“Pretty sure the doctor said you only had minutes to live.”
Ana rolled her eyes. He’d make a totally exaggerated boast like that, but whenever Ana brought up the day he’d helped rescue her boss from a madman with a knife, he shrugged it off.
“But heroics aside,” Ethan said. “I’ll never forget this chance to cook with Chef Zane. Or you.”
Do it now. I have to tell him how I feel. Her heart thumped. “I can’t ever forget you.” All her practiced words fled as a knot of desperation lodged in her chest. But she didn’t want to lose this moment, and forced herself to go on. “I—”
“I’ve brought dessert and coffee.” A smiling server carried a tray over. “Key lime pie and molten chocolate cake.”
Ana resisted the urge to snap at the woman for interrupting them. The server was doing her job. Besides, the thing that kept them from crossing the line to lovers was that Ethan believed her too good for him. Talking wasn’t going to convince him otherwise.
She had to show him she had a bad side too. For that, Ana needed privacy.
An hour later, he parked the borrowed Mercedes in one of her guest spaces, and they headed inside her condo. She loved her little home, but right now it felt too small and tight, like her skin. Her nerves pulled taut.
“Cookies are on the counter if you’re still hungry.” She gestured to the pastry box and headed to the fridge. Snagging two cold bottles of water, she inhaled a breath of cool air. When she turned around, Ethan was right there, looming only feet from her. She heard the soft whoosh of the refrigerator automatically closing behind her.
“I don’t want cookies.” He dragged his hand through his hair, his shirt pulling against his chest. Finally he dropped his arm. “You’re my hardest goodbye, Ana. I’m not sure I’d have made it through these last months without you. You’re my one good thing.”
As she stood there with a bottle of cold water in each hand, her throat swelled. For seven years, she had done everything she could to make her dad and stepmom proud and never regret all they’d done to get Ana out of a bad situation and have her come live with them. Since that day, she’d been the ultimate good girl, always in control. It was exhausting, but with Ethan, she’d been able to let go a little bit. Yet the times when Ethan had almost kissed her and stopped, Ana hadn’t pushed. Nope, she’d been the good girl, letting the man decided.
Either she took the risk of showing him how much she desired him, or she lost him because she really was exactly what he thought—too good of a girl to take a risk.
Setting the waters down, she hopped up on the counter in the place she’d sat many times while Ethan cooked. “This isn’t goodbye.”
Ethan settled his hands on either side of her hips, caging her with the force of his sharp attention. “Then what is it?”
Her mouth dried, and blood pounded in her ears. All the muscles in Ethan’s arms bunched and strained. Power, restraint and a vibrant hunger pulsed into the air around them. He hadn’t even touched her and her body hummed. A bright and fiery need throbbed low in her belly, making her want to break his rigid control and free them both.
Swallowing, she lifted her hands to his face. “This.” She kissed him.
Ethan sucked in a breath and went utterly still.
Oh God, what if he rejected her? What if he hated that she threw herself at him? No, don’t give up. She feathered her lips over his, pouring her caring and longing into each touch. All the days, weeks and months of yearning for his kiss flooded her system.
Ethan’s control shattered on a groan. He sank the fingers of one hand into her hair, and plunged his tongue into her mouth. His palm slid down her back, gripping her ass and pinning her in place.
Yes. Her blood raced, heating her entire body. Sexy chills skated over her skin, and everywhere he touched left a blazing trail. Driven by a fierce urgency, she thrust her tongue against his, the wet slide sparking a fierce hunger.
Or was it the way he held her trapped where he wanted her? Not recoiling at her aggressiveness, but meeting it with his own? Wanting to get closer, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Her nipples ached, warmth swamped her belly, and deep between her thighs, insistent need pulsed.
His palm on her ass dragged her forward, shoving her skirt up and pressing her center flush to the thick ridge of his cock trapped in his jeans. The hard pulse against her panties tore a moan from her throat. Ana gripped his shoulders, rubbing along his shaft, desperation pitching up too fast and brutal.
