Anthology - Bad Boys With Expensive Toys

by user

Startled, she jumped. Okay, she hadn't thought about sex in, she looked back at the clock, fifty-nine minutes. That was almost an hour.

  Still, she couldn't stop the thrill of pleasure that rippled down her spine at his comment. "I hope she will."

  He ambled to the sofa and picked up a chenille throw, fingering the material. "This is nice . . . soft."

  "Are you trying to seduce me?"

  He grinned, and her heart somersaulted. "You want me to?"

  She raised her chin. "Not if you won't follow through."

  "I'd lose the bet and break my promise to Lisa."

  "Some promises are made to be broken."

  "You want to eat a bite?" He switched topics. "I mean, get out of the apartment for a while?"

  Did he think it would be safer for him? More likely he was up to something. She'd play along because she was hungry. Besides, she'd packed a killer dress. Might as well inflict a little torture while she was at it. "Sure. Just let me change."

  An hour later Kagen opened her door. She could tell by the expression on Alex's face as she strolled into the living room he liked what he saw.

  The black, sequined dress she wore clung to every curve, flaring just before the hem reached her knees. She'd put her hair up, letting a few curls caress her shoulders.

  She watched as his gaze made a downward trek. Past the very low-cut vee, down to legs encased in

  black stockings, and her feet in three-inch strappy sandals.

  "You're ravishing," he told her.

  She relaxed, wondering why she was suddenly nervous. "You look pretty good yourself."

  She sauntered close enough to catch a whiff of his aftershave. She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing in the musky scent. All she could think about was kissing him, leading him to her bed, and making sweet love all night long. Her brow puckered. Had she caught a whiff of mentholated cream?

  "Are you ready?" He took the silk wrap from her arm and held it out for her to slip around her shoulders.

  She didn't hesitate as the silk cascaded over her arms. "More than ready."

  He chuckled as he guided her toward the front door. "I don't think it's safe for me to be alone with you tonight. A crowded restaurant is a much better choice."

  "About to capitulate, are we?" She cast a sidelong glance up at him and fluttered her eyelashes.

  Other than a brief smile, he ignored her taunt as he led her out the door, holding her elbow as they

  walked down the stairs.

  "I hope you're not scared of heights."

  "Only if I fall."

  "Don't worry, I'll catch you if you do."

  Her heart fluttered inside her chest. At least she knew how he got his reputation for being a ladies' man.

  "I made reservations at The Eiffel Tower Restaurant. Ever been there?"

  He opened his car door, and she slid in the passenger seat. "No."

  "Lisa and I went there last time I visited. You can't beat it for ambiance, and I think it has the best view of Las Vegas, and the best view of the water show at the Bellagio. Ever seen it?"

  "Not up close."

  "You're in for a treat, then."

  She sighed as she leaned back against the headrest. The night air was inviting. Not too warm, not too cool. Alex's idea had been sound. Maybe she'd needed to get out for a while, too.

  The drive was short with each lost in thought. Alex pulled up to the restaurant's valet parking, and they got out. "The only way to reach the restaurant is in the glass elevator. It's eleven stories up."

  "The view is beautiful," she said once they were going up in the elevator.

  His gaze made a lazy path down her body before returning to her eyes. "It looks great from this angle."

  She reached toward him, intending to caress his cheek, but he captured her hand, kissing her palm. Tingles skittered up her arm. The elevator stopped and the doors swished open, preventing her from saying anything else.

  The waiter seated them where they would be able to see the water show when it started, then quietly

  took their order when they were ready.

  Alex leaned back in his chair. "What made you decide to become a decorator?"

  With only the dim light from the candle on their table, Alex looked quite amiable. But as cute as he was, she sensed he was danger to her. Steve had warned her she couldn't help but get emotionally involved. Was that what she was doing now? Getting emotionally involved?

  Kagen had felt more alive over the last few days than she had in a long time. Not to mention more sexually aware. But was that the same thing as losing her heart?

  No, she was safe. This was only a sensual game. Foreplay.

  "My stepfather taught me the tricks of the trade." Her tense muscles relaxed as she began telling him

  how she got started. "He has his own businesses. I couldn't have asked for a better teacher."

  "Apparently, what you learned paid off. Lisa tells me you have quite a number of stores. Offices in

  Paris, London, and several in the United States."

  "I've been lucky."

  He raised his glass in salute. "I'd say it's more than luck."

  Don't get excited just because he paid you a compliment,she told herself. She cleared her throat and reached for her wine.

  When she could breathe normally again, she set her glass down and met his gaze across the table. "And you? What's your story? Steve told me you create computer programs. You certainly don't look like a computer nerd to me."

