She cringed at her own tone. She knew she sounded bitchy, but after what she'd just been through she was entitled to feel a little grumpy.
"You've had a hard day, haven't you?” he said in a conciliatory tone. “How about you come with me to the lake house for the weekend?"
Khloe eyed him.
"No strings, I promise."
"So you're not going to put out?” Khloe's eyes widened. Maybe this no-filter thing wasn't such a good idea after all.
"Whatever you want, Khloe.” Reed laughed.
"Is this usual fare for you? You just, you know, leave the office whenever you feel like it?"
"I've got my BlackBerry. It's like being at work.” He shrugged.
"What about the fire fiasco?"
"Head of security will take care of it."
"You have an answer for everything, don't you?” Khloe replied.
"Everything except whether you're coming with me to the lake house.” The corner of his mouth curled up in an entreating grin.
No. The answer should definitely be no. She liked him too much. Liked how he flirted, his witty banter. He had charisma enough for ten evil geniuses. He was beautiful and he had money he liked to spend. Reed Rothington was so bad for her.
"How can I stand sure in my resolve against such an invitation?” Gah! No, wrong answer. Reed was like crack. Just say no. Of course that damned word wouldn't come out of her mouth. Instead, she was flirting like some school girl. At any moment, Khloe expected to realise she was twirling her hair.
"You can't.” His grin merged into another smirk. “I like that about you."
"At the risk of being cliched, isn't this all...so sudden?” Khloe laughed.
"Maybe. But life is short and if I see something I want, I go after it. Tomorrow isn't promised to anyone."
"Okay, I need to pack.” His spontaneity was infectious.
"Let's go now.” Reed slid his hand down her waist to her ass.
"I don't know,” she teased. “Our last ride together didn't turn out so well."
"No? You came on my fingers."
"But you didn't."
"Didn't what?” he asked devilishly.
"You know what,” Khloe answered.
"No, you have to tell me."
"You didn't come.” She felt so naughty even saying it—it gave her a delicious little thrill.
"Was that so hard?” he asked.
"I don't know. Was it?” She brushed her hand across the hard ridge of his cock.
He pushed her up against the wall and worked his hand up her skirt. “It certainly was."
She braced herself on his shoulders and he hoisted her legs around his hips, using the wall for balance. He moved his hands up her thighs to cup the globes of her ass and he worked one finger into her hot channel.
Khloe gasped and clung tighter. “Someone could see us,” she whispered in a shuddering breath.
"Someone already saw us and it wasn't the end of the world.” His voice was ragged with need. “But it will be if I don't feel that honeyed pussy around my cock right now."
No one had ever spoken to Khloe that way before and she hadn't ever imagined she would like it, but Reed was sincere. He wasn't talking dirty to titillate himself—he was telling her how much he needed her.
"Yes,” Khloe answered him.
"Yes, what?” He buried his face against her neck and licked the sensitive skin there.
Now this—this was for titillation. He liked to hear dirty words out of her mouth. She was happy to oblige him because she found she liked to say them, liked what they did to him.
"Fuck me, Reed.” Khloe reached between them and undid the buckle on his belt. She freed his cock and pulled her damp panties aside for him to enter her.
It was an invasion, sure and swift. She gritted her teeth at his girth, but it was a good kind of discomfort. Both his hands were on her ass again and he ploughed into her, hitting her core.
She clawed at his shoulders as he ground into her, bucked her hips and rode his thrusts. Her back scraped against the concrete wall, another twinge of pain to offset the pleasure.
"Khloe,” he moaned.
She clenched her slit and drew him deeper as his cock surged inside her.
"Christ, Khloe. I didn't expect this.” He took her mouth, not giving her a chance to reply. Khloe responded ardently to his kiss, until he broke away. “I'm not wearing a condom."
"On the pill,” she mumbled. “Come for me, Reed."
He groaned again, digging his fingers into her skin, and he thrust harder. “Say it again, Khloe."
