by Layla Hagen
“I hope checking off the rest of the items on my list will be just as adventurous,” she said with a laugh. “Though maybe without the freezing our asses off.”
“I’ve got that covered. I’m very good at keeping you warm.”
She laughed. “That you are.”
I couldn’t wait to check off whatever she wanted to do on that list. This was the first time since I found out about the software competition that I was interested in anything else except winning, and it was all thanks to her.
"You think we should wash them first?” she asked when we entered the bathroom. "They smell odd."
"That's a good idea. I have a quick wash cycle, and then we can tumble dry them."
“How fast will they be ready?”
I wrapped an arm around her waist from behind, kissing her neck. “Not until tomorrow morning for sure.”
She tilted her head on my shoulder, looking up at me. “Is that a trick to keep me here?”
“You suggest I need tricks?”
“Hmm... not sure. But I was promised a massage, so that’s an incentive.”
Pushing her hair to one side, I kissed the back of her neck.
"You can't keep your hands to yourself, can you?"
"Should I?" I asked.
She sighed. "No, not at all."
Turning around, she caressed my arms. She smiled coyly, slipping past me, heading back to the master bedroom. I walked right behind her, tugging at both towels until they dropped to the floor. She wiggled her ass, and I palmed the right cheek, kneading it in my hand.
"This bed is decadent," she said, touching one of the four posters with both hands, standing right in front of it.
I positioned myself behind her, pushing her wet hair to one side and kissing the back of her neck, then her shoulders. I moved my hands down her arms and then on her waist, trailing my mouth lower in a straight line down her back until I reached her ass cheeks. I kissed each one of them, gripping her hips even harder. She grabbed the post with both hands as if she needed to steady herself. I liked the way she reacted even to the slightest touch.
I turned her around abruptly. Her eyes widened, and she clasped the post again with her hands behind her back. I nudged her legs apart, kissing up her inner thighs but avoiding her pussy for now. I kissed her right thigh and then the left one, and I felt her shudder in my arms. Only then did I pull her clit between my lips.
"Oh, Dylan."
She dropped her head back. Clenching her thighs, she trapped me between them. I pressed them wide again. I needed her open like this for me. I circled my thumb over her clit before pulling it between my lips again. I did it again and again right until I felt her shudder with her whole body. She had goose bumps on her legs. I kissed up to her navel before turning her around again.
I wanted to keep her on her toes, to keep guessing which part of her I would explore next. While I kissed her shoulder blades, I touched her nipples with my fingers, sliding my cock between her thighs. She clenched them tight, pressing me between her legs. I gripped the side of her waist hard. I was trying to drive her crazy, but I couldn't do that if she pushed me over the edge first. I kept touching her breasts and kissing her back and moving my hips back and forth at a slow, lazy pace. The length of my cock kept rubbing her pussy but not sliding in. I knew I nudged her clit on almost every move because small shudders ran through her each time.
"Climb on the bed," I said into her ear. I needed to be inside her. I couldn't postpone this any longer.
She climbed on all fours, looking over her shoulder seductively.
I took a condom from the nightstand and wasted no time putting it on. She was right at the edge of the bed, and I was standing. Positioning myself at her entrance, I slid inside, grabbing both her ankles and tilting them up a bit. She automatically leaned forward on her arms a bit more, shifting her center of gravity. The angle changed, and she moaned. I was touching a part of her I hadn't before, and she loved that.
I wasn't gentle for long. I couldn't help it, not with Mel. She demanded I give her everything I had, and I couldn't have her any other way. Watching her succumb to me was glorious. It made me want to give her so much pleasure that she’d never want to leave my bed. I moved in and out of her fast, watching her cry out and pull the sheets. She was tightening around me, pulsing already. My thighs were burning from the effort of standing and thrusting, but fuck, if I didn't like it. She tightened even more, and then her knees gave in. She fell on her belly. I pulled back out for a few seconds, but then I climbed on the bed, lying on top of her. I slid my cock back inside, and a groan tore from my chest.
