I walked up the stairs after work, tired from a long day in the kitchen. Things got crazy without Amber there, but that seemed to be a trend now. In the short time she’d been in my life, she’d become an essential part of it. And not just at the restaurant. The fact that she was so good with Emery was a life saver, but also a little scary.
As I reached the top of the stairs, Amber walked out from Emery’s bedroom. She smiled when she saw me. I was about to speak when she placed a finger over her lips, indicating I should be quiet. I nodded and gestured down the stairs. We walked down in silence.
“She just fell asleep,” Amber said softly.
“Good. How is she?”
“Feeling better. Letting her stay home today was a good call.”
“I think having you watch over her was the best decision honestly.”
Amber’s cheeks reddened at the compliment. She looked down at her hands. “Well, it’s no trouble. I’m glad I could help.”
“Seriously, Amber. Thank you.” I broke one of my rules and reached out to squeeze her shoulder. Fuck, she was beyond beautiful. So innocent and sensual all at the same time.
“I should be thanking you. I had a great time today. I read her a couple of stories before she showed me a cartoon with a talking dog. Then we spent like two hours watching baby elephant videos on YouTube. It was a blast.”
“I’m glad,” I said, rocking my head back and forth to loosen a kink in my neck. “I hope you can do it again some time.”
“I’d love to,” she said, and paused. “Is everything alright?”
“Oh, my neck? It’s just been a long day. Things were busy.” I rubbed it and watched her closely.
“Is that your way of saying you missed me at the restaurant?” She smiled softly.
I couldn’t tell if she was teasing me or not. Her eyes moved around my face, and for the first time in a long time, I wondered if I looked alright. Did I have shit on my face? Did she like my beard? Ugh. Dammit.
“I definitely could have used an extra hand today.”
“Here, let me help you. Turn around.”
I eyed her sideways. “Why? Are you gonna braid my hair?”
Her eyes crinkled with amusement. “I might. Now hush and turn around.”
“Is that any way to talk to your boss?” I asked, mostly joking, but still surprised at how familiar we’d become in the last few days.
Somehow, she’d slipped past my defenses when I wasn’t looking. One day, she was just an employee. Now she was taking care of my daughter and joking around with me in my home.
She waggled a finger in my face. “We’re not in the kitchen. You’re not in charge.”
“Fair enough.” I turned around so that my back faced her. Her being in charge sounded like heaven if I were being honest with myself. I wanted dominion in the kitchen and the bedroom, anywhere else was up for grabs if someone had the balls to try for control.
She climbed a couple of steps so that she stood a little taller than me, and her hands settled on my shoulders with a delicate touch. I stiffened at the unexpected contact. It felt incredible.
“Relax,” she whispered. Her voice was soothing in my ear.
Amber kneaded the tense muscles around my neck. Her fingers worked like magic, smoothing away the bunched up knots. I groaned contentedly. It had been a long time since a woman had touched me like this, or taken care of me really.
I’d been with more than my fair share of women since Jen, but it was one night stands with a rare conversation thrown in. We’d get done fucking, and out they would go, or more like, out I would go. Nothing soft or caring at all. Certainly, nothing like this. It was just a massage, and it shouldn’t have meant anything, but it did. It felt like heaven after a long day, and my defenses were completely down. I wanted to come home to a beautiful woman that loved me. Not that she did, but I sure as fuck wanted to pretend she did for the night.
Whatever her intentions, my body reacted to her touch. My insides pulsed with sizzling electricity. As my muscles relaxed, my dick grew thick and hard. I tried to fight the urges rising in me, but I might as well have tried to resist gravity or the changing of the tides.
It wasn’t going to happen. I was far too needy to pass up the opportunity like I had the night before.
Something screamed inside of me to back away, but I ignored it and spun around instead. I trapped her hands in mine and studied her expression. Lust. Good. She wanted me as bad as I wanted her.
“Luke?” she whispered as her eyes widened and her lips parted. It was all the invitation I needed.
I leaned forward and kissed her.
CHAPTER EIGHT - AMBER
The kiss took my breath away. Not because it caught me off guard, but because it felt so damn good. A warm tingling fluttered through me, making me feel like I was floating.
