She opened her mouth to respond when a voice cut through the conversation.
“Well, well, well.” Tristan Calhoun pulled out a chair and sat down. “Isn’t this cozy?” His tone was mellow though his eyes were furious.
Sylvia recoiled. What in God’s name is Tristan doing at the cafe?
“Aren’t you a little out of your element?” she snapped.
“Aren’t you?” Tristan retorted with a quick glance at Ben and their hands.
Ben scowled and moved his back. “And what prompted the great Tristan Calhoun to actually leave his office this afternoon?”
Sylvia glanced from one to the other. This situation rapidly going downhill. An uneasy feeling rose in her.
“You two know each other?”
Tristan looked amazed and then pleased. “Don’t tell me Ben didn’t introduce himself?” he said silkily.
Ben glared at him over the coffee cup.
“Yes, Ben introduced himself.” Sylvia turned to Tristan. “And what business is it of yours?”
“Bravo,” Ben murmured with a Cheshire grin. “I can see that this wedding is well in hand.”
“Okay.” Sylvia blew out a breath. “What’s going on here?”
“And do you know Ben’s last name?”
“I was getting to that,” Sylvia snapped. “My God! Where do you get off? Coming in here and insinuating yourself into the situation?”
“Hmmm.” Tristan took a sip of his own coffee. “For one, this is my shop. For two, I wondered if you actually know who you are sitting with.”
“It’s none of your damn business.” Sylvia glanced around. “This is yours?” She thought back to all the mugs of coffee she received. Well son of a bitch. The anger grew. “I would be more than happy to discuss whatever you think appropriate at one of our meetings. I am, however, on my own time. Who I see. What I do. That is certainly none of your business.”
Tristan inclined his head in agreement. “Yes, Ms. Masters.” He turned to Ben. “Shall I tell her? Or do you want to?”
“For heaven’s sake! Tell me what?” Sylvia glared at Tristan, then Ben. Her eyes darkened dangerously. “One of you needs to say something.”
“I simply wanted to talk to Sylvia.” Ben took a sip of coffee. “Get to know her better. I wasn’t going to ask if she would make me wear a monkey suit. I’d rather torture Jon.”
Maude’s words rang in her ears. I have three other sons.
Sylvia stood suddenly. “I see.” She turned to Ben. “Your last name is McKee, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” Ben stood, also. “Listen, Sylvia. I’d like to get to know you better. I didn’t want to spring my name on you until we had a chance to talk.” He sighed. Then he turned to Tristan. “And your timing is impeccable. Always an opportunity to tear something apart. Hell of a gift.”
Tristan growled and stood. “I thought it would be useful for Sylvia to know who exactly she was speaking to.” He motioned to Ben’s clothes. “Not a simple blue collar worker. One of the heirs to the McKee fortune. A member of the wedding party.”
Sylvia looked from one man to the other. “Now I’m remembering why I always stay in my office.” She held up the coffee and smiled at Ben. “Thanks.” She didn’t even glance in Tristan’s direction as she made her way back to her car.
Her hand with the keys in it shook slightly and jangled as she approached her red Corvette. Another hand closed over hers and took the keys.
Tristan slid the key into the car and unlocked it. He put the keys back into her hand and climbed into the passenger seat.
Sylvia climbed in the driver’s side and could only stare at the audacity of the man next to her. “Get. The blue fuck. Out of my car.”
“Don’t think so,” he said easily and turned the key over in the ignition.
Sylvia turned the key off and started at Tristan. He looked furious. Well, good for him. He wasn’t the only one. She turned in her seat. “I don’t need a keeper. And I sure as hell don’t need you dogging my footsteps and interrogating men I’m having coffee with.”
“Ben McKee is a playboy.” Tristan slammed his hand on the console in front of him. “He glories in finding beautiful women and adding them to his to-do list.” His wolf’s eyes glared at her. “You were next on that list.”
Sylvia lifted her chin. “And if I wanted to be?”
