Chapter Seven
When Monday morning arrived, Anais was exhausted mentally and physically. Saturday, she’d had to catch a ride with Nicole in to work again. The country was no place to be without a personal vehicle. Public transportation didn’t exist. She was ready to get her car back so that she didn’t have to depend on someone else to get to and from work—even if it was someone as nice as Nicole who didn’t mind helping out and was going to the same place anyway.
Business at the store and online had picked up because of the holidays. The store had been packed on Saturday. She didn’t get a moment of rest from the time they opened to the time they closed. And Anais had been so sore. Even now her muscles were recovering and the flesh between her thighs was still tender from the pounding Kyle had given her. She didn’t recall sex being such a physically exhausting activity. She pushed aside the thought that sex had never been like that with anyone else. That couldn’t be. What had transpired between her and Kyle was simply physical. Prior to Kyle, every man she’d been with had been someone she’d been in a relationship with.
She’d spent most of the weekend in a self-flagellating mood. If a man had treated her the way she’d treated Kyle, she would have wanted to flay him alive. She’d never had a one-night-stand before and she didn’t know a tactful way to end it. Her fumbling had insulted Kyle and hurt his feelings. Anais felt so guilty and ashamed, she didn’t know if she’d ever be able to face him again.
She was actually relieved that business was slow on Monday morning. She called Trey, a friend she’d known since high school, about fixing her car. Then came the embarrassing moment when she had to call Kyle and tell him where to take her car. She supposed she couldn’t blame him if he told her not so delicately where she could put her car.
Gathering up her courage, she called him. “Gray Auto Body Works,” Kyle answered on almost the first ring. Anais gulped. Had his voice always been so deep? Or maybe she was now hyperaware after hearing him growl out his orgasm in her neck. The thought brought back memories best not explored. She was alone in their breakroom but Nicole could come in at any time and she didn’t want her friend to find her flustered and sweaty. It would raise all sorts of questions Anais had no intention of answering. “Hello? Is anyone there?”
“Y-yes, sorry, Kyle, I got distracted.” She closed her eyes. She usually was a strong, assertive person. Something about Kyle threw her off kilter and made her feel soft and vulnerable. She couldn’t decide if she liked this ultra-feminine side of herself or if she hated it. “I’m calling about my car. My friend Trey is going to come to get it within the next hour or so.”
“I could take it to him if you’ll give me the address.”
“I don’t want to cause you any more trouble.”
“It’s no problem. Give me the address.”
She didn’t have the address but she gave him directions. Fortunately, Trey’s shop was just on the edge of town. “Um, and, Kyle,” she paused to glance out into the shop to make sure Nicole wasn’t within listening range. Nicole was occupied on the other side of the store explaining the benefits of using a facial sugar scrub. Anais moved to the windows where she was certain she would not be overheard. “I want to apologize for the way things went on Friday-”
“Anais, is this going to be one of those apologies where you insist on cooking me dinner then fuck my brains out? Because if it is, I don’t think I’m mentally up to it.”
She inhaled sharply. “No, it wasn’t and you don’t have to be-” She didn’t know why she’d even tried apologizing to him. He didn’t know how to accept apologies graciously. “Never mind. Thank you for taking care of my car. Goodbye.”
She was still grumbling to herself as she went back behind the counter just in time to check out the customer that Nicole had been assisting. Anais didn’t know the woman by name, but she’d been in the store at least twice before. She was a pale blonde in her mid-forties. Anais had blinked in shock the first time she’d seen her because her makeup was so heavily applied. If the woman had desired to go full clown, it wouldn’t have taken much. Her cheeks were so red, she looked as though she’d been punched. She wore dark blue on her eyelids. Her lips were bright red and her hair, that was still styled as though it were the eighties, was teased a good seven inches off her brow.
As much as Anais would have loved to pull her aside and discuss the merits of subtly, she didn’t want to hurt the woman’s feelings. If none of her family and friends had done it, it certainly wasn’t her place to do so. And she was a good customer, Anais thought as she filled a second bag with the woman’s purchases.
“The young man across the street, how is his work? I was thinking of getting my Mercedes repainted.”
