Complications (5 page)

Through watery eyes, Olivia tried to smile. “So I’m guessing I have your blessing.”

“Duh! I think a little fun would do you good,” Christie said, reaching over to link hands with her. She squeezed as she asked, “Did you tell Alex about Miles?”

Olivia let out a short laugh as she wiped her eyes, remembering Alex’s endless pushiness. “Yeah. He said he would be my rebound.” The memory still sent butterflies to her stomach.

“Then what the hell are you waiting for? The guy gave you the green light.”

Olivia hesitated, but finally confessed, “I have this feeling that Alex might be able to make me feel too much. I can see myself going in deep with him and it scares me.”

Christie smiled widely, “Perfect. You did say you wanted to move on, right?”

Olivia sighed, knowing Christie would be relentless. “Yes, I did.”

Christie left shortly after, saying something about a shipment coming in. She departed the shop with the impression that Olivia would call Alex later that day.

But later that evening, a half hour after she finished cleaning up the shop, Olivia still hadn’t dialed Alex’s number. She had her phone in the palm of her hand, nibbling on her fingernails in nervousness.

Just call him
, her mind screamed.
Flip open the phone and dial his number
.

But then what? What would she even say?
Oh hello, Alex. I’ve decided I want to have sex with you
, seemed a little too brazen. But that’s essentially what she was agreeing to, right?

Olivia let out a sigh of frustration. This was ridiculous. She was a grown woman about to make an informed decision. She didn’t need to act like a schoolgirl making her first phone call to her grade school crush.

Her mind made up, she determinedly flipped open her phone with a feeling of hardened resolve.
Don’t over think it
. That’s what Alex had said last night when she asked him for time. Taking his advice, she scrolled to his contact number and pressed the faded green button on the keypad.

Lifting the ringing phone to her ear, she waited with bated breath. She could feel her heart pounding and she pressed a hand to her chest as though to calm it.

He picked up quickly on the second ring, “Alex Matlock.”

His voice was huskier over the phone, yet he sounded slightly distracted. Olivia couldn’t help the nervous laugh that burst forth. Trying to cover for it, she asked, “You say your full name when you answer your cell phone?”
Real smooth genius.

A lengthy pause followed and Olivia nibbled on her lip, suddenly worried that he didn’t recognize her voice.

“I keep forgetting my cell phone isn’t my office phone,” he finally said, his voice warming. “Hi, darling.” She flushed at his greeting.

“Hi,” she murmured back, smiling like an idiot. She was thankful he couldn’t see her face right now. Then, remembering his response, she asked with a frown, “Oh, I’m sorry. Are you still at work?” She hoped she hadn’t interrupted him.

“No, I’m at my home office,” he explained. There was a short pause and then he admitted, “I’ve been distracted all day. I was worried you wouldn’t call.”

Let the melting commence
.

“I’m sorry, it was a busy day for me,” she tried to explain. “And I was still thinking things over.” She leaned forward, pressing the phone tightly to her ear while she anticipated his response.

“And what did you decide?” he asked slowly.

His voice was like rich chocolate, smooth and intense all at once. She felt her whole body warm, wishing she could listen to him speak all day.

Suddenly breathless and feeling her arousal dampen her panties, she simply said, “I’ve decided I want you too.”

A low curse sounded over the phone. Then, in a suddenly urgent gruff voice, he asked, “What’s your apartment number?”

They were doing this.
Tonight
.

Olivia didn’t have time to even think about what that implied before she found herself answering, “328. Third floor.”

“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

Chapter Five

The abrupt knocking on her door startled Olivia, even as her hands trembled in anticipation.

Fifteen minutes hadn’t been enough time for everything she needed to accomplish. Immediately after getting off the phone with Alex, she had rushed into the shower to shave her legs and scrub off any remnants of flour from her day. Then, she had to find something suitable to wear. What in the world did women wear when greeting a new lover at the door? It was unbelievably nerve-racking as she riffled through her dresser drawers. She finally ended up choosing a pajama set Christie had given her for Christmas last year. It consisted of small satin shorts and a matching spaghetti strap tank trimmed in lace. Sexy yet understated, in her opinion.

