Change (Finding Anna Book 5)

by Sherri Hayes

  Pulling her close to my naked body, I reached for the zipper of her skirt and slid it down before slipping my hand inside to cup her ass. The flower covered skirt fluttered to the floor to pool around her ankles. “Did I tell you how much I missed you today?”

  She gazed up at me, her hands gripping my shoulders. “Yes, Sir. You did.”

  “Hmm.” I hooked my fingers inside the waistband of her panties and pushed them down her legs to join her skirt where it lay on the floor. Next, I took the hem of the pretty blue sweater she was wearing and lifted it over her head, leaving her clad only in her bra. I could see her nipples trying to peek out at me from behind the material.

  Her nipples hardened even farther as I rubbed my thumbs over them with the gentlest of touches. She sucked in a breath when I took them both between my thumb and forefinger and gave them each a pinch.

  Grinning, I reached behind her and unclasped her bra, the material falling to the floor, leaving her naked before me.

  I cupped her face and brought her lips to mine. Brianna opened for me, and I dipped my tongue inside. It was the first real kiss we’d shared since that morning.

  I allowed myself to indulge for a couple of minutes before I released her enough to move us into the shower. There was nothing like Brianna naked with water streaming down her body. I loved watching it fall off the tips of her breast and see how it disappeared between her legs.

  She rested her hands on my shoulders, as she looked up at me. “May I wash you, Sir?”

  “You may.”

  She picked up the soap and began working it between her hands. When Brianna was satisfied she had enough suds, she stepped forward. She started with my shoulders, taking her time and massaging the soap over my skin. Slowly, she moved lower, taking care with each part of my body, making sure not to miss a single bit of my skin.

  By the time she reached my cock, it was hard and ready for some attention. She took her time as she always did in that area. After four years, Brianna knew what I liked. She moved her hand along my flesh with exactly the right amount of pressure, and then cupped my balls, rolling them against her palm.

  The urge to kiss her was strong and I didn’t resist it. Tangling my fingers in her hair, I pulled her to her feet and crashed my mouth over hers, taking what I wanted while she continued to pump my erection. I backed her against the tile wall, bringing us directly into the spray, not caring as the water cascaded down my back and shoulders.

  Pinning her against the wall, I circled her wrists with my hands and held them against the tile above her head. Brianna arched against me, silently begging for me to give her more.

  I bent down, so my erection could slip between her legs. My reward was the soft moan that vibrated from deep in her throat. “Are you ready for me, pet?”

  “Yes, Sir. Please, I’m ready.” So different from how things had been at first between us. Brianna had finally gotten in touch with her sexuality and had embraced it.

  Releasing her wrists, I repositioned my hands at her waist and lifted.

  Brianna knew what to do and wrapped her legs around me as I carried her over to the shelf I had specifically designed for this purpose. It was the perfect height with enough room for her to lean back so I could position her however I desired.

  Once she was settled on the tile ledge, my cock found its home as if by instinct. No matter how many times I made love to Brianna, it never got old. Feeling her heat surrounding me was a sensation unlike anything I’d ever experienced in my life.

  I thrust in and out of her, bracing us both against the tile as the water continued to cascade over us. She held on tight, her fingers digging into my scalp. The zaps of pain went straight to my groin, surging me closer to my orgasm.

  Capturing her lips again, I twisted my hand so my thumb could reach her clit. Brianna gasped, and then moaned, digging her nails deeper into my head.

  It didn’t take long for her to be teetering on the edge and I was right there with her. “Come for me.”

  Her entire body stiffened a split second before I felt her pussy contract around my cock. I deepened the kiss, swallowing the beautiful sounds of her climax and thrust three more times before finding my own release.

  Chapter 2

  Brianna

  Morning was my favorite time of the day. It was a new beginning, a fresh start. And even if I’d had a bad night, things always seemed brighter in the morning.

