So Revealing (Happy Endings Book Club, Book 3)

by Kylie Gilmore

  He lifted his head, his dark eyes burning into hers. She waited, unsure what he was going to do next. She didn’t even care; she just wanted more. She grabbed his head and they slammed together again. She tasted sweetness from the jellybeans and pure erotic sin. She ran her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck and across those amazing muscular shoulders. He nipped her bottom lip and then sucked it. Throbbing need like she’d never felt before made her spread her legs wider, inviting him in. He snagged the back of her knee and lifted her leg to wrap around him. Her other leg was trapped between him and the sofa.

  He nipped along her neck, jolting her and then sucking the stinging spot. She was light-headed with the sensations flooding her body. His teeth closed over her exposed nipple and she cried out at the sharp tug of pleasure. He yanked her shirt down over her other breast, shoved the bra down, and took his fill, his tongue pushing her nipple to the roof of his mouth. She moaned, her fingernails digging into his shoulders as he rocked his pelvis against her, the friction stoking her to a fever pitch. He returned to her mouth and she kissed him frantically, out of her mind with need.

  His large hand held her head from temple to jaw. “Slow down, baby.”

  “Ty—”

  “Kissing you is like kissing fire,” he said against her lips.

  “Yes. I want you.”

  He groaned and brushed his lips against hers, the lightest touch that left her breathless, pinned under him, waiting for him to give her more.

  “Please,” she breathed.

  He kissed her gently and her lips parted on a sigh. His tongue delved in her mouth and she slid her tongue along his, needing so much more. Her entire body hummed with need.

  And then there was nothing but cold air. He stood next to the sofa, looking down at her where she lay with her breasts on display and her legs spread wide open.

  She closed her eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “I have never seen a more beautiful sight than you lying there like that.”

  She looked up at him from where he towered over her. His obvious arousal tented the towel. “I’m lying here wanting more,” she said pointedly. She reached out to stroke him and he stepped sideways out of reach.

  “I don’t have a condom.” He pulled the robe back on.

  She adjusted her bra and shirt and propped up on her elbows. “How can you not have a condom? A man like you who oozes raw sexuality should always be packing.”

  One corner of his mouth lifted. “I didn’t want to rush things.”

  “Yes, you did! Nearly every word out of your mouth was sex.”

  He inclined his head, conceding the point. “Okay, honestly, I was so busy getting everything set up for our date that I forgot.”

  “Ugh!” She flopped back on the sofa, threw her arm over her eyes, and focused on the fact that they were stranded in the stinky mud in the middle of a swamp. She could feel her heartbeat in every nerve ending, even between her legs.

  Ty kept explaining himself. “And I didn’t realize I forgot until I was thinking about putting it on.”

  She sat up and studied him. He looked entirely sincere.

  He explained some more. The man was a talker. “I mean, there was a lot of thought that went into tonight. The yacht, dinner, car, flowers—”

  “Okay, okay!”

  He stroked her hair. “You want a jellybean?”

  I’d like an orgasm. “No, thanks.”

  He sat next to her and settled his arm around her shoulders. “Back to the getting-to-know-you game?”

  “No.”

  “What do you wanna play?”

  “I’m done playing with you.”

  “Don’t be mad.” Ty gave her shoulder a squeeze. After a moment, he said, “Do you want to know why I tried so hard to get a date with you when you were shooting me down left and right?”

  That got her attention. “Yes.”

  His fingers trailed lightly through her hair before pulling out her hair band and running his fingers through her hair. “At first it was your beauty that caught my eye, but then I meet a lot of beautiful women.”

  She huffed and crossed her arms. “Gee, thanks.”

  He flashed a smile. “That right there is what made you stick in my mind. When you called me on my game at the wedding, you showed your strength and fierceness. I like that.”

  She uncrossed her arms. “Oh.” Her experience was nearly the opposite. Mostly she pushed men away.

  He stroked her cheek and gazed at her tenderly. “And then I saw something else.”

  She swallowed over the lump in her throat. “What?” she whispered.

  “Just brief flashes of something more.” His hand cradled her face from temple to jaw. “Underneath all that strength and beauty and fierceness, I saw a woman longing for something.”

  She couldn’t breathe for a moment, her heart racing. “Longing for what?”

  “That’s what I’m hoping to find out.” His thumb stroked her cheek. “The challenge, the puzzle of Charlotte.”

  He got her. He actually saw her vulnerable soul under all the layers of protection. No one saw that, not even her closest friends. She didn’t let them see that.

  “Ty,” she whispered.

  “Yeah.”

  “How did you know?”

  He smirked. “You just told me.”

  “Ty!”

  He pulled her in for a hug and spoke near her ear. “It was a hunch because…I’m the same way. Tough on the outside, tender on the inside.”

  She pulled back to look at him, shocked he was sharing like this. “You are?”

  He nodded solemnly. “Don’t tell anyone. It would ruin my rep.”

  No man had ever shared his most vulnerable self with her. “I won’t, I swear.” She gazed at him in wonder, the once arrogant cocky man transformed before her eyes into a confidant.

