Nicholas Cocker (Cocker Brothers Book 16)

by Faleena Hopkins

I reach for the other sneaker, toss it aside and rub that foot, too, digging my thumbs into both arches, massaging the balls, the heel, too, with sensual strokes. Her eyes are closed, breasts draped by gravity’s pull.

  Gotta take the sweet opportunity to drink her in with my thirsty gaze until I mutter a guttural, “All mine.”

  She peeks out of tiny slits, and smiles. “Keep saying that, Nicholas. I love it a little too much.”

  Pulling off her socks, I toss them. “Mine.”

  I go for her jeans, unzip them at an agonizingly slow rate. “Mine.”

  Bending down I lick just above the lace rim of her panties, “Mine,” and run my tongue along it before I rise to undress her.

  “Not fair that you’re dressed,” she teases as she covers her naked, curly triangle.

  I have never yanked my shirt off so fast. The look in her eyes inspires a satisfied smirk. “You like my chest?”

  Madison nods. “Are you…?” and stares at me without the courage to finish the thought.

  So I finish it for her.

  “Yours?”

  Her lips part as she nods, eyes wide with disbelief as her fingers reach toward me. I step closer so she can touch me. I exhale a slow, audible breath as she drags her nails down my abs and then tiptoes her fingers over to trace both edges of my V.

  Tugging the belt-line down, she throws this naughty look up. “Yes…mine.”

  Chuckling, I unzip. “Wait ’til you see this.” Tugging my jeans and boxer briefs down I watch her eyes nearly pop at the size of my shaft. She reaches for it.

  “Nicholas, you’re massive!”

  Warm fingers wrap around my concrete erection. A rushed groan breaks free as I close my eyes a beat. She tries to stroke me but it’s tentative, fumbling, so I cover her hand with my own and guide her.

  “Drag your hand firmly to the base, like this. Tease me, but not too soft. When I’m alone, I don’t brush my fingers along the shaft, I pull at it. That’s it. Enjoy the power of it. Give it a good grip and pull. The tip is more sensitive so you can lighten up there, or pull the skin up so that it’s covering the rim. Oh yeah, feel that?”

  “Mmmhmm,” she hums, then surprises me by wrapping her lips around my mushroom head and giving it a few moist licks. I’m so hard for her I’m leaking, and she sucks that right into her greedy mouth as she starts to stroke and tongue me.

  “That’s right,” I murmur, touching her hair. Not too hard or demanding. Don’t want to scare her off. “Enjoy it. Play around. Your body will tell you what to do.”

  She skates her extended tongue down the side all the way to my base, then runs her wet lips back up, opening her mouth wide and taking me in as far as she can.

  Heat pulses into me, unabated.

  I flex, tense with desire.

  She moves faster.

  Then slows down.

  Torments me.

  It’s all so new with her that I almost lose control and burst right here. “Holy shit, Slugger, hold on a second.”

  But Maddie doesn’t listen. She massages my foundation a little harder, licks while she sucks, takes her fingers and brushes the space just underneath my sack, and that’s it…I’m a goner.

  I start apologizing, a primal grunt of, “Sorry, I’m so sorry,” as I jerk and gush into her mouth. But my girl is smiling like this is what she wanted. She starts laughing.

  Blinking and panting I grimace as she keeps going.

  When I’m past the end I have to pull free, beg her, “Stop! I can’t take it. Wow! I’m a wreck, cut it out!”

  Madison stands up and searches, naked, for my bathroom. It only takes her a second and I collapse onto the couch and listen to her washing out her mouth. When she returns, that curvaceous hip rests against the door jamb entrance to my living room. She winks at me and smirks, “Mine.”

  CHAPTER 34

  M ADISON

  I ask Nicholas as I unlock my front door, “I wonder if Denise is still here. Ready?”

  “Bring it.”

  But the only one waiting is Bucky and he jumps on me first, then immediately clamors for Nicholas’s attention as we greet him with nearly equal enthusiasm. It’s hard to match a dog’s joy, though, isn’t it?

  “Guess she went home.” I set down my purse and keys.

  “Well, didn’t she say something about working tomorrow?”

