I was still debating the merits of scrubbing my bathroom floor versus cleaning the oven when my phone rang. It was Adelle. I looked down at my screen, unsure if I had it in me to talk to her. By the time I decided I didn't, she'd already gone to voicemail. I waited a few minutes, trying to decide if I was even ready to hear her voice before finally playing the message.
“Bree.” Her voice was shaking. “I know you're pissed at me and I hope you'll eventually give me a call back so we can work this out. Until then, I want you to know that I canceled my session with Cade. Your friendship means more to me than anything else. Especially sex.”
She inhaled like she was going to say something else, but didn't. The voicemail ended and I deleted it, softening as the full impact of her confession ran through me. Adelle had canceled her time with Cade because of me. She hadn't argued that she had every right to see him, especially since she'd been with him first. She hadn't told me it was none of my business who she or Cade fucked.
I touched 'call back' and she answered on the first ring. There was a moment of awkward silence and then we both started talking at the same time.
“Bree, I'm so sorry...”
“Adelle, I get it...”
We fell silent for a moment again and I let her break it.
“I wasn't thinking; at least not thinking with my brain,” she said. “But I understand why you’re upset.”
“Don't worry about it,” I cut her off. I didn't want to get into the reasons why I'd had an issue with her seeing Cade. I knew Adelle. She'd read too much into it and we'd end up arguing again. “It doesn't matter.”
“It does,” she insisted.
I sighed. “Adelle, I don't want to fight with you and I don't want to have this talk over the phone. I think we can get past this, but we're going to need to have a very frank discussion at some point.”
She was quiet for a moment. “All right,” she said. “I really don't want to lose you, Bree.”
“I know,” I said. “I don't want to lose you either. We just have to deal with what's happened.”
“Do you and Mindy have the day off tomorrow?”
I looked at my calendar and silently swore. She was right. I'd completely forgotten that we didn't have school tomorrow. I was going to have to find something to keep myself busy for the day. “Yeah, we do.”
“Let's meet for lunch. We can talk then.”
At least that'd give me something to think about other than Cade, plus I wouldn't have to spend days trying to figure out how to keep things from being awkward on Friday. “All right,” I said. “How about the café around the corner from my place?”
“That sounds good,” Adelle said, the relief evident in her voice. Just hearing it made me feel better.
“And, Bree, um, there's something else I have to tell you.”
That didn’t sound good.
“Cade's on his way to see you.”
“Shit.”
“I'm sorry,” Adelle said. “When I called him this afternoon to cancel our session, I told him why and he said he was going to see you.”
I didn't ask her why it had taken her until today to decide to cancel her session. I was too busy trying to figure out how I was going to handle things when Cade showed up. Especially considering I was wearing my bum-around-the-house outfit: a pair of gray yoga pants and a baggy t-shirt... with no bra.
There was a knock on my door.
“I have to go.” I hung up before Adelle could say anything else and hoped she wouldn't think I was still mad at her. I just couldn't deal with her on the phone and Cade at my door at the same time.
“Aubree, open up.” His voice had that quiet, authoritative tone that made me automatically move to obey.
I was half-way to the door before I even realized I'd moved. I stopped before I could unlock it. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I could do this. It wasn't personal. It was business. Once Cade understood that, he'd leave and we'd never see each other again.
I ignored the pang going through me at the thought. I opened the door and took a couple steps back. Without meaning to, I crossed my arms, hating myself for feeling so self-conscious.
Cade shut the door behind him. His face was blank as he turned toward me. “Would you like to explain why I received a voicemail from you canceling our contract, and then a call from Adelle canceling her session because you were upset I was seeing her?” His words were even and carefully devoid of any inflection.
“I didn't ask her to cancel her session,” I said.
“That wasn’t the question,” he said as he took a step toward me.
It was all I could do not to back up. There was a tension radiating from him and I could feel my body wanting to respond.
“Did I ever give you any indication that you were my only client? That we were somehow exclusive?”
