by Lulu Pratt
And fuck, she looks edible. Covered in a thin layer of sweat, she looks good enough to lick.
Only a sports bra covers her full tits. The thin, gray cotton material is filled to overflowing because the round globes are pushed together so enticingly. It’s only when I finally pull my eyes away from her chest I notice she’s wearing a pair of yoga capris that leave little to the imagination. Womanly hips flare out right after the curve of her tiny waist and my hands are itching to grab a hold of her and devour every inch.
Clearing the lump in my throat, I speak first, “Hey, Cupcake.”
She doesn’t react to the nickname but instead fists her hands at her narrow waist.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she asks, frowning at the way my eyes linger on her scantily covered curves.
“Have you been working out?” I ask trying to get to the root of her appearance.
Disregarding my question, she reaches behind her and takes a cup of ice cubes from a nearby table. I watch enviously as a few slide onto her tongue as she tilts the cup to her beautiful mouth.
My cock stirs awake at the sight.
For fuck’s sake.
“How did you manage to get my address?” she asks, jostling the ice as she shakes the cup. “First, you show up at my favorite bar. Now you’re on my doorstep. Are you stalking me, Andrew?”
Her insinuation does nothing to quench my growing lust.
Those full lips are calling me, but I stay rooted at the spot. I won’t cross that boundary again until she’s begging me.
And not a second before.
“Not that I’m above it, Cupcake, but your info was pretty easy to come by.” There’s no way in hell I’m going to rat out Louisa from the firm as my source for her address. Being at the same bar as her that night was just a happy, very happy, coincidence. I might need Louisa in the future and I don’t want Lilah shutting that down.
“Don’t call me that,” she bristles, her free hand reaching into the cup and retrieving a frozen cube. Holding it against her neck, she sighs as it melts, liquid running down her cleavage.
Is she fucking kidding me right now?
This little seductress is fucking erotic and the tightness against my zipper is becoming uncomfortable.
She’s the definition of sex. Plain and simple. Fiery and stunning. One hell of a combination.
“Now’s not a good time,” she tells me. Her eyes find mine and I catch a glimmer of defiance staring back at me.
“Why?” I want to know.
When she realizes I’m not budging, Lilah opens the door wider and gives a subtle nod for me to come inside.
“See for yourself,” she says in that breathy voice I love.
Stepping into her apartment is like stepping into a sauna. Holy hell. The air conditioner is broken and I swear even the walls are sweating from the humidity.
“Where the fuck is your superintendent?” I growl, harsher than I intended.
“Who knows?” she says, moving her shoulders up and down noncommittally. “He tends to get around to things on his own time. This is only the second day. He’ll probably contact me tomorrow.”
“What’s his name?” I demand, incensed that anyone would be subjected to these living conditions.
I’m not so privileged that I can’t understand right from dead ass wrong and this is infuriating. Don’t ask me why my protective instincts are fighting to come out. I’m well aware that my main goal should be getting between her legs, but something about Lilah tugs at me in a way I don’t want to examine at the moment.
She’s crazy if she thinks I’m leaving her alone to roast in here all night.
“Go get dressed,” I grit out, fuming at her. “We’re going to be late.”
Instead of that defiant look I’ve come to adore, Lilah’s expression is stunned.
“Lilah.” My words are a growl as I get her attention. “Go. Take. A. Shower.”
“You don’t have to fucking yell. I hear you,” she snaps at me, turning on her heels.
My shoulders don’t relax until I hear the spray of water from down the hall. Closing her front door behind me, I walk deeper into the apartment and take a seat on her worn sofa. Face down on the other cushion is a book that brings a smirk to my face.
Bossypants by Tina Fey.
Why the hell am I not surprised?
This one’s a fucking firecracker. And she’s going to send me straight to the psych ward if I let things get away from me.
But that won’t be happening. Because by the end of the night, I’ll have those pretty thighs spread wide as she begs me not to stop.
Seven
LILAH
I’ve never been so turned on in my life.
On the drive over, Andrew conveniently failed to mention that the art show we were attending was one of the… sensual variety. Men and women in all shapes and sizes are covered only in vibrant paint as their bodies twist and bend into various intricate poses.
The positions are so intimate that I feel guilty watching, until I remember that’s exactly what I’m here to do.
In what seems to be typical Andrew fashion, he’s cool as a cucumber while I dissolve into a ball of tightly wound nerve endings. He hasn’t touched me all night, yet I’m burning hotter than I was in my suffocating apartment.
The man is infuriating, showing up to my apartment and demanding things like he owns the place. A strong pulse has been throbbing at my center since he arrived unannounced.
We’re walking side by side, not touching but definitely in each other’s space. I hate that it makes me crave him even more. Ever since he licked my fingers the other night, my body has been going through some agonizing withdrawals.
Where are ice chips when you need them?
Spectators are scattered throughout the large converted warehouse enjoying food and drinks. I look on, biting the inside of my cheek, as Andrew and I journey from one exhibit to the next.
“Would you like another drink, Cupcake?” Andrew asks, sliding me a glance from the corner of his eye.
