Ample Delights

by Nichelle Gregory

  Terrah was his type, all day and all night long.

  He wanted to put his hands all over her body. Nick’s gaze fell on her strappy sandals and he scoped the shapely line of her legs as she bent over to pick up a makeup sponge off the floor. His cock stirred at the sight of her rounded bottom outlined in the dress. The seductive sway and rhythm of her hips and ass mesmerised him as she started to walk towards the door.

  Nick picked up his pace.

  No way was he letting her leave the building without asking her out first.

  Chapter Two

  Terrah waved goodbye to Ginny and sighed as she walked towards the door. She was tired and…

  Sexually frustrated.

  There. Admitting it was half the problem.

  Seeking a solution that didn’t involve batteries was a whole other ball game.

  Why was finding a sensual, romantic, attractive, intelligent man so hard? In her dating experience, they had one or two of those qualities, but not the whole enchilada.

  Her last relationship had lasted almost two years, but she’d known that special something had been missing. She wanted to feel that spark…that excitement she always fantasised about.

  Did such passion and romance exist in real life?

  Terrah thought about Nick and Jocelyn posing in front of the elaborate city backdrop, the perfect picture of romance. They’d made a striking couple together. The photos Aidan had taken had been smokin’ hot…some of the sexiest she’d seen in a while.

  Nick Tasso was the ultimate sexual fantasy.

  Terrah wondered if he actually lived up to what he portrayed. She straightened her back and pushed her wayward thoughts out of her mind. It was time for lunch, dinner… When had she last eaten? She couldn’t wait to take off her heels, pour a nice glass of red and dig into a hot plate of leftover lasagne. After a warm shower, she’d spend a little time with her insatiable lover.

  So what if he was made of silicone? He always got the job done.

  “Terrah, wait!”

  Damn it.

  Terrah halted in her tracks, turning to see Michelle rushing toward her.

  “I’m glad I caught you before you left. You did another fabulous job today with Jocelyn’s makeup.”

  Terrah smiled. “Thanks. It’s never hard to help Jocelyn look amazing.”

  “She looked incredible. One would never guess she could be such a brat. I told you this before, but I appreciate how you work around whatever ‘tude you’re faced with.” Michelle touched her arm. “I’ve got some exciting news!”

  “Do tell.”

  “Aidan Marks would like to use you for his upcoming photo shoot in Hawaii!”

  Terrah blinked in surprise. “Really?”

  “Really—he wants to talk with you.”

  Terrah looked over the art director’s shoulder to find Aidan’s eyes on her. He smiled at her…the kind of smile that told her he remembered exactly who she was, after all.

  “Okay.”

  Michelle frowned. “Okay? I thought you’d be jumping for joy. This is huge. Aidan Marks personally asked me if you’d like to be the makeup artist for this project!”

  “This is huge.” Terrah laughed. “I’m just shocked. Trust me, I’m very excited.”

  “It is exciting! I wanted to be the one to tell you, since I’ll be the art director for the shoot.”

  “Congratulations.”

  Michelle grinned, lifting her vibrating cell phone. “To you, too. I’ll call you tomorrow with all the details.”

  “Sounds good.”

  Terrah resisted the urge to let out a whoop of joy as the art director walked away. She took a deep breath instead and made her way over to where Aidan was talking. It looked like she would be indulging in two glasses of wine to celebrate Michelle’s news tonight. In fact, she would call her girls and see if they wanted to join her in a special toast, but first she wanted to personally thank Aidan.

  The studio had cleared out a little, but there was still a lot of activity going on around her and Aidan stood in the centre of it all. He was an attractive man in his own right, commanding attention with his loud voice and charismatic personality. Long, ebony dreads brushed against his broad shoulders in stark contrast to the yellow button-down shirt he was wearing. Dark jeans and dress shoes gave him a casual yet classy air.

  Terrah approached him, refusing to acknowledge the butterflies scattering in her stomach as his attention shifted to her.

