Not Safe for Work (3 page)

Chapter Four

Once we’d disposed of the condom and cleaned ourselves up, we pulled back the covers and climbed into bed. We’d barely hit the mattress before we gravitated together again, and my God, this was something I hadn’t realized I’d been missing—just lying beneath the covers, kissing languidly, pursuing nothing except the taste of his mouth and the softness of his lips.

“Not to state the obvious,” he whispered after a while, “but I’d say we’re compatible.”

“Yeah, I kind of got that impression too. But just to be sure, maybe we should do it again. Soon.”

He ran his fingers through my hair. “Yes, please.”

“Thought you’d be agreeable.”

“After a fuck like that?” He slid closer. Facing each other beneath the covers, we settled on the pillows, hands loosely clasped between us as if this thing had started long before this afternoon.

“So.” I ran my thumb along the back of his. “Full disclosure—I have plenty of ‘playthings’ at my house, but logistics can sometimes get a little complicated.”

“In what way?”

“Well, I don’t live alone.” I cringed inwardly—this was one of those moments that had been known to send a prospective guy running. “My ex-wife lives with me.”

Rick’s eyes widened slightly. “Really?”

“Yeah, it’s…” I waved a hand. “I mean, we’re not together. It was more of an economic thing. Her second divorce got really messy and
really
expensive—cleaned out her savings to the point she had no choice but to dip into the kids’ college fund. But he was an asshole, and she needed to get away from him, so I took over paying for the kids’ college and let her move back in with me last year until she can get back on her feet.”

“Oh. You must have a pretty good relationship, then.”

“Definitely. We didn’t make very good spouses, but we’re friends and we’re pretty good at being roommates.” I laughed dryly. “And considering I’m now the one putting all three kids through college simultaneously, it’s kind of nice having someone contributing to the mortgage and utilities. So, you know, it balances out.”

“I can see that. How long before they start college?”

“Start?” I laughed again. “The youngest two started this year, and the oldest started the year before that.”

“You…really?” His eyes got huge. “
You
have kids who are old enough to be in college?”

“Uh, yeah.” I gestured at one of my rapidly graying temples. “Can’t you tell?”

Rick smiled, sliding his hand over mine. “I just figured that came from working for Mitchell & Forsythe.” He pointed at his own hairline. “I think I’ve picked up a few from that place.”

“So it’s not just me?”

“Uh, no.” He chuckled. “I knew you had kids. Didn’t realize they were college-age, though.”

“How did you know?”

“Jon.” He rolled his eyes. “How many times have I been in your work area? You’ve got like six pictures of them on your desk.”

“Oh. Right. And they’re a little out of date, I guess. I didn’t…realize you’d noticed them.”

His smile turned sheepish. “I noticed a lot of things about you.”

“Did you?”

“Mmhmm. After I saw you on the app, it made sense why I’d never seen a picture of anyone besides your kids, and why you didn’t wear a wedding ring.”

“Not recently anyway.”

“How long have you been divorced? If you don’t mind me asking.”

“Thirteen years from my kids’ mother, six from my second wife.”

His eyebrows rose. “You’ve been married twice?”

“Almost a third time, but…” I waved a hand. “Things happen. Long story. What about you?”

“Never quite made it to the altar. Almost did, but…” He shook his head. “Just as well.”

“Long story?”

He draped his arm over my waist. “Long story.”

“Aren’t they all?” I rested my hand on top of his arm. “Anyway, since she and I live together, you’ll probably meet her at some point, if that’s not too weird.”

“Not for me. If you two live together, and it’s not weird for you or for her, then it’s fine by me. When we get to that point, I mean.”

“Of course, of course. No need to jump into meeting the ex-spouses or the kids
quite
yet.”

Rick laughed. “Yeah, give me a little warning for that one if you don’t mind.”

“I will. I promise.” I paused. “You and my younger daughter would probably get along great. She’s looking into your field.”

“Well, if she needs an internship or anything, I’d be happy to see if we have any openings.”

A weird feeling coiled in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to help my kids as much as possible, but also let them step out on their own and be independent. I wasn’t sure where “the bazillionaire I’m sleeping with can hook you up with an internship” fell on that spectrum. I half shrugged, running my hand along his side. “When the time comes, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Great.” He chuckled. “Would you believe I’ve never been involved with someone whose kids were grown?”

“Really?”

