Chapter One
“You’re staring again,” Marilyn Montgomery whispered. Only her voice was one of those overly loud, fake whispers. The kind that far too many people could actually hear.
At her friend’s words, Tess Barrett jerked her gaze off the sexy-as-hell guy that she had—yes, so guilty—been staring at for probably way too long. The club was crowded. No, more like packed. A band blasted from the stage. Drinks flowed. Laughter filled the air. Couples danced and kissed, and she was even about ninety percent sure she’d seen one man and woman having sex in the back of the club. There were all sorts of things happening around her.
But he kept pulling her attention.
“He’s hot.” Marilyn took a long swig from her beer. Her red nails gleamed against the long neck of the bottle. “Got that whole I’m-a-badass-and-I-want-to-do-bad-things-to-you vibe going on.”
Tess felt her face flush. “He does not.” Yes, yes, he does.
“I wouldn’t mind doing some bad things with him,” Latonya Wilson added with a soft sigh as her dark gaze drifted over to the man in question. “It’s been way too long since I’ve done bad things. I need some bad things in my life.” She raised one perfect eyebrow at Tess. “What about you? How long has it been?”
Since she’d done something bad? Um, a very long time. Tess reached for the water in front of her. Water because she was on call. Water because even if she wasn’t on call, she wouldn’t be drinking. She didn’t drink. Didn’t hook up with strangers. Didn’t break any of the careful rules that she had for her life.
She bit her lower lip and tried not to glance toward the bar once more. What was the deal with her? The guy was good-looking. Yes, absolutely. Hard jaw covered by a delectable growth of stubble. Messy hair that was a little long. Killer body. The white t-shirt he wore was seriously stretched by his shoulders and powerful arms. When she’d been, ah, staring, Tess had noticed that his long legs had been encased in faded denim, and his fingers drummed idly on the bar top.
“Uh, oh.” Marilyn straightened in her chair. She was stage whispering again as she noted, “Now, he’s staring…”
Tess stiffened her shoulders—
“At you!” Marilyn finished almost gleefully.
What? Tess’s head whipped around. The jerky, startled movement was totally not a cool and casual thing to do. She was probably supposed to play some teasing game with him and not gape in his direction. Wasn’t that expected club behavior? If so, she failed miserably because her head whipped toward the guy, and she gaped at him. Yet as she gaped, Tess saw that her mystery man was, in fact, staring at their table.
“He’s not staring at me.” She forced herself to look away. Again. “He’s probably looking at one of you.” Latonya was absolutely gorgeous. Tall, curvy, and with a flawless face, the African American doctor had been known to always leave a trail of men in her wake. And as for Marilyn, the woman looked a whole lot like her namesake, Marilyn Monroe. Like the famous star, Marilyn didn’t suffer for male attention. Never had, never would.
Marilyn laughed. “His eyes are on you. And don’t look now—seriously, do not look again because you’ll give off a desperate vibe if you do that—but he’s heading this way.”
“Bad things,” Latonya muttered under her breath. “If he offers, please go do some very bad—”
Latonya didn’t get to finish her words because he was there. Tess just felt him. She eased out a low breath and kept her eyes on the table in front of her. Marilyn knew the dating scene. Heck, Marilyn ruled the dating scene with an iron fist. If she said don’t look, then Tess shouldn’t look. She should dig deep and find some way to be chill about this whole situation—
“Oh, so now you won’t look my way?” His voice was low and deep. It sank through her body and made Tess feel warm in all kinds of fun places. It was because his voice was pure warm yumminess that it took so long for his actual words to register and when they did finally sink in…
Tess winced and glanced at him.
Golden eyes. Huh. That was interesting. Okay, gorgeous. Across the club, she hadn’t been able to tell that his eyes were such incredible gold. Unusual. And he was even better looking up close. How was that possible?
He smiled. A half-smile that didn’t light his eyes.
She wanted to smile back. Instead, Tess just kept staring. When it came to dating, she was pretty much a total novice. Her fault. She poured herself into her work, and it wasn’t like there was a whole lot of time or energy left over for the dating scene. She didn’t have hours to spend getting to know someone. She didn’t want to be swiping left or right or whatever on her phone. She didn’t have time for movie nights. Or candle-lit dinners. Tess usually came home from work, collapsed, and then repeated that pattern a whole lot. Unsexy. Unexciting.
