by Mari Carr
As soon as Adele thought that, she pushed it away.
No one should feel like a threat to her because she and Porter weren’t dating, and despite his joke about her being his girlfriend, they both knew that after they slept together, things would return to the status quo. This wasn’t going to last more than one night…maybe tonight if this date ended the way she hoped.
She had too much pride, too much practicality, to let herself get swept up in him like every other woman he’d shared a bed with, believing she could be the one to change his bachelor status.
What she needed to do was look at sleeping with him as an early Christmas present to herself. She’d treat herself to a night of amazing sex with a man who knew his way around the bedroom and then, come morning, she’d put herself back out there in hopes of finding a man like Keith, one who wasn’t allergic to relationships and marriage.
“So…” she said with a grin. “Now that all that pesky relationship history is out, I want to revisit that other topic of conversation.”
Porter lifted her hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing her fingertips before swiping them with a quick brush of his tongue. “You gonna spend the night with me tonight, Addie?”
She didn’t hesitate for a second, nodding. If she had an ounce of self-preservation, she’d resist him, but she was too far gone for that.
“Your place or mine?” he asked.
“Mine is closer,” she whispered.
“Let’s go.”
Chapter 4
Porter stood aside as Adele unlocked the door to her apartment. He’d never been in her home, their social interactions limited to the restaurant, Macie and Coop’s farmhouse, and the occasional Maris event.
Once the door was open, she led him inside. He closed and locked it, then turned as lights flickered on.
“Dayum,” he drawled as he took in Adele’s living room. A large white pine Christmas tree took up one whole corner of the room, the brightly colored lights twinkling. In addition to the tree, she’d adorned every flat surface with greenery, colorful lights, and holiday knickknacks.
As he took it all in, she kept walking around the room, turning on even more of the light-up decorations. She didn’t bother with the overhead light or lamps on the end tables because she didn’t need to. The room was awash in the soft, warm blinking lights. The entire effect was almost ethereal, and Porter felt a bit like a kid again as he looked around, grinning at her extensive collection of fiber optic Christmas trees and snowmen on the bookshelf.
The whole place smelled great too, an incredible blend of pine, cinnamon, apple, and sugar cookies.
“Isn’t that the elf doll parents torture their kids with to make them behave?” he asked, pointing to a smiling elf posed on the uppermost shelf, peering down into the room.
“Elf on a Shelf. Yep. That’s it. Macie gave it to me one year as a joke—said she didn’t want me slacking off just because I was an adult. Thought I needed a reminder to be good. Not that I move my elf around…yet.”
He grinned when she added the last word, picturing Adele sneaking out at midnight to move the elf to a new hiding place each night so her children would believe Santa was making his list and checking it twice, watching them to ensure they were good boys and girls.
In the past, the thought of kids would have made him uneasy, but as he looked at Adele, her eyes twinkling in delight as she looked at all she’d created, he actually felt himself longing to be the man standing beside her, finding new hiding places for the elf.
He struggled for a word to describe how incredible her place looked. “This is…this is something, Addie.”
She tilted her head. “Is that a good something, or a this chick is six eggs short of a dozen and I’ll be saying good night now something?”
“It’s good. I like it. A lot.”
Adele’s smile told him exactly how much his response pleased her. Then she shrugged off his compliment. “I’m sure your Christmas tree is just as cool.”
“I don’t have a tree.”
“What?”
He chuckled. “Doesn’t seem to be much point. It’s just me in my cabin, and I celebrate the holiday at the farmhouse with Coop. And this year, Macie.”
Adele didn’t seem to think that was a good enough excuse. “Where do you put all your wrapped presents?”
Porter shrugged. “First of all, gift wrapping feels like a big waste of time. Can’t see wasting money on special paper that gets torn up in seconds. Usually I just toss whatever I’ve bought in one of those gift bag things and stash it all on one end of the kitchen table until Christmas.”
She crinkled her nose. “You just put it on the table? What about other decorations? Do you at least hang up a stocking?”
He shook his head, grinning widely. “Don’t have a fireplace.”
“Do you hang up lights outside?”
“Nope. Waste of time. Who’d see them? I live a ways off the road.”
Adele placed her hands on her hips. “Do you at least put a damn wreath on the front door?”
“Jesus. Can you imagine the shit the other ranch hands would give me if I did a girlie thing like that?” he asked, joking, enjoying the way she was getting more and more worked up about his lack of holiday spirit.
“Bah humbug, Grinch.”
He stepped closer to her, reaching for her waist so he could tug her toward him. “If you want, you can come over and hang a wreath on my front door.” He’d let her drape his whole place in tinsel if it got her into his cabin, into his bed. He liked the idea of sharing his personal space with Adele.
“I’m going to take you up on that offer. Even the Grinch’s heart grew three sizes. I have faith the same can happen to you.”
He placed a kiss on the tip of her adorable nose. “If anyone can accomplish that, I’m betting it’s you.” Then he bent his head lower and gave her a longer, deeper kiss, one that ensured she forgot all about his Scrooge-ish ways.
