Still carrying her, he strode into her bedroom.
As he lowered her to the bed, Trent knelt down between her thighs, pausing to run his fingers through her hair.
“Tell me if you need me to stop.” His eyes were searching hers, looking for permission to continue. He was devouring her with just a look. Unable to put words to the myriad of feelings consuming her, Harper just nodded.
Trent’s fingers slid gently under the hem of her dress. He licked and kissed his way from her collarbone to the back of her ear. Harper shivered as sensations began to overwhelm her senses.
“It drives me crazy, the way you melt against me, Harper. There are so many things I want to do with you that I don’t know where to start.”
Pulling back from her, he lifted her dress the rest of the way up her thighs and over her head at a painfully slow pace. Kneeling back on his heels, he studied her. A slow, languorous perusal of her body.
Glad she had invested in some new underwear (thank you, Victoria’s Secret), Harper resisted the urge to crumble under his scrutiny and watched as his eyes roamed her body. The way his pupils flared as he studied her black lace bra and thong made it worth the tips she’d spent on them.
“I am seriously one lucky man tonight,” Trent whispered reverently. Her skin broke out in goose bumps as his hands slid up the side of her rib cage, strong thumbs brushing her nipples through the soft, delicate lace of her bra.
“I think I might be the lucky one,” she responded, kissing the side of his jaw.
Harper tried to contain her gasp as he reached around her back and undid the clasp. She felt her blood starting to burn as he leaned forward, licking the top of her breast. Warm fingertips slid the silky straps of her bra down her arms, removing it completely.
She reached up and grabbed the back of his hair, pulling him closer to her as his tongue traced a circle around her nipple before pulling it deep into his mouth, sucking gently.
Harper groaned. He was tonguing her nipple against the roof of his mouth, each stroke driving her mad. She was growing damp with need.
With fumbling fingers, she pulled his shirt out of the back of his jeans and started to undo the buttons. She needed to feel his skin against hers more desperately than her next breath.
His mouth returned to hers, his tongue gliding in and out in a slow excruciating rhythm. As she finished with the buttons, Trent stood and pushed her to the bed. She watched, biting her lip as he pulled his shirt off and started opening his belt.
God had surely never created a hotter-looking man. His abs were throwing shadows in the candlelight as his biceps flexed, pushing his shirt down his beautiful tattooed arms.
“See something you like, Harper?” he said, smiling at her softly. She flushed with embarrassment. He’d caught her practically drooling.
Pushing her shoulders to lower her down farther, he crawled over her, kissing her deeply. His hand reached between them, moving slowly between the valley of her naked breasts, drawing soft circles around her belly button before sliding his hands inside her underwear.
As his fingers reverently stroked her most sensitive parts, a moan escaped her. “Trent.”
“Christ, you’re already so wet for me, Harper. I had great plans for this lasting all night, but I’m not sure how long I can wait to be inside you, darlin’.”
Lifting off her, Trent returned to stand at the foot of the bed to slide her panties down her legs.
Harper was suddenly very aware that she was very naked and Trent wasn’t. Sitting up, she pulled him to her by his belt loops. Oh Lord. He was so aroused.
Leaning forward, she kissed his length through the denim. Hearing Trent groan deep in his chest was the only aphrodisiac she needed.
Undoing his zipper, she lowered his jeans and boxer briefs.
Trent stepped out of his clothes and, kneeling before her, pushed her thighs open.
“You’re glistening, Harper.” His tongue licked straight up her center, making her lift off the bed in pleasure. “Oh darlin’. You taste just as good as I thought you would.”
Trent’s tongue was doing insane things to her clit, licking around it without touching it, then sucking it hard into his mouth. The sensation on her sensitive nub scorched through her.
“Harder, Trent, I’m so close,” she managed to groan. Unable to hold her head any longer, it fell back onto the pillow.
Just when Harper thought she would die from all the sensations she was feeling, Trent slid one finger inside, quickly followed by a second.
