by Beth Mikell
Hex growled deep in his throat, “You’ll pay for that…”
She made a tsk, tsk sound with her tongue, before taking off her shirt, tossing it in his lap, “Only if you promise to kiss me first.”
Desire slammed his gut and his jeans tightened hard with his pounding erection. One of Hex’s dark brows went up and he held out a hand, “Come and get it.” He veiled his eyes, her half-naked body nearly severing his control--her breasts barely covered through the black sheer cups of her bra, clearly exposing the state of her arousal and puckered tips. It took all his command to govern his body’s response and not leap off the sofa and plunder her mouth and enticing body.
The sexual tension hung through the air with a thick call to mate running through their salacious bodies. Neither one wanted to give in, but neither did they want to stay away—the force of their desire rich in a power struggle, need and lust versus dominance. The moment twisted with ardent strain neither one expected nor ran from. They remained suspended within the magnet-brewing storm each trying to gauge what the other may or may not be thinking or feeling other than the undercurrent of lust.
Savannah’s eyes glittered with unsuppressed desire for him, her body aflame waiting for his touch to incinerate her flesh at first contact, but she held back. She wanted to give in to him, but part of her wanted to be caught instead and her inner struggle propelled her to hang the tension rear facing.
Ignoring his offered hand, Savannah smiled, “I think we need another round of cards, don’t you?”
A low, animalistic sound of frustration escaped through Hex’s lips and his hand fell down at his side, “If that’s your wish, princess, but I bet I can get that kiss after the next hand.”
She came back to the sofa, the heat of his gaze burning holes straight through her and she tossed her long mass of blonde hair back over shoulders, exposing herself more to his earnest stare. “Game on.”
What were the odds of him laying claim to a Royal Straight Flush? Hex owned the hand like a master card player and simply grinned his winning like a man who knew his way around. He merely gave her a devious expression straight out of hell tinged with a smile. “Shall we try that kiss now or would you like to continue stripping?”
Her bluff was called and there was nothing left but knowing she sucked at cards where Hex was concerned. Gracefully, Savannah stood up and walked with slow measure over to him as he sat back, watching through lazy blue eyes. Feeling the flirty-hype of seduction pushing her over the limits, she planted her left knee down on the sofa beside his hip, swinging the other down over his right, straddling him.
Hex brought his hands up, cupping her hips, releasing a strangled breath through his lips at the sweet pleasure of her body over his, “I like the way you think…” His azure blues dilated with barely leashed passion.
Savannah looped her arms around his neck, leaning closer, her mouth a breath from his, “I’ve got more to say.” She brushed her lips over his in teasing whisper, allowing her inner hussy free reign…she wanted him.
His craving for her snapped and Hex reached up to cup her head between both hands, his lips plundering the sweetness of her mouth. Mouths and tongues mated, tasting the sensual, moist claim they both rattled through the last few hours of cat and mouse.
Sheer, hot desire slid through her, the velocity so achingly powerful she moaned in her throat from the frenzied violence. While Hex’s hands wound through her long hair pulling her deeper into his mouth, Savannah melted into his hard body, fitting herself completely and wholly within every muscular curve offered up to her on the heated god. She felt his hardness pressing up between their bodies, thrilling her through the dampness of her jeans and she rocked slightly, receiving a deep groan of acceptance from him.
He broke free from her mouth, his breathing ragged, “I want you.” Need tore out through his clenched teeth, his hands cupping her breasts through the thin fabric of her bra, shaping and testing. His fingers flicked her nipples with predatory intent, imagining them within his mouth--rolling over his tongue as he suckled them—the torment was beyond his tolerance.
He made her weak at a glance, yet within his arms, sanity fled. “Hex…”
His hands snaked around behind her to unhook the closure of her bra…when a loud crash hit the floor.
Startled, both Hex and Savannah looked up to find a very shocked and embarrassed woman standing with one grocery bag in hand, the other spilled out on the floor, a can still rolling on the tiles.
