Pressure Point (Point #2)

by Olivia Luck

  My knees wobble and my heart rate picks up even further. A throaty moan escapes my lips when he tugs me closer to repeat the same process on my other arm.

  Blake lifts his head and twines his arms around my waist. “I robbed myself of kissing you, tasting you, smelling your sweet scent. Jesus, you smell fucking incredible. Soft, carnal, elegant like those hydrangeas.”

  “I –”

  “Shh.” His lips brush over mine, silencing me. “Let me adore you tonight. Don’t think about anything but me. I want all your attention. Feel me, be with me, leave everything else behind. With me, baby?”

  There’s only a slight pause because of the term of endearment. It’s the first time that he’s called me baby and the affection wraps around me tightly like a warm blanket on a cold night. “Yes.”

  Blake bends slightly, capturing me underneath the legs and lifting me as though weightless. “Good answer, Snow White.”

  I wind my arms around his neck, his skin hot to my touch. “If I’m Snow White that makes you Prince Charming.” He chuckles huskily, using his foot to nudge open the master suite door and firmly shut it behind us.

  “Your namesake is more fitting than mine.” He places me on two feet in the center of the room. My own hair sets off tingles of awareness when Blake brushes it away from my neck and down my back and shoulders with one large hand. He cups my neck, rubbing my pounding pulse point. “Lips red as the rose.” He mutters the words before capturing my lips in his once again. He tastes like mint again.

  Delicious.

  Blake nibbles on my lower lip until both part for him. Our tongues touch and I swear my body’s on fire. I grasp at his hips, aching for more contact. I struggle to step forward because his grip on my neck keeps me firmly in place.

  “No rushing,” he whispers against my mouth.

  I let out a sigh of frustration when he releases my lips. “Not very patient today, are we?” he teases gently. Before I can answer, he caresses my collarbone with his fingertips. His lips follow in whispers of a kiss along my skin. “I marked you the first time,” he says more to himself than to me.

  “I didn’t mind,” I say shyly.

  Blake’s feather light touches don’t stop when he responds. Hot breath against my skin nearly has my body bowing against his. “Not now, baby. There’s more that I need to do.” He reaches the hem of my top and slowly, achingly slow, draws it up over my head. The silk brushing against my skin makes my nipples bead, and more goose pimples sprout along the length of my arms and abdomen. It should be strange to be standing in the middle of this exquisite hotel room in only pants, heels, and a bra. Instead, the mood is intensely erotic. I’ve never felt more beautiful or alluring.

  Blake spins me around slowly. Though I can’t see him, I feel him drop to his knees. A row of hot, wet kisses trails across the patch of my exposed lower back. I don’t let myself wonder what brought this on. Instead, I indulge the sensations.

  “Did you hurt your back on my computer?”

  “What?” The question confuses me. I try to twist around to look down at him, but Blake’s hands on my hips force me forward.

  “That day, on my desk, the computer was open. I pushed you down on top of it and… did I hurt you, Stella?”

  I wrench myself from his grasp, flip around, and drop to my knees in front of him. This time, I’m grabbing his cheeks in my hands to force his gaze upon me. “No, Blake. Listen to me, please. You didn’t hurt me physically. Emotionally, yes, but that’s in the past. We were both under immense pressure that day. We were both at fault, then. I’ve forginve you, Blake, please believe me. Take your own advice. Stop thinking. Be with me. Here. Now.”

  Something shifts inside of Blake. There’s a tangible difference in his body language. The hyper-focus, the reverence that I found in him before, lessens. The tightness in his body wanes, revealing a languid, seductive demeanor.

  “Couldn’t have said it better myself.” Darkened pupils rove over my exposed body, reminding me that Without my blouse, I’m only clad in a black lace, strapless bra. “Skin white as snow.” My cheeks heat with his intense observation. “Fucking gorgeous, my Stella. You broke the mold.”

  Then my ravenous man reappears.

  His hands close around my sides, and Blake helps me to my feet. “Place your hands on my shoulders,” he orders gruffly. Underneath his crisp shirt, Blake’s skin is as hot to the touch as the heat whirling through my veins. From where he still kneels, Blake deftly removes my boots. Just as quickly, he’s on his feet.

