Primal Elements (11 page)

Jenna gave her head a shake to break the spell of the back-and-forth movement between his hands as he tossed the ball. She stabbed the knife into the piece of melon she forgot she was cutting and moved to stand in front of the island.

“What do you want? I’m really busy.”

“Yes, I can see that.” He made no attempt this time to hide the fact he was checking 78

her out. “Big date?”

Her spine straightened on reflex.
Enough of this.
He wasn’t going to win this time.

She would deal with him like she should have seven years ago when he sabotaged her project. Locking her fingers together behind her back, Jenna took three steps into the room and waited until she had his complete attention. She then took one more step to close the distance between them and to guarantee he was paying attention.

“What…do…you…want? Either give me a straight answer or get the fuck out of my apartment.”

She kept her gaze fixed firmly on his eyes. The pupils were so large they swallowed up the color of his irises. His nostrils flared as he took a deep breath. But when he spoke she was surprised when his voice was gentle, almost sad.

“To find out why you are so angry with me.”

A small part of her felt guilty, but she wasn’t going to back down now. He needed to know, if not for her sake, then for his own.

“I don’t know, maybe because you’re a bully.”

When he recoiled she knew he wasn’t going to understand. She had to calm down or this wasn’t going to work.

“I’m angry at you because I’ve seen the other half. The unselfish part of you that wants to give, to really be with another person. But as soon as something comes along that might hurt you, challenge your views of the world,
that
Ben disappears and the jerk comes back.”

Desperately, she waited to see if her words would sink in. Some small sign that he understood. But nothing changed. Jenna felt her heart ache. She was going to lose him before she’d really gotten through.

“You should leave,” she whispered.

Slowly, he reached up and brushed a piece of her hair from her cheek. The warmth of his touch penetrated her, slipping past her defenses and into her heart. A pressure built in her throat, the muscles tight around the lump that had formed.

The frown on his face ran deep. “I can’t change who I am. Even if nothing was more important to me. You know that.”

Why not?
Her inner child wanted to rant, to get him to see that he could change and that it had nothing to do with her. She really looked at him for the first time since their date. Thin worry lines were etched into his face, across his forehead and around his mouth. For the first time since she’d met him, Ben didn’t look completely in control.

Knowing that, her anger softened into annoyance.

Begrudgingly, she nodded. “Can’t blame a girl for trying.”

“I would think there was something wrong if you didn’t. That’s one of the things I respect about you, Jen.”

Respect, but not love. She shouldn’t even have those delusions. He may be hot and horny for her, but love wasn’t a place he traveled. She’d watched the broken hearts of 79

his past lovers splash across the Martian Flats tabloid over the years.

But still. “Why are you here then?”

“I’m here to ask you to come back to the project. They need you.”

His lips clamped together, as if he didn’t want to give her too many details all at once.

Jenna shook her head and sat down on her couch. “I’ve never left the project, you know that. I talk to Roger every day and review the results.”

Ben moved her chair so he sat directly across from her. Just close enough she could feel his body heat, but far enough away they couldn’t bump knees. The familiar charge began to swirl in the small space between them. It hadn’t reached her yet and she was able to keep her body still, keep her outwardly appearance of calm control.

Resting his elbows on his knees, he leaned in, closing the distance between them. A sudden rush of his scent was on her then. Her body responded, but she didn’t move.

Ben didn’t seem to notice and continued.

“It’s not the same and you know it. Roger is barely able to manage the personnel.

He and Gareth are constantly taking swipes at each other, and no one seems to be able to make any forward progress on this thing. They need you.”

She closed her eyes and tried to fight off the oncoming frustration. Of course she knew Roger was having problems with the project. They’d struck a deal four years ago when they’d first started working together. He’d oversee the data, she’d oversee the people. Socializing and small talk were not his strengths, and everyone was thankful when Jenna stepped up to fill in the gaps. Roger was drowning out there and it was her fault.

But not completely her fault.

“Can’t you control Gareth? He is your guy after all.”

“I’ve talked to him,” he said in a frustrated tone of his own. “He’s got it in his head that if he figures out what that device of yours does, that I’m going to promote him to the VP of research.”

