Tempt the Night

by Dixie Lee Brown

  Well, hell. That didn’t help. Now he was aroused and angry—a dangerous combination. A run. That’s what he needed. Brady tossed the covers back and slipped out from under her arm, then crawled stealthily toward the edge of the bed. As he was about to swing his legs over the side, her cool fingers gripped the waistband of his jeans and rested against his back.

  Mac tugged on his pants, applying additional pressure to the initial problem. Brady drew a deep breath, prayed for control, and met her gaze over his shoulder.

  Sensuous lips formed into a pout as heavy eyelids shielded her beautiful blue-gray eyes, now so shaded with lilac that they resembled storm-filled skies. The effect was stunning, and Brady instantly forgot what he’d meant to say.

  “You’re not leaving yet, are you?” Mac braced her head on her elbow and tugged on his waistband again.

  Brady choked. “I didn’t mean to wake you, sugar. I thought I’d go for a run before we decide what to do today.”

  “Oh. Well, if that’s what you want to do.” She released him and slid her hand across his ribs to his abdomen and then down.

  He caught her hand before it skimmed beneath the front of his jeans. In one fluid motion, he rolled over and pulled her tightly against him. “Shit, Mac. Now’s not a good time to tease. If you’re not as serious as I am, you better let me get out of here for a while.” He ground his rigid member against her stomach, and her eyes widened.

  Her soft lips opened in a sexy smile. “Oh . . . I’m pretty serious.”

  Brady studied her sparkling eyes. He ached for need of her and still he hesitated. This would change everything between them. She’d made it clear she wasn’t a one-night stand. He didn’t want that either, but somehow he’d have to be absolutely certain he wouldn’t hurt her. How would that ever be possible?

  Mac drew his head down to meet her lips, and her gentle touch shoved his doubts aside. He threaded his fingers through her hair, then grabbed a fistful and pulled her head back so he could sample the delicate softness of her throat.

  “Prove it,” he whispered against her skin.

  She cocked her head and frowned. “Prove what?”

  “How serious you are.” He lifted his head and dared her with a grin.

  Her laugh rang with surprising joy and echoed in the quiet room. She reached for the button on his jeans, but he grabbed her hand again, flipped her onto her back, and settled on top of her. He pressed his lips to each finger as he held her gaze. “One touch of these nimble digits and it’ll be all over, sugar. You’ll have to think of something else.”

  Eyeing him suspiciously, she went still except for one hand that tapped out a rhythm on her jaw as her forehead scrunched in thought. Several seconds later, an impish gleam spread to her eyes. “What would you have me do?”

  He hesitated, wondering what she was up to, but then suspicion gave way to speculation about what he might be able to convince her to do, and the latter won out.

  He rolled onto his back beside her and held up his wounded hand. “Well, I was thinkin’—damn this bandage anyway. My hand is worse than useless with it on. I’m going to take it off.” He jerked on the bandage and got one wrap loose before she pounced on him and batted at his good hand. Hiding his amusement was easy when he caught the sincere concern in her eyes.

  “You’re doing no such thing. Tell me what you need . . . and I’ll do it.” She paused midway, seeming to suddenly realize the intimate tasks he might request.

  He almost felt bad for his subterfuge, but then . . . not bad enough. He slid his hand behind her neck and drew her closer. Covering her mouth with his, he greedily consumed her honeyed lips until she was breathless, and he wasn’t far behind. He had no intention of letting her catch her breath when he released her either.

  “Prove you’re serious. Undress for me, Samantha McCallister.” For a moment, he thought he’d gone too far. Her eyes widened, then narrowed warily. It was a full thirty seconds before she pulled away from him and found her voice.

  “Pardon me?”

  Brady raised his bandaged paw again and shrugged. “I was going to need some help anyway. This way we can kill two birds.” The rising color in her cheeks tugged at his heart, and he was about to tell her he was only kidding when a full-throated laugh burst from her, and she pushed to her feet in the center of the bed, whooping loudly.