However, in an impulsive moment, Olivia had decided to forgo underwear. She didn’t see the point when she would be naked soon anyway. That thought had set her body on fire.

She quickly smoothed lotion down her legs when she only had five minutes left. Those last few minutes she spent tidying her bedroom and living room.

But the moment he knocked on her door, she was clearly out of time and her nerves finally caught up with her. Her heart felt as though it was trying to beat its way out of her chest. But, nevertheless, she raced out of her bedroom to the front door. Taking a deep breath, she made quick work of her lock and tugged the heavy door open.

Alex was standing there, his eyes so dark they seemed black. She forgot how to breathe as she stared into them. His heated gaze blazed down her body but before she could even greet him properly, he had his mouth on hers, swallowing anything she was about to utter.

She gasped, her hands immediately threading through his thick hair. Her fingers entwined in the locks, holding him to her as he kissed her with a ferocity and a need that she had never experienced before.

Her senses were being overloaded. The feel of his full lips sent shivers racing down her spine while his smell—that amazing combination of clean soap and musk—made her dizzy with desire.

He broke their kiss to trail his lips softly down her neck. “Hi, darling,” he whispered.

“Hello,” Olivia choked out. The moment he discovered her sensitive spot just below her ear, she moaned. It was too much. She could already feel the dampness gathering between her legs. Soon, she would dripping if Alex kept at it.

Both of their heads snapped up when they heard commotion in the hallway on her floor. She realized the door was still wide open and Alex cursed, releasing her for a moment to seal them off from the rest of the world for the night. She pressed herself against the cool wall Alex had managed to back her into, feeling the texture beneath her warm palms. She took a deep breath the moment she heard the dead bolt slide into place. Her sex clenched in anticipation at the sound. And then it was just the two of them.

Alex turned around to gaze at her, taking in her position against the wall. She was struck once again by his sheer height and the way he towered over her. It aroused her even more as she thought of being at the mercy of this powerful man.

He was still in his work clothes. Pressed dark gray slacks with a crisp white button-up shirt that fit him perfectly. His royal blue tie looked slightly ruffled, no doubt due to their passionate greeting.

This distance was killing her, but he seemed content to take his time. His eyes zeroed in on her breasts, watching the rise and fall of her chest. She figured by now he realized she wasn’t wearing a bra, since her nipples were pebbled rather obviously through the satin of her top.

A moment of self-consciousness swept through her as he looked his fill. But then she reminded herself that
he
had pursued
her
, even though a man like Alex could have his pick of women. “Fuck, Olivia,” he said in that low, gravely voice she was coming to love so much. He reached up to loosen the tie around his neck. “I could look at you all day long.”

She was already flushed from their kiss, but she felt her cheeks warm even more. “That would be quite an unproductive day,” she replied with a hesitant smile. Her voice sounded huskier even to her own ears.

“Oh, I disagree. I can think of a few ways to make it
very
productive.” She watched in fascination as he slowly unwrapped this tie. Her eyes wandered down the lines of his body but stopped when she noticed the growing bulge encased in his slacks. She pressed her thighs together tightly when she felt her body throb in response at the sight.

He approached her again, pressing himself so close that she felt her nipples brush across his abdomen. She bit her lip quickly, closing her eyes at the sensation.
Too much
. Every inch of her body tingled in awareness at his proximity.

“Are you sure, Olivia?” he asked even as his fingers danced up her sides. His voice was intense yet serious. Her heart fluttered when she realized he would stop right then if she said no.

The friction of the satin against her over sensitized skin was torture. She was positive her desperation showed on her features. His eyes gazed down into hers, watching the emotions flash across her face like a movie. “Do I seem unsure to you?” she countered, lifting determined hands to snatch the fabric of his shirt, which she quickly freed from the confines of his pants.

