Waking up on Sunday, it was such an awesome feeling to know Nelson Primeaux was in jail. Mariah had gotten used to the fear that he could show up at any moment. So much so, that she wasn’t really aware of the tension he had caused.

With him being locked safely away, she felt like a ten-ton weight had been lifted from her. She threw open her bedroom curtains and let the sunlight in. It was going to be a gorgeous day. She headed to the kitchen to start a fresh pot of coffee.

While waiting for it to brew, she checked her phone. The first message was from Cody.

Good morning beautiful.

Alone, with no one to see her, she jumped up and down, excited the gorgeous biker was even thinking of her. She carried her phone and freshly-poured coffee to the living room and curled up on her overstuffed sofa – her favorite second-hand find. She knew she was grinning like a fool. She didn’t care. Cody’s hello made her insides curl with desire.

She kept an image of him in her head as she texted to him. He had the perfect hair for what she thought was the biker look. It was longish, his haircut months outgrown. It was shiny, and richly dark, and had just the right amount of body. It was the perfect blend of shaggy and tousled and kempt.

He always seemed to have some stage of a smile on his face, showing as much in his eyes as it did on his lips. So hot, so damn alluring. Mariah sipped her coffee, experiencing the warmth as it spread down deep inside her. The texture of the comfy couch and the coffee and her arousal for him had become incredibly erotic.

Mariah imagined the two of them enjoying the spectacular weather on the bike, his body against hers as they tooled around the Inner Harbor. Her hand ran over her panties, pressing against the wet, hot center before realizing she needed to reply to his text.

Yes, handsome, it is a beautiful morning. She sent back, grinning from ear to ear.

And just like that he called.

Mariah’s voice was inordinately high-pitched, which is what happened when she was turned on. “Hi,” she answered breathily. She cringed, hoping she didn’t sound ridiculously infantile, like a five-year-old. She made a conscious effort not to lisp, but the crush she had on him overpowered her. She couldn’t help it. Damn, she wanted to screw him!

“Hi there,” he said, his voice low and intoxicating. “I like texting for some things. It’s great on the fly, but I’d much rather hear your sexy voice.”

She agreed. He had a smooth voice without trying to put it on. As a singer, Mariah knew something about voices. His made her melt. And heat up. And whimper. And—stop it, Mariah! “I like hearing you too,” she said.

“If you’re up for dinner, I was thinking we could go to the art museum. They’ve got a great menu. It’s like having dinner and a show. How does that sound?”

“It sounds lovely. I’ve never eaten at the art museum,” she murmured.

“Cool. I like original. If you don’t have anything else going on, we can do an early dinner. Like four? I could come by and pick you up; shouldn’t take too long to get there.”

Mariah imagined what they would do after dinner. Maybe come back here to this couch, or she could sit on the couch and he might be on his knees on the floor. She shifted, her body responding to the images in her head. She realized a second later that she hadn’t responded to him.

“Mariah?” Cody asked. “I know I planned the whole thing. We don’t have to go there; I just thought—”

Mariah laughed, glad he couldn’t see her. “I love the idea. Tell you what; if it all goes well, I’ll plan the next outing.” Then she added, in what she hoped sounded like a sexy tease, “Or what we do after dinner…”

His low chuckle set her body tingling. “I’ll see you in a few hours then.”

The day ran painstakingly slowly. She took the opportunity to enjoy a hot bath, do her toenails, and pamper herself. She did her hair, styling it to perfection.

Expecting the bike, she decided to dress accordingly. She dug through her clothes and pulled out the dressiest, but tightest-fitting, jeans she had so she would look like what she thought was a biker’s date. Even though she would be wearing a helmet, she teased her hair again, fully expecting the volume to revive once she got to the restaurant.

She knew the Baltimore Museum of Art was a pretty high-end place, but given that it was appended to the museum which welcomed the general public, and there had to be a lot of impromptu diners, she didn’t think jeans, especially the ones she chose, would be inappropriate. She finished the outfit off with spike-heeled boots and her strategically ripped jean jacket.

