[B.S. #1] Tied Up in Knotts (9 page)

Clay laughed at James’s serious expression. “If you would have dressed her, we would have had to have gone into another business. Knowing you, she wouldn’t have been wearing much. You wouldn’t have wanted clothes to hinder her look shining through.”

James grinned back at Clay. “I’m not that bad, since she would be in the public eye. But you have to admit that a shorter skirt and a less bundled up appearance would be an improvement.”

“Yes, I agree. Wrapped up like she is, no one could see the woman inside. Should I talk to her? Get her to loosen up her image a bit.”

“You’re the boss, as you keep rubbing in. Get her to lighten up but not too much. After all, I don’t like my property to be on display. Unless I’m the one doing the displaying.”

Clay rose and put both hands down, leaning on the table. “You better make your move soon. You’re jumpy and not on your game. If you wait too long, someone else might come along and snatch her away.” Clay pushed off the table and left the kitchen.

James laid the rinsed cup down on the counter and thought of Clay’s words.
Hell, no one’s going to claim her except me!

Chapter Ten

The next week passed with relative ease, a few phone calls, running errands and making gallons of coffee. Avery had revised her daily outfit and she hardly saw either James or Clay. There seemed to be some strange individuals going in and out but not any stranger than how Angel looked in a suit. He must have had it made to fit. His arms bulged, stretching out the sleeves, and because he was so tall, Avery knew it didn’t come off any rack.

Avery was aware of James’s presence as he moved around the office, but since their last blowout, he had not approached her. She kind of missed his twinkling blue eyes that seemed to follow her every move. Now he only seemed to be interested in business and didn’t talk unless it was necessary.

Had Avery missed her chance with him? He might be ignoring her, but he still got her system going every time he turned in her direction. Avery decided that enough was enough. She was going to talk to him the next time he walked by. Almost like she willed it, the door at the end of the hall opened and James stepped out of Clay’s office, his hands full of papers.

“I’ll look into this and get back to you, Clay.”

Now or never. Avery got up from her seat and proceeded down the hall. She kept her head down, not making eye contact. She knew if she saw that blank look on his face, that her courage would desert her. She was so focused on what was going to say to him, that Avery promptly walked straight into a solid wall. Or what felt like a solid wall. Oh, this was just great. She knew that the wall was James’s chest. She wanted to cringe and at the same time, wanted to sink into the warmth that he seemed to be giving off.

Avery raised her large green eyes and stepped back from James. “Sorry, I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

James could still feel her soft breasts on his chest. He had seen her coming and chose to ignore the fact that she would run right into him. He had been trying to play it as Clay had asked and give her some room to feel comfortable around them. But she had closed herself off and had taken to looking the other way every time he got near her.

Holding both of her arms in his hands, James held on before she could completely step out of his space.

“Avery, I think we should talk. Can I take you out for a coffee?” James looked into the large eyes staring back at him. Now he had her attention. James was going to make his move.

“Thanks, I would like that. I was just going to ask you the same thing,” Avery answered shyly

“You were going to ask me out?” James said in disbelief.

“Well just coffee. I’m sure we can take it from there if you’re willing,” Avery said with daring. She was tired of always standing back and letting life happen to others. Now was her chance.

James just raised his eyebrows and bent to pick up the papers lining the hall that he had dropped. “Shall we go and find out? I’m free right now. Just let me put these in my office,” James said, looking at the papers in his hand.

“OK, let me go to my apartment and freshen up. Work day is almost done and I don’t think Clay would mind if we took off a few minutes early. What do you think?”

James just looked at her and couldn’t believe his luck. Was she trying to flirt with him? Well only one way to find out.

“Go ahead. I’ll just tell Clay we are leaving.”

* * * *

Walking to the restaurant, Avery didn’t know where to put her hands. She wanted to hold James’s hand, but though that was too forward. She also didn’t know what to say. Now she had him all alone.

