by Landra Graf
“Let me show you.” The words flew out of his mouth, and he turned, hoping she’d follow. He walked past the furniture back toward the front door. “Take your shoes off and leave them here.”
Dev followed the same instruction he’d given her. Kat didn’t hesitate either, grin still on her face with eyes in full-on seductress mode. Then they took the walk down his hallway. Normally, he’d give her the same tour all visitors received, with introductions to photos of his family and a special trip down memory lane from his childhood. Instead, he bypassed everything with his brisk walk.
Pru had been the last woman in here, over six months prior. He didn’t want to analyze that. No, he wanted to create new memories to wipe away the bad. This would be a chance to forge a future without the past weighing over him like a thundercloud.
“It’s beautiful.” Kat stopped beside him, both of them facing the king size bed covered in a black, goose-feather comforter. Underneath were flannel sheets, perfect for the fall and a way to keep warm as the night cooled down further.
“It’d be even better with you on it. Naked.”
She smiled big. “That’s something I can do.” Then she turned, exposing her back. “Would you mind undoing the zipper and my bra clasp?”
“I can certainly assist you, my fair lady.”
“He doesn’t sleep with her in the musical.”
The zipper came down with ease, and she gave a shake to make the whole thing slide down to her feet. He worked on the bra next. “No, but I wanted to believe he wanted to. I would have succumbed to temptation.” The metal teeth released from their holes. “There, all done.”
Kat cupped her bra to her bosom, rotated, stepping out the dress, and faced him once more. “Is that what you’re doing? Succumbing?”
She dropped the bra then, practically throwing it away from her body. Those flesh color breasts, with dark pink nipples made his mouth dry up.
“I’m surrendering.” He reached out, pinching one nipple between his index finger and thumb.
“With far too many clothes on. I need you naked for mutual exploration.”
He leaned in and pressed a kiss to the top of her breast. “Your wish is my command.”
Stepping back, he shed the suit coat first. The belt, trousers, button-down shirt, undershirt, boxers, and his socks followed in rapid succession. When he finally stood naked, a pea-sized lump took up residence in the center of his chest. That small ball, the size of a vegetable, was the insecurity he recognized in himself. He willed his courage to look at Kat, to accept her judgment.
“You look amazing.” Those three words snapped him to attention, eyes open, on her.
“Thank you.”
“You say that like you doubted how good you look.”
“It’s always a possibility.” Funny how they both stood there naked, exposed, and he’d become self-conscience. He’d gone years without experiencing similar emotions. “Dreams and imaginations can be misleading.”
“Or, thankfully, tamer than reality. If I’d known you looked like this, all toned, ripped... hell, I would’ve given into this sooner.”
The words dislodged the kernel of doubt and fear stuck at the forefront of his mind. He stepped toward her. “Thank goodness I came to my senses and decided we should stop now.”
She reached for him, both palms gripping his upper arms, pulling him closer, their nipples touched. She gasped. “I know you’re being sarcastic… at least I hope so because I’m afraid it’s too late for that. I need you.”
“Where?” He loved this, the drawn-out tease. This type of foreplay hadn’t existed with his ex. He silently vowed to no longer compare the two. “Show me.”
She traced the muscle of his left arm until she grabbed his hand. After she guided it to her warm, wet center, he flicked the nub of her clit and basked in the dilation of her pupils and the way her other hand, on his bicep, tightened like a vice.
“So sensitive.”
“Fuck me,” she begged. The syllables were drawn out, and he wanted to know every sexual sound she made. If it took all night, he’d discover each one and let her discover his. The exploration would be exhausting and marvelous.
“Lie down on the bed.”
She followed the direction, like she did all others, flawlessly. She swayed her hips as she backed up. He knew how his flannel sheets felt against bare skin and had a momentary flare of jealousy as she pushed herself onto the bed, elbows and arms working in tandem with her feet in a spider crawl toward the headboard. He grabbed his slacks and dug through his pocket for the condom he kept in his wallet. He ripped into the packet, rushed and eager. She started stroking her nipples, teasing him.
