Secret Designs

by Miranda P. Charles

  She sighed as she made her way back to the grand ballroom after a quick trip to the ladies'. This wedding—and the lead-up to it—elicited something in her, too. Lately, to her discomfort, her libido had been very much awake.

  Ever since she and her cousin Samantha Lane arrived from Melbourne a few days ago to fulfil their bridesmaid duties, she'd been constantly in the presence of two loved-up couples. Since she and Sam were staying at Kane and Jasmine's place while in Sydney, she'd been witness to the newlyweds' desire for each other, even though the pair tried their best to keep their passion private. Then there were Ari Mitchell, their other best friend, and her boyfriend Dylan Summers, Kane's brother. Those two seemed to be in competition with Kane and Jasmine for the title Sizzling Couple of the Year. Add to that mix the fact that she'd had a long sex drought of eleven and a half months. It was no wonder she'd been craving a warm, masculine body to alleviate some tension.

  She glanced at the amorous couple again, and her eyes widened in disbelief. The PG-rated kiss of a few seconds ago had now become an R. She let out an incredulous laugh, surprised at the audacity of the guy to visibly fondle his girlfriend's breast in full view of anyone who passed by. Fortunately, most of the wedding guests were inside enjoying some dancing. Honestly, they should get a room!

  She placed her palm on the heavy door of the ballroom and pushed, only to misstep and stumble when she saw who was on the other side of it.

  "Oops. I'm sorry," a deep masculine voice said as he grabbed her arms to stop her from falling flat on her face.

  She grinned. "It's not your fault. I was just surprised it's you."

  The hunk with incredible grey eyes and dark brown hair lifted his eyebrows at her questioningly.

  "Don't mind me," she said with a shake of her head. "I just happened to be talking about you with Ari a few minutes ago. Your name's Trey, right? I'm Kris McCann."

  "Hi, Kris. Yes, I'm Trey—Trey Andrews." The gorgeous one gave her a curious look as he shook the hand she offered him. "But of course, I already know your name. Hard to miss when you're one of the stunning bridesmaids."

  She smiled at the compliment.

  "So, why were you and Ari talking about me?" Trey asked.

  "Oh, it was nothing important," she said with a laugh. "Besides, I really shouldn't tell you."

  "Now, Kris. You can't just leave it like that. You can't incite my interest then leave me hanging," Trey said lightly.

  She pursed her lips. "Considering I agreed with Ari's suggestion, there's really not much point discussing it with you."

  "Now I'm even more intrigued," Trey said with a wide, engaging smile.

  She sighed—well, it was really more like a swoon. Trey really was gorgeous. Should she tell him that she had asked Ari to introduce them to each other for the possibility of some casual sex? Ari was clearly against the idea, warning her of Trey's reputation as a playboy. Since it had been Dylan who'd told Ari that, and Dylan was Trey's best friend, she had no reason to doubt the accuracy of that statement.

  Not that she cared about Trey being a playboy. Crude as it might sound, all she wanted was to get laid and Trey happened to catch her eye. But Ari had been concerned about possible complications. To put her friend at ease, Kris had agreed that it would be better if she considered someone else who was a complete stranger to all of them.

  "I can see the wheels turning in that beautiful head of yours," Trey teased flirtatiously. "Come on, tell me."

  She bit her lip to hide her smile as she stared at him, contemplating her next words. "My cousin Samantha and I are here in Sydney for three weeks to house-sit for Jasmine and Kane while they're on their honeymoon. I said to Ari that I wanted to make the most of it. One thing I wanted to do was to meet someone for some casual sex while I'm here. Not that it's something I do a lot of, but it's been a while, and I'm…you know," she said with a shrug.

  Trey's eyes opened wide in surprise. She must have shocked him with her candidness. The truth was, sometimes her brain-to-mouth filter failed to work. The fact that she already had a bit of alcohol in her made it worse.

  "Sooo," Trey said with a suppressed smile. "How did I end up being in the conversation?"

  She lifted her shoulders. "Since it's a moot point, let's not talk about it."

  "Why is it a moot point?"

  "Because it won't be with you!" she laughed.

  Trey's eyes sparkled with interest. "So you considered me?"

  "Considered you and scratched you out," she confirmed flippantly.

  "Why? What's wrong with me?" he asked with mock indignation.

  "Nothing much that I can see," she admitted, casting an admiring glance at his form. She bet there was a great body hiding underneath that expensive suit.

  Trey's smile widened, making her want to swoon again. Damn it, Ari. Why did I listen to you?

  "So why did you scratch me out?" he asked.

  "Ari didn't think it was a good idea. Too complicated."

  Trey laughed out loud. "That, coming from someone who propositioned her friend's brother-in-law for a one-night stand."

  She joined him in laughter. "I know. But I think that's why she's worried. She thinks I might fall for you like she did with Dylan."

  "Oh. Are you looking for a boyfriend? If so, she's right to warn you off me. I'm allergic to relationships," Trey said with a teasing smile, but his eyes betrayed his seriousness.

  "No, I'm not looking for a boyfriend. I'm looking to get laid. But to avoid any unexpected consequences, I've agreed to look elsewhere."

