I cracked my knuckles as I paced across my living room. This was crazy. What did he mean by that damn text? Lesson two was at ten o’clock. What? Text-sex-a-palooza had a time schedule?

That seemed weird. Maybe a touch creepy. I couldn’t get turned on at his command.

Okay, so maybe Hudson could do it. He certainly had the night before, but I wasn’t a machine. And my body wasn’t used to all that attention.

Good grief, this was my complaint. I needed to be shot.

Rosie hopped up on the arm of the couch and tilted her head at me. I scratched her ear absentmindedly as I glanced down at my phone. Ten minutes.

I was going to throw up. And whoa boy, was that sexy.

I flipped my wet braid over my shoulder and played with the tail. I’d taken a shower and done all sorts of primping. It wasn’t as if he was coming over at ten.

At least I didn’t think so.

He hadn’t replied to the half dozen questions I’d had. Probably trying to get back at me for my silent text treatment until I’d been able to take a break. I didn’t know what to say and flirting over texts was just weird. Everything sounded cheesy.

Well, except for his. They were most definitely not lame. They were sweet and hormone-inducing.

I’d been wound up all day and distractible during the closing of the cafe. Tabs had given up on me stringing a coherent conversation together on the ride home.

Her pep talk had been disturbingly chipper. Not like her at all. She’d probably been afraid to say anything that might make me hide under my covers for the rest of my life.

Was I truly this doomed when it came to dealing with a man?

Was it ten minutes yet?

I glanced down. Only three minutes had gone by.

Was he even worried about this countdown clock like I was? Probably not. He’d probably forget to text or he might even be out with someone else.

Maybe the girl he’d given his freaking shirt to.

Yeah, that had been the gift that kept on giving this evening. I couldn’t even be mad about it. Except for the fact that he’d taken his shirt off for her. Maybe. I wasn’t sure about that one. All I had to go by was the viral video of her screeching with his white dress shirt in her hand.

Hudson was the most fashion-conscious male I’d ever met. He was always put together to the nth degree. No way would he just hand over his shirt. Did he hand over a kiss at the same time?

Like I had anything to say about it. But I hadn’t even gotten a damn kiss initiated by Wyatt yet—my attempts to lay one on him so did not count as true kisses—and if that little tramp had…

Stop it. She’s not a tramp. She’s probably a very nice woman who just shrieks far too much.

I shut my eyes. I had to get it together. I was literally losing my grip here.

My phone shuddered and buzzed and a ringtone came blaring out.

A phone call?

I stared down at the phone for a full two more rings before I punched accept. “Hello?”

“Hello, kitten.”

“Why are you calling me?”

“Hello to you too.”

I rolled my eyes, thankful that he couldn’t see me right now. “Hi. I wasn’t expecting a phone call, that’s all.”

“Well, there’s only so far we can go with texting. Besides, I want to hear that little purr in your voice like I did last night.”

My face flamed. Again, some bonuses to the phone. He had no idea how shocked my expression must be. “And why would you hear that? You’re not here.”

“No, but my voice is. And those pretty, ringed fingers are going to do exactly what I tell them to do. I suggest you head to your bedroom for this one. I’m going to need you to spread out.”

My mouth dropped open. “What?” I squeaked.

“Lesson two has a final exam as well. You’ve graduated from sexting to phone sex for a final grade. I expect high marks from you.”

For someone who didn’t want to play teacher, he was certainly rising to the occasion. And now I had the memory of his hard dick in my head again. It had been pressed into the small of my back all last night, even when we’d ended up horizontal on my couch. I had a hazy memory of him spooning me in the night.

His big spoon was definitely impressive.

“Are you speechless over there?”

“Just a little bit.”

“Good. I like when you’re surprised.”

“You surprise me hourly.”

“Well, that makes two of us, kitten.”

My belly flipped and my skin tingled at the rumbly tone of his voice as he called me his preferred nickname. I wasn’t supposed to like it, dammit. But sweet mercy, I couldn’t get the sound of it out of my head. At the oddest times during the day, the echo of it slapped me sideways.

Was this what it was like to be infatuated? If it was, I was screwed. It was very distracting in so many awful ways. Mostly because it was addicting as all get out.

“Are you in your room?”

“No.”

“Well, take yourself there. And I want you in nothing but my shirt.”

“What shirt?”

“The one I left behind this morning.”

“Is that a thing for you? Calling card a la Hudson Wyatt?” I hadn’t meant to blurt that out. God, I sounded like a bitch.

“Um, no. I thought since it smelled like you after you rubbed yourself all over me last night that you might like to keep it.”

“Why?”

“Maybe I’m wrong.”

