“Have you been to Vegas before?”
“This was my first, and possibly my last, trip.”
“Why? Is it because you’re stuck with me all the time? We could go sightseeing if you want.”
Lacey turned to face him and tucked her legs up onto the couch, resting her head on a propped-up arm. “I never gave it much thought. In my work, I go where I’m told. I don’t get a lot of time on my own to travel or sightsee or anything like that. This has already been more vacation than I’m used to.”
“Why don’t you get any time off?”
“I do, but not enough to go anywhere or see anything. Besides, most of the time I’m only in the same place for a day or two. My clients usually move around a lot which means I do too.”
“I get that. When I’m on location for a movie, I’m not usually out sightseeing either. Most of the time I’m on set working, or I’m in a tiny trailer trying to learn my lines or resting. Not exactly a wild and crazy lifestyle like you might think.” He took another slug of his drink. The whiskey was warm in his throat, comforting, soothing. It was a good choice to end the evening. “What was your last client like?”
The lazy smile on Lacey’s face vanished and he wished he could take back the question. Clearly, she wasn’t comfortable. He didn’t want to ruin her good mood.
“We don’t have to talk about it. Forget I asked.”
She shook her head. “It’s fine. I can’t go into too much detail since my clients request anonymity. However, I can tell you that he was a dignitary in Europe.”
“Was it one of the British princes? They look like fun to hang out with.”
“I wouldn’t know.” She laughed. “It wasn’t either of them.”
“Why did you leave and come here?”
Her expression fell again. Why didn’t he drop it and move on to another topic?
“There was an incident.”
He took her hand and held it. “You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”
“You should probably know this anyway, as much as I want to forget it.” She took a deep breath. “I’d been working long hours but didn’t want to complain because the job was one of the best I’d ever had. I was exhausted, even if I didn’t want to admit it. We were at an event and a scuffle broke out nearby. Before we knew what was happening, the fight was on us and it was everything we could do to get my client out of there. In the process, someone on my team took a bullet that should’ve been mine. If I hadn’t been so tired, I’d have seen the threat coming.”
She sniffled as tears brimmed her eyes. Rex inched forward on the couch and pulled her against his chest, wrapping his arms around her. It was the first time he’d seen her tough exterior crack and now it was crumbling completely. He’d wanted to get underneath that hard shell of hers, but he hated to see her hurting. He wasn’t prepared for the floodgates of emotion that opened inside of him when he saw her tears, wanting more than anything to protect her and take her pain away.
“Hey, it’s okay. I’m sure it’s not your fault. Everyone has limits and makes mistakes sometimes.”
“It’s easy for you to say that, but I bet you’d have a different opinion if you were my client that day.”
“True, but I wasn’t your client that day. I’m here for you now and I say that you did the best you could in the situation.”
It was true. The woman had to be one of the most dedicated employees he’d ever had.
Employee.
He should really remember that. But with Lacey, he couldn’t see her as an employee. Or he didn’t want to. There was a constant and compelling need to know more about her.
She was tough, smart, and always up for adventure. She was nothing like the women he usually dated. She didn’t want anything from him. Being with him didn’t benefit her career any more than any other regular person would benefit from a job.
And she didn’t seem to give a crap that he was Rex Randall and came with everything that name and place in Hollywood entailed. In fact, she didn’t seem to want the Hollywood lifestyle at all, which he couldn’t exactly understand, but somehow admired.
Lacey wiped her cheeks dry, erasing all evidence of her emotion. But she couldn’t go back to her neutral demeanor completely. He wouldn’t let her. Not tonight. Not when she was off duty and they were connecting like two human beings, not employee and employer. Or at least, that’s what he was trying to do.
She took a deep breath. “I do my best, and I promise that I’ve learned my lesson and I won’t make the same mistake again. Not with you. Not with anyone. Your insistence on hiring Steven was exactly what I needed, and I should’ve been strong enough to admit that right from the start.”
He squeezed her hand. “You don’t have to be strong every second of every day, but regardless, you’re the strongest woman I’ve ever met. And I don’t mean only physical strength but emotionally you’re kick-ass tough too. It’s pretty amazing.”
She smiled. “Thanks.”
He grinned back. “And hot. It’s pretty damn hot too.”
“Stop it,” she said, nudging him in the shoulder.
“Make me.” He teased, running his fingers up her arm until he tickled the nape of her neck. “I think you like it that I find you hot.”
“I think you’re used to getting what you want, including women.” Her expression and words clearly challenged him, but she didn’t pull away.
“And what are you used to? Lonely nights on shift? Always being on your own in a new place? Never having anyone to share your successes or failures with?”
“Maybe.” She licked her lips then pulled the bottom one between her teeth, eyeing him in a way that made him want to bite her lip for her. “Or maybe not. Who’s to say I haven’t found companionship in my job as you have. Mutual needs being met, arrangements beneficial to both parties.”
“Bodyguard booty calls?” He raised an eyebrow. The thought of another man touching Lacey’s body was enough to make his blood pressure spike. In the short time he’d known her, she’d become important to him and the urge to make her his, fully, was overwhelming. It took everything he had inside to stay calm and wait for her to give him the signal that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Then he’d claim her, exactly like he’d been fantasizing about doing for weeks now.
