She turned, and we were just millimeters away from each other.
I could see in her eyes she was surprised and startled that I was so close and turned on from watching the couple. The warm brown of her near-honey eyes was lit from within.
Shit.
I was going to kiss her.
Vanity
His lips found mine in the strange half-darkness of the Stadium.
Detective Simon Garabaldi was kissing me.
Sweet Lord in heaven, he could kiss. His hand snaked behind me and wrapped softly over the nape of my neck, holding me still. His lips were curious but polite, soft but firm with his quests.
He tasted like scotch and soda, mint and lemon. The curious open mouth kiss deepened, and I was more than willing to let him in, to explore. His tongue was slow, and he explored each inch of my mouth, probing and withdrawing, tasting and memorizing.
I was breathless. He stole the very air from my body.
Both of us panting, he leaned his forehead on mine and laughed lightly. “I don’t even know your real name, and I just kissed you.”
I smirked, watching his black eyes twinkle. “Vanessa. Carmody.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Vanessa.” He chuckled softly. “I hope my kiss wasn’t too forward.”
I shook my head just a little. “Not at all.”
What I really wanted to do was throw myself down at his feet and confess all the dirty thoughts I’d had about him. I hadn’t meant to be so…forthcoming with what that scene had made me feel and think, but there it was.
“Can I kiss you again?”
“As often as you like,” I answered.
He did. He was just as wonderful and thorough as the first one.
All the want I had built up from watching the couple in the room was floating through me, and his tempting kisses were not helping my soaked panty situation.
Wait. I’d opted out of panties.
Shit.
He nibbled my lip and backed away a little. “You’re right, you know. Nothing is going to happen here tonight.”
Wait, what the hell we were talking about?
“Would you…like to get dinner with me?”
I blinked a few times. “Um, sure?”
“You don’t sound sure.”
I laughed. “Yes, I’d like that. You…know…” I stopped myself.
His thumb brushed up and down on the side of my throat, sending a nice little shiver through me. “I know how this works in your world, Vanity. But can I show you how it works in my world?”
“You want to go on a date.” My heart leapt into my throat.
He nodded. “I do. Maybe sex is simpler in your mind, but in mine, there are obstacles. Not knowing you at all is one of them.”
I wrapped my hands around his. “Are you a gray?”
“I have no idea what that means.”
“Let’s get dinner, then.” I ran a thumb over his knuckles. “One thing, though? Would you do me just one little kinky thing?”
“If I can.”
I reached into his pocket and pulled out the leash. “Let me wear this while you hold on to it. Just until we’re outside. I’ve never ever done it before and I just want to know what it feels like.”
“I don’t know…”
“If you’re not comfortable, please say so. I feel so safe with you, and this was one kink I want out of my system if I don’t like it.”
He nodded and opened the locked on the leash. “Is there anything you particularly want to do on this?”
“No. Just walk with you holding it. I’ve done all the pet stuff before. This is just…wearing a leash.”
Snapping it closed on the hook, he took a deep breath. “Then, let’s get going.”
He walked ahead of me, the leash loose in his hand. I stood and followed close, so that it wouldn’t pull on the collar.
It wasn’t just a kink I wanted to get out of my system. I was unfair not telling him the whole truth. This was a specific fantasy I’d had with him in it. Dressed in that killer suit, with his shoes tapping sharply on the floor, my fantasy detective led me through the winding maze of the club. Head bowed, hands clasped, I followed, my eyes on his perfect ass.
Here I was, doing just that.
The fantasy paled in comparison. Because in that fantasy, Simon hadn’t kissed me and made me a promise of dinner. He hadn’t sat and watched that couple with me. He didn’t hear my words about my dream life because fantasy Simon had been silent.
Real Simon heard me. And listened. The fantasy of Simon didn’t hold a candle to the real thing.
Or his ass. Damn. The man was fine.
Once we reached the top of the stairs and stepped out into the cool night, Simon turned and looked at me, and the question was in his eyes. So was the permission.
I reached up and unhooked the leash. “Nope. Won’t do that again. Just not as hot as I thought it was.”
He smiled and held out his hand to collect the tether. “I’ll have to return that to Darcy.”
I stepped into him and heaved a deep breath. “Thank you, Simon.”
“You’re welcome, Vanessa.” He studied my face for a moment. “Dinner?”
“Absolutely.”
“What are we going to do about your clothes?”
I looked down and blanched. This was not a diner appropriate outfit. At all.
Simon took up a lot of space in my tiny little apartment. And not even because he was a big man—he was only just over six feet tall, with defined but not broad shoulders.
It was him. His presence. His personality.
And holy shit, Simon was in my apartment.
“Cute,” he said.
“Thank you. It’s just a place to lay my head and keep my plants and pants.” Oh, ugh. Really? I said that.
“Wow,” he said, walking over to the one wall. “That’s a fish tank.”
It was impossible to miss the tank. At nearly seventy-five gallons, it was one of my joys and indulgences. “All salt water. It took me nearly a year to get it to that point.”
“You like fish?”
“I like animals.” I smiled. “I can’t have a cat or dog, so I went with fish. They’re low-maintenance once you get the tank going.”
