Bad Boys Online

by Erin McCarthy

  "It's not real big, but it's enough for me. It's surrounded by a wooden fence and I'm working on planting some perennials around the patio."

  He peered out and nodded in approval. "Perfect for a dog."

  She laughed. "You're the one who wants a poodle named Bitsy, not me."

  "I never said that, you said that." Mack abandoned his post at the door and sat down at the table. He patted the seat next to him.

  As she sat down, she said, "Yeah, well, I'd like a dog, but not right now. Not by myself. Taking care of a house alone is enough."

  Mack didn't say anything, just gave her an odd look, his head tilted and a strange half smile teasing about his lips.

  Why was he looking at her like that?

  Then she flushed.

  Ohmigod, did he think she was hinting? That she wanted a relationship?

  She'd rather eat maggots than have him think she was going to now try and latch on to him like a dryer sheet to Velcro. Even though the idea held certain appeal, she had sworn to herself that she would go into this night knowing it was a one time deal.

  Mack was out of her league.

  He was here to prove a point and get a little free action.

  They could handle showing up at work on Monday with things the way they were right now. But if he started thinking that she was going to cling, or if she actually lost her mind and did start to cling, they were going to have a car wreck on their hands. Total disaster.

  As he bit his sandwich, Kindra realized that this conversation crap needed to not happen. He was being too nice.

  Why couldn't he be like most guys and just take what he wanted and roll over and go to sleep? Why did he have to say sweet things that showed she wasn't just a bedpost notch to him?

  Telling her he knew she drank out of a wildflower mug, calling her beautiful. Geez, didn't he know that a woman hears things like that and starts hoping?

  "Aren't you eating anything?" he asked, his mouth full.

  "No, I'm not hungry." She was sick, actually.

  She had gone and fallen for Mack.

  Or rather, she'd fallen for Mack a year ago when he had first walked in the door at MicroDesign, but she had known then that she could never hope to catch his eye.

  Well, now she had his eye, and other things, and she found her stupid little heart wishing for more still.

  That had to stop. She ground her thoughts to a halt right there.

  This was it. One night. Nothing more.

  And it was all she was going to have. So she might as well kill the conversation and get back to why he was here in the first place.

  Sex.

  Plain and simple.

  Just the thought of which had her skirt firing up like a gas grill.

  "That was great," Mack said as he dusted the last crumbs off his mouth. "Thanks, I feel better."

  "Good." She stood up, the rustle of her skirt on her legs re-minding her that her panties were still crumpled up on the floor in the office. Which was just as well. She had no intention of putting any underwear back on until Mack left.

  "Come here, Mack, I want to show you something."

  His contented look gave way to interest.

  "Is this like, here, look at the pictures of my trip to London, or like, here, look at another dirty e-mail with me?"

  Not having much experience tossing off sultry looks, Kindra wasn't sure if she was doing it right, but she gave it her best effort. Running her fingers through her hair, she said, "I've never been to London."

  "Damn, Kindra." He stood up so fast, he knocked his chair over with a crash. "You are so sexy."

  It wasn't a declaration of love by far, but it was a heck of a lot more than she'd had on Thursday. She'd take it. She'd take him.

  Plus the fact that he was close to panting was downright gratifying. And the way his hands were groping her ass as he followed her down the hall was enough to embolden her.

  She could do this. She wanted this.

  When she stopped in the doorway of her office, Mack bumped up against her. His hard-on pressed into her and she rubbed herself back against him.

  A nice low guttural moan rang from him.

  Hands were up her skirt.

  Whoa, too fast.

  Swatting him away, she stepped into the room. "Just a minute."

  "Why?" Mack reached for her again.

  Feeling a little heady with power and desire, Kindra said, "Sit in the chair."

  His eyebrows raised. "Why?" he repeated.

  "Just do it." She pointed at the chair, heart thumping as she waited to see if he would obey her command.

  Mack held his hands up in mock surrender and sauntered over to the chair. "Fine, I'll do it."

