Cosmo Red-Hot Reads Box Set: CakeFearlessNaked SushiEverything You Need to Know

by Lauren Dane

  Time to steer the conversation back to her fantasy zone. Gia felt a little guilty at shortchanging his intimacy needs, but she figured she could find a way to make it up to him.

  “You’re so used to women throwing themselves at you, so jaded with easy—albeit mind-blowing—sex, that you try and make it more of a challenge for yourself?” she summarized.

  “It was mind-blowing,” he agreed, his smile wicked as he smoothed his palm up her thigh. His fingers were hot, a vivid contrast to the cool sheet as they slid beneath the fabric to caress her skin.

  Gia almost moaned at the delicious sensation. But she didn’t want him to know how easily he could distract her, so she kept her expression bland and pretended she wasn’t wet and ready again. Of course, if his fingers climbed a few more inches, he’d discover that fact for himself. To prevent that, at least until she’d got her answers, she twined her fingers into his.

  His quest north stymied, he rubbed his thumb over her knuckles and gave a contemplative sigh, then shrugged. He looked like a guy who was a little lost, digging deep into his soul to figure out what was going on.

  “I like a challenge,” he confessed. “But it’s not an ego thing. I don’t need to prove anything or gather notches on my condom box. But I quit doing fast and easy years ago. Like I said before, sex is more than slam-bam pleasure.”

  “What’s that like?” she asked, keeping her words light and teasing. “Calling all the sexual shots like you do? Are you always in charge?”

  “I wasn’t tonight.”

  Well, whaddaya know. Thrilled, Gia barely kept from clapping her hands in delight. He was right. She’d called all the shots. Fantasy was pretty freaking awesome.

  “So if the challenge has nothing to do with proving something, what is it about?” she wondered aloud, trying to figure out what made a guy like Luke, who was all that and a box of Godivas, push his comfort zone.

  “I guess I’m bored,” he mused, staring at their entwined fingers. He gave a self-deprecating grimace and rolled his eyes as he met her gaze. “That sounds bad, doesn’t it? It’s not that I’m so cocky that I think everything in life is easy. Or that I’m so damned good that there are no challenges.”

  But he made it look that way. Everyone at Tri-Solutions always said that anything he touched went golden. His accounts, his presentations, his track record with women. They were all legendary.

  Gia wondered what it would be like to have things come so easy. She’d never been one of those people who could ace the test without studying or walk into the room and wow the crowd. It must be nice. She’d always had to study extra hard, do extra credit. She had friends, great ones. But she wasn’t the person at the party everyone was clamoring to be seen talking to.

  Luke was.

  And he wasn’t happy about it?

  She didn’t even know what to do with that.

  “Are you out looking for challenges?” Gia wondered aloud, a part of her needing to figure him out. Another part wanted to help him, to put a smile back on that gorgeous face. “Or are you just riding the success wave?”

  “What do you mean?”

  What did she mean? She’d never been close enough to his level of success to have a clue if it was easy to ride out or not, so she was probably totally out of line.

  “Nothing, really,” she said with a shrug that shifted the sheet low enough to remind her that she was very naked, lying in bed with the sexiest guy she’d ever fantasized about. And she was wasting time playing therapist? Talk about blowing about a dozen Girlz rules. “Just ignore me.”

  “No. I’d really like to hear what you think,” he said, shifting onto one elbow so he could stare down at her. Her lips twitched at his automatic move into a powerful position. He was definitely used to things going his way.

  Which didn’t bode well for her suggesting that he might be a little on the spoiled side, at least when it came to success.

  “Well,” she said slowly, telling herself one wild round against the wall and the rug burns on her ass were great memories. She didn’t need a whole weekend. “Take this for instance.”

  This, she indicated with a wave of her fingers between their bodies, meant them.

  “What?” He scowled. “You think I didn’t put in a hundred percent?”

  “Oh, no. You put the whole thing in there,” she said, with a wicked smile. She waited a second for his frown to ease and the entendre to sink in; then she arched her brows. “I’m just saying, when’s the last time you had to work for a woman? When’s the last time you went after someone outside your, well, comfort zone?”

