That Man Next Door

by Nadia Lee

“Beautiful,” he murmurs between soft kisses on my thighs. “So sweet.” I bring him up and lick his mouth. He tastes like himself—and me. ...

Besides, he’s still hard. It’s impossible to miss the thickness pressing against his pants, and I wonder if I should do something about it, although I’m not sure exactly what since I already told him no intercourse.

He pockets the handkerchief and picks up my red lace bikini and pants. He hands me the pants, but not the underwear.

He laughs softly. “Sweetheart, you don’t want me on the other side of a negotiating table.” Him calling me sweetheart with half-amusement, half-affection sends lovely shivers along my spine, but I’m not ready to give in or deviate from my plan. “We have a non-fraternization policy at work.” And if we don’t, we should, starting now, given how much Alexandra seems to disapprove of— “No, we don’t.” He smirks. “I already checked.” “Maybe you missed it.” “I’m a lawyer. I don’t miss things.”

Sammi nods. “Have to agree. And now that we’ve settled on a dress, I really want to know how he managed to snag you for a date.” Then she suddenly snaps her fingers. “Speaking of which, you need to stop by the store and buy a fresh box of condoms. He looks like he has some serious stamina.”

“Get your mind out of the gutter.” “Why? It’s comfortable down here.”

Matt fills the doorframe, his big body loose and relaxed. He’s in a blue V-neck shirt and gray slacks that mold to narrow hips and show hints of the muscled legs underneath. Even when he’s dressed casually, it’s obvious he has great taste and money from the way his clothes fit him. He walks inside, closing the door. He offers me a bouquet with a sunflower in the middle, then kisses me softly.

I polish off my meal, then sit back with another margarita. The whole evening’s nice. No, nice isn’t quite right. The word is lovely. The food is homey and excellent, the drinks are delicious and the company’s awesome. Even if we hadn’t had a little sexy time in Alexandra’s house, I’d know Matt was attracted to me—it’s in his dark gaze, the soft gentle brush of his hands against me, all of it seemingly innocent but sending sparks of excitement to my heart.

He draws me to the empty space in the living room, and wraps me in his arms. I let him because even though I’m protesting about the dance, I like the feel of his hands on my bare skin. And the hot, dark way he drinks me in. Oh, and let’s not forget his thick erection pushing against me. That’s super exciting.

I lay my head in the crook where his shoulder meets his chest. His body heat seems to turn my muscles to pliant goo, and he smells so sexy, all Matt underneath that fresh laundry soap and aftershave.

I tilt my head up and look at his face, following the chiseled lines of the high cheekbones and mouth with my gaze. I want to kiss this man, feel his lips moving against mine. I want to rock my body against the hard cock that’s been pressing against me all this time. I want to feel him lose control and come from my touches. His gorgeous eyes turn darker, until they resemble the deep Pacific, but he doesn’t make a move to kiss me.

I don’t know what gives me the boldness, but I stretch my body as high as it can go, up on the absolute tips of my toes, and press my mouth against his, my fingers tunneling into his silky, warm hair. I move my lips, softly at first, then insistently, but he doesn’t open his mouth. Instead he kisses me back, just with his lips, stroking gently and sweetly, neither of which I want at the moment.

Undeterred, I flick my tongue across his mouth, then almost moan with victory when a low groan vibrates in his chest, stimulating my breasts pressed tightly against him. I clench my fingers in his hair and tug, silently demanding that he give me his tongue. And he does. He tastes glorious. Delicious. A hint of tequila mixed with dark chocolate. Our mouths fuse in a drugging kiss, and we breathe each other in. My senses bask in the heady scent, flavor, warmth and everything else about him. White-h...

“Make me feel good,” I say, but it’s more of a plea. Don’t let me down. “Always.” His big, hot hands cup my butt, pulling me upward. I wrap my legs around him so I’m cradling his cock where I’m aching the most. I curse my stupidity in choosing pants for the evening. I should’ve worn a loose skirt. Then I could’ve been cradling him against only a thong. I grip one broad shoulder, my fingers digging into the hard muscles, and use the other hand to tug ...

He turns so I’m resting against a wall, my body pinned there with his hips. He rips his shirt over his head and throws it on the floor. I immediately reach for his chest, run my hands along the warm, taut skin sprinkled with springy hair. My thumbs and fingers close over his flat nipples, and I laugh when his thick muscles jump. “You look so scrumptious naked. It’s too bad you can’t argue in court topless. You could get whatever verdict you wanted if the jury were women.” “That’s called an unfair advantage.” His nose brushes against mine, tilting my head up. “Besides, the only woman I want ogling me is you.”

