Rules of Harte (Harte Series #1)

by Harris, Brooke

  Eva caught the soft satin in her hands and tugged hard. The material pulled against her body as buttons tore free and her bra was exposed. Julian sighed deeply. A tiny tingle ran down Eva’s spine. She knew she was turning him on. She could sense it. Her senses really were her power, Julian was right.

  Evangeline lay still in her matching, ivory and rose, lace underwear. Her back was arched instinctively and her only movement was the soft heave of her chest as she breathed.

  ‘Undo the clasp, Evangeline...undo the clasp and you win.’

  Eva’s fingers rummaged behind her back, the hooks were stubborn and she could hear Julian grow impatient. She didn’t want to disappoint him. She hurried. Finally the grip released and her bra fell from her body. Her breasts heaved in rhythm with her sighs. Her small, round nipples were hard and demanding attention. Without Julian’s instruction, Eva ran her finger across her left nipple. It tingled.

  ‘Congratulations. You won. I look forward to the ball,’ Julian said softly.

  Eva’s hands dropped and she opened her eyes disappointedly. ‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘Game over, I guess.’

  ‘Now why would you say that?’

  ‘Well, I won, didn’t I?’

  ‘Yes and I congratulated you. Do you want me to say it again?’

  Eva giggled. ‘No.’

  ‘The bet is over. But the game is just beginning, if you let it. Shall we play some more?’

  A huge smile reached across Eva’s face as she closed her eyes again. She wanted to play. She wanted it more than anything else in the world.

  ‘Touch your nipple. Tell me what you feel,’ Julian commanded.

  ‘It’s hard and soft.’

  ‘Does it make you want more?’ Julian’s deep voice was just above a low hum. His words alone were enough to cause Eva’s insides to twitch.

  Yes, yes so much more, Eva thought. ‘I think so.’

  ‘Are your knickers wet?’

  ‘What the hell kind of question is that?’

  ‘It’s a simple one, Evangeline. Are you aroused? Is your vagina wet?’

  Eva’s knickers were saturated but she held her tongue. She didn’t want him to know how aroused she was. She was too embarrassed.

  ‘Is it wet?’ Julian sounded angry or frustrated, Eva wasn’t sure.

  ‘I don’t know,’ Eva lied.

  ‘Well this is easily solved. Check.’

  ‘Check?’

  ‘Evangeline, I told you. No questions.’

  She ran her hand down her stomach until her fingers reached the lace of her knickers.

  ‘Check,’ Julian said loudly and sternly.

  Eva pushed her hand underneath the lace and silky wet met her fingertips. She could hear Julian approve. She knew she was pleasing him. He wanted her to feel her wet. She wanted to feel it.

  ‘Tell me what you’ve found,’ Julian said, his words were softer now. Eva liked him more like that.

  Her face stung as she blushed. She couldn’t say it. She moved her lips but the word wouldn’t come out.

  ‘Tell me, Evangeline. I want to hear you say it.’

  ‘It’s my…my…’

  ‘Oh Evangeline.’ Julian sounded disappointed. ‘How can we play if you won’t even say the word wet? It’s your body. Yours to own and explore. I can share that with you but you need to relax enough to say the words…you can do this. You want to, don’t you?’

  Of course she wanted to. She was lying on her bed in just her pants with a puddle slowly forming between her legs. She couldn’t think of anything she wanted more.

  ‘Wet,’ she said softly. ‘I’m touching my wet clitoris.’

  Julian sighed deeply. His groan sent a shiver up Eva’s spine. She began to run her finger firmly across the tip of her clit. She knew he would want her to wait for his instruction, but the throbbing inside her was too much, she had to give in to the sensation.

  ‘It’s okay, Evangeline. I know how much you want this. Keep going. Let me hear you.’

  Eva didn’t care that she was moaning loudly, like a caged animal. She didn’t care if her neighbour in the apartment below heard her. She didn’t care if the whole world heard her. The only person she cared about hearing her was Julian. She was putting on a show for him and she wanted so much for him to enjoy it.

  Her heart raced so loudly, she could hear it beating. Her moans grew faster and deeper, she was right on the edge…she keep rubbing, harder now…it was starting, she could feel it.

  ‘I’m going to come…’ she whispered so quickly, the sentence, itself, seemed to orgasm in her mouth.

  ‘Stop,’ Julian demanded sharply. ‘Stop now.’

  He was serious. Eva dropped her hands. She didn’t want to but she suddenly felt uncomfortable.

  ‘What? Why?’ she asked, trying not to cringe at how easily she had let herself go.

  ‘It’s not strong enough,’ Julian said. ‘Not yet.’

  It is. It really is, she wanted to shout. She wanted to beg him to let her come. The ache was so strong, it almost hurt - almost. Eva relaxed. He wasn’t angry and he was very, very good at this game. She chewed her bottom lip in anticipation of his next demand.

  ‘Pick up your phone, Evangeline.’

  Eva reached for it and drew his voice closer to her.

  ‘Are you ready to have some real fun?’ Julian asked cheekily.

  Eva thought they were already having fun.

  ‘Let’s see if you can be a little bit naughty, shall we?’

  Eva was a lot of things, and although her current position begged to differ, naughty was definitely not one of them. She was worried.

  ‘I need you to take your knickers off now,’ Julian instructed.

  She shook her head and a silent ‘no,’ passed her lips. She didn’t want to. She knew he couldn’t see her but, he was so aware, he made her feel like he was watching her.

  ‘Now,’ Julian said.

  He was stern again. She knew she probably shouldn’t like it when he spoke to her like that, but she did. It made her even more nervous. She quickly slid her knickers down and pulled them free from her ankles. She was about to announce her accomplishment but Julian didn’t give her time.

  ‘Good girl.’

  Fucking senses, Eva smiled. He knew. He knew without seeing or being told. He just bloody knew.

  ‘You will like this, Evangeline. I promise.’

  Eva guessed Julian wasn’t the type of man to make a promise he couldn’t keep.

  ‘First, you need to turn the volume on your phone up. Turn it to max.’

  Eva could hear him perfectly already but she did as he asked.

  ‘Now place it against your clit. Take your time…it’s better that way.’

  Eva couldn’t tell if he was serious. It seemed an odd request. The whole thing was a bit strange now that she thought about it. She was always a good girl, but being a good girl was boring as she was delightfully discovering.

  ‘Trust me; I know what I’m doing.’ Julian promised.

  Eva didn’t doubt for a moment that he knew. She shrugged and embraced the moment. It was only imaginary sex, she could do imaginary - she wanted to. She silently counted to three and pressed her phone between her legs. Short, sharp breaths burst passed her lips.

  ‘It’s okay, Evangeline. It’s cold, I know. Stay still for a moment, let it work its magic.’

  Staying still was easier said than done, her clit was on fire and cool at the same time, it tingled like crazy and it felt more awake than ever before. It begged for attention. Eva wanted to ask if he was touching himself too. She imagined his hand tight around his cock, pumping it hard until his come rushed close to his tip. She wanted to turn him on. She needed him to want it as much as she did.

  ‘Is it working?’ Julian asked.

  If by working, he meant did Eva want to ram her fingers against her clit’s firm, pulsing head and flick it roughly until she came, then yes; yes it was definitely working.

  ‘Press it a little harder, hard en
ough to feel it bite gently against you.’

  Eva panted. Pressure began to build inside her. Her whole lower body was close to spasm.

  ‘This is the best part, Evangeline.’

  Eva held her breath in anticipation.

  Julian whispered a low steady hum into the phone. It buzzed through the speaker and vibrated softly against Eva’s clit.

  She whimpered. She pressed her teeth against her bottom lip but her excited moans burst through. She had never heard herself make that sound before. It was animalistic and she had no control.

  ‘Just like that. Good girl…keep going…you’re getting close.’

  Julian’s praise drove her crazy. Heat washed over her like a gentle wave of nirvana. Tiny beads of perspiration trickled down her spine and rested neatly at the small of her back. She ground her hips, pressing her ass against the soft, silky sheets beneath her. Her nipples were hard and pointed and she watched them rise and fall with each deep sigh.

