Waterfall Effect

by K. K. Allen

  “I think I need my wine now.” I laugh, feeling shaky from the gale of memories. It’s like I’ve just been given legs after a lifetime of searching for a way to stand on my own.

  He pulls us onto the couch and hands me my glass of wine. I curl up beside him, bending my knees so they fall over his lap, tucking my toes beneath me. His free hand rests on my thigh, tracing circles with his pointer finger as we drink our wine and stare into the flames in contented silence. Lacey pads around the couch to the fluffy rug outside my old bedroom, and it’s just the three of us again.

  Jaxon’s fingers leave my thigh and weave through mine. “Hey,” he says gently. I turn to meet his eyes.

  “What is it?”

  The look he’s giving me now isn’t comforting. I hold my breath for another wind to come in and sweep our newfound peace away.

  He squeezes my hand with his. “I want you to know I saw Val last night.”

  My damn heart stutters, then restarts, telling me to trust him instead of jumping to conclusions again. “Okay.” I let the word linger on my tongue.

  “It wasn’t planned,” he assures me. “She was at the bar after the event. I was leaving, and she was getting a drink. She stopped me. She wanted to talk.”

  “Jax,” I say, shaking my head. “You don’t have to tell me anything. It’s none of my business.”

  He tilts his head. “Bullshit, Aurora. I’m telling you because I don’t want any secrets between us. A couple months ago, I found out she was married, and I ended things between us. She was angry because I’ve been avoiding her ever since, and Val doesn’t handle being ignored well. That’s why she came by the shop the other day. To confront me. She confronted me again in Asheville. And she didn’t like what I had to say, but at least she knows where I stand.” There’s a pause while he exhales slowly. “We both have our pasts, Aurora. Good and bad. But I’m here with you now. I’m not going anywhere, and I sure as hell am not letting Val come between us.”

  A relieved breath fills my lungs. I smile and lean in, touching my forehead to his. “Thank you.”

  My hand falls to his chest a bit timidly. Being so close to Jaxon now is just as nerve-racking as the first time I touched him. Even after our day together at the falls, this seems more intimate—and not just because he’s sitting beside me in nothing but his underwear, staring at me like he’s imagining himself inside me. We’ve come a long way, the pain of all the years before us only making what we mean to each other so much stronger. I can feel it between us. The heat. The strength. But there’s newness to it all, too. We aren’t seventeen and twenty-one, making out behind trees and in abandoned cabins. He isn’t taking my virginity in the dark basement of his house while muffling my screams of pleasure with his palms. It’s been so long since those days, but unlike Jaxon, I haven’t been intimate with anyone else.

  My fingers skate across his chest on a mission to memorize every inch of its landscape, chiseled like the rock bed of a waterfall. He lets me have my fun until my eyes flick up to find his tortured ones. He clears his throat as if I’ve just walked in on him touching himself. Caught.

  “Do me a favor.” His plea is gruff, his breath hot against my neck.

  “Anything.”

  He smiles. “Does that stereo work?”

  I turn toward the bookshelf that holds my Bluetooth stereo and shrug. “Yeah. Want me to turn it on?”

  He nods, then reaches for his phone on the coffee table in front of us. “We need some music.”

  I cross the room and power on the speaker. A few seconds later, an acoustic song I don’t recognize pours out. I walk back to Jaxon, who takes my hand and pulls me between his legs, his long lashes batting against his brows as he peers up at me.

  “That’s better,” he says with a smile. His fingers stroke my kneecaps for a moment, and then he continues up, skating up the thin fabric of my sweatpants. When he gets to my waist, his eyes light up and he looks back up at me. “I’m feeling a little underdressed here, Waterfall Eyes.”

  It’s an invitation. A bold one that sends every inch of hair on my body standing on edge, begging for more of his touch.

  The lump of nerves in my throat is thick, but I swallow it. He wants me to strip for him. I can do that, just as soon as I remember what underwear I put on after my shower tonight. A black lace thong, I think, with red polka dots. That’ll do.

  My insides clench with excitement. For the last seven years, no man has seen me naked, yet I’m about to strip down to my undergarments for Jax like it’s nothing.

