Valentine s Love

by Helena Stone

  We faced each other as we undressed ourselves, not exactly hurrying but not wasting any time either. Ben was everything I’d imagined him to be. I drank him in: large, muscular, chest covered in brown hair and his cock long, thick, and almost fully erect.

  He grabbed my hand, pulling me toward my bed until we fell on top of the covers at the same time, lying on our sides, face to face. We took our time exploring each other with our eyes, hands, and mouth. The experience left me slightly dizzy as if I’d drank too much alcohol, although both of us had only had one glass of champagne, and our whiskeys still sat on my coffee table unfinished.

  I couldn’t get enough of him, wanted to touch every inch of his skin at the same time. The need burned deep inside, a hunger about to be sated after thirty-six months of starvation. I kissed his lips, sucked on the side of his throat where it met his shoulder, before nibbling on his nipples and licking them. His soft but heated growls fed my desire as his hands and mouth explored my body, bringing nerve endings to life after a seemingly endless period of hibernation.

  I had no idea how much time had passed when he turned onto his back and pulled me on top of him. The vast expanse of naked flesh against mine fueled my fires even higher until I was sure I might combust just from being close to him. When he grabbed my arse cheeks, squeezing them as he pushed up against me, rubbing our rigid lengths together, I feared I might lose control instantly.

  “So good,” I breathlessly moaned.

  “I know.” Ben sounded as excited as I was. “You’re perfect against me.”

  He was right; we fit together as if we’d been created for each other.

  “So close,” I whispered, uncertain whether I wanted him to slow down or push me to the orgasm that was burning in my balls, waiting to explode.

  “Do it!”

  It wasn’t quite a demand, but my body reacted as if it had been, and my release spurted from my dick in thick streams of cream, coating both our bellies.

  “Fuck. Yes!” Ben came too, mixing his release with mine.

  I knew the situation would turn sticky and uncomfortable before too long but couldn’t make myself roll off his body, afraid it had all been a dream, and I would find myself alone as soon as I released Ben.

  He kissed me, soft but deeply and nowhere near long enough. “Can I stay tonight?”

  My heart soared. The ugly doubts, which were never far from my mind, took refuge in the darker recesses of my brain when I at last started to believe this might last beyond that night. “God, yes. Please stay.”

  “Good.” His voice was filled with tenderness. “Because I’ve barely started getting to know you and your gorgeous body.”

  Secure in the knowledge Ben wasn’t going anywhere, I got up to get a damp cloth from the bathroom. When I returned, I took a few moments to stare at the gorgeous bear of a man presenting a perfect picture of satisfied contentment on my bed. My heart felt too small for my chest as if it had experienced a growth spurt over the previous few hours.

  “I’m getting kinda lonely here.” Ben winked at me as if he understood what was going on deep inside me.

  I crawled back on the bed and cleaned his stomach before giving my own the same treatment and throwing the small towel away from me. I kissed him, then spoke the words I’d been sure I’d never say again. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”

  He stared into my eyes as if he wanted to make sure he had my full attention. “Happy day, Valentine.”

  Epilogue – Five months later

  “Are you ready?”

  “I’ve been ready all day.” I grinned. I couldn’t wait for us to view the house we were hoping to rent together. I’d considered inviting Ben to move in with me, but I didn’t want to live with him in the space I’d also shared with Henry. Apart from the way he was built, Ben was nothing like his predecessor, and I wanted this to be a fresh start in every possible way. His apartment was barely big enough to contain him, so we’d decided to find something new. The place in Monkstown we were about to inspect had looked perfect on paper, and my expectations were high.

  Two hours later, we told the agent we were happy to sign on the dotted line as soon as he could get the paperwork ready. The house was perfect for us. The ground floor was an open plan, bright and spacious. Upstairs, we would have three rooms: one for sleeping, the other two providing us with an office space each.

  When we were outside and on our own again, we stared at each other. I had no doubt the silly, happy grin on his face was visible on mine too.

