A strange sense of calm settled over Gina. Feminine intuition had abandoned her in the past, but right now she knew that even with her limbs tied down, she held all the cards. A long-suppressed need to assert her sexual power began to emerge. Her previous lovers had never allowed her to take the lead or ever asked her what she wanted in bed.
She knew what she wanted right now. She wanted to drive Connor as insane with desire as he had done with her. This had Gina lifting her hips experimentally, lodging Connor’s hard cock a little farther into her wet channel.
“Gina! I’m not going to be able to stop,” he grunted roughly. His eyes bored holes into her with a warning to stop.
At that moment, she realized that she didn’t want him to stop.
Gina lifted her head up and began laying small, sweet kisses along his neck. Stroking her tongue down to his shoulder, she let her teeth sink into the soft flesh. Gina lifted her hips once again, hissing at the friction of his dick only partially inside of her. Wanting more, craving all of him, she raised her hips a little more.
That was all the encouragement he needed. With a soul-rending growl, Connor flexed his hips and plunged into her, pushing all the way in with one final hard stroke.
His name escaped from her in a shout at the feel of his rigid flesh forcefully submerging into her, his hands cupping her ass again, holding her in place as he filled her to the hilt.
“Ah, so damn tight!” He partially pulled out of her, only to plunge back harder, thrusting over and over.
“I’ve waited so bloody long to feel your warm pussy wrapped around me, squeezing me tight. Feel that, Gina,” he ordered, his hips pumping into her. “I can’t believe you made us wait so damn long for this.”
The slick sound of her wet pussy sucking at his cock only fuelled her need to push him over the edge just as he had done with her so often.
Connor hollered out her name, moving his hips faster and faster. His teeth clenched tight as his jaw rubbed along her cheek. “So damn tight! God, Gina, you fit me like a glove. I can feel your hot cunt gripping me.”
The harder he pumped into her, the hotter she got, matching him thrust for thrust, until a scorching burn coursed through her, splintering her into a million pieces.
Her cry of release was muted against his neck. She could feel his strained tendons against her lips as Connor found his own release, growling her name over and over again, crushing her beneath him.
It took him a few minutes to catch his breath. Only then did he reach down and undo the strips of red silk binding Gina’s ankles. Connor let his fingers slowly trail up her body to undo the restraints from around her wrists.
“Whoa, hold up. Slowly.” He stopped her from moving her arms. “Let me work these muscles before you move.” His fingers worked the kinks out, then gradually he moved her arms down to her sides.
Connor couldn’t help but stare down at Gina, taking in her still-quivering body. He was a little shocked at his complete response to her. He had meant to take things slow tonight, to bring her to the brink over and over before he allowed either of them to find release. But all thoughts of taking hours with her had flown out the proverbial window when she had lifted her hips, ensuring his burgeoning cock slipped farther into her welcoming warmth. Taking her nice and slow hadn’t been an option when he had felt her pussy sucking at his dick, her hips lifting up to bring him deeper into her core.
Connor couldn’t remember the last time he had ever forgotten all rational thought and let his body take over completely. Pure carnal heat had had him taking her as if both of their lives had depended on it. And he couldn’t wait to do it again. But he was pretty sure by the tightness of her pussy that it had been awhile since she had been intimate, making him feel like a heel for wanting to jump her again. A bigger part of him was thrilled that she hadn’t been with another man in some time. Gina’s little evasive games had driven him mad. And when she had mentioned her date with another man, he had been ready to throttle her. But one thing he had learned about Gina was that he couldn’t take the direct approach anymore. He knew he had to be a little more creative to teach her that they belonged together and the heat sizzling between them couldn’t be found with anyone else.
He turned over and reached under the settee, bringing up a moist, hot towel.
Connor moved down her body and parted her legs, running the warm cloth carefully over her still slick curls and tender folds.
