by Haley Travis
When I went back to his room, I couldn't resist sneaking a look in his closet. There was a row of sharp suits, mostly in black, with a couple in navy and dark gray. From the look of his wardrobe, and the way this place was decorated, he was obviously extremely well off.
Padding barefoot down the hall, I could smell coffee, and Eric was starting to cook something on the stove. I couldn't resist walking straight to the giant floor to ceiling living room window that looked across half of the city.
"Wow," I breathed.
Eric's bright chuckle came from behind me, then echoed through the room. "Yeah, that's why I bought this place. I love watching the city wake up. Or go to sleep. Or just hang out.”
After staring across the concrete and glass expense for a few minutes, I came over to the breakfast bar just as Eric slid a mug in front of me. "Milk or cream?"
"Either one is fine."
He set milk, cream, sugar, and a spoon in front of me, then went back to cutting thick slices of bread.
Watching the graceful way he moved was absolutely hypnotic. Even the way he skimmed the spatula around the giant frying pan was sort of a slow dance.
Taking a sip of coffee, I almost moaned. “Holy squid, this is amazing.”
His sexy grin made my fingers twitch around the mug. “It’s a secret blend I’ve been working on over the years.”
“Would it be rude to ask how old you are?” I asked.
He waved the spatula at me. “Yes. But I’m thirty-seven. Does that matter?”
I shook my head emphatically. “Not at all.”
Eric looked me up and down with a smirk. “I’m guessing you’re... twenty-six-ish?”
“Um, twenty-four.”
He stared at the utensil in his hand. “That’s pretty young. Do I care about that?” he asked the spatula. “Nah, she seems really mature. And calm. Most younger girls are flighty.” He nodded. “She muttered something about studying last night, so she’s still in school. She seems smart.”
Dropping his chin, he faced me. “We’re good.”
I nearly spilled my coffee, I was laughing so hard.
~ Chapter 4 ~ Eric ~
* Brunch *
I'd always loved cooking for people, but didn't have many opportunities. I didn't date much, and until last night, I'd never taken a woman home on a whim.
Occasionally I've cooked for my sister Angie, or a couple of University buddies. I once cooked for my assistant when we had to work all weekend on a project, and the air-conditioning in the office was sketchy. I think it was one of the very few times I've actually surprised Patricia. Maybe even impressed her.
Cooking was something that usually held my focus, sort of a meditative task. But this morning it was hard to concentrate. I couldn't stop sneaking looks at the way Eden was smiling into her mug.
She was exquisitely beautiful, but it was so much more than that. Outwardly, she was fairly normal. She had a healthy, curvy figure with very shapely legs. The way she tossed her long brown hair around expressively made tiny reddish highlights stand out.
There was also a sense of deep quiet around her. As if she wasn’t sure she belonged out in the world or not. There was a delicate softness to her shy energy that I found fascinating.
How strange that I was absolutely taken with this adorable girl, and I didn't know a thing about her.
"So, what do you do?" I asked her.
"I'm studying English, writing, with a few media courses," she said.
"Cool. Where do you intend to go with that?"
Her sweet laugh rang out, and I looked over to see her warm brown eyes smiling at me. "I guess that's the million-dollar question," she said. "The theory is, with a broad education, I can go into anything, and follow the market. People always need writers, right?"
I nodded. "We certainly do."
"I want enough of a background so that I could write advertising copy, educational textbooks, or even ghostwrite terrible biographies for nonsense celebrities."
I chuckled. "Not keeping all your eggs in one basket. That's wise."
Her head tilted and she looked absolutely delighted by what I said. "My Nana always says that," she said.
"Then she is a wise lady," I said, flipping the eggs carefully. Then I fired her a glance from the corner of my eye. "Just a little warning, I like smart chicks."
"Chick?" she asked haughtily, then she giggled. "Yes, I know all girls in their early twenties get lumped into one category."
I shook my head, sliding the omelets onto two plates and adding slices of thick, buttery toast. "Not at all. I've seen a lot of women at all ages who are complete flakes, and a few who were extremely driven." I slid a plate in front of her. “But the same could be said for men. The only difference is the terminology. Women are chicks and flakes, whereas men are bros and sportos. Often douchebags. There doesn't seem to be a convenient term for people who work hard, have a steady life, and like having a few routines."
"Regular people?" she suggested. "That just sounds boring as beans."
I set out cutlery and a linen napkin, and Eden looked extremely impressed. "This is amazing, thank you," she said.
"You're very welcome," I said, sitting on the stool beside her.
"What do you do?" she asked.
I swallowed a bite of my toast before answering. "You know those little boys who love building things with their blocks? The ones who make towers that are bigger and bigger every time?"
Eden nodded. "Yeah."