“Would you like to dance?” he asked.
She shook her head no.
He blinked.
Tess felt Marilyn kick her under the table. Hard. What the hell?
“Did I…misread the situation?” His voice was so damn sexy.
Marilyn kicked her again.
“I don’t dance well,” Tess blurted. “And the place is so packed—I mean, there’s not really any room on the dance floor for us.” She was still staring at him. His bone structure was fabulous. A thing of beauty, not that he probably wanted to hear that. But she knew a lot about bones and bodies and—
“I can take you to a place where there is plenty of room.” He extended his hand toward her. “And I don’t care how you dance. You can break every toe I have. I just want to get to know you better.”
Oh. That was rather—nice? Gallant? Sexy? Maybe all of the above? She didn’t take his hand, though, because caution held her back. “Where exactly do you want to take me?”
He turned his head, just a bit, and glanced toward the second level of the club. “VIP space.”
She hadn’t even known there was a VIP space. It was her first visit to the club. The club had opened two weeks ago—some sort of grand re-opening under new management situation— and Marilyn had raved about it, so Tess and Latonya had finally broken down and headed into the place with her earlier that night.
“No one will bother us up there. Like I said, there’s plenty of room.” His hand was still extended toward her. “And no one else will see you dance, just me.”
Well, okay, that sounded good so…Tess stood up. She was average height, currently wearing her flats, and when she stood, she had to tilt her head back to see his incredible eyes. Tall, muscled, sexy—he was checking off everything on her fantasy lover list. Check, check, check. And his voice…
Wow.
Tentatively, her fingers reached for his. When she touched his skin, a surge of awareness poured through her. An instant, primal response that she’d never felt before. The surge should have been some sort of warning to her.
It wasn’t.
“I’m James. James Smith.”
“Tess Barrett.”
He nodded. His gaze slowly drifted over her face. He kept her hand held carefully in his. “Ready to dance?”
Um, no. “I can’t leave my friends while I head up to VIP land.” That was a loser move.
Another nod from him. “Of course. I’ll make sure they’re given the best champagne we have in the club and that they are escorted upstairs as well.”
She heard a little squeal from Marilyn. Marilyn loved her champagne.
“Though you and I will be in a private room,” he added. “I think it’s better if we’re alone. Like I said, only I’ll be watching you.”
Her head cocked. “So how do you have all of this magic VIP pull? Are you someone famous?”
“In certain circles.” For a moment, humor seemed to gleam in his eyes.
Her eyes narrowed.
He squeezed her hand. “My club. My rules. I can get anyone into VIP that I want.”
Oh, wait…his place? Did that make things better…or worse?
He gave a little wave, and a muscled guy in a black shirt and pants hurried toward their table. “Mason will take care of your friends.” His gaze held hers. “And I’ll take care of you.”
There sure seemed to be a whole lot of double meaning in his words.
He turned away, but kept hold of her hand.
“Bad things,” Latonya threw out.
James stopped. Stiffened. Glanced back. His gaze slid to Latonya. “I assure you, I have no intention of doing anything bad to your friend.” His stare rose to catch Tess’s once more. “You’re safe with me.”
Her life was all about safety. One of her rules. But in this instance… “She wasn’t worried. Latonya was telling me to do some bad things.”
Latonya made a choking sound.
His lips quirked. “You want to do something bad? I am sure that can be arranged.”
She swallowed and followed him…followed him through the crowd and up the stairs and down a little corridor before they were secluded in some seriously lush space. Not an office. More like…a private entertainment room? Huge couch. Giant windows that looked out over the club. She could swear the room even smelled expensive.
“No one can see in. We can look out, but the glass is specially tinted so no one below can look in.” He hit a button on a nearby control panel. The band’s music drifted into the room. “And I can control what we hear, too.”
She shifted from foot to foot. Now that they were, in fact, alone, he seemed even bigger.
“How about that dance?”
She put her hands on his shoulders. The band had slowed down. Had he given some sort of cue to them? Was this all part of some typical seduction plan that James had? Pick a woman, take her upstairs, while the band plays something slow and sensual and James works his magic?
