by Rhian Cahill
“Oh, no, I . . .” She swallowed. Licked her lips. “I just . . .” What could she say? She was daydreaming about him? Remembering their explosive encounter at work? No, that would never do. Not if she wanted to keep him firmly in the friend zone.
“Maz . . . ?”
Something in her expression, her voice, must have tipped him off to what she was thinking because his head lowered, his mouth close enough to hers that the breath of his next words fanned over her lips.
“I know we said we wouldn’t.” His gaze searched hers. “But—”
Their mouths crashed together. Lips smashed together, teeth bumped, and tongues dueled.
It was everything she remembered and more.
Wetter, hotter, fiercer.
And it wasn’t only their mouths that sought a connection. Their hands groped and gripped, fingers stroking and brushing, palms cupping, squeezing. His on her breasts, hers on the globes of his ass.
It was frantic and breath-stealing and mind-numbing.
Every touch, every sound of approval, every ragged gasp for air, it all drove the need higher, the want deeper, made the ache sharper.
A jagged moan left her mouth when he trailed his lips over her cheek to nip at her ear. She turned her head and stretched her neck to urge him on, entice him further. His hand slipped into the back of her shorts. His fingers teased the crack of her ass, and she’d never wished to be naked so badly in her life.
Unfortunately, there were no genies to grant her wishes here. If she wanted the magic, she had to make it happen herself.
Fumbling with his fly, she tugged and yanked until the fastening gave way, and she could wrap her hands around the hot length of Rylan. Smooth as silk and hard as steel, his flesh slid over her palm, through her fingers, in a damp thrust of carnal delight.
Mazey wanted to taste him, pull him into her mouth, and feel that male power gliding across her tongue.
Without thought, without hesitation, she sank to her knees and took the plump crown between her lips.
“Fuck! Maz!”
His hips rocked, his cock plunging to the back of her throat in a driving stab. She gagged, choked, struggled to breathe before she managed to relax her jaw.
She’d never enjoyed giving blow jobs for this exact reason and yet choking on Rylan’s cock turned her on, twisted the spiraling heat in her pussy tighter, made her want to take him deeper.
Breathing through her nose, she let her neck go soft, let the muscles in her throat loosen, and swallowed him down to the root. The thrill of success raced through her as his shout of pleasure tipped along her nerve endings and electrified every inch of her.
She hollowed her cheeks, sucked hard and fast, and used her fingers to stroke and squeeze his balls until the sounds coming from above her made no sense. His hands in her hair encouraged her, and his bucking hips enthralled her with how they jerked his cock in and out of her mouth.
His grip on her head tightened. The noises falling from his lips got louder, and those thrusting hips went faster. The pulse of his shaft warned her a second before his words reached her ears.
“Shit. Maz. I’m. Can’t. Gonna.”
She’d done that. Made him incoherent.
“Maz!”
His shout proceeded the swelling of his flesh on her tongue. Heat throbbed between her lips as a burst of fluid filled her throat. Pulse after pulse of hot liquid coated her tongue and teeth, the shock of taking him all the way eclipsed by the satisfaction of giving this man the ultimate release.
She didn’t—couldn’t—let him go until she’d sucked every last drop out of him. Her fingers continued to caress his balls, her tongue licking and slurping his softening flesh while he petted her hair and the sides of her face.
When she finally let go of his spent flesh, he dragged in a breath and cupped her jaw. “Fuck. Maz.”
Her gaze met his. The awe in his almost crumpled her legs under her. She’d never seen that look in a man’s eyes before. Never felt such gratitude without hearing the words, without being told. With just a glance, Rylan made her feel better about herself, about something she’d done, than anyone or anything else ever had.
And at that moment, she knew there was no way she’d be able to stay away from this man.
She’d have to guard her heart. She could let him have her body, could enjoy his, could even be friends with him, but her heart would have to remain shielded.
Because if she let him in any more than she already had, he had the ability to crush her—destroy her. She knew that as well as she knew her own name.
He reached down, gripped her elbows, and pulled her to her feet. With a grin, he wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted. “My turn.”
Her shorts and panties hit the floor a second before her ass hit the cold granite counter. “Ry,” she gasped as a shudder racked her.
He only grinned and shoved her legs wide. “I didn’t get to do this last time.”
Any protest or question was lost in the back of her mind when his mouth landed on her throbbing core.
“Hmm . . . so wet for me.” He lapped at her, stroked her clit with the flat of his tongue. Flicked and licked and sucked. And sent her careening toward orgasm in seconds.
“Ry!” Her hands flew to his head. To pull him closer or push him away she wasn’t sure. The only thing she was sure of was the ache slicing her in two. It started deep, razor-sharp, and stinging, then took her breath and shook her body until she trembled on the precipice of something monumental.
“Please,” she begged, her fingers curling into his hair and tugging.
He hummed against her, used his fingers to fill her clenching core, to stroke over the sensitive pucker between her cheeks, and detonated the most devastating orgasm she’d ever experienced.
Her back bowed, her head thrown back with a primal scream as light and sound flashed from toes to fingers to ears. Snapping forward, she wrapped around him, his head between her thighs, his mouth still on her sex devouring, pushing and pulling her release until she sobbed for him to stop.
