Layers Deep (6 page)

But Cross
could hold his own just as well, and even if his moves weren’t
professional and clean cut, he was well trained. It took a few
blocks and swift ducks before I realized his training went beyond
what a normal person would expect as well. And if it wasn’t for his
pure strength, I would have had him. After a few kicks, twists, and
flips, I was down on the mat and he was straddling my hips,
smirking from above. His hands spread my arms over my head,
gripping my wrists. His broad shoulders overwhelmed me and the
smell of him was intoxicating. A funny feeling moved in my belly.
How much I wished life could be simpler: one where my agenda to use
Cross would only involve a primitive sexual relationship, and
perhaps a friend whom I could trust enough to disclose my deepest
secrets.

His lips
pursed and his head turned to the side slightly. I could tell he
was trying to read my expression. I wondered what he saw: the woman
who put up a shield and handled everything on her own, or the one
who for once wanted to be swept off her feet? At that moment, I
wanted to be the second one, who had no worries or problems, whose
only decision for the man sitting on top of her would be whether to
open her lips as a sign of how deeply she wanted him to kiss
her.

I let my
muscles fall limp as he lowered his body to mine. He let go of my
arms, resting his palms at the sides of my shoulders. His sweat
mixed with the Old Spice filled me. The front of his shirt stuck to
his chest, outlining the taut muscles beneath. He slowly lowered,
saying, “If you can’t get me on my shoulders, I’ll just have to
qualify you on different merits.”

I could feel
his breath on my face. His lips were so close, so luscious and
inviting. And instead of opening my mouth for him, I used the
moment of distraction to my advantage. I slid my hands up his arms,
squeezing his biceps provocatively, working my fingers into his
flesh. His face lowered, his hips lifted off me, giving me the
space I needed, and when his mouth almost brushed mine, he closed
his eyes. I grabbed the back of his neck and used my legs as
leverage to lift him above my body, flipping him over me onto his
back.

As I’d
expected, the confusion in his beautiful eyes was priceless. I
straddled him and gripped his wrists above his head, leaning
forward. The instant response underneath my ass couldn’t have made
me happier. Cross wanted me more than I had thought. And God, how
much I wanted him!

“What merits
would those be?” I asked, squeezing my shoulders together, knowing
very well how the valley between my breasts narrowed, popping the
twins high up in my tank top.

“God, you’re
going to drive me crazy with those, aren’t you?” he growled,
lowering his gaze to my cleavage.

“At one point
they used to be one of my best weapons for good tips.” I bit my
lip. “But I’m sure you already know that.” As much as I wanted to
deny how I’d paid my way through college, there was no way Cross
wasn’t aware of my stripping days.

“They still
are,” he said as if mesmerized. “You know the job is yours,
Allie.”

Was it really
possible that Cross would hire me just like that? His captivating
hazels seemed to speak the truth, but it was difficult for me to
believe that for once my life would be uncomplicated and this
good.

“Thank you,” I
whispered, aware of my rising chest and his mouth somehow closing
in, even though I was on top. “I still want to prove myself.”

“Your
credentials speak for themselves, Allie.”

“So applying
is just a formality?”

“Yes. But your
questioning makes me wonder whether you want this job as much as I
want you” – he paused – “to have it.”

“Why do you
want me” – this time I took longer to answer – “to have the
job?”

“This isn’t
the right time to discuss it.” He looked up at Cole, who was
pulling a handful of windex-soaked paper towels across one of the
mirrors. “But I really need you.”

I wanted to
believe Cross referred to the job, but part of me wondered whether
his true desire hid in his shorts underneath my ass.

“Right. And
what are we going to do about this?” I wiggled my hips over his
hardness. Denying I wanted to strip him right there was pointless,
but he was still a potential employer, nothing more. I couldn’t
ruin my chance at working for Cross, even if he said the paperwork
was a formality. “I can’t work for someone who wants to be in my
pants.”

“I want more
than to be in your pants, Allie. But if you wish, I promise to keep
my hands and my dick to myself.”

