by Piper James
So I did what any civilized woman would do.
I darted my tongue out to moisten my lips before biting down on the bottom one and gave Nate my best “come hither” look. He didn’t hesitate. He lunged forward, sucking that lip in between his own teeth before soothing it with his tongue.
On some subconscious level, I was aware of Anna’s huff and hasty departure, but Nate’s hot mouth felt too good. His breath mingled with mine, and a quiet growl vibrated in his chest.
His hands slid into my hair, gripping it tightly and using it to tilt my head to a better angle. As his tongue slipped in to caress mine, my hand that still lay limply in his lap flipped over to grip his thigh with tight fingers.
Nate groaned, and his left hand slipped from my hair to reach down and curl around my wrist. Applying the slightest of pressure, he guided my hand where he wanted it, right over the bulge straining against his jeans. Then his fingers curled over mine until I was cupping him. He broke off our kiss, trailing his lips along my jaw until they brushed against my ear.
“I want you, Ivy,” he whispered between harsh breaths. “Do you want to get out of here?”
Reality came rushing back in, and I snatched my hand away from his erection. I glanced around the restaurant and, after confirming none of the other customers were watching the show we’d been putting on, I put some space between us. My face was hot. My chest burned with fire. And my lady bits were screaming with disappointment.
“I’m sorry,” Nate said, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
“You are?” I asked, tensing at the streak of disappointment flaring through me.
“No,” he said, one corner of his gorgeous mouth tugging upward. “It just felt like the thing to say.” He leaned toward me, bringing his lips so close, they brushed against mine when he spoke again. “I never regret kissing you.”
Then our lips met, a short, chaste kiss that left me wanting more. This was stupid. I was a grown-ass woman, and there was no reason to deny myself the pleasure I knew Nate could give me.
My heart squeaked in fear, knowing that it could end up shattered into a million pieces, but I brushed that fear aside. I’d worry about that later.
Right now, other parts of my body demanded attention. And I was tired of fighting off the need.
“Take me home, Nate,” I said, my voice raspy.
His face fell, disappointment written across each of his features as he backed off, putting at least a foot between us. He obviously thought I’d meant to end this date with my words, but that was the furthest thing from my mind. I followed him, sliding closer as my hand moved back to the bulge in his jeans.
“Take me to your home,” I clarified, tightening my grip on him.
He grunted and gave me a hard kiss before sliding out of the booth completely. He pulled out his wallet and dropped enough cash on the table to cover the food we’d ordered, then held out a hand to me.
I stared at it for moment as some mix of fear and excitement set my blood on fire. Nate wanted me. Not Anna or any other woman he may have previously hooked up with. He wanted me, and I wanted him.
I couldn’t deny either of us the pleasure I knew would come. I slipped my hand into his and gave him a heated look. He pulled me to my feet and out the door before I had a chance to change my mind.
Not that I would.
Tonight, I was living for the present. I’d worry about the future later.
27
Nate
I needed to touch Ivy. To keep her so hot and bothered that she wouldn’t even consider changing her mind about letting me take her home. But my fucking car had a manual transmission, and I needed both hands to drive.
I couldn’t believe this was happening. As much as I longed to bury myself inside Ivy again, I’d been sure she didn’t feel the same need. She was the one who put an end to our physical relationship.
And I hadn’t meant for things to get carried away the way they had at Hero’s. Anna was looking at me with too much lust, just the way she always did, and I thought my “engagement” to Ivy was the perfect way to put an end to her advances. I’d turned that woman down more times than I could count, yet she came onto me every time she laid eyes on me. Fighting her off was becoming exhausting.
When Ivy had played along, looking at me with those blue eyes shining with desire, I’d lost my senses. There was nothing fake about that kiss or my body’s reaction to it. I could tell she’d been caught in the web, too, and I’d uttered those words before I could think better of it.
I was so sure she’d been denying me when she told me to take her home, and I’d silently cursed myself for being so stupid and pushy.
