Oh for goodness sake, I hadn’t expected much, but that had to be one of the biggest letdowns ever after that huge buildup. I must have let Wesley’s good looks and exotic smell overwhelm my senses because I don’t know why I had even listened to a thing he said.
Little Black Book Club, what a joke.
I was too tired to even be irritated about it for long. The first day of staycation and the most pampering thing I did for myself was put on the cute black silk romper I had stashed in a drawer for pajamas. It felt cool on my clean and freshly smooth skin, and even though I was just going to sleep at least I could feel pretty in my dreams. My last thought as I snuggled into the bed and pulled the covers up to my chin was, I’ll have to think of at least one interesting thing to do tomorrow, or Blake will make fun of me for wasting my days off.
Four
I dreamed about coffee. More specifically I dreamed that someone had made the coffee, and that the smell of the glorious liquid permeated the walls of my bedroom and tantalized me with its bitter notes, promising caffeine and warmth in my belly. I also dreamed there was someone else in my apartment with me.
A noise coming from the other room jolted me fully awake and my eyes snapped open.
Shit! Someone was in my apartment!
And they had made coffee?
That didn’t make sense, But I definitely smelled the coffee so I peeked my head outside of my bedroom door, and through the open layout of the condo I could see there was indeed someone in my kitchen. A male someone. A tall male someone. I could only see his back, with broad shoulders encased in a dark grey dress shirt that tucked into black dress slacks. Black dress slacks that covered what I could already tell was an absolutely phenomenal ass. I hadn’t seen someone looking so juicy from the back in…well, I couldn’t remember, but this guy looked like he was getting ready to go to work at a high rise downtown, not breaking and entering for breakfast in a strangers apartment.
Noiselessly I crept back into my bedroom and fumbled for my phone to call the police. I wasn’t going to be able to sneak out of the condo because I would have to ninja crawl past the Iron Chef in my kitchen, and I knew I couldn’t do that, so I needed to call for help. Before I could dial 911 though, I noticed the little green light blinking on my phone that showed I had a message. A voicemail? I didn’t recognize the number, and I don’t know what part of me decided to throw away my panic and click the button, but I did. I recognized the voice in the recording as soon as he began speaking – Wesley.
“Ms. Beckett, I am pleased that you decided to give our services a try. Your request was met with much enthusiasm, and there were actually several people that wished to be picked to fulfill your needs. Apparently, your request has made you quite popular, Elizabeth. I hope you enjoy your day. From sun up to sun down, I believe you said.”
And that was all. There were no instructions, nothing about what to expect or how the strange man had gotten into my house. I had two options. I could either continue my original plan and call the police, or go out into the kitchen and ask some questions. Apparently, The Little Black Book Club had taken me seriously and sent a gigolo out to my house. Now I had to get rid of him.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to leave the bedroom and almost ran smack into the serving tray, being carried by the same man I had only seen from the rear. Looking up I gazed into the most intense blue eyes I had ever seen. Cerulean pools with tinges of brown on the edges, they were amazing. And they were tilted up in the corners with laughter. The big brute was laughing.
“You should be in bed,” he said as he set the tray down on the nightstand and I was able to see his whole face for the first time. From behind he had looked older, maybe because of the formal clothing. But closer inspection revealed he actually wasn’t far from my age, maybe even just a little younger in fact. “I’m glad you didn’t call the police on me,” he said, a slow grin spreading across his face. He really was quite striking, even if I had to crane my neck to see his face. He had to be six three, six four? I was five foot seven and I only came to his shoulders—he was massive. He could easily overpower me if he wanted to, but instead he brought me a tray. With food on it. And coffee.
“Who are you and what are you doing here?” I’d meant to sound authoritative, but it was difficult to sound in charge when I was wearing my silky pajamas and talking to someone who towered over me.
“I would think you would know that. Didn’t you contact the LBBC? Didn’t you get a call from Wesley?”