I shook my head. I needed to explain before he thought I was jealous. Ending our deal was one thing, but I didn't want him to be mistaken as to why I'd done it. It had to be very clear that I didn't have feelings for him. Because I didn't.
“I know you see other clients,” I said. “It wasn't that.”
“Really?” He raised an eyebrow, clearly not believing me. “Then what was it?”
He was starting to get that smug tone that was equal parts annoying and sexy. I scowled at him. “It was weird thinking of you fucking my best friend and then fucking me, okay? Comparing us.” The last two words came out before I could stop them. That was it, I knew, the main reason the idea of Adelle and Cade together had freaked me out. The truth.
“Comparing you.”
I lifted my chin. “Yes. Comparing us. Our bodies. How good we are in bed.” I forced the words out. “I've been friends with Adelle my entire life. I know what it's like to stand next to her, to have guy after guy walk past me to get to her. I shared a room with her in college, so I got an earful of her social life, okay? I know you'd been with her before, but it's different thinking you'll fuck me one day and her the next. I'll always be wondering how I measure up. If you're thinking about her–”
He closed the distance between us in two quick strides, his eyes blazing. “I told you before, I don't think of anyone else when I'm with you... with any client. And I never compare.”
I swallowed hard. “That’s bullshit. You’re a man, not a machine. Besides, I didn't say you'd do it on purpose, but I know Adelle.” My lips tried to curve into a smile, but didn't quite manage it. “And when we're next to each other, I'm not the one who stands out.”
“First of all.” Cade's voice was harsh. “Adelle won't be hiring me again until after I'm done with you.”
Done with me? I started to shake my head, to tell him it didn't matter now. We were done. I wasn't doing this anymore.
“And second,” he continued without even acknowledging my negative response. “I'm not done with you.”
Chapter 3
His mouth was on mine and I was drowning in his kiss. He hadn't let me say anything after declaring he wasn't done with me. I’d barely had time to process the words. His lips came down with bruising force, taking my breath away, and his arms had wrapped around me, crushing me against his chest. When his tongue teased the seam of my mouth, I'd been unable to resist and parted my lips with a moan. I couldn't deny how my body responded to him.
When he pulled away, I was breathless and trembling, my knees weak. I expected him to let me go and distance himself, reminding me with his body language that this was professional. He wanted this because I was guaranteed repeat business for weeks. Adelle was an occasional fuck and she’d probably go back when he was done with me. I was a steady paycheck, at least for a while.
He kept one arm around me though, his hand at the small of my back. The other hand came around to push a few stray curls from my face.
“I don't compare you to anyone, Aubree,” he said. “There's no comparison.”
I blinked. What did he mean by that? Before I could ask, he was releasing me, his stance shifting.
?
??If you're drawn to a dominant man, he may feel the need to punish you from time to time, particularly when you do something that displeases him.”
My head spun as Cade switched into his teaching mode. What the hell?
“If you're a submissive, you may even ask him to punish you.” His voice lowered. “You may need him to.” He undid the button on his jeans. “Or you may just wish to please him. Get down on your knees. It's time for you to learn a few things about using your mouth to get your partner off.”
I stared at him. How had we gone from that to this?
“Aubree,” he said my name sharply. “Use your safe word to end this, or get down on your knees.”
I swallowed hard. I should do it, scream the safe word at the top of my lungs. I told him we were done and he'd refused to accept me as being serious. But, if I said 'red,' I knew he'd listen. We'd be finished and he'd walk out the door. Which was exactly what I wanted.
I opened my mouth to say the words and took a step toward him for emphasis. Then, all thought fled my mind and I sank to my knees before him. His eyes filled with heat and my stomach clenched as his pupils dilated with desire. He unzipped his jeans and pushed them down to mid-thigh, taking his boxer briefs with them. My pussy throbbed at the sight of him, already half-hard and bigger than average.
