Petal Plucker

by Iris Morland

  “It’s nine years late, but I thought I’d make it up to you. I thought I’d tell you to dress up, but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise.”

  “Oh, believe me, I’m not disappointed that I didn’t have to squish myself into a bunch of Spanx.”

  His gaze was heated as he looked at my breasts, cleavage visible above the rather plunging V-neck. “That would be a travesty.” He reached behind me and squeezed my ass. “None of this should be hidden.”

  “You’re an ass man?”

  “Baby, I’m an anything man. And you have so much to enjoy.”

  His kiss was long, reminding me that, despite the corsage and talk of prom, we weren’t awkward teenagers anymore. And Jacob knew what he was doing, but that didn’t help my nerves that much. I’d been on edge all day, waiting for the evening to come—pun intended. What if I messed everything up? What if Jacob was disappointed in me?

  “You’re thinking again,” he said. He traced a line down the middle of my forehead.

  “Sorry. It’s a habit of mine.”

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “Oh, you know. The usual. If this is going to be any good. If I’m going to be any good. If I’m going to fuck it all up.”

  “It’s going to be good. Wasn’t it already good?”

  I smiled, blushing at the memory. “More than good. Amazing.”

  “And we haven’t even gotten to the main event yet.” He kissed the side of my neck. “But we aren’t going to rush things, either.”

  I quivered as he licked a path down my throat. “Wait, why not?” Suddenly I wanted to rush things very, very badly.

  “Because you’re not just going to lose your virginity to me, Dani. I’m going to ruin you for any other man.”

  Well, shit, I thought rather wildly. I totally believe him, too.

  He led me to the living room, and after messing with his phone, he started playing music straight from our senior year in high school. Kevin sat on top of his cat tree like a grumpy chaperon, his tail swishing when Jacob got too close.

  “Your cat isn’t going to kill me, is he?” said Jacob as Taylor Swift’s “You Belong With Me” started playing.

  “Just don’t make eye contact with him.”

  “Duly noted.”

  We started slow dancing, Jacob’s hands on my waist, and when he attempted to twirl me in a circle and we got all tangled up, we both started laughing.

  “Since we’re not seventeen, I think we need some drinks.” I went to my fridge, glad that I’d stocked up on wine and beer. “Want anything?”

  “I’ll have a beer.”

  I poured myself a glass of Pinot Grigio and brought Jacob a beer.

  “Who bought you the booze?” said Jacob, like we were still actually teenagers. “I had a guy but he moved to San Diego and now I’ve been up shit creek without a paddle.”

  I sniffed. “A lady never discloses where she acquires illicit booze.”

  He snorted and drank his beer. I couldn’t but be enthralled by his Adam’s apple bobbing, the way his throat worked. With the last remaining rays of sunlight filtering through my blinds, he seemed mysterious, alluring. It helped that the heat in his gaze was liable to set me on fire at any moment.

  Another slow song, “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars, began playing. Jacob took my glass of wine and his beer and set them on the coffee table. He put his hands back on my waist, but soon those hands drifted further down.

  I widened my eyes. “Jacob—” I mock-gasped. I took his hands, moved them back up. “Behave yourself. There are chaperons watching.” I pointed to Kevin, who had just fallen asleep. His eye opened for a second before he fell back asleep. So much for being chaperoned.

  “You’re right.” Instead of keeping his hands on my waist, he moved them up until they cupped both of my breasts. I inhaled a sharp breath. “Is this too high?” he asked innocently.

  “Yes,” I squeaked, mostly because he just brushed both of my nipples.

  “You don’t sound convinced.”

  I moaned as he pinched one swollen peak and rolled the other between his fingertips. “Jacob—”

  In a quick movement, he pressed me tightly against him. I could feel his hardness against my belly, and the thought that I’d feel that inside me made me almost melt at his feet. I wanted everything he could give me. I didn’t care if it hurt—it would be worth it.

  He grabbed my ass again before spanking one cheek. I yelped in surprise. “That was for the other day.” He spanked the other cheek. The pain somehow translated to pleasure, and I almost wanted to beg him to keep spanking me.

  “Oh no.” I fluttered my eyelashes. “Have I been a bad girl?” My voice was breathy.

