Just One Spark (11 page)

Mason turned, his gaze rolling over her so slowly her stomach clenched and then released into a pool of heat. She was still wearing her skirt and camisole from work today. Not exactly designed to thrill. But she saw from the way his eyes darkened that it worked for him on some level.

He crossed the room until he was standing toe-to-toe with her. “Hmm, let me see,” he said, examining the top of her head.

“What are you doing?”

He undid the clip holding her hair in place, letting it cascade down her back. She closed her eyes as he raked the strands with his fingers.

He framed her face with his hands, tilting her mouth up to receive his. She parted her lips in invitation and took in the scent of him, the smell of the soap from his shower. The shower where they—Mason pulled away but held her face. Hannah’s eyes fluttered open, her conscience mocking her attempt to stay out of Mason’s bed.

“There’s my girl.” He brushed his thumbs against her cheeks.

“This is your way of saying you like my hair better down?”

“Up, down, it doesn’t matter, as long as you look at me like this.” He leaned in for a kiss so quick Hannah felt bereft when he stepped away.

Which was good, exactly what she needed. Why did it make her want to tackle him to the ground?

“Do you want to go first?”

“Hmm?” She licked her lips. She could knock him right into the upholstered chair and—

“You said you had something to celebrate too.”

“Oh, that.” Her family had stamped out Hannah’s excitement. Her mother had come right out and told her she worked too much to make a good wife for any man. Had actually said the words, “A man wants a woman to be home when he is, Hannah.”

Her father hadn’t been much better. “As long as it keeps you busy,” he’d said. She wanted to hold on to what little joy she had left from the promotion. If Mason acted the way her parents had even that would be lost.

“What’s your news?”

Mason sat in the upholstered chair, making Hannah suck the inside of her cheek. “I get to sit for the fire inspector’s exam. It’s a tiny bit more money, moderately better hours and a whole lot less dangerous.”

His toothy grin was sexy as hell, but Hannah tried to focus. “I thought you liked your job.”

“I do, I really do. And a position probably won’t come open for a while. But I’ve always wanted to be an inspector. It’s just not the job you start out with.” His face was so animated as he spoke Hannah knew he was telling the truth. “There is a lot to learn that can only be done hands on. That’s one of the reasons why I do so many volunteer hours at rural departments. The more you’ve seen, the more you know. And I like the puzzle-solving aspect. Plus, you can’t be a firefighter forever. It’s a physically demanding job.”

Hannah tilted her head to the side. “You’re in great shape.”

“Really? You think so?” He waggled his eyebrows at her. “Then why are you standing all the way over there?”

Hannah stepped carefully across the rug, not wanting to snag her stockings. Standing next to his chair, she wondered if she wanted to chance telling him at all. Maybe celebrating his news was enough for one night.

“I thought you’d be thrilled that I’d be doing something less dangerous.” The back of his hand skimmed her skirt. “My mother was through the roof at the thought I wouldn’t be running in to burning buildings instead of out.”

Hannah smiled, realizing he actually cared what she thought. “I meant what I said. I’m fine with that aspect of your job. I want you to do what makes you happy.”

“Good answer,” he said, dragging her down to his lap. He nuzzled her ear, causing her to curl in to him. “What’s your news?” His hot breath tickled all the way down her spine.

She turned and kissed him. Running her hands down his chest, she whispered, “Let’s just celebrate your news.” She lifted the material of his sweater up over his abs. She pressed her hands flat against his skin and ran her palms all the way up to his shoulders.

Sucking in a breath, he covered her hands with his own. “What happened?”

When he reacted the way the others had, her day would truly be ruined. What she wanted was to celebrate his success and the last wisps of joy she had left of her own. She leaned closer and captured his lips with hers. The fever in her kiss heated the room. She reached around and unzipped her skirt.

Mason pulled her face away from his. “Tell me what happened. You were so excited.”

