“You’re evil.”
“Isn’t that every guy’s fantasy orgy?”
“Well, no, actually he’d need to be there. Preferably on the bottom of the pile of naked, squirming female bodies.”
“Men are so weird.” She rolled her eyes. “What is the attraction of more than one woman at a time?”
“I have no idea,” he explained, trying hard to retain a serious expression. “I personally find that type of thing shocking and sordid.”
She punched him lightly in the stomach.
“Oh, come on, you’re buying into the male stereotype. It’s at most a fantasy—the old ‘me Tarzan, you Jane, you Janet’ thing. Caveman-must-propagate-the-species genes rearing their persistent heads.” When she crossed her arms impatiently, he continued. “Most men don’t know what the hell to do with one woman and certainly couldn’t handle two and they know it.”
“True.”
“Besides,” he continued, “don’t women fantasize about being with two men, too?”
“Not this woman. I would never want to be in bed with a naked guy who didn’t mind being in bed with another naked guy.”
Jack’s shoulders shook as he laughed.
“Besides,” she continued, “if a man likes other men enough to be naked with them, then there’s one or two things I’m lacking that he’s bound to notice.”
“I’d rather notice the one or two very nice, feminine things you have,” he said with a definite leer.
As he reached out his hand and traced the tip of his fingers along the top hem of her loose blouse, she gave him a languid smile.
“One is more than enough for me,” she murmured. “Though, two yous might be nice.”
He paused, giving her a mock frown. “Did you say two Hughs?”
She rolled her eyes and shoved him onto the mattress, falling on top of him. They rolled across it, wrapped in each other’s arms exchanging laughter and hot kisses.
“I said two yous. Two Jacks. Two sets of these amazing hands.” She brought his hand to her lips, kissing the tips of his fingers and sliding her mouth over his pinky. “Two perfect mouths on my body.” She leaned up to press her lips against his. “Two tongues to taste me.”
He tasted her, nibbling, kissing and licking his way down her neck, across her collarbone, to the hem of her shirt. She lifted up so he could tug it out, and Jack tossed it over his shoulder to the floor. “No bra at all this time,” he murmured, his voice thick with appreciation as he saw her beautiful breasts and pert nipples. When he moved his mouth over one, flicking his tongue across the puckered tip, she jerked against him and groaned.
“Two mouths would be useful here,” he murmured as he went back and forth, from one breast to the other, sucking, nibbling and stroking her into a frenzy beneath him.
Sitting up long enough to yank off his clothes, he helped her unfasten her jean skirt, then pulled it off her. Her flimsy panties followed, then he had to pause, to look at her naked body, bathed in the soft glow of the hallway light. She looked at him, as well, her eyelids heavy, her lips parted as she took in deep, ragged breaths.
“Would you prefer two of anything else, Kate?” he asked, as he bent to kiss her again, letting her feel his hard-on against her thigh. She instinctively arched toward it in an age-old signal of welcome from female to male.
“Hmm, no, I think I can stay quite busy playing with this one,” she whispered as she reached for him.
She proceeded to play. Stroking him, cupping him, running her hands up and down his dick as they exchanged lazy, wet kisses and he fondled her breasts. He didn’t think he’d be able to stand it when she bent to take him into her mouth. He had to lift his arms over his head and press his fists against the wall to try to hold on to his sanity. The way her long, thick hair spread across his body, draping between his thighs to caress his balls, felt almost as good as her hot, wet mouth wrapped around him. Almost.
After a few moments she kissed her way up his body to his lips, then slid one leg across his hips. She rubbed against him, letting her juices spread over his erection, and it felt so good, so damn good to be close to her, without the barrier of a condom, that he nearly came right then. He would like for there to be no barriers between them, of any kind. Ever.
“You amaze me,” he admitted as he stared up at her.
“Even though there’s only one of me?”
“One’s all I want, Kate,” he murmured. “One you.”