“Well, yes I did but…hey!” I couldn’t finish my sentence because he surprised the hell out of me by whisking me straight off my feet and placing me princess style back into the middle of my bed and pulling the covers up over my lap.
“Then there is no misunderstanding. From sun up to sun down, you will let us do all the work. You are not the boss. You are not in charge. My name’s Joshua by the way.” He gave me that heart-stopping grin again and I forgot my own name for a minute. He had picked me up like I was nothing and plopped me in bed like a child who had snuck out.
“Yeah, okay full disclosure – I filled out the info form on the website out of curiosity.” I twirled my hair in my hands nervously. “I didn’t really expect anything from it, and I certainly didn’t expect to find a man in my kitchen as soon as I opened my eyeballs this morning. I don’t think a voicemail left at eleven thirty at night should be considered sufficient warning. How did you get in here anyway?”
Joshua graced me with another one of those disarming smiles, “I told the girl working the office of your apartment that I was your personal chef and I lost my key. I was supposed to come here and meal prep for the week but I couldn’t get in. She didn’t give me a hard time about it at all, just went and opened the door for me. I mean, she did ask for identification, but it wasn’t that hard. She said you worked a lot, so she wasn’t surprised you had someone prepare your meals for you. I think she thought you weren’t home or something and I wasn’t going to tell her otherwise, I just needed the door open.”
I know my mouth was hanging open. I was sitting in the middle of my bed while a tall, dark and handsome stranger sat on the edge chatting just as casually as you please about how he had conned the office manager into opening my apartment door for him. That wasn’t even breaking and entering. That was something else entirely. I didn’t know whether to be pissed at the office manager or impressed by Joshua’s ingenuity. Maybe it was a little of both.
“You little con artist,” I laughed but he didn’t, he just cocked his head to the side and looked thoughtful for a moment.
“I think I see what’s going on here,” he said after a moment of silence. Digging into his pocket he pulled out a slim silver case and took one card from the inside. Here, this what I showed your office manager. It’s real, you know, this is what I do for a living.”
Joshua Benson – Personal Chef
Heat invaded my face and I knew, just knew, that I was twenty different shades of crimson embarrassment from my obvious faux pax. He was a legitimate personal chef. He was here to cook for me. From sun up to sun down, I was not to lift a finger.
Oh my God I practically called him a gigolo.
“I am so sorry,” I whimpered as I covered my hands with my face. “I thought…I thought Little Black Book was an escort service. I’m an idiot.”
His response was laughter, loud and long. He didn’t look angry, but he was vastly amused. It was the misunderstanding of a lifetime, but he seemed to be taking it well—me assuming he was a prostitute.
“Ms. Beckett,” he began, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.
“I would think at this point in our incredibly weird relationship you can call me Elizabeth.” I was dying of embarrassment and him using formal speech with me was just making it worse.
“Elizabeth,” he began again. “Did you think I was coming here to have sex with you?”
My hands covered my face again and I knew I was acting like a child, but I couldn’t help it. I couldn’t even
look him in the eyes at this point. “I’m sorry. I thought you were an escort service.”
He didn’t get angry like I thought he might. Instead he sighed, “Yeah, I can see how we could be misrepresented that way. Especially because Wesley keeps such an air of mysteriousness about the company. But the truth is, Little Black Book Club does provide a service of fulfilling fantasies. Although I did read your profile—it didn’t say anything about sex.” Joshua’s blue eyes darkened and he leaned in closer, “Although if that’s what you want I’m not opposed.”
His face was inches from mine, his eyes impossibly blue and staring straight into my soul. I was frozen, but he made no other movements towards me. He was simply waiting for me to say something.
“You’re teasing me,” I said when I found my breath and my scattered thoughts. I was rewarded with another panty-melting smile.
