by Dee Ellis
Before I’d curled up with Lola in my bed, the first time I’d slept with a woman in years, I went to ask her to leave. Tori was already heading out, and that note was her parting gift. I was curious about it, and one day I knew I’d ask. Also about those pointed look the girls had shared before things got started. But, I focused on her parting words. Don’t give her an excuse to fuck it up either.
“I thought we were on the same page.” I mutter to Finn now, staring past them because, yes, we were talking about this shit, apparently.
“And now…?” Cage spoke up as he took a noisy sip of Coke.
“Now…I don’t know. Had a great weekend. Thought we were…I guess starting something? I don’t know. Then she just bailed on me, and it was like…basically how I left every other fucking girl before her for the last four years.” Running a hand over the back of my head, I growled out a curse.
“Well, in that case, I’d give up. Move on.” Ducking my head, I just missed the empty can Cage launched at my face.
“Jesus. Yeah. I get it, bro. Figure it out. Fix shit. I get it, fuck man. No need for violence.” It was just that easy.
The guys told me I was being stupid, in not so many words, and I knew they were right. I was hurt by what felt like a brush off, and confused that it could hurt me in the first place. Also, I was too prideful after having Holly crush my fucking balls, as well as my heart, so I didn’t know how to deal with feeling shit for Lola.
I texted her back again, deciding I’d give her all the time she needed. Lola was as good at this shit as I was. A rescue call came in, but I wasn’t needed. It gave me time to cut out and head to library when I got no response from her. I wasn’t going to fuck this up. Wasn’t giving her the chance to fuck it up either.
Before I even saw her, I could feel her. Like a compass pulled me to her, I passed the front circulation desk, nodding at a smiling Charli. I didn’t ask where Lola was, because I didn’t need to. Pushing a cart filled with books down an aisle, she was a vision. I always thought she was beautiful, but Jesus Christ.
In pale pink leggings with sparkles up the back seam, a gray skirt, and fuzzy pink sweater, she was going for cute and pulled off sexy. Gray boots clicked on the marble as she slowly made her way down each aisle, pushing her little cart.
Suddenly, I had a vision of fucking her in nothing but those boots. Beyond her, a colorful stained-glass window threw splintered light on her and lit her up in soft, vibrant tones. My Lola was always so damn colorful.
Just as I crossed the distance to her, Lola cocked her chin to the side. Her face changed when she saw me heading her way, and it was enough to change my pace. Those pretty purple eyes darkened, her creamy skin flushed, and I could see her pulse thrum at her neck, even feet away.
“Darlin’, think you spent enough time dodging me.” It had been just four days but it felt like weeks.
I pressed close behind her, needing to feel her softness. I wrapped a hand around her slender neck, tipping her head back more. My mouth found hers, not sweet or gentle at first. I wanted to punish her. To remind her she was mine. Saying the words mid-coitus had clearly not been good enough.
Lola whimpered and twisted at the waist, opening her mouth to my tongue. Fuck, she tasted good. Like the most decadent honey pecans ever. I would never get enough of her. My hand tightened at her throat, and she let out a sound that had my dick aching against her backside.
“Come with me. Now.” I demanded, kissing her bruisingly hard once more, then yanking at her hand.
I led her through the sunny atrium to the nearest exit door. Lola pressed close behind me, one arm wound around my arm. I liked that; liked both the way she obeyed me without question and the need for contact. It had always been there, and now it was clear neither of us would resist it the way we had for so long.
Pushing through the exit door, we ended up in the garden beneath the peaked glass roofed atrium. Sunlight bounced off the marble from above, lighting up the manicured bushes and blooming flowers. It smelled like spring time and felt like summer, despite the wintery temps outside.
The gardens were a teaching tool, actually. I’d learned that the hard way when a student, smoking between study groups, had set some roses on fire. Sara, the library’s director, was more devastated at the loss of some of their specimens, after we’d put the little fire out, than worried about the student.
It was a beautiful garden though, one that bloomed no matter the weather outside. I found a marble bench tucked away beneath some wisterias, and sank into it. I brought Lola to straddle my lap, kicking my legs wide to offer her a proper seat.
