by Cat Johnson
“Do you think that’s what I’m doing?”
“I don’t know. Is it?”
She was quiet for a second, then sighed. “I don’t think so. I really did like kissing you. Is revenge sex supposed to feel so good?”
He swallowed the lump that had lodged firmly in his throat at the thought that she liked kissing him. His heart pounded at the thought of sex with Alyssa, revenge or not. This actually could go that far. He hadn’t thought much past how good she felt sitting in his lap kissing him. But yeah, this could end up being so much more. Holy crap.
“I don’t know.” Then he said something that would surely insure his place in Hell. “I don’t know what this is, Lys, but maybe we should take a chance and find out.”
He rested his forehead against hers, closed his eyes and breathed deep. The next move would have to be hers. Whatever she decided to do, he would abide by it.
Alyssa sat still in Brad’s lap. He was very aware of how obvious his arousal was between them. He was also very aware of the passing of time as she considered what he’d said. Just when he feared she’d reconsidered, she touched his face.
“Brad? Do you really make love the way you wrote about it in the scene tonight?”
His eyes flew open at the question. He thought again about the sex scenes they wrote together and tried to make light of it. “Well, unlike the character in the book I rarely use the word ‘maidenhead’ but as far as the other stuff, yeah I guess so.”
He brushed a hair from her face and watched her eyes drift shut. He fought the urge to kiss her.
“Brad, I want that with you.” She’d leaned in and whispered it near his ear, letting her tongue just barely touch him.
A shudder ran through him. He swallowed, afraid his voice wouldn’t work. “Me too.”
They were moving fast. He realized that. But in just a few days, he felt like he probably knew her better than her ex-boyfriend of two years. What was about to happen felt right.
Alyssa got up off Brad’s lap and reached down to take his hand. He rose and she led him into his bedroom.
Brad stopped her in the doorway with a tug on her hand. “Lys, are you sure?”
She nodded, but her hand in his was trembling. Or perhaps that was him shaking. She dropped his hand, walked over to the bed and started taking off her pants and blouse until she was down to just white lace underwear and a matching bra.
Brad stood in the doorway and watched dry-mouthed as Alyssa, his dream girl, stripped down to practically nothing in his bedroom. He nearly pinched himself to make sure it wasn’t a dream because he believed this very scenario might have been a part of one of his Alyssa fantasies in the past. But now it was very real.
She was already on the bed, laying back and waiting for him, as he remained paralyzed in the doorway. Taking a shaky breath, he followed her path to the bed and lay down next to her. He set his glasses on the nightstand, rolled back to her and lowered his mouth to hers, watching her eyes close in response.
With a groan, he filled her mouth with his tongue and his hand with her perfect breast. He heard her own groan as she rose off the bed when he pushed the lace of her bra aside and lowered his mouth to her nipple.
She pulled at his shirt. “Take this off. I want to touch you.”
Gladly shucking the shirt, he flung it to the floor and enjoyed the feel of her hands all over his chest and back. He’d like to feel her hands a little lower too, but he could wait for that. The ache he felt only made this more real and it would be all the more sweet when it was relieved.
Brad relished just kissing her—her face, her throat, her breasts. He ran his tongue down her flat belly, marveling at her tiny waist that he could nearly span with his two hands. Then he kissed lower, pulling her panties down until they dangled from one foot. She started to breathe harder as she spread her legs for him. She’d said she wanted it like in the book. He could definitely do that.
Settling himself between her thighs, he spread her with his fingers then lowered his head. He flicked his tongue on just the right spot to make her take in a sharp breath. He wanted to feel her come undone. He wanted to drive her so crazy she would never even remember what’s his name.
Brad entered her with one finger, then two, all the while never easing up the pressure of his mouth. She gripped his head with both hands, her fingers tangled in is hair as her cries and erratic breathing told him he was doing the job right, something he was sure of when her hips rose slowly off the bed. He felt the spasms begin inside her as her cries grew louder and faster. He took his time and so did she. Her climax was long and intense as she writhed on the bed beneath him.
