Reluctantly In Love (Emerald Cove Romance Book 1)

by Siân James

  “Gah,” I said, or something close to it.

  His tongue swirled hot and wet around my nipple before taking it gently between his teeth and swiping his tongue once again, heightening the sensation. I held his head to me, desperate for more but unwilling for him to stop.

  While I'd been distracted, he'd been working at the clasp on the back of my bra. He worked it loose; then, in an ungraceful tangle of limbs, he pulled it up and off.

  His head dove back to my breasts, this time giving the other some much-needed attention, and I went back to fisting his hair and grinding my core against his hips. “Matt,” I gasped again, needing so much more than this intense foreplay. “The couch.”

  He lifted his mouth to mine, pulled me off the wall and carried me to the couch where he dumped me on my back before kneeling at my feet. His hands slid up my thighs and under my shorts, a breath away from where I needed him most.

  Sapphire blue eyes, burning with the heat of a blue flame came to mine. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

  I nodded. “Yes,” I gasped.

  Then whoosh! My shorts and panties were gone in one fell swoop and Matt was pressing my thighs apart, exposing me to him in a way I hadn't ever been exposed to anyone before. It wasn't that I wasn't curious, but I'd stipulated with my two previous boyfriends I didn't want them to do it, because I couldn't imagine how they could enjoy it.

  Matt's fingers parted me, trailed through me, entered. Distractedly I heard him growl at what he found but I was too busy concentrating on what he was doing to me. My breath hitched at the gentle invasion. I needed it and yet I needed so much more. He pumped his fingers in and out, my hips bucked and his hot mouth was on me, his tongue swirling as he'd done to my breast, and I gripped at the couch. I gasped again, then gave a low moan.

  It felt so good, too good. I rocked my hips into his mouth, gently at first. He swirled his tongue again, nibbling, flicking while his fingers moved inside, curling up and the tension built. I gasped, my hands moving to his head, gripping his hair. I didn't know whether I was trying to hold him to me or push him away.

  It felt so good. I was so close, and yet I didn't want it like this. I wanted it to be with him. I wanted him inside me, invading.

  “Wait,” I gasped and he lifted his head, confusion and concern fighting through the desire in his expression. “I want you inside me.”

  “I don't have a condom. I could run upstairs.”

  I half laughed at the desperate expression on his face. “In my bathroom.”

  I leapt up and with Matt close behind we ran to the bathroom where I pulled open first one then two then three drawers, and finally I found a strip of three condoms.

  “Ha!” I held them up triumphantly.

  Matt snatched them away, tearing one off the strip, then ripping it open with his teeth while I tugged at his pants, dropped to my knees and got a look at his cock for the first time.

  Nice.

  It jutted out towards me, thick and swollen. I reached out, circled my fist around it and managed one cursory stroke while Matt leaned over me, his hands bracing himself on the bathroom vanity behind me while he watched. Then he pulled me up and away.

  “I'm not gonna last long if you keep doing that.” He huffed against my mouth while his hands worked between us, sliding the condom on.

  When he was done, he grabbed my hips, his hands sliding around to my bottom. I jumped, wrapping my arms around his neck, frantic, needy. He was walking but just into the hallway, and once again I was pushed up against a wall.

  “Now,” I panted as he ground into me.

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes, yes, yes,” I said impatiently.

  He positioned himself then slowly, so slowly eased himself inside me. Stretching, filling me up with a delicious pressure just on the edge of too much.

  My head dropped back to the wall. The sensation overwhelming. He pulled back and pushed again, this time a little faster and my breath hitched. The one last time, slowly out then faster in and finally he was seated fully inside, filling me completely, and it felt amazing.

  “Izzie.”

  I opened my eyes and looked at him. He'd leaned back and had slid one hand between us, where was swirling around my centre. I moaned and tried to move; I needed to feel him moving inside me.

  “Do you like that?” His finger continued to swirl.

  I nodded. “Yeah, but I need you to move.”

  “Not yet,” he gritted out as I tried in vain to gain some internal friction. He was filling me so completely and yet I desired more.. He dipped his head to my nipple and swirled his tongue in time with his fingers, and I could feel it building.

