RidingtheWaves

by Jennifer LaRose

  And then there was Morton, the suddenly psycho kitty. Bless his little fur-ball heart. He’d spazzed out in the kennel numerous times and had chosen to display his anxiety on the kennel crew’s faces and arms.

  “Annalee?” Willow grabbed a flock of red, disobedient curls and began twisting them around her finger. Big tears filled her eyes as she dropped down into the vinyl chair on the opposite side of the desk. “Things weren’t supposed to happen this way. I’m so sorry. I miss you and me.”

  And how were things supposed to have happened? Had she hoped the affair would remain hidden so she could give Jared back when she’d gotten bored? The woman really had done Annalee a favor.

  Despite Willow sounding truly genuine, Annalee ignored her. “This isn’t the proper time, Willow. I have a lot of work to do.” She stood up and opened the door, indicating it was time for Willow to go. Willow pushed herself to her feet. Her mouth dropped open but she snapped it shut while marching past Annalee through the opened doorway.

  What nerve. How could she assume Annalee reprimanded her solely because of the Jared situation? How about job inadequacies! The woman had no clue she’d done Annalee a tremendous service by sweeping him off his feet with her BDSM seduction. Unbelievable.

  Annalee poured herself a cup of coffee, returned to her chair, removed a handful of spreadsheets and reports from her inbox and started rustling through the papers. At least Lydia in accounts payable had a handle on her responsibilities and had turned her monthly summaries in on time.

  She glanced at the cash requirement report, browsed the amount due column and corresponding vendor, but it was like reading a blank document. Brent’s and Grandma’s faces kept flashing before her eyes—she couldn’t concentrate on a single thing.

  Tears bubbled in her eyes. She buried her face in her hands and cried into her palms. Sometimes life is so, so unfair.

  Hadn’t she cried enough over the past week? She needed to save the tears for the privacy of home before someone walked in to see her blubbering. She yanked three tissues out of the box, dabbed her eyes, blew her nose then dug the cell out of her purse and punched in Brent’s number. When he neglected to answer she called Brody.

  He answered immediately. “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Hi. I’m sorry to bother you—”

  “What’s the matter? Are you all right?”

  “Yes,” she sniffled. “I’m okay. How’s Brent?”

  “Trust me, he’s getting better every day.”

  Brody sounded so much like Brent when he’d said that, her heart skipped a beat. “I just tried calling him. Is he asleep?”

  A long gap of silence followed. “Brody?” She listened closely for background noise.

  “Yes, he’s sleeping like a baby. I’ll have him call the instant he wakes up.”

  “Tell him to call my cell, not the office phone.”

  “I will.” He paused for a moment and she knew by the muffled sound he’d clamped his hand over the receiver. “I don’t mean to rush you but I have to go. I’ll make sure he calls.” Again he cupped the receiver to block background commotion. “I’ll talk to you later, sweetheart,” he said and hung up the phone.

  Well, that was a bizarre, short, uninformative conversation—totally unlike Brody.

  She flipped through Lydia’s reports then finished the remainder of the morning and afternoon reorganizing folders and filing mounds of papers. The gazillion sheets kept her so busy and engrossed she hadn’t even stopped for lunch. Periodically she’d glanced at the clock, counting down Willow’s remaining time at Whiltby & Sons. Three forty-five. The woman had fifteen minutes to rectify her screw-up.

  She sat down, pulled a termination form from her drawer and started filling in Willow’s name and the reason for her dismissal. Not even two minutes later someone knocked on the door and Willow stepped into the office.

  “All done,” she said, handing Annalee a handful of reports. “I guess I’ll see you bright and early Monday morning.”

  “Thank you,” Annalee replied, placing the papers on her desk. She sneezed and grabbed a tissue. “Leave the door open. And have a good weekend,” she said, scrolling through the pages, making sure all were completed.

  “Yeah, you too.” She stood watching Annalee a minute before she sat down, wringing her hands in her lap. “I meant what I said earlier, Annalee. I don’t want to lose our friendship over Jared.”

