Hidden Pleasures Read online

  Not wanting to give her time to think about his slipup, he asked, “Are you not staying at a hotel downtown?”

  She hesitated a quick minute before saying, “Yes, I am.”

  “Fine. I’ll meet you at Regis in an hour. Goodbye.” He then quickly ended the call before she could rethink it.

  Brittany thought it was a beautiful day for walking. Besides, it gave her some extra time to think before actually meeting with Galen. Even though it was lunch time and the sidewalk was crowded with people, she couldn’t help being fascinated with downtown Phoenix.

  Earlier that day she had gone on a tour of the state capitol and had checked out the Phoenix Art Museum. She had arrived in time to see a small play on the history of the state; however, she’d been so preoccupied with her thoughts that she hadn’t really paid attention.

  When she saw the sign for Regis up ahead, she began nibbling on her lips. Meeting with Galen Steele wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t so darn handsome. Her attraction to him had taken her by surprise, because no man ever captured her interest the way he had.

  Annoyance seethed through her when she remembered that he was a man with only one thing on his agenda. It would be up to her to try and sway his mind about a few things. If he didn’t go along with what she was going to suggest, what did she have to lose?

  Her house, for starters.

  That realization made her heart sink as she opened the door to the café. She only had to scan the place a few seconds before her gaze locked with his. In an instant she was drawn to the most captivating pair of green eyes anyone could possess. They would be her downfall if she wasn’t careful. But how could a woman be careful around the likes of Galen? Just seeing him issued an invitation to take every risk and then some.

  He stood when he saw her and she was impressed that he could display some manners when he wanted to. Only thing was, now that he was standing, her gaze shifted from his eyes to encompass all of him. He was wearing a pullover shirt and a pair of khakis. His stance was sexy as sin.

  The sunlight pouring through the windows struck him at an angle that projected brilliant rays on his skin, which was the color of mahogany. And if that wasn’t bad enough, his shoulders looked broader in that particular shirt.

  She continued to hold his gaze as she released the door to step inside. This meeting was utterly ridiculous, really. His proposal had been absurd. And the thought that she was here to negotiate anything was absolutely crazy. What she should do was turn right around, open the door and leave. But she couldn’t do that. This man stood between her and the one thing she wanted more than anything. A connection to her mother. He was the key. To be even more specific, he had the key.

  She broke eye contact with him long enough to note that the café was packed but somehow he’d grabbed a table. Sighing deeply and with a tight smile plastered on her face, she moved toward him.

  There would be nothing proper or graceful about the way he would take her the first time, Galen decided as he watched Brittany stroll in his direction. It didn’t have to be in a bed. Any spot in his house would suffice. And they didn’t have to be lying down. Taking her against a wall would be fine. He should be downright mortified with the direction of his thoughts. Definitely ashamed. But he wasn’t.

  He kept his gaze trained on her. She walked with confidence, grace and style. And the look on her face was that of a woman on a mission. A mission not to change the world, just his mind.

  His eyes scanned her. She was wearing a denim skirt that hit below the knee and a modest blouse. Who did modest and below the knee these days? he wondered. Still, he had to admit that both items of clothing looked rather nice on her. The skirt did an awesome job of showing her curves, and the blouse emphasized the firmness of the breasts pressing against it. And those legs he’d admired yesterday were still looking pretty damn good today. He could imagine those legs wrapped around him after he got between them.

  Was that sweat he was beginning to feel on his brow? No matter, the lustful thoughts running through his mind were exhilarating. Hot and potent at their best. But that was okay because at some point he intended to turn those thoughts into reality.

  As she got closer he couldn’t help noticing that she had a prissy look, too prim and proper. For some reason he felt that a bout of hot, heavy and sweaty sex would suit her. He wanted to see her perfectly done hair get mussed up a bit. He wanted to be the one to nibble on that bottom lip, and he wanted to be the one to make love to her without an ounce of finesse.

  When she reached his table, she held out her hand to him. “Mr. Steele.”

  Such formality. She had to be kidding, he thought, just seconds before saying, “Ms. Thrasher.” And then he took a step closer and lowered his mouth to hers.

  Before Brittany could move, his mouth was there, dead center on hers. And when she parted her lips in shock, it gave him the opening he needed to slide his tongue inside her mouth.

  For a split second she forgot how to breathe, especially when she felt Galen’s tongue giving her mouth a quick sweep before he pulled back, ending the kiss. In less than a minute he had taken the term short and sweet to a whole other level.

  A quick glance indicated a number of people had witnessed the kiss. She narrowed her gaze at him. “It is not good manners to kiss in a public place.”

  He smiled, evidently amused. “It’s not?”

  “No.”

  “Do you want to go outside and continue, then?”

  “Of course not!”

  “A pity,” he said, pulling a chair out for her. He brushed his fingers on her arms while doing so and she shivered, wondering if the touch had been accidental or if he’d meant to do it. She glanced over at him and from the smile on his face she knew he’d meant to do it.

  And this was the man who wanted her to stay under his roof for a week. If he was taking these kinds of liberties in public, she could just imagine what he’d do in private. There was something about him that made her unbalanced, shaky, and she had to wonder if she had completely lost her mind to even be here with him.