  "Are you always this frank?" Trey asked, astounded.

  She sighed. "Unfortunately. Mind you, I am a little bit worse tonight because of the alcohol."

  "But you're not completely drunk?"

  "Do I look completely drunk?"

  "Not completely. Just a tiny little bit. Which means the alcohol wasn't affecting your judgment when you thought of me as a potential playmate," Trey said, giving her a suggestive wink.

  She chuckled. "I'm sure you already know you're one hot guy, Trey. But you know what? I agree with Ari. Better not go where we might not like the consequences. What if I fell for you without meaning to? We wouldn't want that now, would we?" she asked jokingly.

  Trey let out a nervous laugh. "No, we certainly wouldn't want that! I'm sure Ari and Jasmine would line up to have my head if I hurt you."

  She smiled, concealing a sigh. What a shame. If Trey was a total stranger, she was almost sure they could end up in bed that very night. But, hey, it wasn't to be.

  She glanced at the throng of people dancing the night away and couldn't help the smile that formed on her face. She loved dancing.

  "Would you like to dance, Trey?" she asked. "Dancing together wouldn't hurt, would it?"

  Trey looked embarrassed. "Uh, sorry. I don't dance."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I mean I can't dance."

  "Oh, come now. Anyone can dance. You're not turning me down because I said I won't be sleeping with you, are you?"

  "What?" Trey asked, chuckling. "Of course not."

  "Good. Shall we?" She held out her arm for him to take.

  *******

  Trey mentally shook his head as he ambled to the dance floor with Kris. She was one intriguing woman, and he'd surprised himself by agreeing to dance with her.

  He liked her outspokenness. He wondered if she was simply a little bit drunk or if she really was as straightforward as she seemed to be.

  She was a breath of fresh air, very much unlike most of the women he'd met in the past, who'd told him what they thought he wanted to hear so they could get in his pants—and most of all, his pockets.

  Kris nudged him with her hip, encouraging him to move. He started to shuffle his feet—or tried to. Heaven knew he couldn't dance and avoided it at all costs. But his lips curved up as he watched Kris, even though he felt like a klutz next to her.

  God, she moved well. Really, really well. He'd noticed it earlier when the bridal party danced the b
ridal waltz with bits of salsa, tango, and freestyle thrown in. She was easily the best in the group, and it was obvious she loved every minute of it.

  He wondered if she had sex just like she danced—with abandon.

  He took a sharp breath at the erotic picture that formed, and snaked an arm around her waist to pull her close. "You're a great dancer," he said in her ear so she could hear him over the blaring music and people singing merrily along at the top of their lungs.

  Kris grinned, her beautiful blue eyes sparkling. To his surprise she swayed seductively around him, letting her hand slide across his chest, his shoulder, his neck, then back to his chest as she completed the circuit of his awkwardly jiggling form.

  Hell, she made him hot. And he couldn't have her. Damn.

  The fast music ended and a slow tune started playing. He took advantage of it and pressed her against him with a firm arm around her waist.

  Kris curved her arms around his neck, her body soft and yielding against his.

  Fuck. She felt good. He felt his loins stir as he danced intimately with her.

  "Do you like dancing, Trey?" Kris asked, her breath tickling his ear.

  His chest heaved. Did she want a literal or a metaphorical answer?

  "Depends on what you mean by 'dancing'," he answered huskily, brushing away a strand of blond hair that strayed to her face.

  She let out a low, sexy laugh. "I mean dancing as in actual dancing—not sex."

  "Oh. No, I don't. Except for right now."

  "Oh? What makes 'right now' different?" she asked, her arms tightening around his neck, her body pressing closer to his.

  Was she giving him a hint? A come-on? Was he under consideration again? He wouldn't mind that at all!

  He licked his lips and smiled. "You're an excellent dance partner, and it's incredibly arousing dancing with you," he said. Not that he had to draw her attention to his excited member. It was quite obviously hard against her.

  Kris leaned back and scrunched her face cutely. "You're still out of the game, even if I'm flirting with you while your you-know-what is poking my belly."

  He laughed out loud, even as disappointment pricked him. "But why? I think we'd have a great time together."

  "That's the problem. We might have too great a time. I think you're dangerous, Trey Andrews," she said openly.

  He gaped at her, trying to determine her meaning. Was she saying she could easily fall for him if they slept together? He sighed. He wasn't being egotistical, but there were enough girls in his past who'd said they were only after sex and ended up chasing him for a relationship.

  He couldn't have that. A few years ago, he'd been too trusting of a particular woman and found himself taken for a ride. He'd learned his lesson. Now, his chosen lifestyle—the bachelor lifestyle—suited him to a tee. He had no plans of giving it up.

  He still let himself be seduced by beautiful women, though. He was a full-blooded male, after all. But he was careful enough—and, he'd like to think, considerate enough—to let them know he wasn't interested in anything beyond casual.

  So Kris was right. He wouldn't want her falling for him at all. Better not go there.

  "Okay," he said. "It's loud and clear. You and I won't be having sex. Right?"

  "Right," Kris agreed.