She leaned down to kiss him, their tongues swirling languorously. Her breasts brushed his chest and her warm mound remained tantalizingly close to his penis.
“Not yet,” he told her when she retrieved a condom from her purse on the floor next to the mattress.
Raising a curious brow, she stared at him. He smiled as he cupped her hips. Tugging her forward, he slid down to meet her. She watched him, her eyes wide and excited as she understood what he wanted. What he had to have.
“Are you sure you…”
“Oh, yeah,” he replied as he positioned her bottom on his chest and her beautiful, sweet, wet opening right in front of his hungry mouth. Then he tasted her, holding her hips as she bucked in delight at the intimate contact.
The position gave him the perfect access to pleasure her, and himself. He licked, stroked and suckled her until she came right in his mouth, her body trembling and hot as she leaned against the wall above his head for support. And that wasn’t enough. He kept tasting her, sliding his tongue into her, demanding that she give him more until she cried out as a second orgasm ratcheted through her body.
Only then did he let her go, rolling her onto her back and reaching for the condom she’d dropped.
“I guess two is better than one sometimes, isn’t it? Twice the pleasure?” he said with a chuckle, referring to her orgasms. Sheathing himself, he plunged into her even before she’d stopped panting from her orgasms.
“Oh, yes,” she cried.
He didn’t move at first, just savored the wet heat in which he was enveloped. Looking at her face, he saw her parted lips, the flush in her cheeks, the long lashes on her lowered eyelids.
She began to move beneath him, her body telling him what she wanted. He gladly gave it to her. Slowly, with deep, steady, sure strokes, he moved in and out of her until she began to moan and roll her head back and forth on the pillow.
“More, Jack, please,” she whispered, bending her legs even higher and tilting her hips up, inviting him deeper inside.
He knew what she wanted and how she wanted it. Faster. Harder. Mind-numbing and scream-inducing.
Kate didn’t want sweet. Kate wanted hot.
He complied with a groan, tugging one of her legs over his shoulder and plunging harder than before. Her eyes flew open.
“Good?”
“God, yes,” she muttered through choppy indrawn breaths. “I want you so deep inside me that I don’t know if I’m feeling your body or my own.”
“Oh, I think I can guarantee you’re going to know it’s mine,” he said with a chuckle as he ground against her.
She hissed and met his every move, smiling as he gave her what she wanted.
He watched as she moved her hands up her legs, reaching for her own breasts. She plucked at her nipples with her fingertips, sexy little pants still coming from between her lips. “Four hands might be good right now,” she said.
Remembering her incredible sensitivity right there, and wanting to give her everything she desired, Jack slid out of her.
“What are you…”
“Shh,” he whispered, giving her a smile that said Trust me. She watched, wide-eyed as he reached for her hip and gently rolled her onto her belly. He heard her moan into the pillow, obviously realizing how he wanted to take her.
“Oh, yes, absolutely,” she said as she lifted her curvy bottom and hips, offering herself. The most tempting offer he’d ever had.
“Up, baby,” he whispered, pulling her to her knees.
She complied, rising to all fours, moving b
ack to meet him as he slid into her from behind, then leaned forward until his chest touched her back.
Perfect. The position left his hands free to pleasure her, to tweak her sensitive nipples, to stroke the curves of her breasts and the soft flesh of her belly. Then lower, to play with her sweet little clit as he rocked into her until she came close. Damn close, judging by her cries.
“Now,” she ordered. “Now.”
He knew what she wanted—she wanted him to come with her. Straightening, Jack took her hips in his hands and drove into her with a few powerful, body-draining thrusts.
“Now,” he agreed.
The moment she screamed in climax, his own overtook him and they both collapsed to the mattress. He instantly rolled onto his side, tugging her close to nestle against his chest. He pressed a kiss to her brow, then to her cheek. Then to her mouth, still open and panting.
“That was amazing,” she finally managed to whisper between deep, shuddery breaths.
He nodded.
