Condemned

by Barbara Huffert

  “He’s already noticed her,” Jesse supplied. “I don’t think it’ll take too long for them to get together. And I was just getting used to having her around.”

  “She’ll still be around, Jesse,” Holly teased gently. “You just won’t be the one receiving most of the kisses anymore. Don’t forget that you’re just friends. Good friends, but still just friends.”

  “I know. You don’t have to remind me. I’m the one who told you that in the first place. I think I’m going to miss her more than I expected.”

  “What about that big cosmic plan you’re always talking about? Once Andie and Brett are settled, shouldn’t it be your turn? Maybe you won’t have time to miss her.”

  “Lay off, Hol,” Dwayne cautioned. “How many other friends, male or female, has Jesse opened his home to and handed over the keys to his precious car? Merely a friend or something a little more, this Andie has to be special. Think of your own reaction to her. She seems to inspire loyalty in both of you. I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Wyatt handed Jesse a stack of papers. “Complete financial status, history, and holdings. Work history, community involvement, speeding and parking tickets. School records. The medical records are there. Hey,” he shrugged, “If I’m doing this, I’m doing it right.”

  “Thank you,” Holly hugged him.

  “Tape,” he ignored her and held out his hand. “Headset?”

  An hour later, it was Jesse’s turn to pace. “They should be here by now.” After another minute, he reached for the phone. “I’m calling—”

  Holly snatched it from his hand. “No! Absolutely not. No way are you going to interrupt whatever they’re doing together. Maybe Brett’s already thanking her. In his own special way.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  “Lose what’s left of your clothes,” Brett demanded after staring at Andie for what seemed an eternity. “Time for you to be naked, wench.”

  “What about you?” she wondered as she hurried to comply.

  “Did I say you could speak?” he asked sharply. “Your job is to take three steps forward and just stand there. I need to take a better look at what you’re offering me.”

  What if he didn’t like what he saw? Andie stood motionless, fighting the fear of rejection that invaded her mind. There was no chance she’d survive any comparison he made of her body to the ones he was used to enjoying. More likely she’d find herself, naked, on his doorstep before she had time to wrap her tattered clothes around her. She kept her eyes glued to one of his drawings while he circled her slowly.

  “Hmm.” He finally stopped. “Soft. Lush. Deceptively innocent but full of fire if what you showed already is any indication. Desirable. Makes me wonder if I should fuck you senseless or do everything possible to protect you from a beast like me. You blush all over,” he pointed out and laughed when she turned pinker. “You smell like a woman should. There’s nothing fake about any bit of you, is there Andrea Sloan?” She shook her head as he stalked around her again. “So brave too. Coming to the beast’s lair. Don’t you know monsters like me devour sweet things like you for breakfast?” He moved directly behind her so she could feel the heat radiating from his body. “Why are you here?”

  “There’s something I have to tell you,” she repeated instantly.

  “And I told you that there’s nothing I want to hear from you other than what you already said,” Brett said as he put his hands on her shoulders. “If it doesn’t have anything to do with our activity at the moment, I don’t want to hear a peep out of you. Don’t force me to gag you, wench. I want to keep that mouth of yours accessible.”

  “I already gave you my word, Brett. I won’t break it.”

  “So you say.” He slid his hands to cover her bottom. Kneading both cheeks, he whispered, “Nice. Full. Did you notice how well both your ass and your breasts fit in the palms of my hands? Almost like you were designed for my pleasure alone.”

  “How do you know I wasn’t?”

  “Shut up,” he growled as he yanked her back against him. “Weren’t you listening? Don’t make me repeat myself.”

  Andie didn’t quite understand why her comment angered him. She stood silently, waiting for his next move.

  “Very good.” Brett loosened his hold. He pushed her toward the table, sweeping everything on it aside. When he forced her chest to the surface, she didn’t resist. “What will you let me do now that I have you spread out in front of me?”

  “Everything you can think of,” she assured him, meaning each word.

  “I almost believe you.” He slid a chair so he could sit behind her.

