Without Regret

by Aubrey Bondurant

  ***

  We were seated at a table for two across from one another at a local Italian place. I’d never been there, but he’d found it well rated on his phone, and we decided to try it. He was dressed in jeans and a collared shirt while I’d chosen a simple black dress and heels.

  This felt like a date. We looked like a couple. And it made me want to puke.

  “You okay?” he asked, appearing concerned over the top of his menu.

  “I don’t know.” I was being honest even at the risk of offending him.

  He arched a brow and set his menu to the side. If he took my hands across the table, I would probably bolt. Luckily, he simply smirked. “Is this too weird for you?”

  I sighed. “A little out of my element. Yes.”

  He leaned closer, forcing me to do so as well in order to catch his whispered words. “Would it help if I told you to go to the ladies’ room and take off your panties? I want to picture you sitting there bare across from me, getting wet at the thought of me sliding deep into your pussy after we’re done with dinner.”

  His words took me aback, but yes, yes it did help. I could already feel my pulse start to quicken and was completely distracted from anything but the anticipation of later. “I’ll be right back.”

  I excused myself to the loo where I made quick work out of stripping off my thong and putting it into my purse. Good grief, I was already wet for him. I was tempted to give myself a release, but the thought of waiting through dinner held more appeal.

  We made small talk throughout the meal, which turned out to be rather easy because Trevor was a funny guy. I found myself relaxing, too, after a couple of glasses of wine. Maybe the key was going commando, which served as a reminder this was all about sex. It might feel like a date, but at the end of it I’d be back on solid ground and staying in the ‘physical only’ box.

  As soon as I was seated in his truck—to which he opened my door like a gentleman—the vibe changed. I was pleasantly surprised when, after climbing into the driver’s seat, he immediately took charge.

  “Spread your legs,” he commanded starting up the big truck and glancing over.

  I did as he asked, not waiting for his next instruction but reaching under my dress to touch myself.

  “Did I say you could touch yourself? Show me first.”

  There was something deliciously on edge in his voice. Not for the first time, I enjoyed it when Trevor went alpha.

  I flipped up my dress as he was backing out of the space. We were a couple miles away from the flat.

  “Touch yourself now. Let me hear how wet you are.”

  I moved my fingers down, tracing my piercing and then going deeper, spreading the wetness I found gathered there back up to my piercing. I didn’t masturbate often, but when I did, it was normally with my vibrator and not my own hand. But his active participation made the activity innately sensual.

  “Give me your finger. Let me taste you.”

  I held it out, feeling my entire body come alive when his tongue swirled the tip, and then his lips sucked it clean from bottom to top. “Fuck. You taste good.”

  I don’t remember the ride home, between playing with myself and giving him forbidden tastes, but as soon as the truck turned off, he was on me. Frantic lips met mine in a kiss so carnal it could almost make me climax from it alone.

  “Jesus, Em. Let’s get upstairs before we give everyone a show.”

  I don’t think I would’ve minded. Not that I was an exhibitionist, but damn, the man made me forget anything but him. He took my hand, leading me onto the sidewalk where I had a hard time keeping up in my heels.

  Deciding not to let my shoes slow us down, he scooped me up caveman style over his shoulder, not breaking stride as he took the steps like a man on a mission.

  “Shit,” he cursed, fishing for his key.

  “What is it?”

  “I need to let Rufus out. Here’s where living three flights up in temporary housing instead of having a fenced yard kind of sucks.”

  Despite the pause, I admired the way he loved Rufus enough to put the dog’s needs above his own. “It’s okay. You need to take care of him. How about I wait in my bedroom for you?”

  He set me down by way of sliding me down his entire body and gripping my ass for good measure. Giving me one last kiss, he regretfully pulled away. “Give me five minutes.”

  As soon as I was in my apartment, I toed off my shoes. The dress came next while I got an idea of something to surprise him. I quickly shed my bra and put on a G-string that was a deep blood red. Lastly, I put fresh lipstick on to match. Hearing my door open and close, I went to greet him. He was only steps inside the door when he stopped. His eyes feasted on me.

