InstructionbySeduction (2 page)

“I don’t know.”

“That’s the problem. That’s what I’m here to help you with.”

Hale picked up the beer and took another drink, then handed
the bottle to Leah. She raised it to her lips without thinking and took a long
pull. It was slick and sweet where Hale had drunk from it.
So sweet and
intoxicating…

Ignoring every sense of propriety she knew, Leah licked
around the tip of the bottle to gather up every bit of what he’d left on it.
When she looked up at him he didn’t look shocked or amused. Instead he just
looked at her like it was something that he would have done.

“So like I said, I’m here to help you with your problems.
Starting with this one.” Hale pushed away from the counter and began tugging
off his tie. He tossed it over a chair that was haphazardly pulled away from
the table. Then he began to unbutton his shirt.

“What are you doing?” Leah squeaked.

“It’s hard to do this wearing clothes. I’ve tried and was
unsuccessful.”

“Stop!” She squealed as he pulled his shirt out of his dress
pants to finish unbuttoning.

“Do you really want me to?”

Leah paused. She really didn’t. From the moment the bizarre,
beautiful stranger breezed through her door like the January Kansas wind she’d
wanted nothing more than for him to take off that fabulous suit. But dare she
say it? Dare she say what she wanted? Would she be prepared for what followed
if she did?

“I don’t know what I want,” she whispered.

“And therein lies your problem.” Hale continued to unbutton
his shirt. He let it fall open, exposing a perfectly hairless, chiseled chest.
“What is it that you’re afraid of?”

“Maybe I’m afraid of getting what I want.”

“Now we’re getting somewhere.”

Hale slid out of his black jacket and deposited it on the
same chair that held his tie. He turned back to Leah and put his hands on her
shoulders. His touch was amazingly warm, even after being out in the cold and
handling the beer straight out of the fridge. It sent hot shivers through
Leah’s body and sent her hormones spinning. She closed her eyes.

Soft pressure moved her in a semicircle, putting her back
toward the fridge. Her eyes still closed, Leah let Hale push her back until she
was pressed against the appliance. Once there she trembled, waiting. She didn’t
have to wait long.

Hale placed feathery-soft kisses at her ear, his lips moving
down her neck, planting faint kisses all the way down. She leaned her head back
against the fridge, afraid to let this seduction continue but desperate to hold
onto it. His hands slid down off her shoulders and came to rest on the top of
her towel.

“Hale.” It was half-plea, half-warning.

He gripped the towel and in one swift move, pulled it
completely off Leah’s body. Her eyes flew open and she shrieked, moving to
cover herself but Hale’s hands found hers and held them out to her sides,
leaving her fully exposed.

“Don’t,” he whispered. “You’re beautiful.”

“I’m scared!”

“You’re perfect.” And with that Hale’s lips covered hers in
a gentle but forceful kiss, leaving Leah no choice but to open to him. Her
sensible side was screaming in confusion while her desire rose within her, an
unstoppable force. She moaned softly under his lips.

“Do you still want me to stop?” Hale whispered.

Leah looked up into those perfect green eyes and again felt
that inexplicable recognition. Somehow this stranger was already hers, just
like the box.

“No.”

Hale smiled and nodded.

“I thought you’d say that.”

He held her gaze as he released her hands and moved closer
to her, pinning her between his body and the refrigerator. His fingertips ran
up and down her bare hips and sides, tickling her in a way that only fueled the
fire growing between her legs. Her heart pounded away in her chest so loudly
she was sure Hale could hear it.

It would probably only amuse him.

“What are you good at, Leah?” he asked.

My name
, she thought.
He knows my name. How the
hell…how the hell is any of this happening?

“What do you mean what am I good at? Like…sexually?”

Hale laughed softly.

“I don’t need you to tell me that. I mean in general. What
are you good at?”

“Not very much it would seem. Screwing things up maybe.
Procrastinating. Making an ass of myself.”

Hale shook his head. “You can’t keep thinking like that.
Thinking makes it so. Tomorrow I want you to make a list of what you’re good at.
I don’t care what it is or if it sounds stupid to you. Make the list and have
it ready tomorrow night.”

