Seduction's Stakes

by Claire Ashgrove

  He'd just managed to find comfort enough to get his jeans on when Maddie paraded past him, bare and glistening with droplets of water. His cock jumped back to attention, and he reached for her, aching to finish what she'd started.

  She ducked out of his way, lifted her eyebrows with a look of innocence, and grabbed her robe. Only this one he'd never seen before. Deep red and so delicate he could see right through it, it fell down barely covering her delectable bottom. She disappeared again, back to the bathroom, and shut the door firmly once more.

  He groaned inwardly.

  "You are going to kill me, Maddie. Dead. Here on this bed,” he called after her.

  Her laughter made him grimace.

  He tugged a t-shirt over his head with vengeance and shoved his feet into his boots. “I'm going to the track."

  The bathroom door opened and her head popped out, along with one long, unadorned, shapely leg. “I'm going with you."

  Raking his gaze from her toes to her hip, he shook his head. “No, you aren't.” He'd attack her in the truck at this rate.

  She gave him one of her irresistible smiles and cooed, “Oh, yes I am. If you leave without me...” Her gaze narrowed and her smile transformed into a smirk. “It gets worse."

  Riley groaned again, only this time he made no attempt to hide it. Muttering, he sat down on the sofa and waited for her. Listening to her pitter around the bathroom kicked his imagination into full gear. He raked a hand through his hair, then closed his eyes and dropped his head to the back of the sofa.

  She appeared, wearing a plain pair of faded jeans and a simple grey t-shirt. Thank God.

  "I'm ready."

  Now why in the hell did that sound like it carried a double meaning? Riley squeezed his eyes shut for a moment, then opened them, hoping for a clear head. He stood up, strode past her and opened the door.

  Still chuckling, she stopped in the doorway, set her hand on his chest and lifted her lashes to give him a seductive smile. “Honey, is something wrong?"

  "Out.” He pointed to the hall.

  Her light laugh rang out like a soft melody, and she headed for the elevator.

  Riley followed, his gaze fastened on her swaying hips.

  * * * *

  Maddie ran her hand down Infidelity's neck, and he turned his muzzle in, nudging at her elbow with a nicker. With a light chuckle, she laid her hand over his nose to stroke his face.

  "How you feeling, boy?"

  He found the peppermint she had in her other hand and chomped on it.

  "He's feeling fine, and since when did you stop trusting me and let Jennings breeze your horse?"

  Archie's condescending remark made her jump.

  "Since Riley looks breathtaking on a horse."

  "Maddie, I've been training your horses since you were little. Now, I won't put up with having Jennings interfere."

  With a shake of her head, she patted his shoulder. “Archie, he won't be interfering. I trust you, but I've been paranoid about some things. I wanted a second opinion and figured you'd rather have Riley ride him than anyone else. Riley trusts you."

  He grumbled, but the hard line of his mouth softened.

  "Second opinion on what?"

  "Whether he's sound or not."

  Archie's gaze narrowed as he folded his arms across his chest and leaned back against the stall doorway. “Now, why would you be questioning that? You know I watch him like a hawk."

  She sighed. She hadn't told him about the dreams. He would have laughed and told her how her imagination was working overtime. Worse, he'd have accused her of not letting Nate go.

  "What's bugging you, Maddie-girl?"

  "I keep having a nightmare every time we get ready to race. The closer the race gets, the worse the dream gets."

  Archie turned his head and gave her a sideways glance. “What kind of dream?"

  She nibbled on her lower lip, thoughtful. It couldn't hurt anything except her pride to tell Archie. With a little frown, she explained, “It's the day Nate died. Only, he's not dead yet. He's talking to me. He tells me ‘Sweetheart, the risk isn't worth it. It's in the blood. It will ruin Infidelity.’ I always wake up shaking."

  Archie didn't laugh. He didn't even smirk. In fact, his gaze narrowed even further as he studied her. “That's it?"

  "Yeah."

  His eyes cut sideways to Infidelity. “He's sound, Maddie. No reason you should worry. I wouldn't run him if I thought there was anything wrong with him at all."

