by Cathryn Fox
“I’d invite you in, but I need to get a good night’s sleep for work tomorrow,” I say, all the while thinking about that tub of ice cream in my freezer.
“No worries. I’m beat too.” She’s about to leave, but stops. “When they’re back, do you want to go on a double date?”
“Uh, well. Rider and I aren’t dating, but we could go out for dinner or something. If he wants to, that is.”
“Okay, I’ll talk to Kane, and you talk to Rider and let me know. By the way, Kane’s birthday is coming up and when we were at Nelly’s last week, Rider asked me if I’d help him out with the surprise. He wants to get the guys all together, and I think he’s having it at his place.”
“That sounds like fun.” I say. Nope, not going to feel all silly inside that he didn’t ask me to help—or invite me to attend. That would be a mistake. We don’t want his friends to get the wrong idea. I wave her off and make my way inside, but the second I enter my condo, memories of last week, the way Rider scooped me up in the kitchen and took me in the bedroom, fill my thoughts.
“Hey Peaches,” I say when she sidles up to me, rubbing against my leg. “I missed you too.”
I step further into my place, flicking lights on and turning the radio up in the kitchen. As the music blares, it soothes me, and I toss my purse onto the table. My phone pings, and I ignore it for a second, assuming it’s Lindsay letting me know she’s home safe. She’s just around the corner, but we look out for one another, and we have an agreement that we let the other know when we’ve locked ourselves in for the night.
I refill Peaches’ drink bowl, and fish my phone from my purse. When I do, the stupid invisible band around my chest loosens.
Rider: Did you catch tonight’s game?
Jules: It happened to be on the TV at Nelly’s.
Rider: Sorry you had to suffer through it.
Jules: You okay?
Rider: Yeah why?
Jules: I saw you get hit.
I stare at my phone, watch the three dots for a long time. Whatever he’s writing, it must be long. A wave of uneasiness weaves its way through my bones. He was hit rather hard, and Lindsay did say he had a concussion last year. Maybe he’s not okay.
Rider: I’m good.
Whatever he was going to say, he must have changed his mind, which leaves me a little unconvinced that he’s good.
Jules: You sure?
Rider: Yeah, why? Worried about me?
Jules: I worry about all my friends. You’re not feeling dizzy, are you? Headache?
Rider: I don’t have a concussion, if that’s what you’re wondering.
Jules: Just checking.
Rider: Goddamn nurses.
Jules: HAHA. Goddamn hockey players, and you guys did good tonight. Everyone at the bar went crazy.
Rider: Thanks. Can you go on Skype?
Jules: Um, don’t you have company?
Rider: What are you talking about?
Okay, I need to word this so I don’t come off sounding jealous, or possessive. I don’t want a relationship with this man and he doesn’t want one with me.
Jules: I thought you guys celebrated after a game.
Rider: I bailed. What are you wearing?
I laugh out loud, and Peaches darts into the other room. Okay, so Candy was straight up lying to me, and I don’t want to examine how happy I am about that.
Before I can text back, my phone alerts me that a Skype call is coming in.
A little yelp jumps from my throat and I run to the bathroom to check myself in the mirror. I know what’s between us is only sex, but I pinch my cheeks and tidy my hair in my ponytail. You’re beautiful. As his words rush through my brain, I slide my finger across the screen and as soon as his face comes in to view, my heart beats a little faster. How is it possible that he gets more handsome by the day? I thought this physical attraction to him would eventually wear off, but if anything, I want him more and more.
“Hey,” he says sounding a little breathless, his hair a bit damp from a recent shower.
“Where are you?” I ask, and try to see what’s behind him.
He looks around and shakes his head. “Another random hotel room.”
I head upstairs to get comfortable, but he has a strange expression on his face. In fact, the wingman with the sense of humor seems a bit lonely. Concern niggles in the pit of my stomach.
“You sure you’re okay?” I ask as I grip my curtains and tug, closing out the night.
“Yeah.”
“How come you didn’t go out to celebrate?”