Something a bit more tender than I’d like uncoils inside me, and I kiss him so I don’t have to think about it too much. I submerge myself in the lust coursing through my body, willing the heat to burn away any sliver of tender or complicated feelings. I suck on his tongue, nip his lower lip, pinch his nipple. His rough groan inflames me, and I know what I want. “I want you naked,” I say, pulling back. “And I want you hard and thick and pumping in my mouth, your back against the wall. I want you hot and mindless. I want to feel you come in my mouth—”

I spot Matt. He’s looking yummy in a spring-green V-neck shirt and dark slacks. He hasn’t shaved, and the day’s—or night’s—growth of beard looks hot. Hot enough to make my knees weak.

“I want more than one night with you,” he says, reaching over to take my hand. And I squeeze his hand because holy crap, what do you say to that? I’m feeling warm all over, the kind of warmth that makes you feel good to the marrow of your bones. As we speed along the highway, I suddenly realize I, too, want more than just one night. And the thought is like lightning streaking through me because I’ve never, ever felt this way about anyone, and it’s damn scary.

He puts a hand at the small of my back. It feels possessive and protective at the same time. Almost unconsciously, I lean into him, absorbing his warmth and scent. If I were a cat, I’d be purring.

Then we rent a boat. Watching Matt maneuver the watercraft with easy expertise is an extraordinary turn-on. I love the way his arm muscles flex, the way the sun highlights his rugged face. The park is public, and we aren’t the only people on the water, what with the weather being so nice. But being together in a boat on the placid lake, it feels like we’re alone in the world.

I look into his brilliant gaze, watch him dip his head. My eyes flutter closed, and I sigh softly against his lips. He doesn’t kiss me like he wants to punish me. Instead it’s soft, the kind sweet dreams are made of. His scent and taste permeate through me. I place a palm over his warm, scratchy cheek and feel a groan vibrating in his chest. My heart accelerates. My bra feels constricting over my achingly hard nipples. He slants his head, changing the angle of our kiss. This way, we can delve into each other more deeply. I glide my tongue along his shamelessly, while running my hands over his wide, strong shoulders and chest. My fingers dig into his silken hair.

“You taste so good,” I whisper. “So do you,” he murmurs, the tip of his nose brushing against mine. I pull his head back to me, and our mouths fuse tighter. Sparks of excitement shoot along my skin, and lust thickens my blood until my limbs feel languid and heavy. My skin grows hot and hypersensitive, and I shift my legs when he plunges his tongue into my mouth with more aggression. I moan my approval.

Whatever finesse we had earlier dissolves into rough sloppiness as our breathing turns into desperate pants. Decadent bliss pulses through me, and every lick and nip seems to travel all the way down to my swollen clit. I clench my thighs, want...

My gaze slides down, and I see a huge erection pushing against the front of his pants. Maybe I’m shallow, but it’s gratifying to know I wasn’t the only one lost in our kiss.

A breeze blows over us. Some of my hair has escaped the knot and brushes against my face. Matt pulls it away, tucking it behind my ears, his touch gentle. I look at him. His gaze is clear, without judgment or any kind of morbid curiosity. For some odd reason, I want him to understand why I feel the way I do. I’ve never experienced the compulsion with anyone before.

I reach for the doorknob. As my fingers wrap around it, Matt lays his hand on mine. I stop and look at him, my lips parting softly. He’s so, so close, his body only a hairsbreadth away from me. I inhale sharply and smell the musk and sandalwood from him.

My pulse spikes. “Tell me to stop now,” he murmurs, his eyes searching mine. I blink. I don’t want him to stop if he means he’s about to seduce me. I want him to… “Um…” A corner of his mouth quirks upward, then he kisses me. In front of my door. His free hand rests on the spot next to my head, caging me in. I usually feel claustrophobic when a guy does that, but now I feel cocooned, sheltered from the world as we share the space that’s our own and sink deeper into the kiss.

He tastes amazing. Even better than earlier. He’s all man and Matt and sweetness and all the things I didn’t know I wanted. I lift a hand and wrap it around his nape, and he strokes deep inside with his tongue. I arch against his body. God. He’s so insanely warm and hard, and t...

Pulses of desire course through me, pooling between my legs. My fingers dig into his neck muscles as I suck on his tongue. The hot liquid need he stoked earlier on the boat swells w...

A sudden realization hits me. I do want Matt to be my first. But I want more than just sex. I want more than one time with him, and I need to be certain he’s not going to exit from my life afterward. And how am I going to know that unless I ask, right?

“I don’t think you have any idea what I see when I look at you.” He doesn’t appear annoyed or mocking. He has the tenderest expression, his eyes soft and dark. “I like you because you’re funny, sweet, unspoiled and vulnerable.” “Vulnerable?” Is that an adorable trait? “Yes. It makes me want to slay all your dragons and bring you flowers.” The irresistible dimple pops on his cheek. My heart knocks harder against my ribs. “Sunflowers in particular.”

