by Piper Rayne
Inch by inch he sinks into me. I’ve never felt fuller in my entire life. My heart and my body are filled with Dean from my head down to my toes. He leads us to the brink with lingering kisses and unrushed touches that add fuel to my building orgasm.
He pulls back, his eyes locked with mine and suddenly we’re lost to one another. It’s only us. He grinds into me and I meet every thrust as my feet slide along the sheets, his thighs pushing my legs farther apart. Deeper and deeper he plunges until a wave ripples on the surface and I tighten my core to stop myself from coming. I never want this moment to end.
My fingers cling to his rounded shoulders and my back arches, pushing my breasts to his chest.
He leads me farther into the abyss until the ripples turn into small waves that cap at the ocean’s edge. My toes curl and he thrusts deeper to the point you’d think it’d hurt, but it only sends my pleasure soaring higher until I’m in a raging sea near the middle of a hurricane. Wave after wave pounds at my willpower, begging for release. I clench around him and a strangled groan erupts out of him.
My fingernails scrape his skin until there’s too much pressure to hold back. I can’t control my impending release any longer.
His lips crash into mine, his tongue taking what he wants, and I lose all control, the water breaching my levies and flowing over. I descend into my climax and it’s like being caught up in a whirlpool as bliss thunders through and around me, dragging me down until this feeling is all I know. He stills inside of me finding his own release.
All my muscles feel like Jell-O and I lay on the bed amazed at what we just experienced.
He lays on top of me and then slides to the side of my body. His hand turns my head and he kisses me softly on the lips and then kisses my nose. “I’ll be right back.”
When he disappears into the bathroom, I don’t move.
Returning only seconds later, he has a towel and cleans me up.
“I’m assuming you’re covered?” he asks, folding the towel over and wiping my thighs.
“I am.” I languidly sit up and swing my legs over the bed. “I have an IUD.”
“Figured.”
I stifle a smile. I bet if I asked him he has no idea what an IUD is, but it doesn’t matter. I kiss his lips. “Thank you.”
“I should be doing the thank yous.” He pulls me into his chest, kissing the top of my head. “Thank God I came before that otherwise, I would’ve lasted about two seconds.”
I giggle into his chest.
“I have to go back to work,” I say, even though it’s the last thing I want to do right now.
“Me, too.” He backs up from the bed, offering me a hand. “Sleepover tonight?”
I giggle as I head to the living room where my clothes are. “What are we, ten?”
Before I can even slip on my panties, his arms are around my waist, his head in the crook of my neck. “I liked rediscovering you today.”
My head falls back to his firm chest and my hands cover his forearms. “So did I.”
His lips press to my temple and my eyes fall closed. Pure heaven.
“Come on, I’ll take you back to the office.” He lightly taps my ass before backing away.
Can I stay here forever?
“I have a drawer at my place for you,” Dean says with his classic smirk on his face as we exit the elevator and head to the RISE offices.
“How very kind of you.”
“Are you going to accept it?” he asks, holding out his arm for me to exit first.
“I don’t know. It’s awfully quick.” My voice is light because let’s face it, he just gave me the best sex of my life. Am I really going to deny being able to keep a few fresh pairs of panties and a toothbrush in a drawer? No.
“I’m not offering a whole dresser.” He opens the door to RISE.
“Thanks for the clarification.”
“Unless you want one. I’m trying to keep things at that granny speed you prefer. You know I’d buy you your own dresser if you’d let me.”
I walk through the door laughing. “It’s not granny. It’s like mom minivan speed.”
“When’s the last time you ventured out of the city?” he asks. “Suburban minivan moms drive the fastest.”
I stop and look at him. “Really?”
He nods.
“Okay then.” I stop and look up at the ceiling, thinking. “How about a kid who just got his license? The one who gets the good student discount for insurance. The one who listens to their parents. You know the type. Not the adrenaline junkie jock like you were.”
I laugh and look at Dean wondering why he hasn’t responded. His eyes are set on the chairs in our waiting area, unblinking.
“Or the way you still are.” My mom’s voice rings out and I whip my head around to see her standing from a chair. She straightens her blouse by the tails and slides her purse up her arm. “Chelsea, may I speak with you?”
“I’ve got phone calls to answer, but here you go,” Victoria says, putting a cup of coffee on the table in front of my mom.
“Sorry, I—I didn’t know you were coming.”
What do I say?
“Chelsea.” My mom’s tone becomes more impatient. “Office. Now.”
Dean doesn’t reach for my hand. If anything, he distances himself.
“You remember Dean?” I ask her. No sense ignoring the pink elephant in the room, or ex-husband as it were.
Her gaze flicks to his. “Nice to see you coherent.” Then her eyes are back on me with a look that demands privacy now.
Dean steps forward, putting his arm out. “Mrs. Walsh, it’s nice to see you again.”
My mom stares at his outstretched hand and for a moment I think she’ll never shake it. Eventually, she does, and Dean puts his hand back in his pocket.
“Dean’s a lawyer now. He’s doing pro bono work for the foundation.”
“Interesting.” She fake smiles.
