by L. B. Reyes
The elevator opened, and he didn’t even take his lips off me. Instead, Derek lifted me up, and before I knew it, we were stumbling into his apartment. I barely heard the door close behind us, especially with his lips on my neck and his hands on my ass. I whispered his name, feeling his heart drumming against his chest.
I felt the zipper of my dress sliding down once again, and this time, there was no one there to witness it. No one to stop us, no one to prevent this from happening.
I let the dress fall, leaving me once again only in my underwear, and he walked backward, taking a seat on the sofa. He did what he didn’t have much of a chance of doing at the lake; his gaze traveled down my body, from my face to my bra-covered breasts, and then lower, to where the most intimate part of me still hid from him. He was fucking me with those eyes of his, full of lust and longing.
“Take it off,” he commanded, his gaze back on my breasts.
Like a nervous girl, I reached back, unclasping my bra and letting it slide down my arms and to the floor. A low sound left his throat, making me shiver. I was terrified, yet I felt so wanted, so needed. Derek always had a way of looking at me which spoke louder than words ever could. I felt like the most beautiful woman in the world when I was with him, like I could conquer anything and everything because he saw me as precious.
“Come here,” he commanded. I straddled him, placing my legs on each side of his body. His hands traveled up my waist, to my breasts, and to my nipples, rolling them between his fingers. A shaky breath left my lips, and he smiled, licking his. “You’re beautiful,” he whispered before he leaned in and his tongue covered one of the pointed peaks.
Through hooded lids I saw him take it into his mouth while he teased the other with his hand. I ran my fingers through his hair, holding him to my body, needing as much contact with him as possible.
An explosion of pleasure made its way through my body, settling deep in my core. I moaned, finally closing my eyes and surrendering to what he made me feel, moving my hips on top of him. Derek groaned, his teeth grazing my nipple as one of his hands lowered, bypassing my belly button and slipping under my panties.
My back arched when I felt him run a finger through my slit.
I wasn’t foolish enough to think he hadn’t had sex in the past years; I wasn’t stupid. But the way he touched me, the way he looked at me, said everything he hadn’t said out loud. There was no other woman he’d wanted like me; no other woman made him feel like I did.
And it wasn’t me being conceited. It was the connection we had with each other.
“You’re so wet,” he whispered, his green eyes fixed on my face. “You have no clue how long I’ve waited to have you with me like this…”
He trailed off, sliding a finger inside of me.
“Derek…oh, yes.”
Our mouths clashed, and in a battle I knew I’d lost, I gave in to him as he thrust his finger, his teeth nipping at my lips. The building sensations overwhelmed my mind and body.
With our breathing fast and our heartrates even faster, we were becoming one, erasing the pain. Forgetting the mistakes. He healed me with his loving touch, made sure he took care of me and that I knew how much he wanted me. I whimpered when his touch left my core and he broke the kiss off.
“What…what are you doing?” I asked, breathless.
He stood and lowered me onto the sofa so I was sitting, panting and desperate for him.
I didn’t understand what he was doing until he knelt in front of me and gripped my panties and slid them down my legs. My chest heaved as his gaze darkened when he saw me bare to him in every way possible.
“So fucking beautiful,” he murmured, once again his finger deep inside of me. I moaned, lost in ecstasy, as he thrusted it and licked a nipple.
But that’s not where I wanted his mouth.
Derek knew, lips traveling down my body, peppering kisses down my abdomen. I watched him eager, impatient. He was teasing, making me want him more, until I begged. It was his game, always had been. And I was a willing player.
He held my legs apart, watching my reaction as his lowered his face even more and his tongue swept over my sensitive folds. My back arched, and my fingers found his shoulders while he licked, tasting me. He groaned as if he couldn’t get enough, and finally, I threw my head back, squeezing my eyes shut as he used his tongue and fingers to pleasure me. His gaze was on me. I could feel it, but I didn’t care. I couldn’t, not when I was lost in what he did to my body.