  “Terrah”—Aidan embraced her with a broad smile—“it’s been a long time.”

  “It has…almost five years.” She pulled away, noticing he still wore the same cologne.

  “You look even more beautiful than I remember.”

  “Thank you.” She grinned as his gaze swept over her. “You’ve made quite a career for yourself, Aidan.”

  “I guess all the hard work is finally paying off. I wondered if it ever would.” Aidan took a sip of water from the bottle in his hand. “I think it’s paying off for you, as well. I’ve heard your name in ever-widening circles.”

  Terrah laughed “Well, I wanted to thank you for the invitation to work with you in Hawaii.”

  “Of course.” Aidan’s gaze fell to her lips. “I always thought you did fantastic work. I can’t wait to see what you do on the Big Island.”

  “I won’t disappoint you.”

  Aidan nodded. “I know you won’t. I wouldn’t have asked for you if I thought you would. So, you won’t feel awkward working with me…given our history?”

  Heat flamed her cheeks at the mention of their past. “Aidan, that was years ago… Over and forgotten.”

  “Forgotten?”

  Aidan lifted an eyebrow in her direction.

  “Forgotten,” Terrah repeated. She could see the challenge in Aidan’s eyes as his gaze ran over her dress.

  “Well, I remember every detail.”

  Stunned, Terrah opened her mouth to respond just as Michelle joined them.

  “Aidan, do you still want to discuss the specifics for our upcoming shoot?”

  Aidan tore his eyes off Terrah to look at Michelle. “Yes, let’s do that now. See you soon, Terrah.” He flashed her a meaningful glance. “I’m glad our paths crossed again.”

  Terrah avoided Michelle’s gaze as the photographer leant forward to kiss her on the cheek.

  “Let’s have dinner together,” Aidan whispered in her ear.

  He winked at her as he strode off with Michelle, who flicked her a quizzical look.

  Dinner with Aidan?

  They’d shared some fun times together, but that had been a long time ago. She wasn’t interested in striking anything romantic up with him again. Aidan loved Aidan. There was no chance of any of his relationships being about anything other than sex. And she certainly wasn’t looking to jump back into bed with him, even though he’d been a good lover. He probably had no idea how much he’d helped her figure out what to look out for in pseudo-relationships.

  Terrah sighed.

  She’d have to think of a tactful way to get out of going to dinner with Aidan. She knew turning down the world-famous photographer would not go over well. Terrah groaned as she glanced around the practically deserted set. Her gaze unconsciously sought out Nick Tasso. He and Jocelyn were no longer standing by the backdrop. Only a few members of the production and lighting crew remained.

  Terrah started walking towards the exit to the studio. She’d worry about Aidan’s intentions behind his dinner invitation later. Right now, it was time to go home and celebrate.

  All things considered, it had turned out to be a pretty good day.

  * * * *

  Nick pulled on his T-shirt as he walked down the hall. He’d exited from the studio to strip out of his clothes in one of the fastest wardrobe changes ever when Terrah had stopped to chat with Michelle. Ginny had been thrilled to answer his question about Terrah’s whereabouts, and he knew she hadn’t left the building yet.

  So where was she?

  He went past tw
o offices before he found her snagging a bottle of water from the vending machine with one hand as she texted with the other.

  “Hello, Terrah.”

  She whipped around at the sound of his voice, and Nick rushed forward as she lost her balance and fumbled to keep hold of her phone. Neither of them could save the device from hitting the floor with a loud clatter beside her makeup case.

  “Damn.”

  They both leant down to pick up the phone and bumped heads instead.

  “Ouch!”

  “I’m so sorry.”

  He handed the cell phone to her with an apologetic grin as they both straightened up.

  Smooth, Tasso, real smooth.

  “Is it broken?”

  Terrah pushed buttons on the phone. “The screen isn’t lighting up as it should.”

  His gaze swept over her lovely, heart-shaped face and fell to her mouth as she continued to fiddle with her cell. She had the most incredible pair of lips he’d ever seen.

