Yes to Everything (53 page)

Fresh breath, slightly salty tang on his sensually firm lips…and very good at kissing. When he raised his mouth from hers, he murmured against her skin, “Much better than I expected.”

They stepped away from one another and he looked at her car. “Do you have a bag?” At her nod, he took her hand casually and led her back to the driveway. He waited as she unlocked the doors then reached in for her duffle, the perfect gentleman. She grabbed her backpack and Tawny’s CD from the front seat and locked the car. He made sure she was ready and led the way into the house.

Her initial impression of the house as a bungalow was carried through on the inside. There was a beautiful lake view behind the house, and the open floor plan brought an abundance of light into the rooms. The living room was essentially a ‘man cave’ with a leather sectional, big screen television and plenty of electronic equipment. Classic movie prints in matching frames adorned the pale mocha colored walls. Very few knickknacks other than some black and white photos of people Riya figured to be family and friends.

Sean carried her bag down a short hallway. He paused in a doorway, showing signs of uncertainty for the first time. “I…well, I wasn’t sure if you wanted the guest room or if you’d rather…share space…while you’re here. I didn’t want to assume. I made up the guest room if you prefer it.” He glanced quickly at her then away.

Hmm. She decided to go with what he obviously preferred, the entire point of her being here. “I’d like to share space with you. I think it’s important to spend as much time together as possible while I’m here.” It sounded much different when she spoke her thoughts aloud. “I mean, there is a lot to do together.” No better. Lots of innuendo.

He smiled and seemed to regain his footing. “Excellent. I’ve cleared space in the dresser and closet.” That confirmed his preference, she thought. “There’s an empty top drawer in the bathroom, right through there, if you need it.” He placed her bag on the bench at the end of the bed and turned to go, “I’ll give you some time to get settled while I make drinks.”

At the door, he stopped and turned back to her, “I’m glad you’re here, Riya. And not just for the obvious reasons. I feel like I kind of know you after all our emails back and forth. I think this is going to be very interesting. I’ll be in the kitchen, straight down the hall and on the other side of the living room.” One last smile and he was out of sight.

Riya pulled her backpack from her shoulder. As she set it beside her duffle bag, she released a relieved sigh, so far so good. Sean was good-looking, charming, and an excellent host subject. She really couldn’t wait to get started with him. “I’m just dropping innuendos all over the place,” she muttered to herself and laughed.

She took her toiletry bag to the bathroom, placing it in the drawer he’d considerately cleared for her. She glanced at herself briefly, deciding she was still in decent condition. She removed her laptop and typed a few initial impressions before closing it and heading to the kitchen.

Sean was blending fruits and alcohol when she entered. He was comfortable in his space and it showed. He dropped freshly chopped pineapple into the blender and she found a seat at his bar so she could watch him.

“You mentioned you’re a lightweight so I’ll go easy on you.” He chuckled at her expense and she smiled. “I’ve mixed my own concoction, there’s a little vodka in this first batch. Not trying to get you drunk, I swear.”

He added coconut milk while he talked, “I’m nervous, I’ll admit it. To actually have you sitting in my kitchen is surreal.” He blended a moment longer before removing the carafe and pouring the frosty mixture into two tall glasses. “This drink is more for me than you.” They toasted over the bar and Riya took a sip.

“This is delicious. I can’t even taste the alcohol!”

He nodded seriously, “Those are the ones that knock you on your ass. Be careful. Want to sit out on the patio?” She nodded and slipped off the stool to follow him outside.

The deck was Mexican tile and there were two chaise lounge chairs in the shade. He pulled one around so they could see one another. She stretched out and waited for him to sit. The breeze off the lake was fantastic and privacy fencing almost to the shoreline prevented her from seeing the houses on either side of Sean’s.

They sat in silence with one another for a few minutes, and it was surprisingly comfortable. Finally he said, “I’m not asking anything about anyone else, but there was one thing I was curious about…how many applications did you receive? Overall, I mean?”

