KATIE WASN’T SURE EXACTLY when she’d lost control of the situation, but one thing was for sure—propped on the edge of the truck seat with Jess’s head between her thighs was not the best position for regaining that control. It was an excellent position for enjoying another orgasm, though.
She didn’t know where Jess had learned how to do this, didn’t want to know. All that mattered was this moment. Frigid air swirled around them as the air conditioner struggled to keep up with the double assault of hot bodies and hot air from outside. The cooling breeze had little effect on Katie.
The fire burning inside her raged through her blood and singed her skin. She moaned and writhed in Jess’s arms. That mouth. That talented, incredible mouth. All her attention became riveted on the spot where his mouth touched her. The pleasure grew, spiraling deeper with every stroke of his tongue, every movement of his lips.
The first climax had burst upon her quickly, but this one built more slowly, more powerfully. She rode the crest of it, her breathing shallow and quick, her skin moist with sweat, her vagina drenched with excitement.
Almost there…almost…now. Her groan of ecstasy rose from deep in her chest as her body surged upward. Oh, glorious. Glorious! She rocked from the force of it.
He held her steady as the waves crashed over her. The imprint of his fingers became part of her, part of the climax. She wondered if his strong grasp would leave a mark and almost hoped it would. This…this was what she’d been longing for and never found—total immersion, total absorption in the wonder of release.
Her recovery was gradual, eased by his gentle kisses along the inside of her thighs. Limp as a rag doll, she allowed him to slide an arm under her knees and another around her shoulders so that he could lift and settle her back into the seat. Eyes closed, she leaned back and gasped for breath.
Vaguely she realized he’d adjusted her skirt and fastened her seat belt. Then he closed the passenger door. Moments later she heard his door open and a rustle as he climbed into the driver’s seat.
“Let me know when you’re ready to leave.” His voice held no urgency.
Keeping her eyes closed, she ran her tongue over her lips. “How about never?”
“Fine with me.”
“I…” She swallowed and tried again. “I liked that.”
He chuckled. “Good to know.”
“A lot.”
“Anytime.”
Anytime. Now there was a concept. “Really?”
“Pretty much. All I need is a little advance notice.”
Slowly she opened her eyes. With her head still propped against the headrest, she turned to look at him. “You mean…I could just call you up and…ask for this?”
He smiled. “Why not?”
“Because I could become a real pest.”
His smile broadened. “You think?”
“Absolutely. This is way better than chocolate.” She paused. “And I really crave chocolate. I could wear you out.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“Okay, but I’m warning you.” She let her eyelids drift closed. “Mmm, what a feeling. I have no stress. Nada. A constant dose of you giving me oral sex and I would live to be a hundred and fifty, like those people in Tibet. I’ll bet it’s not goat’s milk at all. They just can’t say what it is, but I’ll bet it’s oral sex.”
“There’s more to my routine, you know.”
She opened her eyes again. “You can’t top this, buster.”
“I’d like to try.”
Her euphoria began to wear off as she realized she was in a vulnerable position. He thought he could make her even loopier with a complete program. Judging from what had happened this afternoon, he could be right.
That could be very bad. She’d already boosted his ego way too much. If she let him have the ultimate experience, full-body sex, she could end up groveling at his feet. He was the one who was supposed to be groveling. That was the plan she and Cheryl had cooked up.
Unfortunately she wanted the ultimate experience. She craved the ultimate experience. If she said the word, he’d be only too happy to give her that tonight. What was a girl supposed to do?
“Don’t overthink it,” he said. “Maybe I should leave the ball in your court.” He reached across her and opened the glove compartment.
“What do you mean?” She fought not to grab him. All she had to do was catch a whiff of his cologne and she wanted to rip his clothes off.
He handed her a card. “How about you come over to my place tonight if you feel like getting together? Just call my cell and I’ll give you directions.”
