by Jess Dee
About anything and everything, like they used to. Lifting her shoulders in a show of confidence she did not feel, she walked out of her room in search of Tyler. Tonight they would have a decent, platonic conversation, and she would prove to him that whatever they had been for a few weeks, they were no longer. It didn’t matter if he’d come back for her. She was going to marry Steve regardless of what Tyler thought.
She found him in her living room.
He stood with his back to her, staring out the window. His hair was wet, and he was shirtless. A snug pair of jeans hugged his toned butt and framed his hard, long legs. Relaxed, the muscles in his arms seemed to flow from his shoulders and down his back, streamlined and masculine. Sexy and sensual. The low-slung jeans sat on his hips, showcasing the slight flare of his ass.
Katie’s mouth filled with saliva, and her heart tripped in her chest.
Her already-muddled mind lost its way altogether.
He was exquisite. A prime example of beautiful male. The scent of shampoo and aftershave lingered around him, and without thinking, Katie stepped closer and inhaled deeply, silently. He smelled of Tyler, of the man she loved. Of hot sun on warm skin, of wet leaves after a rainstorm. He smelled good. So damn good.
Her instincts were quicker than her sense of self-preservation.
She took another deep breath and her hands strayed upwards, caressing the hot, hard flesh of his shoulders before sweeping downwards over the smooth lines of his back and coming to rest on the waist of his jeans, just short of his delectable ass.
Heaven.
“Katie,” he rasped, and she froze.
Dear God. What was she doing? She couldn’t move, couldn’t talk.
Her voice stuck in her throat, and she began to perspire. Beneath her touch, Tyler tensed. Muscle bunched in his arms and around his neck.
“Katie,” he said again, without turning around.
“I… uh…” She cleared her throat, then jerked her hands away, searching desperately for an excuse. There wasn’t one. Wet, she said uselessly.
Wet?
She swallowed. “Um, your hair. It’s wet. Some water, uh, dripped down onto your back. I thought it might be, you know, a little uncomfortable. So I dried it.” Damn, where were those punchy one-liners Steve and Tyler had helped her master? Why now, when one was so essential, could she not find it?
“Oh.”
He didn’t believe her.
“Look, I didn’t mean to disturb you.” She backtracked out of the living room.
“I… I’m sorry.”
Before she could turn and flee, he said her name. Again. “Katie.”
“Um, yeah?” She wiped her palms on her pants, watching as he looked over his shoulder at her. His eyes smoldered.
“You never have to apologize for touching me.”
She escaped to her room once again, threw herself on the bed and lay dead still. Her nerves were frazzled. Christ, she had to control herself. She couldn’t touch Tyler just because she wanted to. Just because he’d told her she belonged to him. It wasn’t true. She was engaged. She belonged to Steve.
Tell that to my body!
She was aroused. Panting. It didn’t matter who she belonged to, her body responded to Tyler. Touching him unleashed the devil in her.
Unleashed the years of longing and love that she’d repressed when she’d agreed to marry Steve.
She shook wildly as an ache in her belly spread out, encompassing her breasts and her pelvis. Damn, she wanted to touch more than just his back. She wanted to grab massive handfuls of his flesh and never let go. Her skin prickled and her nipples tightened. She couldn’t. His flesh was off-limits.
Maybe a cold shower would help. Maybe it would freeze her heated body and her scandalous thoughts. Or maybe it wouldn’t. The mere suggestion of a shower had her imagining Tyler naked under pulsing jets. Water cascaded over his shoulders and flowed down his body.
Individual drops slid over his muscled chest, caught on the hair there and stuck until another cascade of water sent them streaming down his ripped stomach and lower.
Her breathing became shallow and her breasts ached. She placed her hand over one breast, pressed it against the beaded nipple and moaned. She’d been in a constant state of arousal since Tyler arrived home, and thoughts of him in the shower only made it worse. She wanted no, she needed to touch him.
Emptiness pulled between her legs like a bottomless pit of greed.
There was only one thing that could ease her hunger, that could calm her lust and he was off-limits.