  Someone like her. The real her.

  Someone average, who didn’t have a model body or stunning looks, who made a decent income but didn’t fly off to Hawaii for a weekend fling. Someone who didn’t add another layer of shimmer to his golden reputation.

  “At work, when’s the last time you worked on a—” he almost said project before remembering that she wasn’t supposed to know what he did. She stumbled over the word but quickly caught herself. “—job, or whatever it is you do for a living, that didn’t feel easy? One that was outside your area of expertise?”

  It’d been years, she realized, thinking of his time at Tri-Solutions. He’d started in tech, but once the bosses had discovered how good he was at talking up the projects, they’d jumped all over that talent. She didn’t remember ever hearing about his stellar tech skills, though.

  “So what’re you saying? That I’m slacking?” His face revealed a combination of amusement and offense, as if he couldn’t decide if he wanted to laugh at her or be irritated over the presumptuous comment.

  She couldn’t blame him.

  Except, well… He’d said it himself. When was the last time he’d actually had a challenge?

  She couldn’t ask, though. Not without giving away her identity. Gia wet her lips. Besides, who was she to tell him what to do? The only way she’d been able to take on a challenge was by hiding behind extensions and a fake name.

  She’d had no idea he wasn’t happy with easy street, though. Now that she knew, she hated seeing him like this. Maybe there were advantages to being average, to being the girl who did endless crunches and planks, never giving up the dream of perfect abs. She got stronger every time she pushed herself. Even if she didn’t quite reach the stars.

  But how did that help him?

  Then it hit her.

  He’d mentioned blindfolds when they were dancing.

  That was the perfect way to rescue her fantasy and maybe make Luke feel good, too. In addition to all the other ways her fantasy was going to make him feel good, that was.

  Excitement took hold. Purely sexual, she told herself. It had nothing to do with the prospect of average ole her making a guy like Luke Monroe feel good about himself. Her pulse danced and she quickly shifted, squishing the pillows behind her back as she moved into a sitting position. The sheet still tight against her breasts, she gave him a stern look.

  “You need to work a little harder,” she said.

  “At?”

  “At pleasuring me.”

  That made him laugh. His grin was wicked, sexy and assured. “Babe, that’s not work.”

  “Oh, but it’s going to be.”

  Interest lit up his eyes as he sat up to face her.

  “What’re you talking about?”

  “As nice as that was,” she said, gesturing to the wall they’d banged on an hour ago, “I’m thinking I gave it to you.”

  “No argument there. But I gave it right back.”

  Remembering how well he’d given it back, she shivered with delight as she nodded.

  “How about we do it again.” Her body heated with happy tingles as she imagined how incredible doing it again was going to feel. “This time, though, you’re playing blind.”

  “Whaddaya mean?” he asked slowly. He didn’t look worried, though. More intrigued.

  He’d mentioned blindfolds once before. Oh, baby, wasn’t that a hot idea. Luke, blindfo
lded and tied to the bed, his gorgeous body completely at her mercy. The idea of all that sexual pleasure, and her not having to worry about baring her soul by accident, was enough to make a girl moan with delight.

  “You’re gonna do me blindfolded.” Letting the words sink in, she shifted to her knees and let the sheet fall into a puddle around her hips.

  To his credit, Luke tried to keep his eyes on her face. But he only lasted a few seconds before they dropped to her breasts. His gaze was hot, as potent as a caress. Her nipples tightened, aching for his touch. She wiggled a little as the curls between her thighs dampened, both at his stare and at what she was about to suggest.

  “Not only blindfolded but completely in the dark. I’m going to make this hard on you.”

  He grinned, then gestured to his already hardening erection. Gia wet her lips, her breath a little shaky. She had to force herself not to reach out and pet it. God, he was gorgeous.

  “Here’s the rest of my fantasy,” she said, her words a little hoarse. “You pleasure me. For the rest of the night, for all of tomorrow. You are here to make me crazy with desire. To show me that you are the best lover, ever. To drive me wild.”

