"Well, it's kind of a girls' thing, but I'm sure it will be okay. You know where Mugs is?"
"Yep. On my way. Be there in half an hour."
"See you later."
Slade clicked off, turned toward the Thruway, and headed to Verily. The hell with it. There was no way he was letting Kate distract herself with some other man. Not while he was suffering with torturous sexual dreams and a boner that wouldn't go away. It was time he reminded her of their attraction.
If another man touched her . . .
Slade cut off the thought and punched on the gas.
KATE SIPPED HER CHOCOLATE martini and relaxed into the feminine chatter that was as soothing as a spa massage. From harmless celebrity gossip to the endlessly fascinating topic of men, the subjects whirled in a dizzying array and made her happy to be a woman.
Mugs was overflowing, but they held the prime table at the edge of the dance floor looking out. Pink belted out her moody lyrics, and people swung their hips to the beat. The atmosphere was perfect for a variety of needs, from dancing and pool and darts to large tables to congregate at. Kate ducked her head and took one last glance.
Yes, his date was definitely over. Unless he had continued it at home. Of course, that was against the rules. She'd preached over and over the mantra he must follow: no sex until he wanted to actually date the woman. The idea that in a few minutes they'd been ripping at each other's clothes humiliated her, but she swore to move past it. Just a mishap. One mistake. Would never happen again.
"What about that guy?"
She directed her attention to Kennedy's subtle head-shake toward an attractive man staring at their table. When Kate looked up, the man raised his glass and smiled. She automatically returned the greeting before their gaze broke.
"Oh, yeah, he's the one," Kennedy drawled. "Why don't you go over?"
"Why don't you?" she teased back.
"Because I'm taking the night off from men. But you, my dear, need a night off from just women."
She made a face. "I love you, Ken, and lust after your shoes, but, don't want to sleep with you."
Jane giggled and hiccupped. Obviously, she rarely drank, so her two cosmopolitans gave her a rosy, happy glow. Kate made a note to make sure she got home safe.
"Cute. Right now, I'd sleep with you anyway. You look hot, Kate."
Kate grinned. She kind of did look hot. It had been a long time since she had slipped into her usual black but kicked it up a notch. The skirt was ultrashort and chic, with cutout flaps that sneaked glimpses of her bare legs. The sequined tank top emphasized her cleavage and shimmered under the lights. But the shoes were deadly. Four inches of black strappy leather that climbed up her ankles gladiator style. They were fuck-me pumps meet badass boots, and worth every penny.
Kennedy leaned in. "Girlfriend, don't waste the outfit on us. Go and talk to the guy. I'm begging you."
Kate glanced over. The guy was definitely staking her out, but he didn't have the lust-filled scary face that usually freaked her out. More like a deep appreciation for her appearance. After all, that's exactly why she wore the outfit, for attention, not to fade into the woodwork.
The image of Slade and Hannah pressed tight together, kissing hungrily, blurred her vision. Slade dragging her into his open door, ripping at her clothes. Hannah moaning as his talented tongue danced over her skin.
Kate got to her feet, picked up her drink, and faced her friends. "I'm going in."
The low whoop gave her confidence. She eased over to the stranger, ignoring her nerves, and went for the honest approach.
"Hi. I'm Kate."
The guy smiled back. "I'm Bruce. Nice to meet you, Kate. Girls' night out?"
"Yeah, blowing off a little steam from the week. Do you live around here?"
"I'm actually in Nyack, but a few friends of mine love coming to Mugs so I figured I'd check it out. I'm meeting them later. But right now, I'm thanking God they're late."
She laughed and eased into the give-and-take of the initial mating conversation. His buzz-cut hair emphasized a strong face, and meaty arms under his button-down shirt and jeans. Maybe military. When she brushed against his arm from the bump of another patron, there was a distinct lack of any tingle. Still, she was so over the touch thing. Tired of judging herself and every man she laid her hands on. For tonight, she wanted to be silly and girly and let go. With Bruce.
The sexy R&B strains of "Blurred Lines" blasted from the speakers. "Would you like to dance?" he asked.
