Wild Seduction

by Daire St. Denis

  “Whatever you say, boss.”

  Instead of getting mad like he expected, she raised her eyes and smiled. Strangely, it was the same sort of sexy, secretive smile she’d given him in the trailer. “You think you’re irresistible, don’t you?”

  He shrugged. “I think when two people have chemistry, they should see where it goes.”

  “You know what I think?”

  “What?” He frowned. Was she purposefully repeating what he’d said in the trailer? She leaned her small frame across the bar; this time she traced the back of his hand with her damp finger.

  “I think you’re used to having women, whenever and however you want them.”

  “I’ve never had any complaints.”

  Like a blinking neon sign, her expression flashed, you’re a prick.

  Why did that make him want to be an even bigger prick?

  “Here’s the thing, Colton. I’m not like those women.”

  She had that right. Colton was learning that lesson again and again, every time he saw her.

  “And I’m not having sex with you—”

  “We’ll see.”

  “You didn’t let me finish.”

  He magnanimously gestured for her to complete her statement, and she beckoned for him to follow her to the end of the bar. After lifting the hinged top, she slipped past and met him on the other side, gazing up at him with a semi sexy, semi smug look. She placed one small hand on his chest and grabbed his belt buckle with the other. While gazing up into his eyes, she slid her hand down, covering his package.

  There was no hiding his arousal.

  And this woman was definitely no virgin, which was evident in the way she rubbed her small hand up and down his crotch.

  Fuck it. He wanted to spin her around, pull down her little shorts and take her right up against the bar for all to see. That would sure give the town something to talk about, wouldn’t it?

  Of course he didn’t do it, but it was all he could think about until she grabbed his shirt collar, pulled herself up onto her tiptoes and came at him like she was going to kiss him. He leaned down to meet her, but she turned her face at the last second and whispered, “The only way I’m having sex with you is if I decide I want to.”

  “You’ll want to.” He grabbed her chin and brought her back to face him so he could claim her lips.

  She ducked out of his grasp, patting his chest. “I doubt it.”

  * * *

  ASHLEY’S HEART HAD been pounding so hard during the interaction with Colton, she was sure he would hear it and call her bluff. But he didn’t. Neither did he try to kiss her again. He’d simply downed his beer and left. Just like that.

  God.

  She’d felt so powerful, so feminine, so freakin’ sexy when she’d bluffed her way through that little scene with Colton. It was strangely addictive.

  And when you take your clothes off for him tomorrow, what then?

  Ashley leaned against the bar, feeling light-headed all of a sudden. It was a couple hours later, and even though the place was teeming with patrons now, she couldn’t stop thinking about Colton.

  Massaging his naked body.

  The feel of his stiff cock beneath her hand.

  The idea of taking her clothes off for him.

  What then, indeed?

  Speaking of clothes, Ashley realized that she had nothing to wear to the formal tomorrow. Shit! What was she going to do? Would she have time to shop in the morning before heading back out to the fairgrounds to take photos? Could she find something that was both sexy and easy to get in and out of? She had to consider that fact. Some zipper down her back would not be conducive to a sexy striptease.

  “Hello? Earth to Ashley. Come in, Ashley.” Jasmine stood on the other side of the bar, waving her hand in front of Ashley’s face.

  The sight of her friend brought the reality of her fake boyfriend ruse crashing down around her. For the millionth time, Ashley wished she hadn’t randomly kissed Colton Cross in a crazed panic. If she was going to make up a boyfriend, she should have simply made him up completely. Some guy from college who would do and say everything she wanted him to, because he wasn’t real.

  Yeah, right, Ash. Seems like you’re real/pretend boyfriend is much more fun. Kisses, massages, stripteases. Why, you might even get crazy-assed cowboy sex out of this deal.

  Thankfully, Ash was able to ignore her inner commentator because Jasmine interrupted the flow. “Seriously, Ash. You’re the hardest worker I know. When are you going to take a break?” Jasmine scanned the length of the bar. “And, where’s Colton?”

  Not only did Ash’s heart rate go from sixty to one hundred at the mention of his name, her stomach dropped. Then it grumbled, and she realized she still hadn’t eaten. Instead of answering Jasmine’s question about Colton, she asked, “You hungry?”

  “Yeah. All I’ve had was mini donuts.”

  “Let’s grab something from the kitchen.”

  “Sure.”

  With Brandi back behind the bar—after whining about having to work during the town’s biggest party—Ash informed Beth she was going to take a short break to eat.

  “Okay, but hurry back.”

  She stole a couple of burgers from the grill—much to the twins’ chagrin—and added fries to the side of the plates before motioning with her head to the back room, where things were a little less frenetic and they could talk in peace.

  “I need your help,” Ash said after swallowing her first big bite.

  “Mmm.” For all of Jasmine’s sophisticated appearance, she demolished the burger like a ravenous beast, speaking with her mouth still full. “You know I’m happy to help. Whatever it is.”

  “I need a dress.”

  “For?”

  “The party tomorrow.”

  Jasmine threw her head back and laughed. “You are the same old Ashley. God. Leaving these big decisions to the last minute? Didn’t you do the same thing for senior prom?”

