Closing The Gap (Dangerous Pasts, #1)

by Colleen Charles

  Josh rested his head on his left elbow and hand to keep his right one free to explore her body. His fingers stroked her torso. She found it impossible to keep her eyes open and watch. That simple act would make her positively come unglued. She needed every ounce of will within her to accept the raw passion that coursed through her body for the very first time. If she let it overtake her, her heart might explode straight through her chest wall.

  His hand tugged at the straps of her bra and pulled them down her shoulders until both breasts spilled free. As he reached underneath her, he undid the clasp and pulled the fabric from below her body and tossed it to the carpet below. His palm was hot and his fingers worked her nipples without mercy as he pulled and kneaded first one and then the other until they were stiff peaks that quivered with need. He slithered up her body like a snake where he replaced his hand with his mouth and every suck and nip caused an aching tug below.

  “Josh, I don’t think I can take much more, I’m shaking. Please, I need to be naked. I’m so warm and my skin’s on fire. Help me, please.”

  ****

  Lake thrashed her head back and forth with her eyes squeezed shut so Josh didn’t have the heart to tell her only about five percent of her body had clothes still on it and those tiny panties weren’t causing the heat on her fevered skin. The suffering had to end now. What kind of imbeciles had she been with in the past? He’d like to take those assholes down a back alley and beat the living shit out of them. Even though he was thrilled she couldn’t hide her passion for him, he knew it wasn’t normal for her to fight for control of her own body and lose. He wanted to keep teasing her but that would have to wait for later, when she could take it. If her heated reactions were any indication, this weekend might be his best ever.

  With his eyes glued to her face so he wouldn’t miss the moment, he trailed his fingers down her stomach and slid the black panties down her legs to toss them on the floor on top of his white shirt, creating a sexy contrast of dark and light. He wanted to look into her eyes later when he sank deep inside her for the first time. If he forced her eyes open right now, he’d regret it. She was too far gone and alone, inside the intensity of the passion that raged inside of her.

  He slid his hand down over her flat stomach and traced over her scar on the way down. Her skin felt so soft and fevered all at the same time. He stroked gently for a few seconds as he reveled in the heat that he’d created before his fingers eased her folds apart. A moan escaped her lips at the same time he voiced his approval.

  “You’re so wet for me, Lake.” Not able to control his voice, the words sounded guttural, savage. “I love feeling what I do to you and that you can’t stop it from happening, even though I know you might want to.”

  He spent the next minutes exploring every part of her, relishing her body’s responsiveness. He found she liked a lighter touch at first and then, demanded by her body’s unbidden reactions, rougher and deeper the closer she got. He found the source of her pleasure with his thumb while the other fingers were deep inside her scorching, wet core. His long fingers and large palms were coming in handy, able to cover a lot of distance on her petite frame. He could tell by the flush of her skin and the tightening of her muscles that she was near the finish line. He couldn’t wait any longer and gave her the last little nudge she needed with his words.

  “You are so damn beautiful like this. I’ve never experienced anything like how you feel under my hands. I’m going to put my mouth all over your body next, Lake. Are you ready for that? Do you want me to taste you?”

  Lake’s head pressed back even harder into the mattress. She arched her back, pushed her body straight into his hand and spread her legs wider to give him greater access. He knew the exact moment when her orgasm hit her so he kept the same pressure and speed to make it last as long as possible. The expression on her face was nothing short of glorious. Not willing to wait one second longer, he had to get rid of his pants. One down and two more to go. After all, he’d promised her she could touch him after round one.

  As she basked in the afterglow of her release, Lake stayed motionless on bed. Josh took that opportunity to slide out of his dress pants and send them to the ever growing pile of wrinkled laundry building up on the plush carpet. Left in only his boxer briefs, he noted even they were starting to feel restrictive and uncomfortable. Looking down, he found he’d never been this big or hard before. At his age? Pretty cool. He’d mention it but the tiny person hadn’t even opened her eyes yet. She’d know in a few minutes, when she touched him. He prayed to God she was brave enough now.

