by Tara Rose
Felicity was well beyond confused, and she didn’t like feeling that way. She’d never agonized over boyfriends and dating the way most of her friends had. Then again, she hadn’t dated nearly as much as most of her friends. The only one who had dated less than Felicity was Summer, and now Summer had two guys in her life. Maybe she should be talking to Summer about this? She’d have some solid advice on how to handle it. Summer always did have a level-headed approach to everything.
By the time her shift had nearly ended, she was mentally exhausted. Her pussy and ass cheeks were still sore from the night before, but despite that, she wouldn’t turn down more of the same if Maverick offered. But the urge to go home and sleep was just as strong. She also would need to do laundry since she only had two sets of work clothes. Her life was so exciting. Laundry every other day was usually the highlight of her week.
She took her cell phone out of her bag and checked for missed calls and texts. There was one missed call and four text messages. One text was from Winona, asking if she’d heard anything about a YouTube video Brett Warner had posted of him and Angela Davidson.
Angela was a good friend of theirs, and Brett had been her boyfriend on and off again for about ten years, until she’d recently dumped him for good after finding a YouTube video of him and Becca Rawlings, one of the town sluts. He’d taken it while he and Angela were still together, and why Angela hadn’t dumped his sorry ass years ago was a mystery to all her friends.
But Angela was now with both Nash Stonecraft and Ian Malloy, an electrical engineer at Notus, so Felicity had no clue why there would be a video of her and Brett out floating around. If he’d taken it when they had still been together but posted it recently just to get back at her for finally dumping him, he was more of a scum bucket than any of them had realized.
She texted Winona back, saying she didn’t know anything about it, but if she found out, she’d tell her what was going on. Then she answered a text from Eve Rydell, another good friend, who asked if she was free for lunch sometime this week. She hadn’t seen much of Eve since her recent engagement to Phil Parkwood. It would be good to catch up with her.
The other two were from Maverick, and both said he couldn’t wait to see her later. She smiled as she read them each a few times. It was amazing what a few simple lines of text on a phone could do to brighten even the crappiest day. He would be here to pick her up soon, but she still had enough time to check the voice mail message from the missed call. It was from a number she didn’t recognize, and as soon as she heard the voice, she knew it was from Kane.
“Hey, gorgeous. This is Kane Easton. I was hoping we could get together sometime today or tomorrow. Not sure when you work again. Call or text and let me know when you’re free.”
His voice was that of a confident and easy-going man, but she also recalled that bad-boy aura and the look of lust in his eyes from last night, out in the dining room. She couldn’t see him tonight. But what about tomorrow? Maverick had to work sometime, right?
She sent back a text message before she lost her nerve.
Kane, I can see you tomorrow, during the day. I don’t work until four. Is that good for you?
As soon as she sent it, she hoped it didn’t sound too needy or subservient. Should she have left the question off at the end? Too late now. The decision was in his hands.
“Hey Felicity.” She turned at the sound of Tiffany’s voice behind her. “There’s someone here to see you.”
Maverick was standing just inside the back door of the employee entrance. Felicity stuffed her phone into her bag, picked up the covered plate she’d saved for him, and walked toward him. She put down the plate on a shelf near the door long enough to give him a big hug, not caring who watched.
Chapter Eight
“So, how was your shift?”
Felicity turned in her seat to face Maverick. “Busy. But it doesn’t matter now. I’m here with you.”
His grin sent her heart racing. “I’m glad to hear that. I had your sweet bread for lunch today. It was just as good warmed up as I remember it tasting fresh.”
“Oh, that’s good to know.” She gestured toward the covered plate she was holding on her lap. “I saved some carrot cake for you. I was so distracted today that I messed up the batch for the rest of the week and had to start over. This is from two days ago, but I think it should still taste okay.”
“You’re going to make me fat.”
“I doubt it.” She let her gaze travel over his muscled frame. “How often do you work out? You didn’t get those muscles from sitting in front of a computer.”
He almost looked embarrassed. “Dalton has a gym in his basement. I have a key to his back door and I’m free to use it any time I want.”
“How awesome is that?”
“Thank you, Felicity. Not just for the food, but for the compliments.”
“I’m only being truthful.”
“I was going to suggest going to my place tonight, unless you’d rather not do that. I can take you home first to shower and change if you want, and then I can drive you to work tomorrow.”
Shit. Should she tell him she might be seeing Kane? Then again, nothing was actually set between them yet. “Maverick, that’s sweet of you. I’ll be happy to go to your place tonight, but I either have to drive, or ask you to bring me home in the morning. I might have something to do during the day tomorrow. I assumed you had to work, right?”
He actually smacked his own forehead, and she laughed. “Duh. Of course I do. I totally lost track of the days. Tomorrow is Monday already. Didn’t we just talk about this earlier, in your kitchen?”
“Well, we were both a bit distracted. And Monday is just another day for me.” Or, it might be the start of more complications than she knew what to do with. Was she really ready for something like this?
“Then that’s what we’ll do. I’ll drive you home in the morning. I work from home, but it’s not like you live so far away.”