  He crosses to grab Bucky’s leash from my coffee table, peaceful and happy as he squats to attach it to Bucky’s collar. “Hey now boy, ready for a poop? You holding it in, or what?”

  “Wait—she left a note.” Holding it out, I show him that Denise walked Bucky before she left.

  His eyebrows fly up and he unlatches the leash and tosses it dramatically against a wall as he marches toward me. “Sorry, Bucky. You can wait.”

  I squeal and start running, laughing as he catches and picks me up.

  "Oh no you don’t , Slugger!”

  We didn’t hang around his apartment long after I made him cum before he wanted to. The plan was to come back here and sleep at my place since I have the responsibility of a furry mongrel on my hands.

  Nicholas backs me up against my wall and pulls my pants down.

  I struggle with his zipper as our tongues go wild.

  His fingers slip into my swollen folds and I throb instantly, my body grateful it’s finally getting touched. The craving for more is immediate and strong. Nicholas is hard in an instant. He pulls my left leg free and leaves the other one wrapped in bunched-up jeans and panties. Then he grumbles, “Fuck it,” and takes them all the way off. Kicking off his own next, he lifts me, kissing the whole way, carrying me to my sofa.

  Our shirts are on, we didn’t need jackets tonight. The tight cotton gives under the pressure of our bodies as we crash onto the couch, my legs spread, his strong and beautiful body between them. He gives this sexy moan as his tip touches home, and presses in.

  He locks eyes with me, our mouths parted as he slowly enters me inch by inch. The stretch is exquisite and extreme.

  I whisper, “Go slow. You’re so big.”

  He smirks, nods, and crashes a kiss into me that takes my breath away. I was having fun at his place, maintaining control, but now I’m mush in his capable hands.

  I want to give everything to him.

  Nicholas Cocker, the man of my dreams. How did this happen?

  He claimed me, called me his.

  Now he’s burning his brand onto my body and not just my heart.

  I run light fingertips underneath his t-shirt to caress his sinewy back, and emotion tugs at my chest as he slowly starts fucking me with long, patient strokes, easing in, opening me so that my body can yield to his size.

  We kiss each other and explore with our fingers as he ebbs his way in and out, each time a little deeper.

  As soon as I’m relaxed on the inside, his steady momentum increases, and as I moan again and again, he becomes ravenous. I am gripping his hips and urging him deeper, completely at his mercy from now on.

  I cry out, gasp, as heat presses from my core. Every sound I make, he responds to with an adjustment, finding the rhythm I need and forging in that incredible direction. His length edges pleasure from my tight walls as our tongues lace. Whenever he bears down, we lock eyes, him panting with me. A feverish heat bursts between my legs before I realize what’s happening.

  I cry out, “Oh Nicholas!” shocked by the sound of my own voice, a sexy high-pitched pleading for this to never go away.

  He growls, hisses, and tries to hold back. “I want to make you cum again.”

  Whimpering, “Why didn’t we do this a long time ago?” I cling to him and enjoy his kisses as his stiffness slides in and out. Everything is blurry with pleasure. Heat pounds between my legs. I grip his back as I sigh, “Nicholas!”

  His beautiful grin flashes before he grips me tighter, hips expertly gyrating. “Hey Slugger, guess what? I’m inside you. We’re finally fucking.”

  I start laughing and that just makes my walls squeeze h
im. Nicholas reacts, growling with hunger, shaking his head as he commands himself, “Don’t cum yet. No.” The amber shards in his irises catch fire and he starts fucking me harder, faster. Every burst of his strong hips fills me, stretches me. I’m terribly wet and I know it’s driving him crazy. He pauses a second, panting, before smashing his mouth into mine with the best kiss of my life. He expertly guides my tongue and a sexy conversation begins. Our bodies start moving of their own accord. I feel his shaft thicken, his breath hitching with mine. With our lips clasped we cum together, the pulses thick, hot, mind-blowing.

  Afterward we lie on top of each other for a long time, talking about our lives. At one point he traces my face and murmurs, “I never have to search for you again.”

  I smile, “I’m not going anywhere.”

