Chapter Thirteen
LOOK, JOE, LOOK. SEE LEXIE GO, “OH, OH, OH.”
Even the bone-deep exhaustion wasn’t enough to take her mind off Joe. After a productive meeting with like-minded business owners pulled together by Janet, Lexie worked all Saturday with a rented power sander on the hardwood floors. No matter how much she tried or how much her tired body ached, her brief hookup ran through her head in an ever-repeating loop, each rendition darker and more sinister.
No longer a bargain of equals, Lexie saw it for what it was.
Joe had used her for sex, kinky depraved sex. Her vulnerability in letting him do whatever he wanted to her no longer represented a triumph over her mousy past but a weakness of her character, not to be repeated.
Joe had used her for his business plan, too. While he had seemed extremely generous doing the work for free, did she really know what plumbing parts cost? She never verified any of it. Not even a quick trip to a hardware store. Yet another mistake not to be repeated.
“Humph.” Lexie snorted aloud, shoving the sander around one remaining section of floor. She should have recognized him for the player he was the minute she met him. That arrogantly confident smile and the way he flirted, always too sure of himself.
Something caught her attention. She switched off the noisy sander and pulled out her earplugs. Loud pounding came from the front door.
Lexie stood up and looked out from the upstairs window to see the Seabees Plumbing truck in the driveway.
Unconsciously, Lexie reached up to pat at the strands of hair escaping her ponytail but quickly dropped her hand.
I don’t need to look nice for that cheating jerk. What she needed was to tell him off, let him know how little his betrayal meant. Lexie marched down the stairs, building her self-confidence by firing up her fury.
“Lexie, open up,” Joe called through the door. “Please. We need to talk. It’s important.”
“Go away,” she yelled, leaving the door shut tight.
“Lexie!”
She pushed against the door, as if Joe would burst through if she didn’t.
“Come on, please. I’ve been trying to reach you for the last twenty-four hours. Is everything okay?”
“Go away,” Lexie repeated, but she yanked the door open anyway. “I don’t want to talk to you.”
She stepped through and poked him on the chest. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
“Please, honey, what’s wrong?”
“How dare you ask me that after betraying me,” she raged, waving her hands about in agitation. “After throwing me under the bus. Hanging me out to dry. Casting me aside like bathwater. I’m not coming out here so you can kick me between a rock and a hard place. Treat me like…” Lexie searched for another accusation to hurl, anything to hide her true pain.
Joe grinned, his faced cracked wide ear to ear. “Kitten, you’re barking up the wrong tree.”
“You!” Lexie stomped forward, poking him in the chest again and walking him backward off the stoop. “Get off my property you lying sack of—”
So fast she didn’t see it coming, Joe grabbed her and slammed his mouth down on hers. He kissed her like a man starved, momentarily shocking her into submission, her mouth melting and melding to his.
No. I don’t want this. Her anger said stop, but her heart didn’t listen. And neither, apparently, did her body.
Lexie pushed on his chest, then grabbed his shoulders to cling to him.
Lexie leaned away and his mouth followed until she was bent backward, and she grabbed fistfuls of his hair to keep him near.
Without words, Joe demanded her complete surrender, his lips playing upon hers and his tongue thrusting into her mouth. Raw lust as fiery as her fury surged through Lexie at the stroke of his tongue on hers. She stabbed her tongue back against his, and she felt, rather than heard, his shuddering groan in response.
Joe’s hand slid up to wrap around her ponytail, controlling her like a master jockey holding the reins. His other hand slid down to cup her ass, shifting her pelvis to nestle against his crotch. The last of Lexie’s resistance evaporated upon the rock-hard bulge of his pants, and she ground uncontrollably against him.
“Lexie,” he groaned, his voice a hoarse whisper. “Why are you angry with me? Whatever I’ve done, I’m sorry.”
The coldest lake water couldn’t have doused her desire faster than Joe’s pretense at ignorance. Freezing, Lexie turned her head away, and he let her mouth escape him.
“As if you don’t know.” She pushed on him and he let her go. Lexie backed several feet away from Joe and his godlike sexual prowess.
“How dare you assault me like that,” she screeched, suddenly embarrassed at the way she’d flipped into a mindless nympho.
His eyes narrowed on her. “If I remember correctly, the last time we talked about it, you gave me the impression that you liked it rough. But as for today, I was stopping you from saying something you’d regret. Something that would get you spanked.”
“What the fuck!” Lexie yelled.
“I may just pretend to be a kinky plumber for your pleasure, but you’ll see my dominant side come out for real if you curse at me again.” Joe looked like he meant it, his eyes radiating hot intensity, his alpha-male stance projecting potent resolve. He looked magnificent.
