Chasing Temptation

by Joya Ryan

  But he figured he wouldn’t get the chance to dirty her up too bad. He had a solid plan. She’d call their secret fling off the moment he slapped her ass or pulled out the cuffs. Of that he was certain.

  “How was the meeting?” he asked, sliding into the booth across from Ryder.

  Ryder adjusted his worn Stetson and put his forearms on the table. “It was all right. They liked my bid, liked my business, but I guess it’s between Diamond Construction and another company. They’ll let me know next week. If we can land this, we’d be set for the year.”

  Bass nodded. Ryder had built and owned his own construction and land development company. Several years back, Huck had bought a stake in the business and become a co-owner. But he left the negotiations to Ryder, preferring to swing hammers over talking business. Their group was close and always supported each other. They were the one thing he held sacred.

  Which was why he knew he was fucking around with fire when it came to Penny. He was putting the few things he cared about in jeopardy. His trust with Ryder. The dynamic of their entire group of friends. His strictly platonic—up until recently—friendship with Penny.

  Maybe he’d been too hasty. He’d dropped her off last night, alone, because he had to think. Hardest thing he’d ever done was decline an invitation inside her home. But now, in the light of day, staring at Ryder, he was glad he hadn’t crossed all the lines yet.

  Maybe he should call her up, talk to her and try to talk her out of this mission of sex or whatever the hell kick she was on. End this before he actually did all the things he’d said he would do.

  Yes, that was smart.

  “Afternoon, boys,” a musical voice rang out. He looked up to find the most beautiful woman staring down at him, holding two long neck beers.

  “Hey sis,” Ryder said.

  “Why are you here?” Sebastian asked before he could catch himself.

  Both Ryder and Penny looked at him with surprise. Jesus, where were his manners, let alone charm? He might not be like Huck and Colt with the country boy swagger, but he held his own. Especially with the ladies.

  “Forgive me, darlin’,” he said. “I just thought today was your day off.”

  “Yeah,” Ryder said. “Especially if you had a late night last night, you should be resting. Was the party fun?”

  Penny shot a glance at him and placed the beers on the table. Leaning over just enough to give a peek of that incredible cleavage concealed by a tight black tank top. He stifled a groan. What had he been thinking again? Oh, right, calling it off with Penny.

  The smart thing, he reminded himself.

  He looked her over. All that red hair was piled on top of her head, little strands hanging down to frame her face. He examined all the alabaster skin from her back to her chest, then down to her legs, which were barely concealed in a pair of cutoffs and a short apron. Every curve was on display, every inch of perfection.

  Shit. Calling it off was going to be a problem when all he could think of was how the crook between her neck and shoulder tasted. Did the shimmer on her lips taste like strawberries?

  He’d bet his salary they did.

  “It was okay,” she shrugged, placing one hand on the table and the other on her hip. “And I wasn’t out that late. Bass here gave me a ride home.”

  Ryder shot a look at him. “I thought everyone was going to stay the night in the city.”

  “Yeah, I thought the same thing,” she said, smiling at Sebastian. “Staying the night would have been fun.”

  That time he didn’t miss the sugary sweet challenge in her voice. Looked like she was pissed he had left her. He wasn’t any happier about it either, but he’d had to gather himself.

  Now, staring down the gorgeous woman with the afternoon sun bleeding through the windows and haloing her like a damn angel, he had a hard time not kicking his own ass for passing up an entire night with her.

  Soon.

  Fuck calling it off. He had to surround himself by all that sweet skin. Bury himself so deep into that sexy body neither of them could breathe. And what better way to prepare her for what was to come than to meet her challenge right now?

  “Staying the night wasn’t a good idea,” he said, looking her straight in the eye. “And what do you mean last night was okay? You looked to be enjoying yourself to me.”

  She licked her lips, and damn if he didn’t love this. This silent waging of wills. A secret competition.

  Ryder was sitting right there. This whole conversation was a bad idea, but he couldn’t help it. Penny had laid it out there, challenged him, and he’d accepted.

