Chasing Temptation

by Joya Ryan

  It didn’t end. Nothing had ever felt so good. So sexy and wicked. And he kept going. Plunging deep, like he couldn’t get enough. With her head thrown back and nails digging into his scalp, she had no choice but to let the explosive orgasm keep coming. Over and over. And Bass was right there to catch her.

  With a few lingering licks, he rose to his feet and faced her. She was breathless and trembling.

  “That was lesson number two,” he said with a husky pride that made her melt another degree. “Challenging me in public only brings out my competitive side.”

  “I didn’t—”

  “You want to claim that you just faked that too?”

  She snapped her mouth shut. Oh, that. Yeah, she’d said that to piss him off. Instead, he’d used it as a reason to remind her that her pants were on fire from the fib.

  He grinned and ran his thumb along his lower lip, then sucked it.

  “Mmmm. Tastes like sweet, sweet victory.” With that, he turned, opened the storage door, and left, closing the door behind him.

  She stood there, bare from the waist down, one breast out and her mouth hanging open in a daze.

  Another point for the lawyer. It was the second time he’d gotten the better of her body, then walked away. It wasn’t lost on her that he’d not only not had sex with her, but he also hadn’t kissed her. Well, on the mouth at least.

  This was a game. And her lessons were only making her more and more greedy for what he held back. He could have his control, but she needed to tap into her strength.

  Through the door, she heard the faint ding of the bell, followed by the cook’s rumbling voice.

  “Order up!”

  Chapter Four

  The smell of roses and carnations engulfed the room as Penny wound through the chilled little hut, looking at centerpiece options with Jenna.

  “Thank you so much for doing this with me,” Jenna said.

  The wedding flowers had been picked out a while ago, but Penny thought brightening up the tables with some decor would be nice. The entire event was her wedding present to Colt and Jenna. While the menu and preparations were a bit stressful, she loved the event.

  Weddings were fun. And this was the closest she had ever come to one. Marriage and a family were things she wanted eventually. Actually, if she were honest, she’d hoped eventually would be sooner than later. She knew now she had some personal growth to finish first, and she’d thought Sebastian would be the thing that put her on the fast track.

  But he hadn’t spoken to her since yesterday’s storage room scandal. A climatic event that had her blood still racing and her body on fire.

  She’d known the man for the majority of her life, yet after the past couple of days, the term “knowing him” was rapidly evolving. There’d been lust in his eyes, and even though she knew better than to hope for more, she found herself wondering “what if?”

  But she couldn’t tackle that idea. She had another question pressing into her thoughts since the other day: How?

  How could he make her feel the way she did—sexy and sinful—but also make her feel crazed, annoyed with just a hint of comfort? Like the second she was in his grasp, his hands would never let her stray too far. And how would things be between them after the two weeks? She didn’t even know how tomorrow would be.

  She shook her head, the questions frustrating and irritating because she didn’t have an answer to any of them. All she could do was wait…and hope for another stolen moment with the powerful attorney. Maybe then she’d have a better idea of how to handle these hot flashes.

  “You okay?” Jenna asked, snapping Penny back to the present.

  “Yeah, sorry I was spacing out.” She smiled and looked at her friend, who was beaming with joy. “I’m excited to be here with you.”

  “Me too. Glad you were able to get off work.”

  “Rocco covered for me today since I worked yesterday,” Penny said, adjusting her purse. Jenna also had today off, so it worked out well that they could go together.

  “I feel like I haven’t seen you as much,” Jenna said.

  “It’s been busy. You’re planning a wedding, which understandably takes up a lot of time. But we need to hang out every chance we can before you’re barefoot and pregnant.”

  Jenna smiled. “We’ll still hang out. Even when I’m Mrs. McCade.”

  “I know.” But she also knew things were changing.

  Jenna was amazing and deserved everything wonderful in the world. And her world was Colt. It was more than apparent that Colt’s universe was Jenna.

