Hot, Sexy & Bad

by Angelo, Judy, et al.

  “Childhood nickname?” he asked with a smile on his lips. Elle tried to keep up the smile, but she felt it slip at the memory. “I’m sorry. You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to.”

  “No. It’s okay. My father called us Lyra, as in the five-star constellation in the shape of the harp.” Elle laughed at his confused look and then felt the sad memory turn to a happy one. It was a story her father loved to tell. “In the mythical story, Orpheus carried a harp and traveled to the underworld to rescue his true love. My father found comfort in it as he was forced to leave us for years in order to provide for the family. He always said that he would find the brightest star in the harp and think of my mother back home singing to us four kids.

  “Every night we’d look up into the night sky to try to find Lyra, hoping our father was looking at it, too. It kept us all connected. When my father finally came home, my mother had a harp pin made and gave it to him. He wore it every day for the rest of his life.” Elle smiled at the memory. In fact, the logo for Simpson Global had a harp on it as well, but it was so subtle that most people didn’t notice it.

  “That’s so much better than mine. Mine was just embarrassing.” He sighed and Elle snickered. What could it be? “It was Huggy Bear.”

  Elle tried not to laugh, but she couldn’t. It bubbled up from her toes and she tossed her head back and laughed before she could stop herself. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t laugh,” She buried her head on his shoulder and laughed even more.

  “I’m used to it. My mom still breaks out that gem every now and then. I was a very chubby baby, and women couldn't help but hug me when they saw me. What do you think? Do you find it impossible not to hug me?”

  Elle stopped laughing as she realized she was wrapped around him. She looked up and the laughter started all over again. “Apparently your nickname still suits you. Okay, my turn. Stupidest thing you did as a kid?” Elle asked.

  “When I was seven, I jumped off the roof of our small house with a bed sheet wrapped around my shoulders thinking I could fly. I sadly realized I did not possess superpowers that day as I sat in the hospital with a broken leg.” He smiled and Elle licked her lips. She’d been staring into his eyes and watching his mouth move while he talked. And now all she wanted was to lean forward and kiss him. Even though she was being free tonight, she didn’t think she could make the first move. Deep down she was just too nervous.

  “What about you? I bet you didn’t do anything stupid. You seem like you would have been the perfect well-behaved child,” he said, bringing her eyes back to his.

  “That was not the case,” she said shaking her head. “As I told you, I have an older brother. Now, my older brother was always doing something stupid. He was probably the kid next to you in the hospital. But, he had taken up skateboarding and had been bragging to me about how there were no girls at the skateboard park because girls couldn’t do it. It was a boy thing. Even at nine, I didn’t like being told that. I still don’t. So I locked him in his room, stole his skateboard, and ran to the park.

  “My brother, being a complete bad boy, knew how to unlock the door and was chasing close behind me. I made it to the big ramp before he could shout for me to stop. I looked at him, stuck out my tongue, and hopped on,” Elle said as she gave her head a little shake. Unfortunately or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, she still did that today. If they told her a woman couldn’t run a company like Simpson Global, then she'd jump in with her tongue sticking out until the company was a huge success. She didn’t like being told she couldn’t do anything simply because she was a woman.

  “And how did you do?”

  “I hung on for dear life but refused to scream. I nailed it. My brother was eating crow, but then as I was skating home with him I hit a rock and face-planted. That’s what this little scar on my chin is from.” Elle lifted her chin to show the scar and felt a jolt as he leaned forward and placed his warm lips on it.

  “It’s adorable.”

  “What’s your take on women skateboarders?” Elle asked a little breathlessly.

  “They’re hot. I like women who aren’t confined by the norms. They’re so much more exciting.”

  Elle breathed in sharply when he pulled her tightly against him, letting her feel just how excited he truly was. Her pulse quickened and she closed her eyes when he leaned forward to place a feather-light kiss on her cheek.

