Page 16 of Right Next Door (Stone Family #3)

Ian

M y shotgun apartment is narrow but deep, with almost no exterior light, save for the big loft-style windows in the combination of a living room and dining room that overlooks Aster Street in the front, and the two windows in the kitchen and my bedroom that face the back parking lot and alley.

The bathroom and June’s bedroom unfortunately don’t have any natural light, a complaint I hear on a near-daily basis from her.

We’ve been living here for the last few years, since I sold my house to buy the property of Stone Ink and the top apartment outright.

Before that, I was renting, struggling to afford my house’s mortgage and the lease on the building, but with some good luck and a hell of a lot of work, I’ve turned a pretty lucrative corner.

I even have a nice little retirement fund going, though I don’t plan on quitting anytime soon.

Especially because I’m at the top of my game, professionally and personally. At least, that’s what it’s felt like for the past week.

Every morning, I wake up, and I’m met with a text from Nicole.

Usually a short greeting or smiling-face emoji.

I return the message immediately because there is nothing I enjoy more than making her happy.

And she clearly enjoys making me happy since she easily and continually follows my directions.

Whether it’s to have a good breakfast or take a five-minute rest during her workday, she does, proving it with either a photo or deliberately walking by Stone Ink’s window, catching my attention to show me her takeout sushi for lunch or snack from Eloise.

My girl loves to earn my praise in return, and it is no different this morning.

After I texted her to drink a glass of water, she responded with a video of her drinking it while standing at her kitchen sink in the hottest little pajama set I’ve ever seen, and it’s not even showing anything much.

It’s just that it looks soft, and she obviously doesn’t have a bra on underneath.

It’s Nicole at her most comfortable, which is when she’s at her sexiest. Messy bun and no makeup.

Hair sleep-mussed and polka dots all over her pajamas.

Adorable.

Utterly fuckable.

Which makes me even more impatient to get my hands on her.

She’s been so good all week that I have to reward her.

You think you feel ready to take the next step?

Nicole

With you? Yes.

Nicole

Yes, please.

Since you asked so nicely…

Wear a dress today.

Nicole

That’s it?

One step at a time, remember?

Nicole

I thought it would be something more.

Believe me, baby, you’ll get to more.

I have to go to the gym and run some errands. Meet out back at noon.

Her response is almost immediate, and I can practically hear her voice in my head.

Nicole

Yes, sir.

I love that little bit of sass. Keeps me on my toes.

I also love that she is trusting me to help her explore her desires. I am well aware that this is not some insignificant fling for her. This is an opportunity for her to reclaim her power and figure out who she is and what she wants.

This also isn’t some random hookup for me either. If I wanted that, it wouldn’t be hard to find, but unfortunately for me, my heart is set on the bookshop girl next door. I guess, if I’m honest, it has been for a long time, but I haven’t been able to act on it.

Until now.

While it might not be everything, it’s as close as I can get, and I know better than to throw away a good thing when I have it.

Hours later, I meet Nicole at the back door of her bookstore and motion for her to follow me. No one is around to see us, but still, I’m careful before I clasp her hand, leading her upstairs to my apartment.

“June’s out for the day,” I tell Nicole, and as soon as the door is closed, I push her up against the wall, my mouth on hers, unable to wait any longer.

I can be a very patient man, but it’s been too long since I’ve been able to touch her like I’ve wanted to.

My hand on her leg, fingers tangled in her hair, her bottom lip trapped between my teeth.

I do it all, give in to what I’ve fantasized about all week.

A reminder of how sweet she is, how good she feels under my hands, how pliant her mouth is under mine.

She whimpers into the kiss, pressing closer, her hands in my hair, and I groan in satisfaction, loving how eager she is.

With a few more nips to her lips and a quick taste of her throat, I step back, my gaze trailing over her.

Her dress is long with flowers all over, showing more skin than she usually does with thin straps and a lower neckline, displaying the top curve of her breasts and the valley of her cleavage. She is beautiful.

“This is different from what you usually wear,” I say, my voice lower than I mean it to sound, fingers curling into the soft material at her hips.

“You notice what I usually wear?” She tries not to appear too delighted. It doesn’t work.

I’m glad of it.

“You walk past our window every day. I’d have to be dead not to notice you.”

Her cheeks flush a fetching pink. “I wanted to look pretty for you.”

I brush my thumb over her cheekbone and jaw. “You always look pretty.”

“I look plain,” she argues, as if she really believes it.

And doesn’t she know?

Doesn’t she know that her mouth is so expressive, anyone can tell how she’s feeling by simply watching her smile.

It’s always there, but if a person looked close enough, they would be able to tell if it’s forced by the rise of her top lip.

When she’s naturally laughing or smiling, it’s high and shows off all her teeth, even some of her gums. Her fake smile is one where her top lip is straight across.

