As he parked his car, with both Annie and Haley sleeping in the backseat, he admitted to himself that he might have lost control a bit. It wasn’t his fault. Even exhausted, their combined gaze affected him like mind control, and his rapid recovery hardly helped.
“Luckily, I’m strong enough to carry both of you,” he muttered as he approached Haley first, throwing her on his shoulder, then carried Annie in bridal hold.
The stairs were empty, which was a small benefit. The last thing he needed was to explain to the neighbors why he was carrying two sleeping girls.
Well, except Penny, but she was on the set.
Annie didn’t even stir as he put her down, while Haley cracked an eye. “You were enthusiastic today,” she muttered.
“Well, I missed you. It has almost been ten days,” he said.
She hummed. “It felt longer.” He kissed her. She responded, but her exhaustion was clear. “God, you’re still ready to go. And to think there was a time I thought about trying to convince you out of our arrangement.”
“Really?” he teased.
“Yes. But no longer. I mean, I’m tiny. Trying to keep up with you, I would die. Two against one, and we are the exhausted party while you’re raring to go. What’s up with your stamina?”
“Well, I’m no longer exhausted from moving, and actually not having to work for a living helps,” he teased her.
She chuckled, then looked around. “Speaking of it, do you have any idea of changing your living situation?”
He hummed. “Actually, I’m thinking of renting something on the shore. Surfing was more fun than I expected, and having a second place there seems to be a good idea. Especially since this place is getting a bit small, especially if you want to visit more regularly.”
“Tempting,” she said. “That way, I can delay getting my own place for a few months. Especially since I can’t rent.”
“Really? Why?”
“Are you joking? With a realtor father, it’s not worth the effort with all that argument about buying versus renting. And, letting money accumulate for a few months seems like a better idea.”
“Smart,” he said. “By the way, give me your father’s number. If I’m going to rent, it’s better if he gets the commission.”
She hummed. “Normally, I would be a bit more stringent about keeping you away from my family, but it hardly matters at this point,” she said with a teasing smirk. “How’s Alex?”
“I visited her yesterday,” he said shamelessly. “She had been in the lab for a week straight, so I forced her to leave for a fresh breath and a good night’s rest.”
Haley chuckled. “That’s something I was never able to do.”
“I have certain advantages,” he said.
She caressed his arm. “You certainly do. Now, go and leave us alone. I want to sleep fourteen hours straight.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to see where I would pick?” he said.
Her eyes widened, recognizing the trust he extended. “I trust your taste. Surprise me,” she said instead. He left after one last kiss. She was back asleep before he could return to the living room.
A quick call to Phil confirmed that he wasn’t too far away, and he had a couple of furnished listings that were amenable to rentals, as long as they were no longer than six months, which worked perfectly for his timeline.
In six months, he should have enough to buy and properly renovate a place.
Unlike the car lot, Phil was wearing a snazzy suit at the garden of the rental beach house, though it was more fitting to call it a mansion. “Hi Ethan,” Phil waved.
“Phil, how do you do?”
“Excellent, my man,” he said. “Though, let me say that I didn’t expect you to rent a place in Malibu.”
“I prefer older cars because I like tinkering,” he said. “And, business has been better than I expected, so I want to experience Malibu for a year before I make a decision on whether to buy here, or somewhere nearer to the city center.”
“It’s good to see young people achieving success,” Phil said happily, unaware of the role he played in Haley’s success; or the fact that he knew Haley in the first place … alongside the other women in his little household.
He would have felt guilty if Phil wasn’t enjoying his unshackled life. Phil deserved some fun. Too bad he had no intention of sharing Gloria, Phil’s longtime crush.
He liked Phil, but not that much.
“So, this is the place I recommend,” Phil said as they entered the house. “A friend of mine had been listing it for three months, and just before the sale was complete, the seller pulled back. When he heard there’s a potential renter that wanted it only for a year, he was happy enough to drop the asking price twenty percent below market, furnishing included. It’s an amazing deal. The only issue is that the deposit is high because the furniture is expensive. The house will stay on the market in the process, but any buyer will have to give you two months of warning.”
Ethan nodded. “It works perfectly for me,” he said, then focused on examining the house. The location was nice, but renting without seeing every room and deciding if it worked for him wouldn’t work.
