Crushed

by Pratt, Lulu

  To have such a sexy man clamoring to get more of me, I couldn’t contain my arousal, moaning louder and louder. A wave began to build in my stomach, stronger than butterflies, but still pleasurable. Ford arms held me tightly as he reached the bedroom, slowly opening the door.

  He was right, a bed was just about all he had. The room, much like the rest of the home, was bare. At least, the bed was made, covered in crisp white sheets. As he placed me on the ground, I felt as though I was walking on clouds making my way to the bed. It was all surreal.

  I couldn’t be sure if it was really happening after dreaming of it for so long. Ford reached for my hand, and our fingers interlocked as they always did before my eyes turned to gaze deep into his gray depths. There was no more questioning the reality when I saw the emotion in his eyes.

  This was happening. My dreams had been replaced with reality. My fantasy was playing out right before my very eyes. It was real. He was real, his abs were real, and I was really going to lose my virginity.

  Chapter 24

  FORD

  “CHARLOTTE,” I stepped forward, closing the space between us. My hormones had gone into overdrive, leading my actions, but I had to slow down and make sure I wasn’t rushing her. This was a big decision, and I didn’t want to push her into anything.

  “Yes?” she asked, her voice soft and melodic as her big blue eyes searched mine. She was like an angel standing in the middle of my bare bedroom, glowing in the fading light of the sunset.

  “Are you sure about this?” I asked, my hand dropping to her hip.

  To my surprise, she laughed, reaching up to place her hand on my cheek. “Ford, I’ve never been more sure about anything in my life. I’ve wanted this for as long as I can remember.”

  It was all the permission I needed. Without another word, I took her into my arms, kissing her passionately as her fingernails ran along my scalp before she tugged gently at my hair. The sensation of pleasurable pain left me groaning as we stumbled towards the bed.

  Charlotte moved her shoulders from one side to the other, and then the soft fabric of the dress began to slide down her body. She was wearing nothing but a pink thong, I stepped back to take a look at her.

  My God, she was sexy. My cock fought the restraints of my pants, growing by the second. Quickly, I unfastened my belt and zipper before stepping out of my pants. Holding my stiff length in my hand, I walked towards Charlotte as her eyes widened. Slowly, she swallowed while looking at my cock, and I wondered if she was afraid.

  “We can stop at any time,” I assured her.

  “Ford, stop treating me like a child.” She looked deep into my eyes before pressing her lips to mine.

  Our arms twisted together as we fought to deepen the kiss, each of us overflowing with the fire that was finally getting to breathe. My body raced towards her, pulling her as close as possible. My cock pressed against her belly as we fell back to the bed, her blonde hair covering her face.

  Balancing my weight on my elbows, I hovered above her, sliding the stray hairs from her face as I positioned myself. I could feel the slickness on her thighs as I spread her legs. Charlotte was flushed as she watched me closely.

  I didn’t take her trust for granted. I knew she was depending on me, gifting me with the most precious part of her. Making light work of the condom, I covered myself before inching inside her.

  Charlotte’s head fell back, her mouth agape as she gasped, taking in my length. It was the sexiest thing I’d ever witnessed, watching her stretch, her breasts rising and falling slowly as her heart raced.

  I made sure not to rush her, spreading her legs far to make room for me. It took a few minutes before I’d managed to slide deep inside her, but it was worth the wait.

  “You okay?” I asked, allowing my weight to rest on her a bit.

  Charlotte exhaled deeply, wrapping her arms around my neck as she pulled me close. “I’m perfect.”

  Slowly, I raised my pelvis before sliding back into her warmth. With each stroke, I paved a path in the unknown, exploring undiscovered territory. My abs tensed, fighting the urge to climax. The sensation was overwhelming. Her tightness gripped my cock like a fist, milking me.

  “Ahh,” she moaned into my ear, and I clenched my jaw tight to contain myself.

  “You like that?” I groaned, finding a bit more ease. She was opening to me, sharing herself as she never had before.

  Our bodies melded together as one, turning and twisting to keep the connection. Charlotte didn’t just lay there like dead weight. Her body clung to me, meeting me at every thrust. It was erotic and romantic the way we danced together, something I’d never felt.

  We were in harmony, pumping and releasing, our cries of pleasure in sync as a sheen of sweat coated our bodies. Charlotte’s arms tightened around my neck as her cries grew louder, and I knew she was close to climaxing.

  “Don’t fight it,” I whispered in her ear, increasing my pace as I rose and fell deep inside her, groaning loudly as my own need to release intensified.

  “Yes! Oh my God! Ford!” She called my name, and my eyes clenched to hold off until she reached her breaking point.

  Our bodies crashed violently, my own hips bucking uncontrollably as I raced towards an explosion that felt dangerous. My hands gripped her flesh, begging her for more, though she had already given me all there was to give.

  “Ford!” she called my name once more as her tightness clenched me, gripping my cock so tight I lost the battle.

  “Fuck! Charlotte!” I called as my body pumped hard three last times. Charlotte came hard, creaming as I pumped into her, and I followed suit. A thick hot load left me motionless for a few breaths before I could lift myself and roll over onto my back.

