by Beth Michele
Compassion fills the depths of his eyes. “Thank you for sharing that, and apology accepted, though unnecessary.” He reaches for my hand and I willingly twine our fingers together. Then he squeezes. “Life’s baggage sucks, doesn’t it?” he says, and I laugh a little. “It seems no matter how old we get, there are certain things we can’t shake.”
And I get the sense he’s no longer talking about me.
He continues on in a faraway tone. “I’m the youngest of nine,” he starts, “and when I was eight, my mother took five of us to the grocery store. I wandered off to the candy aisle as I would often do, and she left…forgot I was even with them.” He stares down at the carpet. “To this day, I’ll never forget it or shake how irrelevant I felt,” he confesses, eyes finding mine. “I’m sorry you felt that way, but truth be told, there was no way in hell I wasn’t going to see you again.” His words warm me, as does his proximity when he inches closer. “It was a long goddamn flight.” He caresses my cheek with his other hand. “But it was worth it. And right now, if you don’t mind,” he whispers, “I’d like to kiss you.”
“So polite, Mr. Harlow,” I toss back, and his eyes twinkle. “And so not necessary.”
“No?”
This close, the light scent of coffee flavors his breath, and I want to howl with an unfamiliar joy. He traveled all this way, for me. “A kiss is the least of what I’m prepared to offer you—unless you’re too tired, that is.”
His smile is a bit wild, a bit sweet. “I think I’m getting my second wind.” Then he glances around the room, gaze landing on the sweets. “How were the cookies?”
“Delicious. I saved you one.”
“Only one?” he teases.
I ignore his question and ask one of my own. “What candy were you looking for?”
“What?”
“You said you’d often wander to the candy aisle.” I smile softly, my heart squeezing a little at the thought of him being left behind. “Candy of choice?”
“Almond Joy.”
I tsk. “Oh, no, no, no. The almond kills it. Mounds all the way.”
His thumb rubs at my lower lip and I want to suck it into my mouth. “You’re delusional.”
“And I think you should stop talking and make good on that kiss.”
And he does.
Jesus, does he ever.
Lips. Teeth. Tongue. I use everything in my arsenal to ravage her mouth, to make this kiss everything I know she wants it to be, everything I’ve been waiting for. She’s soft, pliable, willing, and she tastes so damn sweet. I could feast on these lips for hours, and after being in meetings all day and on a plane for an eternity, I need this.
Her lips—they feel like my salvation.
I free my hand from hers and bring it up to her face, caressing her smooth cheek as I lick inside her mouth. My fingers drift past her temple and thread through her silken hair, positioning her at the perfect angle to deepen the kiss. She sags against me, the pillow-soft material of her robe grazing my wrist, making me keenly aware of how little stands between me and seeing her fully naked for the first time.
My dick stirs in my pants. I’ve been dreaming about her to the point of losing sleep, jacking off in the middle of the night to try to get relief. Needless to say, it didn’t come close to this—to her in the flesh, the soft moans leaving her mouth, the way her body seeks out mine.
I can’t wait any longer.
I back out of the kiss, keeping my lips close to hers. “Take off your robe. I need to see you.”
Her smile tickles my mouth. “You didn’t say please.”
“I didn’t get to where I am by saying please, Miss Conrad.” I pause, my will cracking in half. “However, in your case, I’ll make an exception.” My tongue flicks out to tease her lips. “Please.”
She moves back and my hands fall to my sides. I already miss the warmth of her, but this view, staring at her long, messy waves and pink, swollen lips…Jesus, she’s sexy, right down to her red painted toes.
An eternity passes before her fingers finally wrap around the sash. My pulse rockets and I swallow down a groan as anticipation gets the better of me, but just as she’s about to tug the belt free, she pauses.
“No.”
“No?” Not a word I’m accustomed to hearing often. I cock my head to indicate my confusion.
She gestures my way with a flip of her hand. “You have too many clothes on and we need to level the playing field.”
The controlling part of me wants to stalk over, peel the robe from her body, and show her who’s really in charge here. Instead, her feisty nature has me biting back a grin. “Is that so?”
