by Tina Donahue, Bella Settarra, Michelle Roth, Jennifeer Denys
His question surprised Bree while her thoughts answered duress. Bree’s company had transferred her saying it was a great opportunity. She knew the brutal truth. Everyone in the New York office was model thin and gorgeous by virtue of great genetics or the miracle of plastic surgery. Her lack of looks had fucked up that décor. Unless she got into shape fast, her next stop would probably be the unemployment line. “Work. I’m in marketing at Beautiful You. It’s an international concern of beauty projects and regimens. They wanted me to help boost the brand over here.”
“This one of their products?” He inclined his head to the unassembled equipment.
“Ah no.” Smiling, she patted a metal bar. “This baby was my idea.”
“Why?” He looked confused. “What makes you think you need it?”
Bree’s smile faded so quickly, David knew he’d hit a nerve when he’d actually been trying to make her feel better. Clearly, she wasn’t thrilled with her body. Hiding it behind her door had been the first clue. Wanting this thing assembled was the second.
She obviously didn’t know what a strikingly attractive woman she was, her features amazingly pretty, skin dewy with youth—and the heat in here—the rose blush beneath her pale complexion quite becoming with her chestnut hair and green eyes. Most normal men would have found that and her curves perfect, lush and inviting, like her fragrance. The jasmine scent had a touch of incense, mysterious and provocative that made David’s cock harder than hell.
She wasn’t bold like most of the women he knew. Sweet and generous described her well, considering how she’d been ready to fan him with a towel. David stopped himself before he smiled. None of his other customers had offered to keep him cool. Somehow, it seemed so Bree, even though he didn’t know her. Deep inside, David thought he might like to.
“I’m on a health kick,” she finally said, answering his question.
Her vivid blush said that was a lie.
Sensing her discomfort, he nodded to put her at ease. “We’ll get your wonder gym set up fast as we can.”
She smiled weakly. “No reason to rush. Take your time, please.”
Not knowing the right thing to say to that, he nodded.
Bree seemed to struggle for a moment before she focused on his abs and pecs, her expression saying she liked them. “If you don’t mind my asking, what have you been in?”
“In?”
“Yeah, roles. TV. Films. Magazines.”
David stopped reaching for one of the pieces. “Can you hand me that bar to your left? No, the one next to it—that’s it, thanks.” As he took the thing, his fingers brushed hers. Another burst of warmth travelled through him as it had earlier when they’d touched. A positively brilliant feeling. “I’m not sure what you mean by films and all that other stuff you mentioned.”
Bree glanced at his tat. “You’re an actor, a model or both, right?”
“Me?” He laughed. “I would bloody well hope not. I am—or rather was—a solicitor.”
She frowned. “An attorney?”
“Before you get any ideas, I quit the law, and not because my hand was in the till or anything like that. I swear I’m innocent.”
Bree studied his tat, a slow, sultry smile lifting the corners of her mouth. “Not that innocent.”
How right she was. David had only been thirteen when he’d first become a man. Wisely, he kept his peace on that.
“Now you’re doing this,” she said, gesturing to his toolkit and the parts strewn over her floor. “Why?”
He shrugged. “Got tired of screwing the little guys so those on top could squeeze more profit from them. Contrary to what everyone believes, money isn’t everything. You need it to live on, period. No reason to hurt someone else so you can have it all. I considered running for office to change things, but it seems only those in power change, wanting more of it. I’d saved and invested enough from my work to do what I want now.”
Bree looked enthralled, as though he was telling her something she’d always wanted to hear. Leaning closer, she rested her hand on his knee. David’s cock shot to attention.
“This is what you want?” she asked.
He figured she wasn’t talking about her proximity or the way her fingers were absently stroking him. With each sweep, David’s nerve endings fired, sending a flood of heat to his groin and chest. “You mean working for Jennifer?”
Bree nodded.
