“You make it sound so easy. Like it’s no big deal. Did you ever think about doing anything else with your life? Do you ever think about the what-ifs?”
“I think about quitting almost every shift,” I admit quietly. “When I see the kind of shit I see, I always wonder if that last call is going to be the one that breaks me. Make it so I can’t go back, even if I want to.”
She’s stroking my thigh with a hand as I talk, and the effect is incredibly distracting but in the best way.
“But then I think about why I do it. And I know I’ll never be able to sit back and hear sirens and not respond. It’s just who I am. I’m sorry figuring out a career hasn’t been that straightforward for you, but can I make a suggestion?”
“Anything,” she says.
“Maybe steer clear of my exes. I think we can assume that shit won’t end well.”
She laughs and says, “Exes? What, do I need a list of names or something?”
“You’ve already worked for the big one, so I think you’re pretty safe. Maybe don’t apply for a job at the high school. Or the middle school…”
“Vito.”
“I’m teasing,” I tell her, although I did ghost a middle school teacher last summer and had to block her number, but that’s not something we need to get into today.
“So, I guess I won’t need to buy any more suits,” she says, looking down at the pencil skirt and tailored blouse.
“Hmm,” I mumble. “Or you could just buy them for me. I can think of a lot of ways to make sure your wardrobe doesn’t go to waste.”
“Like what?” she asks. “We’ve got some time before Juniper and your mom are due back here.”
“Yes,” I hiss and grab her hand. “It’s like surprise date night in the middle of the day.” I tug her up the stairs and close and lock the bedroom door behind us.
“This is like early Christmas,” she breathes.
I nod, heat flooding my body. “And you are the sexiest package under the tree.”
She rests her rear on the edge of the bed and crosses her legs. “So, you like my business attire?”
“I like it so much, I want to tear it off your body,” I say, licking my lips. “I want to take off those hose with my teeth.”
Eden giggles and lifts her brows at me. “I’m not sure how easy that’s going to be with this skirt on. Maybe I should take that off first?”
I shake my head. “Let me do everything.” I stand in front of her and reach for her hands so I can help her up off the bed. “Turn, please,” I say, wrapping my hands around her waist and spinning her around so she’s facing the bed.
She laughs again, her hair twirling and grazing my face with its luscious, vanilla-coconut scent as she turns. “Now what?”
I reach for the waistband of the skirt and feel for the hook closure at the back. I unfasten it, then grab the zipper, and, inch by slow inch, work my hand along the length of her ass. Once the zipper is undone, I put a hand on either side of her ass and massage her through the fabric of the unzipped skirt.
“Your body,” I whisper, dropping to my knees. I reach for the skirt and work it slowly over her hips. I stop when the fabric is just past her butt and suck in a breath. “Do you not wear underwear to work?”
She looks at me over her shoulder, a playful expression on her face. “Maybe?”
“Oh God.” In one swift move, I yank the skirt down around her ankles, revealing her long, thick legs wrapped in sheer black nylons. “Not going to lie,” I say, running my hands over her ass. “I’m thinking about biting right through these.”
Her whole body trembles lightly. “These are cheap drugstore hose.”
“Noted.” I shove her forward onto the bed. “Get comfortable,” I tell her. “I’m going to take my time.”
While she’s lying facedown, I unbutton my jeans and shed my flannel. When I’m barefoot and in my boxers, I open her legs as wide as they will go while she’s still facedown. Then I climb onto the bed behind her and kiss every inch of her left leg, starting at the calf.
I massage the soft fabric of the nylons under my hands as I blow hot kisses along her skin. She wriggles and moans while I work my way up to her thigh, but then I switch and cover her right leg in as much attention as I gave the left.
“Good?” I ask, landing a firm smack against her butt.
