Читать книгу Suddenly Sexy - Susanna Carr - Страница 9

“HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?” Asia asked an hour later as they stood in the women’s restroom.

Julie rubbed her forehead with the tips of her fingers, warding off a headache. “I’m beginning to think I have.”

“It’s an unwritten rule.” Asia continued to pace the floor of the small room, the sound of her heels echoing against the tiles. “You never give a guy a heads-up that you’re going to seduce him.”

“I know, I know.” She had been impulsive, but she needed to prove to Eric that she was smart and sexy enough for the job. But she wasn’t sure if she could pull it off. Flirting was one thing, but she’d never seduced a man before.

Asia covered her face with her hands and took a deep breath. “Okay, we can still make this work.” She dropped her hands and studied Julie’s appearance with such intensity that Julie wanted to hunch her shoulders and take cover.

“Here’s the plan,” Asia announced, holding her hands up high. “Tonight you’ll come over to my place and we’ll do a makeover. I have some dresses that will drive any guy wild.”

“Thanks, Asia, but I don’t think that’s going to work.”

“Why not?”

“We aren’t the same size.” Asia was a sleek Amazon while she was short and curvy. “And I don’t think I can pull off the leather-pants look.”

“Don’t knock it until you try it.”

Julie wished she could try it, but she was pretty sure Asia’s leather pants wouldn’t go past her ankles. “Anyway, the minute Eric sees me in your clothes he’ll know the game’s begun.”

“That’s true. Okay, we’re back to square one.”

Julie stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. “What was I thinking?” she muttered.

She studied her face. It was just another face. Blue eyes, average nose, pink lips. Nothing memorable. Nothing that a man would start a war over or throw his perfectly good life away so he could see it every day.

Her hair was shoulder-length, brown and straight. Big deal. Her body … Julie turned away from the mirror. It was as good as it was going to get.

“Don’t let what one guy says make you quit,” Asia advised as she patted Julie’s shoulder. “You have always wanted to work on a case.”

“Yeah, but Eric Ranger isn’t just some random guy on the street. He knows what he’s talking about.”

“Bull. Eric might be an expert when it comes to tracking down a criminal, but he doesn’t know every secret a woman has. He doesn’t know what you are capable of doing.”

“True.” But she had a feeling that Eric had met many women just like her. She wouldn’t be able to take him by surprise.

“And if he can’t see what’s so great about you,” Asia continued, “than he doesn’t deserve you.”

There was nothing great about her. She was ordinary.

“But I’m telling you, Julie, he does know.”

Julie’s mouth twisted in a wry smile. “That’s wishful thinking.”

“Give my deductive skills some credit,” Asia insisted. “I see the way he looks at you. The way he acts. He tries to be the perfect gentleman around you.”

“I don’t want a gentleman,” Julie replied in a low, forceful tone. “I want a hot-blooded man.”

“Maybe he thinks you’re too ladylike or delicate for the likes of him.” Asia shrugged. “It’s your job to prove him wrong.”

There was that word again. Delicate. She had been delicate when she was growing up, spending so much time at the doctor’s office and in bed. She was stronger and healthier now. She didn’t want her childhood to define her.

“I want him to see me as strong and powerful.” Julie narrowed her eyes as she saw the image before her. “I want him to think I’m so sexy that he’s afraid he’s going to lose control. I want to be a danger to his sanity, to his heart. And I want him to know that I know it, too.”

“Yeah, that sounds like your fantasy woman. What’s his fantasy?”

“Huh?”

Asia hesitated as she studied Julie’s appearance again. “I think we’re approaching this all wrong. Seduction is about fantasy.”

“Keep talking.”

“If you want to seduce Eric,” Asia said as she rearranged Julie’s hair to flow past her shoulders, “you need to create a fantasy. His fantasy, not yours.”

“I have to become his fantasy girl,” Julie murmured as she looked in the mirror again. “Who would be Eric’s fantasy girl?”

“That’s difficult to say,” Asia admitted. “He’s been around the world. He’s seen and done it all.”

“That isn’t helping my confidence.” Julie tilted her head as she noted her reflection. “I bet Eric’s fantasy girl is sleek and glamorous. She wears lots of black and probably has a knife tucked in her garter belt.”

Asia scoffed. “Please, you are not dressing up like that character in those books you read.”

Huh. She didn’t realize she’d described the way Sapphire appeared on the cover of the current book. “You don’t think I could pull it off?”

“Eric probably works all day with women like that. His fantasy girl would be someone unattainable. You think your looks are common, but you might be exotic to someone like Eric.”

“Oh, I wish.” Julie made a face. “You’re just saying that because the girl next door is the one look I can pull off.”

“I’m telling the truth,” Asia said as she caught Julie’s gaze in the mirror. “Stop thinking about the woman you wish you were and play up to your strengths.”