“Fuuuuuuck.”
She felt even tighter than a few seconds ago. I pushed a hand between her and the mattress, working her clit. She was soaking wet and so fucking tight that I was going to lose my mind. She tore at the sheets, pressing her forehead against the mattress but not her mouth. I heard her unmuffled cry, and it was fucking glorious. She came so hard that my climax took me by surprise. It had been barely forming a few seconds ago, but it slammed into me, and I exploded inside her. I was still working her clit, even though she hadn't finished coming, but I was relentless. I wanted to wring out every drop of pleasure. I felt her tighten again right before her cry filled the room as she came a second time.
Only then did I take my hand away and stop my movement, but I still lay on top of her. I kissed her shoulder blades, pushing myself up on my elbows. She shimmied her hips, and I caught the smile on her face as she looked at me sideways.
I pulled out of her, quickly removing the condom before lying back on the bed. I was half straddling her, resting on my side. I was sustaining my weight on an elbow, but the other hand was free.
“I still owe you that massage,” I said, pressing three fingers in the crook of her neck.
She sighed, whispering, “How can you make me feel like this?”
“Like what, exactly?”
“Like I’m all you want. All that matters.”
“Because you are.”
Mel pressed the side of her face in the mattress, groaning. “I can’t believe I said that out loud. Those orgasms messed with my filter.”
I pushed a strand of hair behind her ear, looking her straight in the eyes. “You can always say what’s on your mind, Mel.”
“But we agreed on just having fun,” she whispered.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t be honest with each other,” I said truthfully, moving closer to her.
“And that won’t scare you away?”
“Not one bit,” I promised. “Let’s make a deal to always tell each other everything. Okay?”
The truth was I wanted more than that. I wanted to get close to her, but I wasn’t ready to admit that yet, not even to myself.
She raised her head, smiling from ear to ear. “Okay.” Flexing her shoulders, she added, “By the way, I’d love a massage.”
I immediately pressed my fingers in the crook of her neck again, kissing her shoulder. “Your wish is my command.”
“Ohhh, that’s great because I have so many plans.”
“I’m all yours, Mel.”
Chapter Seventeen
Mel
The next morning, I woke up with a start, hearing an alarm clock. Glancing around, it took me a few minutes to realize I wasn’t home. The annoying sound came from the nightstand—from a digital clock. I immediately silenced it and checked the time. It was seven forty-five. Glancing at the other side, I realized Dylan wasn't in bed. Had he set the alarm just for me? That was thoughtful.
Rising from the bed, I instinctively looked around for something to put on before remembering my clothes were in the dryer. And he only had those pesky little towels that covered nothing. Well, then, I was going to roam naked through his apartment. I was confident he’d enjoy a peep show first thing in the morning.
As I approached the living room, I heard Dylan’s voice loud and clear. He was probably on the phone.
I yawned, rubbing my eyes befor
e stepping inside the living room carefully, glancing around. He was on the couch, holding his laptop on his thighs.
Holy shit! There was a green dot lit right next to the camera. He had his camera on, and I was buck naked.
The next few seconds were a blur. Dylan immediately shifted his laptop to one side, looking over his shoulder. At the same time, I took a giant step to the left, hoping to get out of the radius of the camera. I slammed into a bookshelf with my forehead. It hurt as if I’d sliced it open. My teeth clattered painfully. My eyes watered. Dylan exited the online meeting and was next to me in a matter of seconds, putting an arm around my waist.
"Babe, fuck. Are you okay?"
"Um, yeah. Sorry for the peep show. I thought you were on the phone."
"They didn’t see anything. I turned the laptop away out of reflex, but that part of the room wasn’t in the range of the camera. How are you feeling? Need some ice?”
I looked up at him, smiling. "I’m okay. I wanted to surprise you by stomping in here naked, and I guess I surprised your whole team."
