by Mari Carr
She dealt the next hand, hitting both of them with a third card. She looked at her cards. She’d busted. Trey flipped over an eighteen and gave her a wicked grin.
He hadn’t put his shirt back on and she thought perhaps she’d sealed her own fate in the outcome of the game. It was hard to concentrate on the cards with all those dark, rock-hard muscles distracting her. Trey rose and she fought to take a steady breath. She was too nervous, too excited, too ready.
“Turnabout’s fair play.” He gestured to her shirt. “Take it off.”
She clutched her hands together tightly in her lap and tried to stall. He’d never seen her naked and suddenly she was worried. She wasn’t curvy by any stretch of the imagination. “I’m not allowed to participate. Remember?” There was no way she could move from her present position without shaking herself off the couch. She wasn’t scared, but she was afraid Trey would misinterpret her trembling as fear and stop the game before they even started.
Trey knelt before her, his eyes narrowed. “Then get ready to start receiving.” He grasped the hem of her shirt and slowly dragged it upwards. His hands caressed her skin as he removed the material. She raised her arms above her head to help him. Trey gradually bared her chest, cleared her head, but he stopped when the shirt was gathered around her elbows. He tightened his grip on the material, holding her captive with her arms raised.
“Trey,” she said when he paused. His gaze traveled down her chest, lingering on her breasts. The silence was unnerving and her apprehension escaped. “Not much there, huh?” She tried to joke, wishing his face would give her some indication of his thoughts. Unfortunately, it was currently set in stone.
She tried to free her arms, but Trey tightened his hold. “You can only receive,” he reminded her.
Before she could respond, he used his grip on her shirt and arms to twist her until she lay flat on her back along the couch. He followed the motion, coming over and straddling her hips, while keeping her arms raised and trapped.
There was no way to conceal her anticipation and anxiety. Her breathing was too labored, too harsh. With his free hand, Trey snapped open the front clasp of her bra with a practiced hand. The material sprung apart, baring her completely.
“Leave your hands there.” He released his grip, but his commanding tone and hungry look compelled her to obey.
Reaching down, he cupped her breasts in each of his large palms, gently squeezing the flesh until she squirmed beneath him.
“You’re the perfect size for my hands.” He demonstrated his point by pressing them firmly once again.
As his head lowered, his lips moving to engulf her nipple, Ellie was spellbound by his actions. She barely moved, barely blinked as he sucked one pebbled tip into his mouth. She gasped when he increased the suction, trying to lift her hips against him, searching for pressure and relief at the same time. He held her securely to the couch with his weight, not allowing her to move the slightest bit, as he tormented her breasts with his mouth and hands.
Through panting breaths, she started to beg him, the words mindless pleas for more. Trey ignored her, sticking resolutely to his course of driving her slowly insane with beautiful pleasure.
She wasn’t sure how long they lay there when suddenly Trey released her nipple with a pop. He rose from the couch and returned to his seat.
Ellie never moved. Couldn’t move. She was grateful when Trey gave her a few minutes to regain her wits. What the hell was she thinking by starting this game?
She sat up slowly, pulling her shirt off completely.
Trey grinned, when the lace of her bra followed, hitting the floor.
“My girl,” he whispered.
She felt a ridiculous amount of pride over his praise.
“More?” she asked with more bravado than she felt.
He nodded. “Hit me with your best shot.”
She started to shuffle the cards once more, but Trey’s large hand covered hers, halting her.
“How far are you willing to go with this, Ellie?”
They should have set these perimeters at the offset. She’d been a fool not to suggest it. She should have known better. Two plays in and she was ready to sacrifice the commitment she’d made, the one that would help her retain her sanity. She was terrified of making the same mistakes. Falling for a man who wouldn’t fall back. Giving her heart to someone who would crush it and then rub her nose in it daily.
