Heaven, Texas (Chicago Stars #2)(64)

She sounded vaguely hoarse. “You’d have to own my body?”

“Uh-huh.”

“Own it?”

“Yep. Your body’d belong to me instead of to you. It’d be just like I took a big ole Magic Marker and put my initials on every little part of you.”

Somewhat to his surprise, she seemed more stunned than insulted. “It sounds like slavery.”

He managed to look hurt. “I didn’t say I’d own your mind, honey. Just your body. There’s a distinct difference, and I’m surprised you can’t see that without me having to point it out.”

Her throat worked as she swallowed hard. “What if you force me—or my body, depending on how we’re looking at it—to do something I don’t want to do?”

“Oh, I’ll definitely force you. No doubt about it.”

Her eyes widened in outrage. “You’ll force me?”

“Sure. You’ve got years of catching up to do, and we only have a limited amount of time. I won’t harm you, sweetheart, but I sure will have to force you, or we’ll never get to the advanced stuff.”

He could see that remark had just about done her in. Her eyes were big gray pools and her lips had parted. Still, he had to admire her fortitude. One thing he’d figured out about Gracie right from the beginning. She had guts.

“I—uh—I’m going to have to think about this.”

“I don’t see what there is to think about. It either sounds right to you, or it doesn’t.”

“It’s not that simple.”

“Sure it is. Believe me, honey, I know a lot more about this than you do. The best thing right now would be for you to say, ‘I trust you with my life, Bobby Tom, and I’m gonna do whatever you tell me to.’”

Her eyes snapped. “That’s taking control of my mind, not my body!”

“I was just testing to make sure you understood the difference, and you passed with flying colors. I’m proud of you, sweetheart.” He went in for the kill. “What I really want you to do now is open the rest of the buttons on that vest.”

“But we’re outside!”

He noticed she didn’t protest the action, just the location, and he pressed a little harder. “As I recall, I’m the experienced partner here, and you’re the virgin. You’re either going to have in trust me with this body stuff or our arrangement isn’t going to work out.”

He almost felt sorry for her as he watched her sense of propriety do battle with that traitorous vein of sexuality she couldn’t quite control. She was thinking so hard, he could practically hear her brain cells zing, and he waited for her lips to purse up so she could tell him to go to the devil. Instead, she took an unsteady breath.

When her gaze darted around the parking lot, he knew he had her. He felt a rush of emotions—pleasure, mirth, and a queer sort of tenderness. In that moment he made a vow to himself that he’d never do anything to violate her trust. The uneasy knowledge of who was paying her salary flicked through his mind, but he resolutely pushed it aside to lean down and kiss one cheek, while he cupped the other in his palm and whispered, “Go on, honey. Do what I tell you.”

For a moment she didn’t move, and then he felt the flutter of her hands between her chest and his.

Her voice was husky. “I—I feel silly.”

He smiled against her cheek. “I’m the one who’s going to do the feelin’ here.”

“This just seems so…naughty.”

“Oh, it is. Now open up.”

Once again her hands moved between their bodies.

“Is it open all the way?” he asked.

“Y—yes.”

“That’s good. Put your arms around my neck.”

She did as he requested. The sides of the vest brushed over the backs of his hands as he pushed them apart and felt the warmth of her bare breasts through his lavender silk shirt. Once again, he whispered in her ear.

“Unzip your jeans.”

She didn’t move. Not that he was surprised. He’d already managed to push her farther than he’d expected. He’d also gotten so worked up himself by their sex play that he was in danger of forgetting this was a game.

He uttered a soft groan as her body brushed against his. She stood on her tiptoes. He felt her check graze his jaw and heard her soft murmur.

“You first.”

He nearly exploded. Before he could react, however, two men came stumbling around the side of the parking lot, arguing loudly with each other.

Every muscle in her body went rigid.

“Shhh…” He pushed her gently back against the building, shielding her with his body. Opening his thighs, he caught her legs between his and pressed his lips to her ear. “We’ll just make out for a little bit ‘til they go away. Would you like that?”

She tilted up her face. “Oh, yes.”

Despite the agonizing pressure in his jeans, he wanted to smile at her lack of artifice, but he knew she wouldn’t understand, so he controlled himself. Bending his head, he touched his mouth to hers, shielding their faces with the brim of his hat. Her lips remained tightly closed, and he decided there was something infinitely exciting about kissing a woman who didn’t try to shove her tongue down his throat before he’d even had a chance to figure out whether he wanted it there or not.