Companionably, we prepared some more finger foods and caught up.
“Here, give me that,” she said as we worked side by side. She took the paring knife from my hand and cut little radish flowers while still holding up her end of the conversation. When she was done, she’d arranged the platter in a decorative tropical palm tree theme while I still bumbled around cutting cherry tomatoes one by one.
“Pass me that lid there.” She pointed. “And that one there, too.”
Once she had them, she poured out the little green cardboard basket of tomatoes onto one lid. She patted them all down gently.
“What are you doing?” I asked with interest.
“Watch and be amazed, Call.”
Placing the other lid over top, she then held it with her hand. With the sharpest knife I owned, she easily sliced through the entire lot in one swat.
“Where’d you learn that?”
“Sometimes I pick up some extra work on weekends helping out with some catering done out of the restaurant. Rob taught me. It’s a neat trick, eh?” She beamed.
“Really?” I was actually surprised she was working and going to school.
“Yeah, the extra money comes in handy. School’s not cheap.”
I stared at her.
“What? I make pretty good tips at the restaurant during week. Depending on how many buttons I leave open on my uniform,” she said saucily and gave me a crooked grin. “And I don’t even have to shake my can. Blows Trey’s theory all to hell.”
“I’m proud of you,” I said, ignoring the rest of it. Karis was acting like a responsible adult, working and going to school. The girl I used to know was out for a good time and that was all.
She blinked. “Well, thank you,” she said slowly. “Had to grow up sometime, right?”
“And I know school’s not cheap. I’m still paying my dad back.”
“You are?” Everyone assumed that since my family had money, I had a free ride. It wasn’t like that. Yes, I did get some perks that others didn’t because my parents paid my tuition and schooling outright. It was paid for while I was attending. I didn’t have to worry about money. But I’d always had every intention of paying them back. And I’d also held a part-time job while going to college.
Maybe we’d both dispelled some long held assumptions about each other.
“By the way, how’s your mom today?”
“She’s good. I made sure supper was prepared so she wouldn’t have to do it.”
“That was sweet of you.”
I touched the back of her hand as she placed cubes of cheese on a platter. Her gaze met mine just as the doorbell sounded.
I headed for the door but before I got there her voice reached me. “Lose the tie, pretty boy.”
I fished it out from under my collar then greeted my first guests. I knew the minute Karis’ presence was noted. Being the boss’ son, I tried to keep my personal life separate. So it was often speculated about. It was a foregone conclusion that Monday morning, Karis and I would be the water cooler talk.
As my guests trickled in, everyone seemed to gravitate to the kitchen area.
Jack was overly excited to see Karis in attendance.
“Hey, Karis! Great to see you again. Surprised to see you but then again, not really.” He swallowed her up in a big hug until I patted him on the back.
With an all-knowing smirk on his asshole face, he let her go.
“Hey, everyone, this is Karis,” I said, introducing her.
I named everyone else for her and what positions they held with the company.
The crew watched her with interest, but I couldn’t seem to keep my eyes off her either, or my hands for that matter. I found I was either gripping her hip or reaching for her hand. Or just resting mine in the middle of her back. She was the life of the party. As usual. But she wasn’t the party-girl this time, just my gracious co-hostess. She took part in the conversation. She was never shy and always confident. It was almost as if she’d always been around these people.
Once in a while she’d throw in a story about our sordid past and the crowd loved to hear about my teenage indiscretions. But even in that, she didn’t throw me under the bus entirely. She was choosy about what she said or disclosed, teasing me affectionately, as I did back to her.
“So how long have you two been seeing each other?” Karen from IT asked.
“Oh, we’re not seeing each other.” Karis was quick to dispel that notion. Weirdly, I was disappointed she was so swift to deny the idea.
As soon as she said it, at least four of my male employees perked up. Jack shook his head.
“Call’s been a friend of my brother's for as long as I can remember. He’s like another brother to me.” Ouch.
“Hmm, does Call know that?” Karen said under her breath. But I heard it.
“Excuse me?” Karis asked.
“Oh, nothing. This is really good salsa.”
Karis turned and gave me a smug glance since it was her dip earning the praise. Mine had barely been touched.
As the night went on and the wine flowed, the group loosened up. Every once in a while, I’d catch Karis with the remote for my stereo in her hand and she’d bump up the volume. Then she’d give me an innocent look.
“Gimme that.” I swiped at the remote playfully. She hid it behind her back, so I pulled her close and made a grab for it. Then once we were in that position, it seemed as if neither of us wished to move from it. Before I knew it, we’d taken up pretty much the same position as we’d enjoyed earlier in the night, before everyone showed up. But by this time, we’d both consumed a little of the rosé. I dropped my hips as we swayed against each other and made no attempt to hide the hard-on I was sporting.
“And he’s glad to see me,” she whispered, pressing against me.
The pressure felt amazing. “Mmm. I’m always glad to see you, Kare.”
“You seem extra pleased this go round, Call. What’s wrong with you? You’re not even trying to hold me off.”
“But you’re not even trying to get with me,” I said, realizing it was true. This visit, I was the aggressor.
