by Aria Cole
“You give me everything I could ever need just being here.” I kissed her lips again, losing myself in the romance and the night, falling into her touch and her scent, until my hands were tangled in her hair and we were both on our knees in the grass, hands and lips devouring each other, the dew-washed apples a canopy above us.
Her hands roamed my back, across the expanse of my shoulders and through my hair as she kissed me, pressing her lips against mine, bruising the flesh as she took from me as much as I took from her. With the wine urging me on, my hands slipped up the simple dress she’d worn tonight and pulled down the white cotton of her panties.
“Asher...” She gasped on repeat between feverish kisses across my neck when my fingers made contact with her slick, wet pussy. Her hands worked at the buttons of my shirt before cotton gave way to cool flesh, and I found myself naked from the torso up. In one quick movement, I worked the zipper down on my pants. “Hurry,” she pleaded, her hair wild and laid out beneath me in the grass as she panted and mewed like a kitten. “I want you, Asher.” Her pleas went straight to my already throbbing cock.
“So sweet,” I hushed as I finally pulled my zipper down. No longer restrained by my boxers and my gentlemanly inhibitions, I gasped when her tiny fist circled my length and she pulled. She pulled and then tugged, then swirled her tongue over the tip like she'd been doing it for years, before her eyes cast up to mine. A flash of lust colored her eyes before her mouth wrapped around the sensitive skin of my searing hot length. The last remnants of my good sense fled my brain like a retreating army when her succulent lips made contact with my cock. My conscience abandoned the scene and all that remained was the wild, virulent man that’d been buried inside for so many years.
My hips jerked as I placed both hands in her hair, as much to steady myself as it was to control her. If she did this too hard, too fast, too anything, I would come in a violent torrent down her throat. “Allie,” I panted, then pulled her off my cock, not ready to be done with her yet, but knowing I had to treat her right. This was about her, everything was for her.
We could only have our first time once. I had to make it right. “Calm down, let me do this,” I soothed as I laid her back in the grass, nestling my body between her legs as my hands smoothed at her thighs. She watched me riveted as her chest heaved, the nipples puckering beneath her dress and begging for my tongue. I kissed across her torso, my hands working her dress farther and farther up her body as I went. I nearly lost it when I pushed the fabric over her panties, catching a glimpse of her sweet mound.
I grazed my nose across the fabric, inhaling the sweet scent of her arousal, before snapping the elastic of the waistband with my teeth and continuing on my journey. Her breathing hitched as her stomach rose and fell violently, unsure of where I might go next, arousal and desire pulsing through every nerve ending. I pushed the dress up her waist and pulled it over her shoulders, finding she wore only her panties, no bra, her breasts round. A perfect handful, made for my touch.
“Jesus, you’re stunning. Has anyone ever said that? You’re so sweet. I’m sure I don’t deserve you,” I husked, then dived in, my tongue and lips sucking and pulling at her perky little buds until she was mewling and arching off the ground, coming alive beneath my fingers. She gasped and clutched at the grass before my hands dipped below the waist of her panties and began the slow dance across her clitoris.
I sucked and kissed, my cock raging hard and begging to be sheathed deep inside her sweet body, before I brought her to one swift orgasm with my hand. Before she could even come down from her first, I was pushing her cotton panties down her legs and spreading her thighs to straddle my face.
With the desperation of a starving man, I ran my tongue up her lips, inhaling the musky scent of her arousal, before I greedily lapped across her entrance with my tongue. She bucked and groaned into the night, her symphony urging me on before I swirled my tongue at her clit and sucked at the sweet juice. I added one thick finger to my assault, teasing at her entrance, probing and priming her for the invasion that would come. I couldn’t turn my back, she was too beautiful, too sweet, too kind and loving, and too right for me.
She was mine, she only needed to see that.
She sighed as I stroked inside the walls of her hot pussy, savoring the taste and feel of her, before I added one more finger, trying to stretch her slowly.
