“Lie face down on the bed,” he said, pulling the towel away from her body.
“Why?” A sharp note entered her voice as she grabbed for the towel. Fatigue weighed her down, and once again, she kicked herself for letting him bring her here.
“I’m not going to hurt you. I have massage oil to help with your sore muscles. I’ll rub it on for you. That’s all.”
“Oh. Okay,” she said, slivers of guilt nipping at her. She’d sounded bitchy. Way to go, Maggie. Drive him off. That will make you happy and appease your guilty conscience at the same time.
She stretched out on her back in the middle of the bed. “The fronts of my legs hurt. Could you do them first?” Thank goodness for the scanty light. Although he’d seen her naked, she felt vulnerable in an unclothed state. She snorted. And wasn’t that great? Imagine a woman who wanted her ass smacked and yet she didn’t want to show her boyfriend her naked butt. A few contradictions there, that was for sure.
To her relief, Connor smiled, unperturbed by her grumpiness.
He reached for a small glass bottle. “Your wish is my command.” Unscrewing the cap of the bottle, he poured some of the contents into his palm before setting it aside. He rubbed his palms together before joining her on the bed.
Lavender, sandalwood and an herby scent she couldn’t indentify filled the room.
“It might be a little cold at first,” he warned, straddling her legs.
She winced at his first touch, but the oil warmed as he rubbed it on her right thigh. His fingers glided over tense muscles, rubbing with increasing pressure, a combination of kneading and feathering strokes that felt good after the initial pain. He moved up and down her legs and Maggie relaxed, letting her eyes close to savor his magic touch.
“I need more oil,” he said, his voice husky.
“Okay.” He could do anything he liked if only he continued touching her with those gifted fingers.
The mattress shifted as he moved, depressing again when he returned. He massaged her calves and feet before moving up her legs again. She expected him to tell her to turn over but he massaged the rest of her body, moving slightly and parting her legs. His fingers stroked across her inner thighs and slipped closer to her labia, skimming near enough for the massage to take a distinct turning into sexual territory.
Then he moved, his hands gliding across her hips, her waist. Taking his time he worked up her body. Although disappointed in the direction of his massage, she wasn’t about to tell him to stop when it felt so good. Already her sore muscles were a dim memory. Maggie released her stress, enjoying the rich tang of the massage oil and Connor’s steady breathing as he worked.
He stopped to get more oil and worked it into her breasts. He circled them, working closer and closer to her nipples. With a finger and thumb, he stroked them, tugging in a manner that sent a bungee cord of pleasure to her pussy.
“Does that feel good?”
“Superb,” she purred.
Gradually, he released the pleasure and worked upward, stroking her shoulders and rubbing in the oil until she turned limp and pleasure skimmed her body along with his touch.
“Turn over for me, Maggie.”
Her eyes flew open.
“May as well do the job properly, babe.”
She turned over, grinning into the pillows, despite a sliver of unease. Maybe Connor would get lucky tonight. Need pulsed through her. Although her muscles felt loose and limber, other parts of her grew decidedly tense. When he straddled her body again, the heavy weight of his erection pressed against her lower back. Her grin widened. Looked as if they’d both enjoy themselves tonight.
Connor started with her shoulders, nimble fingers rubbing, stroking and feathering her flesh until her mind wandered in blissful relaxation. He moved down her body, his talented hands working closer to her butt in all its naked glory. What would he do if she asked him to give her a swat or two?
Her breath caught, arousal unfurling inside as her imagination took flight. She chewed her bottom lip, trying not to tense and undo his good work.
Connor stroked her shoulders, letting his thumbs press into her muscles, his fingers glide over smooth flesh. He enjoyed touching her like this—having the freedom to handle her without restraint or worrying about anyone else noticing.
His hands drifted downward, easing his strokes as he skimmed her lower back to work her upper glutes. Her backside was curvy. Rounded. Uncharitable people might call it plump, but he loved Maggie’s appearance. He pressed his fingers into the muscles, his mind drifting to spanking. Maybe he could give her an experimental swat or two at the end of the massage.
