He didn’t know why he was being such a jerk. Maybe guilt did that to a guy. He softened his tone. “You let me worry about that, babe. Besides, everything we need will already be there.”
Her eyes had lost some of their spark but her bright smile almost made up for it. “Okay. What should I wear?”
He shrugged. “What you have on is fine.”
From the horrified look on her face, you’d think he’d told her to wear a paper bag. “No. These are work clothes.”
He reached across the bar and hooked his finger in the deep V of her top. Then he pulled her forward this time and kissed the tip of her turned-up nose. The patrons loved their give and take across the bar, but this time wasn’t for their benefit. “It doesn’t matter what you wear, Piper.” If he had his way, she’d be naked before long.
“Maybe not to you, but it does to me. How much time do I have?”
“Not long. I thought we could just leave from here.”
“Not in my work clothes, Ben. Not without a shower.” She hopped off the bar stool and waved to Chuck who was taking over as bartender. Piper met Ben at the end of the bar and she leaned into him, kissing him hard, the way he liked it. Her breasts pressed into his chest. His cock barely had time to appreciate the brush of her hips before she pulled away. “Pick me up in half an hour. I’ll be ready. Promise.”
Ben watched her bounce out the door. That was Piper, up for anything. Except commitment. Would tonight get that exhibitionist streak out of her system? Or would he have to resign himself to the fact that she lived for showing off for everybody?
That he wasn’t special at all.
Chapter Two
The sky was beginning to cloud up by the time Ben got to Piper’s place. She lived in a sprawling first-floor apartment in an old brick Victorian house. As he climbed the stairs to the door she’d painted bright yellow, he could hear loud music blasting through the open upstairs windows. Was that banjo picking? Her doorbell played “I Love Rock and Roll”.
When she opened her apartment door to let him in, he said, “Do you want me to say something to the guy upstairs about the music?” Just don’t tell me he’s six foot five and built like a linebacker.
“No, it’s okay. We’re going out anyway.” She kissed his cheek as he walked through the door into the long hallway painted the same color as the door. “But thanks for the offer.”
Ben finally got a chance to really look at Piper when they reached the large living room with the high ceilings and the bow window. His breath left his lungs as he stared at her. Soft had never been a word he’d use to describe Piper. She was bold, brash, sexy, even a little bit wild. But tonight for some reason, she’d softened her edge.
Her short platinum blonde hair was smooth around her face with a gentle flip at the ends. The pink streak was barely visible. Her makeup seemed softer too, although he couldn’t really say how.
“Wow. That dress.” He swallowed. “You look great.” It was a piece of silky silver sin, held up by skinny straps and skimming her body in all the right places. He couldn’t wait to get it off her. “And look at those shoes.” No sneakers tonight. She wore sparkly silver sandals with heels higher than he’d ever seen her wear before. “Very nice.”
Her eyes lit up at the compliments. Hmm, maybe he didn’t say those pretty words often enough. She stepped up to him and smoothed the front of his black button-down shirt.
“Mmm. You clean up well too.” She kissed him then, her lips hot and wet, her mouth hungry as she nibbled on his lower lip. She rubbed up against his body with a promise of what was to come.
He pulled away long enough to stare into her blue eyes and gasp for breath. “Thanks.” He captured her lips once more and she made those sounds in the back of her throat that always drove him crazy. Everything in him wanted to lay her down and take her. Right here. Right now. He eyed her carefully. “How are you doing? Still up for this tonight?”
“Yeah, I’m good. I got my second wind in the shower.” Her eyes were bright again. So was her smile.
“In the shower? You had to mention the shower?” Piper wet. Naked. Ben was even harder than he had been a moment ago. “The thought of you all soapy and slippery is driving me crazy.” He groaned and rubbed his face against her silky hair. “God, you smell good.” He pressed his aching cock into her hip. “You feel good too, Piper. Too good.”
Piper swayed in his arms to the music playing in the background. She always had music playing, no matter where they were. Tonight it was bluesy jazz. She probably wouldn’t mind the music coming from upstairs if it wasn’t old-school country; she’d never been a fan of twang. She brushed her body seductively against his erection with every move she made. “Are you going to tell me now what the fantasy is?”
