“I am not happy now,” Danny said, stalking toward the bathroom. “I’m taking another shower.”
“Want me to join you?” Tom called after him. Danny slammed the bathroom door.
Chapter 20
“Hey,” Carmina said when she opened her apartment door to let Tom in. It seemed like forever since she’d seen him, and she was as nervous now as she’d been before they’d gotten together, back when she could barely speak to him.
“Hey?” Tom said, wrapping his arms around her waist. He lifted her up and spun her around. “That’s all I get? After being gone for three days and making the winning touchdown?” Carmina was laughing as he spun her around. Buster barked and danced around Tom’s feet.
“Hey, you?” she teased. Tom let her feet drop to the floor. He reached back and flipped the door shut.
“I think someone needs to be reminded how much they like me,” Tom said, reaching down and petting Buster.
“Buster already knows,” she said. She grinned sweetly at him. To her surprise Tom didn’t grin back and her smile faded. “What?” she asked in alarm.
“I don’t know how to proceed here,” Tom said. “I want to take you in my arms and make love to you. I really missed you. But I guess you like something rougher than that? You’ve got to help me out here, honey.”
Carmina was speechless for a moment. Why did she have to make this so hard? Why couldn’t she just do what came naturally with a man? Just let things happen? She tanked everything with her overthinking and being scared. Scared of doing the wrong thing, saying the wrong thing, being the wrong thing. The truth was, she didn’t know why what happened with Danny had worked for her. She hadn’t had time to process what was happening at the time. “I’m sorry,” she said miserably. Tom gathered her into his arms and hugged her tight.
“Don’t be sorry,” he said, kissing the side of her head. “I didn’t want that. I just want you to tell me what you need from me.” He pushed her back a little so he could look into her eyes. “I mean it, you know. I really like you. A lot. I want this to work. But you have to meet me halfway. Am I what you want? Maybe not forever, but right now? I can’t be Danny.”
“I don’t want you to be Danny,” she said earnestly. “I like you. I like Tom. A lot.”
“That’s a good start,” he said, finally giving her the grin she wanted. “Open your mouth.” She frowned at him. “If we’re going to do this, then you need to trust me. When I tell you to do something, do it. Now, open your mouth.” Cautiously Carmina opened her mouth. “That’s fine,” Tom said. He leaned down and sucked on her upper lip and Carmina smiled in relief. Tom bit her lightly. “See?” he said. “Trust me.”
“Okay,” she said. She did.
“Again,” Tom said. She opened her mouth immediately. Her reward was a deep kiss, as Tom licked her mouth with slow steady strokes, tracing the line of her teeth, tasting the sensitive skin of her cheeks. She felt as substantial as jelly in his arms when he finally let her mouth go.
“I’m going to take you into the bedroom and tell you what to do,” Tom told her softly, kissing the corner of her mouth. “And you’re going to do it. And together we are going to make you feel very, very good. I don’t want you to think. I just want you to feel. You leave it all to me and I’ll take care of you.”
That sounded so heavenly to Carmina that all she could do was nod. If Tom could get her out of her own head, that would be wonderful.
—
Tom couldn’t believe how relaxed Carmina was in his arms. She was looking at him with complete trust, and he could almost see her just let go of everything. Tom had been thinking about it ever since last night, and he had a feeling that’s why it had worked for her with Danny. Because he didn’t ask what she wanted; he just took without giving her a chance to think. And that’s what Danny wanted, what he needed, and what Tom had done for him. It wasn’t a stretch to think that, even though Danny couldn’t get it for himself, he’d give others what he most desired. And that might be the key to Carmina, too. Shutting down her thoughts so she could just feel. Tom leaned down and scooped her up, keeping her mind in that space. She wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. Buster whined and Tom looked down at the dog, who was clearly confused about whether or not Carmina needed him.
“Go to bed, Buster,” Tom said quietly. The dog sat down in front of him and cocked his head, staring. Tom sighed. “Tell Buster to go to bed,” he told Carmina. Immediately, she reached out her hand and made a gesture that involved flattening her fingers and then flicking them. Buster got up and trotted over to his bed, where he laid down. “Good girl,” Tom told Carmina. She pinched his arm and he just chuckled.
