No Magic Moment (Secrets of Stone Book 4) (3 page)

Andre’s wry snicker brought me back to the present for the time being. “What?” I rejoined. “It’s charming, isn’t it?”

“Mmmm hmmm. Charming.”

“Shut up. I’m switching things up in here, décor wise, and this is my focal piece. Just set it there.” I pointed to where he stood, wanting him to leave before he asked more questions. The man often knew I was lying with just a glance, so the sooner he got the hell out of here, the better.

Besides, I still had preparations to make.

“Did you pick up the dry cleaning?” I asked.

“Not yet. You had me on a scavenger hunt for a specific desk, remember?”

I sniffed delicately. “Well, you did a great job. I appreciate what you found. But now off you go. I also need you to finish the other things I texted to you while you’re out doing errands.”
Because you’re sure as hell not hanging out downstairs, conjuring ideas of what Michael and I are doing with this desk.
“And don’t come back until tomorrow, okay?”

“Because of the redecorating?”

I lifted my one eyebrow in my should-be-patented death stare.

Andre’s belly laugh filled my condo like the late afternoon sunshine still streaming in the windows.

“
Tomorrow
.”

“Yes ma’am, Ms. Asher.” With a ridiculously grand bow, he backed out the front door.

I had about thirty minutes to get ready. Michael had messaged to say what time he was leaving the office, and I’d added his brief commute time on top of that. I wanted to be fully dressed when he walked in the door.

I’d been pondering the details of this role play fantasy since last month, but after what he did yesterday, crawling in that filthy sewer to get the cherished pinkie ring Caroline had given me as a child? Yeah; above and beyond. Or was it below and beyond? Did it matter? One thing was glaringly clear. I owed him more than a quick fuck in the back of my car—even if said sex
had
been heart-stopping and amazing. Somehow, he just kept getting better and better at that end of things…

A stupid grin spread across my face as I halted completely, leaning against the wall. Damn. Just thinking of him…I’d literally stopped in my tracks.

Oh, yeah. It was official. I was in love. Me, Margaux Corina Asher, in love with a man who more than deserved to be loved. Not one of the typical, poor-excuse-for-a-man losers that I’d always fallen for, but an actual, amazing, gorgeous, sexy-as-sin, smart, funny, caring—did I say sexy?—guy.

He was quickly becoming the center of my universe. My everything.

It was a little unnerving.

Maybe a lot.

Thoughts for another time, woman
.

I hustled down the hall to our bedroom, ready to make the full transformation into “naughty schoolgirl.” I had a punishment coming—at least I hoped I did—and my headmaster was due home in exactly twenty minutes.

The outfit had been waiting in the back of my closet, far
far
from the prying eyes of my assistant and fashion consultant, Sorrelle. Dear God, the boy would never let me hear the end of it if he saw the plaid skirt, white knee socks, and patent leather Mary Janes. For the top, I had a starched white blouse—two sizes too small. I left the top three buttons open, exposing Michael’s favorite red lace bra beneath.

I rimmed my eyes with heavy black liner, added a thick coat of mascara, and finished off with some of the dark berry lip stain I wore every day of my adult life. It was the curse of being a blonde. If I didn’t color my lips, I looked like a corpse. That was just all there was to it.

I contemplated my hair. Pigtails or braids? I settled on low pigtails, so my “instructor” could pull them if he saw fit. And God, I hoped he saw fit.

Almost time
.

I kept my fingers crossed, at least mentally. Michael definitely let my naughty side run wild, never turning away when I needed things rough. At other times, he could be the gentlest lover on the planet. It was such a puzzling dichotomy, making him all the sexier to me with every passing day. Often I wondered how so much complexity could be wrapped in one person. There was still so much to figure out about him—but we had time for it all. Neither of us could or should rush it. At just three months, our relationship was still in its infancy. We had so much to discover about each other, and I looked forward to all of it. It was so damn good to be running
toward
someone, not away.

I reached for my final prop. The hunk of bubble gum was going to help play up my naughty student act, if I could get past the overwhelming sweetness. Did I really used to sneak this stuff behind Andrea’s back as a kid?

