by Starr, Tara
“Tess.” She pursed her lips, hands on her hips as she stared me down. “I’m part of the board here. Remember?”
“Okay, damnit,” I hissed. “I’ll go make sure he enjoys himself.”
Sighing, I made my way toward Howard Something-Something, and threw him some remark about his drink. The poor bastard started coughing like a madman, probably choking on his strawberry daiquiri, and I was forced to pat him on the back as he regained his composure.
“I’m...I’m sorry,” he stammered, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose and introducing himself. “The name’s Howard Mills.”
“Tess Armstrong,” I replied, already regretting I gave him my name.
“Would you care for a dance, Ms. Armstrong?” he asked me.
No, thank you, is what I should have said.
“Yes, of course!” is what I said for my friend.
But dancing with him was painful.
Especially when it comes to tango.
We started off well-enough, our steps matching the slow tempo of the music.
Then the bastard stomped on my foot.
And then again.
And again.
Now I’m sighing in frustration.
And the more he steps on my foot, the more enthusiastic he gets, swirling me around the room as if I were a rag doll. I start getting dizzy and, by the time the song reaches it’s high point, I can’t help but glare at him.
“I’ll lead,” I hiss through gritted teeth, pushing him back and forth across the dance floor. He finally settles into a boring rhythm, and I curse Ashley so many times under my breath that Howard must be thinking I’m trying to invoke Satan.
When the music reaches its conclusion, I’m ready to make my escape. Except, of course, the freakin’ band decides to segue straight into La Cumparsita, the most well-known tango song in the world. Don’t know it? Sure you do.
In fact, grab your phone and put it on right now. Yup, I’m totally serious. If I have to suffer through this song tonight, you’ll have to suffer with me.
Take your time.
I’ll wait.
I’m still waiting, babe.
“Mind if I steal the lady?” I hear a voice say from behind me, and I’m already thanking the gods of tango for delivering me a savior.
And that’s when I realize it’s Austin.
Holy shit, don’t I ever get a break?
Sadness washes over Howard’s face but he lets go of me. The guy doesn't know how to fight for a woman.
I start walking away when Austin reaches for me and grabs my hand, swirling me around and pulling me against his body. I gasp as I feel my breasts pressed against his chest, and then he holds his left hand up while resting the other on my lower back.
“Where do you think you’re fucking going?” he whispers, taking slow but slithery steps across the dance floor. “You didn’t ask the reader to put some music on just so you could escape, did you?”
“The reader?” I reply, frowning but keeping my posture, our bodies gliding across the ballroom. “Last time I checked the contract said we had to split air time in this novel.”
“Technicalities,” he says, flashing me a teasing smile.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask.
“Can’t a man enjoy a night out?” he asks back.
“I didn’t know you were a dancer,” I answer.
“I didn't know you were a thief!” he yells.
I pull back, but he pulls me tight against him.
The pressure of his fingers on my skin sends a shiver up my spine. I look into his eyes, and my gaze goes to his lips.
“See something you like?” he asks.
“Nothing worth losing my sleep over,” I say back.
“Ouch,” he chuckles. “You’re a mean one.”
“The absolute worst, remember?” I remind him.
The music turns up.
Austin begins to move. Christ, where the hell did he learn to dance like this?
“The absolute worst,” he repeats, slowly pulling me up. Then, he stretches his arm to the side and some bystander throws him a red rose.
What the hell?
I didn’t sign up for this.
“No way.”
“Oh, yes,” he grins, bringing the rose up to my lips and leaving me no choice but to bite on the stem.
“I’ll fucking gut you for this,” I hiss once more, clamping my teeth so tight my brain rattles inside my skull.
“Chill out, will ya?” He smiles, then gives me a wink.
Then he gets serious.
His footwork goes beyond anything I’ve ever seen, and he leads me across the room effortlessly.
Holy shit.
The once packed dance floor has been cleared, and we’re the only two people dancing. Everyone else is standing around in a semi-circle around us, completely slack jawed as they see us tear up the dance floor.
Oh, well, what can I do?
They asked me to tango, so I’m gonna tango.
Pushing Austin back, our bodies finally separated, I throw the rose against his chest and start circling him. My gaze is a teasing and devilish one, and each step I take is precise and calculated. He mirrors my movements easily, adding a masculine cadence to his footing.
Well, I’m impressed.
Move aside, Antonio Banderas.
As the song picks up the pace again, we rush into each other’s embrace.
“Didn’t know you could tango, Austin,” I say to him.
“There’s a lot I do that you don’t know about, baby,” he says back to me, eyeing me.
As he twirls me around, I pull a fast one on him and raise one leg up, lacing it against his right one. “You’re too full of yourself,” I say.
“Am I?”
The glint in his eyes leaves me wondering, but he untangles his leg from mine and dashes across the floor. Only when I’m back in his arms does he continue.
“I’m not the one who got confident,” he says.
“What do you mean?” I ask.
One more twirl, one more grin.
“You’re overexposed, Tess,” he leans in, his forehead pressed against mine. “You secured my supplier...but you’re in debt now.”