She had pieces of her excitement, but she didn’t want to risk his reaction. Not when she felt so fragile from her parents’ response. She tried to kiss him again, but he held her still.

“You won’t tell me?” The hurt in his eyes cut straight to her soul. She didn’t want to save herself pain if it meant causing him any.

She rolled her head back on her shoulders, releasing herself from his grasp. She straightened her posture and looked him in the eye. “I got promoted to store manager.”

“No way.” The twinkle in his eyes matched his grin. “You said you wouldn’t know until after the holiday season. Wow. Congratulations.” He pulled her close. He looked genuinely happy.

“Which store?” He released her.

“The Galleria.”

His eyes widened. “As in four blocks from here?”

She nodded. She’d never seen so many of his teeth.

“That’s fantastic. Think of all the commute time you’ll save. It might wash out some of the extra hours you’ll have to put in.”

“You’re okay with that?” How was someone who’d only known her a few weeks more supportive than the family who’d known her forever? And why did it feel like she’d known Mason longer than any of them?

His eyes rolled. “Hannah, I’d be a hypocrite to complain about your schedule. Besides, with your own store you’ll have more control so things will run smoother.”

Was that confidence in her abilities she heard? The thrill she’d thought had gone flat bubbled up. “I haven’t told you the best part. I get to take my vacation time before I start. I’ll get three weeks in January.”

“Three weeks? New Zealand.”

Hannah shook her head. “Excuse me?”

“Let’s go to New Zealand, or Australia. Scuba dive the Great Barrier Reef.”

“I can’t scuba dive, Mason. I can barely swim.”

“Snorkel then. You can snorkel. It’s just like floating in an aquarium.” He squeezed her tighter. “You’ll love it.”

“Floating in an aquarium.” And the appeal of that? “I’ll think about it.”

“It will be great. I have some magazines upstairs. I’ll go get them.” He shifted to get up but stopped when Hannah turned his cheek with her finger.

How she wanted this man. “Is that really what you want to do right now?”

Mason cleared his throat. “I guess not. I thought we were going to have dinner to celebrate.”

“Mason. I’ve waited days for someone to give me that reaction. Believe me, you want to be rewarded for it.”

The perfect woman. No doubt about it. Smart, beautiful, good job, and wanted to reward him for nothing. Didn’t get any better.

Except he didn’t want her to make love with him as a reward. He wanted to know who the jerks were who’d rained on her parade. “What reaction were you getting?”

“It doesn’t matter.” But it obviously mattered to her, so it mattered to him.

“Yes, it does.”

“My family doesn’t see it as the opportunity I—we do.”

Mason winced. How could anyone not appreciate her? “This goes back to them not taking your career seriously.”

Hannah nodded. “I was worried you might react the same way.”

Mason shook his head and gathered her close. “Honey, I want you to be happy like you were that morning on the phone, and just now. I support whatever it takes to get you to that place.”

Hannah’s eyes narrowed. “Even if it means I have less time for you.”

“You’ll make time for me.” He’d make sure of it.

Like summertime in the beginning of winter, her kiss was warm and inviting. Light and sweet and tender, but with an undertow that pulled a man straight to the dark side. He could kiss her all day, if he could control himself.

Which he never seemed to be able to do around her. Hannah walked into a room and he was looking for escape routes, dark corners and easily removable pieces of clothing. Like the textured black skirt she’d already unzipped. He slipped his hand across the slippery fabric of her top and down to the opening of her skirt.

“Do you want me to take it off?” Hannah pulled away, her eyes dark and hazy.

He could only nod, hoping she meant more than just the skirt. As she rose from his lap, he pulled his shirt over his head and then watched as she wiggled out of the skirt. Her top actually fell with a lacy hem at mid-thigh. A slip.

The seam of his jeans dug into him as if it had been cinched. She stepped forward and pushed his legs together. Not the best idea, but he wasn’t about to tell her to stop as she stepped her legs on the outside of his and moved up until their torsos were almost touching, spreading his legs in a temporary release.

