The Malone Brothers Boxed Set

by S. L. Sterling

  As I approached her table, I tried to blow off the anger that was inside of me. I stopped beside her table. She had kept her head down so she hadn’t seen me coming. “Want a beer?”

  She didn’t look up. “No, thank you,” she mumbled.

  “I think it may be needed.” I sat down across from her and held the bottle in front of her, waiting for her to take it.

  She looked up. Her blue eyes were bloodshot. “Carter?”

  “You all right?” I asked.

  She slowly reached across the table and took the bottle from my hand, her fingers grazing mine. “Thank you. I’ll be fine.”

  “Care to tell me what that was all about?”

  “It was nothing. Don’t worry about it.”

  “It didn’t look like nothing.” I took a drink of my beer, watching her.

  “He’s an asshole,” she mumbled, and I watched as the bottle met her lips. “Thank you for the beer.”

  “I’m going to agree with you on that. What happened?”

  “We broke up before I moved here. He wanted me to go back with him to speak with my parents. I have nothing to say to them or to him, so he got angry.”

  Relief washed over me now that she had verified they had split. “I see, well since you aren’t going to follow him, how about you stay and spend some time with me and my friends tonight?” I nodded in their direction. I already knew they were watching us. I could feel their eyes on the back of my head. I glanced at my watch; it was already seven. “We’ll grab some food and then we can spend the night dancing. Could be a fun night.” I winked at her.

  “I guess.” She smiled.

  “All right, well wipe those tears away. Let’s go. I’m not going to dance with a mess. You’re much prettier when you smile.” We stood, and I placed my hand on her lower back, guiding her over to where the guys were sitting.

  Hope

  It was nearing two. Most of the guys had already left, leaving Carter, Hunter, and me at the bar. I had excused myself to use the washroom, and when I returned, I saw Carter and Hunter having what looked like an intense conversation. I stayed near the bar watching from afar, and soon Carter patted Hunter on the back. Hunter grabbed the girl he had picked up earlier, and together they walked out of the bar, hand in hand. Carter then made his way over to where I was sitting. “Would you like anything else?” he asked.

  I went to answer when Mike came around and let us know it was last call.

  “Just a water.” I smiled back.

  “Two waters please, Mike.” As Mike walked away, Carter kissed me on the forehead. “I’m just going to go and settle up the bill.” He winked, and I watched as he walked over toward the opposite end of the bar where Mike was. I sat back down at the table until he came back over. I was getting tired. We had drunk, danced, and laughed the night away. It was honestly the most fun I had had in three years, and a far better way to end the night than the way it had begun. Soon the music changed and one of the first slow songs of the night played. I sat there getting lost in the music, my body swaying. When I opened my eyes, I was surprised to find Carter sitting across from me watching me. He didn’t smile; he just sat there studying me, finally passing me the bottle of water. The next song they played was one of my favorites, “Say You Love Me” by Jessie Ware. A few people ran out to the floor and started dancing. I smiled as I watched them. “You probably want to go. I know you have to study tomorrow,” I said, grabbing my water from the table. Throwing on my light jacket, I bent to grab my purse when I felt his hand on my arm, stopping me.

  I turned and looked at him. His eyes had a burning, faraway look in them. Stepping closer, he brought his mouth to my ear. “Dance with me?” he whispered.

  I placed my hand on his forearm and silently nodded. He guided us over to an empty spot on the dance floor where he pulled me into his arms, and together, we started gently swaying to the music. At first, I had a hard time catching my breath, but the longer his arms were around me, the safer I was beginning to feel. Soon my head rested on his chest and I felt at home. We stayed this way until the last song of the night finished playing and the bar had closed, and it was at that time that I realized these arms, his arms, were right where I had always wanted to be.

