A Wicked Game (6 page)

A fog claimed her mind. Tori didn’t have it in her to decline the offer because her exhausted body demanded rest. Whatever happened tonight hadn’t been casual sex, even if it’d started as such. She’d opened up, giving to him a side of her she’d never offered anyone. Ever. A mix of worry, confusion, and desire, wishing things were different, stirred in her chest. Jack was a man she couldn’t have, and even if she could, they had history—bad history—neither of them could ignore.

Jack parked his car in front of her apartment building. Stepping out, he walked to her side, opened her door, and offered his hand to help her out. “What are you doing Saturday?”

What was he
doing
? He wasn’t supposed to want to see her again.

Tori stared at him. “I’m planning to stay in.”

Last night hadn’t turned out the way he’d imagined it would. He’d thought he’d see the end to… to… a prank, a game, revenge… shit, he didn’t know what it was anymore, or what it had been, and now he wasn’t sure there’d ever be an end to it. If closing that phase of his life meant he wouldn’t get to see her again, he didn’t want to shut it yet. “Would you like to go on a ride?” he asked.

She raised a brow. “You’re asking me out?”

“No. I’m just asking if you want to go for a ride,” he said.

Tori stepped around him. “So, it’s not a date.”

Yes. No. Fuck
. He didn’t know. He’d prefer to think of it as a ride, not as a date. Considering it a date would steer things in a different direction, a place he didn’t wish to visit with Tori. He’d keep it casual, nothing permanent. “No. Not a date, a ride.” His heart beat faster than it had in years. Why was he nervous all of a sudden? She wasn’t the first woman he’d ever asked out.
Dammit. I’m not asking her out. It’s not a date, just a fucking ride.

She held his gaze for a moment, smiling. “I’ll take the ride.” She spun on her heel and walked up the steps to her building’s entrance.

“I’ll pick you up at three,” he said to her back.

Without looking, Tori waved her hand, stepping inside her building.

Jack hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath until he exhaled. He got back in his car and drove to the office. How he’d make it through the day—or through the rest of the week—without talking to her or seeing her, he didn’t know. It begged him to question why it bothered him. He’d keep it casual—he had to, or else he’d be freaking screwed.

Getting the images of Tori pole dancing out of his head would take a miracle.
Fuck
. He already had a hard-on just thinking of it. Worst of all, how would he make it through tonight—or every night—if he stayed at his condo in downtown? After last night, he’d never again look at his place the same way. Not when he’d helped her down from the pole and fucked her kneeling on the floor.

What did he do? He’d never gone bareback with another woman. That wasn’t the issue though. The real problem was he hadn’t fucked her. He’d made love to her.
No. I couldn’t have. No. No. No
. He never made love. Ever. She’d screwed with his head. She’d fucking confused him. He needed to hit the gym after work today. He’d beat the shit out of anyone who dared to join him in kickboxing. He already felt sorry for the fool, whoever that would be.

* * * *

“Are you going to tell us anything?” Vivienne asked.

Tori glanced around the semi crowded sushi bar, then looked at every one of her friends. Their curious gazes stayed on her. She’d been good at evading them since the night she first went home with Jack, but she’d ran out of excuses. She wasn’t at all surprised when the four of them decided to show up for lunch.

“Details, girl, details.” Claire rubbed her hands.

Ariana laughed. “Give her some space, would you?” she said, looking at Claire.

“Why? There’s nothing to tell. Look at her. She’s been sleeping with Jack.” Scarlett took a drink from her sake.

Tori narrowed her eyes at her. “How do you know?”

“It’s in your face,” Vivienne replied.

“I don’t care. I still want to hear the details.” Claire gestured with her chopsticks.

Tori rolled her eyes, easing back on her chair. “He’s taking me for a ride on Saturday.” She bit down on her smile, wishing her friends couldn’t see her excitement.

Ariana leaned forward. “You mean you’re going on a date?”

“No. It’s not a date, just a ride,” she said. It was a ride—a simple ride. He’d said so himself. It wasn’t a date. Though, she wondered if he’d meant it.
What difference does it make anyway?
Things wouldn’t go any further because being together wasn’t in their future.

Claire laughed, throwing her head back. “A ride, my ass. It’s a date.”

“It’s not,” Tori said.

