Too Wilde to Tame

Chapter Six

WHEN it came to his kiss, Cameron made good on his promise to go slow and take his time, giving Mia a small sampling of what kind of ecstasy he was capable of giving her with his mouth. And his hands.

At the moment his palms were sliding down her spine in a provocative caress that made her arch toward him like a cat craving more of his petting and attention. He traced the indentation of her waist with his fingers, the curve of her hips, and when he reached her bottom, he cupped her buttocks in his hands and pulled her lower body flush to his. His thick erection pressed against the crux of her thighs, right where he belonged, making her wish they were both naked so she could feel that hard, sleek length sliding along her weeping sex.

The connection of their mouths gradually deepened, but only because he allowed it. Their tongues touched, slid together, and mated in slow, sweeping strokes. He ate at her mouth like a succulent piece of fruit, alternating licking and sucking with mind-blowing precision. He made her weak with wanting. Excited with anticipation. And anxious to feel him pushing deep inside her again.

A woman could die from so much lust and sexual tension surging through her all at once. At least, that's how she felt at the moment.

Moaning deep in her throat, she rolled her hips against his, seeking more pressure. More friction. More everything. She wanted to be taken, right here, right now. On his lap, up on the counter, or even on the floor. Fast or slow, she didn't care, so long as he appeased the growing ache spreading like wildfire through her veins. She was on the brink of going mad, and it was all his doing.

But instead of following through on the rest of the erotic fantasy he'd just shared with her, he ended the kiss and leaned back in his chair, though his hands remained touching her, lingering on her hips. She couldn't read his expression and had no idea what he was thinking or feeling at the moment, though it was obvious by the huge bulge straining against the fly of his jeans that he was still plenty aroused.

Mia's insides clenched with disappointment that he'd brought everything to an abrupt stop, especially when she'd been more than willing to go all the way, but she was hopeful she'd at least managed to sway him to take on her case. "So does this mean you'll help me out?" she asked, striving for a playful, teasing tone.

A half-grin tipped up the corner of his mouth. "Why do I feel totally and completely manipulated into saying yes?"

He was going to make her work for this, she realized, and she was certainly willing to play the game his way to get what she wanted. "You're the one who started all that sex talk, not me." Not that she was complaining, though her body was certainly protesting the way he'd revved her up, only to leave her strung tighter than a bow. But they'd get back to that problem in a few minutes, just as soon as she secured his help.

He crossed his arms over his chest, which only made him look more devastatingly male. More masculine. More sexy. "Yeah, well, talk is cheap."

She laughed. His way of talking had been anything but cheap. "And actions speak louder than words," she quipped right back. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe I want the same thing as you?"

His gaze narrowed, though she could tell he was toying with her. Maybe even testing her. "Why? You got what you wanted from me last Friday night."

And of course he believed she was a woman who only indulged in one-night stands. And she couldn't blame Cameron for his way of thinking, considering that's the impression she'd always given him-that she was carefree and frivolous and only out for a good time, nothing more.

She pushed away the unexpected hurt and focused on seducing Cam instead. "Maybe I want more than one night," she said as she trailed her fingers up his hard, muscular thigh, which tensed beneath her touch. "Maybe I want to see if you're really up to the challenge of making me come with a guy. Specifically, with you."

His eyes flashed with heat and lust. "Okay, you've definitely got my attention."

She couldn't contain her triumphant grin. "You want me. I want you." She shrugged as if the end results were obvious. "The way I see it, this can be a win-win situation the whole way around, for both of us."

"A temporary affair while I help you figure out who sent the pictures, while leaving your brothers and cousins out of the equation?"

"It works for me."

But despite her grand plan, Mia was well aware that she'd have to protect her heart in the process, because she was beginning to fear that this man had the ability to affect her on a much deeper level than any guy she'd dated before. And a broken heart at the end of their affair wasn't something she wanted, or needed, because there was no doubt in her mind they would go their separate ways. No matter how good the sex between them might be, she could never be what Cameron wanted in his life-someone demure and sweet and accommodating. Everything about what he wanted in a woman went against who she was, and she wasn't about to change for any man. And especially not that drastically.

"So what do you say, sugar?" she asked in a cajoling tone of voice. "Do we have a deal?"

