A Calculated Seduction Read online

  “Agree?” She swallowed and tried to concentrate on the conversation, but it was difficult. His hot breath whispered against the sensitive skin just behind her ear. Every time he talked, his chest vibrated against her velvet clad back.

  “Well, considering what happened in the limo, I assumed you’d use my first name.”

  She opened her mouth to tell him in no way was this going to change their relationship, when his head moved away from hers. A second later, his upper lip touched just above the neckline of her dress and she tensed, expecting a kiss on her skin. Instead, all the breath in her body escaped in a whoosh as his teeth grabbed hold of her zipper. Slowly, he inched the zipper down her back, releasing her waist now he had no reason to hold her. He captivated her with his lips against her skin as he slid the zipper down, his breath warming her back.

  She lay frozen, but she was far from cold. Every nerve in her body shimmered when he reached the bottom of the zipper. A moment later, his tongue touched the small of her back. He licked a path back up to her neck and nuzzled her ear again.

  “You taste good, Dulcinea.”

  The use of her full name usually irritated her. But the sound of it on his lips transformed her blood from warm to hot molten lava. “From the first time we kissed, I knew you would be my downfall, woman. You tasted so innocent and so wicked, both at the same time.”

  He nipped at her ear lobe as he slid his hand beneath the fabric of her dress. She’d lost any control over rational thought, but she had to at least try to curb this problem before it blew up in her face. Like if she fell in love with him.

  Panic clawed at her stomach. She wasn’t in love with Ethan MacMillan. That would be beyond stupid. Men like him ate girls like her for breakfast. She attempted to stop the situation from spiraling out of control.

  “Really, Mr. MacMillan—”

  “Ethan,” he demanded. His hand had stilled on her hip. “Ethan.” He relaxed against her back as his hand moved down past her hip. His fingers trailed a path down to cup her bottom. “Ethan.”

  “Hmmm.” His voice filled with lazy sensuality. “I really want you out of this dress, Dulcinea.”

  The sound of her name on his lips again sent her senses whirling out of control. He shifted behind her, the bed dipping as he moved. The sound of a match being struck had her rolling onto her back. Ethan lighted several candles he had on his bedside table.

  “So you’re prepared for any situation?” Her voice flattened and a little of her soul died. Truthfully, she wasn’t surprised. It didn’t mean she wasn’t hurt.

  “Naw. Been a little stressed out and Uncle Bill gave these to me.” She raised an eyebrow and he chuckled. “No, really. Marge insisted they would help me sleep.”

  Sounded like her. “Did it help?”

  “No. Kept having the same dream.”

  “What dream?”

  “The one where I make love to you all night.”

  It was then she realized he stood beside the bed, completely nude. The warm glow of the candlelight cast shadows on his bronze skin. Every muscle on his chest resembled stone. Her eyes traveled down past his sculpted abs and to his erection. She gulped.

  “Like what you see?”

  Her eyes flew to his and she saw humor mixed with a little tension. “Well...I can’t help but be impressed.” She couldn’t help taking another peek.

  He groaned, grabbed her hand and pulled her up off the bed. Within a few seconds, he had her standing beside the bed in nothing but thigh highs.

  “Now what I’ve been preoccupied with is your taste.”

  He stood so close. The very heat of him burned through her skin and all the way to her soul. She lifted her eyes to his and saw the dark intent, the arousal. Every thought died as he seated her on the bed, then had her recline. His eyes traveled down her body. Her nipples tightened as his gaze lingered on her breasts.

  “Dulcy, you were made for me. I’m not sure I’ll be able to control myself.” His voice shook as affection filled her. This man, who always seemed in control, in fact, he seemed to need it as others needed air to breathe, was losing control just by looking at her.

