by Lola Rivera
Holding his own building orgasm in check, Cord gave Daphne exactly what she wanted. He thrust fast and furious, shaking the wooden frame of his four poster bed with his vigor. His thumb found her clit and massaged it in time with his plunging cock. She cried out again and again, his name leaving her lips like some kind of mantra. Her pussy fluttered around his dick. She was going to come.
“That’s it, Daphne. Come for me. Come all over my cock.”
Her shoulders arched up off the bed. Thighs clenching his waist, she bucked wildly as she came. Cord marshaled his self-control and managed not to hurtle over the precipice with her. He thought of anything and everything but the overwhelming desire to pound right through to his own mind-blowing orgasm.
She was breathtaking with her dark, curly hair fanned around her face and undulating body covered in a fine sheen of sweat. Cord shifted until he lay over her, his weight supported on his knees and elbows. He kissed her deeply, lovingly, and caressed her beautiful face. Slower now, he resumed his thrusts.
Daphne lifted her hips to meet every one. She curled her arms around his shoulders and dragged her lips over his jaw and along the side of his throat. He tucked his nose against her neck and took her with long, languid strokes. Her breaths shuddered against his ear as she whispered naughty encouragements. Their mating had shifted from something nearly feral in its intensity to something akin to a meeting of souls.
Cord lifted his head and gazed into her dark eyes. He had never seen such tenderness reflected in a woman’s eyes. The passionate sincerity rocked him to the very core. He intertwined their fingers over her head and made love to her with all the gentleness he could manage. However sentimental or sappy it sounded, Cord wanted Daphne always to remember this stormy night, the first time they’d come together as lovers.
Daphne inhaled sharply, seemingly shocked by an unexpected climax. He followed a second later, surrendering completely. He couldn’t ever remember coming so hard. He lost the ability to breathe or make noise and simply jerked and pulsed as his seed rocketed through his rigid length.
Chapter Five
In the aftermath of their coupling, Daphne allowed Cord to gather her close to his chest. He had rolled away only briefly to deal with the condom. He seemed to crave the intimacy of skin-to-skin contact as much as she did. She snuggled close and breathed in his scent. His heartbeat thudded against her ear, calm and reassuring.
Tonight there was none of the usual nerve-wracking uncertainty that followed sex with a new guy. Should she stay? Should she go? What in the world was she supposed to say?
But not tonight. Resting in the crook of Cord’s arm felt natural and right. She didn’t ever want to leave his side.
“You all right, sugar?”
She pecked his cheek. “Just fine. You?”
“Boneless,” he said with a deep laugh. “I couldn’t move if the house was on fire.”
She giggled and burrowed closer. Feeling a bit pensive, she drew her initials on his chest. She had never been with such an amazing specimen of masculinity. He was a man’s man if ever she’d seen one. There wasn’t an inch of his body that wasn’t well-toned. Earlier, in the dying daylight, she had noticed the pale scars standing out against his tanned skin. His hands and arms had been subjected to quite a bit of abuse working with his cattle and horses. Seeing them, she’d been consumed with the urge to kiss each and every old hurt.
“I’m sorry,” Cord said thickly.
Confused, Daphne lifted up on her elbow. She could just make out his eyes as streaks of lightning colored the night sky. “For?”
“The cold way I treated you. It wasn’t right.”
“No,” she agreed. “But I think I understand.”
“Do you?” Cord shifted until he loomed over her. His finger traced her jaw. “The second I saw you I could hardly breathe but I decided it wouldn’t work between us. We’re from different worlds.”
“Not so different.” Daphne grazed her lips over his stubbled chin. “We’re about to be family.”
He made a face. “Kate and Derek’s situation isn’t the same as ours.”
Daphne hazarded a guess. “Because Derek is the wealthy one?”
Cord nodded stiffly. “I can get over the age difference. It’s just a number. That you’re better educated than me doesn’t bother me either. You blow me away when you talk about astrophysics. But, Daphne,” he sighed, “you’re used to a certain kind of life, to luxuries and travel. I can’t give you that.”