“Maybe,” he said, eyes sparkling as he stood up and straightened the covers around me. “Maybe not. I will tell you this, I am here to cook for you. All three meals and anything you should want in between.” He grabbed the tray that he had set down previously and placed it gently into my lap. Next to a cup of coffee was a covered plate like we used in the hotel to keep food warm as it was being delivered by room service. As he removed the lid and set it down on the nightstand I was treated to a most surprising sight. Crepes. Three strawberry crepes nestled against each other in the middle of the plate while plump glazed strawberries glistened against the pale pastry. My stomach grumbled loudly.
“Your coffee is getting cold,” Joshua said disapprovingly, “I’ll get you another cup.” As he leaned down to pick the cup up off the tray he gently moved the hair off my shoulder and away from my ear. I hadn’t been expecting it, I mean, I hadn’t expected a single thing that had happened so far this morning but I was really surprised when he whispered in my ear.
“I know you said you didn’t want sex,” I shuddered at his closeness and the sensation of his breath on my skin. “But Nicholas is going to be here soon. He’s going to take one look at you and forget what he is supposed to be doing here. If I were you, and you don’t want to encourage him, I would change out of that sexy as fuck lingerie you are wearing and put on something that makes you look a little less appealing. Like, I don’t know, some body armor or something.” Joshua paused to blow gently on the skin of my neck. “Unless you changed your mind and you do want sex, then all you have to do is say the word and Nicholas will have you on your back and screaming his name in a matter of minutes. He’ll make you think it was your idea too. I’ll help.”
Joshua hadn’t even touched me, but my mind had already gone to an incredibly wild place, and even though I hadn’t moved at all, his words had brought my body to a fever pitch. Who was Nicholas, and why was I already thinking about him in such a way? Joshua pulled away and took my coffee cup with him. “I’ll be in the kitchen cleaning up, eat your breakfast Elizabeth.” And then he was gone, leaving me aching in several places and staring stupidly down at the tray in my lap.
Five
Breakfast was divine. I had zero complaints about any of it, except for the awkward blush staining my cheeks after Joshua’s whispered confession. Never mind the way my thighs had clenched tightly together when he had mentioned the name Nicholas. I’d already misinterpreted what Joshua was supposed to be doing, what was this Nicholas’ job supposed to be? Liquid heat pooled between my legs as I thought about Joshua’s words. He’d been teasing me, hadn’t he? I should have been aggravated by the intrusion, by the miscommunication, by the blatant liberties a strange man was taking in my home.
Instead, it was exhilarating.
I had no plans on sleeping with a stranger, not that I had any kind of personal hang-up about one night stands. People do all kinds of things in the name of a good time. Sharing your body with another consenting adult is probably low on the list of terrible ways to spend a few hours. But just because I don’t have the time to meet men and form personal connections doesn’t mean I don’t want to. I was lonely just like everyone else was. I didn’t plan on sleeping with the handsome chef in the kitchen, but if he was going to continue to tease me with the promise of a good time, then I just might change my mind.
At least that was what I thought to myself as I took extra care in the shower. Washing my hair and shaving even though I had just done it the day before. As I soaped up my skin and slid my hands up and down my body, I imagined it was Joshua’s hands, not mine, working the lather over my skin. Lingering in the soft places until my breasts tingled and my breath came in quick gasps. I couldn’t even be the least bit embarrassed that I was touching myself in the shower, thinking about the possibility of not just one, but two strangers having their wicked way with me. It wasn’t what I had been thinking about when I signed up on the Little Black Book website, but holy shit was I thinking about it now. How could I not when he had said such a suggestive thing to me?
I couldn’t think of anything else.
The shower was a little longer than it should have been, mostly because I was so worked up thinking of the young chef’s hands on my body that I couldn’t stop touching myself long enough to finish washing. I couldn’t bring myself to satisfaction though, not with Joshua in the next room and only a couple of thin walls between us. I was pretty worked up, but it seemed like not even my imagination was good enough to get a quick O before I met my next guest.