Forgetting the need to keep some space between her willpower and his sex appeal, Lexie advanced on him. “You wouldn’t dare.”
Joe grinned, a wicked sinful smirk that told her he’d love it. “Go ahead, Lexie. Try me.” He crossed his arms. Leaning back, feet planted wide, he tilted his head and challenged her with a look.
“I…um.” Lexie snapped her mouth shut.
God, he is so fucking sexy.
Her tingling ass ached to know the feel of his hand landing firmly on it.
Shit! Even my body is betraying me.
Lexie sighed, secretly admitting defeat, at least where her libido was concerned. Thankfully, her mind resisted, reinforced by her wounded heart. “Joe, you’re right, we need to talk, but I am going to do all of it.”
“Sure. Shoot.”
“I’m grateful for your help on the plumbing, although we had a bargain, so it was a fair exchange. As you’ve just proved, I enjoy sex with you, but that doesn’t change the fact that you betrayed me by telling the mayor you’d vote to rezone me out of business.”
“That’s not what—”
“I understand, I really do.” She stopped him with her hand. “Your loan application matters, but you should have come to me and explained everything. At least before telling the mayor yes.”
“But—”
“There’s nothing you can say that will fix this. I’m sorry. Now please go.” She turned away.
“Alexis Ashley Kosta. If you don’t stop talking and stand still long enough for me to explain, I promise that your ass will hurt for a week.”
Lexie ripped back around, surging rage—or perhaps lust—making her want to scream at him or throw herself at him, she really didn’t know which.
Joe shook his head at her. Something about his stern eyes and the firm line of his mouth made her pause before she launched another verbal attack. Hesitating, she froze momentarily.
Joe swooped forward and threw her over his large shoulder. Lexie landed with an oomph that forced the air from her lungs, only to bounce along as he walked up the steps and through her back door. “Now it’s my turn to do the talking.”
He held her securely, one hand grasping her ankles and the other her backside. Lexie did not fear falling, but equally his strong grip made escape impossible.
He kicked the door shut with his foot. “I did not betray you.”
“Liar.”
A solid smack landed on her ass, the stinging burn surprising her.
“Ouch.” Lexie squirmed, which mashed her stomach harder onto his firm shoulder.
He headed through the kitchen toward the stairs. “I wasn’t kidding about spanking you, Lexie. I’ve read passages from those books you leave about, and corporal punishment seems to be a quick fix for loose lips.” He chuckled, jostling her on his shoulder, her breath whooshing out again. “And something tells me you might even like it.”
Lexie sucked in air, ready to retort, but his hard squeeze on her ass shut her mouth.
Joe may have only played kinky plumber to please her, however, she was beginning to believe his nascent inner Dom was a very real, very formidable, part of his nature. She’d unleashed the beast in Joe, but, rather than fearing him, something about his strength and composure reassured Lexie. Made her feel safe in his hands and made her trust him. Her anger whooshed out as quickly as the air in her lungs had. Joe obviously believed that it would appease her, possibly even make her sorry for doubting him. She would let him explain, although it wasn’t as if she had much choice anyway.
Lexie stifled a giggle, the absurdity of the situation suddenly striking her as funny.
Joe started up the stairs. He let go of her with one hand to hold the railing and climbed each step with care, but Lexie grabbed onto his waist as the ground floor receded dizzily away.
“Now, where were we,” he murmured, barely seeming winded. “Hmm…I think we’ll get through this quicker if I set a ground rule. Each time you interrupt me will earn you five swats on your bare ass.”
“Joe, you’re being crazy.”
He reached the top of the stairs and turned toward her bedroom. “I’ll let that go, but I deserve the chance to respond to your accusations. I suggest you keep quiet till I’m done, or it’ll be five for each word you utter. I won’t take it easy on you, either, like the gentle one I just gave you.”
“Gentle!” she exclaimed.
Joe made a tsking sound. “That’s five.” He shook his head with mock sadness.
Lexie gritted her teeth. Joe the Plumber, turned heroic Dom, was really Joe Cro-Magnon-man. And her damn body was reacting like Jane Cavewoman, making her want to drop to her knees and present her behind to him to use or abuse however he wanted.
Joe stopped in front of the bed that had already become their bed.
“I’m sorry for not calling you the minute I heard about the rezoning business, but I did not tell the mayor I would vote yes. I’m not sure where you got that idea, but I’ve been working ever since to come up with a solution. The reason I didn’t call you immediately is that the mayor insinuated that my bank loan wouldn’t go through unless I voted with him. The Triad at work again.”
Joe eased her off his shoulder and placed her carefully onto the bed. He kneeled down on the floor in front of her, his eyes level with hers.
