“You’re the boss.”
She went like that, from room to room, her perfume trailing behind her, driving him crazy. Meanwhile, Nikki asked more questions: “What colors make you feel alert, inspired? What colors soothe you? Which ones relax you? Do you like leather, velvet, suede, horsehair?”
When they finished up in his office, she turned to his bedroom. “Let’s start in your closet.” She opened the doors and let her hand skim his suits, shirts, the racks of jeans and shoes.
She folded her arms and smiled at him. “You’re a neat freak. You are full of surprises, aren’t you?” She looked at him from over her shoulder.
“I’ve got so much clutter all around me with my work, I need to know that at least one corner of my life is under control.”
“We could build in some more compartments, give you some more hanging room.”
“That would be brilliant.”
She took copious notes, and about two hours later, after they had gone through every room, they were done and back downstairs. He poured a couple glasses of wine for them while Nikki went over to the couch. He watched as she leafed through her notes, her lips pursed and deep concentration registered across her stunning face.
“Now, one thing we need to discuss is your studio. I’m going to need at least two, maybe even three weeks to get in here and do what I need to do. Are you going to be able to shut down for that long?”
He smiled, admiring how she approached this. He knew he was hooked on her, and it wasn’t just her body or her dark brown eyes, her satiny hair or that deceptively innocent smile; it was her mind. He loved the way this woman’s mind worked. He explained that he had a location shoot coming up. “You’d have full run of the place for at least three weeks.”
“Okay. Then we could start with the studio space—that’ll be perfect.” She made more notes in the margin.
Dallas had never seen this side of her before. She was all business. He was impressed yet slightly disappointed. He supposed that meant their run-in on Sunday morning with her ex-fiancé had worked. Dallas knew he’d made the guy nervous as hell. He figured the poor wanker probably begged her to take him back before Dallas had even made it across the hall and into his apartment.
He knew that was what Nikki wanted and that made him happy, but at the same time, he couldn’t say he wasn’t hurt over it. He couldn’t say that he thought it was in her best interest. Plus, he couldn’t deny that he had wanted to take this woman into uncharted territory. She had a fire inside her that she’d never had lit, and it saddened him to think that he’d never get the chance to be the one to show her how sensual she really was.
But hell, it was probably better this way. Now that she had her fiancé back, it was time for him to move on. What he needed to do was focus on his work.
He had to block out a week’s worth of shots and hopefully find a way to pick up the shots he’d lost the day the client rethought their wardrobe selects. He had to scout locations for a magazine cover he had coming up. Another client wanted him to fly to New York for a casting session. There were meetings with clients and agents, and somewhere in between all that, he hoped he’d have time to get organized for the Antarctica expedition. That was, if he could get all his assignments wrapped up so he could go.
His West Coast rep, Marco LaRousse, was coming from L.A. to Chicago to meet with him. He said he had some projects coming up, and Dallas would have to break the news to Marco that he planned on taking a three-month hiatus to go to the South Pole. They already had National Geographic on board, and his pal Conrad said the Discovery Channel wanted to document them. It was turning into a lucrative assignment, but Dallas didn’t care about the monetary gain. He wanted to capture the glaciers and create some awareness.
Dallas promised himself that as a soon as Nikki left tonight, he’d call Conrad and he’d get serious about this shoot in Antarctica. He knew he should probably call his brother back, too, but he wasn’t ready to deal with anything having to do with his mother.
“All right then,” Nikki said, straightening her papers as a lock of hair fell forward against her cheek. “I need to work up the ideas we talked about. I’ll get some pricing and then I can give you an estimate.”
“Sounds great. Thank you.” He smiled and without thinking about it he reached over and hooked that strand of silky hair behind her ear.
She looked up at him with a surprised expression and a hunger pouring off her.
Dallas knew how to read a woman, and there was desire in this one’s eyes. So maybe she hadn’t patched things up with her ex after all. She couldn’t have, not with the look she just gave him. She breathed hard and her lips parted ever so slightly. She wanted the same thing he did. Only he was certain that they wanted it for different reasons.
“Dallas—” She said his name like she was short of breath. “You’re confusing me. I don’t know what you want.”
He looked into her eyes and reached up and stroked her cheek. “Oh Nikki Norris, I want you, I do. But I don’t want to hurt you.”
“I don’t want to get hurt, either. Matthew told me to be careful about you. He says I’m too vulnerable right now.”
Matthew. Bollocks. Did she have to bring him up right now? Dallas dragged his hands back through this hair. “I know you’re vulnerable. I know you are. And you know I can’t give you what Matthew could. I’m not looking for that in my life right now. But I also know that something—some light went out inside you when you were with that guy.”
She gave him a puzzled look.
“I know you love him. I get that, and I’m not trying to tear him down, but he told you he was bored. And I look at you sometimes and I worry that you think of yourself as boring. And that you blamed yourself for the breakup.”
She licked her lips and closed her eyes. He had hit a nerve. “It’s just that…” She stopped and shook her head. “No, I can’t, it’s too embarrassing.”
“Talk to me. You can tell me.”
