Notorious (2 page)

He flinched as if she’d slapped him and she couldn’t believe she just said that. Couldn’t help but wonder just how close to the truth she really was. Oh, she’d heard the stories. Alexa had told her most of them. Her worry for Eric, how she knew he was going out constantly and picking up men and women. Looking for a quick sexual fix but never moving beyond the one-night stand.

Looked like Stacy had interrupted this evening’s search. She didn’t really feel bad about it either.

Though she did feel bad for Eric overall. What Alexa and Brad had done to him was…harsh. There were no other words for it. She knew they fell in love and there had been trouble in Brad’s and Eric’s relationship prior to Alexa becoming involved, but still.

Poor guy got left out in the cold. And she couldn’t help but sympathize.

“I don’t need your concern,” he muttered, his gaze boring into hers, his entire body vibrating with tension.

“I don’t need your concern either,” she returned.

He stared at her for a long, quiet moment, the air between them thick with tension. And something else—something she couldn’t quite put her finger on, but it was there. Wrapping around them like a sort of protective bubble, so thick she didn’t even notice the crush of people around her, the noise of the bar, the music playing that faded to a low throbbing beat.

“What
do
you need?” he finally asked, his voice pitched low, his gaze locked on her mouth.

Her lips tingled as if he’d actually physically touched them. How was she supposed to answer that? Really, she was nothing but a good girl. A boring girl. One who did the right thing, who never got in trouble, who was never daring or outrageous or free.

This man, what he asked, how he looked at her, he made her want to do something completely outrageous. Just for her.

She’d always secretly wanted to do something secretly outrageous.

“I—I don’t know what I need,” she admitted, her voice gone soft, a little breathless.

“I think you do.” He stepped closer, invading her space. So close she could smell him, see the slightly desperate look in his eyes and she wondered if hers matched.

Because standing so close to him, smelling him, his body heat radiating toward her, drawing her in, she suddenly felt really desperate.

“Are you suggesting something?” This was insane. She had just broken up with Keith, and here she was possibly propositioning a man she barely knew. A man who happened to be the ex…whatever of her best friend.

“Come with me.” He offered his hand and she took it, his fingers curling about hers, long and firm. Tingles shot up her arm, blossomed low in her stomach at his touch. She followed him out of the building and onto the sidewalk outside, the quiet night enveloping her with a sort of blessed relief. The air was crisp, a hint of fall in the breeze that blew over them and she nearly tripped over her own feet as he led her down the sidewalk, his stride long and purposeful.

“Wh—where are we going?” she called after him, tugging on his hand so he’d turn around and look at her.

He flashed her a charming smile, white teeth glowing in the darkness and the sight of that smile somehow, in some way made her panties melt. “Right here.”

Eric pulled her into a short alleyway and pressed her against the brick wall of the building so quick the breath was knocked out of her. He crowded her yet again, even closer this time and she leaned into him. His chest pressed close to hers, his lower body nudging insistently. She swore she felt the brush of his cock against her, even through his jeans, and her knees weakened.

Hovering over her, he cupped her cheek with a wide hand. She tilted her head back and met his turbulent gaze. “What are you doing?” Her entire body went still at his nearness. Her breath came hard and fast as she waited for his answer.

He smiled again, his thumb sweeping along her skin and sending a scattering of tingles throughout her body. “You ask a lot of questions don’t you? Are you the type who likes a play by play?”

She frowned. Tried to ignore the fire his touch ignited deep within her. “A play by play?”

“Yeah, like this.” He lowered his head so his mouth barely brushed against hers. “First, I’m going to kiss you. Then I’m going to touch you. And then…well I’m not sure what’s going to happen after that, but we’ll see how willing you are. That sort of play by play, you know?”

“Oh.” She swallowed hard, her eyes shuttering closed when she felt the firm brush of his lips. They were warm, damp and his breath smelled faintly of beer. “I—I don’t normally need a play by play,” she said weakly.

His fingers curled about her chin and held her in place. “Good. I’ll just kiss you then.”

And he did.

