Possess Me (2 page)

Bone Daddy.

That’s what they called him. A walking, talking, well-hung pleasure factory who, with a few easy orgasms, could bring you whatever your heart desired. Your boyfriend would propose, your boss would give you a raise. Rumor had it he could even heal your scars, inside and out.
If
you satisfied his lust.

The conversations were confusing, since they didn’t seem to jibe with her own observations of Rousseau. With her, Rousseau was solicitous but shy. And always respectful. Maybe she wasn’t his type, though sometimes she thought she saw something in his eyes. Lust. For her. And it gave her hope.

She could be mistaking pity or heartburn for desire, but she didn’t think so. She couldn’t be wrong. Her feelings were far too intense to be one-sided.

Yes. He was trouble. But it was exactly the kind of trouble she wanted. After a year of being resigned to the life of a shut-in, the wild thing in her wanted to come out and play. And it only wanted to play with him.

“Earth to Allegra, come in loony lady. You haven’t heard a word I’ve said, have you?”

Allegra blinked, coming back to the present. “Probably not. Chelle, you know what this last year’s been like for me. I thought you told me it was time to take some chances again. To jump off a few new cliffs.”

“Baby cliffs, hon. You don’t just go straight for the Grand Canyon. If I hadn’t seen Stacy make such a fool of herself over him, maybe I’d be singing the ‘I saw him first’ tune. Unfortunately I had a front row seat to the crazy show.”

“You told me. She followed him around like a groupie.”

Michelle huffed. “Worse. She did everything short of throwing herself on his counter and spreading her legs. When she finally crossed that line as well, he took her up on her offer.” She shrugged. “But maybe he’s not the stud the gossips make him out to be. I mean, if he was, would she really leave the state less than a week after landing him?”

“It
was
the job of her dreams.” Allegra mentally chalked another one up for Bone Daddy Rousseau. That man had some heavy-duty mojo. Occasionally it struck her as odd that she wasn’t jealous, hearing about all these ladies and the lengths they were willing to go for his attention. She didn’t like the thought of him with other women, but that in no way deterred her from going after him. Was Michelle right? Was she begging for more heart-break?

Michelle reached for her hand. “That isn’t the point. Look, instead of deciding to go after Rousseau, why don’t you let me introduce you to one of the teachers from my school? Then at least I’d know you’d be safe.”

“Is she in danger? Sounds exciting. What have you gotten yourself into now, darlin’?” A tall, muscular blond with a sexy smile twirled an empty chair around and straddled it to sit beside them, setting two plates of cheesecake drizzled in praline sauce down on the table in front of the wide-eyed women. “I stole these from that sweet little waitress with the big . . . personality. Your favorite, isn’t it, Mimi?”

Michelle didn’t look like she appreciated the interruption. “I don’t know why I thought you’d listen to me. You didn’t take my advice when I told you to stay away from Benjamin Adair.”

Allegra covered her mouth to hide her grin. “Hi, Ben.”

“Afternoon, Legs. I don’t think Mimi is too happy to see me.” He dipped his finger in the whipped topping on Michelle’s plate, popping it into his mouth with a moan. “It’s not as good as the chocolate caramel rolls at Café Bwe, but still decadent enough to tempt anyone with a pulse.”

“I’d rather be undead, thank you very much. I’ve got to get back to work, Allegra. We’ll talk about this later.” Michelle slid her purse over her shoulder and stood to leave. “Don’t do anything crazy until then. In other words, don’t listen to a word he says.”

Ben leaned back to watch her walk away and let out a low whistle. “She’s feistier than usual today. You told her, huh?”

“Not that you were helping me. She’d lock me in the apartment for the next millennium if she knew.”

Ben had told her that he and Michelle had been friends when they were children, but they’d grown apart. Allegra was sure there was more to the story. The two of them avoided each other whenever possible, and snapped at each other incessantly each time they met. Well, Michelle snapped at Ben. He just scared her away with sexual innuendo.