Adele wrapped her arms around his shoulders, her hands finding their way to his hair. He was probably overdue for a real haircut. Sharon used to trim his thick mass of unruly black hair and since her passing, he’d been trying to do it himself…with less than favorable results. Now he was glad he’d failed because he liked the way Adele ran her fingers through it, the way she gripped a handful of it, using it to keep his lips pressed against hers.
“Where’s your bedroom?” he murmured against her soft cheek.
She pointed over her shoulder. “Down the hall.”
“Take me there.” He wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anyone, and he prayed he’d find the patience to go slow and make it good for her. Right now, all he could think about was pulling off her tight jeans and driving himself inside her until the end of time.
“Okay,” she whispered, her word tickling his neck as she pressed soft kisses there. She didn’t move though, clearly unwilling to leave his embrace even to take the few steps necessary to get them to her bed.
He ran his hands up and down her back beneath her sweater. He was finding it hard to let her go as well, and for a moment he considered stripping her out of her clothing right here and dragging her down to the floor. Porter liked the idea of seeing her pale skin awash in color from the tree lights.
Then his gaze landed on the Elf on the Shelf and he chuckled.
Adele pulled away briefly, confused by his mirth. “Something funny?”
“I think we better move this to your bedroom, darlin’,” he said, pointing to the elf. “Because you’re about to be very, very naughty.”
Adele laughed as she grabbed his hand, leading him along the corridor to the room at the end. Once they were inside her bedroom, she turned to face him, pulling her sweater over her head in one pull. “You know, I think the good list is overrated.”
Porter couldn’t agree more. He also couldn’t speak, too focused on Adele’s ample breasts, spilling over the top of a red lacy bra. His lips kicked up at the ends when he realized she’d probably bough
t the bra just for the holidays, and he was curious to see if her panties were green in keeping with the theme.
He unbuttoned his shirt as he stood before her, the two of them simply watching, waiting. Porter had spent too many months thinking about getting Adele into bed…ever since that barn dance.
“How long has it been?” he asked her, noticing how her cheeks flushed when he tugged his shirt off, revealing his bare chest.
“There hasn’t been anyone since Keith,” she confessed.
He nodded, wondering if she still had feelings for her ex. Maybe her lousy dating track record was less about attempting to move on and more about self-sabotage.
Her gaze slid downwards, taking in his body the same way he’d studied hers. “How about you?”
“No one since our first dance.” He grinned as he winked and added, “When you became my girlfriend.”
She giggled softly. “You are a charmer with a silver tongue, Porter Cormack. It’s no wonder all the women flitter around you like flies on honey.”
He took a step closer to her. “I thought I had a magic tongue.”
She sighed. “I’m sorry I ever told you that. I can see it’s only fed that ginormous ego of yours even more.”
He reached out and ran his fingers along the top of her bra, caressing her breasts, enjoying the way his touch made her shiver. “Take off your bra, Addie. Let me see you.”
She bit her lower lip nervously, and he started to realize that while she was a confident, self-assured woman, she was also fairly inexperienced when it came to sex.
“Was Keith your first?” He wasn’t sure why that mattered, but he wanted to know everything about Adele, every secret in her head, every story from her past.
She shook her head. “No. There was one other. High school boyfriend my senior year. Fell apart when he left for college.”
Two men. She’d only been with two men.
Porter filed that information away, determined that he was going to be the only man she took to her bed for the rest of her life. Her list was going to end at number three.
Third times the charm.
He was about to tell her just that, but the words fell away when she unsnapped her bra and drew the straps over her arms. She dropped the lace to the floor, her eyes locked with his.
He’d intended to watch as she stripped off all her clothing, but that plan fell away. There was no way he could be this close to her and not touch her.
Gripping her breasts, he lifted the generous flesh, stroking his thumbs over her tight nipples.
Adele’s breathing grew labored, her tiny little gasps and squeaks as he began to squeeze her breasts more firmly the only sounds in the room.
She shifted closer to him, arching her back slightly in invitation.
Porter wanted to imprint every second of this night on his memory so he could pull it out and relive it over and over and over again.
“So beautiful,” he murmured as he bent lower, taking one of her nipples into his mouth.
“Oh,” Adele breathed. “God. That feels so…” Her words morphed into a groan when he sucked harder.
Porter hadn’t known her ex-boyfriend Keith well, but he’d been around the man enough to know he’d probably been gentle as a lamb in bed. Given Adele’s interest in Porter’s bedroom exploits, it was clear what she really needed was a lion.
Her fingers found his hair once more and this time her grip was tighter, his scalp stinging.
He continued to play with her until she was pleading for more.
Porter lifted his head, kissing her as he reached for the zipper on her pants. Adele mimicked his actions, reaching for his belt.
As she pulled his belt from the loops, he took it from her, tossing it on the bed. “We might need that later,” he said with a wink.
She laughed softly, even as she narrowed her eyes, pretending to be annoyed.
It occurred to him that Adele’s appeal came from her forthrightness, her honesty. Coop had mentioned once that he’d fallen hard for Macie because he didn’t have to guess what she was thinking, how she felt. Porter got it now. Adele didn’t play games. What you saw was what you got with her.
