by April Lust
She nodded. My eyes nearly crossed. I gently spread her pussy lips apart, exposing her swollen clit to my attention. My tongue darted across it slow and easy. Her hands flew into my hair, holding onto me. I let her have her anchor, at least for the first time.
I licked her, dragging my tongue up her slit, enjoying the grunts she made as I swirled my tongue around her tender clit. My tongue swept lower through her folds to her entrance. Her fingers gripped my hair when I circled her opening. The burning of my scalp only added to my desire to drive her to the very edge.
She sucked in her breath when I took her clit between my teeth, and her legs tried to snap shut around me. I couldn’t help but chuckle lightly as I slid my hands up from her ass to the back of her thighs and pushed them farther apart and back, giving me even more access to her pussy.
Lauren’s moans came from deep within her as I continued to do my wicked dance over her clit and pussy. Each time I swept toward her opening, she tried to press her hips toward me, but I wasn’t going to give in that easily.
“So fucking sweet.” I groaned as I bit at her, enjoying the new hiss she gave me with each little nip.
“Oh!” She released her grip on me to shove her hands through her own hair when I lightly blew across her exposed clit. “Michael. Please. Fuck. Please.” I glanced up at her, at the wildness in her eyes, the fast raise and fall of her breasts.
“Such a dirty mouth.” I grinned up at her.
“Stop teasing me.”
“Okay.” I gave her a nod. Gradually I thrust two fingers into her warm opening. She stretched around my fingers, and she cried out as I slid deeper, filling her. “Is that better, baby? Is that what you wanted?”
Lauren’s large, dark eyes found mine. She licked at her lips as she nodded. “Almost.”
I thrust faster, harder into her, keeping my tongue playing over her clit. Her breath hitched; her pussy clenched around my fingers. So close, but so damn far away. Just as she was about to explode, just when I knew she would find that orgasm she chased, I pulled my fingers out and hovered over her.
“Michael! No!” Frustrated eyes glared down at me. If the haze of her desire hadn’t been hovering so close to her, she would have demanded I give her what she wanted.
“Not yet, baby. Almost, though. I promise.” I grabbed the condom and tore into the packaging. I could feel her looking me over, and when her gaze settled on my cock, I enjoyed watching her cheeks burn bright red. Not wanting to disappoint, I wrapped my hand around my shaft, pumping it a few times for her benefit. With the condom in place, I settled between her thighs, taking her lips with mine.
She moaned, and I knew she was tasting herself on my lips. Pressing the tip of my cock to her entrance, I pulled back from the kiss and locked her eyes on mine. I’d waited so many years for this moment, to finally be with her in such an intimate way. She wasn’t some passerby pussy, and it wasn’t just a quick fuck. No, I was claiming her.
Losing all patience, I thrust into her hard. Her head tilted back and she sucked in a new breath. I let her settle for a moment; she stretched around my cock, gripping me tighter and making it more difficult to stay still. “I gotta move, baby.” I kissed her again and dragged my cock out almost to the very tip before driving back into her.
“Oh, god!” She moaned and crossed her ankles around my ass.
Her nails dug into my back as I pushed deeper into her, grinding against her clit with each thrust. The harder I drove into her, the more she groaned with pleasure. I covered her mouth with my own, taking in her groans, mingling them with my own while I continued to fill and stretch her.
“Fuck.” She felt too good, too right. Looking down at her, I could see what I already knew: she was barreling toward the finish line. “That’s my girl. Are you going to come for me?”
“Yes, Michael. Please, please.” Her feet planted on the bed and her hips arched toward me, her pelvis meeting me at each thrust.
I reached down between us, finding her clit. “Is this what you need, baby?” I brushed my thumb over her clit and it sent her into a wild spiral. She nodded, gasped, and then burst out in a long cry as she found her orgasm.
Her pussy tightened around me, pulling my own orgasm from me. I gripped her waist and thrust hard into her once, twice, before I felt my release carry me away. The force of it shocked me, my breath caught in my throat, and beneath my closed lids I saw stars.
When my breath finally calmed, I realized her hand stroked me. Her fingertips lightly moved down my back and then back up. I moved my head to see her better.
She smiled at me. “I’ve never done that before.”
I froze. “You said—”
“Oh, I’ve had sex before, Michael. But it’s never been like that.”
I couldn’t help the prideful grin that crossed my lips. “Oh, baby, you haven’t seen anything yet.” I winked and slowly pulled out from her. “I’ll be right back.” I didn’t want to leave her, I wanted to snuggle right up to her side, but some necessities needed to be taken care of first. I pressed a kiss to her forehead then dashed off to the bathroom to remove and toss the condom.
When I returned to the bedroom, she had the covers pulled up to her chin.
“Aren’t you hot?” I asked, rounding the bed to climb in behind her. The AC in her apartment was shit, and even with the fan on from the dresser it was still overly warm in the room.
