Derek pulled Bree close, running his hands all over her body. They were tangled on her couch, wearing very little. He’d noticed the black lace bra on Saturday night. Tonight’s was in a pink color nearly the same shade as her nipples. She’d torn off his shirt and now he only wore his boxer briefs. He hadn’t made out on a couch in years, but this felt just right.
She arched as he kissed her again, her hands in his hair as she drove her tongue into his mouth. She was smooth and sweet all over, and when he touched her damp lace panties he felt her heat.
“Derek,” she breathed as she pulled away from his kiss. “Oh, that feels good.”
He lowered his face to her cleavage, licking his way to her nipple. Her floral scent was stronger here, and he breathed her in. Her bra had a plastic hook in the front, so he released it with a flick of his fingers. She filled his hands, plump and tight, and he couldn’t wait to get her skin-to-skin.
Bracing himself on his hands, he rubbed his chest against her breasts. She made a sound of pleasure and he shifted so that his groin was cradled by her thighs. There was very little between them right now, but he wasn’t going to push her for more. Not yet, anyway.
“Baby, you feel so good.” He kissed her again before sucking on her nipples. “Taste so good.”
She arched again and he moved down to lick her through her panties.
“Oh!” She wriggled against him, obviously as hot for him as he was for her.
He moved the lace aside with one thumb and placed his mouth on her. She was slick and sweet, and he ran his tongue over her pussy with one long stroke. She trembled and he glanced up to see her close her eyes. Proper, patrician Bree was gone and this girl beneath him craved everything he wanted to give her.
“Come for me, baby.” He licked and suckled her clit and she began to sob. “Let go.”
She cried out, rising against him as she shivered in her release. It was like their first night, but better. Deeper. Damn, he wanted to be inside of her but they weren’t there yet. Not that he had any idea of when that would be.
He pulled away from her and watched as her eyes fluttered open. He couldn’t help but smile at how rosy and rocked she looked.
“Wow.” She grinned up at him. “That was… Wow.”
“So you said.” He took her hand and tugged her to a seated position. His dick was as hard as that inlaid wood on her grandmother’s hope chest, but he wouldn’t pressure her. “You’re okay?”
She stretched her arms up over her head and he got another great look at her tits. “Better than okay.”
He nodded, trying to keep raw need from showing on his face.
“What about you?” she asked when he didn’t say anything.
“I’ll live.”
She shook her head. “Nope. I’m not leaving you like that again.”
“That?” He chuckled. “What do you mean?”
“You’re hard, Derek. Ooh, you’re hard and you need something.”
“Damn right I do, but I gave you the power, remember?”
“Yeah, you did. Seems to me that was a rookie mistake, counselor.”
She cupped him and he groaned. “You’re killing me, Bree. Tell me I won’t have to jerk off again tonight?”
Her hand stilled. “You really did that?”
He eyed her. “I did. And I was thinking about you the whole time.”
She bit her lower lip and folded her legs underneath her ass. “What did you think about?”
“What you felt like that night. What you tasted like.”
“Tasted?”
“I used my imagination, but tonight I realized I was way off. You’re fucking delicious.”
She sucked in a breath, her eyes wide. “Oh, my.”
He shrugged and she cupped him through his briefs. “Bree, please.”
She grinned and pushed his briefs down. “That’s just what I was thinking.”
He’d expected a hand job at the very least but when she put her mouth on him he nearly exploded. With every lick, every suckle, she drove him crazy. Putting his hands in her silky hair, he held her head reverently as her mouth and tongue did very naughty things to his dick.
When he couldn’t hold back any longer he came. His orgasm was sharp and shook him hard. He was breathing fast as he let his head fall back. Bree curled up against his side, stroking his face as she kissed his neck. “You taste good too.”
He wanted to laugh but all that came out was a damn whimper. “You killed me.”
“It’s fun to have the power.”
He lifted his head and looked at her. Her face was rosy pink and her eyes were shining. “Feeling pretty good about yourself, aren’t you?”
She nodded vigorously. “Yes I am. And I’m looking forward to the next time.”
“The next time?”
“As long as we keep this between us.”
It was there again. Her fear about losing the life she was starting to build here. He had his own set of baggage too, didn’t he? He’d play by her rules.
“You’ve got it.”
She kissed him again, but before he could get things going she pressed a hand against his chest. “You should go.”
“I’ve said it before.” He tucked himself back into his briefs and stood. “Lady’s choice.”
