by Ali Parker
“I want that kiss,” she whispered.
I nodded. “I want that kiss as well.”
I stepped toward her, reaching out to trace the tip of my finger over her shoulder. Her skin was silky smooth, just as I had expected. I stepped closer, moving my hand to the back of her neck and holding her steady as my mouth dropped to hers.
The first brush of my lips over hers was like being hit by an electric current. I kissed her like it was the last thing I would do in my life. My mouth moved over hers, deepening the pressure until her lips parted, making way for my tongue to move inside.
I groaned, one arm wrapping around her waist and tugging her close to me. Her breasts pushed against my chest. I was lost. In that moment, nothing mattered.
It was me and a sexy woman who’d been on my mind since I first saw her twenty-four hours earlier.
Chapter 12
Cadence
I had never been so bold in all my life. His arm held me close to his bare chest while his mouth plundered mine. I felt alive, like I had been in a state of slumber for years and was awoken with his kiss. His body was hot and hard from top to bottom. I reached around him, pulling him impossibly closer to me. I wanted to crawl over him. I wanted him on me. I wanted him inside me.
I moaned into his mouth. My body felt like it was on fire. The chilly walk over to his cabin was forgotten with the warmth of him encompassing me.
“Good?” he whispered, his lips hovering over mine.
“So good. Don’t stop.”
“I don’t want to,” he answered before his mouth slammed over mine.
The intensity of his kiss changed. He became more intense, more desperate. His desperation matched my own. I reached up, ran a hand through his short hair, and pulled his face closer to mine. I couldn’t get enough of the man. I needed more.
His hands slid over my body, rubbing over my hips and moving up my back. The button of his open pants dug into my flesh. I reached for the pants that were loosely hanging on his hips and pushed them down. His erection was nestled against my belly, hard and long and promising ecstasy.
He stepped out of his pants and reached between my legs. I gasped when the heat from his palm cupped over me. I involuntarily pushed myself against his hand, wantonly rubbing against him.
“You’re sure?” he asked in a raspy voice.
“Yes,” I answered with a kiss on his jaw.
“Fuck it,” he growled. He lifted me up and carried me to the tiny bed, dropping me onto the mattress. I lay sprawled horizontally across the narrow bed, my legs hanging over the edge and my head dangerously close to the other side.
He towered over me, staring down at my nude body. I watched as his eyes roamed over me. There was a flash of self-consciousness at being so exposed but the raging erection straining through the tight briefs he was wearing helped settle my worries. He wanted me. I had seen it earlier in the hall. It had been a long time since I had felt truly wanted.
“You’re a beautiful woman, Cadence,” he whispered.
His reverent tone washed over me, touching nerves and sending me into a bit of a heated frenzy low in my belly. One long arm reached down, his hand touching my breast. I sucked in a breath. His eyes met mine and I could see the passion burning there.
“I want this,” I told him.
“If I only get one chance to be with you, I’m going to make the most of it,” he growled.
He dropped to his knees at the edge of the bed. I went up on my elbows, staring down at the black shock of hair resting between my legs. He wouldn’t. His hand moved to my inner thigh and opened my legs. I couldn’t believe what he was about to do.
“Gabriel,” I breathed his name.
“Shh,” he whispered, kissing the inside of my knee before moving his mouth up my thigh.
My insides were shaking with anticipation. I had never been with another man besides Trent. I was scared in the best way. I told myself to relax. It was one time and then I would never see him again. One night of ecstasy, Kassie had told me. My mom’s mantra about living life to the fullest had been the final push I needed to do something so daring and so bold and so completely unlike me.
When I felt his hot breath brush over my pussy, I nearly exploded. I fought back the frenzy, not wanting to embarrass myself by orgasming with a simple touch. His tongue lapped over my folds. I felt like a flower blooming under the bright sun. My body opened to him, heat flooding me, tickling all the nerve endings, and making me shudder with delight.
“Oh god,” I moaned as his tongue lapped over me.
He groaned against me, the vibration rocketing through me. I dug my fist into the blanket, holding on for dear life as he worked his mouth and tongue over me. I was gasping and moaning as he teased me higher and higher.
I couldn’t stop what was happening. My body was rocketing toward the peak. I reached between my legs and ran my fingers through his hair as he loved my pussy with his tongue. I broke over the peak, falling off the other side. My body arched and clenched and spasmed as he drank from me.
His mouth was on my stomach, his tongue sliding up and between my breasts. He began to suckle the nipples while using one of his rough hands to massage my breasts. I felt like I was floating on a cloud, languid and completely sated.
“Good?” he asked, nuzzling my neck. The scruff on his jawline scraped over my skin.
I wrapped my arms around him, hugging his body to mine. The weight of him over me made me crave him even more. “So good,” I replied with an embarrassed smile.
He shifted to the side of the bed, reaching his hand between my legs. My body jerked. I was overly sensitive, still tingling with the orgasm he’d given me. I reached down and rubbed my hand over his hard cock. I needed him inside me. In for a penny, in for a pound. A pound of flesh, that was.
