by M. S. Parker
“Men like me?” He took a sip of his coffee.
“Good-looking, rich, powerful.” I glanced toward the waitress returning with my coffee. “Men like you.”
“So you do think I'm attractive.” He smiled, showing that dimple again.
I glared at him as I took a drink and burnt my tongue. “I don't really think that's an appropriate work conversation.”
“Then it's a good thing we're not at work and you turned down my job offer. I'm not your employer.” His eyes twinkled. “Which means I can tell you that while you look great, I was hoping for another mini-skirt, because you have amazing legs.”
I raised an eyebrow. That was a bit more forward than I'd expected from him. I thought he had devised this opportunity to try to talk me into taking his job offer. Of course, I'd thought charming and flirting would be part of the deal, but I'd expected subtle, nothing that could be taken for actual attraction.
“If that's the case, why'd you offer me a job?” I asked. “Were you planning on coming in every day to check out my legs?”
“That would've just been a bonus,” he said easily. “But I value your mind over your body.”
I wasn't quite sure how to take that one. I knew my employers valued my mind over my appearance, but I'd never heard anyone say they wanted my brain more than my body. I wasn't entirely sure how I felt about that. In fact, I wasn't sure how I felt about this entire encounter. It was a relief when the waitress brought our food and I was able to dig in.
“For the record,” Rylan broken the silence that had fallen while we'd started on our meals. “The reason most of my dates don't order cheeseburgers is because they're not generally on the menu.”
“Ah,” I said. “Too good for regular people food?”
He rolled his eyes and I almost choked on my hamburger from trying not to laugh. Sitting across from him, looking at the smear of ketchup on the corner of his mouth, watching him make the kind of face I'd seen guys in college make with their friends, I thought I could see a much younger version of Rylan Archer.
“What?” he asked.
I pointed to the side of my face. “You have some stuff on your cheek.”
He picked up a napkin and brushed at the wrong side.
I shook my head. I knew he was messing with me. His expression was serious, but there was a twinkle in his eyes. He dabbed at his cheek higher up and I knew what he was trying to bait me into doing. I bit, and reached for the napkin. He let me take it, his fingers brushing against mine. I was ready for the possibility of a touch this time so I didn't flinch or pull away. Besides, we were in a public place, which did give me a bit of a safety net.
I used the corner of the napkin to clean off the ketchup, and it was harder than I expected to pull away without touching his face. I was itching to know how the stubble on his cheeks and chin would feel against my fingers, if his lips were as soft as they looked.
I dropped my hand. “There, all better.” I resisted the urge to rub my hand on my pants. Usually, after this much time had passed since I'd met a guy, we'd either gone our separate ways or were already tearing each other's clothes off. And there was never any of this kind of light flirting.
When we were done here, I would need to get laid, just to get things back to normal.
I finished my cheeseburger without another word, keeping my eyes on my plate. I felt his gaze on me, but didn't look up to meet it. As attractive as I found Rylan and as good as the food was, I was ready for this... whatever this was to be over. This was why I didn't date. Too much of a risk of some sort of personal connection. Better just to fuck and flee.
“Is something wrong?” Rylan's voice was worried.
“No.” I shook my head as I glanced up at him. I regretted it immediately. Damn those eyes. I was used to having men either disgusted with me or visually undressing me. Not looking at me with interest and concern. Something inside me sparked and I shoved it down. I wasn't going there. I needed a distraction. “So, Mr. Rylan Archer, CEO, how did you explain that shiner to your employees?”
He laughed and let me change the subject. He brushed his fingers across the deep purplish bruise beneath his eye as if just remembering it was there. “I considered trying to cover it up with make-up, but then I realized I'd look kind of silly trying to figure out how to match my coloring.”
I smiled in agreement.
“So I just told them the truth.”
“Seriously?” I stared at him.
“I told them I was mugged by a three hundred pound biker.”
