by Ramona Gray
“God, no. I can’t sing. I was just, uh, I thought I would have a drink, but all the tables are full so… I’m just gonna go.”
“You can sit with us.” Asher took my arm and led me through the crowded bar. Thanks to his size, people naturally moved out of his way and it took less than a minute before we were at his table. Knox Jameson was sitting at the table and he grinned at me as Asher pulled out a chair for me to sit down.
I sank into it as Knox leaned forward. “Hey there. I’m Knox. You’re the librarian, right?”
“Yes. I’m Rachel.”
“Nice to meet you, Rachel.” He held out his hand and I shook it. Unlike Asher, his gaze lingered on my breasts and I self-consciously crossed my arms over my chest. Ren wouldn’t like other men staring at them. They belonged to him and –
Shit, what was wrong with me? I abruptly dropped my arms. My boobs didn’t belong to Ren. Telling him that in the heat of passion was one thing, but to just start believing it … I was going crazy. I had to be, right?
“Can I get you guys another round or… Rach?”
I smiled at my best friend. “Hi, Mads. How are you?”
She leaned down, the apron around her waist jingling with change, and kissed my cheek. “Hi, sweetie. I’m good. What are you doing here tonight?”
I shrugged. “Just thought I would stop in and say hi to you.”
“Isn’t that sweet.” She pressed her mouth against my ear. “Ren is here, but in his office. Want me to take you back there?”
“No,” I said a little too quickly. “No, I just stopped in for a drink and to say hi to you.”
“Oh.” She straightened and studied my body. “Your tits look great tonight.”
“Madison!” I gave Asher and Knox an embarrassed look.
Knox finished the last of his beer before grinning at me. “She’s not wrong.”
Madison laughed and grabbed his and Asher’s empty beer bottles. “You guys want another?”
“Sure do, gorgeous. What are you doing after work?” Knox gave her a sexy, smile.
“Going home to my man,” Madison said with a grin. “I’ll bring you a glass of wine, Rach.”
She walked away, and I tugged self-consciously at my shirt as Knox turned his attention to me. “Guess I’ll just have to set my sights on a sweet little bookworm.”
“Knock it off,” Asher grunted to him.
Knox ignored him. “So, what do you like to do for fun, Rachel?”
My answer was drowned out by a loud cheer from the audience. I glanced toward the small dance floor where the karaoke was set up. Luna Davis was picking up the microphone and she blushed as the crowd cheered again.
“Is she good?” I asked Knox.
He nodded as Madison returned with two more beers and a glass of wine. Before I could reach for my wallet, Asher handed her some bills. “Her glass is on me.”
“Thanks, Asher.” I took a sip of wine as Madison glanced over at Luna.
“Oh good, Luna’s gonna sing. She’s fucking amazing. Hell, I think half the people in here show up every Wednesday night just to hear her.”
She suddenly scowled and waved to someone in the crowd before muttering, “Yeah, yeah. I know you’re waiting for your beer, Henry. Keep your damn pants on. I gotta go. Later, Rach.”
“Bye, Mads.”
She left, and Knox leaned forward. “What are you going to sing, Rachel?”
I laughed. “Nothing. I’d clear the place out as soon as I…”
My voice died as the music started and Luna began to sing. I stared wide-eyed at the petite redhead before turning to Knox. “Holy shit. She’s so good.”
“She is.” Knox took another swig of beer.
“She could be a professional. Don’t you think, Asher?” I turned to the welder when he didn’t reply. He was staring at Luna, his big hand gripping his beer bottle and his body ramrod straight.
“Asher?”
He jerked and turned toward me. The lust in his gaze took my damn breath away. He made a short nod before immediately turning back to Luna. It was like he couldn’t look away and honestly, I could understand why. Her singing voice was powerful and velvety-smooth, and I had no idea that a voice that big could come out of a woman that small.
I stared at Asher again as Luna’s voice floated across the dead-silent bar. He wanted her, it was more than obvious, and I wondered why he had been so cold to her in the coffee shop this morning.