She tilted her head in surprise. Rarely did she meet men who were comfortable on the dance floor after the first meeting. "I'd love to."
He placed their drinks on the bar, took her hand, and led her to the floor. His body was rock solid, but she topped him in height with her crazy heels. Still, he didn't seem to mind, not afraid to hold her close but still retain a modicum of modesty. Kate relaxed into the mating call of the dance, her arms on his shoulders, content for a while not to engage in conversation but to let their bodies mingle and move.
A woodsy fragrance drifted to her nostrils. Kate sighed, letting go of the tension, content to enjoy the physical touch of a man without any demands. Maybe this is what she really needed. A man who could help her forget, maybe give her physical pleasure, maybe more. A crazy touch meant nothing and had only gotten her into trouble, giving away her mates to other women and leaving her alone.
"Hi." The familiar voice jerked her head around. She stared at Slade, who danced right beside them holding Jane. "How's it going?"
She blinked. His inane words buzzed her brain like a fog. "What are you doing here? You have a date."
He grinned and dazzled her with those perfect teeth. "It's over."
Bruce turned her slightly, probably dying to get away from the chatty guy, but she leaned her head to the side. "How did it go?"
"Amazing. Wait till I tell you about the dinner."
Hope crashed. Ice slithered down her spine, and she fought off her initial reaction like the survivor she was. Good, he was finally going to move on. With Hannah. Not her.
Awesome.
"I'm so glad," she forced out.
Jane gave a sigh and shook her head. "Slade, let poor Kate enjoy her dance. Give her some privacy."
"Oops, sorry. I'll catch up with you at the bar."
She nodded, forced a smile at Bruce, and tried to enjoy his embrace. Unfortunately, she kept sneaking glances at Slade and Jane, wondering about the details of his date. Did he fool around with her? Kiss her? Make another date for tomorrow? That would be too soon, and she'd advise against such a move immediately.
"That guy a friend of yours?" Bruce asked.
Focus, Kate, focus. "Just a client. Sorry I was distracted."
"It's okay. I'm willing to be one of your distractions."
She laughed at the half-lame line but gave him credit for effort. His hands tightened around her waist and she leaned in, determined to relax. They moved well together, but the song ended and turned into a pounding club rhythm with JLo and Pitbull's "On the Floor." Kate waited for him to pull her off, not used to any men she ever met actually dancing, but Bruce tossed her a grin and threw himself into the dance.
Enjoying his enthusiasm, she moved her hips to the grindy tempo and let herself go. Bruce was going up a few notches--any man with solid dance moves deserved credit.
Suddenly, her rear was bumped. A hand closed around her upper arm and burned her skin.
Kate jumped back in a twist and faced Slade. "Sorry. Don't you love this song?" he shouted. In sheer astonishment, she watched him expertly mimic some major hip-hop moves, his jeans emphasizing the tight curve of his ass, his designer white shirt catching the light and flinging it against her gaze like an explosion of fireworks. Jane matched his moves with no self-consciousness, free for a little while with the music and darkness and crowded floor.
She raised her voice over the music. "I didn't know you danced."
"Most women love dancing. Mom taught us both when we were you
ng. Counseled me a man needs to know how to move if I have any chance of catching a woman."
Kate laughed. "Smart woman."
"Umm, Kate? How about I buy you a drink?"
She looked up with guilt. Bruce shot Slade a dirty look, obviously not happy about the shouted conversations over the dance floor. "Sure." She waved at Slade and Jane, and stepped off the floor to follow Bruce.
Where she belonged.
He guided her back into a cozy corner and tried to get the bartender's attention. "Your client seems determined to talk to you tonight," he said. "What kind of business are you in?"
"I'm a matchmaker."
Bruce lifted a brow. "Like an escort service?"
"No, more like eHarmony but not online."
He lifted his hand, but the bartender ignored him. "You go out on dates with a variety of men?"
Irritation hit. She shifted her feet. "No, I'm the owner."
"Ambitious little thing, aren't you?"
His teasing question seemed way too chauvinistic, but she decided to move on. "Yes, I guess I am. What do you do?"
"Air Force. I was in Iraq."
