by Lexi Aurora
“Speak for yourself,” Bella countered. “I’m living with big bro here until I’m fifty.”
James laughed lightly, pushing his way through the gaggle of siblings. “We’ll see how you feel when you’re eighteen and have a taste of the real world.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. Stop trying to change the subject. You’re really telling me that nothing happened?”
“Well, we may have hugged.”
“Dude! She has you in your house, eating the food you cooked her, you’re still good for tomorrow, and she hugged you! I’m telling you, big bro, she’s feeling you!”
“She’s just being kind. She’s a good person.”
“Big bro, we’re all girls. You need to trust us on this. If you don’t believe us, put the moves on her tomorrow and I bet you my handheld collection that she’s totally into you.”
“Oh yeah? Well, I’ll call your bluff then.”
“Fine! But if I’m right, you gotta make us a cake a week for the next month.”
“You’re on.” There was no way they would win. Kathleen was so overwhelmed with work, she probably didn’t even have time to think about a relationship.
“Really? Awesome!” All three girls leaned in like he had just told them the juiciest bit of gossip. With a sigh, he thrust his hand into the middle and they quickly placed theirs on top of his.
“Really,” he promised.
“Alright! Sutherland team, go!” Like some sort of middle school sport team, they all lowered, then raised their joined hands together.
But as they all scattered to engage in their various to do lists, James couldn’t help but wonder what he was getting himself into.
Chapter Six: Kathleen
Kathleen let out a defeated groan, resting her head in her hands. She had just finished sending out her fiftieth invoice and she was definitely experiencing some serious screen burn-out. Was it time for Jimmy to show up yet?
She checked her phone and saw that she still had another hour. That was just enough time to brush her hair and slap on a face of makeup. Normally she wasn’t into all the extra effort, but after the previous night, she was beginning to believe that maybe, just maybe, there might be something there. Maybe a little will-they, won’t-they tension? It was hard to say.
After all, in one evening she had learned he was both single and straight, experienced more physical contact with him than she had in a year, and exchanged an electrically charged stare that had been straight out of a bodice ripper. Maybe she had more of a chance than she had ever given herself credit for.
Or maybe she was about to ruin the best client-patron relationship she had and would have to find a whole new salon to go to.
She didn’t want to think about that. Instead she went about getting ready. Although she was often distracted by daydreams, she’d managed to look somewhat presentable by the time he texted her that he was on his way.
She was just going to act natural, she told herself as she returned to the bathroom to hang up her towel. Like everything was normal and she wasn’t currently swept up in a high-school level crush.
The remaining minutes passed arduously slow, and she passed the time by updating more of her tags on her graphic site. The sale she was running on her fonts were doing particularly well, but she needed to re-up her ads on several forums she was a part of. Not to mention her social media pages on each platform.
She got about three done before her phone buzzed again, and she was at the door before he could even finish getting out of his car. His hair was pulled up into a loose bun at the back of his head, accentuating that chiseled jaw line she appreciated so. His green eyes looked especially piecing, though perhaps that was due to how often they were featured in her dreams rather than any sort of real world implication.
“Hey!” she called, waving from her open door. “Did you have a good night?”
“Yup.” he answered, bringing in another bag of groceries. “And tonight all the girls are out so I don’t have to rush away like yesterday. That is, if you want me to stick around, of course.”
She laughed nervously and it sounded so fake. She was going to need to get a handle on that if she didn’t want to seem certifiable. “Sounds great! You can hang around and listen to me scream obscenities at my computer.”
“I’m sure it’d be a great show,” he said, walking past her and into her kitchen. “Did you manage to find time to cook some fajitas for lunch?”
“Of course, and they were just as delicious.”
“You flatter me. Truly.” He went about setting up again and she couldn’t help it as her eyes ate up every move he made. There was this certain kind of composure to him, an inner strength that she admired so much. She felt like she could watch him do anything and be thoroughly entertained by it. “So, same deal as last time? You head to work while I get to the kitchen duty?”
She swallowed, nodding her head slowly. God, she was being so awkward! Where was the assured businesswoman that she had spent so many years cultivating? “Yup. That sounds good. I will definitely go do that. Right now.”
He gave her a bit of an odd look, as if he was considering something but thought better of it. She scrambled away before she could say anything else weird and retreated back to her haven.
“Get yourself together,” she hissed before returning to seat herself at her computer.
But instead of getting work done, she ended up googling the salon that James worked at. He had mentioned the owner was considering updating something, but it had gotten lost in the back of her mind. It took her a few minutes to find the email address, and she quickly copied it into her business account.
Alright, she just needed to compose an introduction and soft pitch that wouldn’t put him on edge or make him feel like he was being sold to.
Nothing too difficult, right?
She had never abused the backspace button so much in her life. It seemed like with anything related to James, she got that same bubbling, shaking feeling in her stomach that made her question everything.
