by A. m Madden
She mumbled something into my mouth. Her tongue stopped moving and the firm grip once on my arms was now planted on my chest. When I finally released her mouth, she sighed. Our eyes connected and if it weren’t for Roberto clearing his throat, we probably would have continued to stare at each other.
Something about this woman intrigued me, but my feelings confused me. Part of me still wondered what could make her so desperate to be willing to go away and marry a stranger for money. The other part, my ego, felt protective. Roberto looked at her with interest. If Luca or Kyle saw her in a bar, I would bet my left nut they’d make a play for her. Of course, I would have as well, but that was beside the point.
“Let’s get out of here.” I released the hold I had on her leg and pulled her upright. Her flushed skin mixed with the sun we got today made her glow. Taking her hand in mine, I strode away from Roberto while he stood, subtly adjusting himself.
“Thanks, Roberto,” I called over my shoulder.
“Why did you do that?” she asked as I tugged her along.
“You never know, Roberto could be a mole.”
She turned her head to look at him. “You think?”
“Maybe.” I had to suppress a chuckle. This mole theory could work to my advantage. Hand in hand, we walked to the locker to gather our belongings and got dressed. Her stomach growled, making me laugh. “Are you hungry, Sparky?”
“I am.” She reached into her bag and pulled out a granola bar. My stomach chimed in and internally kicked me for not bringing one for myself. That’s when she handed it to me and pulled out another.
“Thank you.” I peeled the foil wrapper back and took a bite.
“My pleasure. Call it an appetizer. What do you want to eat?” She slid the bar in her mouth and took a healthy bite.
Between her lips wrapping around the bar and her question, my first instinct was to say, “You.” Instead, I said, “Lady’s choice.”
“You’re being awfully kind. First you saved me in the water, even though it was your fault we tipped, Mr. Sweep then Draw.” She laughed. “And now you’re letting me choose what we’re having for dinner?”
“You’re right. I’ve been too nice. Forget I asked. Now, move your ass because I’m hungry.”
Rather than the snarl I normally received, she let out a hearty chuckle. Damn, this woman was going to drive me crazy. I just couldn’t wait to get my head between her legs so I could repay the favor.
Chapter 11
Jude
“You’re a really good cook. If all else fails in the finance world, you could open a restaurant.” Brae sat back in the chair with her hand on her stomach and a satisfied look on her face.
“Thank you, but I think I’ll stick to finance.” What did this woman eat at home? Frozen dinners? All I did was grill steak and bake a potato. Just as I was about to relax outside, there was a knock on the door.
Both of us stood to see who it was. That’s when we noticed a piece of paper lying on the floor. Great. Another note. I retrieved it and began to read it aloud.
Jude. “Hmmm, this one is just for me.”
Brae sidled up beside me to read it, but I spun around, holding it above my head. “Let me see!”
“No. Ever hear of privacy laws?” I cupped it in my hand, shielding her away from it with my back. As my eyes scanned the words, my brain had trouble following.
Jude,
You shall provide an act of chivalry in the form of giving. In this exercise, Brae is the sole recipient. You are the giver. This act cannot revolve around household chores and needs to be more than holding a door open—although, that’s always a nice thing to do.
Did they think I was raised by wolves?
Just remember, this is all to please Brae.
Love and Sparks,
Chip & Barbi
Well, pleasing a woman was my specialty.
“What does it say?” Brae stretched her neck as far as she could in an attempt to see around me.
Putting her out of her misery, I told her, “It says I need to pleasure you.” I licked my lips. “Finally, something to look forward to.”
Her eyes widened in shock. “No, it doesn’t. Give me that.” She ripped the note from my hand and I watched as her eyes frantically scanned the words. “You’re such an ass. It doesn’t say pleasure me. It says you need to please me.”
“Meh, same difference.” With each step I took toward her, she took one back. “What’s the matter, Sparky? You look nervous.”
She flicked her hand back and forth. “Don’t be ridiculous.” She then raised that shaky hand up to rub the back of her neck. “Um . . . I’m getting tired. I’m going to clean up the dishes and then go to bed.”
