by Lisa Hughey
“Turn around,” he said gruffly. “I’m going to approach you from the back.”
Ava obediently twirled around so that her back was to him and her front faced the tall, four poster bed. Con took a deep breath, willed his cock to settle down, and started instructing her on how to break the hold of attacker from behind.
But he realized he had made a serious mistake the second he put one arm around her waist and the other around her neck.
The sweet valley of her cleavage was in his direct line of sight. And even as he sidestepped her attempt to stomp on his instep instinctively, his palm slid up the side of her ribcage until he nearly cupped her breast in his hand.
He needed to concentrate on trying to attack her. If she went for a groin shot, she was in for a big surprise. Connor was harder than the pine posts of the canopy bed. Ava executed a few more self defense moves that were pretty good.
“You’ve got the hang of this.”
“I studied self-defense,” she panted.
“But you forgot it all when you were attacked?” Connor shifted again, trying to approach her from a different angle.
“No. I was stupido. I let my guard down because I thought you were following me. I assumed it was you behind me.”
Connor heart stuttered at the realization that he’d contributed to her attack, even if it was a misunderstanding . He tightened his arms around her waist, unwilling to let her turn around. He didn’t want to see the accusation in her deep black gaze. She kept saying she didn’t blame him but how could she not? The only way to atone was to teach her something new. “Never let your guard down.”
She gripped his wrists with surprisingly strong fingers and peeled his arms from her body. Before he could step away, Ava whirled around. “It was not your fault.”
“I certainly didn’t prevent it.” He shifted his attention to the fluttering sheer panels that surrounded the bed.
Ava placed her soft palm against his cheek and turned his head so that he faced her fully. “Connor, you saved me,” she said fiercely.
“Maybe.” He shrugged.
She stepped into his space, went up on her tiptoes, and pressed her lips to his. The contact was sweet, cool, as she initiated their kiss.
Connor stepped into the kiss, giving in to the temptation to touch her, to take solace from her forgiveness, and possibly forgive himself.
“Why are you beating yourself up?” she murmured against his mouth.
Why was he? Because she meant something to him. And the idea that she was almost taken from him, was assuredly hurt, even though he had rescued her, cut deep. And he finally acknowledged, at least to himself, that he had feelings for Ava beyond the lust he’d suppressed over the last few months.
For the past year, she’d quietly, sweetly smiled at him. Accepted him for who he was now, not some younger more immature, more reckless version of himself. She never saw that guy. The one he was always trying to live down. At least not until last night.
And he thought about her confessions in Jack’s office.
She saw him. Just like he saw her.
On a visceral level that defied logic and defied the depth of their interactions before this weekend, he saw her. But Con had a feeling if he admitted that she’d take off faster than he could say, Stay. He needed to show her how he felt.
Deeds not words.
And so he kissed her. He poured every bit of gratitude and relief that she was okay into the kiss. Con cupped her face in his hands, and scattered kisses across her face, touching on her cheekbones, the tip of her nose, the shell of her ear, the sensitive spot below. Each caress was a gesture of thanks. Of relief that she had not come to any harm.
Fuck it. The bed was right there. She wanted him as much as he wanted her. Con nipped at her lower lip then sipped his way into her mouth. He licked at her lips and wooed her with kisses until she sank against him, her once stiff body soft with surrender. Her breasts pillowed onto his chest and his erection rubbed along the V in her legs.
He planned to ask her her permission. But before he could separate his mouth from hers, she shoved him onto the bed and climbed over top of him.
He broke away from the kiss. “Jesus, that is hot.” Her natural aggression during physical intimacy was an incredible turn on. She was normally so quiet. Until she saw something she wanted. Or you pissed her off.
As he lifted his hips to nudge her with his sex, she spread her legs wider, the sweet kiss he had initiated turned feral and crazy hot. Connor reveled in the female curves of her body as he slid one hand down to cup her ass. He rocked her hips against his and swallowed her breathy moan. Her hands explored his chest, running along his skin like a blind woman reading braille. He worshipped her with his hands, embracing her curvy body with reverence, as if he could hold her, protect her forever. Because that’s what he wanted. Forever.
He wanted this thing between them to be the beginning, not just a response to danger and the adrenaline let down from a perilous situation. But they barely knew each other. She had no reason to trust him. Con wanted to give her every reason to trust him, to turn to him.
Ava sank on top of Connor. His erection bulged beneath the soft flannel, and the sight of him caused everything within her to soften as her body prepared for his. All the reasons why this was another bad idea flit through her mind as she rubbed against him.
But the one reason to keep going trumped every other reason to stop. He had saved her. As if the universe was telling her to seize the day, she surrendered to the arousal that thrummed through her. Her limbs were lax and her body languid as he rolled again until she was beneath him. She was in bed with Connor Stone, and based on the erection prodding her belly, he wanted her. When would she get this moment again?
He held her tight, his arms curled under her shoulders and his legs hard between hers. The feeling so right she lost her breath. “I’m glad you’re okay,” he said.
“Me too,” she replied breathily. She’d cheated fate once more.
After Maria disappeared, she’d made a promise to herself to live life to the fullest. Living life right now meant seizing this moment. Seizing him.
