And would probably annoy her less than “Tiny.” He inclined his head. “All right, Ace. Just had to clear things up. I said ‘slow down,’ not stop. Get back over here.”
* * * *
Akira’s eyes widened. She giggled and crawled back across the sofa, gasping as Cort pulled her into his lap. Something purely magnetic about him made it impossible not to give in to the pull. He wasn’t handsome in a conventional way, but his smile made him absolutely gorgeous. Her lips hovered over his as she slipped her arms around his neck. Being near him felt so natural. So right.
Why though? What makes him so different from the other guys that hit on you?
Good question. One she couldn’t answer. All she knew was she was drawn to him in a way she didn’t want to fight. She’d told the truth; she wasn’t doing this out of gratitude, but, in a way, he’d been her hero. Not just because he’d saved her, but because he’d been exactly what she’d needed out there, alone in the cold. And he was exactly what she needed right here, right now. A man who was interested in her, physically, mentally, and not through mutual pain. She loved Sir for all he’d done for her, but he’d never be hers.
Maybe . . . maybe Cort could be.
You can’t know that. Not yet.
No. But she had him in this moment. And for the first time ever, she didn’t want to be slow and careful.
She wanted to dive in and see what happened.
Cort placed one hand on her hip and ran his thumb across the waistband of her jogging pants as he teased her lips with his. His other hand moved up her side, his palm skimming the curve of her breast. Her nipples drew into sensitive little points, begging to be touched.
“Mmm.” She pressed against him as he cupped her breast in his hand, stroking her tight, throbbing nipple through her sweatshirt. He shifted his lips to her throat and his hand to her waist. Slowly slipped his hand under her sweatshirt. Grazed her with his fingertips.
He slid his hand over her breast. “Fuck, you’re gorgeous.”
“Cort . . .” Akira tipped her head back as he lifted her sweatshirt to expose her breasts, closing his mouth around her nipple. The jolts of pleasure had her writhing against him. Her fingers delved into his hair, tugging slightly even as she held him in place.
He sucked hard, barring one arm behind her back to steady her as he undid the tie string of her jogging pants. He worked his hand down until his fingers touched her moist heat.
“Baby, you’re so wet.” He rubbed gently over her clit, then slipped the tip of his finger inside her. Her whole body quivered as his thick, callused finger sank into her all the way. She whimpered as he brought his mouth to her other breast. Cried out as he began to thrust his finger and flick his tongue over her nipple while holding it between his teeth. She became pure, sizzling liquid as he held her gaze, gradually easing two fingers inside her. He smiled as her lips parted. Moved his free hand to the back of her neck to pull her close and whisper in her ear, “Ride my fingers, sweetie. I want a visual of how you’ll look when you’re riding me.”
“When.” Oh God, yes! Shifting without displacing his fingers, Akira straddled his thighs. She gasped as he added yet another finger, then lifted up slightly, until only the tips of his fingers were inside her. She lowered, then rose, finding a nice rhythm, lost in the naughty pleasure. She shouldn’t be doing this. Not with a stranger, no matter how easy it was to take everything he gave her. No matter how good it felt to—
“Ah!” Her pace faltered and she gripped his shoulders as her pussy clung to his fingers, clenching as she teetered right on the edge. “May I . . . oh God! I need to come, please!”
He wrapped her hair around his fist and bit her throat as he fucked his fingers up into her. Then he pressed his fingers in as deep as they could go. “Do it, baby. I want to feel you coming hard all over my fingers.”
She convulsed around his fingers, letting out a ragged sound as white heat erupted in her core. The flames spread, reaching beyond the depths, swallowing her whole. Her throat felt raw from the noises she’d made. She shuddered as he slid his fingers from her, burrowing her face against the side of his neck.
“That was . . . that’s not something I usually do. I’m not a slut.”
He hugged her tight. “I know you’re not. You had a rough night. You used me to make it better. I’m good with that.”
