Defying Desire

by A. C. Arthur

  “I don’t see your trainer backing off,” Trent spat.

  “It’s okay, Carlo. I’m just going to go and talk to him. I’ll finish my workout later.”

  So Mr. Universe’s name was Carlo. Well, Trent didn’t give a damn. His name needed to be Mr. Two-Step because that’s what he needed to do to get the hell away from Tia, now!

  Tia applied pressure to Trent’s wrist, trying to pull him off the trainer’s neck. “Trent. Stop it. You’re making a scene.”

  “I told him to back off.”

  “And he will once you let him go.”

  There was logic to that, Trent thought, but there was also logic to breaking this fool in half for daring to touch Tia. But that was going too far, he knew. So with a deep breath he loosened his grip and took a step back.

  Mr. Universe almost tripped over the weight bench trying to get away from him.

  “Call another trainer when you’re ready, Tia,” he said and made a hasty retreat.

  Trent couldn’t help but smile inwardly. If anybody was going to shape and mold Tia’s body it was going to be him.

  “Wipe that satisfied smirk off your face. Your performance was juvenile and unnecessary.” Tia headed out of the room.

  He followed her. “And so was your little exit this morning.”

  “I don’t owe you any explanations,” she said over her shoulder, then pushed through the door marked “Stairs.”

  Trent followed through the door, then reached out grabbing her and pushing her back against the wall. “You owed me at least a goodbye or good riddance. Let’s not forget you were the one who set the ball in motion last night. So don’t play the wounded victim now.”

  Even sweating she smelled sexy, like wild berries and musk. It was scintillating, the scent reaching his nostrils then floating through his body like an aphrodisiac. They were alone in this stairwell but the building was full of people. Still he wanted to wrap her legs around his waist and take her right here, right now.

  “Nobody said I was a victim,” she said pushing against his chest futilely. “I just had things to do.”

  “And you couldn’t wake me up to tell me that. Why sneak out of your own apartment? If you didn’t want me there all you had to do was tell me to leave.”

  She stared at him a moment as if she were going to say something, then she looked away.

  “So that’s it? You’re just going to run away now? I thought you were better than that,” Trent said.

  “You don’t know me,” she spat, then took advantage of his shock and twisted out of his reach.

  Trent sighed, staring at her as she turned away from him. This was the other side of Tia St. Claire, the side that kept poking its way to the surface only to be pushed back by the wall she’d created around herself. The side that he warned himself to steer clear of.

  Trent had never been one to listen, not even to himself.

  “I’d like to get to know you,” he heard himself saying.

  She was shaking her head when he approached her again. His hands instantly went around her waist because not touching her wasn’t an option. Pulling her back against him Trent nuzzled his face in the crook of her neck.

  “We started backwards. I was supposed to take you to dinner and then seduce you.”

  She chuckled and Trent felt a wave of relief wash over him.

  “This isn’t a storybook romance,” she said finally.

  “Who needs romance? I’m talking about eating. If you’re going to be the workout queen we have to keep you fed.”

  She laughed again and Trent felt her relaxing in his arms. What was it that made her so tense and almost afraid at times?

  “Look, Trent, we don’t have to do this. I’ll apologize for skipping out on you this morning. You can apologize for acting like a Neanderthal back there with Carlo and we can both go on about our business.”

  She’d twisted in his embrace so that they now faced each other and Trent saw that the wall was back in place. She’d gathered her strength and was now facing him as she faced the rest of the world. Only, unlike the rest of the world, Trent knew it was an act. The question was why?

  “I’m not apologizing to Mr. Universe. He should know where to put his hands. But I will accept your apology for this morning and offer dinner as a way of calling a truce. We always seem to be fighting each other when it’s obvious that’s not how we want to carry things.”

  “What’s obvious is that you weren’t satisfied with one night,” she said with a hint of surprise. “I have to say that’s strange coming from one of the Triple Threat Brothers.”

