She grabbed the shirt and wrapped it around herself, the bottom
reaching her mid-thigh. “Thanks. I’m not sure what they did with my clothes.”
“Don’t worry, they have a closet full in our cabin.” He turned his attention to her bare feet, then to the slate stone path leading to the cabins. “Are you going to be okay barefoot? You can hop on my back… or my front, if you’d like.”
“I think I’ll manage,” she said, her voice as cool as the air around them.
He laughed, grabbing her elbow and leading her forward. “You’re no fun at all anymore. What’s the deal with you, LeBreck?”
She stiffened next to him, but didn’t say another word until they reached the porch of their little wooden cabin. A white envelope labeled “Jamison companion” was clipped to the front door. She grabbed the letter and held it up. “What’s this?”
“Probably your waiver. You have to sign it saying you’re okay with being in unmonitored zones.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Unmonitored?”
He pulled a key out of his pocket and stepped past her to open the door. “I paid extra to get a room without security cameras. Most clubs would never allow it because it’s too risky for the sub, but they’re all about catering to privacy here. So there are private cabins and unmonitored zones. No senator or CEO is going to come here and allow some lackey to have video evidence of his carnal indiscretions.”
“Jace told me to avoid those areas—that it wasn’t safe.”
“It wouldn’t be if you were with someone you didn’t know.” He smirked. “What? You scared of me now?”
“No.” But the wariness on her face made him think she wasn’t being entirely truthful.
“Good, because I went through the trouble of reserving one of these so that you wouldn’t have to play the role the whole time.”
“So we don’t have to pretend in here?” she asked, her whole demeanor visibly relaxing.
He ushered her into the small living room, unhooked her leash from his belt, and flipped on the lights. “Nope, you can insult me as the need strikes.”
Instead of heading to the other side of the little living room like he expected, she stepped so close he could feel her quick, little breaths on his naked chest. The awareness in his body sparked like she’d touched him with a cattle prod.
What the hell was she doing?
She slipped her hands onto his waist, pressing herself against his lingering erection, and peered up at him with steely resolve in her eyes. “That’s not what I need.”
He didn’t trust himself to touch her. She had to be setting up some kind of joke or she was going to kick him in the balls. “Okay, then what do you need?”
“For you not to ask questions.” She let his borrowed shirt fall to the floor, revealing miles of delicious ivory skin. “And for you not to stop unless I say Texas.”
then
Five days. Five goddamned days of Reid gone on vacation, and it was like Brynn’s world had tilted off its rotation. Man, she was in trouble. She
missed
him. Really missed him.
She propped her elbows on her desk and pressed the heels of her hands to her brow bone. This wasn’t supposed to happen. This was supposed to be a fun fling. Nothing else.
For the past few weeks, she and Reid had kept up their ends of the fun bargain, stealing moments whenever they could to be together. To talk. To laugh. To have hot, sweaty sex in a sundry of places and positions. She’d been having such a good time she’d never let herself pause long enough to think about what could be developing between them. But now that he’d been in Florida with his family for the week, she’d had nothing but time to think. And pine.
Pining.
She was pining. Oh, good God.
She peeked over at Reid’s desk—empty—just like it had been since Monday. He hadn’t called much because he was afraid his aunt or uncle would hear him. But she found herself worrying
that maybe he really didn’t
want
to call and was using that as an excuse. Maybe he was having too good of a time without her. They were only a fling anyway, right? There were probably loads of girls hanging around the Jamisons’ sure-to-be-fancy beach house just waiting to take a shot at her guy.
Her
guy
.
Yep, she was screwed.
With a sigh, she scooted from behind her desk and headed through the darkened office to the employee lounge, hoping a change in scenery would get her spiraling thoughts to go away. She needed to focus and get some work done. Everyone else had left for the day, but she’d agreed to stay late to stuff goody bags for the next campaign fund-raiser. Bad idea. Between her racing mind and her lack of sleep, she hadn’t even made a dent in the project. She was going to be here every freaking night for a week at this rate.
