“You really sat out here waiting this whole time?”
“I did.”
“I’m sorry about this morning. I acted like—”
“It’s okay.” His spare hand comes up to tuck a lock of hair behind my ear, and his thumb brushes my cheek. It’s so gentle that it makes my chin tremble.
“You fancy going for coffee?”
“That sounds perfect.”
As I turn back to walk around to the car, I find my sister where I left her, grinning like an idiot.
Chapter Fifteen
The remainder of the day passes all too fast, and before I know it we’re back in Trey’s car to head home.
I rest my head back and take a few deep breaths.
“Are you okay?”
“Yeah, I really am. Thank you for today.”
“You’re more than welcome.”
He took me for coffee as he suggested and then we ended up walking around a park I’d never been to before. On the way back, we passed a cute Italian restaurant and Trey insisted on taking me for dinner.
The day was totally unexpected but exactly what I needed. I’d managed to lose the idea that it was any more than two people enjoying each other’s company thanks to my sister’s words of advice, and I couldn’t be more grateful.
“Oh shit,” I gasp. At some point, I’d managed to shut my eyes, and now we’re a street away from my sister’s place.
“What’s wrong?”
“Um…” I stall, wondering if I really want to trust him. In the end, it’s not really a hard decision to make. “I don’t actually live here.”
“Okay. So where do you live?” He glances over at me, his eyes wide as he waits for an answer.
“Please don’t hate me.”
“Why? Where do you live, Erica?”
“Just drive to your place.”
“My place?”
His eyes leave the road briefly and he looks at me, his brow creased with confusion, but he puts the indicator on and does as I suggest.
“You live on the same street?”
“Something like that.”
“So whose house did I pick you up from yesterday?”
“My sister’s.”
“Why?”
“Because I was scared.”
“Of?”
“You, me…this.”
“You're going to need to spell it out for me a little more here, Erica.”
“Just go and park, and I’ll explain.”
In minutes he’s pulling into his allocated parking spot outside our building. He cuts the engine and turns to me.
“Go on.”
“That first night. It was meant to just be a one-night thing. I didn’t want to tell the truth when I discovered where you lived in case you wanted a repeat, or worse—”
“Worse?”
“I’m a mess, Trey. I’ve been screwed over by more men than I care to admit, and I had—have—no intention of history repeating itself. So one-nighters were all I had to offer. I promised myself that I was keeping my heart out of everything to do with men. No feelings, no attachments, and no repeats. Then I met you and you brought me here. I didn’t think it would matter. I’d never see you again, and really the chances of meeting in the stairwell were pretty slim.”
“Wait… you live in this building?”
“I do. I actually live below you.”
“Below me?” His eyes widen as he processes what I just said. “All this time you’ve been right here and I had no idea?” I nod, biting down on my bottom lip, concerned about how he’s going to take this. “So the night you left me that voicemail, you were mere feet away. The next morning when you ran into me on the stairs, you weren't there because you’d come to see me? Jesus.” He scrubs his hand over his face and I panic that I’ve just ruined everything.
“I was—I am—scared, Trey. I was worried that—”
“It’s okay.” Reaching over, he takes my cheek in his hand, his thumb pulling my bottom lip from being attacked by my teeth. “I understand. Frustrated as hell that I couldn’t come down and take what I needed whenever I wanted, but I get it.”
“Really?”
He doesn’t answer. Instead, he leans over the centre console and brushes his lips against mine. My entire body relaxes the second we connect. It should scare me but really, it just feels right.
He pulls back all too soon. I’m tempted to wrap my fist in his shirt and pull him back to me until I spot someone out of the corner of my eye and realise we’ve got an audience.
“Come up, let’s get you up to your flat.”
With our bags in hand, we make our way up to my floor. I expect him to invite himself in but, to my surprise, after he’s dropped my case inside the door he steps back. “So you really live beneath me?”
“I really do. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” The guilt of lying to him, even though I know he understands, still eats at me.
We’re locked in our stare when a deep, rumbling voice comes from behind me. “Glad you brought her back in one piece.”
“I also should probably have warned you that that idiot is my flatmate.”
“Hey,” he argues, “you know your life’s been better since I moved in. Don’t even try to deny it.”
“Was it only me who didn’t know?” Now Trey looks pissed off. His eyes have hardened and his lips press into a thin line.
“Know what?” Joe asks innocently.
“That I live upstairs.”
“You live upstairs?” Joe goes to the effort of pointing above his head just in case the words aren’t enough. “Oh my god.” Shaking my head at Joe, I try to stop what I know is about to come. “The night you pulled him, I spent the night down here getting myself off to the hot sex going on upstairs. That was you!”
I’m not usually one to get embarrassed by my shenanigans, but this has just hit my limit. Stepping forward, I drop my forehead to Trey’s shoulder. It vibrates with his laughter and I groan.
“Yeah, man. That night was pretty hot. If I knew she was this close it might have happened a few more times since, too.”
