Accidental Sex Goddess

by Lexi Ryan

  Reese shook her head. “I’m done. I need to get going anyway.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Mark said to Trisha, pushing away from the table.

  When Ben and Reese were alone, the silence stretched between them. Not awkward. Not tense. More like a long, bittersweet moment between lovers waiting for the right moment. That’s all he needed with Reese. The right moment.

  She’d let him hold her hand. He wasn’t sure what it meant to her, but somehow it had felt more intimate to him than their time on her couch the night they met. More intimate than the words they’d exchanged on the phone last night.

  With a forced smile, Reese withdrew an envelope from her purse and handed it to Ben. “Apparently, Sex Goddess equals dirty.”

  “Is this your next step?” He stifled a grin. “Please tell me she’s making you burn your bras.” He signaled to the door with his thumb. “I think I have some lighter fluid at the house.”

  “What? Of course she’s not.” She scowled. “I hope not.”

  Ben’s eyes dropped south for a second. “You know, bras are a sign of repression. Liberate the breasts and liberate the woman.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Stop being a dork, and read the letter.”

  Ben frowned. “You’re taking this program more seriously than I thought you would.”

  Reese snorted. “No, I’ve just gotten really good at faking it.”

  “The new outfit doesn’t look fake. Or the makeup.”

  Balls clacked at the pool table behind them and the Bears game played on the big screen.

  “So, I like looking sexy. Women like to be wanted, Ben. It comes standard with the estrogen.”

  “And men didn’t want you before you started taking Halie’s Holy Steps?”

  “Most of which I’m faking,” she reminded him. She waved a hand dismissively. “Just read it.”

  “The phone sex didn’t seem fake,” he said softly. Neither had her hand in his or the way she’d squeezed when Sydney played her solo.

  A red tinge crept up her cheeks. Satisfied, Ben turned to the letter.

  Say goodbye to your panties. For the next week, you’ll be going commando, forcing your mind to acknowledge the parts of your body too often left as an afterthought.

  He grunted. “No wonder my guys want their wives to sign up.”

  “Spoken like a true male. Foregoing underwear isn’t sexy, it’s unsanitary.”

  He shook his head. “It’s sexy.”

  “What if I’m doing yard work?”

  “Sexy.”

  She crossed her arms and her cheeks flushed. “Or I’m working out?”

  “Still sexy.”

  Reese leaned forward. “Or I want to wear a skirt?”

  Ben narrowed his eyes. “Now you’re just tormenting me.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t need to go commando to acknowledge my female parts.”

  Leaning back in his chair, Ben folded his arms across his chest and studied her. Why was she taking this program so seriously? The kiss? The phone sex? He wasn’t complaining, but couldn’t she have just as easily fabricated a story for Halie?

  They were the questions that were starting to niggle at him. Despite what Reese said, this was about more than a job.

  He handed back the letter and only let himself ask one question. “So, when do the panties come off?”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Someone was lifting up her skirt.

  Smacking away the unwelcome hands, Reese spun around, her coffee sloshing all over the floor. “What the—” She froze when she saw Halie, arms crossed, glaring at her.

  Halie’s manicured nails tapped her toned bicep. “Busted.”

  Reese closed her eyes, willing herself to disappear.

  “These steps aren’t optional. You either want to complete the program or you don’t.”

  I don’t. Even as Reese thought the words, she knew they weren’t true. Because as much as she’d dreaded Halie’s program and its steps, something was changing in her. And she liked it. Liked the way people looked at her, as if they were actually seeing her, as if before this program, people had only dismissed her. She liked the way Ben was looking at her.

  She swallowed hard. “I’ve only been wearing underwear in public. When I’m at home alone—”

  “Do you only want to be a sex goddess when you’re at home alone?”

  “That’s a rhetorical question, right?”

  Halie narrowed her eyes and Reese noticed for the first time that her boss looked like hell. Halie was dressed impeccably, as usual, but even her expensive concealer couldn’t hide the dark circles under her eyes. Her carefully applied lip liner only accentuated her frown.

