A Little Harmless Faith

by Melissa Schroeder

  “Hey, you. What’s up?” she asked.

  “Nothing much, but I just had a strange visitor.”

  “That makes two of us,” she said.

  “You’ll never guess who just left.”

  “Bruno Mars.”

  “Why would you pick him?”

  “He’s from Hawaii.”

  “Good Lord. No. Jensen.”

  She stopped walking, and the woman behind her ran right into her. Nicola almost fell over from the hit and the rude woman, who had to be a tourist from the sunburn and the attitude, sniffed in her direction. Nicola ignored her.

  “What?”

  “Yes, your boss and lover Jensen Wulf showed up here.”

  She blinked. “He just showed up?”

  “Yes.”

  She massaged her temple. “He was here too.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “When I was having lunch with Jeff and Ben, he was in the restaurant spying on me.”

  “What? Oh. My. Gawd. This gets more and more interesting. What happened?”

  “I sent him away.”

  “That was all?”

  “No. He kissed me, told me I was dangerous, then he left.”

  “Hmm.”

  “What did he want with you?” she asked as she started walking again.

  “I’m not really sure. I thought he might be looking for the guys, but they’re on Maui for a few days. I showed him some of my recent pics I was working on and we chatted. I think he was killing time until his lady love made it back to him.”

  “Stop that.”

  “You might not realize this, but that man has it bad for you.”

  Nicola handed the valet her ticket and waited. “He does not.”

  “Does too.”

  “You have no proof of that.”

  Serenity tsked. “He was spying on you in the restaurant, then he came here to kill time until you got home. Darling, that man is crazy about you. Did he say why he was spying on you?”

  “He said he was worried that Ben and Jeff were going to hire me away from him.”

  “I call bull. That man just didn’t know what to do without you around.”

  “My turn to call bull.”

  “Sure, sure. Either way, he left a few minutes ago, so I wanted to give you warning.”

  “Thanks. I’ll call you later.”

  “Sure thing,” she said. “Love you.”

  “Love you,” she said, then clicked off her phone.

  All worries of the conversation with Jeff and Ben, along with the weird encounter with Alfie, dissolved. They had nothing to do the rest of the day, and Jensen would be home soon. Anticipation and happiness danced through her blood. This would definitely call for a little play during the day.

  14

  The moment he arrived home, Jensen sent John off for the night. He definitely needed some alone time with Nicola. He slipped into the house and barely made a sound. It was almost silent, except for the murmur of a voice. He followed the sound out to the lanai.

  “Mama, I don’t know why they asked me, but I can assure you I said no.”

  Then she was silent.

  “Who knows with Jeff?” she asked.

  He must have moved because she looked over at him and smiled.

  “It’s getting late, so I’ll talk to you tomorrow about this. Goodnight, Mama. Yes, I know it isn’t night here, but it is there.”

  Then she hung up.

  “I see you made it home safely,” she said.

  “Yes, hard not to with John at the helm.”

  “Hmm.”

  “So, what did they want?”

  “What?”

  “You said they asked you something. I heard you say it to your mother.”

  She shifted in her seat. “I don’t want you to lose your temper over this.”

  “I knew it,” he said, anger coursing through his blood. “You will call them right now and tell them you are not on the market. You work for me. You’re mine.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “I will not allow it.”

  “First of all, I didn’t ask. Second of all, they did not want me working for them. They want me to be a surrogate.”

  He frowned and settled his hands on his hips. “A surrogate? For what?”

  She rolled her eyes. “For them. They want to have a baby.”

  For a brief moment, his brain ceased to work. The image of Nicola’s belly swollen with his child flashed through his thoughts. He couldn’t shake it loose.

  “Why are you staring at me like that?”

  He shook his head but not the picture of a pregnant Nicola. “No reason.”

  The image still wouldn’t get out of his head. He had never thought to have children. It wasn’t something he yearned for—until now. He wanted them, and he wanted them with Nicola.

  “That’s what the guys wanted. They weren’t interested in stealing me away from you.”

  “But they are.” The idea that another man would have a child with her was unacceptable. Even through in vitro he would not stand for it.

  “What?”

  “You’re going to be my PA while pregnant with their child? I don’t think so.”

  Nicola’s eyes narrowed as her spine straightened. In the four years he had known her, Jensen had learned that was not a look you wanted from Nicola. It usually ended with someone on the floor in a fetal position.

  “First, I wasn’t thinking about it. I told them I would because they wouldn’t take no for an answer today. My plan was to let them down gently.”

  “Oh. Good.”

  “Although, if I decided to do it, I would do whatever the hell I wanted. There is nothing in my contract about having children. If there had been, I wouldn’t have signed it.”

  She stood and walked past him. He knew he had made another faux pas when talking about pregnancies. It wasn’t something he was accustomed to. Not with anyone, well, maybe except Nicola. He always seemed to make mistakes with her. Of course, she could be just the only person who pointed them out.

  And that made him love her even more.

  He grabbed her hand before she could escape. She stopped.

  “I’m not in the mood now, Jensen.”

