Playing With Pleasure (15 page)

The next two days couldn’t pass quickly enough for Sawyer, and by the time late Saturday evening rolled around and he was standing in front of Paige’s door to pick her up for their dinner date with Raina and Logan, he was dying to see her. Touch her. Kiss her. A week apart was too fucking long, and phone calls and texts were a poor substitute for the reality of being with her.

Jesus, he was
so
whipped, he thought with a rueful shake of his head as he knocked on her door… Then again, he’d never stopped loving Paige, and this time around, he intended to get it right with her. And later tonight, when he brought her back home, he’d finally be able to give her the birthday present he’d never had the chance to a year and a half ago.

She opened the door with a beautiful smile on her face and her eyes bright with joy.
Ahhh
, the knowledge that she’d been just as anxious to see him as he was her was so incredibly gratifying. When she opened her mouth to greet him, he didn’t give her the chance to speak as he guided her back against the nearest wall and fitted his mouth to hers, swallowing her gasp of surprise. He slid a hand around to the back of her neck and angled her head for a better fit.

She returned his kiss just as eagerly, her lips soft and pliant beneath his. And so damn welcoming. He swept his tongue into her mouth, and with a low, hungry groan, he deepened the kiss even more, starving for the sweet taste of her and loving her bold response.

When they were both panting for breath, he eased back a fraction and nipped at her full bottom lip. He skimmed his hands down to rest on the swells of her hips, then rubbed his nose affectionately alongside hers. “Damn, I’ve missed you.” It was the absolute truth, and he wasn’t ashamed to let her know it, either.

Her lids fluttered open, her eyes hazy with desire as she wrapped her arms around his waist. “I missed you, too.”

He trailed soft, warm kisses along her jawline and nuzzled her neck with his lips. “I’m sure you were
way
too busy to really miss me.” Her schedule for the next few weeks was jam-packed, and he knew how late she’d been at her shop every night.

She laughed lightly. “I was. During the day. But at night when I was in bed all alone…”

The tease in her voice made him groan and imagine all the erotic possibilities. Lifting his head from her fragrant neck, he narrowed his gaze. “I
demand
you finish that sentence.” He had to know what went through her head at night and what kind of sexy thoughts she had of him.

She raised a brow. “Demand, huh?”

He feigned a stern look. “Yeah, you can’t leave me hanging like that. How much did you miss me at night? And most importantly, what did you do about it?”

She rested her head against the wall, a sinful smile curving her lips. “I missed you a lot,” she said huskily and licked her bottom lip. “So much that I slid my hand into my panties and…”

A muscle in his jaw clenched. He was torn between amusement and annoyance that she was drawing this out and making him so hot and bothered in the process. Since last Saturday night at his place, and after their conversation on the phone two days ago, she’d become so brazen and sassy.

“And
what
?” he gritted through his teeth.

She released her arms from around his waist and placed her palms against the wall. Her lashes fell half-mast, her gaze as seductive as her descriptions. “I touched myself,” she said, her voice all breathy, as if she were actually in the throes of the fantasy she was creating for him. “I was so wet and sensitive, and I kept on stroking all that slick flesh until my thighs were quivering and that bundle of nerves between my legs was throbbing. And when I knew I was close to coming, I caught my aching clit between my fingers and gave it a slight tug, just like you did to me the night at the club.”

Oh, fuck.
His cock turned to granite in his jeans as he clearly remembered how she’d watched the erotic scene between the two cops and the woman they’d apprehended. He’d plucked Paige’s sweet little clit between his fingers, and she’d gone wild.

“And Sawyer?” she continued, seemingly enjoying the game
he’d
started but she planned to finish. “The orgasm was so, so good.”

He ground his painful erection against the notch between her thighs, making her eyes flare as he hit his intended target through the seam of her black jeans. Clearly, her sexy story had aroused her just as much as it had him. “I want to see you do
all
that.”

“Right now?” she asked incredulously.