  His eyes already dark with passion, Luke reached out and cupped her breast in his hand, the tips of his fingers skimming her aching nipple. Gia whimpered, then shifted. Not out of his hand. She wasn’t stupid. But aside, just enough so his fingers stilled.

  “You drive me wild,” she repeated. “But you’re on your own. You’re wearing a blindfold, so you can’t read my face. You can’t see if I like what you’re doing. And I won’t say a word. Not even a whisper.”

  Big talk since she wasn’t sure she could manage a single kiss from him without moaning.

  Luke clearly thought so, too. After a confused stare, he started laughing.

  “Seriously? You think you can keep me guessing about what you like just by putting me in a blindfold and not talking?”

  “Well, I realize a silent woman might be some men’s fantasy, but I’m betting it’s not yours.” She shifted closer, close enough that she could feel his breath, hot and moist, on her breasts. His hand squeezed the soft flesh in a gentle, rhythmic move that instinctively kept time with the throbbing between her thighs. Her nipples beaded tighter. His gaze narrowed, his own breath coming a little faster.

  “Basically, you’re my love slave. You are here to pleasure me. As often as I want, whenever I want.” She gave him a teasing look, then skimmed her finger down his chest, stopping just above the thatch of springy curls and the rock-hard erection nestled there. “I hear that can be a problem for guys. Performing on command, I mean.”

  She didn’t know if his laugh was aimed at her performance comment or the idea of being a love slave.

  “Babe, I have never had a problem performing.”

  “But have you ever been in a position of not knowing if you were the best?” she asked. Her words were low. And even as her fingers skimmed, as gentle as an evening breeze, over the hard silken length of his growing erection, she kept her tone serious.

  “How are you at performing without accolades?”

  “I’ll get the accolades,” he promised with a wicked smile. “You won’t be able to resist.”

  “We’re in Vegas,” she pointed out. “So I suppose the appropriate response is, wanna bet?”

  Her heart raced and passion flamed deep in her belly. Could she do it? This idea was insane. But oh, man, the idea of a man like Luke working that hard to make her come? It was incredible.

  And she’d thought dressing up and chasing Luke to Vegas to live out a fantasy was gutsy. Ha. Check her out. She was anything but average now.

  Vanna was crazy.

  Gorgeous. Delicious. Sexy as hell.

  But crazy all the same.

  She really thought spending the next dozen hours having sex was going to be a challenge for him?

  That she could outlast him when it came to the control game? She might look like a siren and have a body made for bringing men to their knees. But he was made of stronger stuff than that. He’d yet to face a sexual encounter and not come away the champion.

  Still, the challenge excited the hell out of him.

  Not as much as her body did, though.

  “So?” she asked, her words breathless as she pulled away. Her eyes were huge; her lips glistened.

  “So, what?”

  “So, is it a bet?”

  “What’re the stakes?”

  “Bragging rights? Winner gets to be on top?” She shrugged. “I’m not greedy.”

  “We can’t bet without a stake,” he insisted. He never played without a prize in sight.

  She shifted, her body sliding down the bed so she was half lying with her upper body propped on the mountain of pillows. The move put her breasts right there in his face.

  Talk about a prize.

  “How about ten bucks?”

  Luke grinned, as intrigued as he was turned on. He didn’t think much of her suggestion that he just coasted through life, although he did spend a little more time in neutral than he liked. But the idea of proving himself, of showing off his prowess while naked now, that was a challenge he was feeling all sorts of excitement for.

  “Ten bucks?” he repeated.

  “Ten bucks,” she confirmed.

  Ready to prove he was all that and then some, Luke’s gaze shifted from the laughing excitement in Vanna’s eyes to the welcoming glory of her body. He gave a slow nod.

  “You’re on.”

  Chapter Five

  Girlz Guide Words of Wisdom…

  Smart Girlz know when to grab their shoes and run.

