She stared at me for a minute then broke out into giggles.
“Don’t build me up to be more in your head than I am, Teeny. We all had our first times. I’m just a man.”
Ariana
“Standing in front of a girl. Buck naked,” I added. “I’m ready. I w-want you, Luke. Uh, I mean, Sir.”
He waved a hand. “I’ve changed my mind. Call me Luke. If we ever go to a club, I’ll expect you to call me Sir. But here, in privacy, I’m Luke.”
Thank God, because it was hard to remember everything when I was damn near suffocating with need. He undid the foil packet then rolled the condom over his long, thick shaft. I wanted to ask to touch him, but I felt too nervous.
Then he laid down next to me, turning my face to his so he could kiss me. He started out slowly and gently, licking and caressing. After a few minutes, he thrust his tongue between my lips and ravaged me. Need clawed at me, kicking and screaming, and demanding more. Wanting it all.
He drew back, staring down at my body. With one hand, he parted my lower lips and rubbed my clit. “Thick, swollen, and aching, aren’t you?”
I nodded. I thought that one blinding orgasm would be enough, but it seemed my body was eager for more. For Luke.
He rubbed my clit, but his gaze was on my face, and I blushed. Somehow, that made everything far more intimate. Then he leaned down and took my nipple into his mouth. Wet, hot warmth surrounded the hard nub, and I felt myself spiraling higher and higher towards oblivion. He kept playing with me, teasing me, then drawing back when I grew close to the edge. Sweat broke out on my brow, and I could barely hold myself back from reaching out and touching him.
Finally, when I felt at the end of my control, he moved over me, resting his weight on his arms.
“Can I touch you, p-please,” I half-begged.
He shook his head. “Not now. I need all my control this first time. Don’t worry, darlin’ you’ll get your chance to suck my cock.”
Oh, Jesus.
The tip of his cock nudged at my passage. “I’m gonna do this fast.”
It was my only warning as he pushed forward in one sharp, hard thrust.
“Oh, f-fucking hell,” I cried out as pain engulfed me. He leaned in and kissed me softly. Eventually, I started to kiss him back, the pain of his entrance fading to a dull throb.
“You okay, baby?” His face was filled with regret and worry. For me.
I reached up and cupped his cheek, knowing I wasn’t supposed to move but unable to resist. “I am now. F-fuck me, Luke.”
He groaned. “Put your arm back where it belongs.” He shifted his weight to one hand then reached down with the other to lightly tap my clit. My heart raced. Need overcame any remaining twinges of pain. Slowly, he pushed further inside me. He was stretching me, and I wouldn’t call it pleasant, exactly, but I trusted Luke.
When he was fully inside me, he leaned up, his jaw clenching, sweat coating his skin. God, he was gorgeous. Like a statue in a museum except, instead of being cold and lifeless, he was filled with heat and fire. His gaze was intense as he stared down at me. My love for him grew in leaps and bounds.
“Luke.”
“You can move your hands. Touch me.”
I didn’t need to be told twice. As he lay still inside me, I ran my hand over his wide chest. It was hairless, smooth, and muscular. I flicked one nipple, and he closed his eyes with a groan.
“Ariana, you’re pushing my control.”
Good. He needed to let go once in a while, to know that nothing bad would happen if he did lose control. I ran my hands over his strong back, trying to reach his buttocks. But my short arms couldn’t quite reach.
Then he slowly drew out, and I gasped at the feeling. Out then in. Nerve endings danced. Sang. I wanted to demand he go faster, but I was too busy trying to find a way to breathe through the sensations drowning me.
“Luke. Luke.”
He flicked at my clit. I was growing closer and closer. If someone had told me a month ago I could have more than one orgasm in one night, I’d have laughed my head off. But I knew I was going to come again.
“Come, darlin’. Come with me. Come.” His movements grew faster, slightly rougher, but I wasn’t complaining.
Uh-uh. No way.
I grabbed hold of his shoulders, wrapped my legs around his waist, and held on for dear life as he pushed me over the edge and into oblivion.