Casual sex. She could go that far, but no further. She searched for an answer to give Trey, but she couldn’t find the words. Gut instinct told her he wouldn’t like what she had in mind and if that was true, she didn’t want to know. She didn’t want Trey to ask for more than she could give and she certainly didn’t want this game to stop before it had even begun. She was being a coward, taking the easy way out, but that still didn’t make the words come.
He gave her a crooked grin. “Fair enough. We won’t go that far.” Then he added, “Tonight.”
She laughed softly. God. She was so screwed. However, instead of telling him what she wanted, she let him believe she was still trigger-shy, let his mistaken assumption buy her more time to sort out the chaos that was currently wreaking havoc in her brain. “Thanks.”
She dealt the cards again. This time, she took the hand, scoring an even twenty-one.
They looked at each other across the coffee table and she knew Trey was curious about what she’d do next. Hell, she was wondering what she’d do. Then, she decided. Maybe they wouldn’t go all the way tonight, but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t push the line. She walked toward him.
“Stand up,” she whispered.
He looked at her curiously and then rose. Before she could consider her choice, chicken out or let common sense rear its ugly head, she sank down to sit on the coffee table, the action leaving her face even with his cock. He’d been sporting an erection since they’d walked into his house, the bulge in his pants taunting and tempting her. She wanted to see him, see it. Badly.
Trey’s hands flew to her head—out of surprise or rejection she couldn’t tell. “Ellie?”
She looked up at him. “Just this far.”
Her hands worked to free the button and zipper on his pants and she noted his hands hadn’t moved from her head. His fingers went to the rubber band holding her hair in a ponytail, removing it. She considered chastising him for breaking the rules, but she loved the feeling of his hands as he stroked her hair and massaged her scalp lightly.
Once she’d unzipped his pants, she reached for the waistband, pulling his pants and boxers down to his ankles. He kicked them off, along with his shoes.
For a moment, she froze, staring at his erection. Jesus. What had she signed on for?
“Wow,” she breathed.
Trey chuckled. “Good answer.”
She feigned annoyance before laughing. “Have to admit I’d always wondered if the rumors about black guys were true.”
He cupped her face, tilting it up to look at him. She expected to see laughter in his face. She was surprised by the seriousness she found instead. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I want to.” She did. She wanted it desperately. Leaning forward, she ran her tongue along his length, savoring the taste, the texture of his erect flesh as he gasped.
“Goddammit, Ellie. I think I should apologize up front.”
She’d been about to take the head of his cock into her mouth, but she froze. “Apologize?”
“I’ve wanted you since that damn happy hour way back in August. No, that’s a lie. I’ve wanted you since the first time we faced off against each other across the court. I’m afraid this isn’t going to take long.”
She grinned and shrugged. “I’m not keeping time on this particular workout.”
He ran the back of his hand along her cheek so reverently she felt tears spring to her eyes. “Nice to know, coach. Carry on.”
She didn’t need to be asked twice. She wrapped her lips around the mushroomed head and applied the same suction h
e’d used on her breasts earlier. Obviously, he liked it, so she sucked harder. His hands cupped her head, but she had to give him props. He didn’t try to direct her motions. Instead he let her chart their course.
She started to move up and down on his cock, though she was struggling to take much in. She hadn’t lied about his size. To compensate, she placed her hand on the base of his cock, gripping it tightly, moving it in time with her mouth.
Trey’s softly spoken praises and muttered curses spurred her on and encouraged her to take him faster. The head of his cock brushed the back of her throat and he growled.
She squeezed her legs together, trying to contain her own arousal over this sensual act. She’d never found giving a blowjob so hot, so exciting. She increased the speed once more and this time she knew she’d pushed Trey as far as he could go.
“Holy shit. Can’t hold back, Ellie. Can’t stop.”
She sucked harder and Trey exploded into her mouth, hot jets of come spraying the back of her throat as she swallowed. Even as his orgasm passed, she continued to thrust her mouth along his flesh, the action easier now as his cock began to soften. She was hesitant to release him. She squirmed again. Her vibrator was going to get a hell of a workout tonight.