Chapter Two

Eric had no idea what possessed him to do this—to kiss this woman. Maybe it was the way she got defensive earlier and her eyes had sparkled with anger. Or when she basically told him to get lost and find some random guy to fuck. That had been surprising. It revealed she had a bit of fire hidden beneath that calm–tinged-with-sadness demeanor she held so close.

Inhaling deep, he breathed her heady scent. She smelled good. And she tasted good too, fresh and sweet and faintly of cranberries. From the moment he shook her hand he’d felt a connection with her. A sort of zing that passed between them when their palms met and it had been zinging all night.

Now it was like alarm bells clanged in his head. Louder and louder the longer he touched her, kissed her, felt her shift within his arms. He had her back pressed to the rough wall, her body smashed against his, her slender arms snaked around his neck. Her fingers played with the hair at his nape, and he shivered from her gentle touch. She was kissing him for all she was worth, her tongue dancing with his, little moans sounding low in her throat. Sounds that drove him on, pushed him further as he deepened the kiss.

He searched her mouth with his tongue. Sucked her lower lip, nibbled it. Enjoying himself, enjoying her and it had been a while since he’d sought out a woman. It was his own damn fault, though. None of them seemed to ever measure up to Alexa, though he didn’t do himself any favors. He always sought out women who reminded him of her, which in hindsight was a really stupid move.

Stacy was nothing like Alexa whatsoever.

No, she’s just Alexa’s best friend, which makes me a complete dumbass for even kissing this woman, let alone contemplating how I can get her somewhere private and fuck her. Talk about a stupid move.

Pushing the irritating thought from his mind, he refocused all of his attention on the woman in his arms. How soft she felt, how sweet. Her lips were plump, delicious and her fingers threaded through his hair, tugging so hard it hurt but he didn’t mind. He’d discovered over the years he liked a little pain with his pleasure sometimes.

The more they kissed the more fired up she became, her body undulating against his, her full breasts brushing against his chest, her legs tangling with his. As if she wanted to get closer but couldn’t quite figure out how to do so. She wore a skirt. A sexy little tiered black skirt and he couldn’t help but think easy access.

“I never do this sort of thing,” she rasped when he broke the kiss to slide his lips along the tender column of her throat. Her skin was extra soft there, extra fragrant and he licked her, nibbled lightly with his teeth. Breathed deep, savoring it. Savoring her.

“Do what sort of thing?” he murmured against her neck. His hand wandered, along her side, her waist, over her hip. Tugging on the fabric of her skirt so it hitched up an inch at a time, providing him easier and easier access.

What would she do if he dived a hand beneath her panties? Slap his face? Or beg for more? Would she be wet?

He bet she’d be very wet.

“Kiss random men in an alley,” she answered, a little yelp escaping her when he nipped at her tender flesh again with his teeth.

He did that sort of thing all the damn time but not usually with a woman. “How does it feel?”

“Feel?” She sounded confused. It probably didn’t help that his hand other slid up from where it grasped her waist to close over her breast. He skittered his thumb across her, felt the unmistakable prick of a hard nipple and she gasped.

“Yeah, feel. Does it feel bad? Naughty? All sorts of wrong?” He prayed she would say all sorts of right. He knew he thought she felt right.

A jolt moved through him at the realization and he shoved the thought aside. He wanted to focus instead on getting inside this woman’s panties.

Getting inside this woman’s head.

“No, not bad. Definitely naughty but not necessarily wrong,” she answered, her breath coming even faster when he flicked his thumb back and forth, back and forth across her taut nipple. He felt the delicate lace of her bra beneath the fabric of her shirt and her nipple hardened even more from his touch. The urge to push her T-shirt up, tug her bra down and latch his mouth on her nearly overwhelmed him.

“I bet you’ve never done a naughty thing in your life.” He kissed her lips again because he couldn’t resist. A light shone down upon them, casting her in an ethereal orangey glow and her lips beckoned, damp and glistening. Swollen and tempting and damn he couldn’t stop kissing them. Licking them. Tugging on her lower lip with his teeth until she whimpered.

