Almost Naked, Inc.

by Karen Anders

  Desire began as a slow burn inside him, but not just physical desire. It was the desire to keep this woman in his life because she brightened it like the stars in the heavens. Without her, his world seemed so dark.

  She shivered. He stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her. Leaning back into his warmth, she sighed.

  “Point out the constellations to me, Matt.”

  “There’s Ursa Major,” he said, obliging her.

  “The Great Bear,” she said.

  “Sagittarius.”

  “That’s easy. The Archer. Where?” she asked.

  “Right there,” he said, pointing with his arm, tracing the outline of the bow with his pointer finger. “The bow is outlined by three stars—Kaus Borealis forms the northern part of the bow, Kaus Meridionalis forms the middle and Kaus Australis, the southern. The arrow tip is Al Nasl and it forms the point.”

  “Oh, I see it. This is a much better room to look at the stars, Matt. A better angle. The universe is so vast, it’s hard to get your brain around it.”

  “You’re right.”

  She slipped out of his arms. “You’ve made this room a wonderful sanctuary. I love the overstuffed chair where you could curl up and think.”

  She ran her hand over the soft fabric and lifted her head to look at him.

  “And this wonderful artwork that you have over the bed. Wow, really erotic.”

  “The artist is local. Her name is Sheila Bowden and she does nudes using that hazy technique.”

  “Soft-focus. It’s a photographic technique applied to art.”

  “I like that you can’t make out her face.”

  “You would. You like the fact that she’s doing something so bold, yet the fact that her identify remains a mystery is erotic.”

  He nodded.

  “I’m dead on my feet. Would you have a toothbrush I could use?”

  Matt froze. It was a simple request, yet seemed so intimate. “Sorry, I only have mine in the bathroom.”

  “Too bad.”

  When she closed the bathroom door, Matt walked over to his dresser and pulled out a pair of black boxer briefs and dropped the towel. Slipping on the underwear, he moved over to the bed and pulled the covers down.

  He heard the water running in the bathroom and realized that she was taking a shower. His first thought was to go in there and join her, but it was getting late and he had a full day tomorrow. He sighed and got in under the covers and grabbed his laptop. He did have that paper to finish, one he’d been working on when he’d walked over to the window and saw Bridget running for the hot tub.

  He leaned back into the pillows propped against the headboard and focused on the type, just as he heard Bridget singing a song. He couldn’t quite make out the words, but her lusty rendition made the corners of his mouth turn up.

  The next thing he knew, he’d fallen asleep. Bridget was removing his laptop from his hands and setting it on the bedside table, saving his work, and turning it off.

  She pulled the covers over him and walked around to the other side of the bed. When she slipped under the covers, she snuggled up against him, totally invading his personal space like a cat who doesn’t know any better. Matt instinctively turned toward her. Gathering her against him, he kissed her sweet mouth.

  She deepened the kiss and Matt responded. He was fully aroused in seconds and their joining was fierce and demanding.

  8

  WITH A SIGH, she opened her eyes and found that she was alone in bed. Disappointed, she rolled to her back and stared up at the ceiling, letting her memory keep her company. At dawn she woke to his mouth on her nipple, as he sucked and swirled his tongue over the sensitive peak. His slow hands on her breasts, his fingers delving to that hot, moist place between her legs drove her crazy with need for him. When his body eased over hers, she enthusiastically widened her legs to accommodate his hips as he sank into her and started to thrust.

  This morning’s slow and poignant joining was different from last night’s quick and fierce mating. Nuzzling her neck, gliding his fingers tenderly through her hair, he’d arched into her so that his cock pressed hard and perfectly against her erogenous zone. He’d captured her gaze, locking his eyes on her as he absorbed every pleasurable nuance that flitted across her face. He’d orchestrated her orgasm, building it slowly, intensifying it into a tingling, magnificent sensation that crested through her in surging waves of ecstasy. He came with her on a long, low groan that vibrated his chest against hers.What a glorious way to greet the day.

