by Susan Hayes
“It’s a distinct possibility, yes.” He grinned at her, pleased to see her laughing. He’d been hard for her since the moment he’d climbed inside the truck, and when she laughed, she lit up with an inner light that made his cock throb and strain against the fly of his jeans. She was still dressed for work in a buttoned up, plain white blouse and black blazer, all professionalism and practicality. He wasn’t buying it. That may be the image she was selling the world, but he’d met the real Lia the night they’d danced in the darkness. She couldn’t hide who she was from him. He wouldn’t let her.
“I’m a pizza purist, I’m afraid. Nothing fancy. Sausage, maybe a few mushrooms or peppers, and an avalanche of cheese. That’s it.”
“The future is saved. You have answered wisely, and well. I’ll handle the dinner arrangements while you get your car. Come by the shop when you’re done.”
“Just like that?”
“I’ll have you know that’s a very powerful wand. I sent to Hogwarts for it, in fact.”
“Really? Then maybe I should try wishing for something else.”
His voice deepened as he turned to her and said, “Anything you want, Cin.”
“You’re really going to keep calling me that?”
“I really am. You’re my Cinderella.”
“Uh huh. By that logic you’re my Prince Charming. One without a horse, sword, patent of nobility, or a pair of tights to be seen. I think I’m getting the short end of the deal here.”
“As it happens, my steed is a motorcycle crafted of forged steel and chrome, which means it counts as both my horse and my sword. The second the snow melts, I’ll be getting her out of storage and we can go for a ride. I’m afraid my pedigree is not exactly royalty though, and not even that wand is going to get me in a pair of tights. Ever.”
“That’s a shame. I think you might have the legs to make it work.”
“If you want to see my legs, all you have to do is say the magic words.”
Lia’s cheeks heated and she turned her head to look out the windshield. “I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
He gripped the wheel tighter and did his best to ignore his aching balls as he imagined a hundred things he’d like her to use that wand to wish for. He’d show her any part of his body she wanted.
They made it to the shop in record time, and as he pulled up outside the garage she made a point of checking her watch. “That might be a new land speed record, if you factor in rush hour traffic.”
“My brother Tag does some racing with his Mustang, Tiffany. He’s been teaching me a few tricks.”
“Your brother named his car?”
“My brother loves his car almost as much as he loves Jo. He and Tiffany have been together for more than ten years now. It’s the longest relationship of his life.”
Nick was halfway out the door when Lia asked, “What about you, Nick. What’s your longest relationship been?”
“Three months.” The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them. He expected Lia to withdraw, or at the very least, react badly. He knew that a mere twelve weeks wasn’t exactly an impressive track record. The fact was, he had no time for a relationship. First there’d been school, and paying for school by any means necessary, and then he was getting his business started.
Fuck. At some point he was going to have to tell her how he’d paid for school and earned the starter money for Wilde Ink. Somehow, he didn’t think Lia was going to be thrilled to discover he used to be male stripper. Well, she wouldn’t be the only one. His family hadn’t been happy about it either.
“You made it six weeks longer than I ever have,” she murmured and then fumbled for the door handle, hiding her face as she did so.
Nick made it around to her door before she got it open more than a few inches. He didn’t know what he was going to say until he looked into her eyes, and then the words came of their own volition. “Maybe we were just waiting for the right person to come along.”
Her lips curved up into a sad smile and her eyes filled with dark shadows, echoes of some past pain. “Or maybe neither of us were destined for a happily ever after. I don’t think I deserve one.”
Nick tugged her out of her seat and out into the snow, swinging her around so that her back was up against the side of the truck. He stalked in close, until their gazes locked and his mouth was a bare inch away from hers. “I don’t believe that. Not for one damned second. I might have a few weeks ago, but then you came along and threw my life into chaos. I’ve dreamed about you every night since then. I have no idea why, or what it means. Maybe it doesn’t mean anything. More likely it’s a warning that you’re going to be the fucking death of me. You’re making me crazy, Cin.”
