Graphically Novel (Love Hashtagged #3)

by Allyson Lindt

  He grabbed her fingers and tugged her to him again. He rested his palm on her stomach, and then slid it lower. “I love watching you.”

  “Convenient. I love being watched.” Her laugh was light and teasing.

  He kissed her again, memorizing every inch of her lips against his. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, and it danced and intertwined with hers. She shifted her weight against him, bare breasts caressing his chest.

  He glided his hand up her ribcage. Her skin was smooth under his palm. He cupped a plump mound and kneaded softly. Every whimper tearing from her throat hit a gorgeous note.

  She used her body to move him, turning them both until she was behind his desk, back to his chair. She nudged him away, and disappointment washed over him when all contact between them broke. His fingers twitched by his side, begging to reach for her.

  She slid her thumbs up her legs, pushed up the edges of her denim skirt, and then bent at the waist, to drag her panties down.

  His cock throbbed inside his jeans, straining to feel her when she held the undergarment up. She tossed it on his desk. Never touching him, she whispered in his ear, “I want to feel your mouth on my pussy.”

  “Let me taste you, then. He loved hearing her talk like that, and he was ready to drop to his knees for her.

  She pushed onto the edge of his desk. She hooked her finger into his belt and tugged.

  He tangled his fingers in her hair and yanked her head back, to kiss her hard. Her teeth scraped his bottom lip. She rested her hands on his shoulders and pushed him away, coaxing him to kneel.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Tori knew things weren’t all better. She and Archer still needed to spend time cementing their words and rebuilding misplaced trust. But she knew they were both going to try. And the slick want between her legs made a compelling case that feeling him inside her was an important part of the process.

  Archer didn’t resist when she nudged him to the ground. When he trailed a finger up the inside of her thigh, it was like he’d plucked a string, and she felt the chord through her entire body.

  He grazed her skin with his lips, and she whimpered. “God, Archer.”

  He kissed higher, pushing her legs apart as he moved. Her skirt crept up to her hips when she spread for him. He paused short of his goal, making her wetter with anticipation.

  “You’re so gorgeous. Every inch of you.” He traced up her slit, his voice lined with gravel.

  The words were sweet and full of innuendo, and they made her sex throb. She rested her weight on her palms and wrists, leaning back. “Please?”

  He caressed the soft skin of her thighs with his thumbs and flicked his tongue over her vulva. She gasped at the sensation. He licked higher, but never to her swollen center.

  “You’re such a tease.” She forced the words through clenched teeth. “Suck my clit.”

  He complied, wrapping his lips around her sex. He licked the sensitive nub, each bump sending another wave of pleasure through her. She tangled her fingers in his hair and ground against his face.

  Her climax built but evened off before she reached the peak. She gasped and slid against his attention. She should hold out longer, but she didn’t have the patience. “I’m so close,” she panted. “Fuck me with your fingers.”

  He nudged the edge of her opening, prodded it with two fingers, and then shoved them inside. She threw her head back, biting her bottom lip to keep from crying out. She thrust against him as she came, orgasm tearing through her and pussy clenching around him.

  His attention slowed, and he pulled away. She tugged him to his feet and kissed him hard, tasting herself on his lips. With his still slick fingers, he sought out her breast. Pinching the nipple. Slid off.

  With his other hand, he tugged back her head. His gaze locked on hers, something dark and seductive raging underneath. He growled, “My turn.”

  Her lower gut clenched at the combination of the threat and promise, and she nodded. He squeezed her tit, and her sex perked to life again, still tender but wanting whatever he had in mind.

  He sucked hard on her neck, teeth scraping the skin, sending chutes of pain and pleasure through her. When he finally let up, he slid his mouth to her ear. He nipped at the lobe before talking. “I’m so hard right now, it hurts.”

  He pressed between her legs until her mound rested against his jeans and the hard length underneath. “And I want to bury my dick inside you and then pound you until you forget anyone exists besides us. Until I have to swallow your cries as you come.”

  The power behind his words, and every forceful syllable, made her still-tender opening beg for more. “Fuck me.”

  He chuckled and put enough space between them to undo his jeans. She scooted her hips to feel more, when he brushed the head of his cock along her slit. He reached her opening and forced inside her without further warning.

  She gasped at the sensation of being spread apart so abruptly, and she pushed hard against him. He rested his hands at her hips, digging his thumbs into her as his slow rhythm built into something fast and frantic.

  He hooked his hands under her legs and lifted her knees, pressing them to her chest. She had to lean all of her weight on her hands to keep her balance. Every time he drove inside her, he bumped her G-spot.

  “Jesus, Archer. You feel so good.” She slammed her ass against his hips as another orgasm built inside.

  He dropped her legs. He pressed his chest against hers, and he sought out her breast again. He rolled her nipple between his fingers, and his lips brushed her ear. “Come for me.”

  He pressed his lips to hers as he pounded her hard, pinching the swollen flesh of her tit. The combination of sensations filled her head and climax swept over her. She screamed into his mouth as she came, his kisses muffling the sound.

