Troy chuckled as he cupped his hand and scooped water over her shoulder, still not touching her intimately, although his other hand was wrapped around her torso, stroking her ribs in a way that was having an effect on her pussy. How would those skilled fingers feel rubbing her clit?
“The jury is out until you hear him snoring. I’d like the co-sleeping arrangement, but he may not even allow that option.”
“Tank snores?”
“Like a jackhammer.”
“I snore sometimes, too. What about you?”
“I sleep like an angel. My mom said so. She’s a Aggies fan, too.”
“Figures.” She flicked water at his chest and giggled. “I guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. About the snoring, I mean. Our Aggies and Longhorns differences are irreconcilable.”
“I’ll do my best to overlook your bad taste in burnt orange. Seriously, I have an extra set of ear plugs here if you need them when you spend the night, if Tank’s snoring keeps you awake.”
The reassuring statement sent a wave of longing through her because of what he left unsaid. They wanted her to stay here, and not just because it was a necessity. Troy wanted her comfortable with both of them.
“Do you have contact with Bob anymore?”
The question was jarring and brought her back to the present from thoughts of sharing a bed with them. She shook her head. “A clean break was better. Looking back, I can see we really weren’t meant to be together at all. If he couldn’t get past those early days, he wouldn’t have weathered other storms I’ve been through since then. Like when Trevor escaped from his prison transport and came after me and in the hospital when I was in labor and he finagled his way into the labor and delivery unit. Bob wouldn’t have handled my water breaking all over his oxfords, much less all the rest. The way you guarded me…I thought about that afterward. You put your bodies, your safety, between him and me.”
“There was no way we were letting him anywhere near you. I’d have killed him with my bare hands first. It infuriates me all over again to think he’d try to hurt you again and take your little one. Maybe it makes me seem bloodthirsty, but if it had been up to us, he wouldn’t still be a burden on taxpayers.”
“My heroes. I was embarrassed that you were right there and had listened to me while I gave birth.”
He stopped stroking her and tipped her chin up so she was gazing directly into his soft green eyes. “Listen up, woman. I was cheering you on, even while I was guarding your door. I was proud of you. Giving birth is hard, painful work, and I was in awe of you.”
She shrugged, recalling how she’d felt like such a cow when they’d tried to help her into the truck to the hospital, with her pants all wet from her water breaking, and how she must’ve sounded, moaning and huffing away.
“Stop that,” he said, frowning as he leaned forward, practically nose to nose with her. “You’re amazing. A goddess. And then afterward, when you were holding your fresh, squalling baby, with tears streaming down your pink cheeks, and the perfect love on your face...” He stroked a strand of hair behind her ear as he tried to speak and had to clear his throat. “Woman, you took my breath away.”
Taking a chance, she leaned in the last half-inch and kissed him. “Will you make love to me?”
Chapter Fifteen
“Look at you, seizing the day and all,” Troy said, love welling and choking him up a little as Jessica held his gaze, her blush spreading down to her throat and her chest. His ears and the tops of his cheeks heated in response. He didn’t get as red-faced as Tank did sometimes, but he could still feel the blush creeping.
“I’m still nervous, but I want to,” she said as she glanced toward the door.
“We’ll take it slow, Jess. Slow as you want. Bella’s door can stay cracked open so you can hear her if she calls out.”
“No loud, hot monkey sex?” He could feel her laughter rippling through her, and the movement made his cock surge, ready to get the show on the road.
“Not this time, at least.” He helped her up and couldn’t stop himself from caressing her silky wet thigh as she stood in the tub and reached for a towel. His cock gave a sudden double thump against his abdomen when she turned so her pussy came into view, and he was surprised he didn’t pass out when all the blood left his big head. She’d said she wanted him and her sweet cunt was wet and swollen. Ready.
Tank’s head would probably explode when he told him about it later.
“Are you ogling me?” she asked, and he looked up to see her smiling at him over her shoulder.
