by Katie Ford
“Allie, if you want to get over this guy, you have to do something about it,” Mara says in exasperation. “Come on. Get up. Get dressed. We’re going out.”
I cross my arms over my chest and stick out my lower lip like a little kid, but it does nothing to dissuade my best friend. She tugs at my hand until I reluctantly get to my feet. Mara drags me over to the closet.
“I am so jealous that you have all of these gorgeous custom outfits,” Mara says enviously. “And you never even wear them!”
I pluck an emerald green silk cocktail dress from the closet and wrinkle my nose.
“Yeah, well, when would I have a chance to wear something like this?”
Mara shrugs. “Tonight,” she says. “We can go out in the city and get some guys to buy us drinks. It’ll be harmless fun.”
My stomach turns at the thought of spending time with any man other than Dane, but I nod reluctantly. When Mara gets going on an idea, it’s hard to get her to stop.
I change out of my comfy clothes and pull on a pair of Spanx, then wiggle into the green dress. It’s already a little too tight, and I wince as Mara zips me up. I can’t let my mother see that I’ve started gaining weight again – I just know she’ll be pissed.
Nick drives us into the city in our Town Car, then drops Mara and me off at a divey-looking bar in Brooklyn. I know I should try to fake excitement, but being outside in the chill air just makes me miss the warm comfort of my bedroom.
“Come on,” Mara says. She tugs my arm and drags me inside the bar. It’s crowded and I immediately feel overdressed – everyone else is wearing trendy graphic t-shirts and fitted jeans. We worm our way through the crowd and perch on two vinyl bar stools.
“I just wish he would call me or something,” I say absentmindedly as I trace my finger over the grimy bar counter. “I wish I was worth spending time with, but Dane is too good for someone like me.”
“Stop moping,” Mara says sternly. “If I even hear the name ‘Dane’ one more time, we’re leaving.”
I look around and shrug. “This place isn’t very nice,” I say, thinking of the fancy French steakhouse where I dined with Dane. “It’s really trashy.”
Mara rolls her eyes and throws back the rest of her drink. “Yeah, well, we’re not twenty-one yet so we’ve got limited options,” she says. “Besides, those guys over there are really hot.”
Glancing over, I shrug again. “I guess.”
“God, Allie, please cheer up,” Mara says. “He’s just a guy. You’ll meet more, you know. Maybe even tonight if you snap out of it!”
“Maybe,” I say, if only to shut Mara up.
Mara tosses her hair and gives me a big smile. I blink at her in confusion until I realize the smile was clearly meant for one of the guys.
“Hey, ladies,” a male voice says. “Are you thirsty?”
“We are, aren’t we, Allie?” Mara replies.
“Yeah,” I echo lamely. “We are.”
The guy grins. “I’m Preston and this is my friend Scott,” he says.
“I’m Allie.”
Preston moves closer and grins. “I like that,” he says. “It’s pretty. So, you go to Tate?”
“I’m a journalism major,” I say awkwardly.
Preston laughs. “I’m a Theta Chi,” he says. “So, you wanna get out of here?”
“Go on, Allie,” Mara says. She flicks her wrist at us. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
I get to my feet. “Okay,” I say nervously. The truth is, I don’t want to leave. Preston is okay-looking – he’s certainly no Dane. But it isn’t just his looks. There is something empty and vacuous about him, like he doesn’t care whether I am me or a completely different girl.
Preston takes my hand and leads me out of the bar. I try not to cringe at the meaty, damp feel of his palm against mine.
When we make it outside, Preston yanks his hand back and stuffs it in his pocket. “It’s fucking cold out here,” he says. “I’ll get a cab. You got any cash?”
Just then, I see a swoop of black and in a matter of seconds, Preston is lying on his back with his legs in the air.
“What the fuck, man,” Preston bleats loudly. “This fucking asshole just attacked me!”
To my shock, Dane is standing there, glowering at Preston. “Stay away from her,” he growls. He turns to me. “Come on,” he says. “I’m taking you home.”
My heart surges into my throat as I give Preston one last look, then follow Dane. He leads me in silence to the next light, where Hanson is waiting with Dane’s Town Car. Hanson nods to me as he opens the door.
My heart is racing as I crawl inside. Dane follows and I can feel his eyes boring holes into my soul as he settles down next to me.
“Hanson, take us to my condo,” Dane says in a low growl.
I wrap my arms around myself and shiver. “Are you angry with me?”
Dane doesn’t reply. A frosty silence settles over us and I gnaw my lip until the salty, iron-like taste of blood seeps into my mouth.
When we arrive at Dane’s condo, he puts his hand on the small of my back and guides me upstairs. As soon as we’re in the foyer, he pulls me close and kisses me roughly. His hands paw all over my silk-clad body as he yanks the hem of my dress up to my waist and pushes me against the wall.
Before I can even think about it, my pussy is wet and throbbing for Dane’s hot cock. Dane doesn’t speak as he rips my panties away from my body and shoves a finger in my pussy.
“You belong to me,” Dane growls in my ear. I moan softly as he nudges my chin up and bites my neck. The pain mingles with the pleasure from my throbbing clitoris and soon I’m screaming with arousal and want.
