What the hell am I doing?
Managing to lift her hands, she placed them on his broad chest and pushed, wrenching her lips from his in the process. His chest heaved, his eyelids drooped lazily, his lips swollen. When they curled upward into a coy smile, Tessa thought this stranger was the sexiest man alive.
Panicking at the thought she might have found a dominant after all, a man who could make her lose control, lose her will to do anything but please him, she ducked underneath his arm and stepped away.
She turned to face him, raising her hands. “I'm sorry. I'm really sorry."
And she was. Sorry she couldn't be the woman he wanted. Her night of unbridled pleasure had come crashing down around her ears. Tears prickled in the corners of her eyes. Why did finding sexual satisfaction have to be so hard?
* * * *
Luc stared as the woman ran through the crowd. Hands reached out to stroke her and she slapped them away. Other people turned to glare at the woman who disrupted their enjoyment.
He watched her go, his cock raging. He was so hard, the pressure from his zipper bit into his swollen head. Not that Luc cared. An edge of pain added to the eroticism.
He could still taste her on his tongue, feel her passion and will to submit. Sure, it was buried deep, but a guy like him could always sense a woman's needs.
He wasn't a master, just a guy who liked some kink with his sex. Kink added variety and spice. Luc liked spice, and it made for an interesting addition. He was also a dominant. Not a master; he didn't live the lifestyle twenty-four/seven, but he did like to be in control.
Pressing the heel of his hand against his crotch, Luc shifted his weight. It had been months ... no, a year ... since he'd taken a woman. No one interested or fascinated him enough. Until now. Not until the woman with the practical, short dark hair and blazing blue eyes. Her buried needs called to his. She thought she was looking for a master. From the defiance in her eyes, a master wasn't really what she needed. What she needed was some kink, a man who could make her lose control. A dominant. A role he was very willing to perform.
She would be an interesting experiment. A way to ease himself back into the game.
A challenge.
Now all he needed to do was find her.
Chapter Two
"Big, juicy, hard, pert nipples. I cannot resist them. I'm a nipple addict. I just want to suck and lick. I even think about sliding my erection between their breasts and making love to them while those erect beauties poke up at me."
Dr. Tessa Connolly listened patiently to the man sitting on the opposite side of the desk. The monologue about his breast obsession, nipples in particular, rattled on and on. As a sex therapist, her job meant she had to listen and advise. Many patients, especially the males, tried to arouse her with descriptions. When they failed, they tried the shock approach. With ten years in the business, she had heard it all. There was little that could shock her.
Legs crossed, she sat, taking notes on how best to approach this case. Neil worked with a female swim team, so help for his problem was essential. Hard nipples abound in the cool arena of a swimming pool. If Neil planned to avoid temptation—and a lawsuit—she needed to refocus his attention on other things.
Easier said than done.
Right now he stared at her well covered breasts. Even though he could only distinguish the silhouette, his eyes were firmly glued to her chest. His tongue snaked out to lick his bottom lip. She resisted the urge to snap her fingers in his face.
Instead she coughed, clearing her throat. It diverted his attention from her womanly assets. “Well, Neil, I can see why this is classed as a problem."
He nodded. Strands of dirty blonde hair fell across his forehead. “And you can see why this is urgent?” He leaned forward, tapping his fingertips on the desk.
Tessa leaned back in her chair. “Yes, Neil, I can understand."
She had a knack for sensing difficult patients. Already Neil was heading for her “difficult clients” list. His sense of urgency, his agitation, made her wonder if she could ease his nipple craving.
When the timer signaled the end of their session, Tessa let out a huge mental sigh. Saved by the bell, at least for this week.
She closed her patient journal and stood, offering a professional hand to Neil. “Until next week. Please confirm your appointment with my secretary out front."
His sweaty palm slid against hers. He squeezed and pumped her hand with an annoying vigor. She wanted to rub the heel of her hand over her skirt, removing the excess fluid left behind.