Julie bit her bottom lip as she considered the strengths of a girl next door. She never thought of them as such. She could be straightforward without being sexually aggressive. She wasn’t particularly thrilled with her wholesome image, but if she tried to approach him as a seductress, he would be on guard.

“I’m going to seduce him. Right now. He won’t suspect me making a move so fast.” And she won’t have time to talk herself out of her plans.

“Go for it!” Asia exclaimed.

“I’ll need to disarm him somehow, so I can get close.”

“Now you’re talking!”

Julie headed for the door. “I need to find the medicine cabinet.”

“Whoa!” Asia stopped her by grabbing her arm. “Are we talking disarming or drugging?”

“Don’t worry, Asia,” Julie said as she gave a comforting pat on her friend’s hand. “I want Eric to be fully alert and functioning when I seduce his brains out.”

ERIC BARELY HEARD THE timid knock. He dragged his eyes from the computer screen and glared at his office door. He didn’t want to see anyone right now. He wasn’t in the best mood, and he still had a job to do. “Come in,” he said harshly.

When the door opened, Eric was surprised to see Julie peek in. She seemed almost too shy to enter.

“I thought you might need these.” In one hand was a cup of water. In the other was a packet of aspirin.

“How did you know?” He knew it was a peace offering. That was totally Julie. She was sweet and nurturing. She also wasn’t the type to stay angry for long.

Julie stepped into the office and closed the door with her elbow. “I shouldn’t have carried on like I did,” she said with a grimace. “I’m sorry. You have enough to deal with.”

“It’s okay.” Eric slowly began to relax. Julie wasn’t going to make another argument to become a decoy. She wasn’t going to attempt to seduce him. He admitted he was slightly disappointed in that, but it was for the best.

Everything was all right now. Julie had finally come to her senses. “I want you to know that I wasn’t trying to hurt your feelings,” he said.

“I understand.” Julie placed the water and aspirin packet next to his phone. She rested her hip against the edge of his desk, her leg almost grazing his. “You’re protecting me.”

Eric frowned. Did her mouth tighten with annoyance? Nah. It was a trick of the light.

“If you want to work on the case, I can have you help out with audio,” Eric said. He knew she wanted to feel as if she were part of the team. It was the best compromise he could offer.

“Thanks, I appreciate that.” Julie crossed her legs and he heard the rasp of fabric. The turquoise wrap dress tightened against her hips and thighs, emphasizing her curves. He couldn’t help but notice her legs were bare and smooth.

Julie tilted her head. “You haven’t been getting enough sleep, have you?”

Her question gave him a start. He didn’t need a lot of sleep, but lately he had been spending more nights in the office than usual. “What makes you say that?”

Julie leaned closer. The V of her neckline gaped slightly, offering a glimpse of cleavage. “You look really pale.”

“I do?” He dragged his gaze from her neckline.

She reached out and flattened her hand against his forehead. Every muscle in his body locked in response. “I don’t think you have a fever,” she said softly.

Her hand felt good. It was warm and gentle. He imagined what it would be like if she stroked him with those hands. She could torment him with a light touch.

“I can’t tell,” she said.

“What?” He blinked as he tried to refocus. “Can’t tell what?”

“If you have a fever. Hold on.” To his surprise, she leaned forward and pressed her mouth against his forehead. His heart lurched at the touch of her lips against his skin.

She was so close. Too close. Eric swiped his tongue along his mouth as he stared at her throat. He wanted to lick every inch of it, and then he would brand her with a love bite so everyone would know she was his.

He shouldn’t think like that. Julie wasn’t his and never would be. Eric closed his eyes, but that didn’t help. He caught a hint of her scent. It was warm and sweet like cinnamon. He found it difficult to swallow.

“No, no fever,” she said and cupped his face with both hands. He opened his eyes just in time to see Julie peer at him intently.

He wondered what she saw. Was she scared by the darkness in his eyes? She should be. She should be running far away. Didn’t she know that he could pounce at any moment?

“Do you hurt anywhere?”

“Hurt?” he repeated. She had a tender expression that twisted him up inside.

“Any aching?”

Oh, hell, yeah. He was beginning to ache. Eric shifted in his seat. “Were you a nurse in a former life?”

There was a mysterious, almost bittersweet smile. “At one time I thought about it, but I decided I don’t like hanging around hospitals.”

“I know the feeling.” When he was on enforced bed rest from his knife injury he almost went stir-crazy.

“I saw how nicely the doctors sewed you up.” She reached out and brushed her fingertips along the side of his ribs.

He remembered how he’d woken up that morning. Half-naked with Julie, soft and warm underneath him. She had fit snugly against him. The memory made him rock hard.

“You probably haven’t fully recovered.” She continued to caress his scar, almost absently. “You should rest more.”

He scowled at her suggestion. “I’ve been resting for the past six weeks.”