“But, you know, Jack, now you’ve got me spoiled.”
He lifted a brow.
“I suddenly want two of everything.”
Smiling, knowing by the way his body began to react to her all over again, he whispered, “Let’s not set any limits, okay? Why stop at two?”
He caught her mouth in a deep, slow kiss as they began all over again.
* * *
ON SATURDAY, Armand took Pleasantville by storm, chatting easily with each person he met and seeming to really enjoy the small-town atmosphere.
He raved over the shop, and gave Kate some good suggestions on layout. He also helped her straighten up the dressing room area, asking once why there were crotchless tights strewn all over the floor. Thankfully, he hadn’t questioned her blush.
Nor did he tease her too unmercifully about the thinness of the walls at the duplex, other than to say he’d heard some wild animals howling in the middle of the night, and wondered if there were coyotes in Pleasantville.
Later, during lunch at the Downtown Deli, he’d met Diane and Josie, charming them both completely. Josie had enough innate street sense to recognize his preferences in spite of his sexy charm. She seemed to like him all the more for it.
But the real highlight of the afternoon came when they walked out of the deli and straight into a couple, who stood exchanging heated words on the sidewalk.
“Angela and Darren,” Kate whispered, instantly recognizing Jack’s sister. “The banes of my teenage existence.”
Surprised she hadn’t run into Jack’s sister before now, she forced herself to take a deep breath and to remember that she was completely over any childhood hurts.
“High school tormentors, hmm?” Armand whispered as they walked within a few feet of the two.
“Hi, Kate,” Darren said. He looked at Armand, then stood a little straighter. Armand, with his height and elegant sophistication, had that effect on men.
Angela’s face turned red as she stared at Kate, her mouth opening but no sound coming out. She looked not only flustered by Kate’s appearance, but also annoyed at the interruption of her conversation with Darren.
“Hello, Darren. Angela,” Kate replied, her voice sounding much calmer than she’d have expected.
Darren gave her a big, friendly smile. “I’m sorry I didn’t get to talk to you much the other day. It’s great to have you back, Kate. I’m really glad things have gone so well for you.”
Surprisingly, he sounded sincere.
Angela didn’t speak to her; she was too busy glaring at Darren as he talked to Kate. Then, when the other woman finally noticed Armand, an appreciative expression lit up her face.
Funny, when she actually smiled, Angela didn’t look quite so much like a cast-iron bitch.
“Introduce us to your friend,” she murmured.
After the introductions Armand stepped into his role as if it had been created for him. He flirted with Angela until the woman was practically melting into a puddle on the sidewalk. Once or twice Kate tried to tug him away, knowing he was trying to get a little payback on her behalf by stringing the other woman along. He’d probably be dashing off some scathing rejection at any moment now. The second time Kate tried to hurry him away Angela shot her a dagger-sharp glare. Well, to hell with helping you, lady! She stopped trying to lead Armand away.
“So, you’re here visiting your friend Kate?” Angela asked.
Armand shrugged. “We’re business partners. We own a store together on the Miracle Mile in Chicago.”
Angela’s eyes widened. “Really?” She glanced at Kate.
“Is it the same kind of store you’re opening here?” Darren said, stepping not-so-casually between Angela and Armand. Kate noticed and wondered if things were heating up again between the ex-spouses. It would explain why Darren looked anything but pleased about Angela’s interest in Kate’s partner.
“Yes, but now, we really have to go. I have things to do before tonight’s party.”
Angela frowned. “The party at city hall? You’re coming?”
“Yes.” Kate couldn’t resist adding, “As Jack’s date.”
The other woman’s face paled. “How…nice.” Turning toward Armand, she said, “And you must come, too.”
“Will you be there?”
Angela nodded.
“Then I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” he said, looking at her with a sexy, promising grin.
Kate kicked his ankle.
“Okay, I guess it’s time for us to go,” he said with a grimace. If he bent to kiss Angela’s hand or anything, Kate swore she’d shove him in front of the next oncoming car.
