Dirty Talk, Secret Pleasure Read online

  Opal Carew

  Sonny has a debilitating fear of men.

  Tal is a scary looking tattooed bad-ass.

  Can Tal get Sonny past her fear and help her become whole?

  Sonny longs to feel the intimate touch of a man. But she is haunted by a past trauma that leaves her terrified of being with a man. Even when she dreams of being in a man's arms, the steamy sexual situation turns into a nightmare.

  Sonny has found one way to cope. A stranger's voice has been her salvation.

  Tal wants a woman to love him. To have a real, long-lasting relationship. But most women are intimidated by his bad-ass appearance, with his tattoos, piercings, and broad, muscular frame.

  Tal looks the way he does because of a past fraught with pain. The tattoos aren't going anywhere, so he needs to find a woman who will accept him for who he is... and was.

  When Tal sees Sonny, he senses in her a kindred spirit. The haunting pain in her eyes draws him, but he flinches every time fear flickers across her face when she sees him.

  Can Tal find a way to break through Sonny's barriers and start something that might heal them both?

  Secret Pleasure is the first exciting episode in Opal Carew's Dirty Talk series, a poignant erotic romance about a woman struggling with her sexuality because of a devastating trauma from her past, and the strong, sensitive man who helps her find her way. If you love bad-assed alpha heroes with a strong, protective streak then you'll love Dirty Talk!

  Table of Contents

  Preamble

  Dirty Talk, Secret Pleasure

  Afterword

  Excerpt – Played by the Master

  Excerpt – The Office Slave

  Excerpt – Hot Ride

  Also by Opal Carew

  About Opal Carew

  Dirty Talk, Secret Pleasure

  Dirty Talk #1

  Copyright 2017 Opal Carew

  ISBN: 9781927444573

  Discover more books by Opal Carew at her website

  www.OpalCarew.com

  Ebook Design by Mark's Ebook Formatting

  All Rights Are Reserved.

  No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this story are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual events, locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  First edition: March 2017

  www.OpalCarew.com

  Opal Carew

  As Sonny approached the entrance of the restaurant where she was meeting her friend, a man in a pristine white shirt, black pants and vest opened the door for her.

  “Good evening. Welcome to Mandela’s,” he greeted.

  She bristled a little, but realized he worked at the place and nodded, then continued through the door.

  “I’m meeting a friend here,” Sonny said to the hostess who stepped up to greet her. “Her name’s Leandra. We have a reservation for six thirty.”

  Sonny had been looking forward to this evening. She’d been under heavy deadlines lately, which meant she’d hardly gotten out of the apartment over the past two weeks, since she worked from home. She’d only gone out once to grab groceries.

  The hostess glanced at her clipboard, then smiled brightly.

  “Yes, of course. Follow me.” As she started to walk, she glanced at Sonny. “The other three people in your party are already here.”

  “Wait, are you sure you’re taking me to the right table?”

  This evening was supposed to be just her and Leandra.

  The hostess glanced at her clipboard again as she continued to lead Sonny through the elegant restaurant, which was far more upscale than Sonny had expected for their girls’ night out.

  “Is your name Sonny?” she asked.

  “Yes.”

  The hostess nodded. “That’s right then. Leandra and I know each other—we go to the same gym—and when they got here she told me she’d set up this blind date for her best friend, Sonny. I’m sorry, I didn’t realize it was a surprise, but don’t worry, hon, he’s absolutely gorgeous. I wish my best friend would set me up with someone so sexy.”

  Oh, God. Sonny’s stomach churned. Why would Leandra do this? She knew how Sonny felt about this kind of thing. Sonny never would have come if she’d known Leandra was setting her up on a date.

  She should just turn around right now and march out the front door, but before she could act, the hostess led her around a corner and Leandra spotted her. Leandra’s face lit up as she smiled and waved.

  Sonny gritted her teeth and kept walking. She was sure her piercing stare made it clear to Leandra exactly how she felt about this surprise, but Leandra kept on smiling.

  The two men sitting at the table were both very good-looking. They were both clean-shaven and wearing well-cut suits. One man had dark blond hair swept back off his face, blue eyes and thin lips. The other man’s hair was dark brown, very thick and wavy and he had dark brown eyes than his companion.

  She stiffened as those eyes glinted in approval as she approached the table.

  Sonny sat down in the empty chair across from Leandra.

  “Hi, Sonny. This is Tom and Bryan.” Leandra gestured first to the blond man, then the dark haired one.

  Sonny nodded to the men.

  “I thought it was just going to be the two of us,” Sonny said.

  “Yes, I know, but I was telling Bryan about you and he wanted to meet you. I know you’ve been holed up in that apartment of yours for the past two weeks working on your deadline and I thought you’d like to get out and enjoy dinner and a movie with some good company.”

  Sonny’s jaw clenched.

  Leandra had tried to set her up on dates before and Sonny had always refused. Leandra knew about Sonny’s nervousness around men. They’d never talked about why. Leandra had tried to draw her out, but Sonny wasn’t comfortable with sharing it with anyone, even her best friend. Of course, Leandra had her theories. She insisted that all Sonny needed was to meet the right man… one who would be patient and willing to take it slow.

