by Nana Malone
Incoherent whispers of need and lust and desperation filled her office, along with groans and moans and patchy breaths. "Yes…right there…more…" mingled with his sounds of "You like that? So beautiful…so soft."
So close, she was so close. His hips ground into her, and she arched her back, seeking any contact that would get her there.
But some distant sound of knocking and clicking intruded on her happy bliss.
Tyson was faster than she was. He knew what was happening and pulled his fingers from her and adjusted her top before she could blink.
Jerome, one of the dancers, swung the door open just as Tyson stepped out from between her thighs. He stopped and stared. "Shit. Sorry, boss lady." His gaze swung up to the ceiling. "You said to just come in and drop the time card on your desk. Didn't realize you were in here. Uh… I'll just…" His voice trailed off as he tried to make a quick escape.
"It's okay. I'll take your time card." She could barely move from the strung-out lust and the total embarrassment. But she reached for his card.
He handed it to her and beat a hasty retreat. She was well aware that she'd be the topic of gossip in less than an hour.
Tyson leaned back against the bookcase and glared at her. "What are you doing to me?"
"I don't— I don't understand."
He stared at her intensely, but muttered, "I'm going to go."
"Ty, wait, what—?"
He held up a hand. "No, Serena, I have to. I'll call you. And no, that's not some bullshit line. I will call you, but if I start talking about it in here and we try to work it out, I will fuck you on your desk."
As she watched him walk out, she wondered how in the world that would be a bad thing.
9
Tyson stormed into his office at Leigh Distributors, bypassing his assistant’s desk with barely a muttered greeting. That shit in Serena’s office. It was reckless…hot. Irresponsible…hot. Stupid…hot. What the hell was he thinking? A minute more and that guy would have seen the two of them screwing on top of her desk. Tyson ran a hand through his hair.
There was a brief knock at the door and Mark opened it without waiting for an answer. Usually Mark avoided him when he was in a mood, but they had to meet if Ty was going to get some of the day to day operations stuff off his plate. In the last week it had become glaringly apparent that he needed to delegate.
Mark jumped right in. "You want to talk about it.”
Ty so wasn't in the mood right now. “Not today, Mark. We have the Minterman's account. It's for a new restaurant. I'll need you to handle that paperwork for onboarding and then take the meeting next week to determine what they want for inventory."
"Minterman’s got it. Listen, the way you tore out of Club Prestige like the devil was chasing you, I figured maybe you could use someone to talk to. Come on. Pretend I'm Dr. Phil or some shit."
No way was he talking to Mark. "No thanks. I don’t need anyone to talk to."
"You sure about that? Because you nearly bit Redd’s head off when she asked if you had any additional bottles of tequila. Then, you just about growled at the driver. It wasn't the poor schmuck's fault that there was so much traffic. We live in DC. It's to be expected. Want to talk about what happened with the beautiful Miss Serena Bennett?"
"No. Not up for discussion."
Mark shrugged. "Then let's go ahead and pretend your problem is school then. Rough first few days of classes?"
Tyson scowled. "Shut up."
His friend smirked. "So that brings us back to the girl then. What's the matter, trouble in platonic paradise?"
Tyson glared at him.
"Yo, don't shoot the messenger. I mean, I told you, didn't I? I told you if you didn't do something, someone was going to swoop in and snatch her up. And that fancy douchebag looked like he was up for it. But she didn't look that interested. And guys like that think it's their job to flirt and shit. He's Italian. Don't take it too personally. But if it's going to twist you up, then maybe it's time you just admit what you're dealing with and deal with it accordingly."
"You don't know what the fuck you're talking about." Ty was so twisted up inside, he was pretty sure his cock might never speak to him again. He wanted her. Was desperate to have her. The control he kept in place, Serena was shaking that. It was harder and harder to keep his equilibrium with her.