  The idea of settling down, having a couple kids and an adoring husband, had always appealed to Penny, but that dream was a far cry from realistic these days. She was still trying to figure out sex. But the rest? The future full of laughter and kids and the PTA…that dream would have to wait, no matter how badly she ached for it.

  Someday…

  Yeah, maybe. If she was lucky. The way things were going, she’d forever be the “wholesome” baby sister of Ryder Diamond who no one took seriously. She’d be stuck swooning over a dark eyed attorney from afar.

  No, she’d be confident, she reminded herself. Once their two weeks were up, she’d know what she wanted in a man…and what she wanted in the bedroom. That was the agreement. He would teach her, their time would eventually end, and then she’d move on, ready to take control of her dating life.

  “You left so quickly the other night at the club that you never told me how things went. I’m assuming that since Bass took you home you didn’t have a chance to…you know…” Jenna wiggled her eyebrows.

  This was the part Penny hated. Fibbing. Jenna was one of her best friends, and she couldn’t say what had really happened that night, or yesterday in her storage cellar for that matter. But she could stick to the truth the best she could.

  “I didn’t have sex.”

  “So the operation still needs to be carried out,” Jenna mumbled, and Penny saw her mind working.

  “You’re not plotting something are you?”

  Jenna gently touched one of the white calla lily center pieces and shrugged. “Plot? Never. I just have some ideas.”

  Penny sighed. “Please, no more blind dates. Besides, I don’t want to deal with Ryder being all pissy and giving me the third degree when he finds out.”

  “You say that like I already have someone in mind.”

  Penny raised a brow. Jenna just waved the conversation and off switched subjects. Crap, Jenna was totally going to set her up.

  Before she could protest further, Penny’s phone buzzed, and she fished it out of her purse.

  It was a text from Sebastian. She resisted the urge to jump up and down and giggle like a girl just asked to winter formal.

  Bass: I have a craving for strawberries…

  Her cheeks instantly heated. She wrote back.

  Penny: Is that so?

  A few seconds went by, and she stared at her phone. Jenna said something about a different vase of flowers, and Penny absently nodded.

  Bass: Yes. I find it a craving I have yet to satisfy since the other day. Are you ready for your next lesson? It will require your undivided attention.

  Penny: I’m a pretty studious woman. Should I have something to take notes with?

  Bass: That mouth of yours is going to get you into trouble.

  Penny: I’m just trying to figure out how much time to block out of my day. Since our last encounters have been rather quick. Thought you’d have more stamina, that’s all.

  Bass: The next time you see me, I’ll show you stamina.

  Penny smiled and put her phone back in her purse. She looked up to find Jenna, arms crossed and staring at her.

  “What?”

  “You haven’t heard a word I said, huh?”

  “I said the flowers were nice.” Though, no, she hadn’t heard a thing, but she assumed the flowers were a smart jumping off point.

  “The only time I get that blushy while texting is when Colt is sexting me somethi
ng naughty.”

  That made her blush harder, but this time with nervousness to cover her ass.

  “Oh, that was just Rocco, telling me something funny that happened at the BBQ today.”

  Jenna eyed her for a long moment, as if trying to believe her.

  “I like these,” Penny said, pointing to a square vase of dahlias, but Jenna wasn’t derailed.

  “So, since last weekend was a bust, you still need to get some,” Jenna said. “This weekend will be a perfect time to try out your bad girl alter ego again.”

  Well, at least they weren’t talking about her sexting anymore.

  “This weekend is the party at the lake.”

  Jenna nodded. Every year around Memorial Day weekend, the majority of Diamond’s town folk headed out to the lake for barbequing, swimming, and relaxing. It was a big event on the outskirts of Diamond property. But there was only one person Penny was interested in seeing.

  “Do you know who all’s going?”

  Jenna frowned. “Most of the town.”