“Tomorrow night?”

“Yes. We’re going to be too busy to do that tonight.”

“Are we?”

“Yes. Very busy.”

With that Hale took one of Leah’s breasts in his hand, bent
his head and took the nipple into his mouth.

“Oh my God,” Leah moaned, the sudden stimulation creating
havoc within her. She reached out and touched Hale, hungrily feeling his skin.
Her entire body burned for him and she couldn’t explain why.

Hale pulled away from her and she whimpered, not wanting it
to stop. He set his hands on his belt and unbuckled it, then slid it out of the
loops and dropped it on the floor. Leah sweated with anticipation as he
unbuttoned and unzipped his pants.

“You asked for it, remember?”

Leah nodded, ready to agree to whatever he said and
mesmerized with anticipation. She was ready to reach out and yank down his
pants herself.

Hale let his pants drop to the floor around his ankles. No
boxers and no briefs covered him underneath. Leah stared down at his generous cock
and couldn’t think of a thing to say.

“You want it?” he asked.

“Yes,” Leah breathed. “I’ll take whatever you’re willing to
give.”

Hale took ahold of himself and pushed toward Leah. She moved
to accept him, spreading her legs as far as she could and still hold herself
up. Hale slid a hand down one of her thighs and lifted her leg, opening her up
to him. Leah trembled as his stiff flesh moved against her skin, nudging ever closer
to her heated opening. He touched it and she nearly yelped with anticipation.

“Leah,” Hale breathed. She looked up at him. As their eyes
locked, he pushed his hard dick into her pussy. She was hot and ready and he
slid all the way in without hesitation.

“Jesus,” Leah whimpered, her body shaking with the ecstasy
of feeling Hale touch her where for so long she’d only had herself to rely on.
He
is much better!

Leah wrapped her raised leg around Hale’s waist and squeezed
him close to her. God he was so warm. He pushed into her and leaned his head
toward hers. She thought he was going to kiss her but instead he brushed his
lips across her cheek and whispered, “I told you. Beautiful. Perfect. Just as
you are.”

Tears threatened to take over Leah’s bliss, especially after
the hurtful remarks of that morning. Hale’s words were sweet honey to her soul.
She basked in the feeling of love, then with one more hard push from Hale she
shot back into the reality of physical pleasure. Leah shuddered. He knew what
he was doing.

The sounds of flesh on flesh permeated the kitchen along
with Leah’s soft moans and sighs. Hale raised his free hand to Leah’s right
breast and gently caressed her nipple, sending rockets through her body. Leah
shook as he continued to stroke her from within, causing the slowly building
pressure within her to simmer.

Leah looked up at Hale, catching his eyes with hers and
locking them in, marveling at the bizarre twist of events that had brought him
to her.

Hale’s mouth curved into a smirk as he increased his speed.
Leah moaned as he put the pressure on just the right spot, stroking her clit
like he was made for her. She closed her eyes then felt Hale’s soft lips
against hers.

A playful lick on her lips made Leah smile as he moved in
and swept through her mouth like he was starving for her. She opened for him,
letting him explore her mouth before she returned the favor, reveling in the
wet heat of him while he brought her sweet sensations between her legs.

The pressure within Leah’s body had reached the boiling
point. She put her hands on Hale’s upper arms, holding him in place.

“Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Oh God, don’t stop!”

The blast from the orgasm rocked her body hard. Leah cried
out, not even caring if her neighbors could hear. All that mattered was the
feeling, the outpouring of electricity that swept through her body. Even after
it had left her she shuddered with the aftereffects. Then she realized that
Hale had come as well.

“Oh I missed it,” she said with regret. “That’s the second-best
part. Getting to watch someone else come.”

“You didn’t miss it.” Hale’s smirk returned as he leaned in
and kissed her softly. Leah couldn’t stop the smile from spreading across her
lips before the kiss had even ended.

