Rolling her eyes, Kayla sat up and took the glass out of Missy’s hand. “Look, there is a rule that I forgot to mention, and it’s no self-deprecating remarks in my house. You leave that low self-esteem bullshit outside on the curb.”
“I don’t have low self-esteem,” Missy denied. “I have a mirror. I know what I look like and I’m fine with it. I love me for me. I just have a hard time accepting that he could too.”
“And that’s not low self-esteem?”
“No, I don’t dis myself because of it.”
“No, you just dis this man who cares for you.”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then how is it?”
Growling, Missy picked up a pillow and buried her face in it. Looking back up she said, “You are relentless.”
“And you’re annoying.” Snatching the pillow from Missy’s hand, Kayla threw it behind her and said. “He likes you because you’re funny, beautiful, and a great person. Deal with it. No more whining or I’m going to have to knock you on your ass.”
“You do realize that you were supposed to be cheering me up, right?” Missy said, crossing her arms over her chest. “On my side.”
“I am on your side, and do you know what that says about me?”
“No, what?”
“That my side is the stupid side, and I don’t want to be on the stupid side.” Eyes widening as if she had a good idea, Kayla asked, “Can I change sides?”
“No,” Missy swept the pillow off the floor and hit her with it. “You’re on my side, damn it.”
“Fine, but you have to smarten up, or I’m going to defect,” Kayla grumbled.
“I just have to work up the courage, is all.”
“To smarten up?”
“For a start, yes,” Missy nodded. “But also to get undressed in front of him.”
Kayla looked at her as if Missy had lost her mind. “You mean you’ve slept with this man and he’s never seen you naked?”
“Well, not in bright light.”
“Are you kidding?”
“No,” Missy shrugged.
“And how does he feel about this?”
“How do you think he feels?”
“Well, you have to compromise.”
“I am, we’re leaving the light on, but it’s dimmed.”
“Have you tried lingerie?”
“That’s not naked, Kayla.”
“Apparently you haven’t seen the right lingerie.” Kayla smiled. “And I know just the place to go.”
Missy looked over Kayla’s colorful outfit with doubt. She didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but she doubted that Kayla’s idea of sexy lingerie would coincide with Brody’s. She could just imagine herself in a see-through orange negligee with a yellow bow tied in the back. Missy wouldn’t have to worry about Brody being grossed out, he would be too busy laughing.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” Missy hedged.
“What’s a good idea?” Dylan said coming from out of the back room. He had gotten dressed in a black suit and was fixing his tie as he came out. “Not another invention, is it?”
“No,” Kayla said. “You have to go back to work?”
“Yes.” Leaning down he gave her a kiss, and sat down on the arm of the couch. “Last minute hand-holding thing. So what’s this idea?”
“I’m going to take Missy shopping?”
“For what?”
“Clothes.”
A huge grin spread across his face as he chuckled. “You’re not picking out the outfit, are you?”
That was exactly what Missy wanted to know. Missy knew she wasn’t the most stylish person in the world, but Kayla was ten times worse, plus apparently colorblind. But Missy was smart enough not to voice her concerns, unlike Dylan, who got a swat for his trouble.
“Look buddy, I’m a genius. Right?” Kayla said frowning.
“That’s what you keep telling me.” Dylan smirked.
“Well, a real genius knows everything, including who to call in a time of fashion emergency.”
“Who?” he asked, crossing his arms.
“Let’s just say you guys are going to be one secretary short today. We’re taking Eliza to lunch.”
* * * *
Missy couldn’t remember the last time she’d had so much fun shopping in her life. Despite the fact that her credit card was burning a hole in her wallet, and that she would have to work extra shifts to pay off her bill, which was now equivalent to the national debt, she was happy.
They not only went shopping for sexy lingerie, they also bought her some new, well-deserved outfits to finally update her sad wardrobe. Eliza not only knew the best place to shop she also knew the best type of clothes that would suit Missy’s full-figured body. Missy now had new pants and blouses perfectly tailored for her size.