“You are the most confusing man I have ever met!” Her open hand slapped against his chest, but instead of pushing him away she simply let it rest there.
“I’m not complicated. I’m easy. I already gave you my instruction manual. Just say the magic words, and I’m all yours. That’s about as simple as it gets.” He stepped back and pointed to the garage. “Go see about your car. I’ll be at my shop, organizing dinner. And just so we’re clear? If you run, I’m coming after you this time. You seem to think you don’t deserve to be happy. I don’t know why that is, but I do know what I’m going to do about it.”
“And what might that be?” she asked, tipping her chin up in defiance.
He leaned down so that his lips brushed the curve of her ear and whispered, “I’m going to prove you wrong.”
With that, he turned on his heel and left her, forcing himself to put one foot in front of the other without looking back.
So much for going slow, Romeo.
There was no doubt about it, the woman really did make him crazy. And if he didn’t get to kiss her again soon, he was damned sure it was only going to get worse. He hadn’t planned on pushing her. Fuck, he knew that was a bad idea, but when he’d seen that sad smile on her lips and the shadows in her eyes he’d reacted without thinking. If she ran again…
Nick just shook his head. If she ran, he’d go after her. Not tonight of course. He might be crazy, but he wasn’t suicidal. If Lia thought he was stalking her, she’d either arrest him or shoot him, or possibly both.
He walked into the shop and found himself face-to-face with Janie, who was grinning like a lunatic. “Nice moves, lover boy. Do you always throw your dates up against the side of a truck, whisper in their ear and then leave them without so much as a kiss? If so, I can see why you have a problem keeping women around.”
“Go home before I fire you…again.”
“Never going to happen.” Janie vanished into the back room while Nick stripped off his coat, remembering to snag his phone out of a pocket before hanging it up. He didn’t even have time to call in an order before Janie was back again. She’d pulled on her coat and was about to head out the front door when she stopped and took her hand off the doorknob to point through the glass. “Well hot damn, your lady cop is on her way over. Either she likes getting manhandled, or you’re about to get shot. I don’t want to witness whatever happens next, so I’m going out the back. Good night and good luck.”
“Don’t forget to lock the door behind you as you flee,” Nick said, already rising from his chair. It had been less than five minutes since he’d left her, so what was she doing heading this way already? Lia stormed up to the door and yanked it open. Her eyes were flashing emerald fire and he could have sworn the temperature in the store soared as she marched across the floor, only stopping when they were toe-to-toe.
“Don’t you ever turn your back on me in the middle of a conversation again,” she said, her voice thick with anger.
“There wasn’t anything left to say.”
“Like hell there wasn’t! I had plenty left to say, but you walked away from me before I could even open my mouth. Don’t do it again.”
“If I hadn’t walked away, I would have been tempted to break a promise I made you.”
She sighed and t
hrew her hands up into the air, and he noticed she was still carrying the wand. “The one where you said you wouldn’t kiss me again until I asked you too? You left before I could make another wish, smart guy.”
“Is that so? And what were you going to wish for next?”
“I was going to wish for a kiss from Prince Charming, but then he went and left me standing all alone.”
Nick decided throw caution to the wind and dance in the flames. He leaned in close, met her gaze and murmured, “Not much fun suddenly being left alone, is it?”
“Bastard.”
“Damn it woman, quit insulting me and make a wish already.”
The wand clattered to the floor as she slid her hands around his neck and stepped into his arms. “I’m tired of fighting this, Nick. Please, kiss me.”
“Your wish is my command,” he whispered just as his mouth crashed down on hers. He wrapped his arms around her and hauled her up tight to his body, letting her feel every hard inch of him through their clothes. It wasn’t enough. He wanted more. He wanted everything. He needed to know what she tasted like, how’d she’d feel wrapped around him, skin to skin.
