Privacy Policy

Served Hot
by Marie Harte

Copyright © 2017 by Marie Harte. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.

Chapter One

The doorbell rang.

Between blackmail, the threat of a lawsuit, and the throbbing hand she’d been sporting since delivering the smackdown of the century last week, Maya figured she’d earned some relaxation time. Screw her “appointment” with Dex—no way in hell she’d call it a real date. The man could get bent. She and her bathtub had plans.

Frickin’ Selena Thorpe. Maya snorted. The woman had been a major pain in the ass back in high school. A snob, a bigot and a bully—not only to Maya, but to her two best friends as well. So after learning Selena had ruined Maya’s best friend’s relationship all those years ago, causing so much pain… Yeah, she’d tricked the woman into returning to Bend for a little payback—a Maya-sized fist to the nose. So what? The bitch had deserved it.

Maya rubbed her knuckles, not at all sorry. If Dex hadn’t interfered, she would have knocked out a few of Selena’s teeth too, for shits and grins. And her friends said she had anger issues. She chuckled to herself, reliving Selena’s shock and ignoring the fact that she’d narrowly avoided a major lawsuit.

Dumb Dex and his meddling cousin had been good for one thing at least. Her heart raced at thoughts of other things Dex would surely be good for, so she hastily focused on her bubble bath.

The doorbell rang again. And again. And again.

She ignored it and eased deeper into her tub, sighing with pleasure.

Thunderous knocking soon followed. Maya gritted her teeth and sank under the water. When she finally needed to breathe, she surfaced to silence. Only the flicker of candlelight, the aroma of jasmine and frothy bubbles caressing her skin teased her senses.

She closed her eyes and smiled, enveloped in an all-too-rare tranquility.

“Damn, you’re even sexier covered in suds.”

Maya screamed, flailed in the tub and nearly drowned herself.

Big hands slid under her arms to pull her above water. They also grazed her breasts when she tried to sink back down.

“Hey,” she sputtered.

“Easy, it’s just me. If you’d stop squirming, I wouldn’t be touching your…ah…there.”

She coughed and sat up, crossing her arms over her chest and praying she hadn’t decimated the bubbles guarding the rest of her. “What the hell are you doing in here?”

Dexter Black. Her nemesis—as she liked to think of him—raised a brow, and she barely held back from launching herself at him and taking the sexy oaf down. She had to crook her head to see all of him. It still floored her that the geeky dweeb she’d literally looked down on in high school had grown so tall.

And turned out so handsome.

From the scrawny nerd who’d once blackmailed her to be his prom date, Dex had matured into a hot-as-hell infuriating male. With his short black hair, broad chest, and even his big-ass feet, the man put the S in sexy. For the life of her, she couldn’t seem to block him from her thoughts.

And lucky, lucky Maya, the guy had recently moved back to Bend. Permanently.

He quirked a grin. “Got room in there for me?”

“Don’t you dare move,” she ordered. “Why are you in here? How did you get in here?”

“You left your door unlocked.”

“So you felt it was okay to come on in?”

He narrowed his eyes. “You have a problem with it? Call the cops and have them arrest me for breaking and entering.”

She’d like to, but then… “Why? So you can squeal on me to them about Selena? No thanks.”

“Exactly.” He gave a satisfied smile which faded as he stared at her. “I’m confused. Why are you in the bath? Did you forget we have a date tonight?”

“The first of many,” she sneered. “I can’t believe you have to blackmail women into going out with you.” She really couldn’t. At six-four, with dark hair, light gray eyes and a body that now featured in her dreams, the man caused mini-orgasms by simply breathing.

“I only blackmail the really pretty ones.” He winked, the bastard.

She had to fight not to smile. Not known for having a great sense of humor, Maya thought it odd that even after twelve years of not seeing him, Dex could still get her to smile.

“Dex…”

“Hey, blame yourself. Who the hell doesn’t lock their doors at night?” He frowned at her. “That’s not safe.”

