This is confirmed when Kynan smirks at me before turning to Trista. "Talk to you later, darlin'."
"Bye, Kynan," she says softly... with affection... and is that desire?
I turn on my heel and walk out of The Social Room, down the private hall and into my office. Kynan follows behind. The minute I hear him close the door, I turn on him. "What the fuck do you think you're doing?"
"What do you mean?" he says innocently, but he's still wearing that smirk.
"You know what I mean," I growl at him. "Trista's off limits to you."
"She wasn't last night," he points out. "And besides, since when do you care about monogamy? I guarantee you don't have any exclusive agreement with her."
"That's beside the point--" I start to say, but Kynan cuts me off.
"It's exactly the point," Kynan says and the smirk is now gone. His expression turns serious as he takes a step toward me. "Trista is a nice girl. She's gorgeous and a dynamite fuck. But she is not your girlfriend, and I'm pretty damn sure she's nothing more than a dynamite fuck to you as well. So why shouldn't I take a shot at her?"
"What?" I sneer at him. "Are you offering her monogamy?"
"Fuck no," Kynan says, horrified. "I love the single life. I'm just saying unless you tell me your relationship is exclusive with her, you've got no right to be proprietary."
"Christ," I mutter as I turn away from Kynan and rake my fingers through my hair in frustration before whipping back on him. "I'm asking you to stand down and stay away from her unless it's by my invite to join us."
Kynan cocks a skeptical eye at me. "You going to tell every guy who's sniffing around her that?"
"Who's sniffing around her?" I ask, another flare of anger rushing through me.
"The question is who isn't?" Kynan says with a knowing look. "People have taken notice of your interest in her, and the men think her pussy must be magical or something."
My shoulders sag as my gaze drops to the floor in consternation because I realize I have no right to ask any man to stay away from Trista. We agreed this was casual and we could see--well, fuck--other people.
"Jerico," Kynan says softly, and I look back to him. "You asked me to back down and I'm your best friend, so I will. But if you want others to stay away, that's Trista's call, so you better talk to her about this. If you want to be exclusive, just lay it out there to her."
"I don't want to be exclusive with anyone," I snap at him, because I've trained myself over the years to not believe in love, trust, and loyalty between a man and a woman. The losses that could result from love are too painful to tolerate.
Kynan nods in understanding, his eyes sad for me and my unwillingness to open up. While he indeed enjoys the single life, he believes in love. In fact, he had a great love he let get away, so I think it makes him even more empathetic to what I've been through and how it's made me.
Turning toward the door, Kynan grabs the knob but before opening it, he turns back to me. "She's not Michelle. Maybe you should give her a chance."
I don't say anything in response. Kynan gives a sigh of frustration and walks out of my office.
At least I can be assured he won't go after her, but not sure what to do about her sudden popularity among the men in the club. I have no standing to say anything to them, not to mention it would be bad for business.
I stare at the door Kynan just walked through for a long time, and then it hits me.
I may not be able to say anything to them, but I'm her employer and she works exclusively for me. I can sure as hell say something to her.
Walking to my desk, I pick up the phone and buzz the podium. Trista answers, knowing it's me because it will show her from what extension the call is coming from. She cuts right to the point. "Are you done beating your chest?"
Ignoring her remark, I say, "Come to my office. We need to talk."
"Right away, sir," she says and from her tone, there's no doubt she's not happy about me pulling Kynan away from her.
Well, tough shit.
I take a seat behind my desk after taking off my suit coat and loosening the knot to my tie. It only takes moments before there's a soft knock on my door. Trista walks in confidently, her expression frozen into a mask of impassiveness so I have no clue what she's thinking. But it doesn't matter since I'm the boss.
"It's come to my attention that you have a few men interested in you here at the club," I say lightly.
Trista just shrugs. "I guess."
"You're not to have sex with any of them while you're in my employment and fulfilling the terms of our deal," I say in the most businesslike tone I can muster.
