Dirty Desire (9 page)

Bet’s off now, Milton.

“Why are you just sitting there grinning at me?!”

“You just look so good holding that.” It’s not a lie either, she does. I’ve always loved a woman in charge.

“Can you explain to me why this, and a fuck ton of other questionable items have made their home in my living room?” With a hand on her hip and the other grabbing the cane, she’s glaring at me.

With flushed cheeks.

A grin plays on my lips as I walk over to her and take the cane out of her hand, inspecting it.

“It’s beautiful isn’t it?” My eyes meet hers and I see the lust in them. “I had to remove them from the building for inspection. They’ll be out as soon as they can.”

She narrows her eyes at me and holds my gaze, not saying a word.

“I’m sorry, I needed to make a decision fast. I should have asked first.” I’m not one to typically apologize, but there’s something with Harper that makes me feel different about my old ways. Just one more reason I should be backing away, but I’m not.

Instead, I’m reaching out to gently caress her cheek. I’ve missed her skin and it’s only been a few hours since I last touched her. Her eyes, brilliant blue, go wide when my thumb caresses her lips and she flicks her eyes towards the door.

“What is this place?” she whispers.

“Come. I’ll show you.” As much as I want to kiss her, I have an inspector about to be breathing down my neck and the last thing I need is for him to walk in on me making out with my…well what the hell is she to me anyway? She should just be my task, but I fear we’ve already passed that level and are flying straight towards relationship. If that’s the case…I’m so fucked.

I mean…if I’m going to label her, it needs to be something like ‘conquest’, because that’s exactly what she is to me.

Or at least that’s how we started out.

She takes my hand and I lead her down the office hallway towards the lounge area. There’s a marble top bar with deep purple walls around it. The custom drapes hanging from the ceiling are installed and divide the room into small gathering spaces.

“It’s beautiful,” she whispers, her hand slipping from mine to glide over the countertops. “But I don’t get it. Where do the things in the apartment come into play?”

She spins and leans against the countertop of the bar, eyeing me curiously. I’m afraid to move. I didn’t ever plan on getting this far with her. Never did I plan on her seeing the inside of this club.

Well, not before my task is over.

Now, here she stands, wanting to know every gritty detail about this place that I’m not ready to tell her. She doesn’t need to know. She doesn’t need to be here, seeing this. This wasn’t how the plan was supposed to go.

But fuck it, nothing’s going according to plan anymore. I wasn’t supposed to fuck her like I have. I wasn’t supposed to be here for this long. Hell, in the beginning I wasn’t even really supposed to get close to her, but I have and now I want more.

I’m selfish like that.

“It’s all just a part of the business, Harper.” I really hope she doesn’t push me for answers, because I can’t have her losing trust and faith in me this close to the end game.

“Is it legal?” Her fingers are absentmindedly trailing across the bar and all I can think of is how sexy she’d look laid out on that bar for everyone to see.

“It’s fine,” I say, walking over to her. Her fingers are playing a game her mind isn’t even aware of. I need to get her out of here before I show her what really happens in this place myself. As much as I want to, this isn’t the time.

“I’ll walk you out. I was heading out myself,” I lie. I just need to get her out of here. I can do the rest of my work at home tonight.

She pauses and looks at my outstretched hands, then her eyes flick over to the gold and black doors across the room.

Please don’t fucking ask to see behind those.

After a brief pause, her hand takes mine and she gives in to me.
Finally
.

After dinner I head to my room to get some work done. She’s been quiet this afternoon, and I’m sure she’s about to research the club…I’m way too nervous about it. I shouldn’t care that she’s going to find out what it really is. I do…but I shouldn’t!

I’m growing attached to my conquest.

Fuck
.

Right as I’m about to open my laptop to finish some of the day’s work I get a text come through.

LEIGH:
Heard about today.

ME
: Yep. It’ll all get straightened out. Hopefully no setback.

Leigh knows about me opening a club, it’s just the specifics of the inner workings of the club he’s oblivious to. John mentioned about bringing him once it opens but I’m going to leave that to John…some things people can’t unsee.

LEIGH:
I wasn’t talking about that.

Well then.

What do I tell him? I fucked your best friend when I shouldn’t have because I had plans and I ruined them, then had a shit ton of sex toys delivered to her house without telling her?

That sounds a little harsh.

LEIGH:
Hurt her and I’ll make sure you never own another business a day in your life.

ME:
Got it.

Shit.

It’s been well over two months of Knox living here and I can honestly say I’m not looking forward to him moving out. We’ve turned into a unit…one I don’t want to break. Him moving out and back to his hometown is going to be horrible, really. I’ll have to live alone for the first time in my life.

I’ve never lived alone.

Add to it the stress of having my home burglarized last month alongside a shit ton of other apartments nearby and I’m on edge to say the least.