  But it was way more complicated than that.

  Still, in her heart, she knew that Leandra was trying to help.

  “Bryan is a veterinarian. He’s a cat person, too. He has two of his own.”

  “Leandra tells me you have a tortoiseshell,” Bryan said.

  “Yes, her name’s Mia. I found her abandoned under the shopping carts at the Costco store,” Sonny said, trying to relax. “She was just a kitten and she was frightened and hiding under the long row of shopping carts. I saw her there and had to get one of their staff to help me get her out. She was weak and her tail looked like it had been crushed by the wheels.”

  “That’s terrible,” Tom said.

  “Unfortunately, that kind of thing happens a lot,” Bryan said. “What happened then? Did your vet have to amputate the tail?”

  He looked at her with such kind eyes and genuine concern for Mia that she found herself relaxing a little.

  “No. She thought she’d have to, but it wasn’t as bad as we first thought. I’d never meant to have a cat—we’re not supposed to have them in my building—but I couldn’t just turn her over to a shelter, especially while she was so sick. I was going to try and find a good home for her, but she was just so sweet, I couldn’t part with her.”

  The fact that the poor little thing had been abused and abandoned had torn at her heart. There’s no way Sonny would abandon her, too.

  Bryan smiled. “I’m so glad there are people out there lik
e you.”

  She glanced at him and the warmth in his eyes unsettled her.

  “Thanks.” She picked up the menu sitting in front of her and started reading it, needing some distance so she could settle her nerves. She did not want to be attracted to this guy.

  As dinner progressed, the conversation was lively, though Sonny didn’t participate much. Bryan was very charming and tried to draw her out. He was also very attentive to her, which made her uncomfortable.

  The waitress brought the dessert menus and told them about the evening’s special, which was a rich chocolate cake soaked in an orange liqueur with whipped cream and topped with chocolate shavings. Sonny loved orange chocolate but declined. The others all ordered it.

  When dessert arrived, Sonny sipped her coffee as the others dug in.

  “Oh, Sonny,” Leandra said, her expression one of rapture, “you really should get one of these. It’s pure heaven.”

  “No, thanks. I couldn’t possibly eat all of that.”

  Bryan smiled and picked up his coffee spoon, which he hadn’t used, and scooped off a small bite for her. “I don’t mind sharing.”

  His voice was as velvety as the chocolate cake on the spoon. He offered it for her to take a bite.

  She hesitated, but the cake was too tempting to resist. She opened her mouth and he slid the cake inside. She closed her lips around it and he drew the spoon away.

  Even though he hadn’t touched her, the whole thing felt so… intimate.

  The cake melted in her mouth, the divine flavor delighting her. She swallowed as he watched her, his eyes lighting up.

  “I think you like that.” He dipped the spoon into the cake again and offered her another bite.

  She did want another bite, but she didn’t like the intimacy of him feeding her. She wouldn’t take the spoon from him, though, because their hands might brush, and she didn’t know how she’d react if he actually touched her.

  She hadn’t let a man touch her ever since…

  Her gut clenched and she felt herself start to tremble.

  “Are you all right?” Bryan asked, concern washing through his brown eyes.

  “Yeah, of course.” Then she nipped the cake from the spoon he still held in front of her and swallowed, barely tasting it. “It’s very nice. Thank you.”

  He offered her the spoon. “I’m happy to share.”

  She stared at his fingers, strong and thick, holding the spoon. As a vet, he would probably have a gentle touch, and she had already seen that he was compassionate. He would probably be good for her.

  But she wasn’t ready.

  She shook her head. “No, thank you. I’ve had enough.”

  * * *

  Sonny had tried to bail from the movie portion of the evening, but Leandra had talked her out of it. So now, here she sat, in a dark movie theater between Bryan and Leandra, Tom on Leandra’s other side.

  The movie was a poignant romance that Sonny was sure Leandra had chosen hoping it would put Sonny in a more receptive mood toward Bryan. Instead, it made her extremely uncomfortable. Sitting beside this man, no matter how charming and safe he seemed, made her stomach churn.

  At one point, she lost herself in the scene on the screen and reached into the bag of popcorn they were sharing. Their fingers brushed and she snatched her hand away so fast, she sent the popcorn in her hand flying. She had to stop herself from lurching from her seat and rushing from the theater.

  He leaned in and whispered, “Are you okay?”

  His breath on her ear nearly sent her into panic.

  “Yes, yes, I’m fine. Sorry.” She sucked in air, trying to calm herself.

  During the rest of the film, she sat tensely in her seat, just wishing the movie would end. Finally, the credits rolled up the screen and people started getting up and leaving the theater. She stood up and followed Leandra to the aisle, then down the stairs, conscious of Bryan behind her. Once in the lobby, the four of them gathered to one side out of the way of the swell of the crowd.

  “So should we all go for out for a drink?” Leandra asked.

  “No, I’m going to head home. I have an early day,” Sonny said, anxious to get away.

  “But it’s Friday night,” Leandra pointed out.

  “Sure, but I’m self-employed and I just got a new contract. It’s a small bakery that’s opening in a couple of weeks and they need the website in a rush.”