Chapter Ten
Luke
I walked back into the bedroom after taking care of the condom. One day, I’d take her bareback, but I needed to make certain I was clean first. I’d never taken a woman without protection, but I still wanted to go to the doctor’s and get the all-clear.
I couldn’t wait to take her without anything between us.
I snuggled in next to her. Snuggle. Had I really thought that? But that’s what it was. And it felt right.
“I need to put my pajamas on,” she said with a sleepy yawn. I’d already cleaned her up, much to her embarrassment. She’d probably still feel uncomfortable tomorrow. I’d need to make sure she took things easy.
“No, you don’t. I like the feel of your naked body against mine. I want you to sleep next to me, just like this, every night.”
She turned to tuck her head against my chest. “Bossy man.”
“Just the way you like me.” I grinned as she grumbled. “Do you know you’ve hardly stuttered tonight?”
“Like I said, you make me feel safe. My speech therapist helped me learn to slow my speech and concentrate on each word. It was hard to begin with, but it got easier. But when I’m upset or tired or just can’t concentrate as well it gets worse.”
“Only decent thing my father ever did was pay for those sessions.”
“It took some a-ammunition away from the bullies, although they just moved on to other things.”
I tightened my arms around her, wishing I could’ve protected her from all the nasty shit she’d had to go through.
“Why do you t-think Jared left me the ranch?”
“Who knows why he did anything?”
“Like offer my aunt a job. I often wondered why she took it. She seemed so scared of him.”
“He was a scary bastard. What was your dad like? I don’t remember him.”
“My dad?” she asked in surprise. As though no one had ever asked her that. Perhaps they hadn’t. “He was . . . he was funny. And kind. Warm. A little absentminded. At least I-I thought he was all those things. Turns out he wasn’t.”
She stiffened in my arms, but I wasn’t letting it go. She needed to talk about him, and I wanted to know.
“What’s your best memory with him?”
“Hawaii,” she said immediately. “We went to Hawaii when I was eight. It was our last vacation together. It was beautiful. I just remember having s-such fun.” She spoke sadly, and my heart tightened. “It’s where my mom and dad went on their honeymoon. I wish I’d known her.”
“She’d have been proud of you.” I kissed her forehead. “I know she would have.”
“I hope so.”
Ariana
I put the final touches on the table. Did it look perfect? Jeez, why did I care so much? All the guys cared about was if the food was warm and plentiful. Normally, I wouldn’t care either. But tonight was different. I hadn’t seen Joel since the lawyer dropped that bomb on us. A week had passed, and Joel had spent most of that time alone. Luke said he’d finally emerged yesterday and was acting as though everything was normal.
But it wasn’t, and it was time I plucked up the courage to talk to him. And what better way to mellow a man out than to feed him a good, home-cooked meal. I didn’t know what they’d been doing for food since Daisy hadn’t returned since Ashlynn left, and I’d been avoiding the main house, wanting to give Joel some space.
Luke spent all his free time at my place. Caleb was going back and forth between his job and the ranch, so that only left Joel and Mac. Van was still bunking with the ranch hands, so I assumed he ate
with them as well.
I’d half-expected the place to be a pig-sty, but it was neat as a pin. So maybe Van was making an appearance at meal times. The man was so tidy it was kind of sickening.
I stiffened as I heard voices. I’d told Luke my plan, so he knew to come back here rather than go to my place.
“Hi,” I said, as Joel, Luke, and Caleb walked into the kitchen.
“Hey,” Joel replied, his smile fading. Oh shit. He hated me.
Luke stepped past me and drew me into his chest. “Hey, baby.”
“Hi.”
“It’ll be okay,” he whispered, rubbing my back.
“Um, I’ve set the table for dinner. If you’re hungry.”
“Starved,” Caleb groaned. “I’ve missed your cooking.”
I rolled my eyes, secretly pleased. Joel was still quiet, but I guess I couldn’t expect things to instantly go back to the way they’d been.
