by Lori Foster
And the image ended there.
He just couldn’t see himself striking a woman. Not for any reason. But, oh, the other things he’d like to do to that sweet behind.
He grabbed several paper towels and mopped at his soaked jeans. She hadn’t known he was listening, of course, or he still wouldn’t know her secret. The problem now was how to use it.
He wasn’t a kinky man.
He enjoyed sex just like any other guy, but he’d never been a hound dog, never been a womanizer. He’d never done much experimenting beyond what he and his partner found enjoyable, which had stayed pretty much in the bounds of routinestuff, like different positions, different places, different times of the day.
He liked relationships, and he liked Asia.
He wanted her. Soon, and for a long while. He did not want to … spank her.
Cameron stared down at his jeans, tautly tented by a raging erection, and knew himself for a liar. He snorted. The idea was exciting as hell, no doubt about that. But mostly because it was sexual in nature. If Asia had said she wanted to roll naked in the snow, that would have turned him on too, and he absolutely detested the damn snow. Give him Florida, with hot sandy beaches and bright sunshine over frigid Indiana weather any day.
Of course, if he’d stayed in Florida instead of taking the new supervisor’s job, he’d never have met Asia, and he most definitely wouldn’t have overheard such an intriguing confession.
He shook his head. What to do?
First, he had to change into his regular clothes. At least the dousing had helped to bring him back under control, otherwise he might have blown it by rushing things. He’d been sitting there listening to her, daydreaming, imagining all types of lewd things while staring blankly at the newspaper, and he’d nearly worked himself into a lather. Her confession had all but pushed him over the edge. At thirty-two, he was too damn old for unexpected boners.
Yet he’d had one. For Asia.
Which meant the next thing he had to do was be in that shop tomorrow when Asia visited. She wouldn’t need three days to find him. Hell, he’d never live that long, not with the way he wanted her.
And no way would he let her go off with some other guy. He’d been fantasizing about her since moving to Indiana two months ago, and here was his chance.
The spanking part … well, he’d do what he had to do. And if she enjoyed it, great.
After he warmed her bottom, it’d be his turn.
Chapter Two
Becky looked faint. “Spanking,” she said in a strangled, barely there whisper, clutching her throat.
“I have a theory,” Asia hurried to explain. “If a guy gets his kinkier jollies taken care of with props, then he won’t expect to fulfill them with a woman.”
Erica dropped back in her seat with a guffaw. “You big faker! You really had me going there.”
Becky asked, still a bit confused, “So you figure if he buys movies about spanking, he’ll have it out of his system and won’t try anything like that with you?”
“Bingo.”
Erica shook her head. “And here I thought you had a wild side.”
“Not even close.” Asia thought about it for a moment, then decided it was time for some truths. She could trust Erica and Becky, she knew that They’d understand. “Actually, I had a wild first husband.”
“Get out! You were married?”
“Yes. To a complete and total jerk.”
Erica’s smile faded. “And he hit you?”
“Not exactly. But he liked to … experiment. Everything was geared toward what he’d like, whether I liked it or not. And I never did. But he’d claim it was my duty as his wife to try to please him, and I was confused enough then to feel some guilt, because I couldn’t please him on my own.”
Becky surprised them both by growling, “That bastard.”
After giving Becky a long approving look, Erica asked, “How long were you with him?”
“We married right out of college when I was twenty-two. The divorce became final just before my twenty-fifth birthday.”
“He did a number on you, didn’t he? That’s why you don’t date.”
“Let’s just say I like being independent now, thinking my own thoughts and doing my own things. I’m not looking for a relationship, and I don’t want—didn’t want—any part of a quick affair.” She tapped her fingers on the tabletop. “But you’re right, Erica. I might be missing out on a lot, and to my mind, I’ve missed enough already. I deserve some satisfaction.”
Erica thrust a small fist into the air and said, “Here’s to satisfaction,” making Becky chuckle.
“So,” Asia said, feeling equal parts triumphant for being decisive, anticipation for what might be, and hesitant about the unknown. “That’s settled. I’ll head over there tomorrow.”
“We’ll watch from here,” Becky told her, and Erica nodded.
Knowing they’d be close would make it easier, Asia decided. “Your turn, Becky.”
Becky blanched. “My turn for what?”
“To share a fantasy.”
She winced. “I need time to think about it.”
As the unofficial moderator, Erica sighed. “All right. You can have until Friday.”
Slumping in relief, Becky said, “Friday.” She smiled. “I’ll be ready.”
Cameron stood in the aisle of tapes, surreptitiously watching the door. Unwilling to take a chance on missing Asia, he’d been there for half an hour. Already he’d studied every cover and description of all the more erotic discipline tapes. Some of them were downright disgusting. Pain and pleasure … he wasn’t at all sure they really mixed. Not that he intended to judge others.
Not that he’d judge Asia.
He had his eye on one in particular, but he waited, wanting Asia to see him buy the damn thing so there’d be no misunderstandings. The cover sported an older English-looking fellow in a straight-backed chair. He had a schoolgirl, of all dumb things, draped over his knees with her pleated skirt flipped up and her frilly panties showing.