  He ran his finger over the rim of his wineglass. "I'm glad you approve of how I look." His eyes twinkled, making it hard for her to concentrate. "I like creating programs, coming up with new ideas and implementing them."

  "And the one you're working on now?" He'd changed before her eyes. Become more serious. She could tell his work meant a lot to him.

  The food they'd ordered arrived about the same time as the show at the Bellagio began, interrupting their conversation. Talking ceased as they enjoyed just being together. When she didn't think Alex was looking, she glanced his way .. . and liked what she saw.

  Six

  Alex felt like an ass. This was dirty pool. He'd seen the way Kagen had downed two glasses of wine and was just a little tipsy, but he knew damn well he wouldn't be able to last another day around her if she didn't break.

  Lying back against the pillows on his bed, he reached for his cell phone on the bedside table, glancing at the clock as he did. Almost midnight. He'd heard her moving about her bedroom a few minutes ago ... then silence.

  He envisioned what she would wear to bed. Maybe the red teddy she'd mentioned... or nothing at all.

  He forced himself to stop thinking about how she'd look lying in bed with only a wisp of silky sheet across her hips, and took a deep, very deep breath before calling the apartment.

  It rang once, twice ...

  Pick up the phone, Kagen.

  "Hello?" Kagen sounded confused. Apparently wondering why anyone would be calling this late at night.

  "I just wanted to tell you good night," he said in what he hoped was a sexy drawl.

  "You already did." She chuckled.

  He took a deep breath.Okay, here goes. "But did I tell you how much I liked the way you'd fixed your hair tonight? I envied the curls caressing your neck. I wanted to be the one touching you. Kissing you there."

  Her indrawn breath came across the line. Without giving her a chance to realize what he was doing,

  Alex continued in his quest to break her.

  "And I liked what you wore tonight. The creamy expanse of skin revealed by the deep vee of that black evening gown was sexy as hell. I itched to slip my hand inside and touch your breasts. To push the dress off one shoulder so I could take you in my mouth."

  He closed his eyes, imagining just what Kagen would taste like. Probably a little like the erotic perfume she wore—a tropical taste. And a little like the woman she was—sensual.

  He could barely draw a decent breath as he continued. "I would'v
e slid the other side off and massaged your other breast, flicking my finger back and forth across the nipple. Would you have liked that?"

  "Yes," she moaned. "Oh, God, yes."

  "I would've unzipped the dress and let it fall to the floor. Were you wearing panties?"

  "Yes," she croaked.

  "What did they look like?"

  "Black .. . lacy."

  "A thong?"

  "No."

  "You had on black hose. What held them in place?"

  "Garters. Black ones."

  "I would've left them on, along with the heels you wore. Picture yourself standing in front of me naked, wearing just your panties, hose, and heels. How does it make you feel to know I'm looking at you? That your breasts are bare?"

  "Hot. It makes me hot."

  "I'd kneel in front of you and very slowly peel your black, silky panties down those incredibly long legs

  of yours until the only thing you had on were the black stockings and heels. I'd lean closer to you, wanting to take your sex in my mouth. Would it bother you if I licked and nibbled you?"

  "No. Please, you're killing me, Alex."

  "You can stop the torture. Say the word and we won't have to cross each other's paths for the rest of

  the week. Just say the word, baby."

  "Fuck you, Alex."

  There was a distinct click. That hadn't been the word he wanted her to utter. Not only that, he had a

  killer hard-on, and if he didn't do something fast, he'd be the one who broke first. Phone sex. Now that had been a brilliant idea. He wanted her more than ever.

  As he slipped on his sweats he heard her bedroom door open, close, then another door open and close. He left his room and hurried past the bathroom. Water pinged against the shower curtain.

  His plan had at least worked. Kagen was probably standing beneath a cold spray of water. Now, if he could only jog away his boner. Or at least he hoped running would get rid of it. One thing he could say, after this week he should at least be healthy.

  * * *

  Kagen stuck her tongue out at the screen. Alex was on the other side and couldn't see her childish gesture, but it still made her feel a little vindicated. What he'd done last night was downright cruel. She'd come so close to having an orgasm listening to his husky words. Someday she'd make him pay.

  Shaking off her ire, she stepped away from the window and admired the drapes. At least something was turning out well. The decorating was coming right along.

  The drapery colors were perfect. The bold maroon and deep green stripes brought out touches of reds and greens in the room while the tea-stained background enhanced the earthy tones of the room.

  The living room was finished.

  She'd start on the master suite next. The room Alex was using. She should wallpaper it with naked pictures of herself. That wouldn't be cheating ... exactly.

  Who was she kidding? Alex was stronger willed than she'd first thought. He'd never break his promise

  to Lisa. Besides, she only had a little time left. She'd lost.

