His breath sucked in and when she glanced up, she saw his face, handsomely tight, the desire in his now glittering eyes letting her know that she’d aroused him, done something he found enjoyable, and empowerment swept through her, confidence, and she placed one hand on his stomach, digging her short nails in just a little, flexing her fingers, hearing his breath suck in once more.
Giving up all doubts, all self-consciousness, Lori followed her instincts, exulting in every breath that Matt sucked in, every flex of his muscles, the tightness of his body as she explored him.
When she slid one hand between his muscular thighs, he shifted his weight, widening his stance so that she could slowly trail her fingers along the perineum of his body, the tight curls and warm skin. Further and she brushed the soft sac, and cupping it gently in her hand, she weighed it, rolling the contents carefully along her palm.
“Oh Christ, Lori. You’re killing me.” Matt’s voice was hard, almost gating, but a swift glance upwards showed his eyes shut, his jaw tight as he clenched his teeth, but the torturous pleasure was evident on his face.
Satisfied that she wasn’t hurting him, was giving him intense pleasure instead, Lori kept up the light massage of his sac while shifting her other hand down from his stomach to touch the tip of his shaft.
The end was already leaking.
“I can’t last much longer,” Matt grated. “The condoms-”
“Not going to need them.” Her voice was low and seductive even to her own ears.
Shocked, Matt opened his eyes. “Lori-” Then he could only hiss out a breath as she slid her fingers around his shaft and pulled it down and away from his body enough so that she could lick the tip.
Salty, uniquely male. She liked the taste. “So good, Matt. You taste so good.”
For the corners of her eyes she could see his hands fisted, the tendons standing out as he maintained rigid control.
Let’s see how long that lasts. As she thought, she acted, sliding her mouth over the tip of his shaft, the thickness of it filling her mouth as she slid lower.
His breath shuddered out of him and he almost bucked, but she quickly whipped one hand behind him to dig her nails into his buttock, a silent warning to hold still.
One of his hands tangled in her hair but he just held on, not forcing her.
Remembering everything she’d read about the sexual act, Lori wrapped her hand around the base of his shaft so she could keep control of the depth, and then she slowly moved her mouth up and down the remainder of the thick length.
His hand clenched tight in her hair and she felt him arch back slightly. At his hiss of satisfaction, she moved faster, alternating between licking and sucking, sliding her mouth over and over him, pulling away to simply lick and once even nibble.
“Christ, Christ!” Matt’s hips bucked. “Lori, I can’t hold on!”
Refusing to rise, to stop, Lori continued. The pleasure he got from it, the passion building in him, knowing she was giving it to him, giving him sole pleasure, in turn gave her immense satisfaction. Right at that moment she was the seductive partner, pushing her lover up the slope, sucking him, encouraging the orgasm she could feel tightening in him.
The leakage from his shaft became more constant and she licked it away before sucking at the little slit at the tip.
The hand in her hair fisted and she felt her head drawn back, Matt’s voice urgent, grating with carnal desire. “Lori.”
Reluctantly releasing his shaft, she looked up at him.
Had his eyes ever been so hot, his cheeks flushed with ardour? Probably, she’d just been in the throes of passion herself and had never noticed, not like this. This time she was in control and Matt, well, Matt was riding the edge. His shaft was thicker, harder, straining upward under her hold, the tip swollen, angry, while the moisture leaked out to run down the shaft and onto her hand.
“Lori.” His breathe was ragged. “I can’t hold on. You need to stop, get me a condom, I-” He broke off when she smiled, slow and wicked.
Keeping her eyes on him, their gazes enmeshed, she flicked the tip of his shaft with her tongue, loving the way his eyes darkened, glittered, the heat that filled his cheeks as surely as the heat that slid down her tongue.
His hand in her hair shook.
“Hold on, lover,” she murmured.
His eyes widened then closed, his back arching as his threw his head back, her name a growl in the air. A helpless growl, one that swam with desire, hot and sweet and dangerous.
