Truth Or Dare (3 page)

Sharing pleasure.

During her marriage, she’d learned to dread the nights her husband reached for her. Love-making had been tedious at best, uncomfortable and embarrassing at worst. His preferences at tryinganything and everything—including discipline—whether she enjoyed it or not, had worn her down. He’d told her it was necessary, that she wasn’t exciting enough, her body not sexy enough, to get him aroused without the added elements. After a while she’d begun to believe him, and it had taken a lot for her to finally realize he was the one with the problems, not her.

In the process, she’d gotten completely turned off sex. But she wasn’t an idiot. She knew it wasn’t always like that.

She didn’t think it’d be like that with Cameron.

Thinking his name brought an image of him to mind. She rolled to her back and closed her eyes. Cameron, with his straight black hair. Not as straight or as black as Erica’s, but in many ways more appealing, at least to her.

His hair had a chestnut cast to it in the light. And though she knew he was only in his early thirties, a bit of silver showed in his sideburns. His hair was a little too long at the nape, as if regular haircuts weren’t high on his list of priorities. And judging by how often it was tousled, he didn’t bother much with combs, either. She imagined him showering, shaving, combing his hair—and ending his personal grooming right there. She smiled.

The mental picture of him in the shower lingered, but his suits were so concealing, she could only guess at his physique. He was tall, lean in the middle, and his feet and hands were large. Beyond that, she didn’t know.

She liked his eyes best. The many times when they’d spoken, his vivid blue eyes had been very direct. He tended to focus on her with a lot of intensity.

She shivered, but it wasn’t from cold.

So many times her mind had wandered while chatting with him. Her heart would race, her skin would flush. She’d thought him dangerous to her, a threat to her independence, and she’d deliberately kept their association as casual, as business-like, as possible.

But now she’d sought him out.

Would his eyes look that intense, hot from within, when he made love with her? That alone would be nice, she decided, remembering how her husband had always looked … distant from her. He’d treated her like nothing more than a convenient body, using her to gain his own pleasure.

Cameron would be aware of her, she was sure.

Was he at home right now, watching that risqué movie? Was he excited? Hard?

Her own soft groan sounded in the silence of her empty bedroom. Rolling to her side, she looked out the window. Snowflakes fell steadily, making patterns on the dark window. She could just make out the faint glow of colored Christmas lights on the house across the street.

Cameron would be alone for Christmas, just like her.

Her heart gave a funny little thump, sort of a poignant pain. The holidays were so lonely, so sad. If she and Cameron were together …

No! She wanted this one night of sex, but that was all. She didn’t want or need another relationship, and sharing a holiday, especially one as emotional as Christmas, would definitely be a commitment of sorts. Wouldn’t it?

She shook her head. Her independence was important to her, and she did just fine on her own. A steady relationship would intrude on that.

Was Cameron watching the movie? Was he thinking of her?

Disturbed by her own conflicting, changing thoughts, she sat up abruptly and turned on the light. Curiosity swamped her, made her body hot and tingly. She reached for the phone and dialed the operator. Cameron was too new to the area to be in the phone book, but the operator had a listing for him.

Asia clutched the phone, daring herself to call him, to ask him … what? If he was pleasuring himself? She imagined what that would entail and sensation exploded, like a tide of moist warmth, making her breath catch. She could easily visualize his large strong hand wrapped around his erection. She could see his beautiful blue eyes vague with lust, his hard jaw clenched, thighs and abdomen tensed as he stroked faster and faster…

She gasped with the image, feeling her own mear sure of burning excitement Shaking, breathing too hard and fast, she bit her lip and dialed the number.

Cameron’s sleep-rough voice answered on the third ring. “Hello?”

Asia froze. Oh, God, he’d been sleeping, not indulging in erotic daydreams or self-pleasure! Talk about missing the mark.

Her mouth opened but nothing came out. She’d awakened him when she didn’t have a legitimate reason for calling.

“Hello?” he said again, this time with some impatience.

Asia slammed down the phone. Her heart galloped hard enough to hurt her ribs, and her stomach felt funny, kind of tight and sweet. In a rush she turned the light back off and slid under the covers, even pulling them over her head.

Cameron O’Reilly.

He turned her on, no doubt about it. Now if she could just not make a fool of herself, everything might go smoothly.

Cameron stared at the phone. Moving to one elbow he switched on the lamp at his bedside and checked the Caller I.D. Asia Michaels. A small curious smile tipped his mouth. There surely weren’t two women in all of Cuther with that particular unique name.

