Kiss & Spell (5 page)

Chapter Eight

Justin tossed his leather jacket on the table near the pub entrance and nodded at John. "Hey, how's it going?"

His co-worker sipped a bottle of water. "She's been waiting for you, you know." He tipped his head toward the bar.

Justin's breath caught in his throat. He thought after yesterday he'd gotten the message. Marissa
wasn't interested. He was only another one of her flings.

He hesitated. When she curled a finger at him, however, beckoning him over, he headed toward her. This should be interesting.

"I was wondering when you'd get here." Her voice was as smooth as a fifty-year-old scotch.

"My shift starts at seven."
She wore jeans, a tank top, and no make up. She always showed up at the pub dressed to the nines. This Marissa he'd never seen before. "What's up?" He kicked himself for the off-handed question. They'd had hot, passionate sex on this very bar, and all he could come up with was 'what's up'?

"I think we got off on the wrong foot." She smiled shyly. Without all the make up and the sexy clothes, she looked like a woman who could get hurt easily. "I wanted to . . . that is, I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me sometime? A real date."

"A date."

"Yes." She took a sip of club soda. "Yo
u mentioned the other men. I'm done with that. That's not me anymore."

His thoughts drifted to the memory of her naked body poised over his. Her red-stained mouth slack as she came. He hoped she wasn't completely done with that Marissa. "So you
’re asking me out on a date?"

"Why are you making this so hard?" She pressed her lips together.

"I'm sorry. It's been a long time since a woman asked me out. I hope you didn't think that the other night was all I wanted.” He sat down next to her. “That's why I wanted to find you yesterday. I didn’t mean to ambush you like that."

Her face relaxed. He'd freed her somehow with his words.

"I wanted us to get off on the right foot, and I think I went a little overboard. Gave you the wrong impression."

"Oh, trust me; it was a very right impression.
” She blushed. He smiled. “I'd be honored to be your date for an evening. When?"

"Friday. I thought we could go to dinner. Maybe take a walk on the beach?"

"Okay. That sounds nice." Without thinking, he swept his finger around the shell of her ear to tuck back a strand of hair.

She ducked.

He pulled away. “We'll take it slow this time."

She tipped her face up, her gray-green eyes bright even in the dim lighting. "Yes, slow."

He nodded. "Well, I've got to get back to my post. The manager doesn't pay me to talk to pretty girls all night."

She smiled sweetly, looking so vulnerable at that moment—the polar opposite of the Marissa he'd met the other ni
ght. She was full of mysteries he'd like to untangle. On Friday night, he'd been given the chance to do just that.

* * *

Marissa's laughter made Justin's cock twitch. Throaty and sexy, her laughter reminded him of the noises she'd made when she climaxed. He shifted in his chair. She’d chosen a seafood restaurant, and over drinks before dinner they'd tackled the easy parts of getting to know each other’s simple likes and dislikes, favorite movies, a few childhood memories. In the dark intimacy of the candlelit dining room he’d wanted to focus on getting to know her on a deeper level, but his body betrayed him every step of the way. He finished his story about his most embarrassing moment. "After that, I never skateboarded again."

She took a sip of her white wine,
and her full lips caressed the edge of her glass. "One fall off a railing, and you quit?"             

"I had to wear an ice pack in my shorts for two days." He could watch her all night. The way the candlelight played in her eyes, the strand of hair that fell across her cheek, the elegant fingers curled
around her wine glass. He couldn't get enough. "So tell me something about you. That was my most story. What's yours?"

Marissa leaned back in her chair and took another sip of wine. "I can't swim."

"That's not an embarrassing story. Come on, you promised to share." The waiter brought their main courses. He dug into his salmon and waited for her to elaborate.

She sighed. "My mother took me to the beach when I was fourteen.” Her voice was barely audible above the
chatter of the other diners. “We were exploring the tide pools down near Monterey. She was teaching me about . . . well, she was showing me things. A school bus full of kids from the high school showed up. Some science thing. I slipped on a rock, fell into one of the deeper pools, right in front of this group of guys." She picked at her plate of food. "I panicked. A teacher from the group pulled me out. The end."