Several strong sucks, her hand moving in time with her head, her other hand coming between his thighs to cup his sac, pulling it carefully but firmly downward before pressing it up against his perineum.
He shuddered, hips bucking, hand in her hair tight as he thrust helplessly.
It didn’t take long, one hard suck, another, a third and he stiffened, shuddering, his seed shooting forth.
She sucked him dry with ruthless efficiency until there was nothing left.
No sooner had she released his now limp shaft than he sagged at the knees and dropped to the floor before her, reaching out to grab her and drag her the rest of the way with him.
Holding her tight, his face buried in her hair, his gasping a hot testament to his blissful, drained state.
She kissed the side of his face, laughing softly when he groaned, “Oh God, Lori.”
Enormously pleased, she ran her nails along his spine. “Was it that good?”
“You have no idea.” Lifting his head, he looked her in the eyes. “Are you - are you all right?” He still looked a little dazed.
“Poor baby.” Grinning, she hugged him. “I’m fine. I’ll even forgive you tugging on my hair.”
“You’re lucky that’s all I did.” Falling back onto the floor, he pulled her over with him so that she toppled onto his chest. Laying one hand on the back of her head, he ordered weakly, “Stay right there.”
“Or what?” Licking one fingertip, she teased a male nipple.
He grabbed her hand. “Oh girl, you are asking for it.”
His heart was still thudding heavily under her ear. “Think you’re up to a wrestle, do you? You sound a bit exhausted.”
“Your fault.” He sucked in a deep breath. “I had no idea you were such a wicked, naughty girl.”
Lifting her head, she winked. “I don’t know what’s happened to me, Sir. I was good and sweet until you came along.”
“Oh yeah.” Eyes still closed, he grinned. “Oh thank God.”
Laughing, she settled onto his chest.
“Just give me a few minutes to get my strength back and we’ll see who is wicked,” Matt said.
“Promises, promises.”
His hand whacked lightly on her bottom. “You bet your sweet arse.”
~*~
“This is a dumb idea,” Lori grouched, zipping up the front of the dress.
“You look great.” Ali elbowed her out of the way so she could peer into the mirror.
“Hey!”
“You’re zipping up your dress, you don’t need to see it to do it.”
“I could get my nipple caught.”
“You’re wearing a bra.”
“I’m just saying.”
Ali rolled her eyes and applied more mascara.
By the time the doorbell rang, Lori was zipped, primped and polished, as Ali put it. Lori retorted with the fact that Ali was plain tarted up.
Ali still had her middle finger extended to Lori as she opened the door.
“Charming,” Ghost said. “A little unexpected, but I’ve learned to take what I can get.”
“My, don’t you scrub up nice.” Ali eyed his jeans and shirt, the only concession a jacket.
“You want me to wear a tie?”
“Oh, that’s right. It’s funeral garb only. How remiss of me to forget.”
“Come on, children, let the adults through.” Matt elbowed Ghost out of the way, crossing to where Lori waited, bending down to brush a kiss across her lips. “You look go
rgeous, love.”
“I don’t feel like it.” Lori fiddled with the bodice. “I feel like a stuffed chook.”
“Need a hand to readjust those?” He reached for one breast.
She smacked his hand away. “No.”
“Sure?” He looked disappointed. “I’m really handy.”
“I know. You were really handy at the movies last night.”
Leering, he held up his palms. “I haven’t washed these hands since.”
She eyed him warily. “You better have.”
“Okay, I did. But I couldn’t help but massage my palms a little while doing it.”
Lori’s mouth fell open. “You mastur-”
“What?” Matt’s eyes widened. “No!” Giving a burst of laughter, he swept her in a hug. “I meant with my thumbs!”
“Sounds worse,” Ghost remarked from behind him.
“I meant I massaged my palms with my thumbs in memory of those gorgeous pink-” Matt swung around with a scowl. “I’m not telling you this.”
“Good. Because I think my eyes are hurting.”
“You never saw it.”
“My brain is blistering with the images and burning my eyeballs.”
