by Marni Mann
I hadn’t been.
She obviously felt differently about it.
“I’m not going to fucking guess,” I said. “Why don’t you just tell me, Scarlett?”
“I was meeting with the owner to discuss your membership.”
“That’s why you were there?”
“Yes. Why? Did you think I had gone for a different reason?”
Jesus, that’s a fucking relief.
But, now, the lightness in her voice told me she was testing me to hear how I’d respond.
It was time to play.
“Did you tell her how amazing I was?” I asked. “How she needed to keep me around to make sure you were taken care of?”
“I was too busy trying to save your ass.”
“Mmm,” I growled. “Hearing that you had my back is so fucking hot.”
“You want to know what isn’t hot? Getting your membership revoked, which is what she wanted to do.”
“On what grounds?”
“One, charming your ex-girlfriend into expediting your application to bypass the two-year waiting list. And two, joining a sex club for a reason other than to fulfill your sexual fantasy.”
I laughed silently, the same way I would have if I were on the phone with a client. “Someone found out all my secrets. What was the verdict?”
She sighed. “It took some serious persuading, Hudson. To the point where you’re going to owe me. Big.”
“What do you want, Scarlett? My mouth on your pussy or for me to tie you to something and spank your fucking ass?”
Even though she took a few seconds to respond, I could tell from the noise she made that she liked the options.
“I want a weekend in Napa that includes your mouth and your palm.”
I grabbed my dick, shifting it in my boxer briefs so that the tip didn’t grind into my goddamn zipper.
She was making me fucking hard as hell.
“Traveling together?” I said. “That’s a big step.”
“I’m ready for it.”
That was what I wanted, and I loved hearing it.
“Do you want to tell me when you’re available?” I asked. “I’ll have my assistant book it.”
“I’m going to take care of everything. When I have the details, I’ll let you know.”
I turned toward the desk to grab a pen, clicking the top button nonstop with my thumb. “God, you’re fucking dominant when you’re not tied up.”
“I can’t fight you on that one,” she said. “But the reason I’m planning this trip isn’t because I want to control where we go and what we do and when we leave. It’s because I want to do something nice for you. I think I owe it to you.”
“You owe me nothing.”
“But I do…” Her voice was so soft. “It’s time I really show you how I feel about you, so let me do this, Hudson.”
Tender was a side of her I hadn’t seen.
I liked it as much as the others.
“I’m looking forward to it,” I told her.
“I’m about to walk into my building. I’ll call you later.”
She needed to be rewarded.
And so did I, so I said, “When you do, make it a video chat, and I want you to be naked.”
Eighteen
Scarlett
It was just a coincidence that Max happened to be in Miami this week. Still, I couldn’t have planned it more perfectly. This was a conversation I needed to have face-to-face while all three of my boys were present. Knowing their schedules were extremely tight, almost every minute of the day accounted for, I carved out a thirty-minute window for the four of us to meet.
When it was time, I walked down the hall and knocked on Brett’s door, letting myself in. The three guys were already in there with an empty seat between Max and Jack.
“You guys are never this punctual,” I told them as I went in and sat down. “Especially you, Max.”
“Since we know something’s up with you, we all came in here early to talk shit and try to figure out what the fuck you’re going to tell us,” Max said.
I turned to my right to look at him. “Are you serious?”
He laughed. “Hell no. We’re discussing Manhattan and how much work that’s going to take, and we’re deciding who’s going to go up there to conduct the first round of interviews.”
“Not me,” I told them.
“I’ve been elected,” Jack said. “It’ll be over summer break, so Samantha and Lucy will come, and we’ll spend a month or so up there.”
Samantha was Jack’s wife, and Lucy was their seven-year-old daughter. During the school year, the girls couldn’t travel with him that much, and Jack hated it.
The room turned quiet, and I could feel all of their eyes on me.
When I realized I was staring at my hands, I looked up and met Brett’s gaze.
“What’s going on, Scarlett?”
The only way I knew how to address this was to put it right out there, so I said, “What would you guys say if I told you I wanted to move back to LA?”
“You’d better not be telling us that you’re leaving The Agency,” Max said.
My head shot to the right. “Leaving? No. I just mean, working out of LA instead of Miami.”
“Jesus Christ,” he groaned, wrapping his arm around my neck and pulling me close to kiss the top of my head. “I think you just gave everyone a heart attack.”
Brett pushed away from his desk and leaned back in his chair. I could see the relief in his face, too. “Now that I know you’re not leaving The Agency, I’ve got no issues with you moving out west. I’ll just miss you like hell.”
Being away from him and Jack was going to be so hard. We’d lived within five minutes of each other for our entire lives. So, living on opposite sides of the country was definitely going to take some getting used to. And it would require monthly visits at least.
“I’m excited as fuck that I’ll have you out in LA with me,” Max said.
I looked at Jack, as he was the only one who hadn’t responded.
