Undenied

by Maya Banks

  She pulled away long enough to look up at him and give him her best satisfied smile. “I do so love to hear a man beg.”

  Her triumph was short-lived. He used the opportunity to his full advantage. Grasping handfuls of hair, he thrust forward, burying his cock in her open mouth.

  She swallowed against the intrusion, closing her eyes as he rocketed over her tongue. He bumped the softness at the back of her throat and stilled, holding her there for a long second. Then he withdrew, letting out his breath in a satisfied hiss.

  Her hands came back up, and she wrapped one around his cock and slid the other underneath to his sac, massaging and rubbing as she guided him forward again. Her fingers tightened and she worked back and forth in unison with her mouth.

  “Oh God, stop, baby, or I’m gonna come.”

  She sat back on her heels and watched as he took in several ragged breaths. He reached for her and pulled her up to stand in front of him.

  “The condom,” he said, pointing at the bed.

  She turned and retrieved the little packet.

  “Put it on me,” he rasped.

  She faced him again and tore the wrapper, sliding out the thin latex ring. She moved close, grasping him in one hand and using the other to roll the condom on.

  He closed his eyes and swore. “Lubricant. Fuck, I forgot it. Please tell me you still have some.”

  She grinned and walked over to the desk by the TV and took out the small plastic tube of KY. Then she turned and tossed it to him. “I’m not getting all sticky again.”

  He caught the tube and hurriedly bent to snag his T-shirt, tucking it underneath his arm. With shaking fingers, he tore the lid off the lubricant and squeezed the clear gel into his hand. Then he smoothed it over his sheathed cock, his movements slow but jerky. He tossed the tube aside then snatched his shirt from underneath his arm and wiped his hand. Throwing that aside, he reached for her, and she went willingly.

  To her surprise, he curled his hands around her waist and lifted her up. “Put your legs around my waist,” he directed as he wrapped one strong arm around her.

  When she’d done so, he reached between them with his free hand and positioned his cock between her legs. He arched his hips into her, sinking deep. Wrapping both arms around her, he held her tight against him.

  He grasped her ass, lifted her up and then allowed her to slide down the length of his cock.

  She threw back her head and closed her eyes. God, he was so deep, and she felt so vulnerable in this position. But that vulnerability only heightened the sensation of balancing on a razor’s edge.

  His fingers dug into her ass as he bounced her up and down on his cock. When she opened her eyes to look at him, his head was thrown back in a similar manner as hers had been. Ragged gasps spilled from his mouth, and the muscles in his shoulders bulged and flexed from the strain of holding her.

  She gripped his neck harder as he walked forward, his cock buried deep, and the motion of his hips sending it deeper still.

  She hit the wall with a thud, and he lowered his head to her neck, sucking and kissing, his breaths coming explosively in her ear.

  He rocked her against the wall, plunging deep, holding her captive against the hard surface. The rough texture abraded her back, and while each time he thrust forward she experienced an erotic thrill deep within her core, she was distracted by the awkward position.

  “The bed,” she managed to gasp out. “The wall is killing me.”

  His head came up, apology in his eyes. He immediately retreated then held her tightly against him as he maneuvered to the bed.

  Gently he eased her down, slipping from her body as she came to rest on the mattress.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered as he brushed light kisses across her face.

  She said nothing but reached for him, spreading her legs in invitation. He crawled onto the bed and settled between her thighs.

  With less urgency than he’d displayed before, he used gentle fingers to part the slick folds. His thumb pressed to her clit and rotated in a circular motion, reigniting the fire in her gut.

  His hips shimmied between her legs as he sought to spread her thighs wider. His fingers left her pussy, and he cupped his hands around her ass, sliding them down the backs of her thighs. His cock nudged her entrance and slid forward so he was an inch or so inside her. For a moment, he flexed his hips, making short, shallow thrusts.

  “Now who’s the tease?” she grumbled.

  He moved just a little deeper. “Is this what you want?”