  "I know you wouldn't. You've pulled horses I thought were perfectly fine. I just needed to hear Riley tell me the same thing. Please try to understand, Archie."

  The old man's face brightened with a crooked grin. “Love'll do that to you. I ain't so old as to not remember how it feels."

  Maddie felt her cheeks flush, and she turned back around to press her face into Infidelity's neck. As she'd taught him to do when he was a yearling, he stretched his neck down over her shoulder, returning the hug. With a pat to his shoulder, she stepped out of the stall and searched the stabling paddock for Riley.

  She found him bent over Mister Spoilsport's foot, picking it free of debris, with Scott standing at the ebony colt's shoulder.

  "I'll be back, Archie. Wanna join us for lunch?"

  "Sure thing, kiddo. Just come fetch me when you're ready."

  Humming to herself, she crossed the paddock toward Riley. As she drew closer, she lifted a finger to her lips, asking Scott to stay quiet. He answered with a short nod, and she quieted her steps.

  Riley dropped Mister Spoilsport's right foreleg, then moved to the left. As Maddie crept up behind him, he picked up the hoof.

  "Such a nice view,” she remarked.

  Riley's chuckle drifted to her ears. He shook his head, amused.

  His laughter died off as she fit her hand around one buttock and gave him a little squeeze. “How's the boy?"

  "Good. Stop touching me, Maddie."

  She met Scott's laughing eyes with her own grin. All morning she'd taunted Riley, finding every opportunity she could to set her hands on him in provocatively-innocent ways. She'd done her best to torment him, and from his clipped response, she guessed she'd succeeded.

  "Something bugging you, honey?” she asked with false surprise.

  "Something's been bugging me since I woke up this morning,” he grumbled.

  Choking back another peal of laughter, she heard Scott clear his throat to do the same. He'd caught on to her game early on, and after a few minutes of initial embarrassment, she decided she didn't care what Scott saw or overheard. Men who slept with Sybil couldn't possibly think poorly of a woman who merely flirted with her significant other.

  She slid her hand up Riley's back and bent near his shoulder to murmur, “Was there something you wanted this morning?"

  Riley gently set Mister Spoilsport's foot down and straightened to his full height. He turned around, his usual amusement missing as he set his hands on her shoulders. With gentle pressure, he turned her toward the stable. “In the barn. Now."

  At his gentle push, she giggled again but headed for the shade of the enclosed aisle.

  Riley followed on her heels.

  Inside, Maddie tried to swallow her humor as she spun around to face him. But the look of complete exasperation on his face made it near impossible to contain. “What's the matter?"

  "You are,” he grumbled. His hand fastened around her wrist, and he brought her roughly against his chest. “If I try to kiss you, are you going to duck out again?"

  She'd done that too. Multiple times. Refused to let his mouth even flutter near hers. However, it occurred to her, it might serve her purposes better if she let him once or twice. She shook her head.

  His mouth crashed into hers, hot and hungry, his pent up frustrations pouring into her. It consumed her in an instant, and she wound her arms around his neck, clinging to him in abandon. But when his hands skid down her back and fastened around her bottom, she drew the fiery kiss to a close, leaning back agai
nst his strong arms.

  With a long, ragged sigh, he dropped his forehead against hers. “Why are you doing this to me, angel?"

  "Because I have plans for you later."

  "Now, later, why choose one over the other?"

  Giving him a soft smile, she lifted her hand to slide her fingers through the hair near his temple. “In all the time I've been with you, I've never made you wait. That's why."

  "You keep this up, and by the time you give in, I'll be worth about a minute."

  She kissed the tip of his nose and edged out of his embrace. “I have faith in you, Riley. If it doesn't pain you too much, I'll let you hold my hand."

  He mumbled something she couldn't decipher before he slid his fingers through hers.

  She started for the paddock. “I invited Archie to lunch. Shall we ask Scott too?"

  Jerking her to a stop, Riley halted. “Wait. Let's get one thing straight before you even think about lunch."

  Lifting both her eyebrows, she gave him a puzzled look.

