by S. Nelson
A soft rap on my window pulled me back from my thoughts. Nolan stood there smiling at me, and all I could do was remind myself to take a deep breath before joining him, the urge to throw myself into his arms intensifying the more I stared at him. The man had a way of making me nervous and excited all at the same time. It was in the way he looked at me, as if he cherished me, even while he didn’t know me all that well, yet. And whenever he touched me, all I wanted to do was wrap my arms around him and nestle into him for hours on end.
“Did you have any trouble getting here?” he asked when I finally stepped out of my car.
“I took a wrong turn a mile up the road, but other than that mishap, I was fine.” My attention swayed to the house in front of me before veering back to him.
His home was quaint, a ranch style with dark blue shutters dressing every window, the contrast to the stark white siding a perfect match. There was no porch, but instead a small stoop with a wrought-iron railing on either side.
His eyes met mine before traveling down my frame, only to wander back up and land back on my face several seconds later. But our gazes missed each other at first because I was too busy checking him out, the way the fabric of his black sweater stretched over his arms and chest, all without being too snug. His dark jeans fell at the perfect spot around his waist, and I couldn’t help but wonder what he wore underneath. Did he prefer boxers or briefs or a combination of both? Or was he going commando tonight? At some point during the evening, would I be lucky enough to find out?
With a tip of a smile, he extended his arm for me to walk ahead of him, his front door slightly ajar. The heat of his palm resting near the small of my back warmed me, distracted me to where I almost tripped up the step, but I caught myself before I created an embarrassing moment.
“You look beautiful.” His lips rested near my ear when he spoke. “As always.” Goose bumps sprang over my skin. Needing to put some space between us for fear I’d attack him right here, I walked ahead and checked out the living room off to the right. There was a beige couch, a small oval, glass coffee table, and a big-screen television mounted on the wall. Several boxes were piled in two of the four corners, and there wasn’t a picture or personal item anywhere in sight.
“Did you just move in?” I asked, appreciating the dark hardwood floors that appeared to run throughout the rooms.
“No. I’ve been here two years.” I glanced back at him, wondering why someone would move in and not decorate at all.
“Oh.”
I didn’t wait for him as I strolled into another room, which was completely empty except for taupe-colored curtains, then ventured into the kitchen. All white cabinets made the small space appear larger, and as I ran my hand over the light marble countertop, I noticed the only items he had displayed were a stainless-steel toaster oven and a black coffee maker. There was a small island in the center of the room, clear of any items, two stools tucked beneath for seating.
“My bedroom is at the back of the house.” I hadn’t heard him walk up behind me. “There’s a guest room as well as a hallway bathroom.”
I turned to face him, all too aware of the way he watched me. “I like your home, but why is it so empty?”
His shoulders lazily bounced. “It’s just me. I have all the essentials.”
There were so many questions I wanted to ask and so many suggestions I wanted to give, but I kept my mouth shut. This wasn’t my place. Who was I to judge how he preferred to keep his house?
“Whatever you’re cooking smells delicious.”
“I hope you like lasagna.” He moved toward the oven and peered inside via the light.
“I do.” I leaned against the corner of the island. “How was work?”
He opened cabinets and pulled down two plates, as well as two wine glasses. Before he shut the doors, though, I caught a glimpse of a few more items tucked inside, surprised he had more than a single plate and glass for just himself.
“Busy. I was called out on two domestic disturbances, an accident where one of the drivers had to be taken to the hospital, and a breaking and entering.”
“Wow” was all I could think to say in response to everything he listed. “Don’t you ever worry you’ll get hurt, just doing your job?” Why I hadn’t fathomed the danger associated with his job before right now was beyond me. Perhaps it was because I was too wrapped up in all things Nolan that I never thought about what he did for a living. I mean, I was aware he was a cop, but I never gave it much thought otherwise.
“There’s always the chance, sure, but I can’t think about that when I’m out there. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be able to do my job well.” In only a few steps, he was in front of me, his hands covering both of mine. “Do you worry about me?” His question was serious, but the curve of his mouth eased some of the gravity of his words.
“Of course. Who else is going to take care of any ticket I get? If I get another one, that is. Then again, maybe I’ll have to flirt with the next officer and hope he’s not in a bad mood.” I laughed, but Nolan wasn’t amused. Not entirely, at least.
“You better not chat up another cop, or anyone else for that matter.” He pulled me into him and linked his hands behind my back. “You’re only allowed to flirt with me,” he added, tightening his hold.
“And are you only allowed to flirt with me?”
“It seems only fair,” he answered with a bigger grin.
“I agree.”
Less than a week ago, we mutually agreed we were dating, and now we were telling each other the only person we could flirt with was each other. Did we just become exclusive? I wasn’t going to ask right now because I didn’t want to ruin the vibe happening between us. Nolan was more at ease than I’d seen him, and I didn’t want to disrupt that with a question that was too soon to ask anyway.
