Gold Shimmer

by P. T. Michelle

  The moment I pulled her in front of the mirror, I felt a knee-dropping punch in the gut. It was one thing to imagine my gift on her, but another entirely to see it around her neck.

  Raven’s hand slides into my hair and fists tight, pulling me fully into the moment. When she arches and rolls her hips, exhaling my name between gasps of passion, my cock grows ten times harder. “Show me what you’ve got, angel. Let it build and give it to me,” I rumble against her before sucking her clit hard. As a shudder rocks through her, I throb with the need to bury myself inside her, but I ignore the yearning building in my stomach and the tightening of my balls. I want her to enjoy this ecstasy.

  It’s mine too in a way; I definitely derive my own sense of pleasure from it. As I watch her passion build, I feel invincible. I refuse to think about the pathetic motherfuckers who came before me. Those assholes who didn’t know how to get her off don’t exist as far as I’m concerned. One thing’s for sure, I’m the unrelenting bastard she’ll never say that about. If anything, before the evening is done, she’ll be begging me for a break.

  She’s the woman I crave, the one I lie awake at night thinking about. The one whose face I’ve seen on the few one-night-stands I’ve had these last four years. I want her, even if I don’t deserve her. But I also want to really know her, starting with her name. I screwed up my chance to find out on my own years ago. I was too damned lost in my own misery, but she makes me forget about that stuff. I never thought about how important a first name is…until she refused to give me hers, and it’s driving me fucking nuts.

  I understand giving one’s word, but what’s happening between us…the deep intensity should count for something. I want to know what she does for a living. Did she follow her dreams? What do her tattoos mean and why won’t she let me touch them? And why the hell is she willingly pretending to be someone else?

  I’m so frustrated that I know so little about her that my hands instinctively grip her perfect ass tight. I know it’s primitive…this need to show her we’re still deeply connected after all this time, but I won’t let her leave before she believes that, because once she does, she’ll trust me enough to share.

  I tilt her hips and press my face against her soft skin, inhaling her, soaking in her sweetness. I want her achy and desperate, those hips moving so fast, seeking the kind of satisfied release only I can give her. With wicked ruthlessness, I nip at her pussy lips and watch her squirm and writhe. Fuck, I love every second of testing her limits.

  I need to know how much she can take before I finally slide inside her, because once I make that final step with her, I won’t be able to hold back. She jacks me up too much. I will fuck her boneless and revel in her cries of bliss and my own tightening pleasure as her hot, wet body sucks me dry. I can’t wait to inhale near her neck and clasp her close so I can feel her yield fully against me. She has her own special scent of herbal shampoo and other womanly smells I’ve yet to decipher, but they’re specific enough that once I’m not jacked up with the need to bury my dick as deep into her as humanly possible, I’ll parse them out and break every bit of her down.

  With my head swimming in her gasps of pleasure, I ease back and slide two fingers deep inside her. I want to watch her come apart this time, to see her lush breasts bounce with her ragged breaths and rocking hips. I ruthlessly press deeper, and once I find those tiny little ridges, I stroke the hell out of her g-spot, taking her to a new heightened level of pleasure.

  When Raven explodes against my hand, watching her body shudder and her cheeks flush with her exertions is so arousing, I apply pressure on her clit with my thumb and keep my fingers moving inside her. I draw her orgasm out as long as possible, for my own perverse pleasure.

  The back of my neck tenses and my stomach tightens before I realize that my chest is heaving and I’m about to lose it. How the fuck did my hips get pressed against the bed? Gritting my teeth, I jerk my dick away from the mattress edge, eliminating the temptation to rub one out. She’s so fucking sexy to watch that I completely lost myself in the mesmerizing moment.

  Taking several deep breaths, I glide my wet fingers into my mouth and watch her come down from her high. She’s the picture of wanton abandon: her arms thrown over her head, pink nipples rising and falling with her erratic breaths, skin glowing. She looks like a very satisfied beautiful angel. My angel.