“Really. I’ve dated a few guys who had younger kids, one who had a high school sophomore, but no adults.” He arched his eyebrow. “Does this mean I’m getting old?”

I laughed, patting his arm. “Welcome to the club.”

“Damn it.”

“How old
are
you, anyway?”

“Forty-three. You?”

“Closer to forty-six than I’d care to admit.”

Rick laughed wickedly. “Forty-five with kids in college. Pretty soon you’ll be dealing with weddings and—”

“No! No. No.” I shook my head. “No, we’re not thinking about that right now. They’ve all been forbidden from getting married until they’re out of school and I’ve had a chance to cope with
that
.” I rubbed a hand over my face. “Then again, two of them are in serious relationships, so knowing them, they’ll want to get married around the same time. Why they have to do everything expensive simultaneously…”

Rick chuckled, lacing our fingers together between our chests. “It does kind of make sense. Sounds like they’re pretty close in age?”

“Very. Literally all within one year.”

His eyes widened. “How the fuck did you manage that?”

“We didn’t plan it that way, believe me. We adopted Kelsey, and a week after that was finalized, Karen found out she was pregnant with Tyler
and
Brooke. So within a year, we had three infants in the house.”

Rick blinked. “Oh my God. Just thinking about that makes me tired.”

“You have no idea.” I laughed. “But we all made it through without killing each other, and we got three good kids out of the deal, so I can’t complain.”

“And now she lives with you?”

I nodded. Then I chuckled. “Jesus. Look at us—we got together to fuck and get kinky, and we’re already talking about kids and exes.”

Rick laughed. “Well, I’m not opposed to getting to know you, especially if we’re going to get into anything hardcore. And as you said, your arrangement with your ex affects logistics.”

“Good point.” I brushed a few strands of hair off his forehead. “Anyway, she does live with me, but she’s great about privacy. If either of us wants to have someone over, we just let the other know. If I’m bringing a play partner around, I try to give her a couple of nights’ notice. She’ll usually go crash at her sister’s or go visit one of the kids for the weekend, or she’ll just lay low so no one gets uncomfortable.”

“She really doesn’t mind?”

“No. She’s not terribly comfortable with some of the kinkier stuff, and the acoustics in the house suck, so she prefers not to be there at all if there’s any potential for it to get, uh, loud. I do the same for her, of course. If she wants someone to stay over, I stay out of the way as much as I can. Bit of a mood killer when you’re with a woman and her live-in ex-husband comes in, so…”

He laughed. “Yeah, I suppose that could put a damper on things.”

“Just a bit.”

“Well, if we want to be a little more spontaneous without stepping on her toes, we can go to my place.” He smiled. “I don’t have all the toys you do, but I’m sure we can improvise.”

“I don’t need a lot of toys.” I ran my nail along the inside of his forearm. “They’re fun, but all I really need is a man who’ll get on his knees and beg, and I’m set.”

Rick pulled in a sharp breath. “Good.”

“So you obviously have experience.” I watched my fingers drifting across his chest. “Have you been with many Doms?”

“Not recently.” He squirmed beneath my touch, biting his lip. “I’ve had a few. Yes, I have experience, but I do like to go slow at first.”

“Well, I’m not in any hurry if you’re not.”

Rick smiled. “Absolutely not.”

“Good. Because I’m not either.” I slid a hand over his side. “In fact, I’m more inclined to make you wait. Patience is a virtue for a Dom, after all.”

He licked his lips. “You like to tease, don’t you?”

“Oh, you’d better believe it.” I moved closer to him. “How about this—why don’t we try some lighter kink at first? Bondage you can easily get out of if you want to. Some mild pain.”

He swallowed. “Domination?”

“Oh, absolutely. Question is, where? Do you want to be in a hotel again?”

He shrugged. “Why don’t you come to my place? It’s a little more private than a hotel room, and we won’t be encroaching on your ex.”

“You don’t mind?”

“Mind?” His lips curved into a dizzying grin. “After everything we just did and everything we’re talking about doing? Do I
mind
?”

I laughed and leaned in for a kiss. “In that case, count me in.” I only meant for a quick kiss, but decided I liked how his lips felt, so I let it go on. He didn’t object. When I nudged him, he rolled onto his back, and somewhere in the middle of shifting positions, the kiss deepened. He gripped the back of my neck as I ran my hand up and down his side. He was assertive enough to touch me, letting his hands drift all over my skin just like I did his, but totally compliant—a little nudge, a little push, and he’d move, bend, stop, start. Jesus. Just being against me and kissing me, he pushed all my buttons, and I couldn’t wait to tie him down and push his.