Not bothering to flip on the lights, she walked toward the fridge and rummaged around for something with sugar, and preferably caffeine. The people around the office drank coffee like fiends, but she’d never had a taste for the stuff, so she had to rely on soda to get her fix. She saw a glint of red behind all the diet lemon-lime drinks and stretched her arm farther in to reach the cola.
A light squeeze on her ass made her jolt upward, nearly banging her head on the top of the fridge. “What the—”
“Easy, sugar. It’s just me,” Reid said from behind her as he slid his arm around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “I couldn’t resist with you bending over like that.”
She spun around in his grasp, the blasting cold from the refrigerator chilling her backside as his body warmed her front. “Reid! You scared the crap out of me.”
He brushed a hand over her hair. “Sorry about that.”
She tried to catch her breath, not sure if her pounding heart was from being startled or from being so close to him. “What are you doing here? You’re not supposed to be back until tomorrow.”
“I hopped an earlier flight.” He dipped his suntanned face
closer and brushed his lips against hers. “I couldn’t stay away from you for another minute. I’ve never hated the beach so much in my life.”
“What? Too many beautiful, bikini-clad girls for you?” She poked his ribs.
“Ooh, jealousy. I like it on you.” His thumb stroked the small of her back, her skin coming alive beneath his touch. “And I didn’t need to check out the other girls. I already have the one
I want.”
She stared into the bottomless blue of his eyes, unable to tell if he was being serious or simply being his charming self. How could she be who he wanted? He couldn’t even take her out in public for fear someone in his circle would see them. She pushed the ugly thought away and tilted her chin up. “Guess I shouldn’t have spent my week working my way through the guys in the office, then. I didn’t realize you were going to have such a strict moral code on your trip.”
“Oh, is that what you’ve been up to?” The corner of his mouth tipped up. “I’m not enough to satisfy you? Maybe I should’ve taken Jace up on his offer to join us for a threesome.”
Her eyes widened and retort got hung up in her throat. Reid
and
Jace. Whoa.
He laughed and kissed the tip of her nose. “Don’t worry. I told him no. Even though I’m guessing by the way your body just quivered, you’re not totally opposed to the idea. Naughty girl. Too bad I’m too selfish to share you.”
She shook her head, dismissing the erotic images the crazy suggestion had sparked. “You’re more than enough for me to handle.”
“Uh-huh. Then why are your cheeks getting all red?” he asked, trailing his fingers along the curve of her ass. “What other fantasies are rolling around in that pretty head of yours?”
Fantasies. She looked down so he couldn’t read her expression. Was that all this was about for him? Exploration. Games. Sex.
Or did he get the same fist-to-the-solar-plexus feeling she got anytime she thought about the end of summer?
She hid her thoughts with a saucy smile. “Wouldn’t
you
like to know.”
“Vicious tease.” He dragged her away from the open fridge and lifted her with ease, guiding her legs around his waist. Her skirt bunched around her thighs, and he nipped at her lower lip. “Man, I’ve missed you like crazy this week.”
She couldn’t stave off the smile that hopped to her lips, a little zip of giddiness going through her at the obvious sincerity of his words. Maybe he did feel something more. “Really? You missed me?”
“Ah, sugar, you have no idea.”
Her heart did a little flip, confirming how far into crazytown she’d strayed. Okay, so this was stupid. Insane. She was getting in too deep. She should run hard and fast. There were a thousand reasons why this couldn’t work long-term.
But she couldn’t bring herself to turn away from him. No one had ever made her feel this good, this free to be herself. Alive. So she shoved the worries in a mental closet and kicked the door closed. Stressing about the inevitable wouldn’t get her anywhere. She would figure out how to say good-bye. Soon.
But not while he was giving her that look that made her insides turn liquid. She kissed along the curve of his neck. “So are you going to show me how much you missed me? Or do I need to call one of the other guys?”