“I got you, sweetheart … just let go.”
Lights exploded behind her eyes as an orgasm blasted through her. She rode the intense waves. “Trent,” she screamed as pulse after pulse of pleasure coursed through her veins.
* * *
Harper coming apart in his arms and in his mouth was the hottest thing Trent had ever experienced. He knew he was close, but he wanted the moment to go on and on.
Shifting farther onto the bed, he lifted Harper and moved her closer to the headboard.
Her eyes were still closed as the last of her orgasm shivered through her.
“Look at me, Harper. I want to see you the first time I slide into you, sweetheart.”
He swiftly pulled on the condom and settled himself between her thighs. Pushing her thigh back with his arm, he rubbed himself along her wet entrance.
“Come on, darlin’, don’t hide from me now.” He needed her to know whom she was with. That she was safe with him, that he’d protect her.
She was dripping for him and while it was killing him to not just thrust into her warmth, he wanted her prepared for him emotionally as well as physically.
Harper was writhing against him. “Now, please, Trent.”
“What do you need, sweetheart?” he asked softly, continuing the steady slide against her outer lips.
“I need…” Her eyes widened as she let out another soft moan. Christ, that sound alone was going to make him explode before he’d even sunk in an inch.
“Tell me,” he insisted, needing to hear her say it. Needing to know that this was okay for her. Needing to know she knew it was him.
“I need you in me. Now, Trent.” Relief coursed through him as he heard his name and felt the sting of her nails in his ass, trying to pull him deep inside her.
With his next thrust, he slid in, groaning at the erotic sensation of Harper clenching around him.
“Look at me, Harper. I need to see you.” Her hooded eyes opened as he withdrew until only the tip of his head remained before pushing deeper inside her.
Harper’s eyes were darker than he had ever seen them, swimming with passion and wide open as he withdrew and pushed himself back to the hilt.
Trent paused, balls deep into Harper and embraced the raw feeling of possession. It really had been a long time for her. She was so tight around him, there was no way this was going to last. It felt too fucking good.
He could feel her fingers digging into his skin, grasping for purchase as she encouraged him to take her. The burning need to pound deeper and deeper until Harper let go, coursed through him.
Harper moaned and he felt her clenching around him, tightening the already narrow channel until he feared for his own sanity. Losing himself in the strength of Harper’s release, he found his own surging its way out of him with explosive force.
Unable to hold his own weight a moment longer, he collapsed, his head pressed tightly against Harper’s shoulder.
Holy shit. If that wasn’t the most perfect moment of his life, he didn’t know what was. Trent’s heart was still pounding out of his chest as he continued to twitch deep inside Harper. He savored the sensation of finally being exactly where he wanted to be.
“I totally intend to move off you when I get some feeling back in my legs,” he mumbled into the pillow.
“No rush,” Harper responded sleepily.
Trent’s muscles twitched as he lifted onto his forearms and looked down at her. Her skin was flushed from their lovemaking and her eye
s were heavy lidded, a very satisfied look reflecting back at him. Her lips were swollen from the intensity of their kisses. And she had a serious case of bed head. All in all, she looked like a woman who was very satisfied.
“That was amazing, sweetheart,” he said, leaning down to take advantage of those soft lips one more time.
Her fingers were stroking up and down his spine as she spoke. “I’m not sure I can find the right words…”
As much as he didn’t want to move, he had the condom to deal with. Grabbing her hips with both hands, he slowly pushed deep inside her one last time with a groan before withdrawing. Feeling her tighten, he watched her pupils flare and a saw a slow smile cross her face.
When he got back to the bed, Harper was sitting up, holding the sheet across her breasts.
“You can hide them, but I still know you are naked under there.” He reached for the sheet at the corner of the bed and tugged hard, eliciting a squeal from Harper as she tried to keep herself modestly covered.
“STOP IT!” She laughed as the blanket eventually fell to the floor.
