by E. L. Todd
“We know what our girl needs.” Stella raised her glass and tapped it against mine.
I did the same to Tatum before I finished off that drink and moved on to the next one.
“So, we’re making a pact tonight,” Stella said. “We’re all going home with someone—including you.” She pointed her index finger right at my face. “So find someone you like. Otherwise, you’re sleeping here.”
I normally wouldn’t agree to that, but Candace’s comments had really gotten to me. I wanted to prove her wrong—and prove my insecurity wrong too. I wanted to go home with a hot guy, have great sex, and prove to myself that I wasn’t the problem.
As if the universe wanted that very thing to happen, I turned my head, and my eyes settled on someone familiar.
Mr. Gorgeous.
He was standing at a table on the other side of the room, two friends with him. He was drinking a dark beer as his fingers casually relaxed around the table. He didn’t have a woman on his arm, and it didn’t seem like he was shopping for lingerie that night.
That jaw was just as clean as the last time I saw him. He took care of himself, styling his hair and giving himself a close shave every single morning. When he glanced at his shiny watch, he did it with such grace, possessing enough confidence that all the women in the room turned his way. He turned back to his friends and continued whatever conversation they were having.
He was the first man I’d ever been seriously attracted to since my divorce. Any other time I saw a man I liked, there was too much guilt associated with it. It felt like I was cheating on Colton even though I was absolutely single. But when I looked at this guy, I didn’t feel any hesitancy at all. I just wanted a hot night of sweaty sex. He didn’t even need to tell me his name. All I wanted were a few hours of his time, a chance to prove myself and climax at the same time.
He had broad shoulders that were lean and toned like the rest of him. I wanted to push that jacket off his shoulders then unfasten every single button of his shirt until I could feel his bare chest. I wanted to yank his belt out of his loops and spank myself with it. My fantasies ran wild, and I didn’t even notice that Stella was trying to get my attention.
“What the hell are you looking at?” Stella waved her hand in front of my face before she looked over her shoulder to see what I was staring at.
“Mr. Gorgeous.” I took a big drink before I patted my lips with the napkin. “He’s the man I’m going home with tonight.” I smoothed out my dress and fixed my hair before I started to strut. “Don’t wait up.”
By a stroke of luck, the two friends he was with both excused themselves to the restroom just before I reached his table. He took a drink of his beer as he turned his gaze to the TV, watching the Mariners game like a sports fan.
At least we had something in common.
I kept my confidence in check and refused to back down. Maybe he wouldn’t be interested, but I couldn’t be deterred by the rejection. Six months was a long time to hide from the world, and I was done hiding. It was time to put myself out there—for better or worse.
Before I reached the table, his eyes flicked to my face briefly, and he turned back to the TV. He did a double take then, either recognizing my face or liking my dress. He turned his head slightly back toward me, those green eyes now glued to mine. His hand slowly lowered the beer back to the table, and his complete focus was pinned on me.
That was a good sign.
It gave me an extra burst of energy, another reminder that I was a beautiful woman who had something to offer. Having a gay ex-husband didn’t make me less desirable. I was one hell of a woman, and it was time to remind the world of that truth.
With perfect grace, I stopped at his table, the proximity enough to make anyone think we knew each other intimately. Any time I’d interacted with him, there had been a counter in between us, so I didn’t have this close experience. I could smell his cologne, see the distant shadow of his beard, and could tell that his lips truly were soft.
He pivoted his body slightly toward me, the corner of his mouth rising in a smile. A brightness was in his eyes as he took me in, far more interested in me than the score on the TV. His arms rested on the table next to his beer, and it didn’t seem like he cared about anyone else in the room. Maybe he bought that lingerie for the models he bedded, but he didn’t seem to be thinking about them in that moment.
I wasn’t looking for a date. In fact, I was steering far away from it. All I was interested in was sex, and not as a precursor to any kind of relationship. I was physically ready to get back on the horse, but I certainly wasn’t emotionally ready to have a deep and meaningful relationship. I didn’t give him my name, and I didn’t ask for his. I didn’t ask if he was a Mariners fan or if he preferred IPAs. I got right to the point. “There’s a specific piece of lingerie I want to show you—at my place. Want to come along?”
Mr. Gorgeous actually had the humility to be taken back. His eyes narrowed with a hint of surprise, and he went absolutely still, as if he were repeating my spoken words in his head. He clearly had never expected me to be so bold, to cut right to the chase without even asking for his name. A second later, a handsome smile spread across his lips. “Only if you’re wearing it.” He opened his wallet and tossed cash onto the table before his arm circled my waist. Over six feet tall with a lean and muscular body, he was one major piece of eye candy. The other women in the bar who had been patiently waiting for him to make a pass their way frowned as we walked out together.
I passed Tatum and Stella on the way out and gave them a wink.
Stella mouthed to me. “Daaaaamn.”
Tatum discreetly gave me a thumbs-up. “Get it, girl,” she mouthed.
After a short cab ride to my place, we walked into my apartment.
His heavy footfalls sounded behind me, his muscled frame making an impact against the hardwood floor. He stripped off his jacket right away and placed it over the armchair in the living room.