Fuck yes.
He bit back the demand, because they both knew they’d be late, and he had no desire to answer to Queen Raina. But the image of Paige with her legs spread wide and her slender fingers stroking her gleaming pussy was seared on his brain and probably would be all night long until he got her alone again.

Not to mention him trying to keep a rein on his unruly dick for the duration of small talk and dinner. “Tonight, Paige,” he said on a low, throaty growl. “I’m going to watch you make yourself come.”

S
awyer and Paige
arrived at Logan and Raina’s with five minutes to spare. The couple met them at the door, and once they were in the living room, Raina welcomed Paige with a warm hug and greeted Sawyer with a polite nod and hello. The vigilance in her gaze told Sawyer that the other woman was still on the fence about his intentions with Paige. On one hand, he couldn’t blame her for looking out for Paige’s best interests. On the other, he wanted the awkward tension between him and Raina gone, especially since she was Paige’s best friend. He wanted her as an ally, not an enemy.

At this moment, it wasn’t to be. The two women sashayed off toward the kitchen, and Sawyer took a brief moment to admire Paige’s ass in the curve-hugging black jeans she’d worn and the fuck-me heels on her feet—quite an improvement over last Saturday’s prim-and-proper dress. Even the emerald-green lace top she’d chosen to wear had a lower neckline that showed off the top swells of her breasts and a bit of tasteful cleavage.

He was beginning to think she’d dressed to tempt him, to make sure he was constantly looking at her, watching her. If so, her ploy was working, because she looked fucking sexy tonight.

Sawyer glanced back at Logan and gave him a wry smile. “She hates my guts, doesn’t she?” She being Queen Raina.

Logan chuckled. “No. She just doesn’t want Paige to get hurt again.”

Sawyer exhaled a frustrated breath. “Which isn’t going to happen.” He’d even confided in Logan about his suspicions about Paige’s stepsister, but the aggravating part was that he would never be able to prove that Ashley had drugged him, and that irked Sawyer to no end.

“You don’t have to convince
me
of that,” Logan said, his tone commiserating. “I believe you, man.”

Sawyer appreciated his friend’s support. “Do you think there is any chance in hell I’ll be able to get into Her Majesty’s good graces again?”

The nickname made Logan smirk. “Groveling works really well,” he suggested.

“You’ve had experience with that, then?” he asked.

Logan’s shoulder lifted in a shrug, and he neither confirmed nor denied the question. “Women in general love it when you hang your head like a bad dog and promise it won’t happen again.”

“Oh my God!” Paige’s scream came from the kitchen, followed by a high-pitched squeal of delight.

The sound startled Sawyer, and he frowned at Logan. “What the hell?”

Logan rocked back on his heels and grinned like a besotted fool. “Raina said yes.”

That explained Paige’s excitement. Sawyer knew Logan had had a custom ring made for Raina and he’d been holding on to it, waiting for the right time to propose, which clearly had happened recently. They’d only been dating for a few months, and in the beginning, Raina had been on the skittish side when it came to relationships, but the two of them had become inseparable and were clearly in love. A few weeks ago, she’d even moved in with Logan, so it wasn’t a surprise that Logan had popped the question.

“I’m really happy for you,” Sawyer said sincerely and gave his friend a bro-like pat on the back. “Congrats, man.”

“Thanks. Raina must be showing Paige the huge rock I bought for her,” he said, puffing his chest out like a proud peacock. “I figured if she was going to say yes to my marriage proposal, then I wanted to make sure that any guy within a five-mile radius could see that ring on her finger.”

Sawyer raised a brow. “A tad possessive, huh?”

“Whatever,” Logan said, not the least bit offended by Sawyer’s comment. “She’s mine, and I want to make sure everyone knows it.”

“Lucky bastard,” Sawyer muttered, because it was true. Despite Raina’s aversion to
him
, she was Logan’s perfect match.

