by Tania Joyce
Oh god, I’m in trouble.
Metal tinged against a glass, bringing the room to attention.
“Time for speeches. Later, Kars.” Hunter winked, poured her a fresh champagne, and they shuffled out into the crowd.
In the center of the gathered guests, Hunter stood behind her, too close. Every time he brushed against her, or whenever he laughed and it reverberated through her system, her heart beat erratically. Had the lack of sex made her lust-crazy? The first show of interest from a man had her body sparking. But Hunter? She wasn’t stupid or naïve. She knew what he was after. Could she do it?
After Kyle and Gemma spoke, and Hunter’s well-wishes and comical tales embarrassed them, Kara thought she had escaped Hunter’s advances. But after using the bathroom, her steps slowed when she saw him lingering at the hall’s entrance to the living room. Standing with Lexi and Hayden, he drank straight from a bottle of champagne. The moment he saw her, he excused himself and slinked down the darkened passageway toward her. She sighed and rolled her eyes, unable to stop herself from smiling. She had to give him credit. He was persistent, if nothing else.
She met him halfway and leaned back against the wall. His hand appeared beside her head, trapping her.
“Are you still fighting this?” He swayed closer.
Shuffling back, her heels hitting the wall. “There’s nothing to fight.” Except her body had a mind of its own. Her chest arched toward him and an ache stirred between her legs.
“Come on, seriously. Haven’t you ever thought about sleeping with me?”
She’d never thought about sleeping with Hunter. Until now. With his face looming eight inches away, she had to keep his Manhattan-sized ego from swelling. “No. I have better things to do.”
“You’re thinking about it now. Aren’t you?” Hunter’s wicked smile heated her from the inside out. “I can tell. Your cheeks are flushed.”
“I told you, it’s hot in here. That’s all.” Her voice came out nice and steady, but her stomach quivered and quaked. “Hunt, what you’re suggesting is weird. We’re friends. You’re Gem’s ex.”
“We tolerate each other, and Gem won’t give a shit.”
The more Kara played with the idea, the crazier her heart beat. Soon she’d need a cold shower. To have his hands on her skin, his husky voice whispering in her ear, those lips against hers . . . sweet Jesus! She grabbed the bottle of champagne from him and downed a few mouthfuls. “This is the most bizarre conversation I’ve ever had with you.”
“I’ve got a semi if that’s any consolation.” He snaked his hands around her waist, clutched her ass and drew his hips against hers. Oh God! Was that a . . . ? “When was the last time you did something exciting? A little dangerous? Spontaneous? The rules are set. Just one time. No strings attached.”
This was nothing but a game to Hunter. For some unknown reason she was his target tonight. She’d be nothing but a conquest, a statistic, another notch in his bed head. A meaningless fuck. She’d never done anything like that before.
His eyes burned into hers. “No one will know we’re gone. Give me half an hour . . . max. That’s it.”
“Why do you need that long?”
“Well . . . how many orgasms do you want? Two? Three?”
Her core clenched. She’d never even had two orgasms during sex. Ever. “Don’t be ridiculous.” She searched his face for evidence of his joke. But there was no waiver in his determined expression. “Three? Really?”
“Let’s just say, I know what I’m doing.”
God, he was so full of himself. But was he that good? No man was that talented in the bedroom. Were they?
Guess she could find out.
Hunter groaned, and his head fell back. “This is taking way too much effort. You’re killing my buzz, Kar. Are you up for it or not?”
She placed her hand on his chest between the two open buttons of his red shirt and played with the cross on his chain.
Damn you, Hunter. Was this how he got all the girls? A little bit of charm and a touch of flirting, all mixed with a bucket-load of bullshit? She hated to admit that it was working.
Could she sleep with someone she didn’t have feelings for? Could she sleep with Hunter? Someone who used women for nothing but sex, and didn’t care about anyone or anything other than himself? He was everything she didn’t want in a man.
Except he was drop-dead gorgeous.
And triggered her curiosity.
He circled his thumb over her hip, heating her flesh beneath her vintage-style dress. “Stop over-thinking this.”
