Winter's Heart (24 page)

She just needed a little liquid courage to tamp down the rioting butterflies. If they were drunk, they wouldn’t try to fly up her throat and out of her mouth when she went in for the kill.

“Don’t think you’re going to get out of this,” he warned her, eying her warily as he pulled her through a hidden door and into darkness. Her eyes widened as he tugged her forward and her shin bumped against a step. “Fifteen steps and then we’ll be somewhere where we can talk.”

“But not fuck,” she pouted sullenly, excitement building in her bones because if they had a private room it
would be that much easier to seduce him.

“That would have been a possibility if you had been a good girl,” he said with a hint of amusement. “Unless we aren’t alone.”

“So you’re not taking me to a private room?” she asked, confused because of all of the secrecy, the hidden door.

“No, my Beauty,” he denied. “I’m taking you to the VIP section. It’s above all of the noise and confusion with a clear wall that looks down over it all.”

“Can the people on the floor see in?”

“If they look up,” he said with a slightly wicked grin.

Taking a shuddering breath that didn’t quite reach her lungs or give her enough oxygen, she looked at him as he stepped into the low light of the VIP room. He was sinfully sexy but that wasn’t why she couldn’t breathe. Pressing a hand against her stomach, she moved a little closer and whispered, “Do you have anything in mind with regards to the clear wall and me?”

He paused and closed his eyes, taking his own shuddering breath. Clenching his teeth, he ground out, “You’re not going to get me to change my mind.”

She was confused for a moment but then she smiled, a slow, sultry smile that put the butterflies to awe. “I would never dream of going against your wishes.”

“Yes you would,” he murmured but he was no longer angry. Maybe he was never angry, just… worried.

“I was just curious,” she said softly. “About Ginger and the time she got to spend with you.”

“And curiosity killed the cat.”

“Well, if I am going to die then you might as well know that I thought you were going to give me my first practice plug this evening and I was quite prepared to wear it all night long,” she said blithely, stepping past him and stopping. Looking around the room, she realized with surprise they weren’t alone, though the noise level was definitely far more tolerable. They’d be able to have a conversation without destroying their vocal cords. Still, seven sets of eyes were staring at them, at
her
, and she blushed from the roots of her hair to the tips of her toes.

Acting as if she hadn’t said anything inappropriate, she weaved her way around the tables and grabbed a glass of champagne, not caring if it already belonged to someone else. Glancing over her shoulder as she held the glass to her lips, she almost melted. Winter was standing there with that hot and heavy look in his eyes and as she watched, he deliberately adjusted his thick erection. She gulped down the champagne, the sweet flavor dancing across her tongue and sparkling down her throat.

“Ooh,” she murmured, licking the flavor off her lips. “I like this. It tickles my nose.”

“Careful, my Beauty,” he said, taking the empty glass from her fingers and setting it down before picking up a full glass and handing it to her. “It’ll go straight to your head.”

“Are you trying to get me drunk, Mr. Beast?” she asked, twinkling her eyes up at him as she took a sip of her second glass of champagne, savoring the taste this time instead of slamming it.

“No… yes.” He was watching her with those eerie gold eyes, the contacts making him look like a wild beast and she wanted to unleash him. “I want you to pass out before we leave so I don’t give into temptation when I vowed to make you wait a week.”

♥~♥~♥

Winter’s heart had nearly stopped in his chest when he had walked into the women’s bathroom and saw Flynn sitting with Ginger. For one heartbreaking moment, he’d had the terrifying thought that Flynn was just like all of the other girls he had known since becoming famous, willing to use him to get what they want.

But then Ginger barely spared him a second glance, looking at Flynn with a mixture of pity and envy. He watched as the woman scrawled something on a piece of paper and passed it to Flynn and in his anger he made the stupid threat to not fuck her for a week even though he only had the night with her. What the hell had he been thinking? He regretted it almost immediately but he couldn’t break his promise otherwise Flynn would realize how much power she had over him and he’d be so screwed.

He regretted it even more when she showed him the note and then the regret turned physical when she asked
about the glass wall because in that moment he could clearly see her standing there, looking out over the crowd while he stood behind her and slowly rocked her world.

Then aching regret turned to bitterness when she announced her early expectations for the evening, letting him know she was willing to start her training. He had been putting it off because she had been so reticent when he had first brought it up, despite her agreeing to submit to his desires, and he hadn’t wanted to push her.

Fuck, who was he kidding? He had been pushing her since the moment they met but in this… in this he was afraid of hurting her, of physically hurting her. As much as he wanted her ass, and he wanted it desperately, he hated the thought of causing her any pain. Her personality made her come across as larger than life, bold and brash and a little bit crazy, but sometimes, when he was holding her in his arms at night, he realized how delicate she truly was. When she was asleep and curled so contently at his side, he felt such a rush of emotions for her he was afraid they would crush her.

Hell, he was going to break his oath to deny her sex and probably before the night was through. She was too tempting and he wanted her too much and he could deny her nothing.

Leaning against the Plexiglas wall while she watched the crowds below, he watched her, loving how expressive her face was, her brilliant smile and sparkling eyes. She wasn’t looking around the VIP room to see who was up there with them and that alone sent a burst of warmth through his chest, especially since Nolan Mars had made his way up there at some point while Flynn was in the bathroom. The bastard was watching Flynn with predatory hunger that caused the possessive monster deep within Winter to pound its chest and prowl in its cage. It wanted Winter to claim Flynn in the most primal way possible, to show the world that she was his and no pretty-boy actor was ever going to turn her head.

As she sipped on her third glass of champagne, already tipsy on her heels, Flynn turned her head and smiled at him, “It’s so strange seeing them dance to music that isn’t playing. They look a little silly, don’t they?”

