Chapter 16
Angela
“Hey,” I breathe as I answer the phone. I’m shaky from excitement, from anticipation. I don’t know what to expect, but I’m damn sure this call has nothing to do with business.
“Do you mean it, Angel?” Garrett’s voice is husky. Needy. “Did you mean what you said?”
“I can’t stop wondering what would happen…if we…if you…” I swallow hard. “What would you order me to do?” I whisper. “The thought just goes round and round and I don’t know how I’ll handle myself professionally the next time I see you because that’s all I can think about.”
Garrett clears his throat and I’d do anything to see his face. I have no idea what he’s thinking, and the seconds of silence drive me crazy. Though, seeing his expression wouldn’t help that much. He’s probably glaring, doing that growly and intense thing he’s so good at.
The thought makes me giggle and I clamp a hand over my mouth.
“If you’re serious,” he says, “I’ll give you my first order right now and we can get whatever this is out of our system.”
“Just like that, huh? One order and this whole thing will be out of our system?”
A little voice reminds me that the kiss he used to prove his point set whatever this is between us on fire. If one kiss can do that, what would a little phone sex do? Assuming that’s what he’s talking about.
But what else could he be talking about?
“Like I said before, this will only become what we let it. Maybe releasing some of the tension is exactly what we need. But only with your permission. This only works if you want it too. Consent matters. Even on the phone.”
Nerves flutter in my belly. Not only am I now positive he’s talking about phone sex, but I’ve never done it before. I’ve never even considered it before, especially with someone I barely know and don’t even like.
“I’m not a talker in…in umm…this kind of, well, you know, sexual situations.” I drag a hand down my face. Sexual situations? Really? “Quiet as a mouse. That’s me. It’s the only time you can get me to shut up.”
“It doesn’t matter, as long as you’re good at listening.” Garrett’s deep voice sends a shiver of desire through me.
“Tell me what you want me to do.” The words are so quiet, it’s like someone else is speaking.
“Put me on speakerphone. You’re gonna need your hands.”
My nerves pitch into overdrive and I suddenly feel ridiculous. All the reasons this is a bad idea come rioting back through my head. He’s a business contact and he’s playing for the other team. He deals with distractions, and I want real connection. Nothing good can come of this.
“Garrett…”
“Do what I say, Angel.” He speaks firmly yet gently and something about the combination breaks my resistance. People have casual sexual encounters all the time. Why can’t I?
I tap the speakerphone button then place the device on my knee.
“It’s done.”
“Good girl.”
My breath hitches and a smile tugs at my lips. I drop my gaze, overwhelmed by the heat those two little words ignite in me. Why do I like it so much and how can I make him say it again?
“What are you wearing?” Garrett asks. There’s a rustle of fabric on his end of the line…the hiss of sheets? Is he settling into bed? Taking off his clothes?
“A pink tank top and silk shorts.”
“Imagine I’m standing at the edge of your bed, watching you take them off.”
I envision Garrett, tall, imposing, wearing the black slacks and white button down he seems to love so much.
His shirt is undone, revealing the powerful chest I saw in the picture, with his tie draped around his neck.
His hands are shoved into his pockets as he watches me pull my tank top over my head, then shimmy my shorts over my hips and toss them on the floor.
In my mind, he smiles darkly, his eyes locked on mine.
“Okay,” I breathe. “Clothes are off.”
“Imagine I’m kissing you. I start at your mouth, then work my way down your throat and take a nipple between my teeth.” He pauses while I trail my fingers down my chest. “Would you rather I bite? Or lick? Pain or pleasure, Angel?”
“Both,” I manage. “I like both.”
“Good. Pinch your nipples, Beautiful. Let me hear you moan.”
I do as I’m told, moaning in pleasure that’s only amplified by Garrett’s growl of approval.
“I’m taking off my clothes now. I’m so fucking hard for you.”
I close my eyes and see him lying back in bed, his hand stroking his dick as his eyes burn with pleasure.
“Are you using your hands on yourself?” he asks.
His voice is tight. Low. My body throbs with desire. “Yes.”
“Good girl.”
The words have me clenching in satisfaction and I smile as my eyes slide shut. “I like it when you say that.”
“Then give me another reason to say it.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Rub your clit and imagine it’s my tongue.”