  “Test me if you need to,” Andie urged.

  “Maybe I will,” Brett reached for the bottle. He tipped it, drizzling scotch on the small of her back. Before it could trickle down her sides, he licked it from her. “Mm,” he sighed, pouring more as he followed the stream with his tongue.

  When the cool alcohol preceded the heat of his mouth into her cleft, Andie struggled internally to remain still. She wanted to thrust back toward him, opening herself in invitation. His torment was pure heaven. Nothing had ever sent sparks through her body like Brett managed with his limited touches.

  “Wider.” He nudged her feet farther apart. “Beautiful,” he announced, close enough so Andie could feel his breath. “Scoot up. Put your knees on mine.” His hands helped guide her. “Keep your chest on the table.” He pressed her back until she was in the position he wanted. “Damn.” He inhaled sharply. “Pure woman. So wet already,” he declared as he slid one finger into her pussy, stroking slightly. “Tell me.”

  “Wet for you, for what you want,” she answered, hoping she guessed the right question. How could he distract her with so little contact? The man was making her unable to think and he was barely touching her.

  In response, Brett replaced his finger with his tongue. “So sweet,” he muttered, wrapping his arms around her thighs. “Fuck, you’re a tasty wench. I could lick you all night,” he said before delving back into her. Brett flattened his tongue and licked her thoroughly, caressing every bit of her pussy. When she gasped, he covered her completely with his mouth, sucking firmly. Hearing her moans, he seemed to sense the effort it took for her not to move so he flicked over her clit with the tip of his tongue as if seeking to add to her torment.

  “Brett,” she sighed.

  “Like that, do you?” he asked, slide the bottle along her slit. “More?” he couldn’t resist teasing her. “How’s this?” He teased her opening with the neck.

  “Oh God,” she groaned, leaning ever so slightly toward him, letting her desire squelch her trepidation.

  “Want this too?” He replaced it with his tongue, circling the spot she wanted him to touch most.

  “Please!”

  “Please what?”

  “Brett,” she urged.

  “Is this it?” He laughed softly before drawing her bud into his mouth. When she bucked against him, Brett steadied her against the table to keep her on his knees. “That’s it,” Brett told her. “Don’t hold back on me. Never hold back. I want to be able to drink from you.” He slid the bottle inside and tipped some of the amber liquid into her, instantly replacing it with his mouth.

  Andie tried to retain her position as her world exploded. He was incredible! Remotely, she registered him rearranging her onto his lap and holding her against his chest. “Thank you,” she said as soon as she trusted herself to speak.

  “Don’t,” Brett advised as he stroked her back lightly. “I haven’t even started with you. You might hate me by the time you leave.” When she opened her mouth to say something else, he pressed his fingers to her lips to stop her. “Don’t say it. I can still toss you out.” He stared at her as he swigged from the bottle one more time. “I should pour the rest this into you before I drink it. You definitely improve the taste.”

  Andie raised her knees and offered herself to him, afraid he would really send her home without letting her share her discovery.

  “Relax
, I was teasing. I’ve had enough of this for now.” He put the bottle down and stood her on her feet. “I need more of this.” He tapped her mound before leading her to the bedroom. Maybe if he took her there enough times he’d be able to use the memory to block out Tish once his life sentence started. What a fucked up mess his life had become.

  “Stand there.” Brett pointed to a spot next to the bed. As he slowly undressed, Brett watched her watching him. “What I don’t get is why Jesse is content to just be your friend. If I had the opportunity he does, I would take advantage of it.” He laughed harshly. “Kind of like I am. Well, take a good look, Miss Sloan. Am I what you expected? Would I have been acceptable as your prize? Damn it, why the hell didn’t you bring more money that night? You emailed me to pique my interest. You meant to bid for me at the auction so I would have to spend time alone with you. Tell me, did you and Jesse make the other plan in advance? You were quite effective. I finally see what I missed when you first showed up. You win. A night with me. As my own personal, private bachelor party.”

  There was hunger in Andie’s eyes as she looked him over from head to toe.