She felt guilty as she smiled at him. If she ended up making plans to see Kane tomorrow, she’d have to tell him. It wouldn’t be right not to. He was already acting like a boyfriend would, and she didn’t want to give him the impression that this meant nothing to her. As they pulled into her driveway, she glanced up and down the street.
Last night it had been dark when Maverick had brought her home. He’d parked near the back of the house, and it’s not that Felicity cared if any of her neighbors had noticed his truck there all night, but this was the middle of a beautiful Sunday afternoon. All her neighbors were out on their front porches, or in their backyards with their grills fired up. This was a gossipy street, and Cathy Hill, who lived a few doors down and across the street from Van and Rowena Whitney, was the queen of spreading the word.
As they got out of Maverick’s truck, this time Felicity led him to the back door instead of going around to the front. She normally used her front door because her back porch was stuffed with crap she really needed to put in the garage or basement, and navigating it in the dark was like walking through an obstacle course. But it was still light out, so they’d be safe.
“I won’t be too long.” She placed the carrot cake in the fridge. “Don’t let me forget that when we leave. Make yourself at home.”
“Need any help?” His grin forced a moan from her and she wrapped her arms around him as he drew her in for a hot kiss. What was it about this man that sent thoughts of everything else packing? He was going to wear her out, and she was going to enjoy every moment of it.
When he finally released the kiss, the urge to say the hell with everything except getting naked with him again was very strong. Instead, she brushed her breasts across his chest and pushed her hips into the bulge at the front of his jeans. “How about we save all this energy for some of those toys at your house that you mentioned last night?”
The sound that came out of his mouth was a cross between a moan and a gasp. He wrapped his hands around her ponytail and gave it a gentle tug. “You are the
sexiest woman I have ever met.” He let go of her hair and gave her left ass cheek a nice hard smack. “Get your ass upstairs and do what you need to do, but don’t make me wait too long. I’m going to use every toy I have on you tonight.”
“Yes, Sir,” she whispered.
Felicity took the fastest shower possible and then put on her emerald green bra and thong she hadn’t yet worn, remembering how Maverick had said she’d look good in deep green or chocolate brown as they’d stood in front of the windows of Sassy Brassy downtown the day before. Had it really only been yesterday that she’d watched the parade with him? That didn’t seem possible.
She chose a black casual skirt and sweater top with an off-the-shoulder neckline, hoping he didn’t plan on any outdoor activities. She finished it with short black boots. The outfit was designed strictly for indoor activity, so she hoped he hadn’t simply been teasing her downstairs. As she was deciding whether or not to bother with jewelry, her cell phone rang. She glanced into the hallway, her pulse racing. Was he still downstairs? She answered the call, hoping it was Summer, Winona, or Eve, but already knowing it wasn’t. Their names would have shown on her caller ID. This call was from Kane.
“Hey there. Is the cowboy around?”
Felicity chuckled. “Are you talking about Maverick?” This time, she stepped into the hallway. She heard the TV on downstairs and assumed he was watching it.
“Yes.”
She stepped back into her bedroom and closed the door. “Why do you call him that?”
“He wore a cowboy hat the first time I saw him with you.”
“He’s here, but he’s downstairs waiting for me to change clothes.” It wasn’t exactly a lie.
“I see.” His voice held the smallest note of disappointment, and a thrill shot through her. They both wanted to be with her. “Well, since your evening appears to be full, how about tomorrow before you go to work?”
“What would you like to do?” Why did her voice sound breathy and flirtatious? What was she getting herself into here? She’d best rein that in and fast.
“I thought you could show me the town. I don’t mean the tourist attractions on Juniper Street. I mean the rest of it.”
“Okay. That sounds like fun.”
“Fabulous. What time should I stop by in the morning? Or do you want to meet me somewhere?”
She loved that he’d left that choice up to her. Was that because he wasn’t sure she’d be comfortable having him knowing where she lived? Maybe he was hiding a gentleman underneath that confident, bad-boy exterior? “I’ll meet you at the totem pole. I’m assuming you’ve seen that?”
“Oh yeah.”
She laughed at the sarcasm in his voice. “Not a fan of such things?”
“It’s just that I’ve seen so many of them across the country.”
“I didn’t realize you were such a seasoned traveler.”
“I’ll tell you all about my adventures tomorrow.”
“I can’t wait to hear them.”
“I’ll meet you at the totem pole, then. Is ten all right?”
“Ten is perfect.”
“I’m really looking forward to spending the day with you, Felicity.”
That voice…it sent a shiver up and down her spine. The earlier doubts she’d had were gone as it washed over her, dark and sexy. “I am, too, Kane.”
“Have fun tonight.”
“Um…okay. See you tomorrow.” She disconnected the call before she made an ass of herself. The way he’d said the word “fun” left no doubt he knew what she was most likely going to do. And yet, he still wanted to see her tomorrow. What did that say about him? Was he a total creep who wouldn’t care if she was seeing someone else, or was he someone who would try to woo her away from a relationship that wasn’t yet exclusive? And how the hell had she done this to herself in the space of less than forty eight hours?