“No, you haven’t,” she disagreed softly. “You’ve been working night and day to help Perry. I admire that about you. Not many guys would take the time to help their godfathers.”

“It’s the least I could do.” He was uncomfortable by the admiring gleam in her eyes. He wasn’t a hero because he was helping a friend. “Perry took care of me plenty of times when I was growing up.”

“I bet you were wild.” Her eyes sparkled.

“I was.” Had she moved closer or had he? It didn’t matter. He needed to break the spell between them.

She arched one eyebrow. “Are you still wild?”

His chest tightened. “Yeah,” he confessed.

“Good,” she whispered. “I like wild.”

JULIE’S HEART POUNDED against her chest as she grazed her mouth against his. She thought she would feel brazen at this moment. Instead, she was nervous, not knowing if Eric was going to reject her.

She placed her hands on his shoulders and deepened the kiss. He tasted good. Hot, male and dangerous.

Eric didn’t respond. She wanted one more taste before he pulled away. With the dart of her tongue, Julie traced the lines of his mouth, encouraging him to part his lips.

She heard Eric groan, felt the rumble in his chest. He reached out and Julie was sure he would push her away. Instead, he grabbed her waist, his hands bunching her dress in his fists.

Julie wasn’t sure why he wasn’t tumbling her into his arms or, worse, setting her aside. When she felt the tremor in his shoulders, she understood. He was trying to hang on to the last shred of restraint.

She understood it because she felt the same way. But she wasn’t going to hold back any longer.

Julie thrust her tongue into Eric’s warm mouth and boldly explored. When Eric sucked her in deep, Julie moaned with pleasure.

The sound of her voice shattered the last of his resistance. He vaulted from his chair and pressed her body against his. Eric speared his hands through her hair, holding her still before he plunged his tongue into her mouth.

His kiss made her knees buckle. She had never been kissed like this before. He dominated. Mastered. Claimed. She surrendered without a fight.

Julie grabbed the front of Eric’s shirt and pulled him down with her. She lay across his desk, disregarding the pile of papers and whatever it was poking against her. All of her attention was on Eric.

She felt the urgency rippling through him as he rubbed his hands over her hips and stomach. His fierce kisses left her breathless. It was all Julie could do to hang on, her senses going wild. She inhaled his heat, his scent, and found it intriguing.

Eric was hot for her. He wanted her as much as she wanted him. She thought her seduction would end with a few kisses. She never thought it would go this far … that he wanted more. The knowledge filled her with confidence. She reached down to the tie at her waist and yanked it boldly. Her dress sagged open.

Eric broke the kiss and lifted his head. She pulled at her dress even more and watched his eyes darken with pleasure when he saw the pale blue lace of her bra.

He brushed her hands away and grabbed her dress. With his chest rising and falling with each ragged breath, he peeled her dress from her body. Julie’s breath hitched in her throat. It felt as if he were unwrapping a special present.

A tingle of nerves washed over her. Did he like what he saw? Or was it going to end before it began? Julie was tempted to strike a centerfold pose to show her body off in the best light.

Eric covered one of her breasts with his strong hand. She felt small and soft against him. Ultrafeminine. He teased her tight nipple against the satin and she shivered with delight.

He leaned down, yanked the bra away and licked the tip of her breast. He curled his tongue, then flattened it, before sweeping it against her nipple. Heat washed through her as he teased her.

Julie cried out. She clutched his head, her fingers caressing his hair, as she pressed him closer. She wanted more.

As he sucked her nipple, Eric trailed his hand down her abdomen, stroking her heated skin, learning the curves of her body. She tensed when he cupped her sex.

Even though she still wore pale blue panties, there was no way she could hide her arousal. He touched her boldly, dragging the edge of his thumb along the folds of her sex. She wanted him to rip her panties off and sink into her.

The phone next to her head rang. The shrill sound made her jump. She looked around, startled, but Eric rested his hand against her shoulder to soothe her.

“Ignore it,” he said against her breast, his voice low and rough. He slipped his fingertips beneath the lace of her panties. She desperately wanted to pretend nothing else existed but Eric and her.

“It’s an in-office ring.” It rang again and then stopped. Panic fluttered inside her chest. “If you don’t answer, someone will come looking for you.”

“I won’t answer the door,” he promised and did something with his tongue that sent a spray of wild sensations down her spine.

“But I didn’t lock it,” she said between gasps.

“Why would you? You didn’t know …” Tension flooded his body. She knew the moment he’d figured out her plans. Eric pulled his hands away and raised his head. His eyes were an intense blue and he glared accusingly at her. “You set me up.”

Her first instinct was to apologize, but she bit back the words. She didn’t have anything to feel sorry about. “I didn’t think it would go this far, Eric.” She could tell by the look in his eyes that he didn’t believe her. “But a deal’s a deal,” she said, her voice quavering. “I get to be a decoy.”