Jon was wearing a long black wool coat with a beige scarf. He went straight over to Jacob and spoke. While I couldn’t hear what they said to each other, I knew Jon was laying on the charm. That was how he got by in life—he wooed everyone he met, including me.
I frowned for a moment. I was jealous. Why didn’t he only want to use his charms on me? I was the one he wanted to have sex with.
I knew this was silly and childish. Jealousy over a man I barely kissed was sad. But that was my entire sex life. It was in its infancy. That’s not even true . . . If my sex life was turned into the life cycle, I’d still be an egg floating down the fallopian tube.
“What is he doing here?” I whispered.
“I suspect he’s not giving up that easily. If he’s a virginity skank, he’s a persistent one.”
Jon moved toward the front door, apparently, his conversation with Jacob had come to an end.
“Oh no,” both my sister and I said at the same time.
We knew what would happen if one of us didn’t answer the door—our mother would. There was no escape once one was trapped in the web of Maria Delarosa.
He’d be forced to eat treat after homemade treat and listen to stories about how she worked hard for her daughters. No detail or major life event would be spared. It would be dark out before he’d manage to get out.
If Jon was interested in me and it had nothing to do with taking my virginity, then my mother would drain every drop of chemistry we had together. He’d leave here numb and never want to come back.
My sister was wise to keep guys away from our ma, but I was never that smart. Every time I liked a guy, I’d introduce him and that’s when she’d break out her spider fangs—my mother’s secret weapon to keep me single and a virgin.
We raced down the stairs, almost pushing each other over in the process. When we got to the bottom, I groaned as it was too late. Jon stood there smiling warmly at my mother, who had already started monologuing.
His beautiful gray eyes swiveled to me and he was about to say something—a greeting, perhaps—but my mother kept talking. Jon was never rude, and I knew he wouldn’t interrupt her.
He was trapped. I cursed under my breath as I saw my mother clasp his hand and lead him toward the kitchen, the center of her web.
“Ma!” a lone voice cried out and I realized it was Issa.
I turned to her as did everyone else and wondered what she was doing.
“Yes, Issa?” my mother said with thinned lips. She was the entertainer of the house. To interrupt her when a guest arrived would lead to consequences.
“I, uh . . . have been pondering as of late about becoming a nun,” Issa said with a pained expression as if she was holding back a fart.
I grabbed her arm and shook my head. She didn’t have to do this. I barely knew Jon; he wasn’t worth the hours of sacrifice Issa was about to endure.
But Issa clasped her hand over mine, held up her chin, and gave me a stiff nod. She was sacrificing herself for me. I bit back the wobble on my lip as she stepped forward. She would enter my mother’s web today, not Jon.
“Oh, Issa. Come. Come. I must tell you the story of Aunt Aquiline. She’s now a Mother Superior in Pennsylvania.” My mother stopped and turned to narrow her eyes at me. “You hear that, Emmie? Issa wishes to be married to God. Tell her how she’ll be a great nun.”
“You’ll be a great nun,” I said in my monotone voice, but it didn’t help. Issa wouldn’t laugh. In fact, it only made her frown deepen.
They left the room, and I sighed. My sister was a saint.
“I never would have thought Issa wanted to be a nun,” Jon said as he strolled toward me in his laid-back, unbelievably sexy way.
“She doesn’t. But trust me when I say, she saved you. You must thank her when you get the chance.”
“Of course, if you say so.” Jon came to a stop inches from me and leaned against the banister. I hadn’t realized until now that my fingers dug into the wooden railing so deeply that my fingers began to ache. Once Issa walked toward my mom, I leaned on the curled wooden railing for fear I’d collapse from shock.
“Like a big thank you. Maybe a balloon ride and one of your super-hot actor clients singing shirtless to her. That sort of thank you. Not some lame flower arrangement thank you will do.”
His eyes wrinkled in amusement as he chuckled. It was deep and sensual, but most things that Jon did were sensual to me.
He reached forward and pushed some hair behind my ear like he had in my office yesterday. Electric heat skittered down my neck and straight to my core.
“What else should I do to thank you?”
I looked up and hoped he couldn’t tell I was blushing hard. Any other situation I was confident and in control, but when he was around, I became a silly, infatuated noodle of a person.
“I said to thank my sister, not me.” He turned his head and stared in the direction where they left before he turned back to me.
“But I’d much rather take my time thanking you.”
I swallowed and shook my head. “Why are you here?”
Jon took a step back and stared at me for a moment. He did the same thing yesterday, like he was analyzing me. Searching for some answer to a question he was the only one privy to.
“I left my wallet here during the party. I believe it’s in your master bathroom.”
Right, of course. Why else would he be here? I completely scared him off yesterday.
“Sure. Yup. Wallet.” I turned and headed back up the stairs refusing to look at him. “Just follow me.”
“Anytime.” His voice deepened and when I stole a glance back, I noticed his eyes were on my ass.
A thrill went up my spine and I felt a dampness between my thighs. I cursed myself for wearing a thin, almost see-through sweater. It was made to have something underneath, but it was Saturday and I wasn’t going into work. What did I care if my sister and mother could see my bra through my sweater?
And then the skintight black yoga pants. Even if I freaked him out yesterday, he still had eyes. Any man would stare at me in this outfit.
We made it to my bedroom and my eyes slid to the bed where nothing ever happened. When he tore off his clothes New Year’s night and I thought for a moment that he had changed his mind. I believed Jon was going to sleep with me. But, he had crawled into bed and immediately passed out. Spending the entire night sleeping next to me.
Be careful what you wish for, Emmie.
But it wasn’t New Year’s night as I walked into my bathroom and glanced around. No trying to seduce him in my weird animalistic way. Today, I had a purpose. Get his wallet and get him out so I could continue to wallow in my own self-pity.
I hadn’t seen any wallet, but I had never really looked the past two days.
Jon scratched his head and pointed to the drawers. “Do you mind if I search in them?”
“Feel free,” I said and moved past him, looking all over the floor. Checking back behind the toilet, I noticed something brown. And no, it wasn’t a turd.
I bent over but couldn’t reach it, so I got down on my hands and knees. Reaching back, I clasped the soft leather in my hands. Lifting it, I saw it was a brown wallet.
“I think I found it.”
I turned and sat back on my knees, holding up the wallet triumphantly. Jon stood over me, his eyes dark as he stared down. Plucking the wallet from my hand, he slid it into his back pocket.
I remained on the floor and he continued to watch me.
“We never finished our discussion yesterday,” he said.
I swallowed and shook my head. My nipples were so hard there was an erotic burn as the lace of my bra slid over them when I moved.
“No, we didn’t.”
“We’ll finish it now.” His voice rumbled and I felt it straight between my thighs.
SIX
Jon
“You’re drooling,” I said and tried to suppress a laugh.
Emmie was adorable and sexy. Every time I tho
ught she would run screaming from my actions or suggestions, she’d bite back with humor. And when I thought she’d be curious for more from me, that’s when she ran.
“Oh, right.” Her striking golden eyes widened as she wiped the back of her hand across her chin.
Her delightful chin that I wouldn’t mind nibbling on all day long.
She began to get up, so I helped her. When she stood, I placed my hands on her waist and lifted. She gasped as I set her on the marble counter.
“Comfortable?”
She tripped over her words. “Surprised but comfortable.”
There was something enticing about causing Emmie to fumble and second-guess herself. I had been in awe of the strength and power this woman had. I never thought I would be the one to trip her up.
I wanted to pull her panties down and taste her until her stuttering morphed into a moan.
“Good. As I mentioned yesterday, I wish to fuck you.”
“Yes, I remember that,” she said as her eyes danced around the white-tiled room, which complemented the dark gray walls.
“You didn’t let me get a chance to ask if that is something you would like.” I took a step forward and placed my hands on the cool marble counter on either side of her thighs.
As I inhaled, I noticed the same scent as yesterday—earthy with a hint of lavender. She smelled like a cool spring morning.
“I guess so.”
That caught my attention. I lifted a brow. “Wait . . . you guess so? Are you unsure?”
Women either said yes or no to me. There was never an in between. Mostly they agreed, but I had one turn me down. I think she had feelings for another man, so I wasn’t bothered by the rejection.
Emmie lifted her finger to her mouth, nibbling on her fingertip. It took most of my energy not to stare and beg for her to do that to the tip of my cock.
“It’s not that I don’t want to. I do. But there’s something you should know about me.”
She probably had some kink that she was shy about. It’s not anything I hadn’t encountered before. I lifted my hand and rested it on her thigh. I felt her heat through the cotton fabric of her pants. My thumb, with great purpose, swirled circles dangerously close to the apex of her thighs.
I tilted my head. “And what should I know about you, Emmie? You prefer ass-play or spanking or wearing masks? Whatever it is, I’m quite sure we can work it into our activities.”
I leaned forward as her eyes widened. Her body was humming, and I couldn’t resist a taste, even if it was just a lick of her exposed neck.
“Masks? Oh God . . . This isn’t going to end well.”
I chuckled at her apprehension and dotted kisses along her neck near her ear. “I’m pretty sure we both will have grins on our faces when this all ends and we go our separate ways.”
She placed her hand on my shoulder, urging me back. I stood, already missing the taste of her salty skin.
“About that . . . You’ve done this before, I haven’t. It might not be that easy for me to walk away.”
I nodded. Feelings sometimes wiggled their way into these kinds of situations. Being that intimate, exposed with another person, led to more than attraction. A connection that for me, usually ended up as friendship. I was even invited to an ex’s wedding once.
“I get that. But I have a plan for that.”
She shook her head. “No, Jon, you don’t understand. I’ve never done this before.”
“Okay, that’s understandable. Most men don’t discuss a sexual relationship with a woman before anything has happened. I admit, it’s unusual. But don’t you think it’s better this way? Being upfront and open. Getting all the complications out of the way before we even get naked.”
I slid my finger down her cheek and across her plump lower lip. My mouth watered at thoughts of sucking on that mouth.
She grabbed my wrist and pulled it back. “You’ve got issues with listening, don’t you?”
“What?” I straightened my spine, surprised by her irritation.
“Exactly. I said I’ve never done this before. As in, I’m a virgin, Jon.”
I blinked as her words settled into my mind. Virgin.
“You mean a virgin to this type of negotiation?” I asked, hoping that’s what she meant but knew deep down what she was really saying.
“Seriously?” she snipped and I stumbled as she hopped off the counter. The woman who came up to my shoulders stood tall with her hands on her hips, glaring at me. “I said virgin, as in no one has popped my cherry.”
This changed everything. The last time I was with a virgin I was one myself. It was awkward and not pleasant. I came way too soon and had no idea how to please her.
I had learned so much since then but remembering the pain on her face when I first entered her and the blood after, made me realize that I never wanted to be with a virgin again. We were high school sweethearts and learned what we liked after a few times. It became enjoyable but I couldn’t be the one to put Emmie through that.
“I’m flattered you want me to take your virginity but based on what I enjoy in the bedroom, a virgin would be out of the question.” I frowned.
Her face hardened. She took one step forward and for a moment, I felt fear.
“So, what you’re really saying is that you’re a coward?”
“No, not that. You may be surrounded by people who only say yes to you, but I won’t be your yes-man.”
Her eyes widened as she mumbled, “Yes-man.”
I put up with a lot in life. From my parents only showing their love to my sister and me if we won something or got the best grades, to coworkers stealing my clients from under me, to watching a person I cared about almost give up on life after the love of his life died. Through it all, I remained calm and kept fighting.
Having sex with a virgin was not something that would cause me to cower.
“Seems like it to me. I’ve heard from so many people what a good agent you are and that you take on any challenge with gusto, yet here you are, easily backing down when given the chance to have sex with a virgin.” Her chest jutted out and she smirked because she knew she was right.
I thought nothing fazed me. I could take on any challenging client or competition my sister presented, but I stood in front of the sexiest woman I had ever met and I was afraid to touch her.
“And before you say anything, just know you aren’t taking anything from me. I had made the decision to experience sex for the first time and you were there. You were nice and attractive, and I thought you’d make the experience pleasurable. Clearly, I was wrong and dodged the bullet.”
Emmie moved past me to the door and waved me through.
“You got what you came for. You have your wallet back, so if you don’t mind, you can leave so I can go rescue my sister from my mother’s lecture.”
I cleared my throat and said, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend—”
“Please stop. You aren’t some sexual god that I nervously asked to gift me with your big dick. I’m a woman who only wanted to get laid, and you turned that into something overly complicated and very disappointing.”
SEVEN
Emmie
“He destroyed your entire kitchen?” I asked as I lifted my cup of coffee to my lips.
Niki nodded while rolling her eyes. “And started a fire. Of course, the fire alarm went off after Tucker left. I swear, disaster follows that man everywhere he goes.”
“At least he tried. So what if he’s not a good cook? At least now you know,” Willa said, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear as she pulled the baseball cap lower around her eyes. “This fame thing sucks balls.”
Willa and Niki came back a few days ago from a trip to New York to be on a late-night talk show. Niki, for her movie and Willa, for her album that’s coming out with her rock star fiancé, Hunter Six.
“Yeah, now I know to stay away from him,” Niki mumbled.
I nodded more for myself than for her. Since Jon took his wallet and
his cowardly ass and left my house a week and a half ago, I’d hadn’t seen him since. But that didn’t mean he didn’t make his presence known.
My home and office were filled with flowers. He somehow found out I loved yellow roses.
I hadn’t even told my sister what he said to me. She only knows it wasn’t meant to be. And my mother still assumes Issa’s going into a nunnery. It felt as if Niki’s kitchen was a physical representation of my personal life—a hot mess.
“He didn’t even clean it?” I asked.
“Tucker tried, but I threw him out. But he did hire a cleaning crew that showed up an hour later. Thankfully, my kitchen’s back to shape.” Niki shrugged.
Both Willa and I stared at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Let me get this straight . . .” Willa said, tilting her head up so she could see Niki under her hat. “He made sure you were picked up at the airport, held you when you passed out from exhaustion from the trip, and then tried to make breakfast the next morning. Wow, he sounds like a monster.”
Niki pursed her lips and glanced around. “I guess you had to be there to understand.” Her eyes widened and she lifted her hand to wave at someone.
“How are the three most beautiful women in the world doing today?” a familiar, deep voice said from behind.
I hated how my thighs instantly clenched when I heard his voice.
“Jon, funny seeing you here. Oh, those are lovely. Are they for me?” Willa outstretched her arms and I refused to turn around. Instead, I picked up my warm cup of coffee and took a sip. It was still too hot but that didn’t stop me from keeping it near my face as my feeble attempt at hiding from Jon.
“No, actually, they’re for Emmie.” A large bouquet of yellow roses in a glass vase appeared on the dark wooden table in front of me.
Both Niki and Willa turned their heads to me. Surprise was written all over their features.
“Emmie, your favorite.” Willa winked at me.
“Yes, how thoughtful, Jon. How ever did you know?” I said through gritted teeth.
He walked around the table and grabbed a chair from another nearby table and settled across from me. He wore his usual tailored suit and immaculately styled hair. His nipple-hardening smile was on full display.
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