Queen In Play (The Manhattan Tales Book 2) (9 page)

“Maybe later.”

I nodded, but then she giggled softly as she grasped the polished wooden railing of the deck.

Without having to ask her, she smiled again as she pulled a loose strand of hair from her face.

“I just remembered the time you took us sailing.  That was so much fun.” 

Hell, I’d forgotten all about that.  It was only once, on a boat I’d borrowed from Jax.  I had taken the Pryors out sailing, because Mrs. Pryor had mentioned she’d never gone.  Those were better days.

“You almost fell overboard.  I still don’t understand how you managed that.”  I teased Jillian and she laughed loudly.

“I almost lost my glasses too!”  She turned to look up at me, and squinted in the late afternoon sun. The humor from that memory was written all over her face.

“That will teach you to lean too far over the edge of the boat.” 
Unless I’m bending you over
. 

“Yeah, thank goodness you were there to catch me.”  She wouldn’t stop smiling.  I was thoroughly enjoying this relaxed, lighthearted moment.  I didn’t want to dwell on how much I had taken her for granted. I watched her breathe in deeply as she spoke.  “I love it out here.”

“I’ll take you anytime you like,” I offered.

An expression of conflict crossed Jillian’s face, but it was fleeting.  A blustery wind met our faces, and I extended my hand.  “Let’s go back inside.”

She clasped my hand and followed me inside.  I watched Jillian look around the interior once I closed the door.  She hugged her arms, unsure of what to do or say.  I felt my resolve slipping.  I was piss-poor at this romance fluff, but I was
trying
for Jillian. Without thinking things through, I made an impulsive decision.

Taking her face in my hands, I kissed her deeply.  It was a single, desperate kiss- but she didn’t push me away.  It only encouraged me further, and I pulled her body against mine.  My nose nestled against the nape of her neck, and I felt her arms wrap
tensely
around me.  Still, it was improvement.  I was determined to make her see the truth.

“I
love
the way our bodies fit together,” I breathed into her ear as my hands raked up and down along the sides of her body, over her luscious, round hips.

After what seemed like an hour, she finally responded with a shuddering breath.  “Yeah. I like it too.”

Vague, unsatisfying comment...

Like? She likes it?
   She wasn’t giving me any indication as to how she truly felt.  She remained closed-up. I still felt the current of chemistry between us. It was time to turn the heat up.

She never pushed away from  my hold on her, but she was still rigid and stiff against me. 
Inhibited
.  Afraid, and for good reason.  But, enough was enough...

7.  Jillian Pryor

We held each other for such a long time.  The remains of our lunch had gone cold.  The fizz in our champagne had gone flat.  It felt good to have him hold me like this. I felt the crackling current of energy between us.  There was a magnetic force about Mason that always drew me to him, and I felt it more than ever in this moment.  My body was still rigid, unable to completely relax in his embrace.  I was afraid of getting used and burned again, and he sensed that.

“I
love
the way our bodies fit together.”  His breath tickled my ear.

His  words broke me from my deep thinking.  “Yeah, I like it too.”  I wanted my walls to come crashing down.  I wanted to let him in thoroughly and completely.  It wasn’t that easy.

He tensed and broke from my embrace and I felt his scorching gaze down on me.  He wanted me to elaborate more…

I was struck with a thrilling desire to push his buttons.  For two months, he kept me at his
beck and call
, kept me at
arm's length
, and kept everything on
his terms
.  He had no hold over me now- or so I tried to tell myself.

“You… only
like
my touch?”  He circled around me slowly.

I watched him prowl in a slow circle around me, his eyes fiery. 
I love it. Actually, I need it. 
He was sinfully handsome as he circled me.  Heat pooled between my panties.  My body was aching, warm and wet for him.  Stubbornly, I still wanted to see how far I could push him. 

“Yes,” my response was soft and defiant in its own right.  “I
like
it.”  I sensed the growing irritation and lust radiating off this man’s body.  He understood now that I was being coy on purpose.

He stopped just behind me.  “And what about this extravagant date I set up for us?  You
like
it as well?”

“It’s
okay
.”  I answered.  I could almost feel his nostrils flare, while his hands fiercely gripped my hips from behind.

I hid my smile, but my skin flamed from his demanding grasp.

I was typically a very bad actress, and a terrible liar, but I thought I was doing a pretty decent job of it at the moment.  Mason was buying into it.  I didn’t even smirk.

He pressed himself furiously into my backside.  His thick cock was hard and constrained within his khakis.  It was deliciously painful to feel him pressed so firmly against me and his grip was rough.  I felt his breathing on my neck.

