by Peggy Hunter
Jesus! You miserable old bastard.
Jayne wanted to jump across the large oak desk and wrap her fingers around the old man's throat.
"I don't know,” she said, her voice tight with anger. She'd left out the ugly details but was in the middle of telling him how Tom had dumped her when he came into her apartment to find David there when Jacob cut her off.
"Well, what did Davey say?” he asked impatiently.
"He said we'd talk about it tonight,” Jayne supplied.
"Good,” Jacob said. “So your boyfriend didn't screw things up. That's good."
Jayne took a deep breath. “My former boyfriend,” she corrected. “Didn't you hear me when I said Tom ended the relationship?"
"Yes, yes.” Jacob waved a hand in dismissal. “You're better off without him."
Jayne bit back another lump of anger welling her in throat. “Excuse me, Mr. Strand,” she said tightly. “You've never even met Tom. How can you judge him?"
"Jaynie,” Jacob said as he reached into a drawer and pulled out a cigar. “You said you were dating him for four months but this is the first time I've heard of him. He couldn't have had much of an impact on your life if you've never even mentioned him before now."
"When have I ever discussed my private life with you?” Jayne countered.
Jacob lit his cigar. He inhaled deeply and blew the smoke toward the ceiling. “You never have,” he conceded. “But you've never had the healthy pink glow of a woman who'd been thoroughly loved either. If you've been dating that guy for four months, why haven't you ever had that glow?"
Good point. Why indeed?
No one had ever affected her like David did. It was more than physical. David seemed to touch her spirit, as though he could see right into her soul.
Jayne swallowed the lump in her throat. “Can we change the subject?"
Jacob nodded. “Of course,” he said. “What are you going to wear for your date with Davey tonight? Something revealing, I hope."
Oh Lord.
* * * *
"Miss Foxton?” Stu couldn't hide the shock on his face as Jayne pushed passed him and climbed into the back seat of the limousine.
"Yeah,” she said as she settled into the seat.
Stu cast a concerned gaze over her. “Are you sure you don't want to, uhm,” he hesitated briefly and then went on, “change before I take you to see Mr. Strand?"
Jayne frowned. “Why?” she asked blithely. “Don't I look good enough for the great David Strand?"
"It's not that, Ms. Foxton, it's just...” Stu's gaze swept over her from head to toe.
Jayne raised an eyebrow. “Yes?"
Stu let out a long breath as his face returned to its usual impartial expression. “Nothing, Ms. Foxton."
Jayne snickered softly as Stu closed the door. She knew darn well why David's chauffeur was hesitant about her state of dress. The first time she met David, she was made up into something she wasn't, something his grandfather thought might attract David. Jayne was certain when he saw her again, wearing her conservative work clothes, he'd see her as the Plain Jayne she was comfortable being. Clearly, that hadn't worked either. In fact, their encounter had changed the course of her life.
So, what was left?
Even though Jacob wanted her to go through another makeover, Jayne balked. And since David didn't seem to notice her plain, professional clothes, she knew she had only one angle left ... to let him see her at her worst. Her very worst.
As Stu pulled the limo away from the curb and merged into traffic, Jayne gazed down at herself. She snickered. The look on Stu's face said it all. She was not suitable for David Strand. Good.
That was exactly what she was going for when she decided to wear the oversized lime green sweatshirt and faded grey jogging pants. She'd had to go digging deep into her closest to find the worn-out pair of running shoes to complete the outfit.
Jayne leaned back in the plush seat and gazed out the window. She felt completely satisfied that she'd done the right thing. Jacob was only concerned about how she'd lure David to his birthday party and David was only trying to get screwed.
Why should she make an effort to please either one of them? David had already said he'd attend his grandfather's party if he got what he wanted. And, whether he'd want her now, in all her realistic glory, was a choice he'd have to make.
And, Jacob? To hell with him. She was sick of being his patsy. If he insisted she help mend whatever fences he'd damaged in the past, he'd have to accept the fact that Jayne would do it on her own terms.
