So Much Trouble When She Walked In (9 page)

CHAPTER
EIGHT

After
they’d left Silken closed the door and turned to head back to find Max.  Maybe
it was time for her to leave, too.  She wasn’t the least bit tired and she’d
wanted the evening to go on and on but everyone had left except her.  She
certainly didn’t want to overstay her welcome.

She
went back to the dining room but Max was not there.  The living room was empty
and so was the library he’d shown them when they’d just arrived.  The only
other place she’d been in his house was the den so she headed off to look for
him there.  Why he’d thrown this disappearing act, she had no idea.

“Max?
Are you in here?”  She rounded the corner and walked into the room and there he
was, lounging in the middle of the sofa, and on the glass table beside him was
a bucket filled with ice, a bottle of champagne nestled in it.

She
stopped in the middle of the room and narrowed her eyes at him.  “What are you
doing?”

He
smiled, and it was a seductive smile, and he patted the seat beside him.  “What
does it look like I’m doing?” he asked.  “I’m getting ready to seduce you.”

And
that was how she knew that the sudden departure of Duke and Reed had nothing to
do with her.  It was Max who had set it all up.

She
lowered her brows.  “You told them to leave, didn’t you?  You planned this.”

He
shrugged.  “Not exactly.  When Suave decided to make it an early night I just
took advantage of the situation.”

“And
asked your brothers to leave, too.”  It was a statement, not a question.

“Yeah. 
I had enough of them for one night.  I’d much rather spend the rest of the
evening with you.  Alone.”

The
way he said the last word, almost on a whisper, made a thrill run up Silken’s
spine.  Her mouth went dry.

But
she had to fight it, this desire for Maximillian Davidoff.  This was all a
fantasy that was going nowhere.  It would end badly and she was the one who
would get hurt.

“And
what if I don’t want to spend the evening with you,” she parried, “alone?”

Max
smiled at that and it was a confident smile. 

Silken
hated that.  Was it so obvious to him that she wanted him?

“Stop
being stubborn,” he said, his voice both amused and slightly stern at the same
time.  “Come over and sit beside me.”

Silken
stood right where she was and instead of going over to him she folded her arms
across her chest and glared down at him.  Oh, so he was playing the manly man,
was he, expecting her to jump at his bidding because he wanted her?  Not
happening.

“Don’t
make me come and get you,” he said and although he was smiling the set of his
jaw told her he was just as determined as she was.

She
lifted her eyebrows.  “Come and get me,” she said, “if you dare.”

Now
it was his turn to lift his eyebrows.  “Another dare.  You like to issue those
out, don’t you?”

She
gave him a crooked smile but said nothing.  He could come all he wanted, come as
close as he dared, but if he so much as touched her she had the perfect trick
up her sleeve.  She’d learned a special karate hold that she’d used to immobilize
more than one man who thought he could take her on her dare.  And she wasn’t
afraid to use it on Max.

She
wouldn’t hurt him, of course, just teach him a lesson, one that he would never
forget – never underestimate a woman, any woman, and especially not Silken
McCullen.

With
a sigh that sounded like exasperation, Max rested his palms on the couch and
pushed himself up then casually walked across the room toward her.  “You just
want me to come to you, don’t you?” he asked, shaking his head and giving her
an indulgent smile.  “Why do you always have to be so contrary?”

Then
he was right in front of her, smiling down at her, his dark eyes glinting in
the subdued light of the lamp.  “Are you going to come sit with me?  I’m asking
nicely.”

Too
nicely.  Silken almost frowned.  He’d issued a pseudo-threat so why didn’t he
act on it?  She didn’t want nice, she wanted daring so she could teach him a
lesson.  But she couldn’t touch him unless he touched her first.

“Would
you like me to walk you over?” He lifted his hand, palm upward, waiting for her
to put her hand in his.

Dang. 
That wouldn’t do at all.  If he’d only just put a hand on her, somewhere, rest
it on her shoulder, maybe, then she could grab his wrist, twist him around and
have him in a chokehold that would have him passing out in seconds.

