Lipstick Kisses : A Sexy, Standalone Contemporary Romance

by C. C. Cartwright

  “Stop it. I’m sure the guys were after you, and are still after you.”

  She plays coy, like what I’m saying is wrong.

  “I’ve kept my nose to the grindstone studying. I have lots of guy friends.”

  “Who all want to be more than just friends, I can assure you.”

  “Stop it.”

  “Look, the only reason a guy bothers to be friends with a girl is because he’s interested in her.”

  “That’s not true,” she tries to deny.

  “Trust me, it is.”

  “Maybe for a player like you, but that’s not how my guy friends are. Take Bryce, for instance. We’re just good buddies.”

  “Yeah, that’s what you think. He’s just waiting patiently for the right time to make his move.”

  “Bryce is just a friend,” she adamantly insists.

  “To you, from your side, I believe that’s true.”

  “Whatever, Justin.”

  “How did you enjoy your dinner?”

  “These were excellent. You were right. I wasn’t disappointed with my dinner choice,” she says, adding a sexy wink for good measure. Being out with Sloane is so easy. She’s fun to be around.

  We walk out into the cold night air and wait for the valet to bring my car around. I see her rubbing her arms, trying to warm up. I put my arm around her.

  “You cold?”

  “Yes, it’s chilly tonight.”

  “I’ll warm you up,” I say, and she bursts out laughing.

  “Justin, do those lines really work on girls?” she asks, still wearing a smile that reaches her sparkling eyes.

  “Actually, they usually do,” I say with an air of arrogance. “You won’t be laughing when I’m done with you.”

  “Is that a promise?” she teases.

  “Absolutely. Get in the car, my dear,” I reply, opening her door for her.

  I’m going to make her regret ever laughing at me.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Sloane

  Justin showed up tonight with flowers. He’s really trying to woo me. Then he takes me to the nicest restaurant in Beverly Hills, Giselle’s. I’ve only heard wonderful things about it, and now I can say I’ve been, thanks to Justin wining and dining me. The food was fabulous, and so was the company.

  I couldn’t believe I was finally out with Justin Harlow, and he made it clear this was more than a friendly date.

  He seems intent on making me “his”, so he says.

  I’m pretty sure it’s a conquest thing for him. I’ve gone back and forth in my head all week, debating on whether to go through with this, with someone like the player Justin has become. But because of him, I’m more anxious than ever to lose it.

  We’re in his car now. I’m not sure where we’re headed, but I can only assume back to his place. I get quiet in the car, still debating on letting him have his way with me tonight or if I should make him wait a little longer. Make him work for it. Waiting would be something new for him. Milk this for a few more dates, prolong the agony for him, and tease him—that’s what a player like him deserves.

  “I’m taking you back to my place and teaching you that no one challenges me. You’re going to pay, little lady. You’re one hell of a tease, aren’t you?” he asks.

  “That’s what the boys tell me,” I banter back.

  “I can’t believe you’ve held out this long.”

  “Me neither, to be perfectly honest.”

  Am I really going to give my V-card to Justin Harlow?

  We pull into his high-rise condominium building in Downtown LA. I look up, and it looks at least twenty stories tall.

  We take the elevator up to the top floor. Once we walk into his place, my breath is taken away by the view of the city lights from his floor to ceiling windows in the living room.

  “What a magical view you have of the city,” I breathe.

  His place is plush. I’ve never been out with a man like Justin—only boys from college. It’s dark, with the exception of a dim light in the marble entryway.

  Justin’s condo screams seductive bachelor pad all the way. He has a remote for the music that plays throughout his entire condo, then another remote for the blinds and the lights, creating a romantic ambiance with the click of a button.

  “Can I get you something to drink? How about some white wine?” he asks.

  “That would be great,” I reply, walking into the living room with him as he goes to the bar.

  “This is quite the bachelor pad you have here.” I smile.

