

  She leaned forward, close enough that her lips grazed his ear. “Then what are you waiting for?”

  They had tried this before, and it had been a disaster. His nerves and his conscience told him it was wrong.

  But there was nothing wrong about this.

  How could there be when his entire body was aching, throbbing, to bring every fantasy he’d ever had about Penn to life? And that was a lot of damn fantasies.

  She was right. No one would know but the two of them. And when the vacation was over, they’d go back to their regularly scheduled bickering.

  Do you really believe that?

  With one last, lingering look, a look he hoped revealed all the pent-up sexual tension and attraction he’d been harboring for the last three years, he kissed her.

  Her mouth worked with his in perfect unison, and the instant his lips had touched hers, all his tension, all that underlying tightness of anger and guilt, seemed to melt away, leaving them only in this moment.

  A moment that had his mind racing and his heart beating triple-time.

  “Take me to my room,” she whispered.

  His hand slid down her head over her midnight hair. He sucked on her neck and moved up to whisper into her ear. “Lead the way.”

  She tensed for a moment in his arms, then softened, her breath heavy against his lips. “This doesn’t change anything…at work?”

  He was an adult. He could separate lust and business.

  He shook his head. “This doesn’t leave the island.”

  He’d made it his mission to keep out of the spotlight. The more focus on him, the more opportunity for people to pry into his past, exposing his demons to the world. And those demons needed to remain buried under the twenty feet of concrete he’d put in place twenty years ago.

  He was hyper-aware of her beside him on the walk back to her room. The air practically crackled between them, and when he placed his hand at the small of her back, when he guided her out of the elevator, he was sure he saw sparks.

  While she looked for the key in her purse, he checked that no one else was in the hallway, then swiped her hair away from her neck and pressed a kiss to her shoulder. The door beeped, and he held his hand out before pushing them into the quiet space. As soon as the soft click of the door sounded behind them, she twirled in his arms, and he pressed her into the wall, stealing a kiss. She deepened it, snaking her leg up and wrapping it around his hip. When she began to circle beneath him, he wrapped an arm around her back and pulled her up, slamming her breasts into his chest.

  He reached down, placing his hand on the backs of her thighs, and lifted. She fit perfectly into his body, wrapping her legs around him as he walked them to the bedroom and placed her gently on the bed.

  Her blatant proposition at the bar and her explicit sexuality had been overwhelming. It brought up memories of his past. Memories he never wanted to associate with Penn.

  But here he was, a slave to his cock, taking her up on her offer. When they kissed, his demons no longer plagued him, which was why he was here, despite knowing the potential for public scrutiny, despite knowing he would ultimately do something stupid to fuck it all up—her job, their friendship. His whole damn life. Because he had an overwhelming feeling this was going to change everything.

  He plundered her mouth with his. The soft whimpers she let escape between their torrid kisses shot straight to his groin.

  He pulled away and looked down, taking in every luscious inch of her. He’d never noticed the flawlessness of her skin until he’d kissed it. The softness of her hair until he’d touched it. The ruby red color of her lips u
ntil he’d conquered them.

  He settled beside her, pulling her leg over his, letting her warm center nestle against his thigh. Her head fell back, and he suckled sweetly against her throat, moving down the corded tendons to her collarbone. Then he kissed the swells of her breasts that peeked out over the edge of her dress. He pulled down the fabric. He wasn’t one for wasting time.

  She hadn’t worn a bra, and when he released the zipper at the back of the dress and slid it from her body, he exposed her tattoo. Brown, white, and pink marked her skin. A cherry blossom tree spanned her entire side from hipbone to under her armpit. She wore the tiniest panties that only accentuated her body—tight and curvy. Perfect.

  He kneaded her breasts, her nipples stiffening under his touch. His mouth followed, biting her supple flesh. She moaned and her back arched, pushing her breasts farther into him.

  “Cole?” she moaned.

  He’d always loved hearing his name from her lips. But now, like this, the way she’d said it in that needy tone, was like a drug. And he was a desperate junkie.

