by Honey Jans
"You're right.” Cyn sighed, regretting once more their lack of warm family ties. Dora was so lucky, growing up with four siblings and loving parents. “I wonder who sent my fairy godmothers to me then."
"Fairy godmothers, you say?” Dora smiled, adding, “Maybe somebody up there likes you."
Cyn thought about her charming, little fairy godmothers, their magical bag, and smiled, letting herself believe the fantasy. Tonight felt like the night to suspend disbelief. “I think you might be right."
Dora ordered them chocolate martinis from a passing waiter.
Cyn nodded in agreement when Dora ordered her one. It was a night for new experiences, even though the cocktails were expensive, and decadent. Cyn smiled at the waiter when he brought their drinks, and was stunned to see him give her the eye.
"Here's your money,” Dora said, slipping him a twenty. She smiled when his gaze strayed back to Cyn. “I was going to suggest we find you someone to try your womanly wiles on, but it looks like you don't need my help."
"I'm not so sure about that.” Cindy blushed, and took a sip of the luscious chocolate confection. “These are wonderful."
"Told ya.” Dora smiled. “Don't worry about handling men, Cyn. All you have to do is bat your eyes and they'll fall at your feet."
"Sounds messy,” Cindy said, and laughed.
"So then kick their ass and set the goats on them, you're good at that."
When Dora's date came back to claim her for a dance, she smiled and said, “Go ahead and dance, girlfriend. I'm man shopping."
Dora chuckled. “Yell, if you need advice. Otherwise, I'll meet you at the Coffee Cup at noon tomorrow for lunch."
"Okay,” she murmured, and scanned the crowd. Cindy noticed she was attracting some embarrassing attention of her own. Interested men were actually giving her the eye. She blushed clear down to her toes, not knowing how to flirt. Besides, none of them seemed right. She didn't want permanence, didn't have time to devote to a relationship. She wanted a fling, the right man to finally make her a complete woman.
She let out a sigh of regret, conceding that it might not be in the cards tonight. Still she wouldn't get down; she'd waited until the age of twenty-eight to have sex, another loveless night wouldn't kill her. The makeover would be the start of a whole new her. She could be a rancher in the daytime and a sexually adventurous woman at night, with at least some semblance of a love life.
A burst of masculine laughter from the bar made her breath catch in her throat. She thought she recognized that sultry laugh, even though it had been years. It couldn't be. Her gaze went to a tall, dark, hunky male with his back turned to her at the bar. The coloring was right, and he had the best butt denim ever covered in his jeans. Her fascinated gaze ran up long legs, to longish black hair curling over the collar of his black leather biker's jacket. JT Randal. She knew in her heart it was him, and smiled as a thrill zinged through her. She still thought he had the best butt she'd ever ogled. He was standing with Mack Walsh, owner of a seedy erotica shop, and Zane Redcloud, a hunky Native American cop. What a testosterone packed trio, but she only had eyes for JT.
She trembled, her body heating. Apparently the unwritten dress code didn't mean a thing to him. It smacked of JT Randal's rebellious teenage behavior. And then he turned. The breath caught in her throat, as his identity was conclusively confirmed. She vividly remembered his whiskey dark gaze, the sultry shape of his hard mouth, and the scar on his chin that set him apart as a tough guy. He looked right at her, and she creamed, her sex instantly responding to him. Devastating, sexy, powerful, and normally way out of her league, he was any woman's wet dream ... certainly hers, and she wanted him bad. A buzz went around the room as the others speculated about his identity. How could they not remember him? He was one of a kind, unforgettable. But she wasn't above capitalizing on the situation. It gave her the first shot at him.
"Will you look at that lowdown biker scum,” Cordial hissed in a brittle voice that carried. “You'd think they'd bounce riff raff like that out of here, dressed as he is."
Cyn tuned out her stepmother's catty drone, as eligible women's heads all turned to ogle him. She groaned, knowing she had competition. The younger women didn't find his lack of decorum a turn-off, quite the opposite in fact. About half the herd headed out on the dance floor to shake their booties at him, responding to his hot good looks. A moment later, her stepsisters were in the front of the pack on the dance floor, shimmying to a fast dance beat. Well, hell, seducing him suddenly didn't look very probable. She stared at JT, noticing Zane and Mack elbow him in the ribs, teasing him. No doubt, this mass hysteria happened all the time to a hunk like him.
