Hidden Depths (20 page)

Plundering her depths with his tongue, he wrapped his arms
around her, bringing both hands up to cup and lift the wonderful weight of each
breast. When he felt her nipples tighten and press against his palms, he
flicked them quickly with his thumbs.

When she groaned into his mouth, he took that as his cue to
pull away. He wasn't going to take her in an alley no matter how good the idea
sounded to his lust addled brain. Besides, he didn't want her sated. He wanted
her aroused and on edge.

He reached over and opened the door to her shop, pleased
when she seemed a little shaky heading back inside.

He would keep her secret, hiding their relationship from
their friends. Pretending that nothing had changed. At least on the surface.
However, he was planning to spend the night sneaking touches, teasing and
arousing Gia as much as he possibly could.

Sure, that could be considered sneaky and mean. But he
figured that he was still sticking to the rules, just making them work for him
instead of against him for a change. He expected that one of two things would
happen; either Gia would decide she'd had enough and come clean with their
friends, or by the time they left she would be so turned on that he could push
a few boundaries in the bedroom. Either way, he was really looking forward to
tonight.

Chapter 26

Josh headed outside, hopped in his Mustang and drove down
the street. A little silly since it was within walking distance, but in order
to adhere to the 'rules', he figured it would be best if he arrived in his own
car, rather than leaving it in front of her shop.

As it turned out, his eagerness to see Gia meant that he was
in fact the second person to arrive at The Tavern, right behind Blake. This
actually gave them a few minutes to talk, which was all fine and well until
Blake asked how things were going with Gia.

Running his hands through his hair, he searched for an
explanation that would appease Blake's curiosity without giving anything away.
Finally, he just kind of mumbled, "Not yet. Still trying to convince her
to give us a chance."

"No luck? Huh, that kind of surprises me. The way you
guys were dancing a couple weeks ago, I would've thought you'd worked it out by
now."

"Yeah, well..." Josh just kind of let the sentence
hang. He couldn't bring himself to directly lie to his lifelong friend.

"So, has she said what exactly she's hung up on? Is it
because of Deb? I mean, she was supposed to be in the wedding. I can see how
that would be a problem."

Josh was actually surprised. He didn't think it really had
anything to do with Deb. Not anymore. But... could it? After a minute, he just
shrugged. Deciding to use this line of questioning to help cover his tracks
tonight, just in case someone saw something they shouldn't, he said,
"Well, I haven't given up just yet. I'm still working on it."

Blake laughed. "I'd be disappointed if you had given
up."

"Given up on what?" Dev asked, walking in behind
Josh.

"Gia," Blake answered. "Josh has been trying
to convince her that they could have something between them besides snide
comments. No luck so far."

"So, you're interested in Georgia? Huh. I never
would've thought she was your type."

"Why? I wouldn't be interested in smart, funny, unique
and stunningly gorgeous?" Josh couldn't keep the sarcasm out of his voice.

Immediately backtracking, Dev started rambling. "No,
that's not what I meant... I just thought... well, you and Deb were together,
and she and Gia are nothing... it just doesn't seem... I mean, she is gorgeous,
incredibly so... but, you..."

"I get it, Dev. She's not like Deb. Which, since Deb
and I are no longer together, is most likely a good thing. Don't you
think?"

Now Blake started laughing. "Don't even bother, Dev. I
think you're forgetting that Josh here is more than just the son of a
restaurant empire. He is in fact a lawyer. And, something you may not know, he
gave thought to trial lawyer before settling into corporate. You will not win,
no matter what you say."

Shaking his head as Josh merely smiled sarcastically in his
direction, Dev kind of ran his hands over his chin. "Trial law, huh?
Defense or prosecution?"

When Josh simply raised an eyebrow in answer, Dev answered
his own question. "Prosecution. You would have been damn good at it
too."

Now Josh laughed, an honest laugh since Gia was no longer
the main topic of conversation. "Yeah. I was pretty good."

