Page 33 of Nothing to You (Nothing to… #7)
AND THAT WAS THAT. Done and dusted. Proof that no job was beneath her. If something needed to be done, she’d get it done.
With the trash taken out, she returned to the party. Drinking it in, the atmosphere was high. Not a bad night after all.
Someone stole her hand and whipped her around. She collided with a body and—
“Hotshot,” she said.
Guiding her hands to his chest, he wrapped his arms around her and moved like they were dancing. “Roxie’s being weird.”
Probably by delaying him somehow. Now it was her turn to distract him. “You know, there’s an actual dance floor,” she said. “Right in front of the band over there. It’s a new concept.”
“Figured you went looking to bust someone’s balls.”
“Why would I do that when yours are so conveniently close all the time?”
“So you didn’t go looking to assert your authority?”
He hadn’t noticed. No way. If he had heard about her face off with his ex, he’d have ribbed her about it. She knew him too well. And this didn’t constitute a thorough ribbing.
“You trust Mieux. I trust Mieux,” she said and relaxed against him, but stopped to look up. “Why don’t you offer her a permanent position? Steal her from Brooker.”
“You like her, hire her.”
“I have to offer her more money.”
“Never makes a difference,” he chanted. “Tuck your head under mine like you do when we’re asleep.”
When they were asleep, she could get higher. At least this tall person wasn’t wearing heels.
“What do you mean it doesn’t make a difference?” she asked, laying her head on his chest. “Have you tried?”
“A bunch of times. We all have. She works all over and doesn’t like to be tied down.”
“That I can identify with. We can find a way, we have to. She’s too good to lose.”
“Hot too, if you’re thinking…”
On a sigh, she closed her eyes. “You’ll grow up one day, Peter Pan.”
“Don’t bet on it, Tinkerbell.”
“Did you know about Roxie and Zairn’s fertility thing?”
“No,” he said. “Don’t usually talk to my friends about their girlfriends’ uteruses or them coming in a cup.”
“It’s kind of romantic, isn’t it?”
“Coming in a cup? If I’d known that was your thing—”
“That they would go to those lengths for each other. That or it’s super creepy and one of them plans to off the other.”
“Took Z this long to find Rox, I’d say she’s safe. Him, on the other hand…”
“They’re suited. It just works. You don’t have to look into it, they sink into each other… I feel icky talking about this.”
“Love and romance?”
“It’s easier to think those things don’t exist. I can’t imagine anything worse than being gooey eyed over someone.”
“They keep the gooey eyed thing to a minimum, but there’s no denying he’s sunk. Poor guy. The prenup better be up to par or the Kyst-meister will take him for everything.”
“She must be sure she wants kids. To do something like that. If they split up, that’s one other thing to fight over. Why do you think they did it? Do they want kids now?”
He tightened his hold. “This is a conversation you should have with Rox. Baby talk scares away the boners.”
“Jane and Knox seem like an unlikely pair,” she said, ignoring his quip. “She’s so sweet and… high-strung. I don’t mean that as an insult, she obviously cares.” About everything. “But he’s a cool customer. Aloof.”
“He’s a Collier. Collier’s get what they want, he has nothing to be stressed about. What worries does a guy like him have?”
“Good point,” she said, sliding her hands lower. “He really has the world on a string.”
“Caspian, the oldest brother, he’s the powerhouse behind the brand these days. Behind the scenes anyway, doubt he’s left the office at all in the last three years.”
Hadn’t she heard something about a trio? “Are they the only brothers?”
“Cam is the youngest.”
Lifting her head, she raised her gaze to his. “The ‘lifestyle’ guy? What does that mean?”
“Cam gave it all up. Had no interest in the media monarchy life. His father and grandfather wanted him to go all in, just like Caspian. Knox has always been in, but he’s less possessed by it. He works for the company, but values friends and family too. He works to live; Caspian lives to work.”
“And Cam?”
“He’s a law unto himself.”
“Does he live in California?”
“No,” Rourke said on a snicker. “God, no. If he did, Thena, their mom, would never leave him alone. She’s a dynamic woman, tenacious. You’d like her.”
“Was that a compliment?”
He sneered like he loathed the thought. “Shit, no. I’m saying you could learn a thing or two from a woman who steps up when needed.”