“Son of a bitch.” Tristan took her mouth with his almost violently. Only heat and passion. Strength and domination. His hands moved down to cup her breasts through her black dress and stroke across her nipples. The sensation brought a moan from deep inside her.
Sylvia threaded her hands through Tristan’s hair and pulled him closer. More. She was greedy for more of the heat Tristan promised her. The time for wishing it would go away gone.
Tristan pulled back and rested his forehead against Sylvia’s. Their breathing sounded harsh in the silence of the car. Tristan turned the car over and sat back.
“Take me home.”
Sylvia’s blue eyes were wide in her face. She gasped for air. Oxygen a luxury she didn’t have right then. “Take you home?”
“Your home, Sylvia.” Tristan slid his thumb across her bottom lip and into her mouth. “Take me home,” he repeated huskily.
Yes.
Sylvia put the car into drive and drove the fifteen minutes to her home in complete silence. She and Tristan had turned the corner. There was no going back. The promise of his body next to hers blew every bit of common sense right the hell out of the water.
There would probably be recriminations tomorrow. Self-talks of lack of restraint. But for now, she would take the brief time they had and enjoy every damn minute of it.
Sylvia picked up the phone to call her office when Tristan hung it up. “Let them wonder,” he said before her crushed her mouth with his. And then his hands were on the zipper on the back of her dress. He unzipped it to her waist and pulled it down over her body.
Tristan groaned at the sight of her black lacy bra and cupped her breasts in his hands.
“I’ve dreamed of this.” He lifted his eyes, and they darkened to a deep brandy that made her breath hitch in her throat. “Of you.”
Tristan lowered his mouth and took a nipple into his mouth while his hands moved lower and cupped her ass. Sylvia threw her head back and gripped his shoulders. Little shocks of pleasure raced through her body. He sucked leisurely through the black lace. And then he moved his hand up and freed her breast completely
Sylvia cried out as his warm mouth closed over the tip of her breast. Desire spun out of control as she whimpered and clung to him.
Tristan slid the other bra strap down and lowered his mouth to that breast. “You’re beautiful,” he murmured softly.
She felt beautiful. Heat raced along her skin while Tristan licked and stroked her breasts. Sylvia pulled his head up and brought his mouth to hers. Hunger pulsed in the air as Tristan ripped his shirt off and threw it on the floor. He pulled Sylvia closer and groaned as their naked skin touched.
Her nipples grew harder almost to the point of pain. And still Tristan made no effort to rid her of the rest of her dress. He moved his mouth down and nipped at her collarbone while she arched her body into him.
“I knew you’d taste like this,” he whispered. “Soft and velvety. Sinfully soft.” He palmed her breasts in his hands and bit softly on her neck.
“Tristan,” she pleaded.
“Bedroom?” he asked.
Sylvia pointed down the hall. Before she could take a step, he scooped her up in his arms and walked toward the bed.
She trembled in his arms as seconds later he slid her slowly to the floor and dropped down to his knees. Her black dress clung to her hips, and Tristan traced her bare skin as it met fabric. Then he lifted his head and looked at her.
“Are you sure?” he asked.
“I’m sure.”
Tristan put his hands on her hips and slid the rest of the dress to the floor. Sylvia stood there in only her black lace panti
es and high heels. The urge to cover herself almost overwhelmed her, but she kept her hands to her sides. Tristan leaned forward and kissed her stomach gently. It clenched under his mouth.
Oh, dear God. She would incinerate. Burst into flame beneath his hot, wet mouth. Tristan traced a path from one hipbone to the other. Sylvia kept her hands to her sides as her fists clenched and unclenched.
He smiled gently and unclenched her fists and put them in his hair. “I’d rather have you touch me.”
Sylvia stroked his hair as he moved his mouth back to her bare skin. And then his mouth dipper lower to stroke the area just below her naval. Her body throbbed in anticipation. Then Tristan pushed her back on the bed and crawled over to her on his hands and knees.
Sylvia sat up and welcomed Tristan into her arms as he sat on his knees between her legs. She rubbed her breasts against his chest and groaned. Tristan broke the kiss and moved his mouth down to suckle her breasts. His hands reached down to grip her hips. Then he kissed his way down the center of her body and rimmed her naval with his tongue.
