Wicked Heat

by Nicola Marsh

  “Hell no.” She threw the whip and paddle aside and picked up long, purple, silken scarves instead. “This and the handcuffs are probably about as kinky as this vanilla girl wants to get.”

  “Done.” His relief mirrored hers and she laughed.

  “Look at us, living on the wild side,” she said, sliding the scarves through her fingers, savoring the softness.

  “Tying you up and having you at my mercy will be pretty damn wild,” he said, making a grab for the scarves.

  “I don’t think so.” She held them overhead and shook her head. “If anyone’s being hog-tied tonight, it’s you.”

  His eyes narrowed as he edged closer to her. “Sweetheart, when we first met, you told me you have major control issues. Tonight, I want to see how far you can let go.”

  Good point. But exploring her sexuality was one thing; being tied up and at Jett’s mercy was another. It would require complete trust. One hundred percent confidence in him.

  That’s the moment everything she’d been feeling for Jett clarified.

  She never would’ve had sex with him on the plane if she didn’t trust him to some degree. And she never would’ve continued their fling on the island without feeling the same. As for tonight? She may have dated infrequently in the past but she couldn’t think of one of those guys she trusted enough to even contemplate stepping outside her comfort zone sexually.

  Jett was right. Time to relinquish control and see how far she could go.

  Her hands shook slightly as she handed him the scarves. “Okay. I trust you.”

  Tenderness darkened his eyes. “Good. So you’ll do as I say?”

  “Within reason.”

  The corners of his mouth quirked. “You can stop at any time.”

  With the images of what he could potentially do to her if she were tied up flitting across her mind in erotic detail, she seriously doubted that would be an option. “What first?”

  “Strip for me.” He scooted up the bed until he reached the headboard and leaned back against the pillows. “Now.”

  “Yes, Master,” she said, earning a wry grin as she stood and walked around the bed to stand a few feet away from him. “I hope you like what you see.”

  “Never in doubt,” he said, his hungry gaze riveted to her hands as she slipped one strap off her right shoulder, repeated the action on the left, and shimmied a little. The dress slid to the floor, leaving her wearing a black satin thong.

  He stared at her breasts, intense and focused, until her nipples hardened into peaks. “Take it all off,” he growled, his gaze traveling lower as she snagged the satin elastic and tugged.

  His eyes seemed to glow in the bedroom’s dim lighting as she kicked away the thong, leaving her naked and wet and wanting.

  “Lie down.” He swept the box off the bed, its contents spilling to the floor. “Right here.”

  He pointed to the middle of the bed, his gaze unwavering as she obeyed. “On your back.”

  Her initial nerves at playing any kind of out-of-the-ordinary scenario faded, replaced by something more potent. Lust. Excitement. Anticipation. Her clammy skin stuck to the sheets a little as she wriggled into place.

  “Good.” He nodded his approval. “Now spread your legs.”

  Allegra’s resolve faltered. It was one thing being naked when the two of them were going at it, but lying before him, revealing all?

  He stood and moved toward the end of the bed. His fingertips brushed her ankle and she quivered. “Like this,” he said, cradling her heel in his hand as if she were made of glass, and sliding her leg to the right, his gaze locked on hers.

  She watched as he did the same with her left leg, never breaking eye contact. The sincerity she glimpsed helped ease her jumpiness. Until he picked up the silk scarves.

  This time he didn’t speak as he bound her ankles to the bed’s chrome frame. Her shallow breathing was the only sound in the room as he tugged on her bindings. Apparently satisfied they’d hold, he stood at the foot of the bed, his hungry gaze fixed shamelessly on where she throbbed.

  “Beautiful,” he said, a fingertip starting at her ankle and sliding upward with excruciating slowness. Her skin pebbled as he skimmed her knee, traced the contour of her inner thigh, before delving in her dampness.

  She arched off the bed, half sitting up, but he shook his head. “Can’t have you moving around with what I’ve got planned.”

  His wicked smile almost made her come as he placed a palm on her chest and eased her back onto the bed.