  “Do you want to head back to your place,” Ben asked. “Or shall we …”

  “Let’s walk to the coast road,” I suggested. “I want to see how long it will take us to get to the seaside.”

  “Great minds …” he said not for the first time over the three months we’d been together. It had been a delightful shock to discover how much we had in common. We both enjoyed thrillers and detective stories. Our tastes when it came to food and interior design were quite similar as well. The only subject on which we were on opposing sides was rugby. While I was a fervent Leinster supporter, his heart belonged to Ulster. But, that was fine; it made watching matches together all the more entertaining.

  Ten minutes later, we stopped walking and stared out to the sea. It was low tide, meaning that the distance of sand between us and the water stretched for what appeared to be miles. The summer sun sparkled on the distant water, displaying the brightness which had been a constant in my life ever since my Valentine’s Day miracle. Ben stood behind me, pulling me to him until my back rested against his stomach and chest, my head against his shoulder.

  “This is perfect.”

  I couldn’t agree more. Being with Ben had surpassed every hope and dream I had ever entertained.

  “Thank you,” he whispered softly into my ear, his breath caressing my cheek.

  “For what?”

  “For being you,” he answered.

  I turned, capturing his gaze before I responded. “I should be thanking you. You gave me back not only my love for Valentine’s Day but also my joy in life.”

  Ben just shook his head. “You’re wrong. I’m the lucky one. With you, I get to cherish Valentine’s love every day.”

  Thank you for reading Valentine’s Love

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  About the Author

  Helena Stone can’t remember a life before words and reading. After growing up in a household where no holiday or festivity was complete without at least one new book, it’s hardly surprising she now owns more books than shelf space while her Kindle is about to explode.

  The urge to write came as a surprise. The realisation that people might enjoy her words was a shock to say the least. Now that the writing bug has well and truly taken hold, Helena can no longer imagine not sharing the characters in her head and heart with the rest of the world.

  Having left the hustle and bustle of Amsterdam for the peace and quiet of the Irish Country side she divides her time between reading, writing, long and often wet walks with the dog, her part-time job in a library, a grown-up daughter and her ever loving and patient husband.

  Helena can be found and contacted here: http://helenastone.blogspot.ie/

  Also by Helena Stone

  Patience (Dublin Virtues #1)

  Patience is a virtue. But what if you wait too long?

  While Xander Ekman’s dream of becoming a successful artist has come true, his love life has gone from bad to worse. Sick of the endless string of one-night-stands, he accepts the challenge when his best friend, Erik, bets him that he can’t be celibate for a month. Now all he needs is a reminder to keep his distance in the heat of the moment.

  Troy Moriarty doesn’t have time for love. He’s too busy trying to keep his recently opened tattoo parlour afloat. Besides, ever since the man who was supposed to be his business partner abandoned him to run the
shop on his own, he has a hard time trusting others.

  When Xander turns to Troy for a tattoo that will remind him to be patient, the attraction is instant. But faced with Xander’s month of celibacy, Troy’s trust issues, and a nemesis lurking in the background, their relationship may be doomed before it has a chance to begin.

  Equality (Dublin Virtues #2)

  Love is love. But what if the fight for equality gets in the way of building a relationship?

  Lorcan Barratt has never considered himself relationship material. After his parents made it perfectly clear they’d never welcome a partner of his into their home, he learned to love his own company and can’t imagine sharing his life with another. After a single passionate kiss with Eric Kavanagh—the night before he travels to Canada for three months—Lorcan’s no longer sure he wants to be on his own. The problem is, he has no idea what sharing his life with someone else might entail.

  Eric Kavanagh grew up in a loving and supportive family and always assumed he’d end up in a committed relationship. Sure that he’s found the one, Eric doesn’t worry about the fact that Lorcan has no experience when it comes to love and relationships. They are good together, so what could possibly go wrong?

  When both men get involved in the marriage equality referendum in Ireland, it appears to bring them even closer together until Lorcan’s insecurities get the upper hand and he shuts Eric out. Will the fight for a yes-vote cost them their relationship or will they be able to find a balance between the love they share and the need for equality?

