Mr. Wham Bam (7 page)

“Why in the world would you give him another woman to ruin? Are you his pimp now?”

“He refused her. Said he wanted me.”

Michelle sat back in her seat, coffee cup in hand, looking her over, a thoughtful look to her eyes. “What’s his game?”

“I don’t know, but I really don’t think it’s a game. I saw a side to him that I don’t think others have. I think he wants love in his life. That’s why I introduced him to Ana.”

Michelle took a long sip, her eyes never leaving Kenzie’s face. Kenzie felt uncomfortable under Michelle’s gaze; her friend saw too much. They’d been friends for far too long.

“Why do you care that he wants love in his life?”

And there was the heart of the matter. She shouldn’t care, not one bit. He was a grown man, and he could find Ms. Right all on his own. Why she’d felt the need to hook him up with another woman, she’d never know.

“Perhaps you care because you like him.”

“I lust after him. Big difference.”

“Like, lust—all a matter of semantics. You wouldn’t be defending him if you didn’t feel something for him.”

“I knew you were pushing, yet I rose to the bait.”

“You always do.” Michelle’s smug smile was quickly hidden by the edge of her coffee cup as she took a big sip. “So, if he’s willing to try something, why not?”

“Two seconds ago you were calling him a jerk and saying he deserved what he got, and now you want me to give him a chance?”

“Of course I did. He still may be a jerk. But the fact he didn’t take advantage of you, I’m willing to say that maybe he’s not the monster he’s been made out to be. And there are times in a man’s life, especially one that’s approaching the middle thirties like he is, when he begins to think about settling down, leaving the playing field behind him. You’re not like all the other women out there. You aren’t looking for a man to marry you and give you everything you need; you work for what you want. You’re smart, independent, and strong. The fact he seems to see that earns him points in my book, too.”

The back of Kenzie’s eyes stung. “The check is in the mail.”

“I can compliment just as well as I can smack talk. And you know I’m right. Jace seems to have you twisted up, so apparently you like him a lot.”

“I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

“Exactly why it found you. You never find love when you’re looking for it.”

“Work—well, work is just nuts.”

“An excuse. Work will always be there and it will always be nuts. If you’re meant to get the promotion, you’ll get it. You can find the line between work and life, if you
choose
to.”

Kenzie was quiet for a moment. Fear had made her run from Jace, fear that she couldn’t handle it all, not with the all-consuming lust she felt in his presence. He was man enough to make a woman forget what she was doing, but maybe she was strong enough to make it work. “You think so?”

“I know so.”

“Yeah, but I kinda ruined the whole thing by trying to pawn him off on Ana. I think I pushed him too far.”

“Then you need to make the grand gesture, if you truly think he’s worth it.”

“The grand gesture?”

“Yep, it’s about time for Ms. Prim and Proper to make an ass of herself.”

“Gee. Fun.” Kenzie knew Michelle was right. She’d have to suck up her pride, lay it out on the table, and open herself up to the potential for rejection, a very likely possibility.

* * * *

Kenzie shivered as a cold breeze blew up her trench coat. She was completely naked under it, except for her garter belt and hose. Maybe not the best choice for the day, but she had motive. Winter was on its way, and the cold hand of the north wind reached out to tell her as much. The gray sky above her hinted at the coming season. It also reminded her of gray eyes that would hopefully sparkle with enjoyment in seeing her at the door.

Her nipples puckered as she closed the door to her car and walked up the drive to Jace’s house, the heavy cotton of the coat rubbing against the hardened peaks as she moved. Wetness coated the inside of her thighs as her legs moved, the dampness growing with each step. Desire warred within her. She was ready to love the bad boy, if he’d only have her.

She held a bottle of wine in one hand, the edges of her coat with the other. All she needed was a gust of wind to show a neighbor everything the Lord gave her. Anxiety ran through her veins as doubts permeated her. What if he turned her away? What if it was too late?