“I thought I had. I usually do.” But she’d been flustered at thoughts of what he might do if she avoided him. She didn’t want to go out with Dex, because she did. She was just perverse enough to torture herself by going after unattainable guys. Handsome, rich, funny Dex definitely qualified as above her pay-grade. She’d stick to poor bad boys, thank you very much.

“Maya.” He sighed. “What’s our deal?”

“You make it sound like this is something we both agreed to. You blackmailed me again, you bastard,” she muttered, though the fact he’d been underhanded enough to coerce her into a date showed he had promise. Not so good after all.

“Hey, I’m not the one who punched Selena Thorpe in the face. I’m just a helpless witness, who may or may not have a selective memory.”

“Helpless, my ass.”

He grinned. “And though it goes against my trustworthy and honest nature—” he ignored her snort of derision “—I’ve agreed to lie for you. That whole ‘Selena walked into a door and broke her nose’ bit is pretty thin. But for you, I’ll say it.”

“You’re lying for who, exactly?” He wanted a date. Correction. He wanted ten dates where they’d go out in public and hold hands. Emotional romantic crap. Maya had better things to do. Or so she kept telling herself.

“I lie for you, my lovely victim.” He leered, and she coughed to hide a laugh.

“You already fibbed to the cop that asked about Selena’s story. Now if you admit to the cops that you lied, you’re in trouble too.”

“Not according to Selena.” His knowing smile irked her, because she knew Selena would do anything but get Dex in trouble. Selena would persuade Dex to come to the dark side. No doubt the skank would make sure she got some quality sack time with him in the bargain. Any heterosexual woman with a pulse would jump the guy.

And that, right there, was a sign for Maya to watch her step. She did the seducing. She held the power in her relationships. With Dex, she had a feeling she’d be the one taking commands, not giving them. She clung to her denial. “I still don’t think anyone will believe her over me, even if you back her up.”

“Yeah, but it won’t just be me. It’ll be Anson too.” His cousin, another prick she and her friends had to deal with now that he’d moved back to town.

“I still don’t get it. You’re lying for a date. With me.” What did Dex really want, apart from annoying her? It had to be sex.

“Not just a date. Ten dates.”

Shoring up her courage, she plunged in. “Look, why don’t we just get this out of the way. We’ll screw, then you’ll have what you want and I won’t be wasting my time with you.” Her body sang at the thought of getting Dex under her, but she put on her bored face, trying not to seem too keen on the idea.

He watched her, his gaze moving over what seemed to be every flipping bubble in her bath and ending on her sore hand. “How are those knuckles doing, baby?”

She wanted to show him, fist to nose. Typical of him to ignore what he didn’t want to answer. “They’re fine, baby.”

“Riley said they’re bruised and that you can’t make any new clay pieces for a while.”

“When did you talk to Riley?”

He shrugged, sat on the edge of the tub—way too close—and didn’t even pretend not to stare at her body. “I went to visit Anson yesterday and stopped next door at her place for a cupcake. That girl can bake like nobody’s business.”

“Yeah, I know.” She had half a loaf of decadent pumpkin bread in her freezer. Just in time for Thanksgiving in a few weeks. That’s if she didn’t go to jail for killing Dex first.

“So, about your offer…” He trailed a finger in her bathwater and skimmed her knee.

She shot back in the tub, sloshing water and scowling at him. If a simple touch turned her on, she could only imagine what a kiss might do. Oh man. Not good.

“You’re scared.” His satisfied smile should have irked her. Instead his confidence turned her on even more.

“Excuse me?”

“Yep. Scared of me, which is weird because I’m not out to bump you and dump you,” he emphasized. Obviously he’d heard all about her friend Ann’s failed plan to use and lose his buddy Jack. “I just want to spend some quality time with a beautiful woman who’s not all about getting into my pants or my wallet. You don’t want to go out with me, and excuse me for being confused, but the last time we talked, you refused to fuck me as payment for keeping my silence. So I’m not too sure why I should think your offer for a quick fuck is on the table now.”

She seriously wished he’d stop saying fuck, because every time he did he sounded like he was making an offer she’d be stupid to refuse.

