Electrified (24 page)

…the moves and body of a sexual tigress, yet the grace of a virtuous lady.

The reporters, the audience, everyone thought she was acting. What they didn’t know was that no one could fake it that well. The contradiction between naughty and nice, good and bad, devious and straight, was exactly who she was. She pretended to know her baser side, but couldn’t keep her sweetness from shining through.

The stripper in her roamed the room, giving the impression she was a predator on the loose that was looking for willing prey, adding a little spice to the bachelor party in progress. She might not work the floor herself, giving lap dances, but a quick visit with her definitely padded her girls’ pockets.

The whole crew was drinking and enjoying lap dances. Her girls were raking in the cash, and that was better than good. Hope they put it away like I tell them to, she thought. In the bank for the future.

She didn’t stay long with the party. They were quite happy with Petal and Sydney, which made Sienna proud as any big sister would be. After leaving the men to savor her protégées, she moved around the room, stopping to say hello to a few regulars and new customers. No pictures, as usual, but she did sign a few napkins, not just with her signature but also an imprint of her lipstick.

As she moved from table to table, she saw the phones come out. No doubt tweeting something about seeing Sienna Flower in the flesh. Petey had both eyes on her every movement and he was making sure that no flashes went off, no one snapped a pic, and definitely no hands reached out.

Sienna also felt Carson’s warm stare on her, searing her skin, heating her, and making her wet in places she’d never experienced. She could almost sense his breath tickling her skin. It would smell like mint and scotch, cooling and heating her flesh at the same time, and leave her panting for more.

As she drifted around the room, her thoughts did laps in her head. What did he want tonight? Did she want the same? What could she possibly do with him that he couldn’t get better elsewhere?

Forty-five minutes had come and gone, and Sienna knew she was avoiding being with Carson. It was one thing to be an adult performer, giving off the essence of every man’s sexual fantasy, it was another to actually be who she played. She was pretty sure Carson didn’t fully understand how absolutely naive she was, not to mention scared.

Avoidance was her only tactic at the moment.

Unfortunately, she caught Carson walking across the room, motioning to Petey that he was going to get his car and meet Sienna out back. She was on borrowed time. The guys wanted Sienna to date, had obviously decided they liked Carson, and they were taking his side.

“Your ride is ready, Sie,” Petey said when he approached her.

Yep, they were on Carson’s side all the way.

She waved toward the stage entrance and held up one finger, signaling she would be just a minute. “Sure, Pete. I need to change first.” She wasn’t really stalling. She couldn’t go out to the car in the gold jumpsuit she was currently wearing. First of all, she was trying to defuse the sexual tension between her and Carson, and the jumpsuit screamed sex. Secondly, it was uncomfortable.

Okay, I need a little more time, too.

Once she felt secure in her leggings and comfy, heather-gray off-the-shoulder sweatshirt, she grabbed Petey to take her out back. Carson was waiting in his rental sports car as she exited the rear door, her arm looped around the bouncer’s arm. It didn’t mean anything, and she let go as soon as she hit the night air and walked briskly toward the little black coupe.

In the short time she knew him, she’d learned Carson liked speed. It occurred to her that he probably liked everything fast in life, not just his cars.

She took a deep breath as the man in question came around the car to help her into the passenger seat. Petey simply gave him a nod and turned to go back inside the club, which allowed Carson to slip his hand underneath Sienna’s hair, his warmth tingling the nape of her neck.

He pulled her in for a kiss, sucking on her lower lip, then moved his other hand around her waist and took his time with her, letting her feel his erection against her when he pulled her closer.

Just when she couldn’t breathe anymore, Carson stepped back the tiniest bit and said, “Sorry I didn’t let you up for air, but I’ve been waiting all night to have you to myself. It’s not easy watching all those other men feast their eyes on you.”

He landed another tiny kiss to the spot on her neck underneath her ear, took a deep breath, pulling in her scent, and whispered, “Let’s go.”