“I like it when you rush.” She said the last word nearly on a moan. Her hips bucked at her own efforts, and he wanted to make her twice as wild.
Climbing on top of her, condom in place, he pushed on her knees, and her legs fell open, exposing a wonder of the world—pink, glistening flesh. He wanted to taste her.
“Don’t you fucking dare.” Her expletive put him on alert.
His mujer hermosa was rough and direct in bed, and he liked it. “I don’t get to taste you first?”
“We have all night, and I need that marvelous dick of yours driving me past the point of coherent thought.”
He laughed a low, villainous thing. “Then by all means, don’t ever say I didn’t take direction as good as I gave.”
“Less talk, more action. We’re off the clock.”
Without comment or providing warning he plowed inside her, loving how those tight channel walls gripped him, attempting to stop him from pulling back.
“More.”
So he gave more, holding onto her hips and setting a brutal pace. Within minutes he’d worked up a sweat and so had she. They both grunted, panted, reveled in each other’s sounds...at least he did. She whispered then, two words, but he wanted to be sure he’d heard correctly. “Louder, Kat. Tell me what’s happening.”
“I’m going to—Dev!” The warning of her orgasm was replaced with his name.
He loved how she surrendered to him, loved being the one who could make her come apart. The relentless efforts on his end continued, seeking the same precipice she’d crashed over. He leaned down and took her lips in a rough mash of tongues and teeth. The fruit of his efforts started in his member and radiated downward to his toes. He flexed his legs, locked them, and then he roared, letting the animal he’d become free. He didn’t want to pull out but didn’t want to crush her as she lay beneath him still and quiet. Moving, rolling over, he disposed of the condom. When he rolled back, she faced him.
“Ready to go again?” Her face lit with a grin, eyes and cheeks still basking in the afterglow.
“I’ll need a bit to recover if it’s okay?”
“Perfect.” Then she snuggled in close to him, head on his chest.
He wrapped an arm around her shoulder trying not to feel humbled by her content and comfortable way of just being with him. Love. He’d never expected it, hadn’t planned on it… but with her cuddled against him, he couldn’t get the four-letter word out of his mind.
“Just a few minutes and then more fun.” She said the words with a yawn, and as her breathing deepened, his eyes began to close.
17
When Kat opened her eyes, she saw sunlight streaming into the room through a pair of black-patterned curtains, which caused momentary confusion because she had no east-facing windows in her room. Then realization dawned about the warm body behind her and the manly arm smattered with dark hair draped over her torso. A smile found its way to her lips at the memories of falling asleep after so much pleasure and letting her desires reign free. No other way to describe the experience. She’d wanted him in every way—a different stance than with previous partners. If he would’ve asked for just about anything, she may have agreed. Scary. The thought brought back the blowjob, his fingers and hands—his cock. She shivered.
“Good morning,” Dev whispered. He gave her a
gentle squeeze, then got up from the bed as she found her voice.
She rolled to face his fully naked body standing up, an erect dick saluting the chilly air. “Good morning,” she managed.
He smiled and glanced down at himself before looking back at her. “Like what you see?”
“Immensely.”
He brought that sex kitten part of her roaring to life, similar to how he’d inspired emotions last night that she didn’t want to analyze. She found herself wanting more of the domestic scene this moment represented. The desire flared for a kind, warm, compassionate man to hold her tightly each night. There was a safety in such an action that she’d failed to find or experience elsewhere.
“How about a bathroom break, breakfast, and then whatever we want?”
“Sounds fantastic.”