When they got to her bedroom, Tom lowered her feet to the ground. She reached for the light but hesitated halfway there. “Let’s leave it on,” Tom said. “You deserve to be seen. You’re so damn pretty.” He nuzzled her neck and watched as she slowly pulled her hand back to her side. “I’m going to undress you.” She nodded. “You can talk, you know,” he said with amusement.
“I’m good,” she said, smiling. “Not having to talk is a relief. Everyone wants me to talk. It’s exhausting.”
Tom kissed her forehead. “Then don’t talk,” he told her. “I love your voice and I love to hear what you have to say, but I also love to give you what you need. And I talk enough for both of us.” She huffed with laughter.
“I love your voice, too,” she said. Tom didn’t answer her, just turned her around and grabbed the bottom of her T-shirt.
“Arms up,” he said. “You’re wearing too many clothes. I want to see this gorgeous body.” Carmina hesitated. “Don’t think,” Tom whispered in her ear. He bit her earlobe. “Don’t think. Just do it.” When he pulled back she raised her arms and he pulled her shirt off, not giving her time to change her mind. Next, he unhooked her bra and let the straps slide slowly down her arms. She shivered and he grinned, tracing her spine lightly with the backs of his fingers to make her shiver again.
“Your skin is so soft,” he said. “It makes me want to rub myself all over you.” He hesitated, not sure how she’d react to everything he wanted to say. But then he reminded himself he was in charge. He was telling her what to do. First he did it with Danny, now with Carmina. It was getting easier, taking charge. He liked it. He liked it a lot. He’d never known that about himself. It seemed like people were always underestimating him, treating him like he was just some young, dumb jock who had to be told what to do. But with Danny and Carmina, he got to call the shots; he got to be the one in charge. They needed him to do it, to take care of them. Was that why he was drawn to them? Was that why they were drawn to each other?
He was still standing behind her, so close that with each breath his chest touched her bare back. His hands were rubbing her upper arms lightly. She did have amazing skin. Soft and warm and healthy. She was so sensitive and responsive to even the slightest touch. “I want to rub my cock all over you,” he whispered against the nape of her neck. He kissed her there. “Over your lips and your breasts, down your stomach and then I’ll roll you over and trace your back with it. Slide it down between these gorgeous ass cheeks.” He squeezed her butt as he said it and she moaned. He let his hands roam around her hips to come to rest on her stomach. “I’d like to fuck these,” he said, sliding his hands up until he cupped her breasts. “Has anyone ever done that?” She shook her head. “Then I will,” Tom told her. He rubbed his palms over her nipples and they pebbled, so he pinched them softly. She went up on tiptoe and thrust her chest into his hands. He increased the pressure and she gasped, throwing her head back to rest on his chest. “I’m not going to hold back tonight,” he told her. “I’m going to give you what I know you need and what I want. If you don’t like it or want me to stop at any time, you just say so. Just say stop.”
She covered his hands with her own and pressed them hard against her breasts. She was telling him don’t stop. He understood that sign language.
; “Turn your face to me,” Tom told her. She did and he kissed her hard, rough and desperate, letting her see what she was doing to him. He’d been so careful with her before, even at the club. He realized now that wasn’t what she needed. Everyone had been treating her like that since Afghanistan. She needed to know how strong she was, and she needed someone else to see it, to show it to her. He broke the kiss and nuzzled his way down her neck, to the soft, warm curve where her neck met her shoulder. Then he sucked on it hard, trying to leave his mark on her. She moaned and her hips moved restlessly. He shoved his hand between her legs and she clamped her thighs around it, pressing her pussy into it. He pulled away from her neck, breathing hard. “I know what you need. I know exactly what you need.” He still had one hand on her breast as he cupped her pussy firmly, pressing his palm against her clit. She whimpered, coming up on her toes, her hips pushing her cunt into his hand. “That’s right,” he encouraged her. “Take what I’m giving you.” This was going to be so good, he thought. I’m going to make it so fucking good for her.
