Heated

by Krista Carleson

  “Don’t threaten me, Meyers. You’re all bark and no bite. For years you’ve been trying to sabotage me, fighting for my spot, but you’ll never get it, even with me out of the picture. Do you know why? Because you’re a greedy, incompetent fool who knows nothing about business. You’ll never be able to achieve what I’ve achieved in Real Estate Silver. Besides, there are plenty other people more competent than you, so you can kiss the CEO’s position goodbye.”

  Meyers was visibly shaking, but he couldn’t say anything, defeat visible on his face.

  “Nothing smart to say? I didn’t think so.” He looked at all of them. “Good. So, gentlemen, now that we’ve discussed this, get your asses out of here.”

  In a minute, the workers and the contractors dispersed, taking their machines away, and I felt ecstatic, grinning at Marissa and Alison like a Cheshire cat.

  Jared turned around and our eyes connected. As if some invisible string was pulling me toward him, I rushed into his embrace and pressed my lips against his. The hand that was holding the papers snaked around my waist to hold me flush against him, while his other hand pushed through my hair, keeping my head at an angle.

  His tongue thrust into my mouth, claiming me, and I lost myself in him and our passion. He’d saved Pathways. I had no words good enough to express my gratitude to him.

  “Thank you so much, Jared.” I cupped his face, staring at him fervently. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

  “That’s nothing, babe. I’d do anything to make you happy. Now you don’t have to move and worry about it anymore. Everything is settled.”

  Happy tears came to my eyes, blurring my vision as I returned his smile. “I’m sorry for accusing you and for insulting you. I was so unfair.”

  “That doesn’t matter. You were understandably hurt, so you don’t have to apologize about that.”

  “Still, it wasn’t right. This means a lot to me. You saved my clinic. I... I don’t have the right words to thank you.”

  He nuzzled my cheek. “You don’t have to. All I need is you.”

  “You already have me.”

  He raised his eyebrow. “Oh? So does that mean you’re my girlfriend? We haven’t talked about this, but it’s pretty much a given, I think.”

  My lips stretched into a gigantic smile. “Cocky much?”

  He pulled me against him, his darkened eyes taking my breath away. “You’re mine, Claire.”

  I nodded to him, having an urge to dance around from happiness. “I’m all yours. And yes. I’m your girlfriend.”

  “I love you.”

  “And I love you even more.”

  “Look at you two. So sweet,” Alison said from beside us, grinning at us. She winked at Marissa, who was standing next to her. “Aren’t you going to introduce us to this wonderful man, who has just saved our clinic and who is, by the way, really, really hot?”

  We burst into laughter, all of us finally able to relax. The worst had passed.

  “This calls for a celebration,” Marissa said a while after.

  “For sure,” Jared agreed. “Let’s throw a party.”

  “Did someone say party?” Alison winked at me. There she was. The party girl. “This is going to be good.”

  I looked at Jared and slid my fingers across his shoulder. “You’re amazing. I was so lucky to have met you.”

  “I bet you didn’t think that way the day we met.”

  “Yeah. But, boy, I was never more glad to be wrong about someone than now.”

  “Me too, love. Me too.”

  13

  A few days later, we threw a little party at the clinic after work hours to celebrate the fact that Pathways had been saved. We’d invited some of our long-time clients and a local band, who was currently playing covers of eighties rock and new wave bands.

  I was wearing a fitted blue dress that accentuated my lush bosom and ample hips, which made Jared’s eyes bulge when he saw me in it.

  “I don’t think I’ll be able to wait until the end of the party to take it off you,” he told me then, his dark, glimmering eyes searing into me.

  I squirmed as I watched people dance, unable to get those words and his look out of my head. I was all hot and aroused, more cheerful than usual thanks to several glasses of champagne I’d already consumed.

  I glanced at Jared and Daniel, who was standing in the corner of the room and observing the guests while talking. They met the day Jared bought our building, and they got along from the start, acting like best buddies, and it was rather cute.