Phil was a surprisingly honest man, and a good salesman, which was a rare combination. He had gone through the numbers on the way, his Research skill giving him an exact state of the market.
Not only were the numbers true, but the house had everything he asked for and more. A garage large enough that he could tinker with the cars, a large deck with an excellent view, walking distance to good surfing spots, multiple guest rooms, and a huge basement that could easily be turned into a professional set.
It even had a piano.
Altogether, it was a good deal that kept both him and the owner happy, making it a good deal. Even if Phil earned twenty-four thousand dollars in the process.
He checked the bar, which had bottles already in place, but nothing really expensive. He suspected the owner did the smart thing and didn’t leave anything that cost above a hundred dollars behind.
“Let me make a drink for you to celebrate,” he offered.
“I’ll have to drive,” Phil said.
“Don’t worry, I’ll make it light, practically a mocktail,” he said as he quickly mixed the cocktails. They sat on the deck, chatting. They started by casual things, work, weather … but soon, he managed to bring the discussion to the topic of open marriage.
Convincing Phil that they had talked about it back in the car shop had been easy. Socially, Phil could be rather gullible.
He blushed. “Well, my wife and I came to an agreement about a hall pass. It helped immensely.”
“Really?” he asked.
“Yeah. It was scared at first, but Claire has been rather understanding.”
“Jealousy?”
Phil sighed. “Honestly, no. Not from either side.” He took a deep breath. “How old are you? Thirty?”
“Twenty-two, actually,” he said.
“Huh? I would have believed older,” he said, then shrugged. “Imagine. We have been married longer than you have been alive. We love each other, but a quarter of a century is a long time. You miss the way someone giggles in a way you didn’t expect when you touch their knee or something.”
He nodded. It was understandable. Even in the show, Phil had been a good father and a good husband, but his wandering eye had been a running joke.
“It makes sense,” he said. “So, do you share stories with your wife?”
He shook his head. “No. When we’re with other people, we don’t say anything, and if there’s any, we don’t refer to it. Actually, I was worried that she wasn’t taking advantage of it but … let’s just say when I returned from an adventure of my own, I saw the evidence that she’s enjoying the same perks.”
“Good,” Ethan said, doing his best not to smile smugly. After all, he worked hard to satisfy Claire. Then, he saw that not too far away, there were two girls throwing a frizbee. A beautiful busty Latina, and a sexy black woman, both in their late twenties.
Even as they chatted, Phil’s eyes tracked them like a drone system. It didn’t surprise Ethan, as the show had highlighted Phil’s visual preferences enough times.
“So, Phil. Do you have another showing today?” he asked.
“No. I expected this to take the rest of the day rather than ending in twenty minutes. You’re a quick customer.”
“Well, you made my life easier, so how about I give you a little gift,” he said.
“It’s not necessary—“ Phil started, only to freeze when he pointed at the girls on the shore. “Really?”
“Let’s just say I have a silky tongue. And, I owe you one,” he said. Admittedly, not for the reason Phil thought, but still… “Just wait here, and give me ten minutes.”
Then, he took the stairs from the deck, which led directly to the beach. He introduced himself, chatted with the girls a minute before learning they were here for a business conference, and staying in a nearby hotel, and would be flying away the next day.
The perfect situation.
Convincing them that a drink on the deck wouldn’t hurt had been easy, and five minutes later, Phil was impressing them with his magic tricks, which went surprisingly smoothly while he prepared a small plate of food and several drinks.
Phil had a better game than he gave him credit for. Or maybe, he was no longer hampered by guilt of flirting with other women.
Convincing both girls to follow Phil to one of the guest rooms took more time, but a little story about how he had to leave to catch a plane clinched it.
As he closed the door, moans were already rising.
Good for Phil.
Then, the moment he left the house, the universe rewarded him.
He saw Kandi, jogging, wearing tight shorts and a sports bra, the light sheen suggesting that she had just started.
He waved, and she stopped, looking a little weirded out. “Hi,” she said, looking a touch hesitant.
“What a fun coincidence,” he said with a smile. “I see that you’re back in Malibu. Don’t tell me Judith’s got boring quick.”
She grimaced. “It’s your fault,” she said, the pout in her tone seemingly permanent, as she carried it even when she stopped faking being gullible.