  “Place your arms overhead.” He snagged the handcuffs and dangled them overhead. “Once these are on, you’ll be completely at my mercy. Think you can handle it?”

  The thought of handing over complete control to anyone, least of all a guy she’d known less than a week, petrified her. But Jett had never made her feel anything but special and she trusted him. Foolish? Maybe. But Allegra had come this far. No way would she back out now.

  She nodded, her hair rustling on the pillow. “Do it.”

  He snapped the handcuffs in place and she tried lowering her wrists. To no avail. She was bound tight. Spread-eagled before him. Ready, willing, and embarrassingly wet.

  “God, you’re gorgeous.” His gaze started at her fingertips and worked its way down, lingering on her breasts, her Brazilian, his increasing shortness of breath matching hers. “I’m glad these rooms are soundproof because I’m going to tease you ’til you scream.”

  A needy whimper escaped Allegra’s lips as she watched Jett strip. He didn’t make a show of it and she appreciated the speed. The sooner he got naked and down to business—her—the better.

  The bed dipped as he settled between her legs, his warm breath fanning the bundle of nerves that needed barely a flick before sending an orgasm slamming through her. Her breathing grew choppy as he lowered his head. Closer. So exquisitely close…

  She tensed, every muscle in her body coiled in anticipation of that first, delicious sweep of his tongue.

  Then he did the unthinkable.

  He bypassed the target.

  “Jett…,” she warned, lifting her pelvis toward his mouth.

  He grinned and swiped his tongue along her inner thigh in one, long, teasing sweep. “Patience.”

  His hot tongue glided up her thigh, across her stomach, and down the other side, skirting around the one area that would combust if he didn’t pay attention to it soon.

  She writhed as he nipped the tender skin of her groin, the sharp pull of her restraints ramping up the tension, making her body zing. As he inched closer to where she wanted him most, the maddening throb escalated until it was all she could focus on.

  That’s when the tip of his tongue flicked her clit.

  Her hips jolted and surged upward, her body thrashing, but only as far as his bindings allowed. She was at his mercy. Totally powerless. And as his lips fastened on her and his tongue swirled over her clit, she’d never been happier to relinquish control.

  He slid one finger into her, another, pumping into her slickness as he sucked her, pushing her over the edge so damn fast she almost blacked out.

  She shattered under the intensity of an orgasm that defied logic, screaming so loud her throat hurt.

  Stunned, she lay there, her body burning and languid and sated, needing time to recover. But Jett didn’t give it to her. Instead, his tongue snaked out to lick her again, sending an almost painful jolt through her.

  “Oh my God, Jett, you can’t…give me a minute…”

  He didn’t, lapping at her like he’d never get enough. To her amazement the pressure built again, coiling through her body, shocking in its intensity. She tugged at her restraints, wriggling and writhing, mindless with wanting whatever he had to give.

  His teeth bit lightly on her clit and she screamed again as wave after wave of undiluted pleasure washed over her, leaving her boneless and spent.

  “Hey, you still with me?”

  Her eyelids fluttered open to find Jett lying beside her, within kissin
g distance, a smug grin illuminating his face.

  She grunted in response.

  He chuckled. “Fuck, do you have any idea how hot that was?”

  “Yeah,” she mumbled, her head lolling to the side so she could see him. “Your turn?”

  “Hell no.” His palm rested on her belly and stroked lower. “I like having you as my very own plaything.”

  “Just because I’m tied up doesn’t mean I can’t be the master for a little while,” she said, trying her best demure smile. “I order you to fuck me. Now.”

  “Yes, Master.” He gave a funny half salute. “Just so you know, hearing you talk dirty is almost as big a turn-on as having you tied up, wet, on full display.”

  She moaned and he swallowed it with a kiss that ravaged. Allegra was only barely aware of the rip of a foil packet before Jett was inside her with a hard thrust, stretching and filling her until she thought her raw nerve endings couldn’t take it any more.

  If she’d thought being licked by him while restrained had been hot, having him pound into her with fierce determination ratcheted her excitement to a whole new level.

