Truth Or Dare (16 page)

“Listen up, Erica.” He was again so close that if she leaned forward one measly inch she’d be kissing him. “I want you. I’ve wanted you since I first saw you months ago.”

One breath, two … “That right?” Damn, her voice still sounded like a squeak.

“Mmm. You’re bossy as hell, gutsy, a little too outspoken and risqué, but all in all, I like it.”

Some of her sensual haze dissipated, replaced by annoyance. “What’s with all the insults?”

“Just telling it like it is. You flirt too damn much, tease without regard to consequences, and avoid any man who might come close to matching you. But you won’t avoid me. Not anymore.” His midnight eyes glittered dangerously. “Isn’t that right?”

Annoyed by her own desire to submit, Erica pushed away from him, only he didn’t let go of her knees and he was such a solid hulk he sure as hell didn’t budge. Instead, she almost fell flat on her desk, sending papers scattering to the floor. She caught herself on her elbows but it was still an ignominious position, and Ian in an aggressive mood wasn’t a man to be taken lightly.

Straightening seemed a high priority but before she could manage it, he lowered himself over her. With the impact of an electric jolt, she felt his hard abdomen press against her soft belly, his groin nestle against hers. Oh, wow.

Her legs, literally hanging over the end of her desk, sprawled wide apart to accommodate his muscular hips. If anyone walked into her office right now, she’d have a lot of explaining to do—that is, if she could find any breath to speak, which was doubtful given how she panted.

When she realized just how quickly and easily he’d aroused her, she stiffened in alarm.

Ian snuggled closer and murmured, “Shhh, relax,” and none of the flustered anxiety she suffered sounded in his tone. “Everyone’s gone to a meeting. We’re all alone.”

And that was supposed to reassure her when all she could think about was wrapping her legs around his waist? So unlike her! So … submissive.

He cupped her face and smoothed her chin with his thumbs. His touch was sexual, but also tender, and Erica got flustered all over again. “Now tell me you’ll forget this sex slave business and give me a chance to show you how good it’ll be between us.”

He oozed so much confidence, she couldn’t help but believe him. And she wanted to agree, she really did. But old habits were hard to break, so she raised her chin, narrowed her eyes, and smiled her most taunting smile.

“You want a chance, Ian? Then meet me at Wild Honey after work, and plan on playing. Because I’m not about to back out of my deal with Asia and Becky and that means I need a sex slave. It can either be you—or it can be someone else. You decide.”

A taut stillness settled over him, but his eyes remained bright, turbulent. “You’re pushing me,” he accused, still stroking her chin with an incredible gentleness in direct contrast to his tone. “I have to wonder if it’s because you really expect me to back off, or because you’re hoping I’ll push back.”

Erica gulped. “Just … just telling you the rules.”

Damn it, she’d stammered, so she quickly tried to compensate. “You do know how to follow rules, don’t you, Ian?”

She waited for him to lurch away. She waited for a dose of masculine anger, or at least annoyance. She waited for the typical male response.

What she got instead was a soft sigh and a butterfly kiss that came and went before she could even appreciate it. Resigned, he growled, “Have it your way, lady,” and to Erica’s astute ears it sounded like another warning, which had her heart beating double time.

In excitement and challenge.

She was still contemplating all the things he made her feel when he straightened, caught her elbows, and pulled her upright so fast her head swam.

“I’ll be there,” he said, and chucked her chin. “But just remember, turnabout is fair play.”

Now
that was
a warning, no two ways about it.

He released her and Erica almost slid off the side of the desk into a molten puddle. He left much more quietly than he had entered.

Lord have mercy. What had she gotten herself into?

Ian smiled once his back was turned. Sexy, sultry Erica had looked so stunned, so confused, maybe even annoyed.

And definitely intrigued.

For months now he’d been studying her, getting closer to her, though she didn’t seem to realize it and she sure as hell didn’t cooperate. But finally, he knew just how to get her where he wanted her—which for starters was in his bed, under him, her body open and willing and hot.

