9. Holden

This isn't good. Well, this is kind of excellent.

But no, I shouldn't be crossing our lines again, but Lexi can handle the reality that we're only two people who have needs and her brazen attitude does something to me. Add in the hint of her caring nature toward my kids, then I'm a man in a crazed state.

I'm on my knees then jerk her forward so she's on the edge of the desk. Everything is happening fast, but we're both feral in demanding each other. I wobble one step to ensure my mouth aligns with her cotton panties. Most guys hate cotton, but on Lexi, it blasts away any impressions of innocence. It doesn't present any obstacles to slide the fabric to the side either.

My mouth prints kisses along her silky skin while her hands run wild through my hair.

"I wanted to do this more to you the other night," I husk when my eyes jump up to check in.

Her sly smirk shows approval. "You were rather disappointing on that front."

Now she's just toying with me, which is why I bite her inner thigh, and she yelps. "I would spank you right now, but I need to lick your glistening pussy that clearly doesn't look disappointed when I'm around."

Lexi hums a laugh as her body rocks in my direction. The tip of my tongue licks a taste, and she's fucking luscious. I need so much more. I draw a slow teasing line from her entrance all the way to her clit. I hold her thighs wide and feast on her, with my tongue circling and my lips pressing. Adding a finger, I have her at my mercy.

"Fuck, Holden," she moans.

Another flick and I need to be inside of the woman. Fast and hard is the way I like it with her. Not that fucking has been a pattern for us, but maybe it's becoming one. I knock that thought out of my head, especially as Lexi begins to convulse and curses out my name. My tongue doesn't move, and instead I press until she comes down from her orgasm.

The moment she does, with her breath now rapid, I shuffle back on my knees with her wetness on my mouth. "On your knees."

"Whatever you say." She slides off the desk while I stand and unzip my pants where she had managed to already unbuckle me when our hands were roaming of their own accord.

Lexi's eyes appear eager to please, ensuring I'm staring down at her when her mouth begins to wrap around my length, slowly taking in more with her tongue firm underneath to join the journey.

I grab her hair to hold her the way I like it and to have control of her. Her decadent mouth drags from root to tip, sucking and pumping until she's in a rhythm that I'm guiding. She wraps her fingers around me and grips the base of my cock to give her ample playing field.

"That's it. Just like that. I'm sure you can take it a little deeper." I want to push her limits. Does that make me a selfish man?

A slight gag doesn't seem to bother her as she repeats several times, her mouth salivating and her muffled sounds of pleasure mumbling in her throat.

"Want my cum to slide down that throat of yours? You would take every drop, wouldn't you?"

She nods with her mouth full of my cock.

I'm in a dilemma, though, as I want that sassy mouth to make me come, but I need to be inside her pussy, and I'm not sure I have time for both.

"Sit on the desk," I instruct, and the loss of her mouth around my cock is anything but enjoyable, but in ten seconds, I will have something better. Lexi follows orders well, and I search for a condom in my wallet on the floor with my pants. I notice in the corner of my eye that Lexi's panties are at her ankles, and she kicks them off.

Returning to her, our hands run wild again when our mouths meld into a deep kiss, our tongues twisting around one another. We take a few seconds to soak in our kiss, only to part. I glance down to ensure the condom is on correctly, and I feel teeth scraping down my neck, only to latch onto some skin and bite.

"Fuck," I growl, but my grin doesn't fade, even when she sucks and sinks her teeth tighter. "You're a bad girl. Next time it will be extra spankings."

She throws her head back in laughter. "It's not punishment if I enjoy it, Holden," she taunts.

With my cock in one hand aligning to her center, my palm lands on my stinging neck. "Is this payback for going hard the other night?"

"Does it matter? Now fuck me."

She's my undoing. A perfect quick fuck, even if she leaves me longing for another round.

I enter her while our mouths steal each other's breath, moaning in sync from her pussy clenching around my cock. A few slow pumps, but then I'm at it like a wild animal, only encouraged by her legs wrapping tighter around me and the desk shaking on every thrust.

"Is this how you like it? Hard? Your craving pussy has been desperate for my cock since last time."

"Yes," she whispers.

"You touch yourself when I'm not around? Thinking of my cock?" I lock our eyes because I would be able to see a lie.

The corner of her mouth twitches. "Yes."

Slamming my lips down onto hers again, I bring her closer to my body until we are tightly wound and pumping together.

More. I need her deeper and to make her whimper.

"Come all over my cock, Lexi. Get what you fantasize about," I breathe into her neck as heat explodes in my body, traveling down to my navel, and I know what's impending.

My thumb finds her clit to help her ride the wave with me, and we both get what we need until it leaves us draped around one another with panting breaths.

"If that was a thank-you then I'm scared what will happen if I disobey." Her voice is a labored breath.

I chortle a growl. "You'll figure it out soon enough," I warn.

Because I'm adding another round with her. Not sure when, but it's on the horizon.

"Get me naked next time, will ya?"

Her snark makes me scoff. I wonder if she ever has a moment where she's anything but a woman who takes things in stride with a smile.

Pulling out, I head to the bathroom to get rid of the condom, knowing damn well that I'm late for a meeting with the hotel manager for filling in her closing paperwork, with information for when she leaves.

It seems Lexi is also in a hurry. We both begin to throw on the few clothes that we took off. I should probably explain why I stormed in here.

"Hey, Lexi," I grab her attention, and she glances up from tucking her shirt into her skirt. "Thanks again. With Harry, I mean."

Her smile is simple. "No big deal." Because kindness is imprinted in her personality, so it's a normal day for her, I guess.

"I should get going," she says.

"Me too."

Then that's us.

A quick tryst, complete with no regrets.

