After cleaning the shards of glass from the window Clay broke to gain entry, I push the TV unit in front of it so it’s at least not as visible until morning when I can have it replaced.
When I turn around, I see Reece waiting at the bottom of the stairs for me. I go to her and taking her hand, I lead her to her bedroom. Shutting the door behind us, I turn to face her.
I don’t know how long we stand just staring at each other before I bring my hand to her face, brushing my thumb over the bruise. “Sorry, I was late.”
She shakes her head and covering my hand with her own, she turns her face into my palm and presses a kiss to it. “You’re here now.”
“I’m here.” Leaning down, I press a lingering kiss to her mouth.
It’s been one hell of a long day, but holding Reece in my arms makes up for it. I pull back and bring my hands to her hair. Caressing the silky strands, my eyes keep wandering over her face.
Lifting herself onto her toes, she presses a soft kiss to my mouth. She only pulls back a little, looking deep into my eyes, and it makes desire begin to dance between us. Wetting her lips, the action draws my eyes back to her mouth, and I know without a doubt, there’s no way I’ll be able to walk away from her tonight.
The moment stretches out between us until the anticipation between us feels like it’s a living thing.
“Can I touch you?” I whisper, needing her permission before I take this any further. I want her to feel in control of what’s happening between us.
“Yes,” she whispers, her voice filled with desire, making me go hard.
My fingers trail down the side of her hip and leg to where her shorts stop, to her bare skin. Leisurely I caress her thigh with my thumb as I lean into her until our lips are separated by a breath.
All I want is to make this extraordinary woman feel desired.
Placing her hands on my hips, she whispers, “Kiss me.”
I lean in until our breaths mingle and our foreheads touch. As our lips meet, she lets me in, and I feel a wave of satisfaction deep within my chest, as our tongues touch.
Pulling her closer, I kiss her deeply, savoring the taste of her. Need builds between us until I’m struggling to keep the pace slow.
A couple of weeks.
That’s all it took for this woman to have my heart in the palm of her hand. I don’t know when it happened exactly, whether it was while she hated me, or when I saw what an amazing daughter and friend she is.
Tasting her, and feeling her warm body against mine, makes me hard as steel for her. The air between us begins to fill with wild and intense passion, overwhelming all common sense.
I want to taste all of her. I grab hold of her ass and pick her up against my body. It only takes a few long strides to get us to her bed, where I lower her onto the mattress. She lies back, and her hair fans all around her face. Her soft blue eyes are filled with emotion as she watches me, and her fingers dig into the covers with anticipation while her chest rises rapidly.
Reaching behind me, I grab hold of my shirt and yank it over my head. I throw it to the side on the floor, then bring my hands to her thighs. I pull her to the edge of the bed, and gradually trailing my way up her body, my fingers slide over her hips, and I slip them under the waistband. I keep my eyes locked with hers as I pull her shorts and panties down her legs, throw them on top of my shirt.
Looking at Reece as she’s laid out before me is one hell of a sight to behold, and it’s one I won’t easily forget. Overwhelmed by the moment we’re sharing the thought crosses my mind for the first time, ‘Shit, I love Reece.’
Leaning forward, I push her shirt up, and I lightly press a kiss on her stomach, then slowly trail my lips upward to her breasts. My hot breaths fan over her nipple making it pebble underneath the lace of her bra. I bring my left hand to her breast, letting my thumb brush over her sensitive flesh.
I push the shirt over her head and toss it over my shoulder. Taking hold of the bra straps, I press my mouth to her neck, lightly nipping at the skin beneath her ear. I pull the straps down her arm until her breasts are exposed to me.
“You’re so damn beautiful.” Seeing her naked makes me want to get lost inside of her. “Are you sure, Reece?”
When she nods, I lean forward and claiming her mouth, I kiss her with all the pent-up emotions I have.
