Roping the Wind (16 page)

She had believed they were alike and would conquer their profession together. Too busy with her own career, she hadn’t realized what a two-faced bastard he was until she caught him exchanging dirty emails with one of the nurses from the hospital. They’d only been married six months.

Helen lifted her head and stared out of the windshield. Suddenly it was hard to breathe. Stupid fool that she was, she’d given him more chances, and every time he’d proved her trust in him was a mistake. It wasn’t surprising that she hadn’t let any man get close to her for years. So how come she wanted to speak to Jay?

She fumbled for her cellphone and found his number.

‘Yeah?’

She swallowed hard. ‘It’s Helen.’

‘What’s up, honey?’

‘I’m finished at the party.’

Silence hummed along the line. In the background, she caught the faint sound of male voices laughing. She gripped the phone more tightly.

‘Can I come over?’

‘Sure you can. I’m at college but I’ll meet you there. Ask the concierge to let you in, OK?’

She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding. ‘Thank you, Jay.’

‘Nothing to thank me for. I’m the one who got lucky.’ He paused. ‘Do something for me, would you? Leave your clothes by the door and be ready, naked in my bed.’

‘I can do that.’

‘Then I’ll be as quick as I can.’

Jay’s apartment was in darkness. Helen stood by the door, listening to the lonely hum of the refrigerator punctuated by the blare of horns from the street below. Flashes of light reflected from the city beneath the vast windows struck the chrome furniture in a random arcing pattern. The place smelt of cleaning supplies and burnt toast.

Unhurriedly, Helen stepped out of her clothes and left them by the door. She felt so much better without the constriction of the boring black suit. Feeling guilty, she’d called Carol and asked her to feed Tiger. Carol had been more than delighted to help and had even kept the questions to the minimum.

Jay’s bedroom door was open and she tiptoed in. Judging from the professional corners on the bed sheets, he definitely had a cleaning service. She clicked on the two lamps by the bed and then headed into Jay’s walk-incloset. A light snapped on as she entered, making her jump.

In one corner of the closet hung several western-style shirts and a few pairs of tattered jeans. Three polished pairs of old cowboy boots sat on the shelf, two on the floor. The rest of the oak cabinetry held an amazing array of men’s business suits, casual wear and shoes of every color. Helen checked the label in the first suit and found it was Armani. Somehow she doubted the immaculate rows of clothes belonged to Jay. They must belong to his mysterious, rich elder brother.

Jay smiled as he stepped over the neat pile of Helen’s clothes and followed the trail of light into his bedroom. The lamps were on but there was no sign of her. He smoothed a hand over his jeans as his impatient cock stirred and lengthened.

Where was she?

A slight noise in the closet diverted his attention away from the bed. He stepped inside and found Helen rubbing her cheek against one of his brother’s suits. His gut twisted.

‘You were supposed to be on my bed.’

Helen dropped the sleeve of the jacket and brought her hand to her chest.

‘Jay, you startled me.’

He strolled toward her, his gaze on her face. ‘Naked and on the bed. If I remember right.’

Her nipples tightened as his possessive gaze swept her body. Even naked, she looked so right standing among his brother’s possessions. He could easily imagine them together.

‘I’m here, aren’t I?’

Blood rushed straight to his cock, making him painfully aroused. ‘Yeah, but you’re not on my bed.’

She flushed, the color staining her breasts and her cheeks. ‘Does it really matter?’

He didn’t bother to reply. He simply unbuckled his belt, watched her gaze lower and took his time drawing it through the loops. She turned away from him and retreated to the far end of the closet, where his own pathetic clothes were stored. She sniffed at one of his shirts, brought the fabric to her lips.

‘I like your scent, better. It’s like smelling a barn.’

He came up behind her and used the belt like a lasso, dropping it over her head and tightening it slowly around her neck. She went still, her face still buried in his shirt.

‘I don’t like to be kept waiting.’ He yanked hard on the belt until she was pulled back against his chest. ‘You’re supposed to do exactly what I say.’

‘And if I don’t?’

‘Then I’ll have to put you over my knee and remind you.’

