On Her Terms

by Cathryn Fox

  I pick up my beer and head farther into the room, about to grab a table, when her big blue eyes meet mine. She runs a hand through her hair, and I can almost see the wheels turning in her head as she stares at me. I stop walking, my gaze going from her to her granddad, and then back to her. She’s clearly agitated about something.

  Before I even realize what’s happening, she jumps from her chair and crosses the room, coming at me fast. She reaches me, goes up on her toes and throws her arms around me. “Just go with it, please,” she begs, and presses her lips to mine.

  I slide my free hand around her back, tug her sexy body against mine and breathe in the floral scent of her shampoo as we kiss. She finally breaks from my hold, and I dip my head, waiting for an explanation.

  “Please, just follow along.” she says, and grabs my hand to drag me over to her grandfather.

  “Well, well. I knew there was something going on with the two of you,” James says.

  Brianna gestures for me to sit, and she grabs the chair next to me and shimmies closer. She reaches for my hand. “Look, Granddad, we didn’t want anyone to know. This week is about Tate and Summer, and we didn’t want to take any of the attention off them.”

  James folds his arms and assesses us. “I guess that’s where you were last night. With Luca in his chalet.” Damn, for a guy who swears he’s on his deathbed, he sure has his ear to the ground and knows everything going on around him.

  Heat crawls into Brianna’s cheeks, and her gaze jerks to mine. Her mouth opens and closes again, like she can’t quite figure out how to answer. Coming to her rescue, I say, “Yes, she was with me. But like Brianna says, we’d prefer not to steal Tate and Summer’s thunder by announcing we’re together.”

  “I suspected you two knew each other.” He taps the side of his head. “An old man knows these things.”

  “You’re very astute,” I say.

  His grin is cocky as his head bobs. “Can’t keep anything from me.”

  “Apparently not.”

  “You’ll keep our little secret, Granddad?” Brianna asks, leaning toward the elderly man.

  “How did you two meet?” he asks.

  “Back at Oxford,” I say honestly. “At a party. Isn’t that right, Brianna?”

  “Ah...that’s right.”

  “I was wearing one of those popular blue hoodies. Brianna had a thing for them. I guess that’s why I caught her eye.”

  Brianna toys with her straw and looks down, like she’s recalling our first spoken words. I smiled at her, and she glanced behind herself, unsure. I’m not sure what that was all about. But hours later she came at me with liquid courage.

  “We went our separate ways after Oxford, and when I found out he was working for Tate, well...here we are.”

  “Here we are, indeed,” James says, a sly look on his face. He taps his cane and stands. But then he glances at Brianna’s bare ring finger and frowns. “Where’s the ring?”

  Ah, so she told him we’re actually engaged.

  “Getting sized,” I say quickly, and she gives my hand a thankful squeeze.

  “When we get back home, I’d better see that ring on her finger,” James says to me. He taps his cane. “Well then, I don’t want to be a third wheel. You two kids have a good night.” He zips his lips. “And don’t worry, your secret is safe with me.” His eyes sparkle when he adds, “At least I’ll try. Sometimes I just blurt things out without thinking. Senility.”

  Senility my ass. The man is a sharp son of a bitch. Why is it no one can see it but me?

  Brianna frowns as she watches him go. It’s easy to see how close they are and how much she wants to make him happy. James slowly makes his way across the polished wood floor, and when the doors close behind him, Brianna shrinks into herself and cringes.

  “I’m so sorry, Luca. He was giving me a hard time about meeting the fiancé I lied about, and I saw you there, and before I could even think better of it, I decided to pretend we were a couple.”

  I grin at her and think about all the fun ways we can be a couple, all the benefits of a pretend engagement.

  “Wait, why are you smiling. Aren’t you mad?”

  “A beautiful woman kisses me in a crowded bar—how could I be mad about that?”

  “What about the lie, and me dragging you in to my problems?”

  I give a casual shrug and stretch my legs out. “I don’t mind helping.”

