More Than You Know (14 page)

He saw the fight in her eyes; she wanted to believe him, but was afraid to. Whoever had hurt her in the past had done a sadly thorough job. He dipped his head to kiss her mouth with all the tenderness he possessed. She responded slowly, kissing him back timidly at first, then easing into it. Her arms snaked around his neck and she pressed herself closer. He held her face in his hands, kissing her until he felt the tension leave her body, until she was melting into him and responding as she had before. Only then did he pull back, look into her eyes, and whisper, “I really hope you believe me. For your own sake.”

She hesitated, then whispered back, “I do. I believe you.” Her hand lifted to run through his hair. He watched her eyes soften again. “Thank you for respecting my privacy. Not everyone in your position would.”

“You say that like someone who's speaking from experience,” he said, frowning.

She murmured, “That's right. You have no idea. Trust me, you don't want to know. Okay?”

He kissed her, not knowing what the hell to say.

When they broke apart, she tried to grin and said, “I'm really sorry I was such a bitch before. Can we please forget that part?”

“Sure. Yeah. Look, Julia . . .” He smoothed her hair back from her forehead. “The other thing you said before. I know this is just sex. I'm fine with that. I'm not looking for anything more, and neither are you. We're adults. We obviously enjoy each other. But like you said at the start: no strings, no ties. I won't ask you those heavy questions again when we're in bed. Okay?”

Her thin brows furrowed. “You said this was going to be one night. That statement implies . . . future encounters.”

His mouth curved up and he let out a soft chuckle. “Tonight's been incredible. I'd be a fucking fool not to try to get you back in my bed again. And I'm not a fool.” He nipped at her mouth playfully. “Come onnn,” he wheedled. “Come on, Julesie. You know you wanna.”

She groaned in mock frustration. “You're incorrigible.”

“Notoriously so,” he said, grinning. Dropping light kisses along her neck, his fingertips did a slow glide across her ass, stopping at the small of her back. “Come on. Admit it. We enjoy each other. Hell, we
more
than enjoy each other.”

“Yes, we do.” She laughed in spite of herself, then sighed. “But . . . my job . . .”

“Is secure,” he assured her firmly, raising his head to look into her eyes.

“Seriously?”

“Seriously.”

He watched as she considered his words, letting her fingers play with the scruff on his jaw. “No one can know about this,” she finally said. “I mean . . . if we start sleeping together. Like, on a . . . I don't know, a regular basis?”

“Um, we already started sleeping together,” he joked, cupping her breast. “Ooops.” He pinched her nipple.

She squeaked and giggled in spite of herself, and his insides warmed at the sounds.

“I don't want gossip any more than you do, Red,” Dane said. “I've got a reputation as a ladies' man? Fine, whatever, I don't care what people think. But more importantly, I've also got a reputation as a successful businessman, someone respectable, who's made a name for myself
apart
from my family legacy. I worked hard for that.
That
matters to me.” His gaze sharpened and held hers. “I know you won't believe me, but I've never slept with someone who works for me before. Ever. You're the first. And likely the last. I don't ever mix business with pleasure.”

“So why'd you break your rule for me?” Her voice and gaze had turned mischievous again, and whatever tension he'd still felt in her body melted away under his hands.

“Probably the same reason you broke your rule to sleep with me.” He sucked on her bottom lip and released it with a popping sound, making her laugh. “Because we both really wanted to. Because we're like a house on fire when we're anywhere near each other.” He grinned at the look of resigned humor on her face. He kissed her mouth, then moved to nibble the soft spot on her neck that usually elicited a sigh or a shudder. To his satisfaction, she did both. He licked her warm skin, blew on it, bit down. She whimpered and shifted beneath him. His blood started the slow burn again.

“Julia . . . you looked so good tonight, I couldn't think straight. Couldn't hold back anymore. All I could think about was having you. . . .” He kissed her mouth. “. . . being inside you . . .” Kissed her chin. “. . . making you scream for me.” She gasped at that, and a helpless moan fluttered out of her. The sounds made his cock get hard yet again. His mouth and hands trailed along her soft skin, bringing more intoxicating shudders from her. “I wanted to watch your face when I made you come.” She moaned at that and her eyes slipped closed. He felt her tremble and added in a husky whisper in her ear, “And God, it was even better than I thought it would be.
You
were.”

“You are too.” Her hands roved down his back, leaving delicious shivers in their wake as she let them rest on his ass. He felt his cock throb against her belly and she purred seductively, “Wanna watch me come again?”