  “I like women who are smart, compassionate, and have no problem asserting themselves.” He kissed his way up to her ear and Elle tightened her hold on his shoulder.

  “And sexy, of course," Elle said with a wink.

  "If she’s those things, then she’s already sexy. You can be a knockout in that dress. But if you only wanted to talk jobs, money, and social standing, then you wouldn’t be sexy. Now, the girl who refuses to back down—that is sexy.”

  Elle leaned closer to him as they danced. His hand moved back to the top of her bottom and his lips pressed sweet kisses to her neck. She was just about to fall under his spell when the music stopped and a man approached them.

  Drake saw his assistant approaching and narrowed his eyes. But Phillip was too busy saying hello to the people he was passing to notice the cold stare Drake was giving him. Phillip couldn’t meet this woman or he’d blow the insane connection they shared.

  “Excuse me one second, my dear. I see someone I must talk to. Will you be here when I get back?”

  “I guess you’ll have to find out.” He heard the laughter in her voice, but he also saw the men eyeing her with interest.

  “I promise—you won’t be sorry if you wait for me. It will only take a second.” He gave her a wink and swiftly leaned forward, brushing his lips against hers. When she leaned forward to complete the kiss, he stepped back and gave her a wink. Hopefully, that would keep her waiting. God knows it was enough to have him rushing through the crowd and grabbing his assistant.

  “Drake,” Phillip said, surprised.

  “Shh. I don’t want anyone knowing it’s me.”

  Phillip rolled his eyes. “I don’t understand your aversion to crowds. This is a great party.”

  “I know. It’s not that.” Drake cast a glance to where she stood talking to one of the men who had wasted no time filling his spot. “It’s that woman. She’s amazing and she has no idea who I am. We’re talking and sharing. There’s something there, I tell you.”

  “Really?” Drake had known Phillip since he was a kid. They had grown up on the same block and went to the same schools. Drake started his own company and realized he couldn’t do everything himself. Phillip had told him he’d lost his job as a mechanic. He talked too much to the clients. Drake had hired him on the spot. He needed someone like that to make up for his own social awkwardness. Schmoozing was his one big weakness.

  “Really. I can’t make that speech. You have to do it.” Drake squeezed Phillip’s shoulder in encouragement.

  “What? It’s your foundation. Who is she? Is she worth it?”

  “I don’t know. She hasn’t told me her name either. But yes, she’s worth it.”

  “I’ve never seen you lovesick before," he joked. "I’ll do it. But you totally owe me.”

  “Yes, I do. Dr. Voss is too caught up in appearances and won’t be wearing his hearing aids or his glasses. Just be me. They’ll never know. Then get lost in the crowd and become Phillip again.” Phillip nodded and headed for the stairs. Drake should feel bad, but his assistant and friend had sadly done this for him a number of times when Drake had locked himself in their research lab for weeks at a time finalizing new products.

  Drake grabbed two glasses of champagne and hurried back to the woman’s side. As he approached her from behind, he got a good look at the perfectly round butt he had been feeling the top of earlier. Just as he thought—no panties. This knowledge had him trying to control his arousal. It was a battle he was losing.

  “Here you go, dear,” he said possessively as he handed her a drink and stepped closer to wrap h
is arm around her. He’d never been this way with a woman before, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted her all to himself.

  “Thank you.” She smiled up at him with amusement. He was making a fool of himself, but he didn’t care. “This is Bob Michaels, president of International Media Group. He was just telling me how his media conglomerate made their first billion this year.” She turned her head so only Drake could see her and rolled her eyes.

  “Wow. Congratulations, Bob. The first billion is special. By the time you get to the fourth or fifth, it just gets repetitive. So enjoy it now. Excuse us, I owe this beautiful woman a tour of the Renoir exhibit.”

  She smiled and gave her head a slight nod as he escorted her past Bob. Bob was a smart man, but Drake knew he also had a habit of settling out of court for sexual harassment charges made by various secretaries.

