Without Regret (Broken Roads Book 1)

by Cat Mason

  Walking up behind her, I smile at Zack who is standing on the step in black jeans and a green shirt under a black leather jacket. His black hair is twisted up in all directions. Turning to my sister, I laugh as she continues to glare at him. The look of shock on her face is damn near priceless.

  “You told me to get creative.” Taking a step closer to her, he grins wickedly. Grabbing her hand, he presses a kiss to her knuckles. “I’m Zack Mitchell.”

  “Well I’ll be damned,” Ray laughs as I walk over to him. “The O-liminator has been silenced.”

  “The what?” Kate snaps, glaring at us.

  Grabbing her arm, Zack ushers my sister out the door. “I’ll tell you later, Sweetheart,” he purrs, making her sigh.

  The club is nothing like I expected. Lights flash in every color as we make our way through the crowd of dancing bodies to grab an empty lounge area. The beat of the music pulses against the walls, though it is someone buffered in the little alcove, making it easier to talk.

  “You look beautiful,” Ray says, sitting beside me on a white chaise lounge. Kate smiles, taking a seat in one of the red leather chair across from us.

  “Thank you,” I reply when his arm wraps around me, pulling me closer.

  “Zack Mitchell!” a high-pitched voice exclaims, “I thought that was you.” The four of us turn as a blonde in a skin-tight gold dress struts up and flops into Zack’s lap as soon as he sits in the chair beside Kate. “You didn’t tell me you would be here tonight. I’ve missed you so much, baby.”

  Zack’s eyes fly to Kate while trying to shove the woman from his lap. “Um—,” he struggles in the seat as her palms slide up his chest.

  “That’s because he’s here with me. Aren’t you, baby?” Kate bites out. Pushing to her feet, she grabs a fist full of Blondie’s hair before yanking her off his lap. “You’ll be fucking off that way now, buh bye.”

  “Let me go!” the blonde screams, shoving at Kate.

  “Gladly,” Kate huffs, shoving her just to add icing on the dismissal cake. “For future reference, the desperate whore section is to the left; just past the dumpsters.”

  Zack laughs, not taking his eyes off my sister. “Fuck me,” he groans. “I think I’m in love.”

  Standing, Ray pulls me to my feet. “Play nice, kids; I’m going to dance with my girl.”

  Smiling wickedly, Ray leads me to the dance floor. Turning, he pulls my body flush against his. My arms wrap around his neck as we start to move together to the music. His hands settle on my hips, possessively holding me against him. The floor may be crowded, but it feels like this moment is just ours. With every passing second, Ray seems to make the entire world fade into the background.

  Closing my eyes, I let the music and the feel of his body pressed against mine consume me. Burying his face into my neck, Ray breathes me in. His lips press against my skin, softly moving up to my ear. “You taste so good, baby. So sweet,” he purrs brushing my hair over my shoulder.

  Teasingly, he moves his mouth along the curve of my neck, slowly tasting every inch of exposed skin. My skin tingles, my body humming in anticipation. Ray grins against my shoulder when a moan escapes my lips. One song fades into another, and another. Neither of us missing a beat. Grabbing my hand, Ray twirls me out before pulling my back against him. His fingers digging into my hip, his erection pressing into my stomach with every calculated roll of his hips. Unable to stand it, I lick my lips and crush my mouth to his. Our tongues tangle, the intensity of the kiss driving me crazy with need.

  “Ray,” I pant breaking the kiss. “Take me somewhere.”

  “Baby, I want you so much. You know that,” he groans painfully. “Please, be sure this is what you want. There’s no rush.”

  Pulling back, I meet his heated gaze. “You are what I want,” I reply without hesitation.

  Ray studies me for what feels like forever, searching my eyes as if waiting for me to change my mind. “Okay,” he breathes finally, nodding his head. Tucking me against him, he leads us back to the lounge area.

  “So what’s it gonna take to gain access to your V.I.P. lounge, Sweetheart?” Zack asks Kate, reaching over and running his fingers up her thigh.

  “This isn’t going to end well is it?” Ray whispers to me as Kate’s eyes meet mine.

  Standing to her feet, a sinister smile spreads across her face. Oh boy, Zack may have bitten off more than he can chew here. Instead of sensing the impending danger, his eyes widen expectantly, his tongue damn near hanging out in anticipation.

