by Jaci Burton
Stella was amazed at Carolina's eye for clothing, at how she could spot upcoming trends and create something that she instinctively knew people would want. Or at least everything that hit Stella's hot buttons. Carolina had created lines for both men and women that were simple yet luxurious at the same time. As Carolina walked her through the sketches and some of her line that she'd already completed, Stella mentally ticked off items she wanted.
Mostly everything. And she could see Trick in so many of the men's clothes as well.
"This line is fantastic, Carolina. I love everything. And those leather pants with the ankle zippers, especially paired up with that sequined sweater? Those belong in my closet--now."
Carolina grinned. "Wait until you see the mohair ankle boots I'm putting the model in to walk with that outfit."
"I hate you."
"You won't hate me when I send you the outfit--plus the boots--after the show."
Stella threw her arms around Carolina and hugged her. "This is one of the many reasons why you're my best friend. But not for the clothes. Really. Not for the clothes."
Carolina laughed. "I know. Now, we need to get out of here. My brain is toast and I'm starving."
"If you're going to want to go out to eat, I need a shower."
"Okay, we'll stop at your place first."
Carolina closed up her studio and they grabbed a taxi to Stella's apartment, both of them complaining about how damn cold it was as they jumped in and out of the cab.
"Why is it so fucking cold already?" Stella asked.
"Because it's New York?" Carolina replied.
"Good point." Arm in arm, they hurried into the building. The wind was picking up. Stella could smell snow in the air. It was early December and she wasn't ready for snow yet.
Just the quick dash in the cold made Stella long for that nice warm bath, but it was going to have to wait. She thought the glass of wine might slow her down, but it was amazing what hanging out with a friend could do for her energy level. She stripped out of her clothes and took a quick shower, then chose a pair of skintight leggings, her favorite pair of combat boots, a dark tank, and a sheer silver top, topping it off with a leather studded jacket. She complemented the look with several necklaces.
"I love how you can take five minutes to put one hell of a kickass outfit together," Carolina said, studying her as she came out of her bedroom. "You should help me put clothes together for the show."
Stella laughed. "You don't need me. Your sense of fashion rocks. Look at you with your skinny jeans and those leather boots that, if you weren't my best friend, I'd kill you to take off of you. And I covet that black trench coat with all those zippers. You know I'm a sucker for zippers."
"I know. I designed this with you in mind. And you might be getting one for Christmas."
"I do love Santa. And you. Have I mentioned how much I love you?"
"Not more than three or four times in the past hour."
Stella grabbed her purse and looped her arm in Carolina's. "Be prepared to hear it a few more times. Let's go."
They both devoured huge chicken and cashew salads at a corner restaurant near Carolina's place, then headed up to her apartment.
"I have beer here, since Drew prefers it over wine," Carolina said after they hung up their coats.
"I'll just have water," Stella said. "I can only dance off so many calories."
Carolina gave her a sidelong look. "You could use a few more calories."
"So everyone tells me. Believe me, after the show I'm going to eat two pizzas and guzzle a six-pack."
They took seats on the sofa. Stella flexed her ankles, giving her legs a long stretch. She didn't want to tighten up after today's rehearsal, and since she'd missed her bath, she knew that was a possibility.
"Where is that hot boyfriend of yours, anyway?" Stella asked. "I know it's not a game night tonight."
"Some team meeting about something or other. I admit I was only half listening when he called me and told me about it because I was knee-deep in fabric selections."
"That's certainly understandable. Pretty fabric is much more important than hockey."
Carolina grinned. "To me it is. Probably not to Drew."
"And how are things going with the cohabitation?"
"It's actually pretty great for the most part. I thought we'd get in each other's way, but we don't. I mean, we have the usual getting used to each other stuff, but it's minor. For some reason he can't grasp the concept that dirty clothes go in the hamper, and it drives him crazy that I don't eat breakfast right when I get up in the morning. He wakes up starving and wants to cook a six-course meal when all I want is tea. We're learning all of each other's weird idiosyncrasies. But I like knowing he's here with me. I like sleeping with him when he's in town. The sex is outstanding, he makes me laugh, and I love him like crazy."
