Protect Me Not ((Un)Professionally Yours 2)

Even now, as she pinned her skirt down, one hand at her crotch and the other on her perfect, round butt, he wanted that mouth, wanted to feel it blossom beneath his, as he stripped it bare of all artifice with his tongue, lips, and teeth…

Fuck. Oh, fuck. He was in trouble here.

He wanted her. He shouldn’t. He couldn’t.

But duty be damned.

All he could think of as he trailed behind her, was hooking his hand in the crook of her elbow, and halting her progress… He wanted to haul her into a sheltered alley between two buildings, and show her exactly what that fucking dress was doing to him.

He waited for the shock. The outrage at these unwanted and inappropriate thoughts. But he couldn’t muster up any emotion that wasn’t relief, as he finally acknowledged these feelings that had been bubbling beneath the surface for months. No. They weren’t feelings. They were baser than that, more primitive.

They were cravings.

That was the right word for this roiling need. The absolute desire to take her, stake her, claim her, possess her…

Make her his.

At least for now.

Shit.

Ty was so fucked.

“You’re here!” Bella squealed when she opened the door. She immediately dragged Vicki into a tight hug. She seemed more than a little tipsy already. “Come in, come in!”

She stepped aside and waved Vicki inside, but her eyes widened when she noticed Ty, who was still holding the plant and wine in his hands.

“Oh, Tyler. Hey? Will you be joining us?” she asked warily.

Vicki turned her head, interested in his reply. It hadn’t occurred to her that he would stay. Usually when she visited her friends, he’d give the place and occupants a quick once-over, before retreating to the car for the rest of the evening. It couldn’t be fun, and she had often considered inviting him to stay. In the end, his stiff propriety had always stilled her tongue.

He handed the plant and wine to Bella without comment, while surveying the crowded room with an impassive expression on his face. Vicki could tell he wasn’t too pleased that there were more people present than either of them had been anticipating.

“Yeah, I think I’ll stay,” he shocked Vicki by saying.

Chapter Eight

“You will?” Vicki asked Ty, after picking her jaw up from the floor.

“Fabulous, help yourself to drinks, and snacks, and everything,” Bella said with a nonchalant grin. “I love this plant, Vic, thanks so much. And my favorite wine.”

“This is more people than I was expecting,” Vicki said. She shrugged out of her jacket and hung it on the already full coatrack by the door.

“I know. Pete invited some work mates, I asked my old book club buddies, remember them? And before we knew it, we had a full house. Not that it takes much to fill this place.” She giggled. “I’m sorry, I know I said dinner, but when I realized how many people were coming, I figured it would be more practical to do canapés. I hope you’re not too hungry.”

She was, having missed dinner for this event, but Vicki shook her head. “I’m okay.”

“Fabulous! I’m going to put these away.” Bella lifted the plant and wine. “Go say hi to Pete. And acquaint yourself with his colleagues, some of them are quite dishy in that nerdy accountant way.”

She wove her way through the crowd, leaving Vicki in a weird bubble with Ty, who was still standing directly behind her. She inhaled deeply, and turned to face him.

He was too close.

Was there such a thing as too close with Ty? No. There was only ever not close enough.

He was as near as he could be without touching her, heat came off him in waves; she was enveloped by the sharp, refreshing ice of his cologne, mingled with the sensual muskiness of his skin. He smelled irresistible, and she found herself swaying infinitesimally closer to him. She was quite unable to resist the magnetic appeal of his warmth, his tempting fragrance, and his comforting presence.

But it was still not close enough…

“Why are you staying?” she asked, angling her head upward only far enough to stare at his square, stubbled jaw. She didn’t want to meet his eyes, terrified of what hers would reveal to him.

“There has to be at least twenty people here. None of whom I know…”

“You know Bella.”

He sighed impatiently, and she didn’t have to be looking directly at him to know that he must have directed his gaze heavenward, appealing for patience from a higher power.

“Most of whom I do not know,” he corrected. “I’m not about to leave you here unprotected.”

“Trust me, the only protection I need at a gathering like this is a pack of condoms and maybe a coverall to save my dress from inevitable wine spills. White dresses are red wine magnets.”

“Why would you need the condoms?”