Seduction's Stakes

by Claire Ashgrove

  "I'm starved. Holler when you're hidden in that tub. I want to use the walk-in shower. We can eat sooner that way."

  "Um..."

  Her hesitant response provoked a rumble of his laughter. “For God's sake, Maddie, don't you know the only time it's safe to be naked around a man is when he's hungry?"

  "Whatever."

  He smiled at her derisive little snort.

  Still chuckling, he returned to the parlor to unfold his collapsible suit bag and hang his race day Armani in the closet. Tomorrow, he'd take it down to the front desk and ask the concierge to have it pressed. With a swift flick of his wrists, he shook out a more casual pair of khaki trousers and laid them over the back of the cream-colored couch. Then, he smoothed out a grey-blue cotton shirt and grabbed a pair of socks and lightweight cotton boxers.

  With an impatient sigh, he glanced first at the bathroom door, and then investigated the small parlor for something to munch on. Spying a foil package of peanuts in a basket on the lamp table, he ripped it open, devouring them in two handfuls. Enough to take the edge off, but not nearly enough to get rid of his pressing headache.

  He checked the clock again. Maddie had been in the bathroom twenty minutes now. Surely she was actually in the deep tub, and he could dart into the shower. He'd be out before she was, if she really needed that long to bathe. Bending over, he pulled off his boots and socks.

  Frowning, he went to the door and opened it once again. “I'm coming in."

  He didn't wait for her to respond and swung the door wide. As he stepped into the steam-filled room, the marble floor felt cool beneath his feet. Facing the vanity, he caught the briefest glimpse of her blond hair to his right, before she sunk down into the water chin-deep. He fastened his gaze on the shower in the left hand corner. He would not look. Would not give in to temptation. Would not investigate whether the water covered her soft breasts or rose just below them.

  Shower, Riley. Not sex, he instructed as he spun the faucets on. He'd just pretend she wasn't here. Quick in and out, towel-dry hair, and forget she was all wet in the corner.

  A splash behind him spoiled his illusion. He stiffened, catching himself as he started to turn around. Do not look, Riley Jennings. With a deep fortifying breath, he shucked his clothes and stepped into the hot spray, shutting the glass door behind him.

  Safely enclosed, he gave in. His gaze cut sideways, but the rippled glass revealed only a vague outline of her tanned body. Damn.

  As he showered, he watched her. She lifted an arm, sponging it off, the trickle of water somehow permeating through his own splashing. A leg came next. Long and lean, she set it on the edge of the tub. Shaving, he guessed. Making those sinfully beautiful appendages even more alluring. The other followed, with another soft splash.

  Knowing he shouldn't watch only made her more tempting. God, the things he'd like to do with that body.

  She sank down in the water, and all he could see was her hair and the golden hue of her face. He pictured how she must look—eyes closed, lips parted slightly, the hair framing her face dampened from both washing and the steam. Like she might look after...?

  He stopped the thought as his cock answered with an anticipatory twinge. Glancing down at his half-aroused state, he swore beneath his breath. He had to get out of here, put some distance between them before he forgot himself and couldn't.

  She sighed. A soft throaty sound, filled with contented pleasure, that went straight to his groin and left him rock hard.

  Raking one hand through his soaked hair, he turned the shower off with annoyance. He reached one hand up to snatch the towel off the top of the door and found nothing. He'd been so focused on ignoring her, that he'd left the damned thing in the rack, he realized.

  Shit!

  He'd never get out of the shower without her noticing. And he damn sure didn't feel like asking her to turn around so he could escape. That was the stuff kids did. Pardon me, Maddie, but I don't want you to see me naked. He almost snorted. Grown men didn't care who saw them unclothed.

  Across the room, a little splash set his nerves on end. Good Lord, this was ridiculous—almost laughable. He hadn't even touched her, and he wanted her. He felt like a schoolboy staring at his first porn magazine. That had been the first, and last time, he'd been confronted with such an embarrassing lack of self-control.

  No way around it, she was going to know. Better to just get it over with and exit as if getting out of the shower with an unwarranted erection happened on a regular basis. Although, he probably ought to warn her given he had forgotten the towel.

