Chapter Two
For the first time in history, she and Brent were alone. Voluntarily, that is. Normally at this stage, they would flee each other’s presence without bothering to make an excuse. Unless you counted a certain obscene gesture as an excuse.
Hayden’s pulse accelerated as Brent rose to his full height and rounded the table to occupy the chair beside her. Why were her palms sweating? They were only playing a game. Any minute now, Brent would give in and she’d be free to strut out of Quincy’s, reveling in her victory. That hot look in his eye, the one that continued to dip and linger on her exposed neckline, was all for show.
Right?
When he draped an arm over the back of her chair and leaned in close, she ignored the flutter in her stomach. It had to be the wine. Brent Mason did not give her flutters. He only gave her hives.
“So tell me,” he started, his voice taking on a deeper tone. “Assuming we didn’t make it to your professionally decorated bedroom, how far would we make it?”
She doused a flare of annoyance. He never let her forget her status, not for a second. Or that she’d done so little to earn it. “Something tells me a man like you can’t hold out long enough to make it past the entryway. Just wham-bam, let me get back to playing Grand Theft Auto, ma’am.”
“I prefer Halo,” Brent said in a tight voice. “And let’s be honest. The real reason you don’t want me in your bed is because I’ll sully your lily-white sheets.”
Okay, that stung a little. It had been a while since her sheets were sullied, but he didn’t know that. His comment proved he thought of her as a cold fish, too focused on appearances to feel anything, sexually or otherwise. Especially for a man without an exorbitant bank account.
No way would she back down now. It would have to be him.
It suddenly became clear how to accomplish that end. A caveman like Brent would need to be the aggressor in bed, no doubt. She would lay odds that he would cling to that macho image with both hands. Hayden almost laughed out loud. He wouldn’t be able to cling on to much of anything with both hands secured behind his back.
She turned in her chair, letting her knee rub along the inside of Brent’s thigh, doing an internal fist-pump when he sucked in a breath. “That’s not it at all, Brent. I just don’t like waiting.” Garnering her courage, she dragged her fingers up the inside of his arm. “You wouldn’t happen to have your handcuffs handy, would you?”
He dragged his heated gaze away from her fingers. “If you like being cuffed, I have no problem accommodating you, baby.”
“Actually,” she returned, drawing the word out, “I was thinking I would cuff you.”
She held her breath. Any minute now, he’d scoff at her request and this charade would be over. Funny, she wasn’t quite as ready to walk away as she had been moments ago. In fact, the thought of Brent’s big body, restrained by handcuffs, was surprisingly appealing. That fluttering in her stomach had graduated into a constant tug, confusing her further.
“Done.” Hayden hid her shock as Brent leaned close and spoke gruffly near her ear. “Be warned, though. If you take away the use of my hands, I’ll only make up for it with my mouth.”
“R-really?” Her voice sounded breathy to her own ears. It simply wasn’t possible that Brent was turning her on. She shouldn’t have drunk so much wine without eating a proper dinner. That was the only explanation for her body’s potent reaction to Brent’s words.
“Why does that surprise you, duchess?” His expression turned patronizing, but she could still see the desire kindling in his eyes, the way they fixated on her mouth. “You think because I don’t wear a suit to work, I haven’t learned how to pleasure a woman?”
A punch of heat reverberated through her system, layered on top of the indignation brought on by his jab. He couldn’t mean it. He didn’t give a damn about her pleasure. No, they were both simply playing the game. When it came time to put the handcuffs on, he would back down. No way would he put himself at his enemy’s mercy. “I guess we’ll find out if you’re capable of shutting up long enough to use your mouth for something worthwhile.”
“Will we?” He gripped her knees in his hands. “You going uncross these sexy thighs long enough to find out what I can do between them?”
As her heart began to pound out of control, it occurred to her that she might lose this battle. Brent didn’t appear any closer to caving, and they were drawing dangerously close to the end of the line. This conversation couldn’t continue in its current vein much longer without them leaving together. Judging from his expression, he still expected her to cry uncle. Clearly skeptical of her ability to follow through.
Time for a change of strategy.
She uncrossed her legs and stood, putting her breasts just beneath his line of vision. When his confident smile slipped a little, she swallowed a triumphant laugh. “I’m tired of talking about it.” Her fingers slipped through his hair and clutched tight. “Put up or shut up, big boy.”
“Big boy.” When Brent stood, his hard body dragged slowly over her curves, catching Hayden’s breath in her throat. “You have no idea. Think you can handle me?”
