by Anna Antonia
“Because I want to prove to you I’m capable of being someone different from the difficult man you work for.”
“But I like the man I work for.”
Gavin gave his head a wry shake. “You’re not at the office now. You don’t have to flatter me.”
“When do I ever flatter you, Gavin?”
He opened his mouth and then sighed, “Fair enough. You don’t. So don’t start now.”
“I’m not trying to flatter you. I really do like you.”
“Even when I’m rude?” He raised one brow skeptically.
Biting my lip, I looked up towards the ceiling. “Well, not that part by itself. But I do like the whole of you.”
“Why?”
“I like you because you’re like me.”
That was what I would’ve liked to have said. His pain and the distance born from it reminded me of my own. If I was bolder I would’ve wrapped my arms around him and stroked his dark hair.
A different set of words rolled off my tongue instead.
“I like your commitment in whatever you undertake. Nothing distracts you from your goal.”
“Like a good hunting dog.”
“I like your conscientiousness with others. You care how your actions affect those around you and you try your best to balance your needs with theirs.”
“A polite toddler.”
I opened my mouth to argue when I saw the tiny mischievous grin.
“Something like that.”
Gavin pulled me to him and hugged me. “Paige, I’ve really borked this one again, haven’t I? I just can’t seem to get it right. Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothing to forgive.”
“Do you really mean that?”
“Yes, I do.”
He cupped the back of my head. “You’re not real, are you?”
Looking up at him, I felt the blood drain from my face.
“I…I don’t…”
Gavin leaned down and kissed the tip of my nose. “Let’s start over, love?”
Relief shot through me, overcoming the giddiness from Gavin kissing any part of me.
“Oh, okay.”
Ignorant to the fear slicking my thoughts, he smiled and kissed my nose again.
“Hello. My name is Gavin Hawthorne. What’s yours?”
Starting over wasn’t really possible when you started back with a lie.
I didn’t want to say it. Not now when there was a chance for something sweeter.
Instead, I arched up on my tiptoes and kissed Gavin full on the lips.
TWENTY-FIVE
Gavin’s mouth parted in surprise. So did mine.
And then we were kissing.
Not a cute peck on the lips. Or a still-chaste slight opening of the mouth.
This was the kind of kiss that encouraged me to lose all sense of decorum and climb Gavin like a tree.
I truly couldn’t have imagined how wonderful it would be to kiss this man. His soft, firm lips created a thousand sparks low in my belly. I loved the perfect pressure of his mouth. Wanting more, I deepened the kiss and explored him with a hunger that surprised me.
Was I going too fast?
Don’t know. Don’t care.
My hand pulled his head closer until my lips throbbed with a delirious ache. I needed more of him. Gavin suddenly lifted me up with one arm. I moaned loudly as my legs automatically wrapped around his waist.
I didn’t think about how wrong this was or how Gavin would never do this if he really knew who I was. We weren’t divided by my past and his pain. He was simply a man and I was the woman who was 100% crazy for him.
“Paige, you taste so damned good I’m about to lose my mind.”
Gavin’s growl thrilled me with its beautiful synchronicity. I wanted to say the same but never got a chance. My head fell back when his tongue teased my lips before plunging deep inside.
Desire for him yanked me and locked me in its velvet cage. Every single part of my body came to heart-pounding life. Gavin kissed me and then pulled back, over and over again, until I chased him with my lips and tongue.
I couldn’t bear the absence of his touch.
Soft incoherent murmurs punctuated by muffled moans and sighs filled the air around us. My hands were everywhere. His thick hair, broad shoulders, muscled chest, hard arms, and back up again.
We just weren’t close enough. I wanted to crawl closer and push past his jacket and shirt. I craved the feel of his skin against mine. Overcome by passion, I bit down into the fleshy part of his full lower lip. Gavin hissed, jaggedly breaking my spell.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that!” I gasped while dragging in heavy panting breaths.
What had just happened to me? The violence, need, and adoration turned me into someone I didn’t recognize.