I slip my hand between my legs, rubbing the tight bundle of nerves hidden there.
“Are you touching yourself, too?” My voice hitches with need. For him, but also for validation, for confirmation. My brain is certain I’m making a mistake, but my body is beyond caring.
“I’m stroking my cock, Angel. It’s so hard for you.”
I close my eyes, imagining myself trapped beneath him, his dick slipping into me so slowly I can’t stand it. “I’m close, Garrett,” I groan. “Oh God. I’m so close.”
“Keep going. I want to know what you sound like when you come.”
I moan, cursing, as his breathing sounds rough and ragged in my ear.
“There. Yes!”
As I tumble over the edge, my body clenching and bucking, Garrett’s words fall away, leaving only his breath. I focus on the sounds he makes as he chases his release, until his breathing stalls and he grunts, then falls quiet.
I stare at the ceiling, melting into my pillow as I catch my breath.
Holy fucking shit.
My first casual sexual encounter.
But wait…
How was that a “casual encounter” when it was the single hottest thing in my life? Nothing about what just happened feels casual.
There’s silence on his end, and then, “Still with me?”
“I think so,” I say with a laugh, tapping the speakerphone button and putting the phone to my ear. “So…that’s a thing we did.”
“Do you regret it?”
I slip under the sheet, pulling it up to cover my breasts. “No. Do you?”
“Not even a little.” There’s a smile to Garrett’s voice and it brings one of my own.
“You really don’t think this’ll change things between us?” I ask, because how can it not? How will I look at him the same now that I know what he sounds like when he comes? Now that I’ll crave those two little words in that rasping voice…good girl.
“It’ll only change what we allow it to change.” He sounds so certain, but I’m still not convinced.
“We’re still business partners?”
“Business partners who have phone sex.” Garrett laughs teasingly and I roll my eyes. I like this lighter version of him. It feels personal, like I’m getting a glimpse of him with his guard down.
“Very funny.”
“I thought so.”
“I just don’t want this to interfere…”
“Honestly, Angel? It would’ve been worse if we didn’t get that out of the way. I couldn’t stop thinking about you.”
“And now you can?”
“At the very least I’ll be able to focus when we meet in South Carolina to check out the new site. Otherwise, I would only have been able to focus on how much I wanted to fuck you.”
“Yeah.” A nervous giggle. “Same. Good thing that’s out of our system.”
“Exactly.”
Only, it doesn’t feel like this is out of my system. If anything, I want him more now that I know what he sounds like when he comes.
It’s safe to say Garrett Cooper is firmly lodged in my system.
We plan to meet at the South Carolina site in two days and end the call.
I stare at the phone for several long minutes, unable to process what I just did.
Instead, I focus on the fact that I have a trip to plan.
I need to book a flight. A hotel. Oh shit!
I can’t just leave the kittens! I text Nathan and Micah, asking if they’d mind feeding them while I’m gone.
It’s too late for them to respond, but I’m sure they’ll give me hell about it first thing in the morning.
Once that’s over, there’s nothing to distract me from what I just did with Garrett.
I can’t believe something like that happened and I don’t have anyone to talk about it with. There’s no way I’m telling Nick I had phone sex with a guy I’ve known only a handful of days. That’s not something you bring up to a male cousin, no matter how close you are.
Right?
I try to imagine the look on his face as I share the story and burst out laughing.
Yeah. No. That’s not something I’ll be telling Nick the Wonderful.
What does it mean that Garrett’s phone call was the single hottest thing that ever happened in my life?
Does it mean I’m sheltered? (Probably.)
Inexperienced? (Definitely.)
Or does it mean there’s something special about the guy?
“You mean something special like he lives in another state?” I ask myself. “Or something special like we’re gonna work together and the only reason he called was to get me out of his system?”
Of all the stupid, boneheaded things I’ve ever done…
Shaking my head, I place my phone on the nightstand and pad into the bathroom to clean up. Garrett might have gotten me out of his system, but what we did tonight injected a heavy dose of “Yes please, Mr. Cooper” into mine.
Hearing his moans. His grunts. His deep voice ordering me to touch myself. To make myself come…
I already want to call him back and beg for more.
“Out of my system, my ass,” I say to my reflection as I reach for my toothbrush.
And we’ll be seeing each other again in just a handful of days. How will I make it through without jumping his bones?