  She massaged her way down each hard muscle of his back, sliding over the taut slope of his ass and said softly in his ear, “I should go.”

  “It’s only five and you’re still locked out. Get some more shut-eye.” His lips brushed against her mouth and when she opened for his deep kiss, he moaned softly. He withdrew from her soft, satiated body. “I’ll walk you back later.”

  She’d been unable to resist his sweet, caring suggestion to rest a bit longer, and burrowed beneath the warm blanket and comforter. She heard him get up and take a shower, but she was too tired and satiated to start the day just yet. She’d drifted back into a deep, dreamless sleep. And now, as she glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand, she realized it was a quarter past eight, when she was normally up by six a.m. to start her day.

  She wasn’t worried about her aunt, since she would have already gone to work, but Naomi would be looking for her just as she promised.

  Throwing back the covers, she sat up and stretched, shivering as the cool morning air hit her bare skin. To her surprise, she found a pair of her own jeans, a long-sleeved deep amethyst silk blouse and a short denim jacket along with a bra and panties to match the deep purple of the blouse. He’d also included a pair of her delectable Jimmy Choo sandals. How much more could she stand? He was too thoughtful, a trait clearly lacking in any of her boyfriends. Making her way to the bathroom, she took care of business. Catching a glimpse of herself in the mirror, she cringed. She looked like the Wicked Witch of the East’s ugly sister. Picking up Matt’s comb she worked on getting her hair back into its sleek style, and then scrubbed her face and body clean. Back in the bedroom, she slipped into the soft cotton bra and thong, pulled on the jeans and buttoned up her shirt.

  A tightness closed her throat and started a deep ache in her heart. The affection and hunger only intensified with each encounter with Matt. It was as if she gave a little part of herself to him each time they were together, each time they had sex.

  Last night had been a hot, uninhibited display of out-of-control sex. But the mood this morning had been one of tenderness and warmth—making love in the deepest, most profound way. Staggered and stunned by the insight, and feeling devastatingly vulnerable, she pressed a hand over her swiftly beating heart, working hard to curb the emotions causing an uproar within her. Emotions she was helpless to deny.

  But how she felt about Matt didn’t change anything—not their business deal or their temporary relationship.

  Feelings were like speed bumps—they just slowed her down.

  With the reminder fresh in her mind, she gathered her composure and headed downstairs.

  When she reached the living room and made her way to the kitchen, Matt was nowhere to be found. She heard a noise downstairs and saw an open door. Perhaps he was in his basement.

  She started down the stairs, and then paused when she heard his voice. “Bridget?”

  “No, it is I, master, Igor.”

  He chuckled and said, “Stay there. I’ll be right up.”

  She turned around, heeding the warning in his voice that she was way too close to his innermost sanctum. Matt was a stickler for privacy and it was a somewhat irksome trait. What could she possibly disturb down there?

  He came up the stairs and Bridget peeked around his shoulder. “Afraid I’ll touch something?”

  “What?”

  “You don’t want me downstairs, right?”

  “It’s just my office. I’m sure you reall
y wouldn’t be that interested.”

  “I’m interested in anything you do, Matt. I don’t get this prickly thing.”

  He stiffened and moved past her on the stairs. “It’s just an office. I’m not making Frankenstein’s monster down there.”

  “Now, that would be interesting, indeed.”

  He stood at the entrance into the kitchen. “Are you coming, Igor?”

  “No. I’d better go. Naomi will be looking for me with the ropes and chains.”

  “Okay. I’ll walk you over.”

  “Thanks. How did you manage to get my clothing?”

  “I knocked on your door. Your aunt didn’t blink an eye. I went up to your room and got the things for you. Luckily your friend was still asleep.”

  When Bridget got to her aunt’s door, Naomi threw it open and said firmly, “If you think you’re going to get out of…oh, sorry.” She paused when she saw Matt. Reaching out her hand, she said, “Hi, I’m Naomi Carlyle.”