"That's me. I liked it so much that I worked construction, then went to university to study engineering. I’m lucky enough to have a sister who is a financial and planning genius. So between the two of us, we own Two Stones. We assemble the people and teams who make buildings, and oversee the projects.”
"Wow," she said softly. "You're the head of the company?"
"I’m the CEO. Angie is the CFO." Her eyes were wide, and I didn't want to sound like I was bragging. "The two of us have both concentrated on hiring people who are smarter than us, so the head of every division is a star in their own way. That helped the company grow a bit faster than it should have, actually."
She grinned. "Do you still play with blocks?"
I laughed. "As a matter of fact, I really do. We just had a rough wooden scale model of Toronto constructed so that everyone can visualize different buildings and how they will affect what's around them."
"I'd love to see that," she said softly.
"Anytime.”
She was already pushing her plate away. "That was incredible. I'm stuffed. Thank you so much."
Her eyes were bright and clear, and she looked so delicious that I knew I couldn’t resist her any longer. "Are you hungover at all?" I asked, trying not to leer.
"Not in the slightest."
"You've had enough coffee that you would consider yourself wide awake?"
"Yes.” Her eyebrow raised slightly as she realized I was getting at something, but she didn't know what.
Pushing my plate away, I stood up and dabbed my mouth with the napkin. Taking her hand, I led her to the empty end of the kitchen island, wrapping my hands around her waist as I pulled her against me. "There's something I've been craving for a long time, and I wondered if you could help me."
Brushing my thumb along her bottom lip, she nodded slowly. "Anything."
It thrilled me to see how aroused she was just from standing pressed against me. I kissed her gently, her supple lips moving softly under mine, driving us both wild. I could feel a tremor run through her as my hand slid down to grip her ass firmly.
"I'm still hungry,” I said, surprised at the dark tone of my voice.
"Tell me what you need," she purred.
Grabbing the hem of her dress, I started pulling it up very slowly, while watching her soft eyes. She bit her lip shyly, but gave me a nod. Pulling it off completely, I had known that she wasn't wearing a bra from how thin the fabric was. But her little red lace panties were the perfect mix of seductive and sweet. Taking a
step back, I stared at her lovely soft skin. “Breathtaking,” I whispered, making her blush.
Skimming my fingers around her waistband, I began to pull them down very slowly. "Once you're naked, I'm going to put you up on the counter, and eat your sweet pussy until I am completely satisfied. What do you think of that?"
She looked like she was twitching, fluttering slightly from head to toe. Pulling her against me, I breathed into her ear, "I think I'm going to need to hear you say ‘no’, or ‘fuck yes’."
She looked up at me, then suddenly gripped the back of my neck, kissing me hard. I couldn't believe the heat rolling off of this gorgeous girl.
"Yes," she said softly.
"Close enough."
Pulling her panties off, I lifted her onto the counter, loving her squeal as her butt hit the chilly marble. Spreading her legs, I reached up to caress her breasts while kissing the inside of her knees, turning my head back and forth.
I loved the feeling of her nipples turning into tight peaks under my thumb as I moved from one side to the other. I adored her gasps as I kissed up her inner thighs.
I stared at her naked pink pussy, so open and inviting. I’d always thought it was a beautiful thing when a woman opened herself to a man. I knew that she must have felt nervous, vulnerable, and likely curious as well. Yet she was allowing me to play with her so intimately.
Instead of moving higher, I worked lower, all the way down to her ankle bone before skimming my lips slowly all the way back up to her inner thigh. Grazing my tongue along the seam where her leg met her body, I heard her soft sigh.
“You look so precious laid out for me like a buffet, gorgeous," I murmured.
"I love the way you touch me," she whispered.
Her hips wriggled slightly, and I could feel that she was getting impatient. Spreading her labia gently with my thumbs, her soft, delicate pussy was imprinting on my memory as my new favorite vision. Examining her carefully, I flattened my tongue against her little nub of nerves, licking her slow and steady while she moaned softly.
Circling her pussy lips with my finger, I nudged in very slightly. She was already hot and slippery, and it felt like her tunnel was trying to pull my finger in. Thrusting slowly and carefully, I glided inside her.
It sounded like her breath was hitching, already slightly ragged. Feeling her thighs quiver around my ears made my pulse race, as I flicked my tongue over her swollen clit over and over.
I added a second finger to her pulsing pussy, gliding slow and deep through her softness. Circling her clit with my tongue, her desperate moans were making me harder than I'd ever been before.
But I was focused on her pleasure, not mine. Pinching her nipple slightly, I worked my fingers a bit faster, licking her clit again in sharp upward strokes.
Eden began to fall to pieces under my touch. Her fingers gripped the back of my shoulders, as I heard her whisper, "Oh fuck… Fuck, Christ, don't stop."
