Questing (Cosmis Connections, Book One) (3 page)
The more Malcolm thought about it, the more positive he was. He imagined how it would play out. He’d get her to share dessert and then drive her home. She’d undoubtedly invite him in for a drink or some coffee to keep him with her longer. He’d accept and go so far as to give her a few kisses to get her primed for the good stuff. Then he’d play the real gentleman and go home. He’d leave her hanging, wanting him. She’d go to sleep dreaming about his dick and what he’d do to her with it. Probably even get herself off first, just so she could sleep. He might suggest a picnic next. He’d supply the accessories for their comfort and get her to bring the food so that he wouldn’t have to put out any cash. Yeah, he’d spend the entire day teasing her, getting her ready for him and then, once he got her home, he’d give her what she needed most. She’d be begging for him to fuck her by then. He could practically feel what it would be like, ramming his hard cock into her tight pussy while she screamed for more. He’d take her mouth too. Those sweet lips of hers were meant for sucking him off. Yeah, he’d shove his dick down her throat over and over until she was gagging on his hot cum. Then, just as soon as he was done, he’d take off before she could figure out what he was doing because he despised the way women got all clingy after sex. He was willing to do it if the bitch had money but Kiley was nothing more than a working class piece of ass. She was hot enough that he might give it to her a few times but a slut like that wasn’t really worth his time no matter how sweet her pussy might be. He’d nail her good and move on. She’d be an interesting distraction but that was all. He really did need to find a new place since Mr. Paul’s was pretty much tapped out for his purposes. He’d screw the little bitch as his goodbye and say good riddance to the dump. After all, the peach had been begging to be plucked for months now in every way other than actually coming out and saying the words, so she’d be plenty grateful that he was even willing to lower himself to do her.
Malcolm’s dinner arrived just as Henry convinced Kiley to head home early. He heard the proprietor saying something about it being a slow night before wishing her luck with her evening’s plans. What was going on here? Kiley never skipped out a second before she was scheduled to any other time. How dare she change her routine? Since he had his meal, the timing was all wrong to ask her to join him. The bitch was toying with him after all, playing hard to get, thinking she was better than she was. Maybe he’d have to reconsider his decision about her. Maybe she was even more of a whore than the rest of them and he wouldn’t bother wasting the time to fuck her.
Chapter Two
Kiley snatched the phone the instant she walked in the door. She had four numbers dialed before she remembered Dee’s words. Maybe she should follow her friend’s advice. Thinking it over, Kiley decided she’d rather not have Jordan know that she’d jumped at Henry’s offer to leave early because the anticipation of the call she’d promised had become so distracting she couldn’t concentrate. She knew her nervous excitement would leave her tongue-tied and thought it would be better if she took a few minutes to calm down before attempting to speak with him. Concluding that she’d already made a fool of herself with Jordan far too many times, she opted to follow her standard nightly routine first, hoping it would help level off her wildly out of control emotions.
While Kiley sorted her mail, she wondered what she should say after she told Jordan she had the tickets. Would it be prying to ask what the family matter was that he’d helped with? When she stepped into the shower as she did every evening after work, she cautioned herself not to rush. He didn’t know that Henry had sent her home half an hour early. Standing under the hot water, Kiley’s mind drifted to Jordan’s arrival. There was no doubt that the choice had been hers when he’d clasped her hand. She had sensed his strength even though he hadn’t exerted any pressure. She could have pulled away whenever she wanted to but the feel of him holding her hand had been so right she never considered it. It had been clear that he wanted to touch more than just her hand too. The way he looked when he brushed her cheek was so intense. His eyes held so many questions and an equal amount of invitations. If she’d turned her head earlier, she could have met his lips. Would he have turned away?
It was very easy for Kiley to picture Jordan in the shower with her. She could almost feel how his hands would roam all over her, leaving heat everywhere they touched. Would his kisses be light and teasing? Would he let them turn savage and demanding if she was uninhibited when responding to him? And what would he be saying if he were there now? Would he whisper sweet nothings? Would he describe what he wanted to do to her? Would he make her tell him what she liked? Would he tell her?
