by Opal Carew
“And you are so hard and thick.”
He tipped her head up and covered her mouth with his. It was a gentle kiss, but then his tongue pulsed into her mouth and she suckled it, trying to pull it deeper.
His cock twitched inside her and he tore his mouth away.
“Fuck, Ash, you’re going to end this too soon.” He stroked her cheek, his gaze solemn. “I want this to be perfect. For both of us.”
She gazed into his gleaming eyes. “It is perfect.”
He smiled. “No, I’ll show you perfect.”
He drew back, his hard cock stroking her on its journey out, then just as it seemed he would drop from her body, he surged forward again.
She clung to him. “Oh, yes.”
Then he drew back and glided deep again.
Pleasure washed through her, rippling along her nerve endings.
He drew her knee higher and pulsed into her again. She quivered at the feel of his iron-hard flesh filling her.
He filled her again. And again. His strokes became thrusts and she moaned at the building bliss.
He nibbled her neck, his lips playing over her sensitive flesh.
She moaned, feeling the building heat inside her. Knowing an orgasm was only a breath away.
“Are you close, baby?” he murmured against her ear, his soft breath almost enough to drive her over the edge.
“Oh, yes. Make me come.”
“Not yet.” He slowed his strokes, to her whimper. “Don’t come until I tell you.”
His cock slid deep, sending her dangerously close to the precipice.
But she would heed his command.
“Wrap your legs around me.”
As she opened her legs wider, his thick, hard cock burrowed deeper inside her and she groaned. She shuddered in his arms as he carried her across the apartment.
“Don’t come, baby,” he murmured against her ear, but the feel of his thick shaft jostling inside her as he walked made it almost impossible to obey his request.
Almost. But she gritted her teeth and breathed deeply.
Finally, he set her on her bed, then leaned her back.
He smiled, a devilish glint in his brown eyes. “You can barely hold it back,” he said with smug satisfaction in his voice. Then he nuzzled her ear, sending waves of sensation rippling through her. Every nerve ending was on alert, quivering with need.
“Don’t worry. I’ll make sure it’s worth it.”
Then he drew back and thrust forward. At the feel of his thick cock dragging along her inner passage, then driving deep again, she groaned, her body shuddering with need. Then he did it again.
She clung to him, her head rolling back on the bed, her eyelids closing as she lost herself in the heady sensations.
“Open your eyes, baby. I want to watch you when you come.”
Her eyelids flickered open and she found herself gazing into his intense dark chocolate eyes. Their gazes locked and she felt like they were bonded together. Body. Mind. And soul. She could no more look away than she could stop her heart from beating.
He thrust into her again and she shuddered. Pleasure blossomed inside her, deep in her core, then rippled across every nerve ending. His next thrust released the tightly coiled need inside her, and joy exploded inside her in an earth-shattering, mind-numbing orgasm.
He cupped her head and held her gaze. “Say my name.”
“Adam…” She moaned as the orgasm battered through her in a rush of pleasure. She clung to him, their gazes still locked together. “Oh, God, yes. Adam.”
At the sound of his name on a long moan, he groaned, then drove deep into her, pinning her to the bed with his body … and she felt it. His cock pulsed inside her, then hot liquid filled her, flooding her insides.
She held him tight as the two of them gasped for air.
“Oh, God, that was incredible.”
He chuckled. “And, baby, it’s not over yet.”
He slid down her body then to his knees beside the bed. Then he licked her, oblivious of their shared fluids dripping from her body and she trembled at the exquisite pleasure of his tongue dragging over her sensitive clit. She arched, her body sensitized and quivering at the edge of another orgasm. Then she felt it. A surge of pleasure from deep inside her rising, shuddering through her body, then blasting through her in a heated wave of blissful sensations. She clung to him as she seemed to shatter into a million pieces.
* * *
Ashley sipped her coffee as she stared at the Sunday crossword puzzle. Adam had spent all day Saturday with her … and Saturday night. He had taken her fast and hard against the wall, then later made tender, passionate love to her in bed. She smiled at the memory. Then they’d gone for a run this morning and he’d headed home.
She had all day Sunday to get a few chores done, then just relax and forget about everything stressful until she returned to work tomorrow.
Then she’d have to continue working on her article. The one Dare had been helping her with.
Unsettling feelings stirred inside her at thoughts of Dare. She sipped her steaming coffee again. She had started a relationship with Adam now. One she knew she’d be happy in. He was perfect for her.
Why then did thoughts of Dare still make her ache inside? She’d always known there was no future there. Even though she’d kidded herself for a while that maybe it could happen.
But that hope had been shattered by him. He’d never wanted any more from her than a few weeks of fucking. She was probably just an amusing distraction, but then she’d become inconvenient when Helen had shown up.
Bitter, spiteful Helen.
She was his ex-stepdaughter, and clearly he still thought of her as family and his responsibility.
Which was commendable, she had to admit.
Her buzzer sounded and she hopped up, wondering if it was Adam. Maybe he hadn’t been able to get enough of her and had come back to spend the afternoon. She grinned broadly. She was definitely up for some afternoon delight.