“Nick, I…” she whispered and he tore his mouth from hers to stare into her eyes.
“What do you want, Lia?”
“More.”
“That, I can do.” He lifted her higher into his arms and she clung to him, long legs wrapping around his hips and her hands locked around his neck. Barely able to think past the need for her, Nick somehow managed to walk over to the door and throw the deadbolt. Work was over.
Now it was time to play.
Chapter Six
Lia hadn’t planned for any of this. She’d been too angry to think past her need to tell Nick off for walking away. She’d paid for the car, thanked Jo and left with her keys in hand and a head full of things she needed to say to him. Somehow, once she was so close she could smell the faint spice of his cologne, none of it had mattered any more.
He stopped kissing her long enough to lock the door, but then his lips were on hers again, devouring her, tasting and teasing with every touch of his tongue. She could feel his steel-hard cock pressing against her pussy, mute evidence of how much he wanted her. She was hotter than she’d ever been in her life, her pussy soaking wet and her clit throbbing, aching with the need to be touched. Unable to help herself, she tightened her legs around his waist and ground her clit against his erection, craving relief.
Nick nearly stumbled as he groaned her name in warning. “Lia. Do that again and you are going to wind up getting a whole lot more of me right here, right now.”
She leaned in and nuzzled at Nick’s ear, loving the way his breath caught as her teeth tugged at his earring. He wanted her, and God help her, she wanted him too, enough to break the rules she’d lived by for so long. “That’s what I want. All of you.”
The next second she found herself up against the wall behind his desk with Nick’s hands tearing at her clothing and his lips on hers. He kept her pinned in place with his hips as he made short work of her coat and blazer, and she helped as best she could. Purse, shoes and scarf were soon piled on the floor at his feet. Their bodies ground against each other, creating a maddening friction that only made her desire grow. Caught up in a firestorm of need, nothing mattered but getting as close as she could to Nick, to feel, to touch, to taste every inch.
Nick’s kisses were savage, taking everything she offered and then demanding more. She had asked for all of him, and it was clear that was exactly what she was going to get. With anyone else, she would have doubts, would have struggled to maintain control and protect herself, but not with Nick. Even as he tore her blouse open, rending fabric and sending buttons flying in all directions, she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. They were lost in this moment together, two sparrows caught in the same hurricane.
She’d deal with the aftermath of the storm tomorrow. For now, she was choosing to soar.
“Need to put you down for a second. Try to leave now and I’ll use your cuffs to chain you to my desk, then spank your ass for even thinking about it,” he growled when he next lifted his mouth from hers.
“You wouldn’t dare,” she said, trying to ignore the flush of heat that slammed through her at the thought of being naked and bound so that Nick could do whatever he wanted to her.
“Yes, I would. For you, Lia, I’d dare damned near anything.”
Words failed her and she stayed silent, still reeling from the impact of all he’d said. She unwound her legs from his waist so he could set her down. He lowered her slowly, letting her body slide along his until she was on her feet again. When he stepped back her knees nearly buckled and she leaned back against the wall for support.
He gave her a cocky grin and moved over to the wall, turning off most of the lights and pulling a simple curtain around his work area, giving them privacy. “Some clients get tattoos in uh…intimate places,” he explained as he stripped his shirt over his head and tossed it onto the growing pile of clothes at their feet. Lia mirrored his actions, shrugging out of the torn remains of her blouse and letting it fall where it may. He was back within reach in seconds, his mouth claiming hers for another kiss as he expertly undid the clasp of her bra and freed her breasts from their confinement. Strong hands stroked up her ribs, palming the heavy globes with a rumble of approval.
Lia let her hands wander, learning every curve and niche of his chest and shoulders. When his fingers found her tender nipples and began to toy with them she moaned into his mouth, arching herself against the exquisite torment of his touch. Nick moved in closer, until they were thigh to thigh and hip to hip, lips mated and hands everywhere, exploring and claiming every inch of bared skin.
