by Marie Harte
“Wh-what?” He withdrew his phone from his back pocket, and the action thrust the prominent bulge in his jeans into relief. She wanted to taste him so badly.
“What’s that?” he said into the phone, his voice thick as he stared down at her. “Really? A plumbing emergency? Right now? Okay.” He ended the call and moved to her front door. Without turning around, he said, “Sorry, Maya. Gotta go. Anson needs me. I’ll text you for our next date. Bye.” And he was gone.
She sat there, sexually frustrated, confused and annoyed at how he’d gotten her so hot so fast, then literally dumped her on her ass.
“Friggin’ Dexter Black.”
She fumed long into the night and right into the next morning. Had he really had an emergency to attend to? If so, why hadn’t he asked her to drop him off? Granted, the walk to Anson’s restaurant—if that’s where he’d gone—wasn’t too far. But for an emergency, wouldn’t he want speed?
After breakfast, she did some preliminary sketches for a few pieces she intended to make for some upcoming art shows. Winter time brought good money, and people liked local wares. After spending her morning vacillating between believing and disbelieving Dex and wishing she had the energy to go grocery shopping, she put her sketchbook away and walked the few blocks to Riley’s bakery for something to eat.
On the way, she passed the construction crew working on Anson’s new place. The small cottage-turned-restaurant had charm, and she imagined if he did it right and put a great chef in place, he’d make a lot of money. Rumor had it everything the annoying man touched turned to gold. His name had been in the newspaper many times over the years to note the successes of a good old local boy. She knew because Riley helpfully pointed out the arrogant ass’s accomplishments with both pride and annoyance. Weird, and a very Riley thing to do. God forbid she simply hate the guy.
“Hey, baby,” one of the workers called and waved. “Nice boots.”
She laughed. She’d worn a short skirt and knee-high leather boots showing a good bit of skin. Having a man compliment her, without sounding crass, put a smile on her face. “Thanks.” She waved. He held his heart and swooned, and a few of his friends leaned out of open windows to shout friendly greetings.
“Get back to work,” she heard Anson bark. “What the hell?” The men disappeared, and then Anson stuck his head out the window. “Should have known.”
“Well, hey there, Anson. How’s it hanging?” she yelled and heard laughter from inside.
“Just great, thanks.” He sounded less than enthused to see her.
“How’s your water leak?”
He frowned. “My what?”
I knew it. Dex, that lying coward. A part of her reveled in the fact that the man had been forced to lie to escape her dastardly clutches, while the other part was pissed she’d missed out on naked Dexter in a chair.
“You know. Dex left last night to help you with that water leak? And something about a small fire?” She tacked that on for fun, baiting the hook.
“Oh, right.” He didn’t so much as blink as he lied. “The leak. We’re good.”
“And the fire?”
“Not a problem. Thanks for asking.” He ducked back inside before she could put his feet to the fire—so to speak.
Now she had a bone to pick with Dex, and she couldn’t wait to make him pay for fibbing. Most women would probably be annoyed, maybe even hurt. Maya wanted to pump her fist in victory. She’d scared him. Big bad Dex Black, scared of a little old artist.
Breezing into Riley’s bakery, she stopped and inhaled with pleasure. The small shop had several tables currently occupied by people munching on cupcakes, tarts and fritters. Maya’s mouth watered. Screw grocery shopping. She planned on making a meal out of something totally not good for her.
“Can I help you?” Dina, the perky teenager behind the counter, asked.
“Yeah, is the cranky perfectionist who practically lives in the back here?”
Dina grinned and yelled over her shoulder, “Riley, someone’s here for you.”
Maya chuckled, especially when Riley came out with flour on her cheek and a harried expression on her face. “Oh. It’s you.” She darted back into her cooking cave, as Maya liked to call it.
More people entered the shop, taking up Dina’s attention while Maya followed Riley into the back. She skirted two other bakers and sought her friend.
Maya leaned back against the one empty counter not covered in confections. “You look like crap.”
“Thanks.” Riley glared at her. “Is it my lucky day or do you actually need something?” She concentrated on some candy toppings for the cupcakes. What looked like little happy faces wearing glasses. Damn, the girl was good.
“That is so cool.” Maya leaned closer and Riley pushed her back with an elbow.
“You’re blocking my light. What do you need?”
“Someone to talk to.” Maya glanced around, then snagged a cupcake. “And a vanilla cupcake.”
“Hey.” Riley frowned.
“Oh relax, tight ass. Put it on my tab.”
“Don’t think I won’t,” Riley grumbled. “Can you believe this? My best customer forgets the cake for her kid’s birthday, so I have to make twenty cupcakes in like fifteen minutes. What the hell?”
“But she’s your best customer,” Maya said for her. “And you don’t want to piss her off.”
“No.” Riley sighed and wiped her forehead with the short sleeve of her pink tee-shirt.
“How is it that even sweaty and harassed, you look like a model? That’s really annoying.”
Riley smirked. “Sorry, Maya. I don’t swing that way.”
“You wish. I’m strictly dickly.”
Riley snickered with her as she continued to work. “Okay, so why are you here using up my oxygen?”
