Instruction in Seduction (11 page)

Somehow tonight he’d become a friend. A friend she wanted to tell about her past. She patted the bed to encourage him to sit down next to her. She drew out the box from beneath the bed. It was pink and featured the pink
Toile de Jouy
print Kirsty loved. Inside was a photo album and Ailsa flicked open the pages.

“This is Kirsty. My big sister. She died and went into a coma when I left London.”

“I’m so sorry.”

Ailsa shook away the sympathies. “She was amazing; the best sister in the whole world. Beautiful, talented, kind. And one day, because she chose to go a different way to work, she got knocked down. The driver never stayed around to find out if she recovered or not. It took a Crimewatch reconstruction to find him. But they did.”

Ailsa knew there were tears running down her face now but she brushed them aside unable to stop now. Nick reached out and took her hand in his warm one.

“I loved her and I still love her. And a few weeks ago I got this letter,” Ailsa went to her drawer and took out the now crumpled envelope. “Kirsty had written it before she died. It blew me away. Spooked me too.”

She handed it to Nick. “It’s okay open it, read it. I don’t mind. She thought I suck at attracting men. She wanted to tell me how to go about being amazing at it like she was. She’d walk in the room and the men would flock. One smile and everybody pulled out her chair. And that’s why I went out at New Year and zoned right in on you. I vowed to change for the better. To play it by Kirsty’s rules. To listen to her advice.”

“You don’t need to change, angel,” Nick told her and pushed aside a tendril of her hair.

Nick stared at her. Reading the letter. Taking in the implications of what she’d said.

He probably did think she was completely nuts now. He may well be right.

She saw his eyes skim over the letter and its itemised instructions on how to vamp it up and put the oomph into her sex life. Only she guessed she’d already failed by showing him it. Now she was taking the mystique away by showing the object of her affections the truth. But he’d told her his truths.

She figured he deserved some insights back.

Nick held her hand and kissed it. Deliciously. And she wanted to stay like that all night long. They’d made a breakthrough. They were friends now. And friends was pretty damn good.

And then before she could object he kissed her. His lips met hers and she was sunk. He tasted like honeyed wine and every brand of temptation. She wanted him more than she had done at Chez Angelle. That warmth beneath her touch. His open mouth, melting over hers.

The shudder that jumped through her veins at the chemistry.

Like live electricity. Like jamming a knife in a still plugged-in toaster without thought for the frazzled brain cells.

And suddenly Ailsa knew that playing the vamp was all well and good. But her being the innocent, surprised recipient of his kiss felt so much better when the results were this heart-felt.

He pushed his hands in her hair, caressed her face.

And soon she was under him on the bed, wriggling out of her clothes. Panting and wanting him inside her more than ever. But Nick stalled her clothes removal with a smile.

“Slow it down, angel. Let’s just kiss like teenagers for a while.”

***

Ailsa let out a long sigh and lent her head on his shoulder. Nick’s face was inches from hers.

“Ailsa,” Nick said quickly, hoarsely. “I’ll have to go.”

His voice was smoky. “Otherwise we’re right back again on that old sex conundrum.”

“Don’t go,” Ailsa whispered. “Please.”

“Do you know how hard it is being a Manager at twenty three and having a lovely nineteen year old hand deliver you coffee and choc fingers knowing all she wants is you and all you have to do is ask?”

The pause hung heavy. Ailsa even gulped on super slow and watched as she gathered her thoughts.

“I think I need to do the right thing again tonight and go.” Nick rose and shouldered his coat then he sighed, rubbed the back of his neck. “Look. I’ll call a cab. I’ll call you okay. No pressure. We’ll work together this week and get things into perspective.”

Then she reached out. Lightly copper tinted nails kept him captive

She sat on the bed, pulled him by the arm.

“Don’t go,” she urged.

Ailsa saw Nick look at her fluffy slippers strewn by the bed. Giant mice. They both laughed.

“Told you I’m not really a vamp. In case you hadn’t worked that out yet.”

“I don’t know; I could make room in my personal fantasy list for a naked Ailsa in giant mice slippers.”

