by Taryn Quinn
Love had come so quick. As much as I wanted to put it in a box at the back of my brain, it just wouldn’t be denied. For right now, I wouldn’t fight it.
Tonight, I’d show her exactly how I felt since I couldn’t say it quite yet.
I tugged the tails of my shirt out of my pants and found the patience to undo each button. Mostly because she looked at me as if she was starving and I wanted to hold onto this moment. Maybe if I made her realize just how good we were together, it could be more than just a transaction.
Because, to me, it wasn’t.
Not by a longshot.
I didn’t think about my own body issues, or that she was so damn small under me. Her green eyes shown in the shadowy light of the night. Only a lone light shone in the corner to let me see her. But it was more than enough.
Part of me wondered if I should back away and stoke the fire for her. She looked amazing in firelight, but I didn’t have the strength for that right now. The heat we made together would have to be enough.
She bucked up under me to get me to move up. I stripped off my white dress shirt. “Still trying to control this particular situation, Veronica?”
She rolled her lower lip behind her teeth with a little shrug. “Can’t fault a girl.”
I reached behind my head for my undershirt and tossed it on the floor with my shirt.
“Why is that so hot?”
I grinned down at her. “Pardon?”
“You have no idea how amazing your body is.”
I swiped my hand across my belly self-consciously.
“So strong and you literally have those notch things at the top of your belt. I mean, how? It’s just wrong.”
I glanced down at my belt and laughed. “What?”
“The romance novel things. You know. The sin lines. I didn’t think they were real, but my God, there they are.” She lifted her head. “I want to lick them. If you’d crawl up here, I’d lick all sorts of things like a lollipop, Fortress.”
“Jesus.”
“Nope, just me. Jesus can wait his turn—wait. You know what I mean.”
I couldn’t stop the quick laugh. I was in the middle of seducing her and she said the craziest things. And yet, it made it even better. More real to a level I’d never had before. It didn’t feel forced and like I was putting on a show for her.
Like I was going to get shot down for being ridiculous.
I drew my fingertip down the little dip in her chin to her throat. “There’s nothing between us tonight. On a number of levels. That you trust me with that humbles me, but most of all, I just want to please you.”
“You do.”
I followed the light trail of my fingers with my mouth. She wore a little pendant with a whisk and a heart. I nudged it aside to get to her deliciously perfect breasts. I detoured around the firm curve of her breast to the tip of her nipple that poked against the lace. I watched her face as I found the center clasp of the bra and freed them.
Soft and warm, her skin beaded up with a wash of goosebumps as I dragged my scruff across one, then another before doubling my attention on her tight nipples. She arched up off the bed and tugged at her restraints as I sucked one deep into my mouth.
My name was a disjointed sigh ending in a sweet little purr as I let her nipple free. I drew lazy circles around her belly until she was writhing between my legs. Each wiggle reminded me that there was only a fine layer of wool between us.
But I needed to take a second and taste all of her before I got rid of that barrier.
Knowing I could slip inside of her with no condom again gave me the strength I needed to extend this moment. She was worth the strangled cock.
I propped myself up with a hand next to her neck. I was careful not to pin her to the bed by the hair. Of course that sort of backfired on me since that left her hair vining around my arm as I hovered over her.
I lowered my mouth to hers, just as I slipped my fingers under the scrap of lace she called underwear. Her tongue stroked along mine as my fingers found her soaked slit. Knowing that it was a mix of us there made my dick even harder.
I’d never come inside a woman before her. Even longstanding girlfriends, we’d always been careful to use double the protection. Young and unwilling to tie myself to anyone, I’d been careful all my life. Because I knew a baby meant a lifetime. I wasn’t wired any other way.
Knowing she wanted this from me already had me tied to her, whether she knew it or not. We’d had the discussion about me being part of the baby’s life, but for me, she was a package deal.
Forever.
Even if that meant I would be sidelined if she grew tired of me.
She was it for me.
I tucked two fingers deep inside her and touched my forehead to hers as she rode my hand without restraint. As she took what she needed from me without a moment’s hesitation. Her name was a strangled groan on my lips as she shattered under me.
I stretched out on her as she shamelessly rubbed herself along my cock. “Off. Get these pants off,” she panted against my neck. “I need you. All of you.”
Me?
Or just my swimmers?
I believed it was more. She’d indicated it was. But God, it was so easy to wonder if maybe she wanted one part of me more than the rest.
I shut my eyes before she saw the questions blinking in my brain like a neon sign. I quickly rolled off the bed and shucked my pants, underwear, boots, and socks. Until there was nothing between us.
I reached above her head for the tie, groaning into her mouth as she kissed me and scrambled into my arms when I released her.
She tore off the tie and threw it on the floor, and then she was in my arms. Her warm skin pressed against mine as she knelt on the bed. I followed her into the middle of the wide mattress as we faced one another. Her multi-colored hair was wild around her shoulders and all she wore was her necklace.
We were thigh to thigh, my cock jutting up between us. I was beyond hard for her. It felt like my skin was too tight for my body, but especially my cock. She reached for me and I hissed out a breath. She swiped her thumb over the head and her pupils went wide with lust.
