Tempting in Stilettos Read online

  One second, he was kissing her, the next, his hands fisted in her hair. She pulled him to her, and her tongue met his, sliding over it like she craved it. Craved him. But that couldn’t be right. Could it? With a moan, he angled his lips over hers, delving into her mouth, tasting as much of her as he could. Heat, need and desperation drove him.

  Serena twisted her hands in his shirt, dragging him closer, and he groaned. Backing her into the doorway, he took full advantage, dipping down to deepen the kiss.

  Her hands skimmed up his chest and over his shoulders to dig into the hair at his nape. He groaned his satisfaction. She was touching him, this wasn't his imagination.

  The only noises that registered in the quiet hallway were their muffled groans, the mewling sound she made every time he pulled back, and the rubbing of her leather leggings against his jeans. Blood rushed in his skull and his pulse thumped. When she pressed her body into his, those curves melting into him, his cock shoved against his fly, begging for release. Shit, all he had done was kiss her, and he was ready to explode. He couldn't stop though. He needed more. After all, he was already headed for hell. He kept kissing her as his raging erection pulsed against her belly.

  Damn, he needed more, so much more. With a frustrated growl, he picked her up, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist, before carrying her into her apartment and shoving the door shut with his shoe before pinning her to the door.

  Now if he could just—he only needed—Hell yes. With every rock of her hips, his cock nestled along her hot, sweet center…yes. So good. Right fucking there. Serena tossed her head back, and he kissed her jaw, using teeth and tongue. She rocked her hips into him, again and again. In an attempt to control the torrent of lust and need, he gripped her hips tight, holding her in place. He was careful with his kisses; he knew what his five-o'clock shadow would do to her skin. Imagine where else you could leave marks. Across her breasts, her belly, on her thighs. His dick throbbed painfully, and he almost whimpered. He was so desperate, so ready to fuck her, and they were just getting started.

  Tyson skimmed a hand under her top and up her torso. Her skin was like satin. Unable to tame his inner desperation, he captured her breast, muttering curses as her nipple hardened in his palm.

  All that mattered to him was that he was getting to taste her, to touch her. His brain fought hard against every fantasy, every dream, every off-limits conversation he'd ever had with himself. She was his, and it made his head spin. Why hadn't he done this before? Kissing her was like kissing sunshine.

  Serena. Off-limits. You are not good enough for her.

  Hell. He tore his lips from her jaw and sucked in ragged breaths against the column of her throat. This was Serena. Not some random hookup he could do against the door without even taking off his jeans. But damned if he didn't want her like that. In a desperate frenzy and sliding in her bare. Fuuuck. He wouldn't be dragging her into her bedroom. They wouldn't be fucking. Not now. Not ever. Not like this. She was important to him.

  Then what the hell are you doing? Despite his cock's protests, he loosened his grip on her hips and gently placed her on the floor.

  She dragged open dazed, unfocused eyes, to peer up at him. Her irises were more cerulean than cornflower now, and her pupils had fully dilated. She swayed toward him, and he wanted nothing more than to pull her back into his arms.

  Instead, he took a step away from her. "Serena, I—" You what, dumbass? You're sorry? You never meant for this to happen? Shut the hell up. "I should go."

  Those wide blue eyes blinked into focus. "W-what?"

  Words. He needed to find words. His brain focused on her face. The hurt and confusion in her eyes. He’d done that. Because, he, was an ass. "Home, I should go home."

  A frown marred her otherwise smooth forehead. "But I don't understand. I thought—"

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. His body likely had the same thoughts that she did. But he wasn't going there with her for too many reasons. "Good night, Serena."

  He stumbled away from her and let himself out without looking back.

  Shit. He was an asshole. But he was barely holding his shit together. If he touched her again, he would screw her against the door. Then again on the floor, kitchen table, couch. So many places before he even considered making it to the bed.

  He clenched his jaw tight as he walked to his car and climbed in. Yeah, asshole. You handled that real well.

  5

  What the hell had she done?