“I’m doing this to help her out,” he said, surprised at how his voice rasped. He cleared it and continued, “I’m in the process of forming a start-up that matches those who need an apprenticeship with those who have one to offer. Money’s not the ultimate goal, giving a hand up to those who need it is.”
“That’s amazing. Good for you.”
Her comment surprised and pleased him. Many of the women David once dated had questioned his sanity in giving up such a lucrative position. Bree’s praise was exactly what he’d craved for a long time. That, along with everything else about her, had his balls plumping even more while his rod was so stiff, his skin felt in danger of splitting. “Thanks.”
“Thank you for being a good man.”
Not that good. If Bree had been able to read his thoughts, she might have bolted for the door. He was suddenly imagining her stretched out naked on the bed, legs spread wide, the delicate curls between her legs—also a chestnut color—damp from her womanly moisture. Her pussy tight and hot, waiting for his cock to invade it, his shaft burrowing deep, demanding a home within her depths.
Another wave of desire rolled through him, insistent and wanting.
With a great amount of effort, he concentrated on the diagram, not really seeing it, recalling Bree’s mouth instead. Her lips were pale pink, the bottom one plump, decidedly lickable.
“Ah, I need the crossbar.” He jabbed his finger at the diagram. “I think it’s that one over there.” He pointed.
Bree didn’t bother to look. She regarded his tat.
He’d gotten it months ago when he’d left his traditional job, wanting to be free for a change, to simply enjoy life.
She lifted her hand, hesitated, and finally trailed her fingers over the bottom of the design then up his arm, tracing the black curves and swirls, sending a flurry of sensations through David’s body, clear to the top of his head. His ears buzzed and his teeth tingled.
Bree looked up, her gaze dreamy and so lost in his, he’d rarely felt more like a man. David figured he should question what was going on here but didn’t, deciding to go with the flow and his unruly desire. To simply enjoy life. Anything could happen and they could both be dead tomorrow, right?
Right. With his pulse racing, David leaned close and slanted his mouth over hers.
Chapter Two
The first touch of his lips sent Bree’s head spinning. Her heart whispered, more.
She melted into him, drowning in David’s heat and strength even though she knew it was nuts. They didn’t know each other. There would never be more to them than this moment.
It had to be enough.
Six months had passed since any man had held or kissed Bree. She might not have been a beauty, nor did she have a supermodel figure, but that didn’t mean she lacked feelings. Right now, they were monumental and achingly real. Her need for intimacy from a man, even if it was purely physical, was simply too great to deny.
She wreathed her arms around David’s broad shoulders, reveling in the feel of them and his mouth. It was unbelievably warm and soft, a perfect contrast to his bristly upper lip, chin, and cheeks.
He kissed her gently, a mere brush of his mouth against hers, as though he needed to test her reaction before going further. Bree worked her fingers through his wonderfully thick hair, keeping him to her and at the task, proving she wanted all that he could give.
Playfully, he skimmed the seam of her lips with his tongue then demanded entrance, spearing it inside her mouth.
A yearning moan escaped her. She suckled his tongue deeper, adoring his sweet breath and clean
, minty taste.
Grunting in what sounded like pleasure, he pulled her close, his hands roaming her back before moving to her boobs.
Yes, oh god, yes.
Bree arched her back as David alternately palmed her nipples and squeezed the soft swells of her breasts. When he angled his head for greater access to her mouth, she parted her lips even more, her tongue dancing readily with his.
They both tried to get closer to each other, their elbows and knees hitting, the sound of their passion artless but beautiful too.
On a lusty growl, David thrust his tongue more deeply into Bree’s mouth and lowered her to the floor. Several rods rolled away from them, clanging against each other. Ignoring the noise, he pushed the straps of her tank top and bra to her biceps then tugged on the garments to expose her right breast. Her nipple was tight as could be despite the heat, the tip so erect that each brush of his thumb against it sent shivers of delight up her spine and down her legs with all of those sensations settling in her cunt.