She took his hands in hers and placed them on the outside of her thighs. She pulled them upwards, rubbing his palms over the silk of her stockings until he found the edge, and her bare thigh. She was walking around in lingerie and thigh highs.
The perfect woman.
He continued the journey until he found her panties. As he began to pull them down she stopped him.

“You don’t have to,” she whispered. She led his hand to her center and urged him forward to find her meaning.
Crotchless
panties
.

He groaned and looked into her eyes. They sparkled, daring him to continue. He held her gaze as he slipped first one finger inside of her, then two. She bit her lip as he curled them and pressed his thumb on her clit. When he tried to stroke her, she stilled his hand and removed it. Without breaking the gaze, he brought his fingers into his mouth and sucked, hard.

She licked her lips. “You are some kind of tease.”

“Who’s teasing?”

She shook her head. “That’s not what I want right now.” She found the button of his jeans and he lifted his hips to help with the straining zipper. He was grateful as she carefully removed him from his boxers before shoving them down with his jeans. He tried to kick them off but remembered he still had his shoes on. Other realities flooded in, like the fact he didn’t have a condom.

“Hannah, let’s go to the bedroom.”

She shook her head. “Why?”

“Because that’s where the condoms are,” he grinned.

“I wore these panties all day because I knew I’d see you, and you don’t even bring a condom? There is a severe imbalance in our relationship.”

“It will never happen again, I promise.”

“It had better not. You stay here, I’ll get one.”

“Here? Why?”

“I have a thing about that chair,” she tossed over her shoulder as she sashayed to her bedroom. The chair? Whatever she wanted. His shoes, socks, pants and underwear flew towards the door.

The click of heels on hardwood alerted him Hannah was on her way back. Except she hadn’t been wearing any shoes before. He’d had to lift her face and bend down to kiss her earlier.

The shoes in question were sparkling ruby red with at least three inches of stiletto heel. And they did amazing things for her already shapely legs. As she neared, he reached for the condom packet she held in her right hand and then froze when he saw what was dangling from her left. She must be joking.

“We don’t need handcuffs, Hannah.”

She swung the metal cuffs from her finger. “If I have to be in charge of condom procurement, I think I get to be in charge of you too.”

He gritted his teeth. He’d purposely taken the condom out of his wallet. He was always trying to jump her as it was. “I told you, it won’t happen again.”

She sat on his lap and rubbed her satin-clad hip against his hardness. “I promise, you will love it.”

He grasped her wrist as she grabbed for his. “No, Hannah. We don’t need props.”

“Don’t you trust me?” She pouted.

She couldn’t possibly expect him to fall for that. “Of course I trust you. It’s those things I don’t trust. I could tell you stories about calls we’ve had at the station to release people from bondage gone wrong.”

Hannah held them up and pressed a button on the side that released one side open. “Relax, they were a prop from one of my sister’s displays at her lingerie store. And your hands will just be behind the chair, not on anything.”

“Is this for you or for me?”

Hannah shrugged. “Maybe it’s for me. It’s a fantasy I never dreamed I’d be brave enough to act out.” She leaned closer to whisper in his ear, “I tell you what. You play with me now, and after dinner I’ll do anything you want.”

His pulse quickened. “Anything?”

“Within reason.”

He shook his head. “Anything.”

He watched her neck as she swallowed hard. “Fine. Anything.”

Chapter Eleven

Mason took the stairs two at a time, resisting the urge to stop at Hannah’s apartment on the way to his own. While she showered, he’d gone out for food and supplies. His quick trip had taken so long she might be at his place already. When he opened the door to his empty apartment, he was both disappointed and relieved. Even after making love to her earlier in a way that would be on his personal sexual highlight reel forever, he wanted her again. But he also wanted to be prepared. For anything.

He dropped the takeout bag on the counter and carried the bag of tea lights into his bedroom. He scattered the tiny candles about the room. If he hadn’t had to wait for the food he would have skipped this step entirely.

