Graham slid the mask over his head and took her hand. Without a word he pulled her toward the pool house. A thrill of excitement rushed through her as Graham tried the knob and it turned beneath his palm.
He ushered her inside, closed the door and left the lights off. She waited for him to devour her, to run his hands over her heated body. But nothing. Her eyes hadn’t adjusted to the darkness and she couldn’t see him.
“Graham?”
“I’m right here.”
His voice was close. The heat from his body had her shifting, hoping to brush against him...waiting for him to make contact somehow.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I told you, my invitation got lost in the mail.”
Eve rolled her eyes, even though he couldn’t see her. “No. What are you doing in here?”
Material rustled. Something, his sleeve maybe, brushed against the back of her hand then was instantly gone. Her body was wound so tight in anticipation of his touch. What was he waiting on?
“I wanted to see you,” he said in that low tone that had shivers racing through her. “You sent me that picture and I knew I had to find a way to be at this party.”
“Did anyone—”
“No. Nobody saw me. I even talked to a few guests, but no one caught on.”
Relief washed over her, but was quickly replaced once again by arousal. “Are you...why are we...”
“Are you achy, Eve?”
That sultry voice filled the darkness. Her eyes were finally starting to adjust somewhat, but there were no outside lights coming in because the entrance to the pool house faced the back of the property. Damn it. She wanted to see him better, to touch him. What game was he playing?
“Have you thought of me these past few days?” he continued. “I know you have or you wouldn’t be sending me pictures of you in that sexy costume. Did you think I’d come begging for you? I told you, you’d be the one begging.”
She was damn near ready to do just that. “Is that why you’re here? To get me to beg?” she asked, hoping her voice sounded stronger than she felt.
“I’m here because I told you I wanted to be your date.”
Eve eased away from the door, only to stop short when she ran into Graham’s hard chest. “So what are we doing in the pool house?” she asked, holding her hands up to steady herself. She couldn’t stop herself from gliding her palms up the tux jacket toward his broad shoulders.
“Your call, Eve. I told you I won’t be the one to make a move.”
Why did life have to be full of so many tempting choices? Why was her greatest need the exact opposite of what she should be doing? But the lengths he went to in order to be with her was rather...oh, fine. It was flat-out arousing and exciting.
“You’re quite cocky to come into my family’s home,” she told him, roaming her hands up toward his neck, her fingertips teasing that smooth jawline.
“Call it what you want, but there was no way in hell I was going to let some damn picture pacify my need for you.”
He’d never admitted he needed her before. Granted he was talking in physical terms, but the words still sent a thrill of desire through her.
Eve leaned in until her lips barely brushed against his. “So you’re here to give in after all? Dare I say, beg me?” she whispered.
With a groan, Graham snaked his arms around her waist and gripped her backside, pulling her flush against him. “Hell no. I’m not begging. I’m taking what I want, what you’ve teased me with, and I’m saving your pride so you don’t have to beg.”
Eve laughed. “So this is all for me?”
“I’m a selfish man, Eve. Never forget that.”
His lips crushed hers as he backed her up a few steps to the door. She hit with a thud, but she barely noticed. With the way Graham’s hands were wrestling the hem of her dress up her thighs, she couldn’t concentrate on anything but the endless possibilities of what was about to happen.
“Never tease me again,” Graham muttered against her lips. “Did you think I’d avoid you, knowing you looked like this?”
His mouth made a path down her neck, to the deep V of her dress. For the first time tonight, she was all too happy to be this exposed. Better access for Graham was exactly what she needed, what she ached for.
Eve arched her back, cupping the side of his face as he jerked the thick straps down her shoulders. The second her dress fell to her waist, Graham filled his hands with her bare breasts.
“If I’d known you weren’t wearing anything beneath this, I would’ve intercepted you at your house before the party and we never would’ve left.”
Eve gasped as his lips found her sensitive tip. “The dress...it has...um...”
“Yes?” he asked, a smile in his tone. “How close are you to begging?”
About a second.
“The dress has a built-in liner. No bra necessary.”
“It’s my new favorite.”
When his hands trailed up the back of her thighs, Eve had to bite her lips to keep from crying out. He knew every single place to touch her and have her squirming. He knew she was on the brink of begging and he was practically gloating over it.
Time to turn the tables, so to speak.
Eve reached between them. The second she stroked her hand up his length, Graham let out a hiss.
“I’m not playing games, Eve.”
She couldn’t help but smile against his mouth. “You wouldn’t have come here if you weren’t playing.”
* * *
She. Was. Killing. Him.
And his slow descent had started the second she’d sent that picture of her wearing the dress. But, seeing her in person, touching those curves, was absolutely everything he’d ever dreamed and fantasized about. Yes, he’d had her multiple times, but knowing she was carrying his child bumped up the sexual appeal. There was something so primal, so...damn it, his. She was his. That child was his. There would never be another man coming into her life, into their child’s life. Not so long as Graham was around.
Maybe he’d come here to seduce her, most likely. But he’d intentionally decided to crash the party simply because he knew he could. He’d taken matters into his own hands.
Speaking of matters in hand...
“Take off your dress.”
Eve stilled. “Here?”
“We can go back inside to the party to do this, but I’m sure your family wouldn’t approve.”
Graham backed away and waited until the rustling and soft swoosh of fabric indicated she was indeed bare for him. Closing the space between them, Graham wasted no time in grabbing hold of her and lifting her until her legs wrapped around him.
He eased over slightly so her back wasn’t against the grooves in the door. But once he had her against the wall, he reached between them, unfastened his pants and kissed her. Hard. This wasn’t a sweet encounter; he didn’t have time for gentle touches and nurturing words. He was in this dark pool house with his own goddess for one reason only.
“Hurry,” she panted against his mouth.