by Wendi Zwaduk
He listened for her footsteps on the carpet.
She peeked around the doorway. “What’s up?”
“Thought you might like to change.” He offered over the clothing. “Take my room.”
“Thanks, but I need some help.” She swiped her hair off her shoulders. “I can’t undo the clasp or the start off the zipper.”
“My pleasure.” He popped the closure on the gown then eased the zipper pull down. He shouldn’t push her but he couldn’t keep from touching her. He kissed her shoulder.
“Don’t go too far.” She looked back at him. “Your mother put me in the world’s tightest corset.”
“Corset?” How’d he miss that?
Molly kept her back to him and covered her chest. “Sorry. I never had to try to get out of one of these things before.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of.” Austin unknotted the bow at the base of the corset. He loosened the ribbon, one loop at a time. He breathed in the scent of her perfume. “I love a woman in pretty lingerie.”
“You love pretty much all women.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Thanks.”
“No sweat. Need anything else?” Like my body covering yours? My arms around you? You in my bed tonight and every other night for the rest of my life? He caught himself and hoped he hadn’t said any of those things out loud—not because he regretted the thoughts but because he didn’t want to freak her out. For him to change his mind…she probably wouldn’t believe him.
“I’m good. I’ll be out in a moment.” She kept the dress and corset in place and flicked her fingers. “Please?”
“Anything for you.” Austin closed the door and strolled back to the living room. He loved having her in his apartment. She made the place warmer. But he had to get past her shaky confidence and get her to open up to him. Soon. He unbuttoned his dress shirt and yanked the bow tie from around his neck, then picked his shoes up and put them in the closet by the door. He’d tried to make the evening memorable for Molly and wasn’t done yet. Why? He’d never be done with the woman who made his heart sing.
Molly emerged from the hallway. The T-shirt nearly swallowed her small frame and the sleep pants rode low on her hips, but for the first time that night she appeared at ease. She shoved the sleeves up her arms.
“Feel better?” He unbuttoned the cuffs of his shirt. “You look happier.”
“I can breathe now. Thanks.”
“Give me five minutes to change and we can finish the wine.” Austin ducked into his room and switched out of the remainder of his tuxedo. He’d been able to breathe the whole time, but he liked Molly’s line of thinking. He switched into a T-shirt and sweatpants then wandered back into the living room. Molly sat on the sofa with her legs curled under her. She held the wine glass in both hands. She looked so right in his home—as if she’d been there all along.
“What are you staring at?” She sipped the wine. “Already bored?”
“Not at all.” Now that he’d had a taste of his heart’s desire, he wasn’t about to let her go.
Chapter Six
Molly gripped the glass and met his gaze. Something in his eyes both unnerved her and sent shivers down her spine. He’d never looked at her quite that way before. She fought the urge to squirm under his appraisal.
“Do you remember when we went to that football game in college and forgot Aiden at the field?” Austin settled on the couch beside her. “I thought he was in the car and you thought he was in the bathroom.”
“I remember.” Like the moment had just happened. “He was so mad.”
“He got over it.” Austin rested his arm across the back of the couch. “You met Linc through Aiden, didn’t you?”
“I did.”
“You don’t have to answer my next question, but if you don’t answer it I’ll probably needle you until you do.” Austin grinned. “Sorry.”
“I know you.” She placed the glass back on the coffee table and folded herself up again. “Lay it on me. I’ll answer.”
“Why Linc? He never seemed to make you happy.”
Molly bit back a groan and tried to hide her disdain. She hated talking about Linc, but Austin asked and she wasn’t going to hide from him. Why? He’d be true to his word and pester her until she broke her silence.
“Sorry. He’s none of my business.” Austin swirled the wine around his glass then finished the pink liquid. “I push too much.”
