by Lynn LaFleur
“Hey.” He cupped her chin and turned her face toward his. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
A tear escaped her eye. Alaina reached up to wipe it away. Rye caught her hand before she could. He sipped the tear from her cheek with his lips.
The sweet gesture melted her heart. She turned her face and touched her lips to his.
He tasted of wine mixed with the flavor of man. His lips were soft and a bit slick from the butter he’d eaten. His mustache felt almost as soft as his lips.
His hand cradled her neck, his thumb brushing the sensitive area beneath her ear. He tilted his head ever so slightly and parted his lips. The tip of his tongue slid along the seam of her mouth, making the kiss even more delicious. Wanting more, Alaina touched his tongue with hers.
It must have been the signal Rye needed. The kiss went from gently exploring to hot and passionate in a heartbeat. His other hand cradled her neck too, holding her head in place while he ravished her mouth.
A kiss shouldn’t make her so weak. A kiss shouldn’t make her breasts swell so quickly, her pussy moisten in mere moments in anticipation of Rye’s possession. Desire took time to build…or at least it always had for her. With Rye, everything was different than with other men. A look from those deep brown eyes was all Alaina needed for her body to respond.
She couldn’t help the moan when Rye drove his tongue into her mouth. She wanted to feel it on her nipples, between her legs…
“You kiss like you can’t get enough,” he whispered against her lips.
“I can’t. Not from you.”
He pulled back a few inches, looked into her eyes. His thumbs stroked her lips, over and over. Alaina nipped the tip of one, then licked the bite.
Desire flared in his eyes. “This isn’t exactly the best place for a seduction.”
“I don’t need candlelight and soft music, Rye.” She took one of his hands and drew it down to her breast. “I only need you.”
He watched his hand as it molded to her flesh. Alaina’s eyes wanted to drift closed in pleasure, but she forced them to stay open so she could see him.
“Your breast is so firm.” He squeezed her gently. “God, you feel good.”
She couldn’t stop her eyes from closing when Rye cradled her other breast. Alaina arched her back and pressed her breasts into his hands. He kneaded and lifted the mounds as his thumbs circled the areolas…coming close to but not touching her nipples. She was ready to grab his thumbs and guide them where she needed them the most when he flicked her nipples.
She gasped in pleasure.
“Do you like this?” he asked, rubbing her nipples with his thumbs.
“Yesssss.”
“What do you want me to do?”
Alaina opened her eyes and gazed into his. Rising to her knees, she ran her fingers into his hair. “Make love to me.”
A pained look crossed his face to mix with the desire in his eyes. “Alaina, I’ve worked all day. I need a shower before—”
She covered his mouth with her fingers. “If you don’t get sweaty making love, then you aren’t doing it right.”
His eyes sparkled with humor as he chuckled. He removed her hand from his mouth and kissed her palm. “You have a point.”
“So,” she said, running her free hand through his hair again, “are you saying you do get sweaty when making love?”
“Oh yeah.” He kissed her palm again. “Sweaty.” His teeth scraped over the side of her hand. “Hot.” He moved up her arm and licked the inside of her elbow. “Wet.”
Wet was definitely a good description. Alaina’s channel blossomed, moistened. Her clit gently throbbed. She longed to feel Rye’s touch against that intimate part of her body…first his fingers, then his tongue, then his cock.
He grasped the hem of her shell and pulled it over her head. His gaze snapped to her breasts. She’d worn the prettiest bra she owned, a wisp of ivory satin and lace. Cut low in front, it barely covered her nipples.
“Damn,” he muttered.
“Is that a good damn or a bad damn?”
“It’s a you’re-so-gorgeous-I-can’t-think damn.” He cradled her breasts and lifted them until they bulged over the top of her bra. “These are beautiful, Alaina.”
It took all of her concentration to speak when he started rubbing her nipples again. “Are you a breast man?”
“Guilty. I like curves.” Leaning forward, he dropped a gentle kiss on each mound. “Lots of curves.”
His mouth felt incredible on her skin. “Wh-what else do you like?”