  “You’re gorgeous. Come here, sugar. Drop on those knees and take me deep between those fucking sexy lips of yours.”

  Leave it to him to make his command sound both incredibly hot, yet still polite. I stepped in front of him, sank down, and reached for his belt. As soon as I had him unbuckled and lying heavy on my palm, I took my time to run my tongue up and down his length.

  “Fuuuuuck,” he hissed.

  Peering up at him, I took him slowly between my lips, sinking down to the root until he hit the back of my throat. Forcing myself to breathe through my nose, I repeated the motion over and over.

  Deepthroating a man always took him off guard, giving me great satisfaction. But with Trevor, it was so much more. The way he looked at me with such unfiltered lust made me want to please him. I continued my bobbing, gripping his ass in order to set a rhythm. His hand lay gently on top of my head as if he was afraid to really thrust into my mouth.

  Most guys were takers. Not Trevor. He was a giver, and right now he wasn’t sure how much I wanted him to take for a change. Fisting his cock from root to tip, I leaned back. “Grip my hair and fuck my mouth, Trev.”

  “Christ,” he gasped, immediately taking hold of my hair and thrusting.

  Yes. This is what I’d desired. Him not holding back. After the first bit of hesitancy, he set his pace, pushing down my throat, no longer hesitant in taking what I was offering. Finally, with one last push, he emptied himself in my mouth. I swallowed him down, greedy for the taste and the roar filling the room with his release.

  Suddenly, I was pulled up, and his lips seized mine. Now it was my turn to be shocked. Most men didn’t kiss after, but he didn’t appear to mind. “Get on your knees on the bed with your hands gripping the head board, honey.”

  Once again, he had me turned on with the authoritative side. I took my position, hearing him undress while I did so. But instead of coming up behind me, his face slid through the opening between my knees. “Ride my face, gorgeous.”

  “Oh, God,” I panted, once his mouth took hold and his hands gripped my hips to grind me down onto his face. He’d moved my thong to the side, allowing him absolute access to my clit. And the man didn’t just eat, he fucking devoured me.

  I exploded, but was quickly brought back up to the pinnacle of falling right over the edge again. “No more,” I pleaded, too sensitive, too raw.

  As soon as he was clear from the suffocation zone, I collapsed, but I could feel my thong being dragged down the back of my legs. His hands caressed over my back, my ass, and then down my legs.

  Bliss. This was bliss. But he wasn’t done. Instead, I could hear the sound of a condom foil, and I felt his fingers. Then, suddenly, he was filling me from behind, pulling up my hips and sticking a pillow under my pelvis to deepen the angle.

  “Harder,” I moaned into the pillow, feeling my body start to shake from the build-up, loving the sound of the slapping of skin which permeated the room along with his breaths. I was close. But then he was pulling out. “Nooo, don’t stop.”

  He dipped his fingers into my pussy and then trailed them up to my ass to circle the tight little bud.

  “I won’t, honey.”

  I gasped when his finger penetrated, using the lube from my climax to ease the entry.

 
Then he was in both places, working me in a rhythm which had me about to lose my mind. I came with such a ferocity I swore my legs went numb while my brain went blank. I heard him growl out his own climax and barely noticed his body weight collapsing on mine. Next, I felt him leave the bed, to go take care of things with the condom, I presumed.

  I was immovably stuck in the same place when I felt the dip in the bed and his strong arms come around me from the back. “You all right?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  He chuckled. “You okay with me staying a bit?”

  “Uh-huh.” I snuggled back into him, enjoying the intimacy far too much to overanalyze it. It was official: I’d been fucked senseless.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Trevor

  I kissed her shoulder before reluctantly getting out of the bed. I’d have preferred to spend the night instead of leaving shortly after sex, but I had to abide by Emma’s rules if I was to have any chance at winning her.

  She rolled over to look at me. “You’re leaving?”

