Fire and Ice

by Liz Andrews

  FIRE AND ICE

  Liz Andrews

  www.loose-id.com

  Warning

  This e-book contains sexually explicit scenes and adult language and may be considered offensive to some readers. Loose Id® e-books are for sale to adults ONLY, as defined by the laws of the country in which you made your purchase. Please store your files wisely, where they cannot be accessed by under-aged readers.

  Fire and Ice

  Liz Andrews

  This e-book is a work of fiction. While reference might be made to actual historical events or existing locations, the names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Published by

  Loose Id LLC

  870 Market St, Suite 1201

  San Francisco CA 94102-2907

  www.loose-id.com

  Copyright © April 2009 by Liz Andrews

  All rights reserved. This copy is intended for the purchaser of this e-book ONLY. No part of this e-book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in any printed or electronic form without prior written permission from Loose Id LLC. Please do not participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in violation of the author’s rights. Purchase only authorized editions.

  ISBN 978-1-59632-907-2

  Available in Adobe PDF, HTML, MobiPocket, and MS Reader

  Printed in the United States of America

  Editor: Maryam Salim

  Cover Artist: Natalie Winters

  Dedication

  To Maryam, who hung in there with me. Thanks!

  Chapter One

  She’d brought a date to the party. Victor Titus could barely contain his fury. Still, he couldn’t help but drink her in. Tanya Garcia was one sexy woman, and the clingy red dress she wore only highlighted her assets. Although he was stunned into inaction for a moment by her beauty, it didn’t negate the fact she had deliberately defied him.

  Intent on speaking with her, Victor was waylaid by Josh Bachman, one of his partners in their financial firm. “Hey guy, where do you think you’re going?”

  “Who is he?” Victor didn’t need to explain further. Josh was the only other person who was aware of Victor’s interest in Tanya. Although, Molly Zaworski, Josh’s fiancée and Tanya’s best friend, probably knew something as well. It didn’t matter. Victor didn’t care who knew. What he cared about was that the woman he wanted was at this very moment flirting with some other guy.

  “I can’t remember his name. I overheard Tanya tell Molly he’s a personal trainer at her gym.”

  “She’s just begging me to do something about this.” Just saying the words had him thinking about all the things he could do to her. In his mind’s eye, he could see her tawny body, completely nude and bent over. He’d secure her ankles, pulling her legs wide apart. Her small, compact breasts would be accessible to his knowing touch. And her ass. Her smooth, rounded ass would be his. To spank, to—

  His thoughts were interrupted by Tanya’s laughter from across the room. Her hand rested lightly on her escort’s arm. The arm that Victor was barely restraining himself from ripping off the other man’s shoulder. He took a deep breath and downed his drink, intent on putting a stop to this farce once and for all.

  “You aren’t making a scene here tonight.”

  It wasn’t a question, but a statement, one he knew Josh would enforce if necessary. Victor had no intention of ruining his friend’s engagement party. It wouldn’t stop him from confronting Tanya tonight. He ran a shaky hand through his hair.

  “I’ve played this all wrong. For three months, I’ve used every seductive act I could think of to win her over. Nothing has worked.”

  “Maybe you should just be yourself.”

  Victor gave Josh a pointed look. They’d been roommates in college, and Josh knew about Victor’s dominating tendencies. “Being myself is what caused her to run from me in the first place.”

  “Look, I don’t know the whole story, but I know you. Even if you got her with the seductive act, she needs to see the real you one of these days. Why not now?”

  Why not? Of course, she’d only had a glimpse of the real him the night of the office Christmas party and had been running ever since.

  “First you stop me from talking to her, and now you’re practically pushing me over there. Make up your mind.”

  “Very funny. You ought to be a comedian.” Josh nodded toward Tanya. “Look, she’s alone. Why don’t you take her a drink?”

  “That’s actually a good idea.” Victor snagged two glasses from a passing waiter and headed across the room. Her back was to him, but he could see her hips softly swaying to the music. At that moment, he wished his hands were free so he could come up behind her, grasp those hips, and pull her back into his arms. Of course, knowing Tanya, she’d probably turn around, haul off, and hit him.

  “Would you like a drink?”

  Tanya turned with a smile on her face but frowned as soon as she realized who was offering. With a barely concealed grimace, she grabbed the glass from his hand and took a sip. “Sure, why not?”

  “Don’t act too enthusiastic.”

  “Believe me, I won’t. But I know Molly and Josh spent a fortune on this party, so there’s no use wasting good alcohol.”

  Victor took a sip from his glass and had to agree with her. Although he knew they’d spent some money on having this party at a hotel, it seemed as if they’d wasted no expense on the catering either, because the wine was vintage quality. Attempting to make small talk, he asked, “Are you having a good time?”

  She glanced over her shoulder for a quick moment before answering him. “We just arrived, but so far, yes. I’m glad too, because Molly was worried sick that there was going to be some disaster.”

  Ignoring her discourse about Molly, Victor homed in on the one issue he was most concerned about. “We?”

  “Yes, my date and I.” Tanya took a large gulp of wine and then placed the empty glass on the tray of one of the roving waiters. Since it looked as if this was gearing up to be another fight, he added his own half-empty glass as well.

