by Chloe Cole
She glanced out the window just in time to see him coming in from his truck, with his sports jacket on and a bouquet of tulips in his hand. As he made his way up the stone path, he smoothed his hair and checked his breath in a cupped palm. She grinned, her insides getting a little gooey.
He opened the door, flashing her a grin. “For you.” He held out an arm. “Ready to go?”
“Uh, where? I thought…” They’d struck a bargain, hadn’t they? Her cheeks burned. Had she misunderstood somehow? She frantically replayed their conversation in her head, eyeing her half-full wineglass on the table.
“What’d you think, I was just going to stretch you out on the bed and go to town?”
Actually…
He pinned her with his gaze. “This isn’t amateur hour, Doctor. I’m old and wise enough to know that seduction begins long before you hit the bedroom. Now let’s get out of here.”
Chapter Five
Half an hour later, they were seated at Zuppa De Mar, the best seafood eatery in town. It was only a few blocks from her house and the walk had been lovely. He’d held her hand the whole way, using his thumb to caress her wrist.
Their candlelit table was nestled in a little corner and Tuck had just ordered a bottle of champagne along with two orders of lobster sautéed in butter.
They drank the bubbly as they chatted about school and she told him about her family. He listened attentively as she talked and seemed genuinely interested.
One more point for Tucker Lamb.
She took another sip of the icy, crisp champagne then noticed he was watching her.
“Can I pull your chair closer?”
The husky tone in his voice triggered the memory of another question he’d asked in that same tone.
“Can I put my mouth on you?”
Even the recording had almost made her knees buckle. Imagine if he said it face to face in real life?
“Can I?”
She nodded dumbly and he dragged her chair closer to his.
“Put your foot up.” This time he sounded more commanding and her heart stuttered before it resumed pounding.
A thrill coursed through her as she glanced around the room. Surely no one could see them. Besides, there was a long cloth covering the table. She slipped off her heel and laid her foot on the cool leather of the seat across from her.
A moment later, her foot was encased in his big, warm grasp. At first he just squeezed lightly as they chatted, but as conversation wore on, he began to trace his finger lightly over her instep up to her sensitive ankle then back down again. She bit back a sigh of pleasure. He shifted to lay her foot on his thigh before he made his way up her calf, tracing her muscles, making shapes on her skin.
“Why don’t you come sit next to me?”
It wasn’t a question. His gaze burned into hers. Her nipples drew tight as she imagined what he would do once more of her was within his reach. She didn’t respond but stood to move beside him. He stood as well, shifting to allow her in.
She brushed past him and slid into the second large chair on his side of the table.
He sat beside her, laying his arm over the back of the seat, making small talk while absently caressing her shoulder. She tried to focus on what he was saying, but all she could think of was where he would touch her next. How far would he go here in public?
The waiter came back with their salads. As he placed hers on the table, Tuck’s warm hand closed over her knee and squeezed. She shot him a glance, but he appeared to be totally engrossed in what the waiter was saying about seasonal vegetables.
“It looks great,” Tuck said.
“Pepper?” the waiter asked her. She nodded.
Tuck’s hand trailed from her knee, slowly up her skirt, inching up her thigh. He delved inward, running his hand over the soft skin on her inner thigh.
“That’s good.” Her voice was husky and she cleared her throat.
The waiter ceased his pepper cracking and Tuck waved him off.
“I was talking about you, not the pepper.” she said to Tuck once the waiter was out of earshot.
“Yeah? I’m glad, but that’s cheating.” His tone was teasing and he didn’t stop the caress. His hand moved a little higher, a little bolder.
“I’m not telling you anything you didn’t know.”
He bent his head to her ear. “Open.”
Her whole body vibrated and she swallowed hard.
“Just a little, Cricket. Open those sleek thighs for me.”
She sucked in a breath and scanned the room again. No one was even looking at them.
Slowly she relaxed her muscles, letting her legs fall open a few inches.
Tuck let out a hiss. He traced his fingers over her inner thigh, up and down, like he was painting her. Her body shook from the tension as she waited. One finger traced the very edge of her panty line.
“God, I can feel your heat. Are you hot there, Cricket? Is your pussy hot for me?”
A rush of wetness flooded her core at his words and drenched the small patch of cotton on her undies. Jesus, she’d thought he was shy?
She turned her head and whispered, “Yes.”
His throat worked and his jaw tightened as he closed his eyes for an instant. “That’s so nice to hear.”
His movements were so slow and sinuous that she let out an audible gasp when he, quick as lightning, covered her pussy with his hand and squeezed. The pressure was too delicious, as a shock wave went from his hand to her heart and back again. She rode his palm, trying to ease the pressure building in her belly.
Her only focus was him and she couldn’t stop her shiver when he picked up his water glass and took a casual sip. His control was a turn on. It fueled her desire as much as the hand massaging her clit through her underwear did. He stroked and pressed and stroked some more. Ah, what she wouldn’t give to swing her leg over his thighs and ride him hard until the ache that was building swallowed her whole.
She closed her eyes and drew her legs together to savor his touch. Ready to let him—
“Oh, baby.” He pulled dislodged his hand and spoke low in her ear. “I want to win the bet, but not that easily.”