  Annalee bit her tongue. She hadn’t had the opportunity to display anger toward Willow prior to this. But what would a bundle of derogatory words prove now? Willow wanted Jared—she’d gotten him. It was time to move on. “A true friend would not sleep with a friend’s partner.”

  “I’m so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen.” Willow glanced down at her legs. “I tried to tell you, I swear.”

  “I would’ve remembered that.”

  “The evening we shopped for your costume. I told you to dump his ass. I knew if he did this with me, he’d do it with other women too. I didn’t want him to hurt you anymore.”

  “But it was okay for you to hurt me? What happened to sacred friendships and honesty, Willow?”

  Willow’s eyes rolled upward slowly. They were filled with huge, crystal tears. “I couldn’t confide he was cheating on you, because he was cheating with me. I wish I could take it back.”

  What a bunch of crap. “And he cheated with you because you’d made the first move.”

  A tear slid down Willow’s cheek. “Will you ever forgive me?”

  “Absolutely not. How can you even ask that?” Hell, the woman had more balls than most men she knew.

  “You’re a forgiving person.”

  “I’ll never forgive either of you for what you’ve done. I never want to see him again. And you, Willow,” she studied her closely, “will not go beyond the realm of coworker.”

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Willow wiped her cheek with the back of her hand and sniffled as she stood. “I’ll make sure we never bother you again.”

  As she walked to the door, propped it open and entered the corridor, Annalee straightened the remaining piles of paper on her desk and laid her favorite pen inside the drawer. She’d lost many to the weekend office cleaners.

  “Ugh,” Willow groaned. “I’m sorry, I did…n’t see…you.”

  Annalee looked up and her jaw dropped. Brent’s enormous presence filled the outside frame of the doorway. Willow was plastered against his huge chest—his large hands cupped her shoulders.

  Annalee stood, knees trembling. And as she gazed directly into Brent’s eyes her heart exploded. Yet her stomach clenched because Willow’s breasts were smashed against his body.

  He moved Willow aside and smiled at Annalee. “Hello, beautiful.”

  “Hi. You’re…” Her eyes did a grand sweep from his boots up to his face. Dark whiskers, longer than normal, shadowed his cheeks and chin, adding a distinct, rougher edge to his features. Surgical strips had replaced the stitches above his brow. “You’re here,” she choked.

  “I wanted to fly to Kentucky to be with you during the funeral, but doctors. I’m sorry I didn’t make it.”

  As he stepped into the office he walked with a very slight limp. She trotted around her desk to study him closer. Instead she stood directly in front of him and placed her hands on his cheeks. “Are you okay?” At that moment she noticed Willow still standing in the door, her mouth agape. “Willow, go punch out. Your shift is over.”

  “Are you ready to go too?” Brent asked, cupping Annalee’s face. “I’ve missed you, baby.” He planted a kiss on her that folded her toes and her hormones tripped over each other.

  She loved when he called her baby. He used it sensually, almost possessively, as if he’d created it solely for her. And considering she’d nearly lost him, it meant so much more. “Yes,” she said breathlessly. “Is Brody here too?”

  “No, he dropped me at the airport and went home.”

  Airport? That explained all the commotion she’d heard
on the phone. “So you were with him when I called?”

  He grinned and nodded.

  “Sleeping, huh?”

  His smile faded. “If you get mad at anyone, get mad at me. I forbade him from saying anything. I wanted to surprise you.”

  “I’m sure I can be convinced to forgive you.” She tiptoed and planted a soft kiss to his lips. “Let me grab my purse and coat so we can get out of here.”

  He followed her home in a rental car and it was the longest drive of her life. No sooner had they entered the house than Morton shot out of the laundry room past her feet, skidded under the table and then charged down the hallway.

  Brent chuckled. “Looks like kitty is in a hurry tonight.”

  “It seems that way,” she replied, removing her coat. She draped it over the back of a chair. “Morton? Here, kitty-kitty.” She snapped her fingers. “Come get a treat.” When he neglected to reappear she headed to the pantry. “I’ll be right back. Obviously he’s feeling ornery and up to no good.”