Her eyes are laser-focused on my body, the need radiating off of her. “Yes.”
“Okay.”
“Any and all Magic Mike moves are appreciated,” she adds with a coy smile, words breathy as I ease out of my jacket.
Though I don’t watch movies, thankfully I understand the reference. “Magic Mike? No.” I make quick work of the buttons on my dress shirt and grin. “But I’ve got plenty of moves.”
“Good God,” she says once my shirt hits the floor. I chuckle, the expression on her face indicating that the words slipped out unintentionally. “I guess you work out a little.”
“When I have time.” I nod toward the robe, wondering how long my patience will hold out. “Your turn.”
“Pants first.”
I reach for her arm but she pulls away from my grasp. “The robe, woman.”
“Uh-uh.” She shakes her head, continuing to assess me. “Pants off. I need to see what I’m working with.”
I throw my head back and laugh. “How can I seduce you when you’re making me laugh?”
“You’ve already done that,” she says, taking one step forward. “I’m fully seduced.” Her eyes rake over my body then return to mine with a challenge. “Now pants off.”
My gaze remains steady on hers as I acquiesce to her demand, removing the first obstacle—my shoes. And when my pants finally drop to the carpet, her eyes drop right along with them. She doesn’t say anything, but her hunger for me speaks volumes: the subtle manner in which she shifts her body, the way her teeth dig into her lower lip, the deep red flush of her face and neck.
“Come here, Lily.” My voice is more commanding than I intend, but it does the trick. This time, there’s no hesitation, and when she’s standing in front of me, I cup a hand behind her neck. Her skin is soft and warm under my fingertips. “Do you have any idea how much I want you? How much I want to wrap all that luscious hair around my fingers and kiss you until you can’t stand up, until you open your legs and give me another taste?” One press of my lips to hers. “I haven’t been able to get you out of my thoughts.”
“That makes two of us,” she says, and I fucking love her honesty. No games, no playing hard to get. Just real talk between two people who can’t stop thinking about one another.
She stares into my eyes with heat blazing, but more than that, with affection. There are lots of things I see when women look at me, but affection isn’t one of them. My heart pounds louder because of it, and I bend to place a soft kiss against her forehead.
“Jace…”
My lips journey across her skin, hands lifting her hair to drop open-mouth kisses against her neck. I want to lick every inch of her, let my tongue map her body. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to rush. I didn’t fly all this way for it to be over in a blink.
I set my thoughts aside, allowing her sweet flowery scent to overwhelm me, so much so that I pause to inhale, to appreciate. “You smell divine.”
She moans her appreciation as my mouth claims her skin. I’m devouring her neck when I feel her hand brush my chest and realize she’s untying her robe. As soon as I have an opening, I take it, pushing it from her shoulders until it pools in a soft heap on the carpet. My kisses become harder, urgent. Her skin under my lips is warm and giving as she arches toward me, wanting more. When I skim her collarbone, my hands following the path my
mouth is taking, she whimpers.
“Touch me, Jace, please.”
She doesn’t need to beg, because I’m like a thirsty man in the desert, drinking from her skin as if it’s my only chance to have her. I’m not going to waste a minute of it. I bend, taking one tight nipple into my mouth, using my tongue to tease the soft pink bud. Her response is immediate, head falling back, hands weaving into my hair. She shivers, holding me there as I suck and lick, drawing her nipple into my mouth over and over until she’s panting and can hardly stand.
“God, yes, more.”
I move to her other nipple, using teeth and tongue to pleasure her. She’s putty in my hands, angling her body to try to get closer. Jesus. I’m so goddamn hard for her, the swollen head breaching the waistband of my boxers.
“I want your cock,” she whimpers, and my lips curve against her skin.
“And so you shall have it.”
“Now, Jace. I want it now.”
I right myself and grip her chin, forcing her to look into my eyes. “Do you know what I want?” I ask, and she shakes her head, dazed and delirious from my tongue. “I want you to get on that bed and spread your legs for me. I want to look at you for as long as it takes to get my fill. I want to make sure every part of your body feels my desire for you, and by the time I get to your pussy, I want you so wet that I can slide right in, bury myself deep inside you.”
