by Nikki Sloane
Clever girl. She knew I didn’t want to talk about it.
I sat in the matching chair beside her, adjusting my uncomfortable hard-on. The taste of her was still on my tongue, and her smell lingered in my nose. Making her come always got me hot, and my body threatened to riot when I’d shot down the offer to fuck her right there on my desk.
“New York is a state on the east coast. It’s next to New Jersey.”
There was no reaction to my wiseass comment. Ruby didn’t miss a beat. “Why did you leave?”
The moment she’d asked me to add the addendum about honesty, I figured she’d go digging, but I didn’t expect it quite so soon. Maybe over dinner sometime, or after we’d thoroughly fucked our brains out.
But I’d been willing to sacrifice a little information to get her on board. Joseph’s crazy plan had worked. I drafted the agreement, and used the willing list he’d sent me. There was no doubt it had come from the blindfold club.
When she’d asked to see mine, I knew I had her. Her eyes had sparkled with curiosity, and she was too interested to walk without getting a peek at my fantasies.
I could understand. I couldn’t fucking wait to see which boxes she marked. Dear God, please check anal.
“I was in a relationship,” I said. “It ended badly. She was a partner at the firm.”
What were the battling emotions on Ruby’s face? Surprise and . . . jealousy? I shouldn’t have liked the concept of her being jealous, but the irritation ringing her eyes was hot.
This ridiculous partnership agreement was a means to an end. It bought us time to work toward forgiveness, and when Ruby eventually broke the policy about discussing love, because she’d be the one to do it, hopefully we’d both be ready for more.
“Did you leave her without saying goodbye, too?” Ruby asked casually.
I didn’t rise to the bait. “No, but if it helps, she made it clear she didn’t want to see me again.”
Her eyebrow curved into an arch. “What did you do?”
I shifted in my seat. My dick was unable to downshift around Ruby, even when talking about Sharon. “She wanted more. I did not.”
“Come on, there’s a helluva lot more to your story.”
“Yeah, but that’s as far as I’m going to tell it.” When she opened her mouth to object, I added, “We said we’d be honest, and I have been. I did not agree to full discovery.”
She shrugged. “Guess you should have chosen the sex, then, counselor.” Her expression was firm. “So, this woman was one of the three since me.”
I knew exactly where her line of questioning was going to go, because if the roles were reversed, I would have done the same. “If that’s a question, it feels rhetorical.” I didn’t have high hopes of being able to derail her. One of the many things I’d admired about Ruby was her tenacity. But I could try, or at least stall her. “And your number is? You never actually answered me.”
Pink highlighted the apples of her cheeks. It was rare, but cute when I could make her blush. A filthy freak hid beneath her deceptive, good girl front. Shit, she was beautiful.
Ruby didn’t answer, and my suspicion grew as she rose to her feet, her determined gaze fixed on mine. My pulse kicked when she stood between my parted legs and bent over to set her palms on my knees.
“I know what you’re doing,” I said.
She folded one knee under herself, then the other, so she was kneeling before me. Her hands glided up over the suit pants covering my thighs. Her tone faked innocence. “What am I doing?”
Any chance of losing my erection died as her hands stroked me through the fabric. I didn’t stop her as she inched her way toward my belt. Everything inside was humming with anticipation as she tugged the leather end free. I reached for her, tracing fingertips over her cheekbone, and curled my hand to cup her face. I swiped my thumb over her lips and pressed down softly, stilling the tremble there.
As my thumb brushed away, I demanded her answer with one word. “Ruby.”
Her eyes were so big and clear as she sighed. “Three point five.”
My mind was chaos. Which did I focus on first? The fact that her number was similar to mine, or the bizarre point five? “What?”
She used the distraction to drop my zipper and tug open the fly of my pants. This time, my cock was only sheathed from her touch by my thin boxers, and the heat of her palm was searing. Jesus, don’t stop.
I exhaled as she drew down the waistband of my boxers, so only the head of my dick was exposed. I stopped breathing as she leaned forward. Her soft tongue swiped over the sensitive underside, toying with the ridge at the tip, and I jerked in response. It felt so good, just her feather-light caress.
