Guilty Pleasures (The Ladies of The Burling School Book 3) Page 8

  Willow wasn’t sure if she should laugh or be offended. “Well, I suppose that all of those assumptions are applicable. If you will…”

  “So, which are you, love?” he asked, moving closer.

  Willow pulled back, shocked by the reek of alcohol on his breath. He hadn’t been sipping just champagne. He’d smuggled in something stronger. Or perhaps he’d just made several trips to the bars around the room. Either way, she wanted to get away from him.

  “I appreciate the conversation, but I need to use the ladies’ room,” she told the man, thinking to escape as quickly as possible. From past experience, she knew that she was on her own in getting away. She’d been left on her own many times over the years, and had learned to be adept at escaping to private areas when the need arose.

  “Ah, don’t run away, love!” the man called out. He had the audacity to grab her elbow, forcibly pulling her back to him. “We’ve only just started to get to know one another. Besides,” he said with what he probably thought was a charming grin, but Willow only perceived as slimy, “you haven’t instructed me on the proper way to view American women. I’ll admit that I have my own hopes on your answer.”

  Willow was startled for perhaps half a second. But then she realized what this man’s glassy-eyed gaze really meant. He was drunk and he was looking for a bit of company for the night.

  Turning to fully face him, she looked into his eyes and smiled. Tightly. “Well Dave,” she said carefully, taking his hand in hers. She turned her fingers slightly, getting them in place. “I think that the first thing that you need to learn about American women is that,” she twisted his fingers, causing him to jerk sideways and yelp, but she didn’t let up, “we don’t appreciate being mauled!” she whispered close to his ear. She tightened her grip on his fingers. “We don’t like it when drunk idiots think they are charming, when in reality, they are actually perilously close to assault.” She twisted his fingers again. “And we’re sick of men thinking they can touch us whenever they want. So please,” she whispered harshly as she bent his thumb back a bit farther, “respect women of every culture and country, and stop touching us when we don’t want to be touched!”

  With that, she released his hand and walked away…straight into a solid, male chest.

  Immediately, Cooper’s arm wrapped around her waist and she looked up into his furious eyes. “Well said, my dear,” he told her, his arm tightening around her and pulling her protectively against his side, despite the evidence that she didn’t need his protection.

  “Um…”

  Cooper glared at Dave who was still cringing, shaking his hand in an effort to ease the pain from Willow’s thumb-twist trick. “I’ll see you in the office on Monday.”

  Willow shivered at the threat in Cooper’s voice. She didn’t envy Dave MacTavish the meeting. She doubted Cooper was a forgiving boss.

  “Are you okay?” he asked when they were away from the man.

  She smiled up at him. “I’m fine. He only grabbed my elbow, trying to stop me from leaving.”

  “I’m sure that was all he was currently doing, but the intent in his eyes when he started to pull you back to him was a bit more…”

  She laid a hand on his chest and looked up at him. “I took care of it,” she asserted firmly. “I’ve been in situations like that before, and I know how to handle men like that.”

  He looked down into her eyes. “You shouldn’t have to learn how to deal with things like that.”

  She grinned. “Why? Because men should act like gentlemen all the time? That’s a utopian fantasy, Cooper. We don’t live in that world, we live in this one. And in this world, men can be jerks.”

  There was a long pause, but at that moment, the tension between them changed. Shifting to something more.

  “You are so beautiful,” he muttered, almost as if he were saying it to himself.

  She brightened and leaned closer. “Thank you.” Her hand slipped under the impeccable tuxedo jacket, smoothing over the silk of his dress shirt. “You’re not too bad yourself, Mr. Adams.”

  The corners of his mouth curled up in that sexy, almost-smile and her heart fluttered. “Let’s dance.” And with that, he took her hand and led her out onto the crowded dance floor, pulling her into his arms and holding her close.

