woman and I feel ugly. Old. Oh God, it’s been so long since someone has made me feel attractive that I don’t even know what to say to you.
“I was curious,” she said.
That was partially true. She had wondered what went on in places like these. Jenna’s husband was friends with the club’s owner and when Jenna had jokingly said Caitlyn needed to go there to get laid and work Charles out of her system, Caitlyn had surprised even herself by insisting she did. But she wasn’t going to start spilling her guts to strangers. She scarcely spilled them to her closest friends. She’d come to visit Jenna, her college roommate, in San Antonio on a whim. Mostly because she couldn’t stand to sit alone in her big house on the bay for another night. A house she’d once dreamed of filling with a loving family. Back when Charles had led her to believe that he wanted that too.
Stop thinking about him. Stop thinking about him. Just stop. Caitlyn squeezed her eyes shut and gave her head a hard shake. She then opened her eyes and shared her most dazzling smile with the hottie in black sitting across the bistro table from her.
“What’s your name, gorgeous?” she said, doing her damnedest to keep her men-suck vibes under control, because wouldn’t it be spit in Charles’s eye if she hooked up with this good-looking man—this young man—and fucked him all night.
“Owen.”
“Why did you come here, Owen?”
“I thought that was obvious,” he said.
She crinkled her brow in puzzlement.
“I was looking for you.”
She laughed. “I’m pretty sure the only reason you came to talk to me is because all the good ones were already taken.”
“Good ones?”
“The young, pretty ones.”
“She was younger than you, wasn’t she?”
He stroked the back of her hand gently and held her gaze. Caitlyn quickly found herself lost in his startlingly blue eyes.
“Caitlyn?”
She blinked and took a deep breath, trying to remember what he’d asked. “Who was younger than me?”
“The one he cheated with.”
“How do you know he cheated?”
“Men-suck vibes. They’re usually caused by a cheating asshole.”
She wondered how many women he’d seduced this way. He was very good at it. She especially liked that he called Charles an asshole, even though he had no idea who Charles was.
“She was younger. Twenty-five years younger than him. I think what hurts the most is that I was just like her when I met him. I was her age when he left his first wife for me. Took my virginity on the exact same desk he plowed her on. I’m going to send his first wife flowers. What an awful, awful wretch I was to her. I even called her old.”
Caitlyn cringed. When Caitlyn had married Charles, Gladys had been a year younger than Caitlyn was now. That made Caitlyn really old. She wondered if the poor girl he’d seduced was as proud of stealing him away as Caitlyn had been when she’d been in the same position. Had his little co-ed been a virgin? Had Charles told her she made him feel alive and that his dried up old wife had lost her spark? Caitlyn had been referring to Charles’s latest ego-booster as “that little tramp” for months. Caitlyn needed to direct all her anger at the truly guilty party. Charles Theodore Mattock, you’re a fucking, lecherous bastard.
“So you seduced a married man? I guess you’re not as sweet as you look in that sexy white lace.” Owen winked at her.
“Well, no. I didn’t realize he was married at the time. And for the record, he seduced me.”
“Perhaps he could offer me a few pointers.”
“You’re doing fine so far.” He smiled again, and her heart flopped down into the pit of her stomach.
“Would you like a drink?”
She was a tad overheated but said, “I think I’d better keep my wits about me.”
“Now where’s the fun in that?”
“I’m not going to send you away if that’s what you’re worried about. I came here to get laid, just like everyone else.”
His eyes widened, and he laughed. “I guess that is why everyone is here, and everyone knows that’s why we’re all here, but we don’t really discuss it. It’s more fun to pretend there’s a challenge.”
She felt like a fool because she didn’t know the rules. Didn’t know the rules because she’d never played the game. “Oh. I didn’t mean to offend you.”
“I’m not offended. Just a little surprised by your straightforwardness.”
“Why?” No one she knew was surprised by it, but then she wasn’t exactly dressed for her usual role as CEO and head engineer of Starpower Industries. There she was unequivocally confident and master of her domain. Here she was nervous, out of place, and utterly attracted to this guy. Maybe he didn’t like strong women? She hoped she didn’t intimidate him. Perhaps she should pretend to be meek, timid, and afraid, because she was feeling all those things at the moment and it rattled her to her core.
Owen stared at her for a long moment and just when she thought he was going to get up and leave her, he said, “Would you like to meet my friend Kellen? He’s over in the corner booth waiting for me.”
Caitlyn looked in the direction Owen indicated with a nod of his head. She could see silky black hair on the crown of Kellen’s head, but the rest of him was concealed by the high-backed booths. Caitlyn immediately realized what this was about. The good-looking one, Owen, captured unsuspecting women for his homely friend Kellen. It explained perfectly why he was coming on to her in the first place. Wouldn’t they be surprised when she turned the tables on them and rejected them both? She didn’t like to be taken for a fool.
“Sure.”
