NeedMe (10 page)

“What kind of people?”
Women or men? Both?

“Someone nice. Not too pushy. Someone who’ll let me call the
shots, at least at first.”

Marcia laughed. “And you had a thing for Spencer? That’s
so
not him. He gives directions on how to face the toilet paper on the roll.”

Leigh flushed again. “You knew about that? That I liked
Spencer?”

“Everyone did.”

“They did?” Horror crossed Leigh’s face.

“Of course not
everyone
.” She needed to learn some
tact if she was going to be an advice guru. Or even live in the civilized
world.

Trying again, Marcia patted Leigh’s leg. She thought better
of it when Leigh’s color deepened. Maybe she’d just better keep her hands to
herself. “I’m his sister. I just sort of guessed.”

“Oh yeah. I couldn’t believe it when I found out you were
his sister.” Leigh shook her head. “That store’s so full of secrets.”

“Secrets are bad. Very bad.” Marcia shifted closer and
attempted to look non-threatening. Maybe she was just thinking too hard. She
needed to listen to what Leigh actually said and not play armchair
psychologist.

Leigh sucked in a breath. “So, meeting someone. How do I do
it?”

“Meeting guys is easy. Or people. Depending on your
preference.” Marcia cleared her throat. She also needed to stop being so damn
uptight. Roll with the punches. Freely discuss her love life on the fly, even
when sitting on a bench outside her former place of employment. “Do you
have
a preference?”

“Sexually? I don’t know.” Leigh tugged down her skirt. “I’m
not experienced enough to be sure.”

“You need to experiment to discover what you like.”
Very
advice guru of you.

“Well, yeah, but I need to find someone to experiment with.”

Smothering a smile, Marcia cocked her head. Maybe Leigh
didn’t know how to approach the subject. Maybe she only felt comfortable
reading about it. If so, Marcia could offer her a conversational twig. “Have
you considered sleeping with a woman?”

Chapter Eight

Leigh’s mouth dropped open. “Umm, what?”

“You heard me. Women. Have sex with one. Or more than one.”
If Leigh had already experimented with girls, this conversation would validate
her lifestyle choice. Perhaps Leigh was bi-curious. If so, Marcia would be
helping her embrace her sexuality. “I experimented with women,” Marcia added,
crossing her legs.

“You did?”

“In college. They helped me learn my own body. Another woman
can show you exactly what feels good.” With effort she refrained from bringing
up the title of Leigh’s book since she didn’t seem too eager to show it off.
“Of course you can teach that to yourself but an extra couple of hands and a
mouth never hurts.”

“They don’t?”

“Okay, enough with the parroting, kid. Men fumble about a
lot. Women know how to get right to the goal. Have you explored yourself?”

“Kinda.” If Leigh got any redder, passersby would start
asking questions. “I’ve tried.”

Marcia scooted closer. This was definitely a trial by fire
for her in the advice business. “You’ve never masturbated?”

Leigh shot away from her, pressing against the other side of
the bench as if Marcia had developed a communicable disease. “I have but
haven’t been successful.”

“So you have problems with orgasm.” Marcia nodded. “That’s
very common. A lot of women come easiest from oral sex, if they aren’t able to
climax from their own fingers or with a toy. Have you tried oral?”

“With who? I’m single.”

Marcia frowned. “No possible friends with benefits?”

Leigh shook her head.

“Well, you could try to find one. Just someone you could be
open with your body with. A casual thing’s fine. It doesn’t need to be anything
heavy.”

“You’re telling me I should have random sex? Before I’m in a
relationship?”

Marcia’s frown deepened. Wasn’t that how most people did it?
She certainly had. Every time. “What do you want? Orgasms or lifetime fidelity?”

“Can’t I have both?”

“Not in this therapy session.”

Glimpsing Leigh’s stricken expression, Marcia sighed. “All
right, maybe I’m moving too fast. I’ve been having sex since I was twelve. I
don’t really remember what it was like being pure.”

“I didn’t say I was pure.”

“Muddy then.” Marcia shook her head. “Look, Leigh, I’m
almost forty. How old are you again?”

“Twenty-three.”

Twenty-three and couldn’t come. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, what
she’d give for that girl’s body and here Leigh didn’t even know how to use it
properly.

Leigh inched a little closer on the bench. “You’ve really
been doing it since you were twelve?”

“Yep. Took a few years off when I became a born again
virgin, and again during the dry period of my marriage. But even so, I used
toys. A lot of toys. I pleasured myself often. Regular orgasms give you
benefits way beyond just enjoyment. They benefit your skin, your overall
health, your peace of mind.”

Leigh pursed her lips. “You sound like an expert.”

“At sex?” A grin exploded across her face. “Thank you so
much!”

“Well, not at chastity.”

Marcia laughed. “Leigh, this new sense of humor of yours is
very attractive.”