Even though it was mid-summer, she had already experienced how chilly the ride could be. The coat was fine. Beneath it she wore a form-fitting ivory-colored spandex camisole. She thought the color was dressy and took her clothing choice up a notch. She could not wait to be on the back of Cody’s bike.

When he showed up in a Dodge Caliber station wagon right on time, Mariah was majorly disappointed. There was nothing wrong with the car. It looked clean, and probably ran fine, but she had imagined her night on the motorcycle. She hoped nothing was wrong with his bike. Her breath caught. What if Nelson had Cody’s bike tires slashed?

Cody emerged from the mini-station wagon in a suit and tie. Mariah had read the whole evening wrong. She was dressed completely inappropriately. Shit! Do I have time to change? Cody knocked on the door.

“Wait!’ she called out. “You can’t come in!”

“Why not?” he laughed. “You okay?”

“Yes, I just—I’ll be a minute!” She ran down the hall and then ran back and unlocked the door. “Come on in. Just wait in the living room. I’ll be out in a sec.” She scampered to her bedroom closet and stared in dismay. She had nothing to wear. It was awful. She began sweating. It was gross. She had to shed the jean jacket, and quickly. Her bare arms, even in only the camisole, dripped. Her deodorant had worn off. The date was becoming a disaster with each passing moment.

“Wait, wow,” he said. “Let me see.”

Mariah reluctantly moved from behind the door and revealed her outfit.

A slow, warm smile spread over his face. He stepped inside. “Were we going with a biker motif?” he teased.

Mariah was not in a laughing mood. She felt foolish and the heat rising on her neck to her cheeks told her she was showing him her embarrassment. “I thought…” She sighed. “I don’t have anything appropriate to wear.”

“Hey,” he said, taking hold of her arm. “It’s dinner, not an interview. What you have on is fine. How about if I do this?” He loosened his tie and took off his jacket. He unbuttoned the top button of his crisp white shirt.

She caught a glimpse of chest, and kind of wished he’d unbutton another.

“There,” he said. “Casual. We’re fine. Please don’t change. You look gorgeous. Next time I promise, unless otherwise asked, I’ll always bring the Harley. I didn’t know how comfortable you were on the bike and I didn’t want to mess up your hair.” He shrugged, looking all sexy and cute at the same time. “I don’t know.”

Mariah wanted to kick herself. “I’m so sorry. I just assumed… I guess I overthought this too much. I just really wanted to make a nice,” she preferred the word sexy, but wasn’t going to say that right now, “impression.”

He gently reached around to the small of her back. “Seems you’re looking forward to this as much as I am,” he said softly, leaning forward. “Let’s go and have a good time.” His lips pressed against hers in a slow, sensual embrace. “I promise to check with you next time,” he whispered.

“Me too,” she mumbled, with no idea what she was agreeing to or if her words even made sense. Cody Dallas made her insides hum. She was so hot for him. She had half a mind to seduce him and take him to her bed that second, except that he went to such trouble to dress up. She smiled slyly. She would find a way to make it up to him.

She caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror as they were just about to step outside.

“Wait! I have an idea!” She tossed the jacket and dashed across the room to her dresser. In her jewelry box was a big bead necklace the color of the camisole. “Turn around.”

He did as she instructed.

She slipped on a pencil skirt and spike-heeled sandals. She linked her arm through his and pulled him back down the stairs to the living room.

“A quick-change artist,” he remarked. “With legs. Mm, mm, mm.”

“You inspired me.” She tossed a wink behind her as she looked back at him. “Now we match.”

Cody hooked his powerful arm around her slender waist and pressed her against his lusciously hard body. “Do you feel better?”

“I don’t know; why don’t you feel me?” she said without thinking and then put her fingertips to her gasping mouth. “I mean—” She tried to retract but he was already taking her up on it.

