More than Temptation (7 page)

She rose and walked towards the stage. Her dress moved sassily around her and she greeted people as she went. The lights dimmed then flashed a few times. People headed to take their seats as if knowing it was a signal. The stage was still dark and he couldn’t see Bella.

“Welcome to Bella’s annual gala.” Her voice came out of the dark. “Thanks so much for joining us.”

Applause started and she didn’t speak again until it had died down. “This is a seventies-themed event, but I decided to go a little off the theme. But I’m sure you’ll forgive me.”

The sound of drums started and it increased in speed and complexity.

“Oh, my God.” Nathan leant forward. “She got them to perform.”

“Who?”

“You’re in for a treat.” Nathan stared into the dark.

People around them talked excitedly. Morgan didn’t know what was going on, or recognise what the fuss was about. A guitar joined in, then a sax filled the darkened area of the stage.

“She has all of them.” Nathan leant back, a sad smile on his face. “Damn, that woman is good.”

A trumpet ripping notes sounded, then the rest of the instruments blended with it until it was a beautiful melody. The people in the club started to get more frenzied.

“What is goin—?”

“With you by my side, I’m burning.”
A growly voice rang out and Morgan stopped speaking.

The room went silent except for the music from the still-darkened stage.

“My soul is yours to take.”
A rich, female alto filled the club.

Morgan sat forward, recognising the cadence as Bella’s voice.

The lights flashed on and revealed Bella with her hand raised, pressed against the neck of a man behind her. Bella’s gaze was focused on the man who had his hat lowered, covering his face as he bent towards her.

“Take me into your web. You are my diva lover.”

Morgan touched his hat, which was very similar to the man’s, though his was dark green and the man’s was dark blue.

“I want your offering, my prince,”
Bella belted out, then held a note that caused the hair on Morgan’s body to rise.

The beauty of the sound made his breath catch. The man lifted his head and Morgan’s eyes narrowed as he saw a face that was of a fallen angel or devil, according to what you thought. The network of scars on one side of his face didn’t detract from his handsomeness—it only added a bad boy exterior. Morgan clenched his fist as the man slid his hand along her stomach, up her chest between her breasts then placed his hand around her neck.

Morgan stared at the way the man held her as if he had a right to.

Mine.
He sat forward, watching the show as he wondered who this man was to Bella.

The man lifted his hand and took off his hat before flinging it away. His blond hair, framing his face, enhanced the sensation of danger around him.

Who the hell is he?

The chant of the crowd started. “Driscoll and Bella.”

Now he had a name, but that didn’t tell him anything. Although the pair continued to sing, Morgan didn’t really register the words. Driscoll swayed, moving Bella before him as he gyrated behind her, shifting her with his taller frame. Bella grooved with him as if they knew each other’s motions well. The next words registered.

“You set me on fire. I crave your taking.”
Bella spun away from the man then rotated her hips, beckoning Driscoll to her.

He moved towards her, each motion like liquid sex. Morgan hadn’t known until seeing it now what that even looked like.

“With you by my side, I’m invincible. Bathed in your embrace, I’m alive as I’ve never been.”
Driscoll stood before Bella and rolled his body as if he had no bones. It was so silky and smooth.

Morgan sat back in disgust as the women in the crowd went wild. Bella, who was behind Driscoll, lifted her leg, sliding it along his waist then down to his thigh. He held her leg, lifted her on his back and danced, with her perched on him.

“Live for me, my prince. Feel for your diva
lover.”
She stroked her hand along the side of his face, cupping his chin and turning it to her. She leaned close, almost kissing him as she sang with him, their voices in melody.

“Together we are stronger.”

They looked away from each other and at the crowd.

“My diva lover and her prince.”

The crowd roared, chanting their names. Morgan watched as they finished that song then went into another. They performed with each other so sensually, there was no way they hadn’t been lovers. Bella danced with the band and Driscoll played up to them also, then they came back together. Throughout their act, they added some seventies favourites. When Bella sang
Proud Mary
by Tina Turner, Morgan watched her hips rolling and shifted in his seat, thinking about how she was in bed.