He’d seen the subtle signs, the prickly temper, the contempt she veiled behind sharp teasing, and he knew Erica Lee was a woman in need of a good, long ride. Not some half-baked quickie, which seemed to be the speed most men preferred these days. He liked things longer, deeper, more intense. When he made love, he liked to take his time, to appreciate every nuance, to wallow in the sensations.

And so did Erica. He’d bet his eyeteeth on that.

From the very first glance she’d turned him on, and he spent a lot of time contemplating what a perfect match she’d be, in more ways than one. Sexually she’d be ideal. He thought of the different ways he’d take her, how he’d make her muscles burn, her skin sweat, her body melt. Once he got inside Erica, he wouldn’t stop pleasuring her until she throbbed in satisfaction from her ears down to her dainty little toes. He’d leave her every nerve ending tingling and begging for more.

From him.

But Erica liked to play games and he’d never been a player. He did things his way and only his way. So he’d dredged up patience and watched for the right opportunity.

In the meantime, he’d gotten to know her better and he liked what he’d learned. He liked her. A lot.

She was a hard worker, always on time, rarely calling in sick. And she was loyal. No one could question her dedication to her friends. Ian knewshe truly cared about Asia and Becky. They were a trio.

On top of those fine qualities, it had only taken him moments to recognize her intelligence, which gratified him since he had no tolerance for stupidity. Erica had a quick wit, a sharp sense of humor, and a massive chip on her shoulder that should have weighed down her slender body, but instead kept her backbone rigid and her shoulders stiff in cocky defiance.

Once he got her naked, though, he’d rid her of that rebellion. She’d bend to him—and enjoy doing it. He’d see to it.

“Hey, how’d it go?”

Ian stopped, startled to see George and Cameron standing just inside his basement office. Management rarely ventured into the gloomy bowels of the building, as they liked to call it. Ian preferred to call it quiet and private.

Whenever one of the suits wanted to see you, you were summoned upstairs.

Yet there they both stood, expectant, impatient. Hell, he hadn’t even been aware of taking the elevator down, he’d been so engrossed in his plans for seduction.

Ian shouldered his way around George and dropped into the enormous leather chair behind his sturdy metal desk. “I hope you two don’t expect a blow by blow report.”

George scowled. “No, of course not. But we don’t want her unhappy either.”

Cameron leaned against the wall. “If you manage to piss Erica off, she’ll tell Asia and Becky and—”

“And ruin your marital bliss, yeah I know.” Ian leaned back and surveyed the two men who, due to short association, couldn’t quite be called friends yet, but were certainly on their way there.

The fact that they actually cared about Erica helped a lot in gaining his respect. “Everything’s fine. I’m not going to make her mad or unhappy. Just the opposite. But you know Erica. She’s bound to do some blustering before she settles down.”

“But it will be just bluster? You’re sure of that?”

Ian shrugged. He wasn’t about to tell them that Erica’s grumbling would turn to soft moans soon enough. “I’m meeting her at the shop after work tonight. Just avoid her till then and you should be in the clear.”

George turned to Cameron. “He’s awfully damn confident, don’t you think?”

“Yeah.” And then, with a dose of suspicion to Ian, “Just how well do you know Erica?”

Ian almost laughed. They honestly expected her to chew him up and spit him out. Neither of them had understood Erica’s subtle signals, but because the sexual chemistry Ian shared with her was enough to choke a horse, he’d recognized her silent pleas for satisfaction on a gut level.

She was a complex woman, more so than most. She intrigued him, amused him, and made him hot enough to burn. He looked forward to discovering all the facets to her personality. He looked forward to calling her his own.

He needed to reassure Cameron and George, and he tried to do that without telling them things that would be private between him and the woman under discussion. “I know what Erica hides, and what she wants exposed.”

Judging by their expressions, they didn’t believe him.

Cameron’s brows rose and he almost laughed. “God, she’s going to hang you by your balls.”

Groaning, George said, “I should never have gotten involved in this. When you told me you wanted Erica, I really thought you’d use a little more finesse.”

“She’s not a cactus that has to be approached carefully,” Ian said.

George gave him an incredulous look before turning away. “I should have called a halt the second you told me this harebrained plan.” Hands deep in his pockets, he began to pace. “Becky is going to be so upset.”