Even after their mutual release, he was ready for her again. He couldn’t help but want to yell out to the world, “Mine!” But they needed to get some ground rules established first before he took her again.
For some reason, Connor’s gentleness had her shrinking back from him.
Tears gathered in her eyes, not from the slight twinge of pain from the friction of the towel, but from the multitude of emotions whirling around in her, competing for supremacy. The white-hot pleasure this man had given her tonight would forever be stamped into her brain, giving her endless memories to fantasize about.
Another part of her mourned, because now that the chase was over, she knew she wouldn’t be able to hold his interest for long.
Once he had his fill of her, he would be moving on and she would be left picking up the fractured pieces he left behind. This time around, Gina knew she wouldn’t be able to survive it. A measly makeover wasn’t going to conceal the ache he left in her when he walked away.
Gina knew she had been fooling herself to think she could have casual sex with him. There wasn’t anything casual about if for her. If she was honest with herself, she had to admit that she had been harboring feelings for Connor even before her life makeover.
A deluge of terror had her lashing out. “The damn list is finished,” she snapped. “Now we can both move on.” She pushed away from him and made for her dress, determined to get dressed and out of here on her own terms.
She missed the look of disbelief that flashed across his face. Instead, she ignored him as he stood up and gathered his own clothes.
Shaking his head as if he was going to argue with her, Connor stopped and she heard him take a long, hard breath. “Look, you’re tired—we’re both tired, Gina. Let’s get back to the hotel and sleep on it. We’ll have time to talk on the flight back home tomorrow.”
“I’m not flying home with the team tomorrow Connor,” she responded automatically, “I am going to spend the weekend here in Toronto.”
“Like hell you are,” he barked out. “You’re going home with me tomorrow, Gina. No way in hell am I going to leave you here on your own, not after this. You’re mine!”
Gina staggered under his possessive words, her gaze meeting his with confusion.
When she didn’t respond, he sighed, gesturing to the velvet doorway. “Let’s go.”
Connor placed a possessive hand on the small of her back, ushering her past the curtains. “I am going to get someone to escort you to the lobby while I go grab my jacket. I’ll have my driver meet us out front in a few minutes.”
In typical Connor style, he didn’t wait for her to respond. Instead he took it for granted that she would acquiesce.
Mindless of the people around her, Gina allowed Connor to guide her to the elevator where he asked an employee to accompany her to the lobby to wait for him.
With numb legs, Gina entered the elevator. She turned and leaned against the back wall, not sure her legs would hold her up for much longer.
Connor stood outside of the elevator, staring at Gina with a raised eyebrow, trying to get a read on her as the doors slowly shut, separating her from his gaze.
Connor knew he had been treading on dangerous ground when he entered the room Gina had been waiting in.
The woman had ignored all his calls and made asinine excuses to his emails when he’d asked her out to dinner. Working for the same organization, he was still awed at how she had skillfully avoided him.
But a man had to do what a man had to do.
There was no way Gina could ignore what ha
d happened between them now. With new certitude, Connor went to grab his jacket.
The silence of the elevator was deafening. The attendant stood in front of her, discreetly staring ahead.
“I need a taxi,” Gina said to the back of his head.
Without turning, he nodded and spoke into the microphone clipped to his lapel. When they reached the lobby, he waited respectfully for her to follow him to the front doors. He reached for the door handle to walk her out, only then hesitating and asking her, “Are you sure you don’t want to wait for Mr. Waters?”
Stepping past him into the dark, cold night, Gina shook her head no.
One thing was for certain, she wasn’t sure about anything.
Chapter Eight
Walking back from the restroom, Gina couldn’t help but throw a nervous glance over her shoulder. The feeling of being watched was overwhelming. A healthy hint of alarm radiated from her core, her gaze darting around the crowded room as she searched the nightclub for the cause of her distress. Her spider senses were tingling in warning, but everywhere she looked, all Gina could see was the crowd of elite party-goers engrossed within their own circles having a good time. No one seemed to be paying her undue attention except for Matt, who sat waiting for her at the private table he had booked for the evening.
