Contractual Obligation Read online

  Julia Carson put on a viper-worthy smile as she sashayed up to them, a nearly empty cocktail glass in her hand. “Well hello, Harper,” she purred. “Nice to see you here.” Harper didn’t miss the more-than-curious glance Julia gave to Doug.

  Harper also didn’t understand why it made her bristle and want to deck the bitch. “Julia. What brings you here?”

  “I was hoping to run into your father. Is he here?” She spoke at Harper, but looked at Doug with appraisal.

  Harper forced a laugh. “Now, Julia, you know he doesn’t cruise the business card–exchange circuit anymore. That’s my job. Quit pissing on my leg, honey.” She heard Doug choking back a laugh behind her.

  Julia sneered at her. “You never did like me, you spoiled, little daddy’s girl,” Julia slurred. “He told me when we broke up that you were more important to him than any woman ever could be. What kind of sick freak are you?”

  Harper started to step forward when she felt Doug’s hand on her shoulder, not just holding her back, but moving her out of the way and behind him as he stepped forward.

  “Listen, lady, you are way out of line,” he said in a deep, dangerous-sounding voice that instantly made Harper’s panties wet. “Just because Mr. Wells figured out you’re a drunk, gold-digging bitch and kicked you to the curb is no reason for you to go all boiled bunny on Harper. So why don’t you just trot your little Botoxed face out of here before you end up looking like the sloshed little tramp you are.”

  If Harper had an empty bed within reach, she’d have Doug stretched out on it. Julia’s mouth flapped open and shut a few times in indignation before she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room. Doug didn’t move until she’d left. Fortunately, only a few people had been close enough to hear the exchange.

  * * * *

  When Doug turned and looked at Harper’s stunned face, his first thought was, Oh, crap, I just lost my parents their house.

  Then Harper threw her arms around him and kissed him, on the lips.

  Not wanting to be rude, he kissed her back.

  I kissed a girl and I liked it…

  When she finally looked up at him again, he couldn’t read the expression on her face. “Thank you,” she whispered. “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to say something like that to her! I don’t need to give you the backstory, because you pretty much pegged her dead-on.”

  “Playing slap-a-golddiggin’-ho is just one of the many services I offer.”

  She laughed and kissed him again. This time, he was ready for her and gave her a better one in return. When she melted into his arms in a hug, he kissed the top of her head.

  “Not that I’m not enjoying this,” he said, “because I am, but people are looking.”

  “I don’t care,” she mumbled from where she had her face pressed against his shirt.

  He smiled. “Okay, then. As long as we’re clear on that.” He hugged her to him until she was ready to step back. “I take it this isn’t exactly what you had in mind by news getting back to your dad.”

  “No, but it’ll do. Believe me.”

  * * * *

  Boy, would it. In fact, she felt her phone vibrating in her pocket just as they were getting ready to leave an hour later. She’d kept Doug close for the rest of the evening, and he seemed more than happy to fulfill the role. She pulled her phone out to see who was calling.

  “Great.” She answered as they stepped outside. “Hello, Daddy.”

  “Hi, sweetheart. Anything interesting happen this evening?”

  “Oh, you mean like your ex-girlfriend being a royal douchey bitch to me in front of Doug, and him stepping in and putting her in her place? No, just the same ole same ole.”

  She heard him sigh on the other end of the line. Doug was smiling and trying to keep his snickering to a dull roar as he listened to her side of the conversation.

  “Honey, you can’t act like that in public,” her father gently chastised.

  “What? She came over to us. She sought us out. And she’s the one who came fully loaded for bitch slapping. She deserved everything she got and a hell of a lot worse, believe me. She’s lucky we were over in the corner and not in the middle of the room when it happened.”

  “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Daddy, I’m sorry, but I don’t care who it is. I won’t be treated like that, and Doug isn’t about to stand by and let it happen, either.” She gave him a playful wink that he returned, sending another wave of heat pulsing through her.

  “And that’s another thing.” Her father cleared his throat. “Something about you kissing him?”

  “Well, he’s my boyfriend, Daddy. And he’d just stood up for me, defending my honor.”

  Her heart rejoiced to see Doug’s face light up in a smile.

  “Boyfriend? Since when? He’s only been working for us for a few weeks!”

  “You were the one who wanted to invite him to the Boca house before his first official day of work. I thought you’d be happy for us.”

  There was a moment of silence on the other end. “I am happy. I just want to make sure you’re not rushing into something.”

  “Oh, you just aren’t happy regardless, are you?” she teased. “I’m single, you want me to date. I’m no longer single, you think I’m rushing it.”

  “That’s not what I meant—”

  “When in my life have you ever seen me rush into something without careful consideration?”

  Another pause from his end. “I will admit you do have a very sensible head on your shou—”

  “Then we’re in agreement that I’m both old enough and capable enough of picking my own boyfriends?” She shot another wink Doug’s way and was happy to see him return it.

  Her father sighed, knowing he’d lost the argument from the start. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I am a concerned father, you know.”

  “I know, and I love you for it, believe me.” She looked at Doug. “But this is what I want.”

  * * * *

  He’s my boyfriend. He wouldn’t lie and say the idea was abhorrent to him. He liked Harper.