As if JT felt her stare, he turned to lock gazes with her, and she forgot to breathe, as she fell into his amber depths, her nipples beading. “Perfect,” she whispered, and he grinned, like he'd read her mind. It sent a jolt of heat straight through her, curling her toes in her high-heel evening slippers.
Jake Randal went still, his cock swelling behind his fly, his pulse thudding as the fiery little redhead gave him a hard-on from across the room. Damn, suddenly all he could think about was plunging into her until they were both spent, and then taking her over his knee. He'd bet she'd like that, a little kink. He watched her blush, as her gaze focused on the bulge of his cock. Oh yeah, she knew what she wanted—him. An incongruous mixture, innocent and seductress, she had the power to turn him inside out with a sultry glance. Which persona was true? He aimed to find out.
His gaze swept from her twinkling eyes, to her full mouth, to focus on her ample cleavage, displayed by her pretty, low-cut gown. The same color as her stunning eyes, turquoise, reminding him of the Mediterranean. He swore as he saw her nipples beading through the silky fabric, as he stared at them. Responsive little minx. They'd be more than a handful for him to enjoy, and he had big hands. Beside him, he knew that Mack and Zane were going on point, giving her the eye. He cut them a quick repressive frown, warning them off, already feeling possessive. They smirked back at him, knowing he had it bad for her. He ignored them, glancing back at her, glad that she only had eyes for him. “Who the hell is she?"
"Damned if I know,” Mack muttered beside him. “But if you don't make a move soon, I will."
"Ditto,” Zane said.
"Not a chance in hell I'd allow that, gentlemen,” Jake said with wry self-humor, as he picked up his long-necked beer off the bar. The mystery woman had him anywhere she wanted him, including flat on his back as she rode him until she came. He watched her nibble her full lower lip and peek back at the growing bulge of his cock behind the placket of his jeans. “Later,” he said, heading toward her.
"The poker game still starting at midnight?” Mack asked.
"Nope,” he mumbled, walking toward her like a moth to the flame. “I'll call you later.” He hadn't planned to make an intimate connection tonight. He'd come to meet with Mack about quietly locating the new headquarters for Scion Enterprises in the back of his erotica shop. And he'd needed to get Zane's take on his suspicions about North Star and the losses at Randal Industries. Hell, he was on an undercover mission, but all sense of caution flew out the window as he strode her way.
* * * *
Cyn tingled as JT came to her. He moved like he looked, raw male power, a dominant aura that made others clear a path for him. How did a woman go about seducing a man like him? What will I say to him? Hey, big boy, want to make me a woman? He'd run a mile, probably in Brandy or Tiffany's giggly direction. She took a calming breath as he closed in on her, swamped by his primal brand of leather and hot man, as he stepped up to her table. The man was just plain edible.
Her heart fluttered as she gazed up at him, struck again by his height. Did she want a man she had to look up at? Hell yeah. He seemed to take up the entire space, his legs brushing hers, and everything else seemed to fade away. Really, what kind of man wore jeans and biker leathers to a formal dance? The kind of maverick she wanted to teach her about sex. As if sensing her thoughts,
he flashed her a bad boy smile, his eyes twinkling. He leaned in close to say, “Hello, love. What's your name?"
She got lost in his whiskey eyes, watching the irises contract. “I'm ... um ... Cyn."
"Mind if I join you, Sin?"
"Y-yes, of course, please sit down.” She let out a started gasp when he nudged her over, sitting in the booth beside her, instead of going on the other side. Maybe seducing him wouldn't be so hard after all.
"The name's Jake Randal, Sin.” His long, thick fingers curled around the long-neck bottle he carried.
She couldn't help staring at his hands, recalling what they said about big hands, big feet, big cock. Is it true? She tried to peek down at his lap surreptitiously to check, hearing him chuckle in response. So he'd caught her at it. He'd know exactly how to use his big hands to bring her to unknown peaks of ecstasy or perhaps paddle her. Does he even like kink? There was only one way to find out, she decided, looking him in the eye.
He smiled, setting down his bottle of beer, and reaching out to take her hand. “Want to dance, sugar?"
