Long Time Gone

by Lorelei James

  Cal eased his fingers out and started to back away, but she murmured, “Not yet.”

  That’s it, sweetheart. Tell me what you need.

  “What?”

  She absentmindedly petted his head. “It feels different when you use your fingers.”

  “Feels good?” he asked, pressing soft smooches to the curve of her mound.

  “Yeah.” Kimi pushed up on her elbows, her eyes half-lidded and a smile curving her lips. “Is real sex better than that?”

  “Darlin’, that was real sex.”

  “You know what I mean.”

  Cal crawled up her body, looming above her on his hands and knees. “I’ll let you judge for yourself.” He kissed her neck. The sweep of her collarbone. The ball of her shoulder. He nuzzled the tops of her breasts. “I want you. But I need to know that you’re you ready. Because I’m still at the point where I can stop.”

  “But I don’t want you to stop.”

  He pushed back and stood. He dropped his boxers and waited, letting her look at his cock.

  “Does it hurt when it gets hard like that?”

  What a question. “Nope.”

  Kimi sat up and crawled to the end of the bed, her lithe body as sexy and slinky as a jungle cat. “It’s a lot…redder than I thought.”

  “I thought you were gonna say it’s a lot bigger than you thought.”

  “That too.” She looked up at him when she was close enough that he felt her breath teasing the tip of his dick. “Is it weird I wanna know what it feels like to have that in my mouth?”

  “Such a curious kitty-cat,” he murmured. “But no, it ain’t weird. It’s hot as fuckin’ fire.”

  “Can I?” she asked right before she enclosed the head between her lips.

  “Ah, fuckin’ hell, woman.”

  “What did I do wrong?”

  “Nothin’, it just surprised me.”

  She swirled her tongue around the head, then pushed back so she could wrap her fingers around the base. “You weren’t kiddin’ about it bein’ hard.” She feathered her thumb across the middle of his shaft. “But it’s soft too.”

  Cal had to put a stop to this. Especially when her hair fell forward, teasing the tip as she experimented with sliding her closed fist up and down as she licked him. “Kimi. Stop.”

  When she looked up at him with those big blue eyes, he curled a shaking hand around her face. “Let’s leave your turn at touchin’ me for later.”

  “Okay. I just wanna do it all.”

  “We will. One thing at a time.” He swept his thumb across her lips. “Right now gimme that mouth.” He urged her upright onto her knees and lowered his head. He kissed her, running his hands down her tangled hair and over her chest, until his neck screamed in protest. Then in a smooth move he couldn’t repeat again if he tried, he brought them both down to the mattress with her on top.

  Kimi lifted her head, breaking the kiss. She slid her chest down and then back up. And down again. “That feels good.”

  Every downward glide had her ass connecting with his cock. Cal clamped his hands on her round cheeks and opened his mouth on her neck.

  She trembled above him.

  He rolled them again and rested on his elbows above her. Her mouth opened so hungrily as she kissed him, her hands were all over him as if she couldn’t decide where to touch him first. So he gently pinned her arms above her head. “Leave ’em there. Spread your legs and make room for me.” When he lowered his full weight onto her, she arched up, letting her head fall to the side and fully exposing that gorgeous neck. “You ready for this?” he murmured.

  She thrashed when he started a slight rocking motion against her. “Yes. Please. Show me.”

  The knuckles of his hand got wet with her juices when he reached between their bodies. “Look at me.”

  Their gazes connected. Then their mouths.

  He pushed the head of his cock in and stopped. An odd thought crossed his mind and he smiled.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “Just thinkin’ about that joke ‘just let me put the tip in, if you don’t like it I’ll pull out’.”

  “This is a serious moment, Cal. How dare you crack jokes?”

  He lifted his head to look into her eyes.

  She smiled at him. “I like the tip, so keep goin’.”

  Cal eased in and swallowed her surprised gasp when he filled her hot, tight little cunt completely.

  Fuck. That felt fucking amazing.

  Breathe.

  Don’t rut on her.

  Kimi shifted and slipped her arms around his lower back, smoothing her hands over his ass.

  He kissed a path to her ear. “What’s that tight squeeze on my ass supposed to mean, former virgin?”

  “That I’m taking my turn at touching you.”

  “Bossy former virgin,” he muttered.

  “I’m fine, Cal. You’re holding back. I’m ready.”

  But he wasn’t. Her pussy clasped his shaft so tightly he’d probably only last ten strokes before he’d blow. “Wrap those sexy legs around my waist,” he murmured in her ear.

  The change in position opened her up a little more and she buried her face in his neck.

  Cal pulled out, paused, and slid back in. “Feels so damn good.”

