Stark Naked

by Desiree Holt

  “Jay said you could have all the help you needed,” he reminded her.

  “Secondly,” she went on as if he hadn’t spoken, “you can have your pick of any woman in Texas. Why can’t you just cross me off the list and move on to the next one?”

  His laugh was low and hit her like smoke curling in her belly. “Maybe I don’t want anyone else, Reenie.” He reached out and stroked her cheek. “Maybe I want the fire I see and feel in you. We connected. We’re good together. Don’t deny it.”

  “You see me as a challenge,” she told him. “That’s all. Forget me and move along to the next name on your list. If Saturday was any indication, that list is endless.”

  “Reenie, Reenie, Reenie.” He shook his head. “You wound me. I think we just got off to a bad start here. My fault,” he admitted as she opened her mouth. “But we’ve got something going here. Don’t you want to see where it takes us?”

  “I know where it will take me,” she told him. “In the discard pile. And I have no intention of putting myself in that position.”

  He leaned close to her. “I think you’re afraid.” His voice was low and smoky. “I think you know how good we could be together and it scares the pants off you.”

  She slid her chair back, needing space. The moment he got this near to her body her sanity fled and her body started screaming for him. “Not even close. I’m just being sensible. There’s nothing between us at all.”

  Liar.

  “Prove it.” He pushed out of his chair and settled his Stetson on his head. “Come out to the ranch Sunday.”

  Reenie shook her head. “Not a good idea.”

  “You need to have a good look at where the fundraiser’s being held, right? Otherwise how will you know what kind of pictures to use on the website or what kind of arrangements to make?” He touched her lips with the tip of one finger. “Scared of me, Reenie? Or yourself?”

  Both. Yes. No. Damn it.

  “Neither. I can always just picture you naked and passed out on the floor.”

  “Oh, darlin’.” He gave her that lethal wink. “I’d love for you to see me naked all the time. And vice versa.” He walked to the door, opened it. “One o’clock. I’ll give you the special tour.”

  Before she could say another word he was gone.

  Well, hell.

  She tossed her pencil on the table and shut down her laptop just as Jay walked into the room.

  “Get everything settled?” he asked.

  “No problem.” She gathered her things together, piling them on top of the laptop.

  He studied her face carefully. “I was under the impression you and Stark are friends. Is there some problem I need to know about?”

  Yes. No.

  “Not at all. Actually it’s his sister I’m close to. Things are fine. Good. Wonderful.”

  And I can’t afford to lose this job after I dumped my old life to start over again here.

  “Good. That’s good. Because he gave us a big fat retainer and we’ll not only get a huge fee out of this but a lot of referrals if the event goes well.” He paused. “Make sure it goes well, Reenie.”

  She swallowed. “I will. Of course.”

  “Good. Put everything together in an outline. The event is four months away. I’ll call a staff meeting next week so you can present the project. I’ll make sure everyone knows who’s running the show.”

  Great. Just fucking great.

  She had never been so glad to have a day end. Staying calm with Matt Stark’s electric presence so close to her took all the willpower she had and then some. What was it with her that she kept falling for men who were poison to her?

  Wait a minute, falling for him? Not in this lifetime.

  Liar, liar, pants on fire.

  How had this happened anyway? Dealing with men like Matt and good old Double A took more energy than she wanted to expend. The sex was always great, but damn, they just insisted on spreading it around. Hadn’t any of them ever heard of monogamy? Were the only faithful men the boring ones? She just couldn’t go through the same kind of garbage again like she’d experienced with Asshole Aaron. She’d believed in him. In them. And it had all blown apart when she found him with not one, but two other women in their bed, of all places. On a weekend she was supposed to be away.

  And of course, to top it all off, he’d been banging their boss on the side and managed to sabotage her projects at the agency.

  Well, okay, she was done with that. She’d button on her professional armor, get through this fiasco with Matt and then insist Amy come to San Antonio if she wanted to see her.

