Stirring Up Dirty Read online

  Candy waved it off. “No problem. I probably shouldn’t have another one anyway.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  There was no way she’d tell Melissa she had the hots for her oldest brother. “All is good. Is there anything I can help you with, though? I waited tables once. A lot of years ago, but I’d be happy to help.” Besides, it would get her mind off the hot-blooded male behind the bar who made her want to hop over it and take him right there. A full room of customers or not.

  “No. Absolutely not. I didn’t ask you to meet me here so I could put you to work.” Melissa glanced over her shoulder when one of the customers yelled for her and raised one finger. She turned back to Candy. “Maybe we should meet tomorrow?”

  Candy nodded. “Sounds good. Come by my hotel, okay? But for now,” she slid from the booth, “put me to work. What can I do?”

  Melissa stood and hugged her, then pointed to the corner. “Well, I’m behind in getting out more nuts. The bowls on the bar and tables need refilling. I have enough to get some done now, but we’ll be closing in an hour and will need more. If you don’t mind, could you grab some?”

  “Not at all.”

  “Thank you so much. They’re on the very back wall, third shelf from the bottom.” Another customer hollered for Melissa’s attention. “Thanks again,” she said before hurrying off.

  The girl was meant for bigger and better. Not that there was anything wrong with working hard for a living, but her long and lean figure, her regal neckline and great posture would be better served on a runway or in a magazine than hustling from table to table.

  She strode across the room to the side door Melissa had directed her to. The door was ajar, held open with a small wooden crate. She pushed the crate inside and entered, shutting the door behind her.

  “Damn it. Who let the door close? Drew, fuck, you know better.” The masculine voice from somewhere in the back startled her. Thankfully she recognized the voice or she’d have been screaming bloody murder about being locked in a room with a stranger.

  “Sorry, Eric. It’s Candy. I closed the door.” She moved further into the room and around one large utility shelving unit.

  “Christ, what the hell are you doing in here?”

  She found him near the back wall, piling boxes of what looked like the nuts she had to find on a small cart.

  “I was giving Melissa a hand.” She pointed at the item in his hand. “I was going to take them out for her, for after closing, and give her a hand.”

  He snorted, set down the case and reached for another one. “I don’t think a woman like you would be into this type of work. Don’t want you breaking a nail or anything like that.”

  “Oh shut up, dickhead. You’re so pompous.”

  He raised his head and glared at her.

  “Don’t look at me like that, either. I’m no stranger to hard work.” She scanned the room. Jesus, wasn’t there air-conditioning in this little closet? She pulled at the neckline of her scoop neck top. “Anything else I can help with?”

  Eric set aside the last case and leaned against the shelf. His arms crossed over his chest, and Candy tried to ignore the bulging biceps that stood out beneath the sleeves of his grey t-shirt.

  Ah, hell.

  Her heart skipped and her pussy throbbed. Just when she thought she’d shoved the need for him aside, he had to go and look all manly and tasty standing there.

  “I thought you were here to whisk my sister off somewhere?” She hated that he could see right through her plans. “Or are you here for a job? No longer young enough for those crazy sharks in magazines these days?”

  Oh the bastard knew how to cut her to the quick. She wasn’t a washed-up has-been, but her time in the fashion and modeling limelight had come and gone. “You really need to let go of that high-and-mighty attitude. You know nothing about me. Now,” she waved her arms, “anything here need to be taken out front?”

  He smirked, and she wanted to slap him. But he shrugged and pointed to the shelf above her head. “I need that red box there brought down. The blue one beside it too. They aren’t heavy, just napkins.”

  She nodded and lifted her arms. In her six-inch heels it was hard to reach so high, and she widened her stance for better balance. The tips of her fingers eased the red box closer to the edge for her to grab the sides. She lowered it and set it on the stack of cases he had on the cart.

  “I’m glad I can help. Melissa looked a bit frazzled out there. She is a hard worker.”

  He coughed. “We all grew up working hard.”