Carolina looked around the room. "He fills this space. I couldn't imagine him not in it."
Stella smiled at her best friend. "I love seeing you like this. You were always so driven, so focused only on work. Not that your work isn't as important to you now as it ever was, but sharing your life with Drew has changed you."
"It has. In ways even I can't explain. And I want the same thing for you, Stell, because you're just as driven and focused as I used to be--as I still am. But you don't have that someone to share your world with."
Stella felt a tug in the vicinity of her chest, but shrugged it off. "I don't need that. I don't want it. I told you, I'm a free agent, and I prefer it that way."
"It's a lonely way. I never realized how lonely I was until Drew came in and filled my world with all that love."
"Now you're starting to sound like one of those sappy greeting cards you buy at the store."
Carolina laughed. "I am, aren't I? Okay, enough love talk. I want to hear about this new show. Tell me all about it. What role you're dancing, who the cast is, and all the juicy gossip."
Stella spent the next hour filling Carolina in on the grueling rehearsals and the cast, and telling her all about the choreographer. She hadn't realized so much time had passed until she heard a click at the front door. She looked up to see Drew walk through.
With Trick walking in behind him.
"Well, hi, you two." Carolina got up and went to greet Drew, who wrapped his arms around her and gave her a warm kiss.
"Hey, babe," Drew said, his gaze lingering on Carolina. "We were talking strategy, so I thought we'd continue it here with a beer. Unless you two are talking strategy of your own."
Carolina laughed. "No, we had dinner, now we're gossiping." She moved to Trick and hugged him.
Stella got up and went over to give Drew a hug and peck on the cheek. "Hi, there, hot stuff. How's it goin'?"
"It's going great. And you?"
"Still dancing, as always."
"Good to hear."
She nodded at Trick after he hung up his coat. "Hey."
"Hey. Did you and Carolina have fun tonight?"
"We did. I stopped off to see her after rehearsal and we ended up spending the evening together."
"I'm glad to hear that."
"How did your meeting go?"
"It went fine. We're coming up on a game against Detroit and they're tough. We've got a couple of our key players injured, so we needed to talk strategy and replacements."
"You guys want a beer or wine?" Carolina asked from the bar.
"Beer for me, thanks," Trick said as he followed Stella toward the living room.
"Obviously it's a game you all really want to win."
"They've kicked our asses the last few meetings," Drew said, taking two beers from Carolina and handing one off to Trick. "Injuries or not, we intend to take them down this time."
Stella grabbed her water from the coffee table and took a long swallow. "When's the game?"
"Monday night."
"Home game, right?"
Trick nodded. "Yeah."
"I'll definitely be there to cheer you on."
"Are you sure?" Drew had taken up a spot on the arm of the sofa, and smoothed his hand over her hair. "I know you're in crunch mode."
Carolina tilted her head back to look up at Drew and smiled. "This is an important game for you. I wouldn't miss it."
Drew leaned down and brushed his lips across hers. "Thanks, babe. That means a lot."
"You two should get a room."
"We have one. Or two. Right here, as a matter of fact," Drew said with a wide grin.
Stella stood. "That's my cue to leave."
Carolina laughed. "It was not."
"I've got to go anyway. I still need a hot bath or my muscles will cramp up on me."
"I'll go with you." Trick took a few deep swallows of his beer.
"You do not have to leave. Drew was just kidding, you know," Carolina said.
Drew slipped his arm around Carolina. "Was I?"
Carolina rolled her eyes. "You're a terrible host."
He laughed. "Hey, Lina's right. I was just joking."
"Oh, I know, but I'll head out with Stella anyway."
"And I really do need to be on my way." Stella got up and put her empty water glass in the dishwasher.