  “I’m having a hard time deciding who’s hotter between those two,” Alison said next to me and took a swallow of her champagne. She was tipsy, and tipsy Alison was even crazier than usual.

  “Who are you talking about?” Marissa, who was standing on my other side, asked her.

  “Your husband and Claire’s boyfriend. Look at them. They both look like they came straight off the runway. They are fine!”

  I let out a high-pitched giggle, my cheeks flushed. “That’s true. I even noticed several women openly checking Jared out. It feels amazing knowing he’s mine only.”

  “Mhm. I can only imagine,” Alison said and took another sip of her drink.

  Marissa poked her shoulder. “So when are you going to find a fine male specimen for yourself?”

  “Not now. I’m a free spirit at the moment. I don’t need a man who will only drag me down.”

  I raised one eyebrow. “Don’t be so negative! What if he’s a sexy beast?”

  She snorted. “A sexy beast?”

  “Yeah. Dominant, great in bed, and with a huge tool.” I wiggled my brows at her. “If you know what I mean.”

  Marissa chuckled. “I can totally imagine you with someone like that. It would be pretty intense and the sex would be mind-blowing.”

  “That’s nice and all, but where can I find such a fine specimen? All I’m seeing these days are boring jerks who can’t tell pussy from tits.”

  “Just believe in it,” I told her. “Believe it will happen one day and it will.”

  She groaned. “Ugh. You and your optimism. It’s difficult to feel that way after years and years of disastrous encounters. All my exes aren’t even worth remembering.”

  “If Claire and I managed to find the right guy, you’ll find him too. You could even find him here!” She pointed at the men around the room. Indeed, there were a couple of good-looking guys, who were standing on the side with their drink in their hand and no date next to them.

  “Mari is right. How about you go and talk to someone? Maybe you’ll be in for a surprise.”

  Before Alison could respond, Jared slid his arms around my waist from behind me and buried his head into my neck. At the same time, Daniel spun Marissa around and gave her a pretty passionate kiss.

  “What were you three talking about?” Jared murmured into my ear and licked it slowly, creating tingles on my sensitive skin.

  “Just girl talk. We hope Alison will meet her ‘prince charming’ soon.”

  “If you want, I can talk to some of my single friends and—” Jared began, but Alison interrupted him, her face turning sour. “No, no. Absolutely not. My friends setting me up with someone is even worse than not being able to find the right one. No, thanks.”

  “If you say so.”

  “Have you eased back into your work?” Daniel asked us.

  “Yes,” I answered. “My clients were pretty understanding about this whole situation.” I grinned. “But the best part was when some of them told me they would continue being my clients no matter what.” My chest warmed at the memory. They were so loyal and sweet, which meant so much.

  “I’m not surprised, babe. You are the best. You’ve helped me and others more than you can imagine.”

  Daniel flashed us a wide smile. “How about we make a toast for your and Jared’s success?”

  “No, that’s nothing, man.” He pressed his lips against my cheek, holding me next to him. “I’d do anything for my girl.”


  “That doesn’t change the fact that you did the impossible and managed to acquire this building,” Marissa said. “We’re so grateful to you. Honestly, I don’t know if we would be able to repay it to you someday.”

  “You don’t need to repay me anything. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing so far.”

  “You’re so amazing, honey,” I told him, a wave of pride toward him claiming me.

  I was blissful. Jared was finally independent and free from his family business, and he wasn’t as anxious as before, dealing with changes quite calmly. I loved seeing him smiling and carefree, especially now that he was a few days away from starting his own business.

  “To Pathways and Jared,” Alison said and raised her glass.

  “To Pathways and Jared,” we repeated and clanked our glasses, Jared’s and my gaze meeting along the way. The way he looked at me made the blood rush through my veins, and all too quickly, the image of our entwined naked bodies appeared in front of my eyes.

