Something Fierce_Underground, 1

by Jenika Snow

  “I know you’re not going to the recliner.”

  When she glanced at him, he had an eyebrow raised. “Well, I…” She swallowed. “Yeah, I was.”

  He shook his head and shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth. Tristan watched him, wondering how one man could act two completely different ways. There was this Kash, the one that she had grown to care about, the fun-loving and carefree man, and then there was the one that exerted his power and will over her in the bedroom, the man who used force to defeat anyone in his way.

  Just thinking about it made her pussy contract.

  He patted the spot beside him, and her pulse raced as she took the offered seat. The smell of him was intoxicating. Out of the corner of her eye she saw him hold up the bowl of popcorn to her. She shook her head while keeping her focus on the TV screen. She knew her posture was rigid, but being this close to him and trying not to have it affect her was damn near impossible.

  “Hey.”

  She turned and looked at him. His expression was serious, and she found herself swallowing the lump that formed in her throat.

  “Are you okay?” He set the bowl of popcorn aside and turned his body toward her. “You seem different, reserved.”

  Was he serious? Was it that easy for him to just forget about what they’d done? Was she that easy for him to forget? Her irritation and anger over the situation grew. “I’m fine. Let’s just watch the movie.” She knew she probably was acting a little childish, but his total disregard for what had transpired, like he could just pretend it didn’t happen, irked her.

  “Okay.” That one word from him sounded distant, but she refused to show any more emotion.

  She picked up her drink and downed half of it before the opening credits even started. If only she had the strength to not care like he obviously did.

  * * *

  Avoiding Tristan had been hard as hell, but Kash had managed to do it. He didn’t know why he sat on the couch before she came home, popcorn ready and movie ready to be played. He should have stayed in his room, or better yet gone out and drowned his emotions in a bottle of whiskey. Yet here he found himself, Tristan just a few inches away from him, smelling incredible and looking so attractive that a shot of lust slammed into his cock.

  He could do this.

  He could be her friend.

  She was different. He knew he was a walking contradiction. Hell, he’d played ping-pong with his self-control since he first met her, yet no matter how hard he tried to push her away—for her own good, because she deserved so much better—he found himself right back in the same place, wanting her something fierce.

  Watching the movie was easier said than done. All he wanted to do was drag her across his lap and press his mouth against hers. He knew what she would taste like; sweet and intoxicating, strawberries and vanilla. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth. No matter how hard he tried, there were just some things that he couldn’t ignore, some things that tested his strength. Tristan broke the mold, and he knew she was his weakness. Whether that was good or bad, he knew he would eventually find out.

  20

  They watched the movie, another horror one that was surprisingly not cheesy. She loved scary movies, but she was also a big sissy. The ridiculous ones they’d watched had been fine because the lack of horror in them didn’t give her nightmares. This one, however, scared the shit out of her. The wise thing to do was not watch the ones that freaked her out, but she was a glutton for punishment, as was the case with Kash and her feelings for him.

  She should have been engrossed in the movie, but all she could concentrate on was the fact Kash sat just a few feet from her. But she tried focusing on the movie, and when a scary asshole attacked a young girl, the special effects harrowing, Tristan cried out in fear. She found herself pressed right up against Kash before she even knew it.

  When she realized what she’d done, she pulled herself away. Heat flooded her, but she refused to look at him. She didn’t miss the distinct sound of laughter coming from him.

  “I’m glad almost pissing myself was amusing.”

  He grinned and chuckled. “Aw, come on. You had to know that scene was coming. Didn’t the spooky music give it away?” He was teasing her, and as much as she wanted to be irritated with him, she couldn’t. She found herself smiling in return.

  He stared down at her, and for an instant Tristan thought about the memory of his lips on hers. Their mouths were so close, just inches apart. They watched each other for several long moments until finally the main character’s scream filled the air. As if that had snapped them out of whatever trance they were in, they looked away at the same time. The longer she let herself stay so close, emotionally and physically, the harder it would be on her. Sure, she could pretend all she wanted, which she was poorly doing now, and sure, she could live with him, but having him touch her, look at her in the way that had her blood on fire, had heat and confusion filling her.

  When the movie finally ended, she glanced at him and was surprised to see him watching her.

  “This is too hard for you, isn’t it?”

  Tristan looked down and started messing with the invisible thread on her shirt. “Hard on me?” She swallowed the sudden lump in her throat. “Everything’s fine. I just have a lot on my mind.” It wasn’t exactly the whole truth, but it wasn’t a lie either. She felt his finger under her chin, and then he was lifting her head up. Her gaze locked with his, and her breath caught. “I’m fine, Kash, really.” Those words were a whisper from her mouth. Kash’s gaze dipped down to her lips, and adrenaline rushed through her bloodstream.

  “I’m not.” His words were even softer than hers had been.

  Had she heard him right? “I don’t know what you want me to say.” She wasn’t going to be pulled in two different directions. He moved closer to her and sighed. His warm, sweet-smelling breath moved across her face, igniting her arousal for him.

  “I don’t want you to say anything. I don’t want to say anything. I just want to feel you.”

  God.

