Persuasion

by Violetta Rand

  “Are you taking advantage of me?” she asked.

  He studied her as if taking measure of her state of mind. “Only if you let me.”

  So the badass biker was leaving it up to her—yet another twist in Lang’s complicated personality she never expected. From what she’d read—and yes, she’d been Googling exhaustively since the night they’d met—men like him didn’t wait, they made a play, and if rejected, moved on to the next piece of ass. Harsh as it sounded, Lily kind of welcomed that attitude. It served her purpose for the most part. The trouble was, she actually liked him. He made her laugh and knew how to handle a motorcycle better than NASCAR racers maneuvered their multimillion-dollar cars around the track.

  That short ride on his Harley had thrilled her more than anything she could remember. And she imagined he could handle her body much the same way.

  When she’d stopped by the grocery store on her way home from work that afternoon to buy the turkey, she’d also visited the pharmacy and picked up a couple of boxes of condoms. Better safe than sorry. They were hidden in the top drawer of her nightstand. She wondered if it was time to surrender to her lust. It would never get easier. The more time they spent getting to know each other, the harder it would be to say no. She had rules in place to protect her heart, not her body. And the attraction between them remained a huge distraction.

  “I’ll let you,” she whispered, without a trace of regret in her voice.

  Chapter 18

  Lang stared at her possessively. They’d done everything right, gotten to know each other, found common ground, revealed secrets, enjoyed meals, even teamed up to help his sister. He’d never done that before. Sexual need usually drove him into the arms of a woman. Not genuine interest and respect. There was something undeniably special about Lily Gallo. Not just her beauty. Everything about her hit him right between the legs. He stared at her pouty lips, the bottom one a little fuller than the top. He nipped it, and she cried out in shock and pleasure.

  It seemed once she gave him permission to do what he wanted—what she so obviously needed—he couldn’t contain his enthusiasm. But he’d best take it slow at first. It had been a long time since she’d made love.

  He leaned close enough to hear her heavy breathing, her eyes fixed on him. He cupped her face, caressing her jaw with his thumbs. Her lips parted in invitation as she closed her eyes. That’s what killed him the most about Lily. Just his touch set off tsunami-like waves of pleasure—her hunger so visible and hot.

  “I want to kiss you.” His tongue met hers and she molded her mouth to his, shifting forward on her chair. She wrapped her arms around his neck, locking him in place.

  Careful not to break the kiss, he used his legs to shove his seat away from the table and somehow managed to lift her onto his lap. As she straddled him he jammed his crotch against her. Fuck. He’d only kissed her once and she was ready to go.

  Part of him wanted to skip the ritualistic foreplay and sink deep inside her, show her how desperate he’d been to have her. That sassy fucking mouth drew him in like honey. Sweetest fucking lips he’d ever tasted. He brushed her hair away from her face, slanting his head for better penetration, his tongue buried to the root, like his dick would be in a matter of minutes.

  He fisted his hand in her silky mane, then slowly planted tender kisses down her long neck. With each one, he applied a little more sucking pressure, her legs quivering. Perfect. His hand dragged lower, reaching the hem of her skirt, which was already conveniently hiked high up on her slim thighs. Enough to yank her panties to the side and sink two fingers inside her. So slick. He fingered her swollen clit, rotating his wrist, inspiring her to ride his hand.

  “Faster,” she moaned, one arm curled around his neck, her hand clenching his bicep.

  He slipped a third finger inside her and her muscles contracted around him, the pulse of her orgasm building. She arched her neck and cried out his name, snapping her hips. He didn’t want it to end there. He loved the look on her face when he finger-fucked her, the way she lost control. And if her reactions were a hint of the way she’d be once he breached her…he couldn’t wait.

  “I want to fuck you, Lily.” He tipped her chin so she had to look at him. “Tell me to fuck you, baby.”

  She inhaled sharply as he flicked his tongue across her bottom lip.

  “Yes, Lang. Fuck me. Please,” she panted irresistibly as his fingers powered deeper.

