Chapter Eighteen

Mia

I was really trying hard not to die of embarrassment. We got into the taxi. When I moved to sit against the window, his strong arm snaked out and pulled me against him. I rested my head on his shoulder, not wanting to look at him.

I couldn’t believe what I had just done in my kitchen. I had never acted like that before. The man was making me crazy. He had managed to steamroll right over me. I’d had no intention of letting him see my mother, and here we were, on our way to see my mom. When it came to him, I had no self-control. I let him do whatever he wanted. The worst part was, I didn’t really mind.

The driver stopped in front of the restaurant. Brad got out and once again leaned in to help me out after paying the driver. The man could be a true gentleman, which was a stark contradiction to the crude man who had just been in my kitchen. Both men were very appealing. I loved how nasty he was. It had left me in a constant state of arousal since those first few text messages. I loved his confidence; it was what drew me to him.

As much as I hated to admit it, I did want him to take me on the kitchen table. The thought sent a lovely shiver down my spine to the spot where his hand rested on the small of my back.

“Problems?” he whispered in my ear.

“No.”

“Aftershocks. I get it. Keep that pussy wet, because when we get home, I’m going to be deep inside.”

I nearly came right there as we stood in front of the hostess, waiting to be seated. I sucked in a breath of air.

“Relax, baby. I’m going to take care of you.”

I took a deep breath, fighting back the heat I knew was spreading up my chest to my face. I could not be thinking about sex when I sat down to eat with my mother. It would be wrong and way gross.

The hostess sat us at a private table in a corner. Brad pulled a chair out for me and then sat next to me. I purposely looked at the two other chairs around the table, but he just smiled.

“I’m sitting next to you. My arms aren’t long enough for me to sit over there,” he said, gesturing with his head.

I gave him a peculiar look but didn’t get a chance to ask him what he meant. My mother appeared at the table. Brad jumped up and hugged her.

“It’s so good to see you, Maria.”

“Brad, aren’t you a handsome devil,” my mother cooed, making me want to groan out loud.

“You’re looking gorgeous as ever,” he complimented.

“Oh, and you’re smooth as well. No wonder Mia let you waltz back into her life,” she said with a knowing look.

I wanted to crawl under the table and die.

“Mom,” I choked out. “Please, sit down.” I left the shut-up part out, but I knew she understood what I was asking.

She smiled and sat down in the chair Brad had pulled out for her. I couldn’t believe how impeccable his manners were. The man had changed.

“What have you two been up to? I figured you must be keeping her busy. I haven’t seen her around the shop lately,” my mother said innocently enough, but I knew what she was insinuating.

I could feel my face turning red. Brad thankfully stepped in to minimize the embarrassment.

“We’ve been playing tourist. It’s been a long time since I got to live and breathe all New York had to offer, so Mia gave me the grand tour. I think we must have walked ten miles the other day,” he said with an easy smile.

“Oh, that’s nice. I’m glad the two of you are getting to know each other again. I’ve missed you, Brad.”

I rolled my eyes. My mother was falling into his trap as well. The guy was a smooth operator.

“How’ve you been, hon?” my mother asked him.

“Good. Very good. I love LA and the sunshine. The water is the best part. I love the ocean and hit the beach whenever I have the chance. How about you? Do you still have the pet clothing store?” he asked with genuine interest.

I sat in my chair feeling like a third wheel as I listened to the two of them chat away like old friends who hadn’t seen each other in a while. The waitress took our order after delivering a round of mimosas. I wasn’t typically a day drinker but figured I might as well. I was off for the day, and as far as I knew, my only plans were sex and more sex. Of course, that could change. Brad could end up deciding to spend the day with my mother. I listened as they talked about the old neighborhood and the various people we had all known.

I was about to sigh heavily to remind them I was still at the table when I felt Brad’s hand on my bare knee. He gave it a gentle squeeze before trailing up my skirt to my thigh. I looked around the restaurant, making sure no one was watching. The tablecloth hid what was happening, but I still felt exposed.

My mom was carrying on about her new line of products, and Brad was enthusiastically nodding his head and offering words of encouragement here and there. His hand moved up my leg. I froze, knowing he was about to discover something that would change everything.

