Cause For Scandal (Dynasties: The Elliotts #3)(22)
Author: Anna DePalo

“Are you sure?” he murmured. “Because there are lots of things I need to know about you.”

Their sexually tinged banter was causing her skin to prickle with awareness. “Such as?” she whispered.

His hand came up to cup the side of her face, the pad of his thumb tracing over her lips. “Such as whether your skin is always so soft.” He drew her closer and bent his head. “Such as whether your mouth is always as kissable as it looks,” he whispered against her lips.

His mouth fit over hers expertly, and soon she was lost in the same sensations that had swirled between them that first night at the Waldorf.

She clung to him until he lifted his head and looked down at her, his eyes lingering on the deep V created by her wraparound top. “I like what you’re wearing tonight,” he said in a low voice.

“I went shopping,” she confessed. She’d finally nabbed some time and headed to the stores, determined to have something to wear for tonight that sent the right message. She hadn’t spent too much time analyzing why it mattered so much what she wore.

“Very sophisticated.”

“Maybe it’s the emergence of the new Summer Elliott,” she joked.

“If it is, I’d be only too happy to help with the process in any way I can,” he said seductively.

She felt a strange fluttering in her stomach. This dance of desire that they were engaged in was still new territory for her. “We were talking about the interview.”

“Yes…and research.”

“Are you trying to seduce me?”

“If I am, is it working?” His gaze lingered on her chest, where her ni**les pressed against the material of her top. “You seem kind of turned on.”

“You’re not really my type.” Was she trying to convince him or herself? “Everyone that I’ve dated has had conservatively short hair.” They’d also had desk jobs. A closet full of business suits. They hadn’t been rebels.

He laughed. “Learn to live dangerously.”

Did she dare?

“And you’re definitely my type,” he teased.

She looked at him disbelievingly.

“Authentic,” he clarified. “Fresh and natural and lovely.”

She looked into his gorgeous blue eyes and felt her self-control slip, but she said, “For once, I’d like to think of you outside a haze of desire.”

He laughed. “Why? Some people say the luckiest ones are those that never emerge from the haze.”

Maybe he was right, she thought. Ever since the night at the Waldorf, a question had lingered: Who was that passionate woman who’d tangled the sheets with Zeke Woodlow? An aberration? Or a part of herself that the sensible Summer Elliott had kept bottled up, fearing to let loose?

She wanted to find out, and Zeke seemed all too willing to oblige her.

He shifted closer at the same time that she took a tiny step toward him. She fit seamlessly into his embrace, and mouth met mouth.

Summer felt Zeke’s hand fit over her breast and rub her nipple, bringing it to a peak and making her want him all the more. When his lips moved away from hers, he feathered kisses over her eyelids, along the side of her face, and down to the hollow of her throat.

She tugged at his crewneck shirt until it came free from where it was tucked into his jeans. He finally obliged her by yanking it over his head.

Not waiting for an invitation, she trailed her fingertips over his chest, feeling his hard muscles flex under her touch.

When he stilled abruptly and cursed, she raised her eyes to his. “What’s wrong?”

“I didn’t bring any protection.”

“I have some.”

“Why, Ms. Elliott,” he drawled, “were you planning to seduce me?”

She batted her eyelashes at him. “Not until tonight, but I happen to know Scarlet has some condoms in her bathroom. Scarlet’s a better-safe-than-sorry kind of girl.”

Sure enough, Summer located an unopened pack in her sister’s bathroom cabinet. As she returned to her own bedroom, she thought she heard Zeke humming. Walking into the room again, she discovered he’d lit some of the candles. The faint scent of roses hung in the air.

“Now, where were we?” he asked coming toward her. He took a foil packet from her hand and tossed it on the night table.

He took her in his arms and kissed the corner of her mouth, pulling at the tie of her wraparound top until it came undone. Pushing the delicate material off her shoulders, he exposed her br**sts, encased in a lacy bra.

He looked up at her, his lips quirking. “I’ll say this for you. You’ve got fantastic taste in lingerie.”

She smiled, embarrassed. The truth was, she’d taken to heart Scarlet’s advice from the night of the concert: dress sexy and you’ll feel sexy. So, she’d gone out and bought more sexy underwear. “It’s a recent development.”

“Well, hurray for small changes.” He cupped her br**sts and stroked them, arousing her.

“Zeke…”

“Yeah?”

Take me. I’ve got to have you inside me. She longed to give him the kind of sexy words that he’d whispered to her on the first night they’d made love, but she found she couldn’t speak.

“What do you want, Summer?” he asked, his voice low and seductive. “Tell me.”

“Kiss my br**sts.”

“Mmm,” he said, his eyes hooded. “Kiss them? You mean like this?” He bent and placed openmouthed kisses at the cle**age revealed by her bra. “Is that what you want?”

“No,” she said, her voice tinged with frustration. He knew what she wanted.

He seemed to pretend to consider. “No?”

All at once, she knew what she had to do. Two could play at this game. He was teasing her, and suddenly there was every reason to shed her inhibitions.

Keeping her eyes steady on his, she took a step back.

“Where are you going?” he asked.

“Nowhere,” she said seductively. “Why don’t you have a seat, Zeke?”

His eyes widened a fraction, but he sat down on the bed.

“Comfortable?” she asked as she went to the bedside lamp and dimmed the lighting.

“Yeah.”

“I hope you like jazz,” she said as she turned on soft music. “Some people say it puts them in the mood. Do you agree?”

“Come here and find out.”

A thrill coursed through her at his words. She moved toward him, and, while she did so, she unclasped her bra and let it fall to the floor. Reaching him, she pushed him back against the bed until he rested on his elbows, and then she straddled him.