Undercover in the CEO's Bed(12)

He shrugged and curled the corner of his mouth. “What man wouldn’t be turned around when he’s got such a gorgeous girlfriend?”

He was only trying to bait her, but it didn’t stop a tide of attraction buzzing through her. She’d have to watch herself or she might start believing his made-up compliments.

…

As Lex sat on the comfy little sofa, he wondered why he’d never taken Jacinta clothes shopping in the past. He hadn’t known what he was missing. The private changing room of the exclusive boutique they’d entered resembled an eighteenth-century French boudoir. There was plush carpet, soft music, gilt mirrors, a chandelier. A few feet away from the sofa, beneath a velvet curtain, he could make out Jacinta’s bare feet as she tried on another dress.

She pushed aside the curtains and stepped out. Lex stared, swallowing down his drool. The silky, burnt orange dress she wore clung like a whisper to her figure, teasing his senses, firing his imagination. Its flowing lines, which only showed a hint of cleavage and a glimpse of thigh through the semitransparent chiffon, was more provocative than any plunging neckline or short hemline.

Oblivious to his attention, she twisted her head as she inspected herself in the mirror. “What do you think?”

He rose to his feet. “We’ll take it.”

“Are you sure? Is it suitable for your nana’s party?”

“Take it from me, that dress is hot.”

She shook her head, her expression uncertain. “Lex, you’re not listening. I need a dress that will help me fit in with all your high society relatives.”

“Of course you’ll fit in. I don’t understand why you’re worried.”

“Isn’t it obvious? You and I, we come from such different worlds. I don’t want to look out of place at this weekend party.”

She was genuinely concerned, he realized with a jolt of surprise. He moved behind and touched her shoulder, trying to suppress his libido in order to reassure her. “Jacinta, stop worrying. To me, you’ve always had a natural grace and style that money can’t buy.”

She lifted her head, meeting his gaze in the mirror as a smile illuminated her face. “You mean that?”

“Of course. Haven’t I ever told you that?”

Her eyes warmed. “No, never.”

“You’re a natural. You’ll fit in anywhere.”

“When we were dating, you never took me to any ritzy parties.”

“Not because I didn’t think you’d fit in, but because we were having too much fun on our own.”

Her lips edged up. “I guess that’s true.”

Stepping closer, he folded his arms around her waist and murmured into her hair, “Look how much fun we’re having right now.”

She inhaled quickly. “What—what are you doing?”

The citrusy scent of her hair was going to work on him. He could feel her body taut and vibrating in his arms, her fingers on his wrists, but she didn’t pull away. He stroked her waist, blood surging through his veins.

“What do you think?” The gruff need in his voice surprised him; he hadn’t realized until then how much he’d been lusting after her. “You’ve been prancing in front of me half naked for the past hour. There’s only so much temptation a man can handle.”

She plucked at his hands but made no attempt to free herself. “You’re the one who insisted on coming into the changing room,” she answered breathily.

“Hm. I never realized what a turn-on it could be.” He drew circles over her torso, his leisurely pace at odds with the hammering inside him. He trailed his hands upward over her tight rib cage until they were almost cupping her breasts. Almost, but not quite.

“You shouldn’t be doing this,” she murmured, sounding agonized.

He felt her shiver, heard the tiniest moan escape her lips. “Look at yourself in the mirror, Jacy, and tell me I shouldn’t be doing this.”

Their gazes met in the reflection. Her eyes were dark and bright, her cheeks rosy, her breathing unsteady. The need she couldn’t hide filled him with a sense of power and restraint. If he spun her around and kissed her, she would say he’d forced it on her, and she’d be able to deny her own desire. But if he tantalized her enough, he could make her admit that she wanted this just as much as he did, and then there’d be no argument about breaking their agreement.

“Just say the word,” he said into her hair, “and I’ll stop.” If he was strong enough.

Still, she remained mute. The soft material rustled as he stroked the lower swell of her breasts before he drifted his fingers across the tip of her mounds. His hands shook when he registered her pert nipples stiffening to attention. Holy Moses. He was stiffening to attention himself.

