Page 115 of After Midnight

I’m seated on the floor, leaning back against the brick wall with one knee pulled up to my chest. At her stern expression, I smile. “Yes, Tiny Dancer. I’m listening.”

She arches a brow at me, though I see her attempt not to smile at the nickname. “Then what did I just say?”

I clear my throat. “You said the poles have to be at least eight feet apart, and you’d rather go with fewer to make sure everyone has enough room, because most pole studios cram too many in and then the students kick each other and it sucks.” I’m kind of paraphrasing, but I must get most of it right, because Remi’s lips lose their battle against her smile and finally pull up in the corners.

“Sorry,” she says, taking a big breath and letting it out in a sigh that makes her shoulders drop. “I’ve never set up a studio before. I just want to do this right.”

“Come sit with me.” I wave her over, and though she resists, like she wants to walk around the studio measuring things for the tenth time, she finally gives in. When she plops down next to me, looking a mixture of overwhelmed and excited, I say, “You’re going to do amazing. And this place is going to be so sick.”

Her expression goes soft. “You really think so?”

“Fuck yes. You’re brilliant, and you know what the students need. You’ll be the top pole instructor in LA by spring.”

She rolls her eyes and bumps my shoulder. “Whatever. You know that’s not true.”

“It is. You don’t see it yet, but I do. When you put your heart into something, there’s no way you’re gonna fail.” I bump her shoulder back, and with a smile, I add, “This is the start of something big, Rem. Just wait.”

I’m not sure I’ve convinced her, but her cheeks go a bit red, and she bites her bottom lip as she turns to look through the studio once more, something like hope and excitement shimmering in her eyes. She goes to push herself up, probably to start measuring out where the front desk is going to go, but I catch her by the wrist and give her a gentle tug, so she ends up in my lap instead of back on her feet.

“What are you doing, Mr. Harris?” she asks, one black eyebrow arching at me. “You know we’re supposed to be working. This studio isn’t going to design itself.”

“I know,” I say, lifting a hand to cradle her jaw. “But can’t we take a little break? Then I’ll do all the measuring you want—I promise.”

She narrows her eyes challengingly, but her smile betrays her. “Even if I change my mind a hundred times?”

I lean closer, lips almost touching hers now. “Even then.”

She draws a long breath, and I think she means for it to sound annoyed, but she keeps smiling, and she’s really a terrible liar. “Fine. But just a small break. We have to be quick.”

I grin. “Can you be quick?”

Her smile turns a little sharper. “Depends.”

“On what?”

She adjusts her weight in my lap, the heat between her legs taunting me. “You.”

“You know my goal isn’t to go fast,” I say. “It’s to be mind-blowing.”

She rolls her eyes and lets out a scoff. “Full of yourself, hmm?”

“I mean, you do consistently cum twice.” I lean back against the wall and press my hips up, making her draw a breath. “I’d call that pretty fucking mind-blowing.”

“Well,” she says, easing back from me and pushing to her feet. She walks away, and I get worried she’s not going to come back—until she turns the lock on the door and draws the curtains over the big windows. Then she faces me, and she holds my gaze as she pulls her T-shirt over her head and eases her yoga pants over her hips, wearing nothing now but a sports bra and a simple black thong. “Let’s see if you can do both.”

With a laugh, I get to my feet, then pull my shirt off over my head. Remi’s gaze follows my hands as I loosen my belt and slide my jeans and boxers off, letting my cock bob free. I kick my bundle of clothes away, then tip my head at her. “You gonna time me?”

Her tongue wets her bottom lip, swiping away the blueberry smudge I’d hoped to claim for myself. “You’ve got twenty minutes. Then we’re back to work.”

I cross the studio to her, then whisper into her ear, “Maybe we can set a new record.”

She reaches for her thong, sliding it off over those delicious round hips. Then she pulls her sports bra off, letting her breasts hang free. As she drops it to the floor, she smirks at me. “Better get started, then.”

chapter 56

Remi

“FUCK,” I GROAN OUT, ARCHING my back on the hardwood floor as Sebastian’s tongue presses into me. My legs are draped over his shoulders, and he’s already made me cum twice, leaving me a sticky, wet, trembling mess on the studio floor. My clit feels like it can’t take any more, and my insides ache from how intense an orgasm that last one was. But he’s not done with me yet—and he’s still got eight minutes left.