The Exposure (19 page)

“Luke has information. Or in this case, pictures.”

Part of Meagan couldn't believe she was actually admitting everything, especially to Abby. But she had to tell somebody something or else she'd go crazy.

“You have to tell the police.”

In all honesty, Meagan could not have anticipated Abby saying anything else. Perhaps that was why she felt comfortable talking to her about it. Of course, there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell she would go to the police. She just needed to share her burden with somebody. However unfair it was to give that burden to Abby without her consent.

In her heart, Meagan knew she was a selfish, deceitful woman. She had once promised she would never hurt Abby again, and here she was giving her information that would worry her.

“I am a rotten, awful friend.” Meagan didn't deserve a friend like Abby. And she most certainly didn't deserve Luke. “I just don't know what to do.”

“Have you talked to your brother?”

“Do you have any siblings?”

“No, I'm an only.”

“Well, I might as well be. My brother is an ass. No, scratch that—
ass
is too nice of a word for him.” Damn that promise to her dad.

“Really?”

“Put it this way: I saw him not long ago, went by his apartment. Now you have to understand, he isn't working a real job, and he's mooching off his roommate. So when I wouldn't give him money, his roommate suggested I work off his debt.”

Abby's horrified expression confirmed she understood. “Are you serious? And you're going through all this turmoil to protect him?”

“Crazy, isn't it?” Meagan took a picture from her desk drawer. It had been taken when she and her brother were children. “I still see him like this in my mind. We were young. There was so much promise in him.”

“But he's an adult now. You are, too.”

“My dad . . .” She blinked the tears out of her eyes. “He died protecting Jake. If I let this Taskmaster guy tell what he knows, it's like he died for nothing. And I can't stand that.”

Abby just nodded and squeezed her hand. “I know,” she
whispered.

D
ays after that conversation with Abby, Meagan still didn't know what to do, but she was down to a week before her deadline was up, so she needed to decide soon. Should she go to the police? Should she talk to her brother first? But as soon as that question popped into her head, she immediately dismissed it. No, she wasn't going to talk to her brother about anything.

Maybe she should bring it up with Luke. After all, he had the information The Taskmaster wanted. But just as quickly as she had dismissed talking to her brother, she also dismissed talking to Luke. Because she knew if she talked to Luke, he would think the only reason she did anything with him was because of The Taskmaster. And while that may have been the case in the beginning, it was far from the truth now.

Maybe . . . Maybe she would tell The Taskmaster that Luke had moved his pictures or that he had deleted them. What if she
did that? He couldn't very well retaliate if there wasn't anything to give him, right?

She pulled up to Luke's house Friday night still undecided about what she was going to do. She knocked on the door and, while she waited for him to open it, decided not to think about it for the next few hours. Tonight was just her and Luke. They weren't even going to take pictures. Luke had called her earlier in the week and asked her to come over for dinner.

“Just you and me,” he'd said. “Dinner and whatever else we want to do. We can worry about the pictures later.”

Meagan knew they had just about finished the shoot for the book anyway. She thought they might have one or two more sessions to do. The one thing she knew, however, was that she didn't want to stop seeing Luke when they finished. And she had a feeling Luke felt the same.

So there was no way she would mess that up by admitting her initial contact with him was because of The Taskmaster.

“Meagan, sweetheart,” Luke said, as he opened the door. He reached over and kissed her cheek softly. “Come on in. How are you?”

“Better now,” she said. Which was the truth. Why did everything always seem much better when she was with him?

He gave her a big smile and held out his hand. “You look fabulous tonight.”

Her heart fluttered at his words. The truth was she had spent an inordinate amount of time in her closet trying to decide what to wear tonight. She had finally decided on a simple off-white sheath dress. She took a second to look him up and down. He had on khaki pants and a light blue polo shirt. “You don't look too bad yourself, handsome.”

“Made your favorite,” he said, leading her inside to the kitchen.

“And how do you know my favorite?” she teased.

“Every time we go out, you always order the same thing. Salmon. So I decided that tonight I would cook you my version of salmon. It's one of the two things I cook.”

She had no idea she always ordered the same thing. Though, looking back, she did always seem to order salmon. “I like fish. And it's good for you, too.”

“Agreed.”

They stepped inside the kitchen and she was surprised to see the table was not set. Luke noticed her confusion.

“I thought we'd change things up a little bit tonight. Eat in the dining room.”

