Mind Games

by M. J. Labeff

  His heart revved several notches at the sight of her on her knees in front of him. She smiled up at him. He anxiously awaited her next move, excited by the tempting look in her sultry green eyes. His hands gripped her shoulders at the mere suggestion, and he decided to let her take the lead. For now.

  She never took her gaze off him. She rocked the seductive temptress look well for a subdued yoga instructor. Her fingers tickled up his thigh, and she slipped her hand under the leg of his boxers. Not sure how much more of this he could take, he pulled her to him. Her eyes showed a woman intent on getting what she wanted. And what she wanted was him.

  “Being here, with you, doesn’t seem real,” she said. “You know I’ve thought about you over the years, Derrick.”

  “I’ve thought about you, too.” He dipped his head toward her and gently kissed her lips, then whispered into her ear, “Let me show you how real I am.”

  He slid his hands around her waist and down her backside. His finger slipped beneath the narrow piece of fabric crawling up her behind. He teased the erogenous area of her tailbone. Her thighs tensed, and her knees buckled. Her body fell against his. He snapped the fabric of her thong. “You’re incredibly sexy.” He slipped a hand along the front of her thigh. The muscles in her legs constricted. Her quad muscles popped. He admired the slight curve, tracing the stiff muscles with his index finger.

  “Derrick, touch me.” Her voice barely a whisper.

  He smiled at the need burning up in her eyes. “I am touching you.”

  “Mmm, I know, but I need you to touch me down there,” she begged, tossing back her head, and arching her body back.

  “Down here?” He ran his hand along the inside of her thigh.

  “No, no. You know where.”

  “Do I?”

  “Don’t make me beg. Touch me.”

  “Tell me where.”

  She grabbed his hand, forcing it between her thighs. “Here, right here.”

  “The proper medical term for here is…” He ran the pad of his thumb against her heat.

  “I don’t want to play doctor, Derrick.”

  “Are you sure about that?”

  He pushed aside the triangle of fabric and teased her heat, probing her swollen desire with gentle fingers. Her eyes glazed over and fluttered. She rocked against his palm, seeking the pleasure she craved. Her aggressive lovemaking turned him to stone.

  * * *

  Sparrow thought she’d self-combust. Even in her wildest dream, she hadn’t fantasized about Derrick on his knees in front of her, worshipping her body. She burned up with a heat so intense she couldn’t remember a time when she’d needed to feel a man deep inside of her. His experienced hands touched her in all the right places, and she liked the slow torture he induced, making her insides quiver. She rocked against his massaging thumb. Her climax slowly built against the pressure of his hand.

  “Derrick, I’m going to…”

  He stroked her heat faster.

  “I want to feel you inside of me,” she said, against the tingling sensation building in her core.

  “You will.”

  Perspiration dampened her skin. She needed him now. Her hips moved against his stroking fingers coaxing her over the edge toward a powerful climax. She whimpered. How many times had she wondered what it might be like to just kiss him? And now this. What a heady experience. The spasm tightened, releasing the pleasurable pressure from her body. His fingers plunged deeper, massaging at her orgasm. She had never experienced this kind of sexual satisfaction with Dana. And she had nothing to compare it to, since he had been her only lover.

  He slowly withdrew his hand from between her wet and shaking inner thighs. He kissed her forehead. She could hardly stand.

  “Do you feel better now, since I touched you down there?” He grabbed her thong and ripped the fabric from the side of her hip.

  She gasped, her knees shot together, and she crossed her arms across her exposed body. “Are you making fun of me?” she asked, realizing how ridiculous she must look standing there pigeon-toed and covering herself in front of him.

  “No way. It’s cute that you won’t say what you want or where you want it. But I’m going to change that.”

  “Oh, really?”

  “Oh yeah. Lie down, baby, I’m just getting started.”

  For a woman who’d just had the sexual release of a lifetime, Sparrow couldn’t wait for him to touch her again. This time she’d know exactly what it felt like to have him inside her. She fell back onto the bed, slightly parting her legs for him.