  He laughed and reached for her hand, pulling her down alongside him. “Shhh! These walls are fairly well soundproofed, but keep that up and someone will burst through that door thinking you’re in danger.”

  “I just might be, Mr. Brady. You really are quite clever, aren’t you?” Her smile tantalized him and made him want to taste her lips again, but apparently she wasn’t finished. “Here’s the deal. I do something for you—undress—and I get to ask something of you that you can’t refuse.”

  He was intrigued by the guilt in her eyes. She obviously had something in mind. A preference in bed that made her tremble with desire? Something that those morons she’d been dating didn’t have time for? Why else would she think he’d refuse? He hardened even more as he became obsessed with the mystery. Whatever it was, she needn’t worry. There was nothing he wouldn’t do to please her.

  “Is it a deal?” Mac snaked her hand out and undid the button on his jeans.

  Shit! As though he needed any more persuasion. “You have my word, sugar.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Why do you insist on calling me that?”

  “Because you’re about the sweetest thing I’ve ever tasted.” He drew her lips to his and they melded together as though he’d been starving for her all of his life.

  She pulled away before he was ready. “Okay, tell me how you want this. I don’t think we have any music . . . unless you want to sing. No pole, but I could use a chair. It’s been a while, but I think I can remember how to do this. You want me in the center of the room or here by the bed?”

  “A pole?” Brady’s mouth had just gone dry with that picture.

  “Didn’t I tell you? I picked up a little extra cash in college working as an exotic dancer. My stage name was Bam Bam.” She laughed, a throaty kind of laugh that went straight to his groin.

  “I . . . um . . . Jesus, Mac. You’re killin’ me.” Something had to give. He opened his zipper and the fullness of his rigid shaft tented his briefs, pushing through the opening of his jeans.

  Smoldering eyes met his, and she reached for the waistband at his sides. “Rise up. Let’s get you out of these.”

  Brady did as she instructed, and with much giggling and struggling, she dragged the pants, inside out, over his feet and tossed them on the floor. He caught her around the waist and pressed his engorged manhood against her. “I don’t think we have time for the whole show right now, but I want a rain check. I’ll even install a pole.” He grinned and winked. “For now, just get out of the damn clothes.” He kissed her roughly and pushed her away.

  Mac stood in the middle of the bed, gazing down at Brady. Infuriatingly slow, she undid each button of her shirt. When it hung open down her front, she turned her back to him, and let the shirt slide off her arms and land on his lap. She whipped around to face him, her hair flipping over her right shoulder and landing on her breast.

  Brady groaned as he stared at the woman before him. “You’re just as beautiful as I imagined you’d be.” He reached for her, but she slipped from his grasp. Damn her. He’d get even for all this taunting.

  Mac hooked her thumbs in the top of her silk shorts and strutted in a small circle. When Brady thought he’d have to jump up and jerk them off himself, she turned her back again, bent over, and whipped the shorts down, presenting her bikini-clad ass just long enough for another groan to rise from his throat. She dragged her hands slowly up her calves and thighs as she straightened, stepped out of the shorts, and kicked them off the edge of the bed.

  Long tanned legs led directly to the black bikini panties with her thumb hitching one corner down over her hip. That was all Brady could take. He reached f
or her, pulling her down beside him.

  “I’ll take it from here.” His mouth came down on hers, hard and demanding, and he pushed his tongue between her lips to taste her—to own her completely.

  He gripped her hips and pulled her against him, smoothing his fingertips across her satin skin from her panties, over her flat and firm stomach, to just below her breasts. With one finger, he stroked over her nipple and chuckled when she jerked in response. He swiped over the taut peak several times in quick succession, until her breath stuttered with small gasps. Wrapping his hand around the fullness of her breast, he lifted it and felt its weight. He dipped his head and drew a circle around the nipple with his tongue, then licked the aroused nub.

  Mac jumped and uttered a small cry before she clamped a hand over her mouth.

  He smiled and nuzzled her throat. Sliding his tongue in and out of her ear, his breath made her tremble in his arms. “Tell me what it is you want me to do, sugar. Anything you want. It’s yours.”