  “I can’t even ... I can’t, put the words together. There isn’t a rational thought in my head right now.” The words flowed out her pouty lips on a sigh.

  “I believe I made you some other promises for this evening that I fully intend to keep.”

  “Yes, you did. The first one was that I could touch you now. The others ... I don’t know if I can take anymore. My body’s never felt this way.”

  He celebrated in that small admission. “Oh, you can and you will. Somehow I can’t seem to get past the first thing you said. Did I hear something about you wanting to touch me? Have at it, gorgeous. I’m yours.” With that, he flopped on his back right beside her. It would be interesting to see how comfortable she’d be taking this touching expedition, as well as how far he’d let her.

  ****

  Lake’s hands trembled as she sat up, shaky from the most spectacular orgasm of her entire life. Holy Moses, she’d seen so many stars she could have been viewing the night sky out of the Hubble telescope. As though they had erupted from deep inside of her, the ripples had coursed through every muscle when the sweet waves of release had contracted throughout her entire body. She felt languorous and sexy, with no fear about the massive erection located a few inches underneath her hands. She wouldn’t start there, though. He needed some major teasing just like he’d done to her before she exploded.

  “I don’t think this is fair.”

  “Hmm?” Josh had his eyes closed and he looked tranquil in spite of the hardness located at his center. “What’s not fair?”

  “I’m naked and you’re not.” That comment got his blue eyes to snap open.

  “Well, I’m all for fairness, Lake. There’s one item of clothing left on me. I suggest you make haste and throw it on the pile.” Those damn dimples appeared again. How come every time she tried to banter back and forth with him, it always backfired on her? Because he’d earned a graduate degree in smack talk, that’s why. She filed away for later a note to self to read a book on racy discourse. Otherwise, she’d always be at a loss in the bedroom with this man.

  He settled back again with that dreamy expression on his chiseled face. Drawn toward him, like a moth to the proverbial flame, Lake hoped she didn’t end up incinerated. It took a mighty tug but his grey underwear joined the clothes party taking place down on the carpet. Lake thought she’d get the best vantage point if she knelt on his left side to use both her hands. Constant eye contact would be too much for her. She’d never been this exposed in her lifetime, grateful for the lack of his piercing blue gaze to witness the intimacy of the moment. She didn’t remember ever being naked and upright in front of a man so he could see her, all of her. She sent up a silent thanks he continued to just lay there with his eyes clamped shut. She wanted to look and feel her fill too. It was imperative.

  Just like her skin and body were soft, his contained all rough hair, hard angles and sinew. She delighted in the varying slopes and textures as she ran her hands all over his body from head to toe. Josh was blessed with a fantastic and thick head of hair and it streamed like silk running through her fingers. She wondered what his mom, Kathy, had looked like because he didn’t appear to resemble Chuck at all except for the trademark eyes. Someday, she would ask to see a family photo. Chuck didn’t keep any on display at his house and explained they made him sad. Lake found she liked Josh’s slight smattering of black body hair, not being a fan of the metrosexual look t
hat most men favored. His coarseness bristled against her own soft skin.

  Not being able to wait anymore to find out how hard he’d become, she wrapped both her hands around him and began to lightly stroke. God, the man was huge and intimidating. It had been so long for her, she hoped she’d tolerate it all without being ripped in half. Lake had never even imagined what was beneath her palms existed in reality. It shouldn’t surprise her, though, since he possessed height and broadness as well. He felt like liquid steel against her skin, hot and slick. His breath quickened, so she hoped she pleased him. Just when she started to quicken her pace, circling the ridge with her thumb, his arms reached out and grabbed her down to fall on top of his chest.

  “Stop.”

  ****

  Lake appeared crestfallen. “You didn’t like what I was doing.” Her voice trembled.

