No Strings Attached

by Jiffy Kate

  “Wanna drink?” I ask, hoping to ease her nerves.

  “Yeah,” she says with a hard laugh. “I could really use one.”

  I guide her to the bar, walking behind her and turning my head toward the guys she flipped off when she came in. My death glare lets them know in no uncertain terms to back the fuck off.

  As far as they’re concerned, or anyone else in this bar, she’s mine.

  “What can I get ya, honey?” Jimmy asks.

  “A shot of 1800,” Quinn says, sliding onto the barstool I’d been occupying.

  I lean against the bar beside her and watch as Sebastian’s smile grows wider. He’s eating this shit up with a spoon. The look he gives me over the top of her head is one of shock and amusement.

  “Quinn, this is Sebastian.” I nod to the other side of her, gesturing to the beast.

  Sebastian turns in his seat and offers her his hand.

  “Sebastian, Quinn.”

  Quinn’s shoulders relax a little. “Ah, yes. I remember you from the ER. One of the nurses had to give you something for your nausea. Wasn’t it bad sushi or something like that?” she asks.

  He clears his throat and winces.

  “Bad sushi?” I ask, not sure what she’s talking about. We haven’t had sushi for a couple of months. The place we usually go to closed down.

  “Yeah,” Sebastian says nervously, and I can see the lie all over his face.

  I laugh and shake my head. “Fucking pussy,” I mutter under my breath.

  “What?” Quinn asks, looking back and forth at the two of us.

  “He gets sick at the sight of blood,” I tell her.

  Quinn laughs and turns her attention back to Sebastian. “So that whole bad fish thing was a big ol’ fat lie, huh?”

  Sebastian’s cheeks pink up a little. “Yes, okay?” He stares at me. “Happy now?”

  “Extremely.” I love to see him squirm.

  When Jimmy returns with Quinn’s shot, she slams it back and slides the glass back to him. “I’ll have one more. Then a Coke, straight,” she instructs.

  “Bad night in the ER?” I ask, watching her.

  “Yeah.” She lets out a deep breath and rubs her eyes, and I start to ask more but refrain. She’s here, and that’s enough for now. I don’t want to scare her off.

  When Jimmy sets her second shot down in front of her with a grin, she looks over at Sebastian. “Lots and lots of blood,” she says teasingly, tossing the tequila back.

  Sebastian shakes his head and laughs, taking a drink of his beer.

  We watch the rest of the game. Quinn and Sebastian exchange jabs, and I sit back and enjoy the free entertainment. When the game is over, Sebastian asks for his tab, and I slap some money down on the bar to cover mine and Quinn’s. She gives me a glare but doesn’t argue. Maybe I should’ve let her pay so she’d want to come back and hang out again, but I couldn’t. I have all sorts of weird feelings when it comes to Quinn, and one is the need to take care of her. I’ve never felt that way about anyone, but it hits me so strongly sometimes.

  “I’m gonna head out,” Sebastian says, slapping me on the back. “Quinn, it was a pleasure to see you again. See you tomorrow, Jude.” He waves as he walks out of the bar.

  Leaning down until my lips are close to her ear—because I just fucking need it, I need to be close to her… have a little something to take with me until I can see her again—I ask, “Can I walk you to your car?”

  Standing up, she starts to walk toward the door, and I think she’s going to leave me standing there like a fool, but she stops to toss a look over her shoulder. “You coming?”

  It takes me a minute to get myself together. She’s looking at me with a spark in her eyes, and the confidence she usually wears like a cloak is back in full force. When I finally get my feet to work, I have to jog to catch up to her.

  “Thanks for coming tonight,” I tell her as we start to cross the street. I look around for the black SUV she was driving on Sunday, but it’s not there. Instead, it’s the beat-up red Volkswagen parked a few feet away

  “Yeah, uh, thanks for inviting me,” she says, but it sounds more like a question than a statement. She digs in her bag and pulls out keys. “It was a really bad day in the ER, and I needed… something.”

