Seducing the Boss (The Pulse Series) Read online

  Kellan waited until she was halfway between him and the ladies’ room. Then he stood up and followed her.

  She underestimated him.

  And after tonight, she wouldn’t make that mistake again.

  Chapter Two

  Sara was relieved when she found the bathroom unoccupied. She wanted to lock herself in, get her shit together, and then get the hell out of this bar. She must be more depressed—or horny—than she realized if she was seriously considering Kellan’s offer.

  There was one thing she had always been certain of in her life—that she would never be one of the faceless women who made a brief appearance in Kellan James’s bed.

  She had just turned to throw the lock on the door when it flew open. She scowled when Kellan barged in.

  “What the hell are you doing?”

  He didn’t bother to reply. Instead, he shifted, twisting them until she was pushed against the door and caged between his arms. It was a dominant, I dare you to say no move. Something right out of an erotic romance novel.

  It’s hot as shit.

  She opened her mouth to repeat her question, but Kellan cut her off, his lips landing on hers in a hard kiss.

  Sara was stunned, shocked…aroused.

  Jesus.

  “Say yes, Sara. Tell me you want this.” She’d never heard that tone in Kellan’s voice, determination laced with just a touch of desperation. It spoke to her.

  She nodded, unable to reply. She was having trouble breathing.

  Her acquiescence set him free. He pushed his knee between her legs, pressing against her heat as his lips took hers once more. His hands were tangled in her hair, his grip tight, sexy.

  No man had ever taken such thorough and complete control of her. Yet Kellan had done it within seconds.

  Sara reached for his shoulders, and for one brief moment, she considered shoving him away.

  This is wrong? Right?

  Then—fortunately—her brain engaged. Or maybe it disengaged. This was the single hottest kiss of her life. Why on earth would she stop?

  Her tongue found his, and he groaned into her mouth, a hungry, almost feral sound. Passionate. The idea that she could make Kellan feel this way was heady, dizzying. Wonderful.

  “Kellan,” she whispered when he pulled away briefly, granting them only a few seconds to suck in some much-needed air. She didn’t have a clue what she meant to say next, but he didn’t give her the chance to finish.

  “You’re so fucking gorgeous, Sara.” Kellan bent his head and resumed the body-trembling, soul-shattering, earth-shaking kiss.

  Before she could consider her actions, she began gyrating against his knee, thrusting almost subconsciously. She needed—wanted—so much more.

  His fingers drifted from her hair to her face as his palms cupped her cheeks. He drew back a few inches until they were looking at each other. Neither of them spoke, yet Sara felt like they said volumes. His expression mirrored her own feelings, and she took comfort in the knowledge that he was as blown away as she was.

  “I…” Once again, she faltered.

  What the hell am I supposed to say now?

  She wanted him desperately, almost painfully. But this was Kellan, her cocky boss, her infuriating friend. She wasn’t supposed to want him. It was stupid to want him.

  “Sara.” It was clear he didn’t intend to say more. He didn’t have to. Her name sounded like a prayer on his lips, and it sparked something inside of her, something animalistic and feral.

  Oh, God. This is bad.

  She grabbed his face and pulled him toward her, initiating the kiss as she thrust against his leg harder. Kellan was right. Two years was too fucking long.

  Overwhelmed with sexual frustration, she leaned forward and bit Kellan’s neck. He reared back.

  Great. Way to piss off the hot guy helping you get off, Sara.

  Of course, Kellan never responded the way she anticipated. He gave her a wicked grin that had her pussy clenching almost painfully. “Careful, Scrubs. I bite back.” His voice was deep and dangerous.

  “I need…” She gasped. Despite her fast, somewhat out of control, humping of his leg, she couldn’t get where she wanted to go. She needed to come.

  Like, holy hell, right now.

  Kellan pulled his leg away, and she cried out angrily. Before she could demand he resume the position, he had the hem of her skirt shoved around her waist and her panties down around her ankles. “Kick them off.”

  With little grace, she managed to toe off the thong. She’d worn it hoping it would be seen by her blind date, thinking it would incite some sort of desire. Kellan hadn’t given it a passing glance. Apparently he didn’t need sexy lingerie to turn him on.

  His fingers stroked between her thighs. She’d never been this wet in her life. She opened her legs, allowing him better access. She wanted him to touch everything.

  He pressed three fingers deep inside her as his thumb caressed her clit.

  “Ohmigod,” she gasped. It was like the man had the playbook to her body. He crooked his middle finger inside, finding that spot, that magical spot, that never failed to send shivers up and down her spine. She gripped his upper arms as her head rested against the door at her back.

  Kellan didn’t hold back anything, didn’t rush her or the moment. His fingers moved deeper, slowly building up speed, the pressure growing until her whole world spiraled down to just a single pinprick of light. All she could do was hold on to him as a thousand flashes of lightning struck all at once.

  She shattered, and her body jerked like a ragdoll in a tornado. Her vision went black, though her eyes were still wide open.

  “Kellan. Please.” Sara had no idea what she was begging for. Perhaps support. For a second, she feared she’d fall, her legs too weak to hold her.

  He placed his arms around her back and under her knees, and then she was weightless.