Her whiskey eyes go dark, and she glares at me. "I notice you didn't offer the reciprocal to me. That you won't sleep with any of the other women here."
"That's because I'm the boss and they're my rules," I say, and even as the words come out, I know they are way fucking wrong.
They feel wrong to me, and yet I don't take them back.
Trista pushes out of her chair, leans over, and slaps her hands on my desk. "You are the boss as it pertains to any work I do here at The Wicked Horse, but you don't have any say over what I do with my body on my own time. I can fuck who I want, when I want."
"And who do you want to fuck?" I growl at her as I stand up, placing my hands on my desk and leaning in toward her.
The fight drains out of her eyes immediately over my question, her eyes dropping to stare at the desk. She takes in a deep breath. Without looking at me, she admits almost shamefully, "I don't want to fuck anyone but you."
A wave of relief hits me followed by almost a giddiness that she only wants me. I put my hand under her chin and lift her face so she looks at me. "So then why are you so angry about me asking you to stay away from other men?"
Her eyes fire up again, and she jerks back from me. "Because, you ass, you didn't ask. You told. And without offering me the same, it screams of ownership, and I don't like that at all. It sucks I only want you, and I hate myself for it, but there you have it."
Something that feels like a wrecking ball punches into my chest, robbing me of my breath for a moment. While I was mired in these stupid fucking feelings of jealousy, it never hit me once that perhaps Trista wanted to only be with me. I mean... she did take Kynan's dick last night and she was flirting with him today, but...
Coming around the desk, I walk up to her as she watches me warily. I take her hands in mine, give them a squeeze, and say, "How about for the duration of our deal... you and I agree to sleep with each other exclusively unless we both agree on inviting someone into our bed?"
Trista's eyes soften. The smile she gives me is one of relief. "That is something I can agree to, I believe."
Leaning in, I give her a soft kiss before pulling back. With total transparency, I tell her, "I'm sorry I was a jackass. I handled it badly."
"Forgiven," she says with a smile. "But just out of curiosity, will you be inviting anyone else into our bed?"
My hands release hers and take hold of the hem of her dress. Leaning in, I press a kiss to her neck before pulling back and telling her, "We've got three weeks left in our arrangement. I think you and I can come up with plenty of ways to entertain ourselves without involving others, but if we get bored, we can talk about it."
She smiles, draping her arms over my shoulders. With a glance down at my lips, she whispers, "Then let's seal the deal."
I'm all for that. She's inferring it will be done with a kiss, but I have something a little more wicked in mind.
In one swift move, I pull her dress over her hips and swing her around so her back is to my desk. She gasps when I pick her up and deposit her there before dropping to my knees.
"What are you doing?" she rasps out as I roughly shove her legs apart and pull the crotch of her panties aside.
"Sealing the deal," I tell her without even looking up.
Then I put my mouth on her, giving her that kiss she wanted, just in a different place.
CHAPTER 20
Trista
I come slowly awake, taking in the soft sheets of Jerico's bed and the pillowy mattress that's like sleeping on a heavenly cloud. I roll over, open my eyes, and see Jerico's side of the bed is empty. I can't help the smile that comes to my face as I remember everything about the last several hours.
How Jerico showed a definite jealousy that he'd never admit out loud, leading to us promising exclusivity until my time is up here. I'm not sure what will happen then, but I know it's going to be difficult to part ways. As long as Jerico left things casual, I could keep my heart protected. But he's moved us out of that space and put us straight into a situation where I could get hurt. I don't think Jerico is relationship material, but I can't lie and say I'm not hoping something will change. I mean... this beautiful, successful man who is a sex god in every way wants only me right now when he's normally the whore of the club. I hate for it to mean that much to me, but I'm such a girl... it does.
"You're awake." I roll over to see Jerico walking into the bedroom, fully dressed with damp hair. He's holding a cup of coffee that he sets on the nightstand by me, then sits down on the edge of the bed near my hip.
"How do you feel this morning?" he asks with a self-satisfied, cocky grin.
