Perception

by Nicole Edwards

  “You’re a Domme?” Sierra asked, apparently trying to sound unsurprised.

  “I am,” she assured them.

  “Well, I’ll be damned. That’s fucking cool.” Leave it to McKenna to be impressed. “We definitely have to have lunch sometime soon. I’d be honored if you’d let me pick your brain. I’ve considered doing a BDSM series for my online magazine, and you’d be perfect.”

  Mercedes smiled, but she wasn’t about to make a commitment.

  “So how do two Doms hook up?” Sierra questioned her.

  “They don’t usually.”

  “So you and Xander are… what? Experimenting?” Sam asked, her expression unreadable.

  “You could say that.”

  The girls must’ve been happy with her response because they moved on, continuing to pick up and discuss the assorted selection of toys and sexual apparatus that they came across.

  Mercedes was enjoying their reactions, hanging back a little bit when Sam came up to her side. “Whatever it is between you and Xander, I don’t think it matters what the norm is.”

  Mercedes turned to face Sam more directly. “Is that advice?”

  “No, just observance. I’m the last person who could give advice. I can’t even figure out what I want these days, much less help someone else. But I’ve seen the way the two of you look at each other.”

  Mercedes was quiet, still waiting for Sam to finish her thought.

  “Let’s just say, you don’t see that every day.”

  And with that, Sam went to join the others, leaving Mercedes to dwell on her comment.

  And yes, Samantha was partially right. You don’t see it every day.

  But that didn’t mean it was meant to be.

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Xander was sitting in the darkened living room when Mercedes arrived. When he had walked in the door half an hour ago, he hadn’t bothered turning on lights or lamps before he dropped onto the sofa. Hell, he didn’t even turn on the television to try and pass the time.

  His only thought had been waiting for Mercedes to show up. He hadn’t been able to convince himself to go upstairs to shower and wait for her either. Truth was, he wanted to see her the moment she stepped through his door. Simply put, he had missed her.

  And their brief conversation by phone that afternoon hadn’t satisfied him in the least. It was the first time since he’d opened the cigar bar that he would’ve preferred to be anywhere else but there. As long as he was with Mercedes.

  But, in order to prove to himself that his life could still be normal even when he didn’t feel normal, he’d continued with his routine. Only now, the woman who’d sent his normal day-to-day into a dizzying spiral was opening his front door and stepping inside.

  “Hi,” she said when she noticed him sitting in the shadows.

  “Come here,” he said in response. He hadn’t meant it to come out so forceful, but he’d slipped.

  She must’ve heard something in his tone because she smiled. “Over there? Where you are?”

  “That’s right.” He smiled back at her, his entire body filling with light just from the radiance of her face. “Right here. On my lap.”

  “Mind if I take my shoes off?”

  “Not at all. In fact, I’d be more than happy if you’d get completely naked.”

  “Is that an order?” she asked warily.

  “Not yet.”

  Mercedes kicked off her shoes and padded across the hardwood floor. When she hiked up her skirt a little, standing directly in front of him, he held out his hands to her. With their fingers linked, he eased her onto his lap so that she straddled him.

  “You smell like smoke,” she told him with a grin. “I kind of like it. Did you have fun tonight?” she asked.

  “It was a good night, yes.” He wouldn’t go so far as to say it was fun. Between talking business and missing Mercedes, he would’ve enjoyed himself more if he’d just spent the night in with her. “What about you?”

  “We had a good time. I like them.”

  Mercedes had informed him that Sam had invited her for a girl’s night out. When she hadn’t elaborated about where they were going, he had inquired. And that’s when she informed him they would be going to a sex toy shop.

  “Did you find anything you liked while you were there?”

  “There was this one chastity cage that I had my eye on.”

  Xander laughed, but there wasn’t an ounce of humor in the sound. Because he knew Mercedes could be quite vindictive when she wanted to be, he opted to change the subject before she got any ideas about putting one of those things on him. After all, he had agreed to let her top him. If she went hardcore on him, he might just have to wave the white flag. Especially if she got anywhere near his dick with any sort of cage.

  “Have you seen my dungeon lately?” he asked, knowing she hadn’t. That got her attention instantly. “Don’t worry, pet,” he whispered as he slid his hand behind her neck, pulling her closer to him. “Tonight, I don’t intend to tie you down or punish you.”

  He pressed his lips to hers gently.

  “No? Change of heart?” she asked softly.

  “Not at all. But tonight, I’m interested in pursuing what we started last night.”

  No matter how hard he tried, throughout the day Xander had thought of little other than what had happened between them last night when they’d finally fallen into bed. They’d burned up the sheets, and he had been ready for a replay since the second he woke up. Now that she was there with him, he didn’t want to stop touching her long enough for her to get naked. Although he would since it would be for a worthy cause.

  Pulling her closer so that he could feel the heat between her legs against his throbbing hard on, he slid his hands down her back and cupped her ass in both hands.

  “I want to be inside of you,” he stated gently. “I’ve waited all damn day and I’ve finally run out of patience.”

  Mercedes’s eyes softened as she stared back at him. “Me too.”

