Party Favors

by Jennifer Dunne, Madeleine Oh

  “Maybe we both are. We’re not alone, are we?”

  It felt as if they were, tucked in a warm corner, with the night outside. It was as if the other customers and the shop around them receded. Jud had her complete focus. She made herself look away and taste her soup. It seemed to have lost most of its flavor. “What else do you read?”

  “Erotica.”

  She should have expected that! But to be truthful. “So do I.”

  “I thought so. Katie, I’d love to have a look at your collection.”

  “Sure you don’t want to see my etchings?”

  “Katie, it’s not a pick up line. Looking at your books would tell me a lot about you.”

  Too much. She wasn’t ready to have him see her collection of Laura Antoniou, or her limited edition, leather-bound, Story of O. Not yet. If ever. “If you did, then I’d be entitled to look over your shelves.”

  “Be my guest, any time. We could trade favorite reads. Have you discovered Ellora’s Cave?” Had she just! He’d never get a peek at her hard drive. “They have some quite impressive BDSM works.”

  “I know.”

  That smile put a dimple in his right cheek. “I’m damn glad, Katie.” He reached across the table, and rested his hand on her forearm. If his touch was meant to be reassuring, it wasn’t working. Just feeling the warmth of his fingertips through her sweater sent her body temp up several degrees. “Have you ever told anyone about your interest in kink?”

  “I’m not sure I am interested.”

  He smiled, and lifted an eyebrow. His attitude tweaked her already heightened nerves. “I am, aren’t you?”

  She wasn't sure about anything any more! The man had her so twirled up inside, she was lucky she knew which end of the spoon to put in her mouth. Just to make sure, she scooped up a spoonful of soup. Definitely lukewarm. About the only thing for a yardstick that was. She was hot under her skin, and the look in Jud’s eyes suggested minestrone was the last thing on his mind. “Fifteen minutes of conversation with you, and I’m not sure of anything any more!”

  “That was what I was hoping for.”

  “You get your thrills confusing people?”

  “I don’t want to confuse. My aim is to help you sort things out.”

  “How?” Come to that, what did she need to sort out? Whether to walk out now, or in three minutes?

  He hesitated, just a tad. “I think, you want things I can offer.”

  “You sound pretty certain!”

  “I am.” Was he some sort of weirdo or lunatic? He was Andrew’s friend! “I could be mistaken,” Jud went on, “but I don’t think so.”

  “Mistaken about what?”

  “That you’re intrigued by kink, but your only experience is vicarious.”

  “Aren’t you making a wild assumption?” And wasn’t she crazy to sit here and discuss it?

  “Yes,” he agreed amicably, “but I’m not often wrong about these things.”

  “This could be the time.”

  “Is it?” In the silence that followed he asked, “Want a fresh coffee? Yours has gone cold.”

  “I need to go home.” But she didn’t want to. As much as Jud disturbed her, he was also offering something she wasn’t sure she had the nerve to accept.

  “Do you? Right now?”

  No, but it might well be judicious. “Jud, how about come out and say it? Seems you’re beating around the bush, making oblique suggestions. What are you trying to say?”

  “I want you to let me take you to bed, and show you the reality is far, far, better than the best kinky fiction.”

  She’d asked for direct. She got it. What now? Run a mile? Better catch her breath first. He was waiting for a reply and her tongue had fused to her teeth.

  Chapter Four

  Jud wanted to swear, or at least bite off his tongue. She’d asked for it point blank, but hadn’t been ready. Heavy duty damage control needed. She was so wonderful, and so eager, but didn’t understand what she wanted. He was dead certain he hadn’t been wrong. He’d watched her face as she looked at the toys in the shop. Her reaction to the handcuffs she bought was clear as daylight. It turned her on, but wasn’t ready to acknowledge her needs. She would. “You’ve gone very quiet.”

  “Are you surprised?” She had her voice back, good.

  “No. I imagine it’s the first time a potential lover suggested that.”

  “You're right the first time! And I’m assuming that this isn’t your standard courtship conversation.”

