THE SKY RUMBLED overhead, and thick grey clouds darkened the private courtyard currently being prepared for a not-suitable-for-the-public affair. I hadnât 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 theyâd gotten permission from all the residents. Hell, maybe theyâd just promised them a nice view. I didnât know. But for now, all the windows were closed.
âDonât worry. The forecast says the rain should hold off this evening,â Anita said, handing me a long-sleeved black Henley to match the black pants and shoes I already wore.
âWhat if it doesnât?â
She shrugged. âYou donât mind getting wet, right?â
âNah.â If I got wet, that meant Kelly would get wet, and I could only imagine what heâd look like with rain pouring off him, his hair sticking to his neck, and me leaning in to lick the droplets off his chestâ¦
Shit, I changed my mind.
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, Iâd need to be covered head to toe, and this time my mask wouldnât be golden.
âIâd say itâs a shame you have to put all that on, but then I remembered I get to be the one to take it off you.â Kellyâs breath tickled the back of my neck, and I spun around to face him. A look full of devilry lit his golden eyes. âMaybe Iâll use my teeth this time.â
âPromise?â I said.
âThe only promise Iâm making is that youâll leave here with multiple orgasms. Iâll be the one to decide how.â
Before I could respond, Anita shoved something small and dark in my hands and muttered, âStill here, guys,â before walking away as quickly as her short legs could take her without breaking into a run.
Chuckling, I arched a brow. âNot one for subtlety, are you?â
âItâs not my fault. I canât seem to help myself around you.â
âOh, so this is a âmeâ problem.â
âIt is.â
âWhat 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?â
âIs that really what you want?â he said, taking a step closer. âFor me to keep my hands off you?â
A dark pool of desire settled low in my stomach, just as a hand that wasnât mine or Kellyâs landed on my chest and pushed me away.
âGuys, guys, the cameras arenât rolling yet,â Rafferty said, coming in between us. âSave it for when I call action, yes?â
As he backed away, Kelly winked at me, the instigator, and I smirked back at him.
âAlso, we need to discuss the scenario for today, because as hot as it was last time, you veered off from what I planned.â
âDid we?â I said.
âOh, youâre right.â One side of Kellyâs lips tipped up. âI think you said to chase Donovan, and I fucked him over the chaise instead. My bad.â
I couldnât help but laugh as Rafferty snapped his fingers, and his assistant came running with todayâs storyboard.
âYes, well, since you didnât make it to the garden setup last time, I brought the garden to you. Now there will be no mistakes.â 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 wasnât sure where exactly we were supposed to, uhâ¦perform.
I couldnât 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 wasnât 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.
âWeâre good?â Rafferty asked when he finished his spiel, and we nodded. âFabulous. Now go make it hot but stay on point.â
I quickly moved out of the way as he turned, whipping his long braids out to smack me in the face.
âCarefulââ Kelly held his arm out to block me from getting whacked, but Rafferty was already gone.
I grinned. âFeeling protective?â
âJust saving him from a lawsuit waiting to happen if he scarred your pretty face.â He trailed his fingers over my cheek.
âDonât worry, itâs not insured. Yet.â
âShould be.â He dropped his hand, and I mourned the loss of his touch immediately. âHave I mentioned Iâm glad youâre here? Again?â
Damn, there went that stomach flip. âWell, I canât seem to say no to you, even when I probably should.â
âOh yeah? I wonder what else I can get you to agree toâ¦â
There was no fucking telling, not when he was looking at me like that. Iâd probably say yes to most anything that came out of his mouth, and while that shouldâve scared me, all I felt was the thrill of adrenaline. Because in about five minutes, I wouldnât have to hold myself back from him anymore. The anticipation had been riding me all day, all through my classes, so much so Iâd gone on a short run when I got home to try to chill the hell out.
It wasnât 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 didnât 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.
âMaybe we should find out,â I said, swinging the mask around in circles on my finger. Kelly grabbed the mask on an upswing and shook his head.
âItâs a damn shame you have to wear this. But Iâll take what I can get.â
âYou could get whatever you wanted from anyone.â
âI meant from you.â
Wow. Okay, had me feeling some kind of way. Too bad I couldnât sit there and savor those words, not when Raffertyâs assistant called out, âPlaces!â
Kelly would be waiting off camera while I started the scene, and todayâs scenario was one that made me laugh when I heard it. Was it ridiculous? Absolutely. Did I have any doubt weâd make it hot? None whatsoever.
I plucked my mask out of Kellyâs hand and grinned as I backed away. âCatch me if you can.â
He dipped his chin, heat simmering in his gaze. âI can. And I will.â
Hell yeah he would. And I couldnât 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 innerâ¦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 deanâs office and JTâs dorm being the most recent, though neither of those had required ski masks and crowbars.
Weâd done it with more flair, obviously. We were nothing if not dramatic.
âHere we go,â called Rafferty, and then he began the countdown to⦠âAction!â
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 openâand then a deep voice sounded behind me.
âI wouldnât do that if I were you.â
Going still, I noted the change in Kellyâs 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 couldnât believe Iâd swung on him.
Well, not . Burglar me.
The strength of his grip on the crowbar overpowered mine, and he ripped it from my grasp, causing me to stumble forward. Raffertyâs notes had detailed our having a struggle, and I started toward Sin like I was going to attack him.
I wondered briefly if we shouldâve maybe practiced this part so we didnât hurt each other by accident, but I soon realized Sin had all of this under his control. I didnât 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.
âLet go of me,â I growled, fighting to get free of his hold.
âYou thought youâd break into my apartment and Iâd let you just get away with it?â
Sinâs grip on me was so firm that I didnât have to pretend to struggle for breath when I said, âYou werenât supposed to be here.â
A low chuckle met my ears. âSo sorry to disappoint. Maybe I should let you go, then.â
No, I didnât want that at all, but burglar me did.
âYes,â I said, swallowing. âYou should.â
âAnd if I doââhe rubbed himself against my assââwill you fight me?â
I hesitated. âNo.â
âWill you run?â
âYes.â
âReally? Even though you didnât get what you came here for?â
I clawed at his wrist, trying to free myself. âLet me go and you can keep your shit.â
I shivered at his dark laugh that tickled the side of my neck. âYouâre a feisty thing, arenât you?â
âFuck you.â
âWrong answer. No one fucks me.â Sinâs 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 couldnât see the scowl on my face, he could hear it in my words. âWhat are you going to do? What do you want?â
âWhat I was a peaceful night at home. What I got was you. So what to do now?â
I thanked God that Sin didnât have to wear a mask over his gorgeous face, because the savage expression he wore was one I wouldâve 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. âYou tried to take from me. That was a mistake. Because now youâll pay.â He licked his lips as his gaze settled below my hips. âWith your body.â