  Candy reached for the blue box and nodded. “It seems like a great family unit that you all have.” Crap, this one was a bit farther back. She felt a breeze cross her skin as her top rose, baring her midriff. She wobbled on her heels. Shit. That’s all she needed was to fall on her ass while in a skirt and look like a fool.

  Warm hands suddenly circled her waist. Gasping, she drew in a deep breath and grabbed on to the shelf with both hands as he touched her.

  “Easy there, darlin’. Those heels aren’t exactly made for working.” His searing breath washed over her neck. Electric currents spread along her skin, igniting and firing to life. Goddamn, goddamn.

  This wasn’t on the agenda tonight, or when she planned to come here. She didn’t have time for distractions. Especially not a sizzling hot attractive man who made her want to scream to fuck her.

  “Umm, I guess I hadn’t planned on working tonight. But uhh…” Frig, she sounded like a bumbling idiot. “I could almost reach this one.” Eric moved in closer against her, his right hand easing across her stomach while the left closed over hers on the shelf.

  “You’re not exactly the type of woman to be back here working like this.”

  “I’m not?” Her question came out squeaky, and she hated how weak she sounded. She gritted her teeth as his palm burned through her skirt. She wanted to close her stance and rub her thighs together. Need coursed through her, warming her from the inside out.

  “No, you’re not.”

  “I don’t mind hard work.”

  “You’re a woman who shouldn’t get her hands dirty. Nor lift anything too heavy. You should be catered to and worshiped.”

  She let out a soft laugh. “Hardly. But I don’t think that’s how you really see me, is it? You see me as a weak female who needs a man to take care of her.”

  She glanced his way. He inched forward. Jesus, why wouldn’t her feet move? They seemed glued to the floor and she couldn’t handle him any closer.

  “Oh you need a man to take care of you, all right.” His chin skimmed along her shoulder. She shivered and gripped the shelf tighter. “You think I can’t smell your arousal in here?” he ground out on a harsh whisper.

  She gasped and tried to pull away. No. He wouldn’t weaken her. Not in here. But his chest aligned with her back, pressing his dick against her ass.

  His breath warm against the back of her neck, she closed her eyes. Warm, hard, strong, his heat protected her while it held her captive.

  “The moment I saw you in this cloth of a skirt and tight shirt, my dick got hard, Candy.” He pushed forward, confirming his words. “And I knew I couldn’t let you out of here without touching you.” He slid his fingers up her thigh, pushing beneath the hem of her skirt and brushing back and forth. “Your skin is so soft.” He nipped the back of her neck with his teeth.

  She trembled. This was a very bad idea. Being in here with him, allowing him to explore her further, couldn’t—wouldn’t—do her any favors.

  But it had been so long since she let anyone close like this. Not that it was any excuse. He was the first man in ages to stir deep desires from within her. And he was the last man she should allow too close.

  “You’re shaking.” Sliding his right hand to her hip, then to her ass cheek, he squeezed it and groaned. Delving further, he inched his way beneath her skirt until skin met skin.

  Candy panted, her limbs on fire and pussy throbbing.

  “So responsi
ve.” He explored the globe of her flesh, fisting it. “I need to see where else you want to be touched.”

  “Eric,” she moaned. The yearning almost choked her. At the same time, she wanted to walk away before she made a mistake.

  “Do you want me to stop?” His other hand joined the first in kneading the flesh of her backside. Air wafted across her skin when he lifted her skirt to her waist, baring her completely, sending a chill down her spine.

  Desperation clawed at her. Craving his touch, even with doubts clouding her mind and urging her to call a halt to it all, she wanted his hands all over her.

  He shifted his hands, and his thumbs slid into the crack of her ass, feathering lightly over her thong before sliding around to her clit. Her grip tightened on the shelving in front of her and she widened her stance. There would be no turning back.

  “Please,” she whispered.

  Yanking on the strings of her thong, his teeth nipped her shoulder as he pushed the skimpy material off.

  He spread her cheeks apart. Then his fingers dipped lower, cupping her. “Beautiful. Your clit is swollen and hard. I can feel your wetness.”