  "Maddie, I'm getting out now. I forgot my towel."

  The water sloshed in response, and her blurry silhouette turned around.

  He opened the door and stepped outside, only to confront the most breathtaking sight he'd ever seen. Her shoulders peeked just above the tub's edge, and that glorious hair was piled atop her head in a loose mass. Water droplets clung to her skin, dripped down her long neck, like spots of dew on a morning leaf. But what drew his attention the most were the foamy suds surrounding her. Bubbles. Dear God, the damnable woman had bubbles in that bath.

  "Maddie?” he asked through his tightening throat.

  "Hm?"

  He closed his eyes, hoping when he opened them she'd be gone. A vision he'd imagined. When he looked again, his gut twisted. Funny, he wasn't hungry anymore.

  * * * *

  The hair along the back of Maddie's neck rose in the silence that fell over the bathroom. He hadn't moved nor had he answered her, and she felt the heat of his gaze boring into her back. It burned so fiercely her skin tingled.

  She shouldn't have watched him undress. Shouldn't have stared at him while he showered. Yet, she could no more look away than she could turn around and look at him right now. Her heart beat a little faster as she listened to his silent footsteps.

  Right behind her now. She closed her eyes to the chill that crept down her spine. In her mind, she saw his broad shoulders, his narrow waist, and his tight buttocks. No man should be created that way. Beautiful was all she could think of. Like a fine piece of Greek art.

  His hands slid across her shoulders, and she felt his breath fall against the side of her neck. “I lied. You aren't safe at all."

  She shivered at his whisper and again when he pressed his lips against the side of her throat. His fingertips crept down her arms, creating goose bumps in their wake as they inched closer to the water. Beneath the thick layer of suds, his hands cupped her breasts, massaging gently. They tightened beneath his touch, and she opened her eyes as he slid his thumb across her hardened nipples.

  Tipping her head sideways, she met his darkened gaze. His usually soft brown eyes glimmered a near black. He lowered his lashes long enough to brush a kiss against her shoulder, then looked up at her once more. One hand skimmed lower down her body, and her stomach clenched as he trailed a finger through her womanly curls with a feather-light caress. She couldn't hold back a soft gasp.

  His teeth nipped at the junction of her neck and shoulders, but he soothed the bite with the tip of his tongue. Oh, God, this wasn't happening. Why wasn't she stopping him?

  A shock of pleasure surged through her as he slid his finger across her clit, stroking with slow deliberateness.

  "Do you have any idea the things I want to do to you?” Low and husky, his voice added to the magic of his hands.

  She lifted her hips a little, seeking more of his touch, and he delved ever so slightly inside of her. Answering his question, she shook her head.

  "Oh, Maddie,” he murmured as he kissed his way along her jaw. “I want to make you come until you can't anymore.” He caught her lower lip in his and gave it a playful tug. “I want to bury myself deep inside you, time and again, until I'm so exhausted I can't move."

  The tip of his tongue danced across her lips as heat rolled through her. Between her legs, his hands and fingers caressed and explored, sending short bursts of ecstasy coursing through her body. She wriggled against him, chas
ing his taunting promise.

  "And that's just the beginning,” he said against her mouth.

  She parted her lips, aching to feel his mouth settle across hers before she climaxed against his hand. God, she didn't want that impersonal release. Yet, she was so close. “Riley,” she whispered, fighting off the pull of surrender. “Get in the tub."

  He caught her mouth as she tugged at his shoulder, drawing her into a slow, sideways kiss. His tongue stroked against hers with the same slow determination of his hand. Her womb clenched, and she arched her hips into his palm, rubbing herself against him. He tore his mouth away, and she reached for him, but the awkward angle of their position made it too easy to evade her searching grasp. “Not yet, darlin'."

  "Riley, please. Before I...” Her voice caught as her release claimed her. She leaned her head back against his shoulder and closed her eyes, lost to it. But before her flesh stopped quivering, he eased her forward and lowered himself into the tub, sitting before her.

