The Romance Novel Book Club (8 page)

“Stupid? It was your idea!” I turned the machine off. “Some of it, but I couldn’t get going.”

“Me either. Let’s go to Ted’s tonight for a good meal and then try to get through it.”

Oh geesh, no. Not Ted’s restaurant with Matt playing the hunky waiter. I couldn’t do it, but I didn’t want to explain it to Julie. Crap.

Seriously? How bad would that conversation go?

Yeah. I can’t go there, Julie. You see, Matt and I had almost sex before his phone rang. Yep. He’s got a dick that would put Evan Stone to shame and his tongue? I don’t think anyone can contort it like that. Sorry but I don’t want to wet my pants every time he licks his lips.

“Yeah. Sounds great!” came out before the brain could get the signal to my mouth.

I spent the rest of the day trying to finish up a design for a banquet invitation for a local lodge. Anything to keep my mind off the potential embarrassing night ahead. I failed miserably in getting anything remotely resembling work done and did the horrible act most women get accused of. I spent a good two hours in a frantic search in the maze of clothes in my closet for the perfect outfit. Should I go with something low cut to remind Matt of what he could have again, or should I go with the overall cover-up for the ‘you missed your chance’ ensemble?

The more I thought about it, the more I just wanted to stay home, but I knew I couldn’t avoid the restaurant forever. I picked something I wore dancing, hoping to convince Julie going out after we ate would be a better evening than reading some crappy romance novel. I fixed myself up in fifteen minutes flat and waited in the living room.
Winter’s Kiss
glared at me like a scorned lover.

Tormented, I picked it up and began to read it. I needed something to take my mind away from my pitiful life and the sure conflict to come at the restaurant.

At least, that was my intent. Too bad my mind decided daydreaming sounded so much better.

Chapter
Fifteen

I jumped when my cell phone started going off.
Winter’s Kiss
lay on the floor. By the warm drool on my mouth, I must have fallen asleep. The Pussy Clock chimed eight times, and I rubbed my eyes. The phone blinked Julie’s number.

Crap. We were supposed to meet at the restaurant at seven.

I answered it, prepared to defend my right to nappies. “Hey. What’s up?”

“Ugh. I hate like hell to cancel, Patricia, but this fucking job of mine. No one did fucking
anything
while I was away, and I’m up to my fucking knees in shit.”

Oh boy. Julie rarely cursed unless she was upset. It looked like I’d be spending another night solo.

“Hey, no big. You know my schedule isn’t set in stone so when you get a free moment or want to get blitzed, just call me up, okay?” I tried to sound cheerful as my butt sank into the couch.

“Oh hell no. You’re not getting the shaft again. I’m going to call Ted’s and see if Matt can make a special delivery to you since technically he’s not really an employee.”

“Uh…”
Think, Patricia.
The last thing I wanted was Matt coming over, but I wasn’t going to blurt that out.
No, Julie! Absolutely not! He didn’t call me the other day and if he comes over, I’ll just fall to my knees begging for a glimpse of Willie the Wonder Cock.
Yeah, I hadn’t told her about that night yet either, had I?

“Seriously, don’t worry about it. I’ve got food here.” I picked
Winter’s Kiss
off the floor.

“Bullshit. You do not. I saw your fridge, and I know you never go shopping when the prospect of going out is in order.”

She screamed at someone on the other end of the phone. I held the phone away from my ear to save my hearing.

“Look. It’s complicated, okay?” I talked into the phone, the earpiece still a distance away. “I just don’t, un, want to…” I sighed.

“You hooked up with Matt and it went south, didn’t it?”

Well it went south quite nicely, but unfortunately nothing else happened. Sooner or later, Julie would have dug it out of me anyways. I was kidding myself if I thought I could deflect going to our favorite restaurant forever.

“It’s not that exactly. Nothing happened, Julie, and I wanted it to. The world just hates me or something.”

“Listen, jackass. Get me the right file already! Sorry, Patricia. This place is a zoo. I still want to buy you something, and I know what will cheer you up. How about I see if Ted can bring by his special pasta you like?”