  She probably should have eaten, but food held no appeal for her. A hot bath worked out the knots of tension the day had created, helped along with two very nice glasses of a special chardonnay she’d been saving. Finally, soothed and relaxed, she fell into bed.

  “Reenie? Reenie, wake up.”

  It was Matt’s voice, deep and warm like melted butter.

  “Hmm? What?”

  She opened her eyes to see him leaning over her, his naked, hair-roughened chest gleaming in the soft light from the bedside lamp.

  “Matt?”

  “Uh huh. You don’t want to sleep through this, do you?”

  His mouth brushed against her, soft as the kiss of a butterfly. Just the way he’d kissed her before. His scent surrounded her, something outdoorsy and very masculine. Heat seeped through her, warming her blood and making her toes curl. She wriggled against him, loving the feel of his big, hard-muscled body against her, the pressure of his thigh against her leg. And most of all the hard thickness of his swollen cock.

  “You’re so soft,” he murmured, nibbling at her earlobe.

  She shivered when his tongue traced the inner shell of her ear.

  Her hands came up to thread through the thick black silk of his hair, gripping his head as he moved his mouth slowly along her jaw line, down her throat to the hollow where her pulse beat fiercely. He pressed his tongue to the pulse then trailed it down between her breasts until he reached one swollen nipple. He circled it carefully with his tongue, round and round, while her breasts grew heavy and full.

  Reenie tried to hold his head in place but he laughed softly against her skin and moved his mouth to the other nipple, giving it the same meticulous treatment. When he nipped at her with his teeth, electricity crackled through her, sparking along her skin and firing every nerve in her throbbing cunt.

  “More,” she whispered. “Please.”

  “Not so fast.” His voice vibrated against her. “I want to go slow this time.”

  And despite her pleading, that was exactly what he did. He paid careful attention to every inch of her skin, the mounds of her breasts, the line of her ribs. The indentation of her navel which he traced over and over with the tip of his tongue.

  When he moved his mouth down her tummy she arched up to him, silently pleading with him to go lower, lower.

  He laughed softly. “Slow, remember? God, your skin is like the softest satin. I could spend hours every day just licking you all over.”

  His words as much as his actions were arousing her, drawing erotic images in her brain. She moved her hands over his powerful shoulders and down his back, loving the play of muscle beneath taut skin. As he moved down her body she felt the slide of his erection, now pressing against her leg like a burning rod.

  His hands were everywhere now, his mouth following their path along the crease of her hip, the length of her thighs, down one leg and up the other. Hungry, needy, she cupped her own breasts and pinched her nipples, desperate to ease the ache there. If only he could touch her everywhere at once.

  His hands slid beneath her ass, cupping the cheeks, spreading them slightly so his fingers slid into the crevice between them. Fingertips teased at the tight ring of sphincter muscle, driving the lust uncurling low in her belly upward with the force of a cyclone. A hoarse cry ripped from her throat as he gently probed and pushed.

  “Feel good, darlin’? You feel good to
me, I’ll tell you that.”

  She let her legs fall wide, welcoming his attention, and he didn’t disappoint. His mouth fastened on the lips of her pussy like a heat-seeking missile, sucking the tender flesh and pulling it into his mouth. When he feasted on every inch of her labia he thrust his tongue inside her wet channel, gathering the cream she could feel there waiting for him before returning his attention to her clit.

  One large hand slipped around to allow him to thrust his fingers inside her while his mouth returned to her clit, his tongue tracing heated circles around it over and over. He found just the right rhythm for her between his tongue and his fingers, slow and steady when she wanted him to rush, to hurry. Go faster, faster. But he wouldn’t be hurried, instead slowing down before increasing the pace again.

  She could feel the orgasm building inside her, rising like a curling wave in the ocean until her entire body began to shake with the force of it. When she finally exploded he rode her through it, murmuring to her, his wickedly clever mouth and fingers knowing just where to touch and stroke.