Ali shook her head. “Forget it, Matt. Once Ghost starts this crap, he can go on forever.”
“You like my crap.” Ghost’s hand slid behind Ali.
She jumped and shrieked while he grinned wolfishly.
Sliding an arm around Lori, Matt steered her towards the door. “Come on, love. My car awaits.”
“All polished and everything.” Ghost ushered Ali along with a sneaky pinch.
“Ow!”
“Move it, wench.”
“Look, keep this up-”
“It’s going to be by the end of the evening, take my word for it.”
Ali giggled.
Smiling, Lori went down the steps beside Matt.
“Unfortunately, we have to share the car with him,” Matt informed her. “Idiot had his car serviced but apparently it wasn’t ready in time.”
“Hey, hey.” Ghost held the back door of the car open for Ali. “That ute is a classic. Speak of it with respect.”
The rest of the trip to the pub was done with a lot of laughter.
Outside the pub, Matt slung one arm around Lori, tucking her into his side as they walked. Angling his head down, he took a deep breath. “Mmm, you smell yummy.”
“Thank you.” She too a sniff of his chin. “So do you.”
“Manly aftershave.”
“Womanly perfume.”
“Is that perfume down below as well?”
She blushed. “Matt! Not here.”
“Of course not. I’ll check when we get home.”
She smacked him on the arm with her purse. Laughing, he hugged her, dropping a kiss on the top of her head before leading her into the pub.
Once seated at their table with Ghost and Ali on the opposite side, they chatted until their drinks arrived, followed by their meal.
Relaxed, Lori couldn’t remember when she’d felt so contented. A handsome boyfriend, a wonderful, outspoken sister, a sometimes over-protective friend who was the brother she never had, and life was good.
Could it get any better?
“Lori.”
“Mmm?” She turned her head to see Matt extending his hand. One look where he obviously wanted to go and she groaned. “Oh shit.”
“Not quite what I expected.” Matt laughed at her. “Come on, I promise you we’ll do fine.”
Leaving her purse on the seat, she put her hand in his and was drawn to her feet. “You’ve never seen me dance.”
“You’ve never seen me.” One hand at her waist, he steered her out onto the dance floor which was crowded, not too much of a stretch considering it was a small dance space.
With a flourish, Matt spun her around, gathering her close with a chuckle as she squeaked in dismay. “Remember, I’m leading.”
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“I warned you the other day and did you take notice?”
Remembering that heated encounter, Lori blushed.
“Oh love, I see you do remember.”
“Stop it.”
Laughing, he spun her around the dance floor, keeping her close as he steered her with expert efficiency.
“Wow,” she finally said when she found herself moving without toppling over his feet. “I didn’t know you danced so well.”
“I’ve been known to cut the rug a time or two.” He spun her back out, holding onto her hand and reeling her back in. When she pressed back up against his chest, he waggled his eyebrows. “Impressed?”
“Immensely.”
“My, aren’t we the proper pair tonight?”
“One has to be good in company.”
“Not nearly as much fun.”
Lori gasped when his hand squeezed her bottom suddenly. Cheeks fiery, giggling in amused mortification, she reached back, grabbed his hand and jerked it back up to her waist. “Matt!”
“Yes, love?” He smiled innocently down at her.
“You know what. Keep your hands in the one spot.”
“I’m keeping them in a special spot later.”
Unsure what he meant, she glanced up to see that his smile had turned from innocent to wicked. “Matt!”
“Yes, love?” Laughing, he placed a smacking kiss on her lips before spinning her away once again, pulling on her hand to spin her back into his arms.
“You’re so bad.”
“And I’m so good at it.”
Laughing, Lori glanced around to check where Ali was, only to notice Tommy standing before the bar, a scowl on his face. The laughter died from her lips. “Oh dear.”
“What’s wrong?” Matt followed her gaze. “Ah. Poor sod.”
“I wish I could fix his problem.”
“You can’t fix everything.”
“True, but-” Her eyes widened. “Uh-oh.”