I’d never had a woman look at me like she did.
She gently stroked down my length and rubbed the head along her lower belly. She had such gentle curves and a narrow waist that made me feel clumsy and too big for her, but she was fearless.
It seemed like she was fearless about everything.
Where I was cautious, she was running ahead with wonder and bright colors. And for the first time, I wanted so much to follow her light. Not to hide in the shadows like I usually did. Where it was safe so I could watch and not put myself out there.
She turned, pulling me on top of her on the pile of pillows so she was propped up under me. As if she wasn’t the smallest, most fragile woman I’d ever known this way. No, she took me in hand and then into her body.
Her bright green eyes fluttered shut as I slowly stretched her to accept all of me in one fluid thrust. I had to fight back the urge to take her. To imprint myself on her. It wasn’t about that right now. It was a connection I hadn’t allowed myself with a woman before.
I undulated my hips against her, giving her the long, slow strokes I didn’t know I was capable of. Her eyes popped open as every part of me rubbed against hers from the tip of my cock to the very base of my shaft. I widened her thighs to take me deeper.
She clawed my back and I blew out a slow breath as I did it again and again.
She was the one made for me in every way.
I tipped her hips slightly and growled out her name. She clasped me so damn tight, her body welcoming me and pushing against me at the same time. My strokes grew faster and her grip on me grew tighter. Slow and steady was replaced with desperation. There was nothing between us, not even air as she gripped my torso with her knees, her arms around my back and her mouth on mine.
Even if I’d wanted to stop, I couldn’t.
My body wasn’t my own.
It was hers.
She wrung me dry in heart and mind.
I sealed my mouth over hers and swallowed her cries. She reached up between us to frame my face and I was gone.
So far gone.
I emptied myself inside her. The room fuzzed out of focus except for her. Her eyes were as wild as the storm-tossed lake I loved and had to be next to. How fucking fitting.
I curled my arms under her to hold her close and at the last minute, I tipped her hips up to keep me inside her. Not just for the animalistic side of me that wanted to fill her with my come, but for her.
The woman who wanted a baby so very badly.
I only hoped I could be the man she needed too.
I lowered my mouth to hers once more. Riding the afterglow had always been more like hunting and foraging in the kitchen. There was something about ramen noodles after sex to refill the well, but with her? I didn’t want to let go.
I didn’t even want to sleep.
Talk about gone for a woman, Moose.
She cupped my face. “Think we made a baby?”
“Maybe.” I kissed her languidly. “Practicing is going to be fun if we didn’t.”
“That’s the truth.” She stretched her arms over her head and rubbed her calf along the back of mine. “I’ve never enjoyed sex this much in my life.”
“Is that right?”
She winced. “Probably shouldn’t say that.”
“Why?” I nipped her lower lip. “I’m good with that moniker.” For now.
She wiggled under me. “Sex machine?” Her laughter spiked. “Your ears. I can’t.”
I frowned. “What about my ears?” I touched one and hoped the heat was from post-coital bliss.
“I love when they get red when you’re embarrassed.”
“Great.” I rolled off her and took her with me to sprawl across my chest.
She propped her chin on her stacked hands on my shoulder. “It’s adorable.”
“Can we pick a few new adjectives?”
Her eyes glittered in the low light. “It’s hot that you know grammar.”
“Shut up.” Her laughter took the sting out of my embarrassment. I tucked one of her wild locks of hair behind her ear. “What are you doing next weekend?”
“Not sure. Probably just working.”
“Think Macy would let you take Sunday off?”
“Begrudgingly.” She wrinkled her nose. “She’d work me every day if the labor union didn’t get up in her business.”
“Really?”
She laughed. “No. I’m kidding. I just usually work on the weekends because Jodi and Ellie also work at Robbie’s on the weekend.”
“Pizza is very important to the Cove.”
“You’re telling me. Next to coffee anyway.” She tilted her head. “What’s next Sunday?”
“My brother, Penn is coming in from New York, plus Travis and my niece Carrington—”
“Her name is Carrington? Isn’t that a soap opera name?”
“Her mom’s…interesting.”
“That sounds like a story.” Her eyes were heavy and her face soft with half-sleep. She yawned. “Is this like a family dinner?”
“Something like that.” I didn’t want to scare the crap out of her with my huge family, but after meeting her mom, I figured we should do the same with mine.
“Are you showing me off to your people?”
“Maybe.”
“Maybe I like it.”
I settled her against me and stroked her hair until she fell asleep. I sure fucking hoped so.
Eighteen
Murphy
Fortress,
Just how big is your family? I was going to bake for them, but I’m not sure how much to make. Does your mom like flowers? Maybe I shouldn’t go after all. Can I call in sick?
Yours In Terror,
Vee.
“My family’s not this big, you know.” I opened the door to the small backseat of my truck and slid out the large pastry box with a grunt. In truth, I probably could have used tie-downs in the flatbed for her box of treats. Cinnamon goodness had been teasing me the entire ride over. “Did you bake snickerdoodles?”
“Maybe.”
