by L. P. Maxa
We were pros by this point, knowing exactly how to sneak around and not get caught with our hands all over each other. I used to think my sisters were crazy, that they were reckless and bound to get caught. But now I knew differently. I knew that when there was a will there sure as hell was a way.
“Congratulations, baby.” Talon stepped into the small space, sliding the pocket door closed and blanketing us in darkness. His hands slid up my sides, brushing the underside of my breasts. He kissed my lips, his tongue dancing with mine as my fingers dug into his unruly blond hair.
He picked me up, setting me on the sink and stepping in between my thighs. He pressed his hard length against my core, making me moan against his lips. I wanted him. I wanted all of him. “Let’s get out of here.”
He chuckled as he kissed his way down the column of my throat. “Don’t you think people would notice if you suddenly disappeared from your own graduation party?” His fingers walked up the inside of my thighs, pressing on my clit through my shorts and causing me to gasp. “Meet me at the tank at midnight.”
I nodded, instantly missing his touch as he stepped away. “Okay.”
He kissed the tip of my nose and then left the bathroom, making me giggle as he adjusted his dick.
***
I stayed at my party like Talon told me to, not because he was the boss of me, but because he was right. They would notice if I left and I wanted no one looking for me tonight.
After the crowd started to thin, I went to the barn and spent time with Jett. We talked about college, about him taking some classes at UT with me. His parents wanted him to enroll so bad and I knew that even though he denied it, he wanted to please them. Jett had really sacrificed so much to make the new facility a reality.
Thankfully, he’d fallen asleep watching TV. After I’d covered him up, I was able to sneak out of the barn to meet Talon.
He’d said down by the tank, and I’d been a little curious as to what he had planned. But nothing could have prepared me for what I saw as I stepped through the tall grass and onto the stream’s bank. There was a small white canvas tent with a fluffy pallet of pillows and blanket. There were twinkle lights strung around the inside and music playing from hidden speakers.
It was the sweetest, most romantic setup I’d ever seen. It was simple and beautiful, and so thoughtful, I was feeling a little overwhelmed.
“Happy graduation, baby.” Talon came up behind me, startling me when he spoke against my ear.
I spun around, wrapping my arms around his neck in a crushing hug. “Talon, this is…” I sighed, not able to find the right words.
“It’s a special night.” He kissed the tip of my nose. “I wanted it to look special too.”
I didn’t deserve how amazing he was to me all the time. He’d fucked up in the beginning of our relationship, and he’d hurt me. But now, I was the one about to hurt him.
“Talon, before we, uh, before tonight goes any further there’s something I want to talk to you about.”
He ran his fingers down my arm, then threaded them with mine, leading me over to our glammed-up tent. We climbed inside then he knelt before closing the flaps shut, cocooning us in our own little paradise.
“Baby, if you’re not ready to have sex, then we can wait.” He brushed my hair back over my shoulders. “I told you that I would never pressure you, ever, and I meant it.”
“Oh, um, no that’s not at all what this is about.” I grabbed his shirt in my fist, dragging him against me so I could kiss away his concern. I wanted him. I wanted all of him one hundred and ten percent. I felt like I’d been waiting for this night my whole life.
But first, I needed to tell him I was going back on my word.
I released him, giving him an opportunity to speak. “Okay, then what’s up?”
“What’s up is I’m still not ready to tell anyone about us.” I winced, steeling myself for him to be really pissed at me.
He nodded, taking and letting out a deep breath. “Okay.” His words were soft, measured, like he was trying to stay calm. “So, when is the deadline now, M? After we’re married? After we have our first child? When do you think would be the best time to tell your family that we’re together?”
His words were still spoken in a soft tone, one I didn’t deserve. “After I move out?”
“Oh, after you move into your new house with Jett? Who also doesn’t know that we’re dating? Sounds like a good idea, baby.” He dragged his hands down his face, a sure sign that he was agitated. “Do I get a reason, at least?”
