“So it’s fake?” Elyse asked. She was Claire’s friend from work, and we didn’t know each other all that well, but she appeared devastated that Quinn’s amorous gestures weren’t real.
“Yes, it’s fake.” Our second round of drinks arrived, and I grabbed my wine for a sip. “But don’t tell him I said that. He’ll punish me.”
“So, wait.” Claire glanced over her shoulder to make sure he wasn’t coming. “I’m confused. Did something happen between you guys since I saw you two days ago?”
“Yeah, they banged,” said Margot.
“Twice,” I added. “And it was phenomenal.”
“God, you’re so lucky,” Elyse gushed. “He is gorgeous. And I don’t care what you say, he adores you. That can’t all be fake.”
I shrugged. “He adores pushing my buttons, and he knows just how to do it. He always has.”
“Maybe, but he’s definitely hot in the pants for you.” Claire laughed and picked up her drink in a toast. “That much is obvious. Well done. You got what you wanted.”
Behind Margot, I saw Quinn approaching the table holding my coat. “Shhh,” I said.
“Here you go, love muffin,” he said, handing it to me. “I just got a call from my agent that I need to return, but I’m going to do it outside. I’ll be right back.” He leaned down to kiss my cheek.
My friends watched him go. (Actually, I’d bet every woman in the place watched him go. I hadn’t missed the stares when we’d come in.) Someone at the table sighed.
“I agree with Elyse,” Margot said. “He might be playing around tonight, but it’s clear he likes you a lot. He wouldn’t bother, otherwise.”
“Totally,” said Claire.
“Fine, we like each other.” I laid my coat across my lap. “And we’re attracted to each other. And we have fun together. But that doesn’t mean we should date.”
“Hello! That’s exactly why you date someone!” Elyse blurted. “If I met a man who looked like that with a dick like that who wanted me the way he wants you, I’d be fucking over the moon!”
“Shhh,” admonished Claire.
“He does have a nice dick,” I admitted. “And he knows how to use it.”
Elyse groaned. “I’m so jealous right now.”
“What about his tongue?” Claire giggled into her Cosmo.
“Haven’t gotten there yet,” I said. “Maybe later. I promised him a blowjob for shoveling the driveway today.”
“You guys sound just like my sister and her husband,” said Elyse, while Claire and Margot nearly choked on their drinks. “I bet you get married.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. I don’t want to marry him. I’m not sure I want to marry anybody.” I stood up. “I’ll be right back.”
I walked past the bar to the racks and hung up my coat, and on my way back to the table, I saw Quinn talking to our server across the room. What’s he doing? Ordering more drinks?
I went back and sat down, and he appeared at my side a moment later. He took his seat, putting that infernal arm around me again. “Sorry about that. Did you get what you needed from your coat?”
My cheeks burned. “Um, actually it wasn’t in there.”
“Oh really? What was it?”
“Um, a…lipstick.”
“Of course.” The look on his face told me he wasn’t fooled, but I was saved by the appearance of our server with a tray of appetizers. Thank God—surely he can’t eat and smother me at the same time.
“By the way, I thought you quit modeling,” I said. “How come your agent is calling?”
“I did quit, sort of, but there were a few contracts I couldn’t break. I have to go to New York next week for a few days.”
“Oh.”
And the weirdest thing happened. I realized that I was kind of sorry he was leaving for a few days…that I didn’t really want him to go away…that I’d miss him.
No, it couldn’t be that.
I’d miss the sex, that was all. Not the man. Things were just heating up between us, and his taking off now was like leaving a restaurant before the main course was served. I wouldn’t miss him. I couldn’t. My heart beat erratically, and the back of my neck felt prickly and hot.
He took his arm off me to eat.
And I didn’t miss it. Not one little bit.
Whew.
My head was still in the right place.
It remained there until after coffee and dessert when we asked for the bill. “The meal’s been taken care of,” said our server. “Including gratuity. Thank you so much.”
“What?” said Margot, who was pulling out her wallet.
We exchanged a look; she and I had been planning to split the bill.
I glanced at Quinn, who calmly sipped his coffee. His profile emphasized the sharp cut of his jaw, the smooth bridge of his nose, the stunning length of his lashes. My insides clenched. Was he really coming home with me tonight?
He caught me staring and winked, sending a little flutter through my belly.
“Quinn, did you do this?” Claire asked. “It’s too much.”
“Not at all. Happy birthday,” he said. “It was my pleasure to be here, so thank you. This is the most fun I’ve had in a long time.”
“I’m so glad Jaime invited you,” she said warmly.
Quinn smiled boyishly at her. Finally, he’d dropped the act. “Actually, I think I invited myself. But Jaime had mercy on me.” Those eyes looked my way. “She’s got a big heart.”
And things in my head started to shift.
I didn’t say much on the way home, partly because I couldn’t stop thinking about New York. Would there be female models there? Would he get hit on? Would he be propositioned at the hotel bar? Would he feel free to say yes?
Of course he would. Why wouldn’t he? You have no claim on him, nor do you want one.
