Take Me Home: Home is Where the Heat Is, Book 3 (8 page)

With that kind of sexy, smoky, I’m-going-to-do-things-to-you-that-will-rock-your-world incentive, who was she to refuse?

She nodded. Yeah, lametastic, but what the fuck else was she supposed to do?

He looked around carefully before brushing a quick kiss to her lips. “See you soon.”

Chapter Ten

Shawna stared at the clothes on the bed.

They weren’t for her. They couldn’t be.

The slinky, sapphire-blue evening gown cut way too low in the front and way too high up the thigh wasn’t her thing. It was a
StyleU
model ensemble.

She fingered the soft material, trying to imagine how it would glide over her skin. Thigh-high black stockings and a garter belt of rich black silk lay on the bed next to the dress. There was a bra, cut at a harsh angle that would push her breasts up, exposing them to the point of potentially falling out and landing on her dinner plate. A pair of dark-gray stilettos sat on the floor to complete the outfit. No underwear.

If she were stick-thin she could pull it off.

Even as Cash’s voice, and the look he’d given her when he’d asked her to wear it, sliced through her mind, she knew she couldn’t do it.

She walked away from the outfit, scanning her closet for something sexy that would hold her in.

Nothing in her closet came close to what he was asking for and she sat down on the edge of the bed. Her hand moved to the fabric again, sliding over the material, a part of her wondering how she’d look.

Decision made, she went to the bathroom and showered, letting the water trickle over her sensitive skin, imagining the way he would look at her in the dress, the ways he could touch her… What Cash offered in reality was too tempting to let herself succumb to self-gratification, and she toweled off quickly.

Swiping the steam off the mirror, she applied eyeliner, mascara and a touch of eye shadow. Last, she smoothed a pale peach lipstick over her lips.

Next she dried and curled her hair. A half updo would work with anything she chose to wear, and she pulled several tendrils loose to frame her face. Pinning the mass in a messy twist, she slid an ivory clasp in place.

Walking from the bathroom, she checked her phone. Chloe had texted.

I made the pick. Shots coming soon.

Shawna couldn’t wait to see which photos Chloe planned to use. Her boss had an eye for heat, she had to give her that. Hopefully, Chloe’s push with the country angle would land her the promotion she’d been hoping for, and open up a slot for Shawna to jump up on the ladder.

The moment she looked back at the blue gown, thoughts of Chloe,
StyleU
, and the world as a whole, evaporated. This was what Cash wanted to see her in. Though she still couldn’t imagine going out in public in the get-up, she admitted to wanting to see how she looked.

Sliding the stockings and garter on first, she ignored the mirror. Next came the bra. It was soft and comfortable and fit perfectly. He must have used his hands to tell the approximate size of her breasts and torso.

Then she looked in the mirror. Not terrible, and not great. It could have been much worse. Nothing was spoodging out, but nothing was really tight and tantalizing either.

She eyed the dress. The article might not be so daunting if she were wearing it only for him. Hell, at this point he’d seen what jiggled and bulged, and he kept coming back for more. The big wide world wasn’t him.

She grabbed the whisper-thin material and bunched the fabric carefully to pull it over her head. It slid down her body like a caress as her cell phone chimed a text.

Grabbing it, she tapped the messaging icon and Cash’s name and handsome face popped up.
R u dressed?

No
,
she lied.

Y?

The outfit isn’t me
.

Yes. It. Is. Put it on, then tell me that. I’m waiting downstairs. Either you put it on and come down, or I’m coming up…

Shawna dropped the phone on the bed and approached the mirror.

Oh, mercy. She could be all kinds of critical at this point. The bulge at her hips, the over thickness of her breasts and the deep cleavage it created. And her thighs… Every other step she took would reveal a good portion of her right ham hock.

Her phone chimed again.

See yourself as a stranger. Imagine yourself as a woman you saw in a social setting.

She tried. She really did. But it just wasn’t happening. All she could see were the imperfections.

Her phone chimed again.

You said you wanted to make your mark on the world but you’re scared of revealing yourself. You can’t have it both ways. Come down now, in the dress, or I’m coming up to get you.