Most military didn't volunteer their service so quickly, but she reserved judgment. "Was it very difficult?"
"Yep. I'm ready to get back out and kick some more ass. Better concentrating on the enemy than my cheating ex-girlfriend who dumped me while I was away."
Hope plummeted. She looked at his angry face, now not so teasing and instead full of a bit of resentment and a whole lot of mess. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Your service to our country humbles me."
"It should. Maybe you'll be more respectful than the last woman. Where the hell is that bartender?"
"Chocolate martini?"
She whipped her head around. Slade held the drink in front of her, a wicked grin curving his sensual lips. "Y-y-yes. Thank you." She took the drink and glanced at Bruce, whose face now resembled a thundercloud.
"Sorry, dude, I didn't know what you were drinking or I would've bought you one too," Slade said. He eased himself into the small notch between them and clinked his Sam Adams to the rim of her glass. "Cheers. Are you having a good time?"
Kate battled the urge to giggle. He was completely and overwhelmingly arrogant, charming, and frustrating. How did one fight such a force? Still, she arranged her face to relate disapproval. "Yes, Bruce and I were having a wonderful time together."
"Good. You look amazing, by the way. The shoes are killer."
Pleasure bloomed. "Thanks."
"Welcome. So, I finally tried Carbone near Hell's Kitchen."
She gasped. "Is that where you went on your date? I've been dying to try that place--it's impossible to get reservations. Did Hannah enjoy it?"
"I think. I had the lobster black tie pasta. The sauce nearly knocked me sideways, and with the Chianti, the richness of the tastes combined perfectly in the mouth."
"What did Hannah have?"
"Veal parm."
"And how did the date go?"
"Good. For appetizers, I ordered the mussels. Fresh and soaked in a spicy tomato broth. I swear I've never had anything better."
"Did you share your appetizer with Hannah?"
He frowned and seemed to think hard. "I offered, but she doesn't like shellfish. Pity."
"Sharing a meal is a good way to increase intimacy on a date. Even a bite. Tell me more."
"I ordered the espresso and tiramisu for dessert. Top rate."
Kate let out a breath. "Stop talking about the menu. I want to know how the actual date went."
He took a slug of beer. "Good."
"Did you get along well? Did you have a connection? Do you want to see her again?"
"She's really nice. Accomplished. Intelligent. You did your job perfectly."
Her blood turned icy, but she forced a smile. "I'm so glad. When did you set up the second date?"
"Oh, I'm not going to see her again."
She choked on her martini. He pounded on her back, which made it worse with the electrical currents shocking her system. "What are you talking about? You said you liked her!"
Blazing emerald eyes grabbed and held her in the merciless grip of his gaze. Her breath squeezed in her chest and she froze.
"I do. But she's a bit too perfect. I don't want to hurt her feelings, but there's no spark."
"You said you wanted a companion, a friend, a long-term mate. I'm trying to keep you away from using sex as a tool to distance yourself. Hannah can give that to you. Many times the spark grows later."
"I don't want Hannah."
The softly spoken words singed her ears. The undertones of his real meaning hit her hard. His body heat radiated in waves and her body loosened, opened, craving his touch and just one more kiss. Within minutes he changed from casually charming to dangerous lover. He lowered his head to speak against her ear, his warm breath rushing into the sensitive shell. "I want you."
"Don't."
"Can't help it. How long are you going to torture both of us? I forgot the reasons we're even trying to fight this."
So did she. Almost. Then she remembered his focus was to expose Kinnections, and her, as a fraud. He required everything she wasn't in a mate, only believed in sex without love, and he was a client whom she had promised to find a match. It was wrong on every level, but her body didn't care as it hummed and purred by his very voice.
"It's a mess we both don't need. Better off trying to ignore the physical connection and concentrate on the better good. Finding you a true match for your future. Helping your sister. Proving Kinnections can succeed for you both."
"Yeah, how's that working for you, so far? Total bust for me. God, you smell good."
"We can't keep doing this," she whispered.
"So let me take you home. We'll end it now. Tonight."
A strangled laugh escaped her lips. "Sex won't end it. It'll only make things messier. Haven't you learned anything yet about God's sense of humor?"
