by Aria Ford
“Carla’s place?” Brad asked.
I nodded. “Which means I can pay you for the repairs on my Jeep.”
“Oh,” he said. I could have sworn I heard a trace of disappointment in his voice. “Well, that’s great. I’ll work up an estimate and get it to you tomorrow.”
“Thanks,” I said softly.
We kept looking at each other, but I didn’t know what else to say. Now that he knew about my job, there wasn’t any reason for us to continue with our arrangement. The offer he made was to trade sex for repairs. If I was paying him, would he still want to screw around with me?
My question was soon answered.
“I like spending time with you,” he said. “If you still want to… you know…. Well, I’m up for it.”
I stared into his eyes for a few second, unsure of how to answer. Part of me wanted to scream yes and let him take me again right there. I’d never been with anyone who could shake me to my core like Brad did. He was rough but gentle at the same time, pushing me over the edge while making me feel perfectly safe.
Still, was this something I wanted to continue? I had a job to focus on, and soon my Jeep would be fixed. What was the point of holding on to Brad when I didn’t know how much longer this thing between us would last?
Chapter 11
Brad
Despite already having started work on Olivia’s Jeep, I now needed to work up an official estimate for her. I didn’t bother before because our payment agreement wasn’t exactly something that could be put down on paper. When I went into the shop the next morning though, I knew I needed something official to put on the books. Rex had been right about one thing, if word got out that I was screwing a customer, it would be bad for business.
Still, that didn’t deter me from seeing Olivia. I would continue seeing her as long as she wanted. I just didn’t know how long that would be.
After we had sex the night before, she told me about her new job at Carla’s art gallery. I’d known Carla for years, and I knew she would help Olivia out. Still, that didn’t mean Olivia would stick around Santa Fe any longer than she had to. Once she earned enough money to pay for the repairs, she would be gone, and there wasn’t anything I could do about that.
The thought of her leaving bothered me more than it should have. I wasn’t the kind of guy to get emotionally attached to a woman, and yet, it made my stomach ache to imagine Olivia leaving town for good.
I told her I wanted to keep seeing her, even though she was now paying me cash for my work on her car. Our arrangement ended, but that didn’t mean our fun had to. She never answered whether that was something she wanted to. Instead, she changed the subject, and I left her hotel room without knowing where we stood. I tried not to dwell on it, but as the day dragged on, I found myself thinking about her more and more.
She said she’d stop by the shop today to pick up the estimate but it was already lunchtime, and she hadn’t yet stopped by. I wondered if she was working at the gallery or if she just wasn’t ready to see me yet. Maybe she was afraid of turning me down, of admitting she didn’t want to see me anymore. I told myself I wouldn’t care if she did, that I would remain professional cordial despite the reject but I secretly hoped I wouldn’t have to do that.
The connection between me and Olivia was primal, and I didn’t want it to end. No matter how long she stayed in Santa Fe, I wanted her while she was here.
After Rex got back from lunch, he came over to join me by Olivia’s Jeep. I had my head buried under the hood, jotting down notes on my clipboard as I inspected it.
“What’s up?” Rex asked. “We already know what’s wrong with it.”
“Gotta work up an official estimate,” I said.
“Oh,” Rex said. “Why?”
“Olivia’s coming in later so we can work out that payment plan I told you about,” I said. “She’ll need a full estimate when she gets here.”
“Got it,” Rex said, suspicion in his voice. “When did she tell you this?”
“What?” I asked, distracted by my work.
“That she was coming by today,” Rex said. “When did she tell you? Did she call while I was out?”
“Oh,” I said. I shook my head. “No, she told me last night.”
“She called the shop?” Rex asked, his eyebrows raised.
I sighed and looked up at him. He was clearly probing me for information, and I didn’t appreciate it. Whatever was going on between me and Olivia was none of his business. I didn’t want to share the intimate details of my life with Rex, especially when they involved Olivia.
“What are you getting at, Rex?” I asked.
“Nothing,” he said, shrugging. “Just making conversation.”
“Well, don’t,” I said. “Just get back to work,”
“Yes, boss,” Rex said, his tone mocking.
I rolled my eyes and finished up my inspection on Olivia’s Jeep. With my clipboard in hand, I hurried into the office to type up the official estimate. It wasn’t going to be cheap. Even working for Carla, Olivia would have a hard time paying the entire bill. I sighed and tried to think of ways I could cut costs. If I reduced my fee for labor, then it would cut off at least—
I shook myself. Sighing deeply, I threw down the estimate and closed my eyes. I ran my hands over my face and tried to relax. What was it about this girl? Here I was, thinking about her constantly and going out of my way to make her bill cheaper. What the hell happened to me?
All day, I’d been stressing about our conversation from the night before. I was worried she would say no to seeing me again and that I would be forced to keep my desire in check. It wasn’t like me to care this much. Just the thought of her leaving town was enough to make my chest ache and my palms sweat. I had to pull myself together, or everything would turn to shit.