  My fingers grip the bottom of my tank top in response. He sucks in a breath as I lift the cloth up and over my head, my hair dropping around my shoulders in long waves.

  “Fucking beautiful,” he says, tracing the lace of my demi cup bra with his eyes. I look down too. I want to know what he’s seeing. My breasts fill the cups, threatening to spill with each heavy breath. It’s no more revealing than my bathing suit from the other day, but there’s no water to hide me now. There’s no towel to wrap my wet body in.

  My hands move to my sweats next, untying them and then hooking the elastic around my thumbs. My limbs shake and my breath catches, but I ignore it as I peel the fabric from my hips and slip it down over my hips, thighs, knees, and feet. My nerves are hard to hide now that I’m standing here in front of him, his eyes sweeping over every inch of me appreciatively, hungrily. But he makes no move to touch me. Not yet. I can almost feel the twitch of his palm. The need, fierce and heavy, hangs in the air between us.

  The fire from the stove warms my skin as it sparks and crackles behind me. And then his hands begin to move. His fingertips, featherlight against my skin, float up my leg, skimming the lace fabric of my underwear before digging in at my waist.

  “Turn for me.” It’s a demand, dark and controlling. Heat rushes to my belly as I turn for him, focusing on my breathing rather than what Jaxon’s next move might be. I’m facing the fire, but my lids are pressed tightly together.

  “I still can’t believe you’re really here.” He blows out a breath. “I thought I’d go crazy never getting to touch you again. So many nights I’d lay awake thinking about those tiny earthquakes your body would make.” A gentle pressure floats along my skin, the pads of his fingers dragging up the sides of my legs. I can barely breathe. “And the other day at the falls,” he rasps, “I wanted to feel you again. I wanted to feel you tighten around my fingers until you had no choice but to erupt.” A palm wraps a section of my ass and squeezes hard, dragging a moan up his throat. “I wanted to sit you on my cock and sink inside you so deep your cries would carry into town.”

  My knees tremble. I look over my shoulder, my lids feeling heavy with want. It’s like he’s drugged me with his words. But as doped up as I am, his eyes still pin mine in place.

  “I need to touch you, Aurora. Do you understand?” His words are so desperate I almost fall to my knees.

  Instead, I swallow and respond with a step backward. His legs widen for me, fitting me there so the backs of my calves hit the front of the couch. I have to press my knees together to keep them from shaking.

  My next inhale is sharp as Jaxon’s cool lips find the plump skin of my ass where he just squeezed. He swipes his tongue over the pressure, kisses it, then bites down. I moan at the feel of my skin between his teeth, his hot breath washing over me. It stings for a second—the good kind of sting. The kind that makes me want his teeth on every inch of my skin.

  He curses again before squeezing my other cheek with his free hand. “Sit,” his raspy voice demands.

  I swallow and bend my knees, letting him guide me onto his eager lap. He’s so hard beneath me, strained against his red briefs as he leans back on the couch, pulling me with him.

  “You’re making me crazy, Waterfall Eyes,” he murmurs into my back before dropping soft kisses from my neck to mid-spine. Then he sighs, like he knows he should stop himself, and adjusts my positioning so that my legs fall over his and I’m pr
essed into the corner of the couch. I look up at him curiously.

  He seems to be focused on something, deep in his thoughts as he watches the lick of the flames in front of us. The firelight whips shadows against the wall as the seductive smell of ash and burning wood scent the air. Jaxon’s hand travels over my thighs and stomach, his touch light against my hot skin.

  I try to breathe evenly.

  I try to relax.

  I try not to think of where I want him to put his hands.

  He’s obviously got something on his mind.

  “Can I ask you something?” His voice awakens the silence, his tone husky with fatigue. “It won’t change anything. I just thought I’d ask. You know about Val, but I haven’t asked you about…you know. You said you’ve dated, but…”

  My brows bunch together, hating that with every reminder of Scott, guilt comes along for the ride. “There’s been no one else. Not in that way.”

  “Okay,” he says with a squeeze of my thigh. “I don’t need any other details. I was just curious.”