Unconsciously, Kiley’s soapy hands drifted to her body. She slid them up her sides to her breasts. She imagined it was Jordan caressing them, squeezing them. If he were there would he lift them to his mouth and fasten his lips on her nipples? Mm, she could picture it so vividly. He would press them together and then alternate between them, sucking, licking, kissing, driving her wild with desire. Just thinking about it had her so wet. If Jordan were with her she’d urge his hand down to her pussy to show him how he affected her. She’d need to hold onto him once he slipped some fingers inside. Kiley gripped the bar on the inside of the shower door to steady herself while she ran her fingers along her slit, teasing them back and forth, closer and closer until she was pressing on her bud. Stroking slowly at first, then faster and faster, Kiley’s mind drifted to how much better it would be with Jordan’s fingers on her clit instead of her own. And of course he’d be talking to her the whole time in that sinfully sexy voice of his. God, that alone could make her come.
The hot water would be streaming down over them. As much as she loved hearing him speak, she’d still interrupt him with kisses. Her hands would slide up his arms to his broad shoulders. She’d pull him close, pressing her chest to his.
Mm, that thought sent shivers throughout her body. Her fingers moved faster. She increased the pressure on her clit, working it until she couldn’t hold off any longer. She came with a cry and then smiled. She’d only made it halfway through one of her favorite fantasies. That was okay. She’d save the rest, the part where she ended up with Jordan’s cock thrusting wildly into her clenching pussy, for the next time.
It wasn’t the first time she’d pleasured herself thinking about him and it likely wouldn’t be the last. Perhaps, relieving the tension like that was just what she needed to keep her mellow so she wouldn’t panic when she spoke to him later. Sighing, she decided that it probably wouldn’t make any difference. The man could quote stock prices at her and she’d be wet. Maybe she should invite him for a drink as Dee had suggested. Maybe, without an audience, she’d be able to relax and be herself instead of fumbling worse than a lovesick teenager like she usually did.
Kiley pulled on her comfy sweats after debating over a pair of tidy khakis and a sweater. She was only going to call the man. There was absolutely no reason to get dressed up to do so since she’d rejected the idea of asking him to meet her. Perhaps she’d reconsider that option if she actually survived the telephone conversation. Reaching for the phone, Kiley decided she was as ready as she ever would be and dialed.
Jordan was pacing. He knew Kiley had the tickets. Brett called him hours earlier to say the mission was accomplished. When she hadn’t called soon after, Jordan guessed she was waiting until she got home. Hopefully, that was a good sign. But it was already past the time he expected to hear from her. It wasn’t her night to visit the nursing home and she rarely made any other stops after work so where was she? What was she waiting for? Maybe she was ignoring her promise and had decided against calling him at all.
When his private line rang, he stopped himself from diving to grab it on the first ring. Instead, he took a deep breath. He had to appear casual, not anxious. If he sounded impatient like he’d been waiting for her, she would get flustered again. He was hoping to put her at ease and spend some time having a harmless, relaxed chat. He wanted to make her comfortable enough to get beyond the nervousness that came out around him. He was sure she wasn’t afraid of him. He knew they connected on a level he’d never experienced before. He’d accepted the situation the instant they met. In the universal cosmic plan, Kiley was destined to be his future. She just didn’t know it yet. Jordan wondered how he could make her see the reality that their lives were meant to be joined when they still hadn’t managed five minutes without her getting jumpier than a puppy on the Fourth of July.
“Hello,” Jordan answered, trying to sound as if he thought it could be anyone on the other end of the line.
“Jordan, it’s Kiley,” she began tentatively.
