Returning Pride

by Jill Sanders

  She ran her hands up his wet t-shirt, pulling it up and off, exposing his chest to her view.

  Her eyes ran up and down his powerful chest and arms. He too had little bumps rising all over his chilled skin. Bending her head, she ran her tongue over his damp skin and tasted him. Then she ran her tongue over his taught nipple, and nibbled ever so lightly as he moaned.

  He watched every move she made, and when she looked up at him, he smiled. He was trying to calm the massive desire he had for her, at least slow it down to a reasonable pace. Smiling, she started to move across his chest to do the same to his other nipple, but he reached down and removed her wet t-shirt with quick movements.

  Then when she was exposed, he placed his hands under her arms again, this time lifting her and tossing her on the large bed. She hit the soft mattress with a slight bounce and laughed.

  Then he was next to her, taking his turn licking his way across her skin. He ran his mouth downward over her soft stomach. His tongue ran a trail just above her plain, white bra.

  Running her fingers through his wet curly hair was another pleasure she marveled in. Holding his head to her as he feasted and pulled the light material aside, she too let out a moan, one he felt with his large hand that was spread out over her tight stomach. He was running his mouth over her, gently playing with each of her ribs. Then when he started to go lower, he hit her tickle spot and she jolted upright, grabbing for him.

  Looking up quickly, he saw the smile and concern on her face. It took him less than a second to realize what a piece of gold he’d unearthed.

  “Tickle spot, eh?” he said, trying to pull his hand free.

  “Oh, no you don’t, Iian…” She tried to push his hand away. With his hands clamped in hers, he ducked his head and licked the spot slowly. She released his hands and grabbed his head, trying to dislodge him from the spot. He kept running his tongue slowly over and over her, until she was holding his head down, instead of trying to pull him away. The laugh and smile on her face slowly faded into something stronger-want.

  With his hands released, he continued running them over her, learning her much like a blind man would read braille. Then when his hands dipped and unbuckled her jeans, she helped him slide the wet denim down her chilled legs. She reached for his pants, but he slid away, holding himself above her. His eyes ran up her. She’d never been embarrassed of her body, she knew how she looked. When he smiled at her and mouthed “Beautiful,” she smiled at him.

  “Iian, please,” she said as he watched her lips move. When she reached for him, he pulled her hands into one of his, and held them next to her head.

  “Let me, Ally, I want to savor you.” He dipped his head again, returning on his previous journey down her body. This time, when he reached her tickle spot, she tightened just a little, but then relaxed as he skipped over the spot to continue his downward journey.

  With her hands released, she played her fingers over his taught muscles in his shoulders.

  Finally, he reached the white lace that covered her. Gently, ever so gently, he pulled it aside to expose her to his view.

  Never had she felt so much anticipation as she did while he looked at her. She could see the need and desire plainly in his eyes. Then when she thought she couldn’t stand it any longer, he dipped his head and tasted just there. Her body heated and she felt a shiver run down to her toes.

  This time, her shoulders came off the mattress on their own accord. Her hands fell to the comforter and fisted there as he feasted on her. Never had she felt anything quite like the excitement of Iian’s mouth on her. He’d obviously taken great care to know what women truly wanted. Using his fingers and mouth, he tortured her further. She twisted her fingers in the comforter and felt herself building to release.

  Just when she thought she couldn’t wait any longer, he stood, and in one quick motion, removed his own boots and jeans. Basking in the lines and firmness of him, she watched him reach over, pulling something out of the night stand. The light was dim enough, but she could just make out the flash of foil as he placed a condom wrapper on the bed.

  Then he was beside her and kissing her until her head was spinning again. She thought it would be speed from here. After all, she’d seen his erection and knew his balls were so tight that it was probably painful. He continued to kiss her and run his hands up and down her naked body slowly.

  She too, was running her hands over him. Taking a chance, she reached down and lightly placed her fingers around him, gently running up and down until he pulled her hand up and away. Cuffing them in his own above her head again. He looked down at her and just shook his head as he smiled. Then he licked her lips and nibbled on her bottom lip until she was squirming.

  Trying a different tactic, she pushed her hips upwards and started grinding them against his hard, naked thigh. This only heightened her own excitement and almost caused her to come against him.

  “Please Iian,” she moaned, but his head was busy back at her breast. How could he have so much self-control? Didn’t he know she was ready to burst?

  Finally, she saw an opening. He’d released her hands and was halfway on his side, slowly edging his way back down her body. She noticed that he was off center and doing her best wrestling move, flipped him over and had him on his back in two seconds flat. He smiled up at her as if he’d planned the whole thing. She sat straddling him smiling back down at him.

  “You think this is funny?” she signed to him. “You want to torture me? I’ll show you how to torture someone.”

  She held his arms down and mouthed, “Don’t move!” She had just enough emotion behind her that he nodded his head in agreement.

