by Julie Kenner
“I’m not patient,” she whispered. “I thought you would have remembered.”
He did remember, and that was one reason why his particular choice of punishment was so apropos. He nipped her earlobe. “Maybe it’s time you learned.”
“Maybe it’s time I took charge.”
Before he realized what she was doing, she’d managed to roll over, taking him with her, until she was on top, and he was lying back on the sand. She straddled his hips, and though he didn’t think it was possible, his body hardened even more, simply from the knowledge that she was right there, her sweet, slick core pressed right against him. He needed to take it further, wanted her to know how aroused he was. Grabbing her hips, he rocked her against him, the motion sending a frenzied burst of electricity coursing through him.
“Oh, Ken.” Her voice was low and soft with pleasure.
“Do you like that?”
“Y-yes.”
“Shall I stop?” He slowed the movement, torturing himself even as he teased her.
“No!” Her eyes flew open, and there was no mistaking the need he saw deep within. “Don’t you dare,” she murmured.
Her honest desire thrilled him, and he smiled, taking her hips and rocking her against him until her breath was just as uneven as his.
“Better?” he murmured.
“Yes.” The corner of her mouth lifted in a shy smile as she moved her hands to balance on his chest. His body sang from her caresses. The warmth from her palms spread through him, despite the barrier of his shirt.
He grazed his hands up her back, no longer controlling the rocking motion of her hips. Though he wasn’t urging her, she kept it up, writhing against him in an ancient rhythm as she sought her own release—her body silently promising to bring his, as well.
Control nearly abandoned him, and he fought the urge to let go and lose himself in the sweet delight of her arms. That wasn’t what he’d planned, not yet, and he tried to take his mind off the way his blood burned by watching her.
Her eyes were closed, her features calm. But the composed picture was belied by her mouth. Her lips were parted, and he could hear her unsteady breathing. Her tongue darted out, then her perfect white teeth grazed her lower lip. Her face was damp and rosy, and he thought he’d never seen a more beautiful sight. She was near to losing herself, and the knowledge brought him that much closer to the edge.
This was what he’d wanted—to have her on the brink of passion, brought there by him and for him. Now that she was there, though, he didn’t want to torture and torment. Instead, he wanted her release, wanted to see pure joy in her eyes and know that he’d put it there.
And, Lord help him, the one thing he’d planned so carefully, the one thing he knew he needed most—to get her out of his system forever—was the one thing he absolutely didn’t want.
THE UNIVERSE was about to explode around her, and Lisa welcomed the frenzy, urging it on with every motion of her body. Ken’s hands stroked her back as she writhed against him. She was wet and hot, and she wanted him inside her, filling her up and taking her places they’d never gone before. She wanted him, and she realized she always had and probably always would.
Right now, though, she wanted the release. She was so close, right there, and she sucked in air, concentrating on the feel of Ken against her. So close… So very close…
And then she wasn’t. Instead, she was on her back in the cool sand, and Ken was straddling her, his body not touching hers. Passion burned on his face, undeniable yet controlled.
“What?” she whispered, both disappointed and confused. “I was—”
“Shh-hhh.” He pressed a finger to her lips. “We were getting ahead of ourselves. I have a plan, remember? A theme.” His smile was warm but firm. “I intend to stick to it.”
“I don’t mind a little improvisation.” She tried to keep her voice light, to not let him know just how much she’d wanted to lose herself in his arms. He had an agenda, and she’d already revealed too much.
“Come on.” He stood, holding out a hand for her to grab. “Let’s get cleaned up and then go visit the pool.”
“Cleaned up?”
He cocked his head toward the stairs, and she saw the concrete foundation and free-standing shower.
She quirked a brow. “A little good, clean fun?”
“Something like that.” He ran his hand down the side of her bathing suit. “We’re both gritty, and your dress has seen better days.”
“Can’t have that.”
She followed him to the shower, then pulled off the sundress and, wearing only her bathing suit, stepped into the spray. “It’s warm.” Closing her eyes, she tilted her head back, letting the droplets caress her face and trickle down her body.
“Want a little help?” His voice was playful, almost sensual, and she opened her eyes as a gentle burst of warm water from another source sprayed over her chest.
Ken was standing in front of her, holding a water hose, a stream of water gushing onto her breasts. “I thought I could help you clean up some of those hard-to-reach places.”
“Uh, oh.” She swallowed, then tried again. “I—”
He aimed the water lower, hitting her right between the legs, and she snapped her mouth shut, not at all certain what she could possibly have had to say.
“Shh,” Ken whispered. “Close your eyes. Let me get you clean.”
Closing her eyes, for the first time in her life she wished she were covered in grime. The water from the hose splashed on her toes, and she giggled, stepping lightly to escape the droplets.
“Too cold?”
“No.” The water was warm, and in truth it felt wonderful. She was just wound up.
“Relax,” he said. “Close your eyes and keep them closed.”
She nodded and tried to comply.
“You’ve got sand in your hair,” he said, and with his words came the warm, light flow of water, dribbling over her head, cutting warm, wet paths down her arms, down her chest, over her breasts. Her body quaked, nearly undone by the exquisite sensations.
