Wild, Wicked, & Wanton

  willpower and lots of jacking off.

  She was never nervous about presenting her finished He missed her. Missed being around her, missed her product to clients, but she was today. Nevertheless, she scent, her smile, even missed annoying her. He really liked smoothed her skirt and presented a calm, professional annoying her. He liked her riled up and angry, all miffed at him demeanor, leaning against the door as he came up the stairs.

  with righteous anger. Her face glowed when she was pissed And tried not to drool as he hooked his thumbs in the off, her eyes sparkling with passion.

  belt loops of his jeans and stopped at the front step, resting his He missed touching her. Kissing her. Fucking her.

  hip against the porch railing, whistling.

  His cock ached for her.

  She'd done the front porch, too. Not much, of course, His heart ached for her.

  but enough that he'd notice. Or she'd hoped he'd notice. She'd He was a fucking mess. He hoped to God this worked.

  left the porch swing, because she really liked that. Added extra

  "If there's anything you don't like," she started, wide wicker chairs with cushions, a few hanging plants with blocking the door before he could enter, "we'll of course fix colorful blooms and a couple cement floor plant stands that it."

  greeted him as he walked up the stairs. They'd painted the

  "Let me inside, Blair," he said softly. "I'm sure it's porch, too, so it gleamed a bright white now.

  fine."

  119

  Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

  "I don't want it to be fine. I want you to love it."

  Six chairs, to be exact. And they didn't match perfectly.

  Now there was a revelation. And as soon as the words Which he loved, because his grandma's chairs hadn't matched, spilled from her lips, he could tell from her wide eyed look that either. Hell, he didn't remember where they'd all gone to.

  she regretted saying them.

  Relatives homes here and there, no doubt. But he liked that the

  "I already love it. It has your touch."

  sturdy wood chairs didn't look brand new; they blended in with

  "Whatever. The whole team worked on it, not just me."

  the rest of the kitchen.

  She moved out of his way and he stepped inside.

  The cabinetry was pine. Sturdy, dark to match Wow. It was a completely different house. Gone was Grandma's table. The countertops had been replaced in a dark the threadbare old furniture that didn't match. Everything was granite that was cool as hell, the sink changed to a double one gone. And nothing looked the same. Yet the minute he walked in a shiny chrome. It was modern yet old at the same time. It in he felt. . .comfortable.

  looked like a country kitchen, but any woman would squeal It wasn't stuffy or pretentious or, God forbid, too girly.

  with delight to cook in there, with it's huge refrigerator and Yet it wasn't overly masculine, either. Neutral colored fabric double open island stove.

  couches sat perpendicular to the fireplace along with a couple He was speechless. And damned impressed with Blair's really comfortable looking thick leather chairs with ottomans.

  talent.

  The rest of the living room was bare save for a couple pale

  "If you'll follow me down the hall," Blair said, "I'll wood tables next to the furniture to place drinks and magazines show you the bedrooms."

  on. The lamps were modern, but not funky. The room was He knew he hadn't said a word yet, that Blair was practical and useful, yet cozy enough for a woman to enjoy, probably going crazy with worry, but honest to God he didn't with a nice rug in front of all the furniture. He could envision quite know what to say.

  kids with toys spread out on that rug enjoying a fire in the

  "We left three of the rooms undecorated at your winter while he and Blair read the paper and drank coffee.

  request, assuming you'll want to some day make them into He walked into the kitchen and found his

  nurseries and children's rooms," she said, her voice ending on grandmother's old trestle table, which had been refinished. It a squeak. She had to clear her throat as she moved down the still retained its old charm, still held the old nicks and hall.

  scratches, just looked. . .better. Not as old and beat up and He smiled at that. "Uh huh."

  junky. Now it really looked antique, but kind of cool.

  "Now for the master bedroom." She half turned to him

  "There were no chairs with this table, so I...the staff as she pushed the door to his bedroom open, then moved out of scouted a few sales and found several that closely matched,"

  his way as she flipped on the light. "I hope you like it.

  she said.

  There could be a cardboard box and a towel on the floor. As long as Blair was in there with him, he'd like it.

  120

  Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

  It didn't have a cardboard box. Instead, the iron bed had Her gaze narrowed. "You are so goddamned arrogant!

  a scrolling pattern at the headboard and footboard. Flowers and How dare you assume that just because we've had this lurking hearts that a woman would find appealing. What he liked was sexual tension between us, just because we had one night of the matching iron canopy. Strong and sturdy construction, too.

  really hot sex, that I'm going to strip and fuck you because you His imagination soared into overdrive, imagining Blair trussed order me to, then be content while you carry some other up in a standing position, her wrists tied to the top of the iron woman over the threshold of the house I designed for her!"

  canopy, her legs bound and spread, her pussy at mouth height.

  She pivoted, but before she could walk away, he said, Goddamn. Fixated on that bed, he didn't even notice

  "You're that woman, Blair."

  what else was in the room, though he was certain it was nice.

  She stalled, then turned back to him. "What?"

  Fuck, he didn't care.