  He kissed her, claiming her in fiery abandon. With an effortless motion, he lifted her into his lap. Through her haze of fulfillment, she felt his erection press against her, hard and insistent. As he let loose of her hips to wind his arms around her, he slid slowly inside, stretching her aroused flesh to accommodate him until he was buried deep—just as he'd promised.

  She trembled. He felt so good, so warm.

  Leaning back against the support of his arms, she broke their kiss and smiled. “You taste like peanut butter."

  He chuckled as he lifted a soapy hand to the top of her head and freed her hair. “You feel like heaven."

  Her cheeks flushed in response, but before she could stammer an embarrassed reply, his hands fastened around her hips, lifting her. The feel of his length sliding away, then slipping back in, as he lowered her down into his lap provoked her into a soft moan. She wrapped her legs around his waist and squirmed. He inhaled a long, ragged breath, and his fingers curled into her waist.

  His mouth found hers, hungry and demanding, and he brought one hand up between their bodies to gently knead her breast. She wound her arms around him, running her palms over the hardened planes of his strong shoulders, delighted by the way they bunched and pulled. She could touch him for days and never tire of it.

  She rocked against him, and he drove his hips up into her. Her senses reeled. He felt good. So deep. So blissfully deep and so little room separated them elsewhere. Just the air. She sighed in contentment.

  Hot and moist, his lips drifted across her cheek, brushing their way to her throat. She tipped her head, giving him the freedom he desired, fluttering her eyes closed.

  "Riley, I can't do this here."

  That was all it took. In the next heartbeat he lifted her out of the tub and strode toward the bed, still buried inside her, oblivious to the puddles they left behind.

  Bracing one knee on the bed, he leaned her backwards. She fell, willingly, drawing him with her. His skin melded with hers, his weight molding into her body like he'd been created just for her pleasure. She arched closer, consumed by need.

  He thrust forward, a rumble of pleasure low in his throat.

  "Like this, angel?” he murmured against her cheek.

  She answered with another upward thrust of her hips. Yes. God, yes.

  The catch in his breath brought her eyes open, and she looked up to find him biting down on his lower lip, the effort of restraint etched into his features. She caught his face between her fingertips and waited for him to look at her. When he did, the tenderness in his brown eyes left her trembling.

  "Let go with me, Riley."

  As he dropped his head and drew her into a tantalizing kiss, he groaned. His body responded to her quiet instruction, sinking into her with abandon. Each demanding plunge spiraled her further, provoked her closer, until she thought she might literally crumble to pieces in his arms.

  Her climax took her by storm, and she dug her nails into his shoulders, desperate to ground herself somehow. A soft cry fell from her lips, and Riley curled his body into hers with a gasp. He went rigid beneath her hands, and a smile stole across her face as she bathed in the feel of him.

  He collapsed against her, lying still as she trailed her fingertips along his back and listened to the sound of his breathing. God, what heaven. She'd never believed one man could give such pleasure.

  [Back to Table of Contents]

  CHAPTER NINE

  After a few moments, Riley lifted to his elbows and showered Maddie's face with light kisses. “Maddie, that was incredible."

  "Mm.” She gave him a lazy smile. “I thought you were hungry?"

  With a deep laugh, he withdrew from her and rolled onto his side. “I am. Think you'll let me take you to dinner now?"

  Joining him in laughter, she leaned on her elbow and gave his shoulder a playful punch. “I don't think I was the one that delayed our dinner."

  "Are you accusing me of something?” He batted his eyes, turning an innocent expression her way.

  Maddie looped her arms around his neck and scooted closer to him to brush her lips across his. “I am, Riley Jennings."

  He draped one arm around her waist and closed his eyes, his humor temporarily displaced. So different than a few moments before, his kiss was soft, tender, as if he sought to savor the fleeting moment. Something deep inside Maddie stirred, awakened by the gentle caress.

  When he eased the kiss to a lingering close, he touched his forehead to hers and gazed down at her. His eyes were softer now, their ale color rich with sated passion. “Shall we get dressed?"

  She nodded. Disentangling herself from the comfort of his body, she sat up and pulled her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around them. Riley slid off the bed, retrieved his clothes from the sitting room, and reappeared with a smile. “Don't mind if I dress in here, do you?"