Cameron had chosen it because even though the guy appeared stern, the girl wore a vacuous, anxious smile. She seemed to be enjoying herself and that’s what he hoped Asia would do. No way in hell could he make her cry—even if she preferred it—which some of the tapes indicated by their covers.
He was engrossed in fantasies too vivid to bear when the tinkling of the front door sounded like a gun blast in his ears. He looked up—and made eye contact with Asia.
Even from the distance separating them, he felt her shock and consternation at seeing him there.
She immediately averted her face, her cheeks scalded with color.
The blood surged in his veins. Every muscle in his body tensed, including the one most interested in this little escapade. His cock was suddenly hard enough to break granite.
Cameron couldn’t look away as she ducked to the back aisle. He’d already discovered they kept a variety of velvet whips and handcuffs there.
She ducked right back out, her face now pale. Damn. He started toward her, not certain what he’d say but knowing he had to say something. He had the wretched tape in his hand.
“Asia?”
She froze, her back to him, her body strangely still. Several seconds ticked by, the silence strained, and then she turned. A false, too-bright smile was pinned to her face. “Yes?” And as if she hadn’t seen him the second she walked in, she said, “Cameron! What are you doing here?”
As usual, she reached out for a business handshake, keeping their relationship confined.
With no other option coming to mind, he started to accept her hand, realized he held the damn tape, and switched hands. “I’m just … ah, looking around.”
In horrified fascination, she stared at the movie now held at his side before finally giving him a brisk, quick shake. “It’s an interesting place, isn’t it?”
“Yes.” They stood in the center aisle with display tables loaded down with paperback books of the lustful variety
on either side of them. He propped his hip against a table, trying to relax while his testosterone level shot through the roof. “I’m surprised at the diversity. And how upscale it all is.”
He glanced around, feeling too self-conscious. “I’m not sure what I expected.”
“I know what you mean.” She relaxed the tiniest bit. “I admit, I never expected a shop like this in conservative Cuther.”
The tape in his hand felt like a burning brand. He wanted to set the idiotic thing aside, but that would be defeating the whole purpose of being in the shop in the first place. “Cuther is different,” he admitted. “More rural than I’m used to.”
“And colder?” she teased, because she knew he’d come from Florida.
Idle conversation in a porn shop, Cameron thought. It was a first for him. “I guess my blood has thinned. I’m almost always cold.”
“With the wind chill, it’s fifteen below. Everyone is cold.”
“True enough.”
She tilted her head and her long brown hair flowed over her coat sleeve. It looked like dark honey and burnished gold, natural shades for a natural woman.
“What about your family?” she asked, taking him by surprise with the somewhat more personal question.
“What about them?”
She smiled, a real smile this time. “You’ve never said much about them.”
“No.” Any time he’d talked to her, he’d been trying to get past her walls. Discussing his family had been the farthest thing from his mind.
“It’s almost Christmas. Will you be heading home for the holidays?”
“Uh, no.” He wouldn’t go anywhere until he’d had her. “My family is … scattered. We keep in touch by phone, but we don’t do the big family get-togethers. We never have.”
Her brown eyes warmed, looked a little sad. Thick lashes lowered, hiding her gaze from him. “I thought everyone wanted to be with family this time of year.”
He shrugged, wishing she’d change the damn subject, wishing she’d look at him again.
Wishing he had her naked and in his bed.
“I guess not.” Then he thought to ask, “What about you?”
She turned partially away, giving him her profile. Even beneath the thick coat, he could see the swells of her breasts, the plumpness of her bottom.
A bottom she wanted him to swat.
Cameron swallowed hard, willing himself to stay in control. “Asia?”
“I’m not sure what I’m doing yet. Mother is … well, she remarried and she gets together with her husband’s family. I have one sister, but I think she’s making it an intimate occasion. Just her husband and two children.”
“So you’re an aunt?” He liked learning more about her, but she’d picked a hell of a place to open up.
“Yes. I have two adorable nephews, four and six.”
He took a step closer. “If you find out you’re not doing anything, maybe we could get together?”
“I …” Her smile faded. “I don’t know.”
He could feel her shutting down, closing herself off from him. He hated it. “I’m free,” he said, watching for her reaction, “whatever you decide.”
She nodded, but didn’t say a thing.
Having all but killed that conversational gambit,
Cameron looked around for inspiration. “This your first time in here?”
“Yes.” Her face colored once again.
Drawn to her, Cameron rubbed the back of his neck and tried to keep his wits. “You looking for anything in particular?”
She gave him such an appalled look, he wanted to kick his own ass. Any idiot would know you didn’t ask a lady something like that.
But she surprised him. She cleared her throat, lifted her chin, and pointed down at the video in his hand. “I see you made a selection.”
It was stupid, but he felt heat crawling up the back of his neck and prayed she wouldn’t notice.
Determined on his course, he held the tape in front of him so she’d get a good look at it and see exactly what it was. That’s right. I suppose I should be paying.” He took a small step away.
