A few minutes later, Jared broke away from her, panting. “This is crazy,” he whispered next to her ear. His warm breath puffed across her sensitive outer lobe, caressing the thin skin there. “We're supposed to hate each other."
She smiled. “I know.” Kat tugged on his tie, bringing his mouth back down to hers. After another heated kiss, she released him and led him inside her house.
The home's entranceway held a set of stairs off to the left. “Where's your bedroom?” he asked.
Kat nodded toward the stairs. “Up there."
In the next instant, he scooped her up, ignoring her startled squeak. Wrapping her arms around his corded neck, she held on for dear life as Jared took the stairs two at a time.
"Where now?” he asked at the top of the stairway. She figured he would release her, but he tightened his hold, as though she might flee any second.
"Go right,” she answered, breathless. The ache returned full force and pounded between her thighs. Kat's grip tightened. She twined her hands around the back of his neck and kissed the hard, tight muscle below his ear. She felt a shudder run through him.
He marched down the hall with her cradled in his arms.
"Here...” she told him when he almost passed her bedroom. “My bedroom's right here."
Jared managed to open her bedroom door and sailed through the entrance with her still nestled in his arms, barely clearing the jamb on either side. He kicked the door shut with the heel of his shoe and set Kat down on her feet, letting her slide down the length of his body. Her high-heels sank into the deep pile of the carpet as she turned to face him. Heat and desire swirled together inside her body as her hands lashed out. She started to tear the shirt from his body, but Jared stopped her. Disappointed, she raised her eyes to his face.
Passion filled his eyes. They glowed with warmth in the dim interior of her bedroom. Jared maneuvered her toward the bed and switched on a lamp on a nearby table. Soft light washed over them.
They stood for several minutes, not speaking, just gazing at each other.
For just a second, Kat thought she had made a fatal error by letting her desire get the best of her. Jared's hair had been mussed by her hands in their flight together up the stairs. His neck bore the marks of her lips and teeth where she had kissed him before. Had she gone too far?
She swallowed nervously as Jared continued to stare at her. Slowly, tentatively, she reached for him. He grabbed her hand and brought it to his erection visible through the dark silk trousers he wore.
"What you do to me, Kat.” He leaned his head back and sucked in a breath. “You're aptly named.” Jared brought his head forward, his dark, gold-flecked eyes locked with hers.
Her heart skipped several beats when she felt the hard evidence of his desire. She kneaded the bulge between his legs and grinned.
"Kat,” he whispered her name and shut his eyes as she continued her sweet assault on his groin. She moved closer, never taking her hand from his erect shaft, but continued to massage it as she stood on tip-toes and reached up to plant a soft, wet kiss on his mouth.
He groaned once, and yanked her into his arms, claiming her mouth in an urgent kiss. She swayed once, her thighs brushing against his arousal.
"God almighty, you're exquisite,” he said, his voice strained with desire.
He stopped kissing her. She felt the loss of his lips and struggled in her need to fuse her mouth with his. Her breasts grew heavy as the ache between her thighs intensified. Why wouldn't he let her get close again?
"I want to see you,” his voice broke through her thoughts. “All of you."
"I know, I want to see you, too.” She reached up to unbutton his shirt, but he clamped a hand over hers. Jared held her shoulders, and eased her away from him, his gaze settling on the large oval mirror on the other side of the room. He grabbed her hand and led her over to the other side of the room.
"Don't move,” he intoned, placing her directly in front of the mirror.
He walked away to get a chair and dragged it over. She watched, fascinated, as he removed his suit jacket, draping it over the back of the chair. Then he unbuttoned the small buttons on his shirt cuffs and rolled them up, revealing his tanned, muscular forearms. Kat angled her head as she studied his movements.
Jared looked at her sharply. “I told you not to move."
While his tone of voice commanded, his face and body remained relaxed. He was toying with her, playing with her like a large cat played with a mouse.
Two could play at this ... and she was no mouse!