“Oh, is that all I had to do all these years? Quit trying so hard? Reverse psychology. Why didn't I think of that?” She laughed softly.
As usual, she was wreaking havoc with my senses and for some odd reason, I was completely okay with it. The overwhelming need to push her away and evacuate the area was just gone. I wanted to be with her.
“What happened to the pact, Call?” Another good question.
She searched my gaze. I stared back levelly.
She raked her lip while awaiting an answer and I wanted to kiss her.
I shrugged. “It just doesn’t seem that important anymore.”
“It was never imperative to anyone but you.”
“I thought it was important to show you some respect. Never seemed like anyone afforded you any. Not even you, for yourself.”
Her smile slipped and her lips tightened. I hadn’t meant it as an offensive remark, but it was the truth.
“So now why would you want to be with me tonight when you think I’ve been with every guy under the sun? Can’t hold your wine, pretty boy?”
“I can hold my own and I guess that doesn’t seem significant any longer either.”
“Yeah, well, my sexual escapades were greatly exaggerated.” She scoffed, looking away and across the room at Karen who watched us with interest.
“I think she likes you, pretty little rich boy.”
“Yep, she likes me and my daddy’s money.”
“Aw, so you do know.”
“Not all just a pretty face here, Kare.” I waggled my finger in a circular motion around my features.
She smiled affectionately. “Good to know.”
Glass shattering in the kitchen sent us both running in that direction.
“Sorry, Call, I think Glen’s had enough,” Glen’s date said with a giggle.
“No harm. Everyone with bare feet out
. That means you, wild child.” I steered Karis out of the mess.
After I’d swept up all the glass fragments, I got waylaid by several of the employees, talking shop. I watched Kare from across the room. She was different. She was still fun-loving and of course the life of the party, one of those people everyone watched or gravitated to, men and women alike. A lot of that had to do with the way she looked. Although, women either loved her or hated her. There was no in between. She was different now, because she was much more subdued. I guess she’d just grown up, as she’d said, and matured. I’d witnessed a bit of that development our last summer together at the beach. Time, distance, and new experiences had molded her even more, I assumed.
All of a sudden, the unmistakable thump of rap music filled the room. It struck me as odd. It wasn’t a usual Karis genre. I looked across at her as the heavy, rapid, and pulsating beat of Gold Digger filled the room, throbbing through my speakers. I grinned and shook my head at her. She pointed at me in an exaggerated way, just as Jack strutted over to her and asked her to dance. She didn’t turn him down, but she didn’t display her best moves for him either. He still seemed to enjoy it. Little did he know, he wasn’t experiencing the full-on moves in Karis Hirt’s repertoire.
As they danced, I found myself moving closer and closer. The minute the last pounding beats silenced, I swooped in, stopping him from taking anymore of her time.
“Oh, hey. Great party, Call.”
“Thanks, Jack,” I said while wrapping my arm around Karis’ waist.
Jack noted the action. With a small lift of his chin in a gentlemen’s acknowledgement, he walked away with a huge grin on his face.
“That was subtle,” I commented, acknowledging her song choice.
“Yeah, and so was that.” She called me out, placing her hand over mine at her hip.
“What?” I asked innocently.
“Just dance with me, pretty boy.” She turned and draped her arms around my neck.
“I thought you’d never ask.” I chuckled, pulling her into my hold.
My cock unfurled fully with her lovely body next to mine.
I couldn’t wait for my guests to go home. I wanted to be alone with Karis. Where would this go when we were on our own?
Once the first of the guests started to leave, it was a steady stream of departures.
About one-thirty, as a couple, Karis and I, saw the last of my co-workers to the door and bid them farewell. I placed my arm around Karis as we stood chatting at the door. She reached up and interlaced her fingers with the hand I had slung over her shoulder.
“Thanks for a great party, Call. I’ll see ya Monday. Probably gonna spend the day in bed tomorrow. I feel a wine headache coming on already.”
“See ya, Glen. Thanks for coming.” I closed the door and turned to the beautiful woman at my side.
Chapter Six
“Well, I guess I should get going, too.” Karis smirked, facing me. “You sir, have a lot of clean up to do.” She’d won the bet.
I had no intention of letting her go home.
“You’re not going anywhere.” I pulled her into my embrace. “Now that everyone has gone, you are gonna dance with me, the way that I’ve wanted to all night long.”
I had the remote in my hand and I hit the number of her favorite song. The devious little smile that crossed her face was reminiscent of the Karis of old. But still she held back.
“Come on, dance for me. Where’s the hop?”
“I don’t make a fool of myself like that anymore.”
“Ya can’t tell me you don’t put on a show for those college boys.”
“I don’t. Once I got away from here¸ I tried to think before I did things. It was time to take control and behave like I should, ya know, maybe attract the right kind of guy for a change.”
If you ever want to land a guy like me, then you seriously need to clean up your act.
“So you don’t have fun anymore? You used to love to dance.”
“How do you know?”
“Because it was all too apparent. I could see it on your face. Sometimes you plainly didn’t give a shit and you moved to the music because it made you happy. Kinda made me happy to watch. Don’t tell me that’s gone.”