He stared at her for a long moment, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of accepting her deal. "I'd say you drive a hard bargain."

"Hard being the operative word?" She grinned shamelessly at him.

He chuckled and shook his head. "You're something else, you know that?" Then he grew serious once more. "I'll agree to help you out, with a few conditions."

She should have known he'd set down rales. The man was a straight shooter and did everything by the book. "Which are?"

"When it comes to the case, you do as I say and don't do any kind of investigating on your own or without me knowing about it," he said succinctly.

She didn't care for his terms, which were too restrictive for her tastes, but she had no choice but to comply. "Fine."

"And if you do anything stupid that jeopardizes your safety, you can guarantee Steve is going to find out what's going on."

That wasn't a condition to their deal or even an idle threat, but a firm, unnegotiable statement she knew Cameron would back up in a heartbeat if she went against his wishes.

He lifted a brow when she remained uncharacteristically quiet. "Agreed?" he prompted.

"Agreed," she said begrudgingly.

He did a poor job of smothering the smile trying to make an appearance. "With that settled, I'm thinking the two of us should hit The Electric Blue on Friday night."

"Together? As a couple?" she asked with feigned shock that he'd be seen with her out in public.

"Together, but separate. I'm certainly not letting you go there by yourself when someone could be stalking you," he replied, not committing to anything in terms of their relationship. "I'll be there watching everyone and how they interact with you, but I think it would be best if it looks like you're single and on your own."

"So you want me to do what I normally do when I go to The Electric Blue? Mingle. Dance. That sort of thing?"

"Yeah, except no entering the wet T-shirt contest," he said, with a frown.

She caressed her hand along his cheek and ran her thumb along the groove turning down the corner of his mouth. "That was all for you, sugar. That was my first time entering a contest like that."

"And your last," he muttered beneath his breath.

She lifted a brow, surprised to hear the possessive tone to his voice. To think he might be even a tad bit jealous sent a tiny thrill racing through her. "Be careful, or else I'll start to think I matter to you."

She was teasing him, but her traitorous heart skipped a beat when she realized he wasn't the least bit amused. His serious, piercing, protective look said more than words ever could-mat maybe, possibly, she was beginning to matter too much. And she wasn't quite sure what to make of that.

Then he glanced away, severing the profound moment. "I figure with you and I arriving separately, this will be the best way for me to keep an eye on Carrie and Ray, and maybe even your neighbor, Will, too," he said, back to business. "Because we're essentially trying to set up the culprit into doing something to draw attention to himself, you might want to mention to your friend Carrie and your roommate Gina that you'll be at The Electric Blue on Friday. We'll see who shows up and what happens."

She nodded. "That's easy enough to do."

"Great." He picked up the photos of her that were still on the counter and tucked them back into the envelope. "I'll keep these for now, and any others you might happen to get."

She shuddered to think there might be more. "I really hope this is a one-time joke, even as sick and deranged as it is."

"Me, too," he said, though he didn't sound at all convinced this was the end to her predicament. "Come on, I'll walk you out to your car."

He stood, and she quickly placed her hand on his chest to bring him to an abrupt halt. She couldn't believe he'd arouse her to the point of unraveling with his carnally whispered words and bone-melting kiss and was then just going to send her on her way instead of following through on his seduction.

"You can't leave me like this," she blurted out.

He looked genuinely confused. "Like what?"

How could he be so dense when she was still so incredibly turned on from his detailed outline of what he'd like to do to her. "Like I'm right on the verge of… something." Something that felt so very close to an explosive, breathless orgasm.

A crooked grin canted his mouth. "It's called foreplay, sweetheart."

"It's called cruel and unusual punishment." She couldn't resist poking him in the chest with her finger for extra emphasis.

He grabbed her wrist before she could jab him again, humor glimmering in the depths of his gorgeous green eyes. "It's torture of the sweetest kind."

She jutted her chin out stubbornly. "Well, there's a cure for what ails me if you won't finish what you started."

"Oh, I plan to finish you off," he murmured wickedly and brought her fingers to his lips so he could nibble on the tips. "But not tonight. And in the meantime, don't you dare take the edge off all this sexual tension I worked so hard to build up. I want to be the one to make you come, not some battery-operated device."

