by Joya Ryan
With a growl, he slapped her ass.
When she gasped, he splayed his hands over her skin and lifted her up, only to turn and set her on the table. Her bottom hit the polished oak table with a thud.
“I’m all for letting you think you’re in charge for a bit,” he said, pulling her close so that his cock rubbed against her slick folds. “But there’s nothing sweet that’s about to happen here.”
He thrust against her, and she moaned. He didn’t breach her opening, instead slid that hard rod up and down, pressing on the most sensitive spot, making her squeeze her legs tight and lock her ankles around his back.
“I’ve been thinking about these legs all damn day,” he said as he ran his hand down the outside of her thigh. When he reached her ankle, he grabbed it and placed it on his shoulder. “Now let’s see what you can really do.” He pulled a condom from his low-slung jeans, wrapped himself, then discarded the pants completely.
She attempted to move, to bring her leg down, because in this position, she was more vulnerable. If she kept her legs around his waist, at least she could lock them and steer him. But around his neck?
“Why are you squirming?” he said, and he gently smacked the side of her ass. The little sting of pain sent a warmth through her that shot her arousal to a higher peak.
Interesting. She’d never been spanked before, and while that had been a semi-playful smack, it still turned her on.
He must have seen something in her expression, because he said, “Oh, you must want me to have both your legs wrapped around me?”
“Yes,” she said on a breathy sigh. Between the light spank and the realization that she liked it, she wasn’t able to form words well. Just as it seemed like the power of speech might be coming back, she felt his cock nudge and drag against her entrance.
“Glad we’re on the same page.” With that, he grabbed both her ankles, dragged her toward him, and impaled her with his hard cock in one swift thrust.
“Oh god! You’re so…”
“Deep,” he rasped, and he kept tight hold of her as he brought the back of her knees to his shoulders. She was bent, struggling to keep herself up, and like she’d thought, totally at his mercy.
She’d never felt a man go this deep before.
“You’re fightin’ me, honey,” he said, and plunged again. She cried out with so much pleasure she couldn’t take it. Her elbows caved, and she leaned back onto the cold wood table, ready to simply endure all of the ecstasy he threw at her.
“That’s it, give in. Let me have you,” he said.
Have her? Sounded like a lot to give. She needed to fight for some kind of upper hand. The last time they’d been together and he’d topped her, she’d been lost to him. She needed to keep some kind of power this time because the lack of it clouded her judgment—like thinking this was better than just one night.
She struggled to sit up a bit, but when his big arms wrapped around her thighs, like he was hugging them, she about lost her mind. He was deep. Touching her everywhere. Owning her. And part of her loved it.
He moved slow, but hard.
Once, twice, then he stirred deep.
She was melting. Like an avalanche that couldn’t hold out any longer, she slowly sank back onto the table once more.
“That’s it honey. Quit fighting. Lay back and let me do the work. That’s how you want it, right?” His voice was so sexy, so sinister, she had no choice… She gave in.
The table stuck against her dewy skin. He had won, but she was rewarded, too, because he picked up his pace.
“You’re so gorgeous,” he said, fucking her hard and fast, pumping in and out so powerfully that the table creaked and her breasts bounced wildly. He held her tight, hitting her deep and making her orgasm ignite with so much heat that she was going to be scalded from the inside out.
“H-Huck…you’re going to make me come.”
“Say it again,” he groaned. “But this time beg me for it.”
“Please make me come,” she said, no thought to the words, because she had to come. Her body would fall apart if he stopped or slowed.
He took her so wildly that her teeth clattered and sparks lit her veins like a freshly struck match.
“That’s it, honey, give it up. All of it. I want it all.” He bit the inside of her calf, and everything from the waist down zinged with a fresh dose of tremors. Turned out she liked it a little rough. She’d never exercised this side of herself, never wanted the simple flow of power that came from being dominated. But this…this wasn’t being dominated. This was war. Challenging Huck and being challenged in return.
If she were honest, she liked that he gave as good as he got. He took her goading as a reason to make her body his own personal pleasure machine. To take and give as he wanted. She’d never felt so consumed in a man’s desire. So cherished.
Without warning, he spread her legs and placed them at his hips. Finally she got to lock her ankles around him like she wanted. And that’s what she did. He gripped her hips and grinded into her, hard and deep, and he never retreated. His pelvis rubbed against her clit, and the fire she’d just gotten under control flamed again.
He coaxed her up until she sat and faced him, his assault on her body intense but slower. Her body still simmered with the aftershocks of her orgasm, all while shaking in preparation for another one. She’d never felt anything like it. And she didn’t want to let it go.
He latched on to her nipple like a starving man, and she wrapped her arms around him and held him close, kissed the top of his head and arched into every touch, every inch of his skin and mouth against her.
Lost.
It was happening again, and the fog was tough to beat back. She just wanted to touch him. Feel him. Pull him closer. With one arm wrapped around her waist, he tugged her even closer, and she gasped. With his free hand, he cupped her throat and coaxed her to meet his eyes.
“I’ve got you,” he said. “Let go again. Let me feel it. I’ve got you.”
