The Singles Table, page 23
“There are no thieves here. You must have the wrong address.”
“You have bare feet.” He pointed to the floor, where her freshly polished nails gleamed in the light. Self-loathing didn’t include missing her Saturday morning pedicure.
“So do a lot of people.”
“Do those feet fit in these shoes?” He held up her pink stilettos.
“Are you Prince Charming?” Unable to resist, she opened the door wider. “If my foot fits, will you carry me away to your castle to be your princess forever?”
“I’ll arrest you for leaving the scene of a crime.”
Laughter bubbled up in her chest. This was so absurd. So utterly unlike Jay. He’d done this for her. Dressed up for her. And this game—this role play—was something he must have known she would love. A thick warm rush of feelings swirled through her, cloaking her in warmth. Before she had even made the conscious decision, she had fully opened the door.
“That’s not very romantic.” She moved to the side to let him in. “I suppose you can check the place out if you must, but you won’t find any stolen property here. It’s just me and my cat. My roommate is out on a hot date”
“We’ll see about that.” Jay stepped into the apartment, his uniformed presence filling the room. She was suddenly and acutely aware that beneath her robe she wore only an old T-shirt and plain white cotton pants.
Marmalade padded over and rubbed himself against Jay’s legs to say hello. Jay broke character to give Marmalade a good pet before crossing his arms over his massive chest. “Let’s get started.”
“I need to freshen up. I wasn’t expecting visitors. You can check out the kitchen.” She turned and raced for her bedroom, giving him a suggestive wiggle. Behind her, Jay gave a soft grumble of approval.
Closing the door, she put on the lingerie he had liked so much. Deep red with lace edging, the balconette bra and barely there panties had been an extravagance, considering she had sworn off relationships for life. She had just belted her robe when he slammed open the door.
“Kitchen is clear.”
“There isn’t much to check in here. Just the closet. Feel free to have a look.” She sat on the bed and leaned back on her hands, letting the robe fall open just enough to give him the smallest peek.
Jay didn’t even glance in her direction. Instead, he pulled open the closet door and rummaged inside.
“What’s this?” Jay held up an unused personal vibrator, still in its box.
Zara’s cheeks flamed. “That’s not mine. Someone must have put it in there.”
“Very suspicious.” He placed the box on the dresser. “I’ll leave it out for further inspection.”
After he finished with her closet, he opened the dresser drawers one by one, giving her a lovely view of his perfect ass. “Nothing here. Time for the personal search.”
His hard, searching gaze sent a thrill of arousal down her spine. She bit back a moan, her skin flushing with heat.
“Something wrong?” He took a step closer, loomed over the bed. In the dim light, his body seemed larger, menacing, his muscles tight and hard. He was so believable in his officious confident arrogance that it was almost too easy for her to get lost in her role as the thief who’d been tracked down to her lair. “You seem nervous. Are you hiding something from me?”
Zara licked her lips and scooted back on the bed. “No. Of course not.”
Without warning, Jay reached over and grabbed her belt. With a hard yank, he pulled her toward him. Her robe slid up her thighs and Zara licked her lips in shameless hunger. Did he know how wet she was? How her breasts ached? How desperately she wanted him?
Jay gave a satisfied growl, holding her in place. “The law requires your consent for a search.” He pulled her closer, his gaze hot and roaming. “I have to warn you. I am very thorough.”
“I have nothing to hide.” She was burning. Liquid fire rushed through her veins, pooling between her legs. It was like Jay had plucked her deepest darkest fantasies from her mind and was making them all come true.
He gave a small, calculating smile. “I don’t leave anything untouched, sweetheart.”
“I’m not your sweetheart.”
“You will be when I’m done with you.” He devoured her with his gaze, his eyes so dark they were almost black. “Robe off. I need to assess the search area.”
She slid the robe over her arms and lay back on the bed. “How’s this?”
He inhaled sharply, his gaze raking over her body, and then again more slowly in blatant sexual appraisal. “I see you’ve decided to make things difficult, but I can’t be distracted.”
“I’m not afraid of you.” She arched her back, parted her legs just enough to tease. Did he think he was the one in control?
“You should be.” His voice dropped to a husky growl. “Hands over your head. If you don’t think you can keep them there and out of my way, I’ll make sure you do.” He yanked the belt from her robe and dangled it in front of her.
Zara understood right away what he was asking, but she was up for anything tonight. Anything to avoid the elephant in the room. His unspoken question. Her unknown answer.
“I’m afraid I won’t be able to stay still. Who knows what could happen if my hands were free? I might get into all sorts of trouble.”
He tied her hands together above her head with the soft terry belt. “Problem solved. Now let’s get to the search.” Standing at the foot of the bed, he removed his sunglasses and then unfastened his utility belt.
“What are those for?” Her eyes flicked to the handcuffs, then up to his face.
“You get those if your hands don’t stay above your head.” He straddled her thighs, the soft wool of his trousers an erotic burn against her skin. Without lifting his gaze, he ran the tips of his fingers over her nipple hard beneath her bra, sending a bolt of pure need straight through her body.
