Her Leading Man

by Maggie Dallen

  He stilled, his breath coming in pants. “Are you sure?”

  She barely recognized the husky, sexy voice that answered, “I want you to fuck me.”

  In a heartbeat he’d shed their underwear, put on a condom, and was back between her thighs. He took her in one long, hard thrust that had her arching her back and crying out his name.

  He paused for a moment, but she bucked against him. He felt so good inside her, so damn good. He moved then, slow thrusts as his mouth continued its assault on her lips and neck.

  Her hands grasped at his shoulders, his neck, running over his back as the sweet tension built inside of her to an all-consuming fire. She moved beneath him, all form of thought lost in desire. “Please don’t stop.”

  His lips returned to hers, and his tongue matched the thrusting intensity of his cock until the tension reached a breaking point and she came apart in his arms on wave after wave of pulsing, earthshattering pleasure.

  He came immediately after and collapsed on top of her, a deliciously heavy weight that seemed like the only thing keeping her grounded to the earth.

  He made to move but she gripped him tighter. “I’m crushing you,” he said against her neck.

  “I don’t mind.” That was an understatement. In that moment she was thoroughly content, her buzzing brain happily adrift on a sea of endorphins and her body a mass of luscious satisfaction. The solid pressure of his body on hers was delicious—a warm weighted blanket that made her feel like she was in a cocoon.

  Cocoon. She smiled against his shoulder as the silly thought took hold. It was a fitting analogy. Whatever had just happened between them—it was so much more than sex. She felt different—desired, sexy, powerful. Satiated.

  A few moments later, he shifted the bulk of his weight, but an arm and leg were still draped over her, keeping her warm and safe and grounded.

  She sighed dreamily. A girl could get used to this.

  Chapter 7

  “That was fucking amazing.”

  Ben watched Caitlyn’s lips curve into a lazy, contented smile as she sighed her agreement. He wasn’t sure she understood so he said it again, “Fucking amazing.”

  “It really was,” she mumbled.

  He toyed with the brown locks that fanned across her pillow, watching in fascination as she came back to her senses.

  This woman was sensual and passionate and undeniably sexy as hell. He wanted to kill the man who’d ever made her doubt that. He’d seen the hesitation in her eyes, felt the tentative hesitation in her touches, and seen the wary look that had flickered in her gaze when she lay naked before him. Someone had done that to her. Someone had told her lies and made her doubt her appearance and her sexual nature.

  He had a brief but intense urge to slam a fist into that someone’s face.

  Unwelcome memories from his childhood filled him with a familiar frustration. He’d spent his entire childhood watching his sweet but fragile mother shrink before his very eyes. He and his brother found photos of her when she was younger—vibrant and beautiful—but as he’d grown older, she’d grown smaller thanks to the fact that she’d been saddled with a man who didn’t appreciate her. His father may not have been physically abusive, but it wasn’t just a strong hand that could crush a flower. Neglect and lack of appreciation and kindness had the same effect. It just took longer.

  He’d watched his father destroy his mother slowly and painfully, day after day, until she was a shell of her former self when she died of cancer five years ago. He hadn’t been more than thirteen when he’d vowed that he would never be as cruel as his dad. He and his brother may have inherited their father’s gruff nature and crass language, but that was where the similarities ended.

  He’d always stayed far the hell away from anyone vulnerable or delicate like his mother—anyone who he could potentially hurt. That meant not letting any woman too close—not unless she was just as hardened and jaded as he was. Olivia had fit the bill perfectly…at first. The woman was as fierce as they came. No man could hurt her, not with all the walls and pretenses she’d built for herself.

  He forced his mind back to the present, and back to the sexy woman lying naked beside him. He’d won the jackpot tonight. After weeks of fantasizing about his tantalizing roommate, he’d finally gotten his chance to take her to bed. And it had been bloody fantastic. Better than his daydreams. She’d been a firecracker in bed, once she’d overcome her hesitations.