“It is too.” Scarlett downed the rest of her sake.

“Isn’t it too early for sake? It’s only lunchtime.” Tori pushed back her plate, getting ready to leave. She went through her mental list of things to do for the rest of the day. Good. She’d be busy. The busier she was, the better, because it meant there were fewer opportunities for her mind to wander with thoughts of Jack.

Scarlett shrugged. “So?”

“Call it whatever you want, a date is a date no matter how you put it.” Vivienne grabbed an edamame from the plate sitting in the middle of the table.

“Right. A date is a date is a date,” Ariana agreed.

Tori stood, grabbing her bag. “Thank you for treating me to lunch. You’re all such good friends.” She winked at them and walked to the door. Out on the street, she glanced at the sky, taking a deep breath. She donned her designer shades and headed for her office.

Getting through the rest of the week without seeing Jack would be the hardest thing she’d had to do in a long time. Gosh, she missed him already. A shiver ran through her as she remembered the events of last night. He’d held her, driving into her until his body shook against hers. Then, he’d asked her to stay and took her to his bed. He’d snuggled alongside her, keeping her in his arms all night long.

Wishing there could be more between them would be asking for a miracle. She’d take from him everything he’d give her. She’d have to keep reminding herself this was a fling. She couldn’t call it anything else.

She walked down the steps from her apartment building entrance. Her pulse quickened when she caught sight of Jack standing next to his satin-black bike. She slowed down her pace, appreciating the view. Seeing him in his aviator shades, jeans, a T-shirt, and a leather jacket made her want to run to him and drag him up to her place.

He smiled at her. “Hi.”

“H-hello,” she said.

“Are you ready?”

Her blood rushed through her veins in double time. Butterflies danced in her stomach, making her feel like a teenager all over again. Worst of all, she couldn’t manage to utter a word, so she nodded instead.

He helped her put on the helmet and secured it below her chin. “Hop on.” Jack straddled the bike and patted the seat behind him, then fastened his own helmet. She followed his instructions, straddling the bike. He reached for her hands and pulled her to him so the front of her body touched his back.

All nerves left her the moment the wind caressed her exposed skin as he put his bike in motion and merged into traffic. She had no idea where he’d take her. Truth be told, Tori didn’t care. What mattered was she was with him. As hard as it was to admit, she’d missed him. These past few days had been hell, wondering what he’d been up to and whether he thought of her at all or not. Who knew, perhaps today would be the last time she’d ever see him. The thought alone saddened her. Tori tightened her hold on his waist, squeezing her eyes closed.

Jack glided down the canyon, a mountain route bikers preferred, until he reached the Pacific Coast Highway. Then he rode north along the coast for another thirty minutes.
Ah
. She felt free. The ocean breeze combined with the late-afternoon sun kissed her skin. She hadn’t felt this liberated in God knew how long.

Jack turned left, guiding the bike into a sheltered path up a hill that opened to a secluded beach. He stopped right where the sand started and shut off the engine. He removed his helmet and hung it on one of the handles.

Tori got off the bike. She gasped at the ocean view in front of her.

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?” He took the helmet from her and placed it on the bike.

“It is. How did you find this place?” Tori removed her boots and rolled up her jeans.

“My dad.” Jack grew silent for a moment. “He used to bring me here when I was a kid. He called it our thinking spot.” He slipped off his boots.

Tori stepped on the still-warm sand and curled her toes. “Do you come here often?”

He grabbed her hand and led her the short distance to the shore. “Not too often, but I do whenever I can.”

“What do you do for fun, Jack?” She pushed a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

“I don’t know I can top your kind of fun.”

“Oh, yeah? Come on, what do you do for fun?”

“Not pole dancing, for starters,” he teased, pulling her to him and wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Tori pushed him but Jack tightened his hold on her. “You didn’t just go there.”

“I may just have to go to therapy to get it out of my head, and send you the bill for the trauma you’ve caused me,” he said.

“I can’t believe you.” She let out a soft laugh. “You know, on second thought, perhaps it is a good idea for you to see a therapist. I’d love to see how they would react at hearing you talk about your wicked ways, let alone your custom fire pole.”

He laughed, fastening his hold on her. He placed a kiss on top of her head. “How was your week?”