Could she handle him? He didn’t look like the type to be handled by anyone. Least of all her, who could count her sexual partners on one carefully manicured hand. At least if it got that far—which it surely wouldn’t—she’d have a much easier time handling him if he didn’t have the use of his hands.
Throat tight and unable to issue a verbal response, Hayden turned and walked toward the exit in lieu of answering out loud. Brent’s heavy tread followed purposefully behind her, sending a shiver up her spine. With each step toward the door, she grew less and less sure of whether anticipation or nerves were the culprit.
They rode in silence on the crosstown drive from Quincy’s, although the tense atmosphere in Brent’s SUV spoke volumes. Her decision-making window was rapidly closing. It had been incredibly easy to talk a big game while sitting in Quincy’s. Now, however, her bravado was beginning to wane.
She let her gaze slide across the center console to inspect the man taking up well over his fair share of the SUV. Powerful thighs flexed beneath the steering wheel as he applied the brake. Defined arm muscles shifted as he took a right turn. His shoulders were so broad they bridged the console and nearly touched her own.
Most infuriating of all, a cocky, knowing smile played around his lips like he expected her to back out at any minute. If she admitted to bluffing him now, he would never let her live it down. She’d be doomed to see that shit-eating grin every time they met. Nope. Couldn’t let it happen. One way or another, the big guy was going down.
He eased his SUV to a stop outside Hayden’s town house and she pushed open the passenger-side door. “Are you coming in? Or are you afraid of losing he-man status by being cuffed by a girl?”
Brent’s forearm brushed her thighs as he reached for the glove compartment and popped it open. Hayden felt a simultaneous surge of arousal and panic when a silver pair of handcuffs were revealed. “One question. Is flash photography allowed on this ride?”
“Not unless you want a bloody stump for a hand.”
An amused smile lit his face. “I think in a matter of minutes, you’re going to be very glad I still have both hands. You might even change your mind about using those handcuffs.”
Her first instinct dictated she throw herself out of the vehicle and run screaming toward her house. Lock herself inside and watch reruns of The Facts of Life. But then an image of a shirtless Brent kneeling, hands cuffed behind his back, materialized in her mind. She felt another jolt of surprise when lust, hot and insistent, pooled in her tummy. In addition to shocking her, the heady response bred irritation. She hadn’t experienced the feeling in a long time, and the fact that her nemesis provoked it in her chafed.
Too late to turn back now.
“I won’t be changing my mind.” Hayden stuffed the handcuffs into her purse. “It’s too bad the NYPD doesn’t issue ball gags in addition to handcuffs,” she said, smiling brightly. “Not that your voice isn’t a seductive lullaby.”
“I haven’t had any complaints.”
“Then consider this your first.” Hayden exited the SUV, her heels tapping along the sidewalk. As she ascended the stone stairs leading to her front door, she felt him following behind her. She scanned the surrounding area, looking for her parents, who lived in the same neighborhood. If they saw her entering her town house with this swaggering hulk of a male, they would surely have some questions.
“Worried about being seen with me?” His jaw tightened and flexed. “Don’t worry, I’m sure your little lesson won’t take long.”
The jerk still thought she would back down from her own challenge. “It’s going to be over that fast, huh? Don’t worry, champ. It’s a very common problem among men. Happens to the best of them.”
She could practically feel the steam shooting from his ears. Smiling to herself, Hayden pushed the front door open and entered the dark foyer. The second the door closed behind her, Brent pushed her up against it, bracing himself with both arms on the door. Never having been this close to him before, she took a moment to absorb the jarring differences between them. His body, so incredibly hard and well-built, pressed against her softer, smaller frame. At least a foot taller than her, he would have to bend his knees to kiss her…or pick her up for their mouths to meet. Something needy shivered through her at the thought of him using all that strength on her. Even more tempting was the thought of leashing that power. Tempting it out of him.
“You’re testing my patience here, duchess,” he growled. “If you have any doubt about my ability to fuck the ever-loving sarcasm right out of you, I’ll be more than happy to clear it up.”
Hayden sucked in a breath. Until now, they’d been dancing around any talk of the main event, but he’d just put it in black-and-white terms. Was she willing to let it get that far? This wouldn’t be the kind of one-night stand you walked away from unscathed. If they took it to that level, she would be forced to see the knowledge of what they’d done written all over his arrogant face every time they were wrangled into spending time together.