  Willow realized that he was a really good dancer, much better than she’d guessed. Fortunately, because so many people were already on the dance floor, he had to hold her close and she loved swaying to the music in his arms. It felt wonderful! All night, he’d kept her by his side, introducing her to his colleagues and including her in the conversations. Never once did he go off and forget about her. There were several moments over the course of the evening when they were in separate conversations. But she’d felt his presence. And several times, he’d touched her, as if he needed to reassure himself that she was close by.

  Willow liked that about him. Oh, she didn’t delude herself. It would be an affair. A steamy, passionate affair with a man living in a distant country. When she left London, she’d go back to Wyoming and dream about Cooper. But before that happened, she wanted as many memories as possible.

  After another two hours, Willow was tired of talking to strangers, going over the same topics, and appearing interested in hearing about strangers’ children and their antics. “How long do you have to stay here tonight?” she whispered.

  His hands tightened on her waist.

  “Not much longer,” he replied.

  She pressed closer to him. “Good!”

  For the next hour, they danced, and talked with the other guests. Willow knew that this night was a benefit for his grandmother. He might agree with the cause, but he’d done it to make her happy.

  Even that was a pretty sexy piece of information in his favor, Willow thought.

  Cooper was talking with a man about…Willow wasn’t sure. It had numbers in it and something about currency rates. Standing beside him, holding his hand, Willow looked up at his profile, admiring the strength of his character and the intelligent way he discussed the international markets.

  He stopped in the middle of a sentence and looked down at her, both startled by the heat sizzling between them.

  “Excuse me,” he said distractedly to the man waiting for Cooper to continue. But Cooper didn’t continue. He took her hands in his. “Let’s go.”

  With that, he led her out of the ballroom. He nodded to the event coordinator, who nodded in return. That was the only acknowledgement that Cooper gave as he left the building. Thankfully, the driver who had brought them, and presumably the man who had driven Bonnie back to her house, was standing ready outside the doors and came to attention as soon as he saw Cooper and Willow step through the doors.

  As soon as they were in the limousine, Cooper pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Willow didn’t hesitate. Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him back, needing his touch, his kiss, and so much more!

  “Damn, you’re so beautiful!” he groaned as he pulled his mouth away from hers so that he could nuzzle the skin on her neck.

  She gasped at the new sensation, then wiggled closer to him. He guided her hips so she was straddling his hips. Willow wasn’t aware of her dress, which was now pushed up to her waist. It was a most undignified position, but she didn’t care. Not even a little! All she cared about was tilting her neck at just the right angle so that Cooper could continue to do that nibbling thing again. “Yes!” she gasped, gliding her hips against his as she tried to get closer to him, to show him that she liked what he was doing.

  Cooper thought he might explode. All night, he’d been in an almost constant state of arousal. Her bountiful breasts in the red dress made him want to drag her away to some place private so that he could…so he could just revel in the sight of her. She was so damn gorgeous! Plus, everywhere he touched her, she did that wiggling thing that was so damned hot! It was tempting to tear her panties away and thrust into her right now. It would be so easy! And his aching body wanted that d
esperately.

  No, he reminded himself, slowing down and grabbing her hips to stop that erotic wiggling. He was going to wait. Cooper reminded himself that he wasn’t a randy teenager. He wanted Willow spread out on his bed, completely naked, and he wanted to taste every inch of her. He wanted to hear her sounds of triumph as she climaxed before he thrust into her and found his own fulfillment.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked when he gripped her hips.

  Through a rough haze of lust, he looked at her. “I’m not making love to you in the back of a limousine, Willow.”

  Her pretty, blue eyes looked around, almost as if she hadn’t been aware of where they were. “Oh my!” she gasped and tried to slide off his lap. But he only laughed and held her in place. “Don’t go anywhere. But just…” his fingers tightened on her hips and he groaned. Then he realized how close her breasts were to his mouth. “Let me see your breasts,” he demanded, his mouth watering to find out what color her nipples were.

  She hesitated. He could see in her eyes that she was excited. But Willow shook her head. “Not here,” she told him.