“I don’t know.” Giving her the decision might look like a concession, but she didn’t think it was. Ultimately she’d end up at his place, on his turf. That would work to his advantage.
“I’ll show you my yellow rosebush.”
Well, damn it, she was curious about his yellow rosebush—and his house and whether he had a king-size bed. “We’ll see.” She gazed at the card, which of course advertised Harkins Construction.
She was insane to consider going over to his house. He was the enemy, the man who was willing to tear down her grandmother’s house to build a parking garage. But he was also the man who had just given her two out-of-this-world orgasms.
Maybe she could go over to his house, help herself to one round of oral sex and leave. That would be demonstrating that she was a bad girl only out for some fun, wouldn’t it?
“You don’t have to decide anything now,” he said.
She thought about the guest she’d lined up for her show tonight. “Are you planning to listen to my program?”
He gazed at her. “Yeah, I’m sure I will. I’m a glutton for punishment.”
“After you hear it, you might not want to see me.”
“I shouldn’t want to see you, but that doesn’t mean anything.” He leaned closer. “In case you hadn’t noticed, you get me really hot.”
That gave her some comfort. She glanced down at his crotch. “We’re not kids anymore. You don’t have to drive back like that. You look as if you could use a little—”
“I could but I won’t. Ready to head for town?”
“Jess, don’t be noble.” Besides, she’d feel much better if she could make him moan and groan a little before they left this mountain. “This isn’t a contest.”
He studied her for a moment. “Isn’t it?” Then he put the truck in gear and started back toward civilization.
IT WAS DEFINITELY A CONTEST. Jess thought about that some more as he was forced to give his men yet another lecture about not allowing the deflating pink balloons to insult their manhood. He and Katie were engaged in a contest over this construction project and they were also competing to see who was in charge of their sex life.
Before today he’d thought he’d have to concede the latter battle to her, but up on “A” Mountain the tide had turned. He knew it and so did she.
He was gratified that she still wanted him as much as she had thirteen years ago. Now that he knew that, he needed to think beyond this little sexual game they were playing and decide what he was after besides sex. He didn’t have to think very hard.
They were adults now, adults capable of making a commitment. Jess found himself moving in that direction. He’d like to believe Katie was moving in that direction, too. They might be enacting a strange kind of mating ritual, but he knew how he’d like this to turn out in the end.
The trick was to build on what had happened this afternoon. So after work he stopped by the Tucson Mall and bought a white lace teddy. She might not wear it for him, but then again, she might.
On the way home he picked up fast food and ate it while he drove. Unfortunately doing that reminded him of lunch with Katie, and he started getting hard. His old memories of her had been filled with sweetness and nostalgia, but the new ones they were creating threatened to ruin him for polite company.
The situation worsened when he got home and walked onto the back patio to see if his rosebush needed a supplemental watering. He’d realized yesterday that he’d bought the rosebush because of Katie, and now he had to admit he’d bought a lot that had a view of “A” Mountain. His friends thought he’d planned it that way so he could have parties on the Fourth of July with a ringside seat for the fireworks.
But he was very much afraid he’d wanted that view because “A” Mountain kept those memories of Katie close at hand. She’d been influencing him for years and he hadn’t even acknowledged it. Now he knew where he wanted this relationship to go, but there were no guarantees. If it blew up on him, he’d be stuck with his view of “A” Mountain. He might have to sell the house.
That wouldn’t please his mother, who was convinced he’d bought it as a first step to getting married and providing her with grandchildren. She didn’t believe that he was only in it for the investment. Now that he recognized why he’d picked that particular place, he had to agree with her.
Funny how things worked out. Now that it had finally dawned on him that he wanted Katie back in his life, they were locked in this stupid struggle over one of his construction projects. If he’d contacted her earlier…But he hadn’t. He’d allowed the years to come between them and now he was paying the price.
