Want It Bad by Melinda DuChamp Page B

Carla wanted to show her friend that she wasn’t afraid, she just couldn’t go through with it. She wasn’t a dungeon-of-pleasure type of girl. And she certainly couldn’t be totally naked and bound and… vulnerable before Jake.
    Him staring at her bare breasts, her open thighs.
    Him penetrating her with a sex toy.
    Him lowering his mouth to her, teasing her, making her…
    Stop it.
    Carla had to cancel the appointment. But no matter how she begged Janet in the restaurant, her friend refused to call the whole thing off. Tomorrow night, she’d said. Eight P.M. Used a fake name so he won’t know it’s you. Plenty of time to finish work, get home, and get ready for her “date.”
    Carla had to stop this, and she had to stop it now. If she couldn’t do it through Janet, she would have to go directly to Jake. That’s what a confident, successful, businesswoman would do. Carla had no problems talking to judges. Talking to the boytoy next door would be cake.
    She ducked into the powder room just off the foyer and checked her hair and makeup. She smoothed a fingertip under each eye, erasing the eyeliner and mascara that had bled during the day. She smoothed her chin-length hair, controlling the touch of humidity frizz.
    She looked professional. Serious. Not like a horny older woman looking for orgasms. She’d tell Jake the truth, that her friend is overly concerned about her sex life and wants Jake to satisfy her overdue longings—
    Scratch that.
    Carla would say that Janet thought she was doing a favor, but both Carla and Jake knew this arrangement was impossible. They were neighbors. They might even become friends. But that was as far as anything between them would go.
    She certainly couldn’t be one of his clients.
    Carla didn’t have a great sex life. Okay, she’d never had even a
good
sex life. But she wasn’t old enough or desperate enough to pay for him to do
all those things
.
    Tying her up. Going down on her. Using sex toys. She shuddered, thinking about how vulnerable she’d be, spread wide like that, his face right there.
    Carla doubted she’d let a longtime boyfriend do that, let alone a sex worker.
    She stood straight in front of the mirror, threw her shoulders back, put on her court face, and…
    She was far too intimidating-looking in her power suit. Of course, she’d designed her look to inspire those exact feelings in others, but she didn’t want to seem like a bitch to Jake. She was finished with work for the day. She should look more approachable. Changing her clothes would be disingenuous. But Carla could loosen up a bit.
    She slipped off her deep blue Donna Karan suit jacket, leaving just the trousers and a somewhat playful Ralph Lauren blouse.
    Playful for corporate work, anyway.
    Better. At least she didn’t appear ready to kick the opposing counsel’s ass.
    Steeling herself, she marched out the front door and crossed the lawn to Jake’s house. Almost sunset, the lights inside were on and glowing. Against her better judgment, Carla peered through the window to the living room, but no one was there.
    Is he in the bedroom?
    Does he have a client with him?
    What are they doing? Is she handcuffed? Is Jake licking her?
    Just as it had yesterday, the front door opened.
    Carla flattened herself to the exterior wall, the situation far too familiar. This was getting ridiculous.
    “Are you sure you don’t want me to walk you to your car?” Jake asked.
    “No, honey. I want to remember you just like this all week. You and your incredible body. It isn’t every day I get to feast my imagination on a naked hunk.”
    Carla almost jolted out of her hiding spot just to get a peek.
    Jake is naked? Right there, a few feet away?
    How do I have a little peek without showing myself?
    “You’re sweet, Mimi.”
    “No, I’m selfish. And do me a favor, would you?”
    “Anything, Mimi.”
    “Could you stroke it as I walk to my car? I really want to know you’re getting at least a little of the pleasure