“I don’t have one that’ll make sense.” I shrugged, a sad smile creasing my face. “All I can tell you is that I want you, that I’m proud you chose me, that I’m not at all ashamed of you or us. But that I’m also not ready to let my family into our space.”
“Okay.”
“Okay?” Was that okay, let’s move past this? Or okay, I freaking hate you and want to break up?
Talon took my hands, using them to pull me into his lap. “When you’re ready, we’ll tell them. It’s not what I would choose for us, but it’s not only my decision, it’s yours too. They’re your family, and I trust that you have your reasons.” He kissed my neck, my collarbone. “I’m not going anywhere, Marley. Well, shit.” He groaned, resting his forehead against my chest. “That’s not entirely true.”
“What are you talking about? Where are you going?”
He leaned back, propping himself on his hands so he could see my face. “We talked to your dad and your uncles last night. We’re going to tour this summer.”
“Why?” My heart was instantly aching at the thought of him being gone for three months.
“Well, they wanted us to tour in the fall. But Brody wants to be home for the end of Landry’s pregnancy, and for when the baby comes.” His thumb reached out and rubbed at my bottom lip. “None of us is really pumped about going back on the road, but we’re contractually obligated. And we figured that we might as well cram the dates together and get them out of the way as quickly as possible.”
“You’ll be gone the whole summer?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but then we’re home with zero plans or contracts to make us leave.”
I looked down, not trusting myself to not cry. “I hate it when you’re gone.”
“I do too, baby.” He put his finger under my chin, making me meet his eyes. “Being away from you is its own form of torture.” He moved closer, kissing me gently. “I love you, M, so damn much.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Talon
Before
I’d told her I loved her, and she was staring at me like I’d hung the fucking moon. “I love you too.”
How the hell did I ever get so lucky? I had a gorgeous girl in my arms, with tears in her eyes, telling me she loved me too. Tonight was the best night of my life, and it wasn’t even close to being over.
“Trust me, baby?”
She nodded, a glint sparking in her shining eyes.
“Lie back. Get comfortable. And close your eyes. No matter what you hear or feel, you have to keep your eyes closed.”
Her brows went up, and she tilted her head to the side. I knew that look. She was contemplating arguing, or negotiating. Oh no. Not tonight. Almost always, I gave in, or worked around her insistence, her stubbornness, her single-mindedness, but tonight we were going to do this my way. Not because I was more experienced, but because by the time we were done, there would be no doubt in my girl’s mind that she belonged to me body and soul.
“Promise me.”
She opened her mouth, and I said it again. “Promise me, Marley.”
As she drew in a deep breath, she nodded, then lay back, her dark hair spreading over the white pillowcase. When she closed her eyes, I took a long moment to stare at the perfection of her.
No doubt, she was beautiful. But her physical attributes were a small part of the package. From the moment I’d seen her, that cool-as-shit vibe she threw off had me hooked as if I was a fish on a lin
e. And now that I knew her…that brain of hers was the sexiest thing on the planet. And she was mine.
Mine.
Gently, I wrapped my hand around her calf, then trailed my fingers down to the laces on her boots. Slowly—yeah, I wanted to be inside of her more than anything, but tonight was all about getting there—I unlaced one boot, then the other before I tugged them off and put them near the tent flap.
Before I began, I looked up to see her eyes were still closed and her breathing had become deeper, faster. Her hands were fisted into the blanket, bunching the material. Good. The anticipation was getting to her already.
I propped one foot on my knee and pressed my thumbs into the ball of her foot. She jerked back a bit, but I pulled her foot back and continued working the muscle until I felt it soften, then I switched to the other foot. When I was certain she was starting to relax, I unbuttoned her shorts, dragging them down her toned legs, keeping my eyes on her face. I needed her to stay relaxed, to keep trusting me. I massaged her calf, her thigh. I wanted her loose, pliant. Begging. I let my fingers dance and play their way up her body. Rubbing her muscles, massaging all the tension and nerves away.
I nipped at her hipbones, sucking her flesh into my mouth. I was a patient man, but I wanted her in a way that was almost wild.