He lowered his mouth to mine. “Then it’s settled.” Again, I had the inclination to ask him to be more specific, but the first tease of his tongue erased all thoughts on the subject. Entangling my fingers behind his head, I leaned up and gave in to the desire he evoked with a single kiss. We explored each other, teetering between tender and aggressive. His hands traveled over my backside and rested just below my cheeks. In one swift motion, he raised me up, only to then rest me on top of the island, settling between my legs as they parted. Lust had me reaching for his belt buckle, tugging him toward me only for him to break away from my lips and look at me.
“Quinn.” My name came out in a whisper. “I don’t… I want to…” He sighed in frustration.
“It’s okay. We don’t have to do anything.” My fingers slipped from his waist and rested on the edge of the island.
“What if I want to? What if I want to drag you to my bedroom so I could have my way with you?” The greens of his eyes darkened. He leaned forward again and traced my bottom lip with his tongue, then in a bold move, bared his teeth and nipped the corner. My gasp was involuntary, the deep inhalation of air turning the ache between my thighs from dull to borderline painful. “I can’t seem to think straight when you’re around, even though I try.” Resting his lips over mine once more, I yanked on his belt again, detangling it and pushing the two ends to the sides as I unzipped his jeans.
“I want that too,” I confessed, pulling the band of his boxer briefs toward me so I could slip my fingers beneath and feel his rigidness. Now it was his turn to gasp.
“I have to tell you something first.” Right then, I didn’t care what it was he wanted to say, too focused on the feel of him. And lucky for me, Nolan was large everywhere. His head fell back on a groan as I stroked him, a drop of precum sliding over his tip. “Fuck, that feels amazing.” His eyes fell to mine in an instant, his hands cradling my cheeks and drawing me closer. “I want to taste you so bad.”
Kissing Nolan made me feel like I’d never been properly kissed before. No other man stacked up, not even my ex. He made me feel desired and cherished all rolled into one.
Without warning, he seized my wrist and removed my hand
. “Did I hurt you?” I asked, unable to properly read his expression. At first glance, he looked pained, but he also looked like he wanted to fuck me right where I sat.
“No.” The timer on the oven beeped, startling me. “The lasagna’s done, but I don’t want to eat that right now.” Hooded eyes and a sexy smirk made me squirm in anticipation. Before my brain could conjure a response, he lifted me from the counter and put me on my feet. “But I have to take it out before it burns.” I didn’t believe I ever saw anyone move as quickly as he did, placing our dinner on top of the stove, turning off the oven, and rushing back in front of me in record time.
The sight of his pants undone was sexy, but the growl he made when he pulled me behind him down the hallway was even sexier. I was two steps into his bedroom, quickly noticing only a bed and dresser inside, when I untied the belt of my wrap dress, allowing the sides to fall open. For every step he took toward me, I took one back.
“Patience,” I warned, licking my lips in hopes he’d refuse to listen to me.
“I don’t know how long I can last.”
At first, I thought he referred to his unraveling persistence, but when he raised his brows in contemplation, I needed him to clarify.
“What do you mean?”
I took another step backward, but he stayed put. “I haven’t had sex in a long time. I don’t want to disappoint you, but I don’t think I’m going to last long at all.”
“Can you last longer the second time?”
Gone was the worried look, a slow grin spreading across his gorgeous face. “Much longer.”
“Then why are you all the way over there?”
My dress slid off my shoulders and fell to the ground, and before I knew it, I was flat on my back, staring into the eyes of a man who was quickly becoming my everything.
28
Nolan
I imagined Quinn like this more times than I could count. Legs spread beneath me, her hands stroking me, our tongues battling for dominance, but I never thought my fantasy of her would come true. In fact, I didn’t want it to come true. I didn’t deserve her, but as I removed her black lace bra and panties and tossed her heels somewhere across the other side of the room, I knew I couldn’t stop.
I couldn’t go back to the life I’d known these past three years.
Something about this woman made me dream of hope, made me want to swim out of the ocean of guilt and grab the lifeline she offered.
And for the first time since I could remember, I shut off my brain and relied solely on my senses to guide me.
Seeing desire flash in her eyes made my own crest to the surface. Her skin tinged a sexy shade of pink, the plump of her breasts and the pebbling of her nipples throwing my lust into a whole other realm.
“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered against her mouth, kissing along her jaw only to rest my lips underneath the shell of her ear. I breathed her in as if trying to commit her smell to memory.
Her skin was soft, the feel of her against me making my breath stutter. Trailing the pads of my fingers down her side, my hand came to rest directly below her hip bone. She shifted her body, then pushed my hand further down until I felt her warmth.
“Right there.” The sound of her pleasure was a straight shot to my cock. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this fucking hard.
Quinn was soaked, my fingers gliding from her clit to her entrance with ease. I wanted to take my time and explore every inch of her, but the way she continued to groan, I’d be lucky to hold on to whatever sliver of restraint I still possessed.
Swallowing her sounds with the gentle tease of my mouth, she writhed under me. I stroked her again and again, pressing against the most sensitive part of her, then slowly pushing a finger inside her. Her breaths came faster, choppier, and I added a second. She clutched my shoulders, her nails digging into me.
