by Marie James
He winks at me, his glass getting at least twice the alcohol he poured into mine. “Not a big drinker?”
“Not really,” I respond. “You?”
“I’ll have a few beers every now and then, but this vodka I’m sure I’ve had since New Year’s.” He tells me holding up the still nearly full bottle. “I work too much and get called out too often not have a clear head.”
He slides my glass over to me, and I take it gratefully, raising it to my mouth for a tentative sip. I watch as he walks around the counter to Mia, who has finished her meal and opens the back door for her to go out. Mia sits and whimpers, looking back in my direction. “She’ll still be here when you get back.” He says and points outside. Mia bounds across the back porch and into the yard.
He walks over and pulls the stool next to me out and takes a big sip of his drink before he turns his body towards mine. I watch him from the corner of my eye.
“You left out super early the other morning.” He watches me, but I don’t respond to him. “You shut down on me when I was at your apartment, and I want to know if everything is ok. With you. With us.”
I bring my glass to my lips before I respond. Us. I like the sound of that now that I know Mia is, in fact, a beautiful K9 and not a woman being cheated on.
“I heard you mention Mia,” I admit. “I thought she was a girlfriend or a wife.” I lower my eyes to try to hide my embarrassment.
Kaleb’s warm hand reaches out and caresses my neck, his large thumb under my jaw, indicating his desire for me to raise my eyes; I comply. “I figured that out this afternoon. I wished you would’ve asked me about it instead of shutting me down. I’m not a cheater, Mariposa.” I love that he has a nickname for me, the sound of it off his tongue so sensual and full of care.
I sigh when his thumb runs across my bottom lip, and I’m hit with the desire to suck it into my mouth. His eyes darken when my tongue sneaks out and tastes the tip of his finger and a low growl rumbles from his chest.
“I only have eyes for you, Josie. Only you.” He whispers as he leans in and slants his mouth over mine. Unable to resist the urge to feel more of his body heat against mine, I slide off of the stool and stand between his legs, my arms reaching around his shoulders.
He pulls my lower lip through the soft grip of his teeth, and electric bursts hit my core. I’ve never met a man who charges my body the way Kaleb does; the change is pure bliss and a long time coming. The feeling of his hot mouth sweeping over my neck and along my shoulder only intensifies my need for him.
I groan and pull him towards me until I can feel his erection against my stomach. I want to reach out and pull him free; please him and make him come like he did with me the other night. I lower my hands from around his neck and settle them on his thighs. I bask in the pride I feel when his muscles jump and ripple under my touch.
I slowly slide my hands up either thigh as his lips hit mine once again. I wish I was smoother and more experienced, so he wouldn’t see me as an amateur, but my trembling, unsure hands give me away. The fingers of my right hand graze over the tip of the bulge in his pants and feel rather than hear his sharp gasp against my mouth.
Just as I’m about to repeat the actions, his phone starts to ring and buzz on the countertop causing me to jump slightly at the sudden intrusion into our moment.
“Ignore it,” he mutters against my lips as the phone stops ringing.
I pull my mouth from him, my hands settling on his knees. His bright green eyes seem darker, more lustful. I lean in to kiss him again, and the phone begins ringing again. I feel him grip my hips just a pinch tighter in frustration.
“You should probably get that,” I incline my head to the phone buzzing incessantly across the counter.
“Fuck,” I hear him grunt, the exasperation clear in his voice.
Chapter 10
Kaleb
“Perez.” I bark into the phone with more frustration than I should probably have since I was about to put the brakes on this kitchen make out session anyways. Yeah, keep telling yourself that.
“Is Josie with you?” I hear Ian demand angrily in my ear.
“Yeah, man. She’s here.” I answer as the sudden realization that she never called her sister when we showed up at the house. It’s like the rest of the world falls away when I’m with her. Apparently, it’s the same for her.
“Lorali stopped by her apartment, and there was police tape across the busted-up door. She’s freaking out! Why the fuck didn’t you call me? Why the fuck didn’t she call anyone?” He’s seething, and I can almost feel all of his anger through the phone.