Harriet Keller hovered at the doorway, her gaze searching and falling upon Tommy at the bar. Throwing her shoulders back, she sucked in a deep breath and crossed the room.
“Oh crap.” Lori stopped dancing.
Not far from her, she could see Ali doing the same, whispering to Ghost.
Matt pulled her back into the dance. “Too obvious, love.”
“But-”
“Trust me.”
The music slowed, enabling Lori to keep an eye on the couple at the bar. Harriet stopped in front of Tommy and said something. Shrugging, he turned away to grab his glass of beer.
Harriet tapped on his arm, glancing around nervously. He turned back to her and whatever he said must have been harsh, because she turned white.
“Uh-oh,” Lori muttered.
Matt swung her around so that he could see. “What’s happening?”
“I don’t know now, do I? Turn me back.”
“Then I can’t see.”
“I thought you didn’t like gossip?”
“I’m not gossiping. I’m watching. Gossiping is verbal.”
With a little effort, Lori managed to turn around in Matt’s arms to see Harriet running from the room with tears coursing down her cheeks. Tommy stood there looking furious, only to change within seconds to miserable.
“Crap.” Lori looked at Ali’s to see her sister jerking her head in the direction of the door. “Crap on a stick.”
“Where are you going?” Matt asked as she walked away from him.
“Back in a minute.”
Intent on finding Harriet if she was still outside, Lori was halfway to the door with Ali beside her when it swung open again and Harriet came running in. She shoved past Ali, nearly knocking her over, Lori’s fast grabbing of her sister saving her from hitting the floor.
“What the hell-”Ali began, only to stop and stare.
Lori’s mouth fell open as Harriet ran straight up to Tommy, and grabbing his cheeks, she kissed him full on the mouth. Hard. And long.
Lori looked at Ali. �
��I think Harriet’s making a statement.”
“You don’t say?” Ali grinned.
“I think it’s working,” Matt observed.
“I think there’s tongue involved.” Ghost squinted. “Yep, definitely tongue.”
Finally releasing Tommy’s cheeks, Harriet looked up at him and said loud enough for everyone in the now silent pub to hear, “I’m your woman, Tommy, and you’re my man. I’m fifteen years older than you, which makes me a cougar. I’m here to tell you, straight down the line, that that makes you one lucky man. Now come on home, baby, I’m going to give you a night you’ll never forget.”
Tommy couldn’t stop the grin that stretched from ear to ear.
There was dead silence in the pub as everyone watched them leave, Harriet’s head held high, Tommy so proud he nearly burst the buttons on his shirt.
“Jesus,” said Ghost, “that had to be the worst speech I’ve ever heard.”
“True,” Ali agreed. “But I bet it was the best one Tommy ever heard.”
Sliding an arm around Lori’s waist, Matt gave her a squeeze. “Seriously? Fifteen years older?”
“Got a problem with that?” Lori arched an eyebrow at him.
“I wouldn’t dare.”
“Good, because it’s your job to stick up for them against the gossips.”
“What?”
Ghost laughed.
“You, too,” Ali told him.
Ghost stopped laughing. “You mean I can’t poke fun?”
“No.”
“Not even in private?”
“No.”
“How about I just poke in private?”
“Are we still talking about Tommy and the cougar?”
“No.”
“We’ll take this conversation up again when we get home.” Ali led him back to the dance floor.
“Wow.” Matt slid one arm around Lori’s waist and followed them. “So that was the secret?”
The music started again, slow this time, and Lori snuggled up against Matt. “Yep.”
“I can see why Harriet didn’t want everyone to know.”
“Being a cougar is fashionable, I told her that when she first came around to the house.” Lori smiled. “She didn’t take that well.”
“Might be okay in the city where you’re one person amongst tens of thousands, and if you’re a woman with a lot of confidence, but in a small country town?” Matt shook his head. “This’ll give Old Man Parker, Mrs Hubble and Mrs Swanson fodder for a month.”
Lean on Me (The Mackay Sisters) Page 21