The man was insatiable. A sex god. And apparently, she’d turned into a raging nympho. But only with him. Only him.
Part of her couldn’t believe the way James had looked at her last night, the things he’d said…like he wanted more than just sex with her. Like they had a lifetime to discover each other.
She was falling for him. Big time.
Maybe it was inevitable. She wasn’t the casual sex type. In retrospect, she now realized that the fact she’d hooked up with him to begin with meant she’d felt something the night they’d met, something she’d never experienced before. And now, after everything he’d given up for her…she only wanted him more.
Unfortunately, the digital clock by James’s bed, with its bright neon numbers, said it was half past five o’clock in the morning. She’d had the presence of mind to tell her mother not to wait up for her last night—and boy, had that gone over well—but she still wanted to get home in time to walk Carlos to school. Then she had work.
Which meant that, much as she might not want to, it was time to leave this glorious bed and the man in it. She couldn’t leave without saying goodbye, though.
Unable to stop herself from pouting, she rolled over and pressed a soft kiss to James’s collarbone. Then his chest, his jaw, until he began to stir.
“Mm…” His lips curved and his hand slid over her bare back, sparking a wave of tingles along her spine. “Hey, baby.”
“I have to go,” she whispered.
His eyes blinked open and he frowned at her. “No. Stay with me.”
“I want to.” She groaned and buried her face in his chest. “I have to walk Carlos to school, though. And there’s a boatload of work waiting for me at the office.”
He let out a little growl of protest.
“I know,” she murmured. “Me too.”
“At least let me call my driver. I’m sure he’s still waiting downstairs.”
She lifted her head to give James a surprised glance. “You think he’d just wait there, all night?”
“That’s what I pay him for.” He reached for his phone on the nightstand and dialed a number. After a moment’s pause, he said, “Oscar, are you at my building? Okay, good. Miss Rivera needs to get back to her apartment in Brooklyn… Yeah, she’ll be down shortly.”
James hung up and ran his fingers through her tangled hair, spearing her with an intense, affectionate look. “He’s downstairs. I’ll walk you down.”
She rumbled out a throaty laugh. “No, don’t bother. Stay in your warm, comfy bed.”
“No, I—”
Lyssa silenced him with a kiss. She pulled back. “I insist.”
He grinned at her. “Okay. But before you go…” His hands reached out and encircled her, dragging her on top of him.
“Are you serious?” Her mouth dropped open in disbelief. “We’ve already done it, like, a billion times.”
He arched his hips up into her, showing her the physical evidence of his growing desire. “What can I say, baby? You make me hot.”
She scoffed and shook her head incredulously.
Frowning, he asked, “What’s wrong? Not in the mood?”
Her cheeks grew warm. Even though they’d made love countless times, she wanted him again. How could she not? His animalistic lovemaking totally rocked her world.
“Okay,” she murmured. “But we have to make it quick.”
“Oh, I can be quick.” His eyes twinkled devilishly. “But first I need some motivation.”
Moving her thighs so she straddled him, he maneuvered her up his body, then further up until her knees rested on either side of his head.
“James.” She let out a little laugh.
“I need one more taste to make it through the day,” he murmured in a husky voice. Then he was urging her down, and his tongue was driving into her body.
“Oh god.” She grabbed onto his headboard for balance and reveled in the feel of his tongue inside her. Her hips moved in jerky rhythm, riding his tongue.
He let out several low, satisfied groans before wrapping his hands around her ass and lifting her off him. “You’re already so wet baby.”
“What can I say? You make me hot,” she said, echoing his words from a moment ago.
Chuckling, he reached over to the nightstand for the box of condoms they’d never bothered to put away and dug one out, handing it to her.
Funny how she’d never put one of these on a guy before last night. Now, she was an expert.
After sliding down James’s body, she straddled his knees and deftly unrolled the condom onto his erection. Her mouth watered at the sight of him jutting up before her. Any moment now, all that was going to be inside her.
She’d never get enough.
With an eagerness that would have been embarrassing had she not been so turned on, Lyssa rested her hands on James’s chest and hovered over him. But before she could sink down into heaven, he slid his hands onto the curves of her backside. One questing finger roamed in between her ass cheeks and rested lightly against the pucker there.
“Are you too sore here?” he asked, pressing his finger in the slightest bit.
She bit her lip. It was crazy, if Mike or any of her other boyfriends had ever suggested anal sex, she would have probably popped them in the head. But James turned her on so much that she’d had no qualms about trying it with him. And it had been great. But…she was sore.
“Yeah, I am,” she muttered regretfully. “But I definitely want to do that again. Soon.”
He made a sound that was half laugh, half moan. “That’s okay, baby. I’ll never, ever complain about getting to slide my cock into your delectable pussy.”
Oh, wow. She let out a shaky breath. “I love it when you say things like that to me.” Who would’ve thought she’d go for the dirty talk? Chalk it up to one more thing James had awoken within her.
“Yeah, I sort of figured that out,” he said dryly, eyes lowering to her wet core.
