Page 15 of James (Big Northwest #6)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JAMES

P HILLIP WENT COMPLETELY still except for the heaving of his chest as he sucked up all the air in the room. The look in his eyes was wild. Feral.

Unhinged.

If this was what he considered his worst, then she had little interest in seeing him at his best.

She was used to dealing with turned-on men. That was kinda in her job description. Outside of padding her bank account, it didn’t usually affect her.

But seeing Phillip like this had her insides blazing like an inferno.

That was what he didn’t get. Yes, their personalities could both be incendiary—explosive even—but fire wasn’t the enemy.

Fire was what kept you warm in a cold world.

“You shouldn’t be scared of me, Phillip.” James stepped closer, running the tip of one finger down the center of his bare chest, tracing a line between the chiseled muscles of his abs. “I’m not afraid of you.”

“You probably should be.” His voice was rougher than normal. Had lost the smooth cadence he normally spoke with. Maybe that was just like his suit. A costume he used to trick people into thinking he was civilized.

But it was getting more and more obvious Phillip was about as civilized as she was.

James angled a brow at him, teasing the tips of her fingers lower. “Nah.” She followed the edge of the towel he had in a white-knuckle grip. “I’m probably the last person who should be afraid of you.” After all he’d done to find her, it was pretty clear Phillip would never hurt her. But his confession about having been a mercenary did make her think maybe he would hurt for her.

And, after spending her life surrounded by men who only wanted to take, the possibility that this one might want to give was a heady feeling. And an addictive one.

“The only thing I’m afraid of is you losing feeling in your fingers from holding onto this towel so tightly.” She worked under the slightly calloused skin of his pointer.

“I can’t make any promises about what will happen if I let this towel go.” He continued clinging to it like the thing was his lifeline.

Or his sanity.

“I don’t remember asking you to make any promises.” She’d heard a million of them anyway. Promises didn’t mean shit. Anyone could make a promise. It was lip service. Actions were what mattered. And so far, Phillip was pretty fucking good at actions.

But this time, he didn’t seem ready to act, which was beyond disappointing.

“But I get it.” James pulled her hands off his body with a sigh and turned toward the bed, putting a little extra wiggle in her walk just to be a pain in the ass. After sliding onto the mattress, she pulled the covers up over her lower half. “I can just handle the situation myself.”

Phillip’s still wild eyes widened. “You better fucking not.”

“I’m sure this will shock you, but I don’t enjoy being told what to do.”

James slid one hand under the blankets, aiming for the throbbing ache pulsing between her thighs. Phillip might not want relief, but she did. And he was just going to have to get over it. Could even stand right there and watch it happen.

Her stomach flipped at the idea—the thought—of his eyes fused to hers as she came. It made her bolder as she slipped her fingers into the waistband of her shorts, sliding down to glide against the heated, wet flesh desperate for contact. So desperate that when her touch brushed the hard nub of her clit she whimpered.

“Pain in the ass woman.”

Without warning, Phillip dropped his towel, revealing the hard length of the dick she wanted to become better acquainted with. Spent no small amount of time imagining. And her fascination was warranted. The thing really was impressive.

So impressive, she didn’t notice Phillip’s movements until the covers were yanked off her body and flung across the mattress.

“Is this what you wanted?” Phillip sounded angry as he hooked his fingers into the waistband of her sleep shorts and dragged them down her legs. “To push me over the fucking edge?” He gripped her wrist, pulling her hand away from her pussy as he crawled onto the bed, his cock bobbing hypnotically with every movement. “To see what would happen?”

It was pretty obvious what was about to happen, and if this was what occurred when Phillip went over the edge, she was going to be shoving him every chance she got.

To show him just how unworried she was by this new, admittedly arousing side of him, she spread her legs. Offering.

Encouraging.

The movement stole his attention, bringing his narrowed eyes to her hot, needy pussy. She held her breath, waiting. Hoping.

Phillip released the hand he held, his nostrils flaring as his eyes came back to hers. “Show me.”

Holy fuck. Those might have been the two hottest words a man had ever said to her. Even though it was a demand—and she was not in the habit of giving in to the demands of men—James didn’t hesitate. Not when Phillip was looking at her like he might expire if he didn’t get to watch her touch herself.

She’d held power over men before, but this was different. This wasn’t about money or revenge or anger. It was about want. Need. Desire. Pleasure.

Hers.

And his.

There was no acting. No careful calculation. No manipulation. It might have been the most honest moment she’d experienced in years as her fingers moved back into place and slowly began to circle the bead of her clit.

She’d done it a thousand times before, but never with an audience. And Phillip’s rapt attention on where her fingers worked that tiny nub of flesh sent her spiraling toward climax at record pace.

But then, the asshole stopped her. Grabbed her hand again and ripped it away, making her gasp in both shock and outrage. “What the fuck?”

“I got it.”

He descended on her, his mouth wet and hungry as it fused to her skin, searing them together. Her back arched off the bed, bowing under the intensity of his tongue as it lashed against her, flicking and swirling expertly. Tormenting her with its accuracy as one thick, long finger slid into her body, teasing against a spot that had her toes curling and her lungs seizing.

The man wasn’t lying. He definitely got it.

James gripped his head, needing something to hold onto as her body rocked and jolted with each movement of his talented tongue and each thrust of his probing finger. She wanted the feeling to last forever. Wanted to revel in the bliss and the sensations.

Her body had different ideas.

Without warning, the betraying bitch came undone, muscles spasming, pussy clenching, an animalistic sound breaking through her lips.

She sucked in a breath, head falling back to the pillows. “Damn it.”