Chuckling, he nodded. “You have a very pretty pussy. I want to eat you all up.”
She mashed her lips together but couldn’t cover the giggle as she drew the towel against her chest. “I think I might like that.”
“You might? You’re not sure?”
“I’ve never known a man who wanted that. But I think I’d like it if you did.” Her gaze was clear, with no hint of hidden uncertainty, encouraging him.
“You were a good girl, weren’t you?”
“Uh-huh. My grandmother raised me to be an independent woman. She was big on taking responsibility. When I graduated from high school, I went on to college and focused on being a good student…not partying.”
He squeezed the back of one of her plump thighs, enjoying the solid, warm strength of it. His cock throbbed as he imagined his head locked between them while he licked her honeyed, warm pussy to his heart’s content.
Zing! “Fuck,” he groaned as his cock threatened to explode right then.
“You okay?”
“Yup. The horn dog is just a little desperate.”
With a giggle-snort, she slowly climbed from the tub, tempting him with that view on purpose, the little vixen. “Yet here you are asking if I was a good girl.”
“We’ll get back to that conversation later.”
“Mmm.” She stood on the mat and dried herself from neck to toes, rubbing his bath towel over her light olive skin. She glanced back at him as she rubbed first a shoulder and then the supple curve of her spine. That sweet line led down to the twin indentations above her lushly rounded derriere, twin spheres of rounded bliss he couldn’t wait to grasp with both hands. Perfect healthy handfuls that made his hands clench as he watched them bounce with her movements.
Zing!
All the blood had already left his head, so standing in the tub gave him a head rush. He paused to stretch and grinned as she turned her back to him and bent over to dry her calves and ankles. There was a naughty little tease hidden in all of that reserve, and he loved watching her emerge.
He gave two broad swipes with the towel she handed him and dropped it without another thought. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, nibbling at her neck and her shoulders, waiting as she trembled and then went limp, compliant in his arms. “You are beautiful. So beautiful.”
Her hand slid over his forearm until it rested on his, lightly cupping her breast, and she gave a small squeeze, signaling her willingness.
“Thank you, Jess.”
“I think you two are the ‘patientest’ men I’ve ever known.”
“Baby, when you know what you want, nothing else will do.” He stroked the lock of hair from her temple and brushed his lips against hers, drawing her closer and groaning as she turned in his arms and leaned into him, plastering as much of her damp fragrant skin to his as she could. Then he indulged himself in a quick grab and squeeze of her luscious ass cheeks. “Mmm! Let’s get you to bed before you get chilled.”
“Not much chance of that,” she whispered with a shaky giggle as she followed him into the bedroom. She murmured something else and snorted, and he stopped in surprise.
“What did you say?”
She bit her lip and pointed at the horn dog dick bobbing up and down at his groin like a dog seeking favor. “He’s not the only one who’s horny.” Then the woman rubbed her thighs together, removing any doubt what she meant.
He gave her an expression
of shocked surprise. “I thought you were a good girl!”
“Getting naked with you seems to be changing that, cowboy.”
He scooped her up in his arms and chuckled as she stifled a squeal. “I like that cute noise you make when you’re surprised.”
“It’s not gonna be anything compared to the noise Bella is gonna make if she comes in here to see what the uproar is about.”
“Understood,” he murmured, stilling with her in his arms. “I should be careful. The last thing I want is more interruptions. Feel good?”
With a decisive nod, she said, “Relaxed. The bath was nice.”
“What else?” he asked, spotting the shininess in her eyes.
“Happy. And…safe. You should put me down.”
“I like holding you.”
“But you’ll put your back out. And then what good will you be to me?”
“Dick works just as well when I’m flat on my back. Just sayin’. But it’d take more than you in my arms to put out my back, baby.”
“But you can’t make love to me this way.”
“Wrap those sweet thighs around my hips and I’ll prove to you that I can.”