He hissed in surprise when her fingers lightly trailed over his hardened cock, but he caught her hand before she could explore any further. He slammed his mouth down to hers, punishing her with a kiss that made her toes curl. His tongue stroked hers and she moaned as his thumb flicked the hardened peak of her nipple.

“Bedroom.
Now
,” came his rough order. “I want a taste of your pussy.”

Olivia gasped, feeling fire zap down her middle at his words. As though she wasn’t wet enough already.

They spilled into her room a few seconds later. Alex pushed her down onto her freshly made bed, his lips never leaving hers. He settled his weight comfortably on top of her as her arms wrapped around to clutch his back. Heart pounding, Olivia whimpered as Alex trailed his lips down her neck to her breasts. She held his head to her chest tightly as he sucked on a nipple through the satin of her tank top. His fingers came up to play with her neglected breast, switching back and forth until she was trembling in frustration.

He was teasing her. The contact through her top was nowhere near enough and she had to bite her lip from crying out when he gently nibbled on her hardened peak. He smirked when he saw her struggling to press her body closer to his. Finally, frustrated with his slow torture, she pushed his head away to drag up the edge of her top, bringing it over her head and tossing it carelessly on the floor.

He groaned when he saw her bared to him and immediately brought his lips to her naked breast. Olivia huffed when she felt searing heat against her bare skin, the sensation making her throb. “I like you greedy, darling,” he mumbled against her skin. “So beautiful.”

“Please, Alex,” she whimpered, fidgeting under his touch, needing to feel more. She rolled her hips against his, searching for the right amount of friction that would bring her release. He groaned above her as his fingers danced up her smooth leg.

“You better be soaked for me, Olivia. I’ve been imagining what you taste like for the past week and I want to remember,” he purred, his fingers coming dangerously close to the crease of her shorts. But the moment he finally snaked his fingers up between her thighs, he found her dripping wet, sans panties. He cursed. “Fuck, baby,” his surprised voice vibrated through her body, the roughness of his voice adding to her wetness. “So wet for me,” he murmured.

She gasped, her back arching off the bed as his fingers slipped through her folds. The pleasure was intense and so
right
.

His weight suddenly left her and before she knew it, he was tugging her shorts down her legs, dropping them to join her top on the floor.

There was something very erotic about being naked with a completely clothed man. She felt naughty as he gazed down at her body from the foot of her bed. He didn’t say anything, but the blazing heat in his eyes told her everything she needed to know. Apparently, she could read him just as well as he could read her.

He grasped her ankles and tugged her down to the edge of the bed. “Spread your legs wide for me, darling.”

Christ
. Olivia felt as though she would orgasm just listening to him.

She obeyed his command as he dropped to his knees in front of her. Not even a second passed before she felt his lips brush across her sex. She arched her back at the sensation but a gasp was torn from her when his tongue followed, plunging mercilessly into her depths.

An anguished groan came from Alex. “Delicious, baby,” he murmured, almost to himself. Olivia needed to see his eyes so she propped herself up on her elbows to get a better view. She didn’t care if her stomach pooched out a bit more in the process. The sight of his head between her legs was the most erotic thing she had ever seen and she’d be damned if she didn’t take full advantage of the view. His eyes burned into hers as he watched her. He took his mouth away briefly, her body clenching at the loss, to ask teasingly, “Like to watch?”

“Yes,” she nodded without hesitation. “I want to see. Everything.” If possible, his eyes became more intense and he immediately returned to his task, driving her crazy with desire in the process. But his eyes never left her face. And when his tongue lapped at the hardened bud of her clit, she wanted to give him something to look at. Still on her elbows, she stretched her wrists until she found the diamond tips of her nipples. She played with them, rolling and flicking them around with her fingers until she felt zaps of pleasure run down the length of her body.

If she thought Alex’s eyes were heated before, then they turned positively
scorching
at her actions. He groaned, his lapping becoming more wild and uncontrolled until Olivia was gasping at his intensity. She was right on the edge now. “Alex, stop! I’m right there,” she begged him, her head lolling from side to side. She stopped playing with her nipples in fear that it was the little push that would send her flying over the edge.