  He tells me stories from his childhood. All of them include Matthew. And I describe some of the fun things Denise and I did, and some that were just plain wrong. Nicholas asks me about the cookies.

  “She mentioned something about how you wouldn’t even eat a cookie?”

  Laughing to myself, I share how she and I became friends. And he listens, resting on his elbow, attentive and relaxed. I could stay here forever.

  Nicholas glances over as my dog lays his head on the sofa. “Did Denise take you out? She left you here crossing your legs, didn’t she?”

  With sarcasm I laugh, “Yeah right. You know she walked him.”

  “We’re not absolutely sure about that,” Nicholas argues as he gets up and puts on his jeans. “Did she leave a note?”

  Pointing to the evidence I pick up my jeans and head for the bathroom. “You know she did!”

  He crumbles it up. “No note, no certainty.”

  I call back on a laugh, “Is this how it’s going to be with you two?”

  Feigning innocence he insists, “I don’t know what you mean, Maddie,” and swipes the keys I tossed, throws and catches them while I clean up quickly with the bathroom door open, listening to him say, “My girl and I are going to walk the dog. The one I saved. After we just had amazing sex. I’m also spending the night. In her arms. In her other things, too. So who wins, Maddie, huh?! Me or your best friend since you were little?”

  Stifling a laugh, I walk out and shake my head as I button up and put my shoes on while he attaches Bucky’s leash.

  We walk out and Nicholas locks up my apartment as if it’s his. I’m not sure if he’s doing this to be funny, or chivalrous.

  Either way…I like it.

  CHAPTER 35

  I n the warm night air his fingers find mine, lace and lock.

  Bucky bounces with satisfaction on Nicholas’s right side while I’m on his left. “Mmm, you smell that?” I smile, closing my eyes. “Night Blooming Jasmine.”

  He breathes in, “Mmm, yeah.”

  “I remember when I moved here from Richmond with Denise, and we first smelled that. I couldn’t find the source.”

  He nods, pointing to a bush with tiny white buds up ahead. “It’s tricky. The closer we get, the farther the scent runs.”

  “Totally sneaky,” I agree, smiling.

  Bucky proceeds to lift his leg on the bush, showing him what he thinks of sneaky, and we both start laughing.

  The pause is short, so I tease Nicholas, “She did walk him. See, there’s nothing left!”

  “Nah, he’s pacing himself.”

  “Sure.”

  Our hands swing a little as we walk. “I’m a guy. I know these things.”

  “You’re so full of it.”

  Nicholas chuckles and insists, “Bucky’s storing it for the long journey. Wants to get the most fun out of this walk as he can.”

  “Long journey?”

  “We’re going to Piedmont Park.”

  I dryly remind him, “That’s only four blocks away.”

  Lifting an eyebrow, he returns, “But how big is it?”

  Glancing to my sneakers, I mutter an even drier, “Good thing I wore sneakers.”

  “I would have preferred heels.”

  I flick a look to him, play along, “You’d like to see me walk on grass and dirt in spikes.”

  “Since we didn’t see a comedy, gotta find my laugh somewhere.”

  “Nice.”

  “Nobody said I was.”

  I volley back, this time with a gentler voice, “But it turns out you are.”

  That beautiful smile flashes. He stops walking and kisses me, Bucky impatiently waiting.

  Excitement tingles as Nicholas steps a little closer, the two of us kissing in front of a quiet home that belongs to someone we’ll never meet.

  Can they see my heart skipping, from the window? Are they watching, whispering to each other, Uh oh, she’s a goner? Do they know I’m out here falling in love?

  He murmurs, “Night Blooming Jasmine will remind me of you from now on, Slugger.”

  I smile into his eyes, hooked.

  Bucky pulls at the leash and we glance over to see a family of raccoons sneaking across the sidewalk. Four babies and two adults, one in front, one the caboose. They’re guiding their little ones to the safety of a thick, grey-barked tree draped in Spanish moss. My dog barks, kicking the nocturnal creatures into high gear. As they rush, the adults cast several worried glances our way.

  I call over, “It’s alright! We won’t let him get you!”

  Nicholas teases me, “They totally speak English.”

  “They can’t speak it but they can understand it.”