“Oh, Mr. Montgomery! I’m so sorry.” She gushed. “I--I thought you’d be out for the evening. I have doctor’s appointment in the morning and wanted to restock the refrigerator.”
Savannah moved off Hex, fumbling for her shirt, flushing ten shades of crimson in the process, cursing her inner hussy, damn her. She grabbed her jacket, hastily buttoning up and securing the belt with equal speed, while Hex rushed to the woman and bent down to help her retrieve the items scattered over the floor.
“Easy, Annabelle, it's okay.” His voice warm with amusement, though desire still thread full, shaking his rich deep sound.
Savannah whipped her hair back behind her back and turned around, watching the older woman pale and embarrassed, and shoving items back in the bag with hurried efforts.
“I’m so sorry, I should have called or something. My husband told me to wait, but I…” she trailed off too upset from mortification, shaking her head back and forth at her bad judgment.
“I promise I won’t dock your pay,” he teased, yet the woman only grimaced and all but ran out of the room with both bags in hand towards the kitchen.
Hex turned back to Savannah, lifting a brow at the speed of her redress, he chuckled. “Sorry princess.” He pointed in the direction the woman went. “That was my housekeeper.”
Savannah bit her lower lip and shook her head, “Poor thing. We shocked her…badly.”
He walked up to her, towering above Savannah’s height and taking both of her hands in his, “She won’t stay long.” His loaded statement was full of promise and an ardent invitation, lifting one hand, brushing kiss across her skin.
She smiled at the pleasure, yet Savannah was happy to have her mind back in control of her wanton self, “I’m sure we could burn up the sheets as you mentioned before, but contrary to last night, I’m not that girl.”
Hex stared at her for what seemed like a full hour, his blue eyes dancing with tenderness, “And despite wanting you so damned much, I can respect that,” he said with serious meaning. “Come on princess, I’ll take you back.”
Thankfully riding on the back of Hex’s motorcycle relieved any awkward silence they may have endured inside a car ride back to the hotel. However, holding on to his body throughout the ride teased Savannah’s senses again…and she so wished he hadn't affected her in such a way. Everything about him called to her—even in ways she didn’t fully understand. If his housekeeper hadn’t walked in on them, the evening would have turned out very different, but in some ways the interruption gave her a chance to reflect. Other than sex and good banter, what in the hell were they doing? It was so unlike her to be affected by a man—but nothing of him made sense. Part of her wanted to walk through the process and find out what lie underneath, yet the other part of her…felt scared by the idea. She never fancied herself with anyone long-term, so why…? So why entertain Hexon James on any level other than what it was?
Sex.
He pulled up to the hotel entrance and he helped her off his motorcycle with an easy hand, gently guiding her up to him, he took off both their helmets. His deep gaze bounced against hers…yet words were not spoken aloud as he cupped her face, smoothing his thumb over her bottom lip, still swollen from his kiss earlier.
“Will I see you tomorrow princess?”
She studied him with her dark eyes, trying to memorize his face within the depths of her mind. Savannah thought about his question for moment, “Well I have a few meetings in the morning and then I’m off to the Merrick household for some
QT with the family...so, probably not.”
Hex only nodded his head, leaning closer, “I am happy you came out with me.”
Before she could answer, his lips fell upon hers and she whimpered in her throat. Her body, mind and…frozen soul heated within his touch, her sanity slipping out of control. He made her dizzy, physically and everywhere in between.
She wanted to throw hell to the wind and invite him upstairs, but her rational mind on standby screamed NO! Sex wouldn’t further them along any more than it already had. Right?
But, he tasted so damned good. His warm, hot, and spicy flavor seeped through her tongue, blazing her mouth with his taste. Oh…he was so good. Better than the best. Yet, within the space of a moment, he pulled back, his eyes dark and his expression as feverish as earlier.
“Sweet dreams princess,” he said with a gruff whisper.
She could only say goodbye before he slid into the Georgia night away from her…suddenly she felt very…empty.
