by Susan Stoker
Therefore, Stella knew she wanted more—as in everything. Six days was all it took for him to weave his magic, and while she knew his ability to make a woman fall in love with him by date two was not how he got his nickname, it should’ve been. What had started out as a crush on her sexy neighbor had turned into adoration for a good man.
“Babe?” he called when she didn’t answer.
“I want you to spend the night,” she blurted out.
She felt his body go solid behind her and she instantly regretted her request.
“Stella,” he groaned, and she beat back the quiver. “I’m trying.”
When he said no more, she asked, “Trying to what? Drive me crazy? Make me buy stock in Tide or Proctor & Gamble since I do more laundry now—”
“Laundry?”
“Panties, Magic. You can’t just leave them in the hamper when they’re…”
“When they’re what, Stella, pray tell how you can’t leave your panties?”
Oh, well, in for a penny, in for a pound.
“Wet. I can’t just toss them in with my other clothes soaking wet. They require a handwash after you leave.”
That big body of his was shaking and she knew he was laughing at her, something he did a lot, something she loved to watch him do. On more than one occasion, she’d told him an embarrassing story just to see the laugh lines around his eyes appear. But right then, she was enjoying feeling his chuckle.
“I had no idea,” he said through his mirth.
“You don’t leave a wet towel in the hamper, do you? It’ll mildew.”
Suddenly Magic wasn’t chuckling. He was roaring with it, taking her right along with him. Then realization set in and mortification crept up fast and swift. Oh, God, she’d compared her panties to a wet towel. Mildewed panties…gross.
“Smart thinking, washing them out.”
“Ugh!”
The shaking stopped and Magic dropped a kiss on her neck and she lost the battle. Full. Body. Quake.
What could she say? His lips did crazy things to her, hence the wet panties and building the courage to ask him to spend the night. Obviously, he knew “spend the night” was code for “let’s get naked and busy.”
“No games,” he said, and she nodded her agreement even though it wasn’t a question. “Every night, starting from the first time you were sitting on my couch, it’s been torture leaving you. But the last four since I’ve kissed you have been hell. And by that, I mean extremely painful but necessary.”
Stella turned in his arms and pushed him back so they were away from the stove and Magic was leaning on the opposite counter.
“Why have you walked away?”
The question had been burning in her brain. Had she read the signals wrong? She didn’t think so. It wasn’t like she hadn’t felt his erection pressed against her while he kissed her. She could feel him straining not to touch her and take them any further than kissing. So why was he pumping the breaks when she desperately wanted him to pump into something else?
“This is different. You’re different.”
“Different how?”
The longer he took her in, the more nervous she became.
“Infinitely different.” Magic stopped speaking and her heart stopped right along with his words.
Please be falling in love with me. Please be falling in love with me. Please be falling in love with me. Stella silently chanted, waiting for Magic to continue. Please. Please. Please feel the same way I do.
“I’m falling in love with you,” he whispered, and she would’ve sunk to the floor in relief if he hadn’t been holding on to her.
“Thank God.” The two words puffed from her mouth, sounding as breathless as she was.
“I take it you feel the same?” He beamed.
God, he had a great smile. Or was he smirking? Yeah, it looked a little cocky, a little roguish, and a whole lot sexy.
Never mind relief, if he kept grinning at her like that they’d be on the floor for a different reason. Oh, there’d be relief—but the sexual-gratification kind that came from fantastic orgasms.
“No games. I fell in love with you when you told me about playing soccer with the kids in Columbia.”
“That was our first date,” he said, no longer smiling.
“No, that’s not right. I fell in love with you when you caught me when I fell out of the tree.”
“That was pretty good, wasn’t it? Straight-up romance novel shit right there.”
Stella narrowed her eyes and shook her head. “Romance novels aren’t shit, Magic. You should read one. You might learn a thing or two.”