Bree didn’t think she could get any wetter. Then again…
David fondled her carefully, roughly, then carefully once more, as though he didn’t know which he liked best.
Wanting it all, Bree wrapped her legs around his slim hips and dug her heels into his ass, pushing his body into hers so his rigid rod was snuggled more closely against her cunt.
His kiss turned savage, just as she craved, both of them making noises like animals in the wild rather than civilized humans. Loving it, she moaned, as she’d never done before.
He tore his mouth free. Before she could whine about that or ask if she’d been too coarse, David latched onto her nipple, his tongue stroking the firm tip, his wet heat warming Bree clear to her soul.
She gulped as much air as possible, lust swirling within her, building to an intolerable level. Her pussy ached dully, wanting his cock to fill its emptiness, give her a sense of belonging to someone even if it was only for a little while.
Which it was.
Already, David was tonguing her areola more slowly, his embrace less intense than it had been a moment before.
Why? What had happened? What didn’t he like?
He lifted his head, his expression pained.
She gripped his biceps and whispered, “What is it?” Surely, it couldn’t be a heart attack, he was far too young.
Shaking his head, he reached to the side, made a worse face then finally tugged on something that scraped against the floor. He brought the item around—one of the smaller metal braces with two screws in it. Part of what she’d done before calling the service.
Uh-oh. “Were you kneeling on that?”
He swallowed and nodded. “Bloody thing kept digging into my knee.”
Bree took it from him and tossed it over her head. The bar jangled to a stop somewhere near the door. “No worries about it now.”
His shoulders shook with quiet laughter, but he kept his head down, hands on his thighs rather than her boobs. After a few moments, no one had to tell Bree the magic was over, his wayward lust dampened to the point that good sense had flooded back in.
All at once, she felt very naked and foolish. Trying her best not to blush—and failing miserably—Bree tucked her boob back into its bra cup then straightened the rest of her clothes until she was all put together again. Sort of. Her lips felt bruised from his kiss, cheeks chafed from his stubble, her heart aching for more.
Don’t count on it.
She lowered her legs from him.
“About this,” he said and moved back so they were no longer touching.
Her stomach fell. “You’re going with someone.” Oh my god. “You’re engaged—married.”
David slid his gaze to her. “None of the above. You?”
“No. Of course not.”
“Of course not?”
“I meant I wouldn’t have done this with you if I were. We lost our heads, okay?” she said to his silence. “Probably from the heat. A little more and we’ll both be passed out from it. Nothing else. It’s the heat.”
“Right.” He sighed deeply. “I was about to say that I’m not sorry about what happened. I enjoyed it. You didn’t?”
That was so far from what Bree had expected to hear, she could barely speak. “Huh? That is, what? Wait.” She held up her hand to keep him from speaking even though he hadn’t opened his mouth. “You enjoyed this?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” He frowned. “Didn’t you?”
“Of course I did.” Bree curled her upper lip. “You were the one who stopped.”
“Because of the bloody part, not you.” Sitting back on his heels, he crossed his arms over his chest as if he expected an argument.
Fat chance of that. His biceps bulged so much his tat danced, turning her brain to mush. A moment passed before Bree could collect her thoughts. “You want to continue then?” She sure as hell did.
David lowered his face to hide his smile. “Yes and no.”
Bree stopped pushing her strap down her biceps. “You’re not sure?”
“I’m positive I want to continue, though not here or now. It’s too hot. There’s too much in the way.”
Bree would have suggested they move to the bed, except that wouldn’t have solved the heat problem unless she put ice cubes on the sheets. “Where and when?” she asked, feeling bold.
Okay, maybe a little desperate too. Not because he seemed ready to bolt and she needed to stop him. David appeared to genuinely want her, at least for the moment, while Bree couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.
“After I put this thing together.” He gestured to the parts. “We can have dinner afterwards, enjoy ourselves.”
“Where?”
“Do you like surprises?”