  ‘A little more…more…don’t stop…more.’ Eva covered her mouth with her free hand to stop herself from begging.

  She was muffling tiny screams that softly pierced the night air.

  ‘I’m right there…now, yes, now…I’m going to come….’

  ‘Stop,’ Julian commanded sharply.

  Not again. It wasn’t funny. It was so strong now. It couldn’t be stronger.

  ‘What? Why? Jesus Julian?’

  The line was dead.

  The pressure slowly faded and Eva was left deflated. What the hell just happened? She quickly grabbed the corner of her duvet and pulled it across her shaking body. Had she done something wrong? She didn’t understand. She thought he liked it. Maybe she was too quick, too easy. Men supposedly liked the challenge of a conquest, right? Eva suspected Julian was no different. He was smart, and delicious… and gone. She rolled over and turned her face into the pillow. She tried not to cry. She didn’t want to waste her tears on him. She failed. She was sobbing so hard, she barely heard her phone announce a new text message.

  Well done. Inhibition lost.

  I look 4ward 2 our date.

  Sweet dreams. Julian x

  Evangeline wiped her damp cheeks with her fingertips and flipped herself onto her belly. She kicked her arms and legs in a burst of excitement, and shirked giddily as tiny fireworks exploded in her tummy. Sweet dreams indeed.

  Chapter 7

  Eva woke up cold. The duvet was tangled around her like a large scarf leaving her slender legs exposed and shivering. She felt strange waking up naked. She hadn’t slept naked in, well, she had never slept naked. Her whole lower half was hot. A warm tingle lingered between her and she smiled as she remembered her adventure last night.

  Eva shot upright as she realised it wasn’t a dream. She looked at her laptop still open in the corner. The bottle of wine sat next to it - still half full. She felt ashamed. She had phone sex with a stranger, albeit an incredibly hot stranger, and she hadn’t even gotten drunk. She rubbed her sleepy eyes roughly, trying to force some clarity into her thoughts. She would have to send Julian an apology email and explain that she didn’t know what had come over her. Hopefully he would understand and not think badly of her.

  She looked at her new underwear that lay tangled together on the floor. There was something about just looking at pretty lingerie that made her feel sexy. She would wear them today.

  Eva swung her legs out of bed, shuddering as the cold of the timber floor met her toes. She pulled on a loose t-shirt and scurried on her tippy-toes to her yoga-mat and began to stretch. It felt good to relax her muscles after a tense sleep. She was just beginning some, more strenuous manoeuvers when the blinking figures on her alarm clock caught her attention. She was already twenty minutes late for work. Shit, she must have forgotten to set her alarm. She grabbed the first item of clothes her hand came in contact with and threw them on. She twisted her hair into a random shape high on her head and secured it with a large scrunchie. Finding her handbag, she flung in a bottle of perfume and raced out the door.

  People stared on the train, and as she walked down the road. A van driver thumped his horn so hard Eva guessed he hurt his hand, and a teenager on a bike tried to wolf whistle but ended up semi-spitting in her direction. Eva finally took a moment to examine her outfit. She didn’t look her usual self. Her slim, khaki shirt-dress stopped above her knee and the low cut V-neck top didn’t leave much to the imagination.

  At least three people Eva had never even seen in the office before, and another two that usually ignored her, said good morning as she passed. One suited gent even held a door open for her. It was mid-July and although Eva enjoyed the coolness of minimal material, she felt hopelessly self-conscious. She would prefer to be covered up like usual, comfortably invisible and just a little uncomfortably clammy. Lovely as friendly, smiling faces were, Eva’s mind wandered to the spare cardigan she kept in her desk drawer. She’d had more than her fair share of coffee spillages over the years so she had learned to supply an emergency outfit.

  Without taking the time to sit, Eva quickly pulled her arms through soft cashmere sleeves and instantly felt calmer. A small army of emails were waiting for her. She wilted as the tasks of a long day lay ahead.