His SUV was parked in the drive, so she hoped he was, in fact, home. As her hand came down on the door to knock, she heard the tinkling of female laughter behind the door. Too late; it had been too late to stop the forward propulsion of her hand, and the knock sounded. Her stomach pitched as mortification ran through her. Stunned, she stood there, looking at the door. Her mouth dropped as her mind reeled. Her flight instinct kicked in, and she began to wobble away from the door in the five-inch heels she’d shoved her feet into to look sexy. Now, those same shoes were preventing her speedy getaway. She just hoped they had been too involved in what they were doing to hear her halfhearted knock.

Kenzie heard the
whoosh
of the door opening and the sound of her name spoken by a female. Turning, she saw Ana in the doorframe, standing next to Jace.

It immediately struck her how perfect they looked together. They were both incredibly good-looking, and they fit like two pieces of a puzzle. Pain lanced her chest as she saw them side by side. Regret and a little bit of jealousy swarmed through her, something she’d no right to feel. She was the reason they’d met in the first place. She’d practically thrown Ana at him, telling him this was the kind of woman he needed.

“Kensington? What are you doing here?” Jace’s brows were pulled tight into a frown.

No lie that moved through her sluggish brain was good enough, and the hell if she was going to tell him the truth. “I can see you’re busy. Don’t mind me. Continue on with whatever it is that you were doing. I’ll leave you to it.”

Kenzie spun so fast she nearly fell over in the ridiculous shoes. She righted herself as quickly as she could and stumbled toward the street.

“Kensington! Stop!”

Tears streamed down her face as she continued to walk as fast as her feet would take her. She dug into her coat pocket for her keys, the wine bottle slipping from her hand. But she kept walking, leaving the bottle as a victim of her stupidity, the broken shards reminiscent of her broken ego. Clicking the Unlock button, she had one hand on the door when a steel clamp closed on her forearm.

“Kensington. Where are you going?”

“Home.” She couldn’t face him, not with tears in her eyes. “I’m going home. Just let me leave.”

“I can’t do that, sweetheart.”

The endearment surprised her. She’d not been expecting it. But then she realized he’d been entertaining Ana just moments before, and he had the nerve to call her sweetheart. Anger roiled through her, and it felt so much more natural than her tears. Turning to face him, she raised her chin and looked at him defiantly.

“Go back to Ana. Just let me go.”

“Back to me?” Ana came down the driveway. “Kenzie, are you nuts? I ran into Jace this afternoon at Starbucks, and he asked me to help him win
you
over. He’s only interested in one female, and it sure as heck isn’t me.”

Shock filled her again as she gazed at Jace and back to Ana.

“Assumptions are going to kill this before it ever happens, Kensington.” He stepped in close, embracing her face with both of his hands and looking her square in the eye. “Don’t let your thinking ruin the chances we have.”

“All these months I’ve thought you were the bad guy and avoided you. All along it was me, wasn’t it? I was the one who pushed you away because of what other people said.”

“It’s not all your fault. I’m never going to say I’m the best man in the world. I’ve made mistakes just like anyone else, but being near you makes me want to be a better man. All I ask is for you to give me the chance to prove that to you.”

Kenzie nodded her head; her whole world turned on its ear. He lowered his hands and pulled her close to him, dropping a tender kiss to her forehead.

“I think I’m going to leave the two of you alone now, as it seems I’m no longer needed here. You guys have a nice evening.”

Kenzie smiled at her coworker, mouthing a silent, “Thank you” to her. Words were failing her at the moment, the shock of it all still keeping her silent. She watched her friend walk away. Ana really was a good woman and deserved to find her own happiness.

“Assumptions?” His eyebrow rose as he studied her.

“They’re a bitch.”

“Indeed.” Jace lowered his mouth to hers, a soft, subtle kiss. “And as I recall, you still owe me at least one from the last batch of assumptions.”

“Holding me accountable, are we?”

“Absolutely. How will you ever learn to be responsible if not held accountable for your actions?” His sly grin belied his words, and she couldn’t help but mirror the response.

“Then I suppose you should take me inside and make me pay up.”

Lifting her into his arms, he smiled. She squealed and crossed her ankles, one hand holding on to his neck, the other pushing her coat down to cover her nudity.

“What’s wrong?”

“I don’t have anything on under the coat.”

He began to walk quickly up the drive. “Then we better get you inside, hmm?”