Out were the big T-shirts that hung off her like oversized trash bags. Eliza had explained to her that because her chest was large it acted like a shelf, holding her shirts away from the rest of her body, forcing her shirts to jut out and fall straight down. It made her waist seem larger than it was, but now with her new shirts that were cut low, drawing attention to her cleavage and tightened underneath her breasts, the new fit of it made her waist seem smaller.
Eliza picked out slimming colors like blacks, grays and dark blues for her pants, and deep reds and purples for her shirts, to draw attention up to her face. Kayla had wanted her to get a few brighter things, but Eliza had vetoed that really quick and sent Kayla off to pick out under things.
The bras and panties that Kayla had picked out were actually quite nice. Missy had been surprised and pleased. Kayla and Eliza both picked out a few sexy nighties and Missy couldn’t wait to go home and try them on. Brody was going to flip.
After shopping, they stopped at a local deli to grab a bite to eat. Taking their sandwiches to a booth, they sat down and talked more than they ate. Missy had very few girlfriends in school, and it was a nice change to talk girl talk and to actually have a guy to brag about for once.
Sitting back, Missy looked at Kayla and Eliza and smiled. “Thanks a lot for today, you guys. I had a blast. I kind of felt like Pretty Woman, without the whore part.”
Kayla spit out her soda, spraying the table, as she laughed hard. Chuckling, Eliza handed her a napkin and sarcastically wiped her face, making Missy laugh as well. “Don’t say stuff like that when I’m drinking,” gasped Kayla, as she wiped up the soda off the wooden table.
“Sorry. How was I supposed to know you didn’t swallow?” Missy laughed.
“From the way I was sucking the straw, brat.”
“No, really I want to thank you guys. I had a great time,” Missy commented, looking at the two smiling women.
“Shopping is never a chore,” Eliza said smiling as well. “Unless you’re dragging along a five-ear-ld.”
“I know it took longer than we planned.”
“I’m sleeping with the boss, I get side benefits. And if that doesn’t work, I’m sure the sexy lace teddy I picked up will smooth everything out,” Eliza replied, laughing.
“Dylan isn’t a big lingerie guy.” Kayla said shrugging.
“That’s because all of yours glow in the dark,” Eliza teased.
“It makes it easier for him to find me,” Kayla joked. “But seriously, Missy, do you think you’re ready to blow his mind?”
“In these outfits, I better not have to blow anything.” Missy winked, causing them all to burst out laughing again.
Chapter 12
Brody strolled through campus deep in thought. It had been two days since he saw Missy, and he didn’t like it one bit. She had to work on Sunday, and he had a full course load on Monday, hopefully today they would be able to squeeze in some “them” time between classes and her job.
When he had talked to her yesterday, she had seemed really excited about getting together, but with one thing and another, it just hadn’t happened. A lot had happened last night, though. He smiled as he thought back to h
ow their simple goodnight phone call had turned into a bawdy, no-holds-barred phone fuck, but he wasn’t sixteen anymore. He was tired of jerking off, especially when he had a hot, willing woman only minutes away.
Tonight he planned to pick her up from work, and ply her with food, liquor and loving, and not necessarily in that order. Brody was going to triple-bolt his door, unplug his phone, and have the lights already dimmed so she would have absolutely nothing to complain about.
After their talk on Saturday, he had made a conscious effort to refrain from mentioning the light at all. It still bugged him to no end, but he was going to try his damnedest to give her a little space, and let her get to use to him in her own time. Giving her time was probably the hardest thing he had ever done.
Brody had known from the first moment that he saw her, that she was the one. Missy was the only person not catching on to that little fact. Brody had absolutely no intention of backing off, but backing down was something different. He wanted her to be as completely happy in their relationship as he was, or at least as he would be when she got over her little light phobia.
It was annoying, but everyone had their little peccadilloes. It wasn’t as if she wanted him to spank her ass and call her Fred, although that could have its good points as well. Brody just had to learn to deal with her, because he refused to learn how to deal without her.