  My heart felt like it was going to burst from my chest, the adrenaline still pumping as I fought to catch my breath. Glancing over at Charlotte, I couldn’t believe the chemistry between us carried over into the bedroom. She was much more than I had anticipated, even better than I’d been imagining nonstop for the past week.

  “Oh my God!” she panted, glancing over to me with glassy eyes. “If I would have known it was that good, I might not have been able to wait so long.”

  “Trust me,” I warned her through labored breaths. “It’s not usually that good.” I shook my head as I pulled the condom from my cock.

  After tying the latex, I dropped it in the bin. “If I would have known you were that good, I might have waited,” I sighed, falling back to the bed.

  Charlotte draped her arm and leg over my chest, our naked bodies panting in unison. Looking up at the ceiling, I could feel the excitement draining from my body as the realization set in. I’d officially crossed the line, the one I’d tried to steer myself away from.

  Though I felt the strong connection, Charlotte was off limits. She was my best friend’s younger sister. There was no way I could ever explain my actions, but I knew I would one day have to. With my arm wrapped around Charlotte, I already felt the brunt of my actions weighing heavy on my shoulders.

  I had to talk to Marshall, confess how I felt about his sister, and find a resolution. There was no way I could pretend this never happened, or hide the connection continuing to build between us. Charlotte was too special to be a secret. I wanted to scream from the rooftops how strongly I felt about her.

  She was the missing piece to my life, here to make everything complete. I was elated, my grin spreading as I thought of our life together. I felt more like the man I was destined to be than ever, like I had found my matching chess piece, the queen to dominate the board.

  “Ford, I have to ask,” Charlotte’s voice was soft and warm as she spoke against my neck, commanding me to turn.

  We were only inches from each other, our lips close enough to easily collide and commence what my body was already missing. I was already addicted to her after only one hit. Although I typically needed time to recover, I was ready for a second round much sooner than normal.

  My body hardened, pulling her clos
e, wanting more of her. “You have to ask what?” I smiled, kissing her cheek as she blushed.

  She slid away from me to balance on her elbows. Lying naked, her ass propped in the air attractively as she turned to face me with concern folding her brows. Pushing her thin fingers through her hair, she brushed the blonde locks away from her face as she bit her bottom lip, gathering her thoughts.

  “It’s too late to play coy.” I watched in anticipation, hoping she wasn’t regretting our decision. There was no way I could regret what felt so natural, so pure, so right. So, I took her in my arms, finding comfort in her smile as she giggled, rolling on top of me.

  “It’s just,” she again paused, so I pulled her close. Kissing her slowly, I backed away, hoping she was ready to share her concerns.

  “How are we going to keep this from Marshall?” she asked, reading my mind. I didn’t know how we would be able to keep such a big secret.

  The last thing I wanted to do was pretend I could go back to pretending. Now that I had experienced all Charlotte embodied, I wasn’t returning to sit on the sidelines.

  “I can’t imagine this being a one-night stand, babe,” I started, swallowing my pride. “The way I feel is too strong. I’m not willing to let this be a one-off.”

  Charlotte smiled brightly. “I was hoping you’d say that,” she blushed.

  “Don’t worry. I’ll talk to Marshall, we’ll come to an understanding,” I assured her. I didn’t want her worrying about how to work things out with her brother. It didn’t have anything to do with her. I was the one who had crossed a line, and I would handle it as a man.

  “No!” She popped up, her face serious as she pressed against my chest. “You can’t say anything!”

  I frowned, unsure of her plan. Surely Marshall would have to know what was going on between us. The longer we delayed it, the more complicated things would get. As far as I could see, it would be best to tell him as soon as possible.

  “But, Charlotte,” I tried to argue my point, but she wouldn’t hear me.

  “I’m serious! I want to talk to my brother when the time is right. You can’t say a word! Promise me!” she urged, her face tight with concern.

  It wasn’t what I would want, but it wasn’t my decision to make. Marshall was her brother, and so if she didn’t want me to tell what had happened between us, I didn’t feel I had a choice.

  “I promise,” I agreed reluctantly, unable to deny her anything ever again.

  Chapter 25

  CHARLOTTE

  THE CLASS HAD been focusing on buttercream techniques all week. I couldn’t wait until we were left to test out what we’d learned, because I’d mastered working with buttercream years ago. My fellow interns were nervous, whispering amongst themselves as they struggled to find confidence.

  Mike made his way to my desk with the smile I’d come to know him for. At only twenty-four years old, he had already studied in Paris, managed a bakery in Columbus, and now he led the intern program at the best bakery in the city.

  I admired not only his credentials, but the way he could teach others how to do what he appeared to with ease. Not everyone was a great teacher, but Mike could explain things so simply, it made it easy for the class to follow.

  “I know I don’t need to give you any extra pointers,” he grinned as he reached my workstation.

  “You know I love buttercream?” I whispered, hoping my classmates didn’t hear.

  “You may have mentioned it once or twice,” he teased. I’d been asking when we would work with buttercream since the first day, eager to show off my skills.

