by M. S. Parker
Except, if I was honest with myself, I didn’t actually dislike Reb. He got under my skin in a way that no one else had been able to, and I didn’t like that, but if I’d met Reb under different circumstances, we might have gotten along. I still wouldn’t have dated him, of course, because I was sticking to my life-long resolution to avoid romantic entanglements with people in his line of work.
I reheated some take-out and wrote myself a note to pick up some groceries on my way home from work tomorrow. My supplies were looking a bit sparse. I didn’t have the time to cook myself dinner every night, but I tried to get at least a couple home-cooked meals a week.
I ate standing up, tidying up the kitchen as I went. I moved on automatic pilot, making mental lists of all the things I needed to do tomorrow to get things set up for Saturday. I had a couple ideas of places where Reb could do community service, so that was the first thing to get settled. Once I did that, I could leak information to the media. I didn’t want to give a direct invitation to news outlets, even though most of them would guess a PR firm of some kind was involved. That’s just how things worked, especially when the client was in the entertainment industry.
One of the interns at the firm had an uncle who owned a huge construction company that often worked with Habitat for Humanity. I’d check there first to see if they had any projects this weekend that Reb could work on. The press would have a field day with pictures of him lifting things, hammering…sweating…
“Dammit,” I muttered the curse as I put away the last of the dishes, but I couldn’t chase away the images that came up, one after the other.
Reb wiping his face off with the bottom of his shirt, showing off that flat, tight stomach, and the trail of golden brown hair that disappeared under the waistband of his pants. Jeans that hung low enough on his hips that I could see those amazing v-grooves. Pulling his shirt over his head to reveal rippling muscles and tattoos I wanted to trace with my tongue…
Fuck.
I needed a shower. A cold shower. Now.
But when I went into the bathroom, I changed my mind. I needed to get rid of this tension, and it was getting late. I could combine cleaning up with getting some relief, and maybe that would even get Reb out of my head. I had to focus on correcting his image, not that amazing body of his.
As I washed, I tried to pull up one of the fantasies that had worked for me in the past. A hot model I’d seen on a billboard. A favorite character on a television show. A completely imagined man who knew exactly what to do with my body.
But every single one of them morphed into Reb, that smirk on his face and heat in his eyes. So I gave up and closed my eyes, letting my imagination wander even as my hands did the same.
I ran one hand over my breasts, fingers teasing my nipples as I imagined the rough callouses on his fingers scraping over my skin. His lips moving down my throat, teeth nipping at me until I knew he’d left little marks. My free hand went between my legs, moving over the thin curls that covered me until my fingers reached my clit. I circled the already throbbing bundle of nerves, thinking about how he’d touch me there. Rough, hard passes until his mouth soothed me. Just the right amount of suction.
It was the thought of looking down and seeing Reb’s head between my legs, tongue and fingers driving me toward orgasm that undid me. The muscles in my body tensed as a small cry escaped me.
Even as the release eased the tension in my body, I couldn’t help but think that I’d made a mistake.
Eleven
Reb
What the hell had I been thinking? She worked for me – sort of – and I’d been teasing her. Flirting with her. It hadn’t really been a conscious decision on my part, but that was no excuse. I’d been completely unprofessional.
I snorted a laugh. I’d been drunk pretty much from moment one with her. She’d put me to bed, cleaned me up when I pissed myself, then put me to bed again.
I’d kissed her, for fuck’s sake. My flirting was low on the list of unprofessional things I’d done with her, and it didn’t even register on the list of stupid shit I’d done lately.
Hell, it hadn’t even really been flirting.
No, that was a lie. I might not have said anything overtly sexual, but I’d meant it. She was beautiful, the sort of woman that men would stare at as she walked by. That women would hate on sight alone. That anyone remotely attracted to women would fantasize about.
It was more than physical with her though.
When it came to women who looked like her, some honestly didn’t know they were beautiful, some pretended not to know, and some used their beauty like a weapon. Paige was one of the rarest kind though. The kind of woman who understood her physical appeal, but made certain it wasn’t the most important thing about her.
She was smart, clever, the kind of quick wit that startled and surprised. Hell, it’d gotten a laugh out of me more than once. And she had a steel backbone, more guts than most people, and I wanted to know what it would take to make her submit…
“Knock it off.” I said the words out loud because I thought it’d make a difference, but it didn’t. I just kept on thinking about Paige, and the way those eyes of hers had flashed when she’d gotten in my face.
What color would they turn when she was aroused, I wondered. Something like the ocean, I imagined. Not like the pure blue coasts in the Caribbean, but rather something deeper, darker.
Then there was that blush. Her skin was so fair that she couldn’t hide it, and I wanted to know what it was like to see it spread over her entire body. That wasn’t the only color I was interested seeing on her either. Another form of red and pink appealed to me. My handprint on her ass. Stripes from a flogger and crop.
Now that I’d let my mind go there, I didn’t want to stop imagining. If I was going to stop drinking, I needed something else to take my mind off of things and thinking about how Paige would reward me this weekend would definitely do the trick.