Her hands slide up my arms, over my shoulders and into my hair, covering every inch of me. Regaining control, I break the kiss, and press my mouth to her neck, slowly working my way down her chest, and to her stomach. Shifting my hands to her thighs, I spread her legs wider to allow myself access to between her legs.
“You smell so good,” I growl low in my throat.
I glance up at her and seeing her breasts rise and fall with her rapid breaths, I can’t remember ever seeing anything more beautiful in my life. I want to watch her for hours, but at the same time, I can’t hold myself back any longer.
“You are perfect,” I whisper, and leaning down, I place a kiss on her abdomen. “I’m gonna enjoy devourin’ you.”
CHAPTER 30
“Is this true love?”
REECE
If this is a dream, I never want to wake from it.
Lying butt-naked in front of Alec, I don’t feel shy in the slightest, not like I thought I would. I’ve never felt so comfortable with a man before, granted I’ve only been with Hunter.
My heart is beating wildly, and my stomach is a fluttering mess from nervous excitement and desire.
When he presses a kiss to my abdomen, I get lost in our little bubble where there is no past, only this moment.
I hear him let out a deep groan before I feel the roughness of his tongue between my legs. Sensations I’ve never felt before, flood my body until my hips start to lift off the bed. Alec’s strong hands grip my hips, pushing me back down against the mattress, holding me in place. Glancing at me from where’s he’s settled between my thigs, his dark eyes penetrate mine, and the intensity of the carnal look he’s giving me while he’s sucking on my clit, drags me under a tidal wave of pleasure.
“Alec,” I moan, in need of so much more. I’m greedy for his touch, to feel him everywhere. I want him to entirely consume me.
A growl ripples against my sensitive flesh, and my hips start to fight his hands for control.
“I can’t… Oh crap… I need more.”
His tongue is hot between my folds, lapping at me as if he can’t get enough of the taste of me. His hands slide down from my hips to between my legs, opening me more as his tongue plunges inside me.
Everything within me tenses as a blissful release floods me, making my body tighten and quiver under his touch.
I’m breathless as his mouth trails soft kisses up my body until his lips find mine. I can taste myself on him, and something about it turns me on even more.
A need so pure and urgent sizzles between us, and right when I think I’m about to combust, Alec moves quickly, undressing, and sending his pants and briefs flying to the side of the room.
Standing in the flesh, literally, the man is a sight to behold. He’s a pure male specimen of utter wonderment.
Crawling onto the bed, he positions his body over mine, and when I feel his cock brush against my clit, ripple after ripple of pleasure quivers through me.
“Alec,” I gasp against his mouth, wanting all of him.
He pulls back and gives me the look I’ve become addicted to, the one where I can see myself reflected in his gaze.
“I love seein’ your skin glow with desire. I love that it’s me makin’ you feel this way.” He leans closer until he’s only a whisper away from me. “I want you, Reece. Every beautiful inch of you.”
Tears form in my eyes because I know he’s telling me the truth. He’s the only person who’s ever really looked at me, seeing that all I ever wanted was to be loved. I’m afraid that if his eyes aren’t on me, I’ll become a ghost of the person I am now – a shadow of the woman he has helped me to become.
Lif
ting my head, I crush my mouth to his, kissing him with every beat of my heart. Without him, I would never have felt the happiness I’ve gained because he gave me the courage to take back control of my own life.
I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down until his heavy body presses down on mine. He rocks his hips forward, and his cock hits me in the perfect spot, making me moan into his mouth.
“I want you inside me,” I say breathlessly with need.
Alec reaches for the square foil package which I hadn’t noticed before where it was lying on the nightstand. He sheaths himself and then positions his cock at my opening. Pushing forward, and slowly entering me inch by inch, I’m lost to the sensation that’s Alec Taylor. My body arches against him, greedily wanting more.
His hand finds its way to my clit, stroking me until I’m a trembling mess and ready to beg him to have mercy on me. I spread my legs as wide as they can go to allow Alec to penetrate me deeply, setting fire to every nerve ending in my body.
