Trent gave her a teasing smile. “Right, we should before you take off again without a word.”
It took more than a couple hours to go over all the reports with him, and by the time they reached a good stopping point it was well into the lunch hour.
Even Trent closed his laptop and glanced down at his wristwatch. “Time for a break, you think?”
“Sure.”
He sat back in his chair and peered at her across the desk. “You know, you haven’t asked anymore questions since the other day. Were my answers too much for you?”
“Sometimes.”
“Do you want the truth from me?”
Zaira nodded. “Of course.”
"And you deserve it." Trent opened his desk drawer and pulled out a card. He handed it to her. “You like parties, don’t you?”
“What’s this?” She scanned it quickly to find out that it was a private invite to a birthday bash.
“A long time friend of mine, Allen, is turning forty. He’s a pretty well known music producer in Atlanta. From what I hear, the turn-out could be epic.”
“Hmmm. Sounds exciting.” Zaira turned over the invite and glanced at the address on the back. “Between me and my girls we usually get these invites. I’ve gotten so out of touch these days. I guess that’s what I get for working too hard.”
“Yeah, tell me about it.”
Zaira sighed. “I guess I could use another outing. But I learned my lesson enough to know that I won’t be overindulging on free drinks like the other night.”
“You were cooperative and not rebellious, at least.” Trent grinned.
“We didn’t do anything did we? You wouldn’t lie, would you?” Zaira side-eyed him.
“You know me much better than that. Do you think I would take advantage of you?”
She smiled. “You wouldn’t…but I had to ask.”
“So, what’s it gonna be? We can hook up outside of the office. Be more comfortable. Loosen up. We’ve been working hard here all week.”
She tossed him a sly look. “Have you ever known me to turn down an invite to a good party?”
“Not that I can think of.”
“Well, you’ve got yourself a date,” she said before she could stop herself. It wasn’t exactly a date, was it? They were just going to a party together.
Trent’s reassuring grin dispelled her embarrassment. “Do you remember how we first met each other?”
“Wow.” She couldn’t help but to break out a smile. “You remember that far back?”
He shrugged. “Why not? You’re not someone who is easily forgettable. We virtually collided into each other.”
Trent had been on his way out of the driveway and she was on her way in. Both of them were on their motorcycles and apparently in their zone. Luck was on their side that day when they saw each other just in time before turning the corner and missed each other by only a hair.
“Yeah, I remember,” she said. “One more inch and we would have been sprawled out on my Dad’s driveway. I was angry that day. Had just broken up with my boyfriend actually.”
“I found out about that from Marcus a few days later.” He propped his elbows on the chair arm. “You’d been with that guy a while, huh?”
Zaira shifted her gaze away from him. “Six months was too long to realize the asshole was a rotten two-timing cock-head.”
“I’m sorry.”
She pinned his gaze again. “Don’t be. Now why would you want to bring that date up again?”
“Because it was the first time in my whole life seeing such an attractive woman driving recklessly on her motorcycle and nearly crashing into me. Life altering experiences like those aren’t usually forgotten.”
Her face and neck grew hot in embarrassment again. “And if I can remember correctly, you were having a bad day yourself. I found out later that you’d discovered your dad’s parole hearing was denied.”
“Another tidbit from that day that I can never forget. You looked the way I felt that day,” he said.
“Well good thing we weren’t going any faster. Both of our minds were elsewhere. Your first words were: Are you crazy?”
“And yours were: Go fuck yourself,” he replied. “Pick up lines of the century, huh? And still to this day, you have the most beautiful face I have ever seen.”
“No way…”
This time Zaira didn’t blush from embarrassment, instead a warm tingling feeling delved deep down into her gut and spread through her nerves and across her skin. Before she knew it Trent had stood and moved between the desk and her.
Slipping his fingers against the underside of her chin, he tipped her face upward until she was staring directly into his eyes.
“You are. Inside and out.”
Zaira slipped her hand into his opened palm and came to a standing position in front of him. He pulled her closer until they were chest-to-chest and heart to heart. Her bare legs brushed against his dress pants and he pressed his thigh between hers.
Their mouths were so close, testing the distance right before contact.
“Trent Stone, I don’t think you know what you’re asking for,” she whispered, her lips subtly brushing his.
“Zaira Wright, I thought you were the one asking the questions.” He slid his palm against the back of her neck. “Now ask me to kiss you.”
“I…you know I want this too.”
They came together, mouths meshing and lips tangling. There was more demand and drive behind this kiss. Passionate and leisurely, yet with red-hot attraction. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into her. She could feel the strong muscles in his back through his shirt. She kneaded them with her fingers, rocking her pelvis into his.
He grabbed her waist with both hands and encouraged her sultry movements. The center of gravity—where their bodies met—seemed to be surrounded by steam. Her stomach did backflips when his cock grew between them. He felt hard as a rock against her.
Zaira moaned when a exotic and consuming sensation overtook her, both body and soul. She had him pent up against the desk as her body nested directly between his legs. His hands had ventured down to her backside where it squeezed her ass beneath her skirt.