She aimed her chin in his direction, crossing her arms over her breasts. “I'll do as I please.” Her stance turned defiant.
He smiled his slow, cat-like grin. “Really?"
She nodded, “Really."
Jared stalked toward her. Instinct made her back up a step.
"Afraid?” he asked her.
"Certainly not.” But, a little part of her was just that—afraid. That fear paralleled her fascination and need for him to touch her. All over. Kat began to lose patience. She started to move toward him, but he was quicker. Snagging her upper arm in a powerful, yet gentle grip he drew her to him.
"You're independent—I like that,” he said around a grin. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her flush against his body.
"I'm thrilled, to say the least,” she shot back. She squirmed against him and felt his erection once more.
"Do you always get your way, Kat?” He ground his hips against her pelvis. Each pass of his groin against hers sent a shock wave of longing through her.
"Always,” she retorted, but her body betrayed her real feelings. She trembled, standing on the brink of a sensual abyss that lay open before her.
"Well, I have to tell you, my lovely opponent, I get my way, too."
She smiled. “Then I'd say we're evenly matched."
"The question is, though. Who's going to win this round?"
She smiled slowly. “We'll see."
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Eight
Jared studied Kat's face in the dim glow of the bedroom light. His eyes never left hers as he ran a finger down the deep ‘V’ between her breasts. “Do you like that?” he whispered.
Her body shuddered against his, causing his shaft to fill and swell. Every nerve ending in his body went on red alert as her tremor zinged through him. He lifted the hem of her dress and slid his fingers across her thigh, fingering the top band around her silk stocking. He then ran that same finger underneath the swatch of silk that hid her secret place and reveled in the feel of the tight, springy curls that shielded her clit. Kat sagged against him.
"Please,” she whispered. “Come to bed..."
She urged him forward, but Jared stood firm. “No,” he shook his head. “Not yet. Patience, Kat. Patience."
"Screw patience."
He threw back his head and laughed. When he looked at her next, she had a mulish look on her face. She passed the pink tip of her tongue over her lush lower lip and lowered her eyes to the bulge in his trousers.
The minx.
Hooking a finger in her cleavage he drew her forward. The tops of her breasts rose quickly when he skimmed the lace peeking out of the top of her undergarment. Damn, but he had to see if she wore that coral-colored corset! He continued to work his finger over the top of her right breast. Simultaneously, he lifted the hem of her dress again and slid his hand over the juncture between her thighs. Kat purred in response.
He stepped back quickly. “Let's see whether you're a worthy opponent."
Her eyes snapped open. “What?"
"I said I want to see if you're ... up to snuff."
She gazed at him warily.
"Come on, Kat, put your money where that lovely mouth is. Show me what's inside,” he patted her chest, above her heart. He reached out and brushed her shoulder, cupping it in his palm. His fingers trailed a path down her arm, across her wrist then he entwined his fingers with hers. He leaned in and sipped
at her lips. They were warm, she tasted sweet ... sultry. Kat swayed on her feet as he kissed her. He caught her to him and slowly eased the jacket from her shoulders, down her arms, removing it completely. Her bare shoulders gleamed in the soft light of her bedroom.
He turned her so she stood in front of the mirror. Jared wanted her to see his every move. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he lifted one hand, and brushed the magnificent auburn hair from her shoulders, trailing his lips over her neck, down her collarbone, ending at her breasts. She shut her eyes and relaxed in his arms.
"No,” he told her. “Open your eyes, Kat. Look. See what I'm doing to you."
She gazed back at him in the mirror.
When she swished her bottom across his groin, he thought he'd shatter.
* * * *
Kat's anticipation increased as Jared unzipped the back of her dress. She gazed at his reflection in the mirror, watching him as he slid the silky garment down her body. It whispered across her overheated skin. When he pulled it to her hips, she sucked in a breath.
He stood, staring at her.
