Shades of Sexy (9 page)

He logged off and shut down the computer.

Macy appeared in the doorway and cleared her throat. She crossed the room, shoved his folded shirt at him.

“Thanks.” He stuffed it into his luggage. What the hell had happened here? Long as he lived, he’d never understand women. Problem was he liked Macy. Her intelligence and strength drew him sure as a riptide.

He followed her into the kitchen. Watching her load mugs into the dishwasher, his gut clenched. Contrary to what she’d said, had she indeed only used him to get back at his father?

She carried a bottle of cleaner and a wad of paper towels to the granite island and sprayed the surface. Removed all traces of their morning activities. Glancing up at him, she blushed bright scarlet. Did she share his regret they hadn’t finished what they’d begun this morning?

Her hand shook as she wiped at the stone. Sunlight streamed through the open blinds and turned her glossy hair reddish gold. He yearned to run his fingers through it again.

She finished drying the counter, then tossed the paper towels in the trash. Crouching, she stashed the cleaner under the sink. When she stood, she set her hands on her waist. In his mind, he removed her shorts and tank top and pictured her naked. The creamy alabaster skin, the gentle slope of her breasts, the dark tuft of curls between her legs and that ass—perfect globes that fit in his hands as if made for them.

As if she sensed his thoughts, she crossed her arms over her chest. “What now?” Her voice was higher now, less confident.

The air conditioner clicked on and cooled the temperature too quickly. He wanted to close the distance between them and wrap her in his arms, finish what they started earlier. But the invisible force field she’d erected around herself stopped him. “Where do you want to go from here?”

Her brow furrowed and her lips started moving, then stilled. She drew a deep breath. “I’m not ready for anything, Alex.”

Ouch. He hadn’t expected that to hurt so much. Squaring his shoulders, he tucked away his emotions. “Course not. Under the circumstances it wouldn’t be…feasible.” Feasible? He mentally smacked himself. No sense in even telling her he’d be in town a while. His best bet was to haul ass. He took a snapshot of her in his mind, then picked up his laptop and started toward the door. Hand on the knob, he twisted to face her.

Did she have tears in her eyes? Nah. Probably just the bright sunlight in the room playing tricks on him. “It was…really great to meet you, Macy.” He offered his hand, which felt like such a lame-ass gesture.

She took a few steps toward him and gave him a cool, uncomfortable hug. “Really great,” she echoed against his shoulder. She stepped back, held him at arm’s length. “Bye, Alex.”

He kissed the top of her head, then hurried to his car, wincing at the dull thud when her door shut behind him.

Chapter Six

Macy forced herself to smile at the middle-aged blond man seated opposite her at Milo’s, a South Beach pub. She glanced out the window and at rain soaked passersby. No reason she couldn’t have a good time, just because her boss had basically railroaded her into entertaining an out-of-town client. After all, the firm had footed the bill for steaks, cocktails and whatever else the man wanted. But she wouldn’t take it any farther. She was a paralegal, not a damn hooker.

The man set down his fork and gave his gut a firm pat. “Do you like to dance? I saw a club across the street.”

“No, sorry.” The lie didn’t bother her in the least. She made a show of checking her watch. “I’m afraid I’ll have to run after dinner.” She hadn’t felt like doing much of anything in the last two weeks. Maybe she shouldn’t have been so quick to push Alex out the door. He’d seemed as disgusted by Warren’s behavior as she had. But that was water under the bridge. She’d probably never see Alex again.

After she paid the check, she and the client started toward the door. Someone hooked an arm through hers. She turned and found herself face to face with Alex. Her stomach did a little flip and her pulse quickened. He looked even better than he had two weeks ago. “Alex! What are you doing here?”

His jaw twitched as he leveled a stare at her client. He squared his shoulder and straightened, seemed to grow taller before her eyes. Or maybe it was merely that thing men did when they tried to show another guy how tough they were. His gaze shifted back to her. “I could ask you the same thing.”