Lexie wanted to believe him. Wanted to throw herself at him, the short distance separating them too great.
“Do you understand, Lexie, that I wasn’t trying to deceive you? I didn’t want you to feel that you were between me and getting my business expanded. I didn’t want to put that unfair pressure on you until I had time to think and look for a way out.”
Lexie nodded, hoping silent communication wasn’t also on the hit list.
“I spent the last couple days working on a solution and meeting with other businesses to seek out support and alternative ways to address the rezoning concerns.”
“I did too,” Lexie exclaimed, lurching toward him. “Oops.” She clapped her hand across her mouth.
“Oh, honey. I care about you so much.” Joe took her hands, enveloping them in his large, warm, safe grip. “Are we okay now? Do you believe me when I say I didn’t betray you or try to deceive you in any way?”
Lexie nodded vigorously, letting her big smile show him how thoroughly she accepted his explanation.
Joe chuckled, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. “It’s fine. You can talk again.”
“Oh, Joe!” Lexie exclaimed. She threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and tilting sideways to kiss him full on the lips.
From where he kneeled, Joe gripped her head, holding her mouth to his. Lexie lost herself in the feel of his hot mouth devouring hers. Within moments, Joe was on the bed, dragging her backward and lying on top of her. Lexie welcomed his warm weight, rubbing her body against him while her hands feverishly explored his body through his clothes.
Joe released her mouth to trail his tongue across her cheek and down her neck. Lexie arched into him, moaning and offering herself to him. Burying his face in the open neck of her shirt, he alternated little kisses and tiny nips.
Her eyes popped open. “Joe?” She pushed on him. “Joe, I’m filthy. I’ve been sanding all day. Maybe we should pause this while I take a shower.”
He raised up to look down at her. “Do you think I care about a little sawdust?”
“I do.” She pleaded with her eyes.
“Your wish is my command.” He slid off her to roll off the bed, pulling her along by her hand. “But we’ll do this together.”
“What? That’s not necessary.”
“It’s necessary to me. After worrying about you all day, your phone off the hook and not answering any texts, I can’t let you go.” He scooped her into his strong arms.
The secure way he carried her to the bathroom made her feel utterly safe. The way he hungrily coveted her naked body as he slowly stripped the clothing from her made her feel desired. And, the way his eyes searched hers, seeking shared affection, told her she was precious to him, loved even, whether he said the words or not.
Then he put her into the shower and Lexie moaned. The warm water sliding down her body soothed tired muscles, but it was his hands, lathered with bubbles, that teased her skin, waking nerves all over her body. Joe took his time. Having joined her naked in the shower, he seemed determined to wash every single inch of her, leaving fire wherever he touched.
After carefully washing her hair and face, he kissed her wet lips. He lingered to explore the depths of her mouth. Lexie opened to his conquering tongue, feeling it as a hot tingle that traveled all the way down her spine. She pushed into him, but his hands gripping her shoulders held her away, making her crave greater connection like a flower craves the sun’s touch. It made her dizzy with lust, mindless with need.
Joe pulled away and wordlessly turned her around. Lexie fell forward onto her hands, braced against the tile wall. Eyes shut, Lexie trembled under the water falling onto her hair and down her face. Joe lathered his hands again and began to wash her back, kissing each newly clean part of her—neck, shoulders, and finally the upper curve of her buttocks. His soapy hands fondled her ass, delved into the cleft between, and teased along the crease underneath.
“So pretty,” he murmured, and Lexie’s heart grew lighter with joy.
A loud smack rent the air, sounding seconds before she felt the burning heat on her ass. Lexie’s eyes popped open, and she looked over her shoulder to see the most wicked expression blazing from Joe’s eyes.
He grinned. “A down payment on the five you owe me.”
“You’re jok—”
Joe yanked her back against him, his hard, wet body slamming against her soft backside as his hands slid around her body to grasp both breasts. He handled them as if he owned them, and in that moment, he did. Joe firmly squeezed them, roughly massaged them, and sharply flicked the aching peaks, all while swirling his slick chest and crotch against her backside. Trembling and rubbing against him, Lexie could barely stand against the onslaught of sensation Joe washed through her. A dark husky moan escaped her mouth, and she reached frantically to clutch at him behind her, touching him anywhere she could reach.
His hands scrubbed lower until he cupped her sex, one finger sliding between her folds to the core of her pleasure. His fingers fondled her clit, sometimes flicking it. He knew exactly what he was doing and took her to the edge and retreated, over and over again, until she was shaking and twerking her ass against his erection, utterly mindless with the need to mate, like a wild creature in heat.
“You’re so fucking hot,” he breathed into her ear.
He resumed his onslaught, taking her to the sharp edge of ecstasy, only to slide away at the exact moment that she started shuddering.