She couldn’t help but laugh, “Total? Hmm, more than I thought I would. More than thirteen thousand…” His eyes widened in shock, “I know, right? It added months to my deadline just to go through them all.”

“Whoa. I am so much more flattered than I have any right to be.”

Riya shook her head, “Not to put too fine a point on it, but I got rid of almost ten thousand liars and perverts in the first few weeks. My proposal was…unorthodox. It brought out some pretty scary people.” A small shudder passed through her, “There are some truly unbalanced people in the world. It was the remaining three thousand plus that were harder. That took me the longest.”

“Can I ask why you chose me?” He seemed truly interested. Almost as if he didn’t quite believe he had been chosen. Riya found the modesty endearing.

“You were one of the first I chose, actually. Physical attributes have something to do with it, I hope you understand. That’s human nature.” She was warming to her topic and he smiled with a certain degree of male satisfaction.

“Then, I split everyone into age groups, then ethnic, then field of industry, then smaller things like preferences on my looks, my race, my religion…that kind of thing. I had one guy tell me I’d be perfect if I got a boob job and colored my hair. Since I’m the control, I couldn’t start changing myself. Physicality was the easiest. You found me attractive, I found you attractive…one marker down.” She laughed at herself, “All very scientific…kind of silly when I say some of this stuff out loud.”

“I don’t find any of it silly. I find it fascinating,” he replied honestly.

They talked for a couple of hours, getting to know one another. Riya felt more at ease with every moment. He asked what she was thinking on her drive to Orlando.

“I was nervous, but got it under control. You were the closest person to me, and my best friend insisted you be my first subject…I’m sorry, that sounded horribly cold and impersonal.”

He shook his head and she continued. “I tend to be conservative, but the subject matter interests me, even if it’s outside my personal comfort zone. Maybe because it is. This is what I’ve worked for. I have a lot of time and effort invested in it.”

“This is very enthusiastic for a first venture. How do you think it’s going to change you?” She realized she was doing a lot of talking to someone she’d known for a few hours and reminded herself to document her open reaction to her first subject.

“I think it will open my mind. I was sheltered regarding men and honestly I’ve just not had time to really deal with them much until now.” She laughed, “You don’t have to look quite so surprised, Sean. I’m no vamp and most men bore me. I’ve had two long-term boyfriends. I’m not complaining. It gives me a unique perspective most women in my age group are sorely lacking. I focused on myself first, able to take or leave men in general, and now I feel more equipped to handle what I put in place for my dissertation.”

“I have to say I’m more impressed by the moment, Riya.”

She insisted they talk about him. They discussed his business on the Internet. His company facilitated research and resources for small companies without the capital to hire their own teams. He dabbled in just about everything, from databases to security to marketing.

When she asked about his divorce he shrugged, “There are no hard feelings or anything. I was in the military for too long and she just got tired of sleeping alone. We didn’t have kids or property. She had her own family and business interests. When she made the decision, she was just gone. There was no drama or tears. We still talk if we run into one another. She’s remarried with babies. She was a nice person. I figured it was time to settle down. Turned out I was wrong.”

“How was your sex life?” Riya asked bluntly.

He grinned, “I’m enjoying myself so much I really forgot why you were here. Our sex life was fairly vanilla, I suppose. When I was home on leave, we took care of a need but there was nothing overly exciting. Nothing kinky.” He winked at her, “Not that I have a problem with kinky.” They both laughed.

“The freakiest person I’ve dated was about your age, into some Goth crap that scared the hell out of me. Wanted to tie me up and drip candle wax on my dick. I like my dick, and wish him only good things. He wasn’t into it so I deferred to his choice. I also wasn’t letting someone I didn’t trust tie me up.”

“Would you let me tie you up? I’m just curious,” she asked him.

