Persuasion

by Violetta Rand

  He sucked on her tongue, aching to be inside her. “Feel that?” he asked, grinding his hips, introducing her to his dick. It pulsed with need. “Forget all the social niceties you’re accustomed to. What matters is how we respond to each other.”

  She tried to say something, but he silenced her with another invasion, his tongue seeking hers, winning her full submission. Her tiny hands slid up his arms, looking for something to hold on to. If he acted on instinct, he’d shove her hand between his legs.

  Her sweet scent went straight to his dick, and he nipped her flesh hard. She whimpered and he did it again, then licked a trail all the way to her earlobe. When his teeth latched on to the tender, soft flesh behind her ear, her legs turned to jelly.

  He braced her with one hand, the other wandering up her thigh. “I could take you right here, fuck you so hard I’d make you scream.”

  Passion rode hard inside him. He’d promised to protect her, but not against himself. Not against nature. Not against what raged between his legs. No woman had ever achieved what she had—giving him an erection from a handshake. In spite of all the purist bullshit spewing out of her mouth tonight, her eyes begged for sex.

  “Do you sleep with pass-arounds?” she asked out of the blue.

  The question shocked him back to reality. The beast inside retreated, and he completely shut down. She hadn’t been shy about anything else tonight, and if that’s what she really wanted to know, who was he to deny her? “No. Never been my thing. I prefer my women with a little less baggage.”

  Her features softened, maybe a sign she appreciated his answer. “I’ll remember that.”

  You do that, sweetheart. He still wanted to take her home. “Want to see the clubhouse tonight?” Sure she wasn’t the kind of woman to say yes, he still wanted to play the game—see how far he could get her to go.

  She looked around like she’d just discovered Oz for the first time. “Another pleasant surprise.”

  With her vivid imagination, he couldn’t guess what she expected. “What?”

  “I thought you were different. But a tiny part of me knew you’d be like every other guy.”

  He snorted, then crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m beginning to think you came here under false pretenses.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “What gave you that impression?”

  “Your reaction to me. Were you really expecting something different? Or is all this an act so you have something to brag about to your friends?” It came out more accusatory than he intended.

  She stared at the ground. “We can’t…” She huffed. “We can’t have sex.”

  He clapped his hands. “Congrats, you figured it out.” The thought of her naked and writhing underneath him—yeah, it appealed to him. “That’s the general idea after two people kiss like we did.”

  Embarrassment stained her cheeks. How long had it been since he’d seen a woman blush? Fuck. If she wanted meaningful conversation, she wouldn’t be here with him. “So why are you here?”

  “Curiosity,” she said.

  “That’s your excuse?” It disappointed him. Lily had given off a completely different vibe inside the club. What had happened to the gregarious woman with the sassy mouth? The one he expected to be sucking him off by now? “I think it’s past your bedtime, little girl.” Nothing more than a cute distraction for a few hours. Time to wrap up this charade, get her in a cab, and send her back to whatever perfect world she came from.

  Lily frowned. “And I thought we were going to be friends.”

  Lang shook his head, then sat on the edge of the truck. “I like you, Lily. The way that dress hugs your curves makes it impossible for me not to. And after that kiss…” Love at first taste? If it meant he could fuck her mouth all night, then yeah. Men and women weren’t friends in his world; one was always subordinate to the other. “I’m all friended out, sweetheart.”

  She pouted, her bottom lip tempting him to take another bite. He could see the wheels spinning behind her dark eyes.

  He climbed to his feet. “Disappointed I’m a real man?” He dug the key to the truck out of his front pocket, then opened the passenger door.

  “Whatever you may think about me, I came here with good intentions. To experience something different. And out of gratitude.”

  Gratitude? What the fuck did that mean? “Wish you hadn’t chosen that word.”

  She stared at him for a long minute. “Why?”

  “You should go, Lily.”