  She still wore that sexy, satisfied smile, but her eyes had drifted shut. Her breathing evened out and he took the opportunity to get his fill. Beautiful. From head to toe, the woman was perfection. The kind of curves that men dreamed about and a feisty passion in bed that already had him dreaming about the next time.

  Not that there would be a next time. Not necessarily. Although the night was still young, and they still had almost three weeks of sharing the same roof. Why not share the same bed, too?

  He brushed a strand of hair out of her face and was rewarded when her smile widened in thanks. Her eyes remained shut. Maybe she wouldn’t want this to be more than a one-night deal. Of course she wouldn’t. Tonight, she’d been drunk. She was reeling from the latest news of her ex’s engagement. But tomorrow? Tomorrow she’d remember that he was her jackass roommate who annoyed the hell out of her.

  Thanks to that wretched first date, she’d already seen his true nature, and she was smart enough to steer clear of assholes with a charming smile. She deserved more, and she knew it. She deserved someone far nicer than him, someone who appreciated her more than that idiot ex. She deserved better. She deserved—

  “We’re going to find you your Cary Grant.”

  Her eyes shot open at that, and she turned to him with a questioning look. “Pardon me?”

  He propped himself up on one arm so he could get his fill of the amazing view spread out before him. “I’m going to help you find a proper boyfriend. One who will appreciate you and treat you like you deserve. We’re going to find you your bloody dream man.”

  Her laugh was enchanting. “And what brought on this sudden urge to find me a mate?”

  “Because you deserve it, and it’s time for you to move on with your life. Besides, I’ll be moving out in a few weeks and you’ll need to find some other hot body to take advantage of.”

  He wiggled a brow and she rewarded him with a shit-eating grin.

  “And this?” She made a vague gesture toward their naked bodies. Her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink, adorable really given what they’d just done.

  “That’s up to you, my lovely flatmate. Do you want to do this again?”

  Please say yes. For the love of God, please say yes.

  Her little nod made him happier than he was willing to admit. He resisted the urge to pump his fist in the air. Keep it cool, jackass. “Perfect. Then we’ll be doing this again.”

  Her cheeks reddened even further, but she was smiling. “So we’re like…” she trailed off.

  “Fuck buddies,” he finished. Her eyes widened meaningfully. He tried again. “Friends with benefits?”

  “Better.”

  He laughed and leaned over to press one last kiss against those gorgeous, soft lips. “All right, friend. On that note, I’m off to my room.”

  She didn’t protest and for that he was grateful. Everyone knew the first rule of keeping a sexual relationship solely about sex was that you didn’t literally sleep together.

  Still. That being said. Prying himself away from her soft, warm, naked body took every ounce of his will power.

  * * * *

  “You did what?” Meg’s squeal was high-pitched and had several of the barflies looking in their direction.

  “Keep your voice down,” Caitlyn hissed.

  Meg slapped a hand over her mouth, but her eyes were comically wide as she studied her best friend. Caitlyn took a sip of her drink, enjoying her friend’s shock. She was still a bit shocked herself at the turn of events the night before�
��but no regret. All day at work she’d replayed the night before in her head, and each time it was just as delicious.

  “So are you guys . . . dating now?” Meg asked.

  Caitlyn shook her head with a bit more vehemence than necessary. “Of course not.”

  “Of course not,” Meg echoed, in a teasing tone. “Why not?”

  Caitlyn sighed. How could her friend not see it? “We’re not into each other like that. You know me, I’m looking for someone who wants to settle down, someone stable and…predictable.” God, she sounded like she was describing her accountant.

  “Yeah, but—” Meg started to protest.

  “And he’s not into me like that,” Caitlyn finished. She could see her friend’s loyal shackles rise. Meg was about to launch into one of her patented pep talks about how she was the most beautiful, funny, talented, blah, blah, blah.

