TWO

Holy crap, was Crescent Lake in the middle of nowhere! Annoyed, Trevor wondered yet again why the hell Tess would come all the way up to Washington to a lake a million miles from the airport when she could summer anywhere.

But once he stopped to really look he began to understand. It was perfect there. While L.A. was hotter than hell in the middle of July, along the road to the lake, lush green trees filled the landscape and the air smelled sweet and clean.

The resort Tess’ mother gave him directions to was gorgeous, he had to admit. A big rustic main lodge and smaller cabins dotted the area around the lake. It was nearly ten at night but it was still the pinkish light of late sunset.

After parking the rental in front of her cabin he got out, relishing the crunch of pine needles beneath his shoes. He could smell the warm earth, the sap from the trees. How long had it been since he’d done that?

Leaving his bags in the car for the moment, he marched up to the door and knocked.

She answered after a few moments and stood there, utterly surprised. Then she scowled, crossing her arms over her chest. Which alternately annoyed and confused him more because he realized he’d never noticed what world-class breasts she had until that day she quit. And there she was—there they were—mouthwateringly creamy mounds heaving out of the top of the camisole she wore. And her legs were exposed to the top of her thighs by a very short denim skirt, and he saw a woman he’d never imagined worked for him for two years.

“What do you want, Trevor? I sent your house keys back and wrote out instructions on how to reset your alarm codes in case you’re worried I’ll break in. How in the hell did you find me? I can’t believe you hunted me down for that.”

“I got the keys but I haven’t changed the codes. I threw myself on your mother’s mercy. Can I come in?”

Warily, she stepped back and opened the screen door and waved him inside. He looked around. The cabin was one large room with a loft space he guessed housed the bed. The front was all glass and looked out over the lake. The rising moon glimmered overhead, reflecting off the water. The interior had what he believed was a coastal Indian décor. Beautiful and simple.

“This is a really great place.” He looked at her and motioned toward the couch. “Tess, uh, can I sit down?”

Rolling her eyes at him, she waved in the general direction of the couch and tossed herself into a chair. Swinging her legs up onto the ottoman made her skirt ride up, briefly exposing a scrap of red fabric covering her mound. He blinked a few times and sat down.

“Well, what is it, Trevor? You came two states and several hours on two-lane roads to get here. You’d better not be here about buying you condoms.”

“I want you back,” he blurted out.

She snorted. “I’m sure you do. You’ve discovered how hard it is to run your own damned life, haven’t you?”

“Yes.” He wasn’t happy about the admission but there it was.

Watching her to gauge her reaction, he couldn’t stop himself from looking at the body he’d totally ignored for two years. Good god, her nipples were hard. Mouth beginning to water, he wondered what color they were, strawberry pink or deeper raspberry, maybe even coral pink.

“Are you even listening to me?” Her voice broke into his naughty, naked ruminations. While in nipple fantasyland, he hadn’t heard a word she’d said. That couldn’t be good.

“No, damn it. Have you always been so sexy? How am I supposed to think when your nipples are hard and you have on red panties?” he said grumpily. She raised her eyebrows. Standing up, he began to pace. “And what’s with the short skirt anyway? Have your legs always been so long?”

“Yes and when you’re around my nipples are always hard.” She looked up at him with a sardonic smile.

Shocked into stillness by her admission, he looked at her closely. “Really? How come I never noticed?”

She sighed. “A question for the ages, Trevor, I’m sure. As I was saying—I’m not interested in coming back to work and having you treat me like shit. No matter how well I’m paid.”

“What color are your nipples?”

“What? Trevor! God, never mind, go home.” She stood but he grabbed her arm and pulled her closer.

All finesse was gone. He was on fire for her. Every cell in his body wanted to claim this woman he’d had under his nose all this time. “Suddenly, Tess, I’m finding myself obsessed with what you look like while you’re coming. What you’d feel like as I slid inside of you. What your pussy tastes like,” he growled, running his hands up and down her arms.

Holy crap! No wonder those starlets jumped into the sack with him. No rational woman with a clit could withstand the assault of the sex appeal of this man. Her heart pounded. She gripped his shirt to keep her hands from shaking. Nervously, she licked her lips as she looked up at him.

“Shall we see, Tess?” His voice was soft and velvet, his hand trailing up her thigh.

“I already know what color my nipples are.” Her voice was faint and breathy, and he rewarded her with a wicked smile that flooded her pussy with honey.

