by Helena Rac
“I see. What about me?” I ask innocently, our exchange isolated by the chatty voices around us.
“Seeing you. Getting a chance to talk to you again, you know, after last time.”
“After last time?” I take another sip of wine, trying to sound casual, but from the way my hand is traveling up his thigh, I think he knows exactly how well I remember the last time.
He takes a moment to respond. “Let’s talk about it when it’s more private, okay?”
“We’ve got days to talk this time around. I’m sure the topic will come up.” I flirt easily, knowing full well that if my plan works out, there will be very little talking. In fact, this will probably be the last I see of him before the rehearsal dinner on Thursday. And on that note, I inch my hand higher, and I’m there.
Luke’s eyes widen, like he didn’t think I would actually make it all the way, and he responds, “I sure hope so,” with a tight grin.
“So, you’re looking forward to the week, then?” I ask expectantly, while the palm of my hand gently rubs the zipper-tight area of his pants. God, he’s so hard. I remind myself to not focus too much on what exactly I’m doing. Except thanks to the way his cock twitches ever so slightly every time I rub, I have trouble putting together a coherent thought. My thoughts are like a broken record, stuck on repeat. Giant cock … giant cock … giant cock…
“Very much so,” he replies, the “so” stretching into a hissing sound. His eyes connect with mine, and I see the intensity that’s behind them. It’s like he’s thinking of not only what I’m doing to him right now, but also what he did to me in the movie theater. And, perhaps, what he’d like to do to me again? Yes please. What? No no no. Focus.
His gaze is intimidating, nonetheless. It’s as if he’s undressing me with his stare. I suddenly feel exposed, flushed. I squeeze my thighs in response as warm tension builds deep in my belly. I’m reminded of the way his fingers made me feel, and I long for them to make me feel that way right now.
Stirred by the thoughts that are heightening my arousal, I up the intensity and massage the firmness in his pants. He grows harder as he pulsates beneath my palm. I’m rewarded with a low growl, one that is audible only to me, given the buzz of the voices around us. God, that sound is so sexy. I need more of it; I want more of it. I want it loud.
I can’t even remember what I asked or where our conversation was, I’m so caught up in our game. I’ve forgotten what the point of Step Three was to begin with. But a sudden laugh from the table brings me back from the land of giant cock. I take a quick look around and am glad to see that everyone is immersed in their chatter and not focused on us. Thank god. That was too close, and I’ve got a plan to stick to.
“To things to look forward to, then!” I pull my hand away and take a sip of wine to hide the fact that my cheeks are blushing from the little preview that just played out so flawlessly. Luke stares at me with a stunned, almost pained expression on his face, like he’s confused and not quite ready for our game to end. Oh, the game has just begun, Mr. Callaghan.
Chapter 5
The drinks are flowing at the club, but I’m drunk on something else. Luke’s gaze keeps finding me through the crowd, making me buzz despite myself. It’s retro night, so the place is packed, but Marcus knows the owner, of course, so we’re glamming it up in the VIP lounge.
Luke’s sipping his beer and swallowing me. I can make out a small smile at the corner of his mouth and can’t help but smile back. I’m drawn to his eyes, to his lips, to his presence. Why does he have to be so damn gorgeous? This plan would be so much easier to execute if he was less appealing. Eyes on the prize, Conte! Right. I can pull this off. No problem.
“Party Rock Anthem” blasts through the speakers, bringing cheers from the crowd. Clara squeals in her signature excitement. “I haven’t heard this song in forever! Let’s go!” When Clara’s on a mission, she’s unstoppable. She pulls me by my hand and leads us to the dance floor, making her way through the crowd. The rest of the bridesmaids follow suit.
When we get to the dance floor, I lose myself in the beat of the music, putting on my dance persona, that of Confident Tessa who moves seductively, who flirts with the music.
I’ve been dancing since I was five. My mom had to force me to attend the first few dance lessons because I’m not a natural performer and I totally hated it at first. I was shy compared to most of the girls in our class, who had the confidence that I so often lacked in new situations. But the more I practiced, the more fun it became. When I danced, all the spontaneity that normally felt so foreign to me became a bit more natural. And I’ve learned to love it. It combines the control I crave with just a touch of impulsiveness.
