TANTALIZING

by Lori Foster

  "Your control, you mean? I hope so."

  "I meant your own daring. But have at it, honey." Though his voice sounded low and rough, his dark eyes glittered with command. "This is your show. I can hold out as long as you can."

  "I'm so glad you think so." And with that, she leaned forward and this time it was her tongue she dragged over the tip of him, earning a dozen curses and a shuddering response from his body.

  Holding himself stiff as a pike, Nick squeezed his eyes shut and breathed deeply through his nose. He seemed to have planted his legs in an effort to control the need to pull away – or push forward. Josie thought he was the most magnificent man she'd ever seen.

  "Relax, Nick." She stroked his belly, his ribs, and his trembling increased. "It's not that I haven't enjoyed everything you've done to me. We both know I have. But I want to be free to do my own explorations."

  He didn't answer and she grinned. "I think we need to get you out of these jeans. I want to see all of you."

  He offered her no assistance as she tugged the snug jeans down his long legs. They were damp and clung to his hips and thighs. Crawling off the berth, she knelt behind him and instructed him to lift each foot as she worked the stiff material off him. That accomplished, she pressed her face to the small of his back and reached her arms around him. Using both hands, she cuddled him through the soft cotton of his shorts and discovered how nice that felt. He was soft and heavy in places, rock hard and trembling in others. She bit his back lightly, then one buttock, then the back of his thickly muscled thigh.

  "You're so rigid, Nick. Try to relax." She couldn't quite keep the awe from her tone, or the sound of her own growing excitement. Her hands still stroked him, up and down, manipulating his length, until he groaned, his head falling back.

  She let her nipples graze his spine as she slowly stood behind him. "I love your body."

  "Josie..."

  "Shh. I'm just getting started." She moved in front of him again, but this time she didn't sit. She insinuated herself in the narrow space between where he stood and the edge of the berth and she simply felt him. All of him. From his thick forearms to his biceps and wide shoulders, the soft tufts of hair under his arms to the banded muscles over his ribs and his erect nipples. She explored his hipbones and the smooth flesh of his taut buttocks. She pushed his underwear down and he kicked them off. "Do you remember what you did to me in my kitchen, Nick?"

  "Damn it, Josie—"

  "Shh. You said it was my show, remember?" She kissed one flat brown nipple, flicked it with her tongue and heard him draw in an uneven breath. "Tell me, Nick. Do you like that as much as I do?"

  He narrowed his gaze on her face. "I doubt it. You nearly come just from me sucking your nipples. Not that I'm complaining. It really turns me on." His voice was low, seductive. "I've never known a woman with breasts as sensitive as yours."

  Damn him, he made her want things just by saying them. Her breasts throbbed and her nipples tightened into painful points. She decided she wouldn't ask him any more questions. She could do better if he kept quiet.

  "Maybe you're just more sensitive in other places." And that was all she said to warn of her intent.

  She kissed his throat, breathing in his sexy male scent. "I love how you smell, Nick. It makes me almost light-headed. And it makes me want you, makes me feel swollen inside." Her mouth trailed down, over his ribs to his navel. She heard him swallow as she toyed with that part of him, dipping in her tongue while her hands caressed his hard backside, keeping him from moving away.

  "Brace your legs farther apart."

  He laughed, the sound strained. "You've got a bit of the tormentor in you, don't you, honey? It's kinky. I had no idea."

  "Be quiet." But she blushed, just as he knew she would. She sat on the berth again, opening her legs around his, assuming a position she knew that would drive him wild. "I only want to try some of the things you've done to me. Why should you always be the one in control?"

  "Because I'm the man," he said on a groan as she fondled him again, exploring, fascinated by the smooth feel of him, the velvety skin over hard-as-steel flesh.

  "You certainly are. Do you like this, Nick?"

  "Yes," he hissed.

  She brushed her bare breasts against him. "And this?"

  "Josie, honey..."