  After grabbing a handful of fish-shaped treats, she scurried down the hall to her bedroom where he often hid under the bed. The instant she turned on the light and stepped into the room, Morton darted out of the closet and wrapped his furry self around her ankles. “You little shit.” She smiled while she squatted and opened her fist, offering the treats. His rough, tiny tongue licked her palm clean then he raised his nose in the air and sauntered toward the bed.

  She kicked off her shoes and set them in the closet before she returned to the family room where Brent stood in the kitchen doorway with a duffel bag settled near his feet.

  Inhaling a fortifying breath, she turned and locked her gaze on his face while she walked across the room. Her heart boomed inside her chest as his eyes narrowed to seductive slits. As she drew near, the intoxicating scent of his cologne grew stronger. She drank it in while stopping and placing her hands on his cheeks. His features relaxed instantly and he smiled. As he lowered his face for a kiss his huge arms embraced her, pulling her close. His lips were gentle at first, nibbling and whispery, then they hardened in desperation.

  His arms tightened. The cool temperature from his leather jacket seeped through her blouse and chilled her breasts. She snuggled closer, pressing her hardened nipples against his chest. She couldn’t get enough of him and needed him more than her next heartbeat.

  Sliding fingers into the hair above his ears, she held him close. His mouth was warm and minty. Like a magnet, her tongue was drawn to his. She twirled and suckled it, swallowing his throaty growls as he shoved his leg between her thighs and walked her backward, trapping her against the family room wall.

  Pussy juice gushed onto her panties when he grabbed her wrists and pinned her arms above her head. He locked them in place with one hand while the other slithered inside the bottom of her blouse and under her bra. His calloused fingertips squeezed her nipple. Tingles shot up her spine and her blood overheated. “Mmm,” she moaned behind his lips.

  “Mmm, what? Talk to me.”

  Mmm everything. She rested her forehead against his chest.

  Each physical aspect about him deserved a great big mmm. His demanding mouth—hard cock pressing into her belly—rough fingers pinching and rolling her swollen nipple. “It feels good.” Wow, she’d missed him.

  “Look into my eyes when you speak to me, Annalee.”

  Languidly she tilted her face upward, fluttering her lashes open. The utter power radiating from his gaze set her on fire. He’d made her feel protected and secure, but neither measured up to the erotic sensation of being dominated. In that moment she would’ve rolled naked through the snowdrifts if he’d told her to. “Yes?”

  “Now, talk to me.”

  Couldn’t he read her body language? What did he want her to say? She’s melting and if he didn’t fuck her soon she’d liquefy into a puddle at his feet? Forget the foreplay and go straight to the pounding? God, she hurt in such a good way. “I love how you make me feel.”

  He sucked in a breath as his eyes narrowed seductively. “And how’s that?” he asked, pushing his penis against her lower abdomen.

  What an amazingly hard cock. Perspiration gathered along the back of her neck while visualizing it slipping inside of her. “Hot,” she whispered in a sigh, resting her head against the wall. “On fire.” Hornier than fuck. How unladylike, but oh so true.

  While tightening his grip around her wrists, he pulled and twisted the nipple he’d captured. Deliciously painful tingles wormed to her tummy then lower to her pussy. An inferno of heat sprouted between her thighs. She gasped. “Ah cripe, Brent.” Harder. Twist it harder. Squeeze me.

  “Is it too much?”

  She shook her head. If he only knew.

  “I can’t hear you, Annalee.”

  “Nooo.”

  He nudged her nose with his. “Not enough?”

  “No.”

  His lips performed a waltz along her throat, planting warm kisses over her clavicle, to her breast where he lifted her blouse, captured her throbbing nipple in his mouth and sucked hard.

  Whoa! The intense prickles forced her hips to jut forward. As if the boggling sensation hadn’t rendered her mindless, he unfastened her pants, slid his hand inside the front between her legs and slipped a finger in her vagina, curving the tip into her G-spot.

  “Ahhh.” Right there. She sucked in a breath and held it while her bunched nerves exploded into bright, airy sparks.