“I don’t need you to give me that, Cord.” She tenderly nuzzled her nose against his. “If I want to travel or shop or whatever, I’ll spend my own money. Besides, money is the least of my worries. All I need is love and support from my man. That’s it.”
His eyebrows arched. “That’s it?”
She grinned mischievously. “Well the hot sex is a nice bonus.”
Cord laughed and kissed her until her toes tingled. When he pulled away, he seemed a bit sobered. “No regrets?”
“Never.” She sifted her fingers through his close cropped hair. Sticky wetness seeped between her thighs. Sweat dried on her skin. “Let’s take a bath.”
“Sure.” He slid from the bed and held out his hand. She followed him into the bathroom. He reached for the light switch but stopped. “Candles okay? These lights are pretty bright.”
“Better than okay,” she said, already imagining the relaxing ambience.
“Wait here.”
Cord disappeared and returned a few minutes later with matches and a box of votives. He placed them strategically around the bathroom and lit the wicks. Impressed with his romantic gesture, Daphne filled the old-fashioned tub with steamy water. Cord climbed in first. His callused hands steadied her hips as she sank down in front of him. Nestling close to her back, Cord wrapped his arms around her waist and noisily kissed her neck. They silently enjoyed the heat for a while.
“I’m going to put a lot of miles on my truck.”
Daphne glanced over her shoulder. “How so?”
“You’ll be just down the street at UT working on your PhD. I don’t expect you to drive up here all the time.”
She smiled at his description. Just down the street? Try nearly a hundred miles. “We can alternate weekends or meet up twice a month instead of four times. We’ll make it work.”
“I doubt Derek is going to be very happy when he gets back from Austin.” Cord chuckled against her neck. “Can he throw a punch?”
Daphne rolled her eyes and laughed. “I seriously doubt he’ll care enough to knock you flat on your ass. We’ve always had a live and let live relationship.”
“I hope Kate understands.”
She kissed his forearm. “She will. She’s one of the best people I’ve ever known.” Daphne turned her face until she could reach his cheek. She planted a kiss there. “You did really well raising her.”
“We,” he corrected. “Logan and Jay helped. Logan more than Jay,” he said, “because Jay was still so young.”
“You did well with all three of them,” she remarked, thinking of the Burnett family and their accomplishments. “Kate has an advanced degree in applied mathematics. Jay played professional football. Logan owns one of the most successful construction firms in Houston.”
He ran his fingers through the water. She could tell accepting a compliment wasn’t easy for him. “It wasn’t easy but I did my best. Half of the time I muddled through it.”
“I think you did fabulously.”
He smiled and kissed her temple. “Thanks.”
Signaling that he was done with the trip down memory lane, Cord moved his hands along her arms and across her shoulders. She moaned his big, strong hands drifted over her breasts and stroked her belly. His lips were on her shoulder, his tongue swirling against her skin. When his hand moved lower, she sucked in a quick breath. He parted her gently and massaged her clit. Heat pooled in her lower belly. She could feel her pussy getting wet.
“Do you like it when I rub your pussy like t
his?”
Daphne shivered at Cord’s question. No man had ever spoken so dirty to her. When he’d claimed her pussy as his earlier, she’d nearly come right then and there. “Yes.”
“I can still smell your pussy. I can still taste you.”
The hotly whispered words made her shudder with something dark and erotic. “Cord!”
“You have the sweetest pussy I’ve ever tasted. I would eat you all fucking night if you’d let me.”
“Oh, God!” Her breathless whisper seemed only to encourage him. He was obviously turned on by saying such filthy things. His erection prodded her backside. She shifted against it, wiggling and lifting her hips until it slid between her thighs. The length of his steely rod pushed against her pussy. She grasped the base and squirmed until it pressed against her entrance. That she was flirting with danger only heightened the thrill.
Cord’s hand stilled. “I should grab a condom.”
“I’m on the Pill. I’ve never had unprotected sex with my other three partners.”