“We’ll go get cleaned up and come back down,” Caleb said. “Van will be over as soon as he’s showered, and I’ll drag Mac out of his room.” It seemed none of the brothers were in a hurry to get back to their own lives. I supposed so many years kept apart because of Jared meant they had a lot to catch up on.
“Want to come wash my back, baby?” Luke asked with a wink.
“Luke!” I scolded.
“Jesus, Luke!” Caleb placed his hands over his ears. “She might be your girlfriend, but remember she’s like a sister to the rest of us, will ya?” They all went upstairs to shower and change.
* * *
Van joined us, looking a bit uncomfortable. But he gave me a brief kiss on the forehead before taking a seat. Dinner was a subdued affair. If it hadn’t been for Caleb, it would have been mostly silent.
“Who’s helping me with the dishes?” Van asked, standing to collect the plates.
“I will,” I offered. Anything to get away from the tension at the table.
“No, you won’t,” Luke said firmly. “You cooked.”
“And you guys worked all day.”
“Like you sat around and twiddled your thumbs,” Van scoffed. “Sit.”
“Actually, I’d like to talk to Ariana alone,” Joel said quietly.
Okay, that was good. Even if nerves were dancing through my stomach.
Luke placed an arm around my waist, and they shared a look I couldn’t interpret. He squeezed my waist.
I watched as the others left, resisting the urge to call them back. This was Joel. We’d been friends for years. I loved him, and he’d never harm me, yet I felt nervous as hell being alone with him.
“Let’s go out to the porch. Might make us both feel more at ease.”
As we sat back on the old rockers that had rested there for years, I stared over at the ranch.
“I remember the first day you arrived,” he finally said.
“Yeah?”
“You were what, about nine? All arms and legs. Too skinny, with those big round eyes. You didn’t say a word. Just stood behind your aunt and watched everything and everyone with bruises on your knobby knees. I remember wondering if you’d tripped or were pushed. In this house, half the bruises were accidents, the other half were from the old man.”
“I think I tripped. That time.”
He nodded. “Luke had told us how he’d rescued you from a group of bullies just the week before. I didn’t really want a sister. I certainly didn’t want a small, innocent girl around him.”
Him. His father.
“You thought he’d hurt me?”
“I didn’t know what he was capable of.” He turned to look at me. “And I was worried you would talk.”
“Talk?”
“Yeah, I was thirteen. Thought I knew everything. And I was sick of the way girls talked all the time. Jabber, jabber, jabber. Always trying to talk to me. Of course, girls mature quicker than boys, and I hadn’t yet gotten to the stage where I was interested in them. But you were so quiet, sometimes we didn’t even know you were there. As time went on you grew out of your shell. I knew the other kids were horrible to you, but we did what we could to protect you.”
“I know. You guys were the only good thing in my life during those years.”
“Your aunt was distant.”
“She fed me. Clothed me. But it was like she wasn’t really there half the time.”
“She was scared of the old bastard.”
“I know,” I whispered.
“Not that anyone could blame her. We were all scared of him.” He ran his hand over his face. “I’ve never said thank you for all your help with him, especially at the end. He was never easy, but that was . . . awful.”
It had been. But it wasn’t Joel’s fault. “You don’t n-need to thank me, Joel. I was happy to help.”
“But I do.” That gaze watched me closely. “I’ve taken you for granted, Ariana.”
I shook my head, but he was already continuing, “I know you don’t see it that way. But I do. I’ve been so focused on the ranch, on expanding it, on making it a success that I failed my marriage, failed my brothers, failed my family.”
“You didn’t f-fail anything,” I told him hotly. “Joel, for years you’ve been the glue keeping everything together against great odds. I know the ranch went through a rough patch and that you pulled it out.”
“And for what? To lose it all over again.”
I winced.
“Don’t. Don’t give me that guilty look. None of this is your fault. I’m damn sure the old man is using you as much as the rest of us.”
