Losing Control

by Jarman, Jessica

  Lowering his hands, Spencer undid the rest of her blouse and slowly drew the garment off her shoulders and down her arms, his fingertips skimming her skin.

  He pulled away and just gazed at her. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”

  Maggie couldn’t stop the curving of her lips at the declaration. She yanked on his T-shirt until he shifted enough for her to remove it and toss it aside. Running her palms over his bare chest, she felt true regret that they were always so rushed, and never had the time to just enjoy each other’s body. She’d love to kiss every inch of him, taste every dip and bump of his muscled physique. Then again—he lifted his hips and his cock slid along her slickness, causing her to gasp—slow and easy didn’t exactly fit with the desperation she felt when she was with him.

  She lifted and, positioning him, glided down until he was fully seated within her. His cock stretched her, filled her so completely. Her legs shook as she held still a moment, eyes on his. He watched her from beneath heavy lids then a groan rumbled in his chest. Wrapping an arm around her, he flicked open her bra clasp. As he dragged the straps down her arms, he intently watched as her breasts were unveiled. The rosy tips tightened under his gaze, and he licked his lips then bent forward. He teased the sensitive nub with his teeth and tongue, pulling a whimper from her. He gave the crown a hard slow suck before shifting to the other.

  She buried her fingers in his hair and held him to her. He continued to suckle her breast as she began to move atop him. Each pull of his mouth caused her pussy to tighten around his cock, as if an invisible line connected her breasts and her sex. Spencer lowered his hands to cup her ass, kneading the flesh. Maggie bit her lower lip and struggled not to cry out as sensation after sensation flowed over her. God, would she ever get enough of him and what he did to her? The momentary prick of fear was quickly consumed and obliterated by pleasure. Everything in her zeroed in on this man and what he made her feel.

  Spence kissed his way up to her neck and inhaled deeply, savoring the tantalizing scent that was pure Maggie. Sliding his mouth along her pulse, he sampled the salty sweetness of her skin. Maggie trembled when he nipped her flesh with his teeth then ran his tongue over the spot. Despite her protests and rationalizing, he knew she was as affected as he was, just as trapped by this attraction between them.

  “God, I want you,” she murmured, taking him inside again and again.

  His chest tightened, and he closed his eyes at her declaration. At least, she admitted it, but damn, if he didn’t wish it was true in more than just the physical sense. Listening to her talk about dating other men had killed him. Spencer shoved the thought aside and focused his attention back on the woman in his arms. Her fingers flexed on his shoulders as she rode him, the bite of her nails teased him with a sweet, sweet pain.

  Maggie’s eyes slid shut and her lips parted on a soundless cry as her pussy convulsed and rippled around his cock. Spence gritted his teeth. His balls ached, drawing tight and close to his body. He tried desperately to hold onto his control. If Maggie had her way, this would be the last time they were together, and he wanted this to last. It was a struggle in vain, though. As it always was with her.

  Her pussy enveloped him, pulled him deeper with each contraction. Spence closed his eyes and fell through pleasure. His cock jerked and exploded, coating her womb with his seed. He reached between them and pressed his thumb hard against her clit and was rewarded with another violent spasm around his shaft and a strangled cry from Maggie. She tensed, then with another quiet cry, slumped against him, her head on his shoulder. Spencer tightened his arms around her and let himself just enjoy the moment, even though he knew Maggie would continue to fight this, convinced what was between them was only physical.

  Suddenly, she jolted up. Spence held back a groan as the movement rocked her against his cock.

  “God, anyone could have walked in. The door’s not even locked.” She scrambled off his lap and got busy straightening her clothes.

  Moving slowly, Spence stood and did the same. When they were both put back together, Maggie turned to him.

  “Shh,” he said before she could speak. “No overthinking, remember?”

  “This doesn’t change anything,” she said quietly, reaching up to touch his cheek. “We can’t keep—”

  “Friends,” he said, and pressed a kiss to her palm. “Let’s get to know each other and be friends. The rest? It’ll work itself out.”

