Business Pleasures (Pleasures of the Heart) (3 page)

She laughed at his raised brow and relaxed a little. Okay, so her request did sound a little too forward. “I didn’t mean…”

His lips raised in a sensual smile. “I know. Would you like to go to your house?”

“No. I don’t want to go home tonight. Oh, God that sounded so odd.” In fact, she didn’t want the night to end.

“You can stay at my condo tonight if you want. No pressure, and I’ll sleep on the sofa.” A wide smile followed that statement and she wondered if he was teasing her again. Either way, she found relief in the fact she wouldn’t be alone tonight.

“Thank you. I’m not usually like this. Grace has gone away before and it’s never bothered me.” Oh great, now she babbled like a nervous teen on her first date.

When he cupped her cheek, she met his gaze and sighed. “You don’t have to explain yourself. Take your time. I’ll be here when you are ready to tell me whatever it is that you need to. I’m a patient man and believe the best things in life are worth waiting for.”

Her heart melted and she wanted to trust him. Yet, that little nagging voice in the dark corner of her brain said not to trust any man. They’d all turn on her in time. But her heart told her Kenton was different.

For the first time in your life, follow your heart.

“You are too good for me, Kenton.”

He shook his head. “No. I believe it is the other way around.”

Taking a step forward, he dipped his head and kissed her lightly on the lips, then led her back to his car.

Chapter Four

Kenton wasn’t as patient as he’d liked Aimee to believe. She noticed the way the muscles in his temples worked and the way he white knuckled the steering wheeling on the way to his condo. The act unnerved her to the point that her anxiety reared its ugly head. When he didn’t push for answers she wasn’t ready to give him, she relaxed and pushed away the threat of a panic attack. Plus, by the time they pulled into his building’s parking lot, he’d relaxed and so did she.

She liked Kenton and wanted to see him again. Yet, something made her hesitate. Although for the first time in years she thoroughly enjoyed herself at dinner. The fun and relaxed energy soothed her nerves and helped her open up to people outside her own family. For a little while, she pretended to be in a normal, loving relationship. Even if nothing ever became of their time together.

Suddenly the car door opened, making her jump. Glancing up, she met Kenton’s worried stare. She smiled and stepped out. “I’m fine. I must have been lost in thought.”

With a hand on the small of her back, he led her inside and to the elevator. “Good thoughts, I hope.”

The lightness in his voice chased away some of the shadows that surrounded her on the drive over. “Yes, good ones.”

Surprise sparked the moment he opened his oceanfront condo, allowing her to enter. From the small foyer, she had a great view of the living room. On the far wall, sheer white curtains covered large windows. Beyond those curtains, she guessed, the beach must spread out in quite a vista. The walls were painted a soft, buttery cream color, adding warmth to the spacious room. “This is not what I expected.”

Stepping further into the living room, she heard him set his keys on the coffee table beside them. “What were you expecting?”

She lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. It’s so non-lawyer-like. It’s warm and inviting.”

A chuckle burst from his lips. “Being a lawyer is my job, not who I am.”

She slouched slightly, feeling like a petty bitch. “I’m sorry. I offended you.”

Closing the gap between them, he placed his hands on her shoulders and tugged her back into his front. “No, you didn’t.” His breath feathered over her neck as he lowered his mouth to her ear. “It’d take a lot more than an offhand observation for you to offend me.”

The hairs on her nape and her arms stood on end when he lowered his mouth and pressed his lips to her neck. Her whole body heated and she squeezed her thighs together as her pussy pulsed. God, she wanted to do this, needed to do this.

Lifting her arm, she threaded her fingers through his hair. “You don’t have to sleep on the couch.”

He pulled her tighter against him. “Are you sure?”

No.
Then again, she’d never been sure about anything. Although she promised to follow her heart and not the image of men her mind created—the image that they were all monsters like her ex. Roger seemed like the ideal man when she’d met him. One who could give her a perfect life with the perfect husband who came from money. All that perfection went up in flames as soon as the doors closed on their wedding night and the true Roger came out.

Tonight, she saw a different side to Kenton, a personal side similar to, yet more relaxed than, his professional side. Her heart said to go for it.