  I start to wonder if I hadn’t invited her here, would she have gone to the club instead? Maybe that’s what she usually does to blow off some steam.

  “Do you want to come to my apartment?” I ask before I have a chance to stop myself.

  Her head snaps around, and she gives me a pointed look, similar to the one she’s given me at the club. Almost a fuck off or in your fucking dreams. She walks closer to her car and unlocks the door. After she tosses her purse inside, she turns and leans back against the car. “I don’t do relationships.”

  The definitiveness in her voice lets me know she’s not playing. It’s not an excuse or an out. It’s a fact.

  I nod and shove my hands into my front pockets, rocking back on my heels. “Okay,” I tell her, waiting for whatever she’s going to say next. I’ll take whatever she’ll give me. We don’t have to do a relationship. As long as she doesn’t tell me to go fuck myself, we’re good.

  “Not at your apartment,” she finally says.

  My mind races. Is she saying yes? To sex? With me? I look around and try to think fast.

  “And not here,” she laughs, shaking her head.

  “Right. Of course not.” I clear my throat and say the first thing that comes to mind. “What about the hotel down the street?”

  “That works. I need to do something first, but I can meet you there in half an hour.”

  With my heart beating wildly in my chest, I act on impulse. “I’ll text you the room number.”

  She holds out her hand, and at first, I’m not sure what she wants. “Phone,” she demands.

  “Oh, right,” I say, pulling it out of my pocket and handing it to her.

  And that, my friends, is how you get Quinn Roland’s phone number.

  Taking the phone back from her, I look at her info on the screen and inwardly fist-pump myself. Outwardly, I play it cool and slip my phone back into my pocket, nodding my head.

  She doesn’t say anything else, just nods her head back at me and climbs in the driver’s seat. Next thing I know, she’s pulling away, and I’m left standing there… dumbfounded.

  Did that just happen?

  Are we really doing this?

  Half an hour later, I’m nervously bouncing my leg as I sit on the edge of the bed at the Omni Hotel and watch my phone like a pot of water I’m waiting to boil. I texted her the room number, but she hasn’t replied. It’s only been a few minutes, but the thought that she could stand me up is consuming me.

  Not being able to wait any longer, I stand up and head for the door. My nerves are shot, and I feel like a lion trapped in a cage. I need space. I need to step out of this room before I drive myself crazy.

  Hopefully, I’ll catch Quinn as she walks into the lobby.

  I pull the door open and stop short. A very quiet, very unsure Quinn is standing on the other side of the hallway. Her eyes are wide and nervous, and she’s toying with the hem of her sweater. With her presence, my body finally relaxes. I don’t like seeing her so apprehensive, but at least she’s here. I slowly reach for her hand and guide her into the room.

  Once we’re inside and the door is closed, Quinn lets out a deep breath. She seems more comfortable now, like walking into this room was the hardest part. I’m not sure what to think about that. I’m just relieved she’s here.

  “Can I get you anything to drink?” I ask, walking over to the mini bar to occupy myself.

  “No, thanks. I’m fine. Sorry it took me so long. I went home to say goodnight to Henry, and then when I got here, I had to stop myself from running away.”

  Ouch.

  “This is why I like going to the club. There are no expectations and I don’t have to talk if I don’t want to. I get in, get what I want,
and get out. This—” She moves her hand back and forth between us. “This is new to me.”

  The fact we’re talking—she’s talking—is enough to set me at ease a little. If she’s talking, it means she’s not running.

  “You said you don’t do relationships, so...what do you want, Quinn?”

  I’m willing to give her just about anything she wants at this point. “You want to release some tension? Let me make you feel good. If you don’t do relationships, we’ll keep it simple, just like at the club. Just sex.”

  She chews on her bottom lip while she thinks. Finally, she looks up at me with a small smile on her face. “Yeah, that’d be great, actually. But only if you’re okay with it. I know we don’t know each other very well, but in case you haven’t noticed, I have a hard time letting people into my life.”

  I can’t stop the laughter that shoots out of my mouth. I worry about pissing her off, but when I see her roll her eyes at me before giggling, I know she’s fine.