  She blew her breath out between pursed lips. “That sounds a bit too good to be true.”

  He grinned. “I didn’t say I’d give up hope for something more than just friends, but for now, I’ll take what I can get. You’ll see; I’m an awesome friend. Just ask your brother.”

  After kissing her gently on the lips, he walked to the door and turned when she laughed.

  “If you’re offering the same kind of ‘friendship’ to my brother, we have bigger issues than I thought.”

  Her smiling face made his stomach tighten and gave him motivation to see that expression on her face as often as he could.

  * * * *

  “I can’t believe you’re okay with her going out with some dork.” Cal closed the fridge and walked over to flop on the couch next to Spence, who was pretending to watch the baseball game on TV.

  “Never said I was okay with it,” Spence said curtly. Oh, he put on the smiling “friend” face around Maggie, but the fact that she was being wined and dined at this very moment drove him nuts.

  “But you’re not going to do anything about it?” Cal twisted the cap off the water bottle.

  Spence slowly turned his head to glare at his friend. “And just what should I do? Storm the restaurant and drag her out kicking and screaming? I’m sure that will make her realize that I’m commitment material.”

  Cal rolled his eyes. “Nothing so dramatic, idiot.”

  “And what would you suggest, oh wise one?”

  “Well, she mentioned her date was at Nina’s. They just happen to offer take-out. We could always call in an order, and you could pick it up. Nothing dramatic, but she’ll see you and you’ll be on her mind the rest of the date.” Cal nodded. “See, I am wise as hell.”

  Shit, he couldn’t even believe he was even considering it.

  “Or you could just hole yourself up here and paint. Oh, and think about her. With. Someone. Else.” Cal stood. “I’m going to go work. If you decide to make the call for food, their menu is in the drawer in the kitchen.”

  Alone, Spence stared at the TV then pulled his phone out of his pocket. He turned it around in his hands for a few minutes. Did he risk pissing Maggie off by showing up during her date? Surely, that wouldn’t end well and wouldn’t bode well for developing anything beyond friendship with her. But damn it, sitting here was killing him.

  With a muttered curse, he stood and flipped the phone open.

  Maggie lifted her glass and sipped the cool water as she tried to focus on what her date—architect Kyle Stevens—was saying. Honestly? The man was boring her to tears. He’d seemed so normal, and he met every requirement on her checklist. Stable job. Financially independent. Everything. Unfortunately, the sum of it all, at least in Kyle’s case, was dull, dull, dull. She mentally shook herself. She had to give this guy a shot. After all, sparks and excitement were overrated. In the long haul, solid and dependable were what mattered.

  “After that project, I was lucky enough to land—”

  Maggie’s phone chirping from her purse interrupted him. She grimaced and reached inside the small bag. She glanced at the display and frowned. Spencer. Her heart raced. First, with excitement, then with worry. Maybe something had happened to Cal…

  “Excuse me, I should take this,” she said.

  Kyle nodded with a smile and turned his attention to his barely touched meal.

  “Hello,” she answered.

  “Hello, darlin’.” His voice, rough and low, traveled over the line.

  “Is everything all right?” she inquired.

  “Everythi
ng’s fine. How are you doing?”

  She closed her eyes a moment. “I can’t really talk right now.”

  “Oh?”

  “I’m on a date.” She smiled tightly at the man across from her.

  “Oh, that was tonight?” he asked brightly. “How’s it going? He’s not one of the weirdos, right?” When she didn’t respond, he spoke again, his voice low and gravelly. “What are you wearing?”

  “W-w-what?”

  “Are you wearing one of those hot little suits you have on all the time? Though I’m sure your date wouldn’t appreciate them as much as I do. But no, I’m betting you’re wearing a little black number? Seems like the safe choice for a first date.”

  Maggie clenched her free hand in her lap…on top of the damned black dress she was wearing.

  “And odds are you have the sexy thigh highs going on underneath, don’t you?” He hummed. “Sexy as hell. Did you wear racy underwear, hoping to impress?” His voice took on a hard edge.