“I thought you hated me to act that way. And I definitely wouldn’t want to embarrass you in front of your employees.”
“There’s no one here now but you and me, baby.” I grinned.
She started to do that little jump thing, coy at first, but as I encouraged her, she got into it. After that, I just fuckin’ held on enjoying it immensely as she gyrated. She sang the words, punctuating some of the lyrics with a little hip action or an expression that made me wanna throw her over my shoulder and race to my bedroom. She bumped and ground against me.
By the time the tune ended, I was hard as a rock and she knew it. She stopped dancing and wrapped herself around me, pressing her cunt against my engorged dick.
“How was that? Did you like the show?”
“Fuck yeah.”
The next song on rotation began to play, a slower, mellower refrain. Without skipping a beat, we mutually went with it. I let her mold her body to mine and sway, like I’d seen her do to countless other guys.
She tucked her cheek alongside mine and we danced. I traced my lips over her bare shoulder and was pleased when goose bumps appeared.
Ever so slightly, she cocked her head, so I did too. I kissed the very corner of her mouth. Then again. She turned fully toward me and I captured her mouth. She hesitated for only a second, but the phone rang and we jumped. I groaned at the interruption. “I’d better get that.”
It was Glen. I mouthed this to Karis. “Lost your cell phone? Man can I relate. I misplace mine all the time. Where’d you have it last?”
Karis ran her hand on the inside of the couch where he’d been sitting and came up with it.
“It’s here. Yep. Sure, I’ll be home tomorrow, if you want to pick it up.”
I turned my attention back to Karis as I ended the call. I took her hand.
“I should get going,” she repeated.
“You’re not going anywhere... ‘cept maybe that direction.” I lifted my chin, indicating the back of the house and my bedroom.
Her gaze met mine and I knew I’d shocked her, but she was just so cool, she didn’t show it. I didn’t even rate a famous Karis wisecrack or a smug little smile. She’d finally wound me up so tight that I couldn’t fight this astronomical attraction any longer.
I leaned in and touched her lips with mine, briefly, trying her out, before I swooped in and kissed her the way I’d wanted to when we’d been dancing. As soon as she reciprocated, I was immediately reminded what a devastating thing it could be to lock lips with her. My heart rate tripled and my blood rushed.
“Fuck, Kare, no one kisses like you do,” I murmured into her beautiful pouty mouth, still sweet from the wine.
I placed my hand under her ear, cupping her neck. While keeping her mouth engaged, I started to back her toward my bedroom.
She fumbled, unfastening my trousers while I lifted her skirt, cupping her nice round bum. I chuckled when I realized she was wearing a thong. Predictable.
Our mutual eager sounds echoed down the corridor. We ripped at each other’s clothes, leaving a trail down the hall and into my room. We even managed to pop a few of my shirt buttons, sending them clattering and bouncing down the corridor.
I worked her dress up her slim form, but all of a sudden, she stopped me.
“Are you sure you want this?” she asked and I noted the uncertainty in her eyes. The old Karis would have never questioned it.
“Oh fuck yeah. I want this.” I coiled my hands in her thick hair while engaging her lips some more.
She raised her arms over her head and together we removed the outfit.
After that, decision made, it was everything I expected being with Karis would be like. Wild, primitive, passionate. Hot. And so over the top arousing, I wasn’t sure how far
I’d make it.
“Aw.” I growled, through my teeth, while cupping her beautiful lace-covered tits. I bent my head, but she arched away.
“Later.”
“Eager, wild thing?”
“You’ve no idea,” she said against my lips.
By the time we neared the bed, we were almost completely undressed. Only my snug-fitting boxers and her panties remained between us.
This was the first time I’d openly allowed her to touch me, and I knew I wouldn’t be able to take it for long. I wanted her hands on me, but there was no way I’d last. Probably a good thing I hadn’t given her lovely breasts the attention I thought they deserved. Not yet.
One thing I knew, this was going to be fast and furious. Like a storm. Just like Karis. A whirlwind of sensation and heat. Longing. Urgency. A crazy flurry of torrential, untamed, unpredictable lust. Our past and present colliding.
Although we knew each other so well, this was different for us. We went at each other like the impatient new lovers we were. Struggling. Straining. She was all over me, arching and rubbing against me. The breathy, eager sounds she made were such a turn on. They reverberated in my mouth as well as through my chest.
She skimmed her hand down my stomach and palmed my erection. I pushed against her hand while easing her panties off her hips. She gave a little wiggle and they slid down around her ankles.
I broke our kiss and looked down, groaning at the sight of her. She was totally hairless. Weirdly, something I also expected. Not sure why but I guess I’d seen her in enough bikini bottoms, it wasn’t a real leap. Besides when I did fantasize about her, she was exactly like this.
I cupped her smooth cunt, then stroked her labia with my fingers. She thrust with her hips, inviting me in. With my middle finger I stroked through her moist folds until I discovered her opening. Teasing, I swirled around her entrance gently before plunging roughly inside.
“Uh!” She cried out.
She was wet, and oh-so slippery. I moaned at the sensation, envious of my finger. Powerful need coursed through me. “I want in,” I said between gritted teeth.
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