Unlike his embarrassing story, which he’d told for laughs, hers made him wince. "That's awful. I'm so sorry."
He couldn’t imagine beautiful, confident Marissa as an awkward teen.

"I didn't really have any friends growing up. It was just me and my mom." She shrugged. "She reminded me the incident was my own fault for
getting too close to the edge.”

He nodded, but inside he hurt for her. Her child
hood had been lonely. "Well, I promise I will never let you get too close to the edge, okay?"

She looked up at him. Tonight he could read her face like an open book. The mask of
brittle, tough beauty she wore at the pub was missing. He smiled inwardly at the thought he'd managed to reveal a little more of the real Marissa Glenn tonight. Jana had been such a different kind of woman. Loud, a bit too concerned about keeping attention on herself, and, ultimately, a liar. He didn't want memories of his ex to spoil the evening. "So how's your food?" He gestured at her plate of shellfish.

"Delicious. I don't eat out very often. I'd forgotten what I'm missing." She picked out a juicy mussel and popped it in her mouth.

He felt a pull deep inside his chest as he watched her. He ached for the closeness between a man and woman he'd been missing all these months. "Me, too." He settled a hand on her knee under the table.

At the intimate touch, her gaze shifted from sweetness and light to dark and sexy. He'd hit a switch. His heart sped up in response. Although he'd meant to keep this date all about talking and getting to know Marissa, that look in her eye sent the evening in another direction. He crept his hand up under the hem of her skirt.

"I think I'm done." She set her fork on her plate.

His fingers brushed the edge of her panties. He wanted to pleasure her. Let her know that her loneliness could be over if she would just trust him with her heart and her s
ecrets. "I'm not quite finished." Her breasts rose and fell.

"Oh?" Her voice was breathy.

He slipped a finger under the silky material. "I want one more taste." He spread her cunt lips and tickled her clit with the lightest of touches. Would she let him do this to her . . . here? Now? How much trust would she give him?

Marissa shifted forward
to give him better access and clutched her napkin. She wet her lips.

"Are you done, madam?" Their waiter appeared, oblivious to the torture Justin performed under the table.

"Mmm," she moaned. "Yes, yes, I'm finished." She gripped the table’s edge.

The waiter raised his eyebrows, but swept up both plates. "Dessert?"

Encouraged by her reaction, Justin circled the hardening bud of her clit. The softness and wetness he found between her legs made his dick rock hard. "I think we'll have dessert at home tonight, don't you think, sweetheart?"

Marissa nodded
and, under the table, spread her legs wider.

Her willingness to let him touch her so intimately turned the flame inside him a little bit higher. He dipped his finger into her opening.

Her breath caught in her throat.

With a slight bit of pressure, he was knuckle-deep. Her inner muscles gripped him.

God, she was sweet.

"Can you bring us the check?" He could hear the unsteadiness in his own voice. He'd have to stop soon, or he wouldn't be able to walk out of here.

Marissa's hand joined his. She held him there.

The waiter nodded and left.

"Don't stop, Justin. That feels so good." She forced his finger deeper inside her and sighed.

He stroked her and her juices coated his hand. He had to stop. "Let's go back to my place." To make her come in the middle of a crowded restaurant would be a bad idea.

"Wait, wait . . . ." She pressed him harder into her pussy. Her thighs trembled.

Sweat beaded on his brow. They were seated only a few feet away from another couple who were deeply engaged in conversation. Behind him sat a rowdy group of four women. They would know. If anyone looked at Marissa's face right now they would know. Her eyelids were half closed, her breathing came in short gasps. "Marissa . . . ."

"Oh, God." Her delicate brow wrinkled, and her top teeth bit down on her lower lip.

The tight warmth around his finger was intoxicating. Even though he knew he should stop, the need to give her pleasure was t
oo great. Slick, wet sounds reached his ears. His finger penetrated easily now, lubricated with her moisture. His arm jostled the table. The man seated across from them glanced from the jiggling table to Marissa's face. When he shifted his gaze from Marissa to his dinner partner, Justin knew the man realized what was going on beneath their table.

Shit
.

S
he was so wet, he wanted to keep his finger seated inside her.

