by Dakota Rebel
I gathered her into my arms, and she came willingly, her body almost melting into the touch. I wondered if maybe she didn’t get a lot of physical affection. Every touch I’d given her had been met with the thirst of a dying man in the desert.
“Will you stay with me?” she asked, her voice barely a whisper.
“I don’t know if that’s a good idea,” I answered honestly. It was difficult enough not to kiss her, not to claim her lips and push her back into the mattress. She fit so perfectly against my body, I never, ever wanted to let her go. “You should really try to get some sleep.”
“I thought you weren’t going to tell me what to do.”
I took a deep breath and turned to correct her, but when I caught the humor in her gaze, saw her biting her lower lip to hide a smile, I shook my head.
“You’re a brat.”
My brat. My spoiled, sassy, gorgeous brat who I was going to marry and put my babies in the first chance I got. And we’d raise a pack of spoiled, sassy brats of our own. Then we’d have spoiled, sassy grandbrats.
“You just went somewhere,” she said, cupping my chin in her palm.
“Somewhere you don’t want to go yet,” I said, pulling her hand into mine and kissing her fingers. “I’m not telling you to go bed. I’m just saying you’ve had a hard day, probably a hard couple months really. You’re safe here. You should get some sleep. Tomorrow, we’ll go to breakfast and talk about what we’re going to do.”
“What do you mean?”
“Tomorrow,” I insisted. Unable to resist it any longer, I leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to her lips.
I’d expected it to be chaste and comforting, but my little monster had other ideas. Her arms snaked around my neck and held me close, her tongue running over the seam of my mouth.
With a deep groan, I opened to her probing, running my own tongue over hers, drawing a whimper from her. I pulled her tighter against me, her breasts pressed to my chest as I tangled my fingers into her dark, wild locks.
“I’m sorry,” I said, pulling back from her. “Laura, I can’t do this right now.”
What the hell was I saying?
“What the hell are you talking about?” The glare she gave me would have made most men quake.
“Look, God knows I want you. I mean, babe, you have no fucking clue how much. But you must be at the legal limit for stress. And I don’t want you to ever regret our first time.”
“You think I’d just give up my virginity all willy-nilly because I’m stressed?” She narrowed her gaze at me. “I’ve been stressed since sixth grade. This is that caveman shit I don’t like, Luke. Don’t presume to tell me what I’m thinking or feeling.”
“I need a God damned handbook with you,” I snapped.
Before she could respond, I pulled her into me again, crashing my mouth over hers, as I pulled her body down the mattress so I could lie over her.
She responded immediately, her nails digging into my back as she splayed her thighs, allowing me to fall between them. Thank fucking God I was wearing sleep pants. As it was, my erection was pressed against her core, and even through my pajamas and the cloth of her shorts, I felt the heat radiating from her.
Lust was making me act rashly. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew I couldn’t take her virginity tonight. No matter what she thought, this wasn’t the right time. That didn’t mean I couldn’t tease her and tempt her with a taste of what she had to look forward to for the rest of her life.
“Luke, I want you,” she whispered, breaking away from the kiss to meet my gaze. “Please. Just, make me forget about the rest of the world.”
“I will,” I promised her. “But I’m not fucking you tonight.”
“Why not?” she pouted.
“Because I don’t like that caveman shit where you tell me what to do.”
“You’re kind of an asshole.”
“And you’re kind of a hellion.” I shrugged. “We all have our crosses to bear, Laura.” I ran a hand down her chest, cupping one of her breasts and rolling her nipple between my fingers. “But don’t worry, baby. I won’t leave you wanting.”
Her back arched at the intimate touch, a gasp rasping from her throat. My cock jumped in response, and I couldn’t wait to hear all the various sounds she was about to make for me.
“I’m going to eat your pussy,” I whispered against her ear. “And I don’t want you to try to keep quiet. I want to hear every word, every shout, every scream. There’s no one but me here to hear you, and every sound you make belongs to me. I’m going to earn them. So, don’t you dare hold out on me. Understood?”