James was walking a little behind her down the sidewalk. If Avery was right, every time she turned her head back to look, he raised his eyes fast. She just knew he had been watching her ass as she walked. He had a guilty look every time. So he was still interested, Avery mused, and put an extra swing in her step. Well if he was going to watch, she would try and give him something worth looking at.

James grinned as he watched Avery’s ass while she walked ahead of him. He also knew he had been caught watching as he took in the extra sway she put into her walk.

Reaching around her, James grabbed the door of the diner as they arrived. Avery walked in and was overwhelmed with the familiar smells. James took her elbow and gently led her to his booth that he had used so many times. Seeing her seated, James asked her if she would like anything besides coffee as he took the red vinyl seat across from her.

Stretching his arms out on the table toward her with his palms up, he looked at Avery. “Avery, I’m going to put it on the line. I like you, but we seem to rub each other the wrong way. You think I’m too bossy and I think you’re very spoiled and undisciplined.”

Avery gasped at James. Was he joking? Looking into his intent blue eyes staring at her, she could tell he was serious.

“Well, you are bossy, and you aren’t even the boss at the office. I’m surprised Clay has not fired you for overriding some of his decisions. I’ve even noticed the other guys deferring to you. Which I think is strange. Tell me why that is?”

James didn’t say anything. He was not going to offer her any answers for her digging. She was probably right. He had a hard time sometimes not taking over in the office. It seemed that he couldn’t completely leave the military behind and the leadership role that came so naturally to him.

Stamping her foot underneath the table, Avery added to the silence. “I am not spoiled, and I am very disciplined. I have made my own way for the last year. While not doing great, I was managing. I resent your implication.”

James just raised one eyebrow and looked down at her. “I think your foot just summed it up. Very childish, Avery.”

Avery blushed at his word. She didn’t want to admit it but he was right. “Sorry, we’re doing it again. We are supposed to be having a nice cup of coffee together, not tearing each other apart. Let’s start again. Look, can I ask you a question? It’s very personal, but I would just like to know what page everyone is on.” Avery had cupped her hands on the table and put her chin on them as she looked shyly up at James

“Yes, ask away.”

“Are you and the guys at the office gay?”

“What!” James yelled. Looking around he knew that everyone was looking at them now. How had she gotten that crazy idea in her head anyway? They had to take this little discussion someplace else before he said something else that would set her off.

Standing up James reached into his pocket and threw some money on the table. With his other hand he grabbed Avery’s arm and pulled her out of the booth. “Come. We are going to have this discussion at your apartment where we can have privacy.”

That said, James dragged Avery out of the diner with all the customers’ eyes following them. At the moment James was so angry that he didn’t care. Reaching Avery’s apartment, James pulled her right through the living room into her bedroom.

“Strip!”

Avery stood in the middle of the room and looked back at James with wide eyes.

“What do you mean ‘strip’? Has this got something to do with you proving your manhood? Because I have no problem with any sexual orientation.”

James took a step closer to Avery, his hand clenched at his side. She could see him trying to pull himself together. He didn’t say anything, just took a deep breath, and a calm seemed to settle over him.

Bracing his hand on his hips, he looked down at the carpet then back up at her. “I’ve been watching you ever since you started here, even before at the diner. What in the world would make you think that I’m gay, or in fact any of the others? Not that there is anything wrong with it.”

“Well, all of you guys seem to radiate that masculine vibe and I’ve never seen any other girls around here except me. I thought you all were overcompensating since you are all seem very friendly together. You know what I mean. You all seem to have a lot of closed door meetings. I’m never asked to take notes. So it gets a girl to thinking,” Avery blurted out

“OK, let start again. Strip, and if you don’t want this, speak up now. If we’re going to do this, it will be my way,” he said, disregarding her question. To him it was too silly to respond to.

“You’re serious?” Avery asked, completely confused now

James turned around and stared at the bedroom wall. This was not going to work. She was just too immature to know what she wanted.

“Wait.” Avery pulled her shirt over her head, bunching it up in front of her. “Can’t you give me a break? This isn’t very romantic.” Avery was not going to let this chance with James slip away.

James turned back and looked at Avery standing there in her pink bra with her shirt nervously scrunched in her hands in front of her.

