by Kate Swain
“I would be so happy if you did,” he said, taking my hand. “It’s more than I ever wanted.”
“It’s exactly what I wanted.”
I laughed and we kissed.
It took a week before I was ready to go back to the studio, but when I did, I was pleased to teach a class with all thirteen of my students. They ranged from ages eight to fourteen, and I was loving each second with them.
“There, Rochelle,” I smiled at the oldest girl. “You see? In a year, you’ll be doing jumps like I do.”
“Really?” the girl stared at me. Her hair was pulled back in a bun, and her eyes fully open and outlined with makeup. I felt my heart twist. Every girl in the class could have been me when I was their age. This was a wonderful experience, a dream come true for me. I loved teaching here.
“Yes, really,” I nodded. “I started out just like you.”
“Okay, great!” she said, throwing herself into the practice.
I smiled and turned away, just as the door swung open. Mark appeared.
“Maddy!” he said, beckoning me from the back. I blushed and turned to the girls, who were looking amazedly from him to the other end of the room, where I watched, and back.
“Girls,” I said swiftly. “Get on with your stretching exercises.”
They obediently resumed classes, though I could see eyes straying to watch Mark and I. I went over to Mark, feeling their gaze on me. I whispered to him, somewhat self-conscious, “What is it?”
“I just wanted to tell you that you don’t need to be scared anymore. She’s gone.”
“Who has gone?” I frowned, then realized what he meant.
“The woman who did that,” he said, gesturing at the end of the studio, not even speaking her name. “She had the option of either facing charges of vandalism and assault, or leaving the city. She took the latter.”
“Mark…” I shook my head. I didn’t want revenge. I wanted her to disappear and never be able to harm us again. And now she would be gone, melting into the nothingness from which all this trouble came.
“I just wanted you to know that you’re safe here,” he said. “You never have to feel threatened when doing what you love.”
“Thank you,” I whispered.
I looked up at him and the last of the threat that I had felt slowly dissipated. I hadn’t realized it, but even here I had half-expected something bad to happen. Now, I knew it would safe. I took his hand.
“Mark, I’m glad,” I said softly. “But what really matters to me is that you’re safe, and I’m safe.”
“I know,” he said softly. “That’s all that matters to me, too.”
He leaned in and pressed kisses to my lips, my nose, my cheek. Giggling, I put my hand on his shoulder and pressed my lips firmly to his.
“You go and work,” I said to him with mock-sternness. “I have to finish up here.”
“See you soon,” he whispered. “Love you.”
I took a deep breath and nodded. “I love you, Mark.”
We kissed one more time, then he left me in front of a dozen girls whose expressions ranged from amused to horrified. I laughed.
“Come on, girls,” I said. “There’s half an hour left. Let’s all do our stretching exercises together.”
I went over to the dance bar and started to stretch and snow started falling and I wondered what performance we would put on for Christmas in two months. It was time to start preparing.
Epilogue
Maddy - One Year and One Month Later
I rolled over in bed. It was Christmas morning. I stretched, feeling warm sheets. I rolled over as Mark crossed the room and slid into bed beside me.
“Merry Christmas,” he said.
I laughed and reached up to hold him and he hugged me. I felt his warm body against my chest and I breathed deeply.
“I love your smell.”
He laughed. “You are probably the only person in the world to do so, but thank you. I love yours—it goes without saying, really,” he added, kissing my cheek.
I leaned back as he kissed my neck, my arm, my breasts. His lips found a nipple and drew it into his mouth and I gasped, shutting my eyes, as he worked the area with his teeth.
“Mark…” I murmured.
“I’ll be quick,” he promised, and kissed his way down my chest to my belly. I gasped and my body tingled as he moved lower, parting my thighs. His lips went to my clit.
“Wait,” I protested, but I didn’t really mean it and he knew it. He nibbled me softly, and I felt a flood of feeling race though me as he inserted a finger and stroked me inside while his lips kept busy.