  “Spence—”

  “Oh, he’s hoping for a peek. I don’t need to know the man to know that. Even though we haven’t managed it, any man with a pulse would want to peel your clothes off nice and slow. Tell me,” he continued, “is your hair up in one of those proper twists or did you wear it loose?”

  She pushed her chair back and mouthed to Kyle, Be right back. Spencer kept talking as she hurried toward the back of the restaurant.

  “It doesn’t matter really. Either is more tempting than you realize. Up, and it’s like you’re begging for my mouth on your neck. Down, and all I can think of is wrapping it around my hands while you work your way on down to—”

  “Stop!” She ducked into the empty restroom, shut the door and leaned against it. The fact he’d changed from “a man’s” to “my” didn’t escape her notice. She pressed her legs together. No, she definitely noticed. “Damn it, Spencer, what the hell are you doing?”

  “Well, I—”

  “Oh just shut up,” she snapped. “I’m on a date. You can’t be calling me and…and saying things like that. God.”

  “Maggie, I forgot you were on a date when I called, I swear.”

  “No, you didn’t. I don’t believe that for a second.” She caught herself before she stomped her foot. She didn’t know who she was more upset with. Him for calling or herself for being so affected. “I need to get back to my date.”

  “Fine,” he drawled. “But, Maggie, think about this. You didn’t have to listen. All you had to do was hang up.”

  “Kiss my ass,” she hissed, before hitting end. She pulled in several deep breaths. Damn, she had to still make it through dinner with Mr. Dully McDullerton. Then she would deal with Spencer.

  Chapter Seven

  “So, why don’t you tell me all about it?”

  Maggie looked up as Kate strolled into her living room, where she’d been sitting alone in the quiet.

  “All about what?”

  Kate sat next to her and lifted a brow. “Don’t try to bullshit me. Your little happy face might fool your brothers, but this is me, Mags. Last night at dinner, the tension between you and Spence was…well, hot and thick. So what is going on?”

  Kate and Gabe had returned from their honeymoon the day before, and the family had come together for dinner. Their mother had, of course, included Spence. Maggie had tried to keep things light, not wanting to add any drama to her friend’s homecoming. Mission failed.

  “Nothing,” she muttered.

  “Bullshit,” Kate said in a sing-song voice. “Maybe I should go ask him?”

  “Nosy bitch,” Maggie said without any heat.

  Kate threw her head back and laughed. “I recall you were the nosy bitch not too long ago, so it’s my turn.” She wrapped her arm around Maggie’s shoulders. “Come on. It’ll be better once you talk about it.”

  Maggie sighed. And gave in. Talking with Kate always helped, and they hadn’t had enough of that lately with the wedding. “Well, that first night, when he drove me home, we sort of fooled around.”

  “I knew it!” Kate did a little butt wiggle on the cushion.

  “Do you want to hear this or not?” She narrowed her eyes at her friend.

  “Sorry, go on.”

  Maggie let it all out, from that first night to the phone call that interrupted her date. When she was finished, she stared at Kate and waited.

  “Oh, Mags.” Kate sighed.

  “What?” She shook her head. “Why that damned disappointed tone?”

  “You make these plans and when something, even if it’s good, gets in the way, you just sink your teeth in all the deeper.”

  “I can be flexible,” she protested.

  “Yeah, flexible like iron,” Kate quipped. “Why can’t you just see where this thing with Spence goes? He’s a great guy, and I think letting yourself enjoy him would do you a world of good. Just going with it, instead of having everything planned out to the last detail would be freeing, don’t you think?” She chuckled. “And the horrified look on your face tells me you don’t agree.”

  “I get what you’re saying,” Maggie conceded. “Still, I don’t see how it would ever work between the two of us. We are too different.”

  “I’m not saying you should marry the man, for God’s sake. Just enjoy him and see what happens. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing,” Kate insisted. “Though, I will say, you’ve made some pretty sweeping assumptions about him, based on what? That he’s an artist like Cal? That doesn’t mean he and Cal are exactly alike. You should know that better than anyone. You and Cal share DNA and couldn’t be more different.”