  “Eric, please.” Her plea came out as a shriek as his fingers pinched her nub. Stars exploded behind her eyes. She let her head fall back on her shoulders, breathing deep as her nipples pebbled.

  “Fuck. So hot.” Eric pressed a hand to her back, arching her spine and lifting her ass. She held on to the shelf as his foot shoved against hers, spreading her open even more.

  He played her clit, back and forth, up and down. Fast then slow, hard and soft. Relentless and exquisite. Her body sang under his direction. Her juices coated her thighs and she had to refrain from rubbing her tits against the shelf in front of her. Every part of her skin was on fire and she couldn’t care less. All she wanted was to freeze frame this moment and let him worship her pussy for hours.

  Her clit was always her hot button, and she wasn’t ashamed to admit it. She loved it when her nub got ample attention from men and by her own hand.

  “I love how your body arches, driving you even closer to my hand. You love this, don’t you?”

  His husky voice curled through her, making her shiver and intensifying her attraction to him. It reminded her of nights in the dark—a hot and sexy stranger at her back, driving his cock high and hard into her. She loved having a man at her back, surrounding her with his touch and body heat, pushing her further into her own desires. Cupping her tits in his palms and ramming her with his cock.

  She shivered, her thoughts crowding her. Panting, she cried out as he pinched her clit once more. Electricity arced up through her body. Her breasts ached and her fingers were going numb from gripping the shelf so tight.

  But all that meant nothing compared to the sweet pleasure between her legs. Eric wrapped his forearm around her waist while he rubbed her swollen flesh. Fast and frenzied, he moved side to side, his touch driving her mad.

  Pressure built, stretching and pushing her closer to the edge. Her toes curled as she tried to stave off her release. His touch was so exhilarating and spectacular; she never wanted this to end.

  “I want you to come apart in my arms,” he whispered. He cupped her chin and turned her to face him. His compelling eyes drew her in while his fingers pushed her toward the edge. His gaze burned with fire and sinful temptations. She’d never felt sexier in her life.

  “If there was more time, I might suck that clit into my mouth. Tug on it, nibble it, and flick the tip until you explode in my mouth.” His pace increased. Candy drew in a deep breath, her gaze locked on his as she tried to steady the room around her. Passion, white hot and powerful, clouded her senses.

  “Oh, you like the thought of that.” He swirled the tip of her clit. A desperate shriek ripped through her. “You’re so fucking hot like this. Mouth open, cunt dripping in my hand. Come for me, darlin’.” He leaned in closer and nipped her earlobe. “Come for me.”

  As if he already controlled her body, on his command, her release swept through her and she bowed in his arms. She cried out, pushing against the shelves as wave after wave crashed over her. Dragging air into her lungs, she closed her eyes and shuddered.

  Eric’s quiet praise in her ear swelled inside her and pleased her. She hadn’t let go like that in so long. And they barely knew each other, so to know he found joy in being with her, delight curled around her heart.

  When the room stopped spinning and the feeling returned to her limbs again, she stood on unsteady legs. “That was unexpected.” Placing a hand on his chest, she grinned at him. There was so much she wanted to share with him next. Juices ran down her thighs, yet she wanted him now. They couldn’t leave without the feel of him sinking deep inside her.

  She frowned when he pushed her skirt over her hips and took a step back. “I have to get back to work.”

  Her gaze dropped to the front of his jeans. The rigid shaft behind the zipper was clear to see yet he wanted to get back to work?

  “But, well, I didn’t think we were done here.” Candy forced a smile and waved a hand toward his hardness. “You’re obviously not unaffected.”

  Eric shrugged and pulled out his cell phone.

  Anger shot through her as she watched him type. The nerve of him. “What is this all about, Eric?”

  “Pick up your underwear. Drew will be here in a few minutes to open the door.”

  She gasped, then bent over and pulled them up. “You’re some bastard, you know that? Why did you bother touching me at all if you didn’t want to get laid?”

