A Wicked Game

by Evie Knight

  He grabbed her hand and led her the short distance to the shore. “Not too often, but I do whenever I can.”

  “What do you do for fun, Jack?” She pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

  “I don’t know I can top your kind of fun.”

  “Oh, yeah? Come on, what do you do for fun?”

  “Not pole dancing, for starters,” he teased, pulling her to him and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

  Tori pushed him but Jack tightened his hold on her. “You didn’t just go there.”

  “I may just have to go to therapy to get it out of my head, and send you the bill for the trauma you’ve caused me,” he said.

  “I can’t believe you.” She let out a soft laugh. “You know, on second thought, perhaps it is a good idea for you to see a therapist. I’d love to see how they would react at hearing you talk about your wicked ways, let alone your custom fire pole.”

  He laughed, fastening his hold on her. He placed a kiss on top of her head. “How was your week?”

  Pulling away from him, she sat on the sand. “It sucked. I barely even had time to eat or sleep.” The fact that she hadn’t been able to concentrate as she should’ve because she’d been too busy day dreaming of him wasn’t something she cared to share with him. “How was yours?”

  He sat next to her, staring at the waves crashing on the shore. “Hell. Shit hit the fan with a vendor and now I have to play a political game I’m not looking forward to.”

  “It’s why they pay you the big bucks, no?” she said.

  “For what I have to deal with sometimes, I don’t think the big bucks are worth the stress.” Jack put his hands behind him and turned to look at her.

  “What?” she asked in a low voice. The intensity of his hot gaze on her made the air rush out of her body.

  He touched her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. “What?” A corner of his mouth turned into a lopsided smile.

  She grabbed his hand and curled her fingers on his wrist, and he leaned forward and kissed her. Tori parted her lips, welcoming the warmth of his. His kiss didn’t demand anything, which made her want more.

  What is wrong with me? She wasn’t supposed to want more—or anything—from him, yet she couldn’t will herself to move away. No. Instead, she cupped his face, sucking gently at his upper lip.

  Jack pushed her back on the sand, laying her down. His sweet kiss was so powerful it made her body ache with desire. Had he missed her? The passion in his kiss told her he had. Hope filled her chest. Tori wished circumstances were different, because she could love this man.

  Pushing the thought aside, she laced her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer to her as if he wasn’t already touching her, sinking deeper in the sand. Getting the sand out of her hair would be a nightmare, but so worth the inconvenience for a kiss like his.

  He drew her tongue in the hotness of his mouth; the heat from his body swept the length of hers. If he continued kissing her this way, she’d end up having sex on the beach for dinner. She didn’t mind, not when the entrée was Jack.

  She’d been too deep in the emotions running through her, and she was almost swept away—literally—by the cold current crashing over their entwined legs, knocking her out of her daze.

  “Fuck.” Jack sprang to his feet, hauling her with him.

  Damn. Not only did she have sand in her hair, now her jeans were wet too. What a way to break the spell of the moment. Stupid Pacific Ocean and its arctic stream.

  Jack glanced at her, his mouth curved into what looked like a suppressed smile. “Let me take you home,” he said.

  Tori headed for his bike. “Don’t try too hard not to laugh at me, but if you do, I hope you choke on it,” she said over her shoulder, smiling.

  The cool ocean breeze carried his laugh, enveloping her in its warmth.

  She slipped on her boots and secured her helmet, watching him approach. She sighed. Dammit. Why does he have to look irresistible? He’d never been bad looking. Gosh no. He’d always been just quite the opposite. Tori could regret her ill-doings all she wanted, but nothing would ever take back or fix what she’d done. She’d regret it forever.

  * * * *

  Jack took a different route on their way back. He was glad for the cold wind blowing through his skin. Tori took his jacket, trying to keep warm after getting her pants wet with cold water. If it hadn’t been for that, he would’ve taken her right there on the sand. In hindsight, it’d been a good thing he hadn’t, because with his luck, he didn’t doubt the beach patrol would’ve caught them. He’d known he’d missed her, but he hadn’t realized just how much until he kissed her. What’s happening to me? He made a right turn into a residential street and went up a hill.

