Too Much Temptation (19 page)

Noah refused to budge. “I wasn’t asking your permission.”

“And I wasn’t asking for yours. We agreed to obedience in the bedroom, Noah, not in my entire life. Where I work is none of your business.”

And that was what really pissed him off. He wanted everything that concerned Grace to be his business. He wanted to know that she was safe and happy and that she was…his.

Shit.
Noah shoved himself away from her. Confusion churned inside him, making his head pound, his heart race. He’d just ended a long-term, complicated engagement, just ruined a close family relationship. His life, his future, was all up in the air.

Oh, he had no doubt he’d do fine; as Grace had pointed out, he knew how to take care of himself. He’d been a survivalist from birth.

But he had to get his life settled, had to put out the other fires before starting a new blaze. The last thing Noah wanted or needed was another entanglement in his life, and Grace was most definitely entangling him. She’d already turned him inside out.

Sex with Grace had seemed like such a great idea, a way to relieve his tension and stay unattached. In his usual fashion, he had made his decision to become involved with her. But he’d veered from his original plan in a big way, which was something he never did.

Now he wanted more than just the bone-melting sex, when he knew more was the worst thing. “I’m sorry.”

Grace let out a long sigh. “I had no idea you’d react like this.”

How could she have known?
He
hadn’t known. He’d been engaged to Kara for years and had never been so controlling.

“Forget it.” But then, because the worry was still there, despite everything he’d just told himself, Noah twisted to face her. “Grace, it really isn’t the best place to work.”

“Ben told me you wouldn’t like it, but I promised him you wouldn’t care.”

He’d strangle Ben. “My brother can be astute on occasion, but this time his judgment was off. He should never have hired you.”

Grace dropped back on the bed. “Here we go again.”

“Don’t be sarcastic, Grace. Ben runs a tight business, and I’m damn proud of him. But he caters to a lot of rough customers. It’s not too bad during the week, but on the weekends, especially in the evening, it can get rowdy, even dangerous.”

“He told me no one had ever been seriously hurt.”

He supposed Ben didn’t count his own stitches, bruises, and cuts as serious. Noah would have a long, serious talk with his little brother very soon. “It’s only a matter of time. That’s no place for a lady.”

“He has other women working for him.”

Grace’s arguments were grating. Through his teeth, Noah said, “They’re not you, Grace.”

“And just what does that mean?”

She sounded so insulted, Noah shook his head. “You’ve never lived in that type of environment. You’re not street smart. I’ve met Ben’s other waitresses. Hell, I grew up with women like them. They know the score.”

“And you’re saying I don’t?”

Hoping to sooth her growing temper, Noah stroked her thigh through the blankets. “I’m saying you’re sweet and naïve.”

“I am not.”

“You just told me men don’t notice you. If that’s not naïve, then what is?”

“It’s the truth, Noah. Men don’t look at women who are…”

She hesitated, and he grinned evilly. “Remember my warning, babe. My palm is itching.” He released her thigh and found her hip. He squeezed suggestively.

Grace scoffed at him. “You’d never hit me in anger, Noah, and we both know it.”

She was right, damn it. Her faith in him was humbling.

Noah decided he’d just have to find another way to dissuade her. The answer came to him in a flash. “I wanted you to go to Florida with me.”

“Florida?” Grace shoved up on her elbows. Moonlight fell softly over her breasts, making a pretty picture. “What’s in Florida?”

Distracted, Noah said, “Rental property I bought. I already owned one condo complex there, but another has gone up for sale next door.”

“You own a condo in Florida?”

Noah wondered if she had any real idea of his monetary worth. Agatha had shown him the value of owning land and property, and he’d quickly begun acquiring his own. But even Agatha hadn’t been informed of all his purchases. For some time now, Noah had felt the need to guarantee himself financial security.

“My building has four posh condos in it, right on the beach. The one I’m thinking of buying has six units. They’re smaller than what I own now, but the realtor says he has no problem keeping them rented. It’d be ideal to have them both, because then I could offer a wider range of rental fees.”

Grace gaped at him. “Two buildings on the beach?”

Noah didn’t tell her that he had property in a few other vacation areas as well. “Do you like the ocean, Grace?”

“I don’t know. I’ve never been to the beach.”

“No?” He stared at the full, generous curves of her moon-washed breasts and pictured her in the bright sunshine, splashing along the shore, her smile as sweet and charming as ever. “You’d look great in a bikini, Grace.”

She snorted, and though it was too dark to discern, Noah was sure she blushed. “Dream on.”

Laughing, Noah decided he’d get her into a swimsuit sometime very soon. “I get down there about eight times a year, whenever I have to head that way on other business for Agatha. I like to keep up on things. I was hoping to fly down this weekend to check out the new property before I buy it.” Hoping to tempt her into agreeing, he added, “I have one of the condos reserved from Friday to Monday, so I can find out firsthand how comfortable it is, and make sure everything is in working order.”

Noah slipped his hand beneath the blankets and rested his palm on Grace’s soft belly. The muscles tightened under his hand as she sucked in her breath. “You wanna keep me company?”

Grace fidgeted. “Our agreement was for sex and only sex. I don’t want to…”

“Screw the agreement.”

She looked uncertain.

Anger flared. Noah knew he was being perverse, because after all,
he
was the one who had stressed the terms of their involvement. But every time Grace hesitated, or pulled back, he wanted to draw her closer.

“Grace, there are bedrooms everywhere.” He sounded reasonable, convincing. “Think of this as an adventure, as just another place to indulge our carnal games.”

Still she held silent, and Noah added softly, by way of an incentive, “We could rent a boat and make love out on the ocean with the hot sun on our backs.”

