Stopping, she looked back at him. “What?”
“I’m not dancing.”
Hailey frowned. “Come on. Live a little. It’ll be fun.”
Andrew gave a mulish shake of his head. He didn’t make a public spectacle of himself. No way, no how. Not ever.
She threw up her hands in exasperation. “Fine. Stay here, party pooper.”
Leaving him on the sidelines, she stepped past the crowd and began to shimmy to the quiet beat of the music. Most people would have been embarrassed to be out there slow-dancing alone, but not her. She owned the space, moving without an inkling of shame.
His mouth went dry. Though there wasn’t an ounce of seduction in her movements, he still found himself entranced. Mesmerized, he stepped back and leaned against the nearest tree to simply watch her.
There was a fluid beauty to her movement. A certain joie de vivre that bubbled forth from her. It was magic to watch, and it made him want her with an intensity that actually brought an ache to his gut.
He lost track of how long he stood there, watching her enjoy herself, but eventually the music faded and she searched him out. She finally spotted him against the tree and intent glimmered in her eyes as she started forward.
Hailey came to a stop a few mere feet away. So close he could reach out and touch her if he wanted to. And oh, he really, really did.
“Why are you here, Andrew?”
Her voice was soft, but it was her lips that had him spellbound. Full and moist, with a perfect little bow dead center. God, the memories they aroused…
Something in his face, in his body, must have given him away, because she froze. The soft, green-speckled centers of her eyes darkened, her pupils dilating.
“Andrew,” she murmured. “What do you want from me?”
Damn it. He should walk away. He knew that. Leave her to her fun and her freedom. Surrender her to a man better suited to her. But he couldn’t. Right now he couldn’t do that anymore than he could stop breathing. Or wanting her.
“You.” His voice came out low, husky. “I want you.”
She inhaled sharply, as if she hadn’t expected him to admit it. Hell, the fact that he had surprised even him.
Slowly she reached out and ran her fingers over his lips, across his scratchy cheek to trace the arch of his jaw. His body tightened at the silky slide of her touch. Remembering other things she’d done to him. Craving even more.
Dropping her hand, she closed it over his. “Okay. Let’s go back to my place.”
Instant lust hardened his cock, while his heart beat madly against his ribcage. She’d accepted his proposition, just like that. And though they hadn’t spoken about what it would mean, about what sort of relationship was even possible between them, none of that seemed to matter right now. He quietly followed her as she led them out of the park and toward her place.
Like a bee driven to the sweet nectar of a budding flower, he was inescapably drawn to this woman. And right now, the last thing he wanted to do was stop.
***
Hailey’s breath erratically rose and fell as she walked hand-in-hand with Andrew through the streets of Brooklyn. Funny how something so mundane, so innocent as walking, could be fraught with such sexual tension.
He wanted her. Even if he hadn’t flat-out said it, she would have known. It was in the way he walked. In the tick of his jaw. The static electricity clinging to the air between them.
And god knew she wanted him, too. Her nipples had hardened to tight buds, straining against the thin fabric of the sundress she wore. Her thighs were damp with desire, making every slide of her legs pure agony as she walked.
Oh, she wasn’t stupid. She knew full well there had been no talk of the future, no mention of his cold and abrupt treatment of her the morning after they’d made love. But she didn’t care. Though the latter certainly merited discussion at some point, she didn’t want a relationship any more than he did. She just wanted to explore the strong angles and curves of his body. To glide her fingers, her tongue, over those parts of him she hadn’t been able to get off her mind.
They entered her building and she pulled her hand away, leading him up the stairwell to her third floor apartment. Her skin grew tight and hot where his gaze rested on her, and silence filled the air between them. Along with a healthy dose of anticipation.
Even though she’d already had him, it didn’t lessen her desire for him now. If anything, knowing what they had done, what he was capable of, only made her want him more.
Finally, they came to a stop at her door. She turned and looked at him, searching for signs of regret. If he changed his mind now she might have to kill him. But when he merely watched her back, she let out a sigh of relief and unlocked the door.
“Hey, roomie. I was about to call you!”
Lily’s voice bounded out from the living room, breaking the magical spell that had fallen over Hailey and Andrew.
“I got off early from my shift, and I thought we could—”
She sauntered into the foyer, and broke off abruptly when she saw them standing by the door.
“Oh.” Lily’s long ponytail bounced as her bright gaze moved from Hailey to Andrew and then back. “Sorry. I didn’t realize you weren’t alone.”
“No, it’s okay.” Not really. She wanted to strangle Lily right now, but it wasn’t as if she could’ve known Hailey would be showing up with Andrew. She wouldn’t have guessed it herself, not in a million years. “Lily, this is my boss, Andrew.”
Lily’s eyes widened at his name, but she didn’t say anything, merely turned and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you.” Her questioning gaze slid back to Hailey.
Praying Andrew didn’t notice, Hailey made the slightest motion toward the door with her head.
“I, um…” Lily flushed slightly. “Oh shoot, I forgot, I need to head back into the vet’s office. I have to, ah, check on some of the animals. I’ll probably be gone for a couple of hours.”
