by B. L. Wilde
“You have a great place here,” he smiled. “Is it yours or are you renting?”
“Renting,” I replied. “I’m not sure if I’m ready to settle down just yet. You never know what the future holds.”
“That’s very true,” he called, studying one of the paintings I’d purchased last week. “I love this painting, Jade.” It was a painting of a harbor sunrise at a beautiful spot not too far from the marina. I loved the artist’s use of color, which was why I bought it. Actually, I had enjoyed looking around all the local art studios. It gave me a chance to get my name out there to help with my cover story while Oliver was here. “I have a thing about harbors, too. Well, paintings of harbors, that is.”
“Really?” We have something in common. I smiled over at him; his body was quite distracting. He was only wearing his sweats, leaving his well-toned chest on full display. Talk about washboard abs—I wanted to run my tongue up and down every inch of them. “The Harbor Sunrise is a favorite local painting of mine. The artist lives nearby. I can take you to his workshop while you’re here, if you want. You might see a few pieces you like.”
“I’d like that.” Oliver turned his full attention back to me. “I’ll have to show you the few paintings that I own at my properties.”
“I thought you needed my services. If you already have paintings, there isn’t much for me to do,” I teased, dishing up the food.
“I don’t have many, but I have a few valuable pieces I’d love to show you.” He took a seat at the table he’d already set earlier. I couldn’t believe how excited he sounded about taking me to his home. Oh, Oliver, if only you knew the truth. You’re falling right into the trap.
“Are you asking me to stay at your place?” I giggled, placing his food down in front of him.
“I’m asking you to one of them,” he grinned.
“You have more than one?” I gasped, acting shocked. “Actually, why am not I surprised?”
“What do you mean?”
“You have your own company. Of course you’d own a few properties,” I muttered, playing with my food.
“I don’t just have a few, Jade. I have nine.” I choked on a mouthful of stir-fry so Oliver passed me my glass of water. “Does that bother you? I mean, to know I’m that rich?” he asked in concern.
I shook my head. “It doesn’t bother me, but I’m finding it hard to understand what you’re doing here with me, Oliver.”
“There’s something about you, Jade. I can’t put my finger on it yet, but you captivate me.”
“I’m just an average, working woman. I’m nothing special,” I sighed, using my poor little Jade approach.
“You can’t see it, can you?” he smiled, stroking my face.
I frowned. “See what?”
He seemed lost in thought as he gazed at me for a few short moments, and then something crossed his mind. I could see him trying to shake the thought away before he finally spoke. “You can’t see what an amazing cook you are. This is incredible,” he chuckled, playing off the intense conversation we had clearly just had.
It made me wonder what Oliver had really been thinking about before.
It was safe to say that I was well and truly on my way to gaining those blueprints, so why did my heart feel heavy at the thought of completing this mission?
Chapter Six
Oliver was completely carefree when he wasn’t working. We didn’t even get out of bed until mid-afternoon on our first full day together—not that I was complaining. He definitely knew how to fill the time.
I was taking him out for some seafood near the marina tonight, and was planning on pretending to get drunk so I could have some fun with him. I wasn’t used to being so subdued in the bedroom, and Oliver had a body to die for. I couldn’t wait to get my expert hands on him later when I could chalk it up to the alcohol making me bolder.
“I might look into renting my own property around here,” Oliver mused as we sat on my balcony, watching the Marina in the distance.
“What would be the point?” I frowned. “You’d be staying with me anyway.”
“Oh, I would, would I?” he grinned, moving a little closer to me. We’d only been out of bed for an hour or so, yet my body was already yearning for more. “A little smitten, are we, Jade?”
“I thought that was obvious the night we met,” I giggled, tucking my hair behind my ears, trying to act a little uncomfortable.
“I never like to presume anything.” He grinned, slowly letting his gaze wander down my legs. I smiled shyly, my eyes focused on my watch.
“We need to think about getting ready soon. It’s getting late,” I said as I stretched and stood up.
