Wild - Jaci Burton Page 0,18
again. “That we will.”
Mike clasped him on the upper shoulder. “So quit worrying about it. We’ll be nice. And gentle. And let her lead. And she’ll have a great time. And when it’s over, it’s over.”
“You’re right. She knows what she’s doing.”
“Your place or mine?”
“I don’t care.” Women sure spent a lot of time in the bathroom together. Were they creating a battle plan? He always wondered what they talked about.
“Seth. You paying attention?”
“Huh? Oh. I don’t care. Yours is fine.”
“Okay. I’m going to say my good-byes and head to the house, get things set up. Why don’t you bring Abby?”
“I’ll do that. See you in a bit.” He tore his gaze from the women’s restroom door and stepped back to the party. God, he was practically stalking her. Pathetic.
The last thing he needed was involvement with Abby. Mike was right. When the sex was over, they’d go their separate ways.
It was better that way. She had her life and was just starting out. He had his, and he wasn’t about to get involved again.
Fun and fucking. That’s all this was. And the way his cock tightened at the thought of stripping that sinfully tight dress off her body, he was ready for both. Right now.
when seth pulled into the circular drive in front of the sprawling ranch house, Abby had a moment of panic. Okay, so she might have already worn deep gouges in the leather of Seth’s car. And she might be near hyperventilating from her rapid breathing.
So maybe her moment of panic had been going on a little longer than just a moment.
Seth squeezed her hand, capturing her attention.
“The word no works really well on both Mike and me, Abby. Use it whenever you want tonight, and everything stops.”
She exhaled and nodded. “I’m sorry. Like I said before, I’ve never done this.”
He leaned over and kissed her, stealing her breath in an entirely different way. She relaxed against the seat back and gave herself up to the sensations of his lips and his tongue moving against hers, the way he cupped her neck and held her as if he were keeping her safe. Her tension melted.
“We’ll make it good for you, baby,” he murmured against her lips.
She shuddered, letting in all the feelings of desire, pushing away any of her second thoughts. She reached up and palmed his cheek, shuddering a sigh. “I know you will.”
He came around and opened her door, helping her out of the car and escorting her to the front door, which was already open. She stepped inside, awed by the beauty of Mike’s home.
The tile floor was dark and masculine, so like the man who lived there. Two Irish setters greeted her, and when Seth told them to stay, they stopped and sat obediently.
“That’s Salt and Pepper,” he said, introducing them.
Abby petted them both, tangling her fingers in their silken fur. “They’re beautiful.”
“Hey! Glad to see we didn’t lose you along the road to perdition,” Mike teased as he stepped into the entryway.
He’d slipped off his jacket and taken off his tie, undoing a couple buttons of his shirt. Dark hair peeked out the top of his shirt, that shadow of fur and skin making her mouth water.
“Come on and have a seat, and I’ll fix us all a drink. Seth, take off your coat and tie. You look like a stockbroker.”
Seth snorted. The dogs scurried through a large door flap into the backyard. Abby followed Mike into a spacious living room populated with very comfortable-looking leather couches and chairs, enough stereo equipment to blast out anyone’s eardrums, and a big-screen television mounted on one of the walls. Outside the sliding glass door was a very well lit Olympic-sized swimming pool.
“It’s beautiful here,” she said, sliding onto one of the couches and slipping off the shoes that were now making her feet throb. She resisted the urge to groan in relief.
“Thanks. What would you like to drink?”
“Something with rum would be nice. And soda.”
“Got it. Seth, turn on some music.”
Seth put on something slow and jazzy. Abby drew her feet up behind her and nestled comfortably in a corner of the couch, feeling oddly serene. Whatever was going to happen would happen. And it might even be nothing. She had a feeling even if all they did was talk and had a cocktail or two, and then she said she wanted to go home, it would be okay with both of them.
That was enough to make her relax.
Mike brought her drink and