by Leanne Davis
“I just didn’t expect that from you. You’re the least nice person I know. I didn’t think you’d notice or appreciate me. I didn’t care if you did, mind you,” she added with a small smile. “But it’s nice, and even better that you don’t. Thank you, Ross. It means a lot to me if you think that. I thought you were rude and apathetic, but after hearing the short snippets of your mother hating you, I hoped there was another side to you…”
“But now you realize there is not?”
“No. I realized if there is, it’s buried deep beneath all this.” She lifted her hand to do a circular motion around his face, torso and back up. “Buried under all the bitterness, hurt, regret, and the biggest one of all, guilt. Guilt leads to self-loathing.”
Uncomfortable with her uncanny way of zeroing in on him, he snorted. “So, you know better than to fuck around with a guy who’s buried up to his neck in that shit. He will only use and abuse you and that will be that.”
“That’s what you do?”
“Yep. When I’m in the mood. I don’t always put out that much energy. Like tonight.”
“You said no to the ladies.”
“No. One was a man.”
“Oh.”
He picked up his freshly refilled drink. No worry about driving, thank God. He swirled the drink and shrugged. “Yeah. It happens. I have been told I’m too pretty.”
“You are.” She laughed outright, tilting her head back, and the sound came so easy and effortlessly from her. Maybe that’s what he most enjoyed, that she proudly owned every single thing she felt. She experienced life fully and gave it more quality as an experience to appreciate, not just an idle chat or empty conversation. “I like knowing you don’t distinguish between who picks you up.”
“I mean, we all like what we like. I don’t begrudge anyone for their preferences. I’m just not into it. But like tonight, I’m not in the mood for anyone.”
Her head tilted. “Except me.”
“You put yourself here. I just enjoyed watching you. I never sought you out.”
“True. Why were you watching me?”
He drank more liberally. “You’re extremely attractive to me.”
“You are to me too.” Her gaze drilled him and he kept looking away. Not at her.
“You’re also…”
She leaned in as he muttered the words, “What? What am I?”
“One of the few people I find interesting to talk to.”
She leaned back to take in what he said. “I shouldn’t enjoy you. I keep beating myself up for it. You’re so damn handsome. You know that. But you’re so hard to talk to and try to know, although you have an odd effect on me. I usually avoid the troubled guys who act the way you do. But here I am. God, I hate being such a cliché.”
He snorted. “Nor for one moment of any day could you be a cliché of anything. I’ve never met a more self-possessed person in my entire life.”
She was still staring at him, tilting her head, and trying to work out the puzzle she saw in him. He darted a look her way without knowing why. He wasn’t any puzzle. He got what he wanted from women because he had the looks and then he wasted that chance. Drumming for Zenith was the only interesting or unique thing he ever accomplished.
“See? That’s where I keep getting sucked in. You freaking notice my personality or whatever, and you oddly admire me, while being kind of an ass and careless, but I get sucked in by the fact that oh gee, hot Ross is complimenting me. Based on your history, I should ignore it.”
“You should.”
“Don’t be a self-defeating, self-pitying jerk. Just be better. Be nicer. I have to wonder who might be underneath all that surly attitude.”
“Not an attitude. I expect you’d know this.”
“Doesn’t mean I don’t want you.”
Freezing, he swallowed the sudden lump in his throat at her words. They were spoken clear and sharp, as definite as she was with everything else in her life. He wasn’t. Despite his attitude. He was unprepared to cover his unease and inability to know what to say. The self-loathing she so clearly zeroed in on.
He gave her a quick side-eye before fully tilting his head and chugging down the strong liquid.
“Is there anyone on this planet who wouldn’t want you?” he finally replied.
“Lots. I’m mouthy, loud, too friendly and overly outgoing. I say what I think and I like to argue.”
He smiled. “And do you always tell someone not to want you?”
“You do want me then?”
“Is that a trick question? I said as much, but what happens next? Will I get kicked out of the program?”
