Bare Devotion

by Thorn, Lacey

  Catherine followed his order and felt the hard stab of her aroused nipples against her palm and fingertips. Her hand felt good and it wasn’t like she had never touched herself before. What woman who had reached her age hadn’t? But she had never done it while talking to a man, be he a husband or lover, on the phone. It was exciting and scary all at the same time. Her mouth opened in a moan as she thought of Roman’s hands and the way he liked to pinch and roll her nipples between his fingers before taking them between his teeth and flicking his tongue against her willing flesh. She moaned again as she pinched one and then the other going back and forth. She could feel the slow glide of liquid coating her sex and seeping out onto her thighs.

  “Oh, God, honey,” Roman’s voice was even huskier. “My cock is pulsing and begging for relief. You don’t know what it does to me to hear you like that, aroused and needy. I want to pop one of those cherry red nipples in my mouth and suck it hard.”

  She cried out again and, without thought, started sliding her hand down over her stomach toward the center of her need.

  “Are you touching your sweet pussy now, Rin? Are you dipping you fingers into that sweet cream?”

  She definitely heard the pop of a button and the rasp of a zipper coming over the phone. “Are you taking it out?” she asked too lost in the moment to be embarrassed but still cognizant enough to control her words.

  “Oh yeah, honey,” he groaned and she could picture him kicked back on the bed, one big hand wrapped around the pulsing erection rising toward his belly button. She’d watched him do that before, watched him while he watched her undress for him.

  “How wet is that pussy, honey?” he asked her, stroking soft and slow along his cock. “How many fingers are you putting in that sweet cunt?”

  She blushed just like she always did when he used the “c” word. There was just something about it that was dirty.

  “Talk to me, honey,” he begged softly. “Tell me what you’re doing, what you’re touching.”

  “I’m… I’m touching myself,” Catherine managed in a husky voice.

  “Where at, honey?” Roman encouraged her to answer.

  “My…my…between my legs,” she managed to say.

  Roman’s chuckle flowed over the line again. “Close your eyes, honey, and talk to me. It’s just you and me, Rin. Tell me where you’re touching. Where are your fingers?”

  Catherine groaned and closed her eyes again. She was startled when she realized just how comfortable it made her. “I’m running my fingers through the wet lips of my sex, circling my clitoris and coating my fingers.”

  “Ahhh…” Roman groaned loud. “There is just something so dirty and erotic about the way you say clitoris, honey.”

  He was always pushing her to talk dirty to him when they had sex, loving the sound of the words on her lips. She wasn’t a prude, but a woman had to have a certain amount of modesty. Or at least the ones of her generation did. Still, she felt her temper flare just like it always did when he made comments like that, just like he knew it would. And he knew it would get him just what he wanted from her.

  “Do you want to hear me talk about how wet my pussy is? How much I want to feel your cock inside me right this minute?” she asked him, her voice rough with anger and excitement.

  “God, yes,” Roman moaned. “Tell me how tight you clasp around your fingers. Tell me how good it feels, Rin. Let me tell you how good it feels to me.”

  Catherine pushed two fingers deep inside her channel and pumped them slowly in and out. She braced the phone between her shoulder and the pillow and moved her other hand down to trace tight circles around the bud of her clitoris. “I’m using two fingers. It feels so good, so good. But I can’t hit the spot that I need to. I want you inside me, Roman. I want every long hard inch of you pumping in and out.”

  “How do you want it, honey?” he asked. “You want it slow and easy or fast and hard?”

  “I want to start slow and easy. I want to keep it that way until we just can’t take it anymore. Then I want you to take me as hard and as fast as you can. That’s what I need,” she told him.

  “You’re killing me, Rin,” he groaned. “My cock is ready to explode. Just the thought of how your cunt would clasp me makes me swell bigger. I want to fuck you, Rin. I want to fuck you until you scream my name.”

  “Yes,” Catherine cried out, her fingers stroking faster, searching for that spot that Roman always knew how to find, the spot that would give her the release she needed. “I want that to. I want you.”