  Lang lost focus as he gently withdrew his fingers, then tasted her. After he moaned with satisfaction, he shared the pleasure—easing his finger into her fuck-me mouth. She welcomed it, spiraling her tongue over his finger, sucking him clean. He watched with fascination. Seemed the counselor possessed a wicked side.

  He eased her off his lap, setting her on her chair again. She watched unblinking as he shed his T-shirt, then kicked off his boots and socks, finally stripping off his leather pants. He’d never been uncomfortable naked. Her gaze raked greedily over his physique. She reached for his chest, tracing the lines of his tattoo, following the handle of the hammer all the way down. She stopped at his hairline—hand trembling as her eyes met his.

  “You’re beautiful,” she said.

  No woman had ever told him that before. And as soon as she gripped his dick, he threw his head back, the need for contact with her as potent as anything he’d ever felt. She squeezed him with just the right amount of pressure, sliding her hand tenuously up and down his shaft. Her lips made contact with his stomach, her tongue dipping into his belly button. Lang’s toes curled and he nearly laughed at his own vulnerability. Something he couldn’t risk showing.

  “Stand up, Lily.”

  She smiled softly, doing as he asked.

  Lang unbuttoned her silky white blouse; it dropped to the floor, and he discovered a lace bra underneath that barely contained the swell of her breasts. He caressed her tits with his knuckles, her nipples visible through the lace. He reached around her hips, finding a button and zipper at the back of her skirt, which he quickly undid.

  She breathed slowly and deliberately as he guided the skirt down her hips, then knelt to remove it. Matching lace panties met his eyes. He liked white lace nearly as much as her soft skin. He kissed her center, gently at first, then plastered her against his face by squeezing her ass tight. She wiggled and groaned—those little sexy noises spurring him on. He bit her with delicate precision through the thin material of her underwear, her scent as pleasing as the first night he tasted her. God help him. Her panties were wrapped around her ankles in the blink of an eye.

  He turned her around, still on his knees. And the perfect ass that had inspired a new and lasting fetish called out to him. Round and firm, it was definitely the most exquisite part of Lily’s body. He ran a finger lightly between her cheeks, loving the way she sighed. Next he licked and nibbled his way up her spine, until he was standing, one hand snaked around her left hip and the other fastened to her ass cheek.

  “Spread yourself over the chair for me, Lily.”

  She braced her hands on the back of the chair, then arched, her legs naturally going wide. The definition in her hamstrings didn’t go unnoticed; those perfect lines turned him on. And for a brief moment he felt unworthy of her breathtaking perfection. For some reason, she’d chosen him, and Lang would be damned if he denied her anything she wanted. He covered her with his body, cupping her full breasts from behind, kissing her shoulder.

  Her tits spilled over his palms, and he crushed her soft flesh, his thumbs circling over her erect nipples. If he didn’t know how to shut down his emotions, Lang swore he could become a Lily fanatic overnight. Her body inspired that kind of devotion. What stupid motherfucker let her go? The kind that didn’t realize what he had.

  But Lang did.

  He reached for his pants on the floor, finding the foil packet in the front pocket. Tearing it open with his teeth, he inserted a finger inside Lily again, appreciating the wet warmth and softness waiting. He groaned as he sheathed himself in ribbed latex. Wh
at he’d give to ride her bareback.

  She glanced over her shoulder as he finished rolling the condom on. “Is this what you want?” he asked.

  She nodded. “All of it.” She uttered it with breathless conviction.

  He positioned himself between her legs. As she nudged him with her ass, Lang clutched her hips, intent on controlling her every move. Beautiful. Every inch of Lily’s body tensed with desire. Steady and slow, Lily’s pussy opened for him, her incredible wetness squeezing around him.

  He paused, appreciating the way it felt to be buried balls-deep inside her. Until now, pussy was pussy, but Lily’s little snatch was made for his dick. That’s what he believed as he pumped his hips, testing her resilience—waiting to see if she’d let him know what she wanted.

  “Harder,” she demanded.