  Trent didn’t flinch at their name, nor did he try to deny the implications. He’d lived for years knowing that the name and reputation that went along with it had paved the way for him to steer clear of many emotional entanglements. Now he wondered if it would work to prevent him from getting what he wanted most. And he could admit, now that he’d caught up with her and had touched her after making love to her, that he wanted Tia St. Claire like a drunk wanted liquor.

  The moment she’d seen Trent her heart rate escalated. Tia tried to keep her breathing as neutral as possible as Carlo guided her movements and from the corner of her eye she saw Trent approaching.

  Vegas wasn’t that big of a town that they couldn’t coincidentally like early Sunday morning workouts at the same gym. And Trent was in excellent condition. Of course he worked out. It had taken about five seconds for her to toss that theory right out the door. And another five seconds for Trent to approach looking like a tall, dark warrior with a purpose. To kill.

  Carlo was built and looked like he could possibly survive a round or two before Trent would eventually beat him down but Tia wasn’t willing to risk it. She’d defused the situation the best way she knew how. She agreed to talk to Trent alone. But the moment Carlo left, the familiar fear of Trent Donovan had risen, clogging her throat so that words were difficult to come. Her best defense was to run, in the most dignified way possible, of course.

  Damn him, he’d followed her. A small part of her knew that he would. Trent was not a man to give up when he wanted something. That was a fact she’d already learned about him.

  How foolish of her was it to go into the stairwell? The answer was resoundingly clear as she was now facing the wall, his hands around her waist, his lips on her neck. She could scream from wanting this man so badly. But it wouldn’t do her much good.

  Logic and past heartache told her to run, to forget appearances and get the hell out of Dodge. Yet something else held her still. A small part of her wanted his touch, his admission to wanting her easing an ache that had occupied her heart for much too long. But Trent wasn’t looking to touch her heart. He wanted her body. Another fact made perfectly clear by the thick erection pressing into her bottom.

  This she could do, Tia thought with relief. Unlike most women sex for her wasn’t a key to her heart. It was as natural and instinctive as breathing. She and Trent were attracted to each other and for once she’d agree that he was correct, there was no use in either of them trying to deny the obvious. So why not continue to sleep with him? As long as they kept it just sex. It would be nice to feel a warm body next to hers on the regular.

  “I know you’re not afraid of me, Tia,” he was saying, his large palms splaying over the exposed skin of her stomach.

  “No,” she whispered resting her forehead on the wall. “I’m not afraid of you, Trent.”

  “Then stop trying to run from me.” His words were punctuated by one hand slipping beneath the rim of her shorts and the other headed north to cup her already aching breast. Again he’d pressed the thick bulge of his arousal into her bottom as if he would enter her right now if not for the barrier of their clothing.

  That thought had Tia’s heart pounding, her mouth and center growing moist. She couldn’t run now even if she wanted to. As his palm moved farther south cupping her mound, she hissed and arched back into his arms.

  “It’s like instant fire between us. From that d
ay on the runway when I simply touched your hand I’ve been craving you.”

  His voice was hoarse with desire, both his hands working their magic on her until the mere thought of defying this desire between them was out of the question.

  “I know,” she whispered, then licked her lips.

  Trent had been running his tongue alluringly over the line of her neck, but the moment she moistened her lips seemed like his open invitation. With a nudge of his shoulder her head was turning so that claiming her mouth was inevitable.

  And with lightning fast strokes his tongue entered her mouth, taking hers on an endless ride of passion, stoking this undeniable fire he’d mentioned between them.

  No, denying it was useless, so instead she fell right in line with Trent’s intentions, lifting a hand to cup the back of his head, pulling him closer, deeper into the kiss. That action earned a deep growl from Trent as his fingers splayed over her mound, one devious digit parting her moist lips, finding her tightened bud. Over and over the pad of his finger worked the puckered flesh until Tia’s knees were growing weak, her breath coming in quick, hot pants.

