Missy Johnson - Provoke

“It’s been four,” I muttered, rubbing the back of my neck.

“So we’re a little slow,” he replied. “Have a good night, Mace.”

I switched off my phone, trying to figure out what their game was. Were they trying to show me they could reach me anywhere? Because I already knew that.

Reaching into my back pocket, I grabbed my wallet and pulled out the half-smoked joint I’d stashed in there. I stared at the photo of Anna as I lit the joint, crouching down onto my knees.

Calm down. Just go back inside and act normal.

I snorted. Normal. Fuck, I hadn’t been acting normal for the past year.

Leeta

Dropping my keys on the kitchen bench, I sighed as I began to undress. Walking through to the bathroom, I ran the bath. My biggest demand when house-hunting last year had been a huge bath. That was my only non-negotiable requirement.

It was the best way I knew how to relax, and in my job, I got stressed a lot. Nothing beat a nice, long soak after a stressful day. Well, I could maybe think of one thing . . .

I smirked and put my clothes in the laundry hamper, then grabbed a towel from the closet. Back in the bathroom, I switched off the taps and dipped my fingers in the water. Perfect.

 “Oh, hell yeah.” I sighed as I immersed myself in the hot water, the steam rising up and filling the bathroom. Instant gratification.

I’d texted Mace to see if he was coming over. He hadn’t replied—which wasn’t unusual. He had his friends, and I had mine. After six months together, we spent most nights at each other’s homes, but we were still at the stage of having our own space. I liked that. I was far from clingy, so having our own places worked for the moment.

Closing my eyes, I felt myself relax. It had been a big few days at work, and I was glad it was over. My closing argument had gone just as I’d hoped, and I was quietly confident that I’d be racking up my first win the next day. They say the first one is always the hardest, and that seemed especially apparent in my job. Standing in the front of that courtroom had given me such an adrenaline rush. I was born to be in the courtroom.

Stepping out of the bath, I wrapped a towel around me just as the pounding on the door began. I knew it wasn’t Mace, because he had a key. I contemplated pretending I wasn’t home when a familiar voice echoed through the walls.

“Leet! Open the fuck up!”

I raced to the door, still only in my towel, and flung it open. I looked in his arms and sighed. I fucking knew it.

“No. No fucking way, Tim.” My warnings went unheard as he pushed past me and into the living room, where he plopped down on the couch.

“Leeta, meet your new friend, Marcus.” He handed me a little bundle of pillowcase from which a tiny, fuzzy grey head was poking out. My heart melted a little at the sight of him and his huge green eyes.

“You fucking bastard, Timothy. You can’t bring him here knowing I won’t be able to say no . . .” My words deserted me. Totally gone. I smiled as a tiny little paw hit my finger. I was officially smitten.

Timmy craned his neck, looking past me into the bedroom. “I was kinda hoping I’d be interrupting something. The way you talk about this guy of yours . . . well, let’s just say the odd night, your descriptions kept me quite satisfied.”

“Eww, Tim, you didn’t!” I cried. “And sorry, he’s not here.” I poked my tongue out at him and then disappeared into the bedroom with my new friend still in my arms.

Setting him down on the bed, I threw on a pair of track pants and a pyjama top. Then I picked the little kitty up again, holding him close as he purred softly. We both knew he wasn’t going anywhere.

“This isn’t fair, you know.” I glowered at Tim as I walked back out into the living room.

He snorted and waved his arm at me. “Oh, shut it, Leeta. You’re much more of an animal person than I am.”

“Then why get a cat in the first place?” I asked with frustration. That annoyed the hell out of me. I loved Tim to death, but this kitty had just been another accessory he’d gotten sick of after a week. With so many unwanted animals in the world, his attitude and lack of accountability astounded me.

“Okay! We’ve established that I’m an idiot. Can we move on?” He waved his hand, rolling his eyes as though I were boring him.

I let the matter drop and sank down onto the couch next to him. Tickling Marcus under the chin, I smiled as he craned his little neck. Timmy was right: I did love animals. And I had been planning on getting a cat. That didn’t excuse what he’d done, but I’d get over it. But Marcus? Who the hell names a cat Marcus?

“I don’t have any food or litter,” I mumbled as the little guy circled my lap before lying down.

“In my car. Food, litter, bed, toys . . . I didn’t want to be presumptuous.”