Jenna had to smile at the idea of Ben being chased on a daily basis by the weasel of a man.

“I hope you straightened him out.”

When she opened her eyes, Jenna was surprised to see Ben staring at her chest. Her already hard nipples pebbled further. Slowly, he shifted his gaze up her body to her face. Finally, he reached her eyes, where she saw a deep hunger reflected back at her.

He looked like he was ready to pounce.

“Of course I did,” he said, his voice husky with an edge to it.

Jenna’s mouth grew suddenly dry. “I talked to Roger earlier. I’ve given him a strategy for dealing with the next few days. That should give me enough time to figure out what I’m going to do.”

Ben sat straight. “What do you mean?”

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She should say something about the job offer she’d received yesterday from Paq Ridge Research. Department head was a very tempting offer. If she wasn’t neck-deep in figuring out the device they’d discovered, she would have jumped at the opportunity.

One look at him told her this wasn’t the time to talk about career moves.

It was Jenna’s turn to lean forward. Her elbows dug sharply into the sensitive flesh above her knees.

“I’m not sure if I can go back to the site. With everything going on, the fighting between Gareth and Roger, not to mention the…emotional strains of working such long hours. It’s starting to get to me.”

Ben stood. He shoved one hand into his pants pocket while scratching his head with the other.

“You’re kidding.”

Jenna groaned and let her head fall forward. “No, I’m not.”

“Bullshit. This has nothing to do with Gareth or Roger. It has to do with us.”

Again she looked up. If possible, he was even more attractive when he was angry.

Maybe that’s why she was his perfect match, because she always seemed to make him angry.

“What do you want me to say? It’s the truth.”

What she wasn’t expecting was for Ben to pull her to her feet, lace his fingers through her hair and tug her head back so she was forced to look into his eyes. He crushed his mouth to hers in a fierce kiss that made her curl her toes into the thick carpet. When he pulled back, Jenna was left gasping, staring at his swollen lips.

“No, it’s not. And I’m not leaving until I hear it.”

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Jenna forgot to breathe. The room melted away and only Ben remained in focus.

“What did you mean by that?”

“The kiss?”

She smacked his arm.

“Despite what you seem to think, there is something between us,” he said and kissed her forehead.

Deep inside her, Jenna felt her blood pulse, igniting her senses. The hair stood up on her arms and her body threatened to sway against his.

“Obviously there’s something. I’m just not sure this is something that I want to pursue.”

“Why not?”

Ben’s jaw was clenched so tight Jenna saw the muscle pop. He was doing it again.

Holding himself so tight she wouldn’t be able to penetrate his armor. It only took a single step back to break his embrace.

“Stay here a minute.”

She ignored his questioning look and skirted around him and the couch. Standing at the threshold of her bedroom, she cursed her lack of housekeeping abilities.

“Jenna?”

“Hang on.”

A few well-placed kicks revealed the still half wrapped box she’d wanted, buried under at least a week’s worth of clothing. Tearing the rest of the birthday paper off, she flipped the lid off and smiled.

“Perfect.”

“Dare I ask?”

She jumped at the sound of his voice. She turned to see him leaning in the doorway, arms loosely folded across his chest.

“I told you to stay put,” she said and pulled the box to her in order to hide the contents.

“You were taking too long.” He motioned with his chin. “Hiding something fun?”

Jenna pushed her nervousness down with a deep breath and rose to her feet.

“You don’t trust me.”

“Jen, I told you—”

She held up her hand to cut him off.

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“What I have in mind will prove that you do then.”

He didn’t move, but she saw something change in his eyes. A mixture of uncertainty and interest.

Ben finally nodded. “What?”

She couldn’t help but smile. This was going to work. She could feel it.

“Come here.”

She watched him flinch, pause and let his arms fall to his sides. He stood straight and hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his pants as he walked towards her.

“Yes, ma’am.”

He was so big. She loved the wall of heat and scent his body generated. She closed her eyes and let his presence wash over her. She needed all the strength she had for what she wanted to do next.

“Take your shirt off.”

He didn’t hesitate this time. The shirt landed with a dull
whoosh
on the floor. That order carried out, he re-hooked his fingers and silently waited for the next.