“Judith is being needy?” he asked.
Her pout grew larger. “Like you can’t imagine. I thought that I would be getting away from Alan to calm down a bit. At least Alan is easy to distract. All you need to mention money, and he disappears.”
He chuckled. He also caught the implication. He had no doubt that Kandi could play Judith just as easily, but after his warning, she had to be careful. “That’s Alan.”
“Why, Judith?” she asked him. “I mean, isn’t she a bit?”
“Oh, Judith is fun, but she does need a firm hand,” he said. “She can get quite unbearable if she ever believes she knows better than you. Your little act means she’ll always think that.”
“I’ll say,” Kandi complained, though he didn’t miss the way her chest continued to rise up and down, nor the strategic way she leaned. She was a master of leveraging her body. To her credit, her body was a masterpiece, making it a very good strategy. “So, why are you here? Visiting another friend?”
“Actually, no,” he said. “I just got a new place,” he said, pointing at the building, not going into details about it being a rental. “I tried to live in a condo, but driving is not as fun,” he said. “I need space, particularly as a studio…”
“Interesting,” she said, getting even closer, her finger casually touching his arm. “So, I thought about the lingerie thing…” she muttered.
“Interesting,” he said as he grabbed her waist, and pulled her close. “Let me guess, you’re tempted, but you need to bargain for a higher price.”
She shook her head. “No. I’m actually willing to do it cheaper, but I want the payment in cash.”
He thought for a moment. “Sure,” he said.
“Not going to ask questions?”
“Either you are in debt and you don’t want it garnished, or you’re planning to saddle Alan with a second alimony,” he said. “In both cases, not my problem,” he said as he dipped his hand down, happy that his Perception allowed him to identify a lot of things, including the fact that her growing arousal was real.
It would also mean that the payments would be relatively limited at first, but he was happy with that fact.
“How much?” she asked.
“Two grand per session. Three grand if you’re willing to go topless for some of the sexier items, and each session takes four hours,” he said. It was lower than what he offered Lily, but it was still well above market rate for a beginner model. “I take perpetual commercial rights for my own website, and if there’s any additional usage, there’ll be additional payments. I won’t be going around selling them for magazines for nothing.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s a good deal,” she admitted. “Especially with the mask. You know you can go lower.”
“I do, but I’m nice like that,” he said. He might not be Kandi’s biggest fan, but he didn’t dislike her either. He respected her hustle.
She bit her lip. “How about today?” she said.
He was about to refuse, but he realized he actually had enough for a full session.
“Actually, yes,” he said. “You need to take a shower, and I need to have a few calls, but we can start in an hour. Why don’t you go to Charlie’s and I can pick you up?”
She looked hesitant. “Actually, can I use your shower?” she said.
“Sure,” he said as he opened the door, and they walked back in, the noises distinct. She looked at him. “I just signed the contract, and the realtor is a friend, so…” he said. “You can use the master bathroom.”
She bit her lip. “Actually, do you mind washing my back?” she asked.
He chuckled. “I rather not,” he said.
That surprised her. “Why?”
“Because if I ‘wash your back’ we can’t have the photoshoot today.”
“Why?”
“Because you won’t be able to walk.”
That made her pause, then her smile turned condescending, which she did her best to hide. She was good, but not good enough to actually trick him. “If that’s the case, we can delay the shoot a day,” she said.
It seemed that she was under the impression that his performance at Judith’s house was his limit rather than a mere warmup.
He was happy to correct her. “If you’re willing to take that challenge,” he said with a chuckle, even as he grabbed her, threw her to his shoulder, and climbed the stairs. She giggled, her excitement a mixture of fake and real.
That tone changed quite a bit when he threw her on the bed. As she bounced, she giggled, which turned into a moan as he pulled her shorts, tearing the thin fabric along the seam easily. Meanwhile, she removed her sports bra happily, revealing her incredible tits.
It wasn’t the first time he had seen them, but that didn’t make them any less beautiful.
Her body was truly a work of art. He pinned her wrists above her head with one strong hand, holding them tight against the mattress, his other hand unbuttoned his jeans, a kick sending them away.
Her core was already glistening with desire.
