First Take (Star-Taken) (11 page)

His laugh
sounded forced. “You know once I decide I want something, I charge forward like a bull with blinders on.”

True, but he’d never been able to completely hide the truth from her, and she smelled BS. Whatever secret he had was
his to keep though, as long as Anna didn’t get hurt. “Okay, but she really is a friend. I don’t want you to get her mixed up in anything weird.”

This time his laugh was more genuine. “
When did you become so suspicious? What could I possibly be into that would hurt anyone?”

She thought about that for a moment.
The job description for Mrs. Butler he and Mom laid out that first day included attending dinners, fine art events, and hosting parties. All of which were innocuous and something Anna would no doubt excel at, still… “Nate, I’m serious.”

He blew out another heavy breath. “Look, you’re the one who offered to ca
ll her. I didn’t—”

An
e-mail notification sounded. Her thoughts went to Stephen, but no doubt he was still out. More likely, the e-mail was an auto-response from her client with a confirmation of receipt. Either way, checking it was better than wasting her time attempting to get Nate to confess whatever problems he had.

“Okay
. You’re right. I’m being silly. I’ll let you know something tomorrow.” She ended the call on his “K.” then accessed the e-mail app on her smartphone.

It was from Stephen
’s alter ego. Her heart rate tripled.

Devlin
:
You up?

She smiled and replied,
Yes.

Devlin:
Working?

She chew
ed on her lower lip while debating what to answer. Should she be boring and say yes or more daring and tell him she’d been thinking about him? Not completely true, though surely if Nate hadn’t called, she’d have been well into a fantasy starring Stephen. Somehow Stephen would know it wasn’t the truth. He had a sixth sense for honest responses.

Devlin:
Or are you being naughty without me?

Liquid heat
rolled through her. She’d like him to be here so she could be naughty with him.

Rachel:
No. Was talking to someone.

Devlin:
Catching up on the local gossip with a girlfriend?

There wasn’t any good way to say she’d b
een talking to another man.

Rachel:
No, my ex, Nate.

Devlin:
Why is he calling you at two o’clock in the morning? Didn’t you tell him to take a hike?

A smile tilted the corner of her mouth.
He’d listened when she told him she wasn’t interested in Nate.

Rachel:
Apparently, he’s seriously looking for someone long-term…anyone will do. Promised I’d set him up with one of my friends if I could.

Devlin:
Seems like a cruel thing to do to a friend. I thought women wanted to feel special, not like interchangeable, what did you call it? Arm candy?

Rachel laughed
and typed,
Yeah, but trust me, the friend I’ve got in mind won’t be bothered by any of that. They’ve long been attracted to each other. I’m just facilitating, anything to get him off my back.

Devlin:
I’m sure it’s not your back he wants to be on.

She squirmed against the cool sheets, her thumb hovering over the screen. Did she dare? Before she could think anymore, she
thumb-swiped her response, double-checking that the not-so-smartphone filled in the right words:
But I do so love doggie style
, before hitting Send.

Devlin:
You are naughty. If I were there, I’d have to paddle your bottom.

A tremor worked through her core.

Rachel:
I’ve never been spanked.

Devlin:
Mmm, I like being the first.

She shivered.
He could claim lots of firsts already.
First man she’d picked up at the movies. First man she’d had an orgasm with just from having her breasts played with. First man she’d experienced multiple orgasms with. First man she’d had a one-night stand with, though she wasn’t sure if this still counted since their conversations hadn’t skipped even a day. First man she’d had phone sex with.

Devlin:
Why don’t I see you online?

Was it possible he wanted to be the first man she had video sex with? Did she have what it took to go the distance and add the image to the words?
Despite the covers, a shiver worked through her body and tightened her nipples. She swiped,
Hold on.

After dropping the phone on the bed, s
he hopped up and padded across the room then grabbed her laptop. Scrambling back to the bed, she flipped open the laptop then set it on the nightstand while she fluffed the pillows and the computer powered up. Her phone chimed and she retrieved it.

Devlin:
Good. I’m hard and waiting.

Her mouth w
atered as the image of him laid out on the bed, or maybe sitting in a chair. Was he dressed?

Rachel:
Tell me more. Shirt off or on?

Devlin:
Shirt unbuttoned, just like my slacks. Cock in hand.

She plopped onto the mattress, settled into the pillows
then pulled the computer onto her lap. God, why was it taking so long to boot?

Rachel:
I’m wearing pajama shorts and tank top.

Not the sexiest thing, but he’d see for himself in a moment.

Devlin:
Matching?

Rachel:
Yes.

Devlin:
I wanna see.

Rachel:
Stupid computer taking forever. Sorry.

Devlin:
Describe.

Rachel:
Pink with white polka dots.

Finally, the log-in screen
appeared. She typed in her password then cursed as the machine ground through the start-up process.

Devlin:
I like pink. Especially when it’s your pussy.

A spasm ripped through
Rachel’s channel. She pinched a nipple, amplifying the tremor.

Rachel:
And I like pink when it’s the color of your cock all flushed and ready for me.

Devlin:
That’s it, babe. Show me what you’ve got.

Grinding
her teeth, she drummed her fingertips against her thigh. She would if the stupid machine sped up. After a browser window finally opened, she logged into her e-mail then clicked on the video chat.