Just that easily, she nodded. “Okay, I’d love to.”

Noah grinned.

“But I might have to work.”

She sounded disappointed at that possibility, and Noah decided to have a talk with Ben. He’d make sure his brother didn’t schedule Grace on the busy, rowdier weekends. And Grace would never have to know he’d interfered. He instinctively knew she’d rebel against the idea of favoritism.

“Let me know as soon as you find out your schedule, okay?”

“Yes.” She shifted slightly beneath his palm. Grace got hot so quickly, it sometimes astounded him.

Noah drifted his fingers lower, until he was just touching her pubic hair. Teasing, tempting. “Grace?”

“Mmm?”

He smiled at her breathless anticipation. “You’re not going to wear that dress to work in, are you?”

“No, of course not.” And then, forgetting his warning, she said, “Those uniforms were not made for heavy women. Hopefully Ben will be able to—
Noah!
”

In a flash, Noah had Grace up and over his thighs, her round behind available for a sound swat. She squealed and squirmed, making Noah hesitate. Then he thought, what the hell, and brought his palm down with just enough force to make her yelp.

“Noah!” She tried to sound outraged, but he could hear the laughter in her tone, could feel her jiggling as she snickered.

Noah smiled with lecherous intent. “I told you, babe, I don’t like it when you keep putting yourself down.”

“I wasn’t!”

“You’re not heavy. You look gorgeous, every single inch of you. All right?”

Grace struggled for balance in her awkward position. She flattened one hand on the floor and curled the fingers of her other hand into Noah’s thigh. Twisting her face around to peer at him in the darkness, she said, “Be reasonable, Noah, anyone can see that I’m…
hey!
”

He swatted her again, a little harder this time. His palm tingled, and he had to hold Grace still when she tried to wiggle off his lap. He hampered her movements by flattening one hand on the small of her back and wrapping the other around the inside of her thigh. His fingertips touched her hot vulva. He stroked seductively—and Grace choked on a laugh.

“I’m ready to dole out more, babe. Be careful what you say.”

“Okay, okay!” Grace sucked in air between her giggles. “This is a terribly ignominious position, Noah.”

“I like it.”

“You would.”

Noah could feel her long silky hair hanging down to the floor, brushing against his hip, teasing him every time she moved.

He smoothed his hand over her back to the warm spot where he’d smacked her. He wished he’d had enough sense to turn the lights on so he could see her clearly. “I want to be positive sure that you understand me, Grace. Now say,
I have a great bottom.”

At his demand, Grace started giggling again and couldn’t stop. Noah squeezed one firm buttock. “Grace,” he warned.

Still snickering, she said, “Okay, okay.”

“Say it.”

She drew in a breath. “I…I have a
sore
bottom.”

Noah smacked her, then kept her still as she screeched with a mixture of stinging discomfort and hilarity. She almost got away from him, but he hauled her back up.

“Noah!”

“I have all night, Grace.” He wedged his hand between her thighs and cupped her mound fully. “And you know, I think I’m enjoying this.”

“I
know
you’re enjoying it!” She peeked around at him again. “I can feel your erection on my belly.”

Noah grinned. “Ah, but Grace”—his fingers pressed into her—“I’ve had that since I woke up and found you curled naked next to me.”

“Oh.”

She was already wet, hot. “Say it, Grace.”

She went still and quiet, absorbing his touch. Without the humor, she asked, “You really do think I’m sexy?”

Noah turned her and cradled her in his arms. He kissed her softly on her lips, smoothed away her long hair. “Gracie, you’re so fucking sexy, I can barely control myself around you.”

Grace trembled. In the next heartbeat, she shoved him flat on the bed and moved over him, kissing him wildly, stroking him everywhere, using that incredible mouth of hers again to drive him insane. Noah forgot about everything but the intense pleasure she gave him.

Minutes later, when Grace straddled his hips and gently, insistently sank onto his cock, she dutifully whispered, “I have a great bottom,” and Noah moaned his agreement.

When Noah awoke again, the sun shone bright through the pulled drapes, telling him it was late in the morning. He turned to his side and found the bed empty, only the soft impression of Grace left behind.

He reached over and smoothed his hand across her pillow. He was disappointed but not worried. It was the combined fragrances of coffee and bacon drifting into the room that had awakened him.

Grace was cooking him breakfast.

Filled with satisfaction, with peace, Noah stretched and smiled. Amazingly enough, his body was sore. He could only imagine how Grace felt this morning. She surely had a few…
intimate
aches and pains.

He remembered holding her legs high over his shoulders, making her vulnerable to his thrusts and driving into her so deep, he’d felt a part of her. He also remembered the gentle way she’d touched him, and the not-so-gentle way she’d come.

They’d been excessive through the long night.

Noah scratched his belly and looked at the nightstand, where several empty silver packets lay. He groaned, scrubbing a hand over his face, then finally laughed. Jesus, he’d brought half a dozen condoms with him last night—and they’d used every damn one. He’d always been a very sexual man, but he’d never been obsessed before. Around Grace, he couldn’t get enough. Six times. He was equally appalled and amused.

Grace, it seemed, was a sexual dynamo. Who’d have ever thought?

Noah made a mental note to pick up a box of rubbers to leave at her apartment. He grinned, thinking of her reaction to that, knowing Grace would get a kick out of storing them in her bedside drawer. She had led such a sedate life, keeping all her pent-up lust quietly contained, that the smallest things made her feel naughty. And when Grace felt naughty, she was adorably accommodating.

Her bed was comfortable, Noah decided as he sat up and swung his legs to the floor. Even better, it smelled of Grace. The pillows, the sheets, all carried her unique, delectable scent. Not perfume, but the natural scent of woman.