  Ash looked down at her plate. Resentment flared—blam!—out of nowhere. Not about the dress—she’d worn one of the twin’s old dresses—her resentment was because of something else altogether. Would Jasmine remember what happened? She doubted it. All Jasmine would remember was the fact that she’d been the belle of the ball, as usual, getting all of the attention.

  Jasmine Sweet, prom queen of Half Moon High.

  She rubbed the memory away and said, “Would you come shopping with me tomorrow? There’s only a couple of shops here that will have anything halfway decent but—”

  “Nope.” Jasmine interrupted. “I’ve got an even better idea.”

  “What’s that?”

  Jazz pointed to the plate and said, “Finish that up and come with me. I’ve got the perfect thing.”

  * * *

  SATURDAY NIGHT, ASHLEY sat on the counter in the bathroom, wearing Jasmine’s dress while her best friend applied makeup to Ashley’s upturned face. To say there were butterflies in her stomach was an understatement. There was a beehive. An anthill. There was so much activity going on in there she could barely breathe.

  It didn’t help that she’d only seen Colton from a distance today. It was when he was in the ring. His bull was smaller, and he’d completed the eight-second ride with ease. She thought he might have glanced her way once or twice but couldn’t be sure. When she’d focused her telephoto lens on him it may have accidentally dropped to his midsection so that she had about twenty faceless crotch shots on her memory card.

  Had he been avoiding her? Maybe. But so what? At least he’d texted to tell her he’d pick her up at six.

  After tonight, the whole sham of a relationship would be over, as per their agreement.

  That’s why you need to make the most of it. The man is probably as wild in bed as he i
s in the rodeo ring.

  “Jesus,” Ash whispered.

  “What’s that?” Jasmine held her face up. “No, wait. Don’t speak. I’m almost done.”

  Ashley tried to relax her face while Jazz finished putting lipstick on her lips, praying she wouldn’t end up looking like a rodeo clown.

  “You ready?”

  No.

  “Ready as I’ll ever be.” She slid off the counter and let Jasmine slowly turn her around toward the mirror.

  Ashley blinked and then blinked again.

  A stranger stared back at her.

  Her nondescript eyes were lined and shadowed, not clown-like, like she’d feared when Jasmine brought out her huge makeup kit, but bringing out the gold in her brown eyes, making them appear large and sultry. The nose that she’d always considered to be on the too-short, too-stubby side suddenly appeared longer and elegant. Her lips—which she’d secretly considered her best feature—weren’t done up in some bright color—à la Brandi’s palette—but in a soft natural hue that had a pleasant sheen to it, making her lips look plump and...kissable.

  “Don’t you like it?” Jasmine asked. “Because I think you look gorgeous.”

  “I...” She touched her hair. Normally fine and limp, Jasmine had added some of her own products and then used a hot iron to give it messy curls that made her hair look full and tousled.

  Sexy.

  She smiled at herself, tentatively. “Wow,” she said finally. “You’re a miracle worker.”

  Jasmine grinned as she hugged her from behind. “It’s easy when the subject is already so pretty.” She adjusted the tie at the back of Ashley’s neck. “And I just knew this dress would look better on you than it does on me.”

  Ash was just about to say, I doubt that, when the doorbell rang.

  “That must be Colton,” Jasmine said. “You ready?”

  No.

  “Yes.” She squared her shoulders, lifted her chin and said, “Let’s go.”

  7

  ASHLEY’S FRIEND ANSWERED the door with a smile. “Hi, Colton,” she said. “C’mon in.”

  When he’d texted to let Ashley know he’d be there at six, she’d asked if he minded picking up both her and her friend, which of course he didn’t. The move did make him wonder if she was afraid to be alone with him. Which she should be.

  While he absolutely accepted that it was Ashley’s choice whether they take this fake relationship all the way—for recreational purposes—Colton had decided he was going to make damn sure she made the right choice.

  “How are you doing, Jasmine?” Colt bent and gave Jasmine a gentlemanly kiss on the cheek. The move had him breathing in her perfume, which was a little too strong for his liking. He preferred the way Ashley smelled, clean and fresh, like orange blossoms.

  “I’m great, thanks, and I...”

  He didn’t hear another word that came out of her mouth. “Holy shit,” he muttered.

  Standing on the stairs behind Jasmine was a knockout. No, better than a knockout, she was something that could have walked straight off the cover of one of those magazines by the grocery checkout.

  She was...perfect.

  Some soft luminescence radiated from within, making her look otherworldly.

  Beautiful.

  And that dress.

  Fuck. That dress was sexy as hell. Sleeveless, it had two wide straps that just covered her chest, leaving an enticing gap between, and tied up around her neck, showing off some killer collarbones and slim arms. There was no possible way she was wearing a bra beneath a dress like that.

  The skirt was short but not too short, poofing out a bit, accentuating her narrow waist and slender legs.

  “Hi, Colton.” Her voice was soft and smoky and so damn sexy.

  The result was immediate.

  His cock woke up, stiffening in blind anticipation of what might happen tonight.

  Might?

  Oh. no.

  There was no might about it.

