by Candace Shaw
He cleared his throat and slid his hands into his slacks. “You can lie on your stomach.” His voice was deep and gruff as his thoughts were still on the sexual visions that had conjured in his head. He was proud of himself for holding out this long; however, he could see his plan flying out the window if she kept staring at him lustfully.
“Okay.”
Climbing up on the table, she placed her head down in the rounded pillow that saw through to the hardwood. She wiggled her body and exhaled.
He looked under the rounded pillow as she faced the floor. “Are you comfortable?” he asked.
“Yep.”
“Do you mind if I unsnap your bra? I would hate to get oil on it.”
“Sure. Go ahead. You can take it off.”
“With pleasure.”
Sean did so as his mind rewound to the night in her apartment when he’d kissed and licked her succulent breasts as she called his name over and over. He really didn’t know how he was going to get through this massage. He usually used massages as part of his foreplay, but hadn’t planned on going any further with her until he did something very important first.
Placing his palms in the bowl that held the warm oil, he rubbed his hands in it and proceeded to place them gently on her back. A soft moan escaped her lips and he had to restrain himself for placing his mouth on her skin. He kneaded her neck and shoulders which held a lot of pent up tension. Gliding his hands down her sides and back up to her shoulders, he continued to work out the knots he felt there. Her soft moans filled the room, but he tried to ignore them as he worked his way to her back, being careful not to press hard on her spine. His hands slid down further until he reached the top of her boy short’s band, but skipped her plump butt and massaged her thighs. Not that that was any better. They were just as juicy and tantalizing as her butt. He put some more oil on his hands and worked it into her legs. They were stiff like her neck.
“Mmm … that feels so good, Sean.”
“Thank you. Just relax and continuing breathing in and out.”
“Mmm … okay.
“Maybe you’ll fall asleep. I usually do.”
“Mmm … feels too damn good to sleep. I need to be awake.”
She continued moaning and purring in a sensual manner while he rubbed his hands over her body that was now slick and soft from the oil.
“Can you come back up to my neck?” she asked.
“Of course. Any other requests?”
“Can you put your lips there as well?”
A devilish grin widened across his face as he lowered his lips to the back of her neck. He circled his tongue slowly up and down from the nape to her hairline and around to her left ear. “Is that what you wanted?” he whispered in her ear, flicking his tongue around it while he intertwined his hand into her hair.
“Mmm hmm. Don’t stop.”
He moved his tongue lower, traveling it over her body where his hands had massaged. His finger trailed along the band of her boy shorts, and her body vibrated under his lips. He pressed his mouth to the small of her back while holding onto her hips. Groaning, he controlled himself from jumping on the table with her. His finger continued to roam around the band that he desperately wanted to pull down.
She sighed out anxiously. “Take them off.” She reached her hand back to pull her panties off, but he placed it back on the headrest followed by a pop to her butt. He loved the way it jiggled and popped it again.
“You asked me to, remember?” With his teeth, he grasped the material and drew them down to her thighs to expose her rounded bottom. He palmed each cheek and massaged them gently. Dipping his hands into the oil, he rubbed it into her buttocks, deepening his palms with every passing second. The soft groans she exerted grew louder and more intense especially when he kissed one cheek and then the other. Parting them, he slid his tongue down in-between until he reached her moist center and delved the tip of it in.
“Sean … yes … oh my goodness … yes!”
Traci’s hips rotated against his tongue as if she wanted more, but he licked it all the way back up until he reached her neck.
“Why are you teasing me?”
“How about I do this instead?”
The instead was sliding one finger into where he’d just left and darted it in and out, causing her to moan and squeal out incoherent words. He continued his finger action, sometimes rubbing his hand on her mound or slipping a finger or two back inside her slick canal as she clenched around them. His pulse race as he tried to hold back the urge to flip her over and become one with her once and for all. Her orgasmic cries were the best song he’d ever heard, and he wondered how much louder and passionate she would be if he was inside of her, staring down at her lovely face. That way he could see some of the beautiful expressions she created; unfortunately, he couldn’t enjoy them now because at the moment she was face down and staring at the floor.