Why did men always make stupid assumptions? She gestured toward her dinner guest. “Phil is a client of my firm. His plane doesn’t leave until the morning.”

Alex looked from her to the man and back. “Oh.” He grinned at Phil then offered his hand. “Alex Jackson. Didn’t mean to be rude.”

Phil shook with him. “Macy, I think I’ll check out that dance club. Thanks for dinner. I’ll email you with details of that deposition.” He gave Alex a nod. “Nice to meet you.” With that, he left.

Alex motioned toward the bar. “Can I buy you a drink?”

She shrugged but her heart hammered furiously. “Yeah, okay.” When he put his hand on her waist to lead her toward the bar, a jolt of awareness shot through her. She climbed onto a stool and pulled in a breath infused with Alex’s familiar scent. How could she deny that she’d missed him? She’d thought about little else for two solid weeks. She never should have convicted him merely because his father had done her wrong.

A bartender approached. Alex gestured toward Macy, waiting for her to order.

“Just a club soda, please.” She crossed her legs and hiked her skirt a couple inches.

Alex’s gaze skimmed her legs. “Make it two.” He took a ten from his wallet and set it on the polished wood bar as the bartender fixed their drinks. Meeting her gaze, he smiled. Warmth instantly enveloped her.

“I’ve been thinking about you, Macy. A lot.”

She thought about telling him she felt the same, how he inhabited her dreams most nights, but she held her tongue. Their drinks arrived a moment later, but she kept her eyes on Alex.

“I’m shooting in the Keys, but with rain forecast for the rest of the week, we’re taking a break.” He took a gulp of his soda then set it down. The subtle furrow of his brow made her want to kiss it away.

“I see.” She dropped her gaze to his chest. The top two buttons of his shirt were undone and she could barely glimpse the light dusting of hair there. Desire washed over her. She sipped her drink to cool the heat prickling her skin.

He fixed her with a smoky stare that touched deep inside her. “When I saw you with that guy, Phil, I thought…”

“What?”

His shoulders sank. “You said you weren’t ready to…you know, start dating. And then I see you with him and it confirmed…”

She had no clue what he’d started to say. “Confirmed what?”

“Well, I get that he’s only a client, but I assumed you were seeing him. Guess I figured you’d made that up about not being ready. I assumed you had a problem with dating a black man.”

She sucked in a surprised breath. “You thought I didn’t want to date you because you’re black?”

His downcast gaze provided all the answer she needed.

“It had absolutely nothing to do with that.” She glanced around, lowered her voice. “I find you very attractive, Alex. And I’d be proud to be seen with you. The problem is…was, that I didn’t want to ever feel like a stupid fool again. Like I did when I found out about Warren’s affairs.”

He leaned toward her and cupped her cheek. “Macy, don’t you know, he was the stupid fool, not you. He was the one who blew things with an incredibly sexy, intelligent woman.”

His words felt like a cool drink of water on a blistering summer afternoon.

“I’m afraid to feel that kind of pain again.”

“I’m not my father.” He smoothed a hand over her hair. “What if we take things really slow?”

Relief swept over her. She couldn’t hold back a laugh. “We’ve already moved past the first kiss.”

He stood up and held out his hands for her. She let him help her off the stool. “My hotel is close.” He gave her a wink.

They walked out arm in arm. The rain had stopped, but big puddles dotted the street. Alex led her around the side of the building through a narrow L-shaped alleyway toward the parking area. He abruptly stopped and pulled her into a strong embrace. “I missed you, Macy.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Me too.”

Then his lips pressed against hers, demanding and hungry. Longing crashed through her as she softened into him, molded her body to his. She wanted him so badly that her hands trembled as she slid them along his back. His tongue stroked hers, swirled around it and his taste flooded her senses. She craved all the passion he had to give.

Alex grabbed her ass and squeezed it, forced her closer, close enough that she felt his cock—hard and thick with need—pushing into her abdomen. Her nipples hardened to sensitive points. Her pussy throbbed with yearning. No way could she wait until they made it to his hotel.