  "And this?" Josie slid her mouth over him, taking him as deep as she could and his hips jackknifed against her as a deep growl tore from his throat. She loved his reaction, the way he continued to groan, to shudder and tremble and curse while she did her best to drive him insane. She'd had no idea it could be so exciting to pleasure another person in such a way. Before Nick, the thought of doing such a thing not only seemed incredible, but unpleasant.

  With Nick, she felt as if she couldn't get enough – and she made sure he knew it.

  His breathing labored, he rasped out rough instructions, unable to remain still. He strained toward her, hard and poised on some secret male edge of control. Josie had never felt so triumphant in all her life, so confident of herself as a woman. She drew him deeper still, using her tongue to stroke, to tease. She made a small humming sound of pleasure when he broke the rules and released the shelf to cup her head in his hands and guide her.

  But seconds later he stumbled away from her. Josie tried to protest, to reach for him, but Nick wouldn't give her a chance. He toppled her backward on the berth, tore her panties off and shoved her dress out of the way. He lifted her legs high to his shoulders, startling her, frightening her just a bit. His mouth clamped onto her breast at the same time he drove into her, hard, slamming them both backward on the berth. He went so deep, Josie felt alarmed by the hot pressure, then excited. She cried out and wrapped her arms around him, already so aroused by his reactions, she took him easily, willingly. Within moments, she felt the sweet internal tightening, the throbbing of hidden places as they seemed to swell and explode with sensations. It went on and on, too powerful, too much. She bit Nick's shoulder, muffling her shocked scream of pleasure against his skin.

  He collapsed on top of her, still heaving, gasping, his body heavy but comforting.

  They both labored for breath, their skin sweaty and too hot.

  "Josie."

  He forced himself up, swallowing hard, and smoothed her wildly tangled hair from her face with trembling hands. "Josie, honey, are you all right?"

  She didn't want to look at him, didn't want to move. It was all she could do to stay conscious with the delicious aftershocks of her release still making her body buzz.

  "Josie." He kissed her mouth, her eyelids, the bridge of her nose. Carefully he lowered her thighs, but remained between them, still inside her. "Look at me, honey."

  She managed to get one eye halfway open, but the effort was too much and she closed it again. Seeing him, the color still high on his cheekbones, his silky dark hair hanging over his brow, his temples damp and his mouth swollen, made her shudder with new feelings, and she couldn't, simply couldn't survive that kind of pleasure again so soon.

  Nick managed a shaky laugh and kissed her on the mouth, a soft, mushy kiss that blossomed and went on until it dwindled into incredible tenderness, to concern and caring. He rolled, groaning as he did so, putting her on top.

  "You're a naughty woman, Josie Jackson."

  She smiled, kissed his shoulder and sighed.

  "I didn't wear a condom."

  Her eyes opened wide and she stared at the far wall, her cheek still pressed to his damp chest. His heartbeat hadn't slowed completely yet, and she felt the reverberations of it.

  "I'm sorry, honey. No excuse except that I went a little nuts and it was a first for me. Going nuts, that is."

  No condom. Oh God. She hadn't even thought of that in the scheme of her seduction. Her body felt lethargic, a little numb, and she mumbled, "My fault," more than willing to put the blame where it rightfully belonged. She had been in control this time, had manipulated the whole situation, and she was the one with no excuses.

>   Nick's arms tightened around her and he nuzzled his jaw into her hair. "We'll argue it out in the morning. Odds are, there won't be a problem. Not just that once."

  She snuggled closer to him, her mind a whirlwind of worries, the major one being how she could ever let him go. For her, a baby wouldn't be a problem. It would be a gift of wonder, a treasure, a part of Nick. But she knew how wrong it would be and she couldn't help but shudder with realization. She'd set out to prove, to herself and to him, that their affair could remain strictly physical and she'd be satisfied. Instead, she'd proven something altogether different.

  Damn but she'd done the dumbest thing. She'd fallen in love with Nick Harris, lady-killer, womanizer extraordinaire. Confirmed bachelor. Nick would probably never want a permanent relationship. And he might even see her forgetfulness with the condom as a deliberate ploy to snare him. So far, their time together had been spent on her wants, her needs, her demands. She'd gone on ordering him to show her a good time, on her schedule, without real thought to what he might want. But she knew; he wanted no ties, no commitments, a brief fling. She swallowed hard, feeling almost sick.