  “Say the word, Rin,” he encouraged her moving his hand faster along his shaft. He could feel the tingle along his spine, the swelling of his balls, and knew that if she would just say the word they would both find the release they needed. “Say the word, honey. Say it!” he demanded.

  “Fuck!” she screamed, her orgasm washing through her and turning her mind to mush. “I want you to fuck me, Roman. Fuck me.”

  “Rin,” he groaned as he shot his cum all over his rock-hard stomach. “I knew you could say it, honey. I knew that you would enjoy this. You did enjoy it, didn’t you, honey?”

  “Yes,” she sighed softly, tired after such an intense orgasm. “I did enjoy it, Roman.”

  “I miss you, honey,” he whispered softly. “I’ll be back soon and we’ll sit down and talk. Okay?”

  “Yes, we’ll talk,” she murmured drowsily already falling asleep. “I can’t lose you, Roman,” she admitted quietly, all her shields down, lingering on the verge of sleep. “I love you.”

  “You…” Roman heard the soft click of the phone and knew that she had hung up before falling completely asleep. She had said that she loved him that she couldn’t lose him and it was like a jolt of energy shot through his system.

  Roman jumped out of bed and whistled on his way to the shower. Life was great. He hadn’t even told her that he would be coming back before the end of the week. She loved him, he thought, and his grin widened. She loved him and somehow that gave him all the hope he needed.

  * * * * *

  He watched the woman in the bar closely while he nursed the wine that was in front of him on the table. It was okay for him to drink wine since even God’s son Jesus had turned water into wine. But it wasn’t okay for her to drink the way that she was, to dress the way that she was. She was just like all the rest, a whore who flaunted herself in an attempt to lead men astray. She was one of the devil’s weapons and as God’s messenger it was his responsibility to silence her. More importantly, it was his job to cleanse her of the sins that coursed through her feminine form and do his best to save her mortal soul. Oh yes, he had plans for the jezebel, but for now he sat and watched, waiting to see which man showed himself to be weak of the flesh and in need of cleansing as well.

  Chapter Five

  Ally awoke the next morning to an empty bed and since Blake’s side wasn’t even warm, she knew that he had been gone for some time. She glanced at his bedside alarm and was startled when she saw that it was already ten in the morning. She never slept this late, which made her realize just how long she must have been running on fumes. And sex with Blake last night had obviously relaxed her more than she had thought. She had wanted more than just the one time, but sleep had pulled her under and refused to release her. Now he was already gone and who knew when she might see him again.

  Ally snorted as she swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, grimacing slightly at the pull of muscles that hadn’t been used in quite a while before last night. As far as she knew Blake might not even want a repeat of last night. All of this was probably just another one-night stand for him. She’d just take a quick shower and see about catching a ride out of here before he came back up.

  She padded across the carpet and smiled when she noticed her clothes folded on top of his dresser. Well, technically they were Katie’s clothes, but still. She pushed the door open and glanced across the hall where another door stood open, revealing a bathroom. Thank heavens, because she didn’t reall
y feel comfortable padding naked through his house searching for a shower.

  She tiptoed across the hall and almost laughed out loud at how ludicrous she must look. Who in the hell was she trying to be quiet for? It appeared that she was all alone, either that or someone was extremely quiet. She shut the door with a snap and flipped the lock just in case Blake came home or had a roommate or something. She opened the cabinet and drawers until she found a rubber band that someone must have left at his house. She used it to put her hair up in a loose bun so that it wouldn’t get so wet.

  The shower was fantastic. Just what she needed to sooth her sore muscles. Well, it would suffice until she could get access to a hot tub and a full-body massage. Now that sounded like heaven. She shut the water off and pulled the curtain back to reach for the towel and let out a shriek when she noticed the golden god from last night sitting on top of the closed lid of the toilet. His eyes took in her naked body, flushed red and dripping wet from her hot shower. His name was Shep, she remembered as she snatched the towel and held it in front of her.