“Hell yes,” he said with a smile, and crushed his mouth to hers.

They kissed, caressed, stroked . . . until she flipped him onto his back. She eyed his thick erection, moved in to kiss him, and whispered against his lips, “I want something. . . .”

“Take it,” he breathed raggedly. “Whatever you want, it's yours.”

She smiled a broad, provocative smile. “Right answer.” She kissed his lips again, then started on his neck, licking his throat, kissing her way down his chest . . . he realized her mouth was heading lower and lower and his whole body responded. Every nerve ending felt lit with fire, burning with fresh need. God, how she made him need. His eyes slipped closed and his fingers kneaded her shoulders as she traveled down.

Her tongue circled his navel, then her lips trailed down his belly as her nails scraped gently along his hips. His breath caught and he rocked against her, his hips needing to move. She teased him, taking her time . . . ran her tongue along the length of his shaft and flicked it at the head, making him groan helplessly. . . and then she took him into her warm, wet mouth. Another groan ripped from deep in his chest and his hands fisted in her hair. She took him in slowly at first, seeming to savor the feel of him, the taste of him. His mind went blank and his eyes slipped closed again. Then she moved faster, her mouth claiming him, owning him. With another groan, he willingly relinquished control. His hips rocked of their own volition, meeting her tantalizing rhythm as his hands got lost in her long, thick hair. The incredible sensations engulfed him, sweeping him away . . . when he was close to exploding, he roughly moaned her name.

Her warm mouth released him. Still stroking him with one hand, she stretched across the bed to the nightstand and felt around for the strip of condoms there. Breathing hard, he reached up, grabbed them, and ripped one open. She took it from him and rolled it down over the hard length of him, then straddled him and lowered herself onto him, a slow, warm, wet descent. Again he groaned from deep in his chest as his mind spun out.

“Who's the moaner now?” she teased, her voice low and thick with passion.

“God, you're incredible,” he panted. “Go, baby. Do it.”

She smiled and began to ride him. Her lush hips rolled and swayed, drawing him in deeper. His fingers dug into her hips and he thrust up into her, hard and fast. He watched her face, flushed with desire. Her round, plump breasts bounced as she moved, hypnotizing him, stripping away the last shreds of his restraint. It only took about a dozen thrusts for him to explode, and he came with rough, deep groans, losing himself in her. His climax spurred hers on; her head fell back, her eyes squeezed shut, and she cried out, grinding into him as if her life depended on it. When she was done, she collapsed onto him in a boneless heap. His fingers laced through her hair, holding her to his chest as they both gasped for air.

“Holy fucking God,” Dane finally sighed, still trying to catch his breath.

Julia smiled, but said nothing. Lazily she trailed her fingers down his torso to his belly and back up to his chest.

“That's it. I'm spent. I'm gonna pass out soon,” he said, letting his eyes slip closed. He was beyond relaxed now, floating from the postcoital buzz and the feel of this incredible woman in his arms. All night, the sex had been mind-blowing, off the charts. She was so passionate, giving as good as she got . . . maybe even giving better. Jesus. There was definitely something to be said for the stereotype of experienced older women after all. Julia had just single-handedly proven it to be true, a one-woman wrecking crew. He hadn't gone three rounds in one night in some time, much less three rounds of sex like the ones they'd just had. The ways they'd pleased each other . . . he was surprised he could remember his name, much less speak.

But she shifted and slowly pulled away from him. “I really need a shower,” she said. “Okay if I take a quick one here?”

“Of course,” he said. “Just don't be offended that I'm not joining you yet. I'm a wreck. You destroyed me.”

She laughed softly, dropped a light kiss on his lips, and rose from the bed. “Back in a few.” He heard her flick on the light, heard the water start running....

Something warm and bright was shining on his face. Lying on his belly, Dane groaned and slowly opened his eyes. Sunshine. It was morning; what time was it? He lifted his head to look at the clock on the nightstand: quarter after ten. What time had he fallen asleep? When had he—

Images of the night before flooded his brain.
Julia.
God, what a night. Smiling, he rolled over to kiss her awake.

But her side of the bed was empty.

The smile slid off his face and he sat up, listening. There were no sounds in the suite. No sign of her being there at all. “Julia?” he called out. Nothing.

