Page 22 of Sensual Games

“Touch me,” she begged in a harsh whisper, turning her head and meeting my gaze with eyes that blazed with need. She spread her thighs and lifted her ass, revealing her smooth, plump lips and the juices already glistening on them. I dragged a finger through that wetness, and she moaned again, rolling her hips and making my cock drip with excitement.

I reached over into the nightstand drawer where the pack of condoms waited, pulling another from the box and quickly unrolling it down my length. “You think this sweet pussy can take another pounding?” I asked as I dragged my head through her drenched folds.

“Yes,” she whispered, gripping the pillow under her head like she was bracing herself for what she knew was coming. “Yes, please.”

“Please, what, Ivy?” I was her king, her god, controlling every moment of her pleasure, teasing her clit with my dick, running it across her quivering hole. Promising so much but delivering nothing until I was damn ready.

“Please, fuck me,” she pleaded so sweetly that I had no choice but to give her what she wanted. And hard.

Sure. That was exactly what I needed to be thinking of. Now I had a painfully erect dick to contend with, along with the presence of a woman who would rather pitch herself off that balcony than endure my touch. I did it to myself, that much I could admit, if only to me.

At least she couldn’t see the tent I was making, still facing away from me as I turned out the light on my side of the bed and settled in, turning my back on her. “I usually sleep with the TV on,” I muttered, turning down the volume for her sake.

“That’s fine,” she muttered back. “I do too. Most of the time.”

It didn’t seem right, ending the night like that. I was starting to feel like a real piece of shit over the stunt I pulled. I couldn’t call it a prank in good conscience. I had wanted to fuck up her plans and had done it out of spite like some bratty kid.

“You did a good job today,” I offered, closing my eyes and willing myself to ignore the absolute bitch of an erection threatening to consume my every thought. I was a grown man and could handle it, so long as I stopped reminiscing about the tightness of her pussy, the way she creamed all over me.

She kept me waiting long enough that I wondered if she had fallen asleep. Eventually, she grunted, “Thanks.”

I could count on one hand the number of times I’d done something I truly regretted, and this situation marked one of them. We could be wrapped up in each other this very minute if I hadn’t gone out of my way to drive a wedge between us. Who cared about a working relationship? What we had shared went beyond that. There was no forgetting our instant connection and how well we fit together.

Not that it mattered now that I had taken our rivalry too far. All I had to show for myself was a painful hard-on and more than a few regrets which had to do with more than my cock. My conscience was beating the shit out of me too. I had acted based on assumptions, and it looked more and more like my assumptions were wrong. She wasn’t trying to steal anything from me unless being talented and gifted when it came to managing people were her weapons.

I had fucked everything up and hurt her in the process.

Now, to find a way to make it up to her… if it wasn’t too late.

10

IVY

The difference in Lucian between Friday and Saturday was astounding. Something had lit a fire under him, only I didn’t know what.

At first, I didn’t know whether to take him seriously. By the time I woke up on Saturday morning, there was a cup of coffee from the café in the lobby waiting for me on the nightstand. It was the aroma that woke me up before my alarm ever sounded. Either I had slept like the dead, or he was the quietest person who ever lived.

People were already gathering in the banquet room for breakfast by the time I made it down, and Lucian was hanging around the buffet table, chatting with everybody as they took their food. He was like a different person, chuckling over the incredible water pressure in the showers, offering ideas for what to do during our scheduled free time in the afternoon since he was so familiar with the lodge and the area. I said nothing, settling for a brief glance as I took my plate to an empty chair beside Laney.

“I was wondering where you were,” she said as soon as I sat. “I figured you would be the first person down here.”

“I must have passed out cold,” I confess. “I guess I haven’t gotten enough sleep lately. Between planning this and worrying about Mom…”

“Well, you slept a lot better than I did. Barbara has a snoring problem.” Laney rolled her eyes, her gaze traveling over to where Barbara chatted at another table with a few of the older ladies. It was nice to see her blending in so well with the long-time Diamond employees.

“I’m sorry for the way the sleeping arrangements panned out.” There must’ve been something about the air in the Catskills because I was ravenous, digging into scrambled eggs and French toast with abandon. Was I going to tell her about my sleeping arrangements? Absolutely not.

“It is what it is.” She sighed. “I intend to get drunk enough tonight at the party that it won’t matter how loud she snores. I’ll be out like a light.”

Giggling, she held up crossed fingers. “I hope you manage to have a little fun. You deserve it after putting so much work into this.”

“Good morning, ladies.” Brad offered us both a warm grin as he sat across from me, dressed in a T-shirt, cargo pants, and hiking boots. Was he granting me space? He usually didn’t bother with that, but it was a welcome relief all the same. I should have given him an attitude sooner. “Looking forward to our hike? It looks great out there today.”

“I know I could use some time in the fresh air,” I confess. “I’m sure my skin won’t know what to do under the sun when it spends so much time under fluorescent bulbs.”

“I hope you brought sunscreen.” Out of nowhere appeared Lucian, wearing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. No, they were hard and calculating, and they kept landing on Brad. “Don’t want to get burned.”

“I’m always careful not to get burned,” I assured him, making his mouth twitch like he caught my double meaning. Did I sound as nervous as I felt? My nerves were jangling, my stomach was suddenly too full, and my heart was pounding in my ears. Why did he come over here? Where was this leading?

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