From now on, Jayne was going to live her life to suit herself. Jacob had pushed her into buying David at the auction and David had gone on to wreak havoc in her life. Tom was gone and so was just about everything else in her carefully constructed, uncomplicated life.
She had nothing left to lose. So why pretend she did? Jayne was under no illusions. David's interest in her had nothing to do with who she was. And why would it? She was, in essence, a nobody. At least she was when it came to a man like David Strand.
* * * *
The moment Stu escorted her into David's penthouse apartment, her senses went into overload. Other than the gas fireplace and a few lit candles, the apartment was in complete darkness. She suddenly felt as though she was a martyr delivered to a hungry lion. David was nowhere in sight but she fully expected he'd appear quickly and set about devouring her.
"Good evening, Ms. Foxton,” Stu studiously said as he turned to the door.
"You're leaving?” Jayne's voice squeaked in what must have sounded like a mouse.
Stu's bushy eyebrows rose. “Of course,” he said. “Is there something more you require?"
"No, Stu, nothing more is required.” Jayne's spine tingled at the sound of David's voice from somewhere deep in the darkness.
Stu nodded and pulled the door closed before Jayne could form a protest. She'd have begged him to stay, to keep watch over her if only David's voice hadn't taken her breath away.
Jayne twisted and looked toward the darkened room. Even though she couldn't see him, she felt his presence. Every fiber of her being was charged with his energy.
David stepped out of the shadows and moved toward the low light by the gas fireplace. Dressed casually in a white cotton t-shirt and form-fitting blue jeans, he looked dangerously sexy.
Jayne swallowed a lump in her throat as she mentally tried to stamp down her body's reaction to him. She'd become painfully aware of the fact she'd been left wanting more last night. As she stood rooted in place by the closed door, his spicy scent filled her senses, feeding her need for him.
David waved his hand casually as he moved toward the sofa nestled near the fire. “Join me."
Her feet moved forward in an unconscious need to be near him. She hesitated, peering at David apprehensively. “This isn't right,” she said, her words thick with angst.
David's chest vibrated as he chuckled softly. “If you were certain of that, you wouldn't have come,” he said. He sat on the sofa and patted the seat beside him.
Jayne shivered as she peered at David. “I didn't feel that I had a choice,” she said. “And now that I'm here, I think—"
"Don't think, Jayne,” David's smooth, hypnotic voice cut into her thoughts. “Just come here."
Jayne didn't want to think; she didn't want to consider the repercussions of what would come soon after she'd managed to bring David to his grandfather. She knew in her heart David was toying with her. And yet, her body ached for his touch and her mind hummed with the possibility of his hands on her again.
As she stepped closer, her eyes leveled on his. He looked so intense, his jaw set firm, his dark eyes blazing in the soft light. Didn't he notice what she was wearing? Didn't he see once and for all that she was from a completely different world?
* * * *
David felt his body harden with need as she took tentative steps toward him. The washed-out oversized sweatshirt couldn't hide her sweet, firm breats. His mouth went dry as his
eyes focused on the firm peaks jutting forward beneath the threadbare fabric. And good God, the faded jogging pants, worn at the knees, fit her body snugly. It seemed as though her hips might burst from them at any moment. Her long copper hair was pulled back into a hastily knotted ponytail. Several strands hung loosely around her heart-shaped face.
David watched as Jayne's unpainted lips trembled. She was terrified even though she made a valiant attempt to hide it. She stopped in front of him, her eyes on his face as she placed her hands on her hips in what must have been meant as a defiant gesture. Completely devoid of makeup, her skin gleamed like ivory.
"How do you like me now?” she asked, her eyes struggling to stay focused on him. “I'm not exactly what you expected tonight."
David smiled. Nope, in fact, she was a lot more than he'd expected. His body tightened in all the right places in supreme awareness. As he gazed up at her, he knew something he'd never understood before. All the women he'd ever known sexually would do anything to please him. They'd appear at their best, always hoping he wouldn't see what was hidden beneath the layers of makeup and designer clothes.