She opened her mouth to issue a smart-ass retort but lost her voice when his soft, wet tongue slid down between two fingers and flicked at the sensitive webbing connecting the two. She squirmed as if he'd just licked her intimately. "Oh, God, I can't wait that long."

"Yes, you can." He placed an infinitely sweet kiss in the center of her palm, a direct contrast to the ripples of heat and awareness arcing between the two of them. "You might be calling the shots about me being the one to handle your case, but I'm the one in charge of how and when you come."

Her jaw nearly dropped open. "That's ludicrous!"

"Yeah, probably so," he agreed unrepentantly. "But you'll do as I ask."

Every one of her instincts rallied at her to object to his assertive and cocky attitude, as well as his arrogance in taking control of how and when she achieved her own sexual gratification. If it was anyone else, she'd tell them to take a hike. But much to her chagrin, she found herself swallowing back a scathing reply and once again playing the game his way.

Because, as she'd discovered last Friday night, Cameron Sinclair and his sexual expertise were worth waiting for.

CAMERON'S surveillance on Irish Shelton was turning out to be a complete bust, not to mention it was putting a major crimp in his Friday evening plans to meet up with Mia at The Electric Blue.

After a solid five days with no action, Trish had placed a last-minute call to her husband claiming she'd forgotten about a dinner meeting she had with a client. It was definitely cause for suspicion, and Doug Shelton had immediately called Cameron to let him know his wife's plans had abruptly changed.

Seeing it as a prime opportunity to catch the woman in action, so to speak, and put an end to the case, Cameron had grabbed the keys to the company's unmarked Ford Excursion, which was fully stocked with surveillance equipment, and had followed Trish from her office to a nearby restaurant where she was supposed to meet up with her "client."

After parking across the street, Cameron had entered the restaurant, scanned the dining area for Trish, and was lucky enough to find a seat at the bar that afforded him a view of her table. He nursed a bottle of beer and waited for a man to arrive to contradict what she'd told her husband. He was sorely disappointed when a woman showed up instead, shook Trish's hand in a professional manner, and sat down to discuss what appeared to be business over dinner.

So much for wrapping up this case, Cameron thought irritably. Once he'd finished his beer, he'd headed back out to the truck to wait for Trish to leave the restaurant so he could take a few pictures of her with the other woman, to show to Doug Shelton that his wife's business dinner had been completely legitimate.

He could have just taken off for the night when the other woman had arrived and written up a report for his client, but Cameron prided himself on being thorough in his surveillance and his investigations. Especially because there was no telling where Trish might be heading once her current business was concluded for the evening.

So in the meantime, he made some calls on his cell phone that he needed to return and set up the camera with the zoom lense so he could capture the evidence on film when the opportunity arose. Time slowly dragged on, and he grew restless and eager to be on his way.

Finally, Trish and the other woman walked out of the restaurant together, enabling Cameron to get the shots he needed. The two ladies went their separate ways, and he tailed Trish from a discreet distance all the way to her house, while placing a call to Doug Shelton to give him a quick update. Once Cameron was assured she was home for the night, he turned around and made his way back into the city.

By then it was nearly eight p.m., a good hour later than when he'd promised Mia he'd be at The Electric Blue. He'd called her earlier to let her know he'd be running late, but he didn't like the thought of Mia being alone at the bar, where someone was possibly watching her and waiting for an opportunity to do something more nefarious than just taking a photograph of her. And he definitely didn't like the thought of other guys hitting on her, dancing with her, or touching her in any way whatsoever.

He stepped on the gas and increased the speed of the Excursion, wishing he was in his power-charged Porsche instead. God, he was getting so sucked in by Mia, and even though she'd managed to manipulate him into helping her, he had to admit he'd agreed for purely selfish reasons, too. Having sex with her again was certainly an incentive, but the woman intrigued him on too many levels to count, and the two mixed together proved to be a dangerous combination not only to his unruly libido, but emotionally as well.

Beyond the scorching heat and attraction the two of them generated, he was drawn to her and all the different facets of her personality: the good qualities, her vulnerable side, and even her way of goading and annoying him. He'd always enjoyed unraveling mysteries, and Mia was one big giant puzzle he was determined to solve. It was all a matter of peeling away the different facades she hid behind and discovering the real woman beneath. Having her and all that fire, energy, and passion in his bed was merely a bonus he had every intention of enjoying to the fullest.

