by Alex Grayson
Ben’s hand caresses my jaw and he gently lifts my chin until I am looking directly at him.
“We don’t have to,” he assures me. But after the orgasm he gave me only minutes ago, he deserves this.
Without a word, I lightly trace along the edge of his black boxer briefs, enjoying the way goosebumps pepper his skin, and then slide them and his jeans down his strong thighs. His cock, thick and hard, pops up and hits his stomach with a soft thud. I lick my lips, thoughtlessly, and Ben groans, running his hands through his hair, his face tight with need.
The sight urges me on, and I take him in my hands, stroking him a couple of times before taking him in my mouth. My tongue swirls around the tip and when his hands make their way into my hair and he pushes me down his shaft, I can’t control my moan. I allow him to take control of my mouth, thrusting into me, while I trail my fingertips lightly up and down his thighs.
I’m lost in the moment, about to slide my hand under his balls and give them a gentle massage when an unwanted noise pierces my consciousness.
“What the hell is going on back here?” a gruff voice calls out.
My eyes pop open and I look up at Ben, along the chiseled line of his abs. Eyes closed and hands still tight in my hair, it’s obvious he didn’t hear anything, so I do the only thing I can think of and push my head back against his hands while my hands find traction on his hips and I push him away.
Unfortunately, the result of that is my mouth popping off his cock just as he falls backward, landing on his ass, completely naked with his pants down around his ankles.
He grabs hold of an old cardboard sign and holds it in front of his junk, a glazed, confused expression on his face as though his brain hasn’t quite caught up with the reality of the situation, just as an enraged Mr. Watson rounds the corner of the aisle.
“What the hell…” He trails off, looking as though he’s about to pop a blood vessel.
Ben scrambles up, keeping the sign firmly in place, and much to my horror, I feel a laugh bubbling up my throat. I slap a hand over my mouth and the movement catches the attention of the irate store owner. His glare narrows on me briefly before he fixes it back on Ben.
“Boy, pull your pants up and get the hell out of my shop before I call the police.” And with that, he turns and storms back to the front of the shop, leaving Ben and I staring at each other in embarrassment.
Or should I say, I’m looking on in embarrassment. His expression is closer to amusement. Which kind of makes me want to punch him.
He drops the sign and drags his pants back up, holding his hand out for me to throw him his t-shirt.
“What?” He furrows his brows at me, catching his shirt easily.
“What do you mean, what?” I hiss, folding my arms across my chest.
“You know, it’s a good thing I just bought life insurance.” He re-buckles his belt, ignoring my exasperation.
“What?” I snap.
“Because I saw you and my heart stopped.” He grins at me and all I can do is shake my head and walk away.
“Hey, where are you going? Squeak? Squeak!”
But I keep on walking.
Before he can see the smile spread across my face.
And, most definitely before he realizes that I pocketed his car keys when they fell out of his pocket.
I win.
I hope you enjoyed The Pick-Up Artist! If you would like to read more of Ben and Skye, their story, FLING TO FOREVER, is FREE on all platforms!
Get your copy HERE!
About Amali
Amali Rose is an Australian author, and former blogger, who released her debut novella in 2017.
A self-confessed bookworm, her love affair with the written word began as a child, with The Magic Faraway Tree. Her tastes have grown and evolved over the years, and after stumbling into the indie community a few years ago, she discovered her passion for romance with a side of smut.
When not reading or writing Amali enjoys baking, yoga, cheesy pop music & Netflix marathons; and believes strongly that pink, puppies and chocolate make the world a better place!
Visit her at www.authoramalirose.com
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Embers Falling
Daniels Family Book 2.5
KL Donn
Ember Daniels is the good girl. The younger sister to be protected.
Until she falls in love.
Noah Brennan is a man with a past and doesn’t do relationships.
Until that fateful day.
Ember is falling.
Noah is grumbling.
And it all started with a kiss.
1
Ember
It started with a kiss.
Soft, sweet, intense. He held me like he loved me.
Noah Brennan was everything I’ve ever dreamed about in a man I wanted to spend my life with. I always thought his brooding silence was a mystery to solve.
I know better now.
Noah is filled with passion.
A possessive desire to dominate me and now that I know, I can’t get him out of my head. He consumes my thoughts, desires. My heart and body. My entire soul hungers for him.
After watching my oldest brother, Arsen, fall in love with Marina, and then Kol, fall for my friend Thea, I’m tired of waiting. I’m finally going to take what I want. I’m going to go after everything my heart yearns for.
Taking a deep breath as I stand on the front porch of Noah’s condo, I raise my hand to knock only to be stopped short when the door opens and there he is. Standing in a pair of gym shorts, bare feet, bare chest, ever present scowl and scorching green eyes.
“Em.” He shortens my name like we’re familiar with each other. Truth is, we shared that one kiss six months ago and I’ve barely been able to get him to say two words to me ever since then.
“Noah,” I gasp for breath. He does that to me, steals the air right from my lungs like it belongs to him.