Shaking his head, Dev looked back at Josh, still clearly a
bit surprised. "So... Gia, huh? Okay. I guess, setting aside the fact that
you were with Deb when I met you... I guess I could see that. You guys have
sparks, that's for sure. Although, I would have pegged it more as hatred."

"Yeah, well..." Josh was saved from any further
response by the arrival of Kelly, Deb, Shannon and Scott showing up en masse.
The only one missing was Gia.

Before he could find a chance to sneak away and call her,
Kelly answered his unasked question.

"I called Georgia. She's still at work, but she should
be here in just a bit."

Her uncanny little grin in Josh's direction led him to
believe that Kelly, as always, knew more than she was letting on.

This thought was confirmed when Kelly very discreetly maneuvered
people around until everyone was sitting and the only chair left was between
her and Josh.

Realizing he had an 'inside man' he leaned in and started to
quietly thank her. Before he got the words out, a quick glance told him Gia was
here. The words stuck in his throat.

He'd had his lips on hers less than an hour ago. It didn't
seem to matter though, as the urge to kiss her senseless grabbed hold of his
nuts and squeezed. How could one woman fill out a simple pair of jeans with
such perfection. He watched her walk toward them, wishing for a moment she was
walking away, just so he could watch her ass swing in that tight denim. Instead
he took note of the tiny patch of skin showing below her fitted black T-shirt.
Her hair was still in its braid from work, which was definitely to his
advantage. Even in combat boots, she managed to look completely female, and so
incredibly hot.

Forcing down the surge of lust, he smiled gently, waiting
until she finally met his eyes to smirk. Tonight was all about temptation and
secrecy.

Let the games begin.

When Gia walked in and saw him, she couldn't stop the little
pulse of heat that ran through her, settling between her legs. She knew he had
something planned for tonight, but he'd promised to keep their little secret,
so she hadn't been too concerned. When she saw the only open seat was next to
Josh, and he was wearing a slightly evil grin, she started to rethink that
opinion. Maybe she should be worried. Very worried.

After the first thirty minutes, when Josh had behaved
himself, acting like nothing more than a friend, she started to relax and let
her guard down.

The next time someone popped off with a sarcastic comment,
Gia joined in, starting to feel more at ease. Maybe she had misread the little
smirk? It wasn't until she aimed her first little bit of snark in his direction
that she got a glimpse into his plan.

Instead of merely replying with some caustic comment of his
own, he shifted in his chair, effectively scooting closer to her. When he
turned back to the group, his thigh was brushing up against hers. The contact,
though minimal, was enough to send another little burst of heat up her legs.
She sucked in a breath, squeezing her legs more tightly together so she wasn't
directly touching him.

The quick glance he sent her way let her know he knew
exactly what he was doing.

She added pissed off to her state of arousal. Never a good
combination, she knew, but couldn't seem to stop the surge of anger.

A few minutes later, and someone said something else that
set her up to impart another little dig at Josh. She told herself to keep her
mouth shut.

It didn't work. This time he took the opportunity to face
her directly bringing his head close to hers, staring her straight in the eyes.
To anyone looking, it would seem like their normal battle of wills. And in one
sense it was. What they didn't know, or she hoped they didn't know, was that
his eyes didn't display anger, but rather desire... and a silent promise of
retribution. 

When everyone proceeded with the conversation, she figured
no one else had caught on to the heat between them.

A second later, Josh leaned over and whispered quickly into
her ear. "I let the first one slide, Gia. Not this time. That's one."

She started to ask 'one what' but Kelly caught her attention
with a question about how things were working out with Aaron.

As she and Kelly talked, she felt Josh's hand beneath the
table, teasingly drawing circles on her thigh. As little swirls of heat
traveled up her leg, straight through her belly and settled in her breasts,
making her nipples tighten into little nubs, she took a quick second to glare
at him. She couldn't move his hand away without drawing attention to the fact
that it was there in the first place, and he knew it.