“Are you saying I suck at wooing?” Stella couldn’t stop the burst of laughter at her big, strong, tough Delta Operator. “Come on, you have to admit, I give good woo.”
“You give good something, and I’m hoping tonight you’ll give me more.”
“More?”
“A lot more.”
Magic’s lips curved up and his eyes danced. It was a good look, though in the time she’d spent with him—even during the serious moments—she’d hadn’t found a time when he didn’t look ridiculously handsome. With Magic, there were varying degrees of sexy—some understated, some outrageously hot. She was surprised she’d managed not to strip him naked.
Stella lost sight of his smile when he dipped his head. The moment of disappointment was erased when his lips met hers.
And once again, with a kiss, he rocked her world. No, he wrought devastation; the best kind where you knew that your life would be forever altered, changed in a way where you knew nothing would ever be as good, pain that was so pleasurable it was like a drug. A habit you never wanted to kick because it fed your soul, made you so happy you wanted to dance and sing and shout.
Her breath caught, her lungs burned, and wetness hit her eyes. There was something Stella needed to say but she couldn’t. The words were buried under a mountain of emotions.
“I’m thirty-six,” she said. “I’ve never…no one’s ever…I haven’t…” She knew she was rambling but couldn’t form a coherent thought.
Unable to keep her head up any longer, Stella dropped it to Magic’s shoulder and continued to blather.
“I didn’t believe it was real. Not the insta-love stuff, not the love at first sight, not the butterflies in your belly. But mostly, I didn’t believe I could ever feel something this big. So, now, no games, I love you, Magic. So damn much it scares the pants off me, and not in a down-and-dirty fun way but in a way that I know I’ll never feel this way again, not with anyone else. And it only took you six days to make me feel it. I’m scared that in another six, I’ll be in so deep I’ll be drowning.”
The more she spoke, the tighter his arms squeezed, which meant the next thing he said made her smile.
“We’ll drown together.”
She already was.
“And don’t be scared, I’m right there with you. Every step. Me and you.”
“Every step.” Stella turned her head and burrowed under his chin. “Me and you.”
“Me and you,” he confirmed.
And just like that, she was no longer scared. How could she be—she was surrounded by Magic.
Stella was standing at the sink tapping out the last of her text message to Holly when she heard Magic chuckle from behind her. Then she felt her hair slide off her shoulder and she knew what that meant. Moments later, his lips brushed under her ear and she shivered.
Every time.
By her count, Magic had an accuracy rate of a hundred percent. Once he’d found the secret spot that made her tremble, he hit his target with shocking precision.
“So you’re planning on sleeping in tomorrow?” he asked.
Stella glanced over the text string and her cheeks heated.
Stella: You nervous about tonight?
Holly: A little. It’s the first time I’ll be hanging out with Dash at his place. Are you nervous?
Stella: Hell no! I’ve been ready for some Magic in my life sin
ce he first moved next door!
Holly: Maybe down the line we could double date or something.
Stella: Oh, that’s definitely happening! Have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.
Holly: Which leaves me open to just about anything.
Stella: Lol. You know it. Text or call me tomorrow…but not too early. I’m fully expecting to sleep in *wink wink*
Holly: Love you
Stella: Love you too, girl!
The “love you, too, girl” was the last text she’d sent, and knowing she wouldn’t hear from Holly again, seeing as she would be with Dash for the rest of the night, Stella exited out of the messaging app and tossed her phone on the counter.
“You know it’s rude to read over someone’s shoulder, right?”
“Just gathering intel.” He smiled, and since his mouth was still on her neck, she not only heard him but felt the words dance over her skin.
Something he knew she loved because she’d told him.
“Are you breathing on my neck to muddle my mind so I won’t be irritated you’ve read my texts?”
“Is it working?”
“Yeah.”
“You need some Magic in your life, Stella?”
“Oh, yeah.”
He wrapped his arm around her middle, buried his face in her neck, and busted out laughing.
