by Chiah Wilder
The words were barely out before she started crying. Burying her head into her knees, her soft sobs racked through her shoulders, shuddering down into her bare feet burrowed into the sand.
Tank slipped his arm around her shoulders. “Shit. It’s okay, darlin’.” When she didn’t jerk away from him, he pulled her into his chest. Lena’s arms immediately went around him, and he kissed her cheek while rubbing her back. “It sucks. I know it must fuckin’ hurt like hell. Get it all out.”
As she cried, he kept murmuring comforting words to her as she wrung out her emotions on his shoulder. Her small fingers dug into his arm and shoulder, and he held her tightly while watching the waves crest and then roll before crashing onto the sand.
After a long while, she stopped shuddering against him. Her sniffles reverberated through his body as he continued making shushing noises to comfort her.
“I’m so sorry.” Pulling back, she tried to scramble out of his arms, but he held her steady so she didn’t fall. “I shouldn’t have lost it like that. I didn’t mean to.”
“It’s fine. There’s nothing wrong.” Putting a hand on either side of her face, he forced her to look at him. Her eyes were wide, scared, and skittering all over the damn place. But the rest of her went still against him. “You did nothing wrong, Lena. You needed comfort, and I had no problem providing it. Sometimes it all gets to be too much to handle.” The corners of his mouth turned up slightly. “I won’t tell anyone, if that’s what your worried about. Cool?”
A small smile played across her lips, and then she let out a nervous laugh.
“We wouldn’t want anyone to think you have any weaknesses. Only the bad boss bitch, right?” He gave her a hard time, laughing while he did it. “Your shield is completely uncrackable.”
A gentle caress across her cheek punctuated his words. He leaned in, nuzzling her neck. She shivered against him and gripped his shoulders as his lips lingered against her ear.
“Your secret’s safe with me,” he whispered.
Turning her head, her cheek brushed against his nose, and then her lips were locked with his from one heartbeat to the next. Tank’s tongue delved into her mouth while his fingers funneled through her hair. She punctuated his movements with small moans and gasps of pleasure, clinging to him at first, then slipping her long fingers along the back of his neck.
They sat there under the night sky strewn with summer stars, necking like teenagers at a drive-in movie.
When she pulled away, he let her, even as her fingers lingered on the back of his neck, slowly caressing their way down his chest. Their eyes locked, and she licked her lower lip.
“Do you wanna go somewhere for a drink, or get some food?”
“The last thing I can think about right now is food, but… I don’t want to be alone right now.”
Her lips parted, her features softening, and color spread across her cheeks. Fuck. His gaze
lowered to her cleavage, and when she drew in a sharp breath, her tits rose. Lust gripped his spine and his balls.
“Are you sure?” he said in a low voice, running his hand down her cheek.
Her eyes never wavered from his. “I’ve never been surer of anything in my life.”
His lips brushed against hers when he asked, “Your place or mine?”
“Mine.” Drawing back, she stood and offered her hand to help him up.
“That’s chivalrous of you, but I’m good.” He rose to his feet and grasped her hand. Wrapping it around his waist, he leaned in to kiss her again.
A comfortable silence fell between them as they walked down the beach with their arms around each other.
Lena
When they walked inside Lena’s condo, she didn’t waste time with showing Tank around the place. Instead, she grabbed him by the waist and cornered him against her living room wall.
“Damn.” Sounding a bit shocked at her boldness, he clutched her waist. “You’re not fucking around.”
Lena’s heart raced with excitement at the newness of what was happening between them. “Do you want to drink a glass of wine and prattle on about our lives?” she asked, caressing his lips with hers in a tender, teasing play of tongue and teeth. When she drew away, he pressed himself harder against her hips, making it damn clear he only wanted her.
“I’m very attracted to you,” she whispered, palming his hard dick behind his jeans. As she watched him hiss and jut his hips forward, the familiar power of knowing a man wanted her beneath him curled her toes with pleasure.