T
heir waiter headed toward them.

"Come on, baby.
" He gave her quiet encouragement. He slowed his strokes to make them deeper. His cock pressed painfully against the seam of his pants. What he wouldn't give to be able to strip down right now and fuck her senseless.

She began to pant. He knew she was close. God, he hoped she could hold in her screams.

"Your check, sir." The waiter set the bill down on the shivering table.

"Yes!" Marissa cried out. Her eyes flew open. She let out a whoosh of air.

The waiter stared at her, as did the man at the other table.

Justin picked up the check. "I'll get this one."

Marissa was too lost to protest.

"We hope you come again soon," the waiter said. He gave
one last look at Marissa, who’d sunk back against her chair.

"So do I."

Marissa blushed.

* * *

Demetria turned away from her crystal ball. Some might consider spying on the competition cheating, but if no one knew about it, was it really cheating? She cackled to herself.

Damn that Marissa.

If Demetria let this go o
n much longer, Marissa would win, and she couldn't let that happen.

Demetria did not lose bets.

She followed the winding staircase down from her Divining Room into her bedroom below. She flicked her fingers and a bright red dress appeared. Low-cut, short skirt. Definitely something Marissa would wear when on the prowl. It had been awhile since Demetria tried something like this. It would take work at her age, and only last a little while, but a little while was all she needed.

Tomorrow night she’
d put her plan into action. She grabbed the dress and hung it up in her closet, eager to try out her scheme. She'd have the magical kiss soon, and her age would no longer matter. She could have her choice of men night after night. Do anything to them she wished. Oh, how stupid Marissa was for giving up such a wonderful gift.

Chapter Nine

Marissa leaned against the wall outside Justin's apartment as he fiddled with his keys. She couldn't believe the ease with which she opened up at dinner. Revealing her most embarrassing moment, telling things about herself she'd never shared with anyone. Is this what dating a man was supposed to be like? Sharing intimate details of her life and exposing them for his acceptance or rejection? No wonder her mother thought she was crazy for wanting to give up her kiss.

She glanced over at him as he slid the key into the lock. He'd been kind and caring after she
’d told her tide pool story. She'd left out the reason her mother had taken her to the tide pools in the first place—to gather a jellyfish and a certain variety of seaweed for a spell they were going to place on their neighbor—but those details didn't matter. The basics of the event were there.

The plan for this evening had not included sex. At least, this is what her mother had explained. She needed to build trust with Justin
and prove to him she was interested in more than sex, more than one night. The unexpected event in the restaurant had been a small misstep in her plan.

Never before did a man act on his own instincts when he was with her. To give in to Justin's hand
between her legs had been delightful. Who cared what her mother thought she should or shouldn't do? He'd acted purely out of his own desire for her. No magic involved. He’d led her back to his apartment. Not some seedy motel on the edge of town or under the boardwalk or out in the woods—all regular locations for Marissa's sex games. He was letting her in to a very personal part of his life, sharing it with her. This must be a step toward love, right?

"Ladies first." He reached inside to flip on the lights.

She'd let him have his fun; now it was her turn. She slipped out of her coat and told him, "Strip and wait for me on the bed." She took a pair of handcuffs out of her purse.

Any fears she'd been holding onto about his acceptance of her sexual proclivities disappeared when he began to strip. She took a seat on his couch
to watch his performance. First, he loosened his tie and unbuttoned his shirt. His hair fell across his forehead. The buckle on his belt came next.

She crossed her legs and held the handcuffs with one finger. A tease for what he could expect in the bedroom.

He kicked off his shoes, pulled off his socks, and stripped off his shirt. The sculpted planes of muscle caught her attention. She couldn't wait to slide her hands over his body. He smiled slowly. Desire must be written all over her face.

H
e unzipped his pants to reveal the bulge he'd been hiding. The same hardness that had plowed into her the other night would soon be hers again. Her pussy throbbed, and she crossed her legs tighter. His eyes darkened.

She licked her lips. Having a second go around with a man was something she'd never thought would happen. She imagined what he must taste like. Delicious, she was sure.

He kicked his pants aside and shucked off his boxer briefs to reveal that his penis was erect and ready for her. So, so ready.

