Spiral of Bliss 01 Arouse (2 page)

Which he is.

“What’re you talking about at the conference?” I ask.

“Visual culture in the Crusades. I’m thinking of constructing a course around the topic.”

I turn to open the containers of Chinese take-out he must have picked up on the way home. He’s still talking, and while I like the sound of his baritone voice—as, I’m quite certain, his female undergrads do—I don’t understand much of what he’s saying since I’ve never taken a medieval history course.

Still, Dean has said before that talking helps clarify his thoughts and ideas. So I’m happy to let him ramble, and he’s happy to have an audience.

We sit down to eat sesame chicken and fried rice, and I give him a play-by-play of the events that ended up with me getting fired. When he starts in with the whole “wrongful termination” thing again, I lean across the table to kiss him and stop his tirade.

“We have better things to do with our time,” I say before shooing him out of the kitchen so I can clean up.

After putting away the leftover food and doing the dishes, I head into the living room. Dean has taken over the second bedroom as his office, so my own narrow desk sits at the living room window and looks out over the rooftops to the mountains and clear expanse of the lake.

I power up my laptop and scan a few job sites.
Web designer.
No.
Paralegal.
No.
Real-estate agent.
No.
Spanish teacher.
No.
Welder.
Lord, no.

“What about the library over at SciTech?” Dean suggests. He’s lying on the sofa, an intricate web of string like a cat’s cradle pulled taut between his palms.

“Already applied. They turned me down because I don’t know whatever database system they use.”

“I can ask about job openings around the university.” Dean tucks his forefingers into the string to create another pattern.

“No.” I rest my chin on my hand and click another job site. “I’ll find something.”

Sales associate. Cashier. Stock clerk.

I’ve been hoping for more than retail, a job that will start me on a path toward
something
, but my lack of work experience makes that a daunting prospect.

“There’s that bookstore over on Emerald Street,” I say, injecting a breezy
it’ll be fine
tone into my voice. “I’ll stop by tomorrow and see if they could use some help. And I can pick up a few more volunteer hours at the Historical Museum.”

“With all the work you’re doing for the museum, you’ll be their first pick when a job opens up,” Dean says. “Same with the public library.”

“You think so?”

“I know so. And remember that college kids have most of the summer jobs now. You’ll have more options when the fall semester starts.”

Maybe. Feeling sort of down again, I close the laptop and push away from the desk. Dean unravels the string from his fingers and tosses it onto the coffee table.

“Come here, beauty,” he says. “You need to be kissed.”

I go to the sofa and sprawl out on top of him with a sigh. He feels so damn good. He has a gorgeous body—he’s all lean, tensile strength with a solid chest that makes me want to stretch against him like a cat in the sun. He puts his hand on the back of my neck and brings my mouth down to his.

The disappointment drains from me. He’s right. I need to be kissed, and he’s the one who needs to kiss me.

His lips are warm and firm against mine, and shivers race over my skin as his hands slide down to grasp my hips. I part my lips on a sigh and let our tongues tangle together. He closes his teeth gently on my lower lip, eliciting a delicious little twinge that shortens my breath.

I wiggle around, rubbing my breasts against his chest. He tightens his grip on my hips before moving his hands to the waistband of my pants. With a smooth stroke, he delves inside and spreads his palms over my bottom, pressing his fingers into the crevice. An ache pools through my lower body.

“I think…” I lift myself to look down at him, my blood heating at the sight of the lust brewing in his eyes. “I think I need to be more than kissed.”

“Yes, you do.” Dean pushes his hands underneath my T-shirt and opens the clasp of my bra with one twist, then rubs a hot, friction-laced path over my naked back. “I’ll take care of you.”

“I know you will.” I sink against him and lower my mouth to his again.

Our kiss grows urgent, Dean’s body tightening beneath mine. He eases a hand between us to work the buttons of his jeans. I uncoil to sit back on his thighs and watch the quick movements of his fingers. My heart hammers at the sight of the bulge pressing against his jeans, especially since I know well what’s underneath.

“You’ve been waiting for me, huh?” I ask breathlessly.

“Always.”

I move off him to tug the jeans over his long legs. His erection tents his boxers, and I palm the hot, heavy length. Sparks fly through me with the anticipation of his tight flesh embedded inside me, stroking and pulsing.

I inhale sharply and look up at Dean. His eyes are glazed with lust, his chest heaving with the force of his breath. He gestures toward my breasts.