His jaw tightened. "Again, they didn’t see anything."
"Uh-huh. Keep telling yourself that," I teased.
"I have to or I'll go insane."
"Mr. Gallagher, are you feeling possessive again?
"Fuck yes. I don't want anyone to see how gorgeous you are. Then they'll take you away from me."
I started to wiggle my eyebrows but abruptly stopped because it was making my forehead hurt. "Please. I don't think anyone can give me as many orgasms as you do. That's an incentive right there for me to stay."
“Good to know. I have a few other tricks up my sleeve.”
Taking a step back, I took a good look at him. He was wearing jeans and a white polo T-shirt and looked suspiciously perfect.
“How come you’re so fresh? We went to sleep at the same time.”
“I always wake up at this time. Got an hour of coding done before the management meeting.”
I blinked rapidly. “Wait, when do you wake up exactly?”
“At five.”
“Holy shit. Every day?”
“Yes.” He laughed, kissing my forehead.
“Wow. This is blowing my mind.” I cuddled against him, loving the feeling of his arms around me. I rolled my hips into him, and it took me a few seconds to realize he had a hard-on. Jerking my head back, I looked up at him. “Was this here before?”
His eyes were full of humor. “You need coffee.”
“Nah, I’m not a coffee drinker. But I always need about an hour after I get up from bed to feel awake. Possibly longer after a night like the one we had.”
“You complaining, Mel?” A sly grin spread on his handsome face.
“No, no. I was making an observation.” I scrunched my nose, trying to remember why I’d come in the living room buck naked. “Oh, my clothes. They’re in the dryer, right?” Just as I said that, it dawned on me, “Oh shit. We never got them out from the washing machine.”
“Relax, I did it this morning.”
My eyes widened. “Wow.”
“The perks of getting up early.”
“True. Besides, you’re very good at fondling me.”
“Are you implying that you don’t like what I do to you when I’m sleepy?”
“I always like your hands on me.” I lowered my voice to a teasing whisper. “But your technique is better when you’re fully awake.”
He gripped my ass cheeks with his hands, pulling me against him. “See? You’re proving my point.”
I covered his hands with mine, swatting them away before turning around. “Now, I need my clothes.”
I only got a few steps before I felt his hands on my shoulders, steering me to the left. “Wrong direction. The guest bathroom is this way.”
“Ah, what would I do without you?”
“Hurry up. We have time for a quick breakfast too.”
“Are you sure?”
"Yes. I ordered it a while ago from a restaurant I really like. It’s already here.” He pointed with his head toward the kitchen island.
I followed his direction with my gaze. My eyes bulged. He’d woken up early, before his meeting, and ordered breakfast? Who was this guy, and could I keep him forever?
No, no, no. I couldn't think like that. We had agreed from the beginning that we were not on the same page, and I was okay with that. I didn't want to go in and change the rules of the game right now. That had never worked before.
"Okay. I'm going to get dressed, and I'll be right back."
I headed to the bathroom to get my clothes, and oh shit, Dylan must have selected the wrong program. While my skirt was okay, my shirt had shrunk a bit. My navel was on display. I looked like an extra in a ’90s video. Walking to the mirror, I realized it was worse than I thought. I tried to tug at it, but it was no use. Oh well, it would have to do for the short trip to the gym. I was wearing short things there all the time. Maybe I could pass it off as a training shirt of some sort.
I combed my hair with my hands, and I noticed he had toothpaste in a glass between the two sinks. I quickly put some paste on my finger and used it to sort of brush my teeth. It wasn't great, but it was better than having stinky morning breath.
He'd brushed his teeth already because I'd gotten a hint of mint when he'd stopped me from toppling the bookshelf, and I did want to kiss him before I left. I wanted to kiss him thoroughly so it could last me for the whole weekend. Last night had been incredible. My body was still aching, which was proof that I hadn't imagined all the delicious things he’d done to me.
I found him at the kitchen island already, looking hot as sin as he arranged croissants on plates.
