by Lori Toland
“You’re going to do the dishes?”
“We take turns fighting over who gets to do them. It’s the easiest part of fixing dinner. What you did, making a delicious meal, that’s the hard part.”
“Oh, well then have at it,” she said, grinning. “You’re making my night. I hate doing the dishes.”
“You hate doing the dishes and you have a dishwasher?” He winked at her as he let the water out. “You’d really hate doing dishes at the station then, princess.”
“Hey.” She grabbed him and tickled him, knowing the perfect spot to really dig in and make him howl. “I’m not a princess.”
He whooped and grabbed her wrists, surrounding both of them with one big, strong hand. He winked at her before bowing his head and claiming her lips. When she stopped resisting, he let go of her wrists and moved his hands to cup her bottom.
She shrieked when the leftover water from the dishes soaked through her pants. “Andre, oh my God, what did you do?” She wrestled out of his embrace and tried to look at her backside, which proved to be futile.
Andre nodded. “I like how that looks. It’s like you’re wearing my stamp of approval.”
“Your ‘stamp of approval?’” She narrowed her eyes. “I was unaware I needed that.”
“Yeah. I do approve of your really sexy ass and gorgeous body.”
Even though his compliments were completely non sequitur, she couldn’t really stay too mad at him. “Is that all you think about? Sex?”
“Because I tell you I like your body and I think you’re hot? No. I’m just an average guy and I love the idea of showing the world you’re mine.”
She rolled her eyes at his caveman logic. “I’ll have to change my pants.”
“No need to.” He smirked. “We can head to bed now. You sleep naked, right?”
“Uh, no. Usually I wear a shirt.”
He frowned. “You weren’t wearing a shirt the other day when your roommate called 911. You were wearing something else beneath that robe.”
“No…” She flushed. “I bought a little… lace and silk dress and it’s really comfortable to sleep in.”
“Show me?”
Her pussy flooded at his tense growl. She took his hand and led him to her bed, where she pushed him down. “Stay right here and be a good boy.”
“Okay,” he agreed but then he started unbuttoning his flannel shirt.
“What are you doing?” It was impossible to stop watching his fingers as they deftly undid the little buttons. He rolled his shoulders one at a time as he took off his shirt.
“Getting comfortable, but don’t let it stop you. I want to see that slip of yours.”
She obeyed, going to her drawer of nightgowns. She peeked back, watching as he untied his black work boots and kicked them off. He cocked an eyebrow and smirked. “Did you find it?”
She had little interest in finding the scrap of lace, especially when his hands reached for his pants zipper. The rasp sent another wave of blood rushing straight for her clit, which throbbed nearly painfully from anticipation.
He stilled at the button. “Show me yours and I’ll show you mine.”
She swallowed hard and tucked her hair behind her ear. “What makes you think I’m going to play your little game?”
His slight smirk ticked her off but his voice dropped deeper as he spoke and desire ripped through her. “You want to find out what happens when you show me how good you look in your slip.”
She had tried to hold back the strangled noise but when he outlined his hard cock tenting his jeans, it was a lost cause and her moan came out anyway.
His hooded blue eyes traveled along her body and he licked his lips. “I don’t know if I’ll be able to control myself when I see you wearing it.”
The thought of him taking her roughly, of him driven to the edge of his tightly held control, made her pussy cream. After that, it took only a second to find the scrap of indecent lace and when she stripped down to the tiny black bikini, he paid up. The button of his jeans popped loose and he wriggled out of his jeans.
The sight of his cock straining against his boxers sent a shiver of anticipation running through her. The hunger in his eyes was all for her and her mind couldn’t comprehend all of this was real all over again. She wanted to touch him, explore his hard body and taste him. They had to make up for all the time they’d lost.
She slid the gown over her head and tugged it into place. The stretchy lace hugged her breasts and scraped deliciously across her hard nipples.
The animal-like growl erupted from him and he was across her bedroom quicker than she could blink. He pulled her into his arms and held her against his hard body. Everything about him was firm, especially his cock, which pressed against her curved belly.
“I told you I might not be able to hold back. I want to bend you over the bed and rip those panties off your hot little pussy.”
She rubbed her mound against his thigh. “Andre, oh God, do it. I can’t wait another second. I need to feel you inside me.”
His arms tightened around her chest. “This was all I thought about when I was at the station, your sweet body all hot and ready beneath me, waiting for my cock. Is that what you want, baby?”
She couldn’t even speak; all she could do was let out a long moan. Her whole body pulsated with need and her nipples poked through the lace. She hadn’t felt this aware when she wore it to bed a few nights ago. Her desire now was all Andre’s doing.
He reached between their bodies and slid his fingers inside her soaked panties. “Look at how ready you are for me, baby. All of this for me. I want to eat this hot pussy tonight but if I do that right now, I’m going to come from the taste of you alone.”
Her legs trembled. If he hadn’t been holding her up, she would have collapsed to the floor. “Please, Andre, just take me however you want to.”
His cock jumped at her words. “That’s sexy, lover, begging for my hot cock. Tell me how much you need my cock.”
