When You Only Need To Ask (The House of Sin: The Beginning)

by Hadleigh Stephens

  “I’ve got to get back to work.” He lays me over his arm, pulling me into a heated kiss and I soften into his embrace. “God you make me want to retire to a secluded spot and have my way with you some more.”

  I sit up with a sulking smile at the same time my insides melt at his words. “Me too.” I keep an eye on my hand as it brushes over his wide shoulder. “You’re different than any other man I’ve known.”

  He smiles as he moves me off his lap so he can stand. I grip his arms to steady myself on my wobbly legs and too high of heels.

  “I don’t know how you women keep from breaking your necks in those fuckin’ shoes. Beyond my comprehension.” He chuckles as I steady myself. “I love those fuckin’ shoes though. Sexy as hell.”

  I glance down at my feet and roll back on my heels lifting my toes up for a second. I love the way these heels make my feet look. He’s right. They are fuckin’ sexy shoes. “Starts with those little plastic Barbie heels when you’re three and then there’s no turning back after that.”

  He wraps me in his arms, his gaze lazily stroking over my face. “You’re a handful.”

  I wrinkle my nose at his somewhat backhanded compliment.

  “Got my work cut out with you.” He kisses the tip of my nose, then chuckles. “But well worth the trouble.”

  I push back against his arms trusting him to hold me and not let me fall on my ass. “Why is that?”

  “You can suck a mean dick.”

  “Why, you…” I wriggle in his arms trying to get out as I giggle.

  He releases me, picks up his belt and threads it through the loops on his jeans. I watch him stuff my discarded panties into his pocket with a wink. “Something to remember you by.”

  Then he tucks the loose strands of my hair behind my ear. Scanning the floor around us, he squats down to pick up some of the missing pins and holds them out to me. He makes a face. “Don’t think you want me styling your hair, sweetheart.”

  I snatch the pins from his hand. Twisting the loose strands of hair and stab the pins in place before sitting the hat back on my head at a jaunty angle and securing it with the hat pin to keep it from falling off my head. “There.”

  “Looks fantastic.”

  I slide my hand in his and those darn tingles skitter straight to my clit at the rough texture of his palm sliding against mine. His fingers lace through mine and he carries my hand up to his lips, his breath brushing over my knuckles as he demands, “Now kiss me before you walk me back downstairs.”

  I do.

  And it’s good.

  I don’t lose the smile from my face the rest of the night until the phone rings while I’m locking up.

  I pull my cell from the clip attached to the thin black leather belt at my waist not bothering to glance at the caller id.

  “Hello?”

  “Fuckin’ cunt.”

  My hand flies to my throat and I frantically scan the empty parking lot for any sign of him. “Nate?”

  “You’re fucking the sheriff now?”

  “W-W-What? What I’m doing is none of your business, Nate.” I work hard at modulating my voice, trying to remain calm, but I know I stammered some of my words and I know he didn’t miss it. He latches on tightly to any sign of weakness.

  “Watch your back whore.”

  “I don’t understand why you’re doing this to me, Nate?”

  “You’re mine.” He disconnects.

  I stand there shaking for a few minutes knowing I should call Cooper, even Merrick or Colt.

  Nate scares me. Yes.

  He’s being immensely stupid. Yes.

  But I’m tired of Nate’s craziness interfering with my life.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Never thrum your fingers, rub your hands, yawn or sigh in public

  Two more days and zero orgasms later as I finish up the last of my work for the night, I ponder more on the decision I’ve made to not tell anyone about the texts and calls from Nate.

  I thought about how irresponsible it was for me to think he wouldn’t or couldn’t do it again. He’s already tried to attack me once. So as I make my way to the front from the office I decide to fire off a text to Cooper making him aware of the situation. While the little arrows are still spinning on the top letting me know it’s somewhere in cell tower land, it rings.

  “Hey,” I answer cheerfully. “I just sent you a message.”

