Talking Sex

by Maxine Sullivan

  “Not the men I know.”

  His eyes narrowed and closed in on her. “That’s sad.”

  “No, just realistic,” she said, not liking the probing intensity in his eyes. Not at all. “Now, in what other ways can a man appreciate a woman, Zac?”

  There was a momentary lull as he sat there studying her, the overhead light reflecting off his handsome face. She shifted uneasily, willing him to get back on topic.

  He seemed to pull himself together as he straightened in his chair. “Right. Other ways?” A second crept by and she breathed easier, relieved to get the pressure off. “Well, a man can appreciate a woman’s career is as important as his own.”

  “I like that one.”

  “He can appreciate that she has demands on her time, just like he does.”

  “Ditto.”

  “He can appreciate that when a woman says yes, she sometimes means no. And when she says no, she sometimes means yes.”

  “How can you tell the difference?”

  “Look into her eyes,” he said, gazing into hers. “It’ll tell you a whole lot of things… like whether she’s attracted… like whether she’s fighting herself or not… like whether there’s a chance to progress the relationship.”

  The shock of his words ran through her body in a surge of electricity. Could he really tell all that by just looking at her? All at once she felt naked and vulnerable, with no place to hide.

  She recovered a heartbeat later. “You must be good to see all that, Zac.”

  He began to smile. “Just call me Superman,” he drawled. “I’ve got x-ray vision.”

  “We certainly can’t call you Super Stud,” she said slyly for her listeners. “Not if you haven’t been with a woman in a while.”

  His blue eyes raked boldly over her. “Don’t criticize something you’ve never tried, sweetheart.”

  “Oh, but I don’t intend to try you.” He’d be too much for her for sure, probably wanting to make love morning, noon and night. She’d be worn out. Totally worn out keeping up with him. And very, very satisfied.

  A sardonic glint appeared in his eyes. “The last time I looked my knuckles weren’t exactly dragging on the floor.”

  She smirked. “Oh really? I’m sure I saw something dragging along the floor when you walked in here.”

  He winked at her. “Lady, that wasn’t my knuckles.”

  She couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. “I didn’t mean that…” she said, between laughs. “I meant you had a tail.”

  He grinned at her, then pretended to be hurt. “So you are calling me an animal?”

  She wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. “Only a three-legged one.”

  He leaned closer to the mike. “Folks, I’m gonna have to watch myself around this woman.”

  “No need. You’re safe with me.”

  He leaned back in his chair, but his gaze didn’t leave her face. His eyes were suddenly… hot. “Maybe I don’t want to be safe with you.”

  Warmth flooded her cheeks. “Believe me, you’d rather be safe with me than not safe with me.”

  The intensity in his eyes banked down to wry humor. “Spoilsport. You’ve just put a damper on my only cheap thrill.”

  She had him right where she wanted him. Figuratively speaking, of course. “But I didn’t think you ever got thrilled?”

  “I’ve been celibate, not dead.”

  “I’m relieved.”

  It was his turn to sit up straighter with a triumphant, “Aha! So you do believe in masturbation. Last night you weren’t sure.”

  He was twisting her words around, but before she could frame her thoughts, he must have read her face.

  “Cassie, we spoke about this last night on-air,” he said, using a fake professional tone that mocked her. “I thought then you might’ve had a problem with a woman relieving herself, but I’m glad now to hear you don’t.”

  She found her voice, and tried not to sound too prim and proper. “I seem to remember saying I don’t have an opinion about masturbation either way.”

  “That’s too bad. It can be an enjoyable part of lovemaking.”

  Any lovemaking with this guy would be enjoyable, but she wouldn’t, she just wouldn’t, moisten her lips in front of him. “So Zac, are you recommending it as another aspect of making love between a couple?”

  “Sure,” he said, his eyes telling her he was having fun. “It takes only one to disco, but if you’re in the mood for a tango you need two.”

  “Maybe a woman isn’t always in the mood for love.”

  “Then she’s got the wrong man by her side.”

