Protection

by Shelley Munro

  Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Yes, sir.”

  An invisible salute. He concealed his amusement again and returned to the task at hand, determined to wipe that humor from her face. He settled his body between her parted legs and lifted her hips by placing his hands beneath her bottom.

  Alice tensed since it was difficult to remain unconcerned when a man peered so closely at her intimate parts. But his touch and intent expression held her in thrall. Half apprehensive and half excited, she couldn’t have moved if she tried. The puff of warm air on her most private flesh felt blissful, but after this morning, greed reared its head. She wanted more and she wanted it now before he changed his mind or something else went wrong.

  Nothing less than full penetration would do.

  A tremble racked her body when his fingers drifted across the same path as the burst of warm air. Awareness peaked her nipples. Her belly danced with anticipation. He parted her folds and stroked a gentle finger across her clit. Oh yeah, she knew the names of the body parts. It was the practical application she lacked. He moved closer until he had an excellent view. Up close and personal, she was sure he could tell her a few things. Alice wondered about the smell and frowned, her muscles tensing.

  James looked up her body, across the curls guarding her sex and over her breasts, meeting her gaze with a smile. “This will be good. I promise.”

  Without another word, he used his mouth.

  The sensation was incredible. Soft. Arousing—just as it had been this morning. His tongue glided across her clit before he moved lower. A tingle sprang to life, shimmering through her with enticing promise. He slid a finger into her tight channel, an unhurried thrust while his tongue teased her clit.

  “James,” she murmured.

  On hearing her voice, he stopped the tongue movements and she almost cried. That would teach her to interrupt before the allocated five minutes. “Don’t stop!”

  He smirked. “I thought I wasn’t doing it right.”

  “Back to work. Right now,” she said in her best school-teacher-type voice.

  “Yes, miss.” He spoiled his moment of obedience with laughter but returned to his task, stoking her desire with each subtle lick. Her legs fell apart and without volition, her hips rose. She shook, the intensity of the pleasure almost unbearable.

  This wasn’t a condom test, but too bad. It was an experience, one she wanted to remember in detail since it felt sooooo good.

  His tongue did this little wiggle thing, delicate like a butterfly’s wing over her swollen nub. A repeat of the move shot sweet agony through her flesh. Unsure of whether she wanted him to continue or not, she tensed, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip. The sweet assault continued with tiny flickers of touch with his tongue. Alice gasped. She opened her mouth to beg him to do something, to stop this decadent agony.

  “James.” Her body soared higher and higher, and suddenly it became too much. She shattered, the waves of pleasure going on and on until finally she slumped back to the mattress with a satisfied sigh.

  “Good for you?” James asked.

  Too replete to grouch at his smart-arse remark, she murmured a nothing sound. An orgasm was an amazing thing. She opened her eyes when James moved. His blue eyes blazed full of heat and the sensual tension in her ratcheted sharply upward again.

  “My turn now.” He bent and kissed her, a prolonged caress where he teased the contours of her mouth.

  Alice’s pulse jumped. Oh boy. She could get used to this.

  He pulled away to smile down at her. “Where’s that condom?”

  Alice shook her head to get with the program and control her choppy breaths. “Here.” She fumbled for the foil package. She held it in front of her face and made a surprised sound. “It’s called the Adventurer.”

  “Ah, the pearl gray condom with special warming lubrication.” His eyes twinkled in a naughty fashion. “You’ll like this one. Most of the girls do.”

  Alice wasn’t sure she liked being grouped with the rest of the girls. She handed him the gray foil packet and tried to avoid thoughts of his other women. Jealousy, an emotion that had rarely touched her, hovered like a raincloud when it came to James. She pushed the thought aside to pull out later and watched him unwrap the condom. After tossing the foil packaging aside, he pinched the tip and rolled it onto his erect penis with an expertise she admired. When the condom sat in place, she saw it had sexy blue stripes.

  Her laugh of delight filled the bedroom. “Cool. Very chic.”