“Yes?” she said into the speaker.
“A delivery for Ms. Cane.”
A delivery? “I’m sorry, I’m not expecting anything,” she answered.
“Hey, lady, I have flowers here for you. Long-stemmed red roses.”
Adam had sent her flowers? She pushed the button, a smile spreading across her face.
She waited impatiently for the knock on the door. He seemed to take forever to arrive, but finally, as she peered out the peephole, she saw the man carrying a large arrangement of huge red roses in a tall vase, surrounded by cellophane. She pulled open the door and took the flowers from him.
“Oh, wait, I need to grab my purse.”
“The tip’s already taken care of. He said not to let you worry about that.” Then the guy turned and walked down the hall.
She pushed the door closed with her foot, holding the arrangement with both hands and breathing in the sweet fragrance. Baby’s breath and lacy greenery accented the flowers, all standing in a stunning crystal vase.
She carried it to the dining room table and pulled open the clear plastic. The flowers were exquisite, the tight red blossoms just beginning to open. She glanced around for a card but couldn’t find one.
A knock sounded at the door again. Had the delivery guy forgotten something? She walked to the door and opened it. Then her eyes widened at the sight of another delivery man with another vase of roses.
“There must be some mistake,” she said. “I already received some roses.”
The guy smiled. “No mistake, ma’am.”
She took the new vase of flowers and set it on the table beside the first one. Then there was another knock at the door. She opened it to the sight of yet another delivery man with flowers.
“Oh my God.” But she took them and set them on the coffee table.
At the next knock she was no longer surprised. She took the next vase and put them in her bedroom on the dresser.
There were several more deliveries, until she had ten
vases of flowers scattered around her small apartment. The place was filled with the delightful fragrance of the roses.
As she carried the latest vase to the kitchen, she realized this one had a card. She plucked the small pink envelope from the plastic holder, then opened it with a smile.
But as soon as she saw the inside of the card, her breath caught. The name at the bottom wasn’t Adam’s scrawled signature. The writing was bold and tightly controlled. And read, Dare.
She sank into the chair. The note said:
You are as beautiful as these flowers and far more precious. I never should have let you go.
Shock vaulted through her. Dare had changed his mind?
She stomped down her rising hope, not wanting to convince herself it was true only to find that he only meant these flowers as an apology for hurting her, or he was just trying to cheer her up because he felt guilty for ditching her.
Another knock sounded on her door. She walked to the entrance.
“Not more flowers,” she said as she opened the door. Then her heart leaped.
Dare stood in the hallway. His blue-and-white-striped shirt and lean jeans showcased his powerful frame and the musky scent of his cologne released unsettling memories of his body close to her in more intimate situations.
“May I come in?” His deep, sexy voice tugged at her emotions.
She wanted to hear her name on his lips. To have him whisper it in her ear then nuzzle her neck.
She stepped aside to let him in, not trusting her voice.
“I see you got my flowers.” He smiled, and the charming gleam in his eye was almost her undoing.
She wanted to throw herself in his arms and tell him how much she wanted him. How much she loved him. But how could she admit that when she didn’t know if she believed it herself? Was her attraction to him just her need for a father figure? Didn’t that make her just like Helen? Couldn’t that have been part of the reason he broke up with her?
“What did you mean by the card?”
“I thought it was very clear.”
He stepped toward her and she had to stop herself from backing away. His hands came around her shoulders, gripping them firmly.
“I made a mistake. I don’t want to end what we had.”
“What about Helen?”
“I can’t let her dictate my life. She may have problems, and I’ll help her solve them, but that shouldn’t get in the way of my happiness.”
He drew her close and wrapped his arms around her, holding her close in a gentle embrace. “And you make me happy,” he murmured, then nuzzled her ear.
Delightful sensations rippled along her skin.
“I do?”
He gazed at her, a smile spreading across his face. “Yes, you do.” He tipped up her chin and brushed his lips against hers in a sweet, poignant kiss.
“My big mistake was thinking that we had to end this when my business is done here. That might be what you want, but I hope to find a way to convince you otherwise.”
“You thought that’s what I want?” She shook her head. “I thought that’s what you wanted.”
A chuckle rumbled from his chest and he smiled broadly. “So does that mean we can continue what we started?”
Her heart soared and she smiled so wide her cheeks hurt. “Yes.”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, her lips moving on his in a passionate, consuming kiss. Her tongue pushed into his mouth and she tasted cinnamon and coffee. His tongue tangled with hers, their bodies so tight she could feel his pounding heart. Or was that hers?
Then he swept her up in his arms and carried her to the couch. He set her down and glided the hem of her top upward. She sucked in a breath and grabbed his hand, stopping him.
Oh, God, how could she have forgotten about Adam?
“No, we can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I…” She bit her lip as she stared into his midnight blue eyes. “I’m involved with someone now.”
* * *
Dare frowned. “You started seeing someone else?”
She nodded.
“This would be the friend you were telling me about that you have feelings for.”