“I thought you were conducting a search,” she gasped.
He grinned at her, his mouth now hovering over her breast. With one deft move he slid his hand behind her back to flick the catch of her bra then shoved it out of the way. “I am.” The rasp of his tongue over her nipple tore a strangled cry from her throat. She writhed on the bed, but his body weight kept her lower half still and the belt kept her hands from moving.
“The first part involves lowering your defenses,” he continued. “How am I doing?”
“Well, since I can’t move and I can’t think because my brain is fuzzed with lust, I’d say pretty well.”
“Excellent.” He licked his lips. “Let’s continue.”
She shivered as he circled one breast, and the other, dragging his hot, wet tongue over her nipples until they peaked. When she didn’t think she could take any more, his palms engulfed her breasts and he squeezed and stroked until need coiled tight in her belly. She was ready. So ready. Her hips tilted up slightly, inviting.
Jay sat back, leaving her bereft. “All clear.”
“Isn’t there somewhere else you want to search?” She hated the desperate, pleading tone in her voice. But seriously? Was he going to leave her like this?
“All in good time.” He gave a smug smile before leaning down to feather kisses over her heated skin. As promised, he left no inch of her body untouched. He brushed his lips over her forehead, the curve of her ear, her neck and shoulder, working his way down to her throat. Arms and elbows. Each of her fingers one by one. Breasts, hips, and belly. Thighs and calves. Feet and toes. Still, he wouldn’t kiss her lips, or the place she wanted his kisses the most.
“I think . . .” She panted her breaths when he pushed to his knees and undid the buttons on his shirt. “You might have forgotten something.”
“I haven’t forgotten.” He unfastened his pants and shrugged off his shirt, baring his beautiful chest, the ripple of his abs, and the soft trail of hair leading below. “I was saving the best for last.” He ground his palm over his erection.
“Tease.” She couldn’t tear her eyes away. “Take it all off.”
“You’re not in a position to make demands.” But he didn’t make her wait. Instead he lowered his zipper and pulled out his cock. Thick and hard, he was more than ready for her.
“Do you want this, sweetheart?”
She wasn’t complaining about the term of endearment now. “Very much.”
He gave a casual shrug that belied the evidence of his desire. “Maybe when I’ve finished my search.”
“What else . . .” Her voice trailed off when he lay between her legs, slid off her panties, and placed her feet on his shoulders.
“The best things are found in the most secret places.” He lowered his head. His tongue did the most wicked things that had her arching and twisting on the bed.
“Jay . . .” It was a plea. It was a demand.
“That’s Mr. Dayal to you.” Without warning, he slid two fingers deep inside her, his firm steady strokes making all her nerve endings fire at once. His tongue found her sensitive clit and her inner walls tightened around his fingers. She soared and peaked, her orgasm crashing through her body in a tidal wave of sensation.
Dazed, languid on the bed, she watched him shrug off his trousers and roll on a condom. “Did you find what you were looking for?”
“Not yet.” He lifted her legs, spread them wide, opening her for him as he positioned himself between her thighs.
“You’re very good at your job.” Now that her body was sated, she was generous with her praise.
“And you are a beautiful, sexy temptress who is about to be fucked by a man who wants her so desperately he’s willing to do anything to have her.”
She looked up, caught his gaze. Without his sunglasses or his gear, he wasn’t a security guard. He was Jay. Her Jay, making her feel the truth of his words. She didn’t want to pretend anymore. She wanted this part to be real.
“Kiss me.”
His face softened and he leaned down and covered her mouth with his. Dark and dirty, hot and horny, sweet and utterly seductive. Damn, the man could kiss.
“I want you inside me.” She swallowed hard. “I want . . . you.”
“You have me—all of me.” He pushed deep, filling her, stretching her, making her feel every inch of him. His smoldering eyes watched her intently, sending a current of need arrowing straight to her core. When she moaned, he moved his hips in just the right way to hit her most sensitive spot. Pleasure licked through her body and she surged toward the peak.
“Don’t stop.”
“No chance of that.” His gaze didn’t leave hers as he pulled out and thrust again, his hips moving hard and fast, arms braced on either side of her. The world fell away until there was only Jay, his scent, his heat, his muscles tightening and releasing, and his eyes locked on her like she truly was the most beautiful woman in the world. Heart-squeezing tenderness and wild heat.
She came in a roll of pleasure, a soul-deep release as she let herself go. Jay followed her with a quiet shudder that ripped the tension out of his muscular body with a groan.
“Fuck.” He fell forward, his body covering hers, taking his weight on his elbows beside her. Small kisses to her lips made her feel seen and not forgotten.
“We just did.” She looked up to her hands and he released them with one tug.
“Touch me, sweetheart. I want to feel your hands on me.”
She held him close for what seemed like forever, breathing in his scent of sex and sweat and the lingering hint of his cologne. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“You made one of my fantasies come true.”
“Anytime.” He kissed her neck, her jaw, her cheeks and eyelids, branding her with his heat.
“Do you have a fantasy?” She ran her hands over his shoulders and down his back, loving the feel of his rock-hard muscles beneath her palms.