I sat down on the couch and leaned my head back, closing my eyes. I could picture her immediately. Every line and curve of her face. I shouldn’t have been able to see her so clearly, but there she was.
And I could just imagine what it would be like to have her smile at me as she knelt in front of me.
“Hands behind your back,” I ordered.
She immediately obeyed, the position pushing her ample breasts out even more. Her nipples, a pale, delicate rose color, were pinched between a set of clamps, but no discomfort showed on her face. All I could see was a desire to please. To please me.
“Open your mouth.”
She parted her lips, and I reached out to brush my thumb across her bottom lip. I’d kissed her, bitten the soft, plump flesh, but now I wanted her lips wrapped around my cock.
I gripped my shaft in one hand and buried my other in her hair. “Look at me.”
I waited until our eyes met and then slid my cock into her mouth. I groaned as the velvet heat enveloped me. It didn’t matter how many times she did this, it was always like heaven.
She let me guide her head, offering no resistance as I made her take me deeper and deeper. Her breathing was harsh, mingling with the slick, wet sound of her mouth on me.
“Do you want me to come in your mouth?” I asked, my voice tight. “Or on your face?”
I cursed as I fisted my cock faster, the pressure inside me building with each stroke.
“You choose, my Paige,” I said as I pulled back far enough for my dick to slide free. “Where do you want me to come?” I asked again. “Mouth? Face?” Each suggestion made a pulse of lust go through me. “Tits?”
Her breathing hitched. “Wherever you want, Sir.”
I shook my head. “No, Paige, I want you to choose. Where do you want me to come?”
The words were barely a whisper. “Inside me, Sir.”
“Say that again,” I growled.
She squared her shoulders and spoke louder. “I want you to come in my pussy, Sir.”
“Fuck!” The word tore out of me
as I climaxed, spurting over my fist and onto my shirt. I was a mess, but the pressure inside me was gone. For the first time in months, my head was clear.
Well, that was unexpected.
Twelve
Paige
Considering the guilt that had swept over me after I’d gotten off while fantasizing about Reb, it was probably a good thing that Habitat for Humanity didn’t have anything going on at the moment. I wasn’t sure I could take an entire morning of watching Reb doing construction work and be able to control myself.
Fortunately, I’d gotten ahold of Candra Hammel, a college classmate of mine who now ran a community program where kids could go both after school and on the weekends. While, most of the time, they had the usual games and such, sometimes they brought in people to offer specialized classes or workshops. Today, they were getting rock star Reb Union to teach music to the kids.
I just hoped I’d made the right call. If he showed up drunk or behaved like an ass, I’d be lucky to not get fired. Reb wasn’t the only one putting things on the line today.
“Candra.” I smiled at the woman standing by the front door. She looked just as polished and professional as ever. “It’s good to see you again.”
“You too,” she said as she gave me a hug. “It looks like all that hard work you put in is paying off. Representing Reb Union.” She let out a low whistle, her turquoise eyes sparkling. “I know a lot of women who’d give their right arm to get that close to him.”
I didn’t have to ask if she was one of them. Candra had been an out and proud lesbian since well before I knew her. She’d appreciate Reb’s beauty the same way I appreciated hers, but it wouldn’t be an issue. That wasn’t the main reason I’d gone to her, but it was definitely a bonus.
“He’s my first client,” I admitted. “The first one I have by myself, anyway. I have to get it right.”
Candra nodded. “At least you’ve got a good guy to work with.”
“You know him?” I was pleased to hear that I didn’t sound as surprised as I actually was. I didn’t want her getting the wrong idea, because I wasn’t jealous. He wasn’t her type. And even if he was, it wouldn’t have mattered because he wasn’t my type.
“Only by reputation. He has a good one.” She frowned, and her gaze drifted away from mine. “At least he did until recently. His break-up appeared to have really hit him hard. It’s good that she’s gone though. Mitzi was clearly using him.”
I stared at her. Candra hadn’t been as much of a workaholic as me, but she’d always been focused. The attention to the entertainment industry was new.
She laughed at the expression on my face. “My girlfriend works at Entertainment Weekly.”
“So, you know that I–”
“Leaked that Reb would be here today?” She finished. “I figured that’d be the case even before I got Lena’s message.”
“I don’t want you to think I’m using the program. I think it’s amazing what you do for these kids.”
She smiled. “I know. It’s okay. Generally, when celebrities come to something like this, it’s for publicity reasons, and I’d much rather have someone like Reb come in and actually do something other than write a check.”
“I’ll make sure he behaves himself,” I promised. I wasn’t sure how I was going to manage that, but I’d think of something. My ears grew hot as I remembered telling him that I’d make sure he ‘got something’ out of this. I’d come up with something appropriately professional. No way in hell would I give in to the thoughts I knew had accompanied his request for a ‘reward.’ I didn’t want that.
“Speak of the devil,” Candra said, looking past me.
