The Proposition (The Plus One Chronicles)

by Lyon, Jennifer

  And now he was doing it again, surrounding her, his scent flooding her senses. His lips were maybe two inches from hers. “You’re going to kiss me.”

  “Most definitely.”

  “Soon?” Her voice was breathy, light…insubstantial.

  “Once I solve a problem.” He moved his thumb over her bottom lip, then dipped it in, just barely.

  Just enough to touch her tongue.

  Kat nearly moaned. Her nipples tightened and ached. Heat flooded her limbs and trickled down through her folds. “Problem?”

  His sensual eyes glittered. “How will I stop this time?” He slid his thumb in deeper, gliding along her tongue.

  She closed her mouth, tasting him. His rich and musky flavor enticed her to want more.

  “Once I taste you, I’m not going to want to stop. I’ll want to taste down your collarbone, lick your breasts, suck your nipples.” He pulled his thumb out. “How will I stop, Kat? I barely stopped last time and only because you tapped out. But you won’t tap out this time, will you?”

  “I don’t know?” Was she asking? Agreeing? Begging? Somehow, Sloane had made all the desire she’d lost surge up like a tidal wave ready to consume her.

  “You have the power, Kat.” He drew his finger over the curve of her jaw, stroking her clavicle.

  Flutters danced in her stomach. She couldn’t take any more. “What?”

  “You’re safe with me. You want to stop, we stop. But if I kiss you, taste your mouth, it’s only going to make me hungrier. Starved to know how the rest of you tastes. Your nipples, your belly, the soft skin of your inner thighs.” He brushed his mouth by her ear, his breath warm and teasing. “Then I’m going to spread your legs and kiss, taste and lick my fill of you.”

  Her clit throbbed even as shock seared her. She sucked in a breath. “You’re torturing me.”

  “You deserve it, Kitten. I stayed half hard the rest of the week after that kiss.” He licked the shell of her ear. “That’s the hold you have on me.”

  She shivered, falling under the spell Sloane wove out of words and touches.

  He pulled away from her ear. “One kiss. That’s all we get until after the party. One kiss. Can we do that, Kat?”

  Her pulse thrummed, and her body sang with new and vibrant desires. Was this what normal women felt? Some part of her was scared. Terrified. This power he had to bring her to this level of arousal…

  Too much. Too strong. He was creating a need in her that was nearly violent with its intensity.

  “I can tap out?” She had to reassure herself she had some power.

  “It’s your dry spell, Kat. Your decision.”

  “Kiss me.”

  He covered her mouth, his lips warm seduction as his balmy scent filled her nostrils with soap and aged oak blended with pure male. Only a sip of his flavor teased her, like a dark and decadent chocolate truffle that she was desperate to capture and savor. More, she wanted to taste and touch as much of him as she could get access to. Putting her hand on his shoulder, she traced and shaped the powerful shift of his muscles through his sports jacket.

  He made a noise in his chest. A fierce demand. Brushing his hand across her cheek, he slipped his fingers beneath her hair to cup her nape. His thumb stroked her jaw, inviting her to open for him.

  She tilted her head, to give him what he demanded and to take what she wanted.

  He slid his tongue into her mouth. Learning, exploring, commanding. His rich taste flooded her senses, filling every cell, and still wasn’t enough. The hot, bare skin of his throat seared her fingers as she dragged them along, his skin pebbling in reaction. His pulse at the base of his throat throbbed strong and fast. Excitement arrowed through her to feel and taste the effect she had on him.

  More. She went farther, dipping into the V of his shirt, touching the brawny muscle beneath feverish skin. She wanted to lick her way across his chest. Across all of him. The need was so vivid, she sucked his tongue in raw craving. He brought on her brazenness, the part of her she’d repressed for so many years. The freedom and power spurred her on. She loved the sensation of bringing a man as confident and powerful as Sloane Michaels to his knees with her touch and kisses.

  Oh yeah. This new intrepidness suited her.

  Sloane groaned and dragged his head back until a few inches separated them. His hand cupped her nape, his thumb stroking the tender place between her ear and jaw. “One kiss,” he said.

