The Do It List (The Do It List #1) (16 page)

He poured and I clinked mine against his. “Cheers.”

The citrus mint cocktail tasted like a cool coastal breeze, and the rum went straight to work. Exactly what I needed.
 

Bradley sipped, then took a long swallow. “This is brilliant.”

He leaned back against the counter, cautiously taking in my expression. He appeared to be waiting for a signal, wondering if or when I might come around. And I liked that he hadn’t tried to touch me, or come on too strong or desperate.

At this point, all I wanted to do was eat fish tacos and watch
Skyfall
with him. Something about this small clash of ours had made me realize I wanted Bradley as more than a lover. I took another sip of my cocktail.

 
“What if I agreed to let you sleep over, but no sex?”

A smile tugged at one side of his mouth. “You really believe that’s going to happen?”

I didn’t answer yes, or no, I surrendered without a word.

Unzipping the bottom half of his jacket, I helped him shrug off the rugged leather, one arm at a time. A lovely bulge of arm muscle and a swirl of Maori tattoo led down to forearms covered in a light mat of hair. I had never really noticed his watch before, a black-faced Tag Heuer. The arm, the body, the face with its strong jaw covered in weekend scruff. Perfectly delicious—him and the cocktail.

I resisted the urge to bite into that handsome flesh and forced myself to step away. I still had a few ground rules to cover. “I can’t do the list thing if we continue to see other people.”

Those piercing blues eyes brightened. “You’re pretty adorable when you get possessive.”

I laid his jacket over a kitchen stool and flashed a not-so-adorable glare.
 

He chuckled softly as he shook his head. “Gracie, I honestly never considered any other arrangement.” He tilted his head to make eye contact. “I apologize for not being clear.”

“No need to apologize,” I huffed, feeling a bit defensive.

“That’s what men do—we apologize. When I was married, I learned to apologize well and often.”
 

He reached around my waist and yanked me against him. “You fuck me exclusively.” His gaze turned primal. It appeared Bradley had a whole lot of possessive in him as well. “And I fuck you exclusively.”

“What about Sappho?” I whispered.
 

 
A side of his mouth curled. “I believe I get to participate but not fuck Sappho.” He wrapped me in his arms. “If we hit a rough patch neither one of us sleeps around. Not until we meet and call it off formally.”

The thought of calling it off with Bradley so disturbed, it left me a little breathless. “And once we complete the list, we agree to part ways or renegotiate.”

“I’d like to add one more condition.” He kissed me softly. “We see each other twice during the week and spend weekends together whenever possible.”

“Twice a week and weekends,” I mused out loud. “We could finish the list in no time.”

He wove his fingers through my curls. “Not if we keep adding to it.”

 
He covered my mouth and delivered a kiss that sent an electrical charge through my body. His free hand slipped into my sweatpants and under lace panties. He cupped a buttock cheek as he pressed that impressive hardness into my belly.

While his lips ravaged and bruised, his tongue delved deep. And when we finally came up for air, his entire expression seemed lighter, happier. “I’ll be better prepared next time.”

“M-mm.” I murmured. “For what?”

“You fight dirty.” His predatory gaze shifted lower, to the dark, hard tips visible beneath my top. “I’m supposed to defend myself while staring at these two? Christ, Gracie, I’m hard as a stone. All I can think about is—” His mouth closed over a nipple, moistening thin cotton. He stretched the fabric until I could feel every flick of his tongue.
 

 
“Oh, Bradley,” I moaned, arching into him.

“Arms up.” The tee shirt came off in one swift move. He took a moment to peruse the goods and do what he was so good at doing—making me feel sexy and naughty and vulnerable. “God, I’ve missed you, missed touching you.”
 

His hands cupped my breasts, rolling nipples between index fingers and thumbs until my chest and throat burned with arousal.

“Do you realize your whole body blushes? You really need to see this.” He took me by the hand and stood me before the mirror in the entry. “Look at yourself.”

 
He rubbed up behind me, pushing my sweatpants lower until they barely clung to my hips. A hint of smooth Venus mound and labia could be seen—more provocative than I could ever imagine. We made eye contact in the mirror.