She drew a deep breath and ran her hands down the front of her skirt. “It’s just, well, I’ve never felt like I was any good at… You know…sex. I never felt like he was all that into it. Or maybe he wasn’t all that into me. I was never sure if he was ever really satisfied.”
“Were you?”
“What?” She looked at him like this was a foreign concept to her.
“Nikki, you have so much you’ve yet to experience. So much to learn. Tell me the truth, did you ever really let yourself go with Matthew? With any man? I mean have you ever really been able to let loose?”
She swallowed hard. “Of course,” she said, practically panting as she folded her arms across her chest, keeping herself guarded. He could tell that she had no idea what he was talking about.
“Nikki, if you want to learn how to turn on Matthew, you have to first know what it means to be turned on.”
Again she gave him that adorable puzzled expression of hers, those full lips turning downward. “I don’t know if I’ve ever really been turned on, either.”
He looked into her beautiful brown eyes and felt a stab of sadness. “I know that,” he said, running the back of his hand along her cheek. “And I’m telling you, Nikki Norris, if we ever had the chance, I could show you that there’s nothing boring about you. Nothing whatsoever.”
“You don’t have to say that, Dallas.”
He reached over and with two fingers lifted her chin, making her eyes meet his. “I’m not just saying that. I’m serious.”
She blinked, her eyes glassy.
He knew he had to tread lightly here. The last thing he wanted to do was mislead her. “Look, I realize you’re probably going to end up back with your fiancé and I know that’s what you want. And I’m happy for you. I am. Besides,” he said we a laugh, “we both know I’m not a relationship guy, right? But I want you to know how amazing you are. Inside and out.”
She took a deep breath, and he could have sworn he saw a flicker of disappointment cross her face.
; “If circumstances were different,” he said, “I would love nothing more than to turn you on. I would show you how exciting and sensual you really are. I’d want to please you, make you feel good about yourself again. You deserve that. And you’d see that once you let yourself go, you’d drive Matthew—Hell, you’d drive any man wild.”
“Dallas, I’m not—”
“Listen to me. I felt the way you moved in my arms the other night when we were dancing. I could feel it when you kissed me. I know that you’ve got so much inside of you that you’ve never let yourself experience.”
They both fell silent, and he wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and prove it to her.
“Listen,” he said, running his fingers through her silky hair, “I’m crazy about you, and if I thought you could handle it, I’d love to show you what I’m talking about. I’d love to help you get in touch with that side of yourself.”
She looked at him, her eyes half closed. “What makes you think I couldn’t handle it?”
His heart about stopped. Was she serious? Was she up for this? He felt the strain in his jeans and knew he was. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d wanted a woman this bad, and he couldn’t fight it anymore.
“Are you sure?” He leaned in and let his lips brush hers.
She never answered him with words. She didn’t have to. He knew by the way she kissed him back, her tongue so soft and warm in his mouth, and when he ran his hands down her back, she practically purred. The kiss they shared deepened, and when he tenderly brushed his fingertips across her nipples, her back arched and she let out a moan that sent a tremor down his body and straight to his cock.
They went on kissing while he deftly unbuttoned her blouse, stroking her skin as he slid her lacy bra straps down her shoulders. She breathed hard as he kissed the base of her neck and then, finally, he unclasped her bra and gazed at her perfect breasts, her pert pink nipples growing stiff and waiting for him.
“You are so beautiful, Nikki Norris,” he said, cupping her breasts gently at first, and then more firmly while he kissed his way from her neck to her nipples, teasing her with the tip of his tongue, feeling them growing even stiffer still at each playful nip of his teeth.
“Oh, Dallas.”
He smiled as her eyes closed and she pressed herself closer and closer to him. “That’s it,” he said, as he continued working his way down her body. “Relax.” Her rib cage heaved in and out as he kissed and licked her navel while his hand slowly moved from her ankle, up her calf and onto her silky, quivering thigh. She shook as he ran his fingers along her inner thigh, and when he brushed his thumb across her panties, she gasped and tilted her hips closer and closer to him.
He knew what she wanted, and he wanted to give it to her. He wanted to taste her so bad it was killing him. But no, not yet. He had to take his time. First he unzipped the back of her skirt and slid it down her hips. And there she was, naked except for her little white lacy thong with a landing strip of dark hair peeking through the sheer fabric. Running his hands over her, he could feel the wetness soaking through her panties.
“You feel good, Nikki Norris,” he said as he stood in front of her and dropped to his knees, planting himself between her legs. As he gently pressed her legs open, he kissed her inner thigh. The smell of her drove him wild as his fingers made their way to her slick, hot center. “You are so wet.”
She moaned and her breath quickened even more than before.
He peeled away her underwear, sliding them down her glorious legs and over her heels until they landed next to his knee. He opened her legs wider and she was even more beautiful than he could have imagined. Running his hand up her stomach and to her breasts, he leaned forward and kissed her just above that landing strip of hair, then down the one side and up the other.
“Oh, God.” She sounded like she was about to hyperventilate.
“Breathe, Nikki. Just relax.”
