Stalemate (2 page)

“Care to share what’s making you smile?” he asked.

“Nothing. My subconscious has a knack for saying the wrong things,” Isa answered.

“Now I’m curious,” he teased.

She smiled as she sat down. “Mr. Forte, don’t be. It’s nothing, I promise.”

“Call me Bryce.” His voice was smooth as New Orleans bourbon.

“Okay,” she said shyly.

“Tell me about you,” Bryce encouraged.  “Your life has to be fun jetting off to different places for work.”

“I like the travel,” Isa said. She did travel for her job, that wasn’t a lie, but she still felt guilt at the façade. Yet, she knew after tonight she’d never see him again, so she played along.

“You’re still wearing the mask,” Bryce pointed out.  “How about you take that off and I’ll get us another glass of champagne?”

“I’d prefer a beer,” she said, and wrinkled her nose in disgust. “Champagne is not my cup of tea.”

His laughter was rich. “God, I love your personality. Sam Adams okay?”

She nodded. “That’s fine.”

Isa watched him leave before she took off her mask.  He said he’d never seen pictures of Tawny and that made her feel more secure, that and the soft lighting in the room give made her at ease. He came back and, this time, his tuxedo jacket was off, his tie was undone around his neck, and his sleeves were rolled up.

“Don’t you have a party to host?” Isa asked as he handed her the beer.

“It practically hosts itself.” He sat down beside her and took a swing of his own beer. “Besides, they don’t care about me. The food and the freedom is more enticing.”

“I’ve had two glass of the champagne, but no food yet,” she admitted.

“That has to be remedied immediately.” Bryce shook his head. He reached over the back of the sofa and picked up a wireless phone. “Roger, please bring me two plates of everything on the buffet.”

“You don’t have to. I can go down—”

Bryce cut off her words. “We’re having a better time up here than downstairs with them. After dinner, I may challenge you to a game of Battleship.”

“You’d be sorry for that,” she teased. “I’m an expert at that game.”

“Now I want to definitely play with you, Tawny.”

She couldn’t mention that her real job was on some of the Navy’s most advanced warships. It was one of the better conversations she’d had in a long time and he was sexy as hell. She got the double meaning of his words. The thing was, he thought Isa was her best friend. But she could play along for now, right? Be the model, the belle of the ball, not the Navy girl who was more comfortable in polished boots than heels.

After they dined on cracked crab and steamed oysters, fruit, and canapés, Isa even tried the caviar and the pâté and found she would rather eat a cheeseburger. She and Bryce both laughed when he agreed with her assessment.  Then they played Battleship and she won. They talked well past the guests leaving and watched them from the balcony. Bryce noted he knew very few of them.  He idly played with her hand as he talked and she liked the connection. Isa found she liked it a whole lot more when Bryce kissed her. He pulled her into his arms almost savagely and she enjoyed that way too much. Men saw her as this strong woman and it intimidated them. When his lips parted hers and he speared his tongue into her mouth, Isa moaned in pleasure.

He nipped at her lips gently. “I know this may be too soon, but I want you naked in my bed. You did win at Battleship after all.”

Isa gave a husky laugh as she looked up at him. “How does that equate to being in your bed?”

His blue eyes were filled with humor and desire. “I’d like to consider myself a prize.”

“I think I’ll be the deciding factor in that,” she teased.

“Is that a yes?” Desire made his voice a husky growl.

How many times in her life would she get an opportunity to be with a man who made her legs weak? Isa made a decision that was unlike her nature or anything she’d ever done in her life.

“Yes,” she whispered as excitement made the butterflies in her stomach take flight.

Bryce led her through the room they’d just spent time in to a second set of stairs that led to the third floor of the mansion.  There in his room, he flicked on only one light by the bedside table.  Bruce pulled her into his arms and she accepted his kiss greedily. As desire burned hot and passion broke free, they undressed each other with an urgency she’d never felt before.

She gasped as he kissed her neck. “I don’t ever do this. I’ve never been with someone the first night of meeting them.”

“You are so refreshing, innocent almost even though you live in this crazy world of glitz and glamour.” He cupped her cheek. “This feels right to me, but if it doesn’t to you, we can go back downstairs and I can see how you are at Monopoly.”