Pulling away from him, she sat on the sand. “It sucked. I barely even had time to eat or sleep.” The fact that she hadn’t been able to concentrate as she should’ve because she’d been too busy day dreaming of him wasn’t something she cared to share with him. “How was yours?”

He sat next to her, staring at the waves crashing on the shore. “Hell. Shit hit the fan with a vendor and now I have to play a political game I’m not looking forward to.”

“It’s why they pay you the big bucks, no?” she said.

“For what I have to deal with sometimes, I don’t think the big bucks are worth the stress.” Jack put his hands behind him and turned to look at her.

“What?” she asked in a low voice. The intensity of his hot gaze on her made the air rush out of her body.

He touched her face, his thumb stroking her cheek. “What?” A corner of his mouth turned into a lopsided smile.

She grabbed his hand and curled her fingers on his wrist, and he leaned forward and kissed her. Tori parted her lips, welcoming the warmth of his. His kiss didn’t demand anything, which made her want more.

What is wrong with me?
She wasn’t supposed to want more—or anything—from him, yet she couldn’t will herself to move away. No. Instead, she cupped his face, sucking gently at his upper lip.

Jack pushed her back on the sand, laying her down. His sweet kiss was so powerful it made her body ache with desire. Had he missed her? The passion in his kiss told her he had. Hope filled her chest. Tori wished circumstances were different, because she could love this man.

Pushing the thought aside, she laced her fingers in his hair and pulled him closer to her as if he wasn’t already touching her, sinking deeper in the sand. Getting the sand out of her hair would be a nightmare, but so worth the inconvenience for a kiss like his.

He drew her tongue in the hotness of his mouth; the heat from his body swept the length of hers. If he continued kissing her this way, she’d end up having sex on the beach for dinner. She didn’t mind, not when the entrée was Jack.

She’d been too deep in the emotions running through her, and she was almost swept away—literally—by the cold current crashing over their entwined legs, knocking her out of her daze.

“Fuck.” Jack sprang to his feet, hauling her with him.

Damn. Not only did she have sand in her hair, now her jeans were wet too. What a way to break the spell of the moment.
Stupid Pacific Ocean and its arctic stream
.

Jack glanced at her, his mouth curved into what looked like a suppressed smile. “Let me take you home,” he said.

Tori headed for his bike. “Don’t try too hard not to laugh at me, but if you do, I hope you choke on it,” she said over her shoulder, smiling.

The cool ocean breeze carried his laugh, enveloping her in its warmth.

She slipped on her boots and secured her helmet, watching him approach. She sighed.
Dammit. Why does he have to look irresistible?
He’d never been bad looking. Gosh no. He’d always been just quite the opposite. Tori could regret her ill-doings all she wanted, but nothing would ever take back or fix what she’d done. She’d regret it forever.

* * * *

Jack took a different route on their way back. He was glad for the cold wind blowing through his skin. Tori took his jacket, trying to keep warm after getting her pants wet with cold water. If it hadn’t been for that, he would’ve taken her right there on the sand. In hindsight, it’d been a good thing he hadn’t, because with his luck, he didn’t doubt the beach patrol would’ve caught them. He’d known he’d missed her, but he hadn’t realized just how much until he kissed her.
What’s happening to me?
He made a right turn into a residential street and went up a hill.

“I thought you were taking me home,” she said at his back.

He turned left and the doors to a driveway parted open and let them in. “I am.”

“This isn’t my house.”

Jack rode the distance to the house. “I said I’d take you home. I never said whose home.” He stopped in front of his garage and killed the engine.

Her silence told him she was wondering why he’d taken her to his place instead of hers. Jack hadn’t given it a second thought because all he wanted was to spend more time with her.

“Come on. Let’s get you out of those clothes.” He grabbed her hand and guided her inside his place.

She glanced around his house. “So, this is your weekend home. Just what exactly is it you do?”

He led her up the stairs to the master bathroom. “I tell people what to do.”

“Thank you for reminding me why I didn’t like you in college.” She gave him a side-glance. “You’re such a smart-ass.”

He yanked her hand back and pushed her against the wall. He placed his hands on either side of her, trapping her in. “That’s it? My smart-ass ways?”

Tori looked at him, parting her lips to speak except no words came out. She angled her head, ready to kiss him.