Uneasiness mixed with irritation, sparked a slow burn in his blood. He threw back the covers to prowl across the bedroom and canvas the suite. She wasn't in the bathroom. She wasn't out in the sitting room. No dress on the floor by the door. There was no evidence of her whatsoever . . . except for a sheet of hotel stationery on the desk. Swearing under his breath, he snatched it up and read:

Dane didn't know whether to laugh or throw something. To his annoyance, he couldn't shake the feeling of . . . what the fuck, rejection? Was that it? Why? Because she hadn't stayed the night? She didn't have to. They'd agreed from the start, it would just be sex, and it had been. Okay, not
just
sex, because honestly, it'd been unbelievably hot, brain-melting jungle sex. Three times. Jesus,
three
epic, earth-shaking times . . .

But that was it. Right? No strings, no ties, the rule that they both lived by. They owed each other nothing.

Something struck him. For her to write “See you tomorrow” meant she'd gone in the night, slipping out in the dark when he was asleep, and hadn't stayed at all. Well. Okay. That was fine. Why not, she had to go home, all the way back to Long Island....

So why did it bother him that she'd left without a word?

Mind spinning, he crushed the paper in his fist to a ball and tossed it into the wastebasket, then stalked to the bathroom to take a shower.

Chapter Nine

“Okay, honey, let's have it,” Kelvin demanded as soon as the waiter walked away.

“Have what?” Julia asked, looking from him to Randi in confusion.

Kelvin narrowed his eyes at her. “You ask the two of us to meet you for dinner. Your two closest friends and most trusted confidants. On a Friday. At six, so we have plenty of time to talk before the show. You asked Randi to leave Stephen home so we have privacy.” Kelvin leaned in. “Spill it, girl.”

“You know me way too well,” Julia said ruefully, reaching for her water glass.

“Damn right I do,” Kelvin sniffed. “So stop stalling.”

“Go on, honey,” Randi said, always the quiet voice of reason. “Talk to us.”

Not knowing how to phrase it well, or tactfully, Julia just blurted it out. “I slept with Dane last night.”

Randi's mouth fell open. Kelvin's eyes flew wide as he let out something resembling a high-pitched girlish squeak. Coming from a six-foot-tall African-American man, it took everything Julia had not to giggle at the sound. It would have been funny if the situation wasn't serious.

Her gaze darted to him and she sputtered, “I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I thought you should know right away. Now you do.”

“Why?” Kelvin asked tersely. “Are we fired?”

“No! No, of course not,” Julia said.

“Are you worried you
might
be?” Randi asked.

Julia sighed. “I don't know. It's always a possibility, isn't it?”

“Can't help wishing you'd thought of that before you jumped him,” Kelvin said dryly.

“I know. I know.” Julia let her head fall into her hands.

“I mean, he's beautiful,” Kelvin went on. “He's seriously smokin'. I don't blame you. If he were gay, I'd be all over him. He looks like he'd be a great lay.”

“He is,” Julia confirmed, her voice muffled by her hands. “Holy crap, he
is.
”

“Then I definitely wanna know more!” Randi demanded.

Julia gave them the short version of the story.

“I knew that man would cave first,” Kelvin said. He looked at Randi and said, “Every time they're in the same room, it's like the damn smoke alarms are gonna go off from the heat between them.”

“I felt that the night I met him,” Randi said with a nod. “The way he looked at her. He totally wanted her. It was so obvious.”

“Hooray for subtlety,” Julia said. She sipped her water again.

“So now what?” Kelvin asked. “We're on notice?”

“No.
No,”
Julia insisted, shaking her head. “He swears that what happened between us has nothing to do with my job, that they're separate things. Reminded me my contract is ironclad, and said he wouldn't fire me regardless. He tried to reassure me. . . .” She sighed. “You know me. I just don't trust anyone. Especially rich, charming, powerful men. But . . .” She fidgeted with her fork, flipping it in circles on the tabletop. “I think he's sincere. I hope this won't bite me in the ass later, but I believe him. And I also believe Tonio.”

“Tonio?” Kelvin looked confused. “What does he have to do with anything?”

“Who's Tonio?” Randi asked.

“Head bartender,” Julia told her. “Works in the bar and lounge. He's known Dane for a few years, he used to work over in his midtown hotel before he came to the Alexandra. I had dinner with him the other night, and I asked him about Dane. Tonio's a good boy from Brooklyn, no bullshit. He said Dane keeps his word, that he's not a typical rich snob, that he's generous and fair. So . . . I believe Tonio, and I believe Dane.” She threw an apologetic look at Kelvin. “I just thought you should know . . . just in case . . . anything happens.”