  Her gaze locked on her reflection in the huge bathroom mirror, Gia took a deep breath to calm her nerves and fluffed her fingers through the unfamiliar weight of hair pouring over her shoulders.

  She was doing it. She was living the fantasy.

  Not only living it but amping it up to heretofore unfantasized-about levels. Wasn’t she too freaking cool?

  A part of her wished she hadn’t locked her cell phone in the safe downstairs along with her ID and wallet. She wanted to talk to her friends. To touch base. To freaking brag.

  But another part of her was glad. So glad.

  Calling home meant stepping out of the role. It meant stepping back into real life.

  In real life Gia wasn’t the blindfolded-sex type. She’d never in her wildest dreams imagine telling the sexiest guy on earth that his job was to pleasure her.

  But Vanna? Vanna made Luke Monroe groan and beg. She intrigued him. She turned him on and challenged him to keep up with her.

  Vanna had it going on.

  Gia leaned closer to the mirror to check her eyeliner, then grabbed a brush to smudge it just a smidge more. As if a flawless smoky eye would make everything perfect. Silly, her rational self pointed out. The man was going to be wearing a blindfold, for crying out loud.

  Still, he’d see her before she tied it over his eyes. He’d hold that image in his mind during the next dozen or so hours of sexual escapades. And she wanted that image to be hot. Incendiary, even. She wanted their little adventure to stay in Luke’s mind long after the weekend was over. To be something he’d remember when he’d moved on to the new job, one of those moments in his life that lived on forever as the best sex he’d ever had.

  No pressure, though.

  Gia rolled her freshly made-up eyes, rubbed her pinkie under her lip to get rid of a lip-gloss smudge, then squared her shoulders.

  Was she ready?

  Stepping as far back as the bathroom would allow, she gave her reflection a narrow look.

  She’d replaced the stockings Luke had ripped in their last encounter with sheer white ones that had tiny pink rosebuds along the thighs. Instead of going naked, she’d slid on a tiny satin slip, one that dipped so low at the breasts it was held up only by her desire-hardened nipples.

  Her body was primed; just one touch would set her off.

  She was about as ready as she
was going to get.

  With a deep breath, she slid her robe’s satin sash from one hand to the other, then stepped into the bedroom. And paused for effect. Since this was going to be Luke’s last view of her for the next few hours, she was determined to make it a good one.

  “Ready?” she asked, leaning her shoulder against the wall to give Luke a long seductive look. “Got that hunger issue all taken care of?”

  Determined to keep his strength up, she’d called room service to bring him a snack. Time to serve herself up as dessert.

  “All fueled up and ready to rock.” Luke’s grin flashed but faded fast as his gaze took her in. The look in his eyes smoldered with passion, hot and enticing. She shivered as her body responded, wishing for a second that they hadn’t made the bet. Because that look of his was one of the biggest turn-ons she’d ever seen.

  “You’re serious about this?” he asked, rising from the bed and walking over to meet her. “I’m not sure I want to deprive myself of such a gorgeous view.”

  “Think of the challenge,” she said, stepping close enough to steep herself in his energy, in the warmth of his body. Then, before she could give in to the need to nibble her way down his chest, she lifted the wide satin belt from her robe. “C’mon, let’s get you suited up so the games can begin.”

  His eyes were full of heat and his smile wicked. Gia wondered if he could see her heart pounding at her chest as if it were trying to escape. For once, her nerves didn’t bother her. They only added another layer of wow to the sexual excitement.

  “Just one second,” he told her.

  Before she could ask why, he slid one hand beneath her hair to cup the back of her neck. His eyes locked on hers and he leaned into the kiss. Their lips melded together, a perfect fit. Gia couldn’t look away, couldn’t even blink, as his gaze heated. That look made their kiss all the more intense. As if he were peering all the way into her soul to memorize every sexual secret she had. The look in his eyes promised that he’d using every one of those secrets against her soon.

  Gia shivered, barely holding back her moan.

  Then, knowing she wouldn’t be able to in a second, Gia pulled away.