Protecting Phoebe

by Shelli Stevens

  Her initial reaction that he was thick was reiterated when her lips stretched wider to bring him deep.

  “Jesus,” he gasped, his hips jerking against her.

  Instinct kicked in and she closed her eyes, savoring the feel and taste of him while she moved her mouth up and down.

  Slipping her hand low, she cupped his sac and squeezed lightly.

  “I need you. Now,” he rasped harshly, sitting up and plucking her off him like she weighed nothing. He traced her mouth with his thumb. “Otherwise I’ll end up coming some place other than the condom.”

  His not-so-subtle implication that he’d come in her mouth increased the ache between her legs. The idea was so seductive. But the urge to have him inside her—hard and full—was even more so.

  “Okay,” she whispered, still grasping him gently. “I want to ride you though.”

  Chapter 5

  Craig groaned, her words making his dick twitch and grow even harder—which he hadn’t thought was possible.

  “Get the condom.”

  She released him and scurried across the bed to grab it and rip it open.

  Despite her awkward fumbling, she had it on him in half a minute. He wondered, and not for the first time tonight, how long it had been since she’d been with a man.

  She sat back on her heels, biting her lip and obviously out of breath. Nerves?

  He touched her knee gently. “You’re sure about this?”

  She relaxed a bit and rolled her eyes with a soft laugh. “You’re still asking me that? Yes. I’m sure.”

  He arched an eyebrow, relieved. “Then what are you waiting for?”

  “Not a damn thing.” She laid her palms against his chest and pushed him flat on his back.

  He hit the mattress and stared up at her, catching the breath she’d just knocked out of him.

  She swung her leg across his hips and straddled him. His cock, tight and aching, nudged the soft, wet heat between her legs.

  The urge to thrust up into her was primal. But knowing she wanted to be in control, he ground his teeth together and chanted in his head the word patience.

  Only she didn’t ease down onto him, just rubbed herself back and forth against the head of his cock.

  Unable to avoid touching her, he reached up and curled his fingers around her hips and guided her downward just a bit. The tip of him nudged just between the folds of her sex, stroking her lush, wet channel.

  “Ride me,” he commanded softly, barely holding onto the thread of control. “Ride me like you said you wanted to.”

  Desire flashed in her eyes. With a cross between a growl and a moan, she pressed herself downward.

  His eased steadily up into her, stretching her. Her sweet body hugged his cock so tightly it increased the waves of pleasure rolling through him.

  Her mouth parted and her lower lip trembled.

  “Jesus,” he choked out. “You’re tiny. Can you take me deeper?”

  He was only halfway inside her. She gave a shaky nod, drawing in quick breaths as she lowered herself another tiny bit onto him.

  “Oh God, Phoebe.” The air hissed from between his teeth and his control snapped. “I can’t—” he gripped her hips tighter and lifted his hips, thrusting upward and completely into her, “—wait.”

  A gasp ripped from her throat and her body convulsed around him.

  “Craig.” Her nails dug into his chest, the walls of her squeezing him until his eyes crossed. “Oh God.”

  “I’m sorry, baby.” He stayed buried inside her, giving her a few seconds to adjust to him.

  He knew he was thick and, judging by the mix of pleasure and pain on her face, she was struggling.

  “I’m okay,” she croaked. “I am. I promise. Just…give me a second. You feel…really, really good. Really, really big, but really good.”

  “Yeah?” A wave of masculine triumph rushed through him. He moved his hand to where their bodies connected, and then slid a finger upward to find her swollen clit. “How about this? If I rub your clit does it feel really good?”

  “Ah, oh. Mmm.” Her eyes closed on a sigh. “Good’s an understatement.”

  He massaged the hot nub until her muscles relaxed around him. Until she grew wetter and began to move. Lifting up a little and then sliding back down.

  She leaned forward, her palms flat on his chest, as she increased her pace. Her breasts bounced, the hard nipples jiggling so close to his mouth.