She gripped his hair tightly in her hands while he moved lower and lower still. When his mouth brushed against the front of her panties, Sylvia twitched. Surely he couldn’t possibly.
“Let me,” he murmured. Tristan hooked his fingers in her panties and eased them gently down her legs.
Doubt slammed into Sylvia, and she tried to ease her body back up onto the bed. Tristan’s eyes blazed with desire as he looked at her.
“You’re beautiful, Sylvia. All of you.” He reached down and gently undid the straps on her heels. Then he took them carefully and laid them on the other side of the bed. Tristan sat up again and pulled her closer to him.
Sylvia wrapped her legs around his waist as he pleasured her mouth with his. Pleasure built in her until she thought she would die from it. Tristan moved his mouth from hers and grinned wickedly.
“Thought you would distract me, didn’t you?” he murmured. Tristan unhooked her legs and pushed her gently back down on the bed. “Not damn likely.”
And then his mouth nipped gently on her ankles. Sylvia tried to breathe. And then her breath stopped as he moved up to the inside of her knee. She twitched under Tristan’s ministrations. Heat built again as he moved to her inner thigh.
And then breathing proved impossible as his mouth moved over her. Tristan hooked his arms around her legs as he ducked his head and stroked his tongue against her heated flesh. Sylvia thrashed on the bed and moaned as sensations slammed into her. One on top of the other. No room for her to breathe. To think.
And still Tristan was relentless. He stroked and sucked her until her breath sobbed tightly in her throat. Sylvia’s body bowed and bucked beneath him. And then pleasure crashed through her with an intensity that left her limp and trembling.
Tristan licked his lips and lifted his head from between her legs. He stood slowly and unzipped his pants and stepped out of them. His boxers came next.
Sylvia watched him with half-lidded eyes. Tristan kicked out of his shoes and then knelt on the bed next to Sylvia. He rolled onto his side and tucked Sylvia close to him.
And then his glorious mouth was on her again. His hands shaped and molded her curves while his mouth nipped and stroked across her bare flesh. Sylvia’s fingers dug into his back as again, pleasure built inside of her.
Tristan rolled her onto her back and covered her body with his. Sylvia felt his hardness against her inner thigh and tried to shift her body to accommodate him. He groaned.
“Sylvia,” he breathed.
She arched her body closer to his. Tristan moved his hand down and cupped her while his thumb stroked against her sensitive nub. Sylvia covered his hand with hers.
“Please, Tristan. Please.”
He growled and spread her legs. Tristan’s eyes were dark and intense. He watched her face while he eased his body inside hers.
Sylvia tensed a bit, and Tristan stopped.
“What’s wrong?” He eased a bit further in and then stopped in disbelief.
Startled brown eyes met hers. “Never?”
Sylvia shook her head and looked everywhere but at Tristan. He cupped her chin in his hand and ducked his head to kiss her. While he kissed her, he moved the rest of his body inside hers.
She moaned at the sensation of Tristan’s possession. Sylvia lifted her hips and bit her lip at the pleasure she felt. Too much and not enough at the same time.
“Easy.” Tristan groaned when she lifted her hips again. “You’re going to kill me.”
“Show me.” Sylvia wrapped her legs around him and tugged his body closer to hers. “I want to know.”
Tristan moved inside her while his hands and mouth pleasured her entire body. Sylvia trembled when Tristan moved his hand down between them and stroked her. He pinned her arms above her head and drove her body to surrender.
Sylvia’s orgasm snapped through her with an intensity that left her limp and gulping for air on the bed. Tristan growled low and bucked against her one last time before he partially collapsed on her. The only thing keeping his weight off of her was his elbows.
She closed her eyes so she wouldn’t have to deal with Tristan and her impulsiveness right this minute. He would put up with none of it.
“I know you’re awake, woman.” Tristan stroked her damp ebony hair and feathered kisses along her jaw. He rolled away from her but still kept her tucked tightly to his body. “Talk to me.”
