Season 1—Seduction—Episode 9
A few evenings later, Lily entered the music room wearing a sexy red satin gown that had been tailored for her. Halter-style, tight around the breasts and waist, then with a gradual flare at the hips that led into a flowing pool around her feet. She wore the diamonds again. Because Jax had arranged to keep them on loan a while longer.
Lex’s idea of having their beautiful butler also serve an inspirational purpose—their muse, as he’d indicated—was not a notion Jax had gone along with initially. But he couldn’t deny that the passion he’d once felt for Katarina was reignited with Lily. And suddenly infused into his music. Since the party, his mind was clearer when it came to the compositions. He had a more acute sense of what it was he and Lex were trying to accomplish. And how to achieve it.
It wasn’t just his groin that was on fire—so, too, was his creativity.
Lily crossed to the wet bar, giving him a pretty smile along the way.
She really was too stunning for words.
Jax had his violin in hand, but his eyes remained on Lily. He wasn’t referring to sheet music at the moment. Just playing before Lex joined in; though who was presently showering. His friend was going to be on his knees when he saw Lily this evening. Her hair was pulled up on the sides, with the long, gleaming strands cascading down her back in soft curls. A few tendrils were left at her temples. She’d done her eye makeup with the smoky accent she seemed to prefer; it set off her tawny irises. Crimson lipstick once again enhanced her features and served as a provocative complement to her porcelain skin.
She set a snifter of brandy on the coaster by his violins. As she straightened, her gaze slid over him. Not as boldly as he would have liked. Apparently, she was a little off kilter with this new dynamic—the extravagant attire they’d requested she wear this evening, as they had with the party. But there was no mistaking the heat in her eyes.
Jax was in his usual late-night practicing mode with black drawstring pants and tank top. Lily’s gaze lingered on his abs, pressing against the tight material, before slowly rising to meet his.
He didn’t say a word. Just absorbed the nearness of her, the sensuality exuding from her, the deep breaths that had her chest expanding and her nipples puckering beneath the thin, smooth satin.
His cock twitched. It should be a wonder that he could concentrate on her and the music at the same time. But it came quite naturally and he found his desire for her permeated his senses and guided his movements, leading him into a slow, seductive rhythm as he drew the bow over the strings. And kept his gaze on her.
As though entranced, Lily sank into an armless chair, all the shimmering red material striking against the plush white furniture.
Tonight Jax wasn’t playing a composition for the CD. He was playing for her.
And it flowed effortlessly.
Something that had not happened from the time he and Lex had agreed to collaborate until she’d come to the estate. This wasn’t painstaking. Or agonizing. It was easy. Dramatic, yes, because that was what his music was all about. But it was just so damn intuitive to play for this captivated audience of one, who stirred his soul.
Still, Jax did notice when Lex quietly entered and sat at his piano—they were that instinctively connected to each other. He joined in. A simple complement to Jax’s stronger, poignant notes.
When they ended the piece, Jax was highly aroused.
And Lily was motionless, gazing up at him, her eyes misty.
Yes, there was definitely something to this muse idea of Lex’s.
Long drawn-out seconds stretched between them. Then Lily seemed to catch herself. She inhaled deeply, as though to get her emotions in check.
She pushed out of the chair and went directly to the wet bar to pour Lex a scotch-rocks.
Jax dragged his gaze from her and glanced over at Lex. Who looked pretty damn enrapt himself. Completely taken by her. As Jax was.
While Lily served the drink, Lex said, “We have a proposition for you.”
“Oh?” Her brow crooked.
Lex told her, “We’d like to have more dresses ordered for you, if you enjoy wearing them.”
“I do,” she enthusiastically assured him. Though a heartbeat later, her tone dropped an octave and she more hesitantly said, “But I’m not sure why you had this one sent to my suite earlier, since you’re not entertaining company this evening. It’s just the three of us.”