  She wrapped her arms around him, sliding her palms down his flanks. Her fingers dug into him, urging him on.

  “Please.”

  “I love a woman who begs.”

  “Smartass.”

  He grinned then closed his eyes and drove forward.

  She gasped and arched into him, her cry stuck in her throat. His hands slipped from her legs and he dug his forearms into the bed on either side of her to hold his weight off her.

  He lowered his head, pressing his forehead to hers as he moved sensuously between her legs, thrusting, retreating, going deep, staying still.

  His lips hovered close to her own, and then they lightly pressed to hers, a soft smooching sound escaping as he kissed each tiny part of her lips.

  Despite his deliberate, measured movements, she felt her orgasm building, not explosive, instead a slow, warm buildup, a gradual tightening, an exquisite sensation like a cool breeze on a hot summer day. Like letting chocolate melt slowly on your tongue.

  She hooked her ankles over his legs and pulled them upward until they lodged just underneath his ass cheeks.

  Like tightening a screw, her body coiled tighter and tighter as her pleasure mounted, suddenly making her restless and wild.

  “I need…”

  Wes stroked her hair away from her cheeks with his thumbs, his elbows still planted in the mattress on either side of her. “What do you need?”

  She moaned. “I’m close, so close.”

  He reached for her arm, letting his fingers glide past her elbow to her wrist and finally grasping her hand. He guided it between their bodies, arching up to give her room.

  “Touch yourself,” he whispered. “Come for me.”

  She flexed her middle finger over her clit, found the sweet spot and began rotating in tight, slow circles as he raised himself.

  Hands braced near her head, he began driving into her body with hard, long strokes. Yessss. Every muscle in her body seized. She closed her eyes, shutting out everything but the pulse centered at her very core.

  “Open your eyes,” he said. “I want to see you come.”

  Her eyes fluttered open and met his gaze. He stared down at her, tension etched into his face, his jaw clenched tight.

  “Are you close?” she managed to gasp out.

  “You first,” he said behind gritted teeth.

  He rammed his hips forward, and she threw back her head, her fingers strumming her clit as she hovered precariously close to the melting point. Once more, oh God, once more.

  He began pumping against her in a frantic pace, and suddenly it felt as though someone had blown her up like a balloon and let go. She flew in a dozen different directions.

  Her mouth opened in a soundless scream, and then she found her voice and cried out as the pressure, unbearable, released in a cataclysmic burst.

  She spasmed around his cock, felt a sudden rush of wetness, and still her nerves twitched and screamed as the orgasm went on and on.

  His lips pressed to her forehead before he plunged deep and stiffened around her, his muscles bulging, his body straining to get as far into her as he could.

  “Yes, oh God, yes,” he said hoarsely.

  He convulsed against her body, thrusting once, twice and finally a third time before he stilled. His legs trembled, his arms shook, his chest heaved as he gasped for breath into her hair.

  Slowly, she took her hand away, no longer able to bear to touch her hypersensitive clit. Her arm
s snuck around him, and he lowered himself carefully to her body as she urged him to do. She held him tight, burrowing her face into his neck.

  They trembled against each other in the aftermath. She stroked his back, enjoying the feel of his skin, of the muscles, the dips and ridges of his hard contours.

  Finally, he slid from her pussy and rolled to the side of the bed to discard the condom. When he turned back to her, she moved against him.

  “Get up for just a minute, baby. Let me pull back the covers.”

  She stood on shaky legs as he arranged the bedding and then he motioned for her to return. She crawled into bed, cuddling against his warm body as he pulled the blankets over them both.

  A sigh welled deep within her chest and whispered across her lips, her body relaxing with the flow of it.

  “You sound awfully contented.” His chest rumbled as he spoke, vibrating against her ear.

  “I am.” She smiled, a mischievous streak rising fast. “That was incredible. Just think of what we missed out on all those years ago.”

  “That was extremely uncharitable of you to bring up,” he grumbled.