  “Matt,” I panted, doing my best to grind myself against him. His finger swirled; his teeth gently bit my nipple. “Matt!”

  On my desperate exclamation, he pulled back then pounded into me, and I shattered immediately. I clenched and spasmed around his cock as he plunged into me, chasing his own release while prolonging mine. My body bowed towards him, and I held on as his thrusts became jerky and erratic. On a low groan he pushed in to the root and stayed planted, gripping my hips tight as he exploded inside me.

  His release set off another small but deep spasm inside me, and I shivered in his arms.

  As Matt relaxed, his body melted and he spun us so his back was to the wall. Then he sank down using it as support until he was on the floor and I was straddling him, still connected.

  It took a us a few minutes to catch our breaths, both still panting with exertion as we took comfort in our closeness.

  “Hey,” he finally said on a satisfied grin.

  “Hey, yourself.”

  “You good?”

  I grinned shyly, “Uh, yeah.”

  “Good, cos that was the best sex I've ever had.”

  “Glad it wasn't just me.” I laughed.

  He kissed me softly, then tapped my arse. “I need to deal with the condom.”

  I pulled back with a nod and eased off him. Giving a hiss, Matt leapt to his feet, grabbed my hand and tugged me behind him. At the bathroom door, he said, ”Don't move.”

  I waited while he dealt with the condom, arms folded across my chest, more than a little uncomfortable to be standing there naked now the passion had abated.

  When he was done Matt gently tugged my arms apart and ducked his head to my breasts again, sucking one deep. “What are you doing?” I laughed.

  “I've been fantasising about these breasts ever since you accosted me at my front door,” he mumbled around my over-sensitised nipple. “Now that I have unfettered access, I'm going to enjoy them.”

  Chapter 21

  Matt held my hand, our fingers entwined as we strolled down the Esplanade, heading towards our cars after a late dinner at the fish and chip shop at the end of the beach. I'd originally suggested we go to the Grape after the last day of unpacking, decorating and rearranging of the shop before opening day tomorrow, but Matt had asked if I minded going elsewhere so we could get some privacy. He was pretty sure Jake would be sending him inappropriate gestures across the room. This was mostly because we had dinner at the Grape two nights ago and Jake did exactly that, making me laugh while Matt got more and more angry.

  Aside from last night when I had arranged to take out everyone who’d volunteered to help set up my shop, Matt and I had dinner together every night since we'd had sex last Sunday.

  We never made it to the date Matt had planned for Sunday morning, instead staying in bed and working up an appetite until we decided to come up for air at lunch time. He drove me to Ballina, where we had lunch, then went stand-up paddle boarding on the river. Matt had instructed me to pack a swimsuit but not told me what we were doing so I'd raided my closet until I found the sexiest bikini I owned. I'd bought it in a flight of fancy and only ever worn it in my bedroom where I'd try it on, decide it was too risqué for surfing or beach time with Tash and Camille then change into something less revealing.

  It was a white string bikini,
the ties crossing at the front and wrapping around my ribs twice, giving my C-cups epic cleavage. The panties were cut low cut and high on my bum cheeks. It wasn't quite a thong, but neither did it hide much of the goods.

  The white set off my awesome tan and the material itself was lined, the shop assistant promising me it wouldn't become see-through when it got wet.

  Matt made me feel so incredibly sexy and desirable, my inhibitions must have gone out the window because as long as we weren't too close to other people, I thought I wouldn't mind seeing Matt's reaction if it did become see-through.

  In the end, I didn't have to worry about Matt's reaction if my bikini was see-through because when I whipped my dress over my head to prepare for paddle boarding, his tongue nearly fell out of his head.

  He growled, grabbed my hips and spun so his back was to the side of his truck, my front was plastered to his naked chest (he was just in boardies) then slid his hands up my back, his eyes on my boobs, then back down over my hips to my half-exposed bum-cheeks where his hands froze and his body seemed to lock in place.

  “Fuck, Izzie. You're making it really hard for me to be a gentleman here.” He dropped his head to my shoulder, and I could feel his appreciation growing between us.