She swallowed hard. “I, ah, I’m uncomfortable, okay? I’m naked, you big goon. At least let me get out of the tub so we can have this discussion while I’m dressed.”

“No. Answer me now. What’s it gonna be? Will you stick by your word or not? I really do hate to resort to blackmail.”

She wanted so badly to tell him to shove his dates where the sun didn’t shine. But she’d shook hands on their dumb deal. Ten dates and he kept silent about exactly which blunt object had knocked Selena’s nose out of joint. Maya never reneged on a promise—a code she’d stood by her entire life. And he knew it.

“Blackmail is such a dirty word. Figures you’re the one using it.” She glared at him.

He chuckled. “Good thing you’re cleaning up then, hmm?” His eyes darkened, as they usually did when he watched her. He wanted her but refused an offer of casual sex? The man made her brain hurt.

She sighed. “I’ll go out with you tonight, okay? Now leave the bathroom so I can get dressed.”

“Not on my account.”

“Dexter Black!”

“Okay, okay.” He cringed. “No yelling. Or hitting,” he warned. “’Cause you hit me, I’ll hit you back.”

“Yeah, right.” She couldn’t see him abusing a woman. Dex had been and still was a gentleman to his toes. She could almost smell that sense of decency on him…which made his blackmail both cute and annoying but not truly threatening.

“There’s hitting, and there’s hitting.” He licked his lips, his gaze on her mouth. His sly grin had her backing up even more in the tub. She shivered at the cool air hitting her wet skin. “I’d love to hit that mouth with my own. Lick my way down your body.” He lost his smile, and her libido fired up into a bonfire. His stare centered on the vanishing bubbles near her breasts. “Maybe stop to feast on your—”

“I’m getting out,” she wheezed, alarmed to have lost control of her vocal cords…and other parts of her body. God, her nipples were hard as rocks. “Move it, Black.” Her cheeks felt hot, which made no sense. Maya had no problem sexing it up with men. The more casual the acquaintance, the better. So why the hell did Dex’s admiration fluster her so much?

“Fine. But don’t blame me for having to get tough. A few dates and all your problems disappear.” He shrugged. “No worries about Selena tattling. No having to explain to the Terrible Trio why they have to be Terrible Duo since you’re in jail for assault and battery.”

She snorted. “You always this chatty with naked women?”

“It’s either chatty or we get to fucking. And despite what you said, you seem a little squeamish about having sex on our first date, so I’m willing to wait.”

She blinked up at him. “What?”

“Unless I misread things, but—”

“Out.” She pointed at the door.

He grinned, made a point of looking over her one last time, then stood and sauntered out of the bathroom. He didn’t close the door behind him.

…

Dex drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly while he waited for Maya in her living room. He’d known she’d throw up roadblocks for their first outing. Granted, it wasn’t as if he’d earned her compliance in a morally decent kind of way. Being forced to blackmail a woman into going out with him should have hurt his pride, but that he’d out-maneuvered Maya satisfied him on a deeper level. He might annoy or anger her, but at least he didn’t bore her.

Maya Werner was the one who got away. Back when he’d been smaller and kind of, well, nerdy, he’d been love-struck by the statuesque beauty. She was nearly six feet tall, had long dark hair and coppery skin that seemed to glow. A natural beauty with sex appeal, even at seventeen, she’d been one of the most talked-about girls back in high school. Though the talk wasn’t always positive.

Some of the guys had called her stuck-up or made fun of her mixed Native American heritage, while others like Selena had their own petty reasons for snubbing her. Dex had never seen anything but her true beauty. Then he’d had to change high schools for his senior year and feared he’d missed his shot with her. Fast forward to a small bit of trickery and he’d had the best prom ever.

Maya had always been nice to him, even on prom night. She’d laughed and danced with him, enjoying herself around strangers. But the moment they’d run into her peers, she’d changed. Closed up, guarding a heart he suspected had been bruised or broken a long time ago.

Not much had changed in the twelve years since.

