Chapter Five
Five
It wasn’t often Ian was shocked—he did live in Hollywood, after all. But that one word that had just slid from Cassie’s lips truly took his breath and left him utterly speechless.
“Excuse me?”
Raising a brow, she crossed her arms as if she dared him to refuse. “I said strip. You want this, fine. But on my terms.”
“I don’t do sex with rules.”
Cassie shrugged. “I don’t do flings, but here we both are, stepping outside of our comfort zones.”
Damn, she was hot. He never would’ve guessed the shy, quiet sister had this vixen streak. Of course, she admitted she was stepping outside her comfort zone, so perhaps this was all new territory. He had to hand it to her—she was doing a spectacular job. But he couldn’t let her have all the control.
Reaching behind his neck, Ian fisted his shirt and tugged it off, flinging it to the side. Hands on his hips, he offered a grin.
“Now you.”
Cassie laughed. “You’re not done yet.”
“No, but I’m ahead of you.” He met her gaze, the silent challenge thrown down between them. “I’m waiting.”
Even though her eyes never left his, he didn’t miss the way her hands shook as she reached beneath the dress and pulled her panties down her bare legs.
Just that simple piece of silk lying discarded at her feet had his pulse racing, his body responding.
She quirked a brow again, as if waiting for him to proceed.
Without hesitation he toed off his shoes and ripped off his socks. “Looks like you’re down to only one garment now,” he told her, taking in the strapless dress she’d donned.
And it was about to get a whole hell of a lot hotter in here.
She eyed the lamp across the room and started for it.
“No,” he told her. “Leave it on.”
Glancing over her shoulder, she met his stare. “Trust me when I say you’ll want that off.”
“And why is that?”
Turning fully to face him, she pointed to her body. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not one of those Hollywood types who starve themselves for the sake of being ultrathin.”
Crossing the narrow space between them, Ian ran both his hands up her bare arms and tucked his fingers in the elastic of the top of the dress, causing her arms to fall to her side.
“Oh, I’ve noticed.” He yanked the dress down until it puddled at her feet, leaving her bare to him. “And that’s precisely why I want that light on.”
Her body trembled beneath his. No way did he want her questioning her gorgeous curves or the fact that he wanted the hell out of her.
Without a word he shucked off his pants and boxer briefs and tossed them aside.
Her eyes drank him in, causing the same effect as if she’d touched his entire body with her bare hands. Dying to touch her, to run his fingers along her curves, Ian snaked his arms around her waist and tugged her against him.
“As much as I want to explore that sexy body of yours, I’m hanging on by a thread here,” he admitted as his mouth slammed down onto hers.
Cassie wrapped her arms around his neck. Their damp bodies molded together from torso to thigh, and she felt so perfect against him.
Perfect? No, she couldn’t be perfect for him. Perfect for right now, which was all either of them was after.
They were simply taking advantage of the moment...of the sexual attraction that had enveloped them since she’d literally fallen into his arms only a few days ago.
Ian gripped her waist and lifted her.
“Ian, don’t—”
“Shh,” he whispered against her mouth. “I’ve got you.”
Her lips curved into a smile. “What about a condom? Do you have that, too?”
Condom, yes. They needed a condom. His mind had been on the subtle moans escaping from her lips and getting those curves beneath his hands.
He eased her down his body and went to his jeans, where he pulled a condom from his wallet and in record time had it on.
When he turned back to her, he fully expected her to have her arms wrapped around her waist, maybe even be biting her lip out of nerves. But what he saw was a secure woman, hands on her hips, head tilted and a naughty grin on her face.
“Your confidence is sexy,” he told her as he came back to her.
“You make me feel sexy.”
Yeah, she wasn’t a Hollywood size zero. Cassie Barrington was more old-school Hollywood starlet. She was a natural, stunning, vibrant woman, and now that she’d agreed to leave the light on, he could fully appreciate the beauty she was.
And when she reached for him and nearly wrapped herself around him as she claimed his mouth, her sexy status soared even higher.
Damn, he wasn’t going to make it through this night.