He took my clit into his mouth, sucking it, and my hips lifted off the sofa, overcome by the intense sensation. My hands held him closer to me, and he didn’t seem to care. My legs trembled, my body caving to the pleasure.
“Mm,” I moaned, holding onto him. He held my body down, his mouth devouring me without reservations. “Derek…yes…fuck.”
Derek made a sound deep in his throat before his tongue thrust inside me and his finger found my clit. I came, crying out his name, my body trembling with each wave of pleasure that passed. He never let me go.
I felt his lips kissing the inside of my thighs as he went up, taking his time as he cherished every part of my body.
A sated smile played on my lips as he reached them and kissed me. I hummed with content as I reached for his belt. I ran my thumb over the bulge in his pants, wanting to give him as much as he’d given me.
“I’ve always loved how you touch me,” I whispered against his lips, pulling down his dress pants. I stood, my body naked and aching for him. I unbuttoned his shirt before making quick work of his pants as well and straddling him on the sofa. He brushed against me, and we both shuddered at the sensation. I took his hard length in my hand, running my hand over his shaft and stroking him over and over again, until his hips followed the movement.
I teased him as much as he’d teased me.
Though we were desperate to be with each other, I could tell he also wanted to prolong the moment as much as possible. It had been years, after all. One quick fuck wasn’t enough. I moaned when he found my core again, never ceasing to touch me. I was on the brink in just a matter of a few minutes, my body already sensitive from before.
“Hannah, baby, I won’t last like this,” he rasped, stilling my hand. I didn’t care, watching how he gritted his teeth together and leaned his head back.
I kissed his neck, biting his earlobe as my hand moved, eager to feel him release. “You’re the only one I’ve wanted this way,” I confessed softly.
Derek swallowed as he watched me kneel this time, and I took him into my mouth. He cursed, taking my hair in his hand. I felt like he was going to stop me, but instead, he groaned, thrusting into my mouth eagerly. He was full of hunger, full of need, and I was the only one that could help him. I whimpered around him, taking as much pleasure from this as him.
I wanted him to lose control, and with every lick, with every thrust, I accomplished it. I moaned when his hips began to lose rhythm, pushing into my mouth repeatedly until he lost control and came inside my mouth. He grunted, holding me to him. I swallowed, opening my eyes and taking a look only to find him smirking down at me.
I licked my lips, and he pulled me up to my feet, cupping my face in his hands. “You’re amazing,” he whispered, his voice raw.
He picked me up then, carrying me over to his bedroom and laying me down cautiously, as if afraid he’d break me. I wrapped my legs around him, our naked bodies pressed against each other, his hands exploring my body, unable to get enough. For the first time in years, we were completely naked to each other, both our souls and bodies, giving into what we felt without anything to stop us.
My fingers dug into his back as he grinded against me, enough for him to harden after a bit. His hands dug into my ass, squeezing my soft flesh, while our mouths never left each other.
It didn’t matter how much time passed; the only thing that mattered was that we were finally together. Nothing held us back anymore. There were no more doubts, no more what-ifs. This was it. Nothing could stop
us.
I always knew he was the one.
It wasn’t until we broke off the kiss and his lips kissed my jaw that I heard a phone ringing.
“Phone,” I gasped when, despite the sound, his teeth nipped at my skin.
When it continued ringing, I knew whatever the call was about, it was important. “Dammit,” Derek muttered, pulling away from me. He disappeared into the living room and I waited, smiling with my eyes closed. I felt so wanted. Loved. His.
“Pennsylvania area code,” Derek yelled from the living room.
I sat up quickly, terrified at what that call meant. He handed me the phone once in the room, and I swallowed.
Dad.
I picked up with a frightened “hello,” pulling at the sheets up and covering my naked body. Derek’s expression told me he knew something was wrong.
“Hannah, dear…how are you?”
“Dad, what’s going on?” I asked, avoiding Derek’s gaze. This wasn’t good. No way.