  Really liked her.

  He just wondered if she felt what her kiss had done to him while she was in his arms. If she hadn’t felt his erection pressing against her, it would be a major miracle. If she had, she apparently didn’t mind.

  After Harper finally got her father off the phone, she linked her arm through Doug’s as they walked toward his car. He opened her door for her first. When he turned to walk around the car, she snagged his arm and pulled him to her again.

  It felt natural and right to slip his arms around her and kiss her. He stepped into her, pressing her against the back door of his car, and she practically melted in his arms as she ground herself against him.

  So, that’s what she likes, hmm? It made sense. She was totally in charge all day, every day. Why wouldn’t she want to give up control in at least this area of her life?

  His hands slid down her waist, over her hips, to cup her ass through her slacks. He crushed her lips with his, his tongue tasting and exploring her as her fingers twined in his hair, holding them together as if she was worried he’d let go.

  After a few minutes, he finally lifted his head despite her protests. “Why don’t we continue this in private?” he hoarsely suggested. His cock throbbed, pounding, desperate to get inside her.

  “Good idea. My place or yours?”

  “I live with my parents, so I’d say yours is better.”

  She laughed but didn’t let go of him. “Um, yeah, I guess you’re right. Let’s go.” She pulled him in for one more kiss. This one was feisty, demanding, her teeth nipping at his lower lip when he tried to let go of her.

  He finally won his freedom, helped her in, and hurried around the car to the driver side. “I need directions.”

  “That’s right, you’ve never been there, have you?” She sat back with a playful smile, her hand creeping over to settle on his right thigh.

  She gave him directions
. It was a nice place, a large, two-story house in old Carrollwood, but smaller than he would have anticipated someone of her stature owning.

  She offered him a smile. “Let me guess, you expected me to own a McMansion or something?”

  He laughed. “You pegged me right.”

  “I don’t need anything that huge.”

  He got out and opened her door for her. He wasn’t surprised when she caught his hand and laced her fingers through his. Then a frown crossed her face. “You’re not just doing this because of our deal, are you?”

  * * * *

  Now that they were home, she was beginning to doubt herself. Was this really such a great idea?

  The damp spot between her legs thought it was a dandy idea.

  He pulled her to him and kissed her, hard and deep, melting her bones all the way to the tips of her toes. “I won’t deny I took the job for the money, but believe me, I wouldn’t be doing this if I wasn’t interested in you. And if you want me to sign some sort of amended contract to that effect, I will.”

  She shook her head and kissed him again.

  She unlocked the door and shut the alarm off. They finally made it inside before they ended up ripping their clothes off in the driveway for the neighbors to watch. A fit of giggles nearly overtook her when she realized she needed to get a spare key made for him, as well as get him the alarm code.

  Shit! She’d also have to figure a way to hide her insulin from him. She wasn’t ready to reveal that to him.

  In the living room, she kicked off her shoes and stepped into his arms again. His hands felt sooo good on her. It’d been too long since she’d slept with anyone.

  He cupped her ass with his hands, pulling her tightly against him again. In the dim light, his brown eyes took on an even deeper intensity. She draped her arms over his shoulders, his hair soft in her hands as she ran her fingers through it.

  “You make it hard for me to say no to you, Harper. Not because I have to say yes, but because I want to.”

  She smiled. “Then don’t say no.”

  They kissed again. “Where’s your bedroom?” he rumbled against her throat as he picked her up and headed for the stairs.

  “Upstairs, first door on the right.”

  “I hope you weren’t planning on going to bed early.” He nibbled the side of her neck as he mounted the stairs. She felt pleasant shivers run through her.

  “Not anymore.”

  He chuckled as he pushed her half-open door with his foot. “Good.”

  Chapter Thirteen

  He couldn’t believe he was doing this. He carried her over to her bed and laid her on it before crawling on top of her, his body pressing hers into the mattress.

  This side of Harper he didn’t know, and he wanted to get acquainted with very well. He suspected this was Harper without her façade, without her protective walls in place. Probably someone very few—if any—people ever knew.

  He knew it was stupid and wrong and probably one of the worst ideas on the planet after maybe Betamax and the Edsel, but he couldn’t help himself. He wanted her.

  He wanted to make her happy.

  She wrapped her arms around him, eagerly returning his kisses and devouring him with her hunger. He managed to sit up and get rid of his shirt and undershirt, tossing them onto the floor next to the bed. He reached down and started unbuttoning her blouse, kissing her as he did and enjoying the feel of her short nails raking across his bare back when she held on to him.

  After her blouse joined his shirt on the floor, he released the front fastener on her bra and tossed it over his shoulder.

  In the dim light thrown through the window by the streetlamp outside, her breasts looked beautifully pale and glowing. He cupped them in his hands, running his thumbs over her nipples.

  She gasped and arched her back toward him. “Yes, please!” she begged.

  He bent his head to first one, then the other, plucking at her nipples with his lips and tongue, gently grazing them with his teeth and drawing more happy moans from Harper.

  “I bet you’re wet, aren’t you?” he asked.

  Another wordless moan from her, and it sounded positive.

