Mister O

“It’s a surprise for you for later. But suffice to say, it’s all part of my thorough preparation for your coursework, as you requested . . . Professor Hammer,” she says, lingering on my new nickname in a thoroughly seductive tone as she bends to pick up the cat.

Her skirt rides up, giving me the sweetest, naughtiest peek of the top of her stockings, right where they meet her garters. Hello, hard-on.

“You darling boy,” she coos to the cat as she stands. “Did you miss me?”

Fido meows at Harper in greeting, and offers her his chin for petting. “Aww. You little honey bear. I told you I’d be here to feed you your special tiger diet. I would never forget you.”

He rubs his furry cheek against her breast, and I whimper. The lucky bastard. Then he has the audacity to stretch out his paw and rest it on the exposed flesh of her chest.

“I think Fido is trying to feel you up.”

Harper laughs and scratches his chin. He snuggles even closer to her. Man, this cat has it bad.

“Come pet him. He’s sweet,” she says.

I move closer and rub his ears. As I stroke him, Harper absently touches my hair. The cat stops purring. He stares at us, at her hand on me, as if he’s cataloguing every move we make. Maybe I’m hallucinating, but I swear he narrows his beady eyes.

Harper puts him down, fills his food bowl, and sets it on the floor. As he eats, she changes the litter, and then washes her hands. After she dries them, she runs a hand down the cat’s back. He arches into her as he chows down on the rest of his dinner.

“See? Fido won’t tell our secret. He has a little crush on me, and all he wants is for me to come back tomorrow.”

We head to the door, but when I glance back at him, he’s no longer eating. He trots to Harper, meowing loudly and rubbing his side against her.

“I’ll come back soon, handsome,” she tells him as he turns around and rubs his other side on her calf, his tail swishing high in the air.

My eyes pop out. That cat is marking her with his scent. “Back off,” I say to him. “She’s mine.”

Harper laughs. “You two having a swordfight?”

“Yeah, and I’m going to win.”

We leave, and once we’re in the elevator and safely away from the pervy cat, I press a kiss to her chest where his paw was.

“Are you actually jealous of a cat?” she asks.

Jealous of Simon. Jealous of a feline. Evidently, I’m the territorial one when it comes to this woman, and my possessiveness knows no bounds. “I would be if I wasn’t completely confident that I’ll be stripping you down to your bows and garters, and having my paws all over you tonight,” I say, low and husky.

A feathery gasp escapes her throat. “I like your paws.”

When we reach the street, I crane my neck to check out the sixth floor. Who’s there but Fido, in the window, staring at us.

Probably preparing a report for his master. I swear, I’ll quit when Spencer returns in a week. I will, I really will.





24





Harper spins around, walking backward on the sidewalk, mischief tap-dancing in her blue eyes. A bus rumbles by, spewing exhaust, and a cab honks its horn as it swerves into the next lane. We’re on the edge of the Village.

“Any idea where I’m taking you?” she asks, taunting, toying, playing.

I bring a finger to my lips. “Hmm. Did you plan a date at the drugstore?” I ask, gesturing to the Duane Reade on the corner. “Shopping for household goods, perhaps?”

She makes a buzzer sound. “Wrong. Guess again.”

I check out the options across the street. There’s a movie theater, so that’s a possibility. But Harper’s I’ve-got-something-up-my-sleeve attitude tells me she’s not going for conventional. I cross off the sushi restaurant on the corner for that reason, too.

Then I spot it. A few stores away. I can’t believe I missed it. Eden, a sex-toy shop. This is so very Harper.

“This might be my favorite date ever,” I say as we near the entrance. “I don’t know how I’m not going to buy one of everything.”

She grabs my hand and laces her fingers through mine. “It’s going to be impossible for you to resist.”

“I’m game to try though,” I say and turn into the doorway.

Like a dog on a leash, I’m jerked back. I nearly stumble into her. “What? Aren’t we going here?” I hook a thumb in the direction of the shop.

“Oh God,” she says, clasping her hand over her mouth. “I forgot that was here.”

“Then where are we going?” I ask, since two and two isn’t equaling four right now.