The Praetorian

by Dawn L. Chiletz

  She pauses. “You were blue.”

  “I was? That sounds bad.”

  “We thought it was part of the challenge, but then Dawson showed up.” She shakes and wraps her arms around herself once more.

  I wrap the red blanket from the bed around her shoulders. “Better?” She nods as I rub her arms.

  “Do you know why Dawson let you come up here?”

  She shakes her head.

  “Because he knew you were here earlier today and he also knows I’m a hell of a lot happier when you’re around.”

  “You are? Is that because you think I’m hot?” she asks playfully.

  “I think you’re smoking hot. And this dress, and those heels,” I say motioning toward the door. “I messed up my lines on the stairs because I couldn’t catch my breath after I saw you. Fuck, Reed. I thought you were beautiful before…”

  I slide my fingers across her smooth cheek and she closes her eyes. “Do you like it when I touch you?”

  Her eyes flutter open and she stares at my lips.

  “I know this is crazy. I know that being with me seems like taking too big of a risk to you, but I don’t want to miss out on something amazing because the timing isn’t perfect. I told you I don’t like to talk about my shit. But if not telling you means I could lose you, then I’m willing to give you all I’ve got. Because when I’m around you, I can’t think. All I can do is feel. I haven’t allowed myself to feel for a really long time. Right now, more than anything, I want to feel you in my arms, against my skin, and underneath me, all night long.”

  She gasps, and I’m worried I went too far. Rising, she tosses the blanket on the floor.

  “Reed, wait,” I plead.

  She walks to the bedroom door and I’m afraid she’s going to leave. But instead, she turns the lock and leans back against it.

  I float across the room to her, unaware of actually walking, my leg no longer of any concern. She’s breathing heavily, and her back is pressed firmly against the door. I lean my forehead up against hers and she touches my chest. Her fingers pulse as she glides the tips over my exposed skin and her mouth opens slightly as if to get more air.

  Lowering my head, I inch my face closer to hers, resting my forearms against the door, effectively trapping her. Her intoxicating scent surrounds me with only inches separating us. I drop my focus to her mouth, begging for attention.

  I close the distance and gently tug on her upper lip; her shoulders relaxing with every slide of my tongue against hers. She glides her fingers underneath the fabric of my shirt, trailing them up and down my back before tugging me closer. I groan in response, deepening the kiss until all I can taste is her.

  The simple act of kissing arouses me more than ever before. It’s as if her mouth was made for mine. Our tongues tangle as I push my hips against hers, pinning her to the door. She wraps a leg around my waist, pressing her body even closer. It’s taking everything I have not to give in and take what I want.

  I trail my fingers along the side of her cheek, taking a slow path down the curve of her neck before wrapping my hand around the back to devour her gasps and sighs. It’s like I’ve been starved for her my entire life and I can’t get enough.

  When she sucks my tongue between her lips, vivid images of her performing that same act on my dick flash behind my closed lids. I skim my fingers along the outer shell of her breasts, past her quaking stomach before rounding the luscious curve of her ass. With little guidance, Reed wraps the other leg around my waist while clasping my face, never once breaking our connection as I walk us over to the bed.

  The minute her ass hits the plush mattress, I give her a lingering kiss before stepping away, undoing the remaining buttons of my shirt and tossing it to the side. Reed leans forward, pressing an open-mouthed kiss to my stomach, creating a rippling shockwave through my body as she trails a path up and down my abs.

  Tugging my belt free while her lips rest on my chest, she unbuttons my pants, sliding the zipper down at a slow, torturous pace. I gnaw on my lower lip, trying to distract myself from my need to be set free.

  Reaching her hands back behind me, Reed presses them into my ass, kneading the muscles while digging her nails into the fabric of my pants that are barely hanging onto my hips. Another aching throb sends a spark up my spine. Need and desire travel through my blood, all of it crying out for the woman setting my body on fire.