  Our lips touch and I lose my level of awareness. Blake takes the lead, walking me backward toward the bed. I don’t know if I undress him or if he does the work himself. It’s not until I’m pushed down onto the bed do I realize that my bra has disappeared and his hands are expertly unbuttoning my pants and tugging them down my legs.

  I’m completely transfixed by the hard lines of his sculptured body spread out on the bed before him. “You’re beautiful,” I blurt out unnecessarily. Blake lifts an eyebrow.

  “You took my line.”

  Propping up on my elbows, I hungrily take in the sight of his perfect hair disheveled and his broad, olive-skinned chest heaving with his breaths. His stomach is flat with a smattering of dark brown hair. There’s a trail leading toward his boxers and I can’t help but wet my lips at his aroused state. Blake is lean but toned, with a trim waist and chiseled abs. Jesus, I didn’t know bodies like this actually existed.

  “I imagined, but…” I murmur.

  Blake kneels between my legs and pushes me flat on my back. My legs automatically lock around his lower back, tugging him against me. His flat, hard chest pressed around my soft curves is a delicious dichotomy. I need all of him. Now.

  “Hair black as ebony.” His voice is a rasp as he nuzzles against my neck, licking in long, teasing strokes. I’m aching, literally throbbing, for him, but he won’t stop teasing, kissing, stroking my body. Adoration, yes, I want it too, but now I just want him. Blake’s lips dip in the valley between my breasts leaving a sweet trail of wetness in his wake.

  “Blake!” I gasp when he captures one puckered nipple between his lips, nipping it with his teeth. My fingers weave into his soft brown hair, gripping tightly as he massages my unadorned breast with his free hand. My back arches off the bed in a feeble attempt to join our bodies further.

  He lifts his head leisurely, but there’s no mistaking the drunk-in-lust expression.

  “What do you want, baby?”

  “You. Inside me. Please.”

  The patience in him snaps, and his hands clasp the fabric around my hips, yanking my panties off in one swoop. Quickly, he finishes undressing then turns to where he tossed his pants to gather protection. My eyes flutter shut, reveling in this moment. This perfect moment with the man who I’ve wanted this way for far too long. He’s everything, everything I ever wanted, and he’s my very own.

  “Open them,” he demands roughly.

  My lids flutter to find Blake looming above me, his hunger not dissipated one hair. I curl my hands around his shoulders when he settles between my legs. This time when we join, it’s almost too intense. I fight not to squeeze my eyes shut, but Blake pins me with his own gaze. He thrusts powerfully, fluidly, erotically into me. I clench him tightly to me, whimpering his name as my climax builds.

  “Stella, I… Stella,” he moans, pressing his lips to mine roughly. His hands slide under my back, yanking me tight against his body.

  I’m close, so close. The orgasm rips through me, sending me flying, higher, higher, higher until I’m weightless. All thoughts center on the man above me, loving me, kissing me, stroking me and adoring me with his words, his lips, his hands. I didn’t know it could be like this.

  Meaningful.

  Loving.

  Hungry.

  Blissful.

  Euphoric.

  I dig my heels into Blake’s lower back, urging him closer. Blake lets out a fierce roar, my name coming out garbled. He pumps furiously into my bod
y, repeating Stella, Stella, Stella until his breathing evens.

  Silence cloaks the room except for our gasps. Blake lowers himself to me, pressing the lengths of our bodies together. Slick with sweat, we practically stick together. Every sensation feels right. This is where I always want to be.

  “Everything. You gave me everything today, Stella,” he whispers.

  I don’t respond because my own throat is thick with emotion. I feel the same way as him. Instead of speaking, I nuzzle my cheek into his neck. “Let me clean up,” he mumbles into my hair. “No,” I groan. “Don’t want you to go.”

  “Real quick, baby.”

  I moan my disapproval when he climbs out of the bed to discard the condom. Rolling onto my side, I prop my head on my hand and watch him settle down next to me. “We didn’t use one the first time, why now?”

  Blake grimaces. “That was the shittiest thing that I’ve done to a lover. Ever. I will never take the choice of protection from you, Stella.”