  “You clean up well,” Colton said with a rough edge around his voice.

  Her expression faltered, and he realized that wasn’t something a boyfriend would say. “I mean, you look...beautiful, babe.”

  Her lips turned up in a soft, faltering smile.

  He didn’t even have to remind himself of his role as he crossed the distance, slipped a hand around her waist—his fingers coming in contact with the soft bare skin of her lower back—and pulled her close. “You know,” he whispered. “I’m not sure I can wait until later.”

  “For what?”

  He drew a line up her backbone. “You know what.”

  She let him pull her body against his, and when he bent down to kiss her cheek, she turned her face, this time toward him, so that their lips met. The kiss was soft and full of promise.

  Goddamn, he had to have this woman. Maybe that would cure him of this uncontrollable arousal. Colton took her hands and pressed his lips against her knuckles.

  “You ready?”

  She nodded.

  He held her hand, as a good boyfriend would, and turned toward the door. Jasmine was there waiting, her eyes large and liquid. Five seconds in Ashley’s presence and he’d forgotten all about Jasmine. Crazy.

  “I must be the luckiest man in Half Moon tonight,” he said, covering up his lapse in memory.

  “Why’s that?” Jasmine asked.

  “I get to escort the two most beautiful women in town to the party. It doesn’t get much better than that.”

  Ashley leaned close and whispered in his ear, “Don’t overdo it.” Then she stroked his cheek like she’d whispered something naughty and moved away to grab her camera bag.

  He didn’t reply until he’d walked the women out to his truck and opened the door to the extended cab, helping Jasmine into the backseat. Once the door was shut, he paused by the passenger door before opening it for Ashley.

  “I’m not overdoing it.”

  “Yes, you are.”

  “Which part?”

  She gave him a dirty look in reply.

  “You don’t think you look good?”

  “Jasmine does, but...”

  “Why do you do that?”

  “Do what?”

  “Put yourself down?”

  “I don’t. I’m just realistic. I know I don’t compare to Jasmine. It’s—”

  He stopped her with a kiss. Against her mouth he said, “We may not be together for real, but I’d choose you over her any day.” He touched her bottom lip with his tongue. “And I’m not overdoing it when I say I want you.” With knuckles beneath her chin, he tilted her head up. “I want you, Ashley Ozark, so make sure you know what you want before you come over to the trailer tonight.”

  * * *

  IT HAD TO be a lie, didn’t it?

  Colton Cross wanted her? Really?

  Well, his cock certainly seems to.

  Yes, but he was probably one of those guys who was so virile he was ready to go anytime, anywhere. It wasn’t her, it was him and his overactive sex drive. However, through the entire meal she couldn’t help sneaking peeks at the crotch of his dress pants to see if there was any indication of arousal.

  Hmm. Hard to tell.

  “Do you want to touch?”

  “Excuse me?”

  Colton carefully lifted her hair away from her ear and bent close. “You keep eyeing my fly, and I was just wondering if you wanted another touch. I wouldn’t be opposed.”

  He took her hand and placed it on his thigh. Was he flexing it or was his leg really that muscular?

  A blinding and sudden image of his toned body lying naked beneath her jolted her, making her hand twitch in an upward direction so that her pinky grazed the hard, swollen, male flesh beneat
h the fabric.

  “You’re killing me, you know that?” he whispered hotly against her cheek.

  On the other side of her, Jasmine whispered, “Seriously, you two need to get a room.”

  Inhaling deeply and inadvertently catching a delicious whiff of Colton’s cologne—God, the man smelled edible—Ash turned toward her friend who was pretending to scowl. At least, she thought she was pretending.

  “Sorry,” Ash said. “Colton doesn’t like to have sex when he’s riding which means he’s a little backed up.”

  “I heard that,” Colton said. He leaned across her to speak directly to Jasmine. “It’s a lie. Ashley’s too busy working this weekend, so she won’t give me any. Can you talk to her about that?”

  She kicked him beneath the table.

  “Ouch,” he said exaggerating the offence. “She kicked me.”

  Jasmine laughed at their antics, but if Ashley wasn’t mistaken, it was a forced sound, which was odd.

  She was about to ask what was going on when the program started, and Ashley excused herself from the table in order to walk around the room to take pictures. As mayor of Half Moon Creek, her father was the first to speak, welcoming everyone back to town and going into some history of the area and the school before handing the mic over to one of the former principals. Ashley wove between the tables, doing her best to be inconspicuous, taking candids of the guests whose ages ranged from octogenarians to those who graduated a few years ago.

  “Wow, Ashley, you look so beautiful,” Sage, a local shop owner, commented as she passed.

  “Thanks,” Ash said.

  Beth stopped her next, “Where’d you get that dress? It’s super cute on you.” She nudged her husband, Derek. “Doesn’t Ash look good?”

  “Oh, yeah. Real pretty.”

  “It’s Jasmine’s,” Ash explained.

  Leaning way back in her chair so she could glance over at Ashley’s table, Beth gave her a lewd wink. “I bet your boyfriend likes it.”

  Leslie, the owner of the flower shop where Ashley worked, also stopped her. “Look at you, you gorgeous thing.”