CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Trevor

When we boarded the jet to fly back to Dallas, I immediately noticed that Emma, in her gray silk blouse with her black slacks, looked classy and gorgeous. It took everything in me not to pull her into my arms and kiss away the obvious defenses in her eyes. But it also amused me no end that having me ignore her over the course of the flight got under her skin.

Good. Because she’d definitely gotten under mine.

I wasn’t a guy who was gifted in business like a lot of my friends in college. I was the type who studied hard and wasn’t afraid to put in the work for something I wanted. I felt that trait carried over into my personal life as well. I wanted Emma. More than for a single night. And I wasn’t afraid to put in the effort for it.

After leaving the airport, I went by the grocery store, and then finally swung by the boarding kennel about twenty minutes away—a place that was nicer than my college dorm room had been—to pick up Rufus. He was very happy to see me. I always felt guilty leaving him since he was a rescue dog and had once been left behind for good. But he seemed to have charmed the staff, who assured me he’d been spoiled the entire time.

If I was excited to see Rufus, he clearly felt the same way, dancing around me with joy. “Who’s my good boy?” I asked him.

After taking him home, I changed over from my business attire into workout gear and took him out to the field for some exercise with his ball. My gaze couldn’t resist finding Emma’s balcony. I had to fight a smile at the way the curtains moved. She was watching.

I wasn’t intentionally trying to play games with her, but I knew for certain if I came across as too anxious, it would do me no favors with her. So, I let her sit there and wait with anticipation while I plotted my next approach.

After tuckering out the big guy, I took him back to the apartment. There, I fixed sandwiches for both Emma and me, happy I’d thought to get food. I wasn’t much of a cook, but I preferred a home-cooked meal to dining out. I’d hoped to bring the simple meal over to her, but the knock at my door came as a shock.

I opened it to find she’d changed into a pair of those maddening yoga pants. Together with her tank top, the outfit made me drool over her tight little body. All I showed her, however, was a grin. “Hi, sugar, what’s up?”

Doubt was reflected in her eyes while attitude was evident in her stance. She appeared unable to believe she was seeking me out, which left her looking ready for combat rather than a conversation. “Do you call all the girls sugar or just me?”

It took biting my lip to keep from laughing. “Is that why you’re here? To ask that question.”

“I— You know what? Forget it.”

She turned, but I snagged her wrist, pulling her inside and shutting the door, caging her against it.

“Not so fast. You came over here for something. What is it?”

“You ignored me on the plane, and I got to thinking that maybe last night was a one-night deal, and if it is, that’s fine. Just tell me. Hell, that’s my usual, so it’ll probably be for the best.”

Her uncharacteristic insecurity was completely endearing and gave me hope I might be getting to her the way she’d gotten to me. Perhaps, rather than having had a relationship gone bad, she’d never had one to begin with and now was navigating new terrain. “You do realize the plane this morning was a no-win situation for me, right?”

She scrunched her face in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

“I mean if I’d snuck into that bathroom with you to do this—” I pulled her hips in line with mine and rubbed my growing erection against her center until I could feel her piercing and hear her gasp at the contact. “Then you would’ve been mad about me blurring the lines between work and personal, especially with our boss outside of the door. But ignoring you also made you angry. So it was a no-win.”

She heaved a sigh. “You’re right. And that’s why this isn’t going to work. So we should make sure what happened last night doesn’t affect our professional relationship.”

Her walls were slamming down. But I merely quirked a brow, having expected it. “I don’t think your body is on board with your plan.” She was practically humming with energy, her face inches from me. “If you’re scared—”

Those were fighting words.

“I’m not. But I don’t think you’re prepared for what it is I’d want from a sexual relationship. There’s a reason I don’t date nice guys, Trevor.”

Jesus. More blood immediately rushed to my cock. “Try me.”

She had challenge in her eyes along with something I couldn’t identify. Maybe insecurity?

“I like it rough. And you’re too much of a gentleman to be calling me names in the bedroom once we get busy.”

“What kind of names?”

“If you have to ask, then you don’t get it.”

