Teasing Tuesday – small excerpt from COWBOY CASANOVA

COWBOY CASANOVA

Copyright © 2011 Lorelei James
All rights reserved — a Samhain Publishing, Ltd. publication

After pacing for five of the ten minutes, freshening her make-up for a couple more, Ainsley stilled. Breathed. Adjusted her scratchy wig. She looked outlandish, but that was the point. No one would ever believe uptight Ainsley Hamilton had the balls to wear this flashy garb.

She raised her chin a notch and practiced a cool-eyed stare. Time to earn a ball-buster reputation.

Revved up and ready, she exited the bathroom—just as Layla led Mr. Brooding Hot Cowboy to their table.

Her stomach cartwheeled.

When he aimed his deeply dimpled smile at her, she stumbled in her three-inch heels, straight into his strong arms.

“Whoa there. You all right?”

Ainsley glared at the floor as if it were responsible for her misstep. Then she looked up into the bluest eyes this side of heaven.

Holy Mother of God. He was striking. She could not wait to tell this man exactly what to do to her. Her gaze slid to his lips. She had an idea or fifty on how he could use his too-pretty mouth.

Layla interrupted Ainsley’s contemplation of his oral skills. “I’ll leave you two to make your own introductions.”

She hoisted herself onto the barstool and thrust out her hand. “An—Angel.”

The dark-haired devil clasped her fingers, lowered his head and kissed her knuckles. “A pleasure, Angel. I’m Bennett. Would you care for another drink?”

“No. Thank you.”

She looked at him.

He looked back at her.

Awkward.

“Before we get down to business, can I just say that you have the prettiest skin?” He wasn’t content with that verbal caress. He dragged a rough-edged fingertip from the inside of her wrist beneath the bracelet to the bend in her elbow and back down.

Goose bumps danced up that limb, fanning out across her shoulder. Bennett scored points for his seductive touch but lost them when she noticed his smirk.

“So let’s set the parameters for tonight’s play.”

“Is this a negotiation?”

His teasing eyes turned shrewd. “Talkin’ about expectations is a club rule, in every club I’ve ever been in.” His gaze lingered on her gold bracelet. “Haven’t you found that to be true?”

“Of course I know to discuss the play rules.” The lie warmed her cheeks.

His expression didn’t change.

He kept watching her. “Stop staring at me,” she said crossly.

He lowered his eyes with a murmured, “Sorry.”

When another bout of silence stretched, she knew if she didn’t get a handle on this situation now, she never would. “Can I ask you something, Bennett?”

“Anything you wish.”

“Why the dual role of submissive and dominant?”

“For variety, I suppose. How about you? Why the dominant role?”

“It’s a power thing.”

“Hmm.”

She didn’t like his half-cocky hmm. “What?”

“If that’s the case, I find it odd you’re a Domme.” Bennett raised those compelling blue eyes to hers. The heat and intensity packed a punch so potent she nearly toppled off the barstool.

Way out of your element, Ainsley.

“See, the true power in a dominant and submissive relationship lies with the submissive. Because the sub cedes all control, it’s up to the Dom to make sure all the sub’s needs are being met. To give the sub what she—or he—wants.”

“What do you want?”

Bennett let his gaze slowly slide down to her cleavage, then back up to her mouth. “I want to please you.”

Had any man ever said that to her?

“In that I’ll gain my own pleasure. But since you brought up my dual sides, I’ll admit I’m not a switch very often. In fact, I’m the lone switch here right now. So if you want to play tonight, I’m your only choice.”

And what a fine, fine choice. She tempered her eagerness with an offhand, “I suppose that’ll work.”

“Good. But there is a catch. You’re planning to be here two nights so I’ll make you a deal.”

“I’m listening.” God was she ever listening. His deep, rich voice was as mesmerizing as his deep, rich eyes.

“If I agree to let you be my dominant tonight, then I want you to agree to be my submissive tomorrow night.”