Yet my brain wouldn’t be quiet and let me enjoy. “What constitutes as half of a fuck?”
Ruby sat back on her heels and took her mouth away from me. Why couldn’t I keep mine shut? I didn’t want her to stop. The memories of her lips wrapped around me were awesome, but I didn’t want memories right now. I needed the real fucking thing.
Her hands were still on my thighs, but she turned her gaze away and stared blankly at the floor. “He had whiskey dick. Neither of us came, and it lasted all of thirty seconds.”
Oh.
“I wouldn’t even count that one, then.” Without thought, my hand was in her hair, turning her gaze back to me. I didn’t like it when she broke our connection. “Who was Whiskey Dick, besides being a fucking idiot?”
Because drinking too much and ruining her night was the dumbest thing I’d ever heard. But I wasn’t sure why I’d asked. Did I really want to know? Did I want to think about her with other guys?
“I don’t remember. I was pretty loaded, too.” She made a face. “It was the first time after . . . I don’t want to talk about it.” She leaned forward, and her hot breath rolled over my exposed, damp skin. “I’d rather suck your cock.”
She wanted to deflect, and my lips threatened a smile. “You’ll get no objection from me.”
The tip of her pink tongue traced patterns on the head of my dick, and with her hair pulled back, I could watch every sexy lick. The muscles in my thighs contracted against the waves of pleasure. I still had one hand resting on the back of her head, and balled my other into a fist to prevent myself from doing something foolish, because I was throbbing and hungry.
She worked the waistband lower, easing it over my hips until all of me was available to her. Just the brush of her fingers was enough sensation to feel goddamn amazing, and I clenched my jaw.
It was impossible to hold back. “Fuck, get that hot mouth on me.”
She lifted her head—and then she fucking grinned. Was she aware she was the sexiest thing ever? I was about to tell her, but her lips descended on me and sucked my words away.
Motherfucking shit, it felt so good. Hot silk poured over my flesh, and tightened until it was snug. Ruby’s fingers dug gently into the meaty parts of my thighs, stabilizing herself as she began to move. Was my cock sinking deeper into her mouth with every pass? Because it sure the hell seemed like it.
“Mmmm,” she moaned as she retracted my dick from her mouth and wrapped her fingers around the base, gripping me tightly. “I’ve missed this—”
She jolted and froze, panic etching her face. It made something foreign inside me hurt. I hated that she felt like she’d revealed too much. And, hell. She’d said my same thought out loud, so my voice was heavy with sincerity. “God, Ruby. Me, too.”
We were already skirting on dangerous ground. How long would it be before she crossed the line and voided the agreement? I’d just gotten her to sign, and I wasn’t ready for it to be over. So I wrapped my fist around the knot of her hair and guided her to take me back inside.
The sexy noises she made were insane. Soft, throaty moans, where I could feel every vibration rattling up my spine. It was as if she genuinely enjoyed pleasuring me. I loved how she made it seem like it was a treat for her versus a chore.
“You’re so goddamn good at that.” I gro
aned and pushed down a little, testing her response. Did she like when I controlled? Or would she merely tolerate it?
The fingers ringing my cock squeezed tighter, and she went with it. Unbelievable. I exhaled loudly. Her tongue swirled, showering me with sparks of pleasure, and a heavy moan rumbled from my chest.
“Yeah,” I whispered on a struggling breath. “Just like that.”
Watching my dick slide in and out of her rose colored lips was erotic. Her eyes fluttered closed as if savoring me, and she hollowed out her cheeks, sucking hard. It focused all the sensation, and I pulsed in the heated bliss of her mouth. I wasn’t going to last long. Her relaxed tempo gave me time to enjoy each stroke and every pass of her wicked tongue.
The head of my cock touched the back of her throat. Ruby couldn’t get all of me in her mouth, but her fist pumped on the base, working me in time with her lips. I slumped in the chair, gripped the armrests for leverage, and thrust upward, pushing deeper.
