by Nikki Sloane
“It’s last minute, but I can’t reschedule.” I gave her a pointed look. “It’s an opportunity, and when I said I’d work for Bill, we all agreed that wouldn’t get in the way if something better for me came along.”
“Better,” she repeated, annoyed. “What is it?”
Since she’d literally just told me to get my head out of the clouds, I wasn’t about to say. I played up a shrug. “It could be good, or it could be nothing. I promise I’ll tell you about it afterward, though.”
I walked past her, wanting the conversation over. I didn’t like lying to my mom, and a better use of my time right now would be practicing.
My pads of my fingers were sore, and my wrists ached. I’d spent the last three hours playing the guitar and filming myself with my phone to watch my performance. It made me cringe the first few times with how stupid I looked. Without a crowd, the whole thing felt forced, but Erika had said to keep doing it until I was comfortable. An audience of one was still an audience.
It was after nine when my phone buzzed with a text message.
Erika: Got a second to talk?
Me: Yup.
I tried to play it cool, but I was dying to hear from her. After I’d finished recording with Ardy, we’d gone right into talking about the audition and then I’d had to book it to make my class on time at the gym. I hadn’t gotten a chance alone with her.
My phone rang and I didn’t bother saying hi. I needed to know right off the bat. “Is this call business,” I asked, “or pleasure?”
There was a pause like my question had thrown her.
“It’s pleasure.” Her voice was surprisingly sure. “Come over, and make sure to bring that magical dick with you.”
I grinned bigger than I ever had in my life. “Yes, ma’am.”
THIRTEEN
Erika
Waiting to text Troy nearly killed me. I must have picked up my phone a dozen times throughout the day with the intent to tell him how badly I wanted him, only to pocket my phone instead.
I told myself there was work to do first, and once that was taken care of, then we could play. But I couldn’t get a handle on the desire sizzling through my bloodstream. When he’d sung at Blanche’s, it’d been dark and late, and there had been my shock at seeing him perform for the first time.
Today in the studio, there’d been no shadows to hide away my desire. I had to linger in the doorway behind Ardy so he wouldn’t see my face or the way I’d clenched a hand on the doorframe to keep control of myself. Troy’s voice, his beautiful hands on the guitar, and his powerful body were sin in the flesh.
I was coming unglued.
So, I gave up on the idea of work, then play. I needed fucking relief, to get the lust out of my system, so we could get back to focusing on other things.
I’d been anxious after we’d ended the call and I waited for him to show up on my doorstep, but the second he did and flashed his bright smile, my nerves evaporated.
“Hi,” I said, pulling the door open wider to let him in.
He stepped inside, bringing us nearly chest to chest. There was electricity in his eyes, and sex in his voice. “Hey.”
Good lord, my knees went weak with a single word. No wonder I’d gone boneless when he’d sang this morning. He pushed the door closed behind him and as he peered down at me, I caught a faint woodsy smell.
Cologne?
He smelled amazing and looked even better.
“I set up some things for you this week.” I sounded breathless because that was what he did to me. “We need to talk about it after.”
He blinked in confusion. “After?”
I felt like a woman possessed as my hand fisted the front of his shirt and jerked him forward, making him crash into me. I lifted onto my toes and pressed my mouth to his, desperate to have his lips against mine.
“Oh, I got it.” He chuckled. “Business after the pleasure.”
“I tried waiting,” I said in between kisses, “but I can’t.” I slid a hand up to cup the back of his neck. “I don’t think you understand how badly I want you.”
I hadn’t meant it as a challenge, but he must have taken it as one, because he had me stumbling backward until I was against the side of the staircase. The edge of a stair tread nudged gently into my back as Troy eased a hand down the front of my pants. He hadn’t bothered to undo them, and his forearm was big, but somehow he made it fit and worked his fingers down inside my panties.
I slumped against the staircase and my vision hazed as the pads of his fingers slid over me, exploring.
His smile was victorious. “You’re so wet already.”
“Yes,” I sighed. I hurried to release the button and unzip my pants, giving him more room. “I’ve been like this all day.”
He grunted his approval and claimed my mouth, his tongue slashing at mine. Trembles moved up my legs in waves. His wicked mouth had my hands balling his shirt into my fists and dragging them up.
But to take off his shirt as I was demanding meant he had to stop touching me, and the conflicting desires waged war in my head.
“All day?” His seductive tone and the brush of his fingers made the ache inside me worse. “Try waiting five years, Erika.”
My knees threatened to buckle, but it was like he knew. His free hand latched onto my waist and pinned me to the wall, keeping me upright. His fingers teased like he wanted to be cruel, but he kissed me with adoration.
It popped out before I could stop it. “Why me?”
His fingers slowed as his lips pulled away from me, leaving my skin damp with his kiss.
“I bet you can get any girl you want,” I whispered.
“But I want one woman in particular.”
He thought I was being playful when I was entirely genuine. “Why?”
Troy’s gaze slid down me in an evaluating look and he matched my serious demeanor. “Because you’re confident, sexy as hell, and know exactly what you want.”
It was shocking he saw me like that, especially when I struggled to believe any of that was true. “I’m faking a lot of it.”