  I smile and let my head fall to his shoulder. “If it helps, I can’t imagine another man’s hands touching me.” My eyes flicker to his lips. “Or another mouth kissing me.”

  He returns my smile as his fingertips tilt my chin to align our mouths. “That’s really good to hear since I can’t stop touching you.” His fingers begin to trace circles around my navel.

  Desire stretches through me, hitting every nerve, burning every surface. “Never stop touching me, Jaxon. Never again.”

  His eyes blaze before he leans in, pausing only a second before covering my mouth with his. Blood rushes through my veins like a wild river, causing my mind to swirl in a fog of endless bliss.

  Jaxon’s always been so gentle with me, like I’m fragile glass swept up in his hurricane— but instead of destroying me, he takes me along for the ride. He’s needy in the way he touches me, testing his limits with soft kisses and vocal warnings about what he wants to do to me next.

  His hand slides down from my navel, teasing the fabric of my panties before slipping his hand beneath them. My core aches, yearning for what was so rudely taken from us the other day at Hollow Falls. Nothing is stopping us now.

  The fire crackles in the background as my head falls back and Jaxon’s lips move to my neck. My skin burns hot beneath his kisses, his fingers still on the descent, brushing over my body like a paintbrush on canvas. And then he’s there at my core, sweeping a finger down the center of my lace, slipping between my slick skin and teasing the magical bundle of nerves that reaches every part of me.

  His mouth moves back to mine, swallowing my surprise as he pushes a finger inside me. I gasp at the fullness, breaking our lip-lock.

  “How’s that, babe? Good?” he rasps with eyes half-closed.

  My hands move to his curls in response, grasping handfuls and tugging him deeper into another kiss. More, my hands say. Deeper, my tongue begs.

  He manages to pull me onto his lap, his chest pressed to my back as he spreads me wider, his heels hooking onto my ankles. I let my head fall onto his shoulder, trying to focus on my breathing while his fingers continue to fill me like it’s his job. His other hand grips my waist, rocking me against his stiff lap until every part of me is sparking, hot and alive.

  We’re sticks and friction, wind and smoke, and we fight our way to each other to feel what once was ours. I feel greedy nips and kisses on my shoulder and upper arm as he angles me back to curl his finger even deeper. Again and again, his pushes inside me like he knows I’m close and he’s taking his time on purpose.

  I relax against him, submitting to his touch, and that’s when I feel the very first catch of the fire.

  “Jax,” I warn, my voice begging him for more. And he gives it to me.

  His free hand moves to my breast, gripping it for leverage as he pumps against me while quickening his hand’s movements. I arch and release my back, filling his palm with more of my chest while he stretches me with a second finger. I rub wildly against him, letting the fire build around us, just waiting to be doused in gasoline. I climb higher and higher with each lick of the flame until I’m finally exploding, shooting off wild and hot sparks, becoming featherlight as I continue to ride out my release on Jaxon’s hand.

  Finally, the smoke clears, and Jaxon’s finger slips from me. He moves me to my back, lying beside me on the couch and pressing his lips to mine in a long, lingering, shaky kiss. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one affected by what we just did. Our breaths are as wild as the fire he just put out in me, and I feel his hard length pressed into my stomach.

  “Stay the night.” My invite probably wasn’t needed, but I can tell Jaxon appreciates it when he nods into my mouth and smiles.

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  His mouth moves to my neck, and I giggle when I feel the scratch of his beard against my sensitive skin. “What’s so funny?” He nuzzles into my neck again, causing another fit of giggles to erupt.

  “Your beard. I kind of love it.”

  “Kind of?”

  I laugh again. “Kind of a lot.”

  He chuckles and nuzzles into me again. “Wait until you feel it between your thighs.”

  I smile as he lifts me from the couch. It’s one single movement of strength and agility that makes me wonder how much time Jaxon spends working out. He was always strong, fit, and tall, but time has worked well for him.

  He sets me down at the base of the ladder, never taking his lips from mine. He’s still kissing me as I take the first step but releases me when I continue to climb toward the bedroom. “You’re beautiful, Aurora June.”

