I sat up and stretched. I noted the usual twinge that always followed my movement was absent. I peered down at her. “For falling asleep on you. Some romantic evening you’ve had.”
She lifted a shoulder, dismissing my words. She snapped her Kindle closed. “Frankly, Van, it’s been one of the nicest evenings I’ve had in a long time.”
“You prefer my company when I’m unconscious?”
She laughed. “I’m thrilled I was able to give you enough relief from your pain so you were able to sleep a little.”
“Leaving you bored and alone.”
“Nope. Leaving me pleased and with time on my hands—a rare occurrence for me. I helped myself to another glass of wine, turned on your fireplace, and read. I can’t remember the last time I was able to do that for more than five minutes. Usually by the time I get Sammy settled, get ready for the next day, finish whatever work is waiting, and go to bed, I’m too tired to read. And it’s one of my favorite things to do.”
“Why didn’t you at least sit on a chair? Why are you on the floor?”
Her smile was shy. “I liked sitting beside you and reading. Being close. But I would love to curl up in one of those chairs one day and enjoy this lovely room.”
Bending low, I captured her mouth with mine. I kissed her sweetly—long and slow. It was a kiss of thanks, for what she did for me, her words, and for being her.
“You can be here anytime you want. I would love to see you in one of those chairs, relaxing.”
“How is your neck?”
I kissed her again. “It feels great.”
“Really?”
“Liv, I have never fallen asleep during a massage. Usually, I can hardly wait to get off the table. Your hands are magic.” I rolled my shoulders, my muscles loose and flexible. “Seriously, magic.”
She chuckled, her eyes dancing in the firelight. “Do you remember what you said the other day—at the cabin?”
I ran my hand over her head. “I said a lot of things, Livvy. Which one in particular?”
“You said making me look messy meant you did your job well. So you feeling better means I did my job well too.”
I cupped her chin, stroking her bottom lip with my thumb. “Very well. I have to figure out a way to say thank you. Maybe show you how great I feel right now.”
“Oh,” she breathed.
I lowered my face to hers, ghosting my lips over hers. “Would you like that, Liv? Show you the fruits of your labors?”
She rose up on her knees, pressing her mouth to mine. She flicked her tongue on my bottom lip, and our mouths melded, her tongue stroking along mine. With a low groan, I bent, picking her up, and standing. She wrapped her legs around my waist, our lips never separating as I carried her upstairs. I laid her on my bed, hovering over her. Our eyes locked and held.
“I’ve been wanting to have you in my bed for a long time now, Liv.”
She played with the ends of my hair, her expression gentle. “You have me now, Van.”
She made me feel so many things all at once. Passion, desire, and longing. The need to be as close to her as I could get. Claim her as my own. Yet, right now, there was another emotion weaving its way through my heart.
The sheer wonder of all she was. Warm, giving, patient, and sweet. And looking at me with the same growing passion I was feeling.
I slid my hand under her shirt, tugging it over her head. The action spread her hair around her head, the golden color a bright contrast to the dark sheets. She lifted her hips, pulling away her leggings. Pretty pink lingerie met my gaze. I traced the lace along the edge of the bra and trailed my finger down to her hips, fingering the tiny bows. “These are nice.”
“I bought them today—for you.”
“Hmm,” I hummed, pulling on one bow, then another. “Very pretty.” The scraps of lace and silk fell away. “Nothing is as pretty as your pussy, though.” I ran my finger along the edge of her, smiling as her breathing hitched and her legs opened for me. I dipped my finger inside, feeling the heat and wetness waiting for me.
“I love how ready you are, baby.”
“I want you,” she whispered. “I’ve been thinking about you all day, Van. Please.”
“I want to take my time.” I met her pleading gaze. “You’re going to come on my hand first. My mouth next. Then I’ll use my cock.”
She grew wetter with my words.
“You like that, Liv? Hearing how often I’m going to make you come?”