“Good to hear. After our date, I was starting to think you weren’t interested.” Tank spoke through clenched teeth, his large hand gripping hers and rubbing it up and down against his erection. “Fuck, that feels good.”
Lena dropped light kisses along his neck and collarbone, aroused by the way he guided her hand along his shaft, the feeling vibrating through her bones.
“Don’t fucking stop,” Tank growled in her ear, his free hand cupping her ass while the other kneaded her breast, fondling whatever he could as he struggled to free her of her shorts and tank top. “Too many damn clothes.”
A small giggle slipped past her lips. “I’m sure you can figure it out.” Tearing her hand away from his dick, she fumbled with the button at his fly and pulled down the zipper. Shoving down his jeans, she took in his tight briefs that barely contained his bulging erection. “It’s so big.”
Laughing, Tank placed his hands on her waist, above her shorts, and kissed her as he
shoved one hand down inside her panties and palmed her.
“Oh, fuck,” she moaned, pressing her head back against the wall while rocking against his hand.
“You like that?” Shifting his hand, he ran his finger through her slit. “And you’re so damn wet. I like it.” Removing his hand, he brought his finger up to his lips and slid it into his mouth. “You taste real good, baby.”
Oh, shit! I’ve never had a man do that. Damn, he’s good. Lena watched him intently, mesmerized by his every move.
Tank tugged on the hem of her top. “Take this off.”
She pulled her hair out of its ponytail and peeled the lime green tank top over her head, revealing a white lacy bra underneath, her tight nipples jutting through the thin material.
“Damn,” he growled, his gaze fixed on her breasts.
Suddenly embarrassed, she covered herself with her arms.
“No reason to be shy.” He pulled her arms away from her chest. “You’re a beautiful woman, and I like what I see. Are you gonna let me see more?”
Heat crept up her neck and over her face, but she pushed past it and reached back to unhook her bra. It fell away, fluttering down to the floor next to her feet. She looked into his smoldering eyes and shifted in place.
“I pictured this so many fuckin’ times after that damn engagement party, but you look even better in the flesh.”
A nervous giggle spilled from her lips.
Looking into her eyes, he reached out and cupped her breasts with his hands and pinched her nipples. The sweet pain traveled down to her clit, and she squeezed her legs together. When he pinched harder, she gasped, unable to look away from his eyes, losing herself in his piercing stare and building arousal. As he played with her breasts, he leaned in and claimed her lips with his teeth and tongue. She moaned into his mouth before he released her and stepped back to rid her of her shorts and panties. Falling in a tangle around her ankles, she stepped out of them slowly.
Whistling low, he took her in from head to toe, a primal lust burning in his eyes. “Fuckin’ perfect. I want you, now.” His last statement was a predatory growl against her shoulder as scooped her up off the ground and into his arms.
She stared into his brown eyes. “I want you, Tank.” Her nipples pebbled against his chest as he held her tightly against him. “The bedroom’s to the right. Don’t drop me.”
He laughed. “You’re always so damn bossy.” Squeezing her behind, she squealed and wiggled in his embrace, clinging to his shoulder
s. “I want you out of control, woman, just this once.”
“You’ll have to work hard for that.”
“That’s not a problem.”
Before Lena could take another breath, he eased her onto the bed. Propping her head up with her hand, she watched him strip off his boots, his socks, and then his T-shirt. She stared at his tanned muscles and followed the line of hair leading down to the waistband of his boxers. Pausing, he leaned in and kissed her forehead. Surprised by the tender gesture, a mixture of emotions flooded through her—confusion, vulnerability, joy.
“I’ll be right back, darlin’.”
Before she had a chance to wonder what he was doing, he returned with his jeans. Grinning, he dug in the back pocket, took out a foil packet, and dropped it on the nightstand.
“You carry condoms with you?” she asked, rolling her eyes.