  “No, my angel. I loved what you were doing so much, I couldn’t take another second. I still want to taste you all over my tongue. Besides, I need to be able to last once I’m finally inside you. I can’t get too close to the edge too early.” He hoped he didn’t sound like some kind of high school amateur that would spill too soon. He hadn’t meant to sound harsh and needed to ease her worry, she still lacked his confidence. He recognized it as his most important goal of the weekend and he’d get her over that hurdle. She was the most desirable woman ever born. She needed to know it.

  “Oh.”

  Her sexy sighs seared through him like bladeless weapons. He grabbed her mouth in a tender kiss as he wrapped his arms around her and rolled her over onto her back. He really wanted her on the edge of the bed with her legs dangling for this. If he knelt on the floor, it would put him in the perfect position. As he used his hands and mouth all over her body with nips and licks, he waited for the thrashing to begin. She was so fiery, his tiny person. So transparent when passion overtook her control. Josh was embarrassed that he’d ever thought she might turn out to be icy cold underneath him. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

  He stood and grabbed both her ankles and pulled her down so her legs hung on either side of his body. His erection was still rock hard and protesting so he lifted her behind the knees and took the opportunity to rub himself over her wet folds to ease some of the ache. It took everything he had not to impale her. If her earlier orgasm was any indication, he’d be able to sink deep inside her within the space of a couple of minutes. He could wait.

  When Josh felt that glorious wetness rush over him, he knew he couldn’t last another second without tasting her. It felt as though he’d been waiting forever instead of only a few weeks. He knelt and slid his tongue between her folds like he’d wanted to do so badly that night on her patio. She was hot and swollen with need, pouting with desire. He could stay like this and skim his tongue over her all night.

  He didn’t think he’d ever had this kind of power over a woman as much as he liked to think he had. She shivered and lifted her bottom up to give him greater access. He sucked lighter and then harder, finding the source of her pleasure and placing his focus there. It was so big and hard and he loved the way it felt underneath is tongue. He worked it with his lips as his hands forced her quivering thighs even farther apart. He stopped for a moment, long enough to look up at her face, not surprised to see her long eyelashes laid in stark contract against her pale skin. Her fingers clutched the sheets in a death grip.

  She must have noticed his tongue had slowed its movements because her eyes flew open and he got to see the sensual gaze he’d become addicted to. The one that she couldn’t control. The one reserved only for him.

  “That’s what I was waiting for. Never hide your eyes from me, Lake. I want to know every inch of you, inside and out.”

  He knew what she needed so his mouth continued to stroke her in every possible way. She kept her eyes on him and shifted as she plunged her fingers into his hair. He was unsure if she wanted to push him away or pull him closer. Knowing it was difficult for her, he rewarded her eye contact by closing his lips around the tight, swollen nub and sucking. He heard the sharp intake of her breath and savored it.

  “Please ...” She gasped. Then she came again with a violent shudder, still dripping wet, while his tongue never left her.

  Not giving her any time to recover from the second orgasm, Josh stood up and grabbed her legs as he lifted them and hooked them around his waist. He noticed her flushed skin and that her eyes were clenched shut again as if she couldn’t bring herself to bear witness to what had happened tonight, repeatedly.

  “Lake, look at me.” His voice turned soft, yet demanding. He would settle for nothing less than seeing her eyes and expression during this moment. He felt as if he’d been waiting his entire life for it. Maybe, he had. Her green eyes popped open and she still had a languorous look on her face. He wanted to send that look straight to euphoria.

  “I can’t believe how much I want you. I’ve never felt like this, ever. Lake, don’t take your eyes off my face, even for one second.”

  Later, Josh would reflect on the moment he lost his heart for what would turn out to be the very first time. Nothing previous had ever compared. His marriage to Shelly hadn’t possessed the kind of bone numbing, soul encompassing love like this. She’d been a high school crush, that had turned into a habit, which had turned into a safety net. As he sunk deep in to Lake’s body and felt her white hot heat surround him, he realized he was gone. Looking into her eyes while he stroked inside her body in the most intimate way possible, it just couldn’t be described. Josh used his hands to mold her breasts and nipples until they were hard and straining.