Felicity let out a yell of frustration and fell back onto the bed, only to sit up again as she remembered that Maverick was waiting for her. She put in some small earrings that wouldn’t get in the way if things heated up between them and then threw what she’d need overnight into her bag, remembering at the last second to take her phone and birth control pills. When she came downstairs, she found him in the living room, watching a football game.
He looked up as she came in, and she had to hold back a laugh as his jaw literally fell open. “Holy…wow…you look incredible.”
“Thank you, Maverick.”
He turned off the TV and pulled her into his arms. “Thank you for this, Felicity.”
“Do you even know how much fun I’ve had with you?”
He pulled away and looked into her eyes. “I’m so glad to know that. Thank you.”
She took a deep breath. This had to be said now or she’d keep finding reasons all night not to tell him. “I have to tell you this, only because I don’t want any secrets between us that might spoil this evening.”
“Uh-oh, this sound serious.” He was still grinning, and she hoped it would stay that way.
“I’m showing Kane Easton around town tomorrow morning. I just thought you should know.”
The light in his eyes faded, but not as much as she’d expected it to. Was that a good sign or not? “Is that why you wanted to come home in the morning?”
She shook her head. “No. I only talked to him just now, before I came downstairs.”
Now the grin was gone. “He has your phone number?”
“I told you that already, remember?”
He nodded. “You did. I forgot. I haven’t exactly been thinking about Kane all day.”
“Well, neither have I.”
The corners of his mouth turned up. “Does that mean you’ve been thinking of me?”
“Among other things.”
He narrowed his eyes, but at least the light was back in them, and her heart soared. “What things?”
“I’ve been thinking about those toys you have.”
“Then let’s go. I’ll show them to you.” He released the embrace and practically pulled her toward the kitchen and her back door.
“I’m hoping you’ll do more than show them to me.”
The look he gave her was nothing short of molten lust, tinged with dark, sexy delight. It was all Felicity could do not to get on her knees right there, on her back porch, and beg him to take her. “Oh, I’ll do much more than show them to you, Felicity. You can bank on that.”
Chapter Nine
Felicity didn’t have a chance to see much of Maverick’s house. He gave her a cursory tour, and she gawked at all the beautiful furniture and expensive-looking window treatments. The colors were bold and dark, and she’d have expected nothing less from the place where he spent all his free time. But it was a bit overwhelming, just the same.
The kitchen was the last stop of the downstairs tour. He grabbed bottled water out of the fridge and led her upstairs to a bedroom that was decorated like the rest of the house. A massive four-poster bed, complete with attachments on the posts and under the canopy for chains and other bondage equipment, dominated the room. Felicity had been to Indulgence often enough to recognize a spanking bench in one corner, and a couple of wedges resting on a raised wooden platform against one wall.
“Oh my…” She was at a loss for words and fought a sudden urge to run over to the bench and simply drape herself across the leather pads.
Maverick took her bag and placed it on a chair and then wrapped his arms around her from behind while he pushed his bulge into her lower back. “Time for us to get serious about playing, Felicity.”
“I can see that, Sir.”
“I like you calling me that. Are you comfortable doing so tonight?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Thank you, Felicity. This means so much to me.”
She didn’t care if it was breaking protocol. It’s not like they’d really set any up yet. She turned in his arms so that she could look into his face. “It does to me, too, Maverick. I mean that. I don�
�t know where this is going, but I just want you to know that this has been the most fun I’ve ever had with a man. I mean that. I really, really like you. And I’m so happy to be here with you right now.”
Whatever the reason, what she’d just said seemed to have a profound effect on him, because he finally looked at her with the same tenderness and awe she’d seen in his eyes last night. He cupped her face gently and smiled. “Felicity, that means so much to me. I haven’t had this much fun with a woman in too long. You’ve totally captivated me. I don’t know where it’s going either, but I’m so glad you want to find out. So glad.”
“I have to know if you’re okay with me spending time tomorrow with Kane.” She didn’t want that hanging over their heads tonight.
“I am. Not because I don’t care about you. I do. But because I don’t have a right to make demands on your time. I’d rather share the time you can give me than not have you in my life at all.”
“Are you real, Maverick Orantes?” Who said things like that and meant them? He had to be the most understanding man on the planet.
“As real as anyone else. I’m just not going to go all jealous boyfriend on you. And besides, Kane isn’t here right now. You’re with me. And I’m going to make sure you have an amazing time while we’re together.”
He kissed her, and Felicity relaxed as his hand released her face and both strong arms wrapped around her again. She melted into his body and just let go of everything and everyone else. He was right. It was only the two of them, and they had the remainder of this evening plus all night together. She wanted to enjoy it without the rest of Passion Peak crowding its way in.
Maverick caressed her back, sending shivers up and down her spine. As his tongue and lips moved over hers, making her dizzy with desire, his hands lazily slipped down to her ass cheeks. She moaned louder into his open mouth and began to move her hips, wishing he’d spank her again. He’d mentioned toys. Did that mean he had paddles and floggers? Oh, she hoped so.