  Relief comes over her. “Really?”

  “Sure, but I have a condition.”

  Her smile falls and her eyes narrow. “I should have known.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” What is it with her? One minutes she’s all sweet and kind, and the next she’s full of anger. I guess I have a week to figure her out.

  “Nothing,” she says and grabs her drink. She takes a pull from her straw and then clamps down on it. Hard. My dick shudders, and I squeeze my legs together. “What do you want, Luca?”

  “You stay with me at the chalet, and we live and act like a real engaged couple.”

  Her gaze jerks to mine. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Why would we do that?”

  I tap my thumb on the table, take in her exasperated expression. “You only do one-night stands, right?”

  “Right?”

  I lean toward her. “I want you to spend the week with me, try it on for size. See what it feels like to be with someone longer than one night. I bet you won’t find it so bad.”

  She shakes her head. Hard. “No, no way.”

  I take a sip of my beer and set it on the table. “Those are my terms, Brianna.”

  Venomous eyes I remember from our college days latch on to mine. “Things are always done on my terms, Luca. I’m always the one in control. Always.”

  “Last night I remember you losing a bit of that control, and if memory serves me correctly, you quite liked handing yourself over to me.”

  “Oh God,” she says, a pink blush crawling up her neck and making her look so sexy. “Why...why would you want me to do this?”

  “Maybe I think deep down you really do want to find Prince Charming and live happily-ever-after. Maybe I think you’re just scared.”

  “I’m not scared. I’m a big girl, Luca. I know what the real world is like. I see the worst in people every day.” She glares at me, her eyes searching my face. “What’s in it for you, anyway?” I’m about to answer, tell her that I’m just helping a girl out, but she holds her hand up to stop me. “Never mind. I get it. It’s all about sex, isn’t it?”

  I shift closer, put my mouth near her ear. “Oh, there’s going to be sex, Brianna. Lots and lots of sex. That’s what couples do.”

  Her body quivers, and no matter what words come out of her mouth next, I know sex between us is pretty fucking great and that she wants it again, just as much as I do.

  “There you are,” Tate says, and I inch back to find my best friend and his fiancée grinning at us.

  Summer’s gaze narrows in on me. “What’s going on?”

  I turn to look at Brianna. It’s her call whether we tell them or not. She exhales loudly and buries her face in her hands.

  “Hey, what’s wrong?” Tate asks, and takes the seat next to her.

  She groans. “You’re not going to believe what I did.”

  Summer sits next to me, a worried look on her face.

  “What did you do?” Tate asks.

  “Granddad was harassing me again, so I told him Luca and I are engaged.”

  I press my thumb to my bottom lip, recalling her sweet taste. “She’s even thinking about staying with me for the week to prove it.” Brianna glares at me from between her fingers.

  Tate leans back in his chair and gives a slow whistle, while Summer sits there with a smirk on her face. “It was a stupid thing to do, but I panicked,” Brianna says, and finally drops her
hands. She takes another drink and finishes it off.

  “I’d say,” Tate says as he gestures the server.

  “It’s not so bad,” I pipe in. “We told him we were keeping it a secret because we didn’t want to take the focus off you two.”

  “Good thinking—but he’s a meddler, so pretending to stay together might not be a bad idea.” He glances at Brianna, who flushes again. “What are you going to do when we go back home? Granddad is frail and weak, a breakup just might...” He lets his words fall off, unable to vocalize them. His mouth turns down and Summer reaches out and takes his hand in hers. She gives him a warm, understanding smile.

  “He’s expecting to see a ring on my finger,” Brianna says and holds her jewelry-free hand up.

  “As hard as it might be on your granddad, you’ll have to pretend a breakup sooner or later,” Summer says. “Or not.”

  “Or not?” Brianna practically shouts. “Of course, we have to, but that will destroy him. All he ever does is worry about me. He says it’s not healthy to be alone. He just...he just wants to see me happy, and...” She pauses and waves her finger back and forth between the two of us. “And I did this to make him happy.”