He'd wanted to talk. Just talk. Make sure they were cool. Then he'd seen the guy in the suit touching her. Next thing he knew, he had his thumb stroking over her clit and he was in fucking heaven, not giving a shit about the consequences. "Just drop it, Mark. I can't do this right now."
"Okay, fine. I'll let it go. But sooner or later you're going to have to admit what's been obvious to the rest of us for ages."
Tyson tipped his chin up. "Oh yeah, and what's that?"
"That you're in love with that girl. One of these days you should do something about it."
Ty's problem was he had done something about it. And now he didn't have a clue what to do next.
“How did it go?"
Micha's voice was a bit muffled as Serena stuck her earpiece in and headed for the metro. "Well, it's not like I can say it went bad, but shit is a lot more confusing now."
"Why? Tell Mama Mi all the things."
“So we did talk. And it's not better. Because then we made out.”
“Uh, I’m going to need details here.”
"We talked he pretty much said, Sorry for kissing you. Then when we talked again we almost had sex...in my office. So I'm pretty sure I’m going to get the 'sorry we almost boned in your office' version." She sighed as she avoided the pedestrians on the crowded streets of Dupont Circle. She wanted to take Cara's class again, but at this rate she wasn’t going to make it. She could certainly take it at the club now that Cara worked there, but there was no way she was traipsing around on a pole in tiny short-shorts in front of people who in essence worked for her. Not. Going. To. Happen. When she’d said she wanted to be seen and noticed, that was not what she had in mind.
"He just doesn't know what he wants. Don't let that discourage you, sweetie. Because it's clear as day that the guy wants you."
"Yeah, but it's also clear he's conflicted about it. He just backed off. Like I had scalded him."
"He's a guy. And he was jealous. Plus, sometimes some people take a little longer to come around. It was like that with Caleb and I. You be you, don't take any prisoners. He’ll come around, and then you guys can talk. But first he has to come to terms with the attraction. You can be confident and funny and steely when it's business. You can deal with a man. Especially a man who wants you."
"I don't want to play games."
Her cousin was silent for a beat then mumbled something to someone else. "You don't have to. And talking is the easiest route. Just this once I’m going to suggest it be with clothes on."
"I just want to figure out what's going on. And if he doesn't want me, that's fine. But this shit is confusing. He kisses me then says he can't do this. It's infuriating. The not knowing is the part that's killing me. I'm not twelve. I know a couple of hot, steamy make outs doesn't make a relationship, but I'd like my friend back if nothing else."
Micha sighed, and Serena could picture her rolling her eyes. "Honey bunches of oats, talk to the man! Kick it to him straight-talk style. Figure this shit out. It's not good for you. Or better yet, fuck him. Fuck him so good his brain can't overthink it. Then talk to him."
“Micha. Not helping.” But her libido was totally behind that idea. All she had to do was get Tyson to call her back. Considering he didn't seem to be talking to her, it was easier said than done. Her phone beeped, and she said goodbye to Micha before switching over. “Hello?”
“Hi Serena, it's Ty.”
“You calling to apologize again, because I could do without it.”
There was a beat of silence. “Yeah, I deserve that. But I'm tired of fighting this. I mean clearly, we are pretty volatile. And it's not like I can stay away from you.”
> Serena tried not to get too excited. “So what are you saying?”
“I'm saying, maybe we go out. You know, in public.... See what happens.”
“Like a date?
“Yeah. If you're game.”
“I guess it's a date.”
10
Tyson wiped his hands on his jeans. Damn, he was nervous. When was the last time he'd been nervous about a date? Never. Because none of them were her. Then he'd realized that wasn't working, so he'd picked girls that were the total opposite of her: blondes, lots of blondes. That hadn't worked either. They never stuck. He could never love them.
He knocked on the door to her condo, and she opened it immediately. She'd been waiting for him. A smile tugged at his lips, and she grinned. "I was not waiting for you."
