THE WILDE SIDE, page 5
"Except you're still ... hard. Very hard."
He laughed huskily and rested his forehead against hers, feeling as though he'd known this woman much longer than just an hour. She just felt so ... right, so playful and intriguing, yet so down to earth despite everything else that suggested she led a different kind of life that didn't include one-night stands and drinking body shots in a bar with a stranger.
"It's by choice, sweetheart." He brushed his knuckles down her rosy cheek in a tender, intimate caress. "I want to be deep inside of you when I come."
She shivered. "Then I suggest we leave before we get caught and arrested for public indecency."
Grasping her around the waist, he lifted her off the table and let her soft curves slide down the front of his body before her heeled shoes touched the floor. "Good idea, because the things I still want to do to you definitely run the gamut of indecency."
Her eyes glowed with thrilling anticipation. "Oooh, I like the way that sounds," she teased with a smile. "Let's hurry and get out of here."
He wasn't about to argue. He let Jerry know that they were leaving and the key to the room was on the tray with the empty shot glasses. Then taking Ashley's hand in his he led her down the stairs and out the back door to the parking lot. He was feeling protective toward her and wanted to keep this interlude private and between the two of them. And the last thing he wanted was to deal with stares and speculation, even from his own brothers.
They stepped out onto the graveled lot, the evening air cool against his heated flesh. "Which one is your car?" he asked at the same time he realized the question was unnecessary. There was only one vehicle that stood out among the mix of work trucks and compact cars and a few modest sports cars.
"The silver BMW over there."
The classy, luxurious car fit her, and for the moment he no longer cared about those niggling differences between them. He just wanted this one night with her. Come the morning he'd get the answers he sought about who she was, and they'd take things from there.
Taking the car keys from her, he opened the driver's side door and waited while she slid into the dove gray leather seat, leaving the hem of her skirt hiked high around her smooth, tanned thighs.
Bracing an arm across the door frame, he pulled his gaze from her lithe legs and met her gaze. "I guess this is where the old cliché comes into play," he said humorously. "Your place or mine?"
"Your place," she said without hesitation.
Her choice was exactly as he'd expected – selecting his house kept things uncomplicated for her and also kept her anonymity intact. And he'd grant her that privacy, for now.
"I don't live too far from here, so just follow me. I'll be in that white truck over there," he said, pointing to the company work truck he used for the most part, instead of putting extra miles on his Corvette. "Do you have a cell phone?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"Let me give you my number, just in case you need it." Just in case she got lost or separated from him on the way to his place ... just in case she changed her mind about tonight, about them. All applied, and he hoped like hell the latter didn't come into play.
She went through the glove box, the center console, and her purse, and let out a sound of frustration. "I can't find a scrap of paper to write on."
"Just plug my number directly into your cell phone so you'll have it on hand." He gave her the number and watched as she entered it into the digital display. Then he leaned down and kissed her again, reminding her of their attraction, the searing chemistry, and the instantaneous connection between them; and making sure she knew he was ready and willing to give her anything her body, or her heart, desired tonight.
She wanted a birthday to remember – an evening of incredible, anything goes pleasure – and he planned on doing his best to oblige her wish.
Chapter 4
She'd found herself a sexy, bad boy beyond anything her wildest dreams could have imagined, and he was all hers for the night. That was the giddy thought drifting through Ashley's mind as she followed the white truck out of the parking lot, a dreamy smile on her face and her body still tingling from the glorious aftereffects of the orgasm Scott had so selflessly given her.
Considering how innovative he'd been with those body shots and how generous he'd been with her satisfaction, she was certain her climax had merely been a prelude to more erotic pleasures to come, and she wanted to experience them all with Scott Wilde.
She should have been shocked by her shameless behavior back in that private room, but she hadn't been able to summon even an ounce of embarrassment for enjoying herself, along with a bit of sexual liberation, not when she was beginning to discover just how good being bad felt. If anything, she'd been surprised by how easy it had been to let go of years of decorum and social rules of conduct and embrace the searing passion Scott had evoked. There had been absolutely nothing modest about her response to him, and that, too, had been incredibly enthralling.
There was also the issue of their affair being clandestine – two strangers who were giving in to their undeniable attraction to each other, no strings attached. Other than Scott's name, she didn't know him, and he didn't know her, either, thank goodness. And because of that level of unknown between them, there were no social expectations of the St. Claire name to live up to, no etiquette blunders to worry about that might tarnish her reputation or, worse, her parents' standing in the community.
She was beginning to discover that anonymity made for a powerful kind of aphrodisiac, enabling her to free her inhibitions without the fear of anyone learning what she'd done and with whom. She could do anything she wanted with Scott, be anyone she desired – even that brazen, sensual woman she'd allowed to emerge with him at the bar because she'd never see him again after tonight.
But she also wanted to be a part of Scott's passion, too, and find out what ultimately turned him on. And that meant trusting him to direct tonight's seduction and letting him be the one in control of her pleasure ... and his own.
