Black Tie Read online

  She made him chuckle. “I’m pretty sure you can learn anything you set your mind to, Tallie.”

  Her smile was dazzling. “Thank you.”

  “You know,” he told her, because he liked teasing her, “I seem to remember you promising me another one of those kisses when I left you behind the woodpile.”

  “I did. I was under duress. I’d have promised you anything as long as you said you’d come back for me.”

  “Anything? Well, hell, missed my opportunity there, didn’t I?”

  “Guess so.” She looked mischievous as she grinned at him.

  So pretty, this woman. Sweet and fun and smart.

  He reminded himself those weren’t reasons to get involved. His ex had seemed, if not sweet and fun, nice enough. She’d initially been attracted to him because he’d nearly broke some guy’s wrist for grabbing her ass when she was waiting tables. He’d eventually fallen for her because she’d turned herself into exactly what she thought he wanted her to be. It all changed once they were married and her real colors came out.

  Julia was petty and selfish and obsessed with her looks and status. She was also the biggest damned mistake of his life.

  Tallie snapped her fingers. “Earth to Brett. You okay there, big boy?”

  “Yeah, fine. Just lamenting my misfortune.”

  “What misfortune?”

  “The one where I failed to ask for more than a kiss.”

  Her mouth twisted in a cute little frown. “That is not what you were thinking about.”

  Damn, how did she seem to know him so well already?

  Maybe because you told her stuff you never told Julia. Or any woman. Maybe because she really is what she seems to be.

  He made a decision. “Okay, fine. I wasn’t. I was thinking about how I met my ex-wife.”

  She threw her hands up, palms out. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. You were thinking about your ex-wife when you were talking about kissing me?”

  “Yep. I was thinking that you’re nothing like her. Trust me, that’s a good thing.”

  She tilted her head as she studied him. “Does this usually work for you? Talking about your ex-wife to other women?”

  “You tell me. I haven’t tried it before.”

  “I’m a first, huh?”

  “Definitely a first.” For more reasons than she knew.

  He didn’t know what she’d do, but she closed the distance between them, until she was standing in front of him, head tipped back to meet his gaze. “It’s a risky strategy, Brett. But honesty is much better than a lie, so you get points for that one. And you know what else?”

  He shook his head.

  “I’m pretty much to the point where I just don’t care about anything other than right here and right now. Life is precarious, and I want to take a chance. I’m not drunk, and I’m not making any decisions under duress. Just so we’re clear.”

  A hot feeling flared in his gut—and lower. “We’re clear.”

  She put her hands on his abdomen, slid them up his chest to his shoulders. Then she stepped in closer. Her body was small and warm and it fit into his like it was meant to be there.

  “Go ahead and kiss me, Brett. I want to see where this goes.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Tallie had absolutely no idea what she was doing. Earlier, when he’d said something to her in the village about getting her naked, she’d thought there was no way she was going to agree to it. Not after he’d turned her away last night.

  She’d decided that maybe he was right after all and she hadn’t been thinking clearly enough to make that choice. Besides, with all the chaotic emotion of the past week, she didn’t need to add more confusion by sleeping with her protector.

  No matter how appealing the idea.

  But here she was, sidling up to him and basically telling him she wanted him. She knew why. It had everything to do with the minutes she’d been hiding behind the woodpile, waiting for him to return and worrying that he might not. That someone would kill him and then come for her.

  You really did have to seize life by the horns sometimes. Do the thing that scared you because it might just make you feel amazing when it was over.

  Brett loomed large, his breath frosting in the air above her. His green eyes glittered with heat and need. A moment later, when she thought he might push her away after all, he wrapped an arm around her waist and tugged her in close. Fitting her to him. Making her go weak with the evidence of his arousal pushing against her belly.

  “Are you prepared for where this might go?” he asked, his voice heated. “Because it might go into some hot and sweaty places before we’re through.”

  Tallie swallowed. But there was no panic, no voice telling her this was a bad idea. There was only heat and need and anticipation.

  “I’m prepared, Brett. If I weren’t, I wouldn’t be standing here. I’m not the kind of woman who tells a guy she wants him and then changes her mind halfway through.”

  He arched an eyebrow. “I appreciate that very much. But if you do change your mind, you only have to tell me to stop. I want you to enjoy what’s happening, not feel like you have to go through with it.”

  “Wow. What kind of man says he’ll stop in the middle of sex?”

  “This kind. I mean it, Tallie.”

  She ran a hand up his neck, toyed with the dark hair curling over his collar. “I believe you do. But trust me, if I’m standing here telling you I want this, I’m not going to change my mind.”

  He frowned. “You might not think so, but if something triggers a memory of when you were captured—well, you might want to.”

  She loved that he was concerned. That what had happened to her was important to him, not just because he was protecting her from further harm, but because he really did care about how she’d been treated.

  “Okay. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Now please kiss me.”

  He started to drop his head, then stopped when he was mere inches away. Tallie opened her eyes to discover it when his mouth didn’t touch hers.

  “What?”

  “You aren’t a virgin, are you?” he asked.

  She blinked. Laughed. “No, of course not. I’m twenty-six and I had a serious relationship. Why would you think that?”