Ian could clue him in on a way to get around Becky’s temper, but George didn’t look open to coaching. And anyway, a man in love could be very prickly about hearing his woman’s name mentioned—especially by another man.

Then George chuckled and said, “I guess I’ll be doing some making up.” He rubbed his hands together. “I do love how sweetly Becky forgives me.”

Ian grinned. Maybe old George knew just what he was doing after all.

Cameron pushed away from the wall. “It’s not that I don’t find this fascinating, but I need to get back to work. So just tell me if things went according to plan.”

“Perfectly. I told her George here had spilled the beans to two men—”

George whirled around. “Two?”

“—but that I didn’t know who they were.”

“Shit, shit, shit.”

Ian barely hid his grin over George’s distress. “She wouldn’t admit it, but she’s embarrassed.”

“Erica?” Cameron asked with a fat dose of incredulity.

“We’re talking about Erica Lee, right?” George seconded, just to make sure there was no confusion.

“One and the same.” Ian frowned at both men. “She’s first and foremost a woman, you know.”

“Gotcha.”

“Whatever you say.”

If he hadn’t needed their help, Ian never would have confided so much to them. What he did with Erica, the way their relationship evolved, was nobody’s business. But she was skittish at the idea of giving herself to him, so after he’d heard the gossip of how the other two couples had met at the porn shop, he’d cornered George and Cameron before things could progress without him, and he’d insisted he be included—for Erica. “Being embarrassed makes her more likely to accept me before either of the two imaginary guys can make a move.”

At least with George and Cameron, he knew they cared about Erica without being romantically involved with her. Not only were they both already in solid relationships, but they spoke about Erica with the fond exasperation they might have doled out to a pesky younger sister.

Cameron chuckled, but he could barely be heard over George’s grumbling about ending up in the doghouse.

“Hey, I’m all for making the little witch squirm,” Cameron said. “It’s only fair.”

She’d squirm all right, Ian thought, but not the way they meant.

“Amen,” George added. “God knows she lovesto dish out the barbs, and I’ve got the holes in my hide to prove it. It’ll do her good to get knocked off her high horse.”

Ian had no intention of bringing Erica down, but he did expect to get all that energy and attitude normally used for sarcasm funneled into a new direction. When he thought of Erica concentrating fully on him, his muscles clenched in anticipation.

“Just don’t hurt her,” George tacked on. “I mean that. She rubs me the wrong way sometimes, but deep down I like her.”

Ian eyed him. “Deep down, huh?”

“Same here,” Cameron added. “Erica can be a little hard-edged, but she has a good heart.”

“When I’m done,” Ian promised with a smile, “she’ll be thanking you both.”

Neither of them appeared convinced, given the way they rolled their eyes and snickered. But they did finally leave his office, giving Ian the opportunity to plan. He tilted back in his chair and propped his booted feet on the desk. He was semihard and had been since first walking into Erica’s office. She’d looked downright edible in her miniskirt, her glossy black hair loose, that taunting smile. And those slanted green eyes … His hands curled tight. Damn, he could just imagine how sexy she’d look in the middle of a screaming climax.

He closed his eyes and concentrated on breathing.

Afterward, he thought, once Erica was softened up and more relaxed with the release of sexual tension, they’d talk. Her guards would be down and she’d be open to him, emotionally vulnerable.

The image of Erica curled beside him, all womanly warm, was almost more satisfying than the idea of taking her sexually.

It was definitely as big a turn-on.

He’d never get rid of his boner thinking like that. To distract himself, Ian pulled out a pen and paper and started jotting down notes. He’d need to make a few purchases at Wild Honey and he wanted things that would give the most impact, items that would rock her feminist foundation.

He put body oil at the top of the list, and worked his way down from that—and all the while, he smiled in anticipation.

Erica was in the lounge waiting when Becky and Asia finally strolled in. They took one look at her and balked. Becky even tried to turn around to sneak back out but Asia snagged her arm and dragged her to the table.

“My, my, my,” Erica quipped. She hadn’t been able to locate George, so Becky and Asia would become the recipients of her discontent. “Don’t you two look apprehensive. Now why would that be, I wonder?”