His face was half in shadow, the dappled light from the wall of windows highlighted his sharp cheek lines and his dark blond stubbled jaw. His longer hair fell over his eyebrow and shielded his gaze. He looked scruffy, something she’d never seen before, and unbearably sexy. Usually Connor was very tidy and clean-shaven. The beginnings of a beard gave him a more rakish air. The soft hair abraded her chin as he sipped at her mouth. Her skin tingled with each sweep of his hand.
The Stone brothers were notorious as the subject of office gossip.
According to the legends, of which there were many, Jack and Riley had voracious appetites. But what about Connor? Could she keep up with him?
She was damn well going to try.
Ava ran her palms over the warm skin of his chest, and marveled at his sculpted lean muscle mass. His biceps bulged as he propped his upper body over her and kept her ensconced within the protective custody of arms ropy with thick dark veins. As she stared into his eyes, the tawny brown and gold blazed with heat.
For her.
She may not be the most adventurous woman on the peninsula but what she lacked in experience she planned to make up for with enthusiasm. Ava laved her tongue up the thick column of Con’s neck and smiled as he shuddered at the contact. Her hands slid over the defined muscles of his back and toyed with the loose waist of his flannel bottoms.
His erection prodded her as he grew harder.
Connor shoved up the tight tank of her workout top and cupped her breast in his large, calloused palm. His hot mouth closed over her nipple and she involuntarily squeezed his ass.
He smiled against her breast. “I’m guessing you liked that.”
So now Mr. Silent had decided to get talkative?
She liked that he talked to her. Con tended to be a watcher. An observer who contributed when asked but didn’t run his mouth off. Av
a liked that he wasn’t silent with her, that he wanted to talk to her.
Ava panted as his mouth created a sizzle from the tip of his tongue down to her sex. Her body buzzed and fizzed as he kissed his way across her chest and made love to her breasts as if he’d been stranded in the desert for the last ten years.
Her head was floating, and she was desperate for him. Frustration clawed her as if he didn’t get inside her soon she would dissolve into a giant puff of air. And never be seen again.
“So I hear you think I am muy caliente,” Connor murmured against her breast.
“What?” she almost banged into his head as her chin came up and her entire body blushed. How did he know that?
“Apparently you get a little…loose-lipped while under the influence of chloroform.”
“Madre de Dios.” She’d told him. What else had she said? And did she even want to know?
Ava was determined to make him forget anything she’d said while drugged. What if she’d told him about her fantasies? About her daydreams?
Con laughed, his teeth white and even as he bent and nipped at her mouth. “I think you’re muy caliente too.”
And just like that he washed away her embarrassment. Ava shoved at his flannel bottoms, even as Connor ripped her top over her head. She cupped his ass in her hands, marveled at the heat of his erection prodding her sex.
As if that final confession lifted a barrier from their desires, they frantically tore at each other’s clothes. Within seconds, they were both naked. The power and heat of his body enveloped hers. He was so big he made her feel petite.
Connor quickly grabbed a condom from a drawer in the bedside table. Ava skimmed her hands over his powerful chest, as he propped up on one elbow and rolled the protection over his cock.
His extremely large cock. How had she missed that yesterday? “You’re huge.”
Connor laughed softly. “What every man wants to hear.”
“Si but not what every man is.”
Connor rubbed the head of his cock along her swollen aroused sex. The contact was firm but he didn’t enter her. Ava curled her fingers around his hips and tried to take control. Silently demanding that he come inside her.
But Connor held back, rocked his hips, each time, he slid just a little further inside but her sex clenched, begging for his deep invasion. “Now,” she demanded.
He thrust inside in one long deep glide and held there. The root of his cock pressed against her clitoris, as her slick channel swallowed the thick broad length of him.
Ava moaned, the sensual invasion so sweet and and so right. Her heart pounded and her pulse thudded. With a little whimper she rocked her hips into his silently begging for him to move.
“Dammit, Ava.” Connor bowed over her and pressed a sweet kiss to her lips. “I wanted to be gentle.”
“Screw gentle.” She panted. “Next time.”
With her words a giant smile spread over his face, lightened his somber gaze, and with a wicked grin he began to move.
Connor slid his palms beneath her butt and yanked her to him. They were connected at every touch point, mouths, his thick chest pressed against her breasts, their groins locked together and their legs entwined.
Connor pulled all the way out until only the head of his cock nudged her clit.
Then without warning he plunged inside.
Yes. Each slam blasted her erogenous zones, her g-spot, her clit, every nerve in her sex was massaged and aroused by his powerful movements. Connor surrounded her, enveloped her, overwhelmed her body and mind with the power of his thrusts.
Every cell in her body rejoiced at the intimate connection. Flames of desire roared through her body as her soft yielded to his hard. Her blood pooled and sizzled and then with one urgent final thrust, Connor froze in a rictus of release. His groan reverberated through her body and the hard, fierce pulse of his orgasm triggered her release.
Her womb contracted around him, each tight pull of her muscles created ripples of aftershocks throughout her body. Every nerve was over-sensitized as she experienced a nearly euphoric high.