“Yes, I’m sure. I’ve hid from the world for far too long. I need to learn to live.” She turned in his arms and met his stare. “My first marriage mirrored the ones most people only see in a psycho-thriller on the Lifetime channel.”

His pupils widened a fraction as his lids narrowed, but to her relief he didn’t ask for details. But Kenton wouldn’t need to. He was the smartest person she knew and he’d connect the dots.

When he didn’t speak, she added, “I’m tired of trying to hold onto the control and want to do something reckless. Like sleeping with my boss.”

One side of his mouth lifted. “I’m far from a reckless person.”

“That’s what makes you safe.” Slipping her hand to the back of his head, she pulled his lips to hers.

Thrusting his tongue inside her mouth, Kenton gripped her ass and lifted her. Instantly, she wrapped her legs around his waist and ground her hips into him. Every movement against his slacks covered erection pushed her closer to the edge.

A moment later, the cool cotton of the bedspread touched her arms as he lowered her to the mattress. He kissed his way down her cheek to her collarbone, then to the top of the low neckline of her dress. Each touch of his lips left a hot trail of tingles on her skin.

He rose on his knees between her thighs and gently tugged her to sit up. When he reached behind her and started to unzip her dress, every muscle in her body went taut and fear sliced her insides. His fingers stilled at her back and she meet his worried gaze.

“What is it?” he asked, his voice soft, gentle, and without judgment.

“Remember the psycho-thriller life?” When he nodded, she averted her gaze. “I have scars.” Her vision blurred and she closed her eyes to hold in the tears. Why, after all this time, did she still allow her past to control her?

He hooked a finger under her chin and tilted her head up slightly, making her open her eyes and meet his gaze. “They only make you a warrior, strong and beautiful.”

Standing, he took her hand and pulled her to her feet. A moment later, he turned her to face the mirrored closet doors. He swiped her hair from her neck and kissed the spot where it met her shoulder. Then, slowly, he lowered the zipper.

Holding her gaze in the mirror, he glided his hands up her arms to rest on her shoulders. When he slid the straps from her shoulders, she gripped his wrist, stopping him. Her heart beat so hard she feared she’d go into cardiac arrest. Yet, it wasn’t Kenton she feared. No, she dreaded his rejection.

“I’ve wanted you since you walked into the interview five years ago. It was a bonus for me that you had an AA in business law.” He kissed her cheek and slid his lips to her ear where he gently bit her earlobe.

Her panties dampened even more and speech seem to be impossible right then. Watching him in the mirror, she loosened her hold on his wrist. His eyes brightened slightly as if her reaction satisfied him in a way she didn’t understand.

“Relax and don’t move.” The deep rumble of his voice rippled through her, sending a jolt of electrical current straight to her core. Anticipation held her perfectly still as he slid the dress down her body to pool at her feet. Only then did she allow her hands to fall to her sides.

The urge to cover herself or run out the door made her skin itch. Her gaze darted to the long jagged scar that ran from the top of her right breast, disappeared under her bra, and continued down to her belly button. Although the nightmare of the day Roger scored her skin with the knife had blurred, the reminder of how he kept her on the short leash stared at her every time she looked in the mirror.

Raising her gaze back to Kenton’s, she let out a shaky breath, but focused on his face. His warm fingers caressed her back in soothing, massaging movements, starting at the base of her back then travelling up to her bra. With an efficient movement, he unhooked her bra.

She gasped and covered her breasts with her arms. The corners of his lips lifted as he pressed them to her ear. “I said don’t move.”

Then he nipped her on the neck, sending a shot of hot desire through her. Damn, if that was her punishment then why should she be good? His brown gaze dipped to her scarred breasts as she lowered her hands, taking the bra with them. Her nipples hardened under his stare and her skin tingled.

With his index finger, he circled her right nipple, barely touching the skin. After the third rotation, he guided his finger to her scar and traced it down to her navel. “Why did he do it?”

She frowned, drawing her brows together. “Control.”

Kenton fisted his hand over her stomach and drew her closer to him. “Control should never be about fear. No one should ever be forced into giving control over to someone else.”