  “I thought you didn’t want to talk to me again.”

  Somehow I find my voice without hesitating. “You know I wasn’t talking about you, Nate?” I pause in the hallway, weighing my options. “What do you want?”

  “You know what I want.”

  I scan the hallway to see if there’s anyone who can assist if need be. “I’m not getting back together with you, Nate.”

  “It just got a little out of control, that’s all.”

  “A little out of control?” I rub my palm over my face. “I found out I’m not the first.”

  “They’re all fucking liars.”

  “How is it everyone but you is a fucking liar, Nate?”

  “They wanted it just as bad as you did.”

  I lower my voice. “I wanted a Dom, not an ass.” I realize my mistake when the line gets eerily quiet. “Let’s just call it a day. Didn’t work out. No big deal.”

  “You know your precious sheriff is a regular at the club.”

  “Yes, I know he’s been to the club, Nate.”

  “Did you know he was there last night?”

  No I did not know that, but I know that he’s just saying whatever he can to stir up some bullshit and it’s working. He’s making me think.

  “How would you know? You’ve been banned.”

  “Doesn’t mean I don’t still have friends.”

  “Nate…”

  He cuts me off. “Give me another chance.”

  “You know I can’t do that.” I start walking towards the foyer.

  “You brought this on yourself.”

  “Nate?” I stare down at the screen of my phone. What the hell?

  I look up and David, one of my favorite employees, is waving wildly at me from behind the front desk and nodding towards the bar. “Penny and Jen are here,” he calls.

  I glance at my watch. “It’s only six-thirty.”

  David lifts his brows. “Must’ve been a rough day.”

  I roll my eyes chuckling. “Yeah, right.”

  Penny waves me over as soon as I step through the doors. I sidle up to the already crowded bar plopping down on the leather topped stool saved just for me and pick up my usual, which slides in front of me as soon as I settle onto my perch.

  “How ya doin’ hon?” I smile as Penny’s motherly mode kicks into high gear.

  “I’m fine,” I answer mechanically before taking a big gulp of my Amaretto sour.

  Penny’s brow lifts.

  I lift my hand. “I’m getting better.” Between her and Cooper I’m gonna have no choice but to analyze my true feelings.

  “Hey, Jen.” I lean over and give her a little hug. The bar is filling quickly. It is Friday evening after all. One of our busiest nights and it makes me proud at how successful we’ve become in such a short period of time.

  “How’d you guys get here so early?” My gaze drifts back and forth between my two friends, my eyes narrowing at their mischievous looks.

  Jen speaks in a rush for both of them. “I took off early.”

  “Was the bank just too damn busy today?”

  “Just wanted to play hooky for a few hours,” Jen says around the lip of her beer bottle.

  “She’s horny,” Penny throws in her two scents worth. “She wants first pickings of the men tonight.”

  “And you’re a bitch,” Jen tosses back with a smile.

  Penny smirks.

  “I knew you were up to something.” My smile broadens. “You’re trying to get laid,” I tease with a soft chuckle.

  “Uh-huh,” Penny cuts in quickly. “Not me. Don’t let anyone
hear you say that.” She scans the crowded room frantically. “Darren will have my ass if he thinks that I’m out scouting for someone new.”

  Jen looks around my shoulders to give Penny a harsh look. “Speak for yourself. I don’t care if the entire bar knows I’m horny and desperate as hell.”

  I laugh heartedly. “I’ll have Jordan announce it over the intercom if you want?” At her pleading look I throw back my head and laugh so loud a few heads turn my way to see what’s so funny.

  “He’s here,” Penny shouts over all the chatter, watching me closely the whole time.

  I stiffen. “Who?”

  Penny rolls her eyes. “You know who.”

  I relax my shoulders. “The Sheriff?” I ask in mock innocence as I casually twist and lean back against the bar scanning the darken room.

  “You’re like the worst liar on the planet,” Penny drawls out her retort.