It’s not even worth my time to object the pet name he seems so adamant on calling me. All my energy is being summoned not to drool at the sight of his bulging biceps in that black button down anyway.
“Another gin and tonic would be great,” I say, extending my empty glass in his direction.
“Coming right up,” he says with a wink before walking away. His strides are confident and carefully measured. He looks like he owns the place.
Alone, I take in the exhibit before me. Because the lights are pretty low throughout, the figures are only illuminated by a white light. Three figures are twisted together intricately, their lithe limbs wrapped around each other in a familiar embrace.
Sensual heat radiates from them and I find myself shifting from foot to foot to alleviate the stubborn pulse between my thighs.
Green really isn’t my color but I can’t help the jealousy that surges through me to my very core. I haven’t been touched in so long…
How the hell am I supposed to make it through another hour of this without jumping Andrew’s bones?
He appears at my side as soon as the thought is concluded.
“Here you go.”
Handing over my refreshed drink, Andrew turns to study the exhibit that’s garnered my rapt attention.
Taking a sip of my cocktail, I turn my focus on the man beside me and size him up from head to toe.
His short, coppery hair is perfectly cropped and styled. There isn’t a trace of facial hair on his face, leaving his gorgeous features ample opportunity to shine through. Thick, but groomed, eyebrows rest over his beautiful blue eyes. The line of his nose is prominent and distinct but not an eyesore. His jaw is smooth and defined. And that mouth is tempting on a whole other level.
My God.
From the buttons undone at his collar, I can see that his neck is thick and leads to wide shoulders. That brings me back to his biceps. They’re gigantic. Easily bigger than one of my thighs a
nd I’m not a skinny girl. His perfectly tanned complexion lets me know he spends his days in the sun. Or maybe it’s the result of a tanning bed.
My lips quirk at the thought of him with those ridiculous glasses covering his eyes while he lays there, waiting for the timer to go off.
“Like what you see?” Andrew asks suddenly, turning to me.
From his taunting expression, I can’t tell if he’s talking about the exhibit or himself. But the smirk on his face leads me to the latter option.
Damn, I’ve been caught.
My mother always told me it wasn’t polite to stare, but I bet she’d never met a man as attractive as Andrew. To sum it up, he’s magnificent.
“Sorry, I guess I zoned out.” Clearing my throat, I take another sip of my drink as well as a deep inhale of air to steady my breathing.
“Why don’t we get out of here?” he asks, frowning as he pulls at his collar.
Is he as hot and bothered as I am?
It’s a gratifying thought, but I highly doubt it. Nothing seems to ruffle his feathers. Something tells me that he does all the ruffling.
But I do want to get out of here. I’m not sure how much longer I can last in such a charged environment with him only inches away.
“Where to now?” I quiz, not wanting to come right out and tell him that I don’t want our time together to end.
“Follow me.”
I’m right on his heels as we make our way back to the front of the renovated warehouse. Andrew stops to speak to a stunning woman just before we reach the door.
They fall into easy conversation and the woman reaches out to squeeze his bicep while smiling at him enchantingly.
Just because it isn’t my place to be jealous doesn’t stop the stupid knots from twisting in my gut. She looks way too familiar with him and I wonder how they know each other.
A couple minutes into their conversation, Andrew seems to remember that I’m standing there and turns to me with a sheepish smile.
“Sorry, Lilah. This is my good friend Natalia. We studied art together in Spain. She owns this place.”
Art school? In Spain?
Shit, is everyone he knows beautiful and rich?
It feels like someone just dumped a bucket of ice water over my head, leaving me drenched and shivering out in the cold. If I needed any sort of reminder that I’m way out of my league here, that was it.
Summoning my best fake smile, I exchange pleasantries and pretend to be delighted to meet her.
Natalia’s smile is full of warmth and a little intrigue. She studies me up and down before turning to Andrew with a twinkle in her hazel eyes.
“She’s stunning,” she says to him as if I’m not standing right there.
Peeved and officially done for the night, I excuse myself and head for the parking lot as they wrap up their conversation.
A nice walk will do me some good because it suddenly feels like I’m suffocating.
It doesn’t dawn on me until it’s too late that Andrew gave his car to a valet when we arrived. I keep walking anyway. Wandering aimlessly through the rows, I hear footsteps approaching and I know it’s him.
“What the fuck? Wait up, will you?”
Stopping, I stand in place but I don’t turn to him. When Andrew catches up with me, his heavy brows are dipped in the center of his forehead.
“What was that about, Lilah?”
I’m out of my league here, that’s what.
We come from two very different worlds. When he showed up on my doorstep this evening, overcome by desire, I’d easily forgotten that small fact. But now it’s crystal clear and I don’t know how I thought he could be interested in someone like me.
“Take me home, please.”
“Our date isn’t over,” he says, and I can see that muscle at the base of his jaw ticking furiously.
“Oh, but it is. I made a mistake coming out with you tonight but I promise it’s not a mistake that I will make again.”
Our proximity is weakening my resolve but I simply can’t get mixed up in his little world. I have no idea what he wants with me in the first place.
