Once Forbidden, Twice Tempted (The Sterling Wives Book 1)

by Karen Booth

  Grant reached over and took a handful of popcorn. “You only live once. I’d say it was worth every penny.”

  She cast a smile at him, which made his entire body warmer. “The view is so much better close up.”

  You’re so much better close up.

  He sat back and draped his arm across the back of Tara’s seat. He didn’t buy this whole notion that he was a nice guy and therefore not right for her. In fact, he thought it was complete bull. He’d proved back at the Sussex that he was capable of being a jerk when needed, and more important, he could tell that she appreciated having nice things done for her.

  No, as far as Grant was concerned, the big thing standing between Tara and him was Sterling Enterprises. It was one thing for the founder’s ex-wife to show up on staff because she’d inherited a chunk of the company. It was quite another for her to take up with the new CEO. There would be talk, and that would prompt questions about Grant’s fitness for his role. He’d worked too hard to let a romance with Tara get in his way.

  Still, he was all kinds of tempted. He couldn’t take his eyes off her, even when she was distracted by the game and everything going on around them. He was only vaguely aware of the rest of the world. Her beauty demanded his focus, but it was about more than her flawless facade. He knew what was behind the pretty face and kissable lips. Tara was smart as a whip and a total handful. Full of life and surprises.

  A chant of voices broke out around them, growing louder and louder. What are they saying? One word, over and over again. Kiss? Tara looked up. She pointed at the mammoth television monitor nearest them and laughed. Grant followed her line of sight and there they were onscreen, just the two of them. They looked amazing together. Absolutely perfect.

  Before he knew what was happening, Tara’s mouth was zeroing in on his. “We have to kiss.”

  “What?”

  “We’re on the kiss cam.” She placed her hand on his cheek and angled his face toward hers.

  Finally, Grant’s brain clicked in on what was happening and he went for it with all of the enthusiasm of a kid who has just discovered an unguarded cookie jar. His hand shot to her jaw, then his fingertips were curling into the soft skin of her neck. With his other arm he pulled her closer. Their lips met. She was everything he’d remembered from the last time they did this. Ripples of electricity ran through his body as she parted her lips and gently nudged his lower lip with her tongue.

  And then it was over. She pulled away from him, but they remained entangled. His arm was still holding her close. His chest heaved as he tried to breathe in her scent as much as humanly possible.

  “That was fun,” she said, the color rising in her cheeks.

  “It was more than that, Tara.” I want you. He wasn’t sure he’d ever wanted anything or anyone as much as he wanted her at that moment. It was more than sexual desire, although that had been so firmly planted in his brain he wasn’t sure he’d ever forget it. This was about quenching a thirst. One that had gone unsatisfied since the moment he met her.

  She smiled and granted him another peck, this one on the cheek. “You’re too handsome for your own good. You know that, right?”

  “Thanks. Do you want to get out of here?” The words rushed from his mouth before he had a chance to think about them. That was definitely for the best. There was something magical about this moment and he wasn’t about to let it slip between his fingers.

  “You don’t want to stay for the rest of the game?”

  “I don’t.”

  She cast him some side-eye. “Can I show you something first?”

  He gathered their drink cups and stood. “Absolutely.”

  With no time to waste, they scooted past the other fans in their aisle, then up the concrete stadium stairs and out onto the concourse. He took her hand, but he let her lead the way out to the sidewalk. “This way.” With the streets closed off to traffic, she didn’t need to look for cars as she led him across the boulevard and to the other side.

  “Where are we going?”

  “The promenade site. I want to show you my idea.”

  Grant didn’t want to encourage Tara. Except that he did. Her enthusiasm was infectious. It was like an electrical jolt to the system and he quite frankly couldn’t get enough. “Yeah. Sure. Let’s go.”

  They wound their way between buildings and emerged out by the bay, with the wide promenade extending in either direction along the water. The night air was cooler here, the breeze strong, blowing Tara’s hair every which way.

  “Picture this,” she said, swiping her hands in midair as if she was washing windows. “An open-air food hall, with tons of outdoor seating and space beyond for food trucks. We put in artificial turf for kids to play.” She turned to Grant as she forged ahead down the sidewalk. “Soft, of course. We don’t want anyone getting hurt, but it is more eco-friendly. Beyond that, we put in a shopping pavilion with more outdoor space for seasonal markets. The city could invite farmers in during spring and summer, and there could be one at Christmas, as well. Or the Fourth of July. We could add a large stage area for performances of all kinds. Music and dance. It would be a real destination. Families, retirees, young people.”

  “And no high-rises? There’s density to consider in downtown. The city is going to want to know that you’re giving them the most bang for their buck.”

  “We’re already surrounded by big buildings. I think that with the right architect, you’d have no problem maximizing the square footage. And you put in lots of multipurpose space. You’d have to be smart and innovative about it.” She looked off in the distance at what was there right now, the outdated facilities the city was set to soon demolish, and it was as if she could see it all.

  “I had no idea you had such a vision for this.”

  “Does that make you more inclined to want to pursue it? Because I have more ideas. Lots more.”