The look of relief on her face made something shift in his chest. They had so much in common. This was from what little he knew about her, and already he could see that. If they played by her rules, he’d never know much more. Wouldn’t any guy jump at this chance, though? He sure would have if any of his hookups had made the offer. No strings. Non-dating. Whatever they called it, it would be incredible before it ended.
He set that depressing thought from his mind and dressed. She pulled on her shirt and jeans, but he couldn’t help but notice that she wasn’t wearing the bra. He stared at her nipples poking at the cotton before dragging his gaze back to her face.
“Thanks for dinner, Bree. I’ll get the next one.”
“Okay.”
She walked him to the door and he couldn’t help kissing her good night. Her hair was mussed and her cheeks still rosy. She looked soft and sexy and he didn’t want to leave. That was a first for him, so he placed his hand on the doorknob.
“Good night,” he said.
“Good night.”
She shut the door and he walked to his car. Something had changed between them tonight. Talking about his mother and sister moving down? That had shocked him. She’d seemed curious but he couldn’t tell her more. Then he’d have to tell her about Eddie and the many times Derek had failed to keep his mother safe.
That was something he wasn’t going to share with anybody, not even the girl who drove him out of his mind with just a kiss.
***
Bree sat in the model home two days later, humming to herself as she thumbed through the emails on her tablet. Jessie’s husband Noah was working in the office at the back of the house, but she didn’t mind giving him that space. She was on domestic detail, as she often thought of the “living with the house” assignment.
A married couple she guessed were in their thirties were murmuring back and forth as they toured the house on their own. They visited the kitchen again and she simply smiled at them. She had given them the welcoming spiel and then let them have at it. In her experience, they were much more likely to picture themselves in a home if there wasn’t a salesperson dragging them around.
This was most likely her last showing of the day. Of the week, really. It was Friday, after all.
She’d managed to keep herself from smiling like an idiot when she’d run into Derek in the breakroom yesterday, but she suspected it was only a matter of time before she said or did something to bring attention to their little non-affair. Wednesday night had been amazing. She’d never felt like that before. Free and sexy. He’d driven her crazy and she’d returned the favor.
That had been a first for her. Taking enjoyment in it, at least. In college guys seemed to expect that and it had been a way to placate them just to get them the hell out of her room. Pleasing Derek, though? It made her feel powerful. Naughty, too. Free, somehow.
The couple came into the kitchen again. By the raised eyebrows and expectant vibe, she knew they were sold.
“I just love it!” the wife said.
“Do you have the list of what’s an upgrade in this model?” the man asked, obviously trying to rein in his wife’s enthusiasm.
He didn’t have to worry. They didn’t push for sales in Cypress. Nope. They simply brought the horse to water, so to speak. The drinking? That was all on them. Luckily, Cypress had a way of making them thirsty.
“You have choices of finishes, naturally,” Bree said. “But nothing you’ve seen here is an upgrade. Aside from the pool out back, of course.”
The wife nodded vigorously. “Well, I just love it.” She laughed a little. “I keep saying that.”
“Yeah, you do,” the husband grumbled with a small smile.
Bree handed them the folder she’d put together for them, including items tailored to their particular wants. School info, for example. They had kids, after all.
“This model is set to be built on the lots I’ve indicated on the neighborhood map,” she said. “If you have specific questions regarding the building materials I can put you touch with the builder, Noah Brady.”
The wife’s smile widened. “We met him! He’s so nice.”
Bree nodded. Noah was getting used to interacting with homeowners, and she suspected that was Jessie’s influence on him.
“You have my email. Please email me if you have any questions.” She arched one brow. “You do know that the Sales Center and models are closed on the weekends.”
“We do,” the husband said. “I like that. It’s unexpected but makes sense with what Cypress Corners stands for.”
Bree smiled. “You get it. Good. I think you and your family will love it here.”
The couple left, the wife chatting excitedly as her husband nodded. They were hooked, and Bree entered their contact info into the database.
“They loved the house,” Noah Brady said. “Good work.”
Bree shrugged as she faced him. “Sorry if they bugged you, Noah. I didn’t expect them to peek into the back office.”
“No worries.” He smiled. “The door was open.”
“So do you and Jessie have plans this weekend?”
Noah grinned. “We have Max this weekend, so I think we’ll be heading to Rick and Harmony’s for their Sunday picnic.”
Max was Noah’s six-year-old son. He was adorable, and Jessie was as in love with him as she was with her husband.
“Ah, the picnic,” Bree said with a nod.
“You haven’t gone to one yet, Bree. How have you managed that?”
She winked. “I’m cagey.”
“It’ll come for you.”
