When Staci Takes Charge Read online

  She pumped slowly. He let her.

  A few moments ticked by, with their labored breathing filling the otherwise quiet room.

  Then he said, “I’m finding it near impossible to believe you’re not involved with someone. That you don’t belong to some other man.”

  Her hand stilled. “Don’t hurt my feelings.”

  Chapter Four

  He covered her hand on his cock with his and eased it away, out of his pants. Nick turned to her.

  “You’re sensational, is all I meant.”

  There was honesty in his eyes again. Mixing with the heat.

  Staci tamped down a lump of emotion in her throat. “I’m being sensitive. Sorry.”

  He gave a slight shake of his head. “No need to be sorry. It was my fault. I should have just said…You’re sensational.”

  Her smile returned. “Guess we’re both rusty at this.”

  “Let me make it easier for us. How about I just show you how sensational I think you are?”

  The breath escaped her in one long rush. “Oh-kay.”

  He stared at her a few, tense seconds more. Then he gripped the hem of his tank and stripped it off.

  The breath did not return to Staci. Her eyes, however, did pop.

  Holy. Hell.

  He was even more magnificent than she’d imagined.

  “So now I see where you channel all your energy. All your sexual energy,” she amended.

  “Helps to work out regularly.”

  “Yes, you clearly take your health and wellness seriously.” She tried to school her expression so she didn’t appear so astonished. Forced herself not to fan her flushed face with a hand. “Um…I’m not exactly sure what to do with all that.” She swirled a finger in the air, in his general direction, indicating all the rigid sinew and tanned skin. “But I’m certainly willing to experiment.”

  He had well-defined pecs and cut abs. She suddenly craved to lick every gorgeous inch of him.

  “You’re amusing.” He gave her a heart-stopping half-grin.

  “No. I’m basically mind-blown and trying not to be ridiculously tongue-tied.”

  “Well, you won’t have to worry about that if I start kissing you again.”

  “Please, God,” she breathed. “Please start kissing me again.”

  He did. Only he didn’t begin with her lips.

  Oh, no.

  This incredibly sexy man knelt before her. Slowly slid his hands up the backs of her calves as his lips skimmed over one of her shins.

  Staci flattened a hand against the door at her back to steady herself as tremors of delight moved through her. When his mouth crested her knee and reached her thigh, she threaded her fingers through his hair.

  His tongue made little swirls on the inner portion, teasing the sensitive flesh. Which quivered.

  “Nick,” she said on a soft whimper.

  He nipped gently.

  She let out a small cry of pleasure. Everything inside her lit up, brighter than the strobes earlier in the evening.

  He didn’t give her a moment’s reprieve. His head rose, and his hands disappeared under her nightie to push the material upward. Then his lips skated over the satin triangle covering the apex of her legs. She felt his heat, his breath, his mouth at the heart of her. Her fingers tightened around the strands she fisted.

  He licked her slowly, erotically. Then suckled.

  The blood pumped faster through her veins. Her knees nearly buckled.

  He continued kissing his way up her body. Over her stomach, along her ribcage, to the inner swells of her breasts. He raised the nightie higher. His tongue caressed her skin. Then fluttered over a hard nipple.

  Staci was on fire.

  He drew the tight bud into his mouth.

  “Fuck,” she ground out.

  He released her nipple. His warm breath further teased the tingly point as he whispered, “Exactly.”

  He straightened and whisked the nightie over her head, letting it drop to the floor. His gaze locked on hers as his fingers hooked in the thin strands at her hips and tugged her thong down. Letting it, too, fall to the floor.

  Several suspended seconds stretched between them. Eventually, he tore his gaze from hers and stepped back. Taking her in from head to toe.

  His jaw clenched briefly. He said, “You’re more than sensational.”

  Then he closed the gap between them again and claimed her mouth.

  A smoldering kiss that went on and on.