  “Not in the least. There are very few women I’d have this conversation with. Most women would run a mile, the magnificent ones, like you, don’t.”

  “You mean the crazy ones.”

  “Not in the least. You are wonderfully sane, just a bit reluctant.”

  “Hardly surprising.”

  “Yes and no. Kink fascinates you, Katie, but you’ve never had a lover tie you to the bed. Never known what it is to let go completely. Never felt the sweet kiss of a flogger.”

  “Hell, no! I’m not into pain!”

  “I’m not talking pain. I’m talking about massaging you with scented oil, before stroking your smooth flesh with the tresses. I’d open your legs, and caress the insides of your thighs with the flogger before kissing you where you want it the most. You’d have the best climax of your life and want more.”

  “Jud!” It came out like a shocked gasp. Her face was flushed, and it wasn’t all embarrassment. “I just met you five days ago. We’ve had three casual meetings --as if they really were casual -- and you’re talking about getting me naked, and doing things to me!”

  “Is the prospect so abhorrent?”

  “It scares me witless, to be honest!”

  They were getting somewhere. “A little bit of fear ups the arousal, and you are turned on, Katie. I can smell you even over all this garlic.” She blushed beautifully. Would her cunt be that same luscious shade? Her nipples as sweetly blushed? He longed to find out. “I’ll make no secret of it, Katie, I want you in bed. Naked. I want you to submit and give your body over to me. I want to give you incredible pleasure. And I suspect you want that too, don’t you?”

  “Yes!” She gasped, her eyes wide with shock. “I don’t know why I said that!”

  “Because it’s true, and against all the odds, you trust me.”

  “Beats me why!”

  “Instinct, Katie. You know in your heart, I’m what you need, and I won’t let you down.”

  Instinct might not let her down but common sense had. Jud walked her home after she’d said she lived round the corner, but hadn’t even asked to come in. He kissed her sedately on the cheek and walked away, once he was sure she’d gone inside. From talking dirty, they wound up like a date out of Happy Days. She wasn’t sure she needed to get involved with him. But she was desperate to see him again.

  Two days later, she ran into him-or rather he spotted her. He pulled his car up to the bus stop where she was waiting, rolled down the window, and asked, “Need a ride?”

  “My mother told me never to accept rides from strange men!”

  “Hop in!” He leaned over and opened the door. “I just heard all the buses are on strike.”

  “Idiot!” she said, as she sat down, hauling her tote bag after her. “They’re not on strike, one just pulled up right behind us.” The driver was glaring for all he was worth. “There are laws about stopping in bus lanes.”

  “Buckle up and we can go.” As he spoke, he reached across, pulled the webbing across her chest.

  “Bondage, I see!”

  “Rot!” he said, as he clicked the buckle into place. “It’s called observing the law. Trust me, you won’t click out of any bondage I put you in.”

  “Dream on, Sonny!”

  He laughed so hard, he had to steer sharply to avoid a cyclist. “I can see I took the wrong tack with you the other night. You like a direct approach.”

  “I like getting home in one piece. So far you’ve violated a bus lane and almost shaved the
hairs off a cyclist’s legs.”

  “It's worth it to run into you like this.”

  “You’ll run into the pedestrians if you aren’t careful!” That was unfair. He’d stopped at the crossing but... “Who told you I’d be waiting there?”

  “No one. It was fortunate happenstance.” He ignored her grunt and went on. “I planned to call you tonight, but when I saw you standing in front of the bank building, I took it as a sign from Providence.”

  “More a sign I was late. I missed my usual bus.”

  “You don’t drive to work?”

  “This is a better deal. If I drive, I have to pay for parking. By taking the bus, my employer pays for the bus pass.”

  “Ah! An ecologically aware employer.”

  “Not particularly, just short of parking places in the mall garage.”

  He did have a nice laugh. But... “Why did you want to call me tonight?”

  “To ask you for a date.”

  Reasonable enough, or was it? “Where?”

  “You’ll come? I thought you might run a mile.”