Sienna let out a little sigh, glad that her long sweatshirt covered up where she was undoubtedly soaking through her yoga pants with want and desire.

Carson took her tote, helped her slide in the car, jumped in the driver’s seat, and sped out of the lot.

Sienna’s head whipped back from the acceleration and she immediately gripped her seat. Although she wasn’t sure if it was because of the speed Carson was driving, or what they were speeding toward. The air in the car was thick with want.

She wasn’t a virgin; she really needed to calm herself. She was a stripper, for goodness’ sake. She should be able to at least fake some sexual knowledge.

“You tired?” Carson asked, interrupting her thoughts.

“A little, but it usually takes me a while to settle down when I get home. I’m used to it by now. I go to bed late, but sleep a little later in the morning.”

Changing gears and subjects, Carson said, “Just about there. May I come in for a drink? Help you unwind a little?”

I should’ve gotten that dog. Then I would’ve had someone to come home to.

“That would be nice,” Sienna answered as they pulled up to her house, nervous from the tingles running through her entire body.

Carson carried Sienna’s tote to the door, and turned on the lights when she opened the door. “Sit, I know what to make you and where to get it,” he ordered.

She did as he asked, sinking into the couch to wait for him as if they were a longtime couple who did this every evening. The truth was that she was flat-out exhausted with all the emotions from the week. Her head was like a roller coaster. Up and down, and down and up, worrying over Sam Charles, catching Natalie over at Asher’s, Carson, and what was about to happen.

Before she could get carried away in her head again, Carson sat down next to her with her club soda and cranberry. He had poured himself one finger of something stronger. Having drinks together at the end of the night was beginning to feel as comfortable as a worn-in old sweater.

“Thanks,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I had anyone take care of me.”

“Is that so? I like it. It’s nice seeing you at the club and knowing that I’m taking you home, if not for anything other than to have a drink with you.”

They sat staring at each other, the silence building as thick as the sexually charged air.

Despite his words, his eyes said he wanted much more than a drink. Their usual light brown had darkened with lust. Sienna tried not to stare into their depths, but she couldn’t help herself any more than the way she was damp down below.

“Well, I don’t know how great company I am at this time of night.” She leaned her head back against the cushions of the soft overstuffed couch, and closed her eyes for a second.

“Perfect, you’re just perfect. Did you have a good week?” he asked as he leaned in and brushed a wisp of hair from her brow. His hand started lightly touching her face, rounding her cheek, moving down and massaging her neck, finally landing on her tiny tattoo peeking out from her tank top.

His finger traced the shape delicately, as if he was trying to interpret the meaning. Her flower, trying to survive while being choked by its very own stem, was anything but delicate. It was strong and hearty like she was. Or at least, how she tried to be.

She lifted her head and nodded before taking a quick sip of her drink. “Yes. Asher and I went to Red Rock so I took an extra day off, something I haven’t done in a long time. How was your trip back east? Are you any closer to being finished with whatever you’re working on?”

She watched him, taking in his features, the way his mouth moved when he talked and how expressive his eyes were when he was invested in a conversation. And she liked all of it.

“Unfortunately, no. I’m working a case that’s hard to crack, even for me. I don’t want to ruin the evening talking about work, though.” He leaned closer and inhaled her scent without trying to hide it.

Sienna waited for him to inch closer, leaving no empty space between them. He was searching for someone, just like Sam Charles was looking for her. Carson was someone she should be careful around, perhaps even afraid of, but her mind and body wouldn’t allow that.

He moved in with his lips, feathering them lightly along her cheek as he lifted her hair and tucked it over her shoulder, and then he looked at her with want.

She licked her lips, not sure how to act on her mutual desire, so she stalled. “Have you ever been to Red Rock? It’s so nice. Quiet with the mountains in the background, the desert spread out all around it. Ash and I love it.”

“Hey, I thought you said I didn’t have to worry about Asher being competition,” he teased, smiling while weaving the large fingers of one hand through her smaller ones, his other hand caressing her collarbone and neck, lulling her into relaxation. He knew exactly how to put her at ease.