Gavin’s gaze pinned to my lips. “The only thing you should apologize for is stopping.” He cupped the back of my head and yanked me back to him.
“Didn’t it hurt?” I whispered against his open mouth between kisses, worried by the rough impulse that overtook me.
“Not even close.”
He buried one hand in my hair and teased my sensitive lips with his tongue before slipping it back inside. This became a new kind of torture. I loved having him inside me like this but no matter how much I kissed him back, it simply wasn’t enough.
“Sorry, Paige.”
“For what?”
He answered me an endless minute later, pulling away from my swollen mouth to say, “For messing up your hair.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
He groaned, giving me what I wanted before leaving my mouth to kiss across my cheek and down my arched neck. I nearly whined for him to kiss me again when he suddenly bit down where my neck sloped into my shoulder.
“Gavin!”
Goosebumps erupted over my body as a surge of pleasure shot straight through me to center right between my thighs. I begged for him to do it again and he obliged me like a perfect gentleman should.
“You like that, love?”
“Oh yes!”
Gavin moaned in masculine appreciation. “You make me want to be bad.”
“It’s impossible for you to be bad,” I panted through swollen lips
“Yeah?”
“Definitely.”
“What makes you so sure?”
Lost to some instinct greater than myself, I rubbed my hips against him. “Nothing that feels this good could ever be bad.”
Gavin rewarded me with another delicious kiss.
Lost to my senses, I didn’t expect it to be like this. I didn’t expect to be in this bedroom, wrapped up in Gavin. I didn’t care about logic or that things might be moving too fast.
My body furiously craved Gavin’s. It couldn’t be wrong.
“God, you’re so beautiful, Paige. I can’t get enough of you.”
His hands roamed down my back and across my hips, pulling him even closer to me. My impatient fingers pulled at his tie, moving down his shirt and unbuttoning them as quickly as I could.
Gavin’s hands covered mine.
“Are you sure, Paige?”
“Sure about what?”
I wasn’t playing coy. I was beyond thought, ruled by the pleasure pulsing through my body. I burned hot, hotter with each brush of his lips against mine.
His low laughter got me wetter. “Love, don’t tease me. I can’t take it.”
“Who’s teasing? I want you. This. Can we? Please?”
Gavin groaned as if in tremendous pain. It was so fucking sexy I wanted him to do it again.
“I respect you, Paige. I don’t want to take advantage of you or go faster than you’re comfortable with. We don’t have to—”
This time I placed a finger across his lips. “I’ve never heard anything so sweet in my life, Gavin, but I don’t want sweet.”
“No?”
“No. I want to be bad with you.”
His pupils widened. “My filthy, sweet, little love. I�
�ll make you so bad you won’t be able to do anything but yell my name.”
Then Gavin shoved me. My knees hit the mattress and I fell back on the bed. Gavin stood at the foot, watching me through a hooded gaze.
“I’ve never wanted anyone as much as I want you, Paige. What have you done to me?”
Gavin took off my heels. His hands cupped the ball of each foot, pressing his thumb into the arches. I slid my arms over my head and closed my eyes, hardly believing this was really going to happen.
Gavin and I were going to make love. The future couldn’t be told, but nothing would be able to change tonight. I was going to be Gavin’s lover and he was going to be my first and only.
Suddenly, I sat up on my knees and wrapped my arms around his hips. Laying my cheek against his ridged belly, I closed my eyes and confessed, “I never allowed myself to believe this could really happen, Gavin. You’re the dream I always wanted but was too afraid to have.”
Gavin carefully brushed his hand down my tumbled curls. “Little love, you’re making my heart hurt.” He leaned down and kissed the top of my head. “Don’t you know that’s supposed to be my line?”
Tears pricked my eyes. This happiness of mine frightened me because of its newness. Was I really allowed to have it with him?
A liar like me?
Gavin soothed, “No tears. Not tonight. Tonight is for happiness, Paige. Tonight is for loving. Tonight is for us.”
“Yes. Us.”