I try to fumble with Dane’s belt but he roughly slaps my hands away and does it himself. His pants drop to the ground and his cock springs free. Dane takes my thighs in his hands and shoves his way between them before wrapping my legs around his waist.
When his cock plunges deep inside, I cry out with pleasure. It feels so good to have him deep inside – I can’t focus as his balls slap against my pussy with every thrust. His pubic bone is rubbing against my clit and soon I’m gasping and coming hard against his muscular body.
Dane isn’t finished, though. He drills me harder, digging his fingers painfully hard into my thighs.
“I’m not through with you yet, baby girl,” Dane grunts. His hand slips to my ass and I gasp as I feel his thumb probing my asshole. It feels so good that I moan softly and relax my secret hole to allow him access. As he fingers my ass, Dane’s thrusts grow more intense. Soon, his cock is buried to the hilt in my stretched pussy.
“Come for me, baby,” Dane orders. “I want to feel you coming hard on my cock!”
I can’t help but obey him. As soon as the words are out of his mouth, a violent orgasm rips through my body and I start to quiver and shake against his muscular frame. My orgasm sets Dane off, and soon he’s spewing cum deep inside my cunt.
Dane lowers me to the ground. I’m panting and shaking as I pull my panties. Dane’s cum is leaking out of my pussy and I can feel the crotch of my panties getting soaked. After being fucked so hard, it sends a shiver through my body.
I swallow hard. My heart is pounding as I turn to face Dane. “Are you angry with me?”
Dane doesn’t reply. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out his iPhone X. When he starts to dial, I feel my heart shatter.
“No!” I yelp. “Don’t call Hanson, please, don’t send me away!”
Dane gives me a curious look, but doesn’t take his phone away. I lunge for him, but he darts just out of reach.
“Hello,” Dane says. “This is Dane Andersen at 580 Park. I’d like to order two extra-large pizzas. One with pepperoni, one with sausage and mushroom.” He turns to me and mouths, “Do you like pepperoni?”
Feeling like a prize idiot, I flush hotly and nod.
When Dane hangs up, he gives me an odd look. “Did you really think I’d call for my driver to take you home without discussing toni
ght with you first?”
I bite my lip and shrug. “I...I don’t know,” I say softly. “I really thought you were angry.”
“I wasn’t angry, Allie. I was afraid. Do you know why?”
I shake my head.
“That kid could’ve really hurt you,” Dane scoffs. “Boys like that don’t know how to treat a woman like you. You could’ve gotten hurt!”
That’s when it hits me – Dane must have followed me. There’s no way he could’ve just run into me at random like that.
Does that mean he actually likes me? Does he want a relationship with me?
Before I can ask, there’s a knock at the door.
“That was fast,” Dane says. He smirks as he crosses the room and opens the door. After he pays for our dinner, he carries the boxes into his living room. This is my first time seeing more of his condo than just the bedroom, and I can’t believe how nice it is. My bare feet sink into plush carpeting and the leather couches look inviting and squashy.
All thoughts of relationships magically vanish when Dane opens one of the pizza boxes and hands me a slice. After taking a big bite, I close my eyes and moan as I chew happily.
“I love watching you eat,” Dane remarks.
My eyes fly open and I blink at him. Feeling self-conscious, I put my slice back down in the box.
“What?”
I flush. “I can’t believe that,” I say as I glance down at my belly. My stomach is round and huge under the silk dress, even with my Spanx, and my thighs resemble small tree trunks. Heck, even my knees look chubby.
Dane nods. “It’s true. I love seeing a girl with a healthy appetite. So many women starve themselves nowadays. I like that you eat, Allie. Besides, food is one of life’s great pleasures.”
I nod happily. “Yes. Especially New York pizza.”
We lapse into silence as we devour the meal. It doesn’t feel awkward, though. I feel warm and happy. By the time we’ve demolished the two huge pizzas, I’m sleepy and content. After a giant yawn, Dane carries me into the bedroom and unzips my dress.
As I lie my head down on the pillow, I can hardly keep my eyes open. Dane’s bed is so luxurious and comfortable – I could stay here for years.
“Dane?” I ask softly.
Dane shifts on the Egyptian cotton sheets. “Yes?” His voice is as velvet-soft as the darkness itself.
“Did you follow me tonight?”
There is a pause, then I hear Dane’s sharp inhalation of breath.
“Yes.”
I lick my lips with a dry tongue. “Why?”
“Because you shouldn’t be in places like that, Allie.”
“So…why couldn’t you just call me? Why did you follow me?”
“I didn’t think you would listen. I had to watch over you myself.”
I shiver. Dane puts an arm around me and pulls me close. His muscular chest is smooth and solid under my cheek.
“Why do you like me?”
Dane snorts. “You’re different,” he says. “For one thing, you just asked me that.”
“I don’t get it,” I say, frowning and rolling over onto my belly. “You could…you could be with anyone, Dane. I don’t see what makes me special.”
My heart thuds as Dane presses his lips to mine in an urgent, passionate kiss. Is he about to confess feelings for me?