And hopefully, once he figured out her allure, he could get her out of his head and system and move on. Just another case closed.

The ringing of his cell phone pulled him from his thoughts of Mia. He glanced at the hands-free unit display, saw that the call was from his mother, and hit the connect button.

"Hi, Mom."

"Hi, Cameron," she said, her soft, cultured tone filling the cab of the vehicle. "How have you been?"

He winced, knowing his mother's question held a deeper meaning, but she was too polite to outright say he'd been remiss in calling or stopping by lately. "I've been good, Mom." And then he wondered if maybe something was wrong. "Are you and Dad okay?"

"We're fine, honey, though your father has mentioned he sure has missed having a golf outing with his son the past few months."

Another sting of guilt he couldn't avoid. "Yeah, I know. Work's been crazy. I'll have to set aside a Sunday morning for a game."

"Your father would absolutely love spending the time with you," she said, and he could hear the satisfied smile in her voice. "But I didn't call you for that. Your sister, Claudia, is turning forty next week, and I'm having her birthday dinner at the house next Sunday for her and the family. I want to be sure you keep the evening free."

Claudia was the oldest of his three sisters, and as each kid had left home and started lives of their own, his mother had made it a ritual to have birthday dinners for each one of them to be sure there were at least a few family gatherings that brought them together throughout the year. Over the years, their birthday dinners had grown in size, because each one of his sisters was married with children of her own.

"I wouldn't miss it, Mom," he promised and made a mental note to add the date to his PDA so there was no way he could forget, since his schedule had been so hectic the past few weeks.

"I also wanted to let you know, you're welcome to bring a friend."

His mother's subtle comment made Cameron smirk. "So I can bring Rick, then?" He knew damn well that's not what she meant, but he hadn't been able to resist contradicting her just to see how she'd respond.

"Well, I was hoping you'd bring a friend of the female gender. You know, someone you might be dating?"

Cam turned into The Electric Blue's parking lot as images of Mia immediately filled his mind, with her innate sensuality, wild ways, and smart mouth. She was so different from any woman he'd ever brought home to meet his family, and it had been a long time since he'd even done that. He could only imagine what Mia would say or do to shock his refined mother and equally straitlaced sisters and found himself smiling at the thought.

Finding an open space a few slots away from Mia's flashy red Celica, he parked the truck and turned off the engine. "Sorry, Mom, but I'm not dating anyone right now."

Her disappointed sigh drifted through the intercom. "And that's such a shame, too."

Cameron rolled his eyes, having heard the "you need to settle down like your sisters have" lecture many times before. He would, when the right woman finally came along.

"I hate to cut you short, Mom, but I need to go," he said before she could launch into her speech. "I promise to be there next Sunday for Claude's dinner."

After a quick good-bye he ended the call, clipped the cell phone onto the waistband of his jeans, and got out of the truck. A minute later he was entering The Electric Blue, and it was just as loud and jam-packed as it had been the previous Friday night. At the moment, the waiters and waitresses were dancing up on the bar and tabletops, which had the riled-up crowd whistling and cheering them on. He half expected to find Mia up there doing a few shimmies and shakes of her own, but much to his relief, she wasn't part of the evening's entertainment.

His gaze scanned the establishment, and just when he caught sight of Mia standing at the bar with a group of men, he felt a large hand clamp down firmly on his shoulder. He turned around with his fists clenched tight, instinctively in defense mode, until he came face to face with Mia's brother Joel, who was flanked by two of his business partners and Marine buddies, Kevin and Ben. As security specialists, all three were big, muscular, intimidating-looking guys-the kind women looked twice at and men didn't mess with.

Cameron had never considered the possibility of running into anyone from Mia's family here. Her three cousins were married, along with her brothers Scott and Alex, and they were no longer into the bar scene. But Joel was a consummate playboy who enjoyed having a good time, especially when there were single women involved, and The Electric Blue certainly provided that.