She whimpered, arching her back to get closer to my fingers. I slid one inside, then added another, pushing into her slowly. She cried out, fisting the sheets.
“More,” she begged.
I pressed her clit with my thumb, rubbing circles around the bundle of nerves. I captured her nipple in my mouth, sucking and licking, alternating sides. Her hips moved in time with my hand, and she clutched my hair, calling out my name as she shattered. I slowed down, drawing out her orgasm, and before she had finished, I buried my face between her legs, licking and teasing at her sensitive flesh, tasting her climax and driving her toward the next one. She gasped, begging me, God, and anyone else who would listen, for mercy.
I showed her none.
I worked her with my mouth and fingers. As she pleaded, I slipped one finger down to her ass, pressing against the puckered knot, sliding in, and adding another pleasure point. Her entire body seized, and she flailed, screaming out her release.
I drove myself inside her. Deep and hard. Bracing my hands on the headboard I rode her, our bodies slamming together with an intensity so ferocious, the bed creaked and shook. Liv’s heels dug into my ass, pulling me in tight. She gripped at my shoulders, her nails piercing my sweat-soaked skin. I crashed my mouth to hers, lost in the vortex of passion we had created. Ripples of pleasure racked my body. My balls tightened and my cock swelled, the heat and feel of her too much.
I roared my release, pumping deep into her body. She stiffened, her arms clutching me close as she moaned my name. I wrapped my arms around her and rolled, dragging her up onto my chest. For long moments, there was nothing but the sound of our hard breathing and the feel of her on top of me.
She lifted her head, her sleepy eyes content and warm.
“That was something.”
I chuckled. “Good something? Bad something?”
“Very good. Very, very good.”
“Then once again, my job is done.”
She grinned. “I bet it is. I’m sure I look thoroughly fucked.” She wiggled a little. “I certainly feel it.”
I captured her face in my hands. “You are amazing.”
She sighed and snuggled down onto my chest. She felt so right pressed against me. “We’re amazing together.”
I pressed a kiss to her head. “Yeah, we are.” I stroked the hair that tumbled down her back.
“Go to sleep, Liv.”
I chuckled at the soft snores.
She was already out.
Van
Liv was a warm weight on my chest all night. She slept with her face buried into the crook of my neck, her breath little puffs of air on my skin. Completely draped over me, she brushed her toes over my calves, reminding me of the difference in our size. Her small stature belied the inner strength she possessed. I loved her independence, but even more, I loved when she allowed herself to be vulnerable with me. I knew it was a side of herself she showed to few people.
The sky began to brighten, darkness giving away to diffused light when she woke, her body shifting. She lifted her head, sleepy and beautiful, already smiling.
“Hi,” she rasped, her voice thick with sleep.
Keeping one arm around her, I ran my finger down her cheek. “Hey, Livvy.”
She snuggled closer, burying her face beside mine on the pillow. Her voice was muffled when she spoke. “I fell asleep on you.”
“Yes, you did. I liked you sleeping on me.”
“Did I, um, drool?”
I chuckled. “It was the best part.”
&nbs
p; She slapped my shoulder. “Stop it. Did I really?”
I kissed her forehead. “No.”
“Okay.”
She moved and I tightened my grip. “What are you doing?”
“You must be uncomfortable.”
I refused to let her move. “Nope.”
“Van, let me go.”
“Never,” I growled playfully.
“You’re impossible.”
Her silky skin slid against my chest. Despite our size difference, she was aligned perfectly with my body, her curves fitting to mine effortlessly. I trailed my hand down her back, cupping the swell of her ass. My dick was on board with the way she felt molded into me, and he enlarged in anticipation. Liv lifted one eyebrow, a sexy smirk crossing her face.
“Someone else is up.”
I groaned as she slid her hand between us, her fingers teasing the head of my cock. I grew harder, desire overtaking the teasing from minutes ago. Liv pressed against my chest, and I released my grip on her. She pushed up, settling on my hips, the warmth of her core covering my cock. I bucked up, my need beginning to overtake all my other senses. I gripped her hips as she slid along my thighs.
