Contemporary Nights Volume One Read online

A throat clears, the sound coming from the direction of the elevators. A glance reveals it’s the building manager, arms loaded with tools and supplies. “Sorry to interrupt. I need to get by.”

  Heat rushes to my face and I hear the harping voice of my mother in my head, belittling me for such uncouth behavior. Andy nods to the man as he goes by, unconcerned by being caught. I fan my cheeks after the older man passes.

  “Oh, please,” Andy says when he sees my actions. “Is my little durian embarrassed by some innocent PDA? Is this the same woman who opened my pants in the elevator a week ago?”

  “Durian? What’s that?” I refuse to acknowledge my less than stellar drunken behavior of that Friday. We all have low points, and that was mine. Examining why it was a low point for me is something I’d like to avoid facing.

  “A durian is a prickly fruit.” At my look of confusion he continues. “Have you ever seen the greenish brown fruit with spikes all over it in the produce section?” I shake my head. “Well, it’s thorny on the outside, but sweet on the inside.” He tugs a short lock of my hair before stealing another brief kiss. “Like you.”

  A smile lights my face and curious warmth spreads in my chest. Sure, he may have just referred to me as a god-awful looking piece of fruit, but it was a sweet comparison, nonetheless. Andy grabs my hand the moment we leave my building, and holds tighter when I try to tug free.

  “Would it kill you to hold my hand?” he asks.

  His blunt question flusters me and I glance away. “Uh… no.” I look back toward him with humor. “Unless you’ve got some rare skin to skin transferrable disease, but then I would’ve gotten it when we…” I belatedly realize I’m babbling, so I shut up.

  Andy laughs and gives my hand a tug. “Yeah, if I did have something nasty like that, you’d already have it.”

  Holding his hand feels strangely… intimate. Like we’ve made a connection in a crowd with the simple physical contact. Warmth travels up my arm and I like it. A glance at Andy reveals a smug, almost satisfied expression on his face.

  “What are you so happy about, mister?”

  In a flash, the look is gone, to be replaced by a soft glow of contentment. “Nothing much.” He raises our joined hands. “Nice to hold the durian without getting pricked.”

  “Ha! Keep it up. I can turn the bitchiness on in a heartbeat if you miss it. Just let me know.”

  We ride the subway, Andy not letting go of my hand the whole time. I felt a little unsure at one point, and tried again to remove my hand from his. He held fast and wouldn’t let go. It was oddly comforting. Once we arrive at Dress for Success I make a stand.

  “Okay. I’m cool with the handholding. It’s cute. But not here, all right? I need to get work done and not be tethered to you like a lost child.”

  Andy’s startled laughter spills out and he releases my hand, raising both of his in a surrender gesture. “Relax, Carla. I can find other ways to keep my hands occupied.” I walk past him and he lightly smacks my ass as I enter.

  I glare back at him and he smiles. “You wore those jeans to tempt me. Don’t deny it. I’m just succumbing to what you planned all along.”

  The afternoon zips by in a blur. Andy charms everyone he comes into contact with, his ready smile and easy-going manner making him popular among the weekend crew. At one point, in the back room, Andy pinned me to the wall for another soul-searching kiss. Damned if that man doesn’t have a way with his mouth.

  At four o’clock we wrap up and leave. Conflicted feelings battle for supremacy in my mind. Do I trust what I’ve seen of Andy or brush him off before we take things further? Despite the great day we’ve had together, I still need time to figure out what’s happening between us.

  Andy takes my hand again as we exit. “Want to grab dinner? Round out our date nicely with a full stomach?”

  I trip over my own feet and catch myself with the help of his steady hold on my hand. “Date?” I don my snarkiest expression. “I thought dates started with dinner?”

  He shrugs, unconcerned with my bitch face. “They can start with breakfast, Dury. No rules to what a date has to be.”

  “Dury? Where did that come from?”

  “When you get all distant and standoffish I think of it as your prickly coming out. Dury, durian fruit?” His devilish grin calls me, begging me to smack it off his face. “It’s okay though, I’m getting used to it. Think it’s your defense mechanism. Bet you do it unconsciously.”

