Illicit acollection, p.48
Illicit: A Contemporary Romance Collection, page 48
“Ted.” Haley groans my name and I place another kiss along her inner thigh before bringing myself over her. She runs her eyes curiously over my face and I realize this is the first time she’s seen me without my glasses.
“I can’t figure out if you’re Clark Kent or Superman.” Her eyes are wide and I throw my head back and laugh.
“So, wait. Superman is Zeus and Batman is Hades?”
I’m living the ultimate fantasy of my entire life right now—a beautiful woman, hot sex, and comics. If this is a dream, please don’t ever wake me.
I kiss the swell of Haley’s breast where my head is resting quite comfortably. “Kind of,” I respond. “I mean, it’s all open to interpretation, but that’s the general consensus.”
“What about… The Flash?” She draws circles on my back with her finger while she considers this news that has apparently blown her mind. Even the fact that she’s showing any interest at all in this stuff makes me really fucking happy.
“Hermes.”
Her finger halts for a moment. “Oh. Okay, I guess that makes sense.” I run my thumb over her nipple and she gasps before speaking again. “Iron Man?” Her voice is breathy now.
“Daedalus. Sort of.” I shift my head so I can draw her nipple in my mouth.
Haley’s back arches and she practically purrs. “I’ve never even heard of that one.”
“Well,” I speak into her skin as my mouth travels to her other breast, “Marvel tends to stick with the less popular mythological characters.”
Neither of us says anything for the next minute or two—we have more important things to do with our mouths.
Following a first round of sex in which I might have seen God—or momentarily lost consciousness—we lounged on Haley’s bed, exhausted but in no mood to sleep just yet.
We talked some more about what we’d missed in the last few days, and I shared with her that I was anticipating Charles would withdraw his support of me within the department. I didn’t tell her that I walked out of a meeting with him to chase after Keith Nemeth—and I never will.
Having had a day to think about it, I’m feeling more confident that I’ll deliver a book I can stand behind, and that means more than anything Charles could offer. By the time he reads it, there will still be several months to go before any kind of committee meeting regarding my tenure. I’ll just have to hope my gut instinct was right and the book is a hit. And by hit, I mean, geeks like me will think it’s rad.
Haley sighs and flops her head back on the pillow again. “I’m resting up for round two, Professor Jones.” She smiles at me and it nearly blows me away. “Tell me some more while I get my second wind.”
“It’s boring. Sex is infinitely more interesting.” I go in for another kiss and she places a finger on my lips.
“I want to hear more. Don’t you know I’m using you for your big… brain?” She laughs and I bite her finger gently.
I’d rather get right to the sex, of course, but I’m flattered she’s interested.
“Anyway, that’s not really what my book is about.” I go up on an elbow and she watches me.
“In a nutshell it’s about how, in following the storytelling customs of comics and superheroes—in all their various incarnations—we can uncover the unconscious ways in which modern society both preserves the tradition of storytelling born from ancient civilizations and generates new and sustainable ways to reinterpret and maintain the story of our own world. All through superheroes.”
I wait for her to respond, but it takes her several seconds. “You do know that pretty much all I got out of that explanation is that you’re writing a book about superheroes, right?”
I scowl at her and she laughs before pulling up to plant a kiss on my lips. “Hey, I’m more of a science girl. I dropped philosophy my freshman year in college because I couldn’t stand that there were no facts and figures to memorize.”
I roll my eyes. “I’ll give you a pass on this one, but only because I was the kid who refused to dissect the frog in biology.”
Haley covers her mouth but her eyes crinkle with suppressed laughter. “Is it wrong that I find that kind of adorable?”
I shift my body so she’s completely beneath me. “Yes. We’ve already discussed this. There is nothing adorable about a grown man.” I grind my hardening erection against her.
Her eyes go wide and her mouth pops open. “Consider the statement retracted.”
I part her thighs and slide against her.
“Oh… wow.”
My hips circle a bit to put pressure against her clit.
“Yeah, nothing adorable here,” she pants.
I bring my fingers down to test her readiness, but it’s just an excuse to touch her.
“Oh my God.”
Then I’m sliding home, fairly certain that I’ve proven my point.
“Yes!”
Epilogue
Haley
Six months later
“I got my first comic book when I was nine years old. It was The Amazing Spiderman #423, and I read that thing until the staples fell out.”
Several guests smile as Ted addresses us.
“The title of the issue was Choices. It wasn’t Spidey’s best day, to say the least—in fact, it was arguably one of his worst. The story was about the difficult choices we all have to make, but I always thought it was about having the courage to make the right choice. To do the right thing.”