He swore beneath his breath. This was a scenario he hadn't anticipated, and now he had to tread carefully because not only had Cameron promised Mia he wouldn't apprise her brothers about her situation, but there was no way in hell he wanted anyone in her family to find out about their relationship. He didn't need the grief, the headache, or any of the Wilde brood beating the crap out of him for having a hot and heavy, no-strings-attached fling with Mia.

It seemed like an hour had passed between them, when in fact it had only been a handful of seconds. "Joel!" he said, unable to keep his genuine shock and surprise from his tone.

"Hey, Cam!" Joel replied in an enthusiastic voice loud enough to be heard above the music and noise. "You hang out here?"

"I've been here a few times," he said evasively and gestured toward the waitresses dancing up on the bar for the customers, and for better tips. "The place is quite lively and entertaining."

"So we heard." Joel grinned up at one of the women who blew him a kiss while gyrating her hips to the seductive beat of the music. "We thought we'd check it out for ourselves, and it appears we aren't going to be disappointed. Want to grab a beer with us?"

Despite having other plans, which had included finding an inconspicuous place to sit alone and keep an eye on Mia, Cameron knew he couldn't turn down Joel's invitation without him wondering why… and eventually pinpointing the reason as Mia once Joel discovered his sister was there. Besides, sitting with the trio didn't mean Cam had to reveal his true reasons for being there, and he could still keep an inconspicuous eye on Mia.

"A beer sounds great," he finally said.

It took some time on such a crowded, busy night, but they eventually managed to claim a table up on the second level as a small group vacated it. It was a perfect spot for Cameron, because it gave him a decent view of the bar and dance area. And that's all he cared about.

As he sat down, his gaze found Mia once again. She was still talking to the same group of guys at the bar. Just as a waitress came up to their table to take their order, he watched as Mia tucked her hair behind her left ear, a signal they'd decided upon earlier to let him know she was speaking to her neighbor, Will, if he happened to show up.

He studied the guy, who was more of a pretty boy than a man's man, with short hair that looked like it actually had blond highlights woven through the strands-and not the kind from the sun, but the artificial kind from a salon. At a distance, his features appeared more effeminate than masculine, and he looked barely old enough to drink-as did his three friends.

Just as Mia had told him, there were definitely no sparks between her and Will. They were conversing like old friends, when most of the other men at the bar were openly eyeing Mia with appreciative interest. There was something different about Will other than his appearance, but for the moment Cameron couldn't quite put his finger on what was bothering him.

Mia smoothed her hair back once again as she laughed at something one of the other guys said. Most likely, she hadn't seen him arrive. Under normal circumstances, he would have called her on her cell phone to let her know he was at The Electric Blue and where he was sitting, but meeting up with Joel had nixed that idea. He figured in time she'd locate him, and he couldn't help but wonder how she'd act once she discovered her brother Joel was there.

Cameron waited for the waitress to finish taking their drink orders and move on to the next table before striking up a conversation. "So how's business been?"

"It's been great," Joel said as he leaned back in his seat. "Getting busier by the week."

"I hear ya," Cam replied with a shake of his head. "Steve and I are swamped. We've been interviewing potential assistants, but we haven't found anyone we both like yet." He glanced at Kevin and Ben once more. "Where's Jon?" he asked of their other friend and partner.

"He's on an assignment that took him to California for the next week." Abruptly, Joel stopped speaking, and his body tensed as he stared just beyond Cameron's shoulder.

Cameron was very familiar with that intense kind of look. Certain that Joel had finally spied Mia, Cameron's own personal radar went on alert. "Everything okay?"

"That waitress looks familiar," Joel said with a confused frown. "Like I've seen her before."

Cameron, along with Ben and Kevin, glanced in the same direction to appease their own curiosity. The woman who had caught Joel's attention wasn't the waitress who had taken their order. This one was curvy and very pretty, with shoulder-length brown hair and an alluring smile. As attractive as she was, she seemed much too reserved and sweet compared to the more outgoing women Joel normally chose to date.

"Yeah, you've seen her before," Ben said with a snicker. "In your dreams, man."

"I'm being serious," Joel said, a frustrated edge to his tone. "But I'll be damned if I can place where I've seen her."

Kevin slapped Joel on the back. "I'm sure she's just another face in the long string of women you've seduced with that Wilde charm of yours, then left behind."