“I haven’t seen his work,” Anais replied honestly.
The lady handed over her credit card and Anais saw that her name was Ellen Burch. “I wanted to stop by, but, well, though he’s quite handsome, he’s a bit intimidating with all those tattoos.”
Anais smiled, pleased to have the opportunity to repay Kyle for some of his kindness. “He’s very nice. Don’t let the bad boy looks fool you.” She put Ellen’s receipt in her bag and handed the lady her purchases. “Thank you so much for shopping with us.”
Ellen nodded. “Thank you.”
“I heard that,” Nicole said once Ellen had left. “So you agree that Kyle is nice. Explain to me again why you won’t date him?”
“Let it go. I think Kyle would agree with me when I say, it’s not meant to be.”
Nicole’s shoulders slumped. “I was really hoping you’d changed your mind. I think things between him and Carrie are really heating up.”
Anais tensed. “What makes you think that?” she asked, as casually as possible though her heart was beating triple time.
“A couple of people I know saw him on her road in the early hours of the morning Friday—well, technically Saturday morning.”
They’d spotted Kyle leaving her house, Anais realized. Only since Carrie lived farther down the road and she had been blatant about pursuing Kyle, people had assumed that he’d been with her. And just like that the cloud that had descended over Anais’s day lifted. And that made her panic. Why should she care if Kyle was seeing Carrie? Sure, it would have been shitty of him to seduce her on Friday if he were seriously dating Carrie.
“No comment?” Nicole asked.
“No, of course not. I don’t know why you’re so insistent on shoving us together.”
“Because you’re two nice people who deserve to find happiness.”
“But we don’t have to find it together.”
Nicole rolled her eyes. “Why do you have to make everything so complicated? He’s nice. He fits everything you’ve ever wanted in a man. So what if he isn’t black? You know if he said he didn’t want to date you because you’re black, everyone would call him a racist.”
Anais sputtered, but she couldn’t argue with her friend’s logic. She struggled to remember why Kyle was all wrong for her. “It’s not that. We just want different things.” Guys like Kyle didn’t settled down in Victorian homes and raise families. He was happy with one-night-stands. Only he hadn’t seemed so happy at the end of theirs, Anais thought with a frown. Then she sighed. That was probably because of her gauche method of ascertaining that he would be gone by morning. Up until that point, Kyle had been fine. Better than fine. Anais quickly shut the door on such thoughts. That was never going to happen again. That was the way she’d wanted it and she was sure Kyle didn’t want a repeat either.
Anais let out a strangled sound. “It’ll cost that much to fix it? The car isn’t even worth that much!”
Trey wiped his hands on a dirty rag and then shoved it in his back pocket. “That’s true. It’s an old car, Anais. You’d be better off getting a new car and selling this one to me for parts. Even if we make the repairs, there’s nothing that says you won’t be right back here in a month with another problem.”
Anais sighed and rubbed her hand across her forehead. She’d been hoping for good news. It was true that her car was approaching the eighteen year mark. She’d bought it used and it had been a good deal. Until recently, it had given her no trouble.
Trey gave her a sympathetic glance. “Do you want to think it over tonight? I’ll keep your car here and I can give you a ride home.”
“There isn’t much to think over. Let me get my stuff and I’ll sell her to you.”
“Her?” Trey asked with a smile that showed off his dimples. They were his best feature and had made him very popular in high school along with his outgoing and friendly nature. He wasn’t as cute as he had been then. His hair was thinning and his middle was thickening, but Anais thought his wife was one of the luckiest women in town. It was well known that Trey worshipped the ground she walked on.
“Yes. Her,” Anais insisted. Trey waited for her to collect her belongings and gave her a ride home. She called Nicole on the way to give her the news. Nicole immediately offered to take her car shopping. Anais protested that she was too tired, but Nicole pointed out that she’d be even more tired if she had to spend another day without a car. In the end, that motivated her to get moving. Though there were a couple of car lots in town, they both knew she’d get a better deal in a larger town.