  He heard the irritation in her voice, but there was something else. Something that sounded a lot like hurt. It was the last thing he had wanted. But, just like their first morning after her dinner with Serenity, Jensen had said something that hurt her. Nicola wasn’t a woman who was overly sensitive.

  “Jensen, just let me go be mad.”

  “I’m okay with that. Except you aren’t just mad. I’m sorry I hurt you.”

  She sighed, and her shoulders slumped. “You didn’t hurt me. I’m made of strong stock, as my father likes to say.”

  “You are probably the strongest woman I know. It’s not that. I seemed to have touched a nerve and I didn’t mean to.”

  She still wouldn’t look at him, so he tugged her closer and slipped his arms around her. And there it was. That feeling of completeness. He knew that first night it was different, and each night the connection had grown stronger.

  “I didn’t mean anything by it. No, that’s wrong,” he said. She lifted her head and smacked him in the chin.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I panicked. The idea that they could steal you away with a job or a baby left me somewhat out of sorts.”

  She studied him, her expression guarded. “You panicked? Bollocks.”

  He smiled at her wordage. “True story. I know that you want a family someday.”

  “It wasn’t something I was thinking about until lately.”

  Was it because of their relationship or because Serenity was pregnant? He hoped it had more to do with them, but he wasn’t confident enough to ask her, not yet.

  He bent his head and brushed his mouth over hers. Just that little touch spurred the already insatiable hunger he had for her. He didn’t think it would ever change. At one time, he would have freaked out
over the obsession he had for her.

  Slipping his hands up her body, he cupped her face, deepening the kiss. Her tongue tangled against his, sending another electric shock of need buzzing through his body. He wanted her. That was nothing new. But he was damned close to stripping her down and taking her. Seeing that they were in the backyard and there were tons of tourists and locals out, that was probably a bad idea.

  He forced himself to end the kiss, then stepped back, grabbing her hand and leading her to the stairs. He had never, in fact, had a regular submissive. There were friends he played with, but he’d never wanted one woman night after night. This was their fourth night together, and Jensen didn’t think he would ever get enough of her.

  He led her to his room. He wanted to call it their room, but even in his mind, he worried what she would think. She had slept with him ever since that first night together.

  After entering the room, he let go of her hand and headed to the overstuffed chair sitting in the corner. He settled into it and watched her. There were subs who would play the part. They tended to like to please a Dom right off. Nicola was not one of those, and he thanked his maker for that small favor. She loved to be Dominated, definitely, but she made a Dom earn it. Or at least that is the way she was with him.

  “Come over here, Nicola,” he said.

  She stepped over to him but not close enough. He motioned with his finger to get closer. Frowning, she did so.

  “Now, love, it’s time for you to strip.”

  She hesitated, but finally lifted her hands. Carefully, she pushed her hair over one shoulder, then she turned.

  “I need help with the zipper.”

  Jensen hesitated, knowing that any touching by him and he might just lose his control. After a long moment, he finally shifted to the edge of the chair and undid her zipper. He didn’t hurry, instead he took his time, allowing his fingers to tease her flesh. The pink fabric gave way to reveal a pink bra and yet another thong. The woman had a penchant for naughty lingerie, especially thongs.

  When he finally had the dress unzipped, she let it fall to the floor at her feet. But, Nicola knew just how to get to him. She stepped out of the dress, then bent over, giving him a wonderful view of her world-class ass. He knew she still worked out, and she skated whenever she got the chance and it showed.

  He leaned back in the chair just as she peeked back at him. The woman was a minx and truly the wickedest sub he had ever had.

  He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to straighten. She sniffed, apparently not getting the reaction she wanted. His cock throbbed, but there was no way he was going to let her know about that. Instead, he kept his gaze steady.

  “You’ll pay for that later.”

  “You didn’t say how to take off my clothes, Sir.”

  He couldn’t fight the spiraling of heat that shot through his blood. Jensen got a thrill every time she used the word Sir when they were playing. It was the dichotomy of the woman he knew during the day, and the one he was getting to know at night in his bed.

  “True, but from now on, know that I’m not going to put up with that.”

  She frowned, and it turned him on even more. He was sick. Everything she did seemed to give him a hard-on. Reaching behind her, she was about to undo her bra, when he stopped her.

  “No, not yet. Come here.”

  She stepped closer. “Not close enough.” He continued to crook his finger until she was standing between his legs.

  “You do have the most delicious taste in lingerie.” He lifted his hand to skim the flesh that rose above the lace of her bra. She shivered at the contact and he smiled. “Go ahead,” he said. Take if off.

  He waited as she reached behind her and unhooked the bra. She let it slide down her arms, but again, very slowly.

  “Tsk, tsk,” he said, taking the lace confection from her and placing it on the arm of his chair. “But then, I have a reward for now.”

  He sat up straighter to take one nipple into his mouth as he pinched and teased the other. She moaned as he moved his mouth to the other nipple to give it the same treatment. Sliding his hands down, he cupped her ass, thanking God again for her taste in panties. The woman definitely knew how to focus on her assets.

  As he started to lose his grip on his control, he grazed her nipple once more with his teeth, then pulled back.