  He dropped into the chair and spread his legs in a mascu-line slouch. He flung his arm over the back and tried to look nonchalant, but the bulge in his boxers gave him away.

  Kindra smiled. Whatever her complicated feelings for Mack were, he certainly made her feel sexy. All woman. Confident in herself.

  Avoiding the chair in case he might think to grab her or touch her, Kindra went to her computer. She had a camera to record onto her computer.

  They were going to use it. Right now.

  Turning it toward the center of the room, the carpet and Mack in the chair popped up on her screen. Adjusting it, she made sure that Mack's complete body was in view.

  She was going to record herself having sex with Mack, and when she was alone after tonight, she could watch it. She would ache for Mack and this night together and she would get herself off to it.

  No more Russ.

  From now on, she'd have Mack. If not in person, then on her computer.

  Mack looked frozen in the chair, his eyes wide, his shoulders tense, jaw clenched. "Kindra?"

  "Yes?" Two more steps and she would be on the screen with him.

  "Did you just turn that camera on?"

  "Yes." She stepped up to him and pushed her hands into the pockets of her denim skirt, tugging it down so her naval was exposed. "You don't mind, do you?"

  His hand twitched on the back of the chair, his cock strained against his boxers. "Can I watch it with you later?"

  She went wet, hot and fast, and the denim of her skirt rubbed against her moistness as desire raced through her. "Yes."

  "Then I don't mind."

  Mouth dry, Kindra stepped in front of the camera and turned so both their profiles would be recorded. She licked her lips nervously and her breath hitched.

  Mack seemed to sense her sudden apprehension. He said, "Take your shirt off."

  "Okay." Lifting her arms, Kindra arched her back and pulled the tank top off, letting it tumble out of her hand as she tossed her hair out of her eyes.

  "Touch your nipples." He was leaning back again, lips parted, eyes dark and cloudy. His voice was soft and coaxing.

  Kindra became painfully aware of the camera. This was supposed to be her show. She had intended to strip for Mack, then give him a lap dance of sorts in the chair. Not do what he wanted, not touch herself.

  "Go on," he urged. "I can see how hard and hot they are. They're just begging to be touched."

  They were hard and hot. Her nipples were aching, erect and budding. She closed her eyes. She couldn't do this.

  Sensing Mack had moved closer, her eyes flew open. He had rolled the chair until he was right in front of her. Desperate, wanting his hands on her, aching with need and feeling too inhibited to touch herself, she rocked forward.

  Mack put his hands on her inner thighs. Her skirt went up. His head bent. Fingers parted her. She gripped his shoulders.

  Hot breath teased her clit, but he didn't touch her. The need was painful.

  "Mack, please."

  "I'll take care of this if you touch your tits," he murmured, giving her damp curls a little sharp tug.

  When put that way… Kindra reached up and cupped her breasts, gasping with pleasure as Mack's tongue found her and stroked lightly.

  She threw her head back, and g
ave a soft moan. He was teasing, tasting with a maddeningly light touch that had her squeezing and rubbing her nipples in desperation. He pulled back completely and gazed up at her.

  Her hands didn't stop.

  "Oh, yeah, like that. That's good, baby." Then he bent back over and plunged his tongue deep inside her.

  Kindra came with a cry, and the only thing that kept her standing was Mack's hands on her legs, holding her still. Her hands dropped and she drew in a shaky breath.

  "Mack…" As the tight passion settled down to satisfaction, Kindra felt her eyes pricking. She bit her lip. God, she was not going to be a total dip and cry, was she?

  She'd rather go bald. At least there were wigs to fix that. Nothing was going to prevent total humiliation if she went emotional and confessed her feelings for Mack.

  He was laughing softly, his grip on her legs relaxing. His soft lips pressed her inner thigh. "You're incredible," he murmured.

  It was going to happen. She was going to cry. Shoot. Blinking hard, she pushed him back into the chair. Feelings of love rose up in her and threatened to overwhelm her. If she couldn't tell him, she could show him.

  And hide her face in the process.