  __________________

  From: mia.s.sutton@ignitetech.com

  To: evangeline.j.andrews@ignitetech.com

  Cc: john.mr.doe@ignitetech.com

  Subject: Nice of you to join us.

  Date: Wed 15th July 09.51

  Hi Eva,

  Don’t worry about being late this morning. These things happen.

  You can make the time up this evening.

  Best,

  Mia

  Mia Sutton

  Production Manager

  Ignite Technologies

  Block 6

  Plaza Exchange

  Dublin 2

  Eva looked at her watch. She was almost an hour late. She had been at least a half an hour early all this week. Didn’t that make up for it? Of course not. And of course Mia wouldn’t hesitate to let the boss know about Eva’s tardiness. Eva grimaced. After the idiot she made of herself in his office, this was the last thing she needed; being the idiot who shows up an hour late. Damn, today couldn’t start out much worse.

  ________________

  From: nathan.l.shields@ignitetech.com

  To: evangeline.j.andrews@ignitetech.com

  Subject: Coffee

  Date: Wed 15th July 09.22

  Hi Eva.

  I was getting one for myself and thought you might like some. It’s from the place across the road. Yikes - that place is posh. I put on a weird accent to sound more important when I was ordering. We still okay for later?

  Nathan.

  Nathan Shields

  Software Developer

  Ignite Technologies

  Block 6

  Plaza Exchange

  Dublin 2

  Later? Oh crap. She’d completely forgotten they were supposed to meet up after work. Eva looked at her outfit again. She couldn’t go out wearing that. She would have to make an excuse and cancel. She picked up the coffee waiting for her beside a large pile of papers to be filed. It was cold, and a horrible grey scum lined the top, but Eva couldn’t help smiling. No one had ever bought her coffee before, and posh coffee at that. Posh coffee was the best kind of coffee in the world, wasn’t it? It was long past drinkable but Eva didn’t throw it out. She felt more important than usual just having its cream paper cup beside her.

  How could she blow Nathan off now? He didn’t deserve that just because she didn’t like what she was wearing. Maybe she could grab five minutes to dash out at lunch time and pick up a pair of trousers. It would have been nice if someone had taken the time to help her settle in when she was new.

  _________________

  From: julian.harte@yourservice.com

  To: evangeline.j.andrews@ignitetech.com

  Subject: Good Morning

  Date: Wed 15th July 09.16

  Good mor
ning, beautiful. Did you enjoy last night’s game? I did.

  You will need to give me your address.

  I will pick you up at 6.45pm next Friday for the ball.

  I look forward to it.

  Yours,

  Julian

  He would pick her up? Eva nibbled on the edge of her nail. Julian’s emails turned her into a skittish school girl. Eva just assumed she’d meet him there. She instantly began to wonder what kind of car her drove, and if he would want to be invited in first. It gave her so much to panic about. She definitely couldn’t meet Nathan after work now. She would have to clean her apartment. Eva took a large mouthful of coffee and almost turned green as the cold, tar-like substance swished around her mouth. She spat back into the cup with an unattractive bleugh noise that she just couldn’t keep in. Yuck, she protested, her tongue suddenly feeling furry. She kept her head down, too embarrassed to look up and find out who’d seen her practically throw up into her coffee cup.

  __________________

  To: mia.s.sutton@ignitetech.com

  From: evangeline.j.andrews@ignitetech.com

  Subject: Apologies

  Date: Wed 15th July 10.05

  Hi Mia.

  I’m so sorry I was late this morning. It won’t happen again.

  I’ll work through lunch to make it up.

  All my best,

  Eva.

  Evangeline Andrews

  Administrator

  Ignite Technologies

  Block 6

  Plaza Exchange

  Dublin 2

  Stupid Mia, Eva thought angrily. She was angrier with herself. She didn’t have the nerve to stand up to Mia. No one did. Mia had free rein on the title of Office Bitch, and she took the job very seriously.

  __________________

  To: nathan.l.shields@ignitetech.com

  From: evangeline.j.andrews@ignitetech.com