“Nothing to say,” she mumbled.
“Not going to extol my extraordinary manly prowess? Wonder aloud how a man my age keeps in such good shape?” His voice sounded disappointed. “Nothing?”
Sylvia snickered and opened her eyes to look at Tristan. “Obviously I don’t have a worthwhile comparison to make.” She arched an eyebrow. “When that’s out of the way, I’ll get back to you.”
Tristan scowled. “Smart ass. There’ll be no comparisons.” He touched the tip of her nose. “Keep that in mind.”
Sylvia’s body still shook with after tremors, and she tried to collect her thoughts. Her actions were reckless. Totally uncharacteristic. And it had been worth it. Every damn second. She moved away from Tristan and pulled the covers over herself.
Tristan maneuvered his way under the covers also and slung his arm around her waist. “You’re thinking again. That doesn’t bode well for me.”
“I’m glad we got this out of the way.”
Tristan’s eyes narrowed. “Got this out of the way?”
“Yes.” Sylvia braced herself for the firestorm she knew brewed. “I think it was wise of us to have sex so we can function as normal human beings now.”
Tristan slapped himself in the forehead. “Of course. How silly of me. Just another thing on your lengthy to-do list. How fucking crazy of me to think otherwise.”
“Tristan.” Sylvia put her hand over his on her hip and looked him in the eye. “That’s not it. But you have to admit that this attraction between us colored our meetings. Now we don’t have to worry about it.”
“Why me?” Tristan shook his head slowly. “You’ve never been with another man. Why?”
“Why was I a virgin? Or why did I pick you?”
“Both, damn it.”
Sylvia took a deep breath and plucked at the sheet with nervous fingers. “I chose to be a virgin. Sex took a sideline to my business. The couple relationships I had weren’t important enough to give my body to.” She shrugged.
“And me?”
She smoothed his hair back from his forehead with a small smile. “I’ve never felt a spark like that with anyone. And the more I tried to fight it, the stronger it became. I was distracted. Edgy.”
“Well. That makes two of us.” Tristan brought her hand down to his mouth and kissed her knuckles.
Sylvia sighed.
“Didn’t quite plan for this, did you?”
Sylvia shook her head. “I don’t want you to think I had sex with you because of who you are. Or the fact I’m putting your sister’
s wedding together. It was a choice. That simple.”
“You weren’t trying to get in the newspaper?”
Her temper flared without warning. “Oh. Sure I did. In fact, when you leave, which will be in about two seconds, there will be a dozen reporters on the other side of my door. You arrogant ass.”
“Truce.” Tristan shook his head. “I was only kidding, Sylvia. A poor joke. But a joke, nonetheless.
“What are we going to do?”
“We’ll continue our business association, of course.”
“Of course,” Sylvia snapped.
“And,” he added, before she could take his head off, “we’ll continue to see each other.”
“I don’t think so.” Sylvia looked Tristan in the eye. “I don’t want to be another nameless chick on your arm while you attend business functions and art galleries.”
“Sylvia, my dear.” Tristan smiled and moved closer. “You’re not another nameless anything.” He brought her mouth down to his and proceeded to prove it to her.
Chapter 7
Sylvia awoke the next morning alone. Her alarm clock went off, and she took a moment to acclimate herself and stretch. She was sore. But it was a lovely “let’s do it again” sore.
Tristan hadn’t left until the wee hours of the morning. After a joint shower and a bit of fun with ice cream.
Sylvia would never look at Ben & Jerry’s the same again.
She slapped the alarm clock and rolled to her side. It’s a workday, for God’s sake. She had weddings to plan. Employees to delegate. It was her life she had to get back to. That simple.
Sylvia showered and walked into the kitchen. She poured a large glass of diet soda and leaned against the counter. Things had changed. No disputing that. Sleeping with Tristan could potentially be extremely harmful to her.
She sipped the caffeine and tried not to think of the previous evening. Imagining Tristan in her bed wouldn’t pay the bills or put together a wedding.
More’s the pity.
Wind Goddess Page 11