  He kissed her briefly, gently, his mouth trailing to her neck. No urgency, only tenderness. She melted, letting herself enjoy the rare feeling of being cherished.

  He pulled away much too soon. “We should stop.”

  “We could do other things that don’t require a condom,” she offered.

  He dipped his head. “I’d love to help you out, but if I got you naked and I’m just in this towel and flimsy robe, well, we’re bound to meet. You’ll probably be begging for it, as women do, so it’s just better all around if we go back to getting to know each other. It would be wa-a-ay too easy to let passion take over.”

  “I want passion!” she blurted way too loud.

  He pulled back to stare at her, brows arched in question.

  She clamped her mouth shut.

  He studied her for a long moment. “Go on.”

  “What do you want me to say?”

  “What do you want to say?”

  “Forget it.” She blew out a breath and turned away. “How much longer until high tide?”

  “Few more hours, I figure.” He snagged the jellybeans and fed her three at once. She chewed and swallowed, going from irritated to tired. She leaned back on the sofa and stared at the ceiling, frustrated with an aching need that just wouldn’t quit with Ty sitting so close to her.

  “Can you give me some space?” she asked.

  “No.” Then he reached for the jellybeans and fed her two. She chewed, and when he just ate some more, seeming unconcerned for her desperate lusty state, she shoved at him with both hands. He didn’t budge. Instead he slid her a sideways glance and ate a few more jellybeans.

  She shifted as far as she could get in the other direction. He closed the gap.

  “I can’t calm down if you’re close!” she exclaimed. “My body’s on full alert.”

  He grinned and tossed the bag on the coffee table. “That’s cool. Now you know how guys feel with a blue steeler.” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and played with a lock of her hair. “I know how to fix this.”

  She turned to him, hopeful beyond all reason. “You do?”

  “Yup. I can give
you a hand job.”

  “A hand job,” she repeated.

  “It’s like the guy version but for girls.”

  She didn’t know what to say to that.

  He elaborated. “Like, you know, my hand’s in your pants, but you keep them on so I don’t accidentally fuck you from behind.”

  “Accidentally?”

  He cocked his head. “Is there an echo in here?”

  “Couldn’t you just stand in front of me for the hand job?” It occurred to her that they could fuck in either direction. His line of reasoning was peculiar.

  “I guess.” He flashed a smile. “Okay, fine. I admit it. I just wanted to feel your fine ass pressed against me.”

  She laughed and then she couldn’t stop laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  She shook her head. “This is quite possibly the most ridiculous conversation I’ve ever had.”

  “I’m just trying to help you out and, you know, control myself at the same time.”

  She waved a hand in the air. “Oh, Ty. Forget it. I’ll be fine.”

  He gave her a sympathetic look. “But you have lady blue balls.”

  She lost it. He was just too funny.

  He huffed. “If you’re going to laugh, forget it.”

  She tried to stop, but one look at his disgruntled expression had her cracking up. She might be losing her mind.

  He tickled her in retaliation. She shrieked with laughter and tried to wiggle away when his arms closed around her suddenly, holding her tight in his embrace. He kissed her temple before dipping his head, his mouth grazing her ear as he spoke in a husky tone. “I’m glad I’m stuck here with you.”

  Her heart thumped furiously. Something about Ty’s open sincerity got to her.

  His warm eyes met hers. She nearly sighed. “Oh,” was all she could manage before his mouth covered hers. She fell into a dizzying hungry feeling of pure heat and open need.

  He dropped his forehead to hers. “What’re you doing to me?”

  “Nothing. I—”

  He silenced her with another kiss before saying, “I have an idea. Let me see if Will left any condoms in the bedroom.”

  “Why didn’t you do that before?”

  He grimaced. “Because he got snipped after the twins were born last year. It’s only a remote possibility that there’s some leftovers lying around.”

  “Leftovers that are more than a year old?”

  “They don’t go bad.”

  “Of course they do. Haven’t you seen the expiration date on the box?”

  He smirked. “Never had to worry about that.”

  “Just how many do you go through in a month?”

  “Hold that thought,” he said, snagging the flashlight. The room went pitch black.

  She stood and grabbed his arm. “Wait. I’ll go with you. The bed sounds better than the sofa.”

  He led her back to the sofa and pushed her down by the shoulder. “Bed is not going to work. Not if there’s no condoms. I want you too damn much and, for certain, you’re going to be begging me for more.”

  She snort-laughed. “I’ve never begged in my life.”

  He raised his brows. “You will.”

  Her breath caught at his certainty. Before she could come up with some snappy reply, he smirked, turned, and headed for the stairs.

  She flopped back on the sofa, wound tight. Long minutes passed. Obviously he couldn’t find any. Fine. She crossed to the window and looked out to the park. There were some streetlights on. A group of guys were hanging out, sitting on some boulders.

  She yelped as Ty swatted her butt. She whirled and smacked his arm. “You scared me.” He’d set the flashlight back on the coffee table, making the room glow with dim light.

  His arms wrapped around her. “Stealthy for my size, aren’t I? No condoms.”