“Something like that.”
“You like to keep it in the club or is it more about what’s available?”
She shrugged. “I have my type. Sometimes, often times, the guys in my line of work fit that bill. But I’m not in it for some long-term relationship. Just scratching an itch when there’s a free moment.”
“You sound like a lot of guys I know.”
“Does that carefree, won’t be tied down attitude bother you when it’s coming from a woman?”
He grinned. “No. I like a girl who speaks her mind and who lives her life the way she wants. It’s sexy.”
She took a long gulp from her drink, draining it until only the ice cubes remained. “I should go,” she said, standing.
“Stay,” he said, itching to reach out to her, to touch her again, anywhere…everywhere. “I like this laidback side of you. It’s nice getting to know each other without everyone else around. Just you and me. No threats. No distractions.”
“Tempting, but I have a feeling my boss will have me up early and in for another full day on my feet.”
When he looked in her eyes, he didn’t see a bodyguard who wanted to go to bed. He saw a woman with need and want in her eyes.
He followed her to the adjoining door. “I have it on good authority that your boss would be happy to see you off of your feet for the entire day tomorrow.” Her hand paused on the doorknob. “Just say the word.”
“What word would that be?” Her voice wavered.
She closed her eyes as he cupped the side of her jaw in his hand. Tipping her chin up to him, he leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. The ache in his groin intensified ten-fold at the touch of his lips on hers. He de
epened the kiss and she melted against him, her mouth opening. He slipped his tongue inside and took a gentle taste of her.
Breaking their kiss, he pulled back enough to speak. “Say yes.”
“What exactly would I be saying yes to?”
“To me. To us, together, tonight.”
“Remember when you asked about my type?”
“Uh-huh.” The last thing he wanted to do right now was discuss the men she’d been with previously.
“My type doesn’t need to ask. My type knows he wouldn’t get within two feet of me if I didn’t want him to.” She popped up on her toes, her breath tickling his ear. “And look how close you are. So close, Rex. Maybe next time.”
An unfamiliar heat flared to life inside of him. Did she imply those bodyguards she’d been with got her hotter than he did?
No fucking way.
She wanted a man to take charge and that was the only way he knew how to live. He’d been gentle with her, cautious even, because he hadn’t wanted to ruin their working relationship. Because he didn’t want to overstep his bounds when they’d only known each other a little while. He’d been a gentleman to not make assumptions about what she wanted based on what he wanted.
Well, fuck that.
She’d answered his question without words. She’d already let him into her space. He already touched her, tasted her, been close enough to breathe the same air. Her actions revealed he was her type, the he’d been given the green light, he just needed to go for it.
“Goodnight, Rex. I’ll see you in the morning.” Lacey pulled the door open but before she could slip through and into her room, he pulled her back and slammed the door shut.
Every curve and contour of her perfectly sculpted body melted into him as he pressed her back against the closed door. He stroked her jawline and tilted her chin. She had no choice but to look at him. “I was only being polite. I won’t make that mistake again.”
If he’d seen desire in her eyes before, it was nothing compared to what he saw there now. The heat in her gaze sent a bolt of pure electricity through him as he pressed his hips against hers.
He’d held back the first time his lips had touched hers, testing the waters, letting her tell him what she wanted. Now that she had, he wouldn’t go gently again. He claimed her mouth with his. The kiss was deep and hungry, tasting her, teasing her, making her pant for breath against his lips.
Her nails raked up his back, clinging to him. She bit his lower lip and clawed at his shoulders. He thrust his hips against hers. She moaned. The sound made his head spin.
Holy fuck. When Lacey said her type didn’t ask questions, she wasn’t kidding. The more he took what he wanted, the more she responded. Well, he’d take all night then.
He gripped her ass in his palms and easily lifted her, turning away from the door and toward the huge king-sized bed in the center of the room. When his legs hit the edge of the mattress, he dropped her. Her hair splayed out beneath her as she looked up at him.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he said with a sigh.
“You’re not too bad yourself.”
He hovered over her, enjoying the sight of her on his bed, waiting for him, practically squirming under his gaze. Each button on his shirt came apart slowly as he took his time undressing. He liked watching her fidget with anticipation. Finally, he let his shirt fall to the floor, then leaned forward and kissed her.
She ran her fingers along his chest and abdomen before gripping his belt, tugging. Instead of working it loose, she slid her hands around his hips to knead his ass. That was fine with him. They’d get to his pants soon enough. But first, he needed to see the rest of her.
Moving her hands, he placed them above her head on the bed. “Stay here,” he commanded. Then he grabbed the hem of her shirt and slowly raised it across her body until she was free of it. Perky breasts in a black satin bra trimmed with lace greeted him.
“I always wondered if lace applied to more than your name. I’m glad to see it does.” He palmed her breasts, then pinched the tight buds hiding beneath the material. She squealed and arched her back, bringing her hands down to clasp his.
“That was intense,” she panted.