She and Nicole arrived at her house almost simultaneously. Nicole pulled into the driveway and parked behind Trey. “Thanks, Trey.” She gathered all her stuff and climbed out of his truck. She waved to Nicole. “I’m going to put this junk in the house.” It was just a collection of papers that she’d shoved in her glove compartment. She rushed up to the house and deposited them on the first flat surface she encountered. Then she locked up behind her and ran out to Nicole’s car.
Only after she’d hopped in did she realize that they weren’t alone. Kyle was in the back seat. “Um, hi, Kyle. Why are you here?”
“It’s a well-known fact that men get better deals on cars than women do,” Nicole explained. “Kyle is our negotiator.”
“Oh.” She squirmed as she buckled her seat belt. “Is there any reason we couldn’t have brought Stuart along?”
Nicole glanced out of her rearview mirror and carefully backed out of her driveway. “Stuart is busy tutoring.”
“Oh. Well, Kyle, I really appreciate this,” Anais said, meaning it. Kyle grunted in return.
“Besides,” Nicole continued, “I love Stuart, but he’s not really the sort that makes an impression on car salesmen as being knowledgeable about cars. They won’t do that with Kyle.”
“What type of vehicle are you looking for? A sedan, a truck, or a SUV? From what Nicole says about your online business, you might need a truck or a SUV.”
“I definitely don’t want a truck.” She couldn’t imagine trying to park a truck. She wouldn’t mind a sedan similar to the one she just surrendered but an SUV might be more practical. “I’d think about an SUV, but I don’t want a gas guzzler.”
Kyle nodded. “Got you.”
“Thank you, Kyle.
***
Whatever the fuck she put in those pies should be illegal, Kyle angrily thought as he trailed behind Anais between rows of cars. Magic pumpkin pie could be the only reason for his insanity. He was still ticked about the way she’d fucked and discarded him on Friday night. He should be home right now making space for the big screen television he’d purchased online today. He could be working out. Or he could have started the paint job on the Mercedes he’d just got in today. But was he doing any of those things? Nope.
“I think this is the one,” Anais whispered to him, her dark brown eyes gleaming with excitement.
He had a difficult time tearing his gaze away from her face to look at the vehicle. She’d picked out a black SUV with gray interior. He stepped forward to peek inside. It had a shaded sunroof. He examined the sticker. He hadn’t asked Anais about her finances, but he would get her the best deal possible.
A salesman approached. He immediately assumed that Kyle and Anais were a couple. Kyle didn’t say anything to disabuse that notion as they went into negotiations. After almost an hour of back and forth and a brief test drive, they arrived at a deal that Anais appeared to be happy with and the salesman handed Anais the keys to her new SUV.
As they walked out of the dealership, Anais gave a little shout of joy and hugged him. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Standing on tiptoe, she cupped his jaw and peppered his face with kisses, ending with his mouth.
Kyle groaned and wrapped his arms around her. He couldn’t help but react to the soft pressure of her full lips against his. What started as an innocent celebration, quickly transformed into something hot and wet. He thrust his tongue into her mouth. Anais stiffened momentarily, but then she fisted his shirt and kissed him back, her tongue swirling around his.
Someone cleared their throat near them and Kyle drew back. Anais panted softly in his arms. Her eyes were dark and dazed with passion. Then as reality intruded, she jerked back and looked around. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”
“No apology needed.”
“I wasn’t thinking. It’s a good thing Nicole already left.”
“Yeah,” Kyle agreed sourly. Nicole had left once it became clear that Anais intended to purchase the SUV, saying she wasn’t needed for the negotiations.
“Let me buy you dinner.” At his arched brow, she clarified, “I said buy, as in, let’s go to a restaurant.”
“Anais, you don’t have to thank me for every single thing I do for you.”
“Why not?”
Why not indeed? He was taking care of her like she was his. But she wasn’t and never would be. “All right. I want seafood.” He headed for her new SUV. The locks disengaged and he got into the passenger seat.
Anais climbed behind the wheel and did a small bounce of excitement. He laughed at her and she grinned back at him. She drove them to a nearby seafood restaurant. As it was past the usual dinner hour, the restaurant was almost empty and they were quickly seated.
