by Jacki Kelly
She watched him dispose of the used condoms with one swift move.
Another evening with Simeon couldn’t hurt. Just one more. Tomorrow she’d focus.
She wrapped her legs around his waist. His touch started slow, gradually increasing in intensity. She kneaded his back, holding on to him as if he were a lifeline. After invading her thoughts for so long it seemed impossible that he had just screwed her in the family room, solarium and bathroom counter. She wanted to think it was about love, but this had nothing to do with love. She wouldn’t get the two confused again.
His tongue flicked her neck, waking her from a two-year slumber. Senses that had been asleep for so long she forgot they existed fired back to life.
Her eyes slid along his muscular body. When they reached his face she held his gaze searching for the meaning in the moment. Were they in a relationship now? Or was tonight just a distraction for him? His eyes revealed nothing.
“I know I promised to be a gentleman tonight, but I couldn’t...”
“I’m not complaining,” she said. He kissed her gently. His tongue slowly sought hers, encircling her tongue so leisurely it seemed like a taunting dance. She wrapped her arms around his neck.
He grabbed the extra condoms, and then lifted her off the counter. With his hands cradled under her buttocks he carried her into the bedroom. His strides were even and sure. He lowered her onto the bed. She caught her breath. There were more reasons to stop him than there were to surrender to him but she couldn’t think of one. His hands massaged her breasts; the warmth of his palm ignited her body. The involuntary arch of her back brought her closer to him. When she tried to pull him on top of her, he pulled back and kissed her shoulders then drew on one nipple, taking his time before moving to the second with the same luxurious motion.
Her hips ground against the soft sheets, a continuous groan rolled from the back of her throat. His actions were slow, not hurried like before. His warm, sensual touch devoured every inch of her. All the dreams or illusions she’d had about him couldn’t compare to the fire he sent roaring through her body. She moaned his name.
He continued kissing her body. Between her thighs his tongue darted into her center with such intensity she bolted upright in the bed, tightening her hold on his ears. His hot tongue stroked her. She grabbed the sheets, balling the Egyptian cotton into her fist.
“Oh, Simeon,” she whispered.
He stopped long enough to look in her eyes. The fiery passion in his dark brown eyes didn’t match his earlier commitment to remain uninvolved. He murmured something she couldn’t hear.
“What?”
Instead of answering he held her gaze. His dark eyes filled with something. Was it lust?
She fell against the pillows. She wanted to read something into the way his palms caressed her stomach or the way his fingertips traced the outline of her breast with a slow, easy touch. But she knew better. Anything he said would be driven by lust, nothing more.
He reached for the foil condoms beside her on the bed. She removed the packet from his hand then, massaged the latex sheath into place. The warmth of his penis set her ablaze.
Then he rose up and straddled her. He slipped into her while his eyes continued to pierce through her. Together they were so natural, it felt like they had been making love for years. He slipped in and out of her, each thrust slower and deeper. She tried to speed up his movement but his powerful hips remained in control. His slow movement strummed her nub. She felt him expand and a wave of ecstasy washed over her like molten lava. Her body tightened around him. Her climax started at her core and rolled across her flesh. Her body contorted with a velocity that lifted her back off the bed, quaking with electrical pulses, before releasing her.
He drove deep into her and his body stiffened. He held her so tight she couldn’t move.
“Wow,” she whispered.
“Wow is right, but is that it? That’s all you’re going to say?” He pulled her close and nuzzled his chin into her neck.
“Give me a minute.”
They lapsed into a comfortable silence. Music still played downstairs. She should have known the words to the song, but her mind was racing. The lyrics eluded her. How in the world could she ever let him go?
“How much of this did you have planned?”
“Would you believe me if I said none of it?”
“So, you had nothing to do with the mishap with my car?” she teased.
“Nothing at all. That was just my good luck. I couldn’t have planned a more perfect evening.”
She faced him, propped up on one elbow. Illumination from the bathroom light cast a shadow across his face. “You keep condoms in all your drawers?”
“Well, doesn’t every man? Just in case?”
“Uh, huh. Did you think I would be that easy?”
He produced his wicked smile. “I’ve been waiting for you for ten years. You’re the most evasive woman I know. You take playing hard-to-get to a professional level.”
She dropped her head on his chest. “I wasn’t playing.”
“I didn’t think so.” He captured her mouth. His tongue was gentle until he deepened the passionate kiss.
With his finger he lifted her chin, drawing her closer. The only thing real was this moment. To think beyond it would erode its beauty. His penis throbbed against her thigh.
“Again?”
“Again, please.” The lusty quality in his voice erased everything else from her mind. She closed her eyes and accepted him.
Sometime during the night she heard him get out of bed, turn off the bathroom light and draw the sheet over her. He climbed back in the bed and pulled her close. She settled against his warm body. Sleep slowly descended on her while she listened to him breathe.