  “Don’t they always?” Leandra said wryly.

  It was true, but Sonny just shrugged. “They’re willing to pay a rush fee, so I’m not going to argue.”

  Leandra frowned.

  “You and I can still go out,” Tom said to Leandra, his arm around her.

  “Why don’t I drive Sonny back to the restaurant to get her car?” Bryan offered.

  Sonny’s heart pounded. She did not want to be alone with the man. Damn, why had she broken her rule of going in someone else’s car? She’d driven to the restaurant herself, but when they’d gone to the movie, Leandra had offered her a ride, the intent being that she’d drive her back afterward to pick up her own car. Now that had backfired on Sonny.

  She wanted to insist that Leandra drive her, but she’d just look—and feel—like a bitch cutting Leandra’s night short.

  “Thank you,” Sonny said stiffly.

  The evening had turned cool, so she pulled her sweater from her bag. Bryan took it and held it out for her so she could slip it on. She slid her arms in, then stepped forward, away from his touch. They stepped outside into the summer night and walked toward the cars.

  Leandra gave Sonny a big hug. “I’ll call you later.” Then she got into the car with Tom.

  Bryan opened the passenger door of his red Prius and she got inside. She liked the fact he drove a hybrid. That meant he cared about the environment.

  “Did you enjoy the movie?” he asked as he started the vehicle.

  “It was okay. I’m not really big on romances.”

  His eyebrow rose. “Really? What kind of movie do you like?”

  “All kinds of things. Comedies, science fiction, action movies.”

  He smiled. “Me, too.”

  For the rest of the ten-minute drive, he talked about various movies he liked and a few that were coming up that he thought she might be interested in.

  She knew where this was leading.

  They reached the street where her car was parked and she directed him to where it was. She pulled her keys from her purse and shoved them in her pocket so they’d be handy. He pulled into the spot behind her car then got out. She didn’t wait for him to open her door. She got out and pulled her keys from her pocket. He walked with her to the door of her car.

  “Thanks for the ride. And for dinner and the movie.”

  The men had picked up the dinner bill despite her protests and they’d already bought the tickets for the movie ahead of time. Sonny had insisted she pay for their popcorn and drinks, though.

  “I’m hoping we can see each other again. Dinner and a movie? You can pick any movie you’d like.”

  He looked at her with such warmth in his warm, brown eyes that it threw her off balance.

  Wouldn’t it be nice if she could just accept his invitation and go out on a normal date? Maybe hold hands and… even a kiss goodnight.

  She longed to enjoy that kind of intimacy, but a sense of panic rushed through her at the very thought of him touching her, let alone doing anything more.

  She frowned. “Look, Bryan, I want to be honest with you. You’re a really nice guy, but I’m not looking for a relationship right now.”

  “I could tell that Leandra seemed to have sprung me on you and I can understand why that would put you off the idea of seeing me again, but I really think we hit it off.” He smiled. “We don’t have to go into it with a relationship in mind. We can keep it casual. Just see a movie together. See how we feel then.”

  She shifted on her feet. She hated being in this position.

  “No, I’m sorry.”

  H
e moved a little closer and her heart lurched. A part of her wanted him to touch her. To kiss her. But the rest of her was absolutely terrified.

  “Are you sure you won’t change your mind?” he asked. Then he stroked her cheek.

  She froze. He leaned in close and his lips brushed hers.

  She gasped, jerking back.

  “I have to go.” She pressed the button on her keychain to unlock the door then scrambled inside. She drove away, leaving Bryan stunned.

  All she could think about was escaping. Not only his touch, but her wild mix of reactions to it.

  * * *

  Tal glanced around the garden and grounds of the apartment building as he walked across the parking lot with his friend to the entrance. When they opened the door, he stepped into a marble entryway, then another glass door that Steve unlocked. On the other side was a carpeted waiting area with a view of the garden out front.

  He could see himself living here.

  “It’s a great building,” Steve said as the door closed behind them. “As you know, I moved in here after college and I love it. You can’t see from here, but it’s right near the canal and from my balcony I’ve got a great view of the Mooney’s Bay falls. The apartment that’s available is on the same side of the building, so you will too, if you decide to move in. And there’s an indoor pool on the roof, but with lots of glass so it still feels outdoorsy. There’s a weight room, too. I know you’ll be using that a lot.”

  Tal chuckled. “Do you get a commission if I move in?”

  Steve smiled. “No, I’m just really glad you’re moving to Ottawa and I think it’ll be great if you live here so we can hang out like we used to.”

  Tal stared at his friend. Steve no longer wore glasses with the geeky rims like he had back then, having finally opted for contacts. He had a more up-to-date hairstyle, too, his sandy-blond hair cut short on the sides and the longer waves on top swept back from his face. And instead of jeans and a superhero T-shirt, he wore dress pants and a stylish light blue, striped shirt.

  Yet somehow he still had that nerd vibe. Quiet and reserved. A little awkward around the ladies. Or as a lot of women would describe him: harmless.

  Tal followed Steve into the elevator and Steve pushed the button for floor eighteen.