  “Then you’ll have to just keep on pretending,” Summer says, like there is absolutely no problem with the two of us staying together forever, to keep an old man happy.

  “Summer,” Tate says, quietly. “They can’t do that.”

  “I can’t hurt Granddad, either,” Brianna says.

  Summer squeezes Tate’s hand. “You know, sometimes things just have a way of working themselves out. Just ride the week out, act like you’re in love with each other and try not to stress out about it too much. Doctor’s orders.” With that she stands and reaches for Brianna’s hand. “Come on. These two are going to drink beer and get stupid, and you and I are going shopping. There’s this great little boutique I found last time I was here. They have the best lingerie.”

  “Nice,” Tate and I say at the same time, and Brianna shoots daggers my way. I hold my hands up in surrender and laugh. “What, a guy can’t appreciate lingerie?”

  “This isn’t real,” she says. “And I’m not wearing lingerie for you. Ever.”

  “Hey, you’re the one who sprung this on me. The least you could do is consider it,” I say, and Tate laughs as he punches me in the arm. I know he’s secretly loving this. In the first month I worked for him, he mentioned Brianna often, even joked once about setting up us two workaholics.

  “Dude, are you not fond of your nuts?” Tate asks and shakes his head at me like I’m insane. Yeah, I get that Brianna is confident and a take-charge kind of woman—a woman a guy should never mess with—but the blush on her cheeks when I tease her is so goddamn sexy, I can’t seem to help myself.

  I cross my legs to protect my nuts. “I just might give up one to see her in lingerie,” I say, and Brianna opens her mouth, likely to shoot back with some kind of profanity, when Summer captures her arm and gives a little tug.

  “Ignore him, Bri.” Summer winks at me. “It’s the beer making him stupid.” She puts her purse over her shoulder. “Behave yourselves, boys.”

  “See you tonight, Bri,” I say and then fish my key from my pocket to hand over to her. “Just let yourself in.”

  She looks it over before shoving it into her purse. “It’s Brianna.”

  “I know.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Brianna

  THE CHALET’S OUTSIDE solar lantern is on, brightening the path as I drag my suitcase along the walkway. I grab my key card from my purse and stare at it for a moment. Truthfully I can’t believe I accepted Luca’s terms and agreed to live with him for the week. Things are always done on my terms. I set the rules. Then again I got him into this, so he should have some say on how it all plays out, right? As I consider that, my mind goes back to the incredible sex we had, how he said he wanted to keep fucking me. I shut him down at the time, which begs the question: Why did I throw myself into his arms and kiss him hours later? Was it really all for show, my way to let Granddad know I was okay? Or was there some other reason behind it—like the fact that I wanted back in his bed, and this was the perfect excuse?

  Oh Jesus!

  I quietly let myself in and listen for sound at the door. The light above the sink in the kitchen is on, and I leave my suitcase in the foyer and tiptoe farther into the chalet. It’s late but it’s possible Luca is still out drinking. After we went shopping, Summer and I met up with her friends Cara and Amber. We all went out to the wine bar for a drink—my idea. I kept them there longer than I normally would have—I’m still exhausted from the travel—but I was hoping Luca would be asleep when I returned.

  I’m half to blame for this situation, I realize. I did get myself into this mess. Honestly, I could be the poster girl for screwed-up good intentions. I walk down the hall and find Luca stomach down on the bed, stark naked and sound asleep. The sheets are a crumpled mess near the footboard. My heart picks up the pace as I let my gaze roam the long, hard length of his beautiful body. He must work out a lot to be in such good shape. Which reminds me, I need to hit the gym in the morning for a good cardio workout.

  There are other ways you can work off the calories, Bri...