It’s not long before the guys join us on the floor. All except for Luke. Where the hell is he? Somewhat desperately, I have to admit, I search the crowd that has by now grown quite dense, but I can’t place him. Damn it! If my plan is going to work, I absolutely need to find him again tonight.
Just as I’m about to go into bounty-hunter mode, the swish of a familiar scent stops me. The soft hairs on the back of my neck rise up and goose bumps scatter over my body. I still at the touch of what I know is Luke’s palm on my lower back.
“Hey,” he calls deep and low through the music, his mouth nearly touching my ear.
“Hi,” I say as I turn to face him. Except the move is not nearly as smooth as I anticipated. Instead, I kind of less-than-gracefully smack my nose right against his chin.
“Oh my god, I’m so sorry,” Luke chuckles, although obviously my clumsiness is not something he needs to apologize for. “Are you okay?” He cups my cheeks in his palms and rubs my nose with his thumb, gently soothing the spot. The familiarity of this moment is so not lost on me.
But I’m no longer the mumbling Tessa he ran into the first time we met. No, this Tessa is confident. This Tessa is focused. This Tessa is going for a shiny trophy.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Just, you know, obviously still clumsy.”
The way he smiles, the way his eyes gleam with amusement, I know he gets exactly what I’m referring to. But as his thumb pauses in rubbing my nose, a strange thing happens. Our eyes lock and we stand there, unmoving, caught up in the moment. The intensity in his eyes is palpable, the look of want, need, and anticipation all tangled together. At least that’s what I think I’m seeing. It’s kind of dark on the dance floor, after all.
But I definitely see when his gaze shifts down, right to my lips. And even though I know I shouldn’t, my gaze mirrors his. Oh god! I’ve thought of tasting his lips so many times. We are so close, in fact, that I feel his breath on me. Surprisingly, it’s minty, like he’s just chewed a Tic Tac or something. From the way his eyes are fixated on my mouth, it seems as though he’s bracing himself, holding back from getting another inch closer. Right now I am so not even thinking about my Evil, Kick-Ass Plan. My mouth is dry and my body’s tingling all over. Is he going to? I so want him to. I want a taste of him, of his mouth. No no – I don’t. Ugh! I hate myself for even considering it.
Perhaps it’s the hesitation he reads on my face, or perhaps it’s his own feelings of uncertainty, but with a slight shift of his gaze, the moment is gone. Instead he asks, “Dance with me?”
I nod, and it’s like I’ve given him the green light. Luke wraps his arms around my waist and pulls my body close, so that my breasts connect with his firm chest and the area just below my tummy connects with something else that feels pretty firm. I whimper at the sudden friction it creates, and I have the urge to feel him bare.
My arms wrap around his neck and my fingers make their way into his hair. I’ve imagined running my fingers through his hair since I first ran into him and wondered what kind of reaction it would bring out in him. And his reaction is divine. He closes his eyes and leans into the palms of my hands, groaning.
When he opens his eyes again, they’re glazed with need. He runs his fingers down my arms, tantalizing every pore along the way. He leaves a fiery trail, m
aking my skin feel feverish. His hands move down to my hips and rock me to the rhythm of the song. We’re moving like we’re one – there’s a connection between us that is undeniable. I feel the vibrations not only from the beat of the music, but also from having his body so close to me.
His hands inch lower and lower, then grab my bottom. My back arches and my breasts push up as he drives his pelvis against me. I let out a moan and close my eyes as my head falls back. And then I feel his touch, right down the middle of my chest, down the deep v-cut of my dress. His fingers trace the skin from my collarbone, in between my breasts, to just above my belly button. And they make my skin sizzle. I’m a torch, ready to set fire. I imagine being naked and against him; I imagine his lips on my bare skin, on my nipples, tugging, sucking. The thrill of the image makes my head spin – I am so turned on by what Luke is doing right now. And I’m lost in the way he feels, in the way our bodies connect. The crowd around us disappears, and the music fades into the background.