“You want me, Van?”
“Yeah, baby.”
“Like this?” she teased, lifting one leg, letting my cock slide against her wetness.
“Fuck, yes. Give me more.”
She shifted, taking the head of me inside her. I hissed at the sensation.
“More, Van? Tell me,” she demanded. “Tell me exactly what you want.”
I loved the bossy tone. The way she teased me. How my dick felt wrapped inside her. How much deeper it wanted to go.
I met her gaze. The golden color shone in the dim light, her passion glinting and growing.
“I want to be deep inside that tight pussy of yours,” I informed her in a low voice. “I want you to ride me and come all over my cock.”
Bracing herself, she slid down another couple of inches, holding herself over me. I pressed my head into the pillow, my back arching in anticipation of what was to come next.
“Jesus, Liv. I love how you feel around my cock. You are so fucking tight.” I groaned. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
She bent low, her mouth hovering over mine. She uttered the dirtiest words I swore I had ever heard.
“Then use that huge cock of yours and loosen me up, Van.”
She sat up, engulfing me. I shouted in eagerness as she began to move. She rocked slowly, bending back and gripping my thighs. I let her set the pace, her sounds of bliss spurring me toward my release.
She began to move faster, her breath coming out in quick spurts. The grip she had on my thighs tightened. Her back arched, her hair sweeping against my skin. She moaned my name, her pussy contracting around me. With a roar, I sat up, pushing her onto her back and lifting her leg over my shoulder. Mindlessly, I drove into her, not able to be close enough, deep enough, to satisfy me. She clawed at my back, crying out and spasming around me. The feel of her—her tight center, the way her body was wrapped around mine, the smoothness of her skin sliding along me, and her sounds tipped me over the edge and I came. Hard. Deep. Cursing and shouting her name, lost in the vortex of ecstasy racing through my body.
I gathered her into my arms and collapsed back onto the mattress.
“Holy fuck, Liv. What you do to me.”
She hummed. “Yeah, I get that.”
“I lose control with you. I can’t even begin to describe what happens once we start with each other.” I kissed the crown of her head. “I have never experienced that with anyone else. Ever.”
She peeked up, her expression filled with doubt. “Really?”
I slid a finger under her chin. “Really. Making love to you is unlike anything I have ever done before now.”
“Is that what we do? Make love?”
Frowning, I rolled over, so she was under me. I pushed the tangled hair away from her face. “Every. Time. Rough, fast, slow, sweet. Every time I’m with you, Liv.”
“It’s not just fucking, then?”
“There is definitely fucking, but even then, I’m loving you, Liv. Always.” I sucked in a much-needed breath. “Because I’m falling in love with you, and I’m showing you with my body. I need you to know that. Above all else, this means everything to me.”
Her eyes—her beautiful, unique eyes—grew round. Her expression changed from worried and doubtful to happy. Joyful, in fact.
“Me too, Van. I feel so much for you and it should scare me because it’s so sudden, but it doesn’t. It feels so right. We feel so right.”
I traced her mouth with my finger. “It’s not sudden, Liv. I think we’ve been falling in love the whole time we’ve known each other. It’s simply taken us a while to get to this point.”
She kissed the end of my finger. “I think you’re right.” She played with the ends of my hair, her touch gentle. “You make me feel so special. I feel safe when I’m with you.”
“You are safe. I will never let anything happen to you. You or Mouse. You both mean too much to me.”
“I love the way you are with my daughter. She adores you.”
“The feeling is mutual. There is nothing I wouldn’t do for either of you.”
“Do you know how rare you are?” she asked, her voice filled with wonder. “So many men would never be able to love another man’s child.”
“She is a part of you, Liv. In fact, to me, she is only yours. I see all your goodness in her. Your spirit—your loving heart. She’s as easy to love as her mother.”
She wrapped her arms around me, pulling me down to her chest. She sighed, the sound long and shaky.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
I kissed her shoulder.
