He stroked her arms, his touch warm and gentle. “I think I’ve loved you since you wrote your first story.”
“Oh, Reynold.” She swiped at the tears rolling down her cheeks. “I love you too. But this is crazy. How on earth can we make this work?”
The look of delight on his face made her heart soar. “I have no idea, but just say you want to try, and we’ll figure out a way. Say you’ll have me.”
“Yes, oh yes.” She pulled him close as his lips grazed the wounds on her neck that marked her as his. She trembled in his embrace. He’d claimed her that first night with his body, but he’d marked her as his own a year ago the first time she looked into his eyes. She had always been his, and now she always would be. Her fantasy lover was real, and he was in her arms, forever.
The End
www.carolynrosewood.com
Other Books by Carolyn Rosewood:
The Last Soul
Hunted
Playing For Keeps
Midnight Seduction
Stockings and Suspenders
Virgins Behaving Badly
The Rebellious Princess Chooses Two Lovers
THE STRANGER YOU KNOW
Melissa Hosack
Copyright © 2012
Chapter One
Hayley stared at the words on her computer monitor and fought to keep her breath coming in a steady exhale. She failed, the air trembling shakily past her lips. The words spurred her heart to pound frantically in her chest.
If I was with you now, I would have my lips buried between your thighs, licking and nibbling you into a frenzy.
Crossing her legs and squeezing her thighs tightly together at her sudden rush of arousal, she typed back. I would have my hands buried in your hair, urging you on. Clicking send, she sat back and eagerly awaited a response. This had been the ritual with Ben over the past two months.
She’d met him in a chat group for a local book club, and the two of them hit it off well enough that he requested a private chat. At first, their discussions had stayed to literature, but they had quickly moved into other hobbies.
After a few weeks, the flirting had started. Hayley began making a habit of getting online when she knew Ben would be available. She’d begun to yearn for his messages, hanging onto every typed word.
Slowly, the sly flirting had progressed. There’d been a hint here, a dirty comment there. Now, months later, she found herself having cybersex with a stranger. She couldn’t resist him no matter how unconventional their liaison might be.
Ben was so thoughtful and intelligent. He was caring. He was…perfect.
I want you tugging on my hair while I taste you.
Hayley smiled with pleasure. Ben had a slightly kinky side to him that matched hers. Rough sex seemed to suit them both just fine, even if it was only a fantasy. She placed her fingers on the keys to respond when another message came through.
I want to graze my teeth along your sensitive clit until I have you screaming your orgasm—
“Hey, little sister!”
Hayley gave a shout of surprise and slammed down the screen of her laptop at her older brother’s voice. “Charlie!”
“Jumpy much?” he asked with a chuckle of amusement.
“Don’t you knock?” Her voice was thick with accusation as her hand moved to protectively cover the laptop. The last thing she wanted was for Charlie to read messages she was receiving from a stranger depicting oral sex in graphic detail.
“I did,” he came back smoothly. “You were too engrossed in whatever you were doing, so I just came in. You should really start locking your front door.”
It showed how engrossed she was in her conversation that Charlie had been able to walk right into her house and make his way into the kitchen where she sat without her even noticing. “Why are you even here?” she demanded as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
His brows shot up. “Dinner. Mom and Dad’s house. You asked to bum a ride. Any of this ringing a bell?”
Hayley flinched. “I forgot.”
“No kidding.” He took a step back and nodded toward the hallway that led to her bedroom. “Hurry up. Go get ready, so we can get out of here. You know how mom hates when dinner isn’t on time.”
Hayley bobbed her head vigorously. “Yeah. I’ll just…get ready.” She was about to walk away when she remembered her laptop. She snatched it up off the table and tucked it possessively under her arm. “I just…need to charge this.” With that, she took off down the hallway to get ready and to hide her bizarre online relationship.
****
Forgot I had dinner with the family. Sorry. I got out of there as soon as I could. Hayley sent her message off to Ben and sat back with her breath held. She’d left him hanging with Charlie’s arrival, but hopefully they would be able to salvage some of their evening.
Understandable. They got you for dinner. Now I get you for dessert.
She smiled as her fingers flew over the keyboard. I’m just glad you’re still online. I was worried you might have other plans.
My only plans involve you.
Her smile widened until her cheeks started to hurt. Something about this man ignited a flame inside her that was undeniable. What did you do this evening after I signed off, anything interesting?
I started that book you suggested, the one about the antique clothing store owner who murdered young women in his basement.
What did you think?
It’s very chilling. It also filled me with the desire to ask you a very important question… What are you wearing?
Clothing and fashion were central parts of the book, most importantly a woman’s willingness to risk even her own safety for stylishness. It was an insight into the superficial nature of modern society. She could see how the book could lead his thoughts to clothing. Only…her attire was nothing to brag about.
