Reciprocity

by K. I. Lynn

  He also promised to clean up the…mess by the kitchen table.

  The cracking noise of the pasta breaking as I put it in the pot covered up all other sound, so I didn’t hear Nathan as he stepped up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist.

  “Trying again? I thought we’d just order in.”

  I shrugged. “Pasta is quick and easy, and I’m hungry.”

  His lips pressed against my neck. “Me too. I worked up an appetite.”

  He let go and backed away, heading over to the now warm bottle of wine and placing it in the fridge.

  I grabbed a slotted spoon from the drawer and stirred, breaking up the pasta so it didn’t clump. “Guess that will have to wait until tomorrow.”

  “It’s not going to go bad.” He pulled out the butter and pasta sauce and placed them on the counter. “So, now that I have income again, let’s talk about the wedding.” I stopped stirring the pasta and turned to look at him. He arched his brow at me. “What?”

  “I… Well, what kind of wedding do you want?”

  He shook his head. “This is your thing. Plus, I’ve already done it. Isn’t it what women dream about and begin planning in the womb?”

  I pursed my lips. He’d already had a big wedding when he married Grace, but did he want another one? “Maybe normal women, but I’m not exactly normal.”

  “You are normal, but the way you grew up makes you unique.” His eyes softened the way they always did when I talked about my upbringing.

  Hopefully that would change soon, and my abusive past would fade away. Adam’s trial date was set, and we were all ready to give our depositions in a few weeks.

  “Oh, you’re a smooth talker tonight.”

  He chuckled and ran his hand up and down my arms. “Honeybear, I just want to marry you. I don’t care how it happens. I’m sure you’ve thought at some point about getting married.”

  I shook my head and returned to cooking. “I was pretty sure it wasn’t in the cards for me, so why waste my time dreaming about something that was never going to happen? There was no Prince Charming in my fantasies.”

  “Well, there’s one in your life now.”

  I quirked my brow at him. “You, charming?”

  “I am very charming.” His lip twitched as a smile grew on his face. “In fact, I bet I can charm you right out of your clothes.”

  “Hasn’t happened yet,” I said and stirred the pot.

  His eyes went wide, and he stepped back. “Ouch! You’re feisty tonight.”

  I sighed and looked up at him. “Can we just go to the courthouse?”

  His lips formed a straight line and his brow crinkled, the light in his eyes dimming. “Is that really what you want?”

  There was a pain in my chest from the expression on his face. “What else would I want besides you?”

  He shrugged. “Flowers, friends and family—a beautiful dress?”

  My mind whirled with that information. Was that what I wanted? Or was the quick and simple trip down the street the way to do it?

  The more I thought about it, he was right—at one point in my life, I did think about a wedding. Long ago, back when I believed in Disney fairy tales, before the monsters of Grimm-like creations took away my childhood innocence, replacing it with fear-induced obedience and solitude. The days when my mom was still alive.

  I sniffed and brushed a tear from my eye. “Maybe we could do something small.”

  He smiled and leaned forward, kissing my forehead. “Small sounds perfect. With small, we could even do a destination wedding.”

  I blinked at him, and images of blue skies and turquoise waters filled my mind. Our Florida vacation had been the best time I’d ever had.

  I stepped toward him without even thinking about it. “The beach?”

  He smiled down at me and brushed his fingers against my cheek. “I love that idea.”

  I grinned and wrapped my arms around him.

  “Any beach in particular?”

  I stared at him and whimpered. “You’re overloading my brain with girly things.”

  He laughed out loud and kissed me. “Do I need to get my mother and Teresa to help?”

  I nodded furiously. “Otherwise I might have a panic attack even thinking about all the stuff I don’t know that has to be done.”

  “First things first—where?”

  Reaching up into the cabinets, I pulled down two plates. There was only one beach I’d ever been to. Was one beach better than another?

  “All I’ve got is beach.” I gave a half-hearted smile.