Maybe tonight they would finally get past their disagreements and make that vital connection he longed for. To that end, he spent a ridiculous amount of time setting the scene in his bedroom. This time he used fat pillar candles, not wanting her to launch into her candle routine again.
But he wouldn’t light them yet. Everything else was ready, though. The sheets were turned back, the pillows were fluffed, the white teddy lay across the end of the bed and condoms were tucked in the bedside table drawer. He’d loaded the CD player with Sting and Billy Joel, two of her favorites when they’d been dating.
By the time he was ready to hit the shower, it was nearly nine, so he decided to tune in Katie’s show on the radio he had mounted inside the oversize shower stall. The news ended just as he was sudsing up. The minute he heard Katie’s voice, he knew he’d made a mistake. Listening to Katie while he was naked was a very bad idea.
“Hello, Tucson! It’s Crazy Katie on this balmy Monday night in October and we’re Talking About Sex! This is the show that asks that all-important question—what sexual symbols do you have in your life? For example, ever thought about the significance of candles and candleholders? Doesn’t take much imagination to see what they represent, now does it?”
Jess groaned. His penis was making like a candle at this very moment, thanks to the combination of warm water and Katie’s voice making that suggestive comment. He was positive her reference to candles was directed straight at him.
“In a few minutes I’ll be doing a telephone interview with a special guest who sees that same significance in the tools and hardware of the construction trade. As you all know, our little station is threatened with oblivion because of the construction about to take place next door. I wonder what those burly guys would say if they knew they were handling the equivalent of fertility symbols all day?”
“Katie, damn it! I’m already having trouble with my crew!” He reached for the channel knob on the radio but then decided not to turn it. Better to hear what she had to say so he could plan how to deal with the fallout tomorrow.
“But before we get into that, let me give you your Kama Sutra tip of the night.”
Ignoring his erection, Jess began scrubbing himself vigorously. He needed to take this shower and get it over with. He didn’t need to be hearing the Kama Sutra tip of the night while he was scrubbing, but he couldn’t make himself switch channels or mute the sound.
“Tonight’s tip includes the use of Kegels, those wonderful little exercises women can do while sitting at a desk, driving a car, even walking down the street! No one will even know you’re doing them. And as you strengthen those love muscles, your man will thank you.”
Jess closed his eyes as the water beat down on his throbbing penis. She’d picked that subject on purpose to torture him. He had no idea if she gripped with her love muscles or not. And he wanted to know. Now.
“He’ll especially thank you when you try the Mare’s Position. Sit astride your guy with your back to him and squeeze those muscles! Trust Crazy Katie, it’s good for you and good for him! We’ll take a break and be right back with Dr. Gerald Brewster, who’ll be discussing his Ph.D. dissertation, The Nuts and Bolts of Sexual Symbolism. Don’t touch that dial!”
Or anything else. Jess refused to give in to the temptation to masturbate in the shower. She’d love knowing she’d made him do that. Instead he turned off all the hot water and winced as the cold spray hit him. Between that and the commercial break, he got himself under control.
He left the radio on as he stepped out of the shower and toweled off. God, he hoped she’d show up tonight ready to have real sex. He hadn’t been this frustrated in his life.
Gerald Brewster sounded like Yoda. But then, anybody who browsed hardware stores looking for sexual meaning would have to be pretty weird. After walking into the bedroom to get dressed, Jess turned on the radio in there. He’d never stopped to question why all the radios in his house were tuned to KRZE.
If anybody had asked him a week ago, he would have said that he liked the all-talk format, that he learned things from the programs. But in reality he only cared about the program that came on at nine on weeknights. He probably could count on one hand the number of times he’d missed Katie’s show.
“Obvious, it is,” Brewster said in his Yoda voice. “Into cavities, bolts slide. Into soft wood, nails penetrate. Into hollow nuts, screws twist.”
“And Dr. Brewster, would you say that those who manipulate this hardware are subconsciously recreating the sexual act?”
Jess snorted. What a load of bull.
“Of course.”