Kyle studied the menu. He couldn’t resist teasing, “If I order the lobster, are you going to expect something in return?”
“I thought you didn’t want another apology.”
“I don’t. I’m sorry. I was kidding.”
She studied him for a second before nodding. “I’m sorry, too. I don’t blame you for being snippy with me. I can’t imagine why you’ve helped me so much today.”
He shrugged. It was a topic he didn’t wish to explore. He folded his menu and put it aside. “What are you having?”
She pursed her lips. “The salmon.” She placed her menu on top of his. “Can I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“Why don’t you get along with your mother?”
“Are you back to being scared of me, Anais?”
“No.” She shrugged. “Just curious. Well, I guess I’m being nosey. If it’s too personal, you don’t have to tell me.”
He supposed that was a good sign that she was curious about him. “I mentioned that she blamed me for my dad leaving her.”
She frowned. “But how could it have been your fault?”
“She said that my dad didn’t want children. I would have believed her but I’ve heard from my dad sporadically over the years. He couldn’t get along with my mom anymore. He said he stayed as long as he could for me. He would have asked for custody but he was military and often shipped out. He’s retired now and he’s hoping to visit me after the New Year.”
She fiddled with the edge of the cloth napkin that held her silverware. “I have a confession to make. My relationship with my mother isn’t all that it should be either.”
“Why not?”
“I was a mistake. My mother is very interested in men. She has no interest in children. We talk occasionally, but as we don’t share the same priorities, it’s difficult to hold a conversation.”
Kyle’s heart twisted for her. “I’m sorry.” At least he knew that both of his parents had wanted him.
“My grandmother raised me and I couldn’t have asked for a better mother.”
“I’m glad that you had someone who was there for you.”
They were interrupted by the waitress who came to take their orders. She was back moments later with their drinks. Anais ran a fingertip through the condensation on the side of her glass. “How is business going for you?”
“Fine. It’s kind of a slow trickle as people learn about me through word of mouth.”
“That will probably pick up, unfortunately. What with deer running across the road and bad winter weather, you’re sure to get more customers.”
“I suppose that’s sad but true.” He smiled as he recalled her excitement about the new car. “I pray that you won’t be one of them.”
“I will be extra careful.” She closed her eyes and moaned. “The inside smells so good. There is nothing like that new car smell.”
He laughed. “I’m glad that you’re happy with it.”
“And it’s so roomy.” She sipped her water. “I had a customer ask about you today. I can’t recall her last name, but her first name was Ellen.”
“She drives a Mercedes?” At Anais’s nod, he said, “Yeah, she came in this afternoon and asked me to paint her car. It has scratches from her dog. She said that someone at your store had recommended me.” At the time, he’d thought Ellen was talking about Nicole. “That was you?”
“I guess. I told her that I couldn’t verify the quality of your work but that you were nice.”
His brows rose in surprise. “Really?”
She grinned. “You are nice.”
Their waitress lowered steaming plates in front of them. Despite his teasing her about ordering lobster, he’d ordered a seafood jambalaya. After a few bites, he noticed Anais eyeing his plate. “Do you want to try it?” He filled his fork with rice and shrimp and offered it to her.
She looked at the fork and then at him. “I don’t generally eat after other people.”
Kyle blinked. “I’ve had my tongue in your mouth and you don’t want to use the same fork?”
She laughed. “I guess you have a point.”
He carefully put the food in her mouth. “What do you think?”
“It’s a little spicy, but tasty. Do you want to taste mine?”
His voice was husky as he said, “I’m always interested in tasting yours.” Her eyes smoldered as they met his, but then she dropped her gaze. She forked up a bite of salmon and held it out to him. He ate it without hesitation. “It’s delicious.”
She sipped her water. He noticed her watching his hands. This time he knew she wasn’t interested in his food. Awareness sizzled between the two of them for the rest of the meal. They both decided to forgo dessert. Anais took care of the bill despite the fact that he tried to pay for his share. The drive home was quiet.
Sensing that he was about to let an opportunity slip through his fingers, Kyle turned to Anais when they were closer to town. The headlights of a passing car illuminated the interior of her SUV, giving him a brief glimpse of her profile. “Should we go to your place or mine?”
