Mister Know It All: A Hero Club Novel
Page 15
I closed my eyes. I didn’t want Ford to see me broken. “I’ll fix it, but just not right now, please, Ford.”
He tilted my face up to him. “Open your eyes, and don’t shut me out. Don’t hide your feelings. I know you’re hurt, and I understand your fear, but I can’t let him get away with hurting you. You matter to me.”
Tears burned the backs of my eyelids. “The thing is, when he said it, I believed him. My last two boyfriends cheated on me too.”
“I’ve been cheated on too, Jasmine, and that doesn’t mean either one of us isn’t worthy of love. Randall is an asshole who tried to scare you into silence. He doesn’t get to take your power away.”
My face broke into a smile. Ford’s encouragement was unparalleled. While I still felt unease at what Randall might do, Ford made me feel like my feelings mattered. “Thanks for that.”
His eyes locked with mine and held. He squeezed my hands. “It will get better.”
My pulse raced, and all I could think about was how much I wanted him to kiss me. He leaned close and brushed his lips against my cheek, then stood. His chest expanded with his deep sigh as he moved away from me.
“It’s been a long day, and I have an early start. I’ll start the movie with you. You can sleep in the spare room tonight if you want, or I can take you home.”
“I don’t have to go yet. I want to stay with you.”
Awareness washed over his expression at what I was too shy to ask for. I didn’t want to talk, watch a movie, or be alone. I wanted to feel desired. I wanted him to touch me again.
“You’ve been through enough today. I brought you over to support you as your friend. I don’t want sex to mix up your feelings.”
I dropped my head to avert my eyes. He turned me down. Maybe he only wants to be my friend now. “I’ll . . . I’ll go home, just give me a minute . . .”
I got up and hurried toward the stairs.
I was at the top when his large hands circled my waist and held firm. An electrical current sparked just from his touch. He must feel it.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his tone gentle. “Why are you upset?”
What was wrong? Ford had been perfect, attentive, supportive, kind. He was right; I should go. But that wasn’t what I wanted to do. I wanted Ford to keep looking at me like he wanted me. I wanted him to touch me again.
“Talk to me, Jasmine.”
“Everyone in my life keeps telling me how things are to go or how I feel. I don’t want you telling me too. I shared what happened because I thought it’d help you understand me and what I’ve gone through.”
“And I’m respecting your feelings, Jasmine. I don’t want you feeling taken advantage of.”
“I don’t feel that way at all. I want you, Ford. I choose right now to be with you because I like you and how I feel when you touch me. But now you don’t want me.”
I thought he’d let me go and tell me he wanted to preserve our friendship. My body went stiff, bracing myself for his rejection, for him to let me go. But he kept his hands on my waist.
“Ford? I’ll go. It’s fine,” I whispered.
His hands left my waist and slid up my sides.
“Jasmine,” he whispered. He moved higher to my breasts and cupped them in his hands, kneading them, rubbing his thumb over my nipples. My breath hitched, and my body tightened and heated with an aching need like no other I had before. I wanted Ford.
I closed my eyes and moaned. I wanted my dress off. I wanted to feel his hands on my skin.
He pressed his body against my back, and I felt his large erection against my ass. “You know I want you.”
“Then take me, Ford, because that’s what I want too.”
“Jasmine,” he whispered and pulled me closer, burying his hands in my hair. My scalp tingled as he pulled it back to angle my head up to him. With a savage intensity, his lips covered mine in a searing kiss that stole my breath. Oh hell, yes.
I pressed my lips hard against his mouth and gripped his shoulders. Forget breathing, forget every damn thing. Just as long as Ford’s soft lips stayed against mine.
Running my hands over his hard chest and biceps, I parted my lips for his tongue to deepen the kiss. His tongue took over in delicious, sensual strokes against my own.
I moaned and squirmed in his muscular arms that moved to hold my waist. The sensation coursed down my spine and right between my legs that grew wetter.
We broke apart for air, and he kissed down my neck and slid his hands lower to cup my buttocks.
