Take Me Home: Home is Where the Heat Is, Book 3

by Candi Wall

  He pulled her shirt aside a fraction and brushed his lips across her collarbone. “You’re doing great.”

  “Really?” Her voice cracked on the word. Did it matter? All the camera would show was her body melting under his scorching touch anyway. “What do you want me to do?”

  “I think you need to kiss me.”

  Dazed, she blinked several times and met his smoldering gaze. The bright green she’d noticed when she’d first met him had disappeared. Now, his eyes were dark emerald, full of heat… Had he said kiss? “What?”

  “You know.” His words were low, barely a whisper. “Your lips on mine or mine on yours. Think we can manage?”

  She nodded. There was nothing else to do. Nothing else she wanted more right now. Then his lips touched hers, the briefest contact, warm and light. Succinct as the touch may have been, the warmth that spread through her body wasn’t. It coursed with leaden weight through every vein until her head pounded in an incessant demand for more. Dropped into his arms by fate, held close by the photo session, shaped and molded into sexy positions by Lynn-Ella, her body was on fire.

  His sharp intake of breath pulled her from her daze.

  “Again?” he asked.

  All she could do was nod. He might walk away thinking she was a mute idiot, but she didn’t trust herself to speak.

  He smiled as his lips descended to hers again. The contact was even more profound, and he melded her to his body. His lips worked over hers with delicate, easy movements until she opened to him with a sigh. If this was her moment, she was going to take it.

  He accepted her surrender and deepened the kiss. His tongue met hers, warm and with a hint of butterscotch. Each thrust into her mouth stoked the hunger his touch had already created until she knew she probably wouldn’t stop him if he pulled her down to the stage floor. The world spun away. Cameras disappeared. Sound muted. Nothing existed outside of their heated, pleasure-inducing cocoon. The firm line of his cock was outlined against his jeans, and she wondered if she turned him on or if his reaction was to their setting.

  Not that she could bring herself to really care. Reason flittered away. It felt like he wanted her, so she was going to live in the moment until it ended. Though the pressure of his hands winding down her back seemed to indicate no end in sight.

  When he broke away—almost, not quite letting her go—he stared down into her eyes. Several brief kisses touched her lips before he rested his forehead to hers. “Never kissed someone like that with an audience. You?”

  “No.” With an audience? He had no idea. “I’ve never kissed someone like that before, period.”

  His brows furrowed and he jerked back slightly. “You’re kidding, right?”

  Embarrassed by her statement, she smiled to cover her discomfort. “I-I meant a guy I don’t know.”

  “Gotcha.” The crinkles over his brows disappeared. “Well, it was sexy as hell.”

  Sexy? She had a hard time digesting that thought. She’d rarely felt sexy in her life. But she had to admit, in his arms, she felt close. “Thanks.”

  “My pleasure, darlin’.”

  That soft twang in his voice was deadly to her senses. She liked listening to him speak. “So how do you like New York so far?”

  “Not my kind of town.” He shrugged. “Too many people.”

  “And cabs.”

  “Wonderful,” Lynn-Ella interrupted. “I’ve got what I need.”

  “And cameras.” He glanced at Lynn-Ella before hugging Shawna. After a moment he let go and stepped back with a warm smile. “Guy can’t even get a kiss without an audience.”

  Shawna sighed. Now she had to add a great sense of humor to his list of qualities. Marvelous. Her moment with dream-o-man would make her occasional cyber-dates achingly dull. Not that most weren’t already. “Well, you’ll have to try again sometime in a quieter spot.”

  “Tonight?”

  Confused by the mischievous light in his eyes, she shrugged. “If that’s what you want.”

  Jenna sidled over next to them and snaked an arm through his. “What are you doing this evening?”

  Cash barely glanced at Jenna. “No plans really, unless Shawna accepts my invitation.”

  “Invitation, huh?” Jenna glared at her for a moment, and Shawna could almost feel the voodoo jinx sent her way. Then Jenna tossed her hair over one shoulder and pressed closer to his side.

