by Penny Reid
My feet crunch over the leaves falling to the sidewalk and I stuff my cold hands into my pockets. Fine, I'm a little pissed. And sad. I'm a practical girl, I wasn't looking for a fairy tale, but I don't feel satisfied by the way this ended with Luke. Sexually, yeah, it was a satisfying experience. Emotionally, it was a little lacking.
Suck it up, Sophie, you got what you wanted.
My phone rings and I slide it out of my pocket and answer as I walk.
"Sophie, honey, it's Gram. I just wanted to let you know that we accepted the offer on the house and our offer on the condo we wanted in Florida was accepted. We're moving!"
I smile. "That's great, Grandma. I'm glad you're finally doing it."
"The buyers want to close on our house here the week before Thanksgiving."
Oh.
"So we've only got four weeks to pack everything up. We're thinking we'll drive down to Florida then, so we don't have to put everything into storage. We can close on the condo in Islamorada the week prior because it's vacant and the owners want to close fast."
I know what she's really asking. She wants to know if I'll be okay without seeing them for Thanksgiving. They've put off retiring for just this reason. They wanted to be nearby for me. "Grandma, it's fine. I can go home with Jeannie or Everly for Thanksgiving."
"Are you sure? We can get you a plane ticket if you want to fly down for the long weekend."
"Yes, I'm sure. It's fine, I'm sure you’ll have plenty to do with unpacking and friends to see." They have good friends who retired to the area several years ago.
"We already have invitations from the Mirabellis and the Blackwells to get together as soon as we get to town." Grandma sounds thrilled and I'm happy for her. "You'll come down for Christmas though, right? We'll have a room ready for you."
I agree that Florida for Christmas sounds like a great idea and we say our goodbyes as I reach the front door of Jacobsen.
There's a black Mercedes S63 parked illegally in the loading zone. And leaning against it, watching me, is Luke.
"You're here for me?" I gesture to myself with the hand still holding the phone.
"Yeah, you." He rubs his bottom lip with his thumb, a movement so simple yet so erotic, before placing his hands in his pockets.
I don't reply. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say. We stare at each other in silence. He takes a step towards me and I instinctively take a step back, then rock forward on my toes.
"You said you wouldn't call," I finally say. My voice has a bitchier tone than I intended.
"I didn't call." His voice is unapologetic.
I want to roll my eyes. "No. You brought your date to my workplace instead." The wind whips a piece of hair into my face and it sticks to my lip gloss. I swipe the hair away and move a step to the left, using his body to block the wind. He's so much bigger than me. The thought fills my head with memories of how he felt over me.
"She wasn't supposed to be there." He steps closer again.
"What does that even mean?" I take a step back and bump into his car. We've danced around and switched positions. He pulls his hands from his pockets and places them on the roof of the low-slung car on either side of me, pinning me in place. I have to tilt my head back to look him in the eye.
"I can't stop thinking about you, Sophie." His eyes search my face. "This morning was… wrong. It's all wrong. You're too young for me. You're sweet and unspoiled." He swipes another errant hair off my cheek and tucks the hair behind my ear. "I should leave you the hell alone, let you find someone more suitable, but I feel selfish about you.” He places his hand back on the roof and leans in. "What do you want, Sophie?" he breathes into my ear.
I shiver and it's not from the cold. He smells so good and he looks even better. The cars pass us on Spruce Street while I think, the front doors of Jacobsen slamming open and closed.
"Sophie, I'm not talking to myself. I asked you a question and I expect a response. What do you want?"
"You." I look at him, finally. "I want you."
Chapter 16
Luke has me in the passenger seat of his car the second I agree I want him, and at his condo about fifteen minutes after that. We don't speak the entire car ride, but I know where we're going and why.
He doesn't touch me in the elevator. It's empty, but he never lays a finger on me. Instead, we talk.
"Are you sore?”
I've been staring politely at my toes, leaning against the opposite elevator wall. I raise my eyes to his. "Um, yes.”
