Not Second Best. Christa Maurice
missing. “You know what the best cure for a broken heart is, don’t you?”
“What?” He glanced over his shoulder as if the answer to her question was back at the wedding reception.
She stared into Brett’s eyes. Brett, who slept with every female who caught his fancy. And there were lots of those. What with his lean build and washboard abs, he was such a very good-looking specimen. “Wanna?” She arched an eyebrow at him.
His lips curled into a smile. “Sounds good to me.”
“Your place or mine?”
“I’m thinking of some place more neutral.”
* * * *
Brett slammed her against the door as soon as it was closed. All the way here, she’d been teasing him. Running her hand up the inside of his thigh, dragging her fingers through his hair, toying with his earlobe. And every time he’d reached for her, she’d smacked his hand away and told him to watch the road.
“Your ass is mine now,” he growled, pressing his face into the curve of her neck.
“I was hoping you wanted more than that.”
“Believe me. I plan to have every inch of you before I’m done.”
Laughing, she ripped his shirt open and shoved it down his arms. “Let’s see if you can deliver on that promise.”
“I can.” He hiked up her skirt. “Pantyhose? Really? These fucking things are like a force field around your sweet spot.”
“I was going to the wedding of an old and dear friend, not headed out for a sleazy tryst.”
“Damn.” Brett dropped to his knees and pulled at the pantyhose. Her heavy, lusty scent crawled through his brain and straight into his dick. “I didn’t think women wore these things anymore.”
“I’m not the kind of woman you usually undress.”
“No kidding.” He smoothed his hands down her soft thighs, down to— “Your fucking shoes have buckles on the ankles. Is there a lock on your pussy, too?”
She laughed again. He glanced up in time to see her toss her blouse across the room. Underneath, she’d worn a lacy bra. Hopefully, it had a normal clasp and not some exotic thing like her goddamn shoes. He fumbled with the buckle, but his fingers couldn’t grasp it.
“Let me help you.” She crouched, pinned between the door and him, trying to reach her shoes through the tangle of pantyhose. Her dark hair brushed his cheek, and he shivered. Tessa was hot. Way hotter than he’d ever thought.
“Screw that.” Brett wrapped his arm around her waist and swung her onto the floor. “I can get to all the parts I need.”
She buried her hands in his hair, drawing him into a deep kiss. Her tongue delved into his mouth as she ground her hips against his.
The urgent need in her touch sizzled along his skin. “You’re a hell of a woman,” he said, dragging his lips down her chest to the thankfully simple front clasp on her bra.
“Thanks, now quit wasting time.”
“You on a schedule?” He flicked open the bra and curved his hand around the warm flesh of her breast.
“No, I just have a lot of work for you. You need to get busy.”
“I love a take-charge woman.” Reaching into his pocket, he located a condom.
“Then you are going to love me.” She grabbed his pants and opened them. “You have a rubber? If not, I have some in my purse.”
“I got it.” He climbed to his knees and ripped open the foil. “Glad to know you have some, too. Wouldn’t want to run out.”
“I’m pretty sure the desk would send up more if we asked. I’m surprised they didn’t give you a gift basket of them when we checked in.” She stretched her arms over her head, which did delightful things to her shape.
“I don’t bring women here.” Brett lifted her nylon-bound ankles over his head and crawled between her legs.
“Except me.” Tessa licked her lips. “And Suzi.”
Her and Suzi. Brett closed his eyes as he thrust into her, trying to imagine Suzi under him and only feeling Tessa’s hot, sleek body and wet, soft mouth. He wrapped his arms around her, riding her hard and fast, lost in the wild rhythm of their bodies sliding together. Her legs clenched around his hips as if she’d never let him go. Beneath him, her eyes were closed and her mouth open as she gasped. Her dusky skin was slick with sweat.
His control slipped, and he groaned. “I don’t think I can wait.”
“You’ll make it up to me.” She tightened her hold on him, arching her hips to meet his.
He came in a heated satin rush, his whole body aching in the crest. Throughout, he could feel her arms and legs around him. Cradling him. For once, he didn’t feel like he was in free fall. Funny, but he didn’t hate the sensation the way he’d always thought he would. It was safety. Security. It was… “Tessa,” he murmured.
“Just finish the job.” She dug her fingernails into his back.
He thrust against her again until she came apart in his arms.
Sighing, she let her head loll on the carpet. “That was distracting.”
“No problem.” Brett swallowed his disappointment. Distracting? He’d never been called that before. The women he’d had lately had been a little more impressed. Fame was very impressive to a groupie. But Tessa was no groupie. She’d been in the thick of fame when he was still singing in the school holiday pageant. “Glad I could be of help.”
“I hope I was just as distracting for you.” She ruffled her fingers through his hair.
“Definitely.” Brett slithered down her body and between her legs. She sat up as soon as she could and went to work on her shoes as if he wasn’t even in the room. Okay, weird. Though he wasn’t sure why it was so important she pay attention to him. He’d gotten what he wanted. He should be happy she didn’t want to cuddle. Standing, he pulled his pants up. “I guess I’ll take a shower.”
“Go ahead, but I’m just going to get you dirty again.” She didn’t look up from her shoes.
“Good. I’ll get really clean so you have to work harder.” He went into the bathroom and turned on the water. Then he leaned on the door and listened to her walk around the other room.
The famous Jason Callisto’s sister and lawyer, Tessa, had always been unattainable. She not only outclassed him in fame, but in brains, and at the reception had appeared totally together until she’d walked away. That was the reason he’d followed her. Because she’d stopped looking cool and started looking more like he felt. Except that just now, she’d been utterly chill.
Brett ducked under the water. He should have known better than to think he knew her this quickly. They had one stupid thing in common. Being second best.
But Tessa was a pretty awesome second.
The bathroom door opened. Tessa peeked around the shower door. “Mind if I join you?”
Brett stepped back to give her room. “You got the shoes off.”
“They aren’t difficult. They just defeated you.” Smirking, she draped her arms around his shoulders.
“Ha ha. I have some buckles that might defeat you.” Brett let his hands slide down her sides with the flow of the water.
“I might let you try those out.” She leaned on him, her skin velvet against his.
“I thought I’d distracted you enough.”
“That was then. This is now.”
“You’re demanding.”
“I