Brimstone Blues

Chapter Fourteen

Determined to get back into some semblance of a normal routine, Taz didn’t wake Matthias up the next morning and managed to leave the house before he arose. She arrived at the office before seven, had a workout, then started on her day. They would leave for London late Thursday evening, and she had much to do before then. She was still irritated at Matthias for being a stupid man and pumping her dad for information about her, but she couldn’t fault him for her bad mood. Between the mystery voice and her worry about what would happen in London, she was feeling far from romantic.

Although it had been nice spending the time alone with Matthias on the drive back from Yellowstone, the first time they’d had to themselves without anyone around. He was being so patient. Most men would have kicked her to the curb by now for being such a friggin’ bitch. She would call him that morning and apologize.

Again.

At least she was getting pretty good at it.

Around eight she noticed she had new e-mail. There were four messages, two spam, one about a project, and one from Matthias. She knew he wasn’t in his office, so he must be e-mailing from home.

To: A. Proctor

From: Matthias Hawthorne

Subject: Dinner Meeting

Anastazia, I was wondering if you had any plans for dinner this evening?

Matthias

And that was it. She smiled and considered her reply.

From: A. Proctor

To: Matthias Hawthorne

Subject: re: Dinner Meeting

I’d have to check my calendar, but I believe I’m free. What did you have in mind?

A. Proctor

He laughed at her reply, shook his head, and typed.

To: A. Proctor

From: Matthias Hawthorne

Subject: re: re: Dinner Meeting

If you aren’t busy, I’d like to buy you dinner.

Matthias

A short while later, his inbox icon blinked.

From: A. Proctor

To: Matthias Hawthorne

Subject: re: re: re: Dinner Meeting

I think I can fit that in. What time? And where should we meet?

A.

He grinned. She would make him work for it, and he enjoyed a challenge.

After e-mailing her the address and a proposed time, she made him wait nearly an hour for her reply.

From: A. Proctor

To: Matthias Hawthorne

Subject: re: re: re: Dinner Meeting

That’s fine. I’ll see you there.

A.

He smiled. This would be fun. Perhaps she was right, that they needed to do this, to get to know each other. To date. Like normal people.

Whatever that was.

Taz grinned. Yes, it was mean making him wait for her reply, but in a normal environment she wouldn’t necessarily be checking her e-mail every five seconds for a reply. She tried to get back to work and felt a nervous flutter in her stomach.

Nerves? Hell, he knew every inch of her body, why should she be nervous?

Because it was a date.

Taz easily found the restaurant, located in a nondescript strip plaza on North Dale Mabry Highway. She spied Matthias’ car in the parking lot, and when she walked inside was surprised to see bench-style seating. It was a casual seafood restaurant, and apparently a very popular one by the looks of the full tables. Matthias raised his hand and waved to her. Her seat was on the other side of the table, fortunately at the end of the bench. He stood as she approached.

“I hope you don’t mind. They have the best clam chowder.”

She smiled. Not exactly what she expected, and certainly not a quiet, romantic place, but he got points for chutzpah. “I like clam chowder.” She sat, trying not to crowd the woman to her right.

He resumed his seat and handed her a menu. “They have excellent seafood here.”

“I would hope so.” Taz took a moment to look around. The walls were painted with caricatures of what she assumed were local celebrities.

“So, what do you think?” he asked, melting her with his half smile.

He could offer to feed her raw lizard tails and she’d eat them for that smile. “I’ll withhold judgment until I taste the food.” She scanned through the menu. “What should I stay away from?”

“I’ve never had a bad meal here. Everything is excellent.”

She stole glances at him over the top of the menu. He didn’t have a strong barrier up against her, but he wasn’t trying to probe her, either.

She sort of missed that.

No, this is what she wanted, and he was trying to give it to her. Go on a date, get to know each other. Normal people can’t read each other’s minds, they have to talk. This is what she asked for, and it was what she wanted.

They ordered. He rested his elbows on the table, hands clasped together, looking at her. She fought the urge to lean over the table and kiss him. Unfortunately the seating format wasn’t conducive to playing footsies.

