by Alison Bliss
Her lips trembled against his, and her heart began to race. With each swipe of his firm mouth, tingles erupted throughout her body. But he was barely touching her, and she wanted more. So she tilted her head to the side and parted her lips to give him better access and invite him to take the kiss further.
But instead, Brett broke the kiss and pulled away. “Uh, we need to slow down.”
What? Not again.
She hadn’t been intimate with anyone since they’d broken up a year ago, and her sexual frustration had been catching up with her ever since she’d first run into him. Her patience was wearing thin, and she couldn’t take it anymore. She was desperate to have his hands on her body, touching her like he used to. Like she ached for him to.
“Why? It’s not like we haven’t had sex before.”
“Yeah, but we were together at the time. Things were…different then.”
Her heart sank. He didn’t say the words out loud, but he didn’t have to. She could read between the lines. In other words, I was a little thinner and sexier back then.
Even though he’d told her more than once that he wanted to take things slow, Sidney knew something else had been holding him back. Brett hadn’t taken things slow a day in his life. Now it all made sense.
Maybe he hadn’t wanted to hurt her feelings, but she had no choice but to accept his reluctance for what it was. Rejection.
Brett was a good guy. Better than most people realized or gave him credit for. That was partially his own fault since he had a tendency to wear a tough-guy mask and keep his circle of friends tight. Unfortunately, not many others got to see the real man behind the curtain. Sidney was just grateful that, at one time, she’d had her own personal backstage pass. Even if those days were clearly over.
Without saying a word, Sidney reached down and slid both of her heels off. Then she snagged them by the straps with one finger and rose back to a sitting position. “Good night, Brett. Thank you for dinner.”
Brett stared at her with a confused look on his face. “What’s wrong? Are you mad at me for something?”
Clutching her shoes in one hand, she flung the passenger door open and slid out of the truck. Her bare feet splashed into a puddle of cold water as large drops of hard rain pelted against her body. She was getting soaked, but she turned back to him anyway. “No, I’m not mad. I’m hurt. There’s a difference.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Well, I do.” She shoved a wet strand out of her face. “I understand perfectly. I get that you’re not attracted to me anymore. But you should’ve said so from the beginning rather than inviting me to dinner.”
Brett blinked at her. “What are you talking about?”
“I know I’ve gained some weight, but that doesn’t change who I am.” Her voice cracked as tears welled up in her eyes.
He stared at her blankly, not saying a word.
God, this is so embarrassing. She turned to leave.
“Sidney, wait.”
But she didn’t. With tears in her eyes, she slammed the door and sprinted through the storm toward her home.
Chapter Eight
Lightning struck in the distance, but it was Brett who felt like he’d been hit. He sat there in shock, unable to move.
Sidney doesn’t think I want her because she’s gained a few pounds? Is the woman fucking insane?
Not only did she have a gorgeous figure, but he’d been torturing himself by not touching her. He just didn’t want to be intimate with her until he was sure they were back together for good…because he loved her and didn’t want to screw things up again like he did the last time. But there was no way in hell he was going to let her keep thinking that he wasn’t attracted to her. That was ridiculous.
Brett turned off the engine and catapulted out of the truck as fast as he could, his boots sloshing in the water running off the curb. Cold rain beat down on him, but he didn’t even bother trying to cover his head. It was pointless. Within seconds of being out of the truck, his clothes and hair were already completely soaked through.
He dashed for her house and caught up to her before she was able to unlock the door and get inside. “Sidney.”
She glanced up at him with her wet hair hanging in her face and shook her head. “Go away.”
“No, we need to talk.”
She put her key into the lock and twisted it. “No, we don’t.”
“Just hear me out, okay?”
She threw the door open but didn’t step inside. Instead, she pivoted on her bare feet and glared at him with eyes of fury. “I don’t need you to console me. That’s only going to make me feel worse.”
“That’s not what I’m doing. I’m just trying to explain—”
“God, would you just stop already? I don’t need to hear some lame excuse as to why you don’t want to be with me. I get it, okay?”
“Apparently not,” he said, running a hand through his dripping wet hair. “I never once said I didn’t want to be with you.”
Rain water dripped off the tip of her nose. “No, but you still rejected me…twice.”
“Not for the reason you think.” He wiped water from his eyes and took a step closer. “Sid, I didn’t know you were insecure about your weight. You never have been in the past. But I promise that wasn’t the reason for me putting a halt to things between us.”
She fisted a hand on her hip. “Why then?”
“I wasn’t sure where we stood or if you even wanted to get back together. I mean, you went on a date with someone else. What was I supposed to think?”
“But I kissed you last night. I wouldn’t have done that if I was with someone else. You should know that about me.”
“I do know that about you, but…well, it’s been almost a year. Things sometimes change. I didn’t want to make false assumptions about us and where we stand. Basically, I didn’t want to get hurt.”
“Well, I didn’t want to either, you know? I believe you when you say you’ve changed. I can see it in your attitude, your behavior, even the way you carry yourself. You’re different. And I want to believe that you’re still attracted to me, Brett. I really do. But it’s hard for me when I don’t look the same as I did before.”