"How sore?" He smirks now, running his eyes up and down my body.
I look away. "A little sore." I meet his eyes again. "But much better than the last two days," I say, in case he's thinking we can't have sex right now.
He nods. "Better than the next two days will be as well."
Okay, no worries, then. I smile at him and clear my throat.
"What time is your afternoon class?"
"Two o'clock."
He checks his watch. "I'd like to see your sweet little mouth wrapped around my cock. Should we start with that today?"
"I've sucked cock before, Luke. I'm not that innocent." Does he think I know nothing?
He raises an eyebrow at me. "Sophie," he says sharply.
"What?" Now I'm confused.
He crosses the elevator and places his forearm on the wall over my head. He's standing so close that I have to look up at him. I'm cornered but he's still not touching me. "A word to the wise, Miss Tisdale. I have no interest in hearing about any cocks you've sucked prior to mine. It would behoove you to never mention it again."
"Maybe I'm good at it," I suggest, looking him in the eye. "Maybe you'll be happy with my experience?"
He slams his forearm against the elevator wall over my head before stepping back. He glances at the elevator panel and then back to me. "Do you want me to strip those tiny jeans off your body? Bend you over my knee? You want my palm slapping against your ass till it turns bright pink? Until my fingers slip between your thighs to test how wet you are? Is that what you're after?"
"I, uh," I stammer. "I don't know. Maybe?" I'm getting wet hearing him describe it so I'd probably like it.
The elevator doors open on floor thirty-three and Luke stands with his arm on the door waiting for me to exit. I do so and he lands a playful smack on my ass as I pass him.
"Hey!" I object.
He unlocks the door and holds it open for me. I grin and walk backwards into the apartment, protecting my behind.
"Bedroom."
"You're not going to make me a sandwich first this time?"
"Now." He's loosening his tie and walking towards me.
I walk backwards as I remove my jacket. "Should I hang this up?" I smile and nod towards the front hall closet we're passing. He removes the jacket from my hand and tosses it on the floor.
I bite my lip to keep from laughing before I turn and head for the bedroom, pulling the shirt I wore to work off over my head as I walk. My bra hits the floor as I pass the doorway into the bedroom. My hands reach for the button on my jeans before Luke stops me. He sits on the edge of the bed and beckons me over.
He circles my waist with his hands before pulling a nipple into his mouth. Oh, God, he feels so good. I wrap my hands around his head, running my fingers through his hair, pulling him closer.
"I decided I did want to take these off myself." His fingers move to the button on my jeans. His hands seem enormous working the button free, but he does it with ease before sliding the zipper down. It's hot watching him undress me. He moves his hands to my sides and wiggles the denim over my hips before the jeans drop to the floor.
"Bend over." He pats his knee.
Okay, we're really doing this? I look at his face. He's serious. I bend over his knee, the position perfect for my clit to rub against his leg. This is nice. I grin with my head upside down, my hands resting on the floor.
"These are cute." He's rubbing his hand over my underwear. I'm wearing a pair of plain black cotton panties. "Not
as cute as your ass though." He slaps me hard before pulling the panties down to mid-thigh.
Not gonna lie, that felt nice. He smooths his hand over my ass in circular strokes. "Don't antagonize me, Sophie." His hand comes down against my skin in a crack. I jump a little, but I enjoy it.
"Okay," I sigh. "I'll try not to." I grin at him over my shoulder. "But this is kinda nice, so maybe I'll antagonize just a little?"
Luke groans and slaps my behind hard three times. That stings. He goes back to smoothing his palm in circles, taking away the burn.
"You’re a little handful, aren't you, Sophie?" he asks as he delivers another smack.
"I'm really not," I disagree. "I'm a very good girl, normally." I shift on his lap, grinding my clit against his thigh.
He spanks me again and again before sliding his fingers into me from behind. "You enjoyed that too much." He's dragging his fingers in and out as he speaks.
"I'm sorry," I apologize, still hanging upside down.
He laughs and smacks my ass again. "Get up."