“Mm…” Oliver groaned, pulling me down onto his lap. “Would you like me to wash your back in the shower? I give amazing massages.”
/“Is there anything you can’t do?” I sniggered, bracing myself by gripping his strong shoulders tightly.
“I can’t sing,” he teased before leaning up to capture my lips with his. It was only a chaste kiss and I was glad. I really did need to get ready.
Chuckling, I pushed off his shoulders as he let me go. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.”
“No, really—I’m tone-deaf when it comes to singing.”
“Maybe I should let you come shower with me then so I can see if you’re telling me the truth or not,” I winked.
“That can be arranged if you want. Although, I can’t promise I’ll even sing in the shower. I might be too busy with something else.” Did I really want to know what Oliver would be too busy doing? Yes, of course I did.
“Busy doing what?” I purred as he stood up, watching me with hungry eyes.
“You really want me to spell it out?” he muttered huskily, running his hand down my back before cupping my ass. I nodded, closing my eyes for a short second while I tried to regain myself. Was I really acting when it came to these feelings? I wasn’t so sure anymore; they seemed a little too real to me. “You know I won’t have time to sing while I’m fucking you hard with my fingers against your shower wall, Jade,” he continued.
“Fuck, Oliver,” I groaned, more than turned on by his dirty words as he pulled me toward him.
“I love it when you swear, Beautiful. It’s so unlike you, and I know it’s because I’ve got you all worked up.” He began to undo the buttons on my shorts as he spoke. “So, how about that shower, then?” I couldn’t resist this guy. What the hell was wrong with me? “I take it from your panting, that’s a yes?” he chuckled, taking my hand and leading me to the bathroom. What was happening to me? I was quickly becoming addicted to the powers this guy held over my body.
He stripped first the moment we were in the bathroom. Damn, I could look at his body all day. Why did he want the shy, subdued Jade? Oh, the things I could do to him if he would just let me be wild.
“Your turn,” Oliver winked, stalking over to me. I was so mesmerized by his impressive member—standing tall, proud, and so ready for me—that I hardly felt him strip me of my clothes. Well, until he pinched my nipples between his fingers, that is. “I think it’s time to get you nice and wet, Jade.” His hands glided down toward my sex as he spoke. “Mm…” he cooed, inserting two fingers, “it seems we’re already halfway there.”
“Oliver,” I gasped. “Jesus, do you ever stop?”
“Not with you, it would seem.” He removed his hand, only to bring it up to his mouth to taste me. “Why don’t you turn the water on?” he muttered, sucking on his fingers. Oh, God, I was going to combust if he kept doing that.
I stepped into the shower and turned the water on, groaning as Oliver pushed me against the cold tiles.
“You do know a shower is all about foreplay, don’t you?” he snarled, biting down on my earlobe. “Sex in a shower is very dangerous.”
“Is that so?” I panted. “I’ve always liked the idea of sex in the shower.” I played along, leaning against the wall as he snaked his hands around me to grab my breasts firmly from behind.
“Oh, I’m sure we could have a lot of fun in this shower,” he said huskily as I felt him grind his erection against my ass, sending chills up my spine.
“Mm…I think you could be right.”
“But I can assure you, I won’t be singing,” he purred, moving one hand down toward my sex while the other worked my nipples, pulling and rolling his thumb over each one and making me arch back toward him. “I love it when you let go, Jade. I can feel you giving your body over to me.” I palmed the wall as Oliver thrust his fingers deep inside me, hitting that spot instantly. I worried that my legs might collapse beneath me once he had helped me reach my peak, but my fear melted away when he wrapped one arm around my waist and held me up as he set a maddening pace with his other hand.
“Give it to me, Jade. I’m not going to stop until you do.” Christ, he was so controlling but I loved it. For the first time since I’d become a Seductor, I could really let go. Oliver knew how to work my body unlike any man I’d ever known. “That’s it, Beautiful,” he cooed as I fell apart in his arms. The hot water from the shower trickled down both our bodies as we moved farther under the showerhead. It was beyond erotic, and I’d had some great sexual experiences so far in my lifetime.