“Don’t have to ask me twice. Let me check,” he said seductively. He kissed her with deep passion, backing her up to the front door and pressing her up against it. She was trapped between the hard surface of the door and the hard surface of his unbelievable body. His strong hands roamed over her hips and up her rib cage before they lifted her breasts. A look of hunger crossed his face and he ran his tongue over his lips, as if trying to taste what her nipples would be like inside his mouth.

Mariah’s hips pressed forward as her back arched, trying to press his hands tighter against her mounds. She was dying to know how his hand would feel under her skirt.

“We better get while the getting is good,” he warned after a frustrated groan. “I’m liable to not let you have dinner.”

She almost said she wouldn’t mind, but now she wanted a sweet romantic dinner with him. Wine, candles. And then more wine and candles when they returned home. Mariah hoped he’d forget to take his coat and tie with him so he would have to come back to get them.

It was so hot being dressed up together, his fingertips at the small of her back as he escorted her to the car. He held the door opened for her. Inside, the car was spotless. She wondered if he always kept it that way or if he had worked hard to clean it. Either way, she was impressed.

He donned a pair of chrome aviators. “Not that I don’t want to be seen with you,” he teased. “But the car, man.”

She laughed. “Did you borrow it?” she asked. “The car, I mean.”

“Yes, I did,” he smiled guiltily. “I didn’t think you would like to ride to dinner in my F250 so I begged this off my friend’s mom.”

She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” She kissed him again just behind his ear. “I don’t mind a truck either. I’m not fussy.”

He caressed her bare leg with his hand.

She closed her eyes and shivered. Maybe no dinner wasn’t a bad idea.

“No, thank you,” he chuckled. “I loved the jeans. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I saw you in them, but this is just as nice too.” He let his finger slip just a little bit underneath the hem of her skirt, obviously toying with a sensual idea. “More than nice…” They locked eyes. Mariah saw the longing in his face that she felt. They kissed once more before finally pulling out of the driveway.

It was a new experience riding with Cody and not having her body wrapped around his while doing so. She got to see his beautiful face while they talked.

Inside the museum, she really liked holding his hand as they pretended to be interested in the Inner Harbor and the art. However, they both felt the same impatience. It was crazy. Mariah had never wanted anyone so badly in her life.

And then there was the menu. Mariah was a Baltimore native and it was practically sacrilege, but she didn’t like crab. Everything seemed to be crab this and crab that. Or loaded with garlic. They settled on steak and some vegetarian something or other and shared.

The elegance of the surroundings did nothing for them because all they wanted was each other. They craved each other. She could see it in his eyes. She could feel it in the heat between them. They leaned toward each other, across the small table, just a breath apart.

They split an appetizer. He spiked a bite with his fork and held it to her lips. Mariah opened her mouth and let him feed her.

“That’s pretty good,” she said, gazing at him dreamily. It wasn’t what she wanted, but it would have to do till they finished. Here he was, taking her on this beautiful date, and all she wanted was him between her legs. Talk about classy. Not!

The waiter brought them each a glass of Chardonnay. It was sharp and bold. She longed to taste it on his tongue. He obliged. It seemed that was his first thought too. As soon as he sipped, he closed the distance between them and kissed her lazily. He dragged his tongue across hers. Though she had wine herself, she could detect the fragrant flavor on him. It tasted better on his tongue than from the glass.

He finished the kiss by touching his lips to the tip of her nose. Their main course arrived. She looked at him, her teeth grazing her lower lip. His gaze dropped to her mouth.

He swallowed hard. “Should we just box this shit up?”

The dinner was over before it started.

“Is something wrong?” asked the waiter. He seemed very confused as to why they were ditching their beautiful meal.

“I can’t fuck my girl on the restaurant table,” Cody stood and tossed a wad of cash onto the table. They rushed out of Gertrude’s, down to the mini-station wagon. Cody lunged towards her as he sat in the driver seat. He cupped her head and drew her to him. His tongue sliced into her mouth, gliding predatorily, seeking.