They headed toward the women’s voices. They entered the kitchen, and Logan veered toward the refrigerator while Sawyer deliberately walked toward Raina. As he neared, her expression turned wary.

“I hear congratulations are in order,” he said and prayed she wouldn’t kick him in the nuts as he wrapped her in a warm hug she had no time to plan for or rebuff. “I’m very happy for both of you.”

Raina stiffened in surprise but then hugged him back. When they pulled apart, she actually looked…
flustered
that he’d extended such a kind gesture. Mission accomplished, Sawyer thought, hiding his grin. He didn’t want Raina to think he was a complete caveman or asshole.

“Umm, thank you,” she said, then turned and busied herself pouring two glasses of wine.

Logan twisted the cap off a beer and handed it to Sawyer, then did the same for himself. “Come on, let’s go fire up the barbeque so I can get the chicken on the grill.”

Sawyer followed Logan to the patio and the huge outdoor grilling station that was nearly as big as the inside kitchen, with granite counters, a refrigerator, and a built-in smoker. The women joined them a few minutes later and settled into the nearby wicker chairs.

“So, have you two set a wedding date yet?” Paige asked, her voice infused with excitement.

“I just got the ring on her finger,” Logan said playfully as he scrubbed down the grates on the grill. “Don’t make her panic by talking wedding plans.”

“I’m
fine
,” Raina told her new fiancé with an affectionate smile before turning back to Paige. “I did accept his proposal, but we’re in no rush to get married.”

“Speak for yourself, sugar,” Logan butted in as he placed a marinated chicken breast on the sizzling grill.

Raina rolled her eyes. “Okay, if Logan had
his
way, he’d whisk me to the nearest courthouse and marry me right now, but I want a long engagement.”

“Have you forgotten how persuasive I can be?” Logan asked with a grin.

“Not to mention pushy and bossy and controlling—”

“And you
love
those qualities about me,” Logan said, pointing the tongs at her.

“Maybe. A little,” Raina murmured and gave Logan an intimate look as she took a drink of her wine. “Depending on the time and place…”

“Tonight, and the bedroom,” Logan responded without missing a beat, making Raina’s face flush. “You’ll learn a whole new meaning to pushy, bossy, and controlling.”

Paige laughed. “Oh my God, you two! Would you like Sawyer and me to leave so you guys can get down and dirty?”

“Yes,” Logan joked, just as Raina said an emphatic, “No!”

Raina shook her head at Logan, then started discussing the upcoming bridal expo with Paige, while Sawyer and Logan talked shop and their recent jobs at Noble and Associates. After two weeks in a row on out-of-town security, Sawyer was glad his new assignments were here in the city.

A short time later, Raina stood up and carried the two wineglasses into the house, most likely to refill them. Realizing she was going to be alone for a short time, which would enable him to speak to her without anyone around, Sawyer glanced at Logan’s empty beer bottle and said, “I’m going to get me another beer. You want one?”

“Oh, yeah, sure,” Logan said as he continued turning the chicken breasts over.

Sawyer grabbed Logan’s bottle and took them both into the kitchen, where Raina was struggling to uncork the bottle of wine, her back to him.

“Need some help with that?” he asked as he put the beer bottles in the recycle bin under the sink.

She jumped—clearly, he’d startled her—then she turned around, handing him the corkscrew and bottle. “Yeah, that would be great.”

An awkward silence ensued as he worked the cork out of the neck. When it finally popped out, he set the items on the counter next to the wineglasses and spoke before he lost the opportunity. “Hey, Raina, can I talk to you for a few minutes?”

She met his gaze. The wariness he’d seen earlier was still there but not as prominent. “Sure.”

Okay, at least she hadn’t flat-out refused him, as he’d half expected. “I just wanted to let you know that my feelings for Paige are real, and while I know I have a lot of things to make up for because of what happened in the past, I really want things to work out between her and me.”

She crossed her arms over her chest, her chin lifting a fraction. “Why?”