“You’re tormenting me,” she whines, but it’s not annoying. It’s sexy as hell.
My eyes drift down to my boxers. “Does it look like you’re the only one being tormented?”
Her mouth twitches. “No.”
Between that alluring smile and her subtle defiance, something inside me snaps. I swoop her up, naked and very surprised, and gently toss her onto the bed. I don’t know who this version of myself is, but he’s not half bad. In fact, I kind of like the way he doesn’t overthink everything and analyze it down to the letter, the way he doesn’t anticipate every move, every reaction, every possibility, as if life is a game of chess. It feels good for a change. She feels good.
When I depart my thoughts, Lily is sprawled out deliciously on the mattress, hair a silky curtain across the pillows, body a beautiful invitation I can’t wait to say yes to. With her gaze holding mine, I slide my boxers down and kick them to the side. She stares wide-eyed at my throbbing erection and her tongue flicks out to drag across her lower lip, on purpose I think, maybe as payback for making her suffer. Currently, I’m the one who’s suffering, envisioning that lush mouth sucking me off until I come down her throat then fucking her until I can’t remember my own name.
I drop one knee then the other onto the bed, all the while letting my eyes roam her curves. I love all the glorious dips and valleys. She’s a goddess, a beautiful temptation I’m unable to resist.
She shifts on the bed, revealing a pale pink scar above her right hip. I make a mental note to ask about it later; I’d like to know now but don’t want to ruin the moment. Then I’m hit with a sobering thought and realize nothing could ruin this moment.
My voice is soft. “How did you get that scar?”
Her hand travels to the spot, finger skimming the length of the jagged memory. “Fourth grade. I was riding bikes with my best friend. We were having a race when my neighbor’s puppy ran onto the sidewalk and I swerved and fell onto the pavement.”
“Ouch.”
“Yeah, it hurt like crazy. I think I cried for an hour.” A self-deprecating laugh. “It wasn’t unusual for me because I was a bit of a daredevil. Band-Aids and I had an intimate relationship.”
I run my palm along her calf and she shivers. “From what I can tell, you still are.”
Her heated stare finds its way to my arousal and an amber brow lifts. “If you play your cards right, you’ll find out for sure.”
“I never play them any other way, sweetheart.” To prove my point, I take my time, starting with the soles of her feet. I’ve barely gotten my hands on her when she stops me, pulling her foot from my grasp. My eyes search hers. “What’s wrong?”
“I don’t like feet,” she readily admits.
“Why not?”
“It’s not my thing.” A casual shrug. “I kind of think they’re gross.”
“Childhood baggage?” I tease, and she laughs.
“Nope. I’m just not a fan.”
I lay a hand on her ankle. “So I assume sucking my toes is out of the question.”
“Correct.” Her gaze falls to my swollen and very painful erection, letting me know sucking something else is definitely not out of the question. My dick gives a little jolt at the thought.
“A daredevil artist who doesn’t like feet and has an affinity for cookies.” I nod my approval. “I can work with that.”
And I do.
In a slow exploration, I trail a hand along her smooth skin. She is warm and yielding under my touch, and the farther up I get, the more she squirms on the mattress. I’m driving her crazy, but that’s my end goal. I want her so wet, so worked up that she’s desperate for me.
Along the way, my thumb grazes the underside of her knee and she makes a sound, a mixture of a laugh and a moan. “Jace, that tickles.”
“Does it?”
I do it again, and again, just to hear the melodic sound.
“No more,” she squeals, and I decide to show her mercy. Though I’m not sure mercy is the right word as I crawl up her body and drag my rigid flesh along her belly. A trail of pre-come leaks from my tip onto all that perfect skin, and damn it, this woman is going to unhinge me.
As soon as I’m within reach, her hands are on me, kneading muscles stretched tight with desire. Her fingernails scrape down my back, making me want to rut against her like a deranged teenager. She grabs my ass and pulls me desperately close to all that sweetness, and now I’m beyond ready to be inside her.