But here we were, speeding along the quiet roads of Milestone, my dick throbbing with need as it pressed against the zipper of my jeans. A tiny bead of panic shivered through me, wondering if Ivy would come to her senses before we got to my apartment. Would she let her brain take over and convince her that this was a bad idea?
I needed to touch her. To keep that fire stoked and burning. Fucking stick shift.
My breath caught in my chest when Ivy’s hand landed on my thigh, her palm brushing down toward my knee before travelling upward. Her fingertips grazed my cock, and even through my jeans and boxers, I could feel the heat of her touch.
“That feels so good, Ivy,” I groaned, pressing my head back against the headrest as my foot pushed harder against the accelerator.
“Does it?” she asked, her voice breathless as her hand cupped me the same way I’d guided it to in the restaurant.
“Yes,” I croaked, then cleared my throat. “You should touch yourself with those fingers. See how it feels.”
She froze, and my heart pounded double-time as I waited for her reaction. Was it too much? Had I taken it too far? I knew some women were shy about bringing pleasure to themselves in front of their lovers in the privacy of their own bedroom, much less in a muscle car careening through town at speeds well above the posted limit.
I opened my mouth to take it back as Ivy pulled away from me and faced forward, but my words choked off when she pulled the lever to recline her seat back. When her fingers slid down her thighs, then dragged the hem of her skirt upward as they returned, my mouth went dry.
“You should keep your eyes on the road,” she said, her voice low and husky as her hands pulled the skirt up higher before latching onto the top of her black tights.
We were less than five minutes from my apartment, and I was torn between ordering her to keep going and begging her to stop until we got to the parking lot so I wouldn’t miss a second of it. Thank God I was watching the road, because the last traffic light between me and my bedroom turned yellow, then red, forcing me to stop.
My eyes darted over as Ivy lifted her hips and shoved the top of her tights down to her knees. I swallowed thickly, unable to take my eyes off her fingers as they trailed a path up her inner thighs with agonizing slowness.
I glanced up at her face to determine if she was actually enjoying this, and my heart pounded against my ribs. Her cheeks were stained a ruddy pink, her plump lips were parted as she panted in tiny breaths, and her eyes were closed.
My dick hardened to a near-unbearable degree as my gaze moved downward. One hand cupped her pussy, her middle finger rubbing in slow circles as the other hand squeezed the bare flesh of her thigh.
Holy shit.
The honk of a horn startled me from the trance I’d fallen into, and I tore my eyes away from Ivy to look into the rearview mirror. A small sedan idled behind me, and I couldn’t for the life of me figure out why the driver was honking.
“The light’s green,” Ivy whispered, the words abbreviated with a small moan of pleasure.
I slammed my foot on the gas pedal, making the Mustang’s tires squeal when I didn’t let off the clutch quick enough. Taking a deep breath, I eased off the gas and shifted into second gear, determined to drive like a normal, law-abiding citizen.
The last thing I needed was to get pulled
over with Ivy half-naked in the passenger seat.
By the time I pulled into my parking spot outside my apartment, I thought I was going to explode. Ivy moved her hands, her fists clenching the fabric of her tights as if she meant to pull them up.
“Don’t stop,” I ordered, my voice deep and husky with desire. “I want you to make yourself come.”
“But…someone could see,” she stuttered, her gaze darting from side to side.
“No one will see.”
I leaned over and slipped my hand between her legs and groaned. Her folds were slick and swollen with need, making me want to slide my aching cock inside and feel her come apart around it. But not yet.
“You’re so wet, Ivy.” She groaned and writhed in her seat, and I slid one finger inside her. “So tight and hot.”
I pulled my hand away, and she grunted in disappointment. “Nate, please.”
“Show me how you make yourself come,” I ordered, barely hanging onto the threads of my own control.
Her right hand released the fabric of her tights and started to glide upward. I held my breath, sparing a glance through both the windshield and the back window to make sure we were still alone before looking back at her.