  She’d said she could be discrete? Well, he wove words and passively argued for a living. Game on.

  “Maybe I was faking my enjoyment,” she said, and Bass laughed. Honest to God laughed, which she clearly didn’t appreciate. She straightened and nailed him with glare.

  “What’s so funny?” Ryder asked.

  “Your sister is,” he said. His face actually hurt from how wide he was smiling. “She couldn’t fake a thing if she tried.” He tilted his chin at her. “Look at those big honest eyes of hers.” Not to mention, he felt her come apart.

  Faked it, my ass.

  She was just trying to goad him, but he knew better. He’d watched her fall over the edge and milk his fingers. The damn memory kept him up half the night with a hard-on that wouldn’t go away.

  Ryder chuckled, and Penny’s cheeks heated. Her temper was rising. She might look sweet, but the petite woman had a flare in her that was sexy as hell. She’d pushed his buttons last night, and now it looked like Miss Diamond was getting a taste of her own medicine.

  “He’s right, sis. You wear your emotions like face paint. But why didn’t you stay with the girls in the city?”

  “Because,” Bass said, facing his friend. “She had some admirers at the club. I thought it best to get her out of there.”

  Ryder nodded. “Good. I’m glad you were there. There’s a lot of assholes in the city.”

  “I’m not some child that needs to be whisked away every time a guy hits on me,” she snapped, that temper dialed to ten.

  “Who was hitting on you?”

  “Some asshole cowboy,” Bass said.

  “Will you stop talking about me like I’m not right here?” she said to Sebastian. “You’re as bad as my brother.”

  He simply smiled and took a drink of his beer. “Ah, darlin’, that’s where you’re wrong.” He leaned her direction and snared her gaze. “I’m much, much worse.”

  …

  Penny was going to scream. This kind of secret flirting was making her hot and pissed off all at the same time. She was ready to pull Bass up by the hair and kiss the hell out of him, or maybe just pull his hair.

  He made her feel crazed, needy, brassy, and strong. When he dropped her off at the restaurant last night, she went to the backdoor to make the lonely trek up the stairs to her apartment above. An apartment she’d invited him into but he’d declined.

  Today was supposed to be her day off, but she had to get her mind off last night, and work was the best distraction. That was why she’d come in. Not to see Bass…

  She looked at his thick, dark hair, his strong chiseled jaw that held just a hint of five o’ clock shadow even though it was only noon. The weekends were the best because he was casual, usually in jeans and T-shirts. Not that he didn’t rock a suit, but it was maddening how effortlessly sexy the thin, white cotton crew neck clinging to his chest and abs made him as he sat there.

  Yeah, she definitely had not worked on her day off just to gape at him…

  She opened her mouth to say something, to beat him at his own game and keep this secret conversation going, but Huck threw open the front door and stomped in.

  “Whoa, you look like shit,” Ryder said as Huck plopped down beside him, forcing him to scoot over in the booth.

  “Are those the same clothes you had on last night?” Sebastian asked.

  “Yes.” The normally laidback play
boy rested his head between his hands and exhaled deeply.

  “That good, huh? Hook up with a city girl?” Ryder asked. To which Huck answered with an annoyed growl. “Ah crap, tell me she didn’t slash your truck tires like the last girl?”

  “No,” Huck said.

  “Then what’s wrong?” Penny asked, rubbing his shoulder.

  Bass’s eyes snapped to her movements, and a dark look came over his face. As if the attorney didn’t like that she was touching Huck. They were just friends, he knew that. But still, it made her kind of giddy that he was in tune with every move she made.

  “Don’t want to talk about it.” Huck’s voice was barely a mumble.

  “Men and their pride.” She shook her head.

  Huck had his own reasons he didn’t get too serious with women. From what she understood, it was different than Sebastian’s reasons. But still, most men in her world, friends or not, didn’t like the commitment thing. That was up until Colt had fallen head over boots for Jenna.

  “It’s not a pride thing. Shitty stuff happens sometimes, and I don’t want to get into it.”

