by Scott, S. L.
“No one is going to die. He’s a security guard. He doesn’t care what we’re doing in here as long as we’re done when his shift starts at five.”
She pops the door and steps out. “Let’s get a move on then.”
“Someone’s awfully demanding post-orgasm.”
“Shh,” she says with a finger pressed to her lips.
I chuckle and get out of the car, readjusting as I walk around the back of the vehicle. Glad I wore a loose shirt today to cover the . . . evidence. We close the front doors at the same time and steal a quick glance—me still laughing and her sitting with flaming red cheeks—before I start the car. Rubbing her leg, I lean over. “It’s okay. No one will be the wiser. Now, give me a kiss, Bell.”
“Look who the demanding one is now.”
“Only when it comes to kissing you.”
She leans over and gives me a kiss I’ll never forget. “You, sir, are going to get more than a kiss the next time we’re alone.”
I definitely underestimated her assets. She’s not afraid to use any tool in her arsenal.
I’m a lucky bastard.
* * *
I am so grateful Tealey forced me into a shop and, again, for the baggy shirt.
We were dodging questions like bullets as soon as we walked in the door. Holding up the bag was a great distraction. I tossed it to Jackson as Tealey and I ran upstairs under the guise of freshening up. If they only knew . . .
The water didn’t even have time to heat because I took the fastest shower in history and jetted back downstairs.
Cammie found the chocolate.
Jackson had grabbed the graham crackers.
Already out the door, Cade was starting the firepit, which left Marlow holding the marshmallows. She asks, “Where’s Tealey?”
“I don’t know,” I reply, hoping she can’t tell that we were up to no good. She takes her glass, and says, “We need to talk about my dad’s situation when we get back to Manhattan.”
“Will do.”
Marlow starts for the back deck when Tealey enters the great room. Marlow says, “There you are.”
“I wanted to change clothes and get more comfortable,” Tealey offers. Wearing sweatpants and a faded NYU sweatshirt, she pads into the kitchen in thick, bunched-up socks. The woman could wear anything and make it sexy.
I start checking emails when Tealey opens a bottle of water. Marlow says, “Heading out. Are you coming?” I glance up, but the question is directed to Tealey.
Tealey replies, “Be right out.”
The house grows quiet as the crew moves the party outside. Buried in a page of unread emails, I catch the subject line: Update – Misty Connor. I click it first and read the email from Ashleigh.
“What’s wrong?” Tealey rubs my shoulder, a look of concern worrying her eyes when she feels how tense I am.
“We finally heard back from the judge. He granted your client, Misty, a restraining order. I filed the paperwork before I left Manhattan.”
She releases a deep breath, and her expression brightens. “That’s great news. I’m surprised a judge was working on Saturday.”
“It went through last night, but now it’s in place.”
“Does she know?”
“I had a call with her on my drive, explaining how it would work, and Ashleigh made sure she knew it was approved this morning when she received word.”
“I really appreciate this, Rad.” She smiles, leaning against me. “Can I reward you with a s’more?” She holds up a s’more. “It’s all ready to heat over the pit.”
“I have other ideas on how you can reward me, but if those aren’t on the table, I’ll take the next best thing.” I take her perfectly made treat and head out back.
Tealey starts laughing and is quick to follow.
Tonight after dinner is about the same as last night, except we stay around the firepit.
Cammie has made a concerted effort not to worry. Or maybe she just hides her stress well. The guys and I tossed a football around for a while after eating too much, but now we’re enjoying the clear-sky night and the sound of the waves crashing onto the shore.
My mom’s gone to bed, and the gang seems to be winding up.
Cammie pokes Cade over with her toe. “You guys were rambunctious tonight.”
“Every night,” Marlow adds.
Jackson sits on the arm of her chair and rubs her shoulders. “You love it, and you know it.”
Marlow laughs. “You say that, but I really don’t. I like my men like my wine—”
“Palatable?” he jokes. “Or rich?”
“Both.” She grins unapologetically. “But I was going to say strong, bold, and with depth.” Pushing him off her chair, she says, “Basically, the opposite of you, you big lug.”
Though their fighting is entertaining, my mind is elsewhere. I still haven’t had a chance to talk to her about our arrangement or ask Tealey how we want to handle ours. I’m hoping I can put at least one of these conversations to rest tonight.
We’re among our friends, shooting the shit like we’ve done a thousand times before, yet it’s Tealey I’m drawn to. Seeing her snuggled inside the sweatshirt that practically swallows her whole, I get it. Her lips part, and although I can’t hear her, I reply, “Hi.”
I keep my eyes on the beauty across from me who’s leaning back in the chair, head tilted to the side with heavy eyelids. Conspiratorially, I nod toward the house. She grins, and I feel like I just won the jackpot. She stands. “I’m going to bed.”
“I’m wiped,” I say, faking a yawn and raising my arms for a good stretch. I call over my shoulder to the group, “Good night.”
A chorus of, “Night,” follows, but the rest is lost in the sound of the ocean. Just out of their sight, I tug her by the shirt, pulling her toward me. “Want me to keep you warm?”
“I want nothing more.”
