TENLEY

“You’re home early! Good! The girls and I are taking you out tonight!” My roommate Bethany screeched as she ran to me, pulled me into her, and squeezed the life out of me. “Happy twenty-first!” She squealed as she let me loose.

“Sorry to burst your bubble, but I always reserve birthdays for Joseph and me. We celebrate together every year,” I said, shrugging my shoulders with a huge grin on my face.

“Fine, we’ll hold off until Friday, then. That would be best anyway. That way we can stay out all night and drink to our heart’s content. When are you going to fix me up with your brother, anyway? He is smoking hot!”

I know she’s bullshitting me. She and her current boyfriend have been together for three years. She’s trying to get a rise out of me because she knows about the massive crush I’ve had on Joseph my whole life. But, I’ll play along.

“Joseph is not my brother, and you have a boyfriend,” I said while chuckling. I went to the kitchen and made myself a quick sandwich before I dived into that bath I was thinking of earlier. I had hoped Bethany would be gone, but it looks as if she ditched out on her classes today. “Playing hooky?” I asked as she plopped herself on the couch.

“Professor Jenkins sent a mass email stating that there was a death in his family and would be out for the rest of the week. He gave us some reading to do and assignments that will be due next week. I’m about to hop in the shower so I can make it to my next class, but I’m going to finish this episode of Sex in the City first.”

Scowling and shaking my head at her, I state, “I don’t know what you see in that show. I can’t seem to make it through one episode without getting bored and moving on to something else.”

“It’s a required taste, I suppose,” she said, chuckling, then pressed play. I grinned and walked past her, deciding to eat in my room.

Bethany moved in during the Thanksgiving holiday, but she was rarely home. She appreciates the free rent but does her best to make sure the refrigerator is filled. Because of my heavy workload, she’s been taking care of cooking and cleaning up the apartment.. She says it’s the most she could do since I won’t let her pay rent. She’s just as busy as me with being in her senior year of getting her Masters in fine arts and having a boyfriend. They have been together for three years. Why they don’t live together is beyond me. To each his own, I suppose.

Bethany walked through my door an hour later, startling me. She giggled and sat on the edge of my bed. “I won’t be home tonight. I’ll stay with Bryce since we aren’t going out until Friday for your birthday. Thought I would give you a chance to seduce your sizzling hot boss. Crush, what have you? You better get to it before someone else snatches him.”

“I plan on it,” I said, smirking.

“Condom’s girl. No one needs to get pregnant right now. I’m just saying.”

“I’m on the shot.”

“So… Abstinence is the only true form of birth control. Play it safe, okay? That’s all I ask. Have fun tonight. I’ll see you tomorrow. Happy birthday, Tenley,” she said, while hugging me before exiting my room.

As soon as I heard the door slam, I opened the bedside drawer to my nightstand and sighed with relief. I have been aching for release since Joseph walked into my office earlier. That seems to be an everyday occurrence for me now that I have an office next to him.

He looked amazing today, with his chest exposed and his sleeves rolled up, revealing his muscular arms and tattoos. His suit pants leave nothing to the imagination as I could make out the growing bulge in his pants. Letting me know he is just as into me as I am of him. His sky-blue eyes beckoned to my soul, pulling me in and making me crave him more. I couldn’t concentrate after he left.

FLASHBACK THE WEDDING

As happy as I am for Harper and Layken, I can’t help but be a little crushed right now. I’m the lone wolf searching for my mate, who is non-existent. I haven’t had a boyfriend in over a year now. I’ve gone on a few dates, but guys are so stuck on themselves. It drives me insane. They are stuck on themselves, or they are boring as shit, and I can’t stand it anymore. I’m so pent up and in need of a release I could rip all of my hair out. There’s only so much pleasure you can get from a vibrator. I need hands exploring every inch of my body. A warm tongue lapping up my juices after I come. A warm body to cuddle with. I need a man, and there isn’t one that comes close to what I want or need.

Averting my gaze from the crowd of couples dancing, I plucked my phone from the table. Time to dive into that book I was reading while on the plane. I took a sip from my wine as a Dom bound his loving Sub and a kinky scene unfolded before my eyes. This is precisely what I want. A man to dominate and ravish me until I was screaming and coming undone. He could try, I suppose. My mouth alone is enough to warrant several punishments from a dominant man. That and I don’t particularly appreciate being told what to do. I would make an exception with sex, though. Maybe not. I have no clue because I’m a virgin. I can’t freaking stand it anymore. Someone come and rescue me, please!

Grabbing my wineglass, I started chugging the contents as the man yanked her hair back in his fist. He was about to impale her when I heard someone clearing their throat beside me. What the hell? A shriek fell from my lips as I jumped in surprise and almost dropped my wine glass. I looked up to see Joseph with a cocky grin on his face, staring down at my phone.

I quickly clicked my phone off and glared at him. “What the hell do you want?”

“I’ve been watching you off and on for the better part of thirty minutes now. You look like you want to claw some people’s eyes out or something. We seem to be the only ones not out there dancing. So…”

Rolling my eyes, I set my glass and phone on the table. “Stalker much.” I huffed out a breath and hoped Joseph hadn’t seen what I was reading when he walked up. “This is a shitty way of asking a woman to dance with you. You know that, right?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t want to be out there dancing?” he asked, quirking his brows and smirking.