  I stand and lean over her, kissing her panting lips, sharing in her post-orgasmic bliss. “Not a fluke, gorgeous.”

  I feel like a boneless kitten when Calder crawls into bed and settles me in front of him, tucking my back into his warm chest. Though I’m surprised he’s still wearing his pants, I’m too blissfully content to protest. That was the best oral sex I’ve ever had in my life, even better than four years ago. The man has a magical mouth, tongue, and hands. Everything about him turns me on.

  While he folds his muscular arm around my waist, I rest my head on his pillow and wait for my heart to settle back to a less crazed pace.

  When Calder’s hand slides to my breast and his thumb slowly strokes my nipple as he presses his lips to my neck, I lift my arm behind me and bury my fingers in his thick hair, pulling him closer.

  Calder clasps my hand and kisses my fingers, then sucks each one before pressing his lips to the raven on my wrist.

  I tense and start to pull away, but his hold on my hand tightens. “What does the raven mean to you?”

  I close my eyes and exhale slowly, then blink as a new song starts up. This one is more recent. Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” is slow and tortured, exactly how the words feel as I tell him about my sister taking her life to save our father from an impossible task of prolonging hers. “Sophie was the fun one, the positive vibe in our house. Losing her left a deep hole in our family that has never really been filled. The night before she…”

  When I pause and take a deep breath, Calder kisses my temple, the simple gesture telling me that he’s sorry I lost my sister. His compassion gives me the strength to keep talking. “She told me her wish was to come back as a raven so she can travel the world.” I pull my arm free and stare at the tattoo. “I got this to always keep her memory with me. So far she’s seen quite a bit, at least a dozen countries.”

  “So you fulfilled your dream of traveling the world. Did you do it by creating imagery that takes everyone’s breath away?”

  Nodding, I blink hard and try not to get choked up that he remembered what I’d said to him that night we exchanged notes. “I did. Pick up back issues of Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar and you’ll see some of my work.”

  “Ah, I see…photography,” he says as he laces his fingers with mine.

  I twist the hand he’s holding, turning my raven tattoo upward once more. “Photography credit goes to Raven, so you see, my sister’s fulfilling all kinds of dreams.”

  Turning our locked fingers, he rubs his thumb along the script on my forearm. “And this one? What does it represent?”

  “It just means to ‘never give up.’” I don’t want him prying too deeply about my tattoos. I’m thankful he hasn’t noticed the scars yet, so I roll to face him and trace my fingers over the word on his side. “Your turn. What does Solus mean?”

  Calder tucks a strand of hair behind my ear. “It means ‘alone.’”

  The meaning behind his tattoo makes my heart break. I cup my hand over the word on his skin and meet his gaze. “But you don’t have to be, Calder.”

  Spearing his fingers in my hair, he sets his forehead against mine. “I do right now, angel.”

  I squeeze his muscle underneath my hand. “If it’s a temporary thing, why did you permanently ink it to your skin?”

  Calder sighs, then runs his nose along my cheek. “The EUC is too dangerous for you to be around. Do not go to the rescheduled fight with Beth.”

  I notice he didn’t answer my question, but his response makes me pull back and frown. “If it’s so dangerous, why aren’t you worried about Beth?”

  He jams his hand into his hair and roll
s over on his back, pulling me with him. “Because she’s dating one of the guys running the outfit. I’ve seen her disappear with some of the security guards at past events.”

  “Just like she did tonight,” I muse aloud. When he nods, I lean on his chest. “There’s no way Beth knows. I can’t see her being willingly involved with dangerous criminals.”

  “Well, she is.” He looks at me and shrugs. “I have no idea how much she knows about their strong-arm business practices.”

  “Strong-arm?” I lean on his chest, tension vibrating through me. “Are you being coerced into fighting? Is that why you’re doing this, Calder? We should call the police.”

  He shakes his head and folds his hand over mine resting on his chest. “No, I’m not being coerced, but a family friend was hurt. They put Gil in the hospital for asking too many questions about one of the guys who trained at his gym. Thomas was a promising MMA fighter who disappeared this year after he refused to take a bribe to throw a EUC fight.”

