Torpedo

by Joanna Blake

  "What else would it be?"

  His jaw dropped. He looked almost… hurt. But that was impossible. Big men like him hit on everything that moved. They didn't get hurt by one woman rejecting them out of the masses. I certainly was not capable of hurting his feelings.

  It was my own feelings I had to protect.

  Caring about a man like Cade, even for an instant, was dangerous to my well-being. One thing was certain, I'd learned the hard way that I had to look out for myself. And I'd learned to do it well.

  Maybe too well.

  "Should I have your car brought around?"

  He shook his head slowly.

  "I'll call a cab."

  I waited until he finally stood up and straightened his clothes. I walked him to the front door. He was looking at me strangely. As if I was an oddity on display in a glass box.

  As if I was a stranger.

  "I will have my team contact you with an itinerary tomorrow."

  He nodded, still watching me as if he had no idea what I was going to do next.

  Good.

  Someone should keep him on his toes for once in his life.

  "Goodnight Mr. Dupree."

  "Goodnight Ms. Rivers."

  Cade

  I groaned as sunlight came streaming in through the hotel windows. I must have forgotten to close them when I got home last night. I'd been in a terrible mood. Angry. Confused. Horny as hell.

  I was furious really.

  Because of her.

  I rolled over onto my stomach. My cock was still hard. That heartless woman had left me high and dry and I still itched to touch her. I didn't just want to touch her either. I wanted to fuck her ever lovin' brains out.

  Hell, I wanted to pound her into next Tuesday. Break the bed. Break the bedrock.

  Thank God it was Saturday. I was exhausted from tossing and turning all night. Plus, I had another appointment with Dr. Hand.

  Knowing how ramped up I was, I might need another couple sessions with the good doctor. I needed a full damn workup if I was going to get my third leg to lay flat again any time soon. As it was, I looked like a damn tripod.

  I reached into the bedside table for my silicone cock sleeve and a bottle of lube. It was the only way to survive in the middle of the ocean for months at a time. The damn thing sucked harder than one of the pumps back on the rig.

  I needed to feel a hard tug on my Johnson. Thor had been neglected for too long. The big guy was begging for it. Even after rubbing one out last night after Camille kicked me out of her damn house!

  I'd pictured her on the couch, begging me to turn off the alarm. Spreading her legs for me and offering me up that sweet little pussy of hers. I used my imagination to expand from there.

  I was pretty sure it was waxed clean. She was just that kind of woman. Fancy assed and pristine. Manicured to a high sheen. I grimaced as I pushed my cock into the cool silicone sleeve.

  This time I did something new. I imagined her on her knees. Oh yeah, that proud bitch was kneeling in front of me, licking her luscious red lips as she reached for my rod. I let her have it too, grasping her pretty head and pressing my cock in as far as it would go.

  She slobbered all over my cock as I slowly pumped in and out of her willing mouth.

  Fuck, that was nice. In my fantasy she was all horny and desperate for my cock but I wasn't going to give it to her. Not the way she really wanted it. This time, she could only taste.

  And I was about to give her a whole hell of a lot to taste.

  I flipped over, holding the sleeve against the mattress as I drove my cock into it again and again. The suction sounds it made as I went faster and faster nearly drove me over the edge. I was that close to popping my rocks.

  My eyes were squeezed shut as I imagined fantasy Camille below me, begging me with her eyes.

  She was staring up at me as her gorgeous mouth drooled all over my shaft. I felt my balls tighten as I released a load of hot sticky semen down her throat. Fuck yeah… I came and came, almost seeing her as she licked me clean, sure to get every single drop.

  My balls pulsed as I imagined her sucking the tip, while she stroked out the last drops. Making sure I was drained.

  Unfff.

  I fell back on the bed, my cock still in the sleeve. That was very satisfying. Now I could face the day. Get some breakfast.

  Figure out how to make that fantasy come true.

  A sharp knock at the door made me lift my head. Someone had slid an envelope under the door. I forced myself to get up and clean up before I opened it.

  Speak of the devil.

  It was from her.

  I was staring at a schedule of charity functions for the team. Neatly typed rows that marched down the page and onto the next. There were a lot of them. And a lot of them were early in the morning.

  There were dinners too.

  But there was also stuff like 'carnival dunk tank' and 'dress like a clown'. I'd been imagining punishing her with a firm hand and a stiff cock. She'd been scheming to punish me with… this.

  I picked up my phone and saw that my online calendar had been neatly filled in. I wasn't sure if I wanted to laugh or curse. Either way, she'd definitely won this round.

  More than the round. She'd beat me fair and square.

  Damn if my dick wasn't hard again.

  Camille

  I lifted my arms, rhythmically slicing through the cool water. My face was turned towards the sun. My eyes were closed. I was thinking of nothing at all.

  Or at least, I was trying to.

  Left arm.

  Cade's arms around me.

  Right arm.

  His lips on mine.

  Kick. Kick. Kick.

  I reached the edge of the pool and paused, catching my breath. I'd already swum twenty laps in the Olympic sized pool. I had a feeling I would need twenty or thirty more to get him out of my head. And I wasn't even sure that would work.