Owen rose from his seat, and she couldn’t help but notice the hard cut of his body and how his perfectly pressed shirt clung to his shoulders and chest. How it tapered down to be tucked into a pair of well-made slacks that accentuated his narrow hips. A leather belt drew her attention to his trim waist. She’d seen pictures of guys built like this, but wasn’t sure if she’d ever encountered one in real life. It took her a moment to realize he was holding his hand out in her direction. She slid her palm into his, finding it warm, strong and, apart from the calluses on his fingertips, smooth. She couldn’t help but wonder what those fingers would feel like against her skin.
She slipped from her chair and stood on the spindly high heels she’d purchased at the club’s basement shop. They were white patent leather and made her pretty white negligée seem a little less innocent. She’d chosen the piece of lace lingerie because they wouldn’t let her in the club wearing her tweed and denim and it was the least trashy of the items they offered. Plus, the short teddy came with a thigh-length gauzy robe which, though transparent, gave her the illusion that she wasn’t showing so much bare skin to strangers. She wondered why the one man she wanted to see naked had been allowed to bypass the no-street-clothes rule. Owen was dressed all in black, except he was barefoot. Every other person in the room was at least partially undressed, and a few were entirely naked.
Clutching her transparent robe at the waist, she took a hesitant step. While she didn’t wear heels in the lab, she wore them in the boardroom, but she’d never worn a pair four inches high until tonight. She was so busy concentrating on not breaking her neck that she didn’t realize Owen had stopped until his hand touched her arm. She froze in midstep and looked at him in question. What had she done wrong this time? She was so not used to this scene.
Owen’s eyes raked down her body. “Mmm. You must realize I asked you to stand so I could get a better look at you,” he said.
Anywhere else in the world, she’d have been pissed by his blatant come-on and told him to go fuck himself, but here, she was expecting it. In a strange way, hoping for it. She was going to let this happen tonight. Tonight, but probably never again.
“And?”
“Even better than I’d fantasized. Stunning. Now walk that way so I can check out your ass without you noticing.” He winked at her,
and she burst out laughing.
“You’re bad,” she said.
“You have no idea.” The devilish grin left his face and his expression warmed, leaving him looking sweet and gentle. “I can be good, if that turns you on. What turns you on, Caitlyn?”
“You,” she blurted, and heat rose up her cheeks. She couldn’t believe she’d actually said that, even if it was true.
“Then I’ll improvise,” he said.
He placed a hand on the small of her back to urge her toward the booth where his homely friend was waiting to make his move after Mr. Smooth Operator took his leave. Caitlyn focused on keeping her ankles from twisting as she stalked in that direction. It was impossible for her to walk in heels without taking confident steps. She forced herself not to look behind her to see if Owen really was checking out her ass. She hoped he enjoyed the view. The white thong she wore couldn’t be hidden, even with the gauzy robe in place.
She paused at the table, eyes going wide when Owen’s presumably ugly friend looked up from his beer. Kellen was on par with his gorgeous friend, even though they looked nothing alike. Where Owen had blue eyes, dirty-blond hair, and even features, Kellen was rugged and dark. Dark hair, dark eyes, dark mood. He was shirtless, which allowed her to scan the tattoos that decorated the hard muscles of his broad chest. His black hair was straight and just long enough to brush his collarbones. He looked untamed, like a Plains warrior. She could easily picture him astride a Paint Horse, hair flying out behind him as he aimed his bow at some animal he hunted. This guy was ruthless and hard. At least that was her impression until he smiled and his features softened. Her heart thudded so hard, she thought it might explode in her chest. Okay, if these two planned a bait and switch, she wouldn’t mind at all. Her goal to have sex with a hot, young stranger would be fulfilled by either of them.
“Is Owen making an ass out of himself again?” Kellen asked as his gaze shifted above her shoulder to his friend.
“Can’t help it,” Owen said. “I had to corral her before some other jerk found enough confidence to approach her.”
He moved close behind her, and she was promptly engulfed by his warmth. An instant later she caught the scent of his clean-smelling aftershave. Her eyelids fluttered.
“Would you like to sit?” Kellen asked her.
Yeah, on Owen’s naked lap. Or yours. Yours would work. Because now she didn’t feel the need to screw every man in the club to help her get over her ex. Just one. Or maybe two.
“You’d better do it soon,” Owen whispered close to her ear, “or I’m going to bend you over that table and break the club’s no-penetration-in-the-lounge rule.”
She gasped, her nether regions clenching with a surge of lust. So those parts were still functional. She had been starting to worry.
Kellen chuckled and shook his head. “Easy, stud. Do you even know her name?”
“Caitlyn,” Owen said.
“Sit, Caitlyn,” Kellen said, “before he whips out his dick and gets himself kicked out of here.”
Caitlyn sat and crossed her legs. She wriggled slightly to give the unbearably swollen and achy flesh between her thighs some relief. No good. She’d never had anyone say such things to her in her life. She wasn’t sure why it was such a turn-on. Thanks to Owen’s outlandish behavior and her response to it, she had no doubt that she could have sex with a stranger. She might regret it in the morning, but she wouldn’t tonight. Tonight she was tossing propriety aside and giving herself permission to get as dirty as she wanted.