She’d called him—then chickened out.

What had she wanted?

Naked, he eased back against the pillows, plenty warm now, thank you very much.

Very slowly, the smile turned into a toothy grin. Oh, he knew what she wanted, he reminded himself. She wanted sex. She wanted kink.

She wanted him.

Arms crossed behind his head, Cameron glanced at the tape sitting on his dresser across the room. He hadn’t watched it yet. Because of what he’d overheard in the lounge, he hadn’t gotten much work done the rest of the day. He’d been too distracted with thoughts of Asia and how he’d make love to her.

His preoccupation on the job meant he’d had to bring several files home to finish on his personal computer. By the time he was done, his eyes were gritty and he’d only wanted a few hours’ sleep.

Now he only wanted Asia.

He wasn’t at all sure he’d be able to wait until Friday. He needed to taste her before that, just to tide him over.

Soon, he promised himself. Very soon.

“Cameron O’Reilly?” Erica repeated in disbelief, and fanned her face dramatically. “What a hunk!”

“You think?” Asia chewed her bottom lip.
She
thought him sexy as sin, especially now, but did other women think it too? “I mean, I admit I was surprised. He’s just such a … suit.”

Erica snorted. “Honey, all men are the same, white collar and blue collar alike. They’re all sex addicts.”

“I agree,” Becky said. “O’Reilly is hot.”

“You been checking him out?” Erica asked in some surprise.

“I’m not blind”—Becky sniffed with mock indignation—“if that’s what you mean.”

They all chuckled. “I wouldn’t mind getting to know him better myself,” Erica teased. “But he’s never really noticed me. When I talk to him, he’s polite, but always businesslike.”

Asia fiddled with her coffee stirrer, then admitted, “We’ve spoken several times.” She glanced up, then away. “At length.”

“Ah.” Erica grinned. “Do tell.”

She shrugged. “He sort of … sought me out He comes to my office, hangs around a bit, or catches me in the halls, or right after meetings. I … I like him, but I got the feeling he wanted to get more personal, so I … brushed him off.”

“Are you nuts?”

Asia was sort of wondering that same thing herself, but for different reasons. “I just couldn’t see starting something that likely wouldn’t go anywhere.”

Becky touched her hand. “You were afraid he wouldn’t follow up?”

That nettled her new independent streak. “Ha! I wouldn’t want him to. It’s more likely that I wouldn’t follow up.”

Erica grinned. “That right?”

“Yes.” And then, “Why is it always the woman who’s supposed to sit around and wait for a damn phone call?”

Erica said, “Amen, sister. You’ll get no argument from me. That’s why even on dates, I buy my own meals, and I refuse flowers or gifts. If I want something, I can get it for myself. I don’t need a guy. But sometimes I want one. So I go on my schedule, not his.”

“Sounds to me,” Becky said, “that you both like playing hard to get.”

“No playing to it,” Erica corrected. “I am hard to get.”

Asia chuckled. She wasn’t playing, either, though her motivation differed from Erica’s. “Most of the guys here understand that I’m not interested, that it’s a waste of time to want more from me than casual conversation.”

Erica nodded knowingly. “But Cameron was new, so he didn’t know, and he’s been after you?”

“I figured he’d find out soon enough and leave me alone.”

“But he didn’t?”

She shook her head. “Whenever we’re in the same room together, he watches me, and he smiles if our gazes meet”
And what a smile,
she thought privately,
enough to melt a woman’s bones,
so, of course it was hell on her reserve.

“And now you know he has kinky sexual preferences,” Erica pointed out with a sinner’s grin.

“Now I know,” Asia corrected, “that he has a healthy outlet Honest, all the documentation I read said that what one fantasizes isn’t generally what one wants in a real-life situation, which is why it’s strictly a fantasy. Fantasies are safe. They are not, however, something we’d ever really try or even want to try.”

“I used to think about getting stranded on a desert island with three hunks,” Erica mused aloud. “None of us had clothes.”

Asia and Becky snickered.

“But granted, I like modern luxuries too much to want to rough it just for male attention. Besides, I imagine one day on an island is all it’d take for me to start looking pretty haggard. No lotion, no scented shampoo, no blow dryer …”

“No birth control,” Becky pointed out

“And three men fighting for my body? That could get ugly.”

“Maybe they’d just share,” Asia suggested.

Erica shivered. To tell you the truth, it’s fine as a fantasy, but the idea of three naked sweaty guysbumping up against one another with me in the middle just sort of ruins the fantasy of them being there for
me.”