“I want you, I want you, I want you,” I murmur in her ear, peppering kisses to her nape, her collarbone, her breasts. My tongue swirls around the taut peak of her nipple until she cries out. “I want inside those pretty pink folds and I want to fuck you until you’re begging for more.”
“I’m begging now,” she says on a breathy gasp. “Fuck me, Jace.”
I lift my head from her breast. “I want to make sure you’re ready first.”
“I’m ready, I’m ready,” she mumbles. “Please, Jace, I need you.”
Those last three words are my undoing. I lower my hand between our bodies and drag a finger through her folds. She’s more than ready. She’s soft and slick, and fuck, I really want to taste her right now. But if my cock doesn’t get inside her soon, it’s going to rebel. Before I change my mind, I give her a quick kiss on the lips then dive to the carpet and dig for the condoms I shoved in my wallet before I boarded the flight.
“Two, huh? Pretty sure of yourself,” she taunts as I toss one on the side table, rolling the other onto my erection.
“I wasn’t being presumptuous, just hopeful.”
Her expression softens, and I get the strange sense she wants to reply in kind, but instead, she waggles her finger and spreads her legs in invitation. “Come get me, Jace Harlow.”
I climb onto the bed and slide up her body, dipping my head to take her lips in a smoldering kiss. I love her lips, the way they fold around mine, the way she teases me. We just seem to fit, and now I’m about to see if we fit another way. With my arm propped up beside her, I position myself at her entrance, rubbing my tip there once, twice, three times before slowly pushing inside. Holy fuck, I’m not even moving yet and she feels incredible. Her hands are on my shoulders as if she’s bracing herself, as if she knows I’m a man on the edge of his sanity, about to lose that last bit of control.
“Lily?”
With that one word, I’m asking permission. I’m asking if she’s okay.
“Go ahead,” she whispers against my lips. “I can take it,” and then, “I want it.”
And I want to please her, because while I know I don’t have much to
offer, I can at least give her this.
With that, I thrust inside, slipping in with little effort. A sharp hiss leaves my chest and I allow myself a minute, because Jesus, the feel of her is amazing. It’s snug, tight, my dick completely engulfed by the walls of her sex. I’m not small by any means, but she takes it all with no hesitation. I press my lips to the corner of her mouth. “Hold on, sweetheart.”
And then I’m like a man possessed, sliding all the way in then pulling back, slamming into her again and again. Sweat beads on my forehead, muscles straining as I fuck her with everything I have. Our breathing is loud and sloppy, but her face is pure ecstasy, flushed and perfect. Her mouth falls open, giving way to sexy moans that push me forward.
“Harder,” she yells out, and I anchor my arm on the bed while grabbing her sumptuous ass in my hand and lifting her, driving deep. Sharp nails dig into my shoulder blades, hard enough to cause a bite of pain. Her muscles tighten, the walls of her cunt squeezing my length. I want her to come first, to get what she needs from me, so I bend to take a plump nipple into my mouth, tugging on the sensitive bud with my teeth. She lets go then, whimpering, clawing at me to get closer. I can feel the tremble of her body, the pulsing of her core all around me.
“Yes, sweetheart. Give it to me.”
Her orgasm seems to go on forever as she drags the pleasure from my body, and once the quivering subsides, she wraps her legs around my waist. “Come inside me, Jace.” With her open to me like this, I stroke deeper inside her and she gasps. “Yes…” And even though her body is spent, she somehow manages to arch up, meeting my thrusts. Her ankles clench around my hips and pull me in as I let go, filling her completely. It feels so goddamn good. Nothing has ever felt better.
“Jesus.”
Her legs fall to the bed but I’m unable to move. Ragged breaths pierce my chest and I drop my head to her shoulder. I’m dripping with perspiration and exhausted in a way I haven’t been in a very long time, and then she does something that amazes me. She rubs soothing circles around my back, a simple gesture, but a selfless one seeing as I just went forty different varieties of beast on her.