Shawna balked. If he came up, they wouldn’t go anywhere. And while her protective instincts latched on to the thought with a white-knuckle grasp, she refused to let him see her scared to face the world.

With bravado she didn’t come close to feeling, she texted back.
Be down in a minute.

Cash watched her descend the stairs and opened the door to the limo. The heat in his gaze did things to every sensitive spot on her body. The way he looked at her made her feel beyond amazing. He watched her so closely she could almost believe she looked better than what he’d imagined. Even when she moved with uncertainty, his expression told her he wanted her.

She’d never felt so beautiful, so sexy.

When she stopped in front of him, he let out a slow breath. “You are exquisite.”

“Thank you,” she offered shyly.

Waving her into the limo, he glanced at the stars.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Asking the heavens to help me keep my hands off you long enough to get to the restaurant.”

“Divine intervention?” she half joked.

His gaze moved from the top of her head to her sexy stilettos. “Yeah, that’s pretty much what it’s gonna take.”

She climbed in the limo and shot him a smile. “Who said you needed to keep your hands to yourself?”

Cash cursed and thanked whatever powers that be for saddling him with Shawna Little. She was a bundle of insecurity who didn’t have a clue how damn debilitating she was to the opposite sex. Probably the same sex too. The only time he witnessed her true need-to-be sexy moments were when it came to sex. He hadn’t begun to debunk her insecure self-image, but given the opportunity, he’d happily spend the rest of his days trying.

He followed her into the limo. Knocking on the window separating them from the driver, he settled back against the seat. “No talking until we get to Viziare, or I won’t be held accountable for my actions.”

She shrugged and crossed her legs as the limo pulled away from the curb. She stared out the window dutifully, until Cash was ready to bust. “We’ll be there in five minutes.”

“I know.” She sent him a sultry glance. “I’m hungry. You?”

He detected a note of flirtation in her question and ran with it. Hell, he couldn’t help himself. “Hungry for you.”

“I meant food.” She said it with one of those sidelong glances that sent every ounce of blood in his body straight to his cock.

Uncrossing her legs, she reached down to fiddle with one of her shoes. Contraptions he’d actually thought he could handle seeing her in. “You keep doing things like that and we aren’t going to make it to dinner.”

“Whatever do you mean?” she asked coyly.

“Do you know what today is?” Cash asked, hoping to railroad her sensual play. He had a special feature in store, and their flirtation was about to take on a whole new level.

“Thursday?” she asked, looking perplexed.

“October what?” he pressed.

“Thirty-first.”

“Which is?” he prompted.

“Oh.” She swiveled to look out the window. “It’s Halloween.”

“Which means you can be anyone you want to be tonight.” Sliding closer on the seat, he pulled a silk eye mask from his jacket pocket. “This is for you.”

She took it and traced the intricate beading. It was sexy, with blue and silver accents that would match her dress perfectly. “What about you?”

Cash turned her away and took the mask from her hands. Looping it over her head, he leaned in to brush a kiss across the back of her neck. “I have one too. Now hold it up to your eyes and I’ll tie it for you.”

The limo changed lanes and pulled over to the curb. Shawna turned back to face him. “How does it look?”

“Exotic,” he breathed. “Sultry and sexy and mysterious.”

He tied his own mask on and pointed to the restaurant. “No one will know who you are. Tonight, forget lights, forget the way you think about yourself. Be the sexy, incredible woman I’ve had all to myself for the last few days. Let go of everything you feel insecure about. Tonight, you’re award-winning artist Angelique, Florida-born girl who took France by storm with her paintings.”

“Paintings of what?” She laughed. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll see.” He flung the door open and hopped out. Grabbing her hand, he helped her out of the car, and leaned in to whisper, “Better think of what you’d paint quickly. The press is here tonight.”

The moment the hired paparazzi swarmed her, her smile blossomed. They snapped her picture, one man asking questions about her art as the other patrons of the restaurant turned to stare.

Cash grabbed her hand and pulled her through the mob. “No more questions, please,” he told them, trying for the jolly boyfriend-on-the-arm-of-fame effect. “We’re here for dinner. You’ll just have to wait like everyone else.”

