Playing with Fire Read online

  “What did you know?”

  “I knew I wanted you.” He pulled his shirt off and dropped it on the floor. I stared at his chest in amazement. It was as perfectly sculpted as I’d expected it to be, but the scar running down the side of his chest surprised me.

  “Where did you get that?” I pointed at the scar, and he ignored me. Instead of answering me, he turned away and walked to his closet. I watched as he pulled out a thick silver chain.

  “What are you doing?” I gasped as he wrapped the chain around his chest and arm.

  “I like the feeling of the metal against my skin. It reminds me of my strength.” He turned towards me as he pulled the metal along his body.

  His muscles bulged with the strength of a hundred men as he gazed at me with soulless eyes. I swallowed as I stared at the thick steel chain slithering across his skin like a snake. There was something so sensual in the movement, and I couldn't move my eyes away from his chest.

  “What are you going to do?” I whispered as he moved towards me like a panther tracking down its prey.

  “Whatever you want me to do.”

  “What if I don't want you to do anything?”

  “Then we might have a problem.”

  “Then we might have a problem,” I repeated as he stopped in front of me, his eyes never leaving mine as he continued moving the chain across his skin.

  “Are you scared?”

  “What do you think?” My eyes widened as my voice cracked. I took a deep breath. “I’m going to kill Hailey.”

  “Who?” He frowned.

  “My best friend. I was working for her.” I closed my eyes to avoid his intense gaze as my body shivered. “I would be at home watching TV right now if it weren’t for her.” My eyes popped open as his fingers touched my arm.

  “What makes you so mad?” He said gently. “The fact that you took the job or the fact that you’re here?”

  “The fact that I’m standing in front of a stranger with a big silver chain.” I gulped and licked my lips slowly.

  “And does make you mad, or turned on?”

  “What are you, a bloody professor or something? What’s with all the questions?”

  “Why are you repressing your sexuality?”

  “What?” My jaw dropped as I stared at him, my face heating up.

  “Why can’t you celebrate being here with me? I’m not going to hurt you.”

  “Let me just give you the lap dance and go.” I bit down on my lower lip. “You can keep the five grand. I think I might have given you the wrong impression of me.”

  “Oh, why’s that?”

  “I think you’re under the impression I want to be with you in a way I don’t.” I mumbled as I stared at his bulging biceps. Shit, he was so cut and built. I’d never seen a man as muscular and fit as him before. I wanted to reach out and touch his muscle to see if it was as rock hard as it looked.

  “I see.” He took a step back. “That’s disappointing then.”

  “I suppose.” I shrugged and turned away, feeling bereft and alone. Part of me wanted him to beg me to give him a chance. Part of me wanted him to stare at me with lust and desire so profound I wouldn’t be able to say no. Deep inside, I didn’t want to say no.

  “Stop.” His voice was low and gentle, yet commanding and all-consuming, and my leg froze in midair. “Look at me.”

  I turned towards him slowly, gazing at the look on his face. Gone was the laughing teasing man from the club. In front of me was a man so serious, so immobile, I wondered if he was the same person.

  “The chains weren’t to scare you.” He pulled them off and dropped them on the ground. “I’m not going to use them on you.”

  “I would think not.” I shuddered as I stared at the mass of steel on his cowhide rug.

  “So this isn’t going down as I thought it would tonight.” His lips curled up in a small smile.

  “What did you think was going to go down?” I asked curiously, and then my phone started ringing. I looked at him and then at my handbag and he nodded at me to answer it. I walked over to my bag and lifted it up quickly and pulled out my phone. “Hello.”

  “Evie, where are you?” Hailey’s voice sounded anxious. “Starr and Crystal just called me. They said you just disappeared.”

  “I didn’t mean to just leave.” I mumbled, feeling guilty and hoping I hadn’t jeopardized Hailey’s job. “I just had to get out of there.”

  “Where are you? Why aren’t you at home? What happened?”

