Close to Perfect Read online

  “Tess, I know how to dance.”

  She laughed. “The merengue? And the tango? And—”

  “Salsa,” he added, before she could.

  Her brows lifted in surprise, and then she frowned. “How could you know—Wait a sec,” she interrupted herself. “That’s who that guy was?”

  Not only was she beautiful, but sharp. Even so, Josh decided to play with her as she was always playing with him. “I haven’t a clue what you’re—”

  “Don’t give me that. The young guy who came to your office that day and disappeared with you into the conference room; he was a dance instructor, right?”

  “Actually, he’s my auditor.”

  Her brows lifted. “No kidding. I thought he was a gigolo.”

  “Aren’t those for women?”

  “Usually. But you did have the blinds drawn.”

  “You’re going to keep grilling me on this, aren’t you?”

  “Only until you tell me the truth.”

  Josh crossed his arms over his chest. “Fine. I took dance lessons, so shoot me.”

  “Oh, no,” she quickly said. “I should thank you. But why did you hire someone? You could have asked me to teach you.”

  He looked embarrassed. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

  It was. Tess couldn’t imagine any of the other men she had known going to such trouble for her, especially if it meant spending their hard-earned money or risking their macho image.

  Why Josh did it wasn’t entirely clear. Could be he had wanted to add some meat to their original story that they had met dancing. Could be he had wanted to convince those persistent women and the paparazzi that he and she were romantically involved by going to a place like this.

  Could be he was even falling for her.

  Sure.

  Tess told herself to get real. Learning to dance wasn’t a promise of forever, unless it was in her mother and father’s world.

  “I’m very impressed,” she said.

  “Wait’ll you see me dance.”

  “We could leave now if you want.”

  He laughed good-naturedly. “Not a chance. I’m looking forward to this.” He reached out and brushed his knuckles over the swell of her right breast.

  Tess murmured, “No more ground rules.”

  “None.”

  “I think you’re ready,” she said.

  Josh knew he would certainly do his best as they entered the club.

  Its nondescript exterior hardly prepared him for what was inside. There were softly pulsing lights and a glass roof. Beneath countless stars, hundreds of young couples moved sinuously against each other, keeping time to the music.

  It was outrageously erotic, the strains prolonged, provocative.

  Tess was immediately seduced. Working her fingers through her hair, she lifted it off her shoulders, then swayed her hips. Soon, her eyes were closed, her body undulating as she raised her face to the sky, becoming fully lost in this world.

  Josh watched transfixed; there was nothing else he could do.

  Never had he seen a woman dance like that. Tess was as free as he was captive and somehow that felt so very right.

  When that number finally ended, Tess released her hair, but kept her arms over her head, like a dancer. Her body moved slowly, seductively as the new music quickly began. When she at last met his gaze, her eyes were hooded, those delicate nostrils flared. She spoke above the music, “Dance with me.”

  Nothing could have kept Josh away. He slipped his arm around her waist, then pressed his hips to hers, moving with the beat.

  Tess held his gaze; she owned it. He was in her world now, and her voice became quickly playful. “So, they tell me you can dance.”

  “Not like you, but then, who could?”

  She laughed. “You don’t even want to try?”

  “Sure. Lower your arms.”

  The moment she did, Josh wrapped his fingers around her right wrist, while Tess wreathed her left arm around his neck.

  As they moved to the music, Josh actually felt that this was almost as good as sex. “How am I doing?”

  “Very good. But this is such an easy step. What if it gets complicated?”

  “I’ll do my best to keep up.”

  Tess worked her body into his as the music demanded. “We should keep it simple. You need to take baby steps before you can run.”

  “Point taken, but I have been practicing.” He turned her in time to the music, their hips pressed close. “And you could at least try to follow my lead.”

  Tess glanced down to their swaying hips, then met his gaze. “Only if it takes me where I want to go.” She so quickly changed steps, Josh couldn’t follow and was soon two feet away from her.

  Hands on her hips, chin held high, Tess said, “I thought you wanted to dance.”

  Josh arched one brow and moved right back into her.

  Her smile was wicked. “You’re certain you took lessons for this?”

  Before he could respond, she was spinning away from him, then coming right back, pressing her body to his. “Think of an answer yet?”

  Josh laughed. “Yes, I took lessons. Over several days, in fact.”

  “Then those business things you had to go to were really dancing lessons?”

  “Maybe.”

  She gave him a patient smile. “Poor baby. You’re not sure?”

  “It’s not something I would forget, all right?”

  Tess glanced down to their bodies. “Not if you danced like this with that guy.” She ran her fingers over the soft hair at the nape of his neck. “Did you enjoy that, Josh?”

  Oh, she was bad. “Fuck that.”

  “So you do like women?”

  “Depends.” He ground his hips into hers, letting her know what she did to him. “Are they as beautiful as you?”

  Her eyes widened in surprise. “So now you think I’m beautiful?”

  “From the moment you walked into my life and begged to be my bodyguard.”

  “Begged?” Tess laughed; she gasped in delight as Josh turned her around, then pulled her close, his hand just above the seam of her buttocks, his forehead to hers.