  “Then why haven’t they slowed down?”

  “They think I’m a liar,” I shrug, eyes on where they disappeared to. “So cute.”

  We continue our walk, fingers comfortably laced again.

  Nicholas glances around, gives me an approving, “This is a nice neighborhood,” then grins, “Look!”

  Six pairs of eyes are peering out from a wide branch, the street’s lamplight illuminating them just enough. The raccoons remain frozen, curious, until Bucky spots them and barks again. They scurry up the branch and disappear.

  When we’re almost to the park, Nicholas asks me, “You like living here?”

  I nod, biting my lip as an uninvited pang of worry returns.

  “Why the frown? Don’t like it?”

  “I love my place,” I insist but my voice is quieter. After a few silent moments, he’s waiting for more. Finally I admit, “I need to get a new job so I can stay. I’m trying not to think about that tonight. The problem will still be there tomorrow.”

  “Money’s tight.”

  “Yes, but Denise said she can get me a job where she works.”

  “You don’t sound excited.”

  “It’s women’s clothing. Overpriced. Not my thing.”

  “You want to work with children again.”

  Nodding, I keep my eyes on the dark road ahead, and the unintentional metaphor not lost on me. Everything feels hopeless whenever I think of this subject. It’s what kept me hidden under my pillow for too long.

  “I loved my job,” I confess on an exhale. “Loved it so much I didn’t speak up the first time he made a move on me. It was just this weird kiss. Did Denise tell you?” He shakes his head, eyes darkened. “It was nothing big. Inappropriate, yes! But it didn’t go anywhere, so I wrote it off. Maybe he was having a hard time, searching for affection in a very wrong place. His wife is cold, and I’ve seen no love there, so I guess I felt a little sorry for the pig. I had already guessed he was having affairs, because of all the reasons you guess something like that. So when I made it clear I wasn’t interested, I thought it was a dead issue. I’d come so far with the kids—Skylar and Kyle—and I knew it would break their hearts if I quit. Sure, I was uncomfortable around him. Who wouldn’t be? But I thought it wouldn’t ever happen again. I was wrong. But Nicholas, it’s all I’ve ever wanted. I took a lot of classes that bored the hell out of me until I found Child Psychology and Parenting. Then everything fell into place. Those courses excited me! Enrolled in everything I could find. Found private classe
s like Behavioral Correction Through Kindness, ones like that, and just absolutely fell in love with all of it.”

  Nicholas lets go of my hand to check his phone. He reads a few alerts, but none seem to interest him. He glances to me, and I can see the subject pissed him off. My instinct is he checked his calls just so he wouldn’t punch a tree.

  “Sorry,” he mutters, shoving the phone in his pocket. “I’m expecting a call from my grandmother.”

  “Oh no! Everything alright?”

  “What? She’s fine. Everyone’s okay, yeah.” He drags his fingers through his hair, staring off before blurting, “Who’s your management company?”

  “My what?”

  The streetlamp beside him traces half of his handsome, troubled face. “It’s a big, modern building. Probably has a company, right? Who are they? What’s their name?”

  I blink in confusion, then realize what he’s thinking of doing. “No.”

  “No, what?”

  “You’re not paying my rent.”

  His eyes widen as he rocks back on his heels, but I can tell his surprise is fake. “I wasn’t asking for that!”

  Cocking my head I give him a look. “Yes you were. I could practically see the wheels turning in your mind.”

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Ha!” Stepping closer to him, I insist, “I don’t want you doing that.”

  Nicholas stares at me, and finally loses the charade. “You can pay me back.”

  “No.”

  “You can take it as a gift.”

  “No way!”

  “I could leave it under your door and force you to take it.”

  “Over to my bank? Or back to your apartment? Because that’s where I would—”

  “—Madison.”

  “Nicholas! You’re very sweet, and I appreciate it. But there is no way I’m letting you do that for me.”

  A smile flashes and he drags a hand over his head. “Jeezus.”

  “I’m sorry, and thank you, but no.”

  “I guess I’d be surprised if you’d have let me.”

  Lightly hitting his chest I laugh, “How would you feel if I’d said yes?”

  “Like a stud.”