  “I don’t suppose this is a good time to tell you my progress on step six?”

  “What?”

  “Step six.” Reese realized she was twisting her hands together and dropped them to her sides. “A date with a man I’d never marry. I have plans with Mark for this weekend.”

  Halie raised a brow. “Mark?”

  Reese took a step back at the hardness in the woman’s tone. “Mark Hawk.”

  Halie stepped to the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee. “His brother is your best friend, right?”

  I think. “Yes.”

  “Do you want to be more?”

  “With Mark?”

  “With Ben.”

  “No. I mean, I didn’t think so.” She took a long sip of her coffee but it turned to dust in her mouth. She hadn’t stopped thinking about Saturday night’s phone conversation or the heat in Ben’s eyes when she’d emerged from his bathroom. She hadn’t stopped imagining what he must have looked like, hard shaft in his hand as he stroked himself and spoke the words that made her come.

  And even though it was so innocent against the rest, she hadn’t stopped thinking about the chaste kiss he’d given her in the middle of the auditorium or the way he’d held her hand.

  “I don’t know what I want.” Reese bit her lip.

  There hadn’t been a reason for her to share the step about going without panties. It wasn’t anything she needed his help with. It wasn’t anything he needed to know. But she’d shared it anyway.

  She’d wanted to hear what he’d say, sure. She knew he’d make her laugh. But, more, she’d done it because she’d wanted him to think about it. Next time he saw her, she wanted him to wonder what she wore under her skirt. She wanted him to run his eyes over her and grow hard. She wanted to be the first thing that came to his mind next time he wrapped his hand around himself, the last thing he thought about as he found his release.

  She wanted Ben to want her. She wanted him to push the boundaries between them, and she wanted to let him.

  Halie’s lips curved up in a smile, and for the first time, some light came into her eyes. “Well, there’s your next step.”

  Reese looked around. What had she missed?

  “Go have lunch with your friend today.”

  Reese frowned. “My next step is having lunch with my best friend?”

  Halie’s face softened. “Your face lights up when you talk about him. I know my program has a reputation for making women do crazy things, but it’s really about giving women permission to be who they want to be. Your next step is having lunch with your friend because he brings you joy. It doesn’t have to be complicated.”

  Reese’s stomach flipped. Because it was complicated. Her mind and her heart and her libido were at odds with each other. She wanted Ben and she didn’t. She wanted more from him and she didn’t. She knew what was at stake if they went any further down this road, but she also knew how he made her feel. She knew he wanted her, but she also knew she’d spent years waiting for him. He’d never wanted her in return. Not until her makeover.

  “Stop over-thinking it. It’s just lunch.”

  “Just lunch.”

  “Yes.” Halie grinned. “Lunch without panties.”

  ***

  “This house is gorgeous,” Reese said as she followed
Ben into his latest renovation. “I love the beams and the vaulted ceilings. Did you do that?”

  “Sure did.” His chest swelled with pride as he led her through the house.

  When she’d texted and asked if he could meet her for lunch, he suggested she come here. He’d wanted Reese to see this. She’d seen some of his work before, but never a project as extensive as this one. Her opinion has always mattered but never quite this much. “It wasn’t always like this. The house was built in the seventies so it was chopped up in a bunch of tiny rooms, walls everywhere, the kitchen isolated from the rest of the house.”

  “You’d never know,” she said, turning a slow circle as they entered the kitchen. She moved her gaze to meet his and smiled. “Thanks for inviting me.” She dropped her purse on the counter. “I needed to get out of that office.”

  “Trouble in Sex Goddess Paradise?”

  She shook her head. “Halie’s in a mood and I get the feeling she’s the type that likes taking it out on someone.” Her teeth sunk into her plump bottom lip. He wanted to take that lip between his teeth and suck.

  He let out a slow breath. “You hungry?”

  “Not exactly.” She gave an unsure smile. “I thought maybe we could talk.”