"Thank you, Doctor Connolly. I'll definitely be back to see you next week.” Once again his gaze moved down to her breasts, his tongue licked his lower lip.
Tessa saw a lot of clients. It was very rare one gave her the creeps. Neil sparked all her feminine defense receptors. She made a mental note never to be completely alone when he was booked for a session.
She gave him a forced smile. “Good afternoon, Neil."
The door closed behind him, and Tessa sank into her chair. Removing her glasses, she leaned her head back, closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. The pressure relieved some of the tension headache jackhammering in her skull.
She couldn't get last night out of her mind. The look, taste, feel and scent of the stranger haunted her dreams. The images made her body ache with a desire so strong, not even frantic masturbation sessions could quell it. Just thinking about him sent her body into orgasmic overdrive. Underneath the demure suit, her nipples plumped, beaded. Her pussy became slick as she fantasized about what could have happened.
Ah, if only she'd had the courage to continue. She didn't doubt she would be purring with satisfaction right now instead of sitting here, imagining what could have been.
The buzz of her secretary's intercom broke the erotic reverie. “Dr. Connolly, your next patient is waiting. Should I send him in?"
Replacing her spectacles, she turned the journal to a fresh page and checked her date planner for a name. Luc Campbell was a new client. He'd called earlier for an urgent appointment, and as luck would have it, they had one free. He hadn't elaborated on the word urgent, and it wasn't her secretary's place to discuss confidential matters outside a session.
Writing his name on the top of a new page, Tessa answered the intercom call. “Yes, please send him in, Cally."
The door opened, and the gentleman closed it behind him. She could only see his back. Broad and muscular beneath what appeared to be an expensive black, Armani suit.
Sophisticated. Money. Those were the two impressions she formed.
Tessa stood and held out her hand to her latest client as he turned. Her breath hitched. Startling green eyes connected with hers. She'd seen those eyes not twenty-four hours ago at Inferno. The last time she had seen them, the man in question had pinned her to the wall and kissed her senseless.
Her gaze moved to those erotic, sensual lips—lips now curled into a smile. Oh yes, these same lips set a fire burning in her loins.
He walked toward her. His strides were long, confident. He slipped a warm hand in hers. No sweaty palms for this guy. Instead, his grip was firm, soothing and arousing at the same time. The zings were back. Only this time they were like great big clanging cymbals. Mr. Luc Campbell played havoc with her libido.
"Doctor Connolly. Thank you for seeing me at such short notice."
His voice still held a slight southern drawl. His voice gave him away. In the suit, he could be mistaken for a Wall Street trader, a banker, and a slick, sophisticated man who enjoyed fine wine and cheese boards. The packaging might scream money, but his voice and eyes held a rawness of character. Luc Campbell would always be a little rough around the edges.
The observation only excited her more.
Quelling erotic thoughts of ripping off his suit and taking a bite, she smiled. Releasing his hand, she gestured to a chair. “We had a free appointment. It's not a problem. Please, sit."
If she didn't sit, her knees would give way.
What could the man from the BDSM club want? More importantly, how did he find her? Chance? Coincidence? Or something more sinister?
She picked up a pen, her hand shaking. Tessa prayed she appeared professional. “Now, Mr. Campbell, what can I do for you?"
"Please, call me Luc.” He settled back and folded his hands over the edge of the chair. His gaze twinkled with a confidence that mesmerized her.
She raised an eyebrow and scowled. Whatever game he was playing, she refused to take the bait. “Luc it is. So, Luc, what can I do for you?"
She waited. He tilted his head to the side and steepled his fingers under his chin. Still, she waited. The silence lengthened. The only sound in the room a ticking clock.
"I met a woman. She fascinates me."
A woman? Tessa's heart skipped a beat. Did he mean her? She waited for him to continue. When he didn't, she swallowed and moistened her dry throat. “How does this woman fascinate you?"
Luc raked a hand through his hair, a gesture she'd found inherently sexy last night. She watched his hand move through the strands, the veins flexing across the skin, his fingers graceful. Oh yeah, the gesture was still sexy.
