“Impressive...and of course that’s what I’d hoped for years, but it never happened. I don’t want to be someone’s employee forever. I’ve figured out that much. I want to work for myself.”

“Everyone has someone to answer to,” he said thoughtfully.

“That may be, but I’m more of an on my terms kind of gal.”

“You don’t like your job?” He paused at the doorway before turning off the light.

“I love it, actually,” I said, taking in his half-naked frame as it came toward me. His thick thighs and full ass perfectly filled out his boxers and made my mouth water, not to mention the bulge in front and its impressive résumé.

“Then why this need to find something else?” he asked, taking a seat at the foot of the bed.

“What’s with the fifth degree?” I asked, staring at the mix of bright colors on his right bicep that extended to his wrist.

“I’m just trying to understand why you aren’t satisfied,” he said testily.

I frowned at his reaction. “I told you I want to contribute to the world in some way, not be behind the scenes.”

“Sometimes the people behind the scenes are most important.” I jerked my head back, confused by his sudden interest in my career path.

“I don’t disagree, but that’s not what I want for me.” I went back to my browsing as he lifted my feet and began to rub them. I gave him a thankful grin as I navigated my way through another list of career choices.

“Dentist, boring. Telecommunications, not interested. Oh, food critic, this sounds right up my alley. Mmmm...” I said as Jayden’s hands moved from my feet to my calves. “I wonder what one must do to be an expert in food.” I typed quickly only to become disheartened. “Says here I’d have to be an experienced chef with worldly experience in cuisine in order to even be taken seriously. Well, that’s out.”

Jayden chuckled as I clicked on the next link, his skilled hands moving up to my thighs. I raised a brow over my laptop as his eyes turned heated. “Nope, should have done something earlier when I was trying to seduce you. That window is now closed.”

“You sure?” he asked as he gently parted my legs, my laptop shifting slightly on my lap.

“Positive,” I said defiantly. “Now, where were we?”

Jayden prowled above me, leaning over and grazing his fingers over my sex then moving my panties to the side as I inhaled sharply. Determined to beat him at his game, I played indifferent. “Programmer, nope. Too repet...repet...repetitive,” I pushed out as Jayden slid his fingers inside me.

“You’re soaked. Damn, baby.” My eyes attempted to close as I read on and my voice quivered as Jayden kissed up my thigh, hooking his arms around my legs to bring me closer to him. I adjusted my laptop so I was still able to read.

“Social worker, too depressing. Air traffic controller, hell no. I’d be bald from the pressure alone.”

Jayden paused to laugh before resuming his make out session with my thigh. I continued to read, my words half moaned. “Wedding planner, that could be...fun. Oh fuck,” I gasped as Jayden’s tongue touched my center. He licked me smoothly then looked up with hooded eyes.

“You were saying?”

I cleared my throat. “I was saying ...” I trailed off as his tongue resumed its pace. I gripped the side of my laptop as Jayden took turns licking and sucking my middle while his fingers explored me.

“Oh, God,” I said, pushing my laptop off my lap and gripping his hair.

Jayden looked up at me without humor and so much heat as he gripped, then slowly pulled my panties down so he had more access to me. He made his way back up as his hand drifted up to my silk covered chest, caressing my breast before his tongue darted back out and unbelievable pressure built inside me. His mouth was pure skill as he laved me with his tongue.

“So, so good,” he whispered to my sex as I looked down at him. His burning eyes closed shut as his tongue darted out again before he wrapped his lips around the bundle of nerves and sucked hard, twisting his fingers inside of me. My body overheated as I was hit with wave after wave of sweet release, calling his name as I came. He refused to stop as my tender sex protested to more of his sweet tongue lashing. I tried to push him away, but he gripped my wrists tightly at my sides as his tongue pushed inside me deep before he resumed his pace.

“Jayden, I can’t take it. I can’t,” I panted out as he pulled away, keeping his thumb on me, massaging in slow circles as he pulled his boxers down with the other hand. I spread wider for him, his thumb remaining in place as he pushed the tip of him in.

“God, you are so beautiful,” he whispered above me.

“I need you so much,” I whispered back. “I love you.” He closed his eyes as if my words had touched him and pushed himself in the rest of the way as my body shuddered for the second time, obeying his command.

His gentle hands cradled me as he loved me slowly, whispering kisses and praise that covered me entirely. My heart filled to the brink as I held him as tightly as I could to me until his levee broke and he spilled his love, overfilling me.

He lay on me, his head on my chest as our breathing evened out.

“Your heart is hammering, baby,” he said in awe as he looked up at me.

“Well, yeah,” I said, running my fingers through his hair.

“I like the crowd in there chanting my name. Jayden, Jayden, Jayden.” I chuckled and looked down at him. “Feeling pretty proud of yourself there, babe?”

“I’m getting good at you,” he said softly.

“You’ve always been good,” I reminded him.

“Not always,” he whispered back.

“Can you sleep?” I asked, concerned. It had been a few days since he’d crashed hard and I was getting worried.

“I think so. Will you rub me out?”

“Of course,” I said as he took his place in front of me so I could start working his back. I started rubbing him slowly and he moaned at my touch.

“You could be a massage therapist,” he offered as I dug into his shoulders.

“No way, people are gross,” I said to his rapidly moving back. “I’m glad you find this so funny. At least you have it all figured out. You are a carpenter. It’s done...settled. It’s something you love and can live with. Some of us aren’t so lucky.”

“It is absolutely not that easy,” he said, his voice still fully alert. I worked harder, digging into the tough tissues hidden under his silky skin. “I landed the gig with my uncle out of necessity. My mother couldn’t handle me anymore so she dropped me off with him on the weekends to keep me out of trouble and he put me to work. I didn’t aspire to be a carpenter. My mother aspired not to kill me.”

I moved my hands up and down his back, trying to soothe him. “Well, it worked out. It must have taken, because you are still doing it.”

“It has so far. I hope to make it mine one day.”

“Really?” I asked, excited about the thought. He stilled my hand on his shoulder and turned to look at me.

“I probably won’t ever be wealthy.”

“Like that matters.” He turned over and pulled me into his arms.

“I’m so fucking lucky,” he said, drowning me in deep blue.

“Yep,” I said, placing my hands on his shoulders.

“Does this massage have a happy ending?” His wicked grin made an appearance, as well as the brush of his growing thickness against my leg.

“One that will make you scream my name,” I teased as I gripped his hair tightly. Through gritted teeth, I commanded into his ear, “Say. My. Name.”

“Fishnipple.”

I opened Jayden’s front door, absently pushing an anxious Trip out of the way before giving pause to take in the person standing in front of me. She was a tall, gorgeous blonde with perfect legs, accentuated by the tight, short skirt she sported. Her beautiful, brown eyes met mine and I felt her measuring me up as well. I was instantly nauseated.