Maya told her about her date with Dex, which brought a grin to her friend’s face. “You’re kidding. He made up a fake emergency to get out with his pants on? That’s classic.”
“Thanks so much. It’s not like I was going to molest the guy. Much.” Just enough for an orgasm or two. “I might have said something about us not having sex while dating, but that was before we actually had sex.”
“And you found out he’s a stud in bed,” Riley guessed.
“Yeah. Now he’s got this hang-up about no sex while we’re dating—and we only have eight left. I have no clue how to deal with him.”
“Well, if it were me, I’d be rushing over to help him with his water leak. The poor guy is probably ass-deep in rusty pipes.”
“Not to mention a pretend fire I made up that Anson corroborated.”
“Anson.” Riley frowned.
Maya chewed her cupcake, in love as always with Riley’s recipes.
“Why are you still here? Go get Dex.” Riley set one piping bag down, picked up another and started frosting chocolate cupcakes like mad. Then she set the candy decorations in the middle of each one and finally transferred them into a large box. She called to one of her assistants. “Tim, have Dina phone Jean, would you?” She handed him the box.
He nodded and left with it.
She sighed. “Jean has recommended so many people to me it’s not funny. I guess a rush on some cupcakes is no big deal in the long run.”
“Yeah, yeah, I get it. Cupcakes, check. Back to me, Riley. What did you mean by go get Dex?”
Riley rubbed her back and stretched. Maya winced, hearing something pop.
“Oh, that’s better,” Riley purred. “So Dex has the hots for you. He’s scared he has no control when he’s with you, and he totally wussed out last night. But you want him? Go get him. Go, and I quote, ‘help him out’ with his leak. And I do mean help him.” Riley grabbed an order pad and scribbled down the address.
“How do you know where he lives?” Maya did her best not to sound jealous.
&
nbsp; Riley busied herself cleaning up the table near her. “Oh, well, Anson lives with Dex, and he made sure I had his address in case I had any problems with the construction next door.”
Maya blinked. “Really? Not his phone number to call him, but his address?”
“He said he doesn’t have a phone installed yet.”
“What, no cell phone?”
Riley looked up and scowled.
Maya could see the woman blushing. “Ha! You are so in for it. Wait until I tell Ann—”
“I gave you sound advice,” Riley interrupted. “You tell Ann nothing! She’s a blabbermouth with Jack, and I don’t want him telling Anson anything. Not that there’s anything to tell.”
Maya nodded, doing her best not to laugh. “Um, sure. Nothing to tell. Thanks for the address.” She tore off the page from the pad. “Well then. See you later tonight, right? Just us or will Ann be there too?”
“She’ll be there. I already guilted her about valuing her vagina over us. I mean, sex with Jack, or whining and wine with the girls?”
Maya agreed. “Us, no contest.” She slapped Riley on the back then turned to leave. “Wish me luck.”
“Better yet, I’ll wish Dex luck. When you get that look in your eye, I pity the guy on the receiving end.”
Chapter Seven
Maya walked to the address Riley had given her, not surprised to find Dex and Anson’s home in much better shape than her own and in a good neighborhood. Like hers, the neighborhood was eclectic. Nice houses sat near crappy ones, but it made for an interesting community.
She walked up the stairs of his porch and knocked. “Dex?”
Nothing. She raised her hand to knock again, then stopped. If he could just walk into her place, surely she could do the same. She turned the knob, and to her pleasant surprise, it opened.
With a grin, she let herself inside and locked it behind her. A moment of silence convinced her he wasn’t at home, until she stepped deeper into the house and heard the faint sound of a shower.
She glanced at a clock on the wall. Twelve in the afternoon and he was taking a shower? Whatever.
His place was only slightly less messy than hers. A few magazines, some beer bottles and dishes had been scattered across several tables. A thin layer of dust covered most of the wooden furniture. But the rest of the place seemed nice. Not exactly a bachelor pad where one’s feet stuck to the floor. Still, it didn’t have any personality beyond the small clutter. The man needed some color, or at least a few photographs or pictures. Ironic that such an ace photographer had nothing on his own walls.
She followed the sound of the shower up the stairs and down a hallway, passing two doors. Maya had no right letting herself into his home and invading his privacy, but God love her, she couldn’t deny herself the possible sight of Dex covered in nothing but soap and water.
She knocked on the bathroom door as she opened it. “Hey, Dex. It’s me.”
“Shit,” came from behind the striped shower curtain. “I’m in the shower.”
“Duh.”
“Privacy?”
“Yeah, you’d think you’d have some, in the shower and all.” She chuckled. “Guess you’re right about leaving your front door unlocked. I mean, just anyone can come walking into your home. Or your bathroom.” She took a step closer to the large stall.
“Don’t even think of opening the curtain,” he warned.
“What was that? Open the curtain? Your shower is awfully loud.” She toed off her boots and tore off her clothes, naked in seconds.
“Maya?”
She stepped inside the stall. His body blocked the water, giving her an up-close look at six feet four inches of wet, muscular Dexter Black.
“Oh man. Not naked.” He reached for her, only to be held at bay by Maya’s hand.
