Friends to Lovers: A Secret Pregnancy Romance (Heart of Hope Book 6)

by Ajme Williams

  “This isn’t fair to you,” he murmured against my neck.

  “That’s for me to decide,” I said, undoing the buttons of his shirt desperate to feel his warm skin over firm muscle.

  “Fuck. I do need you, Petal.”

  “I’m right here.” I couldn’t deny how good it felt to hear his need for me. To feel it in his kiss and touch. I just had to remember that it was only a physical need. He needed to be soothed. This wasn’t love. Having sex wasn’t going to change anything.

  I quickly undid his pants, freeing him. I dropped to my knees and sucked him deep into my mouth.

  “Aw fuck…Petal…yes.” His fingers laced through my hair as he closed his eyes and let me please him. I stroked him with my lips a few times, and then used my hand, focusing my mouth on his tip, licking around the rim.

  He let out a little grunt and his hips thrust forward.

  I used my other hand to massage his soft sacks. Then with my hand still stroking his length, I sucked those sacks, one then the other. My finger gently rubbed the area right behind them.

  “Fuck, fuck, fuck…” he chanted.

  All of a sudden, I was hauled up by my arms, twirled around so I was against his desk.

  “I have to fuck you. Tell me I can fuck you.”

  I was mesmerized by the head and desire swirling in his eyes.

  “Yes.”

  His hands were a flurry of movement as he freed me of my pants and panties. He grabbed a condom rolling it on and then lifting me on the deck.

  He stopped short of thrusting inside me. He cradled my face in his hands. “Petal…you deserve more.”

  I kissed the inside of his palm and then looked into his eyes. “Fuck me, Cyrus.”

  17

  Cyrus

  When I used to come home on leave, I looked forward to seeing Lora and touching her again. The anticipation built over the many hours it took for me to go from the middle east to Germany to the United States and eventually to Chicago. Lora would pick me up at the airport and while I wanted to strip and fuck her asap, we usually went to visit my mother before heading home and finally falling into bed.

  With Petal, I wasn’t sure I’d have been able to get out of the airport before finding someplace I could sink into her. The need to be inside her clawed at my insides. My dick was painfully hard. It was unsettling how much I needed this woman. One minute I was immersed in my work, and then the scent of vanilla and Petal overcame me. I looked up and there she was. Everything else fell away at the sight of her. It was replaced by a need so acute it was a wonder it hadn’t brought me to my knees.

  If things were different, I might pursue more than this fleeting moment, but she deserved someone who could give her all she wanted and needed without the potential entanglements.

  “Fuck me, Cyrus.”

  Whether I deserved this or not, I wasn’t strong enough to resist her. I slid my fingers through her folds making sure she was wet and ready for me. I pushed her back, hooking her knees over my forearms opening her thighs as I leaned over her. Her pussy was open and exposed, its sweet nectar coating the red curls. For a moment, my mouth watered to be there. But my dick throbbed, urging me to get on with it.

  I pressed my cock to her entrance.

  “Cyrus,” she moaned and her hips rose to take him in.

  I gave one hard thrust, filling her to the hilt. She cried out. I yelled as pleasure rocked my body. I withdrew, waited a moment, and thrust again.

  “More…” she gasped.

  She was right. I couldn’t manage finesse right now. Hell, I’m not sure I’d ever managed finesse with her so far. It was too fucking hard when my cock was begging for release. I gave in to the need, rocking my hips, finding a hard rhythm as I plunged again and again, each time, the burn of release ratcheted up.

  She was whimpering as her hands gripped my forearms.

  “Come, Petal,” I growled. “Fucking come and take me with you.”

  Her head tilted back as her body arched. I withdrew and plunged in hard, grinding against her, hitting her clit.

  “Cyrus! Yes…oh God…” Her pussy clamped down on my cock like a fucking vise.

  “Fuck!” I yelled out as my dick exploded. Like a mad man, I pumped and pumped and pumped emptying everything I had.

  I had no strength as I released her legs, and collapsed over her.