  He lifted his head, caught one tip with a growl and sucked it for a moment, before releasing it with a pop.

  She cried out and let go of his chest, leaning back now as she rode him. Bringing him deeper with the new angle.

  Blindly, he found her clit again, rubbing faster as his own climax approached.

  “Craig. Oh my—” She threw her head back and gasped, her muscles squeezing him mercilessly.

  Seeing her complete abandon while she came thrust him over the edge. He gripped her hips and plunged to the hilt, groaning loudly as he was blinded by his own orgasm.

  They trembled together, gasping and shuddering. A few minutes passed before his body went slack, his cock empty from its release.

  Phoebe whimpered and slid off him, rolling to the side and onto her stomach on the bed.

  He pinched the condom off and slid out of bed. “Be back in a second.”

  The muffled grunt—since her face was buried in the pillow—was the only response he got.

  After disposing of the rubber and cleaning himself up in the bathroom, he walked back to her bed.

  She hadn’t moved, just lay on her stomach, the pale curves of her ass waving like a second invitation to his gaze.

  “Can I get you anything?” he offered. “Water?”

  With a soft laugh, she rolled over onto her back and stared up at him.

  “You.” She patted the mattress. “I just want you.”

  Needing no further encouragement, he climbed back into bed and pulled her into his arms, drawing the blanket over them.

  She snuggled against him, burying her face against his chest.

  Tenderness stabbed at him and he ran a gentle hand down her back, holding her tighter.

  “Try to sleep, baby.” He brushed a kiss against her forehead.

  “Mmm.”

  Her lazy murmur was followed shortly by even breathing.

  Damn, that sure hadn’t taken her long. His lips twitched and he closed his eyes, his own pulse slowing as a yawn popped his jaw.

  It had been a long day. Passing out sounded good. Passing out with Phoebe in his arms sounded even better.

  A few minutes later he fell asleep.

  * * * *

  He woke to the sound of a car alarm going off in the parking lot. Lifting his head, he glanced at the clock radio on her bedside table.

  Almost seven in the morning.

  “Hey.”

  He jerked his gaze to the left and found Phoebe snuggled against his side, watching him. Wide awake.

  “Is that your car alarm?” he asked, already on alert of the possibility of more danger.

  “No. I don’t have an alarm on my car. Probably my neighbor’s, it’s always going off.” She sighed and rolled her eyes. “If I leave my window open at night I can hear it, even way up here.”

  He grunted. “How long have you been awake?”

  “Twenty minutes or so. I didn’t want to wake you,” she confessed.

  “Why so early?” He reached for her, pulling her half on top of him. “It’s Saturday morning.”

  Her lashes drifted down to her cheek, but he’d seen the flash of embarrassment in her gaze.

  “I’ve slept alone for a long time. This is…an adjustment.”

  “Has it been a while?” he asked softly, stroking her hair. It had begun to curl again underneath, likely from the sweat of sex. “Since you went to bed with a guy?”

  She tensed and started to lift her head from his chest, but he urged her cheek back down.

  “Why?” She paused. “Was I te
rrible?”

  “God no.” He laughed and kissed her forehead. “I only asked because you kept dropping hints.” And God, when he’d first slid inside her… “And you were pretty damn tight. Not that I’m complaining by any means.”

  She groaned and slapped his chest playfully. “Ever consider that maybe you’re just built like a frickin’ bratwurst?”

  “Thank you,” he replied and laughed at her snort of disbelief.

  “Anyway. Yes. It has been awhile. Honestly… God, I can’t believe I’m about to admit this to you, but Rick was the last guy I was with.”

  He did the math in his head and then blinked in shock. “You went seven years without sex?”

  “You make it sound as if I said I’d joined a convent.”

  “You may as well have.”

  “Look, I realize seven years is a long time to be abstinent.”

  An insane amount of time for a woman. And she’d broken it for him. He moved his hand over her back, and a sliver of possessiveness rushed through him.