  Her breasts were pressed to his chest, and his skin against hers felt insanely good. His kiss felt insanely good.

  His hands slipped around to her backside, and he palmed her ass cheeks. Lifted her. She automatically wrapped her legs around his hips. Held on tight.

  His cock rubbed along her bare folds. He still wore pants, but she could feel him acutely.

  She gripped one of his impossibly broad shoulders with one hand. Returned the other to his thick locks. He kissed her senseless. As though he honestly didn’t care this time if he lost control.

  Staci realized this was the kind of passion she’d been saving up for—the reason she’d not settled for anything less over the years. She’d trusted herself all this time to know when the connection she made with a man was right; to know when she’d found the one who’d spark all-consuming lust.

  From the moment this particular man had spoken to her in the hallway, she’d been drawn to him in that innate way she’d been waiting for. She’d turned at the sound of his voice and all the air had rushed from her lungs. Something she’d never experienced before.

  He ripped his mouth from her now and muttered, “Condom. Goddamn it. I’ve got to have one here somewhere.”

  Her heart sank. “Shit. Please tell me you have a condom.” It’d been the furthest thing from her mind. And she didn’t have any in her suite. She’d conscientiously packed lingerie, sure, but that was because she favored it over any other sleepwear. Going as long as she had without sex, it hadn’t even occurred to her to pick up a box of condoms. She hadn’t been planning for an impromptu romp, after all.

  Easily balancing her in their current position, Evan moved away from the door and turned, walking them over to the credenza and setting her on top of it. Her legs were still twined around him as he reached toward his laptop bag and rummaged inside. Like, really rummaged. Tore through it, to be exact.

  “Goddamn,” he repeated with sufficient sexually frustrated angst.

  “Maybe a bag in your bathroom?” she suggested. All eager beaver–like.

  “Yes. Right. Toiletries.”

  He pried her legs apart with his hands. She wasn’t the least bit interested in giving up her hold on him.

  He said, “Two seconds. Hold every thought.”

  “I’m just letting them run rampant through my mind.” She winked.

  “Fuck. Fuck!” He rushed from the room.

  Staci covered her mouth with her hand to conceal the smile. He wanted her. Bad.

  He was back in a flash, holding up a foil packet. “Only one.”

  She dragged her hand away. “Something tells me you’re going to make it count.”

  “Hell, yes.”

  Exhilaration radiated deep in her core. Spread outward.

  “Hold this,” he demanded.

  She took the small package from him.

  He dropped his pants.

  Staci gaped.

  His grin was a slightly arrogant one. Well warranted, that was for sure.

  He told her, “This is all you, by the way.”

  Her spirit and her libido soared.

  “Do not waste another second,” she urged.

  He didn’t. Kissed her while lifting her once again and carried her to the sofa. One hand swept aside all the papers, books, and medical journals.

  She broke the kiss at all the racket. “Your work!”

  “It’s a jumbled mess in my head anyway. I’ll figure it all out later. Right now, being inside you is all I can think about.”

&nb
sp; That was sexy as hell.

  He set her on a cushion covered by his discarded white dress shirt and guided her back against a pile of pillows. He shifted slightly, their legs tangled. He slipped a hand between their bodies. He looked into her eyes as his fingertips brushed over her slick folds. Rubbing softly, teasingly at first. Then with a bit more pressure. Until she was panting sharply.

  He used the pads of two fingers to circle her clit. Her breath caught. He quickened the tempo, stroking skillfully.

  “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, yes.”

  He had just the right touch. Alternating his technique from strokes to flutters to strokes. Sending her barreling toward a much-needed orgasm.

  “Make me come,” she quietly demanded. “I seriously need to come.”

  A rough groan fell from his lips. He eased one finger into her pussy.

  Staci cried out again. Then clamped down on her lower lip.

  “No need to hold back,” he was quick to say. “The guests next door checked out yesterday afternoon.” And it was a corner unit.