“You like that,” he said, stating the obvious. In reply she merely whimpered. He repeated the movement, and a shudder ran through her. He could feel her defenses weakening, her body ripening, opening. Need swelled in his groin.

With his other hand he explored her thigh, scrunching up the silky fabric to expose her smooth flesh. For a second he thought she’d object, but he saw she was too far gone. Her head lolled back against his shoulder as she guided his hand toward her breast, her thighs wriggling in time to his wandering fingers.

For a second he was spellbound by her reflection. Christ, how amazing she looked, so abandoned in the moment, her wild, tousled sensuality such a contrast to her competent professionalism. The urge to pull that five thousand dollar dress off her body and take her right there in front of the mirror rushed over him. He pushed the dress higher, his fingers reaching a soft, damp triangle of cotton between her legs.

“Lex...” she moaned so softly he almost missed it. “I—I—”

He forced his fingers to still. The need was evident in her panting voice, in her sinuous movements, but he wanted to hear the words and savor her surrender.

“Yeah? Tell me what you want.”

“I want...I want—”

Still, she didn’t utter the words he wanted to hear. Damn, she was stubborn, but so was he. He let his fingers drift away from her panties, saw the frustration flash in her eyes. Without warning, she grabbed his hand and pressed it between her thighs.

“This...” she hissed.

She was so smoking hot. He could hardly breathe he was so riveted by her boldness. Her hand guided his, showing him how she wanted to be touched. But he didn’t need any reminding. He took over, cupping her greedily and using the friction of her panties to pleasure her. Her eyes turned to hazy toffee, and he knew she wanted more. Swallowing, he pushed aside the cotton as his fingers followed her heat. His head spun.

As he eased a finger into her wetness, she moaned his name, sending a thrill down his spine. His pounding erection pressed urgently against the curve of her ass. He stroked her softly and slowly, his body shaking with the struggle between lust and self-control. She rolled herself against his finger, hair tangled around flushed cheeks, nipples erect against his palm. He twisted his wrist again, seeking out her sensitive clit so he could unravel her even more. He gulped in the sight of her in the mirror. How was it that she looked so completely at his mercy and yet it felt like he was the desperate one? Desperate to string out her pleasure, eager to watch her as she climaxed under his caressing fingers. Any moment now she wouldn’t be able to stop herself from coming...

A brisk tap at the door shattered the dream. “Hello?” the shop assistant trilled. “Is everything okay in there? Can I help you with anything?”

Jacinta sprang free, frantically pulling at the hem of her dress. Strands of mussed hair clung to her cheeks and neck. Her eyes were dazed and panicked.

Lex had to take a few breaths before he trusted his voice. “Everything’s fine here. We’ll be out in a minute.”

By the time he’d finished speaking, Jacinta had ducked behind the velvet curtain again.

“Hey, where are you going?” He stepped toward the curtain, lowering his voice. “Let’s finish what we started.” Heat roused him again as he recalled how close he’d gotten her to orgasm. Just give him sixty seconds, and he’d make every one of them count.

“No, I can’t,” she said, her voice muffled. “Why don’t you wait for me outside?”

For a moment he considered following her behind the curtain before sanity prevailed. He glanced down at the throbbing bulge in his trousers. “Uh, yeah, in a minute.”

He should be grateful the store assistant had interfered at the right time. He hadn’t meant to go that far with Jacinta, but there was just something about her that infiltrated his self-discipline. Something unique.

Suddenly, she sighed. “Why does this always happen with us? We seem to have no...no sense of propriety.”

Yeah, what they shared was pretty explosive. Dangerous, too, but so intoxicating. “I’m not complaining.”

“Of course you aren’t.” She sighed again. “I’m only doing this because of Kevin.”

Why did she have to say it like that? Like she needed to remind herself of her main goal.

“I hear his interview is set up for next week,” he said. “He should get a phone call soon.”

“That’s great.” He heard her take in a deep breath. “But—but from now on, I want you to keep your hands to yourself.”