Sexiled: an enemies-to-lovers standalone Read online

  “Well you’ve got to trust your gut. Seem to deliver? Should I take that as an insult?”

  “I don’t know. Why don’t you prove it?” I lean in and bat my eyes. “Maybe last night was a fluke.”

  “That would make two flukes, which is a pattern,” he points out, then leans back and crosses his arms. “You look good in my shirt, by the way. So are you moving in, getting all needy?”

  I laugh, loudly. “Mr. Kennedy, we’ll do it like this. I’ll call you when I need you.”

  His nostrils flare and he blinks a few times, clearly surprised.

  I lean back in my chair and run my hand through my hair. “See, Morgan, for two years in college, I was the sexiled one.”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Sexiled; noun. When you cannot go in your room because your roommate is having sex with someone. On the night I came to your hotel room, it happened again, and I had had enough. You were hot and I’d just recently had a breakup and I just decided, this is it.”

  “So I was in the right place at the right time? Or the rebound guy? That was it?”

  “Yep. Lucky you.”

  He smirks. “And lucky you.”

  “Fine. We’re both a little lucky. But I’m saying, I’m not looking for something serious. This is a vacation for me. I’m figuring out who I am after six years of being with someone whom I now know, I shouldn’t have been with for more than a year, maybe. When I compare him with what I feel for you, I finally understand what it’s like to feel truly attracted to someone.”

  “Damn, April. You’re really putting all the cards on the table.”

  “Do you have a problem playing with the cards face up? I should add, I know you’ve been wearing a condom, but I’m on the pill and I trust you.”

  “Fuck. Usually I’m the one worried about the trust thing.”

  “You are?” I ask, puzzled.

  “I love that it doesn’t even cross your mind what I go through. April, believe it or not, there are lots of women out there who would love to have Morgan Kennedy’s baby. Whether it was a one-night stand or not.”

  “But you did it with me,” I point out.

  Morgan chuckles. “I was being serious that I never do that. I’m not a one-night stand kind of guy.”

  “What was that night, then?”

  “You were the exception, Peaches.”

  My spine tingles. He stands up and circles around to my side of the table so he’s behind me. Drink in one hand, he massages my shoulder with the other. “You’re basically saying you want to be my plaything while you’re here? You’re just going to sit there and tempt me to play with fire every day in the office?”

  “No, I’m not saying I’m going to be your plaything.”

  “Well what are you saying, then?”

  The corners of my lips curl upward. “You’re going to be mine.”

  I glance up and see him looking at me with wide eyes. He opens his mouth and closes it a couple of times, but says nothing. I savor his expression.

  “Have I caught you off guard?” I ask.

  “I just wasn’t expecting that.”

  “So what do you think? After being in a relationship for so long where I felt totally powerless and unfulfilled—not to mention, unloved, even though we both said the words to each other frequently—this is what I need. I’m not getting too close. I need you to be okay with that.”

  Part of me can’t even believe the things coming out of my mouth right now. If my college friends were here, they’d be mystified to hear me taking control like this.

  He runs a hand through my hair, then bends my neck back. “I like you a lot, April, and I want to explore whatever this is. And I appreciate you being open with me.” He leans down and gives me an upside-down Spiderman kiss that lights my body on fire.

  When the kiss ends, I look at his upside down face. “Well you’ve got ten weeks to open me up.” I squint, and hesitate. “Wait. That…sounded a little dirty.”

  “A little?” He clears his throat and cracks up. “April, you kill me. Damn this is going to be fun.”

  “Yes it is. I can’t wait to actually do this with someone I can trust. I can trust you, right?”

  He runs the back of his hand down my cheek. “Of course you can. I promise.”

  A knot forms in my chest during the pause that passes between us. Finally, Morgan adds, “I’ve got a great idea for where we can start with your sexiling today. And it involves…” he trails off when his phone vibrates on the glass table.

  He picks it up. “Mr. Murphy! To what do I owe this Sunday morning call…no, I’m not in the middle of anything.”

  Chills rise up on the back of my neck. Does my dad have a sixth sense for how to cockblock me or something?

  “Yes, of course I can…I’ll meet him in an hour…have a good day, sir.”

  He hangs up, blowing out a loud exhale.

  “What did my dad have to say?”

  “There’s a big-shot client who just decided to fly in today,” he sighs. “I’ve got to meet him at the airport and show him around. Some of these pompous rich people, I swear. They wouldn’t figure out where to piss if you didn’t point their dick for them. They expect you to drop everything at a moment’s notice because they have a fat checkbook.”

  I laugh. “I could take that as an insult, you know. My dad is pretty wealthy.”

  “Well, maybe you were born with money, but your dad didn’t raise you like some of these people got raised.”

  He picks up some of the dishes and heads inside. I grab the others and follow him in.

  “You’ve got to go?” I ask.

  “I do.”

  I bite my lower lip as I set my dishes in the sink, then lean against his empty island counter. “You sure you don’t have time for one little lesson, Mr. Kennedy?” I say in my best mock-obedient employee voice.

  He turns toward me, still wearing that ridiculous apron, then wedges me against the marble kitchen island counter. My ass presses into its edge through his jersey.

