by Mia Carson
“I’ll suck on something,” I murmured in a cadence and tone I didn’t even know I had, my voice dripping sex.
I slid into his arms and he kissed my lips. Carrying out my threat, I sucked softly on his bottom lip before he returned the favor. Goddammit! He’d fucked the shit out of me last night and again this morning, but his slow easy kiss was turning me on again.
“That’s enough,” I whispered, stepping back.
“You okay?” he asked, his eyes matching the concern in his voice.
I smiled. “Oh yeah, but I have work to do later and I’m having enough trouble concentrating without you getting me all worked up again.”
He smiled, the apprehension vanishing from his face as if it had never been there. “So long as that’s all it is.”
I shouldn’t, but I couldn’t resist, so I pulled his lips back to mine for a slow, though less erotic kiss. “That’s all it is,” I breathed as our lips parted. “So, what are we having for lunch?”
“Well, I thought I’d have you, but…” I glared at him with a faint smile, and he chuckled. “How does pan-seared salmon with kale and apple salad sound?”
“You’re kidding? For lunch?”
“What?” he asked in obvious confusion.
“You don’t have to impress me,” I told him with a smile. If he was going to zing me, I was going to zing him right back. “You did that last night.”
He grinned. “Wait until tonight then. As for lunch, that’s easy. Thirty, forty minutes, start to finish. If you want something else…?”
“No, no, that’s fine. It just seems, I don’t know, fancy for lunch. I’m used to sandwiches or maybe a salad.”
His grin spread. “Sandwiches…bad for you. Salads…boring.”
“What would you have if I weren’t here?”
“Pan-seared salmon with kale and apple salad.”
I gave up, but I was thoroughly enjoying our verbal jousting. “I’ll have that.”
He winked at me. “Good choice.”
I went back to work on my problem while he stirred around in the kitchen. Good to his word, thirty-eight minutes later, he was setting two plates on the table, and it smelled divine. I could, and did cook, but there wasn’t much doubt who had the better culinary skills.
We had lunch, talking about how suddenly everyone was rallying to his side in support. Maybe I didn’t have to bust Ed’s balls, but I was feeling very protective of Neil this morning. I wanted to put an end to the rumors, once and for all, to prevent Ed, or anyone else, from trying this shit in the future.
After lunch, and a very pleasant kiss goodbye, I left and hurried home for a change of clothes. Refreshed, I went to my office, arriving only minutes before Carol. The meeting went just like all these meetings do, a lot of tears and soul searching. She couldn’t understand why her husband of over fifteen years was having an affair. She still loved the asshole and couldn’t understand what she’d done to drive him into the arms of another. I’d previously wondered if she would be more or less hurt that Dick was fucking another man. I had my answer. She was devastated by the revelation and questioned her worth as a woman.
I tried to console her, but I wasn’t very good at it. This was by far the worst part of my job, and it ripped my heart out each and every time I had to do it. When I was working with Dad he always dealt with the clients, which insulated me from the anger and heartbreak. I had no idea the favor he was doing me until he wasn’t around to do it anymore. Now I had to watch lives being destroyed first-hand. What had just been a job before suddenly became very personal.
The first few times I’d cried right along with the client, but I’d toughened up in the past year. The anger was easier for me to handle than the heartbreak. Now I could hold back my tears, but this was a tough one because Carol was so completely gutted.
“I’m sorry,” I murmured. “Can I call someone to come get you?”
She shook her head as she sniffed. “No,” she gasped, trying to gather herself. She looked at me, her eyes red and puffy, my tissue box greatly depleted. “No, I’ll be alright.” She swallowed hard. “How much do I owe you?”
“Nothing. I’ll figure your final bill, and there’ll probably be a small refund. I’ll mail that to you in the next few days. He wasn’t very careful, so it was an easy job. It didn’t take as long as I’d expected.”
She nodded her thanks as she picked up the large envelope with the photos inside. “I’m sorry.”
She was apologizing for being heartbroken. I gave her a sad smile so I wouldn’t cry. “You have every right to be upset. Are you sure there’s no one I can call? A taxi?”
She shook her head again and turned from me without another word. I watched through my door until she drove away and returned to my office. I sat in my chair, my head against the back, until the urge to cry for what I’d done passed. I was just doing a job, but it was a job that I hated sometimes.
Neil
I’d called Tanya around five to find out if she wanted to join me for dinner. I’d assumed she would, but I wanted to make sure. She hadn’t sounded good. Her voice had been flat and devoid of any meaningful emotion. She’d assured me it was nothing, but I was still fretting. It was nearing six and I was expecting her any moment. I hoped I hadn’t crossed a line somewhere and upset her.
Last night and again this morning had been magical. There was no other word to describe it. Tanya had bedrooms skills, of that there was no arguing, but it went beyond that. Far beyond that. I hadn’t been kidding when I said I thought about having her for lunch. I simply couldn’t seem to get enough of her, but it was more than she’d fucked me like I’d never been fucked before. It went much deeper than physical pleasure. I felt we had a connection. Something had happened between us. It wasn’t love. I didn’t love her. But it was something, something I’d never experienced before. I couldn’t describe it, but we fit together, like two pieces of a puzzle. It was confusing and weird and wonderful in equal measure.
