Breaching His Defenses (Love Hack #1) (8 page)

Mikki’s heart threatened to tear from her ribcage. She hadn’t started the night out meaning to goad Jared, but opportunity had struck, and the inspiration was too tempting to ignore. And if he was offering another chance, there was no way she was turning him down. A hint of hesitation—if this became a habit it would be harder to walk away from—mingled with her excitement, both spreading under her skin and making her squirm in anticipation.

She counted off the room numbers to keep from sprinting down the hallway. No reason to make herself breathless before things even started. And then she was there, in front of Jared’s room. The door swung open before she could slide the key into the slot, and his confident grin sent another layer of tingles through her.

He grasped her fingers between his and tugged her inside. His arms wrapped around her waist from behind, and he pulled her back into him as the door clicked shut. Comfort and desire flooded her frame when his solid chest pressed into her spine.

Everywhere he touched, the textures of her clothing caressed her skin. The anticipation had made her hypersensitive. The shift of fabric against her arms, her back, and her stomach sent shudders of want through her.
I can’t believe I’m doing this
. For the second time in less than twenty-four hours, even. She needed to feel his skin on hers, not muted by too many layers of decency. She tilted her head back to rest on his shoulder, exposing her neck.

He took the hint, kisses so light along her skin she wondered if she actually felt them. The hard length digging into her tailbone, though, she definitely felt that. His hands glided forward and under the hem of her shirt, palms resting on her bare stomach. How could such a simple gesture short-circuit so many of her thoughts?

“There’s something alluring—” his voice vibrated through her skin, “—about every curve and slope of your figure, and the thought of revealing it all inch by inch.”

His touch called to the compliment wrapped inside his words. She closed her eyes so she could focus on each sensation.

He made quick work of the buttons on her shirt, breaking contact with her long enough to rake it down her arms and toss it aside. It landed near the bed, but he stayed behind her, hands returning to dance along her ribs.

Cool air brushed her mostly bare chest, and a new thrill rushed through her. Sex with Payton had been getting naked in the dark, crawling under the covers, and a couple of minutes of grinding before he rolled over and fell asleep. She’d been interested in more, but his passive belittling had kept her from asking. Even worse had been finding out after the fact that he blamed the boredom on her lack of impulse.

Last night had been a rush—sex in a public place. But something about now sent a new kind of euphoria racing through her veins. She was standing topless in an almost-stranger’s room, about to let him do whatever he wanted to her. She forced herself to swallow.

His thumbs trailed up her sides, voice low, a commanding current running through it. He brushed the bottom of her breasts, and she gasped in surprise. “Watching you all day, and only having a hint from last night of what’s hidden under your clothes, has been driving me insane.” His hands continued up, fingers brushing her throat before gliding down her spine. “You know what my one consolation is?”

Each time he leaned in, she caught a hint of the rain-and-aftershave scent whispering from him. She shook her head, not trusting herself to speak. The only thing she knew was how wet she was from his attentions. Memories of his fingers bringing her to orgasm teased her, mingling with the thoughts of what it felt like to be spread open when he’d pushed inside her. She had only been in his room a few moments, and already the way he was drawing out the moment was a more delicious torture than she’d ever imagined.

He unsnapped her bra, and the fabric fell away. He drew the straps down her arms, letting the cups drag across her already rock-hard nipples before he tossed the lingerie on top of her other clothing. Everywhere his hands moved, his long, talented fingers danced along her skin. “My only consolation is finally getting to see.”

Oxygen stole from her head when he grazed her shoulder with his teeth, leaving her light-headed and wanting more. “You can see it all if you want.”

“Oh, I want.” The seductive baritone of his voice hummed through every inch of her, adding flames to her desire. He unbuttoned her skirt and slid the zipper down, a tooth at a time.

She pressed back into him, grinding into the erection tempting her. The buttons of his shirt were cool against her bare back, and the cotton teased the hyper-sensitive skin. He inhaled sharply. His fingers dug into her hips. Her belly clenched in response as desire pulsed through her legs.

He pushed on her skirt. It dropped to the floor, pooling around her ankles. He traced a line along the elastic of her string bikini panties. “Black bra and red lacy bottoms? So not only do you not match, but you’re trying to obliterate my thoughts before I even get you naked? Fucking sexy.”

“You’ve figured out my master plan.” she teased.

“I doubt such a thing exists, but I have more important things to focus on.” He moved his hands back up her chest, cupped her breasts, and sucked on the soft flesh between her neck and shoulder.

