by Melody Anne
She kept her smile firmly in place — she wasn’t about to let him know that his careless comment had affected her in the least — and she looked him directly in the eyes.
“Sorry,” she told Byron. “I’m impulsive.”
“We’ll leave you to brood, big brother,” Tyler said. He stood up and wrapped his arm around Elena, and he led her away.
When they got outside, Elena wanted to shake his arm off, still feeling the sting of Byron’s rejection, but she somehow managed to keep from showing how much the man had hurt her. Another Knight with less than shining armor.
“I thought we were eating there,” she said when they walked farther down the street.
“I was going to, but with my brother in a bear of a mood, I thought it would be safer to try somewhere else,” he said. He ushered her into a parking garage.
“Where are we going?” This wasn’t in her plans.
“I’m going to surprise you,” he told her, and he flipped her a wink before walking up to his car and holding the passenger door open.
“I have things I need to do this afternoon,” she said. And she didn’t step in.
“I won’t keep you out too late, Elena … unless you want to.”
“Fine.” She climbed in and waited for him to come around to the driver’s side.
He revved up his fancy little car, and then they were heading away from the city. The farther they got away, the more nervous Elena became. When they turned off the freeway and began entering what appeared to be a gated community — hell, it was more than gated; it was exclusive in the extreme, not for plebeians like her — her stomach dropped.
“I want to show you my actual home, not just my cabin,” he said as he pulled up, entered a code, and then began driving down a long and fancy paved road. No. It wasn’t a gated community. Silly of her even to think that. It was an estate, his estate.
“I guess this is a surprise,” she told him quietly. She was nervous. Incredibly nervous.
“There’s nothing to worry about. I just thought it would be nice to show you where I live. I have a great view of the water,” he said. And he pulled into a massive garage attached to a house that would make the word mansion sound pitiful. What was wrong with this guy?
“I’m sure you have the best view. Isn’t that your style?” She couldn’t help herself. She’d said that with just a bit of scorn.
He looked at her questioningly, but he didn’t comment.
She knew she needed to tone it back a little. She was now used to having him open car doors, so she waited until he came around to her side, then she took his hand as he helped her out.
They stepped into a hallway that led to an enormous kitchen. A kitchen with the dream equipment of every chef in the world. Professional or wannabe.
“Do you cook more than just steaks on a grill?” she asked, a little in awe. He was more versatile than she’d imagined of such a guy.
“I’m actually a fantastic cook, which is why I decided to bring you here. How do lobster rolls and chowder sound?”
Her stomach rumbled at the words. “Fantastic.”
“Do you want the tour first, or are you more interested in a little food?”
“I don’t need a tour right now,” she told him. She was somehow able to pull away and walk over to the adjoining dining room, where large windows showed off the excellent view he’d been boasting about. “Impressive,” she had to confess.
“It’s why I bought the property. I love the water. Go on it every chance I get. Maybe after lunch I can talk you into a boat ride.”
“It’s a bit chilly today,” she said. She would have loved to take that boat ride, but she had to remind herself that she wasn’t really dating this man. It was all for payback. Payback … Why had the idea of exacting revenge somehow lost a lot of its appeal? Was she going soft?
“Seattle weather turns on a dime. Let’s have a little bit to eat and see how it feels afterward. Let me make you a drink, and you can either come into the kitchen and watch me work, or you can enjoy the deck.”
He made her an iced mint green tea with an alcoholic twist, which was both refreshing and had just the right amount of a kick to it to help her nerves. She wanted so much to sit in the kitchen and watch him. But she wanted it far too much, so she decided to wander out to the deck, if only to save her sanity.
The cool breeze had her quickly coming back inside, though. Nope. No boating any time in the near future.
Sitting down at the large kitchen island, she watched as Tyler played the part of a “Chopped” chef. They soon had large lobster rolls and hot chowder sitting before them.
“Do you want to eat here or over in the dining room?”
“Here’s fine. I like this island. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one quite so large.”
“I like big things; I’ve got a lot of them,” he said as he set a plate and bowl before her.
Elena was praying that what he’d whipped up wouldn’t be delicious, because Tyler didn’t need anything more about him to make him seem even more perfect. But her first bite into the lobster roll ruined that hope. Yummmm.
“Okay, I don’t want to admit it, but you do know how to cook,” she told him as she wiped the corner of her mouth delicately with a linen napkin.
“I get tired of going out, so about ten years ago, I bought a dozen cookbooks and took some classes to help teach me. I caught on fast. Some people like to do it; some don’t. I find cooking enjoyable. Calming, in fact.”
“Most men wouldn’t admit to that Tyler.”
“Hey! The best cooks out there are men,” he told her with a wink. “Like Gordon Ramsey.”
“Of course. A sad fellow with an ego problem who shouts at everyone and doesn’t even wear underwear. That got the poor guy burned. But point proven,” she shot back, a real smile slipping past her.
“Ah, but when people taste his masterpieces, they don’t care about his attitude.”
“I care. I refuse to buy anything that man has his name on.”
“You hold quite a grudge against people who you don’t find worthy, don’t you?” he said with that analytical look in his eyes again.