  He chuckled as he worked his way lower, to her slacks. When she tried to reach down and unfasten them, he pushed her hands away, over her head, where he lightly pinned her by the wrists.

  “No,” he said, smirking at her. “I’m driving.”

  Her chest heaved with every breath she drew, and she squirmed against him. Not trying to get away, but trying to get closer.

  He kissed her on the lips before releasing her hands. “Stay,” he softly ordered.

  His cock ached, straining against his pants, screaming at him to fuck her, and fuck her right this goddamned minute!

  She didn’t move when he sat up and started working on her pants again. And as he slid them down her hips, that’s when a thought hit him.

  “Um, do you have any condoms?”

  Her eyes widened then she groaned in frustration. “Shit! You don’t have any?”

  He shook his head. “I wasn’t expecting this. Sorry.”

  “But…” She threw her head back with a frustrated sigh. She looked like she was about to cry. He wanted to comfort her and laugh at the same time. He got out of bed, dropped his slacks and his briefs, and climbed back into bed.

  “Don’t worry, I have an idea.” He knelt between her legs and pushed them apart. “I won’t leave you hanging. I’ll never leave you hanging.”

  He chuckled again as he felt her nails graze his scalp as she grabbed his head. When his lips brushed against her outer labia, she let out a happy moan.

  * * * *

  Holy fuck! She’d nearly burst into tears at the thought of not getting any relief after managing to make it this far. He had no idea what an effort of will it had taken her to let go and give in to him. Even though it was what she wanted more than anything, to have someone she could trust to be like that with, doing it was another thing entirely.

  And if they didn’t go all the way now, she didn’t know when she’d be able to get the guts to try it again.

  Then he pushed her legs apart and her world nearly dissolved at the delicious feel of his warm, wet mouth on her pussy.

  “Yesss!” she hissed as his tongue flicked out and stroked her clit. She plunged her hands into his hair, holding on, praying he didn’t stop. She’d only received oral one other time, and that was the summer between high school and her first semester of college.

  Hell, she’d still been in college the last time she’d gotten laid.

  She held on to him like a soon-to-be bride at a Filene’s Basement sale scoring a prized designer wedding gown. He buried his tongue deep inside her, fucking her with it, driving her out of her mind. Then he replaced his tongue with two fingers, using his tongue to flick her clit again.

  She exploded. Crying out, she held on tightly as she rode his face through several orgasms that felt better than any she’d ever had in her life. When she tried to tell him she was done, he wrapped his hands around her thighs and continued going after her oversensitive clit. She squirmed and writhed to get away from him, but then she felt yet another orgasm sweep through her, rendering her practically senseless.

  Finally, he relented and sat up with a pleased smile on his face. “Good?”

  “Uh-huh!” She crooked a finger at him, urging him close. She grabbed him and kissed him. She could taste her own juices on his lips, musky and sweet, and for some reason it pleased her more than she wanted to admit.

  Marking my territory.

  Maybe that was exactly it. She rolled him onto his back and straddled his legs. At least his efforts to get her off hadn’t diminished his own desire. His rock-hard cock stood at attention, a good seven inches long, cut, and thick enough to make her happy.

  He crossed his arms behind his head so he could watch her. For some reason, that pleased her, too.

  Her eyes never left his as she gently wrapped her fingers around his cock and
lowered her lips to the head. She swept her tongue over the glans, along the slit, and collected a few drops of pearly pre-cum that had already gathered there.

  Doug let out a soft moan, his bottom lip caught under his upper teeth as he watched her. She teased him, spending several long, slow minutes lavishing attention on the head of his cock while it throbbed and twitched in her hand. She loved the taste of him and took great pleasure lapping up every drop her efforts rewarded her with.

  “Please,” he urged, “don’t torture me.”

  She smiled and went a little lower, taking him deeper into her mouth. His pleasured groan rewarded her, and she spent several more minutes teasing and tormenting him until she finally swallowed him all the way to the base. She hadn’t given head in several years either, but she was glad to see that she still remembered the skills of one of her favorite activities.

  Doug was apparently glad, too, from the way he bucked his hips, trying to get her to move.

  She cupped his balls with her other hand, softly kneading them with her fingers and earning her a few more happy moans from her partner.

  “Please,” he hissed, “do it!”

  She chuckled around his cock. It felt good to have a man begging her for pleasure.

  Hell, it feels damn good to have a man, period!

  She started going down on him in earnest. She lapped at his shaft with her tongue as she worked his length with her lips. Just as he let out a loud cry, she felt his cock grow even harder, swelling and throbbing before his load exploded into her mouth.

  * * * *

  Dammit! He hated to admit it, but she was every bit as good as Tate with her mouth. He’d planned on giving her a good show, at least, even if she wasn’t very good at it, satisfied that he’d gotten her off several times. But no acting was needed on his part. Harper’s eager, skilled mouth took control of his cock and drained his aching balls dry.

  He pulled her up into his arms, cuddling her close. When he kissed her, he tasted himself on her.

  “Good?” she asked, sounding almost tentative, as if the self-assured woman who’d just given him one of the best blow jobs of his life was now worried if he’d liked it or not.