Trick tossed his beer bottle in the recycle bin while she went to get her coat.
"We can catch up on the strategy at the next practice," Trick said to Drew. "Give us both some time to digest it all."
"Agreed," Drew said, slapping Trick on the back. "See you an hour earlier, maybe?"
Trick nodded. "That's a plan."
Stella turned to Carolina and hugged her. "Thanks for spending time with me tonight. I'll see you at the game Monday night?"
"Of course."
Stella and Trick rode down the elevator together, Trick being surprisingly quiet. At least until they got outside.
"Share a cab with me?" he asked.
"Sure."
Trick hailed a taxi, which fortunately didn't take long since she really didn't want to stand at the curb and shiver in the cold. They climbed inside and Trick gave the cab his address.
"My apartment is closer," she said.
He turned to her. "But how can you take a nice hot bath at my place if I drop you off at yours?"
"You're assuming I want to take a bath at your place."
"I am. There's still time to give the driver your address."
She could say no, but she didn't want to. "Your place is fine."
"I knew you couldn't resist me."
She leaned against him. "You'd like to think that, wouldn't you? When in actuality, your tub is bigger and it has jets."
He put his arm around her. "Damn, Stell. I feel so used."
Her lips curved. She really, really liked this man.
And the warning bells clanged loudly in her head.
Chapter Seven
Once at his apartment, Trick wasted no time in heading to his bathroom. He wasn't joking about getting Stella relaxed. He'd seen her pointing her toes and wincing in just the short period of time he'd been at Drew and Carolina's place, and knew a hot bath was just the thing she needed.
"You should get naked," he said as she leaned against the doorway to his bathroom.
"Is that the line you use on all your women?"
"First, no. Second, I don't have women. I have you."
She gave him an unfathomable look. "You do have me--for tonight."
He looked up from his seat on the side of the tub. "That'll work. Now get naked. Tub's filling. Sorry I don't have bubble bath."
She laughed and turned to enter his bedroom, drawing her top over her head. "I don't need bubble bath."
She came back a minute or so later and she was beautifully bare. He couldn't help but take a minute to stare. Her body was a goddamned work of art. She was tall, with stunning long legs, her hair styled in short blonde spikes. She was a natural blonde, so the small tuft of hair at her sex was golden, making him go hard just thinking of touching her there, of licking her and relaxing her even more. Tonight she wore some kind of black sparkling earrings that only made the china-doll look of her face more prominent.
He could stare for hours at this amazing woman standing naked in his bathroom. But he wanted her warm and relaxed, so he held out his hand and guided her into the tub, grateful he'd selected a condo that had an oversized tub with the whirlpool jets. He often had his own sore muscles to deal with after a game, and while they had the whirlpools in the locker room, those aching muscles tended to stay that way, so he wanted his own tub. He was a pretty big guy, so a bathtub like this had been on his must list.
"This tub rocks, Trick," she said, settling into the water up to her neck. "And jets, too? I might never leave."
He turned on the jets and the water bubbled up all around her.
Stella leaned back and closed her eyes. "Oh, yeah. That's it, Trick. Never leaving. Go over to my apartment and move my stuff in here."
He laughed, but the thought of her staying here appealed. Seeing her makeup and things on his counter, her underwear and bras in some of his drawers? Yeah, he kind of liked the idea. He'd lived alone for a long time now, and had enjoyed his life as a bachelor. There had never been a woman who had ever tipped his radar in the way Stella had. She challenged him, wasn't a clinger, and he couldn't deny the chemistry they had.
But was that enough to want a long-term relationship? Hell, she didn't want any kind of relationship.
"Trick. Trick."
He looked over to see her watching him. "Yeah?"
"Are you intending to be my bathtub bodyguard all night or are you going to get naked and get in here with me?"
He liked the sound of that. With a curve to his lips, he drew his shirt over his head and popped the button on his pants.
"Now this is bath-time entertainment." She leaned back in the tub and looked up at him.
