Tactical Maneuver

by J. C. Wilder

  She gaped at him. He’d come…for her?

  “This afternoon I’d told you to leave your bedroom window open. You had to know I’d come for you.” He stopped before her, his big arms loose at his sides, his expression arrogant, assured.

  Emma opened her mouth to object then closed it again. No, she hadn’t known he’d come for her, but she’d certainly dreamt of it while she’d finished her endless filing and, most recently, when she’d been relaxing in her tub.

  He gave her a controlled smile as if he’d read her chaotic thoughts. Then he crooked his finger at her before he turned and walked into her bedroom as if he owned the place. Oddly enough, the pale lavender trappings of her room only served to make him look bigger, more masculine.

  She stopped in the doorway. “H-how did you get in?”

  “The window in the spare room.” He picked up the gold- and white-striped bag from a local lingerie shop. “These locks wouldn’t keep my granny out.”

  “B-b-but you’re a cop,” she spluttered. “That’s illegal.”

  “I brought my cuffs if you’d like to make a citizen’s arrest.” He gave her a heated glance. “Or should I use them on you first?”

  Her eyes widened. He wanted to handcuff her? Her gaze darted to the wrought iron of her headboard, then away again. His amused chuckle told her that he’d seen her look.

  “Don’t worry, Emma. We won’t do anything you don’t want.”

  She swallowed hard. “How do you know what I want? We’ve only just met today.” Her fingers tightened on her lapels and her voice came out a little higher than normal.

  “Time alone does not ensure intimacy. Some people could live together for a lifetime and still not know each other.” His bold gaze moved over her body and she quivered as if he’d touched her. “I think our bodies got to know each other very well today, don’t you?” He pulled a rose-colored silk teddy from the bag. “Very nice, Emma. You have excellent taste in lingerie.”

  She blanched at the sight of her scanty purchase dangling from his big, meaty hand. “I’m so glad you approve.” Her tone was dry.

  “I’ll approve even more when you model it for me.” His gaze slid down her bare legs, leaving her feeling exposed yet aware of her body like never before.

  “I’m not really the modeling type.”

  He dropped the garment on the bed and moved closer. “Don’t fool yourself. You’re beautiful, curvy like a woman should be.” He stopped before her and she could smell him, his heat, his strength. “You’re afraid of me, aren’t you? Of what I might do to you?” He raised his hand and ran his finger down the side of her throat. “You’re pretty sure I won’t hurt you, but you’re not sure of why I’m here, are you?”

  Mute, she nodded.

  “I want you, Emma. And I think…no, I know you want me too.”

  She wanted to object, but why bother? There was no point in denying the obvious. She wasn’t the sort of woman to lie to herself, and she wasn’t going to lie to Jay either. She wanted him as she’d never wanted a man before. Their gazes clashed and she forced her chin higher and nodded ever so slightly.

  “Good. I think we understand one another.” He backed away. “What I’m about to propose is a liaison of sorts.” He leaned against the edge of her dresser. “We already know we’re attracted to one another, so the next logical step would be to explore that attraction and see where it takes us. I think it’s safe to say this experience could be mutually satisfying to both of us.”

  Her throat grew dry when his implication hit her. Jay was offering her exactly what she wanted, fulfilling sex without complications. Her gaze moved over his body—strong, muscular, and fit. All six-foot-plus of this man as her personal playground, to act out whatever fantasies they desired. To say she was tempted would be an understatement.

  “All you have to do is say one word, Emma, and I’ll give you everything you need.”

  “And you.” Her gaze met his. “What do you get from this arrangement?”

  “You, at my beck and call. Any time I want you, any way I need you, you’re to make yourself available for our mutual satisfaction.” His eyes gleamed with arousal. “I have quite a few fantasies I’d like to try out with you.”

  She shivered at the image of being at this powerful man’s command. “You realize I’m leaving in a week.”

  “To go back to Columbus.” He shrugged. “If we decide to take it beyond the week, we’ll do so. It’s an easy drive back and forth.”

