Beneath This Mask

“That. Again. More.”

He leaned down to scrape his stubble along my jaw. Withdrawing, he wrapped my legs around his hips and thrust deeply, adjusting his pace from slow to fast and then slow again. My hands shifted to his shoulders and my nails dug into the solid muscles. His alternating, impossible to predict pace, coupled with my piercing had the intensity building until I was on the brink. I held it off, wanting to make this moment last, to memorize this feeling. But the riots of sensation were intensifying, and I couldn’t stop myself. I stared up into Simon’s hazel eyes as it shattered me.

“So goddamn beautiful,” he breathed.

His pace accelerated once more, and I arched up, seeking the friction against my clit and then pulling away when it became too much. “Simon—”

“I got you, babe.” And he did. He slid a hand under my ass and angled my pelvis up, relieving the pressure on my clit but shifting his strokes to hit my G-spot. My vision faded as my eyes rolled back. “Holy—” I couldn’t get out another word before another climax ripped through me.

I felt Simon jerk and heard his groan. After a few more strokes, he slowed and collapsed onto me. He immediately pushed himself up, trying to save me from his weight, but I snaked my arms around his neck and pulled him back down.

“No, I like feeling you. On me. Inside me. Let me enjoy it for a minute before you crush my lungs.”

He kissed my temple. “Now who’s a talker? Fucking destroyed me, woman. Jesus. Couldn’t stop myself from coming. Can’t imagine how good it’s going to be to have you raw.”

A smug smile formed on my lips, and I couldn’t help but think that maybe my dirty, bad girl vibes had rubbed off a little on Mr. Polite-as-Hell Duchesne. Because he was anything but polite in bed.

“I think my dirty mouth is rubbing off on you.”

“You can rub your dirty mouth on me any time you want, babe. But I’m afraid I was swearing like a sailor long before you. After all, I was a sailor.” He lifted his weight off me slightly, but I was still pinned when he asked, “How old are you, Charlie?”

I took a steadying breath. If I could trust Simon with my body, I should at least be able to trust him with the age of that body. “Twenty-three.”

His head jerked up, and his eyes went wide.

“Whatever you’re thinking, don’t say it.” I clenched my inner muscles, and the surprise in his eyes turned to searing heat.

“Let me get another condom.”

“Good call.” He pulled out of me and rolled off the bed to take care of the used one. He was digging in his jeans for his wallet when a loud buzz echoed in the small room. I didn’t think my piece of shit cell phone was even capable of vibrating, so it had to be Simon’s. Still naked, he pulled the phone out of the pocket and answered it. I listened to his side of the conversation while I shamelessly ogled his tight, naked ass. Damn, the man was comfortable in his own skin. Thank the Lord.

“What do you need, Martin?”

Pause.

“You’re fucking kidding me. When?”

Pause.

“Shit. Okay. I’ll be there in twenty. Call our insurance guy, a retrieval crew, and notify the client.”

Pause.

“I know. Twenty minutes.”

Simon scrubbed a hand through his hair. He found his boxer briefs and pulled them on before stepping into his jeans. He turned toward me.

“I gotta go, babe.” His eyes skimmed over my nude body. “And that blows. I was hoping to stay in bed all day with you.”

I arched an eyebrow. “I don’t remember inviting you to spend the day in my bed.”

“You would have.”

“So cocky.” I trailed a finger down my chest, between my breasts. “You’re lucky I think that’s hot.”

“You don’t play fair.”

My smile transformed into an outright grin as he watched my fingers continue down to my belly. “Should I?”

“Never.”

He crossed to the bed and leaned down to press a quick kiss to my lips. “Wish I could stay, but I have to take care of something for work. A customer’s cargo is currently sitting on the bottom of the Mississippi, and I need to clean up the mess.”

I flipped the sheet up and covered myself, suddenly embarrassed that I’d been trying to act the seductress when he had real world problems to deal with. “It’s fine. Do what you need to do.”

He pulled the sheet away, leaving me naked again. “Like you better this way.” He sat on the bed and cupped the side of my face in his big hand. “Dinner tonight?”

I didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”

“Wear a dress. A short one.” My jaw dropped. He said what?

“Seriously? You did not just say that.”

“Oh, but I did.”

I huffed, tugging the sheet from his grip. “Have you ever seen me wear a dress? Let alone a short one?”

He leaned in and brushed his lips over the shell of my ear. “I’m going to see it tonight.”

“Cocky bastard,” I said, shivering from the contact.

“If it gets you into a dress, I’ll be whatever kind of bastard you want me to be.”

I won the sheet tug-of-war and tucked it around me before crossing my arms over my chest. “Maybe. No promises.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven. Short dress. High heels. The same wild, just-been-fucked hair you’ve got going on right now. That’s how I’m going to be picturing you all day while I sort this shit out.”

I bit my lip and shook my head at him. “You’re crazy.”