  “Thank you for rescuing me tonight. And for the kiss…”

  He needed a goddamned shot and reached for the bottle of Jack Daniels stashed underneath the seat. Twisting the cap off, he flicked it across the cab, then lifted the bottle to his mouth. He drank deep, wiping his lips dry with the back of his hand. “Want some?”

  “No.” She fished her cell out of her purse, then punched a few buttons. “Please send a cab to Tito’s downtown. Yes, twenty minutes is fine.” She disconnected. “Will you escort me back to the bar so I can let Tina know we’re leaving?”

  Out of sight, out of mind. Only women who didn’t challenge his authority belonged in his world.

  Chapter 6

  The closest Lily had ever come to love outside her family? Niko, a waiter she’d met in a restaurant near Pittsburgh, where she’d attended college. But the romance between them never flourished. After a month of dating, he tried to seduce her. And when she asked for more time, he dumped her.

  There’d been other men recently. A grad student from San Francisco her mother’s best friend set her up with last summer. And Patrick, a teacher at the high school she worked at in Philly. Like her favorite batter on the Phillies on a bad day, she’d struck out. Or in Tina’s world—a loser’s hat trick. She didn’t get any points for her monumental failures.

  Life was about giving, not taking. She’d majored in youth counseling, hoping to eventually work as a juvenile probation officer. Too many disadvantaged kids fell through the cracks, and she knew, even witnessed, that early intervention could change a teenager’s life. After spending a semester training in the college counseling center, she was hooked.

  Giving back—that’s what she’d do. And maybe someday, if she was lucky enough, she’d find love with a man as honorable and responsible as her father had been before the affair. Not hot guys like Niko who only wanted her body. Not a man she picked up in a bar in downtown Corpus.

  Tina shook her head for what felt like forever after Lily explained what happened between her and Lang.

  “He what?” Tina made her I-don’t-believe-it face.

  “He doesn’t hang out with women. In fact, he said he’s all friended out.” Those words struck her the most—and the panty-melting kiss. That nearly made her faint.

  “Screw him.” Tina faced forward again. “And everything else he said. Medieval-thinking bastard. At least Vincent gave me his phone number—we have a standing rematch at darts. He’s good.”

  “I’m glad you enjoyed yourself.” Envious her best friend could make any situation fun, Lily wondered why she always ended up with duds. Men who were commitment-phobic or came on too strong. Never a middle-ground, laid-back Vincent type. “Is it me?” she asked, doubting herself again.

  She stared out the cab window, only minutes from the sanctity of home. The best place for her until she recovered from the shock of her parents’ divorce and now Lang. He’d set her back a couple weeks—fucked with her mind on every level. Heated her insides to a molten mess. “Maybe I need a personality transplant.”

  “Stop beating yourself up,” Tina said. “You intimidated the hell out of that guy. Trust me. If he prefers mindless sluts who spread their legs for everyone, so be it. You deserve better.”

  Lily hunched her shoulders. “Ouch—a little harsh, don’t you think?”

  “Do you feel pity for Lang? Is he subjected to the same sexism?”

  “Of course not, he’s a man in a man’s world.”

  “I rest my case.”

  Best s
olution, forget him.

  Right.

  The cab pulled through the complex’s security gates, then parked in front of their buildings. Lily paid the driver and walked Tina to her door.

  “Sorry about the drama.”

  Tina shook her head. “How many times did you say that tonight?”

  “A couple.”

  “Stop it. You’re human and only get to walk on water in January, like the rest of us.”

  And that’s why she loved Tina. They both had a good laugh.

  “Okay—I promise I’ll work on it. No more apologies for being who I am.”

  “You’re allowed to flirt with bad boys. Okay—a serious bad boy. You’re not in Philly anymore—no more snob hill theater thumpers or coffeehouse rats to contend with. We’re in Texas—anything goes.”

  Lily hugged her. “Cup of tea?”

  “Of course, I need to tell you about Vincent.”

  Seated together on the couch a few minutes later, Lily sipped her lemon zinger herbal tea and listened to her best friend rattle on.

  “Two marriages and he’s only twenty-seven. Did I mention two sons from his second wife?”