I hurried to my desk in the middle of the living room, grabbing a cookbook from the kitchen to stand in as a textbook. I also pulled out a ruler but left it behind on the island. I really had no idea how he’d react to all this. Men were strange sometimes. Talking about fantasies was sometimes their preference over making them come true. If Michael gaped like he’d just entered a freak show, it’d be better not to complicate things with a cavalcade of school supplies.

I
did
take a couple of sharpened pencils—brand new number twos—and lay them end-to-end in the well on the desk’s top. Like any good student, I sat up straight with my hands folded in front of me. The only thing out of place was my exaggerated gum chewing. It lent to the bit but also helped with my nervousness.

Keys jangled in the hall.

My heartbeat skidded in my chest.

Show time
.

I tried to call the circus in my stomach to rest. Would he play along with me? I was almost certain he would…but how far? In what direction?

Uncertainty assaulted me.

A simple question had never turned me on more.

The door swung open. I looked up, brandishing a cheeky grin. Blew a big pink bubble out of my mouth with a long hiss.

Pop
.

I sucked the gum back in and kept chewing, adding a little wink. Getting deeper into character helped keep the circus under control—especially after I took in my man from head to toe. He’d worn one of his sharpest suits today, nearly-black navy that was perfectly fitted to every lean, muscled inch of him. Finishing the look was a burgundy tie, a color he turned into a power look with the force of his presence alone.

I really loved that suit on him.

Inside ten seconds, I squirmed in the seat. Wet for him. Wanting him.

“Well, what do we have here?” His sensual growl moved through me while he shucked his jacket and slid his briefcase onto the island in the kitchen, right next to the wooden ruler. Though I had a blind spot due to my lower level at the desk, I sensed he stashed the ruler in his back pocket. I’d find out for sure if I pushed him far enough…and earned a punishment.

Oh, it was on.

“Hi there.” I blew another bubble. Smaller this time. Popped it with my teeth and sucked it back in. Michael watched every movement with darkening eyes—and, I observed as he walked out from the kitchen, a hardening crotch.
Oh, yes
. I grinned a little wider.

“Hello there.” He started unbuttoning his sleeves. Rolled them both to his elbows.
Oh
hell
, yes.
“What’s going on?”

“I’ve come for detention—just like the slip said, Headmaster.” I chewed loudly but added in a mumble, “Although I didn’t expect the proctor to be late.”

He lifted both hands to his waist. “
What
did you just say, Miss Asher?”

His snarl was terrifying—and so fucking hot. He’d taken the bait and jumped right into character—as I’d known he would, deep in my heart. Never letting me down.

I loved this man so much.

“Nothing.” I snapped it breezily, diving deeper into my own persona. “Nothing at all.”

“Perhaps you meant ‘nothing, Sir’?”

I gave him an exaggerated blink through my heavily coated lashes. “Of course. Nothing, Sir.”

He prowled closer. I smiled bigger. Holy crap, he was good. So damn good.

“Miss Asher, I’ve been seeing a lot of you lately. Your behavior is getting out of hand. It’s possible some corrective action is necessary at this point.”

I gasped and worried my lips together. “No! Please, Headmaster. I promise, I
promise
I’ll be good.”

“That’s what you said last time, young lady.”

“But I mean it this time. I do. Really.”

“So tell me, why were you sent to my office? Exactly?” He eyed me carefully. I picked up the vibe instantly. He played along while trying to understand what
I
wanted out of all this. While we’d talked about the fantasy, we hadn’t exactly discussed a line-by-line. Really, I could never let this man go. He was clever enough and brave enough to go toe-to-toe with me on every level.

I blew another bubble for dramatic effect. Michael sighed, giving it equal weight. “Give me the gum, Miss Asher. You know it’s against school policy, and it’s unladylike to be chewing it in front of me.”

I slid another glance up at him. “You gonna make me?”

He walked back to the counter, grabbed a tissue from the box on it, then paced back over to cup it in front of my mouth.

“Spit it out.”

“No.”

“Do
not
defy me. It will only make things worse for you. It’s a disgusting habit anyway.” He pressed his other hand against the side of my face. “There are much better uses for that pretty little mouth.”

