With nothing else to do, Shyla slunk down the hallway to her bedroom intending to take a shower and get an early night. The last thing she expected to find was a gift. But there it was, a large flat box on the end of her bed.
Tilting her head, she crept toward the black and ivory box. Getting closer to it, she noted the small rectangle of cardboard tucked beneath the bow in the middle.
Plucking it out, she opened the card. Her curiosity stayed on the box until she dragged her eyes to the card to read the handwritten words. Be ready tonight –P. Be ready. Laying the card on the bed, she bent over to take the lid from the box. After putting it aside, she unfolded the delicate paper and inhaled in wonder at what she saw beneath.
A balconette bra in the same deep jade green color as her eyes lay atop of a matching pair of panties. Letting her fingers trail across the soft fabric, she didn’t know whether to be awe-inspired, touched, or overwhelmed. Some part of all three swirled within her.
The card wasn’t explicit about what Score expected, but it sent her a message all the same. Shyla picked up the card to touch the letters he’d written for her. Asking her to wear his gift implied he’d be home early again.
Biting her lip, she looked to her shower, wishing for a bathtub instead. His invitation gave her notice to prepare for him. Whatever it took, she vowed to change his opinion and make him proud of her. Score said that it was in her room he’d decided to have her. Something must be in the air because standing there, she decided to give all of herself to him.
Waiting was excruciating.
Shyla had no idea what time Score was going to be home, so she jumped every time noise came from either the elevator shafts or the stairwells. Midnight came and went… She started to think maybe he wasn’t coming at all. Something could’ve happened at the club, something which took precedence or maybe he’d just changed his mind.
Sitting on the couch, curled up with a book, her concentration was slipping. The terrifying idea that there may have been a horrific accident wouldn’t go away. It was so intrusive that she almost didn’t hear when the elevator did open. The thump of his heavy footsteps pulled her from her funk.
Tossing the book to the table, Shyla leaped from the couch and ran to the foyer to see him standing in the middle.
“Oh, baby, I was worried,” she said, rushing forward, but he put a hand up to halt her. His scowl slunk down her body. She guessed he didn’t like the silk maxi robe tied over her body. “I didn’t want to take the risk that you wouldn’t be alone.”
Adrenaline pulsated through her. Her heart fluttered with palpitations that made her feel faint. Or maybe it was less about the palpitations and more about the man in front of her, waiting for her to loosen the tie of her robe.
Holding her breath, she gathered the edges at the center of her torso and let the delicate material flutter from her shoulders down her body to the floor.
Waiting for him to say something, she tried to stay still, but her hands drifted toward each other. His hand was still flat in the air between them. While his eyes enjoyed their journey over her figure, he curled his fingers until only his forefinger was left up.
“Put your hands on your ass.”
Surprise caught her words in her throat. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said. “Don’t make me say it again.”
The request was unusual, but she curved her arms around to her back and did as he said, resting a hand on each of her ass cheeks.
After what felt like a lifetime of him just examining her body, he turned his hand so the back was parallel to the floor and crooked his finger at her.
Shyla hoped his beckoning would lead to touching. If he didn’t sate her desire, she couldn’t wager how much longer she’d last.
“Phoenix,” she whispered, tiptoeing nearer.
Just when she was ready to reach for him, he held up his hand to stop her again.
“Shh,” he said, touching a fingertip to her shoulder.
The light touch parted her lips and closed her eyes. As it began to slide down her arm, her breathing quickened.
Curling his fingers around her elbow, he drew it up, allowing her hand to leave her ass under his direction. To see what he was doing, she let her lashes flutter apart just as he guided her fingertips to his lips in the most delicate caress.
Lost in the need and anticipation, she was so mesmerized that, at first, she didn’t notice he’d lowered her hand to the zip of his jacket. The cool metallic tab took a second to register under her touch. Soon she realized what he wanted and drew the zip down.
Loosening his jacket, Shyla opened her hands on his tee-shirt beneath. Peeking up and half expecting him to tell her she wasn’t allowed to touch him, she waited a second before trailing her hands down and up. He didn’t say anything or stop her, so catching her lip in her teeth, Shyla satisfied some of her intrigue. The hard planes of his body beneath the warm cotton of his tee-shirt aroused her desire. Letting her hands ascend to his shoulders, she pushed his jacket back.
With his help shrugging it off, the jacket fell to his hand, he caught it by the collar.
“Can I do your boots?” she asked, though with her hands flat on his chest, she was sort of loathed to tear them away.
