His Millionaire Maid(17)

Still simmering dangerously, he marched over to the bar where Nina was sliding her tray across to Vince.

"Having fun?" he bit out.

She spun around at his sharp tone. Vince raised his eyebrows at him, but  all Joe's attention was focused on the maddening woman in front of him.

"I am," she smoothly replied.

Nina was in the black denim jeans and lemon sweater he'd seen her in  many times before, but despite that and the fact she'd been working  several hours, she'd never seemed more luscious and irresistible. Why  was it so hard to stick to his guns?

"Things are winding down," he said. "Why don't you quit early?"

She raised her eyebrows. "But my shift doesn't end for another hour."

Another hour of watching her strut around the place giving all the male  customers something to pant over? His blood vessels wouldn't survive  that. "I'll cover for you. You can have an early night. Don't worry,  I'll still pay you for the full shift."

She tapped her fingernails on the bar counter. "I'm not worried."

"No, nothing's worrying you today, apparently."

A muscle twitched in her cheek. "That's right. I'm peachy keen."

"I can see that. So can everyone else. Especially that group of guys you were just batting your eyelashes at."

Blue fire sparked in her eyes as she leaned toward him. "Jealous? Would you prefer I bat my eyelashes at you?"

Her scent filled his nostrils. She smelled of honeysuckle and hand-cut  potato wedges and a hint of beer-a knockout combination that made him  want to pull her to his chest. The force of his urges made him dizzy. He  glanced about, wondering if anyone was witnessing his turmoil, and saw  Vince had retreated to the other end of the bar counter, where he busied  himself polishing a glass as if his life depended on it.

"Look." Joe jerked his chin. "We've scared Vince away."

"You've scared him away. I haven't done anything."

"The hell you haven't. Ever since yesterday you've been flouncing around in front of me, wiggling your ass in my face."

"Wiggling!" Several people looked up. Nina flung down her dishcloth,  lowering her voice as she said, "Why would I wiggle and flounce at you?  You've made it clear you don't want my ass anywhere near your face."

Blood thudded in his ears. Maybe holding back wasn't such a good idea  after all. For a start, it was bad for his blood pressure. And how could  he concentrate on anything if he constantly had to fight his urges? And  battle his raging jealousy every time Nina so much as smiled at another  guy? If this frustration continued for much longer, he'd explode, and  probably at the worst possible time. Better to find a safety valve and  release some pressure, right?

He butted in and shoved his elbow on the counter next to her, pressing  his forearm against hers. She let out a little gasp as her flesh  quivered against his. He was quivering, too, the contact with her skin  firing every brain synapse. Her blue eyes, big as saucers, sucked him  in.

Yeah, he needed that safety valve real bad right now.

Joe bent his head toward Nina's. "Meet me out back in half an hour," he whispered, "and I'll show you where to put your ass."

A pulse fluttered in her throat as she swallowed. She moistened her  lips, her face flushed and fierce. "You'd better show up," she huffed,  her voice low and hoarse, "or I'll never speak to you again, Joe  Farina."

He gave her a brash grin. "Now that's the kind of win-win proposition I like."

 …

This could be a disaster in so many ways.
         

     



 
As Nina headed for the door that led to the rear of the inn, she  considered running back to her room, but her body had a will of its own,  and her feet continued down the hallway.

She was setting herself up for humiliation. If she waited out back and  Joe didn't show, she'd be mortified. Joe's reasons why they shouldn't  fraternize made sense, and deep down she couldn't help agreeing with  them … but she just couldn't fight the attraction anymore, and if he stood  her up she'd be so furious and embarrassed she'd hitchhike out of  town-even this late at night-all the way back to San Francisco. And  maybe put a hit out on Joe.

Just kidding. Maybe.

Hauling in a deep breath, she barged through the back door. The big  spotlight above the door shone over a deserted yard. The pit of her  stomach gave way. Then two piercing lights flashed on and off-headlights  from a vehicle parked across the entrance to the yard. Joe's pickup  truck.