  “Not yet.”

  “I can’t hold out much longer. I need to be inside you.” He alternately kissed her and nipped her bottom lip, then drew it between his lips and licked away the hurt.

  “Yes. Do that. Inside.” She tried to pull him closer while arching her body into his.

  He stopped playing with her lips to look in her eyes. “Are you sure about this, Mac?” Sadness swept across her face for a split second, and Brady frowned.

  The next instant, she smiled angelically. “I’m sure, already. Condom?”

  “My wallet . . . in my pants.” He rolled toward the side.

  “Stay there. I’ll get it.” Mac hopped off the bed, grabbed his jeans, and turned back holding his wallet.

  He took it from her and flipped it open with one hand, spilling part of the contents on the bed, including four plastic-wrapped condoms.

  Mac snorted. “Four?” She continued to chuckle as she helped him pick up business cards and stray scraps of paper and shove them back in the wallet.

  He loved to see her laugh, and that alone put a grin on his face. “Better too many than not enough . . . but don’t make up your mind prematurely.” His gaze dropped to her breasts, and he reached to trail his fingers from the base of her throat down over her responsive nipple and smirked when she inhaled sharply. “Come here.” He crooked his index finger.

  With humor dancing in her eyes, she crawled on hands and knees until she knelt beside him.

  “Time for these to go.” He skimmed her stomach and the top of her panties, then hooked his fingers over the elastic waist and tugged them down around her knees. Pulling her across his chest, he slid them to her ankles where she could kick her feet free. He held the scrap of fabric for a moment, smiling, before he tossed them onto the floor.

  Mac reached for his briefs. “Your turn.”

  “We’ll get to that.” He tightened his arm around her, bringing his leg up between hers. As he claimed her lips in a heated kiss, he slid his hand down over her ass, and pressed her soft warmth into his erection.

  She brought her thighs together around him and moved just enough to drive him faster toward the edge. He wasn’t going to last long if he didn’t slow this down. Rolling her over until he leaned above her, he rested on the elbow of his bandaged side. He dropped his other hand on the soft, curly triangle of hair that covered her mound and pushed between her legs, through her wet, slick folds, until two fingers explored the heat of her sheath.

  She moaned with every stroke, and he swallowed any sound she might have made. He began a rhythmic massage with his fingers while the heel of his hand rubbed hard against the hub of her arousal. With each pass across the sensitive spot she convulsed against him, her fingernails scraping down his sides.

  A small cry marked her climax as her entire body tightened around his hand. He raised his head and watched her face as passion glazed her eyes. Again and again, the spasms claimed her until finally she lay still and spent.

  He sat up and reached for a condom, ripping the package open with his teeth. When he realized he wouldn’t be able to put it on himself with one hand bandaged, he turned to her. Her sensuous smile caused his engorged shaft to twitch.

  Mac held her hand out, and he placed the latex in her palm. “You could demand a heavy price about now.” He grinned, then shimmied awkwardly out of his briefs.

  She rose to kneel beside him with lust, or some equally raw emotion, turning her eyes a deep blue. “You already gave me everything I could have asked for.” Her voice quavered slightly. She reached out, sliding her hand the length of him while her gaze locked on his.

  As she caressed his throbbing erection, Brady clenched his jaw tightly, sure he would lose his battle for control. She leaned toward him and pressed her lips to his, boldly exploring the inside of his mouth with her tongue. Pulling back, she regarded him with a mysterious half smile before getting down to business and rolling the condom in place.

  Expelling a deep breath, he tipped her onto her back again, spread her legs, and positioned himself at her opening. Drawing her gaze to his with her name on a whisper, he shoved inside.

  She gasped as he filled her. He gave her a few seconds to adjust to his size before he pulled almost all the way out and shoved forward again. This time she squeaked and threw her legs around his hips, urging him deeper.

  He smiled as he brushed the hair from the sides of her face. “God, Mac. You’re incredible. So fucking incredible.” Her sleepy, adoring gaze sparkled with pleasure and made him feel ten feet tall. He kissed her, gently at first, but then lust took over and he ground his mouth on hers, branding her as his and his alone.