  Without warning, he came down on top of her. The feel of his hard muscles against her skin comforted her and aroused her at the same time. He took her face into his hands and lowered his lips to hers, never closing his eyes. At first, he placed tender kisses on her lips. Nothing aggressive, but just as passionate as she remembered. Her whole being tingled with anticipation, which was quickly replaced with frustration as he continued his gentle assault. Fed up with his slow pace, she opened her mouth and traced the seam of his. He stilled then opened his mouth, but didn’t allow her to take charge. Immediately, he took possession, his tongue stealing past her lips.

  A second later, he was gone, easing himself down her body. His hands were on her breasts, his lips on her nipples. Further he slid, until he settled on his knees on the floor. He slipped his hand beneath her bottom and lifted her off the bed.

  “I told you. I’ve been dreaming about the way you taste.”

  She raised her head a moment before his breath whispered against the very center of her being. His lips followed a moment later. She moaned and closed her eyes, allowing the sensation of being completely possessed by him wash over her. Heat churned her belly and slipped lower to her pulsing center. Over and over he plunged his tongue into her, lapping at her as if she were his favorite treat.

  Before she was ready, he was pulling away. She heard the beside table drawer slide open and then the crinkle of foil. She opened her eyes just in time to see him join her back on the bed. His lips came down on hers the moment he thrust into her body. She tasted herself on his tongue as it swept inside her mouth.

  As he thrust in and out of her, he lifted himself. Even in the flickering candlelight, the intent in his eyes was unmistakable. He wanted to possess her, to own her very soul. And, Lord help her, she wanted that too. She wanted to be the woman he conquered.

  She moved, enjoying the sensation of being one with Ethan, of consuming his attention. Every nerve in her body tightened, then shattered as she screamed his name while he groaned her name and followed her a moment later.

  * * * *

  Ethan held Dulcy as she burrowed her head beneath his chin.

  Everything he’ d ever known about lovemaking had been challenged tonight. This little woman, with her cute little nose and quirky sense of humor, had thrown him for a loop. What was he going to do about a woman who stole from his uncle’s company, but sent his blood racing at the sound of her laugh?

  His phone rang in his home office and he knew only one person would call on that line, Todd. Trying not to disturb her, he eased out of bed and hurried to the phone.

  “MacMillan. ”

  “Hey, boss. Sorry to bother you, but someone got into the system tonight.”

  Every sense went on alert. “When?”

  “During your big Gala. Accessed a few accounts and shifted money.” At first, jubilation surged within him. If it happened then, he knew Dulcy hadn’t helped. “It was around ten tonight.”

  He smiled. About the time Miss Menendez seduced him. Then his smile faded. Just after the other suspect convinced him to take her home. Could it be that the drunkenness, the whole seduction had been staged? Did they know he was onto them?

  His blood turned cold at the thought of being used by another woman like his ex-fiancée. Fiona had wanted his money, not his love.

  But Dulcy had seemed so sincere in her emotions. No actress could have faked the feelings she emitted during their lovemaking. He shook his head. No. He refused to believe she would compromise herself for money. Even for a man she loved.

  “What do you want me to do, boss?”

  “I want you to fax all the information over in the morning. Everything you have and I want all the information you have on Dulcy and her little computer nerd. And I mean everything.”

  Ethan knew Dulcy wouldn’t be so devious, but he knew she was protecting
someone. He had to find a way to protect her and still make sure they caught the culprit. He had to make sure that nothing bad happened to her. He knew deep in his soul, the women had a good heart. Anderson had to be using her and that alone was enough for Ethan to want to kill him.

  A few minutes later, he settled in bed next to Dulcy. Her soft body cuddled with his. Within moments, he was asleep.

  * * * *

  The next time Dulcy awoke, sunlight poured into the room.

  She didn’t have to look next to her, she knew Ethan had already left the bed. The sound of the shower reached her and just for a second or two, she thought about joining him. The idea of slipping her hands over his slick body sent a delicious thrill through her.

  Then sanity returned. Dulcy Menendez did not take showers with men. Even men she loved.

