Seven

Harley

“I’m just a temp right now but I’m saving up to finish my last year of my degree.” I hated talking about my job and education, or the lack of both, but with a man as accomplished as Nick Steele it felt even more pitiful.

There was no judgment in his blue eyes, just a proud kind of smile. “What kind of degree?”

“Marketing and business. I’d like to work in the creative department here or at a similar company. Not that I’m angling for a job.”

He frowned. “I didn’t think you were. But I could make you a full-time, non-temp staff. You won’t get paid as much but you’ll qualify for company scholarships after ninety days.”

“I’ve already been here six months. But you’re not doing this because we slept together, are you?”

“In a way, yes. I mean I wouldn’t have known any of this if you hadn’t seduced me.” He arched a brow and grinned. “But no. I had to work my way through school, too, so I understand.” His blue eyes were kind and gentle.

I accepted his answer. “Why did you start this company? Did you have a deep-seated need to be rich?”

“Don’t we all?” he joked. “No, smart ass. I happen to be an excellent negotiator, deal-maker and solution-finder. Someone offered me an opportunity to invest in his startup. Of all the business interests that I’d checked out, this one allowed me the best mix of all that, plus something new all at time. Later, I bought his company when he wanted to go off and do his own thing. The rest is history.”

“I hope you gave him a tin of cookies or a small island or something, for being so spot on.”

He laughed and I closed my eyes, letting the sound wash over me as I tried to remember the last time I’d done this with a man. Just sat and talked. Laughed.

“I did better than that. I offered up a grant for his research a few years ago. Now he’s doing just as well for himself.”

“See?” I laughed and pointed at the pink staining his cheeks. “Nice guy. Don’t fight it, Nick.” He was a nice guy and I hoped he could see that about himself, but I needed to remind myself that it didn’t matter how nice he was. This was sex with a little conversation thrown in between orgasms. I couldn’t afford to fall for a guy like him. Compared to the women he’d dated, I was an unaccomplished temp worker.

“I’m not fighting it. I just don’t flaunt it.”

That was true and I nodded, setting the carton of spicy duck and noodles on the table and wincing as I came in contact with the sofa.

“Sore?”

“Maybe a little.”

“Damn, I should’ve realized,” he mumbled to himself and stood, walking quickly down the hall, leaving me to stare after him with a frown. Was he upset that he wouldn’t have more sex? Should I leave? I scanned the sparse living room until my gaze landed on one of those fancy numberless clocks. Almost three hours had passed since I took the elevator up with that plate of desserts. Hell, maybe that was a long time for a one-night stand. Shannon didn’t usually show up until the next afternoon. I stood, wondering where my dress was when Nick walked back in, scowling.

“Where are you going?”

“I uh, thought that maybe I had overstayed my welcome.”

His scowl darkened. “I’ll let you know when that happens. Come.” He was so dark and demanding and I would seriously lose my feminist card if I admitted how much I liked it.

I took his hand and followed him down the hall to the large master suite where he’d loved me until I had slipped into a deep, forty-minute sleep. He pulled me into the bathroom, stopping in front of an oversized Jacuzzi tub. The mosaic tile made the water a hypnotizing shade of blue and orange blossoms wafted from the steam rising around us. “You didn’t have to do this, Nick.” It was sweet and I felt myself becoming emotional. Too emotional so I buried my face in his chest, hiding it behind a hug.

He wrapped his arms around me and dropped a kiss on top of my head. “And you didn’t have to share something so special with me, but you did. Get on in,” he said and smacked my ass. I felt a tingle begin between my legs and groaned, remembering that I still hadn’t seen my panties anywhere.

“You coming?”

Nick wore a sultry smile that worked like a siren’s call for my nipples as he pushed down his jeans, revealing a cock that was half ready for action. Again. He stepped inside the tub, the springy hairs on his chest brushing against my nipples until I gasped. Then he sat, pulling me down between his legs. “Fuck, that feels good.”

I let out a sound that was half laugh and half moan as I leaned into his broad chest. “So good. I rarely take baths but this I could do regularly.” I moaned again when his hands slid over my shoulders and down my chest to cup my breasts, catching the nipples between his middle and ring fingers, applying the barest hint of pleasure until I moaned.

“I love your body. All these curves and the weight of your tits. This smooth slope of your waist, so small in comparison to your round ass.” He kept up the sweet and dirty talk as he rubbed me all over, using soap that smelled like him. “You are so small, so delicate, yet all woman.” He reached down and caressed my thighs, massaging them gently. “I wish I could be inside you right now.”

I wished that too, more than anything. But I was sore and I would probably need something for the pain. Later. Much, much later. Right now I wanted to feel everything. “Me too,” I groaned and let my head fall back when one thick finger slid between my folds in an up and down motion that teased me. Two fingers slid up and down, back and forth over my clit until it was swollen and throbbing, I was panting and moving my hips like a wanton little hussy. Sore—yet hungry—was a sad place to be with his big, thick cock growing literally right at my back. “Nick.”

“Yes, Harley? What do you need?”

“More. I need more,” I told him, moving clumsily and splashing water everywhere as I tried to face him. “Finally,” I told him with an embarrassed laugh as I fitted our bodies together perfectly, though not fully. “That’s much better. It’s not everything, but your cock feels so good.”

His arms banded around me and he licked my earlobe. “I think that’s my line.” He held me tight, hips moving so his cock slid right between my folds, hitting my clit over and over, increasing the pressure and speed until I began to pant. Ground against him. Nick grinned and captured my mouth in a rough kiss that was equal parts possession and sex. His five o’clock shadow was several hours old, brushing against my skin roughly and adding to my pleasure. His tongue danced with mine, teased it and owned it while our bodies rubbed against one another in a search for release. Satisfaction. Ecstasy.

“Nick,” I moaned. “How?”

“Good,” he chuckled through clenched teeth. “It’s not just me.” His words came out rough, ragged under the strain of holding off his orgasm.

So I pulled it out of him, grabbing his bottom lip between my teeth and tugging as I increased the pressure against his thick cock. A moan sounded from somewhere deep inside me and I felt my body let go, shatter and convulse in his arms as my core drenched him. “Oh, Nick!”

He was silent for a moment but I felt his body jerk, felt the warm spurts of come that spilled between us. Then he groaned, or maybe he growled, then shouted my name right before he sank his teeth into my shoulder and let the second wave take him completely. Nick Steele coming undone was a sight to behold, but being in his arms when he did it, being the thing that kept him from floating away, that was the real prize.

I held his hand against my chest, stroking his hair and his neck until we both breathed normally. He dried us both off and took me back to bed. We didn’t have sex but there were a couple more orgasms before we passed out.

My dreams were filled with more nights like this one, wrapped up in a pair of strong capable arms. Those dreams turned scary when the sun shone brightly and we did things like walk in parks holding hands and having candlelit dinners at romantic Italian restaurants. Even the dream version of me knew something was wrong.