His body stills against mine, and he stares so deep into my eyes, I get lost in his gaze until I fade away and there’s only him.
Damn, the way he looks at me. It’s everything.
Our mouths collide and as his hand covers my breast a moan ripples up my throat. I bring my hands to his face, and I fall in love with the scratchy feel of his five-o'clock shadow against my skin.
Alec breaks the kiss, and our eyes lock as he pulls out of me before rocking back inside. He clenches his teeth and grinds the words out, “Damn, Reece. You’re tight.”
His eyes hold mine with a tender gaze as he thrusts inside me again and it makes me feel like we’re connected as one.
Resting his elbows on either side of my head, he lifts his upper body off me as he starts to move faster, setting a rhythmic pace. The feel of being skin to skin with this man is incredible and feeling him move inside of me is incomparable. Alec is consuming me.
I see wonder and sincerity in his eyes when he whispers so quietly I would’ve missed the words if I weren’t looking at him. “I love you.”
The words fill every corner of my soul with awe. I can’t believe this incredible man loves me.
We find our rhythm, our bodies growing slick with sweat. When I feel a tightening in my abdomen, I whimper with frustration, and that’s when Alec quickens his pace, plunging deeper and deeper inside of me.
“Let go, Reece,” he grinds out.
Suddenly, he slams into me, and it makes pleasure tear through me, drawing a cry from my lips. I throw my head back as my breath is wrenched from my throat. He does it again and again until I’m a quivering mess beneath him.
“That’s it, Reece,” he whispers while his breaths race over his lips. “Come for me. Let go.” The last word is said on a low growl which sends me spiraling over the edge of ecstasy.
He keeps thrusting hard and fast, his body entirely dominating mine as I burst into a million stars. My senses are at an all-time high, and noises I’ve never heard are extracted from my lips while I shudder beneath him.
“Reece,” he groans deeply, as he grabs hold of my hips, pounding inside me as his mouth slams down on mine. With one last thrust, I see the ecstasy wash over him, and I wrap my arms around him, never wanting to let go of this man.
We lie still until our breaths even out and then he gives me a slow, tender kiss. He brings his hands to the sides of my head and lowers his body against mine, so I’m caged in by him while he deepens the kiss.
It feels different.
Almost like a promise.
CHAPTER 31
“I’m going to give it my all to make things work with Reece.”
ALEC
I meant it when I said I loved her.
Closing my eyes, I pull out of her. I hate that I can’t stay buried inside of her and pushing myself up, I feel the loss of her already.
I go to dispose of the condom and grabbing a washcloth, I hold it under warm water. Reece sits up when I walk back into the room. I press a kiss to the top of her head as I gently clean between her legs. Throwing the washcloth on the floor, I sit down on the bed and pull her onto my lap. Wrapping my arms around her, feeling her soft skin against my own is exactly where I want to be.
I place a finger under her chin and lift her face until our eyes meet and press my mouth against hers. Taking a deep breath, I savor the taste of her while filling my lungs with her scent.
She wraps her arms around my waist, and her fingers dig into me. “I love you, Alec,” she whispers.
Hearing the words from her lips, fills me with gratification, knowing that Reece doesn’t say those words to just anyone. It fills my heart with warmth and makes me realize that having a woman like Reece in my life is something I’ve desperately wanted.
It’s been years since I’ve spent the night in a woman’s bed, but it just feels so right with Reece that I can’t bring myself to pull away from her.
Reece snuggles closer to me, and I feel her softness press against me. Her mouth brush against my jaw, her breaths leaving a warm trail over my skin, and it makes me start to harden again.
Bringing her gaze to mine, she whispers, “Please don’t ever leave me.”
Taking hold of her chin, I hold her face in place, and I press a gentle kiss to her mouth, before pressing my forehead to hers. “I won’t. You’re stuck with me.”