Face flaming, she looked away as she whispered, “I have to have your cock inside me. Fuck me raw like you did the first time. Please, I can’t take it anymore. I need you.”
With one quick move, he wove his hand into her hair. He lowered his head and claimed her mouth. His tongue teased her lips, and she opened to allow him access but she sought him out.
“Too many barriers.” Her husky voice sounded so different, wanton and naughty. “I swear if you don’t take off those shorts, I’m going to rip them off your body.”
He responded by pushing her onto the bed. “Get on your hands and knees.”
She would do anything he asked. She followed his command, with her ass facing him. After a few seconds, she glanced over her shoulder.
He stood behind her, naked in all his glory. She had seen him naked before but he looked even better today. The broad tip of his cock glistened from his precum but soon his whole shaft would be coated in her juices, and that gave her primal pleasure to know she’d claimed him too.
Kneeling behind her on the bed, he trailed a finger along the edge of her panties. “Do you know how wet your panties are? It’s not only them either. Your thighs are coated in your juices. You must want me really bad.” With the last word, he slid his finger inside her pussy.
She hunched her hips back on his finger but he drew it out, chuckling. “Yeah, you want me. You need me almost as bad as I want you. All I can think about is getting inside this wet, tight heat.”
Ready to give him a piece of her mind for teasing her, she opened her mouth but in one smooth move, he pushed her thong aside and filled her to the hilt. She gasped, digging her fingers into the bedsheets.
After he didn’t pull out for what seemed like an hour, she glanced back at him. His eyes screwed shut and his expression tense, she gasped. “Andre.”
“Don’t move.”
She was a patient girl, but not too patient. Needing him to move and ease the ache inside her, she rocked back against him. His grunt of surprise when
she tightened around his shaft gave her a thrill of satisfaction but not nearly enough.
He pulled back, then he was inside her again and she shuddered. His hard shaft filled her all the way, until she was nearly bursting. She let out a keening cry as she dug her nails into the bed sheets. “Andre—”
“Touch your clit,” he growled as he filled her again. “I want to feel you come around me.”
His tone brooked no argument and she reached down between her legs. Her fluids were all over her mound and when she slid her fingers between her pussy lips, a zing of electricity shot through her body.
Their cries and moans mixed together and she didn’t know where his started and hers ended. The beautiful tangle of sounds and bodies collapsed into one as the sensation exploded inside her, fanning out to every inch of her.
Still, he kept going as she rode the waves of her orgasm, his cock sliding in and out of her pussy. He took her higher with every thrust until his movements went uneven and he cried out. “Oh God, Mel. I’m coming,” he cried as his fingers tightened on her hips.
Even as he stilled and they collapsed together in a tangled heap of arms and legs, she felt like he was driving inside of her, unable to control his lust for her. She had taken him there. The knowledge was heady and she loved it.
Chapter Six
Andre swirled his fork in the carton of lo mein. “So how was work today?” They hadn’t talked much since shutting her apartment door behind them, other than the necessities in order to get their clothes off.
She sat cross-legged at the bottom of the bed, giving him a perfect view of her naughty bits but he wasn’t about to apprise her of that. “Tiring but good. Have you finished all your Christmas shopping?”
In the past two weeks since they first got together, he had found time between his shifts at the station and their marathon lovemaking sessions to grab a few gifts, including one he thought she might like. “All done and mailed. Thank God for gift cards.” He stuck his fork in the carton. “What about you?”
“All wrapped and ready to go. You’re coming to Christmas at my parents’ house, right?”
He bit back a grimace. Since his parents had moved to Florida after raising him and his four siblings, Andre had a standing invitation to the Brentley’s family holiday parties. He had been over there most of time when growing up, so not much had changed.
But dating Mel had transformed his life irrevocably. She was the best thing that had happened to him and their whirlwind courtship left him dizzy. He had enjoyed every second of the past two weeks but they had to face her brother freaking out over them dating.
He realized he’d hesitated too long when she cocked her head at him. “What’s wrong?” she asked.
“Maybe we shouldn’t mention anything about us.”
She frowned. “Why?”
He sighed. “We’re so new to dating, to being with each other… I would hate to get their hopes up that we’re seeing other, especially your mom.”
She rolled her eyes. “No one is going to get their hopes up about us.”
He winced. “It’s not only that. Brian is going to kill me for touching you.”
“No, he won’t.” She frowned and set down her Chinese food carton. “I’m an adult and I can do anything what I want. Brian doesn’t dictate who I can see.”
“Mel, baby. You don’t understand. He wants to protect you and I want to do the same for you and your family. If we decide to move on, I don’t want there to be any hard feelings.”
“And there wouldn’t be,” she said passionately. “When we started dating, I didn’t want anything to change your friendship with Brian. I would hate myself if I came between you two.”
“You don’t get it. You’re his little sister. Think of how you would feel if someone hurt Brian and magnify that times ten. It’s his job to shelter you.”
She scowled. “I can take care of myself.”
“This is different. Your dad and brother, their duty to you in life is to protect you. Like with my sister, I would beat the hell out of any guy who hurt her.”
“If Brian touches one hair on your head, I’ll kick his ass.” She pressed her lips together.