The front clasp of her bra loosened. “Big, hard nipples.” Warm lips closed over one tip. The flick of his tongue made her moan. “Soft skin,” he mumbled before moving to the other nipple for the same teasing flick. “Wide hips.” His hands spanned her waist, slid down to her hips. “A firm, tight ass.” Those magic hands traveled to her buns and squeezed. “You have it all, Alaina…everything I love about a woman’s body.”
She was about to say the same thing about his body when he drew her nipple into his mouth again and suckled. Any words she might have said died in her throat. She closed her eyes and let the sensations wash over her, through her. Rye continued to caress her ass with one hand while he kneaded her breasts with the other. His mouth moved back and forth between her nipples. He licked, nibbled, sucked. With each swipe of his tongue, each nip of his teeth, her clit pulsed.
She’d never come from a man’s attention to her nipples. None of her past lovers had given them more than a few seconds of time. Rye seemed in no hurry to move on to other parts of her body.
That worked for her.
Perspiration popped out on her forehead, in the small of her back. Heat flooded her body. Her breathing turned choppy. Alaina clasped Rye’s head to her breast, silently asking him to continue the sweet torment on her nipples.
Cool air flowed over the perspiration on her back when Rye unfastened her slacks. He slid his hand inside and cupped her cheek, left bare by her thong. She thought she heard him growl deep in his throat before he sucked harder on her nipple.
Pleasure exploded in her body, rushing up and down her spine, stealing her breath. Her body trembled as the walls of her pussy contracted. She pumped her hips as the orgasm went on and on, desperately needing a hard cock to fill her.
Rye gave each nipple one more lick. “You’re even more beautiful when you come.”
Alaina gazed into those dark brown eyes. She saw heat, longing, but also something more tender…an emotion she’d always yearned to see in a man’s eyes.
She kissed him softly. The kiss didn’t remain soft as desire flared back to life. Alaina shrugged out of her bra, tugged off Rye’s T-shirt and tossed it aside. Then she froze.
She’d been intimate with this man, yet had never seen him without a shirt. She moved back enough so she could…well, gawk. He was ripped and buff and muscled, not from working out in a gym but from his profession. Wide shoulders, broad chest lightly dusted with dark hair, small brown nipples and areolas, biceps to die for, and a flat stomach and abdomen that she would swear had to be a ten-pack, not just six.
“Oh my,” she whispered.
She touched the middle of his chest, let her fingers trail down the line of hair to his navel. The outline of his hard cock was clearly evident in his worn jeans. Holding his gaze with hers, she unfastened his belt buckle.
His hand tightened on the cheek of her ass.
She released the first snap on his fly. He laid his hand over hers after she released the second snap. “I don’t have a condom.”
“I do. In the basket.”
One eyebrow quirked in an “oh yeah?” gesture. Heat flooded Alaina’s face. “Just in case we decided to…do this.”
“Just in case.”
She refused to lie to him. “I was hoping. Rye, I’ve wanted you since I was twelve years old. I had no idea what sex was at that age, but I knew looking at you made my heart beat funny and my breath catch.”
Afraid she would chase him
away with talk of her feelings, she quickly spoke again. “I’m not asking for anything from you. No promises, no talk of tomorrow. Just us, tonight.”
He pushed her hair back from her face, caressed her jaws with his thumbs. “I wish I’d known you instead of Alesia.”
Her heart almost leaped out of her throat. “I wish you had too.”
He tugged her close enough to kiss. Lips caressed, tongues slid together. The kiss deepened, grew hotter, until Alaina gripped Rye’s shoulders to keep her balance.
“Get the condom,” Rye said against her lips.
She heard the clunk of his work boots hitting the floor as she searched through the basket. Finally she located the box she’d bought this afternoon and dug out one packet. She turned in time to see Rye on his back, pushing his jeans and briefs past his hips.
His cock lay against his stomach, long and thick and hard. It was all she could see while he sat up and tugged off his clothes and socks. Now completely naked, he held out a hand to her.
“Come here.”