Brody strolled through the courtyard past the fountain and spotted Scott talking to a brunette girl with her back to him. He knew that Missy wanted him to apologize to him, and it was an idea that he was tossing around his head, despite the bile that rose in his throat when he thought about saying sorry to the prick. It was still up in the air whether he would do it or not. It just depended on his mood at the time.
Walking closer, he smiled when he saw Scott and the girl hug. Good he thought, now the bastard can get his own girl and leave mine alone. As he neared the couple, they turned to sit, which caused Brody to stumble and almost drop over in shock. That wasn’t just any girl. That was his girl. Only she wasn’t wearing her normal clothes, she was dressed to kill.
Missy’s curly brown hair had been highlighted, adding traces of blond streaks throughout her full mane of hair. Instead of being up in its usual clip, her hair cascaded down her back, held back from her head with tiny butterfly clips. Instead of blue jeans and T-shirt, she was wearing black slacks with a V-cut, red baby-doll blouse. The blouse had short sleeves and was fitted tightly beneath her breasts, bringing her slim sides into view.
She looked amazing, and happy. And Brody, for once, was speechless. Looking up, Missy spotted him staring at her like a dolt, and hopped up from the bench and hugged him tight.
“Sorry,” she said embarrassedly, as she moved to pull away from him. “I forgot where we were.”
“Screw that,” Brody wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in for a deep, soulful kiss. Pushing back, he looked down into her smiling face and asked. “Who are you, and where did you hide Missy?”
Laughing softly, Missy hit him teasingly in his chest. “I take it you like?”
Brody stepped back and surveyed her from head toe again, and nodded his head. “Oh yeah, I definitely like.”
Brody held her back and twisted his index finger around, gesturing for her to spin for him. Rolling her eyes, Missy twirled, giving him the full view. She giggled as she did it and Brody wasn’t sure what made him happier. The fact that she went shopping for new clothes or the fact that she enjoyed them.
Walking back to him, Missy leaned forward and whispered in his ear, “I think you should apologize to Scott for the misunderstanding on Saturday.
“Not going to happen,” Brody said firmly. He didn’t want to hurt her feelings, but Scott kissing her was way over the line.
“If you do, I’ll show you what else I bought. It’s black and lacy and I’m wearing it as we speak.”
“I can’t apologize with you in my way,” Brody said, moving Missy from in front of him. Brody walked purposefully to Scott, who visually tensed at his approach. Chuckling to himself, Brody immediately felt better. He knew without a doubt that no matter what happened, Scott would now know that Brody had a claim.
Scott stood when Brody was in front of him and nervously looked around, shuffling his backpack higher on his shoulder. Brody thrust out his hand and was rewarded when Scott jumped. Eyeing him, Brody knew that he wasn’t any competition, now or ever. He was a big pussy, and Brody knew how to handle pussies.
Eyeing Scott, Brody waited for him to take his hand, his amusement skyrocketing as he felt Scott’s sweaty palm in his. Squeezing harder than necessary, Brody got in one last physical jab, hoping that Missy wouldn’t notice. “Sorry about the other day.”
“No problem, man,” Scott said hoarsely, trying to ease out of the grip.
Brody’s grin widened as he tightened his grip for a second longer before releasing Scott’s hand. “My temper got the best of me, and it’s not like I can fault you for your taste.” Turning back to Missy, he winked and held out his hand.
Missy walked up to them and took Brody’s hand. Smiling at Scott, she leaned her head against Brody’s arm, which lessened some of his irritation over her smiling at Scott. Brody knew that it was childish, but still, he wanted all her smiles. He always knew that he was possessive, but he wasn’t sure when exactly he had lost his mind and turned into jealous-stalker guy.
“Do you have time for a cup of coffee?” he asked, looking down at her.
“Sure. Let me get my stuff.”