“Damn.” Trent mumbled against her lips in the aftermath. He lifted his fingers to trace the buttons on her blouse. “I want to bend you over this desk and take you so hard. The people on the floors above and below us would hear your screams.”
Zaira’s lips parted. Her breasts were tender and her nipples were tingling. She longed to feel his touch on her body, all over her skin.
“But no, not here. Not for our first time. I need an entire night with you. Just you and me.” He took her sensitive earlobe between his lips and whispered, “I’d show you just how badly I’ve wanted to fuck you senseless.”
“Trent…”
He nipped the side of the neck. “I want to drive so deep inside of you—balls deep. I want your legs and arms wrapped around me tight. I want to feel your body connected to mine when you reach climax.”
She pressed a finger to his lips and caught his gaze. “You think sex is what you want with me, but the moment we cross that line there is no going back. Are you prepared for that?”
“I’m prepared to have you,” Trent said, kissing her sweetly.
“You seem certain.”
“I know what I want. I want you. All of you.”
They kissed again, tongues dancing in a sensual rhythm. Zaira just couldn’t get enough for him. She dragged her fingers up through his hair, nearly standing on her toes to reach his delectable lips.
On the other side of the office door, someone spoke loudly. It was Zaira who broke the kiss when she realized they were in a building occupied by hundreds of people. She slipped from his embrace and straightened out her clothes as she backed out toward the door.
“See you tonight,” she said. “Let’s think about this. Given the circumstances…your position here and your allegiance to R.R. of which my Dad is a well-known member, do
you really want to cross this line?”
“Most definitely.” Trent smiled, and tightened up the tie around his neck. “See you tonight and I bet you my answer will still be the same.”
Chapter 6
Hip hop music blared from every speaker in the house. Guests filled the dance floor which was placed strategically in what looked like it was used as the main living room. Bodies grooved and gyrated to the beat. Couples, singles, and groups…everyone who was anyone was there. Typical private house party, and she actually preferred this scene to the nightclubs in the city.
Zaira took another sip of her Cosmo and moved her hips in tune with the music, alongside her friend, Pam.
“Your man is fenced in over there,” Pam said, tilting her chin in the direction behind them.
“My man? You mean Trent?” Zaira turned, but the floor was so packed with people that she lost sight of most everything.
“Yeah, he’s a ladies man, isn’t he?
Zaira shook her head. “First of all, he’s not my man. We came here together, though.”
“As a date?” Pam giggled. “Come on, girl. We saw the way he looked at you at Drew’s house party the other night. You went home with him that night too. I know y’all did something.”
“Whatever. We did nothing.” Zaira shrugged. “Men look at women in that way. It’s in their nature.”
“You are such a liar! So, is it true?” Pam leaned in closer and whispered, “Does he fuck like a porn star?”
Zaira’s temperature escalated and she took another sip of her cocktail and exhaled. “You know what? I’m done talking about this. Let’s go see what Trinity is up to.”
Pam craned her neck again in the same direction as before and narrowed her eyes. “You might want to go get your man. He’s a fucking chick magnet and the hoes have already begun to swarm like flies.”
“I’m not worried about that.”
“You sure?”
“I’m sure, but hold my drink. I’ll catch up with you later.” Zaira handed Pam the cocktail, turned around and headed in Trent’s direction.
The women dancing in front of him, blatantly flaunting themselves didn’t see her coming, but Trent did. His back was flat against the wall and it seemed he was making no move to accept the dancing women’s invitation. He lifted the Heineken and took a long sip, catching Zaira’s gaze from over the bottle.
“Excuse me.” Zaira passed through the three women and said, “I’ll take over from here.”
They all looked confused and then pissed as they rolled their eyes and walked off.
Zaira smiled and slid her hand into his. “It looks like you’re done talking with your R.R. brother.”
“Yeah, I am. Sorry about that. It was about business affairs,” Trent said, pulling her against his chest.
“No apologies,” she said. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not the clingy type.”
“I noticed.”
“Well we came to party, so are you just gonna stay posted up on the wall all night?” she teased.
“I’ll take your lead,” he replied.
The music pulsed through her body and she swayed her hips to the music. His eyes cast appreciative glances at her body.
“Come on. Dance with me,” she urged.
Trent grinned and pulled her in closer. “I’ve never been all that good of a dancer. You dance. I’ll watch.”
Zaira felt like Trent’s own private dancer as she moved her body against his in rhythm with the beat. He’d probably not let her forget this night. He seemed to have a knack for remembering their most intimate and deepest encounters. At this moment, she couldn’t help herself. Everything here tempted her to bring out this side of her. The words of the song. The company of all the people at the party. The warmth of the man in front of her.
His eyes burned through her like liquid passion. Her veins filled with hot desire. Her aggression was fueled by the hard-on he sported. His hard dick felt good against her ass as she ground up against it.
Trent grabbed her hip with his free hand, pulling her in a little closer. His lips brushed against her neck and he whispered, “Crossing the line a little, aren’t we?”
She turned around to face him. “Are we in a challenge now to see who will cross the line first?”
