Your Room or Mine?

Seven

Jack watched the myriad of emotions that flitted across Maddie’s face. Surprise. Doubt. Confusion. Interest.

Desire.

He nearly groaned with relief when he saw that unmistakable spark in her eyes. Thank God it wasn’t just him. He certainly couldn’t blame her for being surprised. He sure as hell was. If anyone had told him even a few hours ago that the mere sight of Mad Dog Price would render him hard as a rock and that he’d be all but panting to get naked with her, he would have laughed himself into a seizure.

But here she was-with her hair all loose and sexy, her chocolate brown eyes lined with something smoky, her curves encased in body-hugging fire-engine red, killer heels making her legs appear three miles long, her full lips looking incredibly kissable, and smelling so much like cookies he just wanted to take a big bite. And here he was-rock hard and all but panting.

No doubt the fact that he hadn’t had a woman in eight months, five days, twelve hours, and he didn’t know how the hell many minutes contributed to his current overwhelming desire for her. And his suggestion that they share a one-night stand.

There were reasons, lots of reasons, why it wasn’t a good idea, but damned if could remember any of them. Whatever they were, he just didn’t care. Right now all he cared about was her and him and putting out this damn fire she and her lingerie and her dress had lit inside him. She wanted a one-night stand? He was more than happy to oblige. The thought of that blond guy-or any other guy in the room for that matter-spending the night with her put his teeth on edge. And if she didn’t give him an answer in the next three seconds he was going to explode. He leaned forward, until only a paper-thin space separated their faces.

“Jack, I think-”

“Don’t think,” he whispered against her lips. Then he brushed his mouth over hers, once, twice. Her breath caught and she parted her lips. He settled his mouth on hers and in a heartbeat he was lost. She tasted so damn good. Like good wine and warm, soft woman. Their tongues tangled and he slid one hand into her silky hair, dragging her head closer. A growl of pure want vibrated in his throat and he deepened the kiss, sinking farther into the velvety heat of her mouth. He moved closer to her, pressing his erection against her thigh. She shifted her leg, and his rapidly diminishing control slipped another notch.

With an effort that cost him, he lifted his head. She looked as dazed as he felt. He prayed to God she felt as desperate as he did.

He ran the pad of his thumb over her full, moist bottom lip. “Yes or no?” he demanded in a low growl he barely recognized.

She licked her lips, a gesture that had him clenching his jaw.

“Yes,” she whispered.

Jack didn’t hesitate for an instant. Keeping his gaze on hers, he reached for his wallet. After tossing down more than enough to cover their drinks, he grabbed her hand and strode from the bar, heading directly for the elevators. He needed to get them back to the privacy of his room. Now. If he touched her before he did, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to stop.

He pressed the button and the door immediately slid open. Thank God. He led her into the elevator then pressed the button for the third floor. Damn, he could still taste her. He wanted, needed, to taste her again. But he could wait until they were in his room.

The instant the door closed behind them he quit lying to himself and pressed her against the wall. His mouth captured hers in a demanding kiss, one she answered without hesitation. Her arms went around his neck and she rose up on her toes, straining against him. Raw need raced through him and he plunged one hand into her mass of gorgeous curls. Fisting his fingers, he urged her head back to run his lips along the fragrant curve of her neck while his other hand slid down to cup her breast. She gasped and arched against him, then lifted one leg and wrapped it around his hips, urging him closer.

With a groan he couldn’t contain he flexed his hips in a long, slow thrust. Christ. He was going to lose his mind. The elevator pinged, indicating their arrival on the third floor. She moaned and slid her leg down, and with their arms wrapped around each other, still exchanging frantic kisses, they circled out of the elevator and started a halting progress down the long corridor.

“We need to lay some ground rules,” she whispered against his mouth in between stumbling steps and nipping kisses.

“Fine. Good.” He brought one hand forward to cup her breast. “Whatever you say.”

“Ooooh,” she breathed, arching against his hand. “This is only sex, Jack.” She ran her tongue over his bottom lip. “Just one night, to be enjoyed here, then never mentioned again.”

He skimmed one hand down her back and cupped the luscious curve of her bottom. Damn. She had more curves than a roller-coaster. Had he ever been this desperate for a woman? This hard and hot and aching? If so, he sure as hell couldn’t recall the circumstances. “Fine. Good. Whatever you say.”