He glided his tongue down her back and once again positioned it where she wanted it. This time he licked slowly, drinking the juices she’d spilled when his fingers were there. She was the sweetest tasting woman he’d ever had the pleasure to savor. Her moans continued to fill his ears and he had to see her expression; he needed to witness the bliss on her face that he’d placed there. He raised his mouth for a moment and popped her bottom just to see it jiggle once more.
“Turn over on your back.”
Raising herself up, she glanced at him over her shoulder with a sensual glare and did as instructed. Her eyes were hazy and dark, and her face was beautiful against the candlelight. She wore a satisfied smile, but he wasn’t done driving her crazy. He pulled her by the legs until they hung off the edge. Grabbing a chair in the corner, he placed it in front of her as he sat down and wrapped her legs around his neck. Diving his tongue in once more, he licked and pulled on her rosy bud, circling around slowly but sometimes speeding up to tease her. Flicking his tongue between her folds, he tasted the ambrosia that leaked from her. Her body quivered against the massage table and he held her down by the hips as she thrashed back and forth.
“Sean … mmm … I can’t—” She abruptly stopped as her legs shook around his neck, and she sat all the way up, pushing his head deeper into her. “I can’t take it anymore …”
He lifted his head for a moment to stare up her. Her expression was the most stunning he’d even seen on a woman that he’d ever been with. He couldn’t remember a woman ever gazing at him like that before. It shook him to his core and his breathing became stifled for a moment. She was exquisite in every way. Her intellect. Her concern for others. Her adorable smile along with those damn delicious dimples. Her passion and need for him matched his desire and yearning for her. He even found her quirky, nerdy personality sexy. Sean had never believed in love at first sight, but when he’d first laid eyes on Traci, he sensed his life had changed in that very moment.
Rising from the chair, he wiped his lips with the back of his hand and imprisoned them on hers. He coiled his tongue around hers in an enticing kiss as they both fought for total control. She ran her hands up to his head, pulling his mouth deeper into hers. Lifting her naked body off of the massage table, he carried her to the couch, their lips never leaving each other.
“Please make love to me,” she said breathlessly on his lips, running her tongue along his neck and her hand down to his belt buckle … and beyond.
Goodness, he wanted to. Wanted her that very instant.
“I can’t.”
“Why not?” Her lips roamed over his neck and back to his lips.
“Well … for one I … I don’t have any condoms.” He knew he was lying. He had two unopened boxes in his drawer, but he didn’t want to tell her the real reason why. Not yet, but hopefully soon. He knew the body massage was a bad idea, but he didn’t think it would go this far.
She jerked her eyes on him. “You … um … but …” She stopped as her lips settled into a confused pout. “Oh … okay.” She slid her hands off of him completely and managed to squirm out
of his embrace as her eyes searched the floor.
“We can still—”
“Can you turn on the light?” she asked in a distant tone.
He honestly didn’t know what the hell had just happened. They agreed to wait until they knew each better, and he knew she didn’t like casual sex. Even though sex between them wasn’t going to be casual. However, he needed to make certain of something first and he was going to stand by that.
He obliged, turning on the light, and proceeded to blow all of the candles out. Traci rose from the couch and grabbed her panties and bra from the floor.
“I’m sure my shorts are dry by now. It’s getting late, and I have an early meeting at the gardens in the morning.” She walked out of the room with him on her heel as she put the bra back on. She was still holding her boy shorts so at least he had a great view from the back; however, she stopped when they made it to the great room to put them on.
“I’ll be back.”
The way she said it sounded as if she didn’t want him to go any further in his own home. He chuckled and headed to the refrigerator to grab another beer. Leaning on the island, he waited for her to return. It didn’t take her long, for she dashed into the kitchen dressed with her hair in a ponytail and her tote bag slung over her shoulder in less than ten minutes. She must’ve sprinted like Flo Jo to get to the dryer in his closet. He grabbed her to him.