“For our last song, we want to sing
Embrace the Love
.” Bella looked at Driscoll. “He wrote this for me, but we’ve never performed it together. For you tonight we will.”

“Pain overwhelms my soul as I am torn apart
.” Bella’s sultry alto rose with the words and Morgan not only heard the pain but felt it deep inside him.

The song started with pain then changed to a sense of renewal and triumph. Driscoll held Bella pressed against him as they sang that last line, passion dripping from each word.

“As I embrace the love, I am reborn to you. Take my soul into your keeping and love me whole.”

They turned to look at the silent audience, the last note resonating in the room. Suddenly the crowd surged to their feet, cheering and clapping loudly.

Morgan joined them and so did the mayor. Bella smiled at Driscoll then hugged him before she faced the crowd and bowed. Driscoll was next and he held up his hand.

“They were always so dynamic together,” Nathan said beside him.

The rest of the band came forward to take their bows then they exited the stage along with Bella and Driscoll.

Morgan glanced at Nathan. “There is a story there between them. Tell me.”

“That is for Bella to tell.” Nathan sat.

Morgan didn’t push, knowing from his tone that he wouldn’t say anything further. The audience talked among themselves. Bella, Driscoll and the rest of the band entered the room. They went around the area, stopping at the various tables. Morgan watched them work the room and even as the meal was served, they continued their trek. Soon they reached his table and Bella sat beside him while the rest of the band and Driscoll found spots in the booth.

“Morgan.” Bella leaned against him, smiling. “Are you having fun?”

“You were fabulous.” Morgan kissed her softly then looked at Driscoll across the table. “You too.”

“Bella, before your man decides to find a way to burn down my house, maybe you should tell him what we just did was all an act.” Driscoll leant back against the booth, a small smile on his lips. “Being a fire investigator and all, I figure you know of ways to make a fire look accidental. I’m sort of attached to my house.”

“I wouldn’t burn your house down.” Morgan shrugged. “I’d do something more personal.”

“Morgan wouldn’t be so silly as to be jealous.” Bella pinched him. “Right?”

“Wrong.” Morgan pressed her hand against his arm. “You all looked like—”

“Lovers.” Driscoll smiled smugly. “Good. That’s what we were going for. We’ve never actually been lovers.” He rolled his eyes. “It’d be yucky. She’s like a sister to me.”

“I wouldn’t dance with my sister like that.”

“Well, if we were actually related by blood, I wouldn’t either. But we aren’t. It doesn’t matter whether we are related by blood or not, I still wouldn’t cross that line.” Driscoll made a line on the table with his finger. “There, think of this as the line every time you see me.” He smiled.

“You’re a little—”

“Crazy,” the man sitting next to Driscoll said.

“Shut up, Stuart,” Driscoll said cheerfully. “So, Morgan, my brother Spencer has some good things to say about you.”

Morgan studied him again and noticed the family resemblance. “He does?”

“Uh-huh.” Driscoll nodded. “Do you play games, Morgan?”

“What sort of games?” Morgan studied him.

“We usually have monthly game nights.” Driscoll gestured to himself, Stuart, Nathan and Bella. “Also, many of the Locke clan and a few other friends and so on. We rotate between people’s houses. We play anything from Uno, poker, Twister,
Let’s Dance
, video games, charades or any number of games. I’ve been out of the rotation for a long while, but I’m getting back into things. I don’t recall the schedule of when, but soon one of the game nights will be at my place. But you don’t have to wait till then. You can come to join us at the next one. Bella can tell you when and where.”

“That sounds like fun.”

“Good, you can come to it. Oh, I also have a weekly poker game.” Driscoll made a motion of sharing cards. “Come to that too. Let me win some money off you.”

“I’ll come for poker,” Morgan accepted the invitation.

“Morgan,” Nathan interjected, “let me warn you, he’s a card shark.”

“Shhhh… Let me lure him in first.” Driscoll glared at Nathan. “And why haven’t you come by for a while for the game so I can win your money?”

“Hmmm… Maybe it’s because I’ve been busy with a little thing called running Singleton.”

“Pash. That’s no excuse.” Driscoll tapped his finger on the table. “All work and no play makes you cranky and me short of money.”