When he grasped the base of his cock and held it steady, she took that as her cue to lower down onto it. Her achy muscles clamped tightly around him and he groaned, moving his hands to her hips and pressing her down, inch by inch, until she was fully impaled on him.
She tossed her head back and let out a moan. “Oh, that feels so good.”
“Yeah,” he rumbled. He lifted her almost all the way off him, then jerked his hips up hard, burying himself deep.
“Oh god.” She cried out at the sensation of incredible fullness. “That’s it.”
His thumb slid to her clit, furiously stroking it while he slid out, then rammed back in. Over and over, setting a fast, furious rhythm. He knew just how rough she liked it.
“Oh…mmm.” She rolled her hips, undulating on top of him. Edging up and then slamming back down to the hilt. Riding him to a short, fiery crescendo.
“Yes, yes. Oh, yes.” She screamed his name as her climax overtook her.
“Hell, baby. I can’t...I’m gonna come.” He let out a strangled shout, pumping his hips in a jerky rhythm until they were both spent and she collapsed against his chest.
Sometime later, she stirred, murmuring, “Your driver probably thinks I got murdered on the way down.”
James laughed. “I’m sure he knows exactly what’s taking so long.”
She lifted off him and rose with a sigh, searching out her clothes.
After sliding the condom off and depositing it into the small wastebasket he’d dragged out of the bathroom the night before, James slid an arm under his head and watched her get dressed. Satisfaction melded with appreciation in his dark gaze. “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you down?”
Smiling, she walked over to the bed and pressed a lingering kiss to his lips. “I’m okay. One of us should get to sleep in a bit more.”
“M’kay,” he murmured. “When can I see you again?”
Lyssa straightened to give him a smirk. “I don’t know, I might need a week to recover.”
He scoffed. “I’ll give yo
u ten hours.”
She turned to search out her shoes. Kneeling, she dug them out from beneath the bed. “I’ll call you later, okay?”
But when she straightened, James was already asleep, his mouth partially open.
Her heart melted at the peaceful expression on his face. He looked…happy.
The lightness in her chest told her she was happy, too.
She gave in to the temptation to press a soft kiss to his temple, then turned and left.
***
When James woke again, it was already half past eight in the morning. He arched his back into a stretch and grinned. His body felt battered and deliciously abused. He could only imagine how Lyssa felt, given that she’d been the one who’d taken it hard and deep last night. Over and over again.
And then again that morning.
The memory of repeatedly driving into her made his sore cock spring to life. Even though he’d had Lyssa in every way, every position imaginable, he still wanted more of her. How could he not? She was so amazingly responsive. The way she’d egged him on last night, urging him on with her moans and cries and shouts to fuck her harder and deeper, to leave his everlasting mark on her, it drove him crazy. Like a drug, he was already aching for another fix.
He’d never even realized he would like rough sex. None of the other women he’d ever been with had inspired more than mild, momentary pleasure. Surely not this firestorm of lust and longing that threatened to obliterate every other thought in his head.
I should call her. See how she’s doing.
He reached for his phone, but then thought better of it. Let her get to the office, get started with her day. Then he’d call her and harass her into coming over to his place once she was done with work. Or he’d go to Brooklyn. He didn’t care, as long as he got to see her.
Suddenly, he remembered it was Monday, the day Martin Freeman was supposed to make the decision regarding his investment.
Crap. He dug the heels of his palms into his eyes and forced himself to get out of bed. While he didn’t regret last night’s decision for a minute—how could he, when it had led to the most amazing night he’d ever had the pleasure of experiencing—it left him in a quandary today.
Without an investor, he and his brothers were liable to lose everything.
After dragging himself into the shower and dressing in gray slacks and a burgundy dress shirt, he left his apartment and hopped on the subway toward Martin’s office. Much as he’d like to put it off, it was time to face the music.
Once the train let him off, he dug his phone out as he left the subway station and dialed his brother.
Andrew answered after the second ring. “Hello?”
From the sleepy yet sated sound of his voice, Andrew was also just getting started with his morning after a night of pleasure with Hailey. James’s gut twisted at the thought that he was about to ruin his brother’s day. Big time.
“I have to tell you something.”
Andrew’s voice grew guarded. “What is it?”
James took a big breath and then spilled his guts. He told Andrew everything, from Lyssa’s family situation to his decision last night to back away from Martin. Once he was done, he was met with stark silence on the other end.
He waited as long as he could for a response. Crossing the street, he said, “Uh…hello?”
“Yeah. I’m here.” Andrew let out a deep sigh. “Wow, James. It’s a lot to take in. It sounds…it sounds like you really have feelings for this woman.”
“I do. I know it’s crazy. I mean, I only met her a few days ago. But man, I can’t imagine my life without her already. I think…” He took a breath and admitted what he was only just starting to figure out himself. “Shit, bro, I think I might be falling in love with her.”
Another long pause passed before Andrew said, “Well then, you did the right thing.”
James ground to a halt in front of Martin’s office building. “Come again?”
“I said you did the right thing.”
His mouth dropped open and he held the phone in front of him to read the screen. Yup, that was Andrew’s number.
