Whatever You Like (8 page)

T
hey dined by candlelight on the sky deck.

It was unbelievably romantic, with soft music playing in the background and a warm breeze blowing across the glistening waters of Lake Michigan. Instead of jumping right into negotiations regarding their arrangement, they broke the ice with small talk that gradually deepened into more personal subjects.

Relaxed by good food and wine, Lena found herself answering Roderick's questions about her childhood. She told him about growing up in south L.A. and being raised by her grandparents after losing her mother to breast cancer that was detected too late. When Roderick murmured his condolences, she said ruefully, “I guess the only consolation is that I was only four. Too young, really, to remember her. And my sister was just a baby.”

“Morgan, right?”

“Right.” Lena gave him a wry look. “Did I already mention her name, or did you uncover it during your background check?”

A faintly amused smile touched his mouth. “Both.”

Lena just shook her head at him.

“So how did you talk your sister into following you to Chicago?” Roderick asked, raising his wineglass to his lips.

Lena chuckled softly. “It wasn't easy. Unlike me, Morgan wasn't necessarily looking for a change of scenery. She'd just graduated from college and landed a good job. She was about to move out of our grandparents' house and get her own place. And then our grandmother died, and we both became consumed with looking after our grandfather and making sure he was all right. Ultimately we agreed that he'd be better off with me in Chicago. Morgan stayed behind for a few months, but not having her family nearby was really hard on her. So she packed up and joined us, and the rest is history.”

Roderick nodded, digesting her response. “How did your grandfather adjust to the move? It couldn't have been easy for him.”

Lena grimaced. “No, it wasn't. He was still grieving, and trying to get acclimated to a new environment didn't help. The stress took a toll on his health.”

She told Roderick about her grandfather's stroke, confessing the tremendous guilt she'd felt because she was on a business trip at the time. Three years later, she was still haunted by what could have happened if Morgan hadn't come home early that day and found their grandfather collapsed on the floor. The fear of not being there during the next emergency finally convinced
Lena to place him in an assisted-living facility, where he'd receive round-the-clock care and attention.

As Lena talked, Roderick listened and watched her with focused absorption, as if her words had the power to unlock the secrets of the universe. As an escort, she'd grown used to one-sided conversations where
she
asked most of the questions, stroked egos and served as a sounding board for her clients. It was nice to be with a man who seemed genuinely interested in her as a person, not just as arm candy.

Before she knew it three hours had passed. Moonlight reflected off the rippling surface of the lake. In the distance, the glittering Chicago skyline lit up the shore.

Lena sighed contentedly. “It's so beautiful up here on the sky deck. Perfect for stargazing.”

“Sweetheart,” Roderick drawled softly, “all I'm interested in gazing at is you.”

She laughed, giving him a look. “Do you get far with lines like that?”

He chuckled. “You'd be surprised.”

“Actually, I wouldn't. You could recite ads from the phone book and still make women swoon.”

“Yeah? I'll have to try that sometime.”

They shared teasing smiles across the table.

“Why aren't you married?” Lena blurted before she could stop herself.

His eyes danced with amusement in the candlelight. “Maybe I haven't found the right woman.”

“Have you been looking?”

“Can't say that I have.”

“Too busy conquering the world?”

He laughed. “You sound like my mother.”

Lena grinned. “Does she hound you about getting married?”

“Only every other day.” He smiled a little. “But I know she means well. She wants me to be happy.”

“Meaning you aren't?”

“I don't know.” A shadow fell over his eyes, and he shrugged one broad shoulder. “I don't give it much thought.”

Lena didn't believe him, but before she could probe further, he turned the tables on her. “What about you, Lena? Are you happy?”

“We weren't talking about me,” she countered smoothly.

He chuckled softly and glanced out at the star-speckled water.

As silence lapsed between them, Lena watched as his finger absently traced the rim of his wineglass. Her clit twitched at the memory of his fingers buried deep inside her, bringing her to a screaming orgasm.

She flushed as his dark gaze returned to hers. He pushed his glass aside, then reached across the small table and captured her hand in his. Her breath lodged in her throat and refused to slip past her lips. As his thumb stroked the top of her knuckles, currents of electricity raced up her arm and made her shiver.

“Cold?” he murmured.

She shook her head, though the temperature had probably dropped by a few degrees.

“I'm glad you're here, Lena,” Roderick said huskily. “I've been looking forward to this night all week.”

Her lips twisted sardonically. “So you knew I'd have to swallow my pride and accept your ultimatum.”

“I didn't know,” he corrected. “I
hoped.
”

“Well, congratulations. You got your wish.”

“Come now,” he murmured, turning her hand over and rubbing slow, sensual circles into her palm. “This doesn't have to be an adversarial arrangement. In fact, I intend to make this experience very enjoyable for both of us.”