“Are you staying?” She looked over her shoulder at me.
I pulled the covers back, and slid in bedside her. I sat back against the headboard. “Yep. No arguments. It’s too late to drag you back to my place, and I’m not leaving you alone.” If ever there was a time I missed smoking, it was that moment. I needed something to calm my racing heart, and get my muscles to unclench.
She rolled over and rested her head on my thigh. If I hadn’t pulled the sheet up over my lap, she would be able to reach her tongue out and lick my cock. Just the damn thought of it made me hard again. I shifted beneath her, moving my dick so she wouldn’t feel it pressing against her. No need to scare the girl.
“You can stay, I don’t mind.” Her words came out breathlessly, as though she was between sleep and consciousness.
“How nice of you.” I gave her arm a slight pinch.
“Did you find out who that guy was?” Her body tensed at the subject.
I ran my hand over her hair, moving it from her face. How many times had we been that exact position when we were younger? Although we had clothes on, and I hadn’t just fucked her and myself senseless. “Yeah. I’m pretty sure I know who he is. That’s why you are going to be staying with me for a few days. Where I can protect you.”
She bolted up from my lap and narrowed her eyes at me. “Why? I’m safe here.” Propping herself up on her elbow she looked up at me. The innocence I once knew still lurked there in her eyes. For having seen as much as she did, and putting up with all the shit she put up with growing up, her ability to see the world as anything other than the cold, dangerous place it was still amazed me.
“You’re safer with me. It would be easier if you came to my place. Besides I’m closer to the shelter and the school.” I swiped my finger across her forehead, catching a strand of still damp hair and tucking it behind her ear.
“Can’t we talk about it in the morning? I don’t want to fight right now.” She sank back down, resting her head on my thigh again. “I just want to enjoy this moment. It’s almost like it was when we were kids. Before everything got messed up.” Her sigh warmed my skin.
“Lauren, things can never be like when we were kids. Not now.” I scooted my ass down, laying my head on the pillow and pulling her up to rest on my chest. My arm wrapped around her, holding her close to me.
“What happened, Michael? When you went away, what happened to make you so hard? You didn’t used to be this negative. You always told me things would work out, that we’d be okay. Isn’t that the case now? I mean, we’re adults now. We found each other after all these years, and it’s
exactly like I thought it would be. Well, at least at this moment.” Not looking at me gave her back her backbone.
Staying out of her life had been the hardest decision I made. I remembered all the times we lay in her bed, not doing anything except holding each other and talking, or her reading my notes for class to me while I fantasized about getting her out of her sweater and under the covers. Things weren’t going to be that easy for us now. I went down a different road. I chose that road, my decision, not hers, but I would be damned if I was going to drag her down it with me. And now that Taylor jumped into the equation, protecting her became my only priority. Once everything died down, we’d go our separate ways again.
“Things you don’t need to know about. Now close your eyes and get some sleep.”
“I’m not moving in with you.” She yawned, which took away from her commanding voice.
“We’ll talk about it in the morning, tough guy.” I gave her arm another pinch and kissed the top of her head. Having her in my arms again, holding her while we slept, brought back too many warm memories to keep me comfortable. I reminded myself it wouldn’t be forever. Temporary. That’s all I could offer her.
“Whatever. There’s nothing you can say to make me do it.” Another yawn, and then she burrowed herself further into my chest. We would probably roast in her room with the heat, and us huddled so close together, but I didn’t give a shit. At that moment, I only had one thought on my mind. I had my Lauren back.
Chapter Nine
Lauren
He slept like the dead. I remembered that from when we were younger, the way he’d accidentally fall asleep with me in my room and stay the night holding me. The more I shoved him, poked him, and tried to wake him up to send him home, the louder he would snore. A delicate game we played, always being close, spending as much time together as we could, yet never fully defining our relationship. I didn’t recall Michael dating anyone, or even mentioning other girls. I never let myself believe he and I were anything more than friends, really good friends. The idea of being rejected by him had been my motivation to keep things unsaid.
But now, I wasn’t sure if those words could continue to live in the silence. Shouldn’t we talk about what happened? Shouldn’t there be some sort of discussion about us having sex? Michael wasn’t my first, I hadn’t been a complete prude before he re-entered my life, but I never had a fling, or a one-night stand. What if that was all he wanted? How could I let him go again after finally finding him?
The hot water of my shower poured over me, taking away any scent of his body and soothing my sore muscles. Whoever attacked me had not only scared me senseless, he’d made me strain more than one unused muscle to fight back against him. When Michael saw the small cut on my throat, I thought for a minute he would go back down to the alley and punch the guy a few more times.
I heard the door creak when he opened it, and saw him poke his head through the opening. “Lauren? You okay?” That concern in his voice. No matter how much he said things wouldn’t ever be like they were in the past, no matter how much he tried shoving me away, I knew in that voice, he cared. At least a little.