His gray eyes sparked and it reminded her of the light cast by the chandeliers hanging from the ceiling in the ballroom.
“I’d cross the line in a heartbeat, Zaira. All you have to do is say that one little word,” he said, moving her hair away from her neck and kissing her there. “Maybe we might make it to a bed and maybe we won’t.”
She gasped as Trent’s hand snaked up her thigh and under her skirt. “I—”
“Trent, my man. Is that you?”
They parted and turned to see a blond-headed male stranger walking up toward them.
“Aaron, hey,” Trent greeted him. “Long time no see, man.”
“Dude.” Aaron said, as they gave each other daps. “Weren’t you planning on moving back to Virginia with your Pops? Are you even still living in the city?”
“I’ve got ties to Atlanta too believe it or not, so yeah, I’m still here.” Trent cleared his throat and pressed his palm lightly to her back. “This is Zaira.”
“Nice to meet you.” Aaron grinned and his gaze shifted quickly over her and then back to Trent. “New girlfriend?”
“We—”
“—We’re friends,” Zaira said. “Nice to meet you.”
“Well, then…” Aaron replied. “There’s a poker game going on in the basement. The prize pool is pretty big right now. I was headed back that way before I saw you. You down?”
“Ah…” Trent shifted from foot to foot next to her and ran his hands through his hair. “I haven’t played for money like that in forever.”
“Come on, just like old times,” Aaron urged. “Zaira, you play any?”
Zaira was caught off guard when Trent’s friend turned the question on her. “Um, well a little. I’m not an expert. Not like you and Trent anyway.”
Aaron chuckled. “Have you ever seen this guy in action on the card table?”
“I…um…” Zaira met Trent’s gaze. “Trent has taught me a few tricks of the game. Of course, we were just playing. Never anything serious.”
“Honey, you oughta see him. You don’t know the real Trent Stone unless you’ve seen him doing what he does best,” Aaron replied.
Trent chuckled nervously. “Don’t try to flatter me. If you haven’t noticed, I was a bit busy.”
Aaron nodded. “Yeah, I bet you were.”
“You know what…” Zaira replied. “Don’t let me keep you from the card game.”
“Zaira?” Trent replied indifferently.
“No, let’s go.” She took his hand in hers. “I want to watch.”
Trent smiled and they maneuvered the crowds to get down to the basement level.
Zaira had to admit that she missed them hanging out together like this. Trent was always especially happy when he was doing what he loved the most. She knew that to be a fact.
Chapter 7
Zaira observed Trent as he played the seven person poker game. She lost track of time but suspected that at least an hour had passed. It was the last betting round and the pot had tripled in size during such a short time frame. Sometimes her own poker face waned and she was literally on edge as they played out the last hand. It was funny how Trent brought out the emotions in her. Every single one of them. She was left with no choice but to keep her distance. The side conversations with the friends of the other players weren’t helping her state either.
The game ended with Trent laying down five cards on the table. Four of a kind and one queen. She had no idea how he did it, but he was a beast at this game.
Zaira sighed in relief. Even though it was all a game, she still cheered for Trent. Of course, she wanted to be the first to congratulate him on his win, but all the losing players and bystanders got there first. When he turned to look in her di
rection and acknowledged her, she smiled. He grinned back and moved his attention to the card dealer who was speaking to him.
Noticing her empty cocktail glass, Zaira moved to the mini bar in the room to secure one more. She grabbed Trent another beer while she was at it and walked back over to the pool table.
What she did not expect was to find a woman standing near Trent, laughing and flirting with him. Zaira knew green jealously was only human nature, but she also knew that the feeling never evolved into anything worth fretting over and she worked to dispel the emotion. Taking a few deep breaths, she closed the distance.
They stopped talking when she made her presence known.
Trent slipped his arm around her waist. “Zaira. This is my agent, Eve. Remember I told you she was working on my timeshares.”
Eve blinked several times, her cheesy grin fading by the second. There was no doubt that the woman was beautiful with her flawless pecan colored skin, slim physique, and jet black weave flowing down her back. The death stare that Eve gave Zaira revealed the woman’s agenda in a matter of seconds.
“Yeah…you sure did.” Zaira handed him the beer and nodded her head. “Nice to meet you, Eve.”
“Oh, hi,” Eve greeted and smiled. “How odd. Trent’s told me nothing about you yet.”
Zaira chuckled. “I don’t find it odd at all. You don’t need to know anything at all about me.”
A small gasp emanated from Eve’s lips and she looked disturbed. “Oh, please…” She shifted her gaze away from Zaira. “Trent, don’t forget about our dinner tomorrow tonight. We can continue this talk in a more sophisticated type setting.”
Trent still wore a poker face and he said nothing as he nodded his acceptance to Eve.
Eve gave Zaira another glance before she turned and disappeared into the crowds.
“Zaira…”
She held up her palm. “You don’t even have to explain, but answer me this…”
“All right,” he replied, nervously.
She turned to face him. “What type of magnet do you have in your dick?”
Without Limits: Austin (Rugged Riders Book 4) Page 9