Just Lunch (2 page)

Rocco listened, and didn’t jump up on me. Austin was clearly alpha dog. Rocco leaned against my legs, tail wagging and mouth panting as I squatted down and rubbed his belly. Hopefully I’d be rubbing Rocco’s dad’s belly later. “He’s so cute!”

“He really is. He’s such a good dog. I’m glad you finally get to meet him,” Austin replied, grabbing a leash from a hook by the door. “I’m going to take him for a quick walk, but make yourself at home.”

The back door of the cottage brought us into the kitchen, the mahogany cabinets complementing stainless steel appliances and granite countertops. My heels clicked against the hardwood floor as I made my way deeper into the house. Four bar stools were nestled under a breakfast bar, and I ran my fingers over the rich cocoa leather. A huge khaki couch and matching recliner filled the remaining space, pointed toward a massive flat screen TV set on a low glass table. A mental image appeared in my mind, Austin sprawled on the couch, watching football and drinking a beer as he cuddled with Rocco. I wondered if he was still rooting for the Falcons now that he was in Chargers territory.

I headed for the floor to ceiling windows along the back wall of the house, leaning close to try to see out into the dark. My breath fogged against the glass, and I could just barely make out the waves pummeling the shore, echoing the pounding of my heart as I imagined being in the hot tub with Austin. The temptation would be intoxicating, and I wondered if we’d be able to fight it. The sound of the back door interrupted my thoughts, and Rocco came running over to sniff my feet. I turned and watched Austin hang the leash on its hook, his cell phone pressed between his ear and shoulder. “Okay, sounds good. I’ll talk to you tomorrow,” he said, glancing up and smiling at me. I figured it was his girlfriend on the phone, I’d already called Jamie to say goodnight before I’d left the hotel.

He set his phone on the breakfast bar and ambled toward me, sending my heart leaping into my throat as he came to join me at the window. His vest was unbuttoned with his tie hung long around his neck, and I had to fight every urge to grab each end of that tie and pull him close for a kiss. “Cool place,” I said instead.

“Thanks. Let me show you the rest.” We headed for the archway that connected the living area to the rest of the house. Straight ahead was a spacious bathroom, and he flicked on the light and stepped back. An elegant space, white cabinets gleaming under two glass bowl sinks and blue granite countertops. A massive walk in shower took up the whole far wall, with double showerheads and ivory marble tiles.

To the left of the bathroom was a small home office, a leather recliner facing a wood desk and bookshelf. Finally, he led me to the last door, kept closed on account of Rocco’s appetite for socks, he informed me. Not three steps into the room, his cologne wafted through the air, sending an unexpected rush of heat through my veins. The king size bed dominated the room, a crimson comforter laying disheveled among several pillows. A low wood dresser matched the walnut bed frame, a huge mirror showing us the reflection of his bed. The windows from the living room were repeated here, another sliding glass door leading onto the deck, and the waiting hot tub.

“This is awesome,” I told him as I headed for the door, footfalls silent on the plush tan carpet.

“I know, this place is one of the reasons I love living here so much,” he admitted. He pulled off his vest, his tie trailing over his neck as he threw it on the bed. I stood transfixed as he went for the buttons on his shirt, tugging the ends from beneath his pants. The strip tease continued as he unbuckled his belt and sat down on the bed, untying his shoes and toeing them off. I suddenly realized if I stayed here and watched him undress any longer, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself from helping him.

“I’ll go change,” I said, but when he stood up and shrugged off his button down I was suddenly frozen in place.

“You sure you don’t want me to look for a bathing suit?” he asked, his biceps straining against his undershirt, and all the saliva disappeared from my mouth.

“I’m sure,” I responded. The mention of the bathing suit instantly reminded me of our respective significant others, and just how unsure I was about tonight. I went to grab my bag from the kitchen and headed for the bathroom, keeping my eyes averted from his bedroom.

As I stepped out of my dress, I wondered if Austin was struggling with the same decision. Was he also torn between his desire to touch me and his desire to do the right thing? Or had he already decided to try and get me naked? The hot tub provided a convenient excuse to get me halfway there, and while my black demi bra and lacy boy shorts were technically lingerie, they covered more than my most modest bikini. I pulled my hair into a messy bun on the top of my head and contemplated my reflection in the mirror.