By the time they were seated, she was laughing. “You set this up?”

“Yeah.” He signaled the waiter. “Look at everyone staring at you. They all want to know who this sexy, famous woman is I’m sitting with.”

The waiter brought over two wineglasses, and poured a half for each of them. “Dinner will be ready in a few moments, sir. Can I bring you anything while you wait?”

Cash raised an eyebrow at Shawna. “Anything. It’s yours.”

She took a long moment, and he worried her self-conscious nature would get the best of her. Reaching across the table, he squeezed her hand. He wasn’t going to let her hide in her shell. He didn’t know everything he wanted to know about Shawna, but he knew enough. He’d move heaven and earth to make her smile. “Your name is in the stars tonight. Everyone is wondering who you are, what your story is. Tonight, you get to celebrate and make a mark. Enjoy it.”

Shawna grabbed her wineglass and took a sip. It was delicious, and she swallowed, stalling until she knew how to answer. With Cash’s encouraging smile, she decided to take the gift he was offering and live in the moment he’d created for her. “What are your appetizers?”

The waiter listed off a delicious ensemble of pre-dinner morsels, and she settled on the stuffed mushrooms. When he walked away, she eyed Cash. He was a dream come true. “I’ve never met anyone quite like you.”

“I hope not.” He smirked. “If ya had, you’d be married up, with a passel of kids tugging at your skirt.”

The homey, country image did funny things to her insides. “You can’t be this perfect. No one is.”

He chuckled and grabbed his glass of wine. “’Course I can. Gram tells me all the time that I am.”

He took a long swallow and grimaced.

Trying to hide her laughter, she took another sip as well. “Not much of a wine drinker?”

He leaned in. “Tastes like vinegar.”

“It’s an acquired taste,” she teased.

“Beer’s more my speed.”

Shawna settled back in her chair. His company was amazing. The food… Well, the food-gasms were almost as good as sex. She drank more wine than planned, and laughed and flirted until her cheeks hurt from smiling.

Cash played his part to perfection, toasting her success so engagingly that the whole restaurant joined in even when they had no idea who she was. He kissed her, played bodyguard, and even swung her around in a slow waltz to the applause of the others. She signed a couple autographs as Angelique, and even snapped a couple photos with a star-struck teen.

The waiter brought a double molten-lava chocolate cake for dessert, and they shared it, using one fork, his eyes on her lips as he fed her a sinful bite. “Tonight was amazing,” she said, meaning it from the bottom of her heart.

“It was.” He licked the remaining chocolate off the fork. “And it just gets better from here.”

“How is that possible?” she asked.

Almost immediately, his eyes darkened. “Because when we leave here, I’m going to lick every part of your body until we get back to your place.”

Her breath caught. He meant what he said.

“Then I’m going to eat you.” He scooped another bite and held it to her lips. “I’m going to eat you until you’re begging me to stop.”

She put her mouth around the fork.

“Then I’m going to make love to you in nothing but that mask and your sexy shoes.”

Shawna swallowed hard. She didn’t know what to say. She wanted everything he offered. And after tonight, she wasn’t sure she wanted to give up Cash’s feel-good presence. She stared at him over her wineglass, wondering how he’d weaseled his way into her head. Instead of saying anything she’d regret, she set her glass down. “I’m ready when you are.”

Chapter Eleven

Cash opened the door to the limo, watching the way her ass shifted. He was so wound up he might have to have her in the limo and make good on licking her body and pussy after.

She settled on the seat and shimmied back against the smooth leather.

Sitting down in the seat across from her, he asked, “Did you enjoy yourself?”

“Very much.” She smiled hugely and started to take her mask off.

“Leave it,” he demanded.

She sat back. “It was an amazing night. Thank you.”

The limo pulled away from the curb, and Cash told the driver to take the long way, at least twenty minutes, to get back to her apartment. Then he refocused his attention.

“You’re very welcome.” Sitting forward, he rested his elbows on his knees and gripped his hands together to keep from reaching for her. “Now. Spread your legs.”

She did so, teasing, “So all of this was to get into my panties?”

“You’re not wearing any,” he remarked. “And it’s been driving me crazy all night.”