  “Okay, we’ve got time. We’ll look this weekend. How’s that?”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  He smirked at me. “By the way…where are your panties?”

  “The ones from today?” He nodded. I bit my lip. “They’re in your pillowcase.”

  “Fucking hell, baby.” He licked his lips. “Are you trying to make sure I fuck you while you’re sleeping tonight?”

  “Maybe.” I shrugged.

  “Next time, bring your wet pussy to me. You know I’m always up for taking care of you and your needs.”

  “Oh, I know. I just wanted to see your reaction.” I winked at him and returned to finishing up dinner.

  Owen slammed his hand on his desk, startling me. “Do you know what time it is?”

  I glanced at the clock. “Five.” My lip curled up as I also noticed that I was only halfway through the file I was working on. It was going to be another late night.

  “You know what five means, right?”

  I quirked a brow at him. “Isn’t that the time normal people get to leave work?”

  “Yes!” He pulled his suit jacket off and threw it over his desk and onto the floor. “You know what I’m doing today?”

  A small laugh slipped through my lips. “Pretending you have a normal job with a steady schedule?”

  He frowned and threw his hands in the air. “Lila, it’s Friday! I want to take Amy out on a date. Maybe have a nice long roll in the hay.” He slammed his file shut…or slammed it as well as file folders did. “I like you, but I spend more time with you than I do with anyone else. Let’s run away and spend more time with those we love.”

  “That’s a nice dream.” I stretched my shoulders and neck for a moment, feeling stiffer with each second we imagined leaving the place we’d been stuck in all day long. I settled back into my seat and tried to get as comfortable as possible.

  “It doesn’t have to be a dream. All you have to do is hit the save button, bookmark your place in the file, sign out of your computer, and walk out the door. Simple.”

  “I don’t know—that sounds like anarchy in the making.” I glanced at the clock on my computer.

  A couple of keystrokes later, Owen’s monitor went black.

  “Fine, stay here. I tried to save you. Always remember that.”

  I waved my hand at him as he walked around his desk and picked up his jacket off the floor. “Have a good weekend.”

  He saluted, then disappeared down the hall. I shook my head, chuckling at his antics, then returned my focus to the file in front of me in hopes that I would also be able to leave. I fully expected to see Nathan pop in my office any minute, and wanted to get as much done as possible before that happened.

  I finished another page before my phone whistled at me, signaling a text message. I picked up my phone and opened up the mailbox.

  Congratulations on your engagement.

  My brow scrunched as I looked at the number. It wasn’t someone from my contacts, and it wasn’t from an area code I was familiar with.

  I set the phone down, my bottom lip trapped between my teeth. Part of me wanted to text back to find out who it was. The other part of me was washed with dread, knowing who it might be.

  Nathan and I spent the weekend surfing the Internet, looking for resorts and beaches to hold our nuptials and reception. We decided on the island of Aruba. From the pictures, it looked like the oasis I’d formed in my mind. Being suc
h a tourist destination, there were lots of beautiful places to contact. Most were booked up.

  “Divi Aruba Pheonix emailed.” I stared at the screen, rereading the beginning of the message on my laptop to make sure it wasn’t just an automatic notification or something.

  Nathan scooted up behind me, his chin resting on my shoulder. “Yeah? What did they say?”

  My eyes scanned over the lines of print. “They’re booked until September, and they sent us more information.”

  His frown reflected in the screen. “That’s so long.”

  I arched my neck back and quirked a brow at him. “In a hurry, Mr. Thorne?”

  He nodded. “Yes. You’re mine, and I want you to be mine in every way right fucking now. Problem with that?”

  Warmth blossomed in my chest, spreading throughout my body. “No. I like it.”

  “Makes you feel special, doesn’t it?” he asked, leaning in. I nodded. “Good, because you are special. You’re my everything.”

  “There you go being all sweet and mushy again.” I pressed my lips against his neck.