  I reluctantly tear my gaze away and go back to my suitcase. I carry it into the room and unzip it. All the goodies I purchased earlier spill from the overstuffed bag. The pretty pink package with the silk ties tumbles to my feet, like it wants my attention. I lift the bag and shake my head. How I let Summer talk me into buying lingerie is beyond me. That girl can be persuasive when she wants to be. In the end I caved. But I’m not wearing it in front of Luca and giving him the idea I want sex again—even though I totally do. I guess I can always wear it on a date when I get back home. Oh, who am I kidding? I’ve been so busy trying to prove myself at work, I haven’t been out with a guy in ages. Maybe that’s why my revenge plan backfired. One touch, and I was putty in Luca’s hands. I shove my purchase to the bottom of my suitcase—out of sight, out of mind—but then something starts to buzz.

  “Oh crap,” I say under my breath when I realize what it is. I start tearing clothes out, desperate to find Mr. Right. Dammit, I must have accidentally turned it on just now. I finally pull it free and struggle to turn the damn thing off. I exhale when the buzzing stops, and I’m about to put it away until I hear the bed squeak behind me.

  Oh hell no.

  “Well hello, Mr. Right.”

  “Shit,” I say under my breath, and quickly bury the vibrator in my clothes.

  “Hey, don’t let me keep you from him.”

  I turn slowly to find Luca up on one elbow, grinning at me. “It accidentally turned on. I wasn’t about to use it.” Although now, after getting a full frontal and seeing his thickening cock, my body is heating, screaming for a little attention. Sadly, after a night with Luca, I’m not so sure my vibrator is going to cut it anymore.

  “That’s too bad.” Luca rolls to his back, and without a hint of modesty, sprawls out, showcasing his gorgeous body. “I’d love to watch you use it or, better yet, use it on you.”

  My pulse pounds against my neck. “Not going to happen,” I say quickly, as the visual floods my body with lust.

  He puts his arm over his head. “Do you have any idea how badly I want to fuck you again?”

  Heat zings through me. I’ve never had a man talk so blatantly before, and the hardening of my nipples is a testament to how much I like it. Instead of answering, I shoot back with, “Do you think you could cover up?” I grab my nightgown and cosmetic bag from my suitcase.

  “You’ve seen me naked,” he says casually, and my body warms at the memory of him on top of me, inside me, taking me to places I’ve never been before.

  “Which means I don’t need to see it again.”

  “Once was enough?” he asks.

  “Once is always enoug
h for me,” I say and stomp into the bathroom. I close the door behind me and lean against it. My entire body is on hyperdrive, fully aware there is a willing man in the bed I’m about to slide into.

  Go for it. Have sex with him. On your terms.

  I unbutton my blouse and shrug it from my shoulders. As I slip off my jeans, I think about Mr. Right. Dammit, I should have taken him into the bathroom with me. The toy is waterproof, and with the shower running, Luca would’ve never been the wiser. I could have taken the edge off and fallen into a sound sleep. Now I’m going to be a quivering mess and trying to pretend otherwise. I open the glass shower door and turn on the spray. Once it’s lukewarm—a little more cool than hot—I climb in and let the water wash away the lust building inside me. I stay there for a good long time, until my skin is shriveled and I’m shivering.

  Praying Luca has fallen back to sleep, I dry off and grab my nightgown. Dammit, in my hurry I forgot panties. Not that I ever wear them to bed, but with Luca in there, I don’t want him to get the wrong idea—or the right one.

  Oh God, what am I saying?

  I slip into my nightgown, brush my teeth, quietly leave the bathroom and then slide into the bed, being careful to hug the edge so we don’t accidentally bump into each other.

  Touch him, already.

  A frustrated moan catches in my throat and I put my hand over my mouth to stifle it, but it’s too late.

  “Everything okay?” Luca asks, his deep, rumbly voice vibrating through me and stroking the needy spot begging for his attention.

  “Fine. Just tired.” I fake a yawn as my body stirs with need.

  The bed moves as he rolls toward me and I hug the blankets tighter. “Did you have fun with Summer?” he asks, his breath hot on the back of my neck.