  "Good morning, Sunshine."

  I wiped the water from my eyes and looked up. A large man was sprawled out on one of the chaise loungers, watching me. He had his hands folded behind his head. And he was between me and my towel.

  Cade Dupree was here. Not just in my head. He was at my damn house.

  Again.

  He was intruding on even this. Exercise was my one true escape. He'd already invaded my thoughts. I scowled. What was next? My bed?

  Actually, it was probably better not to answer that.

  "Don't you have a place to live? Or are you a stray?"

  He grinned at me.

  "I prefer 'free range'."

  I snorted and climbed the ladder. I was tempted to keep swimming and ignore him, but I knew he would just wait me out. Or worse yet, he might get in with me and try to keep pace.

  I was just afraid he would come in the pool without his swim trunks. I sort of doubted he was wearing anything under his jeans. Judging from last night anyway… the way he'd felt against me…

  Well, it had kept me up half the night. He smiled at me, as if he hadn't rubbed his hard on all over me just a few hours ago.

  The man was persistent, you had to give him that.

  I walked over to get my towel just as he snatched it up and settled it behind his head. Then he looked me over thoroughly.

  Very thoroughly.

  He licked his lips and let out a whistle. I almost kicked him. He was staring right between my legs. As if he wanted to…

  "You look good enough to eat."

  I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the tingling feeling inside me. His voice was low and husky. I could almost feel it vibrating in my chest.

  Meanwhile, he was not so subtly offering to go down on me. It was rude! Wasn't it?

  "May I have my towel please?"

  "Not just yet. I need to commit this moment to memory. For the next time I need a little encouragement."

  "Cade!"

  He really was too much. Cade Dupree was unrepentantly filthy minded. He grinned at me as I stood there, blushing
head to toe.

  "You kept me up all night, Princess."

  "Don't call me that."

  He snorted, clearly unimpressed by my words. He stood and walked over to me with the towel. He was inches away when he leaned in and whispered.

  "Did I keep you up too?"

  I stared into his eyes, unable to break the contact. He had kept me up dammit. But I was not going to tell him that! Neither of us moved until he settled the towel over my shoulders. He was staring at my lips. I was staring at his. He leaned forward imperceptibly as I shifted towards him and-

  "Cade! Good to see you, son. Can I interest you in some brunch?"

  "No, thank you sir. I just came by to pick up my car."

  He winked at me.

  And then he was gone.

  Cade

  I pulled at the scratchy collar of the starched shirt she'd made me put on. The damn woman was a menace. So far today she'd told me what to wear, where to stand and how to behave. And the night was just getting started.

  She was treating me like a stuffed bear for God's sake! Not the man she wanted in her bed!

  The last thing I wanted to be doing after a long day playing ball was dress up in this monkey suit.

  Even if I did look damn good in it.

  I glanced across the room at Camille. She was wearing a red silk gown that revealed nothing and everything at the same time. It skimmed over her curves, hinting at all the goodies underneath.

  And she had lots and lots of goodies.

  The way she looked tonight made my fingers itch to get at her. I'd take her into one of the side rooms at the banquet hall and bend her over a table. Then I'd slid her dress up so I could see her bare ass and pussy.

  Of course in my fantasy there wasn't anything like panties in the way.

  Or talking.

  There was zero talking.

  I sipped the bourbon she'd placed in my hand before slinking off to make small talk with donors. Leaving me to do the same. At least she made sure my preferred beverage was on hand, down to the brand. Another woman was simpering up at me, the scent of her perfume making me want to sneeze.

  Damn straight, there was something else I'd rather be doing.

  I'd rather be doing Camille.

  Good Goddamn but I wanted to do sinful things with that woman! I'd do her six ways from Sunday. I'd do things that would make a lesser man faint. And soon too, no matter how much she was pissing me off.

  I might not like her all that much, but I sure as shit wanted to kiss her.

  Everywhere.

  Actually, that might make it even more fun. My grannie always said that a little anger was the spice of life. Oh yeah, I'd be happy to hate screw her right into the wall.

  Or the floor. Or a bed.

  Hell, I'd be happy to take her on a kitchen counter.

  I smiled blandly and nodded, itching to go over there and tell Miss Fancy Pants what I though of her fundraising schedule. First of all, it was grueling. Second of all, the charity was for children and there was only one damn event that actually involved kids! The rest of them were all about fat cats and fancy dinners.

  "She's a prime piece isn't she?"

  My head swiveled to the right. A guy was standing next to me, leaning in like we were friends. There was something about him that immediately put my teeth on edge.

  He looked rich, like everybody else in the room. But he also looked off somehow. A little too handsome. A little too slick.

  And definitely a little too interested in staring at something across the room that I considered to be my personal property.

  Camille.

  "She was the best I ever had. By far."

  He grinned at me and I felt ice on the back of my neck. My blood literally ran cold, I was so mad. My lizard brain was ready to attack.

  But the dumb piece of shit kept going, talking about Camille like she was nothing more than a piece of meat.

  "The best tits. The best ass. And the best legs. Never mind the family money."

  I grit my teeth. Who the fuck was this guy? He sipped his drink, his eyes travelling over Camille's body with frank appreciation. I wanted to smack him.