He was relieved when she didn’t try to be coy or pretend that she didn’t know what he was talking about. “Mine is closer.”
***
Anais locked the door behind Kyle. She wondered if she was doing the right thing. She wanted him so badly, but was taking him to her bed again really a wise decision? She was running the risk of becoming attached to him. She could easily see herself falling for him. He was sexy and sweet. He’d already proven himself the type of guy she could rely upon. Despite the fact that she knew that they would be something of a spectacle as the town’s only interracial couple, she couldn’t help wishing that Kyle was interested in something more permanent.
She’d barely turned around before he had her in his arms. “I haven’t been able to forget how good it felt to be inside you.” Forget? She could still feel the ache between her thighs of being taken by him.
He covered her mouth with his, his tongue plunging deep. Anais felt a spiral of liquid heat unfurl low in her belly and flood straight to her pussy. Her knees buckled and Kyle tightened his arms around her. Anais clung to him helplessly.
He drew back and stared down at her, the pale green-gray irises dominated by his pupils. “You have two options. We can make this quick—do it down here. I lift your skirt and fuck you against the wall. Then you can take me home. Or we move this to your bedroom where I’ll eat your pussy and fuck you long and hard. Which one will it be?”
Anais nibbled her lip, weighing her options. The smart choice would be to keep this interlude brief. But that wasn’t what she wanted. “I can take you home tomorrow early enough for your morning jog.”
Kyle’s eyes flashed over her face and then he gave a sharp nod. He took her hand and led the way upstairs to her room. He backed toward her bed, dragging her along. A small smile curled his lips. When the backs of his thighs hit the mattress, he released her hand to remove his shirt. He pulled it over his head and tossed it aside in one swift motion.
Anais bit her lip as she watched as his long and nimble fingers undid his pants. The evidence of his arousal was visible along his hip. As though in a trance, she reached out and molded thick bar, giving it a squeeze as she reached the tip.
Kyle groaned. He grabbed her wrist, shoved his pants open, and then folded her fingers over his cock with only the thin cotton of his briefs separating them. He thrust into her palm, his eyes fluttering closed. Anais stroked him firmly from root to tip, feeling his cock harden and throb. His head fell back and a strangled growl escaped his throat.
Wetting her lips, she peeled down his underwear. His cock was wet at the tip. She ran her thumb over it and Kyle shuddered. Unable to resist, she sucked his essence from her thumb. Kyle groaned. “Get naked,” he ordered, his voice almost guttural with desire. Roughly, he pushed down his pants.
Once her skirt was unzipped on the side, it dropped to the floor. Her blouse had a row of tiny buttons between ruffles. Kyle watched her impatiently for a few seconds before attacking the buttons from below while she worked her way down. Once it was undone, he walked behind her and pulled it from her shoulders. It had barely hit the floor before his hands were closing over her breasts. Anais moaned as he lifted her breasts and tugged on her nipples through the lace of her bra. She leaned back against him, savoring the heat of his body and the sensation of his hair roughened skin surrounding her. It felt so right, she could have purred like a kitten.
Kyle fitted his cock into the cleft of her ass and rolled his hips. Gasping, Anais gripped his thighs and moved with him. He opened his mouth over the sensitive spot on her neck and bit down, making her cry out. The feel of his five o’clock shadow scraping over her skin as he kissed the back of her neck sent shivers of pleasure down her spine.
The straps of her bra went slack as Kyle unhooked the back. He rained kisses down her shoulders, using his lips to send the straps sliding down her arms until the cups in front barely clung to her distended nipples until Kyle removed it completely. He ran his large hands over her sides, from just below her arm pits to her knees, stroking, pulling her into his grinding thrusts but never touching her more intimate areas. They could have been dancing but for the fact that he was naked and she wore only her panties. Admittedly, it was a very sensual dance and one she would never perform on a dance floor.
She was almost to the point of begging him to touch her breasts, her pussy, anything when he cupped her breasts again, his thumbs flicking her nipples. “Did you like the taste of me, baby?”
“Yes.”