A low growl rumbled from his chest as he swung her to the left and planted her back against the wall. “Well, I was going to take you to get some dinner first. But if you insist, I’ll gladly fuck you right here.”
“Oh.” She’d only been asking for a kiss, but the new suggestion sent a shot of lust-laced adrenaline through her vitals. She glanced at the empty hallway over his shoulder. “There aren’t hidden security cameras around, are there?”
“Nope.” He dragged his greedy gaze over her chest, and her nipples tightened under the perusal, her whole body going achy with want. “Grab the edges of the shelf above your head and don’t let go. I’ll show you exactly how much I missed you.”
She stretched her arms above her and wrapped her fingers around the cool metal, her heart hammering against her ribs. “Are you sure no one’s going to come back here tonight?”
“Nope.” He set her on her feet, giving her a dark smile, and shoved her skirt to her waist. “Want me to stop?”
His fingers trailed up her inner thigh, sending hot and tingly desire steamrolling over any lingering worries. She shook her head. “God, no.”
“Good.” The backs of his knuckles brushed against the cotton of her panties. “Because I don’t know if I could make it through a whole meal knowing how hot and wet you are under these already.”
She wriggled against his touch, seeking more, needing all of him. Now. “Well, whose fault is that?”
“You’re sassy tonight.” His hand slid beneath the band of her underwear, dragging heated fingers over her slick tissues and the throbbing bundle of nerves. “Guess I need to remind you who’s in charge.”
He pinched her clit hard enough for her to cry out, and she jolted against him, squeezing the shelf so tightly her nails bit into her palms. “Yes, like that. Please.”
“Did you obey my orders while I was gone?” he asked, continuing to stroke her with firm fingers. “Or did you touch this pretty cunt and come without my permission?”
“I obeyed, sir,” she panted, grasping at her unraveling rope of control. She wouldn’t last long. He’d told her not to touch herself the whole time he was gone, and for some reason, she’d listened. Now she was like a grenade with a loose pin.
“Good girl.” Without finesse, he yanked her panties down, and she kicked off her heels. “Let’s see if it was worth the wait.”
Her head lolled back against the wall.
She had no doubt he’d be worth the wait, but would he be worth the heartbreak?
Reid fumbled with his belt and unbuttoned his pants, the need to claim Brynn burning through him like wildfire. A week without her had been like walking around with a hole in his chest. He’d planned to surprise her tonight, take her to a nice dinner. Talk. But now she was here in front of him, smelling like strawberry shampoo and feminine arousal. Looking like sin. And he was about to lose his goddamned mind. Food and the discussion he wanted to have with her could wait.
Not even bothering to step out of his pants, he rolled a condom on and grasped the backs of her thighs, lifting and spreading her. “I don’t know if I can go slow and easy right now, sugar.”
Her green eyes met his, the low light of the room not dimming the fire behind them. “Then take me hard, sir.”
He groaned and dug his fingers into the soft undersides of her thighs as he thrust forward. Her wet heat closed around him like a velvet fist, causing a bone-deep shudder to wrack his body. “Goddamn, you feel good.”
Part of him wanted to stay like this, buried inside her balls deep, feeling her stretching around him, watching how her teeth bit into her full bottom lip as she fought to keep her composure. The tender skin at her neck jumped with the frantic beat of her heart, and he dipped forward to run his tongue along the pulse point.
She moaned and her muscles flexed around his shaft, nearly sending him over the edge before they even started. “Reid, please, I need you.”
He slid out until just the head of his cock rested inside her, relishing the view of their carnal connection, then plunged forward,
deep and hard. Her feminine grunt of satisfaction, that little catch in her throat, was all it took to strip the last remnants of patience from his system. He hitched her legs higher and rocked into her with the speed and gentleness of a freight train, the sound of skin hitting skin drowning out the mundane noises around them.