“Good dinner, babe,” Magic said on his approach to the couch.
“Thanks for doing the dishes.”
“You cook. I clean.”
“Is that part of the wooing? Washing dishes? Because if it is, it’s totally working.”
Instead of sitting next to her Magic tagged her hand and pulled her to her feet.
“What—” The rest of her question was cut short and she squealed as he swung her up into his arms.
“Time for bed.”
Stella’s arms went around his neck, her belly flip-flopped, and she took in a stuttering breath to calm her excitement. By the time Magic made it to her room, she was ready to tear her clothes off and he hadn’t done anything but carry her.
Once she was back on her feet, she wasted no time grabbing the hem of Magic’s tee and pulling it up. Thankfully, he took pity on her and yanked it off the rest of the way.
“Holy smokes,” she mumbled, taking a step back so she could fully appreciate the beauty in front of her.
And that’s what it was, pure male beauty. There was no other way to describe Magic. Smooth skin, perfect ridges and valleys made up his washboard abs, but it was his chest and shoulders that held her attention. She knew he was strong, had seen the sleeves of his t-shirts pulled tight against his biceps, had felt some of the hardness under her hands, but she hadn’t known the goodness that awaited under the fabric.
Hers. It was all hers.
“Come here.”
“Nope. I’m not done staring at you.”
“How about you come here and I’ll give you more to look at?”
Stella’s gaze snapped to his, and he smiled.
“What’s wrong? No witty comeback?”
She would’ve had one if her lust-addled brain had been working, but seeing the man shirtless had her dumbstruck.
It was a good thing Magic didn’t seem to have the same problem. He took the two steps needed, hooked her around her waist, dipped in, and laid a long, wet, deep kiss on her, and that was all it took for all stations to get back online. After that it was a frenzy—hands tugged at fabric, her t-shirt was off and sailing through the air, bra and panties discarded, cargo pants and boxers a heap on the floor.
And through all that, skin was explored, tongues clashed, hair was pulled, and hunger built.
“Bed,” he rumbled and desire shot straight to her center.
Stella uncurled her fingers from around his neck and scrambled back until she felt the mattress hit the back of her knees, and in an uncoordinated, unladylike manner, she got on the bed. They’d never played games, they’d never hidden their attraction. Magic had told her many times he thought she was sexy and beautiful, and she believed him. All of that meant she was not shy when she lay back completely bared to him.
Apparently, he felt the same way, standing in front of her comfortable in his nudity, as he should be. His body was a work of art, cut from granite, hard everywhere.
Every. Where.
Strong thighs. Muscles stacked on top of muscles—all of that hot—but right then, Stella was fixated on something else. Oh, yeah, he was hard and strong and thick. And when his hand came up and fisted his dick, she didn’t miss it. Neither did she miss the way his hand stroked—tight grip, long, slow glides. The erotic sight in front of her was the hottest thing she’d ever witnessed. A sight she’d gladly watch for hours, but the pulsing between her legs couldn’t be ignored.
Her eyes sliced to Magic’s and she felt it, everything he was trying to convey with a look. His need, his hunger, his love, his excitement—she felt it all. It coursed through her veins and set her on fire.
Thankfully, he moved, taking a step closer. But before he made it to the bed he stopped, bent down, and reached for his cargos. Since he was gloriously naked, Stella had a bird’s-eye view of those muscles bunching and straining as he unearthed a condom and tossed it on the bed.
“Feeling lucky?” Stella asked, gesturing at the square wrapper at her hip.
“Fuck yeah.” His knee went to the bed and her heart rate doubled. “You should know, I am absolutely the lucky one in this bed, but by the time I’m done with you, you’re gonna swear it was you.”
Stella had no doubt she’d be getting lucky, didn’t think for a second she hadn’t struck gold when she’d fallen into his arms, but she loved that he thought he was the lucky one to have her.