“I haven’t either but I’ve had more partners than you. I won’t put you at risk—regardless of how minimal it might be.”
Although the sudden interruption to their lovemaking annoyed her, she recognized it as a statement of just how much he cared for her. He carefully moved her off his lap and got out of the tub. She stepped out and pulled the plug. Water droplets clung to her skin.
In a matter of seconds, Cord returned to the bathroom. He ripped open the condom package and slid on the sheath. “We’ll get this,”—he pointed to the condom—,“taken care of as soon as possible so we can lose the latex.”
Daphne nodded, more than willing to run in to see her doctor for an STD panel. Before she could make a move, Cord took control. Gripping her hips, he bent her over the countertop and forced her legs open with his foot against her ankle. Her eyes widened. She had always secretly craved such domination. Quivers of anticipation pierced her belly.
Cord crouched a little and nudged his cock against her slit. She lifted her bottom until he slipped inside. She was so wet and hot for him. His wide girth stretched her pussy. She stood on tiptoes to accept his thrusts.
Their gazes met in the mirror. Daphne could see he was holding back. She wanted him to unleash all of that restraint. She wanted him to be wild and rough with her. Shoving back against him, she clutched at his waist. “Harder!”
Cord’s gaze turned smoky. His next thrust was so powerful it knocked the air right from her lungs. “Like that?”
“Yes.” Her feet bounced off the floor as he jackhammered her pussy. When his hand fisted in her hair and tugged, she cried out with shock. Sparks exploded in her lower belly. Cord’s free hand slid around her front and clamped over her breasts. He roughly tweaked and twisted her nipple. She gasped as her inner walls squeezed his cock. When he chuckled knowingly, she realized he had figured it out.
“Do you want it hard, Daphne?” He licked the side of her neck and nipped at her earlobe. “Do you want it rough?”
“Yes! Yes, please.” Her begging tone seemed to spur him on and excite him.
“You want me to take control? Will you submit to me when we’re together?”
“Yes. Yes. Anything you want. Anything.” She vibrated with exhilaration. It was everything she had always wanted. He was everything she had always wanted and needed.
He pulled her tightly against his rippling abs, lifting her from the floor completely. “Touch yourself, Daphne.” His eyes flashed in the mirror. “Rub your clit until you come.”
She was powerless to refuse. Her fingers found the pink pearl and slipped in the cream coating her skin. She had never been so wet. Something about Cord did this to her, turned her on so incredibly much.
Her fingers flicked her clit. Cord slammed into her pussy over and over again. Her entire body shook with the force of their mating. Low in her belly, desire curled and hummed. She vibrated with the power of it. Tendrils of ecstasy snaked through her thighs and into her chest. Her channel clenched at his thrusting cock.
He seemed to sense how closely she hovered to flying over the brink. “Do you love my cock?”
“Yes, Cord.” She panted and strummed her clit faster. “I love it. Love your big cock pounding my pussy.”
“My pussy,” he corrected and slapped her breast, not hard enough to leave a mark but enough to sting. “Say it, Daphne.”
“Your pussy. This is your pussy.” Her cunt pulsed at his commanding voice. “Oh, god. I’m going to come. Please,” she begged. “Can I come?”
His mouth twitched and he pinched her nipple. “Come, Daphne. Come hard, sugar.”
She rubbed her clit even faster and inhaled shuddery breaths. Screaming his name, she exploded in absolute bliss. Cord’s arm tightened around her as he repeatedly pounded into her. The impact of his cock deep within her pussy intensified the ripples of her orgasm. Their gazes held in the mirror. His jaw clenched—and a moment later he slammed into her so hard she gasped. His jerky movements shook her body as he filled the latex.
He swore and pressed his cheek against hers. She reached for his hand on the countertop and rested hers atop it. When she winced at the pressure of his body shoving her hip against the counter, he stepped back quickly, alleviating the discomfort immediately. He pulled out slowly and kissed her shoulder.