“Kiley, hi. How was the rest of your day?” He hoped to sound friendly and unassuming when what he really wanted was to ask if he could join her and spend the rest of the night making passionate love to her. If he ever had the opportunity, he’d gladly devote hours to worshipping every inch of her. Then again, he’d be equally happy sitting across from her in the nearest Starbucks, drinking coffee and sharing inane chatter. Well, maybe not equally happy…
“All right. We were a little slow so I had time to call about the tickets.”
“Any problems?”
“Not after I mentioned your name.”
“I’m pleased he could help you.” When she didn’t comment, he continued, “Do you like hockey or are you just doing this for your cousin?”
“Both I guess,” Kiley responded. “It’s Alyssa’s birthday so she gets to choose what we do. Within reason, that is. But I’ve been to a few games and always had fun.”
“I’m glad to hear that. It’s nice she picked something you’ll both enjoy.”
“Well, that’s only part of the plan,” Kiley admitted. “Alyssa wants us to go out for drinks afterward too.”
Although Jordan already knew about it, he still felt a flash of possessiveness. No way was she going bar hopping without him. "You don’t sound overly excited by that prospect.”
“It’s okay. Alyssa’s more comfortable with that atmosphere than I am.”
“That’s surprising,” Jordan stated. “You seem to adjust smoothly to everyone who walks into Mr. Paul’s.”
“Except you,” she blurted. “Oh no,” she groaned in horror.
“It’s all right, Kiley. I’ve noticed I make you a little nervous. I’d rather have you say whatever comes to mind than hide your thoughts from me.”
“Why are you so kind to me, Jordan?”
“Simple. I like you. A lot. You have the same affect on me. I just cover it up better than you do.”
“Jordan,” she actually giggled. “You don’t have to say things to make me feel better.”
“I’m not. Honestly, Kiley. Every day when it gets close to lunchtime, I can barely wait to see you again. I rush to get there and then I hesitate at the door. Sometimes, I can see you from outside, double-checking things or talking to someone and I just stop and watch you.”
“I can tell you’re there even before I actually see you,” Kiley confessed.
“So you feel the connection between us too.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes,” she sighed. “I’m sorry I’m such a jerk around you.”
“You have never been a jerk,” he said sincerely. “Frankly, I’m very flattered.”
“Flattered?”
“Absolutely. A beautiful woman like you could snap your fingers and have anyone at your beck and call but for some reason you’re interested in me.”
“Stop exaggerating,” she said as if she assumed he was being outrageous just to help her relax.
“I’m not,” he insisted. “I don’t think you realize the way you affect people. You—”
“Please, let’s talk about something else,” Kiley interrupted.
“Okay,” he agreed pleasantly. “Your topic or mine?”
“Mine,” she said quickly. “I like listening to you talk. Tell me where you guys used to have lunch.”
“You mean, before I decided that I needed to see you as often as possible to survive?” She laughed. “Hey, you don’t know how many times I’ve forced myself to resist the urge to come back for dinner. I was afraid I’d be too obvious if I was there more than once a day.”
“You think you’re not obvious, having lunch every day for months?” she teased in return. “Come on. Tell me where you used to go.”
“All right. Brett and I ate at a variety of places but I think we went to Bruno’s more than anywhere else.”
“I love Bruno’s! What’s your favorite?”
“I’d have to say the eggplant parmesan. It’s a little heavy for lunch but it’s too good to resist.”
“I know what you mean. There must be half a pound of cheese in every dish.”
“Yeah and I think they put the other half pound on the salad.”
“Even the garlic bread is perfect.”
“A woman after my own heart,” Jordan said smoothly.
“Does Brett like that too?” she asked curiously.
“Nope, he prefers the veal. He maintains a vegetable isn’t suitable as a main course even at lunchtime.”
“Ah. Beer or wine?”
“Definitely wine. As I said, it’s almost too much as it is. A beer on top of that meal would be more than I can handle.”
“Of course,” she agreed.
From there, the conversation meandered to various other topics. Jordan was thrilled that Kiley seemed to have overcome her nervousness. Hopefully, the ease of their phone time would transfer over to their next meeting.