  "You're the woman I want to carry through the front

  "Did you want to see the rest of the room?"

  door. White dress and all. You're the woman I wanted this

  "No." He stared at the bed.

  house redesigned for. You're the woman I've loved and wanted

  "Um, does it meet with your approval?"

  since we were fifteen years old and you started teasing me.

  He turned to her, not even bothering to hide his You're the woman I love, Blair. I always have."

  erection, now straining hot and thick against the zipper of his Blair had never in her entire life been at a loss for jeans. "Does it meet with yours?"

  words. Always a snappy comeback, a sharp retort, she was a She hinted at a smile. "Of course it does. I designed it."

  master at putting men in their places.

  "Good. Undress."

  Rand had left her speechless for the first time in her

  "Excuse me?"

  life.

  "You heard me. Take your clothes off."

  "You love me?"

  Her look went from shock to anger in an instant. "Are

  "Yes. I love you." He approached her, his body lithe you out of your fucking mind?"

  and taut, his cock unashamedly rigid against his jeans. And

  "No."

  then he did something that brought tears to her eyes. He

  "Look, Rand. I agreed to this job because it's good for dropped down to one knee in front of her. This dominant, business. You wanted your place redesigned, fine. I did it. You infuriating, alpha male, went to his knees.

  haven't even said whether you like it or not. Well the job is

  "Marry me, Blair. I love you. I love your strength, your done. Whoever you plan to marry is going to love it. You know intelligence and sense of humor. I love the life you've built for it and I know it. I'm leaving. You'
ll get my final bill in the yourself despite where you came from--and yes, I know all mail. Our association is finished."

  about where you came from."

  "Our association isn't finished by a long shot, Blair."

  "You do?"

  121

  Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

  "Yeah. I'm not your father, and you're nothing like

  "After my first few sexual experiences, I came away your mother. You are one kickass career woman who takes shit empty. I deliberately chose guys I could control, because I was from no man."

  afraid to be with someone who was too dominant. The men I She smiled at that. It was the best compliment he could chose left me unfulfilled, though, and I knew then I was a have ever given her.

  sexual submissive, that I wanted to be dominated in the

  "I don't want to rule your life, baby. I wouldn't love bedroom."

  the woman you've become if you were my doormat. I love that

  "Bet that really scared you, given your family history."

  you stand up to me and give back whatever I dole out." He She nodded. "But I was determined to stay away from reached for her hand. "I want you in this house with me. I want men who were like my father. And I lumped you in that you in this bed with me every night, fulfilling both our category. You were strong, self sufficient, arrogant and fantasies. Then I want to have babies and build a future powerful. I couldn't control you. You made my heart thump together."

  like a wild beast in my chest and you made my toes curl. You She'd been wrong. Oh so wrong about everything.

  made my panties wet whenever you walked by or talked to me.

  She'd judged Rand unfairly for years, comparing him to her For years it was you I fantasized about when I masturbated.

  father. Yes, he was dominant and arrogant and self assured and With every man I fucked it was your face in my mind, your controlling. But he was nothing like her father. Nothing at all.

  hands all over me."

  He wanted her to be an independent, take-charge Part of her couldn't believe she'd just admitted that to woman in every aspect of her life except one. The one place him. The other part of her felt free and unafraid that she had.

  where she wanted him to control her, where she wanted, Because she knew Rand wouldn't use it against her, wouldn't needed his dominance.

  think her weak because of it.

  Sexually.

  "That's hot, babe," he said, reaching out to caress her

  "I don't know what to say."

  neck. "Thank you."

  He grinned. "Say what you feel."

  Her skin flushed at his touch, her nipples tight and She shuddered a breath. "I've been scared of you my achy.

  whole life. Because of my dad, and what he did to my mom. I She finally drew a deep breath and spilled her dark knew what kind of man you were and I swore I'd never be the secret. "I've loved you from the first time my heart knew what kind of woman my mother was."

  love was, but it scared the shit out of me, Rand. I've never Tired of looking down at him, she dropped to the wanted a man more than I've wanted you. All these years, all ground and sat. Rand sat with her and cradled her hands in his.

  those guys, all I ever really wanted was you. The only man I've

  "Go on," he said.

  ever surrendered to was you." Her body, her soul and her heart.

  122

  Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

  She'd just handed it all to him. And as she did, she realized that ever so neatly before turning to place it on the chair of the she wasn't afraid anymore.

  vanity across from the bed. When she turned back to him, she Her heart swelled with the love she'd been too afraid to smiled.

  show him.

  "Don't be all day about it, Blair."

  "I love you, Rand." She pushed to her knees and

  "These are very expensive clothes, Rand. I have to be hitched up her skirt, then straddled his lap. Winding her arms careful with them." She undid the buttons on her blouse. One around his neck, she smiled at him, her heart swelling so much by one. Slow and easy, keeping eye contact with him.

  she felt it might burst through her chest. So this was love.

  Watching every breath he took, the way his nostrils flared, the Giddy, disgustingly sweet. She didn't care how stupid it was.

  way his gaze moved down the row of buttons with her fingers.

  She felt fabulous. "I love you."