“I’ve got this. Why don’t you go take care of your nighttime ritual so we both can get to bed before midnight?”
Brae smiled at me. “Are you sure you don’t mind? I’d like to take a shower. I feel very stiff all of a sudden.”
Humph . . . stiff. Welcome to my world, sweetheart. “No, go ahead. I’ll take one when you’re done.”
There was no way in hell I was going to be able to sleep. Between the scent of apples, her moaning, and lack of sex, I was doomed. “Can you please stop moaning? It’s after midnight.”
“I’m so sorry. My shoulders are killing me and I can’t get comfortable.” Brae rolled over, laying on her stomach in her signature X form. Her short pajama shorts hugged her ass like a fucking glove.
I studied her for a moment before getting the best idea I’d ever had. Reaching over to the nightstand, I grabbed the complimentary bottle of lotion. Sparky shifted just as I sat up and straddled her upper legs.
“What the hell are you doing?” She craned her head back, then groaned.
I leaned forward to whisper in her ear. “I’m going to please you now. Call it a Swedish massage.” My dick got the wrong idea. He woke up, ready for action, but, sadly, this was going to be all for her tonight. Glancing down at my cock, I whispered, “Next time, buddy.”
“What?” Brae spoke, my dick flinched, and I moaned.
The cotton of her top provided a barrier, but it wasn’t enough, nor would it suffice. With a dollop of cream on my hand, I reached under her tank top and began to rub her soft skin. “Mmmm . . . that feels amazing.” With each movement I made, my now rock hard dick rubbed up and down her ass.
“Shhh, try not to talk. Just relax.” Knowing this was going to be impossible for her to accomplish, I readied myself for her to keep talking.
With gentle pressure, my thumbs rubbed each side of her spine from her waist to her neck and back down, each stroke firmer than the last. My fingers got in on the action as they rubbed her sides. Her skin felt like silk under my palms, which continued to caress every inch of her back.
In a long glide, my hands went from the top of her ass to the base of her neck. Her eyes were closed, her lips curved up, and her face was relaxed. The more I rubbed, the more she moaned, so I kept repeating the motion. In her defense, her back was tense. The muscle just above her shoulder blades had a large knot in it, which I worked with my thumbs. Inching my way down her body, I stared at the waistband of her shorts. If I attempted to pull them off, I knew she’d flip out, so I just took a chance and rubbed her over the cotton. This woman must live to do squats. The tone of her ass was perfection in my hands.
I skimmed my hands around her hips to massage her lower abdomen. She lifted slightly to allow me better access, and I took the liberty, rubbing close enough to her mound so if she had hair there, I’d feel it . . . but she was fucking bare.
God help me.
Moving back around to her ass, my thumbs continued exploring. Now, under her shorts, they moved up and down, but never hit pay dirt. I couldn’t without asking, “Brae? Is this okay?”
“Feels wonderful.” Her voice sounded euphoric. “Don’t stop.”
“Are you sure?” If my dick could punch me or tell me to shut the hell up, he would have.
“Yeah, I’m sure.
I’m so tight.”
Fuck me. I knew she was talking about her muscles from rowing today, but hearing her moan and using words like “tight” and “don’t stop” was killing me.
I shifted off her to get more lotion before positioning myself between her legs. With a hand on each thigh, I began to move, up and down, squeezing with each gentle motion. Every part of this woman was perfection. Even her pink-painted toes, which I was now working on one by one. When my fingers rubbed the arch of her foot, she flinched and almost kicked me in the head.
“Sorry, I’m ticklish,” she giggled. “I’ll try not to do that again.”
Moving back up her legs, I angled myself on my stomach, so my face was in line with her ass. How I wanted to kiss, bite, and own it. Maybe one day, but for now, I’d pleasure her, and not because that damn card told me to. Mainly because I wanted to. Yes, this was supposed to be for her, but I’d have to be dead not to also get pleasure out of watching her come at my hand.
