by Kira Blakely
“Lexie’s not much for partying either. She never really was.” Laura shrugged. “I don’t know that I am much anymore either, but I like to have fun and a good time. It just feels a little forced lately.”
God. She’d just said exactly how he felt so much of the time. He asked, “Where’s your place?’
Her slender fingers pointed to the right. “Right over there.”
He pulled up in front of the bland building. Laura bit her lips and then asked, “Hey, you want to come in? Lexie’s gone for the night, and really I’m just sort of…”
She stopped there. Her fingers twisted together. Then she added, “I’ve got some good wine. I’d hate to drink it alone.”
He should say no. He knew that. The last thing he needed to do was get into something with Lexie’s best friend. If something went even remotely wrong, he’d been on the fire for sure.
But damn. It was not every day that he met a woman like her either, and he was not ready to walk away from her yet.
“Yeah,” he said. “I’d like that.”
LAURA
Okay, it was stupid.
Definitely stupid.
The last thing she should be doing is offering Ashton anything, and she knew damn well that he knew – just like she did – that wine was the least of what she was offering.
He was hot, but that alone wasn’t enough to risk Lexie’s disapproval. There was just something about him.
Laura felt a sense of kinship with him. He was the yin to her yang or some Zen shit, she mused as they entered her apartment and stepped inside. The lights were off, she had forgotten, again, to leave a few lights burning. She hit the switch on the wall, bringing the living room into view. It was tidy enough. She pointed to a small sofa and said, “Grab a seat, and I’ll get the wine.”
She headed into the kitchen to fetch the wine and some glasses. Back in the living room, she popped the cork expertly with a corkscrew and poured them both a generous amount into the glasses.
She held her glass up and said, “Here’s to surviving a bar fight!”
Ashton laughed and clinked his glass to hers. “I’ll drink to that.”
He sat close to her, his leg pressing against hers. The heat of his body made her want to lean closer so she could get more of it into her skin, and so she could smell the wonderful and faded scent of his aftershave.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, sipping their wine. Anticipation curled through Laura as she watched his face and looked down at his long hand resting on his knee.
She tried for small talk, but all the words she wanted to say died behind her lips and went unspoken. That feeling, that unfurling passion, kept her silent, and the heavy, electric tension riding through her body made thinking difficult if not impossible. She felt a little blush heat her face. Did he think she was dumb? That she had zero ability to speak? She turned her face to his and saw his heavy-lidded gaze scan first her face and then drop to the swells of her breasts. Her nipples betrayed her, thrusting against the fabric of her bra and sweater and sticking out in strong exclamations of longing.
There was no way to continue to pretend that she did not want him. She did, and she knew he wanted her, too. The passion was igniting between them. Holding back was useless, and what was more, she didn’t want to.
Their heads tilted toward each other. Her pulse pounded hard against the delicate skin at the base of her neck, and a slight sweat broke out on her face as anticipation spilled through her. Butterflies erupted in her belly, and his head came closer. His hand lifted, and his fingers caught in her hair, fisting it as he brought their faces closer still, and then his lips slanted down hard on hers, stealing her breath and making her nipples stiffen until they ached.
Their lips met and held. His tongue met hers, and they let the kiss grow stronger and more passionate with each thrust and connection of their tongues. His hands rested on her narrow waist, and her hips arched upward slightly so that his hardened manhood rubbed against her crotch. Tingles shot through her lower belly, fluids trickled into her panties, and her gasp was soft and low, lost in his mouth.
“God, I want you,” he breathed when he finally broke that searing kiss off.
That he was thinking the same thing she was made her heart flutter. Her panties grew sticky with sweet juices. They dripped from her, and she knew that by the time he touched her she would be soaked.
Suddenly shy, she pointed down the hall, “My bedroom is that way.”
“I would like to see it.”
He didn’t say anything else, and she didn’t need him to. She took him by the hand, and they walked down the hall together. In her bedroom, she switched on the light and said in a voice that was slightly higher pitched than usual, “It’s not a big bed.”
It wasn’t. She had a double bed that generally sufficed since, out of respect for Lexie, Laura didn’t bring guys home. Oh, she had in the beginning, but it worried Lexie, and Lexie, in her sweet and sincere way, sometimes lectured Laura about safety and other things, which drove her nuts.
The bed was not just small; the room was also messy. Laura spotted a few items that should be anywhere but where they were: a pair of panties she’d tossed on the floor, a black lace bra hanging off the edge of the bed, and she’d forgotten to toss her dirty clothes from earlier into the laundry hamper.
Groaning inwardly, she added, “It’s not usually this messy. I swear.”
“It’s big enough.”
His words set her on fire. But his touch was even more heated. His fingers tangled into her thick auburn hair and tilted her head back so that she could reach her mouth more easily.
The kiss in the living room had inflamed her. This kiss ignited her. Her legs and knees literally went weak. Her already damp panties became so wet that they were uncomfortable.