The sense of power she had over him was headier than the orgasm that was building. No man had ever made her feel so sensual, so powerful. So beautiful.
"Fill me, Reed. Come for me,” she said against his mouth.
His shoulders tensed beneath her hands and he paused in the rhythm of his thrusts before he spasmed against her as he came.
Yet he didn't release her. He rested his forehead against hers and the scent of his aftershave wrapped around her. “I know you didn't come this time. Give me a minute"—he took a deep breath and exhaled—"and I'll fix that."
"I'll wait until the lake house.” She eased herself down to her feet. “I think I've gotten to like this whole outdoor thing. You have a private beach, right?"
"Yes, yes I do. And if I didn't, I'd buy one,” Reed promised.
[Back to Table of Contents]
Chapter Six
Romping with Rothington on the Lake
* * * *
Khloe hadn't brought any clothes and Bree would kill her if she got her blouse wet, so there was nothing for it but to strip naked to take in the sun on Reed's private beach. She would have found an excuse anyway—Khloe wanted him to keep his promise to pleasure her.
If she thought about it too much, her common sense would take over and scream at her in her mother's voice, although it wouldn't use her mother's verbiage. It would demand exactly what the fuck she thought she was doing using a man for his money.
But it wasn't for his money—it was for his tongue, his fingers, his cock. And he'd read Heyer and Cartland. Yes, that alone merited a free pass into her bed.
Khloe looked around surreptitiously before peeling off her blouse and skirt. The sand looked a little sketchy and she decided she didn't want it up her ass, so she left her panties and bra on and reclined with her toes in the cool water of the lake.
The sun was warm on her skin—a pleasing contrast. Sounds of loons in the distance lulled her further and she stretched.
"God, you're beautiful.” Reed's voice startled her out of her reverie.
She blinked against the sun, but she could only see a shadowed shape until he sat next to her. He was wearing swimming trunks.
"Thank you,” Khloe said and felt her cheeks colour.
"How is it that you can tell me to fuck you and when to come, but you blush when I tell you you're beautiful?” Reed smiled at her.
"My last few dates have been with my showerhead. Walter doesn't usually give me compliments. He gets in, he gets out. Job done."
Reed laughed. “Lucky me, then."
"Or maybe not. Spending too much time with Walter makes it harder for me to come any other way.” It was easier talking about coming and orgasms than what he thought of her looks.
"Is that a challenge?” Reed trailed his fingers down her ribs.
"Most definitely,” Khloe said with a grin.
Reed splayed his hand on her lower belly and inched his fingers slowly down into her panties. He kept his gaze locked on her face and Khloe found it incredibly intimate. He pushed a long finger past her labia and stroked gently from her clit down the seam of her cunt. She was still wet and lubed from their earlier encounter.
She bit her lip when he grazed her clit again and worked lazy circles around the bud. Khloe spread her legs wider and worked herself closer to the caress. He pushed two fingers into her channel, but she wanted more.
He dipped his head to kiss her
and she was glad of it. Khloe couldn't get off under that intense scrutiny—even though she'd remember the look on his face long after their encounters were over.
She liked seeing his muscles move—evidence of his exertion to bring her off. The ropey muscles twisting and flexing—the Extensor Carpel Ulnaris, the Supinator—she could name them all. She'd taken anatomy as part of her art history major. At the time, she hadn't seen the point, but seeing them working together on Reed made them art.
His kiss made her dizzy—all conquering warrior and pillaging invader. He moved over her with such control and precision—Reed knew exactly how and where to touch her. All she could do was surrender to the sensation.
She gasped when he pushed a third finger inside her and increased the pressure on her clit.
"There it is, that's what you want.” His voice was full of male pride.
Her body went taut, the tension building to a crescendo. She wasn't ready for it to be over yet. It was too good. “Not yet,” she pleaded.
"Yes,” he demanded. “Then again in the shower. I want to watch."