  He chuckled. “Darlin’, there’d be nothing I’d like more than dipping into you. I know that, but it’s hardly a great idea, is it? You’re here to whisk my sister off to some ridiculous career and you want to convince me it’s for her own good.”

  Candy opened her mouth but he cut her off. “If fucking me is your way to convince me, then you’re wrong. It won’t work.”

  She shook her head. “This had nothing to do with Melissa. Jesus, your ego is unbelievable. You just seduced me, for Christ sake!”

  He moved in, crowding her against the shelves when she tried to get around him. “Tell me you wouldn’t have let me fuck you right here, right against these shelves? Or you weren’t ready to open that sassy hot mouth and suck my dick if I asked you a minute ago. Hell, you were so hot for it tonight you could have burned the place down.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him, breathing deep through her nose. Damn him for saying things that were true. But this had nothing to do with her career.

  “Since the minute I met you, I admit, I wanted to see you come. Wanted to watch you come apart. You’re a hot piece of ass who turns me on. But I won’t be used, Candy. If I ever fuck you, that’s all it will ever be. There’ll be nothing else between us.”

  A knock on the door startled her. A second bang had her stepping away from Eric and his intense gaze. The last thing she needed was Drew or Melissa catching them in a heated argument.

  “Stupid door sticks every year in this heat. Oh, hey, Candy. I didn’t know you were in here.” Drew’s gaze moved from her to his brother. “Everything okay?”

  She pasted on a smile and waved a hand. “Thank you. You need to get air-conditioning in here.” Laughing, which sounded false even to her own ears, she ignored Eric and exited the storeroom. “Tell Melissa we’ll talk tomorrow. Your brother seems to have the snacks handled that she sent me in for, so I’ll say goodnight.”

  “If you want to stay, you’re more than welcome to sit at the end of the bar while we close. You can tell me more about your foreign travels.”

  Why couldn’t he have been the one to set her pulse racing with the need to throw him on the floor and have her way with him? No, she had to be attracted to his barbaric and asshole brother who didn’t give a shit about her feelings.

  “No, thanks. I’m pretty tired. But let Melissa know I’ve gone back to my hotel, would you?”

  Eric exited the storeroom, carrying a case of beer. His gaze flickered over h
er before he headed straight for the bar.

  Her teeth clenched and irritation with him filled her. His indifference pissed her off.

  Turning on her heel, she strode through the nearly empty bar and pushed the big doors open. Drawing in the refreshing but humid air, she walked toward the Mazda she had rented earlier in the day.

  Her thighs were sticky as she walked down the well-lit street. If she could, she’d erase the last forty-some minutes and do them all over again.

  Who was she kidding? She’d wanted Eric’s hands on her. Hell, she’d wanted him all over her. But after tonight, he wouldn’t get that close again.

  She’d put herself on display for him, had been vulnerable in the most intimate way. He’d burn in hell before he laid one more finger on her.

  Chapter Four

  “Okay, so you think Samuel will be able to get me into the lineup in time? I mean the next Vera Wang fashion show is six months away.”

  Still tired from staying at the bar too late last night, Candy yawned and pointed at the shots Melissa had taken before leaving Europe. In one black-and-white shot, Melissa leaned back; her loose halter top and tight leggings covered her splendid body and showed off all her best qualities.

  Her blonde hair hung to the floor and the tilt of her head showed off her high cheekbones, long neck, and strong chin. The photo was one of Candy’s favorites of her, and she planned to use it as the first picture in Melissa’s portfolio.

  “Sammy has already called Vera’s assistant and trust me, Vera is very hands-on in choosing who wears her clothes. And she loves what she’s seen.”

  Melissa yelped, and Candy nearly broke out laughing. She reached across the small table between them and tipped up her chin. “Close your mouth, sweetie. You’ll catch flies or something.”

  “Oh my God. Candy! Vera Wang has looked at my pictures? But it was my first shoot. Surely we can do better? Maybe we should do another set and send her more. I don’t want her to see an unprofessional twit who has no idea what she’s doing.”