Naughty Neighbors (12 page)

“Then you should be glad she has other interests.”

“For the record, Kemper and I didn’t get married.”

“I heard.” He’d listened to the breaking reports on the radio while he’d showered. The rumors had stirred a whirlwind of counterattacks from the Kapertone camp. Publicists had worked diligently through the night in an effort to put the gossip to rest.

“Has this thing with you and Kara been going on for a long time or—”

“You’ll have to pump Kara for information.”

“Interesting choice of words.” Carly leaned forward. “You are a handsome devil. I’ll give you that, but I’ll also give you a head’s up.” She moistened her lips and stared at his.

Flirting came easy to women like Carly. Zak had been with enough of them to know. He’d also performed in enough lifestyle clubs to believe that after a woman watched him fuck, for some reason, they wanted a turn, too.

He wasn’t that great in bed, but something about the way he fucked a woman enticed curious onlookers. Was Carly coming on to him? Yep, he was pretty sure she might have been. Then again, her man was upstairs alone with
his
woman.

“He’s great in bed, but he doesn’t have your...well, you couldn’t exactly hide what you’re swinging when you stepped out from behind the plate, now could you?” Carly fluttered her eyelashes. “He wants to dominate his women but he isn’t a true Dominant. I’ve been with enough Doms to know the difference. You’re the difference. Aren’t you, Zak?”

He stood. “I need to check on Kara.”

“She’s fine and you don’t need to intrude. Kemper and Kara have a history, as I’ve already explained. They’ll sort things out.”

“If they do, I’ll have no other choice but to bow out.”

“And if they don’t?” Her gaze bore into his. “What if they don’t, Zak? What do you plan to do with my best friend? Make her into your little plaything? Parade her around town like a trophy so the men in this town will admire you for such a pretty find? What do you want with Kara? And what do you think you can give her that Kemper hasn’t already offered her?”

Zak was pissed. He felt like Carly was stalling him so he wouldn’t go upstairs, but he also felt her pumping for solid information, data she would later hand over to Kapertone. If Kemper Kapertone wanted to know his intentions, he could man up and ask him.

He’d damn well tell him.

“Kara and I haven’t discussed the future. There wasn’t a lot of time after we saw those toys Kemper sent her.” He let Carly stew on that for a moment. She’d clearly been upset when she’d discovered Kemper had sent Kara sex toys. “If Kara will have me, I do plan to offer her something she hasn’t had in the past. Unlike the man who was in her bed first, I plan to be faithful. I plan to be true. Perhaps Kemper can now offer the same to you.”

Eighteen

“I’ve been dreading this moment for the last ten minutes,” Kara said, stepping out of the bathroom dressed in jeans and a snug red T-shirt.

Even after what Kemper had witnessed, Kara still took his breath away. A wet lock of hair clung to her cheek and he still remembered the first time he saw her. She’d been so energetic and full of life. He’d admired her from a distance before he approached her and when he gave her that first interview, it had been all he could do to stay focused on relaying game highlights. Their chemistry had always been like a magnetic force.

Even now, he was drawn to her like a moth to a flame, but he had a feeling she’d consider that pull in a more sinister manner—like a mosquito swarms water, for instance. Her body language easily suggested she wasn’t his for the taking. His heart was breaking, shattering beyond repair.

“I know I haven’t been fair to you,” Kemper said. “While you were showering, I took a hard look at myself in the mirror. I don’t like who I see in there anymore.”

Kara wrung her hands then sat on the bed. He couldn’t help but notice the faint smile that appeared then quickly diminished when she eyed the bar and cuffs still situated on the floor.

“Do you love him?” He stuffed his hands in his front pockets.

“Why would you ask me that?”

“Do you?” He needed to hear the truth from her. “I think it’s a logical question, all things considered. You aren’t the kind of woman who would let just any man into her bed, let alone do the things you’ve obviously allowed him to do.”

“Don’t do this to us, Kemper,” she pleaded.

“What am I doing, exactly?” Kemper had made himself a promise. He didn’t want to rip into her. He didn’t have that right, especially after the way he’d more or less neglected her in the past six months.