He took her face between strong hands. Nick kissed her like she wanted him to. A Herculean kiss that took no prisoners and promised no lies. All hot fire and deep urgent longing. And bonfires on top of mountain tops burned and roared.

His hands were in her hair, pulling her clothes out of his way. Grasping, teasing and she was revelling in the touch, since the longing had caused such an ache. An ache that existed in her hollow void of need since they’d met.

“I want you so much.”

“Me too,” she whispered, “so much.”

Ailsa knew that she’d been sunk when Nick kissed her under the New Year’s fireworks. He’d spoiled her for any other man when he’d smiled in that soul-bending way she’d known she had to have him.

And finally that moment was now.

***

They lay on the bed skin to skin. Kissing every few seconds; it really wasn’t a dream.

It was two in the morning. He lay beside her in his shirt and trousers she wore her t-shirt and jeans. So different from their prior passion play. They were like teenagers with desire dancing in their eyes.

“This might not be how we first planned it but I want you to be sure,” Nick told her.

“You aren’t going home. Even if that means us sleeping side by side.”

“I don’t think either of us really believes that’s going to happen.”

As they lay there they both froze with the promise of the moment; aware of the electric spark that fizzed. Deadly, full of charge. Scary too.

Nick kissed her; lips meeting on slow freefall. Arms encircled, willing bodies met. Mouths joined and the desire belittled the need for further banter. Twenty whole minutes of divine kissing that made her school techniques pale followed.

Nick’s eyes kept hers captive. “When we kiss it’s fantastic.” Nick played his fingers up her spine. “Ailsa…” he said it through a mouth half occupied with kissing her. “I’ll be your sister’s list guinea pig. But this isn’t a race. I want to seduce you the old fashioned way. I want us to be about more than a quick good time.”

Ailsa said, taken by surprise. “Won’t working and sleeping together be unwise?”

“We can act professional at work. In the bedroom, we concentrate on your instructions and us.”

Ailsa was concentrating on the excited buzz of her body, the thrum of her own heart as his hands caressed her curves and he kissed her expertly.

And he kissed her again. She felt the smile in his voice as he kissed her. “Maybe I have to convince you to take a chance and let me try to instruct you. Maybe I need to show you I’m best candidate for your instructor vacancy?”

“What do you suggest? A test?”

She felt his fingers skim her waist. She wanted him to touch her somewhere hotter but he refrained. It was restrained yet thoroughly exciting all at once.

He made her feel more womanly and powerful than ever. And this was without the trappings of seductive outfits or tantalising lingerie or overt flirtation. It so excited her she kissed him back deeply, her tongue darting, plunging and savouring the explicitness of his kiss.

“Okay, prove it. Touch me, if you want to?” she invited in a whisper.

Nick’s fingers slowly undid her jeans buttons in deft movements.

“I’m very good at touching, so that’s okay.”

She breathed in short sharp ragged bursts as he slid her t-shirt up and off. He hadn’t even touched her skin and it made her entire body tremble with the need that burned there. Then he lowered a mouth to kiss a line of fire from her throat then slid off her bra. She felt sensation spiral, heat swell as his head lowered. She caressed him with her hands, at his neck, in his hair.

“Top marks. Let’s make love,” she smiled.

“Not so fast. I’ve need to prove I’m able.”

Standing up he pulled his cotton shirt off. Briefly he unbuttoned the trousers and she revelled in the view. Then he appreciated her, eyes aglow, it made her shiver from head to toe.

Nick kissed her languorously. She tempted and teased and enjoyed the journey. She simultaneously felt herself lose the frantic, angsty need. Instead steady enjoyment overwhelmed her; took her breath away, flooded her. She was amused by his love-play. Entranced by his abilities.

Ailsa saw how her own enjoyment took him with her. Then he travelled lower. Kissing her skin, tasting her. All he’d done was kiss and taste her and she was shaking like a new born lamb.

“You think you have this in the bag, don’t you?” she whispered. “You’re better than the fantasy version.”

“So are you. But am I hired?”