I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t been yearning for this very moment for some time. The massage had just been an excuse to touch him. From the moment I first saw him, I’d imagined running my fingers over his thick muscles a million times. I wanted to touch every part of him, to kiss and lick my way up his body so slowly that he trembled beneath me. It had seemed like a pipe dream earlier that day, but maybe not anymore.
A low moan escaped my lips, sounding loud at the base of the stairs. The last thing I wanted was to wake up Emery and have her discover us like this. Luke seemed to be thinking the same thing.
“Come on.” He took my hand and turned, walking us down the hall to a closed door. He opened it and pulled me inside with him.
The furnishings in his bedroom were sparse and masculine. It was exactly the kind of place I expected him to sleep. But the décor was not the most pressing thing on my mind. I needed to taste his lips again.
I shut the door softly behind me, sealing us away from the rest of the world.
He turned and took the step that lay between us, sliding his hands over my hips and pressing me against the door. “I’ve wanted to taste you since I met you.”
I moaned as he rolled his hips and pressed his lips against mine again. The soft, warm brush of his tongue had my body tingling with need.
His body enveloped mine, taking control over me. Liquid heat rushed through my veins and pooled in my core. I ran my hands over his chest, tracing the hard lines of muscle that he had to work hard to get.
“You’re not the only one.” I grabbed the hem of his shirt and yanked it up to reveal his chiseled stomach. It could have been carved from solid rock.
Luke took a step back and shrugged his shirt the rest of the way off. The dim bluish light coming in the window painted his body in muted colors. A dark tattoo spread out over the top of his chest, the wings beautiful, delicious. He looked like he’d stepped out of the past. A primal warrior of some forgotten civilization, proud and powerful.
The sight of him standing before me sent shivers through me, but I was done just looking. I wanted more.
I closed the distance between us and kissed him again, lifting one of my legs and hooking it over his hip. It had been far too long since I let a man take care of me, and my memories were rushing back to try and find one of the guys I’d slept with that were anywhere near this hot. It came up short.
“God, you feel good in my hands.” He licked at my mouth and ran his hand down my thigh, pushing my dress up with his rough fingers.
His hands trailed down my back, igniting hot lines of fire over my skin. I groaned at the feeling of it. Then he moved lower, gripping my ass in his hands and pulling my body tight against his.
“Good. Just don’t stop touching me,” I panted against his lips as we locked gazes. His dark green eyes held a million emotions, each tugging at the part of me that wanted to fall in love.
His cock pressed against my stomach, and I lifted up on my toes to feel him pressed to the center of my heat. He groaned loudly and ground against me, going in for another round of hungry, probing kisses.
I reached between us and gave his erection a playful stroke. Heat radiated from it against my palm. It grew even bigger at my touch, until I thought it would rip through his pants.
Knowing that I had this effect on him thrilled me. Luke was so usually dominant and powerful and in control. But now, being close like this, he was under my control. At least, a part of him was.
“I want this,” I murmured against his lips as I stroked him again.
“Good. It’s thick and hard for you, Amber. It’s a lot for a woman to handle. You sure you’re up for trying?” He smiled before running his nose down the side of my neck. “Wanna see just how right you are about me being a big dick?”
“Fuck,” I whimpered as my body tightened and released. I wanted to be fucked like a wild woman, pressed to the wall and consumed by him.
His words, combined with the greediness of his touch, left me feeling sexy and desirable, the way every woman should feel. It cast aside my inhibitions and spurred me on to be even bolder.
I slipped my hand down his slacks and boxers and grasped his cock in my hand. He grunted at the feeling of it. A low, animal sound that drove me wild. “I want to see it. I want to see you.”
“Such a dirty girl.” He gave me a wicked smile and moved back, unfastened his pants and slid them over his hips, taking his boxers with him.
He stood there naked and unashamed. Thick muscle ran down his body, and various tattoos decorated his skin. His cock was quite a bit larger than I’d expected, and a moment of panic raced through me. How horrifying would it be if I couldn’t fit him in?
“You’re incredible.” I glanced up to find him watching me with something like pride in his eyes. “So fucking hot.”
