Temptation

by Kris Bryant

  “Yes, and no. Fuck, I don’t know. It felt good, though.”

  She raised her eyebrow. “Do you want me to stop?”

  “God, no. Don’t ever stop touching me.”

  The talk about tying me up ended the second her lips touched mine. Our passion and the newness were entirely too strong to keep playing the game. I wanted Brook. I wanted her unrestricted in my arms. I wanted to hear her come loudly. I flipped her and pressed my hips between her legs. She unhooked my bra while I slid off our panties. We moaned when we touched in the most intimate way.

  “You’re so wet already,” Brook said.

  “You’ve been touching and teasing me for hours and hours. You did this to me. You.” I captured her lips for another mind-blowing kiss. Then I ran my tongue down her neck, biting sensitive areas and relieving the ache with my tongue. By the time I reached her navel, her hands were on my shoulders, pushing me down.

  “Cassie, I can’t wait any longer.”

  I slid two fingers inside her as far as I could go. Her hips rose and pressed against my hand. Her moans turned me on so much that I started moaning with her. I squirmed with need as her voice got louder and her moans deeper. I slid down so I could finally taste her. Her warmth and slickness surrounded me. My hips gyrated against the mattress. I fucked her with my fingers as I sucked and licked her clit. When she shook, I knew she was close.

  “Yes, just like that. Don’t stop. Please don’t stop.”

  It wasn’t quite a shout, but loud enough to startle me. I remembered nobody could hear us and increased my movements until she came hard against me. I had to pull away to breathe. Her body shook in the aftermath. I pulled her into my arms and wrapped myself around her until her shaking subsided.

  “Wow,” Brook said.

  A surge of adrenaline spiked my heated body and fed my ego. When I first met Brook, I was instantly attracted to her, but no way did I ever believe this could happen. She was everything I wasn’t—confident, successful, and sexy. At this moment, though, I felt like her equal.

  “Agreed.” I couldn’t have summed it up better without exposing my heart.

  “Your hips are amazing. Have you ever used a strap-on?”

  “It’s been a long time, but yes.” I felt weird talking about sex so cavalierly after we’d just had a very emotional moment. I wanted words of love, not just physical want, even though I was guilty of both.

  “Would you ever fuck me that way?”

  I stilled. My blood, my heart, my breathing seemed to stop. My head felt heavy when I looked up at her. “If you wanted me to, I would.”

  She played with a piece of my hair and tucked it behind my ear but didn’t say anything. We stared at one another for what felt like hours but was really only about three seconds. She gave me the single nod.

  Chapter Twenty-two

  I had a pair of briefs with different sized O-rings. I had no idea why I kept them, but I was thankful I did. “I have a harness I can wear if you have a favorite dildo.” I wasn’t about to wear briefs somebody else wore to fuck her.

  “I have something new I’ve been waiting to try out.”

  I almost wept with relief that it was something new. I crawled away from her warm body and slipped on one of the robes she had hanging in her closet.

  “I like looking at you,” she said.

  I tied the sash around my waist and sat next to her. She opened the gap in the silky material and lightly stroked my chest. My nipples were already hard, and I was aching for release, but I still wanted to please her more than I wanted to satisfy my own needs. “I like that you do.”

  She leaned up, the covers clutched to her chest, barely draped over her breasts, and kissed me deeply. I moaned at how provocative and powerful that kiss was. “Hurry back.”

  I stood on wobbly legs and, with great effort, walked, not ran, out of her bedroom. I made it to my apartment and tore apart the dresser looking for my black briefs. Of course they were in the back of the bottom drawer. I slipped them on, thankful they still fit. My clit twitched at the tightness and anticipation of being back in action. I grabbed two bottles of water on my way back into the house, eager to get back into bed with Brook.

  “It took you a while.”

  Brook was inside her closet, clad in a tiny robe that barely covered anything.

  “What are you doing in there?” I peeked over her shoulder to see. Much to my surprise, Brook had a drawer of new, still-in-the-box, silicone dildos.