His hand withdrew from my pants and he grasped my hip so both of his hands were on my waist, steadying me. His expression said he wasn’t buying it. “I watched you get up on a stage and sing like it was the easiest thing in the world. And after that, I heard you tell your husband exactly how you wanted him to fuck you. I’d never heard a girl talk like that, and—fuck—I never wanted to be someone else so badly in my life than I wanted to be him.” He tore his gaze away, like he didn’t want to look at me while he admitted it. “And you don’t even want to know how many times I fantasized about it.”
Fear fluttered in my heart. “Being my husband?”
“No.” A half of a laugh slipped out of him. “You telling me what to do, exactly how you wanted it.” He softened back into me and his lips brushed over the shell of my ear. “Every dirty, nasty thing you like.”
The idea of it sucked all the air from my body and heat flooded in its place.
I wanted this now too. His fantasy became mine in an instant. Excitement twisted inside my center like a screw being tightened, and my voice dipped low. “What dirty, nasty things do I like?”
He didn’t miss a beat. “Oh, all sorts of stuff.” He grinned wickedly. “You’ve got a filthy fucking mind.”
I swallowed thickly. “I do.”
“So,” his teeth grazed against the side of my neck, “tell me how you want it.”
This question was exhilarating and a little scary, because it was him handing all of the power between us to me. Given the keys to the kingdom, my mind raced with ideas. All I had to do was vocalize my desires, but which one to lead with?
“Well,” I sucked in a breath and tried to sound strong, “I don’t want it here, up against the stairs in my entryway.”
Amusement glinted in his eyes. “Where, then?”
I pushed off the wall, wordlessly asking him to follow me. Thankfully, my undone pants stayed up around my hip
s, making it possible to walk through the living room and into my bedroom. I flipped on the bedside lamp and when my gaze fell to the end table, I zeroed in on the brass drawer pull. Until recently, that drawer had contained all my devices of pleasure, but my new, best one was currently standing near the foot of the bed waiting for direction.
“Have a seat on the bed,” I requested.
He did, but his focus was pinned on me. He watched intently as I sauntered to him and placed my hands on his broad shoulders.
“You said you’d be my personal sex toy.” It was shocking how seductive my own voice sounded to me. “That I could use you however I want.” I coasted my hands down his chest as I lowered onto a knee between his legs. “So, I plan to.”
He took in an enormous breath, his eyes hazed, and he parted his thighs wider to give me more room. My intent was clear, and he was absolutely on board with it. Troy put his hands on the bed behind him and leaned back, staring at me as I skimmed my palms painstakingly slow over the front of his jeans.
Although he was positioned to make it easy on me, I still struggled to undo the button at the top, and then he had a hand there to help.
“No,” I said softly. “I want to do it.”
Because there was satisfaction in doing it. Not just the physical pleasure of my hand’s teasing brush, either. It was the same satisfaction of unwrapping a present when you already knew what it was, but you wanted it so badly, you were just as excited anyway.
A smile tilted his lips, and he settled back on his arms. “Okay.”
He let out a heavy breath when I inched his zipper down and explored the rapidly hardening length of him beneath his underwear. I cupped my hand and massaged, enjoying the quiet groan from him. It was louder the second time when I settled on my knees, curled my fingers under the waistband and lifted, freeing his erection.
“Can I ask you something?” I whispered it as I wrapped my fingers around him.
His chin tipped up to the ceiling, like he was regrouping, and then his gaze locked onto me. “Anything.”
It was a simple word, but it carried so much meaning. As if whatever I asked, he’d not only do, but he also wouldn’t judge.
He shuddered as I tightened my grip, slid it up to close around the tip, then pushed my fist all the way down to the base of him. White-hot desire seared through me. Would I ever get used to my touch bringing someone else pleasure? I wanted to keep him here forever and watch every sigh he made. Find out if his moans had a melody to them.
“I’m on birth control,” I said, “and I got tested when I found out Clark had been unfaithful. I’m clean.”
Troy’s lips parted to say something, but nothing came out. He blinked, unsure.
“Are you?” I asked.
“Clean?” He nodded. “Yeah. I’m careful.”
I was inclined to believe him. He took such good care of himself physically, it seemed unlikely he’d risk his health and his body like that. I stroked my fist over him and watched the hurried rise and fall of his chest.
“Good,” I said. “And what we’re doing . . . you’re not doing it with anyone else, right?”
“No.” He peered at me like it was a question I didn’t need to ask. “Trust me. I’m not going to fuck around on you, Erika.”
This was harder to believe, but I wanted to. His expression was full of conviction. “What about you?” He strove for a teasing tone, but I heard the truth beneath. “Are you doing this with anyone else besides me?”
Now it was my turn to give him the look that said his question wasn’t needed. “You know I’m not.”
“Cool.” He licked his lips, savoring how I was touching him. “Glad we figured that out.” His voice was tight with need. “Curious about why you said you’re on birth control.”
I wanted to laugh. I’d told him that for a reason, and he was eager to confirm his suspicions.
“Because I was going to ask, if I said I was okay to go without condoms—”
“You want me to fuck you raw?”