“Why are you mad at me?” he asked through gritted teeth.
“I’m not mad. We just need to stop before I get carried away with you. All of this has been completely out of character for me, and I need to take a step back. It’s been fun, but we need to keep this totally professional. I’ll be back next week to finish, probably on Thursday. If you need anything else done, I can refer you to some other landscapers that I know.”
“What are you saying?” This was not how the scenario was supposed to play out. He had no idea where any of this was coming from. He was trying to be a good guy for once.
“I’m telling you, it’s been fun but we can’t do this anymore. You’re my client. I don’t fool around with my clients.”
“Didn’t I tell you once before I can fire you?”
“Look, Sean. I think it’s very nice of you to want to get to know me better before going any further but let’s be realistic. It’s killing you to wait. I can see it on your face. Hell, I can feel your rock hard penis straining against me, begging to meet Sunshine.”
“Who the hell is Sun … oh … never mind. Traci … I just wanted to wait. I respect you.” He couldn’t believe he’d formed his lips to say that but he was telling the truth.
“I appreciate that, but I need to reassess my priorities. I’m glad you stopped us from going any further. I needed to get back to reality before I got caught up in being with you and actually thinking that maybe one day we could be an actual couple and you’d give up your playboy ways for me. I’ve wanted you for a very long time. Longer than you know.” She paused, looking away from him. “When your mom began coming to the Botanical Gardens for workshops a few years ago, she used to share pictures of her family on her cell phone. Yours always stood out the most. I thought you were so handsome and charismatic. I mean, sure Cannon is as well, but you stirred something in me. And whenever your mom used to talk about all of you, I only listened to what she had to say about you. When your mother became my primary doctor, I used to say a little prayer that I’d run into you at your family’s practice but I never did. A few weeks ago when she brought you to the orchid repotting class, I honestly thought it was fate, but it was just my silly crush over a guy that will never want to be with me.”
She stopped and pulled away from him. “I can’t believe I’m standing here telling you all of this, but you’ve been so easy to talk you.” She laughed nervously. “I guess you’re good at your job.”
“Well, I appreciate you telling me and I’m flattered. However, that doesn’t mean we have to stop seeing each other. I like hanging with you, Traci.”
“For now, and then your eyes will wander. I can’t be mad at anyone but me for putting myself in this situation. Eventually, I would want more of a commitment and you’ve said so yourself you are a lifelong bachelor. Everyone in Memphis knows that.”
She reached up on her tiptoes and kissed him softly on the lips. “I’m going now, but I had fun.” She turned to leave without looking back.
Sean stared after her in shock. Sure, he’d had women walk out on him before because they’d wanted more, but he’d always shrugged it off and moved on to someone else. There was always a woman waiting in the wings. Even though there was a few he could call now if he so chose, he didn’t want to.
He’d done the unthinkable and fallen for a woman who didn’t want to be with him.
Chapter Nine
“So let me get his straight. You saw two boxes of condoms in his drawer, and he told you he didn’t have any?” Caitlyn asked, taking a sip of her wine. “Two boxes of magnums with twelve each per box?”
Traci simply nodded her head and fell back on her bed before glancing over at Cait who was sitting at the headboard. “Twenty-four condoms.”
“And he gave you a full body massage in a special room?”
“Yep.”
“Girl, I told you that asshole had a secret room. No telling what else is in there.”
“I’m glad I came to my senses before I did something I would eventually regret.”
“Well, you did say he wanted to take it slow, so maybe he really did.”
“Nah, he was locked and loaded. I could feel and see it through his pants.”
“Was your breath tart?”
Traci sat up on the pillows and lightly punched her friend on the arm. Reaching over to the nightstand, she grabbed her wine glass and took a sip followed by a big gulp.