“I’m so looking forward to the coming weeks.”
“And I’m looking forward to you moving out,” I say as seriously as possible, turning to look at him.
“Aw, don’t be like that, sweets. You love having me here and you know it.”
“Uh huh.”
“I’m going to leave you two to argue this out.” Trey grabs my hand and pulls me into his chest. His lips drop to my ear and my skin tingles. “I’ll see you tomorrow. Fancy a lift to work?”
“That would be awesome, thank you.”
“My pleasure. You know where I am if you need me.”
“You too.”
He leaves me with a toe-curling kiss, making me want to drag him to my bedroom and let him do all kinds of other wicked things to my body. Instead, I allow him to back away and close the door when he hits the stairs.
“He lives up-fucking-stairs. Were you ever going to tell me?” I shrug because telling Joe about it was the least of my worries. “Well, if it helps at all, from listening to the two of you I’d suggest you go up there more often. Hell, move in with him if it means you get that kind of action regularly.”
“You’re a fucking nightmare. I’m going to unpack.”
“You want dinner?”
“No, I ate with Trey.”
“Ooh, this really is getting serious.”
I don’t respond, mainly because I don’t have an answer. I’m terrified of it being true and having my heart trampled on once again, but at the same time I also can’t stop myself from starting to fall.
* * *
If I thought it was frustrating before listening to him move around upstairs, then it’s downright torturous now. Every creak of the floorboards above and my body’s on full alert.
“Just go up there already,” Joe suggests from the other end of the sofa where we’re sitting watching the TV.
“I’m good.”
“I’m trying not to get attached,” I whisper, not really wanting to admit it out loud.
“How’s that working out for you?”
I stay where I am for a few seconds, feeling a little sorry for myself before jumping up.
“That’s my girl,” Joe calls from behind me.
“I’m going to the kitchen for hot chocolate. Don’t get excited, I don’t intend on being your personal porn star tonight.”
“Shame. I could do with some.”
“You never came home Friday night. I’m assuming you hooked up?” I call, hoping for some details on his sex life to get the heat off me.
“Yes, I met this couple who wanted to, uh…spice things up.”
“You spent the night with a couple?”
“Sure did, sweets.”
“Were you for her or him?”
“Both.”
“No way,” I say with a laugh. I know Joe’s a bit of a player, but that’s a bit much, even for him.
“Deadly serious. It was pretty incredible.”
“I’ll take your word for it!”
“You’re seriously planning on spending the night with me and a mug of hot chocolate that doesn’t even have marshmallows on?”
“If you keep going on, I’ll be spending the evening in my room with my mug of marshmallow-less hot chocolate.”
Joe eventually stops giving me grief and we spend the evening enjoying the slightly boring Sunday night TV and putting the world to rights.
When I walk into my room ready to get into bed, my phone lights up on the bedside table. Seeing Trey’s name, I immediately swipe the screen and open the message.
Thank you for an incredible weekend. Sleep tight x
Butterflies erupt in my belly, knowing that he’s right above my head, thinking about me. Feeling cheeky, I send my own message back.
How’s it feel, knowing I’m beneath you yet you can’t touch?
I wait for a few seconds, but when his response doesn’t come I force myself to go into the bathroom.
Too anxious to find out if he’s replied, I rush back to my bed the second I flush the toilet to see if it’s there. I squeal in delight when I see his name. My heart thunders in my chest so much that I can feel it in my toes.
Get up here now.
There’s my demanding, dominant Trey, I think as I pull out my bottom drawer to find something suitable for my visit.
“Fucking knew you’d cave,” Joe calls out when he spots me running towards the front door.
“Turn the music up, yeah?”
“I will do no such fucking thing. Make sure you’re loud,” is the last thing I hear before the door slams behind me.
I probably should cover up to make the short journey up the stairs, but it’s too late now. With my head held high, I make my way to his door.
Knocking, I lean against the doorframe and plaster what I hope is a seductive look on my face.
It takes a few seconds but, before long, the sound of his footsteps hits my ears. My stomach knots as anticipation for his reaction hits me full force.
“I didn't think you'd ever get…Get the fuck in here.” His fingers wrap around my wrist and I’m harshly pulled inside his flat. I stumble on my heels but he keeps me upright before the door’s slammed and I’m pushed back against it.
His eyes are dark and wide, his nostrils flare and his lips part, his increased breath tickling my face.
“Don’t fucking ever walk up here looking like that again. You hear me?”
“Yes, Sir,” I whisper, looking up at him through my lashes, and it only spurs him on. His eyes get impossibly dark, the muscle in his neck pulsating with need.
He takes a step back from me and I panic until his eyes drop to my black satin covered body. The baby doll has a split all the way up the front and is held together with a red bow under my boobs. The G-string that barely covers me is the same fire engine red, and so are my shoes. My skin burns as his eyes trail over me, my core clenching with need for the release I hope he’s going to give me.
“You’re going to fucking pay for that. No one, other than me, ever gets the chance to see you dressed like this. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Now…what the fuck shall I do to you?”