“I knew you’d be like this.” He skated his lips down her throat. “One taste of you and I’d lose my fucking mind.”
His words and the warm, wet trail of his mouth sent more shivers from her nipples to her clit. She tunneled her hands beneath his shirt to feel his fevered skin over granite muscles.
With a low growl, his fingers on her hip tightened as he rocked his length along her cleft. Every thrust pushed her higher and she could feel his cock growing thicker, longer and more demanding. A reserve that had ridden her for years melted away, leaving her free to go after what she wanted.
Getting a hold of his hair, she angled his head up to kiss him again. She tasted their shared dinner and Ethan, the deeply male flavor that made her crazed for more. “Touch me. I can’t bear it.”
He wrapped his hand around her hair, restraining her. His eyes burned like a blue flame as he scraped his fingers up her thigh. “You have no idea the ways I can make you scream in pleasure.”
She tilted her hips up, desperate to find out. When he didn’t move fast enough, she caught his thick wrist, pulling his hand where she craved it.
The rough glide of his fingers over her swollen bud sent shocks of pleasure arcing.
“Ethan.” Her cry ripped out. This was everything she’d dreamed. The ache ramped up to unbearable. She couldn’t survive without him doing that again, harder and longer. She rubbed against his hand, chasing that rising desire with a wantonness. Only with Ethan could she be this free and wild. “Please. No one makes me feel like you do.”
He jerked back, eyes nearly feral, cheeks flushed. “Goddammit.” Fury swelled his shoulders. He clenched and unclenched his fists.
Her hands fell to the granite, and her stomach plummeted, all her hope crashing down into a pile of twisted pain. “What did I do wrong?”
She hated the weakness, the tiny part of her still desperate to just be enough. A little voice in her head said, What did you expect? You’re a pathetic little attention seeker, begging for it. He didn’t really want you. You just imagined it.
Stop it. This wasn’t the same thing. Needing reassurance, she forced herself to look at Ethan.
Ruthless determination and regret dug into his face, making him appear older and harder. “Nothing. I’m the one who doesn’t do relationships. Ever. I fuck, leave and never think about the chick again. Go find yourself a man who’s good enough. I’m not that guy.”
He snatched his keys out of his pocket and strode to the door. Opening it, he looked back for a breath of time.
Then he left, closing the door and breaking her heart.
Chapter 2
As part of the protection team surrounding the band Savaged Illusions, Ethan Hunt took the lead, walking in front. The group headed down the hallway of the concert venue to a private elevator.
“Did you see the packed house? The audience was sick! We were on fire!” Lynx, the drummer, high-fived the bassist, River.
“Hell yeah,” River agreed.
Ethan tuned out their talk as the car shot up. When the elevator doors opened, he and Hank exited first, scanning the Skylight Lounge located at the very top of the concert venue. Floor-to-ceiling windows revealed the Tampa skyline lit up against the night. About fifty people, all with VIP passes, lounged in plush gray couches and chairs grouped around a sleek black bar draped in soft lavender lighting. Once they heard the elevator arrive, every eye turned to them.
Ethan focused on the lead bodyguard in the VIP section. At his nod that everyone in the
upscale bar had been cleared, Ethan stepped aside.
Instant pandemonium erupted as the crowd surged toward the band. Cameras flashed, people laughed and yelled. He recognized two well-known actresses and a football player. A few familiar groupies, including the head of their fan club. Two men in suits and—
No way. Whipping his gaze back, he homed in on the small, pretty woman staring at him. His entire body vibrated with surprise.
Ana Kendall. The spitfire of a girl who’d haunted his dreams and invaded his days. No matter how many women he’d hooked up with or how far he traveled, she was there in his mind.
What the hell was she doing in Florida at a VIP afterparty for Savaged Illusions? He hadn’t seen her in eleven months.
An uncertain smile wavered on her lips before fading.
For a second, everything around him was drowned out by a crash of memories and regrets. His muscles twitched with the urge to go to her, touch and tease her until she smiled and laughed the way she used to with him.