“That would be great, Julie. If I haven’t said it yet, I’m glad you’re back.” To my credit, I kept my voice from cracking.

“So am I. Work not included in that statement. Kisses, Patricia.”

“Kisses.” I hung up and looked at my outfit. No sense in staying in it so I went for a comfortable pair of sweats and back to
Winter’s Kiss
with a bottle of wine as company. Maybe it would be a better read if I was drunk. Two glasses in, I started my torture anew.

Hartley scrambled out of the tub, snatching a towel to cover her bare form. Bubbles dripped to the floor as she fled the room. His touch on her mind, burning her skin, she had to get away from his influence over her. She sat on the bed, massaging her arms to calm herself. She couldn’t take the time to hide from the Kregian runners. Her flying skills would have to get them to Onis.

From the bathroom, she heard Garrote splashing the water. She growled and stood up, tucking the towel to secure it around her chest.

“I’m not going to pay a fee because of you, Garrote.” She stormed into the bathroom, her anger fueling her. Garrote lay slumped over the side of the tub. She scowled at him, ready for him to spring a trap.

“I’m not falling for your tricks. Get up.”

He didn’t respond. She picked up the soap on the sink to throw at him when it struck her. Her eyes trailed to the other room and mentally she counted the distance to the bed. Over ten meters.

Her heart stuttered, and she rushed to his side. In her frustration with his actions, she’d forgotten about the collar. She dragged him out of the tub and flipped him over.

How had it come to this? Her fingers trembled as they grasped the collar on the sides. She winced as a tiny barb stabbed her fingertip. Only her DNA could unlock the collar. It glowed a faint blue before cracking in two. Placing her palm on his chest, emotions welled up. She wiped away the tears forming. No one would charge her with a crime if he died. Persons with bounties on their heads had no rights of protection in the galaxy. So why did it hurt so much?

She leaned in, positioning his neck. Pinching his nose, she sucked in a deep breath and forced the air into his mouth. Down came the compressions on his chest next. She tried to control her sobs as she repeated the process. Orion Six plagued her. His soft kisses and soothing caress, it lingered as her lips pressed to his. She groaned as his mouth responded to her touch. His hand snaked around her back and peeled off her towel.

Hartley moaned as Garrote’s hand trailed down her back. His tongue captured hers and his strong arms claimed her. Even as the warning bells went off in her mind, she melted into him.

Garrote remembered the pain when his lungs took their fill as he regained consciousness. The soft lips against him stirred his loins, and he ached with need. His huntress, his captor. The first time he’d seduced her it had been to demoralize. Her saving him, knowing his value did not decrease if brought to Onis as a corpse, brought out his wanting to full force.

His collar slipped from his neck as he rolled on top of her. He drank in the scent of her skin, devouring her flesh as he trailed his lips down her throat. His teeth captured her nipple, and she shuddered. He suckled, nipped, and squeezed her perfect breasts, delighting in her whispered cries for more. He intended to give it to her.

Hartley laced her fingers through Garrote’s dark locks, aware of her breathy commands for him to continue the lashings of his wicked tongue. Clear in her mind was the man assaulting her willpower. Again she pushed the thoughts of stopping him away. No one had made her feel this way and as his fingers danced on her sensitive nub, a moan of pleasure came out.

So easy, so pliable. Free of the collar, Garrote’s instincts told him to run. The pitch of Hartley’s voice held him back. She came alive in his hands like no other woman, the curve of her body linking perfectly with his. The killer branded in him dissolved away as his tongue trailed down in her inner thigh. The only screams he wanted to extract from her were sounds of extreme pleasure. His tongue swirled around her swollen lips, and his arms hugged her hips to keep her from escaping. He tasted heaven and let the image burn forever in his memory.

As Garrote locked down on the space between her legs, she screamed for more. The wetness grew and she wanted nothing more than to feel him inside her. Still he worked her clitoris, she lost track of the ecstasy he pulled from her.
 
She bucked and writhed, his strong grip never letting her go. The hunter had become the prey.

Her eyes heavy with pleasure, measured Garrote’s strained features as he positioned himself above her. The tips of his hardened shaft pressed against her.

