High Stakes Seduction (5 page)

Lazily, she fantasized about an A-frame wave. Big and voluminous that formed with distinct shoulders on either side of the crest. A-frames allowed two surfers to enjoy the same wave, one riding frontside, and the other backside. Just thinking about it made her hot. Reaching up, she fingered the puka beads at her throat.

Daydreaming of Adam was dumb. She knew it. So why had she used her broken water heater as an excuse to traipse over to his apartment? She could have showered at her yoga studio, but once she’d seen a light on in his apartment, she’d been over there like a shot. Hadn’t she learned anything from Keith? Was she going to go through her life wearing her heart on her sleeve, jumping from man to man just like her mother had until she’d finally found Mike?

Ultimately, what did she want? Was it a husband and kids? Was she simply letting her birthday get to her? Where was all this self-doubt coming from? She’d always been fairly self-assured, why the disequilibrium? Why now?

“Gosh, I’m so sorry I’m late.” Her best friend, Zoey, rushed over to the table, shopping bags in her hand. She leaned over to kiss Eva’s cheek.

She wore a floppy white straw hat and designer sunglasses. Zoey was a natural redhead who burned instead of tanned. She had on a gauzy white top and matching white slacks and lots of jangly jewelry. She deposited her bags in an empty chair and sank down across from Eva. Beside her, Eva felt frumpy in denim capri pants and a button-down print blouse.

“So how was Spain?”

“Fabulous. I could have stayed another month.” Zoey waved her hand. The sunlight caught the extravagant diamond on her left ring finger.

“Zoey!” Eva leaned over and grabbed her friend’s hand. “What’s this?”

A huge grin split Zoey’s face. “Jason popped the question. We’re engaged!”

Eva hopped up out of her chair and ran around to embrace her friend in a big hug. “Ooh, I’m so excited for you. Guess what? Sienna just got engaged, as well.”

“No kidding. This is so exciting.”

“Let’s order mimosas to celebrate.”

“None for me,” Zoey said. “I’ll just take some iced tea.”

“Oh wow, oh gosh, that’s one honking ring.” Eva took hold of Zoey’s hand and examined the diamond thoroughly.

A snarl of fierce jealousy lashed through Eva so strong that it took her aback. She wasn’t the jealous type. Why did she suddenly have a heavy feeling in the pit of her stomach?

A waitress came over and took their orders for raspberry iced tea and fish tacos.

“Don’t think I forgot your birthday,” Zoey said once the waitress had gone. She pulled a gift-wrapped package from one of her shopping bags.

“You didn’t have to get me anything,” Eva protested, but secretly she was touched that at least one person had remembered her birthday.

“Of course I did. You’re my best friend in the whole world.”

Tears misted the corners of her eyes. She wasn’t an overly emotional person but for some reason she was feeling sentimental today.

Eva undid the package wrapped in a red ribbon and opened the box. Inside, she found a silver charm bracelet with symbols of Spain—a tiny silver bull, a matador’s hat, a flamenco dancer, the Spanish flag and a cluster of olives. Eva slipped the bracelet onto her wrist, admiring it in the sunlight.

“For my footloose and fancy-free friend.” Zoey raised her glass of tea in salute. “Long may you roam. Someone has to keep the faith with the single life.

Eva’s chest tightened and she felt…
what?
Regret? Wistful? What was wrong with her? Why was she feeling so melancholy? Usually, she was very upbeat. Did it have something to do with her new neighbor? Or could he be the cure for the malaise that unexpectedly ailed her? When had she become known as a nomad?

“Eva?” Zoey asked. “Are you okay?”

“Sure. Fine.” Eva forced a smile. “I just feel like…well…how does that song go? About rowdy friends all settling down?”

“For one thing,” Zoey said. “Sienna was never rowdy.”

Eva smiled. “That’s true.”

“For another, just because I’m getting married doesn’t mean we won’t be hanging out together.”

Yes, it does.
But she didn’t say that, of course. She didn’t want to rain on Zoey’s parade. This was her big news. Eva forced a smile. “Sure we will.”

“We’ll make a weekly lunch date. Fish tacos in La Jolla.”

“To fish tacos and friendship.” Eva raised her glass and tried to ignore the sadness seeping through her bones.

