by Layla Hagen
“Ryker,” she whispered before burying her fingers in my hair. Feisty. I loved it. I moved my mouth on her, feeling her breath become increasingly more labored.
Fuck, I was so hard it was painful. I needed to be inside her, but I wanted her to come first. When the leg she stood on wobbled, I cupped her ass cheeks, supporting her. I pressed my fingers on her skin, tilting her ass forward, changing the angle a bit. She was just where I needed her to bring her over the edge.
I pulled her clit between my lips until she came hard, curling her fingers in my hair. She almost lost her balance.
“Ryker,” she whispered in a shaky voice as I kissed up her body. I wanted to claim every inch of her as mine. When I captured her mouth, she hummed against me before biting my tongue teasingly. I blindly pulled at the buttons of my shirt.
“You’re going to ruin your shirt.”
“Don’t give a fuck. I need you now.”
She smiled against my lips. “I’m on board with that.”
Between the two of us, I got naked real fast. Heather drew her fingers down my chest while I walked backward. With a sassy smile, she pushed me down onto the bed, climbing on top of me. I loved watching her take what she wanted. She kissed my right shoulder before moving down my chest, licking and nipping. I fisted her hair, tilting her head until we had eye contact.
“Heather....” My voice was almost a growl.
“I am finally getting a chance to explore,” she said with a grin. “And I’m going to take advantage.”
I cocked a brow. I was so hard that I was seconds away from claiming her. I kissed her long and deep. I sucked on her tongue, pulling her flat against me so my cock was trapped between us. She moaned, gripping my shoulders, pushing her hips forward, rocking herself against me. The skin-on-skin contact drove me insane.
I gripped her hips, moving her on the bed so she stood on her knees. Then I turned her around, pressing down on her back until she was on all fours.
I leaned over to kiss her back, starting from the base of her spine, moving up slowly. I wanted to draw every drop of pleasure from her. When I leaned forward even more to kiss the back of her neck, I trapped my cock between my pelvis and her right ass cheek. I groaned, gripping her hips with both hands. I couldn’t prolong this anymore. I needed to be inside her too much. I nudged her clit with my tip, then teased her entrance, dragging the tip along her opening, sliding in just an inch, then pulling back out and continuing to tease her.
When she stuck her ass out, searching for me, I pulled back even more, then dipped, biting her ass cheek lightly. She yelped, face-planting on the pillow before bursting into laughter. I took advantage of the fact that that beautiful ass was still stuck up in the air and bit the other ass cheek. Heather looked at me over her shoulder, amusement and lust dancing in those green eyes. Straightening up, I slid my cock between her thighs, rubbing her clit with the tip.
“Ryker,” she gasped, fisting the pillow under her head with both hands. “Ryker. Please.”
“I’ll fuck you so good. I promise. So, so good.”
Her thighs shook lightly as I continued to tease her clit, and then she buried her head in the pillow. I could still hear her though. And now I couldn’t hold back any longer. I needed to be inside her. I drove inside the next second. She was so tight that pleasure shot through me instantly.
“Fuuuuuck.” I was already so close. So damn close. I slid in and out of her wildly, chasing my orgasm. She pulsed around me, clenching tight. I reached out for one of her hands, taking it in mine as we moved in sync. I wanted to be intertwined with her every way there was.
It seemed impossible that I already felt so strongly about her, but I wasn’t about to question the best thing that ever happened to me. I just planned to go along with it, fight to make it last.
I slipped a hand to her clit, feeling her tighten around me even more. When she moaned into the pillow, I moved even faster. I was just on the edge. Her inner muscles pulsed around me once more, and then I was a goner. I gave in to my climax, driving in and out of her until I was completely spent.
I collapsed next to her, pulling her into a messy hug. We were both sweaty, and barely regaining our breaths, but I wanted as much of Heather as possible.
“Hey, you’re sweaty,” she teased, pinching my arm. I pulled her under me, kissing her thoroughly.