As soon as they were out of earshot of the other two, Kate said, “That was really bad of you.”
“Oh, come on, I know something about high school tormenters, babe. You’re telling me you never fantasized about getting a little payback?”
If only you knew!
“Just don’t, okay? Angela is Jack’s sister!”
Armand whistled. “Whoops.”
When they got back to the duplex, Armand insisted on helping pick out something for Kate to wear. She’d brought a few nicer dresses and was now glad she had.
“Red,” Armand said as he pulled out a tight spaghettistrapped cocktail dress with a band of glittering sequins right above the breasts. “Perfect. And it’ll match. Wait here.”
When he returned, he was carrying a bundle of tissue paper. “My latest design. Here you go.”
Kate opened the packet, seeing a tiny pair of red, lacy panties. She dropped the paper and held them up, looking for the trick. No zipper. No slit. Not a thong. And they had a crotch.
The only thing unique about them was their weight. They felt heavier than they should, given the minute amount of fabric.
“Very pretty, and you’re right, they will match.”
He rolled his eyes at her lack of enthusiasm. “Go into the bathroom and try them on,” he said, shooing her out.
Following his orders, she went into the bathroom and took her shorts and underwear off. As she pulled the new under-pants up, she noticed the extra weight seemed centered in the crotch area. When she pulled them into place, she realized why.
“Oh, my God,” she whispered with a shocked laugh.
The panties were padded with a spongy, soft middle, covered with a feathery fabric that cupped her private area quite deliciously. A firmer, ridged section toward the front pressed against her clitoris. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” she yelled.
“Walk in them,” Armand ordered through the door.
The bathroom was too small, so she wrapped a towel around her waist and walked out into the hallway. Armand stood there, waiting for her reaction. As she walked, she had to admit it, the little ridge felt pretty damn good. Not to mention the soft middle, which made it feel like wispy, downy kisses were being pressed all over her opening.
“Nice?” When she nodded weakly, he practically bounced on his toes. “Try the stairs.”
She di
d. “Oh, very nice,” she admitted, almost purring at the pleasure of it.
“Good. You’re wearing them tonight. And every time some pissy small-town matriarch wrinkles up her nose in your direction, you stroll right by her with a secretive, delighted smile on your face.”
Sounded like a pretty good plan to her.
12
AS HE PULLED KATE’S SUV into the parking lot outside city hall, Jack could tell by the look on her face she was still uncertain about this evening’s party. She wasn’t frowning, but she looked deep in concentration, as if thinking of something else. Every once in a while, she even wriggled in her seat. “You okay? You’re awfully fidgety.”
From the back seat, he heard Armand snort a laugh.
She gave Jack a quick guilty look. “Uh, fine. I’m fine. Why do you ask?”
He shrugged. “You just seem distracted.” Taking her hand, he squeezed it and said, “But you also look amazing.”
She did. Her body turned the red fabric of her dress into pure solid sin. Though petite, Kate had curves men dreamed about. Curves he’d dreamed about many nights since they’d met.
Not to mention the fullness of her lips, the sparkle in her deep brown eyes. Her confidence, intelligence and attitude appealed to him even more now than the day they’d met. Especially since they’d become so intimate.
He got the shakes just thinking about the things they’d done together the night before in her bed.
He simply couldn’t get enough of her. Kate was the woman he’d been casually seeking and had never really thought he’d find ever since he’d left home fifteen years ago. How funny that he found her right here in Pleasantville, the very place he’d been trying so hard to escape.
She’d pulled her hair back, letting cascades of curls drop over her bare shoulders. The dress was not too short, ending a few inches above the knee, but below it her legs were bare. Her strappy, red high-heeled sandals had caught his eye several times during the short drive from the house.
“I’m fine. Now, who is going to be at this thing? Should I have worn body armor?”
Bare Essentials Page 35