“I need to feel you. Take this off,” she urged, pulling at my sweater. Moving to kneel, I reached back and grabbed the neck, yanking it over my head and tossing it to the floor. I moved to lower myself, but she stopped me by placing her hand on my chest, inches from where my heart beat furiously beneath my rib cage. The prick of her nails dragging over my skin sent a shiver through me. Her eyes then danced over my chest, lowering until they came to the top of my jeans.
“I suppose you want these gone as well.” I was off the bed before she could answer, discarding the rest of my clothes. Before I rejoined her, however, I shook my head and cursed.
“What’s the matter?” She propped herself up on her elbows, the motion jutting out her breasts. I was so entranced with the sight of her, my brain barely registered the question she asked.
“I don’t have any condoms.” What a shitty time to remember I wasn’t prepared for this.
“Oh.” We exhaled at the same time, but she was the one to speak first. “I just had my annual exam two months ago. I’m clean and am on the pill. Are you… do you have any—”
“I’m clean. I’d never do that to you.” Without an ounce of hesitation, she reached for me, and I obliged, taking my position back on top of her, spreading her legs with my knee and holding my weight off her by resting on my forearms. I sealed my lips to hers and promised her everything I was scared to say out loud with the tease of my tongue and the shared air between us.
Gritting my teeth, I slowly worked myself inside her, allowing her time to adjust to my girth, realizing if I’d been smart enough to pick up a box of condoms, the barrier alone would’ve bought me extra time. But the feel of her bare was excruciating, in the best way possible.
I was right to warn her about my lack of stamina this go around because my unraveling started to happen as soon as I buried myself the rest of the way, her muscles tensing with the intrusion. She quickly relaxed, encouraging me to move with a nip to my earlobe and a slap on my ass.
With every drive forward, her inner walls clamped down on me, making it near impossible for me to try and gain some semblance of control. I flexed my hips and thrust into her as slowly as possible, but nothing stopped the buildup. Every muscle in my body started to seize, and right before my breath was stolen from me, I pinned her eyes with mine and made her a promise.
“I swear next time I’ll make you come, two times over, but right now… I… I ca—”
Quinn dug her nails into the small of my back. “Fuck me however you need to. Come now if you want. I’ll hold you to your promise.” Her sexy smirk disappeared when I lifted her leg to rest over my hip and drove in deeper. Dueling tongues and greedy hands intensified every sensation barreling through me.
Seconds later, I emptied every bit of me inside her.
My climax.
My need.
My desire.
My love?
No, that couldn’t be right. What I was feeling was the aftermath of having sex. There was no way I’d fallen in love with Quinn. I hadn’t known her long, and after what I’d been through, it was going to take me a lot longer to open my heart back up.
Wasn’t it?
29
Quinn
“You have an amazing body.” His compliment helped to ease some of my insecurities. I ate as well as I could manage, but I wasn’t much of a workout person, only going for the occasional walk, and that was more for when I just needed to get some fresh air to clear my mind.
“My ass is too big, and my boobs are small, but thanks.”
I’d been comfortably resting on his chest when he raised my chin with his finger so he could see my face. “Are you being serious?”
Tracing the curve of his eyebrow, his frown deepened.
“I’ve come to accept my body. I don’t love it, but I don’t hate it either.”
“Are you being serious?” he repeated, flipping me on my back in one swift motion. “Your body is incredible. Every part of you, especially these.” He lowered his head and circled my hardened nipple with his tongue before drawing the hardened peak into the warmth of his mouth, one by one, back and forth, until I could b
arely stand the torment.
“Okay. So, you like those.” I laughed. “But you really haven’t seen my ass well enough to judge.” Before I could utter another syllable, I was on my belly. Then I was on all fours before I could register that he’d positioned me yet again.
“I can see your ass now, and I’m telling you it’s perfect.”
I peered at him over my shoulder, half teasing, half serious with my next question. “You don’t think it’s too big for my frame?”
“Absolutely not.” The sting of his slap shocked me, but when he bent down and sunk his teeth into my right cheek, I groaned, the unexpected sensation revving me up to go again. Nolan leaned over me and captured my mouth, kissing me like he needed me to survive. “Are you ready to go again?” he growled, breaking away for the time it took to ask his question. His thickness nudged against me, and all I had to do was shift a little to the left and he’d be pressing into me.
I wiggled my hips, the slight movement enough of an answer. He spread me wide and worked himself inside, this time easier than the last. My body stretched around him, and soon we found our rhythm. He switched from fast and hard to slow and teasing, the latter driving me insane. Without me telling him what I liked, he seemed to already know, twisting the strands of my hair around his fist and pulling my head to the side while he rutted inside me. His moans blended with mine; the pressure of his dominance mixed with the angle of our bodies heightened the pleasure for me this time around.
Dropping to my forearms pushed my ass higher in the air, the sting of him pulling my hair at this angle, making me wince. “Go deeper. Yeah… right there.” I pushed back against him. “Slow. Do it again.” My demands were so breathy I was shocked he heard me at all.
The familiar tingling erupted down my spine and headed south. “I’m gonna come. Keep… keep doing that. Oh God!” I cried out and buried my face in the pillow as my climax rolled through me.