“Derogatory names?”

Her cheeks turned pink. “Sometimes.”

I could spend hours psychoanalyzing why she wanted it this way, or I could simply jump down the rabbit hole, doing as she asked. But I’d do neither.

Because I was secure enough in my ability to give her pleasure that I didn’t need to abide by her rules or examine her history. Also, I’d been raised to respect women. That didn’t mean I couldn’t appreciate how dirty some could be in the bedroom, but I sure as hell didn’t get off on making them feel degraded. So if that truly was what she was into, then this wouldn’t work. But I had another idea. Perhaps Emma simply wasn’t used to being treated in the bedroom the way she should, especially if these one-night stands had been her gig. If that was the case, now it was time to test the theory.

I ran my hand down her face in an intimate gesture before kissing her lips. “I’ll call you names, but it’ll be the ones I choose. The first one is sugar. Which, in answer to your question, is only for you.” I dropped to my knees, eye level with her center. By sliding down her pants and thong in one swoop, I was afforded the sparkle of her jeweled clit. “I call you that because you’re an addiction. A sweet—” My tongue swiped at her. “Tasty—” Again with my tongue. “Addiction.”

She threw her head back while, during the next few minutes, I made her come. But as I’d been about to make her go for number two, she pulled me up, taking my lips in a kiss which rocked my world.

“You enjoy the taste of yourself on my lips?”

“Yes.”

I broke away reluctantly, helping her peel her pants and underwear from her ankles. Then I lifted her shirt to leave her only in her bra. One more flick, and she was completely naked. “Come here.”

I led her over to the sofa, where I turned her around so her ass was to me, and then folded her over the back. My palms ran over her backside. “Sugar is the name I’ll think of when I’m eating your pussy, but beautiful is what I’ll call this. You waiting for me to have you rough and dirty over the couch. Anticipating when I shove deep inside of you, pull your hair, and the sound of slapping skin on skin fills the room.”

She moaned, reaching down to touch herself. The action was both erotic and innately sexy, telling me my words had her that turned on. “No, you don’t, beautiful. You wait for me.”

I made quick work out of grabbing a condom from a bag on my counter, something I’d made sure to pick up at the grocery store along with the food. I didn’t bother with stripping but simply unbuckled my jeans and sheathed myself in the condom. There was something more primal about not taking the time to undress.

My fingers found her soaked. My words and the anticipation had clearly done the trick. “You ready?”

My hands gripped her hips while my knee spread her legs further apart.

“Yes. Fuck me. Fuck me now.”

I could’ve teased her, but plenty of time for that later. Right now, I needed the explosion. I lined myself up to her opening, pushing the head in slightly and trying to calm my own desire. Last thing I wanted was to blow my load two pumps in. Once I felt prepared, I sank into heaven on one stroke. The walls of her pussy clamped around me like a glove.

“Christ, Emma.”

“More. I need more.”

Not one to disappoint, I pulled almost all the way out before slamming home. “Beautiful.” Placing my hand at the small of her back, I started my rhythm. Normally, I would’ve eased a woman into it, knowing I was so deep, but I could sense she was ready. Or if she wasn’t, she didn’t want to be. So I thrust harder. Long, short, grinding, I set my pace.

Because I knew she’d get off on it, I gathered her hair, pulling it back and her head with it. Needing the contact with her lips, I turned her neck, so I could nip at her lips before starting to fuck her.

“Oh, God, oh, God. Yes, right there.”

A woman who knew what she wanted and was vocal about it had to be the biggest turn-on of all. Then watching as her entire body spasmed with me inside was nirvana. The sensation that came with her orgasm around my cock was absolutely divine.

But I wasn’t done. While she came down from her climax, still shaking and contracting around me, I slowed my strokes so I could last for one more. Reaching around, I rubbed her clit.

“Too much. It’s too much,” she murmured into the cushions after I let her hair go.

“One more name for today. It’s honey. Whenever I call you honey, you’re going to think of me taking some of your sweet sugar—” I swiped some of the wetness and moved it back to her pucker. “And easing my finger in here. Or perhaps a plug at some point, and eventually you’ll take my cock there.”