  Her hand clasped his cheek, and she turned his face to look at her. Her eyes were wide, thoroughly roused from her slumber.

  She was in. All in.

  They held their gazes for a moment, and the silent exchange between them was as loud as a freight train. One that could very well ruin everything between them.

  But with the way his cock throbbed, and the feel of her body vibrating beside him, there was no going back.

  And fuck, he didn’t want to.

  This is temporary. This stays on the island.

  He brought a finger up to trace her lips. She opened her mouth and slipped his finger inside, sucking with long pulls. Her plump lips were sexy as hell.

  Shit. If she could do that with a finger, just imagine—

  She let it go with a loud pop.

  He dipped down and latched on to one nipple while his hand traveled down and traced her pelvic bone.

  “Tell me,” she moaned out the words. “Tell me what you want.” She arched into his mouth.

  He stopped and looked at her, opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

  “Shy?” She sat up, pushing him off her body, and ran her hands up his chest. “You know there’s nothing you can say that will scare me away. Whether it’s out there in the daylight, or in here, in bed, when you’re ramming your cock deep inside me.”

  He wouldn’t bet on it. She did not want to know what was going on in his head. Sexual or otherwise. Inside his head was one big mess of emotions. And she wasn’t ready to deal with the mess he’d lay on her. Probably wasn’t even capable of it.

  “Nothing you want to say?” she asked softly.

  Fuck, yes. There were a lot of things he wanted to say. Had wanted to say for the last three years. But every single word would have led them to the same place—Penn bent over, her skirt gathered around her waist, shaking that perfect ass, teasing him to enter her from behind.

  “Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about this. About what you’d do to me in bed.” She kissed his neck. “What I’d do to you.”

  If she only knew.

  He shook his head and pulled away. Christ. Couldn’t they just have sex? Hot, amazing, wordless sex?

  She was always talking. Always wanted to talk. He just wanted to fuck.

  “I…” He swallowed hard. “Yes. I want to have sex with you.”

  She shivered in his arms. “Just plain sex. Nothing kinky…?” She bit his earlobe, then licked a line up his ear. “Nothing a little dirty?”

  He tensed, memories of his childhood flashing through his brain. The faceless voices of the men who’d grunted and moaned their instructions. He’d heard it all through the thin walls of his bedroom. Eventually, he’d stooped to stealing—had taken a CD Walkman from a discount store—just to drown out the sounds of his mother and those men.

  “I just… I’ve never liked talking like that.”

  She scooted backward on the mattress and settled her back against the headboard. Her chest rose and fell with long, deep breaths. “Let me show you how much I like it,” she murmured.

  With one finger crooked under the silky fabric of her panties, she pulled them aside and exposed her perfect, creamy mound. She was shaved everywhere but a small patch above her folds. Perfectly trimmed. Perfectly Penn.

  She gestured with her chin, giving him the go-ahead to take this party further. He reached out with one finger and gently traced the line of her sex. Up and down, feather-light touches that had her hands fisting the sheets beside her.

  Her head fell back against the pillow. “More,” she moaned.

  He slipped a finger inside. Immediately she opened her thighs wider for him, giving him the room he needed to slip past her folds, to find her wet heat.

  He sucked in a breath. She did like it. By the feel of the warm, wet flesh under his finger, she loved it.

  Her body tightened as he swiped his thumb over her clit. He circled her sweet spot, loving the way she undulated and writhed beneath his touch.

  Penn was a strong, independent woman who took what she wanted and never caved to others’ demands. She was perfectly capable of knowing what she wanted in a sexual partner, of knowing her boundaries. Maybe voicing his desires wasn’t the horrific thing he’d made it out to be.

  An overwhelming need to taste her washed over him. He wanted to know the exact spot he needed to suck to drive her wild. He swooped down and licked her folds. She hissed when his tongue made contact, and pressed into his face, rubbing herself against his mouth.

