by Cali MacKay
His eyes narrowed just a little, as if taking her in and analyzing her for weak spots in her armor. “We can head up to your place, if you’d prefer. Or are you going to let me take you for a ride? I promise you’ll enjoy yourself, darling.”
There was no way she was letting him into her place. It was the size of a mouse hole, and though she made the small space work with a loft bed and by utilizing every square inch, including the vertical spaces, there was no way it was the place to conduct a business meeting. Not to mention, the thought of her alone with him in that small space…she didn’t trust her body—or him—to behave.
“Hop on, Emma. You’re out of options, and I want to go for a ride. Burn off some energy.” He held out the helmet to her as she cursed under her breath, her heart galloping. He must have seen it, too. “Don’t look so worried. I’ll take it slow—and you have my word, I won’t let anything happen to you. You’re safe with me.”
She couldn’t believe she was going to do this. Of all the asinine things.
His sultry smile kicked up as she grabbed the helmet and climbed onto the bike behind him. Adrenaline already had her blood pumping frantically through her veins, as she shifted in her seat, her body pressing against his.
Quinn looked over his shoulder at her with a disarming smile and got ready to put on his helmet. “Just get your helmet on and then hold onto me nice and tight.”
She did as he asked while the bike roared to life beneath her with a low reverberating rumble that worked its way to her very core. Before she knew it, they were off as she clung to Quinn for dear life, her arms wrapped snugly around his muscular torso.
True to his word, he kept his speed slow as they rode down to the port and then along the ocean. By the time they were outside of Portmore, she was still clinging to Quinn’s impressive form, though she finally managed to relax enough to get back some of her senses—her surroundings, the wind whipping around them—and the feel of Quinn’s body against hers and the effect he was having on her.
The hard vibrations of the bike as she straddled the seat certainly weren’t helping matters, and it was nearly impossible to not want to climb into Quinn’s lap, her throbbing clit aching for release, and her nipples hard against his broad back. It’d be a miracle if she didn’t come the moment he looked at her with one of those sultry smiles of his, though being so turned on had, at the very least, distracted her from her fears and worries.
Quinn didn’t take them too far out of town, finally pulling over by a rocky bluff that overlooked a sea sparkling in the sunlight. With their helmets off, he reached around and gave her a hand off the bike, as if anticipating that her legs would be shaky. If only he knew the truth of it. “Easy there. Don’t want you hurting yourself.”
Still holding onto her hand, he slipped off the bike and pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly against him as he brushed her cheek with the back of his fingers. His touch was warm and his proximity had her sucking in a breath as she tried to ignore the effect he had on her body—a body that was already riding a razor’s edge. Between his height and muscular build, he felt like a force of nature, impossible to ignore.
“That wasn’t so bad, now, was it?” With his scent filling her head, it took all she had to focus on his question, and the reason she was there. She wanted to be angry with him, wanted to push him away, but having him so close after that cursed bike ride was causing her synapses to misfire.
“It’s fine until there’s an accident and someone gets their head cracked open.” Or ended up so mangled, they’d never be able to fully recover.
His green eyes darkened and his jaw tightened. “I wouldn’t let anything happen to you, Emma. Ever. You’re safe with me. I hope you know that.”
Suddenly, he felt too close and with her emotions riding just below the surface, she needed some space, some air that didn’t carry his masculine scent, and she needed to remember that he was holding her restaurant hostage. “You’re not the only one on the road, Ryker.”
“Call me Quinn.” When she tried to pull free of his embrace, he let her go, though she didn’t get far before he grabbed her hand and twined his fingers with hers. “Come on.”
She wanted to ask him where they were going, wanted to tell him that she needed to get to work, that she didn’t have time for walks on the beach. Instead, she let him lead the way over some rocky outcroppings, the smell of the salty sea and the cries of the gulls overhead soothing her rough edges. As busy as things were with work, she didn’t get to the beach as often as she’d like. Pity, too, since it was one of the reasons she’d moved to Portmore.
Quinn kept a firm hold of her hand, lending her the support she needed to make it over the rocks when her footing was unsure. Letting go of her for just a moment, he dropped down to a lower ledge with the graceful movement of an athlete, before turning to grab her by the waist and lower her down as if she weighed nothing. Her body brushed against his, and she once again found herself in his arms, an ominous reminder of what he was asking of her.
“You’re gorgeous, you know.” His smile went from hot to smoldering as he brushed the hair from her eyes, his touch electric so it took all she had not to lean into him. She wanted to curse him to hell—even as she fought the urge to sink her fingers in his thick, dark hair and pull him to her for a mind-blowing, knee-wobbling, heart-pounding kiss.
What the hell was wrong with her?
Ever since the moment she ran into him at the elevator, he’d had an effect on her like no man before. But he knew full well what he was doing to her, and was taking complete advantage of her weaknesses.
“Look, the beach is lovely, but I have to get to work, so if we could get around to discussing the reason for this meeting, I’d appreciate it.” She tried to pull out of his arms, but he held her firmly to him, making it difficult for her to think straight. “You’re holding onto me…”
“So I am.” Those green eyes of his lit up with a fire that had her sucking in a breath as she attempted to ignore the ache of need between her legs. “Have you made your decision then?”