Isa stepped away and turned her back to him. She pulled the zip that was hidden between the seams downward and the strapless dress fell to the floor. She glanced back at him and could see desire in his intense blue eyes.

“I’d rather see if you can make my body melt from your touch,” she said.

Bryce came up behind her and she could feel the warmth of his body against her back. He groaned as he kissed the skin of her shoulder and reached around cup her breasts in the strapless bra she wore. Isa whimpered as his pushed the garment down to free her nipples. She arched into his touch as he brought the peaks to hardness with his fingertips. The sensations set a pool of wetness between her legs. She watched him for a moment. When their lips met again, Isa made a soft sound of pleasure and her eyes drifted close as the kiss deepened. She reached between them and cupped his cock in her hand, feeling him throb beneath her fingertips. Bryce shuddered and his kiss became savage. Isa pressed herself more fully against him, wanting and needing more, her body screaming for release.

He broke the kiss and they stood holding each other. To Isa, it was like their breathing was in sync. Bryce ran his hands down her shoulders and took her hands in his.

“I want you,” he said huskily. “I hardly know you and this feels damn perfect to me. If you want me to stop, it’s best to say so now.”

He rained soft kisses down her neck and Isa gasped in delight.

“I’m naked in your semi-dark bedroom. I think I’m committed to this action.” Isa laughed softly.

“Good.”

A growl escaped his throat and she shivered, taking it as a submission to the desire that raged through them both. The intensity of their kiss bloomed once more and she didn’t know how they ended up across the bed, but they did. She loved the feel of his weight on her body pressing into the soft duvet beneath her. Isa gave into the fantasy. The sexy, mysterious woman in the bed of a man she barely knew but was attracted to. It was like some kind of dream, but as he caressed her, her body told her this was the epitome of pleasurable reality. She could get addicted to the taste of his mouth as their tongues dueled.

Bryce turned and brought her body on top of his and she bit his lip gently before turning the tables on him and with a deft move she was beneath him once more. Isa spread her legs so he was settled between them and she could feel his hardness against her core.

“I like how you feel on top of me,” Isa said, and ran her hands down to cup his ass. “Mmm nice and taut.”

“That’s not the only thing, babe.” Bryce grinned wickedly and moved against her.

“I see,” she purred.

The teasing came to an end when dipped his hand between her legs and she felt his fingers touch her wet pussy.  Isa cried out softly at the intimate connection. She lifted her hips to entice him to explore more of her slick depth, but Bryce was intent on teasing her.  She shuddered as he grazed her clit with his finger and Bryce laughed huskily.

“You are so responsive to my touch, I love it,” he said.

She looked into his eyes. “Make me come for you, Bryce.”

“Yes.”

His voice was a harsh whisper and as they kissed, Isa ran her hands over the strong contours of shoulders and down his back. It had been so long since she’d explored a man’s body and she’d never felt anything like this.  Bryce played with her nipples and did delicious things to her body with his hands.

“You’re like holding this fragile piece of beauty,” Bryce said as he cupped her breasts. “That fits perfectly in my arms, just for me. I hope you like the way I touch you.”

“Oh yes, very much so,” she whispered.

Isa slipped away from him easily and took her time exploring his body with her hands and lips. She watched his blue eyes darken and his breathing became heavy as she ran her hand down his chest to his torso. Isa took his cock in her grasp and stroked the erect shaft. Bryce groaned and his hips lifted in pleasure each time she stroked him. Their eyes connected and Bryce nodded with a smile.

Isa wrapped her lips around the head of his cock and twirled it lightly, loving the low moan that escaped him. She took him deeper into her mouth and she felt his hands in her hair.  Isa became more feverish in her movements, using her hand as well as her mouth to please him. When Bryce couldn’t stand it any longer, he pulled her up against him with one rough movement and took her lips in a hunger-filled kiss.  He turned to his side so she was lying against the bed and slipped his hand between her legs. He rubbed her clit until her hips rose and fell against his seeking hand and she found release. Then he penetrated her with his fingers and she cried out as pleasure assaulted her.

Isa spread her trembling thighs wider as he used his fingers to fuck her, spearing them deep. He found that secret spot within her, the one that made her body release its sexual fluid all over his hand.  She’d never flown so high before under the ministrations of a man’s touch.

