It was nice, helping another woman achieve her goals and a warm satisfaction suffused me as I got back to work, taking the box of skirts to the back so I could put them on hangers. Getting lost in work was my superpower, putting in hours and hours of inventory, bookkeeping, marketing and online order fulfillment allowed me to think of nothing but my business. Nothing but making Pretty Feathers a success. It was the perfect distraction whenever my mind decided to wander to thoughts of Mama and Daddy, Mississippi, Charla and Mitchell. Nonna and Rocky.
The bell sounded in front, indicating someone had entered the store. It was early for shoppers but as long as they stopped by during operating hours, every customer got a smile and excellent service. “Welcome to Pretty Feathers, I’ll be with you in just a moment!” When they said nothing, I carried on. “Feel free to look around, there are some great clearance items near the fitting rooms!”
The customer continued their silent routine and I shrugged, finishing clipping the last of the skirts to the hangers and eventually making my way out to the front, where I promptly froze at the sight of the last person I expected to see in my shop. Ever. “Are you lost, Nate?”
He had the nerve to look at me and flash on of those smiles I used to think was so charming, until I realized it was just a mask. “Nope. I found just who I was looking for.”
I didn’t bother to return his smile because that would indicate I was happy to see him, and I wasn’t. “You must be mistaken.”
“I’m not.” He frowned, confused that a woman couldn’t possibly be happy to see him I was sure. “I came here to see you. Why else would I be here?”
That was a loaded question if I ever heard one so I shrugged. “Maybe you’re buying a gift for someone, how would I know?”
“Dammit, Mikki.” The words came out on a low, frustrated growl that may have sent a little shiver of lust through me, but I was a strong and independent woman and ignored it. Completely.
“What are you doing here, Nate? Really this time.”
“Go on a date with me.” His tone was serious and firm, gone was the charm and the gleam in his eyes.
But I wasn’t sold, not even a little bit. “No thanks.” There was no way I’d give him, or anyone else for that matter, a chance to play more games. “You got what you wanted Nate, there’s no need to make this out to be more than it is. Was,” I quickly corrected.
He rolled his eyes and he when he spoke, sarcasm dripped from his voice. “And what was it Mikki, please, tell me.” Arms crossed, he looked like every condescending man I had even encountered in my life, so smug and sure that he knew it all.
“A good time and nothing more.” As I fell asleep that night with his arms wrapped around me, maybe for a moment I pictured Friday night dates and stolen kisses, and okay even when I woke up the next morning. But the moment I felt the cold bed and called out to him, I’d banished it all from my mind. It was too soon and I wasn’t interested.
“Bullshit.”
“Wow, okay. I’ll tell you what’s bullshit, Nate. You coming in here and acting like you’re doing me some big damn favor by deciding that you’d like to take me somewhere other than bed. We had a good time, a really good time, but any thoughts I might have had about a date or another round of sex, flew out the window about the same time you did.”
“So that’s it?”
I shrugged. “What else should it be? You’re not even really interested, if you were it wouldn’t have taken you a full month to seek me out.” I figured he assumed I’d be the one chasing him and when it was clear that I wouldn’t be, his ego had been bruised.
“I was giving you time to cool down.”
“To forget, you mean. Well I didn’t forget Nate and more importantly, I’m not interested.”
Now came the smirk, slow and sensual as hell. “I bet I can prove you wrong.”
Chemistry and lust, that’s what he was talking about. I laughed as it all became crystal clear. “Sex. Of course, that’s why you’re here.” I folded my arms and took in his big, muscular body covered in jeans that were a little too baggy and a t-shirt that was just tight enough. He had the whole sexy lumberjack cowboy thing going on that was pretty damn irresistible.
“There are worse things than sex, Mikki.”