Chapter Four
LOST: Sanity! If found, please return to woman in pink hardhat for hefty ass kicking. ~ Beth Mikell
Saturday dragged ass for Savannah with a headache for backup. The flooring had been delivered, but the shade of midnight black reflected puke blue or bad variation thereof. She fought with the flooring vendor, resulting in the correct delivery, expressed by early Monday with a seventy-five percent discount for their failure. And who said women couldn’t rock the construction business? Well she could, pink hardhat and all.
She was nearly ready to leave for Laura and Sean’s house when Angelo walked up, with a clipboard in hand. “SD, we’re all finished on our end.”
Savannah turned to look at him, “How’s the electrical side?”
“Pete found some corroded wiring and we’ll need to do some replacement. Nothing major, just a few feet. The building looks good for something made back in the 70’s. For safety, we’ve sectioned off the area and cut the power to the main hall, unless you’d like for the guys to stay and work on it?”
She shook her head. “No, let the beast lie for the time being, we are actually ahead of schedule. Let’s go enjoy the rest of our weekend.”
Angelo nodded, “Hey, Marissa asked me to remind you of Sunday lunch at our house with the other guys and their families. She’s making her grandmother’s enchiladas.”
Savannah had forgotten, but she had nothing exciting happening tomorrow save a sleep date with Mr. Pillow and the Do Not Disturb sign on her room door. Besides, she loved spending time with Angelo and his wife, they were great people. “I’ll be there.”
The Merrick construction force, as they liked to call themselves, closed up shop and headed out. Savannah drove through the hectic streets of Atlanta with ease, feeling light, but somehow hollow inside. If she put it into words, she missed Hex and that was intolerable to her. She just met him and hated how her mind drifted towards him without her permission. Within his presence, she found something she never experienced in her life with a man…safety...compatibility even, but knowing a man after just a few days hardly warranted such a deep feeling in her opinion.
She should be living her life with peaceful record, not fumbling through her feelings questioning a mysterious man who kissed of sin and kept up with her quick wit. Apparently, she was a possessed woman with no hope of an exorcism. Damn the man, she didn’t even know what he thought. He kept himself so closed off from her, she couldn’t get a read on him other than he looked great, smelled divine and tasted of heaven on the verge of hell’s demise. She was right--the man should be as illegal as crack, but she felt powerlessly drawn to him.
Hex James was exactly why she avoided the whole romance thing…he disturbed her mind. He shoved her...mind, body and soul through the frozen recesses of her trapped emotions, though she was huddled within the icy confinement, her nerves pricked like needles from the thawing frigid temp. Damn him to hell and back. He could rip her heart out and bulldoze every part of her before she even had a chance to protest…and worse still she wanted to experience whatever he handed her.
Damn, damn, damn!
Savannah decided to stake-up the ‘proceed with caution sign’ within her heart and hope the outcome didn’t burn her ass later. Pulling into the Merrick driveway, she tried very hard to push Hex from her mind…but he lingered within in her memory--more than she wanted him to occupy.
With another damn the man, she left her car to visit her family.
After lunch with the Merrick’s, Devon was taking her afternoon nap, Sean in his office knee deep in paperwork, while Savannah and Laura stood over suitcases. They eyed Laura’s wardrobe with critical assessment of what she should take for her trip to Europe, which was happening earlier than expected.
Savannah shook her head, “I think you should take all five evening gowns. It’s Europe where fashion coincides with fashionista, baby! It’s not like you have to check bags, you’re flying on your own private jet. Besides, what’s the use of going all the way there only to wish you’d packed this or that—just pack it!”
Laura giggled, her brandy colored eyes flashing with excitement, “You’re right, of course. As always…” She moved the clothes around on the bed for her ‘to take’ pile.
“Not always.” Savannah muttered under her breath.
Her sister heard her and looked up with narrowed eyes, “What's that? Not always?”
Savannah shrugged, plopping down on the bed, stretching out her legs with a sigh. “Nothing, I’m just…cranky I guess.”