His eyes locked with mine. “I’m assuming this move has something to do with Hudson.”
And there it was.
The giant elephant in the room.
“Why would you think that?” I asked him, although I was addressing all three since I knew they were thinking the same thing.
“Jesus, Scarlett,” Brett said. “When it comes to you, you just tap right into us; you suck out all the details and then offer mouthfuls of unsolicited advice. But the second one of us tries to tap into you, you act like you don’t speak fucking English.”
My head tilted back as a laugh burst through my lips.
I couldn’t help it.
He was right, and everyone in this room knew it.
“Guilty,” I said when I stopped laughing enough to speak.
“You must think we’re fucking idiots,” Max said. “That the three of us can’t read a guy’s expression when he’s looking across the table at a girl he just secretly fucked.”
My hand went over my mouth after I said, “Max…”
I wanted to melt into this chair.
When it came to me, these weren’t things we talked about.
“I know I’m not wrong,” he added. “So, just admit things are going well with him and that he’s weighing on your decision.”
I looked at Brett and Jack to say something.
They said nothing, although I was sure they agreed with Max.
“For the last few months, I’ve been thinking about going back to LA. That office needs me more than Miami does, and I need it for me. But, yes, Hudson has helped with my decision. Spending more time with him will certainly benefit our relationship.”
“Relationship, huh?” Brett said.
We hadn’t named what we had together, but it felt like a relationship, and it was what we both wanted.
I shrugged as a smile tugged at my mouth. “He’s perfect for me.”
“He seems like it,” Max said.
&
nbsp; “It’s nice to finally hear you admit it,” Jack said.
“Don’t get excited,” I told all three. “You’re getting no other information out of me. Ever. This was a one-shot deal.”
“I don’t think we can handle any more,” Max said. “Telling the girl who’s like a sister to you about the women you fuck is one thing, but hearing about the guys your sister fucks is just wrong.”
“On so many levels,” Jack said.
As I was shifting in my chair, recrossing my legs, Brett called out, “Hey.” I glanced at him. “I’m proud of you.”
“Why?”
“You learned from each of our mistakes, and I get the feeling you’re handling this one differently than Vince,” Brett replied.
“I am,” I admitted. “But Hudson and I are so much more compatible.”
“It’s a good thing you’re not waiting two years to live closer to him,” Max said. “It gives your relationship a stronger chance, which you had to have learned from me.”
“You haven’t gotten pregnant; therefore, I’d say you learned something from me,” Jack said.
I looked at Brett. His journey with James, a Hollywood actress, had been quite a rocky one, and a lot of it had happened in the public eye, especially because he was her agent.
I hadn’t learned relationship advice from him.
What I’d learned was how to be a better human and friend.
All three had taught me that.
Brett leaned forward in his chair, resting his arms over the desk as he said, “We love you, and we only want you to be happy. But just let Hudson know, if he hurts you in any way, we’re going to kick his fucking ass.” His lips then moved into a smile, and he winked.
Nineteen
Hudson
It was our second night in Napa, and we were staying in a private house that had been built into the side of a vineyard. Directly outside the windows were hills of grape vines. With the windows open, while we were cuddled in bed together, there was just enough moonlight for us to see the rows and rows of plants.
It was a gorgeous sight.
Scarlett couldn’t get enough of it, and that was what I loved the most.
I held her against my bare chest, her face leaned against me as she looked out toward the night. My hand slowly ran over her hair, and I kissed the top of her head, leaving my lips there while I said, “When do you meet with the realtor?”
She’d been staying at my place since she moved to LA a week ago. Before she’d left Miami, she’d decided she was going to keep her condo there and get a rental in LA. She thought it was too soon to come live with me.
I was fine with it.
I knew she’d be in my bed every night even if she called another place home. I also knew her lease wouldn’t last more than a year.
“The day after we get back.” She traced her fingers over my abs. “She sent me about ten listings.”
“Where are they?”
Her hand paused. “Hollywood Hills.”
“I’m glad you listened to me.”
I’d been telling her for the last week to look for homes in that area, the same section of the city where I lived. It would keep her close by and in one of the safer spots of town.
“I loved the Hollywood Hills when I lived in LA,” she said. “I just couldn’t afford it back then.”
My hand moved to her back, and I rubbed the side of my thumb all the way down to the top of her ass and back up before I worked my way across her shoulders. “So, you’re going to be looking for a place to live and restructuring the entire finance department for three offices.”
“Technically, four until both LA offices merge. But, yes, please don’t remind me; it’s not going to be fun.”
“That just means we’re going to have to take more of these.”
She tilted her face up, her lips now touching mine. “Every other weekend. That would be a dream.”
“I’ll make it happen.”
She climbed a little higher, resting her face against my shoulder. “I love how good you are to me.”
“You make it easy.”
Her hand continued to draw over my skin while the both of us stared out the window.
