From That Moment

by Carrie Ann Ryan

  Down, boy.

  “Well,” I said, grinning.

  “Shut up.”

  “I’m just saying. She’s hot.”

  “Yes, and she’s probably a good ten years too young for me.”

  “Maybe five, but not ten.”

  “I don’t know if you’re calling her older or me older.”

  “Neither. And, anyway, it’s kind of nice to watch you blush like that. You’ve never gotten embarrassed in front of me before.”

  “I’m on a date with you. Nobody else is allowed to check me out.”

  “True, but you do look fucking hot in that dress.”

  She blushed again, and I smiled.

  “Thanks, now I feel like I need to cover up.”

  “Don’t. You look great.” Besides, my dick would regret it.

  “I had it in the back of my closet, and I figured I’d try it out. Only now, I feel exposed.”

  “You’re covered. Don’t worry about it. Seriously.”

  “Maybe. I don’t usually dress like this. My typical attire is what you see me in at work.”

  “Same here, although mine’s a little easier, I just added a jacket. I don’t usually wear them every day at work.”

  “True, and you do clean up quite nicely.”

  “Thanks, I’ll take the compliment.”

  “You know you’re hot. I wouldn’t be here if you weren’t.”

  She said that so deadpan that I snorted before I laughed right as the waiter came to our table.

  “Hello, welcome to Oscar’s,” the waiter began, and we listened to the specials, my stomach growling. I was starving, and thankfully this place, even if it was a little fancy, had decent-sized portions.

  “That all sounds so good,” Paris said as she looked down at her menu after the waiter had left with our drink orders.

  “I know. I love this place. And their portions are small enough that I could probably eat everything, yet big enough to be full.”

  “Oh, right, I forgot. I’ve been to a couple of places around here where they try to make it so fancy that you’re pretty much just eating off a big tablespoon. And sometimes, the spoon isn’t even that big.”

  “Oh, that place Fontanos or something? I went there with Allison.” I cringed. “Sorry.”

  “Don’t be sorry. You witnessed me on two of my horrible dates. You’re welcome to mention the fact that you recently dated another woman. It’d be awkward if we purposely didn’t mention her name.”

  “Well, I don’t need to bring her up.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  “Okay…this is going to be very awkward then.” She grinned over my shoulder, and I froze, wondering where in my past life I had gone wrong.

  I turned to see Allison strolling towards us in a red dress cut out in strategic places. I hated to admit it, but she looked amazing.

  Her ex, who was probably no longer her ex, was on her arm. They sauntered over.

  “I see you finally took the plunge,” Allison said, glaring daggers at us.

  “Allison.” I paused. “I didn’t actually catch your name before,” I said, apparently a little angrier than I thought I was.

  “It’s Tony.”

  “You don’t need to talk to them. Seems they found exactly what they were looking for. Good luck to the two of you.” Allison turned to Paris. “You’re going to need it.”

  And then she turned away, dragging Tony with her. I turned to Paris, wincing.

  “Sorry about that.”

  Paris pressed her lips together before bursting out laughing, her shoulders shaking. Others had already been staring at us, and now they were giving us weird looks before pointedly turning away.

  “What is so funny?”

  “Oh, just the fact that you witnessed me on two very horrible dates that were quite embarrassing, and now I got to be part of yours.”

  “I’m not dating Allison. I’m on a date with you. And in a new version of hell where my ex shows up randomly.”

  “Welcome to my horror of dating. I mean, it wouldn’t be me on a date if things didn’t go horribly wrong.”

  I reached across the table and gripped her hand. “Nothing’s gone wrong yet. Don’t discount me right out of the gate.”

  She didn’t move her hand back. Instead, she rubbed her thumb down my forefinger, frowning.

  “I told you, I’m not good at this.”

  “The others didn’t set you up with me. We set each other up.”

  “I guess this doesn’t count as the pact then.”

  “We can make it count if that will appease your pact gods. And, frankly, I don’t want to think about you going on another date while you’re on a date with me. Call me a caveman.”

  “I wouldn’t do that,” she said with a laugh.

  “Plus, the girls already know we’re on a date, so there’s no going back now.”

  “Macon knows, too. And if the girls know, so does Cross. And I’m sure Nate found out from one of the brothers or Arden.”

  “Maybe. It does sound like a very complicated web.”

  “Or perhaps it’s because we have some great friends and family who care about us, who happen to know we’re out together. And now we don’t have to talk about them. We can order a very nice steak, and maybe a lobster, and split it to make our version of surf and turf, and then enjoy our date.”

  “I’m sold. But if you order your steak well-done, it’s over.”

  “How dare you desecrate a cow like that?”

  She laughed again, and when the waiter came back, we placed our order, and I leaned forward, looking at her.

  She was beautiful, and I loved that she never toned it down, never hid her beauty. Only she didn’t always vamp it up, at least at work.

  I understood why she didn’t, considering that Benji and the rest were jerks about it.

  I liked that she had gone all out for our date, with the smoky eye and all the other stuff that women did.

  When the meals came, we split them up, and I groaned at the first bite.

  “You’re pretty much going to have to roll me out of here.”