“Good. Enjoy me.” He licked his lips and reached down to stroke himself. “Nine inches just for you, kitten. Still think you’re up for the challenge?”
My eyes roved over every inch of his body. There was no way in hell I was backing down. Instead of responding, I swatted his hand away and stroked his shaft slowly with a loose grip. It twitched and quivered in my hand, responding to my touch.
“I’ll take that as a yes,” he mumbled and pulled me closer. He kissed me again and reached around to undo the zipper along the back of my dress as I touched him.
“Yes,” I said breathlessly. “It’s definitely a yes.”
I trembled with anticipation, hoping desperately he’d like what he saw.
My dress fell open. He gripped my arms and turned me so he could see me in the dim light. His eyes drank me in greedily. His cock swelled even thicker in my hand, which I hadn’t thought possible.
“You’re so goddamn beautiful,” he said, his voice a low, sexy baritone.
Lightning fast, he yanked my dress the rest of the way off my body. Then he picked me up in his strong arms and dropped me on his bed. He climbed in beside me, pressing his body over mine. His hard length probed between my legs and he planted kisses down my neck and chest.
My skin felt like it was on fire everywhere he kissed. Each touch of his lips added to the blaze until it swept over me like liquid heat. It was a pleasure to burn.
Luke tugged my bra down, revealing my breasts, my nipples tight and pink. “Fuck yes.”
He gazed down at them, his eyes crackling with passion. He leaned down and pulled one of my nipples into his mouth, swirling his tongue around it until it grew even harder.
His hand caressed my other breast, tracing light circles over my tender flesh. He awoke a symphony of pleasure in me, sending jolts of sensation directly to my core.
I moaned loudly and arched my back, reveling in the feeling of him pressed to the front of me. It felt so good that I was scared I might wake up and find myself lost in the middle of a dream.
A dull, desperate ache throbbed between my legs, begging to be filled. I bucked my hips up, pressing against his thick shaft, needing to feel him. Luke’s hips met mine, grinding his thick cock against me. I moaned again at the delicious friction.
“Luke,” I said, my voice thick with desire. “I want you. I want all of you.”
He gazed into my eyes. “I want you, too, Amber.”
His fingers hooked under the waistband of my panties and he slid them past my feet. His strong hands gripped my thighs and parted my legs, opening me up to him.
“God, woman. You’re already wet for me.” He ran his finger down my lips and slipped his digit in his mouth, closing his eyes and groaning loudly.
“Shit,” I buckled in pleasure and gripped the sheets. “Fuck me. Please. I need to feel you inside of me.”
“I want to hear you beg a little.” His wicked smile had me vibrating with lust.
“Please Luke, please fuck me,” I begged.
He brought his body over me so that his face was level with mine. The thick head of his cock nudged my aching entrance, parting my silky folds. He leaned down and kissed me, hot and hard. Just when I thought I couldn’t stand the anticipation any more, he thrust inside me.
I gasped at the feeling of it. My whole body tensed at the sensation of being filled up. Luke stayed like that, motionless for just a moment, letting my body adjust. Then he began to slide in and out, slowly and gently.
I bit my lip at the sweet agony between my legs. He felt so good. So right. So damn big.
“I love how you grip me. Like you’re ready to milk this big fucker just to prove that you were up for the challenge.” He glanced down and took a shaky breath.
Every part of me tingled with heat. He was my naughtiest fantasies come to life.
“I was right, wasn’t I?” I asked, my eyes wide as I tried to talk a tough game, but failed miserably at it.
“Yeah, you were, kitten.” He kissed me a few more times as he ran his head over my lips, bobbing into my entrance and playing me like a fiddle. “Come for me when I tell you to. Not a second before.”
I nodded, wanting to endure whatever he was dishing out. “It’s not going to take long, ” I warned.
He licked his lips and gripped his cock, popping it against my clit as I moaned and writhed.
I buckled as my body contracted. “I need to come.”
“I know you do.” He smiled and moved back. “But you’ll do what I tell you to do. Just like you do in the kitchen. This place is no different. I’m in charge.”
I nodded, losing my dominant spirit quickly. Pleasure danced in the center of my stomach, and I closed my eyes, trying to slow my heart before I went into cardiac arrest. Everything about the moment had me wired to explode.