She shivered and the delicate sensation rippled through his skin. He angled his head and kissed her hard, his tongue grazing her lips until she yielded and let him in.

Before she could recover from the kiss, he tugged on the belt and led her into the bedroom. He sat on the bed, pulled her over his knee.

‘Do you want to apologize and tell me that you should’ve been on the bed, legs wide open, waiting for me to fill you with my cock?’

‘No.’

He smiled down at her exposed ass and brought his hand down hard on her skin four times, the sound loud in the silence.

‘Are you sure?’

No answer this time, although the scent of her arousal rose to swamp his senses. Four more slaps and she began to shift on his lap. He let her slide between his legs until her knees hit the floor.

‘Suck my cock.’

She unzipped his jeans, drew him out in her hand and bent her blonde head.

‘Ah,’ Jay sighed as she took him into her mouth. ‘That’s good. Do it again.’

He waited until he couldn’t last another second and tugged on the leather belt still wrapped around her neck. ‘Get on the bed.’

She released his cock and scrambled up onto the bed, her breathing as rushed as his, her body flushed with her arousal. He retained his grip on the belt and brought her close for a kiss, tasted pre-come on her lips mixed with the wet heat of her mouth.

He guided her down onto the bed, her ass sticking up in the air just how he wanted it. It took him only a second to sheathe his cock in a condom. Her cheeks were still a little red from his slaps. He squeezed them, heard her catch her breath as he gathered her hips into his hands and surged forward with his cock. She was already wet for him but it was a tight fit. He worked himself deeper, rocking into her until he could go no further.

‘Hard, Jay, please. Do it hard.’

His cock swelled as she whispered his name. He was so damned ready to oblige her. Fucking her fast and hard was definitely one of his favorite things to do. She moaned as he pistoned in and out and grew wetter and easier for his thrusts. He increased his speed as he felt his come travel up his shaft.

She gasped as he slid his hand around her hip and found her clit; he worked her hard with his thumb, determined to make her climax right alongside him. When she started to buck underneath him, he let go, filling her with hot spurts of his come, his hips pinned to hers as she continued to milk his suddenly sensitive cock.

He relaxed over her, his face buried in the curve of her neck. He lazily traced the line between her skin and his leather belt with his tongue. ‘Was that hard enough for you, darlin’?’ The only answer was a muffled groan. He closed his teeth on her throat and she shuddered. Rolling off her, he unbuckled his belt from around her neck. A soft red stripe marred her skin. He touched it with his fingers. ‘Hell, I got carried away.’

She reached up to feel her throat. ‘It doesn’t hurt.’

He kissed her fingers. ‘Really?’

‘Jay, I liked it. I liked you controlling me that way.’

He stared into her eyes. Christ, he’d liked it too. What was up with him and this woman? Who was controlling who? ‘Why did you want to come over here tonight?’ he asked her.

She closed her eyes, shutting him out for a moment before refocusing. ‘Because I wanted to be with you.’

‘For the sex?’

‘For everything that you give me.’

Shit
, she sounded way too serious for his comfort level. He levered himself away from her and onto his back. Tried to sound relaxed, although he didn’t think she would buy it.

‘I don’t have much to give anybody. If you want more than a good fucking, you’d be better off with my big bro.’

She sat up and pushed her blonde hair away from her face. ‘Why are you constantly trying to set me up with your brother? If he’s as perfect as you say, don’t you think he’s able to pick his own girlfriends?’

Jay refused to meet her gaze. ‘He has everything a woman could want: good looks, charm and money.’

Helen got off the bed and stood staring down at him, arms folded over her chest. ‘Don’t you understand me at all? I’ve had all those things; I’ve married all those things. Can’t you see that I just want . . .’

Her words petered out, and with an exasperated sigh she turned on her heel. Jay counted to five and then couldn’t stop himself following after her. She was already by the door, buttoning herself up into a prim white blouse and black pants.

He held out his hands, palms up. ‘Don’t do this again.’

She didn’t look at him.

‘Don’t waltz out of here without explaining yourself.’

‘There’s nothing to explain. You made me feel stupid for coming over here. And God knows why I did. I was obviously deluding myself.’