Letting out an incredulous snort, she sat up, catching his face between her hands to kiss him. Damn, this felt good. Everything he said, everything he did, made taking this chance with him seem less reckless. And more like an opportunity to have something wonderful. Her lips curled slightly. “I don’t believe in using people.”
“Oh, yeah?” He gave her a hooded look as she reached between them to unzip his jeans.
“Yes.” She slipped off his lap and knelt between his thighs. His hot flesh filled her hand, and she couldn’t get a good grip on him. All the past girl-talk about how size does matter came back to her. Size isn’t supposed to be scary! Her tongue flicked over her bottom lip. “You’re . . . very big.”
He chuckled, petting her hair as she wrapped her hands around him. “So I’ve been told. Not trying to be cocky, but I’ve had to learn how to deal with being such a big man. I promise I’ll be careful with you, little one.”
Little one. She smiled, loving how casually the endearment slipped out. For some reason, she didn’t think he was a Dom. And yet . . . he could easily fit into that role.
But does he want to?
She would find out. Eventually. But for now . . . “I believe you.” She pressed a soft kiss to the tip of his dick, then swallowed as she gently stroked him. “Just . . . don’t move. I’m not sure how much of you I can take.”
“Keep your hands just like that. Fuck, you touching me feels amazing.” He slid his hand over hers, encouraging her to tighten her grip. “Your pretty lips don’t need to go any farther than your hands.”
“It’s enough?” She peered up at him as her tongue swirled around the head of his cock.
He traced her bottom lip with his thumb. “More than enough.”
* * * *
Preening as though Cort’s words pleased her, she took him in her mouth, sliding down slowly until her lips met her top hand. There was something about her expression, the way her lashes lowered, the way her wet lips tightened as they glided up, then down, that made it seem like she enjoyed doing this as much as he enjoyed having it done. Innocent and wanton all at once, not going too fast or too slow. Not trying to get him off as quickly as possible.
He let out a low groan of approval as her tongue fluttered over the sensitive underside of his cock. A flush spread across her cheeks, and she pressed her tongue on that spot as she bobbed her head. He fisted his hands by his hips, resisting the urge to grab the back of her head and thrust in as his pulse thrummed harder, right between her lips. He wanted to last longer, but his girl was determined.
Her gaze on his face as she moved did him in. Pleasure rocked up from his balls, shuddering through his muscles like the goddamn earth was coming apart under him. He tipped his head back, cursing at the fucking mind-blowing sensation of her swallowing around him. She licked the last glistening white trail from the slit of his dick, then sat back on her heels with a satisfied smile on her lips.
The woman had killed him. But as good as she looked down there, he wanted her closer. Which was weird, because he wasn’t the snuggling type.
Fuck it. He crooked his finger at her. “Up here, you little brat.” He did up his jeans, then threw his arm over her shoulders as she curled up beside him. “Not sure I want to know how you got so good at that.”
“With one man, Cort. Only one.” She took a deep breath. “I’m still . . . involved with him, in a way. We should probably discuss—”
“There’s a few things we should probably discuss. But not tonight. Let’s watch the rest of the show.” He kissed the top of her head. “Save the ex-talk—or not-quite-ex-talk—for our first dinner and a movie stint. I can
’t stay much longer. I came to help out a friend, and I want to check in since I’m crashing at his place for a bit.”
“I can live with that.” She let out a happy sigh. “This was . . . nice.”
“Nice?” He wasn’t sure if he should be insulted. “Nice” wasn’t high on his list of compliments. “Remind me to work that ‘nice’ up to an unbelievable next time. Because that’s what you did for me.”
“Aww.” She rubbed her cheek against his arm like an affectionate kitten. “I wouldn’t have taken you for a sweet guy.”
He snorted, not quite sure what had come over him. He wasn’t a sweet guy. “Believe me, anyone who knows me would be shocked.”
“Maybe they don’t know you all that well.”