  Their bodies slapped together as he increased the momentum, the sound and sensations lighting him up like fireworks. He withdrew slowly, then slammed into her, again and again. Pleasure burned through him.

  “Can you kneel on the chair?” he asked.

  She changed positions, her knees on the edge of the seat now. Lang took a broader stance, watching as his length disappeared inside her. He could see everything, her swollen pink sex, the muscles in her back contracting, the white-knuckled grip she had on the back of the chair…

  “I didn’t know,” she whispered.

  “What, baby?”

  “That it could feel this good.”

  Neither did he.

  Suddenly he didn’t want anyone else. Just her, like this. Naked, panting, and begging. His. For how long he didn’t know, as long as it included now. That’s the only timeframe he could think in wrapped inside her.

  They peaked at the same time, his on a loud growl, hers ripping through her spine in one violent spasm. He gritted his teeth as he came in uncontrollable spurts, then collapsed forward, draped over her quavering body.

  “What did you do to me, Lily?” he asked, struggling to recover.

  “I don’t know,” she answered hoarsely. “Magic?”

  Yeah, he agreed silently. That’s what he’d blame these unexpected feelings on, magic.

  Chapter 19

  Lily knew herself too well. Even if she didn’t mean to, she’d sabotage this relationship in one way or another. Something this potent and pure couldn’t possibly last. Not for more than a few nights. She was in no hurry to banish Lang from her life, though. Sexual frustration disappeared the second he filled her. She shifted on her knees, still pinned in place by his heavy weight. She peered over her shoulder, his face inches from hers. His dark smile didn’t falter. And any words she thought of saying melted away. No description could do justice to what she felt like right now.

  He’d driven all thoughts of other men from her mind, her past relationships a blip in time compared to what she was experiencing now. She cared, more than she wanted to admit. He slid his hand around her waist, reaching for one of hers. Their fingers entwined, and she could feel him go rock hard inside her. Again? That fast? Oh God…He rocked slowly, his hips moving smoothly, her sensitive insides on fire again.

  “Lily?” he said. “Do you want to stay like this?”

  Her knees ached from kneeling on the edge of the hard wooden chair for too long. But the torrent of pleasure was well worth a little discomfort. If they moved, he’d no longer be inside her. And losing that for just a moment seemed too great a loss.

  “Speechless?” he teased. “Are you all right?”

  “Yes.”

  “You’re perfect….” He caressed her shoulder, pulling out slightly, then driving into her. “I want to fuck you all night.”

  The same breath-stealing promise he’d made on the phone while she masturbated in the bathtub to his voice. That memory cascaded over her like a hot whisper. Now she wanted to change positions, to see his face and kiss his lips while he pumped inside her.

  “On the floor,” she said.

  He removed himself from her body, and on shaky legs, she turned around, gazing up at him. He smiled, the kind of look that melted her heart. She averted her eyes, admiring his muscled torso instead, his tattoos both beautiful and a bitter reminder of what he was. The president of an outlaw biker club. The antithesis of everything she believed in.

  His body was a symmetrical masterpiece. He had a six-pack or twelve-pack—she couldn’t count all the ripples. And it felt so divine being held in those chiseled arms. But his blue eyes and full lips demanded her attention the most. And of course what waited between his legs…That magnificent specimen flexed and she swallowed hard, fascinated it had fit inside her with only a little resistance. Arousal pooled between her thighs again, and she walked to the living room, grabbed the blanket off the arm of the sofa, spread it on the floor, and lay on her back.

  Lang knelt between her spread legs, his heated gaze all over her. “How flexible are you, Counselor?”

  “Four years of gymnastics, three years of tap-dancing, and lots of yoga.”

  Grabbing her shoulders on a growl, he lifted her and she slammed against him, his lips devouring hers. “That explains your sweet little ass—I’d like to bronze it.”

  She laughed. “Then I’d have nothing to sit on.”

  He nipped her bottom lip. “Let me give you a comfortable alternative.” He dragged her down with him, and she ended up on top, straddling his face. “Don’t move, Lily.”