She trailed her hand lower, over her belly and on to the button of her jeans.
Steve. They hadn’t made love since Tyler had phoned to say he was coming home. Maybe that was her problem. Maybe she needed a little time with her fiancé to work off the underlying sexual tension she felt with Tyler. She should go to his place, close the door behind them and spend a couple of hours in bed, freeing herself from Tyler’s grasp.
She dismissed the idea instantly. It wasn’t Steve’s hand she wanted teasing her breasts. It wasn’t his dick that could fill the emptiness.
Making love with Steve was comfortable. It was fun and easy just like their friendship.
But damn it, she didn’t want fun, comfortable sex. She wanted hot, sweaty, mind-blowing sex. She wanted heart-stopping, earth-shattering sex. She wanted… she wanted… Fuck. All she wanted was Tyler.
She flicked open the button and tugged on her zip. She was going crazy. If she didn’t get a little physical release, she’d hunt Tyler down and… No, she wouldn’t. She inched her jeans over her hips, then kicked them off.
Her body wept, aching for relief, aching for Tyler’s hot cock.
Tyler’s, not Steve’s. She touched her clit, and shuddered. Even through her panties, it was swollen and wildly sensitive. She couldn’t have Tyler and she didn’t want Steve. She slipped her finger under the lacy inset of her thong. God, she was so wet, so needy.
The piercing ring of the phone trilled through the closed door.
Tyler answered it. His voice was muted, low, like the whisper of a lover.
She remembered how he murmured sweet nothings in her ear. How his warm breath rustled through her hair, teasing her cheek.
She dipped her finger between her lips and smooth cream coated its tip. Damn, why couldn’t it be Tyler’s finger? Or better yet, his cock? She inched her hand higher. Thought about Tyler stretching her, filling her.
His voice reverberated down the hallway, and then silence. She bit back a groan as she touched her clit again. Rubbed it in soft, circular motions.
Footsteps. The soft tha-thud, tha-thud on the wooden floor signaled his approach. The noise grew louder as he drew nearer. She froze. The roar in her ears was deafening as she anticipated the knock on her door. Would he catch her red-handed? She couldn’t breathe, couldn’t move.
Did she want him to catch her?
Tha-thud, tha-thud. Louder and louder, and then nothing. Her heart banged in her chest. Was the door about to open? Should she scramble for cover?
Tha-thud. The footsteps receded, the sound gradually fading. Katie let out a breath. Of relief? Of disappointment? She didn’t want to think about it. Heat gathered between her legs. Her clit throbbed. She bit her tongue to stop from calling his name. Release was mere moments away. Heartbeats. But not from him. She pressed down, applying pressure and circling a little quicker. She thought of Tyler.
The tension built, faster, harder, higher. Tyler’s voice whispered in her ear. His hand caressed her breasts. Faster, harder. She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t think. The sensation peaked and crested.
Release shook her body. She shuddered as waves of relief flowed from her, and she swallowed her cries lest she call Tyler’s name.
And then she collapsed back on the sheets, exhausted.
An hour after Katie raced from the lounge, Tyler found her in the kitchen.
His dick still hurt from repressed desire. Christ, Katie’s touch b
urned him to his core. It left his willpower in a pile of ashes at his feet. The way she ran her hand over his back and rested it above his butt goddamn, it challenged every last bit of his self-control. She was still just as affected by him as she always had been. He saw it in her shocked face. Katie hadn’t meant to touch him she simply couldn’t stop herself.
Tyler steeled his resolve. He was determined not to have her until she and Steve called it quits. Yes, he’d made up his mind. Katie was still as attracted to him as ever. No doubt about it. Whatever she might share with Steve, she still desired Tyler. Which meant there was a chance for him. For them. And if there was a chance, he was going to take it. he’d do every damn thing possible to win Katie back except sleep with his best friend’s fiancé.
When he and Katie made love again, she would be a free woman.
Didn’t mean it would be easy. Hell, Katie would fight him every step of the way. She would not take the idea of hurting or betraying Steve lightly.