“I thought I told you to stay put,” he said, his voice firm.
She tilted her head and gave him the look of sassy attitude he’d come to expect. “Rex—”
“You said your type knows what you want, Lacey, and I know you want this just as much as I do.” He deliberately placed her hands above her head again before releasing the clasp of her bra from between her breasts. “I want you exactly like that, while I do this.”
He peeled back her bra to reveal the most amazing breasts he’d ever seen. And that was saying something considering he’d slept with supermodels and actresses. Lacey’s breasts were so much better.
Caressing one newly exposed mound of flesh, he suckled at the other. Her tight bud tickled his tongue as he flicked across it. As he pulled it deeper into his mouth, his other hand rolled her nipple between his thumb and finger. She squealed again, but this time, her hands didn’t move. They stayed exactly where he’d put them.
He smiled against her skin. This new side of Lacey was incredibly surprising. He’d thought she’d be a leader in bed like she was in her work, but he liked it even better that she wasn’t. She seemed perfectly happy to give up control to him. He was more than happy to do things his way.
He moved to stand at the side of the bed again and reached to undo her pants. He slipped them from her hips, careful to leave her panties in place. He wasn’t ready to see those come off yet. They matched her bra perfectly.
Once her pants were in a puddle on the floor, he knelt and slowly ran his hands up her legs, removing first her calf holster and then the knife nestled against her thigh. He carefully set them aside. She wouldn’t need her weapons for the rest of the night. The only thing that was going on her body or in her hand, was him. Pressing his thumb against the thin material of her panties, he moved in a tiny circle and her legs trembled. He wanted nothing more than to rip off her panties with his teeth and sink into her, but he’d waited for this moment and now he wanted to savor it.
He wanted to savor her.
10
Lacey’s legs trembled as Rex tossed her panties to the floor and spread her thighs. He pulled her to the edge of the bed and she worried she’d fall off, but of course, his hands braced her perfectly.
“Watch,” he said, commanding her.
A shiver of anticipation shot through her, making her even hotter than she already was. She knew he was a man who commanded control in his daily life, but in the bedroom, he was even more demanding than she expected. Every time he gave her an order, a little earthquake rippled through her. The tone he used with her was soothing, but firm. Dominating, but not harsh.
Rex’s voice was all kinds of sexy.
She did as she was told, propping herself up on her elbows so she could watch as he tasted her with tiny laps of his tongue. He swirled around her most sensitive flesh, nibbling and sucking. She suddenly felt as if she couldn’t take anymore, and she wanted to throw her head back or collapse, but he caught her eye. She froze and stayed still, watching him like he’d commanded as she went over the edge of ecstasy.
Her body quaked with aftershocks as he stood at the side of the bed and pulled her to her feet. He held her close while she found her balance, her head swimming. Leaning into his chest, she steadied her breath and slid her hands down his abdomen.
The leather belt released from its buckle and she moved on to the button and zipper. Slipping her hands into the waistband, she tugged down his pants and boxers at the same time, dropping to her knees.
Her hand gripped him, squeezing gently. His size was impressive. She looked up at Rex and he nodded, then groaned as she worked him from tip to base. She took note of the sounds he made, of how he clutched her shoulder and repeated those movements over and over again until he finally told her to stop.
“I ca
n’t wait any longer to make you mine.”
As she climbed onto the huge bed, he smacked her ass playfully. A giggle escaped her lips as she glanced over her shoulder at him, silently begging him to do that again. As if he could read her mind, he did.
“Lay back against the pillows,” he said. She did, then she watched as he walked to his suitcase and rifled around looking for something. When he returned to the bed with a condom in place, she anxiously spread her legs.
“I want you, Rex.”
“I want you too, sugar.”
For once, the term of endearment didn’t put her on edge. She melted under the juxtaposition of the hardness of his magnificently chiseled body and the softness of his pet name.
He kissed the spot on her ankle where her holster had left an imprint on her skin, then moved to the impression from the knife strap at her thigh, kissing it lovingly. “I’ve wanted you since the night you came to my room in those tiny pajamas. I had to restrain myself from crossing the room and throwing you on my bed right then and there.”
He kissed the apex of her thighs for a long and blissful minute and she arched against his mouth, wanting him to take more and more of her.
“If I’d known how much you liked a man to take charge of the moment, I wouldn’t have hesitated. I would’ve had you in my bed, on my couch, in my shower that night.”
“You think I would’ve let you take me that night?” she challenged. Would she have? She’d definitely been attracted to him then, and his bare chest had not gone unnoticed.
“I guess we’ll never know, now will we. It doesn’t matter either way. We’re here now, and I don’t want to think about being anywhere else.
He crawled onto the bed between her thighs, pulling her legs around his hips. He sank into her, his gaze never breaking from hers. He took his time, easing in, filling her completely. Her head spun with the sensations he caused throughout her entire body. It was as if he was touching her everywhere at once.
They moved together in a steady rhythm that touched her in all the right places. “Rex, slow down or I’ll be gone again,” she gasped, clawing at his shoulders.
Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology Page 114