  Serena sagged back against the door and tried to suck in even, steady breaths, but it was so not happening. Her lips still burned, and her heart felt like it was going to explode. And her body... The heat pulsing between her thighs was enough to make her melt into a puddle. Ty could kiss. Like really kiss. Like melting, why-sir-where-are-my-panties kind of kiss.

  And she'd kissed him. What the hell was she thinking? Except…that shit was so totally worth it. A new pair of shoes, a sexy dance class, and her inner diva was ready to burst out and do somebody. Despite the rush of endorphins, worry chased lust. What if he was so freaked out by what just happened he stopped talking to her?

  Her euphoric high morphed into a panicked worry. They were adults. They weren't in high school. If he wasn't into her, he'd just let her down gently. After everything they'd been through together, he'd do that for her...right?

  Stop over-analyzing for once and enjoy it. Besides, it wasn't like she'd meant to turn her head. She'd sort of been leaning in to sniff him. Then the corners of their lips touched, and bam.

  He may or may not regret it, but she didn't. And, she'd felt the electricity. The rigid length of him dying for release. There'd been hunger there. Not only in the way he'd stared at her like he wanted to eat her whole, but the muffled growling sound he'd made from the back of his throat. The way he'd gripped her hair, and then rocked his body into hers, grinding his erection into her. One thing was for sure, there was no hope of getting any sleep tonight thinking of Tyson's hands on her ass. The low moan he made when he’d released her. The way his hips had jerked. The ease with which he lifted, bringing his pulsing length into contact with her center.

  She’d felt his need in the way he gripped her hips, how he held her. The sigh when their lips touched properly. Like he was finally getting something he wanted.

  Blood rushed to her clit again, making her pulse. Hot damn, she needed a shower. Yes. Preferably, of the ice-cold variety. That only left the question of now what? They couldn't very well go back to the way things had been. At least she couldn't. There was no putting her inner diva back in the bag. Serena liked having her run around. It killed her that she'd been wasting all this time, afraid to take another risk.

  She certainly had more fun this way. Cracking open her shell wasn't necessarily the end of the world. So far only good things had happened. Things she'd never imagined, except in her dirty Tyson Leigh fantasies she saved for her alone time with her battery-operated boyfriend.

  All she had to do now was figure out what she wanted moving forward. She wanted him, and he seemed to want her too. Long term, he wasn't the perfect choice, she knew that. But as a way to get her diva back… Pulling the trigger wasn't exactly her strong suit, and given the way Ty had run out of there, he was in freak-out mode. So if she wanted something to happen, she'd need to make it happen. Damn she needed a little advice.

  Serena paced the length of her living room. Lucky for her, Micha answered on the first ring. "Hey, honey bunny. I just made it to the boarding gate. I was gonna call you as soon as I sat down."

  "Mi, I've decided you and Caleb should just move to DC. That way I'd have you around all the time."

  "I wish, but I'd miss San Diego too much. Did you know that it snows here? Perish the thought."

  Serena laughed. "Yeah, good point. You all set to go?"

  "Yep, interview finished yesterday, so I'm off to see my man. But enough about my boring, soon-to-be-married status. Tell me, how did dinner with Tyson go?"

  Serena paus
ed in front of her TV and picked up a photo of her, X and Ty when they were kids. They had been so happy and completely oblivious to how complicated things would get once they got older. X had his arm around Tyson, and Ty leaned an elbow on her shoulder and smiled down at her. It was a smile she knew well. A little indulgent, but brotherly.

  He wasn't so brotherly just now, was he? "It was interesting."

  Micha oohed. "Explain yourself, dear cousin. Let me get comfy, and make sure you skip to the good parts."

  She recounted what happened, and Micha listened silently for a moment, then said, "Okay, so he went for the hug. Was it a normal hug? Like usual?"

  "Yeah, nothing strange. Just a hug. He took me home like normal, leaned in to hug me, pulled me close like he always does. Then he leaned down to kiss me on the cheek, and this time I...turned. I didn't plant one on him." No matter how brave she was feeling, she didn't have quite that much moxie, "But the corners of our lips touched."