H
er mouth went dry at the sight of Stephen. The navy blue button-down he wore earlier was now split open, framing the muscles of his chest and abs. The shirt’s short sleeves allowed her to see the play of the muscles is his forearm as he stroked his cock, which was flushed pink, just like she liked it. Moisture dampened the crotch of her panties. “Hi there, handsome.”

The corner of his mouth kicked up.
“Hi, sexy.” He swiped a bead of moisture as it leaked from the tip of his erection and she licked her lips. He groaned. “I’m showing you mine. Now show me yours.”

Despite all they’d done together, a wave of shyness washed over her. Still, the intensity of his gaze compelled her to obey, so she took a deep breath then set the laptop on the bed
, adjusting the distance from her until the smaller window showed her from head to belly button. She liked the bolder side he brought out in her and she planned on seizing every opportunity. This was too good to last.

With shaky hands
, she shimmied out of the tank top then deposited the pink polka-dotted garment beside her on the bed. Cupping her breasts, one in each hand, she offered them for Stephen’s virtual delight.

“Beautiful,” he said.

Were they? She’d never thought they were anything special, but then breasts weren’t a mystery to her. High school gym class had shown her they came in all shapes and sizes. Hers were more than a handful, but no great bounty; but then men had their preferences, and Stephen’s heated gazed following every stroke of her fingers across the globes said he liked what she had.

“Play with the nipples. You have beautiful nipples, nice and thic
k, something to really pinch.”

Rachel
gasped as she squeezed each hard bud. She’d always been mildly embarrassed by how large they seemed in comparison to some women, but then maybe that’s why they were so sensitive. Pleasure arced from the abused points to between her legs and heat gathered there, the pressure building. Still, she didn’t think she could have an orgasm that way, not doing it herself. “It’s not as enjoyable when I do it.”

“Wish I could be there, babe.” Stephen quickened his pace. “I’d suck and squeeze them until you screamed my name.”

She reclined against the pillows and skimmed the fingers of one hand down her belly. While she liked to exercise regularly, she didn’t sport six-pack abs like Stephen. Of course, she wasn’t paid to be ripped like a Greek god either. Liquid arousal washed over her as a memory from the first night teased. “Did I call you a sex god?”

He chuckled. “I vaguely remember something like that.”

Cocking a brow, she asked, “Vaguely?”

That damn sexy half-smile appeared. “Okay, definitely.”

She slipped her hand inside her shorts and past her panties. “I was wrong.

He briefly stopped his movements. “Oh?”

She brushed her fingers through the trimmed hair then flicked her clit. “You are
the
sex god, and I gladly worship at your feet.”

He resumed stroking his
erection, and she matched his pace. “I’m not interested in you at my feet unless it’s so my cock can be in your mouth.”

“I love the way you taste.
” She ran her tongue over her lips. “The slightly salty flavor of your skin. The smell of orange and spice and male as I lick your length then pause to nibble on the head.” His hand sped up, stopping to squeeze beneath the glans at each pass. Pleasure zinged from her nipples to her clit, her thighs tensing as her orgasm approached. “But most of all I love the way your cum tastes.”

“Oh God, babe.” His cum shot out to coat his abs and hand at the same time her own orgasm tore through her.

She gasped. “Now
that
is hot.”

Long moments went by as they both caught their breath. He grabbed some tissues and cleaned up
while another smaller spasm rocked her. Wiping her fingers on the cotton of her panties, she withdrew her hand. She would’ve taken her bottoms off if he’d asked, but she was glad he hadn’t. Feeling so exposed would have no doubt dampened her enthusiasm.

H
e scooted closer and tilted the screen so his handsome face and broad shoulders filled it. “Was that what you had in mind?”

She
slid lower on the bed, skewing her legs to the side to miss the laptop while also grabbing the computer and pulling it toward her. “Yes, but the reality was way better than the fantasy.” After lying on her side, she grabbed the sheet and pulled it over her breasts. Then she propped her head on her hand and adjusted the screen with her free hand.

He studied her
but didn’t say anything. His brow wrinkled slightly and she traced them on her screen, like she could smooth away his cares. “Why so serious?”

“Am I real to you, or just a fantasy?”

That was a serious question indeed. Her answer might pave the way to an end to this thing between them or could lead to something more….More what? Permanent, some kind of future? She wished she could respond with some flippant comment about not being able to touch him making it impossible to answer the question, but she didn’t have it in her, not this late in the day, not after days of stress.

A
s exhaustion settled into her bones, she folded her arm beneath her then rested her head on it. With a slight smile, she said the closest thing to the truth she could, “You’re very real to me, even if this is all a bit surreal.”

He
compressed his lips, the fullness of the bottom one disappearing into a thin line, which couldn’t bode well. “But who do you see when you look at me?”

She frowned.
Why did he want to have this talk now, when she didn’t have two brain cells sparking? “I see a man, who for some crazy reason seems to have made it his mission in life to ease my cares and give me multiple orgasms in the process.”

A bark of husky laughter escaped
Stephen. “Well, I guess it doesn’t get more honest than that.” That goofy grin from earlier made another appearance, and the corner of his eyes crinkled.

Comforting warmth unfolded from around her heart to radiate outward.
It was nice to ease his cares too, even if giving only the bare bones truth. She sighed. That had been all she could manage tonight, when her eyes were scratchy and dry and her eyelids felt like lead weights were attached to them. “Simple and straightforward is about all my brain can handle at the moment.” She covered her mouth as a big yawn garbled the last word.