“Calm down, Ian.” Josie’s eyes go wide when she realizes the mistake we both made. I run my hand along her cheek and have the urge to just hang up the phone when she closes her eyes and leans into my touch.
“I can’t calm down, Kaleb. My girl is going crazy, and that puts me on edge. Surely you can understand.” I nod even though he can’t see me. I’d flip the fuck out if I showed up at Josie’s apartment and saw what Lorali saw, not knowing where she was.
“I can put her on the phone if you want to verify I’m telling the truth.” I wait for him to answer but I can tell he’s trying to wrangle in his anger. “We were planning to call but briefly got distracted.” Hell, I’m still distracted with her running her tiny, warm hands up and down my thighs, stopping mere inches from my still rock-hard cock.
I hear him chuckle. “Yeah, I bet.” Being unable to concentrate on what Ian is saying, I draw the hand that brushed against my cock so seductively to my face and kiss her palm and the tip of each finger.
“I’ll let Lorali know that’s she’s safe and to give her a call. Tell Josie to turn her phone on. It keeps going to voicemail.” Ian demands.
“Her phone is broken, but we’ll get her another one tomorrow. Have Lorali call my phone.” I instruct him.
“Will do, man. Let me call her back.” Ian says.
“Later,” I answer.
I place the phone on the counter and lick the tip of her middle finger, watching her reaction to my mouth on her.
“Kaleb,” she pants as her eyes grow heavy and she steps back in between my legs, closing the distance that grew when the phone rang.
I place her hand against my cheek and feel her fingers flex against the stubble on my chin. I release my hold on her and allow her to trail her fingers over my face and down my neck. The phone rings again with an interruption I knew was coming.
“Your sister,” I say and hand the phone to her without answering.
She winces and answers the phone, immediately pulling it from her ear. I can hear Lorali’s voice through the phone, and she’s not happy. I jump off of the stool when I hear Mia whimper at the back door. I kiss Josie on the cheek and go to let her in. I then busy myself with making dinner on the other side of the counter from Josie.
I can hear her trying to calm her sister down and assuring her that she’s fine. I hear a whispered, “I want to stay here.” From Josie and it makes me smile as I pull chicken breasts from the freezer and place them in the microwave to thaw.
“Kaleb?” I turn towards Josie. She has my phone clutched to her chest. I raise my eyebrows at her, asking her what she needs as I dry my just washed hands off on a kitchen towel. “Is it okay if Alexa and Lorali stop by tomorrow?” She rolls her eyes. “They want to make sure I’m still alive.”
“Of course,” I respond and smile at her shaking her head like she knows the thought is crazy.
I write down the address on the notepad I keep at the breakfast bar and turn it towards her. She reads it off to Lorali, and after a few more assurances, Lorali is satisfied enough to let her off the phone.
“Sorry about that,” she says.
“Don’t be. Sorry, I distracted you,” I give her a mischievous grin.
“I like your distractions,” she replies seductively.
I clear my throat and turn towards the microwave as I thicken in my pants at her words. “Do you like asparagus?�
�� She doesn’t respond, and I turn my head towards her. The disgusted look on her face tells me no. “Fresh green beans?” That gets a smile out of her.
I open the fridge and pull the produce bag of green beans out. “Can I help?” She asks as I reach into a lower cabinet and pull a steamer basket and pan out.
“I got it.” I wink at her and fill the pan half-full with water and place it on the stove.
“A man who cooks? I could get used to that!” She giggles.
“I wish you would,” I respond with more husk in my voice than intended I realize when her cheeks flush. I plug in the countertop grill, so it can heat. “Another drink?” I ask when I notice her glass is empty.
“You trying to get me drunk so you can seduce me?” She teases.
I walk around the counter and shimmy between her open thighs, kiss her neck, and whisper in her ear. “I don’t think you have to be drunk for me to be able to do that, Mariposa.” She shutters when I lick her neck and bite her lobe.
“No,” she answers breathily.
I pull away suddenly and laugh at the groan of frustration she emits.