  He moved away slightly, and Shawna got the feeling he didn’t enjoy Jenna’s pawing. Yeah, liking the fuck out of that thought.

  “A couple of us are hitting a nightclub,” Jenna pushed. “Want to come with?”

  “Depends on if Shawna says yes,” he maintained, his gaze expectant, almost pleading.

  “Yes to what? Did you ask me something and I missed it?” She was lost, but the look in his eyes made her seriously consider saying yes. Too bad New York, and StyleU, had taught her better than to go with instinct alone. Saying yes without details might have her agreeing to take his blind cousin to every tourist trap in the city, while hotty banged the models. Torture.

  “Kinda.” His smile came slow and sensual. “I was hoping we could find that quiet spot you were suggesting.”

  “Seriously?” Jenna huffed. “There will be like four of us going. I guarantee a good time.”

  Shawna stared at Cash. “Did you just ask me out?”

  He nodded.

  “And is Jenna trying to ask you out over your attempt to ask me out?” she clarified.

  Cash offered another nod. This time with a smile.

  “And you’re still waiting for my response?”

  “That ’bout ropes it.”

  Shawna chuckled at his Texan slang. “You do realize she’s using the guaranteed-multiple-pieces-of-ass incentive?”

  “Yep.”

  Evidently he had, because his smile wasn’t for Jenna. He held Shawna’s gaze. “I know where I can have a good time. Whatcha think? Wanna go out with the ladies, or you think we can find something to do?”

  A night with the bitchy models of StyleU versus Cash and a quiet spot? “I think I’ll pass on the nightclub. That’s not really my thing, but you should go if you want.”

  Before she could add more, he interrupted. “Good, then a quiet night with me it is. What time should I pick you up?”

  “Seven.” The answer came from Chloe Garrison. She glanced at Jenna and loitering company as she approached, her stilettos clicking rhythmically. “Last time I checked, you weren’t paid to talk.”

  Her statement scattered the vultures. The models hightailed it for wardrobe, much to Shawna’s relief. If they hadn’t left, Cash might have come to his senses. For once, Shawna was glad for Chloe’s frighteningly assertive nature.

  “Now,” Chloe snapped, drawing a hand over her waist to smooth her dress. “We need him out in public. That’s the only way this cover goes as big as I need it to, and by accounts so far, cowboys don’t come with a predetermined outcome.”

  Shawna was used to Chloe being abrupt, but today she seemed a bit rumpled. Her usually immaculate boss looked as if she’d just climbed out of bed. Nick Westing stood a slight distance behind her, his gaze locked on her profile. Oddly enough, her boss kept shooting him glances.

  Shawna had only met Nick that morning. He was Cash’s half brother, but if she wasn’t mistaken, there was something going on between Nick and Chloe.

  “Shawna, stick to him like glue.” Chloe groaned. “Pay attention. I want you to have Cash at the Odyssey tonight by eight at the latest. Make sure you advise him on playing it up for the fan base without him giving up too many details.”

  She walked away then, over to where Lynn-Ella stood, and the two women focused on the computer. After a long moment Chloe shot her a dark look. Shawna cringed. What would her boss think of the racy photos? If she knew Chloe, the pictures of Cash and the models wo
uld be on the front page of the next issue. Shawna sighed. It would be interesting to see what they’d looked like.

  “What I wouldn’t give to see those pictures.” She’d barely muttered the words, but Cash nodded.

  “Me too. I’ll see what I can do.”

  “I’m sure we’ll see them eventually.” She smiled up at him, a bit more at ease to chalk up their time together as a job. “So, seven it is. Not the quiet evening we’d planned though. I’ll pick you up?”

  “I’m game as long as I’ve got you in my corner.” He winked then. And she decided winking wasn’t as stalker-pervish as she’d once thought. Heck, on Cash, it was downright debilitating. “I’ll be waiting.”

  Chapter Three

  Shawna grabbed her phone and dialed Cash’s room as she rechecked her reflection in the large mirrors lining one wall of the hotel lobby. She hated dressing up. Yoga pants and a tank top were more her speed. Add on a slice of cheesecake, a glass of wine and Sleepless in Seattle and she’d be in heaven.