Tyler’s gut churned. He did not take the idea lightly either. His intentions choked him with guilt and shame. He was about to challenge his best mate for a woman. What gave him the right to destroy Steve’s happiness and future for the sake of his own? How could he justify fighting for the life he coveted if the expense of his victory was his friend’s happiness?
But how could he not fight for Katie? She was his destiny, not Steve’s.
Steve’s happiness lay in someone else’s hands.
“There you are,” he said to her. “I’ve been looking for you.”
She turned to face him “You have?”
“I…” His voice trailed off. He swallowed. “I…” Oh shit. Shit, shit, shit. He knew he was staring but he couldn’t look away.
Katie lay naked on his sheets. Her breath was more regular now, her body lethargic beside his. Christ, he loved watching her languish in the aftermath of her orgasms. Loved the glazed wantonness in her eyes, the reddish blush in her skin. Even now, almost thirty minutes later, her neck was stained a delicate pink, the fading remnants of her passion.
The telltale color tingeing her neck nearly choked him. He couldn’t find air.
The blood in his body emptied into his groin, again. Jesus, she’d been in her room with her door closed, and now her neck was flushed.
Count to ten, Bonnard. Count to ten, and breathe. Do it. Now!
Her cheeks turned the same color as her neck. “You you what?” she prompted in a strangled voice.
His gaze was glued to her neck. “Yeah, I, uh, I organized dinner.
Thai home delivery.” He flexed his fingers. Made a fist. Anything to stop himself from reaching out to her. “That okay with you?”
“Of course it is. Thank you.” Katie’s hand crept to her chest, covering her neck.
“Chicken with cashew nut and thin rice noodles still still your favorite?”
Jesus, he couldn’t think. couldn’t talk.
She nodded awkwardly.
“Good.” Finally he dragged his gaze up to meet her eyes. They were wild, desperate, and he was sure they mirrored his own. He leaned against the doorframe and flexed his hand again. Damn it, he wanted to haul her against him. Crush her belly against his dick. “Katie…”
She licked her lips nervously. “Uh, yeah?”
“Katie,” he said again, and dropped his gaze to her mouth. Her lips quivered, and he felt the tremble in his bones.
“Ty?”
He shook his head, forcing reason into his thoughts. he’d sought her out to tell her something. What? What the hell was it? “Are you doing anything Sunday morning?” Yeah, that was it.
She frowned. “Not that I know of.”
Sunday. Focus on Sunday. “Now you are. We’re going out.”
“Alone?” Her voice was fractionally louder than a squeak.
Did the idea of being alone with him frighten her? Good. “No, sweet Katie. Steve’s coming too.” Steve had to come. This might well be one of the last activities they did together as friends. After Ty made his move on Katie, Steve would, in all likelihood, despise him.
She nodded, relief evident in her face. “Where are we going?”
Huh, no way. If he told her, she’d never join them. “Don’t ask, my sweet. It’s a surprise.”
“Why not just tell me?” She looked pointedly out the window behind him, to where his motorbike was parked. “I wasn’t all that impressed with your last surprise.”
Ty frowned. What was it about the bike that Katie found so objectionable?
“We’re headed out of Sydney for the day, to do something you’ve never done before. You’ll love it, I promise. And don’t worry,” he reassured her. “We can take a car.” Of course she’d love it. No matter how ambivalent she might be at first, this was right up her alley.
She looked at him dubiously.
“Trust me.” He gave her a wicked grin. Katie smiled back. It fried his insides and did funny things to his balls.
“Well, as long as Steve’s coming…”
His grin faltered. Steve. Always Steve. Even when he wasn’t there, his presence lingered between them. “Make sure to wear something warm. It might be a little cold for a while.”
“Cold?”
“Don’t ask questions, Katie,” he chastised her. “You’ll ruin the surprise.”
“At least tell me if I need to dress smart for the occasion.”
Hell no. “Jeans or trackie daks and running shoes will do just fine.
One more thing I won’t be here tomorrow night.”
“You won’t?” she asked, perhaps a little too quickly.