“Construction crews are dominated by men, correct?”
“Appropriate, it is.”
“Because men feel the need to bolster their manliness by manipulating these objects?” Katie sounded gleeful.
“Of course.”
“You are an idiot!” Jess shouted. He didn’t feel very adult yelling at the radio, but it released some of his tension, enough that he started to laugh. He hated to think what work would be like tomorrow. Maybe nobody from his crew was listening.
Yeah, right. After Friday night he’d bet they were all listening. He wouldn’t be surprised to learn they’d gathered at one of their favorite bars specifically to hear what Crazy Katie had to say this time.
They wouldn’t be happy to know that he was hoping to welcome her into his bed tonight. They’d call him a traitor to the cause, a traitor to all men everywhere. He was consorting with the enemy by asking Katie to come over here.
And he could hardly wait for her to show up—because her program had given him an idea of how to proceed.
ALTHOUGH KATIE HAD TRIED to convince herself the decision wasn’t made, she knew she’d go over to Jess’s house after the broadcast. This afternoon she’d programmed his number into her cell phone. Then she’d changed into a gauzy skirt, tank top and lightweight jacket so he wouldn’t see her in the same outfit she’d worn to lunch. It was on the wrinkled side anyway, after having sex in his truck.
Yep, she was planning to see Jess again. The barriers between them were coming down, and she felt good about that, although she wasn’t quite ready to think of a future with him. The possibility of a life with Jess had taken root in her subconscious, though. She could feel it there, waiting its turn, biding its time until she was ready to consider that kind of commitment. Her heart beat faster as she got into her car and pulled her phone out of her purse.
He answered quickly. That was a good sign.
“Hi.” She sounded too eager. Time to tone it down, shoot for casual and breezy. “I’m finished at the studio so I thought maybe I’d stop by for a few minutes, if you’re not busy.”
“Come ahead. I’m just here bolting a few things together, twisting some screws into some snug little nuts.”
So he’d listened. She liked that, too. “Jess, you have to admit that there’s something to that theory.”
“Katie, I can’t deny it. The writing’s on the wall—or on the cave wall, more like it. I’m sure your Yoda guy is right.”
“Yes, he did sound like Yoda, but his concept—”
“It’s fascinating. Makes perfect sense. Early man looked at how neatly he could fasten himself to a woman and—bingo!—next thing you know you have sturdy pegs thrust into knotholes.”
“Uh, yeah. Exactly.” She hadn’t figured on him agreeing with her. “I’m glad you see the similarities.”
“I couldn’t before but I’m into it now.”
“You’re teasing me.”
“Hell, no! I think it’s a revelation. All this time I thought I just liked building things, when I was actually rehearsing for sex. Who knew? It’s a terrific concept. So how soon can you get here?”
Warning bells jangled in her head. He was having way too much fun with this sexual-hardware idea. That could endanger her plan to dominate the proceedings. She probably should make an excuse and go home.
She didn’t do that. “All I need is directions to your house.” So her curiosity was getting the better of her. Having a curious nature was both a curse and a blessing.
But she wasn’t going to bed with him. She’d already decided that, even before her pep talk this afternoon from Cheryl. She’d just ask for some quick oral sex and then leave. He had promised to deliver it anytime she asked.
As she listened to the instructions for finding his house, she figured out he was in the foothills of the Tucson Mountains. “I can be there in about twenty minutes,” she said.
“That should give me plenty of time to penetrate some soft wood with a few ten-penny nails and a rhythmic swing of my big hammer.”
“Now I know you’re making fun of me.”
“Absolutely not.”
And he wasn’t, she realized. He was trying to seduce her and he was succeeding. The more he talked about sliding bolts into cavities and penetrating soft wood, the hotter she became. He was using her own weapon against her.
Okay, so it would be a challenge. She liked challenges. Besides, there was no way she wasn’t going over there. Some temptations were too delicious to resist.