by Selena Blake
It gave her hope that Teo could come home and start the rest of his life.
When Dylan’s erection brushed her belly, she forgot all about her hopes for her brother. Reaching for the bar of soap in the corner, she lathered her hands and inspected all the body parts she wanted to wash.
She started at his shoulders, swirling the suds against his skin. There was a wound on his left shoulder and she made a mental note to ask him about it later. Right now, she wanted to ferret out other pieces of information.
Working lower, she memorized the feel of all his glorious muscles and taut skin. He was tanned from working outside without a shirt and she traced the skin where dark met light around his lean hips.
“Are you going to tell me why you spaced out in there?” she asked, nodding toward Mabel’s bedroom.
Ai yi yi, she really needed to stop thinking of it as Mabel’s bedroom. It had been, but now Dylan was going to be repainting, ripping out the old mauve carpet. Reya was sleeping in it. Heck, they’d just christened the bed. It wasn’t Mabel’s room any more.
“I thought we weren’t talking about that,” he rumbled, reaching for her hips.
She lathered her hands again and reached for his cock. He sucked in a breath.
“You weren’t talking about it, but I’d like to know.”
“Reya—”
“Don’t say it’s none of my business Dylan.” She stroked all the way down to the base of his shaft.
“What if it’s not?”
“Look at where my hand is right now and tell me it’s none of my business.”
To her surprise, he laughed. The deep, rich sound bounced off the shower walls and filled her with glee.
“I love your tenacity.”
“Don’t weasel your way out of the question.”
“I was worried things would change between us.”
“Of course they’ll change. They’ve always changed. You’ve changed since that first time we met and so have I.”
He nodded. “But I meant…between us. I don’t want to lose your friendship. And I don’t want to lose Teo either.”
Friendship? Her brain screeched.
Reya removed her hand from his cock and clamped it over her hip. She felt her temper rising and forced a deep breath into her lungs. Somewhere in the last two days she’d started to wonder if a fling was what she wanted.
The job in Switzerland made her realize just what she’d be losing and how badly she wanted to be with Dylan instead. Not just sex, but more…
All the feelings from her youth, her teenaged crush, and her admiration came together in a singular point of need.
“So help me, Dylan… If that was just a roll in the hay to you—”
“Of course it wasn’t.” His swift denial cut off her words and she felt a glimmer of hope.
But he didn’t elaborate, didn’t tell her what she needed to hear. Words, she realized, she’d been waiting half her life to hear.
“You should rinse off,” she said. Since she was suds free, she reached for the shower curtain.
This wasn’t how it was supposed to go, was it? Well, she’d succeeded in her mission of seducing Dylan. But now he didn’t want to lose her friendship? She didn’t want to lose his either but—
A strong hand spun her back and hot water sluiced over her skin. He crowded her against the shower wall and cool tile pressed against her ass.
“I don’t know what this is,” he said, waving a finger back and forth between them. “But it wasn’t a roll in the hay.”
She wasn't sure what else she could say except “I don't want to lose your friendship either.”
“Then we won't.” He slid a hand down her water slicked side and turned it till he cupped her mound. “How are you feeling?”
She loved that he was concerned about that. Not that she'd had many lovers, but none of them had been overly tender or caring about her after the deed was done.
In that respect, she felt fine. “Wonderful. A little sore. You got more than your share.”
His lips stretched into a feral smile. “Is that right?”
“You know you're hung like a horse.”
“Mmm...” The sound of pleasure rumbled around her and he tipped his head back as if soaking in the words. “You know how to stroke a guy’s ego.”
“That's not all I know how to stroke.”
She loved that she could finally let her bravado fly free with him. She adored how intense his eyes got when she fanned his flames.
“Show me.”
“No more talking about just being friends.” Right now, in this moment, friendship, platonic-let's-go-see-a-movie friendship was not what she wanted. Right now she needed him, this, a thorough and oh-so-hot lover driving her wild.
“Okay.”
She nodded and reached for the soap again.
“What should I talk about?”
“I don't think you're going to have the brain power to speak.”
She stared down at his long, meaty cock. Really more than his share. Using the bar of soap like a tongue, she swiped it up and down, paying particular attention to the tender spot beneath the head and the slit in the middle. Each movement had his muscles tightening. From the corner of her eye, she saw him brace one hand against the wall and the other against the shower curtain rod.
Smiling to herself, she lathered her hands again and put the soap away. Using both hands, she gripped him like a golf club and slowly stroked downward.
His groan was deep and long. She kept moving; up, down, up, down until she finally reached for his balls. Dylan's hips thrust toward her.
The water started to cool but she diverted her attention to the hot length between her hands. Paying particular attention to the sensitive underside, she massaged it softly with her thumb.
“Fuck, Reya...”
The naughty word and his needy tone sent a thrill through her. Even though she'd had the best orgasm of her life not half an hour ago, she was wet and ready to feel him inside of her again.
“Yes?” she purred.
“Rinse me off.”
She licked her lips and purred. “Gladly.”