She shivered with delight when JT's hand enfolded hers, making her feel petite in comparison. His hand was still cold from the beer, and the chill made her sex creamier, while she let out an involuntary gasp. His touch was better than she'd imagined, and he was only holding her hands. His fingertips were callused, rough from hard work she supposed, wondering once again what he'd been doing since he'd left town. Whatever it was, it hadn't been easy.
JT's fingertips brushed the pulse point on her wrist and lingered. “Your pulse is racing,” he said, giving her a tender smile. “Do you live up to your name, Sin?"
"It's spelled C-Y-N actually, but yes, I know how to be a bad girl, especially with the right man.” Her gaze darted down to his impressive bulge. He was obviously huge and hard for her, definitely the right man. Face heating at her own boldness, she looked up, giving him what she hoped was a confident smile. “Actually, I want more than a dance from you. I'd like to seduce you, JT. Would you please take me to bed?"
She watched his eyes smolder at her request and his mouth kick up in a sexy grin. A glance at his bigger bulge confirmed it. Wonderful! She'd made the right choice. He wanted her as much as she wanted him.
JT edged nearer, his thigh pressed against hers. “You don't beat around the bush, do you ... ah, Cyn? Now, I'm not easy, but I can be had, with the right persuasion."
Burning where their thighs touched, she pressed her leg a little tighter to his, the side of her breast against his chest, and barely held back a whimper. “I've been aching for you all my life, JT.” She gazed up at him, studying the startled look in his eye, the slight flush on his tanned face. Whatever he'd been expecting her to say, it hadn't been that. The fact that he was just as affected by their contact, soothed any lingering fears. “I don't have time to play games."
"Neither do I,” he said, his voice a husky bedroom rumble. “I'm sold. I'd love to take you to bed, sugar."
The pet name flowed over her like honey and made her nipples tighten, the space between her legs melted, her sex growing wet. “Wonderful.” She nudged his hip, trying to get him up so she could take him away, and saw his mouth twitch as he went. Was he laughing at her? He stood and reached out to take her hand, his hot eyes burning her, and she suddenly didn't care if he found her eagerness amusing. She couldn't hide it; she was on fire for him. Taking his hand, she let him pull her out, her knees wobbling as she stood. JT caught her, letting out a chuckle, his arm going around her waist, as he pulled her to him. She burned, pressing tight to him. Across the room, Dora gave her thumbs up. A glance at Cordial found her stepmother scowling at their public display of affection, as Tiffany and Brandy stood behind her scowling. They were a united front of disapproval. She didn't care.
"Who the hell is that cheap slut?” Cordial snapped at Tiffany.
"How should I know, Mother? Some out of town bimbo I suppose, seeing that she's with him,” Tiffany bit out.
Brandy gave her a dismissive gaze. “Who cares, he's too old for me anyhow."
"Yes, and his taste is definitely poor,” Cordial said.
Cyn was too bemused by Jake's proximity, to care about their catty remarks. As far as she was concerned, they could all go jump in the lake. She smiled at Jake, and taking his hand, turned to head for the door. JT fell into step beside her, possessively looping a long arm around her waist to steady her. A sensual shiver shot through her at the contact, as he pulled her tight to his side. He must have felt her tremor, because he squeezed her waist, his fingers splayed on her ribcage, the breath catching in her throat as her pace faltered.
"Easy, sugar,” he said, escorting her out of the ballroom. “Just one step at a time to paradise."
Cyn breathed deep, trying to stay calm. He was right. Step one was accomplished, she'd seduced him. Now she had to figure out where to take him. The night ahead held promise and risk. She couldn't very well take him back to the ranch. JT clung possessively to her waist, as if he didn't want to let her get away. He didn't need to worry, she wasn't going anywhere without him. Step two was about to begin.
Gazing up at him as they exited the ballroom, she focused on JT's sensual mouth. What would it taste like, feel like, skimming along her tender skin? When he drew her down the hall and into the cloakroom, she went eagerly. Alone time was just what she needed to carry this off with any sense of confidence.
