Thorn's Challenge Part 6

"If I'd known you were stopping by, I would have tidied up the place," he finally said as moments continued to tick by.

She turned slightly and gestured around the room that all of a sudden looked small and felt cramped. "I wouldn't have wanted you to go to any trouble on my account. Besides, I don't plan to stay that long anyway. I only stopped by to let you know of my decision."

He pushed away from the door and walked into the center of the room, needing to be closer to her. "And what is your decision, Tara?"

She turned and met his inquiring gaze. d.a.m.n, she looked good, and he fought the urge to reach out and pull her into his arms, to taste her in a kiss that had his mouth watering at the thought of it.

Awareness flashed in her eyes. They were heated, compelling, and he watched as emotions flickered through them. For a long moment the two of them stood in the center of his office feeding off each other's needs, wants and desires. And the sad thing about it was that they couldn't control their reactions to each other. It seemed they were both suffering from a unique brand of animal l.u.s.t.

Thorn let out a deep breath and took a step back. Nothing of this magnitude had ever happened to him. He was within a few feet of jumping her bones. He had a mind to take her right there in his office, on his desk. Right then, at that moment, he saw her as a means to an end, a way to get intense pleasure and a way to give pleasure as well.

He shook his head, reminding himself that he would have to wait another five weeks, until after the race. He cursed inwardly. As far as he was concerned the first week of March couldn't get there soon enough.

He then remembered he was a.s.suming things. She hadn't said she would go along with what he had proposed. For all he knew she could have come to tell him to go to h.e.l.l and to take his proposal with him.

He swallowed deeply. The suspense was killing him as much as his l.u.s.t was. "What's it going to be?" he had to ask her.

He watched her study him with dark eyes before saying, "I want to make sure I understand what you're proposing, Thorn. You will pose for the calendar if I agree to sleep with you in a completely physical, emotional free affair once your race at Bike Week is over. I'm supposed to be at your disposal, your beck and call for a week."

He smiled. Everything she had said sounded pretty d.a.m.n right to him. It had also painted one h.e.l.l of a tempting picture in his mind. "Yeah, that about sums it up."

"And you won't touch me until after after the race?" she said, as if to clarify. the race?" she said, as if to clarify.

Thorn crossed his arms over his chest. "Oh, I will touch you, I just won't make love to you in the traditional sense until after after the race. As far as I'm concerned, anything else is game." the race. As far as I'm concerned, anything else is game."

Tara lifted a brow. "Anything...like what?"

Now it was Thorn's turn to lift a brow. "A variety of things, and I'm surprised you would have to ask."

Tara nodded, deciding to leave well enough alone before he become suspicious about just how much experience she had. Knowing she was a virgin would really scare him off and probably anger him to the point of not posing for the calendar. "I fully understand my part in all of this."

Thorn inwardly smiled. He doubted that she fully understood anything, especially her part in it. But her duties would be clearly defined over the coming weeks. "So what's your answer?"

Tara prayed things worked out as she had planned. "Yes. I'll go along with your proposition."

Thorn released a deep breath, relieved.

"So how soon can you be available to do the calendar?"

Her question broke into his thoughts, just as well, since they were about to go somewhere they shouldn't be going. "How soon would they want me?"

"Probably within the next couple of weeks."

He nodded. "Just let me know when and where and I'll be there."

She blinked, and he could tell she couldn't believe he was being so accommodating. "What are your plans for this weekend?" he asked her.

She raised a brow before answering. "I'm working at the hospital on Sat.u.r.day but I'll be off on Sunday. Why?"

"Chase is having a Super Bowl party at his restaurant Sunday evening. I'd like you to go with me."

She blinked again. "Me? You? As a couple?" she asked, as if clearly amazed.

"Yes. Don't you think we should let my family get used to seeing us together as a couple? Otherwise, what will they think when we take off for Daytona together?" he asked.