“Hey, I’m heading out.” He’s standing in my doorway with his suit in hand. Apparently he has to travel back home today, for what I don’t know but I hate that he’s leaving. For the longest time I wasn’t feeling safe in my own home. Since Knox got here, though, I felt surprisingly safe and secure. After the break-in last month I’ve been feeling less positive about my safety, but at least with him here I know he’ll protect me.

Shit, listen to me! I shouldn’t need a man to protect me. Maybe it’s time for me to get back to the gym.

“When will you be back?” The needy tone to my words makes me cringe which brings a smile to his beautiful mouth.

“Tomorrow hopefully. Just a few things I need to get settled.” He walks over to me, dropping his jacket on the chair next to my desk, and takes me in his arms. His lips press against my forehead, something way too intimate for me at this point in the game.

I try pulling back, but he just tightens the grip.

“When are you going to stop fighting this?” He whispers.

“I’m not fighting anything. You’re the one leaving me.” I back away finally and look at him, trying not to seem hurt that he’s actually moving out.

Trying not to be pissed that I’m sad about him leaving.

Fuck! This is why I don’t do relationships with roommates. Shit always gets muddled and I hate drama.
Hard
.

“I was never staying, Harper. It was just somewhere for me to live until the club gets up on its feet. With the opening next week, I’m good to move back to my home once it’s running.” He sighs and pulls me closer to him, one hand on my hip and the other on my cheek. “Don’t fight what you feel. Do you trust me, Harper?”

“Of course,” I answer without hesitation. I do. It’s kind of insane how much I trust him, really. I still don’t know exactly what type of club he’s opening, though Leigh promises to take me there sometime. I know his name, his last name…but nothing about his family. I really don’t know the guy at all, but I’d trust him with my life. What type of person does that make me?

“Good. Then stop building a wall against me…at least until I’m gone.” He gives me his notorious sideways grin and I reach up to my tiptoes to lay my lips on his. It’s instinct now. We act exactly like boyfriend/girlfriend, but honestly I have no clue what we are and I don’t want to have that discussion. I like whatever we are right now, and I have two weeks until that all goes away.

I guess I’ll enjoy what I can get before it’s gone.

“I’ll see you tomorrow. Be good tonight.”

“Hey Knox?” I ask as he walks across the room to grab his things. He turns to look at me and I strip off my shirt. “You sure you want to leave so fast?”

A sly grin slides across his lips and he watches me intently as I slowly slip out of my pants.

“No panties,” he groans. “Mother fucker.”

In three strides he’s across the room, his mouth on mine, his tongue exploring mine.  His hand twists my hair around his fist and his other hand pulls me against him. The smooth suit is intoxicating, but I want what’s underneath it.

With ease I didn’t know I ever had, I undress him and we fall into bed together, a tangled mess of limbs.

My hand finds him hard and ready for me and I grin, looking him straight in the eyes as I start stroking him. He rests his forehead on mine and curses under his breath, his muscular arms braced around me to hold him up.

“God, Harper,” he groans. His lips start exploring my neck, moving to my nipples and around my side. He slides down my body and looks up at me as his mouth comes in contact with my clit. Two fingers slide inside me and between his lips and his hands I could easily come undone right now.

“Oh fuck,” I moan. “I need you inside me, Knox.”

He grins, wiping my juices from his mouth, and climbs back up me.

His first thrust almost sets me off.

“Holy fuck!” My cries are louder than I am typically, but I can’t stop them. Every time he thrusts into me I get that much closer to pure euphoric bliss.

He leans down again, his arms holding him up and he kisses me, all the while rocking into me and rubbing me perfectly. I moan into his kiss and he deepens it. We’re connected right now, two souls not just fucking… but so much more.

His eyes hit mine and I’m clutching to his biceps, I’m sure my nails are cutting into his skin but if anything, he seems to like it.

“Don’t stop,” I pant, his thrusts getting me closer and closer. “Oh fuck don’t stop.” He leans down and takes my nipple between his teeth and slams into me, hard. “Yes,” I cry out. “Oh god yes!” My legs wrap around his waist and my arms go around him as the orgasm rolls through me. The closeness…the full contact…holy fuck.

“Shit, Harper,” he gasps, his pumping becoming erratic. He pulls out as soon as my orgasm recedes.

“I need to taste you,” I whisper, moving to my knees and pushing him back on the bed. When I wrap my mouth around him and taste my arousal on him I’m more turned on than I was before, if that’s even possible.

“I’m close, Harp,” he growls and soon after releases into me. “Fuck!”

Swallowing and grinning up at him while I lick my lips, he can’t do anything but laugh with the most beautiful smile on his face.

“You’re a mother fucking vixen, you know that?”

“I’m glad I could help. You were looking pretty tense there.”

