by Marie Harte
“It doesn’t help.”
Hell. He tried again. “Look, we’re both mature enough adults that we can enjoy each other’s company without being all weird about it. So the idea of a ‘connected’ boyfriend turns you off. How about if I promise not to lure you into my bedroom? Can’t we just hang out as friends?”
She blinked. “Friends? As in talk and spend time together—nonsexual time together?”
“Yeah.” Until I trick you into letting me blow your mind.
“Well… Why?” She was wavering. He could tell.
“It’s not that easy to hang with women who don’t expect anything from me. I like you, Nat. You’re honest and hard working. You don’t take anyone’s nonsense. And it’s nice to go to dinner with someone who’s not my buddy Brian.”
She grinned.
“Why can’t we be friends, at least? I won’t push you for anything you don’t want. I’m a standup guy. Ask around.”
Her shy smile socked him, right in the heart. “You really want to be friends?”
“Did I stutter?”
She paused, and he felt on the verge of losing something important. “You’re going to be a huge pain in my ass, I can tell.” Then she nodded. “Sure, why not? But don’t think I can’t end this anytime you get pushy.”
“I said I won’t.” I so will, but not until you’re ready, my pretty mistress. “So how about another date that isn’t a date?”
“Okay.”
“Please, don’t hold back your enthusiasm.”
She chuckled. “Sorry. I’m still not sold on us being friends, but I have to admit you were fun tonight.”
“Yep. That’s me. Fun Rex Samson. So tomorrow night?”
“Sorry, no. I have plans.”
“Oh?”
“You know, until recently, I never had much of a social life. But it just happens that I have plans for dinner with a friend tomorrow night. Freddy Thompson—my assistant’s girlfriend. Do you know her?”
“I do. She’s a peach.” She was hanging with Freddy? Could he impose on Brian’s sister to hook him up with Nat again? Excitement thrummed through him, and he did his best to appear cool. “You’ll have fun with Freddy. So, Saturday? We could do dinner and a movie, nothing fancy or too date-like for you.” Or whips and chains. Some hot wax…
“Saturday then. As friends. Okay.”
He smiled. Then, before she could dart into her home and disappear, he tugged her into his arms. His mouth found hers before she could protest, and he put his all into the kiss. Not a hardship, considering how badly he wanted inside her.
Jesus, the woman turned him inside out. He kept remembering her bossiness at the club. Saw her wide smile as she danced with him at the gala.
He slid his mouth over hers, tasting the hints of cherry from her wine. But the sweetness that was all Natalie arrowed to the spot between his legs needing ease. He swallowed her moan, gratified he wasn’t the only one affected. Her tongue glided over his, and when she sucked him deeper into her mouth, he tightened his hold on her. Somehow his hands had slid to her hips, and he gripped her, wanting so much more than a quick fuck.
She had to remember him, to want him again when it was all over. And no vanilla one-night stand would do that. If she did sleep with him, she’d end things right away. He was still in the enemy camp. She needed to trust him…with all of her.
“Unfortunately, my past partners have all tended to tell me what do to. It’s frustrating,” she’d said. Definitely not the time to show her that he could do all kinds of talented things in bed. While he enjoyed submitting to a more dominant partner, he was no pushover. He intended to manipulate this particular woman until he had her where he wanted her. And he wouldn’t feel bad about it at all.
He found the strength to pull back, even when her nails gripped his shoulders. “Damn, honey. You are sweet.”
“Rex…”
“That was a one-time kiss. Just because I had to know how you’d taste. Now we’ll forget all about it and be friends.” Like hell. He winked. “I’ll swing by Saturday night to pick you up. Seven all right?” He took a healthy step back, wishing the night could have ended differently.
“Seven is fine.” She cleared her throat. “I meant what I said about keeping things between us platonic.”
“Well, I’ll miss never having a kiss like that again, but you’re worth it.”
She frowned, then smoothed out the expression into a reluctant smile. “Tricky guy. So. Friends.”