She nodded, her eyes wide and her chest heaving as she drew quick, shallow breaths.
I pulled at the hem of her shirt, lifting it over her head and tossing it to the floor. Dipping low, I sucked one of her nipples into my mouth, teasing the bud with my teeth for a moment before switching to the other perfect mound and repeating the action.
She moaned, and the sound was like heaven. Her reaction to me caused precum to leak in my pants. I could already feel the sticky fluid, and I was afraid avoiding fucking her would be even more difficult than I’d thought.
Sliding down her body, I trailed my tongue over her skin, pausing to lick at her bellybutton until she squirmed and giggled. When I reached her shorts, I pulled them down, exposing her to me.
Her scent was like honey, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer to taste her. I slid my arms under her thighs, spreading her wider until I could see the dampness clinging to her folds.
“My God, Laura, you’re fucking beautiful,” I said, looking up her body to meet her eyes. She met my gaze, but her lip found its way between her teeth again as if she were embarrassed. “Don’t be shy. I’m the only man who will ever see you like this. This is mine. All of you will belong to me.”
I leaned forward and ran my tongue up her slit. Her hips bucked, and a deep sigh escaped her. The tension in her body made me think she was close enough to her first orgasm, that if I touched her just right, she’d fall over the edge.
My thumb found her clit, and I pressed hard, fast circles over it as I slid a finger inside her channel. She cried out, her body spasming as the first orgasm washed over her lithe body.
“You’re so fucking wet,” I whispered, adding a second finger to her soaked pussy. “I can’t wait to feel this gripping my cock. I’m going to love fucking you.”
I slammed my fingers into her, bumping her clit with my knuckles as I finger-fucked her until she screamed out my name, her body shaking with a second release.
“Stop!” she cried, dropping to the mattress and panting. “Please, oh my God. Stop. It’s too much.”
“Are you sure?” I teased, sliding my fingers in again.
An aftershock rocked her body, and she sobbed, clutching at my arm and pulling it away from her sensitive core.
I climbed up her body and kissed her softly. Her eyelids fluttered, each time staying closed a little longer.
“You should get some sleep,” I told her again.
“Don’t leave,” she whispered.
“I’ll never leave you,” I promised.
I pulled her into my arms, and she laid her head on my chest, her fingers running over my pecs. In minutes, her breathing had evened out, and she’d fallen into a deep slumber.
“I love you,” I whispered, before placing a kiss on the top her head. “And I’m never, ever letting you go.”
Chapter Five
~ Laura ~
“You’re almost twenty-three,” I muttered to myself as I left my bedroom, dressed in jeans and a loose red, V-neck tee. “Stop being an idiot.” I’d been delaying all morning. As an early riser, I usually would have left my room long before now and been well on my way to completing the never-ending list of goals I set out for myself.
But this morning, I felt sheepish and shy from my interlude with Luke last night. It had been amazing, but what if it hadn’t been so special to him? What if he thought less of me today?
What if he wanted me to leave now that he’d tasted me—literally?
The litany of insecurities was as endless as my to-do lists. I hated it. Until mid-high school when my father had complexly shifted my life-view with his determination that it was time I marry, I’d been a carefree outgoing girl, always ready for the next adventure. I wanted her back! I missed her.
“What was that?”
I jumped and looked up, startled. Luke was standing in the kitchen on the far side of the living area expanse. He was also dressed for the day, though far less casually in a pair of charcoal dress pants and a lightweight, olive-green sweater. It fit his body to perfection, emphasizing his lean, muscular figure and stealing my breath. Damn it, no man should look so good with their sleeves pushed up their forearms.
And what had he said? I shook my head, indicating I didn’t understand him.
“I thought you said something.”
“No,” I replied. I threaded my fingers into my long, thick hair, pushing it back from my face.
“Hmm, okay. Coffee?”