“You’re going to get some hard fucking tonight, young lady.” He kissed my neck. “Look this blush—peach, like your cheeks that first night in the elevator. I thought you were the most beautiful creature I had ever seen, and there we were, alone together. I wanted you so bad—wondered how I could have you. Then you stuck your hand in my pocket to answer my phone.” He shook his head. “You have no idea…”
 

I leaned back against his broad, muscled chest. “We both wanted each other.”

I studied our reflection in the mirror and had to admit we were smoking hot together. My breasts had grown heavy from his fondling, and my lower belly quivered as his finger played with the diamond piercing.

He caught me up and turned me around, lifting me up by my buttocks.

 
“Wrap your legs around me.” He carried me into the kitchen, pushing off sweats and panties as he set me on the edge of the counter top. “I’m going to get you so wound up, you’re going to come the second I lick your clit.”

Tossing my clothes aside, he positioned himself between my legs. “And after you come, you’re going to give me another, straight away.” Husky words brushed my throat, then traveled lower.

 
Dark, primal desire rippled through my body. “You know that’s impossible for me.”

“Lesson two, Gracie, in multiple orgasms.”

He laid me back on the cool stone counter as he licked then suckled. Slowly at first, until I begged for more.
 

But he took his time, sucking, nibbling—mercilessly teasing as he moved from one breast to the other.
 

Delicious, torturous arousal.
 

He deliberately fondled, kissed and licked me everywhere…but there. And the longer he stayed away, the more I wanted it.

“Lower, baby.” I gasped, between shallow breaths.

He held me dancing on the edge of climax, as both my legs trembled.
 

He returned to my lips and plunged deep, fucking my mouth. I could barely breathe, and still he refused to touch my clit.

Finally, he spread my legs. “You’re swollen.” He moved lower but didn’t lick me. “And wet.” He carefully pulled back my labia and blew cool air over the throbbing female parts. “How badly do you want it?”

“Badly.” I moved to touch myself.

He caught my hand and I met his ferocious mating stare. My entire body was on fire. “Please, Bradley.”

He buried his head between my legs. At last, his tongue was right where I needed it—had begged for it. The moment he licked my clit I exploded with pleasure. “God, yes,” I screamed, coming so hard my body shuddered out of control.
 

He held me close while I rode descending waves of orgasm. His hand moved between my legs, and he circled a finger, triggering another sharp spasm.
 

“Stop that!” I slapped his hand away and he smiled down at me.

 
“We’re going to go again, love.”

 
I couldn’t imagine coming again, not so soon after. But then—I was with Bradley.
 

My hand went to his belt and he let me unbuckle and unzip. His cock strained beneath knit boxers.

“I want to see you naked,” I whispered, still short of breath. I could barely function after such a powerful climax.

He raised his arms as I pulled his shirt off. He had a great chest with a light mat of hair, sculpted pecs and nipples that were sensitive. I sucked one gently, flicking my tongue until he groaned.

Strong arms lifted me off the counter, and I slid down his body. He held me against him and rubbed my back. “I’m going insist you come a few more times, Gracie.”

 
He led me into the bedroom, stopping at my dresser. “Stockings?”

“Top drawer.”

He looped a pair of sheer black hose around one hand. “Lay down in the middle of the bed, and hold onto the rungs behind you.”

I stared at him, eyes wide, heart racing.

He stood there in all his half-naked glory wearing the Bradley stare that sent shivers through me.

He unbuttoned his jeans. “Do as I say, Gracie.”

“WHY SHOULD I, Bradley?”

“Because you need to be taken firmly in hand. We have trust issues, rather large ones. If I can get you to trust me in bed, then perhaps you will learn to trust me in other ways.”

I reminded myself to breathe. “I’m just a bit…shocked, I suppose.”

“Is that what you want? Predictable sex. A man who asks permission? Or will you trust me enough to let me bring you to a higher state of arousal?”