“You still haven’t asked me to dance with you, Joseph.” Not answering his question. Weddings are where people hook up. However, I’m screwed because Joseph is the only bachelor available. Everyone else is married, and me, well…

“Right…” he blew out a breath, then searched the dance floor. After seeing the coast was clear, he then glanced back at me. “Nothing more can come from this. I’m telling you now so you don’t get your hopes up. But I would like to dance with the most beautiful woman here. Which is you, Tenley?”

Men are so stupid sometimes. His words would be amazing if I weren’t the only female here who was available. It’s excruciatingly apparent. Kill me now. But yes, I want to be out there dancing.

I’ve had a crush on Joseph since I was four. The older he gets, the sexier and more handsome he becomes. But at the same time, I hate him. He has always been a complete jerk to me. It only got worse when I grew into the woman that I am today. He practically lived with us until he and Layken went off to college. They have been the best of friends since Joseph and his mom moved to Austin. So Joseph has watched me grow up. Should I dance with him? Looking into his eyes, I swiftly took in his appearance from head to toe. I’ve seen him in suits before, but the one he had on today made him look scrumptious. Which brings me to a startling thought. He and Layken are closer than Layken is with our actual blood brothers. So why wasn’t he a part of the wedding party? My core pulsed and fluids gushed to my nether regions at the thought of Joseph in a tuxedo. Yum!

“You aren’t afraid that Layken will beat your ass?” I asked, cocking a brow, then looking over to where he and Harper were lost in each other. They wouldn’t notice a damn thing. There’s nothing to worry about.

“Look at those two. Do you think they would give a rat’s ass about you and me?” he asked, as if he read my mind.

I couldn’t help but smile and giggle. “I guess you’re right. Let’s go then.”

Joseph held his hand out to me and helped me up from my chair, then pulled me into his arms as I lost my balance and almost fell into him. “Are you alright?”

Glancing up into his sky-blue eyes, I became hypnotized momentarily. Clearing my throat, I averted my gaze, “Um, yes. I chugged that wine, and it hit me suddenly. I’ll be fine.”

He nodded, then helped me to get upright. He slung an arm over my shoulder, and I held onto him for support. Even with a suit jacket on, I could feel his chiseled muscles underneath. His masculine scent was enough to drag me into a haze that had me wanting to jump him right here in front of everyone.

We danced to a few slow songs, which was awkward. We looked like Jr. High kids dancing at a school dance or something. I, with my hands on his shoulders, looking everywhere but at him and trying to keep as much distance between us as possible. His hands were on my hips, and I could feel his gaze on me from time to time. But I refused to look at him.

Finally, out of nowhere, the band began playing hip-hop music. I couldn’t help but get into the music. Joseph brought me up against him, then stuck his knee between my legs. His smoldering gaze connected with mine. I knew then what his end game was. Between the wine, the lust pooling in his eyes and the friction of his leg meeting my pearl, I knew it wouldn’t be long before I came.

“You’re going to make me come if we keep dancing like this.”

“I hope so. Judging by what you were reading, I know you need release,” he said huskily.

I mentally facepalmed myself and hated how my flushed cheeks were scorching with heat, along with a zap of heat that seared straight to my core.

Joseph smiled at my wide-eyed expression and brought me even closer to him, and held me as I ground myself along his leg. “That’s it, let yourself go,” he said, into my ear. Then held my gaze until that familiar tingling started swelling in my belly.

“Joseph,” I mumbled as my eyes fluttered shut and the orgasm took hold.

He took control and moved me along his leg as I rode out my orgasm. I opened my eyes to see that his eyes had grown darker with lust. His hooded gaze seared into my soul. If I could just kiss him once?

“Feel better?”

“Much. But what about you?”

“I’ve got hands and a hotel room. My time here is up. Don’t worry about me, Tenley. This was all for you. I knew you needed release.”

“Tenley, I need to speak to you real fast, if you wouldn’t mind,” Harper said from behind me.

Coming back to reality, I looked behind me and smiled. “Sure, give me a second. Thank you, Joseph. For the dance, I mean, and….”

“Go,” he said, tilting his head toward Harper.

“Right. Okay,” I said, spun around and left.

BACK TO THE PRESENT

I screamed as my orgasm brought me back to reality. Whenever I get all hot and bothered by Joseph, I use the past to get what I need. I should have told him then that I would meet him back at his hotel. But I had no idea where Layken and Harper were headed afterward, and he had told me nothing would come from our dancing. So I backed off and relished the feeling of being sated for the time being. True to his word, he hasn’t touched me since then. Today was the first time our dancing had come up in six months.

Clutching my phone, I realized I needed to get on it if I was going to be ready by seven. I wanted to look so good that he wouldn’t be able to help from keeping his hands off of me.

It was now six thirty. I finished clipping the garter belt clips to my stockings and walked over to the full-length mirror I had hanging from my door. The erotic wine-colored corset that met my silk trimmed with lace panties was enough to make me sexy. My makeup is to perfection, and I pinned my hair up with elegant black clips. I look exotic, and I love it.

Figured Joseph would most likely be taking me to an elegant restaurant because that is where he has taken me the last three years since I turned eighteen. I purchased this dress just for this night two months ago. It’s been hanging in my closet, ready to be worn this whole time. I can’t wait to see Joseph fall all over himself at the sight of me.

I quickly grabbed the dress and put it on and checked myself out in the mirror. Everything seemed to be perfect. It was then that I heard Joseph knocking on the door. I quickly grabbed my matching clutch, shoved my phone inside, and ran to answer the door.