“I’m not going to tell you how I plan to use it,” he teased.
“Hardly seems fair considering you apparently shared the nightly agenda with all of your previous dates.”
He chuckled. “I like the idea of surprising you.”
She considered that then admitted, “I do like surprises.”
Porter kissed her again as he slipped his fingers beneath her jeans and panties, slowly working the material over her hips.
Together, they worked to divest each other of the rest of their clothing.
Adele’s gaze drifted lower as he shed his jeans and shoes, and it lingered there. “Wow. I guess that part of the Porter legend is true too.”
He tilted his head, curious, until he realized she was staring at his cock, her impressed expression tinged with a hint of trepidation.
Porter chuckled. “Is there some sort of book about me that you ladies are passing around?”
Adele grinned. “No. And in truth, most of what I’ve heard came from Jackie Roberson. That woman talks more than my dad.”
Porter winced. “Wish I’d know that back in the day.”
“Back in the day?”
“I was a young buck in my early twenties when I hooked up with Jackie and a hell of a lot less discerning. Not sure why she’s still going on about it.”
Adele sighed. “I’m not about to give you that cliché about ruining her for all other men. Your ego is big enough.”
Porter grasped her hand and guided it to his cock, wrapping her fingers around it. “I don’t want to talk about the past, Addie. Right now, the only thing that matters is the here and now, you and me.”
He sealed those words with a kiss, moaning deeply when Adele’s grip on his dick tightened and she started to stroke him.
The two of them kissed for several minutes, exploring each other’s bodies with long, slow, languid touches. He loved the way she sighed every time he ran his thumb over her nipples, the way she squeaked when he brushed her clit with his fingertips.
“Sit on the edge of the bed, darlin’.”
Adele sat down, though she retained her grip on his dick. He pulled her hand away, determined to spend the next few minutes concentrating on her pleasure. He wanted to ensure that after tonight, Adele would never want anyone, but him. She was the only woman in the world for him.
When he knelt in front of her, pressing her thighs apart, he felt her start of surprise. Jesus. Didn’t that ex of hers ever go down on her?
“Porter,” she whispered. “You don’t have to…”
“Shhh. I’m right where I want to be.” To prove his point, he lowered his head and ran his tongue along her slit.
“Hooooo. Lllllly. Shit.”
Adele’s drawled curse prompted him to grin. And to up his game. He held her open with his thumbs to give him easier access to her clit.
Adele responded to every stroke like a sprinter to the starting pistol. Her back arched and her hips tilted as she ran her fingers through his hair. “So good, so good,” she murmured, her words a refrain.
He lifted his head for just a moment, wanting to see her face. Adele’s eyes were closed, her look one of pure bliss. They flew open when he pressed two fingers inside her. She was wet, hot, tight, and he suddenly understood that look of trepidation.
He’d been told enough times by the women he took to bed that his dick wasn’t exactly what anyone considered an average size.
His gaze locked with Adele’s as he pushed his fingers in and out, slowly at first, then faster. Adele began to white-knuckle grip the duvet beneath her, thrashing her head from side to side. “Ohmigod. Porter.”
When he lowered his head and sucked her clit into his mouth, his fingers still pounding inside her, she went over the edge.
She cried out his name as she momentarily went stiff, her orgasm cra
shing through her and crushing the fingers he left buried deep.
“God damn, you’re beautiful, Addie,” he said, once the climax had passed.
She lay limp on the side of the bed, her legs dangling over the edge. “That was…” Her words faded, the tone so breathless, he wasn’t sure if she couldn’t come up with a description or couldn’t find enough air to say it.
It didn’t matter anyway. He was hard and hurting and ready to make this woman his.
“Just the beginning,” he said, filling in the blanks with his own words.
She shivered slightly. “I don’t know if I can take anymore.” Her actions belied her words, however, as she tugged the covers down and slid to the center of the bed, beckoning him to join her.
Porter slid in next to her, grasping her waist with his hand, tugging her until they lay facing each other, side by side. He kissed her, his hard cock pushing against her stomach. He wanted to give her a second to recover because there was no way he was going to be satisfied until he felt her come apart on his dick at least twice before he gave in to his own release.
Once he felt her begin to relax, he twisted them until she was on her back beneath him. “Don’t move,” he murmured against her lips. “Need to get a condom.”
Her fingers tightened in his biceps. “Do you?” she asked shyly.
He studied her face. “I’m clean if that’s what you’re asking.”
Adele’s sweet, sexy smile blew him away when she said, “I’m on birth control.”
As far as invitations went, Porter figured that was probably the best one he’d ever gotten in his life. “Addie, darlin’.” He kissed her again, a long, deep, passionate kiss that he hoped showed her what she meant to him.
Her legs parted farther as she wrapped her calves around his hips. “Come inside me,” she whispered. “I want you.”
Porter found his own words failing him in that moment as he lifted his hips and guided the head of his cock to her entrance. Neither of them spoke or looked away as he slowly, inexorably pushed inside, working with shallow thrusts that gradually went deeper, until he was lodged fully.