He slid a hand into her panties, curving it over her mound. He ground the heel of his hand against her clit, making her breath catch. “Do you want to taste me again?” When she merely nodded, he said, “I need to hear your answer, baby.”
“Y-yes,” she breathed out and then gasped as he parted the lips of her pussy and thrust a finger inside.
“Good because you’re going to.” He added a second finger and thrust hard and deep. “Take your panties off before I rip them.”
She struggled to push them down and then spread her thighs as he continued to fuck her with his fingers. Firm, rough thrusts from his hips pushed her onto his fingers until she was crying out. She almost collapsed as her orgasm rushed over her. Kyle didn’t withdraw his fingers from her cunt. He pressed deeper, passing over her g-spot, prolonging and strengthening the clenching waves of her climax.
Panting and barely able to stand, Anais allowed him to guide her to the bed and arrange her as he desired at the edge of the mattress with her legs hanging off. Her position had barely registered to her before he pushed her legs over his shoulders and fastened his mouth to her pussy. A shudder of pure pleasure racked her body. It felt so good though she doubted that she could come again so soon. She held his head to her even as she lifted her hips so that his tongue could plunge deeper. “Oh, my God, Kyle,” she moaned. She loved the sound of his muffled groans.
He reached up and pinched her nipples, making her back bow off the bed. And suddenly, she was close to coming again. Kyle suckled her clit and she was gone. She was breathless and unable to make a sound. Her legs shook, her toes curled, and her nipples grew impossibly hard.
When her body went lax, Kyle gave her pussy one last kiss. Then he stood and licked his lips clean. The way he sucked his bottom lip as though he was savoring her flavor sent a ripple of heat to her core. She couldn’t believe he could turn her on again so quickly after satisfying her so thoroughly that she thought that she might pass out. She didn’t even think he was aware of how sexy a move it was since his gaze was focused on her breasts.
He draped himself over her, bracing himself on extended arms on either side of her. The thick bar of his erection grazed over her belly, leaving a wet trail of pre-cum as Kyle lowered his head and licked her nipples. Then he kissed them in turn. “God, I love your tits,” he groaned before sucking one and then the other. He shifted so that his dick slid over her clit. Though she thought it might be accidental, it soon became clear that very little happened in the bedroom that Kyle didn’t control. He settled over her, one hand possessively holding a breast and keeping her nipple taut with pinches and pulls while he suckled the other. He rolled his hips against her, grinding against her as though he was fucking her. His cock quickly became slick with her juices. Anais wrapped her legs around his waist. She’d come twice but this time—because her body was already making that climb again, she really wanted Kyle inside of her. “Kyle, please, fuck me.”
Almost reluctantly, he released her nipple and got off the bed to find his pants. He had a condom on in record time. Gripping her hips, he dragged her ass over edge of the bed, lined up his cock, and drove home. Anais cried out, back arching as he filled her to the core.
Kyle set a hard and fast pace, grunting with every thrust. He kept her thighs widely spread, a large hand holding down each knee. His gaze traveled from where her breasts bounced to where they were joined. “Fuck,” he growled. “You’re so hot.”
She could say the same. That is, she would, if she were capable of speech at the moment. Sweat glistened on his rock hard torso as he worked her over. Groaning, he let his head fall back. “Shit, I’m not going to last.” He fucked her faster and harder.
Anais simply enjoyed watching him. It was fine if she didn’t get to come this time. He’d more than pleased her. But Kyle had other ideas. He circled her clit with his thumb, applying enough pressure to have her thrashing and coming on his cock. An animalistic sound left Kyle’s throat. His cock swelled and thickened inside of her. Kyle pounded inside of her erratically before going still. He fell forward onto the bed and rested his head between her breasts.
Smiling, Anais rubbed his head. They lay there panting together for long minutes before he got up to remove the condom. Anais didn’t think her legs could support her so she was still in the same spot when he returned from the bathroom.
Kyle shook his head and took her hands. He pulled her from the bed and then whipped back the comforter and sheet so that they could get into bed. He lifted her and placed her in the middle before climbing in beside her. She was so pleasantly exhausted that she was asleep in minutes.