  When she opened her eyes, two things occurred to her simultaneously. One, she was fairly certain she’d just blacked out, and two, she was in Kellan’s arms, cradled against his chest, her hands wrapped around his neck.

  “I…” She had no clue where she was going with that statement, so she tried again with even less success. “That…”

  It’s official. I’m a babbling idiot.

  She was slightly embarrassed about the fact he was holding her. “Did I faint?”

  Kellan chuckled. “I’m pretty sure you just lost your balance, but let’s go with that passing out story. Makes me sound like a total stud.”

  Though she would never admit as much to him, he had definitely earned those bragging rights. Fortunately, his cocky tone helped her regain her wits.

  “Put me down, you jackass.” Her voice was too weak, too breathless to pack the punch she’d hoped for. Somehow she needed to find a way to get them back into familiar territory.

  As always, Kellan took no offense to her name-calling. “You’re coming home with me tonight, Sara.”

  She’d come to the ladies’ room intent on girding her loins, finding the strength to refuse his tempting offer. So much for that plan. She tried to suck some air into her lungs. They actually burned with the effort, like she’d just run a marathon or something.

  It was time to regroup. She slowly wiggled out of his grip and lowered her legs to the floor, though she missed being in his arms the second she found her freedom. She dismissed that thought instantly. No good would come from it.

  If she followed Kellan home right now, she wouldn’t be any different than the countless other women he’d seduced away from bars. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind this weekend would be incredible, but she also knew herself. Knew the regret and self-loathing she’d feel come Monday.

  However, it was hard to say “this is a mistake” when every other part of her was already mentally headed toward his car.

  She needed a way to set herself apart. To make herself feel better about giving in to him so easily.

  A second date. It was the one thing Kellan avoid
ed like the plague with his casual hookups.

  “I’ll go home with you on one condition.”

  He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “What condition?”

  “I’ve spent the past few months organizing the Fairmont Midsummer’s Night Gala. It’s an event to raise funds for the free clinic.”

  “I know about the gala, Sara.”

  It took her a moment to recall what she’d been saying. More often than not, Kellan called her Scrubs. There was something almost sinful about the way her real name rolled off his far-too-kissable lips.

  Dammit. Focus.

  “I want you to take me to the gala. As my date.”

  He frowned, refusal clearly hovering, so she forged on. “I had hoped my blind date would pan out, that he would go with me, but, well, we know how that turned out. It’s no fun planning a party and then going stag. So, I want you to take me.”

  “I think we’d be smarter to limit this deal to just this weekend. No strings.”

  She crossed her arms, partly to hide the fact her hands were shaking, and partly to shield the way her rock hard nipples were poking through her dress. If he continued to refuse her request, she would walk away from his offer. Somehow.

  “I’m not asking you to start dating me, Kellan. You and I both know that would be a disaster. I’m simply requesting that you accompany me to the fundraiser. You own a tux, so all you have to do is get the sucker cleaned, dust off your checkbook, and smile pretty for all the photos.”

  “Why do I suddenly feel like I’m being used as a trophy date?”

  “I don’t want to go alone.” She’d attended countless events stag the past year. She always felt conspicuous. Too many of her friends had gotten married, and while they were always kind, Sara felt their pitying looks. Being single sucked. She didn’t want to live alone for the rest of her life. She’d always longed for a marriage, kids, grandkids, the white picket fence, all of it. And while she sure as hell wasn’t going to get any of that with Kellan, she hoped that for one night she could at least pretend she wasn’t alone.

  “Scrubs,” he started.

  She raised her hand, not interested in hearing his rejection. She’d had enough of that for one evening. “It’s fine, Kellan. Forget it. Forget all of it. This was a bad idea. Let’s just say good night here. No harm, no foul.”

  He frowned. “So it’s all or nothing?”

  Sara tried not to grin at his obvious displeasure. It wasn’t often she held the upper hand in their confrontations. Regardless of his jokes about her not respecting his authority, the truth was, despite her arguments against some of his administrative edicts, in the end he won because he was the boss and she respected that.

  “You’re forgetting something,” she said with a smug smile. “I already got my orgasm.” As she spoke, she gestured to the erection that was very clearly defined through his pants.

  Then she licked her lips. Given the bulk of the outline, she was rejecting a sizable offer.

  Kellan’s expression was pained at best. “You’re heartless.”

  “I was under the impression you weren’t interested in my heart. Just my body.”

  He moved toward her, caging her against the wall once more. “Let’s lay out the terms. You’re coming home with me tonight and staying there all weekend. On Monday, we return to work and the status quo. Then, in two weeks, I’ll pick you up and play the perfect escort at your fundraiser. I’m only going to the fundraiser with you, after which I’ll drop you off at your house and our adventure ends. Deal?”

  She nodded. “Deal.”

  “Let’s go. We can take my car. I’ll drive you back here Sunday evening to get yours.”

  Sara was relieved that no one was standing in line for the restroom when they walked out together. She couldn’t recall if she’d made any noise. The man really had driven her out of her mind. She had never lost touch with reality quite so completely. Or so beautifully.

