The Complete Tempest World Box Set

by Mankin, Michelle

  Alex blinked, then surprised me by laughing flat out. “I think it just might end up being the other way around. When Shaina wants something, she gets it. Don’t underestimate her, make the mistake of thinking her kindness is a weakness.” Before I could avoid it, he clapped me on the shoulder. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Then he looked around me and said in a louder voice, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, Shaye, baby. And remember I’m just across the hall.”

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Shaina

  My pulse began racing. Even sexier than before, he sauntered across the room toward me, a rolled red bandana wrapped around his forehead. His shiny caramel locks were smoothly tucked behind his ears revealing a silver hoop in one and a plain stud in the other that I hadn’t noticed on the bridge.

  Once his oak tinted eyes locked on mine, I forgot all about the bandana and the earrings. My face flushed with heat as if his gaze had been a physical caress.

  Pure palpable potency. Sure there had been hints of it, tempered by a vulnerability beneath the bluster that had drawn me in. But this cocksure man with his squared shoulders and loose limbed strut was another thing entirely.

  All rocker. All badass. One hundred percent in your face attitude.

  Devastatingly attractive, he owned it in faded jeans that showcased his long legs and nicely shaped rear end to jaw dropping advantage. The ripped cutoff sleeves of his grey tee revealed defined biceps, and wrists stacked with beaded, leather, and silver chained bracelets. Those weren’t his only accessories either. Oh, no. Not even. A jet black cross dangled from his neck and silver rings adorned every single one of his long fingers including his thumbs, a bold and unashamed proclamation of his artistic flair.

  Um, yum.

  My throat went dry. I could barely swallow. He was making me more nervous than when I’d been fourteen and auditioned alongside fifteen hundred other girls for the lead on Pinky Swear. It took all the acting skills I possessed (and I was pretty darn good) to keep my hands from trembling when he halted in front of me his body less than a foot away, his eyes assessing as he raked them over me.

  I suddenly realized that with him I was way out of my league, completely captivated and already contemplating surrender.

  I’d been kidding myself thinking that I could control the situation or him.

  I was suddenly very glad my best friend was just across the hall.

  I nearly jumped when Warren reached out and touched the sleeve of my robe, rolling the velvety cloth between his thumb and finger. “You naked under there, Sweetness?”

  I gulped and nodded.

  “Show me,” he ordered without preamble, his eyes turning to dark mahogany. Deep and melodic, his charmer’s voice resonated with a visceral intensity that matched the hungry look in his eyes.

  “You’re pretty direct, aren’t you?” I quipped with an eye roll attempting to cover the warm shimmery shiver that traveled through me. I doubt it took him more than a few words to talk most women out of their panties, me either had I been wearing any.

  My reaction to him made me realize my motives for doing this had been a lot less than pure than I’d like to admit. I worried that when he saw me without the robe he might be disappointed. As a rock and roll front man, looking the way he looked, swaggering the way he swaggered, I was certain that he’d seen more than his fair share of naked women. Hand selected, beautiful, and willing, with barely any effort on his part. Just a slight crook of a ringed finger was probably all it required.

  “Yeah, darlin’. I’ll tell you straight out. Been looking forward to this.” His arrogant gaze swept me head to toe. “Kept my ass moving forward through this shitty day. But I’m through waiting. So let’s see what you’ve got.”

  I continued to stare at him, but didn’t move.

  “What’s the matter?” He cocked a taunting brow and came a step closer. “You waiting for me to help take it off?”

  His tone was challenging and the vibes rolling off him were dangerous and yet alluring all at the same time.

  I took a step back my legs colliding with the ottoman behind me. Retreat cut off, gathering my courage, I lifted my chin. “Give me your cell first.”

  “Why?” His brows pulled together over eyes narrowed with suspicion. If he seemed dangerous before, he was positively predatory now.

  “Precautionary measure,” I explained quickly. “I don’t want any pictures of this showing up on the internet.”