"I'll go secure us a room,” she said, opening her clutch bag, to look for her credit card. Jake went stiff and quiet in front of her. She glanced up to see that he was frowning at her. What was wrong? They couldn't go back to her place, and she didn't want to go back to his. It left the hotel, anything else would be too awkward. One thing she wanted to avoid at all costs was awkward morning-afters. It would be embarrassing checking into the hotel without luggage, but she could handle a little embarrassment.
He stepped closer, pressing her back against the rack of coats, demanding, “Why me, Cyn?"
So that's what was bugging him. It amazed her that a hunk like him would have any doubts about why a woman wanted him. He sounded hesitant, she decided, and he looked a little concerned. He was probably used to gold diggers trying to trap him. He needn't worry about that with her; she just wanted someone to deflower her. But she couldn't tell him that. “Because you're the man of my dreams,” she said, meaning every word. She watched the corners of his hard mouth kick up in a grin, and breathed a sigh of relief. The first crisis averted.
"I'm glad you think so."
"I do."
"Well then.” He pressed closer, his body brushing hers. “First of all, it's Jake not JT. Nobody's called me JT since high school. Second, I'll take care of the room, I'm no gigolo,” he said, taking the credit card out of her hand, putting it back in her purse, and closing it with a firm click.
Sensually overcome as he brushed against her, hot and demanding, she tried to focus on her objections. It might hurt his pride if she paid for the room, but letting him pay ceded some control of the evening, his seduction, to him. Did she want to allow that? The hard length of his cock pressed against the juncture of her thighs, and she moaned, rubbing against that emblem of his masculine prowess. What was the big deal if he paid? “Okay,” she gasped. “If it's that important to you, you can pay."
"Good girl,” he said, leaning into her.
Cyn whimpered as her breasts pillowed against his chest, her nipples budding. His warm hands skimmed up the sides of her bodice, making her shiver with desire as they came to rest on either side of her breasts, his thumbs stopping, teasing, inches from her tingling nipples. She arched, trying to make him touch them, and hissed when she succeeded. All they did was land square on each bud, but she panted as her nipples throbbed with heat, waiting breathlessly for him to do more. “I'm not a girl; I'm a woman,” Cyn argued. He smiled, his thumbs tracing teasing circles around her tingling, jutting nipples. Her head tipped back, as a needy moan poured from her lips.
"I love that sound,
Cyn.” Taking advantage of her open throat, he bent to nuzzle her, giving her a love bite, before moving on to nip at her earlobe. “In the bedroom you're a girl, my girl, and I'm in charge, right?"
"Yes, you're most definitely in charge in the bedroom,” she gasped, swamped by erotic sensations, as she whimpered, pressing closer to his heat.
Sucking on her earlobe, he murmured, “Excellent. I've already got a room.” He then pulled a keycard of his pocket.
Well, why hadn't he said so in the first place? Because he'd taken for granted that he'd supply the room. He was trying to take charge in his alpha male way. She could forgive him, this time; after all, she was getting what she needed from him. Licking her lips, she focused on that sexy mouth of his when a troubling thought hit. “Why do you have a room? Could it have been any woman bedding you tonight?"
His eyes crinkled as he smiled. “Bedding me, that's precious.” At her frown, he gently cupped her cheek, saying, “Relax, sugar. I was going to have a poker game after the dance. I called it off the minute I saw you. It couldn't have been anyone but you bedding me."
She glowed, relaxing. “Good, because I want exclusive rights to you tonight."
"That can be arranged. Are you ready for me?” he asked, rocking his pelvis against her.
She hesitated, hoping she wasn't manipulating him. “I don't want to push you into doing something you don't want to."
He cocked his head, watching her. “If you're wondering, I haven't been with a woman for over a year.” He smiled, rocking against her again. “As you can feel, I'm primed and ready."
"And not taken,” she added.
He chuckled. “You got that right, sugar! I'm definitely not taken.” He backed off, and took her arm, escorting her down the corridor saying, “This way."
His domineering tendencies gave her a little thrill. She might not want to live with them, but she could put up with them for one hot night. The compensations were obvious, she decided, slanting another intrigued look at the bulge in his pants, she could hardly wait to taste him. She sighed, instantly missing the feel of his erection pressed against her needy sex. “Don't forget, Jake, you may be in charge in the bedroom, but I picked you, so I'm in charge of the rest of the night."