“Oh no, I have waited way too long to enjoy your hidden pleasures,” he said, diving onto the bed next to her and rolling her onto her back for a slow, languorous kiss.
Running his fingers along the curves of her side, Trent let out a self-satisfied moan.
In his imaginings about how the night would go, it had always ended up in bed, but the reality of their lovemaking way exceeded his dreams.
He rolled onto his back, insanely happy when she curled against him, laying her head on his shoulder.
“Was that really okay for you?” she asked shyly, burying her head farther against his neck.
“You couldn’t tell?”
Harper was silent for a few moments. “I don’t have that much experience. My ex, he … he told me … well, I’ve been told I was … that I wasn’t much … fun, I guess.”
A flicker of anger went through him. That fucker had done a real number on her self-confidence.
“It was better than perfect. You really are incredible, Harper.” He tightened his arm around her, using the other to stroke the smooth valley of skin between her waist and her hip.
They lay like that in comfortable silence for a while, watching lights move across the ceiling and the reflections from cars passing down the street.
Trent looked at her alarm clock, its red lights showing 9:30. Too early to go to bed, although he was really hoping to gear up for a replay.
Harper interrupted his thoughts. “Do you still want dessert?” she asked, propping herself up on one elbow. He looked at her in the half light. How the hell did he get this lucky? “It’ll only take about twenty minutes to cook,” she added with a smile.
“Mmm. How can I resist?” he asked, stretching his arms overhead. He could run out to get his bag from the car while she was cooking. After a quick refuel, he’d be ready to go again.
He watched Harper get out of bed naked and throw his shirt on. She turned with it still open. Fuck. He didn’t need twenty minutes. He was ready now.
* * *
Harper woke slowly, taking a mental inventory of her body. Yes, she was that delicious kind of sore that only came from mind-blowing sex.
Trent was spooned behind her, his strong arms wrapped around her, their colorful ink in contrast to her light skin. His hand was gently holding her breast as his erection pressed against her lower back.
Taking a moment to breathe deeply, she savored the security of feeling safe and cared for, a feeling she had been certain she would never experience again. How many people would wake up in this position and not realize how incredibly fortunate they were?
Last night had been everything she had hoped. After eating the sinfully rich, chocolate dessert, they had returned to bed, where Trent had made love with her once more before they had fallen asleep in each other’s arms.
He’d been gentle and attentive. Funny when she had needed it.
His chest rose slowly against her back as he breathed, its slow movement a delightful comfort.
Harper sighed. A small crack in the curtains let in a thin sliver of sunlight onto the opposite wall. She had no idea what time it was. The clock was on the other side of the bed.
His arms tightened around her waist and his thumb stroked across the tip of her nipple.
“Mmm,” he groaned, his body tightening as he stretched. “Morning.” God, his voice was all roughened from sleep, the sound sending shivers to her tummy.
“Hey,” she replied gently, wiggling against him.
She could feel a smile forming on his lips as he pressed them into the curve of her neck leaving a trail of soft kisses from behind her ear to her shoulder.
Harper sighed as his hand took a leisurely trail down her stomach, settling over her mound.
Trent slid his upper leg between hers and lowered his fingers over her clit. His groan reverberated through her spine. Dipping the tip of his finger into her wetness, he withdrew and lazily circled her sensitive nub.
Harper gasped, vibrating with need as he stimulated her. Every time his finger brushed her clit, small sparks lit off inside her.
“Trent,” she called out, her orgasm starting to build. She needed more of his delicious friction to send her over the edge.
“Like this?” His voice was gravelly as his finger slid deep inside her, his palm brushing her clit as he pulled out again.
Oh, it felt so good. His fingers suddenly withdrew and she felt him start to move behind her.
“Stay right there, sweetheart.” She heard the telltale sound of a packet ripping and then felt the bed dip as he returned behind her.