“Can we go to my house for a drink?” she asked. If he said no, she’d be fine with the station wagon. She had class, but, somehow, with Cody, it had flown out the window.

“Yes,” he said, brushing the tip of her nose with his fingertip. “We can.”

They hardly said two words on the way to Mariah’s row house. They swam in the thick erotic current that flowed between them and all around them.

Cody’s gaze smoldered as he cut to hers every so often. He reached for her. Never had Mariah gotten so sexually worked up simply by holding someone’s hand.

Her breaths rose like waves. Her blood pumped like mad through her veins, her heartbeat drummed in her ears. Her body was out of control in its need for him. She felt almost foolish because she couldn’t contain herself. She writhed in the passenger seat.

Cody’s hand trailed down to her thighs, revealed from the slight hike in her pencil skirt just from sitting down. She wasn’t wearing stockings in the summer warmth. The tender inside of her thigh felt so soft to her in contrast to the roughness of his callused fingertips. But his fingers felt wonderful all the same. So masculine and strong. And powerful.

It felt already as though she was his, even though they were so new. A couple of encounters did not qualify as a ‘thing’. And yet Mariah somehow knew he was claiming her, simply by the touch of his hand to the delicate, private area beneath her skirt.

His fingers foraged higher up her leg, deeper beneath her skirt, but just so far. He did not touch her. But he let her know that was where they were heading. When they pulled into the drive and were inside her door, all bets were off. And so were their clothes. They were stepping and stripping, trying to shed their clothes as quickly as they could while they furiously struggled to remain locked at the lips.

They left a trail of garments to the sofa, which was far as they got. They could not wait as long as it would take to get to the bedroom. Mariah flung herself back onto the generously wide, comfortable sofa and offered herself up to him.

Cody stood in the center of her small living room and regarded her. He wore a faint smile as he checked out her naked body. He was stripped to the waist. His physique was god-like: Not an ounce of fat and ripped to the hilt. His muscles were cut and hard and his body was perfectly proportioned.

He was a tall man so, from Mariah’s vantage point of lying low, and looking up at him, he appeared even larger than he was. The historical Baltimore row house had low ceilings, so the combination made him look like a giant. The image sent her lustful thoughts spiraling. He was like a stallion, powerful and sleek.

Her gaze was glued without apology as she watched her picture-perfect biker unbuckle his dress pants and drop them to the floor. He skimmed off his boxer-briefs to unveil a giant marbled erection.

Reflexively, she parted knees a little wider for him.

It was as though they had to get this part out of the way or they wouldn’t be able to think straight. He joined her on the couch, matching his body up to hers. His hardness nudged the wet folds at the entrance of her body. His rock-hard chest pressed against the plushness of her body. They could not get close enough to each other.

He brushed the hair from her face, stroking her as he gazed at her, smiling. Mariah let her leg drop some. She pressed her foot flatly on the floor and nudged up. She grinded against him, begging to be impaled. “Fuck me,” she pleaded.

He obliged. Cody reached between them and guided himself into her, penetrating her with incredible heat.

They both practically snorted as their breath rushed through their nostrils. The chemistry between them was rare, like a warrior mounting his horse, both in control of each other and both completely out of control. His contact with her overloaded her with electric waves that stunned her. She closed her eyes, trying to keep pace.

He nestled his face into the base of her neck and blissfully tortured her. He found the most sensitive, ticklish collection of nerves on her, and licked and nuzzled until her cries filled the room.

All while pumping her slowly. He moved in and out of her with wicked deliberation. Every single movement counted. He withdrew and then drove into her with a jerk, shocking her erotically. It was sugared and naughty. Mariah thought she was going to pass out.

She was also getting buried by him. He pulled back, bringing her with him until he was on his back and she was riding him. Her foot was on the planked flooring of her living room and she pushed off of it to piston on him.

