Day, Xondra - Our Dirty Little Secret (Siren Publishing Ménage and More) (4 page)

* * * *

Jeff had gone off to work at six that morning. Ann got out of bed at eight and immediately made her way to the kitchen, clad in only a thin cotton robe.

Coffee.

That
’
s what she needed to wake up.

Ann set the coffeepot to brew and then, after she toasted a bagel, sat at the table staring out the kitchen window to her right.

She stirred when she saw something pass in the window next door inside the Donaldson house. She knew the house had sold a couple weeks back, but this was the first time she saw any sign of life in there since the previous owners moved out three months ago.

Interesting.
Ann moved from the table to the window for a closer look, and when a man
’
s faced appeared looking back at her, she jumped back, embarrassed.
Not a good impression to make on the new neighbors.

After breakfast, she showered and dressed in shorts and a T-shirt, leaving her hair to dry on its own.

She went to her office and turned on her laptop, trying to remember what she had written last. Her current work was tentatively titled
Delilah
’
s Dilemma
. It would most likely end up changed, but that
’
s what she called it for now.

Opening the file, she scanned over what she had written two days ago. She detested going more than one day without writing. Often whenever she did, it left her wondering how to continue on.

Ann wouldn
’
t have minded if she wasn
’
t under a firm deadline. But the contract was signed and sealed for this one, and she had to deliver it on time.

Over her desk hung her past book covers, each matted and framed, each an accomplishment in itself. And to think, five years ago she had been just another unknown, new to the industry. Back then she wrote without pressure, writing whatever came to mind for her at the time. Things were different now. She had an image, a brand to maintain, and her readers were voracious, always looking and waiting for her next book to come out. She didn
’
t dare complain about her fans. Without them she
’
d be nothing. They were the ones who kept her where she was, living quite comfortably, and relatively happy with her life.

Her books were known for their
…
heat. In the beginning, she started out writing mainstream romance, the usual stuff. But when her agent suggested she spice things up a bit due to an ever-growing market, she went with it, and that
’
s when she found the success she
’
d been seeking.

Pussy, cunt, snatch
…
cunnel.
She smirked, thinking about the last one, one that she had invented on her own but never dared use. She had to be somewhat professional with her words.

“
Delilah, dear, where shall you go from here?
”
she questioned, talking to the computer screen, thinking about her main character, a woman who was on the road to discovering sexual liberation for the first time.
“
If I were you, what would I do next?
”

* * * *

Mike shook his head and laughed, thinking about that woman who was watching him from next door. She looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car when he’d caught her.

Placing glasses in the cabinet next to the kitchen sink, he stopped for a moment and glanced back out the window to see if she had come back. She hadn
’
t. At some point, he
’
d have to introduce himself. It was the neighborly thing to do.

At noon, he made a sandwich and grabbed a beer from the refrigerator, heading out to the backyard on the deck.

The property backed onto a fabulous greenbelt. He pictured himself getting a dog in the near future. Now that he had the space, two would even be possible. They
’
d be able to keep each other company while he was at work. Not that he
’
d have to worry about that since he still had two months left to his leave of absence.

“
Neighbor,
”
called a female voice, stirring him from his thoughts.

Mike looked up to see a slender brunette standing behind the fence that separated their property, her hands resting on top of the pickets.
“
I guess I am,
”
he replied, walking down from the deck, beer in hand.

“
I
’
m sorry about earlier,
”
she said, looking at him sheepishly.
“
I
’
m usually not nosey. But when I saw someone, you in the window, my curiosity got the better of me. The Donaldsons have been gone for some time, and we
’
ve been wondering who was going to be the next to move in and praying that we
’
d get someone at least halfway normal.
”

“
Well, that
’
s something I can
’
t promise. I
’
d like to think I am, but I
’
m pretty positive others would debate it.
”
He grinned.

“
What
’
s normal anyway? We all have our little quirks.
”
She held out her hand.
“
I
’
m Ann Hunter.
”

“
Mike Monroe.
”
They shook hands. He thought for a moment. He
’
d heard her name before.
“
Ann Hunter
…
now where have I heard that name before?
”

She smiled.
“
Ann Hunter, the writer. That would be me.
”

“
That
’
s it. I knew it. It would have come to me eventually.
”
The woman wrote rather spicy, sexy novels. He
’
d read a couple, though he would never be quick to admit it.
“
I
’
ve seen your books everywhere.
”

“
They
’
re widespread, thanks to a terrific agent and publisher.
”

“
I
’
ve always wondered what it must be like to be famous,
”
he gushed.

“
I
’
m not famous.
”
She blushed.
“
I should get back to work.
”
She motioned to the house.
“
I
’
m on a deadline.
”

“
Well, thanks for making introductions. I was planning to do so later,
”
he explained.

“
Why don
’
t you come around tonight?
”
she suggested.
“
For dinner. I
’
m sure my husband would also like to meet you. He
’
s always up for meeting new people.
”

Mike hesitated before giving an answer. Ann seemed nice, but her husband could possibly be a whole other can of worms. Most heterosexual men he
’
d encountered were never comfortable around an openly gay man. Ann
’
s husband could be an exception to the rule, but he wasn
’
t sure if he wanted to risk trying this soon. He could play it straight. The fact was he wasn
’
t one hundred percent gay. He disliked labels, but if he had to use one, bisexual came the closest to explaining him, with a strong preference for men.

He did find women attractive. And something about Ann appealed to him. She was pretty, a natural beauty, and friendly. Both were positive qualities.

“
So, you will come?
”
she asked.

“
Sure
…
why not.
”
He already regretted his answer, feeling a tinge of nervousness sweep through his stomach.
“
What time should I come over?
”

“
Six.
”

“
I
’
ll be there.
”

She backed away from the fence.
“
Great. We shall see you then.
”

He nodded and then headed back inside, crushing the beer can in his hand.

* * * *

Delilah just had her first threesome, or ménage, as some preferred to call it.

Ann leaned back in her chair and turned the desk fan towards her. The temperature outside had climbed steadily throughout the day, and now she was ready to pass out from both physical and mental fatigue. Writing sex always exhausted her and left her a little excited.

Glancing at her watched, she figured it was best to shower before Jeff came home. Afterwards, she
’
d get a start on supper. It wasn
’
t anything fancy, just spaghetti made with her special sauce blend along with garlic bread.
Damn!
She was such a twit at times. She neglected to ask if Mike was attached. It was quite possible he
’
d be bringing a spouse or partner. She
’
d just have to make sure there was enough to go around.