They both groaned as Trent pushed his way inside her. He felt so huge in her sensitive channel as he slid in to the hilt.
Sliding his leg back between hers, Trent began to move at an exquisitely slow pace, pulling all the way out until only the tip of his head remained, then squeezing back until he was pushed hard up against her core.
Every nerve ending was on fire as he pumped into her.
“Oh my God, Trent.”
His hands roamed her body, stroking her breasts and grabbing her hips to pull her tight against him.
Trent’s breathing was changing, more frantic, punctuated by moans and soft murmurs as he picked up speed. “Oh … fuck … Harper,” he groaned.
His finger returned to her mound, teasing her until the full force of her orgasm was bearing down on her. White light blinded her as it ripped through her, stealing every coherent thought she had.
She shuddered as he pushed hard into her one last time, lost in his own release.
Chapter Fourteen
She should have tried being this happy with every customer months ago. Her tips were up considerably today. Biting her lip to hide yet another grin, Harper made a mental note to buy more chocolate sauce. She shivered as she poured a blended coffee into a clear plastic take-out cup.
Thoughts of Trent had ensured most of the day had passed quickly. When Drea arrived at two o’clock for the late shift, Harper was still grinning.
Standing next to Drea was a slightly older woman, her hands tightly clutching the shoulders of a young boy with curly brown hair who was dressed in a Florida Marlins shirt and shorts.
“Aunt Celine, this is Harper. Harper, this is my aunt Celine,” Drea said, gesturing between the pair.
Harper walked from behind the counter to join them near one of the empty tables. “Hi, Celine. I’m so pleased to meet you,” she said, shaking Celine’s hand.
“Thank you for agreeing to see us.” Celine’s voice was soft and calming.
Harper crouched down. “Well, you must be Milo. I’m very pleased to meet you. I like your jersey.”
“My momma got it for me for my birthday,” he replied, revealing a missing tooth.
Drea held out her hand toward him. “You wanna come get some ice cream with me?” Milo nodded enthusiastically and Drea led him toward the counter.
Harper stood a
nd smiled at Celine. “Please, sit,” she said, extending her arm toward a table.
Celine’s hazel eyes welled with tears. “We’re at a loss, Harper. He’s so far behind and it took us ages to convince anyone that something was wrong. I just don’t know where to begin.”
Harper grasped Celine’s hand across the tabletop. Finding out your child was going to struggle through school was as big an adjustment for parents as it was for the child. Learning disabilities, ADHD, behavioral problems. All could be assisted or managed, but while it was true that there were many great teachers and resources, it never seemed to be enough.
“Well, let’s break it down together and see what you need. We’ll separate home and school. The most important thing to remember is that while dyslexia can’t be cured, proper instruction and processes can help alleviate some of the difficulties. First, let’s talk about what school support you’re entitled to.”
Harper collected the series of notes she had written during their conversation, and handed them to Celine who paged through them carefully.
The tight hunching of Celine’s shoulders relaxed and she let out a breath. “Thank you for doing this,” she said, placing the pages into her purse.
Harper hugged Milo and Celine good-bye, hopeful she’d given Celine some practical advice and emotional comfort.
“It means so much to them—and me—that you’re doing this,” Drea said, after a very happy Celine and a sugared-out Milo left.
“I’m happy to do it.”
Drea peered at her. “You do look happy—extra happy. Wow. So happy that if I didn’t know better, I might wonder if—”
“I had Trent over last night,” Harper said quickly.
“Over for dinner or ‘over’ over?” she asked suspiciously.
Harper grinned. “Over, over.”
“You did not!” Any higher and Drea’s squeal would have shattered glass. “Oh my God! Oh my God! You totally did.” Drea grabbed her hand, dragging her to the break room.
“Marco, cover the counter,” she yelled over her shoulder.
Standing there with her hands on her hips, her toe tapping furiously, Drea looked at Harper expectantly. “So give.”
The Strongest Steel Page 16