  “Trust me, Meg. I’ve seen the kind of woman he goes for. He wants someone far more fun and worldly.” She saw his ex’s photo in her mind…and glamorous and sexy and elegant.

  Her friend thankfully let it go. “Okay, fine. No dating. So what are you then?”

  “Friends with benefits.” Caitlyn bit her lip to hold back a goofy grin. Fuck buddies.

  Meg was giving her a wary look. “Are you sure you can handle a no-strings-attached relationship?”

  “It’s not a relationship,” Caitlyn corrected.

  Meg rolled her eyes. “You know what I mean. I don’t want to see you get hurt. You’re not the type to…not get involved.”

  Caitlyn knew her friend meant well, but at that moment the words “you’re not the type” stung. Maybe she was the type. Just because she hadn’t yet didn’t mean she never could. She tilted her chin up. “I’ll be fine.”

  That confidence lasted precisely as long as it took to walk home from the bar. Now how exactly was this supposed to work? Nerves warred with excitement. How was she supposed to act?

  Just be yourself. Be normal. Nothing has changed.

  Ben was working on his laptop when she came into the living room. He barely glanced up as she passed by to drop her stuff off in her bedroom. “Hey,” was all she got.

  Good, that was normal.

  When she came back in, he was already settling into their routine. He’d moved his work so she could join him on the couch and was starting the ritual channel changing when she sat beside him and picked up her knitting project. An hour later, he’d settled on an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

  See? Normal. Nothing to be anxious about. They were two grownups who’d slept together. No big whoop.

  “This requires popcorn,” Caitlyn declared as the opening credits began to roll. She was in the kitchen on her tiptoes, reaching for the box on the highest shelf, when she heard him come in behind her.

  “Now this looks appetizing.” His voice was a growl, and she froze mid-grab as shivers ran up and down her spine. That was all it took. One absurdly overt come-on and she was horny as hell. Amazing.

  She didn’t know how to respond, but she didn’t need to because a moment later he was directly behind her, her bottom firmly nestled against his hard cock, which was straining against his jeans, his hands wrapped around her waist, already slipping beneath her top to move up to her breasts.

  Her head fell back against his shoulder, and he took the opportunity to nuzzle her neck and drop kisses along her jaw.

  When his fingers reached the lace edge of her bra, she arched her back, silently begging for his touch. God, she was insatiable around this man.

  And like that it dawned on her. She wasn’t frigid. She wasn’t passionless and cold. Clearly not if this man—this relative stranger—could make her wet and aching with a mere touch.

  It wasn’t her that was the problem. It was him.

  All thoughts were lost at that point as Ben, who was breathing heavily in her ear with undisguised need, slipped a hand down the front of her jeans and found the sensitive nub.

  She gasped for air as his fingers worked their magic down there. And then she was begging. All out begging for it.

  Ben fumbled with the button and zipper of her jeans before shoving them down, followed quickly by his own.

  They never made it to the bed. Or the couch. They never even made it to the kitchen floor. Ben eased her forward until she was leaning over the kitchen counter before slipping a hand between her thighs to part them for easier access.

  “Jesus, Cait, you are so wet for me.” The raw need in his voice was heady and had her arching her back so she could tease him even more, and she was rewarded with a growl as he gave her ass a little spank. “You are so fucking sexy.”

  He paused with his cock pressed against her, his breath hot against her neck. “Tell me what you want.”

  She couldn’t take the aching any more. She needed it. She needed him.

  “Fuck me.”

  He slid inside, filling her completely until she was breathless and moaning and unable to use words. But he knew exactly what she wanted and how. He set a slow, torturous pace as he took her over the counter, bringing them both to the point of unbearable pleasure before driving them over the edge.

  Okay, that was not normal. When they’d come back to their senses and cleaned themselves up a bit, they resumed with life as usual, which meant popcorn and chatting and old movies.

  Maybe this was the new normal.

