Learning Curves

by Cathryn Fox

  Her body stiffened and she eyed him carefully. “Why?”

  “If you don’t, word could get out that a Rays employee was in the skybox rooting for the other team.”

  Her heart slammed. Bastard. “You wouldn’t.”

  He held his hands out, palms toward her, the image of innocence when he said, “Hey, I’m not saying I would tell.”

  She put her hands on her hips and glared at him. “What do you want?”

  “Bet me.” His gaze dropped to her mouth, that dirty, promising smile of his teasing her sex. “My team against yours.”

  What the… Okay, she was pretty damn certain this exchange was sexual. But it didn’t make sense. She wasn’t even his type, and in all the times they crossed paths, he’d barely spoken to her.

  “What is that supposed to mean?” she asked, needing clarification.

  “If my team scores before overtime, I win, and you’re mine for the weekend.”

  His for the weekend?

  Her mind raced with hot, sexy images, like him holding her against the wall while he did depraved, corrupt things to her body. She swallowed. How tempting.

  “And if I win?” she asked, sounding far more winded than she would have liked.

  “Then I’m yours for the weekend. You can use me any way you want.”

  “I do have a toilet that needs to be cleaned.”

  He leaned into her and flashed her a feral, merciless smile as his gaze settled on her mouth. “Sure, but I’d rather fuck,” he said, his voice a devious hush orchestrated to fluster her.

  Mission accomplished. His dirty words, ones that should have offended, spurred a need deep between her legs, and it was all she could do not to hand herself over to him, to let him own every inch of her for the weekend.

  He wanted to fuck her? Seriously? She had to be hallucinating. This couldn’t be happening. Could it?

  He looked her dead in the eyes. “Deal?”

  She bit her lip before she hissed yes, please.

  The clock was ticking down, and the only way she could lose was if the Rays suddenly scored, and no way in hell was that going to happen this late in the game.

  Damn shame.

  She nodded. “Fine. You’re on.”

  They turned to watch the game, and she held her breath as the Rays made a play. Gaze riveted, she watched the action below, but it was hard to concentrate. With the puck in play, her lashes briefly fluttered shut, an attempt to wipe away the erotic visions still dancing in her mind’s eye. I’d rather fuck. When her eyes opened, the Rays’ defense sent the puck down the ice. Cheers erupted in the stadium as it crossed center ice. The Rays’ right wing snagged it and took a shot. It dented the top of the net, and bounced out. The goalie dived, but failed to stop the shot by the winger. He shoots. He scores. Pulling off a last minute win for the Rays—and for Linc.

  “Oh my God,” she said, her words tumbling out on a whisper. “I can’t believe it.”

  “How does seven sound?”

  She turned to find him with an unapologetic and deadly grin on his face. She wasn’t sure whether she wanted to smack, or kiss, it off.

  “What?” she asked.

  “Does seven work for you?”

  “Seven?” she asked, her brain working hard to catch up.

  “Do you like sushi?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good. Pack a bag. I’ll pick you up at seven, and we’ll start with sushi.”

  Start? Wait. A bag?

  “I’ll get your address from Kelli.”

  “You’ll get what from me?” Kelli asked as she came back with two hot dogs—one half-eaten. When neither spoke, her gaze bobbed between the two. “Wait, what did I miss?”

  Heart racing, Lauren shook her head then slapped away a few tendrils of hair that slipped from her bun.

  “Nothing,” she said quickly. “We just…I…”

  Linc gestured toward the ice. “We had a friendly bet on the outcome of the game.”

  “Really?” Kelli dabbed mustard from her bottom lip and handed Linc his footlong. “It’s not like you to gamble.” She eyed Lauren. “So, I take it you lost.”

  Oozing confidence, Linc leaned in, and her gaze flashed to his. “I wouldn’t exactly say that.” His voice was powerful and rough, a clue to the kind of sex he liked.

  God, it’s crazy how he makes me feel so…needy.

  A small, blissful noise escaped Lauren’s throat as she worked to speak, but since she couldn’t seem to form a coherent sentence, she shut her mouth.

  “I don’t understand. Who won?” When they remained silent, Kelli bit into her hot dog, her brow furrowed. She chewed, swallowed, then asked, “What the hell is going on between you two?”