“Okay, good to know I can forget to step up any time you want your cock sucked, if that’s what you think of me.”
Ducking forward, he buried his lips in her hair. “Except the problem is, you love it. You can’t help yourself.”
“And I can’t wait to prove you wrong. It’ll take a lot of persuading—”
“You love that too.”
“Seeing you beg?” she asked, cocky in her glow. “Yes, I do. That’s exactly where you should be, on your knees, admitting your inferiority.”
“This is a good joke; I like this one. Almost sounds like you believe it.”
Something occurred to her. “You think that’s Jane and Knox’s deal? The sub, dom thing?”
“So not where my head was with that conversation, but maybe. Again, not something I discuss with my friends.”
She didn’t believe him. “You don’t talk about sex with your friends? Ever? Guys talk about sex all the time. What makes you the exception?”
“I prefer doing it than talking about it,” he said, checking his watch. “This conversation’s stretching my limit.”
“Doing it with friends rather than talking about it with them?”
“Certain friends,” he said, bending his knees to squeeze her ass. “Want to find a corner somewhere?”
“So we can not talk about it?”
“Exactly,” he said and winked. “I’ve got access to the VIP pods upstairs.”
“Isn’t this our party? We’re supposed to be hosting.”
“Even the hosts deserve a break.” Pulling her closer, he pressed the hard length of his cock against her. “Live dangerously.”
“I thought talk of babies killed the boners.”
“We’ll talk about something else,” he said, whirling her around to pull her against him as he cut their way through the crowd.
She should’ve known sex was his motive the minute he put his arms around her. He hadn’t left his friend huddle of man talk to dance with her. Guy was horny. Another good reason to kick Diva out. If he’d been in the mood and his ex got too close…
They went into a stairwell and up into the deserted VIP area. The ghostly room held whispers of conversations and the notes of forgotten music coming from down the stairs, turning it into a haunted treasure.
Rourke didn’t linger and opened a glass door to push her inside just a second before the glass went black.
“Do we need it off?” she asked.
“Your dress? No, I can work around it.”
She loosened the zipper to let it fall to the floor. “I didn’t mean that… I meant the glass.”
Backing toward the couch in the room decorated like a modern lounge, she stepped out of her shoes and freed her hair.
“Told you the exhibitionist thing did it for you.”
“If you’re afraid…” He touched his watch again and the glass became clear.
“Good boy.” She cast aside her bra as he lost his jacket and tie.
By the time their bodies met, only his pants were in the way.
Sliding the leather from its buckle, she freed him from the fabric. “Are you scared we’ll get caught?”
“Yes,” he said. With one harsh push, he sent her down to the couch. “Distract me. Prove your worth.”
Sitting with her, he kissed her shoulder, her neck, easing her onto her back to find his place between her legs.
The softness of his styled locks warmed her splayed fingers. He made his way down her body, kissing and teasing every inch. Every tingling, savoring cell of her skin wanted this, him, his mouth and hands, his kiss, his touch.
And then he spoiled her clit. “Xavie,” she exhaled.
In the frantic pace of the previous week, there hadn’t been time to stop and enjoy each other.
Even in the nights, when she dreamed of him, she didn’t call or ask him to visit.
If she’d wanted sex that bad, she could’ve found a server or musician to seduce.
But they wouldn’t have matched up to the innate way Rourke pleasured her body.
It was weird that she didn’t have to tell him, didn’t have to ask. Somehow, he just knew how she liked to be kissed. His body read hers, letting nature take over, shedding anything contrived to just be in the moment and do what felt good.
His finger slid into her, one, then two as his tongue worked to arouse her to the edge of climax.
“Mmm,” she purred, her body undulating against his tongue’s caress. “Good boy.” Definitely good. Until the moment he surged up, abandoning her pussy to kiss her lips. “That didn’t mean stop.”
He thrust into her, pushing a gasp out of her at the unexpected intrusion.
“How’s that?” he asked, moving inside her. “That good?”
She smiled. Her eyes were barely open, and she couldn’t feel anything except him, but… “Yes,” she murmured, rising and falling against him. “So much better.”
Sneaking away was an incredible idea. All the stress and concern about the party, and unexpected guests, melted away with every advance.
One or both of them had signaled the other, he’d just picked up on it before her.
They’d gone too long without enjoying each other.
And what a perfect moment to make up for lost time.