“What happens at Casa di Lago stays at Casa di Lago.”

“Come Monday morning, this never happened and it’s back to work as usual,” he agreed. “Can we stop talking now?”

“Absolutely.”

“Your room or mine?”

“I thought you wanted to stop talking,” she whispered, insinuating her hand between them to press her palm against his erection.

He sucked in a harsh breath and thrust into her hand. “Fine. Good. Whatever you say.”

Her throaty laugh raised his temperature another few degrees. “Since I have a box of thirty-six condoms handy, I vote for my room.”

“Right.” He ran his tongue down the side of her neck. “Plus there’s all that lingerie in your room.” They bumped into the wall, then kept circling down the hall. He took a quick look up. They’d almost arrived. Thank God. “Please tell me you have your key ready.”

“I do. No thanks to you. You’re very distracting. How many hands do you have?”

“You’re about to find out.” He snatched the key card from her, jabbed it into the slot, turned the metal handle, then backed her into the room.

The instant the door clicked shut behind them, Maddie found herself pinned against the wall from chest to knee by Jack’s very hard, very male body. His mouth came down on hers in a hard, hot, demanding kiss that left her positively woozy. Good God, the man knew how to kiss. She opened her mouth wider, wanting, needing, desperate for more.

Her impatient fingers worked on the buttons of his shirt, but before she got very far, he derailed her every thought by skimming a hand under her dress. His warm palm slid up her thigh, then lifted her leg, hooking it high over his hip.

“Black lace?” he murmured tracing his fingers over the wisp of material that comprised her thong.

“Yessss…” The word trailed off into a vaporous sigh of pleasure as his fingers slipped beneath the bit of lace and lightly traced her folds.

“You’re wet,” he murmured against her lips.

Her head lolled against the wall as he slowly caressed her with a knee-weakening circular motion. “I’m afraid you have, ahhhhh, only yourself to blame.”

“I accept full responsibility.”

“Good. Oh, God… really good. Now what do you intend to do about it?”

For an answer he slipped two fingers inside her and slowly pumped. Her eyes closed and a long, guttural moan rattled in her throat. She gripped his shoulders and undulated against his hand.

“Don’t hold back,” he urged, adding a third finger.

“I won’t be able to if you keep doing that.” She could barely manage the words.

“Good. Let’s see how fast you can come.”

She came fast. And hard. Clutching his shoulders, she arched her back and gave herself over completely to the hot pleasure thundering through her. When her spasms subsided, she leaned against the wall and fought for breath.

“Beautiful,” he murmured, trailing kisses over her neck. “I call that a do-over.”

“Fine. Good. Whatever you say.” She gasped out his earlier words and felt him smile against her neck. “Just don’t let go of me yet unless you want to peel my boneless body off the floor. My knees seem to have caught a flight to Tahiti.”

He gave a low laugh, then before she’d rallied her wits, he scooped her up and walked with her toward the bed. Wow. He didn’t even grunt when he picked her up. “Hey, don’t hurt yourself,” she murmured, wrapping a limp arm around his neck. “I’m not exactly a featherweight and I have plans for you that don’t include a trip to an orthopedic surgeon.”

“Glad to hear it.” He stopped at the edge of the bed. “How are your knees?”

She gave her leg an experimental wiggle. “Still missing in action, but I think I can stand up. Although you probably shouldn’t wander too far away. Just in case.”

He slowly lowered her to her feet, dragging her body against his. “I have no intention of being any farther away than this.”

“Well, okay. If you insist.”

He leaned forward and his warm lips nuzzled her neck while he slowly pulled down the long zipper at the back of her dress. “As nice as this dress is, I can’t wait to see what’s underneath it.”

“I could say the same about your shirt,” she said, applying herself once again to his buttons. “And your pants.”

“You first.”

“I’ve already been first, in case you didn’t notice.” She looked into his eyes and caught her breath at the fire burning there. “Thank you very much, by the way.”

“You’re welcome. And I did notice. And I want to see it again.” He slipped his fingers beneath the straps of her unzipped dress and slowly pushed the material over her shoulders.

“As much as I appreciate that, not before I take care of this,” she said, tracing the outline of his erection with her fingers. “As an accountant, you should want your debits to equal your credits.”