In all honesty, Thorn really didn't give a hoot what his brothers thought, since they a.s.sumed they had things pretty much figured out to suit their fancy anyway. His main concern was his parents. They considered Tara as another daughter and would give him plenty of h.e.l.l if they thought for one minute his intentions toward her weren't honorable. Since his intentions weren't honorable, he had to at least pretend they were for his parents' benefit. Then there was Delaney to consider. She definitely wouldn't like it if she knew his plans for Tara.

He watched as she nervously bit her bottom lip before saying. "Yes, I guess you're right. In that case, yes, I'll go to Chase's party with you on Sunday."

He nodded, pleased with himself.

"It's getting late and I'd better go."

Her leaving wasn't such a bad idea considering his body's reaction to her presence. There was only so much temptation he could handle. "All right. I'll walk you to your car." He thought of something. "How did you get in here anyway?"

"Stone let me use his key. He told me it would be best to come in quietly through the side door and not the front so as not to disturb you."

Thorn nodded, knowing that wasn't the true reason Stone had told her that. He had wanted him to be surprised by her presence; he definitely had been.

They didn't talk as he walked her to her car. A couple of times he came close to asking her to stay and let him show her around his shop. But he couldn't do that. He had to play by the rules he had established to keep his sanity, and at the moment the temptation to bed her was too great. After she left he would spend time working out, getting his blood flowing to all the parts of his body, especially to his brain.

He had to think clearly and tread lightly with Tara. Now that she had agreed to his proposal, he had to make sure he was the one in the driver's seat and she was only along for the ride. And in the end, he intended to give her the ride of her life.

But temptation being what it was, he couldn't stop himself from inching closer to her as they walked toward her car, intentionally allowing his thigh and hip occasionally to brush against hers. Her sharp intake of breath at each contact sent s.h.i.+vers down his spine. When they did sleep together, there was no doubt in his mind they would go up in smoke. They were just that hot.

He stood back and watched her open the door to her compact sedan. She turned to him before getting inside. "Thanks for walking me to my car, Thorn."

"Don't mention it." His gaze was devouring her but he couldn't help it. He blew out a long breath before taking a step toward her. He could tell that she was ready for his kiss, and he was more than happy to oblige her. He leaned forward and placed his mouth on hers, lightly tracing the tip of his tongue along the line of her lips, repeating the gesture several times before she easily parted her lips and drew his tongue inside her mouth with her own. His heart thudded deep in his chest at the way she was eager for the mating with his tongue, something that seemed a necessity for both of them. At this moment in time, it all made sense. He would probably think he was crazy later, but for now, standing in the middle of his parking lot, devouring her mouth like there was no tomorrow seemed perfectly normal to him. As far as he was concerned, it was the sanest thing he had done in a long time.

Her taste seduced him. It made his mind concentrate on things it shouldn't be thinking about this close to compet.i.tion time. He needed to pull back, but he was steadily convincing himself otherwise.

He only brought the kiss to an end when he detected her need to breathe and wondered just how long their mouths had been joined. He stared into her eyes, watching the play of emotions that crossed her face. Confusion? Curiosity? Caution?

He took a step back. They had shared enough for tonight. The next time they were together they would be around family and friends who would serve as the buffer he needed between them.

"Drive home safely, Tara," he said, deciding she needed to leave now so he could pull himself together before he was tempted to do something he would later regret.

She nodded and without saying anything, she got into the car. His heart skipped a beat when he got a glimpse of her thighs. The hem of her dress inched up as she slid into the driver's seat. Forcing breath into his lungs, he watched as she slowly drove off, all the while thinking, that he had five weeks of pure h.e.l.l to endure. Five whole weeks he somehow intended to survive.

Seven.

"O kay, Mr. Westmoreland, I only need a few more shots and then this session will be all over," the photographer said as she adjusted the lighting. kay, Mr. Westmoreland, I only need a few more shots and then this session will be all over," the photographer said as she adjusted the lighting.