Men. They were all the same, didn’t have one thought didn’t start and end with their dicks. “You want sex, Nate? That’s why you’re here.” It wasn’t a question and if there was any disappointment I felt, I tamped it right back down because there was no place for it here. “Why didn’t you just say so? I’m not opposed to another night of carnal pleasures, but I don’t need the pretense of something more.” I’d had it, bought it and lived to tell the tale of how it bit in the backside. Spectacularly.
“You don’t?” His confusion would have been funny if it weren’t so dang maddening.
I shook my head. “Nope. It keeps things more honest this way, don’t you think?” He looked stunned and I laughed again. “Of course you do,” I told him and added a little extra twang just to see the heat flare in his eyes.
“So, tonight?”
“I’ll be here until seven so if you come over at eight, that’ll give me plenty of time to get ready. Sound good?”
Nate still wore a stunned look but eventually he nodded. “Great,” he said absently and walked out of the store like he’d just been hit by a car and I watched him go, cataloging his ultra masculine features until my mouth began to water.
“Oh Mikki, what in the hell have you gotten yourself into?” I had no idea, but it was just a little no-strings sex and I planned to enjoy the hell out of it.
Nate
I found myself standing on Mikki’s doorstep once again feeling nervous. I didn’t know what it was about this woman but I constantly felt off kilter, like I was always trying to keep up. Like today in her shop, I came in to do the honorable thing, the gentlemanly thing by asking her out on a date, hoping we could get to know each other and she would change her opinion of me. But what did she do? Turned the tables on me and turned our date into a booty call.
Still, I stopped by Texican’s for dinner and a bucket of strawberry margaritas, grabbed some flowers from the market and a pack of condoms before coming over. Because no matter what she said, I wouldn’t treat her like that, or any woman. The women I messed with knew the score and expected nothing more than a good time, but Mikki was different. Everything about her screamed love and marriage and commitment, no matter what she said.
That thought had my finger pressing the doorbell and waiting while my heart beat like it was the lead drummer in a rock band. I had on a nice shirt, clean jeans and un-scuffed boots, all for tonight. All for Mikki.
The door opened and slowly revealed miles of smooth tanned legs that led up to red silk that began mid-thigh and I knew when she turned around there would be a golden dragon stretched across her back, but I was interested in the hint of lace that peeked out between her tits. I was hard almost instantly at the sight, the feminine scent of her. “Nate,” she grinned. “Right on time. Come in.”
This definitely wasn’t the same woman from earlier today, this version of Mikki was happy to see me even if she was underdressed for dinner. “You, uh, need more time to get ready?”
She laughed. “Do I need to be more ready than this for the night ahead of us?” She batted dark lashes prettily and put one hand on her hip and my hands itched to be right there too, pulling her closer and pressing my cock between her thighs.
“I brought dinner.” Because that was a date, dinner and some other activity before you got down to the getting naked part.
My words caught her off guard and she fumbled, but only for a second before regaining her composure. “Oh okay, maybe later. After we’ve worked up an appetite.”
“Dammit, Mikki. What in the hell is going on?” I might not be the smartest guy in the room, dammit, but I didn’t like feeling confused. Like I arrived in the middle of the damn movie.
She blinked, confused, as if she had
any right to be confused when I was the one who had apparently took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in the Twilight Zone. “We’re going to have sex. Again. Unless you’ve changed your mind?”
“And if I have?” She could play these games if she wanted, but I wasn’t in the mood. Women were too damn confusing as it was, and this one had me all twisted up.
“Then I’d say good night and maybe I’ll see you around town.”
She was serious. Well, if she wanted a good hard fuck, then I’d give her one. “You sure?”
She nodded and I walked inside, handing her the bag of food and the flowers. “I know my own mind, yes.” Her tone was sure and just a touch snooty as she walked away towards the kitchen.
“Good.”
“I’m glad you agree.”
“No more talking, Mikki.” I knew that would get her to shut up, if only for a moment. I smiled and tugged on the hem of my t-shirt pulling it over my head and tossing it somewhere behind me.
“Excuse…me.” Heat lit her hazel eyes, the gold threads burning so bright I had to hold back a groan. “I guess we’re gettin’ to it, then.”
