He heard the music as he got to his bedroom. And there she was, on his bed, in a tiny tank top and an even tinier pair of panties, her glasses perched on her nose as she looked up at him from the book in her hands with a smile just for him.
“You’re home. Did you have fun?”
“I’m home.” He went to her then, pulling her up to her knees on the bed. She was home for him too.
He kissed her and she hummed in that way of hers, all pleased and feline.
“This is more fun than racing. But you weren’t there for this, so I had to settle for racing. It was fun too.”
She grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Damn right. Glad you had fun otherwise.”
“How was your lunch?”
“We plotted revolution.”
“I can tell I need to be lying down for this.” He pulled his clothes off and got in bed, shifting his arm so she could move into her place, snuggled at his side.
“Jay had some big ugly set-to with my father and Fee. My dad walked out after Fee said some nasty stuff about me to Jay. Wouldn’t take a side. Fee threatened Jay, but for once, Jay stood up for himself and for all of us. Turns out Jay had done his homework and found some leverage for us as siblings to make a power move to take over.”
“I take it this is the revolution stuff you mean.”
PJ nodded. “There’s a poison pill provision in the contract my dad and Fee signed when my grandfather got ill and they took over. There’s a way to combine to push them out. If we want.”
“And do you? Want that?” Asa treaded carefully here.
“They said the new Colman would be one where I’d have control of a paint and detail shop. My clients, Colman bays. It’s what I hadn’t dared to hope for. They said they appreciated my creativity and my voice would be heard. This is our company. Grandpa would have wanted us to do this.”
Asa didn’t want her hurt. Jay hadn’t done his job and it had harmed PJ. He hadn’t protected her as a brother or as a co-worker, and though he knew she wouldn’t want Asa to judge her brother too harshly, he did. Her father and uncle hurt her and Asa wanted to shield her from that too. He also wanted to punch Howard Colman right in the mouth for telling PJ she was a failure, but that wasn’t for thinking on because she needed him to support the choice she’d already made in her mind and heart.
When he first was getting to know her, she’d talked with a great deal of affection about Colman Enterprises and had always shown pride that it was a family business. If they succeeded, she’d be doing what she wanted and building for the next generation too. He knew she wanted that and so even though he worried about her getting hurt – again – he needed to help her get it.
“I want you to do what makes you happy. What makes you satisfied. I support that, no matter what it is that gets you there. But if any of them fucks up and you end up bearing all the heat for this, I will personally kick his or her ass.”
“So romantic.” But she laughed.
“You’re going to do it.”
She paused, choosing her words. “I’ve been thinking about it. Not just today, of course, but since I left. I had a plan when I resigned. I knew they’d realize how much I did and how integral I was to Colman and ask me back. Beg me maybe, but I wasn’t going to make a big deal out of it. But they… didn’t. I wasn’t expecting that. So my dad and uncle, they don’t care. They’d rather me be a silent cog in their machine than bring anything to the table on my own. I just couldn’t choose that path. I made my own way. I’m not pretending I didn’t have a leg up because of my name. But I built this business in large part because I’m good at it. And my brothers and sister, they see it and appreciate it. Not as well as they should, maybe. I guess I have to accept that it’s never going to come from them in a way I need. But I get it elsewhere.
“The truth is, Colman means a lot to me. I can’t just turn my back on it when it needs me. My father and uncle, they’ve stopped innovating. They’re satisfied with tires and they don’t think beyond that. Beyond when they both retire. That offends me. Maybe it won’t when I’m their age. But yes, I’m going to do it because someone should fucking care about this business.”
He kissed her forehead. “Yes, they should.”
“What do you think? And don’t say ‘whatever makes you happy.’ I don’t need you to tell me what to do. I want your input.”
“I think you should do it. It’s going to be tough and there’ll be a high chance of family drama, but you know that. You want to do this. If for no other reason than that, I’d support you. But you need to do this, and I understand that. I’ve got your back.”
She went up to her elbow to look at him better. “You do. Thank you for that.”
“My heart.” He cupped her cheek. “Didn’t see you coming at all. And once I did, you were faster and cornered me. Thank god you never fucking give up, huh?”
Laughing, she bent to kiss him. “You let me catch you. You wanted what I have going on.”
He rolled, laying her flat on her back, looming over her. “Yes. I do, every moment of the day. Speaking of which, I promised you orgasms earlier.”
“So hard I saw stars. If you wanted to be really accurate, I mean.”
“Top drawer. Blue silk bag.” He paused. “Yes, for now. Bring me the bag.”
She licked her lips, her pupils big, a flush on her skin before she padded over to his dresser, where he kept most of their toys and gear. While her back was to him he took the opportunity to look at her ass in those little panties he’d be divesting her of shortly.
Then she turned and it was the way her nipples pressed against the front of her tank top that caught his attention.
She came to him, handing the bag over. He got to his feet, licking his way up her neck.
She took his hand and guided it to her pussy, pulling the fabric of her panties aside.
Ready? Hell yes. So hot and wet they both groaned.
“Of course I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for you,” she murmured as he pulled his fingertips away.
When she said stuff like that it sort of unraveled him. That raw honesty regarding how much she desired him was the hottest thing.
One-handed, he pulled her tank top up and off. She smiled, one brow rising. “So.” He opened the bag and slid the magnetic clamps into his palm. “We tried clamps before, but they weren’t right for your piercings. Let’s try these.”
He kissed along her jaw and neck before playing with her nipples, making them harder.
He put each clamp on, letting the magnets and the bars through her piercings work together.
She sucked in a sharp breath as the sensation bolted through her. Still, more pain than she preferred was in her face.
“Give it a moment. I think it might help if you come.”
He stroked over her arms and back as he kissed her, as she lost the tension of fighting the pain and gave over to it once it began to change into pleasure.
“Now you need the egg.”
She swallowed hard but managed to grab the little case and bring it back to him.
“Put it in.”
She rested a foot on his calf and slid the egg-shaped vibrator inside her pussy.
And hummed.
He played these games, but she always won because she was so sexy and gorgeous she got to him, challenged his control.
Asa took the remote from her and set it low, watching her nipples darken as she got hotter. And then that second flush of pleasure as the clamps worked against all that blood rushing to her nipples.
“Giving you pleasure is my addiction. Did you know that?”
She smiled.
“But my pleasure is to watch you give yourself pleasure.”
He moved to sit back against the pillows and watch as she chose the wingback chair across from the bed.
And spread her thighs wide.
“I’ll let you know what I want you to do with your hands,” he admonished as she played her fingers against her clit. She did it again, her gaze locked on his.