  “I’m glad you chose me.”

  “Are you now?” She lifted her head, her gaze twinkling with mischief.

  “Hell, yeah.” He caught her chin between his forefinger and thumb and glanced at her swollen mouth. “And let me tell you that you had nothing to worry about with the oral stuff.”

  “Oh. Right. That.” She bit her lip and averted her gaze. “I…had some issues… Rick would pressure me in that department and then would tell me how terrible I was at it.”

  Tension coiled through him at her deceptively casual words.

  “Pressure you?” he repeated, trying to keep his voice calm. The steel crept into his tone regardless.

  “I didn’t really want—” she began awkwardly. “I mean, the whole relationship was unhealthy.” She sighed and tried to pull away from him, but he drew her closer instead. “You know what? I shouldn’t have said anything. This is way too much baggage I’m throwing out for a one-night stand.”

  The air locked in his lungs and he blinked in shock. “Who the hell said this was a one-night stand?”

  Her eyes widened, before she lowered her lashes abruptly. “Well, what else would it be?”

  Now there was a damn good question. He hadn’t thought past anything besides going home with her last night. Holding her in his arms, and discovering the sweet sounds she’d made in bed.

  He sure as hell hadn’t set out thinking long-term, but the idea of short-term rocked him to his core. Just one night with Phoebe? Hell, no.

  “Craig,” she began hesitantly. “I don’t know if I’m ready to get involved with anyone.”

  Annoyance pricked deep and he bit out a terse, “Why not?”

  “Because…well, I gave up dating. I don’t trust—”

  “Any man?” he finished, his jaw clenching.

  “That’s not it.”

  “We’re not all like him. Your ex.”

  She lifted her gaze, her eyes flashing. “Of course, I know that.”

  “Give me a chance, Phoebe. I don’t want this to be a one-night thing.” He caught her hand, stroking the inside of her wrist.

  She licked her lips and he felt her pulse quicken under his fingertips.

  “Well,” she hedged. “Maybe it doesn’t have to be a one-time thing. Obviously, we work well in the bedroom.”

  “We could work well out of the bedroom too.” His irritation grew.

  She was stonewalling him on any attempt to make this about more than sex.

  “I’m not sure I’m ready for that.”

  Clearly. He lifted her wrist and placed a kiss on the rapidly beating pulse.

  “Give yourself a chance. Give us a chance.”

  Panic mixed with desire in her eyes before her lashes fluttered down to hide her expression.

  “Craig, please don’t rush me,” she begged, her voice husky. She shook her head. “I’ve already taken a huge step with what happened last night. But as to more than sex…I—I need to think about it. I’m sorry.”

  “Right.” His jaw flexed. She was brushing him off. Last night had been nothing but getting laid for her. Why the hell was he even letting it get to him this much?

  “Well, since we’ve already done the sex part, maybe you’d like it if I just left now.”

  He’d said it sarcastically, but she bit her lip and then looked up at him again, regret in her gaze.

  “Maybe that’s for the best.”

  Shock ripped through him, but like hell would he let her see it. His pride took over. With a feigned casual shrug, he slid off the mattress and went in search of his clothes.

  Once dressed, he glanced back at the bed, a little more than surprised that she was still so quiet. She was sitting up, knees drawn to her chest with her arms wrapped around them.

  Her gaze remained on the bedspread, her sensual mouth now drawn into a taut line. Everything about her demeanor screamed back off.

  And so he did. He turned, and without a backward glance or another word, left her room and then her apartment.

  Chapter 6

  The slamming of her apartment door seemed to compound the slamming of the door to her heart.

  Phoebe closed her eyes, willing away the despondency that churned her stomach. It was better this way. It was.

  She drew in a deep breath and fell back against the pillows. With every second that passed, she visualized Craig getting farther away from her apartment.

  By now he’d be in the elevator going down to the lobby. In a few minutes he’d be crossing the parking lot. Each step he took led him farther away from her. Which is exactly what she’d requested.