  His stomach burned. They had talked plenty since the night she’d used his tub, but they hadn’t had the talk. “You know, guys don’t like it when pretty girls say those words.”

  “You’re not going to sweet talk your way out of this conversation, Ben.”

  Sure, but he couldn’t just stand here, not when he wanted to press her against the fridge and put his mouth on her. Not when his hands itched to touch her, to feel the slick heat between her legs, to whisper dirty words like he had Saturday night, but this time while he could see her face.

  Her phone buzzed from inside her purse, and she flinched. “That’s probably for work.”

  “Turn it off for thirty minutes.” He pulled the black handbag from the counter. “You deserve a break.”

  She smiled. “You do it. If I see anyone I recognize on the caller ID, I won’t be able to resist.”

  He lifted the flap on her purse to retrieve her phone.

  “Wait! Stop!”

  Ben ignored the buzzing cell and pulled out a lace thong. He held it in two hands, examining. A grin tugged at his lips as her face fell.

  “Shit,” she muttered.

  “You just cussed,” he said, peering at her through the lace.

  Her shoulders dropped. “Sorry.”

  “Why? Dirty looks good on you, Reese.” He extended the panties toward her. “And I bet these do too. Do I want to know who was lucky enough to peel them off you?”

  She hoisted herself up on the counter and crossed her ankles. “Halie McCormack.”

  He slammed his fist to his sternum and groaned. “Damn. I’d be jealous if I wasn’t so turned on.”

  “Don’t be a pig. What you’re imagining is way sexier than the reality.”

  He crossed his arms. “Why do you have to do that? Was my little fantasy hurting anybody?”

  Reese rolled her eyes. “She busted me for wearing underwear when I was supposed to be going commando.”

  All the blood left Ben’s brain and traveled south. He dropped his gaze to her legs where her skirt had bunched around her thighs. He zeroed in on the spot where flesh met hem. “So if I slid my hand up your skirt right now…”

  Reese’s tongue darted out to wet her lips. “If you slid your hand up my skirt right now, you’d find something. But it wouldn’t be panties.” She spread her thighs an inch. Two.

  An adjustment? An invitation?

  Ben took a step toward her and placed his fingertips just above her knees. “You’re wearing a skirt.”

  “Yes.” Her throat moved as she swallowed. Her gaze shifted to his mouth.

  “I thought you didn’t like to wear skirts without underwear.” He settled his thumbs on her inner thighs, just above her knees, and brushed lightly.

  She shifted, sliding her hips forward on the counter, parting her legs infinitesimally. “I feel exposed,” she whispered.

  Ben’s hands slid up an inch, thumbs still on inner thighs, fingertips creeping toward the hem of her skirt. “You aren’t,” he said, focusing on the V in her legs concealed by her skirt. “Not yet. They’d show this on primetime TV.”

  She shifted again, leaning back a bit as she slid her hips forward. The hem of the skirt raised another inch, bringing it damn near the top of her thighs. When she opened her legs further, he stopped breathing.

  “What about now?” she asked.

  “Close,” he managed, his voice sounding thick to his own ears. “You’re almost to cable.” He let his hands slide another inch higher and her breathing hitched. “I think you should try for late night Cinemax.”

  Reese settled her hands between her legs at the edge of the counter. Slowly, she shimmied left and right until the skirt up bunched high around her hips. Only then did she part her thighs. “Would this do the trick?”

  He couldn’t help the way his fingers curled into her flesh, the way he his thumbs traveled further up the path of soft flesh. She was exposed just enough. And she wasn’t just beautiful, she was aroused. Looking at Reese, this intimate piece of her body, this wasn’t something he’d forget. “This should get you through your opening scene.”

  She pressed into his touch, an invitation. “And what happens next?”

  Ben’s cock ached and pressed against his zipper. “Now or on Cinemax?” He tore his gaze away from the swollen flesh between her legs and met her gaze.

  “Cinemax,” she said, cheeks flushed. “What happens next there?”