I tried to write my Health Minute tips but couldn’t focus. All I could think about was Tanya and how she made me feel. I’d finally gone to my spare bedroom and used the machine in there to hammer out a routine. That had helped a great deal to relax me, but it hadn’t in anyway changed how much I was looking forward to Tanya’s arrival.
I was working in the kitchen when I heard the rap at the door. We were having charred lemon chicken piccata with a side of sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and onions in a light vinaigrette dressing. I wiped my hands and hurried to the door, my heart thudding with equal parts excitement and dread.
“Hey,” I said opening the door and inviting her in, offering her a kiss as she entered. “Everything okay?” I asked after our lips parted.
“Fine,” she replied as she followed me to the kitchen. She sounded better than she had on the phone, but something was still off.
I checked on the chicken and turned my attention back to her. “We’re having chicken. I eat a lot of that. I hope that’s okay.”
She smiled, slowly brightening. “It smells wonderful.”
“It’s one of my favorites.” I paused. I didn’t want to ask, but I had to know. “Everything okay with us?”
She looked at me in surprise. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
“You seem a little, I don’t know, down. I thought maybe you were having some regrets.”
She looked at me as she softened. “No regrets. Just a bad day at work. That thing I had to do? It was awful. I watched a woman’s life be destroyed and go to pieces right in front of me.”
I checked the chicken one more time then moved to her and pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry.” I liked the way her arms went around me and how she laid her head against my chest.
“Not your fault. It comes with the job.”
“Why do you do it?”
“It’s all I know.”
I nodded. I wished I could help her, but I didn’t know how. I held her a little tighter for a moment then released her. “Dinner will be up in a moment. Want a gl
ass of wine?”
She was steadily improving. “I’d love one.”
I opened the bottle I’d selected to go with the chicken. I didn’t know shit about wine, so I hoped what I’d picked up from Megan applied. I poured her a half glass, then a little less for myself. I tried to avoid empty calories where I could.
I filled the plates and placed them on the table, topping off her glass as I sat. She took a tentative bite and smiled.
“This is excellent!” She sipped the wine. “It pairs really well with the wine.”
I sat back, allowing her to think I knew what I was doing with the pairing. By the time dinner was over she had completely returned to her normally good mood.
She helped clear the table as I loaded the dishwasher, then we settled on the couch. I thought it was funny she wanted to watch African Queen again, considering she’d ignored the last third of the movie the night before. Not that it mattered. I’d ignored it, too, for something far more interesting, but I’d seen the movie before.
She snuggled into my side. She was so tiny she took up almost no space. We made it all the way through the movie this time without her attacking me, much to my disappointment. When the movie ended she looked up at me. I softly caressed her jaw with my thumb and forefinger before I took her lips in a slow, luxurious kiss.
“Can you stay tonight?”
“I was hoping you’d ask. I hope you don’t mind, but I brought some clothes for tomorrow.”
“Why would I mind? Where are they?”
“I left them in my car. I didn’t want to assume.”
I smiled. We were treading lightly. Perhaps she was sensing something, too, and didn’t want to mess it up. “If you want to go get them, I’ll draw you a bath.”
She looked at me, her eyes slightly wide. “You’re kidding.”
“About what?”
“Drawing me a bath?”
I felt a chill. “Why? Is that wrong?”
“No, but why?”
“Wouldn’t you enjoy one? I thought that’s what women liked after a hard day.”
“No, not that. Why are you being so nice?”
I paused, trying to sort through her words. “Why wouldn’t I? It’s not like it’s a lot of work. Turn on the taps and adjust the temperature.”
“It’s not that, it’s…”
“What?”
“So thoughtful. Nobody has ever offered to draw me a bath before.”
I shrugged. “Now you can’t say that anymore. So…yes? No?”
She smiled. “Yes. Thank you. Do you do this for every woman you sleep with?”
I laughed softly. “No.”
“Ever offered to do it before?”
I thought about lying but decided not to. Why should I? I hadn’t done anything wrong. “One other.”
She smiled. “The woman that lived with you for a while?” I nodded. “Thank you for telling me the truth.”
“Why lie?”
She smiled, and I liked it. “Why indeed, but a lot of guys would have.”
“That’s stupid. Why lie about something so trivial?”
“I agree, but maybe they do it to try to make me feel special. I don’t know. Had you said I was the first, I’d have been suspicious. I don’t think that’s something that just springs to mind. You either think of things like that, or you don’t, and if you’d said no, I would have wondered what was special about me and not the woman you lived with.”
“Megan.”
“Megan,” she repeated. “If you weren’t offering to draw her a bath, but were me, and she was more than a friend with benefits, that calls into question a lot of things you’ve told me.”
I shook my head in teasing amazement. “Do you forget anything?”
“Not much.”
“Are you always so suspicious?”
Her smile was slightly sad. “It comes with the job. I can’t turn it off. A lot of guys can’t take it.”
I decided right then to always be straight with her. “You know I’ve had other lovers. Why pretend I haven’t? You didn’t become that good in bed without some practice, so you’ve obviously had other lovers.” I shrugged. “If it bothers you…”
She smiled and stepped in closer. “What would bother me is lying about it.”