When his hands brushed over her holster, he chuckled, breaking their kiss to glance down at her gun. “I’m not sure whether to be turned on or alarmed by the fact you wore a gun on our date.”
She laughed, releasing her hold on his shoulders to unbuckle the belt, hanging it off the back of his chair when she was done. “Next time maybe you’ll think twice about walking away from me before we’re done talking.”
Nick lifted his head and she found herself lost in the smouldering heat of his gaze. “I have news for you, gorgeous. I’m not walking away from you again, period.”
He dropped to his knees in front of her, nuzzling his cheek against her stomach as he popped the button on her slacks. All the air left Lia’s lungs in a whoosh and she closed her eyes, leaning back against the wall for support. Nick’s mouth grazed her navel, drifting a path of open mouthed kisses across her belly as he eased her pants down over her hips, revealing her one indulgence, purple lace underwear. “Now what do we have here?”
“It’s just lace. I’m sure you’ve seen plenty of it,” she said, anxiety making her voice quaver. Lia had never done anything like this, her few trysts had been planned out and controlled. Dimly lit, brief tumbles into the beds of men she was trying to connect with. All nice, safe guys who would never dream of tearing her clothes off or threatening to spank her.
Not like Nick.
“I’ve seen lace before, but never on you. That’s what makes it fucking sexy.” He tugged her pants down to her ankles and guiding her feet to step out of them before running his hands up her now bare legs. He lifted his head, watching her face as he slowly made his way to the apex of her things. A groan rolled up from deep in his chest as he slid a finger under the edge of her lace panties to stroke the outer lips of her soaking pussy. “Damn, you’re wet already and I haven’t even started yet.”
“What do you mean, we haven’t started yet. There’s nothing much left to do except…” Lia waved her hands vaguely, too embarrassed to finish her sentence.
Nick’s eyes widened for a second, and then his mouth split into a wicked grin. “If you think it’s all over but the fucking, you’d be mistaken. First I’m going to make you come with my fingers, then I am going to eat your pussy until you’re screaming my name, and then I’m going to fuck you. Afte
r that, we’re going to order dinner, go upstairs and to do it all over again. I hope you aren’t working tomorrow, because what I have planned for us is going to take all night.”
“I’m on days off,” she said as soon as she could catch her breath. Nick’s words had her heart racing and her pussy growing slicker by the second. No one had ever talked to her like Nick did…and she loved it.
“Good. Then for the rest of the night, you’re all mine. Stay with me and let me show you what real chemistry is.” He pushed his finger between her slick folds, rubbing his fingertip around her swollen clit and her hips bucked against his hand.
“Yes,” she whispered, her hands gripping his shoulders for balance as he drew her legs further apart and began working her clit between thumb and forefinger.
“Yes, what? Say it, Lia. Say you’ll stay with me tonight. Tell me you want this, too.”
“I…I’ll stay. I want this. I want you, Nick. I’ve wanted you since the night we met, but I don’t do...this.”
He drove one long finger deep into her pussy, never taking his eyes off her face. “This isn’t just any hook up, Lia. This is us. Trust in that. Trust in me.”
Lust sizzled like arc lightning, traveling through her body, connecting her one cell at a time until all her focus, all her desire, was centered on Nick’s fingers. She felt something give way deep in her heart as the last of her doubts shattered beneath the onslaught of need he’d loosed within her. Lia barely heard her own words as she gazed down into his stormy eyes. “I trust you.”
****
Nick was having trouble thinking straight. There was something he needed to remember besides this burning need to make Lia come as many times as he could between now and tomorrow morning. Fuck, she’d been hiding a killer body underneath her no-nonsense clothes. Long legs, breasts just the right size to fit a man’s hands, and curves that he planned to explore for days. He slid his fingers deeper into the slick heat of her channel, so tight he could feel her inner walls pulse and grip around his digits.
