Chapter 16

Jane


“Do you want me to rub your feet?” Tate asked as I took off my shoes. “I know that was a lot of walking.”

“No, I’m okay. Thanks, though.” I pulled off my shoes and wiggled my toes. “I might have a bath. That way I can soak my weary bones.” I yawned and stretched my arms out. “Wow, I’m really tired.”

“Is that your way of telling me to go and grab my blanket and head to the couch?” he asked me and I shook my head.

“No.” I walked over to him and patted his arm. “Today was fun. I had a good time. Maybe we can watch a movie or something?”

“Can I lie on the bed next to you to watch it?” He arched an eyebrow.

This time, I punched him in the arm, but then I smiled at him. “I think that should be okay.”

Even as I said the words, I knew that I was playing with fire. Tate and me on the bed together, late at night, watching a movie—what could possibly go wrong? But even as I was thinking it through, I decided I didn’t care. I was really starting to like Tate. He was a genuinely nice guy. We’d had a fun time exploring the city and trying different foods. And I felt closer to him than I ever had before. He hadn’t made any moves on me and had barely made any sexual innuendos. I was beginning to wonder if he wasn’t interested in me that way anymore. Maybe it was because we were going to meet his family. He seemed so uptight about them. At first, I’d thought he was exaggerating about them, but since we’d arrived in South Carolina, I’d realized he was genuinely stressed-out about going home.

Like most people, I had a love-hate relationship with my parents, but I was never uncomfortable around them. They were my people. They loved me more than anyone had ever loved me, and I knew that everything they said and did was due to that love. Even Marco, with all his alpha male protectiveness, only had my best interests at heart. I’d never be nervous to be around them.

“Maybe we can talk as well?” Tate suddenly said, his voice lower than before. His Southern drawl was even more pronounced now we were back in his state. “I need some help.”

“Sure, what do you want me to help you with?”

“I’ve got a little bit of a problem and I need your advice.”

“Oh …” I pursed my lips. “Is it because you’re here to help your sister and Sam, but you don’t actually think they should get married?”

“Whoa.” It was his turn to look surprised. “How did you know that?” His eyes narrowed as he stared at me. “Did I tell you that?”

“No, but I can read between the lines.”

“You’re very perceptive.”

“I try to be.” I grinned. “So you want to talk about it?”

“I’ll wait until you finish in the bath.”

“Ugh, fine.” I grabbed my pajamas and my toothbrush from my bag. “Will you decide on a movie, then? So when I get out of the bath we can talk and then watch.”

“You don’t want to decide?”

“No, why?”

“I just figured all women wanted romantic comedies, and that you’d want to get to decide.”

“You’ll find I’m not like most women.” I winked at him, and then headed toward the bathroom. I could feel his eyes on me as I walked, and I wanted to turn around and see the expression on his face. What was he thinking? Had he also had an amazing time this afternoon?

I closed the door behind me then leaned back against it, my knees weak. It was getting harder and harder to be around him and not just throw my arms around him and pull him in for a kiss. I wanted to touch him, and I wanted him to touch me.

I was falling for Tate Howard.

What could I possibly expect from him? And would he ever feel the same way about me? I didn’t even want to think the L-word, but I knew that I was close to falling in love, if I hadn’t already. Tate’s blue eyes haunted my dreams, and all I wanted was to be with him.

I groaned and walked over to the bathtub, putting the stopper in and pouring in the entire small bottle of bubble bath that sat beside the large spa tub. I was going to enjoy my evening and this weekend. I was going to let Tate show me around, and I was going to make sure all my barriers were down. I wanted to be completely in the moment and not overthink everything like I normally did.

As I took my clothes off, I looked around for a razor. I wanted to shave my legs again so that they were silky smooth, just in case Tate ended up touching them. I found the razors, grabbed one, and then grinned and grabbed the other. There were other places I wanted to make sure were silky smooth as well, just in case.

“Better to be prepared with a smooth runway, just in case the plane wants to land,” I said under my breath as I took off my panties. I didn’t want to look like a little kid down there, but I sure wanted to clean it up a bit, just in case things got a little bit naughty.