Leaning down, he swept his lips across hers then straightened up. “I like to play it safe. It doesn’t mean I’m banging every chick I meet.”
The naked heat in his eyes seared her so, her smartass comeback died on her lips. Pushing his boxers down over his hips, his cock sprung to life, hard and thick, with the head glistening. Pushing up to a sitting position, she took all of him in, a sly smile ghosting her lips.
“I’m so into you, woman,” he whispered, his gaze traveling from her breasts, down to the ache between her legs, and then back to her eyes.
Climbing onto the bed, she felt the mattress dip under his weight as he moved toward her. When he was next to her, his hand cupped her chin and tilted her head back. Then he kissed her, using his tongue to part her lips.
There was no doubt about it, Tank kissed like he was on a primitive mission, intent on claiming and conquering her completely, and Lena loved it.
“Tank,” she murmured.
“Lena,” he replied, his voice low and rough as he spread her legs, pressing his muscular frame between them.
Reaching up to grip his shoulders, her breath hitched, and she closed her eyes. He nuzzled her neck, scraping his teeth down the tender skin of her neck as he kissed and nipped his way down to her breasts.
She arched her back as he worked with his sure, teasing strokes while his lips eased around her nipple, nibbling softly as she let out a soft moan.
“You taste as sweet as I expected, baby. I’m dying for more of you.”
He returned to her other breast, repeating the tantalizing, teasing motion that sent shivers up and down her body. Sliding her fingers into his hair, she tugged, trying to guide him to the sweet throbbing between her legs.
“So impatient.” His laughter rumbled against her skin, but he didn’t budge.
“Please,” she whispered.
He sucked her nipples to hard, reddened points. “In time.”
The hot, hard length of him touched her sex, and burning desire consumed her, scorching her skin. Again, it touched her, this time pressing against her. She tilted her hips up and tried to take him inside, but he pulled away, a laugh vibrating through his chest.
“I know what you want.”
Tank trailed kisses between her breasts, over her ribcage, and past her belly until he reached her pussy. She squirmed as he licked up and down her inner thighs, the anticipation of what was to come driving her wild. He looked up at her and winked before lowering his head, stopping mere inches from her pulsing sex. His tongue licked one long stroke from her tight slit to her hardening sweet spot.
“Salty sweet, like the ocean and honey,” he murmured.
He licked again, and her thighs went rigid.
“Tank…” she moaned, her muscles tensing and coiling tighter than a spring.
With his thumb pressing on the hard nub of her clit, he pumped two fingers inside.
Pleasure ripped through her body. The orgasm had come so fast, it had caught her off guard. But it had been a long time, and dammit if Tank knew how to hit her buttons. By the way he kissed her that first time, she knew having sex with him would be hot and incredible.
“That was amazing,” she said, burying her fingers in his hair and pulling on it.
Shifting, he reached over to the nightstand and picked up the foil package. As he locked his gaze on her, he tore it open with his teeth and slid it on.
“Stay with me. I want to watch you while we fuck.”
She met his gaze. Damn, can this guy get any sexier? Without words, she opened her legs wider for him, pressing her hips up to meet him.
Her flushed skin ached for more. Against the pounding rhythm of her heart, everything made sense again. There was only this and them, and nothing else mattered. Taking her mouth with so much fierce passion, Lena wondered why she’d denied the inevitable for so long. An intimacy unlike anything she’d ever known flowed between them.
Tank’s hand glided beneath her to cup her ass, and she felt his erection push between her legs. Then suddenly, he was inside of her. Gasping, she dug her fingers into his back and wrapped her legs around him so he could go deeper. Spreading kisses over his chest, she felt his heartbeat beneath her lips, strong and purposeful, beating in time to his powerful thrusts.
“You feel incredible—so fuckin’ tight,” he rasped.
Breathing hard, Lena clung to him as he drove into her hard and fast. Yes! Just like that. Oh, how she needed that—the intensity, the unrelenting pace, all of it. And through it all, his gaze never left hers.