Trey placed his hands on her cheeks and lightly pushed her back, pulling his cock from her mouth. Once he was free, he dropped to his knees in front of her, kissing her so powerfully, her head swam.
His lips devoured hers, his tongue brushing hers as if he couldn’t get enough of her taste. Finally, after several years of the hottest kisses of her life, Trey moved away.
“You need to come, don’t you?”
She nodded. “It’s okay. I can—”
He didn’t let her finish the sentence. Instead he lifted her from the coffee table and carried her to the couch. She wasn’t used to being with such a physically strong man. It was a heady feeling.
Before she could consider his actions, he had her pants and panties on the floor. She was completely naked, but Trey didn’t seem as interested in that fact as he was in seeing to her needs. He pushed her legs apart, shoving two fingers inside her. She cried out—in surprise, in relief. He stroked her deeply, quickly, and she let his potent thrusts drive her to the brink. She’d understood his concerns about staying power. The last few months with Trey had felt like one long bout of foreplay. Her body was on fire and it wasn’t going to take much to reduce her to a pile of ashes.
Trey rubbed her clit with his thumb and she screamed. She splintered into a million, bright shiny pieces, trembling in the aftermath of the beautiful gift he’d given her.
Neither of them moved for a long time. They were both naked and sated and in over their heads.
Finally, he spoke. “Don’t go home tonight. It’s too late. I don’t want you driving alone.”
She nodded. She was too exhausted to contemplate moving, let alone getting into her car and making the trek home. “I’ll take the couch this time.”
He started to protest, but she cut him off. “I can’t move. I don’t want to move.”
He grinned, grabbing a blanket from the back of the couch. He covered her up, tucking her in with care. As he moved around the living room, gathering up his clothing, she drank up the vision of his tight, bare ass, the defined muscles in his back. He was stunning. The ideal model of male perfection.
He turned and caught her looking. Her gaze drifted to his cock, surprised to see it wasn’t quite as soft as it had been earlier. He raised the clothing in his hand and covered himself. “Jesus. You keep looking at me like that and I’m going to forget to be a gentleman.”
She closed her eyes. “I’m sorry, but I think maybe you should be the one with the nickname Hottie.”
He came to stand beside her. Bending over, he placed a quick kiss on her forehead. “No,” he said. “The nickname is yours. All yours. Good night, Ellie.”
She smiled, grateful to him. She wasn’t quite ready for more, despite what her body wanted. Her decision to move them from friends to casual lovers was too fresh, too new. She needed a good night’s sleep and a clearer head to make sure her decision wasn’t based strictly on overwrought hormones. Trey was honorable and he respected her feelings—confused as they were.
“Good night, Trey.”
Chapter Five
Halftime
The crowd at the party cheered when he and Ellie walked into Grace and Jamie’s house together. It was a tradition of their crowd to greet all newcomers with a loud “Heeeey.”
Ellie laughed and rolled her eyes. “Your friends are insane.”
“They’re your friends now too, babe.”
It had been two weeks since their sensual celebration at Trey’s house. While the status quo of their relationship hadn’t changed, Trey sensed Ellie was softening to the idea of dating him. When he’d asked her to attend tonight’s festivities with him, she hadn’t hesitated to accept. He’d been careful not to call the outing a date, but as far as he was concerned, that’s exactly what it was.
Jamie and Grace were holding their annual tacky Christmas sweater party. Today had been the last day of school prior to the winter break. The teachers drinking and eating in the living room were clearly ready to make merry.
“It’s about time you two got here.” Grace walked up and offered Ellie a friendly hug and then Trey bent down to give Grace a kiss on the cheek. Grace gave him a saucy wink, clearly excited to see him arrive with Ellie on his arm.
“All right,” Jamie said, walking out from the kitchen with three beers in his hands. “Hunter and Donovan are here. Now it’s a party.”
Jamie handed each of them a drink.
Trey burst into loud laughter. “What the fuck are you wearing, man?”