  “I kinda met a guy.” I whispered quickly, hoping she wouldn’t really understand what I was saying.

  “You what?” She screamed into the phone.

  “Hailey.” I turned away from a grinning Grant. He seemed to be enjoying eavesdropping a bit too much. “I’ll tell you more when I get home.”

  “Evie Johnson, you come home right now!” she shouted into the phone.

  “I thought you were on a date?” I asked suspiciously.

  “I am and he’s here, but I’ll send him packing when you get here.” She sighed. “You’re not meant to hook up with the guys. You don’t know them, Evie. He could be a psycho.”

  “He’s not a psycho,” I whispered, hoping Grant couldn’t hear me. “I’ll come home as soon as possible.”

  “Evie, tell me where you are and I’ll come and get you.” Hailey sounded worried, and I was about to turn around and ask Grant for his address when I felt his arms around my waist. I froze for a second and looked up at him. “Evie?” Hailey pleaded in my ear, and I was about to speak when Grant grabbed the phone from my hand and ended the call.

  “What are you doing?” My jaw dropped as he threw the phone onto the bed.

  “Something I should have done as soon as you came out of the bathroom.” He spun me around and kissed me hard, his lips crushing into mine with such vigor I fell into him. His hands crept up my back until his fingertips were pressing into my neck and the back of my head, pushing my face into his. I felt his tongue slip into my mouth as his fingers ran through my hair, tugging the strands almost painfully. I gasped against him as I felt his erection pressing into me, and my hands flew to his back. His skin felt cool and soft, and I ran my fingers down his back, excited by the magnetic power I felt between us.

  “I lied to you earlier.” He pulled back and whispered in my ear.

  “About what?” I mumbled as I held onto his shoulders, lust taking over my brain.

  “About a dance being enough. I want more than a dance from you, Evie. I want so much more.” He growled and picked me up, carrying me effortlessly to the bed and dropping me before lying down next to me.

  “What do you want?” I swallowed as his fingers trailed down my neck.

  “I want all of you.” His eyes blazed with passion as his lips replaced his fingers. I closed my eyes as I felt his teeth sinking into my skin, sucking and biting at the same time. A small moan escaped my lips as I felt his hand on my breast. My mind was overcome with thoughts and emotions as my body sang out in sweet bliss. “Is that going to be okay?” He whispered again against my neck.

  “Yes.” I nodded, not thinking about anything other than this moment. “Yes, it’s okay.”

  “Good.” His voice grew hoarse. “That’s the answer I wanted to hear.”

  4

  “I’m going to take your clothes off now.” His fingers played with my top as his eyes searched mine for permission. I nodded slightly and trembled at the feel of his fingers running across my body.

  Grant’s chest grazed against mine as his fingers deftly removed my clothes. I lay on the bed gazing up at him, not quite believing this was happening. Last night I’d been sitting on my couch watching TV and wishing I had more of a life, and tonight I was in a strange man’s bed. This wasn’t me. This wasn’t what I did. However, I couldn’t stop myself. I didn’t want to stop myself. This was exciting and dangerous, and Grant was the most handsome and sexual man I’d ever been with. Every pore of his body exuded sex. I trembled with a feeling of
shame as I felt myself lying there almost naked. He’d removed every piece of clothing except for my panties.

  “You’ll decide when you want to take them off,” he whispered before lowering his mouth to my breast and sucking on my nipple. I closed my eyes at his intimate gesture and cried out as his teeth tugged at the sensitive flesh.

  “Open your eyes,” he growled as he transferred his mouth to my other breast. “I want you to watch who’s doing this to you.”

  My eyes flew open at the demand in his voice, and he nodded his approval as my eyes found his. He lowered his lips onto my other breast and sucked gently as he continued staring at me.

  “Do you like it when a man sucks your breasts, Evie?” He groaned as he kissed up my chest to my lips.

  “It feels good.” I nodded, painfully aware I had to answer him if I wanted the night to continue.

  “You tried to make me think you weren’t interested, but you wanted this all along, didn’t you?”