Nothing was ever going to be the same again and she knew it. No late night partying on the town until two in the morning with her best friend. Their time together had already been curtailed when Zoey had started dating Jason. It was only a natural progression.

“You know that I’m expecting you to be my maid of honor,” Zoey said.

“I wouldn’t have it any other way. When are you getting married?”

“September.”

Eva set down the taco that she had half way to her mouth. “Zoey, that’s only three months away.”

“I know.” Zoey’s cheeks reddened.

“Why so fast? What’s the ru—” She broke off as she realized what the rush could be. “You’re pregnant?”

Zoey looked hesitant, then nodded. “That’s why no mimosa for me.”

“Zoe!” Eva was out of her chair again and around the table to envelop her friend in another exuberant hug. “That’s wonderful!”

Zoey looked relieved. “Oh, thank God. I was more worried about telling you than I was about telling Jason.”

“Really? Why?”

“Because I knew Jason was mad for me and that he’d propose. I knew everything was going to be okay on that score. He’s a rock, my dude—kind and steady and hardworking. Not like the losers I dated before him.”

Eva had had her share of losers, too. She thought of Keith and then immediately switched gears and thought of Adam. What a world of difference.

There was just something about Adam that called to her, something that sent a little thrill into her stomach. It wasn’t just his lean, muscular body and good-looking face that affected her. The determined set to his firm chin told her he wasn’t a quitter. Whatever he did—a job, a relationship, a project—he was in it for the long haul. And that was scary to a butterfly like her.

But while his chin could turn flinty with determination, there was a kindness to his eyes not often seen in adamant men. A kindness that spoke of a deep inner calm, a serenity of the soul that she’d never been able to accomplish, not even in her practice of yoga. That serenity called to her. Adam was a man who knew himself. He was certain and sure and she found that confidence very appealing.

Don’t be nuts. You don’t even know Adam. You’ve talked to the man exactly twice. Two times does not a first impression make.

And yet, he
had
made an impression on her. One she couldn’t shake. Talk about a rock. And in more ways than one. She grinned. He was firm, centered and self-possessed. A man you could count on.

You don’t know that. Stop fantasizing about him and focus on Zoey.

“So why were you dreading telling me?” Eva placed a hand over Zoey’s lower abdomen.

Zoey touched Eva’s hand and their eyes met. “I’m worried about you.”

That startled her and she eased her hand away. “Whatever on earth for?” she asked, trying to sound light and breezy, but not sure that she succeeded.

“I don’t want her to come between us.” Zoey cradled her belly.

Eva’s world brightened. “So the baby is a girl?”

“I’m only nine weeks into this, so we don’t know it, but I just have this feeling it’s a girl.”

“Zoey, this is such happy news.” Eva hugged her again.

“I thought you might be sad.”

“Why would I be sad? This is a baby we’re talking about. This is the biggest thing ever.”

“There will be no more late nights for us.”

“That’s okay. Late nights are overrated. Look at the up side. No more walks of shame.”

“No more bad date stories.”

“No more sitting home alone on a Friday night.”

Zoey grinned. “Thank heavens that’s over. I feel like my real life has finally begun.”

That last statement was a kick in the teeth. Eva knew her friend didn’t mean it the way it sounded, but it left Eva feeling as if she were in limbo, waiting to start her “real” life with a husband and a baby. The fact she felt that way bothered her.

She’d never been one of those women who believed she needed a family to feel complete. She’d been independent since she’d left home at seventeen, moving to San Francisco and attending Berkeley for a year before dropping out to travel and try a variety of jobs. School just hadn’t been her thing.

It wasn’t that she hadn’t gotten good grades, because she had. But she’d possessed an entrepreneurial attitude and a love of physical activity. Starting her own business made more sense to her than hanging out at school for four years. Maybe she’d missed out on a lot. Maybe she was still missing out.

Things were changing and there was nothing she could do to stop it.

She smiled her way through the remainder of the meal, doing her best not to let envy creep in, but when her cell phone rang, she snatched it from her purse, grateful for an excuse to stop talking about weddings and babies.

That is, until she read the caller ID.

Unknown caller.

She never answered unknown calls. They could leave a voice mail and if it was important, she’d return the call. She muted her phone, stuck it back into her purse and turned her attention to Zoey. “So, have you thought of any baby names yet—”

Frustrated, she finally tossed back the covers, stripped off her pajamas and headed to the living room to do yoga. She lit candles. Put on music. Stood in the middle of the floor to do some deep breathing.