  “Yeah.” His lips curved up on each side. “I can see where that might be a problem for you. I looked you up. Lots of images of you already out there.” He took another step toward me. We were so close now I could feel the heat from his body. His scuffed black boots were less than an inch away from my pink tipped toes. “But you’re always in that ridiculous getup like you were this morning. Minus all that, darlin’, I gotta say, you’ve got the prettiest face I’ve ever seen. I’m really curious to see if the rest measures up.”

  My breath caught. Was he seriously as attracted to me as I was to him? I searched his handsome features trying to ascertain if he was just feeding me a line, but I found no evidence of insincerity in his gaze. I wanted to savor that notion, to take a moment to sit back and let it sink in and take root. But he was having none of it.

  Twisting his torso slightly, he tossed his cell on the coffee table where it briefly clattered. “Phone’s gone.” His chin dipped and his lids lowered, the eyes beneath glittering with lascivious intent as he stalked closer. “Drop the robe,” he ordered brusquely.

  “Alright.” I’d been prepared to do this after all, but my voice shook just a little in response to the low spoken command. His shimmering stare held mine. I could tell he was well aware of the effect he had on me and that he enjoyed seeing me rattled.

  My belly got warm. My skin began to tingle.

  I shouldn’t be falling under his spell like this.

  So easily.

  But I was and I liked the way it felt.

  A lot.

  More than I probably should. More than was probably safe.

  “Turn around then.” I tossed my hair over my shoulder, my voice thick with longing. “And close your eyes. I’ll let you know when I’m ready.”

  Surprisingly, he did as he was told, but slowly, taking his time on purpose, letting me know who was really in charge. I was playing with fire.

  But maybe I wanted to get burned.

  I fumbled on the knotted belt on my robe. The muscles of his killer shoulders were as tightly coiled as the tangle in my sash. Like a wary panther poised to pounce. I wondered if his guard was always up like that.

  “You done yet?” he asked, rolling his shoulders, his bracelets clinking to further convey his impatience.

  “Almost.” I got the knot undone and shrugged the robe off my shoulders. A cold rush of air washed over my skin as it swished to the floor forming a puddle of white at my feet. “One more second,” I squeaked when he shifted, afraid that he would turn around before I was fully prepared.

  I lifted the pendant from my chest and pressed it to my lips, a kiss for her and for a quick boost of courage before taking a seat on the ottoman. I arranged my hair assuming the pose I’d practiced earlier. Alex had been greatly amused. I wasn’t certain how War would react. “Ok. I’m ready. You can…”

  “Well, fuck me.” He’d already turned. He didn’t say anything else for several moments. Just stared, his gaze drifting over my naked form, searching for any critical spot I might’ve left uncovered. He then prowled around the perimeter of the ottoman, lingering behind me an inordinately long time. Not being able to see him made me feel even more self-conscious, and I had to bite down on my lip to keep from squirming.

  Finally, he returned to the front. “You think you’re pretty damn clever, don’t you?” he asked his expression light, his tone teasing, his ringed fingers resting casually on his narrow hips.

  “Yeah.” I did actually, and I giggled, partly from nerves, partly as a result of his implicit approval of m
y work around. I was naked just as I’d agreed to be, but the length of my hair skimmed my behind in back and covered more in front than I had hoped for when I’d first come up with the idea.

  “Beautiful and smart. What are the odds?” He was so tall especially with me sitting that I had to crane my neck to look at him, but I remembered to move carefully, keeping a tight grip on the long strands in order to keep all the important front parts hidden from view.

  He continued to watch me, but I knew he wasn’t mad. His light brown eyes danced and the curl of his lips made that readily apparent. It seemed like he might even be impressed. Something blossomed in the space between us, the air growing heavy with anticipation in a way that made my body warm despite my lack of clothing. I began to long for something more than just his approval.

  “You really think you’re gonna be able to hold that position the whole time?” He leaned closer and continued his assault on my defenses with that barely there half smile. Being naked ratcheted up its impact just so you know. I fought back the urge to tremble.

  “Shit,” I muttered.