“If you can’t handle it, just say spinach,” he whispered as he rubbed his shaft against her entrance. He could have easily made her climax to surrender with his fingers, but that wasn’t the point.
Her challenge was also a perfect opportunity to test his new limits. Though, as he stood between her legs, and started impaling her, her eyes widened. “You’re scary … why are you scary?” she whispered.
He realized he was subconsciously tapping into Intimidation Aura because he wanted to defeat her. “Because Judith is a fragile housewife, and her understanding of submission comes from bodice rippers,” he explained. “Does it scare you? I can dial it down.”
“Yes,” she said, but her eyes changed as she gulped, her desire solidifying. “Fuck no, sir,“ she gasped, desire burning in her tone.
That reaction came as a surprise for him, mostly because he could see Kandi was equally surprised. He might have just helped her discover a new kink.
One that Alan could never even trigger.
Poor guy. Two beautiful women in a submissive kink, and he failed to trigger none.
But that was the extent of his care as he fully tapped into the benefits of his perk, and invaded her with a matching aggression. He fucked her hard, with a determination, like he was trying to drill her through the mattress.
She just moaned with pure desire, her earlier fake tone long gone. He didn’t slow down, each stroke burying himself deep into her. “Yes. You’re so big … so strong … sir,” she moaned.
It took merely ten minutes for her to climax, and her eyes rolled hard. “God … this … what …” she gasped, her voice hoarse. Even with all his advantages, he wondered if she was somehow faking it well enough to trick him despite his advantages.
Then, the notification arrived, solving that particular question.
[Achievement complete. Give Kandi her biggest climax by a huge margin through the discovery of a new kink.
Challenge: Daring]
[+25 Attractiveness
1 Random Platinum Skill
1 Random Platinum Reward]
[Bonus achievement complete. Netori effect in play]
[+25 Endurance
Matching skill found. Upgrade Novice Chess
1 Random Platinum Reward]
He picked the stats even as he pulled out, mostly because he had no idea whether Kandi had any useful skills other than Acting, which he already had. Alan’s case was worse, as he had no intention of wasting one for chess.
Endurance and Attractiveness were very useful stats.
“So, any half-snide comments about my warning—“ he teased even as he prepared to let her rest for a while, only for her to jump onto his lap, her hips coming down like an awakened succubus.
Luckily, he had to power to put her to rest. He stood up, departing the bed to pin her against the way, invading her with a brutal pace, though still careful that every moan of hers were seeped with pleasure. Rough sex was fun, but only when his partner enjoyed it.
Kandi’s moans were loud and shameless. “Yes! Sir! Harder! Please!” she gasped, repeating the phrase while he dominated her.
“You’re such a greedy little slut,” he grunted, pounding her relentlessly.
Half an hour. It was all it took to shatter her stamina, her gaze fading, near unconsciousness, actually drooling. “More…” she whispered.
“I don’t think so,” he teased. “Any more, and we have to delay the shoot for the tomorrow as well.”
She sighed. “You were right. I literally can’t walk,” she whispered. “Can you give me a ride.”
“Sure. What are you going to say?”
“A cramp. You can even carry me. Alan is amusing when he’s jealous.”
“Sure,” he said, appreciating that she actually told him rather than trying to manipulate him by acting she didn’t know the inevitable reaction.
“My shorts,” she said when she looked down, remembering they were in pieces.
“Don’t worry, I’ll replace it later,” he said as he checked the wardrobe, and saw that there were some in there. Cheap stuff, but enough to cover her up.
When he opened the door, he finally heard that downstairs, Phil was still entertaining his guests. “Well, at least I learned that the master bedroom has excellent soundproofing,” he chuckled. “If they haven’t called me for murder, it means they didn’t hear.”
“I wasn’t that bad,” she muttered as her arms tightened around his neck, blushing badly.
He just smirked…
With his most recent rewards, life was not just good.
It was amazing…
[Attractiveness: 380] [Graceful Movement] [Luminous Eyes]
[Strength: 255] [Impact Force] [Intimidation Aura]
[Endurance: 285] [Elevated Stamina] [Rapid Recovery]
[Intelligence: 200] [Accelerated Learning]
[Agility: 125] [Quick Hands]
[Perception: 190] [Tactical Awareness]
[Charisma: 135] [Negotiation Excellence]