Khloe cried out as the imagery of Reed watching her pushed her over the edge. She clung to his shoulders, lifting herself off the ground as she rode the waves of bliss. Khloe's pussy seized around his fingers, the quakes sending tremors through her.
Khloe collapsed, breathless, and he stilled his movements, but he didn't release her, just held her as she fell back to earth from that place where stars exploded.
On the downside, she did, in fact, have sand in her vag. It wasn't a pleasant feeling. “I'm going to have to take you up on that shower. Now."
"Sand in delicate places, sweetness? Well, our heroine can't be walking around in such discomfort, so the hero must carry her to the shower.” Reed hauled her against him with ease and lifted her into the air.
She barely had time to make a squeak.
"I have to use these muscles for something besides wearing my clothes, right?” He grinned at her obvious appreciation.
"You really are too perfect, Reed Rothington. What exactly is your fatal flaw? I have to know."
"I'd like to say I don't have one, but that would be a flaw in itself, wouldn't it?” he said as he carried her to the house.
"Of the worst kind,” she agreed. “But that's okay, because then I'd know what it is. You are awfully arrogant."
"And to that I say, it ain't bragging if you can back it up."
"You know what I find more horrendous than the sentiment?” Khloe asked glibly.
"My use of the word ‘ain't'?"
"Exactly.” She leaned her head on his shoulder. It would be way too easy to get used to this.
Khloe loved the house. She hadn't thought she would upon the first viewing—it was ultra-modern, made mostly of recycled materials. It wasn't what she'd expected, but she loved how one of the window-walls was a door. The entire wall opened up to bring the outside in. She also loved the hot tub and, if Reed asked her, she would admit the idea of a shower with twenty-two showerheads appealed to her inner bad girl.
That was his treat, he explained, for using recycled materials and a grey water system. The man did like his water and Khloe couldn't blame him.
He deposited her in the bathroom and gave her a blue chenille robe. “Put this on when you're done and we'll have a nice dinner by the fireplace."
"I thought you wanted to watch?” she teased.
"Again?” he asked.
"No, I just wanted to see if you would."
"I would. I definitely would.” He nodded. “But they say there's this thing called dinner. And you have to partake of it to keep doing those other delicious things."
"They do? Who is this ‘they'?"
"I don't know, but they say a lot of shit.” He winked at her. “Use anything you like. There's a spare toothbrush in the drawer.” Reed closed the door behind him.
Of course there was. There was his fatal flaw. He'd always have a spare toothbrush, or robe, or any number of intimate items for that extra guest. No one's toothbrush would ever hang next to his.
Khloe had to accept that and just enjoy the time they did have together. She couldn't go and do anything stupid like get attached. She was in this for fun and for the pay cheque.
No strings.
This was only temporary, much like herself. She was a temp. She didn't do commitments or retirement plans.
She shimmied out of her soiled under-things and stepped into the shower, letting the hot water wash the sand and her idiotic melancholy away. Two days with the man and she was just like Brandy had said—cock-struck. It was pathetic.
So I like him. So what?
So, he's Bree's. That's what
No, she said they haven't...
Gah! What was wrong with her? Couldn't she stop thinking for five minutes and just enjoy the damn shower?
There were unopened bottles of Burt's Bees Pomegranate shampoo and conditioner and Khloe decided to take full advantage. She heard the door open again and was startled to feel Reed's hands in her hair.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't resist,” he said.
She was glad he couldn't, but worried for herself. Her head wasn't right. If he kept doing these things...
"I don't know what it is about you, Khloe, but you're like a drug. I can't get enough."
"Yeah.” She laughed. “Don't you know, I slipped some ambergris into your coffee?"
"No, it's more like some sort of spell."
"Maybe Bree cursed you."
"Maybe she did,” he agreed seriously. “I can't stop thinking about you. The whole building could have burned to ash today and I'd still have tried to get you here with me like this."
"Why?” Khloe asked as he pushed his fingers through her hair.
"I don't know. Look, Khloe. You know Bree and I haven't..."