Morgan chuckled.

“That is so going on a T-shirt for you.” Bella laughed.

“T-shirt?” Morgan glanced at her.

“People give Dris T-shirts with some of his sayings on them. Some of what he says are doozies.”

“Really?”

The people around the table started telling him about Driscoll’s sayings. The man just chuckled. The conversation segued to how the people in the group knew each other. Morgan listened to the stories and relaxed. Bella wasn’t anything but friends with any of the men.

* * * *

Later that evening, Morgan turned onto Burrows Place and drove to Locke Estates Two before taking the curve. He drove along the road that had turn-offs along each side that led to the homes of Bella’s siblings. At her turn-off, he slowed then banked right and drove towards her house.

“It was a successful night.” Bella sounded pleased.

“And was lots of fun.” Morgan ran his hand through his hair. “I was glad to ditch the wig, though. I don’t know how people wear those things.”

“I guess if you wear them often enough, you get used to them.” Bella stretched.

Morgan took his gaze off the road and looked at her. He clenched his hands on the steering wheel as he watched her dress ride up, showing sienna skin. The glimpse of it between the white boots and hem of her dress tempted him to touch. Morgan forced himself to look back to where he was driving. He pulled into the parking space next to her SUV and twisted the key in the ignition. They got out and closed their respective doors before they met at the hood and
went up
the walk to the house together, holding hands as they
went up
the steps. In front of the entrance, Bella faced him and kissed him before opening her door and going in.

Morgan entered then shut it behind him.

“Meet you upstairs,” Bella said as she went up towards the second floor.

As had become his habit, he checked the back exit leading from the kitchen to make sure it was locked. He got two bottles of water out of the fridge, before going back to the foyer to set the alarm for the house and heading up the steps. The nightlights Bella kept on the landing area illuminated his way to her bedroom. The door was partially closed and he pushed it open with his shoulder. He strode over to the nightstand, placing a bottle on one then went to set the other down. As he did, Morgan stopped, thinking how in such a short time he’d already got so comfortable in her house. He remembered Bella moving around his place in a similar way.

“I decided to draw us a bath.” Bella spoke from his right.

He glanced towards her. She was framed in the doorway, already nude. Morgan went to her, stripping off his clothing, and was naked by the time he reached her.

“We’re not nearly dirty enough.” He herded her back into the room then lifted her onto the bathroom counter.

He cupped her face and kissed her urgently. Bella opened and returned it, stroking her tongue along his, moaning. Morgan stepped between her spread thighs and rubbed against her opening. At the feeling, he wanted to sink deep within her. He controlled himself, pulling back and opening the drawer closest to them he knew she had condoms in. He took out a small packet then opened it quickly before he put it on his erection. He moved back into place and she shifted her hips forward. Morgan thrust into her, groaning as she took him in. Bella wrapped her legs around him, moving her hand up his back and holding him close.

“Yes, Morgan.” She gripped him. “More, please.”

He took her urging and grabbed her ass, jerking her against him moving faster. Each of his thrusts caused those wonderful sounds she made in pleasure to rise around them. Bella held him, moving with him as they worked towards release. Morgan was already primed from watching her all night and her singing. Although he hadn’t enjoyed watching her being touched by another man, he’d wanted her. Wanted her to be making the sounds she made only for him. He increased his thrusts, groaning as she clenched her inner walls around him. Heat climbed up his back and he held her, kissing the side of her face.

He nipped her ear and said, “You feel so good. So tight around my cock. You like me filling you.”

“Yes,” she answered although it wasn’t a question.

“You’re wet for me.” Morgan slid his hand over her belly and between them, tweaking her clit. “Every time I’m anywhere near you, I want to be right here”—he thrust—“deep inside you. When you laugh I wonder how it would sound with your lips wrapped around my cock.”

Bella whimpered.

“Mine, Bella.”

“Yours.” She panted then breathed out and met his gaze. “You’re mine.”

She kissed him wildly and rocked against him. Bella tightened around him then rotated her hips. Morgan groaned as his sac went tight, and he shuddered, coming.