“Nope. You owe me for being such a bad liar.” She let him look his fill, saw the way he tensed. There was no mistaking the erection pointed in her direction either.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh?” She spread her legs and dragged a hand over her body, cupping her breasts, teasing her pussy, her thighs. “So how’s that water leak treating you?”
“Hmm.” He took a step closer.
“Next time clue your cousin in to your lies or you’ll give yourself away.”
“Cousin. Sure.” He moved to kiss her, but she planted a hand on his chest again.
“Uh-uh. You owe me.” She tugged his shoulder, urging him to kneel. Smart guy that he was, he didn’t fight her. He knelt and ran his hands over her legs, her ass, her hips…
“Spread for me,” he ordered.
His blatant desire only aroused her more. She widened her stance, and he kissed her right there, between her legs. His tongue stroked her toward orgasm, his intensity and focus on consuming her more than she could handle. The water continued to rain over his back, and she cupped his wet hair, perilously close to coming.
He thrust a thick finger inside her and sucked harder, and she came embarrassingly fast. But Dex wouldn’t stop. He moaned her name against her flesh, continuing to lick and pump his finger. Then he added another before withdrawing them, and she thought she was done.
Breathing hard, her hands still clenched in his hair, her knees trembling, she watched him with an affection that was growing into something more. Something dangerous, unstable and real. Something that refused to go away. With every kiss, he dug deeper under her emotional shields, and she didn’t know what to do about it.
“You are fucking beautiful when you come,” he said. “I could eat you all the time. So sweet.” He stood, and she thought he meant to kiss her. Instead, he turned her to face the wall while the hot water hit her side. The added stimulation made her shudder.
“Yeah, stand just like that. Don’t move.” He ran his hands over her back and ass, then stepped closer, putting that fat cock between her cheeks. He held himself there a moment, then slid, rubbing against her. “You have any idea what I want to do to you? How much you need my discipline?”
“D-discipline?” Hell, she was still trying to get her breath back from coming so hard.
“Yeah. You need to be spanked. Tied up. Ass-fucked and gagged on my cock until you realize where you belong.”
She couldn’t move, caught in the lustful fantasy he wove around her without even trying. Dex was one kinky bastard, and she felt as if she’d stepped into heaven. “Where I what?” she said when she could speak.
“Where you belong.” He knelt behind her and pried her buttocks wide. “Beneath me,” he added before sliding the tip of his finger against her ass.
Dex ached to be inside her. Shit. Eating her out after dreaming about her all night long had only prolonged his frustration. No way he could stop himself from having her, not when she’d gotten naked and confronted him in his own fucking shower. And he’d been doing so well not jacking off—again—to the memories of doing her in his studio.
Now he planned to make good on his promises. Some good old-fashioned discipline might steer the woman in the right direction. Even better, this technically wasn’t a date. She’d come to him and they sure as hell weren’t getting to know each other through conversation. Though he wanted to wait and continue to court her, he couldn’t deny either of them the pleasure they both craved.
“Dex, God. What are you doing to me?”
“You like this?” He eased his finger around her hole, rimming her before dipping the tip inside her. “’Cause I am dying to fuck you here. Come on, admit it. You like a little kink.”
She moaned. “So what if I do?”
Oh yeah. She totally fit him, like a lock and key. “So I’m thinking I have the house to myself for once. You’re here, naked. I’m still hard and hurting.”
“Oh?”
He huffed. “Fine. Yeah, I lied last night. But you pushed m
e into it by trying to turn our date into a hookup.”
She snickered, and he wanted to get down on one knee and beg her to marry him. She was sexy, a little mean, and so affectionate when he stroked her just right. Like taming a feral cat, she only needed the right petting to bring out her loving side. He wanted that more than anything. For Maya to give him what only he should have a right to take—her heart.
But first, he’d take control of her body. Because he was right. She needed it.
“What are you going to do to me, Dex?”
He continued to caress her ass, playing with the water and using it to ease the slight penetration of his finger. The woman gripped him like a vise, and he swallowed a groan. “I’m going to own you, baby.”
She looked over her shoulder at him. “You think you can handle me?”
He stood and leaned into her so she could feel all of him. “I know I can handle you.”
“Oh?”
He gripped his cock. “Get on your knees. I think it’s time you showed me what else that mouth is good for.”
“Dick.” She frowned at him and turned around.
“My thoughts exactly.”
She blinked then smirked at him. “You’re the king of bad puns.”
“No, I’m the king of sexually frustrated. Now get on your fucking knees and blow me.” He gripped her by the hair. Not the most romantic of declarations, but by the way she maintained eye contact and practically melted at his feet, he knew he’d found the right way to connect with her.
“So bossy,” she breathed.
“That’s right. Now open up and take me in.” He stared, unable to look away, as she parted her lips and enveloped his cockhead.
She took his hand away from the root of his shaft and eased her mouth over him, taking him deeper.
“Fuck, Maya. That’s good,” he could barely get out as she found a rhythm that threatened to take him out of this world. She bobbed over him and cupped his balls, drawing her skillful tongue over his shaft like it was a fucking lollipop.
He hissed and moaned, tangled his hands in her hair and couldn’t look away.