  “Are you deliberating trying to provoke me?”

  Tanya crossed her arms over her chest, unconsciously pushing her breasts out in a display he was hard-pressed not to pay homage to. Although petite, she was acting as if she were some kind of strong-armed enforcer. Instead of staring at her breasts or laughing at her show of superiority, he gazed straight into her eyes as she spoke. “Just who do you think you are? I’m not deliberately doing anything to provoke you. In fact, I don’t make decisions with you in mind at all.”

  “Really? Because I thought I was pretty clear on my phone message that I was coming here alone and expected you to do the same. So do you want to explain to me why you did just the opposite?”

  He watched as she pursed her lips, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she started speaking very distinctly, as if explaining something to a child. “I must have missed that message. However, I don’t take orders from you. Your expectations of my behavior don’t play into my decision making. I’m an adult; something you obviously know nothing about.”

  “Well, let me enlighten you about the phone message. I explained that I’m getting a little sick and tired of you running from me, from us. Tonight we’re going to talk, one way or another. So bringing a date was bad news not only for you, but for him as well.”

  “Oh. My. God. You are just not getting it.” She shook her head as if in defeat. “I’m done explaining things to you. Have a great time tonight.”

  She turned on her heels and took one step forward, only to trip on the
hem of her dress. Before she could take a tumble, he reached out, caught her, and pulled her into his arms. The feel of her clasped in his grasp again was a heady rush. It had been three long months, and he wasn’t interested in waiting any longer to make it permanent.

  “You need a keeper.” Her long, thick black hair was piled on her head with a few tendrils curling around her face. A stray curl escaped from one of the pins, and he reached out to tuck the errant strand behind her ear.

  “I suppose you’re applying for the job.”

  Victor leaned down, his lips just centimeters from her ear. “There will be no applicants, no interviews. I’m the man for the job, plain and simple.”

  Tanya took a deep, shuddering breath. He knew she might deny it, but she wanted him just as much as he wanted her. Her submissive nature, the one she buried so deep inside she refused to even admit it existed, responded to his commanding words as though she were already his. And the Dom in him reveled in her reaction. She still continued to fight him and her own nature and pulled out of his arms, fury evident in her gaze. Her words lacked the fire he was expecting. “Just leave me alone.”

  She hurried from his side then, heading across the room to where he noticed her date had finally made it through the buffet line with two plates. His gaze narrowed as he watched her smile at the other man, flirting as she nibbled at the tasty tidbits from her plate. The sight of her chatting with the muscled jock was making him sick to his stomach. He finally forced himself to turn away. She might think she’d escaped him, but it was only a brief reprieve.

  Thankfully Victor’s attention was diverted by the arrival of Brandon Lang, the third partner in their firm. True to Brandon’s playboy status, he was accompanied by two gorgeous, statuesque blondes, one on each arm. As he walked over to greet the new arrivals, he overheard Brandon discussing him with the two women. “Now, ladies, this is the man I’ve been telling you about. He’s a solid block of ice.”

  One of the blondes looked Victor up and down, her gaze undressing him just as easily as her hands probably could. In the past, he would have taken her up on her unspoken invitation. She looked like the type who could enjoy an evening of hot sex with no strings attached. Now, however, he didn’t feel even a flicker of interest. Nevertheless, he wouldn’t be rude to the women. Brandon, on the other hand, he couldn’t care less about.

  “Don’t believe a word this man says. He’s overcompensating, trying to cover up his latent homosexuality.”

  The woman who’d given him the blatant come-on laughed, but the other one gave him a blank stare. She had a perfect body but was obviously no Rhodes Scholar. Victor cocked his eyebrow at Brandon, who returned the gesture with a slight shrug.

  As the two women excused themselves to use the restroom, Brandon glanced around the crowded room. “Where are Josh and the future ball and chain?”

  “You better not let him hear you call Molly that. He might just wipe the floor with your pretty face.” Although he’d purposely turned away from Tanya and her date, he couldn’t help looking around to find her again.

  “You know I was only kidding. I love Molly; she’s a wonderful girl.”

  “Shut up while you’re ahead.” His response was somewhat distracted as he finally spotted Tanya on the dance floor. Victor could feel his blood pressure rising as he watched her in the other man’s arms. Although petite, she had high, firm breasts and a curvy little ass. An ass currently being groped. No fucking way he was going to let that pass. “Um, talk to you later.”

  Victor strode away, not even waiting for a response from Brandon. He wasn’t going to make a scene. He continued to repeat that to himself as he reached their side and tapped the man on the shoulder. “May I cut in?”

  Tanya appeared stricken and clung to the man’s sleeve, but Victor wasn’t taking no for an answer. He pulled her into his arms, leaving her date staring blankly at them as they danced away.

  “How dare you?”

  “You let him feel you up on the dance floor. How dare you?”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  If she wanted to test him, he was more than up to the challenge. He swung her around and headed toward the balcony. Once outside, he closed the doors behind him. “Don’t ever issue ultimatums unless you’re prepared for the consequences.”

  Hands on her hips, she gave a little snort. “Should I be afraid?”