  “Matt Fox,” Matt responded and clasped her hand.

  “You sure are.”

  “Naomi, he’s paying your fee.”

  “Oops. Not the best way to make a good first impression.”

  Matt smiled easily. “Don’t worry about it. Thanks for the compliment.” Matt turned toward her and his eyes were earnest. “I’ve got to get back to work. And no more margaritas.”

  Bridget rubbed at her temples. “Yes, boss.”

  “What a hunk and he’s an MIT professor, too? Brains and brawn.” Naomi sighed as they watched him walk to his front door. “Whew, those are some nice credentials,” she said, eyeing Matt’s butt. “I suppose you’ve got him tagged?”

  “Tagged and bagged.”

  “Figures,” Naomi said with a pout. She gave Bridget a sideways look, a mischievous twinkle in her eyes. “So what kind of socks does he wear?”

  Bridget sighed. “Who cares.”

  BRIDGET AND NAOMI had been working for three hours before Bridget called a stop. The business plan was much more involved than the mission statement.

  “I can’t take one more goal nor do one more chart until I get a break,” Bridget said, easing toward the door.“Let’s go out to lunch and do some shopping. You can show me around Cambridge,” Naomi said with a grin. “I’ve been here two days and all I’ve seen is my nice accommodations.”

  Bridget stopped and eyed her friend. “Really? You’re not going to slave drive me into finishing this plan?”

  “It can wait. I’d love to see the city and I’ve never been to Boston before. All that time in New York, you’d think I could get up here for one weekend.”

  Bridget led the way out of the office. “I never did ask where you were from originally.”

  Bridget grabbed her stylish cropped black quilted jacket, handing Naomi her denim jacket. “Wisconsin. Always dreamed of living in the big city as some buttoned-up stockbroker, but then I got my degree and I just couldn’t seem to get interested in working for Wall Street. Went into business for myself and I love it. Although, what you’re doing here is something exciting. Something I would leave my practice for.”

  “Nobody said you couldn’t stay and help me.”

  “Ha.”

  Bridget opened the door of her aunt’s sporty BMW and slid into the driver’s seat. She headed toward downtown and her favorite seafood restaurant, The Lobster Claw.

  “Your aunt is as great as you said she was.”

  “I feel so guilty. I’ve been here going on three weeks and we haven’t even talked that much.”

  They ordered lunch at the casual seafood restaurant overlooking the Charles River and shared a platter of clams, sautéed shrimp, steamed mussels and crab legs.

  Bridget took a drink of the iced tea she’d ordered, and glanced at Naomi. “So, Wisconsin is famous for cheese, right?”

  “I’m from a town called Two Rivers. It’s on the eastern side of the state bordering on Lake Michigan. Ferries dock there and it takes about nine hours to cross the lake to Illinois.”

  “I am so clueless about the Midwest.”

  Naomi said, “So you grew up here. What was that like?”

  “It’s a quaint little town and very scholarly. My stepfather teaches at Harvard. How about your father?”

  A muscle flexed in Naomi’s jaw and her expression turned speculative. “My dad owns a cheese factory and produces a lot of cheese. You can’t imagine how good it tastes just after it’s been cured.” She dipped a clam in cocktail sauce and brought it up to her mouth to eat, then licked the excess condiment from her fingers. “If we were in Wisconsin right now, we’d be eating fried cheese curds in a great restaurant called Friar Tuck.”

  “Those are good, huh?”

  “Delicious.”

  Bridget swirled the last shrimp in garlic-butter sauce and lifted it to her lips.

  Wiping her mouth on a napkin, she motioned their waitress back to the table, since they’d pretty much cleared their platter. She waited while the young woman removed their dishes. Naomi ordered two pieces of decadent strawberry-covered cheesecake.

  Once the waitress had moved on to fill their dessert order, Naomi said, “What does your father teach at Harvard?”

  “English literature. What does it take to cure cheese, anyway?”

  “Bridget, would you rather we had more of a business relationship?”