He skimmed her dress down her body, his avid gaze taking in every bit of her as it was revealed. “Right now, I’m much more interested in your assets.” He helped her step out of the dress, leaving her wearing only her black lace thong, matching bra, and strappy heels.

His gaze roamed over her, and a thrill of feminine satisfaction filled her at his obvious appreciation. “Wow,” he said, running a single fingertip along the lacy edge of her bra cup. “You do a hell of a job hiding all this beneath those prim suits you wear.”

“That’s the point. I’m not looking to get noticed for anything other than my job performance.”

“I know a lot of women who go out of their way to use their looks, rather than downplay them.”

She shrugged. “Not my style. In the workplace, I’m strictly conservative.”

He reached around her and unhooked her bra with a quick flick of his clever fingers. “And in the bedroom?”

“In the bedroom… not so much.” She slid her bra straps down her arms and tossed the garment aside.

“Best news I’ve heard in a long time.”

He reached for her, but she slapped a hand against his chest and pushed him back a step. “Oh, no. Not until we get some of those clothes off you. I’m interested in your assets, too. Let’s get rid of the footwear first.”

“You always this bossy?” he asked while he toed off his shoes then pulled off his socks.

“Only when I’m impatient. And I’m very impatient at the moment.”

“Well, far be it from me to argue with an impatient, nearly naked woman.”

“Smart man.” She made fast work of the rest of his shirt buttons then helped him shrug the garment from his shoulders. “Very nice,” she murmured, trailing her fingers over his broad shoulders then molding her hands over his well-defined chest and rippled abs.

He retaliated by cupping her breasts and gently tugging on her taut nipples. “I could say the same about you.”

“I’m supposed to be undressing you, Jack.”

“I’m not stopping you.”

No, but he sure as heck was distracting her. The man had magic fingers, and his hands were everywhere, leaving trails of fire on her skin. It required all her concentration to undo his belt, unfasten his pants, then push them, along with his boxer briefs, down his hips. They fell to the floor, and without missing a beat or a caress, he kicked them aside.

She ran her fingers along the hard length of his erection and he sucked in a quick breath. Jack Walker was definitely proof positive of that “men with big feet” theory. She wrapped her fingers around him and gently squeezed.

“I’m not going to be able to take much more of that.”

For a reply she dipped her other hand between his legs and stroked while she gently squeezed him again. His eyes slid shut and he moaned. “I’m hanging on here by a thread,” he warned in a rough voice.

“Let’s see how much more you can take.”

She pressed her lips to the center of his chest then dragged her open mouth across his firm, warm skin to his nipple. While her hands continued to stroke and caress, she circled her tongue around his nipple then drew the tight bud into her mouth. His hands sifted through her hair and his breathing grew harsh and rapid.

“That feels incredible,” he said, the last word ending on a groan as her fingers circled the sensitive head of his erection where a pearly drop of fluid glistened. She dipped her finger into the warm wetness and slowly spread it around the tip while her other hand caressed between his thighs.

“That’s it,” he said, the words rough and his breathing ragged. Without another word he scooped her up in his arms. She kicked off her shoes and he set her on the bed with a gentle bounce then quickly peeled off her excuse for panties and tossed them aside. She’d left the box of condoms on the night table and she reached for one. The sight of him, so large and hard and aroused, filled her with a desperation she hadn’t felt in a very long time.

She was about to tear open the condom package, but again he distracted her, this time by kneeling between her splayed thighs. “You’re beautiful, Maddie,” he said, his intense gaze hot on hers as he pushed her legs wider apart. “Really beautiful.”

God knows the way he was looking at her, the way he was touching her, made her feel that way. “You’re not so bad yourself-”

Her words ended on a gasp of pleasure when those magical fingers caressed her sex, gliding, delving, circling, teasing. When she was no more than a stroke or two away from coming again, he grabbed the condom and tore open the package. He rolled on the protection, leaned over her, and entered her in a single heart-stopping thrust.

Their groans mingled. “You feel so damn good,” he muttered. Bracing his weight on his forearms, he withdrew nearly all the way then sank slowly into her, filling her completely. “Tight. Hot. Wet.” He groaned against her throat. “Perfect.”