Holding out a hand, I show her what I brought with us. She laughs. “You brought graham crackers? Deviously delicious.”
“What can I say? I’m still hungry.”
Tealey takes the small package and kisses me quickly before dashing upstairs. I’m right behind her, and this time, I remember to lock the door.
The flirting ends, and the two of us stand there in the light of the small lamp she turned on. The crackers are on the nightstand, and she toes the carpet. “Alone again.”
“Being alone with you is my favorite place to be.” I cross to her and cup her face, kissing her until her hands grab my wrists. Slowly reopening my eyes, I then lean my head against hers. “I’m free to kiss you for as long as I like.”
She kisses the underside of my jaw, “To explore, to date, to be whatever we want to be.”
“Exactly.” Her hands slide down my arms and then to my chest, lower until her hands reach under my shirt. I’m okay with this. I’m more than okay with all of this because it’s with her. It’s something I never thought would happen to me, but I’m starting to see a whole new opportunity. A relationship might actually work out how it’s supposed to, even for a cynic like me.
I kiss her shoulder and then whisper, “Turn around.”
She does a slow spin. I pull the sweatshirt over her head, and when she tugs her socks and pants off, I finally get a good look at her in a bra and pair of white cotton panties. So fucking innocent.
I don’t have as much patience with my own clothes. I’m practically kicking them to the floor until I’m left standing in my boxer briefs.
Tealey’s already climbing into bed when I join her. You’d think after years of keeping my distance that getting into bed with Tealey Bell would feel weird, but it doesn’t. It feels right.
She feels right.
We lie there for a minute, and I assume she has a million things racing through her head like I do. Every thought I have is landing on one theme.
How do I make this last past the weekend?
26
Rad
“What if your opinion on my body did matte
r?” Her voice is only a whisper between us, but her nervousness is heard in the question.
I turn to the side to find Tealey already facing me. Her eyes search mine for answers to a question I don’t understand. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“You once told me that your opinion doesn’t matter regarding my body, but it does. It matters to me, and you said there’s nothing wrong with it, but a lot right with it. Did you mean that?”
I caress her cheek. “I meant it.” She smiles, scooting her body closer. I move in, closing any gaps between us. “I like you, Tealey.”
“I like you, too, Rad.”
I pause, debating how to approach the delicate subject. I’d rather think through this logistically, which is my forte. But now, I have feelings involved that subtract some of my rationale from the equation, so I decide straightforward is best. “I’m not sure where you stand, but I want to be with you and only you.”
She grins. “I’m not standing. I’m lying right here with you. This is the only place I want to be. Where does that leave us beyond this bedroom door?”
“Our friends might understand—”
“Or they might not.” She looks down, doodling circle eights on my chest. “I don’t want to take away from Cammie and Cade’s wedding either, but this announcement would do the trick.”
Wrapping my arms around her, I pull her entirely, and selfishly, against me. “I agree. It’s great timing for us but might be bad timing for the overall situation. What do you suggest we do?”
“Is there anything we can do other than keep us a secret?”
“For right now?” I kiss the top of her head, hating that life is leaving us no choice. Because this woman deserves to be hugged and kissed whenever she wants it. Not only behind closed doors. “I don’t think we have any options.”
She kisses my chest. “Only for now.” I nod. She whispers, “As soon as the wedding’s over—”
“The minute it’s over.”
I can feel her cheeks rise against my skin. Kissing her once more, I add, “But for tonight—”
“We should probably slow things down again.” Not the answer I wanted to hear. Tilting her head back, she smiles. “I heard that huff. I said slow, not end, Welly.” When she wiggles her brow, it’s game on.
“Did you just waggle your eyebrows at me?”
“I did. What are you going to do about it?”
I slip my hand under the covers and slide up the top of her thigh.
Her mouth opens.
I pull the covers down and run my tongue over the top of her breast the bra left exposed.
Her tongue runs over the corner of her mouth before the softest of mewls is released. My cock reacts by hardening.
Disappearing under the covers altogether, I anchor myself by holding her hips with my hands and then kiss beneath a little pink bow on the top of her panties. I lift the covers to watch her.
She bites her lip.
I hook my fingers around the edges of the cotton and begin to leisurely pull them down until she bends her knees and lifts so I can remove them altogether. I stop, though.
Enough light penetrates the blanket for me to see the beauty of her body. A curve from her waist to her hips leads my eyes to where it meets her thighs. Her perfect legs. I start there, wedging my shoulder under the right thigh while kissing the inside of the other. I can’t resist going deeper with her, tasting her, feeling her heat on my tongue.
“Rad?” she asks on the end of a pant.
“Yeah?” I run the end of my nose along the side of her thigh.
Breathless, she says, “Being with you like this . . . it’s still new.”
I pause, wanting to reassure her and rid her tone of any insecurity. I lift the covers until our eyes meet. I can imagine my eyes reflect the same desire I find inside hers, but I want to take away any doubts she may have. “As fast or slow as you want to go. You’re in control.”
I love the sweet smile and nod she gives me. How did I deserve such trust? I already know this is not where and when we’ll have sex for the first time. It won’t just be the freedom to be together. It will also be about the freedom to express ourselves. I want to hear her yell my fucking name at the peak of her orgasm.