All the moisture in my body flooded directly between my legs at his vulgar language. For all his ‘yes, ma’am’s, he didn’t talk like a gentleman in the bedroom, and my mind responded enthusiastically to it, as did my body. I didn’t want proper, respectable sex with a gentleman.
I hungered for something . . . darker.
Primal, basic fucking.
Through the connection of our gazes, I didn’t need to use words to tell him my answer was yes. I parted my lips, lowered into his lap, and closed my mouth around the head of his dick.
Air left his body in a hiss through his clenched teeth. The sound was pleasure so acute, it was nearly killing him.
His skin was so soft against my tongue, yet firm as steel. I traced circles, swirling my tongue over the tip before pushing farther down on him. Every trick I could think of to maximize his enjoyment, I threw at him. I used my fingers to ring his cock and pumped them in time with my lips. I sucked so hard, it hollowed out my cheeks. He gasped and moaned as we both found pleasure in what I was doing. It was uncomfortable for my jaw because he was so fucking hard, but I didn’t slow down.
I was so lost in my desire, once again I didn’t heed his warning signs. I didn’t pay attention to the way the cadence of his breathing changed, or how his moans went short and sharp. Not even his dick pulsing and throbbing inside my mouth was enough to get me to stop.
It was his hand gently grasping the side of my face that got me to ease back. I looked up at him, stunned to see how he struggled for control. It looked like he was finishing a marathon. Determined and focused, but also laboring to find air.
“You’re, like, really good at that.” His smile was tight. “I don’t want to ruin your fun, but . . . I’m not going to last long if you keep at it.”
I went back to using my hand, gliding my fingers teasingly over his dick that was wet with my saliva. “You think it’ll be easier when you’re all bare inside me?”
He pressed his lips together. “Yeah, it’s a concern.”
I laughed gently, but my amusement couldn’t last under the tension filling the room. This new sexual creature I was transforming into ventured further outside of her cocoon.
I put my hands on his knees, pushed onto my feet, and began to peel off my clothes. The pants went first since they were undone already and sagging low across my hips. Then, my top was pulled up and cast aside. I stood before him in a pink, barely-there bra and panty set, shifted my weight to one side, and put my hand on my hip.
I forced my voice to sound powerful and confident. “Get naked.”
Troy reached behind himself and grabbed the back of his shirt, showing off the flex of his thick bicep, and jerked the t-shirt over his head. He tossed it away as he stood, hooked his thumbs into the waistband of his pants and underwear, and down his legs they went.
God, his body.
It was a thing of beauty that made it impossible to hold thoughts in my head.
I motioned toward the bed. “Lie down.”
A sexy smirk flashed on his lips just before he climbed on top of it, spread out, and settled down with his back on the sheets. As I undid the clasp on my bra, my hands shook, but it was with anticipation and not anxiety. I had to control my movements to prevent myself from leaping on top of him. It was because I wasn’t prepared for how amazing all of this was.
There was a man ready and waiting for me in my bed.
And he was dying for me to tell him what to do. To fulfill my fantasies.
I shimmied out of the scrap of fabric that was my thong and put a knee on the mattress, then the other. I crawled along his body, just as naked as he was, moving until I was over him and tendrils of my hair fell in his face. He used a hand to push them out of our way, lifting his head until our lips met.
The kiss was slow and lingering, more smoldering heat instead of the raging fire he was capable of.
I slid a leg over his waist and straddled him. His notched abs and the warmth of his skin felt incred
ible against the insides of my thighs, and I metered my breath to stay in control.
It was harder when his palms swept over my nipples and he filled his hands with my breasts. His dick rested on his stomach, which meant when it jerked, the damp tip of him brushed against my ass. He’d gotten close during the blow job, and I wanted this to last a lot longer than that had.
My heartbeat quickened. “I’m going to tell you how I want it.”
His focus was split as he continued to knead my breasts and pinch at my nipples, but his eyes sharpened on me. “Yeah?”
“Put your hands behind your head.”
He liked me telling him what to do, but there was disappointment now that I was taking away his ability to touch. His fingers trailed over my bare skin as they reluctantly went, and he slid his hands under the pillow beneath his head. It accentuated his casual, almost frat-boy look. Like he planned to sit back and let me do all the work.
It was exactly what I intended.
FOURTEEN
Erika
Troy had said he was my personal sex toy and I was going to enjoy him that way tonight.
“Don’t move,” I said, lifting onto my knees and shifting back so we were better aligned. I reached into the space between us and palmed his cock, drawing a deep groan from him. He was thick in my hand as I lifted him and teased his bare tip against my clit.
His gaze was focused between our legs, and when I moaned in enjoyment, he canted his hips, trying to gain entry, but I adjusted and moved out of his reach. It made me plant a hand in the center of his chest and give him a strict look.
“Stay still.” It was both an order and a plea. I rubbed him against me again and shuddered at how pleasurable this felt. It was torturous anticipation for both of us. The muscles in his arms flexed and corded. He had to be fisting the pillow beneath his head to keep from grabbing me and slamming me down on his cock.
I sounded evil. “You want to fuck me?”