  Renewal (Dublin Virtues #3)

  When everything changes, can renewal bring redemption?

  Shane Boyle left Dublin for America burning most of his bridges and with no intention of returning, certain his future lay in Florida. When a family crisis forces him back to the city he grew up in, he knows his life will never be the same again. With his sister close to death, his mother and five-year-old nephew Danny need him not just to be around but also to be the rock they can depend on. Torn between panic about his new responsibilities and despair at his impending loss, love and a relationship are the last thing on his mind.

  Chris Anderson left Australia for Dublin ten years ago with no intention of ever going back. For reasons he can’t explain, even to himself, he hasn’t been in a relationship for almost as long as he’s been in Ireland. Now thirty-five-years old, he wonders what happened to his dream of a lasting bond and a family to call his own.

  When Shane and Chris hook up one night in a pub, neither knows that the next day they’ll meet again, this time as colleagues in a tattoo parlour. Chris has no idea about Shane’s dodgy past, and Shane can’t figure out the mountain of a man who refuses to take no for an answer. Having to reinvent his whole life is only the start of Shane’s process of renewal. Will Chris turn out to be his saviour or his downfall?

  Scenes from Adelaide Road

  Can a young man find the courage he never knew he had when faced with losing everything he holds dear?

  A few months before his final exams in secondary school, nineteen-year-old Lennart Kelly discovers he’s inherited a house on Adelaide Road in Dublin from a grandfather he never knew. Having been ignored, bullied and abused for as long as he can remember, Lennart can’t wait to leave behind his father and the small town he grew up in. Moving away as soon as he finishes his exams doesn’t cure his deep-rooted insecurities though.

  Meeting twenty-three-year-old Aidan Cassidy in a gay club on his second night in Dublin, scares Lennart. Used to being ignored and ridiculed, he doesn’t trust the attention he receives and can’t believe a man like Aidan could possibly be interested in him. It takes infinite patience and understanding from Aidan to slowly coax Lennart out of his shell.

  But the past refuses to stay where it belongs and Lennart’s father is determined to take the house in Dublin off his son by whatever means necessary. Just when Lennart is learning to trust and embrace life, a violent attack threatens everything he holds dear. Suddenly Lennart is in danger of losing his house, the man he’s grown to love and maybe even his life. If Lennart wants to protect Aidan and safeguard his future, he’ll have to find the courage he never knew he had.

  Strangers in the Night

  (Co-written with Jaycee Edward)

  When Army veteran, Slade, stumbles upon an isolated cottage on a cold, dark, night, the young man finds more than just the shelter he’s seeking.

  Former club Dominant Callum is surprised to find a handsome stranger knocking at his door but invites him in despite his reservations. A nightmare reveals Slade’s deep-seated emotional issues, and Callum knows he needs to get creative if he’s going to help Slade leave the past behind.

  Neither man is prepared for the feelings Slade’s introduction into the world of BDSM will unleash, and thirty-six hours will either be enough to bind them, or they will remain forever strangers in the night.

  Little Rainbows

  When an experienced Dom loses his drive, can an old flame reignite his fire?

  When Jason and Heather first meet they are young and sure they are wrong for each other. As a result, they spend a summer admiring each other from a safe distance.

  Twenty years later Heather is coming out of mourning, having lost her husband and Dom eighteen months earlier. Jason, now the owner of an exclusive sex resort on the west coast of Ireland, struggles with the loss of his desire to dominate.

  Jason’s resort is about to celebrate its first anniversary and party planner Heather has been hired to create the perfect celebration. Their reunion comes as a big surprise to both of them.

  Old and familiar attraction, battles with new and conflicting emotions as Jason and Heather work together to organize the ultimate BDSM event. Overcoming the issues between them isn’t the only obstacle Jason and Heather face. In the background lurks a threat both to Heather’s independence and Jason’s livelihood.

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  Copyright Notice

  Acknowledgements

  Dedication

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue