DEEP: The Complete Man Candy Trilogy (37 page)

Then she dared me to sing one of my favorite classic rock ballads accappella. It wasn't so much a dare as a request. I did it though, feeling strangely shy in front of Joss.
 

When I was finished everyone was quiet. Even Joss was staring at me. It was now or never.

"Joss, truth or dare?"

He looked into my eyes. For a split second I thought I had won. Then he spoke and my triumph instantly deflated.

"Truth."

We all groaned. He looked genuinely miffed.

"What?"

"Truth is for wimps!"

He scowled at me.

"I don't have time to play games anyway."

He turned, walking outside to the terrace. I was hot on his heels. The girls, bless them, stayed inside. I was pretty sure they knew I was crushing on him, even though I hadn't said anything.

Yet.

Joss was clearly not playing along with my plan. I wasn't letting it go though. I'd maneuvered for hours to get him alone!

"Coward!"

He sighed heavily. He sounded tired when he finally spoke.

"What do you want, Trista?"

"I want you to say 'dare.'"

He glanced at me, partially hidden in the shadows.
 

"Fine. Dare."

I stepped closer. He tried to ignore me but I wasn't deterred. I felt his muscles jump when I put my hand on his chest and leaned up to whisper in his ear.

"I dare you to kiss me."

Time stopped. I don't think either of us breathed for a full minute. I could feel the heat coming off his body in waves.

"No."

The hot flush of embarrassment washed over me. I stepped back quickly but he grabbed my hand, turning me so that my back was against the wall.

Well, I hadn't been expecting
that.

He leant over me and stared into my eyes. He looked at my lips and I felt my knees go weak. My heart was hammering in my chest. He was going to kiss me. I just knew it.

"I don't like being told what to do."

I tilted my head back. He was so close. So close to kissing me... I could tell he wanted to.

Then his eyes hardened and he snarled.

"If you need attention so badly, there are a million men who will give it to you. You don't need to go slumming with the help."

I felt like I'd been punched in the gut. I pushed him away and started to run. His hand shot out, dragging me back against him.

"Wait-"

I stared at him, my eyes full of tears. I didn't care anymore though. I just wanted to run away and lick my wounds.

"What do you want Joss? To humiliate me? You've already done that."

"No. I want
this.
"

His mouth crashed down on mine.

Chapter Nine

Joss

 
I inhaled the scent of her as my fingers explored her. She felt like silk under my hands and lips. Soft, warm,
willing
silk.

More than willing. She was eager. If you had asked me I would have said she wanted me as badly as I wanted her.

But that was impossible.

Still, she felt damn good. Better than good. Phenfuckingnominal.

A part of me was screaming that this was dangerous. Risky. Crazy. Wrong.

This was pure madness.

I kicked that voice down with the heel of my boot. I didn't want to hear it right now. It didn't matter. All that mattered was her mouth under mine, her silky hair brushing my skin, her warm body trembling in my arms.

We were hidden from view against the wall. Her soft sounds of pleasure spurred me on as I pushed myself against her. I wanted to absorb her. Mold her.

Devour her.

Our tongues danced with each other, tangling desperately. My cock was standing straight up. It wanted out.

It wanted
in.

Her back arched as I cupped her breasts, moaning at the feel of her in my hand.

"Trista-"

"Don't stop..."

I yanked my hand away. She reached for me but I shook my head, clenching my fists. I forced myself to step away.

"I apologize."

She stared at me, her swollen lips open in surprise. I forced myself to look away before I kissed her again.

Because if I started, I wouldn't be able to stop.

"That was a mistake. It won't happen again."

"What?"

"You might do this sort of thing all the time but I don't."

"Do- what?"

She was blinking up at me, her gorgeous eyes shining in the darkness. I had a feeling she was on the verge on tears. I needed to push her over that edge. Make her hate me.

Then it would be easier to stay away from her. My voice was dripping with condensation.

"Seduce the help."

She looked stunned, like I'd slapped her. Then she straightened up. Her hand dropped from my chest.

"Actually, I've never seduced anyone. Obviously I'm not any good at it."

I watched in agony as she walked away. Every fiber of my being wanted to reach out and yank her back against me. I wanted to take her into the big bed in there and do things to her all night.

Instead I stood there, feeling like my body was burning up.

I waited until I heard everyone go to bed.

I waited.

The whole time her voice was echoing in my head.

What the hell did she mean she had never seduced anyone?

I closed my eyes, leaning my head against the wall.

Did she mean I was the first?

I moaned. The way she'd felt- so pure and perfect- I was starting to think she was the real deal. A good girl who worked hard at her job and just wanted to be kissed.

Her job just happened to be driving men wild with lust.

And she was way,
way
too good at it.

Trista

"Trista. Get up."

"Leave me alone."

"It's Saturday. Cheat day."

I moaned, rolling over in the bed. Normally, I loved Saturdays. Friday night was game night and Saturday was... pancakes and veggie burgers with fries. Pizza. Whatever I wanted.

Saturday meant spending all day in my pajamas. Or on the rare occasion, going out. Usually shopping meant bringing the clothes to me, but I needed more. I was tired of being cooped up.

I wanted to escape.

There was no way I was going out there to face Joss. I'd beg him to let me go out and he would say no. I couldn't take it. Not after he'd rejected me.

Not after he'd kissed me like that.

I could still feel his lips and his hands. His body pressing against mine. The heat of his erection.

It was probably nothing to him. To me, it was everything.

My first real kiss.

Yeah, I was definitely not coming out of my room today.

"Can you send Shast in?"

Jenna looked at me dubiously.

"Should I order pancakes?"

"No, thank you. But I might want you to run a few errands for me later."

"Whatever you want."

She shook her head as I pulled the covers over my head. I had to distract her. And I had to distract
him.

Also, I needed a disguise.

"What now Miss Thang?"

I peeked out from under the covers.

"I need your help."

She cocked an eyebrow at me.
 

"This better be good. I haven't even taken my hormones yet."

I sat up and smiled at her conspiratorially.

"I need a wig. And a distraction. I'm going out."

She perked up immediately.

"Well, you called the right girl. But I am coming with you."

"Okay."

"Where are we going anyway?"

"Somewhere normal people go."

"So, the mall."

I chewed my lip. That didn't sound like that much fun.

"Or the beach?"

"We could go to the area by the pier and do both."

I nodded happily.

"Oh and Shast, we need to get rid of Joss."

"He won't like this."

She was giving me a worried look. I raised my chin.

"I know. And I don't care."

Chapter Ten

Joss

I stared at the security footage incredulously. A very trim, sexy brunette wearing sunglasses and a baseball cap was walking through the hotel lobby to a waiting cab. I would not have recognized my client if it weren't for the six foot tall woman beside her.

Shasta.

I was going to have to have a long talk with her. With
both
of them.

Once I found them.

I felt my palm itch with the urge to spank Trista. I just might do it. Not only had she put herself at risk but her poor assistant looked like she might keel over. I looked at Jenna who was wringing her hands and pacing.

Trista had sent Jenna out halfway across LA for a specific sort of juice and then shimmied over the edge of the balcony. I had thought she was still getting dressed. They had fooled me.

Nobody fooled me.

Oh yes, I wanted to spank her.

It was my fault. I knew it. I'd been avoiding her all morning. When Jenna announced that Trista was sleeping in, I had been relieved. More than relieved.

I had dreaded seeing her after that kiss. She knew that I wanted her now. I didn't want to see the smug look in her eyes. She'd gotten to me and she knew it.

I hadn't known how to act after last night. Or how to feel. Usually I didn't feel anything.

Now I was feeling
everything.

Anger. Fear. Lust. More anger. Annoyance. Maybe even a hint of admiration for how she'd managed to pull this little stunt of hers off.

But mostly I was worried that she was going to get herself into trouble and not be able to get herself out again. What if
he
found her? Or anyone other guy who played rough?

All it took was one red-blooded ordinary American man with a temper. The way she looked, she was bound to get herself into trouble. Any other guy would have taken what she was offering last night. Maybe I should have.

She wouldn't have attempted this foolhardy prank if I'd taken her to bed, I was sure of it. That's because she would still be
in
my bed, and I would be buried inside her. Then again, maybe all she had wanted was a kiss. She had said she was inexperienced. Could she really be that naive and think I would have been satisfied with what had happened on the terrace?
 

That was just the first course. Not even. That was snacks at the bar. What I wanted was the main course.

Fuck it, I wanted
all
the courses.

My laptop pinged and I heaved a sigh of relief. The GPS I'd installed on her phone had worked. I had her.

I set up the app on my phone and headed downstairs, grabbing my spare helmet. Jan had already had my bike dropped off. I needed to move fast and maneuver around the streets of LA. For that I needed my wheels.

I hit the street and headed towards the water.

Trista better hope I had calmed down by the time I got there.

Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to sit down for a week.

Trista

I leaned over the edge of the boardwalk, grinning back at Shast. She snapped a picture of me for my Instagram and hit send. I grinned as the photo racked up thousands of likes and commands almost instantly.

"Maybe I should go brunette after all."

"Don't even speak it. No one will touch those virgin locks of yours without getting through
me.
Swear!"

I giggled. Shast got a little worked up about my hair. She called it the 'holy grail of hair.' Solemnly, I put my hand over my heart.

"I swear."

A bunch of guys walked by and whistled. I blushed. It was utterly ridiculous but I loved that they thought I was just an ordinary girl. Then again, maybe they were whistling at Shastari.

"Can we go on the rides?"

She pulled a wad of cash out of her purse.

"Why not? We got time! We can shop after."

"You think he will be mad when we get back?"

"Joss? Oh yeah, honey. He will be steaming. He might even get fired."

"What?"

"He's paid to protect you, right?"

She looked around dramatically.

"Well, I don't see his ass."

I felt guilty suddenly. I didn't want to get him fired. Plus, if he got fired then I wouldn't get to see him. And I
liked
seeing him.

Just... not today.

"It's not his fault."

"Maybe not but- oh lord!"

I turned to see what Shast was looking at. A crowd of people were bearing down on us. I'd been recognized.

"Maybe that Instagram wasn't the best idea..."

Shasta reached down to pull off her stilettos.

"No shit Sherlock!"

We looked at each other.

"Run!"

We were not really scared as we ran, but nervous laugher bubbled up as we headed farther down the boardwalk. Shast tossed some money at the guy at the ticket stand. He just grinned at me and handed her a fat roll of tickets.

Oh no.

We really,
really
should not have posted that photo online. Everyone knew I was here. It would be only minutes before the paparazzi showed up.

I followed Shast into the park and looked for a place to lay low. She pulled me behind a concession stand. We leaned against the wall, breathing heavily.

"How the hell are we going to get out here?"

"I'm thinking girl. This was not a great idea."

"I know. I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

"Don't worry about me honey. I'm worried about you! I remember Beatle Mania. Someone pulled out a hunk of Paul's hair once."

I swallowed nervously, tugging my wig on tighter.

We could hear the crowd getting louder. My heart was thudding as they got closer. They turned the corner and a girl squealed.

I cringed as they descended on us. I was surrounded instantly. Shast tried to stay with me but I was pushed into the crowd, swallowed up by it.

People were talking to me excitedly, touching me, grabbing me.

I asked them to stop, to please let me go but the frenzy was too much. I saw some cops running toward us trying to break it up. I felt hands on me, sliding over my ass. I felt sick, realizing I was being groped.

I closed my eyes and tried to stop the panic.
 

That's when I heard it. A rumbling engine. I looked up.