The Principles Of Lust (3 page)

Her cell phone vibrated on her hip, dragging her attention away from the view he presented as he applied stain to a display podium and the sensations it aroused within her. She never should’ve hit on him, she thought, as she unsnapped the phone from her waistband. He’d turned into a distraction she really didn’t need.
 

She flipped her cell phone open without checking the caller ID. “Teal Jamison here,” she said crisply.

“Wow, you almost sound professional.” A deep voice full of humor came back at her.

“The phone company hasn’t hooked up my freak’n phone lines yet so I’ve had to give out my cell number to all the business contacts.” She spun on her heel to stare at the one rich burgundy wall in the gallery. She really did like the ivory and burgundy color scheme she’d chosen. She clapped a hand to her forehead. Focus.
 

“Dominick, I need a favor.”

“Whatever you need, you know I’m there for you, Sis.”

If there was one thing in the life she could always count on, it was her family. Her older brother was a well-known columnist for a local paper, and Dominick absolutely hated it when people tried to kiss up to him, or use his name to get ahead. Teal didn’t like to ask anyone for favors either, but her free-spirited hippie parents had made sure that no matter where they lived or what else was going on in their lives, they knew they could always turn to each other.
 

There was no such thing as a favor that couldn’t be asked amongst family.
 

So she sucked it up and voiced her request. “I can’t get anyone from the paper to commit to coming to the opening next week. I’ve got people from the indie art magazines, but I want–-I need more attention to make Lush a success. I want someone from The City paper. Please … talk to Wanda Brooks for me?”
 

Teal had been told the society columnist didn’t cover art gallery openings unless they featured a big name artist, or a charity. Since Teal was just starting out, she didn’t have any big name artists, and the only charity she could afford to donate to was her own. She’d sunk everything, and then some, into Lush.
 

Heavy silence greeted her request and she rushed to fill it. “I tried to get them to listen to the unique angle of it being an erotic art gallery, but they wouldn’t listen. I know if I can get some of the wealthier people of the city to attend, I have a good shot at helping create a big name artist, as well as a successful gallery. You should see some of the stuff I’ve got here, Dom! Sculptures and photographs that are wickedly sensual and unique. People will pay the high prices for them, if only I can get them in the doors!”
 

“Awww, Teal.” Her brother’s voice was almost a groan. “I get what you need, but having me talk to Wanda’s not a very good idea.”

“Why not? Come on, Dom. She’ll do it for you, women do anything you ask.” Just like men usually do anything for her.
 

They’d been raised to believe nudity and sexuality were natural in all its forms, and that seemed to give them an air of openly sexual energy that they’d both learned to use to their advantage in life.
 

She peeked over her shoulder at the man working in the center of the room. Usually was the key word there. The family charm didn’t seem to be working on Zach.
 

“Wanda the Witch and I don’t get along at all, Teal. Letting her know you’re my little sister might bite you in the ass.”

“Come on, Dom. Do this for me please? You’re a top dog at that newspaper, she’ll listen to you.” Teal hated the whiny note that entered her voice, especially since she was talking to her big brother, who sometimes liked to take his role as her protector too far. She’d worked long and hard to get him to understand that she could look after herself. But this was for business, not personal. He’d understand that. “I’ve never tried to cash in on your celebrity before, but I can’t get any sort of response from her.”

“Celebrity!” His derisive snort echoed clearly through the phone lines. “I swear Mom carried a piece of the Blarney stone around in her pocket when she was pregnant with you, Teal.”

“Please, Dom. Please, please, please,” she injected as much emotion as she could into the last three words. It wasn’t hard since she really did need the exposure.

“Damn it, Teal.” A heavy sigh came across the line and her heart expanded. “While flattery will get you nowhere with me, blood will. I’ll see what I can do.”

Relief flowed over her. “Thank you, thank you, thank you, Dominick. I owe you.”

“Yeah, you do. And you can repay me by telling me when you were going to inform me you’re being harassed.”

She squeezed her eyes shut. “I’m not being harassed, Dominick.”

“So you haven’t had a problem with graffiti and nasty messages?”
 

“There have been a few incidents, but its just kids. The neighbourhood.”

“I don’t like it, Teal. Tell me again why you think that warehouse is a good location for you?”
 

“Because it’s close enough to Whyte Ave that I’m easily accessible to tourists and shoppers, but far enough away that people won’t feel on display when they walk into an erotic art gallery. I want them curious and comfortable, not embarrassed that someone might see them walking out with a paper bag in their hands.” Nothing much about sex or sexuality embarrassed her, but she knew that a lot of people were like Brina Jo. People who kept all things sexual private and personal.

“Who told you about the pranks anyway?” She hadn’t mentioned it to anyone.

“I have friends that work in that area. They mentioned it. Speaking of which, they’re going to stop by and check on things for you from time to time.”

“Damn it, Dominick!” She took a deep breath. Temper was not the way to get through to her brother. “Just leave it alone. If I was having any problems you’d know about them.”

“Promise?” His voice was firm.

“I promise. Now, I have to get back to work. Go talk to Wanda Brooks for me.”

They said their goodbyes and she closed the phone with a snap. Damn it. The fact that others had noticed the crap that had been happening made her skin crawl. It meant she might not be imagining the malicious intent behind the messages.
 

Zach fought to steady his heartbeat as he watched Teal disappear into the back room. He hadn’t been deliberately eavesdropping, but when he’d heard her plead so prettily his cock had hardened instantly and his heart had started to pound. He’d figured her for a woman that would never plead, but maybe he was wrong.
 