  Emma shook her head. That she could not do. Her life in Columbus was sedate, boring, and unorgasmic. It was also familiar and comfortable and she couldn’t allow this bigger-than-life man to invade the sanctuary she’d created there.

  “No. That I won’t do. If we go forward with this relationship, it lasts only for as long as I remain in Haven.”

  His eyes narrowed and she could tell he wanted to object but, in the end, he didn’t.

  “Fine,” he said.

  “And will we be seeing other people?”

  “No.” He pushed away from the dresser, his face hard, predatory. “No going out with other people while we’re together.”

  Emma breathed a sigh of relief. The last thing she wanted was an affair with a man who might be coming to her from the bed of another woman. With Jay’s reputation, this was a likely scenario.

  She nodded. “I have one more question. You said you want me at your beck and call—”

  “I like to be in control in the bedroom.” He towered over her. “Do you have a problem with this?”

  She bit her lip against the rush of arousal his words sent through her. Problem? No, not at all. It would be a novelty to have a relationship with a man who took charge, really took charge, in the bedroom.

  “No, no problem. But do I get to be in command once in a while?”

  His gaze darkened and his breathing changed ever so slightly. So, he liked that idea, did he?

  “Sure, just not this time.” He crossed his arms over his chest and flexed, his black T-shirt straining to contain him. “I don’t think I can stand it right now.” He nodded toward the bathroom. “I interrupted your bath, didn’t I?”

  “Yes.”

  “Go on and get back in the tub while I find something to drink.”

  Emma gaped at him. “You want me to take a bath?”

  He stepped close, crowding her with his big body. He dipped his head, his lips caressing her ear when he spoke. “I want you to prepare yourself for me.”

  She shivered when Jay placed his hands on her shoulders and gave her a gentle push toward the bathroom. As she passed, his hand cupped her butt cheek and he gave her a friendly squeeze before administering a gentle spank. Startled, she made a little skip and moved faster toward the doorway, her cheeks scalding.

  Emma shivered when she shut the bathroom door. Leaning against the white wood, she let her chin drop to her chest. Her fantasies, even her wildest ones, couldn’t have prepared her for the scene that had just occurred in her bedroom.

  Her bedroom.

  In the close confines of the room, Jay had seemed bigger and more masculine than he had during the exercise, if that was possible. He was a definite, take-charge kind of man. Would she be able to handle him?

  A laugh bubbled up in her throat. She wasn’t sure that Jay had ever allowed a woman to “handle” him. That alone was ninety percent of the attraction for her. The air of unrestrained sexuality with just a touch of danger was enough to bring her running.

  She pushed away from the door to dip her fingers in the bathwater. Noting its temperature, she turned on the hot water tap to warm it up a bit before adding a liberal amount of bubble bath to revive her wilted suds.

  Would he be disappointed in her? She pulled the damp robe from her body and dropped it over the sink. Her breasts weren’t as pert as most women her age due to their size. She slid her hands beneath the soft globes and pushed them up an inch or so. There was no helping that.

  She turned to the side and eyed her gener
ous backside with some misgiving. It looked big to her, but Jay seemed to like her butt. He’d certainly touched it enough. She twisted around to give her butt cheeks a slight boost. Maybe if they had sex on their heads then gravity could give her a hand—

  A soft knock at the door had her diving for the tub. With a noisy splash, she sank down into the now almost too hot water until it touched her chin.

  “Yes?” she said.

  “Can I come in?”

  “S-sure.” With her heart in her throat, she swallowed hard as the doorknob turned.

  Chapter Four

  Jay grinned when he heard Emma’s timid response. Judging from the noisy splash he’d just heard, he’d taken her off-guard, which was what he’d planned. Off-guard and unsure of him was exactly how he wanted to keep his soon-to-be lover.

  He pushed open the door and a cloud of floral-scented steam escaped. The bathroom was small and everything was white with the exception of the pale purple rugs and pinkish-colored towels. It was neat and orderly, just like the woman he sought.