She gasped, and her knees wobbled at the combination of light pain and exquisite pleasure. He pulled her closer, fingers rolling her nipples, gently at first before he pinched both.

The need between her legs screamed for attention. She ground her butt against him as he massaged and sucked relentlessly. She was vaguely aware of the soft cries tearing from her throat and mingling with his hungry groans.

One of his hands moved away from the pink nub it had been lavishing, but before she could wonder why or feel disappointed, he brushed the crotch of her panties.

“Jesus, you’re soaked.” He rubbed through the lace, pushing the fabric against her slit.

She was too lost in the multiple sensations to reply. She covered his hands with hers, partly to help her stay upright and partly to make sure he kept going. The only thing she could manage was, “Harder.”

He obliged, going straight for her clit, pressing back when she ground into his hand. Was she crying out? She didn’t know, and she didn’t care. Every single touch was pushing her closer to the edge. She tossed her head back further as she came, waves of ecstasy pouring through her. He eased off as she struggled to catch her breath, but he didn’t stop kissing along the back of her neck.

“Better than just okay?” His warm breath teased her skin.

“Better than chocolate.” She managed to find her footing enough to spin and face him. She made a point of studying him. “But I don’t want to make a habit of this.”

His brows rose in response.

He thinks I mean the sex.
Which she should, but she didn’t. She worked her fingers into the knot of his tie, loosening it. “I don’t mind being naked in front of you.” Understatement of the decade. That thought alone was enough to make her even wetter. “But you can’t stay mostly dressed all the time.”

She kicked her shoes and skirt into the rapidly growing pile and tossed his tie on top of it all. He hissed when her nails trailed down his chest, undoing each button in her way.

She dropped her hands to his waist, only fumbling with the belt for a moment before undoing the buckle, then sliding his zipper down. She grasped his shaft, and his growl filled her head. His hot skin seared her cool palm. She worked him free as she dropped to her knees in front of him.

Her tongue flicked over the bulbous head in front of her, licking a drop from the tip. The salty taste flooded her tongue. His fingers tangled in her hair. She took the hint and wrapped her lips around him, taking his length into her mouth and sliding down.

He rocked against her face, grip tightening as his breathing grew shallow. “Jesus.” His voice was strained. “That metal ball on my cock. You’re killing me.”

He caught her wrists, grip tight, and pulled her to her feet. His gaze locked on hers, eyes dark and holding her captive. He pulled her nearer, lips hovering close enough to her ear for his breath to tantalize her skin. “I’d draw this moment out all night if I could.” A hard edge lined his voice. “But I can’t stop thinking about how good it feels to be inside you, and I know how wet you are, and I don’t want anything else right now.”

Each new word sent another pang of want through her. He pushed her backward until her calves collided with the bed. One more nudge, and she was sitting on the mattress looking up at him.

He kneeled in front of her, hand on the back of her neck and thumb brushing her windpipe. “Don’t move.”

Her anticipation spiked again when he stood and stepped back. He tossed his shirt and undershirt aside, standing just out of reach as he undid his belt and unzipped his slacks. When he paused, she stopped breathing for a moment.
What’s he up to?

He bent to fumble with one of his bags and a moment later produced a condom.

Prepared. Again. Did that mean the evening with her was just another plan, and she’d only been the right person at the right time? She pushed the doubt aside and dove into the direct question instead. “So, Mister Impulse-is-horrible-and-scary. Do you have that because you were planning on getting lucky this trip?”

“I have it because it never hurts to be prepared.” Every inch of his body molded to her. “And possibly because hope compelled me to pick up an extra last night.”

The idea sent a new flush of heat through her and tapped a seductive rhythm in her veins.

Within seconds, he’d shed the rest of his clothes and wrapped himself in the rubber. She reached for him. He gave her a wicked smile, grabbed her wrists again, and pulled them above her head as he nudged her onto her back. He bent over her and crushed his lips to hers hard enough their teeth collided. She struggled under his grip, not to break free, but to get closer to his touch.

While his tongue danced with hers, hungry and demanding, his free hand dropped back to her waist. He broke away long enough to tear her panties away and discard them. The friction heightened her want.

He nudged her knee with his. “Scoot back.”

“Yes, sir.” She gave him a teasing smile and relocated to the center of the bed.