Hearing the knock at the front door, he scooted out of the room, closing the door behind him. He hoped she’d try it, but it didn’t half matter if she backed out. As long as she stayed the night in his bed
.

He pulled the two taper candles out of the bag and stuck them in the skinny shot glasses from the cupboard. He set them on the table and lit them as she knocked again.

He killed the lights and dashed for the door. Opening it, he raised an eyebrow at her coat.

“Did you take a walk while you were waiting for me to get back?”

“Something like that.” She stepped past him into the room. “It smells like a Chinese restaurant in here.”

“There’s good reason for that.” He kissed her cheek and scrambled to the kitchen, cursing himself for napping instead of eating lunch. He was starving. The sooner they ate, the sooner they could get on with the evening.

“What do you have planned for tonight?” She dug her hands into her coat pockets.

“First we eat.” He pulled the takeout boxes from the bag without looking up. “I’m hungry and we’ll need our energy for later.”
For anything.

His grin faded as he looked up to find her gloriously naked in the middle of his living room, candlelight licking over her body. God, but she was impossibly beautiful. Her kind of beauty made his knees weak, his pulse race and his mouth water. He loved the way she made him feel.

“Later,” he growled, dropping the box of fried rice on the counter.

“No, you’re right. First, we eat.”

“With you naked? I don’t think so.” Her hand flat against his chest stopped him. For now
.

“Yes, with me naked. And you fully clothed. I told you earlier. We need to reset the balance of power in this relationship.”

He wrapped his hands around her waist and pulled her flush against him. To hell with food. He’d just eat her. “You already did.”

As he leaned in to kiss her, she stalled his lips with her finger. “Are you sure you want this to be your anything? Because that’s definitely a one-shot deal.”

The gleam in Mason’s too-blue eyes made anticipation curl in her lower belly. He wanted her. So bad it radiated off of him. And she had an insatiable desire for this man that defied explanation. She removed her finger from his lips and parted her own, greedy for what he had in store for her.

“You’re right. I don’t want to waste it. Who knows when you’ll offer me
anything
again?” He released her and stalked back to the kitchen. He must know what he was doing to her.

She followed him, wishing she hadn’t kicked off her sandals. Why hadn’t she worn the stilettos from earlier, or better yet, the come-get-me boots? Yes, he wouldn’t have walked away from those.

He poured water into a teakettle and set it on the stove, piled the food onto plates and set them on the table. Hannah wondered if she’d actually be able to go through with her dare and eat naked. It sounded like a great dieting trick.

She’d intended to end her trepidation about agreeing to
anything
with her naked-beneath-her-coat stunt. She’d seriously underestimated his will power. Time to turn up the heat. She stepped into the kitchen and cocked her hip on the counter. “Where did you go?”

“Go? Oh, you mean for dinner.” He didn’t look at her and kept his hands busy with opening and closing takeout boxes. “Jen Dynasty. It’s only three blocks away and they have really good Kung Pao, and I remembered you like spicy.” His hands gripped the counter as she stepped closer.

“I like hot, but spicy is good too.”

His knuckles went white, but still he didn’t look at her. “There’s a difference?”

She turned his face to look at her. “Hot is you and me. Spicy is you and me and a pair of handcuffs.” His eyes threw sparks right through her as his breath came out in a rush that bordered on a growl.

He closed his eyes as she traced his lips with her fingers. But still he made no move to touch her.

“You must really want
anything
.”

Mason nodded. “I do. But if you touch me again I’m never going to make it.”

She wanted him so bad she could taste it. And he’d just admitted he was hers if she tried anything. Curiosity stilled her from pouncing and taking him here in the kitchen. If he was willing to wait,
anything
must be pretty damned fantastic.

The teakettle whistled to life behind them and Mason jumped into motion. He pulled a teapot out of a cupboard and dropped some teabags in before filling it with water. “You actually own a teapot?”

Mason nodded. “I got it a few weeks ago when I gave up coffee.” She just made out the side of his grin as he placed everything on the table.

He couldn’t have given up coffee just because she didn’t like the vile brew. “Because of what happened at the coffee shop?”

“Yes, because of what happened at the coffee shop.” He winked at her. Winked
?
He motioned for her to sit down and waited until she did before he sat.
God bless his mother.

Hannah was thankful he hadn’t bothered with chopsticks as she surveyed the plate. Kung Pao chicken, orange beef, chow mein and fried rice. All things she’d be wearing if she’d even attempted to use chopsticks. Which served to remind her she wasn’t wearing anything at all.

“Can I ask you about this
anything
you have planned?” Hannah lifted a forkful of rice to her mouth. Jasmine rice. Her favorite.

“It’s more of a show than a tell.” He was careful to keep his gaze on hers.

“Sounds interesting.” She leaned back in the chair, changing his view. He slammed his eyes shut and she hid her smile when he opened them again. “I’m just wondering what to expect. You know, if I need to be prepared.”

He shook his head. “It will never happen again. And for the record, I didn’t have a condom on purpose earlier this morning.”

She cocked an eyebrow his way. “That’s an interesting excuse.”

“It was my lame attempt not to jump you the moment I saw you. Didn’t work, so from now on I’ll always be prepared.”

“What a good boy scout. Trying to earn your safe-sex merit badge?”

“You go ahead and keep teasing me.” His eyes twinkled before he dropped his head and concentrated on shoveling food into his mouth. Passion came out in everything he did. Work, food, sex. She slid her bare foot across the floor, found his ankle and rubbed up the leg of his jeans. His fork froze in the air, but he didn’t look up. “Hannah,” he warned.

“Yes?” she asked sweetly, picking up the mug of tea he’d poured her. Jasmine tea. She sipped again. The same blend she drank at home.

“Are you about done?”

“Done with what?” She ran her toe higher. He caught her foot between his knees, making her gasp as he held it there.

“Done taunting me.” His voice was low and gravelly. “Quit trying to back out.”

“Mason, I’m naked in your kitchen. I hardly call that backing out.”

“You’re trying to run the show, but this is my turn. My fantasy. I played along and so should you.”

“You enjoyed yourself.”

“And so will you if you just relax.” Mason rubbed his hands across his thighs, still holding her foot captive. “Hannah, those handcuffs were a one-time deal. Well, maybe not one time, but at least until you make district manager.”

When she laughed, he released her foot and resumed eating.

What exactly did he have planned? Hannah’s eyes darted around the apartment. Why was his bedroom door closed? It had been open the last time she was here. Adrenaline pumped through her as she turned her gaze back to him.

The man dripped with sex appeal, but just how kinky was he? Had he been putting on a show about not wanting to use the handcuffs? Maybe he had some kind of weird fetish. Just what had she gotten herself into?

“Relax, Hannah. I’m not a freak.” Mason’s fork clanked on his plate as he pushed away from the table.

“I didn’t say a word.” She looked up at him as he moved their plates into the sink.

“You didn’t have to. You were doing that thing with your eyes. I usually like it, but this time blue was definitely winning.”

She narrowed her gaze at him. “What is that supposed to mean?”

He stepped to stand in front of her. “You’re having second thoughts.”

She was. She really was. But this new position gave her a whole new plan. She could have his jeans around his ankles in fifteen seconds. What man said no to oral sex?

Mason grabbed her hands, jerked her up and plastered her body against his.

“Wait. Aren’t we going to have dessert first?”

Mason’s laugh was wicked and slow. “Honey, you are dessert.”

He was a freak. She knew it now. He was in his bedroom preparing for who knows what kind of kinky game. She paced outside the door and wondered just what she was willing to do about it. Surely not
anything
.