  Emma was every fantasy come true. Sexy, funny, and beautiful. But her anxiousness at the restaurant had made it very clear the only way I’d be able to hold her, literally and figuratively, would be through sex. Not that most guys would complain—each and every time we were together, I couldn’t get enough. But there was something else I was after.

  Her heart.

  “Yeah, I should get back for Rufus. Big guy isn’t used to spending the night alone.”

  “Right. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.” She was chewing on her lip, her tell for feeling insecure or awkward.

  It seemed silly that after a matter of days I found myself falling for her, but it was the truth. Maybe it was infatuation, but I didn’t think so. And if it had been all about the chase, I’d have been sated instead of more intrigued. The challenge was not freaking her the fuck out. One mention of feelings, and I knew she’d be gone. Yet I believed there was more here than just sex.

  There had to be.

  “Actually, I’m taking off early for Houston. Spend some time at home. But I’ll see you when you come in.”

  “Oh.”

  The disappointment on her face made me ask the next question without thinking.

  “You want to drive with me tomorrow?” It would be Saturday, and so we’d have the weekend together.

  “No, um, thanks. I’m flying in on Sunday to secure our temporary office space.”

  I recalled Simon mentioning that fact. “In the same building as the prospective company?”

  “Yes. There are two options. One small space on the eighth floor and one huge floor on the seventh. The software company has the second floor.”

  “Do you mind if I meet you there? I’d love to get a sense for that part of the process.”

  “No. I don’t mind. I have an appointment with the building manager on Sunday at two o’clock. We’ll meet in front.”

  I dropped a quick kiss to her lips. “Sounds like a plan. Have a good weekend.”

  “You, too.”

  ***

  On Saturday morning, I took off for Houston with Rufus in my truck for the three-and-a-half-hour drive. Although I was disappointed Emma hadn’t wanted to spend the weekend with me, I reasoned it might be good to have a little separation. Perhaps she’d miss me by Sunday.

  As I walked into my childhood home, I sighed. It was always bittersweet coming back here to the sprawling mansion. Memories of my mother here were so poignant I had to choke back emotions. Her brain cancer had hit out of the blue, and after a short battle, she’d succumbed. I’d been seventeen, and looking back, that year was a blur. As soon as I’d graduated high school, I’d gotten the hell out. My father had been much the same, throwing himself into his work and doubling his travel schedule. Guilt seeped in that my little sister Avery had been left on her own during such a difficult time.

  But now she bounded down the stairs, all smiles. “Hey, you’re early.”

  I engulfed her in a big hug. “I hoped to miss traffic.” The truth was I hadn’t wanted to be tempted into asking Emma again if she’d come with me. One rejection was enough.

  “Are you staying here or in a hotel?”

  “Here. Definitely.” As hard as it was, it was important to relive some of the memories and spend time with my sister.

  “Awesome. So dinner tonight—maybe old movies?”

  “Sounds good.”

  She lit up at the idea. “So hey, Dad mentioned he’s home on Thursday and wants to have your team over for dinner on Friday. But I told him I’d check with you first.”

  I knew Emma would probably freak out at the thought, but if we hadn’t been sleeping together, I’d have extended the invitation without hesitation. “Wait, what kind of invite?”

  Ever since my father had announced his run for mayor, he’d turned allegedly social dinners into political events.

  She sighed. “You know him. I can’t make any promises it won’t end up a fundraiser or some other big deal.”

  “I’ll ask Simon and Emma if they want to come.” I’d have preferred not to have Tom in the mix but knew I might have no choice since he’d be in town.

  Okay let me know. How are things with Emma?”

  Although it was tempting to tell someone about our newfound relationship, my little sister wasn’t that person. “We work well together, but other than that, there isn’t a lot to say.”

  “Damn. Never thought I’d see the day you couldn’t charm a girl out of her panties.”

  I made a face. “Don’t say that word to me.”

  “Panties?”

  I full on cringed. “Yes. I don’t want my little sister having a conversation with that word ever.”

