The Do-Over (13 page)

She was surprised to see him, as was Brad. “I brought you dinner,” Kyle announced, setting down the paper bags.

“Mmm, smells good,” Lanie said appreciatively, opening a container.

“It’s delicious,” Kyle replied, smirking at the blush that crept up Lanie’s cheeks.

“Thanks, Kyle,” Brad said, taking out another container.

Kyle grabbed it from him, replying impulsively, “I didn’t bring it for you.”

Brad actually looked hurt. “We have to work, you know.”

“Give the poor girl a break. She’s been working all week. Let her have an hour for dinner.”

Brad glanced at Lanie and back to Kyle. Lanie shrugged, smiling at him, but it wasn’t a flirty smile, just a normal Lanie smile. “I am hungry. I could use a break. Would you mind, Brad?”

“Tell you what, Brad. You can have the orange chicken if you go somewhere else to eat it. Deal?” Kyle said, shoving the container in Brad’s hands.

“Fine, I have to call Cassie anyway,” Brad answered, looking at Lanie for some sort of confirmation. Kyle wondered why he did that. Surely he couldn’t think Kyle would hurt her.

Lanie shuffled papers while Kyle set out the food. “Thanks for bringing me dinner. It’s really sweet.”

“I’m a sweet kind of guy. Besides, I had to ask you some research questions,” he said, handing her chopsticks.

The whole floor was dark and vacant except for her office. She walked over and closed her door. Kyle heard the distinct click of a lock, and he was glad Lanie couldn’t see the cocky grin on his face. He tried, without success, to peel his eyes from her shapely legs beautifully displayed in the knee-length gray pencil skirt she wore. She had on only one layer, and that layer was doing powerfully magical things to his lower half.

“Have a seat,” she offered, motioning to the rolling chair. Kyle sat down and almost fell off the chair when she sat on his lap, putting her arms around his neck.

“I take it you didn’t look up blue balls,” he said a little breathlessly. Her intoxicating scent actually made Kyle’s mouth water. Maybe it was oranges and roses. Whatever it was, it was driving him crazy. Her soft hair brushed his cheek, and her breasts pressed against his jacket. “I looked it up,” she said nonchalantly.

“So then you’re just tormenting me? You’re a cruel woman, Lanie Carmichael.” He threaded his fingers through her hair.

She popped a piece of steak into his mouth, carrying it effortlessly with the chopstick. He wished she had used her fingers. “I was just doing some research of my own.” She shifted on his lap, and he wrapped his arms around her waist.

“Stop it, naughty girl. Do you have any fucking idea what you’re doing to me?” he asked in a strained whisper.

She laughed into his neck. “Sorry, I just keep thinking about it.”

“About what?”

“About your head between my thighs,” she whispered against his ear.

He tightened his hands around her waist and started nibbling on her earlobes. Her small moan told him she was enjoying it. “You’re getting off on this, aren’t you? Torturing me with your merciless teasing?”

“I have no idea what I’m doing,” she replied with bated breath.

“You know exactly what you’re doing.” He trailed kisses down her jawline, tasting her creamy skin.

She pushed against his chest. “Why did you come? You don’t think I have my own version of this blue balls shit?”

Kyle started laughing and pulled her back against his chest. “It’s not the same.”

“Um, I may be a virgin, but I know there’s something weird happening to my body, you idiot. It’s agony for me too.”

“There are remedies for that. You can…self-medicate,” Kyle said, pulling her close to him, brushing her lips with his.

“Why don’t you?”

Kyle swallowed. “I am, and despite upping my dosage, it’s not having the usual effect. I think you’re the only remedy for my ailment, Miss Lanie.”

“It’s not working for me either.”

Kyle pressed his hand into the small of her back, moving it slowly to the voluptuous swell of her behind. She fiddled with his tie with one hand while rubbing his chest through his shirt. “What did you do?”

“What?”

“What did you do to relieve yourself?”

“Oh…um, I used my fingers, but nothing happened. It was most unsatisfactory,” she replied as the blush crept back into her face.

“Did you use any…visuals?” Kyle asked, picturing Lanie pleasuring herself. His erection lengthened, and he wished his mind hadn’t gone there. She giggled into his neck. “Tell me.”

“About what?”

“About what turns you on.”

He could feel rather than see her shrug. “I watched
Dirty Dancing
.”