"Good. Now go
lay down on the bed. Arms above your head." She drank in the sight of his gorgeous naked body—powerful shoulders, a sheen of sweat on his chest, the proud and slightly curved jut of his erection.

"All right." He stroked himself a few times and headed toward the bedroom down the hall. His ass was as tight and tempting as the rest of him.

Once he was out of her sight, she undressed. She left on her demi-bra and panties. He had to work for his reward . . . at least a little bit. She smiled, grabbed the handcuffs, and walked down the hall.

* * *

This was a first: lying naked on his bed waiting for a woman to handcuff him. Justin never would have considered this with Jana. Marissa's pupils had dilated when he’d followed her orders. How much pleasure she took in taking control. He knew it would be worth it. He thought of the other night, when he thought he couldn't hold on any longer. She'd known how to control him and make the sex that much better. The tingling of his balls, the ache in his dick. All too familiar. He knew it wouldn't be quick. No, she'd take her time with him. Torture him in some new, incredibly hot way that would have him writhing in need for her.

Her shadowy figure appeared in the doorway. She wore only a black bra and panties, her breasts pushed up high, the shadow of her areolas visible above the low-cut bra.

Her gaze swept over him. "Nicely done. You shall be rewarded for your obedience." Leaning over him, she looped the handcuffs through the headboard railing and snapped them shut around his wrists. Her orange blossom scent wrapped around him. If the two perfect scoops of her tits encased in the black demi-bra came a few inches closer, he could kiss that soft, honey flesh.

"You're beautiful, Marissa." He rested his head back on the pillow
with his arms suspended.

She stepped bac
k and held a finger to her luscious lips. "Shhh. No words, lover." She held a long feather. From her safe distance she touched the feather to his chest and drew lazy circles around each of his flat nipples. "I want you to lie still and to not make a sound. Can you do that?"

He shivered. The feat
her tickled down his midsection. His dick jumped at the sensation. "Yes." The word came out strangled.

H
e trusted she would know when it was more than he could handle. Why was it so easy to trust this woman when they were in bed together, but so difficult once they parted?

The feather swirled near his groin.

"Fuck."

"Silence, Justin." It swished across his thighs and up and down his erection.

The lightest of touches. Ending at the very tip of his cock.

Oh God
.

He grunted.

"Should I lick you here?" She swept the tip of the feather back and forth across the head. "Or here?" The feather moved down the underside of his dick to his aching balls.

His whole body went rigid. His wrists strained in their shackles. It was unholy pleasure. Too, too good. He closed his eyes and focused. He didn't want to come like this. Not yet.

"Enough." The feather fell away. "Open your eyes."

He did as she ordered.

"Now, I’m going to kiss you.” She climbed on the bed.

He tipped his head toward her. He'd been waiting to kiss her, needing to kiss her. They'd been intimate, but yet they’d shared not a single kiss.

"Uh, uh, uh." She pressed a finger to his lips. "I'm going to kiss you all down your body and then suck you until you come."

His eyelids fluttered. How could he hold back? How could he keep from exploding the minute her mouth moved too close to the part of him that ached so terribly?

She planted herself on all fours above him and kissed him on the side of his neck. Her sweet scent drifted into his nose, and he found himself tilting his head back to give her better access. Her lips were like two butterflies darting and circling down his neck, across his chest, and then licking carefully around each nipple. His dick throbbed for release. She’d told him she would take him into her mouth. He knew she’d keep her promise. She progressed from his chest, down his stomach, into the dip of his navel. All the while kissing lightly.

When she reached the lower part of his abdomen right above his pubic hair, he sucked in his stomach
to find some control over his raging desire.

Abruptly, she sat up.

He let out the breath he'd been holding.

She repositioned herself lower on the bed, between his legs.
She bent over his erection, her hair tickling his thighs, and kissed him from the base of his cock to the tip.

"Ah, God.
" She kissed his cock head and then licked a drip of pre-cum. His buttocks clenched, and his hips rose.

She pulled her hair back with one hand. Her lips curved into an 'O,' and she sucked him into her mouth.