I grasp the hem of my T-shirt and pull it over my head, tossing it on the sofa along with my bra. His gaze rakes over me, and my nipples harden in delicious response. In one movement, Dean grabs me around the waist and brings us both to the floor.

Even better than lying on top of him is the sensation of his weight on me, strong and powerful. He splays his hands over my breasts, rubbing his thumbs across my nipples before he bends to capture one in his mouth.

I gasp and clench my fingers into his hair. Heat cascades through me, centering in the core of my body. I twist beneath him until he tugs at my pants and lowers them over my hips along with my underwear.

“Ah fuck, Liv, you’re so ready.”

His fingers brush against my damp sex, his cock pressing against my thigh. A flush sweeps me from head to toe when he kneels between my spread legs and pulls off his shirt, then shoves his boxers down.

His erection is beautiful—long and thick, the heavy sac pulled tight. He opens a drawer of the end-table and takes out a foil packet. My pulse pounds as I watch him roll on the condom.

He glances up at me, his eyes tracking over my naked breasts to my face. He puts his hand against me again, dipping one finger into the slick opening of my body.

“Dean.” I push upward to deepen his immersion.

A slight smile curves his mouth as he explores farther. His thumb swirls around my clit, his forefinger moving up one side and down the other. He knows exactly how to touch me, and within seconds I’m panting and gasping as the spool of bliss winds tighter.

“Dean, I’m…”

“What, beauty?” A teasing note underlies the lust in his voice.

“So close…” I breathe.

He lowers himself over me, his mouth coming down on mine, his tongue sliding across my lips. I grip his biceps and arch against him, craving that explosion of pleasure dangling just beyond my grasp. One press of his fingers and I come with a cry, my inner flesh tightening around him.

With trembles still coursing through me, I wrap my legs around his hips and pull him closer. He thrusts into me hard and deep, his groan rumbling against my neck.

“Oh!” I clutch his back and lift my thighs, swimming in the heat and sensation of him driving into me.

I fall, swirling, swept into the exquisite pleasure of us rocking together, his flesh slamming against mine, the push-and-pull cadence of his hard plunges. My arousal spikes again, the friction lighting my nerves as his thrusts slow into the rhythm of his impending release.

I edge my hand between our bodies to rub myself to another sharp orgasm, then glide my fingertips against his pulsing shaft. Our eyes meet with a sizzle in the instant before he slides out of me, rolling the condom off before grasping his cock.

I’m hot all over watching the slick, easy movement of his hand, the tensing of his muscles and the way his thumb brushes the damp head of his cock.To ratchet up his urgency, I squeeze my breasts together and twist my nipples, then writhe around with shameless little movements that I know will send him over the edge.

He groans deep, thrusting heavily into his fist as he comes long and hard over my belly. Panting, I push to my elbows to watch him finish himself off. After riding the final pulses, he braces his hands on either side of me and leans in to press his lips to mine.

“You were right,” I murmur against his mouth. “I needed to be kissed.”

“Very glad to help.”

He lowers us both to the floor again, our mouths still locked together, then eases to the side so I can fold myself against him. A lovely, warm feeling like melted honey slides through me—a feeling I have only ever experienced with this man of mine.

Once upon a time I didn’t know people like Professor Dean West existed. There had been no one like him in the tangled woods where I once lived, a place in which night fell too early and ogres lurked behind skeletal trees.

He pulls me closer, his arm around my shoulders. His body is enveloping, protective. I fit perfectly, as always, into the space against his side.

CHAPTER TWO

August 9

fter Dean leaves for work, I clean the apartment and water the potted plants on the balcony, which is a lush little jungle of pansies, geraniums, daisies, and lantanas. Then I spend an hour curled up on a chair by the window, leafing through the
Help Wanted
sections of a couple of newspapers.

Exotic entertainer. Plant manager. Sandwich artist.
I circle “marketing assistant” and “animal care attendant,” even though I know nothing about marketing or animal care.

It’s discouraging, this spread of black-and-white rectangles that each announce a profession I either can’t do or didn’t know existed
(mold setter?)
.

I toss the paper aside with a sigh. After Dean and I got married, I wanted to support him, wanted to be his solid ground while he established his career. I’ve been happy to do that for the past three years—I’ve enjoyed making warm, pleasant homes out of the utilitarian apartment we lived in during his fellowship position and now our little above-shop place in Mirror Lake.

I’ve loved being Professor Dean West’s wife, watching his success and growing renown in academia. And I haven’t minded my temporary part-time jobs, because I’d planned to start a career path as soon as Dean settled into a tenure-track position.

