Fever

by Carnal, MJ

  “Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, gorgeous.”

  There’s something about the way he calls me gorgeous that lights a match inside me. I blush, but don’t break eye contact with him when I reply with a sassy shake of my head, “I wouldn’t know. Never tried it. There are some places that sand just shouldn’t go.”

  “Is that a threat, or a promise?” he asks without missing a beat.

  Now that makes my eyes widen. “It’s early days. Let’s see how it’s going after our third date,” I say with a wink, and his caramel eyes sparkle with excitement at that suggestion.

  “We’re barely into our first, and you’re already planning our third date? You are an intriguing woman, Makenna Lewis,” he says looking straight at me, paralyzing me with his gaze.

  “Well, my mama always told me to be well prepared,” I say with a fake southern drawl.

  “That’s good advice. What else did she tell you?” he asks with a grin.

  “Don’t talk to strange men on the L,” I retort as I take another sip of the magic, fruity party drink. I don’t know what’s in it, but I like it and the tingles it is creating in my body are a welcome addition too.

  He chuckles. It’s not a deep belly laugh like he did on the train that almost made me come on the spot, but it’s endearing nevertheless. “She’s a smart woman your mother. And what do you think about meeting strange men on the L?” he asks, taking a swig from his bottle of Millers. I can see a glint of amusement in his eyes, even in the dimmed lights of the bar.

  “That sometimes it pays to take a chance.”

  “I’m all for taking chances. It’s my job.” He points his thumb back at himself, “Stockbroker, remember?”

  “Ah, yes, that’s right,” I murmur, taking another quick drink of the fruity wonder in front of me.

  “So, are you from Chicago?”

  “I’m originally from Louisiana, but my parents moved us all here when I was eight. I went to college in New York, but came back here after graduating and was lucky to get an internship at my firm.”

  “Wow, so you’re a southern boy then?” I say with a grin.

  “Yes, ma’am, born and bred. How about you?”

  “Well, I was born here, and apart from six months I spent in Ohio when I was twenty, I’ve lived here all my life.”

  Shit, please don’t ask! Please don’t ask!

  “Ohio? Now that’s a bit of a change from city life. But you obviously like Chicago if you came back?”

  “Yeah, I can’t imagine living anywhere else, and I’ve got a good job here now with lots of prospects. So yeah, you can say I like it,” I reply. I can’t seem to wipe the smile off my face when I’m around him.

  “Sounds like you’re fairly settled then.”

  “Definitely.”

  “And nursing. You’ve always wanted to do that?” he asks, placing his arm on the table and leaning into it, giving me an awesome profile of his body.

  “I’ve always been one for looking after people. I met my best friend Kate by punching the school bully when we were ten.”

  “Wow, so I should watch myself around you then?” he asks with a sly grin.

  “Yeah, buddy, or else you’ll be in big trouble.” I say, putting up my fists in a mock Rocky impression gone bad. I try to put on a tough face, but fail miserably when I start giggling.

  “Hey now, no need to get violent.” He holds his hands up in surrender. “I could tell you were a tough nut the moment I met you.”

  I raise my eyebrow at that. It seems Sex on the Beach thinks he has a talent for reading people.

  “And what else could you tell from me?” I’m genuinely interested now, but the cynic in me wonders if this is just a line he uses on women to get them into bed.

  “That you’re a beautiful, well-adjusted young woman with the most gorgeous blue eyes I’ve ever seen, and a smile that could bring any man to his knees.” Oh my God. Did he really just say that? Holy crap! It’s like he’s the professor of ‘How to get a girl’s panties to drop 101” and he’s giving every man a lesson.

  I feel my breath quickening and my pupils dilate. Delicious Daniel is on his game and Goddammit, I definitely want to play, naked, now! Damn Kate and her three date challenge.

  “All of that from one look?” I ask, my voice squeaking and giving away my interest.

  “And more…”

  I squeeze my legs together, trying to distract myself from the errant thoughts racing through my head right now. Well, two can play at that game. “Really? Are those glasses of yours armed with x-ray vision?” I say, my mind jumping into Mac overdrive. “Holy hell, you’re the real life Clark Kent, aren’t you?” I lean forward excitedly, bouncing a little in my seat. I make a point of looking around to pretend that no one can hear us.