  The heat of his eyes singed every inch of skin as she undressed He slid his hands around her waist and pulled her for him. Taking this much time to remove her clothes was against him. "Does this mean your answer is yes?"

  excruciating. She wanted to rip them off and get naked so he She waited for the inevitable clutch of fear, the urge to would touch her. But she wanted to tease him, to make him run. It didn't come rushing toward her. The path before her was anticipate.

  clear for the first time in her life.

  Or maybe she just wanted to dare him to take her. So

  "Yes. Oh hell yes I'll marry you." She leaned in and far he was showing amazing restraint as she finished the last pressed her lips to his, breathing in his scent, tasting the coffee button on her blouse and spread it apart, letting it slide off her and peppermint on his lips before she slid her tongue inside his shoulders and skim down her arms. It floated to the floor. She mouth to claim him as her man. Hers. Forever.

  left her bra alone and reached for the side button of her skirt.

  She was now a one man woman. Maybe she always had

  "You're not moving fast enough. How expensive is that been.

  skirt?"

  He scooped his hands under her butt and stood, lifting

  "Oh. Very."

  her and placing her on her feet.

  In a flash he had her in his arms. The button on her skirt

  "Now, Ms. Newcastle," he said with a stern voice and went flying, the zipper tearing as he lost the last of his restraint.

  an arched brow, "I believe I said something about you She gasped as he made short work of yanking the skirt down stripping."

  and ripping her panties off.

  She shivered at his authoritative tone, more than ready

  "I'll replace it."

  to do whatever he wanted. No barriers this time, no fear. She Like she cared.

  belonged to him and was his to command. But she could also He held her against his chest and with one hand reached tease him a little while doing his bidding. First she made behind her to undo the clasp on her bra, then stepped back, painfully slow work of shrugging out of her jacket, folding it drawing the straps down her arms as he did. His gaze roamed 123

  Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

  over her naked flesh, her body reacting in the same way it down, pausing to look up at her as his knuckles brushed his would as if he touched her. Her lips parted and she fought for hard on.

  air as she tried to anticipate what he had in store for her.

  God, that was hot. She wanted to touch him, to undress

  "Let's try out this new bed," he said, drawing her hand him, to unveil his cock and engulf it with her mouth. She in his and motioning her to the bed. "Get up there and put your swallowed and stayed silent, her palms beginning to sweat as hands on the canopy."

  she held onto the canopy rail.

  She knew he'd like that part of the bed. He held her

  "Good girl," he said, shucking his jeans to the floor and hand while she climbed onto the mattress, then grasped the top casting them aside. He walked toward the bed and she tensed, rail of the canopy. Oh, she'd measured everything, made sure every part of her taut and ready for his touch.

  she could comfortably reach the top rail. Not that she expected

  "Spread your legs."

  to ever have the pleasure of using it, but she knew
Rand's The extra firm mattress made it easy to stand on. She desires, and figured some woman would.

  gripped the top of the canopy and widened her stance, wanting Yeah. Her. She was that woman. Standing on her bed, to make sure he saw everything between her legs he wanted to gripping her canopy. She shivered in anticipation as she looked see.

  down at Rand.

  "Now that's a goddamn picture," he said, tilting his He removed his gun holster, unbuckled his belt, head to study her. "I'd love to have a photograph of you like slipping it through the loops of his jeans and holding it in the this. Do you have any idea how beautiful you are?"

  palm of his hands. She smiled down at him, wondering if he'd She always felt beautiful when he looked at her. Her spank her with it.

  skin flushed from his perusal, her nipples thrusting forward, Did she want him to? She grabbed her bottom lip with eager for his mouth to capture each one. Moisture gathered her teeth and watched intently as he laid the belt on the chair in between her pussy lips, a quivering excitement pulsing at her the corner between the nightstand and dresser.

  clit.

  "No, baby," he said as he turned back to her. "If I Please, please touch me.

  smack that fine ass of yours, it's going to be with my hand. I Like a mind reader, he reached between her legs, want to feel your skin heat up with every swat."

  teasing her inner thighs with the tips of his fingers, keeping his She inhaled sharply and kept her thoughts to herself, gaze focused on her face.

  watching as he peeled his shirt off, revealing his bronzed chest, When she designed the bed, she knew her height, and then went to work on his jeans. Like her, he tormented her with his, and configured the entire set up so that if she were standing a slow revelation of his golden body. Impatient, she wanted on this bed and he standing on the floor, his mouth would be at him to hurry and undress. But he took his damn sweet time, the right level to her--

  flipping the button open on his jeans, then drawing the zipper

  "Oh, my." Yes, that was absolutely perfect.

  124

  Jaci Burton/ Wild, Wicked & Wanton/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

  He'd grasped her buttocks and drew her pussy against

  "I'm fine."

  his mouth, his tongue swirling over her needy clit. She wanted

  "I'll say," he teased, then let go of her hands to thread to thread her fingers into his hair, to pull him even closer, but his fingers in her hair. He drew her into a kiss, sliding his she held onto the bar of the canopy and thrust her hips against tongue in her mouth. The kiss was raw, passionate, his tongue his face, feeding him.