I didn’t. I didn’t want one. But truthfully, I felt a little ill thinking about him with someone else. And I couldn’t wait to get him into my bed tonight—the unexpected jealousy had me even more anxious.
The other thing that had me reeling was the compliment he’d given me.
She’s got a big heart.
It wasn’t usually something people said of me. At work I was called things like sharp, creative, ambitious, good with a deadline. My family thought I was responsible and hardworking, which they appreciated, being career-focused themselves. My friends sometimes told me I was funny and loyal and trustworthy, and I’d heard from men I was sexy and fun. But I didn’t think anyone had ever told me I had a big heart.
I never showed it to anyone.
“Tired, love bug?”
The term of endearment made me cringe. “Good grief. Please tell me the love bug show is over.”
“OK, fine.” He was quiet for a moment, then he started to laugh.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your face.”
I slapped his arm.
“I meant your face all night whenever I called you a name.”
“You were ridiculous.” But I giggled. “Snookums? Gumdrop? Where did you even come up with that shit?”
“I don’t know. I guess you just inspired me.”
“Please.” I held up one hand. “I am not your snookums, nor do I want to be.”
He sighed as he pulled into the driveway, lining up the passenger door with the sidewalk. “Aren’t you ever worried you’re going to hurt my feelings when you say that stuff to me?”
“Was that…” I sat up taller in the seat and leaned toward him, like I might have heard him wrong. “Was that the F word I just heard coming out of your mouth?”
He grinned, glancing over at me. “I guess it was.”
“I thought we agreed not to talk about those things, but no, it is not my intent to hurt yours, so I’m sorry if I have.”
He put the car in park. “Here, I’ll let you out and then park on the street in case you need to get out in the morning.”
“It’s OK. I’m not going anywhere early.” I put my
hand on the door handle, but something stopped me from getting out of the car.
She’s got a big heart.
“Quinn…have I? Hurt your feelings?”
He smiled. “No, I’m just having fun with you. But it’s nice to know you care, buttercup.”
“Blech. I’m getting out now.” I got out and waited on the sidewalk while he pulled up a little, leaving the car in the drive. Walking toward the house together, I felt his hand on my back, but I didn’t complain.
When the front door was locked behind us, I turned off the hall light and started up the stairs, expecting him to follow.
He stayed where he was, so I stopped at the top and looked down at his silhouette in the dark. “Don’t you want to come up?”
“I don’t know.”
My jaw dropped. “You don’t know?”
“I’m not sure I’m in the mood.”
Always a fucking game with him. “Felt like you were in the mood earlier.”
He didn’t say anything right away. Then, “You were a very bad girl at the table tonight.”
“You deserved it.”
“Your friends see what was going on?”
I nodded slowly.
“You wanted them to.”
Damn him. “Maybe.”
“Does it turn you on? Shaming me?” He started to move toward me then, slowly coming up the steps.
“Maybe.” My heart pounded louder as he got closer, my knees trembling. When he was two stairs below me, our eyes were just about even. I was trying to read his in the dark when suddenly he grabbed the back of my hair, stepped onto the landing, and forced me to look up at him.
His breath was warm on my lips. “My turn.”
Fifteen
QUINN
I kept my fist in her hair as I slowly walked her backward into her flat, using my free hand to open the door. Once it was shut behind me, I moved deeper into the dark room until we stood in front of the window. The curtains were pulled partway open, and some light from the street lamps spilled in through the glass.
I spoke softly but with an edge. “You’re not going to talk unless I say so. You’re not going to move unless I say so. You’re not going to come unless I say so. Do you understand?”
“But—”
I pulled her hair so hard she gasped. “Do you?”
“Yes,” she whispered.
“And when you speak, you will say only the words I tell you to say. When you move, you’ll do only the things I tell you to do. When you come, you’ll do it when, where, and how I want you to. Do you understand?”
She swallowed. “Yes.”
“Good.” I let go of her hair and unbuttoned my coat, sliding it off and tossing it aside. Backing away from her, I unwrapped my scarf and coiled it in my hands. “Take off your coat.”
She worked her way down the buttons in the front and slipped it from her body, letting it fall at her feet.
“Now your dress.”
Lifting it by the hem, she pulled it over her head and dropped it behind her.
Jesus fucking Christ, she was hot.
Framed by the partially opened drapes as if she were on a stage, her body was dimly lit from behind. She wore only the black boots with the high heels I’d admired earlier and some sort of strappy, black lace one-piece that made my cock jump up like it needed a better look.
I’d teased her about her pale skin, but she looked fucking luminous tonight. I loved the way her hair looked like ink spilling over her shoulders, the way her nipples peeked through the black lace, the way her chest rose and fell with her quick, short breaths.
“Turn around. Face the window.”
“But the—”
“Do it,” I seethed, “or we’re done here.”
Slowly, she turned to face the window. Her lingerie cut low on her back and high on her ass, and my hands ached to touch her. I knew she’d been about to tell me the curtains weren’t closed and anyone could look up and see her, but it was late, the room was dark, and anyway, she deserved a little of this.
“How does it feel, being put on display like you did to me tonight?”