Amazingly enough, the thought of allowing him to be the assertive one didn't make her nervous at all, but rather excited her. They'd already spent an hour alone in a private room, and never once had she felt intimidated by him – quite the opposite, actually. She couldn't recall the last time she'd been so at ease and comfortable with a man – companionably and sexually.
Everything about Scott appealed to her, from his gorgeous features and hot, virile body to the honesty and integrity she'd seen glimpses of. She hadn't been expecting that, either, but she was infinitely glad he was a man she could trust.
Coming to a stop behind his truck at a red light, she decided to turn up the heat between them for the rest of the drive to his place. It was time to let him know what was on her mind and set the stage for a night of unforgettable mutual pleasure. Reaching for her cell phone, she secured the ear-piece and dialed the number he'd given her.
He answered before the second ring. "Whatever you do, don't tell me you changed your mind."
She heard the edge of desperation in his voice and smiled, liking that he was looking forward to the rest of the night together just as much as she was. "How did you know it was me?"
"Gut instinct. And your number was blocked on my display, so I knew it wasn't family or anything work related."
He made a right-hand turn, and she followed, catching sight of the "Nolan and Sons" emblem on the driver's side door. She wondered, just briefly, what he did for a living, then decided that it didn't matter since their affair wasn't about sharing information about their private lives, no matter how curious she was about his.
"I'm not changing my mind," she said, putting his worries at ease.
"I'm glad. And relieved." Then his voice turned low and mesmerizingly deep. "Ever since we left the bar, I've been thinking of all the things I want to do to you, and all the places on your body I want to kiss, and caress, and taste. And now I'm sitting here, harder than I've ever been in my entire life, wishing we were already at my place so I can get you naked, make you come again, then do it all over again."
His frank, explicit comment and undisguised desire caused her nipples to peak painfully and a surge of liquid heat to spiral its way between her thighs. This was exactly what she craved from him, this aggressive, sexual confidence, and maybe even a bit of male dominance.
"I want all that, too," she said, and cloaked in the darkness of her car, she was just as candid about her needs. "I've decided that I want to be someone else tonight. Someone I've never been before."
"Who do you want to be?"
"Your most erotic fantasy come to life." She'd never been that for any man, but Scott inspired her seductive side.
"You already are," he replied, a sexy smile in his voice.
She laughed lightly and followed him into a nice neighborhood of well-kept, custom-built homes. "Good answer."
"It's the truth," he said with so much conviction, she couldn't help but believe him.
He made a few quick turns into the subdivision, and she memorized the names of the streets so she could backtrack her way out in a few hours.
"So tell me what you want, Ashley, so I can be sure to give it to you."
"I don't want polite sex." Once the words were out, she winced, realizing how odd her comment must sound to him.
He chuckled in amusement. "I don't think I've ever had polite sex before."
"No, I wouldn't think so." He was too earthy, too male, too into the delicious buildup of all-consuming foreplay to settle for mundane, run-of-the-mill sex all the time. "Polite sex is boring and predictable, and you don't strike me as being either. I want excitement and thrills, and I want you to be in control of where that provocative adventure takes us. Are you game for that?"
"Oh, yeah." He pulled into a wide driveway and parked his truck. "We're here. Go ahead and park next to me and I'll see you in a few seconds."
The line disconnected, and she did as he'd instructed. It took her a moment to turn off her cell phone and take out the earpiece; then she grabbed her purse and slipped out of the car. She met him by his truck, and he silently held out his hand to her, which she took, not at all nervous about what she knew was going to happen once they were inside his house.
She was ready for this, and she was ready for him.
He led her up a brick walkway to a small porch. He unlocked the door, pulled her inside, then switched on the foyer light. Turning to face her, he glided his big hands up her bare arms, his gaze searching hers, infinitely sincere and caring.
"Any second thoughts?" he asked, giving her one last chance to change her mind.
She shook her head, appreciating his concern, which was what made him such a unique and special man, given a situation where most guys wouldn't give a damn about a woman's feelings once they were alone with her. Besides, if she'd had any worries or doubts, she never would have left the bar with him.
"None at all," she reassured him. "You?"
He grasped her hand, brought it to the fly of his jeans, and cupped her palm around the solid length straining against denim. "What do you think?"
She gave him a gentle squeeze with her fingers and smiled up at him. "I think you're very happy that I'm here."
He chuckled. "That's an understatement, sweetheart. I'm ecstatic." Reluctantly, he pulled her hand away and wove their fingers together. "Come on, let's take this into the bedroom, because if I so much as kiss you out here, I have no doubt I'll end up taking you up against the wall, and I'd rather us be in a big, soft bed where we can play and enjoy what's to come."
She followed him through the dim one-story structure, until they reached a spacious room at the far end of the house. It was dark and shadowed in his bedroom, with a cool draft wafting across her skin from the ceiling fan circulating overhead. A glass slider led to an open balcony, and she could see a swimming pool that shimmered from the reflection of the moon and the landscaping lights illuminating his backyard.
He turned on the lamp by the bed, chasing away the safe haven of obscurity and opaque shadows that could camouflage everything from physical flaws to emotional reactions. She wasn't at all surprised by the presence of a well-lit room; Scott Wilde didn't strike her as the type to make love in the dark, but rather a man who enjoyed everything about sex – especially the visual aspect of it. And that thrilled her, too.