  “For me too, so don’t stop.”

  He didn’t stop, but he kept the rhythm slow and steady. Letting his chest rub on hers after hearing her practically purr the first time he did it.

  And yet, somehow, the awkwardness remained.

  Getting the first time out of the way was tempting. He could show her how much better it was the second time, and every time after that.

  So he changed tactics and stopped with the sweet, sweet lovin’ and started to fuck her.

  All the awkwardness disappeared and Kimi got into it.

  Really into it. Moving underneath him, kissing his chest, biting his ear all the while that tight pussy squeezed him.

  “Cal,” she breathed against his throat, “it’s happening again.”

  “Don’t tense up, darlin’, just let it happen.” He nudged her face until she let her head fall back. He latched onto the sweet spot on her neck and sank his teeth in. In hindsight Cal hadn’t the foggiest on why he’d done that, but it worked.

  Kimi gasped and thrashed, her hips driving upward, searching for that perfect amount of pressure until she found it.

  She cried out his name. Her fingernails dug into his ass hard enough to leave gouges. Her pussy went tighter yet, so his cock felt as if he’d stuck it into a vacuum as it sucked out every bit of seed.

  He came harder than he’d ever come before.

  He came so hard that when he remembered he was still on earth, not in the damn stratosphere, Kimi was soothing him. Kissing his neck. Pressing her fingertips into his lower back. Murmuring sexy sweet nothings into his ear.

  When Cal opened his eyes, Kimi looked at him with awe. Then she kissed him.

  Not an ordinary kiss, but one that filled him with hope, and a sense of purpose.

  This woman belonged to him. She was his purpose. She needed him in a way no one else did. And he sure as hell needed her.

  So it sliced him to the quick when he understood in order to have her forever, he’d have to let her go for a little while.

  “Cal?”

  He had no idea how long he’d been lost in bliss. He glanced down at her. “You are so damn pretty.” He kissed the corner of her jaw. “I’m thinkin’ I could chain you to my bed and just tell everyone you left. That way I could have you to myself.”

  “Selfish, are you?”

  “When it comes to you? Yep. Without apology.” Cal shifted slightly and she sucked in a sharp breath. “Sorry. I’ll move. Just hang on.” He pulled out as slowly as he could, studying her face for signs of pain.

  She blinked at him and whispered, “I can still feel you inside me.”

  “I suspect that’ll be the case for several more hours.” He bussed her forehead. “Stay put.
” Then he scooted off the bed and headed to the bathroom. As he soaked the washcloth in cold water, he splashed water on his face.

  A bout of nerves came over Cal and he returned to the bedroom. He hesitated by the side of the bed. Come to think of it…he’d never been with a virgin. Was he supposed to clean his seed off her and then hold the cool cloth between her legs as they cuddled under the covers and talked about what’d happened?

  As he debated with himself, Kimi sat up and held out her hand. “Stop bein’ weird and get over here.”

  He was so crazy about this woman. She just seemed to look at him and know what he was thinking. He relaxed and got back under the sheets.

  Kimi rolled onto her belly and propped her head on his chest.

  He pushed her hair off her damp cheek. “What?”

  Her gaze continued to roam over his face. “A great lookin’ man like you shouldn’t even notice someone like me. But here I am. In bed naked with you.”

  “Or…an old timer like me shouldn’t catch the notice of a hot young thing like you.”

  “Why do you always counter everything I say?” she demanded.

  “Because darlin’, it riles you up and I love it when you get feisty.” Cal pulled up the sheets and tucked her along his side. “You plum wore me out. Let’s take a catnap and when we wake up I’ll answer all those question swimming in your eyes.”

  “Okay. But I’m pretty sure I’d rather have a hands-on demonstration on some of the…more explicit questions I’ve got.”

  “That, I can do. As many times as you want.”

  Chapter Eight

  On day five of Kimi’s stay, Cal had been very thorough waking Kimi up. So thorough that he hadn’t realized he’d missed meeting Carson until he heard the crunch of tires on gravel through the open bedroom window.

  He glanced at the clock. How the fuck could it be seven-thirty?

  Shit. “Carson is here.”

  Cal didn’t need his brother barging in and seeing Kimi’s things spread all over his house. He kissed Kimi and hopped off the bed, quickly jamming his legs into his jeans, foregoing his boxers. He yanked a T-shirt over his head and didn’t bother putting on socks or boots.

  Kimi watched him, a satisfied smile on her sleepy face.

  “Stay in here.”

  “Even if Carson is your brother, it is impolite to show up at someone’s house at seven-thirty in the morning, Cal.”

  “Seven-thirty is practically noon for ranchers and I was supposed to meet Carse an hour ago. And I’m never late, so he knows something is up.”