  “Trying to decide.”

  I reached in front of her and untied her sash. I ran my hands up to her breasts and squeezed them, playing with her nipples until she moaned and backed into me. She reached up and dug into my hair almost painfully. I slid my hand to the junction of her thighs and massaged her swollen slit.

  “Let me help you decide.”

  She sighed when I pulled my hand away and watched as I held up one that was seven inches long and not quite two inches wide. I couldn’t imagine controlling something this size yet. She bit her lip as she stood there.

  “What about this one instead?” She picked up a different box.

  It was a respectable size for both of us. I nodded. “Open it.”

  She pried open the package while I massaged her slit from behind. She spread her legs apart for easier access and bent forward. I slipped two fingers inside. She moaned and pressed back against me.

  “Give me the toy. I’ll get ready and meet you in bed.” I fucked her hard for ten more seconds, giving her a taste of what was to come. She turned and kissed me before doing exactly what I told her to. I slipped into the bathroom, washed the dildo in the sink, and harnessed it into the briefs, then looked at myself in the mirror. Christ, I’d missed this. I hoped my stamina was good and that I would please her. Brook seemed insatiable. I tied the robe closed and walked into the bedroom. She was under the covers, her hair splayed out on the pillow, waiting for me. I was beyond excited. And nervous.

  “Hi.” I stretched out next to her and propped myself up on my elbow to look at her.

  “Hi.” She touched my face. I caught her hand and placed a soft kiss on her palm. She pulled me to her, and my instincts took over. Within seconds, we were pulling at one another, trying to get closer. I settled between her legs on my knees and ran my fingers up and down her slit. She handed me a bottle of lube. I was shaking with excitement. She moaned when I ran the tip up and down her slit and gasped every time I touched her clit.

  “Please, Cassie.”

  “Please what, Brook?”

  “I want you inside me.”

  I leaned forward and slowly penetrated her. Her mouth opened at the girth as I gently moved forward. When I was all the way in, we both moaned. The base hit my clit, and a jolt of pure pleasure exploded throughout me.

  “Yes,” she said. She reached up and touched my face. “More.”

  I kissed her and started to move. She spread her legs and moved her hips against mine. We found a great rhythm until she wanted more. We were both sweating, and I lost count of how many times she came. I held off on my own pleasure until I knew she was completely satisfied. I was almost there. I slowly slipped out of her and flipped her.

  “Oh, my God.” She held herself on her hands and knees, and I entered her again. She cried out and moved against me. I took a few deep breaths before I moved with her. My knees were raw and I was out of breath, but I was going to give Brook exactly what she wanted. What she needed. After what felt like an eternity, I finally succumbed to my own raging orgasm. I wasn’t quiet and neither was she. I pulled out, and she dropped to the mattress, sweaty, gasping for breath. I flopped next to her.

  “I can’t move.” She reached over to touch me.

  I curled up behind her and pulled her close. “I can’t either.” I reached for a water, offered her the first sip, and gulped the rest down.

  She turned to face me. “That really was amazing.” She ran her thumb along my bottom lip. “You have wonderful lips. I’ve always admired them. Now I kn
ow.”

  I held her fingertips to my lips and kissed them. “Thank you. I’ve admired every single part of your body since the day I met you. Literally, since the day I met you.”

  “Oh, stop.”

  Even though she was flushed from sex, I could tell she was blushing. I touched her neck and ran my finger down her chest and back up to her cheek. “You’re beautiful, Brook. I’ve always thought that.” She didn’t answer me so I backed down. I was getting close to a more personal confession, one I didn’t want to admit and one she didn’t want to hear. “I’m going to take a shower. You should come with me.”

  I crawled off the bed and padded to the bathroom. I didn’t want her to see that I was somewhat upset. I satisfied her, but was it enough? Was I enough? The nanny. I was a trope. Brook was a single mom, but still. I was the hired help. I wanted to loathe myself, my lack of willpower, but I was hopeless. I wasn’t in love with Brook, but I was damn close.

