Charm School After Dark: Lesson 1

by Lynn Carmer

  Any way he looked at it, she was gorgeous. Her dark hair was tangled around her curlers, emphasizing her makeup-less face, glowing with outrage, her ruby lips still just as lick-able without all the gooey lip-gloss. Slowly but surely, he was becoming addicted to every curvy inch of her.

  But tonight, something was off. Something had cut into her usual confidence, leaving her vulnerable and grouchy. It just made him want to scoop her up, fluffy robe and all, and keep her safe from the world. But the need to protect warred with an equally powerful urge to strip her, expose her deliciously creamy skin from breast to toe, and imprint his essence, his everything, on her.

  It seemed obvious she needed some reassurance. Wanted to know if he was attracted to her in this getup. Hell, he’d want her any way he could get her. And right now, having her in his apartment, willingly, well, he didn’t want it to end.

  So, no matter how much his dick wept at the idea, he was going to go with more tequila shots, to get to know Caelen a little better, to convince her he should be between those silky thighs before their little experiment was over. “Let’s take another shot. You must have some more questions for me.”

  “Last chance. You don’t want to start now?” She went very still, her whole focus on him and his answer.

  “Nope. I’m good. Think I’ll pop a beer.” The words almost came through clenched teeth. It was damn hard to resist this woman, and he wanted her mouth on him so bad that it took everything in him not to pick her up, take her to bed, and worship her, bunny slippers and all.

  “Okay, but remember, I didn’t only ask once, but twice.” She stood and started to smile, a smile that grew by the second and promised the world. A decidedly knowing smile that made him pause. “I have a ton of questions, but could I use your bathroom first?”

  “Sure,” he answered hesitantly, unsure of her motive. This women always kept his world slightly tilted, off axis. “You okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “You know where it is.”

  “Yup. I’ll be back in a minute.” She made a quick grab and carried both her notebook and backpack into the bathroom.

  Dare paced the room, stretching his arms, anticipation coursing through him. The idea of all the dips and curves hidden under her robe drove him crazy. Was she as naked as he requested? Would it take one tug of her belt to reveal her in all her bare glory?

  He groaned aloud. Why had he said he wanted to keep talking? When he heard the bathroom door open, he flipped his chair back around and was back in his seat in seconds, trying to appear as nonchalant as possible. How was he going to be able to stand her asking him about blowjobs all night?

  Caelen stepped into the room, the fluffy robe still firmly in place. The curlers were gone and her naturally straight hair was now a riot of soft curls falling past her shoulders. Her eyes almost looked neon-green, they stood out so starkly next to her beet red cheeks.

  “No curlers?” he asked as he leaned forward. Some indefinable emotion permeated the room, and he wanted to be ready for anything that came his way.

  “Too itchy. So, back to the questions.”

  “Okay.” He was just about to pull out a chair for her when Caelen tossed her backpack on the table and started to pull at the pink tie that held her thick robe together. He sat up straight, all thought fleeing his mind except, What the—

  Robe opened. Revealing… Heaven.

  Caelen wore a lace teddy, the see-through material cupping every soft inch of her skin. Her breasts, held in by mere inches of material, looked ready to take flight, to escape their red lace jail. And oh, how he wanted to help liberate them.

  Before his eyes could truly feast on the bounty before him, Caelen shut the robe. But she didn’t tie it. He could still catch small glimpses of creamy skin. He needed more. Now. “Open that back up.”

  “Why? Not like the outfit will add anything to the experience. Right?”

  He sat dumbfounded. So this was the plan? Her means of torturing him? He’d been trying to reassure her, to make her feel wanted no matter what she wore. Now his words were rebounding and jabbing him straight in the face.

  Crazy. Frustrating. Woman.

  Just as he opened his mouth to say something, anything, to get that robe open again, Caelen grabbed a bunch of material in her hands and pulled the bottom edges up slowly from the floor, exposing the black leather boots he’d spotted in her room. “Are—” His voice cracked, ala Peter Brady from The Brady Bunch. “Are those the boots—”

  He couldn’t finish his sentence, because Caelen bent over slowly, her plump breasts straining forward as she scooped up her notepad. “The boots you saw at my apartment? These boots?” She straightened and placed one hand on her impossibly tiny waist. The action caused half of her robe to open, exposing the whole getup.