The dining room? That sounded . . . formal. He led her through the kitchen and into the connecting room. He had certainly been busy this afternoon. Lit candles were everywhere and the table was set with fine china.

“China?” She ran a finger along the gold edging of a plate.

“It was my mother's,” he said. “And I never use it, so I thought why not use it tonight?”

Why indeed? Was it because this was one of their few dates that didn't involve taking pictures before or after?

“I didn't mean for it to freak you out.” Luke seemed to misinterpret her silence.

“I'm not freaked-out, just surprised.” She sat down in the offered seat. “I've just never known a bachelor to have such fine china.”

“True. But I'm not your average bachelor.”

That was an understatement. “So you made salmon?”

“Yes, and it'll be ready in about two minutes.”

True to his word, five minutes later he set a delicious-looking plate of salmon and vegetables in front of her. She eyed everything. “This looks delicious.”

“Thank you. Let's hope it tastes as good as it looks.”

She nodded, but she couldn't imagine something that smelled so divine not tasting good. Luke poured them both some wine, and she almost giggled when she noted the label. It was the same red that Abby liked.

But all her giggles faded away as soon as she took her first bite. “Oh, wow,” she said as soon as she swallowed. “You missed your calling. You should be a chef.”

“Nah, I don't enjoy cooking that much.”

“Shame.” And that was all she said because she was much more interested in eating than discussing why Luke would never be a professional chef.

Their conversation started out light and easy, but midway through dinner, Luke grew serious.

“I'll admit,” he said, “there was something I wanted to bring up tonight.”

She waited. Was it possible he knew she was being blackmailed? Had Abby told him?

“Don't look so scared,” he said. “I think, well, I hope, that you'll like what I'm thinking.”

She could have kicked herself for being so easy to read. “Do tell.”

“The short of it is, I've really enjoyed spending time with you over the last few weeks. I know our time is almost up on the book. I believe we can wrap it up in one more shoot. But I don't want that to be the end of us. I'd like to keep seeing you.” He spoke quickly, but sincerely, almost as if he wasn't as sure as he seemed of her response. She found it delightfully endearing.

And beyond her wildest dreams.

He enjoyed spending time with her. He wanted to spend more time with her. It was the exact same thing she wanted and yet the very thing she was also afraid of. Afraid because she wasn't sure how she would keep the blackmail issue away from him.

But she didn't have to think too long before answering. “I would like that, too.”

His face broke into a grin. Lord, he looked so handsome when he smiled. It made her smile in return. He reached out and took her hand from where it rested on the table.

“Thank you. Thank you for giving us a second chance,” he said.

“How could I not? You've always been the one my heart's wanted.” It had been a hard admission to herself and even harder to voice aloud to him. But he deserved the truth; they both deserved the truth.

“Meagan.” He spoke her name reverently while still stroking her hand. For several long seconds they simply enjoyed the silence, their hands touching, the warmth that surrounded them, and the possibilities that lay before them.

Finally Luke broke the silence. “Will you stay the night?”

She didn't have to think about her answer. “Yes.”

He dropped her hand long enough to walk over behind her chair and pull it out; then he reached down again and took her hand. “I want you.”

“Yes,” she repeated, wanting the same.

He pulled her close into his arms and, pressing his nose against her hair, whispered into her ear, “I'm going to keep you up all night. I'm going to explore every inch of your body. And when you think I'm finished, I'm going to do it all again.”

She ran her nails down his back, enjoying the way he moaned
in pleasure. “Then I'm going to explore your body. Every inch.” She shifted her hands to the front of his body and gently cupped him. “Every. Last. Inch.”

“Damn, woman, I'm not sure I have the strength for all of that.”

She lightly squeezed his erection through his pants. “I'm sure you'll find a way.”

He hissed as her grip got tighter. “I'm sure I will.”

“Maybe.” She started undoing his pants. “Maybe I'll start in here. Tell me. Has anyone ever sucked you off in your dining room?”

“No. Are you going to be the first?”

“Are you going to let me? Or does that go against some Dom rule?”

Mischief danced in his eyes. “The only rules are the rules I make up and I'm thinking, the new rule is, anytime we eat in the dining room, you have to suck me off.”

She let her hands trail down his body as she lowered herself to the floor. “That's a rule I could get behind.”

“Or more accurately, would it be a rule you could kneel for?”

She slowly took his pants down, releasing his cock. “All day. Any day. And twice on Sundays.”