“Yes,” I moaned, without thinking and even from where I stood, I saw Luke’s eyes darken. I bit my lip and smiled at him. Okay, he still wanted me.
And that look empowered me to let that carefree girl reemerge. She’d been hiding for too long while I’d been running from the inevitability of that arranged marriage. And she was ready for an adventure.
“I was thinking we could have it out on the terrace. Do you want to eat here or go out?”
“Here is fine.” I closed the space between us and slid onto one of the stools at the island that divided the kitchen from the living room and dining area. He poured a cup of coffee for me and slid it toward me.
“Cream or sugar?”
“Cream, please.” I bit my lip not wanting to be shy with him. I mean the man had his face between my legs last night. Okay, wrong thought. That was definitely something to be shy about.
“You okay?” he asked as he set down the carton of half and half and a spoon. His cool fingers stroked over my heated cheek.
“Mm-hmm,” I squeaked.
C’mon, Laura you’re a grownup.
“Just thinking,” I continued.
“Me, too,” he replied, his tone growly and my lower stomach pulled in reaction. My panties were definitely getting dowsed.
“Probably not about the same thing,” I said. Liar, liar pants on fire! “I know it’s the weekend and Vegas, but I’ve never been here except for that quick weekend. We barely saw a thing—basically the hotel, slot machines, the club and a show. I’d really like to see some of it, you know? I mean…” I bit my lip. “I know it’s touristy and you probably don’t want to but—”
“We can do whatever you want. What are you thinking?”
“Silly kid stuff really. I want to ride the LINQ and go see the sharks and The Hershey’s Chocolate World and go to the flamingo habitat,” I blurted out in one breath. “And maybe see the Eiffel Tower.”
He leaned on his elbows on the counter, bringing us eye to eye. “I could take you to see the actual Eiffel Tower.”
That flutter happened in my belly again. “I’m sure you could,” I answered with more cool than I felt. “But I’ve never really seen Vegas. Let’s start here.”
Stretching forward, he kissed my forehead then straightened and walked toward the refrigerator. “Maybe Paris for our honeymoon.”
“Luke,” I huffed.
He turned to face me, leaning his butt against the counter next to the fridge. “I’m not going to lie. I told you how I feel yesterday. You know I want you—I want you forever. I won’t force you into anything, but I can promise, when it comes to us together, I won’t be coercing anything.” His chin lowered, his intense, determined eyes pinning me. “But someday, we are getting married. And I will take you on a honeymoon. You might as well start planning on that now.”
“You just decided that and you’re telling me to start planning on it, but you’re not forcing me?” I asked in disbelief. “That sounds an awful lot like I have no choice.”
“I didn’t just decide it. And you know you have choices. I’ll wait as long as you need. But I’m not letting go. I’m not giving up. Don’t try to tell me you don’t feel this thing between us. I know you do.”
This was way too heavy a conversation for this early in the morning.
I took a swallow of my coffee then realized I hadn’t put the creamer in it. Avoiding Luke’s eyes, I poured some in and slowly stirred it. He groaned when I brought the spoon to my lips.
I looked back at him. He’d crossed his ankles and his arms while he leaned there watching me. From this distance, I didn’t really need to scan my eyes downward to see his cock pushing against his fly. And he wasn’t trying to hide it from me either. I wasn’t sure how to feel about that. I guess it was further evidence he wanted me. But lust didn’t actually add up to a relationship.
Lying wouldn’t get me anywhere though. “You know I feel it, too.”
“Then don’t fight it. Be open and let’s see where this goes. I’m not going to dial back, because that would be the same as misleading you. But you,” he pointed offhand at me, “can’t shut down and pretend we’re not happening. I’ll be honest and you’ll be honest.”
I took another sip of my coffee, watching him over the rim as I thought. I wanted to recapture the girl I’d been. This was my chance. I never got to date; my father’s decision had stunted that. I didn’t want to be a teenager again, but I wanted to have fun and fall in love, just like most other girls in the world. With this man, I was practically halfway there.