Until the pleasure verged on pain.
Until the last of her strength gave out and she slumped against him, toppling over and off the counter.
22
Rylan had never wanted something to be over as much as he did right now.
It was after six, and people were still here.
Didn’t they have homes to go to? Places to be? Other people to see?
If this were any other day, any other time, he’d be okay with everyone hanging around. In fact, he’d be thrilled that his first barbecue was such a success. He glanced toward the house.
Any day except today.
Today when he still had Mazey’s taste on his tongue. Her moans and gasps on repeat in his ears.
He’d almost come all over himself when she’d fallen apart beneath his mouth, and that was after she’d taken his black balls and sucked them inside out only moments before.
It had been so close that he’d actually reached down and jerked off. Three strokes and he’d spilled on the kitchen floor at his feet.
He hadn’t cared about the mess, not that there was much of one after he had twisted and sat on his ass to stop Mazey from hitting the floor when she’d toppled off the counter.
It had been the hottest, most erotic experience of his life. And he wasn’t an expert on porn, but if someone had been filming them, they’d make millions off the footage.
He didn’t need video though. The whole thing kept looping in his head. The sights, the sounds, the smells . . .
Fuck! It was 3D Technicolor playing in his brain, and he’d been walking around with a fucking boner all damn day. He’d worn his tightest briefs to contain the unruly thing. He hadn’t gotten any strange looks or comments—thankfully—so maybe the effort had worked.
Shame he couldn’t find a pair of tight briefs for his memory bank.
“Hey, my designated driver and I are heading out,” Jack said, his arm slung around Alyssa’s
neck.
Rylan forced a smile. “Thanks for coming.”
Would they get offended if he pushed them out the door? They were the last two here and only because Alyssa had insisted on helping Mazey clean up.
“Great place.” Jack looked around. “Kind of big for just one guy.”
Rylan didn’t miss the way his friend’s gaze paused on the kitchen window, where Mazey stood at the sink washing up. He ignored that and said, “Yeah, but that deck.”
Jack laughed. “Yeah. The deck.”
“Let’s go.” Alyssa poked Jack in the ribs. “I need to get home.”
“Everything all right?” Jack asked, his concerned gaze on Alyssa.
“Yep. Fine. I just need to get home.”
“You sure?” Jack pressed, catching Rylan’s attention with the edge in his voice.
He studied their friend. He knew she’d had issues with her sister a few weeks ago, but he thought that had been worked out.
“Of course.” Alyssa ducked out from under Jack’s arm and stepped away. “C’mon. You’re on shift tomorrow.”
She was right. He, Jack, and Mazey all worked tomorrow. “I’ll see you in the morning, Jack. See you Tuesday, Alyssa?”
Nodding, she said, “Sure will. I already said goodbye to Maz, so we’ll go out the side gate.”
“Oh, okay. Thanks again for coming.”
Did he follow them and make sure the gate closed behind them? He glanced at the house. Would it be obvious what he was about to do if he went straight inside? He didn’t know what the deal between him and Mazey was yet, and he didn’t want to fuck it up before it began.
Deciding he should continue to be a good host he said, “I’ll see you out.”
“No need. I’ll lock the gate behind us.” Alyssa pushed to her toes and kissed his cheek, whispering in his ear, “Don’t hurt her,” before dropping to her heels once more.
Rylan acknowledged her words with a single nod. He didn’t want to get into a discussion about his relationship with her. If he was going to talk about it, then he’d do that talking with Mazey.
His gaze must have given her some reassurance because she didn’t take it further.
“You coming?” Jack called out from the side of the house.
Alyssa gave Rylan one last look then walked toward Jack. “Keep your pants on.”
“What would be the fun in that?” Jack asked with a wink.
Rylan shook his head. He wasn’t sure what was going on with those two. He knew they’d hooked up a few months ago, and if rumors were to be believed, they’d been doing that for a while before it ended abruptly. No one seemed to know why, least of all Jack who eyed their coworker with longing every chance he got.
Speaking of longing.
He faced the house and watched Mazey move around in the kitchen.
He wanted so much with that woman.
He wanted to stand here and watch her in his kitchen all the time.
They’d proven the explosive chemistry between them hadn’t been a fluke or due to the adrenaline of an emergency call or the distress of losing a patient. No, the lust that sparked to life between them was beyond anything he’d ever experienced, and he’d go as far as to say a once in a lifetime thing.
Something neither of them should walk away from. He certainly had no intention of ignoring it.
If she didn’t want to get involved, that was fine with him. He’d suggest they keep things string free.
Fuck buddies.
Although he wouldn’t be stupid enough to put it so crudely to her. He’d sugar coat it in a way she could live with. Or he could let her direct them.
After this morning, he knew she wanted him as fiercely as he wanted her. She’d all but mauled him in her need to suck him off. He could use that. Could use the passion that consumed them when they were together to draw her closer. To tie her to him until she was ready to take the next step.
The step where she lived in his house and they built a life together.
