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Settling herself on the couch with her meal and a very generous glass of wine, Maria let her mind drift to the Rick and spanking issue, which she’d managed to forget about for most of the day. Shocking, considering that last night she’d barely been able to sleep while her mind had turned over the possibilities.
She still didn’t think she liked the idea of being spanked. On the other hand, for some reason, part of her did like the idea of a man who took charge in the bedroom. When was the last time she’d been with a guy who really knew exactly what he wanted and went for it?
When Rick had been looming and intimidating, she’d been creaming her panties in a way she’d never done before with any other guy. Well, maybe for Chris Hemsworth. But definitely no man in her real life had ever made her feel so weak-kneed or flushed and squirmy, and Rick had done it twice now.
Maybe she could put up with spanking. Especially since he said he wasn’t just a good-time guy, and she believed him. If he was seriously looking for a relationship, and he was attracted to her then she’d be crazy to pass up at least getting to know him better. After all, when was the last time she’d met a guy she was this attracted to? That’s if he still wanted to get to know her after yesterday.
She was sure he thought she was a flirt. A tease. A good-time girl just like she’d assumed he was. That’s how she’d acted around him.
So maybe she needed to do something a little different.
Rick figured his morning workout was just about over, he was debating between doing another two laps or just finishing his work-out now when he saw the pair of legs hanging down in front of the wall he was approaching. Steering himself slightly to the side so he could grip the wall, he came up for air, pulling off his goggles at the same time so he could actually see. Maria smiled blindingly bright at him as he blinked at her. She was back in the red bikini, water droplets on her stomach and thighs from his splashing as he’d approached, and her hair was piled in her usual heavy bun on top of her head again.
Being so close to her made his fingers itch to reach out and touch her. His shoulder was within an inch of her calf, so close he could swear he could feel the heat of her skin. Her very nearness set him on edge, wondering what she wanted from him now. Wondering why his threat to spank her hadn’t kept her far, far away from him.
“Hi. I hope I’m not interrupting. You’re usually done with your workout about this time,” she said cheerfully. As if their confrontation at his front door hadn’t happened two days ago.
“I was just finishing up,” he said, carefully keeping his voice non-committal. He wasn’t sure what she was up to now. After all, he’d only warned her to stay away from his apartment, not from him entirely. That might have been a mistake, although he hadn’t thought she’d pop back up again. Definitely not so quickly. He cursed the pleasure that rose up in him at her presence, the hope that she might be interested in what he was offering.
“Don’t you get bored? Swimming laps? I can’t stand it. It’s even worse than running because you can’t listen to music or watch television while you’re doing it.”
“I think that’s why I like it,” he said, leaning back against the rope keeping the lap lane separate from the rest of the pool. If it was later in the day he’d feel the need to get out of the lane so someone else could use it, but right now there wasn’t anyone at the pool who would want to. Just some kids, a couple of teenage girls who were eyeballing the college frat boys that had shown up, and a few parents who obviously just wanted to laze about in the sun. “It’s almost like meditating. Since I teach high school, I like the quiet.”
“What do you teach?”
“English. I’ll be starting at Franklin High School this fall.”
“Bet you’re going to cause a stir among the girls,” she said, kicking her legs a bit, not quite enough to break the water, as she grinned at him in a conspiratorial way, inviting him to share the joke.
Rick studied her, more than a bit confused. Everything about her body language said she was relaxed and being friendly, but her last remark was definitely flirtatious. For a minute he’d thought perhaps she’d decided to just be friendly and ignore the attraction between them, maybe as a way to prove to herself that he hadn’t scared her. Now he wasn’t sure what she was doing.
“Do you go running often?” he asked.
The little amused look she gave him said she hadn’t missed his evasion away from being flirty. Even that made his cock stir. Good thing he was still in the pool. Because right now all he could think about was ways to wipe the little amused smile from her face.
“Not really, why?”
“You shouldn’t listen to music while you do it. My friend Angel teaches a women’s self-defense class and that’s one of the things she stresses, always being aware of your situation and that means being able to hear what’s around you.”
“Or someone might jump out and put you over their knee?” she asked, teasingly, but he could see the curiosity in her eyes.
Telling his dick not to get too excited, Rick looked back at her, considering his response. He couldn’t help it, the way she was looking at him, the fact that she continued searching him out. It had to mean something, didn’t it? “Is that something you’d actually be interested in?”
To his surprise, she looked away, not meeting his gaze for the first time. Not meeting the challenge. It was almost... submissive.
Wait for her to actually answer before you jump all over her, Romeo.
“I don’t know,” she said, softly, turning back to look at him. But as soon as her gaze met his, her eyes lowered again, and he had to stifle the urge to pull her down into the pool with him so he could get a little bit closer. See what other reactions he might be able to surprise from her. She peeked at him from underneath her eyelashes. “I thought maybe we could just start with flirting.”
Rick wanted to make a comment about how two days ago she’d wanted to start with sex, but he stamped down on the urge. Not only would it be rude, but it would be entirely counterproductive. He’d been very clear about what he wanted, and if she was still truly interested in getting to know him, and she hadn’t been completely scared off by the threat of a spanking, then he shouldn’t push her away immediately.
While he would have preferred to meet someone at Stronghold, someone who was already familiar with the lifestyle, he also realized so far that hadn’t exactly been working. Neither had his resolve to stay away from his gorgeous neighbor. At the very least, maybe as they got to know each other, the initial attraction would fade. As long as she wasn’t throwing herself at him, just looking for a hot night, then he could keep his own impulses under control.
He glanced over at the clock on the lifeguard’s station wall.
“Unfortunately, I have to go,” he said, letting his reluctance show. “I’ve got some stuff to do today.”
“Okay.” This time her bright smile didn’t completely hide her disappointment or the little flash of hurt.