  She longed to touch him, to caress him, to grab his ass and hold on for dear life. But she couldn’t and when he slid hid hands under her, lifted her hips, and drove deeper, she came apart again.

  With another two thrusts Jett yelled her name and collapsed on top of her, his weight the one normality in this titillating encounter.

  She’d had him lie on top of her before after sex. But never had she had this kind of sex or the stunning aftermath. Like every muscle, every inch of skin, had been hot-wired and still sizzled with residual electricity.

  “Unbe-frigging-lievable,” he said, pushing up to prop on his elbows and look down on her. “You okay?”

  She nodded, unable to find the words to express how she felt.

  She’d trusted this guy to help explore her sexuality. And Jett had delivered in ways he’d never know.

  Because what they’d just done proved that all those times with Flint, when she’d secretly blamed herself for their lackluster sex life, hadn’t been her fault.

  With the right guy, a guy like Jett, she could go off. And that knowledge empowered her like nothing else.

  She lifted her hips slightly, pressed her pelvis to his. “Ready for the next round?”

  “Insatiable. Impressive.” He winked. “At least give me another three minutes.”

  “Actually, I think I need more like ten,” she said, wincing a little as she moved her arms.

  He stood quickly, concern creasing his brow. “Okay, that’s enough kinky stuff for now. Let me untie you.” He undid the scarves and unlocked the handcuffs, gently rubbing circulation back into her wrists. “Better?”

  “Fine,” she said, touched by his thoughtfulness.

  Though now the post-orgasmic haze was fading, reality intruded. She wasn’t fine. Having to tell Jett the truth after what they’d just shared? Her timing sucked.

  She should’ve told him earlier. Shouldn’t have been so damn selfish in wanting to explore her fantasies. Hopefully he’d understand what it took for her to trust him to bind her and he’d cut her some slack.

  “What’s wrong?” He released her wrists and sat on the bed.

  “Nothing.” Everything. She laid a hand on his thigh, took a deep breath, and hoped to God he’d understand. “I’m being selfish in wanting to keep you here when you probably need to work on your presentation.”

  He grimaced. “Don’t remind me. I reckon my work speaks for itself and Kai Kaluna’s a stand-up guy, but a lot of advertising business is conducted behind closed doors. Mutual back-scratching. Under-the-table deals. That kind of thing.” His fingers splayed on her stomach and the pit of it fell away. “So no matter how well prepared I am, someone can come along and snaffle the lot from under me.”

  Shit. If she didn’t tell him now she may end up losing her dinner in the toilet.

  The nausea intensified as she looked at Jett, with his hair ruffled and his eyes clear and his expression wavering between satisfaction and tenderness.

  He reached for her. “Allegra?”

  She slipped out of reach, hating how her simple evasive action made his eyes narrow with suspicion.

  Unable to look him in the eye, her hands fiddled with the top sheet, twisting it until her fingers ached. “I’m pitching for the Kaluna campaign. I lost my biggest client, two others didn’t sign up, and my company, AW Advertising, is in dire financial trouble, so I came here with the sole intention of scoring an opportunity to pitch.”

  The truth spilled out of her in a torrent, but did little to ease the clamminess of her skin or the roiling of her gut. “I’m sorry, it just seemed easier for you to think I was taking a week off after the wedding fiasco rather than mess with my work and yours. I wanted to tell you, but we’ve kept work and our private lives separate and I didn’t want to complicate things.”

  “Complicate things,” he parroted, shaking his head and staring at her like she’d morphed into a monster. “Why would a little thing like you sleeping with me, letting me talk about my work while you’re in competition against me, complicate things?”

  His lethally cold monotone scared her more than if he’d ranted and raved and shouted.

  She knew damage control at this point would be useless but she had to try, had to try anything to wipe away the devastation clouding his eyes and the disgust twisting his mouth. “Jett, this has nothing to do with us—”

  “Bullshit,” he roared, and she jumped. Maybe she preferred the cold disdain more. “I can’t believe I frigging trusted you.”