  Penny rolled her eyes. “I mean of our friends. Ryder’s been traveling more, and I’m not sure if he’ll be there, but do you know about Huck, Lily, and Bass?”

  Real smooth.

  “I don’t know. I think they’ll all be there. I know Alex is super excited.”

  Alex was Lily’s six-year-old son and about the cutest thing on the planet.

  Jenna came to a small bouquet of lilies, pink roses, and daisies. “What do you think of this? We can put them in mason jars to make it look all down-homey.”

  “You’re getting married at a nice hotel in the city. But you want mason jars?”

  “It fits the rehearsal dinner at the BBQ. Keeps things simple.”

  “If that’s what you want.”

  Jenna nodded. “I know there’s extra stress on you with the rehearsal dinner coming up and you worrying about Eli. I can’t thank you enough for hosting and cooking.”

  “I’m happy to help, Jenna,” Penny said, grabbing the bouquet and heading toward the register.

  “I know the other night didn’t go as you planned, but are you doing okay?”

  It definitely hadn’t gone as planned, but she wasn’t too bummed out. How could she be with that last text Bass had sent?

  “Yeah, I’m good. I’m just going to focus on the dinner coming up and postpone Operation: Orgasm.” By postpone, she meant carry it out in secret with Sebastian, but again, those were things she couldn’t say out loud.

  “Are you worried about running into Eli?”

  “Kind of. Not as much as I was.” Mostly because in the forty-eight hours she’d been with Sebastian, she was already feeling stronger. Happier.

  Jenna looked at her for a moment.

  “What?” Penny finally asked under the scrutiny.

  “You seem…different.”

  She shrugged and tried to keep the guilt off her face. “I’m just excited for the future. There’s good stuff coming.”

  Of that, she was certain. Until she saw the devious look on Jenna’s face. She knew her friend too well, and Penny had an idea she was going to be on the losing end of some secret scheme here real quick.

  “Yes,” Jenna said happily. “Lots of good stuff is bound to happen in the future.”

  Jenna had no idea how right she was. Penny’s future, at least for the next several days, involved finding out how good Sebastian the sex god could be.

  Chapter Five

  Penny walked through her front door and set her purse down. Flower shopping with Jenna had been fun, but with night falling, she was ready for a hot shower.

  Out of nowhere¸ she was grabbed from behind. One palm covered her mouth while the other wrapped around her waist. “You should really start locking your door,” a husky voice said.

  She’d recognize that voice anywhere.

  Sebastian.

  “All you have to do is tell me no,” he said. His grip tightened, pressing her ass into his front. She could feel him hard against her. “Tell me no. Tell me to unhand you and leave, and I will. Otherwise—” he thrust “—you’re mine. However I want you. And it won’t be gentle.”

  Between him walking away after the club and yesterday from the storage closet, she wasn’t about to let him go anywhere. Besides, her body was already on fire to find out how he’d back up all those sinful promises.

  He slowly removed his hand from her mouth, allowing her to speak.

  Did he think he’d scared her into saying no? Now that he was finally in her house and promising sex?

  Though her nerves were a bit frazzled from the surprise of him being there, she gathered her composure and looked over her shoulder to meet his eyes. “Adding breaking and entering to your list of skills, counselor?”

  He frowned. Looked like he had been thinking she’d say no.

  Not today, buddy. Time to pay up or shut up. If there was one thing she knew how to do, it was provoke him. If she wanted the full experience, she’d have to push.

  “I thought you were hardcore?” she said, then turned back to study her nails. “I’ll give you credit, you surprised me, but now you just stop? It looks like you’re really good at delivering empty promises.”

  What could only be described as a growl came from him, and before she knew it, he clung to her waist like a vice and moved her into the kitchen.

  “I’ve been warning you about that mouth.” He bent her over the kitchen table. “It’s going to get you into trouble.” He hiked up her skirt around her waist, baring her ass. A loud snap sounded and a sting of pain shot through her as his open palm came down on her ass.