  “Trent,” she sighed when his mouth had moved from hers to nip at her chin.

  “I know, baby. I know,” he said stepping back far enough to turn her around to face him.

  It took ten seconds, maybe less for him to maneuver one of her legs out of her shorts. Simultaneously Tia’s hands were at the rim of the astoundingly sexy running pants he wore, pushing them down to his muscled thighs. Through the slit in his boxers she found what she needed so desperately, wrapping her greedy fingers around his erection instantly.

  “Yes,” he moaned, then lifted her free leg to wrap around his waist.

  His lips were on hers, hot and demanding as she fondled him, rubbing her fingers over the tight tip of his arousal then stroking downward.

  “That’s right,” he mumbled, “take what you want.”

  And that she did. When stroking him was no longer enough, her body so hot and eager to take him totally, Tia guided his rigid sex to her weeping center, flexing her hips to take him in. Trent followed her lead by pushing the thin wisp of her thong aside and thrusting so that he filled her in one quick movement.

  She threw her head back until it gently hit the wall and she sighed. Trent’s forehead dropped to her shoulder as they both kept completely still for a second…two…then three.

  Her entire body was trembling, her muscles clenching around his arousal as if to hold on to him forever. Her nails dug into his shoulder and Tia prayed for strength, for oxygen, for anything to keep this moment from ending. Never had she desired a man like this, needed his touch, to keep her mind focused. She’d known it would be this way between them and, truth be told, had been afraid of it. Trent was right, it had happened that first day at the fashion show. The moment she stepped up on the stage and he’d taken her hand, the sparks had begun to fly.

  She’d avoided his phone calls for just this reason. Trent Donovan was a powerful man. Not just in his military training or his hefty bank account, but in his allure over women. Surrounding him was this aura of masculinity that was like an aphrodisiac to any woman with a pulse. And she had been no exception.

  He began to move inside her, thrusting his hips so that those sexy hollows in his buttocks were pronounced. Yes, in addition to his mouthwatering looks, Trent had a butt that male models would die for. She’d spied it last night and now moved her hands down his strong back to cup them in her hands. He was hard everywhere, tight and tempting and for the moment, all hers.

  Chapter 7

  Trent couldn’t believe this. He was not taking her in a stairwell. It couldn’t be.

  He was a grown man. He was educated and privileged and dammit, he had a house with a huge bed. So why did he have this woman plastered to this wall, pounding into her like a horny high schooler ready to scream with the powerful release he could feel building in the base of his spine?

  Because she was Tia St. Claire.

  And he loved being inside of her. The two times he’d taken her last night had hardly been enough. This had to be the fastest growing addiction on record. One night and he couldn’t get enough. Even now, as his length moved in and out of her, coated with her sweet honey, clenched by her tightening muscles, he wanted more.

  She held his buttocks firm in her hands, pushing him in deeper, holding him steady as he pulled out, whispering in his ear as he sank back in.

  “Yes, Trent. More.”

  The words were a sweet melody in his ear. Not that he hadn’t heard them before, but all the other female voices that had bounced around in his head over the years had mysteriously disappeared. There was only one voice now, one woman.

  He gave her what she asked for, lifting her other leg and crossing her legs behind his back. Now cupping her buttocks Trent drove into her with his intense desire. Her head fell back, her mouth open as she panted and moaned. He licked her neck, loving the honey-toned skin. Her breasts were bound in the fitted sports bra she wore but he had only to close his eyes and he saw them bared, moving and bouncing with the rhythm he’d created.

  She was perfect. This moment was perfect. Regardless of where they were, being inside her, about to release into her was absolutely perfect.

  Except…

  His mind roared with realization. Tia gripped his shoulders, her moans growing louder. He kissed her, trapping the scream of release in his mouth while thrusting once more, feeling his own orgasm tunnel through his body.

