Switch

by Desiree Holt

  The softness swirled over his burning flesh. “Do you want more?”

  Realisation swept through him. “Thank you, Janine.”

  “Good boy.” She slapped his tender skin twice more.

  Instead of fighting the feeling, Eric accepted the tidal wave of relief and release. Each spank brought him closer to coming. His compliance pleased her and eased his mind. He moaned and backed into her swats.

  “Beautiful.” The spanks stopped.

  Eric strained to hear what she’d do next. No footsteps on the floor, no whipping sound from the crop. Where’d she go? His butt burned from the blows.

  “Close your eyes. I’m removing the blindfold.” Eric did as she’d suggested. The pressure around his head lessened and the soft fabric slipped from his face. “Slowly, or you’ll blind yourself for a few minutes.”

  He kept his eyes closed. She’d finished spanking him, but he wasn’t ready for the moment to end.

  “Climb onto the bed.” She swatted his ass once more. “Go on, now.”

  Eric blinked until his eyes adjusted to the dim light in the bedroom. She’d pulled the covers back from the bed. A bottle of something white sat next to the lamp on the nightstand. He fought the urge to question her and crawled onto the bed.

  “Thank you, Janine.” He settled on his side and watched her move. Shiny pre-cum was smeared over the head of his cock. “Want you.”

  “Not yet.” She tapped his thigh. “Roll over, or you won’t be able to sit tomorrow.”

  He opened his mouth for a moment. A split-second reminder of the race came to mind. She placed her finger over his lips. “Just you and me.”

  “Thank you, Janine.” He meant it more than he’d realised. The fleeting moment of tension dissipated. He flopped on to his stomach and buried his nose in the pillow.

  “I’m going to rub lotion on your bottom. It’ll take the sting away.” Over his shoulder, he heard her squirt something. Janine palmed one of his ass cheeks and smeared cooling lotion on the other. The combination of hot and cold added another dimension to his high. He drifted again somewhere between bliss and sleep.

  “Roll back over.” The bed dipped as she got up. “I’m not done with you yet.”

  With languid limbs, Eric turned on to his back. The rest of him might have been tired, but his cock pointed straight to the ceiling. Janine rolled the latex skirt up and shrugged out of the bodice of the dress.

  Eric rose up on his elbows and admired the view. Her breasts jiggled as she revealed more of her body to him. She brushed her fingertips up her body and her eyelids drooped. She sighed.

  “Thank you, babe.” He reached for her. “I need to touch you.”

  “Lie down.” She stepped out of the dress and kicked the discarded clothing out of the way. She tugged each finger of the glove, then yanked the silken gloves down her arms. Wearing nothing but the boots, she crawled up his body. “Remember your place.”

  He dropped his hands. Janine rose to her knees and settled right behind his cock, then grabbed a condom from the nightstand. She wrapped her fingers around his dick, pumping him. He shuddered and bucked his hips. The first tremors of orgasm started low in his belly.

  “Close, aren’t you?” Her hair spilled over her shoulders and bobbed with every movement. Janine massaged his balls and rolled the condom down his cock. “I want you to fuck me without touching me.”

  No touching?

  “No hands.” Janine scooted forward on his hips and lined his cock up with her pussy. Her juices drenched him. She slid down on his dick, enveloping him in her silky heat.

  Eric clenched his teeth. Just being inside her, he needed to come.

  She closed her eyes and gyrated on him. Her sighs and moans filled the room. She bit down hard on her bottom lip, turning the skin white. Eric’s need to hold her and force the issue battled with her command not to touch her. He dug his heels into the mattress and surged up into her sopping pussy.

  Janine squealed and toppled forward into his arms. “Do it. Come with me.”

  He cried out and bounced her on his hips. The tension in his balls let loose and he gave in to the climax. He murmured her name and sank into the mattress. The sheer force of the orgasm stole his breath.

  She continued to rock on his dick and shivered on top of him. Her heart beat in time with his. “That was amazing.” After a long moment, she rose up on her elbow. “Feel good?”

  “Like I’ve made love for the first time to the sexiest woman in the entire world.” He brushed a hank of her hair from her face. “Thank you, Janine.”