  “Can we roll each other? Is that possible? Oh my God, I forgot about the warmed butter. I forgot what spice they add to it. It’s perfect.”

  “Then the other butter that they have too for the steak? I think my arteries are clogging just talking about it, but I don’t care. Is it okay if we don’t talk much while we eat?”

  “It’s fine. We already talked enough. Dig in.”

  We laughed, and still talked, but about nothing too important.

  We didn’t need to talk about our pasts, though I didn’t have one worth noting. I was an open book, but I knew Paris had a past. I wasn’t going to pry. At least, not yet. That’s not what first dates were for.

  By the time we finished dessert because, of course, we had to share some tiramisu, I was so full I wasn’t sure I could fit into my car.

  “That was so amazing,” Paris said, rubbing her belly over her dress.

  “Hell yeah, it was. I’m about to have to undo the top button of my pants, though.”

  I laughed when she blushed again and stopped rubbing her stomach.

  “I guess the whole acting sexy or whatever thing on a date probably doesn’t include eating your weight in lobster and steak.”

  “It could. I mean, we already know each other, at least well enough. We’re past some of the weird and awkward firsts. At least the ones that you had on your blind dates.”

  “Nothing can be worse than those blind dates,” Paris said.

  “That is true. I mean, although the waitress did check you out, I wasn’t going to invite her along for a threesome.”

  “Good, because then I’d have to hurt you, and that’s a whole thing I wasn’t in the mood to deal with.”

  I shook my head as we made our way back to her place.

  I pulled into her driveway and turned off the car.

  She looked at me then, her mou
th parted ever so slightly, her eyes full of anticipation, the same emotion I knew she’d see in mine.

  “Do you want to come in for a drink?” she asked, her voice as strong and steady as the Paris that I knew.

  “If I go in for a drink, Paris, I’m not going to take a sip. You know that, right?”

  “Then you’d better get inside.”

  And then she was out of the car, and I was doing my best to get out of my seatbelt to chase after her.

  My pulse raced, and my hands practically shook, but then we were inside, and my hands were on her face, and my mouth was crushed to hers.

  She tasted of the wine from dinner and our dessert—a little bit of coffee, and a whole lot of sweetness.

  I wanted more. I craved it. So, I kept kissing, kept wanting more.

  Our tongues clashed, her hands on my back, mine going over her shoulders and then down her back, cupping her ass over the softness of her dress. I rocked against her, my cock hard behind the zipper of my pants. I ached.

  I pulled away, just enough so I could breathe in her scent.

  “Are you sure, Paris?” I asked, my body shaking.

  “Are you sure that I want you to kiss me and fuck me right now? Yes, I’m sure.”

  I grinned and then bit her lip gently.

  “I like that word out of your mouth. Fuck.”

  “Bite me again, and see what I do.”

  I bit her again, and when she moaned, I licked away the sting. Then she slid her hand between us, cupping my dick. I groaned, rocking into her hold.

  “Can’t wait to see what you’ve been hiding under those slacks of yours this entire time.”

  “You’ve seen me in jeans, too. I think they showcase my ass better.”

  “I might’ve noticed.”

  I licked up her neck and bit her earlobe.

  “Oh?”

  “Exactly. Now, no more talking. Get down to the fucking.”

  “That I can do,” I said, and then I kissed her again, this time sliding my hand over the slit on her dress. I cupped her thigh, and then angled around, sliding up to cup her ass.

  “What are you wearing under this?” I asked, my voice throaty.

  “Why don’t you check and see?”

  I kissed her again, hard and fast, startling us both, and then I dropped to my knees. She gasped when I slid her dress up her thighs and breathed in her scent, licking my lips at the sight of her in a very tiny green thong.

  “Look at you all matching.”

  “The dress didn’t work with a bra, though, so that’s about it,” she said, running her hands through my hair.

  “Well, then,” I said, trying to sound casual.

  I was anything but casual.

  I licked up her leg, nibbling gently on her inner thigh, and she started to shake. I pulled away, looking around.

  “I’m going to get you on the table.”

  Her eyes widened, and then I lifted her up as I stood. She wrapped her legs around my waist.

  She crushed her mouth to mine, and I moaned this time, doing my best not to drop her as I made my way to her dining room table. I set her on the edge, then went back down to my knees.

  “My table’s pretty sturdy, but I don’t want to break it.”

  “Then you better hang on, princess.”

  “I’m not your princess.”

  “No, you’re my Paris, at least for the night. So, let me taste.”

  And then I shoved her panties to the side and licked. She gripped the edge of the table, her legs over my shoulders as she moaned my name. I’d never thought hearing her moan my name would hit me as hard as it did, but I almost came right there in my pants, fully dressed, and she hadn’t even touched my dick yet.

  Jesus Christ.

  I kept going, licking and sucking and teasing her outer lips with my fingers. And when I parted her folds and gently probed her, she moaned, her inner walls clamping around my finger tightly. I gently worked in and out of her, with one finger and then two, then three. I curled my digits, finding that special spot inside as my thumb worked her clit, as I blew air on her. And when she came, her whole body shook, and I lapped at her juices, wanting more, needing more.