He pushed her thighs apart with his knee and moved between them. Lowering his head, he drew his tongue across her nipple and sucked it into his mouth. She gasped and arched her back when he nibbled the hard flesh. He never let up his attentions on the nub as his cock nudged her opening. He pushed inside her, driving in his thick length all at once. His movements were slow at first, drawing out almost to the tip before plunging inside her again. She wanted more. She wanted things fast and hard like the night before. Her hips bucked against him to speed things up.

He sat straight up, driving deeper into her. “If you keep that up, I won’t last.”

“Isn’t that the point?” Her question melted into another moan as he placed his hands on the back of her knees and pressed them toward her chest. The position put him deeper inside her than she’d ever been penetrated and slammed into a spot that made her groan louder with every thrust.

And then he picked up the pace. As he pounded, she felt climax claw its way through her again, and her hands dug into the blankets, looking for something to grab tight. A scream tore from her throat when she came, and she clenched tight around him, focused on every sensation at the same time.

His breathing grew more punctuated, and his thrusts reached a frantic pace. Never breaking the rhythm, he dropped her legs suddenly, rested his hands on either side of her head, and locked his gaze on hers. “You…feel…incredible,” he managed between short breaths. His grunts became staccato and frantic as he peaked. Even after his groans reached their apex, then faded, he continued to pound inside her. Her head floated back to reality, gaze locked on his, as his pace slowed to a stop.

He hovered a little longer, both of them searching for their breaths. She couldn’t look away. Her heart squeezed at the raw lust staring back. What was it about him that had her so captivated? The impulse to curl up in his arms and stay there for hours flooded her, gnawing at a longing she knew wasn’t appropriate. It wasn’t just the sex. The thought hit her hard, and she couldn’t shake it. There was deeper connection she couldn’t place. Damn it. How was any guy ever going to stack up to this once they went their separate ways?

Jared rolled onto his back, struggling to catch his breath. Mikki lay close enough the heat of her skin brushed his, teasing his thoughts with possibilities and memories. Condom disposed of, he pushed onto his side, propped himself up on one elbow, and rested his hand on her stomach. “You were right. Just this once, being impulsive was worth it.”

A gentle smile played on her lips—he liked that look. It was natural and carefree. If he wasn’t careful, he could start to miss it when it wasn’t around. She scooted closer until her side pressed against his chest. “Just this once, huh? Last night was a disappointment after all?”

He traced light lines along her skin, memorizing each silken dip and curve. “Okay, maybe it paid off twice.” He made sure teasing was evident in his tone.

She tilted her head up long enough to kiss him before dropping back again. “I hope all this nasty impulsiveness didn’t take you away from anything important.”

Christ, after feeling that steel ball roll along the head of his cock, he wondered what they could get up to that actually fit the word “nasty.” Just the thought of it was enough to make his pulse race. “I’d say I got quite a bit more out of the evening than I hoped to. Besides, I’m not the only one who snuck out early.”

She studied him for a moment, amusement still dancing on her lips. “But you had a plan, didn’t you?”

He was still trying to figure out how she thought, but he was getting a better idea. It seemed to fall along the lines of the more random, the better. “And you didn’t?”

She chewed on her bottom lip. “Believe it or not, I had a destination in mind. But I suspect this was better.”

“You just suspect?” Pride bristled to the forefront of his thoughts, prodding him to remove any of her doubt. He glided his hand up her stomach and along her ribcage between her breasts. “What can I do to make it certain?”

She laughed and intertwined her fingers with his. “It’s not that. You were incredible. This is incredible. I can’t believe…” She jolted upright, taking his hand with her. “Anyway. There’s still time. You should go with me.”

Uh…
“Where?” He couldn’t peel his gaze from her as she tugged on her bra, and then pulled her top on. She fastened buttons starting from the bottom. Watching her hide her curves was almost as seductive revealing them. She left the top few buttons open, just enough to tease.

She gave her panties a sad glance before shaking her head and shoving them into a side pocket on her purse. She finished dressing and dropped back onto the edge of the bed. “Outside.”

He raised an eyebrow. “I can see how you might not want to get tied down by details.”

She stuck her tongue out at him. “I’ve never seen the strip before. I’m going to see the casinos, be a tourist, everything fun and non-professional that Hayden would lecture me for hours on end if he knew I was doing on his time.”

Jared was pretty sure they could check one thing off that list already. “The strip. Like The Thunder from Down Under?”

Her eyes grew wide. “Should I ask why you know that?”

He smiled at the lilt in her voice. “It’s nothing scandalous. Viv has been talking about it.”