  “Does that mean you’re wearing your spandex Superman suit underneath this hot get up, cause I have this fantasy where Superman does this thing with his…” I whisper to him, causing him to start choking on his mouthful of beer.

  “I…. um…… shit, Mac, that’s all kind of hot right there.”

  I love that I got him all flustered. “Oh, shit, I’m sorry, my brain got a bit side tracked” I say innocently, adding a wink when he slowly starts to recover his breath and thoughts.

  “That thought is gonna be burned in my brain for a while now, gorgeous, that’s the stuff dreams are made of,” he says huskily. He shakes his head, obviously trying to regain some composure.

  “And how old were you when you came back from New York?” I quirk my brow. I’m dying to know how old he is.

  “Subtle, Mac, very subtle,” he murmurs, taking another swig of his beer. “I’m twenty-eight, and I’ve been back in Chicago for around four years now.”

  “Wow, that’s awesome.” I finish up the last of my drink, blushing when I accidentally slurp in the empty glass. “Oh my God, that’s so embarrassing.”

  Daniel, being the ever present gentleman, chuckles softly and grins at me like I’m the funniest person in the world. “Should I burp so that we’re equal?” he asks jokingly, totally snapping me out of my embarrassment.

  “Ha, ha. Very funny. You’re a funny guy, you know that?”

  “I’m glad you think so. You like funny guys?”

  “I think I’m starting to,” I say playfully, enjoying the banter we have going on. I’ve always had a thing for men who can go toe to toe with me. “Out of interest, do you always pick up women on the L?”

  He flashes me his megawatt smile again, and I literally melt in front of him.

  Clean up, aisle three.

  Taking a final swig of his beer, he moves out of the booth and stands beside me. Shit! Is he ending the date already?

  Holding his hand out to me, he leans down into my personal space, whispering in my ear, “Come with me, Mac. I want to see the lights over the lake with you.” Is this man for real? I’m starting to think that he’s just a delicious figment of my imagination. I mean seriously, who can resist a suggestion like that! Especially when it’s whispered in your ear.

  “Sounds perfect,” I reply, grabbing my purse as I try to get out of the booth as gracefully as possible and take his outstretched hand as he leads me out of the bar.

  Once we’re on the sidewalk, I shiver. It has turned colder in the hour or so that we’ve been inside the bar, and of course I didn’t bring my coat. Daniel, feeling me tremble, stops suddenly beside me. In a daze, I watch him shrug off his coat and hold it open for me to put on. As I put my arms through the coat, he slowly pulls it up and onto my shoulders, gently stroking his fingers over my skin as he moved. Wowzers, that’s just as potent as that laugh of his.

  I look up at him, and his eyes are warm, full of something that I can’t quite put my finger on but I’m definitely gonna try to find out. “Thanks,” I say shakily, trying to remain standing. Right now I want to throw myself at this man but; a) We’ve only just met.

  b) It’s our first date.

  c) We’re standing in the middle
of the sidewalk outside a busy city bar.

  “You still want to see the lake?” he asks, looking down at me. His eyes drifting to my lips. Shit, I can’t break this damn three date rule, Kate would never let me down even if the only thing on my mind right now is jumping Daniel’s bones right here, right now.

  “Definitely,” I answer with a smile. Anything to stop me thinking about the two of us going straight to bed sans clothes.

  Something feels different about this date, about being with Daniel. I can’t explain it, but I find myself not wanting the night to end. I want to spend more time with him. His eyes, his gorgeous dark brown hair that you want to grab while you kiss the life out of him. The way he carries himself, he truly is a gentleman. I mean he gave up his coat to me on a first date. Who does that?

  I think I’m gonna have to make sure that I keep my boundaries clearly defined. I don’t do committed relationships and haven’t done for the past four years. Don’t get me wrong; I like men and I like sex. I mean, who doesn’t? But Daniel seems to be affecting me to way too much, too soon. I’m going to need to be careful with him.

  “We’re here,” he says softly, knocking me out of my conversation with inner Mac.