“No, you’re not.” I didn’t know he’d left it behind.

“Then what’s with the tone, Piper?”

I wrinkled my nose. I didn’t like it when he called me Piper. At all. I was so twisted up.

I huffed out a breath. “Your shirt made the rounds on the internet today.”

“Is that right? So you were checking up on me?”

“That is not the point, Hudson.”

“Oh, but it is.” His voice was low and there was way too much pleasure in it.

“I just want to know if I’m one of the horde, that’s all.”

“No, kitten. It’s not a calling card. She was a fan and I was holding a sweaty shirt. For some reason, fans find that sort of thing appealing. Elvis and his scarves, same thing.”

“You’re equating yourself with Elvis? I already knew your ego was healthy, but that’s a bit much even for you.”

He barked out a laugh. “Oh, you definitely keep me from getting a swelled head. At least the one on my shoulders.”

“Why is that so funny?”

“What you didn’t see was I was wearing a T-shirt from the guitar shop we were in.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah, oh. I gotta say I’m enjoying this bit of jealousy.”

“Why? We’re not exclusive. We’re not anything.” Crap. That sounded awful. “I mean—”

“I know.” His voice was quiet. “But I wouldn’t do that to you. When I’m with you, even with this little game we have going on, I wouldn’t do that. All right?”

I blew out a breath. “All right. Me too.”

“Good to know, kitten.”

“Right.” I nodded. “Now where did you leave the shirt? Is it a hide and seek sort of thing?” I scanned the room. My house wasn’t that big, for God’s sake.

Then I spotted the shirt draped on the chair behind my laundry basket. I crossed the room to it and picked it up, instantly bringing the material to my nose. Obviously, I was way more pervy than I knew was possible.

“Find it?”

“Yes. Nice of you to put your dirty shirt near my clean laundry.”

“Strip, kitten.”

I swallowed at his authoritative voice. I wasn’t sure if his tone was spurring me on, or just my curiosity about what he would want me to do. I decided that my excitement had way more to do with the experience than the arousing timbre of his voice.

Or at least that was what I told myself as I headed down the hallway to my bedroom.

“Am I supposed to put the phone down while I, um, get undressed?”

“Well, if I wanted you to actually strip for me, it would have been a FaceTime call.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t sound so intrigued.”

“I’m not. I mean, what am I supposed to do? Stick the phone between my feet and hold it as I’m, well, you know.”

He groaned. “Kitten, come on. You’re killing me.”

“That’s hot?”

“I watched you touch that perfect pussy from over your shoulder last night. If I’d had an even closer bird’s eye view, you wouldn’t have been alone in your orgasm.”

“I told you I was willing.”

“I don’t want you willing. I want you so far gone you can’t wait to get me inside you.”

I swallowed. Hard. I didn’t think I’d ever gone there with anyone. Even when I was at the height of my experimental stage in college, I hadn’t done anything of the stupid variety. Well, other than get involved with a guy named Bobby. That had been a mistake on about three dozen levels.

But if anyone could get me there, I was pretty sure it was this man. Then again, he’d been the one to get me to have my very first solo orgasm with an audience. I hadn’t thought that was possible. My life was a series of firsts with Hudson Wyatt.

I moved through the threshold to my room and had a zooming Rosie follow me inside. I’d never had sex in front of one of my cats. Not that this was sex, but it was close enough.

Then again, I also didn’t close the door on my cats. They liked to sleep on the end of my bed. They also liked to nibble my toes if I flexed my foot wrong under the covers. What the hell were they going to do when I was—well, when my fingers were otherwise engaged.

I dropped the phone on my bed and switched to speakerphone. “Okay, I’m in my room. Give me a second.” I shoved my decorative pillows off the bed.

“What the hell are you doing?”

I held up my boyfriend pillow and stared down at the screen. Hmm, good thing we didn’t have video chat going. Awkward. I tossed the arm-like pillow wearing half a man’s dress shirt onto the oversized chair in the corner of my bedroom.

How the hell was I going to explain that?

“Um, I’m unmaking my bed.” I shrugged. Close enough.

“What are you wearing?”

I looked down at my lacy tank top and yoga pants. Not exactly hot. “A garter belt and a push-up bra.”

“Hmm.” He sounded like he was moving around on something. Was he on a bed too? The thought of that made sweat gather between my breasts.

I so sucked at this.

“What are you really wearing?”

I huffed out a sigh. “Yoga pants and a sleep tank. I’m about as sexy as a kindergarten teacher.”

“I like when you wear that soft cotton. Especially when it hugs that superior ass of yours. What I like even better? When those pants are on the floor. So take them off, kitten.”