Suddenly he squeezed his eyes shut, pinched the bridge of his nose between his fingers, and cursed beneath his breath.
Startled by the abrupt change and not sure what had brought it on, she asked, "What's wrong?"
He dragged a hand along the taut line of his jaw. "I should have stopped at the drugstore for some condoms."
She bit her bottom lip and shifted on her heels. "Would you think any less of me if I told you that I believe in being prepared and have a few with me?" She was also on the Pill; but in this case she wasn't about to leave anything to chance, and she appreciated that he was concerned about protection, as well – another trait that said so much about the man's character.
A relieved grin relaxed his tense features. "No, I'd be damn grateful."
Withdrawing a half dozen from her purse, she tossed them onto the bed. "Then here you go. We're all set."
He whistled low and glanced from the foil packets to her, his brow raised. "You're expecting great things tonight, aren't you?"
She shrugged playfully. "A girl can always hope."
Reaching out, he trailed a finger from the pulse point in her throat all the way down to the deep cleavage between her breasts. "Just so you know, I believe in quality, not necessarily quantity."
Sharp awareness flared in her belly like a ball of fire and spread through her bloodstream, eliciting a slick, erotic warmth between her thighs. "I'll take quality over quantity any day."
He grazed his thumb over a puckered nipple, making it harden even more. "Glad to know we're on the same page."
She stared into his darkening gaze, her entire body trembling in anticipation. "I think we established that on the phone on the drive over."
He took her purse and set it on the dresser next to him. "Along with no polite sex."
The low growl in his voice was enough to let her know that being a gentleman with her, in this bedroom, was the last thing he intended to be. Thank goodness. "Yeah, that, too."
Sliding his hand into her hair, he lowered his mouth to hers and murmured, "Then let's be bad together."
She accepted his kiss, and his tongue slipped between her parted lips, damp and hot and seeking. Immediately, she felt the slow sledding into sensation, the exciting lure of temptation beckoning to her, and the heady rush of wonder and desire that this man so easily evoked within her.
His hands found their way beneath her blouse and skimmed the stretchy fabric upward. Their lips broke apart only long enough for him to remove the top and toss it aside, and then he was back, taking her mouth yet again in a tumble of deepening, darkening kisses that made her mind spin.
Anxious to get him naked, too, she shoved his T-shirt up his torso and over his head, wanting the barrier of cotton between them gone. She touched his bare chest and moaned as she felt the heat pouring off his skin and the tension rippling through his muscles.
She stepped out of her shoes and kicked them out of the way. With amazing ease, he found and lowered the zipper on her skirt. Slipping his flattened palms into the waistband, he tugged the material over her hips and followed the slide of the garment over her bottom and down her thighs, until the skirt fell to the carpeted floor, leaving her clad in only her bra and panties.
Between the most erotic, tongue-tangling kisses she'd ever had the pleasure of indulging in, she managed to unbutton and unzip his jeans, and he helped her to remove them. She caught a quick glimpse of snug boxer-briefs before he was pulling her body to his, aligning them from chest to thighs.
His big hands swept down her spine and over her buttocks, kneading and stroking her flesh through the thin silk and lace of her panties. She twined her arms around his neck to get closer, and he molded her hips intimately to his, letting her get used to the feel of him, the size, the intoxicating scent of sexual heat and fully aroused male.
She was certain that Scott was going to strip off her undergarments next so that she was completely naked, but he didn't so much as try to unhook her bra or slide his hands into her panties. Instead, much to her initial disappointment, he brought their kisses to a stop and pressed his mouth to her ear.
"You ready for that next walk on the Wilde side?" he asked in a low, raspy drawl that made her shiver.
She thought about what he'd told her in the car, of how he'd been thinking of all the places on her body he wanted to kiss, and caress, and taste – especially how he'd promised to take her on a provocative adventure.
"Yes," she said anxiously, and taking a step back, she reached behind her to unclasp her bra.
"Not yet." He stopped her before she could remove the piece of lingerie. "I want you to lie down on the bed, just like you are."
His request confused her, only because she was used to men who wanted to get naked and to the main event ASAP. But true to his word, Scott obviously wanted to savor the moment, make it last, and opt for quality over quantity. So, after he pulled down the bedspread, she moved up onto the center of the mattress, pushed aside the packets of condoms, then reclined against the pillows with her hair fanning out around her head.
She waited for him to come to her, but he remained by the side of the bed. His sculpted body was a work of art, and his thick black hair was tousled around his head, making him look like a dark, fallen angel as he watched her with intense blue eyes.
"Aren't you going to join me?" she asked around the husky knot of desire lodged in her throat.
"Eventually." His gaze traversed the length of her body slowly and leisurelike. "But for right now, I want you to touch yourself for me. Pretend you're all alone and show me what you like and what feels good."
She hesitated, unable to believe what he was asking, which was so far removed from anything she'd ever done with another man before. "Scott—"
