She sighed and studied her coffee cup through blurry eyes. She wasn’t ready for another man yet. Jared was probably on a plane. Given the urgency of his departure, it might take a day or two for him to get back to her.
She hated waiting. She’d give him a week. She tilted her head to the side. Well, most of a week. If she hadn’t heard from him by the weekend, then she was going back on the prowl.
- o -
Exhausted by the end of Friday and a grueling week, Jared stretched out on the bed in his London hotel. It had taken longer to appease the copper supplier than he’d expected. One damn problem with commodities was keeping all the middle people happy.
He had an early morning flight to Amsterdam. Hopefully, Maya Narong wouldn’t be so problematic. He smiled ruefully. The woman of Dutch-Thai descent had been much more pleasurable than problematic over the decade or so he’d known her. That she was a vice president of one the major European banks he dealt with was also handy.
She’d be a change from Kitty Paige—more demure, less demanding.
Kitty.
He hadn’t counted on Kitty worming her way into his thoughts these last several days, but she had. He groaned. He bet she had really put her claws out when she read the note he’d left.
He hadn’t planned on leaving that abruptly, but maybe it was for the better. He’d purposely kept his note vague because he didn’t know what to do with his vision in yellow. She’d far surpassed his expectations, but that didn’t mean he needed more of her.
Jared did his best to ignore his growing arousal. Maybe it was best to let it be. Probably neither of them was looking for anything long term. His trip to London and Europe offered a natural breaking off point.
Still, he felt a little guilty for not saying he’d call or how much he’d enjoyed their brief time together.
He glanced at his cell phone on the nightstand. He could still call her. What was holding him back?
He rolled over, facing away from the phone. She’d made no effort to call his cell, either. Maybe she’d been looking for an easy way out, too.
So how many men had she invited to her bed since he left? Involuntarily, he ground his teeth. Why should the answer to that question bother him at all?
- o -
Kitty beamed proudly at Rocketman, who was breathing hard in the winner’s circle. Lawrence, Rebecca and Jared were right—there weren’t many things more thrilling than getting your picture taken with your winning horse.
Ron Woods grabbed her hand and clutched it tightly. She smiled at him and looked back at the cameraman. The construction foreman had readily agreed to be her date for the day—and, they both knew, for the night. They’d hooked up a couple times before and he’d been fun. Eight years her junior, he was safe; she knew neither one of them harbored any intentions other than some good clean fun.
And she was ready for some fun. He hadn’t called once. He was gone. She was determined to get on with her life. Once she heard the camera snap, she leaned over and kissed Ron’s cheek.
As they exited the winner’s circle, Rebecca drew her aside. “Do what you must, girl,” the older woman said, “but I can’t believe your Clark Gable mustache just up and left you.”
“Well, he did,” Kitty snorted. “That’s life.”
“He struck me as a man with more common sense than that. You two looked good together.” Rebecca winked. “Real good.”
“And Ron and I don’t?”
“I didn’t say that.” Rebecca shrugged and then laughed. “I believe your horseman has more potential, but you run along and enjoy your construction guy. And I’ll wager you haven’t seen the last of Jared Jacobs.”
Kitty ignored the slight shiver at the base of her spine. “Potential doesn’t do a damn thing for me. And I’ll accept that wager. Let’s say an expensive bottle of wine.
“You’re on. If he’s not back on the scene within a month, I’ll present you with the best I can afford.”
Rebecca sounded way too confident. Smiling, Kitty said, “I may even share a glass with you and Lawrence.”
“You seem distracted tonight.”
Kitty swallowed and opened her eyes to stare up at Ron, hovering over her. She clenched her vagina around his cock and his smile was instantaneous. It wasn’t fair to him to let herself be distracted by some bastard thousands of miles away. “Sorry. I must still be reliving that race Rocketman ran. Why don’t you come in me?” She wrapped her legs around his butt.