He chuckled. “I’m sure he’s worried. He’s eight inches taller and outweighs you by about a hundred pounds.”
“He should be. I don’t fight fair and he can’t strike back because I’m a girl.” Her evil grin made Andre shudder. “And a hundred pounds? I appreciate you think I’m that skinny but it’s more like fifty.”
He grunted. “All the extra weight must be in your boobs.”
Huffing, she aimed her fork at him. “That may have seemed like a compliment to you but it makes you sound like a macho pig.”
“So sue me,” he said as he reached for her carton. He put them together and then walked it out to the trash can. After throwing it all away, he walked back to her bedroom, hoping she could just let it all go. He had a thirty-six hour shift at the station tomorrow and he wouldn’t see her until Christmas day. He didn’t want to spend their time arguing, he wanted to soak up all the time her could with her.
“So we’ll tell everyone on Christmas we’re seeing each other?”
He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, we’re not telling anyone anything. We’ve been on two dates, more if you count all the times we’ve said screw going out and stayed in bed.”
“I’m not lying to my family.”
“I’m not asking you to. I’m just saying we shouldn’t bring it up.”
“So I have to basically keep my hands to myself and not say anything about us.”
“That’s not what I’m saying. All you have to do is act like we always did. Then you can offer to drive me home and we’ll come back and exchange gifts here.”
“And you can keep me your dirty little secret.”
“I don’t think about you that way.” Fury raced through him. How could she even say he viewed that way?
She put her hands on her hips. “Then stop treating me like that’s all I am to you.”
He grabbed his pants and put them on. “Look, we both need to cool down now and I need sleep before work tomorrow. I’m going to my place and we’ll talk after Christmas dinner, okay?”
“Fine.” She got under the covers and faced away from him.
Feeling like a total jerk, he couldn’t leave her like this. Reaching out, he ran his hand down her back. “Melanie—”
She rolled over and glared at him. “I said ‘fine’ so just go home, Andre.”
He turned and left, his gut burning all the way to his car. They had really screwed up this evening, his last chance to see her before Christmas. Maybe she was right, but she wouldn’t even discuss keeping their relationship under wraps.
Staying quiet to her family was about protecting her, couldn’t she see that? He gritted his teeth as he left her complex and drove home. He wasn’t even sure he had a toothbrush there. Most of his stuff was either at Mel’s or the station.
She was here to stay and admitting it wasn’t as scary as he thought it would be. If only he hadn’t picked a fight tonight of all nights. Wasn’t there supposed to be peace on earth and all that?
Hopefully on Christmas she would talk to him or he might find himself out on his ass, banned from the Brentley household for good. He needed to make this right, for too many reasons, none the least, for his the good of his heart.
*
Melanie let out a huge sigh and took a sip of wine. Andre still wasn’t here and her mother wouldn’t wait much longer to serve dinner. Great, she had driven a man off who didn’t have any other family in town to share Christmas with. As far as she knew, all of his family had moved away. Now she had ruined Christmas for him. Great. Wasn’t life grand?
“Smile,” Ronnie said, nudging her with an elbow to the ribs. “Or they’ll think something’s up.”
“Well, we wouldn’t want that, would we?” She downed the rest of her wine, coughing as the fumes burned her nose.
After her fight with Andre, she had cried on Ronnie’s shoulder as she wallowed in the weird non-breakup fight angst. She didn’t even know where they stood. Were they still dating? Did he consider them fuck-buddies?
She was in way too deep. Her resolve to stay uninvolved was shattered. What if Andre only wanted a good time from her? She tried to swallow around the knot in her throat. She thought he had fallen for her but maybe she was wrong.
Her mother, Candace, walked in the kitchen. “The turkey’s done and I thought Brian told me Andre would be here at six. Did Brian mention Andre was running late?”
Mel frowned. Andre had told her his shift on Christmas ended at six so unless he had an airplane, he couldn’t even get to her parents house until six-thirty at the earliest, which was a few minutes from right now. But she shrugged, not wanting to let on she knew more than Brian.
It drove her crazy, having to watch every last word she spoke about Andre. Would she give away her feelings? Did it show on her face how much she cared for him?
Brian walked in the kitchen. “Let’s just sit down and Andre can join us when he gets here. You never know with his schedule. He might be a few hours if he’s out on a call.”
“Oh, that’s right,” her mother said as she shoved a dish at Brian. “Ben. It’s time to cut the turkey.”
Ronnie helped too as they each carried a dish out to the table perfectly set for six. After a couple trips, they managed to get all the food out on the table.
Her dad carried out the platter of sliced turkey and her mother oohed and aahed over it. Normally, Mel would too but her mood was so dark, she couldn’t see daylight.
“Mel, sweetheart, are you okay?” Her dad put his arm around her shoulders.
She managed to drag a smile out of her nasty mood. “I’m okay, Daddy.”
“Boy troubles?”
She pursed her lips. “Unfortunately, yeah.”
“Well, if he doesn’t know how good he has it with you, he’s not worth it.”
He kissed her forehead as her brother walked in the room with the bottle of wine. “What’s wrong, Sis?”
“She’s having boy troubles,” her dad said.