“Yep.”
“Then I’ll see you Saturday.”
“Have fun tomorrow night.” He took another step back, then gave her his best grin. “But be thinking of me.”
She rolled her eyes. “Gee, Rex. I’ve had nothing but thoughts of you since we first met.”
“All X-rated, I bet.” He wiggled his brows, glad of her amusement. This softening showed another side to the woman, and knowing she had plenty of depth, knowing there was more than her work persona or the sexy vixen he’d played with at the club, intrigued him to learn more. “See you soon, sugar.”
He had just reached his car before he heard behind him, “The name’s Nat, in case you forgot.”
He chuckled as he drove away, then made a quick call to Freddy. “Need another favor, dear girl. And yes, I’m aware of how much I owe you. But hey, I’m sad and single. Have pity on me.”
He laughed at her response, then tried to figure out the best way to get sexy, domineering Nat to open up. And lose some clothes in the process.
Nat didn’t know what she’d been thinking to agree to meet Freddy at the club again. She’d been sure she’d seen the last of the place. Her job depended on her being morally upright, at least in public. More like morally uptight.
She blamed Rex for her troubles. Besides being so charming, fun and intelligent, he was far sexier than any man had a right to be. Dangerous to her state of mind. That stupid, mind-blowing, panty-melting kiss. Oh, he knew what he was about. But he’d been so much fun. She wanted to see him again. As friends, girl. Just friends.
Yet had he given the slightest inclination to go further last night, she would have taken him inside and ridden him ’til dawn. Even vanilla sex with Rex promised pleasure. Then she could safely never see him again, protecting her heart and her job.
But no, he had to be a gentleman, which made her want him even more. She found his restraint, his confidence, hell, even his shoe-size sexy. Nat had a crush for the first time in years. Despite Rex’s insistence he and the mayor were only casual acquaintances, she could see that they moved in the same circles. Too close for her comfort. She’d learned her lesson the hard way years ago, watching her then boss and mentor get fired for sleeping with a subordinate. So no office romances. Period. Nat’s rules, Nat’s flourishing career.
But that didn’t mean they couldn’t be friends. Friends were safe, and she admitted she’d enjoyed his company more than she’d thought she would. Especially now that she’d be able to satisfy her raging libido with a random hookup tonight, courtesy of Freddy’s many contacts.
“I must be crazy agreeing to this,” she muttered by a door in a private hall upstairs.
Next to her, Freddy laughed. “Trust me. I know crazy, and you aren’t it. Behind this door, now that’s crazy.” She handed Nat a harlequin mask. “Everyone who plays at my club indulges in safe sex. We don’t compromise on physical or emotional safety. So you want secrecy, you got it. The masks will keep all of you anonymous. Plus, the lights are dim. It’s romantic and helps hide you even more.”
“Nice.” Nat’s palms were sweating. For four months she’d been celibate and, if not happy, at least okay with being alone. But since meeting Rex, she’d wanted more.
“So, you like to be in charge, and you like watching men play. It feels good to be honest, doesn’t it?”
“It does,” she admitte
d.
Nat must have been delirious opening up to Freddy over cocktails. But it felt good to have a friend she didn’t have to lie to. Someone she could be herself with. She’d only just gotten to know Freddy, but already she trusted her. The woman loved Harper, and Nat had never had a better work partner in all her years. Someone she could trust, someone participating in an alternative relationship himself.
“You said you’re into light play, so you don’t need to worry about safewords and real lifestyle stuff. At least, they won’t be expecting it tonight.”
“Wait. They?”
“You just tell them what to do and they’ll do it. No pain, only obeisance to your orders. Mistress.” Freddy winked. “Now you’re all free to have fun.” Freddy stepped away.
“They?” Nat asked again. “We’re all free to have fun? What we?” Nat had expected a single man to play with, and that was pushing things as it was.
“Go get ’em, tiger. Lighten up, get laid and enjoy life.” Freddy turned and left.