  “Come here.” James tugged her into his arms and rolled her until she lay flat on her back. The cotton duvet cover was cool on her spine as she stared up at him.

  “Spread your legs for me,” he whispered. “This chic little model wants an adventure.”

  Alice bit her lip to stem her laughter. Sex was a serious business. She took a deep breath. “Come check out the uncharted territory.” Her mouth quivered but she managed not to laugh as she opened for him. Jolts of pleasurable excitement gathered in her pelvic region as he studied her with his slumberous gaze.

  He took his erection in hand and dragged it along her cleft. Alice whimpered even though there wasn’t a scrap of pain involved.

  “Things a little serious in the uncharted territories?”

  “Misbehavior is punished with torture,” Alice fired back.

  “Sweet torture.” James repeated the move, dragging his cock against tender flesh.

  “Yes.” Very sweet. If only he would hurry up because the suspense might kill her.

  As if he read her urgency, he positioned his cock.

  Alice wriggled, instinct wanting him deeper now. She’d absolutely die if he stopped this time.

  James didn’t move.

  “This isn’t meant to be a battle or a punishment,” she murmured, the addition of a chiding tsk designed to foster guilt in him for mean behavior.

  He pushed until his erection rested inside her, embedded around an inch.

  “Is that all you’ve got?” Why wouldn’t he hurry?

  James forged deeper, gritting his teeth the entire time. “I don’t want to hurt you. You’re tight.”

  Alarm surfaced. “Please, don’t stop.” If he stopped, she’d kill him.

  He withdrew until only his tip rested inside then he thrust, gliding smoothly. Deep.

  “Oh.” Her eyelashes fluttered while she breathed deeply. She sighed. This was more like it.

  James repeated the move, his strokes even and regular. Warmth bloomed inside her. Alice gripped his shoulders while she reached blindly for his lips. Their mouths mated, duplicating the slow withdrawal and thrust of his penis. Each stroke intensified the heat inside until she simmered once again with enjoyment.

  He increased the pace, thrusting harder with greater vigor. The bed creaked. Each of his thrusts moved her up the mattress until she felt the headboard through the pillow. James ripped his mouth from hers and kissed a trail toward her breasts with unhurried rocking thrusts. He drew a nipple deep into his mouth and alternatively sucked and lightly bit.

  The jolt of pain from his bite lashed like a whip on her clit. Alice gasped and bucked against him, nerve endings vibrating with a quick punch of heat. A surge of wetness met his next stroke. He bit her nipple again and she shattered, ripples of pleasure coursing the length of her body. James slammed deep, his cock swelling, filling her sheath and prolonging the pleasure. He stilled, his grip tight, while deep inside her, his cock pulsed.

  “Holy shit.” He pressed a whisper-soft kiss on her lips and rolled so she lay sprawled on top of him. He inhaled and grinned at her. “What did you think of the Adventurer?”

  “If the Vibration is anywhere near as good as the Adventurer, then we have a winner.” Her stomach rumbled.

  “Hungry?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Stay there and I’ll bring in something to eat.”

  Alice stared as he stood. Totally at ease with his nakedness, he removed the Adventurer and disposed of it. Aware of potential rude
ness from her end, she spoke quickly. “Will we conduct tests tonight?”

  Desire flared in his eyes. “If you’re up for it.” His voice held a seductive, smoky quality that set a tremor of awareness burning inside her again.

  “I don’t need to worry about a rise to the occasion. That’s your department.”

  James snorted and swaggered to the door.

  “Aren’t you going to get dressed?” All that bronzed, muscled body. How could she concentrate on food with temptation on parade in front of her? “Do you want any help?”

  He slanted her a look of challenge. “Talk to me while I serve our meals.”

  “I’ll get dressed.”

  “Why? We’re not expecting any visitors.”

  What? Parade around butt naked with her breasts lunging toward the floor every time she moved? Alice reached for her underwear. The armor of clothes made her comfortable.

  “I dare you.”

