by Kat Long
The words hissed out between my teeth, and with renewed vigor, I gave one last thrust as her muscles spasmed around me. She moaned around my hand, and my world constricted to only her as I held back a roar, her name on my lips. Black dots danced across my vision as I came, filling her with rope after rope of come. I sagged back on my office chair and quickly tied off the condom before pulling her on my lap.
“I needed that,” she said, running her palm up my arm.
“You needed that? Fuck, Blue. You’re amazing.”
My cock was spent but grateful to be in proximity. I needed those lips—lips that were swollen and smudged. I kissed her slowly, gently, my lips gliding over hers.
Sighing and pressing herself closer, I wrapped an arm around her waist and moved my other hand in lazy circles up her thigh. She deepened the kiss, licking along my lips and leisurely moving her tongue with mine. I trailed my hand higher, closer to her pussy, when she stopped me with a smile.
“Let’s not push our luck, Tiger,” she said, resting her head back on my chest.
“Tiger?”
“Yes, Tiger. Growly. Possessive. Sexy as hell.”
“Ha. Thanks, baby. But you know, tigers are loners. They mate, then leave. At least that’s what Animal Planet says. I’m not your tiger, Blue. You’re not a one and done for me.” I grazed my knuckles along her jaw.
“I couldn’t do casual with you either, Max. But you need a nickname, a sexy nickname,” she said, looking up at me through her long lashes.
“Hum, I’m sure you’ll think of something. Now, not that I don’t want you to do that every day, but Jake asked about us, and I was vague. We need to talk about that.”
I willed my cock to calm down. But being so close to her, he was not having any of it. She shifted slightly, and I clamped a hand on her thigh to keep her still.
She snuggled in deeper, fitting perfectly into my chest. We sat there for a minute, and she hummed quietly. Sometimes I could pick up the tune, and other times the notes were tuneless. I could have sworn I heard her humming The Black Crowes last week. They’re my favorite.
“Why don’t you come over? I’ll cook for you. For us.” I said, adjusting myself.
“Cook?”
“Yes. Any night. I’ll cook us dinner, spoon feed you dessert, then lick your pussy for hours.”
“Hours, you say?” she said, scratching her nails through my hair and pulling the short strands. She looked up and grinned, looking so damn sexy my cock twitched again, ready to get back in the game. “Then how about tomorrow?”
“Absolutely. Come over whenever you want,” I said.
“What can I bring?”
“I’m going to eat you for dessert, Blue. But if you wanted to bring actual food, I wouldn’t say no.”
She reached down and cupped my cock, now at half-mast, before winking and standing to pull up her panties and pull down her dress. Groaning, I stood up and tucked myself back in. Her eyes stayed locked on my hand movements. She licked her lips and turned around to walk out, smoothing down her dress and opening the door.
Before she walked out, I stalked towards her and pulled her hard to me, swiftly kissing her. Smiling, she turned around, and I popped her ass, causing the tiniest squeak to fall past her lips.
Tomorrow. Time couldn’t go fast enough. With every passing day, I wanted her more, needed her more. She was like a forest fire. A blinding raging inferno and I was just the kindling, ready to be consumed.
- 21 -
DEVOUR ME
Annaleigh
By early evening Tuesday, my anticipation at seeing Max had reached a breaking point. I went for a jog and packed an overnight bag before jumping in the shower. As I shampooed and shaved, yesterday’s meeting stayed in my mind, like a nagging bug you couldn’t squish.
I cried. I hated crying. Benjamin had filed a formal complaint with Human Resources, claiming we had dated. He said after our relationship ended, I teamed up with Max and Jake to have his job and reputation threatened. Raymond also filed a complaint saying I’d offered sexual favors for favoritism within the bank.
But I’d been open with Jake about their nefarious intentions, and there was an obvious pattern of harassment and intimidation. It blindsided both of them when shown the evidence, and they were escorted off the property. Jake was furious action wasn’t taken sooner and pushed for them to be fired immediately.
