High Seduction (14 page)

CHAPTER
14

A screaming hot shower and a short nap followed their full day of marking up the powder. Rested and damn near starving, they were definitely ready for dinner.

Both of them eyed their clothing bags with a bit of disgust.

Erin held her cleanest T-shirt gingerly between two fingers. “I think I'll be dining in the room so I can wear a towel. As much fun as this impromptu holiday is, I didn't pack much more than a change of undies. I'm not wearing any of my stinky stuff down to a formal dinner with Matt.”

“First, stop with the
formal
and
Matt
thing, but I agree about the clothes. He said we're free to check the closet and use whatever we want.”

She tugged open the door to the walk-in closet and flicked on the light. “Sweet Jesus, is Matt a cross-dresser, or does he often have women show up he needs to dress?” Erin whirled to face him. “These aren't his ex-wife's clothes or something, are they?”

Tim tugged forward a sleeve to show a price tag was still attached. “I'll ask him, but I get the feeling this is like the decor. Someone bought the lot because closets are supposed to hold clothes. I wouldn't worry about it. They're here, let's find something that fits.”

She ran a hand along the garments as she paced forward, the fabric swaying as she released it. “Matt's world is a whole different place than the one I live in,” she repeated.

He kissed the back of her neck, then pulled a blouse forward. “Get dressed. I like that colour.”

“You should try this on.” She tugged a hanger to one side and raised a brow.

Tim grinned. “A kilt?”

Erin patted his ass as she grabbed a couple of hangers and headed into their room. “I wouldn't complain.”

By the time Tim escorted her down the stairs to the main dining room, there was a spot inside him that could only be called contentment.

Erin leaned against him easily, all the fight and bluster that usually hovered around her faded to a low level. It wasn't as if she were weaker, but the bristly side she tended to display in public was muted.

Tim wondered if she even realized how often she tended to put on a tough façade. He hoped for the next couple of days she'd continue to allow herself to relax, not only in private behind the doors of their suite, but out in the real world.

As real as mansions in the high alpine were, ones with suited servants and a professional chef.

Jason strolled into the room only a moment after they'd arrived. His dark eyes flashed as he smiled at them. “Good to see you looking more rested. If you're ready, I'll have dinner brought in. Matt's been delayed by a phone call—he suggested you start without him.”

“We can wait,” Erin offered.

“No need, although he did mention he hopes to join you by dessert.” Jason tilted his head politely, then left the room, vanishing like a shadow.

Erin picked up a full water glass from the elegantly set table and raised it toward him. “To rest and relaxation.”

Tim joined her in the toast. “Two more days of luxury,” he agreed. He examined the room, a happy sigh escaping as he spotted his target. “I hope you don't plan on sticking with water the entire time.”

She made a face. “Tim, I'm already wearing clothes out of Matt's guest closet. I don't feel comfortable drinking his liquor as well as crashing at his place, not unless I'm contributing to the cost.”

“Good point, but I doubt he'll take cash in payment. I'll ask, though, if it would make you more comfortable.” As Erin settled into a chair, Tim walked to the side table where a selection of wine and alcohol covered the surface. “Matt and I have the kind of relationship where he calls me up on Tuesday to announce he'd like to go parachuting the next day. I set it up, and that's it until the next time we get together.”

Erin laughed, the bright tones dancing through the room. “Great, two daredevils. No wonder you get along so well.”

Tim had just grabbed a bottle of whiskey and turned toward her to answer.

She'd leaned back in her seat, the thick braid she'd woven her hair into leaving her face shining and bright. No adornment, no makeup. Both the borrowed blouse and skirt he'd convinced her to pull on were far more puritanical than the naked he'd prefer to see her in, but in spite of all that, Tim stopped cold and stared.

She frowned. “What?”

“So damn beautiful.”

Her pleasure at the compliment was clear as she fidgeted slightly. A smile lingered on her lips as she gestured to the bottle in his hand. “What are you going to ply me with?”

“Grey Goose. Or if you'd prefer, I'll open a bottle of red wine.”

“Hmm.” Erin templed her fingers together as she leaned her elbows on the table. “Decisions, decisions. Maybe I should have a taste of each.”

She jerked back, teasing expression vanishing as Jason reappeared, a trolley of food before him. “May I suggest the Merlot? The chef is grilling steaks for your main course.”

“Of course he is.”

Erin choked down a laugh at Tim's comment.

Jason had no qualms about sharing his amusement. His deep rumble of laughter rolled over them as he uncovered plates and placed them on the table. “We've made an assortment of things for you to try, since we had no idea of your preferences.”