They’d been together intimately once in that time. What had he been thinking? Had he really thought having phone sex every now and then would sate her sexual appetite? Did he really believe she wouldn’t find someone else?

Yeah, he mused. He never once thought she’d cheat on him. If, in fact, that’s even what she did.

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” He cupped her cheek. “I know this is my fault. I accept responsibility. Now, we just need to move past it.”

Kara took a deep breath and pulled away. “What if I don’t want to move past it?”

Kemper felt his forehead tighten. “Of course you do, Kara. We’ll go look for another place tomorrow. You’ll tell Mr. Neighbor that we’re in love and that will be that.”

“And if I don’t?”

“What do you mean if you don’t?” He balked at that. “Of course you will. I understand why you slept with him. You thought Carly and I had married, so it’s understandable. You retaliated with just cause, but now it’s over.”

“It’s not over,” she said, barely audible.

“Of course it is. And I forgive you.” He glanced around the room. “I’m not sure why you chose to share the things I bought for you with him, but I’m not going to hold that against you either. Considering how I caught the two of you, I can only assume everything happens for a reason. I have to look at this from another angle. You now know what I like, what I want.”

“Kemper, it’s over.” There was such finality in her voice.

“It’s not over, sweetheart.” He forced a smile and tried to touch her again, but she moved before his fingers brushed her cheek. Clearing his throat, he quickly added, “It’s only just beginning. You’ve learned from the old guy. I should be thanking him instead of wanting to kill him.”

The floor squeaked and let them know they weren’t alone. Their heads turned to the door.

“How long have you been standing there?”

“Long enough to know you think your woman was in bed with an older man.”

Kara flashed the old guy a smile then ducked her head and lowered her eyes.

“Maybe I should talk to him,” Kemper said, feeling that rage rising inside. “Isn’t he your Dom now?”

“Kara?” Her new lover seemed to want an answer.

Kara’s eyes met Zak’s. He seemed to give her permission when he tilted his head and that alone infuriated Kemper all the more.

“Are you really going to throw away what we have for one night of sex?”

Kara took a deep breath, patted his arm, and then walked to the door. “You and Carly make yourselves at home. I know you must be exhausted after a hard game yesterday and an unexpected flight. We’re all tired. Maybe tomorrow this will make sense to you, Kemper. I hope so.”

“Just where do you think you’re going?” He followed behind her but realized then his effort was pointless. He couldn’t say anything to change her mind or delay the game. The game in question wasn’t one where the other players would welcome him on the field. In fact, looking at Zak and Kara then, he quickly understood the pain a true penalty inflicted upon a man in love. Unlike football, his mistakes had cost him far more than he’d been prepared to pay. And unlike his favorite sport, there were no replays in matters of the heart. “Kara?”

Zak wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close. “She’ll stay with me tonight.”

She looked up at her neighbor as if he were her Prince Charming. “Are you sure it’s okay?”

“Don’t mind me,” Kemper drawled.

“I won’t,” Kara said, shooting him a sweet smile he translated as stark sarcasm. “There’s only one man I want to ‘mind’ at all, Kemper. And that man isn’t you.”

Nineteen

“I can sleep on the sofa.” She watched Zak rush around his bedroom. He picked up articles of clothing and tossed them in the hamper. With her statement, he came to an abrupt halt.

“And why would you do that exactly?” he asked, taking a slow step to her.

She shuddered as his gaze whipped up and down her body. “I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”

A grin tilted his lips. “You’ll sleep in here, sub.”

Her breasts felt heavier the second he addressed her with that commanding strength laced through his voice. A hint of arousing temptation settled in her core, leaving her womb clenching in need. The fine hairs on her nape tickled her flesh and her nerve endings felt as if they had been shocked with an electric current. Even her nipples felt tender and sore.

Why did she have an instant response to his voice? Was it because she already knew what he could do to her body, how hot he could make their passion burn? Did he realize he had this sort of effect on her? If so, would he use his position of power to strengthen their bond or would he ultimately take what he wanted and leave her forever ruined, longing for just one more night alone with him?

