by Dana Delamar
Best to take it slow, take it easy, until she indicated she was willing to try it.
I ran a thumb along the seam of her ass, and she shivered, but she didn’t flinch away. I did it again, and she looked at me over her shoulder. “I haven’t ever…” She started, then let her voice trail off.
“And you don’t have to unless you want to.”
I kissed her shoulder, and she met my lips with her own. “I’ve thought about it, and I think it’s something I might like to try.” She reddened. “Taking both of you, at the same time.”
Fuck. My cock twitched. Yeah, I’d thought about it too. Riley and I had shared women that way, but doing it with Paige would be something else.
Something special.
“I want that too.” I kissed her temple and put an arm across her body below her breasts and pulled her snugly against me. “But tonight, it’s just us.”
She stilled, then put an arm over mine. “I’m glad you came.”
Some bit of tension in my chest finally uncoiled. “I am too.” I kissed her shoulder, nipping at her skin. “I was jealous of you. That’s why I couldn’t say that I loved you before. I couldn’t even see it.”
She shifted in my arms so she could look at me, her brow crinkling adorably. “I still can’t believe you were jealous of me.”
“Believe it. It took Riley months to tell me he loved me, and it happened only after he’d left—run away, really, though he doesn’t see it that way.” I swallowed down the lump that still threatened to close off my throat, even now. “And in only a few weeks, he was telling you he loved you. I’d seen it all over his face well before then, I’d heard it in his voice when he talked about you. I tried not to be jealous, but I failed.”
“Oh Carter.” She cupped my cheek and kissed me on the mouth. “You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?”
“Being on a trip together, it’s a million times more intense than dating someone like you’d normally do. You’re together almost 24/7, and you have all these new experiences, and you have all the time in the world to talk and hang out together. Each day is like months and months of dates all rolled into one.”
She was right; it explained how rapidly my feelings for her had developed, and if I was able to fall for her so quickly, and with Riley around to boot, how must it have been for just the two of them?
Probably a lot like the times I’d spent alone with Paige on the trip—intense and intimate, the moments of laughter, sharing confidences, distilled and concentrated, the effect so much more potent than that of a typical encounter.
Because we hadn’t had to deal with the real world, with our normal lives, with paying bills, with fulfilling obligations to others. We’d been in a fantasy that was nevertheless real. We’d seen each other with our masks ripped away, with the ordinary constraints of life set aside.
We’d seen each other.
“That makes sense; it explains why I feel so strongly about you. Why I love you already. Why I want you in my life. In our lives.”
She held my eyes, her breathing a bit faster than normal. Then she reached out and ran a wet thumb across my bottom lip. “I love you too, Carter. I was afraid to let myself even think it. About either of you. Because then I’d have to risk losing you by telling you about Emma.”
“I get it.”
“But does Riley? And I have to wonder how much I hurt him by not telling him I loved him.” Her eyes closed, and tears welled out around her lashes. “He’s been so patient. He’s sent me the sweetest texts. And I haven’t replied to any of them. I couldn’t.”
I stroked her cheek. “It’s okay. He’s okay.”
She opened her eyes and looked at me. “But he isn’t here.”
“Only because of the interview. We’d planned to come down together, and this came up last minute, and the movie producers wouldn’t let him turn it down. But”—I leaned forward and kissed her—“I’m glad it worked out this way. You and I needed to talk.”
She nodded and kissed me back. “And we need to finish what we started on the couch.”
I let a grin spread across my face. “I love how you think.”
We drained the tub and rinsed off in the shower. I was barely able to keep my hands off her long enough for us to make it to the bed, where I pushed her back onto the mattress and spread her legs. Settling between them, my hands holding her inner thighs apart, I gazed at her glistening pussy. She squirmed under my hold. “Just do it,” she whispered.
I chuckled and ran a finger along her slit, opening her up, grazing over her clit, making her moan and stiffen. “You’re beautiful, Paige.”
She put an arm across her face. “Stop staring.”