In the dim light of a nearby streetlight, I watched as Ivy rubbed two fingers against her clit. Her knees fell open even further as her other hand moved up to slide a finger inside. My mouth went dry as my heartbeat pounded in my ears, and I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Ivy, stop.”
She froze, looking over at me with wide blue eyes. “What? I thought…”
“I know,” I said. “I thought I could handle it, but I can’t. I need to be inside you. Now. Pull those off.”
I motioned toward her tights, and she shoved them down to her ankles without hesitation. Kicking off the flat shoes she wore, she pulled her feet free of the tight material while stomping it into the floorboard.
Fuck. It was times like these that I wished I had a bigger car. If there was more room, I’d pull her into my lap and have her ride me right here in this lot—possible spectators be damned.
I leaned over and kissed her, and her hands wove into my hair. Before we could get too carried away, I pulled back and looked into her eyes.
“Let’s go inside.”
She nodded, unbuckled her seatbelt, and climbed from the car on shaky legs. I grabbed her purse from the floor, leaving the discarded tights and underwear. She wouldn’t need those. Not tonight.
I rounded the car and came up behind her, wrapping one arm around her waist as my stiff cock rubbed against her ass. She moaned and pressed back against it, making me groan in return.
She snatched her purse and the keys out of my fingers and ran. I chased after her, but she made it to the door of my apartment before I could catch her. As she tried to unlock the door, I slammed into her back, pushing her up against the wood as my hands explored her bare thighs.
She must’ve managed to turn the key in the lock, because the door swung open and we stumbled inside. I kicked it closed behind me, then bent over and scooped Ivy up, tossing her over my shoulder. I trotted toward my bedroom, not giving her time to protest my barbaric hold on her before I was dropping her onto the mattress.
She hadn’t even gained her bearings when I buried my face between her legs. She moaned with pleasure as my tongue stroked up her slit. I spent some time flicking her clit with the tip of my tongue before moving back down to push it inside her.
She was so hot. So wet. So delicious.
“Nate,” she said, and I could feel her thighs tightening with tension.
Giving her pussy one last kiss, I pushed myself up and stripped out of my clothes faster than should’ve been possible. As I kicked off my boxers, Ivy rolled off the mattress to stand beside me. She motioned for me to sit on the edge of the bed before pulling off her shirt, skirt, and bra.
My hands itched to grab her, but the look of determination on her face made it clear she wanted to be in charge of this rodeo. She moved between my legs and fisted her hands in my hair. Then she pulled my head down, angling my mouth toward one pert nipple.
I sucked it between my lips, swirling my tongue around it as Ivy threw her head back in pleasure. I moved to pay the same attention to the other nipple, and Ivy whispered my name as she straddled my lap.
My cock slid into her easily, and my mouth popped off her breast to kiss her. As my tongue brushed against hers, Ivy lifted her hips before slamming back down. Then she did it again. And again.
Growling noises echoed around us, and I wasn’t sure who was making them. All I knew for sure was that Ivy’s greedy pussy was throbbing around me, and if I wasn’t careful, I was going to come. God, I wanted it, but I needed to make sure Ivy finished first.
I stood up and turned, laying Ivy on her back. As I pumped into her, I spread the folds of her sex and rubbed my thumb against the sensitive bundle of nerves nestled within. Her back arched as her moans grew louder, and I pumped faster, racing for climax.
Ivy came with a scream, the inner walls of her pussy clenching down hard. I shouted my own release, my fingers digging into her hip as my movements slowed and I collapsed on top of her.
“Fuck,” I breathed into her ear.
“Yeah,” she agreed, her hands gliding over my shoulders and down my arms.
Sex with Ivy was…good. Too good.
And when this was all over, I had no idea if I’d be able to settle for less.
28
Ivy
“Holy fuck.”