  “We…” Linc began, but then someone from the other side of the room called out to him. Linc shifted his focus and nodded to Michael as the Rays’ owner sauntered their way. He turned back to them. “I need to speak with Michael.” He turned to Lauren, his grin cocky, hot as a Miami summer. Her pulse leaped as he dipped his head, his mouth inches from her ear. “And for the record, Lauren. I’d like to think we both won.”

  She was pretty sure she won, but what about him? She had no idea how to please a guy like Linc. “I’m pretty sure it’s your loss,” she mumbled without thinking, her gaze going to her feet.

  His head jerked back. “What are—?”

  “Linc,” Michael said, stepping up to him and giving him a friendly pat to the shoulder. “Lauren, Kelli,” he said, greeting them as well.

  They exchanged pleasantries then Kelli said, “If you’ll excuse us.” She shoved her arm through Lauren’s and dragged her to a private spot in the corner. Lauren blindly followed, her legs as shaky as her brain.

  Kelli lowered her voice and asked, “What the hell is going on?”

  She snuck a glance at Linc and found him watching her—a stare that was dark, explicit and promised no reprieve. Arousal flashed, and she fought off the urge to run to the bathroom to touch herself. She breathed deep, let it out slowly.

  “I don’t know,” she said to Kelli. “It all happened so fast. One minute we were watching the game and the next thing I know we were betting on it. Now he won me for the weekend.”

  Kelli hissed in a breath, her dark eyes saucer-wide. “Won you?”

  “Yeah. Then I think we agreed on seven o’clock, and there was something about sushi, and me packing a bag.”

  “Ohmigod, are you saying what I think you’re saying?”

  She folded her arms and leaned against the wall for support. “I don’t know what I’m saying.”

  “Lauren…he wants you. In his bed.” With a wicked, “I told you so” grin, she clapped her hands. Lauren grabbed her arms and lowered them.

  “Stop it. He’s watching us.”

  “Yeah, I know. Jesus, look at the way he’s staring at you. He’s going to straight up nasty fuck you.” Kelli winked. “Be sure to take your vitamins and get your protein. I think it’s going to be a long, hard weekend sex-a-thon.”

  She was sure it was going to be long and hard. And she could pretty much bet he took his woman rough and left her limp. No permission. No forgiveness.

  Her pulse leaped with anticipation. “I can’t have sex with him,” she whispered.

  “Why the hell not?” she asked, her voice a little too loud.

  “Shh…”

  Kelli threw her hands out, palms up. “Look, you’re consenting adults, and you need to get laid. So what’s the problem here?”

  Oh, just that Linc probably fucks like a god. Wait. What was the problem again? Her glance briefly flitted to Linc’s. Blue eyes met hers, and she tore her gaze away. Oh yeah, right. He was out of her league. How humiliating would it be to bore a guy like Linc. “I just…can’t.”

  “Okay, how about this. I dare you.”

  “You dare me? What are you, twelve?”

  “No, I’m twenty-six, and so are you. And if you don’t do this, you’re going to be brushing cobwebs from between your legs whe
n your next birthday rolls around.”

  “That’s disgusting.”

  “Exactly. And wear that sexy panty set I got you for your last birthday. I bet you haven’t even taken it out of the box. Have you?”

  She shook her head, and Kelli rolled her eyes. “Well, pack them.” She thought for a second and then looked at Lauren’s feet. “And take a couple pairs of hot shoes with you, too. Barely there undies and hooker heels drive a guy wild.” Kelli opened her purse, grabbed several condoms and shoved them in Lauren’s bag. “Here, take these, too, and I don’t want any of them to come back with you.”

  Lauren stood there, not knowing what to say. It was too mortifying to tell her friend that the one and only man she’d slept with dumped her because she was timid and unresponsive between the sheets. Sexy panties, platform shoes, and a bag full of condoms weren’t going to change that. Since that horrible incident, she’d kept her head down and her mind on her work. She never wanted to go through that embarrassment again.

  Kelli turned Lauren toward the door. “Go home. Shave your legs, then let that man fuck the common sense out of you.”

  A shove from behind had her moving through the dwindling crowd. Forcing one foot in front of the other, she walked to the door, her mind spinning a million miles an hour. She was an intelligent woman, graduated cum laude, but when it came to sex she… She shook her head, having a hard time wrapping her brain around this unexpected turn of events.