“I want you in my bed,” he said, taking her by the hand and pulling her against him.

“I could sleep for days. You may have to kick me out.”

He lifted her shirt over her head and immediately embraced her scantily clad body after he discarded her top. His fingers dipped under her clasp and he unhooked her bra. Next, he pushed the straps down her arms. “I won’t be kicking you out.”

“No?” Her breasts spilled into his hands. He plucked her nipples, pinching and tugging them until she moaned with the exquisite mix of pleasure and pain. “Oh that feels so nice, Sir.”

She arched against him, longing for the intimacy then more than she had in the previous hours before. Supporting her back, he ran his tongue between her twin peaks and kissed her down to her navel, fluttering his tongue in and out of the indention.

“Mmm, that feels so good.”

“I know what you need, sub.” He dropped to his knees then. After he loosened her snap and zipper, he kissed the line where her thong had left a faint discoloration on her skin. He quickly stripped her of all clothing and helped her step away from her discarded garments.

Zak looked at her then, really stared into her eyes. “I sort of went back on my word earlier. Now I’ll make it up to you. I plan to pamper and please you.”

“You’re wearing me out. That’s what you’re doing.”

“I’m just getting started with you, sub.” His hot breath washed across her skin and she quivered when he sank lower and pulled her with him.

She was stretched out on the floor beside him before she knew what hit her. Zak took his position between her legs and used his tongue like a trained weapon. He parted her folds and assaulted her pussy lips like a renegade attacking his target. He possessed the only ammunition needed—determination and plenty of skill.

Kara didn’t have time to prepare for the onslaught of good intimate loving. He tapped his tongue against her clit and a wave of arousal flooded her channel once more. “Zak.”

“Yes?” He seemed to mock her then. He rammed his tongue between her pussy lips and the fluttering sensations began all at once.

“Too good,” she crooned, biting down on her fingertip. “I’ll come. You’ll have to carry me to bed...after I...come.”

He stopped his intimate pursuit and rose over her then, kissing her passionately. She could taste her own juices on his wet lips as he thrust his tongue inside her mouth. He deepened their kiss and she jerked, pulling back before thinking about the consequences.

“Don’t,” he said, holding her head steady between his large hands. “I want you to taste what I taste.”

“But—”

“But shhh...” he rasped. He kissed her again, pulling her with him and forcing her to stand. Unsteady on her feet, she fell against the bed, her knees buckling and bending over the edge of the mattress.

Zak stood between her legs. He unhooked his belt, stripped off his jeans, kicked off his loafers, and tugged his shirt overhead.

God bless, he was one fine hunk of a specimen. His dark features held her captive. She became his hostage then, controlled solely by his wishes, wanting to meet and exceed his every demand.

She wrapped her hand around his thick cock and pulled him to her lips. “May I, Sir?”

His cock dipped inside her mouth the second she asked for permission. “Don’t try to make me come.”

“Why, Sir?” She dragged her tongue across the tiny slit of his cockhead. “Don’t you want me to satisfy you?”

His carnal growl exploded around them. “That’s the problem. Just touching you brings me pleasure.”

His confession drove her. She bobbed her head over his cock and sucked the tip to the roof of her mouth, vibrating against his shaft. Tracing the swell of his sac with her fingers, she sucked him in a set rhythm, rising to the tip then falling to the base. She devoured his length and wanted nothing more than to drink in his release. She needed to know the taste and texture of his spill. She longed to see the expression of pleasure marking its place upon his face as she sated his longing and quenched his desires.

His extraordinary size lengthened until she found it more and more difficult to take all of him. She’d noticed how large he was before but now his erection seemed to swell more with every plunge inside her mouth.

Zak was stacked in inches. And she wanted to run her tongue over every last one.

Twenty

She’d given him the blow of a lifetime and he’d made it last for as long as possible. When he couldn’t take it anymore, he said, “I want to teach you how to please me.”

“I want to learn, Sir.”

“You will,” he promised. “But first, I need to hold you. I want to look into your eyes and fuck you, sub. Let me show you how good it will be between us when the punishment is over and the rewards are in play.”