"She's beautiful and intelligent. Vulnerable yet passionate.” He turned his hands over and studied them a heartbeat before meeting her gaze. “I touched her, and she came alive in my hands. I could sense her need. Feel her desire. Taste her arousal. It was like the most expensive champagne bursting on my tongue. I wanted to swallow it, roll it around, devour it."
Tessa blinked. His passionate tirade made her body pulse with excitement. Who knew such simple words could sound so erotic?
Licking her suddenly dry lips, Tessa managed to ask, “And who is this woman?"
If he spoke another woman's name, she would hunt the bitch down and scratch out her eyes. Sexual tension became palatable in the room as they stared at each other.
"You."
Zings pinged, blood pounded and all manner of physical fireworks exploded in her body. Her nipples hardened to pebbled peaks. He neither spoke nor moved, just stared at her with those intense, green eyes.
Lost for words and painfully aroused, she made a playful doodle on her notepad, stalling for time, trying to construct a sophisticated and intelligent response. Even though her mind asked numerous silent questions, her body was intensely aware of his commanding, masculine presence.
What was a gal to do?
"Mr. Campbell ... Luc...” She dropped her pen and clasped her hands. “What happened last night at Inferno ... I don't usually ... it was..."
None of the sophisticated responses or reasons for her behavior came out of her mouth. Instead, the words were a muddled, stuttering mess.
Slick, Tessa, real slick.
Luc Campbell probably thought her a blithering idiot rather than an intelligent professional. No matter how hard she tried, Tessa couldn't find an excuse for kissing him. There was only one reason she'd molded herself against him like a limpet, and that reason was pure animal attraction. She'd been drawn to his dominance.
He smiled an almost smug smile. “I know what it was, Tessa. I know why you went there."
Annoyed at his presumptions, Tessa raised an eyebrow. “Do, please, enlighten me to any revelations you may have."
"I can give you what you need.” He shifted in his seat and curled his hands over the edge of the arms. “You have a submissive tendency, and you're in need of a dominant. I have a dominant streak, and I need a willing submissive. We both have what the other needs. I'm offering my services. Call it a contract if you want, a business arrangement."
She widened her eyes with a mixture of fascination and disbelief. “A business arrangement? And how would this arrangement work? Would you expect me to pay you?"
Luc let out a rich laugh. “You think I'm some sort of gigolo?"
Tessa shrugged. “The thought crossed my mind. Especially when you talk of ‘business arrangements.’”
Her comment only made him laugh louder and with more gusto.
Cheeks burning, Tessa managed to put on her don't-mess-with-me scowl. Something she reserved for over zealous clients and unwanted advances in BDSM clubs. “I'm so glad you find my comments amusing, Mr. Campbell. But, forgive me if I misunderstood, you came in here offering me ... sex ... and then you mentioned contracts. So in essence, you want payment for having sex with me?” She couldn't keep the dripping sarcasm out of her tone. “I really don't see the humor in that."
There. She'd said it. Got it all off her chest.
"Money is the last thing on my mind right now, Dr. Connolly."
Tessa frowned at his casual amusement. “Then what exactly is on your mind, Mr. Campbell?"
He removed a speck of lint from his pants. Tessa tapped her foot with impatience as she waited for him to say something. She had a full schedule the next few days, and if Luc was here just to play games, he'd picked the wrong female.
"Sex is on my mind, Tessa. Specifically, sex with you. As I've already said, I'm a guy who likes to play dominant. I'm in need of a partner. You, to be precise.” He placed his palms on the desk and stood, leaning into her. She could smell his breath, minty fresh mixed with a hint of coffee and cigarettes. “I want sex with you."
Her jaw dropped at his outrageous words. He wanted sex? No man had ever been bold enough to give her such a command. By the look in his eyes, she knew he was a commanding Alpha male. One who always got what he wanted, no matter what.
"And how are you going to get what you want?” Her heart pounded, banged against her ribcage. Surely he could hear it.