Hearing the accusations was horrible, but seeing the printed words was worse. I felt dirty, used, and helpless. Jake had his meeting before mine, then brought me into his office and asked me if I was, or ever been, involved with someone at JMS. I couldn’t answer. For the first time in our working relationship, I could not give him an answer. Max was right. At dinner, we needed to get on the same page, then talk to Jake.
Drying off and putting lotion on, I looked at the calcium supplements on the bathroom counter and sighed, popping the top and chewing several. Maybe these would work better than oranges, and the boost of vitamins would help my fatigue. I felt it flare up yesterday afternoon, and a minute later, my leg seized with a cramp that almost brought me to my knees. And not the good being on my knees, like when I was under Max’s desk. The cramp was sharp and followed with such exhaustion I barely made it through the day. I went home and slept for close to ten hours. I hated relying on medicine, but I had to take better care of my condition.
Picking out a pair of slouchy jeans and a sleeveless blouse, I took extra care to wear a lacy, revealing matching bra and panty set. Baxter eyed me from the bed, head following my movements as I grabbed a pair of tan peep-toe wedges. I reminded him Jenna was going to stop by later, and I’d be back in the morning. I swear his eyes squinted in annoyance. I ignored his silent judgement and scratched the sweet spot behind his ears. He rolled over, and I gave his belly a once over, earning his forgiveness.
The strawberry shortcake I made this morning was on the counter, with homemade whipped cream in the fridge. The cold cream and strawberries went in my travel Hufflepuff cooler, with plenty of extra in the hopes our evening got sweet. Then dirty.
I took a small notebook out of my purse and wrote down the lyric. I saw the lines I’d written over these last weeks, jumbled and incomplete. But as I looked over the words, I knew there was something there, something big.
Everything had led up to this moment, every touch, every kiss. I wanted to be a part of his story, his life. My phone dinged with a work notification, and I unplugged it, shoving the cord in my purse. The email was from an unknown sender, and when I opened it, the phone almost fell to the floor.
To: [email protected]
From: Unknown Sender
Subject: Last Warning
Princess,
This is your first and last warning to stay away from Jackson. There will already be consequences for not listening. You are barking mad if you think I will tolerate this behavior. Stop now, or else.
Yours,
B
It was without a doubt from Benjamin, but the message was confusing. Aside from work obligations, this was the first time Max and I had seen each other personally. The police report was still in my kitchen drawer, so I pulled it out, forwarding the message to Officer Hansen and Jake. Taking things a step further, I left a message for both, feeling uneasy since Benjamin knew where I lived.
Shaking out my hands, I walked back upstairs and took the calcium from the counter. I tossed them in my bag and gave Baxter more tummy rubs before rechecking the windows and deadbolt. There was a discarded plant on the sidewalk that I kicked aside before loading my car, ready to see Max.
He opened his front door with a big grin, showcasing both glorious dimples. Max pulled me in with one hand and grabbed my bag with the other, closing the door with his barefoot. In a pair of low-slung jeans and a dark t-shirt, his hair was perfectly styled in that messy casual look all hot guys mastered wi
th ease.
He led me to his delicious-smelling kitchen and put my bag down, pulling me in for a sweet kiss. I melted into him, putting my hands in his back pockets to squeeze his ass. He bit my lower lip in approval and pulled away, still wearing that same grin, breathing me in and pressing a swift kiss to my pulse point.
“What smells so mouthwatering?”
“Lemon linguine, green beans, and chicken piccata,” he said, leaning down to check the pasta. The sauce bubbled and smelled mouth-watering. Max fed me a bite, and I moaned around the spoon.
“Oh, that’s delicious, Max. I brought strawberry shortcake with homemade whipped cream for dessert.”
“Whipped cream? We’ll be using that later,” he said, giving me a look that had me positively melting.
“Good thing I made extra.”
I opened the bag and lifted the lid, swiping my finger through the cream and bringing it to his lips. He gripped my wrist and took my finger in his mouth, swirling and sucking the sweet cream.
“Delicious.”