“Fuck, I missed your face.” I cupped her jaw in my hands, tipping her head back in the sunlight.
“I wasn’t dodging...Hunter!” Lola’s weak argument, which was bullshit anyway, was cut off when I shoved a hand beneath her skirt, ripping her panties off.
“You were. You can all you want. I live across the hall from you, Darlin’. Know where you work. Where you hang with your girls. You aren’t getting away so easy, Lola Bear. Mmm, there it is.” I closed my eyes, my thumb spreading her folds, finding her hot, and already totally soaked.
We didn’t waste effort on words as I stroked her, my thumb making lazy passes over her soft wetness. I never looked way from those eyes, though. Soon, she was rocking her hips, demanding more.
I gave it to her. I would always give it to her. My thumb began thrumming back and forth at her swollen clit, my hand flipping so two fingers could slide inside her tightness. We both moaned as I found that spot that brought her right to the edge.
“Oh....baby.” Lola’s head fell forward, her eyes going heavy and sexy with need.
“That’s right, baby. Take what you need. Ride my hand, Darlin’. Goddamn, your little pussy is so greedy. So tight, baby. Just like that, Darlin’. Make yourself come.” Fuck, she was breathtaking to watch.
Lola braced her hands at the back of my neck, her nails digging into my skin. With her eyes on mine, she rode my hand, bucking her hips as she moaned softly. Sweetly. So soft.
Her little body shuddered just on the edge. Though we were surrounded by flowers, I could only smell her sex; how wet she was, how needy. I knew it wasn’t enough.
“Please...baby, please...” Lola cried out, dropping her hips as my fingers pumped faster, harder.
The hand gripping her backside, marking her tender flesh as my fingers dug into her, shifted. Dropping between us, it fumbled with my jeans. Damn, I was glad I hadn’t come in my gear.
My cock sprung out, and I wrapped my hand around it. Pumping twice, I lined it up with her soaked folds, growling as her heat welcomed me back. Like welcoming me home. Lola dropped her hips again, and I sunk deep inside her.
“Fuck. Don’t move. You move, I’m making you pay for it, baby.” I swatted her ass, spreading her skirt over us both, attempting to at least appear decent.
“I might like that, Pumpkin.” To prove it, she rocked her hips, and I growled, swatting at her plump ass again.
We smirked at each other though. We were in the library garden, fucking like teenagers. I loved it. My hands slid beneath her skirt, circling her waist and stilling her. I drove deeper, the sound she gave me testing my control. Fuck, I loved when she gave over control to me like this.
Lola was guarded all the time. I knew she was scared and did it to protect herself. When I touched her, though…as if those guards didn’t exist, she went so soft. Lacing our fingers together, brushing my fingertips over her jaw, pressing close to her tiny curves, it opened her up like the flowers we were fucking beneath.
Just a touch and everything went soft. Those stunning purple eyes went indigo. Sparkled with trust and need and something more. Even her smile, which was fucking beautiful, brightened. Reached her eyes and crinkled her cute nose, and made me ache. Because I knew someone had taken away her freedom to feel that and I wanted to give it back.
“You. Are. So. Fucking beautiful.” With every word, I thrust up once and she moaned ea
ch time I left her heat.
“Mine,” I whispered, pressing my face into her neck, “All mine. Fuck, baby. Ride my cock, baby. Slow, just like that. Fuck, just like that, Darlin’.” Nowhere else did Lola obey, but here, like this, she did and it drove me fucking crazy.
With the sunlight circling her, her dark glossy hair shining, the sexiest smirk curving her plump lips, Lola obeyed. I urged her closer and whispered my mouth over hers as she slowly—so slowly it almost wasn’t moving at all—did as she was told.
As we shared the same air, my tongue tracing her mouth and my fingers digging into her hips, she fucked me. All the way down, her hips flush with mine, then up again, my piercing rubbing just right against her clit. I felt her tighten, felt the tiny tremors that started at her pussy and spread out begin to overtake her.
“Yes. Yes, baby. Fuck, your pussy feels so good. Take it. Take it from me. Make yourself come on my cock. Just like that. Jesus.” I took her mouth in a savage kiss, teeth and lips and tongue, swallowing her cries.