After that, I’m going to take my time and have her do it all over again. I want to experience her and listen to every noise she makes. I want her to feel free to moan and cry out and scream as I bring her to orgasm. Something I’ve fantasized about for so long.
I will my erection to go down, but nothing works. Her scent surrounds me, enticing me, so I push my hips against the mattress, trying to find some sort of relief. The more I hear and feel her losing control, the more the discomfort in my boxers grows.
No way am I putting my needs before hers, though. I started this, and I intend to enjoy every inch of this sublime body of hers. I start making love to her pussy with my mouth.
Touching.
Kissing.
The sheets are fisted around me, her hips bucking against my mouth until I hold her still again. This time, I fuck her with my tongue until my hair is pulled as she releases under a barrage of heavy breaths mixed with my name being whispered.
Licking.
Sucking.
Writhing beneath me.
Her body shivers with a giggle as she comes back down from the heavens. I climb up next to her and fall on my back. She lies there with her features at peace, her eyes closed for only a minute or so before turning to me. “You were right.”
“About?” I grin in response, though I have no idea what she’s about to say.
“You’re very good when you’re bad.”
“I’m not usually one for I told you so.” I move her hair behind her shoulder just to see her graceful neck. It’s the spot where her neck meets her shoulder that draws me to kiss her right there again. “Why do you taste so sweet?”
Her chest vibrates with laughter. “It’s the s’mores.” Maneuvering on top of me, she bends down until we’re nose to nose. Her little body rocking on my middle has me gripping her hips and holding her down harder. A rumbling growl builds strength inside. “You feel so good, you naughty girl.”
“Guess what?”
“What?”
Escaping my grasp, she slips under the blanket. “Want to see how bad I can be?”
Yes. Fucking yes!
* * *
I want to have sex with Tealey.
I’d sacrifice the chance at partner, give up my apartment building, and sell my soul to the devil to taste a piece of heaven. The samples are good, but I need more. I want more with her. I want her.
I haven’t had sex for . . . well, a long damn time. I should be climbing the walls. I should be a grouchy ass who’s best avoided. But I’m the opposite.
Doesn’t mean I won’t race home to get this woman alone. I’ll be breaking the speed limits if it gets me there five minutes sooner.
I wave one last time to Mom before rounding the bend and leaving the others driving home in the SUV in my dust. Reaching over, I walk two fingers down Tealey’s thigh. She hasn’t made access easy by wearing jeans, but I think I’m up for the challenge. “What kind of underwear are you wearing?”
She laughs, her head pushing back on the seat rest. “Wouldn’t you like to know?”
“Yes, I would.” I smirk and then chuckle. “That’s why I’m asking.”
“None,” she replies, her eyes trained out the windshield.
I start braking, and her hands fly forward to brace herself against the dashboard. “Rad, what are you doing?”
“You can’t tell me you’re not wearing anything under those jeans and expect me to focus on the road.”
“If you focus on the road, though, you’ll get to see under these jeans sooner.”
“I know a restaurant parking lot nearby. Hint, hint.”
A smile is quick to appear. “Too much security patrolling the property.” She has a point. “I have an idea.”
“Where?”
&nb
sp; “Your apartment in Manhattan,” she deadpans and sits back again.
A honk causes me to look in the mirror. Tealey turns to look out the back just as Cade speeds past us in the SUV, flipping us off. Sending me a look, she asks, “Are you going to let them beat us home?”
Home.
I can’t lie. I love hearing her call my place home.
“No fucking way.”
The last we saw of the crew was outside Medford when we all decided to grab snacks and get gas from a convenience store.
I tried not to worry about the Oreo cookie crumbs falling on Tealey’s lap and didn’t say a word when popcorn kernels fell onto the floorboard of my baby. Not a peep from me was heard when she dropped a jelly bean down the side of the seat, but I might have been squeezing the steering wheel.
If I weren’t still fixated on the fact that she says she’s not wearing any underwear, the rest of our trip might have gone a different way.
But as soon as that elevator opens into the apartment, I sag in relief. “It’s great to be home.”
27
Tealey
“Too tired?” I ask, smoothing a section of Rad’s hair to the side that’s hanging over his forehead. He looks at me, and the devilish smile on his face makes it hard to breathe.
“Depends why you’re asking.” He takes hold of my waist and moves in, dipping his head to my shoulder and placing little kisses there. I’m thinking we’re on the same page.
We haven’t made it five feet into the apartment, but I couldn’t stop the anticipation building on the drive back of us finally being alone and free to do whatever we please. Now, I’m so turned on my body feels like a live wire.
Rolling my head to the side, I give him more access to my neck. He pushes my hair aside and leaves lingering kisses on my skin. “Is this better?” His breath gives me goose bumps.
The ember inside me has been lit, and the burn of desire for this man is insatiable. We’ve been adding kindling to this fire for days, and now it’s beginning to consume me. Taking his hands, I start leading him to my bedroom. “I’m not going for better. I want spectacular. Are you up for the challenge, Welly?”