  “What the hell are you doing in here?” Ally demanded, doing her best to wrap the towel around her without giving him any more of a show then she already had. “How did you get in here? I thought that I had locked the door.”

  “You did,” Shep smiled and it was like watching a little boy try to sweeten his way out of trouble.

  “Then how did you get in here?”

  “Locks are one of my specialties,” he murmured, finally standing and holding his hand out to help her out of the shower. Ally took his hand and stood dripping onto the throw rug in front of the shower. “Need some help drying off?”

  “No, I don’t,” Ally stated firmly, but it was all she could do not to burst out laughing at the gorgeous man in front of her. He reached out and pulled the band from her hair.

  “I’ll have to tell Chetan that you took his hairband,” Shep declared pocketing the band and reaching back to twine his fingers in her long locks.

  “Che—what?” she asked, unsure what he had said.

  “Chay-than,” Shep enunciated slowly. “It comes from the Sioux word for hawk. A gift from his mother so he wouldn’t forget where he is from.”

  “Interesting,” she said, pushing his hand away from her hair and trying to slip past him and out the door. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”

  He let her slip past him but followed her into the bedroom, where the clothes were on the dresser. She turned to shut the door and felt overwhelmed for a moment at how close Shep was standing behind her. He was as tall as Blake, maybe six foot four, and it startled her to realize that she barely came up to his diaphragm in her bare feet. She had been wearing her black boots last night with her catsuit and put them on with Katie’s jeans as well. With their chunky block heels she had been closer to the middle of Blake’s chest and then she had been on her back and it hadn’t mattered.

  Shep reached a hand out and brushed his finger across her hardened nipple, which was pressing against the towel. “Cold?” he asked softly.

  “Let me guess. Warming me up would be another one of your specialties,” Ally commented as she swatted his hand away and took two steps back from him.

  Shep’s grin stretched wide across his handsome face. “Absolutely,” he agreed. “Anytime that you need heating up, you just let me know, sweetheart.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Ally shook her head. “Now if you’ll excuse me I’d like to get dressed and find a way back to my car.”

  Shep nodded toward the bed and Ally glanced over at it. Someone had straightened the afghan out while she showered and she recognized the single bag sitting on top of it as the one from her car—her locked car. She walked over and opened it. Sure enough, that was her stuff in there. “How did you get my bag?” she asked, then shook her head and answered before he had a chance. “Locks are your specialty, right?”

  “Yep,” Shep agreed, then tugged a familiar set of keys out of his jeans pocket and tossed them onto the bed beside her bag. “But keys work just as well.”

  “How in the world did you get my keys?” she wondered out loud.

  “Found them in your pants when I came in last night,” Shep said with a smile. “Of course I’d already picked up that tight shirt. When I folded them I felt the keys and thought how appreciative you might be if I showed up this morning with your bag and your car.” He grinned and batted his big baby blues at her.

  Ally couldn’t help it. She burst out laughing. “Tell me, does that usually work for you?” At his look she continued, “You just bat those blue eyes of yours and give that grin and what? Women just fall onto their backs for you?”

  “Every time, sweetheart,” Shep said as he backed into the hall and grabbed the door handle. “I can already see you falling under my spell. Before too much longer you’ll be wondering what it would feel like to kiss me, to make love to me. And let me assure you,” he winked, “it will be better than you can even imagine. I’ll let you get dressed while I start a pot of coffee. Just come to the kitchen when you’re ready.” With that he pulled the door shut and she could hear him whistling as he walked away.

  Ally shivered and shook her head. The weird thing was that he was exactly right. Hell, she was already at the point where she was wondering what he would be like in bed. She had a feeling that his charming boy next door smile and good humor hid a lot more than she could handle.

  Ally followed her nose down the hall to the heavenly scent of morning nectar, otherwise known as coffee. She felt more comfortable in jeans of her own and a sweatshirt, plus she had the extra security of a bra and panties underneath. On her feet were her sneakers that had a two inch rubber sole, something that was important when you were only five foot even.