Not so subtle a departure, but she’d take it.
Thank you, Hailey mouthed at her.
After grabbing her purse from the rickety coat rack, Lily mumbled her goodbyes and, with a surreptitious wink and a thumbs-up to Hailey, slipped out the door.
Hailey held her breath as she watched her roommate leave. Thankfully Lily had read all her signals. Now, she and Andrew were finally alone again…but part of her feared to turn back to him.
Had that brief incident been enough to put Andrew off? And if it had, how was she going to stop herself from spontaneously combusting?
He saved her from her torment by walking through their tiny foyer into the living room. Sighing with relief, Hailey followed him.
“Nice place.” His hands slipped into his pockets.
She snorted. “It’s two steps up from a total dump and we know it.”
With a low chuckle, he continued his casual survey of the room. “It shows promise though. I like the art on the walls.”
The oil paintings were of various tropical and exotic flowers, and they were more impressionistic than true to life.
“Lily did those. She likes to paint for fun. She says no place is a true home without bad art on the walls.”
One of his brows lifted at that, but he didn’t reply. His gaze remained on the portraits, giving her the opportunity to examine his profile.
Lord, he was so beautiful. So unapproachable. And while she hated to do this now, when it could very well scare him away, it was eating at her and she had to let it out. “Should we talk about what happened back in Atlantic City?”
His shoulders stiffened, but he squared them and turned to look at her straight on. “I owe you an apology for the way I treated you, Hailey. I just…freaked out, I suppose. I’ve never been involved with an employee before.”
“Involved,” she said carefully. “What do you mean by that?”
Andrew sighed and momentarily tilted his head back. “I think you’re an amazing woman, but I’m going to level with you. I’m not looking for
anything serious or long-term.”
His words caused a little pinch in her heart, but that was stupid. She’d already told him the same thing.
Don’t be crazy, Hails.
This wasn’t about love or romance. It was about great sex. She needed to remember that.
She could handle that.
“I’m not looking for more, either.” Then, because it needed to be said, she asked, “What are you looking for, Andrew?”
“I don’t know, I…” He sighed, his gaze washing over her. Drinking her in with an intensity that sent a shiver of sinful longing down her spine.
“I just know I want you,” he finished on a whisper.
Oh, god. Those six little words washed over her, making her as wet as if he’d stroked his fingers between her thighs. Or his tongue.
If she had her way, he’d be doing both before the day was through.
Putting all her pent-up lust into her next words, she croaked, “Then take me.”
Her husky words broke the invisible barrier keeping them apart. He strode forward, reaching her in a few short steps.
Dragging her to him, he closed his hands around her ass and lifted her so her legs wrapped around his waist. Their mouths found each other, tongues tangling wildly as if battling for dominance.
This was one fight they were both going to win.
Through her haze of lust and passion she barely noted him moving around. Colliding with the coffee table, then gliding past the couch. Her back hit the wall hard, and then, thank the heavens, he was pressed to her front.
His warm hands slid her dress up her thighs while his hard cock pumped intimately against the juncture of her thighs.
“Oh god, that feels so good,” she panted.
“Yeah?” His teeth scraped the sensitive skin on her neck. “Do you know how fucking crazy you’ve driven me this past week?”
“I can guess.” Her fingers tangled in his hair. “As crazy as you’ve made me.”
A rumbling sound came from his throat. “Those short skirts you wear. The way you bend over when you’re standing near my desk…”
“What about it?” she whispered.
He bit down lightly on her collarbone. “You do that on purpose, don’t you?”
“Yes,” she gasped without thinking.
He let out a hoarse chuckle. “I thought so. How do you think I should repay you for all that torture?”
“I…I don’t care. Just don’t stop touching me.”
She should regret even admitting that. Giving him so much power over her. But she couldn’t bring herself to do it.
“I’ll tell you how.” He pushed off the wall with her legs still wrapped around him.
“Whe-where are you going?” she gasped.
His lips found hers, tongue sliding erotically inside her mouth while he walked. A moment later he dropped her onto the couch and then straightened, leaving his hips just above eye level. She lifted her gaze to his. His face was hard with passion.
When his hands dropped to his belt, slowly unbuckling it, her heart raced up her throat.
In a voice thickened with desire, he said, “Now it’s time to pay for driving me wild.”
She sat forward and bit down on her lip. A glimmer of the Andrew she’d discovered in Atlantic City was starting to shine through, and she had to say, she really, really liked it.
“What are you going to do to me?” she whispered playfully.
His eyes glittered with lust as he held the belt with one hand, then took hold of both her wrists and started binding them together with the belt. “I’m gonna give you exactly what you deserve.”
Hunger and anticipation sent a shiver down her spine. “Oh god.”
Chapter Seven
Hailey’s body shook with passion as she watched Andrew tie her wrists together with her palms facing each other. She was accustomed to being dominant in the bedroom, to taking what she wanted. It had been like that ever since her first experience, and honestly she’d always thought she preferred it that way. But watching him wrestle control from her was more erotic than she could’ve ever imagined.
Mission completed, he lifted her bound wrists above her head and stepped back to look at her. The heat of his gaze sent a flood of warmth through her body, making her writhe at the sensation.