Yes. Perfect was the ideal word to describe the feel of him inside her, on top of her. Maddie spread her legs wider and lifted her hips, craving more of the delicious friction of his body gliding in and out of hers. His thrusts grew harder, faster, each one seeming to touch her deeper, fill her more completely. She cried out as her orgasm exploded through her, and wrapped her arms and legs tightly around him, lost in the hot pulses of pleasure. She felt him tense, then with a harsh groan, he threw back his head and gave a final, deep thrust. After his shudders subsided, he rested his forehead against hers, their ragged breaths bouncing off each other.

Maddie lay beneath him, sated, limp, delicious aftershocks still rippling through her. His weight pressing her into the mattress felt decadent and so lovely she wouldn’t have moved even if she’d been capable of doing so, which she wasn’t. She wasn’t sure how much time passed before he raised his head. When she felt him brush aside a strand of hair from her cheek, she forced her heavy eyelids open. And found him studying her with an expression that looked as bemused as she felt.

An unexpected tenderness suffused her, one that she wouldn’t have thought to associate with casual sex. But then, she was pretty inexperienced as far as casual sex was concerned. She swallowed then reached up so her fingers could explore his features. “Okay, I want the unvarnished truth, Jack. Was that as good as I think it was?”

He turned his head and pressed a kiss against her palm. “Would you believe me if I told you I think it was even better?”

Relief filled her. “Glad to know it wasn’t just me.”

“Not just you,” he assured her.

“Probably it was just because it had been such a long time for both of us.” She studied his face in the dim light. “Right?”

She’d expected a lighthearted answer, but instead he gazed at her through serious eyes. “I don’t know.” He studied her for several more seconds, then one corner of his mouth quirked upward. “So I vote we do it again. Since it’s now been less than ten minutes for both of us, we’ll be better able to judge.” He dropped a quick kiss on her lips. “What do you say?”

She gave a feigned casual shrug. “Fine. Good. Whatever you say. But I vote for doing it two more times. You know, double the pleasure. Just to be sure.”

He heaved a put-upon sigh. “Oh, all right. If you insist. I’ll try not to complain too much.”

“Good. Because you know who likes a whiner?”

“Who?”

“Nobody.”

He chuckled. “Let’s take a shower, then you can model some of those other lingerie goodies you have in your suitcase.”

“Hmmm. I have quite a bit of lingerie in there.”

“And you won’t catch me whining. Nope. ’Cause you know, nobody likes a whiner.”

“That’s right. About this shower…” She tickled her fingers down his smooth back to his butt, liking the heat that flared in his eyes. “I plan to get you all in a lather. In more ways than one.”

“Good. Fine. Whatever you say.”

Eight

Jack stomped through the damn woods, trying to concentrate on what he was supposed to be concentrating on-which was finding the various colored flags he and Maddie needed to locate on their orienteering outing so they could then make their way out of the damn woods-but he was failing miserably. The only thing he could concentrate on was the woman walking beside him.

The woman who, thanks to hours spent in sensual exploration last night, he now knew a whole lot about. And damned if he didn’t like everything he’d learned.

After a leisurely shower-during which they’d both been worked into a lather in more ways than one-they’d raided the minibar. While sharing a can of peanuts and a soft drink, they’d talked about their lives and interests. Aside from the fact that she was a generous, uninhibited, and exciting lover, Maddie was smart, funny, savvy, and possessed an almost encyclopedic knowledge of movies and baseball stats. When they discovered they’d attended rival universities, a friendly debate had ensued regarding whose school was better.

He learned she was an only child and that she envied him his close-knit relationship with Claire and Sophie. That she loved animals, played a mean game of tennis, a horrible game of chess, loved shopping at flea markets, collected antique teapots, and considered her curly hair a curse-an opinion he thoroughly disagreed with. She loved to cook, hated doing laundry, adored the beach, had never been snow skiing, and hoped to vacation in Italy next year.

He’d felt completely at ease with her and more than once he mentally shook his head, unable to believe this intelligent, interesting, sexy-as-hell woman was the same person he’d dubbed “Mad Dog” and had been at odds with for the past month. With each new thing he discovered about her, he found himself wanting to know more. Wanting to know everything. It had been a damn long time since he’d felt such a connection with a woman. A connection that went beyond mere physical attraction.