  The hot water felt amazing on my sore muscles. I stretched and narrowly missed punching Brook.

  “I’m so sorry.” I grabbed her head and kissed it before turning to get her under the hot stream.

  She laughed. “Mental note, don’t sneak up on Cassie in the shower.”

  I watched as she wet her hair, allowing the water to cascade over her. Her hips flared out just enough from her waist to give her a nice hourglass figure. She was definitely the curvier of the two of us.

  “I really like your curves.” I washed her back and ran the sponge over her chest and down her legs.

  Brook took the loofah from me. “My turn,” she said. The soap smelled like oranges and vanilla. I smiled because I’d smelled it on her for weeks. “Holy shit.”

  “What?”

  “Your knees. They’re raw.” She looked up in surprise.

  “I was kind of on them a lot tonight,” I said and looked at hers. They, too, were slightly pink.

  “No skirts for you for a few days.”

  She was careful to wash around my knees. By the time we were done, we were wrinkled, laughing, and just being sweet with one another. It was nice. She had terry robes for us on the towel warmer. “Cassie, I owe you. Thank you for a fantastic night. I know that’s a weird thing to say, and our dynamic is completely out of the norm, but I really appreciated the time to just lose myself in you.”

  Her words didn’t warm my heart, but I knew what she meant. That was all she could give at the moment, and I relished it.

  “Let’s go back to bed. We have eight hours before Noah gets home,” I said.

  She stopped me and pulled me close. “Happy New Year, Cassie.”

  Before I could say it back, or anything at all, she kissed me, and all the doubt I’d had since we left the bed vanished as I kissed her back.

  * * *

  “Breakfast in bed.”

  I grumbled when I felt a poke in my back.

  “We have only three hours left.” Brook handed me a cup of coffee and made me sit up so she could put the tray over my lap.

  “Didn’t we just go to bed?” I asked.

  “You can sleep all day today. I have to wrangle and entertain a six-year-old.”

  I looked down at the tray. “Wow, you’ve really outdone yourself. Eggs Benedict?” I lowered my voice. “Oh, my God. Is Patrick downstairs?”

  She laughed and took one of the plates off of the tray. “No. It’s still just us. I do know how to cook some things. Anthony rubbed off on me, I guess.”

  I kissed her. “Thank you for fixing me breakfast. That was sweet of you.” I tried to figure out how to eat, make love to her, and stretch out the three hours as long as I could. I hated that we fell asleep but was thankful she woke up early and we had this time together.

  “Okay, so this is going to sound clingy or whatever, but what happens now? With us, I mean?”

  Brook’s fork froze midair. Shit. At least I didn’t ask her when she had a mouthful of food.

  “I’m not really sure. I don’t know what the rules are or what happens next. I’m not ready to have a relationship in front of Noah. And I need to be certain that whatever relationship I do have, it’s for the right reasons.”

  My heart landed in my stomach. “So, this was just for fun? I’m confused.”

  She touched my hand. “No. This wasn’t just for fun, but a relationship like this will be hard. I work a lot. I’m fourteen years older. You’re still in college with your whole life in front of you. I don’t want you to feel any obligation to me. Then there’s the added stress of defending our relationship in front of others.”

  I swallowed hard but didn’t look at her. I couldn’t. “So, we go back to boss and employee Monday? I just need to know if this was a holiday thing.”

  She turned so she was facing me. “It wasn’t a holiday thing. I don’t want to stop, but I don’t want you to think that I’m using you for sex. You mean more to me than you can imagine. I just don’t think either one of us is in a place for a long-term thing right now.”

  My heart fluttered back up to my chest and throbbed. Not from excitement but dread. This was not how I wanted to start off the new year. “No, I get it. It’s just going to be hard to see you and not want to touch you or lower my guard.”

  She ran her hand down my cheek and cupped my chin. “It’s going to be harder for me. Especially since I know how incredible you are.” She sealed that sentiment with a soft kiss. Not a passionate one, but one that hinted of finality. “Let’s just have a nice time until Noah gets back. Please?”