  Shep was at the table playing what appeared to be a game of solitaire while another man reclined with the newspaper open in front of him. Both men looked up when she entered and gave her the once over. She felt like a piece of meat being dangled. She shook her head and turned to the coffee pot on the counter.

  “What happened to the t-shirt?” Shep asked from his seat at the table. “I’m sure Katie wouldn’t mind if you wore it again.”

  Ally turned around and burst out laughing at the scowl on his face as he took in her loose sweatshirt. “I’m sure she wouldn’t, Shep, but I’m more comfortable in my own clothes.”

  The man with the paper folded it and stood from the table. Lord, he was a tall one, taller than anyone she had ever seen. He was long and lean with jet black hair and gorgeous blue eyes. He reminded her a lot of Katie and her detective brother in looks and she was pretty sure that he must be another member of the Daniels’ family. And she was right. They were all extremely good looking.

  “Let me guess,” Ally said as he rounded the table, heading to where she was leaning against the counter. “You must be another of Katie’s brothers.”

  “The only one that matters to you,” he told her with an engaging grin. “I’m Griff,” he reached for her hand and then startled her by bending and bringing it to his lips. He turned it up and placed a kiss on her palm and for a moment she found herself lost in the pure romance of it. “It is a real pleasure to meet you, Ally. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

  And that was all it took to shake her free. She tugged her hand from his and wrapped both hers around the warmth of the coffee mug. “Oh really,” was all she said but she wondered just how much they knew about her already.

  “Katie didn’t do you justice when she described you to me,” Griff said and turned to hold out a chair for her at the table. “She is hoping that you might be free to join us for dinner tonight.”

  “Not sure that Blake’s going to go for that,” Shep put in with a look at Griff. Ally shook her head. It was obvious that Shep was trying to tell Griff that she and Blake had slept together, but hell, she would think that was pretty clear. Why else would she still be in Blake’s house when he was long gone? Blake was pretty good in bed. Okay, she could at least admit to herself
that the man was the best lover she had ever been with. But bottom line was that sex, even great sex, didn’t make a relationship. And that meant that it didn’t matter what Blake thought.

  “I’d love to,” she said, which made Griff grin even wider and even had Shep fighting a smile. “I’ll just need directions to the house, and the time, of course.”

  “I’ll pick you up and we can ride together,” Griff said and waved his hand at the chair he was still holding out. “Just tell me where you’ll be.”

  “No thanks,” Ally said indicating the chair. “I’m just going to finish this cup and head out. I need to find a hotel and get some stuff taken care of this morning.” She turned to Shep and smiled. “Thanks for getting my car and bringing my bag in. Now if you two will just point me in the right direction I’ll head back to Legacy and get settled.”

  “Do you already have a room somewhere?” Griff asked pleasantly.

  “No,” Ally admitted. “But it didn’t look like excitement burg, at least not what I saw last night. Are you telling me that I might have trouble finding a room?”

  “No,” Griff laughed. “I was just asking. My family still has an apartment that no one is staying in at the moment. It was my brother Gil’s till he hooked up with his wife Moira. Then Katie lived there before she married Ben. I lived there till I moved out. Come to think of it, even Cass stayed there.”

  “Cass?” Ally asked wondering if this was another member of the Daniels clan.

  “You’ll meet her eventually,” Griff informed her. “She is marrying my brother Doug soon and then Damon.”

  “She’s marrying two men?” Ally asked with disbelief. “Exactly where are we that such a thing is even legal?”

  Griff and Shep both laughed. “She’s only marrying Doug in the legal sense, but Doug and Damon sort of come as a package deal.”

  “They’re conjoined?” Ally asked, horrified in spite of her unwillingness to offend anyone.

  Griff doubled over laughing and she thought she heard Shep say something about them liking that comment better than the question of whether they were gay or not. Gay? What kind of family had her cousin married into?