I want this man. I want him to be my first, and I couldn’t care less that I don’t have my phone to bail me out. I know I won’t have any regrets tomorrow morning.

“Jesus. Good thing I didn’t know you had nothing on underneath,” he rasps. “Oh…” I say, mostly because I’m nervous and need something to do even if it’s uttering something as meaningless as “oh.” “I wouldn’t have been able to do anything except make animal noises.”

He shrugs off his shirt easily. His torso is a thing of beauty—strong, thick muscles, every one delineated in beautiful lines. The wide shoulders and chest taper into tight abs with ridges so defined they could hold pennies. A dark dusting of hair vanishes below the waistband of his shorts. Licking my lower lip, I raise my eyes to meet his. His blue gaze is so dark, it’s almost black. “Are you naked underneath?” He gives me a wicked grin. “Want to see?” I nod eagerly.

Holding my gaze, he tugs his shorts down. Watching him take off every piece of clothing for me is incredibly erotic. I don’t know why—it’s not like he’s doing anything to put on a show. But with Matt, everything’s sexy. Everything feels meaningful.

His shorts hit the floor, and he kicks them toward his shirt. My mouth waters as I take in the sculpted perfection of his body. His legs are as powerfully built as his torso, his thighs and calves solid with muscles that invite me to run my hands all over. And then there’s his cock. I’ve held it and sucked it, but looking at it with the lights on is different—exciting. It’s already hard, the shaft thick and veins pulsing. The plum-shaped head is flawless, and I lick my lip...

The wide grin he gives me makes me flush. “Good. The first time is always a little nerve-racking.” I giggle at his mock sincerity. “Why would any...

“Because I’m finally with a woman with high standards and a sha...

I sigh softly. This man is so perfect. It’s more than his gorgeous face or amazingly proportioned body. It’s that his mind seems to be on the same wavelength as mine, always knowing when I need space, and when I need a bit of assurance. “Except there’s no need for that tonight. Kiss me, Matt.”

As we indulge in the prelude to what’s to come, I flatten my small palms over his pecs, then curl my fingers against the sprinkling of hair. I love the way his taut skin feels and the way he grows more aggressive, as though he can’t get enough of me—because I can’t get enough of him either. My heart thunders as I run my fingertips lightly across his nipples. A low moan growls in his throat, sending a pulse of lust through me.

He cradles the base of my skull, his hand threading through and fisting into my unbound hair. I gasp, then softly breathe in the warm air between us. I lick his mouth and feel the glide of his tongue against mine. He tastes like minty toothpaste with a hint of fiery liquor. It’s headier than any alcohol I’ve ever had. His skin smells like the best kind of perfume, all Matt with a hint of soap from the shower. It turns me on so much, I don’t think I’ll ever look at soap the same way again.

I press forward, pushing my bare breasts against him with a soft sigh. My nipples are pointed and hard, and they throb almost painfully against his chest. Shamelessly, I rub them against him, loving the hot liquid pleasure each drag and pull sends through me.

“Yes. I love the way you use my body to make yourself feel good,” he says in a low growl, taking one plump mound in his hand. It feels shockingly hot against my sensitive skin, and I gasp. He kneads it gently, but avoids the hardened, aching tip. I push it into him in an offering. “Do you want me to play with your nipples, Jan?” “Yes,” I answer breathlessly. “Yes, yes, yes.”

He brushes his fingertips along the bountiful swell, then runs his thumb across. Anticipation thickens in my veins, and I can barely breathe, my chest rising and falling fast. His gaze intent, he pinches the nipple lightly between his forefinger and thumb, then tugs. The slight pain sweetens th...

He leans forward, and my nipple vanishes into his mouth. I let my head fall back, gripping his hair a...

His tongue knows exactly how to flick, his cheeks know exactly how much to hollow, and h...

to drive me crazy with lust. Desperate little noises spill from my throat, and I love the way he adjusts the p...

He doesn’t let my other breast stay neglected. His hand kneads it, toying with its throbbing tip. Finally he pulls away from my nipple with a loud pop. It’s wet, rosy and pointed. He groans at the sight and flicks his tongue over it agai...

I’m lost in the syrupy delight, and he runs the back of his fingers down my soft belly, then follows the path with his tongue and lips and teeth. “You’re delicious all over,” he rasps against my navel, his breaths hot on my skin. “All woman and need. I can smell your arousal.” I flush, a little embarrassed. “Don’t be shy. You smell amazing. Musky and sweet and all that is marvelously...

God. It makes me quiver because his tongue is like magic down there, but… “You already did that yesterday.” Besides, doesn’t he want to do the intercourse? I thought I was pretty clear about what we were doing… He laughs aga...