  I couldn’t deny Brook anything. I nodded and ate a bite of toast. It took everything I had to swallow. I sipped my orange juice to get it down. We spent the next hour talking about mundane things like the news and resolutions. She asked me about the rest of my day. I told her I was going to do laundry and see Nana.

  “Noah and I will go see my parents. We usually have a dinner over there.”

  “Sounds like fun. I’m glad Noah has a good relationship with them.”

  “I love that you genuinely care for him. He’s come out of his shell so much this year. I know a lot of it is because of you and the relationship you’ve carefully built with him. You take the time to listen.”

  I waved her off. “Some kids are late bloomers. Plus, he’s six. And he’s quiet and sweet. I couldn’t have asked for a better kid. You know the hell I went through with Emma.”

  I decided it was time to leave this paradise, put on clean clothes, and get my first day of the new year started. Brook was already dressed for the day. “Do you happen to know where my panties are?”

  She smiled. “I made a neat little pile for you in the bathroom.”

  “I’m going to get dressed. Thanks again for the breakfast in bed.” I tried to sound chipper, like this final hour wasn’t shredding my heart into tiny pieces.

  “I’ll see you downstairs.”

  I watched her gather up the dishes and breeze out of the room. How could she be fine? How could she seem so unaffected? I headed to the bathroom and smiled at the folded pile of clothes. My briefs were at the bottom of the pile sans dildo. I wanted to try everything with her. The tease of wearing it only fueled my desire to fuck her more. I had the emotion and desire to be invested in a relationship. She had a point, though. It was going to be hard with her schedule and mine, but I was willing to try. I went downstairs dressed, my emotions in check.

  “Not that I was prying, but you have a ton of missed calls. I kept hearing a buzzing noise in the living room and saw your phone,” Brook said.

  “Oh, crap. I left it down here last night.” For the first time in forever, I didn’t care about social media or anything newsworthy. Being cocooned with Brook was the best way to start a new year. I was going to make her notice me, want me, need me. Right then it rang again. “Ugh. It’s my mother, probably wanting to wish me a happy new year.”

  “Maybe you should answer it just in case,” Brook said.

  “Hello, Mother. What’s going on?”

  “Cassandra! We’
ve been trying to reach you for hours.” My mother’s frantic voice was so loud, I had to hold the phone away from my ear. I rolled my eyes at Brook.

  “Well, I’m here now.”

  “Honey, it’s Nana. She passed away last night.”

  I don’t remember much after that. My mom said a few more things, but I dropped the phone and slid down the kitchen island until I hit the floor. Brook yelled something at me, but I just shook my head. I watched her pick up my phone and reach for me. I saw nothing after that.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  When I was in Brook’s arms, Nana passed away. They said her heart just gave out. I knew she wasn’t feeling well, but I was so eager to be with Brook that I blew her off. That was going to weigh on me the rest of my life.

  “Honey, it’s not your fault. You talked to her, and she only said she was tired. You have to understand that Nana was just at that age. She wasn’t going to last forever,” Mom said. She stroked my hair and tried hard to snap me out of my trance.

  The funeral was this afternoon. I’d been almost catatonic for three days. After my parents had delivered the horrible news, they’d picked me up from Brook’s and taken me home. My father made all the arrangements while my mother consoled me. Her mother had died. I should have been the one consoling her, but my relationship with Nana had helped me in so many ways I never thought she would leave me, voluntarily or not.

  “She loved you so much. She always talked about you, even when you and I weren’t speaking.”

  That only made me cry harder. “Why did it have to happen now? We were supposed to have more time together.”

  “It’s unfair. But she wouldn’t want you to be sad. You have too much good going on in your life. She would want you to dust yourself off, celebrate her life, and do the best you can with yours.”

  I cried harder. My mom was right. Nana would be kicking my ass right now if she saw me wallowing in self-pity. I took a deep breath and made myself sit up. Mom handed me a tissue, and I blew my nose. I took another deep breath. “What happens now?”