  His grin widened, white teeth flashing in that gorgeous masculine face. “Didn’t think this through too well, did you?”

  “I guess not,” I admitted through a pout.

  He threw back his head and let it go, laughing so hard that his caramel strands, the ones I really wanted to run my fingers through to see if they were as silky as they looked, slid back behind his ears. I felt the impact of his mirth somewhere near the center of my chest where it radiated and rippled through my body until even my toes and fingers tingled.

  Don’t ask me how I knew, but I was certain that laughter like that from Warren Jinkins was a rare and treasured treat.

  The hard edges of his features softened, shedding for a moment the weight of his circumstances, making him seem younger, boyishly handsome. I smiled while savoring the view. I knew then that I would give practically anything to be able make him laugh like that again.

  “I can’t wait for you to break.” He didn’t seem to notice my smile as he pulled off his bandana and wiped the wet levity from the corner of his eyes. “Looking forward to it as a matter of fact.”

  “Shooty shoot.”

  He snorted at my stupid expletive. It was the one I used on the show. Old habits die hard. “You eat or go to the bathroom before you came out here?”

  “No.”

  “Excellent.” He chuckled. “It shouldn’t be long then.” He dropped down onto the sectional and started pulling off his boots. “Gotta tell you, darlin’ my shitty day just got a whole helluva lot better.”

  “What are you doing?” I asked as he moved onto his socks.

  “Settling in,” he replied evidently enjoying my unease. “How about you? You comfy?”

  “I’m fine,” I huffed.

  “Good. Glad to hear it.” He leaned forward, arms on his knees. Several moments ticked by neither wanting to give in. He seemed to be working something out in his mind. “These rules of yours. How set are you on keeping them?”

  “Very.”

  He grinned wider. His eyes crinkled up at the corners. “Alright.” He stretched out his long legs on the coffee table, and put his hands behind his head.

  I liked my dry lips. What the hell was wrong with me? I even found his bare feet sexy.

  He watched me for a few more minutes without saying anything. I had to remind myself to be still. Then he stood and untucked his shirt. I kid you not, my mouth went dry as a desert and he was my oasis. “You look a little thirsty.” He hooked a thumb in the direction of the open galley kitchen on the right. “You want me to get you something?”

  “Yeah. That would be nice. Thanks.”

  “No problem.” I stared at his ass and shoulders as he sauntered over to the stainless steel refrigerator. Both attributes held equal appeal so I alternated between the two. He took out a couple of chilled bottled waters and came back. He stopped in front of me and uncapped one. I waited watching as he tipped his head back and chugged it, his Adam’s apple moving rhythmically as he swallowed.

  I licked my lips. “Can I have mine, please?” My words were polite, but irritation slipped into my tone.

  “Sure thing.” He offered it to me, but when I reached for it, he pulled it back.

  I frowned at him.

  “It’ll cost you.” He grinned darkly.

  Bastard. “Then I don’t want it.” I almost started to bring my arms up to cross them in front of my chest, but stopped myself just in time. My hair was long, but if I let go of it he’d see a heck of a lot more than I was willing to show.

  “Suit yourself.”

  Still grinning, he flopped back in his spot kicking his shoes and socks to the side.

  Not wanting to give him time to come up with another way to torture me, I decided that I’d better get him started talking. So I could help him, which is why, I had more than a little trouble reminding myself, that I’d asked him here in the first place. “I’m really sorry about your mom.” I began gently.

  You would’ve thought I slapped him the way his head snapped up and his whole body went tense, the previous languor disappearing instantly. “Your buddy Alex tell you about that?”

  “Yes,” I admitted softly.

  “What’d he say exactly?” His voice was an abrasive grumble.

  “He told me how she died. And that the man who murdered her was killed in a shootout with the police.” My intension hadn’t been to make him angry. “I can’t even imagine how painful a loss that must be.”

  “It’s not a loss,” he bit out, lips twisting into something ugly.

  “But she’s your mom...”

  “Trust me. She was never very motherly.” His face resettled into those hard world weary lines again. His gaze slid away, leaving me feeling strangely untethered.