  He couldn’t speak. Nodding seemed the best course of action.

  “Yeah.” She kicked her foot up on the edge of the chair, her knee bent deep, her leg spread, exposing the milky white skin where thigh met pelvis. “You like?”

  He was up and out of his chair, his chest heaving as he walked forward. His hands reached out and before he could grab her, her booted foot met him in the stomach, stopping him from advancing. “Baby, you look so fucking hot. I need…”

  “Nuh-uh-uh! You said you wanted to talk. So we talk.” She gave a soft shove, and he was back in his seat, too dazed to process thought.

  “But…”

  “No buts. I asked you twice if you wanted to get started, and you said you’d rather do shots. And talk.”

  “Not because…”

  “You said it didn’t matter what I wore. That it wouldn’t add to your pleasure or the experience at all. Your exact words were…” Caelen imitated him by speaking in a decidedly feminine but deep voice. “‘You need a real man to tell you not to spend so much money on lingerie,’ and then you wouldn’t shut up about me being naked.”

  He ran a frustrated hand through his hair, his dick so thick and turned on, it felt like it was warring with his jeans. His brain was fried. Visual overload. His eyes didn’t know where to look, her long legs, her full breast straining against the red lace, or the sweet curve of her hips that would fit perfectly in his hands.

  But imagine if there was no barrier to his view? If he could be staring at the apex of her thighs, her nether lips plump, dripping, waiting… His hands grabbed the armrest of the wooden chair to keep from grabbing her. “That’s right. I stand by what I said. Naked. Is. Better.”

  “Oh, good. I would’ve been disappointed if you gave in right away.” She ran her hand through her own hair, throwing the long, silky drape over her shoulder. “So, this is how it’s going down. I show you this outfit,” she opened the robe and bunched it just under her breasts, pushing them forward so they looked like two soft, white pillows, “and you’re going to cave like a good, little Goldie and tell me that this is driving you crazy, and that you didn’t want me a few minutes ago, because it was just plain ol’ me. If you do that, admit that it was my armor—er, I mean outfit, that turned you on, then my lips are on your dick seconds later. See? Simple.”

  There was no way to level the playing field, but he had to try. If he had a choice, he’d tell her whatever she wanted to hear, anything to get another glimpse of that body. But now she’d challenged him. And no one, no one beat him once he was challenged. She’d practically insulted his manhood. “Betty, you’ve got this all wrong. In fact, you’re just proving my point for me.”

  She snapped the robe shut. “How is that?”

  “If I wanted to see you in that outfit,” he gritted his teeth when she put both hands on her waist as he spoke, drawing attention to the vee between her legs, “and I’m not saying I do—”

  “You’re eyes say you do.”

  “Like I was saying, I want to see the outfit, but I still hold to my original point. My goal is to see you naked. And that outfit,” he pried one hand off the arm of the chair and gestured forward, “brings me one step closer to nakedne
ss.”

  “So it adds nothing to the experience? There is no difference in this?” She let the robe go and ran her hands up and down the pink fluff. “And this?” She threw off the robe and spread her arms wide.

  The groan came long and low. He saw red. He wanted her so damn bad he was about to rip the wooden arms off the chair. “Caelen, come here.”

  “I would be happy to, when you admit this outfit made you want me a million times more.”

  Damn, it was those few words that stopped him. Didn’t she know he would take her anywhere, anytime? It didn’t matter what she wore. He wanted her, so bad, he couldn’t see straight.

  “Caelen—” He looked down, trying to gather his thoughts, to distance himself from the lush beauty in front of him.

  “Dare, I need you to look up for a minute.”