  “Good to know. Because I’m going to come so damn hard.”

  Another primal sound escaped him. Lighting her up even more.

  He worked a second finger into her tight canal. Pumped steadily, the heel of his hand massaging the knot of nerves between her legs. All the while, his mouth was on hers, engaging her in sensual, tongueless kisses. Just light and flirty enough to allow her to breathe as all the sensations swelled inside her.

  He had a confident touch. Found that special spot deep within her. Caressed purposefully.

  Her hips rose and undulated with his determined rhythm. His mouth left hers and trailed along her throat, tenderly biting, ratcheting her arousal.

  He kissed his way down to her breasts. His tongue flicked over her aching nipple. Then his lips closed around the taut bud, and he suckled deep.

  “Nick,” she moaned as she writhed beneath him. Tension built in her core. Pulsating sensations clawed at her, but she wasn’t willing to give in to them just yet. Even though she’d told him how in need of climaxing she was, everything he did to her felt so incredible that she wanted more and more.

  He paid the same attention to her other nipple as his fingers plunged and stroked. The heel of his hand against her clit rubbed with more pressure. Staci felt herself opening further to him. Getting slicker, hotter.

  Her breaths came in short, staccato beats. Exhilaration gripped her.

  The sensations intensified. The tension mounted.

  Suddenly, everything inside her erupted.

  Staci screamed.

  Heaven!

  Little white orbs flashed behind her closed lids as she rode out the fiery orgasm. Loving every single second of it. Loving how powerfully she responded to him.

  Before the radiance dimmed even the slightest bit, he withdrew from her and snatched the condom.

  Staci opened her eyes. He was staring at her, his jaw clenched, his eyes shimmering with anticipation and excitement.

  He ripped the packet open with his teeth and sheathed himself.

  The head of his cock nudged her opening. A moment of hesitation followed. As though he were giving her the opportunity to change her mind, to ask him to stop.

  Staci said, “I know what you want. You know what I want. Do it.”

  His eyes blazed.

  Then he thrust in.

  Deep.

  So damn deep.

  Staci cried out again. Squeezed him with all her might.

  “Fuck!” he roared heatedly.

  Her pussy clutched him. Released. Clutched more firmly. She couldn’t help it. Couldn’t keep herself from milking his cock. Thrilling over every solid inch of him.

  He was fantastic inside her. Filling her. Stretching her.

  Her hips lifted again, and she met each forceful stroke as he fucked her. Hard. Fast. Driving them both wild.

  Her hands gripped his ass and urged him to hasten the pace. She was going to lose it again within seconds. Knew he was, too.

  It didn’t matter.

  The sensations were real and raw. Too intense not to put effort into escalating them to the breaking point.

  “Fuck me,” she pleaded. “Like you’re desperate for me.”

  “I am desperate for you.”

  His hips bucked. Her legs held him in place. His thrusts were quick and full, pushing her higher. His shaft massaged her inner walls. His tip pounded against her G-spot. Her sharp whimpers echoed in the room.

  He clasped her hips again, angled them just so. Drove deeper, more aggressively.

  “Right there,” she encouraged. “Don’t stop. Oh, God. Please don’t stop.”

  He clearly didn’t intend to.

  Staci felt the elation build again. The tenuous threads straining within her.

  “You feel so damn good,” he said into her hair, where his face was buried. “So tight. So wet. God, you’re so wet for me.”

  She continued clenching and releasing.

  “Yes,” he said in a gruff voice. “Just like that. Work my cock. Get me off.”

  He was about to do the same to her with his masterful strokes.

  “Oh, God. Nick, I—”

  “That’s not my na—”

  “I’m going to come.”

  “Yes,” he heaved. “Oh, fuck. So am I.”

  “Now. Right now.”

  The sensations inside her collided and burst wide open.

  “Yes!” Staci sobbed. “Oh, God. Yes!”

  She squeezed him heartily as the orgasm tore through her, searing her insides.