  But she saw it in his face and she knew. The nightie she’d worn, the juvenile makeup.

  “Oh my God—they said I was a virgin, didn’t they?”

  He nodded. “It’s part of how they got such a high price. I didn’t think it was true once I knew who you really were, but I thought I’d better ask. Just in case.”

  “Not a virgin. And not seventeen. God, what disgusting people.”

  “Definitely.”

  Tallie shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about them anymore. I don’t want to talk about any of it. I just want you to kiss me.”

  He hesitated and she feared he might not do it. That he was thinking of reasons he shouldn’t. But she was wrong. He dropped his mouth over hers, and Tallie sighed.

  They’d kissed five times now, not including the brief press of lips when she’d told him to come back, and each time was a revelation. The sparks she’d felt the first time were still there. If anything, they were stronger than before.

  Tallie wrapped her arms around his neck. Their tongues met, and liquid heat dripped down her spine. Yes, it had been a long time since she’d been with a man—but she didn’t remember it feeling like this the last time.

  Had it ever felt this exciting and new?

  The air around them was cold, but the heat sizzled between them. Tallie didn’t know how long they kissed, but when he pulled away, she lacked the ability to stand on her own. Thankfully, he didn’t let her go.

  “You ready to go inside?” he asked.

  Her mouth was tender and aching, her nipples were hard little points beneath her sweater, and she’d passed wet and gone straight to soaking through her panties the moment the kiss began.

  “Yes,” she told him, feeling dazed and
excited all at once. “I’m definitely ready.”

  He grinned. She thought they might walk inside together, but he didn’t give her the chance. Instead, he swept an arm beneath her knees and gathered her up as if she was made of nothing but air.

  Then he carried her over the threshold and kicked the door closed.

  If he was a sensible man, he wouldn’t be doing this. But Brett wasn’t sensible right now. Kissing Tallie melted his brain. He wanted more of the same.

  Brett carried her over to the couch. He could take her up to what was supposed to be his bed, but he wanted to do this in front of the fire. It was crackling steadily, lighting the room since he’d flipped off the light switch. He set her on her feet and reached for her sweater.

  “May I?” he asked.

  “Please.”

  He tugged the sweater up and over her head. She smiled at him. Her skin was creamy pale and her bra was white and lacy. Her nipples beaded beneath the fabric and he skimmed his thumb across one. Tallie shuddered.

  “I don’t have a lot to play with,” she said apologetically.

  Brett didn’t stop rubbing his thumb across her sensitive flesh. “You have all I need,” he told her. “More than enough.”

  She bit the inside of her lip as she gazed big-eyed at him. “You’re so nice to me.”

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  “I don’t know.”

  He bent and kissed her. “Any man who is critical of you for any reason to do with your body is an asshole. Understand?”

  She nodded, her eyes liquid pools he could drown in.

  “Let me hear you say it, Tallie.”

  “A man who’s critical of my body is an asshole.”

  “Damn straight. You’re beautiful.”

  “So are you. Please take your shirt off so I can see you too.”

  He ripped the henley up and over his head, dropping it on the floor.

  Tallie’s eyes widened. “Oh my.” Her fingers skimmed over his abs, his pecs, back down to the knife scar on his side. There were old cigarette burns on his flesh as well, but they were faded now. If she noticed those, she didn’t comment. “You’ve been in battle.”

  “A few.”

  “And you’re not afraid?”

  “I didn’t say that. Of course I’m afraid. Like any sensible person, I’d like to preserve myself as long as possible.”

  “Then why do you keep doing it?”

  It was a question he’d asked himself years ago. He didn’t ask anymore. “Because somebody has to. Because it’s the right thing to do.”

  Tallie bent and pressed a kiss to the knife scar. Brett hissed in a breath at the feel of her lips against his skin. It was like being branded, only he wanted more of it not less.

  She straightened again and he pulled her to him, then attacked her mouth with a sensual barrage of kisses and nips. She moaned and his heart rate climbed.

  He went for her jeans at the same time she went for his. Another moment and they both stood in their underwear. Hers was lacy and white, as virginal as anything she’d worn on the auction stage. She looked up at him shyly.

  “It’s been a long time since…” She whispered the words, but didn’t finish the sentence.

  He knew what she was saying. It seemed impossible that a woman as gorgeous as she was hadn’t been having regular sex, but then again neither had he. Not for the past couple of months anyway. He’d grown tired of one-night stands and morning-after emptiness.

  Maybe he’d feel empty after this one too, but right now he was too far along the path to care. That was a problem for later.

  Brett ran his hands down her sides, around and up and over her breasts. Softly, sensuously. Her skin prickled with goosebumps.

  “I’m going to be gentle with you, Tallie. And remember, if you want to stop, we’ll stop.”

  “Okay.” She bit her lower lip, and he loved the way she looked when she did.

  “I mean it,” he told her, just to emphasize it because he didn’t think she really believed him. “If you change your mind at any point, let me know.”

  “I will. But I doubt I’m going to change my mind.”

  “I doubt I’m going to change mine either.”