  The class began to crowd around my workstation at Mike’s instruction. It was our typical routine. After Mike would teach a masterclass, we were to go on our own and attempt to replicate what we’d learned. Most of the lessons were a bit elementary for me, so I could do them without assistance. I think Mike liked to use me as a confidence builder for the class, to show that if I could do it, they could too.

  It had become clear I was Mike’s favorite, but thankfully my peers didn’t seem intimidated or annoyed by our connection. Rather than the disdain the teacher’s pet would get in grade school, my position made me quite popular in the program.

  “I was hoping we could get your recipe,” said Julie, the curly haired girl from Dayton. The intern program was so well respected, participants traveled from around the state and beyond to attend.

  Julie had been one of the most talented in the class. Her specialty was French pastries, so I’d gotten her recipe for macarons, and she promised to teach me how to make croissants. Now, she had her trusted notepad in hand. The lavender-colored leather-bound notebook was her staple, as she took it everywhere, constantly scribbling away notes.

  “I like to add a little bit of lemon zest,” I announced as I quickly walked through my simple recipe.

  “I like that,” Mike nodded. Although he was a teacher, he was so studious, always willing to learn from his students.

  After I bagged the icing, I began decorating the test cakes given for the challenge. Everyone watched in silence, which was perfect. I needed to concentrate during the delicate stage of icing.

  “Now, let’s all get to our own stations and mix up before decorating,” Mike announced.

  Everyone went back, again whispering amongst each other before beginning their own process. I asked Mike to try my buttercream and he agreed, remarking at how subtle but impactful the lemon zest had been.

  “Brandon would love this,” he grinned, thinking of his partner. The two were set to wed in the fall, and he reminded me of the upcoming nuptials daily.

  “You can take him this cake,” I offered, pushing the finished design to the edge of my table.

  “I’ve been watching you blossom, Charlotte,” Mike said.

  “What do you mean?” I asked, though I already knew the answer.

  “You basically just taught a lesson,” he explained. “The transformation from your first day to now has been tremendous. I want you to continue allowing yourself to grow and take on more responsibility.”

  “I’m trying to be the best I can,” I said, feeling my cheeks warm. Mike nodded before heading to the next workstation, making his rounds with the other interns as he did every day. I was proud of all I’d accomplished, and certain what was changing the way I felt about myself.

  It had been nine days since I first spent the night with Ford. He was the source of my newfound confidence, because whenever I was with him, I felt I could accomplish any and everything I dreamed of.

  After all, he was my dream man, a fantasy that had become my reality. And he didn’t disappoint. He was an even better man than I thought. We’d spent almost every moment I wasn’t working together, and he was a complete gentleman.

  We’d gone to a bar near his house the other night, joking about the fact that I didn’t get carded. I’d been so excited to show my ID for the first time since my birthday, but the waitress just took my order and brought the drinks. I blamed Ford, claiming he aged me with his beard.

  We were such natural friends, which made our relationship better than all my past attempts. One thing I knew how to be a good friend, and Ford seemed appreciative. Sex was the icing on the cake, and boy was it sweet.

  My body had come alive in a way I didn’t know possible since losing my virginity. Ford couldn’t believe how much I wanted him. Whenever we weren’t together, I dreamed of him and our life together.

  As I began decorating another cake with buttercream, I wondered what it would be like to design my own wedding cake. Marrying Ford felt like the ultimate fairy tale, my own happily ever after. He was so kind and patient, I knew he would be the perfect husband.

  He was so open with me, never hiding anything about his life. No matter what I asked, he promised to answer truthfully, and I’d felt he lived up to that. Nothing was off limits between us. We talked about his life in Minneapolis, which seemed wild but yet lonely.

  He told me he was a bit of a party animal when he wasn�
�t working double shifts. I found that hard to believe. Ford didn’t seem to enjoy the club too much when he’d gone out with me. He said he was more into bars and lounging, but that wasn’t the scene in Minnesota.

  I was shocked but relieved when he told me there wasn’t any ex-girlfriend waiting for him there. It was clear that he liked being in a relationship, or at least that’s the way I felt because of his lack of apprehension to be exclusive with me. I just knew he would have left behind a gorgeous woman in Minneapolis, but it turns out he was more like me in that department.

  Ford had never had a long-term relationship. He said he never saw the point, but with me things were different. It made me feel like a princess in one of the stories from my childhood. Like only I could fill the role for him.

  Glancing up at the clock, my heart raced knowing I would get to see him in a few hours. Although it was a far drive, Ford picked me up from the bakery after work every day. I’d told my brother that Jackie was driving me to keep him from offering a ride.

  Thankfully, work had been busy for Marshall, so he didn’t question why I was spending so much time away from home. I told him it had a lot to do with my new job, and he appeared to believe me. I didn’t like lying to my brother, but there was no way I could confess about Ford. He would try to end it, and this was the happiest I’d ever been in my life. I wasn’t letting anyone come between what me and Ford had.

  “Okay, let’s all look at what Julie has done,” Mike announced.

  I turned to see a pretty floral pattern Julie had created and quickly joined the rest of the class at her station. It was hard to focus as she explained her technique, because all I could think about was whether I’d want flowers on my wedding cake when I married Ford.

  Chapter 26

  FORD