Making her way back to him, Gina forced herself to relax and return his welcoming smile. She took a seat next to him on one of the many plush couches reserved for the guests requesting private bottle service for the night.
“You okay?” asked Matt close to her ear. Even over the din of the music and conversations floating around them, Gina heard the note of concern in his voice.
So much for playing it cool!
“I’m fine. Just a little anxious about everything running smoothly for tonight’s fundraiser.”
“Relax, Gina, you’re off the clock tonight. Everyone’s having a good time—the food and drinks are flowing and Connor’s manager has the club’s staff on top it. It’s your turn to let your hair down and enjoy the night.”
Just the mention of Connor’s name made a tiny shiver of foreboding run through her. The man wasn’t even here and he had her nerves clamoring with anxiety.
“Speaking of Connor,” Matt shifted nearer, “I kinda got the impression that you two might be…” He trailed off without completing his question.
Gina caught his meaning loud and clear. Forcing laughter into her voice, she shrugged with feigned disdain, “Connor and I are merely—friends.”
Friends? That sounded lame even to my own ears. But Matt seemed to take her answer at face value and didn’t press her any further.
Mentally shaking off her distress, Gina reached for her stemless wineglass resting on the low table in front of her and Matt. Lifting it to her lips, she tried to enjoy the bold taste of the wine sliding across her tongue. She ordered herself to enjoy the company of one of the city’s rising hockey stars, who was flirting outrageously with her. Gina had jumped at Matt’s invitation to join him at his table when she had walked into the party alone. Not wanting to mingle in the busy nightclub with a bunch of strangers, Gina had gratefully accepted his invitation. The only fly in the ointment was the likely possibility of running into Connor tonight. Who knew, maybe she’d get lucky and be able to sneak away before he showed up.
Discretely glancing at the slim watch on her wrist, she prayed that she had timed it right. Connor’s text message to her earlier that morning had been terse and to the point.
I’ll pick you up tonight at ten from your place—we’ll go to the fundraiser together. Then we’re going to talk. No more hiding from me. C.
Of course Connor would take it for granted that Gina would be waiting for him at her condo. Why wouldn’t he? He’d been choreographing their every move from the get-go. And if she was honest with herself, she hadn’t fought him too hard.
Gingerly adjusting her bottom on the cushion at the memory of the other night, Gina couldn’t help but wince inwardly at the mild twinge of discomfort between her legs, a reminder of the how she had allowed Connor to ambush her.
Even now, she was astounded at Connor’s pursuing her with such a relentless intent. If she were honest with herself, she was beyond flattered by his attention. The more he gave her, the more she craved. And that was the reason she had to avoid the man like the plague. Gina knew that if she continued to allow herself to be seduced by him, she was going to lose more of herself to him than she had to any other man in the past. Already she had started having strong feelings for Connor. Feelings she was sure were not reciprocated. If the great hockey star followed his regular pattern, Connor would be moving on to his next conquest. It was time to put on the brakes and end their game of sexual sport before she got her heart broken by the notorious playboy.
Just thinking about Connor and all the ways he had made her body come alive had Gina flushing with desire. What she needed to do was distract herself with another man and forget Connor and his practiced touch. And in doing so, it would help her move past Connor and he would get the hint that she wasn’t interested in continuing their relationship—if you could even call it that.
Enter stage right, Matt.
Tamping down on her guilt at using Matt in her attempt to assert her independence, she turned fully toward him on the small couch they shared. At that moment, she felt her cell phone vibrate in the small clutch she had tucked next to her thigh. Knowing full well that it was probably Connor demanding to know where she was, Gina ignored it with a false bravado.
Smiling up at Matt while he recounted an anecdote from the locker room, she couldn’t help but appreciate his enthusiasm and undemanding company. Gina encouraged him to continue his story. “Then what happened?”
