by Taylor Love
“Well that’s not an option. And since you waited too long I’ll pick for you, coco it is.” Damond decided getting two cups ready as he got the mix down.
“I want marshmallows then.”
“What did you say? Stop mumbling. I’m sure you don’t encourage that in your class.”
“You can be so annoying!” She snapped. “Did you hear that?”
Janae jumped up getting the marshmallows herself, popping a few in each cup right before he added the water straight from the still hot tank. While he finished getting those ready, she opened her unofficial junk food cabinet. Grabbing a half-eaten bag of Oreo cookies.
“Grab my flashlight will you, my hands are full,” Damond asked her. “Let’s go into the living room.”
Chapter Nine
JANAE GRABBED HIS LIGHT along with hers before following as they moved into the other room, where he set the hot beverages on the low table.
“I think I caught a chill out there, I’m going to start a fire. Plus, it will keep us warm and provide you more of the precious light you desire.”
“That’s actually a great idea, thanks.”
She watched as he threw in a few fake fire logs to quickly get it going and then topped it off with a few of the real wood chunks that were stacked in the corner of the room. When he sat down on the bear skin rug next to her, she handed him his drink.
“Thanks.”
“No, thank you. I really appreciate you checking.”
“Yeah, well you’re welcome. Sorry I didn’t have better results for you.”
“No, I’m sorry for freaking out on you.” She held out her snack as a peace offering.
“I get it, some people are afraid of storms.” Damond took a handful of cookies. Figured eating would take away the sliver of guilt trying to creep in. “That lightning was freaky, even to me.”
“I usually like storms, lightning and all if I’m in the house. They can be oddly relaxing. Ann Arbor weather is horrible. We’re often hit harder than cities east of us, so I’m used to having no power for a bit.”
“Then why in the hell was I outside in the dark if this isn’t a big deal?”
“It’s this place! At home I still have noise. Some stores and houses have generators so it’s never completely dark or silent. I can’t help it. I keep thinking about axe murders creeping around out there.”
Damond chuckled. “The only murderers around here are in my books.”
“That’s all good and well, as long as they stay in there.”
They sat in companionable silence for a long while after that last exchange. Finishing off their drinks and the bag of miniature Oreos as they sat. Janae felt more relaxed. The warmth of the flames and the glow it gave, putting her at ease. Right up until Damond blurted out the unexpected.
“So...be honest. You’ve probably gotten yourself off since the basement, right?”
“What?” Good thing she wasn’t still eating because she would have choked. “I have not!”
“You don’t have to lie. It’s no big deal, it’s natural to do it every once in a while.”
“While that may be true, I haven’t done it. Not that it’s any of your business. I mean...maybe I thought about it once or twice since then, but that’s it.”
Why had she told him that? Better yet, why did she allow him to draw her into these inappropriate conversations? Looking anywhere but at him, she played lightly with the thin gold bracelet on her wrist.
“Nothing to be embarrassed about Professor. My once a day has doubled since our basement fun and I’m not ashamed to say it.”
“You should be, where is your verbal filter? I don’t want to hear about you diddling your fiddle while thinking of me.”
Damond laughed so hard he leaned back on his elbows.
“Where do you get these old-timey phrases from? And your ego is a bit big. I said I was whacking off more, not that I was thinking of you while doing it.”
“My ego has nothing to do with it, you brought up the basement so I assumed...ugh never mind. You are an aggravating man. Why can’t you just sit here and be quiet while we wait on the lights.”
He sat back up, even scooted a bit closer as she watched him wearily. “But what fun would that be?”
“Everything doesn’t have to be fun,” Janae insisted. “Fun is what got us in a sticky situation last time.”
“I disagree. Everything doesn’t have to be so serious either. The lights are off, we can either work until our laptops die out or relax.”
“Damond I could relax, if you would just—be—quiet.”
He was for a while, shrugging before looking off into the fire, even throwing another log in it after a while. But of course his silence didn’t last long, it wasn’t even a full ten minutes later before he was speaking again.
“I propose we pass the time by fooling around.”
“The dark is making you delusional.” Janae rolled her eyes, snorting out a laugh. “But feel free to find a corner and take care of yourself if it’ll make you happy.”
“Why play with myself when we can play with each other? You know one of the things that distinguishes higher level mammals is that they have sex for pleasure, not just procreation.”
“Another trait which puts humans above animals is not being ruled by their sexual instincts.” Janae shot back.
“Yeah, there’s that pesky civilization making us boring again.” Damond leaned in, crowding her space until she had to meet his eyes. “Why can’t we do a little hanky-panky to pass the time? See I even used an old word...just for you.”
Janae wanted to laugh but bit her lip not wanting to encourage him. “Get away from me with your dirty mind.”
Damond didn’t move, he saw the laughter in her eyes and knew he could get away with a kiss, and then that would be all she wrote. Truth be told half of him was trying to keep her mind off the dark, and the other part, one he didn’t want to examine too closely, wanted her to come to him. Needed her to make the first move, so he not only backed away but got to his feet.
“Fine, I’ll be in my office.”
“Wait, what?” Janae quickly reached out, grabbing the bottom of his pants. “You’re just going to leave me here alone in the dark?”