“You’re not really in it now. Job temporarily ascertained. Rob’s paying your rent, not the foundation. Can’t have any conflicts of interest. Unless you have them.”
His breathing grew harsh. He stared down. “What? Are you… picking me up?”
“Yes.” He shot her a glance as she slid to her feet, and her dress hiked up before coming back down. “Do you want to get out of here?”
It was the most overused pickup line ever. Ross heard it dozens of times as he worked the bar back home and watched the hookups just as this. But the words from her husky tone and seductive mouth seemed like the first time they’d ever been spoken. They weighed heavily on him. Important. This wasn’t anything usual. There was nothing usual about Jody Lassiter. Ever. And he knew that. Even if they did this. He was lucky she considered him. Of course, he wanted her, but would it end with sex?
He doubted it. Although it had to. It would end, true, but he believed this time, he wouldn’t really want it to end. Following suit, he got off the stool and stood up to his full height beside her. “Yes.”
She smiled a warm, sweet smile that seemed glad he answered her in the affirmative. Not like moments ago, when he saw the confident, sure-of-herself, sexy look. She was literally the most interesting person he ever met.
Chapter 6
THEY SHARED A RIDE back to his place without much conversation and Ross led the way up to his loft this time. For once. He felt in command of what they were doing and where they were going, when normally, Jody was the leader. For once, she didn’t care about being the one in charge. That surprised him along with her healthy acceptance of sex, which wasn’t a topic that made her shy or blush. But now, she was unusually quiet. It was like she never saw his place before, even though she found it, designed it, oversaw all the construction and remodel of it and rented it out to musicians. Did she often sleep with her internees? What was the term to describe what he was to her? Client? Pet project? Protégé?
Going directly to his liquor cabinet, he offered her a drink and she declined. She stood before the brick wall, staring out at the city. The view from her own condo was probably far more appealing than his. But still, she stared out at the view. Were her nerves bothering her? Jody? That almost made him chuckle. His nerves all but choked him.
He twirled the glass before his face, blurring her image. What was it with her? She drew him to her like a magnet and no one ever had the ability to do that to him before. He couldn’t stop thinking about her. It was a bad situation. Zenith was the symbol of him getting somewhere, his dream manifesting, his best chance, and Jody was niece of the lead singer. And a family friend to the other half of the band, Spencer. They were all family oriented and fiercely loyal. So any fuckup with Jody could fuck up something very important. He lowered the glass.
Listen to him. Dreaming about his newfound chances and choices. When did something ever last for him? The opportunity to be drumming as a job, in front of an audience, and a member of Zenith couldn’t last. Neither would anything he did or didn’t do tonight with Jody. Fuck her or not, it couldn’t last. So why the hell not?
He decided to take all he could get while he was here. Use up his allotment everyday. The money. The food. The opportunities. The music. The knowledge. The chances. The networking. He would gorge himself now to carry him over when it all ended. What made him think this might be diffe
rent? Or better? It never turned out that way in the past.
So he might as well enjoy all he felt and wanted to do with Jody.
He slipped the glass to his lips and drank all of it, leaning forward to set it down before he slowly rose to his feet. Her gaze tracked him. Her mouth puckered, and he guessed she was probably about to clarify what they could or could not do. He wanted answers.
He had none. Except for this one.
He stopped right in front of her. Too close. Crowding the common space, and crossing into her personal boundaries. He knew that and he pushed the limits. His face went right into hers. She blinked back in surprise. Her mouth puckered tight, and her eyes flashed, indicating how she felt about that power move.
For the first time since meeting her, Ross approached her in his usual manner when his intentions revolved around sex.
Then he simply slipped his hand on her thigh, going directly between her legs and straight up. Without hesitation or foreplay or softness. When he encountered the soft fabric of her panties, he stared hard at the whites of her eyes and her mouth gaped open. She started to sputter. “Wh—What…?”
