Overtime Play (4 page)

“The man must’ve been shitfaced.”

“Must’ve been.”

“Why work at the Dollar Place in the first place?”

“I’m the sole provider for my Uncle, who has diabetes. I need the extra income for his medication.”

“Don’t I pay you enough?”

“You pay me well, Mr. Rain,” she replied with a grin. “But sometimes people have to pick up part-time work to make ends meet.”

He stared at her, tight-lipped. “I’ll give you a raise.”

“What for? Didn’t I say you paid me well?”

“I don’t like the idea of you working at night,” he ground out. “It’s too much work for one person to take. You’re only twenty-six.”

Mira snorted. The poor man was suffering a serious guilt trip. “I’m used to working part-time from my college days,” she said, patting him gently on the hand. “I’m not afraid of a little extra work. It does the body good.”

His eyes narrowed. “It also runs the body down.”

Sighing, she suddenly felt as though she’d said too much. Could he detect the lie? Did he somehow know that sometimes when life got rough she secretly wished things were different? Wished someone would step in and lessen her burden? Sadness threatened to consume her so she pushed it down.

Get it together, girl. Jeremy Rain isn’t that someone. Don’t be foolish. This is just a business deal. Nothing more.

She steered the conversation back to safer ground.

“Do you have a big family?”

“Two bossy sisters. Bullheaded father. Sweet mother.”

“Give me more than that.”

He shrugged. “My sisters teach college history and nag me to death. My father works with a recycling company. My mother is a retired high school principal. What about you?”

“It’s just me and Uncle Leo,” she replied with a laugh, “and Kells, of course, who is my best friend, and let’s not forget my huge collection of action movies.” She could almost kick herself for revealing the last bit. Way to go, girl, you’re just what he’s looking for. A film geek.

Sulking about her nerdiness, her attention darted across her suitcase, stopping at the sight of her black underwear on display. Had they been there all this time? Her eyes locked with Jeremy. Had he seen them, too?

Jeremy suppressed a smile. He kept his gaze on Mira’s face, not her panties. It wouldn’t be right to drool over her underwear, especially when she was talking so adamantly about her passion for action movies. It felt good listening to her talk about a non-work related subject. She worked too damn hard. For four days, he’d watched her hustle at the conference like her life depended on it. For fuck’s sake, she needed to relax.

Fighting the sudden urge to pull her long braids out of her ponytail and run his fingers through the intricate plaits, he clenched his fingers. He wanted to see the plaits swinging around her like they did at The Dollar Place.

His eyes skimmed her body. She wore shorts and a simple T-shirt with gray hearts sprinkled around the neckline. He willed his blood not to rush to his dick. He could see the outline of her nipples through the flimsy material. Each time she wrestled with her luggage in an effort to push the underwear back in place, the nubs bobbed from side to side, mesmerizing him with each sway. Fuck. She was well-proportioned.

His muscles shifted with arousal. His dick radiated heat. It would be a crime to not get a taste of her.

She continued to wrestle with the luggage.

The more she shoved her underwear to the bottom of the suitcase, the more pieces popped from the sides, forcing her to start the entire process all over again. Jeremy laughed. When a spark of red flashed amid the dark clothing, he couldn’t help himself. He plucked the piece out, discovering with pleasure that it was a thong. A silky red thong. One of those confections women wore when they wanted a good fuck. His cock grew rock hard, stunned that she wore sexy panties beneath her ugly black pants suits. He gave her a sidelong glance. His mystery woman was full of surprises.

She lunged for the panties. “Give those back.”

He held them above her head out of her reach. He knew he was behaving obnoxiously, but was unable to stop himself. “Plan on getting laid this week?”

She stopped struggling and just looked at him. “What-what are you talking about?”

“Sweetheart, these panties don’t cover up shit. You might as well go commando.”

He expected her to reprimand him on his familiarity or playfully slug him in the arm. He did not expect her to lick her lips and stare at his crotch.

Her voice came out in a breathy sigh. “Are you going commando?”

His cock grew harder, the rigid flesh standing at full attention.

Sensing his shift, she scooted away from him, toward the headboard, where she watched him warily. “Forget I said anything. Just forget it.”

His jaws clenched. She wanted him to forget she’d asked him whether or not his dick was covered or bare? Not in this lifetime. Growling, he grabbed her ankle and pulled her toward him, making her squeal as she pulled a few sheets along with her. He laughed mischievously and thought he heard her mumble something about arrogant men but wasn’t sure. All of his attention was on her lips. He leaned over and coaxed her tongue into his mouth. He did it softly, gently, a small tug. Then pulled her closer, his nostrils filled with her heavenly lilac scent. He could feel her quiver beneath him just before she let go of her hesitation and kissed him back, wrapping her arms around his neck, moaning.

He relished in the taste of her. Rich. Sweet. Addictive. A dangerous pheromone paralyzing his senses. His fingers twitched. His skin grew clammy with sweat. And his heart beat like a wild foreign drum.

“Fuck, you make me so hard.”

He pushed her onto the bed and settled between her legs. He couldn’t think straight. His hands roamed her body, her breasts, her hips, the curve of her belly and ass. He sucked a nipple through the thin T-shirt. Tugging on the hard pebble, relentlessly, thrilled at the friction. She was so rich. So sweet.

She touched his arm, then sank her fingers in his hair. He smiled at her touches as he lapped at her nipples.