“Patrick Swayze? Really?” Kyle asked before sucking her earlobe.

“Uh-huh, but not really Patrick Swayze per se. More like Johnny Castle, his character,” she replied breathlessly.

“Crap. That’s what turns you on?” Kyle asked, stifling his chuckle.

“Yes, a guy that can dance wearing a tight black T-shirt and jeans. Oh, and a guy who wears gray suits and green ties that match his eyes.” Lanie yanked Kyle’s tie and punctuated each word with small kisses down his neck. For some reason, the fact he was turning her on made him instantly relax.

“Lanie, I believe you’re flirting with me, but I have to say I’m a little disturbed to be sharing space in your head with Johnny Castle.” Kyle pushed her hair back to suck on the soft skin of her neck, and she shivered against him.

“You were both very gentlemanly about it. You had a dance-off for me.”

Kyle laughed heartily, imagining the ridiculousness of Lanie’s fantasies.

“What turns you on, Kyle?”

“Virgins,” he joked.

She laughed, smacking his chest. She always got his jokes. “Seriously.”

“Girls with soft, curly hair that feels like silk, pouty lips, skin so creamy you want to lick it, and a body that’s all curves.”

“Wow.” She backed away, searching his eyes. The moment was too serious and intense for Kyle. He had said too much.

“Yes, I’ve always had a crush on Julia Roberts.”

Lanie shook her head, laughing loudly. As usual, he’d used humor to deflect the situation, but he had to tell her the truth. “Honestly, it’s you.” Kyle realized as he said it how true it was.

“Really?” The dubious expression on her face let Kyle know she doubted him.

“Really…you…oh, and Julia Roberts,” he said.

He pressed his mouth to hers and swallowed the laugh before it escaped. They kissed then, and Kyle fought the urge to rip her blouse off. It was buttoned all the way to her neck and revealed nothing, and that somehow managed to turn him on even more. Instead, he pushed up her skirt, sliding his hand to her inner thigh.

“What are you doing?”

“Trying to help you.” He pushed aside her panties and gently thrust his finger inside her. She moaned against his neck. He increased his pace, adding another finger. “Tell me to stop,” he urged.

“I can’t.”

“Good, because I don’t want to.” He put his thumb on her clit and thrust his fingers into her sex. He felt the hot air against his neck as her breaths quickened with each thrust. She was so tight he wondered for the hundredth time if he was going to hurt her when they actually had sex. “Come in my hand.” He felt her get wetter with the words, encouraging him. It didn’t take much longer for her to comply. She looked up at Kyle, flushed and wide-eyed. “Who’s in your head now?”

“You.”

“Keep it that way.” That’s what he wanted. He wanted to leave his mark on her, so she would be thinking about him while working late with Brad. Kyle didn’t like the idea of sharing space in her head with anyone else.

Chapter Thirteen

On Thursday night, Kyle showed up at Lanie’s house, sporting a tight black T-shirt and jeans.

“You’re kidding me, right?” she asked and clasped her hand to her mouth.

“It’s your first dance. I can at least make it as memorable as possible,” he said with a smirk.

Lanie made them pasta. Kyle helped her but almost chopped his fingers off when she brushed up against him. He watched her lips all through dinner. They were beautiful lips, full and sensual. He brought an overnight bag this time. There was no kidding himself anymore. She went to the bathroom claiming she needed to change into something more comfortable. He lay on her bed praying she wouldn’t come out in a garden tent again. He wondered if she’d wear that frilly, pink number. Then again, maybe she was saving that for Brad. Shit, Brad kind of looked like Patrick Swayze, for God’s sake! Fuck Brad. Kyle tried to push the thought out of his head.

She came out then, nervously biting her lower lip, wearing a long terry cloth robe. Kyle rolled his eyes, wondering what kind of sadistic pleasure she got in torturing him by keeping all her lovely assets under wraps. He walked over to her and pulled her against his chest, willing all thoughts to clear his head. He wanted to think with his other head. The one he usually used in these situations.

He laid her on the bed and reached for the knot on her robe. She shook her head. “Can you turn off the lights please?”

He complied, silently wondering if she was asking him that so she could imagine Brad. Or maybe Johnny Castle? Who the fuck knew, but it was freaking Kyle out. He took off his shirt and jeans and lay back on the bed next to her. He tried to focus solely on his erection and not the rampant thoughts in his head. She helped him greatly by straddling him. She bent down, kissing his neck, creating a trail as she moved lower. “What are you doing?” he asked.