Her rib cage drew tight, and her heart began to pummel. She scampered  across the concrete and jumped into the passenger seat, panting as  though she'd just held up a bank. Joe faced her, teeth gleaming white in  the dimness.

"Evening, sweet pea."

Okay, no hit man required. But this could still be a disaster.

He put the truck into gear and pulled off. For a minute or so they  didn't speak, though the silence between them pulsated with surging  pheromones and unsteady breathing.

Finally the tension got to be too much for Nina. "Did anyone see you leave?"

"Lots of people saw me leave, but I doubt they suspect anything. You and  I seemed to have a convincing argument at the bar. Vince even muttered  something to me about easing up on you."

"Oh."

"Just so you know, I have no intention of easing up on you." He took one  of her hands and raised it to his lips. "Especially not tonight."

The promise in his voice sent anticipation streaking through her. She  stroked her fingers over his jaw, relishing the prickle of his stubble,  looking forward to feeling its rasp against her naked body. He changed  his grip on her hand and eased the tip of her middle finger into his  mouth. She caught her breath. The suck of his hot, moist mouth tugged at  her stomach, unleashing a wave of heat.

"Oh, God." She couldn't deny the naked hunger in her voice.

Joe slowed the truck. They were a few miles out of town, she had no clue  where. The headlights picked out a narrow road, trees, fences. Still  holding her hand, he guided it to his thigh. Beneath his pants, the  muscled heft of his thighs hinted at the virility about to unleash. Her  mouth watered.

She squeezed his leg. "So what position do you play?"

"You mean soccer? Center midfielder." He reached over and clasped her thigh. "In bed, I'm up for any position."

His big, confident grasp on her leg made her laugh breathy. "I-I don't know why I asked. I don't have a clue about soccer."

His eyes grew hot. "Don't worry. I'll teach you." He wasn't talking  about soccer, she was sure. His hand shifted down to the hem of her  plaid skirt. "You changed for me? I'm honored."

"I didn't want to smell like fries and beer."

"Men like fries and beer." He reached the bare flesh above her knee and  slipped his hand under her skirt. "I like this even better."

His husky murmur coupled with his sure touch had her blood pumping. The  truck bumped slowly over a rough section of road. She clung onto the  armrest, transfixed as Joe stroked her inner thigh, his fingers creating  a trail of pleasure across her skin. Her breath came out in fervid  puffs. She pressed her booted feet against the floor of the cab, tense  with excitement as she silently willed Joe's fingers to move higher and  discover the wet craving between her thighs. But each time he extended  his reach, his fingers stopped short of her panties, tantalizing her,  provoking and intensifying her need.

"Joe," she finally gasped out, writhing against his hand. "You-you're driving me crazy."

He'd slowed the truck until they were inching along.

"Sweet pea, I've been going crazy myself thinking of all the things I  want to do with you. And believe me, making you come in my truck while  I'm driving is right up there on my list, but I like to do things in the  right order. My first priority is to get you into my bedroom, where I'm  going to take off your clothes one piece at a time, and then I'm going  to kiss you all over and get to know every inch of you before we even  think about orgasmic penetration."

His words, uttered in that sexy timbre of his, almost sent her over the  edge. Perspiration prickled in her cleavage, her breasts feeling heavy  and straining against her bra. What was it about Joe that worked her  into such a frenzy? She'd never considered herself sexually aggressive,  but now she was ready to tear the clothes off him. Before she could  think, she'd moved her hand from his thigh to cup his groin. The heat  and size of his bulge dried her throat. He hissed at her, surprise  flashing in his chocolate eyes.         

     



 

"And this?" she asked. "Is this anywhere on your list?" She kneaded her  palm back and forth across his swollen crotch, excited by his reaction.

The truck jerked and bunny hopped. Groaning, Joe grabbed her hand and  forced it away. "Christ almighty, if you don't stop now, I'm going to  tie you up."

She laughed from sheer exhilaration. Tie her up? Joe was giving her  wicked ideas. "I'll behave, as long as we get to your place quick."