  “Hush with that. We discussed this already. It’s over and we’re okay. And Blake… I’m protected, I don’t mind if we—well, if you want to, I’ve been tested.” I fumble the last part, embarrassed with my forwardness.

  Blake falls onto his back pulling me across his chest. Gently, he strokes my hair from the crown along the length of my naked back. “Baby, your trust is a gift. Does it get any better than this?”

  The words are like a bucket of ice tossed on my head. Even though I’m on cloud freaking nine, I don’t forget about Zoe. Does it bother Blake that his sister doesn’t know about us? It’s gnawing in the back of my mind, and I can’t let it go. Our relationship would be better if she knew about us. I can’t tell how Blake feels about this, but I’m troubled.

  Just as soon at the negative thoughts pop into my mind, I’m distracted by Blake’s tender strokes. I cuddle closer to him, not wanting to dwell on anything unpleasant, when I can feel his perfect body cradling me close. At least for now.

  Blake

  Even breaths fan across my naked chest. The soft exhalations land conveniently against my heart. Never did I imagine that a woman of this caliber would capture me.

  I’ve spent almost all of my adult life taking care of my sister. Most of dating was to take up time, scratch an itch, and often a matter of necessity for social occasions. My efforts never focused on romance. Work, my sister, and my teams have taken up all of my brain space. I didn’t think that I was missing out on anything until Stella.

  Unconsciously, I hug her closer.

  I didn’t realize how alone I felt until she came along. The weight of the world rested on my shoulders without any reprieve, until Stella fell into my life and wanted to take some of my load. Whenever we’re together, I’m lighter. Even if things are shit, I’m better knowing that Stella stands beside me.

  Never let ‘em see you sweat. The mantra that I have lived my life by went straight into the gutter the moment that I invited Stella past my carefully constructed steel mask. For so long I’ve lived by the code of a perfectly polished exterior, never revealing my emotions. Hell, now I’m quoting a fairy tale to Stella like some pussy-whipped chump.

  Tilting my face down, I inhale the soft, floral scent of her shampoo deeply. My fingers trace patterns on the silky smooth skin of her back. If this is what it means to be whipped, I’ll take it any day of the week.

  Being with Stella is the reward that I’ve been searching for my entire life. Whenever I struggled, felt alone, overwhelmed by my responsibilities as a father figure or with the hockey team, when I needed advice but had no one to turn to… It was all worth it for the peace my Stella gives me now.

  She shifts in her sleep, nuzzling deeper into my body. Her lips brush against my pectoral, causing my body to jerk slightly. She touches the skin against my heart and like the lovesick fool that I am it makes my pulse increase.

  My God, I realize with a start, I can never let her go.

  Three days later when the Wind win the Super Bowl and it’s Stella burrowed in my arms, pressing congratulatory kisses across my cheeks, chin, forehead, any skin she can find, it’s clear to me—I care more about this woman than my teams, my job, and just as much as my family. I’ll do whatever it takes to cement her in my life.

  Stella

  April first. Go time.

  With a box of coffee, a dozen bagels, and two flavors of cream cheese balancing precariously in my hands, I rush toward the Speck office. The new receptionist that replaced Violet when she became Speck’s event planner a couple of years ago isn’t in yet; it’s too early for anyone to be in the office but me. The development team and I put in many extra hours over the past two months to check every comma in the code and cross off all business requirements as outlined by Ryan Sullivan’s team. Whenever I wasn’t working on my project, I stole time to be with Blake and my family. Sometimes, I’d work at Baccino’s when they needed an extra set of hands. Blake would visit, sitting patiently at the bar and chatting with the regulars and employees who ventured over. Whenever we could make time to spend together, we did.

  And I fell. Deeper. Deeper. Deeper. Until there was nowhere further to go.

  Maneuvering awkwardly, I manage to clamber through the heavy glass door. I pass by my desk completely, heading straight toward the development wing. None of my team is here yet. They won’t roll into the office for another ten minutes or so, but I want their breakfast hot and waiting when they arrive. Once the food is in place, I visit the kitchen for all the necessary accessories: cutlery, utensils, plates, and napkins.

  My cell phone chirps with a text as I sit at my desk and boot up my laptop.