  “All right, buddy.” Ryder slapped his shoulder. “Sis, I think our boy needs a beer.”

  “I’ll bring you all another round and some burgers too.” She didn’t spare Sebastian a glance as she turned and walked away. She didn’t make it past table eleven when she heard someone call out her name.

  “Hi, Penny,” an unfortunately familiar voice said. It was Finn, taking a seat and pulling a laminated menu from its holder at the center of the table. “How are you?”

  His smile was genuine, and he looked nice in white polo shirt and khaki pants. His hair was perfectly parted and combed, and his freshly shaved face, heck, everything about him, looked and smelled like generic shampoo. He was cute enough. Not crazy sexy in a dark way like some—rather one—man she knew. One dinner with him had let her know he was safe—too safe for her—but that had also put him in Ryder’s “approval” category for her.

  “I’m good,” she said. “How about yourself?”

  He nodded and threaded his fingers. “Good. I was hoping I’d see you.” A small blush laced his face. “I was also going to ask when your days off were?”

  Oh crap. She gave her kindest expression while she searched for words. Her gaze darted to the table Bass sat at. She almost stumbled as she found his dark eyes already locked on her. Ryder was also looking at her, and if only he knew better, but he was giving her a not so discrete thumbs up. Thank God Finn couldn’t see. But Bass could.

  “I um, my days off are kind of undetermined right now. Since I’m hosting the rehearsal dinner, I’ve been extra busy, and my schedule has been a little off.”

  “Oh, okay. That makes total sense. That’s real great of you helping with the dinner. Especially with cooking like yours.”

  “That’s sweet of you,” she said. Finn was a nice guy. The right kind of guy. Rather, the kind that was supposed to be right for her. Only nothing about him felt right. He had similar goals for life as her. Wanted to settle down and start a family. But there was no fire with him. She chanced a look at Sebastian again. He sat motionless, listening to whatever Huck was saying, now not sparing her a glance.

  “What can I bring you to eat?” she asked, hoping to get out of the conversation and away for some space and air.

  He glanced at the menu. “I’ll have the cobb salad and an iced tea, please.”

  She smiled and nodded, jotting down his order. Right next to the order for burgers and beers for Bass’s table.

  There was a difference between a burger and a cobb salad. For some reason, in that moment, it seemed like a big difference.

  “I’ll get that going for you,” she said and took off. She wove around the bar and back to the kitchen, she put an order in for the cook to start on some burgers.

  The bottled beer was getting a little low behind the counter, so she hustled through the kitchen and around back to the storage area to grab a few more cases. She’d lifted a box when the door closed behind her.

  She spun to find Sebastian leaning back against the door, thumbs hooked in his leather belt, staring her down.

  “What are you doing?” she breathed, tamping down the surprise.

  Though his stance was casual, his eyes were intense. Every muscle in his strong body was honed, as if ready to attack.

  She felt a charge humming through her body. From her breasts to her thighs and everything in between.

  “I’m hungry.” His voice was deep, quick, and cut through the air, sending chills over her back.

  “I put in for your burgers. They’ll be done soon.”

  “No.” He pushed himself off the door and took one, two, three easy strides towards her. “I want something specific.”

  He took the case of beer out of her hands and set it on the floor.

  “You seem a bit wily today, darlin’.” His hands slowly wrapped around her, and in a millisecond, he untied her apron and dropped it to the floor.

  “I um…” She stared at his mouth, breathing in his crisp scent of pine and all things masculine. Between him messing with her inner temperature and running into Finn while her brother all but threw a party, she was a frazzled mess of nerves. But where had her temper gone? Oh yeah, it had deflated when she looked at Sebastian’s hot gaze and perfect lips.

  “I’m annoyed,” she finally managed.

  “Oh?” His fingers trailed along her waist until landing on the button of her shorts. “Want to tell me why?”

  She closed her eyes, struggling to find words as those fingers she’d become well acquainted with popped the button of her shorts open and pushed them down her legs until they were next to the apron on the ground.