Asia plopped down into her seat and even rolled her eyes. “Knock it off, Erica. You’re terrorizing Becky with all that nasty sarcasm.”

Wide-eyed Becky showed a lot more caution in seating herself. “Are you mad?”

Erica shot her a look. “Now Becky, why would I be mad? Just because your honey manipulated things a bit for me?”

Becky nodded, making her dark blond curls bounce. “George told me that he was trying to help you out by telling someone about the plan, but—”

“Do you know who he spoke to?” Though Erica asked the question casually, curiosity burned inside her. Who besides Becky, Asia, Cameron, and George knew about her risqué plans?

According to Ian, all of Cuther. Erica bit back a groan at that possibility.

“He didn’t say,” Becky ventured carefully. “And I didn’t think to ask, not after he told me that Ian Conrad had overheard it all and that now you and Ian are … well …”

Suddenly Asia leaned forward. “George and Cameron said you’re going to play sex slave with Ian.”

There was a priceless look of scandalized trepidation on her friends’ faces. Trying not to laugh, Erica said, “That’s right,” and she was proud of how cool she sounded—as if the idea didn’t give her a little apprehension herself.

“But with Ian Conrad?”

Erica’s reaction had been the same as Asia’s, but she shrugged. “Yeah, so? What’s wrong with Ian?”

With a worried look, Becky said, “Nothing’s wrong with him, exactly.”

Asia agreed. “Nope. Not a thing.”

Fidgeting, glancing at Asia, Becky said, “Except that he’s, well …”

“Enormous,” Asia supplied.

Becky nodded. “Yes, enormous. Perfect description. And maybe …” She searched for the new word.

“Forceful.”

“Exactly. Very forceful.” Becky looked quite concerned by that fact.

Maintaining her lazy pose, Erica looked first at Asia, then Becky. “He’s so quiet, how do you know he’s forceful?”

Asia pushed back her long brown hair and propped her chin on a fist. “Maybe it’s because he’s so quiet, and still everything gets done. He’ll have some guys start working on wiring something and if they don’t get it right, he doesn’t say a word, he just has this … look.”

“He does have a look,” Becky said.

Asia shivered. “All the new guys stammer around him.”

“So do the women,” Becky confided. “I’ve heard them asking him out, coming on to him. And you know what he does?”

Despite herself, Erica was fascinated. “No, what does he do?”

“He gets this little smile and this real gentle look in his eyes and, oh, man, it’s …”

“Devastating.” Asia sighed.

“And then …” Becky bit her bottom lip, building the suspense.

“Then?” Erica prompted her.

“He says no.”

“No?”

“That’s right, no. He turns all the women down.”

Erica snorted. Ian Conrad was not a monk, and he sure didn’t strike her as the type who favored celibacy. The man oozed sexuality out of every pore. “Like I’m supposed to believe that?”

“It’s true. Ask them. Yesterday in the ladies’ room they were speculating about whether or not he’s gay.”

After a disgruntled huff, Asia rolled her eyes. “Wounded vanity. Just because a guy’s selective …”

Erica started laughing. Sometimes her friends were downright nuts. “I had no idea you two had taken so much notice of him. And here you’re both supposed to be happily involved women.”

“We noticed you noticing,” Becky explained, “so naturally we paid closer attention.”

Erica studied her two best friends—her two
guilty
best friends. “And then you sicced Cameron and George on Ian to set me up because you thought I’d need help with that?”

Asia flattened back in her chair. “No way! We told you that was an accident. George was just talking about it—”

“About me.”

“Yeah.” Asia grinned. “But you give them both such a hard time, you know they’re dying to see how this turns out for you.”

“They’re dying to see me get my comeuppance, you mean.”

“Not true.” Becky appeared affronted by such an idea. “George is actually a little worried about you.”

“Worried? Why?”

Becky’s voice dropped to a whisper. “Ian makes everyone nervous. He wouldn’t have been my choice for you.”

Damn, if they kept this up,
she was
going to get more nervous. And she was plenty anxious enough already without any added help.