“That’s what I get for pinching you? Good to know.”
“When did you get so sassy?”
“I’ve been cutting my teeth on you. I’m getting better and better, am I not?”
I kissed her again. Seriously, I just couldn’t be this close to her and not claim her mouth.
“You’re getting too good,” I admitted.
“Whatcha gonna do about it?”
In response, I pinched her nipple lightly. Her eyes widened.
“Oh, so playing dirty is on the table?”
“Playing dirty is always on the table, Heather.”
She grinned. “Good to know. That will make getting my way so much easier.”
Her grin was infectious. Just looking at it made me immensely happy.
“So, what’s the plan for the rest of the night?” she asked.
“How do you know I have a plan?”
“You always have one. Usually involves seducing me or... seducing me.”
“Not telling you exactly what I’m planning, but I can tell you it’ll include both.”
“Upping the ante, aren’t you?”
“Have to do my best. How else will I earn the right to another sleepover?”
“And when do you want to do that?”
“Tomorrow. This whole week.”
She stilled, watching me intently. All my muscles were strung tight. I cupped her face with one hand, not breaking eye contact.
“I want us to be together for more than a few hours here and there, Heather. I love being around you.”
“Yeah?” She smiled.
“Yes.”
“My semi burned roast beef won you over.”
“Love, it was burnt to a crisp.”
She poked my chest. “Not true. You said you liked it.”
I grinned. “I did like it. But... it was still burnt.”
“Lesson learned. You’re more honest after an orgasm.”
“More like I’m too spent to have any brainpower left.”
“Why did you say you liked it?”
“Because A, I did. B. You put a lot of effort into it, and I like that.”
“I might have forgotten to add water a few times. I got caught up thinking about you.”
“So it’s my fault the beef was dry?” That might have been partly to blame for the dryness, but I think sis extended the cooking time.
“Indirectly, yeah. No good deed goes unpunished, huh?” She squirmed under me. Feeling her naked body was torture. “I can try my hand at cooking it again this week.”
“So that’s a yes to us spending the week together?”
She nodded, but even though she was still smiling, I noticed a slight unease in her eyes.
“Tell me what you’re afraid of,” I urged.
“I don’t know exactly.” She swallowed, looking away. I could feel her heart beat faster. “Seeing Avery hurt, I think. Being hurt too.”
“I’d never hurt you or Avery.” I captured her gaze so she could see the sincerity in my eyes, because what I was saying was the truth. They both had become very special to me.
“I know... it’s just... the fear is there, you know? My recent track record lends to my apprehensiveness too, I suppose. But I won’t let that hold me back. I promise.”
“And I promise you that this will be amazing, Heather. What we have together is nothing like anything I’ve experienced. I’d never treat you the way your ex did. Never.”
She smiled, and I cradled her head in my hands. She closed her eyes. I kissed each of them, holding her until I felt her relax underneath me. When she kissed my jaw, her lips were curled in a smile against my s
kin.
“Let’s go shower,” she whispered. “Before we go from sweaty to stinky.”
I pushed myself up on an elbow, liking the levity of her comment but still leveling a mock glare at her. “I was being romantic.”
“I know. And I love it. But... being clean is also romantic.” She grinned, shrugging one shoulder before darting out of the bed. “Come on. If you don’t catch me before I get to the bathroom, I’ll shower alone.”
I chased after her, catching up right before she went inside. Curling an arm around her waist, I brought my mouth to her ear. “I’m faster.”
“I was hoping for that.”
I fondled her ass with my free hand.
Heather giggled. “Hey, why did you do that?”
“It’s my reward.”
***
“Want to spend some time on my balcony?” Heather asked after we showered and dressed.
“You have one?”
She jerked her thumb in the direction of the window. “Oh, yeah. My own personal heaven. Avery’s not allowed out there.”
She led me outside, where she’d put a table and a huge armchair. She had potted plants hanging from the ceiling and strings of lights around the railing.