His gaze slides leisurely up and down my frame before he speaks again, a sexy smirk across his lips. “What are you doing here, Em?” I can feel the blush creeping up my neck and into my face.
For the first time since deciding it was time to figure out where we stand, I have my doubts. Turning to look behind me, I don’t see an extra car in his driveway, but I have to wonder if he has a woman over now.
Thankfully the dark night covers my embarrassment. “Uhm, you know what, nothing. It doesn’t matter. Sorry for bothering you, Detective.” I can’t even say his name because I know my voice will hitch and he’ll know exactly why I’m here.
Spinning I start to rush down the steps when a strong hand grips my bicep, turning me back around. A blazing inferno greets me as I’m forced to look up at Noah. He crowds me into the small stoop, protected only by his large body, and I freeze as the warmth of his bare chest invades through my thin shirt.
“If you’re here, it matters.” His voice is like fine whiskey, it slides down your throat with only a slight burn. Slowly lowering his head, our lips are a breath apart, “Tell me what you want, Ember.”
Speechless and maybe a little love drunk, I stutter over my words as they struggle to get past my lips. “I, well, you see, that kiss…” I pause and breathe in. Big mistake. I’m overtaken by his scent. All man. And something spicy.
“What about it?” he whispers into my neck.
“I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it and I can never get you to talk to me when people are around, so I thought I would come over and find out.” I rush the words out and feel about ten years old again.
He pulls back to look at me, his eyebrows furrowing, and the lusty gaze gone. “What makes you think there was anything to it?” His cold question is like a bucket of water dumping on my head.
Licking my suddenly dry lips, I squeak, “Okay, good. That’s what I thought but wanted to clear the air.”
I feel like such a fool. Ducking under his arms, I rush down the steps and don’t stop until I’m behind the wheel of my car
. Starting the engine, I barely check for oncoming traffic as I pull out and zip down his block.
With one last glance at Noah, I see him standing on his front step, a glare in his eyes, and his fists balled at his sides.
“Stupid, Ember, just freaking stupid,” I berate myself. I can’t believe I got so worked up over a stupid kiss.
Noah
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I know I shouldn’t be here, I shouldn’t have followed her. I should walk the fuck away and never look back.
Ember Daniels is off limits for more reasons than she can even guess. Not only is she the baby sister of my partner and best friend, Kol, she’s also twelve years younger than me.
There should be huge warning signs up saying: No! Stay away!
But I’m fucking addicted. That kiss was a fucking accident. I hadn’t meant for it to happen. It was late at the precinct one night and she’d come looking for Kol. He was gone and the squad room was empty.
She had a shitty date with a guy who made her feel like crap and was just looking for someone to vent to. She got me.
I barely let her get three words out before my jealousy consumed me and I slammed my lips over hers. Devouring all her frustrations and replacing them with lust. All I think about now is that damn kiss.
Every waking moment all I see is the amazement in her gaze when we were interrupted and pulled apart. I can feel the way her heart beats in her chest. Pounding in unison against mine.
For six months Ember has been all I think about when I’m not consumed with a case. She’s a drug and I need more.
Except we can’t have more.
So why the fuck are you here, Brennan? Good damn question.
Slamming the door to my truck shut, I storm up her sidewalk and pound on her door. Too impatient for her to answer, I turn the knob and growl when I find it unlocked. Bursting through, I see her startle on the stairs as I enter and slam it closed behind me, engaging the lock.
“Noah, what are you doing here?” She doesn’t move as I kick off my shoes and drop my sweater on the ground.
“I asked you a fucking question Em and you didn’t answer me.” What the fuck am I doing? “I want one,” I demand from her as I prowl towards her and up the few stairs, pushing her into the wall. Standing taller than her short frame and trapping her between my body and the drywall.
“I…you’re confusing me Noah,” she whispers, but her eyes light up. She’s turned on by my dominance.
“Did you want it to be more?” I growl, feeling my cock harden as she squirms against me. She halts all movement when she feels it digging into her hip, her eyes widen with shock before slowly burning up with desire.
Gradually licking across her lips, she sucks the bottom one into her mouth and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to take it in mine. Show her how to do it right.
“Yes,” she finally breathes and that’s all the answer I need. I’m tired of denying myself, denying her is even harder.
“Good,” I groan. Turning her body, I grip her hips and guide her up the stairs while burying my face in her neck. Nipping and kissing along her flesh, tasting her is quickly becoming my new favorite thing.
“Noah.” She sighs my name and all I can picture is her buried beneath me as she does it again and again.
“I’m gonna own you tonight, Em. Every inch of this delectable little body is going to be mine and there isn’t a fucking thing you can do to stop it.” What I don’t say is, I’m not sure she’ll want me, come the harsh light of day.
2
Ember
My body is on fire in the most delicious way. Noah’s fingers light me up like a candle and I don’t want it to stop. Not ever. I want him for the rest of my life and even if he’s unsure now, I know eventually he’ll get on board.