Hoping to convince herself as well as her two friends, Erica boasted, “I can handle Ian, don’t you worry about that. He might seem like the big, quiet, intimidating type, but he’s still just a man, and like all men, he’ll—”

Becky suddenly looked beyond her, and herface blanched. She elbowed Asia, who followed Becky’s gaze and then immediately slid lower into her seat. Her cheeks turned red.

No,
Erica thought.
No, no, no …

Warm breath touched the back of her ear, along with the hot scent of a big man who’d been hard at work. “Just a few more hours, Erica, and you can see just how well I handle.”

Erica stared at Becky and Asia, willing either of them to lend a calming influence to help even out her tripping heartbeat. But they weren’t looking at her. No, their panicked gazes were directed over her shoulder.

At Ian.

Now how in the hell had he gotten behind her?

Becky and Asia were horrified enough for all three of them, so Erica refused to join in. Instead she fashioned a snide smile, slowly twisted her head around to face him, and met his oh-so-close piercing blue eyes dead on. “Hey, Ian. Skulking around the break room, are you?”

“Repairing a busted circuit, actually.” He surprised her by crouching down next to her seat, which put him slightly below her. In her experience, a man always chose a position of power, choosing to tower over a woman in an effort to intimidate her with his size. That Ian should lower himself beside her, giving her the advantage of looking down on him, was curiously touching.

But even with him practically kneeling, he was so big she still felt surrounded—by his strength, his scent, his blazing intent, which one and all could easily see given the way he devoured her with his eyes.

He braced one hand on the back of her chair sothat his hot wrist touched her nape, sending tingles down her spine. His biceps, already impressive enough, bulged even more. His other hand clasped the edge of her seat, causing his fingertips to brush up against her hip.

She started to lean back to escape some of that overwhelming masculinity. The smile that Becky and Asia had just warned her about suddenly tilted his sensual mouth. Erica halted, then forced herself to relax. Or at least, pretend to relax. With him practically in her lap, his face level with her breasts, she felt so wired she couldn’t draw a breath.

He swiveled his head toward her friends, finally releasing Erica from that piercing gaze. Everything inside her went liquid with relief, even her backbone. She had a hell of a time staying upright in her seat.

“Ladies,” he murmured by way of greeting.

And her friends, both mute ninnies, just gaped back at him.

His smile widened, looking more like a crooked grin. “Now don’t be embarrassed,” he chastised in a gravel-rough voice. “It’s okay that you were talking about me. I’m sure you just wanted to reassure Erica, right?”

After a moment’s hesitation, their heads bobbed comically.

“Yeah. That’s what I thought.” He pinned Erica in place again. “Not that you need reassurance, do you, Erica?”

Where had her voice gone? It took her a painful three seconds to find it, and that annoyed her enough that her natural self-confidence returned. “Of course not. As my personal slave, you’ll do anything and everything I say. Isn’t that right?”

Very gently, he asked, “Do you really think so?”

Her back stiffened, in alarm, in dread—maybe a little in relief. “Are you telling me you’ve changed your mind? Are you backing out now?”

He looked at her mouth … and looked some more. A little unsettled, Erica squirmed. They were all so quiet, she thought she could hear Becky and Asia breathing; she knew she could hear the erratic knocking of her heartbeat against her breastbone.

Finally, Ian broke the nerve-stretching tension. “Naturally not.” He came to his feet with an amazing fluid grace considering his size. Then he touched her chin. “One warning, though. Be very careful what you instigate because you never know how it might turn against you.”

Damn him! Insults and more threats. She would not put up with it.

Erica surged to her feet too—a ludicrous affectation since she only reached his shoulder. But she did poke him in the chest, and found out he was so hard she nearly broke her finger. Wincing, she said, “Quit trying to intimidate me, Ian Conrad, or I’m liable to just call the whole thing off.”

He grinned, caught her finger, and cradled it to his chest in a manner that felt oddly protective. “But I don’t intimidate you, isn’t that right?”

Still staring at her slender hand caught up against that broad granite chest, she blinked. “What?”