We spread one of the blankets we’d brought on the armchair. I sat down first, then pointed to my lap.
“Come here. I’ll keep you warm.”
“That’s what the blankets are for.”
“Skin on skin contact works better, and you can wrap the other one around us.”
She whistled, clapping her hands once. “And you called me creative.”
“Heather. Sit. Now.”
“Yes, sir.” She waggled her eyebrows before lowering herself on me. I put an arm around her waist, keeping her back flat against me. She threw the second cover over us, tucking it in at the sides.
We had a great view of the sky here. With all the lights in the city, you couldn’t see the stars, but I simply enjoyed sharing this quiet moment with her.
I’d been so on edge when I’d arrived, still running high on the adrenaline of the day. Usually, nothing helped me come down except performing at the Northern Lights.
But being here, just holding Heather, filled me with a sense of happiness I’d never known in my entire life.
“You’re quiet,” she whispered. “That’s very unlike you.”
“I’m just enjoying you.” I pushed her hair to the side, kissing the back of her neck.
“Let’s play a game.”
“I’m all ears.”
“A question for a question.”
“I like the sound of that.”
She squirmed in my lap. Groaning, I clasped her hips. “Heather, stop.”
“Ah, my bad. Wasn’t intentional. I have an idea. Since dinner wasn’t all that great, do you want some cheese and crackers?”
“Sure.”
“Okay. Stay here. I’ll be right back.”
While she went inside, I inspected the surroundings. The balcony was on the second floor, and the inner courtyard was dark except for light from someone’s TV to the far left.
Heather returned with a plate full of crackers and cheese. “So, let’s change the rules. Answer a question, and I’ll give you a bite of cheese and cracker.”
“Sounds kinky.” I winked and immediately pulled her back into my lap.
“I’ll start?” she asked, and I wasn’t sure I liked the grin she had on her face.
“Sure. Shoot.”
“Do you like musicals?”
“Huge no.”
She sagged against me. “Damn. But here, have a cracker.”
“Favorite spot in the city?” I asked after swallowing a mouthful.
“Central Park. Yours?”
“The Rockefeller Center.”
“You’re a building lover, and your favorite building isn’t even one that belongs to your cousin?”
“Now you know my secret. Don’t tell anyone. Especially not my sisters.”
“Don’t worry, I won’t give you away... unless....”
“Unless what?” I pinched the side of her torso, close to her armpits. She yelped, pressing her arms to her sides, cutting off my access. She thought that would deter me?
I always found a way of getting what I wanted. Her feet were lying at the side of my thigh as she sat across my lap, soles upward under the blanket. I tickled her there, and she shrieked with laughter, immediately taking her legs away, crossing them in front of her. She was still laughing, juggling our snack on her lap. The sound reverberated in the yard between the buildings.
“Hey! Some of us are trying to sleep,” an angry voice shouted. Heather spun around, burying her face in my shoulder, still laughing. I ran a hand up and down her back, attempting to calm her down, fighting the urge to burst out laughing myself. There was no stopping us if I gave in. It took Heather a solid few minutes to calm down. Tears were streaming down her face when she came up for air. She wiped them away before pointing a finger at me.
“I was going to say unless you play dirty, but I see you’ve got that down to a science.”
“That’s right.”
“Don’t make me laugh again. I can’t stop.”
“Learned my lesson.”
“So you won’t do it again?”
The corners of my mouth twitched. “Didn’t say that. I’ll just keep it indoors.”
“Why would you do that?”
“I like hearing you laugh. Besides, if we keep it indoors, I can turn tickling into something... else.”
“Damn. If there’s a not-so-innocent part in any plan, you’ll jump on it.”
I grinned. “Glad we cleared that up.”
“Well, I feel like staying out here for a while longer. And nothing you do will change my mind.”
“I beg to differ.”