“What’s wrong? Is this lesson you’re attempting to teach me over before it even began?” Patronizing laughter rumbled in his big chest. His hips pressed closer and she could feel his thick arousal. “Too bad. I thought I was finally going to solve the mystery tonight.”
“What mystery is that?” she asked against her better judgment.
“I’ve been wondering what it’ll take to wipe that self-satisfied expression off your face.” He bent down, let his mouth hover an inch above hers. “What gets you off, rich girl? Besides a shoe sale.”
with their bodies molded together, she ached for something she couldn’t name, his words burrowed even further under her skin. He found her vapid. Trivial. He thought she took her wealth for granted, when in reality, she spent every day of her life trying to deserve it. Prove herself worthy. And oftentimes…coming up short. He didn’t think she had the ability to feel anything? The need to prove him wrong, right then and there, shook Hayden to the soles of her feet. Her purse hit the floor with a thud.
She pushed higher on her toes, fusing her mouth to his. Brent’s body jerked, making her feel exultant. She’d caught him off guard. Her fingers wove their way through his hair and tugged hard to bring him closer. They nipped at each other’s lips, testing, seeking. He grazed her jaw with his teeth before returning to her mouth to taste her with thorough licks of his tongue, spiking heat through Hayden. Her hands dropped to his waist and urged him forward, wordlessly begging him to rub his erection against her belly. When he did so, once, twice, they both broke away on a groan. For a single second, they locked eyes, as if to say oh shit. Involuntarily, her attention dropped to his arousal, heavy and insistent between them.
Brent kept his gaze on her face as he worked himself against her. “I’ll let you ride it, duchess. And I’m going to keep your tongue busy in my mouth the whole time.” With one hand, he stripped his shirt off over his head, revealing his massive chest and rock-hard muscles. “That ought to keep the sarcasm at bay for a couple hours.”
Hayden shoved against him, but he didn’t budge. “What’s going to keep your ego at bay?” she asked through clenched teeth. “One more crack like that and you can go home to your bachelor pad and self-satisfy until the sun comes—”
He claimed her mouth once again on a growl. A single forearm curled under her bottom and lifted with so little effort, her thoughts went fuzzy, blurring her indignation into nothingness. His mouth moved, rough and demanding over hers, forcing her lips wide to receive rhythmic thrusts from his tongue. Hayden could only twine her arms around his neck and hold on as white-hot need poured through her in waves. She made a sound of protest in his mouth when she couldn’t get her lower body close enough. A throb drummed between her thighs and she ached to feel pressure there. When she communicated her desire for friction with a twist of her hips, he tried to wedge his hips between her thighs, but the tight material of her skirt wouldn’t allow it.
“Take it off, Hayden, or I rip it off.”
Brent’s rasped command at her neck brought her back down to earth. Just a little. If she took off her skirt, he would take her against the door. Wham-bam, Grand Theft Auto, ma’am. He’d whistle his way out the door, knowing exactly who had handled whom. Next time she saw him, he’d give her one of his signature winks and tell her to call him next time she needed a ride. She couldn’t let that happen. She’d instigated this for a reason. To show him how little he actually knew about her. To put a dent in his overblown ego. She needed to get the upper hand back. Now.
Hayden broke their kiss, let the corners of her lips edge into a sensual smile. “I think it’s about time we broke out those handcuffs.”
Brent’s hands moved down her back to mold her bottom with rough palms. “Patience, duchess. I haven’t gotten my fill of touching you yet.” He boosted her higher against the door. “Before I let you restrain me, I’m going to make damn sure you’re too revved up to stop.”
His mouth seized hers once more. This time, she could feel more urgency behind the kiss, reflected in the rigid lines of his body. It only drove her need higher. Clinging to his shoulders, she let his frenzied mouth slant over hers several times. She broke away with a moan, her resolve slipping drastically under the onslaught of sensations. If she could just get the handcuffs on him, she could stop him from overwhelming her.
“You’re right,” she whispered. “We should have some fun first.” She dropped to her knees. Let her hands wander up those muscular thighs.
Above her, Brent’s breathing deepened, kicked up into a faster pace. “Only for a little while. Then I find out what’s beneath that skirt.”
With a dutiful nod, she unbuttoned his fly. Even nuzzled her cheek against his rigid erection and smiled when he sucked in a quick breath. He laced his fingers through her hair and tilted his hips toward her mouth. “Uh-uh,” she admonished. “No touching.”
