Desire (#2) (2 page)

He smiled. “Touché, Miss Taylor.”

FINALLY, THE MERCEDES PULLED up outside Claridge’s and a doorman, dressed in green and gold, opened the door for me. I pulled my skirt down to my knees and stepped out of the car on wobbly legs. It had stopped raining, but the fresh smell lingered in the air. I took a couple of deep breaths to clear my head.

Benjamin emerged from the car, calm and collected. To look at him now I found it hard to believe that only a moment ago, his fingers were working away between my legs. I found it so hard to disguise my emotions, so I couldn’t understand how he did it. He always looked in control, except for those moments when we were alone and his dark eyes burned into mine.

Colin stepped onto the pavement beside me. His lips pressed together in a firm line, and I could tell he didn’t approve of what was going on between Benjamin and me.

As the concierge removed our luggage from the trunk, I followed Benjamin and Colin inside. As we waited at the check-in desk, Benjamin put a hand on my back and traced a line down to my hip. I shivered and looked at him, but he was looking straight ahead at the hotel receptionist.

I watched the way the pretty, red-headed receptionist’s eyes widen in appreciation as she stared at Benjamin.

She smiled widely and licked her lips. “Mr. Easton, it’s a pleasure to see you again. We have your usual suite ready. Could I make a copy of your passport?”

As I pushed mine forward at the same time, the receptionist raised an eyebrow. “Ah, you are sharing the suite this time.”

Blood rushed to my cheeks. I had just assumed I would be sharing a room with Benjamin. What if he wanted us to have separate rooms? Had I just embarrassed him?

But Benjamin didn’t seem annoyed. “Yes. We’ll be sharing the suite.”

The receptionist’s face dropped. “I see.”

She looked so disappointed I almost felt sorry for her. I could hardly blame her for being attracted to Benjamin. Still, I allowed myself a small triumphant smile. He wanted to share a bed with me.

It struck me then that we hadn’t had sex in a bed yet. That might not be as exciting as sex beneath an oak tree, or pushed up against a door while a party was underway, but as I glanced at Benjamin I couldn’t imagine sex with him ever being boring wherever it took place.

Benjamin collected our room keys, and with Colin we walked across the marble lobby to the elevators. Colin’s suite was on the second floor, and our penthouse suite was on the top floor.

As the elevator doors opened on the second floor, Colin gave us a stiff nod and said, “I’ll see you this evening.”

As soon as we’d said goodbye and the elevator doors closed, Benjamin stepped behind me. “I can’t wait any longer.”

He wrapped his arms around me and nuzzled my neck. I tilted my head to the side to allow him access and felt his teeth graze my neck.

I gasped as he pressed his erection hard against my ass cheeks.

“Your skin tastes so good,” he whispered, and his hands undid the top button of my blouse and slid beneath the cotton, stroking the lace of my bra.

Instantly, my nipples were rock hard, straining at the fabric of my bra as I pushed my chest forward desperate for his touch.

He squeezed my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers. I moaned and shamelessly rubbed my backside against the bulge in his pants.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a security camera. I froze.

Benjamin noticed my reaction and followed my gaze to the camera, then he grinned wickedly. “Just wait until I get you out of sight.”

In response, a delicious heat flamed between my legs. Hell, I couldn’t wait until he got me out of sight.

I hardly noticed the suite as we tumbled inside. His hands seemed to be everywhere at once stroking and teasing. Then suddenly he stopped.

What? Why?

“Take off your clothes,” he ordered in his low, deliciously-sexy voice.

I didn’t think I could take much more of this, the anticipation building up in the car journey and the elevator. It all felt too much.

I quickly pulled off my shirt and wriggled my skirt down past my hips.

He didn’t move. He didn’t take off one item of clothing. He just stood staring at me, his eyes blazing.

“And your underwear,” he said.

I gulped. I knew it was a little late to get bashful, but I felt self-conscious as I reached around my back for the clasp of my bra.

I bit my lip as my breasts jiggled free, and I let the lacy underwired bra fall to the floor.

He moved forward, and I caught my breath, but he didn’t touch me. Instead he circled me like a predator.

The crotch of my cotton panties couldn’t take much more. They were soaked.

I reached out to the waistband of his pants, but he caught my hand.