Running his hand back down her body, he came to her hot center, and spreading back the silky folds of her with his thumbs, he looked at her beautiful pink clit, slick and calling for him. With the tip of his tongue, he leaned in and tasted her, watching her hips go wild. He gave her one long lick, gliding over her opening and ending at the top. He felt her hands reach down for the back of his head, her hips tilting forward, straining.
“It’s okay, Nikki, give it to me. Come closer. That’s it, Nikki.” And he went in deeper with his lips and tongue, feasting on her clit even as it grew harder. He slowly eased a finger into her dripping hot core, and then another. In and out his fingers worked her to a frenzy, while he sucked and licked her hard pink nub.
“Dallas, help me. Help me.” One hand clenched the sofa cushion, the other pinched her nipple, all while her hips kept writhing.
“It’s okay. I’m right here. Let it go. Just let it go.” And he darted his tongue deep inside her, circling her clit with the ball of his thumb, changing the pressure of the friction, going from hard to light as the first wave came over her. He moved his tongue back up and licked her tip as she pulsed against his mouth, her body trembling. She moaned and went rigid and tight, letting out the wildest, hottest, sexiest growl he’d ever heard a woman make.
“I want to be inside you, Nikki Norris.”
She nodded and as he reached for a condom, he heard someone knocking on his front door. Shit. Shit. Who the fuck is stopping by now? He groaned as the knocking persisted. “Hold on a minute,” he called out. “I’ll be right there.”
Nikki scampered around the floor collecting her clothes while he cracked the door.
“Marco?”
“That’s a fine welcome. Did you forget?”
“Was it tonight?”
“Afraid so.” Marco nodded.
Dallas completely forgot that he was supposed to meet with his West Coast rep this evening. Where was his mind? It wasn’t like him to forget about an important meeting.
“Can I come in?” he asked, brushing past Dallas.
“Shit. Marco, I’m sorry—I didn’t realize we were meeting tonight.”
“That’s pretty obvious,” he said, gazing over at Nikki.
“I’m sorry. I really thought it was next week.”
“That’s okay,” he heard Nikki say and when he turned around, she was dressed and gathering up her things. “I need to get going anyway.” She barely looked at him as she picked up her paperwork and tape measures. “I need to go start on your designs and the estimate now anyway.”
“You don’t have to go.”
“Oh yes, I do. I really do have to go.”
And just like that, Nikki walked out of his loft as Marco walked in.
Dallas apologized again as Marco unzipped his leather briefcase, giving an elaborate song and dance about some fashion shoot he wanted to line up for Dallas in Santa Monica… Dallas could barely listen. He was bored with this shit. It was all so mechanical. Especially when he thought about what had just gone down with Nikki.
He’d never forget the sounds she made, and if that wasn’t sexy, he didn’t know what was.
Chapter Eleven
Nikki was still shaking when she made it back to her place. She thought she knew what an orgasm was but obviously she was mistaken. She’d never felt anything like what just happened with Dallas. Her ears were still ringing. Her legs were wobbly, her throat raw from crying out.
She wasn’t sure if she’d done the best thing for herself or the worst by getting so intimate with him. But it felt too good, too amazing to have stopped it. Yes, she knew she was especially susceptible after her breakup with Matthew. And yes, she was only too aware of Dallas’s not being in the market for a relationship. But for once she didn’t want to overthink things. She wanted to go on feeling what she’d felt with Dallas tonight.
And he was right about her. She wasn’t done yet. There was so much more inside her that wanted to come out.
When her legs were strong enough to hold her up, she reached for her phone and dialed the one per
son who could put this all into perspective for her.
“Hello?”
“Have you ever come so hard, your ears started ringing?”
“Back the truck up, sister,” Jenna said with a yelp. “What happened?”
“I just had the best orgasm ever. I mean if you took all the orgasms I’ve ever had in my entire life and stacked them all up, it still wouldn’t compare to what just happened.”
“Holy crap. This wasn’t with Matthew, I gather.”
“It was Dallas. All Dallas.”
“I knew it. How cool is that.”
“I don’t know what I’m doing. What am I doing, Jenna?”
“You’re letting yourself live a little for once. It’s okay. It’s good for you. No, scratch that. It’s freakin’ great for you. Now promise me something—”
“What?”
“Promise me you won’t ruin this by obsessing on it. Let yourself enjoy that man. When are you going to see him next?”
“I have no idea.” Nikki began to giggle over the thrill of it all. “I have no idea what I’m doing. I cannot let myself fall for him.”
“You don’t have to fall in love with every man who gives you the most intense orgasms you’ve ever had. Enjoy the orgasms and don’t think about falling for him.”
“I’ll try.” Nikki let out another deep sigh. “You were right about one thing, though,” she said.
“What’s that?”
“I’m glad I listened to you and kept up with my bikini waxes.” After she and Matthew broke up, Nikki almost canceled her standing waxing appointment at Sisters Salon in Water Tower Place, but Jenna persuaded her to keep going.
“You never know what’s going to happen and you want to be prepared,” Jenna had said. “And besides, remember how much it hurt the first time you got waxed? If you let it all grow back in, you’ll be starting from scratch again.”
They were still laughing about that when another thought came to Nikki. “Tell me not to feel guilty about doing this to Matthew.”
Love Thy Neighbor Page 9