by Rye Hart
I ignored the message and let my mind wander to the fantasy in my head until my sister passed by. “I’m going to go out for a bit. I will pick up some things on the way back so we can eat a decent meal. You really should eat at home more.”
“Well if you’re cooking, I’m eating. Did you make a list? Add peanut butter and those sandwich stacker pickles. Oh, and some beer.”
“Anything else, Your Majesty?” She let loose a soft giggle.
“No, that should do it, thanks.”
As she grabbed her keys and pocketbook, my phone let out another ping. I didn’t bother looking until she’d shut the door behind her.
I glanced down thinking it would be the same woman, but instead, it was Kami.
I love micro, macro, HDR, and forced perspective.
I instantly grew a hard on.
CHAPTER SEVEN – KAMI
I couldn’t believe all the hits I was getting from the dating site, but I hadn’t been interested in a single one of them except for Tate Evans, the photographer. He was by far the most handsome and the most talented by some of his profile shots, and when he messaged me back, I felt horrible for going quiet on him.
His ping had come through just as I was about to climb into my big clawfoot tub for a soak and had just removed all my clothes. I contemplated not responding, but after a minute, I decided it was as good a time as any and responded by answering his last question.
I threw out a few types of photography that I’d experimented with and sent the message. I was curious to know the same of him, and when he responded, I’d ask.
His message came right back. Have you ever tried astral photography?
I haven’t, but I’d love to. I’ve always loved looking for constellations.
A few minutes went by, and I washed my hair, then scrubbed myself down thinking he’d gotten busy. But then the next ping came, taking me by surprise with his request.
Not trying to come on too strong, but I’d love to hear your voice. Call?
My heart raced at the idea, and even though I knew I wanted to be discreet until I got to know him better, he did already know where I worked. If he was a serial killer my fate was already sealed with that first picture. I typed back to him: Sure.
My phone rang about a minute later, and I let out a long-held breath. “Tate?”
“Yeah, hey. Kami.” His voice was so sexy that my body responded immediately.
“Hi,” I said, not sure how to start the conversation. Luckily, he jumped right in.
“So what are you up to?”
“Um, nothing really, I just got off work and am winding down a little.” I slumped back down into my bath water and caused a wave that splashed up against my breasts and made a sound.
“Are you in the tub?” He sounded a bit hesitant to ask and released a short chuckle.
“Yeah, sorry. I didn’t want to tell you.” My face turned red, and I hoped he didn’t think I was the kind of girl to do something like this deliberately for attention.
“No, it's fine. I mean, we can talk later if you want. I’m just in my room.”
“Are you in bed?” I asked, trying my best not to make it sound dirty.
“Yeah, actually. Most girls don’t get me into bed this easily,” he joked, trying to lighten the awkwardness.
“Well, you got me naked, so I guess you win.” When he laughed heartily on the other end of the line, I relaxed a little and settled into the flow of a normal conversation. “What have you been up to today?”
“I went on a trip to shoot recently, and it’s been a pain in the ass trying to get the touch-ups right. I need to find a nice dark place to shoot next time.”
“That sounds exciting. I’ve never really gone on a trip to shoot, not with the types of things I like to do. I just set up my equipment and see what I can find around the house. I once took a beautiful picture of bread mold.” I regretted telling him that the minute I said it, and my cheeks reddened again. I didn’t want him to think I was a total photo nerd.
“That sounds interesting, actually. I like people who find beauty in the most unsuspecting places.” His words were a comfort, and suddenly I didn’t feel so silly after all.
“Thanks. You’d be surprised of the colors.” I lifted my free hand and cupped it full of water, releasing it across my breasts.
“Is your bath cooling down? Bubbles all gone?” His voice was so sensual; he made the word ‘bubbles’ sound amazing.
“I didn’t have any bubbles, but yeah, it’s cooling down. This old place I’m living in doesn’t have a shower. So, I get to bathe in the claw foot.” I realized I was steering the conversation away from photography and I didn’t need him focused on my naked body. Another lick of heat coiled deep in my tummy to call me a liar.
I wanted him focused on me. Every bare, unclothed inch of me.
I was torn. I didn’t want to come off like a total slut, but part of me wanted to follow the path he was trying to lead me down.
“Hmm, that sounds nice, but I prefer it standing up in the shower,” he said, his voice dropping.
My breath caught in my throat and a jolt of electricity went straight to my pussy. “Why don’t you send me another picture,” I suggested, my voice low and full of need. Who was I right now? As I waited for him to take his photo and send it, I thought about what to send him. The ping revealed a picture of his headboard. The wrought-iron posts were lined with big fluffy pillows in ivory silk cases. I imagined my hands wrapped around those posts, holding on for dear life as he fucked me. “Very nice.”
“Thank you. What are you going to send me?” He asked suggestively and then went quiet as I took a picture and sent it.
“Mmmm, I’ve always had a thing for nice feet. Have you ever had someone suck on your toes?” he asked, and another jolt went through me, my need mounting, and my pussy beginning to throb.