Like every red-blooded girl in America, I’d read a few erotic novels and was curious. But I also wanted assurances. “Shouldn’t we agree on a safe word?” I shifted my eyes, slightly. “Like…maybe…?”

His eyes narrowed. “Don’t make me spank you.”
 

Master of the dark sensual look, his stare spoke of discipline and the promise of screaming orgasms. Besides being such a hot specimen of rock hard manhood, Bradley Craig had the power to command and control.

I should have been in the throes of a full-on anxiety attack, but I wasn’t. Beyond a bit of rough sex play, Bradley would never overpower or hurt me. There was a constancy about him, a solidness. He was the kind of man who would prevail no matter what, and that quiet strength drew me, inexorably, to him.

He was also wildly exciting—alpha male to the bone. And alphas were almost impossible to tame.
 

My gaze swept over a curve of groin muscle that disappeared below jeans that hung low on his hips. The waistband of his boxer briefs read Emporio Armani.
 

I smiled, because I understood perfectly why I resisted him. I wanted to be taken by him, tossed over his knee. I was feverish for the feel of his hand on my ass. My desire for this spanking to happen became so intense, I could barely breathe.

Bradley searched my face, a silent assessment of what I needed, what I craved. What I couldn’t bring myself to ask for.

 
“Have it your way, Gracie.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Over my knee.” His cool, quiet domination made me want to comply, but for some reason I hesitated.

He reached up and pulled me across muscled thighs. His hand moved between his legs and cupped my Venus mound. He used his middle finger to press lightly, teasing slick lips, but never completely parting them. I lay across his lap feeling vulnerable, slightly fearful, and unbelievably aroused.

 
“Stop squirming,” he warned. “For the next hour or so, you are my sub, and must submit to my will. I will pleasure you if you please and obey me. Do you understand?”
 

“I understand.” I waited for the strike of his hand or the stroke of his finger. Not knowing which would come first—pain or pleasure. My body trembled in anticipation.

The swat came suddenly, accompanied by a prickling sting. Not so bad, really. A pleasant after burn lingered. My cry turned into more of a gasp when his fingers parted my labia.
 

“You’re still wet and swollen.”
 

Before I had a chance to recover, he slapped again. This one smarted more than the first, and he continued to spank, varying the strength of each swat as his fingers explored. “Do you know what arouses—what excites you, Gracie?”

“All of it—everything.” My voice no more than a whisper.

I quickly learned to look forward to the punishment of his swat and the reward of his velvet stroke. “Take a deep breath, baby.” A powerful shudder moved through me as I exhaled.
 

His hand lightly massaged my buttocks. “Go as long as you can stand it, but say stop, when you’ve had enough.” The husky rasp in his voice was a sure sign of his own arousal.
 

Even as his words comforted, his hand slapped. I waited for the slippery stroke down each side of my clit.
 

He expertly—maddeningly—avoided my clit, and found new ways to take me to the edge of orgasm. Every rhythmic swat merged with the slow stroke of his fingers. Slowly, I became engulfed by pure sensation. My ass cheeks burned and my inner core ached for release.
 

Bradley’s hand came down hard, and at the same time he buried his fingers deep inside me.

My vaginal walls closed around the fingers buried deep inside me. “Jeezus—God, Bradley,” I screamed, as powerful tremors and a euphoric-like bliss engulfed me.
 

My immersion into the dark, sensuous world of pain and pleasure ended in total surrender. I lay across his lap trembling.
 

Gently, he turned me over and rocked me in his arms. I’d never felt so vulnerable, so turned on, and weirdly, so safe. I marveled at how this could have happened so easily, so effortlessly. Could he be the most intuitive man I’d ever met, or were we just naturally dialed into each other?
 

I wrapped my arms around his neck. “I didn’t expect to like that quite so much.”
 

“Stand up, Gracie.” He helped me scramble upright, my back toward him. “Such a tight, sweet little virgin ass.” He kissed one cheek, then the other. His beard stubble prickled and stung.
 

He turned me around. “Are you ready to behave?”

Gingerly, I rubbed my bottom. “You want me to lay down in the middle of the bed, and hold onto the rails behind me.”