Thorn's Challenge Part 4

She shuddered when she thought of the intensity of that need and felt a quickening in her stomach when he lowered his mouth to hers. Her lips automatically parted the second their mouths touched, and she breathed a sigh of pleasure as her arms reached out to hold him.

As it had been the other times, his mouth was skillful, and another soft sigh escaped her lips when he deepened the kiss and thoroughly explored the warm recesses of her mouth with his tongue. Then he captured hers and gently mated with it, the sensations rocking her all the way to her toes.

She knew the taste of him, had never forgotten it and refused to consider the possibility it was becoming addictive. However, she did concede that this kiss, the hunger behind it and all the enticements in front of it, were causing a deep ache between her legs. This open-mouthed exploration of tongues and teeth was flooding her with sensations she had never felt before. She heard one of them whimper and moan and realized the sounds were coming from her. She shouldn't expect any less when the blood was running so hot and heavy in her veins.

She felt his hand run provocatively down her back to settle on her hips, then slowly to her backside, and she moved her body closer to the fit of his. Her belly was pressed against his front and she could feel an incredible hardness straining against the crotch of his jeans. For the moment, she didn't care. The only thing she did care about was the fact that she was enjoying kissing him. Their tongues continued to tangle and their breaths steadily mingled.

Reluctantly, he ended the kiss, struggling for control. She saw his jaw tense and knew he was regretting kissing her already. Without saying anything he placed her helmet back on her head, adjusted the straps and help her straddle the bike.

He had gone from tender to moody in just that instant and she didn't like it. When he got back on the bike and had his own helmet in place, she asked, in a fairly angry voice. "Why did you kiss me if you're going to get all huffy and puffy about it? Next time keep your mouth to yourself, Thorn Westmoreland."

For the longest moment he didn't say anything, then finally he turned to her on the bike and said. "That's the problem, Tara. When it comes to you I don't think I can keep my mouth to myself. It seems to always wants to find its way to yours."

He sighed deeply and added. "My brothers think you're my challenge, but now I'm beginning to think you're something else all together."

She lifted a brow. "What?"

"My sweetest temptation."

Five.

"S o what did you want to talk to me about?" o what did you want to talk to me about?"

Tara nervously nibbled on her bottom lip. She and Thorn had just finished the best chili she had ever eaten. The building that housed the restaurant was rustic, made of logs with tall, moss-covered oak trees surrounding it. The place resembled a roadside cafe more than a restaurant and was positioned almost in seclusion off the two-lane highway.

Due to its lack of visibility, Tara could only a.s.sume that those who frequented the restaurant were regular customers since the place was taking in a high degree of business. It also appeared that a lot of those customers were bikers. She found the atmosphere comfortable and had almost forgotten the discussion she needed to have with Thorn.

"I want to ask a favor of you."

He met her gaze over his cup of coffee. "What kind of favor?"

She sighed. "Have you ever heard of Lori Chadwick?"

He frowned as if searching his brain, then moments later said, "No."

Tara nodded. "Well, she is well-known around the city for her charity work. Mrs. Chadwick has come up with this great idea for a project to raise funds for Kids' World. You have heard of Kids' World haven't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, she has decided what she wants to do to raise money for that particular charity this year. She wants to do a calendar of good-looking men from different professions, and would like you to be one of the models. She wanted me to ask you about it."

He placed his coffee cup down. "You can go back and let her know that you asked me."

She met his gaze. "And?"

"And that I turned you down."

Tara narrowed her eyes. "I think it was wonderful that you were one of the men she wanted."

"Then I'm flattered."

"From what I understand, they will pay you."

"It's not about the money."

"Then what is it about, Thorn? I know for a fact you're involved with a number of charities for children. Why not this one?"

He leaned back in his chair. "I don't like having my picture taken."

She frowned. "That's a crock and you know it, considering the number of times newspaper photographers have taken your picture when you've won a motorcycle race or built a bike for some celebrity."

He shrugged. "Newspapers reporters are different. I don't like having my picture taken in a private session, in a studio or anything like that."

"In that case you won't have anything to worry about. It's my understanding they want to capture you in your element-probably outside standing next to your bike."

"The answer is still no, Tara."

She glared at him. "Why are you being so difficult, Thorn?"

"I have my reasons," he said, glaring back at her as he threw money on the table for their meal. "It's getting late so we should head back."

Tara sighed. He had to be the most stubborn man she had ever met. "I need to make a pit stop at the ladies' room before we leave," she said softly, disappointed that he had flatly refused to do the calendar.

Moments later, when she walked outside to where he stood next to the bike, she couldn't help but wonder why he didn't want to be photographed by a professional photographer. "I'm ready now."

Without saying anything, he helped put her helmet on again and adjusted the straps. She swung her legs across the huge bike without his help and glared up at him. "I said I was ready, Thorn."

He stood there and looked at her for a few moments before finally getting on the bike in front of her, revving the engine and riding off.

Tara was mad and he knew it, but there was nothing he could do about it since he would not not be doing the calendar. The sooner she accepted that the better. be doing the calendar. The sooner she accepted that the better.

"You're in la-la land again, Thorn. Are you in this game or not?"

Thorn glared at Chase. "Yes, I'm in."

Chase chuckled as he studied his hand. "Yes, you may be in this game but from what I hear you're definitely out with Tara since you turned her down for that calendar."

Thorn tossed out a card. "She'll get over it."

"Possibly. However, it may take a while since she feels she let someone down."

Thorn decided not to ask, but curiosity got the best of Storm and he did the asking. "Who did Tara let down?"

"The children."