  She smiled and climbed off him. He started to sit up to follow her, then plopped back down. Talk about relaxation… His limbs hardly wanted to work. Eric shoved himself into a sitting position. The used condom had to go. Groaning, he got to his feet and made his way into the bathroom. He removed the condom and tossed it into the waste bin. He glanced around the tight space. Hadn’t Janine come into the bathroom?

  “Where are you?”

  “Back in the bedroom.”

  Eric strode from the bathroom. Janine sat on the recliner, working the zipper of her boot down. She stole his breath with nothing but the caress of her hand down her calf. Sure, the spankings and the domination turned him on, but she wrapped around his heart when she did what came naturally.

  “Hold still.” He tipped her chin with the tip of his finger.

  She appraised him with a frown. “Why?”

  “Have I told you you’re sexy in nothing but those boots?”

  She rubbed her cheek against his hand, then finished unzipping the second boot. She placed the footwear to the side. “Thank you. You’re pretty sexy, too.”

  Eric walked away from her and flopped, face first, on the bed. “What time is it?”

  “Half past one.” Janine settled next to him and clicked off the light. She stretched out beside him and tangled her legs with his. “I love you.”

  He nuzzled her hair and turned over her words in his mind. She loved him? She’d just spanked him and fucked him without letting him do the work. There were so many things he wanted to try, things that had her in the lead. She’d used a crop on him. Would she do more? The deviant part of him he’d locked away wanted to find out.

  Did he love her? He wasn’t about to let her go. Could he trust her to know what benefitted him most, and let her take control?

  Chapter Five

  The scent of sweet jasmine filled his senses when Eric took a deep breath. He opened his eyes and stretched. The clock read eight-oh-five. Too damn early. There were things to be done if he didn’t want to get out of bed yet. Instead of the sensual female he expected beside him, he rolled over into empty blankets. He jerked fully awake and sat up.

  “Janine? Babe?” He waited for a few heartbeats for her to answer. When she didn’t, he wrestled free of the blankets and strode naked into the living room. She had her back to him and her phone against her ear. He allowed himself to breathe and watched her. She’d pulled her hair back in a clip. One of his racing shirts hung loosely from her slender frame. She had her legs crossed and was bobbing her left foot. She looked nothing like the dominant woman he’d fucked the night before. Talk about a switch. It didn’t matter. He liked her soft and pliant and enjoyed her rough. But rough had limits.

  Whatever she’d said to the person she was speaking to on the phone, the call must’ve ended. She placed the silent phone on the table and rubbed her temples.

  Eric leaned on the doorjamb. “Long evening? I hear you had a client that really struggled last night.”

  She shrieked and turned around. “Don’t do that.” Janine covered her face with her hands. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you when I snuck out of the bedroom. Business came calling and I had to answer.”

  Groaning, Eric went in search of fresh underwear. Business. Fucking wonderful. He’d been so relaxed and ready to tackle her for round two. He shoved clothes around in the drawer. He shouldn’t blame her. She had a job to do, and she did it well. She
did him pretty damned well, too. Something had to give.

  “I’m sorry. There were scheduling issues and Gracie can’t keep up.” Janine sat down on the edge of the bed. “I knew she was inexperienced, but I thought she’d be able to run the front desk.”

  “You’re not working the desk?” When did she give up her job running the main room at the shop?

  “Megan wanted me to be more available for the races and I agreed. I can’t rep Tucker when I’m stuck at the shop, not talking to sponsors. It doesn’t do the team—or him—any good.”

  She had a point. Damn. “So where does this leave you and me? We’re what, fuck buddies, while you jet off?” He’d tried like hell to keep his temper in check. Instead, anger poured out of him. It was the one thing he’d felt he truly controlled, but now his relationship seemed to be slipping through his fingers. “I’m sorry.”

  Janine stared at her hands. Her voice came out low and soft. “What we did meant a lot to me. I need a man who is strong enough to show me he can handle all the facets of me—not just the pretty, arm-candy part. I never said I wanted to leave you or relegate us to a ‘fuck and go’ status, but I’m rethinking my decision. I love you—I do. But if you’re not strong enough to be the man I need, then fine.” She stood and grabbed a pair of jeans from her bag. “I’m heading back to Hickory to help Gracie and meet with Dreyers about sponsorship. Think about what you want.”