My hand instantly went to the little triangle necklace with tiny diamond chips I was wearing. I worried the edges of the triangle before dropping it back against my skin.

It was now or never.

I flipped off my gray lace top and then my pants.

“Are you wearing my shirt?”

“You don’t want me naked?”

“I want that more than I’ve ever wanted anything in a damn long time.”

“Well, okay. Wow.” I blew out an unsteady breath.

“But if I can’t have your skin on mine, I want you wearing something of mine.”

I sagged onto the bed, his shirt clutched in my hand. This was crazy. I brought it up to my nose and the spicy ginger scent of him lingered in the fabric. I quickly slipped it on and groaned. I’d never worn any material this fine in my life.

“You like the idea of that?”

Yes, I did, but I really didn’t need him to know that. “You must spend a pretty penny on your shirts.”

“That I do. My size isn’t exactly off the rack.”

Considering the tails of his dress shirt went to my knees, that was a very true statement. I crawled into the center of my bed and snapped the covers over me. The phone went with me. Oops. I pulled it out and set it on top of the covers as I got situated.

“Sorry. Okay, I’m ready.”

“Was I under the covers with you?”

“Are you sure you didn’t stash a camera in my place when you were here?”

“No, but that’s a good idea. One of those smart cameras that turns on only when you’re in the room. While you’re getting ready in the morning and you’re winding that rich, dark hair into one of those twist things. There’s nothing sexier than when a woman is getting ready. The nape of your neck especially.”

God, what was he doing to me? That wasn’t supposed to be sexy. Not at all. And yet here he was telling me it was.

Was he all talk? And if he was, then why were my nipples hard?

I switched off the speakerphone and tucked him against my ear. “Do you practice this stuff? Because you’re way too natural at it.”

“Ah, you’ve got me off of speaker. Good. I can hear that breathy voice now.”

“I’m not breathy.”

“Yes, you are. At least when you let yourself go.”

I cuddled down into my soft pillow and comforter. “This is weird.”

He laughed. Not at me, but as usual, he seemed amused by me. I couldn’t remember the last time anyone had ever been intrigued or entertained by me. Well, at least a human.

“Are the lights out?”

I supposed this was easier to do in the dark. I sneaked my arm out and clicked off the light beside my bed. “Yes.”

“Good.”

“Are yours?”

“Mmm-hmm,” he said on a low voice.

“Are you naked?”

“I just got out of the shower. I have a pair of boxers on.”

“What color are they?” The question popped in my head and out of my mouth before I could stop it.

He huffed out a laugh. “Iron Man, actually.”

“Tony Stark is covering your butt?”

“Yes, kitten. They were a gift.”

“By a woman?”

“Yes.”

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. Why did that bug me so much? I didn’t have any hold on this man, nor did I want it. Right?

“My sister gave me all the Avengers for Christmas.”

“What?” Startled, I bit back a groan. Crap.

He laughed outright and I sank even lower. “I may or may not have an inappropriate reaction to your jealousy.”

I flung back the blanket that was threatening to smother me. I was burning up and we hadn’t even started anything. Embarrassment would likely kill me by the end of this. But that last comment was too much. I didn’t know what to do with it.

“What kind of inappropriate reaction?”

“The kind that tents a pair of boxers, kitten.”

“Oh.”

“I’ve been hard for days. I know you’re not that innocent. I remember how you rubbed up against me last night.” He made a soft groan. “I’ve been thinking about it all fucking day.”

I’d left the buttons of his shirt open so I was able to coast my hand across my stomach. I’d been living with a heaviness warming me from the inside out since we’d last been together. I knew what it meant now, and I wasn’t sure I was a fan. Blissful ignorance was a hell of a lot easier to live with.

I cleared my throat. If I wanted the experience, I had to go all in.

“I drank your coffee today. You know, just to remember how you taste.”

The rumbling groan of his response made my belly flip around as if I was on an amusement park ride.

“You haven’t truly tasted me yet. Those kisses you planted on me hardly count.” His voice was so low, it was just a bass growl.

“Why is that? Do you not want to kiss me? I didn’t have any garlic yesterday.”

“Because I know what’s going to happen when I get my mouth on you. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me just to taste your neck last night? To only cup those mouth-watering tits?”

The rough edge of his voice dissolved any of the laughter that had been building between us for the last ten minutes. I knew I amused him. I wasn’t sure how long the amusement would keep him interested and I wanted to soak up every little bit of him until he got tired of me.

There was an elegance to Hudson that unnerved me and excited me. But this side. The one that was slightly rougher. When he didn’t watch what he was saying or how he was saying it. Those were the moments that were even more dangerous. Those were the ones that made me want more.