Then she stopped and walked to the window, and peeked through the curtains at the apartment across the courtyard. She imagined that Adam was over there, watching her in the darkness.

It was an intriguing fantasy and she found herself nudging the curtain open just a little bit.

She realized suddenly she’d never seen him leave the complex. His car was in his parking spot when she left for work. It was there when she returned. Hmm. Perhaps he worked from home.

Such a shame. A man who looked like that shouldn’t be cloistered from the world. He could have been a centerfold. Six-one. Dark hair. Cut too short, but still sexy. Except for the hair, he looked sort of like Daniel Day-Lewis in
Last of the Mohicans.
He had that same air about him. Serious. A warrior. Dedicated to a cause. She found his personality traits incredibly arousing. Hawkeye. She sighed dreamily.

She pretended he was over there on his side of the courtyard, staring at her, arms crossed. His dark eyes hooded with lust. Instantly, her chest tightened and she felt slightly out of breath.

Her breasts ached, her nipples hardened.

She moved to the sofa, still fantasizing that he was watching her. She peeled off her panties, lounged on the cushions and spread her legs, her fingers trailing to where her body was rapidly growing hot and wet. The room smelled of candle wax and her overheated sex. She closed her eyes and an erotic daydream claimed her.

Against the back of her eyelids, she saw Adam.

“Eva,” his throaty voice called her in a sultry, velvet-smooth croon that sent shivers rafting through her.

Her pulse quickened as she envisioned Adam in the room with her, taking off his clothes in a slow striptease. Her nipples grew even harder, straining upward for his imaginary mouth.

She could almost feel Adam’s broad hands gently stroking her skin, skimming over her breasts, moving lower, circling her navel, teasing her pitilessly.

Whimpering, Eva lightly pinched one of her tender nipples, pantomiming what she wished Adam would do to her. She sank her teeth into her bottom lip and with her eyes still closed, slowly explored her body.

Ah, yes. This was good. This was what she needed; a little sexual release to end her frustration.

Greedily, she caressed the naked flesh between her thighs and all her pent-up energy slipped out on a sweet sigh of pleasure.

Adam.

How she wanted him to kiss her. Hold her. Stroke her. Sink his hard cock into her. She slid her fingertips over her achy skin, across her silky folds, skimming along the satiny moisture oozing from her swollen inner core.

“Adam,” she whispered.

She saw him leaning over her on the couch, his hand fondling the delicate bud of her feminine arousal. She felt his mouth touch her there, burning and bold. Her heart thundered and her mind spun.

Oh yes, oh yes.

In her mind’s eye it was his hand dipping between her legs, caressing and rubbing her swollen clit. He kissed small circles against her inner thigh and with his other hand he was doing exotic things to her bottom.

Her fingers moved in time to the fantasy as imagination and reality blurred sweetly. She could feel the orgasm starting deep within her.

Yes, yes.

It gathered, strengthened, built.

She stoked the vision, feeling his large penis pressing against her, tasting his lips on her tongue. The orgasm was almost there. She was so close. Only inches away.

Come.

Faster and faster her fingers strummed and she increased the pressure, in a rush now to achieve her goal. Relief. Release.

“Adam,” she whispered, and thrashed her head against the couch pillow. “Adam, Adam.”

She imagined being with him, this man she craved. She wanted to look into his eyes while he made love to her. Wanted to stare into the core of him and touch that inner strength that made her feel so welcomed, cared for and cherished.

She was on fire now, burning from the inside out. And there was Adam watching her with ravenous eyes. His desire for her evident, his penis erect. He was pushing aside her fingers, sliding into her, dilating her, taking her.

The orgasm hit, ripping through her like a lightning storm. Gale force and exhilarating.

Her legs stiffened. Her back arched. Eva cried out and shuddered as satisfaction lit up her body.

She came hard.

But in the end, it wasn’t nearly adequate enough. She lay on the couch panting for more. Her orgasm, no matter how good, was steeped in loneliness. She felt as if she was in a vortex, sucked empty. Dry.

No matter how sweet the fantasy, it couldn’t make up for what she lacked.

She wanted Adam. Needed him. Here. His body buried deep inside hers.