  “Yes, begged,” he said as he moved to the beat of the music. “Admit it.”

  “You kissed me.”

  “You fucking responded.”

  “Oh, no, Josh, this is responding.” She put her hands on either side of his face, angled his head so that his mouth met hers, then didn’t let go.

  Josh stopped dancing. He couldn’t even breathe. Her mouth was relentless, her tongue probing after she thrust it inside.

  When she finally pulled back, Josh was still slightly dizzy.

  She, on the other hand, casually swayed her hips against his in time to the music. “Poor baby; I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  He lifted his brows.

  “Maybe you should sit the rest of this one out.” She eased away.

  “Come back here.” He pulled her close, then captured her mouth.

  His kiss was filled with urgency and male power, demanding that Tess follow.

  She did.

  The dance was quickly forgotten; the music, the people, this place no longer existed. His scent, his heat, his strength became her world until Josh pulled his mouth free.

  The music came back slowly, as did the noise of the others. Not that any of it mattered. She and Josh remained as they were, undisturbed, until he asked, “Had enough?”

  Not even if he had promised her a lifetime. Tess knew she would always want more. “We haven’t even started yet, have we?”

  His eyes were hooded as he lowered his hand to just above her buttocks, then pushed her into his erection. “You want more?”

  Tess wanted tonight to last. She didn’t want it to ever end. “Please. Keep dancing with me.”

  His expression changed. “Really?”

  “Please.”

  He looked as if he wanted to argue, but at last gently pressed his lips to hers, then danced through the number an
d those that followed. He carefully matched her every move in the tango, the merengue, and salsa until their flesh was heated and moist.

  Through it all, their gazes remained locked, their bodies obedient to the music and each other’s need.

  It was an intoxicating moment that no liquor or drug could match.

  As the last dance ended and the other couples whistled and applauded, Tess remained in Josh’s arms, her gaze on his.

  “Enough?” he asked.

  “Only of this.”

  It was exactly what he had been waiting to hear. His expression was all male, intent and definitely dangerous.

  Tess’s skin tingled. “Where do we go from here?”

  “Back to my world,” he said. “Now, I have a surprise for you.”

  Chapter Fifteen

  This was definitely getting interesting.

  Josh was driving even faster to his surprise than Tess had to the club. He was so intent, he didn’t seem to notice her fingers running down the side of his leg.

  Maybe if she unzipped his fly he’d notice that.

  Tess restrained herself. Before this night was over she was going to taste and touch him as much as she wanted. There was no turning back now.

  As her gaze traced his handsome profile, his strong jaw, his shoulders and legs, she wondered if they were going back to the country club. Maybe there were guest rooms there, after all. Not that it mattered. Tess wanted him so badly, she was prepared to enjoy him in the backseat of the car if that’s what he wanted.

  At last, she asked, “Are we getting close?”

  He kept his gaze on the road, but did smile. “It’s just ahead.”

  Tess looked over her shoulder and couldn’t have been more surprised. “We’re going to a marina?”

  “That’s the only way to get to my yacht.”

  “Get out.” She turned to him. “We’re making love on your yacht?”

  Josh finally looked at her. He seemed confused. “We’re going to be making love?”

  Tess laughed. She slapped his arm, then quickly sobered. “We better be.”

  He grinned. “If you insist.”

  Tess could hardly contain herself as they entered the private marina. Her gaze swept the largest of the boats that only movie stars or drug lords could afford; many of the names suggesting their owners’ occupations. One baby was called The Idol, another Addiction. Then there was Over the Rainbow, Shameless, and Lady Lust.

  Josh parked close to that one.

  “Thanks,” Tess said as he opened her door and helped her out. “What did you name your boat?”

  “You’ll see.” He led her away from Lady Lust.

  To the left, lively music and loud laughter came from the marina restaurant where a party was in full swing despite the hour.

  Here, a few couples were still up and talking quietly on the decks of their boats, while others were in the cabins below, with those muted nightlights dancing across the water.

  As she and Josh walked hand-in-hand, Tess lifted her face to the scant breeze. The night was surprisingly clear, yet steamy; the air sweetened by the sea and the scent of their bodies.

  At last, Josh gently squeezed her fingers. “There she is... the very last one.”

  As Tess looked, her lips parted. The boat was a startling white with a dark blue line running along its side. It was possibly a hundred feet long, but sleek and sensual, its curved lines designed for superb performance, just like its owner. “Wow.”

  “I like her.”

  “Who wouldn’t?” Tess tried to make out the letters on the back but they were still too far away. “What did you name her?”

  There was hesitation in his voice. “The Dreamer.”

  Tess looked at him. “What the guys called you after your first job in construction?”

  Josh seemed embarrassed. “I wanted to show them and myself that I wasn’t a complete idiot.”

  “Believe me, you have. Let’s go.”

  He laughed as she pulled him to the boat. Finally, Josh held back. “Not so fast, remember?”

  How could she when he was pulling her into his arms?

  Tess pressed her mouth to his ear and whispered, “How do we get on it? Do we jump? Is there a rope we can climb?”

