Liar Liar (8 page)

“You’re thoughtful. I like that quality in a man.”

“I’m glad you approve.” He finished his beer.

“I do. Give my compliments to your mother.”

Matt was suddenly serious. “My mother and father passed away when I was young.”

“Oh, Matt! I’m so sorry!” She wanted to crawl under her stool, but Matt grabbed her hand and pulled her closer to him.

“It was a long time ago. I was raised by my grandmother.” He gave her a sheepish smile. “
Mi Abuela
Tina.”

Jess relaxed a little. “Then, compliments to your
Abuela
Tina.” She sighed and leaned back against him. Too bad they weren’t already in her room. She could think of a few delectable morsels she’d like to nibble on. Like Matt’s earlobes.

He ducked his head and nuzzled her neck. “You smell wonderful. Almost good enough to eat.”

“Do I? I was just thinking the same thing about you.” She leaned closer until they were only inches apart. “And you have really sexy eyes too. Like coffee. Or chocolate,” she added. “I
love
chocolate. Hey!” She drew back so she could look into his eyes. It was a little hard to focus. “What kind of man orders a chocolate soufflé for dessert?”

Matt laughed. “A man who knows how to please a woman.” He stroked her cheek with his index finger.

“So, you don’t like chocolate, but you’ll eat it if it gets you in my pants?” Her head felt thick.

“Oh, no. I’m a bona fide chocoholic. There’s just so much you can do with a beautiful woman and chocolate.” His lips were tantalizingly close. “But if we’re being honest here, there isn’t much I wouldn’t do to get in your pants.” He was so near she could smell the faint scent of beer, warm and earthy, on his breath. Jess held her breath, but her bullshit meter was mute.

An honest man, fancy that.

She’d always loved the smell of fresh beer on a man’s breath, harkening back to her early college days at crowded frat parties. Wrapped in the warmth of Matt’s arms with the faint odor of cigarette smoke lingering in the lounge, the scent of beer, and his aftershave mingling in her nostrils, she almost felt like a coed again. But this time, there was no alarm pinging in her head. This time, there was only the delicious attraction pulling her towards him like a moth to a flame. The sexy sensation was enough to drown any last misgivings she had about him, at least for tonight. Tonight, she would be bold and daring!

“Matt,” she whispered.

“Mmmhmm?” he rumbled. His eyes fixed on her mouth in a look that transformed her insides to Jell-O.

“I should really get back to my room.” Her pulse beat erratically as a rush of desire commingled with the alcohol in her system.

He licked his lips as if he could taste her. “You should?” His voice was tinged with disappointment and his pupils were dilated. His arms tightened around her, drawing her closer to his face. She could feel his breath on her mouth. It wouldn’t take much for their lips to touch.

“We should both go,” Jess repeated. She couldn’t wait to kiss him again. “Before things get cold.”

Matt drew back, his brow furrowed in confusion.

“I’m all warmed up.” Jess lowered her lids, giving him her best come-hither look. “And it would be a shame to waste all that chocolate.”

***

He didn’t give a damn, he told himself.

Not about her and not about the damn chocolate soufflé.

She was just another woman. He could handle this.

So why did he feel he knew her already? Could have been the hours he spent checking her profile for inconsistencies that would signal her ruse. Or maybe it was just her. Something in her fearful feistiness spoke to him.

Her backside brushed against his fly as Jess bent over to insert her keycard into the tiny slot near the handle. His cock surged and Matteo cursed himself for a liar.

He did care.

“Hurry up,” she whispered. “We only have about an hour before room service arrives.”

Matteo slid his hand along the back of her neck and gave her a gentle squeeze as they slipped into her room. “Jess, why are we whispering?”

She giggled, something that normally repulsed him in a grown woman. The sound of her snickering was like sparkling wine, light and fizzy and too easily intoxicating.

Damn, she was cute when she was tipsy.

They moved into her darkened room, her hand drawing him to her as if guiding a drowning man to shore. Any guy in his right mind would be thanking his lucky stars, but all he could do is wonder about her abrupt change in attitude. It could be the alcohol rapidly entering her system. He sure hoped not.