Thank G.o.d, Thorn thought as he sat astride his bike once again. He had plenty of work to do back at the shop and had been at this photo session for three hours. The photographer, Lois Kent, had decided the best place to shoot the photos was outside to better show the man, his bike and the open road.

They had taken over a hundred shots already and Thorn's patience was beginning to wear thin. The only thing that kept him going was knowing that he was living up to his end of the bargain, which meant he could make d.a.m.n sure Tara lived up to hers. This past week he'd been restless, agitated and moodier than ever.

"It will only take a minute while I reload the film."

Thorn nodded. Things hadn't gone as badly as he'd thought they would. Lois Kent was strictly a professional, unlike Patrice. To Lois this was a job and nothing more and he appreciated that.

He glimpsed behind her and saw a car pull up. His heart quickened when he recognized the driver.

He watched as Tara got out of her car and walked toward them. She was wearing a pair of white slacks and a pullover blue sweater.

And as usual she looked good.

It had been a week since he had seen her; a week since he had taken her to his brother's restaurant for the Super Bowl party. Even surrounded by family and friends, he hadn't been able to keep his eyes off her. His interest in Tara hadn't gone unnoticed by his brothers. And they had been teasing him about it ever since, which only p.i.s.sed him off even more.

He raised a brow, wondering why she was here, not that he had any complaints. It was only that he had been trying to keep his distance from her so that he could retain his sanity and his control. He had decided it would only take a week or two to get her primed to the level he wanted her to be. He now had four weeks left.

He watched as she spoke to Lois, and then she glanced over at him. "Hi Thorn."

"Tara," he acknowledged, taking a deep breath. He had been the perfect gentleman that Super Bowl Sunday, even when he had taken her home. He had kissed her on her doorstep, made sure she had gotten safely inside and left. Doing more than that would have been suicide.

"I'm surprised to see you here," he said, not taking his eyes off her as he drank in her beauty. It was one of those days when the air was brisk with a slight chill although the sun was s.h.i.+ning high overhead. The sun's rays made her look that much more gorgeous.

"Today was my day off. I wasn't doing anything special so I thought I would come and check things out. I had lunch at Chase's place, and when I asked about you, he told me where you were."

Thorn nodded. He just bet his brother was happy to give her any information about him that she wanted. They would do anything to get him out of his foul mood. But what surprised him was that Tara had asked Chase about him. Thorn wondered if perhaps she had sought him out about anything in particular. He sighed, deciding he would find out soon enough.

"All right, Mr. Westmoreland, I'm ready to start shooting again," Lois said, recapturing his attention.

He slid his gaze from Tara's to Lois's. "Okay," he said, ready to get the photo session over with. "Let your camera roll."

Tara's breath got lodged in her throat as she watched Thorn before the camera. He looked magnificent.

Thorn and his motorcycle.

Together they were a natural, and she knew that he would be the highlight in any woman's calendar as Mr. July. In a month that was known to be hot anyway, he would definitely make things explosive.

She should have her head examined even for being here. She had known that today was the day for Thorn's photo session and when Chase had mentioned just where it would be, she couldn't help being pulled to this place to seek him out. On the drive over she kept asking herself why she needed to see him, but she hadn't come up with an answer.

"That's right, Mr. Westmoreland, give me another one of those s.e.xy smiles for the camera. That's it. Just think about all those women who'll be looking at you on that calendar and panting. I'm sure some of them will even find a way to contact you. You'll certainly have your pick of any of them," Lois said, as she moved around in front of Thorn and snapped picture after picture.

Tara frowned. The photographer's words didn't sit too well with her. Just the thought of other women contacting Thorn after seeing the calendar bothered her. It shouldn't have. She met his gaze and saw he was watching her intently. Had he read the displeasure on her face when the photographer had mentioned other women?

She sighed deeply, getting aggravated with herself. What Thorn did with his free time did not concern her. At least it shouldn't, but it did.

"Okay, that's it, Mr. Westmoreland. You were a wonderful subject to capture on film and I can't wait for the calendar to come out. I know it will be a huge success and will benefit Kids' World greatly."