  “I remember the announcer mentioning a guy named Rampage dropping out of the event. Was that Thomas?”

  Calder nods. “He didn’t drop out. He disappeared. I’d been sparring and grappling with him for a while and knew his techniques, so when Gil ended up in the hospital, I amped my game to get the EUC’s attention.”

  I wrap my arm around his trim waist and squeeze. “You’re doing this to find out what happened to Thomas?”

  He nods. “In case you’re wondering…I would never fucking throw a fight. Thankfully I haven’t been asked to. But beyond learning about Thomas, my goal is to put EUC out of business before they can hurt the New York MMA fighters’ chance of getting approved to go pro. It’s time New York stopped holding out approval. If they’d just legitimize the sport, this kind of underground shit couldn’t get the traction it does. There would be regulators and a lot of cameras watching every aspect.”

  Sliding his hand along my jaw, he traces his thumb across my cheekbone. “That’s why I let my friendship with Celeste continue. While I was standing outside the Carver estate talking to Celeste that day I went to apologize to her, I saw Beth get into her car and drive off.”

  “You recognized Beth from the EUC?” I ask, folding my hand over his.

  “Instantly. I tried sneaking a look at Beth’s contacts over her shoulder while she scrolled through her phone to put my number in it at the party today. I’d hoped I could discover one of the guys behind EUC. The fighters never interact with management. They only ever see the security hired to run the events. That same security are also the ones who give us our cash payments after each bout. Unfortunately, Beth moved too fast, so I couldn’t see any names.”

  “I know her boyfriend’s first name is Brent, but that’s all she said about him,” I tell him. “I didn’t even know she was dating anyone until we went to the fight tonight. I could try to find out more.”

  “No.” Calder’s expression turns fierce. “I don’t want you to do anything. Stay away from this, Raven. Understood?”

  I drop my gaze to his chest and trace my finger across his hard pectoral. “I’ll make a deal with you. I won’t get involved if you promise to call Sebastian. Talia says he’s worried about you.”

  “She said something similar to me at the christening,” Calder snorts. “Man, she’s starting to sound like his wife.”

  My gaze snaps to his. “Um, maybe that’s because she is.”

  Calder’s eyes cloud over and hurt reflects briefly in his gaze before he shutters it. “They got married?”

  I nod. “Don’t feel too bad. I wasn’t invited either. They quietly tied the knot. I’ve suggested they have a party to make it up to those of us who feel slighted for being left out of such an important day in their lives.”

  “It’s his life,” Calder says with a shrug. “It’s not a choice I plan to make, but I wish him well.”

  “You don’t believe in marriage?” I pose the question with my lips curved in amusement to hide the fact that my stomach suddenly feels like it’s sinking.

  Calder pulls me fully on top of him until his mouth is almost touching mine. “You don’t have to have a piece of paper to have passion that doesn’t fade with time. We’ve proven that.”

  In an instant, I’m flipped completely over on top of him. As I face the ceiling, he cups my breasts and kisses a path along my neck. I put my feet on the bed and arch into his hands, loving how he possesses me with cocky boldness. Calder doesn’t take the slow approach. Sex with him is instantly fierce, full of eroticism that burns white-hot. The moment an unbidden moan escapes my lips, he plops his pillows on my belly and rolls us both over.

  “Lift your hips, angel,” he husks while grabbing the edges of the pillows under me.

  When I push up slightly on my knees, he doubles the pillows over, elevating my hips even higher. I start to lift up on my hands, but he bends over my back, his warm chest completely covering mine. Taking my hands, he stretches them fully forward, commanding, “Leave them here and don’t move.”

  My heart races, but I hold this incredibly vulnerable position, trusting him completely. I jump when a piece of ice slowly glides along my spine. “You have such a beautiful body,” he murmurs right before he nips at my right hip. When I gasp and arch, enthralled by this primitive side to him, he cups the ice over the sting, then moves his mouth to press a tender kiss to my left butt cheek.

