Chapter Four

 

The doorbell rang at eight on the dot. I brushed stray face powder from the front of my green dress, grabbed my purse and rushed to the hall.

Raven beat me to the door.

“Hey, buddy, how you doin’?” Todd asked, stepping in and slapping Raven on his good arm.

Raven grunted. It was nice to know I wasn’t the only one subjected to that form of communication.

“Fiona, you look beautiful.” He took six quick steps over to me, stooped and pressed a kiss to each of my cheeks.

I allowed the butterflies in my stomach to flutter and swirl deliciously. I’d been looking forward to this evening, and Todd looked, sounded and smelled even better than I remembered. “Hi,” I managed.

He grinned and took my hand. “We should go. I have a reservation at Ciao’s. A great little Italian with no paparazzi to worry about, just awesome food and fantastic wine.”

“Sounds lovely. I adore Italian.”

“Cool.” He tugged me toward the front door. “Don’t wait up,” he said to Raven. “I don’t plan on returning her at a decent hour.”

Okay, so I’d heard Raven grunt plenty, but the noise that rumbled up from his chest as I tottered past on my heels was definitely a growl—a low warning growl that I hadn’t known was possible for a human to make.

“What’s his problem?” I asked Todd as he helped me into his blood-red Mercedes.

“Who, Mr. Happy in there? Don’t worry about it.” He climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.

“It’s not you stuck with him all day. I did his treatment in complete silence this morning and this afternoon.”

He laughed, then flew through the gears as we pulled onto the main road. “I spend plenty of time with him. Like I said, he’s a good guy under all that chest-puffing macho shit. The sooner he’s playing again, the sooner he’ll be tolerable to live with again.” A worried frown creased his brow. “You want me to find somewhere else for you to stay?”

“No, it’s fine, I’ve unpacked now, and having a nice little kitchen and a TV room is great, much better than being in a hotel. Plus, it’s quiet, there’s no conversation to worry about.”

Todd shook his head. “If he wasn’t such a brooding son of a bitch then he’d be dangerous. Hell, he can’t even see what’s under his nose.”

“And what’s that?”

“He’s got a beautiful woman staying in his house and all he can do is sulk. Mope around feeling sorry for himself. Like I said, he’d be dangerous if he stopped and thought about it.” He removed his hand from the gear stick and took mine, drew it to his lips. “Not that I’m complaining. If he’d made a move on you maybe you wouldn’t have come out with me tonight.”

“I would have. I’ve been looking forward to adult company.”

He laughed and let go of my hand. Flicked the indicator and turned down a side street.

“So has he?”

“What?”

“Made a move on you?”

I hesitated, thought of the tease in the pool. Did that count as making a move? No, it was just him being his usual piggish self. “Not at all. We’ve come to an unspoken arrangement that, unless I’m giving him treatment, we avoid each other. It’s easier that way, stops the boundaries of what I’m doing there becoming blurred.”

He pulled the car to a halt and treated me to one of his wonderful smiles. “Here’s Ciao’s, one of my most favorite places to eat in Orlando.”

 

*****

 

The meal was wonderful, the restaurant small and unassuming and the service discreet but friendly. Though at our table the atmosphere was charged with a simmering sexual tension. Every moment I spent with Todd was a treat. He was a hopeless flirt, brimming with compliments but also charming and easy to chat with. I ended up telling him about growing up in Mumbles and how my parents still ran a small seaside shop that sold everything from starfish ashtrays to lumps of glazed coal brought down from the valleys.

Todd had spent his early childhood going between his divorced parents. Half his time on the west coast, the other spent on the east. Eventually he just lived with his father in New York City, having grown apart from his mother. He’d gotten good grades but was only ever really happy when he was playing hockey or, he added quickly, in the company of a beautiful woman.

At first, I was reluctant when it was time to go. I was mellow with wine and content watching Todd’s sensual mouth move as he spoke. But then I started to think about the next part of the evening. About Todd’s newly decorated apartment and wondering about the color of his bedsheets. An image of us naked and tangled popped into my mind. I let it stay, embellishing it with thoughts of him sinking deep inside me, pummeling his hips until I cried out in ecstasy. I wondered what he would sound like when he came. Would he be a grunter, a sigher or would he become all religious and shout his pleasure right up to the heavens?