“Who are you?” she asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Hale wiggled his eyebrows. He
pulled out of her and kissed her again. “Go clean up. I’ll wait in the
bedroom.”

Leah staggered to the bathroom, barely able to walk. She
heard Hale chuckling softly as she closed the door behind her. When she emerged
wrapped in a terrycloth robe, true to his promise Hale was lounging on her bed,
still stark naked. Leah breathed a sigh of relief. She’d half expected him to
have blown out of her apartment as quickly as he’d arrived.

“What are you reading, Leah?” he asked.

“At this very moment?”

“Of course not. I mean what books are you reading?”

“Mostly my college books.”

“Good. And?”

“And a romance novel.”

“Good. And?”

“And…that’s about it. Why?”

“Think about reading something that makes you think about
how you are and how you view life. College books are good but they don’t move
beyond mere subject matter. Romance novels are good because God knows the world
needs more love. But you, my dear, have all the love you need and more. What
you don’t have is perspective.”

“What do you mean I have all the love I need and more?”

Hale smiled.

“See, you ask about the love first. That’s good. But you
can’t forget about the rest of it.”

Leah walked over to the bed and sat down. She put her hand
on Hale’s shoulder, still trying to convince herself that he was real, just as
flesh and blood as she was. Leah squeezed his shoulder.

“You could try pinching yourself,” Hale said. “Sometimes
that works.”

“It’s not as much fun.”

Hale sat up and moved his legs around to the other side of
Leah. He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her cheek.

“I can’t wait to see you again,” he said, then got up off
the bed.

“What?” Leah said, standing. “Does that mean you’re
leaving?”

“Just remember what I said about that list. Have it ready.”

Hale walked out of the bedroom and into the bathroom,
closing the door behind him. Leah stood, staring at the door, wondering if he
was going to take a shower. If she heard the water she was going to have to
join him. But instead she heard nothing. Not the faucet, not the toilet, not
even the creak of a floorboard.

“Hale?” she called. No response. She tried again and got the
same answer.

Leah moved slowly toward the bathroom door. She called his
name again and softly knocked.

“Hale, are you okay in there?” she asked. No sound.

Leah gripped the handle and turned. She paused, then pushed
the door open. The bathroom was empty. Absolutely empty. Leah reeled back. She
turned and looked into the kitchen. Also empty. She took three steps toward the
kitchen table and looked at the chair where Hale had deposited his clothes.
Gone. The door to the apartment was closed, deadbolt locked, just as she had
left it.

Leah gasped, trying to fill her lungs with air that seemed
to rebel against being drawn in. She pulled out a chair and sat down.
How is
it possible?
He appeared out of nowhere and went right back there
afterward. She’d watched the door the whole time. There were no windows or
other doors in the bathroom. No way out.

Leah raised her head and took in a deep breath. So rational
thought went out the window. Who cared? She’d had a great time. More than a
great time. It was unbelievable. It was beautiful. It was a dream.

Was it a dream?

Standing up slowly, Leah turned and looked back toward the
bedroom. She moved as if in slow motion, each step taking her closer toward the
dresser…and the box. Leah stood just inside the bedroom, staring. The box still
sat on her dresser…closed.

Leah moved through the next morning in a daze. She didn’t
have any classes so she’d taken an earlier shift. Kelly was working with her
again, this time running the register while Leah bagged groceries.

Leah finished putting the last item in a bag for a customer
and handed the bag to her with a smile.

“Have great day and come back soon, okay?”

“I sure will, dear,” the lady said as she walked away.

“Okay,” Kelly said once the customer was out of earshot.
“What’s up with you today? You’re all smiles and cheer with the customers then
as soon as they’re gone you’re back into your funk zone.”

Leah stared at the plastic bags in front of her.

“What am I good at, Kelly?”

“Huh? Is that what this is about? You feeling useless again?
Well stop. You’re a great person and it makes me feel sick when you talk down
about yourself.”

Leah smiled. “I love your honesty.”

“Well that’s what you get for asking me. With me what you
see is what you get, damn it.”

“Okay then. Tell me.”

“Tell you what?”