“Nothing's gonna happen, sweet pea,” Kelvin said, patting her hand. “Except you having mind-blowingly hot sex with that gorgeous piece of man candy. I'm a little jealous. But damn glad you're finally getting some. Maybe you'll be less cranky now.”

“Shut up, you,” Julia laughed.

Randi giggled and squeezed her friend's hand. “It'll be okay. Just . . . be careful.”

“Aren't I always?” Julia asked.

“
Almost
always,” Kelvin retorted. “Hello, you just slept with the boss.”

Julia groaned in defeat. “I
know.
I'm so stupid! So goddamn stupid.” She sighed again, thinking of Dane's beautiful blue eyes, the feel of his hard body against hers, the naughty, dirty things he'd whispered in her ear while he . . . her stomach did a little flip. “But he's so . . .”

“Blindingly gorgeous, we know, sweetie,” Kelvin said. He leaned in, dark eyes sparkling. “So? Give us the juicier details.
Three
times? Goddamn, girl, spill!”

Randi leaned in too, grinning. “I'm with him. Details. Three times in one night?” She shot her friend a look of admiration. “God bless you, girl. I don't think I've done that since college.”

Kelvin raised his hand for a fist bump, which Julia gave him back with a laugh.

“My girl is BACK!” he exclaimed. “Hot damn!”

“But look,” Julia said quickly, her voice lowering. “This stays between us. Only us.
No one
can know about this. Seriously.”

“Who am I going to tell?” Randi said, shrugging.

“Not even Stephen,” Julia said. “I'm sorry. But please.”

“Okay,” Randi said. “I don't like keeping secrets from him, but this isn't my secret, it's yours.”

“You're not the one I'm worried about.” Julia turned her eyes to her pianist. “Kel. You can't act like you know, babe. You can't let Dane even
think
you might know.”

“Girl, I'm a vault,” Kelvin sniffed. “You insult me.”

Julia arched a brow in haughty challenge and growled knowingly, “Kelvin Jones, you bitch. Promise me.”

“I'll be good!” he cried, throwing up his hands in surrender. The two women laughed.

 

 

Dane had sent her a short, casual text that afternoon, but didn't come to the show on Friday night— the first one he'd missed since the lounge had opened. As far as Julia knew, he hadn't even come to the hotel at all that day. It made her curious, but she didn't speculate on it too much. It wasn't her business where he was. But the thought did go through her mind: Was he staying away because he'd gotten what he wanted? He'd had her, conquered her, and now he was gone?

She ran some errands on Saturday afternoon, trying to get them done quickly and stay out of the July heat. She did some quick grocery shopping and got an oil change for her car, picked up two bottles of wine, read three chapters of her latest book. But by the time she was on the train into the city at seven-fifteen that evening, she had the time to overthink, and she did. Irritated, she realized she was curious, and even slightly tense, as she wondered if Dane would show up that night.

The fact that it bothered her at all
really
bothered her. It was no-strings sex. They'd agreed on that. So he didn't need to call her the next day with platitudes or sweet talk that meant nothing. But for him to be so noticeably absent from the lounge once he'd finally gotten her into bed . . . it felt like he was rubbing her nose in the fact that she'd broken her own rule. He knew how nervous she'd been about crossing that line with her boss, mixing professional with personal. Yet it was the first time he hadn't shown up at her show since opening night. Was that merely a coincidence? She couldn't help but wonder if it was a subtle yet unmistakable message to her. And even if it was, she was being a petulant drama queen for wondering. Breaking her own rules. Again.

By the time she reached her dressing room, she was swallowing down bruised pride, and most of all, mad at herself. If it was no-strings sex, why did she feel like this? It made no sense. She was an idiot. She and Dane were just . . . what were they now?

 

 

“Hey, boss.” Reaching over the bar, Tonio shook Dane's hand in greeting. “How's it goin'?”

“Great, Tonio. You?” Dane slid onto a barstool with a grin.

“It's all good. Getcha a drink?”

“Yes. Um . . . scotch.”

“Be right back.”

As Tonio walked away, Dane let his eyes canvas the scene. Almost ten on a Saturday night, and the place was packed. The bar was crowded and noisy, and every table in the lounge was taken. He smiled with deep satisfaction. Business was good.

“Entertainment here and ready?” Dane tried to make the question sound casual. Like he hadn't been able to stop thinking about his singer since he'd woken up Friday morning. Like he didn't keep flashing back on their hot night together, the way she'd looked, felt, sounded . . .