  Of course, a lot of that was because of Stephan. Before he’d rescued me, I’d been lost in so many ways. Not just because of what Ian had done to me, but also because of my father and what had happened to my mother. Stephan had helped me find peace again.

  I smiled as I set the table with three place settings and brought the juice and coffee over along with the fruit I’d cut up while the breakfast casserole was baking. Stephan was already at the table, reading my journal entry from yesterday. In addition to coming up with a goal I’d like to achieve in the next five years, I’d also shared some of my fears about having Logan and Lily visit. They’d never stayed in our house before, and even if they were discrete, I knew it was the weekend and they were playing. What if I walked in on something and had a panic attack like I did before?

  Stephan was quiet as he read, taking in everything I’d written. I knew we’d talk about it later. Any questions he had, he’d ask me then and he’d usually delve deeper into why I felt or thought the way I did.

  It’s one of the many reasons I loved him. He pushed my boundaries but was always mindful of what I’d experienced in the past. Dr. Katlin called it desensitization therapy.

  “Something smells good,” Logan announced as he descended the stairs.

  Lily had a huge grin on her face as they made their way to the dining room. “Did you need help with anything?”

  “No, thank you. I just have to get the casserole out of the oven, and everything will be ready.”

  A few minutes later, the timer went off and I removed the casserole, placing it on the counter. Stephan came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. He ran his nose from the curve of my shoulder up to my ear before taking my lobe between his teeth and sucking.

  My breath stuttered in anticipation as he flattened his hand over my belly and slipped it under my shirt to rub teasing circles right above my belly button. “My mouth is watering already.”

  I thought he was talking about the casserole, but I couldn’t be sure. His voice was almost a purr as he whispered in my ear and all I could think about was what it would feel like if his hand slipped below the waistband of my shorts.

  “Yes, Sir,” I said in barely more than a whisper, not even really sure at that point what I was agreeing to.

  Stephan chuckled and released me.

  The entire exchange hadn’t taken more than a few moments, but it left me shaky and trembling inside in the best way. When he touched me like that, I forgot where I was and even who else was in the room.

  Before I could get my wits about me again, he grabbed the potholders and carried the dish to the table. I followed him, but he stopped me before I was able to take my seat at the table. Instead, he placed a cushion on the floor next to him and lowered himself into his chair. Without any further instruction, I knelt on the cushion, taking my place at his feet.

  Conversation floated between plans for the day and the wedding. Stephan fed my breakfast to me in between taking bites of his food. It was incredibly intimate as he held my gaze each time he presented a new forkful to me, taking care that no crumbs fell and that I’d gotten enough.

  No one seemed eager to move once breakfast was over. I suppose that made sense considering there was nowhere we really had to be at any specific time today. Stephan guided my head into his lap and combed his fingers through my hair as they talked. I was content to relax into him and enjoy the moment, letting my eyes drift shut as I listened to the conversation.

  It was almost noon by the time everyone rose from the table and began cleaning up. As I finished putting the dishes
into the dishwasher, I noticed Lily was getting a little impatient. She was keeping her mouth shut, but with the way she kept glancing at the front door, I knew she was eager to get going.

  Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who’d noticed. “Think all the bargains will be gone by the time we get there?” Stephan asked.

  “You never know.”

  Both Logan and Stephan laughed, and I couldn’t help but grin. Lily lived for shopping. I didn’t understand her obsession. Sure, I liked to get new things, but I didn’t see the appeal of spending the entire day trying on clothes and shoes.

  Stephan helped me wipe down the table and counters while Logan and Lily disappeared upstairs to their room for a few minutes. When they came back down, Lily had changed into a dress that flowed around her thighs. It was white with yellow flowers and buttoned up the front. It reminded me of summer.

  “All set?” Stephan asked.

  We all climbed into Stephan’s vehicle and headed into town. I liked Le Sueur better than Minneapolis. It was smaller and quieter. Plus, there were no reporters.