  “I thought you were taking me home,” she said at his back.

  He turned left and the doors to a driveway parted open and let them in. “I am.”

  “This isn’t my house.”

  Jack rode the distance to the house. “I said I’d take you home. I never said whose home.” He stopped in front of his garage and killed the engine.

  Her silence told him she was wondering why he’d taken her to his place instead of hers. Jack hadn’t given it a second thought because all he wanted was to spend more time with her.

  “Come on. Let’s get you out of those clothes.” He grabbed her hand and guided her inside his place.

  She glanced around his house. “So, this is your weekend home. Just what exactly is it you do?”

  He led her up the stairs to the master bathroom. “I tell people what to do.”

  “Thank you for reminding me why I didn’t like you in college.” She gave him a side-glance. “You’re such a smart-ass.”

  He yanked her hand back and pushed her against the wall. He placed his hands on either side of her, trapping her in. “That’s it? My smart-ass ways?”

  Tori looked at him, parting her lips to speak except no words came out. She angled her head, ready to kiss him.

  He leaned forward, his mouth a breath away from hers. He’d kiss her all right, but not yet. Instead, he touched the tip of his nose to hers. “A warm shower is in order.” He twisted around to turn the handle.

  Next, he removed his boots, then straightened to his full height, stripping off his T-shirt. He cast a glance at her, holding her gaze.

  Tori narrowed her eyes at him and kicked off her boots. She wriggled from her shirt, followed by her bra, and dropped both at her feet.

  He grinned. When it came to Tori, everything was a challenge. Jack unzipped his jeans and pulled them and his boxers down, baring his erection. Her hot gaze slid across his body, lingering on his shaft, which was standing proudly at attention. He kicked his jeans to the side. “Are you going to stand there?”

  She lifted her gaze. “Maybe I’m enjoying the view. You got a problem with that?”

  “Take your clothes off, Tori.” If she didn’t, he would help her out of them if he had to. Standing there naked, not moving, took all his will power. His body burned to hold her, his cock ached to be inside her, but he wouldn’t touch her until she was completely naked.

  She remained still for a moment, then peeled off her jeans. She closed the short distance and took his hand.

  Her warmth ran through him, shocking every nerve in its way. His cock twitched as his balls got heavier. Jack pulled her to him. Winding his arms around her waist, he lifted her off her feet and carried her inside the shower.

  He captured her mouth, devouring it with a kiss. Steam rose, fogging the glass. The warm water slid where their lips connected and down their bodies. Tori raked her hands up his back, clinging to him. Jack backed her against the travertine wall. Breaking the kiss, he swept his lips over the curve of her neck, making his way to her breasts. He circled her nipple with the tip of his tongue, then closed his lips around it, sucking it gently into his mouth.

  Tori closed her eyes, tangling her fingers in his hair as he moved to her other breast and lavished it with the same attention. His
body ached to take her, to feel her muscles clench around his cock when he thrust into her. Instead, Jack knelt, dragging his lips down her navel to her sex. He pulled her leg over his shoulder and closed his mouth on her pussy, lapping at her clit, drawing it into his mouth.

  “J-Jack.”

  Her panting encouraged him. He shifted his knees, changing the angle of his head. He traced her folds, then drove his tongue into her entrance. He’d never forget the taste of her, or her moans, or the way she said his name every time she neared the edge. His desire for her hadn’t diminished in the least—quite the opposite.

  “Oh, I’m coming,” she cried.

  He licked her clit faster, his hands holding her in place. Tori trembled against his mouth, her legs almost gave way. Jack forced her to stay up until the last remnant of her orgasm rode her body. He stood and cupped her face as he kissed her. Lust always made people stupid. He knew better, yet he let his insane desire for her lead him.

  Jack broke the kiss to catch his breath, his forehead touching hers. “Are we being stupid, Victoria?”