  And the unemployment line. Chloe would hit the roof if she found out a StyleU escort had taken Cash out on the town in normal, everyday clothing.

  Keeping that in mind, she’d dressed in a shorter-than-her-norm black skirt. The matching high-heel boots would give her blisters, but they did tend to make her legs look a little longer and a bit less thick. Her breasts looked large in anything, there was just no helping it, so she’d settled for a pale-blue silk blouse that flowed freely and hid the upper portion of her arms.

  She’d tried on every ensemble in her closet and nothing had come close to how she wished she could look for Cash. She’d never be model material, but she was passing for the evening, and her hair looked good for once. Win. The tight bun she’d put it in was neat, and the couple of wisps of hair escaping complemented her face. All in all, she looked appropriate for representing StyleU.

  “Hello, darlin’.” The moment he answered, the butterflies in her stomach morphed into lunar moths focused on finding a way free.

  “Are you ready?” she asked.

  “Not yet. Come on up. I have a surprise for you.”

  He hung up before she could say a word.

  Chewing at her lip, she considered her next move. Go to Cash’s room or leave StyleU’s newest god without an escort? Neither option seemed safer than the other. Chloe could throw her out on her ass over the consequences of either choice. At least going up might hurry him along…

  Mind made up, she rushed to the elevator. The ride seemed to take forever, and she glanced at her watch several times on the way up to the sixty-fifth floor. Cash was staying in one of the posh rooms the magazine held in reserve for guests. When the elevator door opened she found him standing just outside of it with a devilish grin.

  He grabbed her hand and spun her in a quick circle. “Hot damn, you look good. Those boots are kickin’ my ass. Come with me.”

  Pulled down the hall by his smile more than his hand, a lighthearted contentment stole over her. He was easy to be around, his smile lighting up his face and crinkling the skin around his eyes. It was an infectious expression, full of real emotion.

  While they walked, she let herself enjoy how good he looked. A light gray shirt encased his broad shoulders, the material clinging to his bronze skin. The shirt tapered into a pair of washed-out jeans with fray marks at the pockets and knees. Everything fit to perfection, accentuating his incredible body. The toppings on this cupcake were his black cowboy hat and snakeskin boots.

  He was straight out of a dream.

  They reached his room, and she laughed when she saw a small wastebasket holding the door open. He pushed it aside with a little shrug. “Can’t find my key.”

  “I’ll have the front desk issue you a new one when we go down.”

  She’d barely finished the statement when he had her across the room. He stopped in front of a laptop and pointed to it. “I’ll look for my key while you open the file. It’s our pictures. Chloe agreed to copy them for me, but I can’t figure out how to open it.”

  The spacious room closed in around her, his scent filling her lungs with every breath. Even when he disappeared into the adjoining room, Shawna just stood there, rooted to the spot by the fact that she was in his space, where he would lie down tonight on the large inviting bed no more than five feet from where she stood. Her mind conjured the image easily. His dark hair contrasted by the fluffy cream pillows, bronze skin covered only by the pale sheets. Every muscle would be outlined… Smooth silk sliding over his skin…

  “Any luck?”

  Cash called from the other room, snapping her from the sinful thoughts. She glanced at the computer, nervous anticipation fluttering through her chest. She’d imagined every scenario possible for tonight in the hours since the photo shoot. None of the daydreams touched the reality. She wasn’t even going to attempt to deny it. Truth was, she knew all it would take was the right touch, or word, and she’d be in his bed.

  With a deep breath, she pulled a chair closer to the desk. Determined to ignore her wayward thoughts, she sat down and typed in the commands to open the protected file. Chloe should have known he wouldn’t know the password. But maybe that was her plan. She’d kill someone if the photos hit the streets before the magazine did. The file loaded quickly and the first picture popped onto the screen.

  Cash stood with Jenna and Lise. They all looked beautiful, hot, everything an ad should be. She cringed, wondering if Chloe had added any of the other pictures. “I’ve got it when you’re ready.”