  “You love it, because you know when I’m done, I’m going to show your body who you belong to. I’ll bring out my dirty slut that begs to please me with her body. And if she’s a good girl, I’ll make her come over and over, giving her the pleasure she gives me.”

  I squirmed against him, his words affecting me as always. His hand slipped around my waist to between my thighs, the heel of his hand digging in and rubbing against my clit.

  My cheeks warmed, and I fought back a moan. “You’re distracting me. I’m trying to read.”

  His teeth scraped against my neck. “Read later. I’m going to fuck you now.” His other hand pulled down my tank top and pinched my nipple, sending tingles through me.

  “Insatiable much?” I asked, smiling as I teased him, trying to resist as long as possible. It always made him more aggressive when I put him off.

  His hand was rough, grabbing at my pussy. “I haven’t had you today.”

  “And you’re aggravated at having to wait so long.”

  “Yes.”

  “But if you let me read, I’d be able to tell you they have a last minute cancellation, creating an opening in three weeks.”

  All movement stopped as he froze, reading the screen over my shoulder. “That’s just after Valentine’s. Fuck. Tell her we’ll take it!”

  “But that’s so soon.”

  “We’re fucking taking it.” His voice was firm.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Are you getting cold feet or something?” He arched an eyebrow at me and pursed his lips.

  I shook my head. “No, it’s just…”

  “What?”

  I rubbed my knuckle against my lower lip. “Freaks me out.”

  He slumped against me, groaning. “Why does it freak you out, baby?”

  I was silent, unsure how to say what I felt—how my chest bubbled, my hands tingled, and the urge to run away from the conversation grew. “I’m still getting used to the idea that we’re engaged.”

  His mouth rested against my shoulder. “Do you love me?”

  “Yes.” What kind of question was that?

  “Do you want to be with me forever?” He angled his head a little so he had a better view of my entire facial expression.

  “Yes.” I blinked and swallowed, though I wasn’t nervous. I just… Well, I didn’t know what.

  “Do you ever want to be apart from me?”

  My head shook once more. “Never.”

  He smiled at me. “Neither do I. So what does it matter when we do it? The sooner we get married, the sooner we can move on with our lives.”

  Somehow, his words calmed me. “You have a point.”

  He nodded and stared at me with a serious look in his gaze. “And I have a pointer I’d like to poke you with, so fucking tell her we’ll take it so we can celebrate with my cock shoved up your cunt.”

  “Ass.” My lip quirked up, and I turned back to the computer.

  “Not right now. I need to get off, and it’s going to be in your pussy first. Maybe I can hit your ass up later.”

  He was pissy, which meant a quickie. Not that I had any problem with that—the man knew how to get me off in a short period of time.

  As soon as I was done and my laptop was on the coffee table, he was leaning over and lowering me down to the floor. His lips found mine, almost bruising with the force of his kiss. One hand was pushing my pants down while the other pinned my arm beside my head. I was already wet from his groping, and even more so when he restricted me, even in the slightest ways.

  My free hand reached between us, sliding against his abs until I reached his waistband. I pulled the front down just enough for his cock to join the party. It was more than enough room, because he swatted my hand away and pushed himself into me.

  We both groaned as he entered, my hips angling up to get him deeper.

  “Damn! It’s fucking Sunday. I should have wrecked this pussy this morning, but you wanted to go out for breakfast.”

  I bit my lip.

  “You planned for this, didn’t you? You wanted me to attack you like a fucking animal.” He pulled back, then slammed his cock back inside, making the breath leave my lungs and my back arch. “Throw you down like a slut and pound you until you can’t walk. Bruise your skin with my hands and teeth.” Another hard thrust of his hips, accentuated almost every other word. “That’s what you want, isn’t it?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then take it. Take me.” He sped up, driving his cock into me at an unrelenting pace.

