THE SKY RUMBLED overhead, and thick grey clouds darkened the private courtyard currently being prepared for a not-suitable-for-the-public affair. I hadn’t been sure what to expect when Kelly told me this scene would be outside, because where would they have found anything in the city that would work for something like this?
Even now, I glanced up at the windows of the nineteenth-century townhouses and wondered how they’d gotten permission from all the residents. Hell, maybe they’d just promised them a nice view. I didn’t know. But for now, all the windows were closed.
“Don’t worry. The forecast says the rain should hold off this evening,” Anita said, handing me a long-sleeved black Henley to match the black pants and shoes I already wore.
“What if it doesn’t?”
She shrugged. “You don’t mind getting wet, right?”
“Nah.” If I got wet, that meant Kelly would get wet, and I could only imagine what he’d look like with rain pouring off him, his hair sticking to his neck, and me leaning in to lick the droplets off his chest…
Shit, I changed my mind. Please rain. Storm like fucking crazy.
I threw on the cotton shirt and pushed up the sleeves, suddenly feeling a little warmer despite the light breeze. For the role I was playing, I’d need to be covered head to toe, and this time my mask wouldn’t be golden.
“I’d say it’s a shame you have to put all that on, but then I remembered I get to be the one to take it off you.” Kelly’s breath tickled the back of my neck, and I spun around to face him. A look full of devilry lit his golden eyes. “Maybe I’ll use my teeth this time.”
“Promise?” I said.
“The only promise I’m making is that you’ll leave here with multiple orgasms. I’ll be the one to decide how.”
Before I could respond, Anita shoved something small and dark in my hands and muttered, “Still here, guys,” before walking away as quickly as her short legs could take her without breaking into a run.
Chuckling, I arched a brow. “Not one for subtlety, are you?”
“It’s not my fault. I can’t seem to help myself around you.”
“Oh, so this is a ‘me’ problem.”
“It is.”
“What do you suggest I do about it? You know, to make you not feel the need to rip my clothes off when you see me?”
“Is that really what you want?” he said, taking a step closer. “For me to keep my hands off you?”
A dark pool of desire settled low in my stomach, just as a hand that wasn’t mine or Kelly’s landed on my chest and pushed me away.
“Guys, guys, the cameras aren’t rolling yet,” Rafferty said, coming in between us. “Save it for when I call action, yes?”
As he backed away, Kelly winked at me, the instigator, and I smirked back at him.
“Also, we need to discuss the scenario for today, because as hot as it was last time, you veered off from what I planned.”
“Did we?” I said.
“Oh, you’re right.” One side of Kelly’s lips tipped up. “I think you said to chase Donovan, and I fucked him over the chaise instead. My bad.”
I couldn’t help but laugh as Rafferty snapped his fingers, and his assistant came running with today’s storyboard.
“Yes, well, since you didn’t make it to the garden setup last time, I brought the garden to you. Now there will be no mistakes.” To make his point, he gestured to the hedges and flowers that took up much of the center of the courtyard. A few park benches were scattered throughout the space along the uneven cobblestone, but other than that, I wasn’t sure where exactly we were supposed to, uh…perform.
I couldn’t imagine the benches were comfortable, but the only other option would be maybe up against one of the vine-covered brick walls that enclosed the space. It wasn’t until Rafferty went over his storyboard that I realized the two options he gave us were actually park bench or park bench.
Shit. That meant my knees were about to get a rougher ride than my ass.
“We’re good?” Rafferty asked when he finished his spiel, and we nodded. “Fabulous. Now go make it hot but stay on point.”
I quickly moved out of the way as he turned, whipping his long braids out to smack me in the face.
“Careful—” Kelly held his arm out to block me from getting whacked, but Rafferty was already gone.
I grinned. “Feeling protective?”
“Just saving him from a lawsuit waiting to happen if he scarred your pretty face.” He trailed his fingers over my cheek.
“Don’t worry, it’s not insured. Yet.”
“Should be.” He dropped his hand, and I mourned the loss of his touch immediately. “Have I mentioned I’m glad you’re here? Again?”
Damn, there went that stomach flip. “Well, I can’t seem to say no to you, even when I probably should.”
“Oh yeah? I wonder what else I can get you to agree to…”
There was no fucking telling, not when he was looking at me like that. I’d probably say yes to most anything that came out of his mouth, and while that should’ve scared me, all I felt was the thrill of adrenaline. Because in about five minutes, I wouldn’t have to hold myself back from him anymore. The anticipation had been riding me all day, all through my classes, so much so I’d gone on a short run when I got home to try to chill the hell out.
