Karessa smiles up at me, part happy and part amused. If I had to guess, I’d say it’s because that was my first public display of affection outside of your wedding.
“Are you jealous, Oran?”
I pull her tighter, enjoying having her in my arms.
“Nope. I don’t like people encroaching on my territory.” She gasps when I grab her leg and pull her close until her scrap-of-fabric-covered pussy grazes against the thigh I slide between her legs. “Mine.”
I let her go after another hard kiss. If I hold her warm body next to me any longer, my arousal will be clear to everyone aboard.
Her glossy lips pout slightly, but she doesn’t protest.
“Now, tell me about your favorite hobbies, Trophy.”
Chapter 26
Karessa
I was concerned to see Ainslee bawling with Jagger. Relieved when they told us they weren’t sad tears. Now, I feel like the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on. The truth? What does that mean? Either way, I focus on being happy that no one is sad except my naughty bits. Still, I’m mulling over what Oran said along with the possessive kiss he delivered to get Tony out of my face. I want to believe he’s all in, he’s been pleasantly surprising me since our wedding, but can someone really change their tune so drastically in two months?
We may not have made it to the beach, but being out on the beautiful water and imagining the way Oran’s dark-grey eyes are looking at me underneath his shades was all worth it. Whatever Jagger told Ainslee have then wrapped up in their own little love bubble more than usual. I stare out at the water to distract myself until I feel watched. Oran sits across from me, his white t-shirt teases me with what’s underneath. He looks so good with shades I want to cry. He smirks as if he can read my thoughts and crooks his finger to beckon me.
Rising, I follow his command until I’m standing between his legs. I can’t tell the exact placement of his gaze, but I’m guessing he’s looking at my hard nipples. The breeze and him have them on their worst behavior.
“One flick of the wrist.”
“What?” My question hitches as his hand snakes up my inner thigh.
“One flick of the wrist and I can have you naked.” He pulls me into his lap and adjusts me until his erection is nestled between my ass cheeks. “If we were fucking, would you be bold enough to take a ride right here?” My wetness makes me squirm. Oran groans with his mouth near my ear. “Be still before we give them a show.”
Somehow, the idea of riding him out in the open with a small audience makes my clit throb.
“It’d depend on how dedicated I was to getting off.”
“I can make you very dedicated,” he promises while running kisses along my neck.
“Oran!” I whisper-shout when his fingers slip under one of my triangles to rub my hard nipple. I’m facing Jagger and Ainslee’s backs. They could turn around any moment to see what he’s doing.
“What’s on your mind?”
“You mean other than me being horny?”
“Yes, that’s obvious,” he teases as he pats me between my legs. “Earlier.”
His finger grazes where my inner thigh meets the seam of my bottoms.
“I can’t concentrate on anything right now.”
“You better. An orgasm for your thoughts.” Squirming, I try to get more friction, but his other hand grips my thigh. “Aht. Aht. Aht. I’m in control here.”
Oran pushes my legs open until I’m straddling his hard thigh. I lie back on his chest so I can look up at him.
“I feel like cooking.”
He cups my chin and gives me the sweetest hint of a kiss.
“Okay, but that’s not what you were thinking. Did you know when you’re in deep thought you bite the right side of your bottom lip.” He rubs the area he just mentioned. “And you furrow your brows,” his finger goes to them. “The left goes higher than the right. Then you cross your legs and wiggle your foot. You do not do all of that to plan to cook.”
I’m surprised he’s noticed so much, especially when I’m not even aware.
“I was worried about Ainslee.”
“She’s okay.” His roaming hands resume their torture as he places slow, sensual kisses on the back of my shoulder. “Actually, she’s more than okay. Turn around.”
I face him, straddling his leg again. Oran slowly pulls me closer, teasing my sensitive skin. He pushes my shades to the top of my head and removes his. I love the way his eyes look in the natural light. The lightness of the gray with the darker specs is interesting, but the openness of his gaze is something I’m noticing more often. The guarded caution is missing as he waits for me to finish my thought.