  "Okay, this is the important bit right here. In that moment of awareness, who kissed whom?"

  "Shit, I don't know. I mean, he pulled back a couple of inches, and then I sort of froze. I couldn't really believe that his lips had touched mine."

  "Okay, and what was he doing?"

  That much she remembered in startling clarity. "Uh, well, his fingers tightened on my hips for a second. Kind of like a squeeze and release, and he stared at my lips."

  "And while he stared at your lips, what did you do?"

  "I dunno. I probably licked them. It's a nervous habit."

  Micha hooted. "You are fucking diabolical. Even if you don't know it."

  Serena stopped pacing. "What? What did I do?"

  Her cousin tsked. "Oh, my love. I adore you. While you were busy not knowing what to do with yourself, you inadvertently called attention to your pretty mouth. The poor guy was probably lost and had no idea what to do."

  "Well, he figured it out soon enough. He kissed me after that. Or I kissed him. I don’t know."

  "Uh-huh. Was it soft or hard?"

  "Hard." All of him had been hard…very hard... Don't go there. At least not if you want to sleep tonight. "He also made this funny noise, like a growl."

  Serena could hear the happy smile in Micha's tone. "Honey, that is the sound of a man finally doing something he's wanted to do for years. You have him. What happened next?"

  "Well, there was, uh, kissing, and more kissing. He tasted like bourbon, and can I just tell you how awesome he smells?"

  "Hands?"

  "Yeah. But not too handsy."

  "Ass grabbing? Second base?"

  Serena flushed. "Yes and yes."

  Micha laughed. "I can almost see your blush from Reagan International. Relax, this is a good thing. Now you set the pace. You determine what to do next."

  Serena resumed pacing and avoided looking at his picture again. It distracted her. "Yeah, just one little problem. I have no idea how to take things further. I'm not you, remember? I borrowed some of your moxie, but I used it all up almost kissing him."

  "The good news for you is that it won't take much. Tyson has likely spent half of his adult life lusting after you. But the dynamic with Xavier has probably prevented him from doing anything about it. Now you guys are adults, but he might need a nudge or two, so get your sexy on."

  "Tell me, oh wise one. How do I nudge him?"

  "That's the easy part. Just be you."

  Serena frowned. "I don't follow."

  Micha sighed. "Of course you don't. Just keep wearing the outfits I put together. Not only will they get his attention, but you'll also look like a grownup. And they're not too over the top. You look great. Just be your sweet self. Now that he's had a taste, he won't be able to stay away, especially not if he's been wanting you for this long. It’s possible he’ll try and run. But if you're patient, he'll come around."

  "That's it? Look good, act normal? You're supposed to be the expert here."

  "I'm hardly an expert. But I know guys are easy. When they want you, you'll know. The key difference is keep being confident, or at least faking it until you make it. That's very sexy, and with Tyson in particular, show him that you don't need a big brother type. If you get asked out by somebody, go."

  That seemed counterproductive.

  "But I want him, not some random dude."

  "Doesn't matter. It's good practice for you and a free meal. You have to get used to going out again. Flirting, having fun. All of that will help you feel sexy, and in turn it will drive him nuts. And when you’re with him, the only thing to change is to touch him more frequently."

  Touching Tyson… Serena swallowed hard. "Uh, where am I touching him exactly?"

  Micha laughed. "See, that dirty mind, that's the spirit. But relax. I mean his arm, gently brush up against him. Any excuse for a casual touch. He won't be able to think about anything else."

  "Are you sure about this?"

  "Positive. As a matter of fact, when do you see him again?"

  "I’m supposed to see him for our dance rehearsal. After that, he's off to visit X in NOLA for a couple of days."

  "I bet you ten dollars he tries to talk to you tonight."

  "I don't know about that. Smart money says he’ll pretend it didn’t happen."

  "You taking the bet?"

