“Th-that’s nice of you to say.” Her lips wavered up as she gazed at him, with confusion swimming in the copper depths of her eyes.
Nice, hell, it was the truth. That little factoid smacked him like a three-hundred-pound wrestler, which nearly knocked him off his seat. Now was definitely not the time to analyze his reaction. He’d do it later, when he was alone…and wasn’t so dazed.
Kate cleared her throat, bringing him back to reality. “So, Clive, how did you…that is, your choice of careers. Why did you…?”
22 Flesa Black
He tried for a carefree grin, hiding his irritation as she pulled her hand from his. He knew he had to go carefully here, tell her the truth without revealing the details. “Actually, I just sort of stumbled into it. I met Nina, and she assured me that she could not only keep me steadily employed, but that I would never have to worry about a retirement nest egg, health insurance, or even a place to live.”
“You didn’t, um, aspire to be…to be what you are?”
He bit back a chuckle and shook his head. “I’ll admit I’ve always loved women. The whole species, not just one in particular, though I do admire my mother. You’re so much more than men have ever given you credit for. Gentler, kinder, smarter, stronger, more graceful…even more devious, and definitely more cunning. Plus, you feel a hell of a lot better than we do.”
She smiled, a sudden lift of the lips. “I guess it depends on who you ask. Personally, I love the feel of a strong man against me.”
Her eyes widened and her mouth formed a little O. Obviously, she had shocked herself with her comment. Realizing the wine was doing exactly what he’d hoped, Clive fought back a grin as he watched her. He topped off her glass again.
“So, why don’t you tell me about this hometown of yours? It sounds like a cross between Peyton Place and Leave It To Beaver.”
She took a sip of wine and sat back. “Johnsburgh…it’s unique, I suppose. They call it Tinsel Town.”
“Tinsel Town?”
“Mm-hm, Tinsel Town.” Her words were becoming a little too gentle and smooth, so he offered her a piece of bread. She plucked it up without thought and took a small bite.
“The main sources of income for Johnsburgh are the two factories. One, Sleepdale, makes pajamas all year ’round. But the other factory makes decorations, mainly for Christmas. Since Tinsel Town
23
Adler’s was opened seven years before Sleepdale, and since the first, and still the main, product of Adler’s is tree tinsel, people nicknamed it Tinsel Town. It just sort of stuck.”
Clive chuckled. “Ah, now I understand. It’s a nice town with good, hard-working people, and everyone knows everyone else. But I’m guessing Johnsburgh doesn’t have a very diverse cultural life.”
“No, it doesn’t, but I would have left anyway. As much as I love my family, and as many good memories as I have, I wanted my own life. I wanted to experience things, go out and see the world, get out from under the shadow of my sisters.” She gave him a horrified look and dropped the bread. “I love my sisters, I really do. It’s just…”
He took her hand in his again, glad for the chance to touch her. “You needed to carve out your own world, make your own plans, be recognized as your own person.”
“Exactly.”
“I have two sisters, twins, who are younger than I am. One manages a vintage clothes boutique, and the other one is a journalist. They both live in Washington State now.
Needless to say, in our hometown, I’ve always been the Thibodaux girls’ big brother. When I looked for colleges, I deliberately applied to schools as far away from home as I could get away with. I haven’t ever had the desire to move back, or to take myself off to Washington.
That doesn’t mean I don’t love my family, or that they don’t love me.”
She turned her hand over in his and played her fingers over his palm. The urge to drag her across the table and taste her mouth was almost overwhelming. But he knew he had to control himself if he wanted to ease her fears. And she couldn’t have any doubts clouding her if he was going to put his plan in action.
Kate sent him an understanding smile that had his heart skidding along his ribcage. “I’ll bet you’re wonderful with your sisters. I’m sure they still call you with all their problems, and that you always have the answers.”
24 Flesa Black
“Guilty. Once a week, as a matter of fact. Sometimes it’s just to say hi, other times it’s to bounce ideas off of me. And every time it’s to ask me about my love life.”
She nearly did a spit take over that revelation. “Your love life? Do they know?”
