He might have told me—twice now—that he still loved me, but there was still a lot of pain and years that had passed between us.
I didn't expect one night together to simply fix everything, but I couldn't help but want to dive head-first into the deep end with him. I slowly turned the door handle and walked through the threshold into the unknown. The light was on in his room and I found Dean awake, sitting on the bed, still in his suit from the party as if he were waiting for me.
“There you are. I thought...” His words trailed off as his golden eyes took in my dress. “You're breathtaking.”
His words were sweet, but I was sick of the politeness he'd been showing me all day. I wanted the man who dropped the pink towel right in front of me—the one who could unnerve me like no one else could. I took a breath, my heart racing, and prepared myself to do exactly what I came here to do: finish what I started six years ago.
One at a time, I pushed the straps of my dress off my shoulders—the material stretchy and easy to get out of—and shimmied the dress down. I wasn't wearing a bra, since this dress wasn't the kind that needed one, and the material fell, pooling at my feet. I side-stepped out of it carefully and then, bending one leg, I reached to take off one of my heels.
“No, leave those on.”
I stopped and stood up straight. A shiver flashed across my skin, making my nipples prick and turn rock hard. His eyes were all-consuming as they drifted over my exposed body. I guess I didn't need to worry about him turning me down.
“Come here.”
His words were rough. Guttural. Commanding. He wasn't the same boy who'd fumbled in the dark as he took my clothes off when I was younger. He was more confident than I could have imagined, and I wanted to show him that I wasn't afraid either. This was exactly what I wanted. I walked toward where he sat, my eyes on his, until my hands came to rest on his chest. Even through the layers of clothing, I could feel his hard, perfect muscles underneath. His hands rested on my hips, his fingers digging into the material of my barely-there underwear.
He pressed a kiss to my forehead. “I won't be able to stop if we go any further.”
“I don't want you to stop. Ever. You belong with me just as much as I belong with you.”
At my words, his mouth moved to cover mine. His tongue ran along the seam of my lips, probed inside, and lingered for only a taste. Then his lips left mine and started to move downward. “I'm going to show you exactly how much I’ve been missing you all these years,” he whispered, his breath now grazing my neck. His hands skimmed up my waist and trailed over my chest. “Shit, these are nice.” He let the weight of my breasts rest in his big hands, his fingers rolling and pinching my nipples.
I automatically arched my back into him, letting him explore. He took his time and then spread his legs apart, an open invitation for me come closer. I didn’t hesitate to take it and he began pressing light kisses across my skin, his tongue flicking hot and sweet.
“I hate to sound like a guy, but these are heaven.”
My breath came out in sharp gasps. “You like them bigger?”
“You were perfect then and you're perfect now.” His hands moved to rest on my butt. His fingers pulled at the fabric of my underwear, tracing the edge, moving dangerously downward. “Sit on my lap now, Maggie. Keep the shoes on.”
He held my hands and I did what he asked, crawling carefully onto his lap until I ended up straddling him, the substantial bulge in his pants straining against the fabric of my underwear. His hands and mouth went back to worshiping my chest and I thoroughly enjoyed the attention, even though my heart was pounding out of control and his slow pace was driving me a bit insane. Just when I was about to beg him to touch me—in other places—his hands began their descent. Oh Lordy! His fingers gently made their way to the edge of my lacy underwear, skimmed down the sides, and then suddenly he pushed the material aside. He wasted no time filling me with one finger, and since he had big hands, he didn't need more than one. So when a second one joined the first, I bit down hard on my lip to keep from screaming out.
He eased his fingers in and out. “You're soaking wet,” he whispered. He swirled them around once inside me before spreading my wetness briefly over my most sensitive spot and then pinching me there. Jesus, help me! I was in such a daze that it took me a moment to realize that his fingers weren't in me anymore. He lightly squeezed my thigh. “It's my turn to strip for you.”
What? Oh. My. Good. Ness. He wasn't kidding. He moved me off of his lap, sitting me down on the bed, and stood up to start undressing. Now we were talking. I perched up on my knees, resting my hands on my hips, and gave him my best 'hurry-up-or-else' look.
He swore under his breath, rushed to lock the door, and started undressing at hyper-speed. His suit jacket, pants, and tie were all gone in nanoseconds. What kind of strip show was that? When he slipped off his boxers and came charging toward me, I couldn’t care less.
His hands met my waist. Lifting me with ease, he tossed me back on the bed. His face was serious, his strong jaw was set and determined, and if I didn't already know how gentle he actually was, I might have been frightened. Inching my legs apart, he filled the space and covered me completely. He brushed his hands lightly down my thighs, followed by my calves, and finally over my heels. He knocked my shoes off and then in one quick motion, he tore my underwear—literally tore them off. If I hadn't been so turned on and kind of impressed, I might have been angry.
“Sorry, those had to go.”
“It—” I was about to tell him that it didn't matter, when he ran a finger down the center of my heat. Another second later, he brought his erection to where his finger had just been and let the tip penetrate me. “Wait,” he said abruptly, “I need a condom.”
He was about to leave me and that was the last thing I wanted. “No.” I grabbed hold of him tight. “We don’t need one. I’m on birth control and have been since we almost went all the way before.”