Okay,
so maybe she was a show-off just dying for the chance to show him what she
could do.  He could at least oblige, dang it.

But
he didn’t.  Somehow, in some way unknown to her, he must have known what she
was planning, sensed it, because his hands stayed there, so close, but never
touching, waiting for her to yield.

And
how could she slam a man who was being polite?  She had underestimated
Maximillian Davidoff.  This man was like none she had ever met.

Her
shoulders sagged then she let out a sigh of defeat…and she lifted her hand to
rest her palm on his.  When she lifted her eyes to his she saw the flash of
triumph and the amused twist of his lips.

“There’s
more than one way,” he whispered, “to win a battle.”

And
then, before she could reply, he’d wrapped his fingers around hers and was
walking her back to the sofa.

After
settling her in the chair, Max popped the cork and poured a glass of champagne,
only one, then held it to her lips.  “Sip,” he ordered, and with the glass
practically touching her mouth she had no choice.  She sipped.

The
bubbles burst in her mouth, startling her although she’d expected it, and she
blinked.  “What…” she said on a gasp, “what are we celebrating?”

Max
smiled then he took a sip himself, from her glass…their glass. 
“Possibilities,” he said, never taking his eyes off hers.  Then, still holding
her mesmerized with his dark-eyed gaze, he reached his hand behind him to rest
the bubbling glass on the table.

His
hand now free, he lifted it to put a finger under her chin, ensuring that she
could not look away.  “Do you know the possibilities of which I speak?” he
asked in an uber-formal voice with an amusing attempt at a European accent.

Still
staring back at him, she shook her head, but only slightly.  She couldn’t move
much, not with his finger holding her chin captive.  “No,” she whispered then
licked her lips, a nervous response to his nearness.

As
if he sensed her fear he moved even closer, his lips mere inches from hers. 
“Us,” he said softly then moved his lips closer still.  “Kiss me.”

Silken’s
eyes widened and she drew in a surprised breath.  She was expecting his kiss,
she wanted it, but why didn’t he kiss her?  She didn’t want to be the one to
make the move.

But
he was waiting.  And it wasn’t like she hadn’t done this before.  So she closed
her eyes, pursed her lips and pressed them to his.

It
looked like that was all he’d needed, just an indication that she wanted this. 
As soon as their lips touched, his arms came up to draw her close and then he
was kissing her with such passion that she knew he’d been wanting to do this
all evening.

And
she’d wanted it too, so badly.  As they kissed she slid her hands up but this
time she did not cling to him helplessly.  This time she steadied herself with
one hand then boldly slid the other inside the V of his shirt, her hand gliding
over the smooth skin of his broad chest.

And
then she found it, the flat nipple, which she began to stroke until it grew
into a hard nub beneath her fingers.

Max
groaned but she did not let up.  As his kiss deepened she stepped up her
assault on his senses, pinching the nipple, her gentle torture making him gasp
against her lips.

But
she knew it was a torture so sweet that he would only want more.  Pulling her
lips away from his, she lowered her head to his chest, loosening button after
button as she did so until he was beautifully bare to her gaze.

Then
her lips found that suffering nipple.  She covered it with the softness of her
lips then stroked it with the tip of her tongue, flicking and teasing until Max
groaned and lay back against the arm of the sofa, giving her full access to his
body.

She
accepted his invitation.  Tilting with him, she never let go of that nipple,
but when he writhed and moaned she gave him some ease and moved her lips over
to the other nipple where she administered similar treatment.

“God,
Silken, you know how to drive a man crazy.”  His voice, soft and hoarse, was
music to her ears.

He’d
thought he was the one in charge, getting her to sit with him on the sofa,
ordering her to kiss him, but now he knew who really carried the big stick.

She
released him then moved up his body where she calmly and boldly covered his
lips with hers.  He took hers like a hungry man, sucking her bottom lip into
his mouth then reaching up to capture her head in his hands.  Then he was
tasting her, devouring her, kissing her till she was the one gasping and
clinging to him.

Before
she knew what was happening Max wrapped his arms around her and rolled over in
the sofa, pinning her beneath him.