  “No.” I shook my head. “I was attracted to you yes, but I’m not the sort of girl that…”

  “Don’t tell me. You’re not the sort of girl who has one-night stands?”

  “That’s right.” I nodded. “I don’t normally sleep around.”

  “So what made me the exception?” he whispered against my lips, his breath warming me.

  “I don’t know.” I shook my head slightly and ran my fingers down his back as his chest crashed down on my breasts. “Maybe I just couldn’t help myself.”

  “Yes, perhaps that’s it.” He nodded before kissing me again, his fingers running up and down the side of me. I ran my fingers down his back and moaned slightly as he moved away from me and pulled off everything but his boxer shorts.

  “I’m ready for that dance now,” he growled and moved to a chair at the side of his bed.

  “What?” I frowned, feeling delirious and bereft at the loss of his touch.

  “I want my dance.” He grinned at me and pressed something on his nightstand. All of a sudden, music started playing and the lights dimmed. I heard Nat King Cole’s Unforgettable playing, and I sat up slowly. I laughed at his choice of music. Most men would have gone with some sort of R&B or rock for a strip dance, not an older, much more sentimental song. The room was silent aside from the music as we both sat there. Grant’s gaze was full of desire and patience as I stared at him, not knowing what to do. I felt slightly self-conscious. Here I was sitting almost naked, and there he was looking hot and hard, waiting for me. A part of me wondered exactly how this had happened. Hadn’t this been what I’d been trying to avoid while taking over for Hailey for the night? I’d been worried a guy was going to expect more than a dance. Now here I was, willingly giving myself to a man I’d met at the party. The man who had been the bachelor at the party. What if he was lying? What if he really was getting married? Would that make me a slut and a home wrecker? I bit my lower lip, almost willing him to tell me to hurry up, but he said nothing as the song continued to play. We just sat there staring at each other. Then I remembered my last relationship. How boring and staid it had been. How my last boyfriend had been a five minute and no foreplay sort of guy. How he hadn’t cared about my needs and how I’d wished for a more adventurous mate. How I’d secretly always wanted the job Hailey had. How I’d wanted to explore my sexuality more. And now, here I was. I had ample opportunity to do something I’d never thought I’d ever do. I knew in that moment I was going to go through with it. I knew my body and brain both wanted this. I shivered in excitement as I realized I was about to have a one-night stand with the sexiest man I’d ever met in my life. A bell rang in my head for a few seconds as I wondered if that meant I was a whore? If he offered me the five grand or more, I was pretty sure I would take it, but not because I wanted the money for the sex, but more for the dance. A part of me wasn’t sure if there was a difference. A part of me wondered if I was just trying to make myself feel better. If I had sex with him and then accepted money, would that make me a prostitute? My body warmed at the thought as I bit down on my lower lip, deep in thought.

  “A penny for them?” He asked softly, interrupting my internal debate.

  “Sorry, what?” I looked up at him, my nipples hard as he stared at them.

  “You look to be deep in thought. Maybe I can help?”

  “I just…” I started and stopped. How could I explain my internal dilemma without ruining the mood? I really couldn’t. I shook my head and stood up. “I was just hoping you’d change the music?” I asked softly as I walked towards him with a small smile. “I’d like something I can move my hips to, not something I’d hear at the end of a romance movie.”

  “Oh?” He grinned as I stopped in front of him.

  “This isn’t exactly a romance movie.” I smiled awkwardly, staring down at his huge bulge.

  “Depends on what you classify as romance.” He shrugged and tapped something on the table. All of a sudden, the music changed and I heard Usher’s melodic voice telling me I had it bad. I smiled at Grant again and started swaying my hips back and forth in front of him. His eyes darkened as he realized the dance had started once again. I turned around and positioned myself on his lap and started moving back and forth in beat to the music. A few seconds later, he grabbed me around the waist and adjusted my position on his lap so I was grinding directly on his hard cock. I felt my panties growing wet as his cock pressed into my pussy as if it were trying to break through the barriers. His hands circled my waist as I moved, guiding my hips back and forth as I danced on him. Then they moved up to my breasts, his fingers squeezing my nipples hard as he played with my breasts. I increased the intensity of my dance while I moved, and I moaned as I felt his cock against my panties. He had pulled it out without my noticing, and it was thick and hard between my legs. His breathing behind me was low and hard, and I could feel his chest was now hot against my back as he pulled me towards him and kissed the side of my neck.