He pulled Michelle’s dessert closer, dipping his finger in the creamy concoction once more before holding it up to Allegra’s lips. “We can’t have that, can we, Legs? Can’t let the mean ol’ teacher ruin all our fun.”

Her lips tingled and she opened her mouth, tongue flicking the pad of his finger. His thick lashes fluttered in surprise, and he smiled in approval.

She rolled her eyes. “You’re a big tease, Ben Adair.”

But she had to admit, he was infinitely charming. He’d just shown up at her special table at Café Bwe one day, acting as though they’d know each other for years. When she’d told him her name, he decided to call her Legs for short. From anyone else she’d think it insulting. After all, she walked with a distinctive limp, and beneath her sweat pants her left knee was riddled with scar tissue from multiple surgeries. But Ben’s green eyes had been full of mischief, free from judgment. And he’d also been a fount of information on her favorite subject. Rousseau.

From Ben, she’d discovered the unique looks she’d been salivating over came from Rousseau’s unusual ancestry. His father was of Haitian descent, and his mother was half Irish, half Portuguese. It was a breathtaking combination.

She’d also learned he’d basically raised himself and taken care of his mother and sisters since he was very young. His father wasn’t exactly a model citizen. But Rousseau hadn’t let those obstacles stop him from owning his own business, from sending his youngest sister to college. If it weren’t for his tomcatting reputation, he’d be too good to be true.

Ben frowned. “I’m sensing doubt, my lovely. What’s wrong?”

She’d barely admitted it to herself, yet he sensed it. He was too intuitive for his own good. “I don’t know, Ben. It’s just that . . .”

“He’s never made a move on you, and you’ve seen him out with other women.
Lots
of other women.”

She gave him a sideways glare. “You’re kind of creepy when you do that.”

He shrugged. “I can’t help it, Legs. It’s a family gift. As far as Rousseau, well, he’s a complicated man, I won’t lie. But you have to trust me, all is not what it seems. It’s you he wants. I’ve never seen him so out of sorts over a woman. He just needs the proper incentive.” He took her hand in his, his thumb lightly caressing her knuckles until she shivered. “I can get him there tonight, keep the wolves at bay so to speak. But you have to let him know, without a doubt, that it’s him you want.”

“It’s harder for women. If we push, we come off as too easy or aggressive. If we don’t, you think we’re prudes.” Allegra leaned back in her chair with a sigh. “What if he says no?”

“Then he’s a fool, and I’ll be more than happy to personally relieve you of any and all of your pent-up frustration.”

She tried to smile at his flattery, but she just wasn’t sure if she still had the nerve she’d always been famous for. The stuff of legends, Michelle had once called her. No dare was too dangerous, no mountain too steep.

That’s who she used to be. Before she’d taken one dare too many.

Being with Rousseau was the first thing in a long time she wanted enough to take that leap for. But he had so many beautiful women after him. She couldn’t help but doubt that he’d be interested in a skinny girl with scars on her arms and legs. A girl who walked with a cane because, no matter how much physical therapy she’d had, or how many miles she walked, her left leg would never work right again.

Ben tsked, reading her thoughts again. “You are beautiful. All those luscious strawberry curls, the delicate freckles scattered across your creamy skin. He has a penchant for freckles. So do I. He’ll want to lick every single one.” He leaned in closer. “Your eyes alone would make any man fall in love with you. So big and blue. So lost. They turn a man inside out with the need to protect you. To make you smile.”

Allegra glared. “I’m not broken. Not lost or fragile. I never have been. If that’s what he wants . . .”

Ben laid his hand over hers. “He wants
you
, Legs. And I’m going to give you to him. But not without my price.”

The price. When he’d first mentioned being a part of her plan, she’d thought he was joking. Allegra studied his intent expression and knew he wasn’t. She knew he found her attractive. The parts of her he’d seen anyway. And she had to admit he was the exact type she used to fall for. The polar opposite of Rousseau in looks and demeanor.