His bourbon eyes blazed bright with lust, like two overheated coals smoldering in a campfire. Releasing my finger, he turned and handed me a glass of white wine, tilting his head towards a set table in front of his large windows. He put the dessert in the fridge and took a sip of his wine, stirring the pasta on the stovetop.
“Make yourself at home, babe. I’m almost done. When we’re done eating, I’d love to show you my…”
“Terrace?” I said, slipping off my shoes.
“Yeah. How d’you know? I don’t remember giving the tour after the gala,” he said, turning off the burner and throwing a dish towel over his shoulder.
“This floor plan is like mine. Spiral staircase? Porch off the master bedroom?”
“Wow. Yes.”
“My place is a few streets over, remember, Max?” I said with a smile and a sip of wine.
“Maybe we are M.F.E.O,” he said under his breath, blanching the vegetables.
“What did you say?”
Did he just do that? Did he just quote my favorite movie?
I stared, waiting for him to repeat himself.
“Nothing. Sorry,” he said, shrugging his shoulders with a smile.
“No, seriously. What did you say?”
“M.F.E.O. It’s from a movie. One of my brother’s favorites.”
“That’s my favorite movie too, Max.”
“Then you’d love my brother,” he said. “Maybe it’s another sign?”
He winked and reached up, grabbing two plates and showing me a delectable peek at tanned, toned skin.
“Here, baby. Help me plate and let’s eat and talk,” he said, pulling out my chair and refilling the wine.
When I sat down, Max pulled me as close as he could and kept one hand on my thigh. The chicken was tender enough to cut with a fork, and he rubbed slow circles with his thumb as we ate. There were so many things to say, but the words felt like sand when I opened my mouth. Everything made sense when his hands were on me and when he was whispering dirty things in my ear.
“What are you thinking, Blue?” he asked, breaking my train of thought and laying his fork on his plate.
“Well, one, this meal is amazing. And two, us, Max.”
He let go for just a second to refill our glasses before scooting his chair back and laying one leg across his thigh.
“I’m glad you brought it up, Blue. I’ve been thinking about us too, and there are two things I want.”
The way he caressed my name with his tongue made me eager to hear his words. I leaned closer, my lips centimeters from his.
He reached forward, tugging on my hand and pulling me onto his lap. His hand glided up my back, and he took a piece of my hair and twirled it around his pointer finger. The movement relaxed his muscles, and I could feel his shoulders slump forward. I put my hands up his sleeves to trace his biceps.
“Two things Annaleigh. I want you, and I want us. I don’t want to keep this a secret. You’re not something I’m ashamed of or will hide. We’re already in a relationship. I want you around in the mornings, and I want to make you chocolate-chip pancakes. I want to feed you oranges and walk Baxter when you’re tired. I want you to be mine, Blue. We should disclose our relationship tomorrow,” he said, running his nose along my neck.
“We should, Max. We’ve been fighting this, dancing around each other. It’s time to own it. I want to know about your past and what makes you smile. I want to wake up in your arms and share everything with you. I want to be yours.”
“Good, Blue. And for you, I’d do anything. Now, where’s that whipped cream?”
I was all in, standing up and walking to the kitchen, then peeking back to see his eyes go dark. I slid my hands under the waistband of my jeans, and he sat forward, resting his elbows on his knees with his legs spread, watching me.
I popped the button and wiggled them down slowly, letting him see my blue lace thong. I ran my hands over the strings and up my belly, pulling off my blouse to show him the matching bra. The air crackled, and I opened the fridge and bent down, taking out the whipped cream. I dipped my finger in the bowl and walked back, hollowing my cheek as I sucked.
He grabbed my wrist again and pulled me back onto his lap, sucking on the sweet cream while his other hand traveled up my back. He unclasped my bra with ease, and my nipples puckered when the air conditioning hit them.
Holding my hands together, Max kept his eyes locked on mine and lowered his mouth to my nipple. I arched towards him, desperate, and he rewarded me with a lick. I pulled my hands from his grip, running them up his shoulders to hold the back of his head. Through my lust, I heard my phone ring, but I ignored it. Max licked and sucked with such enthusiasm. I doubted we’d make it to the bedroom. But I was good with him bending me over his dining room table and fucking me senseless.