Joel's scowl deepened as he combed his fingers through his pitch black hair. "I've never slept with her. That I would have remembered," he said adamantly.

As if the woman had sensed Joel's stare, she turned from the table she was clearing and looked his way. Their gazes seemed to connect, and something intangible passed between them for the briefest of seconds before their waitress arrived with their beers and the other woman headed back to the bar area.

It was the oddest, most bizarre thing Cameron had ever witnessed, as if the two did know one another but had never met in person before.

For the next half hour, while Joel watched the woman who'd captured his attention and Cameron kept up a steady stream of conversation with Ben and Kevin, who were also flirting with the women around them, Cameron managed to keep a close watch on Mia. She left Will with his friends at the bar to mingle with other people, and Cameron noticed that her neighbor didn't appear interested in the other women who came up to him, and neither did he accept any invitations to dance.

Interestingly enough, Mia's girlfriend Carrie was nowhere to be seen, and he figured she'd had other plans for the night, which helped narrow down Cameron's list of potential suspects. He'd caught sight of Ray and Gina a while ago, but now as Mia made her way through the crowd to her roommate, Ray wasn't by Gina's side as he normally was, which led Cameron to believe he was off getting drinks at the bar or had gone to the restroom.

About ten minutes later Ray reappeared, fresh drinks in hand. Mia talked to the two of them for a bit longer and then moved through the crowd once again. She headed in Cameron's direction, a sultry smile on her glossy lips.

As she climbed the stairs to the second level, Joel finally spotted her. "Jeezus," he muttered in annoyance. "What the hell is Mia doing here?"

Cameron wanted to laugh at Joel's brotherly reaction, not to mention his double standards where his sister was concerned. Instead, he kept his amusement to himself.

Kevin, however, had no problem stating the obvious. "I suppose she's here for the same reason you are."

Joel didn't care for that insinuation and shot his friend a dark look. "Don't be a smart-ass."

"Well, she sure does look like she's here to have a good time," Ben chimed in.

Cameron had to agree. From a distance, he'd only been able to see glimpses of what she was wearing. But now, up close, his mouth went dry as the full effect of her outfit hit him. Her beige, halter-top-style mini-dress bared a helluva lot of skin and cleavage and left no room for her to wear a bra. The stretchy fabric molded to her perfect breasts, as well as the rest of her curves, all the way down to her mid-thigh. A belt designed of chunky gold links draped low on her hips with the end piece bouncing loosely against her thigh as she walked. If the image of using that strand of belt as a leash wasn't enough to make Cameron hard as stone, her shoes most certainly did the trick.

She was wearing the hottest, sexiest, most arousing pair of dress boots he'd ever seen on a woman. Made of supple beige leather, they reached just below her knee, and it wasn't just the spiked heel that had his temperature, and other parts of his anatomy, rising. No, it was the way they laced up the side of her leg and showed glimpses of skin between the criss-crossing of ties, prompting erotic images of her being a bit of a dominatrix in the bedroom-which suited Mia's personality very well.

He groaned and shoved those images right out of his head as she came to a stop at the side of the table between himself and Kevin. She slid her hip to one side, the one nearest him, and the chain on her belt jingled temptingly.

"Hi there, boys," she greeted them with a sexy smile that encompassed them all. "Fancy running into the four of you here."

Ben grinned at her, and it was obvious to Cameron that the other man could be very interested in Mia, given the chance and Joel's approval. "We were just saying the same thing about you, Mia."

She shrugged, and Cameron hoped to God he was the only one who noticed how her firm breasts bounced oh-so-provocatively with the gesture. Unfortunately, Ben and Kevin were all male, and their gazes strayed accordingly.

"It's a fun place," she said, fingering the end of her chain belt. "And where's there's fun, I'm there."

Joel crossed his arms over his massive chest. "You shouldn't be here alone," he said gruffly.

"Don't go and get your feathers all ruffled, Joel," she said and rolled her eyes at her brother's protective statement. "Gina is here, too, so I'm not alone."

"Would you like to sit down and have a drink with us?" Kevin offered, eager to accommodate Mia. "We can pull up another chair for you, if you'd like."