Jamie’s grin grew. “You like my outfit?” His best friend was sporting green polyester pants that couldn’t be called anything other than high waters and a woman’s gaudy Christmas sweater.
Grace shook her head. “The sweater is an old one of mine. I found it in the attic the other day. Nearly died when Jamie said he wanted to wear it.”
“And the pants?” Trey asked, gesturing at the three-decades-out-of-style polyesters.
Jamie shrugged. “Got them at a consignment shop a couple years ago. Don’t you remember? They were part of my Halloween costume.”
Trey nodded. “That’s right. You were a seventies porn star that year. Took you nearly a month to grow out that Fu Manchu as I recall.”
Until that point, Ellie had managed to contain her giggles. Once Trey mentioned the mustache, she gave up the battle. “Oh my God. I would have loved to see that.”
Grace took a quick drink of Jamie’s beer. “I think I have pictures of it somewhere. I’ll dig them out.”
“You two are looking pretty snazzy yourself,” Jamie joked, pointing to Ellie and Trey’s matching Rudolph sweatshirts and red and black checked pants.
“Ellie picked them up for us at Walmart. Can you believe this whole get-up cost less than ten bucks?” Trey joked.
Grace giggled before walking away. “Yeah. I think I can,” she said over her shoulder.
Jamie gestured toward the kitchen. “There’s a shitload of food on the counter. Beer’s in a big tub out on the back porch. God knows it’s cold enough out there to keep it chilled. We pushed the living room furniture against the walls to make a dance floor. Music’s gonna start soon. I’m just letting everybody lay a base first.”
Trey nodded in understanding.
“Lay a base?” Ellie asked.
Trey wrapped his arm around her shoulders and pulled her close.
“He means he’s letting them get tipsy before he starts all the crazy dancing and singing.”
“Ah, gotcha. The Cougar Club playlist.”
Ellie had teased them more than once about the way their gang had standard songs they played every time they got together.
Jamie laughed. “Maybe we should release an album.”
Trey rolled his eyes. “God. Let’s spare the
rest of humanity from that.”
Jamie tapped his beer bottle against Trey’s and raised his eyebrows. “I’m going to go turn down the heat. It’s already too warm in here and I have a feeling once we start dancing, it’ll only get hotter.”
Trey nodded and watched his friend walk away. He noticed more than a few of their colleagues taking in his and Ellie’s matching outfits. Lucas was giving him a shit-eating grin from across the room and Trey knew his friend was going to start pressing for details. Trey wished there were deets to share.
Jamie dimmed the lights and walked over to fiddle with his iPod. Trey grinned as he watched his friend. Jamie was the ultimate party host. He knew how to entertain and Trey hadn’t spent too many nights with the man that hadn’t been some of the most fun evenings of his life. The guy knew how to have a good time.
“You hungry?” Trey asked.
Ellie shrugged. “I could eat. I skipped dinner because Grace warned me she was making a ton of food.”
Trey took her hand and led her to the kitchen. They were just about to enter the room when Grace stopped them.
“Wait,” Grace said. “Look up.”
Trey glanced above his head and spotted the mistletoe. “You’re sabotaging your guests. Luring them in here for food.”
Grace laughed. “Jamie’s idea. However, regardless of our underhanded tactics, tradition overrules in this case.” She gave them a wicked grin before turning to use the second doorway in the kitchen—also adorned with mistletoe—to take a tray of food to the living room.
Ellie looked at the mistletoe before smiling at him. “Guess we wouldn’t want to break a time-honored custom.”
Trey grasped her waist, deciding that was all the invitation he needed. “I don’t want that guilt on my head.” He bent down and kissed her. If Ellie was expecting a quick, friendly buss, she’d be disappointed. He’d been lusting after her lips since the night she’d given him the greatest blowjob of his life. He wasn’t about to waste this opportunity.
Ellie raised her arms and wrapped them around his neck. She welcomed his long kiss, returning it with a vengeance. When they broke apart, they continued to hold each other for a long time as he looked into her eyes.