Dean cupped my face in his hand. “Well, this is the perfect moment to finish what we started,” he said. Then he slammed inside of me.
“DEAN!” I called out, a mixture of surprise, pleasure, and excitement. He moved his hand over my mouth, rotating his hips in a circular motion. He was way bigger than any guy I'd ever been with and this was...different. The really good kind of different. Arching his hips, he thrust powerfully into me. I couldn't help it when I moaned into his hand.
“Hush, Maggie, or the whole house is gonna hear you,” he chided, but the tone in his voice told me he was beyond pleased.
He moved his hand off my mouth and then his hips picked up a glorious rhythm of retreating and filling me. “Holy mother of…” I breathed into the space between his shoulder and his neck. The pressure built and he moved faster, the friction between us incredible and frankly, unexpected. I'd never been very good at climaxing during sex. But this was...intense.
His hands moved to grip under my thighs, angling my legs higher against him. I pulled at his legs too, wanting him harder and deeper inside me. He gave me exactly what I craved, meeting me powerfully, until I could no longer take it and the sweet release hit me like a tidal wave. It was pure heaven as the muscles inside me contracted around him, squeezing and taking. I tried to call out his name, but he slipped his tongue deep in my mouth, catching my screams.
But this was far from over. He quickly pulled out of me, shifting beside me on the bed, positioning himself so that my butt met up with his groin. Hooking one of my legs over his hip, he spread me wide. I wasn't really sure about this, but his lips were on my shoulder and his fingers were softly caressing my breasts and stomach, so I wasn't about to argue.
“Take me in your hand and guide me inside,” he commanded.
I quivered at his words, but I wasn't about to back down from a challenge. His erection was right there waiting for me and I did as he asked. I loved the feeling of him filling me from behind, while his hands had easy access everywhere else. His thrusts turned powerful once more,
and while one strong arm wrapped tight around my waist to move me as he wished, the other hand reached between my legs to glide against me.
Omigosh! I was going to come—again. “Dean,” I whimpered.
“Let go, Maggie, I’m all yours,” he whispered in my ear.
I couldn't have screamed if I wanted to because all my breath was trapped in my throat. Dean continued to shove into me, prolonging my orgasm, and making me thank my lucky stars that I'd hunted him down in the first place. His release came a moment later, when he hastily pulled out of me and I felt as his warmth spilled hot onto my thigh.
He growled into my back, holding onto me tight. “Sorry. I know you said you’re on birth control, but I had to pull out. One day, when you're finished with college and have my ring on your finger, I would love nothing more than to have a mini-Maggie running around. How's that for answering all the tough questions? I love you, Maggie Ryder, and I can't wait for that day. But until then, maybe we should be a little more careful.”
“I understand.” And I did. Dean knew better than anyone what could happen if we weren’t careful. “Should I get dressed? Do you want me to go now because of Valerie?” I tried to pull away, but he held me tighter.
“Hell no,” he said against my shoulder. “You're spending the night. I'm not done with you yet. Valerie will wake up at seven like clockwork so as long as you’re dressed by then, we’re good. And besides, I want her to get used to having you around because I’m hoping you’ll be around as much as possible.”
My cheeks were hurting—that’s how hard I was smiling. “You’re gonna get sick of me.”
He squeezed me tighter. “Not possible. The only thing that makes me sick is how stupid I was for letting you go. Never again though. When I said I was all yours, I meant it. I always have been and always will be…if you’ll have me, that is.”
Dean loosened his grip slightly so I turned, pushed him onto his back, and then climbed on top of him. I leaned over, my breasts brushing against his chest and my lips touching his, and whispered, “Yes, of course I’ll have you. Is right now too soon to start?”
“Now is perfect. I’m pretty sure you owe me a favor anyway.”
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sarah Darlington lives in Virginia, is married to her high school sweetheart, and currently spends her time chasing around a very active toddler. As a former flight attendant, she misses the days of pantyhose, galley gossip with good friends, and traveling to new places. In the future she'd like to return to that career, but—just as flying gets into your bones—so does writing. Whenever she gets a free moment these days, she writes. Her next novel, Kill Devil Hills, will be released in the fall of 2014.
You can email her at [email protected]
Or find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sarahdarlingtonauthor
Acknowledgments:
Writing a novel is hard. Imagine that. I started writing back in 2008 and it has taken me all these years to actually finish (and deem worthy) one of my novels. If you’re considering writing a novel of your own, I encourage you to go for it! If I can do this then I strongly believe anyone can too. It just takes time, determination, and a few wonderful people to help you along the way.
First off, I’d like to thank my family—my mom, Aunt Michelle, Laura, Chelsea, and Allie—for reading and being nothing but supportive along the way. And thank you to my wonderful husband for being encouraging of my ‘little hobby.’
Thank you to all my beta readers, but especially to Amy Edwards. So many times I wanted to quit and start a different story—but you were always only an email away, always pressing me to continue on, always being nothing but positive and encouraging.
Thank you to my editor and friend—S.G. Thomas. You are the best! The editing process was tough, but totally worth it. You make my writing shine!
Last but not least, thanks to all my readers. I hope you enjoyed this novel as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Okay then…that’s all for now.
He Belongs With Me Page 25