“Thanks.” Leigh fiddled with her hair. Marcia knew she
wanted to tuck it out of the way but she resisted. Probably to avoid a lecture.
“Say I wanted to meet someone to connect with sexually. Where should I start?”

“I usually hit the bars but you don’t seem like the bar
type.” She also didn’t seem like the Kink type. “Hmm. I’m not really sure where
people meet other people. How about at work? Anyone you like there?”

“Other than Spencer, no. He’s gone now, but he was totally
out of my league anyway.”

“Because he was your boss?”

“Well, yeah, but also because I’ve heard rumors that he’s
dominant all the time. With women. Kelly’s such a control freak. How do you
think that works, between them?”

“I have no idea nor do I want to. Spence’s sexual practices
equal no Marcia land,
capiche
?”

Leigh surprised her by laughing. “Sorry. I keep forgetting
who I’m talking to.”

“That’s okay. But I’ll let you in on a secret. There’s
nothing weak about a strong woman submitting to a man. You’d be surprised how
powerful it makes you feel.”

“Really? That doesn’t make sense.”

“Give it a try. Test your boundaries. If you don’t like it,
don’t do it again. Sex is like cotton candy. Some flavors are more tasty than
others. If one kind doesn’t do it for you, try another one next time.”

Leigh twisted her fingers together. “But I still have that
problem of meeting someone. I’d prefer he be good in bed so I don’t have to spend
forever vetting him.”

“That is a time-consuming part of the process,” Marcia
agreed, mulling over the possibilities.

Her cell went off in her purse and she flipped it out to
check the Caller ID. Adam. Her perennially single, oft-chased-by-the-fairer-sex
younger brother.

Galvins weren’t duds in the sack. It was almost a genetic
mandate. Pains in the ass out of bed, sure. Craptastic lovers? Not bloody
likely.

Instead of answering the call, she let it go to voicemail
and glanced at Leigh. Dual lights of hope and concern shone in her green eyes.

“There is someone I could refer you to. He’d be happy to
have sex with you. I’m reasonably certain you’re exactly his type.” Marcia’s
gaze dropped to Leigh’s bountiful breasts. “Make that I’m
sure
you’re
his type.”

Leigh’s lower lip dropped to around her knees. “I don’t want
a gigolo.”

Marcia chuckled. “He doesn’t get paid for sex. And of
course, whether or not you decide to have sex with him would be your choice. I
just know he’s safe and most women consider him attractive. He’ll probably get
you off. Though the details of that don’t need to be shared with me. Please.”

“Who is this guy?” Leigh asked, her tone suspicious.

A minor sticking point, since Leigh had previously called
him annoying. But no matter. Marcia didn’t consider a man being annoying a
deterrent to sleeping with him. One could only pick from the available pool of
guys, right? “Adam.”

“Adam who?” Then Leigh’s eyes bugged out. “Your
brother
?”

“One and the same. He’s in town for a while. Knowing him
he’ll be looking to score. You game?”

“I can’t have sex with Spencer’s brother.”

“Why not? Close your eyes and pretend if you have to. Women
have been doing it since the beginning of time.”

Leigh clapped a hand over her mouth. “I couldn’t.”

“Sure you could. And he wouldn’t mind. It’s not like you’re
going to fall in love and get married. Just enjoy a nice little fuckfest while
he’s here from Florida then you both go your merry way. No harm, no foul. So
what do you say? Should I call him and set up a date?”

“I don’t know, Marcia. If it’s just dinner, I guess I can
stand him that long. But I don’t know about
doing it
with him.”

Marcia nodded somberly. If she knew Adam—and she did—Leigh’s
panties would be swinging from the chandelier before dessert was served. “That’ll
be up to you.”

“You won’t tell him what I’m looking for?”

“Sex? No. I’ll just say you’re getting back into the social
scene. He’ll say yes. You’ll probably have to listen to an hour of football
stats but that’s the price all women have to pay for orgasms.”

Leigh nodded as if she already knew that little tidbit.
“Okay. I’ll go. But tell him I don’t eat seafood. I don’t like Thai or Mexican
either. Actually, anything too spicy is out. And he can pick me up here
tonight. I’ll be working.”

“I don’t know if he’ll be available—”

“Eight would be good. No, eight thirty. If that won’t work,
he can call me.”

“So another night would be good for you too?”

Leigh frowned. “What’s wrong with tonight?”

Apparently it would be tonight whether Adam liked it or not.
“I’m sure tonight will be fine. I’ll have him get in contact with you. What’s
your number?”

Leigh withdrew a pad from her purse and started to scribble.
“Eight thirty,” she repeated. “Sharp.”

“Gotcha.” Whether Adam and Leigh would both still be alive
afterward was anyone’s guess, but her work here was done. She’d officially
doled out sex-related advice, complete with arranging a possible booty call. If
that didn’t help her earn her stripes in the guru business, she didn’t know
what would.

Leigh handed over the piece of paper. “Here. Tell him not to
be late.”