  19

  Carter

  I lay in bed staring at the ceiling. I hadn’t been able to sleep since we had parted ways after coming home. When we had shared the elevator back to the apartment, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her, those baby blues staring up at me, full of want. I was glad when we had come into the apartment and she finally went to her room. If she had kept looking at me like that, biting her bottom lip and playing with the corner of her shirt, it wouldn’t have been very long before I had pushed her up against the wall and devoured her.

  For two hours I tossed and turned thinking about the end of the night—dancing with her, feeling her against me as I held her in my arms, wishing that last song would play forever so I didn’t have to let her go. I let out a sigh as I glanced at the clock. There was no point in lying here anymore. I was never going to fall asleep, so I grabbed my textbook and my book light from my desk and went out to the living room. I glanced at her door; it was closed. I let out the breath I was holding. I didn’t want to disturb her, but at the same time, I wanted her to come out here. I sat on the couch, turned the small light on, and started to read. I was finally deep into a case study that I found fascinating when I heard my name faintly behind me.

  “Carter.”

  I raised my head and looked around behind me. The moonlight was pouring out of Carson’s bedroom door. “I didn’t wake you, did I?” I swallowed hard as my eyes ran over her body. She was wearing a tiny white tank top and panties, nothing else, and my cock instantly noticed and stood at attention.

  “No. I want to thank you for tonight.”

  “You’re welcome. What else are friends for?”

  She reached out and laced her fingers with her own. “How did you know I was there?”

  “You don’t think guys talk?” I heard a little giggle come from her. “Hunter told me.” I turned back toward my textbook. She needed to go back to bed; I needed her to go back to bed. When she didn’t respond, I glanced around behind me and saw her standing there, her hands behind her back. I cleared my throat and patted the seat beside me. “Come, sit.”

  She walked over, and once she was in the light, I could see the outline of her nipples and knew she was bra-less. As her eyes followed mine, she blushed. She grabbed a pillow and placed it in front of her, blocking my view. I remembered how she loved it when I would suck on them. I could almost bring her to orgasm without even touching her anywhere else, and I found myself wondering if she still loved it. My cock throbbed at the memory.

  She sat down close beside me and placed her tiny hand on my leg as she leaned over to see what I was reading, her breast brushing against my arm. I inhaled deeply, that familiar scent of fresh citrus invading my nose. “Looks interesting.” She giggled.

  “I’m sure the normal person would find it dry and boring. It would probably put you to sleep quickly,” I mumbled. At times these cases were even boring me, especially compared to what I was thinking of doing to her right now.

  She looked down to where her hand rested on my thigh, her soft blonde hair falling into her face. I wanted to brush the hair away from those beautiful eyes, like I used to do.

  Instead, I placed my book on the table and sat back against the couch, resting my arm behind her. Without notice, she moved over closer to me, leaned in, rested her head on my shoulder, and deeply inhaled. “You always smelled so good, and I always felt so safe in your arms. I missed them; I’ve missed you, Carter.” When the words fell from her lips, I was done. I turned slightly and brushed the hair back from her face, my hand resting on her cheek.

  Her face was pink with eagerness, and her eyes were filled with a curious, deep longing. I hesitated at first, but then I leaned in and gently brushed my lips against hers. She tasted exactly like I remembered. I p
ulled away, her lips still moist from where I had kissed her. “I hope it’s okay that I did that?” I asked, swallowing hard, studying the look in her eyes. My hand rested on the side of her neck, and I could feel her pulse beating quickly.

  She could barely tear her eyes from mine. “Yes.” Her voice was shaking, like she was nervous, or possibly wasn’t entirely sure it was okay, so I leaned in again and brushed her lips, this time my mouth covering hers hungrily. When we parted, she whispered, “I am so glad you were there tonight.” She hastily turned her head away from me, biting her bottom lip.

  I placed my thumb and index finger under her chin and lifted her head, so her eyes met mine. She was so warm. She looked into my eyes, desire and want pouring from them. I leaned forward and kissed her, forcing her lips open with my tongue.

