Page 28 of Wicked Takeover
Dante’s rich complexion darkened with desire. He stepped away from the door and spoke with authority. “Say no, then. I want to hear it.”
At this point, talking wasn’t a possibility for her. Feigning confidence, she arched one eyebrow.
Dante crowded her as he had in the hall.
This time Lauren didn’t step back. She couldn’t move, breathe, or think.
He stroked her bottom lip.
It tingled as it never had before. She forced herself not to tremble. This was some game, maybe foreplay in his world, and she loved it.
He cupped her mound.
She shot to her toes from his brash touch.
He radiated confidence and rough need. “Agreed?” He stroked the denim between her legs.
She gasped and hadn’t a clue what he was talking about but liked this. “Hell yeah.”
He fought laughter. His shoulders shook with his struggle. “You’re sure?”
“Aren’t you?”
His delighted roar filled the room. “Fucking A. I’ve been waiting for this since you waltzed into the parlor and claimed everything here for yourself, including me.”
He gave her a heated look filled with sin.
Lauren couldn’t find words.
Dante dropped his hand and stepped back. “Strip. Now. Slowly, so I can take everything in for as long as I want.”
Beneath fluorescent lights no less. Even a newborn would look bad in the harsh glare, while she… Lauren was horny, not crazy. She tried to joke. “Or what? You’ll tear off my clothes?”
“Would you like that?”
Mischief sparkled in his eyes. He was playing with her, and she adored it. In all her years, she had never had a chance to flirt with a guy. No wonder other women lived for it. She forced herself to put on a kittenish act and hoped he wouldn’t laugh. “What do you think?”
“It’s not what I think. It’s what I know. I’ll paddle you later for disobeying. Right now, I intend to watch the show you’re going to give me.” He crossed his arms. His biceps bulged. “Go on. I want you to strip, no matter how long it takes. I have all night. So do you.”
Lauren’s cheeks stung. She didn’t know how to begin or if she could go through with this. It was one thing for him to rip off her tee, jeans, and underwear. The frenzy would keep his attention on the prize, which was his cock deep within her sheath.
It was another matter for him to scrutinize her nudity. She wasn’t built like Jasmina or a high-fashion model. She actually had hips, thighs, and an ass. An ancient culture might have worshipped her voluptuous figure. In this one, she’d always been the plump girl.
That Dante wanted. For the moment, at least. No telling what he’d do once he got what he craved.
Strangely enough, cold, hard reality forced Lauren toward pleasure and beyond. This might be her only chance with him, and she didn’t want to screw it up. She toed off her sneakers and kicked them aside.
The rubber soles tapped the tile but didn’t pull Dante’s attention from her nipples. The tips were so erect they hurt—but in a good way. She lifted her shirt hem.
“No. Lose the jeans first.” His voice had dropped several octaves. “And your panties.”
He wasn’t going to make this easy, and the challenge excited her. Tension left her slightly dizzy and sweating. She slipped her jeans button through its slot and lowered her fly. The metal rasp sounded loud even with the trumpets wailing away.
She gathered as much poise as she could manage and pushed her jeans past her hips to her knees. On a soft whoosh, the garment fell to her ankles.
Daunted, she waited for Dante’s reaction.
He didn’t frown or show disappointment as she’d feared. If anything, the bulge between his legs seemed to have grown bigger and harder.