Lena's pulse thudded. An erotic tingle snaked from her pelvis to her breasts, squeezing her nipples into taut points. “Name your terms,” she whispered.

“For starters,” he said silkily, “I want to see you every day for the next three weeks.”

“Every day?”

“Every day.”

“But I have other obligations,” she protested. “I see clients at least twice a week!”

Roderick's expression hardened. “Not for the next three weeks you won't.”

“
What?
You can't dictate—”

“Oh, yes, I can.” Something dark and uncivilized flared in his eyes. “For the next three weeks you pretty much belong to me, Lena. Every day, and for as long as I want your company. That's nonnegotiable.”

She withdrew her hand from his, bristling with anger and resentment. “You're interfering with my livelihood.”

“Actually,” he countered calmly, “I thought I was helping it. Your boss mentioned to me that you're up for a promotion. Securing this grant will make it a slam dunk. So don't sit there and pretend you're not getting something out of this arrangement. You wouldn't be here if you weren't.”

Lena glared at him, wanting to slap the arrogant look off his face. Seething with fury, she leaned forward. “Let's get something straight right now,” she said in a low, controlled voice. “You're giving that money to the
college,
not
to me. You know damn well that I earn way more as an escort than I do as a grant writer. So don't pretend to misunderstand me when I say that you're interfering with my livelihood by costing me three weeks of work. Not to mention the money that Zandra will lose as a result of my absence.”

Roderick leaned forward as well, his eyes glittering fiercely. “I had every intention of compensating Zandra for any lost revenue. As for you, I'll double whatever you would have earned during that time period. There. Problem solved.”

They stared each other down, the air between them crackling with challenge and sexual tension.

Lena flashed a cold, narrow smile. “You sure do like to throw your money around, big spender.”

“It's not about the damn money,” Roderick growled, latent heat and frustration simmering in his gaze. “It's about me wanting you so bad I can't see or think straight. It's about me having you, no matter what it takes.”

Her nipples hardened in a rush. “You want me?”

“Yes, damn it.”

Lena stood, snatching her napkin off her lap and tossing it onto the table. “Then let's get down to business.”

T
hey got as far as the private elevator that led down to the master stateroom.

As soon as the doors closed Roderick grabbed Lena and crushed his lips over hers. She threw her arms around his neck and thrust her tongue into his mouth. He groaned, a rough, guttural sound that she felt down to her toes.

As he lifted her off the floor, she wrapped her legs around his waist. Her back hit the wall. Without breaking the kiss, Roderick reached between their bodies and quickly unzipped his pants before slipping his hand under her dress. His fingertips grazed her clit as he pushed aside her thong. She was already wet for him. So slick that her body offered no resistance as he shoved into her. She cried out.

Their gazes locked as he began thrusting into her, fast and hard and furious. She clung to him, delicious pleasure running through every ounce of her being.

The elevator arrived on their floor with a ding. The sound went completely ignored as Roderick's hips continued pummeling Lena's like a jackhammer. It was animalistic, it was raw, and moments later it was over as they both came with hoarse cries.

Roderick shuddered and dropped his face onto her shoulder, both of them breathing hard. Lena closed her eyes and silently counted out her heartbeats. When they slowed to normal she tapped Roderick's arm, indicating that he should release her. He hesitated, looking like he wanted to refuse before he thought better of it. She unwrapped her shaky legs from his waist as he eased her down and stepped back, refastening his pants.

His eyes were hooded, his voice pitched low as he said, “I'm sorry. I should have used—”

Lena pressed a finger to his lips. “I'm on the Pill. Do you get regular checkups?”

He nodded, understanding the reason for her question. “Had one last month. Clean bill of health, HIV negative.”

“Good. Me, too.”

A hopeful gleam lit his eyes. “Does this mean—”

“We won't be needing any condoms.” Her lips curved in a sultry smile. “I don't want anything between us but skin.”

Hunger, hot and swift, darkened his gaze.

As he reached for her she turned away and pressed the elevator button. The doors opened to reveal a private foyer, beyond which was an enormous, lavishly appointed suite. Purring with approval, Lena sauntered off the elevator to enter the cabin, peeling off her dress and dropping it to the floor as she went.

Roderick's sharp intake of breath sent a thrill of pure feminine satisfaction through her. It was time to restore
the balance of power. Roderick may have started off with the upper hand, but he wouldn't be calling the shots for very long. Not if
she
had anything to say about it.

She took a slow turn around the luxurious suite, which occupied the entire lower deck and boasted sweeping views of the water from a private terrace. She made a show of admiring everything in sight, deliberately taking her time before facing Roderick.