He reached for his utility belt. “What we just did. But with handcuffs.”
Zara grinned. “This time I’m wearing the uniform.”
* * *
• • •
Hours later, after they’d exhausted every combination of uniforms and handcuffs, they lay together in Zara’s bed, her head on his chest, his warm hand stroking down her back.
“I’m sorry I left the event,” she said quietly, needing to address the unspoken tension between them. “I appreciated what you did, but I didn’t think you would want me hanging around after that.” Her hand fisted on his chest. “You were trying to impress your investors and I was trying to help you, but everything went wrong from the moment I put on that suit. It just wasn’t me and I could see things were going to continue to go downhill after I took off my shoes. I’m no Brittany, and I don’t want to be, but she’s the kind of woman you told me you were looking for when we agreed I would find you a match.”
“That was my decision, not yours.” He twirled a lock of her hair around his finger. “And don’t pretend this is about Brittany. You are much too self-assured to put yourself down that way. You know she has nothing on you. The real issue is that you like me too much.”
“Seriously?” Zara pushed herself up. “I like you too much? Is it possible to be more arrogant?”
“I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but you know it’s true.” Jay grinned. “You were going to stab your heel through her throat.”
She pressed her lips together and glared. “I was speaking metaphorically.”
“And I’m speaking plainly.” His face grew serious. “I’m not interested in Brittany or any other woman like her.” His deep voice rumbled through her body. “I thought I did, but what I really want is to be with a woman who takes risks, embraces life, and lives it on her own terms. Someone who brings joy and light and laughter when she walks into a room.”
Zara gave a begrudging huff. “She sounds not too bad.”
Jay laughed. “Her jealous streak is a huge turn-on. I think it’s her most endearing quality.”
“She also ruined your evening,” Zara pointed out. “Don’t forget that. You seem to only remember the good stuff and not the bad.”
“You got your autograph.” He ran his hand along the name scrawled on her upper arm in black Sharpie.
“Yes, and I also got a selfie with Lin-Manuel Miranda. And I got to tell him how amazing he is. It was awesome.”
“That’s all I wanted,” he said.
She tipped her head back to look at him. “I thought you wanted to impress Thomas and Brittany.”
“I want them to fund my international expansion. If they turn us down because you ran in bare feet to see your favorite musical star, then they aren’t the kind of investors we want handling our project. Now that the lawsuit is gone, we have other options.” He nuzzled her hair. “I just wish you’d waited for me. I wanted to see your face when you met him. I’d been looking forward to it all day.”
“I’m sorry.” Now that she understood him better, she regretted even more her hasty decision to leave. But what was she supposed to do with all his irritatingly attractive qualities? How was she supposed to keep him at arm’s length when he refused to be chased away?
He grunted, pulled her tighter against him. “Not much of a grovel but I’ll take what I can get.”
Did he mean what he’d said? Would he take what he could get, even if that was only casual? She couldn’t offer him any more, not when the thought of an actual relationship sent a wave of panic flooding through her veins. “What about our arrangement?”
“Let’s put it on hold for now,” Jay said. “I can’t risk any poor woman turning up in the morgue with a pink stiletto in her throat.”
“Don’t get too cocky.”
He took her hand and drew it down to his shaft, thick and hard between his legs. “Too late.”
Zara rolled on top of him, seating his cock at the juncture of her thighs. “Does the hold mean no more celebrity introductions?”
“I’ll still uphold my end of the bargain.” He traced the line of her jaw with a gentle finger. “In fact, we just got a gig for Chris Moskovitz’s birthday party. Are you interested?”
Zara sucked in a sharp breath and pushed up to a straddle. “THE Chris Moskovitz? One of Hollywood’s famous Chrises? Star of Lost Legend, Missing Mountain, Senseless Sea, and Dirty Desert? The number one Chris on everyone’s Chris list? The best Chris?”
A smile spread across his face. “That’s the one.”
“Oh my God.” Unable to contain her excitement, she jumped up and paced the room. “When is it? Not that it matters. I’ll be there.”
“Two weeks.” He rolled to his side and propped his head in his hand. “You’ll be going as a trainee guard. It was the only way to get you in. You’ll need to go through a safety briefing and wear a uniform. After tonight, I assume that won’t be a problem. You wore it well.”
She shivered under the heightened weight of his gaze. “Do I get a gun?”
“After what you did on the paintball field, definitely no gun.” His lips quivered, amused. “I told his agent you’re an attorney and you needed some on-the-job practical experience in a high-security environment for one of your cases.”
“True but not entirely accurate.” She grinned. “You’d make a good lawyer.”
“And you made a good security guard, although you never figured out what was stolen from the City Club.”
She tipped her head to the side, frowning. “What was stolen?”
“My heart.”
• 23 •
“Wake up, sunshine.”
Jay ripped the warm covers off Zara’s body, exposing her skin to the cold morning air. A firm-but-gentle slap landed on her bare ass.
“Ow. No waking up. Sleep. Or sex. Anything just so long as we can stay in bed. It’s Sunday morning. That’s what Sundays are for. That’s why Sunday begins with S.”