“I better get back to the office.” Dean steps forward and I rear back. Then I bend forward and his head tilts back. After an awkward dance, his lips make contact with my cheek. “Dresser offer still stands,” he whispers, and a smile graces my lips.
“Mrs. Walsh.” He nods like some trained elitist. “Please give Mr. Walsh my best.”
“Dean,” she says the four letter word like it is the four letter word.
He steps out, catching my eye before he leaves. Can we please go back to a half hour ago?
“Your office. Now.” Mom heads down the hall without waiting for me.
“Hey, Vic, hold all my calls.”
Victoria gives me a ‘I’m sorry’ smile. It’s not her fault. I’m sure when I check my phone there’ll be messages from her.
By the time I enter my office, my mom is on my side of the desk.
“Shut the door,” she demands like we’re in her office, not mine.
Nonetheless, I follow her instructions.
She hasn’t even heard the click of the door before she’s laying into me. “How could you? He’s the worst person for you. What are you, going to marry him again?”
“Just relax. He’s changed.”
“He’s changed.” She throws her hands up in the air. “A tiger doesn’t change his stripes, Chelsea. He’s still that selfish bastard who let you down five years ago. A man who can’t take care of himself, let alone a wife.”
“I’m twenty-five. Do I have to remind you of that?” I clench my fists by my side in an effort to control my anger.
“Funny. You said that same line to me when you were eighteen and newly married.” She sits in my chair, taking a calming breath and then sets her focus on me. “Chelsea, just because he’s some lawyer now and dresses in nicer clothes than baseball shorts and t-shirts doesn’t mean the inside of that package has changed. You’re a smart woman, he’s just always had this power over you.”
“Because I love him,” I mumble, crossing my arms over my chest.
“You do not. Don’t let him convince you to feel things y
ou don’t.” Her hand slaps down on the desk and I jolt.
“He’s not, Mom. I do. I love him. I love who he was five years ago, and I love him for the person he’s become. I knew you wouldn’t accept this.”
“There’s nothing to accept.”
“There is. We’re in a relationship.” I bring my hands back down to my sides and puff my chest out. “He just offered me a drawer at his place.”
“How sweet of the man.” She rolls her eyes. “Come back down to Earth, Chelsea. You’re sleeping with him, so he’s offering you a drawer so you can sleep with him some more.” She stands and leans toward me with her hands pressed down on my desk.
“Did you ever think that maybe I was as important to him as he is to me and that’s why he offered a drawer?”
I can’t believe I’m having an argument with her over a drawer.
“I think that men like Dean get what they want no matter how many lies they have to tell people to get it. I think as soon as he’s done, he’ll leave you again.”
“I left him,” I grind out.
She scoffs and shakes her head at me in pity. “Don’t fool yourself, he left you way before you walked out that door.”
I plop down in a chair that’s supposed to be for guests in my office, almost defeated. She always plays to win no matter how deep she has to plunge in the dagger.
“Stay out of it,” I say, staring at my knotted hands.
“You’re my daughter.”
I know I’m not wrong this time. I know it.
Standing back up, I decide I’m not going to let her dictate my life. She doesn’t bring much joy to it anyway.
“I’m going to continue dating him, Mom. I’d like you and Dad to give him a chance and see how he’s changed, but if you can’t do that, fine. But know that I’m not changing my mind. I’ve decided to give him a second chance.” I cross my arms for effect and she stares me down, calculated and waiting for me to crumble under her narrowed eyes.
After a prolonged silence, I speak. “Now this is where I work, and I have to get back to it. If you want to talk about this further, call me.” I walk over and open my office door.
“Chelsea, I’ll leave because I’m not going to make a scene, and everyone knows you need the money, but you can engrave this into stone. That boy is going to ruin you—again.”
“That’s where you’re wrong, Mom, he’s a man now, not a boy.”
She shakes her head and leaves, stopping just after she’s cleared my doorway. “You can tell your father. I don’t want to upset him.”
“Will do.”
She walks down the hall and I lightly swing my door shut, even though I want to slam it for all it’s worth.
Am I the only one who can feel the tsunami brewing?
Chapter Twenty-Four
“Whoa, what a mama bear.” Victoria cringes while she peeks into my door.
“A grizzly to be precise. She’s not being protective.”
“Oh, I think she is. She’s worried.” She helps herself to a seat and of course Hannah is right behind her.
“I’m going to take the chairs out of my office,” I grumble.
Hannah smiles sweetly, one that says, ‘no you’re not, all is well.’
“Hey, it doesn’t matter what your mom thinks, it matters what you think.” Hannah’s hand reaches over and grabs mine.
“Exactly,” Victoria says.
“Speaks the woman whose mom loves her man.”
“Not always.” Victoria shrugs. “My mom hated Pete.”
I stare blankly at her.
“Yeah, okay I see your point.” She brings her fingers to her lips and zips. Even pretending to throw away the key. Is this what happens to people after they have kids?
“Truly I don’t care, it’s just going to make it uncomfortable at my cousin’s wedding.” I slide my hand out from Hannah’s and type my password into my computer.
“What are you going to do after that?” Hannah asks.