“I’ve got you, Livvy. Both of you.”
* * *
The weekend went by too quickly. Before I knew it, we were picking up Sammy at Elly’s place Sunday afternoon.
Mouse was excited to see both of us and clung to my hand when I lifted her into the back seat.
“You aren’t going home right now, are you, Mr. Van?”
I tapped her on the nose. “I am, Mouse, but guess what?”
“What?”
“You and your mom are coming with me. I need to hear all about your weekend with Grammie, and I’m going to barbeque dinner for my two favorite girls.”
Her eyes grew round. “Are we having hot dogs? I love hot dogs.”
I chuckled, listening to her excitement and Liv’s groan. “Hot dogs for sure. But you have to eat all your veggies, okay?”
She pursed her lips. “Are you gonna make your ranch sauce? Because I’ll eat them all with that.”
I laughed and kissed her head. She was far too cute and clever.
“Yep. The ranch is already chilling.”
“Okay!”
I shut the door and turned to Liv. “All buckled in, Livvy?”
“Dinner?” she asked quietly. I hadn’t asked her about dinner, but I hoped she was okay with my plans.
I leaned forward on the pretext of checking her seat belt. I brushed my lips over her cheek. “I’m not ready to give you up yet. You okay with that?”
Color spread across her cheeks, but her grin was teasing. “Well, as long as there’s ranch…”
I shut the door, laughing again. They were both going to kill me—in the very best way.
* * *
Mouse’s reaction to my house was nothing short of exuberant. She dashed from room to room, offering a nonstop dialogue on some improvements. Namely, more pink and some glitter.
Everywhere.
Her favorite room was the space I had always planned as an office but never really got around to completing, so it sat empty except for a few boxes. It overlooked the backyard, and the huge maple tree that stood by the house. The bay window offered a great vantage point, and Sammy climbed up onto the hard, wooden seat, informing me she would like a cushion there next time, so she could play in the window.
/> “Sammy,” Liv admonished her. “Where are your manners? You can’t demand things like that. You don’t know if Van will invite us back again.”
Sammy looked at her mother as if she was crazy. “He will, Mommy. He likes us a lot. I know this. I saw him kiss you earlier. You told me that’s what adults do when they like someone,” she protested. “And if he made me a bookshelf, I bet he can make a cushion.”
Liv stiffened as I laughed at Sammy’s logic and Liv’s reaction to the kissing statement.
“Well, I can’t Mouse. But I bet if I asked my mom, she could make you one. She loves to sew things.”
She jumped off the window seat. “Can you phone her and ask?”
“Samantha Rourke!” Liv gasped.
I wrapped my arms around Liv’s waist and tugged her back. “I met your mom,” I murmured into her ear. “Only fair you meet mine.”
She glanced up. “I wish you wouldn’t encourage this behavior. This isn’t like her at all.”
I knew Sammy was watching us. Purposely, I leaned down and kissed Liv. Full on the mouth—a lingering, sweet kiss. Lifting my head, I met Sammy’s pleased gaze. “I do like your mom, Mouse. I like you too. In fact, I think I’m going to be around a lot—what do you think about that?”
She didn’t look surprised, instead, settling down on the wood seat and crossing her arms. “I’m good.”
“Okay, let’s call my mom about the cushion.”
* * *
The call turned into a visit. My mom showed up a short time later, arms filled with material and her inquiring mother face firmly in place.
I introduced them, watching my mom’s reaction closely.
“Mom, this is Liv and Sammy. Liv, this is my mom.”
“Mrs. Morrison, it’s so nice to meet you.” Liv held out her hand.
My mom brushed it off, pulling her in for a hug. “Nonsense. It’s Lila.” She lowered herself to Sammy. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Sammy.”
Sammy grinned at her. “Mr. Van calls me Mouse. Are you really his mom? He’s so big! How did you carry him when he was my age?”
Vested Interest Box Set Books 4-7 Page 41