“Perfect.” Marcia grinned. “I’ll make the call right now.”

* * * * *

“You set up Leigh with Adam for sex?”

Staring into the mirror, Marcia edged her eyebrow pencil
along her lower lash line. “Saying it that way makes it sound so crude.” When
she held out her hand, Tony gave her the small black case that held her eye
shadow. “I suggested they get together for a possible meeting of the intimate
minds.”

Tony laughed. “Oh, I see. That sounds so much better.”

“Doesn’t it? And I didn’t tell you about any of this.”

“Of course not.”

“As an advice guru, I really shouldn’t. There’s patient
confidentiality and all that. Even if I’m not operating in a professional
capacity, I need to exhibit ethics.”

“They do come in handy.”

Marcia smirked at him as she set aside her makeup tools.
“Which do you think says sex club? Smoky gray or teal?”

“What color’s teal? Sort of purply?” He looked over her
shoulder at the array of eyeshadow colors, giving her a strong dose of amp 10
testosterone cologne.

Her panties dampened at once. “Shit.” She grabbed hold of
the counter with her free hand and shot him a grin. “Your cologne just gave me
a mini-orgasm.”

“Bend over that sink and I’ll give you a couple of mega
ones.”

“Nuh uh. You’re helping me pick out makeup so we can go fuck
in public. We have an agenda.”

“Such a bossy little thing,” he murmured against her neck,
pinching her hip. “I still owe you a spanking for you thinking you can’t
write.”

“You hardly ever spank me.”

He rubbed his hand in a wide circle on her butt. She
currently wore a stretchy purple dress that drew ample attention to her curves.
“I’d rather kiss your ass than strike it.”

“Wise man.” She smiled and selected her smoky gray shadow.
“Oh, and bring some condoms tonight, would you? I know they’re all over but
just in case.”

“We had condoms last night. Or you did. I just didn’t want
to use one.”

“Why?”

“Feels better without.”

“Well, duh. But things happen when people don’t use them.”
Their gazes collided in the glass. “You know?”

When he shrugged, she set her teeth. “Whatever happens,
happens,” he said evenly. “It’s no big deal.”

Clearly they weren’t on the same page. Or else his ten years
younger was showing. “I’m referring to an unplanned pregnancy, just in case
that wasn’t evident.”

“I’m aware of how the process works.” His tone never rose.
“Cale will always be wearing a condom though. That we’ll make sure of.”

“We will?”

“Sharing you only goes so far.” He brushed a kiss over her
shoulder and a thrum of need shook her straight to her toes. “You don’t ever
have to worry about me and the consequences, Marsh. You know that, right?”

“Yeah.” She took a shaky breath. “But if we take care of
protection, it won’t be an issue anyway.”

Another jerk of his shoulder. “Your call. I’m gonna catch
some TV. Let me know when you’re ready to go.”

He left before she could respond.

Throughout the ride to Cale’s place, their condom
conversation dampened her mood. She didn’t understand how Tony could be so
unconcerned about a possible pregnancy. They hadn’t discussed the chances
they’d taken in the past, but now that they had, she felt even more confused.

Did it just not matter to him if they had kids? Either way,
cool beans?

When Tony pulled into Cale’s parking lot and shut off the
engine, she grabbed his wrist. “Hang on a sec.”

His jaw tensed. “Hanging.”

“Do you want me to get pregnant?”

“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it.” He looked at her for
a long moment then glanced away. “But if you did, it wouldn’t bother me. I want
kids someday. You’re the one who’s against them.”

“I’m not against kids.” Was she? Hell, lately she didn’t
know what she was against. “I’m just not sure if I’m ready to—”

“Grow up?” he asked, a smile tipping up one corner of his
mouth. “It does have its downsides.”

She reeled back as if he’d slapped her across the face.
Censure from Tony was both rare and exceedingly painful. “You think I’m
immature?”

“No. I think you’re afraid. Which is fine. I have plenty of
time to wait you out.” He leaned in and swept a kiss over her trembling mouth.
“Bet Cale’s watching us from his window,” he added.

“Let him.” The tremor that started in her lips had now
traveled throughout her body. “I’m not immature. I just like having fun. And
I’m not scared. Of what? If I want something, I go out and get it.”

“What do you want most right now? Not tonight, I mean, but
in general. When you see your life, where are you and what are you doing?”

“Up until last year I saw myself in a bookstore. With you.”

“And Cale?” She didn’t miss the edge in his voice.

“No, just you. You’re the one who made me want to try the
whole couple thing again.”

He nodded. “Exactly why I’m not worried about protection.
We’re in the same place. Whatever happens will just be one more step toward
where we’re meant to be.”

“But I’m not twenty-five and newly married. Everything in my
life is so tenuous right now. Playing fast and loose like that is only being
irresponsible.
That’s
immature.”

“Way you see it,” he said easily. “Me? I see it as nature
taking its course. And maybe giving us a shove along with it.”