by Anthology
We kissed, tongues tangled, his hands exploring. He licked his way down my neck, sucking my nipples into his mouth.
“So pretty,” he said. “These are why I brought you up here.”
I smacked his arm, my giggles dying when he sank further down, hair brushing my belly.
“No…actually, it was this. Definitely this.”
I blushed, watching him. The blinds were open, and sunlight filled the room. East pushed his tongue against my clit, kissing and licking until I came, shaking against his lips. He was good at that—too good, like he’d majored in oral—and judging by the smug look on his face as he rose to meet me, he already knew.
Rolling a condom on, he got back into the bed with me, bringing the blanket up over us. I tasted myself on him when he kissed me, and he reached between us, feeling how wet I was for him.
“You sure?” he asked, the lazy, crooked smile playing on his lips. “No turning back after this. We won’t just be neighbors.”
Gazing up at him, I ran my fingers through his soft hair. “Pretty sure we already crossed that line.”
His grin faded as he pushed his way into me. “Pretty sure you’re right.”
Two weeks later
My phone buzzed angrily in my back pocket, distracting me from East’s kisses. Climbing off his lap, I checked my texts.
“It’s my mom.” I sighed, squinting out his peephole. Sure enough, she was outside the door to my apartment. “She’s wondering where I am.”
“The Georgia Peach?” he said, standing. “Bring her over!”
“Yeah, right!” I snorted, eyeing him as he adjusted the tent in his pants.
“It’s fine, babe.”
I realized he was serious. “East…she’ll be all…”
But he’d already reached around me and yanked open the door. “Mrs. Harrington! Fate brings us together again.”
My mother whipped around, eyebrows shooting up when I peeked from behind East. “Julia?” Beast took the opportunity to scamper out, peeing a little as he ran.
“Hey, Mom,” I said weakly, waving.
“Make yourself at home,” urged East. “I gotta go grab this dog.”
Mom came in, watching in amusement as East chased Beast and brought him, squirming, back.
“What a cutie,” she cooed, scratching beneath his chin.
“Mom, meet Beaston. Named for his equally silly owner, Easton.” I glanced up at East, heart beating double time when he smiled down at me. “But we just call him Beast.”
Rochelle Allison has been living, and thriving, in her imagination since she was a little girl in the Caribbean. A true lover of words (books! thesauruses!), she can usually be found crafting stories, inspired by people, conversations and the world around her.
A wife of one and mother of two, Rochelle lives just outside of Atlanta. She’s a lover of hiking and the outdoors, photography and baking.
And...she loves love. More than anything, she loves love.
Twitter: @roglows
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6545655.Rochelle_Allison
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rochelleallisonwrites/
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Rochelle-Allison/e/B01H29KSSA
Ropes and Tees
Copyright © 2018 by Danielle Brenna
All rights reserved.
[email protected]
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the written permission of the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Hair stuck to my cheeks and neck as the spray of cool, salty water splashed over me. Giggles and shrieks filled the air, mostly from my friends running, stumbling, and falling in the water around me. The evening sun hid behind clouds as the unusually chilly spring air whipped around us. If the sun didn’t come out to play, we’d start shivering any minute. Our clothes were sopping wet, after all. I still don’t remember who ran into the water first, but I found out fast my friends and I, we were a bunch of followers.
Waves slapped against the back of my thighs as I wiggled my feet into the sand. The sun peeked out from behind the clouds, heating my exposed skin. Finally. I tilted my head toward the warm rays and lifted my hands to the sky. My eyes closed as I inhaled and smiled. I wanna be in this moment forever.
Too bad the tequila wouldn’t let me stand still for very long. Not two seconds after that thought entered my mind, a big wave hit my legs and I swayed. I tried to gain my balance, I really did, but in my inebriated state, it was impossible. My arms circled around me in a windmill motion as I fell to the right.
“Shit!”
The curse hit my ears right before I collided with a solid body. “Ooph,” I said before landing—face-first I might add—in the water. A wave rolled me under and panic clawed at my chest as I tried to locate which way would take me up. I couldn’t find it, so instead I succumbed to the alarm, kicking my feet and flapping my arms around me—full blown seizure-esque.
I couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe, couldn’t climb out from under the water. And then, as if someone had heard my internal screaming, hands squeezed my sides and pulled me, sputtering and coughing, from the water. I inhaled the air around me greedily, not even caring that I sounded like a pig snorting through the ground in search of food.
“Whoa, little lady. You okay?” A deep timbered voice said from somewhere above me. My lungs burned, but my heart pitter-pattered at the smooth sound. Sam Elliot saved me?
A big hand swept the hair from my face and the other patted my back, since the air I’d been so greedy about before had decided to make me cough up a lung. Once I could take a breath in without hacking, I sagged against my savior’s side.
“Oh, thank y-you so much-ch. I-I don’t know w-w-what happened,” I said through chattering teeth.
His arm wrapped around my middle, and together we made our way to the shore. Well, he waded to the shore. I kind of let my legs float behind us because my consciousness kept fading in and out. The poor guy practically carried me onto the beach through all the drunken college students playing in the waves.
