Rebound:Curvy Seduction Saga – Book One(17)

Then there was the thing about him being in control.

My body sent smoke signals saying "Hurray!"

But my head said, "Wait just a minute."

I'd had enough of other people taking charge of my life. It was my turn.  "I'm going through with this. I didn't spend a couple hundred thousand  dollars to just up and change my mind. I don't need you here to control  anything."

Liar, liar, pants and shirt and hair on fire.

"I'm going to have sex. In fact, I'm going to have orgies. If you don't  like it, you can leave. If you think you can handle it, feel free to  stay and watch. I know you like that."

Ooh. There's the inner bitch I'd been waiting twenty-some odd years for.

Gray's eyes were so dark I could sink into them and never find my way back out. They bounced down to my lips and back up.

So many flutters, so little time. I waited for him to come that scant inch closer, that ten percent, to kiss me.

His only movement was the fall and rise of his chest and the back and  forth of his eyes, boring into mine. "You liked it as much as I did."

True that. But it wouldn't do for him to know it, with his high and mighty attitude. "You wish."

"I know."

Here was my chance. I was cool as a cucumber growing in the North Pole. "Do you? Prove it."

Gray snagged me around the waist and pushed his other hand into my hair.  I didn't have time to protest before his mouth came down on mine. This  was no school boy kiss. He wasn't waiting for me to meet him part way.  He mashed our mouths together and took what he wanted, took what was  his.

The world spun around us and made me dizzy. Gray's hands gripped my  waist and the back of my neck, holding me still, not letting me fall. He  was my anchor in the tempest unleashed. I'd never need anything but his  touch ever again.

The sound of throats clearing came from behind us. "Looks like the fun has already started."

Gray broke the kiss and took a giant step away from me, set me aside  like a hot and bothered Lolita. I swayed, regaining my balance. We were  both breathing hard and I wanted to scream at whoever had interrupted  the moment.

Two men stood at the edge of the kitchen, one the epitome of tall dark  and handsome, in a Greek god sort of way, the other taller, darker, and  as handsome as an African Orisha god.

This was no harem I had, it was a pantheon.

Gray glared at them both and stomped out of the kitchen.

I sighed and shook my head. Then I pasted on a smile and went to greet  my guests. "You must be Dominic and Cade. Welcome to my harem."





CHAPTER TWELVE





The Benefits of Being a Sultanette




Gray didn't stay gone long, but he wasn't back for me. He insisted on  showing each of my new lovers to their rooms, despite my considerable  eye rolls.

"Come back down when you're settled in. We can get to know each other and have some dinner." Then hopefully something more.

"Will do." Cade smiled and looked me up and down. He didn't have a trace of an accent, Polish or otherwise. Interesting.

"I can hardly wait." Dominic's rich baritone and distinct pronunciation  of each word had me imagining him as some sort of African prince. I  didn't think Nigeria had those, but I was going to pretend they did.

They turned to go, Gray right behind them. He paused at the doorway,  gripping the frame in one hand. I was sure he'd turn back, tell me once  again I was crazy. Or even better, come back and kiss the wits out of  me. Again.                       
       
           



       

I got bubkes instead. Not nearly as fun.

Voices sounded from upstairs, short conversations. I couldn't hear their  words, but I recognized Gray being in each one. What was he saying to  them?

It took considerable effort to remain in the kitchen. Having him here  surprised me and added a whole new dynamic to what I'd thought we were  going to do.

I could work with this. Just as soon as I wrapped my head around it.  Gray was begrudgingly in, then he was out, then he was back in.

He wasn't here this time to help me. Not in the way I wanted him to.  This time he wouldn't stand idly by. He wanted to be in control.

At my core I wanted him to be too.

But not yet.

If we had any shot of a real relationship he had to see me as an  independent, in control woman myself. Until I was, and he realized I  wasn't a fairy tale damsel in distress, we wouldn't work. I'd simply be  another submissive for him and he'd be another man to fill up that empty  place I had inside.