I wouldn’t
exactly mind if Cross broke the promise. His appetizing lips were
begging to be smothered and moistened. This wasn’t part of my plan.
I didn’t want to be attracted to Cross. And I didn’t want to use
sex to get what I wanted. Not anymore. Perhaps I should just sleep
with him and get it out of the way.

As fast as I’d
flipped him, Cross took hold of my arms, and I was once again on my
back. This time when he straddled me, the hunger in his eyes
glowed. He lowered his body, his chest flat against my front, until
his elbows rested at my sides.

“You’ll visit
your mother, then come to my office on Friday morning. Everything
will be ready.”

“Okay,” I
breathed, finally giving in.

He turned his
head to the right. “I think we’re putting on a show.”

“What?” I
followed Cross’s gaze to a group of ladies lined up behind the
glass wall, watching us with intent. I hadn’t realized time had
passed so quickly and the morning rush had arrived.

Heat flowed to
my face.

“You look
beautiful when you blush.”

“You should
get off me.” I felt my muscles tense.

“I should, and
I will, but know that I don’t want to.”

My heart
flip-flopped as Cross lifted his beautifully aroused body off me.
“I’ll send a car at seven tomorrow morning.”

“Okay.”

A lady covered
her mouth as he strolled out of the exercise room, his full front
tenting out from under his shorts. Cross didn’t seem to care. In
fact, he appeared to enjoy the attention. One woman’s jaw dropped,
and she was in no hurry to pick it up off the floor. If she could
have, she’d probably have ripped the red shorts off Cross’s hips.
He looked back once more as I propped myself up on my elbows, and
he winked.

My insides
twisted with happiness and I bit my lip. I knew I was totally
smitten with Tristan Cross.

Expecting a
cab, I peeked out my window every few seconds. Laura had left for
work already and I was glad. Giving her another excuse about why I
hadn’t applied to Cross Enterprises, to cover up my mother’s past
and her need to stay safe would wear off soon, and she’d suspect
there was more to my stories. My inquisitive friend would grill me
for hours, but I couldn’t go into the details of my mother’s
safety. Five minutes before seven, a silver Bentley pulled up in
front of my apartment, and I couldn’t believe it when Cross stepped
out and did his sexy stroll toward my door.

“Shit!” I
rushed to the front, quickly adjusting my sweater and capris. I
hadn’t thought he’d personally drive me to the airport! Pulling on
the handle, I opened the door before he got a chance to knock.

Holy
fuck!
He looked amazing. The light dress pants and a polo shirt
underneath a jacket suited him even better than the casual jeans.
His light brown hair, still a bit damp, smelled of fresh shampoo.
Cross sported a mysterious grin that lifted the scar on his lip.
The dimple sunk in deeper than it had yesterday, and I wondered
what he was hiding.

“Good morning.
All ready for our trip?” he asked.

“Our
trip?”

“I have some
last minute business to tend to, so this works out well for the
both of us.” He took my suitcase and lifted it like it was a
handbag.

Last minute,
right!

His chiseled
face held a hint of worry, and I noted his body seemed wary of
mine. Darker circles underlined his eyes. Cross kept his distance
this morning. I took a whiff to make sure my deodorant hadn’t
failed me.

“Didn’t sleep
well last night?” I asked, following him to the Bentley.

“No.” He shook
his head. “You kept me up most of the night.”

“Huh?”

After placing
my suitcase in the trunk, he opened the passenger door, and I
climbed into the leather seat. The air-conditioned interior felt
like I’d just stepped into a fridge. Shivers ran up my arms and
goose bumps covered my thighs. Cross closed the door behind him,
and turned my way. His gaze penetrated my whole body, and suddenly
I felt like I could sweat buckets.
Is this how women in
menopause feel?
I wondered.

He took a deep
breath of courage and then exhaled, saying, “I should have done
this yesterday. If I don’t taste your lips, I won’t get any work
done.”