I stuck two fingers in my mouth, wetting them, then started stroking her, making her gasp. “You are beautiful. Whether you believe it or not. And if my words don’t convince you, my cock should. It’s dying to get inside you.”
She sighed, but said nothing. I leaned forward, blowing gently on her pussy, before sucking her clit into my mouth, swirling my tongue around the rapidly swelling nub.
“Jesus,” she groaned, her hands fisting the sheets, her hips arching to meet me.
I took my time, building her pleasure slowly, stoking it carefully, until she was panting and begging me, each soft “please” like a lightning bolt to my cock.
She was going to wreck me, and I didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was that she loved me. She’d finally said it; she’d finally let me in.
And I was more than ready to do the same.
PAIGE
I couldn’t stop writhing, couldn’t stop begging Carter to let me come, to stop this sweet, sweet torture he was inflicting on me with every sweep of his tongue, every plunge of his fingers inside me.
I’d thought Riley was amazing at oral, and he was, but Carter—Carter was patient. He took his time, didn’t push me high and fast. And now I was flying so high I wasn’t sure I’d ever come down, even when he finally, finally, let me tumble over the edge, the pleasure rippling through my body in an intense wave that left me blissful and tingling. I shuddered and cried out, my thighs clasping his head, my fingers in his hair. “Oh Jesus, oh Jesus, oh Jesus,” I chanted.
When I finally let him go, he kissed my inner thigh and climbed up over me, his rock hard cock pressing into me. He rubbed the head of it against my still-swollen clit, setting off a series of aftershocks that made me press my hand against his chest. “Stop for a minute. I beg you,” I panted.
“No rest for the wicked,” he whispered in my ear, and I opened my lids.
The slight crow’s feet around his eyes, the twinkle in his gaze, the curving of his sinful mouth filled my chest with warmth. “I love you, Carter. I really, truly do.”
He pretended to buff his nails on his bare chest. “That good, huh?”
I laughed and swatted at his arm. “Yeah, it was that good, and you know it.” I sobered and stroked his cheek. “But that has nothing to do with how I feel.”
“Like the world just got a whole lot more wonderful?”
“Yeah. Like that.” I reached down and wrapped my palm around him, stroking him gently. He thrust into my grip and moaned, his eyes closing. “Roll onto your back,” I whispered. “Let me take care of you.”
He did as I asked, and I started kissing his face and neck, taking my time, licking and nipping him along the way to my destination.
God, he was gorgeous, all sculpted perfection, the hard planes of his chest and the ridges and valleys of his abs rippling beneath my touch.
His cock bobbed in the air, a drop of pre-cum slicking the tip. I licked it up before taking him in my mouth, enjoying his moan of pleasure as I swirled my tongue over the head.
I thought of the time he’d “punished” me in the garden maze. I’d been excited and turned on by the possibility of being caught, by the erotic charge of submitting to a powerful man I’d barely known at the time. My lover’s lover.
But now—now I wanted to please Carter, to make hi
m come so hard he saw stars. To show him how much he mattered to me.
Because he did. I loved Riley; I’d known it for what seemed like a long time. But Carter was different. If Riley had charged into my life and battered down my defenses, Carter had taken the opposite approach—politely knocking on the door and waiting for an invitation. He wasn’t in a hurry like Riley; he wasn’t as demanding.
Carter was kind and giving, someone who looked before he leapt, someone who would catch me if I fell. Not that Riley wouldn’t try. But he might not understand how to help.
Carter would, or he’d know how to ask.
In all the excitement that seemed to trail in Riley’s wake, it was easy to overlook Carter, easy to take him for granted.
But that was not at all what he deserved.
I descended on his cock, hardening my lips into a tight ring that made Carter groan as I sucked his length into my mouth. He was longer than Riley, and there was no way I could take all of him. But I was going to do my best.
“God, Paige, whatever you’re doing with your mouth, keep doing it.”
I swirled my tongue around him as I moved up and down, my hand joining in at the base to try to cover his entire shaft.