His body, his scent and his presence played havoc with her hormones. Her body, ripe for the taking, begged silently for him to take and take.
The predatory grin returned, curling his lips upward into a coy smile. “I'm offering you a deal, Tessa. A deal of sexual mastery. Give me one month of your time to teach you, train you and show you exactly what a Dominant/submissive relationship involves. Give me one month, and I'll show you just how good sexual submission can be."
Her mind reeled. He offered her everything she desired on a platter, gift wrapped in a pretty package. From his spiky dark hair to his toned legs, from his sexy southern accent to his commanding presence, she found everything about him appealing on a base level. Her body responded to his in a way it never responded to her previous lovers.
Could she really sleep with a total stranger?
Tessa frowned. “What would you get from this arrangement, apart from the obvious, of course?"
He shrugged. “I get a willing submissive. A partner. Someone to share the experience with.” He grinned. “I'm all about the experience."
It was Tessa's turn to laugh. “You must want something more than that."
He returned her smile. “I'm going to be getting great sex. What more could any guy want?"
A blush darkened her cheeks. She'd been fighting the desire to experiment in this area for years, fighting the will to give into her needs. Wanting someone to dominate her hadn't been high on her list of priorities until recently, until her last sexual partner failed time and time again to bring her to orgasm. He left claiming she was frigid. An ice queen. He failed to realize he couldn't fulfill her needs.
The will to be dominated was most definitely a need, a craving she repressed for the fear of losing control, of losing herself to the intense emotion she knew submitting would bring. A little submission in the bedroom she could handle; being forced to submit out in the real world was a tough cookie to swallow. Her fear had always held her back. She'd spent enough time wondering what if?
The time for self-doubt was over. Luc Campbell offered her the perfect deal. Sex with him would allow her to explore the what if and move on with her sex life. There would be no more wondering.
Moistening her lips, she decided to go for broke. “So, if I decided to accept, there would have to be ground rules. I would expect you to be discreet."
He nodded. “Of course. Goes without saying. We both have a professional fa
çade to maintain."
Tessa wondered what profession he meant. She filed that question away for a later date. “And if I accept, I want you to know that the Dominant/submissive thing goes only as far as the bedroom. I will not be your ... bitch. I will not wear a collar or be led around on a leash and made to eat out of a bowl on the floor. Our relationship will not extend outside of the bedroom."
"Of course. Our relationship will be based purely on sex and sex alone.” The amused tone crept back in his voice.
"This is not a joke, Mr. Campbell. I'm merely discussing the terms of our arrangement before embarking on anything."
"Very shrewd of you, Tessa.” He reached into his suit pocket, pulled out a pen and searched for a piece of paper on her desk. Finishing off, he signed the paper and handed it over. “The terms of our arrangement. A discrete, sexually experimental relationship that does not extend beyond the bedroom. Signed, sealed and delivered by yours truly. I can assure you it's a legally binding contract, ma'am."
Despite the embarrassment of the situation, his quirky sense of humor made her smile.
He held out a hand. She stared at it intently. Decisions were a pain the ass. Should she make a deal with the green-eyed devil? Should she embark on this dance?
Taking a deep breath, Tessa slipped her hand into his and shook, sealing the deal.
What the hell if he turned out to be some kind of sick pervert. Well, she just might enjoy it. “You have yourself an arrangement, Mr. Campbell."
"First thing's first, it's Luc.” His gaze glittered mischievously. “Until we hit the sack.” He winked and smiled.
Tessa gulped. The man was astoundingly sexy. “So, where do we start, Luc?"
"We start with dinner, tomorrow night at eight.” He handed her a business card. “I'll pick you up at seven thirty."
Printed on a dark gold background, she read the plain script. The only things printed on there were Inferno, Luc Campbell and a phone number.
Dinner was the last thing she expected. Leather, whips and a seedy motel maybe, but not dinner. A little stunned, Tessa fingered the card and nodded.
Devil's Dance Page 2