He adjusts his glasses and looks right at me. I send him a huge smile and he winks.
“Writing this book and bringing it to publication required many choices—although none even approaching the level of Spidey’s challenges with Electro.” He grins.
A few chuckles filter through the small crowd.
“It’s my sincere hope that I’ve let integrity and wisdom guide my decisions throughout this journey. Thank you for your kind support and I hope you enjoy the book.”
Ted makes an uncomfortable half-bow and everyone claps. Liv and I are the loudest, and I’m pretty sure she’s the only one who cat-calls my boyfriend.
Mishka loops her arm in mine. “We’re so excited for him!”
I beam at her. She and Chad threw this party to celebrate Ted’s book release. Most of the department is here—including Charles, who I notice has a copy of the book tucked under his arm. We still don’t know what will happen for Ted, but if the early reviews of his book are anything to go by, Charles will be begging him to stay.
“Your house is beautiful,” Liv chimes in. Mishka and Chad’s house is one of those historic beauties in Sunset Park with a brightly-colored exterior and wide front porch.
“Thanks.” Mishka smiles and then leans in to whisper, “I know a guy.” Chad owns a contracting business and did most of the renovations.
“So,” Ted says as he walks up to our trio, “how bad was I?”
I grab his face and kiss him hard on the lips. “You were amazing.”
His cheeks pink a bit at my blatant PDA in front of his colleagues, but I don’t care. I step back and smile at him.
Liv lifts her champagne flute. “I read the first chapter and hardly understood a word, but it’s got hot dudes in it, so I’m sure it’ll sell a million copies.”
Ted cocks his head while Liv sips her drink. “I’m not really sure how to take that…”
“Excuse me a second,” Mishka mumbles as she cuts between us, her eyes trained on the other side of the room. “Oh, hell no.”
We all follow her gaze and I snort when I see Chad practically climbing the beautiful wainscoted wall while Patrice Conton violates his personal space and possibly something else.
Liv gasps. “She’s like seventy.”
“It’s never stopped her before.” Ted unconsciously brings a hand to his ass, making me want to laugh—and touch his butt.
Then all three of us watch as Mishka pulls Patrice aside and they disappear into the kitchen. Chad looks around as if he’s just been released from prison and can’t decide what to do first with his freedom.
It’s only a minute later when a red-faced Patrice returns and makes a beeline for Charles. Her eyes never leave the ground as she hurries him out the front door.
“What was that?” Ted puts an arm around my waist.
Mishka strides back into the room and finds Chad, who’s recovered enough to come our way with his wife.
“You’re a complete bad-ass, aren’t you?” Liv asks, gesturing to Mishka with her glass. “And to think I thought you academia people were boring.” She turns quickly to Ted. “No offense.”
Ted shakes his head. Even after six months, I don’t think he’s quite used to Liv. Fortunately, her new man, Brett, is quite adept at handling her. And, yes, I mean that in every way you think I mean that.
Chad puts an arm around his wife. “As long as that makes me Mr. Bad-Ass.”
Ted laughs at his friend. “I’m afraid to ask what just happened.”
Mishka sniffs. “I just told Patrice something she’s been needing to hear for a long time, that’s all.”
For a second, my stomach dips with the memory of what happened when I tried the same thing. But if anyone can roll with the punches, it’s Mishka.
And, besides, nobody gets to flirt with our men but us.
The front door opens and a familiar head of neon purple hair makes a hesitant move forward. I nudge Ted and raise my hand to signal Felicity.
Her wary expression relaxes when she sees us, and she slowly makes her way over with her ever-present backpack slung over her shoulder.
We haven’t seen as much of her lately. She’s living with her uncle now since her mom decided to move in with the boyfriend. I suppose her mom’s data charges are lower now that she and the boyfriend can watch porn and yell at each other from the comfort of their own living room.
But Ted is pretty good about keeping in touch—after all, I still don’t understand the big deal about The Weatherman and he needs someone from the comic world to discuss the damn things with. He’s also been encouraging Felicity to take some art classes. She finally showed him all the sketches she’s been working on and he was beyond impressed.
“Hey! You made it.” Ted greets her with a fist bump.
“Yeah. I can only stay for a minute, though. Uncle Milo’s waiting in the car.” She hooks a thumb back to the door. “We’re going to the movies.”
“Pretty soon, you’ll have your license, won’t you?”
Felicity beams at my question. “Two months. I’m counting the days.” She looks happy, more sure of herself these days.
She lowers her backpack to the floor and digs in it before pulling out a copy of Ted’s book and extending it with a sly grin and a Sharpie.
“Now that I know a famous author, I figure a signed copy is a sound investment.”