When had I become so repressed?
The next guest had already arrived by the time I got out of the shower. I heard the voices in the kitchen and before I could tell myself it was a bad idea I threw on a robe and peeked around the corner to get a look. They were standing almost shoulder to shoulder in front of the sink with their backs to me. Joshua was cutting vegetables, I assumed prepping for lunch, and the newcomer was standing next to him watching. From the back I could see he had longer chestnut colored hair that fell in light waves to just brush his collar. He wore a pair of dark denim pants – casual, with a light blue polo tucked in at the waist. He was probably average height but standing next to someone as tall as Joshua he just seemed so much slighter in stature. They were murmuring low to each other, but I could still pick out the words.
“So tell me what she’s like, Josh,” the newcomer stated, and I was surprised at the depth of his tone. I had just assumed that he was younger because of his stature, but his voice was that of a mature man in his prime.
“She’s just as hot as Wesley said she was,” Joshua said as he continued to cut a cucumber in short even strokes, placing the slices in a small bowl on the counter. My cheeks warmed at the compliment, both because Joshua thought I was good looking and because Wesley said so too.
“Nice,” the stranger said as he swiped a cucumber from the cutting board before Joshua had a chance to nab it. He popped it into his mouth and chewed. “This should be fun,” he said once he’d swallowed his bite. He shoulder bumped Joshua playfully, and it was clear that these two men knew each other, but Joshua shook his head sadly.
“She’s not into it.”
“What do you mean she’s not into it?” The wavy-haired man sounded confused.
“Wesley said we weren’t allowed to do anything she didn’t want to do, and she pretty much told me no sex not more than twenty minutes ago before she got in the shower.” Joshua sounded put out, like he had been looking forward to something I didn’t even know was on the table.
“So what, you are just going to cook today?” The other man asked the question like he couldn’t believe that was all that was going on.
“Yep,” Joshua said, sounding utterly disappointed, sliding the rest of the cucumber slices into the bowl and reaching for a bright round tomato. “And it looks like you are here for a regular old afternoon massage. A professional one, Nicholas.” He emphasized the last part as he started slicing into the tomato.
So this was Nicholas.
Another little thrill ran through me as I thought about what Joshua had said about Nicholas earlier. About what he wo
uld do to me if I let him. My breasts tingled, and my nipples tightened into hard points as I drew my robe even tighter together in the front. I was peeping. In my own house even. But damn if I couldn’t look away yet. I wanted to know what else they were going to say, what other secrets they would divulge.
Nicholas turned then, but he didn’t look in my direction. I was still concealed in my hiding place where I stood slightly behind the wall, barely able to see around the corner. I caught sight of his profile and he looked quite young. Younger than Joshua and I anyway. He just had such a deep timbre in his voice that he seemed so much older.
“Well, that’s okay I guess if that’s what she wants,” Nicholas said as he reached one hand and patted Joshua on the back. “What about you? Are you going to be okay?”
Why would he ask that?
“I’ll be fine,” Joshua replied, and I might have been mistaken but he sounded a little sad. “I’m here to give her what she needs, and if all she needs is food from me then that is what she’ll get. She won’t lift a finger, from sun up to sun down.” He repeated the same words from earlier and hearing them repeated out loud so many times was just plain embarrassing.
“She’s way too high strung and overworked.” Joshua continued. “She needs to relax. She needs you and your magic hands.”
Nicholas ceased with his casual patting and let his arm slide down Joshua’s back in a strangely intimate gesture. “But what about your needs?” Nicholas asked, concern lacing his voice. “Who’s taking care of you?” And the other arm, the one not lingering on Joshua’s back, crept around the front of his body. My mouth dropped open in shock as I heard the metallic slip of a zipper sliding down and saw Joshua stiffen, a slight tremble in his hands that still clutched the knife he had been cutting tomatoes with.
Serviced_A Reverse Harem Novella_Little Black Book Club Page 3