Taming Lo: A You and I Novel

by Melissa Toppen

  Entering directly behind her, I stop just inside the door and watch her walk through the room. Taking a deep breath, I focus on pulling my shit together. I don't know what is wrong with me. The entire ride over all I could think about was getting her here, getting her to my room. I have never ached for a woman the way I ache for her. It's a bit unsettling.

  She does not acknowledge even one of the handful of men that turn in her direction as she crosses the small space towards the bar. I watch their heads turn as she passes. Watch as their eyes follow her the entire way to bar that sits along the far wall. Watch as their mouths drop open as they take in her perfectly rounded backside as she leans across the bar and rests her elbows on the counter as she places her order.

  Every man in this room wants a piece of her right now. Every man, including me. Shaking my head as if to somehow right myself, I quickly cross the space towards her.

  “Teasing are we?” I slide in beside her at the bar, my hand sliding slowly across her perfect ass as I do.

  “That would insinuate that I care enough to toy with you.” She quips, turning a playful glare my way as the old gray haired bartender slides two beers towards us. “You like beer right?” She asks, picking her bottle up and taking a long drink before sitting it back down on the bar.

  Shaking my head at her, I take a drink of my own beer, grateful that she didn't order me some foo foo drink. Pulling out the bar stool in front of me, I take a seat, patting the stool next to me. Lo's eyes flip to the seat and then back to my face before she gives me a seductive smile and slides into the stool. My God this woman has trouble written all over her.

  “So....” She thinks over her words for a moment before continuing. “How long have you worked for Bentley?” She asks, swiveling inward so that her stool is facing towards me rather than the bar.

  Grabbing my beer, I mirror her action, turning to face her before propping my elbow onto the counter and taking another long drink. “Four years. You?”

  “Nearly two.” She responds casually, taking another drink of her beer. “Did you know Bentley before you started working for him?”

  “We actually went to college together.” I shrug, not giving her anymore information before changing the subject back. “So, two years. Do you like it?” I ask, wanting to keep the conversation on her. I don't do well talking about myself.

  “About as much as anyone can I guess. It pays well and is the means to an end.” She stops, finishing off the remainder of her beer in a matter of seconds before pushing the empty bottle to the edge of the counter.

  “There, one drink.” She says, pushing out of her stool abruptly. Clearly, she's not one to talk about herself either. I can't help but just stare at her. I am not one to want to get to know people, but something about the woman in front of me has me more than a little curious.

  “What?” She laughs, catching my expression. “I held up my end of the agreement. I had one drink with you.” She quips, sliding her coat back on.

  “Fair enough.” I laugh, draining the rest of my beer in one large gulp before tossing a twenty down on the bar and pushing out of the bar stool to follow her back out into the lobby.

  Without a word, she crosses to the far wall and hits the button to call the elevator, which doesn't surprise me in the least. In fact, I think I would have been surprised had she headed for the front door. Stepping up next to her, I already feel the strain in my pants just imagining the things I want to do to her right now.

  We both remain silent as we wait for the elevator. I know that she wants this as badly as I do. I knew it the moment her eyes met mine as she walked down the aisle, that she wanted this. Her agreeing to have a drink with me was only confirmation of that fact.

  We both knew where this night would go. Though I must admit, I expected her to want to talk more. In fact, she has said very little this entire evening. Which again, only fuels my curiosity about her.

  The moment we step inside the elevator and the doors close behind us, she turns towards me. “Before this night goes any further, there is something you need to understand about me.” She says. “I am not like most girls.”

  “I figured that much out already.” I admit, turning to face her, not able to resist the urge to reach out and touch her. I trail my fingertips slowly down her jaw, her lips parting on a slow exhale as I do.

  “Dax.” She says weakly, taking a small step backwards to put a little distance between us. “Tonight is it. I need you to know that this will never happen again. We have to find a way to have a professional working relationship going forward.” She pauses for a moment before continuing. “I don't sleep with anyone more than once. It's my number one rule.”

