"I want you to come," he said in a deep, rough timbre.
She paused, then, "No, not here."
She sounded slightly panicked, and he refused to push her for something she wasn't comfortable giving him. He understood and respected her hesitation, considering where she was. And as much as he wanted to hear the sensual catch of her voice and long, low moans as she brought herself to a climax, he'd much rather witness all that, and more, in person.
"Later?" The simple question held a wealth of underlying meaning he had no doubt she'd pick up on.
"Yes. It'll be worth waiting for."
He grinned at her huskily spoken promise and knew their night together had only just begun. "Then don't keep me waiting long." Another subtle but unmistakable message: he'd be at her apartment when she got home.
Liz disconnected the call with Steve-her last one of the night, thank goodness. Her skin was damp with perspiration, her heart beat erratically, and she felt hot and light-headed- not from the stifling air in the room, but from being so aroused.
She squeezed her thighs together and desperately tried to ignore how excruciatingly sensitive her breasts were, how pebble-hard her nipples felt, and the way the aching tips tingled as they rasped against the cotton lining of her bra.
Yes, she'd been so very close to coming and could have easily given Steve what he'd asked for, but something had stopped her from following through on his provocative request. After experiencing the real thing with him, the wild heat and excitement of his mouth, hands, and body pleasuring her, she didn't want to resort to a cold, impersonal orgasm in this small room when she knew how much more satisfying it would be to let go so completely when they were together.
She pulled in a deep breath, doing her best to calm her hormones and gather her composure before she exited the room. The man was so compelling, his magnetism so potent, even over the phone. He had an unerring way of mesmerizing her and pushing all her most sensually charged buttons. He was an expert at drawing her into his fantasies and making her an integral part of them, and what a doozy tonight's fantasy had been. Caramel, of all things, she thought with a grin, and had to give him points for being so inventive. Her sex life had never been so much fun, so playful and thrilling.
Taking off her headset, she stood and gathered up her personal things. She had no doubt that Steve would be at her apartment waiting for her. He'd insinuated as much at the end of their conversation, and she couldn't wait to see him.
She wanted him badly. Shamelessly. He'd turned her inside out with wanting earlier at the cafe, then had added to her restlessness with their seductive verbal exchange. And now her entire body vibrated with need and excitement, because she knew they were going to make love.
No, have sex, she amended, frowning at herself for making such a stupid mistake. Love wasn't something that was a part of their relationship, and she'd do well to keep her emotions out of the equation.
But they'd definitely agreed on enjoying erotic pleasures and each other, and that was something she'd decided to take advantage of with a virile, physical man like Steve. And with that in mind, she wanted to make Steve as acutely aroused as he'd made her with that irresistible fantasy of his. After the way she'd surrendered to him so thoroughly last night, she wanted to be the one in control of tonight's tryst; she was intent on driving him out of his mind with lust and satisfaction.
She knew exactly what she was going to do to extract her bit of sensual revenge, but first she had to make a quick stop at The Daily Grind on her way home, to pick up a few props.
As soon as Steve had Liz inside her apartment, he took charge with a hot, openmouthed kiss that she ended much too quickly despite the currents of awareness and sexual need sizzling between them. He had one hand under her T-shirt, palming her breast, another cupping her ass through the capri pants molding to her curves, and she deftly eluded both of his advances.
Gasping for breath, she placed a hand on his chest to hold him at bay, her eyes sparkling bright with laughter and desire. "Hold your horses, Mr. Wilde. I have something special in mind for you tonight, and at the rate you're going, I'm not going to be able to spoil you with the delicious, scrumptious treat I brought home for you."
"Spoil me, huh?" He grinned, unable to remember the last time anyone had gone out of their way to indulge him with something thoughtful. "I can't imagine anything more scrumptious than you, but you definitely have me intrigued."
"Oh, I think you'll find this surprise very mouthwateringly good," she teased, her expression a little on the sly side. From her fingertips, she dangled a white-handled paper sack with her cafe's logo, The Daily Grind, imprinted on the side. "And it's right here, in this bag."
So, it was from her cafe, which meant it was most likely something from her bakery shelves. "You brought me cookies," he said, and reached for the bag, certain he'd guessed correctly.
She danced out of his reach and shook her head. "Nope."
"A cream cheese pastry? You know how much I love your pastries." He lowered his gaze to her perfectly rounded breasts beneath the snug cotton T-shirt she wore, and waggled his brows lasciviously.
She laughed, the sound light and fun and infectious. "You're a very naughty boy tonight, you know that?"
Since he wasn't going anywhere anytime soon, except to Liz's bedroom, he took off his leather jacket and tossed it onto a nearby barstool and added his weapon and holster. "Would you have me any other way?"
"Absolutely not." She licked her lips, leaving them wet and shiny. "I want you bad. And I want to be bad, too."
"Sweetheart, you can be as bad as you want to be with me." Judging by her frisky, flirtatious behavior, he knew their encounter tonight wasn't going to be as intense as it had been last night, and he welcomed the playful change of pace.
Hands casually on his hips, he eyed the surprise she was still tempting him with, unable to contain his growing curiosity. "I really want to know what's in that bag you're holding."
"Hmm. I think I'm going to make you wait and wonder what's in here." She sashayed away and set it on the counter that separated the small living room from the kitchen area. Then she turned to face him again, too much space separating them for Steve's liking. "Before you find out what your surprise is, I have to ask, do you trust me to do whatever I want to you tonight?"
Her question was asked seriously, and for whatever reason, he realized his permission meant a lot to her. He spread his hands in front of him in a show of assent. "Baby, I'm all yours."
"I want to be the one in control." There was the tiniest defiant tilt to her chin, and her assertive and daring demeanor turned Steve on in a major way. "Is that going to be a problem for you?"
It was killing him, wondering what the hell was inside that bag and what wicked ideas she had in mind for him that she needed to secure his agreement to be the one in charge. While he enjoyed being the dominant one when it came to sex, he had no qualms letting her be the aggressor. He found her confidence extremely sexy, and what man in his right mind would balk at being at this woman's mercy?
Certainly not he.
Unable to resist her allure, he gave himself over to her safekeeping. "Consider me your obedient servant tonight."
A soft, secretive smile curved her lips. "Then come with me."
"Oh, I plan to," he promised.
She lifted a chastising brow at the sexual connotation lacing his reply and held out her hand for him to take, making her meaning very clear. She wanted him to follow her.