And wanting more wasn’t what this was supposed to be about.

“Stop thinking. This isn’t about thinking. This is about you and me in the dark. Just like last night when you explored yourself. Tonight is about sharing that with me. Tonight, I’m going to make sure it’s only my name in your head when you’re coming.”

I dragged in a breath. Unconsciously, my fingers slid up to cup my breast while he was talking. I rolled my nipple between my fingers and tugged the way he had last night.

“That breath. Does it mean what I think it means? Are you just shocked? Or are you already touching yourself?”

I immediately let my nipple go and flattened my hand across my midriff. “No.”

“You were. What were you touching?”

I heard a rustle from his side of the line. Was he touching himself too? Why couldn’t I just ask? God. Why was this suddenly so huge?

The word huge brought back last night. He was definitely not a little guy. He’d surrounded me so completely. Holding me open while I was at the edge of sanity.

He’d pushed for more. Demanded more. God, it had been so surreal and freeing.

“Fuck, Piper.” His voice reverberated in my ear. “My hand around my cock is not going to be enough. But it’ll have to do for now. Guide me here. Tell me something.”

Tell him what?

I slammed my eyes shut and blocked out the sounds around me. The cats outside my room who were in the middle of their nightly zooms through the place, and the traffic outside my window because I had to have it cracked just a touch for some air.

I pushed all of it away and focused on his voice. I lowered my fingers over the curve of my pelvis to my already swollen slit. “I didn’t realize there was a place inside me that could ache like this.”

He didn’t say anything, and my tongue felt too big for my mouth. I wanted this to be good for him. I didn’t want to be the lame girl who fumbled through everything with him.

I slid the tips of my fingers through the slickness that had grown just because he’d called. That he’d wanted to be here with me, if only over the phone. Then there was the sensory memory of him touching me ever so lightly last night.

“I wanted you to touch me last night. Those long, gorgeous fingers would have found the way to make me come. But you were so patient with me. You waited for me to figure it out and held me while I…” Spit out the word. You can do it. It’s just a word. “While I came. It was so odd to have my first real orgasm with someone else’s hands on me, and yet not. Next time, I want the full experience.”

I dragged in an uneven breath as I circled my clit. “My finger on my clit feels so good, but I know the little rough spots on your fingers would make it better. The way you tugged on my breasts, the way it burned and throbbed when you were just a little rough. It was so good. I feel like I need that right now.”

“Do it. Rub just a little harder. Circle it then do that thing you did with your thumb. I couldn’t quite see it, but you shook in my arms so I know you liked it.”

I used the side of my thumb and dragged in a shaky breath.

“Yes. That sound. I can hear that in the back of my mind. When you’re holding on for just a minute too long. I like when you let go for me, kitten.”

“I want you to as well.”

“My hand has been around the base of my dick since the moment you started talking in that low voice. I don’t want to be the guy who goes off like a teenager, but you’ve had me so hard for so long.”

“I have?” That didn’t seem fathomable to me. Not compared to the women in his life, but I was willing to believe him. I needed to believe him right now.

My breath hitched as I flicked my thumb over my clit then soothed it with circles.

I didn’t realize I’d whispered his name, but the groan that came over the line from his end pushed me just a little closer.

“That’s it, kitten.”

“I don’t want to.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want it to be over. Your voice in my ear. You here with me.”

“Jesus.” The sheets rustled over the line.

“Are you touching yourself too? Tell me what you like.” My fingers slowed. I could drag this out. Make it last just a little bit longer.

“Those little moans. I like those. I like the idea of the same coming from you with your mouth around my dick.”

I dragged in a quick breath. I’d given men blowjobs before, but it had never been an enjoyable task. I was almost certain that wasn’t going to be the same with Hudson.

“Me on my knees? Or do you prefer me in bed? Maybe waking you up when you least expect it?”

“Multiple choice?” He groaned. “Right now, I’d love you in front of me any way I could get you.”

“On my knees. I’d like to be on my knees with you on my couch in front of the fireplace. Just you and me in that almost darkness. Your eyes glinting as they watched me.”

“Fuck, kitten.”

“I love when you say that. I shouldn’t. And it shouldn’t make me so…”

“Wet?”

“Yes. God, so wet. Slick and swollen. God, I don't know if I can hold off.”

“Don’t. I want to hear you come. Pretend it’s my fingers. Push two all the way inside you. What does it feel like?”

“Warm. So warm and tight.”

A groan came from the other end of the line and it only pushed me further into myself. My brain fuzzed and the room noises were a distant thought as I threw my head back and shoved the pillows out of my way.

