“Who’s breakin’, handsome?”
“Uh, I think you are, Cricket. Looks like you might have caused a bit of a brain malfunction over there.” Delaney nodded his head towards the two men who were ogling Cara’s ample cleavage. Most times she would have become modest and hidden in the corner at the looks they were giving her. At the moment, though, she was the girl he knew she could be when she shed her barriers, and it gave her a heady feeling of power to see their reaction.
She decided to run with that feeling, and again returned to Delaney, this time standing directly in front of him, hands resting on his hips. Meeting his eyes, she ran her tongue over her lower lip before sucking it into her mouth.
“This is where you come in, then. I’m not sure I can see well enough right now to hit the balls,” Cara lied. “Can you help me?”
“Sure. Set up your shot.”
She did, and when she leaned over the table, Delaney leaned over her. His chin over her shoulder, she could feel his breath in her hair. He slid his hand down her left arm, the one bracing her over the table, and wrapped his hand around her small wrist. Holding her other hand in his, he pulled the cue back and forth between the curve of her thumb and index fingers, helping her hold the aim steady. Feeling his body pressed against her back, she became even more aware of how much she wanted him, a thought she had attempted to ignore. Her breath hitched when they hit the cue ball, the additional force he added causing his body to push nearly unnoticeably against her, nearly being the operative word. She noticed, and wasn’t sure how much longer she could torture herself with the thoughts currently playing in her mind.
They straightened as the balls scattered over the table, and Delaney wrapped his arms around her waist. Leaning down, he whispered in her ear. “You sure you want to finish this game?”
She knew what he was referring to, and she wasn’t going to let it happen that easily, even if she knew that was where they would end up by the end of the night.
“Well, yeah. We did just start, and Ryan and Phil have been smack talking for the last half hour.”
“All right, your call,” Delaney said.
***
Having played with Ryan and Phil before, Delaney had assumed it wouldn’t be long before the game would be over. He knew he might be a bit presumptuous, but he thought he understood the hints she was sending his direction. After assisting with a few of her shots, he stopped actually helping in order to gauge just how intoxicated she was. When she made her shots cleaner, he knew he was reading the signals correctly.
They continued their pool game, Cara pushing her bottom against him with every shot they took together. He played along, appreciating the feel of her against him. As often as he could, he pressed his chest firmly against her back, loving the way her breath would quicken with the contact.
When they finally sank the eight ball and she completed a small victory wiggle, he grabbed her and pulled her close against him.
“Now, how about that other game? You ready to finish that one?”
“As a matter of fact, I think I am. Lead the way.”
Chapter 15
Delaney’s apartment was less than two blocks from the bar. He held her hand, almost dragging her the distance, unable to hide his impatience. Both of them remained silent on the walk, but as soon as they entered his apartment, Delaney picked Cara up and braced her back against the wall. As he urged her legs around his waist, he gently bit the lobe of her ear.
“That wasn’t exactly fair now, was it?”
“Maybe not, but I had to get your attention somehow.” Cara knew exactly what he was talking about, and knew that she had been caught in the act. She had never been able to pretend drunk very well, at least not with him.
He pulled back and looked at her, keeping her gaze as he revealed the truth.
“No, you didn’t, Cara. I’m consumed. I can’t stop thinking about you, and it’s killin’ me.”
She reached up and pulled his face to hers, crushing her mouth against him. His hands began roaming over her body, and she could feel him slide them up under her shirt.
He moved her bra and lightly pinched her nipple, unsure what her response would be. She had been nervous herself, but the sensation was so much different, so much more than she remembered. She hadn’t had much experience with sexual matters, but she remembered the feel of Delaney’s hands on her, and this was nothing like it had been. She reached down and pulled his shirt over his head, breaking their kiss only for a brief moment.
When the first barrier between them was removed, he took her cue to pull her shirt over her head. He lifted her again, releasing her from the pressure of the wall, and carried her to the bedroom. After laying her down, he stopped to catalog the differences in her. Her breasts were larger, though he’d recognized that with her clothes. Her waist was not as little as it had been, nor was her skin as smooth as he remembered. She bore the scars of carrying a child, and he could see that she was embarrassed to reveal her imperfections. She watched his exploration of her body with a pained expression, and winced as he rested his hand over the bulk of her stretch marks. He lowered his head and kissed each of them.
“Delaney, please…” She paused after she said it. She wasn’t sure what she meant to say, but it was almost unbearable to know that she was so vulnerable to him. No one had seen the scars pregnancy had given her. She had always been insecure about her body, but knowing that it was more marred than before and there was nothing she could do about it was a hard pill to swallow. She knew that she had her daughter to show for it, which made it a little easier, but it was still difficult.
“Please, what?” Delaney raised his head to look at her face, and knew exactly what she was trying to say. “You don’t need to hide from me, Cara. You’re beautiful, and I’ve always thought so. I know you thought I was joking, but the second I laid eyes on you, I couldn’t get you out of my mind. And these? These don’t do a damn thing to diminish that. In fact, I think it’s sexy as hell.”
