Page 17 of A Kiss at Midnight

I’m incredibly good at reading people. It’s how my brothers and I have gotten to where we are in life. I know who I should go into business with... and who I shouldn’t. I also know who I should have sex with and who I shouldn’t. If I were a smarter man I’d send Jewel packing... apparently I’m not above thinking with my dick. I can’t send her away though... not yet.

I look at Jewel as we walk through the entrance into my living room. She’s taking it all in, her eyes wide. I try to see my place through her eyes. Yes, it’s large,verylarge, but it’s not ridiculously opulent. I need a lot of space without tons of furniture, and I can’t stand knickknacks.

The only semblance of an emotional connection in the entire room is a framed photo of my brothers and me that’s hanging on the wall. Tyler brought it over while I was away, and the pest hung it up without permission. I vowed to take it down, but it’s still in the exact same place two years later. The picture shows me laughing with my brothers, giving the appearance that there’s a softer side of me not many get to see.

“What happens now?” Jewel asks. “I’ve never made a deal like this before and I’m unsure of what to do.”

The vulnerability in her voice wounds me. What in the hell are we doing here? Is this innocence she’s portraying real or is it an act? Am I going to hell for agreeing to this? The women I’m normally with know the score. We’re happy to scratch each other’s itches and then be on our way. Something about this makes me feel like a villain.

I should stop... but I won’t. I can’t. I don’t want to admit how much I’m drawn to Jewel, but I can’t pull back. Before I realize I’m moving, I turn and pull her into my arms. Her eyes go wide as she stares at me for a solid two seconds. Then I bend and take her lips, desperate for another taste of her.

I’m shaken once more by the power of our connection, by the current of electricity shooting straight to my groin, and the erratic beating of my heart. My mind goes blank, and I push harder, trying to drive these feelings away. I can handle lust, but I can’t accept loss of control.

I pull her tightly against me as I plunder her mouth, greedily swallowing the groans she can’t hold back. Our passion grows hotter. I slide my hand down her back, then find the edge of her coat and move my fingers along her naked skin. She whimpers as her lips slide beneath mine.

I curve my hand against her butt and pull her leg up as I move us backward, pressing her against the wall. I groan against her lips as I slide my fingers between her thighs, nearly coming undone with how wet she is for me. She might think she’s sacrificing herself by being with me... but she’s as turned on as I am and wants this as much as I do. This is no sacrifice, this is passion that can’t be stopped.

There’s no doubt I can have her right here and now; I can take us both to heaven again and again. My loss of control scares me, though. I need to think... and I can’t do it when she’s in my arms. Reluctantly, I pull away from her, taking one step, then another, and another. It’s more difficult than it should be to walk away from her.

“Head home for the night. I’ll set up a doctor appointment for you for tomorrow to get tested and make sure you’re on birth control. I’ll give you a copy of mine so you can be sure I’m clean as well. I don’t like condoms,” I tell her.

Her cheeks turn red at these words, and I’m unsure what to think about this. She acts so innocent one second and then like a seductress the next. This is a topic lovers should talk about without embarrassment.

“Okay,” she says, her voice quiet.

“We’ll talk about what’s next after that,” I tell her. I move to the front door, and she follows. She seems... relieved, which I don’t like. She shouldn’t be happy to leave my side. I want to push her against the wall again and remind her of how good it feels to be in my arms... but I don’t.

I open the door and she walks out without another word. I quickly make a phone call, and within minutes I have her appointment scheduled. It’s good being me. Even at midnight people answer when I place a call.

I send her a message, letting her know the place and time. I could go with her, but I don’t trust myself enough yet. I have to gain control over my damn body. I won’t see her for the rest of the weekend. By Monday I’ll be back to myself. I’ll have her sign a contract that will protect both of us. If I look at this as nothing more than a business transaction, I’ll be fine.

I move up my stairs to my bedroom, shed my clothes, and climb into a very hot shower, the spray pouring over my head as steam surrounds me. My dick is pulsing no matter how much I try to qualm my desire. I’m always able to turn it off. But the more I try not to think about Jewel’s lips around me, the harder I get. Her lips, red and wet, going up and down my length is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.

I give up trying to fight what I’m feeling as my fingers slide around my thick shaft. I groan as I lean my head against the shower wall and my hand begins moving back and forth while hot water cascades over me.

My eyes are closed; I picture my fingers sliding into her slick folds and my dick pulses in my hand as I pump it faster back and forth, a groan slipping from my lips. I could be buried inside her right now, but instead I’m stroking myself, remembering how good it felt to have her mouth on me, how good it felt to feel her tight folds squeezing my fingers.

I groan as an unsatisfying orgasm rips through me, my body shaking. The last of my release drains from my body, and I let the hot water fall over me for a few more minutes. I splay my hands on the wall, then throw my head back and let out a yell, frustration ripping through me. What in the hell is going on? Why is this woman overpowering me? This doesn’t happen to me!

I step from the shower and throw a towel around my hips as I storm out of the bathroom and fling myself onto my bed, not caring that I’m still wet. It will take a while to get to sleep, but I force a smile to my lips as I assure myself that when I wake up I’ll be under control again. Jewel simply surprised me tonight.

This thought makes me feel better. I don’t like altering my routine. That’s all this is. She took me by surprise. When I wake up in the morning, the world will be right again. I smile as I say this again and again... until I finally fall asleep. The world will be right as soon as I wake.

Chapter Review

Chapter Ten

Jewel

I feel like I have sandin my eyes. Each time I open them, they hurt, so I squeeze them shut again. I didn’t get much sleep over the weekend, but it’s Monday and time to go to work, something I’m not looking forward to for the first time since I started my amazing job.

When I realize I can’t waste any more time, I slowly lift my eyelids. I’m on my side facing a rumpled comforter, proving I was restless the night before. It still takes me a few seconds to remember I’m in a new place in a very comfortable bed. I’m no longer sleeping on the floor. My mood lightens in seconds. I run to the bathroom, then rush to the kitchen to my easy-to-use coffee pot. Heaven. Pure heaven. I load coffee in it, hit the start button, then turn around to see a blue piece of paper sitting next to a box on the counter.

My smile fades as I glance at it. I look over at my door and see the deadbolt is still secure. I didn’t drink the night before so I know I didn’t put this here, and it wasn’t sitting on the counter when I went to bed. There’s only one person it can be from... Blake... and clearly he has a key to my apartment. Of course he does... it’s his building. I haven’t thought about that until now. I could complain, but then our agreement would be over. So far, I haven’t seen him since he agreed to a mock relationship. It’s going pretty dang well.

I did have my doctor appointment on Saturday, and that went fine. I was expecting him to come to my apartment that night, but he didn’t. I have mixed feelings about all of this, confusion over how attracted I am to him.

I signed on for this though, so I need to see what’s on the note... and what’s in the box. I open the note and read through it... twice, my cheeks flaming as I turn to look at the box in horror. What have I gotten myself into?

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