  She stared him back, silent for a moment, before she said, “Yes, we’re stupid.”

  He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Tori was right. They were being stupid. Not what he wanted to hear or admit, but neither one of them ran the other way and he couldn’t will himself to walk away. He turned her around and pressed her against the travertine. Just one more night with her was all he asked.

  Parting her legs, he placed a hand above her head for support and positioned his cock at her entrance. “Victoria, tell me to stop,” he whispered in her ear.

  “I don’t want you to.”

  Jack held her by the waist with one hand and plunged into her. He could get so lost in her if he continued to see her. Fuck. He’d been dreaming of her for years. First for revenge—a revenge he never imagined would come true. Now she occupied his dreams with something else altogether. He didn’t care for love; he didn’t recall ever being in love. Everything had changed with Tori. Jack feared what would happen if he spent any more time with her. He didn’t want to fall in love. Not with her.

  He dropped his hand to her pussy, his fingers finding her bud. He rocked his hips against her, lunging into her. He was so close. His balls were heavy and he’d been aching since he’d kissed her at the beach. Jack thrust harder, faster, increasing the pressure on her clit. “You feel so good, Tori,” he whispered. His body vibrated and he emptied himself in her.

  She moaned, clamping her muscles around his cock, riding her own wave of ecstasy again.

  They stood pressed against the wall for some time, catching their breaths. Jack kissed the top of her head as his shaft softened, finally sliding out of her. They soaped each other’s body with long caresses, letting the water run between them, washing down the soap. Her sweet actions made him forget how much he’d always thought he hated her.

  “Will you stay the night?” Asking her to spend the night with him was the worst thing he could do, but the best thing he could think of. If this was the last time he’d see her, he wanted to spend every last minute of it with her.

  “I should go home.”

  No. Not tonight. “Your clothes are wet,” he said.

  “You could be a good guy and let me borrow a T-shirt and a pair of pants so I can go home.”

  He leaned forward, backing her against the wall to turn off the knob. “Then, I’m a bad guy because I won’t let you use any of my clothes,” he said in a low voice.

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not liking you much right now.”

  “Now, you know that’s a lie.” Jack opened the glass door and stepped out to grab a couple of towels. “Spend the night, won’t you?” He covered her in a towel and drew her to him. “I’ll take you home tomorrow morning.”

  She looked up at him. “Hmm… I don’t know. Will you feed me?”

  He let out a soft laugh. “Sure. You tell me what you want. I’ll press the number on my auto-dial.”

  “You can’t cook?”

  “Sweetheart, I love food too much to mess with it. What are you in the mood for tonight? I’ll call it in.” Jack kissed the tip of her nose. He’d make every minute of their night together count. Tomorrow would be another day and the time to say goodbye. Tonight he’d enjoy her company.

  Chapter Fourteen

  She’d been seeing Jack for almost three months now. What had started as a game of revenge was a game no more. Oh, there wasn’t anything serious between them. Well, she preferred to think there wasn’t because she didn’t know what—if anything—existed. For all she knew, Jack could stop calling her, stop showing up to take her out to lunch whenever he had a chance, stop asking her out to dinner, stop taking her for a ride on the weekends, or stop asking her to spend the night at his place more often than not. Come to think of it, she’d been gradually staying more nights at his place than at her own condo.

  Tori glanced around the elegant room and ran her hand down the length of her short black dress while she waited for the bartender to pour her a drink. Jack asked her to accompany him to his company’s cocktail party in celebration of a new account they’d acquired. She watched as he held an animated conversation with his friend Ethan and other company executives he’d introduced her to earlier.

  His good looks didn’t compare to how ridiculously smart he was. To top it all off, he had a great sense of humor, which she’d never known until now. The more time she spent with him, the farther she fell into his web. She lost track of time, basking in the safe haven of his arms, in his sometimes harsh yet sweet lovemaking.