  I look around the waterfront and gasp at its beauty. “It doesn’t matter how many times I see it, it always takes my breath away.” I’m unable to tear my eyes away from the shimmering lights cascading across the rippling water of Lake Michigan.

  “Some could say the same about you, Mac,” he whispers into my ear as he stands close behind me. I turn my head towards his.

  “Daniel,” I breathe out as he leans in and brushes his lips against mine, giving me one swift stroke of his tongue before pulling away, too soon for my liking, and shifting his lips away from mine ever so slightly.

  “It’s like I dreamed...you taste as sweet as you look,” he murmurs as he leans in again, pushing harder against me this time. Without breaking our kiss, I turn around and wrap my arms around his neck as his hands snake around my hips and pull me in close against him.

  Our lips open together and our tongues caress each other, wrapping around in a soft, exploratory embrace. This kiss is soft, and romantic, yet with an undercurrent that screams hot and heated. I don’t want it to stop.

  I slip my hands up into the hair that I’ve been waiting to rake my fingers through ever since I met him and it’s just as soft as I imagined. He groans into my mouth, and I move in even closer against his body. With each stroke of my tongue, I’m consciously trying to make him lose control, but soon enough he reads my game plan and gently ends the kiss. He kisses my nose and then my forehead before tucking me into his side.

  After walking halfway along the waterfront and back again, I let Daniel walk me to the door of my cozy brownstone apartment. He leaves me with a promise to call me over the weekend and another gentle kiss full of promises and possibilities.

  When I’m snuggled up in my bed after the mandatory debrief with Kate, my mind starts to wander. I remember how I felt while we were walking around the lakefront. Daniel’s strong arm wrapped around me, cocooning me against his body.

  Maybe this is what I’ve been missing out on. I’ve got hot sex, rough and hard sex, and adventurous spur-of-the-moment sex. Maybe there’s something to be said for comfort sex. The cuddling, the spooning, the soft never-ending kisses, the seduction, the romance, the long lazy mornings spent in bed together. Basically, all of the things that Daniel seems to represent and offer.

  I need a delicious, comfort cuddler with Superman capabilities.

  I need a Daniel in my life.

  I just don’t know if he can handle all that I have to give.

  ***

  It’s Saturday night.

  The night after my first date with Delicious Daniel.

  True to his word, he texted me earlier today while I was doing my weekly housework with Kate.

  Delicious Daniel (I changed his name in my phone; sex on the beach was too tempting): How did my beautiful stranger sleep? I slept very well. Dreamed about sex on the beach and your sweet tasting mouth ;) Mac: I slept well too. Must’ve been all the late night exertions by the lake ;)

  Delicious Daniel: You are trouble with a capital T aren’t you?

  Mac: Maybe...

  Delicious Daniel: Would trouble like to come with me and tailgate at the Bears game next Sunday? I’m going with a couple of friend, and I’d love for you to join me.

  Mac: Sounds awesome! I love the Bears. Do you want to meet there or...?

  Delicious Daniel: Now what kind of gentleman would I be if I didn’t pick you up?

  Mac: Now that’s what I’m talking about ;)

  Delicious Daniel: Pick you up around 12?

  Mac: Perfect.

  Delicious Daniel: See you then, gorgeous.

  Okay, so I might have giggled and fallen back on my bed after that text exchange. What is this man doing to me? I’m not one to gush over a guy. It has always been friendship and sex, hand in hand. No feelings, no chance of getting hurt, the end.

  It started with Noah, my dreamy work colleague.

  a.k.a. The Walking Dildo.

  No word of a lie, this man’s cock should be immortalized in gold, or latex, and sold around the world so all women can enjoy the perfection that is his male appendage. He has the slightest of upward bends when erect that seems to hone in on the perfect spot every single time, and he has the stamina of a giant.

  We are friends who just happen to make use of an available on-call room every once in a while. Well, in all honesty, at least once a shift if we’re both working. Nothing makes a night shift go faster than an orgasm or two at the hands of a master.