  Dare’s eyes snapped up and what little blood he had circulating in his brain dropped south. Thoughts fled. Caelen stood with her back to him, giving him his first unimpeded view of her deliciously rounded ass. The teddy was cut into a G-string, the lacy material lost between porcelain mounds on full display. Dear God, he loved her ass! Not a flaw in sight, luscious, rounded, defying gravity in its heart-shaped perfection—

  His body launched forward. All reason gone.

  *

  DAMN STUBBORN MAN. This was the last ace she had up her nonexistent sleeve. Dare had always had a thing for her ass. And she had to admit, in this outfit, it was pretty spectacular. If this didn’t work, she didn’t know what she’d do. Come on, tushy, don’t fail me now. “Tell me what I want to hear.” So she could finally win the argument with Brynn and oh so subtly throw it in her face the next time she saw her sister.

  There was no way that showing the real her, with rollers and slippers, was more attractive than the red teddy and thigh high boots. Other parts of her sister’s argument skittered through her mind.

  You use your outfits to hide the real you.

  Was the robe just another outfit? Did it really represent the real her? Now she was overthinking the whole thing and confusing herself. No. She needed her outfits, not to hide, but to accentuate the positives, her assets. Literally. Like the asset she was trying to lure Dare with, so he would see her point of view.

  Caelen took a quick peek over her shoulder, hopeful that this last ditch effort had worked. What greeted her instead made her suck in her breath and spin around.

  Dare was on his knees. But instead of looking weak, as if he were begging, his eyes were on fire. His gaze shot through her, making her legs shaky. Desire and need bled through her at the promise that lived in those eyes. “Love your ass.”

  Her voice was shaky with emotion as she asked, “Enough to say what I want to hear?”

  Not one part of his coiled muscular body moved as he said, “I want my kiss.”

  “Now?” Damn it.

  “Right now. Get down here.”

  “I don’t want to go down there! I’m creating a mood and you’re ruining it.”

  “If I move, I won’t keep my hands off you.” Dare looked like a statue, yet his eyes were alive, jumping in flames, roaming her body, setting off a matching response.

  His eyes set fires.

  And she burned.

  His words had moved her. He was struggling with his desire, trying to adhere to the stipulations. He knew, and she knew, if he kissed her she would melt and she might forget to win this argument. She might forget what they were fighting about.

  “Don’t piss me off, Betty. A deal’s a deal.”

  She huffed, but went down on her knees. For a second, Dare just stared, passion a livewire connecting them, making her want to scoot forward. Only inches separated them, and all of a sudden she realized how difficult this might be for Dare. Yet here he was, on his knees for her. A take-charge, dominant guy. What would Victor have done if she’d put him to this test?

  Victor would have caved in seconds, just to get what he wanted. A blowjob du jour.

  “Come closer.” Dare’s chest pumped up and down, the warmth of his tanned muscles beckoning to her. His chest was broad and toned. At first, it seemed he had no chest hair but then she realized that fine, light brown hair coated his pecs and abs.

  Soon, she’d be lost to the feel of him and she’d never win her argument. “Why can’t you just admit you want me like this?” her whispered words, stated so close to Dare, lifted the front of his hair slightly.

  He winced, but didn’t budge. “Even you’re soft breath feels good on my body. Put your hands on me.”

  “Wh-what?” He’d caught her off guard.

  “This is my kiss.” Dare’s voice was rough, like a scrape against her skin. And his demanding tone was different than any she’d heard before.

  “But…”

  “The rules are that I can’t touch you, not that you can’t touch me. Do it, Betty.”

  Teasing and insults were the norm, but it was an easy banter between them. This was intensity times one thousand. And dear God, it was one more thing she was learning to lust about him. The statement was jumbled but she couldn’t insert any other verb besides lust in her sentence. Like was too tepid; love was too powerful to even consider. She was falling under the force of his intensity and it gave her such a rush. “We never agreed to that.”

  He clenched his hands and rested them on his thighs. “I’m on the razor’s edge. Do it now, or I will kiss you over and over and over… I won’t stop.”

  “You will if I tell you to stop.”

  His eyes narrowed and seared her with their intensity. “You won’t want me to.”