I couldn’t resist stretching out behind me to run my hands through his wet hair while I came back down from my high. “Mm…oh…Oliver,” I groaned out as he pulled my nipples with his forefingers and thumbs.
“I could play with your body all day,” he said as he bit down on my neck, nipping playfully. All I wanted to do was reach behind me and stroke his erection that was pressing into my ass cheeks, but I knew shy Jade wouldn’t react that way.
“We don’t have time for that,” I panted, moving him even farther under the jets with me. “I thought you wanted me to take you out?”
“I think we have time for some lovemaking, too.”
“We could do that later,” I complained, closing my eyes as he began to wash me.
“You’re right. I imagine you might be a little sore down here anyway.” As Oliver spoke, he ran the washcloth between my legs. Oh, it felt so good.
“Well, we have been a little busy since the moment you arrived.”
Oliver sighed deeply in my ear before turning me to face him. “What are you doing to me, Jade Gibbs?” He looked conflicted and so damn beautiful. With his hair soaking wet and beaten down from the water, it looked almost black.
“What do you mean?” I frowned as he began to gently wash my shoulders.
“I’ve never been so physically attracted to anyone before. It’s scaring the shit out of me because I don’t know how to control it. I can’t keep my hands off you.”
“Then don’t control it,” I whispered, wrapping my arms around his neck. It didn’t matter that he was affecting me physically, too, because I had a job to do. I had to make him fall for me so he would trust me. “Just feel it, Oliver,” I pleaded. “I’m scared, too.”
“Jade, I know nothing about you. You have to understand why I’m nervous.”
“There is hardly anything to know about me.” I smiled as I felt his hands cup my ass, bringing me flush against his body.
“I doubt that. I can feel there is something deeper inside you, and I can’t wait to find out what that is.” Oh, Oliver. You might regret saying that one day.
“Good luck trying to find it. I think you might be wrong. I’m just plain, boring, Jade,” I giggled.
“You are anything but plain, Beautiful,” he murmured, leaning down to capture my lips. Soon, we were lost as we began to explore each other’s bodies, washing and massaging until we were both fully satisfied.
I took Oliver to one of my favorite seafood places—The Oyster Bar—once we were finally ready. It was only a short walk from the penthouse, yet I was surprised that he held my hand the entire way.
I had decided to go for a casual, blue linen dress that was still tight enough to tempt him with my sexy figure, and strappy black sandals.
“This is amazing,” Oliver mumbled through a mouthful of lobster.
“This place does have the best seafood in town,” I grinned, sipping my beer.
“And what a view,” he commented toward the beach and the crashing waves in front of us. The sun was slowly setting and had created a beautiful warm glow across the night sky. I really did love this place and was glad I had chosen to bring him. It had been a while since I’d been.
“Yeah, I used to come here a lot,” I sighed.
“You used to?” he questioned in interest.
“I’m not home much anymore because of my job.”
“Are your offices here in St. Petersburg?”
“Yeah. I might need to drop by there tomorrow, actually, and pick up any messages that have been left for me. I’m flying out to Rome next week.” Oliver’s face dropped. “What is it?”
“I don’t like the idea of you being so far away from me. I’ll be in New York next week.”
“I’m sure we can arrange another get together soon. I could always come to you next time,” I suggested casually, tucking into another part of my lobster.
“You really wouldn’t mind traveling to see me?”
“Of course not,” I frowned. “Why would I mind?”
“I know I’ve been intense, asking to stay with you when we’ve only met once before.”
“Did you hear me complaining?”
“No,” Oliver smirked, “but I don’t want you to think I assumed anything. I’m not usually this demanding.”
“You’re the billionaire. Shouldn’t you be worried more about me? What if I’m just after your money?” I teased.
