Your Desire Page 7

  In the past two weeks, they’d been active lovers, though at her insistence she hadn’t remained at his apartment overnight again. He assumed it was her effort to keep the two parts of her life separate, and at the beginning he hadn’t minded, had even thought it best.

  Between and around episodes of mind-blowing sex, they’d had long conversations and shared jokes. He started to look forward to her visits, and felt unreasonable pangs of disappointment on days when she called to say she wouldn’t be coming over. Their ordinary talks about what had happened since they’d last been together took on a special importance, even when they meant delaying his painting.

  The closer they became, the more selfish Kailen felt about her. And possessive. Trouble was, he wanted her to feel selfish and possessive about him, too. When he put her in a cab after making love, it hurt to see her go. He wanted her to be in his life for more than a few hours a week, wanted to wake up with her every morning. God, he had it bad. How would he ever be able to let her go?

  Under the glare of the camera lights, where everything was visible, Kailen hoped the secret he held didn’t show in his face. That he’d started to fall in love.

  * * * *

  Finally, Derica’s knock sounded at the door. Kailen grinned when he opened it to find her flushed and nervous. Reaching out, he pulled her into the apartment.

  “What’s wrong?” He took her large shoulder bag from her and tossed it on the couch.

  Her eyes followed its path and he knew if she’d been in her apartment, the purse would have had a place set aside just for it. He had a feeling being able to toss the bag wherever it was convenient was one of the things she liked about being in his home.

  She looked back at him, trying out a smile. It didn’t quite work, so he bent for a quick kiss.

  Derica took a deep breath and looked calmer. “This is the first time we’re going out with your friends.”

  He rubbed his thumb across her cheek and smiled. “You’ve met Noelani and Fauve. My friends are … friendly.” There. He’d gotten her to smile.

  “I know, but here, it’s like a cocoon. I see them when you’re working, not socially. What if—if they don’t like me? I mean to talk to.”

  Insecure? His corporate maven? “Hey, two weeks ago you stepped in front of the cameras for a major advertising campaign and hardly blinked an eye. This is just drinks and dancing at a club with a few people I know. Nothing to be frightened about. I’ll be with you.” He hugged her to him.

  “I know that logically.” She stood quietly for a moment. “Where is it we’re going again?” Her voice was stronger, with no hint of nervousness.

  He pulled away and critically appraised what she wore. “The AG Club. That stands for ‘Anything Goes,’ in case you wondered, and for this club, you’re a bit overdressed.

  “Overdressed? But I…”

  Within seconds he’d reached under her tee shirt and removed her bra, turned and tucked the waistband of the skirt to make it shorter and tugged it lower on her hips. He removed her panties, leaving them on the floor.

  “There.”

  “Kailen, I can’t possibly go out in public without panties or bra.”

  “Sure you can.” He rubbed the back of his hand across her breast and smiled at the immediate reaction of her nipple to his touch. God, he loved how she always seemed to want him. He certainly couldn’t get enough of her. “When we dance tonight I want to feel you with as little between us as possible. In those killer heels, your nipples will be right against mine.” He leaned forward to kiss her.

  Ignoring her look of trepidation, he led her out the door.

  * * * *

  The cab ride from Kailen’s apartment had been a new experience. When Derica slid across the seat, her skirt had covered her ass, but just barely. Getting out was a different story. Kailen held out his hand, then watched her skirt slide up almost to her hips as she climbed from the back seat. Fortunately, he’d positioned himself so no one behind him could see a thing.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered in her ear, and a warm feeling flowed through her at his words.

  The soft cotton of his shirt brushed her arm, and she thought that even in simple jeans and an old, worn shirt, he was more handsome than any man she’d ever seen. The diamond stud twinkled between strands of black hair covering his ear, and the rough, unshaven look she’d come to expect added to his sheer masculinity.

  The erotic magnetism she’d felt for him from the beginning had evolved into a full-fledged addiction. While at work she found herself thinking of Kailen and when she could be with him again. When she was with him, well, she didn’t think. Their time together was magical, even beyond the sex, although that was more fantastic than anything she’d ever imagined.