Amazing smells rose from the platters. “It looks delicious,” Tim commented. “Open a bottle of the Merlot, and I'd like my steak medium rare.”

“The same for me.” Erin scooped up a shrimp with her fingers, dipping it in the rich sauce before pausing. “Jason—I don't know how this works. Would you like to eat with us?”

He lowered his chin briefly. “Thank you for the invitation, but I ate earlier with the rest of the staff.”

Jason moved smoothly to the sideboard to open the wine, and Tim took advantage of the distraction to ease a couple more tidbits onto Erin's plate.

Five minutes later they were alone, music playing in the background, candles lighting the length of the table.

Tim raised his glass.

“Another toast?” Erin asked.

He shook his head. “Taste.”

He held it to her lips, tilting the glass slowly as the dark liquid moved toward her mouth. Her gaze fixed on his eyes as she parted her lips slightly, a small sip of liquid all he allowed before stopping the flow.

She licked her lips, her tongue darting out to gather the lingering drops. “Lovely.”

Hmm. Her voice had gone sultry and low, a tantalizing brush more potent than the wine. “Here. Try a pastry.”

He chose one of the tiny tarts from her plate and lifted it as well, waiting until she leaned forward and took a bite, her teeth nipping through the flaky crust. Small crumbs scattered and he brushed them from her carefully, letting his touch linger on the curve of her breast under the silky blouse.

“Tim,” she whispered.

He popped a stuffed mushroom cap into his mouth and enjoyed the burst of flavors for a moment before lifting the glass for her again. “We're alone. And I want to take care of you.”

He watched her consider his words as she took another sip. She hesitated, then relaxed. She snuck one hand over and rested it on his thigh as she leaned her head on his shoulder.

Cheering wasn't appropriate, but reassuring was. He pressed his free hand over her fingers and squeezed encouragingly. “Thank you for your trust, kitten. I promise to help you enjoy yourself.”

“Just don't go—” She pulled herself to a full stop, dark eyes glittering as she jerked upright so she could stare at him. She shook her head. “No, I won't do that. I won't make rules to try to influence what we're doing.”

She said it plainly but in a hushed tone, as if she didn't want her confession to intrude into the world they had stepped into.

“You're braver than I am,” Tim admitted. “I like influencing what's about to happen.”

A spark of mischief danced in. “Then we're both in a good place, aren't we?”

“Exactly.” Tim leaned back in his chair, looking her over carefully. The food was going to get cold if they didn't enjoy it soon, but there was one more thing . . . “Since we've established I'm in charge, and that I'm planning lovely things for your pleasure, then you'll have no problem handing me your panties.”

CHAPTER
15

Of all the sexual games she'd been expecting, Tim had surprised her yet again.

He waited, hand held out, palm up.

She opened her mouth to protest, then covered the move by reaching for her own glass of wine and taking a deep sip. It wasn't that bad a request, and somehow the thought made her achy.

“I suggest you do it now, or Jason will be back with our steaks before you've finished straightening things.”

Erin pushed back her chair. The borrowed blouse and skirt were slightly large, but she still needed to wiggle hard to get hold of her underwear to pull it free. She passed over the warm bundle of fabric, then turned her attention to the table, ignoring the heat flushing her cheeks.

Tim slipped her panties into his pocket, the material creating a bulge.

Or maybe the extra fabric he was storing wasn't the cause. She caught his eye and teased. “You should have worn the kilt.”

“My cock would have appreciated the extra room right now,” he confessed easily.

“Jeez, Tim.” She glanced over her shoulder, but the door to the kitchen remained closed.

“I'm pretty sure Jason has heard the word
cock
before, love. I'm also pretty sure he's got one. Might even use it upon occasion.”

Erin ignored her burning ears and sampled the food. Tim laughed as he joined her, chatting easily about a madcap adventure he and Matt had taken part in up in Labrador once.

He was refilling her glass as Jason walked in with their main courses, perfectly done steaks with king crab legs arranged on top.

It was all Erin could do to not stare at Jason to see if anything had changed. His expression, his body language.

Did he know? And why could she not stop thinking about cocks and other dirty words? It was as if Tim had hypnotized her, and having been triggered by the smutty side, her brain had trampled off for a nice little exotic holiday.

She jerked upright at a touch to her hand.

Tim leaned toward her. “Jason asked if you needed anything else.”

A simple head shake seemed like a hell of a lot more work than it should have been. “Thank you, no.”

“Mr. Haven will be done in about ten minutes. He'll join you for dessert, if that's all right.”