  He was tempted to tell her that he might agree to anything she wanted right now. “Wow. Seriously?”

  She turned to him, her face lit up with excitement. It was intoxicating and infectious. She was a wonder. “I get it from my dad. He was a contractor, but he’d always wanted to be an architect. He could see things other people couldn’t.”

  This was the first time Tara had ever talked about her family in front of him. Everything Grant knew was secondhand information he’d gotten from Johnathon. “Your mom passed away when you were young, didn’t she?”

  Tara pressed her lips together firmly, seeming caught off guard. “Johnathon told you that.”

  “He did. Is it difficult for you to talk about?”

  She turned away from him. “It’s not my favorite topic if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “I’m sorry. I’m just trying to peel back the layers a little bit here. That’s all. Your dad clearly meant a lot to you.”

  Again she turned, this time to face him. The wind had picked up and Tara was leaning right into it. It was like everything she did—facing it all head-on. “He meant everything. He was my rock my entire life. He was the one man in my life who never let me down.”

  It broke his heart to hear that. He made a silent vow to never be a man who would let her down. “Obviously you don’t put Johnathon in that category.”

  “I loved him, but I didn’t love the fact that he basically got bored with me. No one wants to feel like that. I wasn’t the shiny new toy anymore. I wasn’t Astrid, that’s for sure.”

  He hated hearing Tara talk about herself like that, but she wasn’t off base. Johnathon had been pure of heart, but he’d also let the wind carry him in many directions. He always found a way to rationalize his changing allegiances. Tara’s better off without me, he’d said to Grant when he’d decided it was over with her. All Grant could think at the time was that Johnathon was a damn fool—a fool who covered all his bases, since he was quick to add one warning to his best friend. I’m
begging you. Please don’t go there. I’ve seen the way you look at her. It would kill me if you and Tara ever became a thing.

  And so Grant had abided by Johnathon’s wishes. But things were different now. And he was tired of wasting precious time. “I told him he was an idiot when he left you.”

  “No you did not.”

  Grant nodded. “I did. Not that it was in my best interest.”

  “He hated being criticized.”

  “It had to be said.” Did Grant have the nerve to tell Tara the way he’d really felt that day? The way he’d felt before then, when it had been sheer torture to see his best friend married to the woman he’d always wanted? It seemed too heavy a topic for a moment like this, especially now that they were working together. “I told him that only someone stupid would walk away from you. I never would’ve done that. Not if I’d been the one who was with you.”

  She smiled and nodded. “You’re a loyal guy. Everyone knows that about you.”

  She wasn’t getting the point. This wasn’t about him. It was about her. He stepped closer and put his hand at her elbow. “Loyal to a point.”

  “I don’t know if that’s true. You can be pushed pretty far.”

  “Everyone has their breaking point. I think mine actually happened tonight. When we kissed.” Their gazes connected and he welcomed the jolt of electricity between them. It didn’t seem possible she didn’t feel it, too.

  She leaned into him and put her hand on his shoulder. “That was nice.”

  “It was better than nice, Tara. It was amazing.” He threaded his fingers through her hair, cupped her jaw and brought her mouth to his. Now that they were away from the crowd and the cameras, the importance of the kiss was magnified. He wanted Tara. He’d wanted her for too long. And this might be his only chance with her.

  Which meant that for tonight, he was going to turn his back on his promise to Johnathon. He dared to break free from the kiss. Tara looked up at him, mouth slack and beckoning. If he wasn’t afraid of violating a few public-decency laws, he would’ve made love to her right then and there. But he wanted a bed. And privacy. And time. “I think we need to get out of here. Together. Now.”

  It felt like a lifetime until she replied. “Let’s go get your car.”

  Seven

  Tara had never traveled over the bridge so quickly. Grant zipped through traffic like a man on a mission. For a moment she found herself wondering why. Yes, their attraction had been simmering away for years. Was that it? Too much buildup? Or was there something more?

  He parked his BMW out in front of her house and they both did their best to not act as though they were rushing as they hurried to her gate, then through the courtyard beyond, leading to the front door. There was a part of this that made her feel like a teenager—making a choice she knew wasn’t smart. Granted, she’d done exactly everything she was supposed to do when she was younger. She never disappointed her dad. Ever.

  Tara keyed her way in through the door, but Grant didn’t wait, taking her handbag and plopping it on the entry table, then threading both hands against her neck and combing his fingers into her hair. He raised her lips to his and claimed them, his mouth open and wet. Commanding. Taking everything he wanted. Tara gave it all enthusiastically. She’d always suspected Grant would be passionate, but not like this. Not so eager to be in charge.

  “Do you want to go upstairs?” she asked breathlessly.

  “Not yet.” He pinned her against the wall with his body weight and reached for the hem of her skirt. He hitched one side up over her hip. “I want you to come for me, first.”

  Whatever you want raced through her head, but then she got lightheaded from the intensity of his kiss.