  It took him a second or two to gain his wits. He didn’t look up at her, but he could feel her gaze on him. Right at this moment, if he wasn’t prepared, he would forget the rules.

  “Now, the panties.”

  He watched her nimble fingers slip beneath the fabric and slip the panties off her legs. It took a while because she had long legs, but he knew she was teasing him again. He wanted to smile, because he knew what she wanted, what she needed. If there was a woman made for spankings it was Nicola. He had never had a sub who enjoyed them so much.

  She held her panties out to the side and dropped them.

  “You like testing limits.”

  “Me?” she asked, her tone teasing. She knew just how to taunt him to get a rise out of him.

  He motioned her away with his hand and he stood.

  “Now, undress me, but, nothing else. No touching other than taking my clothes off.”

  She started with his shirt, pulling it out of his pants, then unbuttoning it. While she was occupied with that, he skimmed his hands over her shoulders, then down her sides. She giggled.

  “I thought there was no touching, Sir.”

  “For you. I get to do whatever I want.”

  “I have a request, Sir.”

  “So nice now. What is your request.”

  “Not my sides. I’m very ticklish and it really ruins the mood for me.”

  He slid a finger beneath her chin and gently urged her to look up at him.

  “Thank you for asking so nicely, and I will refrain. I didn’t know you were ticklish.”

  She smiled. “Thank you, Sir.”

  “You’re welcome. Now, continue on.”

  He removed his hand to let her look down to complete her task. She finished with his shirt, then pushed it down his arms and off. She reached for his pants, but he stopped her.

  “No. On your knees, love.”

  She said nothing, but he saw the quick smile before it disappeared. She did as he ordered. When she reached for his pants, she slipped her fingers beneath the waistband just far enough to tease his cock.

  “Nicola,” he said.

  She said nothing but unbuttoned, then unzipped his pants. As she slid the zipper down, she let her finger glide over his shaft. The woman might like being a submissive, but once again, she was testing his limits. Some Doms might not like it, but he loved it. He loved when a sub had enough backbone to challenge him. Nicola had proven over the last few nights that she had it in spades.

  “That’s enough. Take them off.”

  She did and reached for his boxers. She eased them off, teasing him just a little more. He would have reprimanded her, but he noticed that her fingers shook, telling him that she was just as affected by their play as he was.

  “Now, normally I would spank you for what you pulled just a few minutes ago. But, since I know you like that, I’m going to have you do something else.” Jensen looked down at his cock. “Now that you caused this situation, I think you need to give me a little pleasure.”

  He took hold of his cock “Suck, love.”

  Nicola didn’t hesitate. Opening her mouth, she took him in. He closed his eyes as the damp heat of her mouth surrounded his shaft. She slid her tongue over and around his cock, as she lifted her hand to massage his sac. Good God, the woman was a devil with that tongue. She pulled back then slid him back into her mouth. Slowly at first, then she moved her hand from his sac to his shaft, adding to the pleasure.

  He opened his eyes and looked down as her head bobbed back and forth.

  “Nicola, look at me.”

  She did but she didn’t stop what she was doing. Bloody fucking hell. He
almost came then and there when her gaze caught his. It was one of the most sensual things he had ever had done to him. It wasn’t as insanely depraved as some of his sexual escapades, but it was that connection he had felt since that first night. She was everything he ever wanted in a woman—and more.

  “Enough,” he said gently urging her away, and leading her to the bed. He grabbed a condom and set it on the bedside table, then followed her onto the mattress. He wanted nothing more than to sink into her warmth and lose himself, but he had to make sure she was there with him.

  He slipped between her legs, kissing his way all the way to the pussy. She was dripping wet, the scent of her arousal filling his senses. After kissing her stomach right above her sex, he took a taste. As it had been that first night, he savored her arousal as it danced over his taste buds. After one long lick, he slipped inside of her pussy lips, once, twice…

  She started to squirm so he lifted his head and smacked her pussy. Her sharp intake of breath caught his attention.

  “No coming until I tell you.”

  She frowned down at him, but she said, “Yes.”

  He smacked her again, and she shuddered.

  “Yes, what?” he demanded.

  “Yes, Sir,” she said from behind clenched teeth. He didn’t know if she was irritated or just turned on so much she was trying to control herself. Jensen would lay odds on the latter.

  He bent his head and kept eye contact with her, he slipped his tongue over her clit before pulling it into his mouth. Her eyes slid closed and she arched of the bed.

  “Oh, God.”

  “Nope,” he said licking his lips. “Just Jensen or, in this case, Sir.”

  Nicola laughed but it ended on a moan. He wanted to play more, to push her to the edge, but Jensen knew he was rapidly losing control.

  He grabbed the condom, opening the wrapper and then sliding it on. He slipped up her body, then kissed her, enjoying the way she hummed against his mouth. With quick moves, he rolled them over the bed. She sat up on top of him.

  “Take me in, love.”

  She rose up taking hold of his cock, and slowly descended. Nicola kept eye contact the entire time. It seemed to take forever before he was fully seated inside of her. Then she started to move.