Ian backed her against the wall and lifted her once again. This time her legs went around his waist and he had no control. None. The second he’d shucked that dress off her he’d been holding on by that proverbial thin thread.
Ian took her, causing her body to bow back, and her head tilted, eyes closed as she groaned once again.
As their hips moved together, Ian took the opportunity to kiss his way across her shoulders and the column of her throat before taking her face between his palms and claiming her mouth.
Sweat slick between them, the air around them grew even hotter as Cassie gripped his bare shoulders. Her nails bit into his skin; her heels dug into his back.
He wouldn’t have it any other way.
She tore her mouth from his. “Ian, I—”
Yeah, he knew. He was right there with her as her body stilled, trembled. Following her over the edge, watching her face as she succumbed to the passion was one of the most erotic moments of his life.
Her body slid down his and he was pretty sure she would’ve collapsed to the floor had he not been leaning against her. He needed to lean into her or he’d be a puddle, too.
And the night had just begun.
Cassie slid back into her dress, ignoring the panties. Why bother with modesty at this point?
She may not live in Hollywood, but she’d put on one hell of an acting display.
Ian thought her confident? She’d played along simply because she secretly wanted to be that wanton, take-charge woman, that woman who claimed what she wanted.
And if he thought she was so comfortable with her body in this situation, then who was she to tell him different?
She’d been meek in her marriage, not a sex goddess in any way. But the way Ian had looked at her, touched her, was nothing like she’d ever experienced.
How could a man she’d known only a handful of days provide so much self-assurance? He’d awakened something within her she hadn’t even known existed.
Cassie was certainly not used to one-night stands or flings, but she couldn’t regret what had just happened.
A virtual stranger had just given her one of the greatest gifts.
..self-esteem. Not too long ago she’d thought she’d never have that back, but right now, with her body still tingling from his talented hands and lips, Cassie knew without a doubt that she was better than the husband who had left her for another woman.
She’d just scooped up her discarded panties from the floor when Ian placed his hands around her waist and tugged her back against his bare chest.
“How’s that age thing now?” he asked, nipping her ear. “Any complaints about how young I am?”
Laughing, Cassie shook her head. “You certainly know what you’re doing.”
His lips trailed over her neck. “I’m not done, either.”
Oh, mercy. Her entire body shivered as she let her head fall back against his shoulder, enjoying the kisses he sprinkled across her heated skin.
“I’m not sure why you put this dress back on,” he told her between kisses. “It’s so hot in here and all.”
Yes, yes, it is.
Cassie turned in his arms, noticing he was still completely naked. Those ripped muscles beneath taut, tanned skin begged for her touch.
“I didn’t get to appreciate all of this a moment ago, before you attacked me,” she told him, trailing her fingertips along his biceps and across his pecs.
“Appreciate me all you want,” he told her with a crooked grin. “But let it be known, I didn’t attack. You ordered me to strip, so I believe you started this.”
Cassie playfully smacked his chest. “Who started what? You were the one who propositioned me in the stables.”
“How’s a man supposed to react when a sexy woman falls into his arms?”
“Yes, naturally that’s what most people would do,” she said, rolling her eyes.
Ian reached down, cupped her backside and widened his sexy smile. “I’m glad this little incident happened with the lock.”
Cassie had to admit she was, too. There was no way she would’ve been able to focus on work with all her emotions fluttering around inside her.
Now hopefully she wouldn’t have to worry about this overwhelming physical attraction to Ian.
They’d had sex, gotten it out of their systems and could move on.
His body stirred against hers. Okay, maybe they hadn’t gotten it out of their systems.
“We still have hours before anyone will find us.” He started backing her up again. “I have so many ideas to fill the time.”
The backs of Cassie’s thighs hit the edge of an old table. Ian wasted no time hoisting her up onto the smooth wooden surface.
“Do you have more condoms?” she asked.
His heavy-lidded gaze combined with that Cheshire-cat smile had her quivering before he even spoke.
“I may be out of condoms, but not out of ways to pleasure you.”
And when he proceeded to show her, Cassie was suddenly in no hurry for daylight to come.