  “No, I’ll grab my blouse.”

  James strode back to the bed. The mattress depressed as he settled by her side. “I love your body, your breasts. You don’t need to hide from me because I would never make fun of you.” James cupped one weighty globe in his palm, bent his head and took her nipple into his warm mouth. His dark hair contrasted starkly with her creamy skin. Alice stared, mesmerized. The sight was erotic. Sexy. Watching his cheeks hollow as he sucked on her nipple stole her breath. He wasn’t repulsed. The hot glow in his eyes when he glanced up at her confirmed the thought.

  “Okay,” she whispered. “You’ve convinced me.” If he didn’t have any unannounced visitors, she could do this.

  “Good girl. We need to be comfortable together especially since we’re the test team.” He stood and stretched out his hand. “Come on. We’ll have you at a nudist camp soon.”

  “Don’t think so.” Alice’s tone sounded very dry. “This is as adventurous as I get.”

  Chapter Eight

  Replete and relaxed from a tasty meal and excellent company, James dragged the pillow from behind him and punched it twice to reposition for comfort. He appeared at ease with his naked state, which was more than she could say for herself. Alice watched him, hardly able to believe she sat naked on a bed beside this hunky man.

  “Come here,” he murmured.

  Willingly, she scooted closer until their bodies touched from shoulder to hip. “Will we test the Vibration now?”

  “Soon. Talk about impatient.” He toyed with a brown curl, twirling it around his finger.

  “It’s important to do a decent job. I want the company to succeed or I won’t receive my inheritance.” Success meant security. Simple.

  James stopped playing with her hair to study her intently. “Is that why you agreed to sleep with me and help test the condoms? For money? Money isn’t everything.”

  Alice frowned at the edge to his voice. He removed his fingers from her hair and she regretted the loss, wanting desperately to direct his hand back. Something in his manner halted the impulse.

  “I don’t understand.” They both worked for Fancy Free. Surely they had a common goal to ensure the success of the company, to ensure the success of the Vibration condom to maximize profits?

  “We’ll test now and get it over and done with.” He grabbed a condom from the box Rodney had given them. They were packaged in sealed plastic bags with a large black number on the outside of the bag. Eight in all. James had chosen number five. He wrapped his fist around his semi-erect penis and pumped vigorously. Under her startled gaze, his cock lengthened. He stopped, grunted and opened the bag. He pulled out the condom and rolled it over his erection.

  “Grab the clipboard, will you? Feels okay. This is thinner latex; a new patent is pending. Rodney said it’s super thin yet still strong with no loss of sensitivity.”

  Alice picked up the clipboard that held the questionnaire and handed it to James.

  He scanned it and handed the clipboard back. “You can fill out Rodney’s forms. The first questions are in relation to feel and appearance of the condom. Here’s a pen.” He plucked the pen off his bedside cabinet and switched on the bedside lamp for extra illumination.

  She’d upset him but couldn’t explain how. He was acting like a stranger. Indifferent and uncaring. Alice accepted the pen and read the first question aloud after deciding to pretend nothing was wrong. The ostrich approach. Sometimes it worked.

  “How does the condom fit?” With pen paused, she waited for his answer.

  “It feels tight, clasps the penis firmly and doesn’t feel in danger of sliding off. The reservoir at the end looks a bit on the small side. The latex is smooth and comfortable. Make a note for Rodney that added lubricant won’t be necessary if we decide to go with this grade of latex.”

  Alice scribbled down the points he made, fascinated despite herself. “How does Rodney do his initial tests?”

  “Alicia imported a special machine for him to use. It tests the latex to make sure it’s strong and durable for the purpose. Things like thrust and force.”

  Oh. That didn’t sound romantic. “The next question is about taste. Um…how do we do that?”

  “You open your mouth and I insert my penis. You lick and give a verdict.”

  Alice set the clipboard and pen aside ready to do her duty. James stopped her by taking her face between his hands.

  “Are you sure you want to do this? Is the money enough for you to want to suck my cock?”