I stand and finish removing my undies—they've been mid-thigh this entire time. He's watching me and unbuttoning his pants, his meaning clear. His loosened tie still hanging from his neck catches my attention. I reach forward and slip it over his head. "Can I tie you?" I'm really excited about this idea.
He looks at me skeptically as he unbuttons his shirt and shrugs it off. He stands and drops his pants and I swear saliva pools in my mouth looking at him. "Sure." He shrugs. "What'd you have in mind?"
I grin and indicate he should lie on the bed and then tie his hands to the headboard. "You know," I drawl, "I've never done this before." I bat my eyelashes at him from between his legs. "I think it will help my confidence with you restrained." He laughs, playing along.
I sit back on my heels between his thighs and place a fingertip coyly on my lip. I grasp him with the other hand, sliding my hand up and down the length of him. "You want me to put this in my mouth?" I'm all wide-eyed innocence.
He's propped up on some pillows, his wrists attached to the headboard with his tie. A big grin crosses his face. I like seeing him happy. Most of our encounters have been fraught with tension. This is different, nice.
"I do want that, Sophie." He groans when I add a second hand, cupping his balls gently. "I want that very much." His voice has already grown husky.
I massage his sack with my hand while stroking the length with the other. "I don't know." I bite my lip. "I've never done anything like this before." I twist my wrist as I stroke upwards. "I'm not sure I know what to do."
Luke blows out a breath. "Wrap your impertinent little lips around my cock. I'm pretty sure you can figure out the rest."
"Okay, I'll try." I lean forward, leaving one hand on his cock and resting my weight on the other. I lick the base of his penis before sucking on his balls and rubbing my thumb back and forth on the underside of his cock.
"Jesus, Sophie."
Pre-come oozes from the tip so I slide my hand up and catch it with my thumb, massaging the moisture in circles across his skin. I move my mouth to the base of his cock where my thumb was and repeat stroking the underside with my tongue.
I tighten the grip of my fingers around the head just slightly and continue rubbing my thumb across the tip as I lick up the length of him until I reach my hand.
I look up at Luke. His face is strained, his breathing fast. I make eye contact with him as I drag the hand circling the tip of him down his shaft in a slow, firm stroke. Then finally I take him into my mouth.
"Christ, Sophie." He groans and closes his eyes but immediately opens them again to watch. I love this. I can feel my own wetness leaking, I'm so turned on doing this to him. I bob down the length of him and sneak a hand to my clit, rubbing myself. This is such a power trip. Beside me his legs tense and above me he's giving a running commentary on my filthy little tongue and wicked little fingers.
It feels good to be in charge of him, just momentarily. He's bigger, older and stronger, but right now, I'm in control. It feels empowering.
I slide a finger inside of myself. I think I could get off doing this but I've got something else in mind right now. I rest my weight on my knees so I can use both hands, then increase my efforts stroking his cock below the amount I can take in my mouth.
He's close. I know he's close. Mainly because he says, "Sophie, I'm going to come in your mouth if you don't stop." As if I'd stop.
I've never swallowed before but I want to now. I want him in my mouth when he explodes. I want to swallow down everything he can give me. He's very supportive once he realizes I'm not stopping. "Sophie, you filthy bitch, I'm going to come so hard down your throat."
When I think he can't hold out any longer I take my finger, slick with my own wetness, and slide it into his ass.
He comes.
A lot.
"You hussy, Sophie." He winds his hands in my hair as I swallow and then flips us over so he's on top.
"Hey, I tied you!" I object from under a wall of muscle.
"With a bow tie, Sophie." He holds my face between his hands and kisses me until I’m short on oxygen. "You're so sweet. What the hell am I going to do with you?" He pauses then, searching my eyes like this is an actual question, so I answer.
"Keep me."
He doesn't respond. Instead, reaching for a condom, he flips my legs up so I'm damn near bent in half and slides into me.
I squirm a little. This is still so new to me and he's so damn big. "How are you even ready to go again?" I question.