  Ballet flats in hand, she strode from the room.

  He stared at her retreating form. She’d walked out on him. Not that he didn’t deserve to be treated like an ass. The door to the RV slammed. He inched towards the living room, afraid of what he’d find. No purse. No paperwork. Not even a hint of her jasmine scent.

  She wanted him to think about what he wanted and needed. Could he be the strong man she wanted? He had the brute strength part down pat. He scrubbed both hands over his face. He couldn’t hunt her down for a discussion. Knowing Janine, she’d had the car lined up the night before. Besides, Blitz needed him for the race.

  He hurried though a shower, careful when he washed his ass. The sting had returned. He towelled off and examined the damage to his butt. Red welts streaked across his flesh. Nothing permanent, but she’d marked him. He did a test run, sitting on the closed toilet seat. He’d be able to sit through the race without looking like a fool, but he’d definitely think about her.

  Eric winced as he dressed for the race. What did he want from her? For her to stick with him through thick, thin and his struggle to understand what he desired. He stood in the living room and stared at her picture. Maybe she could explain all the conflicting feelings he had.

  The main door to the RV rattled. What the hell? The Prevost had special insulation to reduce sound. A shadow darkened the window shade. She must’ve left the main door open and closed the screen door. His heart leapt, then settled low in his belly. If Janine was standing outside, she’d never wait on the other side of the screen door. She wouldn’t knock. She’d barge in.

  Eric moved the shade. His stomach soured. He opened the door. Clark Henshaw. Great. “Hello, Clark.”

  “Eric.” Clark rocked on his heels, his hands behind his back. “There’s a rumour you and Janine are no more.”

  Damn. What was Eric supposed to say? As far as he knew, they might have split.

  “She stormed out of here pretty quick, I hear. The garage gossips can’t stop talking about it. Want to clue me in?”

  “So you can move in on her? No fucking way.”

  “Well, I see you still have feelings.” Clark’s bushy brows knotted. “Want to try for human?”

  “I’d like you to go away.”

  “I wasn’t going to do this.”

  Clark sighed, then drew his arm back. The next thing Eric knew, Clark had punched him square in the nose. Stars burst behind Eric’s eyelids and he coughed hard. His face throbbed and blood spurted onto his shirt. What the hell had just happened?

  “Did that work? Did it knock the sense God gave you back into your dumb-shit head?” Clark stepped close, into Eric’s personal space. “She’s a good woman and deserves better than you. I don’t know why she loves you, but if you’ve got any brains you’ll beg her to take your ass back.”

  Eric nodded. “I will.” He wiped the blood from his face. “Don’t ever hit me again.”

  Clark shrugged. “Gotta know what works, and I know.”

  Eric dragged the back of his hand across his cheek. Despite his actions, Clark’s line of reasoning had hit the bull’s eye. Janine was one in a million.

  Now he had to prove he knew it.

  * * * *

  Driving back to Hickory while squinting through a veil of tears hadn’t been Janine’s brightest idea, but neither had going through the next forty-eight hours in a depressed fog. The meetings went by in a blur. At least she’d managed to secure the sponsorship for Tucker.

  Her thoughts drifted to Eric. She hadn’t imagined he’d lash out at her, especially not after she’d admitted she loved him. Something had changed him. Someone had taken away his trust. Was she much better, leaving him? Not really. She shook her head. She hadn’t heard from him since she’d left. Not a text, email, call… Nothing.

  She strode out onto the balcony of her condo and lit the citronella candles. If she was going to mope, then the mosquitoes could go somewhere else. She plopped down onto the chaise longue and closed her eyes. She’d worry about what had happened, and the fallout, later.

  “Do you realise you’re sexy when you do that?”

  Janine sat up and yanked her sunglasses down. She’d heard Eric’s voice. She glanced around the balcony and peered into the living room. No Eric. Her heart hammered. Where the hell was he?