He was still standing in the foyer near the elevator, as if his feet had been cemented to the floor. She smiled to herself, relishing his awestruck expression. She knew the picture she made—generous breasts spilling over the cups of her skimpy lace bra, legs sheathed in a black garter belt and thigh-high stockings, feet encased in strappy black stilettos with razor-sharp heels. She'd dressed provocatively on purpose, knowing Roderick would want to commence their arrangement as soon as possible.

Recovering his composure, he came toward her with a slow, predatory stealth that made her heart pound with excitement and anticipation. Her nipples tightened, straining against the lace of her bra. Between her legs, her clit pulsed and throbbed.

When Roderick stopped before her, she reached up and stroked his face, a tender caress that belied the snap of authority in her next words. “Tonight I'm in charge. You will do everything I tell you, and you will
not
touch me or make a move unless I say you can. Do you understand?”

Roderick hesitated, an internal struggle waging behind his dark, glittering eyes. She knew how hard it was for such a strong alpha male to relinquish control to anyone. He wanted to keep her under his command,
wanted to dictate the pace of their seduction just as he'd dictated the terms of their arrangement.

Well, that's too damned bad.

“Do you understand?” Lena repeated herself.

He nodded obediently.

“Good boy,” Lena crooned with satisfaction.

His mouth twitched, but he had the good sense to keep quiet.

She reached up and unbuttoned his black shirt and peeled it off, revealing broad shoulders and a wide mahogany chest ridged with muscle.

“Mmm,” she purred appreciatively. She ran her hands over his smooth, hot skin, basking in the way he shivered at her touch. “
Very
nice.”

Transfixed, his eyes followed her as she knelt before him and removed his leather boots and socks. Watching his face, she unbuckled his belt and slowly unzipped him. His breath quickened as she gripped the waistband of his pants and briefs and pushed them down his long, powerful legs. He stepped out of them and impatiently kicked them aside.

His engorged penis bobbed hungrily toward her face. She leaned forward and flicked her tongue over the swollen head, catching a silky drop of precum.

Roderick jerked and swore hoarsely under his breath.

Licking her lips as if she'd just sampled the most decadent dessert, Lena glided to her feet. With a seductive smile that promised more to come, she backed Roderick slowly toward the king-size bed and shoved him down.

“Lie back,” she commanded.

He gave her a slow, sexy-as-hell smile and did as he was told.

Standing with her legs provocatively splayed apart, she reached up and unpinned her hair from the elegant twist on top of her head. She combed her fingers through the dark, relaxed strands and shook them loose until they fell softly to her shoulders. Roderick was riveted.

Suppressing a satisfied smile, Lena turned around and leaned over to unbuckle her stiletto heels, deliberately treating him to a long, enticing look at her shapely ass in a lace thong.

He let out an agonized moan. “Damn, baby, you're killing me.”

Her lips curved in a naughty smile. Slowly she straightened, turned and hooked her thumbs into her panties, as if she were trying to decide whether to take them off now or later.

“Now,” Roderick whispered raggedly. “Let me see you.”

She gave him a stern look. “Have you forgotten who's in charge here?”

He licked his lips. “No, I—”

She gave the waistband of her panties a sharp little snap. “Just for your disobedience, I'm leaving them on.”

He groaned in protest.

She smiled inwardly and ran an admiring gaze over the dark, powerful length of his body stretched out on the bed. His muscled arms were folded behind his head, showing off curly tufts of black armpit hair. His long, dark penis lay erect against his taut stomach, swelling even more beneath her bold appraisal. He was beautiful, so breathtakingly male it was all Lena could do not to pounce on the bed and devour him.

“Oh, my,” she murmured, biting her lower lip. “You, Mr. Brand, are one magnificent work of art.”

His hot, hungry gaze raked over her body. “I've been thinking the same thing about you.”

She smiled, the sultry smile of a femme fatale.

He stared at her as she slithered onto the bed, crawled over to his side and curled her legs underneath her. When he reached for her, she batted his hand away.

“Ah, ah, ah,” she admonished, wagging her finger at him. “Did I give you permission to touch me?”

He moaned. “Lena—”

“I didn't say you could touch me.” She cut him off in her best dominatrix-inspired voice. “Now, do I need to tie you up, or are you going to be a good boy?”

He growled something obscene that made her laugh.

“I'll take that as a yes,” she said.

He nodded and closed his eyes as she leaned over him and trailed her lips down his sculpted chest and abdomen, feeling his muscles clench as her tongue ran over him. He smelled and tasted delicious, a heady combination of skin, sweat and desire.

She kissed his pubic bone and licked sensually around his penis before easing it into her mouth. He made a harsh animal sound deep in his throat. Her body tightened with pleasure.