Lighten up, get laid and enjoy life—a mantra Nat could get behind, especially because Freddy had promised no recriminations after. No townsfolk with pitchforks and fire ready to roast the kinky urban planner. No morality police pointing fingers and making fun. The club catered to honest desire. No hang-ups and no judgments.
Just what she needed to unwind. Some free time not devoted to chores or errands, but to pleasure. With more than one man. Oh my God. She felt giddy just thinking about it. Giddy and nervous.
After putting on her mask, she took a deep breath, opened the door and entered, closing the door behind her.
As promised, the room sat in shadow. Flickering candles lit the space and made it difficult to see the occupants—plural, with an S. Near the king-size bed, lovingly adorned with restraints for wrists and ankles, two muscular men wearing only boxer briefs embraced.
Oh, wow.
They were already kissing. Her entrance didn’t put a halt on anything. One of them had short dark hair, half his face hidden in a black eye mask. The other also wore a half mask, had shoulder length blond hair, and had his hand down the front of the briefs of the man he was currently kissing.
Holy hell, this was something out of one of her favorite fantasies.
The blond pulled back his kiss and continued to stroke his friend, his hand moving busily under those black boxers. “Sorry, Mistress. We meant to wait, but this one’s so much fun to play with.”
Had they been playmates before? So pretty together. Both men had intimidating builds, their frames not overly huge, but strong. Tanned bodies that looked good writhing together. And from the bulges in those shorts, impressive erections straining to get free.
“Fuck, J. You don’t stop, I’ll come,” the dark-haired man whispered. His deep voice struck her, the impact all the more startling because he sounded like…
She looked closer but in the shadow, saw only dark eyes staring back at her. Could it be him? No. No way. Ignoring the hum of disappointment in her belly, she focused on the present. “Well, gentlemen.” She stood with her hands on her hips, wearing a short black skirt, heels and a cropped red tank—sans bra—leaving little to the imagination. “I’m here, and it’s time to play my way.”
The blond nodded. “Yes, Mistress.”
His dark lover seemed to ignore her. A bratty boy. God, it was like Freddy had read her mind and put everything she’d ever wanted in this room. Even a Rex look-alike.
“Is there a problem…sub?” she prodded.
He jerked into the blond’s grip, moaning. “N-no problem. Fuck. I need to come.”
“Let him go,” she said to J. Then she took J’s place, staring up into those hooded eyes. He looked so much like Rex with that jaw line, that build… She wanted desperately for his eyes to be brown. “Call me Mistress. I’ll call you…R.” Might as well go with the fantasy.
“Yes, Mistress.”
She glanced down and saw a wet spot on his underwear. Talk about needing release like yesterday—and she didn’t mean him. “I want you and J to get naked. Now.”
She stepped back to the side, assuming her role. That of the orchestrator, the conductor, the one in control. The heady rush lit her from the inside out. She cupped her breasts, pinching her nipples, and had the satisfaction of seeing her subs glued to the play.
They dropped their clothing to the ground. She studied them, loving the look of them both. J had little body hair. He must have shaved it, making his balls and cock look bigger. R, on the other hand, had a natural look. A light sprinkle of manly chest hair and a nice thatch ringing his privates, which needed no adornment to impress her.
“Do you two like to play with boys and girls?”
“Yes, Mistress,” they said as one.
J grinned, but R just watched her, like a cat sizing up prey. He had to be Rex. No. Not him, not here. But still… In the shadows, his eyes seemed darker than Rex’s. Yet how could she really tell?
Either way, he had a challenging vibe about him. She wondered how submissive he truly was.
“Condoms and lube are on the table, Mistress,” J informed her, sounding eager.
“Good. You’re going to need one. Put it on and get slick.”
J hurried to comply while R stood, his chest heaving, and watched her in silence.
“You seem to have a problem with discipline,” she said to him.
“How so, Mistress?”