  She had barely caught her breath before he began driving her up the spiral again, touching her in all the right places, whispering erotic things to her. But this time when she climbed to the crest he was there, ready, and pushed his hot length inside her.

  Ohgodohgodohgod.

  Her entire body shuddered. She threw her legs around him, pulling him deep inside her body, pushing her hips up to him. Deeper, deeper, she wanted to shout.

  But then his body tensed as hers did and they fell into space together. Tumbling, whirling, shaking with the force of the shared climax. He shouted her name as his cock flexed inside her again and again. Reenie clung to him, seeking an anchor in the erotic, sensual storm.

  “Matt!” she cried. “Matt! Matt!”

  “Matt!”

  Reenie sat upright, eyes wide open, heart thundering, body covered with a fine sheen of perspiration. What the hell had just happened here? She felt sore everywhere—her breasts, between her thighs, even her ass. And she realized instantly what had happened. She’d just had the erotic dream of her life and it left her totally shaken.

  When she could breathe evenly, she swung her legs out of bed and hurried into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She leaned against the tile wall, letting the hot stream of water beat down on her, but nothing could wash away the memory of that dream now burned into her memory.

  Ohmygod! I am in such big trouble.

  Chapter Five

  Matt thought the week would never end. He tired himself out as much as possible, moving the calves to a new pasture, riding fence with the men, repairing a stretch of pipe that carried water to the cattle. Each night he stomped in the house, dusty and tired, swallowed his dinner and fell into bed. But as busy as he was, still each day dragged by.

  Lying in bed at night, trying to will himself to sleep, instead he replayed every minute he’d spent with Reenie over and over like a video caught in a perpetual loop. Agonized over it. Chewed on it like a dog with an old piece of rawhide. And he wondered just when what he felt had turned into… Well, whatever it had turned into.

  He was still mortified by his performance in front of both Amy and Reenie that first night. Embarrassing Amy that way was unforgiveable. And totally unlike him. He was, after all, a respectable businessman, a rancher with a reputation in the community. Oh, sure, he played hard, and was fortunate enough to pretty much have his pick of women. But he prided himself on always being in control. Always. All the time.

  But that deal he’d sealed had been a real biggie. He’d had a few drinks with the buyers, then run into a couple of people he knew and had a few more. He should have taken time to eat dinner, but he’d been having too good a time and the hours had just slipped away. He was just damn grateful he’d had sense enough to talk one of the hands into a ride home.

  What an ass. No wonder she keeps pushing me away.

  But he hadn’t imagined the combustible heat that exploded between them last Saturday. She’d been just as aroused as he was, and it wasn’t just Saturday afternoon play time. Something very intense had happened between them. Matt had more than his share of experience to make comparisons, but he’d never, ever, had a sexual experience like the one with Reenie.

  Just remembering it made him hard as a rock, painfully so. When even cold showers didn’t help, he found himself lying in bed stroking himself to completion, something he hadn’t done since he was sixteen.

  But holy fuck, he could still feel the wet walls of the delicious pussy tightening around him. Still roll the taste of her around on his tongue. A flavor that made the alcohol he’d swallowed last week pale in comparison. He wanted to stroke her skin again, cup those warm breasts in his hands. Tease those sweet nipples until they grew and swelled and hardened and he could lick and nip at them.

  Jesus! I’m doing it to myself again.

  The problem was he couldn’t seem to get past that damned first impression. It wasn’t that Reenie was a prude whose sensibilities had been shocked. Far from it. She was a very sexy woman with a good brain, a smart mouth, and a chip on her shoulder bigger than his prize Angus bull. Someone had done a real number on her, bad enough to send her hightailing it from California to Texas. Matt wished he had five minutes alone with the jerk, whoever he was.

  But that wouldn’t solve the problem. He thought he’d been pretty tricky hiring Orion for the big fundraiser and maneuvering Reenie into being in charge. At least it would give him enough contact with her to break down some of those walls she was so good at erecting. But it would be a challenge and he couldn’t afford to make a mistake.