“So, Taz,” he said, “how was your day?”

Was he serious? “You want the play-by-play or a general overview?”

“CliffsNotes version.”

“I’m catching up. I know I’ll slide behind again when we leave for London.”

“I know a great restaurant in London I’d like to take you to, if you don’t mind.”

She smiled. He was going to take this to the nth degree for her. “I’d like that.”

He nodded, then reached across the table, took her hand, and lowered his voice. He could have easily sent her a silent message. “I’ll do whatever I must to win you over, Taz. You know I’m very, very patient.”

She shivered in a pleasant way. “You don’t have to win me over, Matthias.” She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry I’ve been difficult.”

He grinned. “Difficult?”

“All right, a bitch. Happy?”

He laughed, releasing her hand after a gentle squeeze. “No, you’re not a bitch, dear. Not in the slightest. Ball buster, yes. But I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

Dinner was excellent, the food delicious. He walked her to her car and stood, contemplating for a moment.

“What is it?” she asked.

“Would you mind if I kissed you good-night, Ms. Proctor?”

She grabbed his shirt, kissing him, pressing her hips against his, and immediately feeling his reaction. He grabbed her ass and pulled her tightly against him, and she moaned, wrapping her arms around him.

Finally, breathless, she met his heated gaze. “Does that answer your question?”

“I think I’m going to like dating you.”

“Hey, I’m not easy. I don’t sleep with a guy on the first date.”

He chuckled, moved his lips to her neck, and gently nuzzled below her ear. She shivered, pressed her body against him, clutched at him. He teased her mercilessly for several minutes, leaving her panting. He finally nipped her earlobe, not painfully, before stepping away.

She leaned against her car, her knees trembling.

“I’ll see you tomorrow at the office, Ms. Proctor.” He winked.

She gulped, wondering how long it would take her to get home and jump him.

“Office?” she panted.

He smiled and pulled his keys from his pocket. “I certainly wouldn’t want to be accused of sexual harassment.”

She swallowed, hard. He wasn’t serious? There was playing along, and there was taking it a bit too far.

Noticing her frenzied state, he fixed her with his eyes. His mental barrier still up, he tilted her chin to his face and gently brushed his lips against hers and whispered, “Drive home safely, my love.”

Somehow, he managed to beat her home. She found him upstairs, undressing. She slammed the bedroom door and launched herself at him, knocking him to the bed. She finished stripping him while he helped her get naked. An hour later she relaxed in his arms, content.

“How was our date?” he asked.

She cuddled closer. “That was good. I liked that. That’s the kind of thing I meant. I want to spend time together like that.”

“I thought you said you didn’t sleep with a guy on the first date?”

She rolled over on top of him, kissing him. “Hey, there’s only so much a girl can take, big guy.” She kissed him. When she rolled her hips against him, she felt his cock stiffen against her. Then he flipped her over, surprising her, playfully pinning her to the bed.

“Well, why don’t we see how much you can take, cara?” His member rigidly stood at attention. He took his time, sinking every one of his inches inside her wet and ready pussy as she begged him to fuck her harder, faster.

He refused to be rushed. Instead, he teased her, toyed with her, making her lie there until he’d made her come. Then he flipped her over, grabbed her hips, and pulled her to her knees.

She gasped as he plunged his cock into her again. This time, he fucked her hard and fast, hitting spots inside her he didn’t reach in the other position. She cried out as she came, nearly sobbing as a series of orgasms rippled through her.

He abruptly stopped. “That’s it,” he growled. He reached around her and found her clit. Relentlessly, he rolled it between her fingers, making her cry out from yet another orgasm. It wasn’t until she begged him to stop because of the intense sensations that he chuckled and sat up.

“Very well, my dear.” He started fucking her again, this time quickly allowing himself to climax with a loud, satisfied groan.

They fell asleep before midnight. For the first time since their return from Yellowstone, Taz felt slightly normal. She realized the voice hadn’t made any noises all day.

That has to be a good sign, right?