  Stephan drove down main street looking for a place to park. It was a beautiful day and most of the parking spaces were full. He eventually found a place, though, and we all piled out to check out the stores.

  Within moments of leaving the vehicle, Lily was pulling us inside one. Although Stephan and I had been downtown a few times, we’d never been to this location. They seemed to sell a little bit of everything . . . clothes, purses, pictures, and even little statues.

  After about twenty minutes, we moved on to the next shop. And then the next. I don’t think we made it past more than one store without going inside. Lily seemed determined to check out all downtown Le Sueur had to offer.

  We’d just exited our fifth, or was it sixth, shop, when Lily let out a squeal. “There it is!”

  She was looking across the street. It took me a moment to realize she was pointing at another store.

  “Want to be more specific?” Stephan asked.

  “The store I was telling Logan about. They refurbish old clothes. Come on.” She began marching toward the nearest crosswalk and we were left with no choice but to follow her.

  Lily was practically bouncing on the balls of her feet by the time we entered the store. The place was interesting. It wasn’t set up like a normal shop. Instead of having racks of clothes lined up near the door, the first thing you saw were pictures of outfits they’d altered—the before and after. It was almost like an art gallery.

  We moved farther into the store and the racks of clothes came into view. Again, however, it was different. On one side, there were clothes that looked as if they’d seen better days. On the other, were clothes that looked much more polished.

  A young woman, who didn’t look much older than me, strolled across the room toward us. “Hello. Can I help you find anything?”

  Stephan quirked his eyebrow in Logan and Lily’s direction.

  “I’ve heard about what you’re doing with vintage clothing and was wondering if you had anything from the 40’s or 50’s,” Lily asked.

  “Of course. Follow me and I’ll show you what we have in stock.”

  Stephan let Logan and Lily go first while we followed behind at a slower pace. We lingered about ten feet away as the woman showed Lily the altered items they had for sale. I ran a finger over the lace on one of the dresses with my free hand. It was a pretty blue color and looked like something out of an old movie, except the skirt was shorter and the neckline dipped quite low in the front.

  “The blue would bring out your eyes.” The feel of Stephan whispering in my ear had butterflies fluttering in my stomach. He liked to do that a lot as he knew what it did to me.

  “The skirt is really short.”

  A wicked grin crossed his face. He removed the dress from the rack and checked the tag. Without a word, he walked over to the saleswoman, with me in tow. “Excuse me. Do you have a dressing room?”

  “I’ll give you a minute to look around,” she said to Lily and Logan before returning her attention to Stephan. “Right this way.”

  Stephan and I followed her to the back of the store where there was a single door with a long mirror on the front. She unlocked it and held open the door. “Let me know if you have any questions. We do alterations here as well, if the dress doesn’t fit exactly right.”

  Once she’d headed back toward the front where Logan and Lily were, Stephan handed me the dress. “Try it on and then show me what it looks like.”

  I swallowed and took the dress. Even though I knew Stephan would be right outside the door, it wasn’t often I was alone in a public place. On the rare occasions where we went out, I didn’t leave his side. If I had to go to the bathroom, I either went with Lily or Jade or I waited until we were home. It wasn’t always the most comfortable solution, but there was still a part of me that feared getting taken again.

  The door clicked shut behind me and I surveyed my surroundings. It was a small room, no bigger than our powder room at home, with a bench seat, another full-length mirror on the wall, and three hooks.

  I didn’t want to prolong the experience, so I quickly removed my clothes and slipped the dress over my head. It was a little loose around the waist, but that wasn’t as big a problem as the top. The fabric draped over my front and dipped two inches below my breasts, almost to my belly button.

  “Sir?”

  “What’s wrong?” The tone of my voice must have alerted him.

  “It’s too big.”

  “Let me see.” His voice was right outside the door now.

  I reached for the handle and opened the door, revealing myself to him.