“You’re fine.” She cleared her throat and paused long enough to think through what she wanted to say. “During our last year in college, I was lonely. You had Jennifer, Aiden was seeing Michelle and I was the fifth wheel. Then Aiden and Chelle introduced me to Linc. He was smart, amusing and seemed to like me.” She shrugged. “It’s funny. When I hooked up with him, the only experience I had was with you. Linc, for all the supposed confidence he had, was completely jealous of you. He saw you as the biggest threat and he was right.”
“He was?” Austin scooted closer to her. “Molly?”
“I was seeing him but I dreamed about you.” She paused to gather her thoughts. “Then I was forced to move on. You married Carole and I couldn’t fantasize about a married man.” Tears pricked behind her eyes, but she refused to cry. “I moved on.”
“I—I don’t know what to say.” He smoothed a lock of her hair between his fingers. “I’m speechless.”
“That’s a first.” She half-laughed. “Linc hated your guts, but once you got married, you weren’t as much of a threat. You were my friend and we worked together sometimes. He hated Remy, too. He used to tell me a woman with only male friends was crazy or a whore.” She willed herself not to cry, but the tears were there. “He once said I had to choose between Remy and him. I mean, Jesus. I couldn’t do it.”
“You’re loyal,” he murmured.
“Apparently not to the right people.” She folded her arms and rested her head on the back of the couch. “Besides, loyalty doesn’t keep you warm at night.” Hadn’t kept her warm or been the shoulder she’d needed to cry on. She’d spent more nights with her vibrator than she had with her ex-husband or dates. But it was her own fault—she’d never been able to get Austin off her mind.
“No, it doesn’t.” He tugged her onto his lap and held her. “I’m sorry.”
“Meh. It’s life. You were doing your thing and I had to figure out my own path.” She clutched his shirt. The tears won out and slipped down her cheeks. “Part of me wished I never had to go through the whole shitty situation with him. I really would’ve preferred for him not to cheat on me but I learned. I grew up and realized I had to be happy on my own.” She shouldn’t have to be so strong all the time but she didn’t have anyone else to count on. Remy was nice and a great friend, but he wasn’t there when she needed more than a platonic relationship.
Austin rocked her on his lap. “Babe.” He growled. “It’s my fault.”
“How?”
He patted her ass. She stood and he led her into the bedroom. He sat her on the edge of the bed and kneeled between her legs. “I screwed up.”
“No, you followed your heart.” She trailed her fingers through his hair. “It wanted the other women. I accept that.”
“You shouldn’t have to.” He eased his palms under her shirt and caressed her belly. “You deserve better than me.”
She wanted to agree, but her traitorous heart and body struggled accept life without him.
He eased the shirt over her head and pressed his face to her breasts. He kissed her chest and his five o’clock shadow abraded her skin. Each lick and kiss sent a frisson of heat through her. She balled her hands. If she reached for him, she’d fall even deeper in lust with him. If she kept some distance, maybe she’d keep her heart from breaking.
“Austin.”
“Touch me,” he said and kissed her. “Love your hands on my body.” He placed her palms on his shoulders.
‘Love’? He’d said the word before, but always in passing. She wanted to believe he meant more but didn’t give in to that hope.
She slid her hands along the sides of his head and threaded her fingers into his hair then moaned. Austin had such soft hair.
She whimpered. Once again his cologne wrapped around her and the memory of his kiss lingered in her mind.
He cupped her breasts. The chilly air curled around her sensitive skin. He gazed up at her then caressed and fondled her boobs. When he sucked on her nipple, she whimpered. He rolled her nipple in his teeth. The scrape and pressure turned her inside out. She gripped the sheets in her fists. Damn it. The sweet pleasure he created within her was almost too much to take.
Austin groaned and hummed against her breast. She sucked in a ragged breath. The man certainly knew how to please a woman. She couldn’t deny the thrill.
She closed her eyes and basked in the heat of the moment. She could’ve sworn the temperature spiked.
“Need you.” He planted kisses on her breasts. Austin helped her out of her sleep pants and left her socks on. He started at her ankle and pressed kisses to her skin.