  "I am not going to sit through any meal with you if you put any part of your body near my lap. If you do, I'm warning you now, Madison McCleery, I will yank you into the nearest restroom and put an end to this game without giving a damn about who might see us."

  Maddie ignored the shiver that raced down her spine at the vivid image his threat created and laughed. She didn't doubt he meant it. He looked like he could eat her alive right now and not have second thoughts about an audience.

  "Don't worry, handsome. I'll behave. I wouldn't want you to...” She paused, sliding her eyes down his body then slowly up to meet his gaze. “Lose control."

  The twitch at the corner of his mouth said he was amused. However, the dark intensity burning in his eyes, held a far different message.

  Tugging on his hand, she pulled him into the sunshine, whistling a merry tune.

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  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  By the time Riley escorted Maddie into their room so they could change for the charity ball, he'd decided she'd tired of her game. Since lunch, she'd behaved. Almost eerily so, but it gave him a chance to cool the fire burning in his blood. The rest of the afternoon they'd pleasantly socialized with the other trainers and owners, hoping for some tidbit of news that might give them insight to Saturday's race.

  When she headed straight for the shower and turned the water on, then beckoned to him from the doorway wearing nothing but a towel, he let himself believe she'd taken pity on him. That either she intended to let him indulge, or she'd aroused herself enough to share his earlier misery.

  How quickly he learned his folly. Beneath the steamy spray, Maddie snatched up the soap, ran it between her fingers until they foamed thickly, then began to wash herself. At home, she used some fluffy ball of gathered net. Today, she used merely her hands, and as he stood there speechless, enthralled with watching her, his tempered desire slammed back into him.

  He reached for her, but she took one step backwards, dodging his fingers. He moved forward, pressing her back into the tiled wall. “That's my job,” he grumbled.

  "What is?"

  "Running my hands over your body.” He traced one finger down her chest, over the peak of one breast. It tightened in response, her nipple standing erect.

  Much like himself, he mused, as he leaned in closer and rubbed his hips against hers.

  With an impish smile he knew he shouldn't trust, she put the soap in his hands.

  Grateful, Riley accepted and lathered his hands.

  Before he could even touch her, she dashed out of the shower and disappeared.

  The little minx was going to pay for this. One way or another, when she finally let him touch her, he'd find a way to tamp down what was slowly evolving into need, and tease her until she begged for him to stop.

  He stepped back under the water and let it run down his face as he pushed his mind to other thoughts. Concentrating on tonight, he found strength in his own plans for the evening. Like her, he brought a surprise along. He'd spent three days searching for the perfect gift and couldn't wait to see her expression when he gave it to her.

  Feeling much more in control of his body, he spun the faucet off and wrapped a towel around his waist. He found her sitting on the toilet, wearing that damn red thing she called a robe, and painting her toenails a matching hue. The touch of femininity was so unlike the woman he knew, he couldn't help but stop and stare.

  She looked up with a smile, and inclined her head at the sink. “Go shave, pay no attention to me. I'm not sitting here."

  Chuckling, Riley moved to the sink. As he shaved away his stubble, he watched her in the mirror, and for the first time all afternoon saw beyond his desire and looked at the woman Maddie was. Strong, tenderhearted, compassionate. She had so many facets and every time he thought he'd figured them all out, she surprised him with something new. Like the toenails. Maddie, who ran around in boots and t-shirts, and more often than not had flecks of long-ago paint on her toes, had no use for such a frivolity. Yet tonight, she adorned those beautiful feet when her dress fell to the floor. Why?

  Because she was Maddie.

  And he was the luckiest damn man on earth.

  He shook out his razor and left her to her painting to don his tux. As he fastened the buttons on his shirt, Maddie entered the room. Her light floral perfume followed her, tickling his nose, filling his senses. He stuffed his shirttails into his pants, trying not to watch her.

  Her back to him, she dropped her robe, and pulled the dark green gown from the closet, disappearing once more into the bathroom, leaving him to finish dressing alone. He fastened his cummerbund, put on his tie, and then took his jacket into the sitting room and flipped on the TV, waiting.