  “What do you do to me?” I said more to myself than her.

  “You just did it to me.” She said between heaving breaths.

  I managed to lift my head and looked down at her. Her green eyes were sated. She had a lovely flush to her cheeks. My heart rolled in my chest uncomfortably. I straightened and helped her to sit. It occurred to me that she and I had never had sex completely naked. I yearned for that. To be able to be comfortable in a bed and touch every inch of her.

  “Petal.”

  She stopped adjusting her clothes and put her fingers over my mouth. “Please don’t apologize again Cyrus. I can’t bear it when you apologize.”

  I kissed her fingers.

  “I’m not sorry, Petal. Unless I’ve hurt you. I never want to hurt you.” I got my pants fastened and then I stepped forward between her bare legs running my hands over her soft skin.

  She looked up at me with those beautiful green eyes.

  “I can’t seem to stop wanting you,” I said.

  “Should I apologize?” she asked, although I couldn’t tell if she was teasing me or being serious.

  I shook my head. “No.” I ran my finger down her cheek. “I want to stop trying.”

  She frowned. “Stop trying what?”

  “Stop trying to resist you.” I swallowed as I prepared to make my pitch. “I…can’t offer you anything right now…so I’m an asshole to ask, but I can’t seem to stop myself.”

  “What are you asking, Cy? Friends with benefits?”

  I nodded. “I’m sorry…” I stopped myself knowing she didn’t like it when I apologized. “I wish I could offer you more, but I can’t. Not now. It’s not fair to you to ask this.”

  “You should be quiet for a minute to let me get a word in edgewise.”

  I let out a laugh. “Yes, of course. I’m sorr—”

  Her brow arched. I bit my lip.

  She let out a sigh. “I know you have a lot going on Cyrus. Here at work. With your mom. I don’t want to add to it. I want to be your friend. To support you through this.”

  I waited for her to say, “but, I can’t sleep with you.”

  Instead she said, “And I can’t seem to stop wanting you either.”

  My gaze jerked to hers. “Really?”

  She flashed a smile. “Why does that surprise you?”

  “I don’t know. I just…I’ve never done this before and I do value your friendship Petal. If I fuck that up, I don’t know what I’ll do.”

  Her palms pressed against my face. “Friends first. Okay?”

  “Okay.”

  She bit her lower lip. “Does this mean someday we’ll do this in a bed? I’m dying to see you naked Cy.”

  I groaned. “I hope to hell so.” But I wasn’t a complete caveman. And my interest in her wasn’t just physical. “Are you hungry? Can I take you out for dinner?”

  Her smile was bright. “I’d like that.”

  Fifteen minutes later, we were seated in a restaurant down the street from the office, having ordered wine and reviewing the menu. It felt a whole like a date, but I pushed that aside. She’d agreed to friends with benefits.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t let you know I was back,” I said.

  She looked down like she didn’t want me to see that it had bothered her. “You have a lot on your plate.”

  I reached over and took her hand. “You helped me a lot by being there when I called. I just…well…you see what happens when I’m around you.”

  She smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes making me wonder if maybe this friends-with-benefits agreement wasn’t a good idea. Or maybe she was offended that all I want
ed was sex.

  “Have I said something wrong?” I asked.

  “No. I just…I care about you Cy. As a friend,” she added quickly. “I know that you have a lot going on and there’s no reason you should be concerned about me. It’s selfish of me…” She shook her head. “Never mind.”

  “No, I want to hear what you have to say.” I leaned back as the waitress brought us each a glass of wine.

  When the waitress left, Petal continued. “I just…I felt unimportant when I heard you were back for days and you hadn’t been down for a cupcake or called. I thought we were friends…it’s silly. I feel selfish for even putting this on you.”

  “I’m sorry. It wasn’t my intention to hurt you. You are important.” But she messed with my senses and sometimes I couldn’t deal with it. Even more disconcerting was the intense need I felt for her. I couldn’t very well tell her that.

  “I’m not asking you to be accountable to me. You have no obligation to call. I just…I thought we were friends—”

  “We are. I just…” I tapped my temple. “I’m not thinking straight up here all the time.”