Karly’s eyes were glazed over with a mix of reverence and jealousy when I finished speaking. We were seated at Felicia’s Kitchen table, with Karly next to me and Felicia and Jessa on the other side. Those two looked at me with the same wide-eyed expression.
I’d been tightlipped and vague at first, but Karly and Felicia had managed to drag every single detail about my “date” with Nate out of me. It should’ve been particularly weird with Jessa—her boyfriend was my best friend and Nate’s brother—but Jessa had a way of making people comfortable enough to spill their guts…including me.
Probably because she was a bartender.
“So. Hot,” Felicia muttered, fanning herself.
“So what does this mean for the two of you?” Jessa asked.
“Nothing,” I said, trying to ignore the pit forming in my stomach as I said the word. “This thing between us isn’t real. When Charity lets go of her threats against Nate, and I get my mom’s car, it’s over.”
“Sounds pretty fucking real to me,” Karly said.
“It’s just sex,” I argued.
But the words left a sour taste in my mouth. I knew it wasn’t true. Not for me. But Nate was another matter. I was pretty sure it was just sex for him, and I’d been trying to convince myself I could enjoy it without letting my heart get tangled up. Well, any more than it already was.
“Bullshit,” Felicia said, giving me a wicked side-eye. “We haven’t known you long, but it’s pretty obvious you’re not the type to jump into bed with someone when there aren’t any real feelings present.”
“What do you mean? I’m an enlightened, modern woman. I can have casual sex.”
“Of course, you can, Ivy.” Karly’s words said she had my back, but her tone implied there was some thick smoke being blown up my ass.
“I can,” I insisted, elbowing her in the side.
“Maybe you could…if it were anyone other than Nate,” Jessa said.
They all fell silent, giving me a moment to process her words. I knew she was right, but I’d convinced myself I could sleep with him and keep my feelings out of it. That I could get through this whole charade and go back to my normal life with no repercussions.
I’d been so sure I could pretend to be in love with Nate Walton and not actually fall in love with him.
“Oh, God,” I moaned, crossing my arms on the tabletop and burying my face in the crook. “I’m so screwed.”
“That’s what she said,” Karly threw o
ut, giggling at her own joke. Then someone must’ve hit her, because she added, “Ow! Shit, it was a joke. Just trying to lighten the mood here. Sheesh.”
“Your timing is terrible,” Felicia drawled. “Ivy.” I lifted my head and met her eyes, and she gave me a sincere smile. “The solution is simple. Tell Nate how you feel.”
“I can’t do that,” I said, shaking my head vigorously.
The last time I’d decided to tell Nate how I felt, I’d ended up in bathroom-sex hell. He didn’t care about me then, and I was pretty sure he didn’t care about me now. Not in the way I was starting to feel about him. Again.
This was nothing but a business arrangement…with benefits.
Maybe he’d want to be friends when this was all over. Maybe—at some point—I could be his friend. Yeah. We’d be able to hang out with Rafe, Jessa, and Lola at family dinners and actually get along. No more fighting. No more hateful words.
Yeah, right. Who the fuck was I kidding? I’d never be able to look at Nate again without thinking about his mouth on me, his hands…his goddamned magic dick.
“Maybe he feels the same way,” Jessa said, yanking me from my spiraling thoughts.
“What?” I blurted, thinking she’d somehow read my mind.
“If you tell him how you feel, maybe he’ll say he feels the same way,” she said, her expression filled with hope.
“I don’t think so,” I said, my heartbeat accelerating.
The thought that Nate might actually share my feelings was exciting, but I quickly tamped down the feeling. I couldn’t risk it. If he rejected me again, actively or passively, like before, I didn’t know if my heart could take it.
“Fuck it, let’s drink,” Felicia said, raising her shot glass into the air.
Jessa had raided the bar’s stash of top-shelf tequila, and after clinking my glass against the other three, I poured it down my throat. Smooth, minimal burn, and a pleasant warmth in my belly told me is was some good stuff.