  He picked up his pants, withdrawing a condom from the pocket.

  “I’m glad you came prepared.”

  “I’ve had this with me for the last week, but our timing has been”—he paused—“off.”

  He tossed the condom onto the bed next to her and then crawled up between her legs. The weight of his body hovered over her. The muscles in his arms bunched. She traced the back of his triceps.

  “Derrick, kiss me.”

  “Where?”

  Was he serious? Her mind spun. She pouted at him, pushing out her lower lip.

  “Kiss me.” She wrapped her hands around his neck and pulled his face to hers.

  He fell onto his forearms. His hardness brushed against her center. She arched her hips forward, anticipating the moment their most intimate parts connected. She stroked him closer to where she needed him.

  “Derrick, I want you inside of me.”

  “Take me.”

  She ripped open the condom and guided him down. He rocked forward, pressing deeper and deeper. She hooked her legs around his neck, sending her hips forward. She met him thrust for thrust. The gentle motion of their bodies pushed and pulled. Their eyes stared into one another, pulling them closer to what they desired.

  “Derrick,” she whispered.

  He crushed his mouth to hers. He gave one final hard push. Her nails dug into his back, and she forced her hips higher against him. Within seconds her insides shuddered.

  “You’re exquisite,” he said, and rolled over onto his back. “Let me get rid of this.”

  He rolled over to his side, kissing her cheek before he went into the bathroom to dispose of the condom. His naked body strolled across the room, sending a shot of excitement through her. Hopefully, he’d brought more than one provision, because she was ready to go again.

  * * *

  Derrick could forget about being a doctor for one day and start thinking about being with Sparrow. Work could wait until tomorrow. He wouldn’t allow himself to feel guilty about playing hooky from the Mobile Health Clinic RV. He didn’t even have the RV. What could he do from his car? Hand out Band-Aids and aspirin? He could. You’re doing it again. He rolled the soggy condom down and flushed it down the toilet.

  Did he have any appointments tomorrow? He couldn’t remember. Not a good sign; his concierge patients paid a premium for his care, and without their financial support the Mobile Health Clinic RV would cease to exist. Sex clouded his mind and his judgment. Of course, he could simply check the calendar on his smart phone and put his mind at ease.

  What about Angel? He should check on her. She was his responsibility, not Dr. Von Langley’s, who was creating additional stress for Derrick with his questionable treatment methods. He ran both of his hands through his hair and dropped his head back against his shoulders.

  “Damn.”

  Even with all of those menacing thoughts, Sparrow lingered in the back of his mind, and overpowered the tornado blowing across it.

  Her long, lean body had contorted around him in seconds. She’d effortlessly knotted her feet around his neck and had her thighs pressed against her chest, so he could drive deeper into her. The sensation of her tightening around him pushed him over the edge. He lifted his head and dropped his hands to his sides.

  Idiot.

  She’s just beyond the door. Go out there and get her. Forget about work. Forget about the Mobile Health Clinic RV. Forget about Angel. And, for God’
s sake, forget about Dr. Von Langley for tonight.

  There’s always tomorrow.

  Chapter 19

  Sparrow grabbed the short pink silk robe from her closet and went out to the kitchen to make them a light lunch. Derrick had been taking a little longer than she’d expected, and her stomach had started making strange growling sounds. Unpleasant tummy noises would not make for another round of hot sex with Derrick.

  She gathered some light fare of Brie, crackers, grapes, and a bottle of white wine. Gray clouds hung from the sky, but a trickle of sunlight beamed in and out. She set down the tray of food on the small table on her balcony. The ocean view was magnificent, even on an overcast day.

  She couldn’t believe her mind had jumped from sex to food within minutes, but they needed to keep up their energy. Sex with Derrick made her giddy. She couldn’t believe they’d finally made love. She giggled like a lovesick school girl.