“Why do you call me Mariposa?” She asks.
“It means butterfly in Spanish,” I tell her.
“Is there a reason you say it to me?” She busies her hand on her empty glass.
She raises her eyes to me when I begin to speak. “You were incredibly timid the first couple of times I saw you, but when we went to coffee, and we started talking you just came alive,” I explain. “It was like watching a cocoon open up, and this beautiful butterfly emerge.”
She’s grinning at me as I walk back in between her legs.
“A butterfly,” she whispers.
“My butterfly,” I specify before kissing her lips tenderly.
The ready beep of the countertop grill pulls me away from her and back to the kitchen. I grab the chicken from the plate, sprinkle seasoning on it and place it on the grill. It hisses when I close the lid. I turn the stove on under the pan of water.
“I was afraid to call you,” Josie admits.
I look at her with what I’m sure is a confused expression. “Afraid? Why would you be afraid?”
“I was afraid I was reading you wrong. You’re…” she pauses. “You’re incredibly…handsome. I didn’t think you’d be interested in me. I convinced myself it wasn’t possible, even when Alexa and Lorali were pushing me to reach out to you.”
“Wouldn’t be interested?” I say incredulously. “You’re an absolutely beautiful, amazing woman. Who wouldn’t be interested in you? Surely I’m one in a long list of guys vying for your attention.”
She laughs and shakes her head. “I keep to myself, Kaleb. I don’t,” she pauses again. “I’m not very experienced,” she blurts out.
I smile at the idea of her inexperience. It helps keep my Hispanic heritage at bay. The part that makes me want to mark her and never let her out of my sight, informing all others who she belongs to. The part that tells me to fight to the death to win her affection and never let her go.
Before I know it, I’m back in between her legs, stroking her cheek. “I like that.”
“My inexperience?” She asks.
I nod my head. “It means I don’t have that many people to hunt down.” I wink at her, letting her know I’m joking. Kind of.
“One.” She says.
“You’ve only been with one guy?” How is that even possible? She’s gorgeous and twenty-two.
“Once.” She corrects. “If you can even call it that.” She qualifies under her breath.
“You’ve only made love once.” Her flat laugh makes me take a step back.
“I wouldn’t call it making love.” She sighs, and I wait for her to go on. “I got drunk at a college party, and it seemed like a good idea.” She shrugs. “Turns out it wasn’t.”
“I wish it were me,” I admit. “No woman’s first time should be regretted.”
She leans and kisses me softly. “I just wanted you to know. In case we…you know. If you wanted to…I just don’t want you to be disappointed.”
I lick her lips. “Oh, I want to, you know…” I chuckle as I turn her words back on her. “But I promise you, Mariposa, I’d never be disappointed.”
“I want you so bad,” she says and grinds her center against the erection I can’t seem to get rid of in her presence.
I kiss her hard, snaking my tongue into her mouth to meet hers. She’ll have me coming in my pants if I don’t slow this down. I pull my mouth from her, but not before she sucks on my tongue.
“Fuck,” I pant against her mouth as I lean my forehead on hers. “We need to slow down, Josie or we’ll never get to dinner.”
She licks her lips and takes a few measured breaths; her attempt in calming her own need. I close my eyes and try to remind myself that she’s here all night; possibly for days even. We don’t have to rush into anything.
I busy myself with finishing dinner. We manage actual conversation, although periodically induced with innuendo throughout our meal. Even though I told her she didn’t have to, Josie helped me clear the table and wash the dishes. Her frequent yet subtle touches didn’t go unnoticed. A shoulder graze here. A hand roaming across my back there.
By the time the kitchen was set back to order, I was a cobra ready to attack. As much as I wanted to pick her up and carry her to my room where there would be absolutely no sleeping; I let her drag me by the hand to the living room where we settled on the couch.
Mia was at our feet on the rug, snoring softly and Josie was curled into my side. I never thought something so simple would make me feel so content. It’s as if I’d been waiting for her. My life felt complete in this moment, and I was content with just sitting here, holding my girl; that was until I felt her hand glide up my thigh and then I was hit with more longing and need than I’d ever felt in my life.