“Just washing up. It was hot last night, I’m all sweaty.” I stood still for a moment, willing him to join me. The way his hands worked my body, his mouth teased me and caressed me, was something I could get used to. “You sleep okay?” I asked when he made no sound. Still nothing. “Michael?”
I pulled the curtain back enough to see the rest of the bathroom. He had left. Rolling my eyes, I went back to cleaning up and getting out of the shower. Just as I wrapped the towel around my hair, the door opened again and he stood in the doorway with his hands fisted on his hips, wearing only his jeans.
I thought I had seen a good bit of him the night before, but now, seeing him in the daylight, he knocked the breath out of me. What looked like an athletic build in the moonlight of my room, looked to be gladiator form in the natural light. Dark tattoos covered his biceps, a few different ones on his chest, and one ran down the inside of his arm, but I couldn’t make out what it said. His hard abs, perfectly cut, led down to his narrow waist. I swallowed hard when my eyes landed on the bulge in his pants.
“You’ve been in here all morning,” he accused me with his growl. “I’ve been waiting patiently, but no more. Get in your bedroom.”
I laughed and shook my head. “Nuh-uh. The last time you looked at me like that, you stole my towel and had your wicked way with me.”
“My wicked way? Oh, no, sweetheart. That wasn’t my wicked way.” His lopsided, easy grin sent a shiver down my spine, straight to where I wanted him the most.
“I’m no little girl anymore, Michael.” I put a hand on my hip and tried to glare at him. “You don’t have to treat me with kid gloves anymore.”
He shook his head. “You have no idea what you’re asking for. Let’s get you dressed and pack a few things. You can spend the day with me at the garage, then we’ll head back to my place.” He stepped out of the way of the door, gesturing me to move to do his bidding.
I sighed and refused to move. “Michael. I have a class this morning, then I’m working at the shelter this afternoon, and I have one office to clean this evening. I can’t play hooky just because you have it in your head that some guy is after me.”
His eyes darkened, but not in the way that suggested we go back to my room for more fun, but in the sort of way that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand at attention.
“I don’t think someone’s after you. I know it. And until he’s caught, until I’m satisfied you’re safe, you’ll do what I say, when I say it, with no back talk or complaint.” My jaw slacked. I gripped my towel harder around me and took a deep breath. In all the years I knew Michael, not once had he used that voice on me. I’d heard him use it on bullies at school, and once when he was getting my stepfather away from my room, but never had he turned his toe curling growl in my direction.
“I have class.”
“I’ll take you to class. Tony will pick you up from class and bring you back to the garage. There’s a specific repair this morning I have to handle myself. I will then drive you to the shelter for your shift and take you to the office you need to do your thing at. Hell, I’ll even help you so you’ll get done faster and get home for a decent night’s sleep. In air conditioning!”
The heat in my cheeks had nothing to do with my attraction to him, even in that moment when he was being unreasonably authoritative, but had everything to do with him stealing my freedom from me.
“Why would someone be after me, Michael? And don’t say the internship again.”
“Maybe one of the husbands of the women at the shelter?” I hadn’t thought about that. I wouldn’t admit it to him, but he had a point.
Chapter Ten
Lauren
The corners of his lips began to curl, the man could read my mind too damn easily. “See, now get your little ass in the bedroom.” He stepped out of the way, clearing a path for me to get out of the bathroom.
Holding the towel tightly in my grasp, I maneuvered past him and padded to my bedroom, kicking the door closed behind me. He must have been right behind me. I heard the thud of the door smacking his hand. He shoved the door open, then slammed it shut behind him, turning an angry glare at me. “Did you just try to slam a door in my face?”
I couldn’t help but smile. Of course that wasn’t what I had done; I had no idea he was right behind me. “Well, if you would have given me some privacy, that wouldn’t have happened. I didn’t know you were that close. I was just closing the door, Michael.” The fierceness in his gaze should have warned me, should have sent alarm bells off in my mind. Instead, I felt my body reacting to him. My nipples hardened under the towel; brushing against the roughness of discount store fabric made my insides warm to him even more.
Michael stalked me, taking deliberate steps toward me, backing me up until the bed hit the back of my knees. “I think you were trying to hit me with the door.” His eyes never l
eft mine.
“Why would I do that?” I held tighter to the towel, my only lifeline. The tip of his boots touched my toes. He towered over me with such close proximity. I had to lean back to look up at him. His eyes weren’t full of anger––no, it was something more, something carnal. Stubble covered his tense jaw. I reached up to touch it. I’d never seen him with a beard before. He stood steady as my fingers touched his chin.
“I thought you had a class you wanted to get to.”
“I did. I do.” My throat felt dry as the words left me. My hand traveled downward, over his shoulders, toward the hard muscles of his chest. Everywhere I touched felt hard, the muscles, the tension in his body. I chanced looking up at him, my eyes meeting his again. He watched me with curiosity. “You’re all grown up, Michael.” I barely whispered the sentence.
