by Coleen Kwan
Jacinta drew back from him. “Oh, hi guys. Uh, had enough dancing?” Her voice sounded unnaturally squeaky.
“Yeah.” The tall redhead slanted her eyes in Lex’s direction. “Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Sure. This is Lex. Lex, this is Heather and Marcy,” Jacinta gabbled off the introductions.
Lex exchanged greetings with the two women, aware of their curiosity and suspicion.
“Marcy and I are heading home,” Heather said to Jacinta, making faces at her. “Want to share a cab with us?”
“Um...” Jacinta’s gaze darted toward Lex. He widened his eyes at her, trying to convey to her that she couldn’t leave now, not when they’d just shared another incredible kiss. “I, er, think I’ll hang around for one more drink.”
“Okay.” Heather gave Lex a long stare as if to memorize his face in case she needed to describe him later to the cops. “I’ll call you in the morning.”
Marcy dropped Jacinta’s jacket and purse in her lap as she went to leave. “Bye, honey. Be good, and by the way, your lipstick’s smudged.”
The two women left the bar. Jacinta looked at Lex, a sheepish smile on her lips, and shrugged. “My friends are great.”
He settled his hand on her knee. “Don’t fix your lipstick. It’s only going to get smudged again.”
Chapter Five
Jacinta gasped as Lex pushed her up against a wall just half a block away from the bar. Rough brick met her back as Lex’s body pressed into hers, his quickened breathing mingling with hers, the drumming of her heart drowning out the sound of traffic and passers-by. Slowly he lowered his head, but instead of kissing her like she expected, craved, he rubbed his jaw against her cheek, the faint stubble rasping against her skin.
They hadn’t stayed in the bar for another drink; they’d been too eager to get their hands on each other. Jacinta shivered, her need escalating. She shouldn’t even like being shoved up against a brick wall on a dark street in the Mission, but all her preconceptions were thrown out the window. All because of Lex. There was something about him that drew her to him, no matter what the danger. And there was something about the way he held her, kissed her, that touched a deep-seated need in her she never even knew existed.
She twisted her neck, seeking his mouth, hands clutching at his rock hard arms. But he denied her the kiss and continued to stroke her face with his jaw as if he wanted to rub his scent onto her.
“Lex,” she panted, too far gone to care. It was late, dark, and all she wanted was his lips on hers.
“Yeah, sweetheart.” He sounded as short of breath as she.
She gulped in some air. “Kiss me, damnit,” she whispered.
He chuckled into her neck. “I love it when you sweet talk me.”
He licked the hollow at the base of her throat, and another shaft of longing arrowed through her. His lips worked their way along her collar bone. All the while his hands held her hips, his grip firm, and his body imprinted itself on her. She arched her back against the wall and slid her hands around his waist.
He tensed, letting out a hiss as his head lifted. “You do realize what you’re doing...?”
Her pelvis was thrust right up against his. She could feel every inch of him, every growing inch of him—hard, hot, swollen. Heat and lust flooded her, swirled and dammed in her core. Her body hummed with a hunger so intense she could barely see straight, let alone think straight.
“I know what I’m doing.” She met his gaze. “How about you...?”
His throat worked, as if he couldn’t believe what she was implying. He cupped her cheek, long fingers not quite steady. “So. Want to come back to my place?”
The gruffness in his voice sent a heavenly shiver down her spine. She nodded, letting her flushed face do the talking. His lips twitched in a quick, excited grin before he grasped her by the hand and pulled her from the wall, his arm already raised to hail a passing taxi.
After giving his address to the driver—he lived in Pacific Heights, which was no surprise given his billionaire status—he sat back close to her on the slippery plastic seat. He didn’t speak, but the electricity sparking between them was as palpable as the cool, damp night air. The pressure of his thigh against hers communicated his ardor, as did his fingers entwined with hers, their joined hands resting lightly on his knee.
