A Little Wild (5 page)

“You were ahead of her leaving the pub, so maybe you didn’t notice,” Jack said. “She said you experience temporary dyslexia when you drink and might have written down the wrong phone number by mistake.”

“I don’t get temporary dyslexia!” Was there such a thing?

“Then you admit you gave me the wrong number on purpose?”

“I—” The towel drifted onto her lower legs. She kicked it partway off. She should drown herself. Here and now. Save herself the humiliation of dealing with the consequences of Chloe’s treachery.

“Or was hitting on me the tequila talking?”

Tess lifted a hand. “No. I wasn’t drunk, I promise.” Drinking and debauching wasn’t her style. That she’d hit on Jack while slightly buzzed was bad enough, but when she slept with him—uh, if—she intended to be stone-cold sober.

Well, not cold, exactly. Probably extra warm.

Ooh Godddd, she really was going nuts.

The point was, when and if they ever did it, she wanted to be fully aware of every delicious moment.

With a studmuffin like Jack Halloran at her disposal, she certainly wouldn’t risk dulling her senses with alcohol.

“Just tipsy, then?” he persisted.

“More like emboldened.”

His hearty laugh caressed her ear. “Tess S., you amaze me.”

Her nipples tingled. She slid back into the sudsy water, re-covering rebellious body parts.

“Yes, emboldened,” she stated in her best authoritative-lawyer tone. “Take it or leave it. It’s my final offer.”

“I’ll take it. When would you like to go out?”

“Out?”

“Yeah, our date. You do recall asking for one?”

“Yes, but…” Sinful heat danced in her veins. Here was her chance to prove Chloe wrong—for real this time. And what a perfect opportunity to quash her own doubts.

She could have that carefree life she’d always envisioned. All she had to do was start by saying yes to Jack.

She trailed her hand down her bubble-strewn thigh, and sensation arrowed between her legs.

As a matter of fact, she could start right now. Considering the signals her insistent body kept sending her, it wouldn’t take much to rev herself up again. Treat herself to some titillating phone action—and go a little wild.

She was safe with Jack. Somewhere deep inside herself, an illogical but steadfast seed blossomed. She felt safer with a man she’d met three days ago than she did with her platonic male friends. She felt incredibly safe…and a million kinds of naughty.

She deserved this.

Yes, she did.

She deserved to take him with her.

“Uh, Tess?” Zach asked for the second time since they’d settled on a dinner date for next weekend. Her soft breathing traveled over the line, distracting him to hell. And leading his overeager imagination in intriguing directions.

When she’d answered the phone, the distinct sound of water splashing had led him to believe she was just getting out of a lazy afternoon bath. The images that had bombarded his mind—slim hips curving into a firm, full ass, pert nipples cresting milky-skinned breasts that lifted as she reached for a bathrobe—had brought him to an almost-painful state of arousal.

He’d abandoned the couch to move around the living room, but his jeans had remained uncomfortably tight. Despite her saying she was “kind of” dressed, which must have meant the bathrobe, he’d heard the splashing at least one more time, when he’d told her about the brunette passing him the substitute phone number.

He’d visualized her sitting on the tub edge, the bathrobe parting over her thighs as the hem draped the floor, and plunging her feet back into the water in preparation for shaving her legs. Was that how women did it? He’d never considered the matter before, just took it for granted the fairer sex managed the task somehow.

Then visions of a pink razor slicking downy hair off her trim calves had him thinking about her freckles, where they were and how many there might be.

Did they scatter over her thighs, her arms, her breasts? And the curls between her legs—were they the same pale, reddish-gold as her hair? Or maybe another shade lighter.

He bit back a groan. “Tess S., I know you’re there. I can hear you breathing.”

“You’re right,” she murmured in a dreamy tone. “I’m just…mmm…a little busy.”

If she kept up this kind of talk, she’d have him busy, too. Too busy to think, let alone speak.

“Doing what?” His voice emerged with the rough, raw edge threading his body.

“Um, trying to decide if I should tell you what I’m doing.”

Zach squeezed shut his eyes. Visions of her untying the bathrobe and fingering herself swamped his mind. If the woman turned him on any more, he could power the whole damn city.

“Why shouldn’t you tell me?” he asked quietly.