  “You,” she whispered. “You annoy me.”

  “Hmmm…” He skimmed his thumb along her panties, then hooked it in the lacy band and tugged them off. “I’d prefer a different adjective when describing how I make you feel. Let’s see what I can do to make you happy with me.”

  His cool palm gripped behind her knee, raising her leg and resting one foot on the case of beer. Her hands instantly flew out, clutching his chest to keep her balance. She may not have bottoms on, but she was still wearing her boots.

  “I-I thought you liked control.”

  He frowned. “I do.” He covered her hands with his and slid them up his hard chest until they reached his face. He kissed her palm. “But I also told you I want what I want, when I want. Don’t mistake my like of control to be a selfish endeavor.”

  He slowly sank to his knees, the action causing her hands to go from his face to the top of his head as he knelt before her.

  Pressing his nose against her inner thigh, he took a deep breath. “Fuck I’ve been thinking about this for a long time.”

  Her whole body shook with anticipation as his lips brushed her skin. “Then why didn’t you stay with me last night?”

  He glanced up at her. “Because sometimes anticipation is the best part.”

  “And you control the anticipation,” she said, the truth hitting her. It wasn’t all black and white with him. Last night he was fierce, today he was flirty, but the end was the same.

  He’s always in control.

  This was definitely going to be more of a learning experience than she realized. Not just about sex, but about him. A snip of uncertainty crept in. Could she really keep up with him? She hoped so. Wanted to so badly, but that word from her past rang in her mind: vanilla. She didn’t want to be boring, didn’t want to be lacking. Not with him. Not ever again.

  “Tell me,” he said, delivering kisses on her thigh as he continued to get closer to the spot that was dampening by the second. “Have you ever been eaten?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  A mixture of a growl and a sigh came from low in his throat.

  “I’m the first.” It wasn’t a question, rather a statement. But hearing it out loud made her blood pick up rhythm, and if she wasn’t mistaken, Sebastian’s too.


  “Yes.”

  “Then I should warn you…” He delivered one long lick between her folds, and her grip on his hair tightened. “I’m not going to eat you, I’m going to devour you.”

  He sank his tongue deep, and she gasped, an instant tremor shooting through her body like a comet on the horizon.

  With one arm threaded around her thigh, the other reached up and tugged down her tank top and bra, exposing one breast. He pinched her nipple, and she moaned loudly.

  “Shhh, don’t want to get caught now do you? I’d have to stop.”

  She folded her lips together in agreement. “Please don’t stop.”

  With a wicked smile, he went back between her legs, only this time, he snaked that incredible tongue over her clit.

  “Oh God,” she whispered between clenched teeth.

  He flicked the sensitive spot over and over, then delved deep inside again to taste what he’d wrought from her.

  “You’re like strawberries,” he muttered, then started the whole torturous routine over again.

  The man wasn’t a liar. He was in fact devouring her. Lapping and sucking. Coaxing every ounce of pleasure and building it to a peak that she couldn’t fight. She watched his strong jaw move and his brows draw tight, like he was tasting the finest dessert and concentrating on experiencing every morsel.

  Just when she thought he’d gently take her over the edge and give her a nice, slow climax, he closed his teeth over her clit and sucked hard.

  “Oh, fuck!” she screamed when the sharp sting turned into heady lust and raced through her. “Bass,” she whispered, but it came out more of a strangled breath. “I’m going to come.”

  Not just come, she was going to burst into a thousand pieces. The nip of pain, mixed with the hot suction of his mouth made her body jolt with such intensity, she barely kept herself upright.

  The case of beer her foot rested on shook. As her body trembled, the sound of glass bottles gently dinging against each other echoed in the small storage room.

  Cupping her whole breast, he massaged and squeezed with the right amount of pressure to send her flying even further over the edge. Zings of pleasure shot through her as he buried his tongue deep one final time. His fingers dug into her thigh as he clutched her closer to him, drawing out the bliss and drinking her down as she moaned his name.