I stepped into the tub and smiled to myself. Who was I kidding? I was hoping that things would get naughty. I was hoping that tonight I’d lose my virginity.

I just wished I knew how Tate was going to react when he found that he was going to be my first.

I slipped out of the bathtub, silky smooth and soft, and I smiled at my reflection in the mirror. My cheeks were glowing from the heat of the water, my brown eyes were shining, and my hair was long and wet. I grabbed a towel, wrapped it around my body, and headed back into the bedroom.

“Hey, how was your bath?” Tate was lying on top of the bed in a red shirt and black boxers. His gaze took me in as I walked over to my bag.

“Good, thanks. Forgot my brush.” I reached into my bag and grabbed my brush and makeup kit. “Did you find a movie to watch?”

“Yeah, I did. We can turn it on later, okay? I was just writing a note.” He held up his pen. “Need your feedback when you get out.”

“A … note?”

Oh, shit. Did he mean a note note? I smiled weakly, trying to pretend I didn’t know what he was talking about. I’d slipped the note into his gym bag that morning. I hadn’t had much time to think about placement and I’d been nervous all morning that he’d seen me. However, he hadn’t said anything to me, so I was pretty sure he hadn’t noticed anything.

“Sure thing. You can tell me now if you want.”

“I’ll wait for you to change and come out of the bathroom.”

“Okay. I’ll be about fifteen minutes. I just need to blow-dry my hair.” And put on some makeup so that you think I look hot.

“Okay, awesome. I should be done by then.” He turned back to his notecard and clicked his pen.

I shut myself in the bathroom and looked at my pajamas. I had a light gray tank top and a pair of navy blue shorts that I was going to wear to bed. I considered my bra and decided to not wear it.

I dried my skin quickly and then slipped on my shorts and top without any underwear. As I dried my hair, I thought about what Tate had just said. Who was he writing a note to? Dread crept up on me. What if the note had nothing to do with the notes I’d been leaving him? What if there was some other woman and that was why he hadn’t been flirting with me? I turned off the dryer and looked at my reflection. Should I bother putting lip-gloss and mascara on? Or would that make me look like I was trying too hard?

“Hey, there, sexy.” Tate sat up in the bed and whistled as I walked out of the bathroom. “You look good enough to eat.”

“Oh, yeah?” I was so happy at the compliment that I couldn’t even get mad. “Thanks, I guess.”

“You guess?” He looked affronted. “It’s not every day I call a woman sexy.”

“More like you compliment a woman every hour.”

“Every hour? Don’t you mean every minute?”

“Very funny.” I walked over and sat on the other side of the bed. “So what is it that you wanted to talk to me about?”

“So,” he leaned back and sighed, “do you remember Francesca from the gym?”

“Francesca?” I raised an eyebrow. “Who is she?”

“You know, the blonde with the plastic tits.”

“Oh, the lady that came into the steam room.” I made a face. I didn’t really want to be talking about her. “What about her?”

“She’s been leaving me notes,” he said with a sigh.

“She what?” My mouth fell open. Did he seriously think the notes were from her?

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Basically, she wants to jump on my dick and ride me all night long.” He shook his head. “She wants me badly.”

“She said that?”

“Well, no, the notes were anonymous, but I’m pretty sure they’re from her. She must be shy, though, because she won’t leave her name.”

“So why would she be writing to you?” My lips thinned. Was he an idiot?

He shrugged. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because she’s seen my body and wants to have a piece?”

“Wants to have a piece?” I raised an eyebrow at him. “Are you serious right now?”

“I’m serious as hell.” He picked up a piece of paper. “I’ve written her a note back. I’d like to read it to you for feedback, all right?”

“What do you mean, for feedback?”

“I just want to ensure that I don’t come across as an asshole.”

“Okay.” I nodded. “Go ahead.”

I wondered if I should tell him that I was his anonymous note writer. I wanted to tell him, but I wasn’t sure what I’d say. He would wonder what had caused me to start writing them, and then I’d have to admit to him that he’d been getting under my skin from the very first moment I saw him, and I didn’t want him thinking that I was some sort of creeper or weird obsessed chick.

“Are you listening, Jane?”