  His pupils dilated. Groaning, he grabbed my hair and kissed me like a wild man. His tongue plunged into my mouth, the kiss hot and wet. It was messy and desperate, and I loved it. I ran my fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck, enjoying the strands’ silky softness.

  “Tell me you want this,” he said. He sounded like he was about to fall off the edge. “Because I won’t be able to stop.”

  Words felt inadequate in that moment. I stepped away from him and took off my t-shirt. Despite his admonition not to wear sexy underwear, I hadn’t listened. What woman was going to lose her virginity wearing granny panties and a sports bra if she could avoid it? I’d recently splurged on an emerald green lace bra and thong set that I had hoped Jacob would get to see, but it wasn’t until this moment that I believed it.

  Jacob’s eyes were darker than I’d ever seen them. “Keep going.” His voice was like velvet and steel.

  My hands shook, but not from fear: from anticipation. I slipped off my cat socks, laughing a little at how incongruous they were with what was happening, before my jean shorts went straight to the floor.

  Jacob drank me in. My nipples hardened, my pussy flooding with moisture simply from him gazing at me. I’d never thought a man could look at me like he wanted to ravish me on the spot, but then again, I’d never thought any of this would be happening in the first place.

  “Should I keep going?” I said, reaching around to take off my bra.

  “No.” Jacob moved, staying my hand. “Not yet.” He cleared his throat. “We should talk about protection.”

  I had to bite back a smile at his serious tone. “Yes, that would be the responsible thing to do.”

  “I brought condoms. I assumed you didn’t have any.”

  “You assumed correctly. Besides, I would’ve chosen the wrong size or type. It’d kind of be like you buying me tampons without my specifying which type.”

  Jacob looked like he was going to cry with laughter, which only made me want to laugh, too.

  “In case you were wondering,” he continued, “I’m clean.”

  I swallowed, my mouth going dry. I didn’t know what devil decided to perk up on my shoulder, but I found myself saying, “I’m on birth control already because I’m vain about my skin. Which is rather convenient, I know. So we can skip the condoms. If you want.”

  A predatory smile stretched across his face. He kissed my shoulder and murmured in my ear, “Good, because I really wanted to go bare inside you, but didn’t know if you’d be cool with it.”

  “I’m cool. Super cool. The absolute coolest. Coolio cool.”

  He nipped my collarbone. “You’re adorable.”

  He kept kissing and nipping and licking, which meant he was already taking control again. Before he could turn me into a puddle at his feet, I said, “Take off your jacket. And then roll the sleeves up.”

  “You’re giving orders now?” But he smiled and did as I asked. His tossed his jacket and tie onto the couch, almost hitting Kevin, who’d moved from his perch on top of the cat tree. Hissing, Kevin slinked off into my room with a look of betrayal.

  “He’s probably never going to forgive me,” I said mournfully.

  “He’ll get over it.” Jacob rolled up his shirtsleeves and revealed the tanned length of his fore
arms covered in light golden hair. “Turn around and put your hands on the wall.”

  My belly quivered. For a long moment, I stared at the wall, waiting for him to touch me. To do anything to me. Finally, he cupped my bare ass, only a strip of the thong covering it now. He pushed the strap aside and stroked my pussy, swearing when he felt how wet I was already.

  He kissed the side of my neck as he played with me. His touch was gentle, almost soothing, but it only made things worse because I wanted hard and rough and fast. I wanted more, more, more, but Jacob just held me against the wall, his body solid and unmovable, as he stroked me.

  “That night in the hotel room,” he said, his breath hot on my neck, “it took everything I had not to eat your pussy until my mouth was drenched in you.”

  “Why didn’t you?” I gasped when he tapped my clit.

  “Because I knew that once I ate your pussy, I wouldn’t stop there.” He circled my sheath before pressing two fingers inside me. I reflexively bucked against his hand, like I wanted him to stop.

  “Am I hurting you?”

  “No. I mean, yes, but it’s a good hurt.” The initial burn had faded, and I just wanted him to plunge his fingers inside me until I contracted around him.

  “A good hurt?” He swiped across my clit as he finger-fucked me like he had in the hotel room. “What if I add a third one? Can you take it, sweetheart?”