  Now everything was threatened. If she hadn't pushed things today, the mishap might never have happened.

  She realized where her thoughts had led her and she couldn't quite stifle a giggle. A possible pregnancy was far more than a mere mishap.

  Nick lifted his head to try to see her face. "What tickles you now, woman? I hope you don't have more lascivious thoughts in your head, because I swear, I need at least an hour to recoup." The boat rocked with the storm and she could hear the rumble of thunder overhead. Nick held her closer. "I'm personally amazed that my poor heart continues to beat with the strain it's been under."

  Josie kissed his collarbone. He didn't sound upset with her. So maybe now was the best time to find out if he planned to blame her. She didn't think she'd be able to sleep tonight if she had to worry about it. "Nick, I'm so sorry I forgot...myself. I should have been more responsible."

  His hands on her back stilled just a moment, then he gave a huge sigh, nearly heaving her off his chest. "It probably won't even be an issue, Josie. But if it is, we'll figure something out together, okay?"

  "I wouldn't want you to feel pressured. Or to think I did this deliberately."

  "Hey—" he brought her face close to his and kissed her "—you're new at this. I'm the one who should have known better. I've never forgotten before, not that it matters now. But like I said, I've never felt quite this way before."

  She wanted to ask him what way, but only said, "You're truly not angry?"

  He smiled. "I'm not angry. Hell, I'm not even all that worried." His hand smoothed down her back to her bottom and he rolled to his side, keeping her close. They were nose to nose, and he yawned as if ready to sleep. "And I don't want you to worry, either. If anything comes of it, then we'll worry. But in the meantime, don't fret. Okay?"

  "Okay," she said, but didn't feel completely reassured. Nick had never mentioned anything permanent between them, no matter how she'd wished it, and a baby would certainly be permanent. He was right, though. Worrying now was ridiculous. A waste of energy.

  "Why don't you get this dress off, honey? You can't be comfortable like that."

  She followed his gaze to where her dress was twisted around her upper arms and under her breasts. Her body was so numb with her release, she hadn't even noticed the restriction. She untied the belt, popped open the one button and slid it off. Nick took the dress from her and tossed it from the bed.

  "That's better." He pulled her against his chest and closed his eyes once again. "Now let me sleep so I can recoup myself. There's the little matter of a payback for me to attend to, and I'll need some strength to see that the job's done properly."

  To Josie's immense surprise, her body tingled in anticipation. She supposed she just had more stamina than Nick, because she was already looking forward to the payback.

  NICK LOOKED AROUND the crowded room and wondered what the hell he was doing there. He'd get no time alone with Josie tonight. Every couch and chair was filled with an elderly person, and even standing room was limited. He'd barely gotten the door open and squeezed in past the loiterers.

  He scanned the room, looking for Josie and trying to avoid all the prying eyes peering over the rims of their bifocals. It had been over a week since he'd seen her, a week since he'd given her control and she'd used it to drive him to distraction. But she hadn't tried in any way to abuse that control. She hadn't breached his privacy, crowded him in any way. He wanted to talk to her, damn it, but he doubted he'd get much private time with her here.

  He headed toward the kitchen, hoping to find Josie there, and ran headlong into Susan. He caught her arms to steady her and accepted her severe frown. "Susan," he said by way of greeting.

  "I want to talk to you."

  He looked at her hands, which were behind her back.

  "What are you doing?" she asked. "Checking for concealed weapons. I want to make sure verbal abuse is all you have in mind." He flashed her a grin, which only made her stiffen up that much more. Damn prickly woman.

  "What are you doing here?"

  He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. "That was going to be my question to you."

  "I was invited!"

  "And you think I snuck in through the bathroom window?"

  Her face went red and she looked around the room, then took his arm and dragged him a short distance down the hall. "You've been seeing my sister some time now."

  "And?"