  I can't help the smile that stretches across my face as I take a step towards her. “I have rules too.” I say, taking another step and then another, until I have her backed into the corner of the elevator. “I don't sleep with my dancers. So as of Friday, you're off limits anyways.” I trail my hand along her exposed collar bone, feeling her skin prickle beneath my touch.

  She gasps slightly at the contact before her hands find my hips and she pulls my already rock hard erection firmly against her stomach. “Then we are going to get along just fine.” I can hear the smile in her words.

  Leaning down until our faces are just inches apart, I lean in like I am going to kiss her but then stop just shy of her lips. “And I don't kiss. Well, not on the mouth anyways.” I breathe, as I drop my face lower and my lips find her neck. I slowly trail my tongue along the base of her throat, not able to control the urge to taste her any longer.

  I let myself explore her neck, teasing myself to the point that it takes everything I have not to flip her around and fuck her from behind right here and now. Instead, I pull away from her sweet flesh and hitch up the material of her gown.

  I watch her eyes darken as my hands skate up her outer thighs and slide around to feel her firm ass, barely covered by a thin scrap of material. She lets out a soft moan when I clasp down on her cheeks and pick her up, lifting her into my body. She is so light, I am able to hold her against me with very little effort.

  Her legs lock tightly around my waist and she wraps her arms around the back of my neck, pulling her body flush with mine. She buries her face into the crook of my neck and gently sinks her teeth into my flesh just as the elevator doors spring open, sending my already slipping control, spiraling downward, and fast.

  Spinning around, I carry her out of the elevator and down the hallway towards my room in record time, wanting nothing more than to satisfy the urge I have had since the night she danced for me; to know what it feels like to bury myself deep inside of her.

  Chapter Six

  Lo

  I can feel my skin burn everywhere his lips touch. My neck, my jaw, the side of my face. By the time he pushes through the door of his hotel room, I feel like my body is engulfed in flames. Every part of me feels the heat.

  Sliding my coat from my shoulders and letting it fall somewhere on the floor, I lean my head back as his lips explore my neck, his tongue dancing skillfully across my skin.

  “You taste so fucking perfect.” He growls, pushing me roughly into the wall as his mouth drops lower, taking advantage of the low dip in the front of my dress.

  Sliding the material to the side, I moan out the moment his hot mouth covers my nipple, my hands tangling roughly in his dark hair. He sucks each one into a hard nub, teasing and torturing as he goes, before finally sliding the straps of my dress down.

  “Fuck.” The word comes from deep in his throat as he spins around and carries me through the room. He turns on no lights as he moves through the space so I can't see enough to make out much, but the sound of a door opening behind me tells me everything I need to know.

  Dax stops and bends forward slightly, my back coming to rest on top of a soft mattress within seconds. Pulling back, he works my dress the rest of the way down and then tosses the thin material to the side, before he begins working on removing his own clothing.r />
  The room is dark, but there is enough light filtering through the uncovered windows from the city outside, that it reflects perfectly against his broad chest and sculpted abs as he peels his shirt from his body. I can see the definition of muscle in his arms and the dark blotches of ink from his sleeved tattoos, but I can't make out what any of them are through the darkness.

  I have to bite down on my bottom lip to force myself silent. I knew he would be perfect, I just wasn't prepared for what that meant. Leaning over, he pushes his pants to the floor and I hear the unmistakeable rip of a condom rapper, but the lower part of his body is beyond my line of sight and I can't get a good look at him.

  His face however, is somewhat visible. I can see his smile, feel his excitement in the way his hands slide up my legs. He hitches his thumbs into the band of my panties and I lift up, allowing him to remove the last piece of clothing from my body, leaving me bare in front of him.