Hot, wet suction down the length of his cock. "Jesus, Marissa." He pulled again at the handcuffs. The metal edges cut into his skin, but the pain kept him balanced and allowed him a miniscule amount of control over his desire. He wanted to hold on for as long as possible.

Her tongue toyed with his cock, swirling down the length of it. She put pressure on him with those beautiful lips, and his body flexed upward. She stilled him with her hands, pressed down on his thighs, and sped up her sucking and licking.

The tingling in his balls grew unbearable. He knew he would come soon. She encouraged him with her mouth and tongue, giving him the right amount of pressure to help him build to a climax. One last deep plunge into her mouth, and he let go. Jets of ejaculate rushed out of him. His legs were rigid, all sensation centered on his groin.

Marissa swallowed every last drop of cum, licking him clean once he was done. She was amazing. She was gorgeous. He wanted her to be his and
belong to no one else.

"Uncuff me.
" He needed to feel her naked skin under his hands. To remove what was left of her clothing and give her the same treatment she'd given him.

"No."

The euphoric haze disappeared. "I want to touch you. Don't run away again, Marissa."

She sat down on the edge of the bed and covered her face with her hands. "This isn't
what I wanted to happen."

Oh shit. "I thought at the restaurant—
I'm sorry if I overstepped. I couldn't help it, and you seemed to be enjoying it."

"It shouldn't be about sex." She stared at the wall, her profile a study in curves and shadows. "But I just couldn't stop myself."

"It shouldn't?"

"No, this was supposed to be a regular date. We were supposed to talk."

He smiled. She was only worried about what he thought of her. "We did talk."

"Only talk. No sex."

"So, we had sex. I thought you enjoyed it. I know I did." He attempted to lighten the mood.

She paced the room. "So what do we do now?"

"Um, maybe you could uncuff me?"

She stretch
ed out a hand, sparks flew out of her palm, and the handcuffs fell away.

He laid there for a moment. "What the hell just happened? What in holy fuck did you just do?" He scrambled out of the bed and eyed the handcuffs, half-expecting them to explode.

Marissa stopped mid-step. "Shit." She slid her gaze toward him. "I undid the handcuffs." Her voice was a squeak.

"I saw . . . you did something . . . ."

"Justin, let me explain . . . ."

"Who are you?" He suddenly felt very vulnerable and very naked. "
What
are you?" He grabbed a pair of pajama pants off the floor and whipped them on. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. The strange affect she'd had on other men in the past now began to make some sense.

"I did this for you. I did all of this for you." Tears
stained her cheeks. "I never thought I could have love, Justin. But when I found out I could have a chance—I couldn't help myself. You were always there in the back of my mind. I stayed away from you on purpose, don't you see?" She took a step toward him.

She was talking in riddles. What in the hell was happening here? He put up a hand. "Don't come any closer."

The hurt look on her face stabbed him like a knife.

"It's just me, Justin. I swear I'd never hurt you."

He couldn't keep up. A few minutes ago she'd had him at her mercy. She could've done anything to him, and she chose to give him a blow job. The best blow job of his life. "What do you want from me?"

Her face was red. "All I've ever wanted was you, Justin. Please don't be afraid."

"You need to go. I need to think." He thought he'd found a woman he could allow into his life, into his heart. Someone special. Someone different. Sure, she had a messy past, but who didn't? This magic or bizarre shit was too much.

"Don't make me leave. I want to stay." The sobbing sounds
she made cut him to the quick. He didn't want to cause her pain, but he was afraid. Goddammit, he couldn't help it. He was afraid of her.

She must've
sensed his fear. Without another word, she disappeared down the hall.

His heartbeat slowed. The fight-or-flight response that had taken over his mind settled. Sure, her trick scared him. Sure, he was freaked out. But she was Marissa. The caring, sexy, clever woman who'd somehow managed to sneak into his heart in the last few days.
Was he going to let that woman walk out his door?

"Marissa, wait!" He rushed out of the room. A shower of sparks erupted from his living room. When he entered, she
had gone. Her clothes, her purse. Everything. Gone.

A few sparks drifted down from the ceiling. He sneezed.

"Marissa," he said out loud to the empty room. "I'm sorry."