by Emma Bryson
“So in other words, it’ll make my ass look great in jeans?”
I snorted. “Not really. To be honest these machines are effectively useless.”
Liv’s eyebrows furrowed as she looked around. “Then why do you have one in your gym?”
“Because try as I might, I still have clients who insist on using it.”
I shot a heated glance at Liv. “Usually I’d recommend squats and lunges. But for what it’s worth, there is nothing in this world that could make your ass look more perfect in jeans.”
Liv’s breath shuddered and caught in her throat. She shivered and ran her tongue over her lower lip. “So how do I...” She trailed off, but indicated to her legs as she sat in the machine.
“You just hook one foot over here, and one over this one.” I crouched down, molding her all too willing body into position. “And then you squeeze...” I pulled the arms of the machine together, testing that the tension wasn’t too high. Liv wiggled her perfect ass forward. My stomach roiled, and my mouth dried.
For fuck’s sake. She wasn’t wearing shorts. She was wearing a skirt. A sexy, pleated tennis skirt, that I could all too easily look up if I wanted to. I clenched my fists, trying to stop myself from reacting.
Oh dear God, she wasn’t wearing any panties.
I shot her an angry look as heat raged inside me, threatening to burn out of control. “What are you trying to do to me? Jesus, Liv.” I lifted her barely-there skirt to expose her and she gasped, grinding forward as I drove my face between her thighs without a second thought.
Fuck, she was addictive. More so than any other woman I had been with. Her body. The way she looked at me. How her hands gripped the seat as I licked her, her gasps as my teeth gently nibbled at her sweet pink folds.
Liv moaned and rocked against my mouth, her clit rasping against my tongue as I claimed her. Tearing my mouth away from her, I lifted her out of the exercise machine, pulling her into me as she clamped her amazing legs around my hips.
“Liv fucking Barrett, you’re going to kill me.”
Liv met my angry tongue stroke for stroke, claiming my mouth in a deep kiss that ravaged mine. She nipped at my lip and it almost brought me to the goddamn floor.
She smiled. “Don’t worry. You’re squarely in the ‘fuck’ category of fuck, marry, kill.”
She swallowed my groan with her mouth as I carried her back to my office, my body begging to take her with more than just my mouth.
I dropped her onto my office couch and tugged her into position.
How many times had I slept here, pulling an all-nighter, dreaming about this woman? And now...
Now, I was going to pleasure her into oblivion.
Liv’s gaze met mine as I circled slow, rhythmical digits against her clit.
Breathing deeply, I watched as Liv pulled off her shirt, revealing her perfect tits. I ran each finger over the sensitive heads of her nipples, the tension in my groin tightening as I sucked on the tiny nubs.
My gut pulled at me, begging me to make this girl mine, but my head still niggled at me to keep control, to not let all of me go.
Coaxing Olivia upright, I sat behind her on the couch, so she was leaning against my chest, my dick wedged along the length of her crack. She wriggled her gorgeous ass against the hard length of my dick, and I pulled her in tight to my chest. Her back on my chest, her ass grinding against my erection, her legs draped over mine—even though we weren’t facing each other, it felt intimate. So intimate, I could feel the stuttering of her elongated breaths as her chest rose and fell.
Nibbling on her neck, I palmed her breasts before roaming my hands down her stomach. I kissed up the side of her neck and felt her breathing come harder. I cupped her sex in my hand, gently clasping her clit between my middle and ring fingers. She rocked against my hand with barely perceptible movements as I drew the lobe of her ear into my mouth.
Her breathing came faster as I felt her pulse race under my lips. Sweat melded our bodies together as I felt every inch of her against me, the tide of her coming release crashing in slow, gentle, but inevitable waves.
Goose pimples rose on my arms as I roiled inside. She felt so good. So right. So perfect. As she came against my hand, I savored every guilty pulse.
Chapter Eight
Olivia
Nate wound his fingers through mine. I lifted my head, nuzzling into his neck. My stomach was all warm and fuzzy. It just felt so easy with Nate, like we’d been doing this forever.
“I’m glad I managed to squeeze in a workout.” I smiled, craning my neck around to look into his eyes. My face fell as I watched the storm in them twist, and that light that had surfaced again briefly retreated back into their depths.
Nate mumbled his agreement. He was pulling away again, and fast.
Kissing the inside of his neck, I climbed off him and adjusted my skirt.
Nate shifted, rising from the couch, and resuming his spot in his office chair. My stomach flipped over itself. I had get his attention before he went back to his work again.
I cleared my throat. “You know, your office could really use some redecorating.” I flexed my legs. The muscles still felt weak from my orgasm.
Nate looked over. “Um, what? No. My office is fine just the way it is, thank you very much.”
I laughed. “Seriously, your couch looks like something out of a bad ’90s porno.”
Nate snorted. “I will have you know that that couch has been with me since I moved into my first apartment. It’s served me well when I’ve had to pull all-nighters.”
The crease between Nate’s eyes softened. Encouraged, I continued. “Do you do that often? Stay here, I mean,” I asked.