  She chuckled softly against his chest. There was another comfortable silence between them, and then he put a finger under her chin and tilted her head upward so she looked him in the eye.

  “I don’t even know where you live. If I’ll see you again.”

  She kept her expression even, not wanting to betray any hint of reaction. “Do you want to see me again?”

  His brow furrowed a moment, and he seemed to grapple with his answer. Finally he took a deep breath. “Yeah, I like the idea of seeing you again.”

  Some of her tension eased, though why it should matter if he wanted to see her again was beyond her. She didn’t come to town scoping for a relationship.

  “I live in Houston.”

  His eyes widened in surprise. “That’s not far.”

  “Hour and a half,” she replied.

  He moved his arm up, propping his elbow on the bed and resting his head in his hand. “How did you end up there? I always wondered why you left. I mean after we… After we had sex, you disappeared.”

  She laughed. “You make it sound so calculated and sordid. My dad got a job transfer and so we moved to Tennessee. When I was in college, he transferred to Houston. I finished college then moved there to be close to them. He’s retired now, and they’ve moved down to Galveston, but I still see them often.”

  “So what do you do in Houston?”

  “I’m a real estate agent. I actually got a degree in nursing, but after six months of the hospital scene, I realized there was no way I could make a career out of sick, needy people. A friend of mine owned a real estate agency so I got my realtor’s license and went to work with her. After a year, I decided to strike out on my own. I started small, but my agency is the fourth largest in Houston now.”

  His eyebrows rose. “I’m impressed.”

  He laid his hand over her hip, bunching the sheet between his fingers. “That’s a hell of an accomplishment.”

  She smiled, enjoying his touch. “I think so. Or I like to think so. It took a lot of hard work, but the effort’s finally paid off.”

  She rose up on her elbow as well so she was on eyelevel with him. The sheet fell from her chest, and she reached to pull it back up. His hand stayed her motion. He grazed her nipple with his fingers then cupped the soft mound in his palm.

  She tried to speak, cleared her throat and tried again. “What about you? Did you always want to be a cop?”

  He continued to stroke her nipples, plucking the tips until they were taut and puckered.

  “No. I wanted to play football like Jake Turner and Ray Hatcher. We all got scholarships to A&M but I messed up my shoulder my freshman year. Got a degree in criminal justice instead, and when I graduated I came home, got a job with the city. I’ve been there ever since.”

  “Any regrets?” she asked softly as she arched more fully into his touch.

  He seemed to consider the question for a minute. “No,” he said finally. “I love my job. I’m surrounded by my best friends. It’s a good life.”

  She smiled and rubbed her fingers over his goatee. “You make it sound so simple.”

  He grinned. “I’m just a country boy at heart. Don’t need anything more complicated. Beer, good friends and football. Can’t ask for anything better than that.”

  “You left good sex out of there.”

  His hand left her breast, and he trailed a finger down the line of her jaw. “Oh yes, definitely good sex.” He cocked his head to the side and leaned in to kiss her. “In fact, I need a lot more good sex. A whole lot more.”

  “Mmmm. That can be arranged,” she murmured against his mouth. “I hope you brought more than one condom.”

  He chuckled. “I damn near bought out the store.”

  “Ambitious, were we?”

  “Just hopeful,” he said, lightly kissing her again.

  Payton yawned and opened bleary eyes. Wes was wrapped tight around her body and she craned her neck looking for the bedside clock. When she saw the time, she shook Wes’s shoulder.

  He stirred and snuggled tighter against her. She smiled and nudged him again. “You’re going to be late for work if you don’t get up,” she murmured close to his ear.

  His eyes flew open. “What time is it?”

  “After six.”

  “Shit.”

  He palmed her cheek and kissed her before scooting out of bed. “I’ve got to get going.”

  She reclined in the bed, pulling the covers up under her arms.

  “When are you going back to Houston?” he asked as he thrust one leg into his jeans.

