Текст книги "What Piper Needs"
Автор книги: Amanda Abbott
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Текущая страница: 9 (всего у книги 14 страниц)
16
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Michael sat at his desk, flipping the black business card Beth had given him between his fingers. It was Friday night, and he was ready to leave for the day. The office had shut down about an hour ago, with most people heading home for the weekend.
It was date night, and his turn to initiate the second thing on his top five. He’d finagled an almost-impossible-to-get reservation at the newest she-she-la-la restaurant in town by exchanging favors with one of his partners for his time slot tonight. The guy needed extra hands on a tough case he was working on, so Michael offered to chip in for a weekend in exchange for the table.
It was totally worth it for Piper.
He stared at the card a little longer, trying to decide what to do.
Michael had put the Sexual Underground on his list at number five, but if he and Piper were going to attend the meeting for new members—or whatever it was—it wasn’t going to fit perfectly into his time line. They’d have to go when the party was planned, and Beth had mentioned it was going to happen in the next week or two.
He was hard right now just thinking about it.
Piper might be skittish to try it, so he assumed they would attend only as observers. But he was willing to see where the night took them.
After their sexy hotel room romp with the strap-on, he wanted to surprise Piper with something like this. If she was uncomfortable, they could leave at any time. He actually couldn’t wait to see the look on her face when she figured out where they were.
Michael turned the card over to read Beth’s info for the second time, then set it on the desk. He picked up his cell phone. Beth had said to call him after hours. It was only about twenty minutes after six, but it was also Friday night. She should’ve left the office around five thirty. If she answered, she answered.
If not, he’d try again later.
She picked up on the second ring. “Hello.”
“Beth? It’s Michael Collins.”
“Hi, Michael.” Her voice was animated. “I knew you’d call! I’m so glad you did.”
“I’m not sure Piper and I are in for sure.” His tone was cautionary. “I’m still making up my mind about the entire thing, but I’d like to get some details if I can.”
“Of course. Do you have a pen handy?”
“Yes, right here. I’m ready when you are.”
“The meet and greet is set for next Saturday night. Start time is eleven p.m.” She gave him the street address, then continued, “It’s a warehouse in the art district. It looks like nothing special on the outside, but there’s a big red number one above the door. There will be a bouncer inside. Don’t be intimidated. Your names will be on a list.” Michael jotted down the information. “We’re expecting quite a big turnout. This place has been recently remodeled, and it’s very elegant. There’s a huge main room with lots of comfortable places to”—she cleared her throat—“have fun. There are also lots of adjacent spaces to play. Everything kicks off with a cocktail party, so I advise getting there before eleven thirty. There’s lots of mingling. The doors lock at midnight, no late entry allowed.”
“Okay, I have it down,” Michael said. “How big of a crowd are you expecting?”
“The core group is forty-five members. Some are couples, some not. For this new meeting, half of us are inviting one person or one married couple. The headcount will be around seventy-five if everyone shows, which probably won’t happen. All new entrants will be asked a series of questions by one of the gatekeepers. If your answers aren’t satisfactory, you will be asked to leave. Don’t ask me what they are, because they always change, and I can’t tell you anyway. But I’m certain you’ll answer them correctly. Oh, and leave your phones at home. No electronics allowed whatsoever. No exceptions.”
“Gatekeepers? That sounds…extreme.” Michael chuckled. “Do they wear Dom masks and stand sentinel with whips in hand?” He was only half-joking. He needed to know what to expect. What he was envisioning would totally freak Piper out.
It was better to get the information right up front.
Beth laughed. “No whips. Gatekeeper is just a fancy term for the secretary and treasurer of the group. They’re also in charge of security. They pretty much look like an accountant and a librarian. But we embrace the ‘underground’ part in Sexual Underground. Information about this group is not meant to be public or shared casually in any way. If word gets out, there could be a serious problem with the police, or negative publicity in the media. You’re a lawyer. I’m sure you understand the security issues.”
He did.
The fact they took everything so seriously reassured him. In his line of work, he wouldn’t be able to be part of something like this that wasn’t secret. “I totally do. I need to ask you—are you the only one from the office who is involved with this group? I need a heads up if there’s anyone else.”
“Nope, I’m the only one. You’re all clear on that front. Honestly, I wouldn’t have even asked you if I hadn’t seen the look on your wife’s face when she came out of the bathroom. Then when I walked by your office, and I figured out what was going on under your desk, I knew the two of you would be perfect additions to the group. If you decide to become members down the line, there are fees and documents you have to sign—confidentiality and nondisclosure agreements and such. If you were to talk, you’d incur a huge monetary penalty.”