  Maybe she could use this opportunity to learn something?

  Eyes down, lost in thought, she smacked into something very solid. She bounced back, but a hand reached out to help her. “Sorry,” she said quickly, and glanced up to see none other than her ex-boyfriend, Matthew Maynard, staring at her, his arm draped around his new girlfriend.

  Crap. I so do not need this right now. She’d gone two whole months without running into him, and even though they were both going to the same engagement dinner a week from tonight, she’d been hoping never to see him again. But her cousin Gabe—Matthew’s best friend—was the one who’d set them up last year, and since he was family she couldn’t get out of his party.

  “Lauren,” Matthew said. “How many times have I told you, you need to watch where you’re going?”

  “I didn’t mean…” What the hell? She didn’t need to apologize to him.

  He made a tsking sound. “You’re like the absent-minded professor. Always lost in thought. Some things never change.” With a brush of his hand he slicked his hair back, stole a glimpse of himself in the mirror behind the bar, and pulled his girlfriend in closer.

  What did I ever see in him?

  She was about to excuse herself and step around him when he said, “This is Jessica.”

  Lauren forced a smile. The woman smoothed her hand over her long blond curls and flashed a perfect smile.

  “Jessica, this is Lauren. You know, Lauren Neill.”

  “Oh.” Jessica swayed slightly, the hem on her short, flirty dress swaying as her eyes flitted over Lauren’s clothes. “I should have guessed.”

  Even though the once-over made her uncomfortable, it wasn’t in Lauren’s nature to be rude, so she held her hand out. “Nice to meet you, Jessica.”

  “You, too,” she said, sandwiching Lauren’s hands between hers and flashing a giant rock that had to cost as much as Matthew’s Porsche.

  She sucked in a quick breath and tried to sound normal. “I guess congratulations are in order.”

  “Thank you.” Jessica held her hand out and beamed.

  Taking the higher road Lauren said, “Your ring is beautiful.”

  Jessica snuggled into Matthew, placed her hand on his chest, and in a disgusting display of affection, giggled as she kissed him on the mouth. “My baby is so good to me.”

  “That’s because you’re good to me,” he murmured back, giving her a little slap on the ass. She yelped and giggled again.

  Okay, you’re having great sex. I get it. No need to rub it in.

  Matthew adjusted his tie. “The wedding is at the end of next month. You should come.”

  Was he serious? Why the hell would she want to go to his wedding?

  “Oh. Thanks but I…uh…have plans.”

  Matthew guffawed. “Really?”

  The bastard didn’t believe her. She could have plans. She took a breath to compose herself before she kicked him in the shins. If she wasn’t a lady…

  “Yes, I have—”

  Matthew rolled one shoulder and cut her off. “I’m sure any plans you have can be broken, but I do understand why you wouldn’t want to come. It’s no fun sitting at the singles table.” His gaze left her face and traveled the length of her. “My cousin Frank will be there. You remember Frank don’t you? The boring banker? You two might really hit it off. You both have a lot in common.”

  Asshole.

  “As a matter of fact, I can’t break my plans. I’ll be away with my boyfriend,” she blurted out.

  “There you are.” Linc stepped in between her and Matthew, and she stiffened when he bent and pressed his lips to her temple. Warm breath fanned over her face when he whispered, “Follow my lead.”

  “Linc,” she said, realizing he was coming to her rescue. Thank you. Playing along she said, “You surprised me.”

  He slid his hand around her waist and pulled her tight against him. Oh wow, that felt nice. “Did you think you could sneak out of here without kissing me good-bye?”

  Take that Matthew.

  Lauren mimicked Jessica’s giggle. That’s right. She’d taken drama in high school and was a quick study. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

  He cupped her chin, his thumb brushing her lower lip. Damn. His touch was incredibly hot. She relaxed into him, and he dropped the hottest, firmest kiss onto her mouth. His tongue coaxed her lips open, then pushed inside. Barbed pleasure spiked through her as he took control. Powerful and rough, demanding and greedy, the man took without asking. She reveled in the taste, relished in the danger.

  When he finally broke the kiss, she stood there panting, He inched back, looking as powerful and composed as ever, and said, “You know I’d never make it through the afternoon without kissing you again.”