“How many women have you brought up here?” Tess asked, voice sharp.
His eyes crinkled a little. She had the feeling he wanted to laugh. “You say what you think, don’t you?”
“Why would I say anything else? I mean, do you want me to say what other people think?”
He did laugh then.
Crap. She’d been literal. She did that sometimes. Marilyn and Latonya helped her work on mistakes like that. It had been a while since she’d screwed up. Not like back in her early med school days.
“How many?” James seemed to consider her question before he announced, “Zero.”
Her hands tightened around his shoulders. “Are you being honest with me?”
His hands slid to curl around her waist. “I’ve brought zero women here. Well, actually, scratch that. I brought you up here. So that’s one.”
“Why did you bring me up here?”
He began to sway ever so slowly with her. She moved, too, trying to match her body with his.
“You wanted privacy. So I gave it to you.” A pause. “I can give you whatever you need.”
He had no idea what she needed. Unfortunately, neither did she. “You’re a stranger.”
“No, you know my name. I know yours. We’re on a first name basis. Hardly strangers.”
He made her want to smile. That didn’t happen often. “Why did you approach me downstairs?”
He moved a little closer. So close that his body brushed against hers, and she liked it. His crisp, masculine scent surrounded her.
“Why were you staring at me, Tess?”
“Because you’re gorgeous.” Something the man obviously knew. “You probably have people staring at you all the time.” She lifted her eyebrows. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“That’s because I thought the answer was apparent.”
Not to her.
“I saw you. I wanted you. So I came to you.”
Okay. That was… “Is that your usual routine?” They were swaying sensually together. Dancing. And everywhere that she touched him, heat licked at her.
“I have no usual routine.”
She leaned a little closer to him. His words were probably a lie, but she liked touching him. She liked the way she felt against him. Warm on the inside, when she hadn’t even realized just how cold she’d been.
“I want to kiss you.”
Her breath caught at his low, rough words. “I want that, too.”
His eyes gleamed down at her. “You don’t play games, do you?”
“I don’t know how to play them.”
He blinked, as if she’d caught him off guard.
“I’m not about lying or seducing or being coy or whatever. I don’t have time for stuff like that.” And if she did have time, she’d probably fail miserably at those endeavors. “So I’m probably saying the wrong things, but that’s who I am.” She pulled in a bracing breath. “I’d like to kiss you, too.”
His head lowered. Not fast. Slowly. As if he expected her to change her mind. Uh, not happening. Hadn’t he heard her? She wanted his mouth on hers. Truth be told, she was a little foggy on when she’d had her last kiss. Maybe at the hospital Christmas party? Under the mistletoe? But that kiss had been sloppy and quick, and hardly awe-inspiring.
Was an awe-inspiring kiss too much to ask for?
His lips brushed over hers. Tenderly. Carefully. A light sampling that made her body hum and want more.
But it was not awe-inspiring. At least, not yet. Nice, though. He had warm, firm lips, and she liked the way they felt against her and she liked—
He kissed her again. Only this time, the kiss wasn’t so careful. Her lips parted for him, and his tongue thrust inside. The kiss was deep and slow, and her heart slammed into her ribs because something that had been sleeping inside of her seemed to wake up in a flash. Her short nails dug into his shoulders as he hauled her ever closer. And she’d thought that she was close before. But this was different, like, a thousand times different.
He lifted her up. She’d figured he would be strong enough to hold her easily. She’d been right. He was. Serious turn on. Tess admired a strong man. Her legs curled around his hips in an instinctual move that Tess would have never thought she’d make with a stranger. She could feel the ridge of his arousal pushing against the front of his jeans and pressing against her, and she lifted her hips, riding his cock in a fast glide.
He growled, and it was a guttural sound that sent a shiver through her.
She kept kissing him. Kept loving the way he felt. She didn’t normally react this way. She didn’t get lost in a kiss. Certainly not with a stranger, and he was a stranger, even if she knew his name.
James.
His mouth tore from hers, and he kissed a path down her neck. She choked out a moan that was his name even as her hips rocked against him again.