"She told me. It doesn't matter, let's keep having fun.” Please, not the talk.
"Did she tell you I offered to pay her rent until she came back?” Reed said as he rinsed the pomegranate bubbles from her hair.
"No! The cow! She told me she needed me to fill in for her or she wouldn't have a job when she got back.” Khloe laughed softly, her only defence against what was happening between them now.
"My niece has leukaemia. I understand what she's going through with her mum."
"I guess she thought we needed to meet.” Khloe laughed again, nervous. “She extolled your virtues in the bedroom. I've heard tons about the Reed Rothington Rodeo.” Steer the conversation back to something she knew she could navigate. This other stuff was too personal and it took away all pretence she had to do this.
He laughed lightly, but looked away from her as if embarrassed. It was endearing, this peek behind the curtain. He was so real to her now, in a way he hadn't been before.
Khloe, you dumbass. How much more real could he get? The man had his tongue in your vag.
But he'd still been larger than life to her then. This moment had brought him tumbling down to earth, but it hadn't shattered his perfection. It made him real. A person with a family, with needs and desires, instead of the rich man with an anaconda.
She gingerly tunnelled her fingers through his dark hair to return the favour and he tilted his head under one of the streams of water to allow it.
"Tell me about your niece."
Reed's body tensed. He opened an eye and watched her for a moment like an eagle would a field mouse, as if gauging her intent. “Women don't usually ask me about her."
"Men don't usually talk about other women when I'm naked in the shower with them, either,” she chastised him.
"My sincerest apologies.” He smoothed the conditioner through her hair. “I'm overly protective sometimes. There are people who would use her against me if they could."
"If you don't want to talk about her, that's okay.” Khloe realised she might have overstepped her boundaries.
"She recently had a bone marrow transplant. I call her Sunny because she's always got a smile on her face. That kid's go
t something great to do in the world. I hope she gets the chance to do it."
"I do, too.” Khloe meant it. She never understood how people who were faced with such horror stayed so positive and strong.
"Her birthday is coming up soon. She'll be thirteen. Maybe you'd help me pick out something good?"
"I'd be happy to help, but you should know, I'm really a pre-teen boy in a girl's body. I like beer and pizza and I think fart jokes are funny."
"Good. So does she. All but the beer.” He frowned. “At least, she'd better not."
Khloe laughed. Oh, but damn, she liked him.
The light moment was suddenly gravid with the tension between them. His gaze focused on her mouth and her lips tingled in anticipation. She enjoyed the way the water slicked down his tanned skin, the heat that flared more than just the warmth of the spray.
"If I didn't know better, I'd think you were a corporate spy,” he mumbled as he kissed her hard.
She melted into his kiss and draped her arms around his shoulders with an easy familiarity. Her stomach rumbled and they laughed together.
"Some corporate spy I'd make. I can't even stand up straight in fuck-me heels."
"Who says you need to stand up?” Reed teased as he rinsed the last of the conditioner out of her hair.
"You did, when you took me like a doxy against the wall,” she countered, lapsing back into their romance novel terminology.
"You're my doxy.” He winked at her and wrapped her hair in a towel. “Now, dry off. I can't play the proper rake if I don't go start the fire and pour the wine, right?"
"Rake? I thought you were the hero?” Khloe pursed her lips.
"Reformed rakes make the best heroes, right?"
"You're dangerous, you know that?” There he was talking about her being his doxy as if he was staking a claim, instead of their current temp-employer relationship. Then he was talking rakes and heroes. She'd always thought men would benefit from reading romance novels, but this one had made them into a weapon.
His cocksure grin did nothing to ease her fears as he left her to finish drying off. When she was done, she put on the robe as he'd instructed. Khloe followed shortly after out into the Great Room.
Rather than the wine he'd promised, there were two bottles of Old Rasputin Imperial Stout and the fire blazed high in the grate. A large tartan blanket had been spread out and Khloe padded over to it and brought pillows down off the couch. The fire warmed her further and she sighed. This was decadent.
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