I tried to remind myself that this was Ollie, Violet’s Ollie, and that I was being ridiculous. Ollie and I had already decided we couldn’t do this. So what if we happened to be at the same event? So what if we were dressed up and a little buzzed from the table wine? We were grown-ups. Certainly, we could share a dance without ending up in a lip-lock.
In my heels, we were almost eye to eye. Again, my lips parted. Again, no words came out. I walked past him to the dance floor, feeling him follow behind.
When I reached the middle of the ballroom floor, he put his hands on my waist before I turned around. As I spun to face him, they rubbed around my waist, landing on the low seam of my backless dress, right above my ass.
He lifted his left arm in a classic ballroom dance pose and held my back with his right, his long fingers steadying me, pulling my torso close to his. He grinned like he knew what he was making me feel. When I reached out to take his outstretched hand, he pulled me even closer, chest to chest, his nose near my neck.
My heart sped up as we danced, swaying to a slow song in the middle of a sea of fancy, rich people. He smelled soapy and sexy.
“Thank you for donating to the cause, Mr. Stoneridge,” I teased, looking over his shoulder as we danced, playing up my Miss Lovely New Jersey role.
“It’s a wonderful event,” he answered in a serious tone. “A great charity.”
“It is.” I pulled away so I could breathe a little. He probably deserved an explanation about my speech. “Um, about what I said at the podium…”
He shook his head. “You are an incredible human being. Do you know that?”
I rubbed my cheek against his under the guise of dancing, and his late-night scruff tickled me. “Nah. My parents are though. Growing up, I was just along for the ride.” In an attempt to change the topic, I asked, “Are you having a nice night?”
“Am now,” he answered, twisting to meet my gaze. He gulped and looked over my shoulder again. “I did realize something though.”
“What’s that?”
“I kind of hate lawyers.”
I sputtered out a laugh. “Well, that’s going to be a problem for you.”
“You’re telling me.”
I took my hand off of his jacket and scratched my temple, pretending to be in deep thought. “Tell me again why someone who claims to love the outdoors as much as you and who admits to hating lawyers decided to actually be a lawyer?”
Laughing, he shook his head. “I have no idea. It’s all I’ve known.” His breath was hot on my neck as he pulled me closer and squeezed my waist a little tighter. “I have another confession.”
His flirtiness rose to the surface as his thumb massaged my back. “What’s that, Mr. Stoneridge?”
“I’ve been dying to touch you all night.”
I may have moaned something that sounded like approval. Luckily, the band covered my reaction to his words. “Didn’t we decide not to—”
He pulled back and pressed a finger to my lips. Took everything in me not to wrap my lips around it. “How about we forget that for tonight?”
I lifted my eyebrows. Hmm. Interesting development…
“Tar,” he started. His eyes met mine as he returned his arms to dancing position. “I know we said we’d stay away from each other because of Violet, but honestly, I don’t want to. I don’t know what that means, and I can’t promise you anything, but the one thing I do know is that I really, really, would love to be with you tonight. No guilt, no regrets, just…us.”
I ran through the list of facts in my head as my heart screamed for me to say yes. Violet was my best friend. She’d dumped Oliver. She’d posted Instagram pics with Tobias. Oliver and I had clicked. We’d kissed. He wasn’t asking me to marry him, and he wasn’t saying that he was giving up on Violet either.
I wasn’t stupid, and I’d vowed not to let myself be used by guys anymore, Ollie included. “Isn’t it kind of ironic that you’re asking me for a one-night stand when you’ve called me out on that practice before?” I hated having to say it, but Ollie needed to know that he couldn’t play a player.
He looked to the ceiling, bobbing his head back and forth as he thought. “Not exactly a one-night stand. What’s going on between us feels like more than that. I’m not one of those assholes that just wants to hook up with you. I’m…” He huffed.
“You’re what, Oliver?” I asked, hoping that he could say something to make this decision the right one.
“Honestly?” he asked.
“That’s our policy.”