Well, other than she’d gotten even more appealing than she’d been in her youth. He wanted her more now than he had then. Not for a quick fuck—and wow, had that been difficult to turn down. He focused on stifling his constant erection, which didn’t seem to ease when Maya was around.

Rustling in her bedroom reminded him of how naked she’d been just moments ago. The woman looked damn good in bubbles.

He groaned.

“What?” she yelled from the other room.

“Nothing. Just waiting. As usual.”

He heard her swear and smiled. Maya hadn’t changed much. Still trying to keep everyone away, according to his friends. She rarely dated anyone seriously, preferring carnal and unattached relationships. Casual sex with her would have been amazing, then left him forgotten on her long list of conquests. But Dex didn’t intend to be just another name on her list; he planned to be the last on her list.

She entered the living room wearing jeans, a loose aqua-blue sweater that exposed a toned shoulder, and her hair down. It had always been pretty straight and in the light appeared blue-black. The woman was fucking gorgeous.

He walked to her side and lifted a piece of her hair off her sweater. She tensed as he brought the hair up and sniffed. “Mmm.”

She blushed. “Would you stop? You have no idea what ‘personal space’ means, do you?”

“Nope.” He shoved his hands in his pockets and tried to give himself more room in his jeans. His dick refused to go down. At the words go down, he couldn’t help envisioning Maya on her knees, her mouth wide open…

“You okay? You look like you’re in pain.” Maya smirked at him. “We can always cancel tonight if you’re not feeling up to snuff.” Her telling gaze lingered over his fly.

“I’m just fine.” He smiled back, wanting to nibble his way down her body. “Hungry is all.”

“I’ll bet.” She strolled to the hall closet, grabbed her shoes and jacket and finished dressing. “Well?”

“I’m driving.” He put a hand on the small of her back to guide her out of her cottage. “Lock up.”

“Okay, here’s the thing.” She locked her door, and the sound of the deadbolt closing relieved him. He hadn’t liked that she’d left her door unlocked while taking a bath.

“The thing?”

“I said I’d date you, so I will. You keep your mouth shut about Selena, and I’m your arm candy for a few nights.” She stepped close to him and poked him in the chest. “That doesn’t mean you get to boss me around. And we already took sex off the table, because I’m not a whore who can be bought with your silence.”

“Or bought with anything else?” He laughed when her eyes narrowed. “Teasing. Maya, I never called you a whore or inferred it. I simply want to spend some time with you.”

“Whatever. Let’s go.”

He would have taken more offense at her attitude if he didn’t see the small signs of nerves he’d long ago committed to memory. Back in high school, he’d been obsessed with her. The Marine Corps had broadened his perceptions and allowed him to experience life and relationships in far-off lands and with a diverse group of people. Yet nothing about his memories of Maya had faded.

She bit her lower lip, glared at him and stomped her way to his truck. Oh yeah, the woman was nervous, which fascinated him. Maya usually held the world by the balls. He couldn’t imagine that in the time he’d been gone, and with her surly demeanor, much had changed since he’d left. When something got under her skin, it meant more to her than a casual interest.

Buoyed by the thought he might just be able to seduce her into his bed and hopefully into his life, he got behind the wheel and drove.

They arrived at a small hole-in-the-wall bar on the south side of town. The place had greasy food, great music and an intimate atmosphere.

“Never been here.” Maya stared around her, taking in the biker décor and live rock playing at a non-earsplitting decibel. “This is nice.”

“Well, I thought about taking you to the Astro Lounge, but they’re all about drinks and banging college girls.”

“Yeah, I’m not into college girls anymore.”

He blinked, waiting for more and not getting it. “That’s all you’re saying? You can’t leave me hanging, Maya. Did you really go out with a woman?”

“Once. Not my thing, but she was really cute.”

He groaned. “You did that on purpose. Now I’ll be spending the night thinking about you and some young, nubile chick in bed.”

She laughed. “Nubile? Geez. You and Ann should get together and play Scrabble.”

“I would, but Jack won’t let me get near her.”

Maya frowned. “She’s happily in love with the guy. Leave her alone.”

