“What?” he asked her carefully.
“Messages.” She laid the papers beside the cup of coffee, still watching him, the smirk firmly in place.
“Thank you,” he growled. “You can go now, Tally.”
She sighed with exaggerated patience. “Very well. But might I suggest a shower, Mr. Wyman? The smell of sex is lingering. And since some of us are doing without at the present, we don’t like being reminded.”
She sauntered from the room. Jesse watched her leave, restraining the urge to bare his teeth in temperamental frustration. Dammit. He leaned back in the chair heavily, closing his eyes, fighting his need to stalk from the office and return to the object of his frustration. He knew years ago Terrie would drive him insane. She was now proving his fears as fact. And his cock was proving to be a very willing sacrifice to breakdown. Even now it throbbed in demand, in explicit, mounting excitement at the thought of touching her again.
Control. His jaw clenched as he fought for it. Control. His fist tightened as he returned to the file. Son of a bitch. He sighed wearily as the words blurred and once again he fought to understand his own weakness.
“Oh Terrie, you are such a bad girl.” Tally stepped into the house as Terrie stood back and welcomed her in.
Her brown eyes, usually cool and mocking, were filled with warmth and humor as Terrie shook her head wearily.
“I know he didn’t tell you. By the way, he thinks you’re evil,” Terrie informed her as she closed the door and led the way into the living room. “So how did you figure it out?”
“Hmm,” Tally mused. “It could have been the lingering smell of sex, and Giorgio’s Red was unmistakable. He should have showered before coming in,” she pouted. “I haven’t had sex in months, Terrie. I don’t like being reminded.”
Terrie flushed, though she couldn’t help the laughter that welled from her lips.
“I’ll be sure to let him know,” she promised her friend lightly.
Tally shrugged. “No problem, dear, I already have.” She sat down in the high-backed chair across from the couch and lifted a dark brow curiously. “Now come, give Tally all the dirty details. Was he positively sinful?”
Terrie collapsed back on the couch.
“He was sinful,” she sighed. “And very upset for some reason.”
She couldn’t get his reaction out of her mind. It was unlike Jesse to appear less than confident. Yet, for some reason, that impression had nagged at her brain. As though something about the act had bothered him more than he let on.
“Hmm. Yes, he was quite out of sorts when he came into the office,” Tally laughed in sheer delight. “You should have seen him trying to pretend to read that contract he had in front of him. But his expression was just dazed. I loved it.”
Terrie shook her head at her friend, but couldn’t hold her own laughter back. There was no one as dryly mocking as Tally could be. Her amusement and general outlook on life never failed to keep Terrie laughing.
“I don’t know what to do now, Tally,” she finally sighed as she leaned back on the couch. “Do you think I didn’t please him?” It was her biggest fear.
“Darling, you blew his ever loving mind,” Tally chuckled. “His nerves are fried, his preconceived notions have flown out the window, and the man is scrambling to figure out what the hell happened. I would say you were the best he’s ever had.”
Terrie bit her lip. Yeah, he seemed pretty damned confused when he rushed from the bedroom.
“You know what he’ll do next,” Tally warned her. “If he brings Lucian with him, at least videotape it so I can watch.”
Terrie’s eyes widened. “Videotape?” she gasped. “No way.”
“Oh, come on.” Tally waved her hand negligently. “At least I’m not asking to participate.”
Terrie stilled, then blinked. The object was to throw Jesse into overload. To show him she could meet him more than halfway. What if she… It would never work. Would it?
“What are you up to?” Tally asked her, laughter heavy in her voice. “Oh, I just love it when you plot. You’re almost as good as I am.”
She watched her friend closely. Was Tally really as adventurous as she swore she was?
“Participation,” Terrie whispered. “Turning the tables on Jesse.”
Tally’s eyes widened in surprise. “Oh Terrie,” she exclaimed gleefully. “You’re learning. You’re learning. Tell me what you’re planning.”
“Jesse likes to share his women.” Terrie fought the racing of her heart. “What if I sort of share Jesse? What would he do?”
Tally was obviously shocked. “Share him?” she said slowly. “How?”
“You know.” She lifted her brows suggestively, leaning forward. “I’ll tie him down, somehow. Like he did me. Then you can…”
“Me?” Tally questioned with mocking surprise. “Hold up here. We never said me, Terrie. Jesse is not my type.”
“Neither is Lucian, but I notice you can’t help but pant around him. Come on, Tally. Who else could I trust?” she pleaded. “I don’t want you to fuck him. Just help me torture him. That’s all. I swear.”
“Just torture him?” She lifted her eyebrows consideringly. “Nothing else. Right?”
“No way. Nothing else.” Terrie could never tolerate anything else.
Tally smirked. Her fingernails tapped out a fierce little rhythm on the arms of the chair as she watched Terrie closely. “When?”
Terrie swallowed nervously. “I don’t know. Soon.”
Terrie watched the cool, almost feline look that crossed her friend’s face. “This weekend. I need time to prepare,” Tally sighed. “These things must be planned, Terrie. Until then, you can drive him insane some more. Keep doing things that throw him off balance. Give him a blowjob under his desk. That drives those executive types crazy. Don’t let him get the best of you. The minute he does, he’ll regain control and it will all be over with. Stay in control, Terrie.”
“In control.” Terrie nodded. God, what the hell was she doing?
Tally rose to her feet. “I’ll help, of course.” She smiled with slow pleasure and for just a moment, Terrie wondered at the look of gleeful anticipation in her friend’s face.
“Tally, you scare me,” she sighed, not for the first time. “What are you planning?”
She shrugged her slender shoulders negligently. “Don’t worry, sunshine, Auntie Tally will take care of everything.” Then she narrowed her eyes. “Do you need another piercing?”
8
Keep him off guard. Keep him off guard. Terrie repeated the words as she breezed through Jesse’s outer office the next day. She ignored Tally’s, “Go get ’em tiger,” and entered the office as though it were her own.
Jesse raised his head from a file and his instant response nearly had her pausing. His eyes darkened as he took in the vee cut, button-down, white silk slip dress and strappy sandals she wore.
“Terrie?” He watched her cautiously as she moved around the desk and stared down at him with a frown.
“You didn’t show up for coffee this morning,” she reminded him. “And I was up waiting on you. Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to get up at the crack of dawn, Jesse?”
His lips twitched in amusement. “I did call, baby,” he told her. “You didn’t answer so I left a message.”
“Your excuse was flimsy.” She propped her hands on her hips, deliberately allowing her breasts to swell above the top of the dress. “Come on, Jesse. You never get up late.”
He leaned back in his chair, his eyes riveted on the swelling mounds. “I didn’t get to sleep until late.” He cleared his throat then swallowed tightly. “I was going to stop by this evening. I know I left the message.”
Terrie snorted. She got the message. “Be ready, baby. We have plans,” she repeated for him. “I don’t think so, Jesse. You just knew that one would work for me,” she assured him sarcastically, barely retraining the urge to roll her eyes.