Tim nodded, and Jason left as Erin attempted to stop squirming in place.

The heat between her legs was unreasonable. Made no sense. All that was different between now and a million other dinners she'd enjoyed was that she was sitting bare-ass naked under a long skirt. No one could tell—

And she was still going up in flames.

She managed to cut a few pieces of steak and get them down, each bite savoury and delicious. But her appetite wasn't there.

“You've grown very quiet.” Tim caressed a finger up the back of her arm. “Is the food not what you'd hoped for?”

“I think I'm intoxicated,” Erin confessed. “There's no other explanation.”

“You're not drunk,” Tim assured her. “But you are ready for more. Open your legs.”

Shit. She gripped the edge of the table and slowly obeyed, the soft sweep of fabric falling against her thighs. “You're not going to do anything now, are you? Jason said Matt could be here at any time.”

“So?”

A sweep of light-headedness rolled over her. Her breathing picked up, but it wasn't panic. Nothing that would make her call him out and call it off.

“You're a bastard,” she noted as plainly as she could.

“You've told me so before, and yet here we are.” Tim leaned over and tugged her chair to face him slightly. “You like your men with a little bastard in their blood. Admit it.”

Her breathing picked up a notch. “I like you.”

He smiled in approval, then rocked her control even further. “Pull up your skirt so I can see your pussy. Now.”

Her fingers were moving before her brain fully registered the words. She rolled the fabric upward and cooler air from the room brushed her, and she sighed.

Tim pulled something from his pocket. “Damn. So fucking gorgeous.”

When he dropped to his knees and pulled her hips forward, she bit her lip to keep from shouting. His tongue stroked between her folds, wet heat circling her clit. The scruff on his chin rubbed her inner thigh, his upper lip a tempting abrasion that made everything more sensitive. She caught hold of the chair arms and dug in her fingers to stop from fisting his hair. She wasn't sure if she wanted to keep him there or tear him away. The door could open any second and Matt could walk in—

She was seconds away from having an orgasm at the thought, and the realization rocked her hard.

Only Tim pulled back far too soon, a final lap over the sensitive tip of her clit making her legs shake. He stared approvingly.

“One more thing,” he added.

The mysterious item he'd brought from his pocket. It was U-shaped, and he licked one side, that talented tongue wasted on an inanimate object.

Then he pressed it into her body, slipping the moistened end between her folds so it rested inside her sex, and the other half nestled against her clit.

“You'll enjoy this,” Tim promised. “It's not so big as to hinder you from moving, but you'll be aware of it all the time. Especially when I do this.”

He sat back in his chair and pulled out a small remote control. She didn't see him do anything, but suddenly the item between her legs vibrated.

Soft, low pulses, inside and out. “Sweet mercy, Tim. What the hell?”

“You like it?” He pulled her skirt back into place and gently levered her knees together. The motion only increased the pressure, and she gasped. “Nice. That's what I thought.”

Oh
God
. “You're not going to—”

Again she caught herself. Of course he was going to play with the damn controls while his friend was in the room. That was the point.

She deliberately reached for her wineglass and tipped it back, finishing the final couple of swallows as she fought to keep the toy from destroying her mind in under two minutes.

Tim clicked something else and the speed of the pulse reduced to a pace that allowed her to breathe again. He placed the control on the tabletop beside his plate.

“What? No timeline or demands that I don't have an orgasm until after coffee is served?” Erin eyed the sideboard with the liquor and considered whether a couple of shots of tequila, straight up, would take the edge off the impending earthquake.

He stared into his glass, swirling the final inch of wine remaining. “Where's the fun in denying you orgasms? That's not your thrill, Erin.”

“And you know what is?” She wiggled slightly, causing the angle of the damn vibrator to adjust enough so she could talk without her voice shaking.

“Some of them.” He looked her straight in the eye, mesmerizing and captivating. “I won't push too hard, too soon, but consider this. Matt is a good friend I trust, but he's not someone you ever need to see again.”

A myriad of possibilities raced through her mind. “What exactly are you proposing?”

“Right now? Nothing. But keep an open mind.”

“Which is no answer.” Erin held her breath as Tim reached for the control and palmed it.

He raised a brow. “Have you had enough to eat?”

“I have. Thank you.”

There was no use in insulting him, not when she had given him control. Only the edge of fear had returned. One step beyond what she thought she wanted was one step further than she would ever accept going. The line in the sand frightened her.

How close to the edge could Tim take her without pushing her over?

He stood and held out a hand. She rose to her feet, adjusting to balance the strange sensation of the vibrator.