The step where she had his ring on her finger and his last name on her driver’s license.
A smile overtook his face.
Yeah, he wanted her to have his name.
“What are you grinning at?” Rylan’s gaze darted to the sliding door where Mazey stood with her hands on her hips, a frown on her face. “There’s still plenty of cleanup to do.”
He couldn’t help smiling wider. She was the picture of a nagging wife, and Rylan hadn’t wanted to be henpecked before in his life, but right now, he’d give anything for Mazey to have the right.
“Ry?”
Giving himself a mental slap, he surveyed the deck. “What do I need to do?”
“Do you want to empty the coolers? You could leave them and use what’s left in them over the next few days.”
Would he go through the beer that quickly? “How much is left, do you know? I’m not a huge drinker, and we’re on shift tomorrow, so I won’t be here until Tuesday.”
“If it were me, I’d empty them.”
“Okay. I’ll do that then,” he said, heading over to the two large coolers he’d set up near the table.
“I should get out of your way.”
His head snapped around. “What? Why?”
“I’m done inside. You just have to unload the dishwasher when the cycle finishes. All the leftovers are packed up. Labeled and in the fridge or freezer—”
“Is there pie left?” He’d missed out when she’d served it earlier.
She smiled at him. “I saved you a piece earlier. It’s in the back of the fridge, hiding behind that huge jar of pickles.”
“Thanks.”
Rylan tried to come up with a reason to keep her here. They hadn’t talked about this morning. Hadn’t had a chance because no sooner had they gotten their breath back than the doorbell had rung. It was a mad scramble to get themselves presentable, and he was pretty sure they’d pulled it off. Although Alyssa’s parting comment not to hurt Mazey indicated maybe not.
“Why don’t we sit for a bit and have a drink. I know you didn’t really relax today, you always seemed to be carrying around a plate of food, offering it like a waitress. You should pop your feet up for a bit before you go.” He lifted the lid on the closest cooler. “Beer? Wine? Water?”
“Water. I’ve had enough wine for one day, and I still have to walk home yet.”
“I’ll drive you home later.”
“No, that’s fine, it’s only around the block.”
“I know, but you helped out so much with today. It’s the least I can do.”
“You don’t—”
“Maz.” He thrust a bottle of water in front of her. “Stop arguing and say, thanks, that would be nice, Ry.”
“Thank you, Ry.” She snatched the bottle out of his hand. “That is completely unnecessary but nice of you,” she added with a smug quirk to her mouth.
“Smartass,” he muttered, cracking open his own water bottle. He waited until they were both seated to speak again. “So. We should talk about this morning.” As grenades went, it was a doozy. Well, except for the lack of noise. Instead of the loud boom, he got dead silence.
23
Mazey blinked. She didn’t think either of them would bring up their encounter in the kitchen. They hadn’t mentioned their previous one, so she thought they were going to ignore this morning’s too.
Except now, Rylan had thrown it out there.
Licking her lips, she sucked in a breath and asked, “What about it?” before bringing her bottle to her mouth for a gulp of water to try and ease the constriction in her throat.
“I think we should keep doing it.”
The water going down her throat reversed direction and surged into the back of her nose. Spluttering and coughing, she attempted to swallow.
“Okay. Not the reaction I’d hoped for.” Rylan leaned back in his chair.
“Sorry.” She coughed again. “Give me a second.”
What could she say? She couldn’t—wouldn’t—l
ie to him. She definitely wanted to do that again. And more. But she wasn’t interested in getting tangled up in a relationship.
“I’m not looking—”
He held up a hand. “I know you don’t want a relationship. Believe me when I say I don’t want that now either. I’m suggesting we continue as we have. Work colleagues. Friends. And occasionally we hook up. No strings.”
She eyed him. Hadn’t she thought about that herself? Could she do it? She’d never had a friends-with-benefits relationship. She’d known plenty of people who had, but circumstances had never given her the opportunity or the inclination.
Before now.
“So, you’re saying we could keep having sex but not be dating?”
“Exactly.”
“And you don’t think it would affect our working relationship? Our friendship?”
“It doesn’t have to. We’re both adults with adult needs who happen to know the other can satisfy those. The fact we’re friends makes it easier. We already trust one another and respect each other. I think it’s the perfect arrangement.”
“Hmm . . .” Rylan was right, it could be perfect for her. While her sex life hadn’t been as spectacular with Stuart as what she’d experienced with Rylan, she’d still had an active one, one she’d missed. Her vibrator did the job easily enough, but nothing beat the real thing. “How would this work?”
She’d expected him to grin at her question. Instead his expression turned serious. “I’d expect to be the only one you’re having sex with.”
“Well, that goes without saying and both ways.”
“Good. And yes, you’d be the only one in my bed.”
“We haven’t exactly made it to a bed yet.”
“We will.” The confidence in his voice brought a flush to her face and a pulsing need between her legs. “Whenever you’re ready for that.”
“You’re not rushing me inside now?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Don’t get me wrong, I want to, but we need to make sure we both understand what this is and isn’t.”
“Right. It’s not a relationship. It’s sex.”
“Yes. Separate from working together and our friendship.”