She’d never come so hard in her life.
Her chest and throat were so tight, she couldn’t speak. Shouldn’t speak because all the fierce emotions bombarding her would likely come tumbling out in some sex-induced confession and she’d never live it down. So instead she pressed kisses along his shoulder and neck. His face was buried in the curve of her shoulder, his hair tickled her ear and the heavy press of his body felt incredible.
She could stay like this forever.
Jesus. Con was wrecked. Again.
He wasn’t sure he could move, let alone speak. The power of his orgasm had rendered him deaf, dumb and nearly blind.
He sank into the sweet cradle of her body and hoped he wasn’t crushing her. He’d move in a second. Speak in a second.
Right now he had to get his thundering heart under control and his thoughts ordered before he opened his mouth and blurted out something crazy, like, come live with me.
But fuck him, she’d done it again. She felt like home. Like shelter. Like acceptance. And Con was starving for the opportunity to have this every day. To feel like this every day.
Three sharp knocks sounded on the thick wooden door. Distantly Con registered the sound but it took a moment to process because all his blood had recently drained from his head and he was still recovering from a massive orgasm.
But the distinctive click of the lock shifted everything into clarity and before he could do more than roll over and yank the sheet up over their bodies to protect Ava from his stepmother’s gaze, she had opened the door and called out gaily, “Knock, knock. Oh! Oh, my.”
Connor hadn’t been caught in this position since he was eighteen.
“Well, I’ll just…go on back downstairs.” Shelley faltered, then powered through the rest of her announcement as if she hadn’t just caught them in the act. “Lunch is ready when you are.”
“Madre de Dios,” Ava muttered against his neck. “I am going to hell.”
Connor snorted. “I don’t think it’s quite that bad.”
“Easy for you to say.” She bit him hard. And just like that his cock, which had wilted slightly at Shelley’s interruption, surged back to life.
“Well then I’m going with you,” he teased. “Come on. We’d better get to lunch.”
“I can’t meet your stepmother now,” she wailed.
“Technically, you already met.”
Nine
Ava shifted on the rough, plank bench seat at the Stone’s kitchen table. The long table was constructed of wide oak boards, stained in a dark finish, with enough room to seat eight adults. The kitchen was huge. Almost as big as her entire apartment, the room boasted a wall of white cabinets with glass fronts, gray granite counters with gold and bronze flecks that gleamed, and a backsplash in rustic glass tiles of varying metallic shades. Three funky teardrop lights hung over an island big enough for four wood bar stools.
A large mahogany bowl, polished to a high shine, overflowed with mini-pumpkins, gourds, and dried corn. The placemats were a deep burnt orange with mustard yellow trim.
Connor’s stepmother served lunch, massive BLT sandwiches and apple cobbler, on brown square plates that matched the tabletop perfectly.
It was like stepping into a magazine cover shoot.
Condensation trailed down the side of tall glasses of iced tea, and reminded Ava why they were late. She flushed.
“So nice to finally meet you.” Connor’s stepmother, Shelley, smiled and brushed an affectionate hand over Connor’s shoulder. For all that Connor felt necessary to clarify that Shelley was his stepmother, she clearly loved her stepson and didn’t necessarily feel the same distance he did. Shelley appeared to touch him freely with a sweet, motherly smile on her face.
“Nice to meet you too,” Ava replied huskily. She cleared her throat and willed her body to stop flushing, still embarrassed by the fact that Shelley had seen them in bed. Although it
had been painfully obvious what they had been doing, thanks to Con’s quick thinking, Shelley hadn’t seen them naked. But it had been close.
Ava took a large gulp of iced tea. The frigid liquid soothed her abused, dry throat. Feeling ridiculously parched, she slugged down most of the cool drink, and avoided conversation. She shifted her attention to the large picture window and almost choked on the tea.
The Pacific Ocean crashed on the uneven rocks a hundred yards from their back door. It was one of those gray, foggy afternoons, where the marine layer clouds hovered over the ocean like a foreman over the field workers. Giant redwoods flanked the sides of their property and created a secluded grove which hid the estate from the prying eyes of the tourists who paid to drive along Seventeen Mile Drive.
Off to the left was a large swimming pool, surrounded by rocks similar to the coastline, and which sported a waterfall that recycled water back into the pool. Encircled by various trees and foliage, the habitat made it seem as if the pool were actually a natural pond. An expanse of green grass led to the tumble of rocks at the edge of the ocean, scattered with a few straggling cypress trees. Some weathered branches that had broken off from the trees were strewn across the rocks creating an artistic backdrop for the crashing waves.
The back door was open, ushering in a brisk salt-scented breeze and the bark of the seals on the rock formation out in the swirling eddy of their inlet.
Santa Madre de Dios. She’d known the Stone family had money. But they had money. “You grew up here?” she blurted before thinking. Ava slapped her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes in mortification. “Oh, lo siento. Very rude.”
To stop from saying anything else embarrassing, she shoved the bacon, lettuce, and tomato sandwich in her mouth, and took a big bite. Ava nearly moaned. It was so good. She flushed again and wondered if she could make any worse of an impression.