Owen sat beside her and she scooted around the semi-circular, fairly private booth to give him more room. He moved closer so that their hips touched, and she scooted a bit more. He placed a hand on her knee and moved up against her again. That’s when she realized he wanted to be touching her. She smiled and relaxed as much as she could. It was a challenge to remain calm with the profusion of butterflies fluttering about in her belly.
“So, Caitlyn,” Kellen said, “what brings you to a place like this?”
“Curiosity.”
“You’re sure it wasn’t horniness?” Owen asked. “Because I was really hoping for horniness.”
She laughed. “Well, a little,” she admitted.
Owen’s fingers slid along the side of her knee, and her pussy gave an attention-shattering throb of need. Okay, so he was making horniness her prime focus.
“Do you guys do this often?” Caitlyn asked.
“This is our first time here,” Owen said.
Kellen chuckled. “I guess that’s true, but yeah, we do this often. Tony has clubs like this all across the U.S. We’ve been to most of them. How do you know Tony? Entry into his clubs is by invitation only. Keeps him out of jail.”
“I don’t know him personally,” Caitlyn said. “My best friend’s husband knows him.”
“I see. So is it what you expected? Are you enjoying yourself?” Kellen asked.
“Truth be told, I’m terrified,” she admitted.
“Of me?” Owen asked, giving her a sad little smile that made her laugh.
“No, but I probably should be.”
“He’s harmless,” Kellen said. “Mostly.”
“How long have you two been friends?” Caitlyn asked.
“A long time,” Kellen said.
“No personal questions,” Owen said.
Caitlyn turned her head to look at him in surprise. “None?”
“That’s how anonymous sex works; it’s anonymous. That’s what you had in mind, isn’t it? Hot, dirty, walk-bowlegged-for-the-next-two-days, anonymous sex?”
“Of course.” She didn’t point out that by exchanging names this wouldn’t be entirely anonymous. Unless Owen wasn’t his real name. Should she have used a fake name? She probably should have. Crap! She really was a novice at this.
Owen’s arm moved to rest behind her. His fingers brushed her cover-up from her shoulder and toyed with the satin strap of her negligee. In response to Owen’s gentle touch, Caitlyn’s nipples hardened. She wasn’t the only one who noticed. Eyes riveted to her chest, Kellen sucked in a sharp breath. Caitlyn squirmed at the sight of Kellen biting his lip as if in pain. Owen stroked her arm with the back of his hand, drawing the sleeve of her robe lower and bringing goose bumps to the surface of her skin.
“Don’t you miss this, Kelly?” Owen’s nose brushed against her ear, and his warm breath bathed the side of her neck. “Touching a woman.”
Caitlyn shivered.
Owen’s lips brushed her skin just beneath her ear. When his soft, wet tongue flicked out to delight her throat, her eyelids fluttered and her mouth dropped open.
“Tasting a woman.”
“Don’t torment me, Owen,” Kellen said. “I’m not in the fucking mood tonight.”
“She’d look beautiful restrained. Wouldn’t she? Ropes pressing into her supple flesh.” Owen nibbled her earlobe and whispered, “Would you let us tie you up, Caitlyn?”
“Both of you?” Caitlyn sputtered. Okay, now she understood why Owen had brought her here—so they could do wicked things to her. Things she was not okay with. Make her helpless. Their victim. The thought both thrilled her and scared her. Fear won over in the end. There was no way she would agree to being restrained while two strangers did any perverted thing that occurred to them. “I’d rather tie you up,” she said.
Kellen chuckled. “I think that’s a great idea. Good call, Caitlyn. I’ll help.”
“I’m game for anything you want to try,” Owen said.
Caitlyn hesitated before turning her head to look at him. “Anything?”
“Yes, anything,” Owen said. “Do you have a dirty fantasy, Caitlyn? Something you’ve always wanted to do but never dared?”
“I have plenty of fantasies,” she said. “I really would like to tie you up. Dare to do things to you.”
“What kinds of things?”
She tried to think of the most outlandish sexual act she could imagine, wanting to call him on his bluff. She was pretty sure he was full of it
and saying things he didn’t mean just for effect. True, her kink-o-meter was fairly mild, but he didn’t know that. He had to be as scared as she was by the idea of being rendered helpless and at the mercy of a stranger. Caitlyn imagined him tied to a bed, his cock rigid and proud. She could touch him any way she liked. Kiss every inch of him. Suck him. Ride him. Torment him. Tease him. Delay his gratification until he begged. But that didn’t seem really all that outlandish. What man wouldn’t agree to that? At least for a while. Then she pictured him tied face down, on his knees, ass exposed to the air, and a that naughty devil she kept buried inside her subconscious spread a slow grin across her face.
“I think I’d like to screw you,” she said. “From behind.”
She glanced up at him, expecting shock. He just looked confused.
“I’m not sure if my dick will bend that way, but we can try it.”
Kellen laughed so hard, Caitlyn was concerned he’d rupture his spleen. She managed to keep a straight face, however, and shook her head. “That’s not what I meant.” Could she really say the next words? She was an excellent public speaker, but she usually talked about alternative energy sources, not about claiming a guy’s ass.