I struggled to not cry out—I didn’t want to make a noise— but gasped as he made the pressure firmer and faster, working me with his tongue, one finger touching me with even strokes. He was so good.
I cried out as my climax arrived, far faster than I had expected it to. I collapsed back on the bed laughing as he lay beside me. He was undressed, and I could feel his strong body pressed to my arm. His lips tasted mine and he rolled over so that his body pressed to mine.
I sighed and parted my legs, letting his hardness press against my belly. I loved feeling him. There was something very exciting about the way his cock hardened and tightened as he grew aroused. I reached for it, laughing.
“Oh, you have some use for me, do you?” he asked, kissing my cheek.
I grinned up at him. “Maybe,” I said. I squeezed him again and then he shook his head.
“I want to be inside.”
I nodded and lay back and slowly, tenderly, he pushed into me. His cock was hard and firm, and yet it never hurt me, his tenderness was one of the things I loved best. He pulled out, his hardness rubbing on a place inside me that excited me even more. He let out a low moan.
I held my breath as he pushed in, this time fully, filling me up with a push that rubbed his cock right over the spot that felt so good. He repeated it again, faster. I moved so that I could direct the pressure where I needed it and he pulled out and pushed in, clearly as excited as I was.
We moved together, gasping and panting, and I felt my mind float away in a haze. My thoughts went blank and the only thing that mattered anymore was the wonderful feeling that was building and growing inside me.
He moved me a little so that I was far from the danger of banging my head on the headboard, a gesture of tenderness that moved me, but my mind was too swamped in the feelings that were flowing through me, growing and building, rising and expanding.
I could feel his cock pulsating and his body hardening. We moved together, faster and faster, reaching the point of no return. I cried out a second time, as he cried out too, and collapsed.
I felt my mind softly returning from the place it had reached as he stroked my hair. I moved closer, putting my arm around him. He held me and we lay like that, letting our bodies cool off and feeling our minds clear.
“Maddy,” he murmured as he kissed me. “That was amazing.”
“It was,” I nodded.
He laughed. He kissed me and then sat up. “I suppose we should have breakfast,” he said softly.
“Yes,” I agreed, and moved up on the bed. “And there should be something else to do, too,” I added, smiling at him. “No, I didn’t mean this,” I added, as he gave me a knowing grin. “I meant something more related to today.”
“Ah, yes. You mean presents.” He said.
“Something like that, yes.” I laughed.
He smiled and went over to the shower. I lay where I was, drowsy and content. After a moment, I sat up. I should go and check on Norton.
“Hey,” Mark said, as he tiptoed into the spare-room which we’d converted into a nursery. It was the warmest room, which was good, because this winter was proving to be a cold one. I looked down into the cradle where our baby slept peacefully. He rolled over, reaching out a fist, fast asleep.
I just stared down at him. I should feed him before breakfast, but I was reluctant to disturb him. I felt Mark come and
stand beside me, one arm around me.
“He looks so beautiful,” I said as the baby stirred and then slept.
“He does. Like his mom.” He kissed my hair.
I held him and then my lips found his, feeling happiness flood through me. I had never felt so happy before.
I woke Norton, who barely opened his eyes, to fee him before falling asleep again. I put him in his cradle—the moveable one, courtesy of Becca—and carried him downstairs. Mark was making breakfast. I went to join him, putting an arm around him.
“Come on,” he said softly. “We need to eat. Then, we have some things to occupy ourselves with in the living room.”
I nodded. We had breakfast and then, taking Norton with us, tiptoed into the room. Presents were lined up under a tree bright with Christmas lights. I felt my heart lift. It was so festive, and I already felt happy.
“Come on,” Mark said gently. He bent down to where I had arranged his presents. He looked happy and I smiled back. I had bought a shirt in his favorite color, some cologne and the jeans he’d been wanting for ages.