Leaning right, she let the cold water hit him full on. His breath hissed between his teeth but she continued moving her hands over his skin, soothing the bite. Speaking of bite...
“I know what you're thinking, but that'll have to wait,” he said, his voice tense.
“You're turning down a blow job?” she asked, surprise lifting her brows.
“Turn around, gorgeous.”
As she faced the shower head, she heard the shower curtain rustle. The cold water made her shiver. Her teeth were seconds from chattering when he returned, his hot skin pressed against hers.
The head of his cock drove between her thighs and she clenched in anticipation. He smoothed a hand up her back.
“Put your hands over your head.” He slid his fingertips along her arms as she lifted them.
“What are you up to?”
Something tightened around her wrists and she looked up to see the tie-back from the shower curtain. He knotted the floral fabric around the shower head and gave it a quick tug.
Then, with icy water, falling over her skin, he cupped her breasts with his warm hands.
She moaned with pleasure and her channel flooded with another wave of moisture. Shimmying her hips, she let him know exactly what she needed. Another point of heat to warm her.
“Is this okay?” he asked, brushing her hair aside. Still massaging her breasts, he sucked on the side of her neck.
She thrust back against him.
“Very okay.”
She'd never been tied up before and though a teeny tiny voice in the back of her mind wondered why she liked it so much, she couldn't help but hang on and enjoy the ride. Knowing that he was in control should have sent alarm bells ringing, she knew that. In fact, she was surprised that the voice in her head wasn't louder.
But the way Dylan pinched her nipples in a slow squeeze-releas
e-squeeze-release pattern drove all thoughts from her mind until she was simply a conduit of the sweet pain and corresponding wave of pleasure. His ministrations grew firmer and she wiggled against him, driving his cock back and forth between her legs.
When she couldn't stand it anymore, she cried out for him. He let go of her nipples, cupped her breasts and lifted them to the water. The icy burst stung the hardened tips and her cry turned to a shout. The difference in temperature, in sensation, hurt so good.
She was practically panting by the time he cupped her mound and then drove a finger between her lower-lips. The friction of his fingertip against her clit made her quiver. That plus the shivering from the cold water almost made the quakes against his finger strong enough to make her come. Almost. She thrust her hips, needing just a little more pressure.
“Dylan!” Her voice was hoarse and needy.
“Need something?”
“You.” Always you.
He rocked his hips back and forth, driving his cock between her lips. He abandoned her clit and grasped her hips, tilting them back.
Oh God, yes.
So naughty and yet so very right. The head of his cock tapped against her a few times and she felt her flesh relax and open for him. The moment he was lined up she closed her eyes, ready to be carried away. His first thrust filled her. His second sent her soaring.
Her body flashed hot beneath the cool spray, her skin tightening. She felt a tender bite on her left shoulder and another orgasm roared through her.
“Oh—”
“You're so responsive,” he murmured, nibbling his way along the ridge of her shoulder until he got to the side of her neck. He drew lazy circles with his tongue that drove her wild even as she was coming down from a climax. His whisper sent another jolt of need through her, “And I'm not done with you, yet.”
Ordinarily, she'd say she was done. Time to untie me. But with him, his creative spirit and naughty mind, she couldn't help but want whatever he had in store for her.
She squeezed him with her inner muscles until he groaned.
“Careful, my little witch.”
Mmm... He’d never called her his little anything. She rather liked it.
She rather liked being bound and at his mercy.
“Make me come again, Dylan.” She couldn't help the plea in her voice.
“Gladly.” He cupped her breasts again, hiding them from the cold. “Just as soon as I'm ready.”
8
Friday afternoon, Reya dropped the grocery bags on the kitchen counter and flexed her fingers to get the blood circulating again. Served her right for forgetting her reusable bags, but she'd been distracted by thoughts of Dylan and entertaining his friends and what would happen when those friends left.
Okay, so she’d been thinking of the five insanely awesome orgasms he’d given her yesterday too. She’d certainly never look at Mabel’s shower curtain the same way again. And who knew cold water could make you come?
But it was time to get her mind out of the gutter. She had two hours to whip up a meal which was plenty of time. There'd even be a few extra minutes to freshen up and put on a flirty dress. She took it as a good sign that he was interested in entertaining, especially since he'd asked for her help.
After putting the perishables away, she strode down the hall looking for him. The house was quiet and both bedrooms were empty. Circling back she saw him standing on the back deck with a man she didn't recognize. She debated whether she should get started on dinner or say hello. But if this was the friend that was joining them for dinner, she wanted to be a good hostess and introduce herself.
They'd opened the windows to let the paint fumes out and as she stood there, Dylan's quiet words rushed toward her. “I'm done with that part of my life. I want normal, boring.”
“So there's nothing I can say to make you reconsider? Remind you that you're one of the best artists around? Rope tying won't be the same without you?”
Rope tying? Like in the rodeo?