“Let’s keep it a surprise.”
“You’re mean, Ben,” she said with a frown. There was that cute little pout again. “You’re a mean, mean man.”
He growled in jest and nipped her neck. “Yep, that’s me. Pure evil.”
Her laughter was the only music he needed. She slid one hand down to rub the ridge beneath his zipper. “Are we in a hurry?”
Damn but it was tempting. He glanced up at the daisy clock on the wall. They didn’t have much time. But the way her small hand was strumming his zipper made up his mind for him. How could he resist that invitation?
What the hell, the Playhouse was right down the street. Maybe it would be a good idea to take the edge off their arousal. Otherwise, it might be a real short visit to the playroom. He glanced at his watch and pretended to contemplate the question. “I guess we’ve got a little time.”
She smiled and gracefully sank to her knees. Her busy hands had his zipper down and his cock released in a matter of seconds. A shiver ran through his body when she took him in her hands and began to stroke. “Are you sure you can’t tell me what room we’re going to?” She didn’t look up at him, appeared instead to be concentrating on his throbbing dick.
Ben’s laugh sounded more like a groan. Oh hell, it was a groan. He thought a little sex would be enough to get her mind off her questions for a few minutes, but he should have known better. “It’s a surprise.”
Piper ran her tongue lightly along the length of his cock, not much more than a tease. “I don’t think I like surprises.”
He grasped her hair and tipped her head up so he could look in her big blue eyes. “You love surprises. Now open your mouth.”
Her grin widened and she parted her lips for him. It was heaven to sink into her hot, wet mouth. Her tongue was like velvet rubbing against his throbbing shaft. He kept his hands on her head, as if he could ever keep her where he wanted her to be.
She twisted her head for a moment, doing a little corkscrew sucking that nearly drove him over the edge. Then she stopped. Stopped dead. His cock was still buried in her mouth, but she didn’t move, didn’t suck or lick. She raised her wide eyes to meet his and he could see the mischievous glint in their depths.
He could have rocked his hips and fucked her mouth, but that wasn’t the way he wanted the night to go. He was already forcing her to go to the Playhouse, to a room she might not be too happy about. He released his grip on her hair and she sat back on her heels just far enough that he slipped from her mouth. “Tease,” he groaned. He couldn’t help but laugh at the look of feigned innocence on her face.
She leaned forward and licked the very tip of his cock. He jumped at the touch of her soft, wet tongue. Then she slowly straightened. “Are you sure you don’t want to tell me?” Her voice was light yet seductive. One more lick and another seductive smile.
Yeah, she was teasing him.
He couldn’t let her get away with that, could he? He grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. She laughed and pretended to drag her feet as he pulled her over to the old plaid sofa. She’d told him she bought it at a second-hand store because it was so long and deep it must have been built with sex in mind.
“I don’t like to be teased. You should know b
etter than that.” His voice was rough and edgy, but they’d played this game before. He plopped down onto the soft cushions in the center of the sofa and hauled her over his lap. She wriggled, and although it would appear to anyone watching that she was struggling, she was actually moving her body into position. She stretched out and as soon as her abdomen rested atop his aching hard-on, she stilled.
He swallowed the groan that wanted to escape his lips. Instead, he slid his hand up her thigh to push her silky skirt up over the curve of her ass. When he met nothing but bare skin, he couldn’t stop the groan from rumbling free. Not even a lacy strip of thong to bar his way. His cock pulsed against her stomach. She wriggled that bare ass, teasing him even more.
He stroked the soft skin, gently at first, as if he was learning the shape of her body, as if he hadn’t already touched her like this before. The tips of his fingers slid across her ass until they were almost brushing against her pussy. But he pulled his hand back along her skin, away from the spot he knew she ached for him to touch.