  “I just can’t see wasting my time. I’m ready to take that step and settle down with the right guy.”

  “How is obsessing over him and trying to avoid him any easier than just being with him?” Kate asked pointedly. “The way I see it, you’re not going to be able to be with anyone else anyway unless this thing is resolved with Spence. And the only way you can do that? Be with him, enjoy it. And if it turns out he’s not the right guy, then you can move on.”

  Maggie bit her lip then nodded. “You’re right. Avoiding him isn’t solving anything. It’s just making us both miserable. I need to get him out of my system so I can get back on track.”

  “Whoa!” Kate held her hand up. “That so isn’t what I said.”

  “No, it makes sense.” Maggie nodded. “Total sense. I just,” she sighed, “don’t want to mess up his friendship with Cal if things don’t end well. But if we talk about it beforehand, discuss the possible fallout after it’s over, we can avoid some problems, don’t you think?”

  Kate frowned. “Maggie, I don’t think you understood fully what I was saying. I wasn’t suggesting you just go fuck around until you’re tired of each other. I think you owe it to both of you to get to know him. Really know him, not just his anatomy, no matter how appealing that may be.”

  “I know,” Maggie said absently. She wondered if she should go see Spencer before she headed to work. Glancing at the clock, she decided she had enough time. It was perfect, actually. There’d be time to discuss, but not enough to…well, to end up where they always ended up. Wrapped around each other. Not that she didn’t want that to happen, but for both their sakes, the conversation had to happen first.

  When she looked at her friend, Kate was shaking her head.

  “What?”

  “I can see your mind is set, and there’s nothing else I can say.” Kate gave her a quick hug. “Just be careful, Mags. And keep an open mind.”

  Maggie returned the embrace then jumped to her feet. “I need to get ready for work. Are you headed home?”

  “No, I’m meeting your mom at the resort for a late lunch.” Kate rose as well. “I think I’ll swing by the bookstore a little bit afterward, though. I’ve missed it.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you there.” Her mind on Spencer and what was to come, Maggie raced to the stairs and, taking them two at a time, called over her shoulder. “Thanks, Kate!”

 
Forty-five minutes later, she strode into the gallery space below her brother’s apartment, figuring at this time of day both men would be overseeing the work being done on the building. She surveyed the large area where drywall was being installed. One of the workers glanced over at her.

  “Can I help you, ma’am?”

  “I’m looking for Spencer Reed. Or Cal Monroe.”

  “In back.” He jerked a thumb in the general direction. “Just follow the music.”

  She smiled in thanks and headed that way. The only door on the back wall was closed and as she approached the music behind it grew louder. When she turned the knob and pulled, she could almost feel the beat of the classic rock song on the air. Leaning against the doorjamb, she just surveyed the scene before her a moment. Both Cal and Spence stood at easels, with their backs to her.

  Spencer’s foot tapped as his brush flew over the canvas. She didn’t know how either of them could concentrate with the music blaring—particularly Spencer as Cal was singing along, loud and horrible. Maggie’s lips twitched. As the song finished, she took the opportunity to clear her throat, and Cal was the first to turn, though Maggie’s focus was completely on Spencer as a moment later, he faced her.

  “Hey, Mags.” Cal set his brush down and crossed the room to switch off the CD player. “What’s up?”

  She glanced at her brother. “I need to talk to Spencer,” she said sharply.

  Cal grinned. “I’ll just, uh, go.” He scooted around her with a laugh and a nudge with his shoulder.

  Spence lifted a brow. “What can I do for you, darlin’?”

  She took a deep breath then with long strides went to him. Hands on his cheeks, she pulled him down and took his mouth. Just a kiss, she thought. Kiss…then talk.

  Shock coursed through Spence when their mouths met. The kiss was brutal; Maggie held nothing back. His mind went blank when her tongue, slick and sweet, drove forward and dueled with his. The brush slipped from his fingers and clattered to the floor. He settled his hands on her ass, while hers explored, running over his shoulders, up to run through his hair, back down to his chest.