“Come on.” His fingers were back at the crook of her elbow again, setting off those sizzling bolts of electricity chasing themselves through her body. “I’ll answer your question once we’re seated at our table.”
“Mr. McCann.” The maître d’ greeted him as they came through the door. “We have your table ready.”
Ness tried to look without gawking as Josh guided her to their seats. The atmosphere was hushed, muted, with candles on the tables casting an amber glow on everything. Music played softly in the background through concealed speakers. The dining room was actually shaped like an arc so a sweep of windows could take advantage of the view of gorgeous landscape. In the early evening twilight the hills looked as if they were tipped with silver.
Josh spoke quietly to the maître d’, who nodded and bowed himself away. Ness continued to absorb the panoramic view and the fascinating interior. They might have stepped into a Spanish casa from two hundred years ago.
“Okay, spill it,” she commanded. “Who did you have to kill to get us a reservation here?”
His killer smile did funny things to her body. “Armando was one of our very first clients when McMann Development opened its doors. He had bought land to build a small strip center and we bid on the job.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s it?”
“No, of course not. He wanted some very specific things that were fixin’ to cost him a bundle he didn’t have. We bid on the job and Tyler and I figured out a way to give him what he wanted without bankrupting him. The job came in on time and on budget. We’ve actually been close friends ever since.”
Ness let her eyes travel over the packed restaurant. “Did you build this place, too?”
“Sure did. But basically as a favor to Armando, since we don’t do stand alones like this anymore.”
“And in return whenever you want a table you get one. You bring people here to impress them.”
“Uh huh.” He winked. “Is it working?”
Before she could answer a waiter appeared holding a wine stand filled with ice and a bottle of Riesling wine she was sure cost the earth. One thing for sure. Josh McMann wasn’t stingy with his entertaining.
Josh studied the label on the bottle and looked at Ness. “You had a Riesling in your fridge last night so I’m guessing—hoping—it’s your favorite.”
She nodded. “Absolutely. Thank you for ordering this.”
Josh watched the woman seated across from him, the tawny light from the flickering candle giving a golden glow to her skin. All day images of her almost naked body had done a tap dance in his brain, making work next to impossible. Only the fact that he’d locked himself in his office kept his brothers from sticking their collective nose into his business.
But when Ness opened the door to him tonight, hair loose around her shoulders, the soft material of her blouse and slacks revealing the curves of her body more tantalizingly than if she was naked, it was worth it all. He nearly swallowed his tongue as his gaze tracked down the length of her body and back up again.
He’d made the reservation at Armando’s for a number of reasons. Maybe a little to impress her because he had a feeling despite the previous night she still thought him kind of a jerk. But also because he wanted to see her reaction. He’d gotten so used to his dates looking around the restaurant, assessing everything. When they looked back at him he could almost see the dollar signs clanging in their eyes.
But either Vanessa Bowen was a different breed of cat or a very good actress. Sure, she was awed about the reservation but no more than some of his high-ticket clients had been. Despite the craziness of her accidents and her car being towed, she gave the impression of a woman who had her act together. Who didn’t care if he had two dimes to his name. Who wasn’t impressed by who he was. Of course, that could all be for show, he reminded himself. Maybe she was feeding out the line so she could reel him in later on. He’d been taken in before.
Still, she was such a mass of contradictions. In forty-eight hours she’d shown him so many sides of her—spitfire hellcat, victim, needy woman. But even though last night he had meant what happened to be all about her, he had no doubt that she could give as good as she got. And he wanted the chance to find out.
“Tell me about you,” he urged as they sipped predinner drinks. “I want to get to know Ness Bowen.”
“You mean what kind of person wrecks two cars in less than a month?”
He laughed. “Maybe. But more than that. What do you like? Dislike? What do you do at Prater Electronics?”
“Wow.” She lifted an eyebrow. “Should I have brought my resume?”
He shook his head, swallowing a grin. “Just the highlights will do.”
Josh was amazed at how quickly the time passed as the shared parts of themselves and discovered how much they had in common. The chip she’d carried on her shoulder that first night seemed to get smaller each time he saw her. It turned out they both loved football, action movies, buttered popcorn and summer rain. Skiing and jogging. They both hated talk shows on television with an equal passion.
“I talk enough during the day,” Ness told him. “And listen to enough opinions. When I relax it’s the last thing I want.”
“I can’t believe you like action movies.” Josh watched her lick a drop of sauce béarnaise from her fork and tried to will away the sudden hard-on it gave him. “Most women find them…not their genre of choice.”
“Most women aren’t me,” she said impishly.
If she was just playing a part because of who he was she was doing a damn good job of it. Hostile at first then gradually warming to him. Too bad she didn’t know how naturally suspicious he’d become. He’d just been burned far too many times.
Still, the conversation was pleasant, flowing easily. But sitting across from her at dinner soon became an exercise in self-discipline. Every time she took a bite of food, chewed and swallowed, those muscles in her slender throat worked smoothly, tantalizingly. Same thing when she took a sip of wine, her slender fingers holding the fine crystal goblet. They shared a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. When a tiny crumb of frosting stuck to her sensuous lower lip he couldn’t help himself. He had to reach over to wipe it off with his thumb. Then he very deliberately licked the chocolate from that thumb, his eyes on her the entire time. When she looked across at him unmistakable heat flared in her eyes and her breathing hitched just a little.