  In one swift motion, she tugs at my pants, letting them and my boxer briefs drop to the floor. My cock springs free, eager and wanting the beauty who’s crawling off the edge of the bed to kneel before me. I watch with rapt attention as those red lips wrap around the head of my dick, disappearing into the warm, wet heat of her mouth. I let my head roll backward as her tongue runs up and down my shaft; my eyes rolling into my head with each suck and pop from her mouth. If I’m not careful, this is going to end sooner than I want. It’s too good. This isn’t how I want to come in her. Using all my willpower, I pull her upright, allowing my body to cool down, even though the vision of my dick disappearing between those lips still plays on a loop in my mind.

  “Turn around,” I whisper into Reed’s ear. She obeys with a smirk as I repeat the torture she inflicted when she took her time with my zipper. I push her hair to the side, exposing more of the milky white skin on her back, trailing my fingers along the seam until the dress falls from her shoulders and pools around her feet.

  She moans lightly, and the sound encourages me. Standing only in her bra and panties, I kiss my way from one shoulder to the other, letting the straps fall down her arms. A shudder runs through her body as I smile against her skin, trailing my lips higher to get a glimpse over her shoulder at what awaits me.

  Her breasts are taught and perky. I reach my hand around her and shift the cup of her bra, pulling it down and exposing her breast to the cooler air. She arches her back and slides her arm around my neck as I tease her pert nipple, rolling it between my thumb and forefinger. Every moan that escapes her lips brings my desire to life even more. It’s as if she’s singing to me.

  Turning her to face me, I attack her mouth again while expertly undoing the clasp of her bra. I bend to take her breast in my mouth, so soft and supple against my tongue, as I lave against the tightening bud.

  I lift her onto the bed and climb alongside her. Taking my time, I skim my fingers down the valley of her breasts, over the trembling muscles of her stomach before skirting around the edges of those black-laced panties. I smile and follow the path of my fingers, licking and sucking down her body as she writhes beneath my touch. Reed tugs at my hair, pushing me down until I’m seated before what I crave. A scrap of material stands between me and what I want most. I place a kiss to the outside of the lace. Another moan of pleasure escapes her lips, growing louder as I tug the panties aside and take the first real taste of her.

  It’s everything I ever hoped for and more.

  My tongue dances along her as I alternate between tender caresses and deep, hard licks. Feeling her muscles tighten around my tongue drives me further, taking no prisoners as I eat her with the hunger of a starving man.

  When I slide a finger inside, Reed tightens her grip on my hair, shouting her prayers in the air for all to hear.

  No more foreplay. I need to be inside her. Now.

  I grab a condom from the nightstand and peel it open with my teeth.

  “Roman. I want you. So bad.”

  Her eyes are full of want and need as I slide the condom over my length, pressing against her while slowly sliding inside, feeling every inch until I’m surrounded entirely by her. Her gasp pushes me on as she meets me thrust for thrust while tangling her tongue with mine.

  It’s been so long, but I don’t want this to end. She locks her legs around my waist, digging her heels into my ass as we move in tandem to a rhythm only we know. I snake my hands underneath her, changing our position slightly, letting me slide deeper within her depths. It’s too much.

  The first shock up my spine has my balls tighte
ning as I pick up the pace, racing toward the orgasm I know is coming. “Oh fuck.” With a few jerking motions, I explode inside her, finding my release. Reed hasn’t finished yet, still gripping my shoulders while grinding her pussy for any friction she can find.

  Reaching down, I snake my hand between us and vibrate my hand like I’m playing the perfect guitar strings of her pussy. She tightens around my cock, crying out my name as she pulses and shakes underneath me. Reed’s lingering orgasm brings a slow smile to her face as her eyes come back into focus.

  I decide to make it my mission in life to make her come during sex. It’s greater than anything I’ve ever witnessed and more valuable than anything I own. From this moment on, I want her pleasure to be mine and mine alone.

  I lower my head to hers and she threads her fingers through my hair. Staring into her eyes, I know this is way more than I bargained for and better than I ever dreamed. For the first time in my life, I think I could be in love.