“Yes, sorry.” I nodded. “Go ahead.”

“Okay, here goes.” He cleared his throat. “Dear Secret Not Admirer, aka Plastic Titties—”

“Tate,” I laughed, “you can’t say that.”

“I know.” He grinned and shook his head. “I don’t really have that in there.”

“Okay, start from the beginning again.”

“Dear Secret Not Admirer, I think I know who you are, and if you are that person, then I want you to know that I want you to ride my dick as badly as you want to ride it.”

“Tate!” I rolled my eyes, but my heart thumped painfully. So he did like her?

“What?”

“Nothing.” I sighed. “Continue.”

“Every time I see you, my cock jumps to attention and wonders what it would be like to live inside your pussy? Obviously, cocks don’t have a mind of their own, but if they did, that is what it would be thinking about day in and day out.”

“Really?” I bit down on my lip. “Look, I don’t think I want to hear the rest of this note, Tate.” I looked away, annoyed that I’d bothered shaving and putting on makeup. Tate was obviously not interested in me.

“Can I just finish?” he pleaded.

“Fine.”

“I want you to know that my brain also thinks about you. And the way that you smell, and the way that you smile, and the way that you do that little dance when you think no one is looking. I like that side of you. I like it when you tell me off. And I like it when your nostrils flare. I like it when you come so close to me that I can practically feel you touching me. I hope that we can just talk face-to-face once you get this …”

He paused then and looked into my eyes and I felt like I couldn’t even breathe. He really liked her a lot. He really, really liked her.

“You don’t have to read anymore. It’s fine.” I shrugged and was about to get off of the bed when he continued.

“I hope that from here on out, I can be more than just your arrogant boss.” He stopped reading then, and I turned toward him in shock.

“What did you just say?” I asked him, my face hot.

“I said I hope that I can be more than just your arrogant hot and sexy boss.”

There was a long moment of silence. Finally, I forced myself to speak. “You know it’s me?”

“I do.” He rolled over toward me on the bed.

“How?”

“You left me a note with your name.”

“Oh God, no!” I screamed a little. “I gave you the wrong note? How is that possible?” I tried to think. “I wrote two notes, and I left the note to you on my desk under a notepad. Oh, fuck,” I groaned. “I left the other note on the desk. I gave you the wrong note. Oh God, what did I say?”

“Do you want me to read it to you?”

“Tate, no!” I groaned. “No.”

“Aw, you don’t want to hear it?”

“No.”

“Pity.” He grinned and jumped off the bed then went over to his bag and pulled the familiar notecard out. He cleared his throat.

I jumped up and ran over to him. “Tate, no.”

“‘To My Arrogant Boss, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you had something you were compensating for. Why do you always talk about your big dick? Granted, it’s not small, but when I saw it in your apartment last weekend, it didn’t look that big. It wasn’t tiny, but you couldn’t star in any pornos. Sorry.’” He paused and laughed. “Do you need your eyes checked, woman?”

“No.” I buried my face in my hands. Why oh why had I written that note? I was going to kill Magnolia. It had been her idea.

“I can pull it out now if you need another look to see how big it is.”

“No, thank you, Tate.”

“Fine, let me continue. ‘Also, why would you think that I or any other woman would want your dick? Your dick seems to have seen more vaginas than my gynecologist. Maybe you should start concentrating on your personality and getting to know someone for something other than sex. Maybe it’s not all about sex. Maybe love is important to some people. Maybe a woman wants to be wooed. Maybe a woman wants to be looked in the eyes—not the chest. You’re a pig. You’re conceited, and you’re rude. Yes, you have some good traits and you’re a talented writer, and maybe you should spend more time developing them. Life is going to pass you by if all you keep trying to do is get laid.’” He grinned at me. “This next part is my favorite.”

“Tate, no!” I tried to grab the note from him.

“‘Also, yes, I want your dick. I want it very badly. If I was that type of girl, I’d fuck you every which way and then walk away, just to see if you’re as good as you make it seem. That is all, Jane Garcia, the best employee you’ve ever had.’” He stopped then. “So Jane, is that true?” He took a step toward me. “Do you really want my dick very badly?”