  “People are staring at us,” she said in a low voice.

  He shrugged. “Let them stare. They probably think we’re lovers who didn’t get enough of each other last night. They’re just jealous.”

  She wondered if he was always this quick with a comeback and if his mind continuously revolved around sex. If nothing else, she was picking up on some heated vibes just sitting across the table from him. She wondered if he felt them or if her senses were the only ones under siege.

  “You wanted to make a counteroffer.” His words had cut into her thoughts and she looked into his green eyes. Good Lord, the man was handsome. “Yes, that’s right,” she said, almost stumbling over the words.

  “Would you care for something to eat and drink before we get started on the negotiations?”

  “Coffee, please.” What she needed was something stronger, but coffee would have to do.

  She watched him motion to the waitress who came over with the coffeepot in her hand and ready to pour. After the woman walked away, he gave Brittany a chance to add her sweetener and take a sip before asking, “So, what’s your counteroffer?”

  Brittany breathed in deeply, shifted in her seat and said, “That I teach you manners for a week but I live in the house.”

  Galen immediately knew what house she was referring to, but decided to ask anyway. “And which house is that?”

  “The one you won at the auction two days ago.”

  “Why? Once you carry out the terms of my offer it will be yours in a week to do whatever you want with it, so what’s the hurry?”

  “If I told you I doubt you’d understand.”

  “Try me.”

  “I’d rather not.”

  Galen knew that even if she had shared her reason, he would not have changed his plans. “I prefer that you stay at my place. In fact, I insist on it. However, I’d give you the key to go there whenever you want when you have some free time.”
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  Genuine surprise touched her eyes. “You would?”

  “Yes.”

  He thought her smile perfection and it almost made him feel like a heel for playing her this way, when all he had to do was tell her that as of ten o’clock yesterday morning, the house had become hers anyway. But for some reason he couldn’t do that. He’d never expected her to consider such an outlandish offer and now that she had, he couldn’t back down.

  She took another sip of her coffee and he took a sip of his, wishing it was a sip of her instead. That quick taste he’d gotten of her when they’d kissed wasn’t enough, especially because he knew there was more where that had come from. Locking lips again with her was not something he was willing to pass up. And then there was her perfume. The scent was as luscious as she looked.

  “So, are you ready to give me your answer?” he asked, while trying not to sound overly eager.

  She looked up at him. “No, not yet. I have to think this through to the end.”

  He could only think of one reason why she was drawing this out and the thought of it annoyed him. “Why? Do you have a boyfriend back home?”

  “Of course not! If I did, I wouldn’t be here contemplating your offer. Just what kind of woman do you think I am?”

  One who put too much emphasis on manners, he thought but didn’t say. She wanted to teach him manners, and he wanted to show her that there was a time and a place for manners, and there was a time and a place not for them. “I don’t know. What kind of woman are you?” he responded.

  He wondered how long he was going to last, sitting here engaging in idle chitchat with her when all he wanted to do was take her somewhere and feel her body pressed next to his and indulge once more in the taste of her mouth. He knew he needed to proceed with caution with her, but he was finding it hard to do so.

  “I’m a woman who takes life seriously,” she said, frowning over at him.

  His gaze automatically went to her lower lip. Seeing it quiver sparked a low burn in his groin and had his erection pressing hard against his zipper. She was annoyed, angry and probably frustrated and her facial features were letting him know it and turning him on in the process. He figured now would not be a good time to ask when was the last time she’d gotten buck-naked and wild in the bedroom. He knew for a fact that that was a good way to release tension and stress.

  “I’m a man who takes life seriously, as well,” he said, and from the look on her face, he could tell she doubted his sincerity.

  “So what kind of manners do you want me to teach you?” she inquired before taking another sip of her coffee.

  “What kinds are there?”

  She took another sip of her coffee. “There are the basic manners about not putting your elbows on the table and what fork to use while eating. Then there are the business manners, party and entertainment etiquette, gift-giving etiquette, and the—”

  “What about bedroom etiquette?”

  He watched her lips tighten and enjoyed seeing that, too. Anything she did with her lips aroused him. He took a sip of his coffee and noted she hadn’t responded to his question. Had he hit a sore spot with her or something? That possibility called for further investigation.

  “Bedroom etiquette?” she finally asked.

  A slow smile touched his lips. “Yes, you know, the dos and don’ts while a couple is in the bedroom making love. I’m curious as to what’s proper and what’s not. Surely there are some specific manners governing that sort of thing.”

  “I’m sure there are.”

  “But those are the manners that you don’t teach?” he asked. He had her swimming in unfamiliar waters—and he was enjoying it. He was good at reading people and he could tell this topic of conversation had her somewhat flustered. Was she one of those women who thought a discussion of sex should only take place behind closed doors and not over coffee in a restaurant?

  “Ms. Thrasher?” She had clamped her mouth shut and now he was forcing her to open it again.

  “I’ve never done so before, Mr. Steele.”

  “Please call me Galen, and why not? Are you saying no one has ever approached you for such instruction?”

  She held his gaze and lifted her chin. “That’s exactly what I’m saying. You are the first.”