  He removed his mouth from her breast and settled it beside her ear. “Damn it woman, you bring out the beast in me.” He thrust his finger deep, pulled it back, thrust it again, over and over, coaxing her hips into rhythm.

  When he laid his thumb on her clit and pressed she nearly shattered from the inside out. His eyes bored into hers as he covered her lips with his mouth, silencing her moans with a slip of his tongue.

  In the breath of a second he removed his hand from between her legs and shoved her pants and underwear down her hips and thighs. She wiggled them to her ankles and kicked them aside.

  Brent released her arms and, after unhooking his button and zipper, he pulled his cock free and slipped on a condom he’d removed from his wallet. In one swift motion, he lifted her to his groin and shoved himself deep inside her cunt. She groaned as she stretched open, her walls clenching and relaxing while adjusting to his long, thick shaft.

  He separated their mouths. “Take it all, baby. I know you can do it.”

  Yes, she could, but she didn’t know if it’d happen before she climaxed. An orgasm throbbed on the tips of her nerves, ready to burst any second. The deeper he pushed, the more it teetered toward the edge. She buried her face in his neck. “Oh God,” she whimpered. “I’m not going to make it.”

  “Then let go, Annalee,” he gritted through clamped teeth.

  The rumble in his voice and the desperation in his hands gripping her ass while grinding his cock against her cervix threw her over the top. Her inside convulsed, squeezing him tight while the climax erupted.

  He rammed into her, milking every last spasm from her pussy. Just when she thought she couldn’t take anymore, he growled and ejaculated deep inside her.

  For a long time he held her, placing soft kisses along her brow and cheeks. “There’s a gift for you on the kitchen table, baby. Go open it.” Slowly he stood her on her feet.

  A gift? For me? “What is it?”

  “A belated birthday gift. There’s more, but you’ll get those in time.”

  After she stepped into her pants and panties, she walked away, glancing over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

  “Technically, it’s more for me than you.”

  A shiny black garment box wrapped in a dark-pink velvet bow sat on the table. Tucked beneath the ribbon lay a tiny white envelope. Her fingers trembled as she opened it and removed a card. Happy birthday, baby. I adore you. Trust I will never hurt you. Come to me. Love, Brent.

  Her heart fluttered. She smiled while picking up the gift. It was lightweight and felt empt
y, but something shifted around on the inside. Carefully she removed the ribbons and bow and lifted the lid. A beautiful, red, lacy corset with matching crotchless panties lay folded inside a sheet of white tissue paper. As she held the articles to examine, Brent came up behind her, grasped her biceps and brought his lips to her ear.

  “Put them on, Annalee,” he whispered. “And be prepared to give details about the night I stole your virginity,” he added, gliding his hands to her elbows then upward to her shoulders.

  Whoa. That entailed some really dark, dirty secrets. She nodded and closed her eyes as his warm breath slid down her neck and spread all over her body. How desperately she’d missed this.

  “I’ll be in your bedroom. I’ve missed my woman so don’t make me wait long.”

  A slight tremble shook her spine and while she dawdled in the delicious sensations, he disappeared before she had the chance to open her eyes and turn around.

  Taking a final look at the lacy garments, she walked down the hallway and into the bathroom where she stood in front of the mirror, waiting for the pitter-patter of her heartbeat to slow down.

  He’d come home! Thank you, God.

  After stepping out of her clothes she grabbed a feminine cleansing cloth from the package under the cabinet and removed the wetness from between her thighs. It was a futile attempt, because the anticipation of the evening and imagined seduction initiated a new flow. There were so many things she wanted to do to him and she couldn’t wait to enter the room and strip off his clothes. If nothing else, she’d prove how much she’d missed him, and would give him something to think about before he chose to leave again. The power of a woman could bring a man to his knees if instituted properly. Brent had no idea what lay in store.

  She slipped her arms into the corset and loosely laced the front, allowing a gap between her breasts, then she stepped into the panties, wiggling them over her hips. The crotchless part brought forth a jolt of modesty.

  In a tick of a second her confidence withered to shit. How utterly ridiculous. He had already examined every bare inch of her body. How could a barely there piece of lingerie make her feel self-conscious?