The taxi bumped over an uneven patch in the road, street lights flashed by in a blur, a strange Oriental song burbled from the radio. Traffic was light, and it wouldn’t take long to reach Pacific Heights. She couldn’t quite believe what she was doing—sitting in a cab with Lex Rochester, on the way to his house, where they were going to kiss some more, and... Was she really doing this? On the face of it she didn’t know Lex very well at all. Surely she should find out something about him before they reached his home?
She turned to Lex. “What are some of your favorite movies?”
“Movies?” He blinked in surprise.
“Yes. You watch movies, don’t you? Which ones do you like?”
“I don’t go to the movies too often. I think the last one I saw was World War Z.”
“You like zombie movies?”
“I like my movies to entertain me. What about you? What’s the last movie you saw?”
“I watched The Hunger Games on DVD with my, uh, brother.” She stumbled over the words, realizing too late her error. Fearful he would ask about her brother, she rushed on, “And what kind of music do you like?”
Lex cocked his head, his expression curious. “What’s with all the questions? Are we speed dating?”
“Something like that. I mean, I don’t know anything about you, and...” And yet she knew the most important thing—that she wanted to be alone with him, alone and naked and hungry.
“And you don’t do this kind of thing very often.” His thumb brushed against her fingers, reassuring and stimulating at the same time. “Okay, if you want to know, I like all kinds of music from Bruce Springsteen to Pearl Jam. I also go to the gym and play racquetball, and I like long walks on the beach, eating out, especially Thai or Mexican, and relaxing in front of a log fire. Does that answer some of your questions?”
“Now you’re teasing me.” She tried to pull her hand away from his, but he wouldn’t let her go.
“Jacinta.” He leaned against her shoulder, his voice tinged with amusement and longing. “You’re the one who’s teasing. I can’t wait to get you home...” His voice drifted off, dense with promise.
The taxi pulled to a halt outside a large, three-story Victorian. She didn’t have much chance to admire its exterior as Lex paid the driver and drew her up the front stairs. Nerves fluttered in her stomach. Shouldn’t she tell him who she was before they went inside? No, not now... Any future complications receded to the back of her mind. From the moment she’d clapped eyes on Lex at the bar, this night had become so surreal it had lost all connection to reality.
Lex ushered her into his home through an imposing, stained glass front door. She found herself in a lofty entrance lobby with a handsome wooden staircase spiraling up to the upper floors.
She breathed in the scent of lemon and wood polish. “Your home is beautiful.”
Lex’s eyes were fixed on her. “Thanks, but I’m looking at something far more beautiful.”
With a smile, he gathered her in his arms, his hold surprisingly gentle, as if he sensed her apprehension. When he kissed her, he continued to be restrained, though she could feel his body tensing with passion. His kiss melted her worries, his lips moving over hers slowly and tenderly like softened toffee. She gave herself up to him and savored his kiss, appreciative of his care. She might not know much about Lex, but her instincts told her she could trust him in this department. And that only made him even more irresistible.
Sliding her hands under his jacket, she explored the contours of his chest, eager to find out what lay beneath the crisp white business shirt.
He laughed against her mouth, slightly breathless, excited. “Why don’t
we go upstairs and get more comfortable?”
Jacinta’s heart leaped into her throat. Right. If she went upstairs with Lex, there’d be no going back. Was she ready for this? Hell, yeah, her libido yelled at her. She nodded at Lex, too stirred to speak.
The staircase led up to a dimly lit hall. Lex pushed open a door, his hand in the small of her back as he led her into a room. A flick of a switch revealed an enormous master bedroom about the size of a football field. She stopped, momentarily dazzled by the size and sumptuousness. Plush Aubusson carpet, thick drapes, a wide king bed with charcoal linens and plump white pillows. Concealed lighting and shaded lamps softened the vast proportions and made it more intimate and personal.
Lex’s hand came to rest on her shoulder. “Okay?” The mild concern in his expression was genuine, she realized, and that touched her.
“Yes.” She turned to him, eager to leave her doubts behind her.