She broke the kiss. “Alex?”

His eyes, dark as sin, met hers.

She glanced up and down the alley. “Fuck me, Alex. Right here, right now.” The sounds of passing cars splashing rainwater in the road only heightened her desire. She heard people walking past the building, talking and laughing. Someone might come upon them at any moment.

A wicked grin raised one corner of his mouth. He lifted her right leg and hooked it around his waist. She leaned back against a brick wall, didn’t care that it wet her skin right through her blouse. It didn’t matter that the air was hot and heavy with humidity, or that sweat beaded on her upper lip.

Slipping his hand under her skirt, he moved aside the elastic edge of her panties and teased a finger along her moist folds. “You’re so wet. I love it.”

His fingers stole inside her. She muffled her moans against his chest. Lust burned in her core. She rocked against the heel of his hand. He knew exactly how to pleasure her. Every stroke brought her closer to the edge. Her intimate muscles quivered and clenched. She whimpered helplessly as her orgasm took hold in a blinding jolt. Waves of pure bliss rolled over her, one after another. Before they’d completely subsided Alex shifted and took back his hand. When he kissed her lips she tasted the heat on his tongue.

“Come on.” He half supported her, half pulled her along. They made it to his car seconds later, but he didn’t open the door. Instead, he lowered his zipper. His fully erect cock sprang free.

She cupped his balls, grinned when he moaned through clenched teeth. Reaching into his back pocket, he grabbed his wallet, fished out a foil packet. Macy licked her lips, anticipating the lush feel of his shaft between her legs.

“Take off your panties.” His deep tone resonated with lust as he rolled the condom onto his erection.

She quickly stepped out of her underwear, tossed them away. The moment she did, Alex lifted her off the ground and lowered her onto his cock. Her back pushed against the wet metal of the car, but she didn’t care. All that mattered was Alex and his big, hard cock spearing into her pussy. She bit back a gasp as he filled her completely.

He caught her breast in his hand and kneaded it, gave the nipple a firm pinch. The momentary pain gave way to pleasure. His thrusts grew faster, harder, deeper. A low growl rumbled in his chest and the veins in his neck strained against his taut skin.

Suddenly he withdrew. He pulled her a few steps toward the back of the car and spun her around so she faced it. When he lifted her skirt up over her rear end, she understood. Bending over the car, she leaned her elbows on the rain-covered trunk. Alex spread her legs apart and immediately entered her from behind. She braced herself on the slick metal as his thrusts took him deeper and deeper. He stroked fast and hard and rough. Rain droplets splattered on her back, cooling her skin for only an instant.

Voices sounded from nearby, coming closer. Alex increased his pace, then growled his release. He leaned against her back, panting. “Oh, Macy.”

Footsteps echoed from the alley. Heart pounding, Macy gave him a gentle bump of her hips. “Um…”

Thankfully he got the hint and pulled out of her. She quickly turned to face him, positioning herself between Alex and the alley.

“Sorry. Couldn’t help myself.” He wiped a hand across his sweaty forehead then unlocked the car and opened the passenger door for her.

“Nothing to be apologetic for.” She stroked her hand along his side. “I wouldn’t have changed a thing.”

Hours later, they lay in bed at Alex’s hotel room, naked and spent after another session of lovemaking. But this time it had been long and slow, tender even.

“That was nice.” She rolled toward him and he cradled her against his side.

“Must have been fate that we ran into each other again.” He planted a sweet kiss on the tip of her nose.

“I asked you this two week ago, but I’ll try again.” She ran a finger along his chest. “What now?”

His laugh made her smile. “Well, I’ll be working on this project another week or two. After that we can buy stock in a commuter airline that flies between here and Atlanta. I’d like to keep seeing you, if you’ll have me.”

She realized the fear had vanished. If things progressed between them, she had confidence he wouldn’t deceive her. She looked up at him. “Yes, Alex. I’ll have you. After I get some sleep, I’ll have you again in the morning.”

And she did.

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