I laughed, and the tension that had been building eased.
“Actually, I didn't offer an explanation and no one asked,” he admitted. “It was a little embarrassing.” He quickly clarified. “Not because you're a woman, but because I over-stepped by touching your arm.”
“I over-reacted,” I said. “It was my fault.”
He waved his hand. “Neither here nor there. It's over. No need to discuss it.” He popped the last bite of his cheeseburger into his mouth.
“So we've had our apologies for our behavior,” I said. “And we've both finished our meal...”
“In that much of a hurry to get rid of me?” The question was asked as a joke, but I sensed the undercurrent of seriousness in it.
“More like I just have somewhere I have to be,” I lied. Well, only partially lied. I was planning on finding myself someone to fuck, but I wasn't sure that constituted a place I needed to be.
“I see.” He nodded. He didn't look annoyed, but there was a mixture of frustration and disappointment in his eyes. When I stood, he did the same. “When can we do this again?” He held out his hand.
I took it and couldn't deny the pleasurable tingle that ran across my skin. That just confirmed my answer to his question. “I don't think that's such a good idea.” I turned and walked away before he could ask why. I wasn't sure I could answer him if he did.
Chapter Six
Because it was still in the middle of the day, no clubs were open and the only men hanging out at a bar wouldn't be anyone I'd want to go home with. Well, not home, because that never happened. There weren't any frat parties going on either. But, that didn't mean there weren't plenty of horny college boys on campus. I just needed to decide where I was going to search.
I headed for the gym. I didn't have a student ID anymore, but I knew I could hang out in the lobby until someone showed enough interest for me to make a move. It didn't take long. I'd barely been there ten minutes before a tall, dark-haired guy came out from the locker rooms. His hair was still damp, so I assumed he'd just taken a shower after working out. That was good. A rush of endorphins always made for hot sex.
“You waiting for someone?” he asked, his eyes lingering on the cleavage I'd created by tugging on the front of my shirt.
“Depends,” I answered coyly. “Are you someone?” I shifted my weight, knowing it would draw his attention back to my chest. Men were so predictably. For a moment, I wondered if Rylan would fall for my little tricks, if he'd forget about my mind and I worked my magic. Then I pushed the thought away and focused on the man in front of me.
“I can be someone.” He let his gaze run down the rest of my body. “I'm Evan.”
“Jenna.” I put my hand on Evan's arm. “You have a roommate?”
“He's in class until five,” Evan said. “You wanna come back to my room?”
I ran my tongue along my bottom lip. “I can promise you the best fuck of your life, but I'm in charge. You do what I say and you won't regret it.”
“Let's go.”
He didn't take my hand and I was glad for that. It meant he knew the rules and I wouldn't have to explain it. We made our way across the short distance to the closest dormitory. It didn't surprise me that he was in the athletes' dorm. As we went up the stairs, I vaguely wondered what sport he played. He was only a little over six feet tall, with broad shoulders and a muscular chest, but that didn't narrow things down. He could've been a quarterback or a point guard, or s
ome other position I wasn't familiar with. I wasn't a big sports fan, though as I got a nice glimpse of Evan's tight ass, I had to admit, I liked the results of their work-out regimens.
I followed him into his room, pretending not to notice him kick some dirty clothes under his bed. The bed looked clean enough and that's all I cared about. I grabbed the hem of my shirt and pulled it over my head.
“Damn, girl. You don't waste any time, do you?”
I smiled at him as I unbuttoned my jeans. “Something wrong with that?”
“Hell no.” Evan tossed his shirt onto a nearby desk.
I took a moment to appreciate the flat plane of his stomach, the defined muscles of his chest and arms. He had ink all the way down one side, a dragon whose tail I assumed curled around his back. He winked at me and pulled off his sweats. He was going commando and his cock bobbed happily in front of him as it was freed. Another reason I loved college guys. It didn't take much to get them hard.