“What are you doing? Tell me.” His voice was strained, but I was too far gone to soothe him. To explain everything to him.

“Hudson.”

“Tell me.”

“Rubbing. Wishing it was you. My fingers aren’t enough. I need more. God.” I rolled onto my side, my legs clamping around my hand.

“Roll over on your stomach.”

I didn’t question him. I just followed his directive.

“Rock against your hand. Slow and steady, baby.”

My palm rubbed against the top of my clit as I rolled my hips against my hand. My other hand was gripping the phone. I wanted to put it down so I could use my other hand to do something.

Anything.

I rose onto my knees a little and my nipples rubbed against the sheets. The friction combined with the grinding of my hand, and I finally had to let the phone go. I didn’t want to lose his voice, but I needed my other hand.

It went for my breast. The little bit of friction against my bedding was nothing compared to what I was able to do with my fingers. Rolling and tugging as I rubbed my clit was so much better. I felt like my body couldn’t hold in all of the pleasure. Black spots sparked behind my eyelids, and I realized I was breathing too fast.

The knife’s edge of arousal was too much. I pulled my hand away. My breath was ragged as I reached for the phone and dragged it back to my ear. I heard his labored breath and the deep groan which reactivated the moan living in my chest.

I gripped my cell tighter. My heart raced in reaction and I had to slide my hand back down. I was too sensitive. I couldn’t take another touch. But his voice urged me to drive my fingers back inside. Hard. Fast.

His name broke from my lips as I rolled to my side and pulled my knees up against my chest to ride it out.

The shuddering could stop anytime.

I could stop reacting to him anytime.

But maybe not until tomorrow.

I held the phone closer to my ear. “Hudson?”

“Yeah, kitten.” There was rustling on the other side of the line. His voice was even deeper if that was possible. “I’m here.”

“Did you…” I trailed off.

I tried to picture it, but it was just a little too out of my imaginative scope. Was his release a band of fluid across his flat stomach? Or more of a handful? Maybe not even that.

“Listening to you come. Those groans ending in my name? Yeah, I came. How could I do anything else?”

“Oh.”

“I wish I was there. I wish there weren’t a few hundred miles between us right now.”

I dragged my pillows back up where they belonged and curled into the cool cotton. “Me too. I never really wanted someone in my space before.” I winced. That was going too far. Not part of the game at all.

“Well, I hope you don’t have a tiny full-sized bed or something.”

I hummed out a laugh. “It’s a queen bed. Usually more than enough for me.” I waited a beat. “And a couple of cats.”

“Hmm. That might be sufficient.”

My cheeks hurt from the continuous smile. “Does that mean you’ll be in my bed soon?”

“That’s a certainty, kitten. As for sharing the bed with felines…”

“Yes?” This should be interesting.

“Is this a test?”

I laughed. “Maybe.”

“I’m pretty sure the only pussy I want in my bed is yours.”

How the hell was I supposed to respond to that? Well, besides doing a full cartwheel—which I hadn’t done in probably ten years—and letting out a resounding hurray.

But my cats were an extension of me. Even if we got naked, that wasn’t going to change anytime soon.

“Maybe they’ll allow me visitation?”

I smiled again. “Good answer.”

“I try.”

“Will I see you tomorrow?” I hated to ask. Hated that I wanted to know so very badly.

While I’d enjoyed our little interlude, my body still ached. It still wanted more than my own fingers. I wanted to chase these feelings and experiences for as long as I could.

“I won’t be in until late.”

“I don’t care.” My response was quick and possibly sounded desperate, but I didn’t care. I wanted to see him. “Come to my place when you get home. I don’t care how late it is.”

He didn’t say anything for a few moments. “Are you sure?”

“Yes. I’ll just go into work late.”

“A true-blue booty call.”

I rolled onto my back. “It will be, won’t it? More lessons?” I wanted to drag those words back. It didn’t only have to be about lessons, did it? Not anymore?

“Lesson three will be advancing your curriculum. Are you ready for that?”

I sat up, then swung my legs off the side of the bed. No, I probably wasn’t. “I’m ready.”

“Then I’ll see you tomorrow night. Goodnight, kitten.”

“Goodnight.” I hung up and stared at my phone. The call had lasted twenty minutes.

How was I going to handle a whole night?

I dropped my head into my hands. So much for that sleepy state of bliss I’d been enjoying.

I stood up and pulled on sweats and a T-shirt. At least work made sense. I padded down the hallway to the French doors beside my fireplace.

My workshop had been neglected for one huge ginger. It was time to rectify that situation.

Then maybe I could sleep.