  I watched as he took another sip of water and stared out the windows behind me. He was drifting away from me, so I reached out and took a chance. “My mom isn’t very motherly either. At least not for the last eight years.”

  His eyes returned to mine zeroing in on me with intense focus. “What happened eight years ago?”

  Shit. Why the hell had it been so easy to let down my guard with him? I shoved the pain of my mother’s withdrawal back into the overstuffed compartment along with all the other emotional baggage. “Things I’d rather not discuss,” I said to the carpet before trusting myself to risk eye contact with him again. “Suffice it to say, I can empathize.”

  He kept studying me as if doubting the validity of my statement. “Why do you do that?”

  “What?”

  “Use words like suffice and empathize. It’s cute, but kinda weird, Sweetness.”

  “Oh. I don’t plan on playing a teenager all my life.” I straightened my shoulders. “If I want to be considered for more mature roles, I figure I’ve got to start sounding like an adult, right?”

  “How long you been doing the Pinky thing?”

  “Ever since I turned fourteen. Seven long, arduous years.” I sighed.

  He cringed. “Shit.”

  “I know.”

  “So why don’t you just quit?”

  “I can’t. Not yet anyway.” How had he suddenly become the counselor here? That was my job.

  “Sure you can.”

  “No I really can’t!” I snapped and for some reason it all came pouring out. “My whole family depends on me. My dad quit his job to manage my career. My mom works full time for the charity…” I stopped realizing where his gaze had wandered.

  Shit. In my agitation, my hands had come up and I’d blown my cover. “Dammit to hell.” I frowned, feeling my cheeks flame.

  He got up and approached me, tall and threatening, his eyes dark mahogany pools. “How much longer you want to keep playing this game?”

  “I’m not…It’s not…I understand…”

  “What the fuck difference does it make?” His expression was unrelenting. “Let’s skip all the bullshit and get naked. I sho
uld’ve put an end to this ten minutes ago.” He lifted his arms, hands behind his head, and tugged off his shirt. I sucked in an audible breath that ended up sounding more like a I-want-that moan when I saw his half naked form.

  Smooth unblemished skin stretched over his perfect muscular torso. I only managed to catch the briefest glimpse of a black tattoo on his chest before he got so close that his belt buckle blocked out the rest.

  I abandoned my ottoman roost. The gig was up. I scrambled backward.

  “I’ve seen what you got darlin’. And I’ll tell you straight up, I like it, and I want it.” His voice was deep and forceful. He grabbed my arms and hauled me in. I slammed into his body, full frontal, my palms flattening on the warm surface of that gloriously hard chest.

  “You promised Alex you wouldn’t hurt me.” I struggled to get free, but his fingers only curled tighter as he held me to him.

  “Settle down, Sweetness.” His eyes were liquid and mesmerizing. “I’m not gonna hurt you. What I got in mind, I guarantee you’re gonna like.”

  “No.” I started to panic. My heart hammered though I knew he was probably right. I wanted to go to bed with him. I’d never been more attracted to a guy in my life, but I got the distinct impression that Warren Jinkins was used to having his way, and that if I gave it to him too easily, he’d be gone just as quickly. I wanted more than that. And though I probably wouldn’t get it, that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try. I could delay gratification if it meant I’d get to know him better, and I hoped he might eventually want more from me as well.

  “Let’s get back on track,” I reminded him in a breathy voice that must surely reveal how hard it was for me to throw on the brakes. I lowered my gaze to the strong column of his masculine throat, watching his pulse pound there. His warm ringed fingers wrapped possessively around my upper arms. His jeans were rough against my skin and I could feel the hard bulge of his erection pressed against my naked thighs. My body ached with the amount of effort it took to ignore the bolts of desire that blazed insistently through my veins. My nipples poked the back of my hands that were still trapped between our bodies. I could feel his heart beating underneath them; almost as rapidly as my own. But though I could barely resist his allure, I hadn’t forgotten the real reason I had invited him here.