  She waited near the door as he said good-bye to Josh, blushing when their friend glanced her way. Damn man’s eyebrows nearly touched his hairline. Not that she could blame Josh. To say she was acting out of character was an understatement.

  In fact, she was two seconds away from reconsidering the whole thing when Kellan returned. “Ready?”

  She hesitated. “What did Josh say?”

  Kellan shrugged. “Does it matter?”

  “He thinks we’re making a mistake, doesn’t he?”

  “It’s Josh. If there’s a more impulsive, hedonistic guy on the planet, I’d like to see you point him out.”

  She raised her finger and pointed in Kellan’s direction.

  Kellan couldn’t fault her answer. It was spot on, and he knew it. “Very funny. Can we go now?”

  “Yeah. Sure.”

  He placed his hand on her lower back as they crossed the parking lot. She tried to find a way to fill the silence.

  “Congratulations, by the way, on accomplishing the sex in public part of your wish list so quickly.”

  Kellan’s grin grew as he shook his head. “Oh no, Scrubs. What happened in that ladies’ room doesn’t count. When I say sex in public, I mean me buried balls deep inside of you, not that tame experience back there.”

  Tame?

  Sara narrowed her eyes at his knowing chuckle. He was enjoying this a little too much. Time to reclaim some control.

  She thanked him when he opened the passenger door of his Audi R8 for her. She never failed to feel as if she was sitting on the ground in his fancy sports car. The confined, almost intimate space was a far cry from the roominess of her Kia Sorrento. Sadly, the night was just a touch too chilly for him to put the top down. He’d taken her for a ride in the convertible shortly after he bought the car late last summer.

  She’d teased him for the flashy purchase and accused him of using it to pick up women who were stupid enough to be impressed by his pretty hunk of metal. As always, he’d laughed at her joke, then tossed a few back at her, making fun of her hockey mom car.

  Sara ran her hand along the soft leather seat as Kellan claimed his spot behind the steering wheel. Once again, she felt that slight pang of panic, concerned she was making a big mistake, but she dismissed it.

  After a lifetime of playing it safe, Sara was tired of it. She was pissed as hell when she thought about how she’d lost three years of her life with the world’s safest man, all because David was reliable. She had always avoided playboys like Kellan because her goal was—and always had been—finding lasting commitment.

  While that hadn’t changed, she didn’t see any harm in taking the weekend off. The way she’d come apart in Kellan’s arms only proved that she needed this opportunity to blow off some steam…in bed.

  As Kellan pulled out of the parking lot, she turned to face him.

  He glanced over. “Second thoughts already?”

  “Can you blame me?”

  “No. That’s why I’m driving you to my house instead of having you follow me in your car. Less opportunity for escape.”

  “So I’m going to be your captive for the weekend?”

  Kellan winked. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t like the sound of that.”

  “I suppose that falls under that bondage thing you’ve requested.”

  He nodded, his eyes darkening, his expression growing serious. “Could also work as part of that role-playing you’re interested in. So, how far are you willing to go this weekend?”

  Sara wasn’t sure how to respond. “That’s a loaded question.”

  “You used the words wild and kinky. In my mind, that sounded a lot like carte blanche.”

  She snickered. “Of course it did.”

  A smart woman would put some sort of limitations on what they did, would attempt to rein Kellan in a little bit, but Sara didn’t want to do that. Now that she’d scaled the wall of should we or shouldn’t we, she was ready to take the grand tour.

  Kellan took the ramp onto the highway. “You know, given what happened in the ladies’ room
, I don’t think there’s much distance between us when it comes to sexual appetites.”

  She considered her response to his touches. Part of her was afraid she’d never have another chance to experience everything Kellan was offering her as part of this deal. The safe, practical, boring men she seemed to attract didn’t bring the same level of excitement sexually that Kellan did.

  But did she have the courage to put herself completely in his hands?

  As she looked at his familiar, friendly face, she realized she did.

  “I’ll go as far as you’re willing to take me.”

  His fingers tightened on the steering wheel. It was a subtle gesture, a small tell, but Sara didn’t miss it. He liked her response.

  “If I do anything that you don’t like—”

  “I’ll say stop,” she interjected, “and you will.”

  He nodded.

  “That’s where that trust thing comes in.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Speaking of trust,” she said, shifting in her seat so that she faced him completely. She let those words hover without an ending as she reached across the console and cupped his erection.

  Kellan’s nostrils flared at her unexpected touch.

  Stroking him through his pants, Sara enjoyed having all the power for once.

  Using one hand, she unhooked his belt and the button of his pants, and then slid down the zipper. She ran her fingers along his cock once more, but this time there was nothing but the cotton of his boxer briefs obstructing her touch.

  Sara kept her gaze locked on his face, fascinated by his responses to her actions. His jaw clenched, and she wondered what it would take to shake his control. To shatter it. To make him come apart the same way she had earlier.

  “We’re ten minutes away from my place.”

  She heard the implied dare. He was giving her a time limit. She was a sucker for a challenge.

  She dipped her hand beneath the elastic of his boxers. His cock was every bit as big as she suspected. Maybe even more so. Her inner muscles fluttered at the thought of taking all of that inside.