  “If it’s a night out at some kinky club, it’ll be two miles.”

  “How about a night in.”

  “When?” And come to that...”Where?”

  “Halloween. I thought I’d invite myself to your house for trick or treating.”

  “Along with the goblins and the ghosts? You want candy?”

  “Just what you keep between your legs.”

  Sheesh! But she’d be lying through her teeth to say she didn’t want him. “Thanks for the compliment. What sort of tricks and treats?”

  “You’re smart enough to figure that out, I think. We both dress up, we act out parts, and I give you the best sex you’ve ever had.”

  “What do we dress up as?”

  “You pick mine, and I choose yours. Once we’re suited up. I lead and you follow.”

  “What if I don’t fancy following?”

  “You say ‘no’.”

  Couldn’t be that straightforward, not with Jud Carlton! She needed think time. “Not to change the subject or anything, but would you make a detour at the next corner for the cleaners? It’ll save me going out later?”

  “By all means.” He slowed and turned left. “But only on the condition that you have dinner with me.”

  “When?”

  “Tonight. I’ll bring it. Do you want Chinese, Indian, or Turkish?” The car pulling up at the curb saved her from replying. She unsnapped the seat belt and opened the door.

  “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  It was nearer ten. Half the city seemed to be waiting for cleaning or shirts, but the delay gave Katie time to think and get even more confused. No doubt about it, Jud was sexy and attractive, fascinated her with his promises, but he also scared her witless. Could she trust him? Andrew said Jud was a good guy, and she trusted Andrew as much as she did anyone-or had until he admitted to tying Sophie up regularly. The thought of poised and sophisticated Sophie tied up and getting spanked was getting Katie’s panties damp. She hoped to the heavens the chemical smell from the machines in the back hid it from everyone else.

  It was her turn, Katie handed over her claim check and her plastic money, signed the slip, and grabbed her cleaning and walked out into the October afternoon.

  Jud was standing by the car, in a no parking area of course, and opened the door for her. As he got into the driver’s seat and put the key in the ignition, Katie turned to him. “I prefer Indian, medium hot, and please don’t come before eight. I've something I have to get done.”

  “I’ll be there, Katie.”

  Neither spoke a word for the next couple of blocks. Jud turned left and took a short cut to her apartment, as if he’d studied the route. She suspected he had. He’d studied her, hadn’t he? He pulled up right in front of her apartment. She did manage to get out of the car before he got around to open the door, but Jud got her cleaning before she reached in. Unnecessary for a liberated woman, but she wasn’t in the mood to argue. But she was not about to relinquish her key to him, which he clearly expected. Heck, it was her front door. Jud stepped in behind her, giving old Mrs. Brown next door, plenty to think about.

  Once inside, he just stood and smiled, looking around in a not too pointed way-he got a few brownie points for that. Katie was half-tempted to tell him to just stay and she’d fix omelettes.

  He reached out for her hand, and stepped closer, her heart took on a pulse of its own, and what her blood pressure was doing was anyone’s business. The sight of Jud, watching her with his beautiful dark eyes, and the twitch of a smile in the corner of his wide mouth, had her biting her own lips. A nice, hot kiss would be very welcome. She looked up at him and smiled.

  “I’ll be back at eight, on the dot.” Katie’s breath caught as he brushed her cheek with his finger, trailing slowly to caress the point of her chin. Her lips parted in anticipation, her heart did a little flip, and her chest heaved as their eyes met. “Medium hot, right?” he asked brushing the hair off her forehead before dropping a quick kiss.

  Sheesh! Her first kiss in High School had been more passionate than that! But it hadn’t left her quivering and wet. This was nuts!

  “I’ll be back!” With that, he opened the door and walked out while she gaped like a dimwit. He paused to wave and blow a kiss before getting into his car and driving off.

  Katie slammed the door.

  He said he was into games, and brother had he told the truth! She was panting for it, aching between her legs, and her bra felt two cup sizes too small. Damn him! She was half-tempted to grab the phone and call every friend or acquaintance until she found someone to go to the movies and be gone when eight rolled around, but she wasn’t that stupid.