Mariah gripped the back of the couch and pushed off with her foot, playing with different rhythms. She rocked to and fro, swirling her hips on him.

Her full weight on him, taking him into her as deeply as she could go, took her passion for him up a notch. She was so drenched in arousal that she was practically paralyzed with it. She needed to move, to pump him back and forth, but she was so hot she almost couldn’t.

Cody gripped her hips and took the reins. He lifted her and drove into her powerfully. He rocketed non-stop like a machine. Her curves shook and her breasts bobbed as he drilled. He extended his thumb to press on the place where it most needed to go. The sweet friction of his rough skin there was the perfect touch. Her insides made that unmistakable shift. She knew if this kept up, she was going to come.

He must have to. Her core grew hotter and wetter and she seized up against his hardness randomly until she tumbled, convulsing non-stop endlessly around him. Her body hummed with pleasure as the rush coursed through her. Her nipples were erect. Their tips grazed Cody’s callused palms as he cupped them.

He tweezed the pointed tips, making her squirm harder on him. He was merciless, delighting in her reaction. Mariah’s moans sailed out of her. The pleasure was just about too much to handle. But then it peaked and subsided. When she could think again, she reached around herself and fondled his giant testicles. Cody lurched, electrified by her mischief.

Mariah had him panting. His body rose, and then slammed against the couch, it was so good for him. Now his thrusts were raw and jerking. His climax was upon him. She cocked her hips through the waves of pleasure that overtook him. Guttural cries raked his throat as he took it.

Finally, she slowed to a lazy pace, slamming him inside her with every other move, electrifying him to make his climax absolutely unforgettable. His eyes closed; his face was awash with drunken pleasure. He reached for her and drew her down on him to kiss her.

He wrapped his powerful arms around her. His bulging muscles practically crushed her as his tongue mated with hers. He rubbed her back gently, gliding his broad palms all over her so affectionately. He reached for the throw on the couch and covered them. The moment was so perfect, with her in his arms and so deliciously comfortable. They snuggled on the couch.

“Well, now,” he said with a smile in his voice. “Lady, you are one hell of a firecracker.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” she said, very pleased with herself.

“I didn’t have much an appetite before, but I think I do now,” he chuckled. “You must be starving, what with all the calories you burned working it.” He pulled her into the crook of his arm and kissed the tip of her nose. “You know how to fuck.” He grinned and winked at her.

Mariah blushed at what he said. She had practically begged him for it and, now, in the afterglow, she realized how incredibly horny she had been… so much for being a classy gal.

He rose, put on his pants, and took the doggie bags in the kitchen. “I’m going to fix us up,” he said. “You stay put.”

“How about I get us some more wine?” she offered.

“You’re forever trying to get me liquored up, aren’t you?” He gave her body a bold up and down stare.

Mariah wrapped herself in the throw, creating a makeshift evening gown with it, and walked over to the fireplace mantle where she kept the wine. “I almost wish it was cold outside. This would be the perfect moment for the fireplace,” she called out to him.

“Do it,” he replied. “Crank up the AC. I’ll chip in on the bill.”

The image of sex in front of the fire was too much to resist. She wanted him again. And again. And again. She turned the dial down as low as it would go and shimmied into the kitchen for the corkscrew.

“How shall we seal the deal?” she asked flirtatiously.

Cody dropped what he doing and dunked his hands underneath the running water in the kitchen sink. Then, in a blur, he bent Mariah back, dipping her romantically. He strummed the valley between her breasts, sending a shiver through her. “I’ve a few ideas on that,” he murmured. His eyes swept the cover wrapping her body. “Nice dress.”

“How long until dinner?” she purred.

“A few minutes.”

“Feed it to me in the bathtub.” She raised an eyebrow, and warmed when his growing erection pressed against her leg.

“Your wish,” he kissed her lazily, “is my command. And a really good idea.”