  Twice he’d voiced concerns that being seen with him wasn’t good for her career. As straight-laced as MiBar was, she agreed with him. But, except for the night of the party, they hadn’t exactly been in a position to be “seen.” Tonight was an exception, but she doubted anyone in her company would be caught dead in a place like the AG Club.

  After their first breakfast out, she’d either cooked or brought food in when she went to his apartment. For the rest of the time, they’d subsisted on each other with a burning passion that hadn’t shown any indication of dying. Her breath quickened with the thought of how many times they’d made love, the different positions they’d tried and the way he never failed to bring her to crashing orgasms.

  Lately though, sharing a quiet conversation while they fixed a meal brought her satisfaction as great as what she felt in bed. She told him of her day, and the interest shining in his eyes warmed her. He told her of something funny that happened on his courier route and the laughter they enjoyed was as good as a kiss. The closeness between them was a warm caress, like when he wrapped her in his arms after making love. She’d never felt like this before.

  “Are you all right?” Kailen looked at her with amusement in his eyes.

  She smiled. “Just thinking.”

  “About something good, obviously.”

  “Oh, yes!”

  He guided her to the front of the club, but still managed to whisper in her ear. “About me?”

  “Ha! You’re not the center of the universe.” Just the center of my universe.

  The thought stunned her. Sometime in the last two weeks, Kailen had crossed the line between a fling out of her normally controlled, organized world into something she didn’t think she could live without. She didn’t want to try to, anyway.

  As though reading her mind he whispered, “I don’t need to be the center of all universes, just yours.” He paid the cover charge and started toward the door.

  She stopped him and reached up to touch his face, not smiling now. He looked into her eyes. The world stopped turning for that moment.

  “I wasn’t looking for a center. But nothing has been the same since that night at the hotel.”

  He didn’t say anything. Derica was aware of people moving around them, but Kailen didn’t seem to mind or care. It was as close as she’d ever come to telling a man she loved him, and she couldn’t tell from his expression if he was happy or sad, or if he even understood what she had tried to say.

  Then she could tell. He looked miserable. Oh, God. What had she done? Obviously he didn’t feel the same about her, and now nothing would be the same.

  She forced a smile. “Come on. Your friends will be wondering about us.” Tugging his hand, she pulled him into the club.

  Once their eyes adjusted to the dimly lit interior, Kailen nodded to a man who waved to them from a table across the room, then he led her through the maze of packed tables.

  In contrast to the seating area, the dance floor was bright with strobe lights cutting the darkness, highlighting everything but lighting nothing. By the time her mind registered what she saw on the floor, the light had moved on, leaving her unsure.

  The music was canned and loud, and Kailen had to talk into her ear in order for her t
o catch the names of his friends. Michael, Danny, and Nick smiled and nodded as Kailen pointed to them. Noelani and Fauve smiled and wiggled their fingers.

  The woman on her right, Sandra, gave her a critical look with no hint of friendliness. For a moment, Derica was caught by Sandra’s striking looks. Black eyes set in olive skin matched the color of her hair, which hung like loose, shimmering satin down her back. Unlike Noelani, she wasn’t petite, and her body was voluptuous and curvy. Something vaguely familiar concerning the unfriendly woman pushed at the back of Derica’s mind, but she couldn’t grasp it. Like Kailen’s paintings, the woman’s bearing emitted sex even while she sat there, unmoving.

  “Nick is my brother,” Kailen said, and she took a longer look at the man sitting on the other side of Sandra.

  There was a resemblance in the dark hair and build. But his eyes were brown, not blue, and his face was softer, fuller, without the strength of Kailen’s features.

  Nick turned toward Sandra, pointing at her empty glass. She nodded and he got up, looking at Kailen with a raised brow.

  “Drink?” he mouthed to Derica.

  “Wine, please,” she shouted.

  He squeezed her shoulder as he left the table and moved toward the bar with Nick.