  Tori sucked in her breath, reaching for her martini. God. No, it couldn’t be possible. Had she fallen in love? She took a long drink. Yes, she had. How could she not have seen it coming? Her heartbeat raced. She stared in his direction, and saw him smile, nodding at whatever the other men around him said.

  “Oh, I know that look.” Brandy, Jack’s secretary, stood next to her at the bar and gestured to the bartender.

  Tori blinked, glancing at the beautiful woman. “Come again.”

  Brandy smiled. “Mm… hmm yeah, just what I thought.” She ordered her drink and looked back at Tori. “He can be an ass sometimes.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know,” Tori agreed.

  “Right. You’ll make a decent husband out of him.”

  Tori choked on her drink. Did she hear her right? She wondered whatever made Brandy think that. “It’s nothing—”

  “How is it?” She raised her brow in question.

  “We’re just friends.”

  Brandy’s shoulders shook as she let out a soft laugh. “He’d never bring a friend to the company’s cocktail.” She took a sip from her drink.

  “I’m sure he took other women to events.” Her chest tightened as Tori imagined Jack with other women. God. She was jealous.

  Brandy glanced at Jack, then back at Tori. “If he ever dated, he kept it a secret because he always comes alone to this kind of affairs. Seriously, I’d wondered if he wasn’t into women until you.” She raised her cocktail. “Don’t break my boss’s heart. He’s a good man. Cheers.” She flashed Tori a smile, turned around, and walked away.

  Tori looked up, finding Jack still across the room. This time his hot gaze held hers, consuming her inside out the way it always did.

  * * * *

  “How long has it been since you’ve been seeing her?” Ethan asked.

  “Close to three months.” Jack watched her across the room, taking in the way she looked in her short dress. He marveled at how he’d strip it from her when he took her home.

  Ethan gave a low whistle. “Three months? Dude, you better make up your mind soon.” He patted Jack’s back.

  Jack furrowed his brow. “What do you mean, make up my mind?”

  Ethan did a double take. “You’re at the three month mark. If you’re not serious, you need to break things now before she gets any ideas.”

  “Trust me, she won’t get any ideas. Tori knows
what we are and where we stand,” Jack said, uneasiness filled his chest. He’d promised himself he wouldn’t see her anymore, but he couldn’t resist. He wasn’t ready to let her go yet. They were past their revenge—they’d been past it since the night she pole danced for him.

  “If you’re not serious, don’t be selfish. Let her go.” Ethan paused. “I don’t know her the way you do, but putting her naughty-toys joke aside, she’s the kind of woman a man wants to marry.”

  His stomach clenched at the thought of Tori being in another man’s arms. “She doesn’t want to marry.”

  “How do you know? Have you asked her?” Ethan grinned.

  “No. Of course not.” The thought hadn’t crossed his mind. Marriage wasn’t a subject he’d breach. His conversations with her covered all types of topics—except relationships and marriage. Neither one of them had brought it up.

  “You don’t know shit.”

  “What makes you an expert?” Jack asked.

  “Nothing.” Ethan shrugged. “Frankly, I don’t give a damn what you do. I just know it won’t be pretty when one of you decides to move on. I’ve been there. Take it from someone that knows. It sucks.”

  Jack didn’t want Tori to move on. Not yet. Did that make him selfish? Three months wasn’t a long enough time to be with someone and decide whether to move on, or stay and take things to the next level. He breathed in, acknowledging that his one-night deal, which had lengthened to three months, had bitten him in the ass.

  “If I were you, I’d take advantage of the next two months, when you’ll be working out of Tokyo. Think hard about what you want to do,” Ethan said. “Tori knows you’re leaving, right?”

  Fuck. “No. I haven’t had a chance to tell her,” he lied. There’d been plenty of chances; he just hadn’t told her because he’d been afraid of how she’d react. Jack wasn’t even sure how he felt about being away from her for such a long time, and hoped she didn’t think he’d be breaking their liaison of sorts between them—because he wasn’t.

  “You’re leaving tomorrow night and you haven’t told her? Man, you’re an asshole, ripping off the Band-Aid like that.”