  Her vision went hazy, but she complied, walking on her knees toward him, placing her small hands on his roughened cheeks. The five o’clock shadow tickled the sensitive skin on her palm.

  “Lean forward. Kiss me.”

  She’d already moved between his spread thighs, her lips tingling in anticipation. She should have gone in hard and fast, gotten it over with. Instead, she played with him, dotting soft kisses on his top then bottom lip. His mouth parted, but she wouldn’t go in. Instead, she tugged at the sensitive skin with her teeth. Only when she heard his deep moan, did she enter. Her tongue pushed against his, bypassing teeth, their chests now flush with one another.

  And the kiss went on and on and on ’til her lungs almost exploded. Reluctantly, she pulled back, both of them sucking in great gasps of air.

  “Damn,” he whispered, his eyes at half-mast. “Kiss me again.”

  His gruff words made her stomach flip and seared her even more than the kiss. “No.”

  He growled his frustration. “You ready to tell me what the hell is going on? You’re driving me crazy, woman.”

  “Fine. I was conducting a little experiment. And I failed. Only because you’re stubborn; although, technically, I still think I won.”

  “Why? What experiment?”

  “I wanted to prove a point. That the way I dressed added to the experience. And I did! The real me, all covered up in a robe, only made you want to chat. But when I put on one of my beautiful outfits that accentuated the positives—then bam!—you were ready to go.” She gathered the robe closer, suddenly self-conscious.

  “You think this crazy getup is the real you?” He sat back on his heels and studied her, looking as frustrated as a gambler kissing his last chip, goodbye. “I haven’t gotten anywhere near seeing the real you. Not even close.”

  Caelen really had no response. For once.

  Dare sighed and leaned forward, taking her face in his hands. “The minute you walked in, I wanted you so bad I couldn’t see straight. I would kill to have your lips on me. It was all I could think about all day.”

  “Really?”

  “I would take you any way I could get you. You always turn me on. Always. No matter what you wear. I want you. Not the clothes. Just you. That’s why I said I wanted to keep drinking. I didn’t want you to think I was a total asshole.”

  “Why would now be any different than any other day? You always act like an
asshole,” she said with a soft smile and total sincerity. Dare was an asshole, well, sometimes, but she could handle that. In fact, his “asshole-y” behavior was an important constant between them, a constant she relied on to keep things from getting too personal.

  He hung his head and shook it back and forth. “You’re killing me,” he said on a deep laugh. “It’s just, I want this to be better. I don’t ever want you to doubt that I want you. I would never disrespect you while we’re together. Okay?”

  His words held weight, pressing in slowly, taking root in her chest, creating warmth but making her feel heavy. Heavy with anticipation and panic. His words had the ring of permanence. “Dare…”

  “Get that look off your face, Betty. I’m not down on bended knee.”

  “You literally are. On two bended knees.”

  He scowled and continued, “You know what I mean. I just want you to know that when we’re together. We’re together. Got it? And you should always feel good when we hook up. Always.”

  Caelen just continued to stare at Dare, her mouth agape in wonder, blown away by his words and unable to respond.

  He growled low in his throat and started mumbling, “I swear to God, I hate talking. I suck at this.”

  The pressure started to ease, replaced by a tingling warmth. His gruff words were almost enough to make her forget that he’d just proven her sister’s point. Scarily enough, she understood exactly what he was trying to say.

  “But hell, baby. I love your outfits. I love every sexy inch of skin that teddy showed off.”

  Joy sang in her heart. Yes! “So, I was right! It totally made it better.”

  “Of course it did.”

  “I knew it.”

  Then he ruined her smug triumph by saying, “’Cuz you’re practically naked!”

  She paused, ready to blast him for bringing up the naked thing, again, but then, just when she was ready to punch him, she lost it. She started to giggle. Soon, the giggle turned into a snort and Dare lost it, too. Within seconds, they were both laid out on their sides, laughing hysterically. “You are obsessed.” She finally did punch him, but it was a halfhearted effort.