I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.
-Marilyn Monroe
Karma didn’t think Friday would ever arrive. As busy as she was all week, time should have flown faster, but as is usually the case when there’s something to look forward to, time crawled.
Six weeks ago—hell, even five weeks ago—she would have been a nervous wreck about what was to come this weekend. Mark planned on making love to her. This was it. The old Karma would have been queasy with nerves, but new Karma was excited. She trusted Mark. Like an expert gardener, Mark had cultivated the delicate, vulnerable seedling of her newfound sexuality. He hadn’t forced her to grow faster than she was capable of. More like he had coaxed and prepared her to blossom at her own pace. His words of encouragement and his guidance were fertilizer, and his kisses and gentle touch were water. He was attentive and patient, and in him, Karma had found a lover worth giving herself to. One who waited until she was ready, and only then would he pluck her fruit.
And it was harvest time. He had gently pulled her along, showed her how beautiful she was, urged her to realize her own beauty, and now waited for her to give herself to him.
Was she still nervous? Hell, yes. But was she so nervous as to be crippled? No. These were good nerves. The kind of nerves a speaker channeled into a kick-ass speech, not the kind that caused a breakdown.
So, when Friday morning finally dawned, Karma eagerly awoke. After getting ready for work, she smiled as she picked up the gold brooch that had been the catalyst for the official start of their affair. Mark would understand its meaning when he saw it pinned to her scarf. The brooch was her way of telling him that she was ready for this weekend. Ready for whatever their time together brought. That her answer was yes to whatever he wanted to do, because she knew he would care for her body as well as he cared for her mind.
She arrived at work before he did. Not surprising since it was seven thirty and his return flight yesterday had been delayed due to weather. He and Don hadn’t returned to Indianapolis until almost midnight.
At nine thirty, Mark appeared at the end of the hall, wearing the navy, pin-striped suit that made him look like the sexiest executive on the planet. There were power suits, and then there were power suits. This was the latter. Why did she get the impression he had worn it for her?
“Good morning, Karma.” His gaze dropped to the red scarf secured around her neck. “That’s a pretty brooch.”
She lifted her hand and fondled the gold circle. “Thank you. I wear it on special occasions.”
His eyes narrowed with understanding as one side of his mouth lifted. “And that special occasion today would be…?”
“Oh, it’s just special.” She waved her hand dismissively.
“That it is.” He winked and turned for the conference room, grinning as he walked away.
The devil. He was going to make today unbearable. She got up, went to the coffee station, and prepared him a mug.
“Thank you,” he said as she set the coffee on a Solar coaster beside his tablet.
“You’re welcome.”
“And…” He stopped her before she could leave. “Thank you for the brooch.”
She smiled. “You’re welcome for that, too.”
He spun his chair toward her, looked behind her to make sure no one was listening, then whispered in a voice so hot she practically melted, “If we were alone, I’d bend you over this table right now.”
Her mouth fell open, and heat exploded between her legs.
He leaned closer. “I’d lift that pretty skirt, peel off your panties, and bury myself inside you until you cried my name and quivered around my cock.”
Karma closed her mouth and swallowed, feeling the heat between her legs intensify, but she couldn’t utter a single word in reply. He had never talked to her like that. Maybe he should do so more often.
With a grin, he turned back toward his computer. “Thank you for the coffee, Karma.”
She was dismissed. But clearly, he was pleased with her reaction. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be wearing such a Cheshire cat smile.
Fighting the slippery sensation between her legs, she returned to her desk, sat down, and glanced into the conference room. Mark’s smoldering gaze was the sexiest I’m-going-to-fuck-you-so-hard look she had ever seen. As in anywhere. Not even in the movies had she seen a more salacious expression.
Yes, Mark was going to make today unbearable…but in the most incredible, stimulating way. But two could play at that game.
* * *
Right before leaving for lunch with Don, Mark’s phone vibrated on the table next to his tablet. With a nonchalant glance, he read the message.
I’m not wearing any panties.
WHAT?
His head snapped around. Karma wasn’t looking at him, but her coquettish grin told him she knew he was watching her. Was she serious? Just the thought that she wasn’t wearing underwear caused his cock to bob to life.
Are you pulling my leg? he texted back.
No. Want me to prove it?
When he glanced back, her face was beet red.
Don’t tempt me. Damn, he was already stiff.
Now we’re both worked up, aren’t we?
Woman, I get worked up just looking at you, but now I’m worried for your safety tonight.
Tonight?
Yes, tonight. My place. 7:00. Bring an overnight bag with enough clothes to make it to Sunday. I’m keeping you for a while. Especially now that you’ve shown me you’re more than ready to take the heat.
I have?
Karma, if you’ve really taken off your panties, I think we both know the answer to that.
She smiled when he glanced at her. She looked at her phone, thumb-typed a reply, and a moment later, his phone vibrated.
I really have taken them off, and oh my God, I can’t believe I did.
Does it feel sexy?
Yes.
You’re something else, you know that?
It’s your fault.
Mine?
Yes. You’ve turned me into a nympho.
He chuckled. That could be a good thing. With the right man, of course.
And you’re the right man?
Absolutely. But you kept your promise this week, right? No playing?
Yes, I kept my promise. Which is probably why I did something as foolish as take off my underwear. I’m horny.
This time he laughed. Karma! I can’t believe you said that. Such a potty mouth.
He heard her giggle. A few seconds later, he received another text. I can’t help it. You wouldn’t let me play with Hank this week.
You need to break up with Hank. You need a real man.
But I don’t want to hurt his feelings.
You need to be more worried about hurting mine. I’m a sensitive guy. Who has an ego. Remember? I refuse to let a power tool be better than I am.
Something tells me you have nothing to worry about in that department.
He grinned. Well, I’ll give it my best.
Deal.
Good. Now, quit sexing me up. I have to have lunch with your boss in a few minutes and I don’t want him to get the wrong idea.
LOL. Okay, I’ll stop, but only because I don’t want Don stealing you away.
Such wit.
You don’t have to worry about that, he texted. You’re a lot cuter than Don.
When he looked at her, she wore one of her signature angelic smiles. The ones that caused his heart to beat a little harder and his skin to warm. He hoped to see many more of those smiles this weekend.
And in the weeks to come.