Jayne was a breath of fresh air. In spite of the fact she was nervous, she'd insisted he see her as she was, the person she really was, not a made up version of what she thought he'd want to see. The uncertainty in her eyes drew him further into her realm.
He suspected she wanted him to turn her away, to declare her unsuitable for what she thought was his elaborate taste in women. Yet all she'd done was whet his appetite, make him want her more than he'd ever wanted anyone.
David cocked his head to one side as he looked at her. She was a beautiful woman. Why did she insist on hiding herself? How could she not know how incredibly sexy she was?
He held out his hand. “Come here, Jaynie."
As she gazed at him, several emotions, from fear to desire, coursed over her face. Her hands fell away from her hips though she did not reach out to take his hand. Her eyes darkened in confusion but she didn't say a word.
No wonder he was attracted to Jayne. She was a challenge. He'd never had to conquer a woman before; he'd never had to persuade them into his bed.
David relaxed knowing he finally understood why his grandfather's personal assistant was so damn attractive to him. It wasn't her so much as it was the game. Thank God! He wasn't losing his touch after all. He wanted her because she was hesitant, perhaps even afraid of him.
Jayne shook her head slowly. “I don't understand why you want me,” she said softly. “Doesn't it bother you that the only reason I'm here is to bring you closer to your grandfather?"
"Is that the only reason you're here, Jaynie?” His hand dropped. “I understand your loyalty to the old man but I don't believe you came here tonight with him in mind."
Jayne's eyes darkened. She stood erect, ramrod straight as her eyes impaled him. “I happen to care about Jacob,” she said. “How sad is it that I'm reduced to whoring myself to make you see how much he loves you?"
Fury rose like bile in his throat as he flew off the couch and closed the distance between them. “Love?” he said angrily. “My grandfather loves me? Is that what you're saying?"
Jayne took a step back yet held her chin high and didn't blink once. “Yes,” she said, her voice a little shaky but nonetheless certain. “That's exactly what I'm saying."
David wanted to shake her. She knew nothing about his relationship with his grandfather. Nothing. Who was she to judge him? If she knew the truth, how his grandfather had shattered him when he was no more than a kid, maybe she wouldn't be so bent on helping the old bastard.
* * * *
Jayne knew she'd bitten off more than she could chew the moment David leapt from the couch. His dark eyes burned as he glared down at her. And yet her body responded to his fury in the most erotic way. Her core moistened, her nipples pebbled, her entire body sizzled with heated passion.
She stood her ground ... well, sort of. His rapid movements startled her into taking a step back. But she held his gaze, determined he not see just how much he affected her.
His hot breath washed over her as his spicy scent filled her nostrils. She desperately tried to hold her ground, not to cower under his steely gaze.
"So you think I'm the one who's being an asshole?” he said.
Jayne swallowed hard. In for a penny, in for a pound. “Yes,” she replied. “I think whatever the problem you have with your grandfather should be set aside. He's an old man; he's dying and he needs you."
"You don't know what happened, do you?"
"I don't need to know anything more than I do right now. You, David Strand, are acting like a spoiled child."
David's face darkened even more as his body stiffened at her remark. “Are you sure you don't want to retract that statement?” His voice was ominous. No doubt there would be a price to pay if she didn't.
Jayne shivered in fear ... and anticipation. “I'm sure,” she said with as much confidence as she could muster. “I call it as I see it.” Where the courage had come from, she'd never know, but she pointed a finger and jabbed it into his rock-hard chest. “You're being a jerk."
David looked down at the finger on his chest. He brows lifted, his eyes widened and his mouth pulled back into a smile. He shook his head lightly as he looked at Jayne. “If I didn't know better, I'd say you have balls of steel."
Jayne swallowed hard. As she lowered her hand, he grasped it. Her heart thundered in her chest as he slowly turned her hand in his and ran his thumb over her palm.
"So,” he said softly as his mouth dipped to touch her wrist. “What would be the proper punishment? Should I spank you for being insolent?"