They were all still chuckling when suddenly Cameron approached. He had his hands in his pants pockets, a crooked smile on his handsome face.

He looked at each woman in turn. “Afternoon, ladies.”

Agog, Becky wiggled her fingertips in a halfhearted wave.

Erica lounged back in her seat and grinned. “Mr. O’Reilly.”

“Cameron, please.” Then to Asia, “I’m sorry to interrupt your break, but could I speak to you for just a moment?”

Asia felt dumbstruck. She glanced at her friends, who made very differing faces at her, then nodded. “Uh, sure.”

“In private.” He gently took her arm and headed to the back of the lounge, to the large storage closet. Asia almost stalled.
A closet?
She felt workers looking up in casual interest; she felt Erica and Becky staring hard enough to burn a hole into her back.

She felt excitement roil inside her.

As if inviting her into a formal parlor instead of a closet, Cameron gallantly opened the door and gestured her inside.

She only hesitated a moment. He closed the door, leaving them in near darkness. One narrow window over the door let in the lounge’s faded fluorescent light. Shadows were everywhere, from boxes and brooms and supplies. Asia backed up to a wall, a little apprehensive, a lot eager, and waited.

He tipped his head at her, frowning slightly. “I wanted to ask you something.”

Oh no. No, no, no!
He knew she’d called last night! He’d ask her about it, want to know why, and what the heck could she possibly tell him—

“Would you mind too much if I jumped the gun a little here and … kissed you?”

Asia froze, her thoughts suspended, her panic redirected, her heart skipping a beat.

“I know, I know.” He rubbed the back of his neck, agitated. “The thing is, I can’t stop thinking about it—or you—and I doubt I’ll get any work done today if I don’t.” He looked at her, and his voice lowered. “You see, I’m going nuts wanting to taste you.”

Taste her? It was like a dream, Asia thought, far removed from reality. Never had she expected any guy to say such a thing to her.

Asia collected her wayward thoughts and replied stupidly, “You are?”

He gave a slow, considering nod, took a step closer. “Would you mind?”

“Uh …” She looked around. They had privacy here in the dim closet, never mind that a crowd of people was right outside the door, oblivious to his request.

Even in the shadows, she could see his beautiful blue eyes watching her, hot and expectant So very aware of her.

Her pulse tripped. She sucked in an unsteady breath and caught his scent—subtle aftershave and heated male flesh. Delicious scents that made her head swim.

He stepped closer still until he nearly touched her, his gaze now on her mouth, hungry and waiting. She licked her lips and started to whisper, “All right—”

And with a soft groan, his mouth was there, covering hers, gentle and warm and firm. His hands flattened on the wall on either side of her head and his chest almost touched hers. Not quite, but she felt the body heat radiating off him in waves, carrying more of that delicious scent for her to breathe in, letting her fill herself up with it until she shook.

“Open your mouth,” he murmured against her lips, and like a zombie—a very aroused zombie—she did.

He didn’t thrust his tongue into her mouth. No, he licked her lips with a warm, velvet tongue, gentle, easy. Then just inside her mouth, slowly, over the edges of her teeth, her own tongue.

Asia moaned and opened more in blatant invitation, wanting his tongue. Wanting all of him.

He slid in, deep and slow, then out again.

“Jesus.” He dropped his head forward and she felt his uneven breaths pelting her cheek. He gave a short, low laugh, roughened by his arousal. “You make me feel like a schoolboy again.”

Her heart in her throat, panting and trembling, Asia managed to say, “Made out in a lot of closets, did you?”

“Hmm?” His head lifted, his eyes burning on her face, still eager, still intent

She swallowed back a groan. “In school.”

“Oh.” He smiled, looked at her mouth and kissed her again, a brief, teasing kiss to her bottom lip. “No. No, I didn’t. But I did walk around with a perpetual hard-on, and damn if that isn’t what you do to me.”

Was there a proper reply a lady made to such a comment? If so, Asia had no idea what it might be.

His big rough hands settled on her face, cupping her cheeks, his thumbs smoothing over her temples. He looked concerned. Horny and concerned. “I’m sorry if I’m rushing you.”

She almost laughed at that. The way he made her feel, she wanted to be rushed. “Do you hear me complaining?”

“No,” he said slowly. “No, you’re not.” His expression turned thoughtful. “Can I take that to mean you want me too?”

He was so blunt! She hadn’t expected it of him. In her experience—admittedly limited—well-dressed corporate types were more reserved. She heard lewd jests from the factory workers all the time. And she heard the maintenance guys make ribald jokes throughout the day. But the suits … they generally feared sexual harassment charges and any kidding they did remained very private.