“Anything,” I breathe.
Reaching back, he pulls his t-shirt over his head and drops it to the floor before undoing the tie around his jogging bottoms. He walks over to the sofa, drops them and falls down on the edge, legs spread wide, his hard cock begging for my attention.
“What the fuck are you waiting for? Get over her and suck me.”
My body moves before my brain even realises, and I’m lowering myself to my knees in front of him.
I wrap my hand around his length as his fingers find their way into my hair so he can pull me forward and take what he needs.
“Fuck,” he barks when he hits the back of my throat. His hips lift from the sofa with his need for more.
Pulling back, I lick around the head of his cock before sinking back down. His length twitches and he growls.
“Not. In. Your. Mouth.” His fingers grip painfully in my hair and I’m pulled off of him.
Kicking his joggers off, he stands and lifts me with his hands on my arse. His lips drop to mine and his tongue sweeps into my mouth. I hungrily accept what he gives, tangling my own tongue with his and sucking on it harshly, his moan of pleasure vibrating up his chest.
He starts walking and I expect us to end up in his bedroom, but about halfway there my back is pressed up against the cold wall. His hips pin me in place as he rips the tiny bit of red fabric from around my waist.
“Can’t wait,” he grunts, lining himself up with my entrance and dropping me onto his cock.
I cry out at the sudden invasion, not giving two shits about our eavesdropper downstairs.
“Fuck, Trey. Fuck.”
“So fucking wet.”
My walls clamp down around him as he simultaneously thrusts and lowers me to ensure he hits me as deep as possible.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I chant as my release gets ever closer. This is what I needed all weekend. Yes, I want a nice guy, I want him to treat me right, do all the sweet things he’s done over the past few days, but when we close the door at night, this is exactly what I need. I need demands, and orders, and this sexy dominant lover who’s guaranteed to make me scream time after fucking time.
“Trey,” I cry, my body tensing and convulsing as my orgasm flows though me.
He continues with his punishing pace as my pleasure starts to fade. He swells within me, his fingers digging tighter into my arse as he approaches the end.
His head drops back and he roars like a wild fucking animal as he fills me.
The moment he can move, he’s carrying me down to his bedroom and throwing me down on the bed. I drop my eyes to get a sight of his arse as he walks towards his dresser.
“Tonight, you’re mine. You do what I say when I say it. Got it?”
“Got it.” There’s absolutely no hesitation in my voice, and, when he turns to look at me, I swear I see pride shining in his dark eyes.
Bring it fucking on, big man.
Chapter Sixteen
“You ready?” Joe calls through my bedroom door.
“Give me a second.” I’m ready—I have been for about ten minutes, but I think I spun around too fast because I’ve gone all light-headed.
I suck in a few more deep breaths, hoping it’ll ease it. Ben announced an impromptu night out this afternoon after he signed off on the job Joe had been running. It was a huge warehouse renovation and we were pretty much relying on it paying off to clear a huge chunk of the company’s debt. It’s been a stressful few weeks as we’ve waited for something to go wrong or for someone to demand repayment earlier than they’d agreed.
Pushing myself from the bed, I slip my feet into m
y trainers and join him.
“Are you okay?” I’m glad I look as good as I feel, I think as I head toward the front door.
“Yeah, I’m good. Just relieved things are starting to look up.”
“I told you it was all going to be fine.”
“I know. I just still feel so guilty that this whole disaster wouldn’t have happened if it weren’t for me and my bad decision making.”
“Stop beating yourself up. He manipulated you into doing his dirty work, just like the rest of us.”
“How are things with Lauren?” He hasn’t been spending nearly as much time with her as he would have in the past, and I know he misses her more than he’ll ever admit.
“They’re okay. I hate that I can see doubt in her eyes every time she looks at me. It’s like she’s trying to work out what else I’m lying about. That was the only time I’ve ever deceived her. I know it doesn’t really matter now, but I was just trying to protect her.”
“I know. She’ll come around. Just give her time. We hurt her pretty badly.”
The sound of Trey’s hard knock sounds out around the flat.
We’re both silent as Joe pulls the door open, and I’m soon distracted when Trey’s revealed, wearing a skin-tight polo shirt and a slim pair of jeans.
“Wow,” I breathe.
“I was thinking the same.” His eyes drop from mine to take in my body. I don’t really think the jeans and t-shirt I’m wearing are worthy of that kind of attention, but I won’t argue. My body heats up under his scrutiny, making me wish we weren’t about to spend the night bowling with our colleagues.
“Let’s go before you two start fucking in the hallway.”
Trey opens his mouth to respond but, like me, he must decide it’s pointless and instead grabs my hand and pulls me from the flat, allowing Joe to lock up.
“Well, this is a little more fancy than I’m used to,” Joe says, bouncing up and down on the back seat of Trey’s Jaguar like a little kid, making Trey wince.
Craving Redemption: Forbidden Series #4 Page 12