Chapter 6

Jace laid Kensington out on his bed, much like the last time she’d been there, except this time, she was quite sober and willing, just like he liked her. He moved his fingers to the buttons of her trench, slowly undoing them as he slid into the bed beside her, his lips seeking hers. Within moments, he had pulled the lapels apart, exposing her nude body. Lifting from the kiss, he raked his gaze down her creamy curves, loving the small touch of the garter and stockings she’d left on.

She wiggled from the coat, and he pulled it from her and dropped it to the floor. He lowered his hand to the tiny thatch of hair between her thighs and spread his palm against the heated triangle of her pussy, loving the feel of it against him. He moved her knee to spread her out before him, the sight of her pink pussy pearled with her cream enough to make him lick his lips in desire. He had to taste her on his tongue, feel her clit throb against his lips.

He kneeled between her thighs and lowered himself to look over her swelling sex. Dipping his head, he captured some of her essence on his tongue, his eyes closing as the musky, sweet taste of her hit the tip. He lapped at her, licking her juices from her nub down through the tender tissues, stopping at her anus. She jumped as he touched her there with his mouth, a soft sigh escaping her. Tonight, he would have her in all ways. He would slide his cock into her tender ass and claim it all.

Bringing his fingers to her pussy, he pressed two of them into her, loving the cries of pleasure that came to his ears. She was so responsive, calling out at every stroke he gave her, cream sliding easily from her pussy. She seemed to enjoy all his touches, as if nothing was off limits.

She’d once said she went for good boys, but she’d need him, a bad boy, to shake her up. He’d shake Kensington all she wanted and then some, giving her the loving she deserved. Her hips rolled as he set a tempo with his fingers. He moved his tongue back down to roll over her clit as he showed her what he would soon do to her with his growing cock, the cock that was even now pressing painfully against the zipper of his jeans and making him incredibly uncomfortable.

But he relished the pain to a certain point, because he felt as though he could come just from licking her beautiful pussy. That pain kept his release at bay, kept him from spilling like a schoolboy over her leg. Even with all his experience, she made sex feel new, because he cared for her and wanted her utter abandon, wanted to take her over the edge, into oblivion, by his side.

Her cries grew louder as she came closer and closer to the precipice, and he wanted nothing more than for her to soar over it, his lips locked on her to taste her cream. His tongue fluttered over her nub, his fingers finding her hidden spot and rubbing it just right. She screamed out as she came, a near flood of cream soaking his lips.

“Good?” He smiled from between her thighs after he licked his lips. He chuckled as her eyes rounded and she nodded, apparently unable to talk.

*

Kenzie gulped air after her orgasm, never having felt something so intensely in her life. Her heartbeat in her ears was thunderous, and she felt languid, her body unable to move. Jace sat up from between her thighs, his lips shining with her juices. The devilish smile he gave her was delicious, and he rose, lowering the zipper of his jeans. His cock popped from behind the zipper, heavy and erect, the broad purple head shining at the tip with his precum.

She licked her lips, wanting to taste him. She rose to her knees before him, peeling her boneless body from the bed, and helped him shuck his jeans. Once he was completely naked, she held the root of him, using his cum to coat her palm against him. She felt the throb of his heart in her hand and smiled when he moaned in appreciation.

Dropping to the bed, she eyed his dick, his heavy balls tight to the base and full of cum. Kenzie weighed the tender sac as her hands continued to fondle the shaft. His bottom dropped to the bed as her mouth hovered over the tip, her lips drawing the plum head between them. Suckling the spongy skin, she pumped her hand along the base as she gently massaged his balls. Jace’s hips began to roll, trying to set a tempo into her mouth, and she let him, allowing more and more of his length down her throat.

She could taste the musky flavor of him and liked it. It swirled over her tongue as she sucked him harder, feeling him tense in reaction to her attentions. His groans echoed in the air around them, his sounds telling her what he liked the most. She wanted to make this good for him, an act she rarely performed on her good boys. None of them had seemed to deserve the courtesy. Now, she couldn’t imagine not performing this act with Jace all the time, laving his cock just as he had showered her pussy with affection.