  Galen took another sip of his coffee. She was upset with him and her features showed it. In addition to the quivering of her bottom lip, her brows arched in a cute formation over her eyes and her nostrils seemed to flare. Why did seeing all of that make adrenaline flow through his veins? If that wasn’t insane, he didn’t know what was.

  “In that case, I’d love to be your first student, Brittany. I can call you Brittany, can’t I?”

  “I prefer you not be my first anything, and yes, you can call me Brittany.”

  Brittany took another sip of her coffee. He had turned those green eyes on her and she felt trapped by them. If he was playing some sort of game with her, then he was winning. The man had her tied up in all kinds of knots.

  “But I am your first in at least two things that I know of, Brittany. Has anyone ever hijacked a cab from you before me?”

  “No.”

  “Has anyone ever made a proposition like the one I have?”

  “No.”

  “Seems like we’re on a roll. We might as well continue.”

  She much preferred they didn’t. “Why would you want to learn bedroom etiquette?” she decided to ask, more out of curiosity than anything.

  “I might decide to date a real lady one of these days, and I wouldn’t want to run her off with my less-than-desirable behavior behind closed doors. Right now I like to keep things simple, and simple for me is delivering pleasure beyond measure. In a rather naughty and raunchy, hot and sweaty sort of way. The women I’m into now enjoy it, but I need to know how far I can go.”

  Naughty and raunchy? Hot and sweaty? She swallowed tightly at the thought of that description given to sex. “I really wouldn’t know.”

  His mere words were causing more havoc to her body than Gilford’s touch ever did. She actually felt a heated sensation between her thighs that made her cross her legs.

  “If you want me to teach you manners, Galen, I prefer sticking with those areas I’m familiar with,” she said in a clipped tone.

  He leaned back in his chair thinking he so liked ruffling her feathers. “Okay. And when will you let me know if you plan to teach me any manners at all? When will I know for certain that you’ve accepted my proposal?”

  She placed her coffee cup aside. “You’ve given me forty-eight hours. If you don’t hear from me within that time frame, then you’ll know my decision.”

  He nodded slowly. “And if I hear from you?”

  “Then we can go from there.” She stood. “Thanks for the coffee. Goodbye, Galen.”

  He stood, as well. “Goodbye, Brittany, and I’ll look forward to your phone call.”

  She turned and walked away, and he continued to stand there and stare at her, appreciating the sway of her hips with every step she took.

  An hour or so later Brittany was pacing her hotel room. Every time she slowed her pace and closed her eyes for a moment, she could see Galen Steele’s arrogant smile in her mind.

  Of all the nerve for him to ask her about bedroom manners. As far as she was concerned, there wasn’t such a thing. What a couple did behind closed doors was acceptable as long as they both agreed and were comfortable with it, even if it meant swinging butt-naked from a chandelier. Of course he’d only asked to rattle her, she was sure of it, and it didn’t help matters that she didn’t have a clue as to what he was talking about. She wouldn’t know naughty and raunchy or hot and sweaty if they came up and bit her on the butt.

  A tingle went up her spine at the thought of someone, namely Galen, doing that very thing—biting her on the butt. Why on earth would she think such a thing? She didn’t have a sadistic bone in her body. When it came to sex, she’d always gone for the traditional. Could that be her problem?

  The
re was definitely one way to find out. She sat on the edge of the bed to think about what was at stake here. First and foremost was ownership of her mother’s home. The offer was out there. One week under Galen’s roof and he would sign it over to her, free and clear. Of course she would make sure he put it in writing. And then there was the issue of her not liking sex. Nikki was convinced it was her sex partners and not the sex act itself that was to blame. Or it could very well be the incident that happened when she was thirteen that had turned her off sex completely.

  If something was wrong with her, then she owed it to herself to find out and seek professional help if she needed it. After all, she was twenty-eight and most women her age were involved in healthy relationships with men.

  At that moment something clicked inside her mind. A sign, perhaps? Was it a coincidence that the house her mother had left her was now tied to Galen Steele? Had fate brought them together if for no other reason than to fix a personal problem she’d tried ignoring? Was Galen, without his knowledge, being used as a tool to right a wrong?

  Okay, that thought might be taking things too far, but then, what were the chances of her crossing paths in Phoenix with the same man she’d met six months ago in New York? And then, not only did their paths cross again, but he had something she wanted. Back in New York, she’d had something he wanted—a cab.

  She threw her head back. Maybe she was putting way too much thought into this, trying to find excuses to validate what she needed to do. She would be the first to admit that Galen Steele was different from any man she’d ever met. What was there about his brashness and arrogance that pulled her to a different level? All the guys she’d ever dated had impeccable manners, she’d made sure of it. So why was she now drawn to a man whose manners left a lot to be desired?

  She reached up and touched her lips with her fingertips, remembering the exact moment he’d kissed her. It had been short but thorough, and she had tasted his tongue. Sensations had jolted her the moment their tongues had touched. None of her former boyfriends were much into kissing. They thought it unnecessary foreplay. But she had a feeling Galen took as much time with a kiss as he did with the sex act itself.