What Hunter wanted to do pushed her beyond her boundaries and took her miles out of her comfort zone. That terrified her, thrilled her, and excited her. Knowing she had captured his wandering eye gave her low self-esteem a boost. This wasn’t about love or dating or romance. Hell. No. This was about forgetting her problems. Having some fun. A sharp breath caught in her lungs and her heart rate jumped. A naughty smile inched across her lips. Oh yeah . . . and Hunter was the type of man her father would despise.
She liked that very much. That clinched it.
Laughter and cheer drifted down the hallway. A glass shattered out in the living room and another champagne cork popped. Surely the partygoers wouldn’t miss her and Hunter for thirty minutes. Glancing over his tailored jacket, her heartbeat’s tempo jumped. She’d seen him in his underwear at fitting, but what would he look like completely naked? Those toned arms? That ripped stomach? That fine backside?
Sleeping with him was crazy. Her insides screamed, yes, just do it. This may be her last chance to have sex as a whole woman.
She promised Gemma she’d have fun.
Screw it. Here goes nothing.
Her eyes met his. She caught her bottom lip between her teeth and held up three fingers. “Okay . . . Three . . . Let’s go.”
Shock flashed across Hunter’s face before his gorgeous grin widened. His eyes smoldered and glimmered in the darkness. He picked up the Bollinger, grabbed her hand, and led her down the hallway.
There was no backing out now. For half an hour she wanted to forget Conrad, forget about her work, and forget about her pending medical procedure. This was what she needed. Her hands shook, and her veins burned with doubt, panic and feverish anticipation. But she didn’t hesitate once on the way to his bedroom.
Chapter 2
The moment Kara walked through the door into Hunter’s darkened bedroom, he turned to face her. Their eyes met. He closed the door behind her and flicked the latch to lock. Click. Her heart skipped a beat, then pounded harder and faster with each breath.
Heat from his body sent shivers up her spine. His intense gaze weakened her knees. This was madness. She could do this. She’d left her want for a relationship, the need for love, and her issues on the other side of the door.
If only the butterfly disco dancing in her belly would settle, she’d be fine.
Taking her hand, Hunter drew her into the center of the room that smelled of his intoxicating cologne. “Wait here.”
She fumbled with her necklace as he placed the champagne on the drawers next to his bottle of Dior Sauvage cologne and framed photos of Everhide at award shows—the Grammys, MTV, and the AMAs. Hitting a button on the wall by his room-sized walk-in wardrobe, the black block-out blinds lowered to hide the view south over Tribeca. Soft light from the master bathroom trickled into the bedroom and gleamed golden on the collectible guitars mounted above his headboard.
He ripped off his jacket, shoes and socks, then with a whoosh, he tore the bed coverings back as if it were a sacrificial altar.
Her mouth ran dry. “So . . . how do you want to go about this?” She kicked off her stiletto pumps and smoothed her clammy palms over the skirt of her dress. “Do you just want to strip naked and jump under the covers, or what?”
Hunter stood in front of her and ran his thumb over his lower lip. That infuriating, sexy smile curled across his mouth. “How about you let me do what I’m good at?”
K
nots cinched inside her tummy. “And what are you good at exactly?”
“I’m gonna show you.”
He ran his hand over her head, sending tingles shooting across her scalp. With a gentle tug, he pulled her hairband free, and slipped it over her wrist. Warm fingers threaded through her long, thick hair that fell loose half way down her back.
Hunter massaged the base of her neck. “Kara, relax.”
She sucked in a sharp breath. “I’m trying.” Having Hunter touching her was weird. Rolling her shoulders, she fought the urge to slap his hand away.
Inching closer, he glided his hands down her side and encircled her hips. “Let’s have some fun.”
She couldn’t think of anything when he stood this close.
“Are you going to kiss me?” She placed her shaky hand on his chest, twisted the fabric of his shirt between her fingers, and felt the gentle strum of his heartbeat.
Please kiss me.
He half-smiled. “All in good time.”
Placing the slightest pressure on her waist, he turned her around. He drew her hair aside, pressed his lips against her neck and trailed a line of kisses up to her ear. Goose bumps skittered across her skin. His rock-hard chest molded against her back, the buckle on his belt pressed hard into her lower spine, and his erection nudged against her ass.