“Sure, baby.” He put his hands behind his back and closed his eyes. “If that’s the way you like it.”
As soon as his hands crossed behind him, she carefully slipped the handcuffs from her purse and slapped them onto his wrists. Hearing his low curse, she gained her feet, taking a moment to savor the sight of him, all that commanding power harnessed. By her. “Looks like somebody just got handled.”
“Take them off,” he ground out. “I’m not done with you yet.”
Hayden pretended to consider the idea. “Hmm. No.”
Brent cursed under his breath. “So what’s your evil plan? Take blackmail photos to amuse your simpering friends at your next themed tea party?”
“Tea parties are very last season. Try to keep up.” She sauntered forward, walking him backward with gentle nudges of her hand until he fell back onto the cushioned bench placed along the far wall of the foyer. He gave her a look of warning, one she’d never seen on his face before. It gave her momentary pause, but did nothing to sway her intentions. Using his broad shoulders for balance, she straddled him on the bench, remaining standing on her knees and putting her breasts at eye level.
Hayden could see his anger battling with arousal. But he kept his pissed-off gaze resolutely on her face. Until she started unbuttoning her blouse. Picking up where she’d left off at the bar, she popped each button out slowly, methodically, until she had his rapt attention. His throat worked as he swallowed heavily, tongue licking out to wet his lips with each inch of skin she revealed. Power surged through Hayden. She had two hundred and fifty pounds of rugged male between her legs. And she had complete control. She drew her unbuttoned blouse over her shoulders and let it fall to the floor, leaving her in a crimson lace bra.
“I’ve got news for you,” he rasped, eyes blazing. “Seeing your breasts is not the worst form of punishment.”
“It will be,” she said huskily, undoing the front hook of her bra. “Because seeing them is all you get. And, Brent?” She kissed him fast and hard. “I’ve got a fabulous pair. So that’s really going to suck for you.”
Hayden parted the crimson material and revealed her breasts. Brent made a strangled noise and lurched forward on the bench, as though he couldn’t restrain himself. She dodged his mouth at the last second, staving him off with two hands on his shoulders. Still, he didn’t look away from her naked chest, mouth working as if he could already taste her. His unchecked reaction made hunger spread through her system like fire. Gone was the cocky son of a bitch she’d come to know. He looked like a starving man eyeing his last meal.
“Scoot forward,” he asked in a gravelly voice. “Just a little. I promise I’ll suck them so good for you. So good.”
His words enticed her like mad. It would be so easy to pretend the conflict between them didn’t exist and they were simply two people who desperately needed pleasure. She needed his mouth on her, she realized. Tempting him beyond control would be more difficult than she thought. In the process, she herself was being tempted. Don’t give him the satisfaction of knowing how thoroughly he’s affecting you.
Hayden took a deep breath and shook her head. “Sorry, big boy. Not going to happen.” She gave in to the impulse to tease his neck with a kiss, but he turned his head at the last second and caught her mouth. This kiss felt different. Persuasive, entreating. As if he’d finally started taking this encounter seriously. It made her desperate to squeeze her legs together, but they were spread wide on either side of his hips. When she heard herself moan low in her throat, she broke away.
Between them, her nipples pouted, begging for Brent’s attention. Before she could stop him, he leaned forward and sucked one into his mouth, rolling it on his tongue and groaning. Then he pulled back just a little and blew on it gently. Hayden’s eyelids drooped, her lips parted. She felt each sensual movement of his tongue in every secret place on her body. His gaze met hers, looking for any sign of protest. He seemed to know how close she was to caving because when he spoke, his dark sincerity was tangible. “Listen, you got one over on me. Well played, baby. But we’re entering new territory now. Are you sure you want to tease my cock like this?” He sat forward, letting his chest graze the tips of her breasts. His teeth tugged on her earlobe, making her shiver. “Because I won’t be in these handcuffs forever. When I get out of them, I’m going to remember everything you do to me tonight.”
Hayden swallowed. “Is that supposed to scare me?”
He scrutinized her face a moment. “Look at you. You’re already scared. Afraid of a little pleasure, duchess? Worried you might actually like my middle-class mouth on you?”
She knew his intentions were to rile her up. Spark her temper. It worked. Once again, the need to prove he knew nothing about her rose to the surface. And maybe a tiny part of her recognized the accuracy of his words. Maybe she was afraid of pleasure. The kind of pleasure Brent might provide.