“If you want,” he said, shifting his weight to his knees and slipping his large hands under her rear. He hoisted her ass off the bed and eased in and out of her.
“Oh, I want,” she replied. “Hurry.”
Holding her steady, he pummeled her with abandon.
She strummed her clit and saw his eyes widen. She laughed when they both came together.
When he lowered her butt to the bed, she pulled away from him and curled into a ball. Her lungs heaved for air as if she were drowning. The familiar post orgasmic glow flowed through her body, yet she couldn’t shake an overwhelming sense of sadness.
She shook her head. She wasn’t going to go there. No way.
She smiled when she heard Ron searching for his clothes. One thing she really liked about the guy was he didn’t want to stay the night. He often had to leave for job sites by five A.M., and his tools and trailer were at his place.
“Thanks,” she said softly.
“Thank you,” he replied, buttoning his shirt. “You did seem to regain focus.”
“Oh, yeah. Can you come by Wednesday after work? I’ll fix supper.”
Ron cocked his head to the side, as if mentally checking his calendar. “That’ll work.”
“Can you do the track next Saturday?”
He shook his head. “Sorry. I promised a friend I’d start her porch on Saturday. I could do Sunday, if you want.”
“Okay,” Kitty said, sitting up and not bothering to cover up. “Drop by here late morning and we can do the day at the track.”
His face lit up in a grin. “And the night?”
She patted the bed by her side. “Right here, of course. Now, run along.”
“See ya,” he said, heading for the door.
She frowned at his back and then at the empty space. At least he’d said those words to her directly. Mr. Sunshine had only thought of putting them on a piece of paper.
She pulled her knees up and hugged them to her chest, rested her chin on them and rocked softly. So life was returning to normal.
She grimaced. Shouldn’t normal feel better than this?
- o -
Gasping for breath, his eyelids half shut, Jared watched the short-cropped dark head gliding up and down his cock. He curled his toes into the carpet of Maya’s living room carpet and rocked on the balls of his feet.
He stilled when Maya squeezed her small fingers around the base of his cock. His penis cooled as soon as she lifted her pretty face to giggle at him.
“I want him to come down my throat.” The corners of her mouth turned up and she gave him a coy look. “If you don’t mind.” She slid her hand along his length, keeping him primed.
“Go ahead,” he grunted, cupping his palms over her ears. He’d pay her back later. They had plenty of time.
She cradled his balls and glanced up at him. She tapped the head of his cock against each of her nipples and then lowered her head again, arching her neck.
Mesmerized, Jared watched his cock slowly but surely disappear into Maya’s hot mouth. She reached around to knead his butt, drawing him tighter to her. Jared tried to swallow and breathe through his nose. He’d never understand how such a petite woman could do this, but it was her gift.
Her moans intensified as she edged closer to her goal. And then she reached it. Her lips brushed against his loins with his cock completely engulfed in her mouth and throat. Jared remained rock solid still, letting Maya adjust to his size.
She pinched his butt and he yelped. Her muffled giggle was the only
prelude to her slowly moving back up his length. The suction brought an involuntary howl from his mouth.
Her shoulders shook with laughter. She knew very well what she was doing to him. She’d probably done it a hundred times before. It was never quite clear to him which one of them enjoyed this most.
He massaged the base of her neck and shoulders. She paused and moved her head from side to side without giving up her purchase.
Then she peeked up and shook her head. She winked and sleepily corkscrewed down his cock. He entwined his fingers in her hair and she began in earnest to propel them toward her next goal. Her fingers dug into his butt, encouraging his help.
He rocked back and forth, trying to keep his eyes open to watch Maya work her magic. She soon became a blur. She had him. He rose on his toes as he began coming in spurts.
Maya never hesitated or slowed. “Oh hell,” he cried out. She stayed with him, not yielding at all to his distress.
At last his spasms began to ebb. He settled back on the soles of his feet. Apparently not convinced he was finished, Maya slipped a small hand around his shaft and began to milk whatever he had left over into her mouth. He groaned loudly. He wanted to pull her off, but knew she enjoyed feeling him soften in her mouth.
