Not Safe for Work(13)

Without missing a beat, he wrapped his arms around me. Our combined center of gravity shifted—I couldn’t say who’d moved or which way we’d gone, but suddenly we were off balance, so I pushed him up against the door frame to keep us upright. And, hell, having Rick pinned up against a wall or a door was rapidly becoming one of my favorite pastimes, so why not?

My backpack slid off my shoulder, and I let it fall. It hit the concrete with a heavy clunk and a muffled jingle. Rick straightened, sucking in a breath through his nose, but he kept right on kissing me.

Jesus Christ. Was I really standing in the doorway of a multimillion-dollar home, kissing the hell out of Rick Pierce with a bag full of kinky sex toys at our feet?

Yes. Yes, I was. And despite being barely twenty-four hours into this, it felt absolutely right. Less “how the hell did we get to this?” and more “how the f*ck did it take so long?”

When we came up for air, he was breathing hard as he met my gaze. “And hello to you too.”

“Are you complaining?”

“No. No. Definitely…” He rested a shaky hand on my hip. “Definitely not complaining.”

I grinned. “Good.”

We separated, and Rick picked up my bag and stood aside to let me in. “I’d, um, give you the tour, but…” He swallowed as I stepped past him. “Somehow I don’t think you’re any more interested in the house right now than I am.”

“Oh, one of these days, I’ll want to see the whole place.” I glanced around the foyer—Roman style? Totally not what I expected after seeing the exterior. I quickly lost interest in my surroundings, though, and looked right at him. “But I’ve been thinking about you ever since I left the hotel.”

“Likewise. Maybe we should’ve made last night an all-nighter.”

“We didn’t exactly come prepared for that.” I threw him another grin. “And besides—a few hours apart gave me time to plot and scheme.”

His eyebrows rose, and his Adam’s apple jumped. “Well. In that case.” He nodded toward the curving set of stairs. “This way.”

I gestured in the same direction. “After you.”

He hesitated, but then started up the stairs, and I followed. When we reached the second floor, he led me down a long hallway, pushed open one side of a set of French doors and waved me inside.

His bedroom was enormous. The vaulted ceilings made it seem even bigger, and the smallish furniture added to the effect as well. Oddly, the bed was maybe a queen size. I’d have expected one of those California kings or something with a headboard that took up half the floor. Then again, even if the house was huge, ostentatious furniture didn’t really seem to be his style.

It was pretty clear which side he slept on—one nightstand was bare except for a lamp, and the other had a cell phone charger, his watch, and a couple of paperbacks sitting under an e-book reader.

And of course, a pack of condoms and a brand-new bottle of lube.

He shut the door behind us. “Is it just me, or is this a little strange?” He smiled, coming a little closer, though he approached me cautiously like he probably would have a skittish animal. “Being here. Us. In my house.”

“Tell me about it.” I faced him. “I still can’t quite believe you of all people are interested in me of all people.”

Rick waved a hand. “You saw my profile. We match in a lot of places.”

“We also mismatch in a few.”

“Not the important things.” He smiled. “I’m just another guy.”

“Oh, no you’re not.” I tugged his belt loop and pulled him toward me. “I’ve seen you on your knees sucking my cock like it’s the only thing in the world you want to do. And I’ve heard you beg.” I held his jaw and kissed him. “You’re not just another guy, believe me.”

He shivered as I let him go. “Neither are you.”

“It is weird, though, you’re right.”

Rick nodded. “Yeah. Yesterday, we were working together, and—”

“I think it’s more accurate to say I was working for you.”

He shrugged. “Maybe.”

“So does this mean I’m about to f*ck my boss?”

He jumped, eyes widening and lips parting, and I thought I might’ve gone too far until he said, “Depends—would you f*ck me differently if I were your boss?”

Well. Now wasn’t that a good question?

“That’s an interesting thing to think about.” I let go and started making a slow, tight circle around him, and he followed me with his eyes until I went around behind him. “I mean, the customer is always right, so in that respect, I’m working for you.” I came around in front of him and held his gaze as I continued in an even tighter circle, our shirts nearly brushing. “If you were my boss, then I’d have to make sure that once we were in the bedroom, you knew your place.” I stopped in front of him and looked him right in the eye. “Do you know your place, Rick?”

He shifted his weight. “Maybe…maybe it would be best if you showed me. So we’re clear.”

I suppressed a shiver and reached for his cheek. “I get the feeling you’re my kind of submissive.”

“Do you?”