  Yes, something she’d said had changed everything between them, but the cause remained a mystery. “Rodney needs us to do the tests.” She scrutinized his stormy expression. “Besides, you didn’t have any problems with my taste.”

  Frustrated anger seared James. He sure knew how to pick them. He’d known part of the reason she remained in Sloan was because of her inheritance, but he hadn’t realized money held such importance to her. Alice Beasley reminded him of his mother and sister. Appearances and money meant everything to them and they stopped at nothing to achieve their goals. The important things disappeared in the frenzy to grab more money than the next person. Critical things like friends and family, admiring a sunset or the view down the valley.

  James shrugged. Who was he to stand in the way of progress? He’d promised Alicia he’d continue to run the company for six months, train the replacement she’d had selected and help ensure the board remained involved. Take them out of their humdrum existence, Alicia had ordered. They’re all intelligent but they’ll stagnate if they’re not careful. I want them to have a good reason to get up in the mornings.

  He sighed at the memory. He’d promised Alicia, and he never went back on his promises—a point of pride. This bad boy had principles.

  “Way you go then.” As Alice crawled down the bed to a better position, his cock stirred despite his dark thoughts. Wisps of hair curled around her face, her lips swollen from his kisses, her eyes heavy-lidded. She looked as if she’d spent a few hours in bed engaged in vigorous sex.

  Her hair tickled his lap. Timid hands reached for his shaft before she glanced up with uncertainty. James stared back unable to voice the words of betrayal that whizzed like an unleashed balloon inside his head. He hadn’t known her long but this woman with her innocence and smiles had bypassed his usual emotional barricades. He didn’t know how to react and that brought irritation. Her tongue darted out to moisten her lips before she bent over him again.

  He felt the cautious kisses along his length even through the latex. A curious finger smoothed over his blunt tip with dangerous precision. James sucked in a hasty breath, his heart thundering. Slowly she leaned over his lap, her features hidden by the fall of brown hair. Her warm mouth closed around his cock and her tongue swirled across him, tasting him like an exotic sweet with languorous licks. Alice explored his genitals while she teased his cock with her mouth. Her fingers feathered over his balls then her tentative touch firmed and she massaged the tight sac. The combination of mouth and hands forced anger from his mind. Another firm sweep of her tongue over
the sensitized head dragged a groan from deep in his chest.

  “That’s enough,” he said, with a gentle push against her shoulders. “I won’t last through the rest of the questions if you keep this up.”

  Thankfully, Alice heeded his plea and pulled back but not without a final crafty lick that sent heat searing through his balls. James cleared his throat. “Taste? Write your comments on the chart.”

  “Actually, it tasted of spearmint. I expected a chemical flavor, but I liked that. It tasted refreshing.” Alice’s eyes glowed golden and mysterious. She licked her lips in a seductive move that made him want to grab her and forge into her with one powerful stroke.

  James shook away the image and gave the chart a pointed stare. “Better write down your impressions before you forget something.”

  She reached over to pick up the pen and scribbled several sentences. “Next question is fit inside the vagina with and without the vibration sensor activated.” Alice peered at his groin, and predictably, his cock twitched. “Where is the vibration sensor?”

  After clearing his throat, he glanced at his condom-encased cock. “It’s this tiny tab here. You pull it when you want the vibrator in motion.”

  She nodded. “How do you want to do this?”

  “You wanna go on top? I’ll go much deeper that way and it will be a better test for the condom.” Liar, liar. After his first sight and touch of her breasts, a fantasy had filled his mind. He wanted to see her breasts bobbing and swaying above him. He wanted to touch and taste and watch her expression while she rode him hard.

  Intrigue filled her face. “Okay.”

  James lay back on the deep blue and cream sheets, to all purposes sprawled comfortably. He was anything but relaxed. His heart pounded, his cock throbbed hard and heavy and it pissed him off that his body reacted this way when he’d been mistaken about her character. Another money-hungry woman…