Beads of sweat dotted his hairline as he pummeled into her. When he reached between them and pressed against her stiff nub, she exploded into a million pieces.
“That’s it, baby. Let it all out.”
His voice echoed in her ears as he continued thrusting. Her eyes closed as she savored the euphoric release consuming her.
“I don’t know how much longer I can hold out, darlin’.”
“Don’t. Let it go.” Kissing him, she rolled her hips slowly, urging him on.
Stiffening, he grunted long and deep, growling out, “Fuck!” as he shuddered through his release.
After he came, he lay on top of her completely still. His dick still moving, throbbing inside of her, was the most amazing feeling in the world. She sighed contentedly. I could get addicted to this.
Placing his damp forehead between her heaving breasts, he collapsed on top of her, the two of them panting heavily. For a brief moment, Lena thought of how she never wanted this to end.
When their breathing had returned to normal, he tucked her in against him.
“Fuck, I wasn’t expecting this. Damn, woman.” Kissing the top of her head, he held her tighter.
“Me neither.”
She rested her head on his shoulder, listening to his heart beat in time with hers.
Lena
When Lena rolled over the next morning, she flung her hand out to find Tank, but his side of the bed was cool to the touch. A sliver of self-doubt twisted her stomach up in knots. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. None of it really mattered, because what had happened last night was amazing, and just what she needed. And if it was only the one time, that was okay. She’d anticipated it.
“So why are you acting so weird?” she muttered out loud, covering her face with a pillow. She quickly nabbed her cell phone off the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. There were no calls or messages from Tank. I’m hopeless.
She owed her bestie a text. Her fingers flew across the keyboard, filling Fe in on all the dirty details while she processed the fact that Tank’s clothing no longer lingered on her bedroom floor. But neither of them had a serious conversation on what they expected from each other. Wait… there were expectations. Remember? I’m too busy and freaked out about what’s going on with those lowlifes. And I needed last night. It was a perfect distraction—no ties, just sex. But something other than sex had happened. Not wanting to deal with it at that moment, she pushed the thought out of her mind.
Anyway, it was better to play it cool. So what if Tank didn’t stick around? Neither of them had discussed what this meant for them, a
nd there was no required lingering time for a booty call.
Lena threw the phone onto the bed and went into the bathroom to get ready for the day. She refused to lie around moping, and regardless of whether or not Tank would even text her after the fact, her growling stomach wasn’t going to wait for an answer. She also didn’t want to deal with the flood of texts from Felicia without some carbs in her system.
After showering and dressing, Lena padded into the kitchen and came to an abrupt halt. Tank stood shirtless behind her flat top griddle, flipping pancakes. A plate of cooling bacon and poured orange juice sat on the table.
As if sensing her, he looked over his shoulder and grinned.
“Morning, sleepyhead.”
“What are you doing?”
“Making you breakfast.”
“Besides my mom, no one’s ever made me breakfast.”
He laughed. “Then you’re damn overdue.”
“I thought you left.” Leaning against the doorway, she watched him work in her kitchen as if they did this kind of thing all the time. “I didn’t expect you to still be here.”
“Really?” The grin on his face widened. “Good to know what you think of me.”
“But I don’t have much in my fridge. I’m just confused.”
“No, darlin’, you’re still dazed from last night.” The heat in his eyes as they ran over the length of her body made her stomach flutter. “I went to the grocery store. They have food there.”
She swallowed a nervous giggle. “I know that.”
They both laughed as she went to one of the higher cabinets and took out a plate while he finished flipping the pancakes. She put the plate onto the counter next to the griddle and stole a piece of bacon sizzling in the frying pan.
“Thanks. Looks like I have a little help now.”
“Yeah, no. I’m quite enjoying watching you putter around in my house like you belong here.”
“I guess you gotta get your kicks where you can. I gotta say, cooking in this kitchen is like working in Barbie’s Dreamhouse.”