Nothing and no one else. Not my secrets and not his past. Nothing existed except for us.
I stood up on the bed and threaded my fingers through Gavin’s thick hair while pulling him towards me for another maddening, intoxicating kiss. His lips and tongue played with mine, teasing and gentle, before dominating.
I clung to him, helpless to do anything but respond to the desire Gavin effortlessly drew from me.
Wrapped up in each other, we peeled our clothes off until we stood there skin to skin. Gavin touched me as if to brand me. His palm circled my nipples, lightly, until I begged for more against his mouth.
I learned then just how much of a darling sadist he could be.
Gavin cupped and teased my breasts. Pinching my nipples tightly and then caressing them with the tip of his tongue before doing it again and again. I dug my nails into his shoulders, relishing his hiss with satisfaction only to moan when he sucked my nipple hard into his mouth.
The wet rasp of his tongue drove me crazy. My legs buckled, but it didn’t save me. Gavin lifted me up, arms encircling my waist, while his lips moved from one breast to the other.
Hot pleasure centered deep in my belly. I was so hot, so very wet for Gavin. Each pull of his mouth stoked the fire spreading throughout my body. I threw my head back, shocked he was going to make me come like this.
“Gavin! Oh God!”
His lips immediately gentled. Gavin brought me down slowly while murmuring sweet love words as I shuddered and moaned. When I finally opened my eyes, I saw the sheen of wonder and satisfaction glowing brightly in his eyes. Gavin’s lips quirked up.
“Are you ready to do that again?”
“Yes!”
Gavin’s mouth met mine for another hungry kiss before he broke off to make his slow descent across my body. I never knew how sensitive the skin over my ribs were, nor the hollow of my belly, nor the rounded curve of my hips.
He licked, kissed, and sucked the smooth skin of my inner thighs, expertly getting me to widen them until his warmth breath centered on my parted flesh.
I could barely breathe from the anticipation and excitement. Fiery blushes covered my skin as I looked down to see Gavin staring back at me. Only when our eyes met did his tongue slowly sink into my virgin pussy.
Oh my God! Oh my God! Oh my God!
I moaned softly while eagerly pressing my hips against his mouth. The decadent sensations were indescribable. Ravenous, he marked me as his. Every slide of Gavin’s tongue brought a new spike of throbbing need. I ached for him, primal in my urge to ride his mouth and to let myself go to the filthy-sweet pleasure he created just for me.
Gavin squeezed my ass in his large hands and brought me even closer. He sucked my clit loudly, flicking it with his tongue before doing it again.
Bowing my back, I gripped his hair and gasped, “I’m going to come!”
Gavin groaned in reply. He pushed my hips down and didn’t look away from me as I shattered. Abruptly, he stood us both up and drank my cries. I tasted myself on his lips and discovered it to be sexier than I could ever imagine.
“I want to be in you, love. Now.”
My legs buckled but Gavin caught me, bringing me softly back against the bed. I reached for him, lost in hunger and wanting him to fill me to the brim.
“Love, do you keep protection here?”
“What?” I smoothed my hand down his jaw, arching up to kiss him again.
Gavin licked my swollen lips and then whispered, “Condoms. Do you keep them in the nightstand?”
I froze.
It was a perfectly normal expectation. What modern girl of the world wouldn’t be prepared for spontaneous physical connection?
I wasn’t. I didn’t have a single condom in the apartment. I also wasn’t on birth control.
Clearly, I didn’t plan or prepare to have a lover anytime soon. I wasn’t even prepared for Gavin. Miserable and worried that my answer would bring everything to a stop, I shook my head.
“No worries. I’m prepared.” Gavin’s kisses liquefied me until I sank back on the bed. He dipped his head back between my legs. Gavin’s tongue slid deep between my drenched folds. “Don’t go anywhere.”
He pushed off the bed. I could hear him picking up his clothes. Before I knew it, Gavin was crouched over me. Time ticked. The death of one life was upon me and I couldn’t find it in me to be even a little bit sad.