  She blinked and her surroundings came into focus—they were in Sloane’s limo, totally losing control. Okay, that wasn’t bad. In fact, it’d been pretty amazing. His pupils were so dilated barely any brown remained. Because of their kiss. Kat let herself soak it all in.

  Stroking her jaw, he said, “Thank God you have pants on. If you’d worn a skirt, I’d have your panties on the floor.”

  Memories of the last time she’d worn a skirt rushed her veins with a subzero transfusion. Her desire iced. Kat wasn’t like other women. Scooting over in the seat, away from him, she stared at the dark privacy screen. “I don’t wear skirts.”

  Vividly aware of him sinking back in the seat next to her, she hated herself for letting her fears and old memories destroy the moment.

  “That kind of shit is really going to piss me off, Kitten.”

  Snapping her head around, she saw the barely banked violence glittering in his gaze. Yet he’d called her kitten, his pet name for her. The contrast confused her. “Because I won’t wear skirts?”

  “Because you’re pulling back, shutting me out.”

  He was even shrewder than she’d thought. “This another one of your terms, Sloane?”

  Catching her hand, he linked their fingers and pulled her closer. “I don’t like you building walls between us. It makes me determined to kick them down.”

  “Are you always this demanding with your lovers?” What was he stirring in her? Fear? Lust? Excitement? A challenge, because for some reason he didn’t seem to doubt that she could hold her own.

  He ground his jaw. “You’re bringing it out in me, Kitten.” Cupping her chin, he stroked the pad of his thumb over her cheek. “Good thing you have a safe gesture. Because I am not as tamed as everyone wants to believe, and there’s just something about you that is tripping my switch.”

  This time, Kat shivered.

  ***

  A hush moved like a wave over the large wood deck decorated with lighting and flowers, plenty of seating and a bar set up on one end. Even the servers moving around filling drink orders and offering appetizers quieted.

  Sloane ignored the reaction, ignored the attention following them as he steered Kat toward his goal. He needed a drink to try to knock back the tension roiling through him. Why the hell was he putting himself through this? He could find another plus-one. A woman who wouldn’t drive him to the very edge of his control. That kiss in the limo…

  Then the way she’d emotionally retreated?

  Shit. Just shit.

  He’d need the whole damn bottle.

  Reaching the bar, he managed to regain some civility. “What do you want to drink?”

  “Cyanide. On ice with a twist of lime. Or water. But I’m not budging on the lime.” Kat had popped her butt up on a barstool. Her irises swirled colors of the ocean with just the barest hint of gray.

  God he needed to touch her. Bracketing his hands around her waist, he lifted a brow. “Is the cyanide for you? Or me?”

  “I haven’t decided.”

  He didn’t like the shadows haunting her. Or the way she absently rubbed her right leg like a nervous gesture. Sloane caught her hand, settling it on her thigh and holding it. “Maybe start with something lighter and work up to cyanide. A glass of wine? Some fruity drink?”

  Kat’s grin flattened. “My parents have spotted us and are approaching.” She sighed. “I’m probably going to need that cyanide.”

  Sloane put his back to the bar. Squeezing her hand, he said, “Your mom looks like you.” An older, more brittle version of Kat, but with the
same shape of face and eye color. A tailored navy dress and pearls added polish.

  “Looks are deceiving. My mom is a molecular biologist determined to prevent and cure Alzheimer’s. She and David, a neuroscientist, are very close to getting their latest drug approved. It will be life altering. A blockbuster.”

  Her parents stopped to chat with a few people while Sloane tried to sort out the dynamics. “Your ex-fiancé works with your mother?” Awkward didn’t begin to cover that.

  “Yes. The Alzheimer’s Project is my mom and David’s work, their baby. They’ve made amazing breakthroughs.”

  Admiration clashed with rage, creating the turbulent distress swimming in her gaze. Clearly she had a complex relationship with her mother. With an appraising eye, Sloane faced her parents as they approached.

  “Kathryn,” her mother spoke first. “This is unexpected. Where is Kellen?”

  So she hadn’t told her parents about the carjacking, Kellen’s injury, or that Sloane was coming with her to the party. But then again, Sloane hadn’t forewarned her of his acquaintance with her father. Kat had a way of distracting him.