“You know what? I think I would. It’s weird, and don’t take offense, but you’re so much more normal than I thought you’d be. You seem so honest and, well, sweet.” Riya laughed, not sure if that was the reaction she needed from her subjects.

They finished their drinks and Sean came back with a refill when he asked, “So, how long do I get to keep you?” He looked at her with interest. “I’ve got a lot of activities planned. I don’t want to waste a moment. My mother wants to meet you.”

At her gasp, he chuckled, “No worries, Riya. I go up to Rock Springs every couple of weeks to check on her now that my dad is gone and she’d already heard about the project from my younger brother, or The Traitor, as I like to call him. I filled her in on the basics and she was amazed at your ingenuity.” He smiled sardonically, “She was the original flower child and judges no one. I think she may even be a little jealous she never thought of the idea. I told her I would mention it but I wasn’t making any promises.”

Riya was surprised. In all honestly, for all the noble conversations they’d had, she figured they’d spend most of their time inside, either working on her part of the bargain or his. “I’m not worried about meeting your mom, Sean. It actually might add another element to my research. I’m just concerned you went to so much trouble. I didn’t expect anything.”

He laughed, “You wouldn’t. You are so young in person. Twelve years age difference never seemed as much as it does right now. Though I admit my thoughts have gone native with everything I want to do to you physically, I’m not eighteen anymore. You’re a guest and I’ll be treating you with dignity and respect.” He sipped his daiquiri and set it on the small table before adding, “Though I can’t promise not to be male, I will struggle to be a well-behaved male.”

Riya placed her drink next to his and leaned across the narrow space between them. Her hair blew across her face and over Sean’s forearm. His quick intake of breath told her he was more physically aware of her than he wanted to admit. The knowledge pleased her.

Their agreement was built on the assumption of give and take. She would get her research; he could have, well, whatever he wanted. If he’d taken her at the front door, she would have been surprised but not offended. A deal was a deal, after all.

She reached up to place a palm along his face. “I appreciate that, Sean. You’re more than I expected, too.” She leaned closer and placed her lips against his.

His response was immediate but controlled. He leaned into the kiss but allowed her to lead. She tasted his lips delicately. There was slight stubble on his jaw, though she was sure he’d shaved earlier. She rubbed her cheek against it. She nuzzled his ear, ran her lips along his throat, and inhaled deeply where his collarbone stood pronounced against his shirt.

He was utterly still and after a few moments, she pulled back and met his gaze. The raw need she saw there was like nothing she’d experienced before. No matter what, this was a man not a boy. “Why aren’t you moving?”

There was a tightening around his eyes and mouth, “The truth? I’m afraid to move, Riya. You smell fantastic, you look fantastic, and I don’t want to screw this up or scare the shit out of you.” His blunt honesty was refreshing.

“Thank you. Now you can stop worrying. I’d like to satisfy your curiosity and get the initial awkwardness of ‘what sex together will be like’ out of the way. Then we can talk and go wherever you want. I don’t want the wondering to overshadow our time together. Truthfully, I’m just as curious as you are. What do you say?”

He paused for just a moment before swinging his legs between the chairs and scooping her into his lap. “Done.”

About the Author – Shayne McClendon

Shayne McClendon is an erotica author and blogger who has received rave reviews for her premiere novel “The Barter System”. Other projects recently released are “In the Service of Women”, vampire erotica “Revenge is Best Served Hot”, “Ready to Rumble”, “The Hermit” and “Damaged”.

Shayne believes love crosses all boundaries, social castes, races, genders, and belief systems. If you are lucky enough to find soul-deep love, you should fight for it. She currently lives in Oklahoma wrangling teenagers, opening doors for her pets, and running her content writing company.

She dreams of peace, quiet, travel, and always having plenty of coffee.

Shayne loves to hear from her fans. You can contact her by email at [email protected] or visit her Facebook page Always the F**king Good Girl. All of Shayne McClendon’s work is available on Amazon. Join her official website Always the Good Girl and get your free story today!