“What am I good at?”

Kelly turned to fully face Leah, crossed her arms in front
of her and leaned back as though carefully inspecting the woman before her.

“You have a great smile,” she said.

“That’s it?”

“Shut up. I’m not done yet. You have a great smile and you
make other people smile when you do it. Not everyone can do that. And you’re
honest. Another rare trait.”

“That’s not being good at something. Those are personality
traits.”

Kelly paused long enough that Leah feared she wasn’t going
to be able to come up with anything. Then finally Kelly said, “You give great
customer service.”

“Customer service?” Leah asked, as though Kelly had
suggested she was great at tying her shoe. “There’s nothing to it. You just be
nice to people and treat them the way you would want to be treated. It’s common
sense.”

“Sweetheart, common sense ain’t so common. You can
neutralize situations like no one else. Stuff that the managers fuck up you can
fix and keep a customer coming back after an event that some people would have
sued over.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Remember the sour cream incident?”

Leah did remember the sour cream incident. A customer had
picked up a container of sour cream, gone home and used it, then discovered it
had somehow gotten mold in the center. The customer had gotten sick and
returned the container the next day, ready to call her lawyer.

After Leah got done smoothing things over with a sympathetic
ear, some outrage at the situation and some serious ass-kissing, the customer
was ready to write to the newspaper in praise of FoodSmart.

“Okay, so I saved the day for FoodSmart a time or two,” Leah
conceded.

“Leah, that could have gotten really ugly. No one else could
have fixed that like you. That is really something to be proud of. And how many
times have you gotten the FoodSmart customer service award? Five times?”

“Seven,” Leah said, a smile forming.

“Well there you go.”

Kelly turned back to the register and smiled at the customer
who had arrived with a load of kids and bags of chips.
Soccer mom for sure
.

Leah smiled with every beep of the register, ringing up
Fritos. Maybe she was good at something after all. She gave the soccer mom a
huge, authentic smile as she passed by.

The frazzled-looking woman paused, smiled back and said,
“Thanks for letting me clean out your chip section.”

“Anytime.” Leah laughed and picked up her walkie-talkie and
pretended to call the stockroom. “Restock on Fritos in aisle four!”

The woman laughed and pushed her cart of kids and chips out
the door.

* * * * *

Leah swallowed nervously. She was sitting at her kitchen
table looking at her list for Hale. It was ridiculously inadequate. What if he
decided her efforts weren’t good enough and left to help someone else? Would
she be relieved? Disappointed? Leah closed her eyes and remembered how Hale had
made her feel. Her body warmed at the memory, both in her heart and in her
panties. Did she care what he was? A dream, a ghost, some sort of otherworldly
creature? Whatever he was he could make her feel like the most perfect person
on earth, so maybe she really couldn’t care less what he was as long as he kept
coming back to her. What else did she have?

Leah picked up her list and studied it.

Good at smiling.

Good at customer service.

Good at getting out of trouble.

Good at being a good friend.

Good at remembering lists.

Good at smiling
, Leah thought.
How much more stupid
can I sound and still be allowed to live? Hale is going to think I’m an idiot
.

Maybe she could redeem herself with the book she’d found at
the library. She glanced at it sitting on the table.
Reaching Your Peak by
Dr. Know-It-All,
she thought sarcastically.
Of course
, she mused,
shifting gears.
Why would I take advice from someone who doesn’t know it
all?

Standing, Leah turned and began pacing around her small
apartment. She was ready for Hale. Sort of. But how did she get him to come
back? Was she just supposed to sit around and wait? She glanced back at her
bedroom. The box. Maybe she could open it herself now that it had opened on its
own.

Leah walked back to the bedroom and took the box in her
hands. Just the feeling of it calmed her, comforted her. She smiled and felt
better. Even if Hale didn’t come tonight, everything would be okay. Feeling at
peace, Leah put her hands on the lid and lifted it.

The empty box looked up at her. Leah peered down at it,
wondering what invisible force it held that was released when it was opened.
Was it looking at her at that very moment, waiting to see what she would do
next?