“I do feel it,” I told him. “I’m scared to give in, but I’m going to.”
He straightened and was around the counter in a moment, his long legs eating up the distance. He cupped my face, urging me to look up at him. “You never need to be afraid with me. I don’t want to trap you; I want you to fly. And if you start to fall, I will catch you. Because no matter how far you go, what heights you want to reach, I will be there with you. Not to hold you back, not to do things for you or to take your thunder, but to support you however you need me to.”
My vision blurred with my emotions. “What if I need you to let go?”
“You won’t need it. You’re scared—I get that. You’ve had so much taken from you. I don’t want to take anything from you. I want to give you everything I can and be there when you achieve your goals.”
“I don’t want to lose my freedom,” I whispered. “I don’t want to be like my mom.”
“You won’t be. But Laura? Have you really been free? Since you left home, have you really been free, or have you been imprisoned by your fear of being tracked down and dragged back to that life? You can be free with me. No one is touching you.” He smiled suddenly, turning from the thick, oppressive turn our discussion had taken. “Except me. I’ll touch you. But I have a feeling you’ll like that.”
I wrapped my legs around his thighs, pulling him closer to me. My fingers curled in his soft sweater. “I have a feeling you’re right. Will you kiss me, then will you take me to have fun in Vegas?
His hand curled around the back of my head. “Anything you wish,” he promised against my lips. I groaned, opening my mouth for him and the immediate invasion of his tongue. It slipped against mine, and my back arched as I tried to get nearer to him. The kiss deepened, both of us getting lost in it and the feel of each other. Before I realized it, Luke lifted me and set me on the counter of the island, narrowly missing my coffee. I wouldn’t have cared if it spilled, so long as we could get closer.
My legs locked around him, as that erection I’d seen, rubbed against me. His hand palmed my breast.
“Luke, Luke, Luke,” I chanted between kisses.
“Fuck,” he muttered. “Being with you is better than I ever imagined all these months. Do you have any idea how much I want you?”
“Yeah,” I panted as he kissed my neck. “If it’s anything like I’ve wanted you, yeah, I do. I’ve been so al
one. But any old guy wouldn’t ever do. It was only you.”
“Damn straight.” He growled and nipped my shoulder where my neckline had shifted aside. “You’re not alone anymore, my love. Never again.”
His sigh blew across my shoulder. “But…”
“What?” Fear sliced through me at his gear change.
“We should get going. We’ll eat breakfast at the Veranda at Four Seasons.”
“Uh…” I blinked at him, reeling. We were kissing and…
He cupped my cheek, his gaze tender. “Babe, if we don’t get out of here, this is going to escalate fast. I promised I wouldn’t push you and that includes having sex before you’re ready. And once your brain gets back online, you’ll know that. I don’t want any regrets between us.”
“I hate you a little right now,” I muttered.
“Because I’m right?”
“Yeah.” My reply was grudging at best.
He grasped my waist and lifted me down to my feet. His lips pressed to my forehead, and I closed my eyes as a warm fuzzy sensation surrounded me at the closeness.
Less than twenty-four hours ago, I’d been alone and stranded, unsure of my future. Now I had Luke…and I was still unsure of my future. But I had a feeling whatever it was, he’d be right there. It didn’t seem as if he planned to give me a choice. Strangely, nothing in me rebelled at that. That would take some getting used to.
“I’ll go change my clothes then,” I said. New panties were a must, and there was no way I was going out dressed in my old T-shirt while he looked like some high-end magazine model. “I’ll be right back… Do you think Four Seasons has French toast?”
“If they don’t, they will by the time we leave,” he promised.
I licked my bottom lip then bit it as I nodded. Right… He was a billionaire, and he made things happen. That would take some getting used to, too.
Chapter Six
~ Luke ~
Watching Las Vegas through Laura’s eyes was kind of amazing. I don’t know that I’d ever been excited by the strip before. My family had lived here our whole lives, so the lights and the crowds and the noise were all just background to us.