§ § §
The room was drenched in sunlight when Simeon lifted his head off the pillow and rubbed his temples. It wasn’t a dream. Finally, he had his princess. If only he could set the time back a few hours and enjoy it all again. His cock hardened as he gazed at her ethereal beauty and silky skin. Without waking Asa he swung his legs off the bed and rested his chin in the palms of his hand. The pounding in his head was so loud he couldn’t hear his own thoughts. He staggered out of the bedroom.
How long could Asa throw him off his game? Trying to manage his emotions for her was about as stupid as pretending to ignore her throughout high school. He could negotiate with powerful, demanding people easier than he could face how he felt about her.
In the bathroom he found aspirin in his medicine cabinet. He took two with a long gulp of water before staring at his reflection in the mirror. Get it together, man. You know kryptonite when you see it.
After a full minute, he pushed off the Italian marble countertop and headed back to the bedroom. Asa was sound asleep, breathing so softly only the rise and fall of her exposed breast showed any sign of life. She was an angel.
He ran his hands across the top of his head. Now what? What was supposed to happen now? He dressed in a pair of khaki shorts and an army green t-shirt before heading to his office. It took a few moments to locate the number of his personal mechanic. He made arrangements for him to fix her car.
Coffee. He needed coffee to clear his head. A stiff cup of java would help him think straight. He filled the teapot for Asa.
He hoped she didn’t think last night changed things between them. As much as he wanted to settle down and do the whole family thing, it was too lame for him. He had no intentions of misleading her. He pulled bacon and eggs from the refrigerator.
The whole night was his idea. As always he controlled his actions.
“What smells so good?” Asa stood in the doorway. Her face was scrubbed clean and her unruly hair had been pulled back into a thick ponytail. She wore his oversized blue and gold shirt that barely covered her shapely ass.
“Good morning, sleepyhead. He raked scrambled eggs onto a platter. “I hope you’re hungry, I’ve cooked enough to feed a small army.”
“I should
get going.”
“You don’t have a car.” He nodded at her to take a seat at the table.
“I can call Dakota to pick me up and have the car towed later.”
He sat across from her at the kitchen table. Even without make-up Asa was stunning. Instead of looking sleep deprived, she glowed. There was a softness to her that made him want to sweep her into his arms and take her back upstairs. He wished he could give her what she wanted, but his promise to his mother came first.
“Asa, I’ll have Dewy look at your car. And I’ll take you home after you eat.”
“Who’s Dewy?”
“My mechanic. I called him first thing this morning.”
“You have your own mechanic? A mechanic that makes house calls? How do you even know where my car is right now?”
“Believe me, it is probably still sitting in front of the mission. This isn’t as fancy as dinner, but it’s tolerable.” He pointed to the plate in front of her.
She lifted the eggs to her mouth but put the fork down without tasting them. “You’re actually a very good cook, but these eggs are runny.” She used her fork to point at the plate. “Simeon, I can’t let you pay to have my car fixed. I can handle it. I can take care of myself.”
“Whoa, Asa. I don’t doubt you can take care of yourself. I was only trying to be helpful. If it’s about the money...”
“It’s not the money. These are the kinds of things I need to step up and work out. I don’t want to be dependent on anyone else. I just went through that and...” She jumped up.
“Let Dewy fix your car. I’ll give you a lift home and if it makes you feel any better you can pay me back.”
When she started to object, he raised his hands. “It’s the least I can do. It’s the most efficient way to get this resolved. Besides you’re hardly dressed to take care of any business this morning.”
He read the reluctance in her eyes, her petite frame oozed defiance.
“I can get dressed in minutes. That’s not the issue.” She crossed her arms and the shirt rose slightly almost exposing the intersection of her thighs.
“Are you going to finish your breakfast?”
She flopped in the chair next to him and moved the food around on her plate without eating.
“I was trying to be helpful,” he offered.
I know.” She looked up at him. “And thank you for your help b-but...I promised myself when I moved back here that I wouldn’t depend on anyone. Not even my sisters. Especially not my sisters.”
“Trust me. I know how hard it is to change perceptions.” The doorbell rang. “I wonder who that is.” He stood, crossed the room and spoke into the intercom. “Yeah?”
“I have a package from the Plaid Group for Simeon Harper of Harper Enterprise.”
Simeon stole a quick glance at her. He ran his hand over his head. “I’ll be right there. Just a minute.”
With Asa’s eyes riveted on him, he hurried from the room.
Another hole I’ll need to get out of.
Chapter Sixteen
“I thought you said no business.” She called to Simeon before he headed for the door.
“I’ll be right back.”
She pushed the runny eggs to the side of the plate and nibbled a piece of bacon. The crispy meat crumbled in her mouth. The bacon was perfectly cooked.
She envied Simeon’s ability to focus on one thing with such intensity. His world revolved around his work and everything else seemed secondary. Some part of him was off limits to her. That much was very clear. Getting involved with Simeon meant being in second place. Again.
She scraped the remnants of the food into the trash before clearing the rest of the table. Simeon’s hushed conversation floated in from the foyer. She could hear a few words; contract, funds, signature.
Guilt washed over her. Eavesdropping was akin to stealing in her grandmother’s eyes. So she turned on the water to rinse the dishes then loaded the dishwasher. The noise drowned out Simeon’s discussion.