  “Kellen’s busy.” Kat gestured to him. “Sloane Michaels, these are my parents Drs. Diane and William Thayne.”

  “We’ve met.” William’s ice-blue eyes dropped to their joined hands on Kat’s thigh.

  Kat glanced up at him. “You know my father?”

  Yep, he definitely should have told her. “We’ve crossed paths. Your dad was on the planning commission when I was building SLAM Fitness and Training Centers in San Diego.” He left out the part where Dr. William Thayne had vehemently opposed the gym, claiming it promoted violence over fitness for health and therefore drew the wrong kinds of people.

  She pulled her mouth tight. A new couple joined them, and Kat’s expression softened. “Sloane, this is my brother, Marshall, and his fiancée, Lila Colson.”

  Sloane shook hands with the man who had to be a decade older than Kat. He had a slightly distracted air, and his face was sharper, more hawkish than his sister’s. Lila’s round face was framed in mahogany hair cut short and stylish. “I believe we’ve met, though I don’t recall where.”

  “We’ve been to a few of the same parties.” She looked at Kat and back to him, as if she couldn’t quite comprehend their relationship. “My family owns Colson Jewels.”

  “Of course.” Now he placed her. A former plus-one, Tamara, had a best friend from the Colson Jewel family. He’d probably run across her when he’d been with Tamara.

  “Your hair makes you look like a rebellious teenager, Kathryn.” Her mom shook her head. “Never mind, my colorist can fix that. I’ll make an appointment.”

  “I like it.” Sloane couldn’t quite get a grip on the undercurrents flowing. There was definite tension between her and her parents. But her face had brightened upon seeing her brother.

  So far, he hadn’t seen the ex-fiancé, David.

  Her father said, “Kathryn, I need to talk to you for a moment. Michaels can wait here.”

  “It’s Marshall’s party. I’m sure this can wait.” Kat slipped off the barstool and hugged Lila. “Congratulations. If my brother gives you any trouble, call me.” She grinned at her brother. “I’ll remind him how lucky he is to have you.”

  Marshall tugged her hair. “Katie was a pest and knew how to get her way when we were growing up. I bought her an Easy Bake Oven once as a bribe to leave me alone. That kept her busy.”

  A shaft of pain wrenched Sloane’s chest. Took his breath away.

  Sara.

  Christ, he missed her. The way Marshall tweaked a lock of Kat’s hair, teased her with real affection, ripped the scab off the old wound.

  It fucking hurt to see it.

  Sloane fought the urge rub the fiery ache in his chest.

  “Kathryn, I need to speak to you now.” William took hold of her elbow.

  Kat tossed Sloane an apologetic smile. “I won’t be long.”

  Sloane should let her go. Stay out of it. He tried to focus on the story of how Marshall and Lila met, something about Kat’s brother giving a speech at a convention…

  But he kept recalling how Kat’s shoulders had bowed as she walked into the house with her parents. Like she was protecting herself. From what?

  Screw it.

  He strode into the house, ignoring the various guests calling out to him, and went into the living room, which boasted dark wood floors and cathedral ceilings. He heard voices and followed them to a large library with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a fireplace, walls covered in diplomas and awards, and four people in the room who hadn’t noticed him yet. Kat gripped the back of a club chair. Her parents leaned against a massive desk facing her, and another man stood to the side by a set of French doors.

  “More than a decade has gone into this research, Kathryn. My research.” Diana gestured to the other man. “With David’s help, we’ve developed the drug that is clearing the last hurdle for FDA approval. We can’t take risks.”

  “How is Sloane a risk?” Kat stared at her parents, seeming to ignore David. “He’s my plus-one, that’s it.”

  William dropped his hands to the edge of the desk. “Katie, I know Michaels. Know his reputation. So does Lila. She was shocked to see him with you. You’re not his type.”

  Diana tapped a fingernail against her thigh. “He has arrangements with sophisticated, well-connected women. None of them have ridiculous streaks in their hair.”