I wouldn’t admit it to her now, but that sexy twang did dangerous things to my libido. My cock strained against my zipper as Mikki tugged on the bow keeping her robe mostly closed, opening it up to reveal perfect pinkish-brown nipples sitting on a shelf of black lace. “Fuck, Mikki.”
Her grin was saucy but the pink on her chest, neck and face told me everything I needed to know. “That’s the idea here, Nate. Try to keep up, sugar.”
Dammit, the way the word ‘sugar’ rolled off her tongue had me crossing the room in three strides and grasping the back of her neck as I hauled her to me for a kiss so fierce it stole my breath for a few seconds. I didn’t miss the way she melted against me or the little moan that escaped when my tongue plunged deep in her hot, wet mouth. If she wanted something cold and impersonal, that’s exactly what she would get. My tongue plunged in and out in hard strokes, dominating strokes that had her delicate hands wrapped around my biceps to keep her on her feet. “Dammit, Mikki.” Somehow I tore my mouth from hers with a growl and saw that her skin was flushed, her lips swollen and ready for more.
“I would’ve gone for ‘wow’ but I guess ‘dammit’ works too.” She shrugged off her robe completely and let it fall to the floor.
Fuck me, she was sexy as hell. And damned infuriating. “Just sex, you said?” I needed to clarify because I wanted her too bad right now to be soft and gentle, I couldn’t take another mixed signal. My need was strong, almost primal.
Mikki said nothing, giving just a nod in answer.
“Excellent.” I walked her back until we were inches from the sofa and turned her around, bending her over the arm so I could look my fill of her fine, heart-shaped ass. It wasn’t enough and I slid her panties to the side, giving me the perfect picture of plump pink slips, swollen and slick with desire. “Fuck.” She was perfect. And pulsing and wet. So, so wet.
She arched her back as the cool air hit her pussy and a shiver tore through her. “Yes,” she groaned when I slid a finger between her folds, testing if she was as ready as I suspected. She was. “Nate,” she moaned and that was all it took.
I grasped one hip in my hand and the back of her neck with the other, holding her exactly where I wanted her and lined my cock up with her soaked center. Shock coursed through my veins when she didn’t protest and instead arched against me. And then I was there, buried to the hilt as a low, keening moan stole from her lips. “Oh fuck.” She was as tight and hot and wet as I remembered, as responsive too. “Fuck, Mikki.”
A sexy, throaty moan erupted from her lips and she pushed back against me, urging me to move. “Nate, please.”
I don’t know how she knew the begging would be my weak spot, hell I wasn’t even sure I knew it, but holy hell that guttural plea tore through my body and stripped away all the polite, gentlemanly parts fighting to come to the surface. I kept my hands where they were, on her hips and the back of her neck, and I plunged deep. Hard and deep in fast strokes that produced a thick coat of sweat over my body, sending a few drops sliding down my back. I gave Mikki exactly what she wanted, hard and fast and impersonal, waiting for her relent, to give up this foolishness.
Instead she moaned and begged and pushed back against me, silently begging for more with her body. She pulsed and groaned every time my cock slid deep, so deep she shivered and her legs started to buckle. “Nate, yes! Just like that. Just…,” her words trailed off when slammed in hard and deep. “Yes,” she cried and clutched the fabric of the sofa as pleasure overwhelmed her.
For my part, all I could do was focus on the small cluster of freckles at the small of her back as I gave her exactly what she wanted. That little cluster was like a constellation of stars that made some shape or message I couldn’t quite figure out, not when she began to clamp down on my cock and moisture flooded her thighs. “Mikki.”
“More, Nate. Please.”
Any resemblance of control I might have had, snapped and I lifted her hips just enough to change the angle, so I could go even deeper which lifted her feet right off the ground. Suspended in the air with on my hands on her hip and now the middle of her back, Mikki was completely at my mercy. And it turned me the fuck on. Big time.
