by Ostrow, Lexi
He was breathing heavily, his body tense with the effort to not simply take his shaft in hand and drive into her. Their relationship wasn’t real, and even someone who liked control would not take what wasn’t freely given.
Tasha’s answer was to jerk his boxers down, his cock springing free and pressing against her stomach once she did. With that as all the permission he needed, Nick took both hands and tore the slip of panties away from her body. Taking himself in his hand, he crushed his lips against hers and rubbed his cock against her wet core. Somewhere in the back of his mind he thought about protection, but Tasha rolled her hips, taking the tip of him inside of her. Deepening the kiss, devouring her mouth under his, he slammed his dick in her to the hilt.
Tasha cried out, the sound muffled by their kiss. Nick relished the cry, and the way her core pulsed around his body, coming from just the mere entering into her core.
“That is very encouraging,” he said against her lips and began to thrust.
Nick could feel her starting to thrust her hips, and his went deadly still. His mouth tore from hers, and he used the hand not braced against the wall to lift her chin. Her eyes were closed, and he placed a gentle kiss in the center of her forehead. Her hips moved, and he pushed his body against hers, pinning her to the wall.
“No. Not like that. I’m going to make you beg for this Tasha, and you will never want anyone else touching you but me after this. I promise you that. Fake or not, this will be seared into your mind.”
The words sounded more dangerous than he’d meant them too, as if he were compensating for something. Instead of frightening her off or causing her to scream at him, her body stilled under his. The sensation made his dick twitch, pleased and totally aware that he was buried inside a tight channel. He was tired of waiting for his own release.
The connection was unlike anything he’d ever felt. Even with Leena, he’d felt he’d needed to go slow to not frighten her. He’d unleashed the darkness in him, and Tasha had complied immediately. There was no holding back with her, there was no need too.
He wrapped his lips around her throat and began to place a trail up and down the column of it as he thrust in and out, deliberately sliding as far out as possible and dragging his entire length over her swollen clit. His hips bucked faster, more out of control as Tasha’s hands dug into his shoulders, likely trying to stop from taking what she so obviously wanted.
A groan passed through the room, and Nick didn’t fucking care whose it was. He was lost in the sensation of sliding in out of Tasha, lost in the way she was giving herself over to him in such a perfect way, despite the pretense in their relationship.
“Nick,” Tasha panted, her nails digging into his back.
He grinned against her neck and angled his hips to enter her deeper. “That might be the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard,” he breathed against her neck as his hips circled and slammed in and out, and she began to whimper with need.
The sound of his body slapping against hers as she stood still was erotic, and Tasha’s head began to thrash. Her second release so close, and he thrust harder. He could feel the band of pleasure beginning to build in him and wanted them to experience flying together.
“Now, Tasha, fuck me.” The command was barely above a whisper.
Her hips immediately complied. Her hands left his shoulders and sunk into his hair as she slammed her body against his. She cried out, her hips bucking frantically as his drove maddeningly quick, small thrusts into her. His eyes rolled up into his head, and his release took him by surprise.
“Come for me, Tasha. Come now.”
He felt her explode around him as if all she’d ever needed was for him to coax the orgasm from her body. He felt his release tear through him, feeling her even as her tight body milked his cock. Neither of them stopped their motions, neither ready he assumed. He took her mouth with his again, driving his tongue in and out to match the thrust of his hips as his release ran its course.
Tasha stopped moving first, becoming limp and resting her head on his shoulder. Her breaths were warm against the nape of his neck and vanishing. He removed his hand from the wall, her legs remaining entwined around him, he wasn’t certain when she’d stopped gripping his hair but he liked the way she fit against him like this.
He walked to the bed and gently leaned forward, pressing her back against it before putting his hands on each side of her, their bodies still locked together. His dick was pulsing, and he swore he could feel himself hardening again inside of her.
“That was,” she breathed out, “absolutely mind-blowing.”