Oh, so we’re dancing a different kind of tango then.
“So what?” I ask. “Your supplier was everything to you. Without him, you’re in a boat without a paddle.”
“Lets see where that gets you when your credit runs dry,” he says back to me.
“I’ll have plenty of credit with the Clarendon Tower contract,” I remind him.
“Or you’ll be forced to mortgage your condo, baby,” he says with an evil grin. “Don’t worry. I’ll let you sleep on my couch.”
Asshole!
“I won’t let you win, Austin,” I warn him.
“I’m gonna win, Tess,” he says with finality. “Every fiber of my body is built for winning. Every breath I take is to win. Every thought I have is to advance. You’ve never met a man like me.”
He’s true.
I haven’t.
“Like hell you’re going to take this from me,” I seethe. “Over my dead body.”
“You can’t win against me, Tess,” he says over the music.
“And no way you can win against me, Austin,” I say, not backing down.
I’ve never had this before.
Men crumble in front of me. I can make a grown man cry with just my words.
But this?
This is insane.
As the music reaches its final high notes, our movements so fast that the faces of the onlookers seem like a blur to me, he does one final twirl and bends me over his front leg once more.
I lean back and look into his eyes as the music finally stops.
God.
My heart is hammering fast, and I feel as if I’m on fire. As he slowly pulls me back up, one hand on my waist, the last thing I want is let go of his body.
Christ, I’m not even sure what happened these pa
st few minutes.
“What do you say, Tess?” He whispers, a devilish smile hanging on his lips. “Do you just want to dance? Or do you want to dance?”
Goddammit.
Fine, Austin.
Let’s do it.
Let’s fucking dance.
Chapter Sixteen
Austin
The steel doors of the elevator slide open, too slowly, and I reach for her hand, tugging her behind me towards my door.
I’m too close to wait for this, for her—I want her now.
She quickens her pace to keep up with me, wrapping her hand around my forearm.
Fuck, I love the way she touches me. It does something to me that I’ve never felt before. Maybe, it’s because she knows how to beat and challenge me, unlike anyone I’ve ever met. Men included. Or, maybe, it’s because she’s so damn sexy that whenever her skin touches mine my body fucking sparks, electrifying every part of me. Including parts I never even knew I had.
Who the fuck knows, baby. But I’m not going to lie, I’m enjoying the hell out of it.
I do quick work unlocking my door, swinging it open, and pushing her inside.
Before I can think about giving her a tour—though that’s the last thing I plan on doing—she pushes me up against the door and kisses me hard. She winds her hands up my chest, neck and twist her fingers in my hair, releasing a feral growl from my lips.
“Fuck, baby.” I reach behind her, finding the zipper to her delicate dress and unzip it slowly. It falls to the floor, the material pooling at her feet.
I place my hands on her waist and straighten my elbows, pushing her away from me so I can witness this woman in all of her fucking glory.
Jesus Christ.
She’s wearing a black lace corset that displays her tits like a fucking diamond in a vault.
My hands trace down the side of her waist, fingering the lace of her thong between my fingers.
She squirms, her sensitive skin feeling the heat of my touch.
“You’re fucking divine,” I groan.
“You’re not so bad yourself,” her hands slide under my suit jacket and slide it off my shoulders. She tugs my tie off and rips open my shirt, purring as she racks my chest with her nails.
I hiss, reveling in the twinge of pain and pleasure.
I’ve had my fair share of women, baby, but fuck, Tess is a dream. She’s a temple I want to go and bow down in every damn day.
And so, I do. Why not begin to worship right the fuck now?
I fall to my knees and squeeze her ass, pushing her towards me. She stumbles forward and grabs my head for balance while I nuzzle my nose and lips into her pussy, coating the lace detail with my tongue. She tastes so fucking sweet, like the sweetness nectar I’ve only dreamt of tasting—a mixture of elderflower and honey.
Damn, its enticing.
I tease her, letting my tongue travel over the hem of her panties, up and down her inner thighs. And then, I graze my teeth over her sensitive, swollen clit.
“Fuck, Austin,” she bucks her hips into me, filling my mouth with her.
My lips slide over the delicate material and I lick her nub lightly as a loud moan emerges from her.
“You taste so fucking good,” I slur, lathering in her wetness.
I knead her clit with my tongue and she continues to grind against me. I hang one of her legs over my shoulder to open her up to me, positioning her pussy at a better angle.
I lick her lips, soaking my mouth with her juices, and slip a finger into her slit.
“Yes…oh my God,” she hisses.
My finger hooks into her, doing a come-hither motion. I hit her g-spot over again, making her knees buckle.
“Stand, baby,” I instruct.
“Austin, I’m going to cum,” she pleads.
Stroking her walls with my finger, I circle her clit with my tongue and I feel her muscles tremble.
“Do it. Cum for me,” I groan, sucking her into my mouth.
“Fuck!”
Her nails dig into my scalp as her body begins to jerk against me. I taste her release on my tongue—sweeter than before—and I hold her up, letting her ride her orgasm with my face between her legs.