  The desolation in his appalled glare told her more than anything he could throw at her ever could. His best mate had betrayed his trust and now he thought she’d done the same. She wanted to tell him how she’d tried to help him, how she’d changed her pitch, but by the way he was staring at her, anything she said now would only make things worse.

  A sob bubbled up from deep within and stuck in her chest. She slid her hand across the sheet, needing to convince him of her sincerity. Maybe if she touched him…it seemed to work for them, the physical connection. She needed him to believe her. “Jett, listen to me—”

  “Fuck this. I’m out of here,” he snarled, leaping off the bed, shrugging into his clothes, and heading for the door.

  Ludicrous, how even in a moment of intense animosity, the moment when their relationship imploded, she noticed how great his ass looked. A stupid, irrational observation that showed exactly how close she was to losing it.

  She crumpled, wrapping her arms around her middle to stave off the gut-wrenching ache. It did nothing and the pain spread until her body quivered with it. “I don’t want to leave things between us like this…”

  He slammed the door in response.

  Chapter Eight

  Jett barged into his room, stomped into the bathroom, and splashed water on his face. After toweling off, he stared at the mirror, his shattered reflection taunting him more than Allegra’s declaration.

  She’d lied to him. Big frigging deal. Wouldn’t be the first time someone had. And it wasn’t the first time someone had taken his trust and shoved it up his ass.

  But it was the first time he cared so damn much, and that told him more than the dawning horror in his eyes.

  He cared about her. On a far deeper level than what he’d signed up for. Intrinsically, he’d probably known it all along, yet like a masochistic schmuck had gone with it regardless. Dressing it up as a casual fling, something he could walk away from anytime he wanted.

  Fuck, what a mess.

  Since when had he turned into such a dickhead?

  He had to be, that even now a small part of him wished he’d stayed. So they could what? Talk? Pile a whole lot of empty words on top of the pain? Because that’s what he felt, a goddamn ache that centered on his chest and spread outward and mimicked the time he’d scarfed three plate-size chicken schnitzels as part of a stupid bet with Reeve.

&nb
sp; First his best friend shits all over him, now Allegra. What was it about him that had “Gullible Loser” etched across his forehead?

  He swore and left the bathroom, pacing the room, but predictably it did little to ease the anger and betrayal burning him up from the inside out. With every step his fury grew until he wanted to punch something. But he’d been here before. About two months ago when he thought he’d lost everything.

  But he hadn’t. Reeve hadn’t taken the one thing that would get him through anything: tenacity. No way in hell would Jett allow this blip to derail his plans.

  And it was a blip. Wasn’t like him and Allegra were in a relationship. Wouldn’t be the first time some chick did a number on a guy and it wouldn’t be the last. Though this particular guy would sure as hell be wary of letting anyone get too close again.

  Yep, she was a blip and as his steps slowed, some sense of rationality returned. She wanted to go up against him? Bring it on. He’d move on from this, would focus solely on nailing this pitch, while she’d probably be a basket case from the deception she’d perpetuated. Good. She deserved to suffer.

  Then he did the one thing guaranteed to make this situation remotely better.

  He fired up his laptop and got to work.

  If he could channel half his fury at the injustice of all this into his presentation, he’d win the gig for sure.

  First item on the agenda: suss out the competition. So he Googled AW Advertising, and discovered it was one of the most respected agencies in LA, with an impressive list of clientele.

  Good. He thrived on beating the best. The bigger they were, the harder he strived. Now, more than ever, it was imperative that he win.

  No way would he let Allegra screw up his professional life the way she had with his personal.

  …

  In a daze, Allegra showered, dressed in white linen pants and a thigh-skimming peach caftan top, applied makeup, and blow-dried her hair. She had to establish normality, had to maintain a perfectly poised front. Because if she didn’t, she’d fall to pieces and board the first plane out of here.

  And she couldn’t do that. Zoe, and her other employees, were depending on her. She had to win this pitch, no matter how much she wanted to walk.