  Kate shoves the heel of her shoe into his crotch. “Shit,” Zack yelps, his eyes nearly bugging out of his head. Twisting her heel, she leans down and invades his space. “Let me make this crystal fucking clear, you arrogant bastard. No one gets V.I.P. access with game like that. Cut the cocky bullshit, it doesn’t work on me.”

  “Holy shit!” he wails, cupping his crotch when she removes her foot. “I’m pretty sure you just carved your name into my cock. I don’t think I’ve ever been so turned on in my life.”

  “I hate you,” she snaps, sitting back down.

  “I fucking want you to,” he tosses out, the sexual tension crackling between them. Zack’s eyes heat as he stares at her. “Hate me all night, baby.”

  “Well, since you two are getting along so well, we’re gonna split,” Ray interrupts before they start mauling each other.

  Kate’s eyes move to me and she laughs. “I see we’re not wastin’ this one, are we?”

  Ray ignores her, turning to Zack. “Don’t be an asshole, Zack. Make sure she gets home safe, alright? I’ll see ya.”

  “You good with this, Kate?” I ask my sister who is staring at Zack like she’s going to eat him alive.

  “Go get yours, I’ve got mine.” Waving me off, she yanks Zack up from his chair. “I sure as hell hope you can dance, asshole.”

  “Can I dance?” Zack laughs, sarcasm dripping from his lips. Grabbing her hand, he yanks her hard into his chest and rolls his hips. “Prepare yourself, woman.”

  “You ready?” Ray asks, slipping his hand into mine.

  Giving his hand a squeeze, I nod.

  Seventeen agonizingly long minutes later we step through the front door of Ray’s condo. While he makes his way through the place, switching on lights, I take in the space. Large, floor to ceiling windows overlook the river, plush black couches and chairs line the walls in the living room, and scattered area rugs over hard wood floors.

  “Are you sure about this, Rachel?” Ray asks walking over to me. “Once I start touching you, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to stop.”

  Was I sure nothing would change? Not exactly. Although, one thing is very clear in my mind. I can’t sit around and debate the what ifs all night. Like Kate said, it’s time to jump. “I want this,” I reply, closing what distance is left between us. “I want you.”

  Taking my hand, Ray leads me down the hallway into his bedroom. A huge bed is centered in the room with red and gold bedding. A set of French doors lead out to a balcony that I am sure has a breathtaking view of the river, though right now I don’t care.

  Pushing my hair over my shoulder, Ray lets it cascade down my back. Slowly, his fingers run along my shoulder before brushing lightly over my collarbone. My eyes want to flutter closed at the sensation, instead I force them to stay focused on him.

  “Baby, you deserve much more than this.” His fingers stop just above my breasts. “I want to spend all night showing you how special you are.”

  Pulling me into his arms, Ray crushes his mouth to mine. His hands hold me to him desperately, as if he were afraid I may disappear. My heart is racing, my stomach twisting in expectation. The way his lips move against mine melts me to the core. Just when my knees wobble, he pulls back.

  “Where’s your phone?” Pulling his out of his pocket, Ray switches it on silent before placing it on the bedside table.

  “I put it back in my bag after I checked on the baby on the way here,” I choke out as he unbuttons his shir
t. “My bag’s in your car.”

  “Good. No interruptions this time,” he replies, his gaze running down my body and up again. Holding up one finger he rotates it in a circle, “Turn around for me, baby.”

  Wobbling a little in my heels, I turn away from him. His hands skim along my shoulders, moving until they find my zipper. Slowly, he unzips my dress, his mouth following the path of exposed skin.

  “Mmm,” I moan, letting the dress drop at my feet.

  When I turn to face him, he looks at me as if seeing me for the first time. My heart stutters in my chest. “You are so damn beautiful, Rachel. I can’t even put it into words.”

  “Show me,” I whisper breathlessly.

  Ray shoves his shirt off before taking my mouth hungrily. His kisses scorch my lips, his rough hands slide across my skin making my body come alive. I am vibrating with need and he has barely touched me.

  I’ve never felt as beautiful as I do when Ray is looking at me. He sees me in a way that Tim never has. In a way that has me catching myself thinking about Ray more often than not. For the first time, I feel wanted, needed. Not because of something I can do, but because of who I am. Because of what Ray sees in me. The last thing I expected was to feel this way so quickly, but damn if Ray Mitchell hasn’t been breaking through every wall I’ve attempted to put up. The thought should scare me out of my mind, and I’m sure, tomorrow it will. Right now, Ray is making it very easy to forget the world and get lost in this. In us.