Those questing fingers reached her inner thigh and then higher, brushing the fabric of her panties. A moan escaped her as he flicked his index finger across her clit through the lace. “Are you wet for me, Tess?”

“This is a bad idea.” Yeah, really convincing if you thrust your cunt into his hand when you say it. She should have been ashamed of her response but she wasn’t. She’d crushed on him for so long. Watched him with other women for two years. Even though she knew he’d walk away in a bit, she wanted him.

“No it isn’t. Take your skirt off.” His voice was quiet but it wasn’t a request.

Reaching behind her body, she quickly unfastened the skirt and it fell to her feet, leaving her in red thong panties and a tank top.

“Very sexy.” Circling her like a shark, he ran a finger underneath the waistband of her underwear. “A thong. Nice choice for someone whose ass is as juicy as yours. Tell me, Tess, why is it that I never noticed your body before?”

“I don’t know. You barely noticed me at all for two years. Enough to know I kept your life moving but not as a woman. Not even as a human being really.” That still hurt.

“I’m sorry, Tess. I really am. For lots of things. I’ve obviously been missing quite a bit.” Stopping behind her, he leaned to speak in her ear. “Take your panties off.”

She hesitated for a moment.

“Tess.”

Quickly, she slid the panties over her hips and down to join the skirt at her feet.

“Will wonders never cease? Tess, you’re bare. I like that very much.” Running his fingers over her mound, he stopped to dip one into her pussy. The fleshy pad pressed over her clit, sliding side to side. Hips bucking forward, she moaned as he slid a finger inside her and then back out.

“Your clit is pierced. Tess, you look so innocent on the outside but you are such a naughty girl just beneath the surface. I find I like that very much.”

Putting the finger slicked with her honey to his lips, he locked eyes with her as he licked it with relish. “Juicy. So sweet and hot and wet. Is that for me?”

“You know it is.” Anger began to edge into her system. Duh! Who else would she be wet for? Arrogant ass!

“But I didn’t.” He tipped her chin so that she was looking into his face. “I didn’t know.” And why didn’t he? Trevor kicked himself for his lack of attention. He leaned down and licked over her mouth. Tongue tracing a hot, wet line across her pouty, full lower lip before catching it between his teeth.

Her taste burned through him, intoxicated his brain and teased his senses. She tasted heady and sweet but real. There was nothing artificial about this woman and that may have been the biggest turn-on of all.

She was fire in his arms. Fluid, hot sex and damn it if she wasn’t the most beautiful sight he’d ever seen.

His cock strained against the fly of his jeans, aching to be inside her body. The muscles of his abdomen trembled with restraint. This woman knew him. She knew his history and he didn’t want that to bar the way. He had to show her pleasure first. Bring her off, take her higher and higher until she shattered around him. Then he’d fuck her.

Lips skating down the arch of her neck, he feasted on the place just below her ear. The wild fluttering of her pulse fed his desire. The knowledge that he affected her so deeply seduced him.

“I think it’s time I see those breasts, Tess.” He pulled her tank off with a flourish and couldn’t hold back a sigh of happiness when he sighted her bare breasts. “Ah, coral. A lovely color. I would have guessed more pink. Surprises are a wonderful thing.” They were high and full, nipples drawn tight and calling for his mouth.

“Only a movie star would call it coral,” she breathed out. “Fucking metrosexual.”

He laughed. He’d missed her humor. Something else he’d failed to appreciate until it was gone. “There’s my smart-assed girl. I may know my color palette but I know a few other things, too.” Drawing his hands up her stomach, he brought them to her breasts. As he palmed them, the nipples begged for attention and he complied. He kissed down the upper curve until he found her nipple. Her skin smelled like summer.

Warm and sunkissed. As he swirled his tongue around that hard bead, her cry of pleasure shot straight to his cock. Unable to resist, he took the entire nipple into his mouth, grazing his teeth over it before sucking hard. She arched into him, her hands sliding up his shoulders to cradle his head to her.

Hazy with the shock of the utter unreality of the moment, Tess slid deeper into his spell. Yes, she’d wanted this but the fantasy had nothing on the reality. She had no idea what inspired this move from disinterest to thrusting his erection against her thigh so quickly.

“What brought this on? What are you doing?” she managed to gasp out as he bit her nipple.

“I’m going to fuck you, Tess. But first, I want to be sure you’re good and wet. I want to taste you on my tongue as I lick you into orgasm. And then I’ll back you over this couch and slide into you from behind and fuck you just hard enough to make those luscious breasts bounce.”