A knock sounded at her door again, nearly scaring her out of her skin. She yelped yet again, but this time remembered to take her headphones off before getting up.
“One second, just finishing this up.” She quickly typed a conclusion then hit send. Her heart practically squeezed itself into a pretzel, but she managed to smooth her face into a semi-calm sort of smile before she opened the door.
“Done already?” she asked, trying to sound like her usual self.
“It’s been about forty minutes,” James answered, raising his brow. “But no, I just put it in the oven so we’ve got about an hour or so. I was just seeing if there was anything else I could do to help.”
“Oh, no, it’s fine! Take a load off on the couch.”
“I’m actually not a huge fan of being idle. I don’t mind, really. I would be doing the same thing if I was at home.”
“Just because you’re a maid for your sisters doesn’t mean you have to be one for me.”
He took a deep breath like he was going to object, but he was interrupted by a buzz from her phone. She quickly looked to it, grateful for the escape from the conversation. But instead of a text notification, the little box indicated it was email.
No. It couldn’t be. It was five o’- clock on a Saturday. There was no way the owner would get back to her so quickly.
And yet it was!
She felt herself grow cold, and she held her breath as she opened it.
“Is everything alright?” Jimmy asked.
She held up her hand, unable to comprehend his question while she read. When she reached the end, she looked up with wide eyes.
“Have I ever told you that I absolutely hate suspense?”
“It’s the owner!” she blurted, her mouth breaking out into the biggest grin. “I messaged him about that signage you’d mentioned and submitted my portfolio and rates. Not only is he interested, but hementioned that his partner is looking for a new graphic artist on a three-month contrac
t! This is amazing!”
“Oh my God! That is!” His smile was equally ecstatic and he threw his arms open.
Kathleen responded to the hug without hesitation, throwing herself into his arms. She was just so relieved, and elated. She laughed right into his chest, and before she could let go, he was physically picking her up and spinning her around.
She couldn’t remember the last time she had been lifted up, and it was strangely exhilarating. Adrenaline and emotion rushing through her, she let herself drop all the perpetual worry that was constantly pricking at her.
Eventually gravity did kick in, and he set her down. But as her feet touched the ground, his hands didn’t leave her waist and hers didn’t leave his shoulders. They stood like that, frozen in the moment, then her body was moving before she could think about it.
Standing on her tiptoes, she pressed her lips to his, wrapping her arms about his shoulders and throwing caution to the wind.
For the briefest of seconds, she was sure that she had ruined everything. That he would pull away in disgust and never speak to her again.
Instead, his grip on her sides tightened, and he pulled her flush to him with a blatant sort of want that couldn’t be denied.
Their mouths moved against each other, heated and wanton. Her mind was stuck somewhere between joyous celebration and going completely blank as her body flooded with desire that she hadn’t allowed herself in ages.
When they broke apart, her face felt like it was glowing and her heart was pounding about a million beats an hour.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely more than a whisper.
“Don’t be,” he answered, his voice low and masculine before his lips crashed against hers again.
Chapter Seven: James
Everything was a mad rush of feelings, his thoughts overwhelmed by a cacophony of stimulation going through his mind. After a year of pining, he was finally kissing Kathleen, and it was opening floodgates he didn’t even know were there.
She responded to his kiss enthusiastically, fueling the rush within him further. His hands went from gripping her sides to pulling her tank up over her head.
He paused for a fraction of a second, making sure he had her implicit permission. Even though every cell of his body was alight with passion, he wanted to make sure this was a two-way street.
Kathleen responded by pulling back from the kiss then gripping his hands, pulling them upward along with her shirt.
She was perfect.
His eyes raked over her pale skin, his own body responding with excitement. She could not look more beautiful, standing there in a black bralette and leggings.
But she did not remain idle while he stared. Taking a step forward, her deft fingers worked his buttons one by one until the fabric was in a puddle on the floor. Those same digits made burning trails up along his bare chest before her lips kissed at the base of his throat.
Gone was the thoughts of bills, deadlines, and chairs. The only thing that existed in the world was the two of them.
When her lips finally left his neck, James was breathing hard, but he didn’t make a move to stop her as she nipped her way along his collar bone and chest until she was standing on the flats of her feet instead of her tip-toes. He could tell she was irritating the skin in some places, but he couldn’t care less. He was getting lost in the feeling and it was a glorious way to go.
But even the strongest of men could only take so much teasing, and he gripped her plush hips, walking her backwards until her legs hit the back of the bed.
With a devious little smirk, she pulled him down with her. They crashed to the mattress with an oomph, but he recovered quickly, pinning her to the bed as he posted himself above her. He paused for a moment, drinking in every inch of her. How her curves dimpled under his fingers, her hair splayed out about the pillow, her eyes half-hooded and looking at him with a gaze that expressed pure seduction.
“You’re amazing,” he managed to whisper without his voice catching in his throat. And he meant it. She was perfectly formed in every possible way, and he wanted her to know that.