“I was doing what you told me. Figure out what you want Professor.”
“I want you to sit down, stop teasing me and above all else don’t leave me in the dark in this creepy ass cabin!”
“Language,” Damond admonished. Dropping back down and leaving only an inch or two between them. “And for the record if you’d let me truly tease you, you wouldn’t be so stressed about the dark.”
“Whatever.” She got out on a sigh of relief.
“Easy for you to say. I could have been spanking my monkey before having a nice nap instead of sitting here with you.”
“You won’t die if you don’t masturbate. I’ve never seen a grown man be so sexually... needy.”
Now Damond gave her a serious look.
“Then you haven’t been around many real men. We’re always looking for an opportunity, particularly when we’re around a sexy woman. That’s just our nature. Don’t blame me for having actual testosterone. What do they do, neuter the men in academia?”
Janae opened her mouth, only to snap it shut and turn her head away. Damond was arrogant, aggressive with his words, and even pushy at times. He was very much a man. Despite what he thought, she was a normal woman and his sexual innuendoes were affecting her. Making her mind flashback to the basement interlude where he’d brought her pleasure, both with his hand and head between her legs. When she looked back around it was to find him still gazing at her. In a voice just short of a whisper Janae made an offer.
“I...can give you a handjob.”
“You can do what now?”
He had been expecting a number of things but none of them had been that.
“You heard me. Do you want one...I won’t offer again.”
“I’m wondering why you’re offeri
ng now?” Damond was truly stunned.
“Why do you care? Didn’t you just say men were always looking for an opportunity? Well here’s one, do you want it or not?”
“Hell yeah I do. But I still want to know how your mind decided to offer.”
Janae sighed, wishing she had kept the compromise to herself.
“That night you made me feel really good, and it’s been a long time since I felt that way...sexually.” She explained. “I also realize you didn’t get to completion. I’m willing to pay you back so we can be even, and you can let this sexual tension you have with me go.”
Damond bit the inside of his jaw so he wouldn’t say anything rash. Like psychoanalyze her comment and point out how the sexual tension was mutual. But he had no desire to delay the outcome of what he’d been aiming for. Which was to get his hands on her again. True, for now it would be her hands on him, but he would take it.
“Okay, how do you want me?”
“Oh.” Janae had expected him to pick at her comments more, as he was normally prone to do. “Just lay down. And to be clear, everyone’s clothes will be staying on and you keep your hands to yourself.”
“I know you’re the teacher and all, but when you said handjob I was expecting the adult version.” Damond put a throw pillow under his head and got comfortable. “You know hand to skin contact. Not the seventh grade version through my pants.”
“I can get to your...where I need to be without taking off your clothes. Just lay there and hush.”
Not giving herself time to change her mind, Janae proved her point by easily pulling down his joggers. His underwear took a little more effort as he was already half erect, but when he lifted his hips, she was able to pull them down far enough to expose his manhood. She had to take a deep breath at what she saw. In the basement by the time his pants were down she’d been pissed off, purposely looking anywhere except below his waist.
But now, she could see him clearly in the warm light and she was impressed. He was thick, growing even more under her curious gaze. When he cleared his throat, she finally touched his smooth flesh. He was warmer than her hand was, as she slowly started to stroke him up and down. By the time he was fully hard, which didn’t take long, Damond was talking again.
“If I would have known you’d be handing out handjobs I would have brought some lotion.”
“If you don’t like it, I can stop.”
“No, no, it’s fine. You have really soft hands actually. They’re a little sweaty so that adds some lubrication.”
“Oh my God, would you please shut up!”
Janae stifled her laugh and refused to look at him, besides she was fixated with watching his penis. He felt huge in her hand and her mind couldn’t help wonder what he would feel like moving inside her. Was she breathing a bit fast, probably but she couldn’t help it. Barely two minutes later he was bothering her again.
“Let me know if you need more light. I can do an “X” marks the spot with my flashlight.”
“I’ve never met a man that talked so much who wasn’t giving a lecture.” She scolded. “What will it take to shut you up?”
“Well if you tighten up your hand a little and move a bit faster for about three more minutes, I won’t be able to. You know, because I’ll be coming.”
“You’re so crass!”
Janae did what she should have done a long time ago. What she’d wanted to do since first touching him, kissed him to shut him up. Time froze as an electric shock went through them both. Then his hand was on the back of her neck, taking over barely before she began.
Janae didn’t mind, she delighted in him taking control as he rose up, at the same time drawing her down with his other arm. His tongue probing every corner of her mouth, hers trying to do the same to his. They both tasted of sweetness and chocolate and it only made her want more. When she pressed even closer he let out an uncomfortable groan, because she was squeezing him. Loosening her grip she started stroking him again, the next moan he emitted was deep with fervor. Which had Janae smiling against his mouth, and Damond rewarding her with a nip of her bottom lip.