“You have a very talented mouth, Aubree.” Cade cupped my chin, tilting my head up so that I was looking at his face rather than his cock. He brushed his thumb across my lips, then pressed it inside my mouth.
I flicked my tongue across the pad of his thumb and then sucked on it. His fingers tightened on my chin and his eyes darkened.
“That's good, but there is more to a blow-job than a single piece of anatomy.” He pulled his hand back, moving it down to stroke his cock as it stiffened. “This isn't the only thing that enjoys the wet heat of your mouth.” He dropped his hands and cupped his balls. “We're going to work on your attention to these too. And we're going to see how much of me you can take.”
I nodded.
“Not today, but by the time we're done together, I expect you to be able to take me right down that pretty little throat of yours.”
Fuck. I bit my bottom lip. I didn't know if it was actually going to be possible, but when he said it like that, I definitely wanted to try.
His hands dropped to his sides and I took that as my cue. I started like I always did, running my tongue along every inch of him, circling the tip as I wrapped my hand around his base. He still wasn't fully erect, but he was big enough that my fingertips couldn't touch.
“A man's balls are just as sensitive as his cock,” Cade said. “Take them in your hand.”
I cupped them. The skin was softer than it looked, the texture smoother than what I expected. I'd felt them against my legs when having sex, and I was sure I'd brushed against them when I'd given Ronald a hand job or blow job, but this was the first time I'd deliberately paid direct attention to them.
“Use your mouth. Lick them, suck on them. All the things you do to my cock, do to my balls too.”
I bent my head, the angle awkward, but as soon as I ran my tongue along them, Cade moaned and I forgot about how uncomfortable the position was. I took one of his balls into my mouth, rolling it around on my tongue, feeling it shift and move within its sack. When I switched to the other one, I heard Cade mutter something that sounded like an encouragement, but I couldn't quite make out the words.
His hand rested on my head, his fingers massaging my scalp as if he was restraining himself from pulling my hair. I moved back up his cock, letting my hand take over on his balls as I paid attention to the thick shaft that was now curving up toward Cade's flat stomach. When I lowered my head, I took the first couple inches into my mouth, savoring the weight of him sliding across my tongue.
“That's it,” Cade breathed. “One hand playing with my balls while you suck my cock.”
The pleasure I heard in his voice spurred me on. I was glad he was pleased with what I was doing, but I'd have liked it even more if he hadn't been able to talk. I hollowed out my cheeks every time I pulled back, determined to prove I could make him lose control. I wanted it more than I wanted anything. To hear and see him come apart and know I was the cause.
He pressed down on my head, wordlessly encouraging me to take him deeper. I opened my mouth wider, ignoring the brief pop in my jaw. The head of Cade's cock reached the back of my tongue and I felt myself starting to gag. I pulled back, half-expecting him to shove me back down, but he didn't.
“Again,” he said. “Breathe slowly through your nose.”
I did as he said, concentrating on taking air in as his cock slid back into my mouth. This time, when I automatically started to gag, Cade's hand tightened in my hair. He held me just a split second longer than I would've stayed, not enough to make me panic, but enough to remind me who was in control. I coughed as he slipped out of my mouth.
“A partner who enjoys control may want to control the speed and depth of a blow-job.” Cade used the hand in my hair to tilt my head up. “But always remember that it is the illusion of control.”
I frowned at him, not understanding.
“It is your mouth that can make him come. Your hands holding one of the most sensitive parts of his body. It is an exercise in trust.” He brushed his fingers across my lips. “Now, make me come.”
I took his cock back in my mouth, wrapping one hand around the base and using the other to cup his sack. I used what he'd just taught me, taking him as deep as I could as my fingers rolled his balls. I sucked hard, letting the way his fingers twisted in my curls tell me what he liked. He swore and his cock twitched in my mouth.
“I'm close,” he warned me and I knew he was giving me a choice of where I wanted him to finish.