  “Damn it!” His entire body stilled. “Ah, yes!” Then his body convulsed as he exploded, his cock surging and pulsing, every glorious muscle flexing.

  Staci didn’t release him. Didn’t loosen her vise grip on his ass or his dick.

  He shuddered violently. She savored every second of both their orgasms.

  Knowing this was an amazingly beautiful, wild, wonderful one-night stand she would remember for the rest of her life.

  Chapter Five

  His fantasy was gone in the morning. Before he even woke.

  Evan had carried her to his bed and had spooned with her under the thick covers. He had held her and just…reveled in her. In the way she smelled. In the way she felt against his body.

  They hadn’t spoken. Not a word after they’d both climaxed.

  Yes, he’d been practically out of his mind wondering who the hell she was and why she’d wanted to be so secretive, inciting him to use aliases. All he could surmise was that it had helped her to move past her insecurity so that she could be free enough to give herself to him for the night. To give in to their instant, scorching chemistry and the passion that sparked easily between them.

  So he’d gone along with her wishes. Thinking that, when they were up and around at a reasonable hour, they could exchange real names. And numbers.

  But she was gone.

  And he had no fucking clue who she was.

  Or how to find her. He’d even knocked on her door, but then housekeeping had come along and informed him she’d checked out already.

  All for the best, he convinced himself. He had serious business to focus on and couldn’t afford to get sidetracked by silky skin against his and long legs wrapped around him. In fact, he knew the wisest thing for him to do was thank his lucky stars he’d had one night of hot sex and a warm body snuggled next to his. It’d been just enough to release him from the sexual tension he’d felt since he’d stepped into the hallway and caught sight of the goddess in lingerie.

  He had a hell of a lot on his plate to begin with. So much work to do and a calendar full of travel and speaking engagements. There was no time for dating, casual or otherwise. There was no time for them to get to know each other better.

  Though she was one woman he actually would like to get to know better. Now, however, was the worst conceivable point in his medical career to finally meet a woman he burned for—a woman who was incredible in so m
any ways…

  Yes. Bad timing. Really bad timing.

  Disappointment sat like a rock in his gut. But Evan had been raised by an overachiever, and having a singular focus on work was therefore in his nature, too. His professional status and ambition meant everything to him. Above and beyond a hot one-night stand with a sexy redhead.

  Unfortunately.

  So he tucked thoughts of “Liz”—visions of her and memories of the sound of her moans—in the far recesses of his mind and returned one hundred percent of his concentration to his career.

  No matter how damn difficult it was to forget what had happened in this Four Seasons hotel room.

  * * *

  “Before we wrap up this week’s strategic planning session,” Staci said to her senior leadership team at five o’clock on Monday, “let’s revisit the need to locate a larger facility for our manufacturing, packaging, and distribution functions. We only have our secondary building on a six-month lease, and we’re going to see a huge surge in sales with our new launch. I don’t want us scrambling in the eleventh hour, searching for a home to accommodate the overflow orders.”

  They’d suffered enough during the recent assembly and shipping crisis, inadvertently brought on by Lola’s sexy ad campaign.

  The increase in sales had created a huge supply-versus-demand dilemma that had wreaked havoc on the company. Things had turned around since then, and they’d amped up production, a vital undertaking for the company. Yet critical for Staci Kay Shoes’ survival was the need for additional facilities. The issue was the current bane of Staci’s existence, given the sudden scarcity of commercial real estate in Baltimore.

  It sapped some of the wind from her sails following Saturday night’s unveiling, her early morning sexfest with “Nick,” and the incredible reviews the six-inch stilettos were receiving.

  We’re on the cusp of greatness.

  She believed it to the core of her being.

  I just need all the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place.

  Maxi stepped in and said, “When it comes to locating an appropriate warehouse for us, think in the same terms Staci did when we were in crisis mode and had to find a supplemental building in which to operate ASAP.”