He realized Tonio had said something. “I'm sorry, what?”

Tonio repeated, “I said, yeah, they're here and ready.”

Dane opened his mouth to respond, but took in the sudden frown on Tonio's face and followed his gaze. “Something up?”

Tonio's thick brows furrowed. “Not sure.” He stared at a man standing alone by the booths a few seconds longer, then leaned in to speak in a low voice to Dane. “That guy along the wall, by himself? Dark hair with gray in it, shaggy looking. See him?”

“Navy shirt and jeans?” Dane offered.

“Yeah. He's been here for the last two weeks, hasn't missed one of their shows. Stays for both sets. Drinks nothing but ginger ale. Leaves as soon as Julia gets offstage for the night.” Tonio pitched his voice even lower, so Dane had to lean in closer to hear. “Don't get me wrong, he hasn't done anything suspicious, but he just . . . he sets my gut hummin'. The way he looks at Julia the whole time she sings. I dunno. Bad vibe.”

Dane's gut churned too. “I trust your instincts, Tonio. Keep an eye on him.”

“Oh, I have been.”

“Good man. You need any backup, you say the word.” Dane looked Tonio in the eye. “That goes for this guy, or anyone else. Julia's beautiful, she's getting some attention in the press lately by being here . . . so if she gets any, uh,
admirers
that she dislikes? Handle it. Or tell me, and I'll handle it. But I trust you.”

Tonio nodded curtly. “Done.”

The audience started applauding, and Dane turned his head to see Julia and Kelvin get onstage to start their first set. “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” she said, her rich voice a caress. Dane had a flash of that voice moaning in his ear, crying out his name, and got hard right then and there. He shifted carefully in his seat.

Kelvin started playing and Julia launched into an upbeat, swinging standard. With casual ease, Dane turned to look over the crowd . . . and at the guy Tonio had singled out. The man stood in the shadows, a perfect vantage point: he could see Julia, but Julia couldn't see him. His eyes were fixed on the redhead, just like Tonio had said. And, just like Tonio had said, something about the guy gave Dane the creeps. His jaw tightened as something he couldn't really name surged through him. Anger? Protectiveness? Concern? Maybe all of the above.

He didn't want to make Julia nervous, so he wouldn't say anything. After all, it was likely nothing. The guy probably just thought Julia was hot, which she was, and liked her voice, and liked watching her perform. Hell, who didn't? She was magic up there.

Dane turned back to the bar and took a long swallow of his drink.

 

 

“You rocked it tonight, girl,” Kelvin said from his sprawl on the couch.

“You rocked it tonight, babe,” Julia replied from her couch. Their usual post-gig banter made them both grin.

“He's back tonight,” Kelvin said.

Julia shrugged. “I know. I saw him sitting at the bar during the first set.”

“Then at a table with two friends, it looked like, for the second set.” Kelvin slanted her a look. “Stop sulking and go talk to him.”

“I'm not sulking,” she said.

“Really? Then your imitation of someone sulking is damn good.”

She snorted and flopped back to lie down. “I'm an idiot sometimes. Sorry.”

“I know. Don't sweat it.”

Someone knocked on the door. They looked at each other.

“Five bucks says that's the boss,” Kelvin said, his full lips curving wickedly.

“You're on,” Julia said, sitting up. “I bet it's anyone
but
him.” She got to her feet, crossed the dressing room in a few strides, and flung open the door. Dane stood there, looking damn fine in a cornflower blue button-down shirt under a dark gray suit. The very picture of casual sophistication, as usual.

“I'll just get my five from your wallet, sweetie,” Kelvin said with a smug grin, standing.

“Hi.” Dane's tone and smile were friendly. “You were great tonight. But you always are.” He craned his head and added to Kelvin, “Both of you. Great sets.”

“Thanks, Boss,” Kelvin said as he rifled through Julia's bag. Pulling out a five-dollar bill, he shoved it into his pocket with another grin as he walked to the door. “If you two would excuse me, I'm going to go have something to eat before I head home.” He glanced at Julia. “Should I order something for you?”

“You go ahead,” she said. “Don't wait for me.”

“Mm-hmm.” Kelvin looked from one face to the other. “Okay then.” He dropped a kiss on Julia's cheek and whispered, “Take it easy, girl!” before walking out.

Dane moved in past her. Annoyed, she closed the door behind him and stayed where she stood, hands on her hips.