She was really going to do this, play a bastardized version of strip poker with Asher Reynolds, her naked body as the prize. Shaking her head, she pushed the last of her qualms away.
“Tell me about my family’s history with the Chimera.”
“You and Jackson were raised on stories of the ship. Not what the historians believed, but the real story. Your ancestor was one of the owners, aboard when she sank. He’d traveled to several plantations in the Caribbean gathering supplies, support and a secret stash of gold for the Confederacy. Jackson spent years tracing the route the Chimera took, looking for any obscure historical mention of her, the crew or her cargo.”
“Good boy.” Kennedy grinned at him. Reaching for the hem of her shirt, she dragged it up her torso. The feel of her own fingers against her skin was soft and subtle. The zing came from knowing that Asher’s eyes traced the same path, devouring each inch of skin she revealed.
She could feel him watching her with that preternatural intensity that stirred her blood.
Yanking the cotton off over her head, she tossed it on to the floor between them. It landed with a muted swish, but it felt as if the sound echoed through the tiny room.
She wanted him to touch her, but he didn’t move. He swallowed, the muscles in his thick throat flexing.
“Keep going,” she finally said, her voice low and breathy.
“After Loralei’s father stole Jackson’s research.”
Kennedy shook her head, making a low, disapproving sound in the back of her throat.
“No, we don’t want to mention anything about Loralei’s father stealing from Trident. Lancaster is our partner now. That’s history between us and not for public consumption.”
She made a move to climb off the bed and retrieve the shirt she’d just thrown down, so that she could put it back on, but Asher beat her to it.
His boot-clad foot landed on top of it, pinning the cotton to the floor.
“No.”
“That was the agreement.”
“I’m changing it.”
Reaching for the bottom of his own T-shirt, Asher whipped it off in less than half a second.
“I screw up, I take something off instead.”
“That’s hardly an incentive for you to keep getting things right.”
Bending at the waist, Asher scooped her shirt up and tucked it beneath his right hip. “Cupcake, the only way you’re getting this back right now is by taking it from me. Do you really think you can do that?”
Kennedy narrowed her gaze. He was taller than her, had probably a hundred pounds of muscle on her and years of elite tactical training. She wasn’t stupid. Although, there were ways to bring a man like him to his knees. And she wasn’t above fighting dirty if she needed to.
But, as she stared at the ripple of his abs and the rounded curve of his defined pecs, she had to wonder. Did she really want to argue with him?
Not particularly.
“Fine.”
“So, what’s the official statement on Lancaster Diving?”
“We partnered together, Jackson consulting with a friend in the industry.”
“Lancaster was no friend,” Asher groused.
“I’m aware of that, and so is everyone else who matters. This is to protect Trident.”
“No, this is to protect Loralei.”
“Considering she and Jackson are on the verge of getting married, that’s pretty much the same thing, don’t you think?”
She watched as a muscle in Asher’s jaw ticked for a few minutes before he finally took a deep breath.
“Fine. The asshole is dead, and Loralei is a good woman,” he said.
“Exactly.”
“But it bothers me that we’re hiding the truth. That doesn’t sit well.”
“Noted.”
For some reason, Kennedy was surprised at his stance. As a member of Special Forces, surely he’d had to lie before. There was a part of her that wanted to ask the question, but was afraid to. Not only because she wasn’t certain she wanted the answer, but also because they didn’t have the luxury of time to get off track.
“I won’t lie, but I won’t bring up something we want to keep quiet, either. That’s the best I can give you.”
It wasn’t ideal, but she’d take it. And stay close during the interview tomorrow, so she could intervene if it looked like things were going to get sticky.
“Fair enough.”
“Loralei researched the historical hurricane records, matching the track of the storm with the projected path of the Chimera. After discovering that a group of plantation owners had purchased the Chimera quietly, she began to cross-reference their locations with the storm, coming up with a small island no one had thought to check. That information, paired with what Jackson had, led them both to the Chimera’s resting place.”
Asher paused, cocked an eyebrow and waited.
Shifting back onto her rear, Kennedy cursed the tropical location and the decided lack of wardrobe pieces the climate required. Why couldn’t she have been wearing socks and several layers?
Unbuttoning her shorts, she shimmied out of them, letting them dangle from the end of her foot before dropping them onto the floor.
Asher snatched them up as well, tossing them onto the desk behind him.
“Spread your thighs for me, angel.”
The muscles in her legs clenched, an instinctive search for relief from the pressure building at her core. She thought about refusing, but realized she didn’t want to.
She wanted him to look at her. To see just how turned on she was. For him.
Scooting back to the center of the bed, Kennedy rose onto her knees. Spreading them wide, she sank until the curve of her ass touched her heels.
Gratification came in the form of Asher’s rushed breath.
“You weren’t lying. I can see your panties are damp from here.” His hot gaze dragged up her body, zeroing in on her face. “Do you have any idea how much I want you right now? It’s taking everything I have to sit here.”
Satisfaction and power swirled inside her. There was something decidedly wicked and energizing about realizing she could make this man, who was known for his flippant attitude and tight control, get so close to the edge of losing it.
