Page 24 of Stick to the Deal (Friendship Springs Romance #3)

Dark Knight

M y fingers fly over the keyboard as I try to type the last few sentences of the article.

It’s silly. We don’t have a publication date.

Hell, we don’t even have a theme for the magazine, but I feel behind.

There’s this driving need within me to do something, write something down, but this frustrating blockage of words and ideas has me in a choke hold.

The door to my office opens and Nic floats in. She’s covered in skin-tight leather from neck to stiletto boot. She glares at me with one black tipped hand on her hip. “Why aren’t you dressed yet? They’ll be here any minute!”

I look down at my black suit, crisp white shirt, and gray tie. “I am dressed.”

She throws up her hands and stalks closer to my desk until she can sweep those gorgeous hazel eyes over my body. My cock twitches at the attention. Down, boy. There isn’t time, and a quickie is never enough with this woman.

“That is not a costume.”

“I didn’t agree to wear one.”

“It’s Halloween, for fuck’s sake! It’s assumed.

” We square off, matching scowls warring with each other.

The doorbell rings downstairs, and Nic gives in with a frustrated screech.

She stomps around to lean over me and shuffle through my desk.

She’s practically laying across my lap, her firm ass perfectly positioned for me to admire in the form-fitting outfit.

My hand clenches and releases in an attempt to hold back from grabbing the tasty treat laid out before me .

Nic leans further into the drawer, her breasts grazing my arm.

Another flash of desire rushes to my cock, now at half mast. Just as I’m about to give in and grab her, guests be damned, she stands up with a triumphant cry.

Spinning back to the table, she scrawls something onto a piece of paper.

Before I can catch a peek, she grabs my hand and hauls me downstairs to meet our guests.

In the entryway, Nic grips my lapels, tugging me closer. My eyes drop to her ruby red lips and I lean in. A sharp smack on my chest stops me short, and I realize she’s smoothing my jacket, not pulling me in for a kiss.

The last couple of weeks have been comfortable living with Nic. Shockingly so.

We’ve fallen into an easy routine. I learned early that she’s not a morning person, so I slip from our room and head to the gym.

On my way back, I grab breakfast and coffee from her favorite cafe.

The smell usually draws her to the kitchen, sleepy and adorably rumpled.

We’ll both spend the day working on our own things, but always let the other know if we have a meeting.

A late dinner and some TV before settling into bed.

It’s downright domestic. Unlike anything I’ve experienced. And so much like those sitcoms she likes that I often forget it’s a business arrangement. At best, we’re friendly roommates who happen to have sex. Fucking hot sex. Probably the best sex of my life. But I can’t forget there are boundaries.

Shaking myself, I open the door to reveal Daniel in a red and white striped shirt, jeans, and a beanie with his usual black-framed glasses. “What the fuck are you wearing?”

“A costume, asshole. It’s a Halloween party!”

“Told you.” Nic steps up next to me and taps me with her shoulder.

Daniel quirks a dark brow at me as he scans my outfit. “What are you supposed to be?” he asks.

I move to reply, but Nic interrupts me. “He’s batman.” She points to my chest.

“I’m not batman,” I start, then follow her finger to find a label which reads, “My name is Bruce Wayne.” I chuckle as I shut the door behind Daniel. She got me.

Quickly, more of our staff arrives, and the party moves into full swing. There’s laughter and chatter. This is exactly what I was hoping for, and it’s all thanks to Nic.

I scan the crowd and see her by the fireplace, speaking with our marketing director, Tyra Milligan. The younger woman is talking animatedly, her dark hands sweeping towards the photograph hanging over the mantle .

It took some convincing, but Nic’s work is displayed in every room of the apartment.

After a number of glasses of champagne, and orgasms, I even got her to show me more of her portfolio and agree to make additional prints.

That first week here we spent hours combing the city for furnishings.

I thought it would be torture, but I’m quickly learning anything with Nic is going to be fun.

I slowly approach the pair, picking up the strains of the conversation.

“This photo is stunning—I’ve seen a lot of nature shots, but this is so unique.”

“That’s one of Nic’s,” I proudly share.

“You took this?”

Nic is strangely still next to me, as if the charming hostess I always see has frozen. She did the same thing when I first brought up the prints as well. “All the photographs are hers.”

Daniel slides up next to me, following our eyes to the image silently.

Tyra’s eyes widen. “The perspective you’ve chosen is genius. I feel like I’ve been transported to some secret world.”

“Thank you. I photograph for magazines, portraits mostly. These are a little hobby. Bancroft found them in my studio and insisted we hang them up.”