Another ping sounded before I could answer, and the picture was of him, giving me a seductive stare. He was shirtless, with the perfect amount of chest hair that matched his stubbly chin. The tattoos on his chest were mesmerizing. I could stare at them all day and I wanted to rub my fingers over top of them.
“You’re very handsome. But I’m sure you get that all the time.” I hated that I couldn’t be more creative, but it was better than asking him what a guy like him was doing on the dating site in the first place. He could have any woman he wanted.
“Actually, not really.” He moaned, and I had to wonder what he was doing, but then he cleared his throat.
“Do you really like Loving Cup coffee?” I wondered if it had been a line.
“I do, and I think I saw you in there before.” I heard a sound of shuffling and wondered if he was standing up.
“Really?” I felt that rush of panic again as his words registered. “I will admit that it’s a little freaky you know where I work.”
“Hey, don’t worry about it. I should have been smarter about that and not made you worry. I won’t go down there and bug you or anything. You’re safe.”
“What if I want you to come down there and bug me?”
Seriously, what the fuck was that?
This was not how I usually talked to someone I barely knew. Tate was definitely bringing something out in me.
His low laughter caused another wave of warmth to course through me. “What about meeting up for dinner?”
“That would be nice.” I couldn’t believe I’d scored my first date with what had to be the hottest man on the dating site. “When would you like to meet up?”
“Well, the evening is still young, how about we meet up tonight?”
I hesitated for just a moment before saying, “Ok, sure.”
God, please don’t let him be a serial killer.
“How about I meet you at your work, and we go from there?” he asked.
I appreciated that he didn’t ask to pick me up where I lived. “Sounds good, how about seven?”
“Perfect,” he purred. “I’m looking forward to it.”
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We ended the call and I tossed my phone across the room so as not to get it wet. I laid my head back against the edge of the tub and tried to breath to calm the butterflies in my stomach. I was nervous for my meeting with Tate and still incredibly turned on by our conversation.
I closed my eyes and pictured his smoldering stare as I slowly slid my hand down over by breasts, stopping to tweak a nipple into a taught peak. I groaned out loud as my hand slipped below the water and my legs parted. I slid my fingers through the soft curls and gasped when they touched my clit, which was swollen and ready to be worked.
I pushed two fingers inside myself and licked my lips as I imagined Tate between my knees. I fucked myself with my fingers while drawing circles on my clit with my thumb. It took only seconds before I came, panting loudly and splashing water out of the tub. As my orgasm faded, I stood and pulled the plug on the tub. I had a lot of work to do to get ready, starting with a phone call to Rain.
Once I had my hair wrapped up on top of my head, I dialed Rain, and she answered with a bored tone. “Hey, chick.”
“Where are you?” I closed my eyes and prayed she wasn’t gone off with Daren Craig, or worse, hanging out with Devin still.
“Downstairs, why?”
“Because I have a date tonight! So, get your sweet ass up here and help me find something to wear.” I walked to the mirror and checked my face; not a blemish on it, not counting the dark circles under my eyes from working doubles.
“You do? Who?” I heard stomping through the phone, and soon those footsteps were coming up my stairs. I went to meet her in the kitchen.
She hung up her phone as she opened the door and I shut mine off too. “It’s that hot guy from Matched Solid. He wants to see me tonight.”
“Already?”
“We talked on the phone. He’s going to meet me at the Loving Cup so I will be in a familiar place, and then he said if it works out, from there we can grab a bite to eat. I sent him a picture of my feet.”
The random addition to our conversation had her face screwing up in expressions that told me she didn’t know what to think.
“Why would send him a picture of your feet?” She glanced down at my painted toes. “At least you’ve had a pedicure.”
“He called while I was in the tub and we were sending pictures back and forth,” her eyes widened and her brows raised.
“No, nothing like that!” I said quickly, deciding to leave out the part where I was so turned on that I masturbated to the thought of him.
“Ok, so what are you going to wear?” she asked.
I looked at her, suddenly panicked. “I have no fucking clue.”
CHAPTER EIGHT – TATE
I ran my fingers through my hair hoping to make it behave, but it was no use. I had let it get to the point of needing a haircut and knew I’d not be able to go more than another week unless I wanted to look like a bum. I made a mental note to get in to the barber soon.
I heard the door open and someone come in, figuring it was my sister.
“It’s me.” Her familiar voice called out when I entered the living room. “I got all the way to my house to get a few things, and she’s still at it. I swear I think the girl’s running a business.”
“We’ll get the rest of your things together. I’ll go over there with you tomorrow. I’d go tonight, but I already made plans.”
“You must have lady plans because you smell good.”
“Didn’t realize I was in the habit of stinking.” I went to the fridge and grabbed a bottle of water and broke the seal before taking a swig.
“You know what I mean. Who are you seeing? Is it one of those girls from the site or are you giving Terri one more chance?” She rolled her eyes.
“You know I don’t believe in second chances. This is the girl from the site; the pretty photographer. We had a conversation, and I didn’t scare her off. She’s going to meet me for coffee and maybe dinner.”