Daphne could barely stand. Cord dealt with the condom before carefully turning her around. He wiped the fluids from between her thighs with a soft cloth and then blew out the candles. Without warning, he swung her into his arms and carted her back to this bed. With any other man, she would have protested and begged to be put down for fear of hurting him. She didn’t have that fear with Cord. He could handle a big girl.
They clung to one another in the darkness. The storm seemed to be reaching a fever pitch but they were safe and snug in the house. She wanted to ask him so many questions, wanted to know if he was the kind of man she suspected him to be. He’d assumed the role of dominant so easily.
“What are you thinking about, sugar?”
“The sex. The dominant side of you.”
“You like it, don’t you?”
“I do.” She grinned and snuggled closer. “Very much actually.”
“It’s not a lifestyle thing with me, you understand. I like to play games. I like to be in charge some times. I’d really love to spank that sweet ass of yours. If that’s all right with you,” he added.
Flushed, she tried not let her thoughts wander to that decidedly erotic image. “It’s more than all right.”
“Have you ever been with a man who likes the rougher side of things?” He didn’t sound jealous, just curious.
“No.” She petted his chest as her thoughts circled round and round. “I guess I’ve always sort of known that I wanted something a little rougher, a little harder. I gravitate toward those kinds of books, you know? Maybe I wasn’t ready to seek it out until now.”
“Maybe.” He laughed darkly and stroked her hair. “This kind of explains why sparks were flying between us the first time we clapped eyes on one another. You were everything I wanted and I was everything you needed.”
“I like that,” she said with a contented sigh. “It’s a nice way to describe us.”
Cord hummed in agreement and claimed her mouth one last time. “Close those pretty eyes and go to sleep, sweetheart. You’re going to need your rest.”
She smiled in the darkness. “Promise?”
A low laugh rumbled through his chest. “Yes, and I never break my promises.”
Secure in her cowboy’s strong arms, Daphne drifted off to sleep.
Chapter Six
Propped on his elbow, Cord watched Daphne sleep. The palest rays of sunshine penetrated the curtains and spilled across the bed. Utterly relaxed, Daphne breathed softly. The corners of her plump lips were slightly upturned. Her bare breasts rose and fell. He still couldn’t believe this was happening. After denying what he had wanted for so long, the reality of waking with Daphne i
n his arms had been staggering.
Unable to help himself, Cord smoothed a hand along her neck and shoulder and palmed a full breast. The nipple hardened immediately. Leaning down, he glided his tongue over the peak. She stirred under his sensual suckling. Her breathing pattern changed. Like a sleek cat, she stretched her arms overhead and flexed her toes. “Cord.”
He smiled at the sound of her gentle whisper. “Daphne.”
“Mmm.” She moaned huskily as he wrapped his lips around her other nipple. His fingers stimulated the wet nipple he’d just abandoned. “If I’d known this was your version of a wake up, I’d have crawled into bed with you weeks ago.”
Cord chuckled and slid his hand along her belly. She willingly parted her thighs and gasped when he found her clit. He nipped at the swell of her breast as his fingers teased her right to the brink. He loved the feeling of her fingers plowing through his hair, her nails scraping gently over his scalp. Her throaty moans echoed in the quiet house.
Slick heat flowed from her core, coating his probing fingers. Cord brought his fingers to his lips and licked the salty nectar from his skin. He gave a throaty hum of appreciation.
Daphne shuddered against him. Amused by just how easily she responded to his dirty talk, Cord brushed his lips over her ear. “I want you to ride me, sugar. I want to watch you put my cock in your pussy and go wild.”
She whimpered and shyly averted her embarrassed but aroused gaze. Laughing at her sweet reaction, Cord leaned across her and snatched a condom from the bedside table. Daphne’s enthusiasm only grew as he rolled the latex down the length of his raging hard-on. She clambered to her knees and raked her nails down his thighs.
When he was safely covered, Daphne pounced on him. She braced a palm on his stomach and steadied his cock with the other hand. Her pussy dripped with arousal. He had never been with a woman who got so wet and excited. He would be lying if he said it didn’t stroke his male ego.