He moved the phone back to his ear. “Who are you and what have you done with my brother?”
Andrew chuckled, then heaved a breath. “Listen. Yeah, I’m a bit stressed out about it. But if the choice is between the woman you’re falling for and an investor, you have to pick the woman. It’s a no-brainer.”
James let out a disbelieving grunt. “Wow, that’s surprising. Coming from you.”
“Maybe. But I’m happy, James. Hailey makes me so happy.”
Lightness bloomed in James’s chest at those words. “I know. I love her for that.”
“I want you to be happy, too. That’s worth more to me than any amount of money in the world.”
Andrew’s softly spoken words caused a strange stirring in James’s chest. Blinking rapidly to dispel the sudden heaviness in his eyes, he murmured, “Thank you, Andrew. For understanding. And I promise, I’ll work day and night to find a replacement for Martin.”
“I know. We’ll do it together.” He paused for a moment. “Besides, the expansion was really more of Dad’s dream. If it doesn’t happen, we’ll survive.”
The fact that Andrew had just admitted that meant he’d truly turned a corner in his life. James couldn’t be prouder of that.
On the other end of the receiver, a woman’s voice murmured something James couldn’t hear. Andrew made a soft noise in response. “I have to let you go now. My woman wants to thank me for being so selfless.”
James laughed as Andrew disconnected the line. He should’ve known Hailey would be right at Andrew’s ear, listening in on their conversation. Well, at least his brother would get one good thing from James’s decision.
Sliding the phone back into his pocket, James entered the building and rode up the elevator. He could have simply called Martin, but given that they ran in the same circles, he felt it prudent to explain in person that he was withdrawing his company from consideration.
The doors swung open and he gave his name at the front desk. The receptionist asked him to have a seat before picking up the phone.
Less than five minutes later, Martin’s assistant, Rebecca, strode out. She gave him a warm smile and, as he rose, offered her hand. “This is unexpected, Mr. Everly.”
“I was in the area so thought I’d drop by,” he said as he shook her hand. “I hope I’m not intruding on anything.”
“Not at all. Mr. Freeman is actually pleased you’re here. He wants you to come right in.” She turned and led him through the interior to Martin’s private office.
Just before they arrived, the voice of the front area receptionist sounded out through the interoffice com. “Mrs. Andrews, please report to the front desk.”
With an apologetic smile, she pointed to a door. “I’m being summoned. Go ahead and make your way in. Martin’s already in his office.”
“Thank you, Rebecca.” He continued forward, knocking on the open door before stepping inside.
The older man rose from his desk upon seeing James and grinned broadly, shuffling his way over for a handshake. “Good morning, James. I trust you had a good weekend.”
He thought of Lyssa and last night, and a grin crept to his face. “I did, thanks.”
Martin gave a decisive nod of his head. “Good.”
Perhaps it was best to just get it over with quickly, like ripping off a bandaid. “Listen, Martin, I wanted to tell you—”
“I’m actually quite glad you came in this morning,” Martin interrupted. “You see, I was going to call you shortly to tell you that I’ve decided to invest in your company.”
“I—” James cut off abruptly as Martin’s words penetrated.
Mistaking his stunned silence for happiness, Martin beamed. “I’ll want to negotiate the percentage terms, but I think the end result will be something you can live with. In return, I’m willing to provide all the funds you’ll need to complete your global
expansion.”
James’s chest constricted madly. In his wildest dreams, he couldn’t have imagined Martin being so amenable to investing in a company like Everly Publications. He had no qualms about providing every bit of money they needed. It was a dream come true. The answer to all their prayers. Andrew would flip.
Except James was going to turn him down.
Just like that, his momentary excitement deflated. He couldn’t deny that Martin’s offer was tempting. So, so tempting. But as Andrew had said, if the choice was between a woman and an investor…
Well then, hell, there was no choice.
He opened his mouth to turn Martin down, when a soft, strangled noise sounded out behind him. Whirling around, James spotted Rebecca standing right at the threshold. Beside her, looking totally stricken, was Lyssa.
“Lyssa!” James winced at the tone of his voice. He sounded goddamn guilty.
“Oh, Lyssa,” Martin said, his voice evidencing surprise and politeness. “What an unexpected delight. I’m a popular man this morning.”
Her gaze strayed to Martin, then back to him. “How could you?”
“What…no, wait.”
But she didn’t. Shooting him one last pained and furious look, she turned and raced out of sight.
Damn it. No.
“I’m sorry,” Martin said, coming to stand beside him. He scratched his head. “I think I’m missing something--”
“Not now.” He shot past a stunned Rebecca and raced down the hall after Lyssa.
How was it possible for the woman to run so fast in heels?
As he finally caught up to her at the elevator, the doors were already sliding shut with her inside. He raced toward them, turning sideways and skidding in at the last possible moment.
The doors shut with a clang, leaving the two of them alone in the elevator.
James faced Lyssa, intent on explaining what had happened. But the angry, accusing look on her face made his heart clench with foreboding.
Chapter Fourteen
Good Girls Don't Page 16