There was a soft pop as she released me from her mouth, smiling as she pressed the tip against her lips and stroked her hand along my full length. Jesus, this woman. My fingers clenched the chair so hard, I was sure the wood was going to splinter in my hands.
“Dinner,” I barked. “Tonight.”
She continued to pump, sliding her palm over my damp skin, but her expression was skeptical. “Like, a date?”
It was absolutely a date, but she didn’t need to know that. “No. We have business to discuss.”
Her skepticism shifted into a dubious look. “What business?”
“Our willing lists.”
Her tempo slowed, just for a moment, and she tried to play it off like she wasn’t excited, but I caught it. Ruby had enough emotion for both of us, too much to contain, and it made her an easy read.
“I have plans,” she said.
My voice was dark and commanding. “Break them.”
Were my words so powerful, she felt she couldn’t refuse? Her grip tightened as her eyebrows tugged together. She nodded slightly, as if confused by her own approval. Her submission was an injection of fresh lust, and she delivered sweet relief when her lips parted, enveloping me again.
I lost all sense of time as she brought me close to the edge of coming, and then backed off.
“Fucking tease,” I said in a low, playful voice.
“Who’s the fucking tease?” Her smile was evil. “You did it first.”
Then she got serious. My hips bucked upward, encouraging her to go faster, and everything grew intense. My mind narrowed in on the singular goal of coming. Need was hot as fire, burning me up from the inside, begging for release.
“Oh, shit. Oh, fuck, I’m coming,” I said in a rush.
It poured from me in spurts, every wave a blast of acute pleasure. She slowed her movement so she wouldn’t overwhelm me. The tingling explosion rolled down my legs and up my back, a sensation that cut off my breath and fucked with my heartbeat.
When she came to a stop, the muscles of her throat constricted as she swallowed, and I jerked with an aftershock. My ears were ringing, and as I struggled to recover, I locked my gaze on her.
“You’re so fucking sexy,” I whispered.
There was a shy smile from her.
Ruby drew away and wiped her lips with a single finger, and I chewed back another groan. I had to be careful and not say anything else. I could inadvertently prompt her too far, or accidentally break the policy myself.
And I was determined not to fuck things up with her a second time.
It wasn’t awkward between us afterward, unlike New Year’s Eve. I stayed silent, watching her as she stood, retrieved her underwear from the floor, and stepped into it. My gaze was glued to her legs as the fabric rose and disappeared beneath her skirt. Once it was done, I lifted my focus to her flushed face. Was she . . . glowing?
Okay, get dressed as quick as possible and get a fucking hold of yourself.
I did up my pants and came to my feet, feeling marginally in control. Pulling out my phone helped as well. I punched in her name as a new contact. “I was thinking dinner at seven thirty. What’s your number?”
The glow I thought I saw disappeared. “It’s the same one I’ve always had.”
Well, shit. The awkwardness hit us like a surprise subpoena.
She snatched the phone from my hand and thumbed out the numbers, then passed it back with a plain look. “Okay, there you go, partner.”
“Thanks.” I pocketed it, and then my hands moved of their own volition. Inaction wasn’t going to be a problem today. I slipped an arm around her, pulling her against me, and kissed her. It allowed me to feel the jolt of surprise that ran through her, but she softened in my embrace, molding her body to mine.
I’d just had satisfaction, and yet I couldn’t wait until there were no clothes between us, and a bed was beneath our bodies. Couldn’t get enough of her.
Pace yourself. I pulled back, enjoying the affected look in her dazed eyes. “Let me get you your copy of the agreement.”
I left her standing there and went behind my desk, pulled out the staple from the pages, and shoved them in the top tray of my all-in-one printer.
Ruby shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and didn’t seem to know what to do with her hands. Visibly anxious. The scanner warmed up and pages rolled through the machine with a mechanical whine.
“Why have you only slept with three women since me?” she said.
I drew in a breath, grabbed the warm copies, and held the pages out to her. “Why have you only slept with three guys since me?”
She took the papers. “I asked first.”