“They want to know when I’m going to get serious about a woman.” He couldn’t help but laugh at the conclusion she’d jumped to. “I promise, I’ve never shared any of the gory details with them, and I never will.”
The waiter slipped their leather-bound check onto the table discreetly, a smile on her face as she left just as quietly as she came. Clive reached for it, cutting Kate off before she could pay. He was pulling his credit card out of his wallet when she made a full frontal attack.
“This…arrangement that my friend made. You don’t have to…that is, I’m not sure if I…” She took a deep breath and pushed ahead. “I’ve had a wonderful dinner, and you’re an excellent date, but I’m spending the night solo.”
He didn’t say a word. Truthfully, he couldn’t. If he did, he was afraid he might yell.
Which was a ridiculous idea, really, considering. But something inside of him rebelled at the idea that she was going to deny him the chance to spend time with her. To touch her. To teach her. To enjoy every piece, part, and thought of her. He quickly calmed himself with the reminder of his plan. After tonight, he would make sure she was singing a different tune.
“It’s your choice, Kate.” He hoped he sounded casual, though he could hear the note of steel in his voice. “Why don’t I pay for this and I’ll take you home.”
Tinsel Town
25
She felt warm. There was really no other way to describe it. On the drive home, Clive had put on jazz, soft, sensual tunes that washed over her like heated molasses. No wonder he was an escort; he was an expert with seduction. She hid a giggle behind her hand and had to wonder where it had come from. She wasn’t drunk. Was she? She stopped to evaluate her body and mind, and decided that she was pleasantly warm, but not drunk, which was a nice thought. She wouldn’t have a hangover, and she’d still have this delicious feeling to remember.
“Here, let me open your door.”
Kate smiled and happily handed over her keys. He really was a nice man. Sweet, kind, considerate, and he had one hell of a nice ass. She giggled again, but wasn’t able to hide it this time. He turned, one dark eyebrow lifted, as he unlocked her door.
“What’s so funny?” he asked, sounding amused.
“Um, oh, nothing. It’s a secret.”
He watched her for a long moment before taking a deliberate step into her space. “I have ways of making a girl talk.”
26 Flesa Black
The sexual connotation was there, so blatant that it could have been a neon sign.
“That’s an old come-on. Considering your line of work, I’d think you know some new ones.”
“I focused all my energy on learning other things, Kathleen.”
The smoke in his voice sparked an immediate fire deep in her belly. She found herself absently licking her lips, watching his expression as he pushed the door open. She stepped inside, feeling strangely surreal as he followed her. Only a few hours before she was going to send him home. She was going to put the brakes on the whole darn thing. And now…well, now he was taking his coat off, looking quite at home, and she didn’t have the inclination to tell him to leave.
“You’re a very sexy woman. Do you know that, Kate?”
She waited to hear the warning bells, but the sound of her blood rushing through her veins drowned them out. If they were even there to begin with. No, they were there -- they were always there. Just once she didn’t want to listen to the little voice of caution. She wanted to do something wild, something unexpected. Something very un-Kate-like.
“And you’re a very sexy man, Clive.”
Pleased that she’d done something she normally wouldn’t have, she grinned and dropped her coat on the back of the couch. She gave a slight frown as she looked down at her attire. She wished she could wear a slinky black dress without a self-conscious thought. She wished people could look at her and know that she was wearing sexy underwear, instead of conjecturing about granny panties and nylon stockings.
She quietly chastised herself and tried to figure out which way her wine-hued mood was about to swing. She was a fine woman, and any man worth his salt would know that.
She wasn’t about to waste any more time or energy worrying about people like her ex.
People like that…well, people like that just plain sucked. Another giggle erupted at her thought.
“You’re laughing because I’m sexy?”
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He’d moved up behind her, so close in fact that she could feel his breath on her neck.
Excitement danced down her spine as her body involuntarily leaned backward. He was there, his chest a solid steel wall that caught her.
She sighed, letting his heat sink into her skin. “Your being sexy is not funny. My being sexy is.”