  Good luck today, baby. You’re going to kill it. Celebratory dinner tonight?

  I smile to myself while reading Blake’s text. We spend many nights sleeping together at my apartment, but last night he stayed at home, because he hung out with his sister.

  Yes, my life is falling into a predictable, addicting Blake-themed pattern. There’s only one piece out of place: Zoe. Occasionally Blake provides me with updates, telling me about how Zoe is improving immensely. And some nights, like yesterday, I didn’t see him because he’s spending time with her. As much as I hate to admit it, I’m becoming frustrated that we haven’t told her about our relationship. Then I pump the brakes on those emotions, recognizing it’s a selfish way to think about the situation. I haven’t told Blake about these thoughts because I’ve done a good job of smothering them myself. Other than missing Zoe, life’s perfect. I thumb a quick response to him and begin reading through my emails. There’s nothing of pause until I come across one from Ryan, the smarmy operations manager, and my client at the Chicago Center. Most of the note is business-related, until the last sentence.

  After phase one launches, I’m taking you for drinks. We have a lot to discuss!

  Reading the words makes my skin crawl. Every now and then, Ryan slips—staring at my breasts a beat too long, winking at inappropriate times, or making downright leery comments directed at me. The guy has to know that I’m dating Blake, it’s not a secret. Either way, the creep factor sticks to him like glue. None of his advances are outrageous enough to warrant a report of any sort, though. I’m worried that if I tell Blake, he’ll go all sorts of postal and beat Ryan to a pulp. Besides, after today, we won’t need to work nearly as closely. He’ll move on and I’ll get my promotion. Win, win.

  “Thanks for the bagels.” I glance up to find Jim, one of Speck’s coders, holding up a pumpernickel in cheers. Behind funky, black-framed glasses, he’s bleary-eyed. I can relate.

  “Today’s the big day; we’ve got to start fresh.”

  “Happy hour tomorrow, right?” I nod unenthusiastically, remembering that we invited Ryan’s team to join us, too. Even though it’s a work-sponsored event, I can’t help but compare Ryan to a pesky fruit fly. Buzzing around constantly, never getting the hint, but ultimately harmless.

  I collect my laptop and follow Jim back toward the development wing. I’ll be sitting with the
team today for the launch. Truthfully, I’m not worried about our implementation this morning. Careful planning and exhaustive quality assurance measures leave me confident that nothing will go wrong today.

  A whirlwind of conference calls, bagels, coffee, nearly zero technical bugs (hey, no one’s one hundred percent perfect) and we’re live by two in the afternoon, with no freak-outs from the client. Sitting next to me, Jim raises his hand for a high five. As our palms meet in celebration of a painless launch, the door to the conference room door flies open and the well-coiffed Katya peeks her head in.

  “Stella, a minute.” It’s not a request.

  My heart jumps into my throat. What is she doing here? We have time on the calendar tomorrow for a call to discuss the launch, but she never mentioned visiting our office. I wipe my sweaty palms on my thighs and force a smile. “Of course.”

  Remnants of adrenaline leave me jittery as I follow her, leaving behind a chorus of cheers from my team. Whipping around, I offer them a shaky smile. Jim shoots me a thumbs-up, giving me a slight boost of confidence. What do I have to be afraid of? Our team nailed this launch.

  Katya’s brisk, as usual, leading me into a small office reserved for visiting colleagues. She extends a hand for me to sit opposite her at a desk.

  “Preliminary feedback is very positive, but I’m sure you know that, Stella.” Katya’s expression is bland.

  How am I supposed to respond to that statement? My gut twists. Katya plays corporate games that I don’t understand. When in doubt, be yourself. It’s something my father often told me growing up and I remind myself of it when intimidated by Katya. “Yes, I’m very pleased with the results of this project. Our entire team worked very well together, and I’m certain the Chicago Center will be thrilled with the results.”

  “Hmm. I have no doubt of that, too. There’s a bigger picture here, right?”

  It’s a rhetorical question, so I nod silently. Speck wants more business from the Chicago Center, that’s the bottom line. What I’ve done has laid the foundation for extended capabilities and more dollar signs. Surely, Katya sees that, right? The promotion was supposed to be mine with a happy client after this rollout.