“Guess what else I Googled?” she replied, running her lips down his chest.

“Oh God, I love the Internet,” Kyle whispered.

“I know…so…informative,” Lanie replied, brushing her chin against his erection. Kyle growled in anticipation.

She lowered his boxer briefs to reveal the hard, stiff column inside. There was enough moonlight streaming through the window that he watched her stare at it, like she was unsure of the next move. Kyle was about to make a comment when she slid her tongue up and down his shaft. She took his tip in her mouth, and he hissed, trying desperately not to flex his hips and force himself deeper. He felt her take in more of him, then stop, then a little more, then stop. Then she licked around the tip, tracing it with her tongue. Kyle wondered if she was torturing him again. She kept doing it, and he wanted to feel the heat of her entire mouth and those sexy lips purse around his width. He waited, silently cursing with each slow, tormenting movement of her tongue.

“Come here,” he finally said, reaching for her shoulders.

“I’m not done,” she said.

“You’re done.” He pulled her up and then rolled her over so he was on top of her. He wanted to feel her underneath him, but instead he just felt the soft terry cloth of her robe.
Oh fuck, let her leave it on if that’s what she wants
. He pressed kisses to the hollow of her neck until he heard her moaning. It was time. He sat up and grabbed the foil packet he’d placed on her nightstand.

“Kyle, you don’t have to do that,” she whispered, clasping his arm.

He stopped and looked at her. “Why is that?”

He couldn’t see her in the dark, but he knew from the waver in her voice she was blushing. “I went on birth control.”

He told himself not to ask the question, but as usual wasn’t able to stop himself. “Did you do that for me?”

“Well, you said it was better and that you just got tested. I figured if it was better, I should be prepared, you know?”

Stop thinking, Kyle. Stop it
. But he couldn’t. “For me?” His voice had a sharp edge, and he hated himself for it.

“Yes, and you know…in case…” He heard the hesitation and the unspoken words, and he was done. He knew what she was thinking. She went on fucking birth control for Brad, and the bitter thought made his raging hard-on suddenly soften. That had never happened to him. For a second he was shocked and embarrassed, but then he was just pissed…at her.

He shot out of the bed and groped around for his clothes.

“Kyle, what are you doing?” she asked, sitting up.

“Leaving. Have fun with Johnny Castle,” he hissed at her.

“I don’t understand. What did I do?”

He pulled on his pants, commando-style because he couldn’t find his boxers. He felt the wall for the light switch and stared at her. She was a vision of loveliness sitting on the bed, her reddish-brown curls falling around her, against the robe that looked like a white cloud. She looked like an angel to him. And she was completely confused, biting her lip so vigorously that it was going to leave a mark. Kyle felt remorse, but the acid in his heart grew, almost relationally to the shrinking of that other member of his body.

“What the hell is wrong with you? You’re infatuated with a guy who’s fucking your sister in the next room every night. It’s sick, don’t you think?”

She looked down at her hands. “I told you I don’t think like that.”

“Sure you do. Do you have daddy issues or something? Is that it? Was Cassie Daddy’s favorite and now you feel inadequate? Do you feel the need to steal her boyfriend to make up for it? That’s pretty disgusting. And for what? For that sorry asshole?”

“Kyle, shut the fuck up!” she screamed.

“He’s not the guy you think he is. You have him on a fucking pedestal. He’s a bastard.”

“Stop it. Stop talking.” Tears ran down her cheeks, but Kyle couldn’t stop. The anger had built up in him, and it was ready to erupt.

“You were right. A girl did come between us. You know what your precious Brad did? Know what kind of guy he is?”

“Please stop,” she whispered.

“He got my sister pregnant when she was sixteen.” The bewildered, hurt look on her face told him his words hit home. “Don’t worry. There are no little Brads running around. She had an abortion. And you know who was there for her? Who took her? Me! That’s right. Brad couldn’t even be there for her. He didn’t even show up. That’s the man you’re in love with, Lanie.” He knew he had gone too far. Hell, he should have never started, but it was too late now.

She was quiet for a long time. He found his shirt and waited for her to respond. When she finally did, her voice was barely louder than a whisper. “He made a mistake.”