He spun her around so quickly that her head whirled. When she finally focused, she saw temper flaring in his gray eyes. “You are sexy, Kate. In fact, you’re hot.” He laid a soft kiss on her lips. “You’re delectable.” He nipped the tingling flesh. “You’re a turn-on.” He pulled back and held her with his intense gaze. “You make me ache just thinking about you.”
“All of that?” she breathed.
“And more.”
He took her mouth then, swallowing her whole as he pulled her into him. Fire spouted like a geyser, singed her insides, and inflamed her labia. There was no defense left, no way to stop herself from wanting and needing and taking. She gave as good as she got, intertwining her tongue with his, slashing and parrying, adjusting to his desire. Her body became a mass of hot, liquefied nerves, all of them screaming in their own heady way.
When he eased back, she moaned in protest. “I want to stay, Kathleen. Let me stay. Let me show you some of things you want to know.”
How the hell was a girl supposed to say no to that? She didn’t. Instead, she wrapped her arms around his head and pulled him down for another kiss. He took her mouth again, and this time, she sank right into him. There was a growl, from her or from him she didn’t know.
And she didn’t really care.
She clung to him when he moved her, holding onto his shoulders as he maneuvered them down the hallway. She had the quick thought that he didn’t know where the bedroom was, then remembered he lived in the same complex. He had to have a pretty damn good idea.
28 Flesa Black
He kicked the door open, walked her into the dark room, then spun so he could shut the door. With the rest of the world blocked out, there was only Clive and the incredible sensations that he evoked. Her body was insane with need, a need he’d created with only a few kisses. Her heart hitched at the idea of what his lovemaking might do to her.
His lips slid from hers, trailed down her throat, across her collarbone. His teeth scored, his tongue laved, and her skin became one throbbing nerve ending. She twined her fingers in his hair and held on for dear life as he swiped her earlobe.
Suddenly, her dress was falling away, as if she had somehow magically wished it gone.
Clever man, she thought, then gasped when his hands grasped her bottom.
“Good Lord, you were wearing this underneath? If I’d known that we wouldn’t have made it out of the restaurant parking lot.”
A deep, feminine laugh rolled out of her throat as a heady feeling of power grabbed hold of her. “Next time, I won’t wear anything at all.”
This time, she knew it was him who’d growled. He buried his face in her throat, bit, and anchored her as she quaked. His hands didn’t stay still. They were moving, grazing her flesh with soft touches, driving her crazy with chills and heat. She felt him slide the straps of her black bra off, didn’t protest when it went the way of her dress.
Moving his mouth down her body, he licked her sensitive skin as he made his way to her breasts. There was no pause, no request, only demand as he latched on to one hard nipple. She gasped and bowed, completely undone by the sharp spike of lust that struck her clit. He suckled her, hard, and her core pulsed with every tug of his lips. She could feel her engorged lips become slick, zinging with anticipation.
Suddenly, he lifted her, dragging her up and positioning her legs around his waist. She clung to his shoulders, let her head swim with the erotic emotions he was stirring up, let him carry her to wherever he wished. She felt the soft give of her mattress as he laid her down, accepted his weight as he came on top of her. His mouth diligently worked his way over to Tinsel Town
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her other breast, suctioning in her other nipple, creating another rippling effect of painful desire.
Wriggling underneath him, she pressed her wet panties against his erection. She wanted to feel him, wanted it so badly that she sobbed in frustration.
“Shh, sweetheart, I know. Listen…shh…listen.” She looked up at him, her vision blurry as she tried to catch her breath. “I’m going to take care of you, I promise. But you have to trust me. Do what I say and I swear to you, you won’t regret it.”
She could only nod. Speech was useless at this point. The only thing that mattered was the raging need that had set her entire system into overdrive. He stared at her a moment longer, then moaned and captured her lips again. She met his demands and kissed him with the same ferocity she was receiving. He jostled her as he ripped his jacket off, and he inadvertently brushed her flesh when he yanked off his tie and tore off his shirt. She heard his shoes plunk onto the floor, then nearly fainted when his body rocked pleasurably against hers as he maneuvered his pants off.
He hissed when she pressed against his cock, immediately catching her rhythm to tease her with near sex. With her thin underwear the only barrier, it was unbearably erotic.