He’d have sworn that not a half hour ago, she’d been ready to call the whole evening off. Her stance, her stilted responses…they were telltale signs of a woman recanting her offer. Or covering up her motives. Matteo had excused himself, trying desperately to bring his raging sex drive under control and to give her the time she needed to come up with a plausible excuse. He hadn’t been prepared to feel so disappointed.

Then, wonder of wonders, she’d had a change of heart. Or so it seemed.

He’d had to do some dancing around the subject of his work and family, but after her initial suspicions, Jess had succumbed to the lethal combination of his advances and too many double vodka tonics. It seemed she was just like any other red blooded woman.

Except that he cared.

It made him nervous. He hadn’t been nervous around a woman since…hell, he couldn’t remember when. Maybe not since college.

“Are you sure about this, Jess? You’ve had a few drinks.” She wasn’t slurring her words, but her overly chatty demeanor was out of character. He had to be sure. The vodka helped breakdown her inhibitions but he wasn’t a cad. If she chose to turn back now, it could jeopardize everything he’d planned--for her and for his business, but there was no way he was going to talk her into something she didn’t want.

Jess sighed and something deep and primal within him responded. He trembled at the force of desire that shot through him. He wanted to ravage her lips.

“Do you want me?” She tilted her head, her sharp gaze softening in the moonlight streaming in through the patio doors.

“I’d have to be dead not to want you,” he admitted. “But you need to be sure before this goes any further. Am I talking to you or the vodka?”

“It’s me and I’m sure. This is long overdue.” She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips. Just a heady reminder of what she’d offered him in the woods this afternoon. His body sizzled with longing, every nerve ending attuned to her presence. “I’m not some trembling virgin, Matt. I want you.”

She looked so beautiful with her hair drifting around her cheeks like vibrant feathers on the porcelain mask of her face. He swept a tendril out of her eyes with the back of his palm. The mere brush of her silky locks against his skin and all his carefully calculated plans seemed stupid and insignificant. She was definitely going to be trouble.

“Kiss me,” she ordered.

What else could he do?

He brushed his lips against her, marveling at the soft fullness of her lips. Full, plump lips made for kissing and sucking. He wanted to feel her, feel every inch of her. This afternoon in the woods had been incredible; tonight could be even better. He could spend hours making love to her mouth.

When he increased pressure, her lips parted and he slid his tongue inside. She moaned softly and a surge of need overtook him. He covered her mouth with his. She leaned into him, her fingers stealing up into his hair. He stroked her tongue with his, running it between her lips, along the ridge of her teeth. Her body arched against him. He lowered his hands to her waist and drew her lower body against his burgeoning arousal. The rocking motion of their hips drove him crazy.

“This feels so good,” she murmured. “Take your shirt off.”

Good didn’t begin to describe it.

He shed his shirt in a single motion desperate to return to kissing her. His hand stole up and cupped her face. He cradled her, allowing himself time to suckle her bottom lip. She hissed air between her teeth when he moved lower to gently bite the hollow of her neck just below her ears. His tongue throbbed against her tender pulse.

“Lower.” Jess moaned. She reached up and began to unbutton her blouse, her fingers fumbling and unsuccessful.

“Let me,” he breathed. He shifted his stance, bending his head to kiss each spot of bared skin as he unbuttoned her blouse buttons one by one. Her skin was as creamy smooth as he’d imagined and just as sweet. She was spun sugar beneath the onslaught of his mouth. He couldn’t wait to taste all of her.

With her blouse hanging loosely at her sides, Matteo tugged her bra strap down over her shoulder until a single rosy nipple appeared above the fabric cup. He puckered his lips and blew a stream of air over the tip until the nub grew stiff and responsive.

“Oh.” Jess sighed. “That feels so nice.”

“Just wait,
querida
. It gets better.” He reached behind her and released her bra clasp. Jess stepped closer to him as he removed her blouse and bra with one sliding motion. For a second, he was hypnotized by her beauty, the pale perfection of her bared upper body next to his.

She had great breasts. Not too small, not too large. They fit into his palm as if the two were made to go together. The sight of them bobbing just inches from his face was too much to withstand. He lifted a hand to her breast and rubbed his thumb over her nipple. Jess moaned, a sexy little sound that made his cock throb.