“Ha, no. Ash is like a brother to me.” Then she laughed, smiling like someone who just won the jackpot, yet she had no idea why she was so deliriously happy. Other than Carson.

“Good,” he said while bringing her hand to his mouth, placing kisses along her petite knuckles, moving up, and making good on the promise in his eyes to please her while gliding his tongue along her wrist.

Sienna closed her eyes for fear she couldn’t extinguish the blaze he was starting in her. She sucked in a deep breath, and let herself adjust to the moment. He took advantage of her relaxing and moved in for a real kiss. A heavy, passionate kiss.

There was nothing slow about the moment anymore. Carson was on top of Sienna within seconds, not putting all his weight on her, but he was definitely making a move. He leaned over her with his weight resting on one arm, the other reaching around Sienna’s slight body, and pulled her against him, showing her how much he wanted her.

Without breaking the insanely deep kiss, he slid his hand from her waist and up her back, all along her spine, then around front, urging her gently to lie back on the couch as he set more fire along the way. She wasn’t wearing a bra, so his hand met nothing but skin when it slipped beneath her sweatshirt, his finger tracing along her nipple.

He slowly massaged one breast, teasing the tender skin, rounding and hardening the tiny bud, and stoking the burn between her legs. He pinched a little harder, making Sienna gasp and gush down below before he went back to slowly teasing again.

Still kissing her, exploring her mouth with his tongue, silently telling her of something much better, Carson moved his hand to her other nipple, giving it the same attention he had just given the first.

Finally, he broke the kiss and looked at Sienna for a sign that this was all right with her, begging her with his eyes to say it was. She couldn’t find the right words, so she just started unbuttoning his shirt as fast as she could before she lost the confidence.

When he was bare-chested, her hands had a mind of their own. She was drawn to his masculine, smooth nipples like a magnet. She didn’t need permission to touch. Everything she needed to know was right there in Carson’s face and the way he was looking at her in a sexual haze. She slowly brought her hands up to his nipples, running small circles around each one before moving down to his smooth, hard abs and back up again, when she pulled him in for another kiss.

He granted her a small kiss before he stopped to take off her sweatshirt. Once they were skin to skin, Sienna thought she might disintegrate from the feelings that overwhelmed her. Her skin broke into huge forest fires everywhere they made contact. She was coming undone from the inside out, and had the fleeting thought that she couldn’t stop what was happening if she wanted to.

She wanted this intimacy in the worst possible way. Every inch of her desired Carson, and now that their bodies were gliding along each other, still half-clothed, she wanted it all.

It didn’t matter that she barely knew him, or that he represented something she was coming to loathe, men who look for missing persons, like Sam Charles. His smile, which seemed to only appear for her, that dimple, the tattoo on his arm that she knew nothing about, and the power when their eyes locked was enough.

It was a raw need, but it must mean something.

There were the little things, too. His fast-driving, enigmatic personality, and the way he made her club soda and cranberry after only knowing her a week. He represented all the sweetness and tenderness she didn’t think she’d ever have in life. She was going to take a little taste of life’s finer things, whether it was good for her or not.

Just a taste, and then she was going to make a new plan on how to survive.

For now, she was going to take it all in. Especially since at the moment, Carson had her tucked into his side and was planting kisses along her neck while his hands made their way down her body. Way down.

He slipped his hands into her pants, roaming her ass, pulling her against his hardness, and showing her his own body’s response. She wanted to be even closer, naked, touching in every way possible, a brand new want and desire for her.

She was practically naked every night at work, but for the first time she really wanted to be truly naked, stripped of any pretense with everything off, all the way down to her soul. She lifted herself a few inches and whispered, “Let’s go to my room.”

Carson stopped what he was doing and took a long, hard look at her. He scanned her face as if trying to determine if she really meant it, making her want it, whatever
it
was, even more. She gave a little nod, encouraging him to move from making out on the couch to the unknown in her bedroom.