“And what about this?  Is this
okay?
”  His voice was gravelly; he was struggling to control himself.

I shrugged my shoulders. It was an effort because all I wanted to do was melt into him and let him fuck me senseless.

“Yeah, it’s
good
.”  My tone was casual and I was proud of my newfound skills in bluffing.  I wanted to see how far I could push him. 
Who would crack first?

Mason knotted my wild hair around his fist and pulled my head back roughly.  He forced my gaze back to look up at him as he stood behind me with one hand still gripping my hip.  I was correct; His  nostrils were flaring. 

God, yes.
My eyes looked into his blazing stare.  I had no choice; he held my hair in such a tight fist as he silently demanded my utmost attention.  That delicious ache in my pussy was now throbbing.

“And how’s this? 
Good
?”  He growled with that signature knot in his jaw.

“Yeah. 
Good
.”  I answered with a bite of my lip, and I swear his jaw twitched as he pulled my head back farther.  I kept my eyes locked with his dark gaze. I did note a trace of affection in his voice that he was trying to mask with his dominance.

“You’re such a smartass little thing.  Stop fucking with me.”  I felt his breath in my ear.  He was on the brink of losing his willpower.

I pressed my ass against his groin and moved my hips before his grip jerked my body to a halt.  “I don’t know why you think I’m being a smart ass. I’m just honest. The whole date is
sweet
, really.

“Nothing about me has ever been described as
sweet
, darling.”  He was getting more and more frustrated by the second.

This is so much fun.
I was so turned on, but I still wanted to play.  Actually, I hoped that my behavior warranted a spanking. I moved my body against his, and I didn’t think it was possible for his hold on my body to get any tighter.
I ground against him and his fingers dug into my black T-shirt. 

“Keep that up, and I’ll show you how sweet I really am.”   He was daring me to challenge him.  His voice was husky with need.

Please.

“Only if I give you permission,” I gave a coy response and he groaned.  Without a word, he gripped my hips and forced me over the arm of the leather sofa.

“You think I’m still
sweet
, Ms. Pryor?” 

“I never said you’re sweet.  I said this date is
sweet
.  It’s
nice
.”  My watered-down descriptions were driving him wild. 

I stretched out slowly, splaying myself.  His grip dug into the denim on my hips and gave three sharp thrusts into my backside.  I knew I’d already forgiven him.  I was aware of how much my body craved his touch.  I needed him to take me and possess me. 

“Does this mean you forgive me?”  I felt his fingers scrape lightly under my back, toying with the waistline of my pants.

“Oh… I don’t know.”  I responded quietly and I felt Mason’s hands stiffen hesitantly. My smirk was internal.  “How can I forgive every orgasm you’ve denied me?”

His breathing was ragged.  “I’ll repay.  Tenfold.”

I slowly straightened my body and turned to face him.  I sucked on my lower lip as I looked up at him.  His eyes were hooded with lust and need.

“Mm.  I might need some convincing.”  It was a playful jab.  I moved away from him towards the glass dining table.  I needed some ice water.

His next words stopped me in my tracks.  “Admit it, darling.  You like feeling my hands on you- possessing you, claiming you, owning you.”

The tingles that pleasured my nerve endings settled in my panties and I felt myself become wet.  No matter what might have changed between us, I was still madly turned on by his filthy talk and his dominating presence.  I had to face the fact that this is how I’m wired.  I swallowed hard, feeling the need for ice water now, more than ever.  I was playing coy, but he was still struggling to maintain the upper hand.

I turned to look at him. My face was flushed and my heart was rampant.  A large part of me wanted to throw myself at him and let him ravage my body. 

“Yes... “  I responded with a sigh in my voice and then took a deep breath to control my desire for him. I was sounding pathetic, but I needed to be honest with him.

“I have forgiven you, Mason. I did a lot of thinking, and I remember everything you have done for me and my family. I think that outweighs what what you planned to use me for…” My voice trailed for a moment as I thought deeply.  “But, I remember what kind of man you really are, the man you try to hide from everyone. I’m going to be brutally honest- a part of me is still afraid you will hurt me again.”

Silence.  I watched him cross the room, and uncork a bottle of French white wine which I could not pronounce.  I could see the storm raging within his mind; it was written all over his face and I was thankful he did not wear his stone mask today.

He partially-filled a single glass of wine and handed it to me.

“Thank you.”  I took a sip and savored the clean, crisp taste in my mouth before I swallowed.