  “As you can see, Jesse greatly exaggerated the level of my intoxication. I have no problem rising to the occasion.” He chuckled at his own joke.

  “Don’t—”

  “Don’t what? You started this. I’m just giving you what you wanted all along, right? Jesse’s an even bigger fool than I am, letting you slip through his fingers. At least I’m getting to sample the hot wench you keep hidden behind that timid little mouse act. Yeah, okay, only for the night, but damn, I’m going to take you every way imaginable before we’re done here. I bet you’re thinking how Jesse is too much of a gentleman to ever use you like I’m about to.”

  He shrugged. “Hey, you’re the one who rang my doorbell. No one invited you here. You barge in where you’re not supposed to be, you gotta expect to take what you find once you’re inside. Especially when you refuse to leave. Right Andie? I’ll make it good, don’t worry. After all, you’re the last fuck I get before the wife tightens the noose. I will be too drunk to perform once she takes over. That’s one thing I’m certain of. One of the few things.” He sat next to where she was standing and turned her to face him. “Ready to bolt yet? I know I said there was no going back but I’ll give you one last chance. Run now while you still can.”

  “I don’t want to leave. You don’t want me to either.” Andie reached for his shoulder but dropped her hand back to her side when he glared at her.

  “What the hell is wrong with you? Why are you letting me do this? I’m about to do unthinkable things to you and you’re just standing there. Don’t you get it? I’m using you to get off here. You’re just a fuck to me, nothing more. How can you possibly want this?”

  “I do. I want whatever you’re willing to do with me. Anything you can come up with. Brett—” Andie couldn’t hide her feelings for him.

  “I didn’t say you could speak,” he reminded her harshly, cutting off her words before she voiced what showed on her face. “On your knees, wench. Put that mouth to better use.” He leaned back and spread his legs, pushing her between them.

  Andie dropped to her knees in front of him. Resting her elbows on his legs, she reached for him. There was too much of him to hold him with her mouth alone. “Tell me if I don’t do this the way you like it,” she said as she ran her tongue over the tip of his erection. She continued, licking from crown to base and back again while he watched. When she opened her mouth and drew him in as deeply as she could, she clearly had to fight her reflexes. She seemed to want to swallow as much as him as she could possibly manage.

  “Oh fuck, yeah,” Brett groaned as Andie’s mouth surrounded him. “That’s it. Suck me all the way in. More. Suck harder,” he gasped as he put a hand on her head to control her movement. “That’s it.” Removing her hands from his shaft, he forced her mouth farther down around him.

  He groaned. “Get ready. Hold me in as far as you can. I’m gonna come. Don’t pull away,” he almost pleaded, not realizing she wasn’t even attempting to get away. With a growl, Brett exploded, filling her throat with a hot splashes. When it was over, he discovered that Andie’s mouth still held him. She wasn’t moving. It was just resting around him as if waiting for what he might want next. “Let go,” he ordered, pulling out of her. “Damn, wench, can you give head!” He caressed her face as she rested it against his leg, staying where he had pushed her. “There’s mouthwash if you need it,” he pointed at the bathroom.

  “Do you want me to use it?” she asked, looking up at him. “I liked the taste of you but if you want me to get rid of it—”

  Brett hesitated only a fraction of a second before he hauled her up so his mouth could reach hers. “Now I know you’re not real,” he declared just before his lips found hers. Soon, Brett had her on the bed, lying next to him without relinquishing her mouth, his arms wrapped securely around her. She felt so right. No! He had to release her before he hurt her even more than he already had. Before Brett could follow through on that thought, Andie’s arms circled him in return, holding him tightly to her. Now if only the rest of the world would leave them alone forever.

  Suddenly, Brett shoved Andie from him. This wasn’t about forever. This was about taking something temporary and finding a way to make it sustain him as long as possible. Time to get on with it. With a snarl, he pushed her to her back and erased her questioning look with a brutal kiss. He captured her hands as he had in the kitchen and held them, avoiding her touch. This was all about him. What she wanted hardly mattered. She had agreed to do whatever he wished. Time to start taking.