  I smile over my shoulder. “There’s a better view from up here.”

  He wastes no time climbing the ladder and moving me to the bed, lowering his body on top of mine. I crawl backwards as he follows in a short chase of cat and mouse. When my head is close to the window that acts as my headboard, he dips down to kiss me long and hard.

  We’re breathless when he sits up, his eyes scrolling over my body. “You’re right. It’s a much better view from up here.”

  I bite my bottom lip, taking Jaxon in too. He’s so hard, and based on the way he grips his length through his briefs, I imagine it’s becoming painful. And then his expression changes, and he groans, this time in frustration. “Please tell me you’re on birth control.”

  I swallow and nod. “You don’t have—?”

  He shakes his head, eyes still shut. “I wasn’t expecting anything to happen, and I came straight here from the show. I just wanted to see you and make sure everything was okay. I haven’t been with anyone in months, and I’m clean. But we can wait.”

  My heart melts. Seriously, I feel my insides turn to mush. I sit up on my knees so I’m eye level with him. “Jax, it’s okay.”

  “Are you sure? I’ve never forgiven myself for going in raw with you that one time. We got lucky, but it was stupid. So fucking stupid. I was selfish with you. I’ve always been selfish with you.”

  I let out a laugh, not because it’s funny, but because Jaxon’s version of what happened back then is completely different from how I remember it. “Jax, stop. We made that stupid decision together.”

  When he relaxes again, I smile and lean forward, pressing my lips to his. “Jax, I trust you. Will you please fuck me senseless? I’ve only been waiting seven years for this.”

  His lip curls before he presses his mouth to mine. “Since you asked so crudely. Your wish is my command.”

  I’ve imagined taking Aurora so many different ways, and fucking her senseless—her term, not mine—is definitely on that list. But now that we’re here, alone in her room, and she’s wearing nothing but scraps of lace and the most beautiful smile, I think I’ll feast on her slowly. Seven years is a long time. She deserves every bit of attention I gave her the first time, maybe even more.

  The music is still flowing from downstairs, the fire still lit and crackling. Aurora’s room
is too bright, so I turn on the lamp beside her bed and switch off the overhead light. She’s sitting in the middle of the bed, her legs bent and palms pressed into the mattress. She’s watching me set the mood with that shy but eager gaze I love so much.

  I step to the edge of the bed, reach for her ankles, and slide her to me in one swift pull so her legs are on either side of mine. She sits up as I sink to my knees and stare up at her with every bit as much adoration as I feel.

  My Aurora. No distractions. Just us.

  My palms cup her cheek as her lips part for me. It doesn’t matter that we’ve been apart for years. Everything feels so natural when I’m with her. For the first time in years, I feel like my accomplishments mean something more than financial and professional success. I’m proud to show off who I am to Aurora. I still feel like she’s to thank for all of it.

  I pull her bottom lip between mine and suck until I hear one of those tiny moans fly from her throat. She can’t hide the way she feels when we’re intimate like this. Everything is a pant, a moan, a sigh, a scream. I fucking love every single sound, and I’ve barely even touched her since we’ve gotten upstairs.

  “Jaxon, please,” she whispers against my mouth, her hand snaking down to feel me, hard and so ready to give her what she wants. I want to tell her how much agony I’m in. How my cock, hard as stone, strains and fights against my briefs. I know she feels it as she squeezes me with her small fingers, her grasp firm and demanding as she strokes me.

  “In time, beautiful.” My hand stops hers mid-stroke. “There’s something I want to do first.”

  With a gentle push, my hands splayed on her stomach, I press her into the mattress and pin her arms over her head with mine. “Don’t move these.” She nods, eyes wide, and I reward her with a chaste kiss before sinking back to my knees and grazing her body with my fingertips on the way down. I stop at her panties and brush a thumb against her center. She’s still wet, her lace panties completely soaked. My cock flinches at the memory of her wrapped around my finger, hot and so fucking tight. I’ll explode as soon as I enter her, I know it, especially if I’m bare. All the more reason to take my time now.