  Chapter 8

  Unclasping my bra, I let the pink lace fall to the floor between us. Leaning back on the bed, I pull him down with me. His kisses trail slowly down my neck to my chest. When his tongue skims along the underside of my breast, I arch my back aching for more of his mouth. My legs wrap around his waist as if on their own, the heels of my shoes digging into the skin of his lower back. Ray grinds against me, our hips rocking against each other in perfect rhythm. “You feel so fucking good, Rachel,” he groans against my skin. “I need more.”

  Stumbling back off the bed, Ray quickly strips out of the rest of his clothes. Leaning up on my elbows, I greedily take in every inch of the naked man standing before me. Broad shoulders and chest, the lines that run along his abdomen to his pelvic bone, and the thick erection jutting out at me, begging for my attention. Wrapping his fist around his cock, he groans as he flexes his fingers. Biting my lip, I attempt to stifle a moan while watching the sexiness that is Ray Mitchell.

  Ray hisses through his teeth, cursing under his breath. “Baby, do you have any idea how you’re looking at me right now?” he growls, closing his eyes. Taking a breath, he reopens them, the blue now full of fire.

  Grabbing my ankles, Ray pulls off each of my heels. He begins trailing hot, opened mouth kisses from each of my ankles to inner thigh. Every brush of his mouth is like lighting a fuse. My nipples harden almost to the point of pain. My clit throbs, my entire body desperate for attention. “Please,” I beg, needing more. Needing to feel him inside me. Dropping my head back to the mattress, I fist the blanket with both hands as he playfully nips my inner thigh with his teeth.

  Ray’s eyes meet mine and he licks his lips. “Don’t you worry. I’m going to make you feel so good, baby,” he assures me, leaning down and running his lips up my thigh again. “Keep your eyes on me,” Ray says, running a finger along the edge of my pink and white lace thong. Pushing up on my elbows, I do as he asks and watch every move he makes. Leaning down, he presses a kiss just above one of the black bows on my hip holding them together. “Very sexy. But, they’re in my way.” His teeth tugs it loose before his tongue meets my skin. Slowly, he makes his way across my pelvic bone, repeating the process with the other bow. The lace falls from me, baring me to his heated gaze.

  “That was hot,” I blurt, nearly writhing beneath him already.

  “Just wait,” he murmurs, kissing his way up my stomach. “I’m only getting started.” Slipping a finger inside me, Ray eyes lock on mine. One finger becomes two as his thumb finds my clit. Hungrily, he takes my mouth again. Swallowing my moan, Ray’s tongue moves in time with his fingers. The pressure builds, my body desperate for the release I know Ray is about to give me. “That’s it, baby,” he growls against my mouth, his thumb circling faster. “I want you to come on my fingers. Then,” he continues, between kisses, “Again, with me buried deep inside you.”

  His words send me over the edge, my cries of pleasure all lost to his passion-filled kisses. Wrapping my fingers around his wrist, I rock my hips upward, riding out the waves of my orgasm. His lips move along my jaw, pressing kiss after kiss until finally brushing my ear. Ray’s fingers brush along my cheek, tenderly grounding me in the moment once again. My eyes open, meeting his as he settles between my thighs. “I need to be inside you,” he whispers, leaning down and pressing his lips to mine softly.

  Urgently, I wrap my arms around his neck, silently demanding more of his mouth. Rolling to his back, Ray pulls me onto his chest. My hands move down his chest, the tips of my fingers slowly teasing as I make my way down his torso. Straddling his thighs, I wrap my fingers around his erection. “Fuck,” he hisses through his teeth, his eyes nearly rolling into the back of his head.

  “Is this okay?” I ask, stroking him slowly.

  “A lot more than okay,” he groans, rocking his hips upward. Wrapping his hand around mine, he stops my movements. “I won’t last if you keep that up.” Fumbling with the bedside table, Ray curses under his breath. “I need a condom from the drawer.”

  “I’m on the pill,” I blurt. “Have been since Alyssa was born. We don’t have to… I mean unless you…”

  “I’ve never had sex without a condom, Rachel.” Leaning up on his elbow, he stares at me wide-eyed. “Are you sure, baby?”