  “Yeah, don’t act all innocent with us, Kimmie.” Jen nudges me with her elbow. “You know exactly who we’re talking about.”

  “Exactly,” Penny adds pursing her lips raising her brows high atop her forehead for emphasis.

  “I wouldn’t do that if I were you. You’re gonna get premature wrinkles.” I run the tip of my middle finger over my forehead giving her the bird in the process with a smirk on my face.

  Penny peaks over my shoulder and shouts to Jen, “She’s got it bad. Much worse than we originally thought.”

  Jen nods and by the look on her face she’s in total agreement.

  I ignore them and cross my legs knowing exactly what’s going to happen when I do. My slinky, short silver dress is going to rise even higher up my thighs. I glance surreptitiously around the crowded bar until my eyes finally find him well hidden in a dark booth against the wall and I shiver at the heat of his gaze. My nipples immediately harden to tight points. Without even realizing what I’m doing, the cocktail straw from my drink rests seductively between my lips as I stare at him over my Amaretto sour. My tongue wraps around the thin piece of plastic as vivid memories of his cock in my mouth turn the heat up to Death Valley levels. God, he’s sexy. Deliciously gorgeous. And he’s here. Watching me without me even having to ask. That’s extremely sexy in my book.

  “How long has he been here?”

  “Just walked in a couple minutes before you,” Penny answers. I don’t turn her way but I can definitely here the smirk in her voice.

  I don’t know how I could’ve missed him? I do one more sweep of the room in business mode to make sure everyone’s doing what they’re supposed to be doing and then settle back on him. Our eyes meet as soon as mine return. My breathing slows and the quiet din of random conversations floating throughout the bar immediately disappear.

  The intensity of his stare unnerves me for some reason. His eyes practically glow from across the room, like a wolf in the dark and I’m his prey. My face burns at his stare like he knows exactly what I’m thinking. Jump his bones kinda thoughts.

  “He’s fucking hot,” Jen says in my right ear before taking a long pull of her beer, her eyes flashing.

  “I know,” I reply. “He is really hot. Hot in all the right kinda ways, not just physically hot.”

  “You aren’t kidding,” Penny whispers in the other.

  Not removing my eyes from him throughout our back and forth, I squirm on the stool fanning myself in arousal. “Is it hot in here?” His look is making me feel warm and itchy and a whole lot moist in strategic areas.

  “Not really,” Jen tosses out, clearly enjoying my discomfort.

  “I like him.” The words come out with a hint of yearning mixed in with the breath I expel. I take a large sip from my straw and relish the sweet and sour taste as it slides over my tongue and down my throat. Setting one elbow on the bar, I rest my chin on my open palm.

  “Like him?” Penny laughs as she looks around me to raise her eyebrows at Jen.

  “Yep.” I sigh again. “I like him a lot.”

  Jen swivels on her bar stool and stares directly at Cooper for a good ten seconds before dragging her gaze back to me like it’s the hardest thing she’s ever had to do. “What’s not to like?”

  I roll my eyes at them both, turning back around and right into his line of sight again. His mouth lifts in a hot grin making my insides flip-flop around and tie into little knots and my body begins to leak like it’s broken or something and in need of a good plumber. “I want more than a good fuck.”

  “That’s good.” Jen grins at me. “I think he might like you too.”

  “Whatever.”

  “No guy spends his free time in the hospital with some chick if he isn’t intrigued in some way.” Jen takes another pull of her beer. “Just a fact.”

  “He’s the cop from the scene of an accident. That’s why he stayed.” Even though I know it’s a tad more than that.

  Penny wriggles her eyebrows. “I bet he’d find it sexy if you made the first move.”

  “I wouldn’t be making the first move,” I mutter, letting out a little sigh just as my cell buzzes so I pick it up and smile as I read the message.

  You’re so beautiful, Angel.

  Are you stalking me?

  Can’t a man have a drink in the best bar in town?