“Do you like that?”
“Yes. It’s…”
“I know.” The water flowed over her lips—he must have been holding the hose sideways so that liquid flowed gently against the sensitive skin of her mouth. Then his lips brushed hers through the flow as he kissed her, deep and wet.
The hose moved away, and then she felt the water snaking down her back, the delicious warmth spreading through her. His kiss deepened, his tongue demanding entrance that she readily allowed.
A moan escaped her as she explored his mouth, tasting him, taking in the maleness, wishing she could surround herself with him and lose herself in his heat. She was wet, a wetness that had nothing to do with the hose.
She tried to pull away, needing the distance before he pulled her over the edge merely from his kisses. But he held her close, his teeth nibbling on her lip, his tongue mating with hers.
Her body was spinning. She wanted to open her eyes, wanted to see the world spinning out of control, wanted to meet his gaze. But she’d promised and so she kept her eyes shut, seeing only the colors exploding in her own mind.
So close, so much need, and she urged her hips forward, wanting him to touch her, wanting him to take her that tiny bit further where his kisses couldn’t go. But he stepped back, refusing her silent plea for him to stroke her in secret places, to touch her, to finish what he’d started.
“What do you want?”
“I—I want you. Please, Ken. Please.”
He kissed her again, rougher, deeper. She gasped, not from the force of his kisses, but from the shock of the hose between her legs. The stream of water touching her exactly how she’d wanted him to touch her. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, but faded quickly as she lost herself to the sensations. So vivid, so astounding.
“Spread your legs,” he said, and she did, letting him touch her without touching her.
And then, before she was ready, before she saw it
coming, the world exploded, and she arched back against his arm, trusting him to keep her upright. Her chest heaved as she struggled to catch her breath.
“That looked like it felt nice.” His soft voice tickled her ear.
She opened her eyes and found him smiling at her, the look of pure male satisfaction unmistakable. “That was…amazing.”
“Glad you liked it.”
She licked her lips, sated, but still wanting more. “So, back to Maria’s now?”
“That’s my plan.” He rubbed the towel vigorously over his hair, then draped it across her shoulders.
“To whose room?” She asked the question boldly, but her stomach was turning somersaults. She wanted him in her bed—hell, she wanted him in her—but she wasn’t quite willing to beg for it.
She could read the answer from the look on his face—casual, devious, yet a little sad. “It’s still my game, sweetheart.”
His voice was firm, almost too firm, as if he were trying to convince himself as well as her. Her eyes welled, and she blinked back tears. Until now, she hadn’t fully fathomed the depths to which she’d wounded him. But she knew Ken, knew he wanted her, knew he was enjoying this time with her. But something—pride, anger, revenge—wouldn’t let him admit it.
“Ken?” She looked up at him, not certain what she wanted to say. “Whose room?” Her voice was too casual, and she was certain he could hear the tiny bit of hope in her tone.
For a moment she thought he would cave. She could see it in his eyes. Real desire. As much as she did, he wanted to ditch his plan, take her to his room, and make love to her until they were too tired to do anything but phone room service. The thought made her tremble, and she fisted her hands, hoping he’d give in to desire.
But then she saw his resolve fall back into place, and she knew it would be another lonely night. She wanted him, he wanted her. But he’d fight it forever.
Damn.
“Ken?” she asked, sure she already knew the answer.
He nodded. “Our separate rooms.”
Her lips pressed together, and she considered the wisdom of arguing. Throwing caution to the wind, she stared him in the eye. “You can’t hold out much longer. You want me. And I’m going to be just one narrow hallway away.”
“I’ve resisted temptation before.”
“You remember I sleep in the nude.”
He swallowed, and she chalked up one point for her on her mental scoreboard. “Well, that should give me something to think about until tomorrow night.”
She quirked a brow. “Tomorrow?”
“Our next date.”
She nodded. Of course. Another night of exquisite torment.
He moved closer and she could smell the lingering scent of the ocean on his body. “And, sweetheart, about tomorrow?”
She nodded, her mouth dry, her body tingling. “Yes?”
“Wear that damn red dress.”
11
“YOU SON OF A BITCH!” Alicia shouted the second Ken stepped through the doors.
She’d been waiting for him just inside the restaurant all morning, her fury building with every second that ticked by.
“Good morning to you, too.” He stepped past her, barely sparing her a glance, and that infuriated her even more.
She moved sideways, blocking his path.
With a sigh, he stopped, rubbing his hands over red, tired eyes.
“Long night with the little whore?”
Immediately he tensed. Good. Maybe her guess wasn’t far off base.
“What do you want, Alicia?” Ice laced his voice, and she shivered, her nerve temporarily fading.
No. Straightening her shoulders, she pulled herself up to her full height—five foot ten in heels—and looked him in the eyes. “I want to know why I can’t film one tiny segment of a talk show in your precious restaurant, but some bimbo from New York flits down here and you offer her the entire place on a silver platter.”
“Who have you been talking to, Alicia?”
“I’m a reporter, remember? I never reveal my sources.”
Suspicion flashed in those Paul Newman eyes. “Dammit, Alicia, what the hell have you heard?”