This time, his kiss was more frank, more ravenous, and as his tongue thrust into her mouth, more ravishing, too. Lex was letting down his barriers, and his raw sexuality might have been frightening if it didn’t ignite her own appetites. As he scorched kisses down her throat, she nibbled at his earlobe, lancing her fingers through his short, dark hair. His stubble rasped against her skin, his hands moved over the front of her dress, his need searing her through the thin fabric.
He cupped her breasts, his hold possessive and confident, and the air caught in her throat at the sheer pleasure of his touch. He squeezed her lightly, his breath hot and moist against her cheek, and when her nipples hardened, he gave a slight grunt as if satisfied with her response.
With one hand still fondling her breast, he shifted the other down her back until he reached the edge of her hem. He pushed up her dress to stroke the back of her thigh, and her knees trembled. Desire filled her as he caressed her bare thigh, his fingers greedy yet restrained. She arched into him, pressing her breasts and her ass into his hands.
“Sweetheart,” he muttered. He pinched her aching nipple, which made her gasp, and then he cupped her ass, fingers slipping under her panties to squeeze her trembling flesh.
“Oh, God...” she heard herself groan with delight.
She couldn’t wait any longer. She pushed off his jacket and dealt swiftly with his tie. Lex’s eyes gleamed as he let her unbutton his shirt and yank it off him. He looked turned on and amused at the same time, possibly by her uncool enthusiasm, but she was past caring. When his chest was bared, she paused, captivated by the beautiful planes of his lean, hard torso.
“You’re not going to stop there, are you?” Lex asked, his voice slightly muffled. He jiggled the belt holding his trousers. “What about these?”
Her fingers fumbled as she undid his belt and unzipped his trousers. Her heart pounded in her chest as he stepped out of his trousers and shucked off his shoes and socks. Oh God, he was so beautiful she could almost weep. Gauzy light gilded the planes of his body, highlighting his toned musculature, his perfect Greek-god proportions. A drizzle of fine, dark hair whorled over his chest before arrowing down to where his black boxers clung to his lean hips. Black boxers bulging with a heavy, conspicuous weight.
Jacinta gulped, tingling in every nerve ending.
“My turn, sweetheart,” Lex said, reaching for her. He dealt with her jacket before his fingers expertly found the zipper at the rear of her dress. He unzipped her slowly, deliberately, his eyes dancing with anticipation and playfulness. The dress slipped off her shoulders and clung for a second before he yanked it completely off. His eyes feasted on her, telling her how much he was enjoying the view.
Then in a few seconds he dealt with her bra and covered her breasts with his hands and mouth. Her brain swam as she gave herself up to the pleasure. His lips teased her nipples until they were rock hard, while his hands shaped and molded her breasts until they throbbed and tingled.
She was still dazed when he picked her up and carried her over to the bed. Cool sheets whispered against her back. Leaning over her, he began to kiss every part of her, starting with her lips and working his way down to her ankles. Her entire body was aflame and pliable as putty; he could do whatever he wanted with her and she wouldn’t have stopped him.
When he finally pulled off her panties and put his hand between her legs, she was soaking wet and more than ready for him.
“Like nectar,” he murmured, his throat moving as he pressed the heel of his palm against her smooth mound.
He slipped two fingers into her, and she couldn’t breathe. He watched her, eyes like fluorescence, as he slicked his fingers in and out of her. Helpless to his expertise, she felt her flesh swelling, moistening, aching. She sucked in little sips of air as he played with her, his fingers dexterous and soft, his thumb deliberately rough as he grazed it against her clit.
All self-control floated away; she was at the mercy of Lex and the insatiable appetite he inspired in her. He shifted his free hand to her breast, lazily circling her nipple, and she stifled a cry, biting her lip, wondering how she could be so abandoned with a man she barely knew. She lay before him naked, spread-eagled and at the mercy of his ministrations. The vulnerability of her situation hit her, but she could do nothing, her sexual need overriding every caution.
“Come for me, sweetheart.” Lex’s low rumble caressed her as surely as his fingers. His face blazed with determination and lust. “You’re so lovely when you let yourself go. You feel so wet and tight and incredible. Let me see you come. Let me hear you, feel you.”