“Didn’t feel like it?”
“What’s Kane going to do for a wingman?” I tease as I enter my room and plop down onto my bed.
“I guess he’s on his own.” He bites his lip, like he always does when he’s about to say or do something dirty. “Show me what you’re wearing.”
I shrug. “Just my regular clothes.”
“Okay then, show me what’s underneath.”
A thrill goes through me. “I am not doing that.”
“Why the hell not? I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.”
Okay, now that is tempting.
“Remember, you touched yourself for me the other night,” he says, his voice growing gruffer. God, I love the huskiness to his tone. It arouses me even more.
“Yes,” I answer, my breathless voice giving away the desire building in me. Rider’s telltale grin lets me know he’s aware of my arousal. Honestly, I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s inappropriate and naughty and I have to say, I like it. I like it a lot.
The sound of a zipper releasing reaches my ears.
“Are you undressing?” I ask, as my pulse jumps in my throat.
“Yeah,” he murmurs. “I want you to do the same, but put your phone somewhere so I can watch.”
I prop my phone up on my nightstand, and climb to my feet. My God, am I really going to do this? I reach for the hem on my t-shirt, and Rider says, “Slowly.”
I laugh at that, and while I’d normally feel silly and vulnerable, everything in the way he’s watching me from his hotel room in Vancouver, fills me with confidence and bravado.
I move my hips and he grunts and shifts, getting comfortable on his bed. My T-shirt tickles my skin as I slowly peel it over my head and toss it aside. My bra is black lace, a luxury, and Rider’s eyes latch onto my breasts.
“Yeah, I like that,” Rider moans. “Keep going?” I slide my thumbs into my jeans, and move them around as I wiggle. “Killing me, Jules.” He tugs his shirt off and I take that moment to admire his hard body. My mouth waters and if I try hard enough, I can almost smell his freshly showered skin.
I pop the button on my pants, and slide the zipper down. I wasn’t expecting to strip in front of anyone tonight, so I’m not wearing anything special beneath my pants, but when I slide my jeans to my knees, a low moan of appreciation rumbles in his throat.
“You are so sexy.”
I tug on the elastic band on my panties, but don’t remove them. He groans at my teasing and I grin. “Your turn,” I say. “I want to see.” He sets his phone down, and stands. He makes short work of his pants, which were already undone and I admire his black boxers, which hug his package so nicely. This friends with benefits thing is kind of fun. “Keep going.”
He tugs his shorts off and his beautiful cock pops free, and while I’m excited, I’m also disappointed that I can’t take him into my mouth or hands. I moan, and my nipples pucker against the lace.
“Like what you see?” he asks.
“Yeah, you? I lean toward the phone, wanting his touch, but knowing it won’t bring him any closer to me.
“Oh, yeah, but I need to see more.”
I reach behind and unhook my bra and before he can ask, I take my breasts into my hands, and rub my thumbs over my nipples. I toss my head back and whimper as my body comes alive.
“Fuck, I want my mouth on you,” he says.
“I want that too.” I don’t think I�
��ve ever wanted a man’s touch so badly before.
“Take your panties off and show me your sweet cunt,” he says and his dirty talk fires me up even more.
“Is this what you want, Rider?” I ask and hook my thumbs into my panties. Ever so slowly I peel them down my legs and toss them aside. I stand back up, and knock my knees together.
“Oh no you don’t. Spread. Now.”
Heat zings through me. “Is this what you want to see?” I ask, loving this sexy game we’re playing. I slowly spread my thighs, giving him a view of my needy sex.
“Are you wet?”
“Yeah,” I murmur.
“Open up, show me,” he commands in a soft voice as he takes his cock into his hand and gives a couple hard tugs. Light shimmers on the pre-cum pooling on his slit.
“I wish I could taste you,” I say and swallow. He dips into the cum with his finger and uses it for lubricant. “If I had my mouth on you right now, I’d want you to come down my throat.”
“Jesus fuck, Jules.” His cock jumps in his hand and I grin. “I never knew you were such a tease.”