“Tate.” I blushed and then hit him in the shoulder. “Why did you pretend that you thought the note was from Plastic—I mean, Francesca?”

“I wanted to see what you’d say.” He looped his hand around my waist. “I wanted to see if you’d get jealous.”

“Did you really write that note for her?”

“What do you think?” He pulled me into him and looked down into my eyes.

“I don’t know.”

“I wrote it for you, dummy.” I could feel his heart beating from his chest. “As if I would write that to Plastic Titties.”

“Tate, you shouldn’t call her that.” I hit him in the chest, and then he grabbed my hand.

“What are you going to do if I call her that again?” he growled. “Are you Plastic Titties’ bodyguard?”

“No!”

I pulled away from him, giggling, and then he reached under my arms and began tickling me. I tried to push him off, but I couldn’t, and soon I was both laughing and turned on. We fell back onto the bed and started wrestling. It wasn’t a fair fight, though. Tate was much stronger than me and I found myself on my back with him on top of me, holding my hands up above my head.

“Do you surrender?”

“Never.” I tried to move my hands and when I couldn’t, I started moving my body back and forth.

“Aww, so it’s going to be like that, is it?” He grinned down at me and shifted so that his cock was now resting against my stomach, his thighs wrapped around my legs so that I couldn’t move. “Surrender now?”

“Nope.” I stuck my tongue out at him. “You wish.”

“Do you know what I really wish for right now?”

“No, what?”

“A kiss.” He moved his face down toward mine. “I think I’ll take one.”

“Oh, you think you can just take one, do you?” I was breathing hard now; his lips were so close to mine that I could almost taste them.

“I could ask.” His voice was throaty now and I could feel his breath against my lips.

“And what if I say no?”

“And what if I don’t ask?” He grinned and then shifted down slightly so that his cock was now nestled next to my aching pussy. “What if I just don’t ask and I just take?”

“What if you do?” I could lean right up and kiss him and put an end to this madness.

“What if I want to do more than kiss you?”

“What if I want you to?” I said finally, and he paused, his eyes flittering all over my face. I noticed how long his eyelashes were, they were blond and looked deceptively short from far away, but up close I could see how long and delicate they were. He really did have the most beautiful eyes.

“Do you want me to?” he asked softly, and I knew that he was asking about more than the kiss.

“I do.”

“I want to as well,” he whispered.

And then, finally, his lips were on top of mine, pressing against me roughly, devouring me, seeking entrance to my mouth. I opened my lips, and his kiss became softer and slower. As he probed my mouth with his tongue, he let go of my hands, freeing my fingers to weave through his hair, pulling on it roughly.

“Fuck, Jane,” he grunted against my lips as his hand slid to my breast. His fingers found my nipple and pinched it slightly. I moaned underneath him, and he chuckled against my lips. “You’re going to destroy me, Jane.”

“I thought you were doing your best to destroy me,” I murmured as his hand moved down to my stomach and pulled my tank top up.

“There are many ways to kill a man, Jane. I think you’ve found the way to kill me.” He kissed down the side of my neck. “I want you so badly it hurts.”

“I want you too.”

“Sit up.” His voice was commanding, and his eyes were dark with desire. “Lift up your arms.”

I obeyed and lifted up my arms. He pulled my tank top off quickly and then groaned as he stared at me, my hair over my shoulders tousled and still slightly damp. “You’re so beautiful.” He leaned forward and kissed my collarbone gently. “I want to kiss and taste all of you.”

“Then do it,” I dared him.

He pushed me back on the back. “You can do your best to destroy me, Jane. I’ve been to hell and back already. I can go again.”

“Maybe I don’t want to destroy you.”

His eyes darkened. “You already have.”

He leaned down and took my nipple in his mouth. My back arched as he sucked and pulled and I ran my fingers down to the bottom of his shirt.

“Take it off.” It was my turn to be bossy. “I want to see you as well.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He sat up and pulled his shirt off before throwing it to the ground. “Anything else you want off?”

“No, that’s all for now.” I smiled at him wickedly.

“Well, I’m not done with you.” He pushed me back into the mattress. “Lift your ass up.”