"Not thinking about God. Wondering how you'll taste when I finally slide my tongue between your thighs."
She shuddered, teetered on the edge of giving him the win, then fought back. "No. You need to honor the contract. If Hannah wasn't the right fit, I'll find you another."
He lifted her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Temper and lust swirled in an edgy mix of green gold. "Are you that determined to send me to another woman? Ready to take such a risk? I'll only take so much, and then I'll go after what you're offering. Then we both lose."
She swallowed past the pain, past the knowledge that if she slept with this man, he might take something much more precious than her body. Her heart. Her soul. Her sanity. He'd leave her behind, sated, challenge over, and she'd need to pick up the pieces. Hell, no. Not in this lifetime.
"Or we both win," she said softly. "You find your mate. I prove my point. Jane finds her happiness. A perfect circle."
"Fine. We'll do it your way."
"Don't you want to pick the woman?"
"No. You seem to know everything about what I need and want. Prove it. Show me the woman who'll make me walk away from you without a glance back."
Her gut lurched at the thought, but she rallied. "Fine. Now can you give me some privacy so I can speak with--"
"He's gone."
Kate turned. Bruce chatted up a pert blonde perched on the opposite barstool. Both of them held a beer. Her plans for the night withered. What pissed her off the most was she didn't even care. She clenched her hands and glared at Slade. "Stop running off my own dates, please. Next time keep it professional and stop stalking me."
He eased back to charming companion and threw his hands up in surrender. "I was just talking some business and dancing with my sister. Besides, he's got way too much hidden anger. Arilyn would have a field day with him."
She gritted her teeth. "Thanks for the opinion."
"Any time."
"I'm going to the ladies' room. Thanks again for the drink."
Kate quickly mov
ed past his rock-solid figure, weaving her way through the crowd to the restroom. She locked herself into the stall, sat on the toilet, and put her head between her legs. Breathe. No need to get this upset over something that was never yours. Or someone.
He rattled her with just a look. It didn't bode well for their future working relationship. She might have to step back and force him to deal with Kennedy.
Kate took her time to regain her control. Washed her hands, checked her hair, and strolled out.
It happened so fast she had no time to react.
Someone grabbed her hard, lifted her, and dragged her deeper down the hallway. Into a dark corner by an abandoned coat closet no one used. The smell of wood and must hit her nostrils, along with another familiar scent, calming the instinct to scream.
"Are you crazy?" She shoved against him, but he barely moved. "You scared the hell out of me; I thought you were a rapist."
"Maybe I need to show you again what you're trying to give away."
The warning was all raging male hormones and a sexual claim. Kate fought between the dark thrill and sheer panic, knowing if he kissed her, she'd lose it. "I need to change your intake form. Seems there's a bit of the dom in you."
"Funny, lately I've been feeling like the slave in this relationship."
She ignored him, though the image of her on her knees, servicing him in all ways, left her hot and tingly. "We don't have a relationship. I think you should give Emma a try. You enjoyed her company at the mixer, but she's a bit different from Hannah, less serious. She's a college professor, like your sister, so you may have a lot in common. She's also your perfect physical type."
Slade actually grinned, reminding her of a really pleased wolf about to show his mate who's boss. "You drive me crazy. Shut up, Kate."
His mouth covered hers. She waited for the drive of his tongue, the spark of being completely out of control while he commanded the embrace, but he only ran his lips lightly over hers, his tongue licking lightly at her bottom lip. The teasing gesture played with her sanity. She softened under him, all bark and no bite, but he made sure to punish her well. Never putting the pressure she craved into the kiss, he plucked at her nipples stabbing out from the delicate lace top and seesawed his thighs between hers.
Kate moaned and reached for more.
He moved back a precious inch and twisted her nipples.
Red-hot lust shot to her pussy. She lifted herself up on tiptoes, damned to eternity to be his sex slave, her breasts swollen and aching. "You have to let me in," he murmured, nibbling on her bottom lip, keeping barely any contact with their mouths while his hands left her breasts and slipped behind to cup her rear. He dug his fingers into her ass and rocked his hips against hers. "Tell me what you want and I'll give it to you."