Elena panicked. If he figured this out before she carried through on her plans, she would be left the victim once again. No, no, no. That couldn’t happen.
“Even the noblest of people can hold a grudge,” she said with a laugh, like it was all nothing but a joke. “But I consider myself pretty mellow.”
“I don’t know if I can agree with that. I’ll need a little more time to figure you out, Elena. Not that I’ll consider any of it wasted.”
They finished lunch and Elena excused herself. She stood in front of the bathroom mirror for quite some time while she tried to talk herself out of going through with her plan.
But as she looked at her reflection, the woman gazing back at her wasn’t the same young kid she’d once been. Tyler had stolen something from her in her youth, and then he’d slapped her back down again when she was at another vulnerable stage in her life. It wasn’t right. He deserved to suffer.
Squaring her shoulders, then undoing a couple of buttons on her blouse, Elena decided it was now or never.
“Let the games begin,” she whispered, despite the sadness that was filling her.
Then she went to find Tyler.
Chapter Thirteen
When Elena returned to the kitchen, her nosebleed heels clicked on the tile floor as she sauntered toward him. Damn, Tyler loved the way her legs looked in those sexy shoes, and he loved how her hips were swinging as she moved closer. How could he help but pant like a pathetic dog as she glided slowly and inexorably toward him?
He couldn’t miss that some buttons were now undone on her shirt, and his gaze fastened on the bit of cleavage on display that hadn’t been visible earlier. Something was happening here, but what it was wasn’t exactly clear. He saw a new purpose in Elena’s eyes, a major change since he’d picked her up a few hours ago.
He stood the
re as she came closer and closer and closer. His heart was racing but he knew it didn’t show in his face. He wouldn’t give her that easy victory, not after all the work she’d put him through over the past month.
But dammit if he didn’t want her in his bed right this minute. He wanted her clothes stripped away. He wanted to have her writhing and screaming beneath him. He wanted her fingers on him, and he wanted it to continue all day and all night.
“Thanks for lunch,” she said in a low purr as she lifted a hand and trailed her fingers down his arm.
“My pleasure,” he said. He fought to keep his cool, but he couldn’t. He snaked out an arm and wrapped it around her. “What are you doing, Elena?”
“I’m still hungry,” she said, her warm breath blowing against his neck as she leaned in and kissed the skin right over his pounding pulse.
That kiss made his already hard body pulse with the need to sheath itself in her heat.
He curved his hands over her succulent behind, and then leaned down, brushing his lips against hers as he spoke.
“I can handle that hunger of yours, Elena. All you have to do is say the word.” He kissed her lips now, but with only a bit more intensity. He knew something about subtlety.
The low moan that traveled up through her throat made him lose his cool. Way too fast. He was trying to keep in control here, but how could he do it? She was pressed up against him, and their bodies were separated by only a few layers of fabric. He wasn’t feeling subtle now. But he was sure feeling her.
“You say you can handle it, but you aren’t doing much to do that.” After leveling that taunt at him, she pushed her hips forward and rubbed against his hardness.
With a speed born of incredible lust, Tyler undid the button of her tan capri slacks and lowered them so quickly it made her eyes widen. She didn’t say a word as he lifted her body so the slacks floated to the floor, and then he kicked them away.
Without an ounce of hesitation, he set her down and pulled her against him, returning his hands to her nearly naked behind. The panties she wore were hardly a barrier between him and what he wanted.
“Still hungry, Elena?”
She was panting as she looked at him in shock. “Yes,” she finally moaned as he squeezed her firm buttocks.
Leaning in, she pressed hot kisses to his neck as he undid the rest of the buttons on her blouse and parted it. The soft blue material served as a nice frame to her body as she stood before him with only the lace of her bra and her panties now keeping him from seeing what he wanted to see most.
She pulled his shirt free from his trousers, then her hands snuck upward and she ran her fingernails along the taught skin of his stomach and chest, then squeezed his nipples lightly, sending a bolt of sensation all through him.
Enough of this! With one hand he gripped her head and tilted it. He ravished her mouth, giving her a taste of what he had planned for them in the next hour — hours — hell, days.
He released her only long enough to rip off his shirt, then grabbed her again, spinning her around and lifting her, setting her on the island, which just so happened to be the perfect height for him to grind his hardness against her very wet and barely covered core.
“Damn, you’re responsive,” he gasped He took a step back and gloried in the passionate flush covering her body.
“Hmm … I bet you say that to all the women you bring home.”
“I don’t bring women home,” he told her.
By the look in her hooded eyes, he could see that she didn’t believe him. Give her time and she would. Tyler wasn’t some innocent schoolboy, but his house was sacred to him. He didn’t like to bring women home, didn’t like them invading his personal space. Not after his last relationship. It left too many memories of the woman, and all he wanted was peace when he walked through his front door. He hadn’t planned on bringing Elena here, but somehow he’d found himself driving in this direction. And with her on perfect display on his kitchen island, he couldn’t regret that decision.
“Lie back,” he commanded her.
“What? Why?” Elena’s eyes were darting around uneasily.