“Jesus,” he gasped when I quickly bobbed over the head several times, that tight ring formed by my lips giving him plenty of sensation.
He thrust up slightly and met me, almost making me gag. He must be close.
I sped up my efforts, but he stopped me. “I want to come inside you,” he said.
“You sure?”
He nodded. “I want to look in your eyes, beautiful.”
I grabbed a condom out of the top drawer in the nightstand.
Carter reached for it. I shook my head. “I’m taking care of you, remember? Lie back and let me do all the work.”
He crossed his arms behind his head. “Okay then. You tell me what you want me to do.”
“Not a damn thing,” I said as I rolled the condom over him.
I rose up to straddle him, rubbing my slick heat over his cock, making us both groan, before I positioned him at my entrance and slowly descended onto him, inch by inch.
I felt so full. He reached for my hips, his large hands warm on my skin. I raised myself up, then slid back down, twisting my hips along the way, the novel sensation making me cry out. I rose and fell, rose and fell, gradually increasing the speed, the delicious friction inside me increasing by the second.
“You feel so damn good,” he said. “But beautiful, you’re going too slow.”
“Still?” I panted, rocking myself back and up, my hips circling him, his cock hitting me in places that made me cry out in bliss.
“Yeah,” he murmured, his hands tightening on my waist. He pulled me up, then slammed me back down as he rose to meet me, his eyes locked on mine.
The increase in speed and pressure cranked the pleasure up, until I felt like I was going to explode. And then I did, clenching hard around him and sending him over the edge too.
He hammered into me a few more times, then relaxed back against the mattress, his breathing labored. “Fuck.” He stretched out like a well-satisfied lion. “That was amazing.”
“We ought to do this more often.”
“We will.” I lay down beside him, and he gathered me close, pressing a kiss to my temple. I curled into his side, then flung a leg possessively over him.
He was mine; I was his. And I wasn’t letting him go.
And tomorrow, I hoped I could make things right with Riley as well. Because the three of us? We were meant to be.
Chapter 15
RILEY
Maybe I should have called Carter first before barging over to Paige’s apartment. I had no idea how things had gone down between them last night. For all I knew, she’d slam the door in my face.
Ball cap tugged low over a pair of shades, I handed the cab driver a couple twenties and stepped out onto the sidewalk. In front of me was a modest apartment complex made up of a series of three-story buildings linked together by exterior stairwells. I scanned the numbers on the buildings, quickly spotted Paige’s, and climbed the stairs to the third floor.
I had my hand in the air about to knock, when the door opened to reveal a pretty blonde girl, short and a little rotund. Her eyes sparkled as brightly as her smile.
“Oh my God,” she squealed, slapping her hands over her mouth. “I saw you in the parking lot. And… oh… I can’t believe it!”
I grinned, loving how expressive Paige’s daughter was. I set my roller suitcase on the landing and leaned against the wall. “You know who I am?”
“Of course. Doesn’t everyone?”
“I know you too. You’re Emma.”
Hands on her hips, Emma frowned at me. “Why do you know me?”
“I’m… uh…” I stopped.
Grow some balls, Kendrick.
I cleared my throat and tried again. “I’m your mom’s boyfriend.”
Emma shook her head, sending her long curls whipping around her face. “No. My mom’s boyfriend is in the kitchen.”
“Carter’s here?”
Emma’s eyes widened and she cradled her hands against her chest. “Oh, Mom, you’re in trouble,” she called out loudly. “Your other boyfriend is here.”
Roaring with laughter, I hung onto the doorframe. Paige was going to kill me. “It’s okay, Emma. I’m not mad.”
She scrunched her face up. “You’re not?”
“Nope. I think Carter’s a really great guy.”
Emma whispered loudly, “And he’s cute.”
“Yes, he is.”
“You’re pretty cute too,” she added, grinning.
“Am I now?”
“I like your hat.”
Well, there went my ego. Shot down by an eighteen-year-old. Guess it wouldn’t be the first time. I bit back a smile. “Want to try it on?”
“Can I?”