  We met the first week I started at the hospital. I had a surgical rotation, and Noah is a surgical resident. Sparks flew, scrubs came off, and my no strings attached relationship with Dr Noah Taylor began. That was nearly two years ago. He’s a great guy, and a really good friend, but we both work way too much to be anything more.

  We established the emotional boundaries of our relationship very early on. He’s had relationships during that time, and when he’s dating someone else we stop our arrangement, only resuming again when he is single. I’m totally against cheating when in a relationship, and I refuse to be the other woman, the home wrecker, the harlot.

  About a year after I’d met Noah, he’d started dating a speech therapist from another hospital, and it was looking promising, so Kate had talked me into going to a hot new club that was the buzz about town, and rumors were swirling that it was an after-hours sex club as well. Despite the rumors, I was intrigued, to say the least. The sound system was advertised as being one of the biggest and best in Chicago, so I was pumped by the time Saturday night rolled around.

  We had specifically shopped for slinky, sultry outfits that would get us noticed, and maybe get us a few free drinks. Beyond that, the world was our oyster. Kate had done my hair in large waves, which I then smoothed out on top and secured a pony tail at the nape of my neck, the look was sexy with an air of sophistication. I didn’t want to come across as a high class hooker looking for a new sugar daddy. All I wanted was a great night out with my best friend, and if I happened to find a hot man who would take me home for a night of unbridled, unattached, scorching hot sex, I wouldn’t complain.

  As it happened, we waited in line for twenty minutes before the bodyguard ushered us through. We waded through the crowd to the bar, ordering four shots of 1800 Silver Tequila with a lemon drop each. We tossed back the shots and turned away from the bar as we sipped our drinks, checking out the talent.

  “This place is kinda hot,” Kate whispered in my ear.

  “Yeah, and I think those rooms on the second level could be where all the night time fun must happen.” I couldn’t help but wonder what really happened behind those closed doors. It had always been a fantasy of mine to willingly give up control with a man rather than being forced to, like I had been in the past, but I’d never found the right man to garner that sort of react
ion in me.

  As I’d looked around the rapidly crowded room, I wasn’t sure that I’d find one in the club that night either. I was bringing my drink away from my alcohol-warmed lips when I spotted a pair of blue eyes staring at me, like they were looking straight through me. I trembled under his gaze and stood there, unable to look away. I suddenly felt the need to look down from him, like a silent submission to his will, so I did. When I looked up again a moment later, he was gone.

  Kate had seen my reaction, and was staring at me, mouth wide open in shock. “WHAT was THAT?” she exclaimed.

  Shaking my head out of the haze that was Sean Miller, I looked down at my firecracker of a best friend. “I honestly don’t have a fucking clue, but I need to find out,” I replied breathlessly.

  “I’ll say, whoa! That was some hard out sexual tension right there, and you haven’t even met! Imagine the heat if you got to know him,” she said excitedly, bouncing on her toes beside me.

  “Settle, petal, it’ll never happen. It was just a moment, that’s all,” I say, taking one last look around the room for the mystery man again, but to no avail. “Let’s get some more shots.” I hooked my arm in hers and led Katie back towards the bar.

  “Barman, four more shots of 1800, please!” I had to shout into his ear as he leaned over the bar. I remember he looked behind me and nodded in acknowledgement before pouring out the shots and passing us the salt and lemon wedges. I grabbed a twenty out of my purse, but he waved me off. “It’s on the house, babe.” and off he went to serve some other drunken patron.

  “What was that all about?” Kate asked.

  “I’m not too sure to be honest. Maybe he thinks we’re cute, or he’s thinking we need to get drunk,” I said before leaning into Kate in a full on giggle fit. Kate started laughing too but stopped suddenly, shoving me with her shoulder to get my attention. When I looked back up at her, she was staring at something over my shoulder. I slowly turned around, the room spinning with me as I went, and I saw him.

  Mr. Dark and Dangerous.

  Mr. Blue Eyes From Across The Room himself. He was dressed in all black; a tailored black pinstripe open-collar shirt, complete with two platinum cuff links at the wrist, black lined slacks that clung to his body like a stripper’s thong would cling to a dollar bill, and freshly-polished black dress shoes. He was definitely Mr. Dom.