  I whimpered. When he added a third, stars burst across my vision. I was already so full. How could I take his cock, which I knew was thicker than even three of his fingers?

  He pulled his fingers out before thrusting back inside, his thumb massaging my clit at the same time. Moisture dripped from my pussy. I couldn’t speak—I couldn’t think. I was so close to orgasm that I could only beg like a crazy woman.

  But right when I was about to come, he stopped. I protested on a groan.

  “I want you to come with my mouth on your pussy,” he said before he went down on his knees. In short measure, he pulled my thong to my ankles, widened my legs, and maneuvered me so I was bent at almost a ninety-degree angle.

  I was completely exposed. I was glad he couldn’t see my face, because my cheeks were burning. But any embarrassment faded away when he licked through my swollen folds.

  I cried out. “Jacob—” I wished I had something to hold onto.

  “Fuck, you’re sweet. You taste amazing.” His growl reverberated through my entire body.

  As he ate me out, I felt my orgasm once again coalescing, deep in my belly. My palms were sweaty. My nipples hurt from how aroused I was. Jacob finally circled my clit with the tip of his tongue, drawing it out of its delicate hood, and it was so good I felt like sobbing.

  I was sobbing, I realized dazedly. I kept saying things I’d never said in my life. Kiss me lick me fuck me. Make me come so hard my knees buckle.

  I began to move with him, and when he wouldn’t give me exactly what I needed, drawing out the pleasure, I growled. He just laughed at me.

  “I like making you suffer,” he said as he thrust three fingers inside me. It didn’t hurt this time. I was so wet I barely felt a twinge.

  The combination of him sucking my clit and plunging his fingers inside me set me off like a rocket. I screamed, not caring that my neighbors could probably hear me. My knees did buckle, but Jacob was there to catch me.

  “I got you,” he said as I collapsed against his chest. “I got you.” He kissed my temple and pushed my hair from my shoulder.

  Once I caught my breath, I clambered on top of him, pulling his shirt from his pants and ripping it open. He laughed a little at my enthusiasm, but he didn’t try to stop me. I kissed his chest, loving how his muscles rippled as I dragged my fingers across his skin. He cupped the back of my head as I explored him, groaning deep in his throat when I sucked hard on the side of his neck.

  I’d never felt this wild before. Like I’d come out of my skin if I stopped touching this man who’d equally pissed me off and had somehow been exactly what I’d been looking for.

  “Dani,” said Jacob. He tugged on my hair. “Dandelion. I’m not fucking you on your floor for your first time.”

  I glanced at the hardwood. “It’d probably be kind of uncomfortable,” I allowed.

  Standing up, Jacob helped me up and took me to the bedroom. Even though it was my room, having him place me on my bed like the most precious cargo somehow rendered it completely different. My blue checkered duvet seemed brand-new to my eyes; the paintings on the wall I’d bought specially from IKEA seemed like the rarest of art.

  Jacob undressed, his eyes hooded. He slipped off his shirt, letting it fall to the floor, before going to his belt. My heart pounded with anticipation. Although I’d already come once, I needed more. I needed his cock inside me. I needed him inside me.

  When he was completely naked, I took him in: his wide shoulders, the divot at his waist, the slope of his hips; the strength in his thighs. I finally let myself take in his cock, which was a beautiful sight to behold. I let out a sigh of appreciation.

  “Can I—” I nibbled on my bottom lip.

  “You can do anything you want, as long as you’re touching me.”

  When I took hold of his cock, I couldn’t even wrap my fingers around him. My pussy ached. It felt so cliché, wondering if he would fit. But honestly—I wasn’t sure if he would.

  I had no idea what I was doing. I stroked him, rubbed him, felt him grow, to my astonishment. When I leaned down to lick the crown and tasted the bead of moisture there, I suddenly found myself flat on my back and Jacob climbing over me.

  “Did I do something wrong?”

  “I’m not coming in your hand.” He pushed my legs apart and settled between them. “I’m coming inside this pussy, like I’ve dreamed of doing for so long.”

  He kissed me, and I could feel the head of his cock glance over my pussy. I squirmed, worry pushing through the pleasure. “Wait—wait,” I gasped.