  “You’d be fucked silly.” His eyes landed on her swollen bottom lip as she pulled it through her teeth. “Hard, fast, thorough.”

  “And what about now?” She put her hand on top of his and pressed it into her inner thigh. “Same thing?”

  Ben would have smiled, but he couldn’t. “Not a chance.”

  She pulled back and he held her fast.

  “I wouldn’t dare rush this, Reese.” His eyes locked on hers as he found her wet, exposed sex with the pad of his thumb. “I’ve been thinking about it too long to rush it.” He brushed over her clit, watched her eyes flash to his and grow darker. She shifted again, moving closer to his hand.

  He slid a finger inside her and watched as pleasure transformed her features. Her lids drifted closed. Her head tilted back slightly. Her chest rose and fell as her breathing grew shallow. He pumped his fingers inside her, and his cock pulsed as he imagined how this tight, wet heat would feel wrapped around his dick.

  He withdrew his finger and she gasped, curving her hips for more. He slid two inside her and stepped between her legs. With his other hand, he grabbed her ass and pulled her close as he moved his fingers.

  “Look at me.”

  She opened her eyes and the heat there nearly undid him. How could this woman believe she was cold?

  “You’re so beautiful when you’re turned on.”

  Rocking her hips into his hand, she ran a thumb over his bottom lip. He took it into his mouth, biting lightly.

  He wanted to kiss her, to taste her, but he didn’t dare miss a moment of the pleasure tracking across her features. “I love watching you,” he said into her ear. “I’m going to love every minute of making you come.”

  She tensed in his arms. “I can’t.”

  “You can.”

  She shook her head against him. “It’s too much pressure.”

  “Relax,” he whispered. He dragged his lips over her neck, tasting her, sucking at that tender skin. “We’re not worrying about that today.”

  She straightened. “I’m sorry. It’s so pathetic. I just—”

  He cut her off with his mouth. He kissed her until her shoulders dropped, kissed her until her lips opened under him, kissed her until she moaned into his mouth. Only then, when her body turned supple, did he move his hand again.

  He circled her clit. �
��You like that.”

  She peered up at him through her thick lashes. “Yes, but I can’t—”

  “Don’t you dare come.”

  She curled her fingers into his shoulder blades and her wet heat squeezed his fingers. “What?”

  “I want you slick and wet. I want you right at the edge. I want you to spend the rest of your day thinking about me.” His lips brushed her ear as he spoke.

  Outside, he heard the rumble of a diesel engine pulling into the drive.

  They were about to have company.

  ***

  Halie tapped her pencil on her desk and looked at her notes, but they blurred in front of her eyes. She couldn’t see a thing but that woman—that tiny little thing in knock-off Jimmy’s and a bad dye job.

  But Alex hadn’t given a shit about the girl’s bad taste in clothes and stylists. All he’d cared about was the woman’s mouth on his cock.

  He’d wanted Halie to walk in on them. He’d wanted her to see.

  She’d opened the door and met his eyes and they’d flared hot, his hand had tightened in the girl’s hair. Not because he thought Halie would join them. He knew better. He was setting the precedent, letting her know this was how it was going to be if they married.

  She rubbed the bridge of her nose and snatched her phone off its receiver. “Quinn, could you get me Reese Regan’s file.”

  “Her HR file or her client file?”

  “Client.”

  Something about Reese’s relationship with Ben was sitting wrong with her.

  “Here you go,” Quinn said, handing her a manila folder.

  “Do you remember what her romantic background is?”

  “She just got out of a long-term relationship with a man named Lance. Six months ago? They lived together and it ended badly.”

  Halie leaned back and crossed her arms. “Did she end it or did he?”

  “He did.” Quinn looked down at her notes. “One night she came home from work and he was packing his things. He told her he couldn’t live with a sexual ice queen another day.” She grunted. “What an ass.”

  “Is she going to find herself in the same situation with this best friend of hers? Is he going to hurt her?”