“Tell me,” he said, his voice thick with need.

“I want you to take me,” she moaned, her hands tracing his taut muscles. She sucked in a deep breath as he slammed into her, juices soaking the floor beneath her. His hips matched her frenzied rhythm. She watched him throw his head back, calling her name out. When his gaze locked with hers, his hungry lips took hers again. Her legs wrapped around his waist, urging him deeper into her center. Her nails dug into his back. She peaked as Garrote gave a violent shudder, his weight coming down on her. His breath ragged, he slipped off and lay beside her.

A soft knock came at the door and
Winter’s Kiss
slipped to the floor. Julie’s apology foodfest had arrived. What a sweetheart Ted was for bringing me something to eat. Being a long time customer had its benefits. I opened the door with a smile that faltered.

It wasn’t Ted; it was Matt.

“Hi,” he said.

Hi? That’s all he had to say after everything? After that cluster fuck at the hospital and all he has to say is ‘hi’? How many voicemails did he leave with nothing more than an urge to call him back? Not one ‘sorry’ in the whole bunch.

My lips tensed and my arms crossed. Did Julie plan his arrival to push me into a conversation?

Matt sighed and shifted his feet. The bastard didn’t have the decency to look me in the eye.

“I knew this was a bad idea. Here.” He handed over the food and turned to leave.

“Why?” More was on my mind, and I wanted to go raving lunatic on him, but when I opened my mouth, I found I couldn’t. That ache in my chest returned. “You know my parents might not approve of my lifestyle, but it sure as hell beats getting stomped on.”

“Is that what you think I did?” He didn’t turn around but stood in kicking range if I chose to give his firm buttocks the business end of my slippers.

“I’m sorry. Should I think anything else? I know when a guy doesn’t want me around anymore, Matt. I’ve had it happen enough times so please don’t come over here acting like you owe me anything because you don’t. Nothing happened between us as far as I’m concerned. It’s not like you’re the first naked man I’ve seen.” I wasn’t angry at him; I was angry at myself. Angry for attempting to sleep with a man I knew I’d make contact with at least once a week. A rule I’d had for a long time to prevent awkward moments when it didn’t work out.

Matt hadn’t moved from his spot and not one word came from his mouth. Like every other chapter in my life, I decided to shut the door so I could get in a good cry before bed. Before I could react, Matt had his hands to the side of my face and he drew me in, crushing his lips to mine. Somewhere in the distance I heard my dinner bag hit the floor and the door slam shut but yet nothing mattered but his soft velvety lips on mine.

The word lust didn’t even describe what I felt right then and there. Part of me warned it was a mistake I’d just be pining for his trouser snake and the gyrating hips that it came attached to.

As it happened so many times before in my life, my brain got overruled by my sex drive. My tongue darted with his as I moaned, my hands pawing to get his clothes off as his own cupped my fully erect breasts. I didn’t want to give in to him, really I didn’t, but my body had a mind of its own. Before I knew it, that wonderful man meat was instantly in my hands.

It had been awhile since I did anything more than a bump and grind. Most of my numerous one-night stands involved a little kissing, scant groping, and a lot of push-n-go. I just wanted the contact and figured I could handle the orgasm part with my own collection of toys.

With Matt, however, more than primal need begged to be sated. I wanted to do to him what most guys didn’t want to bother with nowadays. Oh sure, you’ll always get the guy who wants the blow job or hand job and doesn’t return the favor but the fact was, I knew Matt would.

Essentially he had or would have if
Beverly
wouldn’t have interrupted. Just thinking of her prudish ways made my hands play on his member more fast and furious. He groaned and his head dropped onto my shoulder, my devilish play winning out. The fleshy underbelly of his cock, smooth as silk, glided in my palm. That wonderful natural lubricant leaked from the tip, only aiding in my wicked ministrations.

My lips attacked his collarbone, suckling on the flesh. My nipples hardened into tight peaks as he gasped. Wetness trailed down my legs at hearing his pleasure. It excited me to find a torturous way to exact my revenge on him for not giving me a proper call back.