  A cool breeze wafted past her. She ran her hands down the front of the robe, pressing the cool silk over her breasts. She missed Derrick’s touch. She had the sudden urge to skip the dining and coax him right back into bed. Fortunately, the balcony right off her bedroom made things convenient. She’d never considered what a great setup she had until now.

  She spread out the feast on the tile-topped table and brushed off the cushioned chairs. It was too breezy to light candles—not that they needed them, but it would help set the mood. Her robe blew up behind her. Derrick’s hands clasped her waist.

  “Glad you could join me.”

  “The view from here is magnificent.”

  “Very funny.”

  His hands caressed her stomach then dipped lower until his fingers reached between her thighs.

  “Seems like we both have the same thing in mind,” he said.

  His hardness pressed against her. She parted her legs, giving him easier access, and lifted the robe over her hips. She bent over the chair and arched her back so he could fully view her. The towel he had been wearing fell around their feet.

  The secluded balcony and ocean view made for a breathtaking experience, but she couldn’t believe she was having sex outside for possible public consumption. The salty ocean air lapped at their bare skin. Swirls of sands kicked up from the beach. The sights and smells of nature surrounded them.

  Erotic.

  Wild.

  Freeing.

  She pushed her backside against him.

  He removed his hands from her and stretched toward the cement, picking up a condom concealed in the folds of the towel. She shuddered when the slick, warm latex sheathing him slid inside her.

  She felt like a feral animal mating in the open wilds, taken by the prey that stalked her. His hands gripped her hips, his breath heavy against her back and neck.

  He thrust into her. “Ow, oh, oh…” The pain and then pleasure of his lovemaking rocked against her.

  His rhythm slowed. He trailed kisses down the side of her neck to the top of her shoulder. He slowly withdrew from her. His hand dipped between her thighs and caressed her need.

  “No, not like this, I want you,” she pleaded.

  He eased back into her and took things nice and slow, placing one hand on her right shoulder and the other against her left hip. She swiveled her hips, meeting his motion, relaxing into the natural movements her body urged her to make. Derrick growled into her ear then sank his mouth against the crook of her neck and shoulder, kissing and nipping at her skin.

  * * *

  Derrick’s hands clung onto her hips for support, and he curled his body around her. He pressed his cheek against hers. Her hands gripped the cement balcony. The ocean waves crashed in front of them. He dropped his hands from around her waist and clasped them over hers. “I can’t remember the last time I had such an amazing afternoon.”

  “Mmm.” She nuzzled her cheek against his. “Me either.”

  He pulled her closer to him. He didn’t want to let her go. He could hold her like this forever. Her warm skin against his body and the cool breeze coming off the ocean was all he needed and wanted.

  Several minutes passed before he released her. He admired the severe dents in the small of her back and the riverbed of muscles spanning her upper back. He traced a finger along the side of her spine to the sculpted muscles between her hips. She twisted at the tickling motion.

  “You’re incredibly sexy.”

  “Thank you. It’s a simple movement called swan that makes those tiny, dimpled muscles.”

  “I’d love to stay right here forever, but I’ve got to get rid of this mess.”

  He pulled the silk robe down to cover her exposed body and slipped into the bedroom.

  He returned wearing his boxer briefs, surprised to find her standing facing the ocean with her robe billowing open in the breeze. Her arms spread wide in a T. She hadn’t heard him come up behind her. She jumped and closed the robe. He turned her to face him and pulled her into his arms.

  “I didn’t hear you come back.”

  “I guess not. You nearly jumped out of your skin.”

  She smiled up at him, a contented expression on her face.

  “I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s freeing.”

  She leaned back against his knitted hands. “Ah, so that explains it.” She blushed at his comment. “Hey, don’t stay dressed for me. It’s your place. Besides, your neighbors can’t see us.”

  “I think I got carried away. Let’s sit down and eat.”

  She wiggled out of his arms and thrust the bottle of wine at him. He popped the cork and poured them each a glass. Even in boxers, he remained a perfect gentleman, and pulled out her chair. He took a seat across from her.