He chuckled and kissed her quickly. “You doubted me when I warned you?” The edge of control slipped back into his voice, he didn’t like his bed partners doubting him.
She kissed him lightly, and he could feel the smile on her lips.
“I did not doubt you, but I had assumed there would be more for you to hold back, given that we are not truly in a relationship.
He froze at her words. He’d had the thoughts as they’d fucked, but for some reason, hearing her say them was like a splash of cold water. Under him, her hips began to roll.
“I want that to change, Nick. I don’t know when my intentions toward you changed. Maybe it was when I was watching you interact with your family, or maybe it was seeing you truly relax while building the snowman this morning. What started as a rouse has grown for me. I don’t want to play games anymore, Nick. I want you. I want that for my own.”
He kissed her then, a deep bruising kiss that sent all the blood straight to his dick again. His hips rolled, and she groaned.
“Tell me what you want, Nick.”
He didn’t know if she meant regarding them, or regarding sex, but he didn’t care. “I cannot think of a better thing to have come out of this,” he said as he leaned back to sit up, tugging her upright with him. “And now, we’re going to do this right way, the way couple’s make love.” His hands gripped her ass and tugged her against him, feeling the way her pelvis touched his, leaving no space between them.
Tasha smiled coyly. “Tell me, Nick. Tell me what to do.”
He felt Tasha trying to casually sneak out of his bed and didn’t stop her. His whole body was content from their lovemaking, and he didn’t feel like moving so early in the morning anyway. A smile spread across his face as he remembered last night.
Once they’d gotten home, he hadn’t waited a second to show her how much she’d meant to him. That was the thing about trauma, no matter how small. It brought out emotions that were locked away. Somehow, they’d managed to not rough her up, and be seated innocently on the couch before everyone else had made it home. He wasn’t certain, but he thought they might have stayed away to give them some privacy.
All of them had eaten dinner together and then had all watched Gone with the Wind, in honor of her upcoming movie. She’d barely been conscious on the couch, and it had pained him to have to wake her every few minutes to make sure they didn’t need to get her to the hospital again.
Midnight came and went, and aside from yawning, she hadn’t shown any signs of being less than perfect. They’d all decided sleep was okay and had gone their separate ways. When everyone had gone to their rooms, he hadn’t even needed to ask her to come to him. She had just opened the door and slipped between the sheets as if she belonged there. They hadn’t had sex a third time. He didn’t think he could if she’d wanted too. When she crawled in beside him though, she turned her face away from him and spooned against him. His hand had wrapped around her body as naturally as if they’d been doing it for years.
The sunlight filtered down, and he squeezed his eyes shut harder. Sunlight that bright meant only one thing. It was before ten in the morning, and he would not be moving. Still feigning sleep, he let Tasha open and close his bedroom door without calling her out on the action. His family knew they were together, well so to speak, and them sleeping together wouldn’t have done much except send Leena into a giddy tirade. He thought it was rathe
r endearing that she didn’t want to seem indecent around his parents though.
Nick shoved his head under the pillow and growled. She might have tried to sneak out, but he was awake, and he wasn’t likely to get back to sleep with the memories swirling around in his mind. The motion sent a wave of reminding pain through him. Somehow, he’d not felt an inkling of it while he’d been buried deep inside of Tasha, but now the pain was a thorn in his side. He hated pills, but a swig of brandy wasn’t going to be enough to dull this, even the stuff that he’d gotten for the holidays.
At least thirty minutes had passed. Pushing the covers off with his feet, he swung his feet over the side of the bed and tugged his head out from under the pillow. Now fully awake, he could hear the signs of life coming from other rooms in the house. He opened his eyes and shuffled his way toward the closet. He wasn’t going to wake up on his own, so he opted for tricking his mind into thinking it was a workday. Pulling out a green button down, he grabbed a green striped tie and loafers from the floor.