  "No,” she answered on a chuckle.

  As he pulled on his boxers, she watched. The elastic waistband hugged its way up his muscular thighs to snap neatly over his ass. Even covered, it was scrumptious. He tugged his khakis on, hiding her view, and she settled her gaze on his broad back with a delighted sigh. What had Sybil said? His body was made for orgasms. Sybil had been right.

  She'd had sex with Riley Jennings. Unbelievable sex. Her smile faded. Unprotected sex. Shit. Rolling back through the early hours of the day she breathed a little better as she remembered she'd taken her birth control this morning, but still—Nate had been the only person she'd had unprotected sex with, and that was after almost a year of dating.

  "Maddie, are you going to get dressed?” Riley asked, turning around.

  "Ah,” she stammered. “Yeah.” She crept off the bed, trying to shrug off the uncomfortable realization. Why didn't Riley seem concerned? Did that mean he was used to frivolous encounters like this? Damn, why couldn't the dawning wait a while? She wanted to enjoy the memory of sleeping with him, not spoil it so suddenly.

  She tugged her dress off its hanger and slipped the lightweight sundress over her head. Wriggling it down over her hips, she crossed to her suitcase and dug through in search of some panties. But as she rummaged through her clothes, she couldn't keep her mind focused. Could only dwell on how careless she'd been. Frustrated, she tossed a handful of socks into her suitcase and stared at the jumbled clothes.

  "Angel, are you all right?” Riley appeared at her shoulder and brushed her hair away from her neck.

  She shrugged off his hand. “Fine."

  As she started to edge past him, he caught her wrist and spun her around to face him. “No you don't,” he protested. “Not after making love to me. I won't have you clamming up. What's bugging you?"

  Giving in to a frown, she let her shoulders slump. “Riley, that...” She paused to sweep her hand toward the bed. “Was careless. We didn't use anything."

  His eyes widened a little, but the way his mouth tugged downward revealed he wasn't surprised. Concerned, she guessed. Definitely not surprised. “I assumed you were on birth control,” h
e confessed in a quiet voice.

  She blinked. “I am. I'm not talking about that, Riley. Don't be dense. I was talking about condoms. I've never taken a risk like that."

  "Oh.” He paused. “Ooh!” With a fierce shake of his head, he set both hands on her hips and moved her directly in front of him. “Darlin', if you've never taken a risk like that before, you don't have a thing to worry about."

  She raised her eyebrow, unconvinced.

  One corner of his mouth pulled with the hint of a smile. “Maddie, I'm not an angel, by far. But you're the only person I've ever been risky with. I might gamble with a lot of things, but not my life."

  It sounded good, but he said it awfully casually. If that was the case why wasn't he more concerned? Confused, she gave him a puzzled look. “Then why now?"

  He searched her face a long moment, then let out a little sigh. “You make me forget how to think, Madison McCleery."

  The confession hit her straight in the gut and sucked the wind out of her.

  He bent forward to brush a chaste kiss across the tip of her nose, gave her bottom a little pat, and grinned. “Let's eat, before I forget what we're supposed to be doing, again."

  * * * *

  Riley entwined his hand with hers as he escorted her into the busy Explorer's Lounge. Sleeping with Maddie was supposed to cure him of his dysfunctional mind-set whenever she turned those vivid green eyes on him; but, he found himself sucked in deeper. Damned if she hadn't just turned his world upside down. That wasn't just sex. That had been ... surrender. Not hers, but his. He'd let her in, somehow, and he'd loved every minute of it.

  He should be focused on food, on curbing the gnawing ache in his gut that reminded him with every passing second he hadn't eaten since last night. After near cataclysmic release, he ought to be able to think about something other than her. Instead, he couldn't keep his mind off the way her hips swayed beneath that seductive dress, and how he'd watched as she forgot to put panties on underneath.

  More though, he hadn't exactly planned on confessing his weakness to her. But the way she relaxed when he had, made it worthwhile. What he hadn't said, however, was that he simply hadn't cared. When it came to Maddie, he'd risk a hell of a lot.