Instead of giving her any answer, he pushed her back against the smooth granite and then dropped to his knees and feasted on the sight of her silk-covered core.
Her protests died as he began trailing his fingers against the material, which was wet with her arousal. Then he slipped his finger underneath the thin elastic and without hesitation he pushed a finger inside her tight heat. She gasped, and her legs shook against the edge of the island.
Lifting those lovely legs, he put them on his shoulders as he leaned forward and ran his tongue up the silk of her panties.
“Tyler … no … we … shouldn’t ….” She stopped speaking when he shifted her panties aside and encircled her womanhood with his lips while he flicked his tongue over her swollen bud. She was now a quivering mass.
“You taste so good,” he said before swiping his tongue over her slick folds and feasting on her bud again.
“Tyler!” Elena called out his name over and over again as he sucked and licked her into complete submission.
As he felt her body convulse, felt her nearing the release he desperately wanted to give her, he slipped two fingers inside her and began pumping. Suddenly she screamed and writhed on the counter before him, shudders running all through her as he drew out the pleasure for as long as she could handle it.
Only when she went completely limp beneath his touch did he pull his fingers from her and move upward to kiss her belly. It was still shaking.
He made his way upward, then kissed the skin exposed between her breasts as her chest heaved. He needed to taste her nipples — oh, how he needed that. So he unhooked the front clasp of her lacy little bra and peeled it away.
He ran his tongue over one peaked nipple and then the other until he had her crying out again. He pulled her back into a sitting position and pressed in closely to her, loving the way she felt in his arms. It caused him more agony, but he pressed his manhood against her soaked panties, letting her feel what her pleasure was doing to him.
He then cupped one breast and squeezed while he ran his lips along her neck, swirling his tongue against her flesh before gently nipping it. She jerked against him and moaned while she grasped his hair.
When he moved up and captured her lips again, he felt himself smile. Damn, he was falling hard for this woman — so hard. Would he ever be able to climb out from under her spell?
Tyler didn’t think he wanted to.
“I want you in my bed,” he said. He lifted her off the kitchen island and walked swiftly through his house to the large master bedroom.
After laying her down on top of the covers, he immediately pulled her against him, damning the trousers that he’d forgotten to take off.
“I don’t think I’ve ever wanted someone as much as I’ve wanted you,” he told her. Full disclosure. He wasn’t afraid to hide what he was feeling right then and there.
She stiffened in his arms, and he saw her eyes grow wide.
“Oh, I have to … um … use … I have to … go to the bathroom,” she told him.
Tyler moaned in frustration as she wriggled out of his grasp and practically ran away.
It was okay. When she came back he’d be more than ready for her.
With speed born out of desperation to sink inside her, he stripped off his remaining clothes and lay there on the bed, waiting. And wanting.
When she returned, he wasn’t going to let her leave his bed again, not for at least twelve hours straight.
Chapter Fourteen
He was probably wondering what she was doing there in his bathroom. Elena knew she’d been hiding out way too long, but it was taking her forever to stiffen her resolve.
She scrunched her eyes in the mirror and gave herself a stern look. “You knew this wasn’t going to be easy, but if it teaches him even the smallest of lessons, then you have accomplished what you set out to do. Just do it!”
>
Her pep talk to herself wasn’t motivating her, unfortunately, so she washed her face with cool water and tried again. She was still overheated, still desperate for satisfaction despite all he’d given her there in the kitchen. All that heat on the cool granite.
She wanted more.
Maybe this “project” of hers was going to end up punishing her far more than it did him.
Too bad. No pain, no gain.
She finally stepped from the bathroom and leaned in the doorway, her shirt still unbuttoned but a little more concealing now, open just enough to show Tyler the curves of her breasts but not her still-hard nipples. Her panties were back in place, but she couldn’t hide the flush on her cheeks, and as she looked at Tyler lying in the bed — buck naked — she was heating up all over again.
“Come back to my bed,” he said, reaching out for her.
Elena looked down, then met his eyes and smiled. “Do you want me, Tyler?” she asked, moving a little closer.
“You know I do, baby,” he said with a giant smile, while showing her just how much he wanted her. He was standing tall. And thick. And waiting.
“Good. Are you hurting?” She gave him her most seductive smile.
“Oh, yeah, baby. I’m hurting,” he said. His tongue came out and wet his lips.
“Good. Then you’re exactly where I want you to be.”
He froze, his smile slowly fading at the sudden change in her tone. Her friskiness had vanished, and in its place was pure loathing, loathing directed right at him.
Tyler’s jaw dropped. “What in the … hell is going on?”
“Are you confused?” she asked.
“Yeah, just a little,” he told her. He sat up and pulled the blanket back over himself.
That was too bad. She’d been enjoying the view. Okay, maybe it was good. The view had been a little too enticing and was messing with her head.
“You see, Tyler, I know exactly who you are. You’re a spoiled, self-righteous little rich boy who thinks he can have anything he wants. Now that I’ve gotten you all worked up, you can think about the fact that sometimes even you won’t get everything handed to you on a silver platter. Oh, wait. Maybe you billionaires deal in platinum platters.”