But his fingers found their home and he didn’t pause or wait. He slipped his fingers to the side of her wispy underwear and straight into the soft, wet, dripping pocket he knew was waiting there for him. She gasped as she stared up at him, her mouth fully open now, and the excessive heat she felt made her skin turn red.
“I’m going to fingerfuck you.”
She was hot and wet and soft. He kept her gaze as he stared into her heart-shaped face, looking so sweet, yet so tough. He found her contradictions sensuous and fascinating. Despite her small stature, she had the biggest personality he ever confronted. She seemed small, delicate, and fragile yet she was so loud, sure, and confident as the leader and go-getter. She was unlike anyone else he knew and he often got exhausted just watching her.
Now, all of her attention belonged to him. He curled his fingers through the short hairs before slipping two inside her and waited until he heard her unmuffled moan. She felt like burning, silky liquid. Her eyes fluttered and she wilted, pressing down as he pressed up. She started to shake, setting her hands on the counter to hold herself up. Her legs parted, releasing the tension and allowing him several more inches to maneuver. Her eyes shut and her head fell back. She surrendered to her pleasure. When her skin flushed pink in hot arousal, he could smell her and feel her ecstasy. He relished it and played it out longer.
And he loved to observe her closely.
He watched her facial muscles contract and release as all the ecstatic maneuvers he used played out over her face. He felt like he was reading a story about her. He slid his finger along the slickest part of her and she whimpered as he delved back and forth, in and out, stimulating her desire and need, without giving in yet. She swirled her hips, and pressed as if she were trying to direct all the pressure inside her. He longed to relieve her. She whimpered. He smiled, loving her need right now… for him. Only him. Ross controlled Jody for once.
He held what she wanted and the only thing that mattered was that moment. His other hand slid down and he grabbed her dress and pushed the material up to her waist. His hungry gaze ate up the view of her baby blue lacy underwear, which seemed so tiny to him, now wedged at the side so her pussy could wink at him. She was on display now and unashamed. He grabbed the wisp of silky material and slid it down, out of his way. She swiftly stepped out of them before he rose up, sliding his huge hands over her bare, shapely legs before exploring her exposed, private, beautiful mound. Her dress was hiked up around her waist, but the rest of her was covered, and when she flung her head backwards, her long hair reached the small of her back. She bit her lip, keeping her eyes shut. Was she shy? Jody? Not in the way she displayed herself for him to observe.
The power surging inside him came as a surprise. This wasn’t something he usually, if ever, did. Ross never lingered and stared at a naked woman, but went straight to the act of sex for his own relief and satisfaction. But this woman? He could not stop staring at her power, fragility, confidence and sweetness.
He loved to see her like this. His hands went to her bottom and he gripped the small, tight globes in each hand, kneading the smooth flesh and loving how she felt to him. She had to brace herself at his ministrations when he brought his right hand to the top of her thigh. Clenching her muscles, she tightened every one in eager anticipation. So did he.
He found her bareness exciting with the dark hairs trimmed closely enough to glimpse her seductive flower without anything to obstruct it. He loved how it framed and showed off her gorgeous, pink, glistening womanhood.
All at once, something old and ancient and dark surged inside him. Mine. This belonged to him. She was his if only for now at this moment on this night. But she belonged to him alone.
He slipped his fingers back into her wet folds, sighing at her silken sanctuary as he rubbed her back and forth, drawing even more wetness from her until it began to drip down her leg. He brought his other hand around and dipped it inside her, using both fingers to explore her. Then he found her clit before dipping his two fingers deep inside her. Thrilling. Hard. All kinds of delicious sensations all at once. He glided over her and teased her while suddenly shoving all of his fingers into her slick wetness in a soft massage. She screamed and cried out when he abruptly filled her up with his strong fingers. She moaned and gasped, and her breath came faster and harsher. Her arms shook as Ross was holding her up, and she scrambled to hold him tighter as all kinds of suggestive sounds escaped her mouth.
