Naughty Temptations

Chapter Two

Chapter Two

As Brad had predicted, Drew Robertson called her on Tuesday to offer her the job. Because she had to work out her notice, pack, and attend to the many other details of moving, three weeks elapsed before Dani actually got back to Asheville with her suitcases and boxes of necessities. She’d spoken to Brad by phone on several occasions in the interim, and had two long conversations with Drew. One of the downstairs guest rooms was renovated and ready for her to use by the time she arrived. The en suite bathroom was the most luxurious she’d ever seen, with its whirlpool tub and spacious walk-in shower.

Taking the job hadn’t been a completely easy decision. Though the salary offered was terrific, especially since the job came with a place to stay and most meals covered, she wasn’t sure what her kids, Jason and Terry, would think. They’d been unhappy about her plan to sell the house, the home they’d grown up in, but they ultimately understood the need to pay off debt and her not wanting to stay there by herself. This move would actually put her closer to them, geographically, but would they feel inhibited about visiting her in someone else’s home? Only time would tell.

And there was Brad. She’d long ago conceded to herself that she loved him. Wanted him. Hungered for him. She’d shoved those feelings to the back of her mind for a long time, but seeing him again set it all loose. His looks, his attitude, his kindness and respect, even the way he moved, all appealed to something deep inside her. Yet she needed the one thing he couldn’t give her. How horribly ironic that it was because he was such a kind and gentle man, that he couldn’t fulfill her strange, kinky need for pain to reach orgasm. He wasn’t a man who could bring himself to spank a woman, no matter how much she wanted it. What strange, drastically unfair quirk of fate made her such a freak?

Had he learned a way around the issue since they’d broken up?

If so, he didn’t say anything about it during her first week working for Drew. To be fair, they didn’t even see much of each other for the first few days. She spent most of her time with her new employer, learning what he wanted her to do, discussing plans, options, and budgets. Setting up her office and getting supplies also occupied her time. While exploring the kitchen, she wondered who’d selected and ordered all the equipment. The place was amazing.

After eating Drew’s attempt at a tuna casserole on the night she arrived, she’d immediately taken charge of dinners. Both men were built pretty lean; Drew even verged on thin. Neither would be likely to add any weight on their own cooking.

From the start she enjoyed the work. She’d always loved cooking, but it had been a long time since she’d had such an appreciative audience for her efforts. Drew didn’t expect her to do any heavy housekeeping or renovation work. One of her first tasks was hiring a cleaning service for the place and arranging for them to come in twice a week for maintenance. He gave her lists of contact info for plumbers, electricians, carpenters, painters, and others, along with his plan of attack for the renovations, then turned over management of the whole thing to her.

She saw Brad mainly at meals, but every morning he brought in a few fresh flowers, which he left in a vase on the table. Dani stopped to sniff their lovely aroma each time she walked past.

Brad had warned that Drew had a mercurial side, but she didn’t see it for several days, until on Thursday of the first week, he showed up for breakfast looking pale and haggard. His limp was more pronounced as he entered the room. His attitude was even worse than his appearance. “You call this coffee?” he complained after one sip. “It tastes like brown water.” He griped about the cereal and the milk.

The only thing keeping her from exploding, other than reminding herself that he was her employer, was the memory of Brad telling that Drew had days when he was in pain. Clearly this was one of those times. So she held onto her temper, though it was a near thing.

She came even closer to losing it later that morning when an electrician who’d come in to give them an estimate for rewiring the upstairs rooms had a question about which rooms were being converted into bathrooms.

“I’m paying you to handle all that stuff,” he snapped. “Take care of it.”

Dani withdrew hastily and went to find Brad to ask him about it.

He nodded when she told him about the question and Drew’s response. “I could tell this morning it wasn’t going to be a good day. If you don’t have a master plan for upstairs remodeling, just tell the electrician we’ll have to get back to him about it.”

“Thank you.” She leaned against him for a moment, soaking in his warmth and strength.

“Don’t let his bad mood get you down,” Brad said. “He’ll be back to normal in a day or two and will likely apologize. He’s done it with me several times.”

Again Brad was proven right when Drew sought her out the next morning. “I was a bear yesterday,” he admitted. “I’m sorry. I’m sure Brad warned you that I have bad days. Old war wounds.”

“He mentioned it.”

“Please tell me it isn’t going to drive you away.” He gave her an anxious look.

“I lived through the teenage years of my own two kids,” Dani told him. “I can deal with bad moods.”

His eyes narrowed and lips pressed together. “I don’t need mothering either,” he warned.

Annoyed, she snapped back, “You’re not likely to get it from me. Two kids are all I can handle.” And then she remembered the man was her employer. “I’m sorry. That was uncalled-for.”

“Not at all.” He actually smiled. “I deserved it.” His expression grew darker again. “Not that I’ll always put up with insubordination.”

His rapid changes of mood and expression were making her dizzy. “I’ll try not to be insubordinate.” She picked up the coffee pot to refill her cup. “Except when it’s needed.”