Ana looked away, breaking eye contact to talk to another person.
Ethan automatically took note of her two friends, Franci and Chelle, hovering by her.
Ana was here. He couldn’t get his brain around that fact. But he didn’t have time to dwell on it as the band headed straight for the bar. Snapping out of his shock, Ethan moved with them, taking up a stance at the edge of the bar to keep watch.
The others in security settled around the room at their assigned posts. With the band’s fame skyrocketing, the security team took zero chances. After Ethan checked the position of all five members of the band, another man caught his attention. Young twenties; longish, dark hair; blue eyes; thin build in an expensive V-neck shirt; tight black pants and high-end suede sneakers all screamed money. But the way he stared at Justice set off Ethan’s internal alarms.
If there was going to be trouble, this nervous kid would be it. He hovered at the edges of the crowd around the band, barely blinking, his eyes following Justice’s every move.
Otherwise, everything appeared to be under control. The servers were all cleared and familiar with working VIP parties, and the guests were behaving. Ethan did another room scan, keeping his focus on the job.
Not on Ana in that pretty green dress, ordering a drink.
A current of awareness sizzled through him. Ana was watching him. Damn, she looked sweet and sexy. Her dress dipped between her small breasts, fit her waist and flared out around her thighs. He couldn’t figure out why she was here. The need to talk to her formed an internal push. He ignored it to do his job and visually swept the room.
Unable to resist, he stole another look at Ana.
But she’d slipped away to talk to her friends.
A half hour later, his neck muscles were cramped from the effort of keeping his focus on his job, not Ana.
Justice lifted his hand in a signal to Ethan and headed to a private hallway. Damn it, the man knew to wait for him. Ethan strode after him, and noted the nervous kid following Justice. Getting between the possible trouble and the lead singer, he keyed the mic on his headset. “Hank, escorting Justice to bathroom. Possible shadow.” He described the kid.
“See it. Stay with Justice. I’ll find out what the shadow’s up to.”
“Right.” He keyed off and said to Justice. “Go straight into the private hallway.” This wasn’t the time to get waylaid by fans.
The lead singer glanced over his shoulder. “Trouble?”
“You had a shadow.” Ethan shot a quick look back to see Hank had stopped the kid. A heated conversation broke out.
Justice nodded, used to security controlling his life. Even things like taking a piss became an ordeal. Ethan nodded to the security guard watching the hallway to keep fans and staff out.
Once in the hallway, Ethan went into the bathroom with Justice to make sure the room was clear then headed for the door to wait in the hall.
“Ethan,” Justice said.
“Yeah?”
“Give me a few minutes.”
He got it. Sometimes it was a phone call one of the band members wanted to make, or even just a few minutes of no one pulling at them. “No problem.” Ethan stepped out to the hallway and stopped in surprise at the girl talking to the other security guard.
“This is a restricted area.” Josh told her.
Unable to resist, he crossed to them. “What’s going on?”
Ana shifted her gaze to him. “Ethan, I, uh, wanted to say hi. I know you’re working so maybe later.”
He couldn’t let her walk away and touched Josh’s shoulder. “It’s okay, she’s with me.”
The other guard nodded and Ethan led her deeper into the hallway where he could keep an eye on the bathroom door and Ana. “I can’t believe you’re here. What brings you to Florida?”
“Vacation with Franci and Chelle. We’re staying at the Tradewinds Resort in St. Pete’s.” She licked her lips and shifted uneasily. “You look well.”
The dress pulled tight against her breasts, and damn it, he didn’t want to notice that. Or think of that last night when Ana had kissed him and he’d lost his mind. Two more minutes and he’d have had her panties on the floor and been balls-deep inside her.
Answer her. “Thanks, you too.” She looked so damned good he had to dig his fingers into his palms to keep from touching her, and remember he was on the job.
“Franci and Chelle surprised me with the tickets to the concert and the VIP passes. I almost didn’t come.”