  She didn’t try to hide her skepticism. “That’s easy to say from a man’s point of view. What about the poor woman who trudges home after a hard day’s work and still has to cook dinner for her family? No woman’s going to be in the mood for love then.”

  “I don’t suggest masturbating in front of each other at the kitchen table.” He chuckled, his eyes saying he was enjoying baiting her. “On the other hand… maybe it’s not a bad idea. Once the kids are in bed, who knows?”

  “Some women may find that a turn-off.”

  “And some may be turned on by it all.”

  Not her. No way. She wouldn’t masturbate in front of this man. No matter how much it would turn her on. “Maybe some women think sex should stay in the bedroom.”

  “Then they should loosen up. It’ll spice up their sex life no end. Too right it would,” he said, sounding very Australian.

  “I hope all you ladies out there are listening to this,” she said into the microphone.

  “They don’t have to listen to me. They should just listen to their man. Or woman, whatever the case may be.”

  “Gosh, you’re just full of wisdom tonight, aren’t you, Zac? Well, you’re full of something anyway.”

  His eyes loosened his hold on her, a sudden smile making her toes curl. “Do I detect sarcasm?”

  “Oh goody. I haven’t lost my touch.”

  That smile lurked around his mouth but it was his eyes that worried her. “You know, Cassie. I think you should have dinner with me, so I can convince you that I’m really a very nice guy.”

  Oh dammit! Irritation bubbled up in her throat. Didn’t he ever give up? “No thanks. Not even if you got down on your knees.”

  “That can be arranged,” he mocked, coiling heat in her veins. Then that smile vanished. “What are you scared of?” he murmured, as if no one else was listening in.

  Her heart lodged in her throat, but somehow she gave a delicate snort, hoping to throw him off the scent. “Certainly not you.”

  “Yourself?”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Do you have a boyfriend?”

  “I’m not saying.”

  “A girlfriend?”

  “No comment.”

  “You’ve been hurt before?”

  She’d had enough.

  “Your time’s up for tonight, Zac. Unfortunately for all our listeners, Zac has to go back in his cave for now.” She glowered at him. “It’s been… enlightening. Thanks for coming back and giving the people of Chicago another taste of your Aussie humor.”

  “Oh, but Cassie,” he said, with an innocent expression. “Don’t forget to tell everyone that I’ve agreed to come back tomorrow night as well.”

  She shot him another dark look. “Golly gosh, I almost forgot,” she lied. “Yes, that’s right, folks. We’re thrilled Zac will be back for another night.”

  “And I’m thrilled to be able to come back and be with you and your audience,” he said, his eyes telling her she was the reason he was thrilled.

  Somehow at the back of her mind she’d been hoping he might decide not to return, in spite of part of her feeling funny about never seeing him again. Yes, she knew she was looking a gift horse in the mouth, but this went deeper than the show. This was personal. Having him around would put her at risk more than the program.

  “But I have to make it clear,” she continued, “that
Zac has to go back to Australia after that, don’t you, Zac? So enjoy him while you can, people.”

  “I’m glad you pointed that out,” he said dryly, then he leaned toward the microphone, a determined light in his eyes. “I just want to say one thing before I go tonight. Listeners, if you think Cassie should come to dinner with me and give me a chance to prove myself, call in now.”

  She sucked in a sharp breath, not caring right then if anyone heard. “Don’t waste your money, folks.”

  He gave a soft laugh. “It won’t be wasted.”

  “Yes it will. Definitely.” The off-air light came on and she pulled off her earphones. “Damn you, Zac,” she said, wanting to slap him upside the head.

  “Have dinner with me,” he said, his eyes lingering on her, warming her, and despite herself her annoyance shifted, became less.

  She swallowed. “No.”

  “Why not?”

  She took a frustrated breath. “This isn’t a game.”

  “I know it isn’t.”

  She could feel herself weakening. She couldn’t let herself. Her gaze fell to the papers in front of her and she began fiddling with them. “I’m on-air five nights a week and I’m --”

  “What about the other nights?” he cut across her.