“That’s right.”
“Fuck, are you kidding me? We’ve only been apart a few days.”
“And he and I have been attracted for years.”
“Yet you’ve never done anything about this attraction before. So why now?”
She dragged her fingernail along the armrest of the couch, staring intently at the fabric. “Well, because of you. When I started seeing you, it made us realize that the barriers keeping us apart—the age difference, the fact that he’s my boss—don’t really matter.”
Wait a minute. He was her boss? She was involved with Adam Rawlins?
Fuck, why did it have to be Adam?
* * *
Adam watched Ashley working studiously at her desk as he approached. He’d been dying to see her since he’d left her on Sunday morning. Wanting to hold her in his arms again. To feel her soft hair against his cheek. He wanted to taste her sweet mouth as he plundered her lips.
And he didn’t want to wait until this evening to do it.
“Ashley,” he said as he stood facing her desk.
She glanced up, startled. “Oh, Adam. Good morning.”
Her voice sounded strained and her gaze flickered away from his. Was she nervous about their relationship in the office? Maybe she was hoping they’d keep it quiet.
“I need to see you in my office,” he said, keeping his boss face on.
“Okay.” She stood up and followed him to his door.
Once inside, he turned. “Close the door.”
She closed it, then with a stern expression on his face, as if he’d called her in here to lecture her, he walked toward her. Slowly.
“I heard about something that happened this weekend.”
She gazed at him uncertainly. “You did?”
“That’s right. About you and a man.”
Her eyes widened. She shook her head. “I…”
God, she seemed nervous.
“You know, office romances can be tricky things.” He stopped in front of her and stroked her cheek. “But you and I have history, and a deep friendship. I know we’ll be fine. But if you want to keep it quiet for a while, then we can do that.”
“Is that what you want?”
“Hell, no. I’m happy to shout it from the rooftops.” He grinned. “We could put it on the front page of the magazine.”
He pulled her into his arms and kissed her, gliding his tongue deep into her mouth and stroking until he felt her melt against him. His hand slid to the small of her back and he pulled her tight to his hips, his cock already growing for her. Ready to slide inside her.
He spun her around and backed her to the wall, then pressed her to it. He continued to kiss her, her head pressed to the wall as he grabbed her wrists and drew them over her head, then pinned them there with one hand.
She seemed to struggle a bit against him and his cock twitched. The thought of her resisting him … of him having to subdue her … God, his cock hardened to a steel column. Role-playing with her was going to be fan-fucking-tastic.
He cupped her breast, then stroked down her body. He pivoted his hips against her so she could feel how hard he was, then he grabbed a handful of her flowing, floral skirt and drew it upward.
She shook her head, dislodging their lips.
“No, Adam. Please.”
He frowned as he saw the panic in her eyes.
“Sorry, Ash.” He released her skirt, but still held her hands and body in place, then grinned. “I just wanted to make good on my promise to dominate you in my office.”
Then he kissed her again, his lips persuasive on hers, and her stiff body relaxed. Then he glided his tongue into her mouth. Gently this time. Caressing.
She murmured and even arched a little against him. He could feel her nipples, like hard beads pushing throu
gh the fabric.
But as soon as he drew away his mouth and smiled down at her, she said, “Please let me go. We need to talk.”
The words were like a knife to the heart. Nothing good ever came from those words.
But he knew he was overreacting. He and Ash had finally gotten past all the obstacles to their happiness. She was his now. He’d shared the delights of her body while they’d shared intense, incredible pleasure together.
This was their happily-ever-after. There was no way this could be the end.
* * *
Ashley stared at Adam’s face. Uncertainty flickered through his warm, brown eyes.
Oh, God, she didn’t know what to say now. What to do. But she couldn’t let this continue without saying something.
She remembered that Adam had been in a serious relationship years ago, just after she and Jessica had left for college. Ashley had never met the woman who’d hurt Adam, but he had been devastated when she’d left him and as a result, he’d only had a couple of relationships in the handful of years since then. She knew he was afraid of having his heart broken again, and she definitely didn’t want to be the one who did that.
“Are you dumping me?” he asked as he stepped back, giving her room to breathe.
“No, it’s not like that.” She sidestepped him and walked to one of the two chairs by his small, round meeting table, then sat down.
He sat across from her. “What is it then?”
She folded her hands on the tabletop. “A few hours after you left yesterday … in the afternoon…” She was aware of his intense scrutiny while he waited for her explanation. She sighed. “Dare came to see me.”
“What?” Anger flared in his eyes. “Why? I thought it was over between you.”
She nodded. “I thought so, too, but…” She forced herself to hold his gaze. “He told me he wants to get back together again.”
Adam snorted. “Back together? You were never really together. He just fucked you a couple of times.”
“Adam…”
He stood up. “No, really, Ash. Don’t tell me you’re considering this. It isn’t real for him. He doesn’t have feelings for you. You’re just a distraction from his busy life. Believe me, when his business is done here, he’ll be gone and all you’ll have left is a broken heart.”