Then he was moving his hips, pumping into her fist as their kiss grew heated and frantic again. The hand on her back moved to deftly work her bun loose, the other thumbing her nipple while she lay half over him. When her own thumb stroked over the head of his penis an entire shiver racked his body. She heard him whisper, “damnit Janae” before he pulled away. When he disconnected, it allowed the crackle from the fire to breach her ears, along with their labored breathing. Sneaking a look, she saw his face was relaxed as if the smoldering kiss hadn’t tugged at his sexual appetite at all.
“It’s getting late and not much we can do until the lights come back on. Which may be soon or not.”
Damond said untangling from her, even as his brain shouted for him to do anything but. He wanted her underneath him, while he took her in every way possible. But instead he tucked his penis away and righted his pants, as the exact opposite came out of his mouth.
“I’m going to head on up and take advantage of some extra sleep.”
“Oh.” Her brain was thrown off by this sudden turn of events. “You’ll be able to fall asleep knowing the lights are out? I know I won’t be able to. I was hoping we could...just stay down here together.”
“I don’t think so. You know how I like my sleep, in my own bed. If you’re really that afraid you can bunk in my room.”
“Do you really have sleep on your mind Damond after that kiss we just shared?”
Janae was just as surprised at her bold question as his face showed he was. But he recovered quickly, only giving a small shake of his head before standing.
“Look Professor, I can accommodate either of your needs. A sleep buddy to ward off the scary dark or a fuck buddy to make you forget what day it is, much less the lack of light. But going forward they’ll be no more of these college level sexual games. You need to be very clear on what you want and don’t want from me.”
Damond watched her eyes widen before lowering, color infusing her face. He’d been super blunt because he didn’t want any confusion this time around.
“It’s up to you, but either one will be done from my bed because that’s where I’m going. Don’t forget to extinguish the candles whenever you call it a night.”
Chapter Ten
ACKNOWLEDGING TO HERSELF that anything might pop out her mouth in that moment, Janae bit her tongue and only nodded as Damond headed upstairs. Staying in front of the fire with her arms wrapped around her knees, she watched the flames flicker in the hearth. Looking on as the shadows arched cross the walls of the cabin, while her brain thought in overdrive. Honestly, she didn’t know which notion freaked her out more, sleeping downstairs alone or having sex with Damond.
She knew on her end if she shared his bed it wouldn’t be to cuddle. And despite the restraint shown tonight she didn’t trust him either. So it really all rested on what she wanted. Janae listened as he moved around above. To the toilet flushing, the shower running and the floor giving an occasional squeak as he walked over it. Another few minutes passed before she finally got up, grabbed her light and pinched out the candles in both the living room and kitchen.
Janae took a rare night shower hoping to sooth her nerves and stop her brain from going around and round in circles. After all, she knew there was only one option. The one that made sense, to focus on why she came here. Fooling around with a stubborn, sexy man who was too brash for his own good was not part of her plan. She barely had over four weeks to go and a boatload of work to do. Sex with Damond Hall was not included on her list of things to accomplish.
Janae didn’t believe Damond was the kind of person looking for a relationship, hell, for that matter neither was she. It wasn’t the right time in her life to be distracted by a devilish smile and an enticing penis. Besides, he would be the last type of man she’d choose for anything serious. The more she thought about it, the clearer her choice became.
IT WO
ULD BE A LIE TO say he was asleep, when in fact he could admit his ears had strained to hear any sounds of Janae moving around downstairs. To be fair he did try to drift off, but that was a no-go, and he started calculating the odds she’d go for either offer. Though he could imagine she tried to be quiet, he heard the creak of the third step before the landing, as she came up well over thirty minutes later. Janae was coming to him or a bedroom located upstairs at least. When the knock came at his door, he let out the breath he was holding. Jesus give him strength if all she wanted was a human body pillow.
Keeping his hands behind his head Damond answered, “Come in.”
The door opened slowly and she eased inside. Since Damond had hoped she would come, there was one small candle lit on the bedside table near the door, and a lantern turned down very low on the other. More than enough light to see she was in a thick, plush floor length robe tied tight at the waist. Damond decided not to waste time and got right to the point.
“Janae...what’s it going to be?”
She should run. Which was what she should have done the first time she saw him laying naked in this bed. But just like before she was glued to the floor, she must be out of her damn mind.
“I was hoping...” Janae unknotted the belt. “That it could be both.”
Damond watched as it fell from her shoulders, revealing her bare dusky skin. Like a puppet on a string he sprung up to his elbows for a better look. Could she hear how his heart was pounding in his chest at the sight of her little round breasts, the slope of her stomach and hips? She had to hear it. Unless her ears were clogged with the sound of her own heartbeat. He could clearly see the nerves, behind the excitement in her eyes.
Twisting around, he opened the top drawer, turning back with a condom between his fingers. He saw her swallow hard then nod, before he let it drop to the bed. Tossing back the covers so she could verify he was naked and quickly rising to the occasion, Damond quietly spoke.
“Come here.”
It was all he could manage out his tight throat, watching every move of her body as she walked to the bed. As soon as she put one knee on the mattress, Damond snatched her to him in an iron grip. Then did what he’d wanted to do downstairs, got her body under his, wedging his hips between her legs. Pressing her down into the mattress as her hands clutched at his body, his lips at her throat, then her neck and finally devouring her mouth.