“Why?” I gave him my most innocent face.

“Because my lips are longing to taste you more intimately, my dear.” He grinned, looking every bit the wicked wolf as he pulled my panties down. “I need to eat you up.” His perfect white teeth beamed at me. “Wow.” He looked down at my naked body, his face filled with lust, desire in his eyes. “If I die tonight, I will die a happy man.”

“You won’t die tonight.” I shivered under his intense gaze.

“You’re so beautiful, Jane.” His fingers traced a line across my breasts, down my stomach, toward my pussy, but then they trailed all the way down my legs, all the way to my feet. “You have beautiful feet.”

“Don’t tell me you have a foot fetish?”

“No, I don’t.”

“I don’t believe you,” I said, my heart pounding as he leaned down and took my left foot in his hand. “What, what are you doing?”

“I’m about to suck your toes.”

“But you just told me you don’t have a foot fetish.” My entire body was shivering now.

“I don’t.” He winked. “I have so many other fetishes, Jane. This isn’t one of them.”

And then he took my big toe into his mouth and sucked, and I swear I almost came right then and there. Our eyes locked as he continued sucking, and that moment felt even more intimate than my past experiences with oral sex.

He proceeded to suck each and every one of my toes before he kissed up my legs, then he pried my legs apart and licked a trail up my thigh to my most intimate spot.

“Are you ready?” he asked, and before I could ask for what, his face was between my legs and his tongue was flicking against my clit.

I began to tremble. I’d never felt anything like it before in my life. All of my nerve endings were super sensitive, and I realized that was why he’d sucked on my toes. He’d brought my body to a state of heightened anticipation and now the feeling of his tongue against my clit was pure bliss.

He spread my legs wider and nuzzled his nose against my clit for a few seconds. “You smell and taste amazing,” he murmured before he thrust his tongue inside of me.

I cried out in ecstasy. His tongue moved in and out of me smoothly and then he started sucking on my clit and brought me to the verge of climax. His hands reached up and started playing with my nipples as he entered me with his tongue once again and I screamed as I came. He didn’t stop thrusting his tongue inside of me until my body stopped shuddering and then he licked up all my juices before kissing up my stomach and to my mouth.

“Beautiful,” he groaned as he kissed me again. This time he was rough and hard, and I loved it. His fingers caressed my breasts, and I ran my fingers down his back, digging my nails into his skin. I wrapped my legs around him, and he grunted against me. His hand came up to my neck, and he squeezed it slightly. My eyes opened, and he was staring down at me intently.

“Does that scare you?” he asked softly as his fingers adjusted on my neck, not getting tighter but not letting go, either.

“No,” I whispered against his lips.

“I need to take you now.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I know this is our first time, but I feel like I have a fever. I need to be inside of you. Now.”

“Okay.” I shifted under him. “I want to feel you inside of me as well.”

“Are you on the pill?” His eyes were hopeful, but I shook my head and he rolled off the bed. He pulled his boxers off, then bent down by his bag.

I stared at his ass and gulped. He was perfect. Absolutely perfect. He stood up and turned around and I couldn’t keep my eyes off of his hard cock leading the way.

“You’re beautiful,” I whispered as he got down on the bed next to me. I reached up to touch his chest. This was the first time I’d seen him completely naked.

“You’re the beautiful one, mi amor.”

He said the words casually, and I tried not to take them to heart. But hope still soared in my chest as he positioned himself on top of me, pushing my legs apart with his as he kissed me. He lowered himself onto my body, his chest crushing my breasts. I kissed him back passionately, relishing the taste of myself on his lips. His lips moved down to my neck, and I felt him guiding his cock to my pussy. I felt the tip against my clit and I moaned underneath him.

“Oh, Tate …” My body felt like it was on fire and only he could put it out. His cock continued to rub against me and then I felt his fingers slipping down between my legs, two fingers entering me.

“You’re wet again.” He rolled over slightly to slip the condom on. I wondered if I should tell him I was a virgin, but the thought flew out of my mind as soon as he turned back to me and started kissing me again. He pinched my nipples hard as he sucked on my lower lip, his cock twitched next to my pussy, and he reached down and adjusted it so that it was at my entrance. I felt the tip right there, and I ached to feel it inside of me.