Then she realized what she was doing. Oh, crap, am I dry humping him? Her hands curled tightly around his shoulders. “Wait.”
He stilled. His head lifted. His eyes blazed down at her, and there was no missing the lust that had turned his features savage.
Oh, God. She was in way, way over her head.
Slowly, she unhooked her legs…from around his waist! Her feet touched the floor, but he was still holding her waist. His touch scorched her.
“I-I don’t…this isn’t how I usually act.” She’d stammered. Wonderful. Tess sucked in a breath. “You’re a really, really good kisser.” In fact, she’d describe him as…awe-inspiring.
He gave her a half-grin, though the lust didn’t fade from his eyes. “So are you, Tess.”
She liked the way he said her name. All rumbling and growling and hot. She liked a lot of things about him but… “I don’t hook up with strangers for sex.” Lifting her chin, Tess took a few steps back from him.
His hands fell away as she retreated. She missed his touch. How weird was that? But she did.
“That’s good to know. I don’t, either.”
Oh, wait, had she just insulted him? “I didn’t mean—”
His half-grin became a full grin. “It’s okay.”
Her gaze darted toward the door. “I should leave.” Like, right then before she did or said anything else horribly embarrassing. She turned on her heel.
“If you change your mind about sex with a stranger—though I did tell you, we aren’t strangers—I’ll be here.”
She froze. Had he really said that? Or had she just had one major auditory hallucination? Her head turned, and she peeked suspiciously back at him.
His smile was gone, and he was watching her with an intense, focused gaze. “I have the feeling that you and I would be incredible together.”
Oh, my. She had that feeling, too. The feeling that they could burn up the sheets, wreck the bed, and go crazy together. She’d never gone crazy with a lover. But then, she’d never met someone like James before. Someone who made her instantly think…
Sex. Pleasure.
He stalked toward her.
She backed up until her shoulders hit the door.
He leaned toward her. Flattened one palm on the wood behind her head. “I like you.”
She more than liked him.
“Connections like this don’t happen all the time.”
Was that a line? It could just be a line, but…
She’d never felt a connection like this. Connection. Attraction. Whatever he wanted to call it.
In her head, she could hear Latonya whispering… “Do bad things with him.” Tess bet bad things would feel incredible with James.
“I’d like to get to know you better, Tess. We can date. Go out for dinner or—”
“I don’t—I don’t have time for that.”
His jaw hardened. “I get it.” He dropped his hand.
She caught his hand. Held tight. “No, you don’t. I truly don’t have time for dates and things like that. My life is crazy.” Hospital shift after shift and— “I don’t have time for a relationship.”
He nodded.
She was holding too tightly to his hand. Mostly because she wanted to hold tight to him.
She was also fibbing, a little. Work was hell, absolutely true, but it was her choice to be in that particular hell. She’d wanted to be an ER doctor. She’d worked hard to become one, busted ass over the years, and now she was living her dream. Yes, the job took up a huge amount of her time, but…
But even without the job, she wouldn’t let a guy get close. Because if she had a relationship, then she’d have to share details of her past with her partner.
She didn’t want to share her past with anyone. Her secrets were hers and hers alone. “I can’t let anyone in.” She let his hand go. She really did suck at lying, so why not just put all the cards on the table? Not like they were going to see each other again. It was kind of freeing to think that she could tell this man anything and not worry about being judged. She was only with him for this moment, so… “I don’t talk about my past with lovers. I don’t share my life. I don’t have much to give. I’m pretty much the worst girlfriend ever because I don’t trust easily.” Understatement. She didn’t trust at all.
He crossed his arms over his chest, cocked his head, and stared at her.
So she kept going. “I won’t introduce boyfriends to my family. I don’t talk to my family. Well, the family that’s left.” A shrug. That family was distant and scattered. They’d never looked for her. She wouldn’t look for them. “I don’t want some long-term commitment because I don’t think about the future. I’m not looking for love or happily ever after. Honestly, I’m just tired of being alone and I’d like to escape for a little while with someone who can make me feel good.”
Oh, crap. Her eyes widened. She’d been on a sharing roll there, and she’d gone overboard and overshared. Tess knew it with certainty. That whole I’m just tired of being alone had sounded desperate to her own ears.