I heard him sigh, and my dad cleared his throat before speaking up again, saying three words I knew would dim the moments of happiness Derek and I had just shared.
“I need money.”
Chapter 21
Derek
Her expression changed. She didn’t seem relaxed anymore; her shoulders tensed, and her eyes lost the sparkle that had been there before. She wasn’t hiding anything, though. She talked normally, though I could tell whatever the person on the other line was telling her was only bad news.
I sat back, eyeing her cautiously, while she nodded, running her hand through her hair and looking away, trying to hide from me. The rare times she had cried in front of me before, Hannah had done exactly that. Hide. She hated when people saw her break down.
“I understand,” she said softly, her voice breaking. She listened to whatever they were saying and scoffed, wiping underneath her eyes. “I can’t do that to her…no, I refuse to do that…she’s done enough for me.” She paused, an air of disbelief etched on her face. “Dad, this is the petty reason you’ve called at this time?”
Ah. Her good-for-nothing father.
He had never been man enough to stand up to her mother. So long as he had money enough to sustain his life and his mistresses, he never gave a damn about the damage he caused. Not to Evie, and definitely not to Hannah. Despite being their daughter, it was safe to say the Carsons used Hannah to get what they wanted. She’d made bad choices, it was true. But I didn’t think she would have done the things she did if it weren’t for their influence.
Maybe her father wasn’t a bad person, but he’d been a coward for not standing up for his daughters. Evie may not have been his blood, but she always cared for him, always saw him as her dad.
“No,” I heard Hannah say, her voice angered. “I can’t do that. I’m barely getting my life together.” A sob escaped her throat, and I walked over to her, unable to ignore the sound. The night had been ruined, that much was certain, and I didn’t mean just the sex. She’d been happy before, and now that happiness had disappeared. “Screw you for suggesting that,” she whispered. “Screw you, Dad. Don’t call me again.”
She hung up and stared at the phone in her hands for a few seconds before setting it to the side and glancing my way. Hannah smiled, though the action didn’t meet her eyes, before clearing her throat and doing something she’d been doing a lot of lately.
“I’m sorry,” she sighed, rolling her eyes. I knew what that meant. She was embarrassed, trying to lessen the importance of the call. “This just ruined everything.”
I shook my head and kissed her forehead. Hannah bit her lip, trying to stop herself from crying. “What’s going on?”
The situation angered me. This was the first test we’d have to face. The question was simple, and yet it would show whether she would trust me. If she didn’t…I wasn’t sure what would happen.
“He needs money,” Hannah replied after a few seconds. While the answer didn’t surprise me, her reaction did. The request had upset her more than it should have…unless there was more.
And there definitely was more.
She continued without me insisting. “He’s trying to get together with his mistress again.” I couldn’t judge her for feeling hurt. She lost her mother, and no matter what Elizabeth had done, she still loved her. “It doesn’t surprise me he’s doing that…but apparently, she won’t take him back because he can’t keep up with the lifestyle they led before, so he called because he needs money. Not because he wanted to check up on me or see how I’m doing.” Hannah sniffled, her gaze downcast.
She was opening up to me in every way. I knew her before; her barriers were too high to ever demolish, and now…now there were none. And she was hurt. I thought I knew her before, but if I had, I would have seen the pain behind her eyes.
“And then he asks that I tell Evie to let me borrow money,” she added, and I turned to her, looking for any hesitation. “He doesn’t even call her, Derek. He asks about her, but I know he doesn’t care…and I can’t fuck this up again. I can’t ruin the progress I’ve made with her…with you.”
I tilted her chin up and kissed her gently, hoping to ease her worries. She still held the sheets to her body, covering herself. It was her way of shielding herself. Hannah hated being vulnerable. “You won’t ruin it,” I whispered, placing a lock of hair behind her ear. “I trust you.”