  For a moment, he considered arguing with her. The partition between them and the driver was closed. They had privacy, but…he suspected that he might not want to stop at just admiring her breasts. “Fine, but as soon as…”

  The limousine turned into his driveway and he felt a burst of triumph. “We’re here.”

  He practically lifted her out of the limousine, not waiting for the driver to come around and open the door. Cooper barely acknowledged the man, but tossed him a “Thank you! We’re done for tonight,” as he took Willow’s hand and led her through what probably seemed like a maze of sidewalks leading to the front door of his house.

  He pressed a code into the keypad by the front door, then pushed through the door to his house. As soon as they were inside, he pulled her into his arms and backed her up against the wall. “Now that we have some privacy,” he growled, “show me your breasts.”

  He felt her shiver, but also saw the nervousness in her eyes. Cupping her cheek, he shook his head. “If you don’t want this, then just say so. I’ll drive you home right now and kiss you good night at the door.”

  Her eyes darted to his and the muscles in his gut relaxed as he saw her relief. “Thank you,” she whispered, nibbling on her full, lower lip. “I don’t want to go home. But…”

  Cooper couldn’t wait for her to explain. She’d said she wanted to stay, so he was going to show her that she’d made the right decision. Kissing her softly at first, then deepening the kiss until he felt her body and mind get back to the point where she’d been before. It took barely seconds before he felt her incredible hips shift against him again.

  He scooped her up and carried her to his bedroom.

  “I’m too heavy,” she protested.

  He rolled his eyes. “You are not,” he laughed and shouldered his way into the bedroom. He stopped just short of the bed, lowering her feet to the ground. But he spun her around so that her back was to his chest.

  Kissing a trail along her neck, he almost exploded when he felt her derriere press intimately against his throbbing erection. His hands slid down her waist, his fingers digging slightly into her sides. It felt too damn good!

  “Tell me what you like,” he whispered, nipping at her earlobe.

  That seemed to stump her and he smoothed his hands over her front, his fingers spreading out over her stomach.

  “That!” she gasped, arching her back a little. “I like that!” and her own hands moved to cover his.

  “Show me how you like to be touched,” he groaned, nipping at the spot on her neck that had caused her to start grinding her hips in the limousine earlier. Sure enough, as soon as he touched her, she gasped and her bottom pressed against him more firmly. Her hands slid against his, then her fingers moved to circle his wrists, moving his hands higher up her ribcage.

  “Like that?” he asked, sliding his hands back and forth.

  “Higher,” she whispered.

  “Show me,” he ordered.

  Cooper noticed that her eyes were closed, her mouth open. He watched over her shoulder, waiting, needing her to take his hand. When she did, he couldn’t stop the groan of approval when she lifted his hands to cup her breasts. Through the red material, he shifted his thumbs against her taut nipple and she moaned again, her head falling back against his shoulder, which allowed him to see her much more clearly.

  “Show me,” he urged, his thumbs teasing her nipples.

  With frantic, trembling hands, Willow reached behind her and unsnapped the halter on her dress, pulling the material down. As soon as the top was out of the way, she reached for his hands, placing them firmly against her breasts.

  “I still can’t see your nipples, Willow,” he murmured, moving his lips around her neck and shoulders while his fingers curled her breasts. He couldn’t see them clearly, but Holy…! Wherever she’d gotten the lacy contraption holding her magnificent breasts in place…he was going to buy up the whole damn store! The sparkly lace covered her breasts, pushing them together and he loved it! Of course, he wanted it gone. Cooper wanted nothing between his hands and her breasts.

  She pulled away from him slightly, her fingers fumbling the hook at her back. He brushed her hands out of the way and released the catch himself. He was just about to push it away when the material was whipped out of his hands and she swung around, her eyes shining as she presented herself to him.

  Her trembling hands lifted his, bringing this thumbs back to her nipples and…damn, they were pale pink and rock hard.