God, that voice killed her. So like Rex, yet with a subtle difference she couldn’t place. And that’s what stopped her from asking him to unmask. If he didn’t mind sharing his secrets, he’d want to see her face too, and she was nowhere near ready for that. Plus, if he wasn’t Rex, she’d be showing someone else her identity.
“You have a tone I’m not sure I like, boy. J, come here.” He obeyed without pause. “On your knees, sweetie.”
He knelt before her, and she pulled up her skirt. She hadn’t worn panties either.
“Yes, Mistress,” J said on a sigh. “So pretty.”
“And so needy.” She kept her gaze on R while J breathed over her mound. The hunger on R’s face pleased her. Those lips looked so familiar. Firm, yet full. Would he taste the same as he had last night? “Lick me, J. Nice and slow.”
R clenched his hands into fists but didn’t speak while she watched him watching her. His gaze on the back of J’s head was intense. And that attention turned her on, big time.
“Good boy.” She stroked J’s hair, surprised to find herself so wet already. These two—well, R if she wanted to be honest with herself—aroused her more than she might have imagined. Nearing orgasm, she touched J on the shoulder, and he stopped. She didn’t want to come too quickly. “That’s it. Back on your feet.”
He stood, his lips shiny, and nodded. “Yes, Mistress.”
He looked huge and hard, his dick encased by a condom covered in lube.
“I think it’s time we showed R who’s really in charge. What do you say, J?”
“Yes, Mistress.” The streak of sensual cruelty in his eyes pleased her, but not more than the sight of R bowing his head and acceding to her demands.
“Yes, Mistress. I’m yours.”
Chapter Five
Rex had a difficult time breathing. His dick was so hard it threatened to break off. Nat looked like some goddess he’d created in his own mind, and watching her take her pleasure, even under Jason’s tongue, had aroused him unbearably. The jealousy he might have expected to feel never manifested, because she’d included him in the scene.
Did he mind that she was here, playing with two “strangers” right before her date with him tomorrow? Not at all. But then, he’d never had normal appetites either. He hoped to hell she needed to get this raging lust out of her system, so she could be that other Natalie Wielder she wanted him to know. The normal, classy chick with a streak of mean she showed everyone
else. Just like he wanted her to know the good son, the smart businessman Rex Samson he showed everyone else.
Once they got the basic introductions down, they could move on to the real them. The hidden needs they suppressed in the workaday world. He figured one layer at a time. No need to expose himself to her if she didn’t like the other him. But damn, both halves of himself liked her.
She didn’t pretend to command, she ordered. She demanded. And she took her pleasure, not letting it take her.
“J, why don’t you stand behind R. Let’s get him nice and ready to receive you, hmm?”
Jason chuckled. The bastard. He loved stringing Rex along, making the frustration that much worse…and his orgasms that much better. But tonight, Jason barely had to look at him to have Rex trembling. With Nat so close, he could do nothing more than respond to her presence. She made him so hard simply by being there.
Jason moved behind him, then prodded Rex to bend slightly. A slick finger eased around his rim while Nat stepped in front of him. Her nipples showed through her blouse—she wasn’t wearing a bra. He licked his lips, unable to look away. Even when J pushed a finger slowly inside him, Rex stared at Nat’s mouth, wanting to fuck her in the worst possible way.
“Get him nice and slick,” she told Jason, her husky voice arousing in the extreme. Then she shocked Rex by putting her hand around his cock. “While I see just what my boy likes.”
He couldn’t contain his moan, or the way he jerked in her grip.
“That’s a good boy. You let J get you ready. Then he’s going to fuck you while I play. You won’t come, will you?”
“No, Mistress. Not until you tell me I can.” He was half in love, amazed by how naturally she took charge. And how much he wanted to obey her.
Rex liked to be dominated, but he had to respect his partner. Jason liked to play and he was a nice guy. A hell of a lover who wanted nothing more than a physical relationship kept discreet. Rex’s perfect part-time lover.
But Rex wanted so much more with Nat—to know if she liked the same things he did. She captivated him just by being herself.