  Again, he pulled out and shoved home. Over and over. Faster and faster, until he lost himself in the burning need of his groin and the intense pleasure their union created. When he came, fire exploded behind his eyes . . . jet engines, bombs, and rockets screamed across a dark sky. He stiffened and ducked as he squeezed his eyes closed. Shit! I’m in a fucking war zone! How the hell . . .

  “Brady?”

  The voice of an angel called his name. It must be a lie. There were no angels in war.

  “Brady?”

  It had to be a trick.

  Strong hands grasped his face, and he opened his eyes, ready to kick some ass.

  Mac!

  The gentle concern in her eyes called to the place within him that housed reality. He felt every inch of her warm body beneath his, and it grounded him. She was real—not the bombs or the rockets. There was no enemy here, except the one in his head. Apparently, only Mac had the power to keep that one at bay.

  “I thought you left me there for a minute.” Mac smiled serenely as though this kind of thing happened all the time in her world.

  Overcome with gratitude, he couldn’t talk for a moment. He pulled her closer instead and pressed his lips to her throat. “Better get used to me, sugar. I’m not going anywhere.”

  A short time later, he rolled off of her, pulling her with him until her head rested on his chest. The peace that invaded his soul was of her making, and he could no more let her go than he could jump off of a thirty-story building. She was part of him now, whether she wanted to be or not. He’d find a way to convince her to stay.

  Her breathing was quiet and even, but he sensed she wasn’t asleep. He’d give a small fortune to know what thoughts were going through her head right now.

  He kissed the top of her head tenderly. “So, Bam Bam, how long did you work as a dancer?”

  “Two whole weeks.” She laughed derisively.

  “Not exactly a career choice then, huh?”

  “It was only intended to get me through college. It lasted until some guy got fresh, and I kneed him in the balls. Turns out he was the boss’s son, and if I’d wanted to apologize to the creep alone in his penthouse the next night, I could have kept my job.” She shrugged, and the flash of her eyes let him know she was still angered by the incident.

  “I take it there was no apology?”

  “The job wa
sn’t worth my self-respect. I moved back home, went to a junior college, and got a job as a dispatcher with the State of Alaska.”

  Brady hugged her tighter, half pissed off at some slimeball he’d never laid eyes on and half proud as hell of this woman he was more attracted to than ever. “Do me a favor, would you?”

  Mac raised her head and looked at him curiously.

  “Don’t dance for anyone but me from now on?” She just stared at him, wary again. He lifted her so he could reach her mouth and sipped her heady brew until the first stirrings of desire awakened in him.

  “Hey, you never asked me for anything. We had a deal, sugar. I was looking forward to fulfilling your every wish.” He gently pushed the hair back that had fallen into her face.

  She dropped her gaze and crossed her arms over her stomach, effectively distancing herself from him. “I’ve given you the wrong idea. It’s not at all what you think.”

  He kicked himself for bringing it up, but now that the subject was on the table, it was fair game. “It doesn’t matter what it is. Tell me. Please?” He guided her chin around and forced her to look at him.

  Her bottom lip trembled, and she ducked away from his hand. “I was going to ask a favor.”

  “What is it, sugar? I can’t refuse, remember? That’s the deal.” He smiled encouragingly, hoping to bring back the playful mood they’d shared moments ago. By now, he’d recognized that whatever she wanted wasn’t a sexual favor, but he had no less desire to fulfill his end of the bargain. In fact, the need to see Mac safe and happy consumed him, regardless of what that entailed.

  A loud knock made them both jump. Brady’s gaze darted toward the door, and he swore under his breath when he picked up a smattering of women’s voices and laughter.

  “Mac? Are you up?” Cara, apparently the ringleader, yelled through the door, but Brady would bet Darcy and Rayna were out in the hallway with her.

  Mac grabbed for the sheet to cover herself, a look of total disbelief on her face. She swept her gaze over Brady, naked as a jaybird, and groaned. It was all he could do to stifle the grin that tried to escape.