Hunks, Hammers, and Happily Ever Afters (50 page)

I forced my eyes open, fully aware of his firm grip on my wrist, the crisp starch of his shirt against my bare arm and the woodsy scent of his cologne tickling my nose. "What are you doing here?"

His deep green eyes widened slightly then narrowed. "I’m here with friends. Do you need to let your girlfriend know where you went?"

"She’s not my girlfriend. God, Wade—" I just stared at him, my stomach lurching as he gave me a slow once over. "Please..."

"Hey, it’s okay if she is. To each his...
her
own." He gave me a conspiratorial wink that made me want to slap him. "I won't say anything."

"It was just a ... show," I said with a wave of my hand. "For the guys. Just for fun."

"Could’a fooled me, honey."

"Fool you or not, what I do in my off-time is no one’s business okay? So just...don’t." Refusing to give in to the nausea that threatened, I struggled out of the too-soft cushions.

"Especially your crew’s." Wade’s pointed observation stung.

"Yeah, especially them." I gently tugged my arm free. "I’m going back downstairs before my friends wonder where I went. Please...
please
keep this just between us."

Outside of our little private hidey-hole I debated going back inside and seducing him into silence. I could do it. I
knew
I could do it. Hell, I
wanted
to do it.

No way had I forgotten Wade was the stuff of fantasies—specifically mine—but as a member of my crew, he was also forbidden fruit.

Luscious, tempting,
forbidden
fruit. I gave a quick smile to the two men standing at the rail, then pivoted around and stepped back inside the room.

Ready or not, I was about to get my man.

CHAPTER TWO

Wade eyed me, a wary expression on his face, as I slid the door closed.

"Did you decide not to let me live?" he asked, his lips quirking into a wry smile.

"Did you mean it when you said you wouldn’t tell anyone?" With a slow roll of my hips, I closed the short distance between us and gave him a predatory once over. Sharply creased khakis hugged his thighs and outlined his erection. More than once this week—hell today—I’d walked the strip shopping center we were building just to watch him hang sheetrock. The tool belt that rode low in his hips, the jeans that hugged his ass, the sweaty, sleeveless t-shirt, those thick arms raised above his head.

"I’m not the blackmailing kind, if that’s what you’re afraid of."

I lifted my skirt, spread my legs and straddled his lap, biting the inside of my lip to keep from laughing at the look of surprise that appeared on his face.

"You don’t have to do this." He leaned back.

The eyes focused on my breasts said otherwise, as did the hard-on pressed against my already damp panties. I rubbed against him, and then exhaled sharply, my thighs tightening at the friction against my sensitive clit.

"I’m not worried about blackmail." I pushed my blouse up over my head to reveal a white demi-bra that barely covered the tops of my nipples.

A loud burst of laughter from outside briefly penetrated the thick cloud of need that surrounded us. "You do realize that, at any given moment, someone could walk in here." Wade’s voice was thick and his focus was on my chest.

In lieu of a reply, I unhooked the bra and let it slide down my shoulders. Dropping it on the couch beside him, I leaned in, wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in the collar of his shirt. And Wade didn’t resist. Warm strong hands skimmed across my back and gave my shoulders a firm squeeze as I nuzzled his neck. "Jesus, Alex!"

"It’s Lexi," I whispered, nipping at his earlobe.

"Lexi—" he gasped, "suits you."

I eased upright to a sitting position and cupped my breasts, squeezing the puckered tips hard enough to feel deep in my belly. "I like to watch you work." Licking my lips, I forced myself to focus on my hands. Just like earlier in the bathtub, this one wasn’t about speed. I rolled my nipples between my fingers and forced myself to keep talking. "Earlier, when you came by my house..."

"Yeah." His fingers slid up my thighs and under my skirt. As much as we were both enjoying the show, I wanted him to touch me. I wanted his fingers inside me, for starters.

"—And I was all...wet."

His fingers slipped inside my panties.

"I’d just finished masturbating." My hips started a sinuous roll as Wade spread my swollen pussy lips. I glanced up at him from under my lashes and gave my nipples a painfully slow tug as anticipation curled outward from my belly and seeped from my skin like the musky sweet smell of sex that filled the room. From outside the door, the music and laughter of another world faded away at the first light caress of his finger on my clit.

