Chapter 5

Shaun stood behind the bar, arms crossed; a look of sheer happiness plastered on his handsome face. Mac's was officially under his ownership and the first night had gone brilliantly. The bar was closed and empty now, but earlier had been filled to capacity with customers, eager to give Shaun their well-wishes and take advantage of his lowered beer prices.

Sneaking up behind him, I wrapped my arms around my boss' solid chest. "I'm so proud of you," I smiled into the warmth of his shoulder.

Shaun flung an arm around me, pulling me into his embrace. He sighed happily, resting his chin atop my head. "I still can't believe it's all mine."

"You've worked hard to get here. You deserve it. I know you're going to be great." It wasn't just lip-service, I believed wholeheartedly in Shaun's ability to run the bar successfully.

Shaun squeezed me tighter. "Thanks."

"So what's the first order of business now that you own Mac's?"

"I'm not sure," Shaun admitted slowly. "I don't want to change anything too quickly or too drastically. Mac's is Mac's; it's been this way for thirty-five years and I can't risk losing customers. It'll be mostly behind-the-scenes changes at first."

"Like what?"

"I'm going to re-arrange the office tomorrow, what do you think?"

I shrugged. "It's your office, you do what you like. Just don't get rid of the couch." The sofa in the office was the ugliest piece of furniture ever created, and probably was older than Shaun and I put together, but it was comfortable as hell and the place where we had consummated our relationship weeks before; I was pretty attached to the damn thing.

"It's your office now too," Shaun reminded me. He'd promoted me to manager, claiming the move was based on my abilities in the workplace, not the bedroom; I ached to prove him right.

We stood silently for a time, surveying the dark, empty room. I could practically hear the wheels turning in Shaun's head. He had big plans for Mac's and I was excited to be a part of it.

"You know," he murmured after a while, running a large, strong hand down my back to cup my ass; I jumped at the intimate contact but said nothing. "I've had the most terrible urge for weeks." His voice had taken on the sinful, husky quality that usually precluded trouble.

"And what is that, Darling?" I asked innocently, playing along. I'd learned quickly that Shaun's wicked plans always resulted in the most wonderful things happening to my body.

"I want to see you naked in my bar." Shaun's grin was positively lecherous.

"What? Right now?"

"Yes." His response was a low-pitched growl.

The window shades were drawn, the doors securely locked, and the other employees gone for the night; shrugging good-naturedly I slipped out of my jeans and t-shirt. Shaun stepped back to watch me, laughing as I revealed a plum coloured, satin demi-cup bra and matching low-rise panties.

"You know," he said huskily, watching me through heavily lidded eyes, "I spend a good part of my day wondering what you've got on under those innocent looking tank tops and jeans of yours. It never fails to disappoint." He ran one solitary finger across the smooth fabric of my bra, chuckling deep in his throat as my nipple hardened instantly. "I always thought you were the girl-next-door type; a basic white cotton underwear sort of girl; you have no idea what it does to me now that I know the truth."

I smiled. I might be a low-maintenance, no make-up, beer-drinking, hockey-loving, ponytail-wearing kind of woman, but I'd always liked pretty underwear and the way they made me feel. For me, knowing that I had something delicate and feminine on under my clothes was a sexy little secret that made me feel unexpectedly naughty. It was nice to have someone to share that secret with.

"Should I take them off?" I asked Shaun, loving the way his gaze slid over me; possessive and hot.

Shaun shook his head. He wrapped his broad hands around my narrow waist and lifted me effortlessly to be seated on the bar. The smooth, dark wood was cool against my almost bare ass.

"Another terrible urge of yours?" I teased. "I think the Health Inspector might have something to say about a naked woman sitting on your bar."

Shaun ran his hands over my breasts, teasing the edge where bra met flesh. "Fuck the Health Inspector. Besides, you're not naked yet; and I think he'll be a lot more disapproving before we're through." Shaun reached up to pull out the elastic holding my ponytail in place, combing his fingers through my hair, allowing the chestnut waves to settle over my shoulders.

I remained silent as he arranged my body into a position of his liking, all the while watching him through my lowered lashes. The feeling of his strong, warm hands gliding over my body caused my heart rate to soar; I could feel the tingle of anticipation begin between my thighs. Shaun rearranged my body with deliberate care, positioning each of my limbs to his exact liking, so that by the time he was finished I was sprawled across the bar, posed like a woman in a boudoir painting. One arm was stretched across the dark, wooden surface, my head was resting on it; my legs stretched the other direction, feet pointed daintily. My remaining arm was draped across my abdomen, tucked underneath my breasts, palm against the cool wood of the bar.