  As if sensing the shift in my mood, he pulled me flush against him and brought his lips to my ear. “I can’t keep away from you any longer. Let’s slip into an empty room and have a quickie.”

  My pussy throbbed at his words. “We’ll be right back,” I said and left my glass on the table behind me.

  I had difficulty keeping my hands off him, scurrying down the empty hallway to the nearest unoccupied room. Pressing my hand against my mouth to stop myself from giggling, I opened the door and led us inside, hot and hungry for him.

  Just as I locked the door, Jared’s hands found me in the darkness, sliding down my sides before he pressed me against the wall.

  “You’re so sexy. This dress fits you very nicely.”

  “Take me, Jared. Fuck me hard.”

  With a grunt, he slammed his lips against mine, running his hands up my waist. His fingers wrapped around my breasts and my nipples hardened under his firm touch.

  “What really drives me crazy is that you’re not wearing a bra. I could see your hard nipples perfectly. Do you have any idea of all the nasty things I want to do to you?”

  His mouth enclosed around my nub and pulled at it, and warm juices flowed out of me. His hand pulled up my dress and reached underneath, finding the edge of my undies. His fingers slipped inside and moved over my clit, and pleasure burst through me.

  Every sensation was heightened because we were in the darkness and I couldn’t see anything. I loved not being able to know what his next touch would be, my body trembling with anticipation. His lips moved slowly over my chest, leaving feathery kisses that intensified my pleasure.

  “You smell so good. And the way your skin feels under my fingers...,” he muttered into my neck right before he pulled my dress down and revealed my breast. He blew cold air on it, taunting me with a promise of impending touch that never came, which only made me more desperate for it.

  “Jared...” I moaned, silently begging him for much more, and he chuckled.

  “You’re dying for more, right? You’re in the dark and have no clue what I’m going to do next, completely without control or power. You like that? You like me having full control over you?”

  He thrust his fingers into me, stealing a scream out of me, and I pressed my hand against my mouth to stifle it. “Yes! I love when you’re in full control! I love this.”

  “And I love you begging for more. So beg me. Beg me to make you come.” He kissed my nipple and licked it, rubbing my other breast with the heel of his palm over my dress as he fingered me fast. It was too much...

  “Please. Please, please, please. Make me come.”

  “Not good enough.” He stopped fingering me, removing his lips from my nipple.

  “No! Please, keep going. I need to come. Please.”

  He didn’t bring his fingers back. Instead, he pushed them into my mouth. “Taste how delicious you are. Fuck, I’m so hard right now.”

  He returned to my breast, this time licking it like he was dying of thirst. The powerful sensations gathered in my stomach, becoming stronger with each lick and kiss, and I couldn’t take it much longer.

  “Jared, I need to come. Please, let me come.”

  Slowly, he brought his hand back to my mound and started rubbing my clit in circles. He was still taunting me because each time I was getting closer to my release, he slowed down, and it was building an almost unbearable tension in me...

  “I need to come! Jared!” I bit into my hand before I screamed, shaking and writhing against the wall as he worked me faster.

  “Good girl.” He bit into my neck and plunged his fingers into my hole, fingering me much, much faster... “You can come now.”

  That was all I needed to explode, biting into my wrist when I screamed, twisting in ecstasy. He moved fast, pulling my dress higher on my waist and picking me up. I wrapped my legs around him just as he moved my panties aside and penetrated me, his hard shaft pushing mercilessly through my wet walls.

  “Ah, Jesus. This is exactly what I need. Squeeze me like that, sweetheart. Squeeze me tight and don’t let go.”

  He fucked me wildly, my body slamming into the wall after each forceful thrust. Even though I couldn’t see a thing, I could practically feel his eyes on me, their intensity building heat within me. I was so high on him, so hot, and I was addicted.

  Our grunts turned louder the faster he went, and I was orgasming again, overcome with the sweetest sensations. He called my name and pounded into me one last time before he let go, filling me with his warm load.