“Tell me more.”
“I want to rip those panties off you and plunge my tongue deep inside. I want to taste you, lick up every drop of your arousal.”
Kennedy swallowed. Her sex throbbed. She wanted that, too.
“I meant about the Chimera,” she managed to croak.
A devilish grin twisted Asher’s lips. If she knew her effect on him, he was wholly aware of his effect on her. And wasn’t above using it against her.
He placed a hand on his chest and ran his fingers across his pecs and down over his abs. Her palms twitched. She wanted to be the one touching him.
Her nipples tightened, aching, as if he was touching her and not himself.
Kennedy shifted, intent on bringing her thighs together so she could rub some relief.
“Don’t,” he said, the single word arrogant and commanding. “Stay right there.”
She couldn’t breathe. Her lungs had stopped working, only able to pull in shallow gulps of air. She watched Asher’s hand move lower, flicking at the buttons on the fly of his khakis.
“You haven’t missed a question,” she managed to force past her dry throat.
“Who said I’m taking these off? I just don’t want a permanent imprint of the buttons on my dick.”
Spreading the fly wide, he might as well have pulled the pants all the way off. His erection strained against the dark gray boxer-briefs beneath, hiding not a damn thing. She could see the spreading wet spot where the head of his cock pressed against the tight waistband.
She couldn’t help herself. Her tongue licked across her lips. He wasn’t the only one who wanted a taste. She was desperate to pull the long length of him into her mouth and suck. Hard. She craved the sounds of pleasure he’d make when she
took him deep.
“You keep looking at me like that, and you’re going to get exactly what you want.”
Kennedy’s gaze jerked back up to his. “What do I want?”
“Me buried between those soft pink lips.”
He wasn’t wrong. But two could play at this game.
Reaching up, Kennedy slipped a single finger into her open mouth, dragging her tongue across the surface as she pulled it back out again.
Asher’s green eyes flashed. A burst of electricity erupted across her skin. “That’s playing dirty.”
She shrugged. “All’s fair in love and strip-tease games?”
Jeez, the room had gotten muggy. Sweat that had nothing to do with the tropical location pearled up beneath her hair and down her back.
Her thighs trembled, from kneeling and from need. But she didn’t want whatever this was to stop, so she stayed right where she was.
The way Asher watched her...she felt both beautiful and desired. Wanted and needed.
“Several months after Jackson and Loralie discovered the wreck, the salvage hit a snag when Anderson McNair made a claim that she was not the Chimera. Trident brought Avery Walsh on board to authenticate the wreckage. After a close call with some drug runners and explosives, we discovered that McNair’s diving company was a front for drug smuggling, and the wreckage sat smack in the middle of his drop zone.”
It took Kennedy several seconds for her brain to catch up to what Asher was saying. Oh, yeah, they were preparing for tomorrow’s shoot by going over details.
Another couple of seconds to realize he’d gone off on another tangent. “Nope, can’t talk about that either.”
“Why the hell not? The whole damn world knows this part of the story. It played out on national television in the middle of a press conference.”
“Not completely. Besides, we’ve been asked to keep any information we have private, since the trial for McNair’s associates is still pending.”
“Hell, cupcake, you don’t want any of the juicy, fun stuff to come out, do you?”
“Not my decision.”
“What’s left to talk about?”
“How about Avery’s discovery of a medal that she used to tie the captain to the ship? It’s the little details that can sometimes make the biggest impact.”
“You mean like how your skin flushes pink beneath that honey tone when you’re turned on?”
The man had the ability to knock her on her ass with just a few words. Every time she thought she had her footing firmly back in place, he said something to send her reeling again.
“Yes. Like that.”
“I think it’s time for you to lose another piece of clothing, Kennedy.” Asher’s voice dipped down into that dangerous register, the one that made goose bumps spread across her skin.
“I don’t think so. You got that one wrong.”
“No, I got it right, you just don’t want me to tell the truth. Again.”
Kennedy sighed.
“How about we compromise and both lose something?”
She did want to see those strong thighs and his tight ass. And her bra was chaffing at her nipples anyway. “Fine. But you first.”
Asher flashed her a brilliantly deviant grin and stood. Easing his hands into the already open waistband, he pushed and crouched low. It was a constant amazement to her, how smoothly the large man could move.
When he rose, the pants stayed pooled on the ground. His thighs flared out, the cut of muscle there making her mouth go dry. She wanted to run her tongue up the long, lean line.
And his ass. From here she could see the way his glutes indented on the sides. Was it bad that she wanted to take a bite out of him?
Probably.
Collapsing back into the chair, Asher didn’t bother to hide the little that was still covered by his briefs. He sprawled back, legs wide, massive erection straining against the band of spandex and cotton.
“Your turn.”
Reaching behind her, Kennedy unsnapped the tiny clasps holding the satin and lace against her body. She pulled in a deep breath the moment they released and let it out on a sigh of relief. The straps slipped down her shoulders, but an arm across her chest held the material in place.