  I got to my feet and tugged up her dress. When the sound of fabric tearing hit my ears, I froze.

  She looked at me then, with her eyes wide, full of passion and surprise, and I cursed.

  “I’m so sorry.”

  “I don’t care. I never need to wear it again. Get it off me.”

  “If you’re sure.” I pulled at the dress again, ripping it even more, and then suddenly she was naked on the table except for her heels, her panties only torn fabric on the side of her, the rest of her green dress in tatters around her. I couldn’t help but look at her.

  Her breasts were full, her nipples dark and hard, and she kept touching them, plucking at them as she molded the mounds with her hands. Her hips flared out just enough for my hands to grip, which I knew I would want to use when I took her from behind.

  And while she was splayed out in front of me, one leg wrapped around my hip, the other dangling, I knew I couldn’t wait much longer.

  I reached into my pocket, pulled out a condom, and licked my lips.

  “Are you ready?

  “Past.”

  I swallowed hard and then slowly unbuttoned one fastener at a time until I could slide off my shirt.

  Then I undid the button on my pants and lowered my zipper before pulling my boxer briefs down past my butt. I didn’t bother taking off my shoes or entirely removing my pants.

  My cock sprang free, hard and ready to burst at just the sight of her, the taste of her.

  And when I slid the condom down my length, I swore I saw her glisten even more at the sight.

  I moved forward, bracing myself above her as I slid my cock between her folds, rubbing along her clit. I hovered over her more so I could kiss her.

  Her hands moved down my back, and I knew she would leave marks from her nails. I didn’t care. I kissed her, hard and fast, our tongues tangling as we both fought for breath and control. My hands were on her hips, and then her breasts, and then on her.

  When I pulled back, I swallowed hard and moved to take both of her wrists in one hand. I positioned her arms above her head, my cock still playing between her folds, then narrowed my eyes at her.

  “Hands up here, beautiful.”

  “Are you telling me what to do now?”

  “You want my cock? You listen to me.”

  “And then do I get to tell you everything that you did wrong at the end?”

  “If you can find anything, baby. You’re welcome to try. Let’s see if you can even remember your own name by the end of it.” And then I gripped her hips and thrust into her in one quick, deep movement.

  We both froze, her inner walls clutching around me. I practically came again. However, she was the one who orgasmed. Her whole body shook, but she kept those fucking arms above her head as I’d instructed.

  I was going to die right here, and I’d be one happy man.

  I slowly slid out of her and then pounded into her again. She wrapped her other leg around me, and I thrust into her once more, pistoning hard one beat after another, both of us arching for each other. And then I moved one arm down to wrap around her back to pull her forward.

  “Wrap your arms around me,” I ordered. And she did, holding me close as I fucked her off the edge of the table. Both of us were panting, teeth and nails and lips and tongues. It was all one big moment of truth and ecstasy and…everything.

  And when she came again, her pussy clamping around my cock, I came, too, her name on my lips as I crushed my mouth to hers, needing her taste. Needing everything.

  As I stood there after, partially clothed, my cock still deep inside the woman I knew I was falling for, I knew I was in deep shit.

  And I didn’t fucking care.

  Because this had been the best sex of my life.

  The best date of my life.

  And it
was with the one person I was afraid would walk away.

  Now I needed to figure out how to make sure that never happened.

  Chapter 13

  Paris

  “You’re serious? You did not do track.”

  “I did for a whole semester.” Prior leaned back in his chair, grinning.

  Our dinner plates were long gone, the tartlet between us nearly finished, and I smiled at him, shaking my head.

  Tonight was our fifth date or so, although I didn’t know exactly what we were counting anymore considering we still talked nearly every night, and worked together.

  Apparently, going on a date with someone who was not your blind date but who had been there for the worst of them was life changing. Or rather just…changing.

  “So, only a semester?” I asked, pushing away thoughts that were a little too serious for the time being.

  “I got bored.”

  I put my hand over my mouth because I laughed a little too loudly, and people were starting to stare. I smiled from behind my hands, leaning forward.

  “It’s true. I got bored.” He paused. “And there was this girl.”

  I rolled my eyes and took a sip of my water as I moved back. “Of course, there was a girl. There is always a girl, Prior.”

  “Which girls were you dating in high school?”

  I scrunched up my nose and stuck out my tongue at him. Very mature. “I didn’t date a girl until college like we both already talked about. Although I did realize that I liked boobs in high school, though I didn’t realize what that meant at the time.”

  “I realized I liked boobs a little before that,” Prior said, completely serious, even though his eyes were dancing.

  “Why did you quit track?”

  “Because I got bored for real. I run now because Nate drags me out, but I’d rather do anything but running to work out.”

  I raised a brow at him and gave him a pointed look. He coughed into his hand, and I swore he was blushing.

  “Well, that is my favorite form of workout, but I was talking about sports. You know us Bradys, we constantly want to play something, and that’s how I get my workout in. But running a long-distance or even in a circle? I get bored. Nate was damn good at it, so I let him have it.”

  “And you didn’t want to lose to your baby brother?” I asked, teasing.