“I’m going to disown my mom.”
Hannah and Victoria glance at one another.
“Seems viable,” Hannah says. “Or you could try to let them see the good in Dean.”
“They’ve never seen the good in Dean. Actually” —I hold my hand up—“they weren’t that upset when they thought he was going to be a number one draft pick. After he hurt his shoulder and they figured out the money train vanished, that’s when they decided they really hated him.”
“They were okay with you marrying him at eighteen?” The judgment in Victoria’s tone is clear and she’s probably put herself in my mom’s position in her head. Jade marrying someone right after she leaves for college. I get it, shortly after we were married I made myself a promise that if we ever had a daughter, she’d know all the mistakes I made so she didn’t repeat them. Not like I really have to worry about that anyway.
“No. Not at first. They warmed up once they found out about his bank account prospects. Then they were down on him again.” I click on some emails not really in the mood to rehash all this family drama.
My phone dings in my purse.
“Probably Dean.” Hannah side glances Victoria.
I pull it out of my purse and sure enough, she’s right.
Dean: Glad to see the wicked witch of the Midwest is still kicking.
Me: Please I’ve tried to drown her in a bucket of water. Nothing.
Dean: LOL…need me to come over?
Me: Nah, the girls are already in my office.
I glance up at the two sets of eyes focused on me.
“I think we should go to Torrio’s tonight.” Hannah nods like it’s already a done deal.
Me: They’re talking about going out tonight.
Dean: I thought we were having a slumber party. :(
“I can call Reed. He can pick up Jade from my mom’s.”
Me: I can come over all sloppy drunk and you can take advantage of me.
Dean: I prefer you coherent, but thanks for the offer.
Me: Sorry, I shouldn’t have said that. Sometimes I forget that I shouldn’t bring up drinking with you.
Dean: Don’t apologize. Part of sobriety is having to deal with the fact that everyone else in the world is not an alcoholic.
Me: You sure?
Dean: Definitely. Now what about tonight?
Me: I’ll have to get back to you.
“Why don’t you invite Reed and Chelsea can invite Dean?”
“What about you?” Victoria asks.
Me: Hold up. You might be getting an invite.
Dean: I’m not crashing girl’s night.
“I’ll be fine. If we’re at Torrio’s, I know plenty of people.”
Now Victoria’s gaze flickers to mine because I guarantee you we’re on the same page here—the silver fox.
“Cool. I’ll go text Reed.” Victoria slides out the chair and leaves my office.
“What do you say? Ready to let Dean come out and play?”
I drop the phone on my desk. “What does that mean?”
Hannah tilts her head in her classic, ‘you’re not a moron, you understand exactly what I mean.’ “You’ve been hiding him from everyone like he’s your mistress.”
“Technically, he’d be my… what would he be called?”
Hannah chews on the inside of her cheek, thinking.
“Misteress?” I offer.
“That’s lame.”
“Bushdog?”
She laughs.
“Fuck boy?”
She points her finger at me. “I’m not sure I care what that word is, but I like that one. God knows they have enough derogatory names for a woman who enjoys sex.”
“Masteress?”
“That sounds more like a dom. Not to mention I would never give a man the satisfaction as having master part of his name.”
“Oh, forget it. Dean’s not one of those anyway.”
Hannah snaps her fingers. “Manstress.”
I nod because she’s probably got it right.
I lean back in my chair my thoughts heading in another direction. “Do you find it funny that there are all these names for women who sleep with married men, but none for the actual married man and none for a man who sleeps with a married woman?”
“Yet another example of why I started RISE. When I was getting divorced, Roarke Baldwin tried to find out if I was cheating. He had me followed, pictures of every man I had come into contact with since my separation came up, twisting the truth to try to get me to admit to something that wasn’t true. But Todd? Nope. My lawyer had hotel receipts for a room every Thursday. My lawyer had pictures of him groping her in public, them having sex in a lingerie changing room.”
“Ew.”
She nods. “But Illinois and their no-fault bullshit. Somehow Mr. Baldwin took me for more than that son of a bitch should’ve ever gotten.”
“I’m sorry, Hannah. I know I joke about you liking him. But I realize now why you must loathe him.”
She chews on the inside of her cheek again, her eyes darting around until they land on me briefly. “I do,” she says simply.
My phone vibrates on my desk.
She shakes her head as though the vibrating has stopped her train of thought. “Anyway, check with Dean. I’m going to call ahead and see if I can get us the curtained-off room.”
I’m giddy with excitement. It’s like Hannah’s got connections to the latest boy band and I’m thirteen again.
“Thanks, Hannah.”
She walks out, and I pick up my phone.
Me: You’re coming out with me tonight. It’s a speakeasy though. That okay?
My shoulders sway back in forth. My mood ten times better than after my mom threw her little tantrum.
Dean: I’d rather be coming inside you on my bed. And yeah, that’s fine.
Me: I never said that couldn’t be arranged.
Dean: Tell me more…
Instead of telling him anything, I place the phone between my legs under my desk and snap a picture. It’s teasing, clearly showing the opening of my legs with a triangle patch of my black satin panties visible.