The perfect chance to get her head on straight and wipe away the fantastical ideas of more, which had been playing around in her head since the moment she’d reached her orgasm a second time. Scales were tipped during their nighttime adventures; she’d somehow left herself open and susceptible to the most idiotic of emotions and ideas of how they could be like this all the time, maybe something more than the casual fling. It should’ve been just a fling, one night to expel all this desired and attraction. She hadn’t expected it to be as intense as it had turned out to be.
He walked off into the bathroom, and she glanced around the bedroom, taking in a better idea of Devid, the man. The master suite he’d furnished with all black furniture against white walls. The design stuck out in contrast, but was the opposite of the living room. He’d put in a lot of effort to make things look a certain way, something she never would have thought of.
When he came back, he tossed a T-shirt and a pair of shorts on the bed. He’d already donned his set. “Thought you’d like some clothes in case golfers are out this morning.”
“That’s ideal unless you want to put on a show?”
“I’d never expect you to be into that, but...”
“I’m joking.” Kat laughed and slid out from under the covers. She pulled the T-shirt over her head and into place. “But you should’ve seen your face.”
“You definitely got me a little scared. Ay Dios mio, you’re beautiful.”
“Hermosa, right?”
Dev grinned. “Si. I’m tempted to postpone breakfast.”
She slipped into the shorts, shaking her head as she pulled them up. “No, you’ve got my stomach thinking about food now. You deliver that, and I’m all yours.”
“Then,” Dev approached and wrapped his arms around her waist and pressed a soft kiss to her lips. “Let me meet your requirements.”
The next kiss they shared deepened, involving tongue and the promise of so much more—at least another memorable experience. Then the doorbell rang. Dev’s forehead rested against hers. “Probably the FedEx guy. I’ll start coffee and food if you grab that for me?”
A request which lent to the continued domestic vibes she’d been experiencing since the moment she woke. “No problem, is it something fun?”
“A little gift for the shelter.”
“Ooh, now I’m dying to know what it is.” She’d been impressed with his work and his dedication to the women. To be reminded of his kind heart and everything he did for others put her in a danger zone; she wanted to keep this going. One night, one more day really, wouldn’t be enough. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”
She kissed his nose and vaulted out of the room, skipping to the door. The day was off to a fantastic start. For a moment she could forget the house, her cousin, the deal for money. She opened the front door, eyes searching for a box on the ground beyond the door. Instead, she found three-inch purple pumps. The same bright, eggplant color as—Kat let her gaze travel up the legs, past the matching skirt and jacket set in khaki tan with a purple blouse, to hair drawn up in some fancy ponytail with stiff curls spiraling outward near the crown of Pru’s head.
“Good morning. I thought I’d find you here but never believed he’d have the balls to send you to answer the door. Dev!” The way she shouted his name sounded like a screeching cat. For some reason, Kat stepped to the side, horrified and in shock at how the good feelings from moments past had shriveled into a giant black well of nothing. The analogy didn’t make sense; this didn’t make—
“Kat?” Dev rounded the corner, and she saw him stop short and glance at Pru, who amazingly remained silent. “Please shut the door.”
He gave the direction, and she saw the immediate change, every part of the happy and romantic him fled in favor of cold and detached. She’d missed it before, getting the pleasure of slowly opening him up and watching his interactions with people he actually liked.
As soon as the lock clicked into place, he asked, “What are you doing here?”
Kat rotated back around to face the showdown, the music. Fuck all. She’d really believed they would get away with it, enjoy a little bit of happiness.
“Catching you—with her. Can’t say I’m surprised, but slumming is not you. It’s also a bit embarrassing, and I’m tired of looking like a fool.”
Silence and anger started to course through Kat’s veins. If Dev—
“I don’t see how any of this is your business.”
“She’s your client, at least that’s what Mark told me. An official one on Bona Fide’s books, and you’re sleeping with her.”
“She’s no longer a client; her makeover is finished, all done, as of last night. No harm, no foul.”
Pru shook her head. “I don’t think so.”
Fear rattled the angry animal inside Kat. He couldn’t lose his job; too many people needed him. “It’s my fault. I threw myself at him.”