“What makes you think I want that?” Yeah, right.

He chuckled wickedly. “Your cream is running down your thigh, Tess. Your pussy is hot and wet and soft for me.” He dropped to his knees before her, leaning in to part her pussy. Exposed, her clit throbbed in the cool air.

“Damn it, this ring is so sexy. Just looking at it makes me so hard I can barely move.” Moving his mouth to her, he flicked his tongue over her clit rapidly until she had to lean on the couch for support. He gently pulled on the ring with his teeth, bringing a mewl from her lips. “Do you like that, Tess? I do. Oh I enjoy you so much.” Pushing her back on the couch, he brought her thighs up to his shoulders. Pausing to spread her open and look at her again, he flicked his gaze up to hers before bringing his mouth to her pussy.

So soft and creamy. Trevor speared his tongue into her, swirling it around her gate. He lapped at her, bringing the flat of his tongue through her folds and over her clit and the silver ring there. Pulling her clit into his mouth, he slowly sucked it in and out while he stroked two fingers inside her. She was so good, so luscious that he wanted to eat her for days.

“Oh yes, more like that, please,” she whispered softly and he complied. “Don’t stop, god, what you’re doing, don’t stop.” His mouth on her was heaven. Wet against wet, his tongue sliding over her and into her, pushing her into a place where her muscles trembled with the rush of endorphins through her body. It wasn’t impersonal at all. Not a quick, nameless blowjob. He made love to her with his mouth. The intensity of that frightened her but did not halt the freight train of her climax from slamming into her cells at full speed. Arching, a cry on her lips, she clamped her thighs over his ears as wave after wave of pleasure rolled through her.

After she’d stopped fluttering a bit he pulled back, kissing the sensitive spot where thigh met body. He moved up, capturing her lips in a hard kiss.

Responding to her taste, her residual warmth on his mouth, she licked at his lips, nipped on his chin and sucked on his tongue. He felt good there against her lips. And she wanted more.

“Please tell me you have condoms. Because I really, really need you inside me. Fuck me now, Trevor.”

Reaching back, he pulled a foil packet out of his wallet and grinned.

She put her hand on his to stop him from ripping it open. “Not just yet.” Standing, she reached out and grabbed his belt. She loosened it, a shiver working through her at the hiss of leather and the soft jingle of the buckle. More quickly, she undid his jeans, shoving the pants and his boxers down until his cock was free. Hot and hard in her hands. A bounty. She didn’t know where to begin.

But first, she dropped to her knees. “Mmm,” she hummed her pleasure, looking at the thick length of him. The meaty head of his cock glistened, beckoning her to lean in and lick him from sac to crown. Loose fingers dropped the condom and she retrieved it, putting it on the edge of the couch.

His balls were smooth and drawn tight against his body and he groaned when she drew one and then the other into her mouth gently. Hands replaced her mouth as she kissed her way back up the length of him, finally taking him into her mouth. Mary Poppins was so wrong when she said enough was as good as a feast. His cock was more than enough and Tess still wanted more. The salt of him, the tang of his body, tantalized her tongue. The heat of him bathed her face. He held her head gently but firmly.

“My, another surprise. You really like cock, don’t you, Tess?”

Looking up at him, seeing him watch her, she pulled off him with a smile. “I love cock.” Her voice was a whisper.

“Okay, well. That does it.” Grabbing the packet, he ripped it open with his teeth and rolled the condom on in mere seconds. Before she could finish admiring his speed and handiwork he’d bent to pick her up and move her over the side of the couch. He nudged her feet apart and reached to spread her open before thrusting into her in one hard push.

He’d never in his life had a hotter experience. She was real, alive under his hands. Her breasts swayed with each press into her body. Sweat glistened down her spine. And she was wet. Oh god, so wet and inferno hot. That sweet pussy clenched him, milked him with agile muscles as he slammed into her. The noises she made—she was on fire and he’d caught the blaze, too.

Reaching around, he found her clit and flicked it and the ring. And what a surprise that was! A shaved pussy with a piercing? On his personal assistant? Yeah, he’d seen dozens of shaved cunts, but thinking that this sex bomb was sitting on his estate, within reach for two years while he flitted around with shallow bimbos drove him crazy.