“I’m going to have to row an extra twenty minutes for this.”
“I like watching you row.” She grinned at me across the hood of the truck. “Especially the early morning ones where the lake is all misty. Goodness the sweat on your shoulders this morning just did something to me.”
And me when she attacked me as I was putting my kayak away. She’d warned me that she was on her “good week” whatever that meant. And well, we’d both been enjoying a full week of sexual hijinks.
She couldn’t get enough of me—and vice versa.
However, it was becoming apparent the dual purpose of our rigorous sex life was at a fevered pitch right now. And while I was enjoying the baby making adventure we were on, I was getting a little raw. I wasn’t complaining—much. Because in all honesty, we were acting just like a new couple who couldn’t get enough of each other.
But Veronica was a little demanding when it came to certain preferred times to get busy. Something about temperatures and prime ovulation time.
However, the kayak interlude this morning had been a surprise. I swallowed hard, willing my dick to behave. I could not go hug my mother with a freaking boner. Last night, I’d wondered if I could keep up with her.
This morning, well…the proof was in my tweaked back and her moans echoing across the lake.
I was pretty sure my kayak rack wasn’t built for the kind of stress we’d put it under this morning. We were both wearing a few new bruises, but it had been worth it. I’d be rowing in the morning a whole helluva lot more if that was my reward.
She fluffed a dark red sunflower looking bloom in the center of the huge bouquet of fall flowers we’d stopped in town for on the way to my parents’ place. They lived on the far side of Crescent Cove, where the upper middle class could afford a little more land. The lakefront properties were going up in price with each passing year.
I’d been lucky to get a plot before the developers started driving up the costs. My father was forever trying to convince me to sell and move closer to them. I loved my family, but I didn’t need them to be my neighbors. The twenty-minute drive suited me just fine.
Veronica came around the truck to meet me. “Are you sure these are okay?”
“My mom’s going to love them. You’ll win a dozen points just with the flowers. Add in these?” I hugged the box closer to my chest. “You’re going to make us all look bad.”
“That’s not what I meant to do.” Her huge green eyes went even wider. “I can put them back.”
“No, no.” I scooped her in close to me. “I’m just teasing.”
She poked me. “Well, don’t. I’ve never done this before.”
“Never?”
She looked down at her black strapped shoes that reminded me of a schoolgirl’s—wrong, Moose. Don’t go down that road. It was bad enough that I found every part of her sexy as hell, I didn’t need to add in a schoolgirl fantasy. Especially since I’d never had one before her.
It was probably the braids.
Her colorful hair was wrapped up in one of her crown braids with little bits curling around her face. She looked impossibly young and way out of my league. She was wearing one of her colorful dresses. It reminded me of the poppy fields I’d seen in books. She matched her flowers, for God’s sake.
I was lucky I’d remembered to wear khakis instead of jeans for Sunday dinner.
My girl looked like she was coming from church. And I was not having churchly thoughts.
“Okay, let me just go over the names again.”
“The only one who counts is me.”
I turned at the deep voice behind me and handed the box to Veronica. “Jesus, it’s good to see you, man.” I gave my older brother a bear hug, lifting him off his feet.
“Christ, what have you been eating?�
�� Penn slapped my shoulders. “You’re a beast.”
I let him go and stepped back with a half-laugh. I tugged down my shirt and took the box back from Veronica. “Just the same old stuff.”
Penn gave me a once over. “I think not. Are you sure there aren’t steroids involved?”
“No, definitely—”
Veronica stepped in front of me. “Actually, he’s been eating very sensibly. Even trying to change my terrible diet. And he rows every morning.”
Penn laughed. “I stand corrected.” He glanced from Veronica to me. “I’m just impressed. Gotta look after my little brother. I’m used to the softer, gentler version, not this fit tank.” He slapped my midsection. “Putting us all to shame, Moose.” He nodded to Veronica. “Who’s the little pit bull?”
I rolled my eyes. “Veronica, meet my oldest brother, Penn. Don’t hold his shitty manners against me.”
He tsked. “Swearing in front of a lady. What would Mom say?”
Veronica peered up at him. Penn might be a little shorter than me, and all lanky muscle, but he was still well over six feet. His dark hair was long and shaggy. It was probably a four-hundred-dollar haircut knowing my brother. She tipped her head slightly. There was no playful light in her eyes.
No, they were flat and assessing. Finally, she held out her hand. “Pleased to meet you. I think. I’m still reserving judgement.”
Penn laughed. “I like her. Way more interesting than the women you usually date, little bro.” His eyebrow lifted. “Way more interesting.”
My eyes narrowed. It wouldn’t be the first time my brother tried to lure a girl away from me. He’d even managed to do it a time or two. In his words, it was to protect me. One of the women had earned Penn a black eye.
The other girl I’d been dating hadn’t been right for me from the jump. I wasn’t entirely shocked she’d picked my brother over me. Everyone chose Penn. It was one of those things I’d been used to all my life.
Penn was wild and reckless. He’d been looking for a way out of this town since he turned seventeen. He’d even gone so far as to take his tests and graduate early so he could get to art school. It was all he’d cared about.