  “Yeah, I’m pretty happy here. Let’s go sit on the sofa,” he replies smoothly, handing me my glass of wine.

  I can’t help but wonder how many times he’s played this exact scene out, and with how many lucky ladies. I guess, tonight, I’m the lucky one to be keeping Justin Harlow company.

  “Relax, Sloane,” he says.

  He must be able to tell how apprehensive I am about being here with him.

  I take a sip of my wine and just gaze at him as he places his glass on the coffee table. I swallow hard. He’s making his move, going in for the kill.

  “Do you know how much I want you, how long I’ve been trying to resist you?” he says, holding my gaze as he takes my glass out of my hand and sets it on the table.

  “I have an idea, but it’s not as long as I’ve been crushing on you,” I tease with a small smile.

  “I’m not a patient man,” he says, leaning into me as one hand caresses my neck and he pulls me in for a kiss. His other hand snakes around my waist, and he pushes me back on the sofa.

  Oh my God, this is it. My heart starts racing in my chest.

  He moves on top of me, taking my lips in a passionate kiss. My lips immediately part for his searching tongue.

  Mmm, he’s a good kisser. Of course he is. He has me melting in minutes.

  “God, Sloane, you’re so damn sexy,” he says, pulling away and staring down at me.

  He pulls off me and stands, holding his hand out for me to take.

  I sit up and take his hand, and he leads me to his bedroom.

  We stop at the edge of his bed.

  “Turn around,” he commands softly, and I do as he says.

  He draws the zipper down from the back of my dress and slides it off my shoulders. He lightly bites my shoulder, sending a shiver down my entire body.

  I turn around to face him, and his eyes cast down to my breasts spilling out of my lacey bra that I wore especially for him.

  “God, Sloane, you’re incredible. Lie down.”

  I pull back the comforter and climb into his bed.

  He stares down at me as he undresses down to his briefs. His body is beautifully sculpted. I can’t wait to spread kisses over every inch of it.

  He covers me with the weight of his glorious body.

  “Do you know how beautiful you are?” he says, inches from my lips.

  I pull him to my lips. “No more talking,” I say.

  We start kissing, devouring each other. My hands run through his hair as his lips travel down my body.

  He slowly draws a nipple into his warm mouth, sucking lightly until his teeth graze my sensitive peak. I groan at the pleasurable sensation. I feel myself melting in my panties.

  Then he starts to descend soft petal soft kisses down my belly.

  My hips buck up involuntarily in anticipation.

  Once his lips settle on my most intimate and private place, I suddenly feel shy.

  I try to close my legs and pull away.

  “Ah, ah, ah,” Justin scolds, spreading my legs open with his strong hands.

  “Relax and enjoy,” he coaxes.

  He slides a finger inside me, then another.

  “You’re so tight and wet for me,” he says.

  I will myself to relax. You want this, Sloane. You know you want him. Don’t fight it, I tell myself.

  He continues to flick his tongue along my slick folds as his fingers work their magic.

  “You ready for me?” he asks
softly, coming up to my face.

  I answer him with a hard, passionate kiss.

  He breaks away from our kiss and reaches toward his nightstand drawer. I see him open the drawer and fumble with a box of condoms. He’s prepared, but there should be no surprise in that. Once he sheaths himself, I try to not think about all the other women who have come before me, no pun intended.

  He settles his hips between my thighs. I spread my legs wide, inviting him in. Then I pull my knees up and guide his rock hard shaft into me. My breath hitches as Justin presses forward and sinks slowly into me. I feel a slight burn as my body adjusts and accommodates his girth.

  I try to relax and breathe out as I open my eyes and look up at Justin. The man of my dreams is gazing down upon me.

  “You okay?” he asks softly.

  “More than okay,” I whisper back, a dreamy quality to my voice.

  “God, Sloane, you feel incredible wrapped around me,” Justin murmurs into my ear, his warm breath tickling my heightened senses.

