Indulgent Pleasures (18 page)

Pounding inside her like a madman and she looked so sweet, so beautiful. He’d hardly kissed her tonight and he immediately felt contrite. He dropped a long, lingering kiss upon her lips.

“Don’t stop, Justin,” she said once again when he broke the kiss and her legs tightened around his waist.

Unable to restrain himself he went full gusto, not withholding in the least. He drove into her, a strangled groan tearing from his chest when he felt her pussy clench around him tighter, and that familiar tingle started at the base of his cock.

Her little whimpers drove him on, and he thrust hard and deep, bending to kiss her, sucking her lower lip into his mouth. And then he was coming, harder than he ever had, the clench and release of her inner walls only driving on his orgasm and making it that much more intense. That much more overwhelming.

He kissed her frantically and her hands smoothed up and down his back. Exhausted, he fell on top of her, his chest crushing her breasts, their legs tangled. They both lay panting, their hearts racing, he could feel hers pounding beneath him and he kissed her again. Softer this time, amazed at the well of emotion that threatened to overwhelm him.

Damn it, he wasn’t ready to end this with Stephanie, not by a long shot. Usually by now, he was more than eager to bail on a woman, a little bored and a lot anxious to find someone new.

But this woman didn’t bore him at all. Every time he was with her, it got better. Every time he was apart from her, he wanted her more. He didn’t know if he would be able to ever get her out of his system.

And that scared the shit out of him.

Chapter Seventeen

“You look different.”

Stephanie stilled, bracing herself for the insult that was sure to come. After all, it was her older sister by eighteen months who wielded the positive comment and Erin rarely said anything nice.

“You look good. Really pretty,” Erin finished, her gaze piercing as she stared at Stephanie. “Do you have a new boyfriend or something?”

“No.” Stephanie’s cheeks heated and she waved her hand in her sister’s direction. “Of course not. I’m too busy at work. I don’t have time for a relationship.”

“So how’s that going, your job at the magazine?” Her other older sister, Andrea asked, her eyes wide with curiosity. “I haven’t seen your byline on any articles lately.”

Ah, crap. Yes, of course, they hadn’t seen her byline, she’d been writing articles under another name.

They were naughty articles about her sexual escapades all over the city with a gorgeous, sexy and very thorough man. Ooh yes, a famous one too.

God, her sisters wouldn’t believe her even if she did tell them. Best to let it drop.

“I’ve been working on a big project.” Not entirely a lie. “Another home and garden feature for fall decorating and entertaining.”

Okay, there was the lie. Well, the staff was working on a project just like that for the magazine, they did so annually but she wasn’t involved in it this year whatsoever.

“Oh, you should interview me, Stephanie! I bet I could provide all kinds of tips. My friends always say I throw the best dinner parties. And there’s so much to do with fall themes,” Andrea said with a smile.

Not that Stephanie knew anything about her sister’s famous dinner parties. Andrea didn’t even invite her most of the time, telling her more than once in that condescending way of hers that she would be uncomfortable at them.

“They’re full of married couples who make way more money than you and are raising families. I have no idea what you’d have in common with them so really, you’re not missing out on anything,” Andrea had said to her long ago when Stephanie had tried to invite herself.

“Oh Erin stop, Stephanie’s doing great, working at her little magazine and writing all of those wonderful little articles.” Andrea smiled, smoothing an invisible strand of golden blond hair away from her face. How she made a compliment sound like an insult, Stephanie wasn’t exactly sure.

“Seriously, Erin wasn’t lying, you look absolutely wonderful. Are you using a new face cream? Trying out new makeup? Maybe a new lipstick color? Your lips don’t look as big as usual.”

Stephanie grimaced. Her sisters had always made fun of her big lips. They’d always made fun of her for everything. They were completely different creatures than her, the both of them getting their looks from their equally beautiful mother.

Blond, tall and reed thin. Pale blue eyes and even features, they were the epitome of perfection in Stephanie’s eyes.

And then there she was, taking after her father’s Irish heritage with her freckled face, puffy lips and dark hair. She was a solid four inches shorter than their five-foot-nine height and no way would anyone consider her reed thin. Her boobs were too big and her hips were far too wide.

She’d been tortured by her sisters her entire life. It hadn’t stopped once they’d grown up, either. At least they didn’t beat her up anymore.

“Same makeup, same beauty regimen,” Stephanie finally answered, grabbing her glass of diet Coke and sipping from it. “Same lipstick color, too.”

“Hmm.” Erin tapped her perfect little chin, her eyes narrowed in contemplation. “Well, something is different. I know you said you don’t have a boyfriend but I think you have the glow of first love.”

“At least the glow of giddiness that comes with love,” Andrea said with a giggle.

Stephanie rolled her eyes. More like the glow of lust. She really hoped they’d let up and leave her alone. Why she’d agreed to meet them for Sunday brunch at a café not too far from her apartment, she didn’t know. She hadn’t seen them in a couple of months and so she’d agreed to it out of obligation.

At least Andrea didn’t bring her snobby husband or their two bratty children. And thank God, Erin didn’t bring her pompous boyfriend either, the one who always tried to rest his hand on Stephanie’s ass when he hugged her.

Ugh.

“Well, we really wanted to get together, Stephanie, because we want to throw Mom and Dad a surprise anniversary party and we’d love it if you wanted to help out,” Andrea said, her voice full of enthusiasm.

She’d always enjoyed planning parties, specifically party décor and it had been her specialty when she’d worked on the home and garden section at
City Magazine.
She loved her parents more than anything, and knew they’d be thrilled to have a party in their honor.

“Okay,” Stephanie agreed easily.

“This anniversary will be their fortieth so it’s important they have a big party. They’ve been together for so long, they deserve it.” Erin leaned to the side and pulled her phone out of her purse.