Her boots – those boots that looked so good on – were difficult as hell to get off. Laura yanked at them, tugging hard. Ashton lent her hand, getting them off finally amid a flurry of kisses, her apologies, and a few giggles. He stripped the rest of her clothes off her neatly and quickly. It took nearly no time at all before she was bared to his gaze and her ass cheeks clenched a little as he stepped back to survey her.
His voice was slightly hoarse as he said, “Beautiful,” in a low murmur that made her body respond by sending more juices to collect along her pouty lower lips. Her clit pounded and throbbed. She wanted his hands and mouth there on that aching flesh. She wanted him inside her and to feel her heels locked around his waist, banging against the small of his back.
Rich, thick juices gushed from her, and she squirmed. Her hands moved down along his body as his mouth met hers in yet another kiss. As she found the buttons on his shirt and got it open, her mouth went to his nipples. She teased the small points into erect hardness and was rewarded by his gasp and an involuntary thrust of his hips against hers.
Her fingers stroked his rock-hard abs. Her nails skated across his belly button and down to the buttons of his jeans. He kicked his shoes off, and she managed to get his jeans and underwear down all at once. They fumbled around on the bed, struggling to get out of their clothes – he was trying to get out of his jeans, and she was struggling to get her panties off.
Finally, they were both naked. Ashton lay on top of her, skin to skin. His skin was smooth and velvety, but below it his muscles were iron. His fingers caressed every inch of her body, sending her careening towards the edge of ecstasy.
She took his throbbing member into her hand, running her fingers lightly along the shaft and around the head. Her thumb found a slippery drop of fluid on the tip of his cock, and she rubbed it into that delicate skin, lubricating it.
Ashton shattered as her touch aroused him even further. His mouth found her nipples, while his fingers slid down her body. He ran his fingers tenderly through the neatly trimmed curls that covered her mound, teasing her for a moment.
He parted her labia with his thumb and finger, holding them open as he slid lower. He wanted to taste
her. He kissed down her body until his tongue snaked out and touched her, causing her to groan and arch her back to get even closer to him. The sensitive, butterfly-like labia were slippery with her juices, and he licked them, wanting to taste her sweetness.
Laura wriggled and squirmed below his caress. She wanted him so badly. His tongue found her clitoris and circled it then massaged it before lashing across it from one side to the other. Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The sheets grew messy beneath them as she writhed in absolute pleasure.
He began to use his fingers. He slid first one and then two inside her hot, well-oiled tunnel. He moved them into her, sliding them in and out, while his clever tongue continued to drive her crazy.
She wanted to touch him as well. She wanted to please him. She wanted to give him something as exquisite as he was giving her. She put her hands on his shoulders and pulled hard, even though she was so close to an orgasm that she badly wanted. Ashton came up. His mouth came down on hers and imparted her own flavor to her.
His tongue was coated with her salty – sweet aroma and taste. The kiss was long and hungry, and when it ended Laura rolled over on top of him. She moved down his body, her tongue met his nipples and belly while her nails raked lightly at the flesh of his upper thighs.
She took his pulsing rod into her mouth. Her tongue went to the base of his shaft and then upward, making circular motions until she reached his head. She slid back down, taking him fully into her mouth while tightening her cheeks and lips to apply pressure so that she could give him even more pleasure.
Her fingers slid down to the area between his testicles and his anus. She gently caressed him there, and his hips shot up and forward while his fingers dug into her hair. More of his hot organ slid down her throat and she cupped his testicles in one hand, letting her thumb stroke them as she did so.
She felt them tighten and began to move upward on his body. She worked harder, opening her mouth wider and using her tongue to create a duel sensation on his hard cock.
“You need to stop now.” Ashton’s words were a harsh and ragged moan.
She knew how close to the brink he was, and he wasn’t ready to come yet. She wasn’t ready for him to come yet either. She needed him; she needed him more than she could say.
Ashton rolled over on top of her. His long, strong body arched above hers as he positioned himself on his forearms. His cock pressed at the wet and slippery entrance to her body.
He entered her slowly and gently. He was large, and she had to stretch to accommodate him. Her legs spread wide her as she opened herself further. Her fingers went to his back, her nails raking down it as she reached for his flexing buttocks.
He was all the way inside her now. He lay there for a moment, allowing her heated oil to encase him. Neither of them moved, because they knew if they did, they would go right over the brink, and neither of them wanted that just yet.
When he did move, he did so slowly. He withdrew from her all the way. She felt empty, desperate with lust. She could smell her wet sex mingled with his sweat. His hands went to her wrists, and he held them down gently as his hips began to move faster and faster.
Her ass lifted and rose towards him. They moved together in a rhythm that was undeniable. His hips began to pump faster and faster, and her fingers clutched at his ass cheeks. Her nipples were hard points, poking up at the ceiling. Her mouth opened in a cry that was loud with pleasure.
Laura felt the orgasm hit her. It took her along like a wave, lifting her before crashing her back into a shore, only to pick her up and take her back out again. It was not aftershocks; it was multiple orgasms. She was lost, drifting in a haze of satisfaction that was tinged with the absolute need for more.