  “I’m on the sidewalk. I’d like to come up and talk. May I?”

  She held on to the thick railing and considered his question. He wanted to talk? Could be good, could be bad. But she’d never know unless she gave him a chance. “You know the way.”

  She blew out the candles and practically ran through the condo to get to the door. While she waited, she checked her hair in the mirror. Everything looked in place. The right amount of makeup, enough curl in her hair to look alluring without being frizzy. But did her looks really matter, if he wanted out?

  The knock at her door startled her from her thoughts. She peeked through the security window. Eric stood in the open-air hallway, head down and shoulders slumped.

  She opened the door. “Hi, you.”

  Eric tilted his head back and smiled. She gasped. His cheek had swollen and the skin around his eye was puffed enough that it had to be impairing his vision. “Who punched you?” she blurted.

  “Funny you should ask that.” He nodded. “May I come in?”

  “Sure.” She waved her hand, ushering him into the apartment. Eric strolled past her, a duffle bag on his shoulder. “Giving back my things?” She pressed her lips together. Great. She’d started the conversation with a rude question. “Why don’t I try again?”

  “You could, but I’ve got plenty to say.” He tossed the bag onto the couch and closed the door. “I’m not giving anything back. Now, you wanted an explanation. I’ve got one.”

  Janine sank onto the nearest piece of furniture and wrapped her arms around her body. Based on the tone of his voice and the set of his jaw, whatever he had to say couldn’t be good. She picked at the ruching on the bodice of her dress.

  “The cut brake line on Tucker’s truck was due to damage on the track. Nothing sinister. Just an accident. Imagine that.” Eric eased down onto the arm of the couch. He slouched over and folded his hands between his knees. “Also, Clark’s not only got his eye on you, he’s taken on the duty of protecting you.”

  “Did he hit you?”

  “Knocked some sense into me.” Eric patted his thigh. “Come here. You look like a scared rabbit. I promise not to bite.”

  Although her better judgement cautioned her to stay put, she crept onto his lap. The scent of his soap comforted her. She
tucked her head into the curve of his neck and shoulder. “I’m not afraid of you.”

  “I’m sorry, sweets.” A wounded look crossed his face. He turned his head, not looking at her. “He’s right. You deserve better than me.”

  Janine bolted upright. The damned fool wanted to cuddle as he broke up with her? Hell, no. “Why are you doing this? You don’t want me and you don’t want him to have me? I’m a person, not a piece of property.” Tears blurred her field of vision and her voice came out choked. “Don’t do this.”

  Eric grabbed the seat of her dress and pulled her back onto his thighs. He squeezed her tightly in his arms, his body trembling. “Hear me out. You wanted an equal. A man to stand beside you and still sweep you off your feet, right?”

  She nodded and inched back to gaze at his face.

  “If you can handle all the fucked-up parts of me, then I’m your man.” He wiped the wetness from her cheeks with his knuckles. “I want to be yours.”

  “What do you mean?” Her heart skipped a beat, but she quashed the growing happiness. Things could still go to hell. “Talk to me.”

  He kept one arm around her and grabbed the duffle bag with his free hand. “I’ve wanted to talk to you about this for a couple months. I didn’t know how to tell you.” He unzipped the bag. “Since we took things to the next level that night at Bristol, I’ve struggled with who I am. I’m not gay, but I want to experiment.” Eric withdrew a box. “But only if you’re the one I’m experimenting with.”

  Janine cocked her head to read the print on the packaging. ‘Dual pleasure strap-on dildo with plugs.’ Her interest and temperature rose. “You want me to use this on you?”

  “Yes, but I’m scared you’ll think I’m a freak. I like being in charge, but I really like when you’re in control.”

  She splayed her hand on his chest. Her suspicions had been true. He’d never shied away from her touching his ass, the few times she’d inserted her fingers in him. Finally, he’d accepted the very things about himself he’d feared. “I spanked you with a crop. If anyone is the freak, it’s me.” She touched the top of the box, tracing the letters with her index finger. Something had changed between them and she loved it. Loved him. If he was willing to share his darker desires with her, she’d see to it he got his wish. “If you want to try this, I’ll do it.”