She continued to stare at the male perfection before her until Rye wiggled his fingers to draw her attention. She reluctantly dragged her gaze from his body back to his face. His lips quirked as if he were trying not to grin.
“You’re staring.”
“Oh yeah.”
Rye chuckled and wiggled his fingers again. “Come here.”
“Hold this.” She handed the condom packet to him, then stood and shucked off her slacks, panties and shoes. As naked as he, she dropped back to her knees before him, took the packet and tore it open. “Lie down.”
Next time, she’d lick every part of his body. Next time, she’d taste that delectable-looking cock. But this time, she needed to feel him inside her as quickly as possible.
He obeyed her, lying back and holding his cock straight up so she could slip on the condom. She didn’t waste any time straddling his hips and sliding her pussy down his shaft.
“Jesus,” Rye mumbled. He grabbed her hips and arched into her. “You’re so tight. And wet. And hot.” He gripped her hips more firmly. “Ride me, Alaina.”
She laid her hands on his chest, slowly raised her hips until only the head of his cock remained inside her, and lowered herself again. Each time she repeated the action, she moved a bit faster. She watched Rye’s face the entire time, delighting at the fire in his eyes. He clenched his jaw, a muscle ticked in his temple. His fingers dug into her ass, holding her at the perfect spot for the base of his rod to rub her clit.
The pleasure began to build in her body again. Heart pounding, lungs burning, Alaina rode his cock faster. Her orgasm was there, ready to explode. Just a little more…
Rye squeezed her breasts, rolled each nipple between his fingers. “What do you need to come again?”
“Harder. Tug my nipples ha-harder.”
She’d barely gotten the word out when Rye pinched her nipples. Alaina cried out at the sensation that raced through her body, even stronger than what she’d experienced with her first orgasm.
“Oh yeah,” Rye groaned. “Oh yeah!”
He arched his hips, driving his shaft into her pussy all the way to his balls. Alaina released a keening moan when another, smaller climax ripped through her.
She melted on top of his body. Her skin stuck to his since they were both sweaty. She didn’t care.
Rye ran his hands up and down her back and over her butt. “You okay?”
“I hope you don’t expect me to move for at least half an hour ‘cause it isn’t possible.”
His chest vibrated beneath her ear when he chuckled. He kissed the top of her head. “I have no problem with staying here.”
“It can’t be very comfortable for you, lying on a hard floor. The blanket doesn’t have much padding.”
“I’m not complaining.” His arms tightened around her. “But I do know a place where we could be more comfortable.”
She lifted her head so she could see his face. “Where?”
“My house.”
Alaina hadn’t expected an invitation to his home. “Your house?”
“Yeah. I can shower, then we can sit in the middle of my bed and eat those quadruple chocolate brownies you brought. Maybe some of the crumbs will fall on your breasts and I can lick them off.”
He bobbled his eyebrows, which made Alaina laugh. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
“Then get off me, woman, so we can get dressed.”
Thinking about Rye licking brownie crumbs off her breasts gave Alaina new strength. She climbed off Rye and gathered up her clothes. It took her longer to dress than normal since she kept sneaking peeks at his body as he pulled on his clothes.
God, he was gorgeous.
After she finished dressing, she gathered up the rest of the food items and the basket. Rye folded up the blanket and draped it over his arm. “Ready to go?”
Alaina headed for the doorway, but stopped when cold air flowed over her. Goose bumps popped up on her skin. “Do you feel that?”
“Feel what?”
“The cold air.” When he continued to look confused, Alaina huffed out a breath. “Don’t tell me you didn’t feel it again.”
“Alaina, I didn’t feel any cold air. It’s cooling off in here, but it isn’t cold by any stretch of the imagination.”
“Look at this.” She lifted her arm so he could see the bumps on her arm. “Explain these.”
Rye shrugged. “You’re probably just excited at the thought of going home with me.”
“Oh yeah, I’m sure that’s it,” she said, somehow managing not to roll her eyes.
He grinned. “I like the thought of giving you goose bumps.” Wrapping one arm around her waist, he tugged her close and gave her a quick kiss. “And lots of orgasms.”