  She cried out. He reached forward and grabbed her chin, making her look back at him.

  “That was a soft one, darlin’. You sure you still want to play this game?”

  She nodded. The pain held a mix of pleasure, and it was humming through her like sparklers ignited against her skin.

  “Brave girl,” he said, releasing her chin. All she could do was stand there, bent over her kitchen table, ass in the air, while he stood behind her.

  She waited. Then felt the barest touch of his finger tip trace along the spot he’d just smacked.

  “Your skin is so perfect. Ivory. I can see my handprint…” He traced up, down, up, as if outlining the fingers of the mark. “It’s pink and hot. But does it make you hot?” He grabbed her hair in his fist. “Or does it make you scared?”

  “Not scared,” she said. “I want more.”

  He released her and palmed her ass. Then another smack came, then another. She clenched her teeth. Hard and rough, just like he’d promised, and it made her crazed. She’d never known things like this could feel good, but being bent, literally, to his will was beyond thrilling, it was overwhelming.

  Her ass was on fire, her skin buzzing. She wiggled a little, realizing that yes, she was wet. Just the spanking made her body ready and hot, and it was all for him. Something he must have realized, because she felt his mouth kiss along the marks he’d left.

  “You constantly challenge me, say things to get me worked up.” He bit her cheek, then sucked, causing her to moan. “You wanted sex? Passion? To be taught and have experiences?”

  A loud rip ran through the air as he tore her panties clean off. She tried to keep quiet, because she wanted him to keep going.

  He grabbed her hands and brought them behind her back. Her breasts and the side of her face pressed into the table as he fastened the tattered fabric of her panties around her wrists, binding them behind her.

  She wanted to ask what he was doing. Ask for him to finally take her. But she was scared that if she spoke, he’d stop. So she arched her back and heard the unclasping of a belt and clothes hit the floor. His clothes.

  He was getting naked? She tried to look behind her, but he smacked her ass again.

  “You stay where I put you.”

  “I just want to see you.” She wiggled her wrists. “Touch you.”

  “This is my time. I told you I like control.
I’m going to fuck you. I’ll let you know when you can touch me.”

  She bit her lip. Something about his low, raspy voice made everything in her body respond. She liked him this way. Raw and fierce. Here was the man he kept hidden, and he was going to share that with her.

  And she wanted to be the woman that could handle it. Not just for him, but for herself. All the time she was struggling to find who she was, show people she was more, yet he treated her like she already was more. Treated her like she was strong.

  She loved the idea of being taken over by him. Being his. Giving up the competition, challenging him but letting him win her however he wanted. There was something freeing and sexy and strengthening about that. And she wanted all of him.

  “Okay,” she whispered.

  “Okay?” he said, mimicking her words. “Going to listen to me now?”

  “Yes, sir,” she said quickly.

  What sounded like an approving groan broke through the air. “You want to touch me?”

  “Yes, so much.”

  He pressed against her. She felt his powerful thighs hit the back of hers, his hips dig into her ass. Then she felt his hard, heavy cock rest in her bound palms at the small of her back.

  “Oh…my…”

  “Where’s that mouth of yours? Don’t tell me this—” he thrust against her, the velvety steel running along her palms “—is all it takes to bring you to heel.”

  She swallowed hard. She couldn’t see him, but she could feel him, and man was he big. A flare of shock hit her. It had been so long since she had sex, and it had only been once. Could she and Sebastian even fit together?

  “Say the word, Penny. You scared? Want me to stop?”

  That was that moment her future hung on.

  She replayed what he’d told her about himself. Trust. She had to trust him, and he had to trust her. She definitely wasn’t ready to give up. Hell, they’d barely started. But she had to trust that they’d fit, that he’d make it work. He was the experienced one. People had sex all the time. Surely this would work.

  Deep breath.

  She’d trust him to make it work.