A heavy masculine brow arched. “Is that the best tale you can tell? I’m not tickling you.”
“Then what do you call that tickling sensation running through my foot and ankle? Um, that would be tickling.”
He eyed her as if finding something new he’d not seen before. “You can feel that?”
“Yep, so quit trying to make like you’re not tickling me.”
“Interesting, you obviously have the sensitivity of a newborn. Let me try something else.”
The giggle that erupted when he did tickle her instep came with a freedom she hadn’t experienced in a while. Letting loose wasn’t something Bronwyn did, not around others. Before she could contain herself, Bronwyn had slid down off the couch, plopping onto the floor. Water splashed, drenching both of them.
“That’s it. You’re mine now.”
Mac picked her up again with ease. Still wiggling to get free, arms of steel locked her in tightly as he carted her off, up a set of stairs and into a palatial master suite.
“What are you doing?” A little bit of fear crept up as she took in the room.
Tossing her onto the middle of what had to be his bed like a towel, he was quick with his reply.
“I’m getting us something dry to wear. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re both soaking wet.”
She followed his eye line to see her shirt clung to her chest and torso revealing everything she was working with like a brazen wanton bimbo. Her suit jacket back downstairs, Bronwyn tried as best she could to cover up.
“No need for that, my dear one, I’ve seen what you offer, and I must say it is a sight to behold.”
“You’re a rake.”
“Of the highest order when I have a mind to be.”
“Ooh! That’s it. I’m out of here!”
She did her best to slide off the bed, ignoring the dull pain that radiated around her ankle.
“Careful, you have a strain. Don’t make it worse by putting your weight on that foot.”
The combination of a wet shirt, cool air of the house, and anger at being told what to do were the right combination to fuel the intensity of her reply.
Through chattering teeth, she managed to hurl at him, “Unless you’re a damn doctor I don’t think you have the ability to tell me anything when it comes to my body. Your twisted fun for the day is over. This was interesting, but I’m done with your games, taunts, teases.”
Bronwyn managed to hobble toward the door of the room before another spat of thoughts bum rushed her mouth for release.
“You know, at first I thought you were different. I’m usually good at picking up on things about people, but boy was I wrong this time. I might be inexperienced when it comes to handling men like you, but I’m not a fool or an idiot. You’ve had your fun at my expense. Yes, I’m extremely attracted to you despite your antics. No, I’m not going to pin hope on anything you’ve said here today. Yes, I’m leaving, and no, I will not work for or with you—ever!”
Done with her rant, Bronwyn pivoted around to march out the door only to be airborne once again.
“Great. For the last time, I don’t want you working for me. Yes, I’m extremely attracted to you too. No, this isn’t a game, but yes, I’m playing for keeps where you’re concerned.” Before she could launch a proper rebuttal, he placed her in front of him, still within the circle of his arms. Bending down, he added, “You promised me a kiss before you left and I’m going to make sure you make good on that promise.”
His warm lips crashed down onto hers, taking her with a hungry desperation she could never have predicted in a million years.
9
Bronwyn
Kaput—all her ability to resist was over. Reputation, hard work, and goals evaporated into ashes as she lost the battle and gave into his searing kiss.
Sure, she’d kissed a few guys and had fooled around here and there. Bronwyn had even gotten so far as to explore with intimate touching of her full breasts with a guy as they made out. Dry humping another guy the only time she’d ever allowed herself to drink on a date still didn’t compare to the way Mac was kissing the hell out of her. How could kissing be so freaking amazing? Except for his embrace to hold her steady, their only contact was this magical kiss. The man didn’t touch her breasts that ached for attention, nor did he roam her body with his hands. How was he doing this to her with a kiss?
New sensations too wondrous to try to identify had her body arching and straining up and into his massive one. Barely allowing her time to take in air before slaying her senses again with his tongue, Mac marched her up to the point she thought she’d explode with the overload of emotions coming at her. This, this was some next-level, seduction she couldn’t have ever been ready for.