  “Mmm...” I muttered into his neck, holding him tightly. The scent of his cologne kissed my nostrils, cocooning me. I felt so safe, so warm next to him. “Do you think others know what we are doing?”

  He didn’t respond immediately, kissing my neck instead, remaining inside of me. “Maybe. But I don’t actually care.”

  “You’re still hard.”

  “I still want you.”

  “Maybe we have time for another quickie?”

  He slid out and pushed back inside of me right away, awakening my desire again. “Maybe we have. How about we find that out now?”

  He continued moving, slowly at first, then faster and faster, and pleasant haze enclosed my mind again until I couldn’t care less about going back to the party. All that mattered was to be with Jared like this, united in love.

  Epilogue

  Six months later

  “Now, slowly, let’s do Downward-Facing Dog.”

  I stood up and got ready for this position, but Jared stayed on the mat, shaking his head at me.

  “What?” I whispered to him, thoroughly amused.

  “There is no way I can do that. I’m not made of rubber.”

  “It’s easy. Watch me.”

  I placed my hands down and pushed my hips toward the ceiling, looking at him sideways. His eyes went over my waist and ass, drinking in the sight, and it made me warm right away.

  Focus, Claire. Don’t be a sex-obsessed freak now. You’re in the middle of a yoga class, so focus.

  It was futile. Six months later, and my sexual appetite for him was as strong as it was the first day.

  “I’m seriously reconsidering my decision to come here with you,” he muttered, staring at my ass. “This is torture.” He shifted on his mat, and I realized he was trying to hide his boner. Nice.

  “Well, you know yoga can help you. We’ve already talked about this. Besides, you’re the one who wanted to come with me.”

  I returned to a kneeling position, grinning at him.

  Jared and I were happy together, simply speaking. He was the owner of Pathways and was in the process of purchasing more clinics. He was now in the medical field, and his company was growing fast, exceeding our expectations. I was so proud of him and delighted that he was able to do what he loved.

  He wasn’t stressed anymore, able to communicate with his colleagues and subordinates without getting into arguments or getting triggered when something didn’t work the way he wanted it to. He usually said it wa
s all thanks to me, my patience, and helpful advice that he was a changed man now, but that wasn’t completely true. If he hadn’t wanted to change from the start, he wouldn’t be able to overcome his issues. He was the one who fought against his anger and did his best to win. I was just there to support him and be with him throughout that journey.

  At first, Jared had felt a bit unusual about coming to this class, but he wanted to do everything in his power to change his ways, even if it meant doing something he wasn’t quite fond of.

  I almost fell into a fit of laughter when I remembered the expression on his face when the yoga instructor showed us the first pose. He literally paled, claiming he wasn’t able to do it.

  “I never pegged you as a ‘yoga’ kind of guy,” I teased him, winking.

  “Well, you changed me for the better.”

  “No, honey. That was all you. You’re the one who wanted to make the change and work your hardest to deal with your issues.”

  “Yes, but I was able to heal thanks to you. If I haven’t had you in my life, things would be way more difficult for me.”

  I noticed one woman ogling Jared and I grinned.

  “What?” he whispered before he tried doing head-to-knee forward bent.

  I leaned closer to him. “Sometimes I tend to forget that no matter where we go there will always be some women who will gawk at you.”

  He gave up on bending and sat up, casting me a smirk. “Jealous?”

  “Actually...” I came even closer to him, brushing my hand across his waist. “It feels good knowing they want you, but only I can have you.”

  “Good. That’s exactly how I feel when other men look at you. But you’re mine only.”

  “Only yours.”

  “Ahem,” I heard our instructor clearing her throat, and I snapped my head to look at her. She was nice, but she was pretty stern, demanding our full attention.

  “Miss Matthews and Mr. Holmes. Can you please refrain from speaking during the class and focus?”

  I met Jared’s gaze, grinning widely. I could see the glances other women threw at us, and it was hilarious.