Settling back onto her heels again, Kennedy watched him. Studied the way his gaze devoured her.
Slowly, she let go, her bra dropping onto the bed in front of her.
His tongue swiped across his lips. She wanted him to lick her. Kiss her. Tug at her throbbing nipples with the tips of his teeth. To make her writhe beneath him, in the way only Asher could.
She’d had lovers, more than a handful over the years. But none of them had ever looked at her like Asher did. As if his entire world had condensed down to the two of them. Together.
There was no question why he never had any problems filling his bed. He was gorgeous, intense, a little dangerous and completely involved with whomever was in front of him.
Tonight, that was her. And she was going to take every moment she could get.
“Soft pink.” His gaze found hers. “You have the most amazing breasts, Kennedy. A perfect handful. And your nipples are so damn responsive. I bet I could make you come just by sucking on them.”
At the moment, she wasn’t entirely certain he couldn’t make her come just by talking to her like that.
Suddenly, Asher surged out of the chair. It crashed back against the desk before tipping onto its side. Neither of them seemed to care.
“I’m done with this game,” he said, stalking closer.
Kennedy instinctively scrambled backward on the bed, but she didn’t get far. His arms came around her, pulling her up onto her knees and crushing her against the hard wall of his chest.
She was suddenly apprehensive. Not about him touching her. But about her ability to keep her own emotions in check. She’d spent the past two years thinking she didn’t particularly like this man.
She’d been lying—to him and herself.
If they’d simply started going at each other again, like yesterday, it might have been different. Her defenses might have remained in place.
Unfortunately, they were in tatters at her feet, mixed in with the pile of their clothing. She felt more exposed, and it had nothing to do with being almost naked.
But he didn’t give her a chance to get back on even ground. Instead, he tore away the last barriers between them. With a twist of his fingers, he ripped through the tiny strings across her hips and left her panties in a frayed pile on the bed.
His own shorts disappeared, and they were skin on skin. Burning heat to burning heat.
God, he smelled so damn good. Man and musk with a hint of salt and sunshine from being above deck all day.
Her mouth found his neck, licking and sucking. Taking a nipping bite of him, because she wanted a piece of him if he was going to steal a piece of her.
His fingers weren’t rough, but insistent, as they traveled across her body. He plucked at her nipples, flicking them. Kennedy arched up, asking for more.
His mouth found her, sucking hard and pulling a cry from her parted lips before changing up and laving her softly. The constant push and pull had her head spinning.
Her hands gripped his ass, trying to pull him closer.
“God, Ash, I need... I need,” she panted out, completely gone.
“I know, angel,” he whispered into her ear, his hands sweeping across her temples, tangling into her hair.
She writhed beneath him, searching. Her hands found the hard length of his sex. She couldn’t keep a sound of satisfaction from vibrating through her throat when she closed a fist around him and started pumping.
He hissed, his hips bumping against her in rhythm.
“I want you in my mouth,” she murmured against him, satisfying herself with sucking his bottom lip since she couldn’t wiggle down far enough to get to him.
“Later.”
Hooking an arm beneath the bend in her knee, Asher pressed, opening her wide. She shou
ld have felt pinned beneath him, but she didn’t. In that moment, it felt as if the weight of his body was the only thing holding her to the earth.
His fingers found the slippery folds of her sex. She whimpered. He rubbed at her clit, around it, over it, circling close and then slipping away again. Torturing her in a way that made the world go black.
Or maybe that was just because she closed her eyes, unable to deal with the intensity of what he was making her feel.
He stopped briefly. She heard foil tearing and realized he’d gotten a condom from somewhere. “Thank you,” she managed to breathe out.
Asher didn’t pretend not to understand what she meant. “I’ll always take care of you.”
It was a promise she believed. At least in that moment. Asher had always been there for her when she’d needed him.
That was the last thought she had before she felt the head of his cock pressing against the tight opening of her sex. He eased in, inch by glorious inch, sinking slowly.
She didn’t want slow. Kennedy needed fast and hard. Unbridled.
Gripping the curve of his ass, she pushed down at the same time she surged up. He entered her fully with that one fluid thrust.
Asher cursed against her lips before claiming her mouth and pinning her hips tight to the bed so that she couldn’t move.
“Minx,” he growled a few seconds later, pulling back. “That wasn’t for you. That was for me. I’m trying not to go off like a teenager, but you feel so damn good. I’m gonna lose it.”
Kennedy stared up at him, taking in the brilliant light in his green eyes. “I want you to lose it. Give it to me, Ash. Don’t hold back.”
If she couldn’t, she didn’t want him to, either. She needed him lost in the storm of sensation with her.
Rearing up, she sealed her mouth to his, sweeping her tongue deep inside. And he gave her exactly what she’d asked for.
His hands touched her everywhere. His mouth and tongue teased her neck, ear, shoulder. All the while, he moved with a steady pace, hitting that perfect spot deep inside that had sparks sputtering through her blood.
“Ash, I’m gonna...” She couldn’t even get the words out.
“I’ve got you, darlin’”
Under Pressure Page 12