STORY EXCERPT

“What are you doing here?” she asked as soon as she pulled the heavy wooden door inward. She was staring at him through narrowed eyes, obviously annoyed.

Dane held up the bag of fresh pastries and hoped she’d soften. He wasn’t in the mood to have to maneuver her mind to his purposes. “I was hoping you’d offer fresh coffee to go with these.”

There was no need to read her mind. She was annoyed, and from the flush on her cheeks, a bit excited. It didn’t help him that she was wearing cotton pants with a drawstring waist in a soft-pink plaid with a solid-pink T-shirt that showed her flat belly. She was braless, and he had to take a deep breath to control his erection.

“What part of ‘I don’t want to date my boss’ don’t you get?” She didn’t open the door wide. Instead, she held it as she leaned against the doorframe.

“Don’t think of this as a date—just two single people who don’t want to be alone.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. I don’t mind being alone. In fact, I’d prefer it.”

He held the bag a bit higher. “These are getting cold.”

“What if I told you I didn’t care?”

“I’d say you’re a woman with much too much good taste to let these go to waste.”

“What if I told you I was a lesbian and didn’t want your attention?”

Dane didn’t hold back his hearty laugh. “I’d say you’re a liar and a poor one at that. Come on, Diana, give a guy a break.”

“I’d like to break something…” She let out a huff and finally opened the door wider. She walked away and left him to enter on his own. After he closed the door behind him, he stood in the entrance to her living room. She stood in the middle of the room, watching him with a leery look. “Coffee and you’re out of here.” She made a point of passing him with as much space between them as the room would allow. “Come on, the kitchen’s back here.”

Dane knew getting Diana to accept him was going to be difficult. Beyond being her boss, he wanted a relationship that had substance. She struck him as a woman with a brain and a body. He and Sloan had pegged her to eventually run the paper when they were distracted with other things. None of that would happen unless she relaxed and accepted him and, eventually, Sloan.

He met her in the kitchen, noting it was a small but clean space without a lot of cabinets. The coffee she was brewing smelled good. In New Orleans, everyone was expected to make good coffee. Diana didn’t let him down. She was reluctant to look at him, and he had to wait for her to turn to get her attention.

“I know you’re not happy I stopped by,” he started, not sure where the rest of his statement was going.

She was difficult to read. She had no idea of her true ability yet and probably never would unless Sloan found her. She’d led a very normal, quiet, stable life until now. He almost felt bad knowing she would never be the same in a very short time, and she could never go back to the naive woman he was standing before. But all this had been destined centuries ago, and neither he nor Sloan had a choice.

Finally, he lost his patience. The entire time he’d been there, she’d kept her back to him and hadn’t tried to make polite conversation. “You know, most people would feel obligated to hold a conversation with their guest.”

“You’re not an invited guest.” With that, she did turn around and face him. “In fact, you’re an interloper. I’ve tried to be polite at work when you asked me out, and that obviously didn’t work. So here’s the deal.” She turned back to the counter, and he watched her pull down two black mugs and fill them with the fresh brew. He noted she was very careful to put them on the counter beside her, within his reach. She didn’t offer him milk for the coffee but pushed the sugar bowl toward him. “From now on, we will be polite at the office. You will not make excuses to invade my privacy while at home. There is no reason for you to be here. I’m not looking for a friend or a lover.” She finally turned to look at him. “I like spending my time alone. Do we understand each other? This is your first and last drop-by visit.”

Dane knew this was worse, watching her breasts rise and fall with each breath. That was when he lost his composure. He took a step forward, and she took one back. With one more step, she was pressed against the counter and had nowhere else to retreat. He stared at her, watching her eyes. He didn’t need to be a mind reader to know her thoughts were of hate and loathing. At the moment he didn’t care what she wanted. He knew from their kiss the other day at work, the moment he touched her, she’d melt inside and accept him. He could have kissed her. Instead, he reached his index finger and drew it across her cheek, down to her lips, and back and forth over them. In that instant, he felt all her resistance melt away. He could feel her body arching toward him, and he took full advantage of it, wrapping his arms around her. Diana reacted, reaching her hands to his shoulders, her fingers pinching his skin until their lips met.

ADULT EXCERPT

Diana unfolded the envelope and took the pages from it. They were medical reports from this last week, all proving he had no communicable diseases. By the time she was putting them back in the envelope, he was behind her, his hands on her shoulders. His lips kissed the back of her neck, sending a chill through her whole body.

“Thank you for the results.”

“No condoms,” he said and used both hands to run along her sides. Down her hips and thighs, as his hands rose up, her denim skirt was between his fingers.

Diana knew what he wanted and decided to let him take it, especially since she was still so horny from last weekend’s dream or whatever it had been. She remembered how her body had felt after the dream and knew she couldn’t consider it a dream. She smiled, knowing Dane’s cock wouldn’t fill her as the creature’s fingers had. But he was there, and she was interested in the relief he’d bring her. She reminded herself she’d set the rules of their relationship, sex with no romance or ties. A small part of her wanted him to test her limits, but the rest of her just wanted sex. Diana reminded herself, once emotions entered into a relationship, it changed the dynamic and usually became tedious to her. She didn’t confront him when he made the pass a second time, his fingers hooking under the elastic of her panties and pulling them down her legs. Dane stood and took her hands, drawing them to the windowsill in front of her.

“Just relax,” he whispered, running his tongue along her throat.

She knew he was lowering to his knees behind her. She allowed him to lift each foot and rid her of the underwear. From that second on, her pussy began to pulse with anticipation, and she had no regrets. He palmed her buttocks while nipping at her skin. When he grasped her waist, he pulled her several steps from the window, widening her stance. She could feel his hot breath on her pussy lips from behind and then higher on her anus. Next, she felt his tongue licking her from front to back. It was hard not to squirm at his attention. She knew since she’d made the decision to come see his new home, she’d accepted they would end up fucking. It was what she wanted, even if it could prove detrimental to her career.

“Put your fingers in my pussy,” she told him, and he instantly filled her with two of them.

From that moment, she allowed him to do what he wanted. He licked her pussy and reached up to fondle her nipples through her shirt with his other hand. She didn’t know how long this went on, only that it felt wonderful. When he slid a finger in her ass, she sighed, and when he pulled his hand from her body, she growled.

“Fuck me, Dane,” she told him, still not turning around to look at him. She could hear his zipper behind her and the sound of his belt buckle hitting the wood floor. His cock was in her pussy instantly, taking long and then short strokes inside her.

“Faster,” she said, and he complied wordlessly.

His lips went to her shoulder, and she knew there’d be a purple mark there tomorrow and didn’t care. On one outward stroke, he paused and pushed higher in her body, sliding into her anus.

He fucked her harder and faster, and all she could do was hold on to the windowsill. His thrusts were deeper than the last time, and his cock felt larger inside her.

“That’s it. Make me come, Dane. Fuck me until I come.”