Chapter 11
Josie
“Kaleb,” I whisper as I rub my hand up his strong thigh.
“You wanna,” he begins
“Yes. I wanna,” I tell him.
He clears his throat. “I was going to ask if you want to watch a movie.” He groans when I flex my fingers, digging in slightly to his thigh.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” I ask as I brazenly graze his erection with my hand.
I’ve never been a super sexual woman. I mean I have desires, and I want to be loved, but historically it is more visions of my future and the idea of having a husband and a man to come home to every day that I picture. Right now, I can’t see past the dirty things I want Kaleb to do to me.
Suddenly, I’ve turned into some wanton vixen, and I can’t seem to be able to control myself. I know he’s resisting. I can tell he wants to slow things down. I also know he’s been putting on the brakes on my account and not his. I’ve seen the outline of his desire all evening long, and his control amazes me. It also makes me want him even more.
“I think a movie would be best,” he answers.
“You sure?” I whisper against his neck as I grip his length in my hand and stroke back and forth over his pants.
He hisses and clamps his hand over mine, stilling my actions. I flex my fingers under his hand, and he pulls my hand away and brings it to his lips. “Josie,” he whispers and clamps his eyes shut, his warm breath tickling my palm.
“Yes?” I mewl in his ear and clamp down on the lobe.
“Fuck,” he gasps and turns his head toward me, his eyes mere slits as I nuzzle my nose against his causing him to raise his head to the angle I need to lick and nip at his neck. He swallows harshly, and I move to straddle him, just as I’d done the other night.
He shifts his weight before I can settle on him, and in a second, I’m flat on my back length-wise on the couch, and he’s hovering over me. I reach for the bottom button of his dress shirt, and he stops me by grabbing my hands. He clasps them in one of his large hands and stretches them above my head.
“I want to touch you,” I whimper.
His response is him leaning in and kissing me, grazing his teeth along my jaw, and shifting his body so I can feel the faintest touch of his erection at my center.
“I want to please you, Kaleb.” I wiggle my wrists and try to get him to let go. He’s not hurting me, but my fingers itch at not being able to touch him.
“I won’t be able to resist you if your hands are on me, Mariposa.” He bites his lips as I raise my hips and grind myself against him.
“You don’t have to resist me, Kaleb.” I know the look in my eyes is begging him for more.
“Josie,” he groans against my neck, the sound is pained, and I smile at the thought that I’m wearing him down.
“I want you.” I’m practically pleading with him. Then a thought hit me. If the roles were reversed and he was pressuring me, and I didn’t want to this situation would be totally different. This calmed me; allowed me to rein my desire in, if only marginally. “You don’t want me,” I say acknowledging his resistance.
He rests his forehead against mine. “I want you more than I’ve wanted anything before in my life, Mariposa.” He takes a calming breath. “I want you to be one hundred percent sure. I need you to not be under duress or the haze of seduction when you make the decision, because when I start making love to you, Josie, I’m not going to be able to stop.”
I can’t help but laugh. “I thought you were trying to dissuade me. That declaration just makes me want you more!”
He shifts back on his heels, and his fingers begin opening the buttons on my shirt. “I knew I could change your mind,” I tease and wiggle my hips. I keep my hands above my head where he left them, afraid if I move them he will stop again.
“I’ve not changed my mind, Josie. I said I wasn’t going to make love to you. I never said I would keep my mouth off of you.” Clearing the last button, he gently glides my shirt open. “Beautiful.” His voice is reverent as he slowly trails his finger between my breast and down my stomach. I watch his hand as he uses his index finger to trail along the top lace of my bra.
I gasp when he traces around my nipple that’s visible through the transparent lace. It hardens to a point, aching for more of his attention. Seemingly reading my mind, he lowers his mouth. His hot breath does nothing to abate the need. I arch my spine and force myself into his open mouth. “Ah,” I whimper at the most exquisite feeling in the world.