  “People make mistakes,” Lily said.

  “That’s one too many for me—but I like him.”

  Tina reminded her of a bumblebee buzzing around whatever flower caught her attention at the moment. When something better came along, she’d fly after it. “Are you going to call him?”

  “Yes.”

  “So I sense you’re willing to forget his mistakes.”

  “For a face and body like that? I’d overlook a lot of things.”

  “Does he have a good personality to go with his nice ass?” Lily asked.

  “Noticed that too?” Tina grinned. “I want to touch it.” She grabbed air with both hands.

  “You didn’t answer my other question.”

  “Yes, he’s very nice and works at a bank—accounts manager or something like that.”

  “Brainiac.” Lang had an IQ to back up his personality too. If only she could change his perspective on women. She sighed with disappointment.

  “Did I mention his ass?” Tina asked.

  “Um, yeah. By the way, did you beat him at darts?”

  “Actually…” Tina rolled her eyes. “I let him win.”

  “What?” Lily couldn’t believe it. Tina had a serious competitive streak. “Why would you do that?”

  She shrugged innocently. “Kind of like faking an orgasm the first time you sleep with a guy. I didn’t want to bruise his ego the night we met. Next time—no mercy.”

  “Pretty sure he’ll figure it out.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. I could distract him—show him my tits while he takes a shot.”

  “Whatever. You’re crazy enough to do it. By the way, guess we didn’t win the karaoke contest—never got a call.” Lily yawned. “Ready for bed?”

  Tina hopped up, looking ready to party all night. “You are.”

  Lily walked her to the front door. “Night-night, beautiful. Call me tomorrow.”

  Alone at last, she changed into a pair of cotton pajamas, loving how the soft material felt against her skin. She padded to the kitchen and put her kettle on the burner again. Another cup of tea, maybe catch a rerun of Sex and the City, then bed.

  Her phone rang just as she poured milk into her cup. “Mom?” She checked the clock on the wall. Why was her mother awake at two o’clock in the morning?

  “Did I disturb you?” she asked.

  “No, of course not.”

  “Guess who came over unannounced today?”

  Lily could hear the stress in her mother’s voice. “Dad?” That would explain the late night call.

  “I wish,” she said. “Miranda Neville.”

  Her father’s mistress? Lily fisted her hands at her sides, ready to fly home so she could kick Miranda’s scrawny ass all the way back to Pittsburgh where she belonged. “Sorry, Mom.” She cringed when the forbidden words slipped from her mouth again. Different context, though. What else could she say? “What did she want?”

  “T-to show me her two-carat diamond engagement ring.”

  “What!” Lily exclaimed, more rage building. “Does Dad know?”

  Her mother sniffled. “I don’t know. The divorce papers arrived yesterday—of course my attorney contested several points and sent them right back. We’re scheduled for arbitration next week. Maybe we can agree to disagree on everything and the judge will be merciful and just sign the damned decree.”

  Anger clouded Lily’s judgment. If she didn’t get off the phone, she’d melt down and say something destructive about her father and his piece of ass. “Mom?”

  “Yes, sweetie?”

  “Can I call you tomorrow?”

  “Sure. I didn’t want to burden you with this, but I really needed someone to talk to. Please don’t judge your dad too harshly; men don’t think clearly sometimes. Sorry, honey, I’m rambling—I love you. Good night, Lily.”

  “Mom, don’t apologize. I love you too, you can call me anytime,” Lily said, then followed up with “Love you lots.”

  After their final goodbyes, they hung up and Lily contemplated calling her dad, but what could she say? What an asshole. She was angry and should just go to bed.

  Unfortunately, her father’s number was programmed in her phone, making it all too tempting. She hit the appropriate button and his line rang five times before he picked up. Lily heard music in the background. “Dad?”

  “Lily? How are you?”

  She hadn’t called him for a pleasant conversation. “Are you aware that Miranda stopped by Mom’s today?”

  “What?” He sounded shocked.