  Those lips are made for kisses.

  Nick pushed back the errant thought as Terrah softly cursed.

  “I didn’t mean to startle you. If your phone is broken, I’ll replace it.”

  Her fingers stopped flying over her cell and her cinnamon-brown eyes met his.

  “It was an accident, no worries. I’ve dropped it before and it’s come back to life. It could be fine in a few hours and, if not, it was time for me to get a new one anyway.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Terrah grinned. “Positive. Were you looking for Jocelyn? I think I saw her just getting ready to go.”

  “No, actually, I was looking for you.”

  The surprise on her face quickly changed to a look of concern.

  “Is it the makeup? Did you have an allergic reaction?”

  Her gaze flicked over his face and chest before she lifted her eyes to his. The concern he saw in her beautiful brown eyes stirred him.

  And her lips…

  Just watching those full, totally kissable lips move with each spoken word was beginning to give him a hard-on.

  “I’m not here about the makeup.”

  His gaze ran appreciatively over Terrah’s hair. He wanted to touch one of the dark curls she’d restrained in a low ponytail. She tilted her head and his eyes were drawn to the dainty silver earrings swaying in her earlobes.

  “No?”

  The quizzical look on her face made him smile.

  “No. I wanted to invite you to dinner.”

  “Dinner?”

  Terrah’s eyes widened as he took a step closer.

  “Yes. Let me take you to dinner, especially since I’m the reason you dropped your phone.”

  “That’s really not necessary.” Her gaze narrowed as she stared at him. She shifted her eyes from his to mess with her cell again.“Besides, I don’t go to dinner with involved men.”

  “Involved?”

  “Yes, involved.” Terrah shook her head as she unscrewed the cap on her water. “Does Jocelyn know you’re in here trying to hit on me?”

  “I’m not involved with Jocelyn.”

  One sculpted eyebrow lifted in his direction.

  “Oh, really?”

  “Really.”

  “Well, not according to the tabloids.”

  “Haven’t you heard the phrase, ‘Don’t believe everything you read’?”

  Terrah scoffed. “Okay, so you’re not involved with Jocelyn…just sleeping with her. I get it.”

  “No, I don’t think you do.”

  Nick studied her as she took a sip of water. His eyes dipped to her mouth again and he wondered how such delectable lips could utter such sassy words. He frowned as Terrah let out a resigned sigh and waved her hand.

  “Have a good night, Nick.”

  * * * *

  Terrah brushed past Nick, utterly confused by the mixture of excitement and contempt making her heart pound. She still couldn’t believe he’d asked her out.

  The nerve of some men.

  Nick Tasso was a player, obviously not accustomed to having his dinner invitations turned down. Terrah walked faster and her heels echoed loudly in the hallway. She reached the exit, pushed through the door and took a deep breath as she stepped outside. The sun had not yet set, and the sidewalk was filled with busy New Yorkers hurrying to get home in the summer heat.

  Terrah joined them, taking her MP3 player out of her shoulder bag and walking towards the subway. Nick’s invitation to dinner had shocked the hell out of her, completely thrown her for a loop. For the briefest of moments, she had been thrilled, blindsided by his ridiculously intoxicating good looks. Thank goodness she’d come to her senses. She hadn’t even been tempted to say yes.

  Right.

  Terrah boarded the subway, grateful to find a window seat. She sat down, turned up Adele’s song of love and loss, surprised by the sting of tears in her eyes. She swallowed them down, changed to a more upbeat tune and froze in her seat.

  Her makeup case!

  She’d been so distracted by Nick’s proposal, she’d left it in the room by the vending machine.

  Damn!

  Incensed, Terrah got up from her seat to get off at the next stop. Her makeup supply had cost her a fortune. Plus, she had colours of lipstick and eyeshadow that were irreplaceable. As much as she didn’t want to, she had to go back.