  “That’s okay. I’m not in the mood.”

  “Bummer,” he said, his hand sliding between her legs. “You sure? Because I’m feeling a lot of heat down here.”

  Her knees wobbled. That never happened to her.

  His fingers pressed into her and she whimpered, hanging onto his arms for balance. “I think I feel a pulse,” he said. “That is one powerful need. You want the hand job?”

  She had to tell him. Just as soon as she could catch her breath.

  He pulled his hand away. “What’s wrong?”

  The words seemed to be stuck in her throat.

  “What?” he pressed.

  She looked at a point over his shoulder. Was she really going to admit this to the man who oozed sexual confidence?

  He took a step back. “I got it. Too much, too fast. No prob—”

  “It’s not that,” she blurted.

  His arms wrapped around her again and she nearly sagged in relief. His mouth trailed to her ear. “Whisper it to me.”

  She took a deep breath, went up on her tiptoes, and confessed, “I haven’t had an orgasm with a partner in three years.”

  Chapter Seven

  Charlotte held her breath. He’d probably think she was the problem. Like she was too closed off to enjoy sex. Maybe she shouldn’t have said anything.

  He straightened, pulling back to stare at her. “Ouch. That’s terrible.”

  Heat flooded her cheeks. “Forget it.”

  He pushed the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “You can’t say something like that and expect me to forget it. That’s like waving a flag.”

  “What kind of flag?” She wasn’t trying to give him an SOS call of desperation. Wait, was she?

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a small smile. That might’ve bothered her, smiling in the face of her embarrassment, but his eyes were warm and full of understanding, and he spoke in a gentle tone. “It’s a help me out, Ty, flag and also a warning—sex doesn’t work for me, so you might as well know that ahead of time.”

  Damn, he was insightful. She’d been hoping he’d help her out yet feared he’d be disappointed in the end. Still, this conversation was beyond awkward. She tried to pull away, but his arm banded around her waist, holding her tight. She could feel his erection pressing into her belly. At least she hadn’t completely turned him off.

  He tipped her chin up to look at him. “What kind of men are you dating?”

  “Jerks apparently.”

  A flash of sudden understanding crossed his features. “And you thought I’d be a jerk too, so you could dismiss me, but then it turned out you liked me.” He smiled widely at this last part. She didn’t give him the words, even though she did like him a lot, because it was clear he already knew.

  He wound her long hair around his fist and went on. “You must know by now I love a challenge.”

  She swallowed as he tugged her hair, tilting her head up. “It’s not a challenge,” she whispered.

  “What is it, then?” His lips grazed hers. “An invitation?”

  She flushed, embarrassed by the conversation. She never should’ve brought up her crappy sex life. “Let’s not talk about it.”

  He kissed her, hot and wet and deep. She whimpered in the back of her throat, eager for more, gripping his large shoulders, longing to feel the heat and weight of him on her. He broke the kiss and dipped his head to her ear. “So the guys don’t know what they’re doing or you’re just not getting hot for them because they’re all jerks?”

  “Both,” she admitted.

  “That won’t be a problem with me.” His hand slid between her legs. “You’re already hot for me and, trust me, baby, I know what I’m doing. You want the hand job?”

  “Yes,” she replied immediately.

  “I could go down on you,” he offered. “But then you’re going to have to get dressed immediately after because I know you’re going to beg me to fuck you after that.”

  “Yes.” Whatever it was, yes, yes, yes.

  He released her hair and cradled her jaw. “You are so beautiful.”

  “Stop talking.”

  “So bossy too.”


  “Ty!”

  His hand moved from between her legs and stroked her shoulder instead. “That’s probably your problem right there.”

  “You’re my problem right now.”

  “Guys don’t like to be bossed.”

  “Ty, I swear—” His mouth covered hers, kissing her long and deep. The man was so good at that. She threw her arms around his neck, pressing her entire body against his hard planes, aching to get closer. As close as two people could get.

  He broke the kiss suddenly and scooped her up, cradled in his arms. He crossed to the flashlight. “Grab that. We’re heading downstairs.” He tilted her toward the coffee table and she shrieked at the sudden dip. “Grab it,” he ordered.

  She snagged the flashlight and he yanked her back up safe in his arms. She lit the way as he headed toward the stairs. “I thought you couldn’t control yourself in a bed.”

  “Now who’s talking too much?”

  She got quiet because the less talking the better as far as sex was concerned. She didn’t want to overanalyze it, she wanted to feel. She sensed he could give her what had eluded her for so long.

  “There’s mirrors on the wall of the master bedroom,” he said. “I thought you’d like to watch your first orgasm in three years.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to look at myself. I want to look at your amazing body.” She stroked his arm, shoulder to bicep, in appreciation.

  “Of course all women want that,” he said matter-of-factly, “but since I’m the one not getting any, this goes down the way I say.”

  Now who’s bossy? She kept the thought to herself because if he could actually give her an orgasm, he could go ahead and do things his way. He set her down at the top of the stairs and she led the way down with the flashlight.