Not that he could deny he found her very physically attractive. He did. Painfully so. How the hell had he missed those beautiful soulful brown eyes? That gorgeous smile? Those luscious feminine curves? He didn’t know. Clearly he’d had his head in the sand. But now he knew, and he wondered how he was going to be able to forget now that their one-night stand was over.

After their can of peanuts and soda picnic on the bed, they’d made love again then fallen asleep. When the phone rang at five a.m. for their orienteering outing, he’d awakened to her snuggled against his side, one shapely thigh draped over his, her hand resting on his chest. And he’d liked the feeling. A lot. It had been a long time since he’d woken up with someone, and it brought home the realization of how lonely he’d been. How much he missed having someone special in his life. Missed being in a relationship. Being part of a couple. Caring for someone and being cared for in return.

Those feelings grew in intensity when she’d opened her eyes and greeted him with a sleepy good morning smile. And then a bout of soft, slow, morning sex-the perfect ending to what had been, as far as he was concerned, a perfect night.

He’d returned to his room to shower and dress for their orienteering outing, then met her in the lobby, where he was smacked with the realization that their night was indeed over. Maddie was all business, greeting him with a cool, professional smile, severely pulled back hair, black-rimmed glasses, and her no-nonsense attitude firmly in place. As if less than an hour ago they hadn’t been naked with each other.

Which unreasonably annoyed him. During the van ride to the heavily wooded orienteering course, his common sense reminded him that that’s what they’d agreed to, yet some other part of him was pissed-and incredulous-and damn it, maybe even a little bit hurt that she could so easily set aside what they’d shared. Because as far as he was concerned, what they’d shared had been… amazing. And certainly uncommon, at least in his experience.

“According to my calculations, the blue flag should be about four hundred yards due east,” she said, pointing to the right. She paused and consulted her map. “What do you think?”

That I want to yank down your jeans to see what you’re wearing beneath them. Then find out if you taste like cookies everywhere.

He raked a hand through his hair. Damn. This wasn’t good. Why couldn’t he do what she’d obviously done-enjoyed their one night together then forgotten about it?

Maybe because he’d enjoyed it so much. Too much.

“Jack? You okay?”

Her voice jerked him from his thoughts and he realized she was looking at him with a quizzical expression. He much preferred seeing arousal in her eyes. What would it take to see it there again? He didn’t know, but he sure as hell wanted to find out.

He took a step closer to her and noted with grim satisfaction the desire-and wariness-that flared in her eyes. Ah ha. Not as indifferent as she’d like him to believe. Excellent. He took another step closer and had to force himself not to smile when she backed up. “Actually I’m not okay.”

She retreated another step. “Oh? The sun getting to you? I have some sunscreen in my backpack.”

He shook his head and kept advancing in pace with her backwards retreat. “It’s not the sun that’s getting to me, Maddie.”

Her back hit the thick trunk of an enormous tree, stopping her. He halted a foot in front of her and planted a hand on the rough bark on either side of her head, caging her in. “You’re what’s getting to me, Maddie.”

She moistened her lips, and his entire body tightened at that flick of pink tongue. “Our night is over, Jack.”

“True. But I was thinking…” He leaned in, nuzzled the velvety soft skin beneath her jaw. Even in the woods she smelled like cookies. He leaned back and looked into her eyes. “What if we turned our one-nighter into a two-nighter?”

There was no missing the flare of interest, and arousal, in her eyes. “Well… we are staying at the resort another night,” she said in a musing tone.

“Exactly. And last night was pretty damn good.”

She cocked a brow. “Only pretty damn good?”

“Pretty incredibly amazing,” he amended.

“You forgot spectacular.”

“My bad.” He stepped closer and lightly rubbed his erection against her belly. “So what do you say?”

Her eyes widened. “That you either have a water bottle in your pocket or you’re really happy to see me.”

He smiled and inhaled what felt like his first easy breath since he’d seen her in the lobby that morning. “I’m really happy to see you.” He lowered his head and brushed his mouth over hers. He would have laughed at the intensity of his body’s reaction to such a featherlight kiss, but he suddenly felt incapable of levity. Raw hunger sizzled through him and he settled his mouth on hers, his tongue exploring all the delicious, warm softness it had discovered last night.