  His gaze strayed toward the tub. Seated in the old-fashioned claw-footed fixture was his prey. Frothy bubbles covered her from toes to chin and when he entered the room, she slid lower until the bubbles threatened to cover her mouth.

  He couldn’t wait to delve into those bubbles to see what lay beneath.

  “Wine?” he asked.

  “Yes, please.”

  He handed her the glass, his fingers brushed hers and a resulting zing of heat shot up his arm. He smiled when she took a big gulp of merlot.

  “Hot enough for you?” He put his glass on the sink and pulled off his shirt, dropping it over the closed toilet lid.

  “Uh-huh,” she gulped. Her gaze was glued to his stomach.

  “Seems a little too hot to me.” He crouched by the tub and dipped his fingers into the water. Beneath the bubbles, his finger brushed against her leg. Emma jolted but didn’t move away. “I think we need some cold water, but not too much if you know what I mean.” He gave her a heated look then turned on the cold tap and began swirling the cooler water into the tub, taking great care to allow his fingers to touch her at every turn.

  She clutched her wineglass and tried to maintain control of the swirling bubbles as he disturbed them. Strategic bubble placement seemed to be important so he took pity and stopped after a few seconds. He turned off the tap.

  He rose and unbuckled his belt. “Better?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He unzipped his pants, taking his time to ease the metal teeth around his hardened cock. He didn’t want to damage anything he’d need later.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Getting ready to join you.”

  Emma sat bolt upright and water sloshed over the side of the tub to lick at his bare toes. Luckily he’d removed his shoes and socks before pouring their wine.

  “T-t-there’s no room.”

  “Sure there is.” He removed his jeans and tossed them over his shirt. “This is a good, old-fashioned bathtub with loads of room. Of course, some water is going to end up on the floor but that can’t be helped. That’s why man invented mops.”

  Clad only in cotton boxer-briefs, he noticed Emma’s gaze was now glued to his crotch where his cock strained against the placket of his shorts. Judging from the expression on her flushed face, as much as Emma wanted him, she had misgivings.

  “Emma, look at me.” Slowly her gaze moved to meet his. “We aren’t going to have sex in the tub. We’re just going to get to know each other better.”

  He leaned over and her eyes fluttered closed. His head dipped toward hers and the first touch of her lips was soft, liquid. With a gentle brush of his tongue, she opened for him with a soft moan. She tasted of wine and woman, a potent combination if ever there was one. He gently sucked on her tongue, wrenching a moan from her before breaking the kiss. He didn’t want it to get too hot too fast. Her accelerated breathing told him everything he needed to know.

  He gestured toward his briefs. “I’ll leave these on for now, okay?”

  Not giving her time to object, he climbed into the water. She gave a squeak when his hands landed at her waist and he neatly flipped her over him. An avalanche of water flowed over the top of the tub when his weight settled to the bottom.

  With his arms full of wet, warm woman, Jay took possession of Emma’s mouth. Her hands clutched his shoulders as their kiss all too quickly turned hot. Her nails dug into him and their tongues tangled in a sensual dance of pleasure. He felt every heated inch of her body as their legs slid against each other. He ran his hands down over her buttocks, then her thighs to part them so she cradled his hips.

  His fingers caressed the soft crease below her buttocks and she sighed and leaned into him, giving him much-needed pressure against his cock. He groaned when she sucked at his tongue. Much more of that and he’d lose control of himself like a pimply-faced freshman.

  He broke the kiss and she moaned a soft protest. Her lashes fluttered and his gaze met hers.

  “Are you ready to play, Emma?” He licked her lower lip.

  “I thought we were,” she breathed.

  “We haven’t even begun.” He gave her buttock another caress before releasing her. “We have all night. There’s no hurry.”

  He pushed up and forced her to sit back. Soft tendrils of hair had escaped her clip and they stuck to her damp skin. Her beautiful breasts were dappled with smears of soap bubbles and they swayed with her movements.

  He picked up the bar of soap and lathered his hands. “First we need to get you clean.” He ran his hands over her shoulders, caressing every inch of her with the slick soap.

  “Don’t you need a washcloth?” she asked.