He touched my cheek, tracing a line down my cheekbone with his thumb. “I just like you, Taryn. So damn much. I know it’s not fair, but I’d love to spend the night wrapped up in you.”
Oh my. Right or wrong, I was completely okay with his explanation. I swallowed down the lump in my throat.
“Thoughts?” he asked.
Oh, I had thoughts. Thoughts of his perfect lips on mine, thoughts of his long, lanky body covering me, thoughts of my fingers plucking through those curls. “My thoughts aren’t appropriate for this venue.”
His lopsided grin showed me that he’d picked up on my innuendo. “Ah.”
We danced in silence until the song ended. As soon as the band started the next one, Oliver whispered in my ear, “You ready to leave?”
I gasped, pretending to be shocked. “Already?”
“Like, right now. Please.”
He slid his hand lower down my back, making my legs wobble. I looked toward the doors of the ballroom. “The pageant has a car outside for me.”
He took my chin between his thumb and forefinger and turned my head to meet his gaze. “I’ll meet you there in five.” With his other hand, he squeezed my hips and leaned in close. Shivers ran down my spine as his lips grazed my earlobe. “Make that three.”
* * *
Two-and-a-half minutes later, I’d gathered my things, shot off an email to Lucille telling her I’d completed my assigned task, and practically ran outside to the hotel entrance.
Limos were lined up in the circular driveway. I looked around for Ollie and spotted him leaning against a brick column near the front of the line of cars. He was looking down at his phone.
For a moment, I thought about turning around and going right back inside to hide in the ladies’ room. Maybe Vi had posted again. Maybe he was commenting on her posts. Maybe he was considering backing out.
But then my phone dinged with his text.
Ollie: You have thirty seconds, Bella. Then I’m coming in to drag you out.
I smiled at him as he leaned against the wall, one leg bent with his foot tapping the brick. He looked around but didn’t see me.
Me: I hope you know what you’re doing.
It was a sort-of-obscure Princess Leia quote. I didn’t know if he’d pick up on it. I watched him immediately tap out his reply. It dinged through in seconds.
Ollie: 1. You’re late. 2. You’re a bigger nerd than me.
I chuckled as I walked toward him. Of course he’d picked up on it.
When he saw me, he smiled and took my bag. “Which one is ours?”
Recognizing my driver, I walked toward the second car in the row. “You’re so rushed tonight. Patience, young Padawan—”
“Patience? Be careful what you ask for, Tar. I could use that against you.” His gaze landed on my lips.
The driver popped the trunk and Ollie put my bag inside. We slid into the backseat.
It wasn’t a limo, just a fancy car, so there was no privacy window. Still, Oliver made the trip…wow. He whispered to me as he slid his hand up my leg, under my skirt. I thought I’d lose my mind between the combination of his words and his touch. I love how you kiss. He slid closer, and I angled my body toward his. I can’t wait to get you alone. He nibbled at my earlobe. You taste so good. Just like you smell. Like dessert. His fingers grazed my inner thigh.
I couldn’t think, talk, or reciprocate. Ollie’s actions riled me up to the point of almost jumping him right there. I�
��d dirty talked before. I’d even been fingered in the back seat of a car. But the way his breath felt and how he lit up my skin with his touch made me insane. I’d never experienced such one-sided teasing. His words were a promise, and he didn’t expect anything in return—yet. He was there, saying those things and touching me, because he wanted to make me crazy.
And I’d never been so turned on in my life.
Chapter Fourteen
Oliver
When the car finally sped away, leaving me and Taryn on Mill Street at the alley, she pulled me to the stairs. I tossed her bag onto the ground and she pushed me against the brick wall.
I didn’t know what had come over me in the car. I’d never had that kind of confidence when it came to women. I knew what Vi liked from years of trial and error, but with Taryn, I just followed my gut. I saw signs—especially that blush that traveled over her chest—and went with my instincts, telling her the truth. Mostly how much I wanted her. That I hadn’t stopped thinking about our kiss since the moment it had happened in that very spot.
She held me to the wall with a hand to my chest. “Not much to say now, Oliver?” she teased, her moist lips curving up into a grin. She settled her thigh between my legs, rubbing against my fully erect and ready to go dick. “Why so quiet?”