I snorted. “When are you not?”

“I’ll be back in a sec.”

I shook my head as he darted out of the room. I tickled the little guy under the chin as I listened to the front door slam, then open a few minutes later, and then slam shut again. Tim came running in, carrying bags of cat products.

“Uncle Tim’s a silly boy, isn’t he?” I cooed at Marcus as he tried to nibble on my nose. My eyes widened at the stack of toys. Was that a freaking leather jacket? “How much shit did you buy this thing, Tim?” I gasped.

“What?” he shrugged. “So I got carried away. Sue me.” He threw a ball at my head. I laughed, ducking out of the way.

“I can’t believe you,” I sighed, cuddling the kitty up against me. Oh, he is so cute. “If you’re staying, then make yourself useful and get me a drink.”

“Can’t,” he said, shaking his head. “I’ve got a hot date.”

“With who?” I asked. This was the first I’d heard about any date. To my knowledge, he hadn’t been out in weeks.

“Damien, the courier from Speedsters? Asked him out and he said yes.”

 “Well, have fun,” I said, rolling my eyes as he pecked me on the cheek. He ruffled Marcus behind the ear.

“You too. Don’t wear that cute little pussy out.” His laughter rang through the hallway as he let himself out.

“Come on, you,” I cooed, kissing his little nose. “Let’s go to bed, hey?”

Pulling back the covers, I climbed into my warm bed. Thank God for electric blankets, that’s all I could say. Without them, I’d never sleep. Marcus was curled up in his bed on the ground next to me. I hesitated, then reached down, lifting his bed onto the other side of mine. I didn’t want him getting cold. Reaching for my phone, I yawned uncontrollably. It was barely ten, but I was wrecked.

Goodnight from Marcus and I xx

Mace responded to my text right away.

Who the hell is Marcus?

Smiling, I replied.

The cutie sharing my bed. Come see for yourself…you have a key.

I giggled as I set my alarm, and switched my phone over to silent. How crazy was that message going to drive him? Crazy enough to come over here and find out? I snuggled down into my bed and closed my eyes.

#

“Humph,” I muttered, my leg jerking out from under the covers. Half asleep, I reached down and fixed the bed sheets that had somehow become a muddled mess at the end of the bed.

“Is this Marcus?”

I bolted upright, my heart racing. Fumbling for the lamp switch, I clicked it, and saw Mace standing at the foot of the bed, the cat in his arms.

“God, you scared the hell out of me,” I gasped, flopping back down on the mattress.

“You tell me you’re sleeping with some dude named Marcus, and you’re surprised I came over?” He smirked at me.

“So you’ve met, then,” I mumbled. “What time is it?”

“Nearly three, and yes, we’ve become acquainted.”

“Nearly three? I texted you at ten. You couldn’t have been too concerned.” I smirked. He walked over to me, placing Marcus back in his bed, and then crawled over and onto the mattress until he was over me.

“I was busy,” he mumbled. My questions melted away as soon as his lips hit my neck. Oh, Jesus. He licked along my collarbone, lifting my tank above my breasts. “Hello, perky.” I let out a moan as his lips locked around my left nipple, his tongue almost making me orgasm.

“Marcus . . .” I gasped as he yanked my panties off, moving my legs apart.

“Leets, he’s fast asleep. What, are you worried about me corrupting your little pussy?” He ran his finger along my wetness as I yelped. “Because I think we’re too late.”

“No.” I laughed, swatting his arm away and attempting to roll over. “Not in front of the cat.” I giggled, trying to roll over as he gripped both my wrists above my head with one hand and continued his assault on me.

“You don’t mean that.”

I gasped as his finger slid inside me.

“You’re so wet, Leets, I know you want me inside you. Don’t you?”

I leaned up, my lips finding his as his hand worked its way around my back, his fingers electric against my skin. I worked my way down his naked body, my hands resting on his hard cock. I whimpered, so badly wanting him inside me.

“Not so fast, Leets.” He pushed my hands away and shuffled down the bed. I spread apart my legs, knowing what was about to come—no pun intended. I groaned as his arm curled around my thigh, dragging my hips closer to him. He was so close I could feel his breath moving softly past my lips.

Crying out, I clasped my hands over his as he buried his tongue inside my wet pussy. The action was so sudden I had no time to prepare myself, resulting in my thighs clenching his head between my legs.