  His fingers sped through the buttons of her blouse and he pulled it back, revealing her lacy bra. Grant’s eyes were dark in the soft light of the foyer, and Tara felt like she was seeing a different side of him. So sexy. So red-blooded. He pulled down the cup of her bra with no hesitation. The combination of cool air against her skin, and the realization that he was going to touch her there made her nipple tighten, a rush of blood making her breast heavy. She nearly bucked against him. He pinched her already taut skin, scanning her face for a reaction. Raising her chin, she met his gaze, not to be outdone by him, but her mouth dropped open. It felt too good as he plucked at the hard bud. It sent sizzles of electricity down the length of her torso, aimed right between her legs.

  He gathered her hands and raised them above her head, pinning them against the wall with one hand while the other slipped down the front of her panties. He pressed against her hard with his torso as his fingers found her center. Her most delicate and sensitive spot. The place where she most yearned for his touch. He nuzzled his face into her neck and kissed and licked, all while keeping her pinned in place and working her apex in tight circles with his nimble fingers. There was zero question in her mind as to whether Grant knew what he was doing. He was playing her like a fiddle, and she was completely at his mercy.

  Tara’s eyes drifted open and shut, then open and shut again as the pleasure wound through her. There was too much thrill of the new, too much excitement from the unexpected. This was wrong. So wrong. And that made it feel so right.

  “You are so damn sexy,” Grant growled into her ear. He bit her neck softly; he licked her skin. His mouth was sheer heaven and part of her really hoped that she’d get to experience it all over her body tonight.

  “So are you,” she muttered, her thoughts so disjointed it was like her head was in the clouds. “I had no idea you’d be like this.”

  “Like what? Not nice?”

  He moved to the other side of her neck, but he slid his fingers down lower and slipped one inside her. He thrust hard, the heel of his hand hitting her apex, over and over again. Damn. She was so close to the peak she could hardly think straight. “Everything you’re doing right now is better than nice.” So much better.

  Tara’s breaths were so ragged it was as if they were being ripped from her lungs. All the while the pressure was building between her legs and her knees were growing weaker. Grant squeezed her wrists hard, pressing them into the wall as she thrust her hips forward, needing more. Craving. Wanting. Finally the orgasm tore through her and she called out, a cry that was quickly extinguished by the crush of Grant’s mouth. He kissed her deeply and with a passion she’d never experienced. It was raw and untamed, nothing but pure want. Their tongues wound together in a languid circle as he slowed the passes with his finger, but didn’t relinquish control. She didn’t begrudge him any of it. It was the sexiest thing she’d experienced in, well, quite frankly, ever.

  She buried her face in his neck as she rode out the final waves of pleasure. She kissed his Adam’s apple, which seemed to be bulging from his neck. “I want to make you happy,” she said, realizing too late that it might sound like more of a promise than she was willing to keep.

  “Good. Because that’s just the start.”

  He let go of her hands and Tara collected herself, tugging down her skirt, but not bothering with buttoning her blouse. It wasn’t going to be on long. She kicked off her heels as Grant removed his suit coat, then she took his hand and led him upstairs.

  As soon as they were in her room, she began working on his shirt, eager to get rid of it and start exploring his body the way he had hers. The sight of his chest and bare shoulders elicited a groan from deep in her throat. He was broad and firm with a lovely patch of dark hair in the center. He’d been working out and she was going to reap the benefits. She kissed his pecs, her fingers curling into his defined and muscular biceps. He threaded his hands inside her blouse and pushed it from her shoulders, then teased her by tracing his fingers up and down the channel of her back, over the strap of her bra, bypassing the chance to take it off. Tara shifted one hand from his arm to the front of his pants, where his steely erection was waiting for her. She pressed against his length and
he groaned his approval. She rubbed up and down, using a delicate pressure, just enough to make him harder.

  “What do you want, Grant?”

  He reached for her chin and raised it so that they were gazing into each other’s eyes. “I want everything you want to give me. Absolutely everything.”

  It was like she was breathing in his words and they served only to embolden her. She wanted to rock his world. She wanted tonight to be memorable. This had to be a one-time thing. There was too much on the line with their shared business interests for it to be anything more than that. That was the only coherent thought she could muster.

  She kissed him one more time to make sure this was what she wanted. The way he pulled her into his arms and dug his fingers into the back of her hair spoke of possessiveness. He was being dominant and she loved every minute of it. This was not a characteristic she expected from Grant, the good-looking guy next door. The heartbreaker with the puppy-dog eyes. And so she went with it, just to see what was next.

  * * *

  Grant was so overwhelmed by the sensory pleasure of having Tara half-naked in his arms that all logical thought was gone. His body and mind had been at war, and his brain had been defeated. This was Tara. The woman he’d wanted for so long. The woman he’d fantasized about hundreds of times. Her beautiful body was at his command right now. She was his for the taking. And there was part of him that was telling his brain to keep track of every unbelievable detail. The curve of her hips under his hand, the creamy skin of her breasts and the sweet sin of her mouth.

  He kissed her deeply and then led her over to the bed, where he perched on the very edge. “I want to watch you undress.”

  A coy smile crossed her lips, which made his erection that much harder. He ached for her so badly it was hard to believe he’d ever be able to walk again. “You naughty boy,” she said, pushing on his chest with a playful nudge.