"Uh-huh." He couldn't help but laugh. She wore a black leather skirt that flared at the knee and a red top that hugged her waist and had angular lines that was mostly open at the back. She'd paired the ensemble with stiletto boots. All he could do was stare at her for a moment. He wanted to stay in with her. He wanted time for them to get lost in each other…inside her apartment.
Stop it. This isn't why you're here tonight. No. No, it wasn't. Fighting her hadn't worked, and trying to pretend he wasn't into her hadn't worked either, so he might as well do what he wanted. "You look beautiful."
She gave him her best Serena smile, and he pretty much felt like he could fly.
"Thank you." She hitched her finger behind her. "Did you want to come in for a second?"
Fuck. Yes. "No. Better not. I want to take you to dinner. And if I'm taking you to dinner, then going inside will be counterintuitive to that, especially with you looking the way you do. Better safe than naked permanently."
"Right." She flushed as she nodded. "I'll just grab my purse."
Seeing her wobble slightly in her shoes, he was glad he'd opted to drive instead of suggesting somewhere in her neighborhood they could walk too. Adams Morgan had a million bars and clubs and restaurants, but he didn't want to do the college and hipster scene right now. He'd signed a new contract with an Asian fusion spot close to Pennsylvania Avenue. If he was going to crash and burn tonight, he didn't want it to be because he didn’t go all in.
He opened doors for her, helped her in and out of the car, took her hand to walk her into the restaurant. He knew how to be a good date. But with Serena? That shit scared him. Terrified him. Because it could be real.
He wanted her to see that he wasn't just some guy trying to get with her. Somehow that was really important to him. It mattered. She mattered. And he needed her to understand that. With that shithead ex of hers, she hadn't known that.
At the restaurant, she grinned at him when the host seated them in a private dining area. "You know, you didn't have to go to all this trouble. I mean, it's beautiful, but this is too much. It’s just me."
He ducked his head. "I know I've been sort of acting like a Neanderthal for a bit and haven't been able to keep my hands off of you, but you deserve nice things. You deserve someone who's going to give them to you."
Her cheeks tinted pink. "Thank you, Ty."
"Now…" He dragged his gaze back to his menu before he got carried away attempting a better glance at her cleavage in that low-cut top. "What do you want to order?"
She laughed. “Is this the part where I pretend that I don't love to eat and just order a salad.”
“Well, considering I’ve had to fight you over the last piece of cake before, I think your secret is out.”
Her lips twitched. “I can’t believe you actually fought a girl.”
“Have you seen you fight over something you want?”
Serena took a sip of her wine. “Let that be a lesson to all who try to steal my last piece of cake.”
She looked so beautiful in the soft candlelight. When was the last time he was this nervous on a date?
Maybe never. For a long moment, he just watched her as she ordered. The way she flipped her hair over her shoulder, her mouth as she asked questions, her eyes as she smiled up at the waiter. When it was his turn, he mumbled his order, but he couldn’t take his eyes off of her. When the waiter left, he asked, “Do you have any idea that I have spent years trying to avoid this exact moment?” Damn. He didn't mean to say that out loud.
She cocked her head and studied him. “Why? Because of Xavier?”
Ty shook his head. “Because you and X are the best friends I’ve ever had. And I was terrified of messing that up.”
“So, what? You're not terrified anymore?”
His lips tipped into a smile as he told her the truth. “Oh, I’m still worried about screwing it all up. But now I’m more worried that I might go crazy if I keep fighting it. The first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful girl I’d ever laid eyes on. And I have had feelings for you for so long, I can’t even separate that from our friendship.” He sat back. “I also thought you had a mean heel flip. The things you could do on a skateboard were unreal.”
Pink tinted her cheeks as she laughed, and he relished the sound. “Man, I haven’t been on a skateboard in a million years.” She leaned forward, her eyes lighting up as she gave him an impish smile. “I’ll tell you a little secret. It helped that I was a dancer. I automatically had better balance.”