  “I’m busy then too.” She looked up. “You probably don’t realize it but there’s a lot to prepare running a show like this. We don’t just pluck our information out of thin air, you know. There’s research and --” She grimaced at the sardonic look he gave her. “Okay, okay, so I got you mixed up with the wrong person last time. So shoot me.”

  “I’d prefer to take you to dinner.”

  She held her breath, taken unawares by his charm when she wasn’t sure she wanted to be charmed. More to the point, she couldn’t afford to let herself be charmed. “No,” she repeated, watching enthralled as a pulse started leaping along the line of his jaw, like it was a secret body code forewarning her he wasn’t about to give up. She instinctively knew that when Zac Ryan wanted something he would go all out to get it.

  And he wanted her.

  She stiffened her spine, reminding herself that she didn’t need to get involved with anyone again. Look what had happened when she’d jumped feet first into a casual affair not long after her marriage broke up? It had ended in disaster a week later when the guy walked, just like Steve had. She wasn’t ready to repeat the experience, not even for a handsome Aussie who knew how to press all her buttons.

  Just then Leon raced into the booth, noisy gold chains at his neck. “You two have done it again. The switchboard’s burning up so much it hurts my eyes to look at it.”

  Cassie was glad of the interruption, but not the reason for it. “Come back down to earth, Leon,” she said, looking at him from her chair.

  He ignored her. “Wanna know what they’re saying?”

  Her lips twisted in a bland smile. “How about, ‘Let’s take Zac Ryan down to the river for some special weight-training’?”

  Leon chuckled, along with Zac. “No. They want you to go to dinner with him.”

  “I’d rather go down to the river for weight-training.”

  Leon rolled his eyes. “Be serious, hon. This is the sort of public response we’ve been after. Don’t forget that.” He beamed at Zac. “And you’re the man of the moment, pal.”

  “Not with Cassie I’m not,” Zac mocked, and Cassie felt like calling him a “tattle-tale” and sticking her tongue out at him.

  Leon tutted at Cassie. “Those callers are right. You’re crazy not to go out with him.”

  Her mouth tightened. “I’d be even crazier if I did.”

  Zac gave her a hard-edged smile. “Don’t hold back with your feelings, sweetheart.”

  “Why? I’ve got nothing to lose.”

  “Except your radio show,” he pointed out.

  His words hit her right in the solar plexus, making her wince. “You don’t pull any punches either, buddy.”

  “Yeah,” Leon agreed, though she wasn’t sure who with. “And that’s what the listeners like about you two. There’s a spark between you. They don’t know whether you’re gonna make love or war.”

  “I’m a pacifist,” Zac drawled, leaning back in the chair and looking for all the world like he was born to please women.

  Before Cassie could say what she preferred - and right now restraint from harming Zac Ryan seemed a viable idea - Leon cut across her.

  “Hey, buddy, I think it would be a great idea if you came back next week as well. You’ll be around then, won’t you?”

  Cassie gasped as she jumped up off her chair. Had that been Leon’s intention all along? Probably.

  Zac was getting to his feet too, shaking his head. “No thanks, mate. I plan on seeing something more of your country.” He gave her a trace of a smile. “Besides, Cassie’s likely to poison my coffee if I show up next week.”

  “Thanks for the suggestion,” she muttered, squashing a sense of disappointment that he really wasn’t going to be here next week… or the next. Still, she’d soon get over it once he left and she no longer had to put up with his presence.

  “Cassie,” Leon warned, his eyes telling her to be quiet. He turned to Zac. “Buddy, come on, please do it. I should be able to pay you something for it, but I’m not sure how much yet. I’ll have to speak to my boss first.”

  “Leon,” Cassie said through gritted teeth. “I can’t believe you’d even think about offering to pay him.”

  Leon looked surprised. “Why not? He’s doing his job. And a damn good one at that.”

  She threw up her hands. “What job? This isn’t his job, Leon. You practically pulled him off the street, remember?”

  “And I did the same for you, so shut up, hon,” he chided, silencing her. Damn him, he was right.