Several seconds went by. Jared still hadn't said a word, but stood motionless behind her, his dark, golden-flecked eyes riveted to the swell of her breasts as they pushed up from the lacy confines of the corset.
With one swift tug Jared pushed the dress down her legs. She stepped out of it then he reached down and picked it up, handling her dress with infinite care. It reminded her of the first time she ever laid eyes on him. He had touched the fine undergarments and lingerie with reverence that very first time she saw him at KISS.
He moved away from her, arranging the dress across the back of the chair. When he returned, she still hadn't moved. She couldn't. Dressed in nothing but the corset, thong, garter belt and silk stockings, she felt a thrill of decadent desire pass through her and ... power. It had been disconcerting at first to let him remove her outer covering to reveal what lay beneath, and he still hadn't shed a single item of his clothing, but Kat quickly realized that the balance of power remained in her court. His eyes were riveted to her near naked form.
Jared moved behind her once more, reaching up and around her to finger the lace lining at the top of the corset. He smoothed his large hands over the stays lining her rib cage, spanning his open palms across her waist. Kat felt wickedly wanton as his hands worked their magic. Trailing his fingers across the exposed skin of her lower back, he brought them around to feel the smooth expanse of skin on her lower abdomen. She pushed back against his body, grinding her bottom into his groin. He toyed with the lacy band around the top of her thong then lowered his hand when she moved back. Kneading the globe of her right bottom cheek as she continued her assault on his groin, she watched his eyes grow heavy with unbridled passion.
"Kat,” he whispered. “Kat..."
Power. Sex was power. The idea that she could manipulate him this way had warning bells go off in her head. Hadn't that happened to her with Arthur? He had been a powerful, wealthy man. He had manipulated her. She pushed her ugly thoughts aside. She was doing this for Summerville! A tiny tremor shot through the muscle near her left eye. She could feel the twitch as an old childhood refrain ran through her head.
Liar ... liar ... pants on fire....
She moved restlessly in Jared's arms, running the back of her silk-clad calf up his leg. He leaned down to plant small, hot, nipping kisses to her throat and chest, his tongue darting out at the bottom swell of her right breast, just above her nipple. The small, brown bud of her breast was nearly visible through the top of her corset. Her body leapt into overdrive when the tip of his tongue touched her sensitive aureole. The room spun.
"Take it off me,” she whispered. The corset suddenly felt too tight, too constricting ... too hot.
"Say, please.” Jared grinned over her head.
She met his eyes in the mirror. “Please,” she intoned. “Hurry...” rushed out from her on a sigh.
He chuckled. The sound of his warm laugh zinged straight down to her toes. He was enjoying this, she thought. He loved seeing her in this frenzied state of arousal.
Good. Let him think she was hot for this, let him think...
That if he didn't hurry and get her out of the damn corset, she'd kill him!
* * * *
Jared's wildest imaginings of Kat had finally come to life. She stood before him dressed in that sexy, sultry coral-colored corset, garter belt and thong he had seen at KISS. Kat leaned back and ground her bottom into his erect shaft. Each pass of her rounded backside across his swollen member made him grit his teeth in frustration. He tried to divert his thoughts so he wouldn't spill himself right there in front of her. There was no sweeter way to fell his lovely opponent than to surrender to her wanton plea to remove the stiff creation that held her magnificent breasts so beautifully, but Jared wanted to savor the view he had of her, both in the mirror and up close.
"Please,” she whispered again. “I want ... out of this.” She moved in his arms, her body restless and filled with urgency.
He chuckled softly, kissing her temple. “First things first, Kat. I've waited a long time to see you like this."
She rested her head against his chest and inhaled deeply. He felt her breasts push against him as she let out a puff of air. Her moist, warm breath whispered across his shirt.
He released her, albeit reluctantly, and walked over to the chair. Jared eased his tall frame onto the cushion and assumed a relaxed position.
Kat blinked once and shook her head. “Wh-what are you doing?"