“Fuck, woman,” he sighs and lets his head fall back on the pillow.

“Hey, you’re gonna be late,” I say, standing from the bed.

I really want to curl into him and memorize all the ridges of his body, but I’ve already taken up so much of his time. I’d hate for him to really be late…well…for whatever he’s doing.

“Yeah, yeah. Cracking the whip, I see.” He winks and stands, heading to the bathroom to freshen up, bringing his clothes on the way.

Once he’s dressed again and ready to go, I give him another kiss to remember me by.

“Be good,” he warns.

“Always.” I smile at him and he chuckles then slaps my ass before grabbing his jacket and heading out the door.

Right. Good, my ass.

As soon as the door clicks closed I run to the living room to lock it, only to notice he’s already done so as well as locked the deadbolt from the outside. Small things like this I’ll miss…the tiny gestures that tell me he’s a safe bet. I’m going to have to find another roommate if I’m going to continue living here, and this whole ‘learning to trust’ thing is going to have to start all over again.

Maybe this time I’ll bring in a chick…that way I don’t even have the chance to get involved with a roommate.

It’s quarter to seven by the time Leigh shows up. I hear him rattling the door handle and laugh. Running to the door, I open it and grin at him, holding out his new set of keys.

“I see you changed the locks on me already.” He tsk’s at me as he tosses his old keys on the counter. Grabbing a drink, I crack it open while he goes for the food. I’m mid swig of beer when he reaches over and pulls the bottle from my hands.

“What the fuck?”

“You shouldn’t drink when pregnant, Harp.”

“Excuse me?! You’ve lost your fucking mind!” I grab the beer and chug the rest of it before he can steal it away again.

“Oh so you aren’t still fucking him? Like, a shit ton?” He raises an eyebrow and puts his hands on his hips. “Because you do know that leads to babies.”

“Jerk.” I mutter, tossing my bottle in the recyclable container and trying to leave the room. He blocks me in the doorway and grins.

“Why didn’t you tell me this, Harper? I’m your best friend. I thought this was just a one night thing to get him out of your system. He’s…you’re going to get attached and I can’t watch you depressed when he leaves.” His whine is pathetic and forced. All he wants to know is how well endowed he is, which makes me not want to talk about it even more.

“Bye Felicia.” I push past him and head to my room to finish getting ready. He follows me, as usual, and leans against the doorframe judging me as I finish putting together my outfit. I’ve never been a skimpy dressing person, but tonight I feel like being a little more carefree about things. It seems like my entire life I’ve spent being worried about something. It started with my dad’s sickness, then my mom’s substance abuse, then bills and school and now it’s everything. I just want to be free for a night.

“You’re wearing that?” Leigh’s eyebrows rise in surprise as he looks over my outfit.

A black and white skirt with a black tank. Bright blue high heels and my hair curled.

“What’s wrong with it?” I spin and look in the mirror. “I think I look good.”

“You do. Way too fucking good. What’s Knox going to think about this?”

“Knox doesn’t get a say in what I wear when I go out,” I scoff. “Plus, he’s out of town tonight.” A grin slips out and Leigh chuckles.

“You’re going to ruin this before you even give it a chance to start, Harper.”

“Am not. He’s leaving soon, Leigh. And I’m still young. Now let’s go.” I grab my purse and take his hand as I pull him out of my apartment.

“So where’s John tonight?” As I slip into the car Leigh gives me a tired glance.

“Working. Always fucking working lately.” He rolls his eyes and starts the engine.

“Yeah, Knox has been too. Hopefully it gets better for you soon, babe. Once the club is open I’m sure his schedule will even out.”

He doesn’t answer, but with a chuckle he turns out to the main drag.

Tonight we’re heading downtown to Washington Avenue. Tonight I plan on getting out of my comfort zone. Tonight I want to forget about Knox and everything he’s done to my world since he showed up.

I don’t want to think about him moving out.

I don’t want to think about my feelings for him. Feelings that are stronger than even I will admit to myself. Fucking feelings.

I don’t want to think about him. Period.

“Doll, your phone is going insane over there,” Leigh’s voice cuts through my thoughts and I realize I’ve been thinking about Knox nonstop since getting in this car.

“Shit,” I huff, pulling it out of my purse.

KNOX:
Where are you?

KNOX:
What are you doing tonight?

KNOX:
I miss you.

KNOX:
Hello?

“Jesus, obsessive much?” Leigh’s reading over my shoulder as we sit at a red light, seeing the multiple texts from him that I missed in the last fifteen minutes.

“Yeah really,” I huff. “He’s never been like this before.”

“He likes you, Harper. A lot.”

“Yeah.”

I type out a quick reply and turn my phone on silent. My goal for tonight isn’t to sit on the phone texting my live-in sex mate…or whatever he is. My goal is to forget him and I can’t do that with my phone on.