  She hugged the knowledge to her breast. She loved Ethan more than she had ever loved any other man. Never before had she felt frightened and elated at the same time.

  Deciding she needed some kind of jolt, other than the love jolt, she got out of bed. She grabbed a chambray shirt draped over an easy chair next to the window. Other than the bed, the chair and his nightstand, there wasn’t much else in the room. No pictures and he still had unpacked boxes in one corner.

  She shrugged into his shirt and went in search of the kitchen. There was a room to the left of this one with nothing in it. The room on the right was filled to the rafters with office equipment. She turned away but the sound of a humming machine caught her attention. Thinking it to be for MacMillan Boots, she padded in the direction of the sound. It was his fax machine.

  A report of some sort, something about a few accounts at the company, then something about Pete Anderson. The report puzzled her. It detailed Pete’s fight with his father over his lifestyle. The next page that spun out of the machine turned her blood to ice.

  Her name was at the top and it detailed her personal and professional relationships. At the bottom of the second page, there was a personal note from someone at MacMillan Securities.

  Dulcinea Menendez’s computer was the one used last night. Proceed with caution. They used a lot of tricks to throw us off, so she may be on to us.

  Pain ebbed through her, shattering everything she believed about the man she loved. He had used her for some purpose. She had no idea what, but he’d slept with her to investigate her.

  “Dulcy,” he called from the bedroom. She didn’t answer, she couldn’t.

  Footsteps sounded down the hall and stopped at the door. She turned around, and there stood Ethan. His hair was darker than usual because of his shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. His lips quirked into his sexy little half-smile. And it hurt. Even as she felt her pulse race at the sight of him, she could feel the pain of his betrayal.

  His smile slipped at the sight of her. Something dropped on the paper. It was a tear. It was then she realized she was crying.

  Concern wrinkled his brow and he frowned. “Dulcy?”

  “When were you going to tell me about the investigation, Ethan?”

  Chapter Twelve

  For just a half a second, hope surged through her chest because Ethan looked confused. But within that moment, when she thought she might have a chance at happiness, when all her hopes this was the man for her, the look of surprise in his eyes twisted into a mix of suspicion and guilt.

  She swallowed past the pain.

  “You want to tell me what this is all about?” she asked, the papers trembling in her hand.

  Anger surged through her as he stood, unwilling to defend or explain himself. She looked at the report and studied the information he’d had someone gather about her. Someone who probably knew he’d slept with her. Her upcoming inheritance was reported down to the penny.

  Pain whirled inside her chest. He was just like Jason. “So, now I understand everything. I wondered why a man like you would be interested in me.”

  “What do you mean, a man like me?” he asked, his voice lethally soft.

  “Oh, a man with everything. Money, looks. Men like you date women like my sisters, but then again, my sisters don’t have money like I do.” She blinked back the tears. She wouldn’t give the bastard the satisfaction of crying anymore. “What a joke it must have been for you to romance poor mousy little Dulcy. Many men tried, hell, you met one tonight. But I thought you were different.”

  “I am different, Dulcy.”

  “Really? So you always check out your lover’s background and friends?”

  He clenched his jaw tighter, but didn’t argue. She knew she was right.

  “What I want to know is why you think you would get your hands on my money?”

  “I’m not interested in your money,” he said from behind clenched teeth. “I have enough of my own.”

  “Oh, really. So when your uncle finally got you to come back to work with him, it was out of the goodness of your heart.”

  “You don’t understand.”

  “I don’t? Why don’t you explain it to me?”

  He snapped his teeth together and refused to answer her. Pain and anger vibrated through her. She’d been such a fool.

  “After years of ignoring his requests, he sets up a special fund, just for you. I’ve seen it, you know. If you have so much money and have no interest in accumulating more, why the hell did he have to pay you to come back?”

  “Special fund?”

  “Don’t play dumb with me, Ethan. I’ve seen the discrepancies in the accounts. What do you think I am, stupid?”