  If Jud could do this to her with a brush of his lips, or a caress down her chin, he had to be worth the trouble.

  And it was time for her to take some trouble.

  She hadn’t shaved her legs since the pool closed on Labor Day. Time to defuzz. She also had time for a face pack, a leisurely soak before shaving her legs, and a shower to wash her hair. She indulged herself thoroughly by digging out the basket of bath goodies she’d received on her last birthday, and now her tiny bathroom smelled like a summer garden. She finished off by slathering her body with a good third of the bottle of lavender lotion, and wrapped herself in a clean bath towel to dry her hair.

  She was clean enough to stand up to scrutiny, or better still lie down for it.

  Teeth brushed, mouth washed, hair next to perfect and a bod smelling like the perfume counter at Marshall Fields. Time to get dressed, and what the hell was she going to wear? Her seldom-worn black lace gown was way too obvious. Sweats, what she usually wore around the house, a bit too casual for seduction. After prolonged indecision, and a lengthy contemplation of her wardrobe, that left her convinced she had nothing wear suitable for a seduction. She settled for a very skimpy, white lace bra and panties she seldom wore, blue jeans and a silk shirt.

  She set the table in the kitchen, before realizing she didn’t have a bottle of wine in the house. Too bad! It was too late to run out and buy a bottle. She lit the gas logs in the fireplace, gathered up the stray papers and old magazines and shoved them under the sofa, and plumped up the pillows. Back in the kitchen, she found a half carton of ice cream in the freezer that looked reasonably edible, topped with chocolate topping it would make a sort of sundae.

  Perhaps for afterwards...in bed.

  Chapter Five

  The doorbell ringing had her rooted to the floor for several seconds. He was right on time. She opened the door. Yup, it had been a while since she’d had a man like this on her doorstep. And yes, she’d done right to stick with jeans. He’d changed into black jeans, a black sweater that looked like cashmere, and a black leather jacket. He also had his arms full, with a sack that emanated wafts of spice and garlic.

  Jud kissed her on the check, and strode into the kitchen as if he owned it. Setting the bag on the table, he reached out
for her hand, drawing her close. “Katie,” he murmured and lowered his mouth to hers.

  How could lips be cool, hot, wild, and gentle all at once? Jud’s were soft and insistent as he pressed his mouth against hers. Wild excitement flooded her mind and body. Her skin tingled where his fingers touched. Her heart sped. And when his lips opened hers, her brain all but zapped out. She gave a little moan, pressed herself into him, until she flattened her breasts against his hard chest, and wrapped her arms around him. His hand was in her hair, another caressed her between her shoulder blades, but they were mere background sensations to the kiss she felt down to her knees. She was aware of his body hard against hers, her racing pulse resounding in her ears, and the wonderful joy of a kiss that took her flying-literally. Her feet were off the ground, as Jud’s hands on her waist lifted her so they were level. Katie gasped as she caught her breath, and angled her mouth for more.

  And got it.

  She was shaking. Whimpering under her breath. Her hips pressed into his, as arousal burned deep in her belly. Her nipples were hard, her pussy wet and throbbing. As far as she cared, curry could wait. She was so hot, she’d never notice if it got stone cold.

  “Enough,” Jud whispered, and set her back on her feet.

  “I don’t think so...” She grinned up at him, anticipating so much more.

  “Yes,” he insisted. “I came to bring you dinner, not fuck you.”

  Nothing like being pulled up short! “Say it like it is, eh? What happened to making love, or old-fashioned, good sex?” Sheesh had she really said that? She was too darn hot to think straight, and, hell, she’d forgotten to change the sheets. Seemed it wouldn’t matter. She’d just made a fool of herself again.

  The way Jud was looking at her, who knew? He didn’t appear shocked. Why should he be? He’d used a four letter word, but... “What is it?” she asked, irritated at his scrutiny.

  “I want to make love, have great sex, and fuck you, but not tonight.”