Secret Weapon (11 page)

He smiled. “Good. But I still feel I owe you one. How about I set up a stranger fantasy for you?”

Her eyebrows arched upward. “You?”

“Sure. Why not? I have friends.”

She pursed her lips and gazed at him. “Okay. Bring it on.”

*   *   *

Sloan grabbed the last box, labeled
KITCHEN
, from the rental truck and carried it into Liam’s new house.

“Any more?” Liam asked as Sloan placed the box on the pile in the corner of the kitchen.

“Nope. All done.” Sloan grabbed a cola from the fridge and pulled open the tab, then took a sip. Moving was hot work.

“I’ve ordered pizza. We can take a break and then get to the unpacking.”

Sloan grinned. “What if I told you I have a hot date and can’t stay for the unpacking?”

“I’d say I don’t believe you, because I
know
you wouldn’t leave me with all this unpacking. Especially after Derek bailed on me.”

When Sloan first moved to Kenora, he and Liam had hit it off immediately. They’d wound up on a weeklong training course together out of town and spent time after hours bonding over beers. At the time, Liam had been going through a rough time in his long-term relationship. He’d needed a friend to talk to, and Sloan had been happy to listen. Sloan had rediscovered how good it could be to have a good buddy to share with, something he hadn’t had since Ben’s death. He’d even told Liam about Ben, touching on his heartache with Ben’s sister but without giving too much away, and definitely without revealing that Janine lived in Kenora now and that he planned to pursue her. He wasn’t ready to reveal that much of himself to anyone.

After they got back from the course, Liam tried to improve things with his girlfriend but eventually figured out that it was never going to work and broke it off, which led to his moving into the new house.

The doorbell rang and Liam strode down the hall to answer it. He returned a few moments later with a pizza box.

“Talking about hot dates…” Liam opened the pizza box and pulled out a slice, then dropped it onto a paper plate and handed it to Sloan.

“I was just kidding. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay until every box is unpacked.”

“I was thinking more of last night. I called your place last night, then again his morning, just to confirm when you were coming over, and I couldn’t get you.”

“Oh, I’ll give you my new cell number.”

“Sure, but … are you seeing someone?”

Sloan shrugged. “There is a woman I’ve been seeing. Nothing serious.”

He wasn’t about to admit he had deep feelings for Janine, not even to Liam. If things didn’t work out … if he failed to win her over … Damn, it was none of anyone’s business.

*   *   *

Liam watched Sloan’s face. Something was going on in that thick head of his. Not something he’d share. Sloan didn’t tend to share. Stuff, sure. And his time. But nothing about what went on in that head of his.

Except that time they were on the training course together. After Liam had spilled his guts about his own relationship problems, Sloan had actually revealed something of himself. And it explained why Sloan was generally pretty guarded. It wasn’t hard to figure out it had a lot to do with the friend he’d lost years ago, a cop who’d died in the line of duty. Sloan had even told Liam that was the reason he’d had joined the police force.

There was something about the friend’s sister that still haunted Sloan. Not that he’d said too much about it, but he’d said enough for Liam to figure out Sloan had been head over heels for the woman. In fact, Liam might be too much of a romantic, but his gut told him she was
the one
as far as Sloan was concerned. But he’d lost her, and clearly that tore him up inside.

Whatever it was, Liam would do anything to help him sort it out. Sloan deserved some happiness, and the way Liam saw it, he’d never find it if he didn’t learn to loosen up.

Sloan put his paper plate on the counter and leaned back. “Listen, talking about women…”

“Women? I’m all ears, buddy. I’m a single man now. And just so you know, I’m beyond ready to start sowing my wild oats again.”

“Yeah, well, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about. There is this new woman I’m seeing.”

Sloan hesitated. Maybe he was going to open up after all.

“The one who’s nothing serious,” Liam said.

“That’s right. I have … kind of a strange request.”

Liam sipped his root beer and waited, giving Sloan time to figure out what he needed to say.

“This woman … she’s into some wild and crazy things. She likes a lot of excitement.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “You want to borrow my motorcycle?”