  But after everything he’d done over the last six months—deceiving his family, cheating, and sleeping with a colleague’s wife—well, morals were obviously out the window. So she didn’t necessarily believe him. “You sound surprised? She came to flaunt her new engagement ring. Do you know how insensitive that kind of behavior is? What it does to my mother?” Emphasis clearly put on the last two words.

  Her father groaned. “Who still happens to be my wife.”

  Lily didn’t give a shit. “Which obviously doesn’t mean anything, otherwise you would have thought about that before you had an affair.”

  “So help me, Lily, I’ve never raised my voice at you, but anything that happens between me and your mom is private. Our relationship is none of your damned business. Understand?”

  “So I’m not allowed to have feelings about my parents splitting up? Did that privilege expire when I turned twenty-one or something?”

  He huffed. “Of course you’re entitled to your feelings. If you weren’t upset, I’d worry. But the way you’re talking to me is unacceptable. You don’t understand it all.”

  “Make me understand then, Dad, so when Mom calls me crying, I know how to support her. Because right now, I don’t understand any of this shit.”

  Silence followed. “Did she ask you to contact me?”

  Stupid question. Did everything revolve around him and his ego? Did he really suspect her sophisticated mother would stoop low enough to have her act as a go-between? “No.”

  “I’ll handle Miranda.” He’d lowered his voice considerably.

  “You haven’t even finalized the divorce papers yet. Do you really have to shack up with your mistress so soon?” She knew she’d crossed the line again, but his irresponsibility pissed her off. And if he felt uncomfortable dealing with her very justified anger, oh well. He deserved a ration of shit from her and everyone else who knew him.

  “Your future stepmother.”

  “I’m twenty-three, not twelve—she’ll never be anything to me. Just the woman you sleep with.” Lily hung up, too frustrated to speak to him any longer.

  “As for you…” She stared heavenward, desperate to strike out at God. “What did we do to deserve this? Tell me.” Her whole world felt like it was falling apart.

  She took a quick sip of tea, then slamm
ed the cup down too hard. It shattered; hot liquid spilled across the granite countertop, then dripped onto the floor.

  “Fuck,” she screamed, snagging the dish towel from the hook over the sink. “I should cancel everything and go back to Philly. Live with Mom for a couple years until she gets her life back together…”

  She sank to her knees, all the pent-up negative emotions finally free—tears streamed down her face. Screw men. Maybe she’d take a vow of celibacy, live the rest of her life as an asexual scholar who collected books and cats. Eventually even Tina would abandon her and she’d die alone. A fitting end for a woman who couldn’t manage her own love life, much less help fix her parents’ broken relationship.

  “You’re a loser, Lily Gallo—get used to it.”

  Chapter 7

  THREE WEEKS LATER…

  Lang trailed behind his fourteen-year-old sister, Maya, her backpack slung over his left shoulder. The moment he’d dreaded most had arrived, her first day of high school. She was dressed in skinny jeans and a short-sleeved sweater that fit tighter than it probably should, but he’d already made her change twice this morning before agreeing on her current outfit. Though he was used to being around women who didn’t give a shit if their bodies were on full display, underage girls were a different matter altogether.

  Reaching the sidewalk that led to the entrance of the building, Lang paused in front of the metal statue of a spur that had been here when he’d attended high school too. It commemorated the W. B. Ray High School Texans. He’d played football and baseball, and taken advantage of every extracurricular activity he could. Because once he graduated and walked out of those glass doors for the last time, he knew what waited on the outside world. No regular college for him, no backpacking in Europe or trips to Mexico. As the only son of an officer in the Sons of Odin, he was expected to earn his patches.

  Maya could have so much more—if she fought for her own future. The death of their parents had stripped away all her happiness overnight. What was left? A shell of the girl she used to be, rage, chronic depression, uncontrollable outbursts, and a string of insubordination charges during the last school year. Maya had spent most of last semester in detention. Her GPA had dropped to a 2.0, and she’d nearly gotten arrested for getting into a fight at the park.