  “That’s a fucking understatement, Quinn, but it’s cool. I get that you want to protect yourself, as well as your son.”

  She gives me a soft smile for a split second, softer than I’ve seen from her and it makes my heart flip in my chest. “Thanks,” she says, taking a step closer to me. The energy in the room starts to spark. “I don’t want you to get your hopes up that this will evolve into something more, Jude. This does not mean we’re dating. You can’t show up at my work. Don’t send me flowers. No phone calls. Just sex.”

  I step closer until we’re face to face with nothing between us. “Got it.” I lower my mouth to hers, preparing to seal the deal with a kiss when she puts her hand between us as a barrier.

  “No kissing. It’s too personal.”

  What is this, Pretty Woman? Fuck that.

  Reaching out to tuck a few wayward strands of hair behind her ear, looking for any excuse to touch her, I offer a rebuttal. “If you remember, we’ve already kissed. And it was fantastic, best fucking kiss of my life. I’ve been dying to kiss you again for weeks. Seeing you at the park and not being able to touch you… taste you.” I pause, leaning down I place a soft kiss on her neck and then swipe my tongue out. “It’s been pure torture. Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it… wanted to do it again. Are you really going to deny—”

  Before I can finish, she attacks me.

  Her mouth and tongue claiming me while her nails leave trails of the most beautiful kind of destruction on my skin. She’s ravenous and wild, and I fucking love she wants me as much as I want her.

  I must have blacked out at some point because I have no recollection of my shirt being taken off. Maybe I was just mesmerized by the feel of Quinn in my arms again. When her hands grab for my belt buckle, I stop her.

  “Slow down. I want to undress you,” I tell her. My voice is deep, raspy even, but she complies with my request. Since I was blindfolded the last time we were together, I’ve only had my imagination to fill in this part.

  Carefully, I remove her sweater and toss it on the nearby chair. Her breasts are practically spilling out of her bra, especially since she’s breathing so heavily, but I force my attention to her jeans, undoing the fly and pulling them down her legs. Squatting down, I finish removing the denim from her body and place soft kisses on her thighs and stomach before standing back up.

  Quinn watches every step, and the lust darkening her eyes is impossible to miss. I lean down and kiss her again. This kiss has more control but just as much intensity as the one before, and I swear I could kiss this woman forever.

  My hands travel to her back and I swiftly unhook her bra. Quinn wastes no time pulling the straps off and letting the material fall to the floor.

  In all my life, I’ve never seen a pair of tits more perfect than these. I’ve daydreamed about Quinn’s breasts so much over the last few weeks, I almost want to pinch myself to make sure this moment is really happening. Instead, I pinch her. Rolling her nipples firmly with my fingers, I tug them a bit before I let my mouth envelop her puckered flesh, remembering how delicious she tastes.

  Quinn’s nails scratch at my scalp while holding my head in place. “Jude,” she moans. “Fuck me. Now. Please.”

  I want to so bad. I’ve had tunnel vision since that night at the club, only focusing on how to get Quinn back into my bed… any bed. Now that it’s finally happening, I want to savor every minute.

  “Not yet,” I tell her, meeting her eyes and the opposition that is strong in them.

  Before she can argue, I explain. “I didn’t get to see you the night we met. Granted, being blindfolded made the sex very intense, but I wish I could’ve seen you… your body move against mine… your face as you came. I want that now.”

  “But you can see me. I don’t understand what more you want,” she argues.

  “Yes, I can see you, and you’re the sexiest woman I’ve ever laid eyes on. But I also want to watch you.”

  She quirks an eyebrow. “Watch me?”

  “Yeah, I want to watch you touch yourself. I want to watch you make yourself come, and then I’m going to make you come.”

  Her breathing starts to pick up, and she bites her bottom lip before sliding her lace panties to the floor. “Okay.”

  Holy shit.

  I didn’t know if she’d agree or not, and I really don’t know how I’m going to manage watching her and not touching her, but I’ll do my damnedest to keep my hands to myself. Because I really fucking want this.