The corner of his lips quirked. “Good enough.”

A new voice spoke from the back door. She hadn’t heard Brad come in and didn’t realize he was there until he said, “Glad to hear someone’s ready to keep on top of everyone around here.”

Drew looked up at him. “No lectures required. And I did apologize for my crabby humor.”

Brad nodded and crossed the kitchen to get a cup of coffee.

“In any case,” Drew continued, “I’ll be out of your hair for a few days. My youngest niece turns a year old on Saturday, and my sister’s having a party. She doesn’t think I’ll scare the kids too badly, so I’ll be heading to Roanoke for the weekend. Leaving in an hour or so.”

Which left Brad and Dani alone in the house for the next few days. On Friday they both had work to do, but for dinner she cooked a pair of steaks, baked stuffed potatoes, and baby carrots. Afterward they snuggled together in the den while watching a superhero movie from Drew’s collection. She couldn’t help but wonder if the snuggling might lead to more. She debated pushing it a bit herself.

She didn’t need to. When the movie ended, Brad drew her closer and leaned in for a long, hot kiss. Her blood rushed through her veins and tingles scattered from her mouth along all her nerves. Dani moved into him, nestling against his chest. Sliding her hands under his shirt, she caressed the warm, hard planes of his chest, working her fingers through the soft hair there.

He pulled back far enough to offer the warm smile that showed his strong white teeth and the lovely creases in his cheeks. That grin had always had the power to curl her toes and this time it went much further than that. Her core swelled and tightened.

When she didn’t object or try to stop him, he reached for the buttons on her shirt and undid them slowly, gradually revealing the lace bra beneath. Thank goodness she’d worn one of her nicest ones. He paused a moment to stare down at the flesh revealed, before he reached behind her and fumbled with the clasp, letting the fabric covering her breasts fall away once he got it undone.

His sharp gasp tightened ever muscle in her body.

“Beautiful. So very beautiful,” he murmured as he cupped them in his hands.

“They sag a bit more than they used to.”

“They’re magnificent. Better than ever. You’ve kept yourself in great shape. Those extra pounds went to all the right places.” He tried to sound stern, but a catch in his breath betrayed him.

“You’re still in great shape yourself,” she answered.

“Physical labor. I’m fortunate that I enjoy it.”

Then he kissed her again and talking ceased for a while. When he slid his hands down her body and fumbled with the zipper of her trousers, she helped him move the tab and drag the cloth down her legs. They hit the floor, followed rapidly by his jeans. Brad pressed her back into the couch and lifted her legs so she lay full-length on it.

He knelt on the floor beside her and ran his hands over her breasts, touching, caressing, squeezing lightly, and circling the areola with a finger, moving from one to the other and back. She moaned as little jolts of pleasure shook her.

“You’re more responsive than you used to be,” he commented.

“s*x with Tom did train my body to respond to any stimulus.”

“I suppose I should be grateful for that.”

“Not required.”

He laughed at her wry tone. “I am grateful. In a limited way.” He leaned over again and pressed his mouth to one n****e. Electric zings jolted her from that contact. He moved his hand down over her not-so-flat-now abdomen and nudged into her slit, pressing her legs apart. His fingers stroked over the soft petals of her labia, then found the exquisitely sensitive nub.

“Dear heaven,” she muttered as heat poured through her body. Watching her face carefully to gauge her reactions, he explored her labia, c**t, and v****a. He found the places that drew the most reaction and worked on them, stroking, pushing, and pinching. Her muscles tightened and breath sped up as tension built slowly but steadily. He pressed a finger into her opening and worked it around while continuing to stroke. When he pinched the sensitive bud twice in a row, she jerked and moaned as she came.

He waited for the spasms to die down, but before they had completely, Dani reached for his c**k and started to caress it. Long and thick. It jerked at her touch and seemed to strain toward her. A bead of liquid gathered at the tip. She rubbed up and down the length of it, circling the head and finding the place just under it that made him jump and gasp when touched. He was hard and full, ready for her.

When she tried to pull him toward her, he refused. “With your hand,” he said. “Don’t have any protection.”

“All right.” With his guidance, she rubbed up and down, squeezing and pulling, working him, until he gave a long groan and his seed sprayed onto his chest and dripped all over her hand.

He lay his head on her chest and let it rest there for a few minutes. Dani cradled him to her. It had been so long, and yet so worth the wait.

After a while, he got up and fetched a towel dampened with warm water from the kitchen, which they used to clean up. As they helped each other gather their clothes, he stopped a moment and put a hand on her arm, then pulled her against him for another kiss. “You’re still the hottest babe I know. Tomorrow I need to go into town for a few things. What do you say we make a day of it? We could check out a couple of galleries and shops, have dinner somewhere.”

“Sound wonderful.”

Dani went to bed wondering if it was too soon to dream that she might finally get her happily ever after with Brad.