A sandy towel wrapped around me, followed by my arms being rubbed dry by what felt like freaking sandpaper. My chest ached, but being jumbled around by giant hands didn’t give me time to dwell on it.
“I don’t know if you’re shaking from cold or if you’re in shock. Can you be in shock? I’m so sorry I didn’t catch you. Do I need to call someone?”
I laughed. Full out crazy laughter, the kind that ended in loud snorting—and when it came, my cheeks flamed. How could I be laughing at his compassion? It was so awkward. I was awkward, and drunk, and the guy probably thought I was a basket case.
The minute the thought crossed my mind, I wanted to snatch it back. Men usually gawked or sneered or licked their lips when they saw me. Not everyone liked a curvy woman, but I didn’t mind. Some men looked at me with total disgust or anger because my slightly slanted green eyes and dusky skin tone attracted them when my body didn’t. They’d see the wide hips and thick thighs with a rounded tummy and it turned them off. No one needs that kind of negativity in their life, so I ignored men for the most part. And I should be ignoring the one standing in front of me, too.
“Uh. . . I’m not sure what to do, Miss.” His confused voice cut through the random contemplations floating through my mind, pulling me back to the matter at hand.
I wiped the tears from my eyes and sighed. Ouch. No deep breathing for a little bit. I cleared my throat and looked up into his face. Ice blue eyes stared into mine and I nearly fain
ted. I’d never seen a glacier in person, but the bluish white perfection captivating me right there on the beach matched what I pictured in my mind.
“What was the question?”
He grinned, and my knees knocked together. Sweet baby Jesus!
“Are you okay?” he asked.
I nodded, unable to find a single word to say to him. His eyes had captured me in their icy-blue cage, and hell if I’d be able to find the damn key to get me out of there. Not even if my life depended on it. I’m so screwed.
“Do you need me to call anyone?”
Without a lick of hesitation, I shook my head, my lips pressed together.
He titled his head, his unbelievable eyes searching my face. “What’s your name, beautiful?”
“Olivia,” I croaked. My face heated when he chuckled under his breath. Once again, I cleared my throat and swallowed my stupid embarrassment. “Olivia Nguyen,” I stated. Before I could stop myself, or think what a bad idea it might be, I leaned forward to get a better look at his teeth. “Wow. You have gorgeous cuspids. Have you had any work on your molars? The maxillary incisors are perfectly proportionate to—”
“Whoa there, Olivia,” he cut me off as I reached up to move his soft lips and expose the rest of his teeth. “Usually a mouth inspection is done after the second date. Or at least after you know the person’s name you’re diving into.”
“Ah hell.” I groaned. “I’m unaware of personal space when I’m drunk. I should just go find my friends.”
I shrugged the towel off and held it between us. He snatched it and swung it around my shoulders before I could blink. “So, you’re a dental student, huh?”
“Nope,” I answered, then swiveled around to wander the beach. A small smile tugged at my lips as he caught up to me.
“Obsessive over teeth, then?” His blue eyes danced with contained laughter.
“Nope.”
This time he let out a chuckle and placed a hand on my shoulder to still me. “Okay, I can take a hint. It was very nice to meet you, Miss Nguyen.”
I angled my body to face him. “It was nice to meet you, too…uh—” Then I blanked. He hadn’t told me his name. Or had he? I frowned.
“I thought you’d never ask,” he replied, a grin spreading across his beautiful face. I hadn’t noticed his features because his stupid eyes should’ve been illegal. And those teeth? Le sigh. His full lips were a shade darker than his pink cheeks and nose. Sunburn? Too cute! I never turned pink or red or whatever other color light skinned folks complained about. I was either brown or dark brown.
“Technically I didn’t ask, so. . .” I shrugged and looked away from his stunning features. He was just too cute for his own good. Or mine.
“Kylian Bloom.”
“Mhm,” was all I could muster. “Do people call you Kyle?”
“What do your friends look like? We should probably get you back to your hotel,” he said, dodging my question.
I waved a hand through the air and gave a very unladylike, “Psh! We’re meeting back at the cabana to wash up at eight. Then more partying!”
He caught me as I stepped on a woman’s leg and stumbled to the side. “Thankfully it’s seven thirty. Can I walk you to your room?” He turned to the woman I’d trampled. “So sorry, ma’am.”
I almost replied with an automatic ‘no,’ but hesitated. You’re here for Spring Break, your team just won the last match, and you had your lowest score yet! You deserve to let loose and enjoy every opportunity that comes your way.
With my pep talk completed and confidence at an all-time high, I leaned forward with my lips puckered. He was at least two heads taller than me, which said something since I stood at a massive five nine. I moved closer. He didn’t take the hint, so I dug my toes in the sand and rose up as far as I could, only one thing on my mind—kissing those pink lips.
Smack!
My nose connected with his sternum when the sand shifted beneath me. “Damnit!”
“You’re seriously bad for your own health in this state.” He laughed. “Where are you staying?”
Looking around, all I saw were heads, necks, chests, and sand. I giggled and spun in a circle, searching for anything that would serve as a reminder or trigger something. Anything.