  His fingers slipped from my breasts and back down my stomach until they were slipping into my panties and he was rubbing my clit urgently. I knew he could feel my wetness against his fingers because I came slightly as he slipped a finger inside of me. I closed my eyes and focused on the pleasure soaring through my body and moved my hips even faster.

  Grant lifted me up slightly, and I felt his fingers slipping my panties to the side as he lowered me down onto his cock. He entered me hard and fast, and I cried out as I found myself no longer dancing on his lap, but dancing with him inside of me. My body cried out in ecstasy at the feel of him—hard, masculine, taking—and I rocked on him urgently, needing to feel a full release. Grant grunted behind me as he continued rubbing my clit. Everything seemed so surreal as I continued to dance and fuck him at the same time.

  “Cum for me, Evie,” he whispered in my ear as his fingers moved across my bud faster and his cock entered me even deeper. “I want to feel you explode all over me before I cum inside of you.”

  “Ooh!” I screamed as I felt myself orgasming hard. He pushed me forward slightly, and I felt him exploding inside of me, warm and fast, and only after I collapsed back against him did I think about protection. Stupid! I groaned to myself inwardly. Stupid, stupid, stupid. I didn’t know this guy from anywhere. I’d have to go to a clinic and get STD tests and pregnancy tests now. I could feel the excitement seeping out of me quickly as I realized how dumb I’d been.

  Grant lifted me up and carried me to the bed and got in after laying me down.

  “I’m clean by the way.” He played with my hair as he kissed my shoulder.

  “How did you know?” I mumbled, feeling stupid.

  “Because I’m hoping for the same answer.” He bit down on my shoulder. “I should have used a condom. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s fine.” I shook my head. “I should have thought about it as well.” I moaned as his fingers found my breasts again.

  “Yes, it’s not smart to do what you do and not carry condoms around with you.”

  “Sorry, what?”
I froze and looked at him in shock.

  “I assume you’re on the pill or the patch for birth control?” He continued talking as he kissed my neck.

  “What did you mean just now?” I whispered.

  “What did I mean about what?”

  “About me needing to carry condoms doing what I do.”

  “Well, if you’re a stripper and in the habit of going home with men, you really should make sure you have protection on you.”

  “I told you I’m not a stripper.” I turned towards him angrily. “I was just working there for my friend tonight.”

  “Sure you were. And let me guess: you’re doing it to get through school, right? Or is it to take care of your sick parents?”

  “What?” My jaw dropped. “You don’t believe me? You heard my friend call.”

  “Evie, how many times has your friend called to find out where you were? Is it a part of the act?” He shrugged, his fingers reaching down between my legs as I pulled away abruptly. “We both know this is a game, so quit playing it.”

  “I wasn’t playing a game.” I shook my head, utterly confused about what he was thinking.

  “Okay then, I have one question for you. Are you still expecting to get money from me?” His voice was soft as he whispered in my ear, and I froze.

  “Well, the five grand was what you promised,” I whispered, not even thinking, “but it was for the dance, not for anything else.” Even as I spoke, I knew how pitiful I sounded. Even I wouldn’t believe myself.

  “Yeah, like I said, you should be more careful in your job, Evie.”

  “I’ve never done this before.” I gathered the sheets around me. “I want to leave now.” I bit my lower lip and gazed into his eyes.

  “But I’m not ready for you to leave.” His fingers caressed my shoulder. “Why do you want to leave?”

  “Aside from the fact that you just called me a liar and a whore?”