  “I’d like to propose a toast, to an exquisite woman and a wonderful day.”

  She raised her glass to his. “I’ll drink to that, and to a terrific man and caring doctor.”

  Their glasses clinked. His heart beat a little faster after finally having made love to her and hearing her toast. Everything about her intrigued and excited him. Her reserved personality and innocence were a vast contrast to the sexual creature she’d become in the heat of passion. What red-blooded man wouldn’t fall in love with a woman who had the face and heart of an angel but was a total seductress in the bedroom?

  Angel.

  Reality shattered his loving thoughts of Sparrow. He needed to call Dr. Von Langley.

  “Earth to Derrick.”

  “Um, I’m sorry, baby, I was drifting.”

  “What were thinking about?”

  He slid his chair back from the table. “Come here.”

  She bounded into his lap, and he wrapped his arms around her. “I was thinking about you and how lucky I was to find you. Sparrow, in a city this big, I’d say it was fate.”

  She gazed lovingly at him and then nuzzled her face against his neck, kissing him.

  For a minute he feared she’d say those three words he wasn’t ready to hear. Sometimes he learned they just spilled out of a woman after making love. It wasn’t like they meant it. They were simply caught up in the moment.

  He plucked a grape from its perch and popped it into her mouth. Problem solved. She couldn’t say anything she didn’t mean with food in her mouth.

  When they said those three words to each other he wanted to make sure they meant it and didn’t blurt it out because their heads were clouded from two rounds of sex and multiple orgasms. His logic wasn’t scientific. He hadn’t learned this in medical school, but he was fairly certain making love caused your brain to turn to mush.

  They nibbled the light lunch, and Derrick helped her clean up. The afternoon passed too quickly, and by the early evening, he had resigned himself to taking the day off.

  Before he got caught up in her essence again, Derrick decided to call Dr. Von Langley and check on Angel. He took a glance at his schedule for tomorrow and was glad he did. He had two appointments. If he spent the night at Sparrow’s, he’d need to leave early in the morning to drive home, shower, change,
and get to his first appointment by nine.

  Sparrow emerged from a fresh shower wrapped in a red silk kimono. The phone call he placed to Dr. Von Langley started to ring. She came up behind him and started massaging his shoulders.

  “Mmm, that feels good. You smell nice.” Her fingers ran through his hair, and she teased his neck with kisses. “You better be a good girl. I’m calling your daddy.”

  The wonderful scalp massage ceased, and she jumped in front of him, appearing defensive. “Why are you calling him?” She slammed her fists against the side of her hips.

  “To check on Angel.”

  “Why? Don’t you trust my father to care for her?”

  He raised his index finger to her. Someone picked up the other end of the phone. “Hello, Dr. Von Langley, I was just calling to see how Angel’s doing?”

  His conversation continued while Sparrow’s heated eyes bore down on him. According to Dr. Von Langley, Angel had followed Derrick’s instructions concerning her ankle, and she’d spent most of the day reading and working on a puzzle. Von Langley commented that she was a bright girl, and he was enjoying her company. Things sounded okay on the surface, but Derrick asked to talk to Angel anyway.

  Sparrow’s eyes narrowed. Derrick burned under her heated glare. By the time he’d ended the conversation with Dr. Von Langley, Sparrow’s steady stare had nearly fried a hole through him. Concern for Angel was getting the best of him, and because of it he’d managed to upset Sparrow again.

  “Baby.” He extended his hand. She didn’t reach for it. He yanked it back and raked his hair. “I had to make sure she was okay. She’s my responsibility, not your father’s.”

  She dropped her hands from her hips, but her eyes maintained direct contact with his. “Derrick, is that all it is, or is it really because you have issues with my father?”

  He exhaled loudly. He didn’t want to ruin their perfect day, but lying to her was no way to start a relationship. “I’ve read about some of the treatments he administers and I’m concerned. That’s all.”

  “That’s all?” She folded her arms across her chest. “You’ve been reading about my father’s treatments?”