She licked her lips. “What do you want?”
“Mm.” His eyes glittered as he watched her mouth. “Keep your arms up.”
He let go of her wrists and bent down, his face close to hers. She leaned forward, thinking he meant to kiss her, but his lips grazed her jaw instead, then slid down to her throat. His hands landed on the outside of her thighs, below the hem of her dress. He grasped onto it, tugging the silky fabric over her ass and, oh so slowly, up her body.
The fabric caught at her nipples, making her moan, and then slid further up past her neck. Finally, he straightened, pulling it over her head.
When the straps caught between her bound wrists, he used the garment to tug her arms back so they were bent at the elbows with her hands slightly behind her head. The position forced her to bow her back and thrust her chest out.
“Stay just like that,” he whispered, his voice husky.
Hell, she wanted him so badly at this point, he could ask her to do anything and she would probably agree.
Straightening once more, Andrew looked down at her. “Mm…you look delicious.”
The part of her that wanted him so badly longed to tell him to just get on with it. But the rest of her recognized the erotic temptation he must be feeling watching her like this. Her breasts arched up toward him, and nothing covered her body besides a wispy scrap of white satin and lace.
She deliberately scraped her teeth along her lower lip and tossed her hair back. “You have me at your mercy now. What do you want me to do?”
“So many things,” he murmured gruffly. “But for now, we’ll start with what I’m going to do to you.”
Her breath caught as he dropped to his knees in front of her. His hands returned to her thighs and his eyes hooded. He moved his head to one breast and took her nipple into his mouth. Rolled his tongue around it until she cried out from the sweet agony.
Meanwhile, his hands traveled along her flesh, leaving trails of molten desire wherever they touched. Branding her as surely as if he’d tattooed his name across her skin.
“That feels so good,” she whispered.
“You feel good.” His eyes flashed as he drew back. “Taste even better.”
As if punctuating his words, he drew her legs apart and then kissed and licked a trail down her stomach.
“Oh god.” The feel of his tongue against her skin drove her absolutely crazy. Made her gasp in memory of what he could do with it. “More.”
He let out a chuckle, and with his gaze locked on hers, moved lower to spear her center with his tongue through the fabric of her panties.
“Oh.” Her thighs quaked, tightening against his ears. Who would have thought it would be so unbelievably erotic for him to lick her through her underwear? “Oh yeah, that feels…don’t stop.”
A low noise rumbled in his throat as he drew back. She cried out in protest, but he merely yanked her panties down and off her before grabbing the back of her knees and spreading her legs wider. Without the use of her hands for balance, she teetered precariously, but then he pulled her limbs over his shoulders and lowered his mouth toward her core.
His molten gaze speared hers. “Do you want my tongue in your pussy, Hailey?”
She let out a little whimper at his crude words. Damn, she loved it when he talked dirty to her. “So, so much.”
He grinned, and a moment later, his tongue drove deep inside. It was all she could do not to scream.
“Oh god, oh god. Yes.” She arched her back and let her head fall against the sofa, using her legs around his neck as momentum to lift her ass off the couch and writhe wildly against him. He rewarded her by sliding one, and then two fingers inside.
“You taste
like heaven,” he growled. “Like the sweetest of desserts.”
“Then don’t stop,” she ordered, rotating her hips.
He merely laughed and lowered his mouth back to her. Kissing and sucking her hypersensitive flesh. Lightly scraping his teeth along the sensitive bud of her clit.
The exquisite pleasure of his hands and tongue propelled her toward the edge of a brutal climax. “God, Andrew. I…I’m gonna come.”
Hailey’s half-crazed admission propelled him into moving his fingers harder, thrusting them in and out. “Come for me, baby. I want to feel your pussy clench around my fingers.” Then he sucked her clit into his mouth.
It was too much, the sensation.
Throwing her head back, she cried out loudly as her orgasm overtook her. Her legs shook madly. Her vision blurred. She was out of control.
Awareness slipped away, leaving her floating on a cloud of satisfaction. She lost track of how much time passed, but eventually she came back to herself. Enough to notice that Andrew still knelt between her legs, licking and stroking her with his tongue. If he kept going like this, it wouldn’t be long before she was pulled into another wild climax, but she didn’t want that quite yet. Not when she hadn’t tortured him at all.
“Enough,” she gasped.
He sat back, his face etched with desire and the blue in his eyes all but overtaken by his dilated pupils.
“What about you?” she asked.
A low rumble spilled from his throat. “What about me?”
“Don’t you want—?”
“What do you want, Hailey? You want to take my cock in your mouth?”
The rough tenor of his voice made her chest tighten with excitement. Breathless, she watched as he stood up. The long, thick outline of his erection was close to eye level.
He leaned over, grasped her thighs, and scooted her to the very edge of the couch, then straightened once more. She could think of nothing but the heavy ridge that bulged against the zipper of his slacks.
As if he read her mind, Andrew’s fingers moved to the button, his voice gruff when he said, “Well, Hailey. Do you want me in your mouth?”
Wild Girls Rule Page 9