It would be next to impossible to resist him once he touched me, but I knew I should at least try. The guilt I would suffer from cheating on my new boyfriend would probably be nothing compared to the regret I’d live with if I let Austin slip away again without first feeling his hands on my body, his mouth on my breasts, his cock buried inside me. This might be the only opportunity I’d ever have to be with him.

After hanging my dress over the towel rack, I wandered back to the kitchen and found Austin grabbing two beers out of the fridge. He popped the tops and turned to face me, stopping me in my tracks. Plain black board shorts hung low on his hips, and his abs were so ripped I could count four sets of distinct ab muscles leading down to his waistband. The hair on his chest was trimmed short, and his broad shoulders and sculpted biceps had me imagining how easily he’d be able to lift me into his arms. His body was even better than I’d dreamed, all lean muscle and tan skin.

He blatantly looked me up and down as he moved toward me with the beers. Miller Lite, my favorite. When he handed me the bottle, our fingers brushed, his skin blazing hot compared to the icy glass.

“Thanks. Cheers.” I raised my beer toward him and our bottles clinked together. “You ready?” I asked after we’d taken a sip.

“Yeah, let’s do it.”

Interesting choice of words, I thought. He led me to the sliding glass door and motioned me out ahead of him. No doubt so he could get a look at my ass. A quick glance around showed that the deck was very private. Trees and bushes on both sides obstructed the neighbor’s view, with a straight shot of beach ahead of us. The hot tub was uncovered and bubbling away, and two towels sat on a glass table next to a chaise lounge chair. “Nice view,” I told him, as I took in the sweeping panorama of sand, sky, and ocean. The moon illuminated the night, reflecting off the water and making the sand sparkle.

“Yeah,” he said. “The sunsets are incredible out here.”

“I bet they are.” I turned and watched him climb into the hot tub and settle back. “How does it feel?” I asked.

“Unbelievable,” he sighed.

I walked up the two small stairs and sat down on the edge, leaning back to swing my legs into the steaming water. It was scorching, and I had to let my body adjust to the temperature as I eased in. Austin watched my slow progress, and the heat from his gaze matched the sizzling water.

“I have to ask you something I’ve been wondering about since I left,” he murmured, his deep voice barely audible above the bubbling hot tub.

“Okay,” I nodded, pretty sure where this might be headed.

“Why did you leave that night? All I know is one minute we were about to kiss, and the next you were gone.”

I smiled, impressed that he was cutting right to the chase. Guess we were laying it all out on the table. “Do you remember when you told me you didn’t trust yourself alone with me?”

“Yes,” he answered, his eyes smoldering.

“I didn’t trust myself alone with you either,” I said quietly, hypnotized by his eyes as they drilled into mine. “And I didn’t want to get hurt. You were moving across the country the next day.”

“What about now? Do you trust yourself alone with me?” he asked. As I tried to form a coherent thought, he drifted toward me, stopping less than an arm’s length away. The oppressive heat of the water took my breath away, and I gulped for air as I fought the wave of dizziness that came over me.

My fingers twitched with the overwhelming need to reach out and touch him, but I gathered every last ounce of strength and floated backwards, putting space between us. “No,” I admitted, whispering my answer between parted lips. Lips that were aching with the desire to kiss every inch of his unbelievable body, all fucking night long.

Something in his eyes shifted once he heard the single syllable, something dark and dangerous replacing the scrutinizing gaze he’d worn seconds ago. A lump formed in my throat, and I tried to swallow it away, reaching for a cold swig of my beer to help me out. Austin grabbed the bottle and raised it to his parted lips, tipping it back for a long swallow. Once he’d set the beer back on the edge, his eyes returned to mine, studying me. “Give me your foot,” he instructed. “I bet those shoes you were wearing today made your feet hurt like hell.”

I hesitated, reluctant to surrender to his touch so soon, but I’d be damned if I was going to turn down a foot rub. My heels had hurt like a son of a bitch since the second I’d put them on that morning. I drifted a foot toward him, stopping when my toes brushed against his knee. His fingers gently circled around my ankle, pulling my foot closer to him. One thumb applied steady pressure along the arch of my foot, instantly sending a flash of lightning streaking through my core. His other hand gripped my toes, wiggling them around and threading his fingers between each coral painted nail. I gasped at the strength of his touch, the intensity of his gaze holding me captive. Why did he have to be so fucking sexy? When his fingertips pressed against the sore tendons across the top of my toes, I sighed with pleasure, closing my eyes and letting my head fall back. “That feels incredible,” I breathed.