  Bridget looked at Naomi and then looked down. “No, why do you say that?”

  “I’ve noticed that you don’t really want to talk about yourself.”

  “You have to let me get used to this friendship thing. I travel and work so much, I’m not used to it. Most of the people I meet aren’t really interested in much except how I look. But I really do want to change that.” The truth of the matter was it was still difficult to let herself go, even realizing that she wanted to be friends with Naomi. Bridget wiggled her shoulders to loosen them up.

  “I think I can handle that. I haven’t met many people in New York that I’d want to hang out with on a regular basis.”

  Naomi waited until the waitress served their dessert before she continued. “I have other models as clients. Do you think I want to be friends with any of them?”

  Bridget picked up her fork and dug into the cheesecake. “Why wouldn’t you?”

  “They don’t seem to bother with niceties. You know how it is when you’re running from job to job. I think it’s a defense mechanism to keep from making friends you can’t share time with.”

  “I have somewhat of the same problem.”

  “But you’re different, Bridget. You don’t dispense with the niceties. I bet you would have won Miss Congeniality if you hadn’t been crowned Miss National.”

  “How did you know about that?”

  “Saw On magazine on the plane. How was it to be the most beautiful and poised woman in the nation?”

  “Scary and exhilarating. The travel was wonderful, but I was glad to settle down in one place after that whirlwind year. I so enjoyed all the people I met and all the charities I was able to help. After my year was up, I had the modeling contract to fall back on and I even got a screen test for a Hollywood movie. Didn’t pan out.”

  “Have you given up on modeling?”

  “No. The job with Matt is temporary.”

  “So what’s the dish about our dishy boss?”

  “We’re doing business together.”

  “Your business with him happens to include early-morning walks?”

  “Not exactly.” Walking really had nothing to do with it. Bridget couldn’t get the euphoric feeling of that early-morning sex to dissipate.

  Naomi must have caught the dazed look on her face, because she leaped on it with interest. “It appears that you two have more than business going on.” She tilted her head and perused Bridget speculatively, then grinned. “You slept with him last night, didn’t you?”

  She trusted Naomi now, unconditionally, in fact. “Yeah, I did. He accidentally locked me out and I had to sleep over at his house.”


  “Way to go.” Naomi stared at her with visible glee.

  Bridget shrugged, playing it down. “I’ll be going back to New York when his business gets established. I intend to get myself another lucrative contract. So, it’s nothing serious.” As long as she kept those pesky emotions from getting to her.

  “Nobody said it had to be,” Naomi said pragmatically but with genuine caring. “Just enjoy yourself, and Dr. Fox, for as long as it lasts.”

  Now that was something she could easily agree with. “I intend to.”

  “But you have to answer one question for me.” Naomi leaned toward her and lowered her voice secretively, obviously trying to keep her question just between them and out of earshot of any customers. “How was he in bed?”

  Memories of just how good he was filtered through Bridget’s mind and her heart picked up its beat, making her feel like a teenager with a crush. “He was…unbelievable.” It was the only word she could think of to describe Matt Fox and do him justice. “He is the best lover I’ve ever had.” And he had the wonderful ability to let himself go when he was with her, an uninhibited male in the sack, full of passion and fun.

  Naomi really didn’t have to know all the details, just as Matt didn’t have to know everything there was to know. She had to keep her wits about her and not lose herself in the heat of him.

  “So, what’s the next plan of action?” Naomi said, snagging the check before Bridget could and smiling.

  “I’ve been thinking about that and I have an idea, but now it’s time to shop. I saw a pair of Maggie Winterbourne heels that have my name on them.”

  “You can take the girl out of New York, but thank God you can’t take New York out of the girl. Lead the way.”

  BRIDGET TRIED ON the wonderful black suede cage-style straps with the four-inch heels.

  “Those shoes are beautiful on your feet,” Naomi said.“Well, what do we have here?” a tall brunette drawled with interest and a flash of humor. “I didn’t know they allowed riffraff in this classy place.”