“Ready?” he asked.
I loved that he was being super respectful and giving me a chance to back out. “I’m ready.”
He practically bounced off the bed, before stopping and staring down at me once again. There was a look on his face that made me uncomfortable. “Gabriel?”
“This fucking bed,” he growled, reaching down and grabbing my arm. He pulled me to a standing position. “I can’t do it on that bed.”
His mouth slammed against mine. In an instant, his typically calm demeanor disappeared, and he turned into a man on a mission. His arm banded around my waist, yanking me against him. He lifted me, my toes barely brushing over the floor as he savagely kissed me. I held on for dear life as our tongues danced together between his mouth and mine. I felt like I was floating and realized I was. He was walking across the small cabin, carrying me against his body.
With one hand anchoring me against him, he pushed his underwear down, deftly kicking them off all while kissing me. He was a multitasking man. A very talented multitasker at that. With both arms back around me, he lifted me up higher. I felt the smooth wood of the wall against my back and used it to support myself as he guided his heavy cock to my opening.
I wiggled my hips until I could feel him throbbing against me. He thrust once, breaking through the tight barrier that had been closed for so long I wasn’t sure I even remembered how to have sex. I sucked in a breath, the moment of penetration shocking me, stretching me.
“Are you okay?” he gasped.
I moaned in response, leaning my head back against the wall as my fingers dug into his shoulders. “Yes, more,” I breathed.
He thrust again, his heavy cock stretching me as he moved deeper inside my body. I held on, slowly sliding down the length of him until I was fully impaled on his steely shaft.
“Fuck me,” he groaned. “You’re squeezing me so hard.”
He sounded like he was in pain. I wanted to respond but my body was wrapped in a tight cocoon of ecstasy. Every nerve, every cell was concentrated on the part of my body where he was deeply embedded inside me. My breathing was fast and shallow as my body adjusted to the invasion.
His arms tightened around me,
pulling me impossibly lower on him. “Oh shit,” I breathed when the first zap of electric bliss whizzed through me.
“Are you good?” he asked again, going completely still.
“Move!” I ordered. “Fuck me.”
He growled, his hips pistoning his heavy cock inside me. I clutched at his shoulders, bouncing up and down with the wall at my back. I could hear my gasps and whimpers of pleasure from someplace far away.
“Oh shit, oh shit,” he moaned. “I can’t hold back.”
“Don’t hold back,” I demanded. My body was already on the verge of a second orgasm. I could feel it spiraling and knew it would be far stronger than the first. I dug into his shoulders with my nails, holding on.
His thrusting was purposeful and strong, rubbing my back up and down the wall, my legs wrapped around his waist. I wanted to hold out a little longer. I wanted the experience to last but my body had other ideas. I couldn’t stop the orgasm from erupting.
I cried out, squeezing my eyes closed as stars burst in front of my eyes. “Yes!” I gasped, chanting the word in time with his thrusts.
He erupted inside me, his low growl followed by a soft keening sound. I fell forward onto him, wrapped my arms around his neck, and kissed the side of his face as he spilled himself inside me. The sweet euphoria nearly moved me to tears. His arms wrapped around me as he turned his face to take my mouth with his.
He held me for several minutes with our bodies melded together. I let out a contented sigh. He released me, sliding me down his body until my feet were back on the floor. I looked up at him, taking one last look at the man that had thoroughly rocked my world.
“I should get back,” I said, stepping around him to pick up the discarded robe.
“Hey,” he said, reaching out and grabbing my arm. “Wait.”
“I need to get back.”
“When can I see you again?” he asked.
I smiled. “I think it’s best if we leave this right here.”
“What?” he asked, sounding very surprised.
I had made the assumption a one-night thing was what all men wanted. I was offering him an easy out. “I have a lot of baggage. You don’t want to mess with it. I had a good time. Thank you.”
He scoffed. “Thank you?”
I smiled, tying the belt on my robe before going up on my toes and giving him a quick kiss. “Thank you for a nice time. I’ll see you around.”
“I don’t mind baggage,” he said.
I smiled, waving as I moved toward the door. “No one wants baggage. This is for the best.”
I walked out the door, leaving the man standing naked and semi-erect and staring after me. I felt naughty in the best way. I had never done anything so wild. My body was humming. I was only bummed I wouldn’t get the chance to do it again. Once I got home and back to the real world, I would return to my normal, mundane life.
Gabriel would be haunting my dreams for many long, cold nights.
Chapter 13
Gabriel
After Cadence left, I had been unable to fall asleep for quite some time. I kept thinking about her parting words. She’d come to me, offered me her body, and then walked away without a second thought. I felt used. I wasn’t used to feeling that way and I didn’t think I liked it. I had thought we hit it off. I was thinking we were one of those couples that knew right away we were supposed to be together.
I wasn’t necessarily thinking long term or serious, but I had been leaning toward some kind of relationship. I was beginning to wonder if she did have someone back home. It would make sense. She wouldn’t be the first woman to come on to me during a weekend getaway.