I finished Olivia’s estimate and tucked it away on my computer. It was almost time to close the garage, so I knew she’d stop in soon. I thought about going back out to the garage to distract myself with work while I waited for her but I never got the chance. Just as I rose from my chair, I heard the distinctive sound of the front door. Peering around the wall, I saw Olivia stroll through the lobby and stop by the front desk. I grabbed her estimate and hurried out to meet her.
“Hey,” she said, her face lighting up with a radiant smile. I swallowed hard and smiled back at her.
“Hi,” I said. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to show.”
“Sorry about that,” she said softly. “I’m here now, though. What’s the damage?”
I slid the estimate over to her and watched as her face fell. Her eyes darkened and her forehead furrowed. I knew the price was intimidating, but when she looked back up at me, there was a determined look in her eyes.
“Okay,” she said with a nod. “I can do that.”
“You don’t have to pay it all right away,” I said. “We can work out a payment plan.”
“I was hoping for that,” she said, relieved. “I won’t make a lot at the art gallery, but I’ll make a little each week.”
“Sounds great,” I said. “Just factor in your hotel costs and then pay me the rest. We’ll do that until the bill is paid off.”
“Perfect,” Olivia said, smiling. “Thank you so much for doing this.”
“It’s nothing,” I said. “What am I going to do? Slam the door in your face?”
She laughed and shook her head. Her eyes fell to the counter, and she blushed slightly. When she looked up at me, the determined look was gone from her face. In its place was that fire I recognized immediately.
“I’ve been thinking about our conversation from last night,” she said softly. “And, I don’t want to stop seeing you either.”
“You don’t?” I asked, heat flooding my stomach.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I don’t know how long I’ll be in Santa Fe. Once I get the Jeep paid off and a bit of money saved up… Well, I don’t know what my next move will be. I just thought you should
know that before we continued anything.”
“I know,” I said. “I like you, Olivia. If all we do is have some fun while you’re in town, that’s fine with me.”
I wasn’t sure my words were entirely true but when she leaned across the counter to press her lips against mine, it no longer mattered. I melted into her, letting the kiss drag on until a slamming door made us jump apart.
Olivia blushed, and I felt my face grow hot. That kiss, unlike the others, was full of more than just sexual desire. I felt myself sinking into her, losing myself in the feel of her soft lips. In a daze, I glanced around to see who had come through the door. Thankfully, it was just Rex moving through the office. He was still in the back and hadn’t seen a thing.
I grinned at Olivia, licking my lips and staring at her. She laughed and rolled her eyes, leaning forward and letting her cleavage spill out of her shirt.
“The shop should be closing soon, right?” she asked softly.
The answer to her question came in the form of Rex. He walked around the corner and stopped when he saw us standing there.
“I’m heading out,” he said. “Everything’s all locked up out there.”
“Thanks,” I said without looking at him. “See you tomorrow.”
Olivia and I stared at each other until we heard Rex’s truck fire up. Her grin was mischievous as she jumped on top of the counter and swung her legs over it, dropping to her feet in front of me.
Chapter 12
Olivia
I felt bold as I slid off the counter and landed on my feet in front of Brad. His eyes never left my face, and when I took a step forward, he wrapped his arms around me. His movements were slower than they’d been before, more deliberate. He held me close, pressing me against his chest and lightly brushing his lips over mine. I shivered at the contact and sighed, opening my lips to him. His tongue trailed over my bottom lip, and I moaned. It felt amazing to be in his arms again, and as our kiss deepened, I knew I couldn’t wait another second to feel him inside me.
Our kiss deepened as I pushed him backward toward a waiting chair. He fell into it, looking at me in shock as I straddled him. Our bodies fused together, tangling around each other as we kissed passionately. I was soon breathless, desire hot between my legs. I could feel Brad’s dick getting harder in his pants. I tore my lips from his and threw my shirt over my head, tearing my bra off and kissing him again.
His hands caressed my back while we kissed, our tongues dancing in perfect rhythm. He groaned when I pulled away again, my hands searching for the button on his pants. I tore it open and yanked the zipper down. Brad lifted his hips up just enough for me to pulled his pants down. His boxers slid with them, letting his rock-hard cock burst free. I stroked it slowly while he kicked his clothes away.
“Olivia…” he moaned deeply.
I moved my hand slowly around his dick. It wasn’t like him to be this submissive, but I liked it. For once, I was in control, and I loved the way I affected him.
He trembled beneath my touch, and when I grazed my tits across his face, he bit at me with ferocity. I giggled while I continued to tease him, making his blue eyes darken with repressed desire. He threw his head back and watched while I stroked his long cock. Soon he was shaking. I knew he couldn’t hold out much longer.
Slowly, I raised myself up. Standing in front of him, I slid my pants off and let them fall into a pile on the floor. I was wearing nothing but a black thong that made Brad growl and reach for me.
“Come here,” he demanded, pulling me to him with force,
He yanked the thong off my body, groping my ass and sucking my nipple between his teeth. I moaned and ran my fingers through his hair, lifting myself to straddle him. His cock was poised just below my pussy, and as I rolled my hips forward, he moaned and pushed me down.
I was soaking wet. His dick slid inside me with no effort. I moved slowly, reveling in this position. His eyes were wide with wonder as I held on to his shoulder and gently rocked my hips back and forth. The motion was slow and sensual, not at all our usual pace. I could tell from the look in his eyes that he didn’t mind. He was clenching my ass so hard that I knew his fingerprints would be left on my skin for days to come.