The first sharp slap barely stung his hand. Her squeal made him chuckle. She raised up on her elbows and glared at him over her shoulder. He caught her eye and spanked her even harder, right on those tattooed lips. The narrowed eyes and frown soon slackened as he continued to rain slaps on her pale skin. By the time his palm was hot and stinging, her head was down on the sofa cushion, resting on top of her hands. Her ass cheeks were turning a little red but she was moaning and pressing the heated flesh up into his hands, wanting more.
To stop now would be more of a punishment for her than continuing the spanking, but he didn’t want her red and hurting for the rest of the night. He lightly stroked her skin with one hand while he slid the fingers of his other hand between her thighs. She bent her knees and lifted her hips to give him better access to the slick flesh hidden there. She was so wet and aroused, his fingers slipped along the puffy lips and reached her clit. As soon as he pinched the hard button between his fingers, she gasped and cried out his name.
She exploded over his fingers, her hips rocking, her juices gushing over him. She’d never been quiet during her orgasms and this time was no different. Her cries and gasps rang out through the room, drowning out both the music playing through her speakers and the tunes reaching them from upstairs.
“God, Ben, that was good!” She scrambled to her knees and quickly straddled him. With one small hand around his cock to guide him, she lowered herself onto his stiff erection.
He moaned at the incredible feeling of her surrounding him with her slick warmth. He grabbed her waist and held on. She rested her hands on his shoulders and practically danced over his body, her graceful body riding up and down his cock, her breasts brushing against his shirt in rhythm with the smooth jazz. She leaned forward and ran her lips across his. She was humming along with the music and the buzz vibrated his lips.
The pressure began building as she stroked his cock with her sweet pussy. His grip on her waist tightened and then the orgasm hit him. He bucked beneath her, around her. She captured his lips and kissed him as she continued to ride him, milking every last bit of come from him. Finally his hands dropped to his sides and his head fell back. “Babe, I sure do like the way you fuck me.”
She smiled and hummed her agreement. “Be right back.” She climbed off him and headed for the bathroom. He lay there like a boneless puddle and watched her hips sway as she walked away from him.
Maybe he should just say to hell with the Playhouse. But no, he had to follow through or he’d always wonder. He’d never know for sure. He waited for her to finish in her tiny bathroom and then quickly cleaned himself up. When he came back out, she was waiting by the door.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded, grinning. “I can’t wait.”
They rode in silence for a few minutes. The sky was still cloudy and a few sprinkles began to dot the windshield. Their favorite acoustic rock station played on the radio. Piper turned to him and asked, “So what’s your fantasy? Come on. You can tell me now.”
“Hold on.” Ben stopped at a red light and glanced at her. She’d find out soon enough now. “It’s not my fantasy we’re acting out tonight. It’s yours.”
“Mine? I’ve never told you any of my fantasies.”
“You didn’t have to, babe.” The sky opened up and it began to pour. He turned the wipers on high and focused on the road. He’d been hoping they could save this discussion until they actually got to the room and she’d be so horny and overwhelmed that she’d just go with it.
“What do you mean?” she asked slowly. She didn’t sound ready to go with it. “What do you think my fantasy is?”
The former warehouse that housed Paolo’s Playhouse was straight ahead and Ben let out a silent sigh of relief. “We’re here.” He pulled into the parking lot and parked as close to the doors as possible. “We’re going to get wet. I don’t have an umbrella.”
“I don’t care about that,” she said with a wave of her hand. “What do you think my fantasy is, Ben?”
He leaned over and gave her a quick, reassuring kiss. “You’ll see in a minute. If I was wrong, well, I hope we can still have a good time tonight.” He hoped she’d forgive him if he’d made a mistake. He didn’t want to lose what he had with her. Hell, he didn’t want to lose her, period.
Her eyes brightened as she looked up at him, but he didn’t quite believe the smile on her lips. “Sure. I was just curious. Wondering what you thought of me.”
“I’m crazy about you.” He glanced in the backseat and saw a lightweight jacket he’d thrown back there recently. He grabbed it, ran to the other side of the car and opened the door for her. He held the jacket over their heads and they dashed through the rain. When they got inside the small foyer, he pulled her into his arms. “I just thought this would be fun, Piper. Don’t read any more into it than that.”