Michael nodded along with what she was saying. “Got it, thanks,” he told her. “I’m still not sure if we’ll be there. I’m still figuring it out. I hope that’s not an issue.”
“Not at all. And don’t worry. There’s no pressure to do anything. You can just hang out and watch if you want. Or you can go partway. It all depends on your mood. We also have bouncers, who we refer to as ‘checkers,’ to make sure it’s always a safe environment for our members and no one feels pressured or uncomfortable at any time.”
“Hm. It seems you guys have thought of everything.”
“We try. Everyone involved wants it to be kept under wraps and very professional. Well, as professional as these kinds of things are capable of being, of course.” She laughed.
“Thanks, Beth,” Michael said. “I think I have all the information I need.”
“Great, hope to see you, and your wife, soon.”
Michael hung up.
Anticipation pulsed in his chest as he thought about the Underground, as well as his plans for tonight. He was taking his beautiful wife out to a fancy dinner, and he hoped it would end up being as exciting as their hotel romp.
* * *
Insisting on being chivalrous, Michael shut Piper’s car door after she’d slid in. She grinned at him as he got in the driver’s seat. “So where are we going?” she asked.
“I’m not telling,” he answered, “so no more asking. It’s a surprise.”
They started down the road toward their mysterious destination, and Piper found she was relaxed and really looking forward to their date together.
She reached over and set her hand on Michael’s shoulder, rubbing lightly. While they drove, she turned over in her mind the advice Caroline and Emma had given her last night. She glanced at her incredibly handsome husband and thought about beginning a conversation with him about how she was certain they could keep spice in their marriage without doing another top ten.
Then she frowned, thinking of that conversation spiraling into a disagreement when they were going someplace special.
Michael turned to her. “What are you staring at? You look deep in thought.”
“Oh, nothing in particular.” She gave her husband a reassuring smile and decided against bringing up anything. She didn’t want it to get in the way. After all, there was plenty of time to have that discussion. It didn’t have to be tonight.
“Now what?” he asked. “Why are you laughing?”
Piper brought a hand up to her mouth. Her mind had switched on a dime to how she and the girls had ended their evening. They’d all agreed to invite Gillian to the next meeting, but before they’d left, Caroline had insisted they come up with an STD handshake. That girl was full of surprises. It ended up being a cross between a fist bump and a patty-cake. They’d all died laughing. “Nothing you’d think is that funny,” she said. “Caroline was just being silly last night. You know, she has grown by leaps and bounds. She’s so comfortable in her own skin. I envy that. It’s like what they did in the bedroom with Emma and Pete finally set them free somehow.” Piper shook her head. “It’s amazing. I want to be her when I grow up.” She chuckled, resting her head back on the seat. “It was really nice to have Emma there, too. Everyone got along great. It’s so fun that we can support each other like that. It feels like a family. A dysfunctional, sexed-up family, but a family nonetheless.”
“I’m glad you have that kind of support,” Michael said. “And I have to say, Jace seems pretty happy, too. I’ve noticed the difference. It seems the Strattons have figured out their sex life, and it’s impacted their marriage for the better.”
“It really has made their marriage stronger.” She glanced at Michael. She had to have faith that she and Michael were on that same road. The contentment she felt inside right now had to be a good indicator. She had to trust in that.
“I’m certain that will be us very soon,” Michael said. “We’re finally on the golden path to sexual fulfillment, which, according to the Strattons, means everything will eventually fall into place.”
Piper snorted. “Um, golden path sounds like we’re going to end with a golden shower. Please don’t tell me you’re heading to a place where urinating in public is acceptable.”
“Does such a place exist?” Michael arched an eyebrow as he turned onto a parking ramp. “If you know the address, please share.”
“I know you’re kidding, but still.” Piper sat up in her seat as she looked around the parking garage Michael had just pulled into. “No way. You scored reservations at Le Repas?” She turned to her husband. “Who did you have to bribe to get them?”
Michael chuckled. “How do you know it’s Le Repas? This building holds many restaurants.”
“Yeah, right. We’re so not going to Buffalo Bob’s or whatever chains they have on the first floor. And I don’t believe you thought this up months ago, so if you didn’t bribe someone, you paid them. I just hope you didn’t throw in any sexual favors from your wife—but, hell, even if you did, I wouldn’t care! I’ve been dying to check this place out. The view is supposed to be spectacular, and there’s a six-month wait list. I know, because I’ve checked multiple times.”
The restaurant was located on the top floor of a building downtown, and anytime something new and great came to Madison, it was a feeding frenzy.