Stuttered half words came from her mouth as he felt her pussy flutter and grip his cock. Triumph roared through him, fuck, she was coming again! Shuddering, she pushed back against his cock, taking him in even deeper. The clutch of her cunt drove him past madness, pulling him down with her. Letting his head fall back as he drove into her body in feral digs, he came.

Slowly, he pulled out and walked into her bathroom, shutting the door behind him. He splashed his face with water and looked at himself in the mirror. False modesty was not one of his traits, he knew he was handsome. But he was also a bit scared. What he’d just experienced was unlike anything he’d ever done before. He was emotionally off balance and not sure why. One thing he was sure of—he wanted more of Tess. A lot more. Perhaps he’d figure it out after he’d had her three dozen more times.

Bolstering himself with a deep breath, he opened the door and went back out to the main room. He didn’t see her. Panic rose that she’d run again but he saw her on the deck just outside, facing the water.

He joined her out there, looking long and slow at the way she was lying across the lounge chair, a beer in her hand. He wasn’t happy to see she was clothed once again.

“You’re wearing clothes, Tess.” His voice was serious but amused. He’d work to get them off her very soon.

She held up an extra beer and he took it and sat down on the chair next to hers.

“Yes, very observant of you, Trevor.”

“We can’t do that again if you put your panties back on.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “Trev, why are you here?”

“I told you, I want you back.”

“You know, if you think a blowjob and a mind-blowing fuck over the couch will erase what a bastard you are to work for, you’re sorely mistaken.”

“We can work it out, I can change. Especially if we can do that every day.”

“Oh, so you think I’ll buy you condoms at two in the morning and you can fuck me when you don’t get enough eggs on your salad?” Her jaw was set, eyes narrowed.

He shouldn’t be turned on by how pissed she appeared to be but desire coursed through him. “Who are you! Damn it, Tess, you are not the woman who worked for me for two years.”

“Of course I am. You only just noticed me now. Yet again it’s about you, Trevor. I haven’t changed. I’m the same person I’ve always been. The only difference is that I finally had enough and walked out. And I’m not going to be your whore at the office.”

“Whoa! I don’t want you to be a whore, I never suggested that. Don’t put words in my mouth, Tess.”

“Trevor, you said you wanted me back, especially if you could fuck me every day at the office. That makes me what? Your PA with benefits? It sure doesn’t make me your girlfriend.”

He stilled. “Is that what you want? To be my girlfriend?”

She exhaled in disgust. “Jesus, Trev, don’t have a stroke. I’m not trying to claim you after one sexual encounter. I’m merely using your own words and then pointing out the obvious differences between what you’re suggesting and what I am not.”

After several moments of silence, she shrugged. “I’m looking for another job, Trevor. I can’t afford to wait around. In fact, I’ve got four offers on my plate right now.” And now that he’d touched her, been inside her, there was no way she could be his PA and watch him with anyone else. She couldn’t be his bit on the side. She’d hate him and herself, too.

“Look, I came all the way up here to talk to you. Can you just give me a few days, please?”

“A few days for what? Trevor, tomorrow you have a fundraiser to attend, you’re taking Marie Jansen.”

“This is why I need you back!”

“No, this is why you need a PDA, as I’ve been advising you for two years to get.

Anyone can tell you when your appointments are.”

“When is my next free night?”

“No, I’m not going to do this, Trevor. You’re going to have to do some of the work on your own. You want to woo me back to work for you, do it. I won’t do it for you. But I’m staying up here for the rest of the week. My mother had her vacation booked here and gave it to me. I need a vacation in a place with no phone. My days consist of lying in the sun, swimming in the very cold water, drinking too much beer and reading smutty romance novels.”

“Then I’m staying, too.”

One of her eyebrows rose. “You’re going to vacation at a remote lake in Washington State? People drink beer from the bottle here, Trev. The bathrooms don’t have heated towel bars and this place does not have room service.”

He moved to squeeze in next to her in the chair. “I don’t need room service. I’ll have all I need in bed next to me.”

She watched him warily. Four days with Trevor Ryan? All to herself to frolic with? Naked? And then she’d go back to L.A. and get another job and have a nice memory of a summer fling with the gorgeous actor to tell her grandchildren about someday. Well, maybe when her granddaughter was like thirty or something. In for a penny, in for a pound her mother always said. And there was the fact that her mother was the one who told him where to find Tess. Tess’ mother was no pushover. Whatever Trevor told her, it must have been pretty amazing or she’d have told him to fuck right off.

“You plan to stay here? In this cabin with me?”

“I’d like to. Would that be all right?”