“I’m signing the ranch over to you. I don’t know why Jared left it to me, but I c-certainly don’t want it.”
He sighed. “That’s a grand gesture, sweetheart. But you can’t.”
“Yes, I can. I k-know I’ll have to check on what taxes need to be paid and stuff, but I’ve got a meeting with a lawyer—”
“No, Ariana, you don’t understand. That crap ass city lawyer sent over the terms laid out in the will two days ago. You can’t sign the ranch over to anyone or sell it for the next five years. If you do, the ranch goes to some charity for greyhounds.”
“Greyhounds?” I asked incredulously.
“Yep. And much as I like to support charity, this ranch has been in the family for decades. I’d prefer you and Luke have it.”
“I’m not a rancher, brother. So don’t go sacrificing everything on my behalf.”
I looked up at Luke’s hard voice, wondering how long he’d been standing in the doorway, listening in.
“The old man would have whooped your ass for eavesdroppin’,” Joel said easily.
“Yeah, well, he never needed an excuse.”
“The two of you belong here,” Joel said.
“Bullshit. I belong in Boston. I have a life there.”
I winced at his words. A life without me? Could I live in the city? Not that he’d actually asked me to move.
“And what about Ariana? What about what’s best for her?”
“I always think about what’s best for Ariana,” Luke gritted out, coming to rest on the porch rail.
“And you think she’d like living somewhere else?” Joel asked. “This is her home.”
“She’d be better off away from Bear Ridge. The people here are small-minded dickheads.”
“My ears are burning,” Caleb joked as he strode out to the porch to lean on the railing next to Luke, a beer in one hand. Van followed him out, coming over to stand next to me. He leaned back against the wall of the house.
Mac sat on another chair, quietly watching.
“They treat her like dirt. Like she’s done something wrong. I don’t want her exposed to that.”
“She’s been dealing with it all her life,” Joel replied mildly. “She’s stronger than you think.”
“Um, you guys remember I’m here, right?” I waved my hand around. They both gave me blank looks as if to say “what does that matter?”
Arrogant men. Hard to live with, impossible to live without.
&nb
sp; “Someone want to tell us why we’re discussing where Ariana is going to live?” Van asked.
“Ariana wanted to sign over the ranch to me, but she can’t.” Joel explained the conditions of Jared’s will. “And truthfully, even if she could sign it over to me, I don’t think I want it.”
“What?” Caleb asked. “But you love this place.”
“And it’s taken everything from me. I’m tired. Drained. Maybe the old man did me a favor. Maybe I do need to make my own future.”
“Joel thinks Ariana and I are going to take over the ranch,” Luke told them. “I was reminding him that I have a life.”
“Managing a sex club?” Van countered.
“Sex club?” I asked. We’d never really talked about his job.
“It’s not exactly a sex club.”
“It’s a club where people go to have sex,” Van said.
“How do you know so much about it?” Luke asked, scowling at Van.
“Friend of mine was telling me about it.”
“What? You have friends?” Caleb teased. “I thought you just crawled out of a hole every now and then to eat and grunt at people.”
I bit back my grin as Van gave him the finger.
“You planning on taking Ariana to this sex club?” Joel asked, his disapproval clear.
Oh, God. Why did they all have to talk about this?
“That’s none of your business. Any of you.”
“Listen, she might be your girlfriend, but she’s also our sister. We’ve looked out for her for years; we’re not going to stop now.” Joel leaned forward, giving Luke a look.
Luke sighed. “WildeSide is a place where fantasies can come to life. Where you can find people who accept, who enjoy, and who share the same desires you do. It’s not somewhere you pay for a quick hand job and go on your way.”
Hmm, I wondered if he’d take me. Just from a purely research point of view, of course. But then, I’d probably never go to Boston. City life just didn’t hold any appeal. This was home. Even if Luke was right, and the people of Bear Ridge were small-minded and judgmental, the ranch was where I felt comfortable. It was close to Lola. The boys—My boys.
Luke (Bad Boys of WildeSide Book 3) Page 11