I bring my head up and meet his eyes. He holds my gaze, the lust in his telling me he feels as crazed as I am. He leans in closer, as if he’s about to kiss me, but instead of closing the gap, he brushes his lips against my cheek and growls in my ear, “You are so damn sexy.”
His breath lingers on my earlobe, sending shivers down my neck and all the way to my toes. God, I am so worked up right now, all I can think about is what we’d be doing next if we were alone.
But we’re not alone. I register the loud roar as the song changes, and I remember that dancing is not quite what I have planned for tonight. I break from Luke’s gaze so that I can gather the courage to move forward with Evil, Kick-Ass Plan, Part B: Kicking It Up a Notch. This time, I am the one taking charge. I’m in this for one thing and one thing only: evening the score so that I can finally break free. I want to bring some closure to my obsession, to the fantasies that have filled my days and nights since we first met. And I almost have him where I want him.
“Come,” barely escapes my dry mouth as I pull his hand and lead him across the room. The music and the noise of the crowd come back loud and clear. Once we’re past the dance floor, I lead us to a door that I ventured through a few weeks ago when Marcus, Clara, and I toured the club. It helps to know people who know people.
We go up a few sets of stairs and then through another door, which opens to the rooftop. I duck around a corner to a secluded nook, Luke following behind me. But before I’m able to move to the next stage of my plan and finish what I started, Luke grabs me by my elbow and pulls me against him. So close, and so suddenly, in fact, that my body collides with his, leaving me nearly breathless.
His darkened gaze is on me, and I can’t seem to look away. Even with the sounds of the city humming around us, the only two sounds I’m aware of are Luke’s breath and my rapidly beating heart.
“I can’t wait another minute, Tessa.” Luke cups my face with one hand, while his other hand reaches for the nape of my neck. Our lips are nearly touching, waiting for that inch of space to close between us. I feel his erection push against my lower belly and I suck in a deep breath.
I can’t even begin to describe how much I want him at this very moment, how much I want his lips on mine, how much I want to feel him bare. After all the teasing at the restaurant and on the dance floor, I’m ready to tear off his clothes, and from the look on his face, I’m pretty certain he has something similar in mind. Restraining myself from kissing him at this point is practically impossible. The thought of having him kiss me back is more than appealing. I’m in a bit of a predicament.
I know if we do in fact kiss, I’ll break. And my plan, my perfectly planned-out plan, will become unusable trash. I have to resist, even if the temptation to devour his mouth is too sweet. I will be at his mercy, and I’ll regret it later when he gives me the cold shoulder, when he decides that what we’ve done was nothing more than a game in which I was the pawn. I have no intention of re-living the last several months. It’s completely out of the question.
Just as he moves to place his mouth on mine, I place my fingers on his lips, stopping him from giving me what I can’t help but want. And then I whisper, “Tonight’s my turn.”
His look turns from desire to confusion.
While holding his gaze, I trace my fingers from his mouth and down his neck, teasing his Adam’s apple. The definition of his square jaw is so sexy. He swallows deep, and the movement stirs a sort of frenzy in my belly. I’m eager to see what’s hiding beneath his shirt. I’m trying to stay composed, but I’m restless to feel him, to touch him everywhere. Especially down there.
I begin to unbutton his shirt with laboring patience. When I pull it open, my eyes are greeted with his bare, muscular torso, which is simply magnificent. My fingers move voluntarily over the hard lines of his chest and trace the light covering of hair. He sucks in a sharp breath in response. His chest rises, then falls; I swear I can feel the pounding of his heart underneath my palm. I’ve imagined how his skin would feel to my touch, I’ve thought of his reaction, but it’s the first time I’ve actually seen him this exposed, the first time I’ve touched him like this.
I fight to keep my fingers from trembling. I have a sudden urge to lick him. That’s not part of the plan. Maybe I can take a bit of a detour, taste what’s on display, even though I probably shouldn’t. Going against the plan is never advisable. But maybe just a little peck – it’s harmless, right? I lean in, and my lips connect with his skin. The reasonable part of my brain reminds me, Not a good idea. The other needy and somewhat desperate parts counter with, Oh god. Best. Idea. Ever. The peck turns into a kiss, then another, and I’m almost panting.