Just feeling her orgasm almost sent him over the edge himself. Somehow he held on, but just barely. He finally gentled his touch until the spasms calmed. He crawled back up the bed to lie even with her on the pillows. Eyes barely open, she laced the fingers of one hand through his hair.
“No one’s ever done that for me before.” She sounded breathless and he realized, now that he had a basis for comparison, it was very different from how she sounded on the phone. Different and so much better.
Then he realized what she was saying and was sure he blushed. It was one thing to do it and an entirely different thing to talk about it after.
“Oh.” It was no wonder the mighty Jake sucked in bed. Brad smiled at the thought.
Not knowing what else to say, he pulled her to rest on his bare chest and kissed the top of her head. He glanced down past Alyssa and noticed the pup tent evident in his sweatpants. He could wait. If this was all she was ready for, then he would be satisfied with it. Being inside her, feeling her surround him, would be well worth the wait, whenever it happened.
Brad was consoling himself with that thought when her hand slid down his torso. She reached slowly under the elastic band of his sweats and touched him. At the same time that her hand stroked him gently, her mouth began to explore his naked chest and stomach. He held his breath as she moved lower and lower until finally his sweatpants joined the rest of their clothing on the floor.
When she took him in her mouth, he thought he’d died and gone to heaven. He grabbed the sheets in both fists and breathed in through his teeth. “Lys. I’m just warning you. I’m not going to last long with you doing that.”
She broke away long enough to say in her sexy voice, “Don’t worry, we have all night.”
Caught up in the moment, he blurted, “God, I love your voice.”
She raised her head. “Really? Do you want me to stop and talk to you instead?” She looked devilish.
“No.”
She laughed at his ready answer and went back to the task while he tried to hold off the inevitable. Between her hands caressing him, the pressure of her mouth on his more than eager erection and the thoughts filling his head of what he could do to her in the night ahead, he had no hope. He was done in moments.
Well, he was not exactly done. His body knew a once in a lifetime opportunity when it saw one. He rose to the occasion again almost immediately. A few dozen kisses and barely ten minutes later he lay on top of Alyssa, ready and willing. And so was Alyssa. She reached between them, grasped him firmly and guided him toward her wet heat.
“Condom.” At least a small portion of his brain was working enough to remember protection. Brad mentally took inventory of his nightstand while he prayed there was at least a few left in there from his last relationship.
“On the pill,” she said breathlessly.
His breath came out in a groan as that bit of information registered. He sank himself unsheathed deep into her. She shuddered beneath him and Brad nearly lost his mind. Surrounded by her warmth and with nothing between them, he knew there would never be another woman for him after being with her.
~
Alyssa closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feel of Brad inside her. He moved slowly, taking his cues from her. Unlike other men, like Jake who thought they knew it all, Brad let her hands guide him and set the pace she needed. She he
ld him deep inside her as she felt the beginnings of her second orgasm of the night start to build.
He stayed right where she wanted him to be until she felt herself explode. Her hips bucked against him in rhythm with the pulsing within her. She finally released her double-handed hold on his adorable ass, grasped her knees and drew them up as he sank in even deeper. She threw her head back into the pillow with an “Oh, God. Yes.”
Then he took her hard and fast until his own release followed hers. He finally let out a groan and collapsed beside her, careful not to crush her under his weight. Still breathing hard, he said, “Lys? I hate to bring it up, but I have to tell you. You’re definitely not cold in bed.”
She laughed. It seemed like an eternity had passed since she’d let Jake’s ridiculous words get to her. In just an hour, Brad had washed her soul clean of Jake and his ability to hurt her ever again.
Alyssa rolled on her side and smiled at her adorable geek. “I’m not sure you can determine that just from one time. We better do it again.”
He let out a short laugh of his own, grabbed her and rolled them both over until he was above her again. “You might just kill me tonight, but it’ll be a nice way to go.”