By the time he was dressed, he was a little more awake, but he could feel the need for caffeine riding him hard. When he opened the door, the smell of pancakes and chocolate wafted at him so quickly, he was unable to stop his mouth from watering. Following his growling stomach, he walked past Tasha’s closed door and to the kitchen.
He was shocked to find that Leena was in the kitchen alone, and the other sounds he’d heard were the talk show playing on the TV in the living room, and her singing “Blank Space” under her breath, rather terribly. He paused at the pony wall and watched her. He’d never noticed how at home she looked while cooking, and he wondered how many other things he’d never bothered to learn about her in all the time they’d known each other.
Clearing his throat, he took a step into the kitchen and went to grab a mug from the cabinet. “Morning,” he said as energetically as he could.
Leena turned to face him, pancake on the spatula, and froze. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so chipper in the morning.” She must have noticed his outfit then because she frowned. “You’re not sneaking away to the office today, are you?”
He laughed and took the carafe off the maker, pouring the heavenly black liquid into his mug. “No, I should check in, but this was just to help wake me up a bit more.” He didn’t bother waiting for the coffee to cool and regretted it as the hot contents burned the roof of his mouth. “Son of bitch,” he growled.
Leena laughed as she turned the stove off and offered him a plate of pancakes. “That is what happens when you don’t have a competent assistant telling you what to do.” She turned her gaze on him, examining him. “Are you okay, Nick? I know I’ve been absent, but I do care.”
He took the plate, careful not to drip the pool of syrup she’d poured. “I’m fine. I think we will both be fine.” He rolled his shoulder, trying to prove it, but wincing. “Okay, so we might need a lot more than two days.”
She laughed softly and rubbed her hand over his shoulder, jokingly trying to make it better.
He couldn’t help flicking a strand of her hair that fell in her eyes. “You’ve worn it down every day. Jake did that for you, didn’t he? Helped you relax I mean?”
She flushed and turned away from him, walking to the table without answering. He followed, thinking it was time they had this conversation. It was long pastime really. She sat, still ignoring him as he took the seat across from her.
“Leena?”
She looked down at the plate before bringing her eyes to meet his. “Yes, there’s something about when I’m with him, I just feel like I can relax more.” She sounded as if she were trying to be very delicate with her words and tone of voice.
He was as uncomfortable as she was, but only because he’d been an ass for far too long and had ruined a friendship. “I know this is way too late, but I’m not mad anymore, Leena. At least, I don’t think I am.”
She stared at him blankly, a look she gave him when she thought he was overreaching or had been working too long.
He reached out and placed his hand over hers and was pleasantly surprised when there wasn’t an inkling of a spark from the action. “I’m serious. Had I taken the time to listen to you or Jake this past year, I might have realized it sooner. And I won’t lie and say I wasn’t still pissed as fuck when I got here. I think my outburst covers that though.”
Leena shook her head warily, still saying nothing.
“I’ve been watching the two of you. Something I certainly wasn’t doing when all I was thinking about was myself last winter, not that anyone would expect to have to watch out for his brother mind you.” The attempt as levity failed miserably, and he shifted in his seat. “The important thing is I’m not mad anymore. I don’t think I realized I wasn’t until this morning. Maybe not even until I asked you that question. But I can’t be mad, not when I see the way he makes you smile.”
She blinked twice in rapid succession. “Do you mean that?”
He hadn’t heard such a hesitant tone in her voice since New Year’s Eve when she’d handed him back his ring. The thought that he had possibly damaged their relationship beyond repair was upsetting, and he knew he had to speak with Jake as well because the things he’d done and said to his brother the past year had been far worse.
He squeezed the hand he held before letting go completely. “I do mean it. He lights you up in a way I’ve never seen. You’re happy with him, and while my brother may always look happy, I can tell he truly is with you.”
“Damn straight, little brother,” Jake said by way of greeting as he walked into the kitchen with a mug in hand. “Didn’t want to intrude but my pancakes —” he stopped and looked from Nick to the plate. “Well, I guess they can’t get cold if Nick is downing them.”