The last time he’d given her a swat had made for great sex. Hot sex. But no matter how much he rationalized spanking in his mind, told himself it was something she wanted, he hesitated. He couldn’t reconcile pain and sex—good sex—together.
Yeah, he’d read Maggie’s blog posts, he’d done a little research on the Internet. Hell, he’d even swallowed his embarrassment and talked to his mother and Frank. It might have been easier if he’d sucked up his discomfiture and talked to Maggie about spanking, but he couldn’t tell her he knew about the blog when Julia had sworn him to secrecy.
And, as far as he knew, Maggie hadn’t experienced spanking in person. Thinking about doing and doing it were two different things. What would happen if he spanked her and she hated it? What would happen if their relationship changed because of the spanking?
Mind in turmoil, he continued the massage on automatic pilot. He skipped down to her thighs and calves, paying close attention to the muscles used most in running.
“You’re fantastic at that,” she mumbled.
“I excel at a lot of things.”
“Like what?”
“Is that doubt I hear in your voice?” he asked. “Because I’m telling the truth. I have lots of hidden talents.”
“Tell me.”
Connor laughed. “Where’s the fun in that?” He ran his fingers up the back of one thigh, his hand coming to rest on her butt. “You need to discover them on your own.”
“You’re blowing smoke.”
“But I’m good at massage. I have you purring like a kitten.”
“That’s true,” she murmured. “You have magic fingers.”
“And I make you hot.” She set him on fire. Connor tried to ignore his rising urgency, but the tight jeans were crowding his cock.
“Also true.”
Satisfaction filled him at her admission. He wanted her to need him, as much as he needed her. For the first time in years, he hadn’t looked at another woman or become uneasy in a relationship. He didn’t want out. “I told you this would work between us.”
“It does, but I don’t like keeping secrets.”
“We could tell the others—”
“No.” Maggie’s raised voice echoed with finality. “I don’t want them to look at us differently or speculate about when we’ll breakup. I don’t want to explain our arrangement.”
Connor frowned. “Are you ashamed of being with me?”
“No, of course not.” Maggie turned to meet his gaze. “I enjoy being with you.”
Connor gave a swift nod, although her reply didn’t reassure him. “Turn back onto your stomach. I’ll finish your other leg.”
She followed his instructions, placing her face in her arms and relaxing. Spending time with Maggie was what he wanted, but it was a minefield trying to keep everything straight. He hated the dishonesty. Tangled bloody webs and juggling balls. Connor snorted and feathered strokes across her hamstrings, working his way back to her glutes.
“Finished,” he said, staring at her backside. Do it. Give her a quick swat. It’s what she wants. Before he could think a second longer, he lifted his hand and gave her a half-hearted slap across her buttocks. “All done.” He stared, trying to measure her reaction. Pity he couldn’t see her face. “How do you feel?”
“Good.”
“My massage skills must be lacking if it was onl
y good.”
She rolled over, a broad grin on her face. “One problem. Your massage skills are clearly superior, but I don’t feel relaxed.” She ran her tongue across the sweep of her bottom lip. “I feel…” She paused again, teasing lighting her eyes. “…incredibly horny.”
Horny? Hell, worked for him. Connor climbed off the bed and shrugged out of his shirt. He unfastened the button on his jeans and slid down the zipper. The low whine sounded loud in the quiet room. He pushed his jeans and boxer-briefs down over his hips and grabbed a condom.
“Let me put it on for you.”
Connor shrugged and handed it over. He watched her while she ripped open the foil packet.
“Come here.” She patted the bed beside her. “Lie down.”
“Are you seducing me, Ms. Drummond?”
Maggie let out an unfeminine snort. “Look at the state of you. You’re easy.”
“I wasn’t the one who admitted they were horny.”