  She didn’t fight. Instead she quickly pushed the pillow aside, pulled herself around, and straddled my lap. She rested her hands on my shoulders at first, then as the kiss progressed, I felt her wrap her arms around my neck. With her eyes closed, she kissed me harder and deeper, a soft moan coming from her when I rested my hands on her hips and ran my tongue, once again, through her mouth. I was as hard as a rock now and knew she could feel me through my shorts as she ground down on me, another moan escaping her lips.

  My hands on her hips, I gripped her tighter. My lips parting from hers, I continued to explore the soft skin of her neck. She let out another moan, and I felt my cock jump. “Don’t do that, Hope.”

  “Don’t do what?” she asked breathlessly against my ear.

  “Don’t fucking moan like that.”

  “Or what?”

  I wrapped my hands under her ass, stood up, and carried her into my bedroom, her arms wrapped securely around my neck as she kissed me deeply. I sat down on my bed, placing her back on my lap. With her in my arms, I pulled her forward as I lay down. Soon she lay beside me and rolled onto her back. I raised up on one arm, looking down into her face. My mouth slowly met hers, slowing the eagerness of my kiss. My hand rested on her flat stomach, and soon her hand moved mine onto her breast. My thumb brushed her nipple through her shirt, and she let out another soft moan as she arched her back, pressing her breast into my hand.

  “I remember how sensitive these were,” I mumbled, placing my mouth over her breast, gently biting her through her shirt. “I could almost make you come just from that, do you remember?”

  “Yes.” She giggled breathlessly as I reached behind her and grabbed her ass, my hand traveling down to lift one leg up, so it could rest on my hip. She was so tiny and felt so good in my arms; it was taking everything I had not to rip those white panties off and bury myself in her. She wanted to moan? I’d make her moan.

  “I loved it when you did that,” she answered shyly.

  “Do you still?” I felt an unfamiliar surge in my stomach as I looked down at her, waiting for her to answer the question.

  “Why don’t you find out?” she whispered in my ear, running her fingers through the hair on the back of my head.

  I met her lips again, running my hand over her ass. Taking my free hand she pushed it between her legs. With her hand on top of mine, she ran my fingers over the wetness of her panties.

  I was so turned on, I had to have her. I pushed myself up and flipped her, so she was completely on her back. She lay against my pillow looking up at me, unsure of what was coming next. I grabbed her by the knees, pulling her down toward me and placed my hands on her waist. I slipped my fingers into the waistband of her panties. She lifted her ass just enough, so I could slowly pull them off her. As I lowered them down her body, I made sure my fingers roughly grazed the skin of her thighs. Her eyes closed as I continued raking my fingers down her legs. When I had removed her panties and had finally torn my gaze from her body to look at her face, I saw that she was innocently biting her finger, a light blush on her cheeks.

  Throwing her panties on the floor, I gently pushed her knees open wide, exposing her to me. She was shaved bare and glistening. “You want me to touch you?”

  She nodded her head.

  As soon as she did that, I ripped off the tiny top she was wearing. Meeting her lips with mine, I felt her tug at my T-shirt. I reached back and pulled the shirt off me, sitting back up between her legs. “Are you finished with him, Hope?”

  She slowly nodded her head. I had to know before I got involved with her like this. We had never had sex, and there was no way I could open myself up like that to find out she was still involved with him. I knew that once I had a taste of her, there was no way I could go back to anything else. I wasn’t taking a shake of her head for an answer; I wanted to hear the words. “Are you finished with him, Hope?” I asked again.

  “It’s over, Carter. You’re who I want. You were always who I wanted.” As soon as the words were past her lips, I ran my fingers over the inside of her thigh, coming close to but not touching her center.

  “Touch me, Carter. Please touch me.” She closed her eyes, arched her back, and bit her lip. I loved listening to her beg, and if I had to, I would keep making her beg all night because every time my name escaped those lips, my cock got harder.