In the meantime, I plan to enjoy every delightfully dirty thing he’s promising to do to me tonight.
We stumble our way into my room, and he slams the door again, hands still on my hips, as we fall onto the bed. Even though he could have squished me, Noah doesn’t, he braces his arms on either side me. Brushing my hair to the side, he begins kissing along my shoulder, pushing the strap of my shirt to the side as he does.
“You taste like berries. How the fuck is that even possible?” he groans as his fingers roam my flesh. I can feel his hard length digging against my ass cheek, through our clothes, as he nips at me and I fight like hell to simply enjoy the moment.
Teasing my fingers along his thighs, I feel his muscles ripple and shiver. “It’s my lotion,” I answer him.
The pressure of his weight eases and as I turn to peer up at him, I see he’s staring down at me with passion in his gaze. Wicked intent is written across his features for the world to see.
“Just tonight, Em, it can’t go past tonight.” His words cramp my heart. I want to say no, it’s forever, but I can see the torment in his gaze the longer it takes me to answer and I know I’ll say anything to have this with him.
“Tonight,” I agree. Remaining hopeful for more.
His hands move upward, catching my top with them and he pulls it up and over my head. As it lands on the ground, I hold my breath, waiting for his next move.
Bending forward, Noah places light kisses along my spine. Being sure to grace each vertebra with his soft touch. My eyes close as I savor the moment. Needing to have every trace of Noah ingrained in my memory for the future.
Every silky touch, each soft kiss, every loving word, I hold them all in my heart to be brought out when I’m feeling lonely again.
I feel his fingers pulling my sweats down my body and lift my hips, eager for his next move. Noah doesn’t disappoint as the sound of his shorts hitting the ground echoes around the room and I smile secretly as my eyes open.
Turning to my back, I get my first good look at Noah, naked.
He’s utter perfection.
No, he’s a sculpture that should be shown in a fine arts museum and worshipped for all time. Noah is the perfect specimen of man.
“Christ woman,” he groans as he stands back. Suddenly self-conscious, I wait for his reprimand. The boys I’ve dated are always telling me I’m too lanky. I’m a dancer and I burn off more than I can eat. My curves don’t go for days, my breasts are barely a handful and my butt is flat.
Gripping the ankle of one leg, he lifts it up, so my thigh is resting against his chest as he kneels on the bed. “I could devour you for fucking days with these thick thighs.” He kisses the inside of my leg and I shiver. Delighted he likes what he sees.
Seeing a foil package in his other hand, I feel slightly sad that he’s insistent on only one night. If he wanted more, we could forgo the condom, but I’ll play by his rules for now.
Placing my leg back down on the bed, he spreads them and pushes my ankles to my ass, ordering, “Hold your ankles and don’t let go.”
Shy, and slow to do as he says, he growls, and my hands grip my ankles with lightening speed. His lips quirk up in a half smile, meeting my stare briefly, he slowly rolls his eyes down my body where they settle between my legs.
A whimper breaks out of my chest as he moves in. I can feel his hot breath on my flesh, and I can already see stars in my eyes.
Noah doesn’t know this, but I’ve never had a man in my bed before.
Noah
Blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, she fucking smells and tastes like them all. I could eat this woman for days and never tire of it. It’s a flavor I’ll never be able to smell again without associating it to her.
Touching Ember’s soft flesh is what I imagine running my fingers through a cloud is like. Heavenly. I’m not sure how I’m going to walk away from her after tonight, but I know I can’t not take what she’s offering so freely to me now.
I wish things were different, that I could love her freely but neither of us are there yet. Not right now. In a couple years I think we could have been great. We could have been forever.
Now, we have to settle for the present.
&nbs
p; And I’ll be damned if I don’t give her everything she’s ever dreamed of in a man.
“Tell me what you like, Em,” I groan as I grow closer to her core. The sight of her bare lips has my mouth salivating. I’m drooling and I haven’t even tasted her essence yet.
“Whatever you want to give me,” is her purred response.
Christ. If I didn’t know better, I’d say she was a master seductress. “Whatever I want,” I repeat. That could be any number of things.
Ember tied to my bed.
Her ass cherry red from my hand.
Breathless, begging me for more.
Ember Daniels in my complete control is exactly what I want.
But it’s not something I’m going to get.
I can’t demand her absolute submission if I’m not going to give her my complete loyalty. There are so many things about me she needs to know. One day, but not yet.
“I want silence. Not one scream. No moans. Don’t even whimper,” I growl against her heat. Her breath catches as she meets my stare, but she nods her quick agreement. “Close your eyes, sweetness, and feel me.”
Wrapping my arms around her thighs, I drag her closer to me before pressing my face into her cunt. Rubbing my jaw along her slit, I pinch her flesh when I hear her breath catch. She tenses before relaxing back into the mattress and spreading her legs wider for me.
Fuck, she’s gorgeous. Just a small amount of hair along her pubic bone, swollen lips and the perfect mix of innocence and vixen begging me to devour her.