Mikki too, apparently, judging by the cries of pleasure coming from her sweet mouth, the way she kept tightening and fluttering around my cock as it pounded harder and faster, like an animal, into her wet heat. Deeper and deeper I thrust into her and all she did was moan and beg for more. Like this was enough. Like a good hard fuck was all she deserved.
It pissed me off for her, that she didn’t want more and I fucked her even harder. The harder I pounded, the more she moaned and that only made me pound harder. In anger and in lust.
“Nate,” she cried out breathlessly and a second later I slid as deep as I could and she began to shake, hard and fast, as a violent orgasm ripped through her. “Nate,” she said again, this time on a growl.
My hand left her back and went to her other hip, holding her tight while I searched for my own pleasure inside of hers. She pulsed tight around me, her pussy squeezing me until my own orgasm came hard and fast, exploding out of every pore in my body. It was hard and intense and more impersonal than I’ve ever experienced. “Mikki.” Her name came out on a harsh, satisfied but somehow still frustrated breath.
She collapsed over the arm of the sofa, sinking into the fabric with a soft, nervous laugh filled with satisfaction. “That was…amazin’!”
It was, dammit. But it was also so far from what a woman like her deserved from a man, it was maddening. And now I was mad, dammit. I took a step back and then another until the cool air in the room hit my soaked cock and a groan stole from my lips. “Glad I could be of service. Hope you’re happy,” I growled as I pulled my pants up and took another step back.
“I am,” she said, completely unaware of my distress until she turned around. “You’re not.”
“You wanted just sex, right? A good hard fuck?”
My tone must have given away that it was anger I felt and nothing else. “That’s what you wanted too, Nate.”
She’s wrong but I don’t bother to correct her because I was too damn angry and because it wouldn’t make a damn bit of difference. “See ya around, Mikki.” I stomped to the door, feeling out of sorts. Feeling like a petulant child who just took my ball away because I was losing the game. Aw hell, I was feeling like an asshole as soon as the door shut behind me.
I turned, ready to go back inside but the sound of two locks engaging told me it was too late for that so I went to my car and sat inside, trying to get my head screwed back on straight.
How could a woman like Mikki, so sexy and sophisticated, be okay with what just happened? The sex was, as she said, amazing. Yeah, that was a good word for it, but it was more than that. It went beyond a body consuming orgasm, beyond a physical need for pleasure. It was something I had never experienced with a
woman, no matter how quick and temporary the encounter was, and I didn’t know how to feel about it.
So I sat outside in my car, staring at Mikki’s house for more than an hour, watching for any sign that she felt hurt or upset by what had happened between us. Eventually the lights downstairs went out and a few seconds later her bedroom light flicked on, then the television before she turned off the overhead light in favor of a lamp.
Was she in there crying or was she not bothered? I shook my head and started the engine, realizing I was the one acting like a child. Mikki was probably watching TV and enjoying the dinner I didn’t even get a chance to taste.
I drove off, filled with regret at how things had gone down. But I couldn’t regret everything, not when the scent of her was glued to my skin. I was too amped up to sleep and too frustrated to be alone so instead of turning right, I made a left and headed to the one person I knew I could talk to.
Mikki
There’s something refreshing, or maybe it’s liberating to wake up after a really incredible orgasm without disappointment or expectations. Instead, I woke up with a smile on my face and a delicious ache all over my body and when I turned to the other side of the bed, I wasn’t disappointed because I saw exactly what I expected to see, nothing but my phone and the charger connected to it.
Not Nate, because he left last night. In a huff.
A part of me wanted to feel bad that he so obviously didn’t fully appreciate the gift of last night, but only a part of me. I knew men and I wasn’t a stranger to men like Nate who preferred to keep up the illusion that they were after something other than sex. Mitchell and Charla’s betrayal had blindsided me, her more than him, because it was never a love match with him, but I had Nate’s number and he didn’t like that.
Mastering Her Curves: A Curvy Girl Romance Page 5