“Come off it, Harper. Don’t play innocent with me. I know all about your arrangement with the little whore.”
“Watch yourself, Alicia.” His voice was firm, but his smile was a little too tight, and she knew she’d hit a nerve. Despite her initial fury, she’d never really pegged Ken as the type to go all gaga over a woman who offered herself up as part of a business trade, but considering his frosty reaction, she wondered if that wasn’t exactly the case.
The possibility was intriguing, and it certainly had the kind of prurient appeal that attracted viewers. If she could nail Harper on this, Gavin would be thrilled.
After a second he turned away, heading for the kitchen with her on his heels.
“No comment, Kenny?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She reached out and grabbed his elbow, stopping him before he disappeared into the kitchen. “Then let me refresh your memory. Winston Miller. Movie. Blond bimbette who struck a tidy little deal with you.”
Once again his face was calm, almost passive, and she realized why he’d done so well in the business world. The man could be ice when he needed to be.
A muscle twitched in his cheek. “We don’t have anything to talk about, Alicia. I think maybe it’s time for you to go.”
“Nothing to talk about? I think sex for services sounds like a hell of a story.” She held her hand out in front of her face, ostensibly checking her nails. “Just the kind of thing that pulls in those killer ratings.”
“There’s no story, Alicia.”
“On that, we’ll have to agree to disagree.”
A flash of anger marred his features. “You publish one disparaging thing about me or Lisa Neal, and you’ll regret the day you met me.”
“Touchy, touchy.” And interesting. She’d known Ken for about a year, and she’d never seen him quite this worked up before.
“I mean it, Alicia. Watch yourself.” With that he headed into the kitchen, leaving her standing in the dining room staring after him.
She’d watch herself, all right. If there was one thing Alicia was good at, it was making sure her ducks were in a row. And she was absolutely certain there was something up with Ken and the lovely Lisa Neal.
And she intended to find out exactly what that was, even if she had to follow them for a week to do it.
KEN WATCHED HER LEAVE, not relaxing until he was certain she’d left the building. Then he dropped into the nearest chair and rested his head on the table. Dammit all to hell. He’d gone and suggested this foolhardy sex-for-revenge scheme to get Lisa out of his system, and all he’d done was put her in jeopardy.
He banged his fist against the table, wishing he didn’t care. Wishing he could take it all back. Hell, wishing he could stop. But they’d gone too far, and he wanted to see it through.
Besides, he wasn’t certain Alicia had proof. More likely she was grasping at straws. Only two people knew the full nature of his arrangement with Lisa, and that was him and Lisa. He hadn’t said anything…and he couldn’t believe Lisa would.
She’d already been embroiled in a drug scandal. Surely she wouldn’t have told Winston his exact conditions for opening the restaurant to the crew. She wouldn’t risk a sex scandal. Not in Hollywood, where sex sells and the tabloids know it. No, more likely she told Winston that Oxygen was locked in—and Alicia had got wind and jumped to her own conclusions.
And that meant two things to Ken. One, he had a grasping, spurned reporter to deal with. And two, Lisa really did intend to see their deal through to the end.
The second idea thrilled him. The first concerned him. Because an hour ago, Alicia’d only had a theory. But there’d been a look of triumph in her eyes when he’d flinched. Which meant she now thought she was hot on the trail of a story.
He’d have to make s
ure he watched his back—and Lisa’s. The last thing either of them needed was a pissed-off reporter breathing down their necks.
“I CAN’T GET A HANDLE on what he wants.” Lisa sipped her Starbucks latte and eyed Greg’s reflection in the storefront window they were peering through. She’d just finished giving him a rundown of the last two nights with Ken, and she was hoping for brilliant insight. Or at least a shoulder to cry on. “He’s driving me insane.”
“What do you think he wants?”
She turned, looking at him instead of his image. “I think he wants me. But he seems determined to not have me.”
“Punishment?”
She shrugged. “Seems so. And let me tell you, it’s working.”
“Getting a little frustrated, are we?”
“I don’t know about we, but I’m about to go out of my mind.”
“I guess he’s giving your libido a run for its money,” he said, moving down Rodeo drive to the next extremely fashionable and extremely overpriced boutique.
She fell in beside him. “That’s the understatement of the year.”
“Is it?” His tone was more inquisitive than playful, and held just a hint of challenge.
She stopped, then waited for him to notice and turn to face her. “What do you mean?”
His face was all innocence. “I don’t mean a thing. I’m just wondering if it’s really just your libido.”
Scowling, she pushed her sunglasses higher up on her nose, then started walking again. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He matched her step for step. “Maybe it’s not just your libido. Maybe there’s still something between the two of you.”
Her immediate reaction was to deny it. Loudly. Emphatically. But she couldn’t, and she ended up shrugging, not sure she was comfortable examining the roller coaster of emotions she’d been experiencing these past few days with Ken.
“Lisa…” he prodded, probably reading her mind.
“It’s just…I don’t know. I guess I went into this thinking I’d simply do whatever Ken wanted. You know, anything for the cause and all that. Whatever it takes to get a crew into Oxygen.”