In a slow motion, I rolled her over, shifted the fabric covering her pussy I now knew to be bare to the side, and waited for her objection. None came. Perfectly pink, glistening with wetness I no doubt caused, it beckoned for me to touch it. Who was I not to comply? I paused for a moment to glance up at her face. God forbid she’d fallen asleep and I took advantage of her, but she wasn’t sleeping. Her eyes met mine. Her breasts rose and fell in rapid breaths. She wanted this. Thank fuck.
Her pajama shorts were hampering my plans. With our eyes pinned, I dragged them off her legs, leaving her exposed. Again, I waited for her to stop me, but she never did. Unwilling to give her a moment to overthink what was happening, I repositioned myself and blew a stream of air onto her bare flesh, watching it twitch in acceptance. My fingers hovered over it, aching to touch, but knowing once they did, they wouldn’t stop until she came all over them.
Using just my right index finger, I ran it alongside her opening. My left hand firmly held her thigh as I spread her open just a bit. I licked my finger that had just touched her and practically came in my shorts at the taste of her.
With my finger now wet, I gently slid it inside her. Her ass bucked up a bit, but I ignored it. Not wanting this to end right away, I took my time—stroking it in and out, then around her clit and back in again. Each of my movements caused her to jolt, as if my touch was electric. My lips were so close. Touching her was one thing, but tasting her would be entirely different. Yet, being where I was, there was no way I could stop now.
Moving forward, I flicked my tongue against her clit before flattening it against her opening. Having the evidence of her arousal on my mouth spurred me to focus on that one spot. Without moving my head, I continued to apply pressure with my mouth while my hands spread her thighs farther apart. Her arousal on my tongue tasted even sweeter than it did on my finger, as I knew it would. What I hadn’t expected was how satisfying this actually was. Not that I was a selfish asshole when it came to pleasing a woman, but generally speaking, I’d get some satisfaction out of it in the form of an orgasm. Oddly, I wasn’t thinking about myself getting off, just Brae.
“Jude . . .” Brae’s hands landed on my head just as her legs shifted, squeezing my body. Her fingers grabbed my hair, giving it a gentle tug.
“Shhh, I’m just getting started. Please don’t stop me.” Brae stiffened for a moment before she relaxed, letting her arms fall to the side.
Alternating my finger, thumb, and tongue caused her to tremble. Knowing she was getting close, I slowed. Yes, this was supposed to be for her pleasure, but I wasn’t ready for this to end, no matter what my cock was telling me. Reluctantly, I removed my mouth from her pussy and climbed up to lie by her side.
“Jude,” she repeated, but the way she said my name this time was more like a plea to keep going. Her next command confirmed it. “Please.”
“Patience, Sparky.” I slipped my fingers back inside her to resume my efforts, using my thumb where my tongue had been. With my free hand, I lifted her shirt and cupped her breast. Her pebbled nipple hardened further under my palm.
“Yes, just like that.” She moved her hand on top of mine and applied pressure to it. Holy shit. Sparky had a naughty side.
“I’ve got you, Sparky. Just relax.”
Her hips bucked against my fingers as I curled them up just enough to find the one spot that set her on fire. Pinching her nipple with one hand while fucking her with my other brought her to her peak.
“Oh my God!” Her entire body trembled under my touch.
I claimed her mouth with mine. My tongue mimicked the movements of my fingers as her pussy pulsed around them. She broke the kiss to say my name before her body relaxed.
A sheen of sweat coated me as I rolled onto my back. All I could do was stare at the ceiling. If I looked at her, I knew I’d want more. The bed shifted when Brae sat up.
“Jude.” I glanced at her, and my hand instinctively covered my hard cock. The way her skin flushed and lips parted further worsened my condition.
“Are you . . .” She looked down at my boxers. “Do you need me to . . .”
“I’m fine, Sparky. I’m just going to go take a quick shower.”
Brae simply nodded. “I know what the card said, and that’s why you did what you did, but . . .”