  I bent down and took her nipple in my mouth, running my tongue over it and biting it gently. With her head arched back, she kept pushing those beautiful breasts into the air. She was about to come undone already, I could tell. I released her nipple and ran my fingers through her wetness. I heard her suck in a breath, a deep moan coming from her throat as my fingers danced softly over her clit.

  I couldn’t wait to bury myself in her. “Are you still a virgin?” I asked, whispering in her ear as I continued circling her clit.

  I pulled my hand away from her, waiting for her answer. She looked at me. Her cheeks and chest were flushed, those innocent eyes of hers peering back at me. She slowly nodded her head. She had waited. It was something I respected about her more than anything. “Are you sure you want...”

  She put her finger to my lips, her face becoming serious, and nodded. “Yes, Carter, I want it to be you.”

  I kissed her slower and deeper than earlier. I needed to take my time with her, let her know that what we were about to do meant something to me as well. It was the only way I could do this. All the feelings I had felt for her before came rushing back and hit me harder than I had expected, my heart pounding hard. To be honest, I knew they had never really left; they had just been buried behind lots of women, studying, and many booze-filled nights.

  Hope

  I closed my eyes, letting myself get lost in his kiss. In that one single moment that I had said yes to him, all the feelings I still held for him floated through my head. It had been three years, but those feelings had never died.

  His eyes raked boldly over me as he removed his pants and whipped them into the corner. My heart jolted, and my pulse pounded as his fingers danced down my arm to my hand. He took my hand in his, placing it on his hard cock. My heart hammered in my chest as I noticed that my hand barely even closed around him.

  He brushed his fingers over my clit and then I felt his finger at my entrance. He met my lips, and as he forced my lips open with his tongue, he slowly pushed one finger inside of me. I gasped as he slid another finger into me, his thumb continuing to brush over my clit. He pulled his lips away and placed his hot mouth on my nipple, lightly sucking it with his mouth.

  I let out a loud moan; I could feel myself starting to tighten around his fingers. “Not yet, don’t come yet,” he whispered, pulling his fingers from me, leaving me feeling empty. Kneeling between my legs, he pushed them open again and looked down at me. I was so open and on display to him. He reached over and opened his nightstand drawer, pulling out a condom. I watched as he tore the package and rolled the condom over himself. “You ready?”

  I nodded, swallowing hard. “Just be gentle, Carter, please.”

  “You don’t need to tell me that. Just be still and try to relax.” I felt him at my entrance, and then he started to slowly push against me. I could already fe
el him stretching me. The burning sensation took my breath away; it was almost too much, and he was barely even in me. He stopped, letting me adjust before he pushed further in. “Relax, baby, just relax and breathe.”

  I hadn’t even been aware I had been holding my breath until he had said something. As soon as I exhaled, he pushed in a little more, stretching me even further. I bit my lip to keep from crying out as he wrapped his arms around me and pushed himself all the way in. “Relax, baby.” His hot breath brushed over my ear as he whispered the words.

  He started easing himself in and out of me, and the more I relaxed, the less painful it became. Soon he was deeply planted inside of me, moving slowly and deeply. A few short pumps and I could already feel myself tightening more around him. He reached under me, holding my waist, his fingers finding my clit. I couldn’t fight the sensation building in me as he continued stroking over my clit. He pumped a couple more times, and I finally felt myself let go, calling out his name. I gripped his biceps as he continued pumping into me, and soon I felt his muscles tighten, and he too finally let go.

  He crashed on top of me, breathing hard, and held me tight. A few minutes later I watched as he held the top of the condom and pulled himself from me. He got up from the bed and headed to the bathroom. I scooted over to the back of the bed and was horrified to see a few drops of blood on his crisp white sheets. I didn’t have time to hide it. He was already standing in the doorway, holding a cloth in his hand, looking down at me. I could feel the tears building behind my eyes.