My heart was pounding in my chest because I was aware of what I was about to do. I’d been sleeping with the same man for the last five years, and now was officially a new chapter in my life. I was going to bed with this handsome stranger—and I was going to enjoy it. “Take a seat.” I kept up my confidence, turning around and looking him in the eye as I said, “I’ll be right back.”
His eyes scanned my body without discretion. “I find it hard to believe you could look sexier than you already do.” He lowered himself onto the couch, sitting right in the center with his knees apart. A man had never looked sexier sitting on that couch, aiming that heated stare at me.
The compliment made the tension leave my shoulders and reminded me that Stella and Tatum were right. “You’re in for a surprise.” I walked into my bedroom and fished out my collection of lingerie. I had a one-piece bodysuit made of black lace with a snap crotch. It cut low in the front and barely hid my tits from view. It was so see-through that it showed the color of my skin as well as the diamond in my pierced belly button. I dropped my dress and pulled on the bodysuit, fluffing my hair and checking my makeup in the mirror. I slipped on my black pumps then walked back into the living room.
Mr. Gorgeous was already staring at the open doorway, his eyes waiting for the moment when I would appear. Instantly, his eyes narrowed into a heated stare, and the hard line of his jaw became even firmer with arousal. He cocked his head to the side slightly as he examined me up and down, the approval obvious in his stare.
My hand moved to the knob on the wall, and I dimmed the lights in the living room.
He whistled quietly under his breath. “Damn.”
I crossed the living room and reached the couch, seeing him sit up eagerly and undo each button of his shirt. “Allow me.” I straddled his hips, and my fingers took over the job, unfastening each one until I reached the bottom. More of his beautiful skin was revealed, along with the sexy eight-pack he was sporting. Once I saw his strong chest and the grooves along his stomach, I stopped thinking about my pe
rformance. I stopped wondering if I was sexy enough. I fell into the moment, locked my eyes on him, and felt my fingers shake in anticipation.
My hands moved to his belt next, and I unbuckled it before I pulled it through the loops. I folded it in half and then placed it in his left hand. “I wouldn’t mind a spank or two.” My hands moved into his hair, and I pressed my chest into his as I kissed him. I loved the feeling of those soft lips I’d fantasized about every time he walked into my shop.
He moaned against my mouth, either because of the kiss or because of the belt. His lips hesitated for a second, as if he were still processing the instruction I gave him. A moment later, his mouth reciprocated the affection, and he kissed me hard, kissed me like there was nowhere else in the world he’d rather be.
And then he whipped the belt against my ass.
My hands gripped his shoulders, and I moaned into his mouth. “Yeah…”
He hit me again.
I rocked my hips and ground against his hard-on through his slacks. I could feel the size, and I rubbed myself against it, eager to feel a man who was undeniably hard for me. Our kisses continued, and the belt lightly tapped against my ass during our foreplay.
The beginning was so good that neither of us skipped to the end.
He dropped the belt beside him and then moved his fingers between my legs. He must have known the crotch could be opened because he unsnapped it without even looking. His fingers explored me next, checked how wet I was with two fingers.
I was soaked.
My six-month dry spell was finally over.
He slipped two fingers inside me as he kissed me, gently pulsing as his skin became soaked with my arousal. He moaned into my mouth as he enjoyed it. “Such a nice pussy.” His free hand moved into my hair, and he deepened the kiss, not minding that his dick was still in his pants.
My fingers worked at the fastening on his pants, and I got them loose. His boxers were yanked down, and a long dick was revealed, a size that rivaled Colton’s.
Thank goodness.
He pulled his fingers out of my entrance then dug into his pocket for a condom. A man like him probably didn’t go anywhere without his pockets lined with the foil packets. Sex could happen anywhere, anytime.
“Allow me.” I ripped into the packet and rolled it down to his base.
He watched me with that same heated expression, like he couldn’t wait much longer for me to finish.
I enjoyed his girth in my hands, the way he was so hard it seemed like he might explode. There was no hesitation, no hint that he was thinking of someone else while he was with me. I made sure there was plenty of room at the tip of the condom before I climbed on top of him.
Then I lowered myself slowly, appreciating every single inch.
“Oh…God…Yes.” I hadn’t felt this kind of penetration in so long. Colton and I had signed our divorce papers six months ago, but we’d stopped having sex two months before that. In reality, it’d been eight months since I got laid…and even longer since the sex was actually good. The sensation I felt in that moment was nearly heavenly. I’d completely forgotten how amazing this was, even with a man who didn’t have a name.
He gripped my hips and moaned under his breath, the sound coming out masculine and deep. His fingers dug in a little harder, and he gave me a searing expression that could make a cold fireplace burst into flames. “You feel like a virgin, sweetheart.”
Probably because I hadn’t gotten laid in so long.
I gripped his shoulders and moved up and down his length, treasuring every single inch of solid masculinity. I bit my lip over and over because I couldn’t stop moaning. I was visibly shaking in his arms, unable to process just how good this felt.
I went over six months without this?
Why the hell did I wait so long?
I pushed him back against the couch and rode him harder, pressing my face close to his. “Fuck, you feel so good.”
