Tara Me - Seduced by Fire

She settled farther into his arms. “Thanks for the invite.”

“Can you do dinner next week?” He had the group meeting Thursday night and the play party Friday night, but he was free on Saturday.

“Yes.” She smiled up at him as she answered.

They could work out the details later. For the moment, he only wanted to hold her. She was an astute dancer, following his lead, her body answering his movements. It told him what he had been looking for, and now it was far too easy to picture her body answering his in a much more intimate manner. Would she be as pliable in bed? Dare he hope?

He wanted to ask if she was staying the night at the hotel, but he didn’t want to come across as a jerk who only wanted her for one thing. The truth was, he didn’t just want to go to bed with her; he wanted to get to know her. For now, he would ignore the side of himself that whispered it would do him no good to get to know her if she didn’t share his sexual desires.

He had dated so-called vanilla women before. It was adequate. Filled some of his needs. But he knew that it could never be truly satisfying to him unless his sexual partner genuinely submitted to him. At least in the bedroom.

The woman in his arms might test that need. If they continued on their current path and he found himself even more attracted to her . . .

Well, that was something they would have to explore later.

“You seem far away all of a sudden.”

Yes, he had been and that was a travesty with such a remarkable woman so close. “Forgive me?”

She pulled back slightly and gave a sly smile. “Maybe. If you make it up to me.”

Forget about getting to know her better. When she teased him like that, all he could think about was dragging her off the dance floor and taking her upstairs.

He risked sliding his hand a bit lower down her body so his fingers brushed the top of her ass, and pulled her toward his groin. “Don’t start something you’re not ready to finish.”

“I’m not a tease.”

“Didn’t think you were, just wanted you to know you’re playing with fire.”

She pulled his head down and whispered in his ear, “Would you like to join me in my room for a drink?”

Julie didn’t know what had gotten into her. Probably it was the combination of being dressed up in the gorgeous gown her sister had given her, Daniel, and the dancing. Not to mention, Sasha’s words from over a week ago replayed in her mind all night. She still felt like her friend’s insinuation that Julie wasn’t suitable for Daniel was a challenge of some kind.

All night she’d been basking in the heat between them, acutely aware of the overwhelming powerful maleness of him. He brought out a part of herself she’d rarely experienced. He made her bold. And the way he looked at her? As if she were a rare treat he wanted to savor. Or possibly devour in one bite.

He walked behind her as they left the elevators and moved down the hall toward her room. His hand never left the small of her back, a subtle reminder of his warning downstairs. He was fire and she could either accept his power or not, but he would make no excuses for what he was.

“This is it,” she said, stopping in front of her door.

“Allow me.” He took the key from her and unlocked the room, holding the door open and letting her pass.

Nervous excitement bubbled in her stomach. He looked so male in the middle of the room. So there .

“I actually don’t have anything to drink,” she admitted. “We can order room service or raid the wet bar.”

He started untying his tie. “No problem. I’m not really thirsty.”

He slipped the tie from his neck, placed it on an end table, and started removing his cuff links.

Dear heavens, was he going to strip down just like that?

He nodded to the couch and smiled as if aware of a joke she wasn’t in on. “Have a seat, Julie. I won’t bite. I’m just getting comfortable.”

There were moments that defined your life. Julie knew that. The day she decided to get her MBA. The afternoon she and Sasha found the building they eventually remodeled into the shop. Somehow, she knew, this moment with Daniel was another one.

She was a woman who took what she wanted and in that moment, she wanted Daniel.

“Good idea.” She walked to where he stood and turned so her back faced him. “Help me get this off, will you?”

“Julie.” His voice was a warning. And a promise.

“I just want to get comfortable.”

His hands brushed her shoulders, teased the nape of her neck. She barely had time to take a ragged breath before his lips replaced his fingers and he pressed a soft kiss on the top of her spine.

“If I help you get the gown off, I’ll have you naked and beneath me on that bed in less than ten seconds.”

“I certainly hope so.”

The hands on her shoulders tightened. “There are . . . things you don’t know about me.”

She turned back to face him, met his eyes. “Are you a deranged serial killer?”

There was a smile in his response. “No.”

“Do you kidnap small children?”

“No.”

“Are there any outstanding warrants for your arrest? Does anyone have a restraining order out against you? Have you jumped bail?”

“No. No. And no.”

“Do you have a condom with you?”

“Damn straight I do.”

“Then that paired with what I already know about you is enough.” She turned around again and lowered her neck to give him better access. “Will you help me with the gown?”

He didn’t unzip it immediately. Instead, he placed several kisses along the bare skin of her back. “I’ve wanted to taste you all night. All week.”

She trembled at the feel of his mouth on her, at the sound of his words. He’d been thinking of her just like she’d been thinking of him.

“You taste even better than you did in my fantasy.”

Instead of unzipping her, his hands went to her hair and gently removed each pin. Her hair fell in waves around her face and she moaned in pleasure when he rubbed her scalp, his fingers easing away the soreness of having it up for so long.

“That feels good,” she said, thrilled to have her hair down and even more thrilled at his touch.

“That’s my plan.”

Ever so slowly, the zipper slid down, gradually exposing her to him. His lips followed the path until finally coming to a stop at the small of her back. Two large hands gently pushed the gown from her shoulders.

She turned around as the silken material slipped off her body. The gown didn’t allow for a bra, so she was topless when she faced him. One by one, she undid the buttons on his shirt. “I believe your ten seconds are up.”

He took her hand in his and placed a kiss on her palm. “There’s been a change of plans. Rest assured, though, I’ll still have you under me at some point.”

She couldn’t wait to feel him above her, pressing into her. “Then you better let go of my hand so I can finish unbuttoning your shirt.”

He hesitated for the briefest of moments, but then his easy smile came back. “I suppose it’s only fair since I undressed you.”

Quicker than before, she undid his buttons. The shirt fell away, revealing his hard chest. She ran her hand down the sculpted muscles. “My, my, my. Looks like someone works out.”

“The better to fuck you, my dear.”

Her knees quaked at his dirty talk. She loved a vocal man. “Really? I would have thought that depended on another part of your anatomy.” Her fingers drifted to his waistband.

“When done correctly, it’s a whole body activity.”

How long had it been since she’d been with someone who really knew what he was doing in bed? She couldn’t count in months; years would be closer to the truth.