“I’m clean. Are you on the pill?” he asked softly.
I nodded. A nervous excitement went through me.
He squeezed one cheek, then pulled off my dress and thong. I shivered in my nakedness, and his gaze went to my breasts. He reached for them, cupping them in his hands, and groaned.
“You’re so fucking beautiful . . . They are so beautiful.” He rubbed his face over them, then laved them with his tongue, licking around my tight nipples.
I moaned. The pleasure on Ford’s face made me hotter and wetter. “That feels so good. Oh, do it more.” I arched my back, my hands holding on to his thick damp hair.
He kneaded and squeezed, then closed his lips around my nipple and sucked hard.
I cried out, then moaned as a shudder traveled down to my clit. Ford soothed the pain away with his tongue.
“Mmm.” He scooped me up like I weighed nothing, then set me down on the bed’s edge. “Now I must see what you’ll do clamped.” He opened up his bedside table and took out a bag.
My brows lowered. “Clamped?”
He sent me a dark, eager look before opening a bag, removing a set of nipple clamps, and putting them in my hands. The thin metal chain between them was long and lightweight. They had soft rubber tips and adjustable screws with a chain-link between.
My brows rose, then lowered. “I’m curious, but my breasts are really sensitive.”
“I promise to take them off if they hurt too much. But with me and the nipple clamps, it’ll give you an orgasm you’ll never forget.”
I smiled, holding them up for him to take. “With that promise, how could I refuse?”
Ford immediately gripped my right breast and sucked on the nipple, causing me to moan. I held his head and arched into him to get him to suck more. “Oh, Ford.”
He indulged me, running his tongue on the skin and around the hardened points. He then eased out of my grip and cupped the other breast, squeezing my nipple in his hand before putting the clamp on just behind the tip.
“Tell me when it doesn’t hurt.”
I winced in anticipation of the pain I expected to feel. But he lessened the tightness by the screw, adjusting the end until it didn’t ache as much. When I relaxed, he turned it a couple of times to tighten. It pinched.
I whimpered. “It hurts.”
“Let me make it better.” Ford closed his lips over the tip, his tongue licking around the clamp. My breasts were always sensitive, but the sensation tripled and sent waves of electricity through my body.
I clenched my thighs together tight and shuddered hard. It felt as if Ford’s mouth suctioned my clitoris. “Oh my God.”
“That’s right. That’s how I want you.”
Grasping my other breast, he sucked it and adjusted the clamp. He smiled when they were on and tugged a little on the chain. I whimpered.
“I don’t know if I can keep them on,” I said, though I liked the feeling they gave when his mouth stroked my breasts.
“Take some deep breaths with me,” he said, and I did, and he waited until the pain ebbed.
“You look so incredibly sexy.” He rolled my breast in his hand. “I want to take my time, but you’ve taken away my patience.” His breath shallow, he slid his hand down between my legs, stroking his fingers through my slick folds. His thumb teased and rubbed around my aching clit.
“Is this what you want?” he asked, his voice coarse.
It was. The sound I made was unrecognizable to me be
cause the pleasure had me on a high. He knew how to touch me. I ignited and stirred at every sensitivity he uncovered. His attention apt as his fingers kept stroking and teasing my pussy. I didn’t want it to stop. I bit my lip to keep from coming.
He tugged on the metal chain, and a jolt of sensation went right down to my clit. I cried out and grabbed the sheets as I writhed.
“Keep doing that, and I’m going to fuck you first,” he teased, slipping one finger inside me. “It’s agony not fucking you right now. You want me to fuck you, Jasmine?”
My inner walls clenched around his fingers.
“I do. So much,” I said huskily.
He groaned, adding another finger, and pumped them inside me. “Show me how you’ll take me.”
He had me so hot I didn’t even think. I moved my hips to fuck his fingers as he watched me. My breath went ragged, and I moaned loudly. I could feel my body tighten as my orgasm approached. Then he stroked over that sensitive spot that broke my concentration and control. I bucked my hips up and cried out, “Ford!”