  I pressed my body against his, feeling sexier and more wanton than I ever had in my life. “You're the one who wanted to have a date, I would have happily stayed where we were all afternoon.”

  He groaned in protest and squeezed my bum again before smacking it lightly. He lifted his head and pushed me back a bit, adjusted himself discreetly, then said in a strained but determined voice, “Paddle boarding.”

  Stand-up paddle boarding was great fun. We explored the far bank of the river, drifting below low hanging branches that created still pools. Cockatoos and lorikeets perched in the trees overhead, and little fish swam and darted in the shallows. An impromptu make-out session turned into something a lot wilder when we found a secluded alcove amongst the river gums. I'd positioned my board under a low hanging branch, the tip wedged on the sand and laid down on my back, enjoying the dappled light and giving my shoulders a much needed reprieve from paddling upstream when Matt moved from his board to mine, lying full body on top of me. We nearly capsized, but Matt had ahold of the branch to steady us and the board was wide. It was only ankle deep but still, I didn't want to land in the water when my body was so heated from the sun.

  “What are you doing?” I gasped as Matt forced a thigh between my legs. I accommodated him immediately, letting my legs fall apart so he could settle between them, one hand wrapped around the branch as well while the other held onto the board which forced my chest to arch towards him and drawing his attention.

  “Getting comfortable,” he replied, resting the elbow of his free arm on the board while his hand pulled one side of my bikini top down, pushing my breast further up so his mouth could dip down and take my nipple.

  “Okay,” I agreed as the already heightened buzz of arousal that had been making my body thrum with need since we left my apartment roared to life. I rocked my hips subtly into his as he worshipped my breasts, neck and finally kissed me again as he ground his length slowly and deliberately into me.

  “Matt, I need you inside.” I gasped on one particularly delicious pass. I could feel my release hovering just beyond my reach and I knew what I needed to get there.

  “No condom,” he groaned what was fast becoming our catchphrase. “But I can make you feel good.” He shifted to the side but the board wobbled.

  I hesitated a moment but my need was too great so before I could second guess myself, I blurted, “I'm clean and on the pill.”

  Matt froze. “Me too. I mean, I'm clean. But I'm not on the pill. That would be weird.”

  I huffed a laugh making us both groan at the movement.

  “Are you sure?” Matt asked then sucked on my exposed nipple again.

  “Yes.” I was already moving my hands down between us to untie the string of his board shorts. He lifted to accommodate me, and I gave his thick length a few slow stokes, making him curse under his breath, then I pulled the string on the side of my bikini bottoms to undo the knot and pulled it to the side. Taking him in my hand again I ran the head of his length through me a few times, coating him with my arousal. I watched him through hooded eyes, his eyes were scrunched shut and his teeth gritted against the feel of us together. When I couldn't take it much longer and I figured I'd teased him enough, I guided him to my entrance and he wasted no time pushing inside. Indelicately, almost aggressively, claiming. His invasion felt so good, and I was so turned on I almost came just from his first thrust.

  Bird song sounded around us, the water lapped at the board and the shore, creating a soft whooshing sound but I was barely aware of any of it.

  The board wobbled and we stopped, catching our breaths, voices drifted from the path far above us and away from the river. We were protected from sight by the low hanging branches but neither did we want to draw attention to ourselves.

  The voices passed, but not before heightening the thrill of our semi-public encounter. Matt began to move, slowly rocking into me, grinding his pelvis against me where I needed it as he thrust inside. “You feel so good,” he said on a groan. “I'm not gonna last.” He paused, deep inside, and I panicked.

  “Don't stop,” I whispered, desperation colouring my words. He thrust one more time, grinding hard against me and primed as I was from watching the muscles of his back and arms bunch and move under his golden skin as he paddled through the water, I came hard and quickly with a gasp and a silent moan. My walls clenched and gripped him tightly as he thrust slowly but firmly into me then stayed put, rocking gently and biting my shoulder through his own release.

  “Holy fuck, you're going to kill me woman.” I huffed a laugh but didn't answer because I was thinking it was the opposite way around. I felt boneless, and I had no idea how I was going to paddle all the way back to the stand-up paddle board hire. In the end it was easy because while we'd been having paddle board sex, the tide had changed and was now flowing back out and pulled us easily towards our destination.

