“Tell the police to arrest them all. Give them whatever information they need to press charges.” I ended the call.
I glared out of the picture window by the entrance, clenching and unclenching a fist. That NYC purchase had plagued me with nothing but problems. The one-point-eight-million dollar condo I was in the middle of buying in Manhattan would be worthless if I had to endure the constant headache of protesters every time I sealed a deal. Why the hell did I want to live in New York again?
Winters that didn’t reach twenty below zero, for one.
No, I’d act hard and swift. Then I’d be the one to buy the whole block and really give them something to complain about.
“Everything all right?”
I almost jumped at Mara’s question. I turned and looked past her to the booth where we’d been sitting. A young man was bussing our table.
She saw where I looked and waved it off. “I got the bill. I hope you don’t mind not hanging out here long. Home sounds nice after a long day.”
I got the bill. Had any of my dates ever picked up the tab? My mother never bought me dinner, but Mara didn’t know for sure my pockets were lined and loaded.
“Thanks. How can I ever pay you back?” My crooked smile infused heat into her gaze. So easy.
She jingled the keys. “Think you can find the way to my place again?”
Chapter 5
Mara
I couldn’t unlock my door fast enough and I didn’t bother turning on the light. No need. The flames that had ignited between us the previous night burned hotter than ever. The mysterious phone call had threatened to put a hitch in my night, but I shoved it out of my mind. I wasn’t young and naïve anymore, but I wasn’t going to suspect every guy I dated of deceiving me.
I wanted him, wanted his touch all over my body. If anyone could wipe out the stress over my business closing, the shitty news of my mom sick in the hospital, and the dismal outlook of my life in general, it’d be the man who’d just rested his hands on my hips.
Tonight, more than last night, I needed an escape from Mara Jade Baranski’s life. Sam might be a fleeting fling, but he was what the doctor had ordered.
Don’t get tangled up with a man just because he’s good looking. Make sure he’s more handsome inside than out. My mother’s cautionary advice should be heeded, but I didn’t have it in me tonight. Mom hadn’t expected my dad to leave without a care. I didn’t expect Sam to stay. There was a difference. If more grew out of my physical relationship with Sam—win. If he walked, well, the complication of a man had no place in my life now anyway.
Sam’s caress moved up my rib cage until his hands draped my shoulders. He squeezed. I moaned. A massage would rival sex.
“I have a debt to settle with you.” His breath whispered over me. He kissed my neck. “Are you cold?”
His teasing tone implied he knew he’d caused my reaction. He straightened and kneaded my shoulders. I dropped my purse and rolled my head back and forth.
So much tension.
He reached around my front, lifted my sweater, and slipped it off, dropping more kisses on my neck. I moaned and pressed into him. Next, he removed my cami.
The small circles he rubbed up and down my back were divine. How had my knees not buckled?
My bra was unhooked and my breath froze. Fast and furious was the pace I’d anticipated after last night, not slow and sensual.
Warm hands cupped my breasts and he rolled my nipples between his fingers. I leaned back against his chest until he was the only reason I remained standing. Threading my hands through his hair, I enjoyed the multitude of sensations. A gorgeous man at my back, his strong hands stroking me, his soft hair tickling my fingers.
In a sudden movement, he swooped me up. I gasped and grabbed for him.
His hot look of pure desire robbed me of words. Did my expression mirror his?
He must’ve remembered where my room was from when I’d changed, not that there were many places to go in my small house. Without pause, he stretched me out on the bed. So glad I’d made it this morning and it wasn’t in its normal state of disarray.
With a searing look of promise, he rolled me over and continued his sensual massage.
So. Good.
I whined in complaint when he stopped.
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I’m not done.” An easy tug on my hips and I rolled onto my back.
His gaze snagged on my chest. my swollen breasts were slightly reddened from his touch, my nipples jutting toward the ceiling. Peeling down my leggings, he raised his hot gaze to mine.
“Did you know mixing your comic brands is a felony?”
A guy who could tell the difference—hot. “You’ll have to punish me.”
He released one foot from my leggings, then the other, not breaking eye contact. I clung to his words, terrified we’d get interrupted again, that life would intervene like it always did.
“You won’t believe how much I need this.” My words spilled out, a plea for him not to stop.
He cocked a brow and a smug grin lifted his lips. Dancing his fingers over my bare legs, he worked his way up to my panties and laid his hand on my sex. “Oh, I think I can tell.”
I panted and rocked my hips, my legs spreading of their own accord. He shifted so his palm pressed against