Bang, bang, bang
!

Leah laughed out loud and spun in a circle. She set the box
down on the dresser and sprinted to the door. Sure enough, she flung it open to
find Hale standing there in his black suit, lips curved up in smirk. He winked
at her and gave her a nod. Leah melted a little bit inside.

“Hey,” he said. “I missed you today.”

Leah moved away from the door to let him in, her heart and
her instantly warm pussy making her feel like Silly Putty.

“I missed you too,” she breathed. “I made my list. And I got
a book.”

“Good, good.”

“And I got you some beer.”

“No you got you some beer. I’m just going to help you drink
it.”

Leah giggled. Hale opened the fridge and pulled out a beer
then dug out the bottle opener, just as he had done the night before.

“You disappeared awfully quickly last night,” Leah said
cautiously. She was a little afraid that asking him about it might make him
leave but her curiosity was too great.

“I’m like that,” Hale said with a shrug. “But I always come
back.”

Hale took a drink of the beer and handed it to Leah. She
took a sip, again savoring the taste of Hale on the bottle more than the liquid
within. Her body warmed further and soon all she could think of was his warm
touch, those gentle fingertips on her skin. Who or what he was…who cared?

“What are we going to do tonight?” Leah asked.

Hale took the bottle back from Leah and took a long drink,
then set it down on the counter and began loosening his tie. Leah smiled, her
heartbeat picking up instantly. She couldn’t wait to put her hands on him
again, to learn more about what he could do and what he could make her feel.

“Excited?”

Leah could only nod.

“Good. Me too.”

Leah realized she was practically panting so she tried to
hold her breath while Hale tossed his tie and jacket. When she finally let it
out Hale laughed.

“Don’t hyperventilate. That’ll come later. Now take your
shirt off.”

Leah blinked a few times.

“Take my shirt off?” she asked hesitantly. “You mean right
here?”

“I’m taking mine off right here.”

As if to prove his point, Hale finished unbuttoning his
shirt and tossed it onto the chair. Leah took a deep breath.
He’s already
seen you naked, for Christ’s sake
.
What’s the big deal
?

Last time he ripped your towel off. This time it’s all
you. All your decision.

“Sometimes you have to step outside of your comfort zone,
Leah,” Hale said softly. “Trust me, if you never take a step beyond those
self-imposed boundaries you will always be wishing your life was different. Now
take that step. Take your shirt off.”

“Aren’t we going to go over my list? I made my list like you
asked.” Leah was stalling.

“You made the list for you, not for me. Now. Take your shirt
off.”

Leah swallowed hard and gripped the bottom of her t-shirt.
Did Hale know about her level of experience or rather her lack thereof? She’d
never taken her clothes off in front of a man like that. Most of the time she
hid in the dark so they wouldn’t see her. Her pounding heart and her trembling
hands betrayed her, displaying to Hale her incompetence. Suddenly she felt like
she was back in her speech class, making an ass of herself.

“Just lift, Leah,” Hale said softly. “It’s just a little
thing. I’ll make it worth your while.”

Leah smiled and gave a short laugh. She could do this.
It’s
only a shirt for crying out loud.
Leah suddenly pulled up on the t-shirt,
yanked it over her head and threw it on the ground.

Hale threw his head back and laughed. Leah shrunk.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “You just looked like you were
throwing a snake off yourself.”

“Sorry.”

“No worries. Now take off your bra.”

How did I know that was coming
? Leah reached up
behind her back and grasped the hooks of her bra.
Just a little piece of
fabric. Step outside, step outside…

Leah unhooked the clasp and stared up at Hale. Keeping her
eyes trained on his face, she released the material and turned her shoulders in
front of her, letting the garment slide down her arms, then drop to the floor.

“Very good.” Hale’s voice was barely more than a whisper.
“Now the rest. All of it.”

Shaking like a car with a flat tire, Leah reached down and
unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. As she began sliding them down her legs, she
fought the words that came into her mind.
Cow. Too fat to get frat.
She
clenched her teeth and kicked off her jeans.