  Considering I put quite a bit of work into being a bitch, I let him think what he wants. Me, being defensive? I don’t think so. Apparently the disbelief shows on my face because Andy stops our trek to the subway, turning me to face him.

  “Who hurt you, Carla? Who made you think all men run from a good woman when we find her? Was it that Johnny guy you mentioned the first night we were together?”

  Shame fills me over my actions that night. I cannot believe I did such an insensitive thing as to call out another man’s name. Half asleep or not, it was a shitty thing to do. And it certainly makes me examine my behavior a little more closely than I’d like.

  I duck my head, avoiding his piercing gaze. “Hey, I’m sorry about my thoughtless slip. Johnny was just a college fling. We spent a week together and that was it. Nothing more.”

  Andy steps closer, pulling our clasped hands up to his chest. “If not him, then who? Who made you think men can’t be trusted?”

  Unbidden, the image of my father fills my mind. A shudder runs over me and I pull away from Andy’s warmth, breaking our clasped hands. “I’ve got to go. I had fun today. Thanks.” I step away, toward the street, raising my hand to flag down an approaching cab.

  “Wait!” Andy’s voice rises over the traffic noise. “Dammit, Carla! Talk to me!”

  The cab veers to a stop in front of me and I slip inside, shaking from the image and feelings Andy stirred up. I know I’m running. I know it’s childish. But I can’t handle this with him staring at me. I need to be alone.

  Do I really not trust men because of my father? Have I always treated each man as a short-term fling because I couldn’t do the simplest thing in life and give my trust? My vision blurs as tears gather. What a crappy way to end a nice day.

  Chapter Twelve

  Andrew

  It’s Monday and Carla wouldn’t answer my texts yesterday except to tell me she was spending the day with Heather. I hope her friend talked some sense into her. Maybe time with her will have put Carla in a better mood. Standoffish, shrewish, and confused is more than I can handle after no communication for the rest of the weekend.

  “Morning, Carla.” I stop at the entrance to her cubicle, trying hard not to look too interested. “Feel like getting lunch together later?”

  “Er… umm. I have plans.”

  “Really? Sure you’re not just avoiding me?”

  “Shhh!” she says while looking to see if anyone is listening. “Not at work, Andy!”

  Tension seems to coil every muscle in her body and I’m thinking she could do with a little distraction at work. Let that tightness out. “Really?” I run a finger down the cube wall, squelching the desire to touch her creamy skin. “You’ve been working hard lately, Carla.”

  “Yeah, well, my dream isn’t corporate work forever and I need to pay my dues to build a name.”

  I lean in over the cubicle wall, lowering my voice, “I never said my dream was corporate work forever, either. You underestimate me.”

  “No! I didn’t mean you… I just need to—”

  I interrupt her. “You need to lighten up.”

  “Lighten up?” The red creeping up her cheeks is not from embarrassment. “Working my ass off is the only way I’ll be able to control my life and start my own advertising firm one day.”

  I thump the fabric wall lightly, eager to get her to meet my eyes. “Giving up control is another way to take control.” She’s staring down at her desk again, ignoring me. “Who do you have lunch plans with?” I ask on a whim. I think I’ve got her numb
er.

  “Oh? Um… no one you know.”

  I thought she was lying to blow me off, but maybe I’m wrong. I tilt my head to the side and smile. “Try me.”

  “The big guy from the bar. Brian.” A smug look forms on her pretty face, almost like a challenge. “He’s a stockbroker. Did you meet him?”

  Bile churns in my stomach. I can’t fucking believe after Saturday she’s running to another guy. I won’t be so easily dismissed. I hold my emotions in check, unwilling to let her see what her admission does to me. “No, but I remember him.” Easing away from the steel and fabric partition, I head down to my own little corporate cube. “Have fun.”

  The idea of Carla and Brian having lunch together haunts me while I pass over a spreadsheet again. My Dury is a complicated woman. Mine? Do I have the right to think that after a one-night stand and a few stolen moments? I know she likes what I’m doing to her—I’ve never had a woman be so responsive to a few little slaps on the ass.