She raised an eyebrow at him, and he chuckled. “Right. I can show you Dick is a stand-up guy next time. All right, then.”
“Troy?”
“Yup?” he replied as he laid her down.
“I’m really okay. You don’t have to keep things light for me. I know you’ve been doing that for my benefit.”
“You figured that out, huh?” He sat beside her and intertwined his fingers with hers. “I guess I have been in the habit of doing that.”
“I appreciate it. Don’t think otherwise. You’ve done so much to make practically everything better.”
He opened the night table drawer and retrieved a condom from the box. She placed a hand on his arm and shook her head, but he said, “I don’t mind using one. I mean I’m clean. You don’t have to worry about that.”
“I’m on the pill. And I know what kind of men you and Tank are and…this feels big. I want it this way. It’s my choice.” Those words right there reminded him that she knew what it was like to have no choice in anything, and he determined to make love to her so thoroughly that her brain cells would blot out any old painful memories.
“You’re very warm,” she said, her voice trembling a little as she glanced at their joined hands.
He kissed her as he moved to hover over her, wrapping an arm around her and drawing her to the center of the bed so her head rested on a pillow. “I’ll warm you.” His levity faded as he spread kisses across her chest, and he listened to the soft hitch in her breathing. Everything about her was beautiful, even the husky sound of her panting when he crouched over her, cupped her breasts, and spread kisses over her velvety skin.
She caught her breath when he paid attention to her nipple, sucking that tight peak into his mouth, and he growled with enjoyment as she arched her back, getting as close to him as she could, and slid her fingers into his hair. Her fingernails sent rivers of sensation down his spine as she grazed them over his scalp, and he nearly lost it when she spread her legs and wrapped them loosely around his hips, grinding her warm center against his abs. A little shift of his hips and he’d be there, but he wouldn’t rush her, much as it hurt to wait for her signal.
He practically swallowed his tongue when the signal came a second later. She arched again when he shifted to pay attention to her other nipple, and the head of his cock brushed against her hot, saturated cunt.
“Baby,” he murmured, hardly able to do more than growl it. “Let me—fuck, that feels so good.”
“I want you,” she whispered as she writhed beneath him, rubbing her pussy against his cock.
Her panting increased as he sucked strongly on her nipple, his resolve failing him. A wave of tingling heat lit up every nerve ending in his body as the head of his cock met with the taut, swollen resistance of her pussy. That smooth, hot easing deserved its due, and he pumped in tiny strokes, teasing her as her arms tightened around his neck and she flung back her head, her jaw dropping in a silent cry as her body tightened up beneath him.
A shudder rippled through her, and she whispered over and over, “Oh God, Oh God.” A wave of emotion engulfed him as he listened to her panting reach its peak. In a strangled, almost shocked voice, she said, “I’m coming.”
“Yes,” he moaned as he met each contraction of her cunt, each undulation of her hips with measured thrusts, easing the motions as she took him within her. Every muscle seemed to buzz with tension as he held back his orgasm by a thin thread, allowing her to ride out her release.
As her quaking eased, she sniffled. Worry filled him, and then she said, “I’m sorry.”
* * * *
Jessica held tightly to Troy’s neck, panting against his shoulder, afraid to let go for fear of seeing his reaction.
In a strident, breathless tone, he said, “Why would you be sorry?”
“Because I came so fast?” she replied, her querying tone mirroring her shock and confusion.
He tugged at her arms to loosen her hold, and she flopped her head onto the pillow. He’d think she was some kind of novice. “Honey, coming is the whole idea when I’m making love to you.”
“Yeah, but who comes before you’ve really even gotten started.”
A sexy, confident smile spread across is his lips. “Someone who’s really really turned on. Speaking of getting started, you’re gonna come a whole lot more because I’m just getting started.” He gave a gentle thrust of his hips, and she gasped as his huge cock moved inside her, exciting every nerve ending she had. “Come all you want, baby, and don’t ever apologize for it again. Consider that a small aperitif,” he growled against her neck as he thrust again. “Because I’m gonna eat you aliiiive.”