He was achingly hard and thick, his skin like velvet on her tongue. She worked her lips and tongue from tip to base, caressing his engorged sac with her fingers. He swore hoarsely, shoving his hand into her hair and gripping her head as it bobbed up and down over him. He pushed his hips upward, thrusting into her mouth as she sucked him harder and faster, aroused by his guttural moans of pleasure.

Moments later he came with a deep shudder, his shaft pulsing spasmodically in her mouth. Smooth, salty fluid
spilled over her tongue and rolled down the back of her throat. She swallowed hungrily, and didn't stop sucking until she'd milked every last drop of come from his penis.

Roderick was still shuddering as she pulled away, wiping a trickle of wetness from the corner of her mouth. Her clit was hard and throbbing, screaming for attention. She reached down and stroked herself, trying to relieve some of the pressure. But that wasn't good enough.

Dazed, Roderick stared at her as she stood and grasped the waistband of her panties. Slowly and provocatively, she tugged them over her hips and down her thighs, revealing her smooth-shaven mound. Roderick sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes blazing with fierce arousal as he beheld her nudity.

She gave him a slow, sensual smile. “My turn.”

She stood over him, her feet bracketing his shoulders as she sank to her knees and lowered her aching sex to his mouth. She felt the heat of his breath, then gasped at the touch of his lips on her. He kissed her, an erotic, openmouthed kiss that made her shiver. His tongue slid up and down her labia, circling her swollen clit until she moaned in agony.

His eyes glinted wickedly. “Payback,” he whispered.

Before Lena could retaliate—not that she could have, not right then—he sucked her clit into his mouth. She arched backward, her hips jerking violently. He palmed her butt and pressed his face deeper into her pussy, inhaling her scent, lapping at her with slow, sensuous licks. And then he did something extraordinary with his tongue that made her see fireworks. She cried out wildly as she erupted, waves of pleasure crashing through her until she thought she'd pass out.

Gasping and trembling, she stared down into
Roderick's smoldering eyes and wondered where he—and his tongue—had been all her life.

His hands gently kneaded her butt. “Let me make love to you,” he whispered, husky and urgent.

She bent and kissed him, tasting herself on his warm, wet lips. “You will.”

But only on my terms.

Smoothly she rolled away from him and climbed off the bed. He surged up into a sitting position, watching as she sauntered across the cabin to reach the panoramic picture windows. During her earlier perusal of the suite, she'd noticed a pair of silk sashes used to tie back the tall custom drapes. She removed them quickly and efficiently, then turned and retraced her steps to the bed.

“I didn't bring handcuffs,” she drawled coyly, “so a girl's gotta improvise.”

Roderick frowned as she rejoined him on the bed. “Lena—”

“Shh.
I'm
in charge, remember?”

A muscle clenched in his jaw. Broodingly he watched as she positioned his arms over his head and went to work tying his wrists to the mahogany bedpost.

“This isn't fair,” he grumbled darkly. “I won't be able to touch you.”

“I know.” She smiled. “Give it a tug. I want to test the knot.”

His lips quirked as he pulled halfheartedly at the silk restraint. “You do realize,” he murmured, “that this won't hold me if I really want to get at you.”

Lena shivered at his words, at the dark, dangerous undercurrents in his voice. Of course she knew that her little makeshift bond was no match for him. He was a big, powerful man. A man who didn't surrender control
very easily. She'd have better luck trying to restrain a wild lion.

Holding his gaze, she said evenly, “You agreed to my terms. If you try to free yourself, you'll totally ruin the mood. Is that what you want?”

“Hell, no,” he muttered.

“I didn't think so.” She leaned over and kissed him, a long, deep, provocative kiss. His breath quickened, fanning against her lips. She could feel the coiled tension in his body, knew that he wanted to tear himself free and ravage her. It thrilled and aroused her to know that she could have such an effect on him, could push him to the limits of his endurance.

Drawing away, she murmured seductively, “Now relax and enjoy the ride.”

He looked at her, nostrils flaring.

When she reached down and unclasped her lace bra, he groaned and squeezed his eyes shut, tortured by the sight of breasts he could see but not touch. “Damn you, woman. You're really trying to kill me.”

She laughed, soft and naughty.

And then she straddled him and lowered herself onto his thick, jutting penis.

His eyes flew open, locking onto hers with searing intensity.

Poised over him, Lena felt an overwhelming sense of power. She could do anything she wanted to him, could have her wicked way with him. And there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it.

Staring down into his eyes, she said in a voice like cool silk, “This time
I
get to dictate the pace. You don't move until I say you can move. Understand?”

His expression darkened with displeasure. “Fuck,” he growled savagely.

“Oh, I intend to,” she purred.

She began to ride him, long, gliding strokes up and down his length. She could feel every ridge on his penis, every swollen inch as she took him deeper. She loved the hard solidity of his body beneath her, the scorching heat of his skin.