Time to Play (14 page)

“The press.
It has been two weeks,
Callum
. I thought a new story would be hitting the news.”

“They’re still camped outside her
apartment?” he asked Cole.

“Every day without
fail.”

“I can’t deal with this. So, I’ve
packed a bag and decided I’m staying here until all this is over.”

Simone dropped the bag on the floor
then folded her arms over her chest. “Do you have a problem with that?”

Callum
stared at the case then at her.
“What? Do I have a problem with you staying here?” He moved closer, his arms
going around her waist. “Baby, you’re closer for a lot more fun.”

Two weeks without sex and her body
melted instantly against him. She closed her eyes trying to gain her composure.
How did he do it?

“What do you say, Cole? Do you want
a houseguest?” She tensed when Cole didn’t answer right away.

“It would be lovely to have her.” Simone turned in time to see Cole
disappearing out of the door.

“He wants you,”
Callum
said next to her ear.

“Why aren’t you being all possessive?”

“Because there are still some things you don’t know about me,
sweetheart, but all in good time.” He kissed her neck, moving away.

He went to his desk as she moved to hers. She looked at him wondering
what he was thinking.

“I don’t cheat,” she said.

“What?”
Callum
turned to look at her.

Simone didn’t know where those words had come from. She felt like she
needed to come clean to him about it.

“I’ve never cheated on a guy who I’ve been exclusive with. I kissed Cole
because you and I were strangers.”

“I’m not sleeping with any other woman, Simone.”

She licked her lips. “Good. I’m clean. I mean, the last guy I was with
was a complete scum bag, but I got tested. I’m clean.”

“Are you worried about my health?”
Callum
folded his arms staring at her. For the first time in her life, Simone was
uncomfortable.
Callum
didn’t ask for permission to do
anything. He took. He took her kisses and touched her when he wanted. There was
no flirting or waiting period.
Callum
did whatever
the hell he wanted to do.

“We had sex in the pool without a condom. I appreciate you pulling out,
b-but, I need to know if you’re clean.” She turned her attention to the file on
her desk. None of the words made sense to her.

“I think you should have asked me before now. We had sex two weeks ago.
I’m clean.”

“Good.”

She opened the file, and her hand shook, which startled her.
Callum
closed the file on her desk, resting on her desk.
His hand reached out to caress her neck. This is where he took her world and
made her yearn for more. The small touches he gave were starting to mean more
to her than she ever expected.

He moved behind her chair, pushing the hair off her neck and moving down
to cup her breasts in each of his hands. She moaned pressing her chest against
his touch.

“You should never be afraid to ask me anything, Simone. Also, I would
never put you in any danger.” He kissed her neck, nibbling on her pulse.

One of his hands moved further down to cup her pussy through the pants
she wore. She wasn’t wearing any underwear. If he pressed tight enough, she’d
leave a wet patch from the arousal dripping from her pussy.
 

“I look forward to having you here, Simone. You have no idea how much I
do.” He kissed her neck running a finger up and down her covered slit. “When
you’re ready for more come and get me. I’ll be in the exercise room.”

Callum
moved away toward the door. He
turned at the last minute. “Tonight we have a function to go to. There is a new
artist that I’ve sponsored, and his work is on display. I’ve arranged for a
dress to be brought here for you.”

“Where?”

He mentioned the place then turned to leave. She knew her brother was
going to be at the function. Daniel loved art. Simone knew her brother would
try to speak to her. She hoped her father wouldn’t be attending. The last
person she wanted to see was the man who fathered her.

She went through the file seeing none of the words or numbers on the
page. After three hours of work with no breakthrough she went to the kitchen to
grab some coffee. Cole stood at the counter. He glanced up at her.

Simone looked away and felt his gaze on her as she passed.

“Are you going to that art function tonight?” she asked.

“
Callum
is going, and I am attending.”

“Is the artist any good?”

“He does nude pictures along with other pieces. I think his nudes are
better than the landscapes. I like looking at naked women.”

She didn’t rise to the bait. This was how their conversations had been
going.
Teasing each other with words and suggestions.
Neither of them moving to the next step.
Even if she wanted
to, Simone knew she wouldn’t cheat on
Callum
. Teasing
and flirting were fine though.

“You’re not going to give me a snippy retort?” he asked.

“First, I’m not snippy, and second, I prefer looking at naked men. I
don’t see a problem with that.”

She poured herself a coffee then moved over to him to take a bite of his
sandwich. “Besides, I’m with
Callum
.”

“I heard,” Cole said.

“Huh?”

Cole chuckled. Her pussy tightened at the sound. He leaned down, and his
cheek grazed
her own
. “You’re not exactly quiet when
you come, baby.”

Simone felt the heat fill her cheeks. He always made her feel
embarrassed, and she didn’t understand why.

“What can I say, Cole? I like to do more than listen to get me off.” She
pressed her body against him. “But whatever floats your boat, as the saying
goes.” Simone left him alone, going through to the office.

The teasing needed to stop. She knew it was only a matter of time before
their teasing came to a stop; otherwise she’d break her only cardinal rule.
Cheating.
The chemistry between them was undeniable. Simone
knew she wanted Cole. She’d never come between two friends no matter how much
her pussy wanted both men.