Chapter 7
On Wednesday Brad looked up from his desk and across at Alyssa. It was exactly one week since that fateful day when Maria’s laptop had entered his life. Said laptop sat next to him in his cube, waiting to be returned to its owner. He was feeling kind of sentimental about it. Without it, he and Alyssa might never have found each other.
Alyssa caught him looking at her. She winked and smiled as she talked to Jane on the phone. He felt the familiar warmth spread through him as he looked at her and smiled. What a difference a week made. Alyssa had been in his bed every night and in his life every day for the past week and he didn’t want it any other way. He loved her, he knew that for certain. What he didn’t know was exactly how and when to tell her.
He’d been so deep in thought, her kiss on his cheek startled him. “Hey, you don’t mind that I’m having lunch with Jane today, do you? We made these plans weeks ago.”
“Of course not. Don’t be silly.” He grabbed her around the waist. “Of course I’ll miss you to death, but you can make it up to me tonight.”
“I’m sure I can come up with somehow to make amends.” She smiled.
He laughed. “I bet you can. You better go. It’s almost twelve.”
Glancing at her watch, she nodded. “You’re right. I’ll see you later.”
She kissed him on the mouth this time, ensuring he wouldn’t be able to concentrate on his work. Brad finally reluctantly released her and she left for her lunch date with Jane. He’d barely gotten back into his latest assignment when he heard his name being called from across the office. Looking up, he saw a very tan Maria walking toward him, smiling.
“Bradley, my savior. I’ve come to kidnap you and take you to lunch.”
“Hey, Maria. You don’t have to do that, really. I’ve got your laptop though. I’m sure you’ll be happy to get that back.”
“Oh, you got that right. It looks good as new.” She took it from him. Raising it to her lips, she kissed it as he laughed. “But seriously, I came home to find a contract and the promise of a nice fat advance check in my mailbox and it’s all because of you. I insist on taking you out, your writing partner too. Is she around? I’d love to meet her.”
“Alyssa’s out to lunch with a friend, but I’m sure she’ll be sorry she missed you.”
“Then it’s just you and me.” She grabbed his arm and looped hers through it. “Where do you want to go?”
He finally gave in. “There’s great sushi right across the street.”
“Sounds good. Lead the way.”
Brad stopped by the front desk to tell Lisa where he’d be in case Alyssa got back early and wanted to join them. It still amazed him that he was actually with Alyssa. In a strange wave of giddiness, Brad couldn’t wait to tell Maria all about it at lunch. After working on her book, it felt like he knew her even if he really didn’t.
~
It was great to be out with Jane, but Alyssa was anxious to get back to work to see Brad. She’d never felt like this before about any other guy, not even Jake. Particularly not Jake. How had she ever even thought that she loved that guy? Being with Brad changed everything for her.
Alyssa was in such a good mood, she even slowed down long enough at the front desk to say hello to Lisa the perky little receptionist.
“Hi, Alyssa. Brad is across the street with some woman at the sushi restaurant.”
Alyssa’s heart stopped. She felt her lunch start to creep back up her throat. He said he didn’t have any plans for lunch. Actually, now that she thought about it, he’d been a little too eager to get rid of her before she left, hadn’t he? She felt the blood drain from her face.
“What woman?” She tried to ask casually but her voice sounded shrill in her own ears.
Lisa shrugged and popped her chewing gum. “Don’t know. But he definitely knew her, they were walking like arm in arm.”
“Thanks.” Her pulse thundered in her ears as she spun around. She headed right back out the door and across the street, narrowly missing getting hit by a car.
Alyssa waved off the hostess at the front desk and glared into the dim restaurant. There was Brad sitting with a woman and they were laughing together. She spun on her heel. She couldn’t stay here. She felt like she was going to pass out. Knocking over a display of take out menus, she rushed to get out the door. On the sidewalk, she stood with her hands braced on her knees, trying to catch her breath and hold off the blackness that hovered on the edge of her vision.