“Baby, you don’t know me at all.” He gave her a one-armed hug when he noticed the show was over. He wanted to stay, wanted to take what he could from tonight because who knew if she’d want to get to know him once she learned a little more. He stood, scratched his chin, then went to the kitchen. Jotted his name and—after checking his phone—his number on the fridge pad. He went still when he heard her come in behind him. For some reason, it bothered him that his next move might end things between them before they’d even begun, but she needed to have her eyes wide open if she was going to get involved with him. “You’ve got my name. A quick Google search will tell you plenty. Call me if it doesn’t scare you off.”
She folded her arms over her chest and shook her head. “Or you can just tell me. You said dinner and a movie, right?” She tore off the slip of paper with his number, then wrote her number on another. “I’m free Wednesday and Thursday. I actually like action movies—just so you don’t feel stuck watching a chick flick. Let me know what you want to see. And what restaurant you want to bring me to. I’m not a big fan of Chinese food or anything too spicy, so choose carefully.”
He grinned, folding the paper she handed him and stuffing it in his pocket. “Steak and potatoes?”
“Mmm. Yes to both. I also love buffalo wings and beer during hockey games.”
The girl’s a hockey fan. He’d dated a few gushy ones who didn’t watch the game. They just creamed over the players. And had meltdowns when “their men” got a few bumps. He didn’t see his girl doing that, but he could be wrong. “You don’t cry when players get hit, do you?”
Cocking her head, she frowned at him. “Why would I? Unless they don’t get up after a hit, it’s all part of the game.”
“What about football?”
“Love it.”
Could she be any more perfect? He gathered her in his arms, kissing her until she was gasping and pressing against him in a way that got his dead dick twitching with new life. Down, boy. “If I don’t scare you away, there’s a few things I want to do with you.”
Her teeth dented her bottom lip. Her brow furrowed. “Say that again after our talk. I might be the one who scares you away.”
It was cute that she thought that. He tapped her tiny nose. “Not happening, Ace.”
“We’ll see.”
He inclined his head. “Yeah, we will. Wednesday. I can’t wait longer than that to see you again.”
Out in the hall, after making sure she locked the door behind him, Cort leaned against the wall, shaking his head, not quite sure what had come over him. He was acting like a fucking chump. Going soft. Over a woman he hardly knew.
Didn’t matter. He could be that for her. Find a way to keep her away from the rougher parts of his life. Hopefully.
He’d know once Ford told him what kind of trouble he was in. Much as he wanted to get to know his little Ace better, his best friend came first.
Chapter Two
Cort called Ford’s phone again, wondering if Ford had changed his number. He made his way up the metal steps in the alley leading to the man’s apartment, right above the bar, which looked like it had been closed for a while. The darkened windows were streaked with dirt, and Cort knew Ford kept his bar fucking spotless. If he didn’t have the money to hire someone to do the cleaning, he’d do it himself. He was too proud to leave the place looking this bad.
Ford calling him was enough of a clue to let Cort know something was wrong, but this had him really worried. He stopped in front of Ford’s door and pounded on it, ready to give the kid shit if he was inside acting like a goddamn pussy ‘cause he had a cold or . . .
The curtain that usually covered the small window in the heavy oak door was gone. Cort shielded his eyes and squinted to see inside. The place was trashed.
“Fuck.” Cort pulled his small tension wrench and pick from his wallet. Within seconds he had the door open. Picking locks was a trick he’d learned as a kid after his stepdad, Sutter, started locking him out when he missed curfew. Rather than yell at Cort, Sutter had offered him a job. Trained him to do tougher work over the years. And that training would come in handy if anything had happened to Ford.
Droplets of dried blood on the floor made Cort’s gut clench. He searched for a number on his phone even as he strode through the apartment, silently praying Ford wasn’t still here.
Living room wrecked. TV smashed. Leather sofa cut up.
More blood.
Bathroom in order. Kitchen covered in broken glass. Bedroom . . .
Empty. More blood on the sheets and the black-and-white-striped area rug.
“Cort?” The voice on the phone sounded nervous. Ford’s bartender, Reggie, knew something was up.
“Where. Is. He. Reggie?” Cort ground his teeth at the pothead’s long silence. If he was too strung out to answer, Cort would hunt him down and make sure he’d never be able to light another spliff. “Talk to me, punk. I have zero patience for you spacing out right now.”