  And then he was lowering his head toward her. When his mouth was a mere inch from hers, he stopped. Whether it was because he finally realized what he was doing or that she had placed her hand on his chest, she didn’t know. Tristan couldn’t let this happen. It would only lead her down a harder path. She didn’t think her mind or heart could handle rejection from him.

  “I’m not a friend with benefits, Kash.” She tried to make her words sound fierce, but they lacked any animosity. How sad was she that she would have spread her legs for him right then? The little bit of self-preservation inside of her had peaked and stopped his advance.

  He blinked a few times and then leaned back, shaking his head. “I don’t want that from you.”

  A lump formed in her throat. “I just—” What in the hell could she say? She wanted him, a lot, but she didn’t want to be used, not when she felt this way for him. When she lifted her gaze to his, she felt her heart jump in her chest. In the next second his mouth was on hers, hard and demanding. Instantly her pussy became wet and her nipples hardened.

  A low moan left her lips, and then she found herself straddling his waist, Kash hauling her on top of him. The heat and hardness from his erection pressed against her pussy, and she didn’t stop herself from rubbing against him. Her self-preservation had flown the fuck out the window. She was weak, oh so weak, when it came to him.

  He broke the kiss and cursed, “Fuck, Tristan.”

  Yes, that was exactly what she had in mind. If she was a smart girl, she would have stopped all of this, but at the moment she couldn’t even think straight. Her body ached to be filled by him, and considering how hard and big he was, she had a feeling he was just as eager to accomplish that.

  They resumed kissing, and she felt his hands inch under her oversize shirt. The air wasn’t cold, but she was overheated and goose bumps formed on her flesh. His roughened palms skimmed up her belly and cupped her breasts. Even through the material of her bra, she
felt his touch like fire on her skin. Could he feel how hard her nipples were? They felt as though they’d rip through the damn material.

  He slid his hands around her back, unlatched her bra, and pushed it as far as it would go down her arms. The material was hooked around her elbows, the shirt stopping her from removing the undergarment fully. He immediately had his hands back to cup her breasts.

  “Say you want this,” he groaned.

  “I want this.” The words spilled out of her instantly.

  Kash kneaded the flesh before he took her nipples between his thumbs and forefingers and pinched hard. A gasp left her, and she pulled back, looking at him.

  “Does that feel good, baby?” He dipped his head and started kissing the side of her neck. It didn’t take long for him to start massaging her breasts again or for her to wish he would give her that little ounce of pain once more. It had shocked her at first, but that pain had morphed into a warm hum under her skin.

  “Yes.” The lone word came out in a rush, and she let her head fall back as he nipped at her throat. She didn’t want these offending clothes in the way. Rising up, which had him moving back an inch, she started working her shirt off. A few unorganized motions and she had the material tossed to the ground. With her bra hanging form her elbows and Kash’s gaze locked on the twin mounds, she felt her heart race. Her arousal was a living entity inside of her.

  “Toss the bra aside,” he ordered in a gruff voice. “Take off the sweatpants.” His pupils were dilated, his body seeming bigger, as if his muscles swelled beneath the skin.

  She did as he said eagerly. She didn’t care that she was only in her panties in front of him while he was still fully dressed. It actually turned her on to know she was vulnerable in this sense.

  His eyes, almost black in the darkened room, skimmed over her naked flesh. She swore her nipples got harder just by the way he looked at her. When he lifted his hands and pressed her breasts together, she couldn’t stop a whimper from leaving her mouth. He leaned forward, his gaze locked with hers as he brought his mouth to her puckered nipples. He sucked one bud, licking, teasing, and nipping the tender flesh, and then moved on to the next.

  Over and over he tortured her. Her panties were saturated from her arousal, but she didn’t give a damn. She was so fucking hot for him. He sucked on her until blood rushed to the surface and the peaks looked obscenely long in the dim light.

  “God, you make me so fucking crazy, woman.” His hands went to his belt and the fly of his jeans and he tore them open, pushing the material out of the way just enough to get his cock out. She couldn’t look away, couldn’t stop her eyes from widening or her mouth from growing slack at the sight of his shaft. It had her entire body tightening.

  “Don’t look at me like that, Tristan. I’m about to throw you on the floor and fuck you like an animal.”

  A soft cry left her, and she lifted her gaze to meet his. He wanted her. That much was clear from his expression. He moved his hand over her mound and rubbed slow circles over her already-engorged clit. He didn’t order her to take her panties off. No, he just pulled the material to the side and ran his finger over her slick flesh. A groan left him, and he let his head fall back against the couch.

  “Fuck, baby.” One of his thick fingers pressed against her opening, and she bit her lip. “Rise up on your knees.” Deep, gruff words lanced through her like an arrow.

  Now on her knees, she pressed down until she felt the tip of his cock poised at her entrance. Every inch of her was alive with the need to feel him buried inside of her, but he didn’t lift his hips up and impale her, ending her suffering.

  As she looked down at him, she knew he was handing the control over to her, giving her the reins to bring them both to pleasure. Bracing her legs as wide as she could, she gripped the base of his cock and slowly slid down. When a good inch of thick, hard male flesh was inside of her, she placed both arms on his shoulders. Their breath mingled as their faces stayed preciously close. Without breaking eye contact, Tristan continued to lower herself onto his erection. A groan left her, and she closed her eyes as pleasure engulfed her.

  He was so big, so thick and long. He stretched her to the point of pain, but she wanted more.

  “Look at me.” The words weren’t an order, but almost a plea.

  Tristan opened her eyes, and Kash leaned forward, sealing their mouths together. He cupped her ass and squeezed the globes. She didn’t move for fear of getting off just from the friction alone. This one moment needed to last.

  As their lips moved together, and their tongues pressed and slid against one another, Tristan lifted her hips. The fabric of her panties seemed to heighten the act. The rough scrape from the edge of her panties added a bit of pain. A ripple of pleasure shot through her at the feel of her bare flesh moving along his. She could feel him trembling beneath her. She moved on him, finding a rhythm that sent her reeling.

  “Tristan.” Her name was a satisfied groan against her mouth. She rubbed herself against him over and over again. His hands tightened on her ass, and he lifted his hips in time to meet her movements. With each passing second they moved faster and harder until she found her head thrown back, her hair swaying against her shoulders, and her nails digging into his shoulders.

  “Yes,” she whimpered. “Please, Kash.”

  “Fuck.” His curse was guttural, pleasure laced. He tightened his hold on her and flipped her onto her back. Looking up at him, Tristan knew he was about to give her exactly what she wanted.

  Fingers curving around the edge of her underwear, he shoved them roughly to the side and plunged back into of her. The force of his thrusting hips had her breasts swaying madly. There was nothing for her to hold on to as Kash pounded into her body ruthlessly, giving her exactly what she craved.

  “Yes.” Head tilted back and mouth going slack, Tristan felt the first tremors of her orgasm start to claim her.

  “Damn, your fucking pussy is tight and hot.” Harsh breathing followed his crude description of her body, but she loved it, every minute of it, and that was what sent her into oblivion.

  As her pussy sucked at his cock, trying desperately to bring him to the same mind-blowing climax as she just experienced, she was vaguely aware of his grunt of completion. He pumped into her once more, stretching her, having her wish this could last forever. And then he was pulling out of her, gripping his cock, and worked his fist over his shaft in fast, long strokes. His cum shot out of him in great white arcs and splattered along her breasts and belly. It was warm and wet, and as she watched the last drops leave the tip of him, she found herself pushing up on her elbows until his semihard dick hovered by her mouth.

  Flicking her gaze to his, she leaned the rest of the way forward, brought her tongue out, and licked him clean. The surprise that briefly moved across his face thrilled her. She sucked the head in and ran her tongue along the bulbous, ridged end. A moan left her at his taste.

  “Fucking hell, Tristan.” He cupped her cheek, and she let go of his softening shaft.

  They stared at each other for several long minutes. There was so much she wanted to tell him. The expression he held spoke of his own emotions, ones that she hoped he would share. But all too quickly he put a wall around himself. He took a step back and zipped up his jeans. Grabbing her clothes, she dressed and stared at him.

  She watched his retreating back disappear into the kitchen. For a second all she could do was stand there, wondering what the hell had happened. When she entered the kitchen, Kash had his hands braced on the counter and his head down low.

  “I’m not okay with this.” Even she could hear the coldness in her voice. He turned around slowly and pegged her with his intense emerald-green stare.

  “I want to tell you things about myself that will put everything in its rightful place. You need to know who and what I truly am. Then maybe you can see getting involved with me is the worst possible mistake.”

  She felt her face heat. “Maybe you should have thought about all this
before you fucked me, twice.” She was immensely pleased when she saw him visibly flinch at her crude language. Two could play at this game. He walked over to the table, sat down, and stared at her, waiting for her to do the same. When she was seated across from him, she waited patiently for him to start.

  “Do you know why I told you what I did the night we were intimate?”

  She didn’t bother responding because she knew damn well he’d continue no matter what she said.

  “I didn’t tell you those things because I don’t care for you. I told you because I do care about you.” He ran a hand over the back of his head before he continued. “I come from a broken, abusive family. I grew up in New York, lived in poverty, and had to learn to defend myself at a very young age. The ones fighting against me at first were my own drunken parents. Drugs and fists were a constant companion in my life. They were there when I woke up and when I went to bed. The scars go far deeper than my skin.”

  Tristan let her gaze travel over his tattooed body. Was that why there was so much ink covering his flesh? Was he hiding scars from the world? As if he saw her appraising him, he cleared his throat.

  “This one was from my father when I was eight.” He ran his finger along his bulging bicep. A thick patch of tribal art concealed whatever he was trying to show her. “This one was from a tequila bottle my mother broke over me when I didn’t respond to one of her questions fast enough.” His ran his finger along his pec. Again she saw nothing but dark ink. “This one and this one”—he gestured to his left side and abdomen—“are from a knife one of the neighborhood bullies tried to gut me with.”

  She couldn’t help stifling the gasp that spilled forth. Tears welled in her eyes, but she refused to let them slide out. She didn’t want to make this any worse for him. He was taking a big leap of faith opening up to her like this, and she didn’t want him to think she felt sorry for him.