Because of him and the way they’d last parted? “What changed your mind?”
A grin touched her lips. “Franci and Chelle went to a lot of trouble to get the tickets and VIP passes, and I didn’t want to ruin that for them.”
How could he feel that pinch of disappointment when he was the one who’d pushed her away? What did he want, for Ana to have been sad all these months? God he was a selfish bastard. “How are you, Ana? The way I left—”
“I’m fine,” she cut him off. “I graduated, and Kat promoted me at the bakery to the publicity director.”
She seemed tenser, edgier than he remembered. Was it unease from seeing him again and the awkwardness stretching between them? Or something else? But the part about her finishing her degree and getting a promotion pulled a smile from him.
“Congratulations. You’re a college graduate.” While all he had was he GED, a certificate from culinary school, and his colossal failure as an MMA fighter. “I’m proud of you, sunshine.” His old nickname for her slipped out before he could think better of it.
“Thanks. I’d love to hear about how you’re doing.” She swallowed and blurted out, “I was hoping if you have time, we could grab some coffee or lunch? I’m here all week. I don’t know how long you’re staying.”
She wanted to meet? Before he could formulate an answer, his earpiece crackled. “Ethan, threat has been neutralized. Stay with Justice until he’s back in view.”
So either Hank had determined the boy wasn’t a threat or had removed him altogether. Ethan touched the mic and answered, “Got it.” He gestured to his headset. “Sorry, work.”
“Right, you’re busy. Well, you know my cell number, if you’re around. Nice seeing you.” She started to turn.
Unable to help it, he touched her shoulder. Her soft, warm skin beneath his palm sent a zap of heat straight to his dick. Memories pressed in and woke up the ache in his chest. Damn it, he’d missed her.
“Ana, wait.” He dropped his hand.
Her shoulders tensed, but she faced him.
He didn’t know what to say. Did he want to see her?
Hell yeah.
But should he? “I’m here all week too. The band’s taking a break after the show tomorrow night.”
“Really?”
The spark of hope in her gaze made him pause. “Yes.” He wanted to see her, but that last night in San Diego had made it clear—their attraction was so damned strong that with enough time together, they’d end up in bed. “But nothin
g’s changed with me. I’m still not a relationship guy.”
A flush crawled up her throat as she rocked on her heels. “I got that eleven months ago, loud and clear.”
He’d embarrassed her. What was it about her that made him stupid?
“But things have changed with me.”
Her words punched right into his chest and brought out his protectiveness. Changed, how? Ana didn’t need to alter anything about herself. She was sweet, caring, ambitious and funny as hell. Why would she change? “What do you mean?”
She lifted her shoulders, every line of her small frame vibrating with resolution. “I grew up. I’ve been working hard to be what everyone else needs me to be. And that’s okay, that’s what I do. But right now, this is my vacation, and for a week, I’m looking for a chance to let loose and be a little bad with no strings attached.”
Stunned, he struggled to think. “You want to be bad.” With him? Jesus. No strings attached? Was this a prank? Or was this some kind of revenge? “Are you propositioning me?”
She compressed her lips. “God I suck at this.”
He’d feel sorry for her if he had any idea what was actually going on. “At what?”
Sighing, she fiddled with the small purse hanging from her shoulder. “I wanted to meet and catch up, and if we still have an attraction, then yeah, I guess I’m propositioning you. But this time I’m not looking for anything more than a sexy fling and we go our separate ways.”
He couldn’t formulate an answer. Thankfully Justice was still in the bathroom, and no other band members had come into the hallway. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Right, okay.” She forced a small smile. “If you decide you’re interested, let me know.” She turned and walked out of the hallway.
Did that just happen? With Ana? He got propositioned by groupies all the time. Sometimes he indulged and forgot them.
But Ana?
His muscles twitched with the need to go after her, drag her someplace private and find out what the hell she was thinking. But he couldn’t; he had to stay outside the bathroom door and wait.
Savaged Surrender: A Novella Page 2