I stripped off my jeans and underwear together, then unfastened my bra and let it join the rest of my clothes. Evan swore under his breath, but his admiration didn't mean much of anything to me. I knew I had a nice body. My breasts were average size and firm, with pale pink nipples that were already starting to harden. I didn't shave my pussy, but the dark hair was neatly trimmed and thin. If any guy I'd been with didn't like it, they never said anything. Not that I would've cared if they had. Yet another reason why I avoided repeat hook-ups.
I saw his eyes flick down to the six-inch burn scar down the left side of my stomach. I took a step forward, distracting him from looking again. The moment my fingers wrapped around his cock, any question he might've considered asking was forgotten. He was a bit thinner than my last hook-up and about an inch shorter, but still well within average range. I could work with it.
I slowly stroked his cock from base to tip and his hands found my breasts. He palmed them, then lightly squeezed. His dark eyes met mine and I could see he was testing me, seeing what I'd meant by taking control, waiting for me to tell him to stop. He pinched my nipples, but not quite hard enough. I dropped my hand to his balls and gave him a squeeze. He caught his breath.
“Fingers or mouth?” I asked.
“What?”
I took one of his hands from my breast and slid it down my stomach to the juncture between my legs. I pushed one of his fingers between my lips and moaned as it pressed against my clit. I was too dry for anything more than that at the moment, but I was sensitive enough that the light pressure sent a shiver of pleasure through me.
“You wanna get me ready with your fingers or your mouth?” I clarified my previous question.
His eyes got even darker and he raised his hand to brush his thumb across my bottom lip. “And do I get the same choice?”
“If you do it my way,” I said.
“Then tell me what your way is.” He pressed his thumb into my mouth. “Because I really want my dick in there.”
I scraped my teeth across the pad of his thumb before answering. “Get a condom and lay down on the bed.”
He immediately did as I said and I wondered how long it had been since he'd gotten laid.
“Before we get going, do I need the condom for this part too?” I didn't like the taste of latex, but better safe than sorry.
Evan shook his head. His cheeks flushed with embarrassment, confirming that he was telling the truth. “I haven't exactly been with many women.”
I grinned and climbed onto the bed. I put my knees on either side of his head and leaned over him. I would to have to stretch a bit, but it'd work. I stuck out my tongue and flicked it across the tip of Evan's cock. His hips jerked. I spread my legs wider and lowered my pussy closer to his mouth. He got the hint. His hands went to my hips and he thrust his tongue between my lips. He sucked and licked, plunging deep inside. I moaned and slid his cock into my mouth. The taste of soap and man burst across my taste buds.
I bobbed my head, taking him deeper and deeper as his tongue danced around my clit. For someone with little experience, he definitely knew his way around. I shivered as he thrust his tongue into my pussy, teasing at my walls until pleasure coursed through me. I was close and if he kept that up, I would come before we even got to the good stuff. Or, more accurately, the better stuff, because this was pretty good.
Then his lips were around my clit, sucking hard and I was crying out, the sound muffled by the hard flesh in my mouth. I shuddered as I came, automatically raising my head so I didn't accidentally bite down. Before I'd even stopped coming, I rolled off of Evan and reached for the little foil packet at his side. I tore it open with my teeth and winked at Evan as I rolled it over his throbbing erection.
“You're going to be on top?” Evan asked, his voice breathless.
I considered it, but I was in the mood for something different. I didn't do this often, but from what I'd seen, Evan would do as he was told. I got up on my knees, then turned around so I was facing away from him. I looked over my shoulder as I put my hands down on the bed. “Keep your hands on my hips and you can fuck me as hard as you want. Touch any other part of me without me telling you to and I'll cut your balls off.” I gave him a sweet smile.
Evan nodded and was immediately on his knees. I had a moment where panic threatened to hijack my arousal, but then he put one hand on my hip and used the other to position his cock at my entrance. He looked to me for reassurance and that's when I knew he would obey. I nodded and he started to ease in, one glorious inch at a time.