“Mmm.” She sank back into him and rested her cheek against his. “So I’m not keeping you from checking out the male strippers yourself?”

The quiet banter was pleasant, lulling him into a comfortable spot he didn’t mentally get to rest in very often. “Nah. I don’t want those poor men feeling inadequate.”

“Too bad. I think you’d look good up there with them.”

He nipped her earlobe with his teeth. “I don’t need to advertise. I win people over with my personality.”

“You’re so arrogant.” Her entire body went limp, her weight pressing into him. “But I still buy it. That’s how you suckered me.”

Her familiar scent filled his head as he nuzzled her neck. He couldn’t help the serious tone creeping into his voice. “If I thought for a moment you were easily suckered, I wouldn’t be interested.”

“So brains really are sexy?”

He dipped under the bottom of her shirt, palm resting flat on her stomach. “
Your
brains are sexy, just like the rest of you. I just want to know how to keep seeing more.”

Great, now he was taking a light-hearted conversation and turning it intense in just a few swapped words. He wasn’t even sure what he meant. More after the show? No, that wasn’t possible. More of the fascinating mind behind this sexy creature? That was certainly alluring. And just more of her in general. He scrambled to slide things back to neutral territory. “So you’re really ducking out on me to hit up the card tables?”

“I was
really
hoping you’d go with me.”

He needed to tell her no. If he was going to have another sleepless night, it should be spent catching up on work, making sure all his ducks were in a row everywhere, not meandering through Las Vegas, gawking at the sights. He had plans to implement and a promotion to secure. Part of him roared in protest even as he forced the words out. “I can’t. I’m sorry.”

Her back stiffened, and she pulled away. He beat back his disappointment. It wasn’t like he could keep her wrapped up in his arms all night. He needed to get dressed. To move past this infatuation.

The smile she gave him didn’t reach her eyes. “You’re sure? I might get in trouble wandering the streets alone.”

He swallowed hard but couldn’t choke back his regret. He grabbed his own clothes. “I’m sure. Is it a mistake to ask if you have a starting destination in mind?” Why was he still making small talk?

Her brows furrowed, and her mouth twisted in a frown. “A mistake? No.” She stepped back when he reached for her hands. “Presumptuous? Yes. Probably Circus Circus.”

He shoved his hand in his pocket to hide the fingers that wouldn’t stop twitching, and to keep them from tugging her back to him. “Sounds like fun. Enjoy yourself.”

*

Mikki walked straight past the line of cabs. Her insides were twisted in sick knots, and she didn’t even know why. Sure, the brush-off had stung a little. But it wasn’t like she and Jared could just abandon the rest of the world because they’d had a little fun together. She had her life, he had his, and she needed to let him get back to important things.

A lump swelled in her chest at her own implication that she wasn’t important to him. But why would she be? They didn’t know anything about each other.

She stepped out of the flow of foot traffic, leaned her back against the concrete of the building, and tried to bring her racing thoughts under control. Maybe playing fast and loose was catching up to her. Was it possible living for the moment had its drawbacks? No, she refused to believe that. She’d learned to step out of her shell, she’d taught herself lust was lust and shouldn’t bleed into the rest of life, and she could force herself to remember Jared Tippins was just a fling.

Several minutes and breaths later, she had managed to smooth the wrinkles in her thoughts. It wasn’t a big deal. She inhaled a few more breaths of exhaust and heat-laden air and pushed away from the wall. At least she’d gotten out for the night. She could still see the sights.

Going out alone was something she’d learned so long ago; it was a part of her. Growing up around people who didn’t share her interests had taught her early on that if she wanted to have fun, she had to be willing to leave everyone else to their own devices.

Circus Circus still sounded like a good starting spot. The thought tugged some positivity back to the surface. Her step lightened as she headed toward the bright lights and garish carousel top. She stepped through a side door indicating it led to the casino and stopped as joy rushed inside her. It wasn’t the same as Cesar’s. There was something brighter about it. Less…adult.

She smiled and picked her way across the floor. The slot machines were vibrant and eye-catching—cartoon characters, gems, some digital and some mechanical, spinning in relentless circles. But if she wanted to play video games, she had her phone.

She came to a stop at the edge of the pit of card tables. Her hands twitched at her sides. That could be fun.

“You don’t strike me as a poker person.” Jared’s smooth voice flowed over her skin.