“Don’t come yet,” he demanded. Clasping one of my legs to keep me open to him, he then returned to stroking softly on my clit.
My breath came in pants. “I don’t know if I can stop,” I rasped, delirious.
“I want to taste your sweet cunt first.”
Ford knelt between my parted legs, pulling me down closer to the edge, then dragged his warm tongue up my slit.
“Open your legs for me, Jasmine.”
I gaped my thighs wider for him. My legs jittered as pleasure spiked through my core with each stroke of his tongue, making me move out of place.
“You taste so good.” He rubbed my thigh soothingly, then set me back, open, and wide for him. And there again was a flex of his control. He’d have me the way he wanted, and just knowing it sent a surge of heat through me.
He was unhurried as he sinfully licked and swirled his tongue at my opening, teasing flicks on my clit. I moved with his mouth and hand like I was in heat as he sucked on my clit. My fingers gripped the cover beneath me. I burned and climbed right back up just so he would ease his intensity, keeping my body on edge.
“Ford.” I squirmed, but there was no way to recover my senses. “Please.”
“I have you, and I’m not letting you go,” he said. “Stop fighting me.”
Was I fighting? I was holding back a little of myself, but Ford wanted everything.
His fingers curved and stroked that charged spot again, and this time, he didn’t stop. He rubbed faster, his mouth lashing deliciously against my core. The sensation was too intense, too much. My control was gone, and Ford had taken over. My breath came short and fast. I couldn’t hold out any longer. His will and the way he had commanded my body pushed me over. I came, my body shaking hard with the force of my orgasm. I squirmed in his grip as ecstasy flooded me. I could feel my climax on my thighs, and it was more than I ever had. But he wasn’t done.
He reached up and tugged on the chain between the nipple clamps, reawakening them, and I screamed. The intensity channeled down to my clit as he lapped on it.
I bucked up in his hold, shaking as he held on to me until I could only quiver.
“So beautiful, Jasmine.”
Spasms continued to go off in my sex, and Ford’s hands slowly caressed my pussy.
My eyes welled up at the intensity of his possession. I still couldn’t bring myself to stop him. I was at his will.
Ford was back up at my breasts, removing the clamps, and a rush of sensations returned as his mouth closed around one and suctioned. I mewled in pain and pleasure. I was sure I was coming apart, panting hard as I struggled to breathe. Then surprisingly, I found myself needy again, eager, missing his touch.
That was when I looked at him.
He was staring at me, and his gaze instantly took me. It held sensual darkness and my secrets. He knew me now in a way I was only discovering myself.
And he still wanted more.
“Get on your knees,” he commanded.
I eased into a position to meet his demand. Gripping the sheets, I moaned in pleasure as he brought his cock between my thighs, dragging his shaft back and forth against my sensitive flesh, coating himself with my essence.
“You feel so good. I don’t want to stop.” He paused and took an audible breath, then he pushed in one continual thrust until he was sealed deep inside of me.
I gasped as a ripple of pain and pleasure shot through me.
He groaned and slowed his pace, dragging his hot length in and out of my pussy.
“Feel me, Jasmine.”
“Oh, Ford,” I purred. He felt so good.
He sensually swerved his hips. Every angle brought on new pleasures. Every angle brought me closer to the brink of orgasm again.
“But I . . . I can’t climax again,” I panted in awe.
“You’re gripping me tight, Jasmine. You can. Move with me.”
My inner muscles clenched as I met his rhythm, rocking back as he pounded his cock into me. His thighs, covered in sweat, slapped behind me as he thrust in hard and fast. Nothing went as I thought. Nothing about Ford had been as expected.
“Stay with me,” he said, digging his fingers into my hips and grounding his dick into me. His hand reached between my thighs and strummed my clit.
I cried out as pain and pleasure flooded me.