  Gathering her supplies, she took them to her room. She needed to do something restful. Maybe a hot shower since obviously a cold one wasn't doing the trick. All she'd accomplished was making her nipples harder and more tender. It hadn't cooled her ardor one bit.

  She could apply a soothing face mask, light her candles, slip into her new Victoria's Secrets lingerie ...

  and read. What was her life coming to?

  Thirty minutes later, after a hot shower and a heat-producing face mask, she did feel better. So maybe sex wasn't everything. She donned her white terry cloth robe and stepped from the bathroom, coming face-to-face with Alex. She stuck her nose in the air and sashayed to her room as he went to his.

  Just keep telling yourself you don't want to have sex with Alex. Get him out of your system.

  She might go out on the town by herself tonight. See the sights of the city that never slept. Might as well since she certainly hadn't been getting any restful slumber.

  Damn, she really hated losing, though.

  She pulled on the peach-colored thong and push-up bra and stared at herself in the dresser mirror. "You have no idea what you're giving up." She sighed and shook her head.

  His loss. She uncurled the cord of her electric razor and plugged it in. It just wasn't fair. This should've been an easy bet to win. But what else was she supposed to do? No getting naked ... no touching.

  But it had felt as if he'd touched her last night. His words had explored her body, making it tingle with awareness. Her eyes closed, and for a moment she relived his phone seduction.

  With a shuddering sigh, she reined her thoughts in and sat on the side of the bed. Not fair at all. She flipped the switch and began running the electric razor up and down her leg. Sheesh, even the whirring

  of the damn razor reminded her of a ... Her hand stilled. A slow grin spread across her face. It sounded like a vibrator.

  Her eyes narrowed as she glanced toward Alex's room as if she could see through the walls.It's not

  over yet.

  If he thought she was in the throes of passion, pleasuring herself with a vibrator, would it sendhim

  over the edge?

  What did she have to lose?

  She had to make some other noise, though. The vibrator alone wouldn't do it. She closed her eyes and wiggled her bottom into a more comfortable position on the bed.

  "Ummmm, ahhhh, ohhhh." She frowned. She sounded like a dying goat. This wasn't going to work.... Her gaze landed on her Guilty Pleasures sack. The ceiling opened, and a stream of bright light shone down. Who would've ever thought chocolate could be her savior?

  * * *

  Alex had tried to pretend he didn't notice Kagen or the icy glare she flung in his direction when she stepped from the bathroom. He continued down the hall trying not to breathe in the fresh peach scent

  that clung to her. Once inside his room, he closed the door and leaned against it. He expelled a deep breath.

  How could a woman look so sexy in a white terry cloth robe? The damn thing had been baggy! He

  was losing it. That's all there was to it.

  He pushed away from the door and went to his briefcase in the corner. As soon as he retrieved his disk he'd bury himself behind the screen until the forty-eight hours was up. It was the only way to save his sanity.

  He opened the door and walked down the hall, slowing as he neared Kagen's room. Her voice floated

  to him from the other side of her door.

  "Oh, this is good," she moaned. "This is so ... damn . .. good."

  He stumbled to a stop. Was that a motor whirring? A vibrator? Was that what had been in the Guilty Pleasures bag?

  "Oh, God, I've got to have more. Oh, yes ... yes."

  Sweat beaded his upper lip. His dick swelled to a full-fledged boner. He didn't want her turning to a vibrator when he was right here.

  No, he couldn't do it. He had to think about his meeting ... his work ... the promise he'd made to Lisa.

  You didn't spit. It doesn't count if you don't spit.

  Focus! He squinched his eyes shut.

  A vision filled his mind of Kagen lying spread-eagled, completely naked on the bed. She'd touch herself, squeezing her tits with one hand while she slid the vibrator in and out with the other. In and out. In and out.

  He braced himself against the wall.Go to your bedroom and close the door! His feet wouldn't budge.

  It was as if he wore concrete boots.

  "I want more," she whimpered from the other side. "More."

  She was mentally killing him. Would he even be enough to satisfy her needs? He glanced down. He

  could do it.

  "Oh, God, this is sooo ... good!"

  He slammed her door open and stepped purposefully inside. "I'm here for you, Kagen."

  She jumped off the bed. A smear of chocolate ran from her lips to the middle of her cheek.

  He could only stare at the vision in front of him. Wear
ing only a very brief, lacy thong that didn't even begin to hide the thatch of dark curls between her legs, and a matching bra that threatened to spill her breasts any second—if he were so lucky.

  Candles flickered on the dresser and the bedside table. And on the bed was an electric shaver still

  whirring away.

  Not a vibrator. The Guilty Pleasures sack had toppled over when she stood, and a candy rolled out.

  "I'm sorry. I thought..." He couldn't stop glancing toward the damn electric razor.