But how could he know? How could he know she’d pushed her own sexual envelope further in the last week with him than she had in her entire life? She simply wasn’t prepared for his kind of anything. “Mason?” She hated the way her voice squeaked when she was nervous. “I think I’ve—”

He swung the bedroom door open and the air from the room rushed over her as she peeked inside. The room was bathed in soft candlelight, dozens of tiny flames flickering against the walls. It looked beautiful, not at all scary.

“You were about to chicken out.” It wasn’t even a question, and there was no point in denying it.

He took her hand and led her into the bedroom slowly. His room was much bigger than hers. The wood floors were the same, but he had space for a desk and chair. A large mattress and heavy mission-style bed frame dominated the room. He’d pulled down the hunter-green comforter so she saw the navy flannel sheets and pillowcases. Still holding her hand, he neared the bed. Hannah noticed a pillow in the middle of the bed and gasped as she recognized what was on top of it.

“But that’s…” Hannah motioned to the electric phallus she knew had fresh batteries.

“Yours? I know. I took it from your nightstand.”

Metal glinted in the candlelight. “And those are the handcuffs.”

“Turnabout is fair play. And you did say anything.”

She had. But did she really mean it? What did he have planned? Her stomach clenched. “Mason, I don’t think I can.” She sat on the bed, her back to the pillow. She closed her eyes as the mattress sagged beside her.

He tucked her hair behind her ear and asked, “What can’t you do?”

Visions flashed through her mind of all the variations. Thrilled, tantalized, terrified. She swallowed hard. He cupped her face in his hands and turned her to him. He brushed his lips against hers and she breathed deep, inhaling the scent of him, of the room. Jasmine-scented candles? How did he always know what she liked without having to be told?

She parted her lips, inviting him inside so she could feast on all he had in store. She moaned as the kiss deepened, stirring the passion within her. Moving her hands to his chest, she encountered his sweater. “One of us has on entirely too many clothes.”

Mason’s hand drifted over her shoulder until he was palming her breast. “Not you,” he said with a squeeze.

He released her and pulled the sweater over his head. His laugh was almost sinister as he stood beside the bed and peeled off his jeans. He hadn’t been wearing underwear.

He swung her legs to the middle of the bed and pounced on top of her. Hannah closed her eyes tightly. In this position, she was right next to the pillow. Just what was he planning on doing with the handcuffs, her vibrator? Or was he hoping she’d be doing something to him? She shuddered at the thrill and the uncertainty.

“Are you cold?” he asked, lowering his naked body over hers.

Cold? No. About to spontaneously combust at the sensation? Absolutely. She shook her head as he kissed her neck and stretched her arms up. She relaxed against him until she realized he might intend to keep them there. “Mason,” she pleaded, trying to free herself from his grasp, but it only made him grab her tighter. Her breath quickened as she looked into his eyes. “You have to tell me what you’re going to do.”

“I do?” He ducked his head and traced a line from her collarbone to her ear with the tip of his tongue that had her arching off the bed.

“Please.” She wanted to know so she could give herself over to the sensations he doused her with.

She heard the handcuffs clink around her wrists before the cool metal locked her hands above her head, anchoring her to his bed frame.

“Much better.” He silenced her protests with his mouth, kneading her breasts in his hands.

His kiss was soft and gentle, like his touch. She’d gladly let him touch her like this all night. “You don’t need the cuffs, Mason. I’m yours for whatever you need.”

He kissed a path from her mouth, down her chin to her neck. He flattened his tongue against her nipple. As he spoke, his breath tickled her damp sensitive flesh. “I need for you to not rush me.”

He sucked her nipple deep in his mouth. The connection went all the way to her core, causing her to arch off the bed. He released her, wrapped his fingers around hers and molded her hands against the rail he’d cuffed her to. “Hold on to this or you’ll hurt your wrists.”

“I can hold on to it without the handcuffs.”

“Me thinks the lady doth protest too much.” Mason’s attentions were on her breasts again. This time, he rolled her nipples between his fingers, leaned down and let the rough stubble of his cheek make her writhe.