  “I’m leaving around noon,” she said softly.

  He paused, staring at her for a long second. She couldn’t decipher the odd expression on his face, sort of a mixture between confusion and disappointment.

  “Is this where you promise to call and we say goodbye?” she cracked.

  “Or you could call me.”

  “Hmm, how about we trade numbers and then it’s on both of us.”

  “Deal.”

  He strode over to the desk where the phone and a tablet of paper sat. He came back over and shoved the pad and a pen at her.

  She took the pen and scribbled her number down and handed both back to him. “That’s my cell number. It’s the easiest way to reach me.”

  He tore off the top piece of paper then scrawled his number on the second sheet before offering the paper back to her. He bent and gave her a hard kiss. Then he turned and finished dressing.

  When he was done, he gave her one more long reluctant look. Then he went to the door and opened it. He paused and turned back to her. “Payton, I—”

  He shook his head and walked out, letting the door close behind him.

  Chapter Seven

  He was sure she’d call on Monday. When that didn’t happen, he convinced himself she was playing it coy and she’d definitely call on Tuesday. Wednesday morning, he irritably decided she was playing it cool but she’d call that night. Of that he was sure.

  Thursday night he was genuinely baffled. Wes paced his living room like a caged lion. If she had any intention of them getting together this weekend, she would have called by now. Thursday was the D-day for making weekend plans. How the hell was she supposed to know what his work schedule was?

  Or maybe she had no intention of seeing him again. Maybe he’d scratched an itch for her and that was it.

  He picked up his phone and called Gracie before he could think better of it. She’d offer some insight into the situation, and then maybe he could figure out where the hell he stood with Payton.

  After he explained his annoyance, she had the audacity to laugh in his ear. He held the phone away, counted to ten and waited for her to stop howling.

  “Are you finished yet?” he demanded.

  She wheezed and coughed. “Sorry, but damn I always knew this was going to be funny when it happened. I j
ust had no idea how hilarious it was going to be.”

  “What the fuck are you babbling about? When what happened?”

  “When the mighty Wes fell hard for a woman,” she said before dissolving into laughter again.

  “Damn it, Gracie, you’re so not funny, and I swear if Luke is sitting there next to you and you just blabbed that shit where he could hear, I’m going to wring your pretty neck.”

  She died laughing again, and he seriously contemplated hanging up. And he would have, but she seemed to sense he was not very happy and quickly sobered.

  “Okay, so what did you want from me?” she asked.

  He sighed and counted to ten again. “I merely want a woman’s perspective on why the fuck she hasn’t called me.”

  “Maybe she wants you to make the next move, Wes. A woman will only do so much chasing before she decides it’s time to see how much interest is reciprocated.”

  “So, you’re saying she wants me to call her.”

  “Could be. Or maybe she’s just busy. Or, perish the thought, maybe you were just great sex and she doesn’t want a relationship.”

  “Well, fuck, Gracie, I don’t want to get married. Who said anything about a relationship?”

  She laughed again. “I can hear the panic in your voice. Chill out and call her. You obviously want to see her again, right? Is it going to kill you to make the first move this time?”

  “So I should go to her and not make her come to me.”

  “Well, if I was her, I wouldn’t keep chasing after you. I’d bait the trap and wait for you to come to me.”

  “You women are evil. Evellle.”

  Gracie snorted. “And you men are just stupid. Get off the phone and call her.”

  Wes grinned. “I love you, Gracie girl.”

  She chuckled. “Love you too, knucklehead.”

  He hung up and stared at his phone gripped tight in his hand. Then he fished his wallet out of his pocket. He pulled out the piece of paper she’d written her cell phone number on and punched it in.

  After three rings, her husky voice filtered over the line.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey Payton, it’s Wes.”

  “Oh, hi, how are you?”

  He hated these awkward, stilted conversations. He didn’t want to fuck around with pleasantries all goddamn night.

  “I want to see you this weekend.”