She barely held back a groan. He was killing her.
He didn’t look at her when he picked up his water again. He shot back the rest of the liquid before he shook the glass and dislodged an ice cube that slid neatly into his mouth. Easing it from between his teeth, he held it between two fingers. “Let’s put out some of that fire, then we can take our time building it back up again.”
His eyes never left hers as his hand disappeared under the table. Her heart banged against her ribs as she strained, poised for his touch. When it finally came, she couldn’t hold back the groan as she flexed her hips off the seat. The ice slid up the fiery skin of her thigh, then slipped beneath her underwear. He shifted to stroke it, long and slow over her slit. Up and down, the frosty cube spread, pushing her beyond reason until he leaned over and gave her earlobe a sexy tug between his teeth.
With his mouth pressed to her ear, he murmured, “I can’t wait until I can do this with my cock.” Then pressed the remainder of the ice cube deep into her pussy with one long finger.
The combination of ice and fire made her buck. Her muscles clenched and spasmed, so close to completion she could almost taste it.
“Feels good, doesn’t it, baby? Feels good to me too.” His nimble finger slid out, then back deep. Her body twitched, on the precipice.
“Again. Please, again.”
He ignored her plea but his casual façade slipped for a moment as she felt the shudder run through him. She was desperate for release and a flush of power overtook her when she realized that he was almost as affected as she was. Now to really even the playing field.
Without any warning, she reached out and covered his cock with her hand. He was thick and hard, his length pressed tight against the fly of his jeans. He froze and issued a muffled curse, halting the sensual assault between her legs.
&
nbsp; She stared at Tuck’s granite profile through lowered lashes as he struggled to maintain his cool. God, he was so fucking sexy.
Who the hell was this guy?
***
Tuck had been reduced to doing algebra equations in his head just to keep from embarrassing himself. Cricket’s hot little hand had closed over him like she was getting ready to wrestle an alligator. Firm, tight grip, just like he liked it. He wanted to pump his hips up and down until he exploded.
Which, at this rate, wouldn’t take long. Not the impression he was going for.
Regretfully, he pulled her hand from his aching cock. “We had a deal, Doc. We both know you can make me come. If that’s what you want to do later, believe me, I’m not going to stop you. But right now I’m trying to focus on you. So let me do that, okay?”
She nodded and lifted her hand back onto the table.
He nearly wept at the loss. He risked a glance at her then wished he hadn’t. The pink cheeks, the parted lips, her ripe breasts rising and falling with each quick, shallow breath. If she was any hotter she’d burn the place to the ground.
He steeled himself then dipped his finger into her molten heat again. His pulse thundered as he tried to quell the urge to take her over the edge right there…to fuck her with his finger until she screamed. Could she hear his heart pounding? Shit, who was he kidding? At this rate, he’d be lucky if she couldn’t hear his cock pounding.
He shifted in his seat, trying to make room in his jeans, then slipped in a second finger. Her breath came out in a rush as her pussy clenched over him. Tight heat sucked at his fingers as he withdrew and began to rub her plump clit in slow, soft circles.
She began to pant and blood rushed to his ears, mercifully blocking out the sexy sound before it before it drove him over the line between sanity and madness.
Like a slingshot, she jerked back. Her hand scrabbled at his and she gripped his wrist. He stilled as he met her gaze, noting the panicked expression. A shadow fell across the tabletop as the waiter stood with dinner plates in hand.
“Here we are. Lobster sautéed in butter. One with broccoli, the other with asparagus.”
He set the plates down and gave them a blank smile. “Anything else I can get for you?”
“No, thanks.”
When they were alone again Cricket carefully straightened, retracting from his touch. He trailed a still-damp finger down her thigh before righting her skirt. He reached for his plate and pulled it closer, hoping like hell she wasn’t furious with him for almost letting them get caught. He’d been so focused and in the moment, he hadn’t even heard the server’s approach.
“Looks good,” he said, with forced enthusiasm.
“It does.”
He dared a glance. Her eyes were still unfocused, glassy with need.
Excellent.
She took a gulp of champagne before pulling her plate close. She didn’t pick up her fork. Instead she plucked a morsel of lobster meat, shiny with butter, between her thumb and forefinger. “You want?”
The husky rasp of her voice scraped over his frayed nerves, stretching his already tenuous control even further. “Oh yeah.”
She raised the meat to his mouth and he took it gently from her fingers, sucking the salty butter from her skin.
“Mmm.” The low, purring moan came from Cricket and it took all his will not to press her back into her chair and take what he needed.
“Your turn.” He pulled the most tender looking chunk from the shallow dish and held it an inch from her mouth. She tipped her head toward him and ate from his hand, licking the butter from his thumb. Her full lips were shiny with it and a single drop ran to her chin. She caught it with the tip of her tongue and an image of her catching a drop of moisture from the head of his cock that way flashed through his mind.
How the hell was he going to make it through the rest of the meal?
Fuck it. He wasn’t.
He’d taken a lot of risks so far with this woman and they’d all paid off. He was going to roll the dice one more time. “Go to the ladies room at the back of the restaurant.”