  “Oh my, God, you feel so incredible. So tight and hot. I’m not sure how much longer I can last. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever to do this. Lake, please tell me you’re close.”

  “I don’t know. It’s never happened to me like this.”

  “Well, that is just plain unacceptable and it ends now.” Josh reached down and thumbed her in light circles while he stroked so he could hit her G-Spot in just the right place. Shit, it worked. He could feel her inner muscles clench around him which made the vacuum sensation even keener. The tightness felt exquisite. He just couldn’t last anymore. He’d have to make it up to her tomorrow. Just when he thought he couldn’t hold back another second, he felt her surrender, his name flying from her lips. The waves of her orgasm felt like they were milking him dry. He let go and experienced the most intense climax of his life, the bliss indescribable. After it was over, he leaned in and slid his hands up either side of her face as he kissed her lightly on the lips. In spite of the intensity of that experience, she hadn’t broken his gaze once. That became the most important moment of the evening, the one where he knew for sure he had fallen in love with her.

  If you were able to look back at your most brilliant successes, stunning comebacks, amazing catches, and smokin' ideas, Lake, and you were to find that virtually all of them seemed to materialize out of thin air, when you least expected them, and that they had exceeded even your greatest expectations at the time, how excited would you be about being here and whatever else I've got up my sleeve?

  Hubba, hubba~

  The Universe

  Chapter Twenty Three

  Lake was on a heater. As she glanced at the green felt of the table, she saw that she must have five thousand in chips. Everyone who played Blackjack knew, you rode it to the end. You never walked away from a heater. While she sat at first base and played perfect basic strategy, she chatted with the other people at her table. The whole group was doing well and the atmosphere became more electric with each flip of the card. They’d started to attract attention from the other casino guests.

  To her left sat a little cutie pie named Mark on a long weekend from California who would be a senior in college at San Diego State in the fall. Next to him, Asa, a Texas rancher wasting time while his wife ‘bled him dry’ with her credit card. Even though he teased, Lake could tell he adored his wife, Mary. Their dealer, Jenna, increased the fun factor with h
er witty sense of humor. The incredible night she’d just had also contributed to her winning vibe. Lake was having the time of her life as she molted more and more of her protective armor to reveal her true self.

  She’d started the day with only five hundred at this twenty five dollar table. She glanced at her watch and found she’d played five hours as her back protested. Encamped in his broadcasting seminar entitled “How to Make the Camera Love You”, Josh would be tied up until evening. As if he needed it, what a joke. If the camera loved him anymore, it would implode. She noticed mild discomfort between her legs and was grateful for the respite before tonight’s lovemaking session. She looked forward to another soak in the huge marble tub. Adamant with herself that she needed to tip the scales in his direction, she planned on taking her time with him later. She wanted him flat on his back until he begged for mercy or an EMT. He probably had his phone off but she still sent him a text. Maybe he’d see it on a break.

  I’m thinking about ...

  She didn’t have to wait long for a reply.

  What r u thinking about? I hope it’s my hands all over your body.

  Not quite. I want to put my mouth all over your body.

  OMG

  Lake grinned and set her phone off to the side to concentrate on the cards. The piped in music had a pounding beat. It helped to raise the energy level of their winning table even higher. She currently enjoyed the song “Timber” by Pitbull and her sandaled foot tapped along to the drums on the rungs of her stool as she hummed along with the words about screaming timber as the log falls to the ground. A possible preview of what was going to happen later? Something or someone would definitely be going down.

  Good grief, she wanted to head back up to the room to get ready for dinner but just never lost four hands in a row so she could justify walking away. Besides, with this money, she’d make another donation to HFH when she returned home. The rest could go towards Lily’s vet bill which had climbed into the thousands. Due to Lily’s age, insurance wasn’t an option. Her phone lit up with an incoming text. Josh must be at it again as his dirty mind pushed ahead full throttle. When she recognized the name on the text, her face lit up like a kid at Christmas.