“I can see she’s okay and I’m happy about it, but it is weird being the only person not knowing what’s going on.”
“What do you know about Ainslee in general?”
“She owns a bakery, the Bishops’ only child, and she vlogs.”
“And her childhood?”
I try to think as well as I can with Oran’s teasing. As the Founder’s kids, we know information about each other even if we haven’t really spoken. Not all the little details, just the big stuff.
“She was sick when she was young…”
“And I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it, eventually.”
“It’s okay. Our friendship is new. I will not press her and be nosy.”
Oran laughs and cups my face, giving me a quick kiss, then a slightly longer one. “We’re on a two-week vacation together. Surely you two will be more than Jagger’s and my wife. You two just need time to hang out.”
“Right. So Jagger can try to cut me?”
“If you two want woman time, I’ll find something to do with the horny bastard.”
Oran ends his statement with the left side of my bikini bottoms falling open. I giggle because he’s making fun of Jagger while being horny himself.
“Those strings are supposed to stay together,” I tease, although I’m more aroused than amused.
Oran slides the triangle down as he sucks in his lip with a groan. “So smooth.”
“I find it easier to wear smaller bikinis with no hair.”
Oran nods, but his eyes remain focused on the skin he’s exposed. It’s thrilling to have him focusing on the part of me that craves him. Vacation Oran is killing me.
“Did I ever tell you you have a pretty pussy?” My body throbs. “It’s going to be fun rewarding you.”
“Reward?”
“Yes, for sharing your thoughts.”
“Really?”
“What did I tell you about the impacts on learning?”
“But what am I learning?” I clutch his shoulders when he slides two fingers inside of me. The unexpected yet delicious stretching pulls a satisfied hum out of me. Oran pulls me closer and kisses the side of my mouth.
“Share with your spouse.” He pulls almost out, then presses in harder. My heart beats erratically as I consider all the factors. He’s driving me insane in a place where someone could watch. His wet fingers coat my sensitive nub with my juices before diving back inside of me. “You can come to me with your problems. That’s my job.”
His beard tickles my cheek when he nips at my ear.
“When did you get so bold?” My moan is soft to keep our profile low.
“You haven’t seen the half of it, wife.” His thumb presses against my clit. I gyrate to get more. I need to cum and shed some tension from his constant teasing. “How fast can you cum?”
“What’s my motivation?”
His eyes slowing drinking in my face as his fingers work their magic is a potent sexual cocktail.
“Now or never, Trophy.” Oran bites my bottom lip then sucks it in his mouth to ease the sting. His thumb is hitting me in all the right ways. His fingers and hard thigh provides more stimulation, my heat spreads from my clit and shoots through my body.
“What about you?” I run my hand along his erection, the outline of me makes me want to weep with longing.
“Don’t worry about it. This is for you.” He hooks his fingers, and I lose it.
Oran’s mouth covers mine, devouring my moan like they provide sustenance. Weak, my head falls into the crook of his neck. His fingers tickle my skin as he ties my bottom back into place.
I sigh, content when both of his arms encircle my waist and pull me closer. I can only hear the water, the boat, his heartbeat, and our breathing. We remain in a comfortable silence as I process a thought I’ve been ignoring since we’d arrived.
I’m falling for my husband.
Chapter 27
Karessa
“You two go relax and I’ll make dinner.”
Ainslee looks at me with big gray eyes that’s lighter than Oran’s. “Are you sure? You’re on vacation too. Maybe we should just go out.”
She looks at Jagger who shrugs like it’s up to her, but I feel like we came back for a reason.
“No. It’s fine. I want to cook,” I assure her. “The chef is off tonight, but I’m sure he stocked the kitchen.”
“Everything she’s cooked for me has been delicious,” Oran endorses with a kiss to my temple.