Except now we’ve been in Mirror Lake for almost two years and I’ve hit barriers at every turn: I freelanced for a local magazine that went under, I’ve been rejected for several jobs due to lack of experience, the King’s agriculture majors do all the work at gardening centers, and I quit a cashier’s job at a clothing store so I could take the assistant position at the art gallery.

So much for that plan.

After changing into shorts and a T-shirt, I walk several blocks to the gym where I work out five… okay, two times a week. I sweat through an aerobics class, shower, and go to meet my friend Kelsey March for lunch.

Kelsey is an atmospheric scientist at the university, and of course I met her through Dean because they’re academic soul-mates and have known each other for years. She is one of the few people who refuses to fawn over him, which is just one of the reasons we both like her so much.

She’s pacing in front of the Italian restaurant where we agreed to meet, her thumbs working the buttons of her smartphone, her stride brisk.

As is her style, she’s wearing a tailored suit and button-down shirt, but she has this vibe that makes you think she’s sporting sexy lingerie beneath. Her frosted blond hair is cut in a sleek pageboy and embellished with a single streak of navy blue, which she flips back as she watches my approach.

“You’re late,” she says, blinking at me through her rimless glasses.

“Am not. Your watch is fast.”

She punches a few buttons on her phone and holds it up. “Greenwich mean time.”

“Because
you
would never consult Greenwich nice time.”

“You got that right.” Kelsey smirks and shoves her phone into her bag as we head into the restaurant.

We get settled into a booth, peruse the menus, and place orders of chicken marsala for Kelsey and butternut squash ravioli for me.

“Hey, sorry about your job,” Kelsey says, poking a straw into her soda. “I can get you something at the AOS department if you’d let me.”

“No, thanks.” I always balk at her and Dean’s suggestions that they can “get me” a job at the university. I know they don’t think I can’t find something on my own, but accepting their help might make
me
think that. “I have a few leads I’m looking into.”

“Let me know if you change your mind,” Kelsey says. “The professors are pains in the ass, but overall the department’s not horrible to work for.”

“Well, with that kind of resounding endorsement, it’s a wonder the AOS department doesn’t have applicants lined up around the block.”

Kelsey shoots me one of her “don’t-fuck-with-me” looks. I respond with a smile because she knows I would never seriously fuck with her. I’m not stupid.

“Hey.” She sits back and frowns. “Really. You look under the weather.”

“The fact that you just made a weather joke cheers me up immensely.”

“You know, Liv, you don’t have to find the perfect career right away,” she says. “Give it a little time, you know? Weren’t you a library sciences major in college?”

“Yeah. I worked at the art library at the UW for a while, but then Dean and I got married and moved to L.A. I just worked part-time retail when he had the Getty fellowship. And the libraries at King’s haven’t had any openings since we moved here.” I poke at my salad. “I did see an ad this morning for an exotic entertainer position.”

Kelsey snorts. “Missionary or doggy?”

I choke on a gulp of water and laugh. “Probably both.”

“I’m sure your husband would provide you with great references.”

I swat her with my napkin, then admit, “Well, that’s true.”

Kelsey grins, and we turn our attention to the arrival of our entrees. She slathers butter on a roll and says, “So, Liv, can I steal Dean on Saturday the twenty-fifth? I wouldn’t ask if it weren’t an emergency.”

“Sure. What’s up?”

“There’s a faculty banquet for some old fart who’s retiring.” She stabs a green bean with her fork. “I wouldn’t normally go, but I’m trying to get funding for a modeling program, and I need to pretend I’m a team player.”

“By eating dry beef medallions?”

“By showing up. At least if Dean’s there, I won’t have to make too much small talk. I hate small talk.” She shakes her head at the indignity of it all. “You guys have any plans this weekend?”

“Going to the movies Friday night. Otherwise, nothing.”

I steer the conversation to her latest project, then we ramble about novels we’ve read and what movies look good, and what we’re planning for the rest of the summer.

After we part ways, I walk through downtown toward Emerald Street, enjoying the breeze rustling in from the water. I stop and get an iced cappuccino to go from one of the coffeehouses.

Even though I’ve been at loose ends since we moved to Mirror Lake, I’m glad this is where Dean and I have ended up. It’s a medium-sized, Midwestern town with a crystalline lake surrounded by mountains. In winter, the lake freezes, snow and ice fall, and the college kids keep the town busy. In summer, tourists descend on Mirror Lake to swim, hike, kayak, canoe, and camp.