“Asher!” she cried when I nipped at her clit and worked my digits inside her body, the hardened little bud stiffening before her thighs went rigid for the second time, this time around my face as I brought her to another release with the aid of my tongue.
“So fucking delicious,” I whispered before crawling up her torso and kissing her again. I thrust my tongue into her mouth, and she kissed me back instantly, tasting herself on my lips, making my dick so fucking hungry. I had the patience of a saint for not fucking her before now.
“Allie,” I groaned.
“Asher, I want you. Please, now,” she whispered feverishly.
“Couldn’t turn away from you if I tried, beautiful.” I kissed her again, slower this time, with reverence and appreciation. I trusted her, I respected her, hell, I loved her. I wanted us to be whole in every way.
I lined my cock at her hot slit, teasing her lips, rubbing my length against the sensitive bud of her clit. “I can’t wait to be buried inside you,” I whispered in her ear.
“I'm ready, but I’m scared,” she said softly with her eyes averted to the trees shrouding us.
“Hey, beautiful, look at me,” I whispered in the darkness. Her eyes opened slowly and she pushed one hand through my hair. Just her touch calmed every last ragged nerve I had. “Sweetheart, this is my first time, too. I waited a long time for you, for this. I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else but you. This is the beginning for us, baby. This is my forever,” I breathed and soothed her anxiety with a slow kiss on the lips. She cupped my stubbled jawline and reassured me with every stroke that she felt this, too. This thing between us was alive and real and pulsed just as steadily as the beat of our hearts. She was ready.
I returned her kiss slowly as I eased my cock into her, inch by slow inch. I wanted to make this feel as good for her as it already did for me. Nerve endings sizzled, and all the sense I had left my brain as I tried to control myself in those first few moments. Time stopped, and the cool breeze whistled through the trees as we kissed and I eased myself inside her body, reveling in the feel of her skin on mine. I pushed myself to the limit. With her, I pushed myself home.
Chapter 13
Eve
I focused on the feel of his skin at my lips, the deep and languid kisses that curled my toes and turned my blood to molten lava. I focused on the press of his erection between my legs, where he ever so slowly, centimeter by slow centimeter, invaded my body. Something I’d never given to anyone else. My innocence.
I clutched at his shoulder blades as he paused, his eyes flickering across my face as he tried to make it as painless as possible. “Are you okay?” he whispered, and my heart melted instantly. He as good as snatched my heart up with his words, his concern, such a foreign concept to a girl like me.
I nodded, shutting my eyes tightly, hoping he wouldn’t see the tears hovering there. I didn’t want him to get the wrong impression, because they weren’t tears of pain like he may think. They were tears of joy. Pure, unadulterated joy at his overwhelming kindness, generosity, too large heart and sexy as hell rakish grin.
I’d found a Prince Charming. Now how on earth would I keep him?
I choked on one quick breath when Asher finally pushed into me and a thousand shooting nerves seemed to pierce me from the inside out. I clenched my muscles, wishing I’d realized he had a dick the size of a giant and that he may not actually fit inside me.
“The pain will fade, baby, just wait,” he soothed. “Give it a second.” His tongue laved at my earlobe and dusted across my collarbone down to my nipple. He sucked in slow, generous pulls, his eyes trained on mine the entire
time. The level of intimacy, his command of my attention was almost embarrassing, but then I realized he knew exactly what he was doing.
The tension in my muscles eased, and my arousal caressed the pain away. Now all I felt was pleasure, outside of the slight pinch of his girth stretching me. “You’re so big,” I said, not even realizing the words tumbled from my mouth. “You feel so good.” I arched, rocking my hips slightly as my body adjusted.
“You’re so fucking perfect. You feel perfect.” He kissed between my breasts, then began a slow rock of his hips, his eyes falling back in his head as his neck strained and his biceps bulged while he held himself above me. “I never thought it would feel this good, this amazing,” he whispered as his rocking sped up. “Are you okay?” He bent, his forehead touching mine as his dark gaze tore through me.