I shook my head, my breath uneven. Now that she was in control, I was out of words. If she teased me the way I did her, we’d never make it up the stairs. Now that I knew I could have her, I wanted her more than I’d wanted anything in my life. Clearly I was done analyzing the situation. I’d take whatever she’d give me and deal with the aftermath later.
She grasped the lapel of my tuxedo jacket and pulled me to her, her lips crashing into mine. She was done with the teasing too. I held her face while I kissed her, like I needed her to breathe. Our bodies lined up, and I sighed into her mouth. “Upstairs. Now.” I couldn’t help but boss her around. I’d apologize later.
She backed away, her chest rising and falling, her lips puffy from me biting them. I reached to the ground next to us and picked up her bag. “Keys,” I sputtered. I couldn’t form a sentence if I tried.
When she found her keys, we practically ran up the stairs. As soon as we stepped inside and she locked the door behind us, I attacked her, wrapping myself around her because I was afraid she’d come to her senses and kick me out.
She disengaged from my lips only once. “Tonight’s ours?” she asked.
I nodded against her, my hands on her cheeks, my hips pressed into hers, our thighs tangled together.
“All night?” she asked.
I grunted in the affirmative. I didn’t want to think that I’d only have one night with Taryn, but I was in no shape to argue.
She pulled off my jacket and tie, tossing them to the ground, and started unbuttoning my shirt. I grabbed her hands to stop her. “No.” A wave of self-consciousness spread through me. If she liked guys like Josh, she wasn’t going to be into me. I hated that I was so thin. I wasn’t ready for her to be disappointed with me. Not yet. “Turn around.”
She drew a deep inhale but did as I said. My bossiness, and her willingness to be directed, only served to turn me on more. With her back to me, I relaxed. Her bare skin was like an unflawed canvas. Like magical soft silk under my fingertips. Slowly, I ran the tips of my fingers down the length of her spine. I reached the spot at the bottom of her back, where the material met her ass, and slipped my fingers underneath the edge.
I wanted to explore further, but I also wanted to take my time and savor. With both hands near the base of her spine, I slid my fingers to her sides. The hardness of her hip bones contradicted the softness of her waist as my hands traveled upward.
My breathing had become labored. My dick pressed against the zipper of my tux pants as my body ached to be joined with hers. I heard myself whisper, “This dress is so sexy, Taryn.”
She peeked over her shoulder. “Can I turn around yet?”
“No.” With my grip still holding her waist, I reached my fingers around to her ribcage, exploring her torso under the material of the dress. Sliding my hands up slowly, I grazed the sides of her tits.
She wiggled a little. “I’m turning around.”
“Not yet,” I murmured.
I removed my hands from her dress and rubbed her spine, looking for the one button that held the way-too-revealing dress up. I teased the back of her neck with my thumbs, playing with the button, taking my time. Her skin was hot to the touch. She dropped her head back into my grasp—chin to the ceiling, eyes shut—as I massaged her.
For half a second, I wondered if I should stop, but when she sighed, I knew I wouldn’t. I couldn’t unless she wanted me to. For whatever reason, she liked what I was doing and I didn’t want to think too hard about why.
Finally, I flicked the button open. The strap fell off of her neck and the dress slid over her legs, onto the floor.
Jesus. I bit my lip as I looked down her almost-naked body, admiring the curve of her spine and the shape of her perfect ass, accentuated by a black lace thong. Her long legs ended in black heels. Fuck if she wasn’t a dream.
She shifted her weight and the beautiful image before me set in motion, her muscles twisting, her shoulder blades rolling, her skin glistening and soft under my fingertips. Her shoulders rose and fell with each breath. She was waiting for me. Waiting for me to tell her what to do.
But I was frozen. What she probably mistook for control was actually fear. I was afraid to touch her because I worried she’d disappear, and that was the last thing in the world that I wanted.
“Oliver,” she breathed. “Please.”