Her body stills, and with a loud moan they relax, her body settling into an orgasm-induced haze.
But, with her back on the ground, I stand up and cradle her jaw, kissing her eagerly.
“Let’s do that again,” I whisper into her mouth.
“Please,” she sighs.
I hoist her up over my shoulder, smacking her ass when she squeals in surprise.
“Austin, what are you doing?” she yells, laughing.
“You, soon,” I say.
“You’re crazy!” she exclaims.
“Oh, baby. You have no idea.”
We reach my bedroom and I gradually release her, letting her body slide down mine.
“Take your corset off,” I tell her, looking down at her lust filled gaze.
“Take your pants off,” she coos as her eyes roll over my body.
We strip for each other, never taking our eyes off the others. But, when I’m free, her eyes land on my dick and she sucks her bottom lip in anticipation.
“Hungry?” I tease.
“Ravenous,” she says, breathlessly.
“So am I.”
Before she can take me into her mouth, I pick her up and lay her on my comforter, hovering over her. I place kisses on her stomach, traveling up to her tits. I suck one of her nipples into my mouth while my hand teases the other, twisting it between my thumb and finger gently.
“Oh my God,” she squirms.
Her moan vibrates through me, igniting a primal instinct I know I won’t be able to control for long.
I want to devour this fucking woman.
I pinch her nipple and her body jerks, and a satisfied smile spreads my lips, knowing I have the same impact on her.
My mouth paves a path up to her neck, sucking and nipping at her soft, delicate skin.
“You make me so fucking hard, Tess,” I say, my voice husky and drenched with need.
“Fuck me now,” she commands.
“Yes, ma’am,” I smirk and capture her mouth, bending her knee up to position my dick directly in front of her.
“Fuck,” I moan when I slide into her.
“Oh my God,” she wraps her arms around my neck, digging her nails into my back.
I pull out, slowly, and slam back into her.
“Yes, yes!” she says. “Harder.”
I thrust into her, harder and deeper, pushing her knee up so I can angle my dick against her spot.
The warmth and wetness of her pussy envelops me greedily. Every time I grind into her my body shivers, a hot spike of ecstasy fraying my nerves. I feel like I’m fucking high, her underneath me is the biggest rush of adrenaline…no, it’s not just adrenaline. It’s fucking pleasure. Best I’ve ever had. I don’t know if I’ll be able to stop.
I kiss her passionately and she pulls me down, molding our lips together.
“Ahhh, Austin.” she takes a breath. It’s heated and full, and it moistens my lips. I bite her lip, pulling it my mouth and simultaneously plunge my dick into her.
“You’re so fucking tight.” I clench my jaw. “You feel so damn good.”
She tightens her hold on me and thrust in and out of her faster. I feel her muscles still and breathing hitch every time I hit her spot.
“Oh my God,” she yells against my mouth.
“Cum for me, cum for me hard,” I command her.
I slow down, wanting her to feel every curve of my dick against her sweet, plush walls and she lets out a slow moan.
Then, I pound back into her, fucking her harder and faster than she requested.
“Yes, yes! Austin!” she screams and her body twitches.
My balls begin to harden when her pussy squeezes me, tightening and releasing its grip in quick succession.
“Cum with me,” she moans while staring into my eyes.
I swear to fucking God.
Our breathing is haggard, heavy and intense. But we slowly fall together, our pants becoming one.
My vision clears, and she comes back into focus, her lips curving into a satisfied grin.
I brush the loose hair from her face.
“I like dancing with you,” I say in a hushed tone.
“It’s definitely better than dancing alone.” she winks.
“Enemies make the best dance partners, don’t they?” I ask her with a grin.
“Enemies make better lovers apparently,” she replies, breathing hard.
I’m smiling at her, but inside I’m dying.
Because tonight we’re lovers.
But tomorrow?
We’re back to being enemies again.
Chapter Seventeen
Tess
“Austin?”
I roll to my back, my arm stretched over Austin’s empty side of the bed. I sit up, kicking the sheets back, and do a double take before I realize exactly where I am—Austin’s bedroom. A second later and the memories rush in, images of his naked body flashing in my mind.
My God, now that was tango.
Swinging my legs off the bed, I pick his button up shirt from the floor and put it on. It looks so long on me that I could almost wear it outside as a dress. Sauntering out of the bedroom, I’m immediately hit by the smell of bacon and eggs, my stomach immediately coming alive. I follow the sweet scent of breakfast, actually feeling happier than I expected.
When I get to the kitchen, my bare feet lazily padding across the floor, I’m stunned to see Austin cooking. I thought he would have a chef or something, not that he’d actually wake up early just to cook me breakfast. Maybe he’s doing it just to impress me? Well, if that’s the case, it’s definitely working.
“Did you sleep well?” he asks me, looking back at me over his shoulder. Using his right hand to hold the pan, he wields a wooden fork with the other one, softly folding the scrambled eggs.
“Yeah,” I smile, remembering how it felt to fall asleep with my head against his chest, the warmth of his body on mine.