  “I thought—”

  “Really, you could have fooled me.”

  “Dulcy,” he said, his voice warning her she was stepping on his delicate corporate toes. “I didn’t get paid to come back. I did it as a favor to my uncle.”

  “Why would he need you? The company was running just fine without you.”

  “He needed some help with an internal matter.”

  “One I’m not privy to? Please, sell that bone to another dog.” She pushed past him and returned to the bedroom. She had to get out of there. If she didn’t, she might just hit him.

  He followed right behind her, practically nipping at her heels. “Dulcy, let me explain.”

  “Explain?” She didn’t look up as she rummaged around the room searching for her clothes. All she wanted to do was go home, eat chocolate and cry.

  “It wasn’t like that at all.” His voice sounded desperate, but when she looked at him, he bore the same unemotional expression. No hint of loss or anger.

  “Truthfully, I’m really amazed by your performance. Did you think I would sign over all my money to you?”

  “That isn’t why I started to romance you.”

  “Really.” She threw her dress and hose on the bed in disgust. “Tell me. Tell me why you came to work with your uncle after all these years. Tell me exactly why you did started romancing me.”

  His jaw tightened and his face flushed red. Embarrassment, anger? She’d bet the latter.

  “I did not romance you for any other reason than I wanted you. ”

  “Oh, yeah, that’s believable. I’m sure every man in the throes of passion gets a detailed report on his lover and her friends.”

  She couldn’t keep the sarcasm or the hurt out of her voice. His face softened a little and she weakened before she bolstered herself.

  “I am not some little airhead idiot. I know why you came back, I know why you slept with me. Money. Greed. You’ re a gold digger. ”

  “That’s a ridiculous statement. I have more money than I know what to do with.”

  “So, if you don’t need money, why else would you prostitute yourself with me?”

  His eyes narrowed and darkened to almost black. His hands fisted at his sides. A little sliver of worry slid through her. She’d definitely awakened the tiger.

  “I came back to investigate the embezzling you and your boyfriend, Anderson, are doing.”

  Shock held her silent. He thought she was embezzling?

  �
��And why would I do that? I have no more need for money than you do.”

  “Because you love Anderson,” he spat out. “You’d do anything to help him maintain his lifestyle. Without his daddy’s money, he must be hurting.”

  “You think Pete and I are sleeping together?” She laughed, realizing it sounded a bit hysterical. “For your information, I’m not embezzling. And I’m not in love with Pete. I thought I was in love with you, but, as I can see, I was sadly mistaken.”

  His eyes widened and he stepped forward. She inched back, not wanting him to touch her. If he did, she would surely shatter into a thousand pieces.

  She grabbed her dress off the bed and stalked to the bathroom. She turned in the doorway and looked at him. He was so beautiful it hurt. “And for your information, I love Pete, but like a brother. My gay brother.”

  She stepped back and slammed the door in his face. No way would she let another man walk all over her.

  * * * *

  Ethan collapsed on the bed and waited for Dulcy. How did everything go so wrong? Anderson was gay? Good Lord, how had they missed that?

  Somehow, he had to make her believe him. He never thought of the company when he slept with her. Hell, the only thing he could think of was getting her into bed and keeping her there.

  The sound of a car in his driveway pulled him out of his thoughts. He glanced at the clock and noticed it was just after eight on a Sunday morning. He threw off his towel and grabbed a pair of jeans, donning them. After throwing on a sweatshirt, he walked to the front door just as it chimed.

  He opened the door to find Maude and Uncle Bill standing on his doorstep. Both of them were smiling as if they knew some secret joke.

  “What are you two doing here?”

  “Not wanting to be disturbed,” Bill said with a knowing chuckle. “I understand but it’s cold out here, Ethan.”

  He hesitated and then stepped back. Of all the worst possible moments for these two to show up. Now Dulcy had a getaway car. He led them into his living room, trying to come up with a reason for them to leave.