“In the bedroom, I’m the boss. That’s the way I play. If it’s too much for you, speak now. After we get started, it will be too late. Do you know anything about BDSM?”

“Maybe a little, it sounds kind of kinky.”

“Too kinky for you?”

“No, I just need to know the rules. I’ve done some reading involving BDSM and I’m not afraid.” Avery was not going to give James an out.

“All you need to know is with BDSM you agree to release your well-being to me. It will be a safe, consensual exchange. You will have a safe word. If you use it at all, play stops.”

“That sounds like it’s your way only, with no input from me. I thought sex was two people exchanging pleasure.”

“Is this your first time?” James asked bluntly.

God, his voice seemed cold. Avery shivered a little at his tone. “No, I don’t mean that. OK, I’ll admit that I’m intrigued, so from my reading I know that I’m the sub, right?”

“That would be right. In our play, your safe word will be red. If at any time I go too far, use this word and all play will come to an end.”

“What if I get scared? After all, this is all new to me,” Avery asked in a low voice

James’s voice warmed up as he looked at Avery. He didn’t want her too scared, just a little. “Being a little scared is good. It gets the blood flowing. For this first time I will give you a second safe word. Yellow. If you’re scared or just need to ask a question, we will stop until you feel safe to go on. Now do we carry on or do I walk back down to the office?”

“No. Yes, I would like to carry on,” Avery squeaked

James made an intimating figure standing in front of her. Avery was scared but she wanted him so much for so long, she couldn’t give up.

James stared down at Avery and walked close enough to take her chin in his hand, brushing her soft skin with his thumb.

“I know this is all new to you, but if we want to be together and explore this spark between us, it has to be this way. I will give you all the pleasure you can take. I will care for you and push you to make sure that you receive all that you desire.” With that, James stepped back from Avery, his face again taking on a hard edge.

“Take the rest of your clothes off. As you do, fold them and place them on the chair next to the bed.” James just stood looking at Avery, stiffly, with his arms crossed.

Avery undid the button of her jeans and pushed them down her legs. Looking up at James, she tried to lighten the mood. “Aren’t you going to take some clothes off? It works better if we both are naked.”

“This is not a joking matter. If I take my clothes off now, I won’t be able to concentrate on your pleasure. It’s hard enough just watching you reveal yourself to me. Just know that I will treasure you and your gift of trust always. Now get to it.” James nodded his head at the bra and panties she still wore.

“Well, OK but I would really like to see you, too.” James had to hide a smile. She would be great to train with all that passion inside.

When Avery didn’t seem to take the hint, James cleared his throat. “Clothes?”

Avery hastily unclipped her bra and slid her panties down her legs. Grabbing them up with the rest of her clothes, she threw them on the chair.

James raised his eyebrows, looking at the heap of clothes on the chair.

“Well, this is what I usually do. I just throw my clothes in a heap. I’m not the neatest person.” Avery started to pick up each piece and fold it. “I guess that’s something else I’ll have to learn. God you’re picky.”

James grinned and turned quickly away. He didn’t want Avery to see the look on his face. She was being a brat, but a very brave one. He would just have to be patient with her. He knew the rewards would outweigh the road ahead that he faced in starting a relationship with her. James looked over his shoulder and watched Avery with her ass in the air, muttering to herself as she folded her clothes. After she had them folded, she turned and looked at James, her hands hanging at her side restlessly. She wanted him so much, she was shaking.

James took in her stance. He could see her desire, but the nervous, almost frightened look in her big green eyes almost blotted it out. James couldn’t take it. The BDSM would have to wait. He had to have his arms around her now. He couldn’t wait to feel all the soft skin on display in front of him.

Taking a stride to Avery’s side, he enveloped her in his arms. Her body melted into his at his first touch. Hell, tonight would have to be vanilla. He wanted her to want him, not be scared of him. Holding her close, James closed his eyes and just breathed in her scent. Her scent was unique. It had a musty underlay with a fresh lemon scent mixed in from her shampoo.