Nate shrugged. “It started out as a night every now and then. Now it’s more like every other night, though since I started with business school I’m here more often than I’m at my apartment.” Nate ran his fingers through his hair. “It’s okay. It’s just part of the price of running my own business, I guess.”
Nate reclined in his office chair, hands behind his head. He fixed me with a heavy stare, and my skin started to tingle. Then he side-eyed the keys on his desk. “I still have work to do...but I could finish up at your place. I have to pop in to my apartment quickly, just to make sure that everything’s ready for the renovation team tomorrow...”
“Ooh! Maybe I should come with. You know, just to make sure that your apartment renovations aren’t as ’90s porn as your office.”
Nate smirked. “I’ll try to take that as a compliment,” he said as he shut his laptop and reluctantly put it back in its bag. “You know, you really are the most terrible influence on me.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Um, hello? Says the guy who just confessed to spending more time at work than he does at his own apartment. Sad.”
Nate tried to look offended. “You, Olivia Barrett, are the most atrocious human being.”
“Now I’m sure there’s a compliment in there somewhere.” I laughed.
“Not even close.” Nate winked, and I ran out of his office to avoid the back-handed smack on the butt he was aiming in my direction.
I laughed as I ran towards the car. “Last one there’s a used condom!”
“Hey, no fair!” Nate rushed to pack up his papers and lock the doors to the gym.
My heart soared as I saw his guard drop again. Although things were easy now, with Nate staying at our place, I knew this wouldn’t work longer-term, but regardless I was really beginning to feel like we clicked.
Nate
“And who’s the lovely lady?” Heath waggled his whiskery eyebrows at me and Liv burst into chimes of laughter. The old man had a way with everyone. “This is...” I trailed off, struggling to find the words to describe my relationship with Liv.
Girlfriend? No, she couldn’t be that. Not with how close Chase and I were to cracking the
NBA.
Fuck buddy? I doubted that would go down well with Heath.
There was no doubt Liv and I worked well together. She complemented me without putting up with my shit. Truth was, I was used to getting my own way with women—or at least the ones who weren’t my sisters—but with Liv, things were different. Things were...
My shoulders tensed. I really had to let this go.
“This is Olivia, she’s a...family friend,” I finished, finally.
The laughter lighting Liv’s face died down a notch. Not so much that anyone would notice. No one except me. My stomach convulsed with guilt.
“A family friend, eh?” Heath put a hand on Liv’s shoulder. “Well, I hope to see a lot more of you. It’s about time Nate had a friend.”
I glared at the old man as he looked at me.
Yet I couldn’t help but think he kind of had a point. Annoying old man.
Liv smiled as we walked towards the elevators. “He’s great!” she chimed, as I stabbed a finger at the button.
I grunted acknowledgment.
“Come on, Nate. What’s with you?”
“Nothing. Just a lot on my mind.”
The elevator arrived, and Liv got in. “What floor?”
“Huh? Oh. Seventh,” I replied.
As the doors closed, Liv became even more subdued. The elevator wound up to the seventh floor, the air thick with musty tension.
I cleared my throat. “About before, at the gym...”
Liv sighed. “It was a one-time thing. You’re too busy. You couldn’t possibly commit to anyone right now. Your head’s in a different game.” She raised her eyebrows and I looked away.
The fire that had been burning in my gut roared. How could I let this woman go? God, she had me wound so tight I could barely think.
I clenched my jaw. What would happen if I threw her against the wall right here? Pulled that slip of a skirt up over her hips and entered her, pounding into her soft, hot center—the center that felt like it was made just for me.
I tried to unclench my jaw and squeezed my eyes closed, pulling a deep breath into my lungs.
Pull yourself together, Nathan.
The elevator doors opened, and I let out my breath with a whoosh of relief.
Breathe. Just breathe. And focus on anything except ripping the clothes off the woman I couldn’t get enough of.
The woman I was just about to let into my apartment. Great work, idiot.
I halted in front of my apartment and fumbled with my keys before opening the door. “Well, here we are. My humble abode.”
Liv rushed in before I could say another word. “Wow, this place is big. How many rooms?”
“Just the two. The master has a walk-in closet and an en suite, though.” My shoulders relaxed as we moved back into less confrontational territory.
By the looks of it the painters were already set up and ready to go. The floor was covered with painter’s sheets, and cans were stacked in various places around the room.
“So, what’s the renovation plan?” Liv asked as she wandered around, opening every cupboard and drawer.
I shrugged. Indoor décor wasn’t really my thing. The only reason I was getting the renovations was because Harvey in the apartment next door had mentioned that his son needed a little extra building work while he got back on the straight and narrow. “Just general stuff. Updating the fixtures and repainting it in neutral colors.”
Liv raised an eyebrow. “More neutral than cream?”
I pulled a beer out of the fridge and cracked it open, leaning against the bench. “I didn’t want much done to it, really. I’m just keeping it up-to-date so that it retains its resale value.”
“You’re having your apartment renovated...for resale value.” Olivia looked at me blankly.
I cocked an eyebrow. “Yes, I am. Why? What would be your stunning recommendation?”