“I’m glad to see you’re so excited. And I didn’t exactly bribe anyone. I just swapped the reservations in exchange for a weekend of work.”
“That’s very noble of you to put my needs before yours,” Piper quipped as Michael pulled into a parking spot. “The sign of a true gentleman.”
“Stay right there,” Michael ordered as he got out of the car. He slammed his door and walked around to open hers.
She took his hand as she stepped out. “You’re being so…classy tonight. I’m not sure how to act. I’m assuming this night doesn’t end with a double strap-on.” She chuckled. “That’s a little low-rent for this place.”
“The strap-on wasn’t low-rent at all.” He kissed her cheek as he wrapped her hand around his elbow. They headed to the elevators. “That was plain hot sex, no rent involved.”
“Yeah, but I felt dirty walking out of the hotel with all our goods stuffed in a duffle bag.” Piper closed both hands around his upper arm and leaned into him. “But I agree, it was great sex. I can’t imagine what you have up your sleeve tonight. I’m assuming we’re not doing it over the petite filet.”
“The petite filet sounds interesting, but no. Not likely. I have some ideas, but I want to see where the night takes us first.”
“Sounds good to me.”
Michael opened the door for her, and they took the garage elevator down to the lobby, then had to walk to another bank of elevators to go up.
They entered the next elevator alone, and once the doors closed, Michael surprised her by pushing her up against the wall and placing his hands on either side of her head.
Before she knew it, he was kissing her.
Really kissing her.
His tongue delved into her warmth, urging her response, which she gave immediately. Her hands threaded across his shoulders as she tilted her head, savoring the kiss, meeting his tongue, and lapping at it. She made a small noise in the back of her throat.
When Michael pulled back, she was dazed.
He placed his forehead against hers, grinning. “That was just a preview of what’s to come,” he whispered as the elevator pinged. He stepped back as the door opened, gesturing with a sweep of his arm. “Ladies first.”
She glanced at him as she walked out. “Who are you?”
17
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The restaurant exceeded Michael’s expectations. It was upscale, classy, and the ambience was excellent. Leave it to one of the partners to have wrangled a secluded table right by the window. The city was lit up below them. Madison wasn’t a huge town, but it still looked pretty at night.
“So, crème brûlée for dessert, then?” Piper teased as they both eyed the menu. “Wow, some of the stuff on here is so decadent. I’m not sure Madison is ready for lapin à la moutarde. I wonder if braised rabbit tastes just like chicken.”
“I’m sure it tastes a little woodier,” he said. “Why don’t you try it and find out?” Michael peered over his menu at her. “I think Thumper needs to be sampled.”
“No Thumper for me. I’m sold on the coquilles Saint Jacques to start and the blanquette de veau for my meal.” Piper closed her menu. “I’ve always wanted to try the famous French scallops, and you can’t go wrong with a good ragout.”
“I think I’ll do the pan-seared foie gras and the hachis Parmentier. I’d like to see how the French do shepherd’s pie.”
“I’m sure it tastes like heaven, served with dainty vegetables and topped with perfectly browned mashed potatoes.”
The waiter came up to the table. “Hello, madam”—he nodded—“sir. May I start you off with a beverage this evening?”
Piper began, but Michael cut her off. “We’ll take a bottle of the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin.”
“Of course, we have two available years to choose from, 2003 and 2010.”
“We’ll try the 2003.”
Piper looked surprised, but happy. Michael liked seeing his wife happy.
The waiter left, and Piper picked up her water. “That was some fancy ordering, Mikey. Did you do a little research on the wine list before we came?”
“Not really.” He chuckled. “I just asked Don which he liked best, and he was emphatic about this particular champagne.”
“I figured. We know Don knows his way around a restaurant, and I love champagne.” Don Brady was the firm’s newest partner. He’d joined the company two years ago after heavy recruiting. He and his partner, Jerry, lived a few miles from Piper and Michael, and the Collinses had been invited over for dinner at their home several times. Don was a great cook and a wine connoisseur. “I’m sure it’ll be delicious. If you owe Don a weekend of work, I should invite Jerry out to the movies or something. He hates it when he’s left alone for the weekend when Don is working on a case.”
“That would be fine with me. But if you go, don’t mention that we took his reservation for tonight’s romantic evening. Don mentioned something about it being their anniversary, but he didn’t get technical.”
Piper covered her mouth. “You did not swindle Jerry’s anniversary dinner out from under him! If he finds out, he’ll be devastated.”
“So let’s make sure he doesn’t find out.” Michael grinned. Piper began to reply, but he cut her off, “Hey, Don didn’t have to give this up. He could’ve easily said no. But just so you feel better, he did say he’s booked a night here every other month for an entire year.”