"What are you doing?" I asked finally, trying not to giggle. The look on Shaun's face was keenly earnest.

"I've been picturing this moment for a long time; I want it to be perfect."

"You're crazy," I laughed. "I feel like an artist's model in some cheesy Life Study class."

Shaun ran one hand up my leg, dipping down into the indent of my waist, skimming the length of my bare arm. He traced the curvature of my shoulder and the fine line of my collarbone with deliberation. "You're a great deal sexier than any artist's model I've ever seen."

I arched an eyebrow but remained unmoving; the heat of his gaze kept me pinned in place. "Oh really? And how many have you seen?"

Shaun shrugged nonchalantly, keeping his eyes on my body. "Quite a few actually, I was a fine art major in university."

"What?" I sat up abruptly, ruining all of Shaun's careful positioning; he scowled and then patiently began to arrange my pliant limbs into a different pose. "I thought you played varsity football." Disbelief rang in my words but I didn't struggle against his sculpting my body into another arrangement he liked. My legs dangled off the bar, my arms were behind me, supporting my weight as my breasts thrust forward. I could feel my hair tickle the back of my neck.

"I did." Shaun reached around behind me to unclasp my bra. His fingers along my spine caused me to shiver. "I had to major in something and art was always easy for me. I could draw a little and I liked it, so that's what I took." He drew my bra off with studied resolve, putting my arms back in their positions as he did so.

"How did I not know this?" I asked incredulously, trying to remain still as Shaun explored my bare breasts. I knew he'd gone to university but had never thought to ask what his major was; he certainly looked more like a football player than an artist. Yet, somehow the revelation didn't really seem out of context. I'd always known Shaun to be a sensitive guy, a little cocky and tough-talking on the outside, but kind and thoughtful underneath. He had a definite, meticulous attention to detail and he certainly saw more goodness and potential in people than I did; perhaps that was an indication of his artistic ability.

"You're quite the Renaissance Man," I murmured, the touch of Shaun's sure fingers on my breasts driving rational thought from my head. "Athletic, artistic, and attractive? How is it you weren't scooped up long before I came around?"

Shaun played with my nipples, tweaking them with force before smoothing the hurt over with the pads of his fingers. The look on his face was intently serious as he studied my breasts. "I have terrible luck with women." Shaun admitted. "Besides, I've been waiting for you." He leaned in and took a nipple in his mouth. I moaned in appreciation and with one hand clasped his head to me.

"Do you still draw?" I asked breathlessly, gasping as he laved my tight nipple with the rough flat of his tongue; the sensation shot bolts of pleasure straight through me.

Shaun chuckled at my reaction, nodding into the softness of my breast, but said nothing. Understanding the topic should be dropped, I closed my eyes and tilted back my head, wordlessly offering my breasts to the man standing before me. We'd talk about it when Shaun was ready. There were a lot of things we hadn't told each other yet, Shaun always seemed to be a man who preferred to say things with his hands; a man of actions instead of words.

In the meantime his attention became more frantic; reaching up he played roughly with the nipple not being taken care of by his mouth. I could feel the wet evidence of my arousal pool between my legs, reminding me sharply of how desperately I wanted to give Shaun pleasure in return. Generally sex was instigated and orchestrated by Shaun while I followed his lead; I'd been fantasizing about a little shift in power lately and decided to act on it.

I tightened my grip of Shaun's head and pulled him gently from my breast. Leaning in, I kissed him hard, pouring every ounce of desire he'd ever sparked in me into it. I was aggressive, thrusting my tongue into his mouth, battling with his own. I greedily swallowed Shaun's moans of approval.

"Clothes off. Now," I commanded when I finally released him. We were both breathing hard. Shaun's gaze was glassy, his expression slightly bewildered yet curious. Wordlessly, he complied.

I watched in frank, undisguised admiration as Shaun's body was revealed in the dim light of the dark bar. His shoulders were broad, his biceps and pecs well developed, his abs a pleasing ripple of strength. The impressive width of his upper body tapered to slim hips and long muscled legs. His erection was a generous eight inches, more than enough to keep me happy. I allowed my gaze to lazily take it all in; gaining a great deal of pleasure in subjecting him to the blunt appreciation he usually treated me to. Silently I thanked whatever powers-might-be that he was mine.

Grinning lustily, I beckoned him closer with the crook of one finger; Shaun obeyed, moving to stand between my spread knees. Being seated on the bar put me at a height with him. I ran my hands possessively across the chiselled planes of his chest, basking in their hard heat. Shaun's breathing quickened but he remained silent and passive beneath my touch.