Now that she finally had to give him her answer, she felt like she might be ill. Because that decision she’d been debating? Well…there was really only one option, as much as she hated to admit it. There was too much on the line, too many people depending on her, and she’d been backed into a corner.
This time, when she tried to pull free of his strong arms, he let her go. Ignoring the sudden lump in her throat and the burning in her eyes, she wondered how the hell she’d ever gotten herself in such a messed-up situation. “I’ll agree to your proposition.”
“I’m glad to hear it, Emma.” His brow furrowed a little as his intelligent eyes took her in, making her want to look away from their intensity, even as she forced herself to hold his gaze. “Don’t look so worried, love. I swear, I’ll think of ways to keep you entertained.”
Perfect. “I don’t need to be entertained, Quinn. I just want to make sure my restaurant’s safe. And until I know that’s the case, there’s no way I’ll be able to do anything but go through the motions.”
“Then I’ll just have to try extra hard.” He grabbed her hand and led her down off the rocks and onto the sandy beach.
“I’m not going to sleep with you, Quinn. It’s not happening.” She couldn’t—even if he looked like a sex god. He was dangerous—in so many ways—and the root of her current problems. Their little agreement might give him a whole lot of leeway, but it was the one thing she’d taken off the table and she had to hold onto that.
She refused to become one of his playthings, though why he was even bothering with her when he could have his pick of the most beautiful women in the world, she didn’t know. Nothing about her stood out—she was too short, too curvy, and her thick hair had a mind all of its own if she didn’t tie it back.
“Keep telling yourself that and maybe you’ll actually start to believe it. Because from where I stand? You want me just as much as I want you.” He tossed her a sidew
ays glance with a smile that made her blush and sent a shiver of need through her very core.
She forced them to a stop and spun to look at him, feeling the full power of his presence. If she had any hope of maintaining her distance, she’d have to do a better job of pushing him away and setting some boundaries—something she seemed to have a hard time doing when it came to him. “Are you going to be a pain in the ass every time I have to deal with you? Because if you are, then I might have to reconsider my answer.”
In a lightning-quick move, she found herself pinned to his muscular body with a strong arm wrapped around her waist, as she cursed under her breath, her struggles futile. He brushed the hair from her face, his touch lingering against her skin.
“You’re a feisty little thing, aren’t you?” He slipped his fingers through her long hair and fisted it, pulling her head back so she’d be forced to look at him. Despite all her thoughts to keep him at arm’s length and not let him have an effect on her, she was finding it impossible. Her breathing was coming in shallow gasps as her nipples went hard against his chest and her clit throbbed double-time, threatening to push her over the edge and leave her coming then and there, with him having barely laid a finger on her. She couldn’t help her body’s reaction to him taking control, even as her mind protested it. “I bet it’d be a whole lot of fun seeing whether or not you can be tamed.”
Quinn lowered his head, bit her bottom lip and then, as her lips parted in surprise, covered her mouth in a forceful kiss, his tongue thrusting against hers as he tightened his grip. Unable to escape, her body gave up its fight and succumbed to the fire he’d stoked in her, softening against his muscular form.
He deepened their kiss so she felt it down to her very core, his hands running up her waist to cup her breasts, teasing her nipples so she felt a corresponding tug between her legs. When a needy whimper escaped her lips, he swallowed it, claimed it as his, leaving her unable to think clearly. Her brain told her to run, but her body had other ideas, her tongue clashing with his as she fisted her hands in his shirt, and her hips shifted against his long hard cock, desperate to feel him fill her, stretch her so tight, he’d have her coming with a single thrust.
This was what happened when one neglected one’s sex life.
He broke their kiss, but showed her little mercy as he pulled her head back, biting her neck and pinching her nipples, the sharp flicker of pain mingling with pleasure and making her wet, as she ached for him to take her. Curse him.
Nuzzling her, his lips wandered to her ear, his hot breath on her skin contrasting with the cool ocean air, sending a shiver over her skin as she clung to him. “See, sweetheart? You want me just as much as I want you. You want me to fuck you and make you come, over and over and over again, until you don’t even remember your name…until the only name on your lips is mine.”
She swallowed the moan that wanted to escape. Desperate to keep him from seeing the truth of just how bad she wanted him, she somehow found the strength to pull away from him. He was merciful enough to let her slip free of his hold, though he still held her hand, twining his fingers with hers. No doubt, some sort of cat-and-mouse game.
With a bit more distance between them, the foggy haze in her head started to clear so she could think straight, though it left her wondering what the hell she was doing and how she could let him have such an effect on her. “Just take me home, Quinn. Please. You got your answer—and you’ve gotten what you want. I’ve agreed to your proposition.”
“Maybe, though I don’t understand why you’re fighting me so hard on this. It’s clear you’d enjoy yourself. I’d make damn sure of it, sweetheart.”