Ted shakes his head at her, but he takes the offered items. “Very funny.”
“Cute hair,” Liv comments while Ted signs the book.
Felicity’s hand immediately lifts to her head. “Oh, thanks. I’m thinking I might go back to my natural color next, but I don’t know.” She shrugs and I want to squeeze her in a hug. But, of course, I don’t dare. I wouldn’t want to endanger my current role as her slightly cool adult friend who occasionally offers decent advice and always offers a funny dog to play fetch with.
“Here you go.” Ted hands the book and Sharpie back to Felicity. “Oh, and don’t forget, the Uncanny X-Men relaunch comes out next week.”
She rolls her eyes at him. “Uh, maybe an old guy like you needs a reminder, but not me. I’ll be stalking my mailbox before you even get up in the morning.”
Liv looks at me with wide eyes but I just smile as Ted and Felicity tune the rest of us out to talk comics.
Mishka and Chad excuse themselves to chat with more of their guests and Liv pulls out her phone, laughing at something Brett must have texted.
I watch Ted and Felicity, just like that first day when I saw them on the sidewalk and the sight of him made my chest tight. I felt like an outsider then. But not now.
The fact remains, I’m just not into The Weatherman—or most of his comics.
But I’m very much into Ted Jones.
And he’s most certainly into me too.
“So?” Ted closes his laptop as I enter the living room.
My expression is carefully schooled as I fidget with the phone I’ve just hung up.
He raises his eyebrows expectantly and I can’t keep up the act any longer. I launch myself at him, practically tackling him back onto the couch as my phone goes flying.
“I got a second interview!” My voice is way too loud for our close proximity, but I can’t help it. Everett Anderson has invited me for a second interview to be on his new research team. I’m at the last hurdle and I am so freaking excited to be this close to the finish line.
Ted chuckles from his spot beneath me. “Congratulations. See, I told you.”
And he did. He’s been my biggest champion through every stage of this application process—and every other aspect of my life, for that matter.
He’s supportive and generous and the way he looks at me makes me want to barricade the apartment door and live in our own personal nudist colony where orgasms are the only sustenance required. Well, and brownies.
I lean down and kiss him thoroughly until I feel my pebbled nipples pressing against his chest and my panties go damp.
“Haley.” I love it when he says my name like that—like he can’t help it—like it’s the same as breathing.
I grind down on him and feel his rigid erection pressing against me in just the right spot. I know from experience that I can get off from this alone, but I want more. I want his skin against mine and the fullness of him inside me. I want everything from him.
He slides his hands under my t-shirt but my bra keeps him from touching my straining nipples so I quickly reach behind me to release the clasp. My breasts tumble out into his waiting hands and his touch draws a straight line of electricity down to my core.
“More,” I plead.
But he doesn’t make me beg. We’re naked in seconds flat, clothing strewn across the living room. And then I’m straddling him and he’s inside me, giving me exactly what I need until we’re both pushed over the edge into absolute ecstasy. I collapse on his chest, my ear pressed to his skin so I can hear the thunder of his heartbeat matching my own.
“Haley,” he says again and my lips curve at the sound.
Ted Jones tries to hide the fact that he has superpowers.
But he’s not fooling me.
He can take me to places I’ve never been without leaving the room—he can make me see stars, make my heart swell, and make my skin burn hotter than the sun.
Yeah, Ted Jones is my own personal superhero. Because sometimes love allows for the most fantastic, amazing, incredible, impossible things.
* * *
The End
Continue the fun with Liv’s story in The Way You Are, part of the Carolina Connections Series from Sylvie Stewart.
www.sylviestewartauthor.com/the-way-you-are
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About the Author
http://www.sylviestewartauthor.com
USA Today bestselling author Sylvie Stewart is addicted to Romantic Comedy and Contemporary Romance, and she’s not looking for a cure. She hails from the great state of North Carolina, so it’s no surprise that most of her books are set in the Tar Heel state. She’s a wife to a hilarious dude and mommy to ten-year-old twin boys who tend to take after their father in every way. Sylvie often wonders if they’re actually hers, but then she remembers being a human incubator for a gazillion months. Ah, good times.
Sylvie began publishing when her kids started elementary school, and she loves sharing her stories with readers and hopefully making them laugh and swoon a bit along the way. If she’s not in her comfy green writing chair, she’s probably camping or kayaking with her family or having a glass of wine while binge-watching Hulu. Or she’s been kidnapped—so what are you doing just sitting there?!!
Tempt Me
Stephanie Morris
Tempt Me © 2018 Stephanie Morris
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Tempt Me