“That’s a fantastic question,” I blurted.
A big hand lifted the bottom of the towel hanging from my shoulders and grazed the back pocket of my jean shorts. I sucked in a breath at his boldness, especially after I’d just made an ass out of myself.
“Well, hello to you too, Kyle,” I murmured, then did something I’d never have done if alcohol wasn’t involved. My hand shot out and cupped his cock and balls. Right there on the beach with people everywhere having a great time.
Let me repeat that: I grabbed that man’s cock and balls.
“Oh shit,” he shouted in surprise and jumped back.
My pouty lip was on point. “We weren’t touching? Sad days.”
His cheeks reddened, and I swear my heart kicked into overdrive. “I was checking to see if you had a room key in your pockets, so maybe we could find what hotel you’re in.”
I felt my face heat to match his. “Well, that’s probably not the most embarrassing thing I’ll do today.” I did throw myself at you twice now and got shot down both times.
My thoughts must’ve shown on my face because instead of pushing me away, he pulled me closer, flush against his hard body. His half-mast pressed into my stomach as his hand spread across my lower back, crushing me against him. He palmed an ass cheek with his free hand and kissed the shit out of me. My mind blanked and I couldn’t get close enough to him. I’d never been so angry to be dressed in my life. His hands moved on my ass, squeezing and pulling enough to leave fingerprint bruises.
He broke away panting. The ice I associated the color of his eyes with morphed into molten heat as he looked down at me.
This is what they mean by desire in the eyes. It was hot as fuck.
He held a key card between us, but I didn’t bother to look at it. “Isla Grand. We’re not far. Hop on my back. I’ll take you there, you can check in with those friends of yours, then we’re going to my room.”
Without another word, I walked around him and hopped on as he crouched down. “Giddy up, cowboy,” I whispered in his ear.
My back connected with the door and I groaned. Kylian pushed against me, swallowing each and every sound I made as he fumbled with the key card to enter his room. The latch clicked, twisted enough to open the door, and we tumbled forward into the walkway. The air whooshed out of my lungs as I landed on my back. I squeezed my eyes closed as Kylian fell over me, but right before he crashed into me, he slammed both hands down, one on each side of me, and caught himself above me.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t want to squish you,” he exclaimed as he sat back on his heels and helped me up.
All I could do was laugh at the cutie pie. “Even all hot and bothered, you’re still a gentleman first.”
He blushed, then ushered me inside enough to shut the door behind us. A doorway to the right led to the bathroom, and a closet stood to the left.
“Shower?”
I grinned and followed him into the small room. He reached in and fiddled with the faucet while I struggled with my shorts. The wet, sandy denim scratched my thighs as I shimmied them down. Only bad part of having thunder and lightning thighs is squeezing into and out of clothing.
As soon as I stepped out of them, Kylian turned and his jaw dropped open. “I wanted to do that,” he pouted.
“You took too long. Now either do something with this or stand there and watch,” I said as I sat back on the counter and spread my legs open. My pussy was on full display, and I couldn’t be more grateful I’d decided on that wax a couple days ago. My fingers trailed down over my mound and I spread my lips for him. A finger curled and rubbed my opening before dipping in an inch.
I gasped but kept my eyes on him. He bit his l
ip. I smirked, my gaze dropping to his shorts, tented now that his cock had grown behind them. I wanted him closer, but for some reason he stayed on the other side of the room. Not far, just a step or two away, but far enough…
I leaned back on one arm and lifted one foot onto the counter with me to keep from falling off. Still drunk, I didn’t really trust my balance. “You’ve got a condom, right?”
His eyes tore from my ministrations to my face. He nodded right before he ducked out of the room.
With Kylian gone, I hopped from the counter and stripped my top off. Steam wafted from the tub when I tugged the curtain back. The sand in my hair itched, not to mention the other areas being chafed. I wanted nothing more than to get it all off. Now. So, I stepped in the shower, and the hot water pounded against my back. I hissed as my skin adjusted to the heat, then tipped my head back. Streams trailed down my body, only interrupted when my hands swiped at the stubborn sand stuck to me.
I felt a breeze and didn’t bother opening my eyes. Moments later a washcloth rubbed over my shoulders and down my arms. Lips trailed over clean skin until every inch of me was scrubbed and free of sand. And I do mean every inch. Yes, I did the exact same thing to him when he went under the spray, unless I couldn’t reach. The endorphins released during all that exploring heightened every sensation. We were shaking with need by the time we stepped from the shower. I hadn’t let him have me in there. The year prior, I’d been with my ex in the tub at our apartment when I slipped and landed on the faucet. I won’t go into detail over it, but let’s just say there were stitches involved. Lots of stitches. Bleh.
He wouldn’t let me step from the shower onto a wet floor, so he got out before me and laid a towel down. We crashed into each other, our slippery bodies gliding together in beautiful ecstasy. I’m not sure how we made it into the room, but the cool comforter absorbed the droplets along my back as he laid me down. I’d had enough with the foreplay. I needed him in me like I needed oxygen in my blood.