No man could do that. My father hadn't, Marc hadn't. Ian and Hawk had gotten close. Gray had gotten closer.

I wasn't sure I could do it myself, but I had to try.

I arranged the Arabic and Persian finger foods I had catered for the  occasion on trays to busy myself until the main attraction started.

None of the men emerged again until dinner time, preceded by Gray. Like a hot guy parade.

I sent them all into the sitting room I'd prepared specifically for spending time together. Gray stayed.

He insisted on being about twelve inches from my side no matter where I went, irritating me.

"Get out from under my feet-" I almost continued  –  or help me finish up  the food. But I wasn't asking for his help anymore. I was doing this  myself.

He didn't back off one bit, but he did stare at all the food I laid  across the countertop. "You're playing up the whole harem thing a bit,  aren't you?"

"What? I like Persian food." The three whole bites I'd tried so far were tasty.

"Really? Then what do you call this?" Gray held up a cigar looking thing that could have been made out of a bird's nest.

Smart ass.

"I call it delicious." Probably.

"I see. And this?" He held up a stick with meat on it.

Smug bastard. I'd kick him out if I didn't get all smushy inside just  looking at him. I had to remind myself with a good bit of chastisement  that I didn't want to be weak around him.

As casual as could be, I said, "You're supposed to be on vacation. What are you still doing here?"

He snagged my arm midway to the tray with some gooey baklava and pulled  it toward his mouth. "I took my vacation days, but I didn't say I was  going anywhere."

He could have eaten the small treat in one bite, instead he nibbled at it, skimming his lips along my fingers.

Damn the man was trying to throw me off balance. He'd almost done it  too. "Why would you stay here? Take the boat, take the plane, go  somewhere." Anywhere.

My newly resolved resolve was already slipping.

"I'm right where I want to be, Angel."

He winked at me and picked up one of the trays, waiting for me to do the  same. I would have slapped him, but a simple touch was dangerous.  Instead I glared at him, grabbed another tray and headed toward my new  harem room, beating Gray by only a few steps.

The sitting room transformed into something out of a movie set. Instead  of the couch and club chairs, the room had several chaise lounges, large  padded ottomans and pillows galore. I'd had it done in deep browns and  blues because it was a male harem after all. The best part of all were  the three gorgeous men lounging around, waiting for me.

I lifted my tray to showcase the food and my invitation. "Dinner, guys."

Ilario jumped up and grabbed the tray from me. "Mistress, you must allow me to serve you, not the other way around."

I set the food on an ottoman. "You're sweet, Ilario, but this is my way of welcoming you to my home."

"I agree," Dominic's deep voice boomed. "You have done more than enough  for us already. You have provided us with an amazing place to live, an  opportunity at a real education, and the chance to touch and pleasure  such a beautiful woman."

I almost blushed. These guys were really too good to be true. Gloria had  done her job well. Whether they were sincere or not, it felt like they  were.

Cade only nodded, remaining quiet. Maybe he saw me and this arrangement  for something different. Where Dominic and Ilario were warm and tried to  be helpful, Cade had a hardness to him that reminded me a bit of Gray.

I sat on a large leather ottoman that was low to the ground and patted the cushion beside me. "Cade, won't you join us?"                       
       
           



       

If I hadn't been watching him so intently, I would have missed the  exchanged look between him and Gray. He didn't move until Gray gave the  tiniest of nods. His head didn't even move, it was more like he nodded  with the set of his chin and the blink of his eyes.

Damn. Gray had said more than I expected when he went upstairs with the guys. Instructions? Warnings?

I'd have to take it up with him later. Right now was for relaxing,  getting to know each other, and if I was lucky, a little getting lucky.

We ate, we laughed, and we drank. Everyone except Gray. He ate, but his demeanor was the stony set of a secret service guard.