Tingles ran the length of her spine. She covered her breasts with her hands and sank back onto the bed. A whimper lodged in her throat as he swiped his tongue along her inner thigh. He hadn’t even touched her pussy and she wanted to scream his name.
“So good.” Austin parted her thighs even more and nipped the very apex of her leg. He trailed his fingers over her labia, increasing her pleasure.
Need built within her. “Touch me.”
She opened her eyes and stared at the ceiling. If she met his gaze, she’d melt even more. She wanted to give in to him—to allow him to have all of her, but she knew better. For now, she’d indulge in sex and foreplay with him. She moved his hands to her inner thighs and threaded her fingers in his hair to move his head.
“There’s my inner goddess.” He blew warm breath across her labia.
Another shiver wracked her body. She planted her feet on his shoulders and let go of his hair. She gripped the sheet again.
Austin traced small circles along the inside of her legs and dragged his tongue between her pussy lips.
She moaned from deep within her being. “Austin.” She’d crumble. She knew now there wasn’t much choice for her. Her restraint wouldn’t be enough to guard her heart from Austin—not this time.
He didn’t answer her but instead he sucked on her clit.
“Oh fuck.” She grabbed the pillow and propped her head up in order to watch him. She stuffed her hands under her butt to keep from reaching for him.
Austin met her gaze and grinned then resumed sucking on her sensitive skin. He closed his eyes and moaned on her clit. At the same time, he eased one finger into her cunt.
Her legs trembled and she writhed against his assault on her body. She needed to move. The climax blossomed low in her belly and churned. Shit. If he didn’t give her the chance to come, she’d combust. She shuddered while Austin perfected his rhythm. He eased his finger in and out of her channel as he pulsed on her bundle of nerves.
She tensed. “Austin.” She curled forward and grabbed his hair. She moved his face from her pussy. His lips glittered with her juices and his cheeks were tinged red. She gasped for air. “Fuck me.” She needed hard and fast. Hell, she needed him.
“Yes, ma’am.” Austin grinned then nipped her once more. He eased his finger from her pussy and stood. He licked her cream from his digit and groaned. “So good.”
Molly covered her breasts again. The chilly air in the room curled around her. Shit. He knew how to tease her.
Austin whipped his shirt up over his head then tossed the garment out of sight. He shoved his sweatpants to the floor and stalked up to the bed. Instead of climbing onto her like she’d expected, he rummaged through the nightstand. She should’ve known where he’d keep his stash of condoms. Austin stared down at her with a predatory, hungry look in his eyes and tore the corner of the condom wrapper. He sheathed himself and rounded the bed then settled between her legs again. Without breaking the connection, he pushed inside her with one slick move until he buried his cock to the hilt. He leaned over her and kissed her.
The kiss and his possessiveness stole her breath. He overwhelmed her. She grasped his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin.
Austin bit her bottom lip. “Still so good.”
He brushed his nose against hers. His thrusts started slowly but grew in intensity in an instant. Warmth slid through his body while he pumped his hips and braced himself on his knees and shins. Oh shit. This feels good. He grasped her thighs, forcing her to let go of his shoulders. Austin draped her right ankle onto his shoulder. The change in position gave him an easier glide in and out of her pussy. He massaged her from within and nudged her closer to coming apart.
She met his gaze again. She’d tried to resist him for too long, but her heart knew what she’d finally figured out—she loved Austin.
He palmed her breast and pinched her nipple. The combination of him moving inside her and pleasuring her body on the outside knocked her orgasm right to the edge. Her restraint and resistance shattered. She tensed as he continued to thrust into her body. She arched her back and met him push for push. No way she’d be able to hold back any longer. The climax washed over her. She shivered and her legs trembled. From head to toe, she felt weightless.
Austin clenched his teeth. “Got me right there.” He leaned over her and pumped his hips. His heavy-lidded gaze churned her insides to mush. A bead of sweat slipped down his temple and the crinkles deepened in his forehead. His hair brushed against her forehead.