  He clamped on to her hips and held her in place. She wasn’t going to control this. He might not be able to say it, but he wanted her to scream in pleasure. And it wasn’t going to be from her grinding on his face. No, he was going to lick her to orgasm. Fast. Hard. Intense. And she was going to be a puddle in his hands when he was done.

  He continued his advance on her, storming her warm center with strong licks and gentle sucking. She moaned. And when he looked up, her eyelids fluttered in ecstasy. It was the same sound and the same face she’d gotten every time he’d made her lime tacos.

  Shit. He’d never be able to make those again. Not without fucking her first.

  He gripped her calves and pushed her thighs toward her chest. Spreading her legs, he held her open. He dipped down and kissed her left thigh. Then her right. With each touch of his lips she shivered. He kissed the top of her sex, then her folds, lightly, teasing, making her want it so badly she was begging.

  But he knew, deep down, she wouldn’t be the only one begging tonight. Because that’s what Penn did. She got him so dialed up that he didn’t know which end was up.

  And that’s when he realized he didn’t care that he lost control when he was with her, because maybe Penn was exactly the safe space he needed to release some of his own demons.

  He stopped his teasing, settling in, licking long lines up her folds, then on her clit. He sucked it into his mouth, and her hips shot off the mattress. She bucked against him, but he maintained his position. He kept it up, drawing out shivers and moans.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck…” she whispered as her head fell back against the headboard. Her foot stomped on the bed beside his face. “You’re so good…”

  He suctioned his mouth over her sex as his tongue worked double-time on her clit.

  “That’s it,” she panted. “That’s it. Just like—”

  He pressed a finger to her core and massaged her entrance.

  “Oh, God. I’m coming.”

  She broke apart. Her legs clamped against his ears, but he didn’t let up. He tongued her until her muscles relaxed. The lighter her body became, the lighter his licks. He swirled and swiped his tongue up and down, from side to side, gently caressing her pink, swollen flesh.

  Moments later, she grabbed him by the hair and pulled his face from her body. “Break,” she whispered.

  Her head was still resting back against the pillow. He crawled up her body, planting feather-l
ight kisses against her stomach, each nipple, the hollow of her neck. He hovered over her, aligning his face with hers. She raised her hand and brushed her thumb across his lips. A timid smile appeared. Then she kissed him. Fierce. Appreciative. Wanting more.

  They broke apart, and she panted against his mouth, “I want to know everything about you, Cole. Let me in.” She placed her hand against his heart. Her palm was hot, moist from their lovemaking.

  She pressed her lips to his again, but this time, it was the most intimate gesture he’d ever experienced.

  He felt like he needed to say something, but he couldn’t. Not now. Maybe not ever. Not when he knew every word he said would be catalogued. Analyzed. And that was too dangerous. Because he knew, without a doubt, that every word he spoke would be the truth. And there would be no taking it back.

  Instead, he returned his hand to her and rubbed her clit with his thumb. The moment her red-stained lips sought his, she lifted up and pushed his fingers inside her body, moving his hand just the way she wanted, fucking herself with his fingers. Taking from him exactly what she needed.

  But once again, she wasn’t in control.

  He took over, thrusting into her center and holding her hips down on the mattress with his free hand.

  He made long movements, dipping inside her, then pulling out to circle her clit. Pushing inside, then pulling out. Over and over and over again.

  “Yes, yes—”

  Her breath was heavy on his neck where she’d buried her face.

  “Yes, yes…ye—”

  He yanked his hand away.

  “Fucking hell!” Her eyes burned, drilling into him. “I was—” She panted. Unable to catch her breath. “So damn close. Why did you—?”

  “I need more.”

  He slipped his hands under the waist of her panties and pulled. He kissed his way down her legs as he dragged the satin toward her ankles, then kissed the tops of her feet after throwing the tiny scrap of fabric to the floor.

  He rose to his knees, whipped off his shirt, and let his shorts fall to the bed. He grabbed her around the stomach and pulled her up onto all fours. He positioned himself behind her and grabbed his cock, then stroked it up and down her folds. Teasing her.