When his legs threatened to give out, Maya dropped his shaft from her mouth and held it gingerly in her hand. She eyed his now-limp cock and giggled. “The mighty do fall,” she murmured, kissing its tip and rubbing its crown across her cheeks.
He helped her to her feet and hugged her tight. “You’re too much,” he groaned.
She smiled and then nipped at his pecs. “I loved that. You are a very virile man, Jared Jacobs. After three nights of loving, you still give me what I need.” She placed her small hand around his. “Come, my friend. My bed is waiting. I think your tongue would be a nice gift.”
Minutes later, Jared curled his tongue as Maya steadily rode it, her knees placed on either side of his head. He encouraged her with his hands curved around her bottom. He knew she was tugging on her nipples with one hand while her other was busy just above his nose, strumming her clit.
“What a ride,” she squealed. Her thighs squeezed his head like a fleshy vise. “Don’t move,” she panted. “I’m coming.”
He tried not to laugh but held his tongue steady, letting her use it as she needed. And then her juices began to ebb over his tongue. She jerked and moaned softly. She released and he had to swallow or drown.
She didn’t complain as he began lapping at her pussy. He couldn’t catch her entire flow. She spilled out of his mouth and down his chin.
He held her, waiting for her to regain her equilibrium. Her butt cheeks shuddered as she backed away and slid down his chest.
She grinned broadly. “You missed some.” Maya flicked out her tongue and cleaned his chin of her juices. Finished, she kissed him full on the mouth and then nestled against him.
He cuddled her and kissed her cheek. “Ah, Kitty,” he murmured. “You are incredible.”
Maya propped herself up on an elbow and gave him a crooked grin. “So who’s Kitty?”
“Kitty?” Jared froze. “I didn’t!”
Maya nodded slowly. “You did.” She slanted a finger across his lips. “It’s okay. We both have many lovers.”
“But I never…” He still couldn’t believe he’d called out Kitty’s name. He prided himself on being so careful with his women never to let one lover intrude upon another. Son of a bitch.
“You’d better tell me about her, or you’re going to bust a gut.”
“I’m sorry,” he began. “I’ll leave now, if you want.”
Looking perturbed, Maya said quickly, “I don’t want you to leave. I want to hear about this Kitty lover.” Maya grinned softly. “She must really have her claws in you.”
He shrugged. Were all women as persistent as Maya and Kitty? They’d probably like each other. “I haven’t known her long. She lives in Chicago. She’s into real estate and into race horses.” That he added race horses surprised him. After all, that was a recent interest for her.
“Ah,” Maya said, “she shares your passion. Horses are much too big for me to take a liking to. But there must be more to her than that. You’ve seemed distracted this entire week. I thought it was work.” She smirked. “But now I know it was a woman. Did she do you wrong?”
He shook his head.
“Did you do her wrong?” She peered at him down her tiny nose.
He sighed. “She might think so.”
“You don’t know for sure?”
“We haven’t talked since I left Chicago.”
“I see. You have unfinished business in Chicago.”
He closed his eyes. “Maybe.”
She pecked at his lips and he opened his eyes to see her smiling down at him.
“You may be able to fool yourself for a while, but you can’t fool me. You do have unfinished business.” She shook her head. “I never thought I’d see the day when Jared Jacobs became a marked man.”
Maya trailed her lips down his neck and nibbled on his throat. She glanced back up at him. “Someday I’d like to meet this Kitty of yours. She must be quite the woman. Does she know you love her?”
“I don’t,” he snapped.
“So you say. I hope you won’t be offended if I don’t believe you.” She shifted lower, nipping at his shoulders. His cock sprang to life as she began rubbing her crotch against it.
He tilted his head to the side. “You’re not upset? This week?”
She shook her head. “Of course not. We both needed some loving. We’ve always done well together without strings. This is no different.”