Nick smirked at Jake, completely at ease. However, he knew they had to talk, and their holiday time together was running out. If he didn’t get things cleared up before the wedding, he’d have a grand time pretending to be Jake’s best man.
“Hey, Jake, I hear Leena is stealing Tasha for the day for some wedding stuff. How about we head into town and hit the pool hall? I can apologize for how I’ve been behaving for the past year?”
Jake reached down and grabbed a pancake with his fingers. “That sounds like a plan, and really, we can skip the touchy feely shit that you and Leena did. I’m just happy to have you back as a somewhat close brother. No hurting yourself while we’re there though.” He crammed the pancake in his mouth and walked to stand behind Leena.
“I don’t remember saying anything about a wedding day,” she joked and leaned against Jake. “But, I can’t complain about the two of you acting like brothers should and not arch rivals, so I’ll just go get and we’ll see the two of you later. Maybe I can even snag Anna into coming, if she isn’t all strung up on seeing Marshall of course,” Leena said with a wink. “I’ll keep us safe, I know what happened couldn’t have been avoided, but I promise, I’ll be careful.”
Nick paled and pushed the plate toward his brother as he sat down in Leena’s empty chair. He scrubbed a hand over the back of his neck and looked uncomfortably at the table. “I really do want to apologize.” He said, ignoring Leena’s comment and how much it stung that Tasha had been hurt because he couldn’t handle the ice.
Jake laughed, oblivious to Nick’s discomfort. “Apologies aren’t your strongest suit. The one you did for Leena, I suspect that was because you know she didn’t deserve your bullshit. I, on the other hand, actually did.”
Nick lifted his eyes and narrowed them at his brother, not feeling angry but certainly annoyed. “So all this time, you’ve known you were an ass?”
“Correction,” Jake said as he sipped his eggnog, “I wasn’t the best brother, and I should not have stepped in like I did. But I was not the one that acted like a pisshead for a year.”
“Pisshead, really? That’s what you’re going to call me?”
“If the shoe fits…” Jake let the sentence trail off, laughter in his eyes.
/> All at once, Nick burst out laughing. Tension seemed to roll away, and the man in the room with him was just his brother once more. Just like that.
“Just don’t take so long with this girl. I think Tasha’s not the waiting kind.” Jake stood. “Meet you at the slopes in an hour? I need to check in on a big deal.”
Nick gave a dramatic, shocked gasp. “Are you sure you’re my brother? Working on a vacation?”
“What can I say? Leena has been a bit of terror in getting my act together. Seems she thinks I can beat you out as most successful DeMarco CEO.” He winked and disappeared.
Nick laughed, happy that everything was sorted. He and Tasha had started the week in a lie, but they weren’t ending it in one. He’d never comprehended how Leena had suddenly fallen for his brother in so few days, but now he understood. He was a far cry from in love with Tasha, but he certainly had genuine feelings that had developed very quickly.
“I guess that’s why it’s a Christmas miracle,” he mused.
Tasha slipped the heavy winter coat on and turned to see Anna and Leena already waiting behind her.
“So, what are we doing today? I thought all the wedding planning had been a farce to explain my presence versus saying I’m the world’s best buffer? Can’t help but poke fun at the gimp?”
“Oh, it is. Nick decided it was bonding time with Jake, and after the year the three of us had, I didn’t want to point out that we didn’t have anything we could do. So, onwards to the salon! Nick didn’t have the chance to make me swear to be careful driving, but I’m sure he meant too.”
Her eyes darkened as if remembering the accident from mere days before. As quickly as it had come, it vanished in typical cover-it-up-Leena fashion. She flashed the black AmEx with a grin. “Have I mentioned that your family has some wonderful perks, Anna?”
Anna laughed so hard she doubled over from the effort and had to jog to catch up to them and hop in the SUV. “I am pretty certain Nick let you use that before you were screwing him…or Jake.”