Ashton came as well. She felt him pulsing and throbbing inside of her. His face buried into her shoulder and his moan was muffled, but she heard it anyway. His weight felt good on top of her body; she wanted to feel it there for the rest of her life. It was amazing the way he made her feel.
He stayed inside her, rocking his hips gently from side to side every now and then as he gradually went limp. The aftershocks that had worked their way through them subsided until they lay tangled together, satisfied and drowsy.
His mouth rained tiny sweet kisses down on her face, throat, and breasts. She stroked his back and massaged his shoulders while he did that, both taking comfort in the small, soothing motions.
He looked amused. He asked, “Do we cuddle now?”
“If you want.” The laughter in his voice made the question – one that would have been awkward under other circumstances – feel funny and cute.
“I don’t mind.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders to illustrate the point, and she snuggled in beside him. A huge yawn cracked her face, and she rested the heel of her hand against her lips before saying, “I have to admit it. This was probably the best time I’ve had in months.”
“Is that because you were out there kicking ass in the parking lot, or because of this?” His hand swept over them.
“I think both.” Her smile was radiant. “You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”
His laughter joined hers, and Laura rested against his body, her skin meeting his. She’d just been satisfied so well, but she would not have minded just a little more.
Before she could act on that thought, the adrenaline rush she had been riding since stepping into the fight wore off and sent her hurtling first into exhaustion and then into sleep.
****
Morning light hit her eyes and the taste of wine filled Laura’s mouth. She cracked an eye open. Ashton lay beside her, obviously waking up, too. His hair was rumpled and mussed, and when he turned his face to hers, she saw a red stripe across his cheek made by a crease in the pillow case.
“Too late to sneak out,” she said groggily, correctly reading his thoughts.
He smiled. “I see. I was actually going to wake you up.”
“Yeah?” She sat up. Ashton had kicked his way out from under the covers at some point, and she had time to appreciate his magnificent body once more. “Let’s make a deal, okay? Don’t lie to me, and I won’t lie to you.”
“Okay. I was going to sneak out. I hate morning afters and when women want me to stay.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I hate guys who expect me to cook breakfast.”
His laughter spilled into the room. “You cook?”
“Nope. But if you want breakfast I could give you a couple of bucks so you can stop by the local drive-thru.”
She snapped her lips shut after she said it. Most guys didn’t appreciate her humor, or her wanting to not be bothered. Ashton just laughed again and slid out of the bed. He bent over to get his pants off the floor, and she felt a small pulse of desire that she fought back.
Ashton shrugged into his pants and turned to face her, his fingers working the buttons. “Thanks, but I can afford breakfast.”
“Glad to hear it.” She watched him slide his shirt over those incredibly tight abs of his.
Ashton paused, one hand reaching for a shoe. His eyes met hers. There was amusement in the depths of his and, she was sure, hers, too. He asked, “Did I ever thank you for saving my ass?”
Laura smirked. “I’d say yes. Several times.”
He grinned at her. “You’re a hell of a woman, Laura.”
“Thanks.” She knew she should say something else, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. This was, by far, the most pleasant morning-after conversation she’d ever had, and she wanted to ask if he wanted to do it again, but his shoes were already on and he was headed for the bedroom door.
He went out of it with a last wink and smile.
Laura heard the front door close and she slumped into the pillows. The room still smelled of them, and of him. She rolled over, letting her face rest on the pillow where his head had lain. It smelled of his cologne, and she sighed.
It just figured she would meet the perfect guy, and he was as imperfect as all hel
l. He was no more interested in a relationship than most guys she met, and he was at least brutally honest about it.
She was not truly interested in a relationship either, but that honesty of his was massively appealing and so was the memory of how well he had made love to her.
She shot the clock a look and got up, heading naked toward the shower. It was a work day, and while the night before had been one for the record books, it was over.
2
ASHTON
DAWSON ASKED, “So what are you going to do now?”
Ashton took a fast gulp of the strong drink that he held. The party was in full swing and was far more sedate than he would have liked. Dawson had a reputation to protect, so there was a decided lack of craziness happening. In truth, the only reason Ashton had even come was because he was hoping Lexie might have talked Laura into showing up too.
So far, she hadn’t shown up, and Ashton was a little frustrated with himself. In the week since he’d seen Laura and spent the night with her, he had thought about her a lot more than he would have liked to.
Realizing he hadn’t answered Dawson, Ashton said, “I have no idea. I guess I should have some idea, but I can’t seem to think past it all. I mean, it’s a lot of money, and while I like expensive stuff, I don’t like it enough to end up broke again. So, I was thinking about making some investments or something.”
“Good idea. I’ve got a guy that can help you with that.”
Nothing sounded less appealing than sitting down with some guy to discuss his money. Ashton summoned up a smile. “Thanks. I’ll get with you on that.”
Dawson chuckled. “It seems weird that the two of us have so much money, doesn’t it? I mean, I keep remembering that one house we stayed in. You remember, the one where the walls were so thin and all we got to eat was bologna sandwiches and Hamburger Helper.”
Ashton grimaced. “Don’t remind me. That was not even the worst one either.”
Dawson shook his head. “No, it wasn’t.”