What started with lust and annoyance had turned into feelings and desires so intense it physically made me ache. I moved my hands from the back of Max’s head so he could pull off his shirt, throwing it to the floor. He kissed me again, smashing my boobs to his chest. He tasted like lemon and wine, delicious and addicting. I scratched my fingers up his arms, tracing the lines of his tattoos and moaning.
My phone rang again, and I broke apart to reach behind me. Jenna’s name flashed across the screen, but I hit ignore and dove back into kissing him. I could feel him thickening through his jeans, and I rocked myself forward. He gripped my hips and guided me along his shaft, both of us groaning with the contact.
When my phone rang a third time, and I answered, letting some of my frustration out through the clipped response.
“This better be important, Jenna,” I growled, pressing the phone between my neck and shoulder while tracing the hard outlines of Max’s chest.
“Baxter is sick,” she started, ignoring my tone and jumping straight to the point.
My back straightened, and I dug my nails into Max’s chest, earning a deep groan. He met my eyes, reading the tension in my body, and reached down to grab his shirt.
“I’m sorry, Jenna, what happened?”
I swung one leg over his and stood up, looking for my shirt until I felt a calming hand on my back.
“He ate something while we were walking. I’m taking him to the clinic now. Meet me there,” she said, her voice clipped. I could hear Baxter whining and the noise from her engine. She was already on the way.
“On the way,” I replied, taking my clothes from Max and pulling them on. Dessert all but forgotten, I lunged for my keys when Max closed his fist around mine.
“I’ll drive. Just tell me the address. It will be okay. Come on, baby,” he said, steering me out the door without a glance at the remnants of our dinner.
He kept a firm hold of my hand, helping me in his truck and pushing his speed higher. I was chewing on my thumbnail and tapping my fo
ot on the floorboard as we drove, feeling beyond guilty at not answering Jenna on her first ring.
Max rubbed soothing circles on my palm, not filling the silence with empty promises or mindless chatter. It was times like this I realized how much we complimented each other. He could read me, knowing what I needed to calm my racing mind.
Jenna’s practice was ten minutes away, and exactly seven minutes later, I pointed to the back entrance, telling Max to pull in by Jenna’s big red SUV. Once the truck was in park, I threw open the door and ran to the back entrance, with Max hot on my tail. Running through the back hallway, I called Jenna’s name until I heard her, following her voice to an examination room and stepping in.
Baxter was lying on the table, breathing hard. Jenna was murmuring soothing words softly to him and stroking his back. Around his mouth, the short fur was matted and black. He looked pitiful, and his tail gave two half-hearted thumps when we walked in. I ran my hands along his coat, tears silently streamed down my face, and I felt Max rubbing the same soothing circles on my back. Again, he knew what I needed.
“What happened?” he asked Jenna, pushing up his glasses with one hand and rubbing me with the other.
“Honestly. This was the strangest thing. As soon as we left for a walk, he dove to a spot on the sidewalk and started eating something. In the two steps it took me to get to him, he already had eaten a mouthful. It was a discarded aloe vera plant, but I also smelled coffee grounds, chocolate, and some sort of meat. It was like a cocktail of poisonous things for dogs. I had activated charcoal in my SUV, and he’s already thrown up twice. I’ve given him fluids, and I’m going to keep him overnight just in case. Annaleigh, he’s going to be fine, but I knew you’d want to be here.”
“Thank you, Jenna,” Max said, reaching out to shake her hand. Jenna nodded and shook his hand before bending back down and listening to Baxter’s heart. She looked at me and smiled, removing her stethoscope and getting a wipe to clean his mouth.
“He’s okay, Anna,” she said, reaching out to hug me. I sagged against her, leaving one hand on Baxter. She rubbed my back like Max had, and he reached out to stroke Baxter’s fur. His tail thumped a little harder, and he lifted his head to lick the back of Max’s hand.