“I’m getting a condom. Don’t move.” His voice was low, commanding, delicious.
“I won’t,” I whispered and glanced down the length of my body. He seemed to like everything about me.
“I love that you’re being so good for me.” He stopped at the edge of the bed and grabbed my legs, pulling me toward him. “’Cause I can tell that you don’t want to be.”
“I don’t” I admitted and gripped the sheets as he took hold of himself again and played with my pussy, opening me up and pressing in a little. He stretched me so gloriously.
I moaned loudly before panting like I’d just ran a marathon. “Please. Stop toying with me and just fuck me.”
“Are you telling me or asking me?” He pulled out and smiled, rubbing his length along my lips and watching me with lusty intent.
“Please, fuck me. Please?”
“Only ‘cause you said please.” He pushed his cock deep inside of me, and I cried out and reached for him.
“Luke,” I whispered roughly, pleading with my eyes.
“Come for me , Amber. Lose yourself for me.”
I moaned wildly as he quickened his strokes, plunging deeper inside me with every movement. My breath came in short, panting moans. I arched my back in an attempt to pull him in even farther. He took the opportunity to take my hard nipple in his mouth. He nipped and sucked at me. It felt so good I thought I would explode.
My hands gripped his forearms in a vice grip. I felt the nails digging into his flesh. He didn’t seem to notice. He kept pounding deeper with a steady, maddening rhythm.
Pressure built up inside me, threatening to explode. I was getting closer and closer with every stroke of his amazing cock. My body tensed.
Then pleasure exploded inside me, shattering me into a million little pieces. I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. I could even move except for the trembling of my legs.
Luke stiffened inside me and his body froze. With a grunt of pleasure, he came with me. His cock spasmed inside me, growing bigger.
“Fuck,” he mumbled and collapsed beside me, panting and sweaty. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me close as I basked in the afterglow.
It felt good to be held in his arms. Every part of me was alive and pumping with blood. It was by far the best sex I had ever had. I wanted him again. Tonight. Tomorrow. Forever.
Oh shit, what had I done?
***
We lay together for a long time, not speaking, just enjoying each other’s presence.
It was nice while it lasted.
Eventually, my brain started working again. With it, came uncertainty. Had I made a mistake by hooking up with Luke?
He was my boss.
If the situation went sideways, like it almost certainly would, I wouldn’t just be messing up our relationship, I’d be messing up my career. It’s not like we could still work together if things went bad. Even if we could, it wouldn’t be pleasant. Luke was brutal before, I could only imagine the holy hell he’d rain down on me if things didn’t work out between us.
Hell, I didn’t even know if he wanted a relationship. Frankly, I didn’t know if I wanted one either. Maybe sleeping with him was a mistake. The warmth between my legs and the pulsing parts of my body didn’t back that theory up too well however.
I needed time to think. It was impossible to do that lying naked next to Luke.
“I should go,” I said.
“You don’t have to.”
“I know, but I should go anyway. We’ve got an early day tomorrow.”
“True.”
“Plus, there’s Emery to think about. If she knows I stayed over, she might start asking questions. She might think we’re-” I couldn’t finish the thought. I was going to say she might think Luke and I were a couple. “Anyway. That was amazing. You’re amazing.”
“I understand,” Luke said and moved away from me to sit up on the side of the bed with his back to me. “You’re right. It’s probably for the best.”
I got dressed in the darkness, feeling so out of place all of a sudden.
Luke disappeared into the bathroom and walked back out just wearing jeans. He looked like a god.
“Come on. I’ll walk you to the door.” He moved out into the hallway, and I followed him, memorizing the thick black tribal art on his back. The man was everything anyone would want in their bed. Why was I feeling like shit about my decision to sleep with him all of a sudden?
We reached the door and he opened it before turning to face me. Just before I was about to leave, he pulled me back and kissed me again.
I lifted to my toes, enjoying the soft press of his lips. “See you tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. See you then.” I walked out, not knowing if it was our last kiss or the first of many to come. Either way, it filled me with warmth that kept away my dark, cold thoughts as I drove home alone.