Eventually, I broke the kiss, and we panted against each other’s lips.

“What were we talking about?” he asked.

“Fucking again, I think.” I combed my fingers through his hair. “Don’t know if I can come three times in one night. I’m not twenty anymore.”

He let his lips graze mine. “Neither am I.”

“Don’t think I need to come again, though.” I kissed him again. “I just like…kissing you.”

He wrapped his arms around me. “Far be it from me to stop you…”

Chapter Five

The next day, my GPS guided me to Rick’s place. Unsurprisingly, the house was beautiful. Working in the field of architecture for my entire adult life had made me a connoisseur of buildings, and it took a lot to impress me.

This place? This place impressed me.

A high brick wall surrounded a manicured lawn, and a curving, tree-lined driveway led me to the front of a stunning three-story Tudor. It toed the line between huge and obscenely huge, but was nestled in amongst a cluster of thick pines, all strategically arranged as if to emphasize the house’s strong points, but give it the illusion of being hidden.

I parked in front of a four-car garage, pulled my small backpack from the passenger seat, and headed up the walk.

Just as I reached the bottom step, the front door opened.

And I nearly stopped in my tracks. Forget the house. Even after spending the better part of last night in bed with him, just seeing him there—dressed down in jeans and a gold shirt—made my heart skip.

“Hey,” I said as I came up the front steps.

“Hey.” He smiled, letting his nerves show as he pushed his hands into his pockets. Then he quickly withdrew them but didn’t seem to know what to do with them.

I, however, had no trouble figuring out what to do with mine—I cupped his neck in both hands and kissed him.

Without missing a beat, he wrapped his arms around me. Our combined center of gravity shifted—I couldn’t say who’d moved or which way we’d gone, but suddenly we were off balance, so I pushed him up against the door frame to keep us upright. And, hell, having Rick pinned up against a wall or a door was rapidly becoming one of my favorite pastimes, so why not?

My backpack slid off my shoulder, and I let it fall. It hit the concrete with a heavy clunk and a muffled jingle. Rick straightened, sucking in a breath through his nose, but he kept right on kissing me.

Jesus Christ. Was I really standing in the doorway of a multimillion-dollar home, kissing the hell out of Rick Pierce with a bag full of kinky sex toys at our feet?

Yes. Yes, I was. And despite being barely twenty-four hours into this, it felt absolutely right. Less “how the hell did we get to this?” and more “how the fuck did it take so long?”

When we came up for air, he was breathing hard as he met my gaze. “And hello to you too.”

“Are you complaining?”

“No. No. Definitely…” He rested a shaky hand on my hip. “Definitely not complaining.”

I grinned. “Good.”

We separated, and Rick picked up my bag and stood aside to let me in. “I’d, um, give you the tour, but…” He swallowed as I stepped past him. “Somehow I don’t think you’re any more interested in the house right now than I am.”

“Oh, one of these days, I’ll want to see the whole place.” I glanced around the foyer—Roman style? Totally not what I expected after seeing the exterior. I quickly lost interest in my surroundings, though, and looked right at him. “But I’ve been thinking about you ever since I left the hotel.”

“Likewise. Maybe we should’ve made last night an all-nighter.”

“We didn’t exactly come prepared for that.” I threw him another grin. “And besides—a few hours apart gave me time to plot and scheme.”

His eyebrows rose, and his Adam’s apple jumped. “Well. In that case.” He nodded toward the curving set of stairs. “This way.”

I gestured in the same direction. “After you.”

He hesitated, but then started up the stairs, and I followed. When we reached the second floor, he led me down a long hallway, pushed open one side of a set of French doors and waved me inside.

His bedroom was enormous. The vaulted ceilings made it seem even bigger, and the smallish furniture added to the effect as well. Oddly, the bed was maybe a queen size. I’d have expected one of those California kings or something with a headboard that took up half the floor. Then again, even if the house was huge, ostentatious furniture didn’t really seem to be his style.

It was pretty clear which side he slept on—one nightstand was bare except for a lamp, and the other had a cell phone charger, his watch, and a couple of paperbacks sitting under an e-book reader.

And of course, a pack of condoms and a brand-new bottle of lube.