“Come for me, baby. You feel so good wrapped around my fingers,” he coaxed her softly.

A soft whimper escaped Isa as she arched and pumped her hips against his hand.  Her body tensed as she came under the onslaught of desire and she cried out his name. Isa opened her eyes. Bryce was watching her with eyes that were alight with need. This time, when he covered her body, Bryce filled her with his cock in one smooth thrust.  His groan mingled with her soft cry and she wrapped her legs high around his waist. They kissed long and deep as they picked up each other’s rhythms. It turned from a sensual dance to one of pure, unadulterated passion.  His deep penetration was sheer pleasure and Isa writhed beneath him, seeking her release. Bryce looked at her with her lips parted and he kissed her hard.

“Baby, you’re like liquid heat around me,” he groaned out, his breathing harsh.

“I need to come,” she said. “God, I want more, don’t hold back.”

“You have me so hot, I don’t know if I can stand it,” he muttered.

“Then don’t, let’s burn together,” she whispered, and pulled his head down so she could taste his lips.

Bryce brought her leg over his shoulder and thrust upwards into her wet pussy. Their breathing was the only sound in the room, an erotic symphony that only heightened each other’s need.

“Now, oh please now!” she cried out. Her body took up a frenzied pace. “Come with me!”

“Yes, Tawny,” he groaned.

Her body clenched around him like a velvet glove and milked his cock as his release caused him to buck above her body. He didn’t stop moving until he had sent her into the swirling abyss of another orgasm. Bryce’s groan mingled with her cries of ecstasy as they fell over the precipice of pure, unfiltered pleasure. Isa ran her hand over his back as he fell against her and then rolled off to the side.  His soft laugh was in the midst of a heavy, contented sigh.

“Tawny, that was incredible,” he said.

Tawny
. Hearing the name brought reality back in a crashing wave and burst the intimate bubble they’d created moments early.
I’m not meant to be here. He doesn’t even know the real me.

Isa sat up and scrambled off the bed. “I’ve got to go.”

“Hey, you don’t have to. Stay the night and have breakfast with me tomorrow.” Bryce sat up and watched her dress. “We can take my jet to Paris for the weekend.”

She looked back at him and marveled at how with one look she was already aroused and wanted to climb back into bed with him.

Isa shook her head. “I’ve got to go and...Paris... I’ve got to go.”

“Having second thoughts about what we did, or is this playing hard to get?” Bryce asked. “I don’t chase women, just to let you know.”

“You don’t have to chase me, Bryce. I wasn’t expecting you to,” she admitted. “I had fun and I don’t regret a minute of it. I’ll grab my purse and my shoes and see myself out. I have a car coming for me at twelve-thirty.”

“I was hoping I’d see you again,” Bryce said.

Isa looked back at him from the door and answered honestly.  “You probably won’t.”

With that, she rushed out of the room and went downstairs. She found her purse and her shoes the same place she’d left them and opened her purse to look at her cell phone. She had a few minutes before her car arrived and didn’t see her out front then left her stranded, so she took her heels in hand and moved toward the front door. The bouncer was still there and he gave her disheveled appearance a smirk. In return, she gave him the finger. She didn’t care what he thought because she’d never have to see him again. The car pulled up and it barely came to a stop before she was inside.

“Did you have a good time? Is that place as gorgeous on the inside as it is outside?” the driver asked.

“Yes,” was the only word she said. She took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly, reliving the night and the passion she’d shared with Bryce.

At home, Isa took the rumpled gown and placed it on the chair in her bedroom to be cleaned and ready for when Tawny came home.  After a shower, she got into bed and thought about the instant connection she’d found with Bryce. Except he didn’t know who she really was and thought he had been making love to her best friend.
Great job, Isa. The first guy in a long time and he thinks you’re Tawny.

H
er four weeks off had been bliss. Tawny was back home and that was great but Isa wasn’t feeling the greatest. The constant feeling of low-grade nausea and wanting to sleep for thirty-six hours, Isa found she had to throw herself into her new position because seeming to be lax in her job wasn’t part of her personality. Each night she came home, thinking about food made her want to throw up and her bed was bliss to lie in.  She was in bed by six and had to drag herself up by five am to get to work. Tawny looked at her worriedly when she came through the door.