Time to leave. Now. “Good night.” She spun around again.
“I won’t be introducing you to my family, either. There is no family. And if there was, trust me, you wouldn’t want to be around them.”
Her shoulders stiffened.
“I don’t believe in love or happily ever after. It’s just a nice way of explaining really dirty, hot sex.”
Uh, okay.
“I can take you out to fancy dinners, if that’s what you want. But if you want to skip the wining and dining because that’s not your thing, then I want to know what is your thing.”
She risked a glance back at him.
“Because I liked the part about making you feel good.”
Her throat was super dry.
“But I think I can do better than just good. I think I can make you feel pretty damn fantastic, if you give me the chance.”
What was he saying? She licked dry lips. Didn’t turn fully to face him, but her gaze never left his face as Tess asked, “Just what is it that you’re proposing?”
“Sex without strings. I’ve got a clean bill of health, and I’m happy to prove it, and I’ll be sure to take care of the protection.”
“I’m clean, too.” Her words sounded as if they came from far away. “I can prove it, too, but protection—yes, we still need that.” She didn’t take chances. Didn’t take risks. Not ever.
So what am I doing still talking to him?
“I’m not seeing anyone else,” he continued as his stare held hers. “And I won’t be, not while we’re together.”
This was all surreal. They’d just met. She shook her head.
“You won’t, either.” His voice roughened. “If we reach an agreement, it’s just us, until we’re done.”
“This isn’t happening.”
His lips thinned. “Why not? You think two people normally kiss and ignite like that? Because I have to tell you, that was damn unusual for me.”
It was the first time ever for her. But she gave another slow shake of her head. “I don’t…this isn’t me.”
He nodded. Took a step back. His nostrils flared, as if he’d just pulled in her scent. “You change your mind, you know where to find me.”
She yanked open the door. Hurried toward the stairs. Before she’d even reached them, though, Latonya appeared. She was smiling and holding a flute of champagne.
“That was fast for a—” Latonya stopped. Frowned. “You okay?”
“I need to go home.”
Latonya glanced over her shoulder. Tess followed her gaze. James stood in the open doorway, his arms still crossed over his chest, and that hot, golden stare of his on Tess.
“Did he hurt you?’ Latonya took an aggressive step toward him. “Because I will make him—”
Tess grabbed Latonya’s arm. “He didn’t hurt me. I’m just tired. I have a big shift tomorrow, and I have to go home.” Go home because my knees are jelly, and I’m thinking way too much about taking him up on his offer.
Sex without strings.
“I’m coming with you.” Latonya glared at James. “This place is dull anyway.” She made her voice extra loud—deliberately, Tess was sure.
As if on cue, Marilyn appeared. Her champagne flute was empty. “What’s up?”
“We’re doing a pissed walk out,” Latonya muttered as she slammed her flute—and Marilyn’s—down on a nearby table. “Let’s do it like we’re the queens of the universe.”
Wait, no, they didn’t have to act pissed. There was no reason—
Too late. Marilyn was regally leading the way down the stairs, sniffing as if she’d smelled something bad. Latonya nudged Tess forward, and, after one final look at James, Tess moved. But with every step, she swore she could feel his gaze on her.
All too soon, they were outside of the club and on the busy Savannah street. The wind was a bit brisk, and Tess sucked in a bracing breath.
“Bad boys are the worst,” Latonya said as her worried gaze slid over Tess. “I was just kidding earlier. That wasn’t like, advice you were supposed to follow. Those kinds of guys really aren’t for you. They’d chew you up and spit you out.”
Marilyn narrowed her eyes on Tess. “Do I need to go back inside and kick someone’s ass?”
She loved her friends. “No. And I promise, he didn’t do anything bad.”
“Hmmm.” Latonya didn’t look convinced.
He offered. Such a tempting offer.
Latonya and Marilyn hooked their arms with Tess and they all headed down the street. “Bad is over-rated,” Latonya told her. “Speaking from real experience here. You stick with one of those safe, solid doctors at the hospital."
She wasn’t interested in them. They pushed for more than she wanted to give. She didn’t have more to give.
Safety…what was really safe these days?