When his tongue touched her wrist and made a slow trail up her arm, Jayne struggled to catch her breath. Every fiber of her being centered on her wrist and the sensations David's tongue elicited. Her body quaked in an effort to stand still, to not let David see just his touch affected her.
She struggled to find her voice. “I have to tell you, if you spank me, I might retaliate."
David raised his face and grinned. His eyes blazed. “That just might be a lot of fun,” he said before his arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her against his rock-hard body. “Shall we take this discussion to the bedroom?"
Jayne gasped when he lifted her into his arms, one arm around her back, the other scooped under her knees. He carried her into the darkness and nudged a door open. When he put her down, his fingers instantly curled under the hem of her sweatshirt and pulled it over her head. Warm fingers unhooked her bra and quickly pushed her jogging pants and underwear off her hips. She kicked her shoes and socks off as she stepped out of her pants.
An instant later, she felt cold. She couldn't see him but knew he'd stepped away from her. She blinked in the dark. “David?"
"I'm right here,” he said. The room was suddenly illuminated with the soft glow of a lamp by the bed. “I wanted to shed a little light on the situation,” he said as she squinted against the glow.
As her eyes adjusted to the light, she felt completely exposed. One arm covered her breasts while her other hand splayed over her core. “I think I liked it better when it was dark,” she said nervously as she gazed at him.
David slowly approached her, a lopsided grin on his face. “Don't be shy, my little fox,” he said. “I want to see you, all of you.” His hand gently pulled her arm away from her breasts. His eyes darkened with lust as he gazed down at them. His smile broadened. “Very nice,” he whispered.
"Don't tease me,” Jayne said. “I know what I look like naked. I look at this body every day."
David frowned. “Maybe that's your problem,” he said. “Maybe you need to see it with a fresh set of eyes ... like mine, for instance."
Jayne laughed sarcastically. He really knew how to lay it on thick. All right. Since it seemed he was determined to screw her tonight, there wasn't much point in trying to hide what little she had to offer. She screwed up what little courage she had and let her hand fall
away from her groin. She splayed her arms out wide. “What you see is what you get,” she said as she turned in front of him. “Look at my ass,” she smacked her hands against it, “flat as a pancake.” She turned back to face him. “Look at my breasts,” she said as she cupped them, “flatter still.” She pointed to the mound of hair between her thighs. “And, honey, I don't know what's going on down there but I'm sure it's no better."
David chuckled as he looked down at her. “You really are something else,” he said.
Jayne rolled her eyes. “What I'm trying to tell you is that I'm nothing special. Don't you get it?"
David took a step closer to her and placed his hands on her shoulders. “Jaynie,” he said dryly as he pushed her, “shut the hell up."
Jayne shrieked when her knees hit the side of the bed and her torso flopped onto the mattress. The soft satin bedspread felt cool against her heated skin.
She blinked as David quickly shucked out of his clothes. He stood over her for a moment, allowing her gaze to slide over him. His sinewy chest, smattered with dark curly hair, heaved slightly. Her gaze skittered to his hips and his long strong legs. She couldn't keep her eyes from his penis. It stood at attention, long and proud, pulsing with his need for her.
He moved toward her, pushed his legs between hers as he bent over her. His eyes blazed as he placed his hands on either side of her head. “Do you want me to tell you what I see when I look at you?” He dipped his head and grazed her lips with his. “Or would you rather I show you?"
"Show me."
David's chest vibrated softly as he chuckled. “Good answer,” he said before his mouth covered hers.
Jayne gave herself up to the sweet sensations coursing through her body at just the touch of his lips to hers. Her body hummed with the endless possibilities of what was to come.
Forget Plain Jayne. Tonight she was desirable. Tonight she was wanted by the sexiest man she'd ever laid eyes on. Tomorrow, in the light of day, she'd resume her mundane existence. For tonight, just one night, she'd be the person she'd always wanted to be.
David tore his mouth from hers and closed his lips over one ripe nipple. Shock waves slammed through Jayne's body as his hand cupped her breast while he suckled it. His tongue laved her before he sucked it into his mouth. He lifted his head and moved to her other breast while his fingers continued to knead.