Phillip pushed up to his knees, the back of one hand wiping across his mouth as he studied her face. “Not the response I was going for.”

“You fucked it all up.” James lifted one foot to shove at his chest. “It wasn’t supposed to be over that fast.”

The surprise on Phillip’s face shifted to a smugness he’d probably earned as he caught her foot and pressed a kiss to the inside of her ankle. “I disagree.”

“You can disagree all you want. That doesn’t make you right.” Her body was still humming from the release, but she was greedy enough to wish there had been more.

Phillip stretched out beside her, one hand tracing up the line of her leg as he went. “Why am I not surprised you’re demanding in bed?”

“Because you’ve met me.” She sucked in a breath as his fingers barely brushed her still sensitive mound. “What are you doing?”

“I’m a little offended you need to ask.” Phillip’s touch was soft but not hesitant as it mapped her slippery skin. “You’ve also met me. How I am in bed shouldn’t surprise you either.”

She gripped the sheet under her body as he found her clit and gave it a gentle stroke. “I figured you’d be as demanding as me.” The words were choppy and difficult to deliver as he began working her up again.

“I am.” Phillip nosed along her neck, his words low against her skin. “Now take off your shirt.”

She was struggling to follow along as the need to come again started clawing its way forward. “Can’t. I’m busy.”

Phillip’s hand left her body, stealing her enjoyment and her positive attitude. “I wasn’t asking.”

“You’re an ass.” James shoved his chest.

Hard.

The move caught Phillip off guard and tipped him onto his back. She followed him over, landing with her knees at each side of his hips. She grabbed the bottom of her top and whipped it free, sending it sailing somewhere across the room.

“ I wasn’t asking .” James mimicked his voice as she leaned over him, dropping both hands to the mattress beside his head. “Is that how you’re going to be? Bossy?” Rocking her hips, she dragged the swollen line of her slit along his dick. “Because I’m not sure I like it.”

“Based on how wet you are, I think you fucking love it.” Phillip’s hands gripped her hips, aiding and encouraging her movements. His fingers pressed into her flesh, arms flexing as he rocked her faster. “That’s it. Take what you want.”

She intended to. Had thought of this very scenario way too many times since that lap dance at The Secret Garden. Wondered how long it would have taken for him to ruin that fancy suit he wore.

Based on the way his dick was leaking now, not long.

“ James .” His voice carried a hint of warning as his palm swatted the cheek of her ass. “Focus.”

“I am focused.” She watched as the lips of her pussy slid along the rigid length of him, leaving the smooth skin glistening. “You have a really nice dick, Phillip.” She braced herself by spreading both palms over his pecs. “I bet it’s fun to choke on.”

Another swat hit her ass, this time harder, the impact shooting straight to her clit. “Don’t play with me.” He dug his heels into the mattress, using the added leverage to add a little more friction to her movements. “You won’t like where it leads.”

If she wasn’t wrapped up in the feel of his cock stroking her clit, she would have laughed. Because she’d be willing to bet all her money she would love where playing with Phillip Foster would lead.

And she wasn’t a gambler.

Phillip’s hands left her hips, venturing up her body as he continued thrusting against her, palms cupping the weight of her breasts as his fingers plucked at her nipples. It was another moment she wanted to last forever. Sensations she wanted to ride out until the end of days.

And she might have managed dragging things out for a little longer if Phillip hadn’t dropped one hand to pinch the lips of her pussy together, focusing every move of his body and hers directly to her clit.

“You jerk.” Her head fell back as she came, body convulsing, ears ringing, fingernails digging little half-moons into Phillip’s tanned skin. She ground against him, chasing as much as she could get, stealing every second possible.

Phillip groaned, his hold on her tightening to the point it almost hurt, as his movements hitched a little. Her eyes snapped down just in time to see his face as he came, dick spurting lines of cum across his flexing stomach.

Her pussy clenched at the sight, feeling empty and a little jealous. “Holy shit that was hot.” She reached out, tracing a finger through one glistening streak. “You should fuck me sometime.” She glanced at the clock on the nightstand. “How long will it take you to get it back up?”

“Not relevant.” Phillip picked her up much like he did the first time they met, but this time he was a little more careful as he dropped her beside him. “No condoms.” He stood, going for the towel he’d dropped and using it to clean himself off. “And I think we should probably keep it that way.”

Was he saying he didn’t want to fuck her?

“Don’t look so offended.” Phillip came to her side, using the towel to wipe the tiny bit of him from her finger. “I just think it’s better if we keep things from going too far.”

“Just so you know, I’m kinda the queen of taking things too far.” It was an admission she wouldn’t make to just anyone. Hell, she’d only recently started accepting it herself.

“I’ve noticed that.” Phillip leaned to toss the towel into the bathroom before coming back to slide into the bed next to her. He arranged the covers then pulled them up as he laid down.

“Umm.” She swallowed as his warm body curled close to hers. “Are you sleeping naked?”

“Yup.” He tucked the blankets around her. “And so are you.”

She was very aware of all the places his hard body pressed against her skin as Phillip pulled her back against his front. “I thought we were going to keep things from going too far?”

Wasn’t that his whole reasoning for not wanting to put his dick inside her? Because somehow that was too far even though his wiener touching just about every other part of her down-there anatomy wasn’t?

“James.” Phillip’s voice was sleepy.

She turned to peek at him over one shoulder. “What?”

His eyes were closed, showing how surprisingly long his lashes were. The arm at her waist pulled her closer as he buried his nose in her hair and took a deep breath, letting it out before saying, “Shut the hell up and go to sleep.”