  “Justin,” I whisper, getting lost in our slow rhythm. It hurts and feels good at the same time. I feel so incredibly close to him.

  He continues thrusting slowly in and out of me. His breathing is growing ragged as he kisses my temple, then travels down to my cheek before he takes my lips in a passion-filled kiss, never breaking the rhythm as he pounds the weight of his hips into me.

  “I’m not going to last much longer,” he growls in a strained voice.

  Justin lets out a primal growl as he pumps into me a few last times, burying himself deep inside me, before I feel him pulse inside me.

  “Damn, Sloane, you are heaven,” Justin grunts, coming down from our wave of ecstasy.

  Tonight I lost it, lost it to the boy/man I’ve been in love with for as long as I can remember. I hold him close and bury my face into his chest, never wanting him to go. I wish I could freeze this moment forever.

  “Sloane, that was amazing. You’re amazing,” he says softly.

  A feeling of euphoria sweeps through my body and warms me. My wish, my hope of giving myself to someone I love has come true.

  He rolls off me, and I snuggle up to him and lay my head on his warm chest. I can hear his heart is still racing. He wraps his arms around me and plants a tender kiss on my forehead.

  “Do you know how hard I had to fight wanting this, wanting you?” he murmurs.

  “Not as long as I’ve wanted you,” I reply.

  “Those nights at the house in Carmel, I longed to go into your room in the middle of the night and ravish you,” he admits.

  “What stopped you?” I tease.

  “The whole house was filled with my family, not to mention Kylie was sleeping in the bed next to you.”

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Justin

  The intimacy that settles between us catches me off guard tonight. Usually, I never feel with anything other than my cock, but with Sloane, it’s different. She’s different, but in the best way imaginable. I pull her sinfully sexy warm body against me, and it feels amazing to finally have her in my arms and in my bed. I kiss her forehead and she murmurs into me. She almost purrs, like a satisfied kitten. My little sex kitten.

  I fought being her first, but I find that I love being her first. I never thought I would embrace that, but I find that I do.

  “I need some water. I’m thirsty,” she says.

  “Let me get it for you,” I offer and walk to the kitchen buck-naked to grab a bottle from the fridge.

  Once I get back into the bedroom, we go for round two.

  I’m propped up on top of Sloane, my hips settled between her legs. I’m primed and ready to enter her slick, warm channel.

  I gaze down at my beauty, her long hair splayed across my pillow, and I get even harder.

  She looks up at me, and her soft hand caresses my cheek.

  Sex with Sloane is incredible, so intimate, and so special.

  I can’t remember it ever feeling this good.

  The closeness I feel when we are joined so intimately overwhelms me.

  She wraps her legs around me, and I sink into her.

  “Ahh, you feel amazing wrapped around me so tight and wet, babe.”

  Her eyes are hooded with desire for me and how I make her feel inside.

  She lets out a soft purr, and I know she’s come to enjoy our lovemaking immensely.

  It’s written all over her face.

  What can I say?

  I’m good.

  I can melt any woman’s panties and have her dropping them for me in no time.

  CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

  Justin

  Sloane and I have been dating exclusively for over a month now.

  I brought her over to my place tonight.

  I’m making my specialty, grilled steaks and my famous macaroni and cheese—and it’s not from a box.

  I find myself wanting to do special things for her, take care of her, and pamper her. She is so unlike the string of girls I’ve been dating as of late. She’s sweet, caring and innocent, untouched. It’s a refreshing change.

  I like it.

  “Justin, you surprise me,” Sloane says. She’s perched on a stool in the kitchen, sipping her wine. She’s dressed super-casual, with little makeup on. She’s a natural beauty. She doesn’t need any makeup to look gorgeous.

  “How so?”

  “I didn’t know you could cook.” She smiles.

  I love her smile.

  “There are only a few things I know how to cook.”

  I set the table, dim the lights, and put on some mood music.

