Chapter One (17 page)

irritation and nothing else. And then she’d get him fired.

“Oh, I’m searching your body all right, Blair. I’m His knee insinuated itself further between her legs as looking for a key.”

his hands found her hips. When he jerked her toward him, She swallowed, her throat dry. “What key?”

she’d had enough.

“They key to unlocking the fire within you, Blair. Just

“Rand,” she warned.

say the word and I’ll do it. You know I can. I’m the only one But her warning fell on deaf ears. He lifted her skirt and who can.”

sat her on his jean-clad thigh, the scrape of denim against her His fingers massaged the spot where her panties met swollen clit enough to make her gasp.

her thigh, the side of his hand a fraction of an inch from her

“You’re wet,” he whispered against her ear.

clit. Her swollen pussy lips trembled at his touch.

“It’s hot outside. I’m sweating,” she lied.

“You need me to take you there, baby,” he said, rocking his hard cock against her. Give up that famous Newcastle 77

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

control to me, and I’ll make you come like you’ve never come level. She was so goddamned hot she was going to self before. Let me have it, Blair.”

combust. On fire with anger and unrequited passion.

She froze as if a sudden icy rain had begun to fall in the She hated him. Absolutely hated him.

dead afternoon of August. Rigid, she began to push at his hand.

And she’d never wanted a man more than she wanted

“Let me go, Rand.”

Rand McKay.

And he knew it, too. In an instant he backed away and She always had.

she smoothed down her skirt, ignoring the inferno flaming inside her, the roaring climax she’d been seconds from having.

Rand leaned against his squad car and watched Blair The one she was never going to have with Rand speed away, her tires spitting out gravel in her wake. Breaking McKay.

the speeding laws again, no doubt. He owed her a ticket, too.

Forcing a calm and cool demeanor she didn’t feel, she Then again, he knew right where to find her.

whirled around and took two steps toward him, placing a finger And she knew where to find him. Which she would, in the center of his wide, masculine chest. “Get this straight, soon enough.

Rand. You want to write me a ticket for speeding, fine. You For fifteen years he’d watched her go through man after want to haul me into the station for possession of a gun I
have
a man. She’d even gone as far as getting engaged to three of permit to possess, do it. But don’t you ever”—she accentuated them, but had never made it to the altar yet.

the
ever
with a push of her finger against his chest—“ever He knew why. Because none of those men could satisfy touch me again.”

her. They didn’t understand what she needed.

Instead of arguing with her, he folded his arms across Rand knew exactly what she needed.

his well muscled chest and smiled smugly at her. How dare he Blair Newcastle might be cool, calm and in charge on look so unaffected when she was damn near shaking all over?

the outside, but inside she was desperate for a man to take If it wasn’t for the ridge of his erection clearly visible through charge and dominate her.

his jeans, she could swear the man was cold as ice.

He knew it, and she knew it.

“When you’re ready to turn over control, Blair, you He slipped into his squad car, radioed the station that he know where to find me.”

was back on patrol, and drove off, heading toward town.

“When they announce the next Winter Olympics in His cock was still hard and aching. God almighty was hell, I’ll do that.”

he miserable right now. It as all he could do to resist taking it Without bothering to gauge his reaction, she mustered out and jacking off on the side of the road, releasing the tight up what dignity she had left, slipped in her car, buckled her throbbing in his balls. He lifted his fingers to his nose, inhaling seat belt and drove away, blasting the air conditioner at arctic Blair’s sweet, musky scent that lingered on his hands.