He said the last sentence right into her ear, which sent those little bumps scattering over her body again. Maybe Rye was right and it was simply a reaction to being with him. The last time she’d felt cold air here in the turret, she’d attributed it to her excitement over seeing Kenneth’s plans.
She did get goose bumps when she was excited. That had to be the explanation for why she’d felt cold air when Rye didn’t.
She started down the stairs with Rye right behind her. Perhaps she had no other explanation, but she did have a feeling that there was something in the turret, calling to her.
Or maybe someone.
Chapter Ten
April 20, 1937
Laura was so excited when she came home today. I saw her talking to him earlier in the store, but had been helping one of the Sullivan sisters and couldn’t hear what he said to Laura. She told me he offered her a tutoring job with his son, Patrick. Patrick is thirteen and has a lot of trouble with mathematics. Laura is only two years older than Patrick, but she’s brilliant, easily the smartest person in school. I can understand why he would want her to help his son.
I still don’t trust him. I think it’s just an excuse to get closer to Laura.
*
It had been a long time since Rye had invited a woman to his home. He realized that as he unlocked the back door. His mom made the rounds to her sons’ houses every Wednesday to clean, but she hadn’t been here this week. She wasn’t due home until Sunday from visiting her parents. He’d changed the sheets on his bed Wednesday because she hadn’t been here to do it, but little else had been done since he’d spent most of his time at Stevens House this week.
“I’m not promising how clean it is,” he said, opening the door that led into the mudroom. “My mom wasn’t here this week.”
“Your mother cleans your house?”
“Yeah.” He sat on the small bench built into the wall and pulled off his work boots. “She’s been cleaning houses in Lanville for about six years. She said it gives her something to do since none of her sons have made her a grandmother yet.”
“At least you get your house cleaned for free.”
Rye laughed. “No way. Dax and Griff and I pay her just like everyone else in
town. She said she took care of us until we left home. Now we can afford to pay her the same as we’d pay any other housekeeper.”
Alaina’s eyes twinkled with humor. “I think I like your mother.”
“I’ve no doubt of that.” He stood and took her hand. “This way.”
He led her down a short hallway, past the laundry room, and into the kitchen. A quick glance at the cabinets showed him they were clean, but dishes were still piled in the sink. “I can hear my mom’s voice now, telling me I never know when someone might stop by and should never have dirty dishes in the sink.”
“Now I know I like your mother.”
“I guess your house is always spotless, since three women live there.”
She released a combination between a laugh and a snort that had Rye grinning. “We keep the living room and kitchen clean because you never know when someone might stop by.” He laughed at her repeating what he’d said. “Just don’t look in our bedrooms, and for sure don’t look under the beds or in the closets. There may be something growing in the bottom of my closet. I’m afraid to look and find out for sure.”
Before Rye could say anything, she spoke again. “Okay, I take that back. You could look under Kelcey’s bed or in her closet. She is a neat freak. Everything is always right where it’s supposed to be in her bedroom.”
“But not you or Emma?”
“Emma’s better than I am. I tend to…misplace things. If I can find my cell phone more than two days in a row, I’m on a roll.”
Rye laughed again. He liked Alaina’s sense of humor and the way she wasn’t afraid to tell him something imperfect about herself. He set the picnic basket on the kitchen table. “Help yourself to whatever you want. There’s wine and beer in the fridge, harder stuff in the great room bar. I’m gonna shower off the five pounds of dirt I’m wearing.”
He peeled his shirt over his head while walking toward his bedroom. He paused only long enough to lay his belt and wallet on the dresser, then continued into his bathroom.
The step-in shower stall was twice the size of an average one. When Rye’s dad designed the house, Rye told him he wanted a decadent shower. Six jets plus a handheld showerhead meant water hit him from every angle. There were times when he’d simply stand still and let the water pulse on his body, relaxing the tight muscles. He couldn’t stay in here as long as he usually did since Alaina waited for him. Unable to resist the pleasure for a few moments, he closed his eyes and tilted his head back.