  She'd learned never to gamble with something she wasn't willing to lose. But in this case, Serena had nothing to lose. "I'll take the bet."

  "You'll see. I’ll take my winnings in margaritas."

  Serena just hoped Micha knew what she was talking about, because right about now, the panic was setting in that she'd lost one of her best friends.

  6

  Tyson pulled into his father’s driveway in Frederick with bleary eyes. He hadn't slept much after last night. The flash of memory was enough to make him start shaking. He paused at the bottom of the ramp to hold on to the railing for support. The wave of lust that hit him was enough to make him weak. But guilt chased on the heels of the need. She was his friend. He didn't have many and he certainly didn’t want to risk one of the most important people in his life.

  Jesus. How was he supposed to know that kissing Serena Bennett was going to be the hottest thing he’d done all year, shit maybe ever. That woman’s sex appeal should be a registered lethal weapon. Like the idiot he was, he'd completely forgotten he had to see her tonight for dance rehearsal for Micha’s wedding. He adored Micha, but he regretted agreeing to be Serena’s dance partner for the bridal party dance number.

  He shook his head to partially shake the image of her and let himself into the small ranch house. “Dad, you here?” The handicapped van was parked outside, but he could have gotten picked up for one of his weekly activities. He’d told him he was coming, but sometimes his father was prone to forgetting. Especially if there was a woman involved.

  “Yeah, in the back.”

  Tyson headed toward the back of the house and inhaled the familiar scent of garlic and spices. The old man still loved to cook.

  Tyson hadn’t grown up here. When his parents divorced, he’d stayed in Bethesda with his mother. But in college, once his father was diagnosed, he’d spent as much time as possible here, eventually quitting school to move in and take over the business.

  His father spun around the corner in his wheelchair. “Hey, kid.”

  “Hey, Dad.” Tyson led the way into the kitchen then helped himself to a beer from the fridge. “I just wanted to check in on you before I head out of town tomorrow. Do you need anything?”

  His father sipped the green tea in his mug. “How long are you heading out for?”

  “Just a night. I’m paying X back for the loan.”

  He whistled. “Holy shit. We made that much money? If I’d known that, we would have headed to Vegas.”

  No, Dad, I made that much money. His father’s penchant for spending was why Tyson had removed him from the day-to-day running of the business. He still wanted his father’s opinion, as it was his business, but no way was Tyson let
ting all his hard work go into the shitter. “Yeah, well, that’s not how we grow. So I’m paying him, and then I’ll start with phase two, which is to expand. The next two years will be a little lean, but we’ll be debt-free, which is all that matters.”

  His father shook his head as his eyes watered. “When I asked you to help me, I never knew it could be like this. You’re amazing.”

  The heat crept up Ty’s neck. It felt good hearing that, but he didn’t relish the reason he had to be here in the first place. “Thanks, Dad. Anyway. If you need anything while I’m gone, just call Serena. She's around, so she'll come out.” Things might be weird and messy between the two of them, but Serena would come through if he needed her. He could always count on her.

  The old man grinned. “You know I’m not a child, right? That I learned how to wipe my own ass, even in a wheelchair?”

  “Yeah, I know that, but it’s my prerogative to worry, so deal with it.”

  “How is my favorite girl anyway? You haven’t brought her around in a while.”

  How did he answer that exactly? “I— You know, she’s busy and stuff. So am I.” No way was he telling his dad that he’d made out with her last night and that just kissing her was the most erotic thing he’d done, maybe ever.

  His father slid him a knowing look. “Uh-huh. You know, I always wondered why you two weren’t a couple. Not like you haven’t had a thing for her half your life.”

  “Dad, seriously, we’re going to do this?”

  “Oh come on. It’s not like we’re not both adults now. I missed out on shit like this. Besides, I see how you look at her.”

  Damn, this again. “I look at her like family. That’s it, nothing more.” Except she had the softest lips in the world.

  “Boy, we ain’t from Arkansas. No one looks at family like you look at that girl.”

  “Eww.”