  Josh’s chest rumbled with quiet laughter. “The only thing you’ll be climbing tonight is me. You knew that at that stupid dinner, which just dragged on and on, and while we danced, which I honestly enjoyed. So, why are you in such a rush now?”

  They were finally at the end of their journey and had so little time. In a very few hours, everything would be over. Not that Tess wanted to think of that now. Running her fingers over the soft hair at the nape of his neck, she murmured, “Once you’re exhausted I swear I’ll go slow. I don’t want to kill you.”

  “You are too kind.” He playfully slapped her butt, then eased away. “Let’s go.”

  Once Tess had removed her heels and they were on board, Josh took off his shoes and socks, then brought her into an area he called the pilothouse. To her surprise, he left the lights off, got into the captain’s seat and started the thing.

  Tess stopped looking at the leather bench to the right that might have worked for making love. “We’re leaving?”

  “You do want to be alone, don’t you?”

  She went to his chair and sat on the arm. “You’ll be there, right?”

  Josh lifted his gaze from her right breast resting on his shoulder. “Wouldn’t miss it for the world. What I meant by alone is without the possibility of paparazzi or anyone else.”

  Tess nodded, even as her heart started to fall. Since the publication of that other guy’s picture, there hadn’t been any paparazzi. Since that shopping trip at Kiki’s, there hadn’t been any obnoxious fans. As Alan had predicted, Josh was yesterday’s news and a dethroned hunk.

  A little over a month ago, before they had met, Tess wouldn’t have believed that she would have missed the paparazzi or that she could feel so sad. “Good idea.” She cleared her throat and made her voice light. “Do you want me to drive?”

  He smiled. “I want you to relax and conserve your strength for what’s to come.”

  “You should be doing that. You’re an old fart, remember?”

  Josh laughed, then slipped his arm around her waist, keeping her steady as he steered the boat away from the dock. “You really want to help?”

  Tess ran her fingers under his collar. “I can’t let you do all the work.” She leaned over and traced his ear with her tongue.

  He trembled, then sighed. “You need something to keep you busy.”

  “Okay.” She ran her other hand down his flat belly to between his legs, then cupped and fondled his balls.

  Josh inhaled so sharply, he briefly choked. “Not that—not yet.”

  “You’re making this awfully hard.”

  He slid his gaze to her, then pulled Tess onto his lap, holding her around the waist with one strong arm, while steering the boat with the other. “See that screen to the left?”

  Tess looked. “Yup. You need cable or a satellite dish, the reception’s lousy.”

  “It’s a night vision display, not a TV. I use it so I don’t hit anything.”

  Tess looked from that grainy black-and-white picture to the outside, surprised at how much detail the display had picked up, clearly showing that this area was fairly deserted. “Cool.” She wiggled her butt into his erection. “Do you have X-ray vision, too?”

  His breath was hot against her ear. “Will I need it?”

  She turned her face into his and murmured, “Not tonight.”

  Josh kissed her cheek, then got right back to business. “Now this is what I want you to do.”

  He wasn’t talking sex, but as his voice rumbled in her ear and his stiffened rod pressed against her buttocks it seemed pretty damned close. She was to be his first mate, watching the screen to make certain they “didn’t bump into anything.”

  “But each other,” he finally added.

&nb
sp; “Then I’ll have to watch you.”

  “You want to get there or not?”

  “Where?”

  “You’ll see.”

  Tess looked from him to the display, then outside as they cleared the slip and headed across the water. The sea was a rippling black mass with no end in sight, the sky sprinkled with stars, the air a heated caress.

  As intimate as the club had been, packed tight with all those dancers and lovers, Tess felt swallowed by the night, protected by the dark.

  “How you doing?” he asked.

  “I could be more comfortable.”

  Josh loosened his arm. “Better?”

  Tess turned her torso into him until her right breast caressed his chest. “Much.”

  Josh flicked his gaze at her, then looked back to the instruments, mastering the boat as easily as he had mastered the land.

  He really belonged here, while she was no more than a temporary visitor.

  Still, Tess was grateful for tonight as she simply gazed at him.

  “You’re supposed to be watching that screen, not me,” he said.

  “You’re more interesting.”

  Josh worked his mouth around so he wouldn’t smile. “Okay, you win.” He brought back his arm, releasing her. “Go ahead and play, I’ll do all the work.”

  Tess got off his lap and hunkered down by the chair. “I’ll do some of it later.”

  “Promises, promises; what are you doing?”

  “Do you really have to ask?”

  She had already unbuttoned his trousers and unzipped his fly, and now worked her fingers past the opening in his briefs to his hot, stiffened rod.

  “Holy shit, stop!” Josh inhaled deeply, then nearly moaned. “Tess, I mean it! You’re going to have to stop!”

  “But you said I could play.”

  “Not with me. At least, not until we’re anchored.”

  “To each other?”

  He laughed, then moaned, then begged, “Behave, please, at least for a little while.”

  Tess stroked his cock one last time, loving its stiffness and heat, then pulled her hand out of his briefs and zipped him back up. “Okay.” Pressing her fingertips to her face, she inhaled deeply, then moaned to his musky scent.

  “Are you going to wait for me or not?”