The thought spurred me forward, making me rock my hips faster and bounce my ass harder against him. He groaned and thrust his hips upward, barreling inside me with force. I gripped his shoulders and took control, riding him with a reckless abandon I’d never felt before.
I threw my head back and let my pleasure take over. My tits bounced against his face, making him grunt with pleasure.
“Fuck, Olivia,” he said roughly.
“Does that feel good?” I asked, pulling myself to whisper in his ear.
His answering growl was all I needed to hear. I threw myself back and rode him harder than ever, lifting my ass up and then throwing it back down. He moaned and growled, groping at my ass and hips with frantic need. His lips searched for my tits, and he kissed me with a hunger I’d never felt before.
I could feel his cock throbbing inside of me, and I knew he was close. My own pleasure was just second away. I slid one hand between us to stroke my clit. His eyes widened as he rammed his hips upward, grunting and panting with desperation.
“I’m so close,” I said breathlessly. “Fuck, I’m going to come.”
“Come for me,” he said roughly. “Let me feel you come, baby.”
I obeyed his order, coming so hard that I screamed out his name and slammed myself against his cock with renewed vigor. He gripped me hard, his orgasm rocking through our bodies. My pussy clenched around his cock while he pulsed inside of me. I moaned and kissed his lips slowly, licking my tongue along his. He kissed me back, panting and groaning against my lips. The way he held me was so full of need that I never wanted him to let me go.
When he did, I groaned and slowly stood up, letting his dripping cock slide out of me. I sighed and stared at it with a satiated smile. He smiled back at me, a dazed look in his eyes.
“You know, I’ve never traded sex for car repairs before, but now that I have, I think I’m going to make it a requirement,” he said.
I laughed. “That good, huh?”
“God yes,” he said.
We both laughed softly while we searched for our clothes. I pulled my pants on slowly, my legs still trembling from the mind-blowing orgasm. When I tucked my breasts away, Brad groaned in protest. I laughed again and rolled my eyes. Once I pulled my shirt over my head, I turned to face Brad. He was almost fully dressed, and I didn’t like it any more than he did.
If I could, I would have stayed there with him all night. Naked and writhing on top of me. Instead, I knew we both had to get going. I’d spent all day working, and so had he. We were exhausted.
“Did you start work with Carla today?” he asked.
“I did,” I said with a smile. “It was amazing. I’ve always wanted to work in a gallery.”
“You never have?” Brad asked, surprised.
“Nope,” I said. “My parents never really approved of me pursuing art. They call it a hobby. It’s not a practical profession, so they dismiss it.”
“That’s bullshit,” Brad said. I smiled at his indignation but shrugged.
“It’s nothing I’m not used to,” I said. “Besides, it doesn’t matter what they think. Working for Carla is going to be amazing, I can already tell.”
“I’m sure,” Brad said.
“Well, I should get going,” I said. “I’m exhausted from today.”
“Sex will do that to you.” Brad grinned.
I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled him to me. Kissing him softly, I felt myself sink into him all over again. I pulled away quickly, knowing I wouldn’t have the strength to leave if we kept it up.
“Bye,” I said softly.
Brad waved as I walked around the counter and through the front door. My entire body was filled with energy as I made my way to my hotel. Things were starting to improve. When I first arrived in town,
I thought my luck had run out, but now I wondered if it wasn’t the opposite.
After just one day, I already loved working for Carla. She was talented and kind, constantly pushing me to create more work. When there was a lull in customers, she insisted I pull out my sketchbook. We spent the entire day talking about art and nothing else. I’d never felt more inspired in my entire life. When I left, I couldn’t wait to get back.
Then seeing Brad only served to improve my mood. When I walked into his shop, I wasn’t sure what I would say. I knew I still wanted him. God, I wanted him. But I was worried about getting involved with someone when I didn’t know how long I would be in town. Still, being with Brad was worth it. He could rock my world without even trying, and that wasn’t something I was going to give up anytime soon.
As I walked through the door to my hotel room, I smiled. My life wasn’t at all what I thought it would be but I felt at home here. I might have been living in a hotel, working a part-time job for very little pay while trying to pay for the repairs to my damaged car but that was okay. I was beginning to think that staying in Santa Fe wouldn’t be half bad.
Chapter 13
Brad
By the time Friday rolled around, I was done. The entire week had been long and stressful. After dealing with horrible customers all day, I wanted nothing more than to leave the shop behind for the weekend. I was mentally exhausted and physically drained. As I sat down in the office, I sighed and ran my hands over my face. Finally, the week was over, and I could forget about work for a while. My mind turned to Olivia, and I wondered what she was doing tonight.
Without stopping to think, I looked up her cell number in my system and called her. I couldn’t believe it had only been a week since she walked into my shop. This time last Friday, Olivia Storm was nothing more than a stranger. Now she was the woman I couldn’t stop thinking about. No matter how hard I tried, her face swam through my mind a hundred times a day. I couldn’t stop myself from wanting to be with her.