  “Derica, you’re going to love the AG Club,” Fauve yelled from her spot on the other side of Michael. Her hair was held off of her face with sequined barrettes that matched the sparkly buttons on her gauzy blouse. The buttons weren’t the only distraction on the blouse. Behind the single layer of material, her ample breasts could be seen quite clearly.

  The music changed to a faster tempo, and Fauve shouted, “Whoo!” and threw her arms over her head, clapping to the beat. With a grin at Michael, she stood and moved to the dance floor. Laughing, he got up to follow.

  Danny said something into Noelani’s ear. She looked at Derica then shot a glance at Sandra. Flattening her lips in a worried expression, she said something back. Danny shook his head before answering, and with a flash of an apologetic smile at Derica, she stood to let him lead her to the floor. Noelani’s blouse at least was opaque, but Derica saw with dismay that her skirt was little more than a wide belt. Even without underwear, she felt more clothed than Fauve and Noelani.

  Alone at the table with Sandra, Derica turned to her. Raising her voice she said, “This is an interesting place.” It was an inane comment, but considering how difficult it was to talk over the music, she felt it was the best she could do.

  Sandra shrugged then tapped her manicured nails on the table and stared at the dancers. The cut of her gold satin blouse showed the curve of her breasts. Her curled lip and attitude of total disdain added to her allure, and for the first time, Derica understood the term “sex pot.”

  “Have you been friends with Nick and Kailen for long?”

  Sandra turned her black gaze on Derica and smiled, but without humor. “Years. I was one of Kailen’s first models.” She waited.

  Was she waiting to find out how Derica would respond? Derica didn’t know what to say, but she could now place the woman. In the paintings she’d thought Kailen was part of, the ones that had made her jealous, this woman was featured. Try as she might, she knew she could never like Sandra, and it had nothing to do with the way she was acting at the club.

  Sandra studied her. “You know what kind of paintings he creates, don’t you?”

  “Yes, of course I do.” Derica raised her head and faced the woman’s insolent stare squarely.

  “Well then, you know how intimately he knows his models. He’s a wonderful artist, but he’s very good at making sure his models get everything they need. Or want.” With a sneer, she turned away again.

  Derica blazed with sudden anger. How dare this woman talk about Kailen like that, as though he belonged to her. He didn’t. And he never would if Derica had her way.

  Before she could formulate a reply that suited her mood, Kailen and Nick returned. Kailen slid into the chair beside her after depositing their drinks on the table. He put his arm across her shoulders and pulled her close. She took a deep breath. He wore no cologne, but the light scent of soap and the ever-present hint of paint filled her nostrils. This was Kailen. Her Kailen, her man.

  Immediately she calmed. Sliding closer to him, she shot a glance to her side and took some pleasure in the glare of enmity Sandra aimed at her. Take that, you bitch.

  “What do you think?” His voice was pitched to be heard by her alone.

  “Loud.” In fact, the bass seemed to vibrate through her in a not unpleasant way. Like jungle drums, the rich beat inspired an answering throb deep in her belly. That throb called for Kailen.

  She took a gulp of wine, knowing the combination of alcohol, hot rhythm and Kailen could be explosive, but wanting to take the chance. His earlier response showed he didn’t love her, but she could make him want her. That much she’d proven in the past two weeks. She’d take what she could get.

  “Let’s dance, Kailen.” The voice came from her right.

  Startled at the intrusion, she turned to find Sandra standing with an outstretched hand to Kailen. Nick stared into his drink, his mouth pulled into a thin line. Kailen’s arm tightened around her shoulders.

  “No thanks, Sandra.” Holding up his drink he said, “Cheers.” He clinked his glass against Derica’s glass and met his brother’s eyes as they tapped glasses. Sandra sat, but stared toward the dance floor.

  Kailen took a sip then stood, pulling Derica from her seat. “Come on, let’s see what you can do out there, Lady Executive.”