  While I have no hidden desire to become a true dominant or submissive, I did do research online over the weekend about the lifestyle. She definitely fits the classic mold of a controlling woman who needs to let go to enjoy sex. In a submissive role, she’d be trusting her lover to fulfill her every desire. But, I doubt she’ll listen to me explain it, especially after she just announced she’s having lunch with someone else. I’ll have to show her.

  As the idea percolates, I smile. This is going to be fun.

  At eleven-thirty I mosey down to her desk. “Can you spare five minutes?” My innocent smile firmly in place.

  “Huh?” Carla looks up at me, a distracted look on her face.

  “Give me five minutes, Carla. I’m not asking for a lot.”

  Her expression turns suspicious. “What are you up to?”

  Walking around the partition I grab her hand and pull her up out of her chair. “Shhh… Just follow me.”

  “Andy… I’m not interested in playing your games at work. And I need to leave to meet Brian in a little bit.”

  “Five minutes. That’s it. Surely you can spare that for an old friend?”

  I lead her into an empty, windowless conference room and lock the door behind us. “When did you make plans with Brian?”

  She blushes and looks away. “It was after I thought you were with another woman on Thursday.”

  “Ah yes, my sister. But now that you know that’s not the case, why are you still going?”

  “I forgot about it and canceling last minute seemed really bitchy.”

  A chuckle escapes me. “You save all your bitchiness for me, is that it?” Slipping a handkerchief out of my pocket, I fold it and press it softly to her lips. “Bite down on this and don’t make a sound.”

  Heat fills her gaze as she allows the gag to slide between her lips. “You can take the gag out anytime you want, Carla. You can tell me to stop if things go too far.”

  Her eyes widen but she nods her head quick enough. “I’m going to spread you open on this conference table and lick you like you’ve never experienced before.” Lifting her by her hips, I place her bottom on the cool slab. “I bet not even Johnny could do a better job.”

  A small choking sound comes from her, but I’m not sure if it’s laughter or mortification that I’ve brought up her ex-lover’s name again. Hell, I figure if he was worth a damn they’d still be together, so I think teasing her is fun.

  Pushing her skirt up around her hips, I see she’s prepared for her sexy lunch with Brian. I tamp down my jealousy and admire the beauty before me. I will make her mine. Smooth skin peeks between the tops of thigh high stockings and her silky red underwear. “You think the brokerage guy knows how to tongue a woman right?” I grasp the crimson material and pull her panties down her thighs and over her heels, slipping them into my suit coat pocket.

  Spreading her legs, her shaven, glistening folds of skin reveal she’s eager and ready for my attention. Even if she won’t admit it. “I bet Brian is good at getting his dick in and nothing else. Doesn’t think of the long game.”

  Stroking with a feather touch, I brush her exposed folds. Moisture starts to form at her opening, exposing the arousal she’d rather ignore. “You want me, Carla. You want this. Why do you like to hide it?”

  Unable to answer around the gag, she shoots me a look of pure evil. God, I love riling her up.

  I kneel on the floor and pull Carla to the edge of the table, encouraging her with a small push to lean back and relax on the wood. The musk of her arousal fills my senses, stirring my semi-hard cock to full mast. Planting light kisses on her inner thighs, I nibble every few inches, causing her to jerk on the table. “I bet I could make you come without ever touching your clit.”

  A tremor courses through her as I bend my head to taste her slick flesh. Using both hands to pull away her outer folds, I slowly lick from her core up to the hard nub, pulling away at the last moment before I connect with the sensitive spot. “Hold your legs under your knees.” She complies. “That’s it… now pull them closer to your chest.”

  Doing so effectively opens my access to her sex and tight little pucker. “Would you like a good tonguing, Dury?” I smile to lessen the tease. “There’s no prickle to you now. Just sweet acceptance.” Without waiting for an answer, I point my moist tip at her pink rosebud and lick. Easing my thumbs down to either side of her bottom, I spread the skin further and work my tongue in deep.

  When I press all the way into her ass, my nose touches her wetness. The satin flexibility of my tongue stretches her slowly, igniting all the nerves trapped in the tight ring of muscle.