A look of pity got tossed her way. “Honey, I used to date this man. I know he doesn’t do anything, physical or otherwise, without wanting to. You’re not the first, I was. You won’t be the last, and this latest snafu is the final straw.” She focused back on Dev. “I’ve given you plenty of time to sow your oats and get this crazy predilection for damsels in distress out of your system. Instead, you dragged Bona Fide back into it. The board will hear from me.”
Dev’s cold facade faltered then. His business, his livelihood was being threatened.
Kat’d had enough. He didn’t deserve to be harassed in his home, nor did he have to put up with it, but telling someone to fuck off wasn’t always easy. “Do whatever the hell you want, but we won’t take your bullying and threats anymore. Please leave.”
She opened the front door back up and extended an arm towards the chilly October morning.
“This isn’t your home; I don’t think you can or have authority—”
“Leave, Pru.” Dev didn’t look completely himself, but Kat had helped him. At least she believed she had. He didn’t need this woman or her accusations here.
Pru stomped her way to the door, footsteps echoing on the tile near the entrance. “Fine, you’re a pair of liars who can fail together without a job or a house.”
Kat froze. Her momentary joy and righteous indignation were over.
Her enemy sensed it, saw Kat’s horrible attempt at a poker face. “I know all about the money; you may as well admit it out loud.”
“What money? You’ve truly lost it,” Dev said from behind them, his confusion clear.
“Have I? Your lover doesn’t deny it.”
Kat didn’t want to say anything. Crawling into a hole and dying was a preferable punishment. So she’d settle for silence and pray Dev backed her up.
Dev was still reeling over Pru showing up with her mouthful of venom for him and Kat. Her threats held truth. It’d be difficult to get out of this. Then he’d seen Kat stand up to Pru and force her hand, easily do what he’d always been so afraid to do when they were here at his place. Kat played the role of a hero until the mention of money. One phrase and she retreated; it scared him. Pru’s accusations scared him. He wouldn’t get to the bottom of this mystery without cleaning up the first problem.
Incidentally, the problem started talking. “You should ask her to tell the truth. You’ve been used, just like I got used by you.”
“That’s enough. Don’t you remember the effect of verbal abuse? We were together because we wanted to be. Now please leave.”
“This isn’t over.”
“With you in my life, it never is.”
His ex stormed out the entrance, heels echoing in the vestibule behind her. He shut the door and then gingerly took Kat’s hands. Her face angled downward. He didn’t know what she thought, but there was no excuse for what she’d gone through in the last ten minutes. “I’m sorry. This is not how I planned our morning.”
When her head snapped up, guilt and tears brimming in her wide eyes, he knew something Pru had said held truth.
“Maybe we should sit, and you can tell me what the hell is going on.”
“Okay,” she replied with a nod.
So he held onto her and walked into the living room, took a seat on the couch, and brought her with him. She tugged at their connection, and he let her go, then watched as she readjusted her ponytail. The braids from yesterday were still in place with minimal damage. Chad was truly a miracle worker.
“So, tell me what the hell this money thing is about?”
“I’m afraid to say. Let’s talk about it later; I’m starving.” She glanced around wildly searching for anything else, grasping at a new topic with her eyes as much as the words.
“Kat? Come back here, to me. I may not like it, but I’d rather learn about whatever this is from you than from someone else.”
She sighed, pulled her feet up onto the couch and tucked them under her. “This happened before I knew you, really knew you. Even when we first met, I didn’t like you. I’d heard rumors, made some rash judgments.”
Dev raised an eyebrow at that, but it wasn’t surprising she’d disliked him. He hadn’t been too keen on her either. “Comes with my profession, but you’re not telling me anything new.”
“I needed money for the house; you know how much it means to me. Anywho, no banks would give me a loan, no payday thing would cut it. A friend with money didn’t exist, and my parents could care less. So that left…”