Seconds later, just a few more pumps into her tight heat, and I came too. Heat sizzled through my veins, and I knew I would always be branded by the pleasure she gave me. It was like none I’d ever felt—and I had felt plenty. Nothing like the way it felt to come with her, and to watch her pleasure soften her to me; I’d never get enough of that softness.
“Oh. Oh my.” Lola murmured as I cradled her to me.
Pressing kisses all over her silky skin, damp from the intensity of what we’d done, I held her tight. My mouth moved over her neck, jaw, around her ear, her collarbone, every exposed inch. Nestled against my chest, her arms closed tight around my neck as she watched me in the sunny light of the atrium.
“I didn’t mean to dodge you.” Lola spoke softly, nose against mine, sparkle in her beautiful eyes.
“Mmm, yes, you did baby. I let you too. Won’t happen again, Lola. You get me?” My cock was still inside her, still hard, and she smirked, rolling her hips.
“I get you, Pumpkin. Besides....look at your phone.” I frowned, hooking my big hands around her soft ass and shifting her closer.
I dug my phone out of my pocket, seeing a message waiting on the screen. From Lola. Sent a little more than an hour ago. Telling me she missed me and wanted me home with her tonight. Home. With her. Tonight. Fucking right.
“Mmm, seems great minds think alike. Had about enough time away from you as I could take, Darlin’. I know neither of us know how to do this. I know. Doesn’t mean I don’t want to do it. Doesn’t mean it has to have labels till we do figure out how to do this right. I want you, Lola. I don’t want other women, don’t want to share you, don’t want you to have another man. Just us, baby.” I kissed her, soft and sweet, both of us groaning as my dick gets hard inside her.
“Not again. I need to...oh shit.” Lola bit at my bottom lip, nails scraping over my bald head as I thrust up into her hard.
“Yes, again. Turn around, Darlin’.” Hooking my hands around her knees, I twisted her, bringing her back against my chest.
I bit into her neck as the change of position sent me into her at a new angle. Moving my hands up beneath her fuzzy sweater, I cupped her tits and lifted her little body at the same time. Her skirt flipped up, and I watched my cock dive into her again and again. It was slow, but hard and deep, and it wasn’t long before we were both clutching at another orgasm.
“Condoms. We never use condoms.” I winced as I saw her sticky cream coating my shaft.
All the softness was gone from my lady in a second. Instead of holding her post coital bliss, she was out of my arms, hands fidgeting with her skirt. Lola’s eyes were fiery purple—sexy as fuck actually—but I saw the pain sparking in them.
Now was not the time to ask what that all meant, so I tucked my dick away, still sticky with her, and went to her. I had not even considered protection, which was a big no-go for me. I always wrapped up. Sometimes twice.
“Lola, I’m good. Clean, I mean. Chief taught an exhausting course on sexual caution plus we test every eight weeks. Sometimes more. I didn’t mean I thought you weren’t....” I reach for her but Lola backs away.
“It’s been two years since I’ve fucked another man. I don’t let them fuck me anymore. There was only one man before. Condoms and birth control were the only safety I had from him. I need to go. Bye, Hunter.” The iciness of her voice, paired with the contempt and pain in her eyes, cut me deep.
I couldn’t go another four days without her. Before she took another step out of the atrium, I was on her. My mouth took hers, and I crushed her to me. I wanted to take her pain, if she’d let me.
I had no doubt my wounds, left by an unfaithful wife, were fleshy and dense in comparison to the deep, jagged ones left by whoever left their mark on my sweet, soft Lola. I would take it all, and never let more harden that softness that drove me crazy.
“Stop. I didn’t mean...I just meant...we never have. Nothing more.” I considered pregnancy, but couldn’t find it in myself to be too worried about it.
Even though we’d been married and planned our lives out, Holly never mentioned kids. I wanted them; without a doubt, I wanted a family. I was close to my family and had nothing but good memories of my life with them. I wanted that with someone.