“All the photographs are yours?” Daniel asks. Nic nods curtly. “I’ve seen your catalog work, especially the Kenzo shots. You’re good, but Tyra’s right, these are special. If you are interested in showing them, my friend owns a gallery in SoHo. I’d be happy to make an introduction.”

“I’ll think about it.” That Colgate smile appears on her lips. The same one she used at the awkward dinner party. What is it about her photographs that make Nic so uncomfortable? They’re fucking amazing.

I’ve grown up surrounded by art. From Picasso to Monet, I’ve seen them, studied them. Museum galas, gallery events. None of them ever affected me the way her work does. It’s raw, emotional, personal. I will get to the bottom of this, but for now, I’ll cut her a break and lead the subject away.

“Have you seen the view from the terrace? Let me grab you a drink on the way.”

“I’d kill to have access to a photographer like you for the magazine.”

Dammit, Tyra didn’t take the bait.

“I’d be happy to help out when you prepare the first edition. Sign a waiver or something.” Nic excuses herself before Tyra can launch into another enthusiastic monologue.

The rest of the party continues without further incident.

Daniel even manages to coax a real smile and chuckle from Nic as he helps clean up the abandoned bottles and cups.

Not for the first time, I envy his easy air.

Blue blood not withstanding, charming is not a word anyone would use to describe me.

Broody and cold are more likely. No, we are as opposite as can be.

I’ll never know why he decided to adopt me in university, but I’ll always be grateful.

When it’s just the two of us, I follow Nic up the stairs to our bedroom. My eyes are glued to the rounded swell of her ass as her hips sway in front of me with each step. Perfectly at eye level. Watching her in that damn cat suit has been torture all night.

She strides across the room towards her walk-in closet. Hand already reaching for the zipper at her chest.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

She twirls on one ice pick heel. “Changing.”

I stare into her eyes as I prowl forward and a deep sense of satisfaction rises as the hazel orbs darken with desire. We may not have been a love match, but there is no denying this mutual attraction.

My hand lashes out, branding her hips and pulling her against me. She gasps as my rock-hard cock digs into her front. “I’ve been picturing all the nasty, depraved things I would do to you in this outfit for hours. You will not be changing out of it that quickly.”

She bites her lip and purrs like the goddamn sex kitten she’s dressed as. “Well, it’s too bad you’re Bruce Wayne. Catwoman only fucked Batman.”

“Woman. I will show you the fucking dark knight.”

Lightening fast, I grip her hips, turning her and pushing her towards the bed until she stands hovering over the covers on her hands. Leaning forward, I drape my body over hers, rubbing my aching cock up and down the crest of her ass until she moans.

“I’m going to peel this off of you and taste every inch I expose.”

“Yes, please.”

“Not so fast. First, I’m going to make you writhe and scream. Make you beg for it, desperate, like I’ve been for hours.”

Her head arches back, exposing her neck for my teeth as her ass grinds against me. Seeking friction. Seeking relief. Relief I refuse to give.

With a dark chuckle, I retreat. One arm bands her hips, holding them still, while the other whispers over the material, up her torso. Her breasts heave with her great breaths as I touch and tease her.

“How badly do you want it, Princess? ”

A deep moan vibrates through her body, making my cock twitch. “Reg-Reginald. Please, I need you to fuck me.”

Suddenly the game isn’t worth it. I could drag this out more, truly have her mewling on the bed, lost to her passion. But I’d much rather be buried in her sweet cunt.

The zipper gives a sharp snick as I tug it all the way down, past her pussy radiating with heat, and down her leg.

My hand scorches a trail up her smooth skin and finds her center dripping and bare.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t know you were naked under here.

I would have given our guests a show when I bent you over my desk. ”

I make quick work of my own trousers and thrust into her. Seating myself in one stroke. We both groan together at the feeling. “Such a good girl.” I hold her still as I pound into her, the only sound our ragged pants and the slap of skin.

“Tell me you only drip like this for me. That no one else makes you wet like this.”

Her breaths come faster and I can tell she’s almost there.

So am I. My hand pushes her back further down so I can adjust the angle.

With a pinch of her clit, I send her over the edge seconds before I join her.

I ease up on the pressure on her back, but hold her hips still as the final tremors rush through us both.

I pull out and immediately miss the feel of her hot pussy on my cock. Her knees wobble as she tries to stand, so I steady her. With her hand on my shoulder, I kneel down and remove her knee-high boots one at a time, then peel the costume off her.

She shoots me a saucy wink as she saunters into the bath, naked and confident. Quickly stripping my suit, I join her in the shower for another round before we fall exhausted into bed. A lifetime of incredible sex with this woman—I don’t know how I got this lucky, but I’m not going to waste it.