With a little grin, Josh leaned closer to Gia, moving that
hand to place it on the back of her chair. Ostensibly to participate in the
conversation she and Kell were having. In reality, he simply switched hands and
started the same, lazy little circles on her leg, this time higher up her
thigh. Now, she could feel his body heat pulsing against her shoulder, making
her feel almost light headed with desire.

Damn man. She wanted to feel his lips against her neck, her
ear, her breast. When her thoughts began to spiral, the thought of where else
she'd like his mouth caused a whoosh of air to leave her body suddenly.

Acting with apparent concern, Josh gently rubbed her
shoulder, teasing her collarbone while asking, "You okay, Gia? You look a
little flushed."

Glaring at him hard, she answered, "I'm fine. I just
need another soda." As she started to rise, she made sure to hiss at him,
"And some personal space."

He merely smiled and leaned out of her way, mouthing back,
"That's two."

Chapter 27

Josh was rather enjoying this evening. He was hard as a damn
fence post, but watching Gia's discomfort was making it more than worthwhile.

He waited until she was halfway to the bar before saying,
"You know I could use another beer myself. Anyone else?"

Blake and Dev both nodded, Deb asked for another martini,
and Josh meandered over to the bar as well.

Sliding directly beside Gia, a quick glance over his
shoulder told him no one from their table could see them, so he moved until he
was standing behind her, pinning her in with his arms.

She let him order, pointedly ignoring him until the
bartender walked away. Then she spun to face him, her eyes shooting fire.

"Just what the hell do you think you're doing,
Josh?"

"Why Georgia, I have no idea what you're talking
about."

"Oh cut the crap, lawyer boy."

Bringing them literally nose to nose, he whispered against
her lips, "That's three, baby."

"What are you doing? Someone is going to see us. Back
up."

Josh noted that she was telling him to back up, but her lips
were moving the tiniest bit closer. He could kiss her, right here, right now.
And she would let him.

But, if anyone saw them, she would hate him, and what they
had would be over before it truly began.

With more control than he thought he possessed, he backed
his head away from hers and spun her away from him, until she was facing the
bar. Removing temptation, while still allowing him the feel of her body.

"Teasing me like that, Gia, is worth two... so that
makes it five."

It took her a second to respond, letting him know she was
just as affected as he was. "Five what?"

He leaned in and smiled against her ear. "Spankings.
Every time you tease, torment, or simply act bitchy, you are going to earn
yourself another."

She leaned her body back against him, almost sagging into
him as gooseflesh ran down her arms. That, combined with the little shiver she
gave, told him all he needed to know.

"You really like that idea, don't you baby?"

"Fuck you, Josh." Her words were harsh, though her
tone was raspy. The desire he heard in her tone shot straight to his cock.

Grabbing her hip with one hand, he gripped the bar with the
other, half convinced he would break the damn thing with his grip. "Here
and now, or did you want to wait until we get back to my house?" He used
his grip to grind himself against her ass.

He realized just how carried away they'd gotten when instead
of pulling away, she leaned into him with a breathy little moan.

"Ah, hell Gia." He pulled away from her taking a
full step back before he did something colossally stupid. Taking a deep breath,
he was trying to calm himself when the bartender showed back up, drinks in
hand.

Taking the beers, he asked Gia to grab Deb's martini and he
turned to head back to the table. He stopped for just a second, and leaned in
to say quietly, "Now we're up to seven, Gia. One for the 'fuck you' and
one for the teasing. Just how badly are you going to behave the rest of the
night?"

As she stumbled, nearly dropping the drinks, he didn't even
try to stop the little rumble of laughter.

She was going to kill him. A long, slow, painful death.
After she sexually tormented him for hours on end first, of course.

If she was honest, she was actually more angry with herself,
or at least with her body, than he was with him. She had almost given in and
kissed him at the bar.

Kissed him... hell, she knew it wouldn't have stopped there.
At that particular moment, she had forgotten where they were, who they were
with. She hadn't cared. The only thing she could think about was having him
slip that long, hard shaft inside her and easing the ache.