Luna finished her song and there was a moment of silence before the crowd erupted into loud cheers, whistles and catcalls. Luna blushed and said a soft ‘thank you’ into the microphone before walking back to her table. I winced when she tripped over her own feet and did a face plant into the floor. Asher jumped to his feet and took a few steps forward, but Madison and the other bartender, Peter, had already helped Luna to her feet. I could see blood trickling from her bottom lip and she shook her head when Madison said something to her. She pulled a tissue from her pocket and pressed it against her mouth before patting Madison’s arm and returning to her chair.
I took another sip of wine as Asher sat back down and drank half of his beer in three big swallows. I had no idea why Asher wasn’t going after Luna when it was so obvious he wanted her, but who was I to judge? I wanted Ren but here I sat, too chicken to go to his office and talk to him. I took another drink of wine. God, I was an idiot.
Chapter Five
Ren
“Hey, Ren?”
I glanced up from my computer. “What’s up, Madison?”
“I’m going to be taking my break soon and Peter wanted to know if you can cover the bar when he takes his break? It’s really busy tonight and he doesn’t want to leave Mike alone.”
“Wednesdays always are. Tell Pete I’ll be out in five.”
“Okay.”
She lingered in the doorway of my office and I raised my eyebrows at her. “What?”
“Nothing.” A cheeky grin crossed her face. “Just thought you might want to know that Rachel’s here and she’s sitting with Asher Stokes and Knox Jameson.”
She closed my door, but I was already on my feet and crossing the small office. What the hell was Rachel doing here? It was a goddamn Wednesday.
I yanked open my office door and stormed down the hallway and into the bar. It was crowded with people and normally that made me happy, but tonight? Tonight I was pissed that I couldn’t find Rachel in the crowds. I started searching the tables one-by-one as the sound of a dying goose came to my left. I studied the dance floor, grimacing at the blonde woman who was standing next to the karaoke machine and murdering an Adele song.
I turned back to the tables, my eyes narrowing when I saw Rachel leave her table and head toward the bathrooms. She was wearing tight jeans and a shirt that… shit, it was so tight I could see the outline of the lace on her bra beneath it. My nostrils flared. I don’t know what the hell was going on with my sweet Rachel, but her new habit of wearing clothing that showed off her magnificent tits was going to be the goddamn death of me.
She disappeared into the bathroom and I waited a few minutes, trying to cool my lust and my jealousy. When I thought I had it under control, I turned my attention to the two men sitting at her table. Anger immediately swallowed me whole and I made my way to their table, my hands already in fists and my muscles vibrating with rage.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing, asshole?”
Knox nearly spit out his beer as Asher gave me a cool look. “Nice to see you again, Ren.”
I leaned down until my face was only inches from his. “I told you to stay away from her. She belongs to me.”
“And I told you I wasn’t after your woman. Now get your face out of mine.”
I refused to move as Knox said, “Ren, you idiot. Walk away before Ash turns you to mincemeat.”
“If you go anywhere near her, I’ll -”
“Walk. Away.” Asher’s voice was calm, but I could hear the anger simmering beneath it. It amped mine up and I was getting ready to do
something truly stupid when I heard Rachel’s soft voice.
“Ren? What are you doing?”
I straightened and held out my hand. “Come with me.”
To my relief, she didn’t argue, just took my hand in her small one. I walked her across the bar and out the door.
“Ren? Where are we going?”
I didn’t reply as I searched the parking lot for her car. When I found it, I walked briskly toward it, as Rachel hurried along beside me.
She pulled her hand from mine when I stopped next to her car and gave me a confused look. “What are you doing?”
“Get in your car and go home, Rachel.”
She glared at me. “No.”
“Yes.”
“You’re not my damn boss, Ren Parker. I’m going back to Asher and Knox and -”
I pulled her into my arms, my hand cupping the back of her neck as I scowled down at her. “You stay away from the both of them. You belong to me and I don’t want you anywhere near that manwhore Knox Jameson.”