Tim's smile softened as he waited for her to stop wiggling. “Does it feel strange?”

“Edgy. Different.” Erin glared at him. “If it falls out while your friend is in the room, I'm warning you now you're the one who has to explain.”

“It won't fall out,” Tim soothed her, walking her slowly toward the living space with the massive leather couches. “It's made so you can wear it while we have sex.”

Oh.

He grinned. “And if it did fall out? Matt already knows what it is—I found it in our room. Brand-new out of the box. There was a nice assortment of toys to choose from.”

Choice swear words flooded her brain. “Maybe it was his personal shopper at work again stocking the shelves, did you think of that? Or do you
know
he's a sex toy connoisseur, and if you do know that for sure, that's pretty damn kinky.”

“Why?” Tim asked. “Are you going to wonder if he knows that you're excited? Will he look at you and imagine seeing you panting with excitement, trembling on the edge of orgasm?”

He clicked the on button as he spoke, and the lightest of caresses resumed. Even on low, Erin had to deliberately relax to complete the journey to the couch without stumbling.

Adding the sensation of the vibrator to Tim's words lit her brain and body on fire. “And does Matt like to watch?” she murmured, twining her fingers in his.

Tim seated her, then joined her on the buttery-soft leather. “Matt is a voyeur, yes. That's one of the things he enjoys very much.”

The thrill of excitement rushing her had to be tempered with reality. “No cameras in our suite, are there?”

Tim shook his head. “He's not rude, Erin.”

The door opened before she could respond, and a hearty hello rang out as Matt joined them.

No longer covered by layers of winter clothing, Matt was even more impressive. Erin instinctively glanced between the two men, contrasting the easy power they displayed. Tim wore his confidence like a well-aged leather coat, and she could imagine him at ease with brass knuckles and a knife visible at his hip. Another quick peek let her admire the five o'clock shadow he hadn't bothered to shave. The strong hands he used to dole out caresses with the same competence with which he handled a scalpel or a rope. Dangerous from the first glance—dangerous and delicious.

On the other side of the equation, Matt was a boardroom knight. Pristine except for his hair, which was a shambles again. White button-down shirt, dress pants. Clean-shaven and clear eyes as he glanced around the room, then focused directly on them. The kind of decision maker who would make million-dollar choices without breaking a sweat. The kind corporations wanted on their side, not bidding against them.

The lone downfall to the rest of his cool, debonair appearance—Matt had rolled up his sleeves. Just like that, Erin got entangled in staring at his forearms and hands—and wasn't that just wrong, to be turned on by the sight of strong forearms with their dusting of hair?

Matt strode across the room, unaware she was sexually objectifying his arms.

“Did you have enough to eat?” he asked, coming to a stop by her feet.

She pulled on her best manners, hoping that her strange, instant attraction to the man hadn't made her drool. It had to be the vibrator turning everything around her into one giant aphrodisiac. “Dinner was incredible. Thank you for your hospitality.”

Their host dragged a hand through his hair, and Erin smiled. She'd guessed that part right—the gesture was obviously a habit with him, and totally explained the ends standing every which way as he twisted to the sideboard. “And that's enough politeness for one night. Relax, make yourself comfortable. What are you having in your coffee, or with your coffee? I saw Jason in the hall and he's bringing in some ghastly sweet thing made of chocolate and whipped cream in a minute.”

Erin opened her mouth to answer.

Tim adjusted the speed on the vibrator and instead of air going out she gasped, fingers tightening on his. She coughed lightly to cover her tracks, then tore her gaze off Tim's grinning face to look into Matt's questioning expression.

“Pour us all brandies,” Tim suggested, his tone just shy of an order.

Matt hesitated. He glanced between Erin and Tim, and his smile widened.

Whatever secret codes the guys had going, Erin hadn't missed the crystal-clear message—Matt wasn't the least surprised by Tim taking charge in his home, and more than that, Matt didn't seem to mind one bit.

There was no mistaking the increased heat in his tone as he moved to comply. “Stay where you are. I'll bring them to you.”

“Erin will help.” Tim urged her forward, his hand resting intimately on her lower back. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “I'm glad you like Matt. He seems to like you as well. Perhaps we need to explore this a little. Yes?”

He pushed her toward the sideboard.

Sweet mercy, she was going to die. Erin worked on her breathing as Tim reclined on the couch and proceeded to torment her with the damn remote control.

What did he mean,
explore
?

He didn't give her time to adjust. Matt asked some innocent question, and Tim flipped the vibrator to an uneven pulse. She answered, unable to keep her words from trembling.