alone again. Second, what did she know about high class events? Abby may have transitioned to the world of the wealthy with seemingly little issue, but Lil didn’t know where to begin to prepare it. “Will you come with me? I can’t go there alone.”
Her friend looked dubious and said, “You know Abby isn’t wild about me.
Lil reached for Alethea’s hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “I’ll talk to her. I’m sure she’ll add you to the list if I ask.”
Alethea returned the squeeze absently, her growing excitement with some idea quickly overshadowed her concern. “Big party at Dominic Corisi’s place?”
“No at his…”
A huge smile spread across Alethea’s face. “Sounds like something that would have the very best security.”
“I’ll be there,” Alethea promised in a tone that did not make Lil feel any better.
“I mean it.” Lil looked her friend right in the eye, hoping her friend would heed her advice this one time. “Don’t try to circumvent his security. He takes his privacy really seriously. You could get hurt.”
Alethea straightened proudly, tossing her head in a way that reminded Lil of a wild horse. “Or I could get in and imagine the contracts I would pull in after that.”
Lil groaned. “I’m imagining many possible outcomes and none of them good.”
“I’ll keep you on speed dial, okay?” Alethea mimed dialing her number. “First sign of trouble I’ll pretend I’m lost and I’ll call you. Does that make you feel better?”
“Not really.” Lil sighed. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
“Lucky for me, that was a mutual prerequisite to this friendship.”
“Think you’re so funny, huh?” Lil pulled her friend close for a one-arm-hug.
Alethea returned the hug and gave Colby a quick kiss on the cheek. “See you in New York, Lil.”
Conceding to the fact that nothing was likely to stop her friend at this point, Lil said, “It’s at Dominic’s…”
Alethea interrupted Lil before she let herself out of the penthouse. “Don’t tell me. You know it’s more fun for me to figure it out myself. Oh, and call your damn sister.”
A few minutes past eight that night, there was another knock at the door. Lil looked down at her black cotton t-shirt and matching sweat shorts. She wasn’t dressed for company, she was dressed for settling down with the bowl of popcorn she’d just made and watching the sappy movie she’d planned to escape into.
Beautiful, perfectly groomed Jake. The man had probably been born in a charcoal suit. Lil’s hand went to the back of her neck instinctively pushing at the curls she knew had already broken free of the loose knot she’d tied them back in.
He looked as irritated as he sounded. “I could be anybody. No security system is going to keep you safe if you open the door for anyone who knocks.”
She was tempted to tell him how his “security” had already failed once that day, but she held her tongue. She didn’t bother to curb her sarcasm. “Hi, Jake. It’s nice to see you, too. I thought you went back to New York.”
He scowled. “I did.”
“Did you forget something here?” she asked sweetly. Was it wrong to hope the man wasn’t perfect?
He shook his head and walked toward her with purpose. The hair on the back of Lil’s neck tingled and she bit her lip. There was something different about him tonight. Something both dangerous and incredibly hot at the same time.
She took a step back.
“Where is Colby?” he asked softly, prowling toward her.
“In bed for the night,” Lil said hoarsely.
He advanced until they were so close that she could see the desire burning in his eyes. “I have responsibilities in New York. Meetings scheduled. Documents to prepare before the weekend. I don’t have time for this,” he said gruffly.
Lil swallowed nervously, feeling desire whip through her in response. Was he saying that she thought he was saying?
“But I’m here.” He reached out and cupped the back of her head, pulling her closer, tilting her head up to his.
Lil licked her lips.
“I can’t concentrate in New York. All I can think about is this…” His head swooped down and he claimed her. His tongue slipped inside her lips and drew an instant and overwhelming response from every inch of Lil. He was savoring, devouring her and she couldn’t get enough of it. She welcomed him passionately. Her hands slid beneath his jacket and gripped the rippling muscles of his back. He put a hand on her behind and pulled her against him, positioning her against his excitement. “And this.”
He explored her neck with his lips, teasing just below her ear with the tip of this tongue. His hot breath added to her building excitement as she remembered how it had warmed her thighs and other areas of her body that were already pulsing and begging for his attention.
“You can send me away.” His strong hands negated his words, holding her, seeking out the entry beneath her clothing. “Say the word and I’ll go.”
Nothing about this made any sense.
He’d made no promises to her, but oddly that was what she found tempting. She wouldn’t have believed declarations of devotion. This was real. This was what men wanted and, at that moment, she couldn’t deny that it was what she wanted, too. She wanted to lose herself in the overwhelming sensations his nearness elicited, drown in the escape that this level of passion offered.
One of his hands slid beneath the back elastic of her shorts. “Look at me,” he commanded.
Lil had a flash of their first time together. Wonderful as it had been, he had given very little of himself, revealed even less. This time she wanted more. She would demand more.
“I have one condition to us doing this,” she said breathlessly and fingered the buttons on his shirt.
“Name it,” he growled.
“I want to play a game this time,” she said and peered up at him from beneath her lashes.
“A game?” His head pulled back. “I don’t do anything that involves restraint or pain.”
She slapped his chest playfully. “And you think I do?”
He leaned down to nuzzle her neck, “I have no idea.” His hand slid beneath her waistband again, this time also sliding beneath the back of her silk panties and closing on her hind cheek with a proprietorial squeeze. “But I want to know. I want to know everything about you.”
She smiled. “Perfect, then you’ll enjoy this game.” She stepped back and away from him. “Have you ever played Truth or Dare?”
“No,” he said and his frustration with her insertion of dialogue into what was a highly charged sexual moment was clear in both his facial expression and tone.
“Well, this is a variation of it. Truth or Strip. I’ll ask you a question and if you don’t feel comfortable answering it, you remove an article of clothing.”
He reached for her again, but she moved out of his reach.
“An article of
“Wouldn’t it be nicer to simply let me explore you? I missed a few places last time and I’d like to rectify that.”
Tempting as that offer was, she moved even further away and shook her head. “I’ll start with an easy one. Do