Scarlett made silence easy. She made it tolerable.
But her voice was so sexy; I couldn’t get enough of that either.
“Palm Springs,” I said. “That should be the next trip.”
“San Diego can come after.”
“Then, we need to return to Napa.”
“You really like it here?”
“I like how much you do, and that’s what is important to me.”
She nuzzled her face into my neck, and every exhale warmed my skin.
My arm tightened around her, and I pressed my cheek against her forehead. “It feels like I’ve been holding you for years,” I whispered.
“I was thinking the same thing.”
“You just feel so right. I don’t want to let go.”
“You don’t have to.” She reached higher, taking the pads of her fingers and brushing them over my lips. “Our start was so rocky; it’s almost hard to believe we were there, and now, we’re here.”
“But it was sexy as hell.”
I felt her smile. “That’s true. That night with the flogger…my God.” There was another stream of silence, and then she broke it by saying, “Don’t think I’m crazy, okay?”
“Never.”
“It’s just that, I know we’re still learning each other and growing together as a couple, and we have so much ahead of us, but I feel something for you, Hudson.” Her voice turned to a whisper. “It’s a feeling I haven’t had before.” Her hand stopped moving, and she spread her fingers over me as though she needed to hold on. “Every day, I’m falling deeper and deeper in love with you.”
I held her so tightly that she couldn’t move, and I kept my lips against her as I said, “Baby, I love you, too.”
Epilogue
Hudson
I stood in front of Scarlett, looking down at her in the armless chair that I’d roped her to.
A flogger dangled from my hand.
There were marks on her body that showed every place it had touched her.
Everyone healed differently after a session. Scarlett, unlike any woman I’d ever dominated, just wanted a few seconds of rest and care, and then she always wanted my cock.
But, before I let her out of her restraints, I needed to hear a few words come out of that sexy fucking mouth.
“Beg for my cock,” I demanded.
It wasn’t just her voice I was after.
I wanted to watch the way her lips moved, to see the pleading in her eyes that was all for me and my dick.
“I want your cock, Hudson,” she said, her lips wet, her eyes a little watery. “Please give me the pleasure I’m craving.”
Hair was stuck to the sides of her sweaty face.
So fucking gorgeous.
“Louder,” I barked.
“Please let me have your cock.” She almost appeared breathless; she wanted it so badly. “I need it, Hudson. Please.”
Mmm.
That was the noise I had been after.
Her head was pointed down, and she was looking at me through her long lashes.
She was such a good girl.
I moved closer and ran my hand past her forehead, stopping on the back of her head. I squeezed her hair between my fingers and used it to pull her neck back. “Say it one more time. Make me feel how much you want my dick in your cunt.”
I kept her face steady as she opened her mouth, intensified her gaze, and said, “Please, Hudson. I need you inside my pussy. Don’t make me wait for it. I want it now.”
“Fuck,” I moaned.
Before that happened, I needed something first.
I unzipped my pants and reached inside, leading my cock through the hole. Since I was already so close, I only had to aim it to the tip of her mouth. “Suck it.”
She opened, and I glided in between her te
eth.
“That’s it,” I said as her lips began pumping my fucking cock. “Take it deep.”
Her tongue ran along the underside, and she swiveled back and forth to give equal pressure all the way around.
“Yes,” I grunted. “Just like that, baby.”
She was giving me so much suction, so much friction; she was making me want to come.
But it wasn’t time for that yet, so I pulled out and moved behind the chair, carefully untying each of the knots. I made my way down her body, and when the ropes all fell to the ground, I helped her stand. Then, I wrapped a blanket over her shoulders and backed her up to the exam table that was in the center of the room.
Tonight, Scarlett was going to be my little patient, and I was going to do everything I could to heal her.
When her ass hit the table, I lifted her on top of the crinkled paper and rubbed her shoulders and legs. “You all right?”
She nodded.
“Tell me what hurts,” I said with a smile.
She hadn’t used her safe word, so I knew she wasn’t in too much pain. What I was really asking was for her to role-play with me.
From the look on her face, she knew exactly what I was asking for.
“Hudson,” she said in a voice that was much different than a few seconds ago, “I have this spot.” She took her arm out of the blanket and pointed to her pussy. “It’s down there, and it desperately needs your attention.”
I put my hand on her calf and slowly worked my way up. “Tell me when I get close.” I went past her knee and between her thighs. The higher I got, the warmer her skin was. And it was fucking scorching by the time I reached her cunt.
“There,” she said when I brushed over her clit. “That’s where I need you.”
My finger dropped to her entrance and was immediately covered in a thick wetness. It was so slick, I had to stop myself from sliding in. “What about here?”
“Ahhh,” she breathed. “Yes, there, too.”
“I need you to get on your knees and point your ass toward the doctor. Can you do that for me like a good patient?”
“Yes,” she said, sounding so fucking innocent.