  Running her hands down from his wrists, she explored his forearms, his upper arms and enjoyed the veins that bulged in his triceps. Then dipping her head, she ran her tongue down the same path.

  She’d always admired his body, but had never truly seen it up close, this naked, or tasted it, like she was doing now. He had his own unique taste and she marveled in the sweetness of him. How could a man taste so good?

  Looking at her hands, she realized just how wide his chest was. The muscles that tensed as she explored him made her smile. Running her fingers, ever so lightly down his stomach, she followed the light cover of hair that trailed downwards to his erection. Using her fingers she cuffed him and ran her tongue over the head, and explored the length and girth of him. She always found it such a wonder at how a man could be strong and yet so soft feeling at the same time. Like rose petals over steel.

  She could honestly say that Iian was larger than anyone else she’d experienced. She thought it better to keep that little secret to herself. Smiling as she heard him groan again, she figured she would just have her revenge on him, but after a moment, she lost herself in the pleasure of pleasing him.

  Then she was being tossed back on her back and he was hovering above her. This time, his eyes were dark and his face was set in concentration.

  She’d never seen him look so… so. She got no further in her thoughts, because in one quick move, he was inside her and she arched off the bed and gasped his name. Then it was all speed and power.

  Never before had he shown such restraint. He’d wanted to explore and remember every part of her. He didn’t know that by doing so, he’d torture himself to the point of pain. Then she’d flipped him over and tried to do the same. How could she know that he’d been on the verge of coming before she ran her hands over him, her tongue over him. Then her mouth had been on him and he’d had to recite all the spices he could think of until finally, he’d been so caught up in her, he had to have her.

  When he’d driven into her heat, he was sure he wouldn’t last long, but the more he had her, the more he wanted to hold himself at bay. She was so wet, hot, and tight he enjoyed every second. He could just lose himself.

  He loved the way she moved with him. The way she smelled. Everything about her was perfection.

  When her hands had reached around him and held tight to his hips,
he felt her nails skim his skin and smiled. He looked down at her face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth was slightly opened. He could see the moment she exploded around him.

  Knowing he could build her up again, he pulled one of her legs tight against him and watched her begin to rise. Just when he saw her about to go over the edge a second time, he joined her.

  He lay there feeling her chest rise and fall against his own. Her soft skin felt like heaven next to his. She fit perfectly in his arms. She felt perfect in his arms. Why had he waited so long to finally get her here? How was he going to make sure she stayed here?

  The rain was still coming down hard when she surfaced. She was being pressed deep into the soft mattress. Iian’s weight was pinning her and keeping her warm at the same time.

  The room, which had been overly hot when they’d been enjoying each other, had quickly cooled her already damp skin. Reaching around, she tried to pull the comforter over them both. He shifted and rolled them both until she thought they’d hit the floor. Then he shifted and the comforter was over them as he rolled them back to the middle of the large bed.

  “Tell me you’re not moving to Paris. Tell me you’re going to stay right here,” he mumbled against her hair.

  Nodding her head in agreement, she smiled and snuggled into his warm chest to settle in for the night as he played his hand lightly over her hair.

  When he could tell she was asleep, he closed his eyes and, smelling her wonderful scent, drifted off.

  Chapter Thirteen

  George Jordan stood on the deck of his sailboat and noticed it was taking on water fast. His feet were spread wide, the stance of a man who’d been born a sailor. The heavy waves crashed into the boat’s small hull. It wasn’t the rain or the water leaking into the boat that concerned him, it was the lightning that kept getting closer and closer, along with the large wall of dark clouds he knew would hit them soon.

  Looking over at his son, he watched as he helped hoisted the sails, expertly. He saw the fear in his eyes. He remembered seeing that face for the first time, eighteen years ago. At birth, his youngest son had reminded him of a fish out of water. He’d gasped for breath and then cried out with a strong voice, his big blue eyes looked around the room, searching for a means to his first meal, not knowing his mother had given her life for his.

  Taking hold of the ropes, he swung the mast around and headed in the direction he knew would be land. Although it was in the middle of the day, the dark sky didn’t show any signs of light. He’d been born on the water, made a living off it, and even raised his three kids to respect and love it. Now it appeared, it was going to be the death of him. Well, at least he’d do everything in his power to make sure it didn’t take his son along.

  The Dawn-treader was his favorite sailboat. Looking up at the mast, he laughed as the sail caught a large gust of wind and started to pull the vessel towards life. Knowing it wouldn’t be enough – it couldn’t be enough – he smiled at his son, who was holding onto the side of the boat tightly.

  “We’re moving, you just hold tight. I promised your mom on the day you were born I’d take care of you, and I’ll be damned if I let a little storm come between me and my promise.”