Her startled eyes met his.
“Now.” He’d added a sharp edge to his voice and watched her response carefully.
The pulse in her throat fluttered and she moved to stand. He kept his napkin over his lap as he rose to let her by. She didn’t look back as she walked away.
Tuck waited a minute before he motioned to the waiter. “Can you bag this up? My wife’s not feeling well.” He slipped five twenties on the table before following the path Cricket had taken only minutes before.
He reached the entrance to the bathroom and paused before knocking softly. “Honey, feeling okay in there?”
A soft chuckle came from the other side and he smiled. He opened the door and stepped in. Muzac piped in from the dining room echoed around him. There were five internal bathrooms, all empty save for one. He moved toward the closed door and pushed it open.
There she was. Cricket, standing in the stall, hair loose around her shoulders, eyes shining as she waited.
For him.
He shut the door behind him and faced her. “I have never wanted anything as much as I want you right now.”
“Then take me,” she murmured, standing on tiptoe to lean into him.
He slid his hands down to cup her ass, dragging her even closer. She gasped as his hard cock met her soft belly.
He started to speak, but trailed off as she tipped her head to nip his chin…trailing her lips down to the pulse beating like a jackhammer in his neck. His skin sizzled at the touch and he growled low in his throat. “Uh-uh. This is supposed to be about you, Cricket.”
He pressed her back to her flat feet then grasped her slim wrists in one hand, holding them above her head. He stepped forward, pinning her to the wall. Stealing under her blouse, he caressed the skin of her stomach and slowly moved upward. She moaned and arched her back, straining toward him.
With one finger, he traced the very edge of her lacy bra and she groaned. “Come on, Tuck, please.”
He covered her full, straining breast, flicking the hard nipple with his thumb. She stiffened, trembling and his cock leapt at her response.
“I’m ready, don’t do this. I’m ready now,” she said, sweet desperation coloring her voice.
She was right. They didn’t have a lot of time in any case. He slid away from her breast, down her slightly rounded belly to her legs. When he reached the hem of her skirt, he flipped it up then cupped her pussy. She writhed against his hand, begging him without words for more.
He complied, squeezing and kneading her. He gripped the satin underwear keeping him from her slick heat and yanked hard, pleased when they came away in his hand.
“I almost came in my pants at the table when I touched your pussy for the first time. You were so wet, so hot.”
He plunged two fingers into her and she cried out. Wet silk. He steeled himself against the sensation, trying to imagine something other than how it would feel working his cock. He pulled back and pressed his fingers deep again.
“Oh God. Jesus, Tuck. I’m going to come like this.”
Blood rushed to his head and he knew if she said another word he was going to explode. He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his as he finger fucked her in earnest.
He swallowed her cries as she arched and pulsed against him, urging him on. Her movements became frantic and her body stiffened.
The sound of the bathroom door opening echoed through the room.
Cricket struggled against his wrist, but he didn’t let go. She tried to close her thighs, but he shoved them apart with his knee. The water began to run, the sound barely discernible over the music playing. The stall doors went to the floor so no one had to know they were there, as long as they were quiet. Still, Cricket’s panicked eyes met his and he released her lips, pressing his close to her ear.
“Don’t make me stop, baby,” he whispered. “I want to make you come here, with people bus
tling right outside the door. They’ll never know,” he reassured her.
He paused as the door a few stalls down closed with a click. “Except maybe one guy. The one at the bar who watched you walk in here. Maybe he’ll know. He’s probably hard as a rock thinking about touching you the way I am right now.”
She’d stopped struggling. He took that as a good sign and traced her slit with his finger, playing over her clit before thrusting deep again. She moaned and he kissed her, nipping her plump bottom lip before rubbing his tongue against hers. In and out, he fucked her with his fingers, plunging deeper and faster as her body tightened. Her back bowed taut and she sucked his tongue hard as she worked her hips in time with his thrusts.
The bathroom door opened and closed and then everything stopped as Cricket snapped. His world became a pinprick and she was the focus.
He swallowed her muffled scream as she crashed over him. His cock bucked in his pants, weeping and twitching as her pussy clenched tight over his fingers again and again. In the violence of her orgasm, she garnered the strength to break her wrists free of their imprisonment. She reached for his fly and yanked it open before he could even protest. She tore her mouth from his and took a long, shuddering breath. “Jesus, you win. You fucking win. Now fuck me.”
An instant later, her hot little hand closed over his swollen dick and he saw stars.
“Oh, that’s nice,” she hissed. “I can’t wait to feel you inside me, Tuck. Fuck me.”
He grabbed her greedy hand in his and held her still, trying with all his might not to pump his hips and regain the sweet friction. If she asked him again, he’d be lost.
“I can’t.” The words sounded guttural to his own ears, like they’d been dragged out of him. And they had.
She tilted her head, uncomprehending.
“No condom.” He hadn’t really thought he’d need one in the restaurant, so he’d left them in his glove compartment back at her house. Idiot.
Her confusion faded and was replaced with a sly smile. She pushed herself away from the wall and put a hand to his chest, pressing him back.