  “Oh no, this is much better.” He ran his hands over her breasts, coating them in flower-scented suds. She sighed and squirmed as he stroked her nipples. “You have such beautiful breasts.”

  “They’re too big—”

  “Why do women always say that?” He tweaked her left nipple, causing her thighs to tighten on his hips. “They’re either too big, too little, too droopy, too fat.” He smoothed more of the creamy soap over her breasts. “Don’t you get tired of making excuses?”

  “All the time.” She picked up the bar of soap and lathered her hands. “Don’t men worry about their penis size?”

  “Maybe some do.” His hands moved to her waist and he gave her a gentle nudge with his hips. “I’ve never had to worry.”

  She gave him a sleepy, sexy smile and leaned forward, pressing her soapy breasts against his chest. “So I see.”

  “See?” He leaned back and raised his hips ever so slightly, enjoying the way her eyes widened when she felt the jut of his cock against the apex of her thighs.

  She smiled and slid against him, using her breasts to wash his chest. “Now, feel.” After only a few strokes, he forced her to stop.

  “I told you once.” He guided her into a sitting position. “I’m in charge here. Now be a good little girl and let me pet you all over.”

  Her cheeks colored and he soaped his hands again and ran them down the gentle curve of her back. When his hands dipped below the water and the bubbles dispersed, he didn’t mind. It wasn’t about the washing as much as it was about getting her used to his touch.

  He worked his way over her hips and thighs, then down to her calves and finally her feet. Once he’d finished with the back of her, he urged her to turn over, pressing her back to his front.

  Cupping his hands, he rinsed her breasts by washing warm water over her. He teased her nipples and that sent her to squirming in his arms. Their play was punctuated by laughter and splashing when he discovered what areas of her body elicited a giggle versus a sigh.

  He lathered up for the final time then he asked her to part her thighs. She hesitated before opening them a few inches. Shifting his knees between hers, he used them to part her even farther.

  With her knees pinned against the sides of the tub, she was completely open and vulnerable
to him. Thanks to their wild splashing, her lush mound of brown curls was just barely covered by soapy water.

  He lowered his hand to her womanly mound and soaped her curls. “Do you need me to touch you, Emma?” He splayed his other hand across her abdomen. He could feel her quiver beneath his touch.

  “Yes.” She let her head drop back against his shoulder. “More than anything.”

  He smiled as he parted her sensitive flesh to zero in on her sensitive bundle of nerves. Her breathing grew harsh and her hips followed the movement of his fingers. She was so responsive to him, so open about her needs and what she was feeling. His cock surged against her buttocks as she gave a particularly lusty moan. Her hands gripped his arms when her moans turned to keening cries and he lightly bit her shoulder.

  That was all it took to send her over the edge. She bowed into him, her screams echoing off the tiles as she convulsed against his hand. With gentle aftershocks still rocking her body, Emma collapsed into him, soft and limp.

  When she grew still, Jay slid his arms around her before placing a noisy kiss on her neck.

  “Wow.” She stirred. “That was fun.”

  Jay laughed and nipped at her ear. “We aren’t done yet, not by a long shot.”

  * * * * *

  Emma lay in a boneless heap on the bed. Her body hummed with satisfaction while she watched Jay remove his sodden drawers. Her eyes widened as his cock sprang free from the wet cotton. Not only could the man kiss and use his hands like a virtuoso, but he was also well-hung.

  Extremely well-hung.

  She fought the urge to shout with joy as she gathered the sheets around her. Their relationship might only be temporary, but she’d certainly found the lover of her dreams.

  “Don’t bother covering yourself.” Jay caught the end of the sheet and tugged. “I’ll just have to unwrap you again.”

  “Isn’t that half the fun?” She ran her foot playfully over his hairy thigh.

  He gave her a heated glance, causing her body to flush. “I don’t think I can last that long…not this time.”

  Emma glanced at the light burning by her bed. “Are you going to turn the light off?” It was one thing to play in the bathtub with thousands of bubbles to hide behind and another to be flat on her back on the bed at the mercy of gravity.