  A few minutes later, the strong winds had started to crack the mast in half. He could hear the wood creaking under the weight of the wind. A few more minutes, and the tiny vessel shook hard, almost throwing them both overboard. Then it started to tip to the side and take its last dip towards a dark, watery grave.

  “Come on my boy, it’s time to go,” he shouted over the wind.

  Lightning cracked, causing his son’s face to be illuminated. He could see the fear mirrored in his silvery eyes. Looking overboard towards the small dinghy that was tied to the back, he yelled over the wind, “Grab hold and don’t let go when you land. Just you remember that, don’t let go! I love you son.”

  He pushed his son with all his might and watched as he jumped across the empty space between the two boats. His son landed in the dinghy with a thud. When his son shook his head and look back to him, he was just about to jump into the icy water and make a swim for it, when everything went dark.

  Iian watched from the small dinghy as his father and the boat exploded with light. The last thing he’d ever hear in his life was “I love you, son.”

  She’d been trying to wake him for a few minutes. He’d woken her up with his moaning. Her legs had been wrapped around his and he’d kicked and thrashed about until she’d woken confused. Then she’d remembered where she was.

  Trying to wake him up was hard. She’d called his name at first, then almost smacked herself in the forehead for her stupidity. Grabbing his shoulders, she began shaking him until his eyes flew open. He blinked a few times, then reached over and turned on a light on the night stand.

  “Are you okay?” she signed.

  He just nodded his head and ran his hands over his face. When he looked back at her, she asked, “Was it about your father?”

  He shook his head in agreement.

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  His head was pounding like crazy and his vision was a little gray on the edges. A true sign that a migraine was quickly on it’s way.

  “It comes in bursts. Sometimes all I need to do is have a certain smell or taste and there it is. The image of my father standing at the helm. Seeing him smiling down at me with the sky to his back.” He shook his head. “When I have the dreams, they’re almost always followed by migraines.” He rubbed his temples. “I don’t remember much, just leaving the dock the day before. Then at least in my dreams, there was a storm. I think it was the lightning that killed him. He’d pushed me onto the dinghy. The old man had always been strong. But he just picked me up and tossed me, not thinking of himself. When I hit, my head smacked the deck hard and everything went silent. I looked back over to him just as he exploded in light.”

  She ran her hands over his face and wiped away his tears.

  “He threw me into the dinghy to save me and I laid there and watched him die. The last thing I heard was him telling me he loved me.”

  “Iian,” she whispered and had a tear of her own falling down her cheek.

  He signed back. “I’m sorry I woke you.” He wiped the tear from her cheek. He looked over at the clock, which said it was still early enough that he thought about snuggling back down with her. Then he got a better look at her. She held the sheet close to her chest and he realized what she had on underneath, or the lack of what was underneath.

  “Come here.” He pulled her close. She looked wonderful and smelled even better. He ran his fingers over the sheet she held close to her chest. He saw her shiver, saw her skin start to glow with excitement. He watched her eyes fog over, she leaned her head back and he watched the light play across her face. He let his fingers linger before dipping them lower and gently pulled the sheet away, exposing more of her soft skin to his view. Her hand fell away and rested next to her on the bed. He could see her chest rise and fall with each breath. Shifting his weight, he leaned down to kiss her, running his mouth along her slender neck. Playing his tongue across her shoulders, he went lower to enjoy the softness of her.

  He removed the sheet completely so that she was fully exposed for his view. The low light played over her as he ran his fingers over her. She laid back and held very still as he took his time learning every curve, every soft spot.

  His fingers slowly played over every inch of her. She moaned every time he would get closer and closer to her center. She felt herself vibrate with want. Grabbing the sheet beneath her, she closed her eyes as his mouth finally found the spot where she ached. He played a finger just over her tender nub, and she couldn’t help but moan. He had a way with his mouth. Something was building deep inside her and she couldn’t help but try to pull him closer. She wanted him deep inside her.

  She twisted and tried to pull him up to her. Then he was there. His silver blue eyes focused on her face, searching her own eyes. She smiled up at him and
pulled him down for a kiss just as he entered her slowly.

  “Please Iian,” she pulled his face to hers so he could read her plea. “I can’t stand it, I need you.”

  Smiling down at her, “What? What do you want, Ally. Tell me.”

  “I want it fast.” She closed her eyes again and pumped her hips trying to get him to move faster.

  “Like this?” He pulled back until he hovered just outside her sleek entrance. He saw her physically moan and she tried to pull his hips back down to her. He chuckled when her nails dug into his hips.

  Trying a different tactic, she ran her tongue slowly over her bottom lip. Two could play at this game, she thought. Running her fingers through his hair, she traced down his neck and smiled as he watched her mouth hungrily. Then she moved down his shoulders, down his chest, over his tight stomach. His muscles bunched as she glided over each one. She watched as his eyes closed, and held himself very still above her. Then she went lower, circling him as he hovered at her entrance.