  I relax into the soft kiss, only to jerk once more when he bites down on the round flesh. That’ll definitely leave a mark. The moment he releases me, my body is already reacting to his erotic branding. A flood of sheer want pools between my legs, the throbbing sensation making me grind against the pillows.

  Calder grabs my hips and lifts me back up. “Not yet, angel. I’m just getting started.” He chuckles darkly when the song “Need you Tonight” by INXS begins to thump seductively through the room.

  The pulsing base in the music isn’t freaking helping my situation. “Put your mouth on me, Calder,” I beg, my fingers digging into the edge of the mattress.

  He leans across my back, his hard muscles flexing against me. Just as he whispers in my ear, “I plan to,” he cups his hand firmly on my sex.

  I squeal at the ice he’s holding against me and try to squirm away, but his powerful thighs and bigger body have me pinned. All I can do is pant and shiver…and want.

  Just when I think I can’t stand it any longer, he lifts his body off me. I barely have a chance to miss his amazing smell and the warmth of his skin against mine before he grabs my ass and thrusts his hot tongue deep into my cold entrance. Moaning, I press shamelessly against him, loving the sensation of his groans of approval vibrating against me. Calder presses deep, sucking my juices at the same time he slides a hand under me to rub my clit.

  I rock my hips and mewl against the bed, my breathing jacking.

  He’s relentless in his technique with the ice. He touches different parts of my body with ice, then warms it with his hot mouth, ramping the intensity between us. Each time is the same, yet different enough to make me yelp again and again until my thighs are shaking and I’m sure I’m going to lose my mind.

  “Just fuck me,” I demand, sounding like a woman possessed.

  When Calder slides two fingers inside me, and I let out a moan of pleasure, tightening my body around them, he rasps, “Is this enough, angel?”

  I buck back against him, needing release, but he just holds his hand still as he places his other hand on the bed beside me and leans close. “See how that’s just a tease, how it only feels half as good as it could? I’m not going to fuck your beautiful pussy without knowing your name.”

  “What?” I tense and jerk my gaze to his. “Are you serious?”

  His face hardens, his hips pressing against mine. “Very. You want me? You’re going to have to give it up, baby.”

  “You said you would wait.” I attempt to negotiate while his fingers are still buried inside me.

  His eyes darken and he pushes deeper, turning his han
d and rubbing on that spot that drives me nuts. “The thing about giving your word, sweet Raven, it should only be as strong as your trust in the person you give it to. When I come inside you, I want it as real as it gets, which should start with knowing your goddamn name.”

  I turn away, blinking back tears. I want it to be as-real-as-it-gets too. So much. Celeste and her stupid, fucking ultimatums.

  Calder moves his hips, pressing his erection against my butt, which forces his hand deeper inside me. I moan and counter, rocking my hips. When did he take off his pants? God, he had me so wrapped up, I didn’t even notice, but the sensation of his engorged cock so close is driving me crazy. I roll my hips in a seductive move that takes full advantage of him pressing against me.

  “Fucking hell,” he mutters, yanking his hips back. Breathing heavily, he demands, “At least tell me your first name, damn it!”

  I squeeze my eyes shut. I’ve done everything Celeste asked. Went above and beyond.

  “Angel, please...trust me.” Calder lays fully on top of me, his hard body tense, hips pinning me still. Sliding his hands along my wrists, he twines our fingers together. His hold tight, he whispers in my ear, “There’s nothing I want more than to fuck your sweet pussy into the most satisfying release.”

  I feel empty without him touching me between my legs. My body craves the ultimate connection he’s promising. Only with him. My trust in Calder is instinctual and strong. Far more than anyone else. He has my trust. “It’s Cass Rockwell,” I breathe out, feeling a twinge of guilt for not keeping my word. But he’s wrong about one thing…it’s not always about whether the recipient deserves it. Sometimes your word is all you have, and without it you’re nothing. I know that better than anyone.