“It’s personal.”

“How personal?” He turned toward his bedroom. On the couch, Lump had awoken, and he’d be damned if he’d continue this stimulating conversation in front of the cat.

Her voice caressed his ear. “Very.”

Christ.
“Did Ethan put you up to this?” The situation felt too surreal not to question. The women he usually dated were upfront about their sexual needs, but Tess was in-his-face and sweetly retiring. The contrasts drove him mad.

“Umm, no.” Then, on a sigh, she breathed, “Who’s Ethan?”

Zach swore she give a tiny moan. A noise akin to rippling water traveled over the line.

“It doesn’t matter.” Now wasn’t the time to press the issue. She was making him crazy—in a good way. But he couldn’t take much more.

To hell with specifying a restaurant for next Saturday. To hell with getting her address.

He closed the bedroom door. “Tess, I need to ask, are you still dressed?”

“In a way.”

He sank onto the bed. “Could you clarify?”

“I guess it’s only fair I tell you.”

“Yes,” he agreed. “It’s fair.”

“I’m wearing a towel,” she half-whispered.

“Only a towel?” So much for the image of the bathrobe. But the towel worked much better.

He fell back onto the thick bedcovers, spreading his legs to give the boys some wiggle room. He popped the buttons of his jeans for comfort. So much better.

“Actually, I was wearing a towel.”

Better and still
better
. “Now you’re not?”

“It got wet.”

His cock stiffened. “How did that happen?”

“Well, you see…” Voice softening, she paused. “I’m not sure I should tell you.”

Tell me.

“I…was in the tub when you called.”

That’s my girl.

“With a towel,” she added.

Zach grinned. Evidently, she wasn’t the brightest bulb in the pack, but he could look past that. “Honey, let me get a clear picture here. You’re wearing a towel—you were wearing a towel—
in
the tub?”

“Mm-hm. But I’m not anymore. Well, I’m still in the tub. I just got rid of the towel.”

There is a God.

Zach shifted the phone to his left hand. His right itched to get busy.

Slowly, he slid his jeans down his hips. He wasn’t wearing briefs, and his rigid cock ached for release.

Gritting his teeth, he restrained himself from quickly finding relief. He wanted her to know exactly what he was doing. What he pictured
her
doing.

He wanted her there with him.

“What were you doing with the towel, Tess?”

“Covering myself.”

“Was that all?”

“Um, yes.”

Don’t feel nervous with me, babe.
“Are you sure?”

As if unable to help herself, she whispered, “No.”

Oh yeah.
“Was the towel wet?”

“Completely soaked.”

“And the water hot?”

“With bubbles.”

“I bet that towel created a nice friction.”

“It did.” Her husky tone grew bolder.

“Do you feel safe with me, Tess?”

“Yesss.”

He imagined her nodding, her sun-kissed hair drifting over her bare shoulders. Her eyes fluttering shut then open again, her lush lips parting in passion.

“Where’s the towel now?” he asked.

More quiet splashing. “On the floor.”

“And your hands?”

“Ooh, Jack.”

Guilt sluiced through him as she whispered the fake name. But not enough to put him off course. They were both too far gone.

“Your fingers, babe. Are you touching yourself?”

She moaned. “I’m touching you.”

His cock throbbed. “And my fingers are…? It’s okay, sweetheart.
Tell me.
”

“They’re inside me.” Her breathing quickened.

“Is that what you want?” he whispered roughly.

“I want you.”

“Where?” he croaked.

“Inside me. Please, Jack. Now.”

His breath hissed out. In his mind’s eye, his cock probed her slick folds then slipped in. At first just the swollen head, then an inch, three, six.
More.

He withdrew, plunged in deeper. Again. Again. To the hilt.
Aaaaaah.

“I’m there,” he murmured, moaning. “Inside you. Deep. All the way.”

“So deep,” she returned in sultry tones. “Oh, Jack, sssoooo full.”

God, she felt so hot, so good. He continued telling her, whispering erotic words until her soft panting sounded rapidly, drilling his excitement higher.
Higher.

Sweet mercy, the woman was killing him.

“I want to hang on, babe. I don’t know if I can.”

“I can’t,” she whispered breathlessly. “Jack, I can’t hang on.”