She examined the tidy kitchen before heading up the back stairs. She needed a shower and clothes.
In the bedroom, she discarded his shirt and stepped into the marble shower. Warm water pelted her shoulders and splattered her face. She sighed, allowing the water to wash away the remnants of last night. Maybe she was hypersensitive. Snapping at Simeon for trying to help with her car wasn’t called for. She buried her head under the water spray and rolled her shoulders.
“Ah, there you are.” Simeon stood outside the glass enclosure, pulling off his clothes. “I hope you don’t mind if I join you.”
He stepped in before she could answer and dropped a condom on the shower seat. He turned on the opposite showerhead before spinning to face her. Water bounced off his chest while a stream trailed down his abs and disappeared in his pubic hair. His strong jaw displayed a hint of stubble making him look rugged. She would never grow tired of looking at him.
His hands explored her soapy breasts. “Simeon...”
“Shh...I can’t get enough of you.” He found her mouth. His warm tongue darted inside, quieting her comment.
Her tongue met his enthusiasm. Her body wanted him even as her head cautioned her to slow down. He massaged the soap against her skin then cupped his hands, filling them with water to rinse the soap off. When his mouth found her nipples they hardened under his touch. She wobbled, his thick arms held on to her, cradling her against the smooth marble.
She reached for his erection as it pulsed against her flesh, hot and hard. She tightened her hand around his penis.
He moaned with pleasure, and then released her nipple. “Do you want me?” he whispered in her ear.
Words wouldn’t come. She nodded.
“Say it. Say you want me.” His eyes blazed with a heat that matched hers.
She swallowed. “Yes. Yes, Simeon, I want you.” Her voice sounded thick.
He dropped to his knees and inserted his tongue inside her. She shuddered. His tongue burrowed deeper, drawing in and out agonizingly slow and steady. Her heart responded, swelling to accept her love for him. He devoured her like prey, each thrust willing her to surrender. She closed her eyes; his tongue drove her insane. Steam from the shower rose around them, adding to their heat. Her orgasm started with a flicker before ripping through her body and exploding into tiny pieces. He held her while she shook with pleasure. Then he placed his tongue in her mouth. She tasted the residue of her essence. He released a primal growl that vibrated in her ears.
Without releasing her tongue, he lifted her against the marbled wall and slipped his sheathed penis inside her. He pushed his tongue deeper into her mouth. The only sound in the room was the rhythmic patter of the water hitting the river rock on the shower floor.
§ § §
“I can’t believe I’m dressed before you,” she teased from the chaise while she watched him.
“You didn’t have anything to choose from. You were going to wear your clothes from yesterday or go home naked. And you wouldn’t have gotten very far if you attempted the latter.”
She grinned at him. “So, what was that all about this morning?”
He walked into the dressing room without looking at her. “What?”
“With the courier and all, I thought you said no business. I kept my promise about no business...but you...”
“That vow was for last night. Besides that only applied to you, not to me and Harper Enterprise. I can’t always stop the business clock.”
Asa swung her feet off the chaise and stalked to the entrance of his dressing room. His back was to the door. The muscles in his shoulders bulged. “So your business always comes first?”
“Always.” He pulled on a shirt before facing her.
“And what about us?”
“Oh, I enjoy you.” He grinned. “I’ll always make time for you.”
“Uh-huh. As long as I don’t interfere with business, right?”
He grabbed her hips and pulled her close. “You won’t, just like I wouldn
’t interfere with your work.” He kissed her cheek and led her out of the bedroom.
She didn’t need to see his eyes to know he was keeping something from her. Being married to Eric had taught her well. She understood living on the fringe of someone’s life.
§ § §
Simeon caught a glimpse of Asa from the corner of his eye as he drove toward the city. She chewed her thumbnail, her body purposely turned away from him.
“Okay, don’t tell me you’re still upset because I stepped in to get your car fixed or because I conducted a little business this morning.”
“I’m not upset.’
“I didn’t mean to throw off your plan to do everything yourself,” Simeon said.
“You’re pretty good at doing that.”
“You weren’t complaining last night...or this morning.” He leveled his gaze at her.
“No, not at all and I’m not complaining now. Last night was... last night--”
“Why are you so quiet?”
“I’m just processing some of the things we talked about. How about we say it was a nice evening,” she said.
“Nice? I put some of my best moves on you and you give me nice?”
“You have some pretty smooth moves.” She nodded. “But I’m not twenty. I’m looking for more than good sex.”
“I told you I’m not looking.”
“So, we’re at odds again. That’s the norm for us, isn’t it?”
They continued the ride without talking. How could he tell her about the project? The subject of his project was off limits last night, but to continue the charade any further was deceitful. She must have overheard the exchange with the courier.
Her house sat at the end of his wrecking ball. He doubted she understood the importance of his project. He was a success. Something his father was never able to do.
He pulled the car into an empty space in front of her house. “Asa, if I can do anything for you...” He turned off the ignition.
She turned in her seat and focused her attention on him. “If you want to do something for me, don’t tear down my house.”