  “You’re so bad. But I loved it. I couldn’t think of anything to say. My mother raised me with manners. Bank accounts, religion, and politics were never talked about with guests. Now, get the family together and we can solve all of the world’s problems.”

  He loved the light lilt to her voice as she laughed. Drake led her toward the back of the room, away from those gathering up close for what was supposed to be his speech. Their champagne glasses were now empty as they handed them to a waiter. He was about to slip out of the room when Dr. Voss stepped up to the microphone.

  “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I’m Dr. Josiah Voss, the president of Children’s Hospital, and I can’t thank you enough for your generosity tonight.”

  “Oh, maybe we’ll get to see the mysterious Drake Charles,” she whispered to him as she stopped to look at the stage.

  “Why are you interested in him?” Drake held his breath, hoping to avoid disappointment.

  “Nothing of importance.” He looked down at her and saw her nibble at her lip. She was lying.

  “No reason? Come on, that can’t be true.”

  “My brother thinks very highly of him and gave me an idea. It’s just a business thing and if there’s one thing I don’t want to do tonight, it’s talk business.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more. I’ve heard he’s very rich.”

  “Well, I’d hope so or he wouldn’t be a very good businessman to have blown all that money he got from his Smartphone technology. Oh, there he is. Too bad I can’t really see what he looks like from way back here.” He looked down and saw her straining to get a view of the fake Drake Charles.

  “Good evening,” Phillip called out to the crowd. Drake’s speech for tonight would take twenty seconds to give. He hoped Phillip stuck to it. “Tonight we’ve raised six million dollars for Children’s Hospital.” He paused for the applause. “I appreciate your kindness and your generosity. Now drink all the champagne. You’ve definitely earned it.” As the crowd laughed, Phillip stepped down from the stage and was promptly swamped by people.

  Drake was relieved Phillip had stuck to his notes. When the music started, he slipped his arm around the woman and, once again, silently thanked Phillip. He owed him big time. There was something magical in the air tonight and he wanted to see where it took him. He knew when the night ended, he might not be able to give her up.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Elle didn’t want the night to end. She had been lost in her own fantasy with her dream man and wasn’t ready to come back to reality. When he pulled her near him and started to slowly dance on the back edge of the dance floor, all thoughts of her life and responsibilities left her mind.

  Instead of dancing the steps, they swayed together as he ran his strong hands up and down her back. He spun her and dropped his hand lower, cupping her bottom and giving it a squeeze as he kissed her neck. Elle wanted to moan, but the people who were whirling around them on the dance floor would surely hear her.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as his lips worked their way up to her ear. His tongue traced the delicate shell before nipping at her earlobe. “Look up. Mistletoe.”

  “We can’t break tradition, now can we?” Elle said with a grin.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck as she tilted her head, giving him access to her lips. Elle shivered with pleasure and he tightened his hold on her. She felt his hardness pressing against her and grew warm in response. Unable to stop herself, she rubbed against him as his lips descended onto hers. His tongue caressed hers, leaving her breathless. Pulling away, their gazes locked and Elle saw his desire. And then he shot her a wicked smile that had her heart pounding.

  Looking around the crowded room, she saw only a few people in the hallway leading to the Renoir exhibit. She looked back to him and nodded in the direction. Words were unnecessary. Without a doubt, she was going after what she wanted tonight. And what she wanted was him.

  Drake’s breath caught the second she rubbed against him. The need to be inside her was almost painful. When she gave him the look and nodded toward the exhibit, he had to restrain himself from dragging her down the hall. Instead, he laced his fingers with hers as they strolled across the marbled hall toward the exhibit. They passed other couples returning from the brightly lit gallery that held the prized Renoir paintings.

  They stopped to admire a painting and when no one was looking, he hurried her through a set of black drapes hiding the exit and into a darkened hallway off the gallery room.

  “Where are we going?” she whispered, her voice full of excitement.