“Lex and I both agree that we need something to help us break through the musical block we’ve been experiencing,” Jax told her. “We both felt a surge of motivation when you arrived. Not just because of your natural response to the compositions—apparently we needed that sort of reaction from an impartial party we trusted. But also . . . There’s something very mysterious about you, Lily, that makes us both feel you can help us through the barriers that have kept us from elevating these particular arrangements to the next level.”
She glanced briefly at the crimson satin covering her. “So the gown isn’t just for eccentricity?”
Lex chuckled. “No.”
She frowned. More of a sexy pout, really, that tempted Jax and made him burn to taste her lips. Not to mention other parts of her.
She said, “I’m not sure I fully understand what you’re getting at.”
“You seem to be the muse we’ve both been lacking,” Jax explained. “For years, to be perfectly honest.”
She contemplated this a moment before asking, “By wearing designer dresses and the jewels that came with security guards the other night?”
Jax grinned. “The store insisted we increase the insurance policy for the extended loan period and we were happy to do so. Not necessary, but if it keeps them from leaving their own people here twenty-four-seven . . .”
Lily’s gaze lingered on him a few seconds more, then shifted to Lex. “I’m still not certain what you’re asking of me. Perform all my normal duties as butler; just at night, I’m to serve you all decked out?”
“Yes.”
“Well,” Jax interjected. “We’d be remiss, Lily, if we didn’t tell you that both Lex and I are attracted to you. Deeply attracted. And you should be aware of that before we proceed.”
“Proceed?” she cautiously inquired, though her eyes suddenly lit up. As though this was news she’d been hoping to receive. Still, there was no missing that she instantly weighed everything he and Lex had divulged thus far.
Lex gently told her, “You’re visually stimulating, Lily. In your uniform, yes. But all glamorous like this . . . you’re breathtaking. And that stimulation is what’s providing a renewed vigor for us. Inspiration, if you will.”
“Of course I’m happy to help you both, in any way I can,” she said in a slightly perplexed tone. “If it’s me in fancy gowns that sparks your creativity—”
“In an arousing way.” Jax cut right to the chase.
Lily gasped. And the fire in her eyes overpowered the uncertainty, spiking the testosterone coursing through Jax’s veins.
Trying to maintain an even tone, not let his own excitement skew this delicate matter, he carefully admitted, “You need to know all of this upfront.”
Neither he nor Lex said anything further. Let her process their request and the very clear revelation of their mutual interest in her.
Jax suspected it was the best way to acclimate her to the situation—to the notion that he and Lex both desired her.
A three-way fascination could be an extremely tricky scenario, if all parties weren’t fully on the up-and-up. On the same page.
Eventually, Lex offered, “Technically, you’re on the clock in the evenings. So that presents a moral dilemma to consider. But mostly, we’d like you to sit. Listen. Absorb the music.”
“Why would that present a moral dilemma?”
Lex stood and closed the gap between him and Lily. He took one of her slender hands in his and earnestly said, “Because I don’t think Jax and I are the only ones aroused.”
Her mouth worked as though she were at a loss for words. But Jax didn’t believe that was truly the case—she’d flirted with him at the party, as a matter of fact. It was likely them openly discussing this subject that threw her for a loop.
Jax said, “Let us admire the sight of you, Lily. The smell of that intoxicating perfume. The effect of your responsiveness to our music.”
“But . . . what . . . ? I mean . . . I don’t mind being your muse. I’m flattered, of course. Yet this job is really important to me. I need it, as I told you already. So what happens if the inspiration suddenly flies out the window?”
There was a hint of panic in her voice.
“You’re not going to lose your job, Lily,” Lex assured her. “There’s some gray area here, obviously. A little bending of employer/employee rules. But for one thing, no lines have been crossed, other than for me and Jax to lay our cards on the table. To tell you what it is we want from you.”
“Just to . . . Admire me?” she asked with a hitch in her tone.
Here was where the wicked web got sticker.