“That bugger,” Piper gasped. “It’s people like him who screw it up for the rest of us non-self-starters. Though I wouldn’t want to book it that far in advance, because we have no idea what we’re doing next weekend, not to mention in six months.”
The waiter arrived with a fancy silver ice bucket on a stand and set it next to their table. He placed two champagne glasses on the table next, then plucked the cloth-wrapped champagne bottle out of the ice and uncorked it with a flourish. A bunch of steamy condensation flowed out.
He poured some into Michael’s glass, then waited for him to sample it. Michael nodded after he tasted it, and the waiter filled both glasses, put the bottle back in the stand, and bowed. “I’ll be back to take your order momentarily.”
“Did he just bow at us? Somebody pinch me.” Piper picked up her glass and swirled the champagne inside. The bubbles popped and fizzed.
Michael picked up his glass as well. “I’ll be happy to pinch you, just give me the word.”
“You can pinch me any time.” She took a sip of the champagne. “Wow, this is great. Dry, but just sweet enough.”
“I don’t think the waiter would bow for anything less than perfection,” Michael joked as he took a drink. Piper was right. It was perfect.
“You know”—Piper sat back in her seat, champagne glass still in hand—“I kind of wish our waiter was a girl. I’d love to watch her fall all over herself while she served you, all the while thinking about that hot elevator kiss.” She leaned forward and whispered, “The one that gave me a huge wettie.”
Michael’s dick jumped at her tone, as well as her words. “How wet are we talking here?” He relaxed back in his own seat and took a measured drink of champagne, while pinning a lusty look on his wife.
She rose to the occasion. “Drenched. You haven’t kissed me like that—a total mindless kiss—since we were first dating. My nipples are still hard, and my toes are still curled. If the door hadn’t opened, we would’ve had sex right there.”
“If you keep talking about your drenched panties and hard nipples, we’re going to have it right here.”
Her hair came down and curtained her face. “Who said I’m wearing panties?”
Michael groaned as he rearranged himself in his seat. “Piper, honestly, you’re going to make it too hard to have dinner. Emphasis on the hard.” He dropped his voice. “With the kind of sex we’ve been having lately, I have a boner almost constantly anyway.”
“And that’s bad how?”
Before he could answer, the waiter returned to take their order.
He complimented them on their decisions and left. Michael glanced around the room. The tables were spread out, all of them draped in thick, white linen clothes and set to the nines with multiple forks, knives, spoons, glasses, and big napkins folded in complicated shapes.
But the best part was the lighting.
The tables were dimly lit. Very few restaurants got the ambience right, in his opinion.
“What are you looking at?” Piper asked.
Michael’s gaze settled back on her. “I’m trying to figure out where I’m going to fuck you.”
* * *
Piper’s head fell back while she laughed, her nipples even harder than they’d been a few seconds ago. The feeling of them tight against her flimsy bra made her shiver. “You’re supposed to have a plan, honey, not randomly pick a place to fuck me.” She didn’t want to admit that the fact he didn’t have a plan was exciting in and of itself.
“I did…I mean, I do,” he said, shifting in his seat once more, his hand going down to adjust himself. She loved that he was so turned on. “But this place feels special, kind of like we’re on vacation. It makes me want to do something unexpected.”
“I love the unexpected. Bring it.” Piper was enjoying their banter immensely. Michael was so beautiful, he took her breath away. He looked so relaxed and happy, dressed in a dark blue button-up shirt that accentuated his eyes.
“Considering the size of my woody, it’s going to have to be something close by. There’s no way I’m waiting too long to sink myself into that luscious pussy.” He drew out that last word like a purr as he pushed his chair back, giving her a cocky grin. “Excuse me for one moment. I’ll be right back.”
Before she could stop him, he was up and striding toward either the bathrooms or the kitchen.
She watched him go, his ass looking fine in his chinos, and took a long drink of her fabulous champagne. She saw several patrons and servers notice him as he passed by. She had no doubt he was going to get whatever he wanted. He was used to getting his way. All he had to do was find the right person on whom to work his charm—and voilà, they were putty in his hands.
Pondering what they were going to do soon, she let one of her own hands slide down, settling on the top of her thigh while she took another sip of champagne, gazing out the window at the pretty lights. She realized her heartbeat had sped up once Michael had left the table, and her body was rocking with some serious adrenaline. She hadn’t been lying about the kiss and what it had done to her, and with all the banter and knowing Michael was just as horny, all she wanted to do was fuck like crazy. Right this minute.