“Tate,” I moaned as I arched my back.

“Yes?”

“Tate, please …”

“Please what?”

“Destroy me,” I begged.

“Yes, ma’am.” And then he thrust himself inside of me, and I cried out because it hurt. “Jane.” His eyes widened as he stared down at me. “Jane?” He thrust again hard, and it hurt again and I gripped onto his back. “Jane, we can’t.”

“Fuck me, Tate,” I pleaded, and he kissed me hard. He moved slower this time, his cock inching into me little by little until I no longer felt any pain. All I felt was him inside of me filling me up and I loved it. “Faster,” I pleaded. He shook his head as he continued to guide his cock in and out of me slowly. “Tate,” I dug my nails into his shoulders. “Please, it doesn’t hurt anymore.” And then he groaned and he increased his pace. He closed his eyes and kissed me, thrusting into me harder now, his right hand playing with my clit.

I moaned incoherently. I was experiencing pleasure like I’d never felt before.

“Oh, Jane, you feel so good,” he whispered in my ear and then blew into it softly. He moved up slightly and grabbed my legs and placed them over his shoulder and then he slammed into me, so hard and so good.

“Oh, Tate!” I shouted. “Please don’t stop!” I was building up to something that felt like nothing I’d ever felt before. It felt magical. It felt like I was flying. It felt like he was a part of me.

“I can’t hold it much longer, Jane.” He gasped and slowed for a few seconds. “I need to recover.”

“No,” I cried out. “Please!”

“I like it when you beg,” he growled. He increased his pace again, slamming into me so hard that I could feel his balls brushing against my skin. “Come for me, Jane.” He played with my clit and leaned down and sucked on my nipple as he continued fucking me and the sensory overload of it all was too much. I screamed his name as I orgasmed, crashing into him like ocean waves against a rocky shore.

“Oh, fuck yeah.” Tate moved even faster now and then suddenly he stilled, then shuddered and collapsed on top of me. He kissed the side of my face as he pulled out of me.

After a moment, he pulled the condom off and placed it on the side table before pulling me into his arms.

“Why didn’t you tell me you were a virgin, Jane?” he whispered as he kissed my hair.

“Does it matter?” I snuggled into his arms, exhausted.

“No.” His right hand played with my hair. “But I broke two rules tonight.”

“What rules?” I looked at him through sleepy eyes.

“Never fuck a virgin and never take a woman you fucked home.”

“Oops.” I laughed. “Two strikes.”

“Yeah.” He kissed me on the forehead. “I hope I didn’t hurt you too much.”

“You didn’t.” I smiled and then touched his chest. “In fact, I’d even be willing to go again.” My hands crept down to his cock.

“You were just yawning.” He laughed as his fingers idly played with my breasts.

“I’m awake now.”

“I want to but we can’t.” He shook his head. “You’ll be sore tomorrow, and if we go again, I won’t be so tender,” he said gruffly. “There are things I want to do to you that I can’t do right now.”

“Why not?”

“Because you wouldn’t be able to walk in the morning.” He winked at me. “And my parents are expecting us at nine a.m. sharp, so tomorrow’s going to be a busy day.”

“Okay.” I leaned over to kiss him on the lips, as my fingers moved up and down his shaft. I could feel him growing hard in my hands and I grinned. “If you’re sure.”

“Stop that, woman,” he growled and pushed me back into the mattress. He grabbed my hands and placed them to my side and kissed me. “Now we sleep.”

“Fine.” I pouted and watched as he got up and out of bed. “Where are you going?”

“Just to have a quick shower.” He looked back at me. “I’ll be back.”

“Okay.”

I lay back on the bed and closed my eyes. I was no longer a virgin, and it felt amazing. I touched my breasts gingerly and then ran my hands down my stomach and toward my private area. I touched my thighs and ran my fingers back up my body. I felt different. I felt like a woman.

And even more than that, I felt like Tate’s woman.

My heart ached at that thought. I was his. I knew that in my soul. I just didn’t know if he wanted me for anything more than a good time.