  The sun is just starting to rise. I’m facing the window and I’ve been lying here thinking for hours, watching for the early signs of dawn. I haven’t slept at all, but I’m not the least bit tired.

  His arm is wrapped around me and I can feel his warm breath on the back of my head. He’s still sleeping, and I don’t want to move a muscle for fear of waking him.

  Lightly skimming my fingers over his arm, I trace the lines of his tattoo. It ebbs and flows in no particular manner. It’s art but nothing in particular. I wonder if he drew it himself. That’s when I finally see the initials on his wrist: D.L.C.

  Last night was perfect. I close my eyes and burn it all into my memory. He is nothing like I imagined he would be and more than I ever thought I’d deserve.

  I could have slept peacefully in his arms, but I didn’t want to miss a single moment of being here with him. I can’t believe I made love to Roman Creed. Who am I?

  He stirs and strengthens his grip around me, pulling me tighter against his chest. He kisses the back of my head and I turn to take one on my lips. He doesn’t disappoint. I gaze at his beautiful face. It should be illegal to create a man this good-looking. I could get wet just looking at him.

  “Good morning,” he whispers.

  “Hi.”

  “How are you? Did you sleep?”

  “No, but I’m great. You could say I’m amazing.”

  “I would say that.”

  I smile as he nuzzles my neck, breathing deeply.

  “The sun is rising. I should get back to my room before anyone sees me. I don’t want to have to explain why I’m still in my dress or do the walk of shame.”

  “No shame. Not an ounce of it and I’m not ready for you to move,” he whispers in my ear.

  “Trust me, if I could, I’d stay right here, wrapped up in you all day long.”

  He moans. “I would like that.” He tugs on my earlobe with his lips.

  “But I can’t so you need to stop kissing me.” I whisper.

  “I don’t want to stop,” he says.

  I take his face in my hands and force him to look at me. “Are you feeling okay? I don’t know how this whole allergy thing works. Are you really going to be fine?”

  “I don’t think I’ve ever been better.”

  Knowing the grin on my face probably looks ridiculous, I ask, “So I guess you had a good time last night?”

  “I’d let Dawson plunge a needle into my leg every day to have every night be like last night with you.”

  “Ugh.” I sit up, pulling the blanket around my chest. “Why do you always say the perfect thing?”

  “Is that bad?”

  “No, it makes it hard for me to leave you.”

  He leans over and kisses my hips. “Don’t leave then.”

  Arching my back, I smile. His kiss is everything. “I don’t mean leave you, leave you. I mean leave you for now.”

  He leans away from me and scrubs his hands over his face.

  “Did I say something wrong?”

  He shakes his head and sits up next to me. His face is pained.

  “What is it?” I ask, turning so I’m facing him.

  “Last night before the party, I made a decision to tell you all my secrets. But now I realize you may not like what I have to say. I don’t want you to run.”

  My eyes narrow as I study him.

  “Don’t do that thing with your eyes,” he says, waving his hand at me.

  “Is it that bad? Did you commit some major crime that will make me wonder if I should hide you or arrest you?”

  “No, not a crime.”

  “Tell me,” I say, taking hold of his arm.

  “It’s not easy for me. I’m not good at talking about feelings and shit.”

  “You sing your feelings.”

  “Yeah.”

  “So sing it,” I tell him.

  “I have. I’ve written song after song to try to ease the ache, and it never goes away. Now that I know more about you, I think it’s why I felt so connected to you, even before we met.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You have the same pain in your eyes that I see when I look in the mirror.”

  My heart breaks. What hurts him? Who hurt him? I want to beat the shit out of anyone who would dare make him suffer.

  He slides to the side of the bed and stands, exposing his bare ass. My insides tighten with need. I force myself to turn away, hiding behind my hair. I hear a drawer open and close, then the sound of a zipper.

  Another drawer opens, and I turn my head so see what he’s doing. He pulls a T-shirt over his head, bends to lift something, then walks around the bed to me.