Brett’s eyes gazed over her. Her makeup was smeared down her face, her long hair was plastered to her head, and her skin had broken out in goose bumps from the cold. She looked like hell. But he knew how beautiful she was—inside and out—and there was no one else he would rather be with.
Then he glanced down and realized something else. Her thin white blouse was soaking wet, and she looked like she’d just participated in a wet T-shirt contest. One she would’ve easily won, seeing how she wasn’t wearing a bra. Christ.
“You’re going to have to trust me, Sid.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “I…don’t know if I can. Not when it comes to this.”
Brett moved toward her until he had her backed up against the doorjamb and their bodies were touching. Determined to convince her how wrong she was, he rubbed himself against her, letting the hard ridge in his pants speak for itself. “Does that at all feel like I’m not attracted to you?”
Her breath hitched, and the sound made him even harder.
Unable to help himself, he bent his head and kissed her, his mouth taking hers with a fierce hunger that he’d never felt before. She responded immediately by parting her lips and pressing more of herself against him, and his heart beat wildly. God, he wanted her. But he still needed to know if she was all in.
With a growl of frustration, he forced himself to pull back. “I love you, Sid. Always have. But I need to know you feel the same. Otherwise, we need to stop this right here and now before one of us gets hurts.”
Her chest heaved with every breath. “Of course I’m still in love with you. I’ve been miserable without you. I never stopped loving you.”
Thank God. His heart squeezed. “Let’s go inside and get out of the rain.”
“I don’t think I can move yet. My legs
are shaky. Give me a minute.”
Not happening. He wasn’t waiting that long to get inside her.
His hands slid down her sides to the hem of her wet skirt, and he tugged it up high on her thighs. Then he grasped her ass and lifted her, wrapping both of her legs around his waist. The move only pressed her more firmly onto his erection, and the feel of her against him took his breath away. The only thing separating them was his jeans and her panties, and if he had it his way, both would be coming off as soon as they got inside.
Her arms clung to his neck as he moved through the door, kicking it shut behind him. There were no lights on inside, but he knew where the bedroom was located. In addition, the lightning flashed through the window and allowed him to see well enough to keep from running into any furniture she might’ve moved since he’d last been there.
They must be leaving a trail of water from the front door to the bedroom, but neither seemed to care. When his knees came into contact with her bed, he laid her down gently on her back and immediately tugged off her damp panties.
Kneeling down beside the bed, Brett wrapped his arms around her thighs and yanked her closer to him. Sidney squeaked a little, and he couldn’t help grinning. As he spread her legs, the familiar scent of her arousal filled his nostrils, along with the smell of rain on her skin. His mouth watered. God, he couldn’t wait to taste her. He’d been dreaming of doing so for the past year.
Without hesitation, he bent his head and swiped his mouth over her, savoring the flavor on his lips as if she were his favorite dish. One he couldn’t get enough of. She squirmed against him as he concentrated on her clit, sucking and nibbling on that little bundle of nerves until her breaths quickened. His tongue raced over her as he continued the onslaught on her body, pleasuring her until her thighs began to quiver.
Sidney clutched erratically at the bedspread. “Oh God. Brett, I…”
“I know, baby. Let it happen,” he murmured, drawing her closer and closer to the edge of insanity.
Thighs quivering, she bucked against his face, moaning unintelligible words and calling out his name. Finally, she let go and her body exploded with spasms. Brett tightened his grip on her thighs and held her to his mouth, wringing every ounce of pleasure from her that he could.
Need rushed through his veins, and his cock swelled uncomfortably against the seam of his jeans. Desire had been coiling inside him, ready to strike, and he couldn’t hold it back any longer.
Brett stood and stripped off his wet shirt. Then he reached into his pocket for a condom before unbuttoning his pants and freeing himself. His pants were soaked, and it would take way too long to get them off so he left them on. He needed to be inside her right now, damn it. So he rolled the condom on his length and lowered himself on top of her, stopping just as he started to enter her.
“I’m not going to last long this first time, Sid, but I promise to make it up to you on the next round.”
“No need to promise anything. I know you, Brett. And I’m going to enjoy every second of this. I always have.” She smiled and hooked her legs around his waist, pulling him into her body by another inch.
He hissed out a breath, enjoying the sensation, before flexing his hips and pushing himself the rest of the way in on a groan of pleasure. She gasped and arched her back, thrusting her chest toward his face. The wet, see-through blouse she wore clung to her breasts, and his mouth quickly found one rigid bud poking through the material. He gave it a sharp yet gentle nip as he began thrusting, and she went wild beneath him.
Fevered passion exploded between them. Groaning in pleasure, he pounded into her as her heels dug into his hips, gripping on to him and encouraging every thrust. She threw her head back, moaning loudly.
Beads of liquid rolled down his neck, though he wasn’t sure if it was from the rain in his hair or the sweat he’d accumulated on his skin with every motion. Overwhelmed by the feel of her tight inner muscles, he held his orgasm at bay as long as he could. But he was so close and couldn’t hold it off much longer.