“Here,” Todd said, “don’t forget your purse.”

“Oh yes, thanks.” I pulled in a deep, calming breath and set my face into a smile.

On our way through the restaurant, an elderly Italian lady with a wobbly gray bun pulled Todd down for a double-cheeked kiss. “You come back soon, Pretty,” she said. “You know my cooking keeps you winning.”

Todd laughed. “It does, and yep, I’ll be back soon.”

“And what is the name of tonight’s beautiful lady?” She turned to me, her small eyes studying me with keen intelligence.

“Fiona. Fiona this is Benita, she’s the owner of Ciao’s.”

“Hi,” I said. “We had a lovely meal, thank you very much.”

“Ah, it is my pleasure. Good food is what makes the world go ’round.” She tipped her head. “Where are you from? I cannot place your accent.”

“I’m Welsh. Over here working for a while.”

“Ah, and having some fun with the Vipers while you are here. Can’t say I blame you. If I was forty years younger…” She sighed wistfully and her eyes twinkled.

Heat rose on my cheeks. Had she guessed the dirty thoughts going through my mind?

“Come on,” Todd laughed. “I have to deliver this lovely lady home.”

I bid Benita good night, thanked her once again and allowed Todd to lead me outside. Home? Surely he meant home to his place.

We got in the car and he pulled into the darkness. The radio came on, a classical song that he quickly switched to a beaty dance track. “I enjoyed tonight,” he said, glancing my way then suppressing a yawn.

“Me too.” We were heading back the route we’d come. “Er, whereabouts do you live?” I asked.

“Downtown, not nearly as fancy as Raven’s place. But the decorators have nearly finished, which is a good thing.”

“Yes, I guess it is.”

“I’ll take you to see it when they’ve gone. I’d be glad of a female opinion. Don’t want too much of a bachelor pad. I’d kinda like a few soft edges. You know, keep it cozy.”

“Of course.” My heart sank.

We traveled a mile or so in silence. I watched my new surroundings whiz past in a blur of lights. Shopping malls, adverts for theme parks and not-to-be-missed shows, huge hotels. Eventually we pulled to a stop on Raven’s large circular driveway.

Todd got out of the car, leaving his keys in the ignition and the headlights on.

If I didn’t think the weight in my chest could get any heavier, I was wrong. That was my final bit of confirmation that we really wouldn’t be spending the night together. I’d had one last glimmer of hope that he might come in. Join me in the guest wing for some dirty fun. But it seemed that wasn’t to be.

We walked toward the porch area that had a large red-tiled roof and thick white pillars. Six bay trees in bronze pots sat on the steps leading up to it and a security light cast long shadows onto the double-fronted door.

“Fiona,” he said when we reached the top step.

“Yes.” I turned to him.

He curled his hands over my shoulders, his thumbs just stroking the base of my neck. He stepped in close and I could smell the clean cotton scent of his shirt mixed with his citrusy aftershave. “Can I kiss you good night?”

I stared up into his heavy-lidded eyes. I couldn’t think of anything I wanted more. “Yes,” I whispered as my heart tripped over itself.

He lowered his head and his lips brushed mine, carefully, hesitantly, as though he were worried about breaking me. One small kiss, then another, no tongues, just soft, lingering pecks.

I reached up and pressed my palm against the smooth skin on his cheek. “Todd?”

“Yeah.” His breath was hot on my mouth, my chin.

“Kiss me properly.”

His mouth twitched into a half-smile, his fingers tightened on my shoulders and he gave me a real kiss. It was still reverent, tender, but it was enough to get lost in. I opened up and let him in. His wet, warm mouth tasted so good—sugar and sunshine, a wonderful sexy flavor spreading over my tongue as he searched gently for mine.

I dropped my hand from his face and felt his solid chest beneath his shirt, his heart beating strong and his breaths coming steady.

He broke our kiss. “Damn, but you’re just the sweetest little thing,” he murmured, tucking my hair behind my ears. “I could eat you all up.”

“So eat.” I pressed my chest to his, searching for more connection, needing to feel his delectable body touching mine.