“Wait, hold up, stop,” she managed to get out after another brief separation.
His answer? Was to suck her bottom lip as the tip of his tongue flicked and teased her into submission.
She pushed back, releasing her lip with a pop. The effect produced a drenching of her panties. This man! Instead of saying a word, the look of gorgeous bedevilment greeted her. At that moment Bronwyn knew she was completely lost to escaping the promises behind that look.
“Okay fine! You’ve got my attention,” she said through heavy breaths.
“Just your attention? I see my work has only begun.”
He used his tongue to trace the outline of her lips. Never had something so audacious been done to her—her! He used that tip like it was a whip to draw her back in. Each flick and taunt coaxed her mouth back into submission until he plunged in again to claim victory over her sanity. Throwing her hands up in the air in unconscious surrender, Mac wasted no time gathering her up and bringing her right back to the middle of that bed where she’d started.
When he started unbuttoning her wet shirt, she said nothing, determined to continue to breathe through the excitement. What she wasn’t ready for was when he turned and went over to a massive chest of drawers. Was he looking for condoms? Bronwyn propped herself up on her elbows as curiosity once again had her magnetized to every movement he made.
Seemingly satisfied with what he found, Mac returned to toss a dry t-shirt at her.
“Take your bra off, and I’ll toss both your shirt and it into the dryer for a few minutes.”
“Huh?” That was the last thing she’d expected him to say.
“You heard me. I’m not going to allow you to catch a cold on my watch. Up that bra or I’m coming in to get it.”
“You wouldn’t dare.”
A thick, dark eyebrow arched in warning. “Wouldn’t I?”
Deciding not to push him, she put the t-shirt on, making sure to cover herself as she released the clasp of the bra. Throughout the event, his eyes never left her chest. Bronwyn could almost swear she heard his breathing from the few feet away from where he stood watching and waiting for her to deliver the wet piece of her intimates. Little did he know her panties were just as wet but from his doing.
Giving the bra to him, she stayed transfixed to where she sat waiting and watching. He removed his wet t-shirt to reveal a rippling of muscles so defined, the whispered “Damn” that escaped her wasn’t enough to do the exquisite sight before her justice.
“You like what you see?”
“Don’t fish for compliments, it doesn’t fit your style.” She couldn’t believe she’d said that. His brazen approach to their conversation was wearing off on her.
“You’re right, and I’m not fishing for anything. I have what I want sitting before me. Answer the question. Do you like what you see?”
“Why wouldn’t I?”
“I’m going to ask only once more.”
“Or else?”
“Or else you won’t see anything again until you beg.”
“Hah! MacMillan Kelnar, you’re full of yourself.”
“And you’re playing coy. That’s a big no-no. When it comes to us, always be upfront. No need to beat around the bush or play games. Remember, no games or tricks
? My promise is that I’ll do the same. Now…” he gave her another smile, this time licking his lips in a manner that was so seductive a wayward gasp floated out of her and on the air between them. “Tell me what you want. I won’t bite, not yet anyway.” The wink that punctuated that had Bronwyn thinking he might be capable of biting her, and boy was she willing and ready.
“Tell you what I want? All right then. I want…”
She paused, taking the notion seriously. No one had ever posed this question to her. What did she want? He waited, managing to stand there like a Herculean god in the glory that was his physique. Sitting here exposed as she was with only a t-shirt covering her top half and her skirt dangerously bunched around her hips, Bronwyn felt the most at ease she’d been in possibly forever. Gone was that constant void of being alone. She couldn’t explain it but try as she might think about money or things that Mac could most certainly give her, the only thing that came up for her was that she wanted—him.
When she focused on looking back up at him, still standing there waiting on her answer with quiet command, instead of doing something to make her feel pressured to answer, he wore an expression of hope that she’d answer truthfully.
Mustering up the ability to walk into a new realm of being Bronwyn closed her eyes and said, “I want you.”