I nodded, held in his net, captured by his hands and his mouth and his words and his kindness, and I only nodded. Love. Asher Strong was the first man I ever loved.
“I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life if you’ll let me. I’ve been waiting for you this long. I’ll wait for you a lifetime longer. When you’re ready, I'm here. Whatever you need,” he murmured between kisses and thrusts, “I’m here.” He tugged at one nipple, lighting my nerves on fire before one hand snaked between us and his thumb worked tight circles at my clit, swirling arousal to soak his digits like a lubricant. His thumb snuck up to his lips and he sucked my glistening sex off before he returned his hand between us, swirling and pinching and massaging before a slow burn of another orgasm built in my body. My legs quaked and my grip tightened at his shoulders while he fucked me slowly and reverently, taking care of me, getting me off, making me his.
“Asher,” I called into the night when another orgasm crashed through my body. His pleasure-filled grunts followed mine as he held his body over me, caging me against his body, the silver light kissing his skin and urging my love for him on, sucking all the oxygen up between us until we were melded together as one.
“My God, you’re incredible,” he panted and then collapsed on top of my body, curling me into his protective form, skin to skin, chest to chest. “I’ve waited so long for you, Evie,” he whispered as my heart shuddered to a stop.
Chapter 14
Asher
Just as I was coming down from my release, just as I was still buried inside her, soaking in the feel of her finally in my arms and against my skin, she shrieked and pushed me off of her with all her force, surprising me and sending me tumbling.
What had happened? Had I hurt her, after all? She’d looked mighty satisfied after three orgasms.
“Why did you say that?” she screamed, terror in her eyes as she struggled to cover herself with the dress I’d pulled off her body just minutes ago. My mind worked over the last things I’d said. I’d been in the throes of my first orgasm buried inside a woman. How could I be responsible for what the hell I said?
“Say what?” I shook off the confusion and started to pull the zipper up on my pants.
“Why did you call me that name? My name is Allie.” She scooted farther away from me in the grass, as if she feared me.
Allie. Evie. Shit. Had I called her by her real name?
Thoughts bombarded my mind as I worked out what to tell her. I hadn’t meant to stick my goddamn foot in my mouth, hadn’t even realized I’d said it, and it was certainly far too soon. This was just one of the secrets I needed time to tell her. Pulling the bandage off too soon before the wound was healed could spell disaster for both of us.
“Allie, shit, I’m sorry.” I ran a hand through my hair as she jumped from the ground and pulled the fabric of her dress over her head. “Allie!” I called, before she took off over the grass, barefoot, heading for the house without turning back. “Shit,” I cursed and shoved her sweet little panties in my pocket before I took off after her.
Looks like I’d have to confess now, long before I’d ever intended to. There were supposed to be a dozen nights of intimacy and trust ahead of us, and now I had exactly two days under my belt and I’d fucked it up already. I’d known that line would be too delicate to walk, but I’d sure as hell walked it, and now I was flailing and facing the consequences.
“Allie, wait, let me explain a few things,” I begged when I finally caught up to her, nearly to the porch where we’d had our Italian rendezvous earlier.
“I can’t imagine what you could possibly say to make up for that,” she snipped and pushed through the doors, heading straight for her bedroom.
“You don't understand,” I said, following her.
“I guess I don’t. Did they give you my real name? Do you have my ID? I thought I was protected. I thought this was all private. Do you know everything about me?!” she shrieked as her anger escalated. I stopped at the top of the stairs, my head bowed, no reply to give. “Oh, my God, you do, don’t you?” Her eyes widened in violent anger before she gritted her teeth and spun on her heel, stomping down the hallway.
Well, that was that, then.
I hung back by her door for a few long moments, kicking myself and trying to concoct the perfect story to tell her. Could I lie? Damn if I didn’t want to, but if I wanted our relationship to be based on trust, I’d have to tell her. I had no other choice but to confess everything.