He shook his head. “Not tonight.”

Oh God, he’s torturing me.

“Tomorrow,” he said. “One of the guys on the team, Phoenix, his kid is being christened. They’re having drinks and cake and stuff at The Burton Hotel afterward. Will you come with me?”

My head spun, not just from the lovely kiss that was apparently going no further, but also from the sudden invitation. “I don’t know.”

He grinned, touched his lips to the tip of my nose. “Yeah you do. I’ll pick you up at noon.”

The heat of his body left mine as he stepped away. My arms fell to my sides and I buckled my weak knees to remain standing. What the hell had just happened? I felt as though I’d gone into a tailspin. One minute my body was on high alert for sexy action, then knocked down, and then flung back up again with the promise of more tomorrow.

“But I have nothing to wear, no gift or…”

With his hand on the open car door, he looked over the roof at me. “That dress is spot on, green suits you. And don’t worry about a gift, I’ll take care of it.” He flashed one of his heart-stopping smiles. “Night.”

The car headlights illuminated the fronds of various shrubs that lined the driveway as he pulled away. But just for a few seconds then everything fell into darkness once more.

My heart was pounding, my lips still tingling. I tried to regain some control over my sagging knees and jellylike thighs by resting my back against one of the pillars.

Todd was gorgeous, charming and one hell of a kisser. But he’d left a gap in my evening by disappearing like that, vanishing just as it was getting good. As far as a date went it was faultless, as far as the bit after the date, it was beyond frustrating.

The sound of crickets filled the air. I wasn’t familiar with the noise and it reminded me how far I was from home. I pushed away from the pillar and went up to the front door. It was then I realized I didn’t have a key.

Damn.

I’d have to ring the bell so Raven could let me in. Then not only would he know exactly what time I arrived back—and I didn’t see why he should be privy to any of my comings and goings—his surly face would be the last thing I saw before I went to bed.

I’d have to get past him quickly. Try my best to ignore his huffs and grunts and get up to my room. A warm tingle in my clit was demanding attention and it seemed my finger was the only relief available.

My first gentle tap on the door resulted in nothing, so I knocked hard, then harder still.

Eventually the door swung open.

“You’re home,” Raven said as I stepped into the dark hallway.

“Yep.” I tightened the strap of my purse over my shoulder and bent to slip off my heels.

The door shut with a bang. There was the slide of a bolt.

I straightened and looked at him. He’d abandoned the sling and stood with his arms at his sides. He was wearing only sweats. His feet were bare, his abs tensed to a row of bricks.

“And,” he said gruffly.

There was something distinctly menacing about him, but at the same time so damn alluring it irritated the hell out of me. Why did he have to have such an amazing body? It wasn’t fair.

“And what?” I asked, putting one hand on my hip and letting my shoes swing from the other.

He didn’t reply. Just stared at me, let his gaze slide over my chest, hips and legs then slowly back up again.

I shifted from foot to foot, the marble cool on the soles of my feet. I could make out the shadows slicing across his face, neck and throat, the blackness of his eyes boring into me.

“And…did he kiss you?” he asked quietly.

Turning, I flicked my hair over my shoulder and walked toward the stairs. “What’s it got to do with you?”

“Everything.”

He was in front of me, close, so close I could feel the warmth from his broad chest radiating onto my cleavage and arms. I stepped back. He followed. I stepped back again and my shoulders hit brickwork.

He placed his hands on the wall on either side of my head. “Did…he…kiss…you?” he asked again, in a voice so low it seemed to vibrate straight into the very center of my body.

I was breathing fast now, panting. I felt hemmed in, there was no escape. “Yes.”

He licked his lips. His nostrils flared. Something in the base of his eyes burned brighter than any flame.

A shocking realization came over me. I didn’t want to escape. My God, I couldn’t take my eyes off his mouth, that sullen, annoying mouth that was glistening from where he’d just swept his tongue over it.

My taste buds actually tingled to taste him. Learn what flavor he was. Would he be the same as Todd or would he be richer, darker, more intoxicating?

“I need to know,” he murmured, “if he kissed you like this?”

Suddenly his mouth hit down on mine, hard and demanding, hot and urgent.