At the sound of my name as a plea, I squeezed my eyes closed to try and keep my control. Women like Taryn didn’t belong with me. She was too much—too much of everything that I wasn’t used to.
What the hell was she doing here, standing in front of me naked? What weird realm of the universe had I entered to make this moment happen?
She didn’t turn around. My body had gone animal, begging me to bend her over and pound into her. But that wasn’t what this was about.
What was this about?
And then I realized that I didn’t care because all I knew was that she was here, wanting me to take control of whatever the night had become. We needed each other. Nothing else, nobody else, mattered at the moment.
With shaking hands, I reached for her neck, moving closer so I could plant a soft kiss under her hairline. She wiggled again. I lifted my hand to her hair and took the metal pins out of the soft, golden locks, one at a time. The waves fell over her shoulders. Finally, when I’d thought I’d gotten them all, I rubbed her scalp. My mind wanted to be gentle, but my body wanted more. I tugged her hair a little, letting my need to possess her take over.
When I couldn’t stand the air between us any longer, I took the step to close the space between us, my clothed body against her almost naked one, and kissed her earlobe from behind. I caught a glance of her chest, her pink flush, her hard nipples begging to be touched. Still, I managed to stay in control.
With my lips to her neck and my hands behaving on her hips, I whispered in her ear, “Now you can turn around.”
* * *
Taryn
Naked except for my shoes and panties, I spun around, needing to feel his hands on me, needing him to give me more. I was so energized, so lit, that if he touched me just once, I’d probably melt into a pool of mush at his feet.
He looked down at my body, unashamed of his blatant study of me. I watched his eyes devour me, while his hands stayed firmly in place on my hips, and almost lost my mind.
“I take back my patience comment.” My voice was shaky as I took his hand from my hip. I felt his eyes on me as I led him to my bedroom in my thong and heels.
I wasn’t sure how to handle this situation. The times I’d had sex before had never played out like this. The pace, oh, the pace was so slow. Being with Ollie was torturous and wonderful, and we still hadn’t done more than kiss each
other.
In my room, I turned to him, hoping he was there with me. That his mind wasn’t on anyone else. “What are you thinking about, Oliver?”
“You.” The syllable was immediate and strong.
Embarrassed by my body’s reaction to the word, I folded my arms over my aroused, flushed breasts.
“No. Don’t cover yourself.” He unwrapped my arms, exposing me again. My chest felt heavy with each breath as he looked me over. “I wasn’t done with my answer.”
“Oliver…”
“I want you. Under me…”
Oh.
“…your legs wrapped around my waist.” He pinned my arms behind my back. “My chest against yours.”
He dipped his head into my neck. “My face right here, so I can hear the sounds you make when I’m inside of you. Because I promise you, Tar, it’s going to feel really good.”
A weird moan left my throat as I tilted my head back, the scene he’d been describing playing out in my mind. Oliver hadn’t done more than touch me, but I was wet and ready for him to make good on his word, throbbing against my thong as I fidgeted in his arms. My sensitive nipples rubbed against the cotton of his shirt—begging for something, anything, any kind of contact. I needed him to be naked and to feel his skin on mine.
“Now tell me what you want, Bella.” He kept my wrists pinned behind my back with one hand and gripped my ass with the other, pulling me to him. “I’ll do anything for you.”
I squirmed against his hard-on and arched my back, hoping he’d take a breast, my neck, my lips, anything, inside his mouth. Moaning again, I angled myself for maximum pressure, thinking I could get off just like that. “You know what I want.”
He let go of my wrists and moved away. “Tell me,” he demanded.
Sneaking my fingers into his waistband, I yanked him back to me. “You. Over me. My legs wrapped around your waist.” He looked down at me, his lips slightly open, like he needed to kiss me as much as I needed to be kissed. Repeating his scenario, I continued, “My chest rubbing against yours.” I moved so my breasts pushed into him. Grabbing his face, I pulled it closer to mine. “Your face, right here, so I can hear you moan my name. Because you will, Oliver. I promise.”
Breaking the Plan: Mill Street Series #1 Page 13
