Maya Banks: Sweet Seduction

"Who says I'm playing?" she whispered.

His hands tightened around her hips, and then he tucked his lips to her ear, nuzzling through her hair.

"If Nathan hadn't already staked a claim, I'd have you in my bed so fast you wouldn't know what hit you. And believe me, sugar, I'd be calling all the shots."

She drew away and rolled her eyes. "I've heard all about you, Hudson. And I can't wait for the day a woman knocks you on your smug ass. I just hope I'm around to see it."

Micah smirked. "Ain't going to happen, babe."

"Does that mean you aren't going to volunteer to take me home?" she asked softly.

Nathan bolted from his seat and reached over to snag her wrist. Julie was so surprised by his action that she just sat there on Micah's lap, gaping up at him.

"Cut the bullshit, Julie. I'm taking you home. Now. It's long past time we had a little chat."

Her eyes narrowed, and she moved further into Micah's embrace, but Nathan didn't let up on his grip.

"We have nothing to talk about, Tucker. And if my options are you driving me home or taking a cab, then I'll go pour myself into a cab."

"Nathan, let it go," Micah said quietly. "Save it for later. I'll drive her home."

Nathan's eyes grew stormy, but he let go of her wrist and then turned and stalked out of the restaurant.

"Asshole," Julie muttered as she rubbed her wrist.

Micah picked her hand up and ran his thumb over her wrist. "You know he wouldn't hurt a hair on your head. And if he had any hair, he'd have already pulled it all out over you and you damn well know it."

She raised an eyebrow. "And what do you know about it?"

He grinned, flashing perfectly white straight teeth. "Women aren't the only ones who gossip, you know."

Her cheeks went warm. "Well, hell," she muttered.

"Too bad I never started going to you for massages," he teased.

She let her head fall onto his shoulder with a groan. "I'm ready to go home now."

"Come on, Julie, we'll take you home and you know it," Serena said.

"No, I'll take her," Micah said. "I told her I would, and I'd never leave a lady in distress."

"You guys going to hang out here until Gray comes?" Julie asked Serena and Damon.

"Of course," Damon said smoothly.

Faith hesitated, her eyes drooping a little sadly. "For the love of God, people. I'm certainly capable of staying by myself until Gray gets here. He, uh, he'll probably be late anyway. He's been running behind a lot lately."

"But the point is you don't have to be by yourself," Damon said. "Serena and I are more than happy to wait with you."

Micah lifted Julie to her feet, impressing her with his strength. Then he stood and took her hand, pulling her toward the door.

When they got to his truck, he opened the passenger door for her, and like a perfect gentlemen, saw her seated before walking around to his side.

The interior smelled faintly of smoke, and it gave her the first serious jones for a cigarette she'd had in two years.

"I didn't realize you smoked," she said when he started the engine.

He winced and smiled a little guiltily. "I didn't think the smell was that obvious."

"Former smoker," she admitted. "Some people love the smell of coffee. Me, I love the smell of cigarettes."

He reached into the door pocket and pulled out a crumpled packet. "I've got one left. Want to share it?"

She sucked in her breath. Damn. It was only one. Well, half a one. What the hell.

"You trying to quit?" she asked as he lit up.

"Yeah."

"How's that working for you?"

He laughed. "I'm down to a few a day. I keep saying each pack is my last, but at least I'm making them last longer."

He took a deep drag and passed it to her. She slid it between her lips and inhaled, closing her eyes.

"Between this and the booze, you're going to have to pour me into bed," she said as she passed it back. "I'll have a head rush from hell."

"How long's it been for you?"

"Two years."

"Impressive. And here I am luring you back to the dark side. I'm a real bastard."

She laughed. Then she cast him a mournful stare. "Why the hell couldn't I be hung up on you?"

Jesus. Had she just said that? Too much to drink. Or maybe it was the cigarette. Or maybe it was just sheer desperation. She'd all but told him how hung up on Nathan she was now.

Micah smiled and passed her back the cigarette. "You're killing the poor guy. Give him a break, okay? Us men aren't too smart when it comes to women, you know?"

She blew out the smoke and sent him a baleful look. "Okay, so a woman all but throws herself at you for weeks, pushes her cleavage in your face, practically takes out a glowing neon sign saying 'I want you,' and then gives you a massage you'll never forget, and you cant figure out she's attracted to you?"

"Okay, Nathan isn't too smart when it comes to women," he said with a chuckle. "Cut him some slack. The poor man doesn't know whether he's coming or going with you."

She scowled. "Well you know what, Micah? I'm damn tired of men not knowing what to do with me. I want a guy who doesn't need an instruction manual, thank you very much. Nathan blew his chance as far as I'm concerned."

"So you're going to torture him endlessly."

"Something like that," she muttered. "Okay, okay, I'll leave him alone. I have bigger fish to fry anyway."

He pulled into her apartment complex and cut the engine. For a moment he sat there just staring over at her with those complex, deep brown eyes.

"You know, Julie, someday a man's going to tame you. I just hope I'm around to see it."

"Ha!" she said as she opened her door. "I'll make a bet that a woman knocks you down a few notches before a man ever tames me."

He held out his hand with a smug grin. "Deal."

She took it and stared back just as hard. "What are the stakes?"

"If you win, you get me, any way you want me. If I win, I get you. Any way I want you."

She took her hand back and crossed her arms over her chest. "There's just one problem with your stakes, slick."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"If you're tamed, your girly might have a thing or two to say about me having you any way I want you. If I'm tamed, the guy in question sure as hell won't appreciate having a third in the mix. I'm not saying I'd mind," she added saucily.

"Don't be so sure of that," he said, a glint in his eyes. "As I have no intention of losing the bet, all we have to worry about is this guy who's going to tame you. My guess is, he's not going to mind allowing me my winnings."

“Cunt instruction manual?" Nathan bit out. "An instruction manual?"

Nathan slammed the truck door and stomped around to the front of the truck to meet Micah and to head into the building that housed the Malone and Sons offices.

Micah chuckled. "Yeah, she was pretty clear on wanting a guy who didn't need an instruction manual to satisfy her."

"I'll show her instruction manual," Nathan gritted out.

God, but the woman was making him crazy. Why was he letting her get to him so bad? It wasn't just the blow job—though, damn, the feisty little wench was good with her mouth.

"Have you and Damon talked about this weekend?" Micah asked.

Nathan looked around and frowned. Faith wasn't in her office, but that didn't mean Gray or Connor wasn't skulking around. Or Pop even. He shuddered at the idea of Pop overhearing this conversation.

"Relax, man. Connor and Gray are out with Pop on a job."

"And what are we doing here again?"

"Picking up the paperwork for our job, and then we're going to head south. You're a grumpy son of a bitch when you're not getting laid, let me tell you."

"How the hell would you know whether I'm getting laid or not?" Nathan growled. "Jesus, why are we talking about this?"