Confusion clouded her thoughts as she stared at him. “I don’t understand.”

A smile formed and he kissed her temple. “I like to be in full control when I make love with my partner. And she has to be able to give it, willingly. Can you do that, Aimee?”

She’d fought for the past five year to gain control over everything in her life because the thought of being controlled again pissed her off and scared the shit out of her. Looking in the mirror at them, she realized what he meant. “You mean as some kind of sexual play?”

“I promise only pleasure.”

“I can’t explain why, but I want to trust you.” The words might be hard to say, but she couldn’t resist being honest. Sure, she wanted to swear off men, to assume they were all dangerous and therefore protect herself from further harm by avoiding relationships altogether, but another part of her was a woman—a live and very hungry woman who missed being touched and desired. She wanted to trust him, wanted to give in to the desire he awakened.

He kissed the top of her shoulder, all the while holding her gaze in the mirror. His tone never changed from the soothing and calm whisper as he said, “It disgusts me that there are men out there who hurt women. I’ll stop anytime you want. Just say so and I’ll stop.”

Out of reflex, she shifted on her feet to move away, but he tightened his hold on her. Fear crept in between them. She closed her eyes and almost cried. God, she was so sick of being afraid. Her body begged for her mind to give up the fight and allow this man to show her what it was like to be pleasured. Could she really give over control, though?

She wasn’t sure, but she wanted to try because Kenton ignited her sex drive like nothing she’d ever experienced. Opening her eyes, she met his patient and warm gaze. Not an ounce of judgment or anger shown through his features.

“Okay. I want to try.”

One corner of his sensual mouth lifted, making his eyes spark with a soft light of compassion and sexual hunger. Flattening his hand on her stomach, he slid it up. He cupped her right breast in his palm before he rolled her nipple between his thumb and index finger. She cried out and arched into his touch, as pinpricks of heightened sensation raced over her flesh. Her pussy ached for his touch, but somehow she guessed that Kenton wouldn’t ease that ache just yet.

He touched her side with his other hand, making her jump. Without a word he skimmed his warm palm over her hip and dipped it inside her panties. His fingers found her clit and pleasure flooded her system, making her moan and rotate her hips against his hand to ease the building pressure.

“Open your eyes. I want you to see how beautiful you look.”

His husky voice sent a jolt of heat down her spine and she opened her eyes to meet his desire hazed gaze in the mirror. Beauty wasn’t the word she’d use to describe the reflection. Breathtaking came to mind. They looked like a couple made for one another.

Her gaze dipped to where his hand disappeared into her panties as he rubbed in circular motions over the sensitive bundle of nerves. He increased his tempo until an organism shuddered through her, making her legs go weak. She gasped as he slipped two fingers inside her and pumped them, intensifying the wave of pleasure crashing over her.

When the last shudder left her body, he scooped her up and carried her to the bed. Gently laying her down, he stepped away and removed his clothes.

When he crawled back on the bed to hover over her, she raised her hand to cup his cheek. Quick but gentle, he gripped her wrists and brought them over her head. A spark of fear flared within. She couldn’t stop it.

“You okay?” His soft whisper didn’t stop the racing of her heart or the skittering panic in her mind. She nodded, though, hoping she’d just push past the fear—she needed to get past all of it, be normal again.

His fingertips gently pushed her hair back and he breathed hard, but otherwise didn’t move. “Aimee, talk to me, baby.” She could see the hunger in his expression, and yet he didn’t push her and didn’t ignore her silent signals. It meant something to her that he was that attuned to her needs.

Gnawing her lip, she shook her head. “I’m fine. We’re fine.” The reality that he waited, that he gave her a moment, seemed to give her some grip on the moment of terror. She realized she did trust him in that moment and going forward. He wouldn’t do anything she didn’t want.

Tracing his hand down, he stroked her chin before tilting her face toward his. “Let me know if that changes.” When he covered her mouth with his, the fear was replaced with need and a desire to submit to his every wish.

“I want to touch you, too,” she said when he broke the kiss to trail lips down her cheek to her neck.