“There is nothing I can say or do to justify what I planned to do, Jillian.  I can only hope you will grow to trust me again.”  His voice was solemn.  I thought he might reach for his bottle of MaCallan, but instead, he poured himself a glass of water.

“I won’t be reduced to some dirty little secret. You’re a better man than that, Mason,” I responded quietly. “I know who you are, but until you own up to that man…”

He took a sip from his glass and then set it down on the breakfast bar.  “Is that what you think I’ll do again? Treat you like some little plaything?”

“Why wouldn’t I think that? You have spent too much time trying to convince everyone, including me, that you’re this asshole.” 

“Fair point.”  He crossed the room and retrieved something from a glass hutch that was on the far side, near the bedroom door.  I was so taken with the beautiful interior of his yacht, I hadn’t even noticed the exquisite glass hutch.  He held a small, square silver box, wrapped with emerald ribbon.

“Happy birthday,” he murmured.  His eyes burned through me as he waited for my reaction.  I took the box slowly, astounded that he’d actually gotten me a gift. The sudden transition from our intense conversation to this birthday gift had me off-guard.

“You got me a present…”  I blurted stupidly as I admired the elegant packaging.

“Yes, months ago.”  He tore his gaze away from me, and I noted traces of the mask return to his face.  He was preparing for any impending rejection.

My heart was in my throat as I lifted the lid of the box.  On a bed of plush indigo velvet was a white gold bracelet.  Tiny diamonds were etched in the intricate braiding of the white gold chain.  Two letters in white gold glistened in the afternoon sunlight.

“J&M?” I read the initials on this perfectly gorgeous bracelet.  I looked up at him, surprised and touched by this gift. It was exquisite, yet not over-the-top.  I could see that he put a great deal of thought into this gift.

“Our initials.”  Mason’s response was stoic; the distant facade had consumed most of his demeanor.  “I had it custom-made the day of the masquerade. I wanted the world to know...”  His voice trailed.  He wasn’t accustomed to spilling his heart out like this.

I was so overcome by what he said at that moment. 
All this time, he’d never given up.
 

“It’s gorgeous…”  I breathed.  It wasn’t the beauty of the gift, or the diamonds that glistened in the light that enraptured me.  His thoughtfulness captured my heart.  I looked up at him, not knowing what else I should say aside from, “thank you.”

“Does this mean you’ll be mine?”  His voice was like velvet as he came behind me.  He pulled the bracelet from the box.  His lips were sensuous across the nape of my neck as he locked the sparkling white gold around my wrist.  The ache in my core became sweeter as electric tingles erupted over my body again.  His strong hands were firm as they clasped me by both arms.  He continued possessing my neck  down to my shoulders.  I could barely breathe and lost all sense of logic.  My back pressed into his firm, muscled front.  The heat of his body was overpowering as his olive arms wrapped around my small frame.

“Say you’ll be mine.”  He pulled me tightly against his body.  I felt his hard, long erection press into my back.

I need oxygen to think.
There was something I wanted to say...

“Mason…”  I struggled to think as he resumed making love to my neck.  He knows how much that has always weakened me…

I managed to hear my own voice.  “I only have one condition. Please...”  This was something that was very important to me, although I understood it would be difficult for him. 

“Mm.  Yes, I’ll let you pick the position.”  His voice was seductive as he stooped down, with his hands cascading over the heat of my bare skin.  His fingers raked up the inside of my T-shirt and I felt the cool air hit my skin as the black fabric inched up my torso.  I felt the wet heat of his lips trail hungrily up my lower back, to my hip bones. 
Oh, God.  How can I think?

Play the game.  Think.  Speak.

“I’m planning to go to Ohio sometime after graduation.  Come with me.” 

I found my strength and gave him the ultimate test.  This would determine how serious he was about loving me.  It would tell me how meaningful his words and actions truly are.

My heart sank as I felt him stiffen behind me.  His luscious lips left my skin.  Silence.

“If you really want me, you cannot continue to hide from Travis or my mom.  It will eventually come out about who I am dating and you cannot keep me as a secret,”  I persisted.  The cool air met my skin as his body and lips withdrew from me, leaving an empty void in its place.

I’d put my foot down and I was going to keep it there.

“If we’re going to do this, we have to do it right.  I won’t be hiding the truth about my boyfriend from my family.  I will not build a relationship on a foundation of secrets and lies.”

With each word I said, his expression grew more tumultuous.

“I don’t hide from him, Jill.” 

I was growing tired of this all over again.  There was another pause of silence.  My heart was breaking again.  This is why I had to think of my interaction with him as a game.