“Lilah, tell me what this is about—”
“Just take me home, please. Or I can call a cab.”
Eight
ANDREW
Fuck.
This isn’t how I saw the night panning out.
Lilah’s icy silence from the passenger seat is deafening.
What the fuck happened?
We’re still about twenty minutes from her place so I try to break the silence with some conversation. Lowering the volume of the radio, I cast a quick glance in her direction as my hands grip the steering wheel.
“I don’t think you should stay at your place tonight. With the air conditioner out, the night will probably be unbearable.”
“I’ll manage,” she responds, her eyes fixed on the scenery we pass.
My next words are brash and I don’t care. “It isn’t safe. You’ll stay in one of my guest rooms.”
“Like hell I will.” She finally turns to look at me. “Listen, I don’t know what kind of women you’re used to, Andrew. But I don’t need rescuing and I’m damn sure not going to fall at your feet. I may not be living in the lap of luxury like you, but I’d definitely feel a lot more at peace in my own place.”
A light bulb pops up over my head, shining clarity on the situation.
This is her pride speaking. Nothing else.
I’ve posed a threat to her safe little existence and she’s bound and determined to erect every wall possible to shut me out. I get it but it still won’t shake me. Her hot-tempered words just turn me on even more.
It’s going to be fun breaking her in. I want to own every ounce of fire in her. She will be mine. And willingly.
“Your place it is.”
Silence blankets the air again and just as I’m about to turn the music back up, Lilah turns in her seat to look at me.
“What do you want?” she asks, most of the anger from before gone. Curiosity and skepticism have taken its place.
“What do I want?” I repeat, not really understanding the question.
I want to fuck her brains out.
Isn’t that much obvious?
“Why are you interested in me? Are you looking for a distraction for the summer? Do I pose a challenge for you?” She probes deeper, her directness leaving me to feel a little exposed.
Of course I know my intentions where she’s concerned. And they’ll remain under wraps until I get what I want. When I check her off the list, it won’t matter what I had to do to get her in my bed. The same goes for every woman on that damn bucket list.
“Because I should tell you upfront, Andrew, I don’t do casual sex.”
She pauses to gauge my reaction but I keep my face neutral.
“It’s not my thing. I may be a flirt, but there is no sex without love. At least for me.”
My hand tightens on the steering wheel at this revelation but I’m counting on the dark interior to mask my reaction.
No sex without love?
Well, that’s my cue to run. And far.
I’ve never been in love in my life. And I’m damn sure not looking to change that any time soon.
There are some things that I just won’t sacrifice for sex. No matter how promising Ms. Tucker seems. My lust knows some bounds and love is a hard limit.
That word’s got to be one of the most repulsing words in the English language. I can’t let myself go there. I refuse.
Damn, it’s going to suck saying goodbye to her tonight. She had so much potential but I’m not budging on this one.
All this runs through my head at lightning speed and I know the decision I have to make. That is, until I shoot another glance to the passenger seat when we come to a traffic light.
Lilah is watching me intently in the wake of her words, probably trying her damnedest to read my face for a reaction.
Those beautiful eyes are trained on me and her pouty mouth is o
pened just slightly. She still looks good enough to eat despite what just came out of her mouth.
What the hell is wrong with me?
I should be running in the opposite direction, not making eyes at her in my car. But then she darts her pink tongue over her bottom lip and my resolve weakens even more.
“Andrew?” She speaks as I continue to stare, captivated.
That damn voice of hers sends shockwaves straight to my dick and for the second time since I’ve met her, I find myself fighting not to adjust myself right in front of her.
“Yeah?” I finally ask.
“The light is green.” Lilah’s eyes come to life with a flash of triumph and I smother a curse when I notice she’s right.
You could hear a pin drop as the rest of the ride passes us by. Thanks to my lead foot, we arrive in front of her building a lot quicker than I plan.
Nowhere near ready to say goodbye to her for good, I relax against the driver’s seat, propping my arm up on the door.
“Did you have fun tonight, Cupcake?”
She scowls, folding her arms across her chest. Just like magnets drawn to metal, my eyes find a new resting place.
“Why do you insist on calling me that?”
Memories of the scene that played out before my eyes makes my voice thick. “Because your performance at the bar is all I can think about every time I look at you.”
Even in the dim lighting of my ride, I can see her cheeks color at my words.
“Whatever, I didn’t even know you were there that night.”
“Well, I’m sure every guy in a ten-foot radius had a hard-on just watching you.”
Lilah snickers at this and the smile on her face does something funny to my chest.
What the fuck is happening here?
“How was I supposed to know you’d be on the prowl that night?”
Intrigued by her choice of words, I lean over the center console to her. She looks startled by my closeness but doesn’t move away.
I smile.
“Is that how you see me? As someone on the prowl?”
“Let’s see,” she murmurs in return, tilting her head in contemplation. “You sought me out in a crowded bar. Then you licked icing from my fingers and marked me with your tongue like a wild animal. So you tell me.”
Her words bring another smile to my lips.