I felt my heart lift as he declared his joy about the gifts. I turned to mine. I had a smaller array of presents—three boxes that were decidedly tiny, compared to his. The first one had my favorite perfume. I wondered how he’d knew. “Hey, how did you know this was…”
“Becca told me,” he said as I sprayed it and inhaled the soft fragrance. “I hope she was right.”
I giggled. “Oh, Mark. It’s wonderful. My favorite.”
“Good.” He looked pleased.
I waited until he’d opened another gift, then opened my second one. It was a gorgeous necklace. I was overjoyed with it.
“Mark! It’s beautiful! It must have cost so much.” I held it up, watching it sparkle in the light.
“Nonsense,” he said. “No more than my jeans,” he added, with a big smile. “Thank you so much,” he added, giving me a kiss.
As I opened the last box, I noticed him watching me. I frowned, trying not to smile. I felt awkward, and self-conscious. It wasn’t like him to stare, and I wondered why.
When I opened the box, I let out a cry.
“Mark!” I stared down at the glinting jewel. It was a ring. With a single diamond, small but radiant, it was clear what kind of ring it was.
“I don’t know if I ought to,” he said. “I don’t know if I deserve it. But, Maddy…would you consider doing me the honor of marrying me?”
I stared at him, trying to see him through the mist of tears. “Mark… oh, yes. Yes,” I whispered.
He stood and came over and I held him to my chest, crushing him in an embrace that I hoped would hold him to me forever.
“Thank you, Maddy,” he whispered into my hair, and he sounded relieved and elated. “I’m so happy. I love you.”
I held him close, feeling my tears mix with my joy. “I love you too, Mark,” I whispered. “I love you, too.”
The End
Dating The Boss (Excerpt)
Check out book one of the “Band Brothers” series! Hope you enjoy it. Thanks for reading my novel!
Enjoy this small sample!
1
Amelia
The moans and giggles coming from the room next door became a little louder. Somebody gasped. A male voice chuckled. I heard a sigh and then a loud shriek. Giggles and more sighs followed.
“Oh, for pity’s sake,” I whispered.
It was all too clear what my nearest neighbors were up to. I would have to buy them a proper bed one day, I thought with a wry frown. The creaks were even louder than the giggles, and both made it altogether obvious that my friend Tanya and her boyfriend weren’t watching TV in there.
“I need a house,” I groaned.
The sound of my best friend having sex in her bedroom was not the thing I would choose, given a choice, to hear as I tried to go to sleep. The sea, perhaps. The sound of water running downhill. Hell, even sleeping over the top of the busiest club in town would be more conducive to relaxing!
“Go to sleep,” I muttered, wiping tousled blonde hair out of my eyes.
I couldn’t be angry with Tanya, not for anything. She was kind, generous, friendly, everything a friend should be. And she’d let me stay here for a month, sleeping in her living room on a pull-out sofa. It was the best option after I’d finally run away.
I heard another shriek, and then silence. I sighed and reached for my headphones, hoping to drown out any additional noises that might come out of there. It was eleven p.m. I noticed, laying back down.
“Hey! Don’t go in there,” my friend’s voice called out, just as I was drifting off to sleep. I sat up suddenly as the light switched on. A massive individual, arms corded with muscle, blocked out the light from the doorway. I heard Tanya shout.
“Tex! Stop! There’s water in the bathroom, and you’ll disturb Amelia, who’s sleeping in there.”
“Sorry.” The massive man turned slowly, a distressed expression on his square-jawed face. “I didn’t think.”
“No, you didn’t,” Tanya said primly as she joined us. Naked, wrapped in a small towel, Tanya sat down wearily on a seat. She smiled at me. “What are you looking at?”
I looked at her, dumbfounded. It was late at night, I was trying to sleep, and she comes into the room naked? Followed by something Doctor Frankenstein would have balked at? I didn’t know what to say.
“Um, this,” I said.