“Jasmine,” Ford growled and held on to me, his cock spasming inside as he lost himself and came, moaning my name. He kissed the back of my damp neck, his heart hammering against my back. And life couldn’t get any better.
Ford climbed off the bed and took out the camera from his side table. “Can I take some photos?”
I lifted the sheet over my head. “Oh, come on. Now?”
“You’re stunning.”
“I’m not. My hair is all over the place. I’m sweaty. I look awful . . .” I combed my hands through my hair.
“Leave it. You’re perfect.”
“Fine.”
I gave in because Ford gave me an experience I’d never had before, and I wanted to see myself like this again. Bliss had taken over and left me happy, ecstatic, content. I’d never known sex could be like that. Never known I could let go completely and feel utterly exhilarated. Sated.
“Come away with me, Jasmine.” Ford changed the bed sheets around me and wouldn’t let me help. He picked up his camera and took more pictures of me. Most I imagine he’d throw away, but I felt too good to care.
“Come away with me, Jasmine,” Ford repeated.
My brows rose. “What? No. Are you serious?”
He hesitated. “If you’d like to come, you can.”
“No. I mean, I want to, but I have some focus groups to run and some overtime initiatives to start. We have a meeting for Margot’s retirement party to do too. After the ID card fiasco, I want to redeem myself with Graham and Quinton. I’ve got some fun ideas, but I’m not sure about them. Quinton seems keen.”
“Quinton hates Margot. He’d agree to whatever form of torture. Graham is fine.”
“I want to do better than fine. Anything I set out to do, I want to be the best at it . . . I don’t want to fail at any job.”
“Is this part of the overachieving pressure you talked about earlier?” he asked.
“Could be, but it’s who I am now. I like me.”
“I like you too,” he whispered and propped himself up on his elbow, facing me. “Margot hates parties. Just send an email inviting people to gather in the lobby at 4:45 p.m. Present the plaque, give a speech, have some food, and you’re done.”
I scrunched up my face. “Really? Oh . . . no.”
His brows lowered. “What did you do?”
“Quinton and I have done a bit of sleuthing and found she was president of the New Wave music club in high school. I had a proposal sent over from an event planner. She had this great idea for an eighties-style party, including a Duran Duran cover band. I’ll need to cancel it.”
He laughed. �
��Please don’t. You’ll be a legend.”
I frowned. “I don’t want to upset Margot. She was right. I should’ve gone to her. I’m going to make a real effort to get to know her.”
He sat up, his face stern. “No, you’re not. I don’t want you near her when I can’t be there to help.”
I smiled at his frown. “I can take care of myself. I’ve dealt with meaner people than Margot. I’ve got thick skin. Hell, I didn’t even cry when Randall and I broke up or when he was vicious.”
I didn’t know why I said that, but it was something that bothered me. I’d been at his side for practically two years—a part of his life every waking moment—and it all just disappeared. What did that say about me?
Ford caressed the sides of my face. “Tell me why.”
I lowered my eyelids. “I felt hurt for sure, but I didn’t cry because . . . I told myself Randall didn’t deserve my tears. He doesn’t deserve me.” My voice was thick. I’d wrapped the anger so tightly around myself that I’d cut off my feelings. Hell, I don’t know if I can cry anymore.
“I cried before and when Cecile left.”
“Why did she go?”
“I can say a lot of reasons, but I’ve realized she didn’t want me.” His pain was palpable.
I wanted to soothe it. He moved on his back and pulled me on top of him and hugged me close.
I wanted to ask more about Cecile and if he talked with her, but I didn’t. I wanted to trust Ford. He hadn’t given me a reason not to, and being with him felt right.
Ford was so open with me. His desire to bring us close so fast breached the walls I had around my heart to protect it. He’d been doing it from the start with his photography, capturing my fears and desires before I found a way to shield them from him. And the more time I spent with him, it could be harder to keep those feelings out. He could break my heart. Even knowing that, I couldn’t stop the feelings. The tears didn’t come, but I could feel them closer than they’d been in a long time.
FORD
Sexy little minx