“I’m not teasing. I’m serious.”
“Let me see you,” he grunts out as he cups his balls.
I reach between my legs, and open my sex lips, exposing my pink wetness to him. My fingers brush my clit and I moan in bliss.
“Your hot little cunt needs my attention.”
“Yes,” I hiss out, and slide my finger over my engorged nub.
“Since I can’t be there, you’re going to do it for me.” He shuffles and flattens himself on his mattress. “Get on the bed.”
I climb onto the bed, and adjust the phone so he can see me. “Put your hands back between your legs, and touch yourself for me, Jules.” I do as he says, and his low growl vibrates around me. “Feel good, babe?”
“Yes, but not as good as when you touch me.”
“Fuck, if I could, I’d be on a flight home tonight.” I love the urgency and anxiousness in his voice. “Tomorrow is too far away.”
“Feels like forever,” I mutter, and slide a finger into my core. “Oh, god, yes,” I say. “I am so wet.”
“Look at my cock, babe.” I angle my head, study the way his hand is working his cock. It’s erotic…sexy. I whimper and squirm, loving the way he’s manhandling himself. “I’m going to fill you with this as soon as I see you.”
I stare, mesmerized as he strokes himself, and without conscious thought, I lick my lips in heated anticipation of touching him.
“You like watching?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“First time you’ve seen something like this?” He grunts some more and double fists himself as he lifts slightly from his pillow. His muscles are taut, and his nostrils are flaring as his breathing changes, becomes a little more labored.
“Well, not exactly.” Heat warms my cheeks at the admission.
“Not exactly? Care to explain.”
“It’s my first time in person,” I admit, and he snickers at the fact that I’ve watched porn. But I love the openness and honesty between us.
“Have you always watched, or just recently?” he murmurs.
“When my ex…I wanted to get better.”
“You know that was on him.”
“Some of it was on me, Rider. I was going through the motions. I was rigid.”
His eyes narrow, and it’s clear he wants to probe, but instead he says, “And now?”
“It’s different with you. You helped me let my guard down in the bedroom.”
His lips turn up, and his eyes brim with desire. Never in my life have I felt so worshipped. What was it that Lindsay said about a man worshipping me?
“I want to take you to the highest cliff and jump off with you.”
“Yes, please...”
“I mean that literally. I want you to experience all the thrills outside the bedroom too.” A knot of fear tightens inside me, but in the softest, gentlest voice, he says, “You’re safe with me.”
“I know,” I say. I might be afraid to love, to open my heart, and to be quite honest, it’s a bit shocking at how quickly I’d given him my body, how protected he makes me feel.
“My cock wants inside you. I want your hot juices all over me.” My sex muscles quiver, desperate to be filled by him, to feel his every hard ridge sliding in and out of my body. “Can you touch your tits for me?” I keep one hand between my legs and cup my breast with the other. “You are so goddamn perfect.”
“Rider,” I murmur.
“Yeah, that’s it, say my name when you come for me. I fucking love that.”
I love everything that we’re doing.
“I’m so close,” I manage to get out as my brain swirls and my lids drift shut.
“Look at me. I want to see you when you come.” I force my eyes open, and they’re slow to focus when he says, “I’m right here with you. So goddamn close, too. Christ, all I wanted to do after the game was take a hot shower and whack off as I thought about putting my cock in you, but then Skype… Fuck….” His voice falls off as his hands work faster, and his shameless grunts push me to the edge.
“I want you so much, I might make a mess of your sweet cunt,” he growls. “Might mess you up real good next time.”
If you’re not careful, Jules, he’s going to mess up your heart.
I push that thought aside, wanting only to concentrate on his face and words as I tumble over. “Yeah…” I murmur my hips coming off the bed as my orgasm takes shape and grips me hard.
“I might not be able to go slow and easy,” he warns in a gruff voice.
“Who says I want that?” I say, deciding here and now, I want to experience everything with this man.
“You want me to take you hard and fast, baby?”