“True.” She fumbled as she rolled the condom onto his erection. The tiny flash of uncertainty and nerves charmed him. Made him relax. “It’s your fault.”
He placed his hands under his head and watched her, enjoying the sway of her breasts.
“You know you’ve turned me into a breast-man,” he said. “I used to think I was a leg-man. I was wrong. Your tits do it for me.”
“Ah, thanks, I think.” With the condom rolled onto his cock, she hesitated. “Stop staring at me.”
“Why? It was a compliment. I find you very attractive. Sexy.”
“Here’s the thing. Most women dislike their bodies or there are things they want to change. I try to like my body. I really do. It’s just that it’s not always easy. Some men take pleasure in tearing a woman down, telling her she’s too fat or needs to exercise more.”
“I’m not one of those men.”
“You’re not. Even when you dragged me off to the gym or when you suggested running, you never made me feel as if I required improvement. You acted as a friend.”
Friend. Wow, that stung. “I always feel better after a workout. I thought you would too.” Connor studied her expression and jumped to a conclusion. “Did Greg tell you to lose weight?” His voice emerged in a low growl.
“Once or twice.”
“You did a good thing when you told him to take a hike.”
Maggie nodded. “I think so, but I don’t want to talk about him when we’re both naked.”
“And alone,” he added.
“Exactly.”
“Babe, I’m all yours. Do whatever you want.”
“I…” Confusion flooded her face and she chewed on her bottom lip again. That must hurt after a while. He grinned inside, guessing her problem. Yes, she touched him when they made love but normally he gave her orders or took charge. His offer had surprised her.
“Go on. It’s your chance to discover what I like.”
Her gaze darted to his cock and he laughed.
“Good start, babe.”
A cheeky grin bloomed and he stared, smitten by attraction. Lust. Need.
Damn, he wanted her.
“Where should I touch you first?” Maggie leaned over him and kissed his neck, his chest. Her mouth was hot and wet on his skin, her eyes heavy-lidded when she stared at him. She clambered over his body, lifted up and pushed down, taking his shaft inside her. Heat. Hot pressure. Slowly, she worked him into her pussy, siren-like with her hair swinging around her shoulders, her cheeks faintly pink and the sway of her breasts.
“Damn it, woman. Are you trying to kill me? Move faster.”
“This was your idea,” she countered, continuing at the same slow pace.
“Two can play at that game.”
Rising again, she tossed her head. “I don’t play games.”
She didn’t—a fact he appreciated.
Maggie paused. “I’ve never been able to come like this. What am I doing wrong?”
“I can touch you or you could touch yourself.” Why the hell couldn’t she ask him about spanking like that? Straight out. He’d never laugh or treat her like an idiot. “We’ll experiment until we get it right.”
Intense concentration marred the smoothness of her brow. She rose and fell getting into a rhythm.
“Try changing the angle,” he suggested, hoping like hell he could hold off long enough for her to experiment.
She twisted and squirmed and slipped the fingers of one hand between her legs. Her head fell back and soft, needy sounds emerged. She’d never looked more beautiful.
He reached up and stroked one breast, using more pressure when his fingers trailed over the tip. “Feel good?”
“Yes,” she said, going quicker, her eyes fluttering shut.
Connor watched the play of emotions over her face. If she thought he intended to let her go easily, she could think again. Now that he’d made love to her, spent time with her, he was more convinced than ever that they had a future. He moved with her, knowing she was close now. Releasing control, he allowed the heat and pressure to rampage through him as they slid together with exquisite friction. He pinched one distended nipple, flexed his hips.
Without warning she cried out, convulsing around his cock. She stilled and the clawing tension burst inside him. His cock jerked with explosive contractions, blistering waves of pleasure and satisfaction converging in him. He tugged her into his arms and held her, luxuriating in the aftershocks and the soft woman in his arms. His curvy woman.
Somehow he had to show Maggie her heart was safe with him. He’d hold her secrets close and nurture her dreams. All she needed to do was trust him.