We were reckless, Lola and I, and if that led to a child, so be it. I was crazy about her, even if I couldn’t get it right just yet. I would never turn my back on her. Especially not when I was realizing she was used to everyone else doing just that.
“I take a shot. No worries, handsome. I need to go.” Again, she tried to walk away, but I couldn’t allow that. Not again.
“Lola, baby, wait a minute. Talk to me, Goddamnit.” Those pretty eyes softened, but her guards were back up.
“Another time, we will. Not now. I need to go. Come to my place tonight.” Lola pressed close, hand cupping the back of my head as she lifted to kiss me.
I brought her close with an arm banded across her slender waist. Kissing her felt soothing; at the same time, more exciting than battling any fire or taking home a dozen badge bunnie’s at once. I would never get enough of the thrill that her lips on mine woke up in me. Kissing Lola was borderline euphoric. I lifted away, smoothing my thumb over her bottom lip.
“Later, Darlin’.” Another slow kiss, and I let her go. For now.
I knew we had to talk. We both had enough baggage to sink this ship before it sailed. I was not about to let that happen. This time, with this woman, we were getting shit figured out.
The rest of my shift was exhausting, and I didn’t make it home till after midnight. Seeing my lady’s lights on when I got home soothed all the damage such a rough night had caused. Before I knocked, the door swung open. I could smell something delicious, and I thought, just maybe, I had found the girl of my dreams.
Lola had ordered my favorite Thai takeout. We snuggled together on the couch, Lola feeding me pad Thai noodles while we watched CSI until we fell asleep. I woke up sometime in the night to her mouth around my cock. I knew then she was definitely the girl of my dreams.
For weeks, that’s how we were. We worked and hung out with our friends, caught up in the planning of their weddings. We spent our nights, nearly every night for over three weeks, at my place or hers.
And, we talked plenty, about movies and music, places we had been, things we had done. Just never about shit that mattered. Instead, we fucked.
Every time I asked the questions, the ones with the answers that could mean something, we ended up in bed. And, not always a bed, exactly. At the park once, an alley during dinner with our friends, even the back of my bike the one time I tried to manage a real date with her.
At first, I took it. Because I wanted something with her. Anything, really. The more she gave, though, the more I wanted. I liked every single thing about her.
From the way she spread peanut butter on her waffles in the morning, to how laughed loud and without misgivings, and how every night I worked, she asked me how it went. Worried abo
ut what I might have seen.
I knew Lola had seen some shit. Or had been dealt some shit. The second weekend we spent together, I thought it was time to talk about it. Two questions into our past, I was flat on my back, Lola climbing me like a tree. The deep questions turned her both evasive and cock hungry, it seemed.
Basically, Lola was defining our relationship by riding my cock whenever I asked for more. I had never, ever been on other side. I fucking hated it.
Partial truth; I loved fucking her. Like nothing else, I loved being inside that woman. Hearing her soft moans and watching those fucking eyes go soft and molten.
I hated that she wouldn’t give all of herself, though. Because for once, I wanted all of it; the ugly, the pain, the wounds that made those eyes go hard and her mouth complicate things.
An evening with the Cooper boys and their women proved how fucked up we were. Both girls had chosen their dresses, what the bridesmaids and groomsmen would be wearing, and even flowers. One weekend, we had to attend some fittings. The guys were done in minutes, of course. While waiting for the girls, the guys started in on me.
“You are next, bro. You and Lola. I’m calling it.” It was common knowledge us hooking up had been wagered on. Now, the wager was if we’d be the next down the aisle.
“Not likely, bro. Don’t think my lady is down to try that road again.” I’d sworn off marriage too, but if Lola was willing, I’d cave faster than a hot knife through butter.
“You two official yet? Also, why do we all seem to pick such difficult ladies?” Cage asked as he messed with the cufflinks Charli had gifted him earlier that day.
“Are you asking if we’re going steady? Nope. If another man looks at my lady a minute too long, he’s walking away with a few less teeth, though.” I lifted a shoulder, glancing at the other three’s expressions in the mirror we were facing.
“Jesus. Guess that clarifies it. Levi, keep your eyes off Lola.” Levi flipped Finn off, but smirked at me.