Mariah rarely used the guest bath but, since it was on the same floor as the kitchen, she pushed opened the bathroom door and drew a bath. She loved the way the shag rug felt against the arches of her feet. She dropped the throw once the water reached the perfect level. She decanted the wine and poured herself a glass. She slid her body into the steaming water and sipped her drink.

After the amazing sex she’d had and how completely relaxed she felt from the ultra- powerful orgasm, the warmth of the water just made her feel content. The world was so right at that moment.

She left the door wide open. The AC had kicked on full blast. The parts of her body out of the cozy tub were actually chilled. Cody appeared with a tray in hand, loaded with their transformed leftovers. He took a seat on the commode, and broke up the sandwiches he’d created into little pieces. “Open, princess,” he commanded.

She took the small bite he offered. It was such a little amount but it was packed with so many flavors. It was like a little work of art.

“What did you do to this? It’s amazing! Maybe you should be cooking for Gertrude's,” she said. “Oh, my goodness.”

“You had some good stuff in the fridge. Pesto, hummus, Dijon,” he said.

“You put all that on this?” she asked.

“Yes, but not all at once. In sections. The end got pesto, the middle got hummus, and the other end Dijon. I couldn’t make up my mind so I did all three.” He popped a morsel into his mouth, and then stole a sip of her wine. “Not bad.”

She had no idea if he was referring to the food or her naked body in the water.

He rose, setting aside their feast. It was like he was a beanstalk and someone had watered him. Again, regarding him from the bathtub, Cody pretty much took up the whole bathroom.

She kept her eyes fixed as he stripped off his pants and stepped into the tub with her. It was an older, oversized tub, but still it was crowded. Mariah sipped her wine once more and set it aside. She sat up straight and leaned forward. She let her knees slip behind her so that she was now on her belly and her face was in his crotch.

Mariah lowered her hot mouth onto his rigid erection. The water was shut off so the level would get no higher, but she could only go so far or her face would be submerged. Her fingers found his balls. Her lips worked his head as she pleasured him below. Cody’s fingers raked through her hair and gripped her skull.

His breath labored through his nose. She knew that he liked what she was doing. He let it go on only so long before he forced her onto her back. He draped her legs over his shoulders, drawing the center of her body closer to his mouth.

Mariah’s body drew up as his tongue penetrated her. It was him, not so much the act. Something about him created a wildly intense response from her that was the stuff of fairy tales. She liked sex, but this was not ordinary. The feel of his tongue inside of her sent her mind and body into turmoil.

Every dart, every in and out of his licking and tasting had her moaning and wailing. Mariah sounded like a ghost, the way her voice bounced off the tile in the bathroom. His lips then trailed up her belly and found the wet points of her breasts. He suckled her hard nipples, making her insides clutch. His lips drew an invisible line down to the heat between her legs, without mercy.

Cody abruptly got of the tub without care to the water he took with him. He offered her his hand, and they found their way back to the living room where, with a touch of a button, the gas fireplace was ablaze.

She had an alpaca rug on the floor before the hearth. The warmth of the rug and heat from the fire felt wonderful on her cool body. The feel of Cody’s hard cock in her hand distracted her from the fire. She wanted the monster inside of her, rocking and forcing her to explode in the release she was begging for.

Cody laid his hands on hers and guided his erection inside her. His hand slid between her legs and began stroking her clit. She moaned at his touch, both inside and out. A bolt of pleasure shot through her and she trembled.

They didn’t speak. No words were needed. It was as if the two of them had known this dance all their lives.

Cody flipped her over so she was on all fours and he was on his knees. He burrowed his thick rod into her pussy and grunted as he worked in and out.

“Fuck me, Cody. Fuck me hard,” she gasped.

“Oh, I’m going to, sweetie.” He rocked his hips fast, hard and furious.

Mariah screamed as she came again, and, as her body tightened and exploded, Cody allowed himself to release. He collapsed on top of her when he was finished and slowly rolled to the side, taking the curve of her body along with him. “I don’t think I’m letting you go,” he murmured sleepily.

She had no intention of arguing.