  “How is your dad doing?”

  “Okay, I guess. He told me he’s dating someone.”

  “Have you met her?”

  “No, and I don’t want to.”

  “How long has it been since your mom passed away?”

  “Almost a year. Sometimes, it feels like yesterday. God, I miss her. She wanted my dad to wait one year before he started dating again.”

  “She told him that?”

  “Yes, it’s a respect thing. I don’t blame her.” Sloane’s eyes cast down, and I reach for her hand to comfort her.

  “Not a day goes by when I don’t still hear her voice or think about her.”

  “I know it must be hard for you.”

  “She was my best friend.”

  “You look a lot like her.”

  “Yeah, that’s what people tell me. My mom was beautiful.”

  “And so are you, Sloane.”

  Sloane offers me a small smile.

  “Thank you. I hope I take after her. She was beautiful on the inside and out. She was so good to me. She spoiled me.”

  “You deserve to be spoiled. I find myself wanting to spoil you, wanting to take care of you.”

  “You do make me feel cared for, Justin. Underneath all of your cocky bravado lies a caring and sensitive man,” she replies, looking at me like I’m something special.

  “Don’t let it get out,” I tease.

  “Your macaroni and cheese is to die for,” she compliments.

  “Better than Kraft Macaroni and Cheese from a box?”

  “Way better, and this steak melts in your mouth. Mmm.” Sloane closes her eyes and moans, and it’s so sexy. My cock twitches at the sight of her.

  Having her here, in my condo, dining with me makes me want her here all the time. She makes this place feel like a home. This scary, scary thought passes through my mind. I’ve never felt this way about any woman I’ve had over. Everything feels so easy with Sloane. I can be myself. There are no false pretenses. She seems to love me just the way I am. Heck, she’s known me since I was a hormone-filled teenager, and she still loves me for me, not for the trappings I can provide her or a lifestyle. She doesn’t seem to care about any of those materialistic things.

  I think losing her mother took a toll on her, but she’s learned what’s important in life—the love of friends and family.

  I know my mom and Kylie have been there for
her. My mom treats her almost like a daughter, and so does my dad.

  There’s something so genuine about Sloane. I can’t get enough of her, as hard as I try to deny it. I’m falling for her.

  “I’m stuffed. Everything was delicious.”

  “Glad you enjoyed it. Do you want to watch a movie? Go see what’s on Netflix, and I’ll clear the dishes.”

  “Can we watch a chick flick, or do you want to watch the latest Bond film?” Sloane calls out to me from the living room.

  “My vote is for Bond.”

  “I figured as much.”

  We make it through the first half of the movie until Bond falls into bed with one of his many Bond girls and it gets me in the mood. I lean over and start kissing Sloane, my Bond girl.

  “You’re my Bond girl.”

  “Justin, you’re distracting me from the ‘good’ part,” she teases.

  “Let’s go into my room and make our own ‘good’ part happen,” I say with a wicked grin, standing and offering her my hand.

  She let’s out a sigh and looks up at me over her long lashes. She takes my hand without a word and lets me lead her to my bedroom of sin.

  I get her naked and on her back in no time.

  CHAPTER NINETEEN

  Sloane

  I still can’t believe Justin and I are finally together. Things between us have been going better than I ever dreamed.

  We’re together in every sense of the word. I’ve given him my special gift, and as of now, I don’t regret it one bit.

  It’s like a dream come true for me. I need to pinch myself daily to remind me that all of this is real.

  He’s an amazing lover, but then, I knew he would be.

  Come on, look at the guy, and he delivers in the bedroom.

  There is no better place in the world than in his arms, in his bed, with him loving me so completely.

  I’m in love with him. There’s not a single doubt in my mind.

  Now, for Justin . . . in the back of my mind, I still wonder if I’m just a conquest thing.

  I won’t ever dare say I love him to his face. It would send him running. I know that much.