“Sure.” I placed it on her head, then handed her my sunglasses. “Want these too?”
“Mm-hmm!” She snatched the glasses from my hand and hurriedly put them on. The result was cute as hell. “Can I take a picture? Mom got me a phone with a camera.”
I went down on one knee beside her and smiled as she snapped a selfie. “You won’t put that on the Internet, right?”
“No way. Mom said that’s a big no-no.”
Thank you, Paige. At least the paparazzi wouldn’t be knocking down the door today.
Emma grabbed my hand. “Come on!”
Barely managing to latch onto the handle of my suitcase and shut the door to the apartment, I was dragged into the kitchen. It was an idyllic scene, like something out of a sappy rom-com. The sun spilling into the small space bathed Paige and Carter in a warm golden glow as they sat at a small round table eating breakfast. In their bathrobes.
“Well, isn’t this cozy,” I said.
I’d meant it as a joke, but Paige’s reaction showed she’d taken it quite differently. Nerves or guilt? Hopping to her feet, she tightened the belt on her robe. She then adjusted the lapels, then her hair, but didn’t make a move toward me. Seeing her so jumpy made my chest constrict. I just hoped nerves were all it was, and that she didn’t have bad news for me. Hoping for the best, but prepared for the worst, I left my suitcase next to the counter and walked farther into the kitchen.
Paige gave me a small, awkward wave. “Hi, Riley.”
I swallowed, then bent to kiss her cheek. “Hello, Paige. It’s good to see you.”
Emma tugged on my sleeve. “You gonna kiss Carter too?” she asked, her tone teasing. “You said he was cute.”
My eyes went to the man I hadn’t seen in over a week. Carter looked good. Really good. Relaxed and happy.
Carter had obviously spent the night here. He’d probably had sex with Paige. God knows I would have. So why was Paige so anxious? Had they decided they were better off without me? A knot formed in the pit of my stomach. Was my worst nightmare coming true... again?
All loose-limbe
d, Carter stood and sauntered over toward me. A corner of his mouth kicked up. “You told Emma I was cute?”
Seeing the softening in Carter’s features and the hint of humor in his voice, I smiled back, the knot in my gut loosening a bit. “I did. Whatcha gonna to do about it, big man?”
“This.” Carter grabbed the front of my shirt and pulled me against his chest. Our lips crashed together in a kiss that left me breathless and needing more.
Carter still wanted me. But did Paige?
When Carter stepped back, I heard Emma’s giggling, but before I could respond to it, Paige stepped between me and Carter. She tapped her finger on my lips and drew it down in a line over my chin, along my neck, and into the opening of my shirt before twisting it playfully in my chest hairs. “I’ve got to say, Riley, I’m a little jealous.”
“Of me?” Carter’s kiss had been scorching.
“No, of Carter.”
Oh. Holding onto my shirt with one hand, she grabbed my neck with the other and pulled me down. I took her into my arms and kissed her soundly, letting her know exactly how much I’d missed her and how much I wanted to be in her life. When she tightened her hold on the back of my shirt and dug her fingers into my hair, my heart fluttered, and I prayed I was reading the situation correctly. Because if I was wrong, I was in for a world of hurt.
“OMG!” Emma exclaimed. “I’m calling Aunt Ari.” Then she ran out of the room.
Carter rested his arm lightly around Paige’s shoulders. They looked so good together. She glanced up at him, her eyes soft and thankful. I could totally understand the look. Lord knew having Carter hold you like that, all warm and strong, was one of the best feelings in the world, right up there with being fucked by him. I wished I were standing between the two of them. I’d had enough of being the odd man out.
As though reading my thoughts, Paige took my hand, then Carter’s. “Let’s go into the living room.”
I settled onto the couch, Carter beside me. When Paige sat on Carter’s lap, I again felt a pang of jealousy. Of course, it made sense she would be more comfortable with Carter right now. They’d had a chance to talk it out, whereas I hadn’t seen or heard from Paige in fourteen days. Fourteen long days.