He groaned in response. “You’re something else…” He gripped my hips and guided me up and down as he thrust up. We’d started off slow and steady, but now we were fucking like rabbits in spring. He wanted me with the same desire that I felt, like he’d had a dry spell just as long…even though it couldn’t possibly be more than a few days.
The greatest sensation was slowly creeping up my body. It was so powerful, I almost didn’t recognize it. Searing hot like a pan right off the stove, it gave me third-degree burns. I kept slamming onto his dick, feeling the tingles creep up faster and faster.
And then it hit me so hard. “Jesus…” I squeezed his dick and the condom and burst like a lit firework. My fingertips went numb, and my ankles twisted into his thighs. Instead of issuing a sexy moan, I screamed like someone was murdering me, not fucking me. “Yes…yes.”
He gave a few pumps before he followed right behind me, making a deep moan that made me tighten around him again. He thickened noticeably inside me before he released into the tip of the condom.
He had the sexiest expression as he did it.
I’d really missed this.
His pumps slowed, and his fingers stopped digging into me so hard. He rested back against the couch and stared at me with a heavy gaze, like he was still turned on despite the climax he’d just reached. “Woman…you know how to fuck.”
And just like that, all my insecurities vanished. This man didn’t know me, not even my name. He was a handsome playboy who could pick up tail whenever he wanted. He bought lingerie for his ladies and fucked them in it. A compliment coming from him carried a lot more weight than one from my gay ex-husband. “So do you.”
I left the note on his chest.
Had to head off to work. Last night was fun. Take care.
-P
My message was pretty clear that last night was just a hookup that meant nothing to me. I wasn’t looking for a relationship or a second round. He probably didn’t want that either, and I was fine doing the dirty work.
I went across the hall and let myself inside.
Colton was sitting at the kitchen table—with Stella and Tatum.
“What are you guys doing here?” I walked inside in my jeans and t-shirt, ready to head off to work once I had my morning coffee.
“Come on,” Stella said. “We all know the first place you’re gonna hit once your night is over.”
“How was it?” Tatum clapped her hands like an excited cheerleader. “He make you come? Tell me he made you come.”
Colton brushed off the conversation like it wasn’t awkward. He sat back in his chair wearing his blue collared shirt and gray tie. A white coffee mug was in his hand, and he took a sip before he chimed in. “Let Pepper talk before you press her with inappropriate questions.”
“Inappropriate?” Stella cocked her head and gave Colton a glare. “No. That question is completely appropriate.”
“Yes,” Tatum said. “I think your statement was what was inappropriate.”
Colton rolled his eyes then pointed to the empty chair across from him. “Alright. I tried to save you from the hot seat. You’re on your own.”
I sat down and poured myself a cup of coffee.
Stella leaned forward with her mouth open, waiting for the silence to slip away.
Tatum spun a strand of blond hair, but her blue eyes were big enough to fit into a doll’s head perfectly. “Spill it!”
I sipped my coffee, drawing it out as long as possible.
Stella shook her head, her eyes filled with poison. “You bitch.”
“She’s torturing us on purpose,” Tatum said. “But that must mean some good stuff went down.”
Colton set his mug back on the table. “Maybe Pepper is just too classy—”
Stella burst out with a laugh. “Yeah, right. Pepper? She wasn’t always the good wife.”
“She used to have a lot of fun before you came along,” Tatum said with accusation.
I cleared my throat.
“Oh my god, she’s ready.” Stella gripped the edge of the table.
Tatum covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes still wide.
“Here’s the dirt.” I knew this was a big moment in our lives, and I wanted to savor it as long as I could. I’d taken a new step in the healing process, and now it seemed like I was a new person—in a good way. My confidence had strengthened, nearly returned to what it had been before. “I walked up to him and asked if he wanted to see me in lingerie.”
Stella grinned from ear to ear. “Ballsy.”
If Colton was uncomfortable, he didn’t act like it. “No man would be able to turn that down.”
“Hell no,” Tatum said. “Then what happened?”
“We went to my apartment,” I said, talking casually even though nothing about this was casual.
“What did you wear?” Stella asked, unafraid to cross the line into even more personal details.
“A black bodysuit made of lace,” I said. “Snap crotch.”
Colton whistled under his breath. “That’ll do it…”
“There was no way that man could resist you,” Tatum said. “With your hair and makeup done, you must have looked like a bombshell.”
He’d seemed to view me as one. “We didn’t even make it off the couch for the first round. We headed to bed afterward.”
“And how was he?” Stella was dressed in her workout clothes, ready to meet her clients at the gym. She wore a pink sports bra with a tiny tank on top, along with her booty spandex shorts. She claimed her attire was to motivate people.
“Very skilled.” I couldn’t reflect on the night without wearing a smile. “Very sexy. He made this moan that was so irresistible.”
Tatum melted right in front of me, her grin stretching wide apart. “So hot…”
“I came twice. That felt nice. It’s been so long that I forgot how good it felt.” The guilt washed over me, and I glanced at Colton to see if he was offended, but he still wore the same expression as before. It seemed like he was listening as my friend, not something more. He was nothing but supportive about my new adventure into single life.