  By the time Sunday rolled around he was more nervous than he’d been asking Raelene Johnson to his senior prom.

  “Wow!” Amy lifted an eyebrow when he walked into the kitchen. “I didn’t know we were having company today.”

  Matt filled a coffee mug and took a slow sip. He deliberately hadn’t mentioned Reenie’s visit to his sister. “What makes you say that?”

  “Could the fact that Sundays you usually hang around the house in sweats and an old T-shirt but today you’re spiffed up have something to do with it?”

  “Just trying to look decent.” He turned away from her so she couldn’t read his expression. Amy was too good at that. “Anyway, I’m having company, not you.”

  “Excuse me? Explain yourself please.”

  “Reenie might be stopping over this afternoon,” he mumbled.

  “What?” She walked around to stand in front of him. “My friend is coming here and you didn’t tell me? Anyway, I was pretty sure after your spectacular display last weekend she’d never show up here again. So how did this happen? And how come I’m just now finding out about it?”

  “Because she’s my guest, not yours.” He took another swallow of his coffee. “And I’d really appreciate it if you’d find someplace else to be.”

  “Wait a minute. Wait just a damn minute here.” Amy reached over and set her mug on the counter. “Look at me, Matthew. I want to know what’s going on here, and I want an answer right this minute.”

  He tried on a smile. “What’s the matter? Don’t you trust me with your friend?”

  “No, as a matter of fact. Especially not after what happened. So give, or I’m planting myself on the front porch.” She snapped her fingers. “Wait. You never did tell me what happened when you went to apologize to her. And she’s been avoiding me all week. So let’s have it. Right now.”

  Matt sighed. He loved Amy. They’d always been very close. Running the ranch together had made them even closer. But he was walking a high wire here and he really, really didn’t want Amy around watching him maybe make a fool of himself. Or telling Reenie what a bad choice he might be.

  “Listen. I’m going to ask a huge favor here.”

  Amy burst out laughing. “This must be very good. Begging doesn’t come easily for you. What do you want?”

  “I want you to listen to me and not interrupt. Please. And then m
ake yourself scarce.”

  She hitched herself up on a stool at the island counter and picked up her coffee again. “Okay. My curiosity’s got the best of me. Talk.”

  Matt went to stand at the kitchen window and stared out at the horses playing in the corral, something to keep himself calm while he spit out his words. As briefly as possible he told her about hiring Reenie for the barbecue, making the arrangements with Orion and signing the contract.

  “Without talking to me?” Her surprise was evident.

  “Yes, and I apologize. I know how hard you work on this every year and I had no business making a decision like this without you. But Amy, I want to handle this with Reenie myself.” He turned to look at her. “Please.”

  She stared at him and her mouth turned up in a slow smile. “My God, you actually bit the big one, didn’t you? And with Reenie Davenport, of all people.”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Yes, you do. I don’t know what happened last Saturday but if I had to make a guess, I’d say you’ve fallen way hard for Reenie Davenport. Oh my God.”

  “You’re wrong.” He gritted his teeth. “I just… I only…”

  “And I’ve never seen you at a loss for words before either. So let me guess. Reenie told you to go peddle your papers someplace else.” She threw her head back and laughed so hard tears rolled down her cheeks. “Oh, this is so good. The great playboy Matt Stark sniffing after a woman who won’t give him the time of day.”

  Oh, but she did. And it was the best time I’ve ever had. Now I have to convince her not to stop there.

  “Are you finished?” He gripped the mug so tight he wondered the handle didn’t break off in his hand.

  “Oh, oh, oh.” She swiped at her face with the back of her hand. “Pardon me, but I haven’t had such a good laugh in ages.”

  “Okay, okay. Enough.” He was holding himself together by a very worn thread and he needed to get Amy’s cooperation here. “Can we save the questionnaire for later? Can you just this one time do something for me because I ask you to?”