  Kindra went down on her knees.

  Mack's eyebrows shot up.

  He opened his mouth to say something.

  Kindra didn't wait to hear. Pulling his erection out from his black boxers, she bent over and took a nice long luscious suck.

  Chapter Six

  Mack stared at the ceiling and gave a lusty sigh. Damn, he felt good. Never better, in fact. The lack of sleep didn't bother him.

  Not when he had spent half the night making love to Kindra. She was incredible. Giving, daring, yet shy. The way she was in bed reflected the complexity of her personality out of bed.

  Full of surprises.

  Mack rolled over in Kindra's guest bed and watched her sleeping, her auburn hair spilling across her face. She had pulled the blanket up tightly under her chin, and her lush mouth was open as she breathed in and out with a soft whisper.

  Settling himself up against her back, Mack stroked her smooth thighs. His body responded instantly, and a huge boner was pressing into her backside in less than thirty seconds.

  He couldn't help himself. Kindra did things to him, made him feel a way he never had.

  When she woke up, he was going to tell her that he'd fallen in love with her.

  No time like the present. Dusting a kiss on her shoulder, he reached around and slid a finger inside her, then back out, teasing her clit.

  He felt her body swell and moisten. Her eyes popped open.

  "Mack," she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep. "It's too early."

  "Then why are you wet?" He sucked her earlobe.

  Already her body was rocking against his hand, her breath hitching.

  "I'm not," she insisted. "I'm still asleep."

  "Then you must be having a damn good dream."

  Kindra's fingers clenched the sheet as she moved faster against him.

  Mack added a second finger and sent her over the edge. Kindra shuddered and relaxed back on the pillow.

  "Mmmm."

  "My thoughts exactly." He rubbed his lips across her cheek and pulled his hand back.

  "So what are your plans for the day?" He pictured snuggling half the day away, maybe grabbing some lunch and a movie, sharing a shower. Stopping by his apartment for fresh clothes and his toothbrush, then hightailing it back to Kindra's for another night together.

  Driving in to work together tomorrow.

  Kindra stiffened. "Today? Oh, I have… things to do."

  "What things?" He didn't like the sound of that. "I could do them with you."

  "No, no." Now she scooted away from him and sat up, hugging the sheet around herself. "It's girl stuff."

  Confused, a feeling of foreboding creeping over him, Mack said, "What girl things? Like buying tampons or something? That doesn't bother me."

  Well, actually it did, but if that meant he could spend the day with Kindra, he could tolerate the whole heavy versus light flow conversation.

  She turned back to him. "Mack…"

  Foreboding was no longer creeping up. It was flat out biting him on the ass. There was an "I'm sorry" coming here, he just knew it.

  "Look, I'm sorry, but I don't think it's a good idea to see each other again."

  "What?" Now he sat straight up. What the hell was she talking about? He had just decided they were perfect for each other. She couldn't possibly mean that their one-night stand was a real, honest-to-God, one-night stand.

  "This was fabulous, really, an amazing night, but that's all it was. You know that."

  He didn't know that. God, he felt so cheap, so used. Baffled, he gaped at her.

  Gently, she gave him a small smile, clutching the sheet across her chest. "Your twelve hours is up."

  His own words thrown back at him. Mack struggled for composure even though his chest felt as if someone had dug their fist in and ripped out his heart.

  He'd thought there was something there, that sometimes Kindra had looked at him with tenderness. That the things they'd done were so much more than sex. They'd been intimate, personal.

  Obviously he had been completely wrong.

  "Do you want some breakfast before you go?"

  Her back was exposed, creamy white flesh mocking him, taunting him as she looked at him over her shoulder. Her beauty nearly undid him.

  But he'd be damned if he'd grovel or cry. Somehow he'd get out of this with his dignity intact.

  "No, thanks." Like he was going to sit there in the kitchen and eat some freaking eggs while she wished him gone.

  "Did I prove my point?" he asked roughly.

  Her little pink tongue slipped out and licked her lip. "Oh, yeah, you proved it. This was much, much better than cybersex."