  “All of you,” he growled, the need a painful ache now. He’d never seen breasts as beautiful as Willow’s. But he pulled his hands away long enough to push the rest of her dress down to her feet. She stood there in only heels and tiny lace panties. He placed her on the bed. He spared a moment to strip off his own clothes, not concerned in the least that his expensive tuxedo now lay in a heap on the floor.

  Especially since Willow sat up to watch him, her eyes taking in every part of his body that he uncovered. “Keep doing that and this will be over too soon,” he warned.

  Willow blinked up at him.

  “You’re looking at me as if you want to…” he had to stop because the thought of her lips on his erection…it was too much.

  “I want to touch you,” she told him, clearing her throat when her voice came out scratchy.

  The thought almost caused his knees to buckle. “Not this time. I couldn’t take it,” he explained.

  He moved closer, kissing her as he pressed her back against the mattress, following her down. His hands moved over her, touching her everywhere. His mouth latched onto one nipple while his hands moved over her stomach, hips, and thighs. Every part of her was soft and silky! Her skin was so pale that his tanned hand was almost a visual shock. And incredibly enticing, highlighting the differences in their bodies.

  Moving down her body, he slipped her panties down her legs. As much as he’d like to enjoy the visual of that lace, he needed to see all of her.

  “Open for me, Willow,” he urged when her knees pressed together.

  His fingers stroked back and forth over her creamy, white thighs and he felt the muscles loosen. A moment later, she shifted against his teasing touch. “Wider,” he said, taking her other nipple in his mouth and sucking on that amazing tip. Slowly, her knees widened and she grabbed his hand, bringing it up to that heat. Her fingers dove into his hair, holding his head in place while his fingers explored her pink folds, teasing and tempting her to open wider. The more she opened for him, the closer he moved his fingers to where he knew she wanted to be touched.

  “Please,” she begged, arching against his fingers.

  He gave her what she wanted, what she needed, his finger sliding into her heat and Willow sighed. But the sound turned to a frustrated moan and he understood. It wasn’t enough. Back and forth, he teased her and allowed his thumb to flick against that sensitive nub. She was so primed by th
at point that just the small flick sent her tumbling over the edge. Cooper pressed against that nub, prolonging her first climax and watching, trying to learn what she liked and how her body responded to his touch.

  When she grabbed his wrist, he laughed. “Oh, no, my dear. This isn’t over. Not by a long shot!” and he started all over again, beginning with her delicious neck. This time, he took her hands and pulled them up over her head as he nibbled along her neck, her shoulders. Moving lower, he captured her pink nipples, feeling her hips lift beseechingly.

  Finally, he had to release her hands when he moved lower, kissing and teasing her stomach, her hips and then, even lower. She tried to close her legs, but he was already there, smelling that amazing, feminine scent as he took his first taste of her sweetness.

  “Cooper!” she groaned, trying to wiggle away. “I can’t do it again!”

  He laughed. “I think you can,” and he took her hands, pinning them to her hips as his mouth moved over her, sucking, teasing, licking, and doing it all over again. Her hips shifting against his mouth gave him direction and only when he knew that she was fully engaged did he release her hands so that he could slide his finger into her heat.

  This time, he knew what to expect! When he knew that she was close, he pulled away, laughing at her whimper of frustration. Grabbing a condom, he rolled it down his length, then moved back between her legs and positioned himself between her legs.

  “Damn, you taste good,” he told her, then kissed her as he pushed gently into her heat. It took her several delicious moments to adjust to his invasion, but he watched her and, when she opened her eyes again, he knew that she was okay.

  Slowly, he thrust into her, going all the way in and then pulling out just to the tip before pressing deep into her body once more. Over and over again, he thrust, changing his angle until he found one that she liked. After that, it was a crazy ride as Willow’s cries and her fingernails digging into his shoulders almost sent him over the edge. It was only by sheer force of will that he was able to force himself to hold back until…!