“How often do you clean it?”
“Never. If you clean it, you ruin the environment.”
His eyebrows went up. “That’s awesome.”
“Between my part-time jobs—”
“Jobs? Which ones?”
“The warehouse and Club Imperial.”
“Didn’t Emmy live off her Imperial salary?”
“I can, we all can. But I wanted to save money, not spend it all as I got it. Not that she did, but she was Prima Domme, and her tributes were large. Mine are impressive, but not like hers. And I’m only there at night, so I needed something to do with my time.”
“That seems like a lot to do with your time.”
“It’s part-time day work. Something to do while I figure out what I want to do.”
He leaned against the wall and folded his arms. “What do you want to do?”
“Something with animals, I think. I just don’t know if it’s rescue or vet tech or what. I’m happy where I am, though. So, it’s no rush.” I walked into the bedroom and did a little freak out dance.
What the hell did I wear? I pulled out a pair of black jeans and stared at my closet. I was wearing a sex bustier, so I just grabbed a jacket. I pulled the tiny little bottoms off and grabbed a pair of satin bikinis, tugged them on, then slid on my jeans. I looked in the mirror and was reasonably pleased with what I saw.
I walked back into the living room where Simon was removing his tie and unbuttoning the top button.
Oh my.
He looked a little concerned, though, and I didn’t like that. I walked up to him and leaned against the wall next to him. “Simon. If you’re not comfortable with this…”
He ran a hand down my jaw. “I haven’t been on a date in ten years. And I have
n’t had even a remote interest in dating since Cam left. You’re the first one who’s…”
I laughed. “Stirred your loins?”
“What a horrible phrase,” he grumbled.
“But not inaccurate.”
He ran a hand through his hair and mussed it up. “Look, Vanessa, I just need you to know that I’m not divorced. We’re only separated. I don’t know what’s going on with her or me or us.”
“I know the deal, Simon. I’m aware. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. For now, I’d just love to spend some time with you and maybe get in a few more of those kisses.”
A cocky little grin crossed his face. “You liked that?”
I picked at the button on his shirt. “I did. And you know what? I think it might have been some of the best kisses I’ve ever gotten.”
He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me in close. “Oh? Really?”
“Did I stroke your ego with that one?”
“Very much so. But more, I’m glad you enjoyed it.” He lowered his head to mine. “I have more if you want them.”
“I could be convinced.”
His lips covered mine and a moment later we were entangled in a kiss that made me breathless immediately. I could still taste his scotch and mint and lemon. It was so delicious, and I just wanted more of it. I wrapped my hand around his neck and clung to him.
He smiled and released me just a little. “You sure you’re a sub, Vanity? Because you’re pretty much not right now.”
“I like being submissive, but I’m not all the time.”
“Clearly.” He snickered, and his fingers brushed my jaw again. “Dinner.”
“Yeah, I’m hungry.”
A dark, sexual glint sparked in his eyes. “Are you now?”
“If you don’t take me to dinner, right now, we’re going to end up naked in my bed.”
He pulled in a sharp breath. “Right.” He stepped back and offered me his arm. “Shall we?”
It was tempting to say no and just rip his clothes off, but I knew this was important for him. We all knew how hard it had been on him with his wife walking out on him, and this was what he needed and wanted to feel normal.
I could have dinner with a sexy hot police detective. And I liked that idea. Sex could wait.
For a while.
Simon
Vanessa was very different outside the club scenes. She was smart, sassy, a little aggressive, sharp-witted and laughed a lot.
I did everything I could to keep her laughing or giggling the whole meal. It backfired a bit when she choked on her coffee, but she was fine and it was only a few drops on a white work shirt.
Like I didn’t have a thousand of those hanging in my closet.
I pulled up in front her apartment again three hours later and glanced at the clock. It was nearly one in the morning, and I hadn’t even really noticed the time passing.
“So, do I get a second date?”
She was startled by the question. “Date? Well. Yes, absolutely.”
“You’re okay with—”
Her finger was over my lips. “I’m fine with it. We’ll cross that bridge when and if we come to it.”
“Can I walk you to the door?” It was an honest question. The neighborhood was near a sketchy area, and I didn’t want anyone to take advantage. Truth was, I was still on edge from the Box Grater Rapist six months ago.
Vanessa moved in close. “If you walk me to the door, you’re walking all the way to my bed.”
If there was one thing this woman wasn’t shy about, it was sex. Blatant, open, and honest. It was shockingly refreshing to have it so laid out.
“Are you inviting me in for coffee?”
“Yeah, morning coffee.”
I grinned, dropped the car in reverse, and gunned it in to a parking spot. She laughed the whole time.
Her laugh did funny and amazing things to me. I popped the car into park and walked around to help her out. She seemed surprised I was there, but she took my hand and finished her climb out of the car.
I laced my fingers with hers and locked the door.
A flash of doubt raced through me, wondering what Cameron would think of this if we worked this out—but then I remembered she’d been dating someone.