Then he was between her legs. He pulled her right foot up to his shoulder and kissed her ankle. “I think I’m going to start here.”

She managed to let him get as far as her thigh before she couldn’t take any more. He’d made her dreams come true tonight. Nothing was as sexually stimulating as a guy that somehow knew what it was a woman needed. Foreplay, kissing her entire body… It could all wait. Right now she needed him. Badly.

Planting a stiletto against his chest, she pushed him back to his seat. “Not tonight, cowboy. You’ve controlled the tide so far. Now it’s my turn.”

Shimmying her dress up, she slid across his lap. When he would have said something, she kissed him, hard. She needed him. Not his smooth tongue or sweet cowboy ways. She wanted him inside her.

Keeping their lips fused, she unbuckled his dress pants. “How is it possible you look good in anything you wear?”

“In your eyes,” he grated.

“Always humble,” she teased, shifting his pants and boxers so she could touch skin. His cock sprang free and she smoothed her fingers up and down the entire length. Sliding lower until she knelt before him, she met his hungry gaze. “I need to taste you.”

“No way, darlin’. I can’t take that ton—” He broke off as she took him in her mouth.

Fuck his too-good-to-be-true thing. She wanted to give back a fraction of what he’d given her, and hopefully purge her building Cash addiction. He was responsive and warm, letting her set the pace as they traveled through traffic. She pushed his hands away every time he reached for her, wanting to feel him come unspun because of her. Needing to level the playing field by being the giver instead of the receiver.

He’d taken in every dream and wish she had for the future, asking nothing in return. Giving him the ultimate pleasure was the only thing she could give back. She didn’t know his dreams beyond having a family, didn’t understand why he wanted to know her inner thoughts. All she knew was that when they fucked, the world spun off its axis and she felt right. For now, until she could figure out what else to do, she’d give him all she could give.

“Stop, darlin’,” he pleaded, pumping into her mouth. “You’re going to make me come.”

His cock was smooth and warm and hard as hell. She slid her fingers between his balls, following the path to the sensitive area between his testicles and ass. Pulling back enough to talk, she smiled. “Good. That’s what I want. I want you wild and uncontrolled for once. I want you to come because you can’t stop it. It’s my turn.”

She redoubled her efforts, pumping him into her mouth hard. Stroking his balls, letting her fingers roam and linger when his cock jerked. Then he was panting. Her thighs quivered, wanting to ride him into the proverbial sunset. But she wasn’t going to stop. He’d made it all about her time and again. This time, he needed the TLC.

Grabbing his cock, she sat back and pressed his swollen shaft between her pushed-up breasts. “Mouth or tits. Your choice.”

“You’re driving this train, darlin’.” He moaned, head thrown back against the seat. “I’d just as soon fuck you silly,” he panted. “But it’s going to be wherever you put it if you don’t stop soon.”

“Ah,” she murmured. “It’s all up to me.”

Before he could respond, she took him deep in her mouth. Sucking all the way up to the tip of his thick cock, she paused. “Come for me.”

That was all it took. She plunged back down and he gripped the seat, warning her it was coming, trying to shift back, to save her maybe. She didn’t know. All she knew was she was going to take it. She’d never been able to swallow, but tonight she was going for broke.

Maybe it was the fact that he wasn’t trying to force her to take it. Maybe it was that he’d put so much effort into creating what she’d told him she needed. Either way, there was nothing more she wanted in that moment than to have him lose control and fuck her mouth. Pumping harder, she took him as deep as she could, preparing for his flood.

His body stiffened and he cursed. Thick, warm liquid clogged her throat and she forced herself to relax and swallow. Relax and swallow. Then it was done. He was panting, groaning her name, his cock pulsing in her mouth.

He groaned heavily, his body slumping back against the seat. “You fucking blow my mind every minute, woman.”

Shawna smiled. Now that was what a girl liked to hear.

Cash wrapped an arm around her waist and guided her toward her door. He wanted to stay with her, to make love to her for hours and wake up next to her. The problem was, she was still in no-future mode. As much as he wanted to spend time with her, he couldn’t shake the feeling that he hadn’t made much headway. Her honesty was refreshing, but it was still the same old story with a different slant.