  “There’s a small atrium with a glass ceiling just around the corner.” Drake looked around and pushed open the doors. When no alarms went off, he led her through the door and walked into the small courtyard filled with plants. It had a small water fountain and two benches. Small white lights cast a magical glow around the room.

  She twirled around and looked up at the night sky above them. “Shall we dance?” Drake asked as he gave her an elegant bow.

  She laughed and he grasped her hand. His body was strumming with desire, but he willed himself to slow the pace. With no words, he led her in a dance around the fountain. He let his hands explore her body as they moved to the music in their heads. He felt the curve of her hip and the soft swell of her breasts as he ran his hands up and down her sides.

  “I’ve never wanted someone as much as I want you,” Drake confessed to her before he claimed her lips. She opened her mouth to respond and his tongue dipped in to taste her. Her hands tightened on the lapels of his tuxedo as his kiss deepened.

  He dropped his hands to clasp her bottom. She wiggled closer to him and pressed against his hard length. Drake fought for control, but he knew it was a lost cause.

  Elle’s heart was pounding. Oh God. She was going to do this. Elle Simpson, Little Miss Proper, was going to have a one-night stand in a cute little courtyard tucked away, but not too far from a roomful of people. Wearing the mask gave her a wild sense of freedom. As she rubbed herself against his unmistakable erection, she felt empowered. She had done that. Not her money, not her power—just the woman she was.

  His hands were at her breasts, cupping them, caressing them. He traced her nipple with his finger before pinching and rolling it between his thumb and finger. Elle gave up any pretenses of slow seduction. She wanted him naked. Now.

  She loosened his bow tie and started unbuttoning his shirt in a haze of passion. He was doing things to her that had her flushed from head to toe. But then she felt the air against her bottom. As one of his hands massaged her breast, the other had found the zipper to her dress.

  Elle had exposed his smooth, defined chest when he unfastened the necklace at the top of her dress, causing the two swaths of fabric to fall to her waist, baring her breasts to him. With one finger, he pushed the fabric at her waist and the dress pooled at her feet.

  “You’re perfect. A walking dream come true,” his graveled voice said, his mouth coming down on hers with raw hunger. Their tongues sparred as his hands explored her naked body.

  Elle grew wet with need as his fingers danced along the top of her thighs. She could
no longer stand it. She had to feel him right this instant. She quickly discarded his shirt and ran her fingers over the ridges of his abs before feeling his erection through his pants.

  “Off. Now,” she ordered.

  “Yes, ma’am. Your wish is my command.” He had no idea, she thought. He, too, was a walking, talking dream and she was about to pinch his perfect behind to find out if he was real.

  He quickly kicked off his shoes and unfastened his pants while he kept his mouth on hers. Elle became daring as she sucked his tongue and elicited a ragged moan from him. As soon as he was free, she wrapped her hand around his shaft and caressed it before slipping on the condom he handed her. He moved his mouth to her breast and pulled her taunt nipple into his mouth. His fingers slid to her center and she lost what little control she had.

  As if reading her mind, he moved her toward the bench. Taking a seat he pulled her to him. She straddled him, feeling his hard head probing her wet entrance. In one quick motion, she took him inside her.

  “Oh God. You feel better than anything I could have dreamed of,” he said as he grabbed her hips, bringing her down on him again and again as he thrust inside her.

  Elle thought about responding, but no words would come. She whimpered her pleasure as she tossed back her head. He cupped a bouncing breast, bringing her nipple to his mouth as she rode him. Pleasure shot through her body as she moved faster and faster upon his hardened length. He scraped her nipple gently with his teeth and the rolling waves overtook her. She shattered, screaming her pleasure into the night sky.

  Seconds later, she felt him stiffen underneath her. His hands gripping her hips as he ground into her one last time.

  “That was . . . I don’t know what that was, but . . . it was amazing,” he whispered as he pushed back a loose strand of hair that had gotten tangled in her mask.