Matt leaned in closer and continued enthusiastically. Gina allowed him into her personal space. After all, if she had to attend tonight’s fundraising event, what better way than to spend time with a man like Matt?
Matt was easy to be with—fun. He didn’t threaten her hard-won confidence the way Connor did. If nothing else, his great athletic form might help her forget Connor for tonight. And that was the objective.
Forget Connor!
It was hard to miss Matt’s gaze of appreciation running over her. After all, she had dressed in the strapless plum silk dress knowing she would be attracting attention. Her entire new wardrobe was meant to entice the senses. The silk folded tightly across her chest in simple ruching and skimmed down snuggly to her knees, leaving her shoulders bare to Matt’s caressing fingers.
She desperately searched for a glimmer of passion at the feathery touches. The lack of heat from the feel of his hand slowly, lightly, running down her bare neck to her shoulder was disappointing. Gina was helpless to compare his touch to that of the man who had taken her to never-before-reached heights.
Instinctively, Gina pulled slightly away from Matt’s suggestive touch. She watched helplessly as he raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
The feel of the incessant buzzing of her cell phone against her leg had her breaking eye contact with Matt. Gina reached for the clutch nestled beside her and pulled out her phone.
“Sorry, Matt, but I need to take this call.” Without looking at her call display, she intuitively knew it was Connor. Pressing the talk button, she answered the call, bringing the cell up to her ear.
“Walk away from him.” The quiet steel of command came through loud and clear over the din of the music and cacophony of conversations surrounding her in the busy club.
Automatically, her green eyes darted around the busy room, searching for Connor in the crush of bodies—coming up empty, Gina avoided looking directly at Matt.
“Now, Gina, walk away from him now. If he touches you again…” She heard Connor draw a long harsh breath and then pause before he continued, “Don’t talk to him, just move away before I…”
Gina interrupted without thinking, “Before you—what?”
A small part of her knew that baiting a tiger was a sure way to get bit
ten. A delicious memory of those teeth raking down her smooth thighs had her fidgeting again, but a much bigger part of her couldn’t help but prod Connor a little. He was obviously in the club, watching her. How had she missed him?
“Did you really think you were going to go from my bed to his? Did you think I would allow another man to touch you?” Even though his voice grew quieter, it was infused with such coldness that she felt an involuntary shudder run down her back. “You let him put his damn hands on your skin. This isn’t a fucking game.”
Allow? Gina frowned. Really? Where was this possessiveness coming from? From the man who changed women on a daily basis, literally? Connor was the playboy hockey player who wrote the book on playing the field. In fact, she hadn’t expected to hear back from him on a personal level after their last night together.
“Connor…” Unsure of her own mixed feelings, she couldn’t finish responding. Gina knew she would be deluding herself if she didn’t acknowledge a secret thrill at his possessive words. The great Connor Waters, who could have any woman he wanted, wanted her! Then the tiny flame of fear in the pit of her belly ignited, burning brighter with each passing second.
Yeah, and when he gets tired of you, there will be plenty of other women who will be waiting to take your place at a moment’s notice.
“That’s right, say my name again,” he demanded harshly in her ear.
“Say it!” he ripped out when she hesitated.
“Connor,” she barely whispered, not even sure if he heard her over the loud music pumping around her.
“Meet me outside. I dare you.” The dead air echoed in her ear, indicating Connor had hung up before she could respond to his arrogant command.
Would she accept his dare?
Gina felt some of her newfound courage falter. Old self doubts impeded the hard-won poise she had worked so hard to attain with her new life makeover. Glancing down at herself, it was hard to reconcile the “new” Gina with the “old” one. Sure, the dress was new and her soft auburn curls were cut to artfully frame her features, but was she all that different from the meek woman she had been before her great transformation? Previous relationships had left painful and lasting impressions. The proverbial wounds may have healed, but the scar tissue was a keen reminder of her failures.
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