My retreat wasn’t Vegas. I didn’t hook up with the guests and then send them on their way the next day, knowing I would never see them again. That wasn’t my style. Truthfully, I was hurt and a little pissed by her easy dismissal of me.
“Next time, give her more than a five-minute ride,” I scolded myself as I walked to the dining hall to get breakfast ready for our departing guests.
It was really kind of embarrassing. I should have counted sheep or potatoes or something to hold out a little longer. It hadn’t been my finest performance, but in my defense, it had been a long time coming for me. There was no stopping things once they got going.
Leo was already in the kitchen getting things set up. We did a light breakfast on the last day. I liked to encourage people to take it to go. It made for a lot less work for me and Leo. Although today, I wanted to stall the departures. At least the departure of one group of three.
The guests trickled in. Most of them grabbed a cup of coffee and a muffin and hit the road. I couldn’t shake the feeling of just being a little bummed. Leo picked up on my attitude and pulled me to the side out of earshot of the few guests that were sitting down to enjoy their breakfast.
“What’s with you?” he asked. “You act like someone kicked your puppy.”
I shook my head. “Nothing.”
“Bullshit. Is it the presentation getting you down?”
I looked around, making sure no one would overhear my confession. “No. It’s a woman.”
“A woman?” he asked with confusion.
“Yes. Her.”
“Her? Did something happen last night?”
I shrugged. “She came by my cabin.”
He hit my arm. “What the hell? You’re just now telling me?”
“It didn’t come up. I didn’t think I needed to call you after it happened.”
“I don’t understand. You finally got laid after what has got to be the longest dry spell in history and you look like your world has ended. What is going on? Did you have performance problems? Oh god, don’t tell me you weren’t able to get it up.”
“Fuck you. I did just fine, thank you. She’s leaving today and doesn’t want anything more.”
He turned to face me. “Let me make sure I’m understanding this. You had sex with a beautiful woman and she wants no strings attached. Is that right?”
“Yes, but—”
He held up a hand. “No. No buts. That’s what you should want. You don’t want a wife. You’ve told me that several times.”
“I don’t want a wife, but I would like to see her again. She’s beautiful and I really like her.”
“You don’t even know her. Besides, she’s got kids and probably has an ex-husband that’s crazy jealous. Do you really want that kind of drama?”
I let out a sigh. “You sound like her.”
He laughed. “Please tell me you didn’t get whiny and beg her to cuddle you?”
“No, but she said I didn’t want her because she came with a lot of baggage. I can manage baggage. I do want her.”
“Maybe you want her because you know you can’t have her,” he suggested.
“No. That’s not it.”
The door opened and cold air wafted into the room. “Don’t look now, but your lover just walked in.”
I, of course, whipped my head around to look. She spotted me at almost the exact same time I looked at her. She offered a small smile. I waved at Autumn, who was eagerly waving at me. I watched as Cadence led the girls to the table with the food offerings. She poured herself a cup of coffee while the girls picked out wrapped muffins.
“Go talk to her,” he said.
“And say what?”
He shrugged. “Say anything. Anything is better than you pouting.”
“I’m not pouting.”
I didn’t get to say much more. Autumn was headed directly for me.
I smiled at her. “Hi there,” I greeted.
“Hi, do you have time to take us on that nature trail?” she asked sweetly. “Mom says you’re very busy, but can you?”
I looked behind the little girl. Cadence was standing a few feet away. “If you’re mom says you guys can, I can make some time.”
Autumn spun around. “Mom, he can! He can!”
Cadence laughed. “I heard. Are you sure you have time? I don’t want to bother you.”
“Thank you,” Cadence said before ushering Autumn to a table.
Leo slapped me on the shoulder. “Make it count,” he teased.
“I’m going to,” I said before rushing out to grab my jacket.
I made it back to the dining hall in less than three minutes. I didn’t want to appear too overeager, but I was. I was anxious to spend a few minutes with her, and hopefully, I could convince her to let me see her again.
Autumn hopped up from the table when I walked in. “We’re ready!” she hollered across the room.
I looked to Cadence. She got up, tossed her cup in the trash, and joined me near the door. We set out, the girls bouncing ahead of us as we walked along. I purposely hung back, wanting a chance to talk with Cadence without her girls listening to the conversation.
“Is everything okay?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Yes, absolutely,” she answered.
I cleared my throat. “If I made you uncomfortable, I’m sorry.”
“Gabriel, I’m not, nor was I, uncomfortable. I’ve had a great time this weekend. In fact, I had more fun than I thought I would. I didn’t even realize I needed a weekend away from my regularly scheduled life. Being here was exactly what I needed.”
I smiled, hoping she was referring to me. “That’s a good thing, right?”
“Definitely. I don’t want things to be weird between us. We had fun, right?”
“It isn’t weird on my end, but I would like to see you again. I won’t push you. I get it. You wanted something with no strings. I’m not asking for anything serious.”
She slowed her pace. “No. That wasn’t it at all. I didn’t want anything. It just kind of happened.”