“You know you can’t be on your cell phone, the reception sucks out here. There’s a landline up at the main lodge but no real privacy. I don’t have my laptop here so you can’t be wheeling and dealing all day. And you can’t bring women here to fuck in my bed.”

A fingertip on her chin, he turned her head to face him. “Hey, there’s only one woman I want to fuck in your bed. Give me some credit, please. I’m not a slut. And I’m certainly not without a heart or just plain manners.” He winced. “Okay, I clearly need better manners. I know that now. Four days, Tess. What do you say?”

“Okay. You need to go and call to cancel your appointments for the next few days, though.”

“Right. I’ll run up to the main lodge then and come right back.”

She shrugged. “Okay, I’ll be out here a while. I’m going to light some citronella candles and drink my beer. I’ll make a late snack in a bit.”

“Excellent.” Grinning, he leaned in and stole a kiss before jumping out of the chair and heading out.

* * * * *

Trevor couldn’t get her out of his mind as he sat and waited for his call to connect. He still had her tang in his mouth, her scent on his skin. He had a shitload of things to do in the next four days but at that moment, he couldn’t have cared less. He wanted to be with Tess in that cocoon of a cabin in the middle of nowhere. For the first time in a very long time, he wanted to be a regular guy on vacation with a woman who didn’t want him to read a script, didn’t want his money or his fame. Just wanted him.

That was dangerously alluring.

Turned out his new assistant was less than thrilled to be called at nearly eleven at night but she didn’t complain or try to talk him out of canceling his appointments for the next four days.

Like a coward, he called his agent’s work number and left a voicemail that he’d be out of pocket for several days but would try to check his messages here and there. Ben would flip out when he heard but strangely enough, as Trevor walked away from the lodge and headed back to the cabin, he felt freer and lighter than he had in years.

When he brought his bags into the cabin, she looked up in surprise. “You had this all planned out?”

“No. I had no idea this place would be so far in the middle of nowhere. I thought I’d be able to get a room in a hotel if I needed to. I like this solution much better.” He nodded his chin in the direction of the loft. “That where the bed is?”

“You planning on actually sleeping with me, Trev? I’d assumed you were a fuckand-run kind of guy. There’s a pullout down here.”

“Well, more than sleeping, but I do like waking up to the right woman.”

They both froze a moment and he took the bags up to the loft.

He came back down after changing into loose drawstring pants and a T-shirt. The night air was still warm but not oppressively so.

“Hey, just in time. Food’s on the table.”

Watching her as she bustled around before sitting down, he felt like he’d never truly seen her before. He’d always had the impression that her hair was plain, a sort of nondescript brown-blonde, but it was glossy and up in a high ponytail. Her eyes were a pretty green and almond-shaped, nearly feline. She had one of those pert little noses and a sweet, soft mouth. Tess Marshall was lovely. Not a knockout in the traditional sense like the women he tended to date, but beautiful in her own way.

“What?” Raising a brow at him, she filled her plate with a sandwich and some pasta salad.

“Nothing. Just looking at you. You’re really lovely.”

“Mmmm-hmm. So do you have a new PA?”

“Temp. Ben sent her over.”

“Why are you trying to get me back, then? You have someone and we’re all pretty interchangeable.”

“Bullshit. She’s not you, Tess. She doesn’t know all my preferences. She didn’t know what I meant when I said I needed the blue suit.”

“Well, you were spoiled.” She hid a smile. “You know you’re going to catch shit for breaking your date with Patrice Thursday.”

“Damn it, how can you remember all of this stuff?”

“I made those reservations after you called me when she was sucking your cock in the background. It was one of those Kodak moments.” Her voice was dry.

“She’s not even very good at it,” he said and she snorted. “Really.”

“Trevor, next you’ll be telling me that you really respect all of the women that you fuck. Don’t bullshit me, boy. I know all of your dirty laundry. I was your personal laundress for years.”

“I respect you.” He colored when she sent him one of those knowing looks. “Okay, so I didn’t. I’m sorry. I took you for granted. But I will treasure you from now on. I’ll give you a big raise. More time off. Season tickets to the Lakers. Courtside.”

Avarice lit her eyes. “Oh ho! The raise was a so-so enticement but the tickets, ah!” He laughed. “I didn’t know you were a fan.”

“Well, you would have if you ever asked me if I wanted the tickets you always gave to everyone else.” She snorted.

“Okay, okay. So I’ve been blind. I’m not now.”