“You took such good care of me, Rider. Maybe I want to do something for you now.”
“Yeah? Like what?”
“Maybe I’ll wear a short skirt with no panties, and I’ll bend over this bed, and let you take what you want.”
“Motherfucker,” he curses and lets loose a loud grunt. I grin, loving how I get to him. “I’m dead,” he adds.
Talking dirty to him, and seeing his heated reactions, pushes me over the edge. My entire body quakes, almost violently, and I work my finger inside myself as my orgasm takes over. I gasp, and come and come some more, my entire body a hot mess, my sex muscles gripping my finger hard as I quiver helplessly on the bed.
“Rider,” I call out, and pant as pleasure pulses through me, a deep throbbing wave of relief that drains every bit of tension from my body.
“Yes,” he growls and his hand stills as he shoots cum all over his hard stomach. It fills the grooves, and drips down his sides.
“My God,” I murmur, my mouth thirsting for a taste of him as my limbs turn to rubber. We both go quiet for a long time, lost in bliss, but our eyes never leave our phones. A comfortable silence arcs between us and his lids briefly fall shut. When they open again, he smiles at me.
“Feel good, babe?”
“Yeah, you?” I ask, my breathing changing to a slow easy rhythm as sleep pulls at me.
“Yeah, but we’re both going to feel a whole lot better when I get home and bend you over that bed.”
My heart leaps with excitement, eager to do everything with this man except fall for him. Yeah, that’s out of the question and not going to happen in a bazillion years. I can’t let it because I can’t give more than this.
Right?
9
Rider
I try not to fidget with my ball cap, try not to take it off and put it back on again as I sit beside Kane, who seems in no hurry to put the pedal to the metal and get us the hell home. I might have slept well last night after Skyping with Jules, but this afternoon, I’m in a hurry to see her, get my hands on her—up close and in person this time. Unfortunately, that will have to wait a little while longer. Last night before we ended our call, she mentioned that she was filling in for someone, a long twelve-hour
shift. But tonight…oh tonight the things I plan to do with her once I get her in my grasp.
“What’s the matter with you?” Kane asks, casting me a sidelong glance as he adjusts the volume on the radio.
“Nothing.” I stare out the window, watch the road signs fly by. “Just tired.”
“You don’t look tired.” He lifts his paper cup from the console and takes a drink. I’ve already downed my coffee, and it’s fueling my anxiousness. “You look wired.”
“I’m fine.”
“Plans for tonight?”
“Not really. Probably just hang out with Jules. Maybe grab a bite to eat.” Yeah, I plan to put all kinds of goodness into my mouth tonight. Starting with her gorgeous breasts. My dick comes to life at that thought, and I shift. No need for my brother to see my boner. Nope, no need for that at all.
“Lindsay mentioned something about a double date next weekend.” He flicks on his signal and passes Grampa in the big-ass Dodge in front of us. “Did Jules say anything to you?”
“No, and we’re not dating. We’re just hanging out.”
He chuckles. “And fucking. Don’t forget the fucking…”
My gaze flies to his. “Your point is?”
“Nothing.” He shrugs. “She seems like a nice girl.”
“Yeah, she is,” I say. Jules is a strong, beautiful, fiercely independent woman who likes it when I take over, giving her the freedom to relax and feel safe in the bedroom. Damn, I like that about her. But I’d be wise not to develop any deeper feelings for her. She told me she wasn’t looking for more—and I’m not, either. But it confuses me since she has white picket fence and family written all over her. It does make me wonder, once again, why she’s so afraid. Jason wrecked her confidence, but who hurt her heart?
“She knows you’re not looking for anything serious?” His eyes move over my face. “Unless you changed your mind on that.”
“Yeah, she knows, and no, bachelor for life, dude.” I stretch my legs out, and while I might look relaxed, the sandwich I’d eaten on the plane churns in my stomach and threatens to make a second appearance. “You and Lindsay a thing? Getting serious?”
“I like her,” he says.
“I hope it works out. That might get Jaclyn off my back for a while,” I joke.