Her heart kicked against her ribs, both from being startled and the sudden sensation of him standing so close. His warmth caressed her back, and the intoxicating scent of his cologne made her light-headed. Her smile grew, and she faced him. “Are you following me?”

“If I say yes, does that make things better or worse?”

Good question.
The heat and excitement rushing through her hoped the answer was yes. But since she’d just told herself they needed to tone things back less than ten minutes ago, not to mention the less-than-sweet brush-off in his hotel room, she needed to ignore her rampant hormones. Then again, they were surrounded by people. That would make it difficult to get into too much trouble. Probably. “If you say no, you have to convince me it’s a coincidence you’re here.”

“Not quite a coincidence.” His eyes never left hers, as if he was searching for something. “It turns out I can’t do my work until I have someone on site in the morning, so I thought I’d take a walk. I was hoping you wouldn’t be too hard to find. I’m sorry I blew you off.”

She wanted to push the apology, and the events leading up to it, aside. Act like it was no big deal he’d sought her out. But the rhythm of her pulse tearing through her veins wouldn’t let her ignore how happy she was to see him. “I’m glad you changed your mind.” There, that sounded casual, right? If so, it defied every giddy bubble flitting through her.

He gifted her with one of those rare, genuine smiles she hadn’t seen him use anywhere else. “Me too.”

Silence sank between them, filled with the clatter of bells and chimes in the background. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other. If she stayed here, she was going to do things she shouldn’t. Flirt, be impulsive, hope for another sleepless night. She didn’t know what bothered her more—that he might think less of her for being so flighty, or that she cared. Maybe she should see the town another night.

He locked his gaze on her, eyes searching hers. “I was wondering something, but I don’t know how you’ll take it, and I don’t want to spoil the mood.”

Not what she expected. Was it about the sex? Oh jeez, they weren’t going to have an “it didn’t mean anything” conversation, were they? The subtle lead-in didn’t really seem to be his thing. “I pretty much expect the conversation to go south when you start things off like that.”

“No reason to hold back then. Why did you sign with NSS?”

She felt like the air had been sucked from her lungs. Her eyes grew wide and she looked away. Her gaze flitted around the casino before finally landing on him again, but she didn’t look him in the eye. She should be over this. However, the reminders from Hayden in the last twenty-four hours had her paranoid. Jared already knew she’d taken the NSS offer because of Vivian’s reaction to her hack. Was he just trying to trip her up? “I was under the impression Vivian’s offer wasn’t on the table anymore.”

He frowned, but seconds later the expression melted into neutrality. “Why would you—” He shook his head. “What would we have had to do differently to secure your talent?”

She twisted the edge of her shirt around her fingers. This was too much like the conversation with Vivian. Her racing pulse and thoughts had shifted away from how close he stood.

Hayden had told them what she did—everything she knew—six months ago. Hadn’t he? She couldn’t fathom why he’d keep something so important from them, competition or not. But Hayden seemed far more fixated on the entire thing than either Jared or Vivian. Maybe they’d gotten past their anger? None of it made any sense. What was she supposed to say? She struggled for an answer that wouldn’t turn into a rambling, incoherent ball of thoughts that didn’t quite make sense to her.

His brow furrowed. The seconds dragged on between them, his attention never leaving her. Finally he said, “As long as you’re happy there.”

Of course she was. Wasn’t she? For the second time in the last twenty-four hours, she questioned her own certainty. And it honestly had nothing to do with Jared. Though, she was going to be daydreaming for a long time about the different ways he made her moan. “I guess.”

He shook his head, the creases around his eyes and on his forehead taking a moment to fade. He nodded at the pit behind her. “Were you going to play?”

This was neutral. This she could do. “I’ve never played at tables. I’ve played Texas hold ‘em online. I’ve played at parties.”

“So I’ll show you.” He reached for her, then dropped his hand at the last moment.

Disappointment tickled her senses. She kept her voice low, embarrassed at what she was about to admit. “Not poker.”

“You just said you knew how to play.”

She stepped closer, watching the floor instead of him, chewing on the inside of her cheek. “But I always lose. I’m really bad at reading people.”
Like Hayden?
She didn’t obliterate the thought but tucked it aside to let her secondary processors deal with it. “I always bluff at the wrong time.”

“So no cards? You’re just observing?”

She still wanted to play. And maybe if Jared was here, he could teach her a couple of things. Besides, if she didn’t ask, she’d never do it. “I didn’t say that. I was thinking blackjack. But…I don’t know what I’m supposed to do at the tables.”