She let her hands explore the manly contours of his shoulders and chest and let her head fall back as he kissed her mouth again. Eagerly she kicked aside her jeans and panties and his able fingers found her core and he touched her to make her pant and writhe. With heat steadily burning a hypnotic path to her destruction, again he flicked with care and deliberation. It made her buck and writhe and he groaned against her kiss. Eventually as he kissed her neck and continued his ministrations she felt the waves of ecstasy build inside her to a crescendo that rocked her with vibrating delight.

She cried out panting in the aftermath and smiled at him. He was looking rather pleased with what he’d just achieved as she stared at him startled.

“So that’s what she meant.”

“Oh but there’s more. Much more. You’ve only started learning,” he told her.

“You’ve got the job if you want it,” she said on a gasped breath.

Ailsa realised she’d been doing this wrong.

Nick was the perfect answer to Kirsty’s list, he was clearly skilled and could teach her everything. Make her wildest fantasies reality.

His every touch sent her higher.

“Then it’s time for your first lesson.”

His mouth claimed her breast as he pushed her back against the smooth sheets.

Nick went for broke and produced a square foil packet. She grinned as she pulled him closer.

“Hey, angel. All in good time.”

Wrapping her legs around him, she wanted him to take her to paradise. A New Year’s revelation.

With a laugh he smiled and urged her to slow but her kissed entreaties for speed soon meant wild delight took free reign.

She had a Seduction Instructor who rocked her world. Nick was expertly qualified for the job.

Chapter Seven

Loincloths and jungle dreams were nothing on the reality of last night. He’d more than surpassed the hum-drum of waiting for a night with Nick Palmer. He’d been unforgettable.

And even better he’d seemed pretty impressed with the evening’s antics himself.

She’d done it. Really done it. Fulfilled her resolution for casual walk-away sex. Bagged promotion at work, and got herself a new sexy transformation.

Ailsa smiled; a smile that became a grin, even teeth appeared. Contentment laced with excited wonder.

He was here. Right here, right now and for the moment he wasn’t going anywhere. Memories of his flesh searing hers, their limbs entwining, bodies scorching, enflamed her fatigued mind.

He had a sportsman’s attitude to sex. And he put her needs before his own. Jackpot hit or what?

Nick was lying in bed beside her. His olive, smooth chest rising and falling and causing her heart to feel giddy with need again. His skin smelled so addictively of his familiar scent.

When Ailsa Murray did it, she really did it. With bells on and a brass band accompanying the event.

For the short-term future Nick would be linked to her work environment. Her plan for an improved ‘New Self’ may already have backfired on her true persona but she figured he was worth the risk.

“Ailsa,” she heard Nick whisper against her ear and gently kiss her neck. “You okay? Silly question, you’re far more than okay. I know this already for myself. You realise it took us three nights to pull it off. Do we need our heads examining?”

“Definitely. And there are plenty of other places too.”

And seizing the moment, and her new persona in spite of the risks, Ailsa obliged without objection.

***

Nick was in the shower when a text arrived on his phone on the bedside cabinet.

Ailsa wasn’t the prying type: it was the phone coming to life that made her look. And she immediately saw the young grinning boy beaming out of the handset’s photo screen – Jake.

It caused a gasp to lodge in her throat. Even as she heard Nick singing in the shower and the water swishing against the tiles in the next room. She gingerly picked up the handset to closer inspect the child. No wonder Nick was so proud of him with his smattering of freckles and smile told of good natured mischief.

But it was a stark reminder to Ailsa. She should not be dragging Nick too deep. He had a child with important claims on him, who needed him back at the helm of their lives. And her sexual education, at which he was proving himself adept and eager to participate for the time being, was just a diversion that would have to conclude.

She swiftly laid the phone down when she heard the water jets switch off. And busied herself folding clothes at the other side of the room.

“You know what?” Nick asked pursing sexy lips, wiggling a dark brow as he watched her from the doorway.

“What?” Ailsa asked.

“You should leave the Sofa City job if you want to. Life’s too short for obligation that doesn’t count. It’s been my motto and it’s stood me in good stead. Okay my life’s taken irregular turns but trust me and you have to do what you want in life. If you want your drama club venture, I’ll back you. The offer’s there now and it’s not a line. I think you’re a good bet worth backing.”