His fingers slipped deeper into her, fast, slow, gentle, abrasive, persuasive, demanding. She didn’t know up from down anymore, couldn’t control anything, least of all her carnal appetite. Blood rushed to her core, stinging, tingling, hot blood, and when Lex’s thumb chafed her sensitized flesh, there was no hope for her. She arched up into his hand, crying out as the orgasm pummeled through her, warm waves of gratification rippling through her.
With a deep sigh she slumped back against the pillows. After a couple of seconds, her eyelashes fluttered up as she peeked at Lex.
He smiled at her, a sexy, pleased grin. “Sweetheart, that was beautiful to watch.”
She felt herself start to blush as self-consciousness seeped back. She’d never been so abandoned and frank with a man, let alone on the first night together.
“Don’t,” he said.
She swallowed. “Don’t what?”
“Don’t be embarrassed. It was beautiful. You’re beautiful.” He settled his weight on her and began to kiss her again.
A few seconds and her blood began to stir. God, what was it about Lex that drove her to such uncharacteristic behavior? She couldn’t figure it out. Didn’t want to figure it out as Lex’s kisses put everything else from her mind.
As he moved against her, the throbbing contents of his boxers grew more urgent. When he pulled off his boxers, she sat up, wanting to inspect him in all his naked glory. She curled her fingers around his engorged shaft, her mouth drying as she registered the heat and size. Lex waited, his face expectant, as she stroked his length, tracing the veined hardness and the velvety head. His cheeks darkened, and he seemed to have trouble breathing. Jacinta smiled to herself as she bent over and took him in her mouth.
Lex let out a muffled groan, his entire body tensed as he allowed her to suck him for a few moments, but then he lifted her head, his hands shuddering.
“Later,” he growled. He fished a condom packet from his nightstand, tore it open, and efficiently rolled it onto himself. When he turned back to her, his eyes blazed like a tiger’s, taking her breath away.
As his arms went around her, she shifted back on the bed, spreading her legs to accommodate him. The tip of his erection nudged at her entrance briefly before he buried himself in her, his size and force making her gasp. He kissed her gently, his mouth moving over her cheeks and jaw and temples as he drove into her, his need fierce and unrelenting.
The friction of his groin against her core reignited her fire, and soon she was s
wept away in the all-consuming blaze. Bathed in sweat, their bodies moved together with balletic, primordial grace, giving and taking, thrusting and submitting. The fusion she had with Lex felt more than merely physical; it seemed their entire beings were fused together and harmonized, each anticipating the other’s need and satisfying it.
As his body began to tense up, she gazed up at him, and his abandoned, glistening, hair-tousled face was so beautiful and endearing her heart soared with inexplicable joy. It felt as if she’d glimpsed her soul mate for the first time. Crazy, but she couldn’t repress the feeling. Emotions erupted as her orgasm exploded. She cried out his name, her flesh tightening and rippling around him, and that seemed to tip him over the edge, as he climaxed in a sudden fury of thrusting.
Afterward, the entire world felt shattered and altered. She heard Lex breathing heavily, heard her own hectic gasps. Her thoughts were fractured, her mind in complete disarray. Then Lex drew her into his arms, resting her head in the dip of his shoulder, and gradually a wonderful, sated peace stole over her. No need to speak now. Just savor the pleasure they’d shared.
She pressed her lips into his shoulder and fell into a deep sleep.
***
Several hours later, she woke up, and as the dimly lit room came into focus, all the bliss she’d felt earlier shriveled as cold common sense swamped her. Twisting her head, she found Lex sprawled out and fast asleep next to her. A lone lamp shed muted light over his reposed, muscular body. He looked like an archangel resting after his vigorous labors. Her heart knotted in her chest as she studied his slumbering, restful face.
How would his expression change when he found out who she really was? Foreboding iced her veins. She’d acted like the worst fool ever. She’d allowed her libido to take over her brain, and now look what had happened. She’d slept with her brother’s boss and put her brother’s future in jeopardy.