His thumb brushed her jaw. While his hold was dominant, palming her throat, his touch was soft. And that seemed to be Huck. Hard and soft. She lost herself to the moment, to him. Her body couldn’t fight the inevitable.
With every push forward, his cock sank deeper, filled her and stretched her, teased every nerve ending and every pleasure point. Her breasts were smashed against his hard chest, and those piercings of his raked across her nipples in the most erotic way.
She wanted to stay in this bliss forever. But her body liked it too much to teeter on the edge. When he gave another thick thrust, she came apart again, clutching and clawing at him and staring into those magical green eyes.
With his delicious mouth parted on a heavy panting grin, and he said, “God, I love feeling you come.” He cupped her face in his both his hands, crushed his mouth against hers, and followed her into his own climax. His release was so powerful that she felt every twitch and tug of his cock as he came. It was enough to spark her orgasm into overdrive, and she screamed his name.
They stayed like that for a long time, breathing hard, feeling each other. She tried to gather her thoughts, but she was so overwhelmed with awesome that she didn’t know what to do or how to think.
“Hold on,” Huck said, and lifted her up, still semi-hard inside her. “Which room are you staying in?” She pointed toward the guest room, and he carried her there.
“What are you doing?”
He sat her on the bed. The man was fine. Every one of his muscles jumped with the smallest of movements, and she wondered how long she’d need to lick every ounce of him properly.
“The night’s not over yet, and I intend to cash in on every second.”
Her eyes went wide as she felt him getting hard again. In fact, he’d never gone soft in the first place.
“Good lord, are you some kind of machine?”
He smiled. “I guess you bring out my ambitious side.”
She wanted more. Shouldn’t, but did. Still, her body needed just a mo
ment to recover. She still felt her orgasm humming for god’s sake!
Huck was either very skilled with reading women or an actual mind reader, because he said, “We can rest for a few first.”
She never “rested” with anyone. Even with her ex, she’d walked away right after they were done with what she now knew to be mediocre sex. She should do the same now. She knew she should.
So why wasn’t she?
“We can call it a night,” she offered. Feeling like she should put it out there, yet for some reason, she was anticipating his answer, hoping he wouldn’t take it as an excuse to leave without at least round two.
“I’ll walk away,” he said, adjusting himself next to her on the bed. He pulled the blankets over them and pulled her closer. “Just not quite yet.”
With his arms around her waist and his face in her neck, all his hard muscles were behind her, and his breath hit her shoulder. It was soothing, and she found herself closing her eyes and giving in to the security of his embrace.
Chapter Five
For the love of all things holy, Huck had never experienced anything like what had just happened between him and the mouthy mechanic. She was brassy and sexy, and he was in a perma-hard state for the woman.
What the hell was he doing? He didn’t snuggle. Didn’t stay. The only reason he gave in this time was because he wanted another moment with her. Wanted to smell her hair and breathe in her skin. Which was weird. It was the most intimate he’d been with a soul since Sydney.
If he were honest, what Autumn had just shared with him was more than Sydney had ever given. The truth had slowly been creeping in over the past couple years that Sydney had never wanted Huck the way he’d wanted her. Every encounter with Autumn was making that clearer and clearer.
And wasn’t that just fucking great. Now he was hanging on to a woman, literally. And not just any woman. One who could barely stand the sight of him unless he was naked.
He had to get out of there, and soon.
Just want her to fall asleep first.
Yeah, that was his excuse. Then he’d quietly let himself out and things would be back to normal.
He wouldn’t feel this pull toward her.
He exhaled deep, because the shit of it was, as he lay there, listening to her breathing even out and her body relax into his, he knew she was asleep, and yet he stayed. Hell, he actually drew her closer. For whatever reason, he just wanted a few more seconds. Maybe a few minutes. Then he’d go.
Yeah, good idea.
Five minutes tops, then he’d walk out that door like he did with everyone else.
Five…more…minutes…
…
“Make sure you rest today,” Huck said and palmed her belly. “I’m going to bring home stuff to make dinner.”
She nodded. “I’m not pregnant, you know.”
He shrugged. Maybe not yet. But hopefully soon. He loved this woman. So much that waiting to marry her was damn near killing him. It wasn’t that they were trying to get pregnant, but they weren’t being careful. Huck was ready. Ready to start his life with the woman he loved, had loved, since he was a kid.
“I love you, Sydney.” He cupped her face and kissed her.
She smiled and batted her lashes. “Have a good day at work.”
He left like he did every morning. Happy. Hopeful. Excited for the future. He just knew they’d have a son and he could teach him everything his father taught him.
Work flew by like it didn’t exist. He was back at the door. His door. The front door to their house.
“I got steaks,” he said as he walked inside.
The plastic grocery bag he held hit the floor. The meat made a loud thud and slap against the hardwood.
Everything was gone.
She was gone…
He ran through the house.
Empty.
He called out her name.
She was nowhere.
But they’d been happy… He’d been happy…
Huck shot upright in bed, his breathing hard, sweat drenching his forehead. He reached out and felt cold sheets next to him.
“Where is she?” he said aloud to no one.