I didn’t need to turn to know he was coming right for us. I could feel him staring and prayed that Candra didn’t read anything into it. The last thing Reb needed was rumors that something was going on between him and his PR rep. I didn’t even want to think what it would do to my reputation.
“I’ve got to get inside,” Candra said. “Two of my usual volunteers called in sick this morning. The kids that get here this early always have far too much energy, and if I don’t give them something constructive to do, I’ll end up cleaning paint off my ceiling.”
The expression on her face said that she hadn’t pulled something that specific out of nowhere. I really hoped Reb was up to this. Maybe scheduling things without talking them through with him wasn’t such a good idea. I’d figured making the decisions on my own would keep him from arguing about them. The longer this dragged out, the harder it was going to be to stop the momentum. He needed to do something as soon as possible to show that he was trying to change his image.
Reb stopped next to me as Candra hurried off. “Did I do something to offend her?” he asked.
I shook my head as I turned toward him. “She’s a bit understaffed this morning.” I glanced down to see that he’d brought a guitar with him like I’d asked. “Thanks for bringing that.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve played an acoustic guitar with nothing else backing me up.”
I gave him a sharp look, but he wasn’t complaining like I’d thought. He almost looked excited by the idea. “The kids who come here are pretty much all from this neighborhood. Mostly good families, but ones that don’t have the money or time to send their kids to lessons. It’s not gangs or drugs that are the biggest danger here, but rather the inability to do anything else.”
He looked around, a thoughtful expression on his face.
“Some will be talented enough to become electricians or mechanics, and they’ll do well. They’ll be the success stories. But the kids who might’ve become doctors, lawyers, teachers, counselors – the sort of occupations that need a college degree – they’ll find themselves working in stores or on construction crews. They’ll never have the chance to reach their full potential. Maybe some will be able to get into college, get some small scholarships, but they won’t be able to afford to go.”
I remembered when I first realized what it meant that I was going to college. Mom had always made it clear to me that I either had to learn a trade or pursue a degree. Both were equally valuable, but I was expected to excel in whatever path I chose to pursue.
I had pushed myself academically, even doubling up on credits so I could graduate a year early. I’d earned several scholarships, but if it hadn’t been for my mother’s determination that I get to do what I wanted, I wouldn’t have made it. For as long as I could remember, she’d worked two jobs, gone without so many things, all so she could make sure I didn’t need to work. It was thanks to her I’d been able to accept an unpaid internship my senior year, and I’d felt like all the hard work had paid off when I’d gotten hired as a paid employee.
Any time I’d gotten tired and considered quitting, I’d think about my mom and how, some nights, she’d fallen asleep on the couch, half-way through her dinner.
“Paige?”
I gave myself a mental shake and smiled at Reb. I hadn’t asked him if working with kids was okay, and now I wondered if he’d even be able to relate or if I’d set us up to fail.
“Candra wants you to play a couple songs, then work on teaching the kids about music. Once we see how things go, she’ll probably have you repeat things every few hours so kids who come in later will get the same chance.”
“All right,” he agreed. “Let’s get started.”
I watched him as he walked toward the double doors. He didn’t look drunk, despite being a little rough around the edges. I hoped that meant he was going to listen to me when I told him what to do. He didn’t give me the impression that he was a man who was accustomed to taking orders, much less obeying them. In fact, something about the way he carried himself made me think that not many people bossed him around, not without repercussions of some kind.
Something low in me throbbed at the thoughts of rewards and punishment, but I didn’t let it linger. We had work to do.
Any doubts I had about how he’d do with kids vanished the moment we stepped
inside the community center.
“Holy shit!” A boy who looked to be about ten or so shouted as soon as he saw Reb. “That’s Reb Union! He’s a total badass!”
“Tyler!” Candra scolded him. “What have we said about language?”
He gave her the sort of charming grin that I bet he used on most authority figures to get away with things. “That the study of the English language is fucking important?”
“Tyler!” She was trying to stay firm, but I could tell she was trying not to laugh. “Mind your manners.”
He bounced up and down on his toes, but stayed where he was, and didn’t shout again.
“Kids,” Candra addressed the whole group. “Mr. Union is our special guest today. He’s going to be playing some songs for you, and then he’s going to teach you a bit about music.” She gave Tyler a stern look. “Which means, I expect all of you to be on your best behavior. Is that understood?”
“Yes, Ms. Hammel,” the whole group chorused.
Candra turned to Reb. “Think you can take it from here?”
He swallowed hard, and I wondered if anyone else could tell that he was nervous. “I can. Thank you.”
He smiled and led the kids over to a place at the other end of the building where a stage was set up. He sat down, taking out his guitar as the kids pulled chairs into a half-circle. I leaned back against the wall to watch.
Because I needed to make sure this worked.
Not because I wanted to watch him.
“All right,” he said as he settled his guitar on his lap. “I’m guessing at least one of you knows some of my music. Do I have a request?”
“‘Under the Waves,’” Tyler immediately spoke up. “That’s my favorite song.”