He pulled his hand off her pussy and she tried to grab it and force it back. “Don’t,” he said softly. “Remember, I know what you need. You just let me take care of you.” She let go of his hand and he undid the button on her jeans. She reached up and grabbed his shoulders, completely opening herself to him, to whatever he wanted to do, and Tom had to rein in his desire. He wasn’t in a hurry. He didn’t want a quick fuck. Oh, no. He wanted to make this last, because he already knew this was the one, the night that he’d make her come. He’d unlocked the secret to Carmina and she didn’t even realize it yet.
Chapter 21
Carmina let herself sink into Tom’s voice, relax into his hands. She liked this place, where all that mattered was what she was feeling, not what she was thinking, or even doing. Tom didn’t expect her to do anything except let him make love to her. She was giving him her body in a way she never had with anyone else. Unconditionally. It was…exhilarating. She was drunk on it.
Tom slid her jeans down over her hips, kissing her shoulder as he pushed them off. They fell to her ankles. “Kick them off,” he told her. She did as she was told. She’d read about this, about women who gave up all control in the bedroom, but she’d never really gotten it until now. She didn’t have to worry about pleasing Tom, because she was letting him do exactly as he wanted and that was pleasing him. And in return, she was more turned on than she’d ever been in her life. Tom caressed the soft, delicate skin along the top of her hipbones, letting his hands glide down the natural vee of her body that led him directly to her pussy. He cupped it again, felt it. His fingers explored her labia and glided through the wet evidence of her arousal. But it was all for him, because he was curious and he wanted to play. He wasn’t trying to drive her crazy, and for that reason he was. He didn’t care if she got off on it. Well, she supposed he did, but it wasn’t his main objective. Something else she didn’t have to worry about. She reached her arms awkwardly around his shoulders to hug him close behind her. She didn’t care how awkward it was, though, when he caressed her stomach with his wet fingers and found her breasts again, squeezing them and rubbing her nipples with his palms. She sighed and shivered.
“You’re a dirty girl at heart, aren’t you?” he whispered, laughter in his voice. “You want to make me go crazy over this body, rub your come all over you, and lick it off?” He broke her hold and turned her slightly, dipping her over his arm. Then he leaned down and licked her breast where he’d touched her. “Mmm,” he hummed against her skin. “I want more. You need to give me more, don’t you?” As soon as he said it she did, she needed it desperately. “Lie down,” he told her. He helped her onto the bed. “Knees up, legs spread,” he said. “And stop thinking. I can see it in your eyes.”
He pulled his shirt off over his head and smiled at her, as if he knew he’d just blown her mind with his hot body. She loved how big he was. All muscle, hard and tough and strong. But also tender and sweet and giving. Tom. She hadn’t known that it could be like this with him. He ran his hands down over his nipples and his stomach, showing off for her, and her gaze followed. When he reached his jeans he flipped the button open and her breath caught. As he slid the zipper down, she saw his hard cock rising up, the tip poking out of the top of his low-slung underwear. He barely pushed his jeans and underwear down, just enough to rest on the rise of his firm, muscular ass cheeks, exposing that delicious tip, shiny with precum. He was so hard. When he rubbed the flat of his thumb over his wet slit, she moaned. Slowly, Tom pushed his pants down and kicked them off. Then he climbed on the bed. He straddled her face and pushed his cock down toward her face. “Open your mouth,” he said softly. She did, gladly. She wanted to taste him so much, but she’d been afraid to tell him, to ask. How had he known she needed it?
The first taste of him made her groan and pull her legs together, trying to find some relief for her aching pussy. She reached for him. “No,” he said. “Just your mouth. Focus on one thing at a time.” She let her hands fall to the bed on either side of her head. “Relax,” he told her. “Let me do the work.” He leaned over and placed his hands on the bed above her and gently moved his hips, pushing just the tip of his cock into her mouth. “You have a gorgeous mouth. Have I told you that?” he asked. His eyes were completely focused on his cock in her mouth. “Full, red lips, beautiful straight teeth, that deep dip right here.” He touched the middle of her upper lip. “I thought about fucking it the first time I met you.” He pulled back and pushed in a little deeper. “Open wider,” he told her. “Take more. I want to give you all you can take.” Carmina opened her mouth wider and swallowed as he slid in, taking him deeper. It felt so decadent and divine she had to fist her hands to keep from grabbing him and forcing him deeper.