  God, he was still shocked when he heard her say things like that. He expected her to try and play it off as a joke. Or even to argue. But her easy acceptance and admission had hope flaring in his chest.

  Sliding his hands down her hips, he made his way to her thighs and then pushed her skirt up even higher so that he could feel her bare skin against his palms.

  “Stroke me,” he encouraged her as he leaned forward, urging her to kiss him.

  When her mouth met his, he was sure they would spontaneously combust. The air crackled and sizzled around them. She was fire in his arms, ablaze with a desperation that mirrored his own. He wasn’t about to let her go, clothes be damned.

  Somehow, bless her, she managed to free his cock without ever pulling her lips from his. He sucked on her tongue while he reached for her panties. There was no way he was letting her up so he could work them down her legs. He’d just have to replace them later.

  A soft ripping sound had Mercedes pulling back from him, and he fought the urge to laugh.

  “Did you just rip my panties off of me?” she asked, suspiciously.

  “I did.”

  She stared back at him for a minute, not saying anything. Then the corners of her mouth turned up in a mind-blowing grin.

  “That’s fucking hot.”

  And then her mouth was back on his and Xander thought of nothing except having her slide down onto him.

  When she rocked forward, lifting her ass from his thighs, he gripped his cock and she did exactly that.

  “Fuck,” he growled, the sheer pleasure of her sheathing him damn near had him seeing stars. Just like the night before, the lack of a latex barrier had his blood pressure spiking dangerously. She was hot and wet. Fuck. “Mercedes…”

  He meant to say her name as a warning, but it came out as something else entirely.

  She didn’t seem to need clarification because she began to rock gently, her hips shifting as she rode him right there on his living room sofa.

 
“I’m not gonna last long,” he warned her when she increased the pace.

  “Good.”

  “Good?” he asked breathlessly as he tried to focus on not exploding too prematurely.

  “Yes,” she mumbled against his lips, her hands sliding into his hair. “I want you to come inside me.”

  Fuuuuck.

  Xander couldn’t resist. He gripped her hips, guided her, and then pulled her back down until he was slamming into her, both of them holding the other tightly. He had no intention of letting go until she did, but if she kept this up, his head was definitely going to explode.

  “Xander,” she moaned, pulling her mouth from his. “It’s too good. Oh…”

  “Come for me,” he said. It wasn’t a command, just gentle encouragement. He watched her, loving the way she looked as she hovered above him, wantonly riding his cock.

  Sliding one hand around between her legs, he used his thumb to rub her clit, urging her closer and closer. He wanted her to come with him, but he was racing toward the edge, dangerously close to losing it.

  “X!” Mercedes shocked him with her scream as her head fell back, her pussy clamping down onto his cock as her orgasm gripped her. He wasn’t sure if it was the heat of her body, her urgent cry, or the way her fingernails dug into his shoulders, but he followed her over, his cock jerking and pulsing inside of her.

  Long minutes later, when their breathing finally returned to normal, Mercedes lifted her head from his shoulder and looked down at him.

  “How was that for round one?” he asked when she met his gaze.

  “Round one?”

  “Most definitely.”

  “What did you have in mind for round two?”

  Sliding his hands around to her ass once more, he gripped her firmly.

  And then stood, holding her to him, his cock still firmly lodged inside of her.

  “What are you doing? Oh my God, Xander. Put me down.”

  “Not a chance,” he told her as he made his way to the stairs.

  “I am way too heavy for you to carry.”

  Xander didn’t respond because the comment was absurd. Clearly she wasn’t too heavy because he was already climbing the stairs, tempted to take them two at a time just so he could get to his destination faster. He would’ve too if he had any inclination of pulling out of her.

  But he didn’t.

  Because the jarring impact of her body against his had him primed and ready for round two.

  Chapter Twenty Four

  Day two…

  Friday

  By the time Mercedes made her way downstairs the next morning, she had managed to shower, dry her hair, apply her makeup and still hadn’t run into Xander.

  She was only a little disappointed.

  Waking up in his bed for the second morning in a row had been an experience to say the least. She’d awoken feeling relaxed, despite the dream that had once again taken the liberty of disrupting her sleep.

  Although she hadn’t been overwhelmed by the urge to run and hide from the man she’d just spent the night with, she had been a little perturbed that he’d left her alone. Again.

  Knowing Xander, he was probably on the phone, never mind the fact that it was still early. The man did little other than work.

  Too much.

  As she made her way downstairs, she listened for him, trying to pinpoint his location. With coffee the only thing on her mind, Mercedes headed to the kitchen, hoping to find him there.

  Nope. No Xander.

  But, there was coffee which was all that mattered. After pouring a cup, she padded through the house, making her way to his office. That’s when she heard his voice. He sounded angry, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying.

  Since he’d instructed her to be with him every moment that she wasn’t working, Mercedes figured she had a right to violate his workspace even when he was on the phone.

  When she walked in, the frustration that was written all over his face immediately morphed into something else entirely as soon as their eyes met.