He took a step closer to her, forcing her to tilt her head back to maintain eye contact “I refuse to believe you’d back out on me now just because of a little uncertainty. After all, Asia and Becky went through with it and survived just fine.”

After holding silent for the whole damn visit, her friends started sputtering over having their sorry butts dragged into the conversation. Ian spared them an apologetic glance, saying, “Ladies, it’s hardly a secret,” then continued to Erica, “Trust me, you’re woman enough, and you’re definitely ballsy and brazen enough, to do what they’ve done. Isn’t that right?”

He’d challenged her, the rat. Erica slanted her eyes and gifted him with her own small secret smile. “You betcha. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.”

He didn’t seem the least put off by her inference. He even nodded in satisfaction. “Perfect.” He glanced at the silver watch on his thick wrist. “Four more hours, then I’ll see you at Wild Honey. We’ll pick up a few things before we head to my place.”

“Your place?” She raised a brow, a little amazed at his authoritative manner considering he’d agreed to be her slave. “Did I say I wanted to go to your place, Ian?”

“No, but you did specify that we’d meet right after work and since one thing after another has broken down today, I’m sweatier than usual. I’ll have to shower.”

“Maybe I’ll let you shower at my place.”

He smiled at her taunting way of saying maybe. “I’m not going to wallow in my own sweat all day, not even for you, so forget it. Besides, if we’re at my place you can walk out whenever you decide you’ve … had enough.”

Another challenge, as if she’d be the one to cry uncle. Her teeth clicked together even as she managed another not-so-sweet smile. “I can always just order you to leave.”

That actually made him laugh and the sound of his humor was so unexpected, so deep and masculine, it gave her a small thrill. Her toes curled inside her shoes, but not by so much as a twitch did she give herself away.

When he saw her facade of disgruntlement, he laughed some more. Erica tapped her foot on the floor, waiting for him to get over his chuckles. Finally he wiped his eyes, but his grin remained as he said, “Order me to leave, huh?” and then, with a touch to the tip of her nose, “I suppose you can always try. In fact, I think I’d enjoy that.”

And once again, he turned his back on her.

Erica stood there while he saluted Becky and Asia, who mumbled farewells, then she watched him leave the lounge. Every woman he passed visually noted his progress with sly, covetous intent. The men just got out of his way.

“Oh, my.”

“Good Lord.”

Erica didn’t want to look at her friends because she knew what they were thinking, even before their muttered exclamations. She was thinking it, too. The difference was that her heart pounded and her body felt tight and hot, and it wasn’t all because of apprehension. Ian’s forceful nature scared her a little—and excited her a lot.

“Erica, sit down before you drop.”

Becky added in a whisper, “She does look dazed, doesn’t she?”

Erica shook herself. She had a reputation to maintain. “Dazed? Don’t be silly. He’s just a man.” She sank into her seat and pretended her knees weren’t shaking and her skin wasn’t flushed.

“There’s no
just
to it,” Asia said. “Whatever he’s got, he’s got it in spades. I’d be very, very careful if I were you.”

Becky mumbled, “If I were her, I’d hide.”

Laughing, Erica propped her head on her hand and considered the situation. She’d be walking a fine line between maintaining control and enjoying him for the man he was and what he made her feel. Eventually, she’d let him drive her wild with his dictatorial ways. But first, she’d show him a thing or two about control, about women, and about Erica Lee.

For a man like Ian, being a slave could prove a formidable task. Already she imagined the things she’d tell him to do, things that would excite him—but keep him from satisfaction. It’d be frustrating for her too, but at least she’d prove her point.

Who she’d be proving it to, she wasn’t sure yet.

Thanks to a last minute snafu with an ancient airconditioning unit, Ian found himself behind schedule. Only five minutes late, but he’d been looking forward to this all day, and he just knew Erica would try to give him hell about it. Thinking of the way her eyes burned green fire whenever she got riled, he grinned.

A few seconds later he strode into Wild Honey. He maintained a steady pace, but he didn’t allow himself to rush. Given half a chance, Erica would have him wrapped around her little finger and no way would he allow that. He barely glanced up as he passed the checkout counter and the tables of books and magazines.