"Oh." Storm glared at Thorn after throwing out a card. "I'd forgotten about Kids' World. So I guess that also means I'm going to lose the bet. Thorn will never make any points with Tara by p.i.s.sing her off."

Thorn decided he needed a break and placed his cards face-down on the table. "Where is Sh.e.l.ly, Dare? I need a drink of water."

Dare didn't look up from studying his hand. "She's probably upstairs watching a movie or something, but you know where the refrigerator is. Help yourself. There's beer and soda in there as well."

Thorn stood up from the dining room table as all of the brothers except for Dare glared at him. He walked into the kitchen and pulled out a pitcher of water from the refrigerator. He'd reached the max for beers he could consume and still ride his bike.

After reaching into the cabinet for a gla.s.s, he filled it with cold water and glanced across the way at a framed photograph that was on Dare and Sh.e.l.ly's living-room table. It was a photograph of Sh.e.l.ly, Tara and Delaney taken during a shopping trip the three women had taken to New York a few months ago.

Tara.

He hadn't seen her or talked to her since the day of their bike ride almost a week ago, but there hadn't been a day that pa.s.sed when she hadn't crossed his mind. He had called her and left her a couple of messages, but she hadn't returned his calls, not that he had really expected her to. He hated admitting it, but Storm was right. It would be hard for him to garner any points with her because she was totally p.i.s.sed off with him. But still, the thought of standing in front of a camera, posing for a photographer-as he'd done for Patrice-was something he was h.e.l.l-bent against doing.

"Thorn! If you're still in the game, we need you out here!"

He recognized Stone's voice. "Keep your underwear on. I'm coming."

As he went back to the card game, Thorn returned his brothers' glares.

"I don't like losing, Thorn," Storm said as he watched him intently.

Thorn knew Storm was talking about the bet his brothers had made and not about the card game. He sighed. He knew what Tara wanted from him, and he knew what he wanted from her. Suddenly, he had an idea how they could both get what they wanted. Satisfied he had come up with a workable plan, one he thought was strategically sound, he met Storm's intense stare. "Don't give up on me yet, bro."

Storm's lips eased into a relieved smile. "Thanks, Thorn. I knew I could count on you."

Thorn pulled his bike to a stop in front of Tara's apartment. A number of lights were still on inside which must mean she hadn't gone to bed yet. He quickly shut off the bike's engine and made his way to her door, wondering if she would agree to the offer he intended to make.

He rang her doorbell and waited for her to answer. He didn't wait long. First he registered her surprise and then her frown. "Thorn. What are you doing here?"

He leaned against the doorjamb. "I needed to talk to you about something."

He saw the lifting of her brow. He also noticed that although she hadn't gone to bed, she was wearing a white velour bathrobe. He couldn't help but wonder what, if anything, she wore underneath the robe.

"Talk to me about what?"

"The possibility of me doing that calendar."

She met his gaze and he saw uncertainty. "You've changed your mind about doing it?"

He shook his head. "No, not yet. However, I think the two of us can work something out where I might be able to swing it."

The uncertainty in her gaze changed to hope. "All right. Come in," she invited, opening the door to him and standing back.

He entered and closed the door behind him. More than anything, he wanted to take her into his arms and kiss her senseless. He had missed her taste, her scent and every d.a.m.n thing about her. But he didn't think she would appreciate him touching her just yet.

"Would you like something to drink?"

Her voice, soft and delicate, captured his attention. "No, I just left a card game at Dare's. I'm on the bike and don't want anything else to drink."

She nodded. "I was sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee while reading a medical report if you want to join me there."

"All right."

He'd always thought her kitchen was large...until the two of them were in it alone. Now it seemed small. And for some reason her kitchen table seemed to have shrunk.

"Are you sure I can't at least pour you a cup of coffee?"

He sighed as he sat down. "Now that I think about it, a cup of coffee would be nice."

"And how would you like it?"

"Black with two sugars."

Silence closed around them as she stood at the counter and prepared his coffee. "I called you a couple of times and you never returned my calls," he decided to say to break the silence in the room.

"I really didn't think we had anything to say, Thorn."

He nodded. Yes, he could see her thinking that way.

She came back to the table with his cup of coffee. He took a slow sip. He was particular about how he liked his coffee but found that she had made it just right. "Ahh, this is delicious."

"Thanks. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to slip into some clothes."

He slowly looked her up and down. He liked what she was wearing. "Don't go to any trouble on my account."

"It's no trouble. Please excuse me, I'll be back in a few minutes."

When she left him in the kitchen he glanced over at the medical journal she'd been reading. After making sure she had marked the page where she had left off, he closed it. When she came back he wanted her full attention. He had given his proposal much thought and didn't know how she would take it but he hoped she would keep an open mind. He intended to be honest with her, up-front, and not to pull any punches. He needed to make sure she understood just what he expected from her...if she went along with things.

"Okay, Thorn. What did you want to talk to me about?"

He turned in his seat. She was back already. He met her gaze after checking out her outfit; a pair of capri pants and a midriff top. She looked good, he thought. But what really grabbed his attention was the portion of her bare belly that showed beneath the short top. d.a.m.n if her navel didn't look good enough to taste. He cleared his throat to get his mind back to the business at hand. "I have a proposition for you," he said, barely able to get the words out of his mouth.

He watched as she arched a brow. He leaned back in the chair when she came to stand in the middle of the kitchen, a few feet from him and propped her hips against the counter near the sink. "What sort of a proposition?"

He had to force his attention away from her navel and back to the subject at hand. He cleared his throat again. "You still want me to do that calendar?"

"Yes, that would be nice."