“He’s at . . . uh . . .” Reggie mumbled something. Probably to himself. The loser’s brain couldn’t retain his own name half the time. He finally spoke, all excited, like he’d come up with the answer in a Final Jeopardy round. “The General. One of the waitresses called him an ambulance when she found him.”
Jesus, Ford! What the fuck happened to you? He pressed his fist against Ford’s padded, leather-covered headboard. “How is he?”
“How is he? Don’t know, man. Didn’t see him. Angel gone brung him flowers and a card though, so I’m thinking he’s not dead.”
Cort hung up, heading straight out. He managed not to break anything else before shutting the door behind him, even though he was tempted. Losing it wouldn’t help Ford. Getting to him, finding out the names—or at least the descriptions of whoever had messed him up would.
Me being back won’t hurt either. He’d taken off because he didn’t want to spend any more time “inside.” A few years for shit he hadn’t even done had taught him to take the . . . well, not high road. More like any road.
But Ford was on this one, and he’d crashed and burned. If he made it out of whatever this was alive, Cort planned to be riding by his side. From this fucking point on.
* * * *
A soft, cold hand on Ford’s chest jolted him awake. His eyes shot open. He chuckled as his pretty little redheaded nurse leaned over him. He cringed at the sharp pain in his side, taking deep breaths as he shifted his position without giving in to the urge to wrap his arms around his guts and never fucking move again.
“Sorry, sweetie.” The nurse made a soft, crooning sound. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”
“It’s all right.” Damn, she probably thought he was pathetic. The painkillers kept him out of the fetal position, but she’d seen him curled up and trying not to shout when the doctor had checked him out. Time to redeem himself. He toughed out a weak grin for Nurse Aggie. “I like waking up to such a beautiful face.”
She blushed and ducked her head. “Oh, you are a smooth talker. You have a visitor. I told him to wait until you woke up. He’s been here for hours.”
A visitor? Ford swallowed hard. The men who’d come after him hadn’t wanted him dead—that he was still breathing proved it—but they might want to make sure he’d
gotten the message. They weren’t his “dad’s” regulars, so they’d been a little . . . overenthusiastic about the job.
Kingsley hadn’t bothered to warn him personally. Since his mother’s death, the man he’d believed to be his father his whole life, the one who’d raised him, hadn’t spoken to him at all. Ford’s eyes burned as he recalled his mother’s last words. “Take care of each other.” Her stroke had come so suddenly he’d made it just in time to take her hand and watch her slip away.
The look Kingsley had given him then should have been warning enough. His father had held back for her. He had no reason to anymore.
“His name’s Cort. Is he a friend?” Aggie straightened, frowning. “I can call Security if he’s—”
“He’s my best friend.” Ford rested back on his pillow with a sigh of relief. “If he’s around, I won’t need security.”
Aggie inclined her head, her features tense with doubt. Then she spun on her heels and walked out.
The beeping on Ford’s heart monitor sped up a bit as Cort appeared in the doorway. Seeing the brutal, tough bastard made Ford want to sit up and do something stupid like ask for a hug. Damn it, he’d missed the man. He’d needed him. Cort had been like a big brother to him since he was sixteen. Gotten him out of all kinds of trouble in the almost ten years since. Watched his back even after Ford was big enough to watch his own.
Cort didn’t look like he was in the mood for a hug, though. He looked like he wanted to kill someone.
Ford chanced a smile, hoping it would get the man to relax a bit. “Hey, pal. Nice to see you.”
“You stupid bastard.” Cort shook his head and stormed across the room so quickly Ford shut his eyes and braced himself for the shaking he knew he deserved, but wasn’t sure he’d survive. Instead, Cort shocked him by squeezing his shoulder. Carefully. “You fucking scared me, kid. You knew something was gonna go down, but you were all cool on the phone last week. I get nothing but a ‘Might need your help, buddy’?”
Delayed Penalty (The Dartmouth Cobras #5) Page 3