****

Cole watched her go with a smile. She was the first woman he’d been able
to tease without her growing offended over what he said. It was a refreshing
combination that he felt more addicted to each day she came near him.
Callum
walked around the corner sporting a grin.

“What has gotten you so cheery?” Cole asked.

“Nothing.”

“You were listening to us again?”

He knew his friend spent a great deal of time watching his and Simone’s
interaction. Cole didn’t see the attraction in what they were doing. Teasing
and innocent flirting weren’t anything deadly.

“You have no idea how much you both want each other. I think it is
cute.”

He wanted to deny every word that
Callum
spoke,
but Cole knew it was true. Teasing and innocent flirting weren’t really
happening. The attraction was building between them and had been for some time.
Each day it got a little dirtier or the touches became more daring.

“Nothing is going to happen,
Callum
. I told
you I wouldn’t share another woman with you.”

“What if it wasn’t just about the sex?”
Callum
said, leaning against the counter.

“Excuse me?”

“Simone is not like any other woman
we’ve taken. She’s different.”

He knew she was different; it was
one of the reasons it made her so intriguing.
“Why don’t you
tell me what you want,
Callum
?”

“Have you ever thought of settling
down with one woman?
To stop playing the field in the hope
that she can satisfy every craving.”

Cole had thought about it non-stop.
When he was at war in
Iraq
all he wanted to do was go home and wrap his arms around a nice warm woman.
Playing the field had grown tiring for him some time ago.

“Do you really think you could
settle for one woman?” Cole asked.

“I’m not as heartless as you think,
Cole.”

“You play with women like they’re
toys.”

“So did you once. If you can change,
so can I.”

Cole didn’t argue with his friend.
“I’ve got work to do.”

Cole brushed past his friend going
through to the office. Simone was hunched over the computer, her raven hair
cascading around her. She didn’t have any idea how much he wanted her. Did she
think it was a game between them?

She looked up giving him a smile.
“Are you ready for round two?” she asked.

“You couldn’t handle me, baby.”

“I think you’d be surprised.” Simone
lowered her head, running her pen along the page.
Callum
walked in several minutes later going to his own desk. Cole took his seat
staring at the blank screen of his computer.

Every now and again his gaze would
stray to the woman opposite him. How much longer could he deny himself? Simone
was getting under his skin, and it was becoming increasingly hard not to let
lose the beast inside him. He wanted her. It had been months since he’d fucked
a woman.

He knew the moment he lost himself
in
Simone,
he wouldn’t be able to walk away. There
were women you fucked and walked away from. Then there were women you fucked,
made love to, and stayed with until the end of the night.

For some reason, he knew Simone was
the woman he’d stay with until the end of the night. She was independent, and
Cole knew she was waiting for the right guy to take her. Simone wanted to be
taken. It was clear in the way she was with
Callum
.
The moment the guy started fumbling around, she was out of there.

He felt
Callum
watching him. Cole turned to stare at his friend. He watched as the other guy
stood up then walked over to Simone.
Callum
would
start by playing with her hair or caressing her neck. Each move was made with
the intention of playing. Simone didn’t protest. The touches were accepted
without any reprimand. Cole knew he was right about her. Simone wanted a man to
claim her, not to mess around asking questions.

The knock at the door interrupted
his thoughts. Leaving the other two alone, he answered the door. A harassed
looking woman held a box.

“Hi, I’m supposed to be dropping
these off for
Callum
Gallagher.”

Cole saw the name of a fashion
boutique and smiled. His friend enjoyed dressing women. He knew
Callum
would have gone all out for Simone. With her dark
red lips and raven black hair, she’d be a dream to dress with that figure of
hers.

“Do you need me to sign for
anything?” Cole asked.

“Nope.
Just tell
Callum
to send a large tip to Sophie, and she’ll handle the rest.” The woman handed
over the box then left.

Cole felt an urge to look inside.
What kind of dress would
Callum
buy for Simone? Not
wanting to spoil the surprise, he placed the package on the couch then went
back into the office. Tonight he would see her in the beauty of the outfit. He
couldn’t wait as he knew it would be without any underwear underneath.

Chapter Twelve

The guest bedroom was a dream.
Simone couldn’t have asked for a better place to stay. When she’d woken up that
morning and looked outside to see if there were still press, she’d been shocked
at how many there were still waiting for her. Whatever news was surrounding her
must be good for them to be waiting after all this time. The fight to get
through the hustle and bustle had been wearing thin. Packing a bag had been the
most logical thing to do.

Callum
wasn’t showing any signs of being
bored with her just yet. Until he kicked her out, cheated on her, or sent her
on her merry way, she’d be staying with him. Brushing her wet curls she opened
the box laid on her bed. Cole had been the one to show her to the guest room.
He’d placed the box on the bed. She recognised the ladies’ boutique on the box.
The gowns were always expensive and of the highest quality.

She revealed the red silk dress.
Putting the brush down, she pulled the dress up by the thin straps. Looking at
the design it had a low bodice that would show off the top of her breasts. The
silk went in at the waist and moulded to each curve.

Underneath the dress was a lacy red
bra with no straps.