She looked down at herself with a frown. After dinner, she’d changed into a ratty sweatshirt. She’d pulled her hair into a ponytail and donned a pair of giant bunny slippers. Her fingers hesitated over the keys before she began typing, exaggerating her outfit to the best of her ability. I’m wearing a vintage top, and my hair is in an updo. She gave the monitor an uncertain grimace. That didn’t sound terrible.
So…an old sweatshirt and a messy ponytail? Sexy.
Laughter bubbled in her throat. Busted, she confessed. She bit her lower lip with a delighted grin over the fact that he’d called her on her embellishment. His brain had been what first attracted her, and it always gave her a thrill when he proved his intelligence.
I think we should meet.
Hayley sat back in her chair in stunned surprise at the words that flashed up in front of her. The request was so sudden and unexpected that she had no clue how to react. She’d been so enamored by Ben these last few months. The thought of meeting him in person sent a delicious chill down her spine.
Despite her excitement, she knew she should proceed with caution. Women were always warned about meeting up with men they met online. Still, she wasn’t totally opposed to the idea. The thought of me in a baggy sweatshirt inspires a meeting? She nervously blew out a breath as she awaited his response, hoping it would be enough to convince her to go through with this. She wanted to meet him. She wanted to hear his laughter and look into his self-proclaimed blue eyes. She wanted to feel his kisses instead of just imagine them.
No. The fact that all I can think about is getting you out of that sweatshirt inspired me to want to meet you.
Her heart sped up at his words. Now all she would be able to think about tonight would be him getting her out of this sweatshirt and into his arms. Leaning forward with a sly grin, she typed, I could be a fatty.
His response came quick. I could be a geek.
I’ll take my chances.
So will I.
A shiver ran down her spine. This was going to happen. She was finally going to meet him. Somehow she knew Ben would not be a disappointment in the flesh. Where should we meet?
&n
bsp; Masque.
Hayley’s eyebrows rose at that. Masque was a nightclub about twenty minutes from her. It was costume themed. All patrons inside wore masks to hide their identities. It was the place young people went if they were looking to hook up with strangers they never intended to get to know. You don’t want me to see your face?
I want to keep a sense of mystery about me. Didn’t want you to get bored, and I thought it sounded kind of sexy.
Nothing about you is boring. His comment sent a rush of excitement through her. The thought of spending the evening with Ben but never fully seeing his face, leaving mystery to their odd relationship, was too good to pass up. I’m in. I want to meet you.
I’ll be the man at the back of the club under the hourglass clock. Meet me at nine.
In her mind, Hayley pictured the clock. It was a massive orb with an hourglass in its center. As the hour progressed, the sand in the clock fell in time with the ticking hands. When the hour ended, a mechanism in the clock would flip the hourglass and the process would start again. It was a beautiful clock and the perfect place for their first rendezvous. She shivered. She was actually going to meet him after all these months of yearning. I can’t wait.
Neither can I. After a moment’s pause, a second message popped up. Now tell me more about this sweatshirt.
She laughed with a shake of her head. How about you tell me what you’re wearing? That only seems fair.
My boxers, a smile, and nothing else.
Anticipation swept through her. She could not wait to meet this man.
Chapter Two
“I can’t believe I’m doing this.” Hayley ran her hands nervously down the calf length dress she’d bought for her meeting with Ben. The top was a tightly laced corset that flared out into a sleek skirt. The outfit made her look and feel like a princess.
She adjusted her mask, making certain it hid the majority of her face. Her dark, reddish brown hair was piled on top of her head and entwined with silver ribbons. It had cost her eighty dollars and two hours at the salon, but it was worth it. She felt gorgeous.
She quickly forgot about her own appearance at the sight of Ben waiting for her under the hourglass clock. She knew it was him right away. His entire being seemed to call out to her. Barely able to breathe, she inched toward the clock as her eyes hungrily drank in every inch of him.
He looked like Prince Charming come to life. Only Ben looked much more dangerous than any fairytale prince. His feathery blond hair framed a rugged face with a prominent jaw. She knew from past conversations that he was six feet six inches and two hundred and forty pounds. Even with the cape covering his arms, she could tell he was nicely muscled.
As she tiptoed closer, she took in the brilliance of his blue eyes. They stood out more due to the black background of his mask. “Ben?” she inquired nervously.
A smile split across the man’s face. “Angel?”
Hayley’s knees trembled at the deep, sexual tone of his voice. This man was absolutely perfect in every way. She fought back an embarrassing shudder of arousal. “Actually, Angel isn’t—”
Ben cut her off by leaning down to capture her lips firmly with his own. “I don’t want to know, at least not yet.”
The kiss had been brief, but it rocked her from head to toe. She stared breathless into those blue eyes and knew no other man would ever compare to the sexual appeal this man had without even trying. He was better than anything her imagination had come up with over the months.
Ben chuckled at her frozen awe. Taking her hand and gently pulling her in against his chest, he whispered in her ear, “Dance with me.”
A giddy smile spread across Hayley’s lips as he drew her close. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d been this affected by a man. As his hand ran tenderly along her back and he swayed her slowly to the music, Hayley said, “This song isn’t exactly romantic.”