The ride back to her condo was…not silent, but quiet, as if each was absorbed with their own thoughts. Josh reached over and squeezed her hand and felt an answering pressure. There seemed to be unspoken agreement as to how the evening would end and neither was putting up an argument. No posturing. No games like most of the women he dated felt obliged to play. Now he pulled into a guest parking spot, turned off the ignition and came around to help her out. He was amazed at how gracefully she moved with the clunky cast. And grateful she hadn’t done herself any more damage the night before.
As they walked to the elevator he took her hand again and linked his fingers with her. He wondered if she was going to invite him up or if he’d have to make the first move. He did his best to conceal his impatience until the doors finally opened and she turned to him with a half-smile. Why he should be edgy at all was a mystery to him. These days a sleepover on the first date was almost expected, at least with the women he dated. But after last night a sleepover with Ness Bowen had become very important to him. He wanted a chance to see if that zing of chemistry he felt last night was more than just…whatever it had been.
“Would you like to come up for a while?” Her lips turned up in a grin.
His fingers skimmed across her cheek. “I thought you’d never ask.”
Again they rode in silence, only this time it was humming with almost palpable sexual tension. No fake posturing. None of the games the women he usually dated felt necessary to play. Still, he’d give anything to know what was going through her mind at the moment. He couldn’t remember ever being this nervous or unsure
with a woman, not since he was in high school. It unnerved him. But there was just something about Vanessa Bowen that put him off balance. Made him want to do this just right.
At last they were at her floor, at her condo and, thank the lord, inside. He tried to temper his need with patience but it only worked until the door locked. Then, mindful of her cast, he turned her to face him, cupped her cheeks and kissed her. It began as a gentle touch of lips, a caress. But in seconds raw passion took over and his tongue thrust into her mouth. The kiss became hard, almost bruising.
Lordy, but she tasted good. He could still savor the hint of chocolate on her tongue, the faint bite of the wine they’d shared, and the hot sweetness that was all Vanessa. He stroked his tongue over every inch of her mouth, tilting her head this way and that to give himself a better angle. When she closed her slender fingers around his wrists he was afraid she might be pulling his hands away but she merely hung on and answered his heat with her own.
When he could barely breathe he finally lifted his head and traced the outline of her lips with his tongue.
“Delicious,” he murmured. “Truly delectable.”
“Mm,” she hummed, her fingers still wrapped around his wrists. “You too.”
He lifted her in his arms and maneuvered down the short hallway to her room.
“This cast is pretty damn heavy,” she pointed out.
He chuckled. “Not for a big macho guy like me.”
With his elbow he flipped the light switch that turned on the bedside lamp, carried her to the bed and after flipping back the cover placed her gently on the sheet. When he frowned she raised an eyebrow.
“What’s wrong? Sudden problems?”
He cleared his throat, testing unfamiliar waters. “I don’t think I’ve ever…” His hand sketched her plaster-encased leg. “Um, had, uh, sex with a woman in a cast.”
Ness burst into laughter. “That could be a dash of cold water.” She searched his eyes out with her own hot ones. “Be inventive.”
He wanted to ask her how she’d managed so far, but it was certainly none of his business and he wasn’t even sure he wanted to know. Leaning down he brushed his mouth over hers. “That I can do.”
He took his time removing her clothes, kissing each area of skin as he exposed it, taking extra trips along the slender column of her neck and nibbling the tender spot behind her ear. Her breathing hitched as his lips traveled over her and when he opened her bra her nipples were already pebbled and darkened.
She was a sensual feast, laid out before him, making his mouth water and his pulse speed up. His hands itched to trace the line of her lush curves, to explore and taste and plunder. He’d certainly been with his fair share of women but he couldn’t remember ever being so aroused or having his senses so quickly swamped the way Ness affected him. If he had possession of his brains he’d probably bolt out the door before this became more than he wanted to handle but at the moment he was sure it would take a forklift to move him.
“Don’t move,” he told her. “Stay just like that.”
Easing her slacks down over her hips, tugging slowly over the cast, he tossed them to the side, nudged her thighs apart and just stared at her gorgeous pussy. Neatly trimmed dark hair drew a line down each of her outer lips. Her clit, a tempting rosy pink, peeked out at him from its little hood and the cream of her arousal gleamed in the light from the lamp. Heat surged through him as he knelt between her thighs, bent on exploring every inch of her.
Josh’s cock strained against his fly, eager to break free and plunge into that inviting hot channel. He sent it a silent message because he had other things in mind before they got to that and deliberately kept his own clothes on to maintain some semblance of control. Almost reverently he skimmed his hand over the dips and swells and contours of her body, palming each breast and lightly pinching each nipple. He traced the line where hip and thigh joined with the tip of one finger then bent and followed the same crease with his tongue.
Ness was moving beneath his touch, delightful little moans bursting from her mouth. Gripping her wonderful hips he lifted her to him and lapped and licked the length of her slit. Curled his tongue around the furled flesh of her clit. Took it into his mouth and pulled on it with his lips. Her moans grew louder, her movements more frantic.