  He lowers his voice. “Yeah. Your first lesson, Miss Murphy, is that when time is of the essence, you’ve got to do exactly as your boss says. Because really, he’s looking out for you, and when one of you wins, you both win—as long as your boss is truly looking out for your best interests.”

  His hands ride up my stomach, to my breasts, and he pinches my nipples, making me flinch.

  “What do you need me to do?” I moan.

  “Take my shirt off.” I do as I’m told and he responds, “Good. Now come over here to the dining room table.”

  I pad over to the table and hop onto the spot where he points me to sit.

  Wasting no time, he fondles and sucks both of my nipples, then growls against my neck, kissing me hard, with teeth.

  “Ow!” I grit out.

  “The first thing you need to know about being my plaything, Miss Murphy, is that I’ll be the only one who is playing with you.”

  I shudder and lean back as he nudges the head of his tip into me with his finger on my clit.

  “That goes for you, too.”

  His lips brush against my ear. “Like that’s even a question. I have a feeling you’re going to be a handful now that you’re coming out of your shell.”

  “Don't forget, a mouthful too,” I playfully tease.

  He’s so damn right. I am coming out of my shell.

  Finally.

  And this time, it feels right.

  I clench my muscles to his teasing touches of my clit. The tips of his fingers are strong, nimble, perfect as they circle my nub. I moan, light-headed with pleasure, and glance down at his hand.

  “You’re using your fingers. God, you’re good with those.”

  He smirks. “What did you think I was using?”

  I squint, my chest knotting. “I mean, you don’t use a thumb?”

  He laughs. “No. The fingers are much more dexterous than the thumb. Especially for a baseball pitcher.”

  “Oh,”
I moan, and then let out a few more stray “oohs.”

  He clenches his jaw. “Good girl. You’re already wet for me. You’re so fun to play with. See how I’m playing you like an instrument, making you hum?”

  Well, he’s not wrong about that.

  “You’re mine now, April. I know you can feel that.”

  With one strong movement, he thrusts inside me and I clench around him. I close my eyes and lift off to ecstasy-land.

  Gripping my ass cheeks with both hands, he pumps into me over and over, with my legs pressed against his shoulders. I fall with my back flat onto the table.

  “Coming,” I say, and he just grins.

  “Who’s sexiled now, baby?” he asks me.

  “Not me,” I mutter through my haze. “Definitely not me.”

  How is this so easy with him?

  He lifts my legs up against his shoulders and presses into my depths.

  “You feel so good when you clench around me like that.”

  His hand slides slowly up my stomach, and I don’t know who is whose plaything.

  But I know I love the feel of Morgan freaking Kennedy inside me.

  “Your skin is so soft. Do you have any idea how beautiful you look right now?”

  “I only know what you tell me.”

  “Then listen to what I’m telling you right now. And remember it.” Morgan stills his body above mine and I find this forceful sincerity in his eyes. "You look so fucking hot right now, you feel so fucking good, I’m worried I might lose control of myself with you.”

  “Oh, God.” I close my eyes and clench my muscles around him, drifting off into my own little world of sensations. Big hands that seem to slide effortlessly over my skin, grabbing hold of my legs when he needs more leverage, and the thing between his legs that is like my own live, personal moan-maker.

  “Open your eyes,” Morgan growls. “You’re shaking. You good?”

  “So good. I’m going to come again,” I mutter out in ragged breaths as the joyful tingle explodes electricity through my body.

  He buries himself deep inside me, then reaches down to wrap a thumb gently around my neck, massaging my throat.

  Pleasure ripples through my body at his touch spreading all over my skin. My nipples harden. I’m so wet and warmed up now, he has no need to be gentle anymore.

  And he isn’t.

  His body responds by picking up speed. He thrusts inside me harder and faster, as I build and build. The more he gives, the more I take. And I want to take it all.

  I feel him everywhere. His hands thread through my hair, run over my neck, gripping my thighs. Carressing my backside.

  “I want you so bad April,” he says. “Fuck me, how do you turn me on like this?”

  “You’re so deep,” I attempt to mumble, but all that comes out is a series of unintelligible moans as he covers my lips with a deep, wet kiss and our moans collide.

  He pulses while I grip around him with my muscles, and a few seconds later I feel my insides filled with warmth.

  When he pulls out, both of our bodies are stained in sweat. Our chests heaving, we lock eyes, but don’t say anything.

  22

  Morgan

  A couple of weeks go by, and April and I come up with the rules of engagement for while she’s interning here.

  Basically, it comes down to these official rules.

  Rule number one is we do not hook up at the office.

  Rule number two is we do not talk about hooking up at the office.

  Rule number three is no lying.

  Rule number four is do not look at page six of the employee handbook.

  For the love of God, don’t think of the consequences if we get found out.

  I don’t think I have to tell you what’s on page six.

  Rule number five is, well, I give her at least one orgasm a day.

  What can I say? April is insatiable.

  And when it comes to her, so am I.

  Which brings me to rule number six.

  Do it as often as we can. Because this internship is only ten weeks long.

  It’s not about the sex.