He shut the door behind us. “Is it just me, or is this a little strange?” He smiled, coming a little closer, though he approached me cautiously like he probably would have a skittish animal. “Being here. Us. In my house.”

“Tell me about it.” I faced him. “I still can’t quite believe you of all people are interested in me of all people.”

Rick waved a hand. “You saw my profile. We match in a lot of places.”

“We also mismatch in a few.”

“Not the important things.” He smiled. “I’m just another guy.”

“Oh, no you’re not.” I tugged his belt loop and pulled him toward me. “I’ve seen you on your knees sucking my cock like it’s the only thing in the world you want to do. And I’ve heard you beg.” I held his jaw and kissed him. “You’re not just another guy, believe me.”

He shivered as I let him go. “Neither are you.”

“It is weird, though, you’re right.”

Rick nodded. “Yeah. Yesterday, we were working together, and—”

“I think it’s more accurate to say I was working for you.”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“So does this mean I’m about to fuck my boss?”

He jumped, eyes widening and lips parting, and I thought I might’ve gone too far until he said, “Depends—would you fuck me differently if I were your boss?”

Well. Now wasn’t that a good question?

“That’s an interesting thing to think about.” I let go and started making a slow, tight circle around him, and he followed me with his eyes until I went around behind him. “I mean, the customer is always right, so in that respect, I’m working for you.” I came around in front of him and held his gaze as I continued in an even tighter circle, our shirts nearly brushing. “If you were my
boss
, then I’d have to make sure that once we were in the bedroom, you knew your place.” I stopped in front of him and looked him right in the eye. “Do you know your place, Rick?”

He shifted his weight. “Maybe…maybe it would be best if you showed me. So we’re clear.”

I suppressed a shiver and reached for his cheek. “I get the feeling you’re my kind of submissive.”

“Do you?”

I nodded, caressing his cheekbone with my thumb. “You want nothing more than to be on your knees and begging, and you know just how far to push the brattiness so a Dom will make sure to put you in your place.” I tilted my head. “Am I close?”

He gulped.

“That’s what I thought.” I nodded sharply toward the plush carpet at our feet. “Get on your knees.”

He obeyed immediately, kneeling in front of me and watching my eyes the whole time.

“Good.” I stepped closer and ran my fingers through his hair. It was always so perfectly arranged at work, as if he spent hours on it and would’ve been pissed if someone messed it up, and here he was on his knees, not protesting in the slightest as I methodically de-styled his hair. Oh yes. Dominating a man like him—a powerful, has-his-shit-together man like Rick Pierce—was going to be fucking fun.

I moved a little closer, enough to encroach on his space. My erection was pushing against the front of my jeans just inches from him, and his eyes flicked toward it a couple of times.

“I’m going to have so much fun with you.” I jerked my head toward my backpack on the floor. “Get my bag.”

He leaned to the side and grabbed the strap, which was just within his reach, and dragged the pack toward us. I crouched down, and as I unzipped the bag, he licked his lips. I hadn’t brought much—cuffs, some bondage tape, lube, condoms. There’d be plenty of opportunities to try out different toys. Tonight was still for feeling each other out, finding boundaries and figuring out if we were comfortable enough together to move on to the more fun stuff. And I hoped like hell we were—I’d already thought of
lots
of ways to tease and torment him.

“So.” I glanced at the toys. “What do you have in mind for tonight?”

He eyed me, not letting his eyes flick downward for even a second. “What do I have in mind?”

I nodded.

“You’re the Dom.” He moistened his lips. “The only thing I have in mind is whatever you tell me to do.”

Oh, be still my beating heart.

“Good,” I whispered. “Perfect.”

He smiled, shifting a little.

No, my beating heart wasn’t going to be still any time soon.

“You really are a sub, aren’t you?”

Rick nodded. “Very much so.”

I touched his face again. “I get how and why you kept it out of sight at work, but looking at you now…” I grinned as he pressed against my palm. “I can’t believe I never even thought you had a side like this.”

“I guess we’re all full of surprises.”

“Did you think I was a Dom?”

“I…” He swallowed. “I had my suspicions.”

“Did you?”

He nodded, his skin hissing against my fingertips. “Might not be obvious to someone who isn’t into kink, but I got that vibe the first time I met you.”

We’d met well over a year ago. That whole time, he’d suspected I was a Dom? “Is that right?”