Jay set his teeth. ‘About what?’ She looked at him and he caught the glint of tears in her eyes.
Shit.

‘About what we give each other,’ she said.

‘You see? You have no idea what I’m even talking about, do you?’ She finished buttoning her blouse and started to shrug on her jacket. Hell, he didn’t want her to go. Time to cowboy up.

‘Listen, I’ve never fucked a woman like you before.’

‘A doctor, you mean?’

‘No, a woman who likes sex, just like I like it.’ Jesus, he sure was an articulate slob.

‘And how is that?’

He stepped closer, touched the mark around her neck where his belt had been with his finger. ‘A little edgy, a little rough.’

She swallowed hard and finally met his gaze. ‘That’s what I came here for. The chance to be myself.’

He smiled at her, drew her into his arms. ‘See? We communicated. No need to run away from me again.’ He nipped her throat. ‘You keep doing it and maybe I’ll have to tie you to my bed.’

Her breathing shortened. ‘You wouldn’t do that. Would you?’

His erect cock brushed her thigh. ‘If I had to make sure you stayed put, hell yeah.’

Helen stared at him, her thoughts in chaos. No one had ever turned her on like this. Why the hell was she wearing clothes when Jay was naked and ready to give her his all? She licked her lips. ‘I’m not sure if I’d let you do that to me, Jay.’

He unzipped her pants, slid his fingers inside her pussy. ‘You’d let me, honey. You’re wet just thinking about it.’

He worked his fingers in and out until she was moaning and moving against his hand. When he slowly withdrew them, she could only open her eyes and stare up at him. His smile was deliciously dark.

‘Stay there, sugar. I’m going to get some clothes on and we’re going to do a little shopping.’

She checked her watch. ‘But it’s almost ten. Most stores will be shut.’

He winked at her. ‘Not the kind we’re going to.’

The shopfront was blacked out and the area they walked through was decidedly rough. Steam rose from the manhole covers and blended with the stench of warm rotting garbage. Helen baulked as Jay placed his hand in the small of her back and steered her gently but firmly through the door. As her eyes adjusted to the light, she realized they weren’t alone. Several guys and one lone woman stood leafing through a wall of magazines and books.

Even from her spot by the door, she could see that some of the literature wasn’t quite her style. Big-breasted women dressed in chains and straddling motorcycles had never been her thing.

She dug Jay hard in the ribs with her elbow. ‘Why exactly are we here?’

‘You’ll see.’

He took her hand and marched her deeper into the store. The second room was lined with paraphernalia she recognized but had never seen so openly displayed. One wall was devoted to whips and floggers, the second to vibrators. A third held every kind of lubricant and sexual aid a dedicated man and woman might ever need.

After a few minutes, when all Helen could do was gape, a smartly dressed woman approached.

‘Hi, can I help you find anything?’

Helen looked pointedly up at Jay.

‘Yeah, cuffs,’ he replied.

The woman pointed to the bottom right-hand corner of the third wall. ‘Here you go. We have all kinds, from fun to furry to serious metal.’

‘Thank you, ma’am.’ Jay sauntered across to the crowded wall display, Helen’s hand held firmly in his. ‘What kind do you like, honey?’

Helen whipped her hand out of his grasp. ‘I do not
like
any of them.’

Jay picked up a pair of pink fuzzy cuffs and held them out to her. ‘You’re such a liar.’

Helen met his lazy stare head on. ‘Really.’

‘Yeah, really, ’cos when I’ve got your wrists locked into a pair of these and you’re tied to my bed, you know you’re going to love it.’

Her gaze dropped to the cuffs. ‘How do you get them off?’

His eyebrows rose. ‘How do I get you off? Well, first I’ll kiss your nipples until they’re all nice and hard for me and then I’ll lick your pussy –’

Helen grabbed his hand and dug her nails in. ‘I said how do you get the handcuffs off?’

‘Oh, right.’ He pulled at the pink cuff. ‘This kind have Velcro. They are real simple to undo.’ He bent down to study the other sets which were closer to the floor. ‘Hey, I think I’ve found the perfect pair.’

Before she could see what he was doing, he turned her around and pointed her at the door.