He kissed my fingers. “Not yet, angel.”

I could see his erection straining against the material of his pants. I knew he wanted me, so why didn’t he take me now, dammit?

He nodded at me, and his eyes flickered down to my panties. “Now those,” he ordered.

Whoa. The surge of lust rippled through me, taking me by surprise. I hooked my thumbs in my panties, hesitated for a moment, then pulled them down quickly. I stepped out of them, blushing all over.

His eyes widened appreciatively, and he licked his lips.

“Would you like me to touch you, Kate?”

I nodded. “Yes,”

He moved closer so he was only an inch away. I could smell the scent of his cologne and the sweet smell of his breath. I couldn’t wait any longer. I grasped his shoulders and pulled him to me, kissing him deeply, stroking his tongue with mine.

He pressed me to him, wrapping his strong arms around me. I could feel his hardness poking into my belly. Oh, God, I wanted to feel him inside me.

I grasped his belt, freeing the clasp.

“You want it now? You don’t want to play first?” he asked with a dark, dangerous smile.

“I want it now,” I said, practically panting with desire.

“What do you want, Kate? Tell me exactly.”

“Um …” I should have been past shyness by now. “I want you to …”

“Yes?” he prompted, and pressed his mouth over mine, kissing me until I was dizzy.

“I want to feel this …” I put my hand down the front of his pants, and ran my fingers along his erection, “… inside me.”

At my touch, his breath caught in his throat.

“Turn around,” he said, his voice hoarse.

I did as I was told, presenting my back to him.

“Now lean forward and put your hands on the bed.”

My insides clenched in anticipation as I imagined him thrusting into me from behind. I put my hands on top of the bed, leaning over so my ass pressed against his groin.

He gave of groan of satisfaction and squeezed my behind. Then his fingers worked their way lower. He took his time, stroking and teasing, while I squirmed, desperate to feel his touch between my legs. I was so tempted to slip my own fingers down there, but I didn’t want to disappoint him. Instead I shamelessly rubbed against him, hoping to hurry him along.

As his fingers finally reached their target, I gasped and almost stumbled forward. My legs were like Jell-O. Benjamin kept a hand on my hip, anchoring me to him.

As he slipped a finger inside me, he said, “Oh, Kate, you’re so wet.”

I pushed back, wriggling against his hand.

“Are you ready, Kate?” he asked. “I’m going to fuck you hard.”

Oh!

I heard the rip of foil behind me.

“Yes, Yes,” I breathed, as I felt the tip of his erection enter me.

Oh, that feels so good. I closed my eyes and groaned in satisfaction as he eased himself in.

“Is that, okay?” he asked.

“Oh, yes. Yes,” I said and pushed back against him. I wanted to feel more of him. I wanted him to fill me.

“Do you want it harder?” he asked.

“Yes, harder, please, Benjamin.”

He groaned and started to move, thrusting into me again and again.

My insides quivered, and the muscles deep inside me started to clench as he squeezed my hips and pounded into me.

The feeling built inside me until I couldn’t hold on anymore, and I tensed my legs.

“I want to feel you come,” Benjamin said.

I cried out as I came hard, falling forward on to the bed. Benjamin thrust again and again as I trembled in the aftermath of my orgasm, and he finally climaxed inside me.

Afterwards, I lay back on the cool, cotton sheets and tried to slow my breathing. I finally noticed my surroundings.

The décor was a mix of classic and contemporary. The furnishings understated but expensive. And the bed was amazingly comfortable. I stretched lazily and cuddled up to Benjamin, resting my head on his chest.

“Don’t get too comfortable,” he said. “I have a meeting in twenty minutes.”

I pulled back, hurt. I wasn’t asking for hearts and flowers, but a little affection might be nice. I wrapped the sheet around my breasts and sat up.

He looked up at me, his dark brown eyes searching my face. I couldn’t read the expression in his eyes, but I could see he looked uncomfortable.

“I should be upfront with you, Kate. You’re a beautiful woman, but I’m not looking for a committed relationship.”

I bristled. “Jeez, don’t flatter yourself. I hardly know anything about you. Why would you think I was looking for a relationship?”

He smiled. “You’re right. It’s very presumptuous of me. But from experience, I’ve learned it is better to be honest from the start.”