“You okay?” She cocked her head and looked at me, then pulled us to a stop halfway up the walk to her apartment. “No, wait. Let me rephrase that. Are you okay with this? Forget me. I see anguish…”
“It’s not you, and I’m okay with this,” I said. The words felt more truthful than I’d hoped they would. I wanted to spend the night with this woman—I couldn’t keep living in a cold house with some faint and fading idea of family circling the drain.
I would cross that bridge when we came to it.
And that was the truth.
With a grin, I swooped down and swept Vanessa up and tossed her over my shoulder in a rescue carry. She yelped loudly and giggled immediately. I swatted her ass—because I could, and I knew she’d like that—and headed for her front door again.
Soft laughter tickled up my back. “Keys are in my purse,” she managed. I stuck my hand in and rustled around until I found the wad of metal keys, pulling them out. “Put me down, I’ll get us in faster if I can open the door.”
Reluctant, I put her on the ground and handed over the keys. She had the door open in a moment and she grabbed my hand, pulling me up the stairs.
She halted me halfway up and backed down a stair. But she was pressed against me on that step, the top of her head tucked into my chest.
“Simon, I’ve…” She let the words trail away.
“What?”
“I’ve fantasized about you. A lot.”
That caught me off guard. I didn’t know what to say.
“Just like you played out my kink today, would you let me play out some of those fantasies?”
This woman had no compunctions when it came to sex. It was, in many ways, utterly refreshing. I slipped a finger under her chin and looked down at her. “I’m not a Dom, Vanity. I’m not even close to it.”
She smiled. “Not all my fantasies are filthy, Simon. Not by a long shot. Not when it comes to someone you’ve been crushing on for years.”
I smirked. “Years?”
“Since I saw you the day after Emmy’s attack at Club Imperial.”
“Oh, really?”
“Sometimes, a girl just likes to imagine what a man would taste like on the tongue.” Her nimble fingers found the buckle on my belt and slipped it open.
“On your entryway stairs?”
“Maybe.”
I licked my lips. Her fingers were brushing over the front of my pants as she worked the fasteners. She had a soft fluttering touch and I was definitely reacting to her. Not like I hadn’t several times this evening, but this was with her permission, and with her hand snaking into my pants.
“Sit?” she asked.
I flopped onto the stairs as her fingers wrapped around me, drawing me out. I pushed up a little and slipped the pants down to my knees. The smile on her face was bright as she handled me with a firm, eager grip that was just perfect.
“Simon, you’re impressive,” she whispered, touching the tip with a finger.
“Am I?” I asked. “I never really felt like getting into a contest about the size of my…”
“Dick,” she supplied. “I like dark, crude words. Don’t be shy using them.”
I smirked. “I’m still not sure you’re ahhh—” I had planned to say submissive, but her lips wrapped around my crown and she teased me like she was licking an ice cream. All thought shot out of my head.
Vanessa slid me into her mouth deep and wrapped her tongue around me. I had to force myself to keep my eyes open because holy shit the woman was talented. She put a hand on either side of my shaft and gently petted the skin there. I’d never imagine just a simple movement would be so damn erotic.
Lifting up, she swirled around the head again, and my eyes nearly crossed at the s
ensation she was creating. With a dirty little pop, she released me and smiled, then licked right up from the root to the tip.
“You taste delicious, Simon,” she purred, her words vibrating against me. “May I have all of you?” Furrowing my brow, I was confused by the question. She licked at the tip again, and one hand slid down to my sac. “I want you to come in my mouth.”
“You want…to…taste…” I swallowed hard. “I’m not against it.”
She leaned forward, wrapping a hand around and moving my erection to the side. Her tongue found the very base of me, and she licked up my stomach toward my chest, plucking the buttons open on my shirt. “It is. I want that very much.”
I brushed her hair out of her eyes. “I’m not one to interrupt a fantasy.”
Without another word, she sank down on me, swallowing me and pulling me in. Her mouth was soft and warm and oh so welcoming. Wrapping a hand around the base, she moved both at the same time.
My eyes rolled back in my head. Shit, she was good at this. I ran my fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp as she moved up and down, her tongue questing and seeking. Her other hand was on my sac and she rolled me gently in her palm.
Her lips tightened and loosened, and the wet, comfortable heat was amazing. It had been entirely too long since I’d had intimate contact. Hell, I had only recently even taken matters into my own hand, and I was just about on hair trigger. I squirmed around her, my hand reflexively grabbing and releasing her hair.
The clenching sensation of climax started in my stomach and moved through me quickly. “Don’t stop, baby,” I panted. “Don’t stop.”
And then, she started humming.
My legs were trembling, my mind was a blank but totally focused at the same time. The amazing sensation ripped through me and bounced around.
I wanted this. I wanted to come in her mouth.
When she took me deep enough to hit the back of her throat, she hummed louder, and it shot through my shaft straight into my balls, and into all of my nerves.
“I’m gonna come, Vanity. Don’t stop. Don’t—”
Everything clenched, and I bowed up just a little off the stairs. I exploded into her mouth and she sucked on me like a lollipop. I released again and again, filling her mouth and finally being able to open my eyes to watch her swallow while her lips were firmly around me.
Double Entendre: (City of Steel 2) (The Vault) Page 5