  “Maybe you should.” He took a step forward and smiled inwardly when she held her ground. His little spitfire was no shrinking violet, and he wouldn’t want her to be.

  “Ooh, you think you’re such a tough guy.”

  He couldn’t allow her to think she could get away with being sassy. Crowding into her personal space, he backed her up until she didn’t have an escape route. “If I didn’t know any better, I’d suspect you were begging me for a confrontation. Maybe you enjoyed being spanked and are just too embarrassed to admit it.”

  It was too dark outside to see if she was blushing, but there was no mistaking her outraged gasp. Taking advantage of her stunned silence, he shackled her wrists with his hands and bent his head to capture her lips. He finally had her where he wanted her, in his arms again.

  This was not happening.

  While those words raced through Tanya’s head, her body was responding in every way she didn’t want it to. She’d been on the edge ever since she arrived and felt the heat of his gaze on her. He stood head and shoulders above most men, and she had followed his dark head as he moved around the room, knowing at almost every moment where he was. When he arrived at her side, she’d acted surprised, but she had known he was coming toward her the whole time.

  Their sparring had only upped the ante. But his touch was the one thing guaranteed to send her into the abyss into full-blown desire. His hands holding her wrists, the heat of his body enveloping her, the spicy taste of him as he devoured her. It was all too much for her to fight any longer.

  Tanya wanted him, something she’d been denying to him and herself for the last three months. Running scared from both him and her own nature. Now she was ready to enjoy everything she’d suppressed since Christmas.

  Releasing her wrists, his palm cupped her, molding her breast with that little bit of roughness she loved. Her nipples pebbled at his touch. He grasped the plump peak and rolled it between his thumb and finger. She decided to revel in the sensations, taking the pleasure he was giving her. Although she knew it would only be for tonight, she was ready to enjoy it. His other hand had snaked around her body to cup her ass and pull her close to him so she didn’t know where he ended and she began.

  His cock pressed into the softness of her stomach, a hard ridge that left no doubt as to his need for her. Desire bloomed through her. Her panties were damp, and her body ached to be filled. As if reading her mind, Victor moved his hand from her breast to her hip and began to pull up the fabric from her dress.

  Breaking the kiss, he nibbled along her jaw to the curve of her neck, licking and sucking on her tender skin. Tanya reached out to grasp his shoulders, needing an anchor. She couldn’t think; she could only feel.

  This is why she’d been running for the last three months. His touch is what she’d been craving the entire time. And it scared her. If she accepted him in her life and allowed him to take over as she knew he would, it would devastate her when she lost him. Because as much as he wanted her right now, it was only fleeting. He would move on, and she would be left to pick up the pieces.

  She knew she should be resisting him right now but instead spread her legs at the nudge of his hand. He slipped his fingers past her panties and through the soft, downy hair to delve deeper. She opened her legs wider in silent invitation, seeking his touch, but he denied her.

  “Victor.” The need in her voice was more than evident.

  “Yes?”

  “Don’t tease.” She rolled her hips and groaned as he slid his hand along her wet, swollen flesh. But it wasn’t enough. The touch was too light, setting her more on edge than r
elieving her need.

  “If you want something, baby, all you have to do is ask for it.” He tempted her again with his wicked fingers, working them back and forth.

  “I want to come.” She had no shame at this point. Her need was all-consuming. But Victor wasn’t going to make that easy for her.

  “You don’t need me for that.”

  Not true. Oh, she had orgasmed since Christmas Eve. She had a vibrator and a fresh supply of batteries. But each time it had only been an empty, momentary release of her body. They paled in comparison to the earth-shattering, tumultuous, body-wrenching orgasms he’d given her.

  “Victor, please.” She clutched at his arm, looking up into his dark brown, fathomless eyes, pleading with him. For a brief moment she thought he was going to leave, just walk away in some pique of anger, revenge for how she had denied him for all this time. But then it was gone.

  “Is this what you want, baby? My fingers pumping in your pussy.” Tanya released a shuddering breath as he followed his words with action. He rubbed his thumb over her throbbing bundle of nerves at the apex of her thighs, and her hips jerked in unconscious reaction. “And we can’t forget your poor little clit.”

  The combination of his words and actions had her hurtling toward the edge of climax at record-breaking speeds. It still wasn’t enough. She needed more. And somehow he knew it.

  “What is it, baby? Do you need something? Maybe this.” He reached up and grasped the back of her head. She groaned at the sensation of multitudes of pins digging into her scalp. “Oh yeah, that’s what you wanted, isn’t it? Come for me, Tanya. Come all over my hand.”

  His hard command combined with the hair pulling was all she needed. Her body spasmed as the orgasm hit her with the force of a hurricane. She wanted to scream but knew it was impossible. Instead she bit her bottom lip, holding in the cry she so desperately wanted to unleash. At the same time, he continued to fuck her hard and fast with his hand, as the muscles of her pussy clenched throughout her climax.

  The intensity of it had her attempting to stifle her sobs, but he wasn’t fooled. He removed his hand from her panties, allowing her dress to fall back down, and then pulled her tight into his embrace. “That’s okay, baby, let it out.”