  He didn’t let up in his rhythm, drawing out her climax. He settled both hands on her hips again and kissed along her shoulder. His grunts echoed through her skin. He sank his teeth into her flesh, and the new sensation made her opening clench around his cock.

  He pounded one more time and slowed to a stop as a shudder ran through him. He kissed the bite marks on her shoulder and neck, panting as he spoke. “I think I left a mark.”

  . “Good. Something for me to show off.” She slouched forward against him when her arms threatened to give out

  He looked up and locked his gaze on hers, a smile threatening to split his face. “God, I love you.”

  “And don’t you forget it.” The words sent a new kind of warmth through her, and she returned the grin.

  “Never.”

  * * * *

  Tori brushed a hand over the back of her skirt, making sure it was hanging straight. Not that the maid costume covered very much of her behind. It hinted at what might be underneath without revealing anything.

  She gave the contents of Archer’s fridge one last glance, before swinging the door shut. Extra gallons of milk and cartons of cream lined every spot. In the month since they officially hooked up, life had been a whirlwind of insanity.

  She didn’t mind the sex part of the bedlam, or really any of it, but it did make her head spin. She made costumes, he hired waiters and waitresses, and together, they managed to spend a large chunk of Gwen’s loan on things like licenses, converting one of the middle-floor apartments into a commercial-worthy kitchen, and turning one corner of his comic shop into a café.

  In about half an hour, they were opening the doors on their new venture. She’d be waiting tables. Riley and Zane had volunteered to help, except they’d be in their school uniforms from Riley’s comic signing. Tori thought about doing the same, but she liked the excuse to wear the frilly maid outfit.

  Nervous excitement churned in her gut. She grabbed a glass from the cupboard, filled it in the sink, and downed the water in a single swallow.

  As she set the glass on the counter, a pair of hands rested on her hips. Archer kissed the outside edge of her ear. “Hey, gorgeous. Here alone?”

  She
couldn’t hide her grin at the cheesy line. She spun, pulling his hands back to her hips as soon as she was facing him. He’d opted for street clothes, and she didn’t blame him. He had a lot more to cover than tables.

  She ducked her head, hoping it looked playful and shy at the same time. “My boyfriend was here, but he abandoned me.”

  He pressed closer, positioning his foot between hers. “I can’t fathom the logic there. How did he take his eyes off you long enough to leave? Especially in that outfit. Or out of it.”

  The light teasing pushed away her tension. It was corny, but it was fun. “Are you trying to get me out of my clothes?”

  He traced a finger down the side of her cheek. “Will it make you forget about this missing guy of yours?”

  “I don’t know.” She drew her finger along the edge of her neckline. “I don’t even know what kind of kisser you are. And you’ve got a lot to live up to. He’s a pretty good kisser.”

  He raised his eyebrows, and his lips twitched with a smile. “I’m better.”

  “Prove it.”

  He dipped his head and brushed his lips over hers, barely making contact. His hand rested at the back of her neck, holding her captive, and he deepened the kiss. She groaned and slid against him as every inch of her came alive.

  They broke apart, but he kept her back pressed to the counter, his gaze locked on her face. “Well? Can I replace the schmuck who abandoned you?”

  “Sorry. Thing is I really love him, and a kiss isn’t everything.”

  His expression went flat. Had she pushed the teasing too far? His hands found her hips again, and she gasped when he lifted her to sit on the edge of the counter.

  “How about this, then?” He reached in his pocket and pulled out a small, black box.

  Her pulse leaped. A whisper in the back of her head asked if this could possibly be…

  No. It couldn’t. Could it?

  “Tori”—his tone was quiet, but even—“you mean the world to me. I love you so very much, and I couldn’t have asked for a better partner, in life or business.”

  Her heart hammered in her ribcage with each word and sentence.

  “And I know sometimes I’m an ass, and sometimes I’m a pain to deal with.” He opened the box.

  Her mouth twisted in amusement at what was inside. He was going to babble if she let him. She leaned forward and kissed him hard. “Spit it out.”

  He gave a nervous laugh. “Will you marry me?”

  “Yes.” Her reply came out softer than she intended. “Yes. Absolutely yes,” she said with more strength. She kissed him again.

  He slipped the ring on her finger. It was green, plastic, and had a lantern shaped symbol in the middle. “I want you to be there to pick out your ring, so this is a stand-in.”

  She held up her hand, admiring the plastic trinket. “I love it. I can’t wait to show it off.”

  He nudged her legs apart and slid between them. He held her close. “Now can I see you without the dress on?”

  She laughed and used her body to push him back, as she hopped off the edge of the counter and stood again. She draped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. “We have a café to open.” The green plastic seemed to glint in the kitchen light. “Besides, I have to show off and brag.”

  He pushed up the edge of her skirt and traced the elastic of her panties, sending a pleasant chill through her. Damn it, why did they have places to be?

  He ran his mouth up the side of her cheek. “I’ll behave for now. But don’t plan on keeping the dress on for long, after I lock the doors tonight.”