  “It’s not the money,” Zac said, bringing their eyes back to him.

  Leon held up his hand. “No, we want to pay you something for all you’re doing for us.” His forehead creased. “Perhaps one of our sponsors has something you’d like. Let me see what we’ve got available.”

  “No, seriously, I don’t need anything, mate. Thanks anyway.”

  “But our sponsors give us gifts all the time.” Leon grinned. “I don’t suppose you’re interested in furniture polish? We have cartons of the stuff.”

  Zac smiled. “No thanks. I’d probably have a hard time explaining it to Customs.”

  The other man laughed. “Yeah, I see your point. The only place I’m gonna dump that stuff is in a church.” He looked at Cassie. “Don’t nuns like polishing pews or something?”

  Cassie shrugged. “Why ask me?”

  “I don’t know. You being a woman and all…” he said, and she snorted, wondering how he thought that gave her inside knowledge on the workings of a church.

  All a once Zac pursed his lips, and something about it put Cassie on edge. Surely he wasn’t considering…

  “Okay, you’re on, Leon. I’ll do the shows next week too, on the condition that you give the furniture polish to the nuns.”

  “What?” Cassie said in confusion, hearing Leon say the same thing at the same time.

  Zac’s eyes filled with amusement as he watched their reaction. “There must be a convent around here, right?”

  Leon glanced at her, then back at Zac. “I suppose so,” he said slowly.

  “Then give the polish to the sisters. They can use it more than me.”

  Cassie quickly gathered her thoughts and eyed him with suspicion. Was he trying to impress her? It wasn’t like it was such a noble gesture or anything. “That’s a very nice thing to do. Why?”

  His eyes held luster. “Do I need a reason?”

  “Yes.” She was suspicious of his motives.

  “Come out to dinner with me and I might tell you.”

  “I am not going to dinner with you.”

  “Then you’ll never know the reason why a stranger would give furniture polish to a bunch of nuns.”

  Her lips began to twitch
. “Insanity?”

  He laughed, a deep sound, low and throaty that stroked her body like a lover’s touch. “I must be, otherwise I wouldn’t be here right now.”

  Leon clapped to get their attention. “Okay, Cassie, you get back on air. They’ve just finished the late news. Zac, you come with me, buddy. We’ll talk some more in my office.”

  Zac winked at her as he passed by and Cassie twirled away to her desk and picked up her earphones, but out of the corner of her eye she watched his heart-stopping, muscular frame go out the door. She badly wanted to deny the sizzle of sexual attraction that ran through her.

  Only, she couldn’t.

  She was screwed…

  And God help her…

  She knew it.

  * * *

  Steve gritted his teeth as he flicked the radio off and sagged back in the leather chair. He wished to hell he could flick his ex off as easily. Cassie and “Crocodile Dundee” were now talking about her past and whether she’d been hurt. Next she’d be talking on the air about her divorce. Any hint of his first name and someone somewhere might recognize her, then the Thorpe-Ashton’s might hear about it. He couldn’t chance that. All his hard work would go down the drain.

  He couldn’t put this off any longer. The first thing he had to do was find a way to put a stop to Cassie’s on-air antics. Somehow he had to get her out of the way. Only then would he be able to relax about his upcoming wedding to Alicia, once Cassie and her little radio program disappeared back into the ethers.

  Where they belonged.

  CHAPTER THREE

  The next morning Cassie opened her apartment door to return a bowl to her neighbor, and gave an inner gasp when she saw the heart-stopping male about to ring her doorbell. The shock of him ran through her body, just like it had the other night when he’d answered the door dressed in that bathrobe that had been hanging open, his well-muscled chest arrowed with dark hairs down to his boxer shorts. Her heart began to race again and she fought not to show it, but one look in his eyes and she knew he was aware of her reaction.

  Her hand tightened on the doorknob. “I suppose Leon gave you my address?”

  “Actually I asked a guy on the street and he just happened to have it in his pocket. Yours and Madonna’s.”