  She strolled to the edge of the floor ahead of him, making sure her hips swayed with each step. Lights swooped across the floor, making the unlit spots seem even darker than they were. It took a moment to focus and she turned to him for guidance. With a surety of step, he led her to a bare spot.

  A swath of light sliced across his face and the hunger in his eyes cut through her. Raising her arms over her head, she let the fast beat of the music take control. With a life of their own, her hips gyrated in time to the rhythm. The sudden darkness provided a pocket of privacy even on the crowded floor, and she felt his hands on her hips, pulling her closer, matching her twists and rolls with his own hips. His erection rubbed against her, enticing her, tempting her, even through her clothes.

  She dropped her arms, linking her fingers behind his head. Deliciously, painfully slowly his hands inched from her hips to her breasts where his thumbs coaxed her nipples to aching, rigid peaks.

  They weren’t alone in their exploration. A short distance away, Michael suckled Fauve’s bare breast, and on the other side a man and his partner appeared to be screwing as they danced. She turned her head back and Kailen took her lips in a deep, searching kiss. Her blood raced. She wanted him like she’d never wanted anything in her life. She groaned into his mouth, knowing he couldn’t hear it over the music, but hoping he could feel it.

  Suddenly, the music stopped. All lights on the dance floor went out. Seconds later, a slow number began. Without the moving strobes criss-crossing the room, it was surprising how lighting from the table area illuminated the dance floor. When he raised his head Derica saw Kailen’s hooded eyes had darkened. He wrapped his hands over her butt and pulled her closer, until she almost forgot where they were.

  Like a well-choreographed dance, they swayed together, her hips grinding against his, her nipples scraping his chest.

  “God, I want you,” he said into her ear. Reaching under her skirt, he stroked her cheeks. She spread her legs enough for him to slip his fingers between her lips. “You’re so wet.” Leaning back so he could look at her, he asked, “Have you ever made love in a public place?”

  Shocked yet titillated, she shook her head. Licking her lips, she glanced at the slowly moving couples around them.

  “Come on.” He took her hand and pulled her off the floor. Behind their table, a hallway extended to the back of the building. A few feet along the hall was a short offshoot.

  A black pay phone hung on
one side. Kailen backed her up against the wall opposite it. His tongue filled her mouth while his fingers fumbled with the buttons on her blouse, then his shirt. Skin to skin, he pushed against her, side to side and up until she stretched on her toes to meet him. She felt his hands fumbling with the button, then lowering the zipper on his jeans. His firm hands grasped her thighs and pushed her skirt to her hips. With his hand under her knee, he brought her leg to his waist, then thrust into her in one swift drive.

  “Oh!” From a distance she heard people passing, even making comments about the couple fucking by the pay phone, but nothing mattered except this need, this itch, the feeling of completeness she felt when Kailen filled her. Each hard thrust took her a step closer to climax.

  “I think Sandra would like to be where I am now,” she said in his ear, panting to get the words out. The way the woman had looked at Kailen, as though she owned him, tore at Derica. If that was him with her in the painting…

  He grunted. “She’s a bitch. Nick should drop her.”

  “She wants you.” The thought of people around them, their public display, the reassurance that Kailen was here with her, pushed her on. Just a little more and she’d be free of this burning ache low in her belly.

  “She’s a bitch in heat. She wants every man. Except Nick, and that’s what drives him crazy. It’s been that way since they met, modeling for me.” He raised his head, holding himself still inside her. “Do you wish it was her with me instead of you?”

  Her low, hard laugh took her by surprise. “I’d pull out every strand of her hair if I found her back here with you. And then I’d get nasty.”

  His chuckle warmed her. “That’s my girl.” Then his smile disappeared. His gaze dropped to her lips and he took them in an almost savage conquest. His cock drove into her, giving her everything she craved.

  The metal of his zipper teased the tender skin of her thighs. His open mouth found her shoulder where he sucked then scraped her with his teeth. Without warning she felt herself soaring. She held her breath, trembling, unable to speak or even moan. But Kailen moaned, pressing his forehead to hers, pulsing inside her and holding himself rigid as he climaxed.