It doesn’t matter what she wears or how she does her hair. One glance at me, one mere hint of her real smile, and I’m done for.

I’d do anything to make her happy. Keep her happy.

To say nothing of making sure she never cries. A true tragedy is watching those baby blues fill up with water, clumping her lashes together.

That morning in Sweet Cheeks will stick with me forever.

The way her chin trembled and the tip of her nose pinked.

Being able to comfort her that day will remain one of the greatest privileges of my lifetime.

I drag the pad of my thumb over her lower lip, tugging the corner out from her teeth, rubbing back and forth across it.

“I don’t want you to change anything about yourself, unless you’re doing it for you.

Don’t do it for any other reason besides it’s what you want.

Don’t think about what I want or what…he wants.

” I practically spit those two words out, hating the thought of her husband. “You do what you want, got it?”

When she nods, I do too, squeezing her chin between my fingers. “Good girl. Now, we’re going to ease into this, all right? Start off easy with a little bit of play. If you don’t like it, let me know, and we won’t do it. You can call it off at any time.”

I take her hand and lead her through my apartment, too quick for her to study the living room or kitchen.

I guide her into the bathroom and hit the light, illuminating the mostly nondescript room, save for all the bottles of makeup June leaves littered around.

“Lift up your dress and put your hands on the counter.”

She obeys, hiking the thin material up to settle over her hips and leaning forward with her hands on the counter, staring at the mirror in front of her. Next to her, I unplug a small egg-shaped vibrator that I had lying on the towel after I washed and charged it.

“This was one of my errands this morning.” I place my hand on the back of her upper thigh, slowly gliding it up and down. “It’s a remote-controlled vibrator.”

She doesn’t move an inch. I’m not even sure she breathes, so I remind her to and then ask, “Did you ever use one before?” When she shakes her head, I slide my hand up over the globe of her ass, gripping it tightly, discovering that I actually do like her answer, if the tightening in my chest is any indication.

I like that she hasn’t experienced this, so I can be the first to do it with her.

Slipping my fingers beneath her underwear, I find her slit, swallowing the triumphant growl building in my throat.

“So wet for me already.” She inhales sharply when I trace the shape of her with my fingertips, barely touching, merely re-familiarizing myself with her.

“Have you been thinking about what we did downstairs? How I made you come? You want to do that again?”

She nods, her breath coming in short gasps.

“Words, Nicole. You need to learn to use them. You won’t get what you want without them. Understand?”

“Yes,” she says, the single syllable shaky.

“Yes what?”

“Yes, sir,” she says quietly, her eyes meeting mine in the mirror, not such a brat anymore.

I push my fingers into her, flicking them in a way that draws a long sigh out of her, making my dick hard. I’m turned on by all of her, but especially her sounds. Her breathy sighs and needy pants. I look forward to each one I can draw out of her.

With a click, the vibrator comes to life, and I press it against her collarbone so she becomes accustomed to the feel of it. “There are fifteen settings, and I can control it from my phone.”

I skate it over the slope of her chest, leaving it on one of her nipples for a few seconds before moving it to the other until they’re both hard, pointing through the fabric of her dress.

“Please,” she breathes, her eyes locked on mine in the mirror.

“Please, what?”

“Please touch me with it.”

I oblige, sinking it below her underwear and holding it to her clit as my other hand works her, my fingers still stroking her inside, steady and insistent.

Her skin prickles, and she reflexively widens her stance, swiveling her hips.

She moans and arches her back, but I pull away from her, not wanting to give in just yet.

When she lets out a low whine, I shake my head. “You’re going to have to learn you only get to orgasm when I allow it.”

I push the pulsing vibrator inside her, and she gasps.

I keep it on a low setting, a constant thrum, but not enough to put her over the edge.

Then I shift behind her, making sure her underwear is in place, with the small loop to retrieve the toy tucked away.

I straighten her up and lower the skirt of her dress.

“You’re going to go back to work, and so will I, but I’m going to control when and how often the vibrator turns on.”

She whimpers, and it makes my dick hard. Loving how much she wants this.

“But,” I start, meeting her eyes in the reflection in the mirror as I leave an openmouthed kiss on the side of her neck that has her going limp in my arms, “you cannot come until I tell you to.” I straighten her up once again and set my hands on either side of her waist, squeezing so I have her full attention. “Do you understand? You cannot orgasm.”

She nods, though I’m not sure she really heard me with her eyes unfocused.

“And no touching yourself,” I add for good measure.

“H-how…” She clears her throat and seems to recognize the seriousness of the situation. “How will you know if I do or don’t?”

I answer with a warning nip of her earlobe. “I’ll know if you do.”

Then I turn off the vibrator and physically circle her, pushing her to go with a tap to her ass. “Back to work, beautiful.”

I watch as she walks away, a slight stagger to her step, and I can’t help but smile.