That nervous yet giddy feeling I used to get from him looking at me returns. My cheeks heat as I forget how to speak for a second. It feels silly to be flustered by a man who’s already seen me naked, but I’m still processing my enhanced feelings.
“You two go, like Karessa said, and we’ll take care of it,” Oran assures them as he shoos them away. He turns to me with his hands in his pockets. It’s unnerving being under his scrutiny. I swear his stormy gaze can see my thoughts. “You okay?”
I lie my head on his chest to avoid being studied. Oran’s arms wrap around me. His hand, warm over my cover-up, rubs my back as if I need to be comforted. He’s big, solid, and strong. Although my feelings for him are scaring me, I’ve never felt safer.
“I’m fine. Just still adjusting to the time difference.”
“You don’t have to cook if you’re too tired.”
I shake my head and look up at him. “I want to.”
“Okay.” He accepts my decision and kisses me on the forehead. “Change and I’ll help you. How’s that?”
Dammit. He’s being considerate again.
“That’ll be fun.” Reluctantly, I pull away from his body. “I’ll be back. Do inventory while I take off this bikini, please.”
With his shades missing, I’m privy to the exact look in his eyes.
“Or I can do inventory while taking off your bikini.”
“Oran! Everything is where it’s supposed to be. Promise.”
“Except my dick.”
Oran smiles at the look I give him before I disappear out of his view. I feel less flustered the farther I get from him. Oran melts my mind until I’m a walking pile of needy hormones. I take my time changing, delaying as much as I can to retrain myself to wait and not embarrass myself by jumping him in the kitchen.
I return once I feel ridiculous for hiding too long. I hear Oran curse underneath his breath, then familiar music playing. Sneaking around the corner, I find him leaning with his butt against the counter and one long leg crossed over the other as his black brows furrow as he frowns at the phone he’s holding in his hand horizontally.
Quietly, I pounce. Oran jumps and his phone flies out of his hand. I catch it to examine the screen.
“Ah. Ha!” I exclaim once I confirm my theory. “You’re watching Outlander, Mr. Paassss!”
Oran shrugs and pulls me close until I’m between his legs and pressed to his chest.
“Okay, fine. I want to know where it goes, now.” He gets a far off look as he analyzes what he saw. “First, I wanted her to get back to her husband, then I didn’t care about the husband because his ancestor was the worst.” Oran’s beautiful face pulls into a grimace. “If that isn’t all consuming love, I don’t know what is. Few men would sacrifice themselves in such a way to save his wife’s life.”
“Do you think some people could love that selflessly? I mean he wasn’t right for awhile after that.”
Oran is wearing the slight scowl that covers his face when he’s thinking deeply. “I believe so, yes.” There are those flutters again. Oran openly looks at me with something I can’t fully comprehend but makes my breathing shallow. His hands miraculously - I’m being sarcastic - finds my ass. “Especially with what she was teaching him in the bedroom.”
“Ah, your one track mind. What else have you seen so far?”
“I hate that he had to kill someone who he thought was family because he didn’t trust him enough to give him the benefit of doubt. It’d kill me if Jagger and I came to blows over a misunderstanding because he didn’t trust I’d do the right thing.”
“I get that. Trust is a big deal especially when that person is supposed to know you like you two know each other.”
“Yeah. And when you’re the spawn of such an untrustworthy person, it’s more work to get that trust.”
Oran’s confession hurts me because I feel his irritation and understand why he was pissed when I questioned him. I’m sad I was one of those people.
“I’m sorry about that. He’s out in everyone’s faces and you’re the mysterious son no one sees unless it’s business related. It’s still no excuse to typecast. The difference between you two is glaringly obvious to me now.”
I hate that he’s surprised by my admission.
“Really?”
I nod emphatically. “I’d question your paternity if your mom wasn’t a saint and you didn’t have his height.”