I lifted the newspaper from the seat beside me.
Tanya, who did not have much capacity for irony, lifted the paper and looked through it. Her man friend poured water and gulped it noisily. I looked away. He was dressed, fortunately, in a pair of trousers. I spotted a big leather jacket draped over the dining room chair and assumed that it belonged to him.
He reached for it, confirming my suspicions. As he did, he leaned over Tanya’s shoulder, touching her bare skin. She giggled.
“What do you have?” he asked, looking at the newspaper.
“Nothing interesting,” Tanya murmured, looking up at him with fond eyes. I smiled to myself. It was a pleasure, I thought sadly, to see such closeness. Tanya might be a bit crazy, but she had a fine heart. And Tex, evidently, did too. He leaned down to kiss her brown hair fondly.
“That’s a good bike shop,” he said, pointing to something in the newspaper.
“It’s an advert for a job, not a bike, silly,” my friend said.
My ears pricked up. A job was something I had been looking for a lot recently. Ever since I moved out of Mom’s house, in fact. I surreptitiously reached for the newspaper. Tanya let me take it.
“Well, whatever. It’s the best bike shop in town. Can’t do better than Brand’s. Only people I let near my machine.”
“Oh, are they?”
I bit my lip as my friend looked naughtily up at Tex, whose faced reddened. Evidently, the “machine” Tanya referred to was not the one he’d ridden to get here. He swallowed hard.
“You know what I mean,” he murmured.
“Yes,” Tanya giggled. “I do. Now, don’t you have to go already?”
“I should,” he said, shrugging on a shirt and then the jacket. It made him even wider than before. “I probably need an early start tomorrow. We’re taking a ride.”
“I see,” Tanya said. I smiled. My friend could find innuendo in almost any words. Tex, though, was a bit more down-to-earth. He just smiled.
“Yeah,” he said. “Well, goodnight. Goodnight,” he added, shaking my hand. I took it. His grip almost crushed my fingers. Tanya let him out, and I heard a kiss in the hallway followed by giggles.
“Sorry,” she said, coming back into the living room. “He had to leave early. They’re taking a ride to Stafford tomorrow.”
“It’s not that far from Kansas,” I said, frowning. It was about a hundred miles from here, I thought. It wouldn’t take all day to reach it.
“Well, yes. But it’s a breakfast ride.” Tanya grinned. “So they want to get going early.”
I just smiled. Bikers were a breed of people I doubted I would ever understand. They had their own tightly-connected groups of riders, their monthly rides, and their rivalries about which bikes were better—BMW, Ducati, or Hyundai. I hadn’t known many bikers, though my father—or so my mother said—had been one.
I wouldn’t know about that.
My father left us when I was four. I barely remembered him. Mom didn’t talk about him much, except to say disparaging things, and I didn’t entirely blame her. Life was hard without him, and Mom often struggled to raise me alone. If she had felt less need to find a man to help her take care of things, our home and relationship would have been better.
Especially since Mom doesn’t have much luck.
I shuddered.
Mom’s latest boyfriend had been the reason why I left home. He had been more than a little interested in me—his words and visits when I was in a room alone scared me. I couldn’t tell her, and I couldn’t face him. I couldn’t bear it anymore. I was grateful that Tanya had let me stay at her place. It was the first time in months that I had felt safe from that guy and his intentions.
And now, I thought, reaching for the paper, I needed a job. When I had that part sorted out, I could really straighten out my life.
“I’ll go and get some sleep,” Tanya said from where she was tidying things in the other room. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”
“Yeah. Goodnight,” I added fondly.
“Goodnight.”
With Tanya gone, I read through the newspaper, searching for that advertisement she had found. I scanned the advertisement listings and saw the name she had mentioned. Brand’s Bike Shop.
We are looking for a skilled receptionist and bookkeeper to manage records and appointments for us, the advertisement read. Apply in person at the following address. The position is currently open for immediate filling.