Brody let go of her arm long enough for her to get her things, and then took it again as they walked across the campus. Ignoring the strange looks he was getting from people, Brody walked proudly with her hand clasped in his. Sure, she had been his student last semester, but this was a new semester. She wasn’t his student anymore, so he didn’t think he would get that much shit. And if anything was said, he would just mention, none too politely, a few things he knew some of his fellow co—workers did. Brody wasn’t above blackmailing to get his way.
Shutting the door behind them when they entered his office, Brody quickly dropped his bag and pulled Missy into his arms. They kissed as if it had been months instead of days since they had last seen each other. Her mouth opened under his and his tongue plunged into her mouth as quickly as his hand slid under her shirt.
The rough lace of her bra scratched against his palm, exciting him as he felt what she had teased him about outside. Her nipples hardened under his touch, catching up to the bulge forming in his pants. Moving back, Brody tried to raise her shirt, but was stopped by Missy’s hand pushing down on it.
“I forgot,” he said walking over to the light switch.
Missy laughed and shook her head. “No, it wasn’t the light,” she teased.
“Then why the ‘no’?’
“We’re in your office, Brody.”
“I know, but you promised me some goods, woman. Now deliver,” he said, chasing her across the room.
Laughing, Missy walked backwards until she was pressed up against his waist-high bookshelf. Jarring the photos and awards on top of the wooden bookshelf, Missy stopped her retreat. Putting her hands behind her to brace herself, her breasts thrust high out in front of her, making his mouth water all the more.
“Don’t tell me I shook his hand for nothing.” Brody watched her like a tiger stalking his prey. Following her to the bookcase, he leaned forward, placing one hand on each side of her, caging her in his embrace. “‘Cause I’m not afraid of going back out there and pummeling him.”
“On school campus?”
“I’ll run his ass off the grounds first. Remember Princess, I know thousands of ways to hurt a man without leaving a mark.”
“More of that GI Joe shit, huh?” Missy teased.
“That’s right baby. I’m part of the few, the proud…”
“The cocky.”
“You didn’t have a problem with my cock the other night.”
Missy leaned forward and cupp
ed his cock in her hand. “I don’t have a problem with it now.”
“What, a few new clothes and you grow some balls?”
“Feels like you’re the only one with balls here, baby,” she whispered, tilting her head to the side and licking her lips.
“And that’s how far I want to be inside of you right now—balls-deep.” Bringing his mouth down to kiss her, Brody pulled back as he heard his office door creak open.
“Professor Kincaid,” a female voice said from the cracked door.
Cursing, Brody pushed back, frustrated and pissed off. Stalking to the door, he jerked it open, shielding Missy from the view of the student. “Can I help you?” he angrily asked.
“I …I… wanted to talk to you about last week’s assignment.” she stuttered, stepping back from the door.
“My office hours are from one until three,” he sneered at the brunette. He didn’t know her name; it was something with a C or a T. Hell, they all were, but he knew that she didn’t have an appointment. “Come back then.”
“But it’s twelve-fifty,” she stammered, looking down at her watch.
“Which means it’s still not one.” Slamming the door, he turned away, not giving her another thought. He had more important things on his mind, and from the look on Missy’s face, he was the only one.
“That wasn’t nice,” she frowned.
“I never said I was nice,” he said, walking back across the room to her. “And if she’s here to talk about an assignment then I have a ten-inch dick.”
Widening her eyes, Missy joked, “You mean you don’t?”
“As far as you’re concerned, I do.” Putting his arms around her waist, he tried to pull her in closer, but was stopped by her hands pushing against his chest.
“Brody, it could have been important.”
“I have my hours set for an important reason.”
“Quickies before class?”
“I’ll make it worth your while,” Brody wheedled, trying to capture her mouth with his.
“I won’t be able to come with her out there.” Missy said, moving her face to the side.
“Let me worry about that.” Kissing her exposed neck, Brody nibbled up her ear, before taking her lobe between his teeth and biting down softly. “I promise you that it won’t be a problem.
Jokers Wild: Stripped Bare Page 10