  Carla’s hips wiggle, but I have to say, the gag is working nicely and not one order escapes her. Moving up, I burrow my tongue into her pussy again. Long deep strokes, lapping up every drop of sweet, tangy liquid—then, at the end, I drag my tongue to her clit.

  The delicious sound of her grunts and murmurs spur me further. Time races by and I don’t have much left on the clock. “You want to come?” The whimpers turn high pitched, indicating her agreement. “Did you know it’s better sometimes if you wait?” I slip two fingers into her wet passage and pump. Once they are slick I ease one out and tickle her back door, testing her reaction.

  A wild squirm tells me it’s not painful and I press my middle finger in to the first knuckle. “Waiting can give you an even bigger orgasm than instant gratification.” I look up to see if Carla is listening only to see her head tossing side to side in pleasure.

  Leaning over her glorious pussy once more, I suck her clit deep between my lips. My two fingers thrust back and forth, the lower one working into her bottom going deeper on each pass. Judging by her increased movement and muffled grunts, I’d say her moment is close.

  “God, you taste good.” Her back bows off the desk at my words. “That’s right, you like hearing me tell you how sexy you are.” Carla’s hips circle and buck, trying to get my mouth back onto her mound. “Look at you, my worked up sales exec. Who would have thought you’d be squirming here on this conference table looking like a wanton hussy?”

  A frustrated grunt comes from behind her gag. Her face lifts from the conference table to glare at me. I slam my fingers into her harder until she lies back once more, lost again in the feel of my hands.

  Glancing at my wrist, I see my time is done. I stand between her legs, pulling away from her. Reaching forward, I pull the gag from her mouth. “How was that? Did I get your engine running?” I smile down at her flushed face. “Consider that your second lesson—waiting for release.”

  “Damn you!” she says, indignation and arousal battling for supremacy in her tone. “You can’t stop now. I’m close to coming.”

  “Shh…” I rub my hands down her legs in a soothing motion. “My five minutes are up.”

  An angry glint comes into her eye and she reaches between her legs to touch herself. “Fuck you. I’ll do it myself.”

  Grasping both hands in one of my own, I pin them over her head on the table. “You will not.”r />
  “What?”

  I press my erection against her sensitive mound. “You feel how much I want you?”

  “Yes.”

  “I want nothing more than to do you here and now.”

  “Then do it!”

  I shake my head, “No, baby. When I take you again we’re going to be on a bed and you’re going to be begging me to fill you.”

  “Then be prepared to wait a long time, you prick!” She bumps her hips up, trying to knock me off. “God, I’m so horny. Not cool, Andy. This is borderline cruel.”

  “I’ll make you a deal.” I press forward once more, letting my cock rub along her heated core. Her full breasts strain up, begging for me to squeeze them.

  “And why would I listen? I’m going to see Brian soon and I bet he’d be happy to get me off.”

  “You mean he’d try. But I know you. You’ll ruin it with shouting orders at him. Never relaxing enough to trust him to please you.”

  Her breath whooshes out in an angry huff. “How dare you! Get off me this instant or I’ll scream.”

  “The truth hurts sometimes, Carla.”

  She bucks her hips again and a jolt of fire shoots through my cock.

  “Jesus! This is so frustrating! Why can’t you just get me off?”

  “Like I did the other day?” Her eyes fill with want and she nods her head. “Ah… but what was in it for me?”

  “Good God, Andy. Is that what you want, a quick fuck?”

  “No,” I say while stretching her arms tighter over her head. Leaning down, I nibble along her neck. “I want much more than just a quick fuck.”

  “But what if I don’t?” Her hard nipples show clearly through her bra and blouse.

  “Your body betrays you. You want more.”

  “My body wants to come! You just worked me up and left me hanging.”

  “Ready to hear my deal?” I say before locking my mouth behind her ear in a kiss.

  “Fine.”

  “Don’t fool around with Brian and wait for me.”

  “You? Why? So you can tease me again?”

  “This is just the beginning.” I whisper in her ear, and her body betrays her once again with a hard shiver. “I plan on teasing you for hours. Bringing you over and over again.”