But as Piper looked at him, he knew she could tell he was holding something back. She probably wanted to get into it but they didn’t have time. Paolo met them at the elevator door and shook Ben’s hand as he led them into the Playhouse.
“I am so pleased to finally meet Ben’s special lady,” Paolo said, taking her hand and kissing her fingers.
Ben frowned. What was that charmer trying to prove? As if his Italian accent wasn’t enough, he had to kiss her hand? Piper giggled and her face turned a surprising shade of pink. Ben couldn’t remember ever seeing her blush before.
“I can’t believe Ben never introduced us before tonight,” she said, her voice taking on that flirting tone she used at work. She looked over the small reception area. “Wow. This place is beautiful. Classy. Not scary at all.”
“Did you think it was going to be scary?” Paolo asked, amusement clear in his voice.
“Maybe.” She glanced over her shoulder at Ben and raised her brow as if she was accusing him of giving her that impression.
“I didn’t say it was scary here.”
“But you didn’t say it was decorated in all these pretty burgundy and emerald colors. Or that there were amazing paintings on the wall. This looks almost like an art gallery or something, not a sex club. I thought it was going to be, I don’t know, like a motel you booked by the hour.”
Paolo laughed and offered her his arm. “I’m certain Ben didn’t tell you the Playhouse was a sleazy motel.”
“Okay, no, he didn’t.” She wrapped her fingers around Paolo’s biceps. “But he certainly never told me you would have the bluest eyes I’ve ever seen.”
Ben followed them down the hallway, rolling his plain old brown eyes at the nonsense coming out of her mouth. He’d never been the charming type. In his line of work he might have been practiced at small talk, but sweet talk had never been his thing. He’d never thought Piper needed sweet talk. Maybe he was wrong about that too.
“So how did you and Ben meet?” she asked Paolo as they walked down the long hallway. Ben had gotten a tour of the place after Paolo had first bought it. He’d prettied i
t up a lot since then.
“I told you we met in college,” Ben grumbled from behind them.
She threw a glance over her shoulder. “I know. I just wanted Paolo’s side of the story.”
“Business 101,” Paolo replied with a grin. “We both knew we wanted to own our own businesses. Of course, I was thinking art studio or gallery, but I think Ben knew he’d someday have a bar or restaurant even back then.”
Ben didn’t bother to reply. So he didn’t have exotic dreams. Scandals was everything he’d ever wanted. Except for the woman holding onto his friend’s arm.
“What made you decide to open this place instead of an art gallery?” Piper asked.
Paolo shrugged. “Some dreams change. There seemed to be enough art galleries but not enough safe places for people to indulge in a few private fantasies.”
They stopped in front of a plain, nondescript door. “I hope you enjoy your evening,” Paolo said. “And I hope that all your fantasies come to life.”
“Thank you,” Piper said softly.
Paolo opened the door and ushered them both inside. “Please look around and let me know if you need anything else.”
Piper walked into the room but Ben stopped at the door with Paolo. “I will, man. Thanks.”
“The couple who booked the blue room should be here shortly,” Paolo said softly. “You have a few minutes to get ready.”
Ben shook Paolo’s hand and his friend left them, closing the door softly behind him. Ben turned to see Piper wandering around the room, checking it out.
It had been a while since Paolo had given him a tour of the place and this room had been just one big open space back then. Now a large bed sat in the center of the floor, a thick mattress sitting on a raised platform. It was made up with some fancy pillows and blankets all in shades of gold. And each corner of the platform had a smooth round post that ran from floor to ceiling.
“Wow, he’s got a bit of everything in this room,” Piper said. She stood in front of a St. Andrew’s cross. Paolo had told him it could be rolled out from the wall to be displayed while it was in use. Ben had never been into bondage, but the sight of Piper standing beside the wooden apparatus in her sexy dress made him hard as a rock. She looked at him over her shoulder. “You didn’t think my fantasy was to be tied to this thing, did you?”
Flaunt It: Paolo's Playhouse, Book 1 Page 2