“Very funny. My breath was fine. I’m glad I ended it when I did before things got too complicated. Before we had sex and I’d would’ve become attached and addicted to him. He would’ve eventually gotten bored with me, met some exotic model/stripper/wannabe actress with the IQ of a twig, and tossed me to the curb like a trash bag. So in a way I dodged a broken heart … again, and you and I won’t be singing “Stormy Weather” and “Good Morning Heartache” at karaoke night again.”
Caitlyn clinked her wine glass with Traci’s. “Girl, we sung the hell out of those songs after you found out that what’s-his-name had gotten married and moved to Portugal.”
“Yes, at least he had the decency to move on the other side of the world. Sean lives right here in Memphis where I’d have the pleasure of running into him with whatever chick. No, I did the right thing.”
“Mmm … maybe he knows you aren’t the type of girl for a fling and doesn’t want to get caught up then turn around and hurt your feelings. There are women you marry and women you shag. He likes the shaggers. Maybe he knows you’re the type of woman he could spend the rest of his life with and it’s scaring him. Garrett said that he’d never seen Sean infatuated over a woman before until he met you. Their plans for Friday night originally were to hang out at a strip club, but Sean changed them because he wanted to see you. Maybe you’re being paranoid because of what happened in the past and the fact Sean is a known playboy.”
“I don’t know, and at this point I don’t care.” She downed her wine. “I’ll go by there on Thursday to plant the roses while he’s at work and be gone before he comes home. I’ll leave my … I mean his key somewhere safe.”
“Has he paid you yet?
“I can email him the invoice and he can mail a check. I’ll never have to see him again.”
“Memphis isn’t that big. You just stated you could bump into him.”
“I’ve never run into him at his family’s practice, so I’m not that worried. Unfortunately, I’ll have to change doctors now. His brother-in-law, Dr. Phillips, is my new primary care physician and his wife, Raven, is my Ob-Gyn. Dang it. I like going there. Now I’ll have to stop, but if I see him around town I know how to be
cordial. He hasn’t hurt me or anything.” Even though it hurts like hell to end it, but it’s for the best. Right?
“This reminds me of the time when were undergrads, and I was dating that dude that was a line cook at the Fish Shack.”
“Yep. We stopped going there when ya’ll broke up. They had some really good hush puppies, too.” She smacked her lips and poured another glass of wine. Caitlyn drank her last sip and held out her glass. They toasted and Traci rested her head back on the pillows. She remembered all of the pillows Sean had on his bed. They looked so comfortable and plush. Too bad she’d never know.
“Dating sucks. Heard from Garrett?”
“Nope.” Caitlyn rose from the bed and walked the few feet to the kitchen to grab some Pringles that were sitting on the little island. “I guess we won’t be double-dating with the doctors.”
“No, but I’ll be all right once I finish his project. Then I can move on. No biggie. In a way, I guess it’s good that I never had sex with him. At least, I’m not that attached to him.”
Caitlyn tapped her chin while she finished chewing the chip. “True, but there’s more to being in tune with a person besides the sexual side.”
Traci pondered Caitlyn’s comment for she had indeed fallen for Sean in different ways and they hadn’t had sex. Sure, they done some sexual things and he’d sent pleasure tingles to race all through her. However, she’d enjoyed the time they’d spent together planting the flowers, playing chess, and even when she had confided in him about her mother’s gambling addiction. There was more to their relationship than sex, but she was scared to take it further. She was protecting her heart and didn’t see anything wrong with that.
*****
“Wait, bro. You want to do another test? You just had one last month and it was all negative,” Garrett said, staring at his frat brother in disbelief.
Sean stood in his friend’s office at his medical practice on Monday morning. He’d just told him about his day with Traci, and he wanted to take a HIV and a STD test before going any further with her. He’d been tempted last night to give into her pleading, which was quite hard—no pun intended—but he just wanted to be cautious. He knew he’d had condoms, but he needed to be one-hundred percent sure before their relationship grew serious because that’s where he had thought it was headed until she’d decided she needed to take a step back. However, he wasn’t giving up.