  "And you've had ample time to decide if you're serious about her or not. I don't want you to keep toying with her."

  He thought of how Josie had toyed with him on the boat and couldn't quite repress his grin. To avoid replying to her statement, he asked, "How's Bob?"

  Susan blushed. "He's...fine, I guess."

  "You haven't seen him lately?"

  "I'm still angry because he lied to me, letting you work on my campaign when he knew how I felt about that."

  "Yes, you weren't exactly subtle." Before she could blast him, he added, "He cares about you, you know. He just didn't want to disappoint you."

  "He lied to me."

  "Only so you wouldn't go away. But I'm thinking it might have been better if you had. If you don't care about him..."

  She narrowed her eyes at him and almost snarled. "I didn't say that."

  "Ah, so you only want him to suffer? This is one of those female games, meant to prove a point?"

  She flushed, which to Nick's mind revealed her guilty conscience. "Not that it's any of your business, but I was planning to talk to him about it tonight. He's here at the party."

  Nick felt his jaw go slack. "You're kidding?"

  "No." Then she flapped her hand. "Josie insisted. She's got some harebrained scheme to get me and Bob all made up."

  "Is it working?"

  She chewed her lip. "I suppose. Josie already explained Bob's reasons for the deception. In a way, even I understand them. And I hate to admit it, but you really are very talented."

  Nick's grin was slow, and then he laughed full out, placing one wide-spread hand on his chest. "Be still, my heart."

  Susan looked like she wanted to clout him. "The thing is, I don't know how to figure you anymore. Mrs. Wiley has been singing your praises ever since I got here. You're doing her work gratis, aren't you?"

  "Our arrangement is private."

  "Hogwash. Mrs. Wiley is telling anyone who'll listen what a dear boy you are." Susan stepped closer, causing Nick to back up until he hit the wall. "Well, dear boy, I want to know what your intentions are toward my sister."

  Nick opened his mouth with no idea what he was going to say to Susan. Thankfully they were both sidetracked by his grandfather's booming voice coming from the living room. When Nick looked in that direction, he saw his grandfather standing next to Mrs. Wiley. He looked happy and he kept whispering in her ear, making her smack playfully at his arm. Nick shook his head
in wonder.

  "Your grandfather is charming."

  "Ain't he though?"

  "He's also very taken with Josie. He told me she's been out to see him twice this week."

  That surprised him. No one had said a word to him, and his curiosity immediately swelled. What had they talked about? Him, no doubt. But what specifically? And where was Josie anyway? He needed to escape Susan's clutches. She wanted explanations, but he had no idea what to tell her. His arrangement with Josie was private; it was up to Josie to explain things to her nosy sister.

  He nodded toward his grandfather. "I should go over and say hello."

  "No need. He's headed this way." Susan gave him a searing look. "You and I will talk again later." With that rather blatant threat, she dismissed herself.

  "Well, boy, about time you got here."

  "I really didn't expect you to show, Granddad." Nick saw how Mrs. Wiley clung to his arm, and he couldn't help but wonder what his grandfather had been up to. Not since Jeb had been widowed years before had he shown interest in any woman.

  "Josie brought me. Which reminds me, I've been meaning to speak to you about her."

  Dropping back against the wall with a resigned sigh, Nick prepared himself for another lecture, but his grandfather wasn't quite as restrained as Susan. The man had a way of making his feelings known on a subject and he didn't cut any corners. Mrs. Wiley stood beside him, nodding her agreement at his every word.

  "If you have half the brains in that handsome head of yours that I've always given you credit for, you'll tie that little girl up right and tight and make sure she doesn't get away."

  Attempting to ignore Mrs. Wiley's presence – not an easy thing to do in the best of circumstances – Nick tried to stare his grandfather down. "We've had this discussion before, remember?"

  "Damn right I do. But this is different." Jeb's eyes narrowed. "This isn't one of those other women. I like Josie."

  "Granddad..."

  "So what's it to be, boy? What exactly do you have planned here?" He raised his hand as if to ward off any insult. "I only ask because I hate to see you ruin things for yourself."