“Oh, yummm...,” I said, practically eating it all up with my eyes. “These look delicious.” Taking one, I immediately bit into it and moaned in delight. It had a mix of chocolate and apricot jam inside.
I felt Dylan at my back. Instead of devouring a croissant himself, he was kissing the side of my neck.
Hell yes. This was the way to start the day. Eating something delicious while this godlike man was covering me with kisses.
"What are you doing later today?" he whispered against my skin.
"I'm probably going to go shopping for a phone. I’ll buy the new model. I’ll email Dad from the gym’s computer to tell him about the phone so he doesn’t panic when he can’t reach me.”
“Shit, I forgot about that. I need a new one too. But I wanted to talk to you about something. I'm meeting my family and some friends at Isabelle’s new house. Want to join us?"
I blinked a few times, stopping mid-bite. My heart was beating faster. He wants me to spend time with him and his siblings? Wow. Last night with my dad was different. It had been unexpected, but this was an invitation. I couldn’t figure out what it meant, but perhaps I didn’t need to.
I wanted to have a fun Saturday with him and the rest of the Gallagher clan. I just had to make sure I didn’t lose my heart in the process too.
“Mm, that sounds tempting. What are we going to do?"
"I'm not sure yet, but if past meetings with my family are any indication, it will probably revolve around talking about the wedding. I think I already know everything by heart."
I turned around, pointing at him. "Hey, don't be such a grouch. It’ll be a very happy day for your sister.”
"I know. That's why I'm putting up with it. You have no idea on how many things I had to give my opinion on.”
I found that extremely cute, especially knowing weddings were a sore spot for him.
“Ian always makes fun of her, that she goes into the zone when she talks about D-day, and he’s right," he added.
“You two are so bad.” I ate the rest of the croissant, checking the time on his oven display. “I’ve got to go, or I’ll be late.”
“I can drive you.”
“No, it’s okay. The walk will wake me up.”
“When do you finish?” he asked.
“At ten.”
&nbs
p; “Okay. I’ll pick you up in front of the gym.”
I made to go, but he pinned me back against the island, kissing me hard and deep. I tugged at his shirt, running my fingers through his hair. He tasted like coffee. He was relentless in his exploration.
“Dylan,” I whispered when we paused to breathe.
In response, he groaned, rocking his hips into me. “Go before I change my mind and keep you here.”
“Ha! As if you could convince me.”
“Don’t tempt me.” He feathered his thumb from one corner of my mouth to the other. The look in his eyes was feral. My knees weakened a little, and I realized he’d have no problem convincing me.
Clearing my throat, I stepped to one side. “Okay. I’m going now.”
I moved quickly to the corridor, putting on my gladiator sandals. They were still wet, and the shape had changed a bit, but I was hoping they’d recover. He opened the door for me, and I didn’t miss the glint of mischief in his eyes. I pointed two fingers at his eyes as I walked backward out of the apartment.
“Don’t look at me like that,” I warned, punching the elevator button with my free hand. It was already on this floor, so the doors opened.
“Why, afraid of my powers of persuasion?”
“Exactly,” I said, stepping inside.
I heard his laughter right until the doors of the elevator closed. I was laughing too, checking my lips in the mirror. My outfit was just as tragic as before, but I couldn’t deny there was a glow to my cheeks and eyes that was all due to Dylan.
Oh, Mel, what are you getting yourself into? And more importantly, how are you going to get back out?
Chapter Eighteen
Mel
At ten o’clock, I came out of Genesis with a pep in my step. Dylan was waiting for me in his BMW. He’d pulled the car into a parking space right in front of the gym. I hopped in quickly, smiling at him.
"Ready. I'm all yours for the rest of the day."
It was a gorgeous Saturday, already hitting eighty degrees, and it was going to be a warm one. According to the weather channel, it would be ninety at noon, which was a bit too warm for the end of June. At least the humidity was supposed to be fairly low.