His skillful hands kneaded away every last ache in my tired muscles, and just when I thought he was finished, his fingers brushed my other calf, guiding that foot closer to him. Each stroke along my foot reverberated up my leg and pulsed around my clit, and when he slid his hand up to my knee, I almost lost my mind.

As his strong fingers pulled the tension from my calves, all my willpower melted away, leaving behind an uncontrollable urge to touch his incredible body. I opened my eyes, heart pounding with the thrill of anticipation. Things had progressed to the point of no return for me, and I was willing to bet my annual salary he felt the same. All I had to do was give him the green light.

“I bet your cock is so hard right now,” I purred, letting my foot wander closer to him, grinning slyly when my toes touched his rigid abs.

He didn’t miss a beat. “It’s actually been hard since I saw you at lunch. And hearing you say
cock
is not helping the situation.” His heated gaze matched mine across the bubbling water, not breaking eye contact.

“Big, hard, throbbing cock,” I drawled slowly, watching as his eyes grew heavier by the second. His hand returned to my foot, and just when I thought he was about to continue the foot massage, I found he had other plans.

He was rock solid, and my mouth dropped open, frozen while he rubbed my foot up and down his length. “Austin,” I began, his eyes closing as he pushed against my foot. Even though I was dying to feel that part of him on other, more sensitive areas of my body, my conscience was attempting to override the adrenaline rushing to my brain.

“It’s okay. We don’t have to if you don’t want to,” he assured me. His hand released my foot and he watched me, waiting for my next move.

I slipped my foot back to his stomach, my momentary hesitation vanishing as I explored the firm muscles of his abs. “I want to,” I said, moving my foot back to his cock, his eyes darkening with desire as I touched him with my toes. He grabbed my calf and tugged me toward him, guiding my legs around his waist. I smoothed my hands over his shoulders as we met in the middle, my lungs sucking in some necessary oxygen. Our faces were inches apart, and I traced my hands around the back of his neck and pulled his lips to mine.

His tongue slipped inside my mouth, hot and teasing. I groaned as we pressed together, skin blazing wherever we touched, matching his kisses stroke for stroke. A shudder ran through me as the most sensitive areas of our bodies crushed together, arousal coursing through my veins. I found myself wishing we were already naked so he could pump right into me. My nipples tightened as his hands found my breasts, and I reached back and unhooked my bra, tossing it onto the deck. He lifted me out of the water so he could see my tits, humming his appreciation as he circled around one nipple with his thumb. “God, they’re fucking perfect, Lexi,” he said, sinking down to take a pink bud between his lips.

My head fell back as he swirled his tongue around the taut peak, sucking hard into his mouth. He switched to the other side, filling his hand with the breast he’d just abandoned. My fingers drifted down his stomach to the bulge in his shorts, and he sucked in a breath as I rubbed him. His suit was making it difficult to get a good grip on what I wanted, so I ripped open the Velcro fly and pulled it down over his hips. I grabbed a handful of cock and he growled, leaning forward and nipping my lower lip between his teeth. He tasted like beer and hot sex, and I stroked his length, matching the rhythm with my tongue in his mouth. He moaned, the vibrations shooting down into my throbbing clit.

He pushed my panties aside, and one finger slid easily into my wet, waiting core. I gasped, clutching his shoulders as he pumped into me a few times before adding a second finger. “Ahh!” I breathed, squeezing his fingers while he expertly rubbed my clit with his thumb. “Damn, that feels good.”

“You’re so fucking tight,” he whispered, stroking his tongue back into my mouth for a taste. “I want you, Lexi.” Suddenly, I remembered I’d been off the Pill for months.

“I want you, too,” I began, “but we need a condom.”

“Shit, I don’t know if I have one, I’d have to look. But I don’t want you to stop touching my cock. It feels fucking amazing.” Judging by the way he was twitching and moaning, I figured all he needed was a little something to push him over the edge, so I reached down between us and tickled his testicles.