She pulls away a little, her eyes searching mine, and I can see how much my words mean to her.
I slip my hand behind her neck and tilt my head, so our mouths are perfectly aligned. I let the moment linger between us, then whisper, “Kiss me, Reece.”
She leans forward, and the second I feel her breath on my lips, I rush to close the distance between us. Her lips part instantly, letting my tongue sweep into her mouth. The taste of her makes my cock impossibly hard, pressing against her ass. I thrust up wanting to lose myself inside her again and again.
I place my hands on her thighs and then trail my fingers softly over her creamy skin. Her eyes drift closed, and she moves, straddling me, and begins to rub her clit against me. She has the same burning need as me. One I don’t think we’ll ever fully satisfy.
My hands continue to explore her skin, moving over her waist, then her ribs, and finally reaching her breasts. I cup them and feeling how perfectly she fits in my palms, makes me thrust up again.
I pull her closer to me so I can take her breast in my mouth and my tongue twirls around her hard nipple. Her arms go around my neck, and she grabs at my hair.
I’m not going to last. I’ll come like this if she keeps rubbing her hot pussy against my cock.
“If you keep ridin’ me, you’re gonna make me come,” I rasp against her warm skin.
With her hands in my hair, she pulls my head back and then her mouth is hot on mine. She presses down on me, and her hips start to twirl as she rubs herself against me.
Fuck this, I want to feel her pussy slide up and down my cock. I position myself between her folds and feeling how wet she is, makes a groan rumbles from my chest.
I start to rub my cock hard against her clit, and it makes her moan long and hard as she draws my bottom lip through her teeth, before thrusting her tongue back into my mouth.
Her hand slips between us and when her fingers wrap around my hard length, I almost lose control.
I hear her breath hitch before she reaches to the nightstand, grabbing another condom. Watching her roll it over my cock is enough to make me fight for control to not come right then.
Rising to her knees, she settles over me, and I can do nothing but groan with pleasure when she sinks down, taking all of me in one thrust.
The second I fill her, she starts to rock up and down on me, and it doesn’t take long before she’s coming apart, her body convulsing around mine.
“Damn, Reece,” I groan as I fight to hold my own orgasm back. It only makes her move faster, as her moans grow louder. Warmth sizzles down my spine, and I thrust hard until I find my own release.
It takes me a m
oment to catch my breath from the hot and passionate lovemaking we just shared.
Just looking at her makes my heart race, and I’m afraid if I close my eyes she might disappear. She’s the woman I want to love forever, the one I won’t let go of. I’ve been longing for change, needing something to fill the void I had in my life, and Reece has been it all along.
Holding her tightly, I whisper into her hair, “You’re the one person in the world who makes me smile.”
Snuggling against me, she asks, “So, if you ever leave me, you’ll never smile again?”
I hear the underlying truth – Reece’s biggest fear is losing another person she cares about.
“The person I’m most thankful for is you,” I press a kiss to her temple then tilt my head so I can catch her eyes. “Being with you gives my life meanin’.”
CHAPTER 32
“Is it real, and if it is,
is it okay to be this happy?”
REECE
Walking into Birdie’s Bed and Breakfast, I look for her in the kitchen first.
“Hey, Birdie,” I say when I see her already getting the things ready for our coffee date.
“Hey.” She glances over her shoulder and smiles. “You wanna sit out on the porch?”
“Sounds good. Where’s Cole?”
I place my bag on the kitchen table and walk to her side.
“He’s out doing somethin’ with Aiden.”
I grin at her as I ask, “How are things between the two of you?”
She hands me a mug, and picking up her own she says, “Let’s go sit first.”
When we’re seated, Birdie answers me, “We’re good. Cole makes me so happy. The thing with my dad just gets to me. I’ve been so preoccupied with it I haven’t even started plannin’ the weddin’.”
The Lies We Tell Ourselves (A Southern Heroes Novel Book 3) Page 13