“I haven’t lied to you, Tanya. I’m not going to start now, not after last night.”
She stepped in a little closer. “Good.”
I pulled her into a kiss, and suddenly, everything was right again. “Go get your clothes,” I murmured.
She stepped back, her gaze holding mine, then smiled. “I’d like the water a little on the warm side.”
“You got it.”
After she left, I waited a few moments before starting the water, trying to time the filling of the garden tub to her return. When I thought I’d waited long enough I began filling the tub, adjusting the water until it was a touch too hot for my tastes. I had some bath salts left over from when Megan was here, and I added them to the bath, making the entire room smell of something floral. The tub was nearing full when I opened the door to let Tanya back in.
“It’s ready.”
I took her bag as I directed her to the master bath, tossing it on the bed as we passed. She checked the water with a swish of her hands, then rubbed her fingers together before turning off the taps.
“Perfect,” she said as she began to disrobe.
I’d seen everything she had to show yesterday, so unless she ordered me out, I was staying for the view. I took her suit jacket from her, which I’d hang up after she settled into the water.
“Yes, it is,” I murmured as she took off her blouse. I took that and her skirt as well.
She smiled at me before she stepped into the garden tub and hissed as she slipped into the water before sliding lower in the tub with a sigh until the water stopped at her chin. She looked at me. I probably looked like a dipstick, standing in the middle of the bathroom holding her clothes, but I was frozen in my spot watching her.
“Want to join me?”
I shook myself out of reverie and smiled. “I would, but it’d be a little tight.”
“I thought you liked tight.”
I chuckled. I quickly hung her clothes and began to strip as I returned to the bathroom. I’d smell like a girl in the morning, but fuck it. She scrunched up close to the faucets, and I settled in behind her. It took some work, and a lot of snickering by both of us, but we finally managed to find a position with her between my legs that worked, and she lay back against my chest. It was crowded, really crowded, and if she’d been any bigger we wouldn’t have fit, but holding her snug and tight against me, my hands casually caressing her skin, was worth the small discomfort. And smelling like a chick.
I held her for a long time, my hands slowly sliding over her body as I occasionally kissed the top of her head.
“The water’s getting cold,” she murmured.
“I thought you went to sleep.”
She purred. “I could have, but…”
“But?”
“But when I fall asleep in your arms tonight, I’m not moving until morning.”
“I like that plan.”
She stood and stepped out of the tub, and I followed. I patted her dry with a fresh towel, then dried myself. She felt incredibly silky and smooth, and she smelled wonderful.
“Cold,” she said with a faint shiver as she stepped into my arms.
I wrapped her in my arms and held her close, her arms tucked in close to her sides. I held her a moment before she shivered again and felt her relax.
“Nice,” she murmured.
“Very,” I agreed.
I loosened my embrace and she slipped out, but not before I stole a quick kiss. I shaved as she removed her makeup. Other than a bit of color over her eyes, I couldn’t tell she even wore makeup, and I liked the fact that she allowed her natural beauty to shine through. We brushed our teeth before we retired to bed. She stopped at the closet to retrieve an empty hanger and place
d it on the side table before sliding between the linens.
“What’s that for?” I asked, my curiosity getting the better of me as I tucked in close behind her.
“In case I want it later.”
“For what?”
“You’ll see.”
I wanted her, I wanted her badly, but she was going to have to make the first move tonight. I didn’t mind being the pursuer, but I didn’t want her to think the only reason I asked her to stay was so I could make love to her. I wanted her body, but I wanted her to be the last thing I saw before I fell asleep and the first thing I saw in the morning after I woke up almost as badly.
It was early, barely nine, but after the lengthy soak, this felt like the natural progression. I pulled her into a tight, warm spoon. I wouldn’t be able to hold her like that for long before I was sweating buckets, but I wanted to warm her up if she was still cold.
I held her for a time, my fingers delicately caressing the points of her breasts and my hard member pressed against her ass, until she turned over in my arms and held my gaze. I kissed her. She opened her mouth to me, and the kiss deepened and took on a life of its own.
“Oh God,” she murmured as she rolled to her back and I kissed down her body, pausing to nurse her breasts. “I was afraid we weren’t going to do this.”
I ignored the comment as I moved lower, slowly kissing down her stomach while my fingers played with her nipples. She drew her legs up as I moved lower, her hands in my hair tugging me in tighter as I set to work. She writhed sensually under my touch, her soft sighs of pleasure making me long to feel her around my shaft, but I wanted this more.
“Fuck…fuck…fuck…” she began to chant. God, I loved to hear her muttering that word repeatedly. “Fuck…fuck, fuck, fuck…fuck!” she gasped, her hands pulling my hair.
I looked up, watching as her back arched, thrusting her breasts skyward air as she tugged my mouth tight to her pussy. I was torn: continue to eat her to see if I could make her scream in pleasure, or plunge into her and make wild passionate love to her. She took the decision from my hands by shoving at me.
“Stop! Stop, stop, stop, stop!” she begged before relaxing with a sigh.