  It was something.

  Not what he wanted, but something. And at least he could be comforted by the fact that he hadn't blurted out his feelings and suffered extra humiliation as she let him down gently.

  Nor would he follow her around like a dog after a bitch in heat, though she did reduce him to panting.

  "Good," he said, his jaw clenched. "Tell that guy to get some new lines, will you? That alone will make it better for you."

  Then he got up off the bed and strode to the bathroom, not sticking around to hear Kindra's reply. The sudden image of Kindra in her computer chair letting that filthy guy talk nasty to her made him livid. Hot with fury and sick with jealousy.

  If he couldn't have her, he sure as hell didn't want anyone to have her, especially not some cyber-Romeo who didn't know sexy from sushi.

  Mack closed the bathroom door behind him.

  He'd proven his point all right. Proven he was an idiot.

  @ Kindra stared at her in-box. A half-dozen messages from Russ were winking at her. Subject headings like "Where are you?"

  "Miss you," and "Feeling horny" leapt out.

  She had yet to read any of them.

  Listening to Russ talk about crotchless panties suddenly sounded about as fun as bleaching her mustache. A waste of a good ten minutes.

  This wasn't supposed to happen. She had sent Mack away that morning, determined to protect her heart at all costs.

  Watching him stomp off, stiff and gruff, had been the hardest thing she'd done to date, if she didn't count jumping those hurdles in high school gym class.

  But now she was supposed to resume her life.

  Go to work. Wear boring clothes. Chat with Russ. Never have good sex again.

  Gee, that sounded appealing.

  Without thought, her hand ran the cursor through the computer menu. She retrieved the video she had made the night before. Thirty seconds later she and Mack were on her screen.

  His voice was low, commanding. Kindra watched herself, head thrown back, eyes half closed and breath hitching. She caressed her nipples.

  Mack spread her thighs.

  Kindra live began to
pant in unison with her recorded self.

  Oh, Mack. What the heck had she done?

  So what if he didn't want a relationship? She could have done this with him again.

  Until he got tired of her.

  Which would be worse in the end.

  No, she had done the right thing.

  Mack's tongue plunged into her onscreen.

  The doorbell rang. Kindra leapt up, turning off her monitor. Maybe it was Mack, coming back. Maybe he wanted to make her change her mind. Or maybe he had just forgotten his socks or something.

  She peered through the living room window as she ran to the door. Or maybe it was her friends. Shoot.

  Reluctantly, she opened the door.

  Ashley groaned. "Oh, Kindra, you're wearing track pants again."

  "So?" They were perfect it's-Sunday-and-my-life-is-over pants.

  Trish pushed past her. "Is he still here? How was it? You did sleep with him, didn't you?"

  Kindra had no interest in dishing out details on her night with Mack. "No, he's not still here."

  Ashley collapsed on her couch, enormous hoop earrings dangling down over her lime green sweater. "But he was here, right?"

  "Yes, we went out to dinner, then came back here." Kindra stuck her hands in her nylon pants and paced across the room. She felt a headache coming on. A real one this time, unlike the one she had faked for Russ.

  "Well, change your clothes, then tell us all about it," Ashley urged.

  "Why do I have to change my clothes?"

  "Because we're going to the movies, remember?" Ashley said. "Did you forget?"

  "Yes."

  "Must have been some night," Trish snickered. "Details, dear, we want details."

  "Are you okay, Kindra?" Violet asked, pushing her glasses up with one finger. "You look like something's wrong."

  Everything was wrong. Kindra stopped pacing and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "I'm not okay. I'm in love with Mack!"

  Violet's eyes widened. Trish gasped.

  Ashley moaned. "Oh, Kindra, how could you?"

  "I didn't mean to!" Like she'd set out to make herself miserable by falling in love with an unobtainable paragon.

  "That must have been good sex," Trish remarked.

  "It was." Better than good. Ecstasy-inducing, mind-bending, earth-shaking, great sex. She sighed.