“You’re not. I can feel in your body how much you want me. This isn’t about my money.” I gulped silently as his eyes tried to penetrate my defenses. Keeping my feelings in check had to become a priority. I’d never been this careless before, but Oliver was such an amazing lover it was difficult to control myself.
“You can read me that well?” I muttered, picking up my bottle of beer.
He winked, licking his lips. “You know I can.”
“Okay,” I replied, acting flustered. “Let’s change the subject and get another beer. Then I’ll take you to my favorite bar.”
“St. Petersburg’s tour Jade style it is, then,” he winked, downing his drink before getting up to get two more bottles. It seemed my plan to pretend to get drunk just might work tonight.
“I think you should slow down, Jade,” Oliver chuckled, taking my tenth shot of vodka away from me. He didn’t know most of the others had actually been water.
“Dance with me,” I purred, running my hands seductively down his chest. Oh, I couldn’t wait to get him home. We’d been in Red Velvet Bar for an hour and I was so turned on. I could feel the beat of the music through my chest, and all the sweaty bodies on the dance floor were grinding against each other, making me want Oliver even more. I wanted to go crazy on that fine body of his.
“Dance?” he questioned, raising an eyebrow at me.
“Okay, not just dance,” I whispered, crashing myself into him. “I want to rub my sweaty body against yours and then take you home to fuck the crap out of you.”
“Jesus Christ, Jade!” Oliver panted, finally letting me pull him into the crowd. I began to grind my ass against his crotch to the beat of the music as soon as his hands found their way to my hips. “So this is the other side of you I’ve been missing out on, huh?” he groaned into my ear as his hands grazed up and down both sides of my body.
“This is the bolder Jade,” I giggled, pretending to stumble a little as I turned around to face him.
“Mm…no, I think this is the drunk Jade,” he commented, running his hands through my hair. “Maybe I should get you home. You’ve had more than enough to drink for one night.”
“Oh, yes. Home sounds good,” I winked, grabbing his ass. He jumped in shock before shaking his head at me.
He gave me a teasing smile as he spoke. “Oh, I’m not going to let you live this down in the
morning.” I responded by crashing my lips against his, and when he groaned into my mouth, I backed him up against the wall, gripping the tops of his shoulders. I could feel his erection pressed against my stomach, so I slowly ran my hands down his chest, moving lower to cup him. There were so many people in the bar that no one would have noticed what we were doing.
“The only thing you’ll be telling me in the morning is how well I can fuck,” I snarled, kissing him again and pulling on his bottom lip with my teeth. Oh, it felt good to be able to be myself around him, even if it was only for one night. There was no doubt in my mind that Oliver would be able to take everything I gave him. I felt like a caged beast, and knew that the moment we both stepped inside my apartment, I could be unleashed.
“Who the hell are you?” he gasped, “and what have you done with Jade?” I giggled, taking his hand and leading him outside to catch a cab.
“Do you remember fucking me in the back of your limo in London?” I slurred a little. I didn’t want to act so drunk that Oliver would feel as if he was taking advantage of me, but I still had to act drunk enough to be so brave.
Being a Seductor was harder than it looked. In a lot of ways, you had to be a really good actress and become your character before you really even had the chance to work them out.
“Mm…yeah. That isn’t something I could ever forget, Jade.”
“I wish we could do that right here in this taxi,” I giggled, resting my head on his shoulder.
“Maybe we should save car sex for my limo. I’m not sure how the taxi driver would feel if we started getting busy right here.”
“True,” I sighed, looking up at him. “I really like you, Oliver.” People always told the truth when they were drunk because alcohol gave them that push they needed to conquer all their fears. It was no wonder I hardly ever drank in real life. In my case, everything I said was an act. I had learned a lot about human emotions in the five years I’d worked for the Seductors, after all.
“I really like you, too, Jade,” he smiled. I was definitely going to accomplish my mission. Oliver Kirkham was falling for me—I could see it in his eyes.