  She grinned mischievously. “Hey, I could’ve said thong.”

  I did an impression of a five-year-old throwing my hands over my ears and started to sing-song, “La, la, la.”

  We both laughed, and then she knelt down to pet Rufus who had laid down on the cool marble floor. “Come on. I’ll make a big breakfast with plenty of bacon for you, too, Rufus.”

  Since she’d been the one to volunteer at the shelter and beg me to foster him, she was responsible for me meeting and ultimately adopting him.

  “How’s work at the shelter?” One reason Avery’s outburst at the gym had been so uncharacteristic was that she was unbelievably generous when it came to most things.

  “Good, but sad. I wish I could adopt them all.”

  So did I. But we’d have to settle for donating money and time, hoping they’d eventually find forever homes.

  ***

  At two o’clock on Sunday, I pulled up to the structure on the outskirts of Houston which housed Big Town Fantasy Sports. It was a twelve-story building in a commerce business park. With the exception of a few cars, the lot was empty today.

  Once my motorcycle was off, I swung my denim-clad leg over the seat and hung my helmet on the handlebars. It had been a nice day, inspiring me to ride the Harley instead of taking my truck. I walked towards the entrance and saw Emma standing there, stunning in a navy dress with nude pumps. I might not be a fashion-conscious type of guy, but I knew when a woman wore it well, and she definitely did. Too bad good taste in clothes made me want to undress her more than admire her in them.

  “Hi,” I greeted her, my voice husky and low.

  She looked beyond me and appeared taken aback. “You ride a motorcycle?”

  “Yeah, when I can.”

  “A Harley?”

  She was starting to wear her turned-on expression. “Yes. Why? Are you a fan of motorcycles?”

  She swallowed hard. “Yeah. I—”

  We were interrupted by a female voice accompanying the click-clack of heels on the floor coming towards us.

  “Hello. You must be Ms. Brown.” She greeted Emma and then turned towards me. “And you must be Mr. Newhall. So nice to meet you in person. I was happy when Emma emailed me to tell me you’d be coming. I’m Adrienne Jones.”

  Adrienne was a l
eggy blonde with the skirt to show off her assets and a mega-watt smile. She had a Texas accent along with a designer suit and jewelry. In all, I might have thought her attractive if I wasn’t already halfway in love with the woman beside me. I took Adrienne’s offered hand. “Please, call me Trevor.”

  She held my hand a bit longer than was comfortable, ignoring Emma.

  “And please call me Adrienne.”

  Emma spoke up. “We’re ready to see the two floors.”

  Adrienne glanced at her, smiling. “Oh, you’re British. How adorbs.”

  I had to bite my lip. Emma was probably gritting her teeth at that little comment. But that was nothing compared to the next half hour while we toured the two spaces. Adrienne went out of her way to touch me any time she could.

  I didn’t wish to be rude, but either she was super friendly or flirting, neither of which made me very uncomfortable. For a third time, I moved my arm from under her hand and pretended to get lost in the space around me, speaking about the square footage and other details.

  “You’re originally from here in Houston, aren’t you, Trevor?”

  “Yes, I am.”

  “And you’re in town for how long?”

  I busied myself with walking around as if I was inspecting the molding. “Maybe the next few weeks or so.” We couldn’t say anything about the possible purchase or why exactly we were in town as the details were confidential.

  “My family is in Houston, too. I went to the University of Houston.”

  I smiled, trying to keep things pleasant. “My sister graduated from there, too. I’m a University of Texas in Austin man myself.”

  “I thought you went to Harvard.”

  Awkward to realize someone had looked you up. “That was for my MBA.”

  “Aw. So you decided to try out the East coast for a few years before coming back?”

  I turned to see Emma pretending not to pay attention to the conversation. It was friendly but definitely uncomfortable given all the signs Adrienne was putting out that she was interested. “Something like that.”

  “Is your sister by any chance Avery Newhall?”

  “She is. You know her?”