Sloan glanced at him, interest in his eyes. “That’s not a bad idea, but it’s not what I was going to ask.”

“What, then?”

“She’s into … more than one man at a time.”

Liam laughed. “You’re kidding.” This must be some kind of joke. That was not Sloan’s type of scene. Derek’s maybe—no, definitely. But Sloan?

“I’m dead serious. I promised to set her up with a special fantasy. Sex with a stranger. Are you willing to help me out?”

“And I’d be the stranger?”

“She knows me, so … yeah.”

“And you and I”—he flicked his finger back and forth—“would both…? At the same time?”

“That’s right. You in?”

Liam’s groin tightened at the thought. If this hot babe was as wild as Sloan claimed, how far would she go to please a guy? What would she let a guy do to her?

“Are you kidding me? When and where?”

*   *   *

Janine entered Sloan’s house and glanced around. It suited him, with the strong, robust lines of the furniture, the dark colors, the nature art on the walls.

“A glass of red wine?” Sloan asked.

“A vodka cooler would be nice.”

She sat down on the burgundy leather couch as he headed into the kitchen, then returned a moment later with a tall glass of clear, bubbly liquid. She sipped the drink, then set it down. Her glance landed on the two stripper poles in the corner of the room about two feet apart. They were those pressure ones, so they could be dismounted easily.

“I take it those are for our little adventure tonight.”

He sat beside her. “True. I understand you have a penchant for handcuffs.” His hand stroked along her shoulder, left bare by her halter-style dress.

She smiled. “Are you going to use handcuffs on me?”

He kissed the side of her neck, sending tingles quivering through her. “Well, I wouldn’t want you to peek at your stranger. And I wouldn’t want you to run away.”

“Run away? Because the stranger will ravage me?”

He nuzzled the sensitive flesh at the base of her neck and heat washed through her. “Ravage you. Yes.”

He tucked his finger under her chin and turned her face, then captured her lips. His arms encircled her and he pulled her against his solid body.

A chirping sound interrupted them and he drew away, then pulled his cell phone from his pocket and glanced at the display.

“My friend is almost here. It’s time to get you ready.”

She picked up her glass and took a couple more sips, excitement zinging through her. “Okay. Let’s do it.”

She stood up and walked toward the poles. Sloan grabbed a pair of handcuffs sitting on the end table beside the couch and clamped one bracelet around her wrist. He backed her up to the poles and fastened her to one of them. Then he fastened another cuff around her other wrist and fastened it to the other pole. His stared straight down, his gaze lingering on her breasts swelling from her plunging neckline.

“Mmm. Nice view.” He picked up a black satin eye mask and positioned it over her eyes. A thin elastic strap held it in place. “Can you see anything?”

She shook her head. “Not a thing.” Total blackness filled her world.

She felt his warm hands on her shoulders and tingles danced through her as they glided down her arms.

“My friend will be here in a few moments.” He stroked over her breasts, then cupped them. “I left the door unlocked. He’ll walk in any moment.”

Sloan leaned close. She felt his breath on her ear, then felt the soft brush of his lips.

“He’ll see me touching you.” His fingers slipped under her halter dress and inside the cup of her strapless bra. “He’ll see me caressing you.”

He teased her hardening nipple with his fingertip. “Then he’ll touch you, too. And caress you.”

Heat washed through her.

Had she heard the door open? Was there someone else here?

Sloan’s fingers glided down her back … then she realized he was undoing the zipper of her dress. He untied the halter strap at the back of her neck and the dress dropped to the floor. She felt naked and exposed, even though she still had on a bra and panties. A strapless black lace bra and a tiny thong held up with a rhinestone waistband. She felt sexy and wanton—and vulnerable.

And intensely turned-on.

Sloan’s lips found hers, and he kissed her soundly.

“My friend’s here,” he murmured.

Ten

Janine felt Sloan slip away.

Silence filled the black void around her. It would be easy to believe that she stood in a dark room where the men could not see her. But their world was full of light, and they—
he,
this stranger—could see her perfectly well, standing there wearing barely anything at all.