“Joe,” she wailed. “Please. I need…” she begged hoarsely, her reedy voice barely recognizable.
“What do you need?” Joe teased, but his equally hoarse tenor pleased her.
“You. In me.” Lexie gyrated on his hard dick pressing against her ass.
Joe laughed and pulled away.
“No,” she wailed as he turned her toward him.
He dropped to kneel at her feet in the tub and grasped her thighs.
“Joe?”
“Hold my shoulders,” he ordered.
Wide-eyed, Lexie did as she was told.
Joe lifted one of her legs to rest her foot on the side of the tub and then he dived in, his tongue landing unerringly on the center of her lust. He pleasured her, alternately lapping and nipping, his strong grip locking her pussy to his mouth as he worshipped her from his knees. Lexie swooned, falling back against the tile wall, the hot water cascading down the front of her body onto his head.
Joe didn’t seem to care. His only focus was bringing her pleasure. This time he didn’t ease off, didn’t tease. Like a starving man, he sucked and licked and lapped, groaning with hunger.
“Joe!” she cried out. “Please. More.” He growled, the animalistic sound matching her wild need, and he gave her more.
Joe worked her furiously, and Lexie started to slide toward ecstasy. Trembling on his mouth, she drew closer and closer to the edge, the delightful tingling spreading outward from her pelvis, filling her with delirium, until all the pent-up passion finally burst. Lexie exploded into white-hot bliss that shot through her body in long rolling waves of euphoria. Shuddering and crying out, she rode the pleasure until she floated away, spent and boneless.
Ready to collapse, Lexie started sinking, sliding down along the wall.
“Not yet,” Joe growled, rising swiftly to his feet.
He pulled her to standing and whipped her around. In seconds, he had her bent over, her hands braced on the tiles. His hands were a vice on her hips, locking her in place to serve his ravenous hunger. His passionate kisses and pleading endearments soaked through her mindless delirium to reignite her desire. Joe slid on a condom, while Lexie arched her back to offer her body for his use. He held his thick rod to her pussy and surged balls-deep in one strong thrust.
“Yes,” she breathed, barely aware but moving in tandem to push back against his strokes.
He pulled back and pushed in, and did it again, and again, and didn’t stop working her body until Lexie once again writhed uncontrollably. Her fingernails clawed at the tiles. Her pussy clenched at his hot shaft.
“Yes!” she screamed as he pounded her relentlessly until, at last, the white-hot rapture descended again to consume her mind and body.
“Yes,” Joe cried out with one last powerful thrust. Locked tightly together, they moved as one, shuddered as one, until they climaxed as one. The euphoria poured over them as sweet and soothing as the water that still cascaded down from the shower.
They panted and floated and slowly regained consciousness. Joe held her in his strong arms when she might have fallen. She glowed with such happiness it would outshine the sun glistening on her beloved lake. Joe had cleaned her thoroughly, and through it had also cleansed their relationship, freed it of any remaining residue of wariness or mistrust. Water had once again brought them together.
Joe dried her off, gently wiping her entire body, head to toe, with a soft thick towel. He wrapped her in a dry one and sat her on the tub’s edge while he dried his body. Then he carried her to the bedroom—their bedroom once again. He settled her between the sheets, pulling the blanket up to keep her warm. She searched his eyes. Wasn’t he joining her?
“Lexie, may I stay the night with you?”
She smiled. “Yes,” she murmured over a big sleepy yawn.
Joe crawled in next to her and drew her body against his. He nuzzled her slightly damp hair. “I didn’t want to presume. Especially not after…”
Lexie roused herself enough to look over her shoulder at him. “Joe,” she said quietly. “I want you to feel comfortable staying here anytime. Move in, even.” Lexie stopped breathing. “If you want to.”
“I’d like that,” Joe whispered back. “A lot.”
Lexie exhaled, relief filling her. “Good. But I have one rule of my own.” She yawned again.
“Sure thing. Shoot.”
“No secrets or keeping problems from each other. We’ll solve each one together as a team.”
“I promise. That sounds great.”
“Good.” Lexie settled back onto the pillow, eyes shut. She scooted a little back, pushing farther into the curve of Joe’s body spooning hers.
His large hand gently caressed her hip under the sheets. As Lexie began to doze an image of that same strong hand swatting her ass popped into her mind, sending a delicious quiver through her pelvis. Would Joe really have gone through with spanking her?
Lexie’s lips curled slightly as sleep overtook her. After her home was secure, she wanted to explore more BDSM games, although maybe she’d put away her novels. Clearly, Joe found too much inspiration in them.
Lexie drifted off, happy and safe in the arms of her kinky plumber.