Chapter Twenty-Four
Paige
I wasn't sure what was going through Michael's head. He didn't seem like the same man he had been when we’d first met, but I didn't know how to describe the difference. When we got back to his apartment, he seemed almost nervous as he led me inside. He looked like he wanted to kiss me right there in the hallway again, but he held back. “Do you want a drink?” he asked.
I stared at him and hesitated. A drink would put both of us more at ease, I realized, and I nodded. We probably needed to talk as well, because the contract wasn't working. Or at least, it wasn't working for me. I had no idea what Michael was thinking. I couldn't understand why he had brought me to such a fancy event, a work event. He had introduced me to some of his colleagues, and although he hadn't told any of them I was his girlfriend (or worse, his prostitute), I could see them all assessing me.
And when he had introduced me to Chris, even though there had been nothing said about our arrangement and Chris probably just recognized me from the bar, I had a feeling he knew about the peculiar nature of Michael's and my relationship.
To be fair, I had told Erica, so it only made sense that Michael would tell one of his good friends too. But still, it made me wonder.
I accepted the glass of wine Michael handed me and took a sip. I could barely taste it, however. I felt as though my body was thrumming with energy. I wanted him badly, to the point where even though I knew I shouldn't be here, that I had meant to be keeping my distance, I wanted to throw myself at him nonetheless.
I couldn't help it; he had been eyeing me hungrily for the entire night, and giving me these little touches that were practically designed to drive me mad. I had spent the whole night cursing the fact that my dress was backless. Every time he brushed his hand against my bare skin, I felt a shudder run through me, and I wondered if he had noticed, if that was why he kept doing it.
I had to wonder if he knew what he was doing to me. If he had intended to drive me wild with desire before the end of it.
He'd seemed so hesitant, though, and I could tell, in the beautiful solarium, if I hadn't made the first move, he wouldn't have either. For some reason, he was intent on giving me my space.
And I had ended up here anyway. I hadn't been able to help it.
Michael led me toward the couch, and we sat there wordlessly staring out over the city, each sipping our wine. I could tell we both wanted to say something, but still, neither of us spoke.
Finally, I couldn't take it anymore. I set down my wine glass even though it was still half-full. “Would you mind if I took a shower?” I asked. “Between the makeup and the hairspray, I'm feeling a little icky right now. You know I don't usually dress up this fancy.”
Michael jolted and turned to stare at me. “No problem,” he said. I stood up, and he did as well. When I gave him a quizzical look, he quickly said, “You'll need a towel, but I don't think there are any left in the bathroom. They were all supposed to go through the laundry yesterday.”
“Okay,” I said easily. I purposefully left the bathroom open as I stripped out of the dress, letting it fall to the floor. When I looked back over my shoulder, Michael was standing there in the doorway, the towel forgotten in his hands as his eyes roamed over my naked skin.
I grinned at him and reached back to unclasp my bra. Then, I slowly shimmied out of my panties.
When I turned back towards him, giving him a full view of my naked body, he couldn't seem to tear his eyes away. And even though I knew I shouldn't be doing this, I didn't want to send him away. “You could join me, if you wanted to,” I told him. “I'm sure your shower can fit two people.”
Michael jolted. He looked uncertain, but then he took a step forward, the decision made. He stripped quickly and efficiently while I adjusted the water temperature and climbed in. A minute later, Michael joined me.
He stood and looked at me for a moment, watching the water droplets trace lines across my body. For my part, I was just as enthralled by the water dripping down his chest, flowing past his growing erection. Michael leaned toward me and traced a water droplet with his tongue, following its path from my collarbone down to my breast. There, he paused, sucking at the tender skin, making me arch towards him. I moaned, and the sound echoed through the tiled bathroom.
Michael grinned and caught my hips, drawing me in closer to him. His hands slipped along my skin, from my hips up to my breasts and on up to my shoulders. He wrapped his arms around me, one hand coming up to cradle the back of my head, tilting my face up toward him so he could kiss me deeply.
Despite the heat of the water, I started to shiver. Michael pulled back, looking surprised and almost nervous. “Is this all right?” he whispered, his hands gentle and soothing against my skin.
I nodded, unable to find the words to tell him just how “all right” this was. Instead, I leaned into him again and tilted my face up for a kiss. He gladly obliged, kissing me thoroughly, until I felt as though I might combust.
Michael slid his fingers between my legs, encountering the wetness of my desire. Between the water and the slick dampness surrounding my entrance, he easily slid his fingers inside me. I sighed, my whole body relaxing against him already. His eyes were on my face, watching my reactions, as though he was filing them away for the next time we did this like there was some future in this relationship.
I felt the sudden urge to cry, and I hid it by burying my face in the crook of his neck, kissing the skin there. The tears disappeared as my lust took over.
I reached down in between us and wrapped my hand around his member, giving him a few pumps, feeling how thick and hard he already was. His dick curved upwards, throbbing with the need for release, and I bit my lower lip. I had never done this before, and I wasn't sure how exactly he wanted me. He could probably lift me easily, but with the water sliding over our skin, I wondered if maybe I would be too slippery for that.
Fortunately, Michael knew what he was doing. He turned me around and bent me over, just like he had in the alleyway outside The Shift. I shivered, thinking back to that lust-filled meeting. I still could hardly believe I'd let him have me there, in public like that. Right outside my place of work.
But then again, I couldn't seem to quit surprising myself, with the way that I responded to him.
Right now, I could hardly think about that, though. Could hardly think about anything. I was so deep in my pleasure and passion it was all I could do to focus on the things he was doing to me. I moaned loudly as he lined himself up against my hole and slowly pressed inside. The water made it even easier than normal. As he began to pump into me, there was hardly any friction.
I gasped and reached around to grab his hips, trying to hurry his movements along.
“Easy,” he murmured, a gentle rebuke. He was in charge here, and he would set the pace.
Come to think of it, he was in charge of every part of our relationship. He was the one calling all the shots. He was the one who had drawn up the contract, and even though I'd convinced him to make some changes to it, the underlying fabric of it was all his. He was the one who had decided that we would meet up tonight. He was the one who had brought me up to the solarium, even though he must have known how romantic it would be, how helpless I would be to avoid him, after that.
“Please,” I whimpered. My voice sounded raw and needy, and I flushed with embarrassment at the sound of it.
But it was just what I needed to say to spur Michael on, it seemed. He began to push into me in earnest, leaving me breathless with the strength of his thrusts. I spared a moment to worry that I might slip, but Michael's hands held my hips in a firm grip, keeping me in place.
My toes curled against the tile floor as he draped himself over me, changing the angle and thrusting even deeper inside of me.
“Oh, Michael,” I groaned.
“That's it,” he murmured, pressing a soft, slick kiss against my shoulder blade. His fingers came down between my legs, and he rubbed mercilessly at my clit. The sensation exploded throughout me, and I came helplessly, clenching tightly around him, drawing him into his own orgasm. I floated there, caught up in the feelings of his fingers on my skin, his erupting cock buried inside of me, his legs bracketing mine, and the water raining down all around us.
I shivered again as Michael pulled out of me. I felt bereft, empty, but that was just silly. Still, as I stood up, I wasn't sure what to say to him. I could hardly look him in the eyes, and I wondered suddenly if this hadn't been a bad idea. What was he going to do now? He wouldn't kick me out, would he? He had satisfied his lust, but something told me, there was more to this than that.
I hoped so, anyway.
Michael pulled me into his arms, and I immediately relaxed against him, practically collapsing into him with a soft sigh. He lightly kissed my hair, and I looped my arms around his waist, clinging to him and wishing that I knew just what was going on in his head.