Running Wild

Catching Tina's expression, Kate laughed. "Don't look so worried. He's hooked. I can see that by the way he looks at you. He's obviously not sure how to deal with it, poor lamb." She chuckled again. "Apparently Shaun's never done ‘serious' when it comes to relationships. I asked Ray. You've turned him, Tina, that's half the battle."

"There's no point in being ahead halfway through the battle if the enemy is about to leave the field," Tina commented with barely withheld sarcasm. If it was true, did it make any difference?

"Do you want him?" Kate asked, in all seriousness. "I mean really want him."

"I tried not to," Tina whispered.

"I know you did." Kate stepped closer and put her arm around Tina's shoulders. She gave her a big squeeze.

For a moment Tina let the comfort soothe the sense of loss and confusion that was building inside her.

"You two are a really good match," Kate added. "Maybe the distance will give him time to reflect on that and it'll do him good."

Wistful thoughts flitted through Tina's mind. When she lifted her head and met Kate's gaze, she could see that the mischievous twinkle had come back into her friend's eyes. Did Kate really think there was hope?

"This is Shaun we're talking about," Tina responded with a sigh. He was more likely to use his time away to find some other game, some other challenge.

"You've still got time," Kay encouraged. "Use it to your advantage. I would put money on Shaun being about to throw in the towel in and get serious about you." She lifted her hands in a dramatic gesture, her eyes rounding. "He's hooked, darling, reel him in!"

The idea of any woman being able to "reel in" a man like Shaun made Tina laugh aloud, and that broke apart the growing sense of melancholy that threatened to spoil her weekend. She lifted and settled the tray of drinks in her hands before she replied. "He may never get serious, about me or anyone."

"Some version thereof, perhaps." Kate winked.

Tina gave a breathless laugh and shook her head at her friend as she carried the tray out of the kitchen. If Kate believed it, perhaps she could believe in it too. If nothing else, taking action would get her through saying goodbye without making a blubbering fool of herself. She had to figure out the best way to handle it, and quickly.

She loved the man. She felt shaky, but deep inside she knew she had to be strong. Grand statements and emotional claims wouldn't work with him. Time was short, but if she knew him at all, this meant she would have to play the game even more cleverly.

Chapter Five

Shaun was ready for her, oh so ready for her. This day had seemed much longer than usual, and he was much less interested in gaming than being with her. Why was it suddenly so important that they not waste a moment? They'd already locked their bodies in passion once earlier that day, creeping off together for some fierce and frantic contact. She'd been horny as hell and told him she needed him to be rock hard inside her, right then. He had, oh how he had. She'd been vixen-like, demanding, scratching his skin possessively when she came.

As soon as it was over, he wanted to be with her again.

It had to be because he was going away. It startled him, and it was hard to admit, but he was going to miss her most of all. That seemed to make every moment of the day drag. Even when she wasn't around he had the ludicrous urge to know where she was and who she was talking to. He could study her forever, watching the way she moved and her mannerisms. Something about the way she wrapped her hand around the back of her neck made him want to hold her. Did she even need a man to hold her? She was strong. Feminine, but strong with it. It was that strength and determination that he admired from the outset.

Eventually the after

-dinner drinks were wrapped up and he headed off to bed hoping she would follow. Five minutes passed before she did. He counted them on his watch. Then she knocked at the door and when he opened it she reached for his belt, drawing him along the corridor and into her room by tugging at the key chain at his belt—how could he not love that?

He stood by the bed watching as she shed her clothes for the night. As he observed her undressing, he realized he'd like to see that every night. He wanted to put her on a pedestal and worship her. Instead, he reached down and pulled out the box he'd hidden under her bed earlier that evening.

"I've got something for you." He offered her the box.

"How lovely." She lay back over the pillows, her breasts jutting at him provocatively. He noticed that she was more gathered and calm than earlier. A fire burned in her eyes though, and a secret smile lingered on her mouth as she watched him with the box.

He removed the lid and lifted the layers of tissue paper back. Hoping that she would like them, he watched her expression as he slid one boot out of the tissue, watching her eyes light. The thought of being between her legs while she was wearing the long black PVC boots affected him in the most direct way, in fact the image of being locked between those deliciously long legs encased in such decadence had haunted him. He was already hard when he pulled out the second boot. He wanted to feel the bite of them on his hips when he fucked her again, and—from the look in her eyes--she knew it.

She smiled as she gazed down at the sexy PVC boots. "They're gorgeous."

"I'm glad you like them. Do you want try them on?"

"Oh yes, I want to wear them. Right now."

The look in her eyes assured him she was as turned on by this as he was. He held one boot out to her.

She took the boot and pulled it on, slowly drawing up the zipper that ran along the inside of the leg, right to her mid thigh As she donned the item, he was treated to the most memorable of images. Regal and yet profoundly sensual, she twisted her thigh slowly from side to side, watching the light glint over the PVC surface, and then she held out her hand for its partner. He passed it to her. Fire ran in his blood.

She smiled.