Bree shook her head. “Nope. I’m not on their matchmaking radar. By design.”
Noah laughed. “You think so.”
“Why?” She swallowed. “What do you know?”
Noah threw up his hands. “Nothing, I swear. Jessie has been trying to figure out who might be a match, though.”
“Yeah, your wife is like that. Now that her sister is married and settled out there on the east side with Billy, she’s looking for another project.”
“True. She did love planning Shannon’s wedding on New Year’s.”
“Then she can take the next few months off.”
He smirked at her. “I’ll be sure to tell her you said that.”
It was Bree’s turn to laugh. “I’ll tell her myself, when I see her.”
Noah gave her a two-finger wave and walked out of the model home. He looked a lot like the surfer guy he’d been before getting into construction, and he was apparently as easygoing as he was good looking. He was a great fit for her friend Jessie, who tended to overthink things. Bree had some of that going on too, but she’d taught herself to let the little things go. Not when it came to righting this model for Monday, though.
She straightened and cleaned and set everything to rights. It was picture-perfect. She frowned. How long had she struggled with that image crap? How long had she bowed to her mother’s criticisms and her father’s disapproval? Jeez, way too long.
She stowed her tablet and as she was about to tuck her phone in it dinged.
Call me, Sabrina.
Bree cursed softly. How did her mother do that? She never called either. No. She summoned Bree, who had to jump at the bell.
Certain she was every kind of sucker, she tapped on the phone and made the call. Her mother answered on the first ring.
“Hello, Sabrina.”
“Hi, Mom. What’s up?”
Her mother sniffed. “Up? Why, nothing dear. Everything is where it always is.”
Bree rolled her eyes. “All right. How is everything?”
“Everything is well, Sabrina. Your father’s dinner is next week.”
Bree’s stomach clenched. “Oh?”
The clicking of her mother’s tongue echoed across the miles from Cypress Corners to Heathrow. “It’s always on May first. You know this.”
“Yes, I do. Sorry.” She winced. Why was she always apologizing to her mother? “How are your plans going?”
“Your father’s office has everything in hand, along with the staff here at the house. Have you considered my suggestion?”
Last month her mother began angling for a fix-up date to accompany Bree to the event. Of the three men put before her, each one had traits that put them too close to what dating her father might feel like.
“I told you I would attend, Mom. That’s all I’ll say on that.”
“Alone? Sabrina, really.” More huffing from her side of the call. “Don’t tell me you’re dating someone down there on the ranch?”
“The ranch?” Bree just shook her head. Every time her mother even mentioned Cypress she came up with some countryfied description. “I’m not dating anyone.” That was true, technically.
“Is there no one you could bring with you? Perhaps one of the salespeople? Perhaps the director or golf pro?”
Really? Those men would be preferable to her daughter’s coming alone?
“No.”
“There’s no one?” Her mother’s voice slipped into that singsong tone that always put Bree on high alert. “You will have to be partnered for dinner, dear. Leave it to me. I’ll provide your date.”
Not on a bet! “Actually, I have someone in mind.”
“But you just told me there was no one.”
“There is, but it’s very early days.”
“Oh, good! The table will be even now.”
“Yes, we mustn’t have an uneven table.”
“Sabrina, please. As long as you’re bringing someone suitable…he is suitable, isn’t he?”
Derek’s more than suitable face and form flashed in Bree’s mind. Her cheeks burned but she managed to keep her voice even.
“He’s suitable, but I haven’t mentioned the party to him yet.”
“Don’t dawdle. You’re always dawdling.”
Bree clenched her teeth. “Was there anything else?”
“I suppose it’s too much to expect you to come for dinner on Sunday?”
“I’m busy, Mom. Sorry.”
Silence. Deafening silence. “Very well. Good evening, Sabrina.”
“Good bye, Mom.”
The call disconnected and Bree scowled the counter. Every time she felt like she was finally making her own way her mother provided a stark reminder that she was a failure. A screw-up. A colossal disappointment.
And now she had to attend her father’s annual May Day pat-on-the-back dinner. With a date. She could ask Derek.
It could ruin what they were beginning to share. What she was beginning to learn about him and about herself.
“It could ruin everything,” she whispered.
Her phone dinged again and she saw she had a text from Derek.
Dinner tonight?
She didn’t even hesitate, surprising herself.
Sure. Tavern?
Sounds good. See you at 7?
7
She clutched her phone and let out a breath. She might be uncertain about asking him to her father’s event, but she had absolutely no doubt about one thing.
She wanted to spend time with Derek, and she wasn’t going to miss any opportunity.