78

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

Shit. He groaned and mentally cursed the stubborn over and turned the ignition off with an oath of disgust, woman. What the hell was wrong with her, anyway? Her dropping her keys in her purse.

nipples had been tight when he’d cupped her full breasts, her Asshole. Her body was still vibrating from his touch, pussy moist when he’d brushed his fingers against her silken the way he whispered dark promises in her ear with his deep, panties. It had been damn torture for him not to palm her heat husky voice, enticing her toward an orgasm she was all too and take her over the edge. He’d heard the soft panting gasps eager to have at his hands.

she thought to mask, knew she could fall with the slightest Never. Never, never never. Once she gave up her power brush of his fingers against her hard little clit. She’d been to a man, she’d never be in charge of her destiny again. And primed and ready for a good hard climax. Until she’d fought Rand was alpha to the core, the kind to wrestle control away her natural urges.

from her and stomp her freedom right into the ground. He was Though she’d hardly fought. Usually she cussed him nothing like the men she usually dated. Nothing. The men she out and slapped his hand away when they tussled. Not this time chose were men she could manage.

though. Arousal had seethed inside her and she’d been Tossing thoughts of Rand into the gentle summer moments away from giving up control to him.

breeze, she walked through the unlocked front door of Callie’s But she just refused to surrender the last vestiges of it, modest little house, announcing her arrival. “I’m here!”

too afraid of what might happen if she submitted to him.

“You’re late!” Callie called from the kitchen.

They’d been dancing around each other for fifteen

“I know!” She grinned and wandered into the kitchen, goddamn years. He’d never force the issue with her, because thrilled to see a laughing Abby parked at the island counter.

she was going to have to come to him if she wanted him to take She threw her arms around Abby and gave her a huge hug.

control.

“Looks like you survived your wild weekend.”

So far she hadn’t. But he was a very patient man. And

“She sure did,” Callie said. “She’s been smiling like she
was
waffling, getting closer and closer to caving in, he that since she got here but she won’t tell me a damn thing.”

could tell.

“Hey, it’s not my fault Blair’s late.”

Sooner or later she’d figure out that the only man who

“Guilty as charged,” Blair said, pulling up a stool at the was going to make her happy was him.

counter. She grabbed one of the mimosas Callie slid in her And when she did, he’d be ready for her.

direction and took a long swallow of the cool liquid, hoping it would douse the fire burning inside her. “But it wasn’t my Debating whether or not to spread her legs in the car fault. I was…waylaid on my drive over.”

and massage her hard clit to orgasm right there in Callie’s Callie arched a dark brow. “Really.”

driveway, Blair mentally cursed Rand McKay a thousand times

“Yeah. Rand McKay was fucking with me.”

79

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“Oooh. In a good way, I hope,” Abby said, wagging her When Abby looked back at them, her eyes were filled eyebrows.

with tears. “I fell in love.”

“No. Just fucking with me in his normal annoying as

“You’re joking,” Blair said.

hell way.”

“No, I’m not.”

Abby and Callie exchanged knowing glances.

Abby filled them in on what transpired over the

“Oh, you two quit looking at each other like that. And weekend and the following week. Everything, including her don’t even start on me and Rand. You know damn well I’m not individual reactions to both Mike and Seth and her run in with the least bit interested in him. He’s like a pesky brother.”

Chad at the casino. By the time she’d finished, it made perfect Callie snorted. “Yeah, right. I don’t think so.”

sense to Blair. “Of course you’re in love. Seth is the ideal man

“We are not here to discuss me. I want to hear about for you and Mike isn’t. Mike is sexually overpowering—fun to Abby’s wild weekend with Mike and Seth. How did it go?”

play with but not a man to have a relationship with. Seth is Abby’s face flushed with the cutest blush. “It everything you should have had the first time around, but was…phenomenal.”

instead you ended up with Chad, the lying, cheating, whoring Callie squealed. “I knew it!”

son of a bitch.”