“It still doesn’t mean I’m going to sleep with you. That’s not part of our deal.” She’d get through this. She had to. It was a simple trade—one that did not involve sex. She’d be going out to dinners and parties. And yet she was already having one hell of a time keeping her distance. She wanted to stay angry with him, but every time he touched her, he weakened her resolve and she succumbed to his charms.
“It may not be part of our deal, but it doesn’t change the fact that you want me as much as I want you—even if you insist that you don’t.” He brushed her hair from her face as the wind caught it, her eyes slipping shut as he touched her cheek, his fingers just a little rough as if he’d been working with his hands, despite his billions.
Emma forced herself to shift away from him, to try to break the spell he was casting, his mere presence intoxicating. Once again, she reminded herself what was at stake. She needed to keep a clear head. “What I want doesn’t matter, Quinn. I just want to save my restaurant.”
“And I just want to fuck you. It’s a win-win situation.” The way he spoke those words…as if it were a simple matter of no consequence and she was already his. It left her with a frisson of awareness and excitement coursing through her body.
Shaking her head clear, Emma let out a frustrated sigh. “I’m not some sort of prude, but…bloody hell...What is it with you? Do you even bother to get to know the people you sleep with?”
He shrugged. “If that’s what it takes to make you feel comfortable, that’s fine by me, darling. Ask away. I’m happy to answer whatever questions you have if it means we can stop talking this to death. I want you, Emma, and I’m not known for my patience, though I’ll do what it takes if it means you’ll stop pushing me away and let me get you in my bed. I have plans for that curvy little body of yours and the sooner we can get horizontal and naked, the better.”
“This isn’t a game of fifty questions, Quinn.” She threw her arms up in frustration, and would have started to pace if he hadn’t grabbed her hand. “Haven’t you ever had a normal relationship where things just take their course instead of it being negotiated like some sort of business transaction?”
His eyebrow perked up in annoyance as she got the full brunt of his gaze. “I’ve got a busy schedule, and frankly, I haven’t found anyone worth taking the time to get to know further.” His gaze then softened. “Until now, Emma. If you need to be courted and seduced, if you need time to get to know me, then I’ll do it. But just so we’re clear—when all is said and done, I will have you.”
She had to laugh. Never before had she ever met anyone quite like him. So cocksure and arrogant. And yet…somehow, he made it work. “You sound awfully sure of yourself, Quinn—and we haven’t even gone on our first date.”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in all my life.” He pulled her into his arms and held her to him, making it impossible for her to ignore his hard cock as it pressed against her inquiringly. And damn, but it pushed her back to that edge as she felt herself go wet again, even if her mind told her to stop being a horny fool. “As for our first date, that’ll be tomorrow night. A gallery showing in town. Nothing too fancy, though I’d like you to supplement your wardrobe with whatever you’d like. I’ll have a credit card dropped off for you this afternoon to take care of whatever expenses you might incur.”
“Tomorrow? I can’t, Quinn. I need to be at my restaurant.” This arrangement of his would never work. What the hell was she thinking? That every event would just so happen to fall on her night off? “I’m sorry, but I need more of a heads-up so I can schedule my staff accordingly.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure something out, though if you’d like, I can send someone to cover you for the night.” The smile that tugged at his lips was infuriating, and this time when she shrugged free of him to pace, he let her.
“You don’t get it, do you? I’m not running a goddamned hotdog stand. Old Port’s considered one of the best restaurants in town, and I can’t risk its reputation.” Not when she’d busted her butt to make sure every customer had an amazing experience.
“Sweetheart…I’m not some amateur.” His green eyes sparkled with mischief, and damn if it didn’t make him even better-looking than he already was. Bastard. “Would Finn Scott do?”
Her jaw dropped open in shock, no doubt making her look like a stupid fool. “F
inn Scott? The Finn Scott?” She couldn’t believe it. He was one of the most innovative cooks in the area, and had won countless awards and accolades, despite being only a few years older than her. “But…how…and why the hell would he agree to work at my restaurant?”
“Because he’s one of my oldest friends and he owes me a favor or two. Besides, he’s in the middle of renovating his current restaurant, and is antsy to get back into the kitchen.”
Touché. The man was good. She had to give him that.
***
Emma spent the following morning trying on one outfit after another, under the keen scrutiny of Ivy Winston’s gaze. Her fashionable neighbor and sweet friend had agreed to go shopping with her, though it didn’t make the day any easier to stomach. This was so far outside Emma’s norm and comfort zone, it acted as a constant reminder that she was essentially picking out outfits to be a billionaire’s arm candy and plaything.
Ivy must have returned with another armful of clothes, though all Emma could see was a pair of pink patent leather heels pacing below the doors of the dressing room. “If you’re going to a gallery opening, you’ll want to look elegant but not too formal. Do you need help with the zipper?”
“No…I’ve got it. Sort of.” Emma wanted to groan as she shifted the fabric of the dress around, feeling like she’d been put in a straightjacket. The fit was far too snug for her curves, especially compared to what she was used to wearing, and though it looked okay, she’d go crazy if she had to stay in that dress for any length of time. “If he wants elegant, then I’m afraid he’s better off finding himself a different date.”