“I thought this was supposed to be a quickie.” She ran her hand down his thigh. Taut muscles flexed underneath her fingertips. Hot.
“It will be.” He nibbled on her ear lobe. “After three orgasms, you’ll have to be nice to me.”
“This is sex, not magic.” It would take more than a couple of orgasms to change her opinion of him.
His hands skirted up her sides and cupped her breasts. Fingers circled the silky fabric of her dress, hardening her nipples against her bra. Her heart hammered, and she arched into his touch.
“I wanna touch you all over, Kar.” His voice was so low and deep, her panties nearly slid down to join it. His hand ventured down her stomach, over her hip to the top of her thigh. “Wanna set you on fire.” He toyed with the hemline of her frock. She gasped when he dug his calloused fingertips into her flesh and dragged her skirt up. At the apex of her legs, he slipped his hand under her dress and rubbed his palm over her silky panties. “Wanna make you wet.”
Shit!
She already was. She winced, and she spun around to face him.
His hand fell away. “You want to stop?”
To hell with the jitters. It was time to play. “No. I’m good.”
“Okay.” His eyes shimmered with sinful sexiness. “You know you can touch me. I won’t bite. Not yet anyway.”
Her hands quivered as she slid them down his solid arms and squeezed his biceps through the fine cotton of his shirt. “You have nice arms. Not big like a body builder. Just right.”
Hunter chuckled. “Did you compliment me on something?” Creases crinkled the edge of his eyes. “Well, holy shit. Because you know, I’m nothing but an asshole.”
“Whatever. I’m just saying—”
“You really know how to talk dirty. Keep that up and I’ll cum in my pants.”
She socked him in the arm.
“Ow. Guess I deserved that.” He grabbed her hands and hooked them around his neck before slipping his around her waist. “So, where were we?”
“I’ve forgotten,” Kara whispered, mesmerized by the perfect shape of his lips—thin, curved, and kissable. Let’s do this.
Clasping the back of his head, she pulled his mouth to hers. Fire sizzled across her lips like a scorching summer heat. Her heart thudded with profound fervor. Shivers charged across her skin, and her equilibrium tilted.
He moaned against her mouth. Strong hands curled around her back and crushed her body against his.
Flicking and rolling his tongue against hers, the taste of champagne was like a sweet elixir. The fine hairs of his stubble tickled her upper lip, tempting and teasing. With a tug on his hair, she deepened her kiss. Harder. Hotter. Heavier.
It was like an itch being scratched—a craving being met. It was totally addictive. Every cell in her body screamed. More. More. More.
Panting, she drew back and stared at him. She didn’t know what to make of the buzz that surged through her veins. Licking her lips, she savored the taste of him. “Wow . . . not bad.”
“Not bad? That was hot. Very hot.”
Cupping her cheek, he kissed her again, sucking on her top lip, her bottom lip, and diving into her mouth with his tongue.
She clutched at his shirt, fumbling for his buttons. With frantic fingers, she peeled the Gucci from his skin. Tossing the shirt onto the ground, her hungry eyes skimmed over his toned physique. Smooth chest, snail trail, man-groomed perfection. Her hands twitched, desperate to touch him all over.
With a trembling fingertip, she traced over the intricate swirling tattoo on his upper left arm, held captive by the way his muscles tensed and flexed beneath her touch. “I like the tattoos.”
There weren’t too many. Nothing overdone. All were pure, sexy, wickedness—the pattern on his arm; the letters GKH on his inner left forearm, the initials of Gemma, Kyle and Hunter; and there was a snake around a guitar on his left shoulder blade she’d seen many times at his fittings at work.
“I’m glad you approve. Now, shh.” Hunter guided her backward across the room until she hit the wall with a thud. His lips found hers again. His breath seared her skin as he worked his way lower until he nipped and kissed her nipples through her dress. Why did that send the most delectable pulses through her system? Even her toes tingled.
Slipping his hands behind her, he lowered her zipper and eased her dress away. It pooled at her feet like a sheet of chiffon. “You looked nice in that dress, even better now it’s on my bedroom floor.”