She blushed and covered her face. Not the reaction he had been hoping for, but still adorable. It was different to see the normally confident woman be so bashful, but he supposed he was seeing a side of her not many got to see. She peeked out from behind her hands and he took that as his cue to drift down her body, kissing at the bare skin of her middle, just above her belly button, and then down a bit, just above the line of her leggings.
He gripped the stretchy fabric and pulled it downwards. It took more than a bit of effort, but it was well worth it as lacy black boy-shorts were revealed to him.
Those, he took his time removing. Bending back down, his kissed up her leg, reveling in every single moment his lips could touch her skin. This wasn’t a race, and he had no intent of rushing it. He wanted to cherish every moment he had to worship her body.
When he’d finished his journey upward, he bit at her hip, flashing her a look that told her exactly what he was planning. She flushed, and threaded one of her hands through his hair, burying it in his bun. With that, he allowed his teeth to gently grip the front while his fingers hooked into the side. Slowly, he pulled those down until all of her was revealed to him. He threw the delicate little things into a corner before leaning down and kissing her center.
“Oh my God, Jimmy!” she cried, the sound heaven to his ears.
He spared a moment to pull away from the affection he laved against her. “Call me James,” he said, voice practically a growl.
“Yes, James,” she breathed, -no, panted.
He allowed her a single flash of his wicked smirk before returning to his worship of her body. She was reacting in a way that stroked his ego just right, her hips lifting off of the mattress to meet his mouth, but his capable hands made sure to keep her just how he wanted her. She was shaking, with little mewls escaping her throat; they both were sweating, and he was loving each and every moment of it.
It didn’t take long before her thighs began to squeeze against either side of his head. Smirking, he continued what he was doing, allowing his fingers to join in the dance. She was slick and ready for him, allowing his digits smooth entrance as she gripped his hair with considerable strength.
And then she was letting out a sharp cry and completely lifting her pelvis from the bed. The sound was like music to him, and he didn’t stop until her dulcet moans faded and she collapsed back to the comforter.
He was feeling more confident than he’d since he had graduated. Never in a million years had he dreamed he would be intertwined with the most capable, beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. Wiping his face, he moved up her body, stopping when he was hovering just over her blushing face. “I want you.”
“The feeling’s mutual.” she responded, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and yanking him down into another heated kiss.
There was no fight for dominance in their exchange of passion. Their lips and tongues moving against and with each other without a misstep. When he did finally have to break away to pull his jeans off, his excitement was more than evident.
Heart pounding, he returned to the mattress the moment he was freed from the confines of his pants. Kathleen seemed just as enthused about his return, and spread her legs for him.
There it was, waiting for him. It was hard to believe that this was happening, but he continued to move forward until he was just against her slick entrance. Kathleen let out a desperate moan, her hands going to his shoulders where her nails could dig in. With that sound as her input for him to continue, he slid forward and they joined as one.
Chapter Eight: Kathleen
Kathleen gasped as he filled her in one solid motion. She still wasn’t entirely sure that this wasn’t a fantasy her mind had cooked up, but she didn’t care anymore. The feelings she was drowning in was absolutely delicious. It was a strange sort of pleasure-pain, being stretched so, but one she ate up greedily. For the faintest of momen
ts, she was afraid that she wouldn’t be able to adjust, but James patiently waited until she lifted her hips once more, showing that she was ready for him to move.
His rolled his hips into her and the sound that escaped her throat was embarrassing. Or at least it would have been if she gave two shits about how she sounded. Two sides of the same coin, they surged against each other, moving in and out, up, then down. His hands gripped her, bringing her to meet each of his forceful thrusts then drawing her away. Each slide along him made that same illicit wave begin to roll towards her yet again, coming ever closer as they moved.
She had been waiting for this for so long, and now it was better than she ever could have possibly imagined.
Suddenly he bent down, changing his angle within her which made her cry out that much more. He nipped at her neck, his short pants hot against the skin there. She could tell that all the attention was going to leave her with a hickey, and she normally would have been horrified of the idea. What if a potential client saw? But now, as she allowed herself to let go, she reveled in the action. It seemed working from home had even more benefits than she had initially thought.
She knew that they should probably go slow, ease into it more considering that she hadn’t had sex in a few years, but she couldn’t. She was caught up in the wild abandon as they ground against each other.
However, that blissful unawareness of the world began to fade as she could feel James nearing his end, his thrusts becoming arrhythmic and turning into powerful jabs that drove her deep into the mattress. Suddenly her mind was recording every detail of their heated tryst. The bed was crashing against the wall without reserve, no doubt giving her neighbors an earful, James’ clearly wanton expression. They were being swallowed up by the ecstasy, the utter passion in each other, but she wanted to keep her head above the surface so she wouldn’t miss his end.
“You’re perfect.” James whispered breathlessly before pressing his lips to hers again. They devoured each other once more before he broke away with a half-hidden gasp. “I think I’m going to…”