Erin was a real estate agent, a very successful one despite the recent poor housing market. She lived in Marin with her uber-rich boyfriend who refused to get her an engagement ring, much to her disappointment. And she always dressed impeccably, her smart suits utter and expensive perfection. Never a hair out of place and not a smudge of lipstick or mascara on her pretty face, Erin was the epitome of complete perfection.

She drove Stephanie absolutely nuts. The urge to reach over and muss her up just to see what would happen was always strong when near Erin.

“When do you want to have the party?” Stephanie asked as Erin scanned through her phone.

“God, you’re so slow with that thing.” Andrea yanked her Blackberry out of her purse and started scrolling. “We want to have it at the end of next month.”

“But isn’t their anniversary in November?”

“They’re going on an eight week trip across Europe and they leave November first. We wanted to throw the party before they leave.” Andrea smiled at her. “What do you think?”

“Well, of course I’ll help, but I’m not sure what I can do.”

“Oh Stephanie, don’t be modest. You always know how to decorate a party to perfection. In fact, we’re hosting a huge holiday open house this year and Roger and I were discussing it. We’d like you to decorate it for us.” Erin kept scanning through her phone, her eyes never leaving the screen.

As long as pervert Roger kept his hands to himself, they were all good. “Um okay, I guess I can help you with that, too.”

She had no clue her sisters thought she had any kind of talent. Who knew they could actually have kind thoughts about her?

Stephanie sat back in her chair, a realization slamming her straight in the face. Why did she always surround herself with such negative people? Her sisters she couldn’t avoid. Her boss she couldn’t really avoid either and since Caleb sat right next to her, well hell.

Even her roommate was bitchy and moody. And she really didn’t have any friends. She never made the time to hang out with them though there were a few people at work she liked to talk to and go to lunch with.

The only person she really liked spending time with was Justin. And that was just temporary. A fling. Not someone she planned on spending a lot of time with in the future.

It had to end someday though she secretly didn’t want it to.

“Perfect. So before Erin steals you away to work on her party, let’s get started on Mom and Dad’s.” Andrea beamed and slipped a piece of paper across the table. “We wanted to go with vibrant fall colors as the theme. Rich browns and gold and burgundy. What do you think?”

Stephanie looked at the article that had been torn out of a magazine.
City Magazine.
And the article had been written by her last year.

“I love what you came up with in that piece about fall entertaining in last October’s issue. I want to try some of the looks you created for Mom and Dad’s party,” Andrea said.

She’d come up with the entire scheme herself and had a heck of time getting the staff photographer to capture it just right. They’d all worked long and hard and the end result had been fantastic. That article had been one of her most popular pieces.

Well, before the sexual fantasy articles came along but they didn’t count. No one even knew she wrote them.

“I’ve already reserved the location. It’ll be at The Fairmont in one of their smaller ballrooms,” Erin added.

Stephanie’s brows rose. That had been the hotel where the charity event was held. The same hotel where she’d made love to Justin all night long until her body had been exhausted and her brain complete mush.

Her skin warmed in remembrance. The way he’d touched her, the way he’d looked at her and the words he’d said. She was seeing him again tonight though what they were doing, she had no clue. He was going to call her later and give her the details.

Just thinking about him had her wet and aching.

“Won’t that be expensive?” Stephanie finally asked, hoping they wouldn’t ask for any monetary contribution for the party. She didn’t really have any to spare.

“Don’t worry about it. Roger and I have it covered. So does Andrea and Drake.” Erin smiled and slipped her phone back into her Gucci purse. “So are we on? You’ll help us out, Stephanie?”

“Absolutely,” Stephanie said with a nod and she reached for her drink again, taking another sip.

“Perfect. The Fairmont provides catering and a DJ. I already hired a florist. We just want you to oversee everything and help pick out colors, the menu, all of that.”

“Sounds like fun.” And it did. Maybe she could become closer with her sisters. That they would see Stephanie wasn’t a fumbling idiot, gawky child and actually a capable grown woman.

Maybe.

“You can bring a date to the party if you’d like.” Erin paused, swirling the ice in her glass with her straw. “Roger’s always asking me if you’re seeing someone. He wants to make sure you’re taken care of.”

No, he was probably hoping he could get in her pants when no one else was looking. What a slime. “I’m not really seeing anyone at the moment, remember?”

“Not
really?
What exactly does that mean?” Andrea arched a dark blond brow.

“It means nothing. You’re making something out of nothing. Seriously, I don’t have a boyfriend right now.”

“You know, you’re not getting any younger. And I thought you wanted to have babies. You used to always play babies and mommy when you were little. You’d better get on it, girl.” Andrea wagged a finger at her.

Okay, here we go. They always went on the “better get a man and have a baby” track with her and it drove her crazy. No wonder she didn’t like hanging out with them. They always ganged up on her.

“Listen, both of you, I know you mean well but you act as if I’m ancient and about ready to be put up on the shelf. I’m only twenty-seven. I have plenty of birthing years left in me.”

Andrea shook her head. “You don’t want to be one of those old moms, do you?”

Andrea was thirty-three. Her oldest was six and an utter terror, the youngest was three and following in the footsteps of his big brother. And Stephanie didn’t think Andrea was done birthing yet.

“Don’t you want at least one more?” Stephanie asked.

“Possibly. Drake said he’d like another.”

“Well then, you’ll be one of those old moms too so stop giving me grief over it.” Stephanie smiled sweetly though she really wanted to yell, “Take
that,
bitch!”

Of course, she never would. This was her big sister after all.

Her cell phone rang and she grabbed it from her purse, didn’t even bother checking who was on the other end. She’d take any kind of distraction to get away from her sisters’ constant questioning.