Heat flushed her cheeks and she lowered her gaze. There she stood in her plain, full-coverage, pink bra and panties. Nothing slinky. Nothing sexy.
He lifted her chin with the tip of a finger. “Kar, you have a rockin’ body.”
She didn’t think shapeless pillars with boobs were his thing . . . but whatever.
Reaching around her, he released her bra’s clasp, and slipped the straps from her shoulders. It joined her dress on the floor.
He took her breasts in his hands and rolled his fingertips across each peaked nipple. “Hmm . . . fabulous.” Dipping his head, he closed his lips over one of her aroused buds. Gentle yet firm, he licked, and sucked, and swirled his tongue. Goose bumps shot across her skin. His mouth. Hot. Wet. Divine. With a rush of warm air over her breast, he grazed his teeth over the tender tip and tugged on it.
Her knees buckled. Holy shit. What he was doing had her close to coming already.
Knotting her fingers through his hair, she drew his mouth up to hers. Adrenaline charged through her veins faster than crowds rushing through the doors at Macy’s on Black Friday. Not even Conrad had made her insides tick like this.
Boldness took charge. The champagne she’d drunk boosted her confidence. She reached between their bodies and ran her hand over the length of his hardened cock straining beneath his trousers.
He broke their kiss and a saucy smile played across his lips. “You like what you’re feeling there?”
“It’ll do.”
If he fucked like he kissed, she was in for some mind-blowing sex. Bring it on.
She flicked his belt undone and unzipped his pants. Grabbing his shaft firmly through his boxer-briefs, she rubbed him—he was hard, hot, and solid. Her core clenched, begging for attention, while she tried to ward off the knots tightening in the pit of her belly. The memory of the stinging, the pain, and the discomfort she often experienced when having sex jumped to the forefront of her mind. But then Hunter deepened their kiss.
He thrust his hips, forcing her back against the cool wall, and drove his throbbing cock into her hand. “Shit, that feels good. Rub harder.”
She tightened her grip, sliding her hand up and down his long length. He his
sed in her ear, wild and possessive. He slapped the wall beside her and took half a step back. Did she do something wrong? But he fell to his knees and whisked her panties off. Vulnerable and naked before him, her hands shot out to cover herself. She winced. She hadn’t waxed in weeks. Or shaved her legs.
“Don’t.” He drew her hands away. “You’re actually kinda beautiful.”
If she recalled correctly, he’d said she was above-average, not beautiful. He could say what he wanted, she wouldn’t take it to heart. “You’re only saying that because you wanna fuck me.”
He circled his hand around her calf and kissed his way up the inside of her leg. “You have sensational legs.”
Her insides clenched with each tease, stroke, and tickle. The breath rushed from her lungs when he slipped his finger through the folds of her skin and circled her clit. Round. Up. Down. Repeat. Want for him burned deep inside her, like a fire about to break containment lines.
His mouth claimed her. Her knees weakened, and she slipped an inch down the wall. His tongue traced along the length of her seam, flicked her swollen bud. Driving his finger into her arousal, he probed her slow, tender. She closed her eyes, her head falling back against the wall. Oh yes. She’d died and gone to heaven.
This was surreal. Hunter . . . on his knees, between her legs. She giggled. He’d said he’d wanted to do this to her earlier in the evening. In a daze, she lifted her leg and hooked her ankle across his back. Gave him more access. He licked her harder, slipped his tongue inside her. Holy shit! Her eyes rolled back into her head. Conrad had never done that. Her thighs shook. Her pulse whooshed in her ears. She clutched a fistful of Hunter’s hair and rocked her hips against his mouth. “Oh . . . yeah. There.”
With a swirl of his tongue, he took her over the edge. Electricity shot up her spine, and every muscle in her body quaked and convulsed. Her mind circled like a spinning wheel. Hunter’s tongue was pure magic.
He kissed his way up her body. A smile of satisfaction glistened on his lips. “That was orgasm number one.” He reached over and took a few sips from the bottle of champagne. “How many orgasms did you say you wanted? Three, right?”