The splashing sounds grew louder. He pictured her head twisting from side to side, hips pumping, her fingers wet, hot, fast.

“Jack! I’m going to—oooohhh!”

At the exquisite sound of her climax, his orgasm slammed through his body, his heart climbing out of his chest, ears pounding. Her heat mixed with his heat, wet and warm against his palm.

Again, the convulsions gripped him.

He never wanted to come down.

Wow.

Breathing heavily, Tess dropped the wet phone onto the bathmat. Good thing battery-operated devices couldn’t electrocute a person. As it was, she’d probably ruined the cordless when it had slipped into the bubbles as she’d climaxed, but right now she didn’t care. She hadn’t experienced such a mind-blowing orgasm in forever. She’d probably broken Jack’s eardrum with her passionate cries, but he hadn’t seemed to mind.

Her face warmed as she remembered his desire-thickened voice murmuring wicked comments through the receiver while she’d retrieved the phone and repositioned it against her ear. They’d both drifted back to earth with a minimum of words before hanging up.

No, Jack Halloran hadn’t seemed to mind her explosive response to him at all.

Her rational side prickled, and she swept her hands over her damp face. Now that the moment had passed, though, what must he think of her? More importantly, what did she think of herself? She’d done some crazy things in her life, but they were few and far between. Yet, every time she so much as spoke to Jack Halloran, she acted wildly out of character.

What was worse, she
liked
it.

As the truth filled her, she sank back into the rapidly vanishing bubbles and turned on the hot water with her toes to reheat the tub. Shiny new bubbles frothed at the base of the gurgling faucet. The heat engulfed her legs and swam up her tummy. Her entire body reverberated with tiny aftershocks, almost as if she and Jack had actually made love.

Lightheaded sensations rushed through her, and she smiled at her unprecedented daring.

Who was she trying to kid? Indulging in the sexy phone call had felt great. Fantastic and utterly freeing. Jack’s deep, naughty voice had tempted her, unraveled her, drawn out her sensual, reckless side. Yet, she’d also felt incredibly safe sharing the fantasy with him. She never would have succumbed to her lust for the man otherwise.

Her smile widened.
Score one for my team.
Chloe would be proud of her. Hell, forget Chloe. She was proud of herself!

She was basking in one monster of an afterglow, and she loved it.

The question was, where did she go from here?

Chapter Four

“Mr. Greenburg is almost ready for you, Miss Sheridan.”

Tess lifted her gaze from the Crockett’s Fine Foods documents on her desk. Sammi, the young legal secretary she shared with two other junior associates, entered her office.

“The Halliday people are with him in the conference room,” the petite blonde continued. “He’d like you to join them as soon as you can.”

“Thank you, Sammi.” Tess tucked the papers into her briefcase then stood and smoothed the skirt of her lavender suit, her favorite. She’d been at the office since six a.m. She was as prepared as she could be. “What about Phil Renfrew? Is he with them yet?”

Sammi shook her head. “I’m telling you first, because you’re a nicer boss than he is.”

“Why, thank you. Again. You’d better watch it, Sammi. You’re spoiling me.”

“Nah.” The secretary moved to the window overlooking the city’s financial district and adjusted the blinds to reduce the glare of midmorning sun. “Even if I were, you deserve it. You always treat me and the other girls with respect, unlike some people around here I could mention, but won’t.”

“Except you already mentioned him.”

“You’re right.” Sammi blushed. “I shouldn’t put down Mr. Renfrew like that. I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay.” Sometimes Sammi’s exuberance emerged at inopportune moments, but she was a good assistant. Besides, Tess could identify with the younger woman’s tendency to speak out of turn. After all, her own long-buried spontaneous streak had certainly sparked to life two days ago when she’d made herself happy in the tub with Jack Halloran.

Her panties warmed, and she fiddled with the needless task of shutting down her computer.

She
had
ruined the phone, she’d discovered afterward when her mother finally called, saying Tess’s voice sounded like she hearkened from Peru. A trip to the drugstore had resulted in a nifty replacement. Ludicrous though it seemed, Tess had stuffed the wrecked phone on an upper shelf of her hall closet as a testament to the sensual powers of her inner nympho.