Maya tucked a hand between them to bring his stiff shaft to her pussy. She smiled and gasped as she bore down, taking him into her tight sleeve.
“Kitty may have her claws in you, but she hasn’t claimed you completely. Not yet.” She placed her palms on his chest and pushed up to a sitting position. “You are mine tonight.” She levered up his shaft and back down. “Unless you object.”
He growled and reached for her breasts. “You and Kitty probably have more in common than I want to admit.”
She gyrated from side to side and up and down. Her nipples became hard pinpoints. Her darker skin seemed such a contrast to Kitty’s ivory flesh.
Maya stopped rising and falling to grind against his loins. “She and I share a cock, at least for now.” Maya narrowed her eyes. “But now I don’t want to hear her name again tonight.” She flashed an eyebrow. “If I do, I may have to get my whips out. Agreed?”
He chuckled softly, not sure she was joking. “Agreed.” He curled his fingers around her hips to help her ride both of them into oblivion.
Sitting in a window seat in first class, Jared ignored everything going on around him. With his eyes closed to ward off any intrusion from flight attendants, he plotted and re-plotted his strategy for Kitty Paige.
Would she even talk to him after he’d left so abruptly? He’d make her. He shifted his eyes from side to side—he couldn’t make that damn woman do a thing.
He’d have to resort to romance. He smiled. Wasn’t that what he’d done after she left him hanging in Seattle? The roses. The scarf.
And she’d responded. He chuckled softly, remembering the yellow thong and yellow vibrator.
She’d figure out some way to make him grovel, and he had that coming to him. He’d behaved like an idiot. Maya was right; he’d probably inflated his business crisis to get out of Chicago before he could sink into the quicksand of Kitty’s making. He sighed. They were both responsible, but did she have any idea how she’d so completely captured his imagination?
From Chicago to London to Amsterdam he’d been troubled by his reaction to Kitty. Why did it take another woman to name that trouble? Love!
He didn’t want to be in love. He nearly gagged, and then he felt like soaring. Love was the last thing he’d wanted when he first sent the roses. He took a deep breath and blew air through his lips. Love w
as what he got.
He thought of Maya’s goodbye and well wishes and smiled. He’d miss her. She’d always made it clear they had only what they shared from moment to moment. She seldom took male lovers to her bed, saying she found females lovers to be more sensitive and less complicated. Fortunately, she’d always made an exception for him. And she knew if he got what he wanted from Kitty, their sexual friendship would end—but their non-sexual friendship and business relationship would survive. They shared far too much for that not to happen.
Jared cracked his eyes open to check his watch and then quickly closed them. With luck, they’d land at O’Hare early in the evening. Should he simply knock on her door and surprise her?
He pursed his lips. That might be too dangerous. He could blow their entire future with the wrong step. He didn’t like calling her first to give warning, but that did seem to have the least amount of risk.
Advanced knowledge would give her a chance to collect herself. Clearly, they had things to talk about. He didn’t think she’d simply invite him to her bed.
He smiled. She did have a very large comfortable bed. He’d see if he could find some yellow roses at the airport.
Jared sighed deeply. With a plan settled, he allowed himself to drift off.
- o -
“Damn,” Kitty grunted. “Wait a minute,” she said to Ron, who had just begun to take her to that next plateau on the way to another glorious orgasm.
He stopped immediately.
“Don’t go away,” she said, locking a leg around his butt to keep him in place. “I’ve got to check caller I.D. I’ve got a huge sale hanging in the balance. If it’s the buyer’s realtor, I’m going to have to take the call.”
“No problem,” Ron said, rising off her chest to kneel. He wiggled his cock in her, as if to assure her he wasn’t about to shrivel up.
Kitty grabbed her cell from the nightstand. At first the cell phone number didn’t register in her foggy brain, and then it did. “Oh my God,” she said, ignoring Ron’s questioning look.
The Best Man Page 8