Oran snickers. “Yeah, a lab confirmed it. I understand your assumption. Lucky for you, people love your parents. Your dad was a saint until he lost you in a poker match. For my dad, it was just another Wednesday.”
I don’t feel the sting I used to feel anymore at the memory. Between time and my feelings for Oran, I’m not surprised by the giggle that escapes.
“It was a fucked up way to arrange a marriage, but then again all arranged marriages are fucked up to me.”
“It’s true, but if I must have an arranged marriage, I’m glad it’s you.”
My throat burns with emotion, and I sniff.
“Are you about to cry,” Oran teases me.
“No,” I push away from him. “You’re about to cry,” I toss back to lighten the mood. “It must be the onset of travel allergies.”
“Travel allergies,” he repeats in mock seriousness. “Oh, no you might have to lie down. It could be contagious.”
“I got them from Ainslee,” I joke as I turn on the tap to wash my hands. Oran hugs me from behind and kisses to the top of my head.
“While you make steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans, I’ll search the internet for a cure.”
“Liar, you’re going to watch the next episode without me.”
“Eventually, but you’ve already seen it. First, I need to wash and peel the potatoes.”
“Only peel about eighty percent.”
“Why?”
“I like to leave a little of the skin. Now, get to work, sous chef.”
Oran smiles at me, but I know he’s thinking about his mother. I’m happy we can do at least one thing they used to do.
* * *
Making dinner for eight people was successful. I’d never really had the chance to throw a dinner party, so this was excellent practice. I don’t know what Oran plans, but I’m sure we’d have to host a dinner party, eventually. Right now, I feel like a genuine hostess with everyone talking, drinking, and thanking me for dinner. I’d sat across from Oran hoping a break from his pheromones would help with my hormones, but now I see the flaw in my plan. The looks alone has me crossing and uncrossing my legs. My jeans feel too tight, and my brain has convinced me our natural state should set to nude at all times.
I’ve seen him eat before, but now it’s erotic. Oran smiles at me over the rim of his glass as if he knows he’s in my head and has activated remote seduction. I need a vacation from the vacation.
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“I need dessert,” I say out loud although I meant to think it.
“Make one,” Oran challenges me, but I don’t know why.
“Why do you say it like you doubt I can?” I sit up higher, loving the distraction.
“Just don’t remember you making any,” he retorts.
“I don’t remember you making any, either.”
“But I can.” Our exchange seems to have gotten the interest of the rest of the table.
“As I’m sure I can.”
Oran points at me. “All I heard is, can’t bake.”
Ainslee claps excitedly. “New segment because all I hear is bake off. We can do it like that one show. I’ll make something and you two have to duplicate it.”
Normally, I’d find a way to get out of it, but Ainslee looks too excited for me to be a Debbie downer. Oran, on the other hand…
“I’m in,” he announces with a smile that suggests he knows I don’t want to do it.
Ainslee claps. “This will be fun.” she turns to Jagger. “Ba-”
“Fuck no, Ains. Not happening.”
She rolls her eyes at him. “Can you at least film it?” She turns back to us before he answers. “I’ve got an idea! Let’s recreate part of your wedding cake. This is a honeymoon and all. What was your favorite flavor?”
“I don’t have a favorite flavor. Use Karessa’s,” Oran volunteers.
“And what flavor is that?” I ask him knowing he doesn’t know.
Oran rubs his beard as if it helps him search his memory. “Vanilla raspberry with cream cheese icing. Add chocolate if she’s cranky.”
“Really, Oran? Another tidbit you somehow pulled out of your ass?”
“Nope. That’s the tier you hijacked from the wedding when you left mad at me. That’s what we ate when I found you.”
“Is he right?” Ainslee inquires full of hope.
“Yes,” I concede.
“Liam, what’s my fav-”
“Don’t start that shit, baby.”
Everyone laughs when Ainslee hits him. She disappears and comes back with a notebook as I clean the table.
Hale on Earth (Arrangement Series Book 2) Page 12