“Nope, I have a business investment to look into.”
“At night? What kind of business takes place at night?”
Ah, was that a flare of jealousy in her voice? He hoped so. “A British conglomerate is opening a string of hotels in Australia. A casino, entertainment center setup, similar to Star City.” He pushed his desire to the back of his mind, focused on their conversation. “They want to build them all over the country, and they’ve approached us for capital.
One of my initial duties is to check out their first hotel. It opened in Manly about three months ago. He mentioned the name.”
Katie nodded. “Yeah, I know the place. Never been there, though.
There was bit of a media frenzy when they opened their doors. Lots of controversy about a multimillion-dollar hotel destroying the neighborhood.”
“That’s the one. We’re not sure if we want to invest yet. I’ll spend a couple of nights at the hotel to get a feel for the place, have meetings, do research, etcetera. They’ve offered me a few tickets for the show there Saturday evening. What do you say? Up for an evening of live entertainment?”
“On the company?” They’d seen countless shows together over the years. He knew she wouldn’t pass up this chance.
Panic flashed in her eyes. “Steve?”
He suppressed the wariness in his response. “Yeah, Katie. There’s a ticket for Steve as well.” Usually, Steve opted out of musicals, leaving Tyler and Katie to enjoy them alone. This time Ty suspected Steve would be happier joining them.
“I… Thank you. That will be lovely.”
She dropped her hand from her chest, revealing her flushed skin.
Ah, crap. So much for the control he’d regained while talking. He stared once more at her neck. Imagined its heat beneath his tongue, the honeyed sweetness of her flesh. She’d been in her room with the door closed, and she’d emerged with skin stained that delicate pink Get out of the kitchen, Bonnard. Quickly. She’s still engaged to Steve.
His legs wouldn’t carry him. For a long moment he could do nothing but stare and imagine and lust, until finally she shifted under his gaze.
He nodded slowly. “Good,” he said hoarsely, “I’m looking…” Her pulse jumped jerkily in her throat, matching the rhythm of his own heart.
“I’m…” Speech had become impossibly difficult. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I’m looking…” A
muscle ticked in his cheek. His subconscious told him again to get the hell out of the kitchen.
Two years of lust crashed over him, yanking his tortured dick even harder.
“I’m Damn it, Katie!” he growled. “Fuck. I shouldn’t do this!”
“Shouldn’t do…?”
Before she could finish, he hauled her into his arms. There was no time for protests. No time for regrets. The instant her body smashed into his, he kissed her.
Two years worth of restraint rose to the surface and erupted.
He held nothing back, kissed her with every desperate iota of passion he felt for her. Unexpectedly, she responded in kind. Her mouth seared his. Her lips burned a path of fiery destruction over his.
Her tongue was hot, demanding, and left him reeling in its assault.
Desire slammed through him, swift and certain, leaving no doubt that this was the only woman who could stir the fires of lust in his soul.
His balls constricted painfully as she ground her pelvis against his.
A kiss.
One kiss, and his body was ablaze. Burning with a desperate need to get closer. To fuck her.
She whimpered beneath the onslaught of his mouth and submitted to the demand of his tongue. Greedily, she accepted the invasion of his kiss, and he basked in the victory of his conquest. This was what he had craved for two years.
This, and so much more.
Her hands were in his hair, clamping his head to hers. The cold metal of her ring grazed his ear.
Shit!
Tyler tore his mouth from hers. She was still engaged to his best friend.
“Katie.” His voice was like gravel. “Fuck it, that wasn’t supposed to happen. Not yet.”
She whimpered.
His heart slammed into his ribs. “Shit. Katie, I didn’t mean to do that.”
Her body was limp as a dishrag, her eyes enormous. Her legs trembled beside his. It was all he could do to pull away from her. Damn, it was fucking impossible to let her go.
She gaped at him, fumbled blindly for a kitchen chair and collapsed into it.
He dragged a hand through his hair, hating himself for his weakness. That wasn’t supposed to happen, he said. His chest heaved unevenly beneath his ragged breath. Not yet.