God, who would have known that this smart-mouthed woman would push his buttons so hard. She was so not his type. But for tonight she would be. And he would make this night very memorable for her.
With infinite care Josh continued to lick and suck her clit and the slick, swollen lips of her cunt, savoring the delicious taste of her musk. The little whimpers of pleasure she made drove his own need to the point where he thought for sure his cock would burst through his pants. Reaching for the control he prided himself on he continued to push Ness higher and higher. When he slid two fingers into the clutch of her pussy her soaking-wet walls clamped down on him.
Sweet Jesus!
She bent the cast-free leg, digging her heel into the mattress, her fingers clutched in his hair as she thrust her hips at him. She was almost there. Almost there. He took her clit into his mouth again, increased the pace of his fingers and then she exploded. The walls of her pussy contracted over and over as she poured into his hand and he rode her through the contractions.
But he gave her little time to recover. Just as she began to catch her breath he swirled his tongue around her swollen bun of flesh and worked three fingers into her. Moving them in and out with a studied rhythm he continued to work on her clit until a second orgasm roared through her, shaking her and leaving her limp.
“Ohmigod.” Her breasts were heaving as she struggled for air. “Ohmigod.”
She was covered with a fine sheen of perspiration, her skin flushed with satisfaction. But Josh wasn’t done with her yet. She was so responsive he wondered if he’d ever be done with her.
When he felt her body relax, heard the uneven panting of her breath as she tried to draw air into her lungs, he slipped his hand free and moved up so he could kiss her. Her mouth was hot, her lips soft and sensuous, and on his tongue he carried her taste to share with her. He was gentle with her, cupping her cheeks and brushing her cheekbones with his thumbs. He trailed light kisses along the line of her jaw and down her neck before finally backing off and rising from the bed.
Ness’ eyes widened as she watched him, her expression a mixture of confusion, anxiety and anger.
Josh grinned at her. “I’m not leaving. Far from it. We are nowhere near finished here.”
She must have dated some real assholes if she thought he was finished. Last night was one thing. He swallowed a laugh as he tried to think of that as therapeutic. But tonight was totally different. All evening he’d been dreaming about being inside her, feeling the clutch of her body around him. Her soft breasts pressing into his chest. Her body molded to his.
As he unbuttoned his shirt he leaned down and brushed his mouth over hers.
“Don’t worry, pretty lady. We are far from done.”
Be inventive, she’d told him. He’d need all his ingenuity now.
In seconds he was free of the rest of his clothes, had pulled a condom from his wallet, suited up and knelt again between her thighs. Ness’ face was still flushed from her previous orgasm but he could tell by the heat flaring in her eyes she was far from satisfied. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing uneven as she watched him with hungry eyes.
He took a long time worshipping her body with his mouth—her neck, the hollow of her throat where her pulse beat rapidly, her breasts, her hard pebbled nipples, the smooth skin of her stomach. He spent long moments licking the wet flesh of her cunt.
She wasn’t a passive participant by any means. Her hands rubbed his arms and slid across the flexing muscles in his back, her lips kissing his skin every place she could reach. She even managed to slide one hand between them and found the hard buttons of his nipples, scraping her nails over them. He caught his breath at the electricity of her touch.<
br />
He shifted slightly to give her better access to his body and she wrapped her slim fingers around his cock, squeezing gently. Her thumb brushed back and forth against the head, just a whisper of a touch that made him shudder. Lifting her head just slightly she licked his nipples and nipped them lightly.
His control shredded, he bent her leg as she’d done before. Paying careful attention to her wounded leg, he positioned himself at her opening, slid his palms beneath her ass and drove himself home with a slow, steady thrust.
Holy hell!
Josh was sure he’d died and gone to heaven. Her heat surged through his body, making his blood pump and his balls draw up in need. He pulled in a deep breath to steady himself then began the age-old rhythm that pushed them both up that elusive peak.
Ness clutched his arms, using them as leverage to move her hips in tempo with him and rub her breasts against his chest. Her sexy little whimpers drove him crazy. It was a little awkward at first, shifting his weight so he didn’t bump into the cast, but with a little maneuvering he found a good position for them both.
“Look at me, Ness,” he commanded.
She opened her eyes and looked straight into his and for a frightening moment he thought she could see right into the heart of his soul. Then he was lost in the passion and lust, in the movement of their bodies, the feel of her tight cunt squeezing him.
“Josh, Josh, Josh,” she chanted. “More. Harder.
He pumped into her, gritting his teeth to hold on until he felt the first tremors of her orgasm rising again and then with a final thrust he carried them both over the edge, exploding like a maniac into the latex reservoir.
He somehow managed to have enough sense to catch his weight on his elbows, ease himself from her and roll to the side to keep away from the leg with the cast. As soon as he could catch his breath he headed for the bathroom to dispose of the condom then slid back into bed beside Ness. Again being careful of her cast he cradled her body against his. God, she felt so soft and warm, her skin as smooth as satin.
Erected (Erector Set, Book One) Page 6