Bastard should feel cocky. I don't know how many times he made me come last night. The first time while he had me sit on his desk, then again when he fucked me while I bent over it. After that, he buzzed up Amanda, who was working the podium with me, and told her I wouldn't be returning.
Caveman Jerico picked me up and brought me to his apartment, where we had sex--I kid you not--three more times. I didn't know men could do that. It wasn't successive, one right after the other. But we'd have sex, then talk, doze off and sleep a little. Then he'd wake up, put his hands on me, and it was on again. We repeated that pattern three freaking times, the last time occurring about seven AM. A quick glance at the clock tells me it's half past one PM now.
I give him a smile. "I feel great."
"Not sore?" he asks.
"Nope," I lie.
"So if I stripped down now, climbed between your legs, and shoved my cock in you, would you scream in pain or pleasure?" he asks, and geez... I know he has no intention of doing that because he's dressed to the nines for business, but damn if the throb between my legs doesn't want him to.
"I'd scream in pleasure," I assure him.
He lifts an eyebrow at me as if I've wounded his dick's pride. "Well, to be on the safe side, I'll manage to wait until tonight to have you again."
"You're so kind," I say dryly, then my brow furrows. "You want me to stay over again?"
By his confused expression, I can tell the question caught him off guard. I think Jerico only knows he's going to fuck me sometime tonight, but he hadn't given much thought as to when and where or if he'd invite me to stay.
Before he can answer, I sit up in the bed a little more and stop any potential discomfort he's in from putting him on the spot. "I can't stay tonight. I promised Corinne we'd do something special all day tomorrow, so I need to get home right after my shift."
Jerico's eyes go soft, but I can see a level of disappointment in them. "Of course. Totally understand. Guess I'll just have to sneak some time in with you while you're on duty."
"Sounds good," I say with a smile as I start to sit up in the bed.
Jerico turns and grabs the coffee, handing it to me. "Cream and one sugar, right?"
I smile brilliantly at him. "Very good."
"I'm observant," he says by way of explanation. "That's how you made your coffee yesterday."
True enough. We drank coffee together in his kitchen before I headed home to get showered and spend some time with Corinne and Mom before I had to come back to work.
Jerico looks at his watch, and then says, "I've got to get going. Got a meeting across town in an hour, and I've got some paperwork to finish first."
He leans over and kisses me. When he pulls back, he doesn't pull back very far, our noses just inches from each other. "I enjoyed last night."
Four simple words, and they make me feel all warm and squishy.
"Me too," I murmur back.
"Okay," he says with one last quick kiss. "I'm out of here. Take your time leaving. The door will lock behind you."
"'Kay," I mutter as I sip at my coffee and watch his gorgeous backside in tailored navy-blue pants paired with a crisp white dress shirt as he walks out of the room.
When I hear him leave the apartment, I settle into the pillows propped up on the headboard and drink my coffee, contemplating how very strange my life has become. At best, my life could have been called satisfying. I had a respectable job with good benefits working as a receptionist in a dentist's office, I owned my own home and had a network of causal friends I could hang out with and do fun things. My best friend, Claudia, lives in Germany now as her husband is in the Army and got transferred there, but we text daily, talk on the phone at least once a week, and Skype as well, I mean... life was good.
Of course, there were stressors but aren't there always? I wasn't even surprised by Danielle abandoning Corinne. While suddenly becoming a surrogate mom was a little overwhelming, I wouldn't trade my time with Corinne for anything. In fact, I think she was supposed to be with us at the time Danielle chose to abandon her, because of her illness. My mom and I took far better care of her than Danielle ever could have. I'm ashamed to say that about my sister, but I'm not sure Corinne would have survived if she hadn't left her behind with us.
With a sigh, I take a sip of coffee and think about Jerico. He took my ordinary life and turned it upside down. Within a week's time, I went from my most exciting night involving club hopping and maybe having a one-night stand I always regretted the next morning, to a woman who has shamelessly let a man control her entire sexuality.