Jenna took her time, letting her gaze roam over his well-defined upper body. Thin corded muscles flexed in his arms and across his chest. When she’d looked her fill, she found the edge of the bed and sat down.

“Now your shoes and socks,” her voice sounded husky.

Ben smiled and she could tell he knew his little striptease was exciting her. As he bent over, Jenna was able to watch the muscles in his back ripple. He was perfect. When he stood again, he now wore only his pants. His next move would either send him running out the door or into her bed.

She reached into the now-crushed box that held her other birthday present from her friends. A small black blindfold untangled itself from the other contents of the box as she pulled it out slowly.

“I want you to put this on.”

He didn’t run. That much was good. But he didn’t move to take the blindfold either.

Ignoring her sexual as well as emotional frustration, Jenna managed a throaty chuckle.

“I thought you trusted me?”

His eyes shot her a warning, but he nodded and took the blindfold from her outstretched hand. She watched, enraptured, as he brought it to his face and secured it tightly on his face.

“Can you see?”

“No.”

“Are you sure?”

“Jenna.”

“Okay, okay.”

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With it securely in place, Jenna simply sat on the edge of her bed and watched him.

Amazingly, he didn’t move. Not a single muscle, most of which she could currently see.

His abs were well-defined, the gentle rolling ripples covered by a dusting of dark hair.

She knew exactly where that trail of hair led to under his pants. But she wasn’t ready to go there. Not yet.

Jenna stood and stepped close beside him. She ran fingers over his stomach, gently scraping her nails over his skin. She could feel him straining to maintain control over his body, to keep still.

“Don’t move now,” she said and barely recognized her own voice. The power of having Ben at her mercy was going to her head.

With her fingers still on him, she walked around to his back. Again, she traced a pattern over his exposed skin and smiled when she heard him groan.

“You’re killing me, Jen.”

A well-placed kiss in the middle of his back elicited another moan.

“You’ll die well then.”

With both of her hands on his back, she let them slide down until they were stopped by his pants. She gave them a little tug.

“These seem a bit tight. Why don’t I make you more comfortable?”

She reached through the space between his arms and his body to find the button that held his pants in place. A single tug was all it took to free it, providing her with complete access to the rest of him. Gods, she wanted nothing more than to strip the damn things off him right now, but she couldn’t. Not yet.

Next, she moved beside him, taking his hand in hers. Now it was time to put the rest of her plan in action.

She led him to the bed, turned him around and gave him a little push so he sat on the edge.

“Comfy,” he said as he gave the mattress a pat. “Care to join me?”

“Oh, I’ll be joining you soon enough, Mr. Hawthorn. But for right now I want you to lie back.”

He smiled his crooked grin and lay back and placed his hands behind his head.

“How’s this?”

Jenna shook her head and grabbed his feet in an attempt to spin him into the right placement. Ben had to help her, and after a bit of maneuvering, he finally had his head on the pillows and his feet by her footboard. When she stood to admire her handy work, a rush of adrenaline pulsed through her body. She was really going to do this.

It took a second to locate the present box again. But she was able to pull out the rest of the items and line them up on her nightstand. Never did she honestly think she’d have an opportunity to use the gift the girls gave her last year for her birthday.

Especially not on Ben. It’s a good thing she hadn’t thrown it out like she’d planned on doing.

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Another cautious glance at him and she pulled the last of the presents—a set of silk restraints. Her hands shook a little as she attempted to attach them to her headboard.

“What are you up to?” He sounded more amused than anything.

“You’ll see in one…second.” A final yank secured the scarf in place.

She took his hand in hers and brought it above his head. She could feel his pulse beating hard in his wrist as she wrapped her fingers around it. Either he was horny or scared. She doubted he was scared.

“Are you sure you trust me?”

His lips turned down for a split second before he nodded. “Yes.”

His arms were too long to secure him too close to the headboard, so she decided she’d have to leave them at right angles. She slipped the end of the scarf under his wrist and began to tie a loose knot. Ben turned his head to face her and jerked his arm when she finished.

“Did you just tie me?”

Jenna leaned in and ran her tongue over his bottom lip. “You said you trusted me.

So trust me.”

“Jenna?” his tone gave her all the warning he’d ever be likely to give her.

This time she kissed him. He didn’t immediately respond to her advances. She slipped her tongue into his mouth, seeking his. Her fingers found his chest and flexed against his skin. She could feel his resistant begin to wane, each kiss he responded to grew with insistency and strength. Finally, he moaned as his free hand found her hair and gently began to massage her scalp. She pushed hard against him, her body responding to the contact between them. If she didn’t stop this now, the rest of her plan would be useless.

She pulled back as far as she could and placed a final kiss on his forehead.

“I’m going to tie your other arm now. Remember our safe word?”

He was panting, his fingers stroking the back of her neck and preventing her from moving.

“No. Wait, apple?”

“Yes. Are you okay with this?”

Ben pulled her back down for another kiss. Jenna’s heart and stomach began to beat together, her nerves growing. But when he released her and lay back against the bed, her doubts disappeared.

“I trust you,” he said with confidence.

She found her legs weren’t as steady as they were a few minutes ago and she almost tripped trying to make it around to the other side of the bed to secure his arm. She decided to leave his feet free for the time being, at least until she was ready to take his pants off.

Finished, Jenna stood back to admire her handiwork. Ben’s long arms and naked 85

chest were wide open to her. She watched as he tugged on the scarves, testing her knots. The fact that he couldn’t see her turned her on even more. Her breasts were tingling, her nipples hard and begging to be touched. The fabric of her shirt rubbing against them was driving her insane. She took it off and threw it in the pile with the rest of her things.

“What are you doing?” Ben asked, his own voice sounding strained.

“Getting naked. Why?”

He groaned. “Want to take this bloody blindfold off?”

“Oh, I don’t think so. Not yet anyway. For now, you’ll have to use your imagination.”

Another tug followed by a sigh. “What was that safe word again?”

“Don’t be a baby. By the way, I’m taking my pants off now.”

“Killing me.”

Jenna laughed as she kicked her pants off and stood there naked. Her gaze stopped on Ben’s crotch as she saw his cock straining through his pants. She needed to do something about that soon. But not yet.

The black feather tickled her fingers as she ran it over them to smooth it out. The fact that it was a real bird feather still amazed her, considering there weren’t any on Mars. She turned it on its side and touched Ben’s forehead with it. He stiffened instantly.

With great care, she traced a path down the center of his body, over his nose, chin, throat, chest and finally his stomach. She smiled as his nipples hardened and his shaft twitched in his pants.

“What was that?” He sounded breathless.

“This?”

She ran the feather over each of his nipples, his chest suddenly rising with a strong intake of air. Ben’s feet dug into the mattress as he managed to squirm out of her way.

“Yes that, damn you.”

Instead of answering, Jenna set the feather down and reached for his pants. As a result of all of his moving around, they were open wide and were already riding low on his hips. It took very little effort on her part to slide them off, quickly followed by his underwear.

Jenna stood and stared at him. She hadn’t taken the time in their earlier encounters to look at the man who’d kept her dreams erotic for the past week and a half. His cock was long and thick, and her body instantly remembered the feeling of him stretching her, filling every inch of her insides. His balls were pulled tight against his shaft, and she knew it wouldn’t take long for her to bring him to the edge.

“I’m going to tie your feet now.”

She watched him swallow, but he didn’t protest. Not wanting to startle him, she 86

touched his leg at the knee and slid her hand down his leg to his ankle where she tied the scarf. Another minute and his other leg was secured as well, leaving him completely at her mercy. Jenna frowned, not sure of how to say what she was feeling.

“Now I know you
say
you trust me, but it’s hard to really accept that.”

“I believe I’m the one tied to the bed.”

“Yes, this time. But I doubt very much you would have let me tie you up on our first date.”

Ben lifted his head off the bed and turned to face her. “That was about your fantasy, Jen. Of course I wasn’t going to let you tie me up.”

She put her hands on her hips. “And you also wanted me out of the way when you were going to investigate the lawyer.”

“Jen, it could have been dangerous. I went with Matt. I know he can protect my back in a jam.”

“And I can’t?”

“That’s not what I meant and you know it.”