  “Katie,” the lanky man, David, said. “We think Sloane is using you. Possibly to cause trouble right before the drug’s final approval in revenge for your father trying to block his gyms.”

  Lava-hot anger hit Sloane’s bloodstream. Adrenaline dumped, firing his nerves and muscles. He rolled up on the balls of his feet. But he caught himself when Kat pivoted and faced David.

  “You think I can’t spot a liar, David?”

  “We are not doing this again.” Diana snapped upright. “You will not call David a liar in our home.”

  “Diana.” William put his hand on his wife’s arm. “She can’t help it. Traumatic amnesia has scrambled her memory, causing her to create the fantasy that David’s lying.”

  Sloane saw a second of confusion ripple across Kat’s features. Her eyebrow crinkled, her gaze darted from her parents to David. Then the uncertainty, the moment when she appeared to doubt herself, cleared.

  Kat sucked in a breath, her jaw firming. “I’m standing right here. Don’t talk about me like I’m a lab rat.” Her fingers dug into the chair. “And I do have flashes of memories. Real memories, not fantasies.”

  David hurried forward, taking hold of Kat’s arm. “Oh Katie, this is what I was worried about. You’re having a reaction to the carjacking and getting confused.”

  Kat jerked her arm away. “Don’t touch me.” She spun, storming toward the door.

  “Kathryn,” Diana said in a less strident tone. “David told us about the carjacking. He predicted you’d regress. Have panic attacks and confusing flashbacks. Can’t you see he’s trying to help you? We all are.”

  Sloane had enough of this. He stormed into the library and caught Kat’s elbows. A slight tremble went through her. “You okay?” She’d been fine. Pissed but in control. Until David walked over to her, then her control clearly slipped. As if she had some kind of instinctive reaction to her ex. Then her parents had piled on, treating her like she was a head case. Deciding to give her space to breathe and relax, Sloane released her.

  Kat tilted her face up. “My father believes you have a grudge against him. And that you are using me to get revenge.”

  Fuck giving her space. Sloane’s temper ignited.

  Chapter Ten

  Kat was mad, embarrassed and hurt. When she had quit her job at SiriX, a job she frankly sucked at, it had caused a huge rift. Her parents cut her out of any financial gain.

  SiriX was the nucleus of their family. The center. The heart. The engine that drove them. The company was the legacy of her parents’ brillian
ce. Their two children were supposed to be a part of that plan.

  Marshall had turned out as intended. Smart like them, loved science, and compliant.

  Kat had tried. God she had tried. But she bore only average intelligence and limited passion for science. Her parents had used her love of baking to motivate her to earn her chemistry degree. She’d gone along, trying to be what they wanted. Trying to just be loved.

  But she simply wasn’t enough for them. Never smart or accomplished enough.

  So why did she think she was good enough for Sloane? He knew her father, had evidently known about SiriX, and never mentioned it.

  She looked up, smacking into ripening anger spreading over Sloane’s features. His massive shoulders rose beneath his jacket, color swept over his cheekbones and his eyes went fierce. He wrapped his hands around her upper arms before she’d even registered him moving.

  “Do you believe I’m using you, Kat?”

  Energy flooded her veins. Whereas her family seemed to suck out the very marrow of her bones, Sloane filled her with a will to fight. As to his question? Maybe she was naïve, but she wanted to believe he was attracted to her. Just her. “No.”

  “What do I want?”

  She knew her parents and David stood behind her. Even heard her father snap out something about Sloane getting his hands off her. But she focused on the man in front of her. His virile energy sang through her blood. Electrified by him, she answered, “Me and my lemon cupcakes.”

  One side of his mouth quirked up. “You do make excellent cupcakes.”

  Her father appeared at her side. “Sloane, do not manhandle my daughter in my house.”

  Concern and frustration brewed in Dad’s gaze. Kat tried to reassure him. “He’s not hurting me.”

  “He grabbed you.”

  Sloane looped his arm around her. “Be very careful what you accuse me of, Dr. Thayne. I have never hurt a woman in my life.”

  Ice dripped from his words. He’d protected her from carjackers, even insisted on walking her to her car from the gym. What had happened in Sloane’s life to embed his protective streak toward women?