Blair nodded. “So did I. So, details, woman, details! At

“Oh, honey. I’m so damn happy for you!” Callie the club they were both drooling over you, and we saw you hurried around the counter and enveloped Abby in a hug.

outside on the balcony with them. Dayum. What woman Even Blair had to admit to blinking away a few tears.

wouldn’t have multiple orgasms over attention like that from Okay, she was downright thrilled for Abby. And admittedly, two men?”

more than a little envious that a bet in order to have a little sex Abby laid her elbows on the counter and palmed her had turned into a love match for one of her best friends.

face. “I can barely even think about it now without flushing So they spent the afternoon wildly celebrating Abby’s with heat. I can’t even describe what that night was like other newfound love while she filled them in about what was next than to say it fulfilled every single fantasy I’d ever had—and for her—namely graduation and starting out her new career as then some. They were magnificent.”

a veterinarian while finding her way in her relationship with Blair laid her hand over Abby’s. “Well it’s about time Seth.

you got laid.”

By the time they were kicked back in Callie’s living Abby’s eyelashes fluttered down and she clasped her room, Blair had relaxed and had a good buzz going. She hands together. “Oh, it went way beyond just sex, Blair. Way propped her feet on the worn wood coffee table and laced her beyond.”

arms behind her head.

“There’s more? Come on, girl. Spill,” Callie demanded.

“So, Blair, I think it’s your turn next.”

80

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

She looked over at Abby, who was equally kicked back Callie gasped. “Blair Newcastle. You have never with her feet tucked under her in the wicker chair. “My turn for backed out on a bet in all the years we’ve known you. Are you what?”

that much of a coward?”

“The bet.”

Goddammit! Callie was right. She had never, ever Blair arched a brow. “Oh yeah?”

failed to see a bet through. But it was Rand for the love of God.

“Great idea. And I have just the suggestion for man How could she accept the terms? Why were they doing this to meat for you,” Callie said

her when they knew how she felt about him?

Now they were talking a subject that interested her. She

“Blair,” Abby said. “You might think you’re keeping couldn’t imagine what man Callie and Abby would have in some deep dark secret, but not from us.”

mind for her. “Who?”

Blair’s eyes widened. They could
not
know! “What are

“Rand McKay,” Callie replied with a smug smile.

you talking about?”

“Rand is perfect,” Abby added.

“Rand McKay. You’ve been hot for him since high

“Oh you two are hilarious.” Blair stretched and wiggled school. It’s obvious to everyone who knows the two of you.”

her toes. “But I don’t think so.”

“It is not.” And that wasn’t her secret. It wasn’t what

“Unless I’m mistaken, Miss Newcastle, you were the kept her away from Rand. They had no idea what they were one who thought up and set the terms of this bet,” Abby said.

asking of her.

“And those terms included that we got to choose who you

“It is too,” Callie said. “The way you two look at each fucked. Not you.”

other is like watching animals in heat. Honey, you were meant She sat up straight and gaped at them. “You’re serious, to be together. We’re just giving fate a little push in the right aren’t you?”

direction.”

“Deadly,” Callie said.

“Especially since you’re too bullheaded to take that

“I thought you were my friends.”

step, for some reason that is completely unclear to Callie and

“We are.”

me,” Abby added.

“Then how can you do this to me?”

“Fate has nothing to do with why Rand and I aren’t Abby rolled her eyes. “We’re not
doing
anything to together. We aren’t together because I choose not to be with you. We’ve simply chosen the man we think you should have him.”

your weekend sex fest with.”

“He wants you,” Abby said.

This was unbelievable. She couldn’t do it. Not Rand.

“That’s his fucking problem.”

Anyone but Rand. Her stomach tightened at the thought. “I’ll

“Not this weekend it isn’t,” Callie replied, then just renege on the bet.”

laughed. “This weekend he gets to have you. Over and over and over again.”

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Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“This is not funny, goddammit!” She pushed off the sofa and stalked to the window where her car sat in the driveway. The car she’d leaned against while Rand ran his hands all over her body, inciting her senses to near fever pitch.

If she let him touch her she’d lose control. He’d wrest it away from her and dominate her. She couldn’t give up her advantage to him. If she did, she’d never get it back.

Then again, did she really have to give up control? She was a master at wrapping men around her little finger. She’d been doing it for years and she was damn good at it. If she worked her wiles on Rand, she’d wager he’d come crawling.