After tonight, her fears and inhibitions would be gone. She’d have no grounds for investigation, as long as she didn’t find out he was the company owner, not a client. LoveLines would have its perfect record restored and Jess would be ready to take the next step toward a real relationship with her sensuality regained. He pushed away the surprising resentment that surged to the surface whenever he thought of Jess being touched, being kissed by another man. It wasn’t his place to want her this badly, but he did.

He’d figure out the rest later.

He lowered his head to her breasts and flicked a tongue first over one nipple, then the other. When her knees buckled, he caught her, easing them both back onto the king-sized bed. Jess inched towards the pillows, shrugging out of her pants. The sight of her nearly naked figure squeezed the air from his chest.

In their prone position, he had ample access to every inch of her magnificent figure, obscured only by the dim room and a pale green thong. Her pale skin glowed like a beacon. He lay beside her, stroking her arms and legs, caressing her until her body relaxed. She molded against him, the planes of his pectorals flattening the curves of her naked breasts. Her bare legs twined against his faded blue jeans. His cock flexed as if sensing her pleasure core positioned just beyond the rough fabric and button fly. He ached for the silk of her skin.

He dipped his head lower, placing open mouthed kisses between her breasts, down her rib cage to her belly. Jess bucked beneath him as he swirled his tongue around her hipbones. He lowered his hand between her legs and found her wet and swollen beneath the silk of her panties. She couldn’t hide the truth. Her legs were slick with her own juices. He wanted to lap at her, but each time he moved she pulled him back up to her mouth.

He slipped a finger inside her, his tongue rhythmically stroking into her mouth as his finger moved inside her. His cock pulsed with each subtle motion. She was so tight and wet. He wanted to bury himself in her sweetness. It no longer mattered why.

“You’re amazing,” he mumbled against her mouth. “So beautiful and so soft.”

Her head was thrown back and her eyes half closed. Her breath quickened, puffing against his cheeks like butterfly kisses. Her hands reached out and tugged at his jeans. “Off,” she ordered. “Take these off.”

“Jess,” he gasped. He couldn’t stop his pulse from leaping at the guttural sound of her voice. He wanted her so badly it hurt. But she’d been drinking. “I need to know you want this. After tonight, there’s no going back.”

“Matt, please,” she moaned.

“I don’t want to rush you. I don’t want things to be…uncomfortable for you the rest of the week if this doesn’t work out.” Why was he stalling, damn it? This is what he wanted, right? To seduce her?

“I want you,” she said, leaning back onto the bed. “Right here. Right now. That much I know. We can discuss the other stuff later.” She shimmied out of her panties and looked up at him expectantly. “Care to join me?”

She was so damn beautiful. Matteo took one look at her lovely naked form leaning against the pillows. He wanted her, more than he’d dreamed of wanting a woman. He’d always been a conscientious lover. Made sure that his partners were satisfied, but this was different. He wanted to please Jess, take her to heights of passion he’d suspected she’d never been. The fact that she had such an effect on him was frightening and challenging all at once.

“Make love to me,” she urged.

“With pleasure,” he said.

And just like that all thoughts of keeping score rushed completely out of his head.

Matt palmed her breast and her nipple hardened against his hand. Jess sighed. Her body was awash with tiny pinpricks of desire. A haunting need that ached to be fulfilled blossomed between her legs and somewhere dimly she remembered that they needed to hurry.

Too bad.

She really wanted to take her time with him. Her arms and legs were sluggish. She felt like she was swimming in a pool of molten honey. Thank goodness she had such a sexy man to guard against drowning….She shifted, nuzzling closer to his half-clothed form, her body seeking his heat. He gave her a wicked smile and replaced his hand with his mouth, a hot, moist cavern that sent waves of longing coursing through her veins like too many chocolate martinis. She hissed air through her teeth and arched against him, straining for more.

“Yes.” Matt breathed. He nibbled at her breasts, alternating between suckling and gentle love bites. “Open for me,
querida
. Let me pleasure you.”

The thought of an incredibly handsome man seducing her with the single notion of pleasing her was so enticing. So many times it had been the other way around. She’d spent years working on erasing her inhibitions, trying to entice Stan to stay faithful. When he hadn’t, she’d taken it as a personal slam in the sexual arena. But to hear Matt talk, and see the way his cocoa colored eyes darkened with desire, feel the press of his cock against her thigh…. She felt beautiful and desirable in a way that she’d never felt before.