“Sure,” I said and turned away.

I felt the bed lift as he stood up and then heard the bathroom door close, and my eyes filled with tears. Horrified, I blinked them away. What the hell was wrong with me?

He hadn’t made any promises. In fact, I would have to be pretty dumb if I thought this was anything other than hot sex with no strings. Why couldn’t I relax and enjoy it? He’d brought me to this fantastic city and offered me the portrait job for excellent money. I should be happy. Dammit, I should be over the moon.

I stood up, keeping the sheet clutched around me, and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window and looked out at London. I watched a red-double decker rumble past, and then stared out at the old building opposite. This was the chance of a lifetime. I wasn’t going to blow it by coming over all clingy. It was obvious he wasn’t on the lookout for a committed relationship, and if he was looking for commitment, I doubted he would have picked me.

My background and his were chalk and cheese. I’d grown up in a tiny two-bed house with my mother, sharing a room with my sister. My father had walked out on us when we were tiny, and my mother struggled to keep a roof over our heads and food on the table for years. Poor Mom. I never appreciated the sacrifices she made for us until it was too late.

I heard the bathroom door open and turned to see Benjamin with a towel hanging from his hips. My eyes travelled down his body, from his taut chest, to his defined six-pack, to the trail of dark hair that led to …

He walked towards me, and my mind went blank. He pulled me towards him and kissed me deeply. I could feel his hardness growing and took his hand, eager to pull him over to the bed.

He grinned at me. “You want more, already?” He laughed. “You’ll have to wait until later. This meeting’s important.”

I sat down on the bed and pouted.

He stroked a finger along my cheek, and then leaned close. He smelled of citrusy shower gel. He whispered, “I promise to make it worth waiting for.”

AFTER BENJAMIN LEFT FOR his meeting, I decided to indulge in a bubble bath. The tub was huge. I sniffed the bath salts and breathed in the wonderful scent of English tea rose. I poured in more than I needed and soon the foamy bubbles were threatening to escape over the side of the bath.

I stepped into the hot water, enjoying the heat and the bubbles tickling my legs. I lowered myself down into the tub until the bubbles reached my chin. The hot water relaxed me and soothed the area between my legs that had seen a lot of action over the past two days. I smiled at the thought and wished Benjamin hadn’t had to go. There was plenty of room in the tub for two.

Still, I supposed it did give me time for a little pampering session. I used a loofah to scrub my skin until it tingled and shaved my legs and underarms. By the time I’d finished soaking, my fingers looked like wrinkled white prunes, and my face glowed, shiny and red.

I rubbed some unscented body lotion on my legs then wrapped myself in the hotel bathrobe. I’d just begun to towel dry my hair when the bell rang. Crap. I froze. I hoped that wasn’t Benjamin, I looked awful.

I tiptoed out of the bathroom. He hadn’t come in, and it was his room anyway, so why would he ring the bell? I peered through the peep hole into the hotel corridor and saw a young Asian man dressed in a hotel uniform.

I opened the door just a crack. “Hello.”

He smiled at me and held out a parcel. A shoe-box sized parcel. I tried to suppress my grin.

“For you, madam, Miss Katherine Taylor.”

I took the parcel, thanked him quickly then closed the door. I put the parcel on the bed and began to unwrap it eagerly.

A flash of scarlet caught my eye. Wow. I pulled out one of the shoes. It had a small platform below where my toes would fit, a towering heel and red ribbons to fasten around my ankles. I gulped. They were definitely fuck-me pumps.

I slid my fingers along the silky ribbon, imagining Benjamin’s reaction to these shoes. He might be able to keep his face unreadable, but there were other parts of his anatomy that conveyed his feelings clearly.

Then I remembered we were supposed to be dining with Lord and Lady Vastor tonight. I would soon be painting a portrait of Lady Vastor. I glanced down at the shoes. Perhaps they wouldn’t be suitable tonight. But if Benjamin sent them, he must have wanted me to wear them.

I shrugged and placed both shoes on the floor.

I blow-dried my hair, applied my make-up carefully and pulled on my little black shift dress. I had just squirted perfume on my neck when the telephone rang.

Expecting it to be Benjamin I put on my best sexy voice. “Hi, handsome.”