  His gaze scanned me from head to toe before turning to catch the eye of the saleswoman. He raised his arm, indicating we needed assistance and she came rushing forward. As soon as she caught a look at me, she went in motion. “Oh, that’s lovely on you. A little big in the waist and shoulders, but nothing a few adjustments can’t fix. Here,” she said, grabbing some pins off a nearby shelf. “I can pin it up and you’ll be able to get an idea of what it would look like with the alterations.”

  I stood frozen, not sure what to do.

  Stephan, however, didn’t hesitate. He moved to stand opposite the woman and took my hands in his so that my back was facing her.

  Luckily, she worked swiftly. In less than five minutes, she’d pinned the shoulders back and put a couple of clips at the waist. “There. Much better, don’t you think?”

  “Much,” Stephan agreed. “Take a look at yourself.”

  I stepped into the dressing room again and faced the mirror. The woman staring back at me looked both sophisticated and sexy at the same time. The extra fabric had been gathered at the waist and shoulders making the V at the front of the dress end two inches higher at the bottom of my breasts. It showed a hint of my cleavage without revealing too much.

  Stephan stepped behind me, resting his hands at my waist. “Do you like it?”

  “I look like Lily.”

  He chuckled. “I’m not sure Lily would look good in this color blue.” Then he tugged me closer, resting my back against his front. “You look beautiful. Sweet and sexy at the same time.”

  I felt the blush heating my cheeks before I saw it reflected back at me in the mirror.

  Stephan turned to the saleswoman. “How long would it take to do the alterations?”

  “For this, it would be about a week. We could have it ready for you to pick up next weekend, if you’d like.”

  He spread his hand wide over my belly, pressing me against him so I could feel how much he was liking me in the dress. “Sounds great.”

  The saleswoman smiled. “I’ll go write up the paperwork while you get changed. Just be careful not to pull out any of the pins or clips.”

  She was off a second later, leaving Stephan and I alone again.

  He closed the door, shutting us both inside the changing room. Before I could even blink, he had slipped his hand under my dress and was r
ubbing his fingers along the inside of my thigh.

  Anticipation curled in my belly as he continued to caress my skin and I felt myself getting wet.

  Then his hand was gone.

  I opened my eyes, not even realizing I’d closed them, to find him staring back at me in the mirror.

  Without a word, he unzipped the dress and eased it down my shoulders, leaving me in nothing but my bra and panties. I stood there, frozen, not knowing what to do. My body was aching for him, but we weren’t alone. Not really.

  He hung the dress back on the hanger and handed me the clothes I’d discarded earlier. He used the tips of his fingers, the ones he’d used to touch me, over the bottom of my lip several times before reaching for the door, his gaze never leaving mine. “Get dressed. I’ll be right outside.”

  Stephan

  When I exited the dressing room, Logan and Lily were waiting for me. Lily had a knowing grin on her face. Logan quirked a curious brow at me.

  I ignored both. “Brianna found a dress, but it needs some alterations.”

  As if on cue, the saleswoman joined us with paperwork she needed filled out. I gladly took it and the pen she offered.

  The door to the dressing room opened while I was writing down my telephone number. Brianna scanned the area searching for me. I met her gaze and a sweet blush coated her cheeks.

  I extended my hand and she rushed to close the distance between us, the dress she’d tried on was clutched to her chest. She laced her fingers with mine and I tugged her against my side. It still amazed me how much joy I felt having her near. It made no logical sense, but I was beyond trying to understand it.

  Ten minutes later we were on our way to the next store. Lily was obsessed. She’d researched every store in Le Sueur. She knew what each carried and even the owner's names. I was so glad Brianna wasn’t like that. She was content to spend her days at home or taking a stroll in the park.

  By the time we called it a day and headed home, I was ready to curl up in bed with Brianna and forget about clothes, shoes, or the way fabric draped. Logan, however, didn’t seem to mind Lily’s shopping. He happily helped carry her bags and gave his opinion when she asked what he thought of a particular outfit.