"I was thinking about you."

"What were you thinking about?"

"This." I pulled up my skirt and watched as he slipped two fingers inside me, stretching me. Flexing and stroking, fucking me as I closed my eyes and forced myself to breath. The need to climax gathered forced, doubling on itself and picking up speed even as Wade kept a slow steady pace, his fingers sliding in and out of my pussy. Until it was beyond even my control, and my heavy breathing turned to low moaning. My nails cut into the palms of my hands, and furious with need, I grasped a nipple between fingers and gave it a hard squeeze as I came with a sharp long shout. I watched my hips buck against his fingers as the sound of loud raucous laughter and "Get it, honey!" reached my ears. Apparently we had an audience nearby and the thought that someone had heard me, and knew what we’d done, only made it that much sweeter.

After easing off his lap, I reached for my blouse and pulled it on. "There’s more where that came from. You just have to come and get it."

On shaky legs, I closed the door behind me and headed back downstairs. I pushed my way through a group of college students toward our table, my purse and another drink. I forced myself to smile for the benefit of Lanie’s latest pick-up (despite the fact he screamed gigolo), while I drained the last of my watered-down drink and motioned to Brian to bring me another.

Carlotta’s hand on my arm caught my attention. "You okay?"

With a sigh, I leaned over and yelled in her ear, "One of my guys is here." At her puzzled frown, I continued. "From my crew!"

"Oh...My...God, you are
shitting
me?" she mouthed, wide eyed.

I slowly shook my head, and then started to giggle. By the time I filled in her on what I’d done, we were both in stitches.

"
He
is hot." With a lift of her chin, she motioned behind me, then put on her best limpid-eyed expression and eased back in her seat, lips pursed. Mata Hari had nothing on Carlotta when it came to getting her man.

Before I could turn to investigate, an arm slid around my shoulder and the come hither expression on Carlotta’s face morphed into shock as she realized the hottie she’d been ogling was the same hottie who’d just gotten me off upstairs.

Wade.

"Hi!" The deep rumble of his voice as he introduced himself to her, tickled my stomach...and other more sensitive parts of my anatomy. He pressed his lips to my ear and said, "Thanks for the boner, for leaving me high and dry like that. You owe me."

As casually as possible, I reached for my little purse, and more lipstick, before uncrossing my legs and slipping off the bar stood. I pressed myself against the length of him and smiled. "We can always finish what we started someplace else."

~*~

I
wanted to drag Wade to bed as soon as we hit my front door, but he apparently had other ideas. Thoroughly puzzled, I followed him through to the living room then stood behind the couch and watched while he fiddled with my stereo across the far wall.

He’d practically dragged me out of the bar and now he had cold feet? With just a few pushes of a button music filled the room through the surround sound speakers—wired for me by Carlotta.

"That’s a lot better than that bouncy ass shit they played at the bar." Wade turned to me with a smile.

"I like that bouncy ass shit." I strolled the length of the couch, running my finger along the caramel suede cushions. By the time I reached the end, only a few feet separated us. Excitement over what was to come made me slightly jittery as I quickly covered the short distance separating us

"Won’t your friends worry about you?"

He pulled me into his arms. I gave myself over to the feel of his heavy hands on my hips and his broad chest plastered against my breasts.

"Nah," he said.

With heels on I was in the perfect position to snuggle up close, and gave in to the urge. Cheek to cheek, my lips less than an inch from a tantalizing earlobe, I closed my eyes and relaxed against him. His warm breath tickled my ear and danced down my neck as his hands slid down my back and cupped my bottom, leaving heat trails in their wake as he pulled me even tighter against him. Tight enough to feel the erection I’d left him with. Tight enough to feel the rumble deep in his chest as groaned, and months of anticipation and lust caught up with me.

I opened my eyes, that earlobe still temptingly near. Near enough to...I flicked my tongue out and gave it a tiny quick lick. When Wade didn’t respond—negatively anyway—I leaned up and pulled it between my lips for a slow hard suck, then traced the delicate ridges with my tongue.

"Do you have any idea what you’re doing?" His grip on my ass was now almost painful.