Her hands went to the hem of her skirt, drawing his attention away from her face. Very slowly, she slid the taut material up her thighs, revealing more and more of her black fishnet stockings. She watched as Brent shifted in front of her, hips tilting, chest shuddering. When she reached the point where her tights ended and she paused, he made a sound of protest. “Show me. You want to torture me? Fine. Just show me what’s at the top of those fucking stockings.”
Feeling a slight head rush over his fervent request, Hayden dragged the skirt higher and left it bunched around her hips. Apart from the rapid movements of his chest, Brent remained very still in front of her, his gaze fastened on the tops of her thighs where a crimson lace garter belt attached itself to her tights. She could see his arousal, thick and long, bulging against the zipper of his pants. She’d done that to him. Again, the heady rush of power made her bold. She stroked her hands down his chest, and circled her hips a little to show him what he couldn’t have.
“I knew it.” His gravelly voice startled her. “You walk around all day hiding fancy panties behind those expensive clothes, but you never let anyone have a taste of what’s underneath.” He ground his teeth together. “I think you’re the one who needs to be taught a lesson.”
“You think you know what I need?” She let her fingers brush over the tips of her breasts, smiling when he issued a strangled groan. “Enlighten me.”
“Right now?” His gaze dropped once more to the material shielding her core. He gave a single, quick shake of his head. “You need a good tongue-fucking, duchess.”
Breath whooshed from her lungs, and her legs began to shake. She’d never been spoken to in such a way and the rawness of it battered her senses. The ache between her thighs had turned insistent, demanding. All the energy, the nerves that had built up inside her needed release. Now. She looked at Brent to find him watching her, analyzing, holding his breath. Without waiting for her answer, he slid forward, nearly toppling her off the bench. Gasping, she braced her hands on the wall and lifted her hips to accommodate his body as it dropped to the floor. He came to rest with his head on the padded bench, and her thighs straddling his face—a position so erotic, her breath felt trapped in her throat.
“Slide your knees just a little wider, baby,” he instructed. “Come and get your lesson.”
What remained of her pride told her not to follow his arrogant command, but the painfully aroused part of her beat it back. She needed this. Involuntarily, her legs moved wider on the bench. When his mouth latched onto her, sucking her clitoris through the material, she cried out and grabbed the back of the bench for support. “Oh, God. Oh, God.”
“Lose the fucking panties and I can have you screaming those words.”
She looked down, wondering how she could take her underwear off without standing and losing the drugging effect of his mouth. “H-how?”
“Rip them,” he growled. “Believe me, if you hadn’t cuffed me, I’d do it myself.”
After a short pause wherein she wondered if she could do something so desperate, Hayden reached down and wrapped her fingers around the fragile silk. Then she ripped them off.
It felt amazing.
“Good girl.”
She gripped the back of the bench tightly once more as Brent savored her in one, long lick. Then he returned to torture the pulsing bundle of nerves. He worried her clitoris between his lips, sucking gently, then tonguing the spot with tight, fast circles. On either side of his head, her thighs quivered so violently that the bench shook. She could feel a swift release coming, but didn’t want the sensations to peak so soon. She wanted to savor. But when he sank his tongue deep inside her, searching her inner walls for that mysterious spot and finding it, finding it, finding it, she imploded. Fingers latched onto the bench, she writhed against his mouth as he wrung every ounce of pleasure from her trembling body.
“Brent! Oh my God, Brent!”
He turned his head and sank his teeth into her inner thigh. “Get the fuck down here, duchess. I need to be ridden.”
She practically melted off the bench and onto his lap. Their mouths met in a wet, frantic kiss that made them both groan. Her fingers went to work unzipping his pants, taking a second to palm and squeeze his straining erection. His hips bucked into her hand, telling her how badly he needed his own release. She couldn’t think beyond giving it to him. Taking more for herself in the process.
“You have no idea what I’d do to you right now if my hands were free.” He bit her bottom lip and tugged. “Right now, I’d be fingering your gorgeous pussy. Massaging that spot that got you to scream my name. Then I’d pick you up by your sweet little ass and sink you right down on top of me.”
Her heartbeat pounded wildly in her ears, hands shaking as she finally freed his erection. He looked so incredibly full, smooth. Ripe. Hayden had the sudden, overwhelming urge to bring him to climax with her mouth.
When he saw her intention, his green eyes flashed urgently. “Fuck me with your mouth, baby. I’ll do anything for it. Let me inside your sexy mouth.”
She dipped her head, let it hover just above the tip of him.
And then the doorbell rang.