He didn’t stop. He moved his fingers inside her in a rapid rhythm that had her body jerking and riding his furious fingers. He wanted to take her to himself and imprint his brand in a carnal way that never crossed his mind before.
She bit her lip as screams escaped her mouth and squeezed his fingers as her muscles contracted around them in a hard, clenching orgasm that seemed to spiral and suspend time. Ross kept right with her through it and only let go when every last drop of pleasure he could give her was milked from her responsive body.
And oh, damn. Was she responsive.
Her head started to tilt as her eyelids fluttered open. Her eyeballs were glazed over and she appeared confused, so she obviously wasn’t quite coherent yet. Good. Sliding his wet fingers from her, he moved up towards her waist but didn’t bring the dress back down. Instead, he held her waist tightly, lifting her up and setting her bare ass on the counter. She scooted back and fell onto her arms. Gasping and confused when he nudged her knees apart, she watched as he simply opened his mouth before his lips hovered over her jewel, and his tongue soon located the small core of nerves he sought. With an expertise she never expected, he started to bring Jody right back to the peak she just descended from.
“Oh. Oh. Ross… Oh, Ross…” Her husky gasps reflected her state of mind. She was bombarded and overwhelmed by bliss and ecstasy and he wasn’t done with her yet.
He ate her out, tasting her musky, spent liquid and extracting her essence. His tongue moved along the folds of soft skin, finding the spots that thrilled her until she was crying out at his kissing, sucking, and tickling her with his tongue. When her thighs suddenly clamped around his head, she gripped him and screamed, “Oh. OH, GOD.”
Then her entire body went limp. Her knees were like jelly when he lifted his head from her most personal, intimate space. He might not seek her heart or her love, but he was glad to have this with her. Something she’d never forget. She’d never confuse his touch, kiss, and worship of her with any man-bunned, cerebral, quirky, poet, flautist, or whatever weirdo she found in the future. She’d never forget the guy who did this to her.
She flopped back on the counter, staring up vacantly as her small chest rose and fell. She was still completely bare and his body reacted to hers as the harsh pressing of his dick on his pants felt like it was about to explode.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered as she stared up in amazement. Blinking several times. she lost
her voice and again appeared utterly dazed.
He started to lean forward and suck her off again. Her scent filled him.
“We… we haven’t even kissed.”
Her soft words interrupted his X-rated inspection of pink, slick, shiny skin that lay before him. He blinked and tried to process her words. All the cries and yells, and moans of ecstasy were music to Ross’s ears. She wasn’t satisfied with that?
“We’ve kissed,” he laughed harshly. There was no more personal kiss than having his tongue buried deep inside her pussy until he almost suffocated.
She struggled, slipping her knees closed so he had to move back. Trying to rise, her upended skirt wasted any attempt at modesty and she was half stuck on the counter. He smiled, thinking of her previously hot, wanton, spread-eagled version of herself and now she was rather awkwardly trying to move her bare ass, which was stuck on the counter. She emitted a sound of protest when she could not budge.
He leaned forward and grabbed her, pulling her off the counter. She gripped him and stared as he brought her closer until she was against him and he let her slide down his body. She took in a sharp breath as his erection lodged between her legs, and pressed against her stomach.
“What was that?”
“I told you.”
“Will you kiss me? Or do you have an aversion to displays of affection?”
“I told you…”
She pressed her fingertips to his mouth. “On my mouth.”
He smiled around her fingers and stuck his tongue out to taste their salty pads. She gasped and jerked her hand back, but not before her eyes sparked. “I’ll kiss your mouth. And your mouth will kiss me back.”
She gave him a look. “Let me guess, you don’t mean your mouth.”
“Fair’s fair, sweetheart.”
“I told you…”
“After having my tongue deep inside you, I think I can call you sweetheart.” He interrupted her chastising and she snapped her mouth shut and nodded.