  He gripped her thighs, his tongue tickling her clit. With a gasp, she felt her desire spiral out of control as Lang used his deft fingers and tongue to torture and please.

  Minutes later she was curled on her side next to him, her head resting on his shoulder. Lang had successfully turned her inside out. And she couldn’t help but wonder, and fear a little, where this thing between them was headed.

  “Don’t hide your feelings,” he said as if reading her mind. “I’m honest to a fault, Lily. Remember?”

  Brutally so. “What do you want from me, Lang?”

  He chuckled, then cupped her breast. “This…” His hand moved lower still, to her core. “This.” And finally, he tapped her forehead. “And this.”

  In that order? Should she be insulted or take it as a compliment? Maybe she needed someone to release her from her neat, orderly life. Tina always teased her about getting real. And Lily beat herself up constantly—the memories of her failed relationships always a challenge to forget.

  “I can ask the same thing.” Lang raised up, curiosity dancing in his eyes. “What do you want from me, Lily?”

  “I don’t know,” she confessed. “Maybe it would be easier if I told you what I don’t want.”

  He lifted her chin with his thumb. “I’m listening.”

  “I don’t want this to end.”

  On a boyish grin, he claimed her mouth again. “I think we both have sex on the brain.”

  She hoped he thought more of her than other women. “I’ve never done this before.”

  “Had sex?”

  “No.” She slapped his arm. “Slept with someone after only knowing them for a few weeks.”

  He blinked and stared. “If you know anything about the kind of man I am, you’d see I want more already. Relax, Lily. I like you, a lot.”

  His words provided some comfort, though her self-imposed doubts kept her mind busy all the time. She could live with that for now. Take it day by day, appreciate the mutual attraction they shared. Regardless of her personal feelings about her failed relationships, it felt wonderful being wanted again. She loved looking at him, loved his body, adored the way he stared at her, and nearly lost it every time he talked dirty.

  Her cell phone rang and she scrambled to her feet.

  Lang grabbed her ankle. “Ignore it.”

  “I can’t,” she said. “Could be one of my students.” She shared her cell number with the highest-risk kids, always prepared to assist with whatever problems they had. “Be right back.”

  She rushed to her bedroom in time to answer. “Hello?”

  �
�Lily? It’s Dad.”

  She took a deep breath, still angry at him. But he never called anymore, so she thought she better give him a chance to speak. “Is everything okay?”

  “I don’t know how to say this gently,” he answered. “Your mother is in the hospital.”

  “What?”

  “She’s stable,” he assured her. “But you need to know…”

  She hadn’t chatted with her mother in days. But their last conversation had been pleasant enough. It even sounded like her mom had started to accept her new status as a single woman. “Tell me what happened.”

  “She OD’d on sleeping pills.”

  She felt like he’d just punched her in the gut. She cried out, sitting on the edge of the bed. “Accidental?” Please tell me it was.

  He remained silent for too long.

  “Dad? The truth, please.”

  “She’s in the Jefferson University Hospital Psychiatric Unit.”

  “You’re not being specific enough.”

  He sighed. “And give you another reason to hate me?”

  “This isn’t about our relationship, Dad. Nothing matters except Mom.”

  “You’re right,” he agreed. “She told the emergency room doctor that given the current situation with our divorce, she had no reason left to live. Explained she just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up.” He paused, and Lily could hear the guilt and fear in his voice. “She agreed to a thirty-day treatment plan. Apparently she’s been self-medicating for months now.”

  Lily shot up from the bed and started pacing. She went into clinical mode, mentally searching for a solution. “I can catch a flight first thing in the morning.”

  “No.”

  “Maybe she needs me.”

  “There’s a strict treatment protocol at the hospital. No contact with family and friends for thirty days. It’s an aggressive program.”

  “How long has she been in the hospital?”

  “Three days.”

  Anger thundered through her veins. “Why did you wait so long to tell me?” Her legs trembled as she reached for the wall to support herself.