"No, thanks," she said, dashing the other man's hopes, only to raise them all over again with her next comment. "Actually, I came up here looking for a dance partner. Anyone here interested?"

Cameron kept quiet, while both Kevin and Ben glanced at Joel as if to gauge his reaction Should they accept Mia's invitation. Luckily for them, Joel was once again distracted by the waitress who'd ensnared his attention earlier.

"Hell, why not," Kevin said and stood before Ben could beat him to the punch. "I came here to have a good time, so let's do it."

"That's certainly my motto." Mia laughed, a sultry, husky sound that tied Cameron's insides into a heated knot of desire.

As Mia led the way to the dance floor and Kevin followed behind, Cameron blew out a harsh breath. He knew her flirtations with Kevin and Ben were all an act, knew she was trying to pretend all was normal and Cameron didn't have carnal knowledge of her body-and they hadn't agreed to a brief affair. But it was still difficult to watch her go off with another man and move that lithe, centerfold body of hers all for Kevin's viewing pleasure.

Cameron kept both Ray and Will in his sights, while keeping an eye on Mia as well. She was having a great time with Kevin, and if that wasn't torture enough, when the two of them returned to the table after enjoying a few songs, Ben was quick to offer himself up as her next dance partner, and Mia was happy to oblige. She looked so damn sexy up on the dance floor, with her dark tousled hair, flushed face, and that seductive, body-hugging dress. And those sexy boots… Cameron had no doubts they'd star in some very erotic fantasies for a long time to come.

"You know, if you don't like anyone else dancing with her, then you ought to speak up."

This came from Kevin, and Cameron couldn't believe he'd allowed himself to be so transparent around men who were trained to be just as perceptive as he was. Still, he tried to brush it off. "I'm not interested in dancing with Mia."

From across the table, Joel gave an inelegant snort. "Sure you're not," he drawled, then explained to Kevin, "Cameron and Mia have this love-hate thing going on between them."

"I don't hate her." Far from it, Cameron thought. Mia inspired many emotions from him, but none that even came remotely close to disliking her.

"Okay, hate is a strong word," Joel conceded as he rubbed his fingers along the condensation gathering on his bottle of beer. "You want her, but you don't want her. She annoys the hell out of you, and you still want her. Bottom line is, you want her."

That pretty well summed up his feelings for Mia, not that he was going to admit it out loud and give Joel the satisfaction of knowing how badly his sister affected him. "Don't worry, it's not going to happen," he reassured Joel, the lie slipping too easily from his lips.

Joel studied him for a long moment, and Cameron tried not to squirm under the scrutiny of his stare.

Finally, Joel spoke. "That's probably for the best, considering the two of you would end up strangling one another within a few days of being together."

Cameron could think of a dozen other things he'd rather do to Mia with his hands and fingers, rather than wrapping them around her pretty neck. Still, for Joel's benefit, he played along. "Yeah, you're probably right."

Much to Cameron's relief, Kevin and Mia came back to the table, which put an end to his awkward conversation with Joel. Ben sat in his chair, and Mia sidled up to Cameron.

"Whew," she said, breathing hard from the workout she'd gotten while dancing with two different men back to back. "I sure am hot… and thirsty."

Before anyone could offer to get her a drink, she picked up his bottle of beer and lifted it to her mouth. Cameron watched in fascination as her lips closed over the tip and her tongue dipped inside the opening. Then she tilted the bottle back and moaned deep in her throat as she finished off the last little bit of cold liquid left inside.

Cameron nearly groaned right along with her as images filled his mind of her soft warm mouth sucking on him in the same erotic way-which he knew had been her intent all along. To deliberately arouse him when he couldn't do a damn thing about it, the minx.

With a soft sigh of satisfaction, she set the empty bottle down on the table and met his gaze. Her lashes fell half-mast, and she slowly licked the excess moisture from her lips. "Mmmm, that tasted good."

His blood rushed hot and molten through his veins. God, she was so brazen and bold!

She smiled at him, a heady, come-hither curve of her lips that told him she wasn't done teasing him just yet. "So how about you, sugar?" she asked as she leaned in close and skimmed the tips of her fingers along his tensed jaw. "Care to take your chances with me?"