  “And this is making it worse. I don’t want that. Just know that I’m here for you if you need me.”

  “Thank you. I appreciate that.”

  “How is your mom?”

  I took a long drink of my wine, wishing I’d opted for something stronger. “It’s going to be a long, difficult road. It’s hard to be here knowing this will take a lot out of her.”

  “Is there something I can help with?”

  I believed she really wanted to help. She wasn’t just giving me lip service. It made me wish I could be better for her. “Just being here is helpful.”

  She looked down again. “Will you be moving back to Chicago?”

  My eyes narrowed wondering why she’d ask that. “Did someone tell you that?”

  “April said you might telecommute.”

  I understood that Jude would talk to his wife about business-related news, but I’m sure it went further. He’d tell her all my business. And she’d tell Petal. I wasn’t sure how I felt about that.

  “It’s been mentioned as a possibility. I haven’t ruled it out, but I haven’t made a decision either.”

  “I know if one of my parents was sick, it would be hard not to be with them all the time,” she said.

  “She doesn’t want to interrupt my life. That’s what she said.”

  “Sounds like a mom thing to say.”

  I nodded. “At least I have someone I trust looking after her while I’m here. That’s a big relief.” I opted not to tell her it was Lora. Petal had said I had no obligation to her, but it didn’t feel right to mention I’d enlisted the help of my ex to the woman I’d just had sex with, and if the night went well, I’d have sex with again.

  “I’m glad to hear that.”

  “I’ll still have to fly home frequently, but for now I’m planning to stay here.”

  She smiled wide, but turned away like she didn’t want me to know that my plans to stay made her happy.

  We enjoyed dinner and afterward I took her home. Outside the building I asked, “Are you going to ask me up, Witch Petal?”

  She grinned. “Witch?”

  “Well, I did say you bewitched me. And you did say you want me in bed. I know I heard that.”

  She blushed.

  I hooked my finger under her chin. “And I’d do anything to see you completely naked. I haven’t yet, you know.”

  “I know.” She nodded toward the door and I followed her inside, up the stairs and into her apartment. She took my hand and led me to her bedroom. “Strip.”

  I snorted and thanked fuck that I’d stocked away more condoms. “Yes ma’am.” I started undressing. “Will you be joining me?”

  She gave me a coy smile. “You first.”

  I wasn’t modest. I stripped down and stood in front of her in all my glory, my dick already giving her a full salute. Then I walked over to her bed and lay down.

  “If you’re not going to join me, I’ll have to take matters into my own hand.” I gave my dick on stroke, loving how her green eyes flared with wild heat.

  She undressed, but her cheeks flushed and I wondered if she was self-conscious.

  I rolled to my side watching her. “You have fantastic tits, Petal.”

  “You think so?” She looked down at the large globes with pink distended nipples. I couldn’t wait to get my mouth on them.

  “I know so. I look forward to proving it.”

  She finished undressing.

  I reached out my hand to her. “Let me worship your body.”

  She lay on the bed next to me. “Yours is the one that should be worshipped. Holy crap, Cy, do you have any fat on you?”

  “You like all this beefcake?” I rolled her underneath me.

  “Yes. It’s hot.”

  “What else do you think is hot, Petal. What fantasies do you have that I can make some true?”

  Her cheeks turned pink again. It made her look so beautiful.

  “I like everything you do,” she said.

  “How about we test that theory?” I said running my hand down her body.

  “What do you like, Cy?” Her fingers squeezed my pecs. “Do you have fantasies?”

  “One thing at a time,” I said kissing her and then trailing my lips along her jaw.

  “I want to hear them,” she said on a gasp.

  “My fantasies involve fucking you in every way possible. Missionary. Doggy. You riding me. Me fucking your tits.”

  Her breath hitched and I lifted my head to see if that was a good thing or if I’d scared her off. Her green eyes burned with lust.

  That was my cue to keep doing. “I want to eat you. I want to watch you make yourself come.”

