Part 9 (1/2)

Just hearing the man's name sent s.h.i.+vers down Sam's spine. LaSalle had been a player of the worse kind. He had pursued her for weeks after meeting her in a bar where she, Peyton and Mac had been enjoying after-hours drinks. He had walked in that night with the word player player all but plastered on his forehead. all but plastered on his forehead.

Sam had decided that Belton should be taught a lesson. She didn't want to think about what might have happened that night if Mac and Peyton hadn't been at the same restaurant and seen LaSalle slip something into her drink when her back was turned. They had immediately called the police, who had arrested Belton there on the spot. Belton had been sentenced five years for possession of GHB, the date-rape drug.

Not wanting to talk or think about Belton LaSalle any longer, Sam changed the subject and discussed the woman she had met with earlier that day: one who wanted to sue the local newspaper for failing to print her husband's obituary. She was certain more people would have shown up for the service had they known.

”Where's Mac?” Sam asked a few moments later, when Peyton stood to leave for her three-o'clock appointment.

”She left early today. Her brother-in-law Reese is in town and she wanted to prepare dinner.”

Sam nodded, remembering Mac had mentioned that Reese would be arriving. She wondered if Blade would be having dinner with Mac and Luke. Sam certainly hoped so. The last thing she wanted was for him to make his way over to her place and knock on her door. It would be just like him to find some excuse to aggravate her.

Besides, she needed time to put her plans for him into motion. She wanted him to think she had come around and was open to having an affair. And when he thought he had her just where he wanted her, she would let him know that he was the one who had been used.

There was nothing like seeing the look on a player's face when he was ready to sizzle, only to have her defuse the flame. She liked being a tease and proving to them that some women were immune to their doggish charms.

”Peyton, what do you have planned for the weekend?” she asked. Tomorrow was Friday and the last thing she needed was to run into Blade over the weekend. And with him living next door there was a strong possibility that would happen. Besides, she needed distance to think of a good plan for him.

”Nothing. Why?”

”How would you like to go with me for the weekend to that new resort in Sparks? I heard it has a real nice spa, and it will be my treat.”

Peyton studied her a second and then asked. ”Any reason you want to get out of Dodge?”

Sam rolled her eyes. ”For Pete's sake, stop asking questions. Do you want to go or not?”

Peyton smiled. ”Yes, I'll go, but it doesn't have to be your treat, Di Meglio.”

Sam waved one hand in the air. ”Whatever. I'll bring my bags in tomorrow and we can leave right after work. I'll call to make the reservation.”

After Peyton left her office, Sam leaned back in her chair, feeling more relaxed. She had found something to do for the weekend and didn't have to worry about crossing paths with Blade.

Chapter 11.

Late Sunday night the sound of a woman humming woke Blade up. At first he thought he'd been dreaming, but now he was wide-awake and could still hear the sound. He flipped on his back, perked up his ears and wondered where the melody was coming from.

Easing out of bed and grabbing his robe, he glanced around his room. He didn't believe in ghosts, so the thought of this place being haunted didn't enter his mind. He began walking toward where the sound was coming from.

He opened the French doors leading to the balcony and stepped out in his bare feet on the cool ceramic tile. He glanced to his right and had a good view of Sam's balcony. Because of the way the townhomes were designed, the only thing that separated the two was a brick planter, which afforded only a semblance of privacy between the two homes. But all he had to do was push a few plants aside to see into the screened-in area off her bedroom.

She had installed a hot tub and she was outside in it. Her head was thrown back and her eyes were closed and she looked relaxed. She was humming the song that had awakened him.

Although he hadn't checked the time, he figured it to be close to midnight, since it had been after ten o'clock when he'd left Luke and Mac's place. When he'd arrived home he'd a.s.sumed Sam had returned from her weekend getaway and had turned in for the night, since all the lights were out at her place.

During dinner on Friday night Mac had mentioned that Sam and Peyton had gone away for the weekend to a resort in a town called Sparks. He figured that had been Sam's way of putting distance between them.