Erica claimed all men were the same when it came to sex, but Asia knew that wasn’t true. Some men approached sex as a free-for-all. Her ex-husband had been that way. He wanted it whenever he could get it, whoever he could get it from.

Some saw sex as a commitment, others as a challenge.

And some, she hoped, saw it as a mutual exchange of pleasure, best experienced with respect and consideration.

So far, Cameron struck her as that type of man. Finally, she answered, “Yes.”

He let out a breath. “You took so long to answer, I wasn’t sure.” He rubbed her bottom lip with the edge of his thumb, smiling. “You’ve got a masochistic streak in you, don’t you?”

“No, I just wasn’t … sure how to answer.”

This time he laughed. That’ll teach my ego to get excited.”

She covered her face with her hands. “I’m making a mess of this aren’t I?”

“Not at all. You gave me my kiss, and that was more than I had a right to ask for.” Stepping back, he said, “I should let you get back to your friends.”

But she didn’t want him going through the day thinking she
didn’t
want him. Because she did. More so with every blasted second.

Forcing herself to be bold, Asia lifted her chin and looked him right in his sexy blue eyes. “Will you give me another kiss first?”

He stared down at her, that charming crooked smile in place. He leaned back against the wall and said, “Why don’t you kiss me this time? Just to be fair?”

He kept taking her by surprise! She’d been under the impression all men liked to be in control, at all times. She realized this proved her theory about the sexually explicit movie he’d purchased. Even though he bought a tape that showed a man dominating in the most elemental way, he’d just offered to let her take the lead. She braced herself.

In for a penny …
Asia put her hands on his shoulders, then stalled. He was so hard.

His suit coat hid some broad shoulders and a lot of solid muscle. She hadn’t realized before, but now the proof was in her hands and it was unbearably enticing. Would he be that hard all over?

She shivered. What a thought.

Trailing her fingers downward, she found his biceps and inhaled in triumph. Solid, strong. No underexercised executive here! Cameron O’Reilly was all rugged male.

Eyes closed, Asia flexed her fingers, relishing the feel of hard muscle, strong bones and obvious strength. Her stomach did a little flip of excitement and she stepped into him while going on tiptoe. When he’d kissed her, only their mouths had touched.

But Asia wanted more and she saw no reason to deny herself. She fitted her body to his, soft breasts to broad chest, curving belly to hard abdomen … pelvis to pelvis. He groaned low and rough, and then his hands were on the small of her back, pressing her closer, and she felt his solid erection, long and hot, pulsing through the layers of clothes.

“Oh my,” she whispered, going well beyond impressed to the realm of awed.

“Give me your mouth, Asia.”

No sooner did she comply, kissing him with all the pent-up desire she suffered, than he turned them both so she was the one pressed to the wall. One of his hands slid down her back to her behind, and he gripped her, lifting, bringing her into startling contact with his erection.

He pressed into her rhythmically, rubbing himself against her, setting her on fire, all the while kissing her, soft eating kisses, deep-driving kisses, wet and hot and consuming.

A rap at the door made them both jump.

Erica called in, “Sorry kiddies, but playtime is over. Time to come in from recess.”

Asia slumped against the wall and groaned. She’d totally forgotten her surroundings!

Watching her closely, Cameron cleared his throat. “We’ll be right there.”

With laughter in her voice, Erica said, “If you wait just two little minutes, the room will be clear and you can escape without notice.” They both heard the sound of her retreating footsteps.

“I’m sorry.”

Asia looked up. “For what?”

Stroking her cheek gently, he said, “I meant only a simple kiss—well okay, not so simple—but I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

She sighed even as her heart softened. What an incredible man. “Cameron, you called a halt,” she felt compelled to point out, “and I insisted on one more kiss. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

“Are you sorry?” he asked, and he wore that absorbed expression again, which now looked endearing.

“The truth? Nope.” He grinned at her and she added, “I’ve never done anything like this before. It feels good to be a bit naughty.”

“Yeah?” He tilted his head, studying her. “Any time you wanna get naughty, lady, you just let me know.”

He was full of surprises. “You’re not worried about how it might look to others?”

“You’re worth the risk.”

The things he said played havoc with her restraint. “I’ll keep your offer in mind,” she whispered as she opened the door, and they were both relieved to see the room was, indeed, empty.

Tomorrow, she decided, couldn’t get here soon enough.