  "Great," he said, ignoring the deflation he suddenly felt. "Let's go back to the topic of dancing—real dancing. Dylan mentioned you guys took some lessons for the bridal waltz. Where did you go?"

  Kris chuckled. "I taught everyone."

  His eyebrows arched. "You taught everyone?"

  "Yes. I'm a part-time dance teacher at a Melbourne dance studio."

  "That explains a lot," he said with admiration. "You do dance like a pro."

  "Thanks," she said with a smile. "But the guys were excellent students. We only had a handful of sessions and they got the steps pretty quickly."

  "If I were in that bridal party, you would have had a harder time. I don't think you could teach me how to dance like that in one hundred lessons," he said self-deprecatingly.

  "Oh, but you underestimate my teaching skills!" she teased. "Let's have a bet on this."

  "What do you mean?"

  "I bet I can teach you how to dance well in a few lessons. By the time I have to go back home to Melbourne, you'll be a good enough dancer that you could be the centre of attention on any dance floor."

  He snorted in disbelief. "Me become a good dancer in three weeks? Yeah, right."

  "Prove me wrong then," she challenged.

  He smiled. This could be fun. "Okay. I bet I'll be the first guy who fails your class."

  "I bet you'll pass with flying colours," Kris answered.

  "What does the winner of this bet get?" he asked.

  Kris grinned. "If I win, you take me to a nice dinner. If you win, meaning you're still a crap dancer in three weeks, I'll take you dancing—where you will have the wonderful opportunity to dance solo in front of an audience."

  "Hang on a minute. That doesn't sound right," he said in confusion. "If you lose and I still have two left feet by the time you go home, my prize for winning the bet is to dance solo in front of people?"

  "That's right. That would ensure you work hard and not pretend you're not learning even though you are."

  "Why would I want to win, then?"

  "Exactly. That's why I should win."

  "I don't know about this. I make a fool of myself every time I dance, so I just don't," he admitted.

  "You're dancing right now," Kris pointed out.

  He laughed to cover his embarrassment. "Yeah. It's your fault."

  He was rewarded by a sweet smile.

  "You're not doing too badly," she consoled him.

  He snorted. "You don't need to spare my feelings."

  "Look around you," she encouraged. "See how much fun everyone else is having? You don't have to be a good dancer to enjoy dancing. You just need to be less self-conscious."

  "There is still no way in the world I'm going to dance solo with everyone staring at me."

  "That's why you have to help me win this bet, you see? Come on, it'll be fun!"

  "You sure know how to motivate your students, don't you?" he grumbled.

  "So we have a deal?" she asked in an almost-squeal.

  Oh, hell. How could he say no to that excited face? Plus, the idea of spending more time with Kris appealed to him—even if they weren't going to sleep together. "Okay, we have a deal," he said a tad cautiously.

  "Yay!"

  "I do have one big condition, if I'm going to participate in this very scary bet," he said.

  "What's that?"

  "Don't tell anyone you're teaching me how to dance. My friends would undoubtedly want to watch me trip over my own feet, and that would be mortifying."

  "Okay. But how are we going to keep this from them?"

  They were both silent as they thought of a good enough excuse. Suddenly, Kris said, "I know. We can tell them you're taking me to all these different clubs so I can find a decent man to have a short fling with. My cousin Sam wouldn't want to tag along if that's the reason we give her."

  He laughed. "Okay, for some reason, I can actually see them believing that. Little would they know you're trying to convert one of my left feet to a right one."

  "Now that I think about it, it would be great if you could take me to places where I could have my choice of hunks to play with. Maybe after our lessons we could go out and do that?"

  What? He stared at her in disbelief.

  "I'm not kidding, Trey. I still intend to fulfil this little fantasy of mine. Take me to your favourite pick-up places. Pretty please?"

  "Sure," he replied, feeling bothered. He found himself hoping that Kris was simply way too tipsy to mean what she'd just said.

  ***

  Secret Moves (Secret Dreams Book 4) now available from Amazon.

  .com link: Secret Moves

  UK link: Secret Moves

  Thank you so much for reading!
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  Other Books by Miranda P. Charles

  Available at Amazon

  Secret Dreams Series

  Secret Words (Secret Dreams Book 1)

  The love story of Jasmine Allen and Kane Summers.

  .com Link: Secret Words

  UK Link: SecretWords

  Secret Moves (Secret Dreams Book 3)

  The love story of Kris McCann and Trey Andrews.

  .com link: Secret Moves

  UK link: Secret Moves

  Secret Tastes (Secret Dreams Book 4)

  The love story of Samantha Lane and Adam Craig.

  Lifestyle by Design Series

  Will To Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 1)

  The love story of Clarise Carson and Will Matthews.

  .com Link: Will To Love

  UK Link: Will To Love

  Heart Robber (Lifestyle by Design Book 2)

  The love story of Jessa Allen and Rob Granger.

  .com Link: Heart Robber

  UK Link: Heart Robber

  Ray of Love (Lifestyle by Design Book 3)

  The love story of Faye Summers and Ray Thackery.

  .com Link: Ray of Love

  UK Link: Ray of Love

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