“I don’t belong to you. I’m a person, not a -”
Hearing her say she didn’t belong to me sent jealousy rocketing through my body. I kissed her on the mouth, stopping her protests. She returned my kiss and didn’t object when I shoved my tongue deep into her mouth.
I kissed her until I was desperate for oxygen. I pulled away, both of us gasping for air, as she stared wide-eyed at me.
I cupped her face and rubbed my thumb along her bottom lip. “You belong to me. Say it.”
“I belong to you,” she whispered.
“That’s right. Now, get in your car and go home.”
“I don’t want to. We need to talk about -”
I squeezed her ass and nipped her bottom lip. “Go home, strip down to your panties and wait for me in your bedroom.”
“I – what?”
“Go home, take off everything but your panties and wait for me in your bedroom. I’ll be there in an hour. I want you to lie on your bed and think about how good it’s going to feel when I fuck you, Rachel.”
“Ren,” she moaned as I squeezed her ass again and then nuzzled her neck.
“Go home, Rachel. Go home and think about me kissing you, touching you, fucking you. I want you wet when I get there, but don’t touch your sweet pussy. That’s for my fingers only. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I touched her hair that was piled on top of her head in its usual bun. “I want your hair down when I get there.”
“O-okay.”
I kissed her once more, palming her ass through her jeans and pressing my erection against her so she could see what she fucking did to me. “Be careful driving home.”
“I will.”
“That’s my good girl. I’ll see you in an hour.”
* * *
Ren
Rachel’s house was small and cozy. She had left the front door unlocked for me and despite never being in her house before, it took me less than a minute to find her bedroom. I eased open the door and my dick immediately hardened. In the dim glow of the lamp next to the bed, Rachel looked like a goddess. She was wearing just a pair of pink panties and she was lying on the bed, staring at the ceiling. I sat down on the bed beside her and studied her gorgeous body. Her nipples were hard points and her breathing was short and shallow. She continued to stare at the ceiling, but I could see the nervousness etched into her face.
“Sweetheart -”
“I don’t have any condoms. I thought I did, but they’re expired because I was waiting for…”
Her cheeks turned pink. She still wouldn’t look at me and she made a nervous gasp when I rested my hand on her abdomen.
“Look at me, sweetheart.”
She pressed her lips together before turning her head. Her dark eyes were wide with anxiety and I rubbed her warm skin. “Waiting for what, Rachel?”
She took a deep breath. “You. I wanted you to be my first.”
A smug grin crossed my face. I knew it made me look like a total dickhead, but I couldn’t help it.
The flush on her cheeks was moving down her throat and over her chest. “Stop looking so smug.”
I stripped off my t-shirt and relaxed on my side next to her. I traced tiny circles between her breasts as she made a low moan. “Did you do what I asked, sweetheart? Did you think about me fucking you? Are you wet for me now?”
Her gaze skittered away from mine. “I wanted to. I mean, I tried to, but I got anxious about the condom thing and I didn’t know if I should text you, but then I didn’t have your number anyway. And I was afraid if I told you I didn’t have condoms, you wouldn’t come over and I really wanted you to come over. But I’m an idiot because it’s not like we’re going to have sex without a condom, and now I’ve messed everything up again and I’m going to be a virgin for the rest of my fucking life!”
She dragged in a breath and before she could say anything else, I leaned over and kissed her. I pushed my tongue into her mouth, flicking at hers as I threaded my fingers into her long, soft hair. When I pulled back, she was breathless, and the anxiety had disappeared from her gaze.
“Better?” I petted her long hair and pressed a kiss against her forehead.
“Yes.”
“Good.” I traced her collarbone with the tips of my fingers. “I have condoms, sweetheart.”
“Oh thank God.”
The relief in her voice made me smile. I took her hand and linked my fingers with hers. “Are you on the pill, Rachel?”
“Yeah. My period is pretty bad if I’m not so I… uh, sorry, that’s not something you want to know.”
She was wrong. I wanted to know everything about her.