  I nod. “Right now.” Leaning forward, I rub the tip of his cock against my clit. “I don’t want anything between us,” I moan, rolling my hips.

  Rising up on my knees, I shift my body and slowly take him into me. Ray’s hands go to my hips, a low moan rumbling from his chest, causing his entire body to vibrate. “Slow, baby,” he pleads, breathlessly.

  Nodding my head, I roll my hips, unable to hold still one second longer. Ray’s hands move up my body, caressing my curves and kneading my breasts, while his eyes stay solely focused on mine. The look in the deep blue pools has my stomach fluttering more and more with each passing second.

  Sitting up, Ray wraps me in his arms, pulling me as close as he can while kissing me deeply. It is very clear in this moment that I am not just an easy fuck for him. This is us connecting on every level. Speaking without the need for words.

  Gripping his face with both hands, I am lost to sensation. His hands move over my skin, taking time to explore every inch as our bodies move together as one. Ripping my mouth from his, I throw my head back, crying out his name as I climb toward the edge.

  Cupping the back of my head, Ray presses his forehead to mine. “Beautiful, baby. Fall apart in my arms,” he says, pumping his hips in time with mine. “I want to hear how good it makes you feel to ride my cock.”

  “Ray,” I pant, digging my nails into his back.

  “God,” he groans, pressing a kiss to my neck. His breath rushes over my sensitive skin, making me shiver. His grip tightens on me, our chests pressing tightly together, leaving no space between us. “My name on your lips is the sweetest sound. Say it again.”

  “Ray!” I cry out when his hand slides between us, brushing over my clit. “Mmm. I’m coming!”

  Welcome to O-ville!

  Throwing my head back again, this time I fall over the edge. My body shakes against his as I ride out the waves of pleasure flowing through my body. Gripping my hip with one hand, Ray takes my mouth hungrily as he thrusts up into me again and again. Each pump of his hips sends shockwaves of pleasure throughout my entire body as if he were shooting it directly into my veins. Growling against my mouth as he swallows my cries, he rolls us so that I am on my back. His hips jerk as he braces himself up on his forea
rms. Running my fingers through his hair, I rock my hips in time with his, wanting to ride every last second of this moment out right along with him. Yanking his mouth from mine, he buries his face in my neck. “Fuck yes,” he hisses, his body stilling as he finds his release.

  “Mmm,” I murmur, pressing my lips to his shoulder.

  Pressing a kiss to my neck, Ray smiles against my skin. “I’ll be back in a second.” Slipping from my body, he climbs from the bed. Making his way across the room, he disappears through a door on the opposite side of the room.

  Settling back into the pillows, I close my eyes and sigh. Unbelievable. Smiling to myself, I stretch my arms above my head. Completely relaxed, I let them fall back to the mattress at my sides, content to simply lie here.

  “Wow,” Ray says, causing me to open my eyes. Leaning against the doorframe, he smiles. “I like seeing you this way.”

  “Naked in your bed?” I ask, arching a brow.

  “Relaxed,” he chuckles, correcting me. “Though, I gotta admit, naked in my bed is really working for me too.”

  “Is it?” I blush, suddenly feeling uncomfortable.

  “It is.” Giving me a wink, he nods. “Come here,” he says, crooking his finger.

  Standing to my feet, I stop instantly when Tim’s unwelcome voice begins echoing in my head about covering myself up. Wincing, I quickly start looking around for my dress so that I can cover myself up. Pushing off the doorframe, Ray steps closer. “What are you doing?” he asks, studying me.

  “Looking for my clothes.”

  “Why?” he asks, pulling me into his arms. “What’s wrong?”

  “I…” Breathing deep, I shake my head. “Never mind.”

  Ray’s face softens, realization and understanding filling his eyes. “He doesn’t get to be in here with us,” he says, brushing my temple with his fingertips. “You want to air that out, share the pain I know you keep locked up behind those beautiful brown eyes? Great. I’ll listen to every word you have to say, baby. But don’t give away rental space in your head and heart to a man who isn’t here, while I am standing in front of you right now, stark fucking naked just begging to get in there.” When I laugh, he smiles at me sweetly. “How about you give me back the smile that was on your face when I walked out of the bathroom?”