Stifling her giggle, she lost herself in the rocking of their joined bodies, every doubt receding about whether her climax had led to a plateau. The soaring sensation returned, her body tightening as she bucked against him.
“That’s it, baby. Hold on to me because I’m gonna fuck you good.”
“Yes, oh yes, please.” Her throat was so tight she doubted he heard the words, but merciful heavens, she sure meant them. A climax burst through her, and she lost control, fucking him stroke for stroke as the pressure kept mounting, her body asking for more and more of him. Pleasure exploded over and over, but she still held tight, demanding more.
His deep chuckle was off-the-charts sexy as he rose above her and held her gaze, thrusting over and over. As he looked down at where their bodies were joined, his face grew flushed. Grasping her hips, he said, “That’s right. Take it, baby. Here it comes.” His thrusts became erratic as he rolled his head back and he groaned. “Oh, yes.”
Gratitude engulfed her and made her heart pound even harder as she watched his expression change from passion to vulnerability. Her orgasm crested as she realized she’d never even had time to be afraid of sex.
Breathing shakily, his eyes half closed, Troy went limp against her, resting his heated cheek against her shoulder as he panted. Overwhelmed by emotion, she held him close, inhaling his scent, memorizing how it felt to be filled by him, body, heart, and soul.
Finally, he drew a deep breath and lifted his head to lay sweet kisses on her collarbones. He glanced up at her with mischief in his eyes. “I think you killed Dick.”
“Nope. He’s still kicking. I can feel it.”
Their combined laughter was freeing as he lifted off of her and scooted behind her, pulling her close.
She’d never been the type for cuddling immediately after sex. She’d always needed time to cool off, and Bob hadn’t ever liked sleeping skin on skin, especially if sweat was involved. She’d never blamed him because she’d been the same way, but this was totally new territory.
Her thighs were damp, and his cum leaked in a damp trail from her pussy, and he still held her close. Yeah, it was totally new territory that she really wanted a chance t
o get used to.
She quieted her breathing, listening for any sign that Bella might’ve stirred.
Troy stroked her hip and then gave her a comforting squeeze. “Sleep, Jess. I’ll hear her if she wakes up.”
Chapter Sixteen
After leaving Hank with Brian Dornan at the other house, Tank made the misty early morning trek back to the house. Curious and a little concerned about how Jessica’s night alone with Troy had gone, he was quiet as he unlocked the door. He’d come back early because he hoped to check on Jessica in private but also to find out from Troy if she’d been all right during the night. And yes, he wanted to know if they’d made love or not. Not because he was jealous—at least that wasn’t it entirely. He wanted to know if she’d come through it all right if they had.
The alarm didn’t make a noise, so he knew Troy was already up, as usual. Always an early riser since leaving the military, he hadn’t slept through the night in years. Tank hoped it hadn’t been a nightmare that had awoken him.
The tinny sound of a spoon stirring a cup drew him to the kitchen. Troy lifted a chin in greeting and blew the steaming coffee in his cup. No dark circles showed under his eyes, and his shoulders were relaxed.
“Everyone sleep okay?” he asked as he silently got a mug from the hook under the cabinet.
“I haven’t slept that well in a long damn time, but Bella chatters in her sleep almost as much as she does when she’s awake.”
“Jess?” Tank asked, watching for any sign of a problem.
“Nightmare woke her, but not to the point where she was screaming.”
They’d heard what that was like on a few occasions, even from the distance where her house was located across from theirs. Sound travelled funny on the rolling terrain of the Rockin’ C Ranch.
“We conked out pretty quick, and I forgot to pull the covers over her. Once I did that, she was out. She may not even remember waking up. She has this cute little wiffling snore.” Troy snorted and took a sip of his coffee. “Adorable.”
Operation Ginger Avenger Page 16