  When she ventured in, he looked up, and his throat closed. Beautiful didn't describe her. Although he'd known the dress would be stunning, he hadn't expected it to be so ... perfect. So dark in hue, the deep green gown looked almost black. It hugged her torso, highlighting her dainty curves. The ruched bodice cut into a v-neck and gathered in a small twist on her hip .Suspended from spaghetti-thin straps that wound around her neck, the gown fell to the floor, and as she turned around, his eyes fastened on the open back, enthralled with the way it gathered just below her waist, exposing everything he found most fascinating.

  "Maddie, you look beautiful."

  Although not near as revealing, it went beyond the dress she'd worn at Harvey Weatherson's, and his heart drummed faster just looking at her. Elegant and classic, it defined her. As he crossed to her and pressed a kiss against her cheek, a little spark of pride burst deep inside. He would never again be one of the men who looked up when she walked into a room wishing she might look his way. His heart might stutter, he might forget to breathe like the rest of them, but she was his. All his.

  "Stay here. I have something for you."

  * * * *

  Curious, Maddie tried to peek around the bedroom door and see what Riley went after. However, he moved out of sight, and she took a seat on the sofa's arm, disappointed. When he returned, he pulled a small box out of his breast pocket and handed it to her.

  For a moment, her heart stood still. Surely not...

  She pushed the absurd thought aside. No. Riley didn't love her. He wasn't proposing. Besides, if he were, he wouldn't do it so casually. Knowing Riley, he'd make a big production out of it.

  She opened the velvet-covered box and sucked in a sharp breath. Nestled against the white satin, sat a pair of gold, emerald and diamond hoop earrings. In the dim light they sparkled brightly. Less than an inch long, a row of diamonds framed a centerline of square-cut, dark green emeralds. The jewels were seated flat, creating a flawless line that wound halfway around the earring.

  "Riley...” she whispered.

  She'd never received such a lavish gift from anyone but her father, and as she gingerly plucked the earrings out of the box to affix them on her ears, her fingers shook. Trying to control her wavering smile, she look
ed up at him and gave her head a little toss. But as she focused on his expression, from the corner of her eye she noticed he still had one arm extended. She glanced down to find another, wider box of similar design.

  "I hope you like it,” he said in a low whisper.

  Stunned didn't describe the shock that coursed through her. What in the world prompted this? With a nervous chuckle, she accepted the box and flipped open the lid, almost dropping it in surprise. She stared down at a matching necklace, almost a quarter inch wide and every bit as breathtaking. This, she didn't deserve.

  Looking up at him, she searched for words, blinking away the mist that gathered in her eyes. She bit down on her lower lip to stop its quivering and swallowed down the lump wedged in her throat.

  Riley reached for the necklace and lifted it out of the box. With a wag of one finger, he beckoned her to follow and moved her in front of the mirror. Standing behind her, he held her gaze through her reflection as he draped the necklace around her neck and fastened it.

  "It matches your eyes,” he said before he pressed a kiss to her bare shoulder.

  Still too moved to speak, she fingered the glittering piece, admiring its beauty. His hands slid around her waist, and he dropped his chin into the crook of her neck.

  "Thank you,” she managed. “I don't know what to say. It's ... They're ... Riley I don't deserve this."

  "Of course you do,” he answered. “And more."

  God, he must have spent a small fortune on her. She dabbed at the corners of her eyes, winning his low chuckle.

  He straightened and gave her shoulders a gentle squeeze. “Don't cry, angel. I'll think you don't like them."

  "I love them. I just don't know what to say."

  "Then don't say a word. Come on, we have a car to catch."

  Fastening his hand into hers, he escorted her to the door.

  * * * *

  Sitting at their table, Riley watched Maddie converse with Dirk Bettans’ wife across the room. Absorbed in conversation, she animated her words with her hands, and her smile lit the room. The auction over, the dinner finished, they gathered now with fellow horsemen, celebrities, equine specialists, and a multitude of guests for cocktails. She'd excused herself to speak with friends, and he'd lingered in his chair, sipping Scotch with Sheikh Ramana. While the man made intriguing conversation, Riley couldn't tear his eyes off Maddie.