Tom slowly pulled his cock from her mouth. “I don’t want to come too soon,” he said. “You’re so good at that.” He crawled backward until he could kiss her mouth. It was a gentle kiss, and their lips clung together for a moment before it ended. “I’ll be back here another time.” He smiled down at her and she felt an overwhelming sense of satisfaction that she had pleased him. She’d never felt like that before after sucking a guy’s cock. It always seemed to be something for them, but this time she felt like Tom had let her do it because she needed it, not him. This whole experience was throwing everything she thought she knew about sex right out the window.
“You’re thinking again,” Tom said, kissing the end of her nose. “Stop it.” He moved back to her mouth and gave her one of those panty-melting kisses he was so good at. She wasn’t really sure why his kisses made her weak. Maybe it was because she could tell he meant every one, every kiss. He wasn’t performing for her or doing it because he thought it was required if he wanted to get to the good stuff. No, Tom really loved to kiss. She hoped he really loved to kiss her. When the kiss ended she felt like a live wire, every nerve exposed. What was Tom going to do next? She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, releasing her worries the way therapy had taught her. Whatever Tom did it was going to be wonderful and it was going to be what she needed. She trusted him.
“That’s right,” he said. “This is how I want you. Not thinking. Feeling. Focus on me, on what I’m doing. You don’t have to do anything but feel.” He kissed his way down her neck. “Close your eyes.” She let her lids drift shut. He kissed her breast and ran his teeth across her nipple. “Give me one word,” he whispered against her skin. “Tell how it feels in one word. No more.” One word. She could handle one word. “Don’t think about it,” Tom said. “Just say what’s in your mind right now.”
“Delicious,” she blurted out.
“Hmm, I like that,” Tom murmured as he licked her nipple and she broke out in goose bumps. “You are delicious.” He sucked her nipple, then slowly opened his mouth wider to take in more of her breast with it, and she gasped as the sensations rolled through her. Tom let go and then he was kissing her mouth again. With her eyes closed, he surprised her and she moaned into h
is mouth. He bit her lip and then sucked on the tender spot before pulling away. She was panting and she could feel his breath on her mouth. Then he softly brushed his fingers over her cheek and into her hair. He ran his fingers through her hair a couple of times and then she felt him tug on it. The pressure increased and her eyes flew open. Tom was watching her, their mouths almost touching, he was so close. He didn’t let go of her hair as he lowered his head to her breast again and bit her nipple sharply. To her utter shock and embarrassment, she moaned as her hips thrust toward him involuntarily at the electrifying jolt of desire that made her wet and made her ache.
“Tom,” she said, her voice uneven.
“One word,” he told her. He dragged the flat of his tongue over her stinging nipple.
“Want,” she said. He blew on her nipple and she shivered.
“Want,” he echoed. “Do you?” he nibbled his way down her stomach. “Let’s see. Spread your legs.” She did as she was told. “Watch me.” She looked down at him and felt her face flush as he stared intently at her pussy. “You are wet and gorgeous,” he said, appreciation in his voice. “I’ve been craving some Carmina since the first time I tasted you. I’m addicted.” He reached forward with one finger and traced her slit, barely touching it. It was enough to send jolts of pleasure shooting through her. He dipped his fingers into her folds, studying her, and she began to shake with need. But she didn’t say a word, didn’t tell him what to do, didn’t beg. She lay there and let Tom do what he wanted, let him take her where he wanted to go, where she needed to go. When he finally put his mouth on her, the relief and desire crashing through her made her cry out. She clutched the back of his head, his thick hair damp with sweat, and he used his mouth to drive her mad. There was nothing hurried about it. He ate her as if he had nothing else to do and nowhere else to go, as if the act itself was the purpose and there was no destination. When he pushed his finger into her, she felt a tremor race through her, a shock of awareness, of anticipation. Tom gave her one last lick, a flick of his tongue on her clit that made her hips jerk and her back arch as she gasped. “Don’t think,” he said. “Feel. Feel what I’m doing to you.”
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