“You don’t have to pacify me. If you could just not focus on them, I would feel a lot better. No need to say anything about it.”
“You’re not calling the shots. And I’m not pacifying you. It seems strange to me, too, but I do find each of these little marks a turn on. I’m thinking about what I missed, and I feel sympathy for you, for both of us. But more than that, I feel pride and admiration for you. I’ve always known you could do anything. Now you know it, too.”
He levered himself over her, and this time kissed her gently. There was no less passion in the way he touched her, but the urgency seemed to fade away. He was taking his time now, his hands running along her body, pushing her bra straps off her shoulders. She lay still, responding to his kiss, but not touching him otherwise. She was trying to pull herself out of her insecurities and remind herself that this was her best friend. She had always been, at the very least, able to ignore her imperfections around him.
That was when the level of intimacy was different, though. She’d never had a thought about his response to her body, since she was sure that he could never feel about her the way she felt about him. She was convinced that his repeated flirtations were only because they were of the opposite sex. But that had changed. In the last week, he’d completely turned her ideas around, and made her hope for more.
So knowing that he was offering what she’d wanted so badly for so long, this time with prior intent, she reached out to him. She relished in the feel of his hands on her skin, still able to feel calluses that she knew were the result of his many athletic hobbies. Despite having kept active, he’d put on weight over the last year. He was no longer the gawky teenager that he had been; now he had the build to support his strong personality. She could also tell that his confidence had grown, and the hesitance that she remembered was no longer present in his touch.
Then that touch reached the waist of her jeans, and he paused to search her face for reluctance. She knew he would stop if she asked, so he was moving slowly, givin
g her ample opportunity to do so. When she only touched a hand to his face, he proceeded to unbutton the pants, keeping his eyes locked on hers. She arched her hips off the bed so he could remove the obstacles between them. When he’d done so, he massaged one thigh before the other, gliding his way to the source of her heat.
Because she had to do something to ease the fire burning inside her, she pulled his face to hers and released some of her passion in her kiss. It was the only thing she could do to tell him how much she wanted his hands on her, everywhere. Retreating from the kiss, she nipped his lower lip as he had done to her so many times, and gently sucked the offended area left behind. She moved her hands down his body and rubbed her palm against him through his jeans. She could feel him hardening more with each move, and wondered how he could bear it. He wasn’t even touching her yet, and she could feel the pain of desperation.
Then he did touch her, and she gasped against his mouth. As he had the first time, he slid one finger into her, and gently stroked. Again showing his newly elevated confidence, he quickly pushed a second finger into her, and began stroking faster. At the same time, her hips were rising to meet his strokes, begging for more. In an effort to remain quiet, she buried her face in his neck. It was only moments later that he pushed her to climax and she stilled, tightening her grip on him.
To say she was shocked was an understatement. She’d made it quite clear that she had only been intimate with him, so she wasn’t sure if it was always so intense. The first time they had been together was pleasant, but nothing earth shattering. In just a few minutes, he showed her the level of passion that she could feel, and had given her a new perspective on intimacy.
Chapter 16
“What the hell was that?” Cara wondered aloud. Delaney only laughed a husky and proud sound. When she finally relaxed enough to fall back against the bed and look up at him, he couldn’t help but smile, feeling pleased with himself.
“That, Cricket, was an orgasm. I’m pretty sure you already knew that, though.”
“Don’t be smug. Of course I knew that, but…wow. I’m pretty sure I didn’t know that it could feel like that.”
“Oh? You mean, you’ve never had one? I could have sworn that I did a pretty good job of getting you there the last time.”
“I thought so, too, but I guess we were both overestimating your skills.” She looked at him innocently and shrugged her shoulders. “I wonder if it’s always going to be like that, or if maybe my hormones just haven’t balanced out yet.”
Delaney continued to look at her, but began moving his hands over her again. He slid up over her belly, and squeezed her left breast. He saw her eyes darken a bit, and decided to continue. He circled his thumb over her nipple, and lowered his mouth to it. He flicked his tongue over the already hardening peak, and saw the immediate reaction. He closed his mouth over it and gently sucked. Cara moaned, and he was sure that it wasn’t just her hormones. He’d always been very observant where she was concerned, so he was fairly sure of what moves to make when he had the opportunity.
Now that he had his chance, he was going to take his time, and she was never going to question his feelings for her again.
***
As much as Cara was enjoying the attention that Delaney was giving her, she had other ideas. He had already given her what she needed, but she knew that he was rock hard and waiting. When he pulled his mouth from her nipple, she took the opportunity to push him to his back. Lost in her desire for him, she didn’t have a chance to think about self-doubt. Naked, she straddled him, and leaned down to his ear.
“Your turn,” she whispered.
She heard his breath intake, and used it to fuel her. Surprisingly, she felt powerful. She kissed her way from his ear, down over his chest and abdomen. Finally, she licked across his belly at the waist of his pants as she undid the button, and then the zipper. She pushed her fingers between his skin and his boxers to remove both barriers at once.