“Go for it,” I said as he stretched me. I was glad he hadn't used his fingers. He was thin enough that if he had, I wouldn't have been so tight.
He pushed forward, burying himself inside me in one move. I groaned with pleasure and gave myself over to the sensation. The friction sent ripples of electricity through me and I reached beneath me to rub my swollen clit.
“Fuck,” I grunted as Evan began to pound into me. My fingers made rapid circles over that bundle of nerves, driving the fire inside of me toward the explosion I craved and needed.
“Fuck, fuck...” Evan's fingers dug painfully into my hips.
I looked over my shoulder again and saw Evan's face screwed up in concentration, and I knew he was fighting his body to prolong the experience. I pushed my ass back, forcing him deeper and harder until he let out a string of half-intelligible obscenities and came. I reached behind me with one hand and grabbed his ass, digging my nails in to hold him in place as I finished myself off.
My muscles clenched as I climaxed, and I let myself feel the pleasure coursing through my body. I was dimly aware of Evan continuing to swear as my pussy squeezed his cock until he made a pained sound. Only then did I force my muscles to unclench and he pulled out. I rolled onto my side as he flopped onto his back.
“Shit, girl,” Evan panted. “Where the hell did you come from?”
My stomach clenched in a way that wasn't pleasant and felt the darkness creep in. No. I sat up. I wasn't going to go there. I climbed off of the bed and started picking up my clothes. I'd gotten what I wanted and now it was time to move on. I didn't even glance at Evan when I answered his “can I see you again” question. Of course, my answer was a polite version of “no way in hell.”
He'd been fun, but that was it. Just another guy.
Chapter Seven
Things went back to normal on Monday. I went in for my usual two week diagnostic run for three of my regular clients – all simple businesses who were more worried about their neighbors stealing wi-fi than any real technological problems – and then did an emergency system purge for a law office that had a virus. I took it easy on Tuesday and worked from home, designing a system for a private security firm. It wasn't due for delivery until the end of October, but I was close to done and if I finished early, it'd only help my reputation. I had one job late Wednesday morning and then it was back to my system work until my phone rang at six-thirty.
I was engrossed enough in code that I didn't bother to look at who was calling b
efore I answered it. “Lang Tech Consulting, Jenna Lang speaking.” Most people probably would've thought it strange that I answered my personal line that way, but I'd never had any problems. After all, when your calls are all business, there really isn't such a thing as a personal line.
“Jenna.”
I froze, instantly recognizing his voice. When he continued, however, I quickly snapped out of it. His tone indicated that this was indeed a business call. An urgent one.
“I need your help. A hacker got into my server and planted a virus. It would take me days to get it fixed by myself and by then...”
“Your entire system will be wiped out.” I completed the thought as I closed down all of my programs on my laptop.
“Can you come now?” he asked.
“I'm on my way,” I said as I put the laptop away and pulled out the one I used for jobs where viruses came into play.
“I was hoping you'd say that,” he said. “Because I already sent a car to your building. Like I said, time's of the essence.”
“I'm grabbing my coat and will be downstairs in two minutes.” I hung up even as I tugged on my boots and grabbed my leather jacket. I pulled my bag over my shoulder even as I headed out the door.
It wasn't until I was halfway down the stairs that I realized I was wearing my usual “work from home” attire of yoga pants and an off-the-shoulder sweatshirt... no bra. I hadn't planned on going anywhere for the rest of the night. I'd even pulled my hair back from my face with a pair of clips. I looked more like a college student on a midnight munchie run than a professional, but Rylan had said time wasn't on our side, so I guessed he'd prefer me like this rather than waste time running back upstairs to change.
The car was already waiting in front of the building, which was good because the breeze was brisk enough to make me shiver. The driver opened the door without a word or even a look. Either Rylan had given a description of me or this guy was insanely professional.