For
a quick second she almost panicked, feeling so utterly helpless, unable to move
her arms or legs.  But then he lowered his head to kiss her in that sensitive
spot by her collarbone and all thoughts of fighting to regain control dissolved
in a pool of breathtaking sensation.

He
slid his lips lower still and then he was skimming the tops of her breasts,
feathering her with kisses that made her tremble all over.  When his hand
slipped down to rest at the top button of her blouse she sighed.  And when he
paused there she arched toward him, eager for his touch.

He
must have been waiting for it, this indication that she wanted him, because he
began to undo the buttons – one then two then three – until her lace-covered
breasts lay exposed to his hungry gaze.

Sliding
his hands up her torso, he reached out to cup both breasts in his big hands. 
Ooh,
delicious
.  And then, as if that weren’t enough, with both thumbs he began
to stroke her nipples through her bra, turning the tips into hard nubs that
ached for his lips.

He
must have read her mind because no sooner had she thought it than he slid the
cup from her right breast and dipped his head to capture her nipple between his
teeth.  

A
bolt of liquid fire shot through Silken’s body and she moaned.  “Yes,” she
whispered, "please…don’t stop.”

Max
groaned in response.  Sliding his hands behind her back he released the catch
on her bra, freeing her breasts and then he lowered his head again, this time
to slurp her left nipple deep into his mouth.

And
the feel of his mouth on her, his lips clamped on her sensitive bud, his tongue
sliding and stroking, was so sensual that her juices began to flow.

Feeling
the dampness between her legs she gasped, wanting him so bad her mouth went
dry.  Oh God, what was he doing to her?   

And
even as he was driving her crazy with his caress the question reverberated in
her mind.  What was he doing to her but even more frightening, what in heaven’s
name was he doing
with
her?

The
thought sent a sliver of fear sliding up into her heart.  Was this all a game
to Max?  Was she just someone to amuse himself with until he found a newer,
more exciting toy?  Because who was she fooling?  The man was a goddamn
billionaire and she was nothing more than a mechanic.  A damn good one, and the
owner of her own business, but still…way below Maximillian Davidoff’s league.

And
the last thing she wanted was for this man to use her and then discard her like
a worthless piece of rag.  Because if he did, she would just have to kill him.

So
before it got to that she’d better put a stop to this…this seduction he’d
orchestrated.  Because she was nobody’s patsy.

“Max,
stop.  I want to get up.”

At
her words he froze then slowly he lifted his head to look up at her.  “Now?” he
asked, his eyes filled with desire and confusion.

“Yes,
now.”  Silken’s voice was firm and even before he moved away she was drawing
her blouse together and feeling for the buttons.

Max’s
brows fell in a frown but he pushed himself up and away from her then got up off
the couch, his shirt still flapping loose around his bare torso.  He looked
like he wanted to say something but then he tightened his lips and remained
silent.

She
stayed silent, too, her head down as she swung her legs off the couch then
deftly buttoned up her shirt and tucked the ends back into her slacks.  She
stood up and when she did, Max backed away as if he wanted – no, needed – to
put some distance between them.

Silken
lifted her face and looked him straight in the eyes.  “I’m going to head home
now,” she said, her voice firm.  “Thanks for dinner.”

CHAPTER
NINE

Of
all the women in the world for him to run into and begin to like, it had to be
one who was certifiably insane.

At
the thought of Silken Max could only shake his head.  It had been almost three
weeks since he’d invited her over to his house – and her sister, as she’d
demanded – and then when he’d try to show her that he had feelings for her
she’d shot him down cold and walked away.  Just like that.  Even though, from
her body’s reaction to him, he knew she wanted him.  Her shivers, her gasps,
the dilation of her pupils – that was something you just couldn’t fake.

So
what the hell happened?  One second she was begging him for more and the next
she was pushing him away.  Chameleon through and through. 

He’d
thought of contacting Suave, seeing if she could explain Silken’s strange
behavior, but then what would he say?  I tried seducing your sister and things
started out pretty good but then she went cold on me?