  It’s a free country.

  “Who’re you texting back and forth, sweetie?” Penny’s brow lifts and her arms cross over her chest. “We don’t do it for you anymore?”

  “No one.” I palm the phone so she can’t see the screen.

  She bounces in her seat. “Is he sexting you?” Penny grabs for the phone and I jerk it away putting it behind my back. “No!” I quickly retort before easing my tone a little. “No he’s not.” I glance down at a new message that just came in.

  There goes that smart mouth again, Angel. You’re making my dick hard.

  “He is sexting her,” Jen cries out. “Look how she’s blushing.”

  “Really guys?”

  Is that so?

  I glance in his direction and feel consumed by his gaze.

  “She’s got it bad,” Penny states pragmatically.

  YEP

  Watcha gonna do about it?

  Do I need to cut a switch?

  I gasp. I flush. His meaning perfectly clear. I squirm at idea of him heating my bottom with his hand.

  “Yep,” Jen agrees. “Fuckin’ bad.”

  “Jordan,” Penny cups her hands around her mouth and shouts out over all the other voices at the bar. “Another Amaretto sour and make it a double this time.”

  Jen adds with a laugh. “Yeah, and make it extra fuckin’ strong, Jordan.” She flashes me a smirk and sings, “It’s getting’ hot in here…”

  “We’re resorting to Nelly songs now?” I’m forced to drag my gaze away from his when I turn back to bar. For some reason it really is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done in my entire life. I twist my neck and look over my shoulder. He’s still watching and his expression is unreadable. He holds up what looks to be a bottle of water in a salute and I raise my glass in a toast before facing forward again.

  “Y’all are gonna drive me to drink.” That’s said just as my next drink slides in front of me. I snatch the short cut-glass tumbler filled with my favorite sweet and sour mixture and empty about half of the drink before setting it down loudly on the top of the bar.

  “Better?” Penny asks with laughter in her voice.

  “Looks like it’s started already.” Jen giggles. “Don’t look now,” she whispers really close to my ear and as I turn my head she hisses, “I said don’t look!”

  And as soon as those words leave Jen’s mouth an intense heat surrounds me and a voice that’s both gruff and smooth flows over me in that melty sorta way. I like it. Shivers skitter down my spine heading straight to my clit making me squirm. I want to rub myself and let it take its natural course and spin out of control right here on the bar stool. No that’s a freakin’ lie. If I lose control I want it to be with his mouth on me or his cock deep inside as his sweaty,
muscular, hotter than hell body pumps in me while my fingers and tongue trace over his naked flesh.

  I suck in a deep breath. I can’t help but recognize that he feels it, that’s how close he is. His thickly muscled pecs hard against my back and the only material between us is his work shirt. So close I feel every single button down the front pressing into my skin. Marking me. Fuck. I release more fragrant cream, soaking the thin silk of the panties that swath my pussy.

  “Easy, Angel.” His breath’s hot.

  I melt. So not good.

  His big hand slides beneath the side of my dress, skimming my midriff barely grazing the underside of my braless breast before lying flat against my belly and pressing me even more snugly against his chest. The abrasive roughness of his hand is delicious against my skin. Intimate much too quickly, yet it feels natural and easy.

  He finds and plays with my navel. He swirls the callused tip of his finger in small, lazy circles around the indention that rock my world. The part that causes me to stiffen and catch my breath is when the tip of his little finger knocks at the elastic band of my barely there panties and I can’t hold back the sound made in the back of my throat that resembles something between immense desperation and arousal.

  What totally freaks me out even more is when his fingers make their way past that final barrier, sliding deep into my slit and brushing negligently over my clit. I gasp in a breath as my body ignites in a blaze of heat and rapid quakes shake me to the core. I know that if he doesn’t stop touching me soon, I’m going to go up in flames.

  My head drops back and as I gaze up into his face. My heart rate accelerates at the smoldering look he’s giving me.