  * * * *

  The new routine lasted that whole week. Each night, she’d come home from work and a pleasant night of chilling out on the couch would escalate into heavy petting and then a passionate bout of lovemaking. Sometimes twice. And each night ended with Caitlyn in her bed and Ben in his—a perfect example of friends with benefits.

  The fact that this epically awesome scenario had a time limit—there was only two weeks left until Ben was scheduled to move out—only added to the thrill. Granted, every once in a while, she experienced a pang of disappointment that this would come to an end, but that knowledge also took away any pressure. There were no questions about what came next for them or what the future held. They would have their fun and then go their own ways. No hurt feelings, no broken heart.

  It wasn’t until she received an SOS text from Meg that she realized she’d been so caught up in the new non-relationship, she’d let her other friendships fall to the wayside.

  “Where are you?” Meg texted. “Are you alive?”

  Oops. Caitlyn was at work, stocking the last of the new shipment when she got the text. “Sorry, M. Been busy.”

  “Clear your busy calendar for tonight. It’s Tam’s b-day so you better be there.”

  “There” was Cagney’s. Obviously. It went without saying.

  “I’ll be there,” she texted.

  A couple hours later, the shop was dead and her coworker, Beth, was tallying up their totals for the day. “Do you mind locking up for me? I’ve got to head home to change before going out tonight.”

  Beth’s ever-chipper smile was on in full force. “Of course.”

  “Great, thanks.” Caitlyn grabbed her coat and hat and was heading toward the door when she paused, Ben’s voice goading her in her head.

  “Hey, Beth?”

  The girl glanced up with a questioning look and Caitlyn almost lost her nerve.

  “Uh, I’ve been thinking lately…about maybe typing up some of my patterns—”

  “Oh my gosh, that is a fantastic idea,” Beth gushed.

  “You think so?”

  Beth was looking at her like she was nuts. “Are you kidding me? People are always asking about your samples. Everyone wants to make them.”

  “Really?”

  Beth’s eyes lit up in excitement. “Can I be your test knitter?”

  Caitlyn blinked in surprise. “Uh, sure. Yeah, that would be great.”

  “Cool.” Beth was beaming at her as she walked out of the store, but Caitlyn’s grin was impossible to match. She was really going to do this. And it was all thanks to
Ben.

  * * * *

  Ben cradled the phone against his ear as he waited for his assistant to stop with the questions

  “Why are you so…cheerful?” Natalie sounded distrustful. And maybe she had a right to. But he ignored her. They may be close, but he wasn’t about to share the fact that he was “cheerful,” as she put it, because his hottie of a roommate was a tigress in bed.

  She was also sweetness personified and fun to hang out with. More than that, she was no-strings-attached and was just as happy as he was with that situation. He leaned back and grinned at the ceiling at the memory of the way she’d kicked him out of her bed the night before when he’d started to fall asleep.

  In his defense, they’d done it several times and he’d been exhausted. He was still bone-tired, but it had been worth it.

  She was exactly what he needed to get over Olivia. A light, carefree fling. They wouldn’t even see each other again after this. The elated smile fell a bit at that.

  He shook off the gloomy thought. There were still two weeks left of roomie sex time before he moved out. He’d have had his fill before then and they would be sick of each other by then, no doubt.

  So instead of answering his assistant, he got down to business. “Any update from Darren?”

  “He just sent over his new proposal this morning. His new project has some additional property investments he wants you to take a look at.”

  “Great, I’ll take a look tonight.”

  He heard Natalie’s long suffering sigh over the phone. “Why do you insist on working at night and on the weekends? Haven’t you ever heard of a life?”

  It was a constant complaint on her end, but now it struck a chord because for the first time in ages he nearly opened his mouth to argue that he didn’t do that. He usually did, definitely, but since moving in with Caitlyn, his nights had been spent relaxing on the couch with her rather than doing work as usual.

  He frowned as his assistant finished the tirade. Once off the phone, he started to open the file she’d e-mailed, but was interrupted by Caitlyn’s arrival.