“I need you,” Dane growls. He pushes me into the soft mattress and climbs on top of my body, spreading my thighs and crawling between them. When I feel the hard tip of his cock against my wet cunt, I shiver and moan hotly.
This time, our lovemaking is tender and passionate. Dane pulls me on top of him and I ride him, grinding my hips on top of his powerfully muscular body until I come over and over.
For an older man, Dane has incredible stamina. His rock-hard cock leaves me sore and breathless. Even though he looks like he could go again, he pulls me into his arms and kisses the top of my head.
I’m dying to ask him how he truly feels about me. But the words are trapped inside my mouth. They trip over my tongue with every breath. Besides, what if he tells me the brutal truth – that he only likes making love to a larger girl as a novelty?
I couldn’t bear to hear it.
Rolling over, I close my eyes and drift into sleep.
Chapter Twelve
Dane
Allie falls asleep in a matter of moments, her delightful zaftig body rising and falling with each breath. She snores, just a little, and I find it too adorable to put into words. Everything about her draws me in: her silky brown curls, her round frame, the way she demolishes extra-large pizzas like she’s a starving woman.
God damn it, I’m in a real fucking mess.
I roll onto my back, careful not to disturb Allie, feeling sick to my stomach...and it’s not just from all the carbs I’ve eaten. I’m disgusted with myself. I’m an animal – what kind of man goes after a girl young and ripe enough to be his daughter?
Allie doesn’t need a man like me. She needs a young kid, someone her own age, who will worship her like the goddess she is. There’s no way I could ever give her everything she needs in order to grow and mature and finish developing. I’m too old. Too jaded. Too set in my ways. Finally, after what feels like hours, I drift into a restless and unhappy sleep.
In the morning, I wake up to Allie staring at me. She’s grinning happily, and her face is still a little puffy with sleep.
“Morning,” Allie whispers. I yawn groggily as Allie scoots closer and puts her round arm around my waist. She snuggles up to me and her body is so warm and inviting that my cock stiffens and twitches.
Allie gives me a playfully sexy smile. “Do you want some morning fun?” she whispers, brushing her hand over my forehead. “Or are you worn out from last night?”
The truth is, I’m always raring to go...especially when Allie is around. But right now, I feel sick to my stomach and disgusted with myself. All I can see is her fresh young loveliness.
Why the hell does she want anything to do with me?
I feel like I’ve taken the world’s most beautiful young girl and ruined her. It’s torture, like putting my heart in a blender and ripping it to a pulp.
I’ve tarnished something beautiful, and she’ll never be the same again.
“Dane?” Allie pulls away, looking concerned. “Are you okay?”
“I don’t feel well,” I grumble. I sit up in bed and stretch. Allie reclines on the pillows and brushes her frizzy curls to the side. I can tell that for once, she’s in a much more confident mood.
That should make me feel better, but instead it just makes me feel worse. Allie shouldn’t be happy about waking up in the lion’s den.
She should be frightened.
Because I’m not a good man and I can’t make her happy.
“Dane? You can tell me what’s wrong,” Allie says. She smiles sleepily and throws herself at my lap, but I stand up and she crashes into the mattress. Her smile fades as she looks up at me. “What is it? Did I do something?”
Without answering her, I go into the master bath and lock the door behind me. I turn on the shower, filling the room with steam, then climb inside and soap the last traces of Allie’s pussy juice off my body.
God, I can’t stop thinking about her even though she’s in the next room! I really am fucking sick. But one look at her curves and damn, I’m a goner. I don’t know how other men haven’t noticed Allie before.
She’s so special and precious and untarnished.
At least, she was before I got to her.
I take a long time in the shower. It’s cowardly, but I hope that Allie will be gone before I get out. That’ll save me the trouble of having to ask her to leave. Knowing that I’m going to cause her heartbreak is agony, but things will be better this way.
After all, I can’t expect to keep seeing the daughter of James Carter.
And I certainly can’t fall in love with her.
If I ruined her father, it would kill Allie.
I’m not re
ady to be that man.
I’m just not.
The water is running lukewarm and I sigh as I step out of the shower and wrap a fluffy towel around my waist. When I walk into the bedroom, Allie is still there. She’s dressed in her emerald silk from the night before, and she’s managed to calm the worst of the frizz from her hair.
She still looks happy. “I was thinking,” Allie chirps. “Why don’t we go out for breakfast, Dane? Wouldn’t that be fun?”
“No,” I say shortly.
“Oh, well, then maybe I can make something for you,” Allie continues. “I mean, I’m not a great cook or anything, but Donald – he’s our chef – he’s taught me a few things, and I can make a decent French toast.”
I sigh. “As delightful as that sounds, I’m afraid that I’ll have to go into the office.”
“Oh.” Allie pouts for a moment. “Okay, well, what about dinner later?” She flushes. “I mean, if you want to. It doesn’t have to be fancy, or anything, I just really—”
“Enough,” I say. I hold up a hand to halt her babbling. “Allie, please. I have a headache and I have a lot of work to do today. You need to leave.”
Watching the happiness vanish from Allie’s soft eyes is torture.