She bit her lip. “Anyway, I am, but if you have condoms, what does it matter?”
I let go of her hand and reached into my back pocket for my phone. She watched with confusion as I tapped something into my phone before turning the screen toward her. “Look at this.”
She studied the screen, her forehead wrinkling in a truly adorable way. “Is that – are these your medical records?”
I nodded, and she gave me another look of confusion. “Why do you have these in your phone?”
“Because I want to fuck you without a condom, sweetheart. I want nothing between us for your first time. I want to feel the warmth and wetness of your pussy around my bare cock, so I want you to see that I’m clean. But, if you’re still not comfortable with that, then I’ll use a condom.”
She stared at me for a moment before plucking my phone from my grip. She scrolled across the screen, reading my records with the careful concentration of a lawyer going over a contract. I couldn’t stop my grin and she flushed a little when she finally gave me my phone back.
“What?”
“Nothing. I just love how carefully you read it.”
“It’s important to know your boyfriend’s past sexual history. A girl has to protect her body from…oh God, I didn’t mean boyfriend, I meant a random guy that you have sex with. Wait… not that you’re just a random guy. You’re, um -”
I kissed her again and I could almost feel her relief at the way I’d stopped the flow of words. She returned my kisses with eagerness and I cupped her bare breast, loving the softness of her skin. I flicked her nipple with my thumb and she gasped into my mouth before arching her back.
I pulled back and she pouted at me. “Please, Ren.”
“Soon. We haven’t finished our conversation. Will you let me take you bare, sweetheart?”
“Yes.” There was no hesitation in her voice and the last of my well-hidden anxiety disappeared.
“I’m gonna make you feel so good, Rach,” I whispered into her ear as I cupped her breast again. I sucked on her earlobe. “Let’s get naked, what do you say?”
Her soft laugh turned into a moan when I pulled on her hard nipple. “Yes. Yes, naked is a very good idea.”
Chapter Six
Rachel
I watched with barely-concealed eagernes
s as Ren sat up on the side of the bed. The muscles in his back flexed as he took off his socks and I wanted to touch his warm, hard skin.
So, touch him then.
I sat up and ran my fingers down his spine. He made a low groan and I moved to my knees behind him and pressed my breasts against his back before kissing his shoulder. I licked my way to his neck and nipped his rough skin as I slid my arms around him and rubbed his flat abdomen.
I sucked on his earlobe and ran my hands up to his broad chest, touching the coarse hair that covered it. My long hair was everywhere, brushing against his body and getting in my face. I reached for the hair elastic that sat on my nightstand, but Ren took my hand and shook his head.
“No. Keep your hair down for me.”
He reached up and took a lock of my hair, rubbing it through his fingers. “It’s so soft, so beautiful.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. I ran my right hand down toward the waistband of his jeans but when I tried to cup his dick through the denim, he caught my hand again and pulled it away.
“I’m sorry.” Dull embarrassment coated my apology.
“Don’t be sorry. If you touch me, I’m gonna explode all over your hand.”
I giggled a bit nervously and he squeezed my hand before standing. He turned and shook his head when I went to cover my naked breasts. “No, sweetheart. Don’t be shy. You’re beautiful.”
I lowered my arms and watched the need in his eyes flare. It made my nipples harden into painful buds and my pussy wet. I squeezed my legs together, for once not thinking about the chunkiness of my thighs. The way Ren looked at me, the obvious bulge of his erection against his jeans, made me feel as beautiful as he said I was.
He was undoing his jeans, and I watched with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, as he pushed them and his briefs down his muscular thighs. His cock popped free and my anxiety kicked it up a notch. It looked huge to me, huge and almost angry with the head of it a dark red and a bead of precum at the tip.
He smiled at me as he removed his clothing. “Nervous?”
“A little. I’m worried it’s going to hurt and I’m not great with pain. I did a lot of horseback riding as a teenager so I’m pretty sure that I don’t, like, have a hymen left or anything, so I doubt I’ll bleed, but I’m still…”