She wanted him for his cock. He wanted her for more. Unfortunately, the slant this time was that he cared.

Must be something about city women. His friend Miya had grown up country before moving to the city and getting all hard-ass. She’d given his best friend Shawn a run for his money. Chloe had his brother Nick running in circles. Now, he himself was hankerin’ for a little more of Shawna. Maybe there was something in the water.

“Are you coming up?”

Cash took both her hands and turned her to face him. “Do you still think there’s no future for us? ’Cause I could get addicted to you.”

Her eyes rounded into a deer-in-the-headlights look, and he cursed himself for pushing. “Never mind.”

“No.” She glanced at the sky for a long moment. “I’m sorry, but you want a completely different end game than I do. Tonight was amazing. You gave me a taste of what I’ve always dreamed of. To be honest, you’re the kind of guy I’ve always dreamed of. We’ve got something amazing sexually, and as friends go, I could spend eternal hours with you. But your idea of heaven and mine are night-and-day different. We’d end up hating each other.”

“I could never hate you,” he replied honestly. “For any reason.”

“You would when I refused to settle down or have babies, or because I was out chasing a dream you don’t understand.” She heaved out a heavy sigh. “We’re just stars crossing paths.”

“So this is all we’ll have?” Rope it all, the city had turned him into a pansy-ass.

“Is it enough?”

“No.” He smiled then. She didn’t need to know how much her response made him want to go all-out King Kong and steal her away. “But I’m a big boy. I’ll come up tonight, and we’ll say goodbye in the way we connect best.”

“Goodbye?” Her brows scrunched, and she took a deep breath. “Right. Because tomorrow will be the last shoot and you’ll go home after that.”

The trace of sadness in her voice was crushing, but he refused to say anything. Whatever he said at this point would come out stupid and needy. He’d baited the hook and wiggled the rod. Now she’d either bite or swim away.

After a long moment, her hands tightened around his. “I would very much like to spend our last night in your arms.”

Cash closed the distance between them. Her response wasn’t quite what he’d hoped for, but he should have known better. Shawna wasn’t ever predictable. “Tonight, I’m going to make love to you, long and slow, so that when I leave, all you’ll be able to think about is me.”

Shawna woke up to the sound of the shower running. She was sore and tired, and utterly satisfied.

Rolling over, she searched for her cell phone. She dug through his clothes, her clothes, shoes… Just under the corner of the bed was her cell. She sat up to check the messages.

After replying, then sending out her own, she dropped back to the pillow. It was almost seven, and she really needed to get to
StyleU
soon. There was so much to do before the cover reveal, she didn’t know if she’d be able to get it all done. Her phone rang and she answered Chloe’s call.

“Got something to write with?” Chloe started without preamble.

Rolling over again, she searched for something to write on. “Hang on. I don’t have anything close by.”

Chloe sighed just when Shawna saw a folded piece of paper on the floor. She grabbed it and scooted off the bed to search for a pen. Finally finding a marker in the kitchen, she flipped the paper open. “Okay. Go.”

Chloe rattled off all kinds of details, times and names, but Shawna didn’t absorb or write any of it. She couldn’t. She was too busy staring at the piece of paper. The note was penned in a scrawling, feminine script. It was Kalen’s phone number, from
Concepts
magazine, and she’d offered to pay three times what
StyleU
was paying him.

The note itself wasn’t too upsetting. She’d expected other magazines to try and steal him away. What hurt was that he’d penned in a date, today’s, and a time to meet her. Not that she could fault him for weighing his options, but after everything they’d shared, he could have told her.

Shawna folded the note and, after hanging up with Chloe, hurried back to the bedroom. He’d had ample time to tell her. Any of the times they’d fucked would have worked. In the afterglow. Before they hit the sack. Even during it he could have said something.

Damn him.

She called for a car and dressed quickly. She texted his phone, telling him she’d had an emergency at the magazine. Slipping out the front door as the shower shut off, she rushed to the elevator. She couldn’t see him right now. Couldn’t face the fact that he was yet another disappointment, another liar.