  “Keep your arms there or I’ll tie you,” Brett warned, willing to do it if he had to. He waited for her to protest before he resumed the rough treatment of her mouth. As his lips ravished hers, he groped her breasts. He had been right downstairs. She was a perfect fit. And those nipples! He latched on to the closest one and bit her harder than he meant to. When she flinched, Brett softened his mouth, caressing her stinging flesh as if to take the pain away. When she moaned, he bit her again, just to see if he could get the same reaction. With a cruel laugh, he attacked her other nipple with his fingers, squeezing and plucking relentlessly. When a particularly vicious tug evoked a rapid inhalation he raised his head to look at her. “Ready to quit?”

  Andie shook her head no instantly.

  Brett groaned as he lowered his mouth back to her breasts. He was being cruel and knew he should stop. Unfortunately, there was something driving him that prevented it. He had to see how far he could push her. He grabbed a condom from the nightstand. “Hope you’re ready. I am and I can’t wait for you.” He surprised both of them by ramming himself into her to the hilt. “God, you’re tight.” He withdrew before reversing forcefully. “I’m gonna fuck you now, wench. As hard and as fast as I can. And when I’m done I’m gonna flip you over and make you stick your sweet ass in the air so I can do it all over again.”

  Brett pounded into her nonstop, hating himself with each thrust. When he finally focused on her, he couldn’t believe what he saw. He was so harsh, but she was meeting him, stroke for stroke. She was shivering with excitement. When he felt his own escalate, he pumped even harder, pushing her to the peak. Andie forgot his command and flung her arms around him, pulling herself against him when she came.

  Brett decided her passion was the most beautiful thing he had ever witnessed. He would never be able to get enough of her, even if he had a lifetime. Before he could follow that train of thought, he joined her. With one last thrust, Brett emptied himself, hanging on tightly as he slowed. When he finished, he slumped on top of her and felt her cradling him. Why? What did she really want from him? He knew it was much easier not to let himself think than it was to attempt to answer such difficult questions. Not wanting to crush her, he rolled to his back and disposed of the condom. He grabbed her hand and forced her fingers around his cock. “I’ll recover faster this way.”

  “Okay,” she sa
id simply, content to stay exactly as she was.

  His life was over. Brett knew he had been making a mistake when he cornered her in the kitchen. He never should have touched her, never should have kissed her, never ever should have done more. He thought he was going to be tortured with Tish as his wife before. He hadn’t known the meaning of the word before Andie appeared on his doorstep. Too late to stop now. There he was, trying to get Andie to back down and he was the one with the urge to run. Too bad he couldn’t take her with him when he fled. For the umpteenth time he cursed himself but he still couldn’t imagine himself breaking his commitment to Tish.

  Chapter Fourteen

  “I can’t stand another minute of this!” Jesse exclaimed as he went back to pacing. “I’m going over there.”

  “Not if you value your life,” Holly snarled from her perch on his sofa where she was lounging against her husband’s side. “Tell him, Dwayne.”

  “Listen to her, Jesse, please. I’m comfortable and if you head for the door she’s going to make me move,” Dwayne pleaded as he heard Wyatt chuckle behind the computer. “You said Brett had been drinking. Maybe he passed out on top of her and she can’t get to the phone. Do you really want to intrude? Do you really think so little of me that you want to force me in the middle of this when my lovely wife tries to kill you? Sit down and relax. Or make some sandwiches if you have so much energy. I suspect we’re in for a long night and Holly didn’t have dinner. You know how cranky she can be when she gets hungry.”

  “Should’ve quit sooner,” Wyatt commented when Holly punched his side. “He does have a point though. It’s rude not to feed the coerced help.”

  “Okay, okay, I’ll wait until Frank gets back. But then, I’m going over there.” Jesse stomped to the kitchen. Brett better not be doing something stupid. If Andie got hurt, he’d never forgive him. Himself either, for that matter. No, if Brett did anything that hurt her in any way, he’d never forgive any one of them.