“You don’t need trouble. You don’t need that guy back there.” Now it was Marilyn talking. “I shouldn’t have pushed you to come here. This isn’t your scene.”
What was her scene?
With every step that she took away from the club, an ache seemed to settle in Tess’s chest. She had the weird, sinking feeling that she’d just lost something. But that was crazy. She hadn’t found anything in that club.
So there had been nothing to lose…
Right?
***
Well, that had sure as fuck been unexpected.
James Smith released a slow breath as he headed into his office on the second floor of the club. The club—hell, the place was just a hobby. A way to pass all of the free time that he suddenly had at his disposal. When he’d acquired the space, he’d decided the place needed an upgrade. He’d exposed some brick, ripped out some walls, and brought in a popular, local band. He’d made sure the staff completed updated training, and bam, suddenly, the club was the place to be.
He normally hated crowds. So for the last two weeks, he’d been watching folks in his club from a distance.
But this hadn’t been a normal night.
She hadn’t been normal.
She’d been wearing jeans. A flowing, black blouse. Her thick, dark hair had been pulled up in a bun, and loose tendrils had escaped to fall artfully around her delicate face.
Delicate. That word seemed to fit her, or at least, it had…as he’d viewed her across the club. He’d felt her gaze on him, had turned to see who was checking him out, and been surprised by the absolute punch he’d felt in his gut.
When he’d seen her, he’d just wanted.
Not normal. Not at all. He normally had much better control. With his, uh, former, line of work, he needed control. A lack of control would screw up a mission. Worse, it would get you killed.
He’d seen her, and he’d wanted to lunge off the barstool. Wanted to head straight toward her, and, before he’d even realized that he’d been moving—James had been on the way to her table.
Then he’d gotten a look into her dark chocolate eyes.
Not fragile. He’d seen a core of steel staring back at him. She’d been direct and blunt and he fucking loved—
“Ahem.” His assistant cleared his throat.
The guy had trailed James into the office. He’d known Barnes was there. Just as he’d known Barnes would give that gruff, ahem, once his patience wore out. Refusing to smile, James glanced his way. “Something I can do for you?”
“I’m assuming you want the standard report?” Barnes asked.
Barnes had actually been with him—on and off—for a year. James had initially tried to ditch the fellow, but Barnes just kept turning up, kinda like an bad penny.
You don’t kill the guy—one time—and he decides to stick to you like glue.
But at the question from his assistant, James hesitated. The standard report. When James became involved with anyone—even on the lightest of levels—he had an investigation conducted. He always had to look for enemies. Betrayals. It was the nature of the beast for him.
When you were a fucking ex-assassin, there were plenty of people out there who wanted to get some serious payback.
While Tess had certainly seemed genuine enough, he couldn’t take chances. But… “Not standard.”
Barnes blinked.
“I want in-depth.” He could still taste her. Still smell her. Vanilla cream. He wanted to lick her all over. James rolled back his shoulders. “I want to know every single thing there is to know about Tess Barrett.”
Barnes took a few quick steps forward. “Is there a problem?”
Yes, I want her too damn badly. But she’d run away. She might not ever come back to him, and that would be a freaking shame.
If she did come back, though…
I made her a promise, and I intend to deliver on my word.
He’d make her feel far, far better than just good. He’d have her screaming.
“Ahem.”
Right. Barnes. He focused on his assistant. Barnes had on his new glasses. Completely, unnecessary glasses that he thought made him look older and more distinguished. His black hair was slicked back from his forehead. His suit was perfectly pressed.
“Is there a problem?” Barnes repeated. For a moment, his ice blue eyes hardened.
It was easy to forget that the guy—barely twenty-one now—had once turned on one of the biggest crime families on the West Coast. Barnes looked different now and that was all part of the fellow’s plan. And the reason for the slicked back, dyed hair. And Clark Kent-like glasses.
Barnes was always afraid that someone else would come after him.
He didn’t have to worry. James had his back.
“No problem,” James responded slowly. “Just…I want to know everything.”
“Why?”
“Because I like her.” And letting her walk away, hell, he couldn’t shake the feeling that when he’d done that, he’d made one of the worst mistakes of his life.