It wasn’t so much nerves this time now that I knew what to expect, though I still had a bit of those. More because of the fact that our location meant anyone could peer through the gates, which was a thrill on its own. I didn’t realize how much I got off on others watching, but what did I have to be ashamed of? I took care of my body, I looked good, and I knew I was a great fuck.
Bring on the eyes.
“Maybe we should find out,” I said, swinging the mask around in circles on my finger. Kelly grabbed the mask on an upswing and shook his head.
“It’s a damn shame you have to wear this. But I’ll take what I can get.”
“You could get whatever you wanted from anyone.”
“I meant from you.”
Wow. Okay, that had me feeling some kind of way. Too bad I couldn’t sit there and savor those words, not when Rafferty’s assistant called out, “Places!”
Kelly would be waiting off camera while I started the scene, and today’s scenario was one that made me laugh when I heard it. Was it ridiculous? Absolutely. Did I have any doubt we’d make it hot? None whatsoever.
I plucked my mask out of Kelly’s hand and grinned as I backed away. “Catch me if you can.”
He dipped his chin, heat simmering in his gaze. “I can. And I will.”
Hell yeah he would. And I couldn’t wait.
Anticipation rolled up my spine as I took my place and put on the ski mask. There were only holes for my eyes and my mouth, so this time even my hair was covered. Once the clothes came off, that was the only thing that would remain. Well that, and my pre-lubed ass.
The assistant handed me a crowbar, and I cracked my neck from side to side, channeling my inner…burglar. It was amusing to play the part with the way my friends and I had broken into more than a handful of places in the last few months. The dean’s office and JT’s dorm being the most recent, though neither of those had required ski masks and crowbars.
We’d done it with more flair, obviously. We were nothing if not dramatic.
“Here we go,” called Rafferty, and then he began the countdown to… “Action!”
From slightly off camera, I crept along the wall, keeping to the shadows as I made my way toward the townhouses. The cool steel of the crowbar in hand, I glanced behind me to check that the coast was clear and then continued on.
I could feel the many stares from those behind the camera, and even though they kept quiet, the noise of the city filtered into the courtyard. As I approached one of the doors, I lifted the crowbar to pry it open—and then a deep voice sounded behind me.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
Going still, I noted the change in Kelly’s tone as he instantly switched to his Sin persona. I tightened my hand on the crowbar, and when I whirled around, I swung it in a wide arc that Sin caught with his large hand.
He cocked his head to the side, looking at me with an incredulous expression that said he couldn’t believe I’d swung on him.
Well, not me. Burglar me.
The strength of his grip on the crowbar overpowered mine, and he ripped it from my grasp, causing me to stumble forward. Rafferty’s notes had detailed our having a struggle, and I started toward Sin like I was going to attack him.
I wondered briefly if we should’ve maybe practiced this part so we didn’t hurt each other by accident, but I soon realized Sin had all of this under his control. I didn’t know how, but he caught my wrist with his free hand, jerking me toward him in a spin that had my back against his front. He held the crowbar against my throat as his strength kept me firmly in place.
I knew I was supposed to be pissed, angry I got caught, but that was easier said than done when I felt his semi pressing up against the crack of my ass.
“Let go of me,” I growled, fighting to get free of his hold.
“You thought you’d break into my apartment and I’d let you just get away with it?”
Sin’s grip on me was so firm that I didn’t have to pretend to struggle for breath when I said, “You weren’t supposed to be here.”
A low chuckle met my ears. “So sorry to disappoint. Maybe I should let you go, then.”
No, I didn’t want that at all, but burglar me did.
“Yes,” I said, swallowing. “You should.”
“And if I do”—he rubbed himself against my ass—“will you fight me?”
I hesitated. “No.”
“Will you run?”
“Yes.”
“Really? Even though you didn’t get what you came here for?”
I clawed at his wrist, trying to free myself. “Let me go and you can keep your shit.”
I shivered at his dark laugh that tickled the side of my neck. “You’re a feisty thing, aren’t you?”
“Fuck you.”
“Wrong answer. No one fucks me.” Sin’s hold loosened, but in a matter of seconds he had me turned to face him. My back was now against the porch column, and the edge of the crowbar pressed into the center of my chest.
I glared at him, and even though he couldn’t see the scowl on my face, he could hear it in my words. “What are you going to do? What do you want?”
“What I wanted was a peaceful night at home. What I got was you. So what to do now?”
I thanked God that Sin didn’t have to wear a mask over his gorgeous face, because the savage expression he wore was one I would’ve hated to miss. All that passion aimed my way had my dick rising to the occasion, right on time.
Sin ran his eyes over me from where he stood a couple feet away, still holding the crowbar against my chest. “You tried to take from me. That was a mistake. Because now you’ll pay.” He licked his lips as his gaze settled below my hips. “With your body.”