Yep. Always loyal to her friends. Was it any reason he’d been captivated by her from day one? Gorgeous, funny, smart, loyal, and yet she watched everyone with caution, as if waiting for someone to throw the first punch. Back then, he’d wanted to be the one to protect her. To his bemusement, he still did.

“Dex,” she growled. “I mean it.”

“Easy, Maya. Ann’s cute, but she’s not my type.” He decided to start his seduction. Slowly, but not so subtly that she wouldn’t know what he wanted. The key to Maya was to keep her off balance and interested. “I prefer a woman with a little meat. Some curves. Darker skin, straight black hair…”

“Really? A little meat? My heart’s all aflutter.”

“You know me. Mr. Charm.” He shrugged off his jacket, gratified when Maya gave him a thorough once-over.

“Are you on steroids?”

“No. Eight years in the Marine Corps bulked me up. And trust me, it feels better to be this big in a bar fight than the skinny twerp I was in high school.”

She smiled. “You were cute then. Little, but cute.” She shook her head then glanced down at the menu on the table. “Too bad you grew up.”

He laughed, and his entire being locked up at seeing her mean grin. He could spend hours watching her. But being mesmerized wouldn’t win him any points. “Baby, I can handle you with one hand tied behind my back. I’m not the one who was scared to go on a date.”

The teasing left her dark eyes. “How’s that?”

He shrugged and looked at his own menu. “Just saying, I can go out with a woman, not expect sex, enjoy myself and move on with life. You seem to think every man who sees you wants to do you.” They most likely did, but it wouldn’t help to stroke the woman’s ego. “Or that I might want a date for immoral reasons.”

“So you’re saying you don’t want to do me?”

He shrugged. “I could go either way. Sure, you’re pretty. But sometimes a guy wants more from a woman.” He chanced a look at her.

She didn’t appear angry, but fascinated. “Like what?”

The waitress bussed by and took their orders, then left with a warm smile directed at him.

“Hello?” Maya snapped. “I thought you just said you want more from a woman than sex.”

“I did. Why are you mad at me?”

“Look, you wanted a date. Stop flirting with the waitress and answer my question.”

He bit back a grin. She didn’t like that look their cute waitress had given him? Excellent sign. “I wasn’t flirting. Smiling is how you win friends and influence people. Take note.” He ignored her middle finger. “Anyway, when I decide to date a woman, sure, physical attraction is a key factor. But I need more. I want to like her smile, the way she deals with other people. Is she bitchy or nice? Selfish or giving?”

Maya smirked. “So why are we out then? I’m not nice. And I’m told I’m selfish.”

“Nah. You’re nice to your friends and the people around you. Just not to men who you’re attracted to. Namely—me.”

“Dream on.” She paused. “So what else?”

“I can take care of myself. I cook and clean. I make a decent living.” A lucrative one thanks to his skill behind a camera and the business sense to know how to make smart financial decisions. “I’d expect a woman I’m interested in to be the same.”

“What if she can’t cook? What if she’s a slob? What if she’s broke? You seem to want a lot from a woman. A little exacting. Maybe that’s why you’re still single.”

“I could say the same about you.”

“Me? I’m simple. I want a man who’s good in bed. Maybe we talk while we fuck, maybe we don’t.” She shrugged, and her dark eyes invited him to stare and keep on staring. “I have my friends for fun. I trust them, they trust me, and we all get along. Riley, Ann and I do everything together.”

“Really? So you, Ann, Jack and Riley are sharing the same bed?”

“Okay, not everything. But Jack accepts Ann is part of a tight group of friends. Just because they’re all gooey in love doesn’t mean that will change.”

Then why do you look so scared? he wanted to ask.

The waitress returned with their food. As the meal progressed and their talk turned to friends he hadn’t seen in years, he thought the date had gone amazingly well.

An hour and a half after they’d arrived, Maya pushed her beer away and sighed. “I’m stuffed. What now?”

He gave her a sly smile designed to unnerve her. When she sat up straighter in her chair and frowned, he knew he’d been successful. “Now we go home. And we go to bed.”