  “What?”

  “I just don’t think—” I swallowed. “I don’t think you’ll fit.”

  I could tell Jacob was trying his hardest not to laugh. I smacked him on the chest when his lips twitched. “I’m serious!”

  “You do know how this works, don’t you?”

  “Don’t be rude. I’m a virgin, not an idiot.”

  “Of course not.” He sobered. “You’re one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.” He sucked on my bottom lip before nipping it. Reaching around me, he unhooked my bra and slipped it from my shoulders. “Much better.” After he’d looked his fill of my breasts, he said, “Do you trust me to make sure you’re ready?”

  Trust—something I wasn’t very good at. But in that moment, I wanted to trust him. I nodded, letting myself be taken care of by someone else for a change.

  Jacob hitched my legs up, opening me up further, and his cock pressed against my entrance. I stiffened. It wasn’t that it hurt; it was just strange.

  “You have to relax, sweetheart.”

  “You wouldn’t be relaxed with Godzilla trying to fuck you,” I grumbled.

  Jacob laughed silently, but the movement only pushed him further inside me. He groaned; I groaned.

  “You’re so tight. God, Dani. You’re amazing. I love to feel you bare around me.”

  His cock pushed inside me until I felt so full, I couldn’t breathe. It burned, and in a brief moment, the sharp pain made me squeak.

  “I’m sorry.” He kissed my forehead; he kissed my nose, then my lips. “Are you okay?”

  I flexed my muscles around the intrusion of his cock, which made him grunt. He was stuffed inside me, and it was the most extraordinary feeling, having a man inside me for the first time. It was thrilling and unbearably intimate. I felt like a part of me had fused with him irrevocably.

  “Yes.” I arched. I needed movement, friction. Not this stillness. “Move, move, move.” I dug my nails into his shoulders.

  He didn’t need me to say anything else. Pulling out, he slammed back into me. Our hips met
, our mouths crashing together, as he pounded into my pussy and claimed not just my innocence, but my heart and soul, too.

  Hooking my legs over his arms, he gave himself leverage to increase the speed of his thrusts. His cock pistoned into me with relentless speed. The pain that I’d felt had melted away, and the only thing I felt now was molten pleasure moving through my veins.

  “Fuck, Dani. Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Jacob was incoherent now. His usual aplomb had melted away, and it only turned me on further. I had done this to him: me, Dandelion Wright. It was almost as extraordinary as the fact that he was the one taking my virginity.

  He reached down and began to rub my clit. “You need to come for me, because I can’t last much longer.” His voice was a growl.

  It was too much: his thumb, his cock, the smell of sex and sweat, the sound of my headboard banging against the wall. I tightened around him and came again, my pussy spasming. I cried out in a hoarse voice.

  Jacob slammed into me one last time before his cock twitched inside me, and he groaned my name. He filled me with his seed until I was sure I couldn’t contain it all. I hadn’t realized how much of a turn-on it would be to have a man lose control and come inside me like this, marking me as his.

  The moment Jacob pulled out of me, leaving me bereft, our gazes locked. His cheeks were flushed, and sweat beaded on his forehead. He was unbearably handsome yet vulnerable, too, and I realized that I’d been so very, very stupid.

  Because in that moment, I knew that I was in love with him.

  Chapter Eighteen

  What was the protocol when a guy slept over? Did you make him breakfast? Or would that be acting like we were in a relationship?

  It was close to 6:00 AM. I needed to be at Buds and Blossoms by nine, but I was tempted to tell Judith I’d be in later. I was busy staring at the sleeping man in my bed.

  I’d always thought it was creepy that sparkly vampire Edward would just sit and watch Bella sleep. Probably because he didn’t ask her first, but at the moment, I understood the appeal.

  In the middle of the night, I’d gotten up to pee and had been surprised to find blood smeared between my thighs. I was sore, but not enough that I would’ve thought I’d bled. It was so primal, the mixture of semen and blood having dried on my thighs, Jacob’s come still dripping from my pussy, that I felt myself growing aroused. Maybe it’d been because I’d felt like Jacob had marked me as his own. I’d almost wanted to wake Jacob up for a second round, but I had a feeling I needed to give my body a little more time to recover.