Cupping his face in her hands she bent her head to rest her lips against his, reveling in the warmth of his mouth against hers. Then she pressed harder, forcing him to yield to her, allowing her entry. As he groaned and opened to her she took full control of the kiss, holding his face captive as she stood over him, tasting him, devouring him to her heart's content.
When she finally pulled away Ridge gazed up at her, his eyes all but glazed over. “God, you taste so good,” he groaned and licked his lips like he meant it.
Instead of answering, Lani turned and sat on Ridge’s lap and when she felt his hardness pressing up into her she smiled. Emboldened by this obvious sign of his ardor she reached her hand up to cup the back of his head then she pulled his face down toward hers and captured his lips again, showing him with her kiss that she was in control. Maybe it was the mixture of passion and indignation that raged within her or maybe it was because she’d held it in too long but she put everything in that kiss so that when she released him he looked stunned.
Before he could recover she gave him another shock when she reached down and ripped his shirt open, popping buttons, sending them flying.
With his shirt wide open, his muscled chest exposed, she slid off his lap but only to get back on top of him, this time with her legs straddling his. Facing him, she had full access to his bare and beautiful body. Without hesitation she leaned forward to capture a turgid nipple between her teeth. She nibbled and nipped, punishing his sensitive bud till he sucked in his breath and clenched his eyes shut but when she began to lick and soothe him with her tongue he flung his head back and moaned.
He lifted his hands like he wanted to touch her, hold her, but Lani slapped them away. Ridge might be bigger than she was but as long as she kept him in his chair she could control whatever happened and she planned to keep things that way. She would keep him entertained. That way he would have no need to rise. As long as the only rising he was doing was in his pants she was a happy camper.
Moving swiftly before he had the chance to wonder what would happen next Lani loosened the bow at her right shoulder and let the top of the shift fall forward, exposing her lace-covered bosom. His eyes still closed, Ridge had no idea what was going on but it didn’t matter because in one fluid movement Lani stood, her hands pulling the clasp at the front of her bra as she moved. Now, with her br**sts free, she leaned over Ridge’s upturn face and nudged her nipple between his lips, feeding him the puckered fruit, feeling a thrill run through her body as he started then tasted then sucked it in.
Now, with that sensitive bud between his lips, it was Lani’s turn to moan. As he drew it in, teasing it with his tongue, nipping it with his teeth, massaging it with his lips, Lani closed her eyes then threw her head back and moaned. She arched her back, pressing into him, wanting more of the molten pleasure that flowed from his lips. And even as she moaned she felt the liquid warmth between her legs, testament to the effect Ridge was having on her.
Lani shifted, ready to feed the other bud to the ravenous rogue beneath her, when he lifted his hand to span her waist and lift her off him.
Eyes so intense they blazed, he got up and took her hand then jerked his chin toward the stairway. “Come on,” he said, his voice raspy. “Let’s do this right.” He took her hand and turned, ready to finish what she’d started.
But it was too late. He’d broken the spell, dragged her out of her dreamy fantasy, the one where she’d orchestrated the whole thing. Now it was he who was calling the shots, just like he’d done when she’d turned to him in desperation. It was a jolt of reality that knocked the ‘horny’ right out of her. It was a reminder too stark, too strong for her to ignore. No matter how much she pretended, Ridge was the one in charge.
She pulled her hand from his grasp. “No.” She shook her head. “That’s it. I don’t want to do this anymore.”
Ridge pulled up short, his eyes filled with confusion. “What the hell? You started this.”
“I know,” she said, her voice terse. “And now I’m ending it.” She stepped back, covering herself as she moved, then began to redo the bow that held the top of her dress in place.
“What? Why?” Ridge looked like he’d lost his bearings, like he didn’t know if he was coming or going.
Too bad. The way she was feeling right now she had no sympathy for him. “I changed my mind,” she told him with a shrug then moved away and began to stack the dirty dishes and bowls in the middle of the dining table.
“What the f-”
“Don’t you dare.” Lani fixed him with a glacial glare. “You don’t need to sink so low.”
“The hell I don’t. What kind of friggin’ game are you playing? You’re trying to mess with my head?”
Lani shrugged then lifted the stack of china. “Let’s just say,” she murmured, “I can play games just as well as you.” Not waiting for an answer she walked away, leaving him to stew in the sauce she’d served.
In the refuge of the kitchen she dropped the dishes into the sink and let out the breath she’d been holding. Thank goodness he hadn’t followed her. He must be pissed as hell, with her leaving him high and dry like that.
But she couldn’t help it. It was the memory of how she’d gotten here in the first place that had been her undoing. She just couldn’t reconcile herself to the fact that he’d been all-powerful and she, so powerless.
And if the only way she could wield what little power she had was to withhold sex, then so be it.
The only sad thing about the whole affair was, in punishing him she was darned well punishing herself, too. And Lani had no idea how long she could hold out.
***
Not again. How could he have fallen for that again? Ridge slammed his palms down on the bathroom counter and glared at his reflection in the mirror.
He was a friggin' idiot, that was what he was. How could he let her play him like that? The woman was nothing but a little tease, a witch ready and willing to yank his chain. Drive him crazy. Torment him with want and then walk away. Damn!
Ridged slapped his hands down again but what he really wanted to do was drive his fists through the mirror. Pissed could not begin to describe what he was feeling.
That night, sleep was the furthest thing from his mind. He was so wound up it wasn’t until the wee hours of morning that he finally drifted into a fitful sleep. At the sound of a car engine he woke with a start and that was when he realized it was morning and Lani was driving out, heading for work.