She pressed her arms to her body, clearly thinking I was going to tickle her. I wasn’t an amateur. I didn’t use the same strategy twice. I kissed her, tangling our tongues, pressing her hips into me until she moaned against my mouth.
“Ryker,” she whispered in a shaky voice, tugging at the collar of my shirt. “Let’s go inside.”
“Why? You think you might do something indecent if we stay out here?”
She pulled back, narrowing her eyes and pinching my arm. “Yes!”
“Why did you pinch me if you agree?”
“Because I’m only grudgingly agreeing. Thought I’d let you know.” Not that I believed her; she was as hot for me as I was for her.
“Duly noted.”
Chapter Twenty
Heather
On Tuesday, I’d decided to go into the newspaper’s headquarters only because I was meeting Ryker later at the Northern Lights.
I spent the day cooped up in one of our multifunctional offices—a fancy name for a room with multiple bean bags. Reporters didn’t have designated offices, since we were either in the field or working from home.
I also asked my editor when the article on Pearman would be published—I was almost done editing it.
“Honestly, it’s up to the bosses. You know how these things are.”
Well, that was no help. Articles weren’t published in the order I wrote them, but the clock on my lease was ticking.
I pulled up my account on my phone and paid in advance one more month of rent... and that was the last of my savings. If I didn’t get the bonus paid out within a month, I’d have to move us to a cheaper apartment.
I didn’t want to seriously consider that possibility, though—not yet.
At six o’clock, I sprinted out of the building. It was a gorgeous mid-April evening, so I planned to walk the few blocks to the Northern Lights. With kids being on Easter vacation, one would think that the city would be emptier—it had been like that in my hometown growing up, but it wasn’t the case with New York.
When I arrived, the bar wasn’t as busy as usual. Happy hour hadn’t started yet, but I was just on time, because Ryker was up on the stage. I took a m
oment to admire him before I made my presence known. God, he was just perfect. Everything from the way he moved to those sculpted muscles. He hadn’t changed out of his suit, but honestly, that just made him more alluring. Our gazes crossed while he took his seat on the stage. He lifted a brow. I flashed back a sassy smile. Why not own up to checking him out?
Cole was there, with a man who seemed vaguely familiar.
“Hi, Cole!”
“Hi, Heather. This is Hunter.” Ah, that’s why he looked familiar. I’d seen him in magazines. Ryker jumped down from the stage, greeting me with a kiss.
Cole wiggled his eyebrows at us both.
“Hunter, why don’t you keep an eye on Cole? Don’t know if he can behave,” Ryker said.
Hunter grinned. “And you want to impress, I get it.”
Ryker groaned before focusing on me. “Heather, stay as far away as you can from these two buffoons.”
“Why? Your sisters sang your praises. Maybe one of them will actually tell me the truth.”
Cole held his hand up. “I’m your man.”
Hunter held his fingers to his throat. “Abort mission man, or we won’t be allowed here again.”
Cole winked. “I’ll take my chances.”
“Here’s a brave man,” I said.
“I know, right? Where should we sit?”
“Unfortunately, Cole and I actually have to go. We’re having a late night at the office and just came for a break,” Hunter said.
“And to annoy Ryker, who didn’t mention you’d be here,” Cole said with yet another eyebrow wiggle. I laughed, bidding them goodbye as they left. Ryker jumped back on stage, and I took a seat right in front of it.
One of their waitresses brought over a cocktail on the house. I had no idea what it was—something orange that tasted a lot like sherry. It was delicious.
The place started to fill soon after the guys sang the first notes. I wasn’t really paying attention to the music though. I was too lost in him. God, the way he looked at me... as if there was no one else in the room. As if he sang just for me. My heart was beating wildly.
Sighing, I tore my gaze from the stage, because I needed to calm my racing pulse, and it was obvious I couldn’t do that while holding eye contact with this sexy man. To my dismay, when I went to the bar to get a second drink, I realized two women sitting there were shamelessly eye-fucking him.