“I’m gonna swear it, huh?” she teased, and Magic gave her a new kind of smile, one she hadn’t seen before—wolfish, predatory, seriously hot.
He picked up her foot and kissed her ankle, then her calf, and higher still until his tongue grazed the inside of her thigh. Tiny pinpricks of heat rose to the surface until she was so hot she squirmed.
“My sweet Stella,” he murmured and continued to lick. “You have no idea.”
Closer and closer, achingly slow, so slow she fought the urge to yank his head where she needed. So slow she thought she’d die from want. Then he was so close, his tongue grazed over her pussy.
“Oh God,” she moaned.
“Mmm,” Magic hummed, lifting her leg over his shoulder. “Keep ’em nice and wide, baby, so I can eat you.”
A long, slow swipe of his tongue had her groaning, “Oh. My. God.”
“You taste so damn good.” Swipe. “So damn good.” Swipe. “Bet you’ll taste even better when you come in my mouth.”
“Magic.”
“Yeah, baby?”
“Hurry.”
The wolfish smile made a reappearance and she hummed—actually hummed—her approval.
“My beautiful, sweet Stella, all laid out for me. Pretty pussy wet.” Magic paused and circled her opening with his fingertip, skimming the sensitive flesh, spreading her excitement up to her clit, then back down. “Maybe I wanna watch you come on my fingers first.”
Two thick fingers invaded and her back arched. Desire thrummed through her veins. Time stopped. Everything slowed. Then Magic went about proving he was right. She had no clue.
“So beautiful.” That was all she heard before he lowered his head and sucked her clit between his lips. On their own accord, her hips worked in time with his plunging fingers. Reaching, searching, almost there.
His teeth scraped her clit and that was all it took. Bright, blinding pleasure consumed her until she was screaming her orgasm.
It was glorious.
Stella bit back another moan when his tongue slowed, gently licking, bringing her down from the earth-shattering climax.
“Still want more?” Magic’s chuckle brought her back to the room.
“Oh, yeah.”
Boneless and happily wrung out, thankfully she
had the foresight to open her eyes in time to see Magic lift to his knees and grab the condom.
Son of a mother trucker.
Long and thick and hard with a pearl of wetness dripping from the tip.
She licked her lips and smiled when Magic groaned. Without taking her eyes off the cock in front of her, she asked, “Do I get a taste?”
“Next round,” he said and rolled the latex down his erection.
Well, that was disappointing. Though the blow of denial was short-lived. So short-lived she’d forgotten all about wanting to get him in her mouth when he bent forward and his lips went to her belly. Long trailing kisses slowly moved over her stomach up to her breasts, where he stopped to tongue one nipple, then the other. Magic made his way up to her neck, working her favorite spot until she was squirming and panting.
He dropped a sweet kiss on her lips before he lowered himself over her. Warm and safe—those were her thoughts as Magic hitched one of her legs around his waist, forcing her legs wider, making a place for himself. Then she felt the head of his dick notch into her pussy and a whole slew of new dirty thoughts raced in.
“Magic.” The complaint came out as a whine, and if he didn’t hurry, she’d beg. She was ready, so, so ready; any second she’d roll him to his back and take over.
“You’re gonna want to hold on for this.”
“You think so, huh?” she teased.
His answer was nonverbal but effective.
In one hard drive that jolted her body, Magic filled her full.
“Oh, God.”
Her arms went around him, her ankles locked, and she held on.
“Now you’re ready.”
She was so ready. Beyond ready. As a matter of fact, she’d been ready since the day he caught her.
No, scratch that, Stella was wrong, she hadn’t been ready. Totally unprepared for the pleasure Magic could create. She hadn’t the first clue anything could feel as good as Magic moving inside of her. But she held on and gloried in every satisfying, astounding, awe-inspiring moment of it. By the time he was done, the sheets were half off the bed, Stella had learned the true meaning of sated, and Magic was smug. As he should’ve been; he’d pulled off a triple.