“You did, but I’m not going to discuss it.”
Her tone was innocuous, feigning confusion. “Hey, what is this, right here?” She pointed to the line I’d handwritten about honesty. “I can’t seem to read it.”
“I understand what you’re saying, but I can’t talk about it.” I gave her a stern look before I went to the door and put my hand on the doorknob. Her clothes were back in place. The cute ball of hair at the crown of her head was undamaged, other than a few lose strands that framed her face. Unless someone had heard, no one would know what we’d been up to in here.
“We had a deal—”
“We have a deal,” I corrected. When I opened my door, it forced her to grab her briefcase and shove the agreement inside. “I’m sorry I can’t answer your question.”
“Why not?”
The muscle along my jaw flexed. “Because it’s a violation of the final paragraph.”
Her eyes went wide. “What?”
I ignored her shock and pressed on. “Thanks so much for coming, Ms. Carter.” Did she enjoy the innuendo as much as I did? “I’m looking forward to our next meeting. Until then.”
Chapter
EIGHTEEN
RUBY
I’d lied when I told Kyle I had plans tonight. Well, kind of. A new five-pound sack of almond flour was waiting for me on my doorstep, packaged in a box from Costco. I’d ordered it yesterday, sure I was going to need it after my mystery meeting with him. And then my sister had called and asked if I’d be willing to make her three batches for her coworkers.
I left the box unopened on my counter.
Holy shit. I’d signed the agreement with my ex for on-demand sex, but not love. I needed to shower and shave all the things, and while I dragged the razor over my legs, I tried to think about how stupid I was being, or how ridiculously fast I’d caved.
His text message came as I was flat-ironing my hair. He wanted to pick me up, but needed my address, and I used the opportunity to ask if the dress for our ‘meeting’ was business casual.
(Double-tap text messages to read larger.)
Did he have any qualms about sending the message? Probably not. I tried to draft a sassy response, but couldn’t do it easily and didn’t have time. I had to tackle the willing list, and there were several items on there that required Googling.
Later, I was down on my ha
nds and knees, digging through my hall closet for my one missing ankle boot, when a knock came from my front door. It sent my stomach plummeting and soaring all at once.
It’d only been a few hours since I’d seen him, so it’d been forever and yet not enough time when I opened the door and gazed at him. He had on dark, inky jeans and an olive green sweater, covered with a tailored and expensive-looking leather jacket. My mouth wanted to water at the sight of my new partner.
His gaze drifted downward, noting my ivory oversized sweater with a cowl neckline that I wore over shiny black leggings. He seemed to approve of my outfit until he reached my feet, and saw how I was standing on an angle.
“Hi. You forgot something.”
“I know.” I motioned for him to come in and limped awkwardly back to my hall closet on one shoe, digging through the clutter. When I finally was victorious, I glanced up at him. “Are you staring at my ass?”
His tone was matter-of-fact. “Your ass is outstanding.”
I laughed softly and pushed away the flutters his heated gaze gave me, while struggling to get the other boot on. When I took my outstanding ass away from his view, he moved on to look at the rest of the space. The kitchen was straight back, and to the right was the living room. My left wall was covered in a mishmash of colorful frames.
It was pictures of my family, my friends, my time at college and law school. It’d taken me over a week to arrange and hang all thirty of them, and I loved how it came out. Yet Kyle peered at it critically. His focus lingered on the picture of me with Grant at my graduation.
“Where are we going?” I asked, yanking my coat down from a hanger and slipping it on.
“The Bedford. Have you been?”
“No.” I grabbed my purse. “But I’m ready when you are.”
My apartment was on the third floor over a shoe store, and the street was always busy during the day with shoppers, and at night with bar-goers. I followed Kyle down the stairs in the narrow hallway and out the main door, where we were violated with frigid winter air and the hum of cars traveling the street.
“I had to park a few blocks down,” he said, leading me along the sidewalk where our shoes crunched over rock salt. I banded my arms tight over my stomach as if I could hold the warmth inside my coat better, even though it was already buttoned up.