His hand jerked on my thigh. I looked at him as his head whipped around. He stared directly into my eyes. I smirked in response. After the little tryst in the kitchen right before we left, I had stripped off my soaked panties and tossed them into my room. I was bare. I had planned to tease him with the information but had lost my courage. Now I didn’t have to say a word. He had just found out, and by the flaring of his nostrils and his large pupils, it had the desired effect.

“Everything okay?” my mother asked.

Brad schooled his features and turned to look at her again. “Yes. Fine. I was just thinking how hungry I am. I got up early. Usually I have a protein shake or some fruit, but as you probably know, your daughter keeps no food in her house. I’m famished,” he said, stressing the last word.

I knew exactly what he was hinting at and felt myself grow wet. An image of me splayed on the kitchen table sprang into my mind. I bit back a groan as I imagined his head between my legs.

“Oh. Let’s see if we can get you some orange juice while we wait for our meals,” my mother said, putting her hand in the air.

Brad held up his mimosa. “This’ll do. I’ll be fine.”

He took a sip of the juice blend and turned to give me a dirty look. I smiled sweetly at him, not feeling the least bit guilty for my little game.

It wasn’t long before our food was delivered. Brad took advantage of the fact that my mother was preoccupied with her meal. His hand went under my skirt, gently massaging my inner thigh. He was teasing me.

“So, Mom, do you want to go for a walk after we’re done here?” I asked cheerfully.

Brad squeezed my thigh hard enough to make me wince before using his fingertips to gently go over the area, wiping away the pain and replacing it with pleasure.

“Oh, that would be great. Does that sound good to you, Brad?” she asked.

I looked at him and smiled, waiting for him to answer. He knew I was delaying the return to my apartment. Two could play at his naughty game.

“I would love to. There is still plenty of the city I haven’t seen. After eating all this, I’m going to need the exercise,” he said with a smile.

My mother laughed and returned to her omelet. Brad’s fingertips were still tracing little circles on the inside of my thigh. His hand moved back to my knee and gently pulled it toward him. I fought against him, not wanting to spread my legs under the table.

He gave me a look, demanding my cooperation, and just like that, I let him do it. I fought back a gasp as his hand trailed up my thigh once again. He ran one finger over my slit, nearly making me come. I choked on the bite of pancake I had just put in my mouth.

“Are you okay, dear?” my mom asked.

I nodded, taking a drink and patting my chest.

“Take it easy,” Brad said in a hushed voice.

I shot him a glare. I had nearly choked because he had his finger running circles around my very aroused hole. It took every bit of self-control I had not to squirm in my chair. His finger was running up and down my center, only the tip probing inside.

I dropped my fork as he pushed his finger in a little higher. I was going to orgasm in front of my mother if he didn’t stop. I grabbed my mimosa and quickly swallowed it down, hoping the cold drink would cool the fire burning inside my body.

His finger, slick with my own juices, slid over my clit, and it was only by sheer will and determination that I stopped the climax from taking over my body. I stomped the skinny heel of my shoe on his toe. He jerked his hand away from me and chuckled.

My mom looked at him, questioning his laughter.

We managed to get through the rest of our meal without any further incidents. As we were walking out of the restaurant, Brad leaned in close and whispered in my ear. “You’re going to pay for that.”

I laughed. “We’ll see.”

We took our walk with my mom before she decided it was time for her to go. She thanked us for breakfast and left us alone.

“Back to your place,” he said, grabbing my hand and pulling me along the sidewalk.

“Do you want to get a cab?” I called out.

“No. This is faster, and trust me, you want me to walk off some of the sexual frustration you have given me,” he growled. The clouds that had rolled in earlier had turned into a full-on rainstorm.

I was laughing as he pulled me along, not caring a bit that we were getting soaked. I liked knowing I had that kind of power over him. When we got back to my place, I was only a little bummed he didn’t follow through with his earlier promise. Instead, he ordered me to get changed into dry clothes while he did the same.

When I returned to the living room, he was on the couch with the remote in his hand. He had found the Syfy channel and seemed to be settling into some ridiculously cheesy show about people living on another planet.

I sat down beside him, content with watching television. It didn’t take long before he began to run his hand over my arm and then my breast. The man was handsy, though he didn’t appear to be interested in sex. He was intent on the movie, but his hands roved over my body, stroking here and there, even tweaking my nipples on occasion.

I was worked up into a frenzy, and the man wasn’t giving me what I wanted. I was too embarrassed to ask. I settled for his touches, all the while hoping he would get tired of the movie and have his way with me.