Chapter Nine
Greg studied the group of friends as he passed the lunch room. It looked as if they were studying the gossip pages or discussing the latest scandal to hit parliament. A politician found in bed with a married woman. At least Maggie had the sense to feel embarrassment because her cheeks glowed and she fidgeted with discomfort. Greg made a scoffing sound. He did not understand why Maggie spent so much time with the bunch of losers. None of them possessed ambition. Granted Connor Grey had brains. The head of the IT department held him in high regard, but the man was a womanizer. He had a different woman on his arm every time Greg saw him.
Greg continued along the passage to his office, ignoring the traces of envy curling through him. The leggy blondes who spent time with Connor never gave him a second glance.
And as for the three women. Julia acted like a slut—the female version of Connor. Greg didn’t know the other two well, since he steered clear of them in the work environment. They were both secretaries and his accounting assistants dealt with that side of his work.
What was he going to do about Maggie?
She refused to speak to him at work, wouldn’t take his calls at home. The message box on her cell was getting a workout, and he’d stopped leaving them.
Greg dropped into his chair. He picked up a pen, tapping it on his pristine blotter pad while he tried to think of a way to contact Maggie. He needed to assemble an accounting team together to work on the Silverstone project. She wasn’t qualified, but it might not matter. At least she’d have to spend time with him. Work late to meet deadlines.
Perfect, he thought, mentally flitting over names to fill the rest of the personnel spots for the project. At worst, she could make coffee and run messages, liaise with the office and IT departments.
“Maggie, dear. You’re not getting away from me, not after the time I’ve invested in you.”
He gave a fleeting thought to one of their last conversations. Spanking. Now that had been weird. Way out of character. Surely, she couldn’t have been serious?
Connor scanned the room and shuddered at the speculative stares he intercepted from the women. He felt like a duck in the sights of a shooter’s rifle. No wonder sensible ducks headed for ponds in the middle of reserves come shooting season. A dark corner of the pub next door lured him like that duck pond.
“How long does this last?” he mumbled to Ju
lia.
Julia caught a woman staring and snickered. “Don’t be a baby. They won’t hurt you.”
He glanced at Maggie. He wanted to grab her and run. She didn’t belong here anymore than he did. Not that he could inform her of that. He cursed himself for allowing this situation to develop. What he should have done was tell Julia and the others he wanted Maggie and gone from there. Nah, that wouldn’t have worked. They would have pressured Maggie to turn down his request for a date. The four women thought he was incapable of settling with one woman. A touch of frustration brought a deep frown.
Once, that would have been true.
Even six months ago the accusation would’ve contained the ring of truth.
Things changed.
People changed.
A strident bell rang and a woman in a black dress and heels approached the waiting mike on the small stage at the front of the room. The din of excited chatter faded to quiet expectancy.
“Welcome to the first Auckland Speed Dating event. Thank you for coming tonight. Your attendance fee is going to a good cause—to aid research for the Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand.”
Thunderous applause erupted, and the apprehension in Connor abated. Each time he started to feel like a duck in the sights of a hunter, he’d remind himself this was for charity. And he’d keep an eye on Maggie. He didn’t want anyone else to get ideas about her.
Maggie belonged to him.
She just didn’t know it yet.
“When you registered for this event, you each completed a form with your details. When you checked in tonight, you received a number. That is your number for tonight. You should also have a second sheet with other numbers. Those numbers will be your dates for this evening.”
Connor shot Maggie a swift glance but failed to grab her attention. Irritation burst in him when he realized she was scoping out the competition. Scowling, he checked them out too, trying to decide what she might see in them. Call him big-headed, but they were a geeky-looking bunch. The closest guy—tall and skinny—looked as if he might run at the sight of a rugby ball. A dazed expression froze on his face when a woman approached him. Connor experienced sneaking sympathy. Don’t make eye contact! Too late, the guy offered the woman a tentative smile. She pounced.
Secret Lovers (Friendship Chronicles Book 1) Page 12