“Do it.” His voice was hoarse, stretched tight with desire. “Wrap those lips around me. Take me into your mouth.”

She willingly and happily obeyed. She loved the taste of him. Loved being on her knees for him. Though she liked the gentleman Luke, it was the Dom Luke who really turned her on.

Unfortunately, he didn't allow her much time. It seemed way too short before he was pulling her up to stand.

“I wasn't finished,” she said.

“Be that as it may, I'm not going to be the first one to release tonight.”

“Lucky, lucky me.”

She started toward the bedroom, but he put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

“I've never had anybody strip down naked in my dining room before either.”

She lifted an eyebrow. “Is that an order?”

“It is now. Take them off.” He stepped out of his own pants. “I want you completely naked, except for the heels. The heels stay on.”

She slipped out of her dress and underwear. “Like the heels, do you?”

“I like them a lot.”

The admission made her almost giddy. She'd bought the shoes with him in mind. They were ridiculously expensive—red, strappy, and very high. “When I bought them, all I could think about was you fucking me in them.”

“Is that right?” he asked. At her nod, he continued. “Then I think as your Dom, it's my duty to make that fantasy come true.”

His words heated her, ran through her body like lava, making her even hotter as she pictured the scene. And, of course, he picked up on that fact right away.

“I can tell how much the thought of that turns you on. Walk in front of me as we head to the bedroom so I can see that fine ass.” As if to emphasize his point, he gave her right butt cheek a slap.

She giggled, but started walking toward the bedroom, looking over her shoulder as she did so. He saw her looking and gave her a wink. She swayed her hips as she walked, satisfied with the fact he couldn't keep his eyes off her. “Like what you see?”

“Sweetheart, when it comes to you, I like everything.”

Satisfied, she turned around and walked into the bedroom. “Where do you want me?”

“That's a loaded question.” He unbuttoned his shirt, slowly, as if he knew she was watching him and enjoyed what she saw. “Where do I want you? I want you everywhere.”

“Shall we start on the bed?” she teased. “Maybe then move to the bathroom? Or the shower? We haven't tried your shower yet.”

“Maybe.” He was thinking now, and that made her a tiny bit apprehensive. Because now it seemed as if he was going to try something different. Of course, with Luke that would be fun. She trusted him completely, which was more than she could say about some people she had played with in the past.

“No matter what you decide, the first thing that should happen is you getting naked.” She made a move toward him. “Let me help with that shirt.”

“No, I think you should stay right there.” He turned and walked toward the bathroom.

“Where are you going?”

“I decided we're going to start in the bathroom.”

“But if we start in there, I have to take my shoes off.”

He turned around, and narrowed his eyes. “First of all, you keep forgetting you're not in charge. Second of all, I didn't say we were starting in the shower. I said the bathroom. Thirdly, you'll keep the shoes on until I tell you differently. And lastly, keep trying to Top from the bottom, and I'll spank yours.”

Damn, it turned her on so much when he got bossy. Or maybe it was the fact that he was going to fuck her in the bathroom, with her shoes on. Of course, it could've been the threat of a spanking. “Yes, Sir.”

“That's more like it.” He disappeared into the bathroom and didn't say anything else, but she heard him moving around and the opening and closing of drawers. “While I'm getting everything
ready in here, I want you to play with yourself. Any way you want, as long as you don't come.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“And you're going to tell me what you're doing.”

“Right now, I'm playing with my breasts.” She cupped them, running her thumbs over her nipples.

“Nice, a good place to start. But are you just brushing them?”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Pinch those nipples. Hard. Because you know I would make them hurt.”

She moaned because she knew it was true. She ran her hands over her breasts again, this time pinching the nipples between her thumb and forefinger. “I'm pinching.”

“Harder.”

She pinched them even harder, rolled the tip between her fingers. “Okay,” she said, and her voice was more strained than it was before.

“Good girl. I can tell by the hitch in your voice that you did what I asked.” He was no longer rustling around the bathroom. “Now run your hands down your body and slowly brush just the entrance of your pussy. Tell me how wet you are.”

She didn't think she would be too wet, but Luke apparently knew better because when she reached down, she was more than ready. “Very wet, Sir.”

“Good,” he said. “You need to be wet for what I have planned.”

Holy fuck. What did that mean?

But he continued on, as if he hadn't just said something shocking. “Rub your clit. Rub it to where you're just on the edge, and when you feel like you're going to come, you may enter the bathroom.”