He leaned forward, his mouth a breath away from hers. He’d kiss her all right, but not yet. Instead, he touched the tip of his nose to hers. “A warm shower is in order.” He twisted around to turn the handle.

Next, he removed his boots, then straightened to his full height, stripping off his T-shirt. He cast a glance at her, holding her gaze.

Tori narrowed her eyes at him and kicked off her boots. She wriggled from her shirt, followed by her bra, and dropped both at her feet.

He grinned. When it came to Tori, everything was a challenge. Jack unzipped his jeans and pulled them and his boxers down, baring his erection. Her hot gaze slid across his body, lingering on his shaft, which was standing proudly at attention. He kicked his jeans to the side. “Are you going to stand there?”

She lifted her gaze. “Maybe I’m enjoying the view. You got a problem with that?”

“Take your clothes off, Tori.” If she didn’t, he would help her out of them if he had to. Standing there naked, not moving, took all his will power. His body burned to hold her, his cock ached to be inside her, but he wouldn’t touch her until she was completely naked.

She remained still for a moment, then peeled off her jeans. She closed the short distance and took his hand.

Her warmth ran through him, shocking every nerve in its way. His cock twitched as his balls got heavier. Jack pulled her to him. Winding his arms around her waist, he lifted her off her feet and carried her inside the shower.

He captured her mouth, devouring it with a kiss. Steam rose, fogging the glass. The warm water slid where their lips connected and down their bodies. Tori raked her hands up his back, clinging to him. Jack backed her against the travertine wall. Breaking the kiss, he swept his lips over the curve of her neck, making his way to her breasts. He circled her nipple with the tip of his tongue, then closed his lips around it, sucking it gently into his mouth.

Tori closed her eyes, tangling her fingers in his hair as he moved to her other breast and lavished it with the same attention. His body ached to take her, to feel her muscles clench around his cock when he thrust into her. Instead, Jack knelt, dragging his lips down her navel to her sex. He pulled her leg over his shoulder and closed his mouth on her pussy, lapping at her clit, drawing it into his mouth.

“J-Jack.”

Her panting encouraged him. He shifted his knees, changing the angle of his head. He traced her folds, then drove his tongue into her entrance. He’d never forget the taste of her, or her moans, or the way she said his name every time she neared the edge. His desire for her hadn’t diminished in the least—quite the opposite.

“Oh, I’m coming,” she cried.

He licked her clit faster, his hands holding her in place. Tori trembled against his mouth, her legs almost gave way. Jack forced her to stay up until the last remnant of her orgasm rode her body. He stood and cupped her face as he kissed her. Lust always made people stupid. He knew better, yet he let his insane desire for her lead him.

Jack broke the kiss to catch his breath, his forehead touching hers. “Are we being stupid, Victoria?”

She stared him back, silent for a moment, before she said, “Yes, we’re stupid.”

He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. Tori was right. They were being stupid. Not what he wanted to hear or admit, but neither one of them ran the other way and he couldn’t will himself to walk away. He turned her around and pressed her against the travertine. Just one more night with her was all he asked.

Parting her legs, he placed a hand above her head for support and positioned his cock at her entrance. “Victoria, tell me to stop,” he whispered in her ear.

“I don’t want you to.”

Jack held her by the waist with one hand and plunged into her. He could get so lost in her if he continued to see her.
Fuck
. He’d been dreaming of her for years. First for revenge—a revenge he never imagined would come true. Now she occupied his dreams with something else altogether. He didn’t care for love; he didn’t recall ever being in love. Everything had changed with Tori. Jack feared what would happen if he spent any more time with her. He didn’t want to fall in love. Not with her.

He dropped his hand to her pussy, his fingers finding her bud. He rocked his hips against her, lunging into her. He was so close. His balls were heavy and he’d been aching since he’d kissed her at the beach. Jack thrust harder, faster, increasing the pressure on her clit. “You feel so good, Tori,” he whispered. His body vibrated and he emptied himself in her.

She moaned, clamping her muscles around his cock, riding her own wave of ecstasy again.

They stood pressed against the wall for some time, catching their breaths. Jack kissed the top of her head as his shaft softened, finally sliding out of her. They soaped each other’s body with long caresses, letting the water run between them, washing down the soap. Her sweet actions made him forget how much he’d always thought he hated her.