Three wasn’t the number Allegra usually thought of when she imagined herself and Rousseau together. Not that she’d never fantasized about it. What it would be like to have two men focused on her pleasure, touching her, taking her. It was just one of those adventures she’d never sought out. Surely Rousseau wouldn’t take him up on it.

She bit her lip. What would she do if he did?

“You’re not helping to calm me down at all.”

His smile was devilish. “That’s a good sign.”

Allegra shook her head at his teasing. “I should go back to the apartment. If I’m going to be a femme fatale tonight I need a long soak in the tub. No man will find a woman who creaks when she walks irresistible.”

Ben dug into the cheesecake in front of him. “He will if
you
do it, Legs. Trust me. And don’t be late.”

She dropped a tip on the table and limped away, mumbling under her breath. “Yeah, better not be late. Wouldn’t want to miss my biggest crash and burn of all time.”

THE PLACE WAS PACKED. CROWDED AND LOUD, HOT WITH
bodies and expectations.

Rousseau lifted a watered-down soda to his lips and grimaced. What had he expected? Even in September, the weekends still brought revelers to the Big Easy. He hated this. Why had he allowed Ben to talk him into leaving the loft? It was just asking for trouble. At home he’d be able to do the paperwork for the café. Finally get through that book he’d been reading.

You are nothing if not boring. You’re also a liar. You merely want the chance to see
her
through the window across the way. Maybe that Toussaint girl would be massaging her leg again. Mmmmm. Or maybe she’d be alone, walking around in nothing but those sweet pink panties with all that lace in the front. I’d love to tear those off with my teeth and stick my tongue—

“Shut. Up.”

“Talking to yourself again?” Ben’s knowing grin set Rousseau’s teeth on edge. Bastard. He knew better than most how much he disliked these crowded clubs in the Quarter. Full of drunken women and men, all looking for the same thing.

It brought out something inside him he couldn’t control. Something that kept him from having a normal life, from asking someone on a date where he didn’t wake up with a stranger or two, surrounded by handcuffs, whips, and memories that would make even the lewdest of men blush. “Why are we here, Ben? You said you needed me. Needed to talk. We could have done that at the loft.”

Ben took a long pull of his wet beer bottle, his throat working, eyes closed as he enjoyed the taste. Rousseau envied him, but he didn’t trust himself with alcohol anymore. It made it too easy to lose control.

His friend set the bottle down and leaned back against the booth. “Relax, man. It’s dark. We’re hidden away in a corner booth. We can see the whole room from here, but no one is looking at us. And I do need to talk to you. About Allegra.”

Here it came. He knew it would. How many days had he looked up from the line of ogling women to find her sitting at the table
he’d
put outside for her, laughing at something Ben was saying? Too many. “You want her. Be careful. She’s Michelle’s friend.”

Ben laughed, shaking his head. “A man would have to be blind not to. And Michelle has no hold on me. Seems to think I’m a bad influence on Allegra. But I’ve told you before, it’s not me she wants, though I do think she’s attracted.” Rousseau tensed and Ben sighed, leaning across the table. “Allegra Jarrod wants you, Rousseau. Not him. Not the experience. You. She doesn’t even know he exists, but I sense she could handle it if she did.”

That was the problem. If she knew, there would be no secrets, no possibility of disbelief or rejection. She would come to him. Or run away as fast as she could.

She liked the man she imagined him to be. But she didn’t know what he was. Didn’t know what his father’s lust and arrogance had made him. And he didn’t want her to know. “You
sensed
she could handle it? Your gift must be on the fritz. There is no woman who would want more than a night or two with me. No woman on this earth. And we both know it. I think it’s better for everyone if we leave well enough alone. She doesn’t need to know what I am. You can have her if you want. I’m going home.”