  Like an animal staking claim on a female mate, the moment he leans forward and grabs my hips, flipping me to my stomach with next to no effort, I am his to command. His hands close down around my legs just below my knees and he tugs me downward causing my legs to hang completely off of the mattress and my ass to be on full display from the height of the bed.

  I can feel the weight of his erection as he settles in behind me. “I may only get you once, but I promise baby, you are going to feel me for days.” He rasps from behind me, causing me to gasp as he slowly begins to slide inside of me. The feeling is so intense, it's like I can feel him all the way to my toes.

  He goes slow, entering me inch by torturous inch until he fills me so completely, it is borderline painful. “Hold on love.” His voice radiates with his own need as he slowly pulls out, only the tip of him remaining inside of me.

  Rearing back, he enters me on a thrust so forceful, it scoots me several inches up the mattress. I cry out as he pulls out and then rams back into me again. Digging his fingers into my hips, he holds me steady as he begins pounding in and out of me, his pace hard and fast. I am so worked up from the anticipation, from the way it feels to have him buried so deeply inside of me, that my orgasm is climbing within minutes.

  His thrusts are relentless. Our bodies slam together so violently that skin slapping skin is the only sound. It echos around us, caging us in. I bury my face in the bedspread below me, trying my best to contain my cries of pleasure as he pounds harder and harder.

  I know I am close. I can feel the pleasure building through me. When my orgasm finally explodes, I cry out loudly, not expecting the intensity that is pulsating through every inch of my body. I tremble beneath him, feeling like I have no control over my involuntary tremors.

  “That's right baby. Fuck......” He growls, as I pulse around his hard erection still moving inside of me.

  “Dax.” I cry out, balling my hands into fists as my second orgasm starts to build directly behind my first. I have never had two orgasms happen in such close proximity but the deep burning build is a dead giveaway that my next is just moments from erupting.

  “Let it go baby. Let me feel you quiver around my cock again.” He rasps behind me. His words instantly send me into another earth shattering orgasm, this one even stronger than the first. Every part of my body feels the effects.

  I don't know how Dax is still moving behind me. I don't know how my withering and cries of pleasure have not sent him over the edge, but I have a feeling that he has been fighting it for a while now. I can tell by how tightly he grips my hips and how his groans have a hint of pain in them like he doesn't know if he can hold on for another moment.

  “One more Lo. Give me one more.” He commands, pounding into me so hard, that my pleasure mixes with the perfect amount of pain and sends me climbing once more.

  I don't know if my body can take another orgasm. I feel so sensitive, so spent. And yet, the pleasure still continues to build inside of me. I imagined many things when I thought about Dax. Imagined what he would feel like, what this would be like. Never in my wildest dreams did I envision this.

  Usually men are so gentle with me. Afraid to make a mistake. I think a lot of them hope that if they make a good enough impression, treat me like a real lady, maybe they will be the one that I change my rules for. What no one ever realizes is this is what I need. A man. A real man to take me hard and rough, without apology.

  Why can't every man fuck the way Dax does? It's not emotional. There's no intimacy. He is fucking me. And I have never experienced anything like this in my entire life. My third orgasm builds to the surface, and as it rips through me so intense it's just as painful as it is pleasurable, I know Dax is at his breaking point. His entire body goes rigid behind me and within seconds he lets out a deep groan, pumping his erection in and out until he has drained ever ounce of pleasure he can get before collapsing down on top of me.

  His breath is hot against my skin, his heart beating rapidly against my back. We both struggle to level out our breathing as the last of the pleasure passes.

  “That was better than I imagined.” He smiles into my shoulder blade before pulling out of me and pushing into a stand, crossing the room to discard his condom in a nearby trashcan.

  “I aim to please.” I joke, finding it difficult to stand because of how weak my body feels. My legs are wobbly and feel like they are made of jello.

  “And please you definitely did.” He reappears in front of me, pulling me into his chest. The action feels too good, too right and immediately sends a panic seething through me. Sex I can do, intimacy not so much.