“Do you want to hear the music?” he asked, raising his hand to summon the waitress if necessary.

She shook her head, a strand of hair falling from the sloppy bun that was on top of her head, “No, I much prefer being able to hear you.” Looking at him, trying for seductiveness even though she still looked far too innocent, she purred, “Would you like me to dance for you?”

“Sure,” he grunted, trying to keep his tone cool and unaffected. It was an effort in futility because all she had to do was look at him and he was affected and right now, wearing that tight little dress, she was making him want all sorts of naughty things. His cock had been hard since the moment he arrived at her doorstep, barely abating the entire time he had been with her.

Maybe they could find a private room or a hidden nook and he could give into his inner beast, screw his vow to withhold intercourse from her.

Setting the glass down, she turned to face him with a sexy grin and he wished she wasn’t wearing the damned mask because he wanted to see her entire face. The heightened color along her throat was the only indication that she was slightly intoxicated and a little self-conscious. Slowly, she began to gyrate her lithe body, oblivious to anyone else in the room as she kept her eyes locked on his. Sliding her hands into her hair, she closed her eyes and lost herself in the music that was playing in her head.

His body tightened and if she so much as brushed her hand over his dick he would go off like a fucking geyser but he couldn’t move, entranced by her sweet seduction. He was unable to tear his eyes away from her as she slowly bent her knees and shimmied her fanny until she was practically sitting on the ground and then undulating back up to a standing position.

Her eyes opened then, staring deeply into his soul and ensnaring an essential part of his being. She sauntered forward, swaying her hips from side to side until she was pressed against the front of his body. There was no hiding the state of his arousal from her, not that he had any chance when she ran her slender hand over the length of his erection and looked up at him with languid eyes. “Will you really deny me for an entire week?”

“No,” he rumbled, the word almost beastly in nature. Putting his hand over hers, he thrust his cock against her palm and closed his eyes as pleasure shot up his spine. “And if you’re not careful, I’ll take you right here in front of the audience.”

“There’s no one here but you,” she asserted, holding his eyes while giving his dick a gentle squeeze.

He nodded to the small group behind them, a rueful smile on his lips, “Sweetheart, we’re not alone.”

Leaning closer, she went up on her toes as her breasts flattened against his chest. Holding onto his shoulders for support, she put her lips near his ear and whispered, “I know.”

Why was she taunting him with his darkest fantasies? Did she have no sense of self-preservation? His fingers gripped her elbows to keep from tossing her down right then and there and fucking her on the filthy floor. Staring down at her, he breathed in her slight musk as her chest heaved against his chest and her pulse fluttered madly along her throat, as her breaths sawed in and out of her parted lips. She was aroused and nervous and he wanted to know what she was going to do next.

He had to will his fingers to let her go and when he did, he leaned back and watched. He wanted to see if she’d actually go through with it because the thought of fucking her in front of an audience, of laying claim to her luscious body so no other man would dare touch her, did impossibly dark things to his state of mind. He could feel the savage, primal man roaring to life within him and if she wasn’t careful, she was going to unleash the demon and then she would pay with her delectable body.

Nervously glancing around, she snagged yet another a glass of champagne and slammed it down before she gave him a slight smile. Taking a deep breath, she twisted her body until her fingers were on the zipper at the side of her dress and she slowly started to pull it down. His eyes went wide and his contacts just about popped out as he realized her intent. As badly as he wanted to see her undressed, they weren’t alone! And she was standing in front of the Plexiglas and if some lucky bastard were to look up, he’d see her, see what was
his
. In a low, feral growl, he rasped, “Flynn.”

“Beauty,” she corrected, tugging the zipper down and letting the yellow dress fall to the floor. Her torso was encased in a pale yellow corset that plumped up her perfect breasts and nipped in her slender waist and she was about the sexiest damn thing he had ever seen in his life. Stepping out of the pile of material, still wearing her heels, she turned and pressed her palms against the glass so that her ass was facing him, beckoning him. Looking at him over her shoulder, she purred, “I wore the panties with you in mind. The material rips easily.”

He was vibrating with need but he held himself still as he rumbled, “You don’t want to do this.”

The side of her mouth quirked upwards in a half-smile as she said, “I do.”

He lurched forward, uncoordinated with a penis the size of a fucking baseball bat, he pressed his body against the length of her back and breathed into her ear, “People are watching. Are you sure?”

She glanced past him and as color crept up her throat to beneath the mask, she swallowed audibly. He was prepared to wrap her back up in her dress and hurry her out of there but then her eyes met his and she steadily held his gaze and it was his turn to swallow. Desire burned hot and bright in the dark depths and he nearly died when she said, “Yes.”

Curling his fingers into the material at her waist, he bent his head until his mouth was next to her ear. Thrusting against her ass, letting her feel the strength of his carnal hunger, he hissed, “Last warning, sweetheart.”

Her eyelids fluttered closed and her lips parted, “Please.”

Uncurling his hand, he gave an open-handed swat to her ass, making her yelp and yanking her from her aroused trance. When she let out a low moan, he was fucking lost. “No regrets?”

“Never,” she breathed, arching her back even more and pressing her sweet ass against his painfully hard erection. Gently, he caressed her ass for a moment before letting his hand fly again, spanking her with a loud smack. Her eyes rolled back and a low groan eased past her lips, “Wi… Beast, please.”

Even lost in arousal, she remembered not to use his name. Perhaps she wasn’t as aroused as she could be, not that he wanted her screaming out
Winter
because he was supposed to be in Georgia. It’s what made it possible to take her to the masquerade and not worry about being discovered. He just hadn’t counted on her being the fulfilment of all of his deepest, darkest fantasies. Reaching between her thighs, beneath the flimsy panties, he slid a finger into her wet pussy, groaning at the feel of her slick heat.