I lifted my stare up to him, eyes as wide as I could make them while depositing the gum into the waiting tissue. That certainly didn’t give him the victory. I purposely left a long trail of saliva from the gum to my mouth, letting the edges of my lips turn up when Michael answered with a rumble of arousal. Our eyes met as he wadded the tissue around the gum. His gaze had gone dark as caramel. This new game, allowing us to be a combination of our real and pretend selves, was turning him on as deeply as me.

“Better.” He dropped the tissue into the wastebasket then returned to stand in front of me, legs braced like before. The bulge in his slacks was visible…and mouth-watering.

I licked my lips. I couldn’t help it.

“Eyes up here, Miss Asher.”

I raised my face, hitting him hard with my pout. “Yes, Headmaster.”

He was so damn delectable. The power in his exposed forearms. The determination in his set jaw. The arousal in his stare, thickening by the second.

“Do you like seeing the effect you have on your teachers?”

“No, Sir. Not all of them.” I winked again. “Just you.”

He arched a brow. “You think pretty words will get you out of your punishment?”

“Is it working?” I tried batting my lashes but he lunged his hand, grabbing me by a pigtail, forcing my head back.

“
You
tell
me
if it’s working.”

I croaked out, “Errrr…no, Sir?” Moisture gushed between my legs. His brutal handling…it was heaven.

“That’s right, young lady. It’s not. So stop playing around. You’re in serious trouble.”

“Yes, Sir. Very, very serious.” With my head cranked back, I had nowhere to look but at his furious, gorgeous face. Holy
shit
, what he did to me, looming over me like this. His lips formed into a hard, sensual line. The depths of his eyes glowed with mischief and promise.

It was so much.

Almost too much.

I flinched, instinctively trying to turn away, though forgot I was being held in place by my hair. Michael yanked on me again, sending more thrills down my spine, right into my core.

A low moan vibrated from my throat. My eyelids grew heavy as my brain turned the pain into endorphins, already bringing a sensual high.

The rustling of material brought my attention back to my headmaster. His jaw tightened as he opened his pants with his free hand, releasing his thick, erect cock. His shaft was so close to my cheek, I could feel its mesmerizing heat on my skin. My eyelids threatened to slide closed again, dragged even harder by the sweet anticipation of what was about to happen.

He jerked on my head again. My eyes popped back open. So much for reveling in the moment.

“Your mouth really gets you into trouble, doesn’t it?” he drawled. “It would seem that you need something to occupy it. Is that about right, Miss Asher?”

His hand was woven so tightly in my hair, I couldn’t move anymore. I had to be still. Accept what he gave me. It was thrilling and frustrating at the same time.

“Answer me, girl.” His voice turned as hard as his erection, deep with arousal.

“Y-yes, Sir. That’s what I need. But—”

I sighed as he rubbed his length along my cheek. His skin was soft as velvet but his rod was hard as steel—once again, my perfectly dichotomous man. A whimper spilled out. I struggled, desperate to take any bit of him into my mouth, but he dug his grip tighter. My scalp stung with pleasure. My pussy vibrated with need.

“But what, baby girl?” He nearly barked it. Damn man knew he was torturing me, but the gruff undertone of his voice conveyed it wasn’t much better for him.

“I can’t reach you. It’s—you’re—it’s too tight. I need you.” I was whining and I knew it. Not that he hadn’t heard me whine before. Now, it just felt like more. It
was
more. Getting to be his little schoolgirl was bringing out my brat, and I already sensed how he loved it. “I can’t get to you. To what I want.”

“And…what do you want?”

“You. Your cock. Your steely, hot dick in my mouth.”

“You will get what I give you. Nothing more. Nothing less. Is that understood?”

I pushed out another pout. He couldn’t take that from me. “Yes, Sir.”

“Good. Now open your mouth.”

Dammit. I guess he could.

With breath slicing my chest in nervous spurts, I did what he said.

“Wider. I really have a lot to give you today.”

Again, I complied. This time, more willingly.

“That’s a good girl,” he crooned. “See? I knew you could follow directions…if properly motivated.” He finally released my hair, shifting that hand to my lower jaw. In a decisive sweep, he hooked a finger inside my mouth. “This gorgeous mouth is built for fucking, Miss Asher. Has anyone told you that?”

“They—they haven’t, Sir.”

“Then you need to be shown that I’m right.” He stroked a finger along my tongue. “Now be still and let me do what I want to this pretty hole.”