  I want everything with this woman.

  Quinn crawls onto the bed and immediately starts caressing her tits. She licks her fingertips before pulling and twisting her nipples just like I was doing earlier.

  I knew she liked that.

  As I sit at the end of the bed, my dick is hard as a rock pressed against the zipper of my jeans, begging for release. But not yet. The last thing I want is to blow my load before getting inside Quinn.

  Her eyes never leave mine as she lies back, propping herself up on a stack of pillows.

  “You’re so fucking beautiful,” I murmur, running my hands up my thighs to keep from reaching out and touching her. Her eyes flutter closed as she slips one hand down her body and then presses her middle finger between her folds.

  Swallowing hard, I adjust my dick and lick my lips as she spreads her legs wider.

  I’m pretty sure I’ve died and gone to heaven.

  “Fuck.” Fuck this. I can’t take it any longer. I need to be inside her. Now. Jumping off the bed, I quickly discard my jeans. There’s a good chance I will die in this hotel room if I ignore my cock any longer.

  Quinn giggles at my hasty action, then she presses two fingers inside her pussy and lets out the most erotic sigh I’ve ever heard. When she pulls out, I can see her glistening fingers and my balls start to tighten.

  “You’re so wet, Quinn. Fuck, you’re driving me crazy.”

  I’m mesmerized by the sight of Quinn giving herself pleasure. She’s not shy, and she knows exactly how and where to touch to make herself feel good. I want to know her body that well and maybe, just maybe, teach her a few new tricks.

  When she pushes her fingers back inside, my hand automatically goes to my cock and squeezes. With her back arching, her moans grow louder and louder as she continues to pleasure herself.

  “That’s it, Quinn. Make yourself come.”

  Her eyes snap open at my demand and she licks her lips. “You too,” she gasps. “Come on my tits. Hurry.”

  No way am I turning down that request.

  Within seconds, I’m on my knees next to her, dick in hand, pumping it with quick strokes.

  Even after everything I’ve experienced sexually, this is the most erotic thing I’ve ever done. It’s raw yet intimate, and I feel like we’re becoming bonded beyond our bodies right now.

  “I’m coming, Jude. Oh, god!”

  Watching her body tense and pulse and spasm as she groans so loud I’m sure everyone on this floor can hear her, causes my orgasm to rip through me,
painting white ribbons over her chest and stomach.

  She lies there, satiated for a moment, sighing as the last of her orgasm fades. I fall onto the bed next to her and let the blood flow back to other parts of my body, wondering what the fuck just happened.

  Damn, that was fast.

  When I glance over and see Quinn rubbing my cum into her skin, I feel my dick twitch. He knows that’s fucking hot. Seeing myself on her and her liking it is just the catalyst I need to be ready for more.

  “That was…” Quinn drifts off and rolls onto her side, her soft bare leg tangling with mine.

  “Yeah,” I agree, pulling her closer.

  Last time, she bolted. But not this time. This time, I’m gonna get my round two.

  Chapter 10

  As I push into her, staring down at her gorgeous face, I’m having trouble believing this is real life.

  Still.

  Even after watching her pleasure herself and coming all over her, I still find myself needing reassurance this isn’t some vivid dream. But this is more than a production or a performance; it’s more than her buying me off an auction block.

  Somewhere between her walking through the hotel door and being under me, things changed. She might not want to admit it, but I feel it. I feel it in the way her hands are grasping and clinging to my back. I feel it in the way her thighs are squeezing my torso, begging for more. I feel it in the way she’s looking at me right this moment, biting her lip to keep from crying out. But it doesn’t work.

  It’s loud.

  It’s mutual.

  It’s fucking phenomenal.

  If I thought our first sexual encounter changed my life, this one is rearranging my future. There’s no way I’m going to be able to be just a fuck buddy.

  No way.

  “Oh, God,” she says on a moan, close to crying. “Fuck.”

  “Yeah, baby. That’s what we’re doing,” I tell her, leaning down toward her ear and biting gently on her lobe.