"My dick is in a permanent state of ready when you're in the room," he responds, while still sliding into me.
"That must have been awkward for you with me spread out on your exam table." I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss whatever skin I can reach.
"You have no idea."
I laugh. "I think I do."
"By the way"—he moves my right leg to his shoulder and sinks back into me—"I can't be your doctor anymore."
"Hmmm, okay." God, he feels so good. How in the hell did I wait this long to have sex? "We can still play doctor though, right? I'm into it."
"Fucking hell, Sophie." He slaps my behind and I come. He slows his thrusts while I recover, thrusting his tongue into my mouth in rhythm with his cock.
When my muscles are done contracting he withdraws, turns me on my side and drops my upper leg over his arm, re-entering me from behind. He slams into me while rubbing my clit. Oh.
"You mean we're not done?" I ask, confused.
He laughs and nips my ear with his teeth. "No."
"But last time you just came when I did." It's getting hard to get my point across with his fingers working me so expertly.
"Last time I went easy on you, beautiful." He kisses my neck.
"But I thought the goal was to finish?"
"That's the goal"—his balls are slapping against my skin as he thrusts—"when you've got kids screaming in the other room." He hikes my thigh a little higher on his arm. "It's not the goal with your new lover."
He shows me then just how good he is at long-term goals.
Chapter 17
"This place is dead." Everly yawns.
"It's two days before Thanksgiving. I think a lot of people took the week off work." I take a sip of the chai tea latte I just made myself. We're at work and Everly is right, it's slow.
"Your stalker didn't take the week off." Everly nods to the guy at a table, wearing an earbud and ignoring us.
I ignore her statement. "Why aren't you in Connecticut already? We don't have classes this week."
Everly rolls her eyes. "I'm stuck here until tomorrow because Finn is waiting until the last minute to go home. He thinks if he waits long enough I'll take the train and he won't have to drive me." She shrugs. "Sometimes I'm not sure why I put up with him."
"What exactly are you putting up with? You're the one stalking him."
She sticks a cup under the syrups and pumps out several. Experimenting with drink concoctio
ns is a Everly specialty. They're mostly awful. "It's not stalking when we are meant to be together. I can't help it that I imprinted on him when I was six."
I spit my drink out. "Everly, did you just use a Twilight reference to explain your obsession with Professor Camden?"
"I did." She pauses from her drink-making. "Is that weird?"
"Um, let's see, Twilight wasn't written yet when you were six," I start.
Everly scoffs and turns back to the syrups. "That doesn't mean it didn't happen."
"And you're not a werewolf," I add before she can object.
"Whatever."
That's the sum total of her response on the subject. I watch her add steamed milk to her cup. "That reminds me, does Professor Camden know that you copied his house key yet?"
"Yeah, he already took the first copy back," Everly replies and continues making her drink.
I have to set my latte down at that point. I should know better than to have a conversation with Everly while drinking hot liquids. "The first copy, Everly?"
"Yeah. And he didn't even ask me for the second copy." She takes a sip of her drink. "I'm kind of pissed off about it, to be honest. It's like he doesn't even know me, right?"
I nod slowly. "Right."
"Obviously I would make three copies. Anyone should know that."
I lean against the back counter and nod. "Obviously." Honestly, I have no idea how many copies one would make when stealing someone's house key, but it's best to just go along when Everly is on a roll.
"I expect him to change his locks once I use the second key so the third key is likely useless, but he should know me well enough to ask for the second key." She sighs, looking truly despondent.
"Everly, why Professor Camden? Men trip over themselves trying to get to you. Why him?"
"He's the one, Sophie. He just is."
"Why now?" I ask, confused. "I've known you since freshman year and I didn't even know you knew him outside of school until a month ago."
"I had to wait until the time was right. I knew there was no way he was touching me before I was eighteen, just no way." She shakes her head. "I could have gone to college anywhere and focused on bumping into him after I graduated, but I figured if I went to school here I could keep an eye on him. Make sure he didn't fall in love with the wrong girl while I was growing up."