He smiled and leaned back, placing his hands behind his head. “Enjoying you, sweetheart."
"Oh.” She blinked again, her sea-green eyes settling on his face.
Jared brought his hands down from his head. He made a twirling motion in the air with his index finger. “Turn around."
"Jared, please, I'm..."
"Turn around, Kat, I want to see you. All of you."
"This is silly."
"No it's not, it's ... just do it,” he could barely get the words out. She looked like every man's fantasy rolled into one. He had to stop himself from reaching out so he could play with the lacy garters on her legs. Kat's breasts continued to rise and fall, her deep cleavage beckoned for his touch.
"All right,” she said around a sigh.
She turned slowly, allowing him to take in every nuance of her appearance. He wanted it burned into his mind so he could view her image over and over again. At night, when he lay in bed at the bed and breakfast, he'd see her in his mind's eye, dressed that way.
It would have to last him a long time.
"Stop,” he told her.
She did, and began walking toward him.
"No,” he held up a hand. “Not yet, Kat. You'll get what you want soon enough."
Her stormy expression made him laugh. Jared sobered, intent on playing with her some more. Leaning back in the chair he commanded softly, “Touch yourself, right there,” he pointed at the juncture between her legs. “And I want you to watch your reflection in the mirror."
"If I do that, will you ... will you promise to get me out of this?” She passed a hand over her tummy.
"I promise."
She seemed hesitant at first, then she turned, facing the mirror, and ran her hand across the silk covering her most secret place. Then she did it again.
Jared shifted in the chair, his shaft growing painfully erect. “Do it again. This time, run your finger underneath the band. I want you to touch yourself where I've touched you."
She did just that, rubbing her clit with her fingers, up and down, sighing as she did. He almost sprang from the chair and grabbed her, but held himself in check. Jared watched, fascinated, as Kat withdrew two fingers from the folds of flesh between her legs. Then she walked over to him and placed one foot on the edge of the chair. With her leg up like that, he could smell her arousal. She licked her lips then blew him a kiss with the same hand she used to caress the nubbin between her legs.
The roo
m suddenly became stifling.
"Are you hot for me?” She crooned, running her index finger over his chin. She winked and walked back over to the mirror. Angling her head in his direction, she said. “I'm waiting for you to make good on your promise."
He rose from the chair. Jared could barely walk, that's how hard his shaft had become. He walked over to the mirror and stood directly behind her, his hands shaking. If he didn't calm down, he'd screw this all up.
"Hurry,” she begged.
"No,” his tone was sharp.
Her eyes flew to his in the mirror.
He smiled back at her reflection. “We've got all night, Kat. Don't rush this.” He made his voice sound silky as he reached for the ties again, willing his hands to remain steady.
His movements were slow and calculated. Working his fingers, he untied the silky laces at the very bottom of the corset, passing them up and over the hooks and eyes that contained them. He let the ends of the smooth ribbons dangle, purposely swishing them over her bare bottom cheeks.
Kat moaned once and swayed.
"Easy,” he crooned, wrapping his arms around her. “I've got you."
When he was sure she was steady again, he continued to unlace the ties at her back. As each one loosened, her face glowed with relief and ... unbridled lust.
He continued to release her from the confines of the satiny corset, watching her chest rise and fall as her breath whooshed out in urgent pants. When he reached the top hook and eye, he unlaced the ribbons and removed the corset, letting it fall away from her breasts. They sprang free from their confines, and spilled into his outstretched hands.
"Magnificent,” he breathed into her ear as he touched and fondled her nipples. She grabbed his forearms, her nails digging into his skin. “My, my,” he chuckled. “You are anxious, aren't you?"
He continued his ministrations, cupping her breasts in his hands then releasing them, playing with the hard, peaked, buds that swelled at the tips. Jared knew her breasts would be beautiful, but in his wildest dreams, he didn't think he'd ever stand a chance in hell of touching them. Kat hadn't wanted him in the same town, let alone her bedroom.
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