  Talk was replaced with grunts and groans—chants to deities above. Each stroke was delicious torture, pushing me, dragging me.

  My eyes and mouth were open as I screamed out, clamping down on him, milking the come from him with each pulse.

  “Fuck!” He grabbed hold of my chin as I came down so we were face to face. The man before me was menacing and powerful, and I bowed to him. “Look me in the eyes when I fill you with my seed.”

  I shuddered, the sexy words making me clench around him. I loved watching his come-face—the way he screamed out, face scrunched up, the tendons in his neck taut. It was followed by euphoria taking over, filling his eyes, and a lazy smile as the last drops seeped from him.

  He collapsed down, trying to catch his breath. “I need a nap now.”

  “Ditto.”

  My limbs seemed boneless, unwilling to respond to my commands.

  Job well done.

  I let out a yawn as the elevator doors opened, blinking back the drowsiness fighting to send me back to dreamland. Fingers tangled with mine and tugged, forcing my feet forward.

  “Come on, sleepyhead. I’ll walk you to your office,” Nathan said, smirking at me.

  We rounded the corner and headed down the hall. I wasn’t paying much attention. I only knew someone was headed toward us, so I leaned into Nathan, making space. Despite my efforts, my shoulder grazed someone.

  “Excuse you,” Tiffany said, sneering at me.

  “Sorry,” I said. When I realized who it was, I knew she had run into me, not the other way around. I stopped and turned toward her, my body jerking as Nathan was still pulling my arm. “I didn’t realize you were blind. I mean, we moved over for you, but you still felt the need to run into me.”

  She threw me her bitch brow. “What are you talking about, crazy town?”

  My eye twitched at the name she called me. I was getting so close to laying one of the bitches out, and I wasn’t a violent person. How much more was I expected to stand?

  “Why did you run into me? Is the need to feel superior to me, to bully me, that great? What do you get out of it?”

  She gaped at me like a flustered fish. “You… I…”

  “What? You do know your actions are hostile, and I can file a complaint against you, right? I mean, you would know this if you read the handbook.” She stared at me, unresponsive. “Oh, or was I wrong in thinking you could underst
and the legal language or read at all?”

  Tiffany sputtered but failed to produce any words, her face growing red. I rolled my eyes and faced forward.

  “Forget her,” Nathan said as we continued on our way.

  I leaned against him, a new pep in my step. “Already have. She’s just a jealous bitch anyway.”

  “Has their shit gotten better or worse since I came back?”

  I shrugged. “It’s a toss-up. The good thing is they don’t interrupt my work anymore.” I looked up at him. “Do they come to your office?”

  He shook his head. “No. I can’t help them with anything, and we’re not in the same department. They tried the first few days, but I shot that shit down immediately. No more bugging the crap out of me and trying to seduce me.”

  “Only I get to do that.” I stood a little taller.

  He smiled down at me and pulled me close. “I love it when you seduce me.” His lips pressed against my forehead. “Too bad we have an appointment tonight. I’d let you do it right after work.”

  I’d forgotten about Dr. Morgenson. Due to the holidays, we hadn’t seen him much over the past few weeks.

  “What do you think Darren will say? Do you think he’ll approve of the fast timeline?”

  “He’s the one who encouraged us to go forward with our relationship. I’m sure as hell not asking our therapist when I can marry you.”

  I patted his chest. “He’s not going to tell you what to do. He never does. It’s his job to tap his pen, look concerned, and sigh a lot. You know… like a parent would do to his son when he knows he’s whoring around with some little slut.”

  “My little slut.” He pulled me in tighter.

  “Tell that to him and then throw in a ‘By the way—I’ve nailed her repeatedly, so now it’s time to marry the little slut.’ See how he reacts to that.”

  I giggled, and he pinched my ass. “You and that dirty mouth.”

  I smiled and pushed off his chest, then sauntered away.

  Seduction was for wimpy Boob Squad members. I knew what he wanted.