“You taste so good, baby.”

Shutting his eyes, he lost himself in the pleasure of it all.

Good Lord, he wouldn’t be able to hold out if he didn’t take her now. And he knew she was ready for him.

Don’t fall for this woman. She’s your employee. Don’t jerk her around like her former boss.

Don’t.

It took all of his willpower to untangle himself from her embrace. He sat up. Took a raggedy breath.

“Jeremy?” Suddenly, she was sitting up and scooting next him, her dark skin still flushed with heat.

He chuckled softly, unsure of what to say or do. His cock was so hard it hurt. Fuck! What was he thinking? Had he lost his ever-loving mind? The last thing he needed was to get involved with an employee. For fuck’s sake, he helped write the manual about the dangers of fraternization for his companies. Frustrated beyond all get-up, he stood and walked toward the door, blushing brightly. When he turned back, she was looking at him with big brown doe-like eyes. What was he supposed to say? That he didn’t mean to feel her up? That his fingers accidently slipped?

“Sorry about that,” he offered. “It won’t happen again.”

He opened the door and made his way back to the room, his cock still as hard as ever. It was going to be a long, long night.

****

Mira scanned the convention center. The party was in full swing—just like the other three parties the conference had sponsored during the past week. Shoved to capacity with a bunch of loud horny music-folk. Luckily she’d found a spot in the far left corner of the room at the mini bar, away from the ballroom dance floor. Not far away, a couple ground up against one another like teenagers.

“At least someone is going to be getting some tonight,” she mumbled, taking a sip of her margarita. Though the dance floor pulsed with energy, she couldn’t help but sulk at the bar. For the hundredth time, she thought about Jeremy’s mix signals. One minute he was ogling her, and the next he was avoiding her like she had the bubonic plague.

Last night, after he’d sealed her lips with a smoking hot kiss, followed by an awkward apology, he’d shut down completely, only speaking to her if he had scheduling questions. It was as though the kiss they’d shared was a figment of her imagination. Why did she have to ask him about going commando? Why couldn’t she just shut her mouth?

That’s easy
, said her libido, ’
cause ya need to get some
!

Oh, shut up!

Mira took another sip of her margarita. Then bobbed her head to the loud music. She needed to get out of her funk. She was in Daytona. It was time to have fun! Time to banish thoughts of Jeremy Rain from her mind once and for all.

She slinked to the dance floor and started to rock to the beat. Several men flanked her on both sides. One of them grabbed her by the waist. “You’re the first pretty thing I’ve seen in here all week,” he hollered, revealing a row of straight white teeth.

Mira smiled. It was exactly what she needed to hear. “You’re not bad on the eyes either,” she purred. She put her back to him and flung her arms in the air.

“Damn, baby girl,” he moaned. “Fuck, yeah.”

They grooved toward the front of the crowd. A song about single ladies boomed from the speakers. Hell yeah! Being single had its pluses. She dipped and dived, dived and dipped. She was so caught up in her moves that she didn’t notice her dance partner stiffen behind her until it was too late.

Suddenly, Jeremy was there, placing a hand on the man’s shoulder, dwarfing him by a good five inches. Dark jeans and a suit jacket made up his ensemble. His hair was slicked back, giving him a devil-may-care look that made her grin. He looked good enough to eat.

“Can I cut in?”

Mira’s eyebrows shot up, wondering what he was up to.

The man shoved his hand away. “Nah, man, she’s busy.”

“I beg to differ,” said Jeremy, eyeballing the man.

Mira stepped in between them. “Jeremy, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

“Yeah man, are you even with her?”

Jeremy eyed the man with an evil glare. “Fuck off, punk. Now.”

Taken aback, the man turned and disappeared into the crowd. Anger soared through her. She was just starting to loosen up, and here he was again, butting into her business! “You know, I’m getting real tired of you sneaking up on me, acting like a Neanderthal. It’s played out!”

His thumb stroked her bottom lip. “Were you going to fuck him?”

She flinched at his bluntness, still boiling with anger. “Maybe.”

Cupping her cheek, his eyes flickered dangerously. “Don’t play with me, Mira.”

“What I choose to do off the clock is none of your damn business, sir. I’m not one of your skinny broads. Following you around like a deer in headlights isn’t my style.”

She knew he was not listening because his eyes were on her slinky dress. It was all black and it dipped down in the front and stopped above her knees. It was one of her sexist outfits, since it showed off her fabulous tits and ass. When his eyes continued to explore her body, she threw up her hands in sexual frustration. The man had the uncanny ability of making her feel irritated and turned on at the same damn time.

Rattled, she clung to her anger. How dare he treat her like that kiss didn’t happen and then get all jealous when a nice, respectable man wanted to dance with her? He was beyond sufferable. Arrogant, rude, bossy…

She took a deep, calming breath then pushed her way out of the crowd. Before she did anything that she would regret, like forgive and fuck him on the spot, she walked toward the elevators. She had to put as much distance between her and her boss as possible.

****

Cursing profusely, Jeremy followed Mira back to her room, where she slammed the door in his face.

Glued to the spot, he mumbled, “crazy woman,” and returned to the party, unfulfilled.

Shit. He was sure she’d said something to him about skinny broads, but how was he expected to pay attention when she was wearing that dress? It was nothing but a ring of black silk and skin. A devilish cloth that accentuated the curve of her lush ass nicely. No wonder his concentration had gone to hell.