  For endless moments they stayed that way, his lips on hers, his sex locked securely in hers. Then Trent reluctantly pulled back, resting his forehead against hers as they both struggled to catch their breath.

  When he thought his heartbeat was strong enough to sustain normal conversation he said, “I’m sorry.”

  Her lashes, naturally long and untouched by makeup, fluttered, her lids lifting. She had beautiful eyes, hazel with tiny flecks of green and gold that looked almost feline.

  “Sorry? For wha…” she closed her mouth, cursed, then looked away.

  Trent felt her begin to tense and gently let her unwrap her legs from around him. When he knew she was stable he took a step back and began fixing his clothes. “I should have protected you,” he said as he adjusted his pants. “I’ve never forgotten before.” He cursed himself as she dragged her hands through her hair, then bent forward to fix her shorts.

  Stooping down he helped her put her foot back into her shorts then pulled them up her legs. She hadn’t seemed to mind him helping her dress but now she stood there, still and unspeaking.

  “Tia,” he began cupping her face with one hand.

  She shook her head. “No. Don’t apologize again. We’re both adults. I should have said something.”

  For a moment Trent could only stare at her. Into those magnificent eyes he searched for answers, for reasons why she reacted to things in certain ways, why she said what she said. But it had already begun, she was closing herself off to him once more.

  “It won’t happen again,” he said finally, then leaned in for a soft kiss on her lips.

  She nodded but did not kiss him back.

  “I really need to get a shower and leave. I have errands to run,” she said when he still stood in front of her.

  “Right,” he said wanting to spend more time with her but knowing it was a mistake. Trent did not spend time with women. He did what was necessary to seduce them and he moved on. He and Tia were not dating, or courting or whatever they called it these days. They were having hot earth-shattering sex.

  “I’ll walk you to the locker room,” he offered moving to the side so she could take the steps beside him.

  They took the two flights in silence, then Trent opened the door and let her out into the long hallway that led to the female locker rooms. When they arrived at that door she turned, looking up to him. A few of her braids had escaped the ponytail she wore and he fingered one, loving the soft texture, the beautiful golden color that seemed to enhanc
e her intriguing features.

  “I’m okay with this, Trent,” she said finally.

  “This?” he inquired.

  The left side of her mouth lifted slowly, the smile small but just as potent, tugging softly on something in his chest.

  “Yeah, this thing between us. I’m okay with having sex with you.” The smile grew a little bigger and Trent struggled to breathe. “I actually like it. A lot,” she added.

  “Good,” he said ignoring any foreign emotions that might be trickling through his body at her words. “I like it a lot, too.”

  She chuckled then and Trent could swear he’d never heard anything as sweet. “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “So—” his fingers moved from her hair to skate lightly across her jaw “—when do we do it again?”

  “Insatiable,” she whispered, then stood on tiptoe to run her tongue along his lips. “I like that, too.”

  He couldn’t help it. He tried, he really did. Coming down the steps Trent swore he wasn’t going to touch her again, he wasn’t going to act like a teenager with his nose wide open. Still, one arm went around her waist, capturing her before she could retreat. He touched her lips again, tentatively at first, watching her watch him. He kissed her again, saw the beginning haze of lust in her eyes and kissed her once more, this time letting his tongue touch hers. An innocent swipe, a pleasurable lick and then the kiss bloomed. It was soft, arousing, intimate, enticing. But the clincher was, it wasn’t filled with lust, but some simple thing akin to longing, to need.

  Her arms wrapped around his neck and he brought his around her waist. Her body was pressed against his and he kissed her. Simply kissed her. His mind filled neither with desire nor any sexual urgings. Sure, there was some rousing in his pants but it wasn’t the urgent emotion he normally felt when kissing a woman. This exchange was starkly different. Trent recognized it and released it just the same.

  She pulled away slowly, then took a step away from him. With their gazes locked she backed into the door leading to the locker rooms and whispered, “Soon.”