  Her breath released on a shudder.

  “I want it all, Petal.”

  “I want that too,” she said in a whisper.

  “Well then, let’s get started.”

  18

  Petal

  There was a part of me that thought agreeing to a friends-with-benefits situation with Cyrus was a bad idea. After all, my feelings went a bit deeper than just friends. If I wasn’t careful, they might veer straight over into love and then where would I be? In love with a man who only wanted friendship and sex. That was a recipe for heartbreak for sure.

  Yet, how could I say no? First, my libido always revved to a million miles per hour when he was around. It wasn’t easy to turn down sex when my body was humming with the need for his touch.

  Second, he was a man who needed a friend as well as an outlet to relieve his stress and worry. I was more than happy to sign up to be the friendly shoulder to cry on and the body to touch.

  And so that was how after having a lovely dinner, he was completely naked in my bed. Having touched him a few times before, I knew his body was perfection, but to see it laid out in all it’s glory in my bed, I’d nearly swooned. His chest was sculpted to perfection. His hips were lean. His legs were long and strong. His dick was hard and thick. An artist would be hard pressed to find a better specimen as a muse.

  He started talking about fantasies and all the things he wanted to do to me and I’d nearly spontaneously combusted. I wanted him to do it all right now. If he had, I’d probably have an aneurism. There was no way one woman could take all that from him without having her brain blown. But I’d try.

  He rolled us until I was straddling him. “I’m hungry, Petal. Feed me.”

  I looked down on him unsure as to what he meant. With this urging, I moved up his body until my pussy was over his mouth.

  “Fuck my mouth,” he said, pulling my hips down. I was sure he’d suffocate, but the minute his tongue and lips were on my pussy, all coherent thought left my brain. I gripped the bed’s back board to keep from falling over.

  “Cyrus…” I gasped as my hips rocked over his mouth.

  “Mmm…” His sound vibrated through my pussy, into my bloodstream.

  “
Oh God…” Pressure built tighter and tighter until I thought it would burst and I’d splinter into a million pieces.

  His hands slid up, pinching my nipples as his tongue thrust inside me.

  I whimpered and moaned, writhing over his mouth as he sent me flying to the edge and then with one hard suck of my clit, launched me out to the stratosphere.

  “Cy!” I gripped my head board, my entire bed shaking as my body quaked over his face.

  I was barely down from the high, when he maneuvered me on to my hands and knees, and he knelt behind me.

  “You’re so fucking hot,” he said, rubbing his dick over my still quivering pussy.

  I moaned. “Fuck me.”

  He groaned as he gripped my ass and plunged inside me. “Yes…fuck so good.” He let himself loose, fucking me hard and fast. His body slapping against mine as he thrust in and out, in and out, each time sending me up again.

  “Fuck…I’m there…touch yourself Petal. Make yourself come again.”

  I reached between my thighs and had barely touched my clit when he sank in and pleasure blasted through me again, making me cry out.

  “Yes!” he roared, plunging in, and grinding against me. He did it again, and again, until finally he slipped out. He collapsed to my side, pulling me to him, spooning around me. For a moment we just lay there as our breaths returned to normal.

  He kissed the back of my head. “Are you okay?”

  “I don’t know what I could be doing to suggest otherwise,” I managed.

  He laughed. “I love how you make me smile, Petal.”

  My heart swelled, thinking that was one of the loveliest things I’d ever heard from anyone. This isn’t love, I reminded myself. Cyrus was a good and kind man, but this wasn’t a love affair. This was friends with benefits.

  Over the rest of the week, Cyrus skipped his afternoon cupcake and coffee, and instead came for his after-work orgasm. I was alright with that. Plus, I still gave him a cupcake. Sometimes he ate it off my body.

  The only problem was that it only took a few days to realize my attempt to keep my emotions in check was failing. As a friend, Cyrus was sweet and generous. As a lover, he was thorough and considerate. I couldn’t imagine any woman being immune to that combination. I certainly wasn’t. So by the time the weekend came, I knew I was falling in love with him.