I wanted Gavin too much.
My gazed greedily locked on the beautiful cock now safely sheathed and jutting proudly between his muscular legs. Long and thick, it made me think the rumors about tall men with large hands and feet was right. I should’ve been wary about taking on something so impressive, but I was excited.
Eager even.
I spread my legs wide, invitation clear. Gavin drew two fingers down my body, paying special attention to my aching breasts before spreading my tender lips wide.
The slippery sounds of my pussy should’ve embarrassed me. I was beyond embarrassment as I begged Gavin to fuck me. Although he didn’t respond verbally, I could see the excitement in his gaze and especially in his shaft.
It jerked up once, as if already feeling the silken tightness of my folds. Gavin lifted my leg and wrapped it around his hip. Then the broad head of his cock slowly pushed its way inside me.
I always thought I’d be scared or at least nervous when the moment came. I was in such a rush to be Gavin’s that I arched my hips up and pulled him to me.
He stretched me so widely and so suddenly I let out a choked cry. He immediately stopped.
“Paige, love, what’s wrong?”
I wrapped my arms around his neck and shook my head wildly. “N-Nothing. Don’t stop.”
Gavin tilted my chin back. His eyes darkened with worry. “I hurt you.”
“No, you didn’t.” I kissed the palm of his hand. “I moved a little too fast but it’s okay.” I arched my hips back and forth, biting my lip as the sting sharpened before transmuting the pain into pleasure so sinful I moaned raggedly.
“Fuck!” Gavin hissed. “You’re so fucking tight, Paige, I can barely move.”
“Is that bad?”
He laughed softly at the sincere worry in my voice. “No, love. It’s the opposite of bad.” Balancing over me on one hand, Gavin ran his free hand down my side. “You’re so tense, Paige. Relax, love.”
“Okay.”
I tried. I really did, but I was so stiff with anticipation and maybe even a little anxiety with what was going to happen next. It hurt but I liked it too. I wanted m
ore.
Gavin bowed his back and plumped my breast before fastening his lips around the tight nipple. I threw my arms over my head and arched high, not wanting him to stop.
Not only didn’t he stop, Gavin gave me more.
He started moving inside me, slowly at first and then faster. Every thrust brushed against my aching clit. Oversensitive, I felt ecstasy pulling at me from every direction.
Nothing could’ve prepared me for how good, how right it was being beneath Gavin. Now I understood why girls of my acquaintance sneaked out of dorms to be with their boyfriends. Why women didn’t want to let go of an especially talented lover. Why they fought tooth and nail to mark their claim on a man they wanted to keep.
I wanted to spend the rest of my life in this bed, feeling his cock push so deep inside me I didn’t know where I ended and Gavin began.
“You’re almost there. Your little pussy is squeezing me so tight, Paige. Fucking come for me, love.”
I was so close. I just needed another push. Wrapping my other leg around him, I arched my hips desperately. Gavin knew what I needed. His thrusts quickened and then I was screaming his name.
Just like he said I would.
Gavin’s groans underscored my breathy moans. He pulled his cock all the way out of me and then rammed it back in. Over and over again until I felt the flutters build up before I barely came down.
He got on his knees and pushed my legs up and against my shoulders. Completely open, I felt his cock hammer even deeper. I reached up to fist my hands in the pillows as I watched the play of pleasure deeply mark his handsome face.
“Fuck me back, love. Move your fucking hips faster. Yes! Like that.”
I worked Gavin as hard as he worked me. Unbelievably, the knot built low in my belly, teasing me with its promise. Gavin licked his fingers before bringing them down to play with my clit.
I was gone.
Twisting, I surrendered to the ecstasy taking hold of me again. Gavin thrust hard one final time before his body stilled and then shuddered.
“Paige! Oh fuck!”
He gripped my thighs so roughly I knew he’d leave bruises. I purred with pleasure. I hoped to carry his marks for days to come.
Breathing hard, Gavin dropped over me. My legs shook while I wound my arms around his wide back.