  “Same,” she whispered, desperate for an encore.

  She tipped her face up, offering him her mouth, and he bent, taking it again. What the hell am I doing? His lips lightly brushed hers this time, a soft caress that would have sent her to her knees had he not been holding her. When a needy sound caught in her throat, he pulled her tighter and deepened the kiss. Holy hell. She’d been prepared to put on a show but nothing could have prepared her for a kiss like this. Her lids slipped shut. If she was dreaming, she never wanted to wake.

  Linc broke the kiss, leaving cold where there was once heat. With her mouth still poised open, her lids flickered, and she found him smiling down at her. Eyes a deeper shade of blue than they’d been moments before moved over her face. She licked her bottom lip, savoring the taste of him.

  “So I’ll see you at seven?”

  “Can’t wait,” she said, breathlessly.

  He straightened and turned, and when he caught her ex staring at him, his mouth agape, Linc gave him a sheepish look and said. “Oh, sorry. I didn’t see you there.” Linc chuckled and held his hand out. “That’s what she does to me.” Matthew shook Linc’s hand. “I’m Linc Blair.”

  “I…I know who you are,” Matthew said, his gaze darting between the two. “I didn’t know…you were seeing each other.”

  “That’s because we’ve been keeping it a secret.” He faced Lauren, his gaze suggestive, as he ran the backs of his knuckles over her cheek. A surge of heat moved through her, and if she knew what was good for her, she’d turn and run as fast as she could. “I’m not ready to share this beautiful woman with the world just yet.” He turned his attention to Matthew’s fiancée.

  As Matthew continued to stare, Lauren struggled to pull herself together long enough to do the introductions. She cleared her throat. “Linc, t
his is Jessica.”

  Jessica slid her hand into Linc’s. Her blatant appraisal of the man towering over them all brought a scowl to Matthew’s face. “Nice to meet you,” she purred.

  Polite, yet not giving Jessica the attention she was so clearly used to, he gave her hand a quick shake and dragged Lauren back into his arms, planting his pelvis firmly against her stomach. “Speaking of tonight, why don’t you wear that blue dress,” Linc said. “You know how much I love that one on you.” He winked. “And off you.”

  She chuckled, went up on tiptoe, and pressed her lips to his. “As long as you don’t pop the buttons again when you’re tearing it off me. It took forever to find them on your kitchen floor.”

  They were trying to get a reaction out of Matthew, but her words seem to do something to Linc. His nostrils flared, and he bent, purposely putting his mouth near her ear, like his words were meant for her and her alone. “Leave your hair up. I want to be the one to take it down.”

  Chapter Two

  Linc stood there trying to remember how to breathe as Lauren walked out of the skybox. His gaze dropped to the lush curves hidden behind her tight skirt. Christ, she had the sweetest, sexiest ass he’d ever laid eyes on, and this weekend he was going to spank it, knead it, bite it—selfishly own the fucking hell out of it. Every stroke and thrust would be deep, forbidden, greedy. Oh yeah, this weekend she was his, and he was damn well going to keep her in his bed and do the dirtiest things to her. He sucked in a ragged breath as his cock throbbed in anticipation.

  Damn if he hadn’t been waiting for a year for this. She was a tough one, always avoiding him when he neared. But he’d gotten to know her through Kelli and her stories about their college days, and he wanted to explore that sexy accountant and find out if she was as responsive as he believed she might be.

  “If you’ll excuse us,” Matthew grumbled, pushing past Linc and making his way to the bar. Jessica gave him a flirtatious little finger wave as she trailed behind. He shook his head. The two were made for each other.

  Truthfully, he never did like Matthew, and it was all he could do not to punch him in the throat for treating Lauren with such disrespect. Matthew owned a sports store that Linc’s company supplied with athletic products, and he’d seen him at the skybox with Lauren in the past. There was something about the guy that had rubbed Linc the wrong way. Perhaps it was the way he always paid more attention to himself than anyone else—especially Lauren. Linc might be a lot of things, but he knew how to treat a woman, and a woman like Lauren deserved only the best. He drove his hands into his pockets, and watched Matthew slide onto a stool. He wasn’t sure why he’d noticed so much when it came to Lauren, only that he had.