  Gigi started barking like crazy. “Come on, girl.”

  Cal closed the bedroom door behind him. Good thing Kimi had been adamant they lock the doors at night or Carson would’ve just walked in.

  Gigi whined and raced toward Carson immediately after Cal opened the front door.

  Carson crouched down to pet the pup. “Looks like you’re ready to move cattle, dog, which is more than I can say for him.” Carson gave Cal a once-over from his bare feet to his uncombed hair. “You sick or something?”

  “Nah. I just stayed up too late and overslept. It happens.”

  “It never happens to you.” Carson rolled upright. “I don’t imagine you were out tearin’ it up because you don’t reek like booze or look hung over. So I’m bettin’ your late night has something to do with that hickey on your neck.”

  He shouldn’t love it so much when Kimi sucked and bit on him, but Jesus it got him so fucking hot he’d rather deal with shit than ever ask her to back off. “You caught me.”

  Carson jerked his chin toward Cal’s bedroom. “She’s still here, ain’t she?”

  “Yeah. So if you’ll give me a little time to get ready, I’ll meet you at Dad’s so we can get this underway.”

  “You ain’t gonna introduce me to her?” Carson paused and gave Cal a big grin. “That’s because I know her, don’t I?”

  “Don’t be a jackass,” he said with an edge.

  It was the edge that tipped Carson off because normally Cal was even-keeled.

  “So how long you need to get ready? I don’t see a car here so you’ve gotta run her home first?”

  Fuck. He hadn’t thought of that. “Nope. She said she’s fine sticking around today.”

  “Is this why you’ve been distracted the past couple days?”

  “I haven’t been distracted,” Cal scoffed.

  “Yeah, you have. Even Charlie mentioned it yesterday.”

  “So I screwed up one goddamned thing. Like Charlie has room to talk. He’s been distracted the last year.”

  “Charlie thought I’d be preoccupied this week with all the shit that’s been goin’ on with the Wests. He volunteered to pick up the slack if I had to leave, which is why he mentioned it. He just didn’t think he’d have to be picking up your slack too.”

  “I told you I’d do my part and you’re relyin’ on Charlie? That’s fuckin’ perfect, Carse. Next you’ll tell me that Casper’s watchin’ me too.”

  Carson crossed his arms over his chest. “Even that shouldn’t worry you if you’ve got nothin’ to hide, Cal.”

  Gigi barked and scratched at the door to go back inside.

  “What’s with her?”

  Cal ignored the question. “I’ll meet you at Dad’s in twenty, okay?”

  “No can do. Tell me what’s goin’ on. You’re never this secretive.”

  “I ain’t allowed to have secrets?” he snapped. “That’s bullshit. You’ve got your life with Carolyn which is separate from us workin’ together. I respect that. You need to learn to do the same for me.”

  “Who is this woman who’s got you all twisted up in knots?”

  The door opened behind him.

  Kimi stepped onto the porch. “It’s me.”

  Cal had never seen Carson so shocked. Under different circumstances his bugged-out eyes would’ve been funny as hell. Snagging Kimi’s wrist, Cal tugged her against the side of his body.

  After his gaze winged between them, Carson said, “You’ve got to be fuckin’ kiddin’ me. You’ve been here since Cal picked you up?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you two are what? A couple now? You’re livin’ together?”

  Cal held his breath. He wasn’t sure what would fly out of Kimi’s mouth.

  “What’s goin’ on with me’n Cal isn’t any of your business, Carson. I will say that he’s letting me stay here as I sort some stuff out.”

  “That whole tale you spun in that letter to Caro about movin’ to Alaska was a lie?”

  Kimi shook her head. “I’m still goin’. I just didn’t leave the day of the funeral.”

  “When your sister finds out—”

  “You will keep your mouth shut, McKay,” Kimi snapped, getting right up in Carson’s face. “Carolyn is to know nothing of this. You hear me? Nothing. My letter explained everything. She knows she won’t hear from me for at least a month. And I’m sure she’s got plenty of other shit to deal with and doesn’t need anything else piled on top of it. So just go about your business and let me’n Cal sort this out on our own time frame.”

  Straight to the point. Kimi was a lot like him in that respect, so Cal didn’t feel the need to add anything else.

  “But I fuckin’ hate keepin’ a secret this goddamn big from my wife. She finds out, who’s she gonna be pissed at? Me.”

  “The only way she’ll ever find out is if you tell her,” Kimi shot back at Carson. “Promise me you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

  Carson looked at Cal.

  Cal pulled Kimi back and wrapped his arms around her as they faced his angry twin together. “I don’t ask for much, but I am askin’ you to