  “I should go.” I say abruptly, backing out of his embrace and reaching down to retrieve my dress from the floor.

  “Already?” He sounds surprised. I hear the rustle of material and turn just in time to see him stepping into his boxers before crossing the room.

  I am pulling my dress straps back onto my shoulders when he flips on a small lamp on the bedside table. I squint into the brightness, my eyes having trouble adjusting to the light. Turning, I find him staring at me curiously from his spot next to the bed.

  I try to force myself not to look at his body. That incredible body that at the moment, is covered only by a tight pair of black boxer briefs. I dart my eyes back up to his face but there is not one piece of him that isn't jaw dropping sexy and at the moment, I need him to not be so fucking irresistible. Truth is, I just need to get the hell out of here.

  “It's late. I have some things to take care of first thing in the morning.” I immediately start making excuses even though I know it's a lie. “This was fun.” I smile at him, my stomach twisting when he takes a couple of steps towards me.

  “It was.” He agrees. “Let me get dressed and I will drive you home.” He says, reaching down to retrieve his shirt from the floor. I try not to look at his body again. I try not to get distracted by his incredible build or those sexy as hell tattoos but it's no use. I'm distracted.

  Shaking my head, I swipe my hand through the air. “No need. I will call a cab.” I say, finding my shoes and then walking out into the open living space of the room to find my coat.

  “Lo.” Dax's stern voice sounds from behind me. “Let me take you home.” He says, stepping up next to me, my coat already in his hands. Reaching out, I take it from him and quickly slip it on, trying my best not to look up at his handsome face or those breathtaking eyes.

  Why do I feel like this? Why do I feel like if I look at him too long, I won't be able to walk away? This has been the least intimate sexual encounter I have had in a very long time and yet, I feel more than I have ever felt.

  It's just his looks. I try to rationalize with myself. The way he smells. It's that I have waited for this night for weeks. That's all. I am just all over the place tonight and need to get away from here.

  “It's not necessary.” I say, barely meeting his gaze. “Thank you for tonight.” Resting my hand on his forearm, I push up on my tiptoes to lay a soft kiss to his cheek. “Something I won't soon forget.” I wink, quickly turning and
exiting into the hallway, leaving him standing in the middle of the living room, half naked, and more than a little confused.

  I'm sure he thinks he did something wrong. I wish he had. The real problem is, he did everything right.......

  Chapter Seven

  Dax

  My phone springs to life on my nightstand pulling me from my light sleep. It vibrates and dances across the dark wood for several seconds before going silent again. I'm too tired to deal with whoever is trying to reach me.

  Rolling onto my side, it immediately comes to life again. “Fuck me.” I groan out, pushing up far enough to pull the device off of its charger before collapsing back down onto the mattress.

  “Dax.” I answer, seeing Bentley's name flash across the screen.

  “Where have you been?” He sighs into the phone. “I was beginning to think I was going to have to send out a search party for you.”

  “What? Why?” I ask, confused by his statement.

  “You missed dinner.” He says, causing me to look over at the clock on the bedside table. Just after nine at night. I was supposed to meet him and Shira for dinner and drinks a couple of hours ago. “I tried to call you a few times.” He tacks on.

  “Fuck man. I totally forgot.” I drape my arm across my forehead. “I signed the lease on my new apartment today and then hit happy hour a little too early this afternoon.” I admit, still trying to wake up completely. “Came back to the room and crashed out.”

  “Everything good?” He asks.

  “Yeah, yeah. Everything is fine. Listen, I'm sorry about dinner. Can we reschedule for tomorrow?” I ask, cursing at myself for being so irresponsible.

  Truth is, I haven't slept for shit the last three days and my mind has been somewhat preoccupied. I can't get Lo out of my head. How cold and distant she seemed when she rushed out of my hotel room Saturday night. The sex was incredible. I know it was for her too. That wasn't the problem. I just wish I knew what I did.