  She blinked, surprised. She clearly hadn’t considered that possibility.

  He laughed. “Honey, the only thing that’s stopping me, besides you, is if we get interrupted and I have to respond to it.”

  “Then I hope that doesn’t happen.”

  “Me too.” He traced the band of her bra around to the back. “May I?”

  She nodded and he unclasped the little hooks, then pulled the fabric free. Tallie was small breasted, but they were perfect little mounds crested with pink. Her nipples stood up straight and tall, begging for his attention. He bent and licked one and Tallie gasped. Her hands went to his shoulders, clutching him. He loved her reaction so much that he licked the other one.

  Tallie moaned, so he sucked her sweet little nipple between his lips and tickled it with his tongue.

  “Oh, Brett.”

  “Feels good?”

  “Feels amazing.”

  He dropped to his knees and hooked his fingers into her panties, dragging them down her hips until they fell at her ankles. The hair on her mound was darker than on her head and neatly trimmed. He didn’t know if she’d done it, or if Paloma’s people had. He wasn’t going to ask either. He didn’t want that coming between them, not when everything was honest and raw and new.

  He pushed her back onto the couch and spread her legs, walking on his knees until he was between them. She watched him with glittering eyes and he realized she was still wearing the contacts. He had a moment where he wanted her to go remove them so he could see her real color, but there would be time for that later.

  Besides, she was still beautiful even with brown eyes. And he wasn’t the kind of man who obsessed about her uniqueness. Not like the Heinrich von Kassels of the world, who didn’t care about who she was inside but only about what she represented.

  Tallie was a treasure, but not for the reason Von Kassel believed.

  Brett ran his fingers up the insides of her thighs, then slipped a finger into the wet heat of her. She was so wet that he groaned with it.

  “Beautiful,” he told her as he leaned over her and captured her mouth. She stretched up to him, her tongue stroking his eagerly. He could kiss her forever like this, but he had other important tasks to complete.

  Brett continued stroking between her legs, softly and slowly, while he kissed his way down her body. He sucked each perfect nipple in turn and then drifted down her abdomen until he found himself at her pretty mound. He glanced up at her, met her heated gaze.

  “I’m planning to lick you senseless, Tallie. You okay with that?”

  She nodded and he dropped to press a kiss on the apex of her mound. Then he spread her with his thumbs and skated his tongue over her clit.

  Tallie hissed in a breath, then moaned it out again. Brett loved the sound of her pleasure. It drove him to make her moan even more.

  Her flesh was slick with arousal and he slipped a finger inside her, testing how easily she took him. Tallie wasn’t a big woman and he didn’t want to hurt her when it was time to slide his cock inside her body.

  Brett flicked his tongue against her clit again and again. Her bud was hard, swollen, and she writhed on the cushions as he licked her into what he hoped was the kind of orgasm she’d never forget.

  He didn’t have long to wait. Just after he inserted a second finger inside her, fucking her a little faster, she stiffened beneath his tongue. Her hands came up to clutch either side of his head, her fingers tangling in his hair.

  “Brett!” she gasped, her hips jerking as she rode his tongue and fingers to an explosion he could feel as she stiffened and moaned out his name again.

  He licked her faster, draining every last bit of pleasure from her that he could, until she pushed him away and tried to close her legs.

  Brett let her because he
knew she was sensitive right now, but he intended to make her come this way at least one more time before he moved on.

  His dick ached but he wasn’t about to hurry this. There was time—at least he hoped there was. If Ian called with a go order, he’d have to stop and get them out of there. He prayed that didn’t happen, but the truth was that he never knew. The job was the job and sometimes it was inconvenient as hell.

  Tallie lay back on the couch with her arm across her eyes. Her body twitched from time to time and Brett felt a hell of a lot of satisfaction at making her do that.

  “You okay?” he asked after a few more moments. He stroked her skin, learning her by touch. She was silk and flame beneath his hands, and he wanted more.

  She lifted her arm. Smiled at him. “Yes. I’m great. That was… incredible.”

  “You’re incredible, Tallie. Thanks for trusting me to take care of you.”

  She frowned slightly. “You aren’t quitting, are you?”

  “Hell, no. I’m just getting started.”

  “Oh, good. It sounded like you were quitting for a second there.”

  As if he could.

  “Nope.” He leaned over, pushed her legs apart again, and hovered over her pretty little pussy. “I’m planning to lick you into another orgasm, sugar. For starters.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tallie’s body still zipped with sparks from the first orgasm he’d given her. When he touched his tongue to her clit again, her body responded, her back and hips arching her toward him.

  It was incredibly erotic to see Brett kneeling between her legs, all his attention focused on making her feel good. On making her come.

  It wasn’t going to take long. He slipped a hand up her body to her breasts, pinched her nipples as he sucked on her clit and lapped at her juices.

  The firelight played over her skin, over his. She’d been cold earlier and now she was so hot she thought water might steam if she touched it.

  This was not how she’d envisioned the day going, and yet it was perfect. So perfect.

  Brett slipped two fingers into her again, and the walls of her pussy tightened around them. The friction as he slid them in and out was amazing—but it was the friction on her clit that made her crazy.