Her nipples reacted to the cooler air by puckering, giving him his own version of bath-time entertainment.
She raised her knees and wrapped her arms around them, making room for him. It didn't take long for him to shed the rest of his clothes. Or to get hard.
"I like the looks of that," Stella said, eyeing his cock.
He slid into the tub, facing her, then drew her close. She wrapped her legs around his hips, sliding her sweet, hot pussy along his dick. He could so easily slip into her, fuck her like this in the warm tub. But that would be careless, and he wasn't a careless man.
But he could do something to relax her even more. He skimmed his fingers along her back, just rubbing her skin at first, then pressing in more, testing each muscle, using some strength to massage where she was tight.
She laid her head against his chest and he felt her entire body go lax.
"Mmm. That feels good."
Exactly where he wanted her, floating along on a cloud of boneless nirvana. He mapped her body inch by inch, dissolving her tension, enjoying the way she undulated against him, even if it cost him every ounce of his self-control.
"You keep touching me like that, we're going to have a problem," she murmured against his shoulder.
"Yeah?" He kissed the side of her neck and let his hands do a slow slide down her back. "What kind of problem?"
She rocked against his dick again. "That kind of problem."
He closed his eyes and let the sensation wash over him. It was torture and bliss coupled together, but he had patience and could wait. Right now this was about her.
He used his feet to push himself back against the tub, taking her with him, then turned her around so her back was against his chest. Steam rose off their bodies, enveloping them in a cocoon of heat. Desire sizzled around him as he cupped Stella's breasts under the water, the soft feel of her in his hands making his balls tighten. Her breath caught, her nipples hardening as he teased them with his fingers, knowing just how and where to touch her to evoke those moans he loved to hear.
She arched her back. "Trick. Where are you going with this?"
He slid one hand over her ribs and belly, then between her legs to cup her sex. "South."
She shifted, rising up to sling each of her legs over his, widening, giving him access. "Good spot. Touch me and make me come. I've had a hard day and I want you to make me scream."
She tilted her head back and he leaned in to kiss her, at the same time sliding his fingers inside her. Here she was hotter than the water surrounding them, her body welcoming his fingers by squeezing him, pulsing around him. He ached to be inside her, his dick arcing against her butt in search of her.
He could wait for his needs. Right now it was all about Stella's pleasure, coaxing her body to respond by sliding his hand over her plump lips, then tucking his fingers back inside, feeling her clench around him. He took his time, not wanting to rush things. He wanted to build this up slow and easy for her, making each second count.
Her skin was like silk under the water, her body rippling against his as he took his time, making gentle motions with his hands, his fingers gliding in and out of her. And each time he tucked back inside of her, she clenched, gripping him, sucking him in like a vortex, demanding more.
He knew when the time was right to increase the pressure of his hand, to slide his fingers over the tight knot of her clit. When she rose against him, when her moans grew louder, when he felt her entire body tense and shudder against him, he knew she was almost there.
He kissed her shoulder, took a little nibble of her flesh there.
"Trick. Dammit, Trick. I need . . ."
"Shhh," he said. "I know what you need. I'll get you there."
He shoved his fingers in her, no longer gentle. He knew her body now as well as he knew his own, felt the spasms and pressed down harder with the heel of his hand, rocking it with just the right tempo until she shattered.
"Oh, yes. Oh, God, yes."
He loved the sound of her coming, the feel of her body as she let go. He wrapped an arm around her and held tight to her, licking the side of her neck and lapping up those goose bumps with his tongue as she shivered against him while she came.
When she quieted against him, he held her, kissed her throat and ached for her.
She finally turned to face him, tracing his jaw with her fingertip. "That was an epic orgasm. Thank you."
She kissed him and wrapped her legs around him, sliding her sex against his throbbing cock.
His fingers dove into her hair and he was lost in her taste, the scent of sex blooming around them.
She pulled back. "Stand up."
He arched a brow. "You ready to get out of the tub?"