She looped her arms around his neck, pressing herself against him. With a groan, he plunged his hands beneath her sweater, loving the feel of her soft, warm flesh. He filled his palms with her breasts, his fingers slipping inside her bra to tease her hard nipples.

“Jack.” She gasped his name and fisted her hands in his hair.

“Just how private are these woods?”

“One hundred and fifty acres of nothing but us,” he assured her.

“And the van won’t be coming back for us for another hour.”

She yanked his shirt from his jeans and skimmed her hands up his torso, shuddering pleasure through him. “Damn, I wish I’d brought a condom,” she said, nipping at his neck.

He shrugged off his backpack at the same time hers hit the dirt. Then he applied himself to her jeans. “I’ve got one.” The words came out in a rush, like his increasingly rapid breaths.

“Because…?”

“Hope springs eternal.”

“Ah. Have I told you that I think you’re very smart?” she asked, sounding just as breathless as him, her fingers clearly as impatient as his as they attacked the button on his jeans.

“No. In fact, I think you’ve been more apt to call me a pain in the ass. Take off your sneakers.”

“What was I thinking?” She toed off her sneakers and kicked them aside. “I should have at least called you a smart pain in the ass.”

“Yes, you should have.” He yanked her zipper then jerked down her jeans and panties with one hard tug. He felt like he’d explode if he didn’t touch her. Now. He helped her step out of her jeans, then dropped to his knees in front of her, leaned in, and ran his tongue along the seam of her sex.

She gasped and spread her legs wider, then sifted her fingers through his hair, moaning his name as he pleasured her with his mouth and tongue and fingers. The musk of her arousal filled his head along with the subtle fragrance of…

“Cookies,” he murmured against her thigh. “You taste like cookies. Everywhere.”

“My body wash,” she said, between panting breaths. “It’s called Vanilla Sugar Cookie.”

Damn. No wonder she smelled, tasted so good. What chance did a mere mortal male have against a woman who bathed in something called Vanilla Sugar Cookie? As it was, he’d never be able to eat another cookie and not think of her. Which was bad, because he really liked cookies.

He slipped two fingers inside her, thrusting in unison with his flicking tongue. He felt her body tighten, then with a long, low groan she pulsed around his fingers. As soon as her tremors subsided he slipped his fingers from her body and reached for the condom in his back pocket. She’d already gotten his zipper halfway down and he quickly took care of the rest, then shoved his jeans and boxer briefs down past his hips. He tore open the condom, sheathed himself, and sat back on his heels.

He reached for her, but she was already straddling him. She lowered herself onto him, and took him in with a slow, deep engulfment that dragged a ragged groan from his throat. Needing more of her, he shoved up her sweater, growling his approval when she jerked the garment over her head and tossed it aside. He unhooked her bra and filled his hands with her warm, soft, cookie-scented flesh, then leaned forward to draw her tight nipple into his mouth.

Gripping his shoulders, she rode him, slowly at first, then quickening her pace. Jack gritted his teeth against the intense pleasure, holding off coming by sheer will. When he felt the first pulses of her orgasm, he gripped her hips and thrust upward. His climax roared through him and for an endless moment he throbbed inside her. When his shudders tapered off, he gathered her close. She nestled against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

“Reeeeeealy glad you brought that condom,” she said in a sleepy-sounding voice.

He brushed his lips against her disheveled hair. “Me, too. I didn’t need a map and a compass to see where two hours alone in the woods with you might lead.”

She lifted her head and smiled into his eyes. Such beautiful eyes. Such a gorgeous smile. Something inside him seemed to shift, like his chest had just fallen into quicksand. “Once again, the credits have exceeded the debits. I owe you one orgasm.”

He smiled back at her. “Fine. Good. Whatever you say.”

She laughed, and he wondered how he’d ever thought her anything other than lovely. “A very useful saying. But now that I’ve had my wicked way with you, I think we should find those flags.”

“What for? The purpose of this outing was for us to bond.” He leaned forward and circled her nipple with his tongue. “Mission accomplished.”

“True. But I’m determined to find those flags then the way out of here. There’s that twenty bucks I want to win from you so I can buy my lipstick.”

“Your lips don’t need lipstick, but okay. I’ll play.”

She shot him a wicked grin. “And may the best woman win.”