  Okay, it is, and it isn’t. Is the sex the best I’ve ever had? Yes.

  There’s something about the way she melts under me, how she gives herself to me, body and soul, that feels just right.

  Even though it’s very, very wrong according to page six.

  Stupid page six, I grumble to myself.

  Either way, I’m in a relaxed state despite the asshole client who can’t stop calling me all day with the most mundane questions.

  His comments fly off me like Teflon. First of all, I’m on a high after what April and I were up to this weekend. Second of all, because I’ve got more important, billion-dollar problems to deal with.

  And now, I’m chatting with the most important person in the world to me, my priorities feeling very much in order.

  I can practically hear my mom grinning through the phone as she says, “I don’t know what you said to that landlord, but he’s being so nice to me all of a sudden.”

  I lean back in my office chair and smile. “Has he ripped up the eviction notice yet?”

  “No, not yet, officially. But he even brought me two bags of premium cat food. Did you put him up to this?”

  I stifle a laugh. “I guess he just saw the light.”

  “I don’t know how you do it, Morgan. No matter what problem I have, it just seems to go away once I tell you.”

  “I’m basically a magician, Mom.”

  “So what else is new with you?”

  I spin my chair and look out the window to the sea. “The temperature rose inexplicably today in Puerto Rico. It’s sweltering all of a sudden. Thank God for air conditioning.”

  “How was that party you had the other day? Anything eventful?”

  “Nah. Just margaritas and talking business. The usual hedge fund nonsense. Really dry and boring.”

  Nothing that you need to know about, Mom.

  Like April, I also don’t exactly share every detail of my romances with my mother. Not as if there’s been much news on that front in a long time.

  Just over here being explained to by one of my employees how she’s going to use me for her own devices, which apparently includes years of missed pleasure.

  “How is your arm doing, honey?” my mom offers. “Have you tried throwing yet?”

  “I’m not sure, Mom. I haven’t tried. I’ve kind of tried to forget about the game, to be honest.”

  “Well, maybe there’s some kids or something you can play catch with. They like baseball in Puerto Rico, right?”

  “They do.”

  “You were always so happy playing baseball. I don’t know if you’ve seemed happy like that since you stopped.”

  I take a moment to process what my mom is telling me. After all, she knows me better than anyone at the end of the day.

  She continues. “Of course, there could be other reasons.”

  She’s right about that, too.

  Burying Michael.

  The undoing of my relationship.

  We chat for a bit longer, then say goodbye.

  I pause for a moment before I switch over, staring at the baseball, one of the few symbols left in my corporate life from my old existence.

  Since last May when I got the surgery and started working for Mr. Murphy, my life has simply become a barrage of numbers, equations, plus wining and dining high-level clients.

  It’s not a bad life. But the combination of psychology, athleticism, and gamesmanship baseball requires makes it the most fun of any “job” a guy could have.

  But that guy’s not me.

  Not anymore.

  Funny, April has been encouraging me to call my mom every day, even if it’s just five minutes to say hello. So I’ve been doing that lately, in addition to my usual twice a week calls. It actually surprised her at first, but she’s gotten used to it and now looks forward to our quick check-in chats, just to say hi.

>   I smile looking out my window. April’s been rubbing off on me in more than one way lately.

  I glance at my watch. It’s not a bad time for a late lunch, so I decide to cruise around and do a lap of the office to see how everyone’s doing before I head out.

  I say hi to Gabe, and our star trader Derek, then Loretta in H.R.

  “Wow, someone’s in a good mood today,” she quips.

  “What? I’m not always in a good mood?”

  “Uh, no, you’re not always in a good mood,” Gabe pipes up.

  “Hey, no one asked you,” I bite back.

  “Sorry! I am a full supporter of the truth,” Gabe says. “I meant it as a good thing.”

  “Yes, it’s a really good thing.”

  Gabe arches an eyebrow. “Are you seeing someone or something?”

  “Psht. Seeing someone?” I retort like it’s the wildest thing I’ve heard all day. “As if.”

  I decide that maybe carrying on a conversation about relationships with Loretta around is not the best idea, so I spin around and look for our minute-by-minute monitor, Vinny. His job is to keep an eye on the markets and let us know if something big might cause a stock price downturn that we need to be aware of.

  Vinny is not at his five-monitor desk he’s usually glued to, which makes me do a double-take.

  “Uh, Gabe? Where is Vinny? He usually takes lunch at his desk, right?”

  “He’s over at April’s desk,” he says, then leans in. “I think he may have a crush.”

  My eyes zoom over to him. He’s leaned into her desk, and could not be more obviously flirting with her, judging by his body language.

  I saunter over.

  “Hey there, Vinny,” I say. “I was just about to stop by and see if you were aware of the Australia situation and how that might affect the markets.”

  “Uh, what Australian situation?”

  “Exactly. If you don’t know I think you had better get back to your desk and keep an eye on it.”

  “Man. Up my ass again. What happened? The last couple of weeks you’ve actually been pretty chill. I was just telling April about this new hot spot downtown she should hit up. She just broke up with Todd and all.”

  I arch an eyebrow. “Did you now?”