  He sits down next to me and holds out my panties, bra, and one of his shirts. “I need you to get dressed.”

  I slide his shirt over my head, fastening my bra underneath, and swing my legs over the side of the bed, scooting into my underwear. My stomach is churning and I’m more nervous than I’d ever want him to know. His shirt hangs down well past my knees. It could almost be a dress on me.

  He crosses to the window and leans his arms on it, staring out at the trees surrounding his property. I stand and move up behind him, sliding my arms up his chest from behind and placing my head against his back.

  “Whatever it is, I’m not going anywhere.” I will myself to make it true. I imagine he has Natalie shackled to a bedpost, or he kidnapped her and has been keeping her locked in his house. My mind works to rationalize how it could be acceptable because I really, really want these growing feelings for him to continue. He’s become important to me. I don’t know how to wrap my head around how I let myself feel so much, so fast.

  “I want to make you promise you won’t go, but it’s too much to ask of anyone.” He turns and searches my eyes. “I would completely understand if you wanted nothing to do with me after I’ve told you everything. I would never, ever hold it against you. You’re probably the most amazing woman I’ve ever known, and I’ll always feel that way, no matter what you decide.”

  He’s scared.

  “Tell me. Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

  He nods his head and gazes at the ceiling before closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. His eyes meet mine. “Do you remember when we were sitting by the pool the other night and I told you I didn’t like the water?”

  “Yes.”

  “There’s a reason for that.” Walking away from me, he sits on the edge of the bed, resting his hands in his lap and staring at his fingers. “Phew, this is hard,” he says, taking another breath.

  Crossing the room back to him, I take his hand in mine and sit down next to him. “You’re doing great.”

  “My parents had money,” he begins. “We were what some would call old money. It’s been handed down for generations and I grew up always having everything and anything I wanted. Horses? We had them. I wanted guitars, I got them. I wanted a party for my birthday, we invited the world.”

  I try to imagine that life. It’s so different from mine. “You said we?”
<
br />   “My brother and me.

  I nod again. So many things I don’t know about him.

  “When I was eleven, my family was invited to a swanky Memorial Day party outside Beverly Hills. These people had acres and acres of land. Their house was enormous and the pool, well, it was like being at a desert oasis. We were bored out of our minds. I kept asking my parents if we could go for a swim and they kept ignoring me. There was nothing to do but stand around and stare at rich people comparing money, so I took it upon myself to go down to the pool anyway.”

  He tightens his grip on my hand and closes his eyes. “My brother was five years older than me and we were as different as night and day. He was a star athlete and everyone’s favorite person, not to mention a straight-A student with probable college offers lined up around the block. I, however, was an angry introvert with a smartass mouth and a knack for finding trouble. I fancied myself a troubled artist. I was popular in my own right, just with a totally unacceptable group of people, according to my parents.”

  I smile. I can see him as a child. A young beautiful version of who he is today. I imagine he was as misunderstood then as he is now.

  “I snuck down to the pool and my brother followed me. I undressed and got ready to jump in. The whole time he was telling me it was stupid. I mocked him. I made fun of him for always doing what he was supposed to. I asked him when he was going to start living his life, why he couldn’t ever do something unexpected and fun. I told him I hated him for always being so high and mighty, for always being Mom and Dad’s golden boy. He shook his head at me and told me I was wrong.”

  He stares at the ceiling. “I can still see the pain he felt at my words.”

  I swallow hard and lean closer to him, so our arms are touching.

  “He said, ‘You want to see me do something I shouldn’t? I can be brave and bold like you.’ I cheered as he undressed. He positioned himself at the end of the pool, looked left and right to see if anyone was coming and then dove in head first. It was more shallow than it appeared, and he smacked his head on the concrete floor. The water turned red and I couldn’t see him. I froze. I stood there frozen until a scream escaped my mouth. Then I screamed his name over and over again, but still I never moved. He’d started to float by the time help arrived. They did CPR and airlifted him to the hospital, but the damage was done.”