It wasn't a choice, really. I'd known what I wanted from the first moment I'd seen him. I’d known then that I wanted to feel him come in my mouth. I could feel his balls tightening, ready to empty, and I went as far as I dared, fighting the urge to gag as more than half of him filled my mouth. I couldn't hold it for long, but it was enough.
Cade's fingers curled into a fist, pulling my hair hard enough to hurt, but I ignored the pain and focused on swallowing every last drop as he climaxed. A stream of obscenities spilled out of his mouth as I sucked and licked the sensitive piece of flesh in my mouth until he was pulling me away, breathing hard. I looked up at him, desire flaring sharply at the near-wild look in his eyes.
He grabbed my shoulders and pulled me to my feet. One hand cupped the back of my head, holding me in place as his mouth covered mine. He thrust his tongue between my lips, twisting around mine. His other hand pushed under the waistband of my pants and underwear. As his fingers roughly parted my folds, I moaned, my hands fisting in his shirt. A finger rubbed against my clit, almost too hard and I cried out. He swallowed the sound, then nipped at my already swollen lips. He rested his forehead against mine, panting with his need for air. As his fingers dropped lower, two slid inside me.
“Fuck.” I closed my eyes, giving myself over to the pleasure spreading through me.
“Never.” His voice was low and fierce. “Never let anyone make you feel like you're less than who you are.”
A small whimper fell from my lips as he ground his palm against my clit. My legs shook as a thousand sensations trilled through me.
“Do you hear me, Aubree?”
I nodded, unable to speak. I was pretty sure only my grip on his shirt was keeping me from falling. That and his hand between my legs.
“Good girl,” he said. “Now come.” He curled his fingers and pressed against my g-spot. “Come.” He rubbed in a small circle as he scraped his teeth along my jawline.
I did.
I came with a shudder, silently, wordlessly, my body too overloaded with all that had happened to process anything as complex as sound. The hand on my neck dropped to my back, holding me as his fingers continued to slide in and out of me, drawing out my orgasm until I wasn't sure I could take anymore
.
When he pulled his hand from my pants, my legs almost gave out and I had to lock my knees in order to stay in a standing position. I took a step back, leaning against my table as I focused on regaining my breath. Cade pulled up his pants, tucking himself back inside before zipping up. His eyes met mine as he raised his hand and slowly licked the fingers that had been inside me. My stomach contracted almost painfully as I watched.
“We're not done until I say we're done,” he said. He turned to go, saying one more thing before closing the door behind him. “I'll be in touch.”
Chapter 4
When I walked into the café late Monday morning to meet Adelle for lunch, I had a much different attitude than when I'd last talked to her. Cade’s confrontation made me realize that while there was an element of being justifiably upset, my emotional upheaval had more to do with my own personal insecurities. And those were something Adelle could never be responsible for.
“Hi,” she said nervously as I approached the table.
When I smiled, I saw the relief cross her face. I sat across from her and placed my usual order with the waiter who came by just a few seconds later. This was my usual go-to place when I didn't feel like making a meal, so they knew me pretty well.
“So, how do you want to do this?”
I didn't think I'd ever seen Adelle look so uncomfortable, so out of her element. As long as I'd known her – which was as long as I could remember – she'd been this confident, unstoppable force. It was that, the uncertainty in her eyes that raised my resolve to make sure we worked this out. There was no doubt our fighting was hurting us both.
“How about no bullshit?” I said bluntly. Her eyes widened slightly and I understood why. While I was a generally honest person, I also tried to be tactful. When she nodded, I continued, “I wasn't jealous. I mean, I'm not jealous. I know Cade has other clients. It wasn't that. Part of why I was so hurt…” I paused, exhaling the pain the words wanted to bring back. I needed to think with the rational side of my brain, not the side that wanted to scream and throw a tantrum. “I was hurt because you didn’t realize or care that I’d be upset for you to hire Cade while he and I were still sleeping together. Plus, you were clearly hiding it from me.”