“Sparky, the only thing the card said was to do something nice for you, thus the massage. The rest was me taking the opportunity. I’d been wanting to touch you since we got here. I’m a man, it’s what we do.”
A tight smile crossed her face. “I see.”
Without another word, I retreated into the bathroom. With a door now separating us, I was able to breathe. The water from the shower did little to satisfy me, and after seeing the look on her face, jerking off wasn’t even an option. The desire was gone—deflated, if you will.
Five minutes later, I was towel dried, back in a clean pair of boxers, and climbing into bed. Brae lay on her side facing away from me. I climbed in behind her, not knowing whether she was awake or not, and pulled her into my arms. While I was gone, she put on her pajama shorts and was tucked under the covers.
She immediately stiffened against me, contradicting the way she responded to what I did to her a few minutes earlier. Surmising she must be feeling embarrassment, I tightened my hold in an attempt to comfort her. With her back pressed against my chest, I whispered into her ear, “Goodnight, Sparky. Sweet dreams.”
Brae didn’t say anything, didn’t even flinch. But goosebumps appeared on her arms. She definitely heard me, and that was all that mattered.
Chapter 12
Brae
Every bone and muscle in my body protested my movements. Morning sunshine beamed through the windows. As I rolled over a bit, I realized I wasn’t in the bed—the place where Jude made my body come alive and then dismissed it as if it didn’t happen. Which was why I was on the sofa.
I sat up and looked at him, all comfortable in the center of the mattress, his backside exposed since he slept over the comforter. He groaned and shifted his body a bit. That groan. The same one I heard last night when he brought me to one of the most intense orgasms of my life. Ironically, I remembered his response to my question. What was the last gift you gave a woman? The best orgasm of her life. But just like a man, he acted like it didn’t matter.
For most of the night, I stared at the ceiling fan above the bed. I watched it spin, counted the rotations, and tried to fall asleep with no luck. At least not while I was lying next to him—not while replaying his words. I had a feeling he had a line for every situation, and by the talents he showed last night, he’d probably used them before. I was sure I had just become another meaningless conquest.
Coffee. That was what I needed to clear this fog out of my head. Once I had my cup in my hand, I turned to stare at Jude. God, why did he have to be so perfect in every physical way? Suddenly, Jude stretched out his arm as if he was searching for something.
“Sparky?”
I didn’t bother replying. I just took my coffee
and headed outside to my happy place. Once lying on the lounger, I took a deep breath and started to relax. As I watched the water roll in, caressing the shoreline, I thought of the real reason I was here. My mantra—keep your eye on the prize—sounded off in my head. Yes, that was all I needed to do. Make it to the end without getting attached and take the money.
“Sparky?” He stood beside me, wearing those tiny swim briefs—and, of course, no shirt. “We got another note.” I swore, if the man could walk around naked, he would.
“Did you want me to read it through osmosis, or are you going to tell me what it says?” My snippiness was clear in the tone of my voice. Jude cocked one brow as he studied me—or more precisely, my boobs. “Well?”
“Sorry, Sparky.” His brows furrowed, probably wondering why I was cranky. When he sat on the side of his lounger while studying me, I snagged the note from his hand and began to read it out loud.
Jude and Brae,
We hope you’re enjoying your time together. Today, you will be participating in one of our favorite activities. It’s sexy, sensual, and much better when doing it with someone else . . .”
“Finally!” Jude abruptly cut me off.
“Finally, what? I haven’t even finished reading it.”
Before I could read another word, he said, “Sex. I wonder if it’s some island ritual or live porn.”
Rather than being completely offended like a rational human being, I just stared at him. After last night, he has the nerve to say that to me? It was official. I was in hell.
“Can I continue please? I highly doubt that’s what it is.”
Jude shrugged, nonchalant. “Fine, go ahead.”
After I let out a long breath, I picked up where I’d left off.
It’s sexy, sensual, and much better when doing it with someone else. Please head down to the beach just beyond the fence at seven this evening for your first Rumba lesson.