  “Look, I don’t give a shit. I didn’t authorize it, so you figure it out. I’m not willing to sell just yet. Let him know that I’ll consider if the price is right and what he’s proposed is ludicrous. I’ve got to run. Talk to you later. Hey.”

  Mercedes smiled as soon as the receiver made its way into the cradle. “Good morning. Looks like you’re having a good day already.”

  “I am now. Come here.”

  Without thinking, she moved toward him, sipping her coffee as she did. When she was within touching distance, Xander reached for her. Rather than worrying that they’d get a surprise scalding, Mercedes set the cup on the desk and moved into Xander’s arms.

  “I was hoping you’d sleep longer,” he told her as she perched on his lap and he pulled her close.

  As she got comfortable, she realized that she spent quite a bit of time sitting on his lap. For some reason, the idea didn’t bother her at all. “I would have, but I woke up alone.”

  “Sorry about that. I tend to get up early, and I didn’t want to wake you.”

  “What time did you get up?”

  “Four.”

  “Hmm, I think there might be a nap in your future,” she said with a smile.

  “I like that idea.”

  For the first time since she walked in, Mercedes realized he was dressed. Completely. Like with a tie and everything.

  “Going somewhere?”

  “I’ve got a meeting this morning.”

  “Oh.”

  “I figured you had things to do today,” he began.

  Mercedes tried to push off of his lap, immediately ashamed at her assumption. His arms tightened slightly, her escape attempt failing.

  What was she thinking? That Xander would’ve just changed his entire day because she’d spent another night in his bed? Or possibly because she felt there was a connection between them that wasn’t just related to casual sex? Or that just because her calendar wasn’t crammed full that morning that his wasn’t? Granted, it was Friday, and she knew the man probably had plenty of things to do.

  As did she.

  “I do. I need to follow up on the Milton building. I’m hoping to hear something back today.” No, actually she wasn’t, but it sounded good. Xander leaned over and kissed her, but Mercedes turned quickly, offering him her cheek. “In fact, I need to go make a call.”

  To her surprise, Xander leaned back, releasing his hold on her as she abruptly stood. He simply cocked an eyebrow, pinning her with a look that promised punishment later.

  “I’ll talk to you later, then.”

  Ok, so he probably knew she was upset. So what. If it meant she could put a little distance between them then it was worth it. Clearly she’d gone and lost her mind, thinking that a couple of nights in his bed had changed things.

  Obviously not.

  “Mercedes,” Xander said sternly when she turned to walk away.

  Knowing she was going to earn some form of punishment and not really giving a shit, she waved him off without turning back. “I’ll catch you when you get back.”

  As she made her way down the narrow hall, she heard him say, “You’re damn right you will, pet.”

  At four-thirty in the afternoon, Mercedes made her way down the narrow hallway that led to Xander’s office. It was the first time she’d been back since her less than graceful retreat just that morning.

  Somehow she’d managed to avoid Xander’s phone calls throughout the day and luckily he hadn’t pressed the issue. Then again, she had conveniently disappeared for the majority of the day, which meant he was likely going to be questioning her relentlessly.

  She’d just spent the last two hours with a client, showing him two recently listed condo’s not far from her own building. Needless to say, she wasn’t in the best of moods because, not only had she shown him both condos twice, he’d insisted on nitpicking every last detail until finally he decided he wasn’t interested.

  She would never g
et those two hours back.

  But, on the positive side of things, she’d been able to get her mind back in working order. No longer was she reliving the time she’d recently spent in Xander’s arms. And more importantly, she wasn’t thinking any of those crazy thoughts about him.

  Things were back to normal.

  As normal as they could get anyway.

  Only now she had to face Xander once again. Probably because she’d ignored his calls throughout the day, he had left a very lengthy voicemail not long ago, reminding her of the deal that they’d made among other things.

  “Hey, it’s me. Call me perceptive, but I’ve figured out that you’re avoiding my calls. It hasn’t stopped me from calling you yet and it won’t stop me in the future, so if you don’t mind, just answer the damn phone. It would be a hell of a lot easier than me having to have a one sided conversation with your voicemail.” Pause. “I can only assume that you’re on your way home and yes, I’m here waiting for you. So, whether you show up in five minutes or five hours, I’ll still be here.

  “We have a deal, Mercedes. And I’ve never gone back on my word and I know you haven’t either and now isn’t the time for either of us to start.” Another pause. “Damn it, woman. Either give me a call or I expect to see you within the hour. And if you’re lucky…” Exasperated breath. “No, wait. You’ve long surpassed luck. Like I said, I’ll be here waiting.”

  Incorrigible.

  Damn him.

  Xander had the ability to make anyone feel guilty, and he’d successfully piled a shitload of guilt on her plate although he probably hadn’t meant to.

  Or maybe he had.

  Mercedes stopped short just outside of Xander’s office door.

  After all of the time they’d recently spent together, and the way she’d lost control at each and every turn, getting way too emotionally involved, Mercedes should’ve wanted to stay as far away from him as she possibly could.

  But that wasn’t the case.

  Surprisingly, at some point during the day, she had started to miss him despite the fact that she was doing her best not to think about him at all.