She let out a mewl of pleasure at the contact. While her body adjusted to the intrusion, I picked up my pace. Her loud breathing filled the room, and with a hoarse scream, she came the second time around. I quickly followed.

After withdrawing slowly, I gave her lower back a kiss and then helped her stand. I was taking off the condom and pulling my jeans on when I realized she’d turned around and was watching me warily.

I held out my hand. “Come on. Let’s eat.”

***

After devouring the sandwiches I’d made, we lay in my king-sized bed with her head on my chest, watching the sunset out the big picture window. I could already sense her mind working overtime. Satisfying her body would quiet it for a little while but not for long. However, her words to me were unexpected.

“The man Tom mentioned at dinner last night who got the tattoo for me. He was married. I found out after we’d slept together. Told him if he got a tattoo on his shoulder of a Chinese symbol I’d printed out, I’d continue to be his side piece. I was nineteen years old, and it was immature.”

“What did the symbol mean?”

“Unfaithful.”

I burst out laughing and propped up so I could see her face. My reaction appeared to wash instant relief over her. “And you didn’t sleep with him after that?”

She shook her head, smiling. “Nope. Never. He wasn’t happy about my decision. Then again, I’m certain his wife and kids wouldn’t have been happy if I’d chosen otherwise.”

“How does Tom know about it?”

She hesitated. “Unfortunately, there was a scene in the office in New York where I was working the receptionist desk. The guy confronted me. It got loud and ugly. I’m not proud of that situation. I may be a bitch sometimes, but I’m not cruel. I suppose my permanent inked retribution for a cheater is debatable.”

“Did he break your heart, this guy with the tattoo?” I wondered if this was why she had a tough time with relationships.

“No. It was never serious. But he hurt my pride, not to mention my trust.”

It explained why she was wary although I sensed there was more to the story. “Tom is a jackass for having brought it up.”

“Yes, he is. We all have to work together, but I would caution you to be careful with him.”

“I’d gathered that before I even met him. I get he’s Phillip’s nephew, but if he’s such an ass, why does Phillip keep him around?”

She shrugged. “My guess is Tom has something on him. Or maybe Phillip’s simply loyal to family.”

“Why didn’t you defend yourself about the tattoo at dinner when he brought it up? Why let me believe the worst?” I could already guess the answer, but I wanted to hear it from her.

Her sigh filled the room. “I don’t do relationships. I figured the best way to ensure you’d keep your distance was if you believed the worst.”

I guessed there was a lot more she wasn’t telling me, but since we’d already made so much progress, I didn’t want to push. “What does your ink mean?” I was curious about the small Chinese character on her hip.

She appeared surprised I’d noticed it. “Peace or something like that.”

One more piece of the enigma making up Emma. I knew for certain she wouldn’t have gotten anything permanent without knowing exactly what it was. But she wasn’t ready to tell me yet, and I needed to be patient.

“When did you get yours?” she asked.

“After college. My best friend Mason was home from Iraq, and we spent a the weekend in Austin and both got our first tattoos. I’d love to say mine had some deeper meaning, but honestly, I just thought it looked cool.”

Her fingers slid over the design. “It’s good work. And the piercing?”

“Lost a bet for fantasy football and had to get something pierced. Didn’t mind it as much as I thought I would, and the ladies—” I immediately stopped what I’d been about to say.

She laughed. “Enjoyed it, I’m sure.”

“Something like that.” Nothing like inadvertently bringing up other women in bed. But for some reason, my slip-up seemed to relax her. Almost as if it emphasized this wasn’t serious. One step forward. Two steps back.

“So, um, I’d better get going.”

I captured her wrist, giving the inside of it a quick kiss. “What’s the hurry?”

She leveled her gaze at me. “This isn’t the type of thing where we’re going to be spending the night, sleeping, and waking up together.”

I smirked, reaching both of our fingers down to her wet center and enjoying the catch of her breath. “I don’t recall saying anything about sleeping, sugar.”