Asia looked after him.
He edged into another step, willing her to say something, anything. He waited.
Nothing.
“It was, ah, nice speaking with you.”
Eyes wide and watchful, she nodded. “You, too.”
Damn, damn, damn. Had the tape not been risqué enough? “All right, then.” He forced a smile, but it felt more like a grimace. Take care.”
He started to turn away, teeth clenched in disappointment, body on fire.
“Cameron?”
He whipped around. “Yes?”
She didn’t look at him, but that was okay, because she asked, “Would you like to … maybe do something Friday after work? If you’re not busy, that is.”
His knees went weak with relief. He didn’t know if he’d last till Friday, but he said, “Yeah. Sure. That’d be great.”
A tremulous smile brightened her expression. “I could cook you dinner.”
“No.” He shook his head and walked back to her. “I’ll take you out to dinner. Someplace nice. All right?” He didn’t want their first date to be only about sex.
She teased, “What? You don’t trust my cooking?”
“I imagine you’re a terrific cook.” It was difficult not to touch her, not to grin like a lecherous moron. But, damn, he was hard and there wasn’t a thing he could do about it. He wanted her too much. “This week is my treat, though, okay?”
She studied him closely, then nodded. “All right.”
“Do you want to go straight from work?” Do you want to go now, to my place, he thought, where I can get you naked and sate myself on your …
“I’d like to go home and change first. If that’s okay.”
This smile came easier. At least he had a confirmed date, even if he had a two-day wait. “I’ll pick you up at six? Will that give you enough time?”
“Perfect.” She wrote her address down for him, then accompanied him to the checkout. Time and again, her gaze went to his movie. Was she excited? He wished like hell she didn’t have the thick coat on. He wanted to see her breasts, to see if maybe her nipples were peaked with anticipation.
God, many more thoughts like that and he’d be in real trouble. Luckily, he’d worn his long coat today, which concealed his lower body and straining erection. His jacket wouldn’t have hidden a thing.
They stepped outside together, his purchase safely concealed in a plain brown paper bag. He felt like a pervert, even though his logical adult mind told him a grown man could purchase whatever he pleased. But he knew what was in that bag, even if no one else did.
The wind kicked up, blowing Asia’s hair. It licked against his chin, scented with female warmth and sweet shampoo. He caught a lock and brought it to his nose, wondering if she’d smell so sweet all over, or would her natural fragrance be spicy, like hot musk? He couldn’t wait to find out, to nuzzle her throat and her breasts and her belly … between her thighs.
His muscles pulled tight with that thought. “You have beautiful hair,” he all but growled.
Her lips parted at his husky tone, and her big eyes stared up at him. “I do?”
He wrapped that silky tendril around his finger and rubbed it with his thumb. “Hmmm. It’s almost the exact same shade as your eyes.”
Her laugh got carried off on the wind. “You mean plain old brown?”
“There’s nothing plain about you, Asia, especially your coloring.” They had reached her car, and he opened her door for her. He saw her surprise at the gentlemanly gesture, and it pleased him. “I’ll see you at work tomorrow?”
“I’ll be there.”
Pretending to be much struck, Cameron said, “I just realized. You didn’t buy anything. I hope my presence didn’t inhibit you?”
Her small nose went into the air. “Not at all. I only wanted to see what they had.”
He couldn’t resist tea
sing her. “You didn’t find anything you liked, huh?”
Those dark mysterious eyes of hers stared at him, and she said, “I found you, now didn’t I?”
Cameron stepped back, stunned and so horny his stomach cramped.
She smiled with triumph. “Tomorrow, Cameron.”
He watched her drive away. The next two days would be torture, waiting to get her in his bed, open to him, willing. He shook with need, then glanced down at the bag in his hand.
He’d use the time until then to study up on this kinky preference of hers, just to make sure he got it right.
That thought had him grinning. Were there rules to spanking? A time frame to follow? Did you jump right into it, or ease the way? Did the spanking follow the sex, or was it a form of foreplay?
He didn’t know, but he’d sure as hell find out.
He shivered from a particularly harsh blast of icy wind, and realized he’d barely noticed the cold while Asia was close to him. Now that she’d left, he felt frozen. He hurried to his own car.
He had some studying to do.
Asia crawled into bed that night and pulled the thick covers to her chin. The sheets were icy cold, making her shiver, and she curled into a tight ball. It had been so very long since she’d felt a large male body in bed beside her, sharing warmth and comfort.
Sharing pleasure.
During her marriage, she’d learned to dread the nights her husband reached for her. Love-making had been tedious at best, uncomfortable and embarrassing at worst. His preferences at tryinganything and everything—including discipline—whether she enjoyed it or not, had worn her down. He’d told her it was necessary, that she wasn’t exciting enough, her body not sexy enough, to get him aroused without the added elements. After a while she’d begun to believe him, and it had taken a lot for her to finally realize he was the one with the problems, not her.
In the process, she’d gotten completely turned off sex. But she wasn’t an idiot. She knew it wasn’t always like that.
She didn’t think it’d be like that with Cameron.