  The sun was slipping from the sky by the time she made her way out of the subway and back to the studio. She pushed the buzzer and yanked the door open as the lock was released. The sound of familiar laughter behind her drew her attention. She turned just in time to see Jocelyn get into a shiny Mercedes parked alongside the kerb, with another male model Terrah had worked with before. Terrah watched the two of them exchange a hot kiss before Jocelyn’s man for the night pulled the car into traffic and it sped off.

  Maybe Nick had told her the truth about his and Jocelyn’s relationship status.

  What does it matter?

  Weary, Terrah walked back down the hallway towards the room where she hoped her case still was. She stepped inside the doorway and cursed out loud.

  Her makeup was gone.

  “Looking for this?”

  Terrah spun around to see her beloved case in Nick’s upheld hand. “Omigoodness, yes!” Her heart skipped a beat as her gaze locked with his. “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Why did his deep voice send shivers of delight up her spine?

  “I thought someone had taken it.”

  Terrah tried to appear cool when she was anything but after rushing back off the subway to get her stuff. She was hot and flustered to find herself face to face with Nick again.

  “I picked it up right after you stormed out of here.”

  “Thanks again—” Terrah glared at him. “Stormed?”

  Chapter Three

  “Stormed.” Nick emphasised the word as Terrah fiddled with her shoulder bag.

  “Can you just give me my case, please? It’s been a really long day. I’m so tired and hungry…” Terrah shot him a quick look. “That was not an invitation to extend another invitation.”

  Nick chuckled. “I didn’t assume it was…but my invitation still stands.”

  He handed her the case, struck again by how lovely she was. She had the most expressive eyes and it wasn’t hard for him to see the wariness in her level gaze.

  “Before you say no for the second time, I’d like to say again that I am not involved with Jocelyn…or anyone, for that matter. It would make my night if you changed your mind and said yes. Are you really going to say no to sharing a meal with the man who stayed around to guard your makeup?”

  Terrah laughed, and the girlish sound of it made Nick smile.

  “Fine. We’ll go to dinner. It’ll save me from having to wash dishes later.”

  “Great. Let’s go.”

  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had to work so damn hard to convince a woman to go out with him.

  Eating with him would save her
from doing dishes?

  Damn.

  The woman was seriously trying to bruise his ego.

  Terrah lifted her face to his as he held open the door for her with a hesitant smile. His eyes were drawn once again to the tempting fullness of her lips as they curved upward, and that was when he saw it. That tiny flicker of desire flashing in her eyes before she masked it.

  She was attracted to him.

  It was on.

  Nick resisted the unexpected urge to sweep her into his arms as she stepped by him and onto the sidewalk. He could almost envision what it would feel like to kiss her. He’d start off slow, run his tongue along the generous swell of her bottom lip. He wanted to make her wet and hungry for more. He would not stop pursuing her until she craved him.

  “What do you have a taste for?” Nick asked after he cleared his throat.

  “I could go for anything right now.”

  Her innocent statement sent all kinds of erotic images through his head, of the two of them intertwined beneath his sheets. His body overreacted against his will and Nick stuffed one hand into his jeans, hoping to camouflage his semi-erect cock as they walked.

  “All right, I know a great restaurant on Madison Avenue. Do you want to just catch a cab?”

  “Yes! I didn’t wear my comfortable heels.”

  Nick glanced down at her shoes, thinking her non-comfy shoes showcased her killer legs well.

  Terrah pulled on the strap of her shoulder bag. “I wish I could drop off my gear before we go to dinner.”

  “I’m staying in a hotel not far from the restaurant I’d like to take you to. We could drop your stuff off there, if you’d like?” Nick saw the suspicion in her eyes. “We could just leave it at the front desk. You could swing by and grab your case afterwards.”

  “Well…”

  “C’mon, Terrah, I’m not propositioning you for sex.”

  He grabbed her arm as she stumbled.

  “I didn’t say you were.”

  “Your eyes, Terrah… Your eyes say it for you. Let me have this stuff.”