I couldn’t
even reply. In an instant, my words were muffled by his mouth, and
everything inside me shut down. My body went limp, melting into the
seat as my arms flopped at my sides. His hands cupped my face, the
pads of his thumbs caressing my cheeks back and forth as his tongue
spread my lips, sliding into my willing mouth. He explored inside
me, tending to every nook. The longing of his soft kiss pulsed
through my whole body, and I forgot who I was and where I was. I
had no strength to resist him. I could no longer deny Cross and
responded to him, opening my mouth wider, letting my tongue dance
with his. A hint of scotch flowed to me as he lingered around my
gums and moaned deep inside me. If I had ten tequila shots, all at
once, I doubted they’d knock me off my feet as hard as Cross had.
The world spun, the car spun, and when he finally pulled away, I
couldn’t believe what had happened and how much his kiss awakened
the woman inside me.

“You taste
much better than I imagined,” he said into my lips, leaning his
forehead against mine.

I finally let
out the long held breath and asked, “Imagined?”

“I wondered
about your lips all night and couldn’t sleep. Now I don’t have to
wonder anymore.”

Compose
yourself!
I thought.
This trip is important.

“I’m glad I
satisfied your curiosity.” Everything inside me was turning at the
thought of Cross thinking about my lips. Who was this woman sitting
in his car? I’d never allowed anyone to leave me so breathless and
lightheaded and thinking about stupid giddy feelings instead of a
ruthless life.

“You satisfied
only one of them. I’m curious about the rest of your body too.”

Oh,
God!
My whole body tingled with excitement just thinking how
much I wanted to let him explore that too. But the composed and
guarded woman I wanted appeared and spoke instead: “This isn’t a
honeymoon, Cross. If you can’t keep your hands to yourself, perhaps
I should drive after all.” My mouth said one thing, but I so didn’t
mean it. I couldn’t think around this man.

His hands flew
up, palms toward me. “That won’t be necessary. I promise to keep
them to myself. Even at night, I’ll keep them all to myself.” The
grin on Cross’s face said it all. “But I can’t promise I won’t
think about you and your lips.”

At that moment
I imagined his hands on his manhood, stroking himself at night as
he thought about me, and I doubted I could keep my hands away from
my body either. When I touched myself, I’d pretend they were his
fingers on me. And when I came, I’d think of the juices that
lubricated my entrance especially for him. The dampness between my
legs became unbearable. This would be one hell of a trip.

We drove to
New Jersey’s small airport for private planes in silence. From my
side glance, the smile of satisfaction on Cross’s face pushed my
heart rate into overdrive. He acted like he’d accomplished his
mission first thing in the morning and everything ahead was
downhill.

The private
jet was small but cozy. The stewardess served Cross a glass of
scotch, and he asked me whether I’d like anything to drink. I
declined politely and Cross laughed.

“I promise
next time to have tequila on board.”

“I’m not
dependant on tequila, Cross.” I wondered whether he knew about the
bottle in my suitcase I’d packed for my mother.

“I never said
you were.”

Once we landed
in Charleston, another Bentley was parked on the tarmac.

“How many
Bentleys do you own?” I asked.

“This one’s a
rental. It’s a reliable car. Why?”

“I’m surprised
you don’t ride in limos.”

“I like the
feel of my hands on the wheel.” He shrugged. “The photos you
probably googled of me in a limo are publicity shots for the
company.”

“I see. And
the dark-haired women under your arm?” My curiosity was bursting at
the seams.

I bit my lip.
Don’t sound like a jealous girlfriend!
But of course the
composed woman I prided on being had left the moment Cross kissed
me this morning. And since he was answering personal questions, I
wanted to ask.

“Some of them
were hired for the night.” He placed my small suitcase into the
trunk and then came around to open my door.

“Like escort
girls?”

“Yes, but not
in the way you’re thinking. More like struggling actresses wanting
free press.”

“Oh.”

“I don’t sleep
around, Allie. I’m a one-girl kind of a man.”

Somehow I
found that difficult to believe. Was I assuming too much, the way
my friend Laura had about me? When she saw me the first time at the
strip club, she told me she’d thought I was a bitch who slept
around. And she couldn’t have been more wrong. But my best friend
kept my secret and promised to let me know if anyone else at the
force found out. No one had.

“And is there
a girl in your life?” I could have shot myself! Why did he have to
kiss me like that? Like I was his and only his and I was the only
one in his life. Like Mr. Sexy’s life depended on my breathing. I
knew I’d crossed the line this time. That was way too personal even
for me, but he didn’t seem to mind.