Last night, I’d had another dream about Gabe.

A sex dream.

We’d been video-chatting and texting and talking on the phone for more than two months now, and although we sometimes gently flirted, our conversations stayed sex-free.

Probably because I could feel Gabe yielding to me, waiting for me to call the next step.

Which was beautiful and kind and sensitive, and God help me, it only made me want to fuck him more. My intense attraction to him hadn’t waned a bit—only increased—but I think we both knew that sex, even video sex, would push us towards the next ultimate step.

Figuring Things Out.

And this morning, I woke up feeling turned on and wanton. Confident. I felt like the Josie I’d been before meeting Clarke and the Josie I was now had finally met. Converged into a woman I could feel proud to be. Strong but vulnerable. Trusting and kind to myself.

Unashamed of my scars.

Clarke hadn’t interrupted my thoughts for three months. My client list had exploded. L.A. had never been more beautiful to me.

And a bearded Viking was willing to be in a relationship with me set to my terms.

He’d compromised and listened and bent to my desires. But I knew what Gabe wanted.

Me. All of me.

And I wanted to show him that I was listening too.

I rolled over in bed and sent him a text.

Tonight, when we see each other, what if we did something different?

Gabe responded almost immediately.

What do you have in mind, gorgeous?

My heart raced, arousal pulsing beneath my skin.

I want to watch you take off all of your fucking clothes, I sent. Then I want you to take that thick cock of yours in your hand.

I waited twenty seconds. Then: And I want to watch you stroke it.

A full, tortuous minute went by, where I frantically tried to convince myself I hadn’t pushed the envelope. Rushed us. Maybe I could tell him I’d taken an Ambien and was sleep-texting. Or that Lucia had hacked into my phone and was sending joke texts to all of my contacts. The three little dots appeared and disappeared in an agonizing dance of despair.

And then, finally: So sorry. I literally fell out of my bed, face first, when I read these messages. Took me a second to float back down to Earth. And I might have broken all of my bones.

I’d never experienced the exhilaration of sky-diving before, but suddenly felt like I might know what that joyous, weightless feeling might be like.

Poor baby, I wrote, grinning like a loon.

Not poor anything, he responded. Ready, Josie. So ready.

For what? I sent, toes curling in anticipation.

To beg for it, he said.

I fell back onto the bed, sighing with happiness, heart singing.

And so turned on I couldn’t see straight. Lazily, I let my fingers trail down my belly, pressing between my legs. Pretending it was Gabe.

Good, I finally said. When I call you tonight, you better be naked and on your knees.

Fuck. Yes. He responded.

It was the longest work day of my entire life, only made brighter by the continual text exchange between Gabe and me. Which was no longer unusual—we talked constantly now—but this one had the added benefit of being flirty and sexy. I smiled so much my cheeks hurt. Updated Lucia every few hours—she couldn’t stop sending the heart-eyes emoji to me and just “!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” over and over.

When I got home, I pulled on a sexy black nightie. Dark lipstick. Curled my hair and poured myself a big glass of red wine. Slipped on a pair of stilettos with a deadly looking heel.

And then I called Gabe.

It was like the day Gabe sent the bouquets all over again—that delicious anticipation of seeing the other person. Your thoughts crowded with desire and yearning. Butterflies shimmered in my stomach, and my heart was a wild, untamed thing.

And then the video screen clicked on, and I saw him.

Arousal slammed through me like a gale-force wind. My Viking, every single one of his brawny muscles on display. He was on his knees with his hands behind his back, stretching his chest. The muscles of his arms and shoulders rippled with strength.

And his heavy cock, standing straight out from his body.

Suddenly, I knew where this night would lead.

“Gabriel,” I purred. He lifted his head and gave me a filthy, entirely un-submissive grin.

“Josefine.” We stared at each other for a full minute, and even through the screen, even a hundred miles away, I could feel his hot, caressing gaze on every single inch of my skin.

“You followed my instructions,” I said, taking a sip of wine and spreading my legs for the camera.

His throat worked, stomach muscles flexing. “Yes, ma’am,” he rasped.

“Good,” I said, approving. “Now, take your cock in your hand.”

He did, slowly wrapping his fingers around the base. I nodded and he gave it a slow, leisurely tug. Gabe groaned, low and intense, and if I was ever going to orgasm just from a sound, that sound would be it.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other,” I said, letting the straps of my lingerie slip down my shoulder. “Why don’t you tell me every single dirty fantasy you’ve had these past months.”

“Who said I had dirty fantasies?” he growled, fingers working.

“Stop,” I said shortly, and he did. Flashed me a rueful smile.

“Smart mouth,” I teased, fully exposing my breasts. His fingers twitched but didn’t move. I cupped my breasts in my hand, smoothing my thumb over my nipple piercings, and there was that sound again. It was so hungry.

“Now you can keep going,” I said, and his fingers flew. “And tell me, Gabe.”

“I thought about… you on your knees.”

I spread my legs wider. “Keep going.”

“You… on your knees. Sucking me off behind the bar while I served customers. But you don’t… you don’t let me come. For hours.”

I bit my lip, loving that my Viking loved being denied as much as I loved denying him.

“Interesting. What else?” I demanded.

“I thought about taking your ass,” he finally groaned.

I swallowed a moan. Because of course he did.

“That’s not very nice,” I chided.

“I’d make it nice,” he panted. “So nice for you. Use my tongue and my fingers until you beg for it.”

I squirmed on my bed. “What else? And don’t you dare stop.”

His movements were becoming frantic, and every pulse of his fingers I felt. He was racing toward release, and so was I—even though I wasn’t even touching myself.

“Christ, Josie, I thought about so much. So fucking much. I thought about how your pussy tasted. Thought about that sweet clit and the way you screamed when I tongued you. I thought about being tied up for you. Strapped to the fucking bed. I thought about… fuck, I even thought about fucking you with another fucking man. Giving you that fantasy you’ve always wanted.”

Tilting my head, I spread my legs as wide as they could go, completely exposing myself to Gabe’s starved gaze. Another groan and a husky curse.

“Gabe,” I prompted.

“We’d do it… we’d do it however you wanted it. However you’d make us do it. Eat that sweet pussy while he eats your ass. Suck my cock while he takes you from behind. Knowing you, you’d make me watch while he fucked you, while he worked over that gorgeous cunt of yours.”

“That’s absolutely goddamn right,” I said, so fucking turned on by this fantasy. “And you wouldn’t get to come.”

He shook his head with a small smile. “No, Josie. You’d torture me all night long, gorgeous.”

“I like that idea,” I said softly, sensing he was close.

Torn between denying him more—or taking the leap.

“Josie, fuck, I’m going to come.” His voice was strangled with need.

“And?” I taunted.

“I don’t… can I? Please?”

My Viking, on his knees and begging for it, just like he promised. And in the midst of this erotically charged moment, the complete and total trust this man had in me flared in my chest like a match being struck.

“When, Josie?” His head was back, throat exposed, arm muscles bunching with exertion.

I leaned in closer, wanting to make sure he heard me.

“I don’t know, Gabriel. How soon can you get down here?”