And now, all he could think about was how he wanted to hear her plead for him like that.
 

Teal returned from the back room with a rolling cart full of framed prints. She stopped the cart nearby and picked the first one up off the top and went about trying it on various spots along the far wall. He tried not to watch her, he really did, but his eyes just would not do what he wanted.

She looked damn good in her long flowing skirt and classic white blouse. More sedate than what he’d seen her in before, yet still subtly sensual. Her dark hair was loose and free that afternoon and when she stepped underneath the spotlight to hang a photo, the color came alive. It shone like polished mahogany and his palms itched to touch.
 

His eyes followed the long line of her body as she stretched to place the frame properly and he imagined her with her hands bound above her head, her body stretched out awaiting his attention. He’d keep her hair down, so he could stroke it and play with it. He wondered if it was her natural color, or if her pubic curls would be different. Darker against her fair skin maybe.
 

She must’ve felt him watching her because she looked over her shoulder in that moment, and caught him staring.
 

Their eyes locked and the arousal tugged at his groin. There was definitely something about her that got his blood pumping. But he still hadn’t decided what to do about it. When she looked back at what she was doing, he did the same.
 

He felt her approach and looked up at her from his squatting position. “Need a hand?”

“Actually,” her lips tilted into a flirtatious smile. “I was just thinking of what I wanted for dinner tonight. There’s a great Japanese restaurant down the road, would you like to join me for dinner when we’re done here?”

Zach had to bite his tongue to keep from accepting her invitation as he straightened up. When he was at his full height, he looked down at her and shook his head slowly. “Thank you for the invitation, Teal, but I’m not sure that’s such a good idea.”

“Why not? You have about one more day’s worth of work to do for me then our business is done. I don’t see why we should have to wait any longer to focus on pleasure instead.”

“It’s not that,” he assured her. How could he explain his hesitancy to her when he wasn’t even sure himself?

“Then?”
 

“I just don’t think it’s a good idea.”

Her eyes widened and he took the moment of her surprise to move around the podium and get to work on the other side. He was almost done with it and after that he had two more to do. Like she said, one more day of work, then his work for her was done.

If she let him, he could ignore the attraction for another day. It was for the best since he really didn’t get the submissive vibe from her. He glanced back at her, and met her puzzled gaze calmly. She nodded and gave him a weak smile before walking away and he cursed the twinge of disappointment in his chest.

Neither of them spoke as they continued to work, but the tension grew in the silence. He’d just stepped back from the podium and was putting the lid back onto the can of stain when he felt her steady gaze on him. Ignoring it, he went back to where his tools were and gathered them up.

The abrupt click of her heels on the hardwood floor warned him of her determined approach.
 

“Okay, Zack, what’s wrong with me?”

Schooling his expression, he turned to face her. “Who says there’s something wrong with you?”

“You do. I know you’re attracted to me. I can see it in your eyes. I can feel it tug deep inside my belly when you look at me.” She scraped a well-manicured fingernail across his chest. “Yet, you won’t even go to dinner with me?”

Honest amusement blended with the other sensations stirring inside him. She really was a force to be reckoned with. He pulled a cloth from his back pocket and wiped his hands while contemplating her.
 

“Do you always get what you want?”
 

Her head cocked to the side and she grinned at him cockily. “Pretty much, yes.”
 

A chuckle escaped and he shook his head at her. “I think you’re a very beautiful and sexy woman, Teal. I just think we wouldn’t fit together well.”

“Really? You’ve never seen me outside of this building, yet you can tell we wouldn’t hit it off?” She licked those luscious lips suggestively and his cock twitched to life. “I think we’d fit together very well.”

Zach pushed aside the mental image of their bodies fitting together perfectly and forced a light chuckle. “You really do go after what you want, don’t you?”

“I do. And right now, I want you.” She took a small step back and planted her fists on the curve of her hips. “But maybe I was wrong. Maybe you’re just not man enough to handle me?”
 

She looked at him from under those long, dark lashes, the challenge in her eyes clear. His heart thumped and he mentally shook his head. Taking up the gauntlet she’d thrown down would be a real mistake. This woman was dangerous to more than his peace of mind. He knew it in his gut.

But he’d never been one to back down, so he opened his mouth and jumped in with both feet.

“There’s nothing wrong with you that some time in my basement wouldn’t fix.”

A delicate eyebrow lifted. “So you admit there’s something wrong with me?”

“I wouldn’t really say wrong. But I do think you’re a bit too cocky. Yes.”

Her eyes narrowed briefly then she stepped forward again. Now she was close enough that the pointed nipples of her breasts brushed lightly against his chest and her breath heated his lips when she spoke. “It’s not cocky when you can back it up. And I guarantee I can make you feel things no other woman ever has.”

Hot blood roared south and his cock hardened fully behind his zipper. Damn, she was hot! He met her gaze and let her see the desire that was burning inside him.
 

“I don’t doubt that a bit.”

Wow!

The heat in Zach’s gaze almost lit Teal’s panties on fire. She’d seen lust before, but it was nothing compared to what she saw in his gaze. Standing in front of him, breathing in his earthy scent, her sex moistened and throbbed, and her self-control flew right out the window.
 

“Is that a yes for dinner then?” Please be a yes. If it wasn’t a yes, she was afraid she might do something really rash. Something like strip her clothes off and ask him to fuck her then and there.
 

She held her breath as he stepped back and pulled a business card from his toolbox. He wrote something on the back of it with the pencil form his shirt pocket and handed it to her before picking up the toolbox. “I’m cooking, be there at eight.”