Only if they were good. She’d had enough lousy ones to last a lifetime, including the sudden transfer here and her last boyfriend cheating on her. “Will I like it?”
“Absolutely.”
His smile reached his eyes. Hell, it seemed to pour from his soul. Unless Bree was very wrong about David, he appeared to be a genuinely decent man, not a player or a con trying to get her into bed. There was little need of that, was there? Bree had already proved how willing she was when it came to sex with him.
She peeled a rubber disc off her calf and tossed it into the pile with the others. “Count me in. Let’s get this sucker put together.”
The faster they worked, the quicker dinner would come, along with their carnal dessert.
Delaying what they’d both wanted had been the hardest thing he’d ever done and the right decision. David wasn’t looking for a fast fuck with Bree simply to relieve himself. He wasn’t that kind of man. More importantly, it wouldn’t have satisfied. When they’d been kissing, he couldn’t seem to get close enough, touch her as much as he wanted, get his fill of her scent. The harder he tried to sate himself, the more deprived he’d felt, wanting more. Fuck it, he needed everything.
The heat hadn’t helped, making him even more feverish. So many screws and other parts had dug into his knees and shins, the pain had finally killed his pleasure. Better to wait, treat them both to a nice night … an intimate surprise David had thought about while their tongues had been playing with each other.
“Thanks.” He took the ice water from Bree, downed half of it then went to work.
With the instruction manual in both hands, she flapped it up and down to fan him.
David grinned at how silly and wonderful she looked. “I knew that was good for something.”
“Call it Yankee ingenuity.”
“If you say so.” He tightened a screw and grabbed another part. “But what are you going to do when I need to check the diagram to see if I’m putting this thing together correctly?”
Bree stopped, dropped the manual on the floor, and went to the counter where her laptop was.
He arched one eyebrow. “Think Google has the answer?”
“Nope.” She lifted a piece of pasteboard from behind the laptop and returned.
The breeze she created with the board clearly outdid what she’d accomplished with the manual. He sighed in pleasure. “Brilliant.”
Bree cooed, “I knew my work was good for something.”
“Your work?” David lowered the pieces he was trying to fit together. “Is that your marketing stuff? Hand it over, I want to see.” He reached for it.
She pulled the board away, embarrassment flooding her face, the same as when he’d asked why she needed the equipment. “It’s just a concept. Not even finished.”
He spoke without thinking, “Did your boss shoot it down, luv?”
Her blush said that’s exactly what had happened. “I can do better. I have.”
“Show me then. I’d like to see what you do.”
She chewed her lower lip but finally brought her laptop over. Seated cross-legged on the floor, their arms touching—as though it was the most natural thing in the world—she brought up a series of files. David was no expert on marketing, but her designs were stunning. The words in particular surprised him. There was such depth of emotion in the copy, as though she was speaking from the heart about wanting to be beautiful finally, aching to have men notice her.
What in the bloody hell was the matter with this woman? Didn’t she ever look in a mirror and see how wonderful she was?
Not wanting to get into that, David bumped her arm with his. “This stuff’s brilliant. Surely, it boosted sales.”
“That’s why I’m here.”
Liar. He heard her pain and decided to be honest, at least to some degree. “We can’t all fit in. I surely don’t. Many of my friends drifted away after I quit my position.”
Bree rested her hand on his thigh, seemingly unaware of how quickly that aroused him, his cock wanting to be free of all clothing so her cunt could imprison it instead.
“Friends are people who love you no matter what,” she said.
He smiled. “Very wise. Did you write that too?”
“Heard it on a sitcom, can’t recall which.”
He hugged her for making him laugh again, kissed her breathless then divided his time between looking at her work and seeing to his assembly. As Bree fanned him with the pasteboard, they shared histories. Her time at Harvard, his at the University of Cambridge. Bree’s addiction to The Walking Dead, Suits, Nashville, and Grey’s Anatomy. His love of football and other sports.