She meant out on the dance floor, but there was a wealth of meaning and innuendo behind her words. It took every bit of strength Cameron possessed to pretend indifference to her, when all he could think about was wiping the table clear in one clean swipe of his arm and taking her right then and there, with those fuck-me lace-up boots wrapped tight against his hips.

"I'll pass," he managed, just barely, in a bland tone of voice.

A disappointed sigh escaped her parted lips. "I guess I'll just have to find someone who will."

She turned to go, and something within Cameron snapped-mainly, his normal ability to keep a tight rein on his emotions. He understood that for Mia this was all a performance for her brother and his friends, even if she was enjoying herself a tad too much at his expense. But he'd had enough of her dancing with other men, and he wasn't about to watch her with yet another guy while he sat on the sidelines and stewed about it.

Abruptly, he stood up and started after Mia, with Kevin and Ben encouraging him on. Cameron glanced back at the trio and found Joel watching him quietly with an unsettling kind of speculation that made Cameron feel uneasy.

Dismissing the feeling for the time being, he caught up to Mia before she could find herself another dance partner, grabbed her hand, and led the way. Once they were up on the stage, he merged the two of them into the middle of the crowded dance floor, away from the prying eyes of Mia's brother, and then whirled around to face the woman who tempted him beyond reason. She was only a foot away, but he wanted her closer.

Much closer.

Wrapping the end of her chain belt around his fist, he pulled her to him until their bodies were touching intimately. Awareness sparked in her smoky gaze, as did a glimmer of heat he recognized as a direct challenge. She wanted this, and she was silently daring him to be bad, to throw every bit of caution to the wind and give in to some reckless, shameless kind of fun. With her.

He let a wolfish grin emerge, and her eyes widened with a bit of surprise and excitement. Grasping her hips in his hands, he wedged his leg between hers so the hem of her dress was hiked up and she was riding his thigh. From there, their eyes met and held as they moved to the beat of the music in a way that mimicked the act of hot, grinding, down-and-dirty sex. Cameron grew thick and hard as each seductive move was countered by another, in ways that would have gotten them arrested for public obscenity if anyone could have seen what they were doing.

Fortunately, they were surrounded by a crush of people who weren't paying any attention to them or their dirty dancing. They didn't care mat his hands were on Mia's ass, and they couldn't see the slow, provocative way she arched and rubbed against his erection again and again.

It was the most erotic form of foreplay Cameron ever had the pleasure of indulging in, and he planned to get even with Mia tonight, when they were alone. He had a score to settle with her-for tempting and teasing him earlier in front of her brother and his friends, and for driving him to the brink of sexual frustration now.

The song ended, and he and Mia agreed to part ways for a while: Cameron was grateful for the cooling-off period, because after that encounter, he had no idea how he was going to survive the evening.

But somehow, he managed. Before long Gina and Ray left for the night, followed by Mia's neighbor Will and his friends. Soon after that, Joel, Kevin, and Ben decided to head off to Nick's Sports Bar, which was their normal hangout.

Once Cameron was certain that Joel and his buddies were long gone, he made his way across the room to Mia and lowered his mouth to her ear.

"Let's get the hell out of here."

"Your place or mine?" She grinned up at him, her face still flushed from their dancing.

That all depended on a key factor. "Is Gina going to be home tonight?"

She shook her head. "No. She'll be at Ray's."

Perfect. "Your place, then." Because what he had in mind for Mia, he wanted her to be completely comfortable and relaxed, and being in her element would accomplish that.

"I'm parked two cars away from yours," he told her, wanting to be careful about the way they left The Electric Blue, just in case they were being watched. "I'll walk out first, and you follow about a minute after me so I can keep an eye on you."

She nodded in agreement. He headed out of the bar and crossed the parking lot to their vehicles. As Mia's Celica came into his sights, a sick feeling of dread twisted through him, followed by a jolt of outrage at what someone had done to Mia's car. He swore a string of expletives as he tried to figure out a way to spare Mia from having to see this latest attack.

Unfortunately, he didn't think fast enough. Her audible gasp of shock had Cameron spinning around, and his stomach cramped when he saw her face. Mia's eyes were huge, her complexion drained of color, and her expression was etched with disbelief and horror as she stared at her vandalized car.

"Oh, my God!" she wailed.