“I knew it. There had to be a reason you were so good. I mean, we were nine and you were kicking mine and X’s ass every time we took the boards out. It was irritating as hell, but I was also completely enamored with you. For a girl, you were pretty awesome.”
“You weren’t so bad yourself when you bothered to acknowledge my presence. All I wanted was the two of you to notice and pay attention to me. Well, you more than X. I had such a huge crush on you.”
He licked his lips. “I noticed. I’ve always noticed.”
She bit her bottom lip. “And all it took was a pair of stunning stilettos.”
A laugh burst out of his chest before he could contain it. “Do you have any idea what you were doing to me that night? I mean I was already walking a very tight rope. And then you turn up in leather and stilettos, I just cracked. You are diabolical.”
“Correction, Micha is diabolical. I merely followed her instructions because, like always, I wanted you to notice me…and you did.”
“You got that right.” His gaze locked on hers and the charge of electricity ricocheted through him despite what else was going on with him, this is where he wanted to be, with her. He just had to make sure they could preserve what they had before. They’d have to figure out a way because he liked this version of her. A lot.
Serena fiddled with the latch of her clutch. So this was it. The good-night kiss was sort of expected. Anticipated. But with them, one kiss, one touch, one tickle of awareness could change everything. Would change everything. Was she ready for that? It was one thing when a surprise kiss changed things, it was another thing when the guy she'd lusted after for years was standing in front of her.
He was right though. They had to think about repercussions. Getting into this with their hormones driving was an approach that could break them, and he didn't want that. Neither did she. She loved him no matter what. Could they be friends again? Would doing this kill them? She saw now how things could go all twisty with them. This was decision time. Should she risk it? Was it worth it?
Ty watched her carefully. "I don't think I've ever been this nervous."
"Me too." She shifted in her boots and suddenly regretted them. She loved the new look, but she would pay cash money to be barefoot in Ty's place, wearing leggings and watching a movie. Then another image flashed of the two of them in her office and his thumb driving her mad. Making her crazy, making her beg. She wanted both Tys, but she didn't want to sacrifice one for the other.
"Serena? You know we can't do casual."
She blinked up at him. "I know."
“Good, because I don't want to. I'm going to kiss you now."
11
Serena held her breath, trying
to prepare for the onslaught of emotions. She was ready for the hard and the fast and the desperate and needy. But Ty surprised her. His lips were almost unbearably soft as he slid them gently over hers. Sweetly sipping at her lips, Tyson pulled her close, gradually deepening the kiss as he walked them to the wall, trapping her between his body and the cool surface.
Ty slipped his hand through her hair as his tongue delved in, coaxing hers into a sensual game. Tonight, there was no frenzied rush, no hurry, no forbidden demon chasing them, urging them to rush before they got caught. Or worse, before they came to their senses.
And when it came to kissing, Ty was a bona fide expert. He knew how to set a pace so that the distant, burning flames of lust built slowly and steadily, never flashing and burning too quickly. Never mind that his erection pulsed insistently against her belly. He didn't hurry.
“Tyson, please,” she murmured against his lips, as he continued to torment her.
He chuckled low before whispering, “We have all the time in the world.” When he tucked a hand under her blouse, she arched into the caress. How could he be so in control when someone had set fire to her insides? She moaned low when his thumb grazed under the curve of her breast, before gliding up to tease the nipple. The motion had her sucking in a ragged breath even as she pushed closer. Her eyelids fluttering closed, his name tripped out on a whisper when he caressed her nipple, brushing the pad of his thumb over the lace cup of her bra.
“Your skin is so soft,” he murmured, as he kissed along the length of her neck, nuzzling her with his nose. When he dragged his lips back to hers, the kiss turned from sizzling to scorching.
She’d thought she craved sweet and slow tonight, but hell, what did she know? Serena just knew how much she wanted him. Still locked in their embrace, he turned them around and walked them toward her bedroom. Kicking open the door, he gave a low growl of satisfaction when they staggered inside.