“Well, I’m coming back here tonight, so you can’t be a pervert and bring her home.”
“If I wanted to be a pervert, as you say, I can always afford a hotel room.” I wagged my brows at her as she watched me put the bottle back on the other side of the counter.
“You’re horrible. It’s the first date.”
“No offense sis, but I’ve got this under control.”
“I’m just saying, you should probably give this a different approach than your norm. She seems like a nice girl, and if she’s using a dating site, maybe it’s because she’s leery and has been hurt before. The site is set up like a huge screening room, so some women use it that way.”
My sister had a point. Although, the reality of the matter was I had a short period of time to meet the requirements of my inheritance.
“I’ll take things as they come, but I’m not making any promises. I like this girl, so far. If we hit it off, I’m going to let things run their natural course, and if we end up in bed tonight, whether it’s her place or a hotel, that’s my business.”
She gave me a scolding glare that was so much like my mother’s it gave me chills. She really was becoming a clone, but I’d never tell her that. “Just promise me you’ll be careful with your own heart and I’ll shut up.”
“I’ll be careful.” I grabbed my wallet and keys off the bar and gave my sister a kiss on the forehead. “Don’t wait up.”
My sister knew about the clause in my trust that said I needed to be settled and have a kid before I could get the rest of the money. She teased me about it constantly, especially since my father hadn’t suggested my grandmother do the same for her. We both knew she wanted to see me settled. Then she could stop worrying about me.
I headed out to the car and was soon on my way across town to the coffee shop. The Loving Cup was a local gem, and it brought back memories.
I parked my Jeep up front and fought the urge to check my hair in the mirror. She could take me or leave me as I was.
I walked in and found her already sitting at a small table to the side. It had to be the best sight I’d seen in a while. She was sitting there alone waiting for me. The spot she chose was perfect for privacy, and I glanced around at the other patrons and was thankful it was a quiet crowd.
Her eyes sparkled, and her cheeks turned red as she greeted me with a smile on my way over. She got up and greeted me with a handshake, and I took the time to feel how soft the skin on the back of her hand was. “It’s nice to see you in the flesh.”
I pulled out my chair and took a seat across from her. “Likewise. Have you been waiting long? My sister showed up, and I got held up in traffic.”
“Not long at all, I just sat down. I thought I’d check work my schedule while I was here.”
I nodded and took in the sight of her. She’d let her hair down, and it fell to shoulders in soft waves, the chestnut color complementing her green eyes and alabaster skin. She was a real beauty, natural with a wholesome look, but there was a gleam in her eye that told me she had a slight wild streak in her just begging to come out.
“I haven’t ordered yet, I didn’t know what I wanted, and I thought I’d let you choose something for me.”
“Wow, you trust me with that big of a decision? I’ll see what I can do, but I will admit, it’s been a while since I had a cup.”
“Well, I work here, so I like it all. I’ve tried every combination on the menu, and my favorites include caramel.”
I took her hint and minutes later returned with two caramel mocha lattes and two biscotti.
“Great choice. Thank you.”
“They didn’t let me pay since I was with you and said it was in the house.” I slid into my seat and dunked my biscotti.
“Yeah, one of the many perks of knowing a Loving Cup employee. I can also get you tickets to and UT game, so if you bleed orange, there’s that.”
“Nice. I love UT.”
“You were saying you do astral photography. I’ve always wanted to try that. I love Orion, and it would be nice to capture t
hat for my apartment.”
I was surprised she knew anything about it. “Many people are fascinated with his belt, but I’ve always preferred the shoulder stars.”
She stirred her latte and nodded. “Betelgeuse and Bellatrix. I know that because I had two cats named Castor and Pollux.”
“The Gemini twins?” I wondered how the two were related.
“Yes! I was going to name them Betelgeuse and Bellatrix, but my dad said that was too hard to spell, so we went with Castor and Pollux instead. My dad loves astronomy and used to take me to the observatory to see the stars all the time. It was like our thing, you know. He’d always take me out for ice cream and then to the observatory.”
“That’s awesome. I can’t believe you know about the stars.” There weren’t too many people around that have a passion for astronomy.
She waved her hand. “Well, I don’t know much, really. Just a little. But it’s something I’d love to learn more about. It’s fascinating, especially how you’re able to capture them on camera.”
“Maybe you’d like to go camping with me sometime, and I’ll show you how to do it. You can even take a few shots using my camera if you want.” I thought of having her in my tent, all to myself and my body even responded to the idea. My cock grew in my pants, and I couldn’t help watching her mouth as she talked. Her pouty lips were amazing, and I knew just what I wanted to do with them. With any luck, I’d get a kiss from them before the night was done.
“I used to go camping some when I was younger, but I haven’t been in years. It seems like I haven’t done much of anything lately but work.”
I wanted to steer her away from the topic of work if possible because I couldn’t tell her what kind of work I did for Hazen’s company, but sure enough, it was the next thing she asked.
“Do you work as a photographer or something else?”