  She laughed and pushed him back. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

  THE END

  ~*~

  If you’re looking for more cubicle dwellers and geek love to warm your heart and scorch the pages of your e-reader, check out the first #GeekLove series, Version 2.0, starting with Denial of Interest. No one can stay on top forever, and calling what Zach Johnston’s biggest competitor did to his company a hostile takeover doesn't do it justice. No-lube violation is more accurate.

  Keep reading for a free sneak peek of Denial of Interest.

  ~*~

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  Denial of Interest

  Chapter One

  Rae pressed her forehead to her sister’s apartment door. The coffee she’d grabbed before she caught her connecting flight two hours ago was a distant memory, and the exhaustion of spending half her day traveling filled her bones.

  But she was here now and looking forward to spending some time with Chloe, catching up with the rest of her family, and friends. Just being back in her hometown.

  She pulled her cell phone from her purse and dialed.

  “Sis, hey. I’m so sorry; I meant to call.” Chloe’s greeting was cheerful despite the fatigue in her voice. “Did you land?”

  Poor kid must be working late. Though kid wasn’t really appropriate anymore. Chloe was only five years younger than her twenty-eight. Rae pushed sympathy into her tone. “About an hour ago. You sound swamped.”

  “A little. We’re trying to get a demo together for E3, and QA found a bunch of last minute crap.”

  Chloe’s tendency to slide into industry lingo was difficult to follow. Fortunately, this time Rae kept up. E3 was a huge annual video game expo, and QA was quality assurance—the group responsible for testing the games Chloe and her colleagues created. “It’s no big deal. I’ll grab dinner and meet you back here. How long do you think you’ll be?”

  Visiting any other city, Rae would have found an apartment, or at least an extended stay motel. That was for work though, and this was a vacation combined with looking for her next contract. Chloe offered her guest bedroom for Rae’s use while she was in town, and it sounded a lot more comfortable than a generic room with no personality.

  “I don’t know how late we’ll be here.” Chloe’s sigh echoed off the mic. “Stop by and grab a key from me, so you can at least get settled.”

  “Umm…” Rae didn’t want to hesitate. She shouldn’t care who else may or may not be in the office. The sliver of doubt lingered in her head, mingling with the memory of steel-blue eyes. Hungry kisses stolen in the front seat of his car, parked in front of her parent’s house late at night. Hours spent talking about everything under the sun. More kisses. She pushed the images aside.

  “You can’t avoid him forever,” Chloe said.

  But they were going on ten years, and that was a decent run. Chloe was right. A decade was a bit ridiculous. “I’m not avoiding anyone.”

  “Glad to hear it.” Some of the weariness in Chloe’s tone vanished. “Stop by, grab my keys.”

  “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” At least it was a gorgeous evening. After Rae made her way back to her rental car, she headed downtown. She’d visited Chloe’s workplace a few times in the past. The drive would be pleasant. It was after five on a Friday afternoon, so traffic would be heading in the other direction, and if she was going to be downtown anyway, she could pick up dinner. See what was new.

  A jolt of longing sped through her. At times, it felt like it was all new. With more time between each trip home, the city had a chance to remake itself over and over. That wasn’t really the case, but it felt like it.

  She loved her job, and the fact she got to see the country, a new city every six months to a year. However, watching a place change, and coming back to it already grown were two different experiences. Sometimes she had the desire to find a place to call home base, and not have to pick up and go again just as she got comfortable. That urge usually hit right about the time she spent too long out of work, which meant she needed to remember this was a vacation, not a place to grow roots.

  The buildings grew taller and closer together as she traveled nearer to the center of Salt Lake City. Nothi
ng comparable to the large skyscrapers on the East Coast, but the older architecture here was gorgeous. Granite three- and four-story buildings sprawled with arched windows, and columns holding everything together.

  Rae parked near a cluster of the century-old structures and made her way to one in the middle. She skipped the elevator—classic or not, the jerky ride scared her—and took the narrow stairs to the second floor. The etched glass on the only door in the hallway proclaimed Cord, Incorporated.

  She cringed at the brown paper taped to the glass hiding something. A chemical scent singed her sinuses. Was it being updated to add A Digital Media Company? She pushed inside and paused at the empty reception desk. No one was going to mind if she wandered back to Chloe’s workstation. She knew the way.

  Her earlier hesitation fluttered again, bringing her to a standstill. If Zach was here… She shoved against the thought with all her might. Chloe was right. It wasn’t as if they could avoid each other forever, and there was no way he still cared what happened all those years ago. Hell, when Rae thought about it, she didn’t care. The realization flipped a switch in her head. What had started as all those years ago as irritation and a feeling of betrayal for the way they left things, became habit as time passed. An instinct to keep him out of her life, because that was just what she did.

  “Rae?” A familiar voice tickled her ears.

  She grinned as she spun toward the sound. She hadn’t kept in touch with many people from high school, but Scott was one of her best friends. The person she could geek out with. Her confidant and anchor to sanity. He was also CTO—Chief Technology Officer—and co-founder of Cord.

  True, last time they’d seen each other in person, almost three years ago, things were awkward. Their conversations since, chatting online and texting had grown shorter and farther apart. But he was still Scott.

  When he wrapped her in a friendly hug, her trepidation faded. “Hey.” She threw her arms around his neck.