Dylan snorted. “I—” He paused and hooked his hands over his hips. “I love the club. You've done an amazing job with it and expanding it and I appreciate the offer, I really do. But—”
“I don't want to twist your arm,” the other man said.
“I know and I appreciate that.”
“So this is it then? You're really out. Not coming back. Not going somewhere else?”
Reya realized she was eavesdropping on a whole conversation, one she was quickly realizing she was not supposed to hear and didn't comprehend. She started to step away from the window when Dylan's next words froze her to the floor.
“My life as a Dom is over.”
Reya pressed a hand against her mouth as her thoughts flew in fifty different directions. His life as a Dom? As in Dominant? Sure, he’d always been in charge, dominant but this was… that was…he was…
That explained so much. And yet, a thousand questions seemed to pop into her mind at once.
She forced her feet to move and went to her bedroom. The furniture sat in the middle of the room and the scent of paint hung heavy in the humid air.
Why hadn’t he told her? Something like that seemed rather important when getting involved with a woman. She didn’t need to know about his past as a SEAL, she preferred not knowing details. But this… It sounded like he tied women up for the fun of it. Men too?
The other guy seemed to think Dylan was an expert at it, so he had to have been doing it for years. What made him stop? Why was he changing his ways now? And honestly, could a Dalmatian really change his spots? Saying he wasn’t going to be a Dom any more didn’t mean he was going to stop tying women up, did it? He’d tied her up in the shower.
And to a lesser extent, he’d used the cuffs of the painting smock as a binding.
Her body heated at the memory but she stamped down on the desire for a reenactment. She needed to think this through. What else had he hidden? He knew about her previous relationships. She’d been an open book and thought he had too.
“Hey,” Dylan's voice echoed through her. She took a deep breath and told herself not to confront him right now. They couldn't have the discussion they so desperately needed with his friends arriving soon. “Didn't hear you get home.”
Home? She was starting to think that this whole fantasy week was just that, a day dream. Any minute she was going to wake up and be back in Spain waiting on her team to finish the project.
“The paint job looks good,” she forced the words out. “Makes the room seem brighter.”
“Thanks. So, I'm gonna take a shower before Joe and Baby get here. Let me know if you need help in the kitchen.” He strode closer as he spoke and by the time he'd finished speaking, he'd pulled her into his arms. “You could join me in the shower.”
She plastered on a fake smile she didn't feel. “I need to start dinner. You can set the table when you're ready.”
That wasn't what she wanted to say of course. What she really wanted to say was “you need to come clean. I need to know about that part of your life.”
For the first time in a long time she felt the burn of jealousy. How many partners had he had? How recently? How—
“Sounds good. I'm starving.” His words were laced with heat and they snapped her out of her spiral.
She shook a finger at him. “Go take a shower.”
Stepping out of his arms, she brushed by him and headed for the kitchen, her heart aching.
Joe and Baby were so cute together and it was obvious to Reya that Joe adored the woman clinging to his arm. She'd tried to hold her thoughts and fears back as she'd prepared the roasted chicken and was thankful to have a distraction.
“So how many developers are usually on your team?” Baby asked as they made their way to the table.
Dylan was quieter than usual and she couldn't help but wonder what was going through his mind. Dinner had been his idea; he'd invited Joe and Baby over.
Brushing aside her worries, Reya passed the platter of summer vegetable
s and focused her attention on Baby and Joe.
“Usually three or four. Sometimes less if another project needs to borrow someone. In Spain, I had five on the team because it was such a big project.”
“Wrangling a bunch of guys, that must be tough.”
Baby's comment made Reya smile for the first time in hours. “I'm used to it. Once they realize I know how to do what they do, I gain their respect. And they like me because I do the job they don't want to do.”
“That makes sense.” Baby turned her attention to Dylan. “What have you been up to, Dylan?”
“Just finishing a few things here. Now that the backyard is done and all the rooms are painted, I'm thinking I should just have an estate sale and get rid of as much as I can.”
That was news to Reya.
“On the other hand, I'm not sure there's anything of value here.”
“There's sentimental value,” Reya said.
“Of course.” He shrugged. “I'll ask Greg and JJ. They seem to have house flipping down to an art form.”
Baby beamed. “They do. JJ's really good with staging. I'm sure she'd help.”
Reya really liked the petite blonde. She was friendly, almost effervescent and she kept the conversation going. Reya appreciated that since she was struggling with finding something to say at the moment.
Before she knew it, everyone had finished eating. She was sure she’d muttered appropriate things but she was embarrassed that she’d zoned out so completely.
“I’ve got fresh fruit for dessert,” she said, hopping up to clear the table.
Baby gathered a few dishes and followed her to the kitchen.
“Dinner was delicious,” Baby said. “You’ll have to give me the recipe for keeping the chicken so moist. Joe’s going to domesticate me, I just know it.”
Reya laughed at the mock horror in Baby’s voice. “Sure thing.”
After putting the dishes in the sink, she gathered an old tray and arranged the plates of fruit she’d put together. “Nothing fancy, but I tasted everything as I was cutting it up,” she said.