She didn’t say anything.
“You can answer the question.”
“I don’t know,” she said.
“Do you like it?”
“Yes and no.”
“Why yes?”
“I like…being on display for you.”
“And why no?”
“I feel embarrassed. Someone else might see in the window.”
“You shouldn’t feel embarrassed about your body. It’s perfect. So perfect I’m not inclined to share it. Face me.”
She turned around again, and I liked the way she held herself, spine straight, shoulders back, chin lifted, feet slightly apart. It was defensive but also a little aggressive, telling me I might be calling the shots, but they weren’t anything she couldn’t handle.
I wanted to test her on that.
“Get on your knees, Jaime.”
She didn’t do it right away, and there was a tense moment where I thought the game was over, but eventually she dropped onto one knee, then the other.
“Now your hands.”
She put both hands on the carpet in front of her, and it reminded me of the way she’d crawled out of my closet to watch me get naked. Well, darling, you’re about to get that up-close-and-personal look you wanted.
“Crawl to me.”
She crept toward me at a snail’s pace, her body swaying, her eyes on mine.
Yes.
Her movements were feline and provocative, but submissive too. My chest—and my pants—were fucking tight.
When she’d reached my feet, she stayed there, waiting for my next order.
“Closer, darling.”
She moved in, sliding her hands up my legs, placing her palms on my thighs.
I rubbed my thumb along her lower lip, felt her panting against my hand. I edged my thumb between her teeth. “Such a pretty mouth. So soft and wet. And your tongue…” I slid my thumb in deeper, feeling her tongue glide along it. “I want my cock right here on your tongue. I want to feel your lips on it. I want to fuck that pretty little mouth and come down your throat. Would you like that?”
With my thumb in her mouth, she could only nod, but her eyes were wide and hungry. I took my hands off her. “Tell me you want those things. Exactly as I described them.”
“I want your cock on my tongue,” she said breathlessly. “I want it between my lips. I want you to fuck my mouth and come down my throat.”
“Good. Unbuckle my belt.” I stood still, my hands at my sides. “Take out my cock, but don’t put your mouth on it.”
She unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans, pushing everything down enough to get my dick free. Eagerly, she took it in both hands.
I stepped back. “Stand up.”
She looked up at me, confused, but she did as I asked.
“Turn around.”
When her back was to me, I took her wrists, crossed them, and tied them together with my scarf. “We won’t be needing your hands for this.”
With her hands bound at her lower back, I turned her to face me again, then pushed the top of her bodice beneath her tits, propping them up.
I lowered my head and teased one hard nipple with my tongue, just enough to make her writhe with impatience. She arched her back, thrusting her chest in my face.
I smiled and moved to the other one, circling it with the tip of my tongue but never taking it in my mouth. Reaching between her legs, I brushed one fingertip back and forth over her clit, just enough to elicit a strangled “Quinn!”
I shoved her back down on her knees.
“No talking.” I took my dick in one hand and dragged it along her jaw, over that dimpled chin, and across her lips. “I’ll touch you soon enough. Right now you’re going to stay still and open your mouth for me.”
She licked her lips and opened them over the head of my cock, and I felt my legs begin to hum, the pleasure starting to
unfurl. Taking her head in my hands, I pushed in deeper, groaning at the hot, tight fit. I pulled out slowly and watched as she went after the tip with her tongue and tried to get it back in her mouth.
But I controlled everything, and I held her head just far enough away from me that she couldn’t get what she wanted.
Then I gave her a little, and she swirled her tongue around it, sucked it greedily.
I gave her some more, and she looked up at me, her eyes wild and desperate.
“You want it all?”
She nodded.
“Do you think you deserve it all?”
A little whimper of frustration.
“Are you ready to take it all?”
She nodded again, and I shoved my cock to the back of her throat, making her body twitch with the impact. I did it again and again, keeping my eyes on her to make sure she was OK, but sparing no force or depth.
I don’t know how she kept breathing, but she never backed off, never struggled to get away, never looked at me with fear in her eyes.
Just hunger.
When I was close, I held her head still and paused for a moment with my cock buried in her mouth, her lips still a couple inches from the hilt. I almost wished her hands were free—what would she do with them? Wrap her fingers around the base? Grab my balls? Play with my ass? How dirty did she get?
“Oh, fuck.”
The thought was enough to push me over the edge, and I came hard, yanking her head toward me as I thrust into her with short, rhythmic jabs that hit the back of her throat.
I watched it happen, and the sight of it made the orgasm so intense I thought my legs might give out. My knees shook, my thigh muscles clenching and then weakening.
When it was done, I pulled out of her and she sat back on her heels, swallowing and then gasping for air.
God, she was fucking incredible.
And I wasn’t about to let up.
“Your turn, darling,” I said, putting myself back together and doing up my pants.
I helped her stand and pulled off my sweater, thinking quickly about how I wanted her. Well, I wanted her to sit on my face, but that gave her too much control over her orgasm, and I didn’t want her to have any. I didn’t want to untie her hands, either, so lying on her back would be tough.
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