Laughing in the back of my throat, I nipped the tender flesh then sucked again to take the sting out.

"Where’s your bedroom?" he whispered.

"Who needs a bed?" I countered, chuckling softly to myself.

"I’m an old-fashioned kinda guy." He pushed me away and smiled.

With a nod, I led him down the dimly lit hall to my bedroom. I grinned at his soft snort of laughter. The girls and I had affectionately named it "my harem room," and for good reason. Multi-colored sheers shot through with gold thread hung at the windows and a coordinating duvet cover made up of silk squares on the king size bed. Bright purple, orange and yellow throw rugs on the floor completed the look.

Feminine just didn’t cover it.

"Not exactly what I expected from the boss lady."

"Mmmm, what did you expect?" I peeled my shirt over my head and tossed it on the floor. "Condoms are in the nightstand."

With a grin, Wade pushed me back onto the slippery silk and fell on top of me. He wiggled his hips, nudging my legs apart and settling between them. "I didn’t expect anything this colorful, but then, I never expected to see you French kissing another woman either."

"
She
French kissed
me.
" Not that I’d minded. I only minded getting caught. I thrust my hips against his. "Is that a banana in your pocket?"

"No, I’m just happy to see you, darlin." He slowly thrust back, pressing against my tender, nerve-filled mound.

We stayed like that for a while, his fingers combing my hair, his lips hovering over mine, teasing, testing, exploring until I found myself insistently grinding my hips against his, seeking release. His stamina surprised me—pleasantly so. I’d expected him to be all over me the moment we hit the door.

"Hmm mmph. Not yet." He worked his way down my chest, biting and sucking at my taut nipples until I’d arched up toward him as high as I could, frustrated and achey as little sharp spikes of pleasure radiated through me. Then he slowly worked his way lower to the valley under my ribs, and lower still. I squirmed and giggled as his warm, wet tongue circled my belly button.

He laughed and sat up. Just sat there, staring at me with those warm green eyes until self-consciousness forced me to speak.

"What?"

"Just admiring the view." He continued to make long sweeps up and down the outsides of my legs. I heaved a sigh of relief and anticipation as he finally reached for the waistband of my lacy panties and pulled them down, flinging them over his shoulder with a grin.

Sitting up, I returned the favor, making it as far as shirt off, pants unzipped before I started teasing him. I couldn’t help myself, he was right there, in all his glory, his cock hot and hard and thick in my hand. With my legs still forced wide open by his position between my thighs, I cupped the smooth round cheeks of his buttocks and wrapped my lips around his cock. He was smooth and deliciously alive against my tongue.

He slowly pumped into my mouth, one hand fisted in my hair. His other hand found my nipple and gave a gentle tug that sent little electrical impulses straight to my pussy. Grunting as my need and frustration grew, I swirled my tongue around the head and gave an extra firm suck.

"Did you know that girl you were dancing with?" he whispered as his fingertips lightly caressed my back.

"Hmmph mmm," I muttered with my mouth full.

"I liked watching you dance with her. It turned me on," he said, tangling a hand deeper in my hair.

With a smile of thanks, I kept up a slow steady movement, using my hand to jack him off at the same time.

"Ever been with a woman?" he asked, pushing me back on the bed and reaching for a condom.

"Sure," I confessed as I straddled his hips. "But I prefer men."

"That’s good to know," he hissed as I eased him inside me.

"How do you want it? Slow? Fast? Hard?" I wiggled my hips experimentally and bit my lip as my oversensitive clit ground against his pubic bone.

"Fast is good," he countered with a painful grin.

I fucked him hard and fast, not at all surprised when he didn’t last very long. After all the teasing, I didn’t either, and collapsed on his chest a few hot and sweaty minutes later.

"Damn," he huffed, "that girl at the bar has no idea what she’s missing."

CHAPTER THREE

Sunday I forced myself to run Wade off. He left with a good-natured laugh and I barely made it to Baroque in time for brunch with the girls. Sunday was our weekend recap day. Who got lucky. Who hadn’t. Was it any good? And it came with a 5-Star rating system—lowest star buys. We were as bad (and as thorough) as any man, and completely unapologetic about it.