I let Jerico have sex with me in front of other people.
I let Jerico and Kynan have sex with me in front of other people.
While my face heats up thinking about it, I can't disregard the fact that the things that have happened to me this week have been the most exhilarating, liberating moments of my life. I'm sad that there's going to be an end to this. I think I have more awakening left within me. Being in this atmosphere where kink and debauchery are the norm without any judgment makes me want to take advantage of everything Jerico will teach me. And I want that knowing I can leave in a few weeks' time and never see anyone in this club ever again. It will be like a grand adventure, but one I can easily close the door on when I'm done.
Well, at least I think I could if it weren't for a gorgeous, orgasmic, charming alpha man who seems to want me.
Ugh.
I don't want to linger on it anymore. Last night was amazing and tomorrow night will be amazing. But now it's time for me to go back to my ordinary life. My mom is cool and won't give me the stink eye for not coming home the last few nights because I'm an adult and she treats me as such. I've always made sure she was fine with Corinne, and while I've not told her any details about Jerico, I think she's got some romantic notion I might have found "the one" since I've spent three nights with him. But I was telling him the truth about needing to go home tonight as tomorrow is going to be a Corinne day and I want to devote myself to her.
Setting my almost-empty cup down on the table, I reluctantly put on my black dress and underwear Jerico had taken off. The club opens at two PM, which one might think is odd and wasted because who wants to go have kinky sex in the middle of the day? But surprisingly, there's a decent-sized crowd during daylight hours. Mostly people who are seriously into their sexual fantasies and make liberal use of their memberships. I'm sure many are for adulterous liaisons too. The night crowd swells with mainly tourists looking to check off a bucket list item or something. Still, I need to stop in the locker room and get my bag of street clothes I had worn in yesterday before shift as I'd had to come straight here from running errands. Hopefully I can minimize my walk of shame by sneaking in, changing clothes, and hightailing
it out of here. It's no secret Jerico and I are sexually involved, but I still don't want it flaunted.
I take my cup to the kitchen, rinse it out, and put it in Jerico's dishwasher. Grabbing my purse, I sling it over my shoulder and head out of his apartment, making sure the door locks behind me. I quickly walk past Jerico's office and then pop into the locker room to change clothes.
Unfortunately, the room isn't empty. It's occupied by three ladies, all who work condiment trays. I don't know them at all. In fact, I only know two of the women's names, Wendy and Calista. The work here is fast paced and solitary, so it's not conducive to forging friendships among employees. After shifts, people rush out, or they may take advantage of the club membership. Either way, I've barely said a handful of words to any of these girls, but I give them a friendly smile when I walk in. They're in the process of getting undressed and had clearly been talking and joking about something, but they went deadly silent when I walked in. They don't smile back at me.
I ignore them, open my locker, and grab my bag out, heading to one of the dressing rooms. This is a unisex locker room, which is the reason for privacy stalls, but many of the staff don't take advantage of it and just dress out in the main area. I guess the whole being uninhibited sexually thing applies to nudity as well.
Making quick work of changing into my jeans and a black t-shirt with "Joie de Vivre" printed on it, I put on flat sandals studded with coral and turquoise beads. It's my go-to casual wear. After putting my dress and heels away, I zip up my bag and make my way out of the dressing room.
Only to come to a complete halt as all three of the women, Wendy, Calista, and I-Have-No-Clue-Who, are standing there and glaring at me. Because I've never interacted with these girls much, and because I know I've done nothing to piss them off personally, I can only assume this is about Jerico.
I let out a sigh of frustration before straightening my spine and crossing my arms. "What's up?"
"We're just wondering how you've managed to get Jerico's attention for so long," the girl whose name I don't know asks snottily.
"I'm sorry... but what's your name?" I ask without answering her question.
"Leigh," she snaps at me.
"Well, Leigh," I say in a calm voice, then turn to look at Wendy and Calista, "I'm just going to have to tell you ladies it's none of your business what's going on between Jerico and me."