There’s a theater festival in the spring, numerous farmer’s markets and art fairs. It’s a town with good energy and plenty to do—a pretty little egg tucked away in a nest of mountains.

I stop in front of a shop squeezed between a fabric store and a yoga studio. A crooked wooden sign above the door announces
The Happy Booker
in flowing pink script and is embellished with a picture of a voluptuous, leggy blonde holding a stack of books. A bell rings as I enter.

Dusty silence greets me. Shelves line the walls, cluttered with books, and cardboard signs announcing new releases dangle from the ceiling. The front tables are stacked with book displays, and a magazine rack sits near the cash register. A vinyl runner made to resemble yellow bricks snakes toward the back of the store.

“Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” A gnarled, scary tree leaps out suddenly from behind a bookshelf, wielding spiky, leaf-covered branches.

I shriek and drop my coffee.

“Oh, shit.” The tree lowers its branches and stares at me from behind large purple glasses. “Sorry about that.”

“No, it’s my fault.” My heart pounding, I grab some tissues from my satchel and kneel down to sop up the mess. “Shouldn’t have brought coffee into a bookstore.”

The tree waddles over to the front counter and pokes out a hand, then returns with a roll of paper towels. “You’re not here for the Wizard Party, are you?”

“Uh, no.” I glance up and encounter a round, pink face peering at me from a knothole in the trunk. Red foam apples dangle from her branches.

She extends the paper towels. “I can’t kneel in this thing, or I’d help you.”

“No problem.” I soak up the coffee as best I can, then pick up the cup and lid. “Where can I…”

The tree waves a branch. An apple plops to the floor. “Behind the register.”

“I’ll pay for the cleaning.” I toss the cup away and wipe my hands. “So… Wizard Party?”

“Yeah.” She looks at the clock and sighs, her leaves drooping. “I started advertising, like, last month. Told kids to come dressed as their favorite character from
The Wizard of Oz
. We were going to read a couple of stories, play games, have some treats. You know, a party.”

“Sounds great.”

“It would’ve been, if anyone had shown up.” She shoves the knothole away from her forehead. She looks so dejected that I can’t help feeling sorry for her.

“When’s it supposed to start?” I ask.

“It was supposed to start an hour ago. I thought maybe there’d been a misprint on the flyer, but no.” She flaps her branches toward the window. “Two o’clock on Thursday, it says. Hey, could you help me out of this thing? I’ve been in it for over two hours, and I’m about to have heat stroke.”

“Sure.”

We maneuver around a little while trying to figure out the best method of liberating her from the trunk. Finally she bends forward as far as she can, sticking her branches out. I grab hold of them and pull. A few yanks, a few more curses, both of us pull in opposite directions, and then she pops out like a cork from a bottle.

“Dang.” She pushes a mess of damp curls back. “Now I know what a sausage feels like.”

I grin and put the costume on a chair. “You’re the owner?”

She nods and sticks out a hand. “Allie Lyons.”

“I’m Olivia West.” I shake her hand. “Everyone calls me Liv.”

“Welcome to The Happy Booker, Liv.” She takes a water bottle from behind the counter and downs a few gulps. She’s cute and petite with floppy red hair and green eyes behind her purple-framed glasses.

“Sorry no one came to your party,” I say.

“Yeah, well, I should be used to it by now. No one came to the Winnie-the-Pooh party either, and I had a real beekeeper here with real bees.” She shrugs. “Do you like
The Wizard of Oz
?”

“Not really. The flying monkeys scare the crap out of me.”

She chuckles. “Me too. Want to come to the party anyway? I have cupcakes.”

“I love cupcakes.”

“Come on in, then. Stay on the yellow brick road.”

I follow her on the vinyl runner to the children’s section at the back of the store. She’s got little round tables all set up with matching chairs, a “yellow brick” rug in front of a rocking chair, and another table covered with plates of food.

“Help yourself.” She nods toward the food. “Or I’ll have to donate it… somewhere.”

I take a plate and pile it with a rainbow cupcake, a cookie shaped like a hot-air balloon, and a frosted cake-pop glittering with red sprinkles. To complete this sugar buffet, Allie pours me a cup of lime-green punch.

“Have a seat.” She gestures to one of the tables.

“Why’d you decide to be a tree?” I ask, adjusting my rear on the diminutive chair.“From the Forest of Fighting Trees.” Allie sits across from me with another plate. “You know, the apple trees that get mad when Dorothy picks their fruit?”