Lois then added. "And not to impose but I have a friend who asked me to give you her phone number. She is a huge fan of yours and would love to get together with you some time. She's a flight attendant who usually attends Bike Week in Daytona each year and was wondering if perhaps-"

"Thanks, but I'm not interested," Thorn said, getting off his bike. He didn't even glance at the surprised look on Lois's face when he walked toward Tara. "I have all the woman I need right here."

Thorn saw surprise in Tara's face just seconds before he leaned down and kissed her in a full open-mouth caress that left no one guessing about their relations.h.i.+p. At least no one other than Tara.

"Oops, sorry," Lois said when Thorn released Tara's mouth from his. "I didn't know the two of you were an item, Dr. Matthews." She smiled apologetically. "I a.s.sumed you had dropped by as a member of the committee to see how things were going. Besides, from everything I'd always heard or read, Thorn Westmoreland has never made a claim on any woman," she said, chuckling. "Evidently, I'm wrong."

Before Tara could open her mouth, the one that had just been thoroughly kissed by Thorn, to tell Lois that she had not been wrong and had misread things, Thorn spoke up.

"Yeah, you were wrong because I'm definitely staking a claim on this woman."

Tara raised a brow and decided that now was not the time or the place to set Thorn straight. No man staked a claim on her. "I gather things went well," she found herself saying instead.

"Better than I thought they would. Lois is good at her job. I just hope all those photographs she took come out the way she wants them to."

Tara nodded. There was no doubt in her mind they would. What Lois had said was true. Thorn was definitely a wonderful subject to capture on film. "Well, I'd better go. I dropped by out of curiosity," she said easing away.

He nodded. "What are your plans for the rest of the day?"

Tara's heart thudded in her chest with his question. "I don't have any. Why?"

"Would you like go to bike-riding with me and have dinner at that restaurant again?"

Tara really would have liked that but wondered if it was wise. But then, if she planned to seduce Thorn into breaking his vow of celibacy, she had to get things rolling.

"All right. Just give me an hour to go home and change clothes."

His gaze was steadily focused on hers when he said, "Okay."

Thorn didn't have to encourage Tara this time to lean into him. Her body automatically did so after straddling the bike behind him and fitting her rear end comfortably on the seat. She placed her chest against his back, delighting in the feel of her body pressed against his. She inhaled the pleasant scent of him as she rested her head against his jacket, and, at the moment, without understanding what was going on with her, she felt being this close to him was a necessity to her very existence. It didn't make sense. She had vowed never to feel that way about any man again.

But she admitted that Thorn was her challenge.

Although she knew a future wasn't in the cards for them, and any involvement would be just as he wanted-completely physical and emotionally free she still couldn't help but be cautious. There was something about Thorn that could become addictive. But then she reminded herself quickly that she didn't intend things to go that far between them. Thorn would have to choose between her and the race, and she was banking that it would be the race. It was an ego thing. He could get another woman in his bed any time, but a chance to be victorious at Bike Week, to reign supreme, was something he had been working years to achieve.

So she decided to do whatever was needed to increase his physical craving and make sure he was tempted beyond his control. She scooted closer to him and leaned more into him. Her arms around his waist tightened. She planted her cheek against his back and again inhaled his scent-manly, robust and sensual.

Closing her eyes, she remembered that night in her kitchen, the skill of his exploring fingers and the sensations he had made her feel. She then imagined how things might be if they were to make it beyond the four weeks, although she knew they wouldn't. But still she decided there was nothing wrong with having wild fun in her imagination.

What would happen if her plan to seduce Thorn failed? He would probably win the race-only because he was arrogant and c.o.c.ky enough to do so-and then he would celebrate his victory, but not for long. He would turn his attention to her with one thought on his mind; taking her to bed.

The thought of that happening was almost too much to think about. But she did so anyway. In the dark recesses of her mind, she could picture the two of them wrapped in silken sheets in a huge bed, making out like there was no tomorrow.