I sighed and tapped lightly on the door, no sound coming from within. I grunted, desperate to see her, to make this right, but ashamed as fuck for lying to her at all in the first place.
I opened the door and stepped into her room, silent except for the spray of water coming from the shower. I sighed, unwilling to let her push me away any longer, especially not after I’d just taken her virginity. Running wasn’t allowed between us. She’d need to learn that soon enough anyway.
I entered the foggy warmth of the bathroom, letting the door close loudly behind me to alert her to my presence. “Asher,” she squeaked, and I saw her curvy physique behind the frosted glass as she turned away from me. Her head popped out a moment later and she leveled me with a glare that could wither the strongest man. “Leave.”
“Not until I explain a few things,” I said sincerely as I pulled a fluffy towel from the rack and held it out for her. Maintaining constant eye contact, refusing to be distracted by her luscious form, I wanted her to see this meant something to me. She meant something.
“How do you know my name?” she said when she stepped out, quickly snatching the towel from my hands and pulling it around her body.
She stood waiting for my reply, dark locks of wet hair twisting around her shoulders and begging for my fingers. I wanted to lick the wetness from her skin with my tongue, then lay her out on the bathroom vanity and bring her to another orgasm. Jesus, I couldn’t get enough of her. She’d better forgive me. I might lose my mind if she didn't.
“They did give me your ID. For safety purposes only though. And to be clear, they only did it because I insisted. You can have it back.”
“If you had it all along, why did you keep calling me Allie then?” Her face fell and her eyes peered up at me, hurt by my betrayal more than anything else.
“I thought it would make you more comfortable. I was wrong, I’m sorry. I planned on giving it back to you at some point, but I didn’t want to throw you over the edge with upheaval,” I offered lamely.
“So…” She wrapped her towel around her shoulders and shifted on her wet feet. “What are you going to call me?”
“What do you prefer?” I offered eagerly, feeling suddenly absolved.
“Eve, Evie is what the boys call me.” She paused, then her eyes darted to mine and narrowed. “Wait, my ID says Eve, how did you know to call me Evie?” Her voice hardened as I saw the realizations clicking together in her mind.
“There’s more I need to tell you.” I shoved a hand through my hair, feeling the other bowling ball drop in my stomach.
“Asher, what do you know?” she whispered so softly it nearly deflated the air from my lungs. I waited one long, drawn-out moment, her eyes watchi
ng me, her fingers fidgeting as cool droplets melted into the cotton of her towel.
“I know everything.”
Chapter 15
Eve
“Eve, I know everything,” he said again when I still hadn’t responded.
My brain ran a thousand miles an hour as my hands shook in front of me. My heart thundered and my breathing picked up in ragged pants. The bathroom seemed to darken before my vision went hazy and I crumpled on the cold tile floor. “Eve!” was the last word I heard before the world went dark.
“Here, take a sip.” Asher’s voice pulled me from the dark abyss. His worried eyes assessed my face and body, one palm under my chin as he held a small bottle of water to my lips. “Just a sip. You fainted. You’ll be okay.” His soothing voice calmed my ragged nerves.
But why had I fainted?
“Take a sip, sweetheart, and I’ll tell you everything.” His eyes watched me, the fear within them growing by the second. Suddenly, the memory of the last few minutes came back, and I scrambled out of his reach. Glancing around, I found myself in a foreign space, his bedroom, I decided, once I saw the immaculately kept closet and twin en suite, just like my mine.
I clutched at the fibers of the duvet covering his bed as his eyes peered back at me, slain with guilt and shame. “H-how do you know me?” I asked haltingly, feeling utterly trapped and betrayed. I knew for certain that I was locked in a luxury prison where my life certainly wasn’t my own. I was Asher’s puppet, nothing more and nothing less. I’d been so foolish to think there could be anything more.
“I was there the night it happened.” His words echoed around the room and they seemed to repeat. Was he still saying it or was I imagining it? How could he have been there? Been there for which part?