Laura came to sit on the opposite side of the bed next to her, “I noticed you never once called Sean 'handsome' or Devon 'squirt'. It’s not like you,” she murmured softly.
Savannah gave a tight smile, “You mean I’m not my usual sarcastic being that everyone knows and loves?”
Her expression softened, “You are, of course, but I’m your sister so I notice things.” Laura reached a hand to touch Savannah on the arm, “You can tell me anything, you know.”
She wasn't sure she wanted to discuss it. "I know. Ah…I’m confused and perhaps it’s best to leave the confusion in the dark, dank corner without reflection.”
Laura laughed, “Guy troubles?”
Savannah grimaced, “Ewe, don’t go there. I’m about as knowledgeable on that as a pirate dancing a hoe-down, ugh!” She shrugged. “I am not sure there is anything to tell. I just met the freak of nature and can’t really decide what I think about him.”
“If it helps, men are sometimes clueless and can’t always see what's standing in front of them.”
“Same category here," she said, pointing to her chest. "I'm clueless.”
“Oh come on, you're a beautiful, intelligent woman with everything going for you. Don’t sell yourself short, Savannah. You deserve to be happy.”
She blew out a long drawn out breath she hadn’t even realized she had been holding and met Laura’s eyes. “Maybe, but I’m not like most women. I have never felt the call of love, marriage or my biological clock. I'm not 'hearts and flowers' by no means," she said with a slight hesitation, "I just have one question.”
“Yes?”
“How do you know? I mean…how do you…really know…?"
Laura wasn’t sure what her sister was asking exactly, but decided to shoot from the hip. “You mean about love and relationships?”
“Oh god….” Savannah groaned, her facial expression pained, “Please don’t call it that. I’m dying here, cut me a break.”
Laura swallowed back another laugh, knowing such topic on feelings and relationships were hard for her sister to deal with. “Look, I just know that if something is meant to be, it will be. Nothing will prevent it. It’s not something your mind necessarily accepts or approves of. And you may even try to talk yourself out of the very person you are meant to be with. There is no hard and fast rule or guideline. Truly, it’s only an answer your heart can give you.”
Savannah reached up to drag a hand through her long blonde hair in a gesture of frustration and
smacked her hand down on the bed with a resounding pop. “Well, it’s easily solved then. The man’s a complete and utter ass.”
Finally, Laura laughed, socking Savannah gently on the leg, “All men are from time to time.”
“All men are what?”
Startled, Savannah and Laura both looked up to find Sean standing in the doorway with a questioning gleam in his dark, velvet eyes. The sisters glanced back at each other and grinned, but Savannah answered.
“Sexist…handsome.” And she moved off the bed with intent to flee. “But, that’s just my assessment.
Your wife on the other hand is totally biased and proclaims you free of such judgment.”
“Thanks, I think,” he replied, raising a questioning brow towards Laura, who shook her head with a smile.
Savannah left on the cloud of confusion still wafting through her mind, but confident her unknown feelings could be mastered.
A cakewalk, right?
~~~
Hex lay awake most of the night, tossing and turning with his mind working over one thing…Savannah. What was it about her that drove him past fucking crazy? She was the one woman who held the power of destruction over him and he found no answers in his reflections. But he knew he had to stop comparing every woman to Jessica because that nightmare…well, she deserved to be forgotten. Savannah on the other hand was beautiful, smart…and smart mouthed, but he liked that about her. He liked her honesty, quick humor and her in-your-face kind of banter and the way her dark, velvet eyes could cut a man in half and still find the wherewithal to seek forgiveness if found guilty.
He craved her tall, graceful body and how she smelled like spring ready to wrap him a protective bubble of sin. He liked how she could give as well as she received and still leave him wondering where he left his ass. Every second of Saturday was spent thinking of her, yet he kept his distance, though he wanted nothing more than to hop on his bike and…ahem make the booty call as Savannah so interestingly mentioned. What would he'd proven by acting like a casual maniac? Just because he could walk-and-talk the stalker catwalk, didn’t mean he should.
