Better than Sexy (The Sexy 3)

“So this is the bedroom,” she said, looking around the immaculate space.

“Yes, it is. Feel free to put your own touches on it for as long as you’re here.” The decorator had pulled together an apartment for three single men.

She treated him to a generous smile. “Thank you.”

Knowing he’d be tempting himself and not caring, he stepped closer until her feminine fragrance filled his nostrils. They stared at each other for a long, charged moment, desire he couldn’t escape building inside him.

She met his gaze and her lips parted. It wasn’t an invitation, but her eyes still held his, and she wasn’t backing away either.

He slid his hand behind her neck, cupping her soft skin. “I know I’m your boss, so no pressure,” he said as he applied a bit to her skin. “But I want to kiss you.”

She paused. Looked up at him. Then rose onto her toes. His mouth met hers. Warm and willing, her soft lips glided against his and his entire body came alive. He tightened his grip on her neck as he slid his tongue into her waiting mouth. She tasted sweet and he deepened the kiss, wanting more of her. With a moan, her body leaned against his, her breasts pressing against his chest.

Their tongues meshed and mingled. Their harsh breathing filled the room. The kiss went on and he was in no rush to end the moment. But suddenly she gasped and pulled away.

“We shouldn’t,” she said, brushing her damp lips with her hand.

“Because…?”

She swallowed hard. “I just … I need to focus on my work,” she said, turning away so he couldn’t see her face.

He narrowed his gaze, wondering if something more was at play. A woman didn’t kiss him like she did, then back off that easily. But he also wasn’t going to push her. He’d see how things between them played out during her time here and take his cues from her. Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t play up the charm and test her resolve.

“I think the apartment will work out well.” She headed for the door.

“Do you need help moving in?”

“I’ve got it but thank you,” she said in a strained voice.

“Who’s helping?” he persisted.

“Well, Ellie. Owen wouldn’t get his hands dirty moving my clothing over. It’s fine. We’ve got it. She’s borrowing her parents’ car.”

He rolled his eyes. “I’ll be over at eight a.m. tomorrow and we’ll get you moved in.”

He wasn’t going to leave the two women to drag all her things alone back and forth up to the apartment.

“We’ll get me moved in?”

He grinned. “I’ve got partners, don’t I? All you need to worry about is packing your things up. We’ll handle the rest.”

“But–”

He placed a finger to her lips, and damned if her eyes didn’t darken with desire. She might be focused on her career, but she was interested in him as well.

“No buts,” he told her. “You’re ours to take care of now.”

* * *

That kiss blew Vivi’s mind and stayed there while she wrapped plastic garbage bags over the clothes in her closet so she could just rehang them in her new one. She boxed up everything else. There wasn’t all that much. She’d be buying stage clothes for this residency with her advance paycheck. And memories of Landon’s sexy mouth on hers kept her up all night and well into the morning.

It wasn’t just the talent of those lips and that tongue; no, it was the explosive chemistry she’d never shared with anyone before. Vivi had had relationships in her past, and they’d always ended on an easy note, including the last one with the drummer in her band. The attraction, what little there usually was with past men, tended to fade away along with the desire for her to remain attached. But she’d never experienced a kiss that had exploded throughout her entire being and taken her out of her own mind.

She’d come close to crawling up Landon’s hard body, tackling him, and ending up on the bed that’d been close by. But her ever-present guilty conscience had chosen that moment to rear its head. He deserved a woman who could come to him free of ugly entanglements in their past. And that wasn’t her.

So she’d broken the kiss and tried to leave, but he’d been insistent on helping her, and now he was coming over early this morning for her move into the club apartment. Where she’d see him every day and her body would react to him every waking minute.

She rose early and headed downstairs, buying a Dunkin’ Box O’ Joe that included ten cups of coffee, along with a dozen donuts for her, Ellie, Landon, and his partners.

At eight on the dot, the men showed up, to Vivi’s surprise, with their women, too.

“We’re here to help,” a curvy blonde with a sweet smile said. “I’m Faith Dare. And you must be Vivi.” She extended her hand and Vivi shook it. “This is my husband, Jason.” She gestured to a handsome man with brown hair and a scruff of beard. “Tanner Grayson and his fiancee, Scarlett,” Faith said, continuing with the introductions to all good-looking people, as Vivi took each person’s hand in turn.