“Yeah.”

“Well.” I held the back of his neck, leaned in and kissed him. “Guess we should make up for lost time, shouldn’t we?”

“Yes, please.”

I kissed him once more before I stood, my knees and ankles cracking loudly and painfully.

Note to self—getting a little too old to crouch like that for more than a few seconds.

“So all that time you thought I was a Dom, did you ever think about what it would be like if we did this?”

Rick nodded. “A few times.”

“A few?”

His cheeks colored. “Quite a few.”

“What did you think about us doing?”

“A lot of things.” He licked his lips. “Fucking. Playing with…” He looked down at the bag of toys in front of him. “That kind of stuff definitely figured in.”

“Anything in particular?”

Barely whispering, he said, “Handcuffs.”

I leaned down and hooked a finger in the set of silver cuffs and lifted it so it was dangling in front of his face. “You like being cuffed?”

“Very much so.”

“You know that means you’re completely at my mercy, right? Kneeling, with your hands bound?”

Rick nodded. “Yeah. I do.”

And you like it, don’t you? God, where have you been all my life?

“I don’t have one with me tonight,” I said, “but I think I’d enjoy putting a spreader bar between your ankles.”

Rick squirmed, as if he were trying and failing not to shiver.

“Would you like that?”

Another nod.

“Answer—”

“Yes.” He pulled in a breath and sat straighter. “I’d like that. A lot.”

“Good. For tonight, though, these will have to do.” I flipped the cuffs up into my hand, letting them clink and jingle, and Rick squirmed again. “Safe word is red. Understand?”

“Yes.”

I stood upright and stepped around behind him, pausing to rub my knee gingerly because being forty-five sucks, and then opened the cuffs. Carefully, I closed one cuff around his wrist and paused, waiting for any signs of distress or uncertainty. When he gave none, I cuffed the other. Once everything was secure, I let go, and his bound hands settled on his lower back, fingers curled but not fisted.

“If those get too tight or you start losing feeling, you know what to do.”

He nodded. “Safe word.”

“Good.” I ran my fingers through his dark hair. “And your safe word is…?”

“Red.”

“Perfect.”

I came around and stood in front of him, and for a moment, I just gazed at him. God, he was gorgeous. On his knees. Cuffed. Watching me intently.

My mouth watered—there was something unspeakably hot about making a man kneel in his own castle. All he needed now was a cock between those beautiful lips, and this would be perfect

And fortunately, that was something that could be arranged.

I unbuttoned and unzipped my jeans. As I pulled out my uncomfortably hard erection, Rick watched, as if mesmerized, and I could only imagine the things going through his mind.

I stroked myself in front of him, close enough to
almost
touch his lips. “You know, this is all I’m going to be able to think about on Monday.”

His eyes flicked back and forth from my cock to my face. “Me too.”

“Supposed to be building models. Just gonna be thinking about you sitting like this, itching to suck my dick.”

His breath hitched, and he stared up at me, eyes wide.

“That’s what you want to do, isn’t it?” I asked.

Rick nodded, and quickly added, “I want to do whatever you tell me to.”

“Good save.”

His eyes grew even wider, this time with panic.

“Relax.” I smoothed his hair with my free hand. “You can tell me what you want to do. I just decide if you get to do it.”

“Oh. Okay.” He swallowed. “For the record, I…” He glanced at my cock, and I swore I could feel his mouth watering as he added, “I
do
want to suck your dick.”

“Well, as it happens…” I steadied myself with one hand, rested the other on the back of his head and stopped with just the head of my cock between his lips. He made no attempt to come forward and take more, instead waiting patiently for me to give him more.

Slowly, carefully, I pushed past his lips. He immediately went to town on me, licking and teasing. As much as I loved the things he could do with his hands, this was spectacular—fucking his mouth while he knelt, hands cuffed behind his back. His shoulders twitched and pulled, as if he were fighting the cuffs.

I gripped his hair, holding him perfectly still, and slid deeper, careful not to challenge his gag reflex.

Though he couldn’t move, his lips and tongue weren’t restricted at all, and my God, he used them. He swirled his tongue. Tightened his lips. Relaxed them. Tightened them again. When his eyes flicked up to meet mine, his brow pinched like he was silently asking “Is this good? Is this right?”, my knees threatened to buckle. In no time, I’d gone from turned on to struggling to keep my orgasm at bay.