She could feel the stranger moving close to her. His heat, or an energy about him, or something. Then she could feel his breath on her temple as he leaned close to her.

“You have a safe word?”

His voice was deep and a little gravelly.
Very
sexy.

“Yes,” she answered.

“Tell me what it is.”

“Dragon.”

“Good.”

Something touched her shoulder and she almost jumped. He stroked lightly across her shoulder, then down her arm. Goose bumps quivered along her skin.

“Say your safe word again.”

“Dragon.”

He brushed his raspy cheek against hers and murmured, “Now don’t say it again unless you mean it. If you say the word ‘dragon’ I will end this immediately. Understand?”

She nodded. Excitement quivered through her at his air of complete authority.

“I can’t hear you.”

“Yes, I understand.”

“Good. Now, you are doing this of your own free will, right? It was your idea?”

“Well, originally, it was my idea, but Sloan—”

“Just answer the question.” He stroked a finger along her cheek. “You agreed to have Sloan bring me here—a stranger—to have sex with you?”

“Yes.”

“Good.” He stroked along the side of her neck. “Because I want to have sex with you. You are a very beautiful woman. Very sexy.” He stroked downward, then brushed his fingertips over the swell of her breast, above the lace edging of her bra. “I’d like to see your naked breasts, so I’m going to take off your bra.” His fingers continued along the other cup. “I’m not asking your permission. I’m just doing it.”

His hands glided around her, the heat of him enveloping her, and he released the hooks of her bra. She felt the fabric peel away from her body. As soon as the cool air hit her skin, her nipples hardened.

“Your breasts are quite lovely.”

She felt the light touch of something brushing her nipple, and it tightened even more.

“And I see you’re turned-on.”

She felt his face close to hers.

“I’m turned-on, too,” he murmured in that sexy, gravelly voice.

His lips nuzzled below her ear, and she almost cried out as tingles raced down her neck and through her aching body.

He cupped her naked breasts, enveloping them in the warmth of his big hands. He kneaded them as he nuzzled her neck, then kissed downward. She gasped as he caught one nipple in his mouth. He licked it, then swirled his tongue over it. She arched against him, his mouth on one breast, his hand on the other, still caressing her. He captured her other nipple, sucking it gently at first, then with more intensity.

Finally, he drew away. She could feel his hot gaze on her.

“You look so hot standing there, your breasts naked, your nipples standing up, hard and needy. If I asked you to, would you touch yourself?”

She pulled at the chains holding her hands away from her.

“If I free your hand, would you touch your pussy? Stroke it for me?”

“Yes.”

He grasped her right wrist, and she heard a click and the metal bracelet around her wrist unfastened. He lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her palm. He kissed it, then ran the tip of his tongue along her skin, tracing a line on her palm. Her insides fluttered and heat seeped through her. He pressed her hand to her belly, then downward. She felt his finger tuck under the elastic of her thong and draw it forward. Then he guided her hand underneath the fabric.

He released her wrist and she stroked her fingertips over her curls.

“Tell me what you feel.”

“I feel the hair.”

“You aren’t shaved?” he asked.

“I’ve trimmed it. Into a star shape.”

He chuckled. “I can hardly wait to see.”

She pushed her hand deeper into her panties, her fingertips stroking her slit.

“Are you stroking your pussy now?”

“Yes.” She stroked over it several times, the flesh becoming more damp.

“Is it wet?”

“Yes.”

“Push your fingers inside.”

She slid her fingers into the slick heat of her vagina.

“How wet are you?”

“
Very
wet.”

“I can hardly wait to feel how wet you are. Now push your fingers in and out.”

She did as he said, getting hotter with each stroke. He cupped her breasts and caressed them, his thumbs toying with her nipples. Then his hands glided down her body and he tugged at the elastic of her thong.

“I want to see your fingers pushing in and out.” He pulled down the front of her panties, exposing her fingers.

She pushed inside again. He drew her panties down her thighs, to her ankles.

“You have a beautiful pussy.”

His finger traced the star as she continued to glide in and out of her slick folds.