This time she let herself go, allowing the moment to take her where it would. Mac pounced more than moved as he rejoined her on the bed. This kiss pulled her need and hunger to the surface. In free fall of emotions, Bronwyn granted Mac her blind trust to keep both of them cushioned within the safety of his strength. Each nip, flick of the tongue, and suckle led her down the path of arousal so powerful her body hummed and buzzed. Mac explored every part of her mouth taking his time to allow her to respond to his invitations to tango.
Before her eyes opened, strength so powerful she felt minuscule in its wake enveloped her in a warmth almost too hot to be humanly possible. He was on top of her using that skillful tongue of his to bring her back into his cocoon of pleasure. He wedged himself between her thighs to fit snugly between her legs. Thoughts of how stupid it had been to wear that too little skirt would have to wait. Despite her inability to think straight, her body continued to respond in ways she couldn’t imagine.
Bronwyn’s pelvic area continued to arch up in wicked invitation as Mac wrapped her tight in his arms.
“If you don’t stay still, I might not be able to continue to contain myself.” His voice was deeper, with a throaty sexiness to it. Another deep kiss and Bronwyn felt the rumble of his groan pass through her. “You’re killing me with how your body responds to mine. Stop it my little minx, or I’ll take you right here.”
“Promise?” was all she said against the velvety smoothness of his impressive lips. Wanting him in every way had become her insatiable quest. “What do I have to do to be completely taken?”
“Stop.”
“Or else?”
“You become mine.”
“Confident much?” He was right, she could be a naughty brat. She liked this version of herself.
“Bronwyn, behave,” his warning only served to fuel her need to push onward.
Biological instinct took control. Thrusting up, moans of pleasure emanated from deep within as she caught the outline of his hard, large cock. Angling herself to rub her clit against him through completely soaked panties was a huge win. In unison, they moaned in ecstasy increasing the synchronistic dance of primal pleasure. Insatiable and needing more of him closer, harder, faster, deeper, Bronwyn looped her legs around his powerful thighs. Her body was in the driver’s seat, directing every action. She marveled in how she rubbed her pussy hard and fast against his steel pipe of a cock. Even through their clothes, he felt amazing. She had to have as much of him as possible—had to go deeper.
“Take me, now,” she whispered into his ear. “I want to feel you deep inside me.”
As if her words were the spell to stop momentum and time, Mac stopped and looked down into her eyes. His eyes were swirls of complexities she couldn’t fathom. The sight of his reaction to her was fearsome, arousing, and full of dread. Instinct had her bracing for the worse. Once again, her gut was rewarded with being right. Swift as the wind Mac was off her and scrambling off the bed.
“Wait, what? What’s happening?” Her disorientation and confusion had Bronwyn scrambling to put coherent sentences together. She had to plea and make her case for him to continue. She wanted and needed to know it wasn’t what she’d said, or worse yet, who she was. Fear that he’d come back to his senses and didn’t want to encourage her, an averaged girl, that he was into her, Bronwyn forced the question out. “Is it because of what I said?” She refused to ask the real question of if it was her that he didn’t want. “I take it back. We can slow it down.” Her words came too fast, too much begging in them. They sounded pathetic, even to her.
Pacing on the side of the bed like a caged animal, he fought to slow his breathing. She watched, fighting the drive to go to him, to touch him.
“Mac, talk to me. Say something. What did I do?” It was official, she was that girl. Stamp Desperate Loser on her forehead and relegate her to the corner, she’d blown it with Mac.
Finally, he spoke. “You’re not ready. I don’t want to move too fast. Trust me, you’re not ready for what I have in store for us.” He ran a hand through thick, unruly chestnut brown hair as he began to pace again. When he made it to stand at the middle of the foot of the bed, he looked at her, eyes still dark with simmering passion. “It wouldn’t be right for me to take you here, now. There’s too much important information you need to know about me before you make that level of commitment.”