Luke hisses and whispers, “Tessa.” No other word escapes him, like his mouth’s gone dry, like he’s fighting to stay composed. But the sound of my name is just enough to bring me back from wherever I was lost a moment ago. Head in the game, Conte!
I break the connection, and without looking up at him – because frankly, I’m hesitant to read his expression – my eyes follow the trail of my fingers. I move down his tight abdomen, past the soft hair that leads to the ultimate goal. I know exactly what I want to do. My plan is coming along quite nicely. I’ve got this.
As I drop to my knees, I struggle for a bit to undo his belt, but that doesn’t stop me. No, once the unbuckling is out of the way, I go right to undoing his pants and pulling them down with his boxers. When I finally have his fullness right in my face, I am momentarily stunned.
Wow! He’s big, thick, hard … and ready for me. God, I am so in love. What? No – not love. I mean I am so in lust. Lust. And so so so aroused. I feel the wetness in my panties in response and curse my stupid, stupid hormones.
But I remind myself of all the times I’ve felt betrayed, angry, and used over the last several months. I remind myself of the plan and keep going.
I touch the tip of his cock with my finger, then rub the wetness around. This must send shock waves through Luke’s body, because he draws a sharp breath and groans, “Take me.”
Oh, I will. Patience, Mr. Callaghan.
I wrap my fingers tightly around his length, gently pulling back and forth. He grows thicker in response like he’s urging me to do just as he suggested. My tongue connects with the tip and teases the soft skin. Pure torture. When I finally pull him into my mouth, I’m surprised at how distinctively delicious he tastes – salty, and tangy, yet so very sweet, unlike any other guy. I hear him groan, “Fuck, Tessa. Your mouth feels so amazing.”
He grasps my head, then pulls me forward, pressing deeper, and it only makes me more ambitious. That’s right – let’s see who can play this game better! I want to make him pay for the ache he caused me so that I can finally move past it. I want him to remember how my mouth felt on him so he’ll want more when I’m done. Except he won’t get more, ever. Cue the evil laugh.
I close my eyes and work up and down his length, sucking gently, then hard, twirling my tongue around. And I’m rewarded with more groans, ragged bre
aths, and pleading from Luke.
“Deeper, Tessa. Take me real deep.” And I do just that. His hips rock forward, creating delicious friction. My teeth graze him ever so slightly, and every time they do, his breathing becomes more uneven and his cock throbs. It feels incredible to be the one making him feel this way, to make him react like this. So incredible, in fact, that I feel tension between my thighs. I’m so aroused right now. My breathing is just as ragged and I’m making these soft noises. God, I’m actually moaning. I may be in this solely to exact revenge, yet the revenge is beyond sweet. I’m taken aback by how much I’m enjoying this game I’m playing.
It appears Luke is really enjoying what I’m doing, because he can barely put together a coherent sentence as he says through staggered breaths, “God, Tessa, just don’t … fucking … stop.”
There is no way I’m stopping. In fact, his words urge me on.
I’m so focused on his cock, so focused on the motions, that I haven’t taken a moment to look up. But I’m tempted. I want to see what his face looks like while he’s in this state of bliss. I want to see if his eyes will tell me what he’s feeling. It will make it that much more gratifying when I’m done. I lift my gaze and realize instantly it was a mistake. His eyes are fixed on the way my mouth takes him in, but they lock with mine the moment he sees me looking at him. And what I see nearly has me undone. His eyes are full of feverish heat, full of emotion and greed. And there’s something else. A pull, a spark. Something too intimate.
I avert my gaze immediately and close my eyes – it’s safer that way. It’s easier to get lost in just the action and not the feelings that come with it: a need to have him and not just his cock; an urge to kiss his lips and have him kiss me back; a desire to know what else would make him smile the way he’s smiling right now. And what I think I’m feeling scares me, because it was not part of the script. It wasn’t at all what I thought I’d be feeling.