"I'll head out and give you a second," I say.

Lexi doesn't seem to know what to say or do. "Yeah, sure, great."

I grin at her because she's kind of cute when flustered.

Leaving, I open the door, ensuring nobody gets a view of Lexi just royally fucked. I'm straightening my collar, feeling a little flushed myself.

"Holden?" I hear Stone's voice.

I glance up and freeze then gulp. "Oh, hey there."

"Uh, what are you doing?" He cocks his head to the side, and his face is puzzled. "Did someone bite your neck?"

Damn, that's a giveaway. I'll need to hide the evidence later.

I clear my throat as I cover the mark for a second, feeling the broken skin. "Just… a meeting."

"You know I'm not buying that." He grins as he leans against the wall, crossing his arms, waiting for a better explanation.

I do my best to avoid his gaze, and my jaw flexes, but he's a good friend, so what the hell. "You know how we have that new interior designer for the hotel?"

"To get rid of that ridiculous moose head, yeah. Lexi, your former coach's daughter."

I tightly smile. "Exactly. I might have…"

The door swings open right on cue. "I'm off, need to meet with the tile guy." Lexi is smoothing her blouse, completely oblivious to our spectator. Then she stops in her tracks.

"Oh, hi." She frowns.

"You remember Stone?" I awkwardly ask, because of course they know one another, even ran into each other a few days ago.

"Yeah, for sure." She attempts to give him a polite smile. "Nice to see you again. I'm not here. Have a great day." She is quick to walk away.

Shit, forgot to ask something about the kids. "Don't forget that my daughter has figure skating practice after school," I call out.

She mumbles a sound and doesn't even give me any attention. "It's Tuesday, so she doesn't, and how many times do I have to remind you that I'm not your nanny?"

"Yeah, but that was the deal when you moved in," I remind her.

She grumbles again before disappearing into the elevator.

My lips push out, and my head tilts because, damn it, despite these circumstances, I still have time to check out her ass. I'm not even trying to hide it. I swing my tight smile to Stone, and he still seems to enjoy my quandary.

"Someone has something to explain."

A long breath escapes me. "I might have… blackmailed her into living with me for a bit."

His eyes bug out. "Wow, she's really getting the five-star treatment on the personal-attention front."

I rub my face. "Yeah, so we might be encountering a little problem with that…"

"As in…" He encourages me to continue.

"I didn't exactly blackmail her, more a favor owed. We lost another nanny and needed some help. Not my fault Lexi tried to buy alcohol way back, and she needed Prince Charming to save her. Alas, favor now owed."

"So, she's living with you?" Stone seems confused, as he should be.

I bobble my head side to side. "Yeah. Just to help out every now and then until I can find another solution for my lovely kids."

He gives me a knowing look. "Just so happens you added other favors…"

I laugh to myself. "Can you blame me? She has good banter, and she's hot. We both know what it is. Nothing around the kids either. It's just some fun. I need to destress, and she's the golden ticket."

Stone brings his fingers to his jaw, thinking for a hard long second. "Uh… I give it a few weeks before this blows up in your face. You don't let women around Lori and Harry. Let alone take up residence in the guesthouse."

Shit. My face stills, and I say nothing.

The problem with close friends is they see straight through you. "Yes?" It drags out.

"Guest room, the guest room," I correct him, and his eyes widen. "Water problem in the guesthouse."

"Really? This just got complicated. The only way this could get worse is if you turned off the water on purpose or something." He huffs a laugh.

And face freezing moment number two.

Stone's jaw drops. "No fucking way. You turned off the water, didn't you?"

I step forward. "Keep your voice down," I hush him as I scan the hall. "That part she doesn't know."

"Are you a little psychotic? I mean, we've all known that you have wild ways. You're the guy who hands out candy to the kids and alcoholic beverages to the parents during trick-or-treating. You're also an impulsive guy. But why the hell would you do that?" He raises his voice.

I comb my hands through my hair. "Honestly? No clue, other than that woman seems to have possessed me to do crazy things. Hence, why I called in a favor due to a ridiculous bar napkin. And her appeal doesn't exactly lose any points either."

Stone blinks his eyes a few times. "Seriously, Holden, first-glance connections can raise a flag of caution to what you think is a simple situation. Harlow and I were an instant attraction, and here I am with a fiancée."

I take us out of my lecture. "Fiancée, eh? That's great, man." I knew he was going to ask soon; I guess the time came.

He looks elated. "Yeah, she said yes." He sounds so happy, but then his look falters. "Now back to you. This is my warning that feelings are brewing behind a wall that you didn't realize you have. On the other hand..." His lips quirk out. "You seem kind of content despite your hooligans stressing you out. I'm also assuming you've thought about the kids, so… why not. Have fun with whatever odd game this is." Stone gives up.

I rub my temples. "I should consider your sound wisdom… but I won't. Let me ride this situation out while I ride her. When it begins to get gray, then we'll bench this and be done. We can be friends. She and I both know the score."

"Sure, you do." He doesn't sound convinced.

My phone dings, and I bring the screen up to see that I'm five minutes late because I'm standing in a hall discussing my predicament that I think I'm kind of addicted to.

I've always been a little reckless, and it's been a damn while since I've allowed myself to enjoy that trait.

"Really gotta head out. Tell Harlow congrats." I begin to walk away.

"Will do. Let me know when you need a beer to reflect on your situation like a normal human soul," he calls out.

I flex my neck before straightening my shoulders. "It will be fine."

My phone chimes again, and this time I see a calendar reminder for an upcoming business dinner. They are really into making it a family affair, hence why they want Lori and Harry present.

That might be a headache.

So let me just add asking Lexi to attend as another checkmark on my list of things I probably shouldn't do but will.