  So why did she feel like she’d just taken ten giant steps down into the emotional dumps?

  Despite the mental low, physically she felt incredible. She kicked her legs free of the sheets, unable to ignore the pleasant soreness between her legs. Her thighs had a slight ache from being extra stretched out and every part of her body tingled with life.

  She traced her fingers over her stomach, reliving the sensation of Craig’s mouth on her. Heat gathered between her legs and her breathing quickened.

  With a curse, she swung her legs off the bed and groaned. Maybe having sex with Craig hadn’t been the best idea. It had broken the seal on her abstinence. He’d reminded her of exactly what she was missing out on.

  But more than the sex, the moments after they’d been intimate were what really gave her butterflies. How wonderful it had been to be held by a man. But not just any man. Craig. He was such a nice guy. A man who wouldn’t hurt her. Who she knew would actually go to lengths to make sure she was protected.

  Protected. Shit. Her eyes widened and she rushed out of the bedroom toward her front door.

  She’d forgotten all about Rick for a few moments. Forgotten all the normal steps she took to keep herself safe.

  When she was just feet from the unlocked front door, it began to open.

  No. Oh God, no.

  With a scream, she dove toward it, trying to slam it shut before he could get inside.

  He pushed back, forcing it open until she stumbled backward.

  Phoebe let out a shriek and reached for the baseball bat she kept in the closet.

  “Stop. Phoebe, stop.”

  The bat—firmly gripped in her hands—wavered as she finally realized who was inside her apartment.

  Not Rick.

  Craig shut the door with a quiet click and slid the locks into place.

  “Easy, girl. Are you okay?”

  She nodded dumbly, her heart pounding a mile a minute in her chest. How could she have been so stupid not to lock the door after he left? She was never that careless.

  She lowered the bat and returned it to the closet. Shaken by her own foolishness. “Why did you come back?”

  Craig didn’t reply and she glanced up, sensing it wasn’t just because he refused to take no for an answer.

  “What? What is it?”

  “I think your ex figured out where you live,” he finally
said quietly. “When I got down to the parking lot, there was a crowd of people gathered around your car.”

  Her stomach sank and she gripped the counter. “What’s wrong with my car?”

  “The windows were smashed in. A scrawled note was left under the windshield wiper.”

  She closed her eyes, nausea sweeping through her. “And what did the note say?”

  “Phoebe…”

  “Please, just tell me, I’m going to figure it out the minute I go down there.”

  “It said whore.”

  “Of course it did.” A manic giggle spilled past her lips and she shook her head. “That was always his favorite word for me. Which was ridiculous since he was the only man I’d ever fucked…until you, I mean.”

  She winced, realizing she probably shouldn’t have been that forthcoming. Especially when she saw Craig blink in dismay.

  Great. Now she looked like a woman who could barely get laid. So help him if he even made a comment…

  Fortunately, he just cleared his throat and sighed. “I’ve called the station. They’re sending someone over to file a report.”

  Her fingers clenched around the counter. “I don’t want to involve the police.”

  Craig closed the distance between them and took her hand, giving it a light squeeze.

  “Yes, you do, Phoebe. You need to. And this will only help your case in getting a restraining order.”

  “Craig, please. Just let me deal with this—”

  “Alone? Hell, Phoebe, it sounds like you’ve been dealing with things alone for too long now.” He pulled her into his arms, not releasing her even when she pressed her hands flat against his chest. “I know you’re not ready for a relationship. You made that clear. You’re doing everything you can to push me away. But last night you trusted me enough to bring me into your bed. Trust me enough now to help you through this.”

  Her body trembled. A combination of frustration, fear, and desire making every nerve come to life.

  It was just so unfair. She shouldn’t have to deal with this. Rick shouldn’t have come back into her life, turning her world upside down and threatening everything she’d built for herself. Made her live in this edgy state of what’s going to happen next?

  “Well?” Craig prodded gently.