His erection was freed and she faltered a bit. It was amazing to her that he could be so hard, knowing that he had been thinking only of her. Her feeling of power surged higher. Nestling herself between his legs, she looked up at him, and he pushed himself onto his elbows. The desire in his eyes urged to her to move forward, staring him in the eye as she slid her tongue over his shaft. His eyes closed for a moment, and she knew he was going to enjoy whatever she did for him.
Turning her focus back to his girth, she wrapped her mouth around him, taking him as far as she could. She began to suck, and felt him tense with every stroke. His eyes were on her with every move, escalating her desire. Placing her hand at his base, she moved quicker, milking him as she sucked.
“Damn it, Cara,” he exclaimed. “You better slow down, I’m going to come.”
His words only ignited a fire, and she sucked harder and faster. She felt his penis pulsing, and she knew he was only moments away. She stopped sucking to look up at him, but continued her massage.
Seeing the look in her eyes, it was impossible for him to stop himself. He grabbed her arms and dragged her up to face him. He kissed her again, and rolled her over onto the mattress. Not wasting any time, he moved off the bed and reached into his pants pocket, producing a condom.
“You always travel so prepared now?” Cara questioned, not really wanting to know the answer. In her mind, he was hers. She could not imagine him being with anyone else, nor did she want to.
“Just the last few days,” he responded. He slid the condom over his shaft. Pushing her legs apart, he leveraged himself over her. “You’re the only one I want, Cara. I love you.”
Before she could respond, he slid into her, and she felt tears threaten at the contact. After his initial thrust, he slowly withdrew and held himself at her entrance. She reached for him, but he pinned her arms above her head, and slowly pushed his way in again. He continued the slow and tortuous rhythm, kissing her between thrusts, but always pausing to watch her reaction to his girth. He had wanted her to know how he felt for her, and making love to her, in his mind, was the best way to do it. So he took his time, savoring every moment.
Her hips were meeting him thrust for thrust, pushing him to move faster. Her breathing was uneven and heavy, and he knew she was close to the edge for the second time that night. And this time, he was going to fall over with her. Whatever happened next, he knew that he had reached her, and that she couldn’t deny his feelings any more than she could deny her own.
Chapter 17
As they lay cross-wise on the bed, Delaney was next to Cara, twisting her fingers between his.
“I think that more than makes up for the first time,” he said.
Cara only laughed. She knew he’d meant every word that he’d said, she could feel how much he loved her. Now could she believe it would last? They had never dated, never considered a romantic relationship at the same time before she left for college. She was concerned that they either didn’t know each intimately enough to be considering this level of commitment, or they knew each other too well for it to really work in their favor.
“Delaney, I don’t know what to say,” Cara finally broke into the silence. “I can feel everything you’re feeling, but I’m so afraid still. What if you don’t really know what you’re asking?”
“I know exactly what I’m asking. It’s small in comparison to what I will ask from you. But I know you, and I plan to take it slow, so you have no chance to deny us.”
Cara was shocked. Delaney hadn’t said it outright, but she had a pretty good idea what he was telling her. He was the forever type, and the guy that every girl wanted when she grew up. He was going to make a great husband, and had never hid his desires to one day have a family of his own. But he’d always been very clear that he wasn’t getting married until his late twenties.
“Stop that,” Delaney growled. “I know what you’re doing, and I’m not going to let you. Quit second guessing everything and just let go. You know, for someone who always feels like she depends on everyone else and
can’t handle herself, you don’t realize how little you give up control.”
“I’m not second guessing, and clearly I’m not in control, especially with you. You take every ounce of control away from me…it’s like nothing matters but you when we’re together.”
“What are you talking about? You are the most controlled person I know, and you are always second guessing everything. Everything is about lists and compartments for you. I know exactly what you’re thinking right now.”
“No, I’m sure you don’t, Delaney, because I’m not sure I even know what I’m thinking.”
“Oh, really? I’m calling your bluff. You don’t want to admit what you’re thinking, because again, that gives up a bit of the control. If you let me in on what you’re thinking before you’ve made a decision, and put together a logical argument as to why you’re right, then it’s like you don’t have the final say. Right now, you’re trying to talk yourself out of giving us a shot. You’re making the mental list of pros and cons.
“It’s everything you’ve wanted, and you know deep down that it’s where I’ve been headed, too. But you want everything to be in its perfect spot before you add another ball to juggle. You think that with school, work, and Sutton, you’ve got too much on your plate – that you won’t be able to give our relationship the attention it needs.”
Delaney stopped his rant long enough to sit up on the bed and reach over the side for his boxers. After shifting on the bed to pull them on, he sat cross-legged to watch Cara’s reaction to his words. He would know by her expressions if he was wrong, and how much farther he could push. Eventually, he knew he would get her either to the point of wanting to hit him, or to the point of tears. The violence he could handle—she really didn’t pack much of a punch—but he’d always been weak when it came to her tears.
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