  “Be there in a minute. Go ahead and find ours.”

  She flipped through dozens of pictures, unsure if she wanted theirs to be in the file. Seeing the pictures together here, instead of the privacy of her apartment or office, didn’t sit well. She was about to turn away when the next picture popped up.

  Her breath caught. She and Cash stood close, his masculine grace evident. She looked pale and plain next to him, but the heat in their gazes sizzled on the screen, as if nothing outside of the two people existed. Chloe must have deleted the first few awkward photos before Lynn-Ella had prodded Cash into action.

  The next photo was even better. He was closer, his lips near her neck. A zing of awareness tickled her belly, liquid heat dampening her thong. The look on her face was mesmerizing. She looked dazed, lost in the moment, as if he’d cast a spell. The next few pictures barely changed, just slight shifts, like the photographer had tried to catch every aching movement until they kissed.

  He pulled her hair free, stroking until it flowed down her back. She was arched into him, her hand coming up to rest against his bare chest, her lips parted on what must have been a sigh of contentment. The next picture caught when their lips met. Their eyes were closed, his muscular arm around her waist. She wasn’t small, but next to him she looked tiny.

  When the first picture of their deeper kiss came up on the screen, she couldn’t hold back a groan. A double dose of heat pooled between her legs. There was nothing simple or calm about the photo. They may as well have been naked and fucking. It was just as intense. Mouths fused, his strong jaw flexed as he demanded a response. She could taste him now and closed her eyes to block out the memory.

  “Wow,” he whispered next to her ear. “We look good. Go back. I want to see them all.”

  Jolted by the nearness of his voice, she flipped numbly through the previous pictures, trying not to look again. Having him over her shoulder did a serious kick-start job on her normally placid libido. She shifted to alleviate the building pressure, cringing when the movements spiked her arousal instead.

  When she reached the pictures of him and the models, his hand closed over hers on the mouse. “Wait. Not those. Just the ones of us.”

  He didn’t remove his hand. Instead he placed his finger over hers and clicked through the pictures slowly. “You look fantastic. So sexy.”

  His breath brushed over her ea
r and she shivered. “No, you look good.”

  They stayed that way as he flipped through the pictures. When he reached the last batch, the ones of their deep kiss, he slowed down considerably. “We’re so intense. I knew I liked it, but I wasn’t sure if you had.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “No.” His cheek brushed her neck. “I wasn’t sure if you were just acting. But looking at these, hell, you can almost see the heat between us.” She nodded, tipping her head slightly as his lips barely brushed her skin. “I’m not one for small talk, Shawna. I like you. Hell, I want you. To put it as blunt as I can. And I think you want me.”

  Yes, yes and yes. “Cash, I’m not sure this is—”

  She tried to turn the chair to face him, but he held her still. “Look at us. We are amazing together, perfect, like we’ve already been lovers and know exactly what we want. You can’t tell me you didn’t feel that.”

  “Yeah, I felt it.” The light bristle of his whiskers moved down her neck. Every nerve ending in her body stood at rigid attention when he was near, ready to sing at his touch.

  “Do you feel it now?”

  His hands moved up her arms to her shoulders, his fingers drifting over the skin exposed by her flowing shirt. She closed her eyes and nodded mutely, unable to form a decent response.

  His low growl rumbled through her, and when his lips closed over the pulse at her neck, she dropped her head to the side. Reaching back, she clutched at his hair, holding him close as his teeth nipped gently at her flesh. Sharp, pulsing pleasure poured through her from the simple caress, and her nipples tightened, straining against the lace of her bra.

  She wanted to lose herself in his touch. He’d be gone soon. Her one chance to take advantage of his interest would disappear when the photo sessions were over. She didn’t normally think about sleeping with a man just for the sake of doing it before he left. Men were more apt to pass her by for the gorgeous models who paraded through the doors of StyleU every day. His interest in her was as shocking as the one-night-of-cowboy-riding-bliss thoughts rolling through her head.