Chapter 15

As six o’clock neared, I inspected myself for the hundredth time in the mirror. Having brushed my hair out to frame my face, now under what Bobby called my “fuck me” makeup, it draped bare shoulders. As I eased from side-to-side, an ankle-length, curve-hugging crimson dress shimmered. Long slits up each side displayed my legs. Its halter top left my back uncovered and the dress’s precipitous neckline showed my bellybutton.

A tight grin slipped across my glossy red lips at the memory of the single time I’d worn it to Bobby’s office holiday party. Afterwards, he admitted he couldn’t take the stress of every man ogling me the entire night. He was so cute, and we’d fucked in the backseat before leaving for home.

After skipping stockings, I squeezed into the tallest, sexiest stilettos I owned—also blood-colored. Fresh red and gold nails, dangling golden earrings with a matching necklace topped the effect. Oh, and that effect most certainly wasn’t simply a friendly neighbor coming for dinner.

Not yet?

With a sly grin, I skimmed my palms along my flanks. Only as I raised my phone did I pause. I rolled it in my hands. Call Bobby? At least let him know? He’d had Pete come over to the pool. Twice. The second time leaving me with him alone. On purpose. With a sigh, I dropped the phone into my purse. No, what would I say, anyway? Dinner would be more of the same. Nothing but Pete taunting me again.

So, after I’d clicked along the sidewalk, the subdued look in his eyes when he opened the door had me sighing. Immaculate, clean-shaven and in a dark suit and tie, only a single eyebrow rose. Yeah, he’d only tease. Perhaps I’d return the favor ala Jake?

“Good evening, baby girl.” His eyes, not in laser-mode, twinkled.

As I smiled at him, my heart hammered under the slow inspection of my barely concealed frame. Nipples, already tight, ached when he lingered on them. The enticing scent of his woodsy, leather-tinged cologne had my core unfurling.

“You look stunning, Lisa.” That magnificent grin widened.

Once he’d stepped back, letting me click-clack into his foyer, my mouth watered. The succulent aromas of cooking beef and savory vegetables slithered into my nose.

“Wow! Something smells wonderful, uh, Pete.”

All he did was chuckle while pushing the door closed. With heat flaring through me, the lace between my legs was already moistening. At his beckoning, I followed him into the candle-lit dining room. At the nearer end of the long polished dark wood table were two place settings. One at the head. The other beside it.

Just as he turned to me, I noticed a framed black-and-white photograph above the table. As my legs shook, the room swirled. With a whoosh, my lungs emptied. Though it was artful and cropped, the image displayed my wedding rings. And my open, swollen, glistening folds. Glossy, my dark opening was wide between clenching fingertips.

“You like it?” Pete ran fingers through his hair while nodding at the frame. “I told you that was the prettiest pussy I’d seen. Seemed only fair to share it.”

Share it? Share it!

When my eyes flicked to his, he laughed. “Yep, copies are available in my online shop. You’re making me bank, baby girl.” Once more, he gestured at the photo, his toothy grin broadening. “I said you’d make good money modeling.”

“B-but ... B-but that’s me! That’s my...” A squeal belted from me as I wheeled on him, my fists clenching and the room whirling faster.

“Calm down, baby girl.” As his eyes, filling with concern, narrowed, his smile died. “The only ones who know that’s your gorgeous pussy are you, me and Bobby, right?”

As everything but the picture faded into black, my chest hammered. With my jaw tensing, all I could do was nod. Of course, he was correct. I mean, the jeweler could identify the rings. Still ... That was all of me. For sale. How much?

“So, sit back and enjoy the view.” After Pete pulled out a chair, I settled onto it, staring at my open petals. Shudders swept through my core when he added. “I know I do. Every night.” As I sucked in air, he dragged his palms along my shoulders and chuckled. “Sometimes two or three times.”

Oh God. He ... As he grinned at me, the world wobbled. He ... I peeked at his tight slacks. When his long, thick fingers squeezed, blasts of heat rippled through me. Two or three times? How much could that thing deposit? Before I could form a reply, Pete continued in an amused tone. “You should see the painting I’m working on...”

His following words sank far beneath the blood thundering through my head. Surrounded by a wavering haze, his smile shone at me as he straightened. After a quick skim of my heaving chest, torturing my nipples, he lifted his hands and turned for the kitchen.

Even as his footfalls receded, I stared after him. With a shuddering sigh, I scanned the table. A black lace-lined silken blindfold lay neatly folded beside my place. With every nerve jangling, a whimper slid from my lips. It was cut short when Pete returned with plates of steaming food.

After pouring tall glasses of red wine, Pete ran his rough fingertips along the skin of my bare shoulder. Shivers flooded my spine.

“So, baby girl.” After lowering his solid frame into his chair, he smiled while raising his wine. “Tell me your story.”

With my shaky hand, I lifted my glass; its crimson contents quivered. In a whirl, I looked from the photo to the blindfold, and then to him. As my pulse thumped, a lengthy puff of air left me. “What would...” The room wobbled when he lowered his glass, revealing his lips. Wide, thick, and gleaming. “Uh, what would you like to know?”

“Everything, baby girl. Tell me how you ended up here.”

At my rapid scan of the interior, Pete chuckled. “Oh, no, Lisa. I understand how you found yourself in my home. But what I don’t get is how a woman like you and dear old Bobby boy ended up together?”

“We, um...” When I took a bite, my eyebrows raised. The meat melted in my mouth and the vegetables were aromatic and crunchy. “Hmmm. Well, we met after college.” My gaze shifted to the photo. “He was so nice, and I’d just—”

“—broken up with a loser boyfriend?” Pete finished my thought in a low voice. At my slow nod, he held up his glass. As I lifted mine to tap his, Pete smiled. “Here’s to great lovers lost, Lisa.”

“How—”

“—did I know he was a wonderful lover?” Once again, Pete finished my question with a smile. “Simple. A girl like you”—when Pete’s gaze roamed my scantily clad frame, the silk somehow tightened further over my nipples—”who’d only ever been with a man like Bobby. She’d never be in my house. And certainly not dressed in that.”

Before I could respond, he raised his hand. I stayed quiet as he took another long swig of wine.

“No. A woman like you has a wild and sexy past.” Pete stared into my eyes. Oh, God. Into my soul. Those gray pools floated before me as the room whirled faster. “And I bet my bottom dollar you’ve never told your husband the things you’ve done, correct?”

At that, he leaned back and chewed. But his glimmering lasers remained fixed on mine. What could I say? Do? Of course, he was correct. The woman in his house. Dressed the way I was. She was the Lisa—Dirty Lisa—who’d spent two days at a frat party, high, drunk, and naked. That’s how I’d met the earlier boyfriend. He’d tied his belt around my neck and taken me for his own. And Filthy Lisa had loved it. So much.

A sigh slid from me as memories flowed ... One more sigh. Longer. And I still missed him. With one last exhale, I raised the chilly rim to my trembling lips and shook my head.