This wasn’t right. It was a bad dream. He remembered falling asleep with her. The feel of her warm skin. The smell of her hair. He had her in his arms just a moment ago…
Not Sydney.
Autumn.
Fog cleared from his head. He hadn’t had a dream like that in over a year. But the fact remained. Autumn was gone.
He glanced out the window and saw the sun peaking over the horizon with a bright Kansas morning.
He gripped the sheet next to him. She’d left. Again. He’d let his guard down and let her leave him a-fucking-gain.
“Fuck!” He threw the pillow, his chest heaving. That feeling rose quicker than the bile in his throat—the sick emptiness he’d been pushing down since Sydney left. Just like it had the other night Autumn left him as well.
He had no control. He was sitting like a chump while his blood roared in his ears and his temples pounded, mocking him. Reminding him what an idiot he was.
It was the past all over again.
He’d actually thought something had happened to Sydney. Turned out, all that had happened was she’d fallen out of love with him.
And Autumn? She hadn’t even cared to say goodbye, to wake him when she left.
Left.
He closed his eyes, trying to focus on the present. His world had fucking shattered once. Disappeared. And he was a fool not to see it coming. A fool for wanting more.
He’d thought this thing with Autumn would be simpler. No complications.
Why did he even care that she’d left instead of him?
Fuck no. He had to shut down this line of thinking. He was not going down this path again. It had taken months to get over this shit with Sydney. He clutched his chest like his damn heart was burning, got up, and pulled on his pants.
This woman was messing with his mind. He needed to get a grip. Because he wasn’t about to admit that being left was twisting a knife in his gut. Nope, he was a man, damn it. This was bullshit. He just needed her out of his system. And he needed these fucking nightmares, the memories, to stay where they belonged: gone.
Time he set the leggy, raven-haired beauty straight and end his personal hell once and for all.
Chapter Six
“These are the best pancakes in the state,” Penny said, putting a short stack in front of Autumn.
After last night, Autumn was starved, and even though it wasn’t even eight in the morning yet, she remembered that Jenna had mentioned that Main Street was where the locals went to get anything, including good food from Miss Diamond herself.
Thank god the BBQ was open early and served breakfast. Aside from herself, there were a few men—who looked to be pushing a thousand years old—in the corner booth¸ chatting and drinking coffee. Obviously a ritual. It was kind of cute. Must be nice to have friends, especially as long as those gentlemen must have known each other.
“You run this place?” Autumn asked as she cut the pancakes with her fork. Penny stood by the booth. She’d gone out of her way to throw Autumn several smiles at the wedding and had told her to come in anytime. Considering how the last forty-eight hours had gone, she needed the sanctuary. It was exhausting trying to stay ahead of all the dark thoughts about her self-worth, and lack thereof. It was also exhausting—literally—keeping up with Huck.
“Yeah, it’s been in the family for generations. Now it’s my turn to own it. Work it. Love it.”
Autumn took a bite. Wow, these were good pancakes. “That’s really great.”
Autumn had entertained similar dreams once. She’d basically—okay, literally—lived at her grandfather’s shop. Took pride in the work, the family name, and the place itself. Now everything her grandfather had built, every decent memory she had, the roof over her head…were all gone.
“You enjoying your stay in Diamond so far?”
At
Penny’s question, Autumn couldn’t help but glance around. Was this the norm? Did people just chat for the sake of chatting? Did Penny feel some obligation to the out-of-towner? Was she being nice just because Autumn was Jenna’s friend?
Autumn chased the thoughts away. She was always thinking what angle someone was playing. Today, she wanted to believe that Penny was just being pleasant, was a good person who didn’t deserve to be second-guessed.
Besides, Autumn was stuck here for two weeks. May as well attempt to make a short-term acquaintance or two. Especially since there had been a mandatory exchange of phone numbers between the women of the bridal party before the wedding even started.
“Yeah. Only got in last night, but Jenna and Colt’s house is nice, and Huck—”
Penny’s brow piqued, but Autumn caught herself. She was just about to say Huck was nice too, but stopped. Because A) nice didn’t really describe Huck, and B) she didn’t want to give people a reason to gossip.
“And?” Penny took a seat across the table from Autumn, like they were about to dish on the recent American Idol finalists or something. But her face was too angelic for Autumn to sense anything but genuine interest. Maybe she had the people of Diamond figured wrong. They weren’t gossipers. They just liked sharing their lives with each other.
“I was going to say that people around here seem nice, too.”
“People, huh?” she asked with an I don’t buy your shit for a minute expression. “People like Huck, for example?”
Autumn paused, cheeks full, mid-chew.
“Oh, don’t worry,” Penny whispered and winked. “It’s obvious Huck has a thing for you. What with the way he was staring at you last night—and then the way he darted out after you left the reception—I’m not surprised he’s been happy to keep you company.”
“Jenna warned me about gossip,” Autumn said.
Penny nodded. “Yes, it can be brutal sometimes. But it can also be helpful. Besides, Huck is family. We all are. We’d never say or do anything to hurt him or run the rumor mill.”
“We?”
“Basically everyone in the wedding party. We’ve all been friends for a long time. The guys are all older than us girls, though. We went to school together.”