I worked her hot body harder and faster, loving the sensation as she tipped over the edge into a squirming, squealing animal as she climaxed.
She whispered so softly it was barely a breath, "Fucking hell."
I slowed my pace as her whispered curses turned back into soft moans. Then I stood up straight, keeping a hand on her belly so she wouldn't try to roll and fall off the counter. I kissed her almost roughly, so she could feel the heat that was surging through me.
Her eyes were wide. "I had no idea," she blurted.
"Oh my god… Baby, has no one done that for you before?"
She shook her head, a wave of shyness overtaking her again. "I've… You know. Done some things. Just not that."
I kissed her again, deep and soft as her lips opened for mine. Her tongue was so soft and wet against mine. We moved together so naturally that everything we did felt right.
Finally I pulled her against me, helping her slide off the counter to stand. Holding her body to mine, I wondered whether I should push my luck.
~ Chapter 5 ~ Eden ~
* Falling Water *
I felt so strange. Like I was floating, even as Eric held me still. It felt so perfect and natural to have his body pressed against mine.
I couldn't even believe that I met him less than twelve hours ago. It felt right to be so close to him. It was shocking that I let him lick me like that without a second thought. It was so intimate and raw that I knew it would take me a couple of days to process that experience completely.
My ex would never consider doing such a thing. Now that I thought about it, I wasn't sure whether I would have trusted him. Yet I trusted Eric completely. Every time he touched me, it was a magical blend of sweet possession, balanced with consideration, and what seemed to be a deep urge to bring me pleasure.
"That was amazing," I said gently, looking up at him. I felt dazed, and wondered if he could see stars in my eyes.
"I hope you don't have to leave yet,” he said, gripping my waist and swaying my body against his as if we were dancing again. "Are you a good environmentalist?"
That question came out of nowhere. "I try?"
"We should all try to conserve water," he murmured against my hair, our rocking back and forth gathering energy. "It would be very environmentally responsible of us to take a shower together."
A deep ache pulled my hips low just thinking about his huge body completely naked, splashed with water. Then I realized what else would certainly happen while we were in there.
My body wanted him completely. No, needed him. Not to cleanse my palate and help me move on from the ex. I needed him for myself. I didn't even know whether or not there was a possibility of a relationship here, and it didn't matter.
Honestly, he had the most important things covered already. He was sweet to me, he listened to me, and he was a responsible, contributing member of society.
The basics were pretty basic, but Kelly and I had agreed that some very simple ground rules should be in place before we ever considered dating a guy. Or being naked with a guy. The list was brought about due to Kelly’s penchant for dating musicians who were always begging for rent money and food.
Eric seemed to have it all together. But for me, the most important thing was that he really listened. He seemed to always be checking in with both my words and my body language. It was refreshing. He was actually a gentleman. But now I needed to know what it felt like when he acted more like an animal.
I nodded very seriously. “Yes, conserving water is very important. We should definitely have a shower before we get back to our regular lives."
Eric stopped moving, cupping my face in his. "I don't want my regular life unless you're in it."
My mouth fell open, but I couldn't speak, just nodding.
"I'm serious," he said gently, kissing across my forehead, then down the edge of my cheek. "I don't care that we met in a cheesy dance club. We can figure out the details when we get to know each other better. But this is not a one time thing, right?"
I nodded quickly and eagerly, still unable to form words.
His grin made me feel weightless, floating again. "I'm going to need you to speak out loud again. You say, ‘Yes, I want you to take me into the shower and have wet, naughty sex with me until I scream with joy’."
My eyes clamped shut as I laughed, feeling how hard I was blushing. "Yes," I managed to whisper. "Shower, and… stuff."
He picked me up, and I automatically wrapped my legs around his waist. How on earth was I comfortable being naked while he was fully clothed?
Walking slowly to the bedroom, he peppered my neck with kisses while murmuring, "Try again. Say, ‘I need you to fuck me in the shower’." I moaned as his lips wandered down to my nipple. Carrying me through the bedroom, he leaned me against the wall of the bathroom.
"Say it," he nearly growled, his dark eyes almost aggressive.
"Yes. Shower sex," I managed to mumble.
His teeth latched onto my collarbone and he gave me a tiny bite, making me yelp. "See? You can be louder," he grinned. "
We'll work on that."
He started the shower, adjusting the water for both the overhead rain attachment and a dozen side jets. The thing looked so complicated there was probably an online course on how to work it. Then Eric peeled his t-shirt off, and I forgot how to breathe.
I'd never seen a body like that up close. The layers of muscle across his chest, his ribs, down his chiseled stomach. His thick arms and broad, rounded shoulders. It was mind blowing.