I gasped and he took full advantage, sweeping his tongue deep. I dropped my shoes and clutched his waist, spreading my fingers over his warm, smooth flesh. The feel of his thick brawn and honed muscles beneath my palms sent all the right signals to my desperate female hormones. Desire rushed across my skin, tingling down my spine and settling between my legs. I wanted to press harder up against him, crush my breasts to his chest.

As though he knew what I needed, his weight dropped forward, pinning me to the wall. The denseness of his body was the most wonderful sensation I’d experienced in a long time, and suddenly, any last slivers of control vanished. I couldn’t get enough. I wanted to make him part of me. Get lost in him forever—or just for one night anyway.

Our kiss heated to inferno levels, slick tongues writhing and chasing. The sound of my breathing and his rang in my ears, wild and noisy. I was roaming my hands unashamedly over his back, his butt, his shoulders, uncaring of the fact that this man had made me want to slap him several times since our first meeting.

He groaned into my mouth and cupped my breast, slid his other hand down over my belly and hip, tempting me with his explorations.

Why the hell are we still dressed?

Some primal response deep inside me was yelling for more. I wanted to fuck, get satisfaction. It had been so damn long.

The thick wedge of his erection shoved up against me. Hard and determined, it strained through his sweats onto my waist. Lightning flared through my clit, a heated kick of sensation.

Reality hit.

He didn’t really want me. He was a miserable bastard who just couldn’t stand for someone else to have me—competitive sportsman and all that crap. Todd wanted me to be his girl and Raven had to beat him to it, have me first. It was the challenge of being the first warrior to throw the spear and bring down the bison, or something macho like that.

I tore my mouth from his. “No.” I shoved at his chest.

He sucked in a breath, scrunched up his nose and stared at me. He didn’t move.

“No, we can’t do this,” I said.

“Give me one fucking reason why not?”

“Because we can’t. You don’t even like me, and I just spent the evening on a date with Todd, your friend and teammate.”

“Fuck Todd.” He did that thing again where he spoke with his teeth gritted, just his lips moving. “And who said I don’t like you?” He pulled me tighter, once again wedging the very obvious evidence of his need into my belly. “I do like you, very much.” He let out a juddering breath.

He did like me. I liked him too, well, his hot body at least. My pussy quivered at the thought of having him plunge into me. Ramming that big, hard cock into my depths and squeezing orgasm after orgasm from me. Oh, the temptation. “Please, I’m trying to be professional here,” I gasped.

“Screw professional.”

“Raven.” I shook my head as a sudden infuriating thought raced into my mind. “Are you teasing me again?”

“Fuck, no. I’ve never been more serious in my life.” His lips touched mine as he spoke. “I want you, Fiona. You’re driving me nuts. I can’t stop thinking about you. You’re like no other woman I’ve ever met.”

My eyes fluttered shut and I hung on to him all the tighter. “I’m not?”

“No, you’re sexy and clever and beautiful and you’re as ballsy as they get. Who else would try and tease me, the Raven Starr?”

“I am?” I was? “But, but…still, I might be ballsy, but we can’t do this.”

“Now you’re being a tease,” he breathed.

Indignation gripped me and I pulled my head back from his. “You started this. You kissed me. I’m not being a tease.”

Silence.

The heat from his cock was still burning into me. His wide shoulders and desire-heavy gaze filled my vision. Temptation was rising again, washing away indignation the way the wind blows away seeds.

I gathered the last shreds of my willpower. “No,” I managed, shoving away the mental image of us naked in his bed.

He swallowed tightly. “Okay, I hear you. But answer my question first.”

Question? What question?

“Did he kiss you like that?” he asked again.

“No, nothing like that.” I pushed at his chest. “Nothing like that at all.” My grip on sanity was tenuous and would soon slip completely if I didn’t get away. “Please, let me go to my room.”

He shoved several thick strands of his hair out of his face and stepped backward.

I staggered toward the stairs. The ache between my legs had constricted into a painful knot, making it hard to walk.

Damn, why couldn’t Todd have kissed me that way? Dragged me against his cock and given me that let’s-get-naked-and-rampant look? Why did it have to be Raven who had me almost coming just from a kiss?

Why?