Now she was back and he was wide-awake and feeling like a Peeping Tom. He'd never had a reason to stand in the shadows to watch a woman in a hot tub before, but he was doing so now, as all kinds of sensations formed deep in his belly.

Blade wasn't sure how long he stood there, but it was long enough to focus on the way her head lay against the back of the tub, and how her beautiful face seemed to glow in the moonlight. Her hair was tied up on top of her head, exposing the long, graceful curve of her neck and throat.

Bubbles were swirling all around her and he didn't have to strain his eyes to know she was naked in the hot tub. That much was evident by the way the bubbly water splashed on her chest, and on occasion a plump, bare breast would be exposed when she s.h.i.+fted positions. He felt the lower part of his body get hard and was about to open his mouth to let her know he was there, and to ask if he could perhaps join her, when she spoke.

”Enjoying the peep show, Blade?”

She hadn't even opened her eyes, which immediately let him know she'd been expecting him and had known all along he was there. She had intentionally been humming to lure him out of his bed. Okay, so she'd gotten him, and his mind was suddenly filled with a number of ways he would like to get her. Several positions came to mind, but the one he liked best was doggie style.

A shudder rippled through him, all the way to his groin, when he visualized it in his mind. He clenched his jaw, trying to suppress the heat consuming his body. He finally decided to answer truthfully. ”Yes, I'm enjoying it, immensely. But I would enjoy it even better if I could see a lot more of you.”

”That can be arranged.”

His eyes strained as he watched her. What he hadn't expected was her easing out of the water to stand up. And just as he'd a.s.sumed, she was naked and her body was simply beautiful. She was so flawless that he could hear his heart weep and could feel his erection beating its head against his zipper in agony.

She possessed what had to be the most perfect pair of b.r.e.a.s.t.s-firm, luscious, shapely. Her nipples seemed to be calling out for his mouth. He forced his gaze to move lower, to her flat stomach and the water that was glistening off her gold belly ring. And then he saw the small tattoo of an eagle on the side of her hip.

Blade pulled in a deep breath as his gaze moved to the juncture of her thighs. Sweet mercy Sweet mercy. He muttered deep in his throat as he fixed his eyes on her womanly charm, perfectly shaped with a Brazilian wax. He licked his lips, remembering the kiss he had placed there, and how his tongue had felt sliding around the smooth surface before going deep inside of her.

He could have sworn she had tasted of cinnamon and spice that night, and even now the flavor of her still clung to his tongue and wouldn't go away. Her feminine heat was emitting a scent that was being absorbed into his nostrils, his skin and every d.a.m.n inch of him.

He released his breath when she got out of the tub, showing a nice curvy and delectable backside. Her long, beautiful legs glistened with water and were gorgeous and as shapely as a pair of legs could be. As soon as her feet, which were as beautiful as the rest of her, touched the tile floor, he noticed a toe ring.

She crossed the floor to where she'd placed a towel across a chair, and worked every curve of her body as she strutted her stuff. A lump formed in his throat as she swayed her hips, lifted her b.r.e.a.s.t.s and all but glided sensuously to her destination. A model on a runway could not have done any better. He nearly moaned in agony when she reached for the towel, flapped it open and then draped it around her body, covering up all those parts he'd enjoyed seeing.

”Show's over, Blade.”

His gaze moved to her face. ”Why did you even bother?”

She threw her head back and laughed. ”So you'll have a chance to see what you'll never get.”

She was teasing him, toying with his jewels, and he didn't like it one d.a.m.n bit. ”Would you like to bet on that? Two can play your game, Sam.”

He could tell from her expression that she didn't like the sound of that.

”What do you have in mind? Torment me. Tease me. Tantalize me with no promise of release?” he asked.

”All of the above.”

Now it was his time to chuckle. ”Don't mess with a man who's at the top of his game, especially if that man is so hard up for you that he can't think straight.” He was giving her fair warning. It was the right thing to do.

He watched her features and knew she was trying to make a decision about something. ”Maybe you're right. All we're doing is causing each other agony, which is a waste of time and energy.”

His erection throbbed in antic.i.p.ation. Now she was making sense.