Suddenly, Brad was there beside her. “Lys. Are you okay?”
Tears clouding her eyes, she pounded his chest with her fists. “You bastard! You’re just like him. Who is she?”
“Whoa. Wait. Lys, that’s Maria White. The lady with the laptop. She came home from the cruise today and stopped by to pick it up. She wanted you to come to lunch with us too, but you were out with Jane.”
Alyssa looked up at him uncertainly. “Lisa said you two were walking arm in arm.”
“Yeah, Maria grabbed my arm to literally drag me away from my desk when I said she didn’t have to take me to lunch as a thank you. But Alyssa, she’s a lesbian. Didn’t I tell you? That’s why her sex scenes sucked. She was on an alternative lifestyle cruise all week with her life partner. She was just telling me about it. Jesus, Lys. Do you really think I would cheat on you?”
The pain and disbelief was evident in Brad’s eyes. Alyssa felt doubly bad. She shook her head as the tears streamed. “No. It’s just seeing you there…it all came back, everything I felt when Jake cheated on me.”
He hugged her tight.
“God, you’re shaking. Oh, Lys. First of all, please never think that I’m anything like Jake. And more importantly,” he raised her face to look at him, “this is not how I wanted to tell you this, but I love you.” He kissed her wet face all over. “I love you.”
There were tears in his eyes now too.
A big sob escaped her. “I love you too. I’m so sorry.”
“Shh. Don’t mention it again.” He shook his head and wiped away her tears. “Do you feel well enough to come in and meet Maria?”
She nodded her head. “And maybe have a nice stiff sake. I think I could use it. I feel so stupid.”
“You are not. Any guy who’s dumb enough to cheat on you is stupid.” Brad cocked his head to one side. “I may be many things, but I’m definitely not dumb.”
Brad kissed her, hard and deep until she had to pull back before they created a spectacle in the middle of the sidewalk.
“Come on. Maria’s waiting.” As Brad turned to lead them both back into the restaurant with his arm around her, he stopped.
“Lys. Do you know that guy over there? He’s staring at us.”
Alyssa craned her neck to see past him. “Oh, my god. It’s Jake.”
&nbs
p; Brad’s jaw dropped as he took in Jake. He was tall and skinny and with his long blond ponytail, looked like he should be playing volleyball on some beach. More importantly, he wasn’t riding a kick ass vintage Harley, but a baby blue scooter.
“That’s Jake?”
Alyssa glanced up at Brad. “Yeah.”
That would teach him not to stereotype. “What’s with the scooter? Doesn’t he own a car?”
“He’s saving for one but he hasn’t got a job right now.”
Brad practically snorted at that revelation. “Sorry. Okay. Look, I think you should go over there and talk to him. You need to let him know it’s really over so he can get on with his life and we can get on with ours.” He couldn’t believe this was the guy that just a week ago he didn’t think he could compete with.
Just then Alyssa’s phone rang. She looked at the readout. “It’s him.”
Brad glanced over. Sure enough, scooter dude had his cell out.
Alyssa answered it and then handed the phone over to Brad. “He wants to talk to you.”
Brad frowned and took the phone. “Yeah?”
“Hey, man. Do you like, love her or something?”
“Yeah, I do.” Brad looked at Alyssa and smiled.
“She love you?”
“Yes.”
“Well, I’m warning you, dude. She sucks in bed.”
Brad laughed. “Thanks, but I haven’t found that to be the case.”
“Yeah, whatever. And FYI, that big red bag of hers that she’s so proud of? It’s a fake. Cost like fifty bucks online. Oh and tell her I want my mp3 player back.”
With a click and a purr of his scooter, Jake was gone. Brad closed Alyssa’s phone and handed it back.
“What did he say?”
Brad wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “He wants his mp3 player back. Now come on, there’s a sake and a lesbian waiting for us inside.”