She smiled. “It was easier, you know? Hiding my feelings…ignoring them. It didn’t hurt as much.” Hannah blinked back tears and sighed, kissing my cheek. “I’m so sorry this is how today ended. It sucks. We can still try to…you know…if you want…”
Her cheeks flushed. “I think you’ve had a long night,” I whispered. “Now, if you’re hungry, we can go to the kitchen and get something to eat, but if you want to rest, we can do that too.”
“You don’t want to…finish?”
I grinned, pecking her lips once again. “It will be time, eventually. I got to have you tonight for myself, got to touch the way I’ve wanted to for years. I’m satisfied with that.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Now, what do you want to do?”
She beamed. “Can we make waffles?”
***
A few waffles later, I laid in bed watching her as she walked out of the restroom wearing one of my shirts. No other woman had ever worn my clothes. I’d never allowed it. No one else had mattered as much as her.
Her hair was up in a messy bun, her shapely legs on display for me. It wasn’t the first time we’d been together, yet it seemed like it was only the beginning. Things were different now.
I looked at the chip in my hands, one with little monetary value, but what it represented was significant. After Hannah had been honest about what was going on with her father, I decided she deserved the same. She cuddled up next to me on the bed, resting her head on my chest.
“How’re you feeling?”
“Better,” she replied. “Waffles help.”
I chuckled, kissing the top of her head. I took her hand in mine and placed the chip in it. Her forehead creased as she looked at it, turning it over before meeting my gaze.
“What is this?”
“My AA chip,” I answered. “I’ve been sober for four years now…I thought you should know.”
She didn’t seem surprised at all. “Lisa has told me about it. Was it bad?”
I sighed. The memory of those years was quite vague. I could hardly remember any of it. I’d drink, pass out, then wake up and drink some more. I’d ruined my life after Hannah, to the point I didn’t know I would ever get it back. I blamed her for a long time. It was always easier to blame my shit on others; it took away from dealing with reality.
“I don’t remember a lot of it,” I admitted. As regret covered her face, I took her hand, kissing the back of it. “It’s all a blur, you know? I was angry because nothing had turned out how I wanted, and drinking kept my mind off it, until Lisa found me. She took me to AA meetings and sobered
me up. We’ve been friends ever since.”
Hannah swallowed. “I’m so sorry. If I hadn’t been such a shitty person then—”
I interrupted her. There was no blaming anymore. “It’s no one’s fault, Hannah. That part of my life is behind me now, and I don’t plan to go back. My motivation until now had been Evie and Lily. But now there’s you too. I’m not going back to that.”
“Lily is quite the motivator, isn’t she?” She smiled, her whole face brightening at the mention of our niece.
“She really is.”
Hannah set the coin on the nightstand before straddling me on the bed.
Ironic, how much life had changed.
If someone would have told me months, weeks, even days before that Hannah Carson would be in my bed, wearing nothing but my shirt, I would have said they were insane. There was no way this would ever happen.
And yet, here we were.
She leaned down, kissing me softly. “Thank you for this chance.”
I didn’t say anything. She didn’t realize it was a chance for both of us to be happy. Our second chance at life.
I turned off the lamp and pulled her close to my chest, hearing her content little sigh.
“What are you going to do about your dad?” I asked, breaking the comfortable silence that surrounded us.
“Nothing. I can’t do anything. I know if I wanted to, I’d work and make enough money to give him what he wants. If I ask Evie, she’ll give it to me, no hesitation, but I don’t want to do that. She’s already done a lot for me and Dad, and it’s not like he deserves it.”
Despite her resolve, I could still hear the sadness in her voice. This pained her. She had thought things would be different this time around; she deserved for them to be.
But they weren’t.
There was nothing she could do to change it.
“This was an interesting first date.” Hannah yawned.
It had been, but I’d also seen her at her best and in one of her worst moments.
“Do you still want a second date?” The question was unexpected. There was doubt in it, as if she wasn’t sure I would want to be with her. She didn’t get that, after the night we’d spent together, I had absolutely no doubts.