“You’re right,” she admitted when he released her lip, slid his hand to her other breast and gave it the same thoughtful treatment as the first one. His other hand slowly pulled up her skirt, his hand sliding beneath the fabric to touch her warm, bare thigh. Her skin was silky soft, his cock jerking in reaction to the intimate touch. She shivered beneath his fingers. “I’ve never done anything naughty. Ever.”

“Wanna do something naughty tonight?” Before she could answer, he devoured her mouth. Their tongues thrust against each other, he slipped his hand beneath the hem of her shirt and tunneled up. Up more until his fingers closed over the lacy cup of her bra, felt the bead of her nipple thrust beneath it. All the while his other hand played with the waistband of her cotton panties.

If he had his choice he’d fuck her right here, right now. He wanted her that bad.

“This is pretty naughty, don’t you think?” she asked when he finally tore his mouth from hers to stare down at her.

He smiled, knew it was full of wicked intent because
he
was full of wicked intent. Oh, and his hands just happened to be full of her. “I can make it a whole lot naughtier in about sixty seconds.”

She stared at him, her breath still coming fast, eyes luminous in the dim light. With the most subtle of movements he thrust his hips against hers, knew she felt the brush of his unmistakable erection because her lids lowered, her lips parted and he swore he heard her pant. “You want to…”

“Fuck you? Yeah,” he practically growled, brushing his mouth against her neck in an open-mouthed caress. She shivered beneath his lips, her hands clutched at his shoulders and he knew he had her. Triumph filled him and he was thankful he had that spare condom in his wallet.

But then her hands shoved him away and he stumbled back, releasing his grip on her as he stared at her in disbelief. She still leaned against the wall, her arms curled in front of her as if she defended herself from him, and her hair was a disheveled mess made by his hands. Wary eyes met his and she slowly shook her head. “I’m not going to let you use me.”

His mouth dropped open in shock. “This isn’t about
me
using
you
. This is about us using each other.”

“I don’t want to do that.” Her voice held a finality to it that he found shocking.

No one had ever turned him away before, with the exception of Alexa and Brad. And once he’d embarked on this new sexual journey in his life, he’d never been turned down. Ever.

“You don’t want me.” Oddly enough he was hurt at the thought.

“I didn’t say that,” she said quietly. Her gaze dropped to the ground, like she couldn’t stand to look at him any longer.

Eric thrust his fingers through his hair, then rested his hands on his hips. His dick still throbbed, the blood coursing through his veins still hummed with electricity. He was amped up, his body attuned to hers and he didn’t get her reluctance. He wanted her so bad his arms ached to grab her. His mouth ached to kiss her.

But she didn’t want him. Or wait, she said she didn’t mean it that way.

Whatever that way meant.

He should go. Just walk away from her without a second glance and hope to God he never saw her again. He already avoided Alexa like the plague. It should be relatively easy to avoid this woman, too.

But he didn’t move. He just stood there and stared at her. Wished he could come up with something to say, but his mind drew a complete blank.

Finally, Stacy pushed away from the wall and approached him, her steps careful, her expression cautious. Her hard little nipples poked against the thin fabric of her shirt, and his chest tightened. Her legs wobbled a little bit as if she had a hard time walking, and a thread of satisfaction slid through him. He’d done that to her. He’d affected her.

And then she’d pushed him away. Made him stop.

It hurt.

She stopped just in front of him and reached out, took his hand in hers and gave it a gentle squeeze before letting it drop. “Thanks for the kiss,” she murmured, her soft voice swirling around him, vibrating within his body.

She turned and left him where he stood.

“I want a total change.” Stacy sat in the chair and stared into the mirror, meeting her friend and coworker Lisa’s gaze in the reflection. “Lots of highlights. I want to go blonder.”

Lisa ran her fingers through the ends of Stacy’s hair, her gaze trained on Stacy’s. “I thought you were giving up on being blonde. We’ve taken you a few shades darker every time.”

“I gave up on being blonde because Keith didn’t like it. Well, screw him.” Lisa’s mouth dropped open at Stacy’s words, and Stacy wanted to roll her eyes. Didn’t even bother mentioning what she’d done two nights ago in a darkened alley not far from a bar. It would’ve, quite frankly, shocked the shit out of Lisa.

How she had walked away from that moment, walked away from him, she didn’t have a clue.