He tensed within her and groaned. Austin stopped moving and his cock throbbed in her pussy. “Jesus, fuck.” He kissed her. “Fuck.” Laughter bubbled in his throat. “You. Wiped. Me. Out.” He panted and closed his eyes. He braced himself on his arms and knees. His dick slipped free of her body.
She threaded her arms around his neck once more and dragged him on top of her. She bumped noses with him. From head to toe, he’d wrung her out. Being with him was bad but so right.
“Give me a moment.” Austin patted her hip. “Be right back.” He left her long enough to remove the used condom, then moved the blankets and helped her crawl between the sheets. He settled beside her and draped his arm across her belly.
Molly basked in the boneless feeling. A million thoughts rushed into her head. The good feeling and connection wouldn’t last. She knew him—she’d end up being a fuck friend, just like the other women who’d passed through his life. But after the gala and the passion they’d shared…she wasn’t so sure. Still, she crumbled inside as the weight of the situation settled on her. They’d ruined the working relationship and the friend version. She’d never be able to look at him the same way again, especially not once he moved on. He was her biggest weakness. Before she might have been okay with saying at least she’d been with him more than once, but not now.
Austin snuggled her to his side and kissed her temple again. “This is better than the first time we slept together. We’ve gotten better with age.”
“Oh?” She snorted. “I thought you avoided me in the bedroom because I was that bad.”
“No.” He tipped her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. “You can’t keep cutting on yourself. I don’t know why you do. Is it me? Something I said? Linc? Talk to me.”
So he wanted to go there after sex… She studied the smattering of hairs growing on his cheeks and noticed the three gray hairs at his temple. Time had certainly changed them. Was she ready to talk about her issues? Might as well.
“Molly?”
She exhaled to fortify her nerves. “I’ve never been skinny. Even back in college and I worked out with you, I wasn’t thin. I like to eat—I like chocolate. You might not have said anything, but each time you’d pick our other friends for stuff, like the time we played spin the bottle during the last year of college. You chose every other girl there but me.” She placed her fingers over his mouth. Of all the things she wanted, an apology wasn’t on the list. “Then there was Aiden and Linc. Aiden flat-out t
old me I was one of the guys but not hot. He’d rather watch football with me than kiss me.”
“He said that?” Austin closed his eyes and groaned. “Asshole.”
“It stung less because I wasn’t interested in him. Just hurt because it seemed like you agreed with everything he said,” she added. Back in the day, Austin and Aiden had been like twins—when one had done something, the other had followed.
“There was a lot I did agree with, but not everything.” He twined their legs and bumped noses with hers. “Aiden acted sweet, but he wanted every woman in his bed. He stepped on so many people.”
“Is that why you’re not friends with him any longer?”
His eyebrows rose and a smile curled on his lips. “You knew?”
“He emails me every so often and asked me one time if you were still working with me at CDL.” She shrugged. “I told him we were and doing great things.”
“You built me up.” He brushed her hair from her face. “I think I’m in love.”
“You are full of shit.” She sighed. This was why she didn’t believe him. He used the word love sparingly, but the few moments he did, he didn’t mean the sentiment. He could be so sweet and yet, he scared her away from embracing the possible emotion behind the words.
“I’m usually full of shit, but not right now. Molls, you’re very important to me.”
“You’re important to me, too.” For different reasons, but she wouldn’t get into that. “Anyway, Linc was just like Aiden. I was pretty while we were dating and good marriage material, but that’s when it all went south. He never hit me but he cut me down to size all the time. I found out how many times he’d cheated on me. He told me the only reason he’d married me was because he was afraid he’d be alone. Then he bulked up and fixed his hair. He dressed better and women noticed. How could you not?”
“Easily. He had the attention span of a gnat—which is insulting to the gnat—and a prick attitude. You can be good-looking but have an ugly personality.”
“Bingo.” She rolled onto her back and sighed. She’d cried herself out over Linc years ago and wasn’t about to fall apart again, but talking about him hurt. “I was so happy Mr. Lee paired you and me up.”