Liv wheeled around the room. “Well, for one, I’d knock out this wall to open up your living space.”
“Why would I knock out a perfectly good wall?” I took another swig of beer.
“Because more than anything else, making your kitchen and lounge space more open-plan would increase the resale value,” Liv started, her eyes lighting up. “Plus, you’d be able to see the view from your kitchen. And then I think I’d decorate it for me. Wild colors. A feature wall. Chrome fittings. Glow-in-the-dark stars over every ceiling.”
I laughed. “Glow-in-the-dark stars?”
“Yeah! Who doesn’t hate turning lights on when they have to go pee?”
“I have an en suite. It’s not that difficult.” I smirked.
“Okay, okay, you got me. I just like glow-in-the-dark stars.”
Liv grinned at me and my chest tightened. I ran my fingers through my hair. “Jesus...”
“What?” Liv’s posture softened as she took in my pained expression.
“Could you stop being so fucking adorable for one fucking minute?”
Liv froze, her stunning eyes locked with mine, her mouth opened slightly and her bottom lip starting to wobble with pent-up emotion.
I couldn’t handle this.
I was falling apart. I could only barely resist Liv at the best of times. Now, with her eyes alight and her joy filling this place with more life than it’d seen in years? Resisting her was stretching every fiber of my being.
“God, Liv. I don’t think I can do this. I’m...”
Liv’s jaw set, her eyes turning stony. “Say it.”
“It’s just... I’m never going to be able to breathe without you.”
“There’s a very simple solution to that problem.”
Liv marched over to me, pulling me close and claiming my mouth with hers.
Chapter Nine
Olivia
My heart was pounding so hard I could hear the rapid-fire beats thumping in my ears as I kissed him.
My gut churned. This whole time I’d been telling myself that I was in control. That I’d push through Nate’s defenses. But as another intense rush of desire punched me, a single thought consumed me.
I’d forgotten to protect my own.
And as sure as I was that Nate’s body was the yang to my yin, I was also sure that I was falling for him.
I broke off our kiss, my body shaking.
Nate pulled me close and tucked my head underneath his chin, a perfect fit.
“I know we said one night, but Liv, I can’t get enough of you.” He kissed me on the forehead and I ached with a longing so fierce that it scared the shit out of me.
It wasn’t supposed to be like this...did I really have room for Nate in my world without it getting weird? Did he have room in his for me?
I took a deep, staggered breath. “So, how do we play this?”
Was it wrong for me to want him to ask us to go steady?
I chastised myself, beating the thought away. This was only supposed to be about fun. A fuck and forget. A “get it out of your system.” Expecting something more was stupid—especially considering that it had the potential to drive a wedge between me and Chlo.
“Maybe we see how things go. Take it day by day.” I felt the tension ease from my shoulders.
“And when Chloe gets back?”
I pulled away, looking into Nate’s eyes. The fire in them burned to dust. “When Chloe gets back, we end it.”
I looked to the floor, my cheeks burning. Of course. It was impossible to think that anything more could come from this.
I paced across the lounge, looking out the windows. The clouds tracing along the sky were dancing with golden-rimmed yellows and pinks.
Maybe I couldn’t have him forever, but I was determined to make the most of this while I had the chance. “Okay, sounds like a plan.”
I beat back the waves of fear that threatened to pul
l me out of the moment and drag me along with the current.
We had now. And if that’s all it was, then it had to be enough.
I wiped my clammy hands on my skirt. Behind me, Nate was quiet. I heard him approaching me, and I expected he’d pull me into his arms, wrapping his long limbs around my waist.
I jumped as a flick of moisture hit my back. “What the—?”
I spun around just in time to see Nate dip a paint brush into a pail a second time. I shrieked and quickly covered my face as he flicked me again. “Oh. My. God! I can’t believe you just did that!”
I ran across the room, laughing, as I tried to find suitable ammunition. Nate belly-laughed as he chased me, wrapping his hands around my waist and pulling me to the floor.
“Hey, no fair! I require payback, mister!” I tried to act appalled as I attempted to squirm out of his embrace, but there was no hiding the grin that had spread across my face.
“You are so lucky I’m not wearing my expensive skirt.”
Nate peppered me in kisses, entwining his fingers with mine and pinning my hands on the floor above my head.
“Oh, Liv. I’m truly sorry,” he said sarcastically. “How can I make it up to you?’
I pouted, turning my chin and lifting my neck to expose my sensitive flesh. “Well, you can start by kissing me right here.”
My skin tingled as he kissed along my nape.
“Uh-huh. What next?”
I squirmed underneath him. “You could take off your shirt?”
Nate complied, freeing my hands in the process. I ran my fingers down his chiseled stomach.
“God, you make me melt,” I mumbled.
Nate drew my hands up behind my head again, pinning me. He grunted as he sucked my left earlobe into his mouth.
“What next, Olivia?” he whispered, his voice husky.
I cocked my hips, opening to him as he ground his hard cock against me. I tingled and moaned with pleasure.
Nate clenched his jaw and swallowed my whimper with his kiss.