  Hell, I wanted to pound his ass into the ground.

  "Maybe I'll take another swing at it."

  "It? Don't you mean 'her?'"

  He smirked.

  "I was using baseball talk. You know, trying to speak at your level."

  I opened my mouth to tell him to go to hell. As if on cue, Camille appeared and neatly inserted herself between us. She snaked her arm under mine and I looked at her in surprise.

  She smiled at me flirtatiously.

  "Are you enjoying yourself, Cade?"

  She glanced coolly at the douche standing there. The guy she'd kept me from smacking straight into next Tuesday. She flicked her eyes over him.

  "Jason. I didn't know you were invited."

  He stared at her chest, not even bothering to hide where he was looking.

  "I wouldn't miss one of your events, Cami."

  I was irritated by the familiar nickname until I realized that Camille looked extremely displeased to see him. Not just annoyed like the way she looked when she was bickering with me. Nope. She looked like she was actually disgusted by this Jason character.

  Like someone had just tried to feed the girl a bowl of worms and called it spaghetti.

  I relaxed instantly, surprised how relieved I was to know that. Whoever this guy was, she was not into him.

  Good.

  She turned to me again, running her hands up my lapel. Hello darlin'. I grinned at her stupidly as she adjusted my tie. Maybe this could work to my advantage. I sure liked it when she was sweet, even if it was all an act.

  "Have you had enough?"

  I nodded, smiling like a kid on Christmas morning.

  "Let's sneak away for a little while… goodbye Jason."

  "Goodnight Camille."

  I followed her like a lapdog down a long hallway, my eyes on that gorgeous ass of hers. Her body moved so gracefully, watching her walk was like watching a dancer. It was like watching a sunset, the first snowfall of the year, and the God damn Fourth of July all rolled up into one.

  That ass was a galdamn symphony.

  I followed Camille into one of the smaller rooms away from the main hall. It was only small in comparison to the rest of the place though. It was an elegant room, decked out with a long conference table, a sofa and two wing chairs. Heavy wooden furniture lined the walls.

  Like everything Camille touched, it stank of old money.

  Funny thing was, I was pretty sure her money wasn't old. Her father had said something about her being good with numbers. Some sort of financial whiz. I didn't much understand all that, but it was impressive.

  I leaned against the door and locked it behind me. Then I crossed my arms over my chest and gave her a stern look. Camille was standing by the window, her arms wrapped around herself. She looked vulnerable somehow. As if she were trying to make herself smaller.

  I frowned.

  That sonofabitch had really gotten to her.

  I would have to take care of that.

  After I dealt with Miss Priss here.

  "Camille. Come here."

  Her head snapped up and I saw that her sky blue eyes were unhappy, full of unease. I would deal with that too. After I kissed her senseless.

  "I said come here."

  Camille

  "Excuse me?"

  I stared distrustfully at the big oaf. Cade was trying to intimidate me with his big arms and big eyes and big- well, let's just say everything about the man was big.

  I lifted my chin and ignored his demand. He walked towards me slowly. I resisted the urge to run away from him like a little girl. He waited until he was looming over me to speak. His tone was accusatory.

  "You are using me."

  "What?"

  "You want to make that guy jealous."

  I laughed, trying to ignore the fact that I was alone with Cade. And that
I was pretty sure he had locked the door. Or there were butterflies in my stomach at the thought of what might happen...

  "No, I'm definitely not."

  He was watching me carefully. He tilted his head to the side. I was reminded again that Cade might not be sophisticated, but he was not stupid.

  Far from it.

  He was much more perceptive than I might like. I just shook my head, hoping he would drop it. He didn't. The man was like a dog with a bone!

  "You are using me as a shield then."

  I nodded, sighing. That was true. He really wasn't as stupid as he looked. Not that he looked stupid precisely. But he didn't exactly look like he was doing any heavy mental lifting.

  He was too busy lifting everything else.

  "So you are using me."

  He was standing close. Too close. I couldn't stop myself from coyly lifting my eyes to his and parting my lips.

  "Do you mind?"

  He growled and tried to yank me against him but I just laughed and danced away. I leaned against a sideboard and watched him over the edge of my glass. He was like a gorilla, angrily puffing his chest out to impress me.

  "Camille…"

  I wagged my finger at him.

  "Behave yourself."

  He cursed under his breath and ran his hand through his hair, messing it up. I had to admit, I liked him better that way. Tie loosened. Jacket open. Maybe undo a button or two of his clean, white shirt…

  "That guy hurt you? You want me to rough him up?"

  I opened my mouth in surprise. He was serious. He wanted to defend my honor.

  That was… sweet. Chauvinisitic and ill mannered, but sweet.

  A funny feeling settled in the pit of my belly. It was something almost tender. I didn't like it, so I pushed it away.

  "No. But if you could discourage him with your presence that would be… very agreeable."

  He grunted and nodded.

  "Fine. What do I get out of it?"

  I gave him a look of warning as he crossed the room to me. He pressed me up against the banquet I was leaning on. My voice was breathier than I would have liked when I answered him.

  "A gentleman wouldn't ask that."