Hard rock blared throughout the club, making the floor vibrate. People pushed and shoved on the dance floor, yet Ben continued to move unhurriedly with her on the outskirts. “I don’t care.”
She had to duck her head and lean it on his shoulder to hide just how ecstatic his simple comment made her. She easily tuned out the loud music and pulsating bodies, concentrating solely on Ben.
Her body was so attuned to his that she could feel every inhale of breath, every shift of his feet. She wanted to cling to him and never let go. Online, he’d appeared to be her perfect match, but she’d always feared there was some catch. Now, in his arms, she couldn’t find a single flaw. He was everything she’d hoped for and more.
“I finished that book,” he said huskily in her ear.
This brought her head up. “You finished already? You must have a lot of time on your hands.”
He shrugged. “My job had me working the midnight shift this week. There was plenty of downtime to read.”
In their past discussions, Ben had mentioned being a computer programmer. He’d been working on a major project that went into effect two weeks ago. Once he trained the morning crew on how to use the program, he’d said he would be moving on to the night shift. “So I take it that means things went well with your project?”
He smiled. “It did. I’m touched that you remembered.”
“I remember everything you tell me.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, the air around them seemed to heat up. She felt the warmth travel up the back of her neck, felt it where his body pressed along hers.
“I have a room in the hotel next door,” he said softly. His eyes danced along her face as if searching desperately for her reaction to such a bold statement.
If she’d had any question as to the full meaning of that comment, his cock stirring with the beginnings of an erection would have been answer enough. “Okay,” she agreed breathlessly. She liked the fact that he was turned on by her attention to him and the details of his life. She would give him all the attention he could ever want if given the chance.
When he took her hand and led her from the club, she didn’t feel the slightest hint of reluctance. It might be foolish, but she trusted him. She felt she knew him better than she’d ever known anyone else. He’d seen into her heart, and she trusted him with it.
****
As Hayley entered Ben’s hotel room, she let her gaze travel over the attractive maroon and gold setting. She took in the paintings that decorated one wall and the large marble counter of the mini-kitchen. “This place is beautiful.”
His arms snaked around her waist, and he drew her to him from behind. “I’m not interested in the scenery. I’m interested in you.”
Her eyes fluttered closed as he brushed a fallen wisp of hair off her neck and replaced it with his mouth.
“I didn’t wait all these months to admire my hotel room.” His lips traveled along her exposed shoulder as his hands splayed across her velvet-covered stomach.
“Neither did I,” she whispered back breathlessly.
“Good.” His hands retreated from her stomach. They moved along her waist and around her back until they reached the lacings of her corset.
Hayley held her breath as the knot at the bottom was loosened. She could feel heat emanating from his body, his presence dancing along her skin like a flame licking along kindling. “I don’t sleep with men on the first date.” She was proud to have gotten the joke past her lips without her voice trembling overly much.
“You’ve had sex with me a million times in your mind,” he said on a chuckle. “We’ve talked through every detail of what we would like to do with one another.” He pressed another kiss to her shoulder as his fingers slid through the lacing of her corset, the ribbon sliding through the eyelets of the garment. “I read Pride and Prejudice for you.”
“It was a good book,” she protested. Her complaints were cut abruptly short when his teeth nipped at her shoulder.
“Then perhaps you’d like to call me Mr. Darcy while I fuck you. As far as you know, I could be.”
“Mr. Darcy would never sa
y fuck.” Hayley was glad she’d gotten her retort out quickly, because a moment later Ben managed to free the laces of her corset. She was rendered speechless as the fabric fell away, exposing her breasts as it fluttered down to her waist.
“True,” he murmured against her ear. “I’ve got a much darker side than Mr. Darcy.” As he spoke, he grabbed the waist of her skirt and yanked hard enough to jar her entire body. His stiff tug caused the dress to slide down her hips and pool at her feet.
A sharp gasp escaped her at the violent jerk at her clothing. She was too busy being startled by the sudden movement to be embarrassed at her near nudity.
“That’s much better,” Ben exhaled into her ear. He wrapped one arm around her waist to hold her against him. The other he let travel up her ribs, along her abdomen, and finally across her breasts. His fingertips caressed her nipples, coaxing them into hard nubs.
Heat pooled between her legs, and she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from whimpering.
Ben seemed to be having just as hard a time schooling his reaction, because he groaned low in his throat, his breath shifting the hair next to her ear. “You have no clue how badly I’ve wanted you.” The hand on her waist skimmed down her belly until it reached her panties. Ever so gently he began stroking her through the lace fabric.
“As badly as I’ve wanted you,” she answered.
“Please don’t deny me, Angel,” he whispered almost desperately. “I need you. You have no idea how much I need you.”
Hayley let her head fall back against his shoulder as he pinched her nipple between two fingers and tugged lightly at the puckered flesh. “I want this, Ben.” Her assurance came out stilted and breathy. “I want you.”
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