He couldn’t get enough of all her lush curves that he remembered so well. And a few new ones that he was enjoying immensely. He loved her no matter what. A few pounds didn’t change a person’s heart and soul…and that was what meant the most.
Moments later, her body surged with its first spasm, and he was finally able to let himself go. Thank God. But as he did, one single thought ran through his mind.
So much for taking things slow.
* * *
Sidney couldn’t uncurl her toes. Not that she cared much after the mind-blowing orgasms Brett had just gifted her. Her body still tingled from the explosions he’d caused inside her, and her legs had gone numb.
Brett had always been an impatient lover, and she was happy to see that he hadn’t changed that aspect of himself. While he’d always apologized for it, as if he were being selfish, she had no doubt he would leave her satisfied before he came. He always had. Because, although Brett was an impatient lover, he was also a very considerate one.
He hovered over her, eyes closed and breathing like he’d just run a marathon. She reached up and rubbed her hand along his strong jaw, and he immediately turned his face toward her palm and kissed it before collapsing next to her. He lay there only a moment before getting up and going to the bathroom to dispose of the condom. When he returned, he kicked off his boots and then lay down next to her. He pulled her against his side, and she snuggled in as she laid her hand across his chest.
He released a hard breath. “Sorry about that. It’s been way too long.”
“I don’t know why you apologize every time. You act like I didn’t enjoy myself. Trust me, that isn’t the case.” She smiled. “And in case you’re wondering, it’s been too long for me too.”
He kissed her forehead. “I was afraid to ask. I know we weren’t together, but I hate the idea of another man touching you like I have.”
“Brett, no one could ever touch me the way you have.”
He leaned over and kissed her gently on the lips. “Same here, Sid. No one has ever made me feel the way you do.”
Her heart swelled. “I’m glad to hear it.”
She traced her finger over his broad chest before moving lower to his gloriously tight abs. He’d always been in great shape, but now his body was even harder and stronger than before.
“You get any lower, and you’re going to have a big problem on your hands.”
She giggled. “Don’t you mean in my hands?”
“With any luck,” he said with a loaded grin. “But if you’re ready for round two, all you had to do was say so. I’m up for the task.” He glanced downward. “Literally.”
“Ding, ding, ding,” she said with a smirk.
He laughed. “All right.”
Brett made quick work of peeling his wet jeans off his legs and tossing his socks onto the floor, leaving him completely nude. The man had hardly ever worn underwear while they were dating so she wasn’t surprised he didn’t have any now.
He rose up on his knees and began unbuttoning her blouse. With every motion of his arms, all those hard-packed muscles of his flexed and tightened in the moonlight. She couldn’t hear the rain anymore so she assumed it had either stopped or lightened up enough that it had become soundless.
Once Brett had removed her blouse and slid her skirt off her legs, he reached into her nightstand and pulled out a condom. “Still in the same place,” he said with a smile.
“Yeah, because that’s where you left them.”
He lay down next to her, facing her. “Turn over,” he commanded, helping her roll over with one hand on her hip.
She faced away from him but could hear the crinkling of foil as he opened the condom. Once it was in place, he settled in directly behind her and lifted her leg over his and entered her in one long, hard thrust of his hips.
They both moaned loudly.
One rough, calloused hand moved up her abdomen, covering her breast as he begin to rock his body into hers, grun
ting with the effort. She moved against him, meeting each thrust with one of her own as heat radiated through her, warming her from the inside out.
She arched her back to take more of him, and he increased his speed, digging in deeper. He circled her breast with his hand and then pinched her nipple, pebbling it beneath his fingertips. Need pooled in her gut, and she twisted her neck to gaze over her shoulder at him.
Their eyes met. Lit with desire, his baby blues focused intently on her as he gritted his teeth with every plunge of his cock. The hand on her breast moved quickly to her neck, and he pulled her mouth to his.
God, the man could kiss.
His tongue slid between her lips and rolled against hers with a purpose as he explored her mouth thoroughly. Her fingernails dug into his muscular thigh, and she melted into him. An immeasurable amount of heat built inside her before detonating into a full-blown explosion, and she cried out…
He swallowed her cries of pleasure and continued kissing her as he ground against her, sending electricity humming through her veins. Once her convulsions finally subsided and her body tingled with contentment, he held himself deep inside her and came, groaning her name.
Sidney closed her eyes, enjoying the sensation of his muscles vibrating against her. Sweat coated their skin, and they both could use a shower. But the last thing she wanted to do was move. With Brett beside her, she had everything she needed.
Chapter Nine
Two weeks later, Brett planned a do-over.
Maybe he was a glutton for punishment since they hadn’t been back together long, and the last time he tried to propose to Sidney, things didn’t go quite as planned. But it was Valentine’s Day once again, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with this woman. If that meant taking a risk of it all blowing up in his face once again, then so be it. He wasn’t waiting another year.
Once again, he strolled into the bank where she worked with a bouquet of red roses in hand and a diamond ring in his pocket. The same ring he’d bought for her last year and never got to give her. They didn’t make it to dinner the last time so he wasn’t taking any chances. He was going to propose to her on the spot and finish what he’d set out to do last year…before anything bad could happen.