“What are you thinking now?” Michael asked as he sat down, a huge grin on his face.
Piper glanced over at him and spotted the gleam in his eye. “That was quick. And by the looks of it you were fruitful in your quest. To answer your question, I was thinking about fucking.”
“I was successful, but we’re going to have to wait until this bottle of champagne is done, we’ve eaten, and consumed the crème brûlée for dessert, which I have on good authority is out of this world.”
“What? No. I want my real dessert first.” With Michael’s eyes locked on hers, she let her hand trial up from her thigh to cup the underside of her breast. Then she gave it a squeeze. “I can’t wait.” She mouthed the last part slowly.
Michael cleared his throat. “Then by all means we go now.” He reached over and grabbed the bottle out of the ice bucket.
Piper held out her glass for him. “Our waiter is going to know what we’re up to if we both leave the table at the same time.” Her breath hitched as she said it. “And maybe a few other patrons.”
“They might,” he said as he topped off her glass and then his own, “but that’s the best part.”
“It’s definitely one of the best parts,” she agreed. “But the very best part will be when your cock is deep inside me and I’m coming, and you have to put your hand over my mouth to muffle my scream.”
Michael’s chair scraped backward, making a loud noise as he rose out of his seat. He reached his hand out to her. She took it willingly, draining her drink and setting the empty glass on the table.
Michael tugged her through the restaurant, and she didn’t even try to suppress her grin. He didn’t stop as they passed the restrooms and continued down a long hallway. At the end of the hallway was a pair of big, oversized doors. Michael pushed through them like he’d been to this place a thousand times.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked curiously.
They entered another hallway, this one dimly lit, another set of double doors at the end. These double doors, however, had round windows set in them and looked like they could be pushed open from either direction.
Then she saw a chef’s hat pass by.
It was the kitchen.
Michael kept leading her at a fast clip, saying nothing, his intent clear. In the middle he pulled to a stop, and then she saw them. “The service elevators?” she asked as she watched a few servers pass by the windows in the kitchen. No one looked out.
There was a button on the wall, below it a keyhole that already held a key. Michael turned it as he pushed the button.
The elevators engaged in an instant, whirring loudly.
The doors opened a moment later, and Michael hurried her in, turning her around and pushing her up against the wall before the doors even closed.
His mouth slanted over hers, his kiss urgent and scalding hot. Her hands raked through his hair, tugging it, her tongue plunging deeply inside his mouth. She was as hungry for this as he was, each of them trying to devour the other.
The elevator doors finally closed, and Michael broke the kiss only to maneuver them toward the buttons, where he reached out and slammed his hand over the emergency stop button.
A loud buzzing ensued, sounding like an angry alarm clock. It was a signal the elevator was in lockdown.
Then Michael’s mouth was on hers again, hungry and hot. He was the aggressor, pushing himself into her and kissing her thoroughly. He ran his lips down her neck, licking her skin, nipping her bare shoulder, making her tingle everywhere.
“I think everyone in the restaurant heard that noise.” She moaned as he dipped his mouth farther down her chest and into her cleavage. “The lighting in here is atrocious.”
He glanced up, his gaze piercing her to her core, soundless as he reached down and began to hike up her dress, none too gently. The material felt rough as it rode up her hips. Michael hovered his mouth inches from hers and breathed, “I hope you were telling the truth and you’re bare under this dress. If you aren’t, your panties will not survive what I have in mind.”
“I wasn’t lying,” she panted, her hands racing down to the waistband of his pants, popping the top button. “I’m completely bare.”
Then his lips were on hers again, searing her, capturing her tongue, his groans of need making her even wetter.
Their motions were frantic, each needing to get to the other, both fumbling with each other’s clothing as their tongues entwined again and again. He took control of the kiss, one of his hands diving behind her neck, bracing her forward, and bit her lips as she sprang him from his pants. He moaned into her mouth, and she lifted her leg. He thrust into her without releasing her mouth.
He went in hard, but she was more than ready.
She clutched his ass, forcing him in deeper, her leg locking around his thigh. He pounded himself into her roughly, both of them moaning. His cock came out almost entirely before he slammed it back inside, each thrust pinning her against the elevator wall.
It was raw.
A few more thrusts, and she arched her head back, her fingernails digging into his shoulders. “I’m about to come—”
He pounded hard twice more, and the orgasm began to rocket through her from her toes, racing all the way up. It was so intense she began to cry out. Michael covered her mouth with his hand as he kept up his relentless pumps up, milking every last drop of pleasure out of her, then with a primal yell, he came.
It was the best early dessert she’d ever had in her life.