  We made it home in a daze where he ran upstairs to get a change of clothes while I heated up some leftovers. We ate, showered together but there was no more sex Sunday night. We had a silent agreement there'd been enough, and we were content to just touch and explore until the water ran cold and we dressed and curled up on the couch to watch a movie.

  At my urging, he stayed with me Sunday night and every night since. One morning he woke me with his finger drawing erotic circles on my nipple, and I jumped him before I said good morning. Another time, after a particularly long day at the shop and a heavy sleep, he woke me with breakfast in bed, made up of hot croissants and jam with a fresh coffee he'd gone out to buy.

  T had been an intense and emotional week. Not just because of Matt but also because of the Little Flower Shop and the imminent Grand Reopening of the Old cinema Building.

  Matt swung our hands between us, then lifted them to his mouth to kiss the back of my fingers.

  I squeezed his hand. “Any ideas which way the votes are rolling in regards to the renaming of the building?”

  He smiled against my fingers. “Ah, now that would be telling.”

  “Come on, at least a hint?”

  He shook his head, stopping us and pulling me in for a hug. His arms wrapped around me while my hands landed on his chest between us. “Isabelle Donovan, are you trying to get me to spill council secrets?”

  Dumbfounded, I opened and closed my mouth, unsure how to proceed.

  He noticed my discomfit immediately and his expression changed, “Hey, I'm sorry. I was just joking. I can tell you if you really want to know—l”

  I shook my head. “No, it's not that. I—you—” I took a breath and knew I had to push through. “Isadora isn't my name.”

  He cocked his head in confusion. “Just Izzie?” he asked , and I had a sinking feeling inside. How could he not know my real name? We
'd been as intimate as two people could get. He'd had his head between my legs and vice versa. We'd had paddle-board sex for Christ's sake!

  And how much did I really know about him? Had he been engaged to the British girlfriend his mother had mentioned? Did he have another girlfriend in Sydney waiting for his return? What was his favourite food? Colour? Movie? Did he have any secret love children? Did he even want children? Did it even matter if this wasn't going anywhere because he was leaving for Sydney again any day?

  “No,” I whispered, feeling the magnitude of my freak-out just below the surface, only contained by Matt's strong arms. He studied my face and wrapped me tighter, instinctively knowing what I needed. “My name is Isadora.”

  “Isadora,” he said softly. “Interesting name.”

  “Now you know why I use Izzie exclusively.”

  “Where is it from?”

  “It's Greek, or Egyptian. It means ‘gift of Isis’ who was the goddess of children, life and magic.”

  We studied each other silently while he let the information sink in. “What's going on in that head of yours?” he finally asked, his fingers running soothingly through my hair.

  “You didn't even know my real name, and we had sex. Lots of sex. Paddle board sex! How much do we really know each other? I mean, I don't really know you at all. Do you have any allergies? Have you broken any bones? Do you have any deep, dark secrets? Do you have a girlfriend in Sydney? Do you have a secret love child? Do you even want children?” I bit my lip to stem the hysteria and wished for the last question back. It was a huge overstep, considering the looming end of our relationship when Matt had to return to Sydney. I was glad I'd stopped myself short of blurting out that question. I didn't think my sanity could handle the knowledge of when I had to say goodbye.

  “Hey, hey.” Matt ducked his head down to try to meet my eyes but I turned away. “Izzie, look at me.” His arms tightened and he shook me slightly until I met his eyes. “I don't have a girlfriend in Sydney or anywhere else, or a secret wife,” he added, and I felt bad for making him think I'd assume so little of him. “I don't think I have any deep, dark secrets but I'm sure there'll be something I've done in the past that might shock you. We'll cross that bridge if we get to it. I don't have any allergies, but I hate coriander with a passion. I broke my thumb during university when I was on site and hammered it rather than the nail I was aiming for, and I have no children to my knowledge, but I do want them one day with the right woman.” On this last, his voice gentled and he squeezed me tighter. “You know me Izzie, not as well as you will in time, but you know me. We can't know everything about one another after such a short amount of time. And getting upset about the details will only waste the precious time we have together.”