“Mac, it’s fine. I’m an adult, and I know what I’m doing.” Forcing her voice to calm and show maturity she pressed on. “You’re not coercing me to do anything I don’t want to.” She was upright, on her knees, moving to the edge of the bed where he stood. Bronwyn couldn’t help herself. She needed to be closer to him. The pull he had on her was too powerful to refuse. Before she could get close enough to touch him, he went and stood next to that damn chest of drawers, putting what might as well be an ocean of space between them. Despite the pang of rejection at his change in mood and proximity, she forged on. Bronwyn would make her case. “You don’t have to worry. I’m not going to do anything to try to keep you tied to me. Let’s call this what it is. We have chemistry. The attraction is off the roof. You want me, I want you, and I’m adult enough to take it for what it is.”
“For what it is? What do you think we’re doing here?”
Somewhere in that question, Bronwyn felt a pivotal piece of how the outcome would manifest had embedded itself in however she responded.
Answering with caution, she chose her words as non-emotionally as possible. Guys weren’t like women. She didn’t want to scare him completely away.
“I get it. This is a hookup. I might not be in the know about a lot in the way of how men and women interact now, but I do know what a hookup is. And, yes, I promise to not become clingy or try to stay past my welcome. I told you, we’re good.”
Icy gray-blue eyes narrowed. Uh-oh, that had been the wrong answer, but how?
“Bronwyn, I think we should hold off on the course of this conversation.”
“Okay, I didn’t mean any harm.”
His voice softened to take a little of the granite edge off as he said, “I know you didn’t, but I think we’re still on completely different planes when it comes to what we’re doing here.”
Anger at his assumption that she was too stupid to get what he wanted lashed an angry streak across her heart. That one statement hurt more than most of the stuff she’d endured the last year. His words wouldn’t stand as they were. Bronwyn summoned up the power behind the hurt and let it go.
“You egotistical brute. How dare you try to come off as high and mighty, like I’m the trap who doesn’t get what you’re trying to have with me here. Don’t play like that. You and I both know all you wante
d was some ass today. I wanted you too, but for whatever reason, you’re getting cold feet. Please, for the sake of both our intelligence, don’t try to put that off on me. Let’s be honest as you like to say and tell it like it is. You’re not that into me. Fine, I’ll make it easy for you. I’m out.”
She was off the bed and through the door before her mind could catch up with what she was doing. Bronwyn made it downstairs determined to find her things and get out of here. What she didn’t hear were footsteps behind her. That hurt, more than it should. Shaking off the need for him to come after her, she pressed on, ignoring the thudding pain in her foot and ankle that would be hell to pay in a little while. With her phone, suit jacket and shoes in her hand, she turned to leave.
Anger was a dominant force. Bronwyn would walk before she stayed here. Flicking through her apps to find a ride share, she made it to the foyer to stand in the front doorway before she heard him.
“Bronwyn, please don’t go. You’re right. I fucked up. Come back so we can work this out.”
She ignored him, opening the door to get away from the person who’d hurt her too much to look at him.
Outside sat a brand-new work van. It was red with her logo and business information wrapped around it professionally. It gleamed in the noonday sun. More emotions collided into each other. Gratitude, joy, and relief flooded in. He’d more than kept his promise about her van. That was sweet. As soon as that thought appeared, anger demanded to keep the top spot. Those other emotions were powerless to combat anger before it had its pound of flesh. She wanted him to feel how embarrassed, rejected and hurt she felt.
“The keys are in the ignition. If you want to leave me, I won’t keep you from doing so.”
“Please. Don’t try that psycho-hypnotic trick on me. You’re not going to try to turn your bad behavior into guilting me to stay. Yes, I’m leaving, and I’ll take the van. Thank you very much.”
She hobbled more than walked over to the driver’s side and managed to get into the seat. He didn’t come close to her, instead of watching from the side. Anger-fueled energy had her spinning out of the drive on her way as far away from him as possible.
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