I grabbed the hem of her Clashing Swell t-shirt—I loved that she’d worn it to her graduation—I pushed up the tee until it grazed the underside of her breasts before pulling it over her head.
I tossed the tee to the side, and then removed my shirt so I could feel her against me. I wanted her heat. I wanted her skin on mine. I lowered myself on top of her, cupping her face in my hands and kissing her hungrily. I took my time, my lips moving in time with hers until I was swallowing her moans and whimpers. Her nails were digging into the flesh on my back; she was losing her patience.
“Talon, please…”
I sank back on my heels, dragging my fingertips from her sternum to her bellybutton, drinking in the sight of her. “I love you, baby, I need you to know that, to hear that.”
“I know. I hear you.” She smiled and it lit the inside of the tent. “Now, I’m done waiting. Get inside me.”
I laughed quietly, expecting nothing less from my girl.
After I pulled a condom from my back pocket, my jeans joined the ever-growing pile of discarded clothes.
“No.”
I glanced up, the package halfway open. “What?”
“I’m on the pill, and I don’t… There’s only ever been you.”
Her words made my mouth fucking water. The thought of being inside her bare, nothing between us, filling her completely. It was almost too much to take. I’d always been careful. Always wore a condom. I would never hurt her, and the fact that she trusted me like that, it made me so fucking proud.
I took a deep shuddering breath, my pulse hammering in my neck. She was such a gift, such a beautiful fucking gift, and I wasn’t sure I would ever be fully deserving of her. Of her love.
I crawled back up her body, kissing my way to her lips. Her thigh slid up the side of my hip, making room for me between her perfect legs. Now her eyes were wide open and she was watching me. Slowly, I sank inside her, pausing, giving her a moment to adjust to the new fullness.
Her fingers traced my face as she smiled up at me, no hesitation or fear in her eyes. The emotion on her beautiful face made my chest swell. I pushed in farther, frowning when she winced. “I’m sorry, I—”
She shook her head, her hands going to the globes of my ass. She bit her bottom lip, pulling me fully into her body. We both stopped breathing, for two entirely different reasons. She was hurting and I could feel her thin barrier. I moved back a little, then surged forward, burying myself fully inside her tight pussy. It was nirvana. It was too much. I dropped my head to her chest, trying like hell to stay in control.
“Baby, are you—”
“I’m good. I’m perfect.” She swiveled her hips, threading her fingers into my hair. “Don’t stop.”
I moved, slowly at first. I wanted to give her time, to adjust and find what felt good to her. I didn’t want to rush her, I didn’t want to hurt her. Marley was the most precious thing in the world to me, and we had all night. But before long, she was begging for more. She was meeting me thrust for thrust, demanding I stop holding back. Demanding that I fuck her.
My girl approached sex like she approached everything in life: no fear and damn the consequences.
Her whimpers were filling the tent, and I fused my mouth to hers, trying like hell to keep her quiet. I swallowed her cries of pleasure, giving her mine in return. Nothing had ever felt as good as being inside my girl.
She bit down on my lip, groaning as her pussy clenched around my dick. She came hard, the tightening pulses literally pulling my orgasm out of me. I throbbed inside of her, filling her with my release. We were both panting, both trying to catch our breath as we rode out the aftershocks of her first time.
I rested my forehead against her, loving the way her breath came out in short puffs against my lips. “Fuck, M, I think I might have died.”
She wound her arms around my neck, tugging on my hair. “Well, as soon as you come back to life, I want to do that again.”
I chuckled, kissing the tip of her nose. “I guess that means you’re okay?” I couldn’t help but let the worry start to creep in now that I was coming back to my senses.
“I’m more than okay.” She pushed my chest, moving me back so we could see each other’s faces again. “I’m in love.”
Talon + Marley
Before
Marley: How’s life on the road?
Talon: The gigs are great, but I’m miserable. I miss you more than I ever thought possible. I got used to seeing you all the time, and now I can’t hold you or kiss you. I want to come home so bad.
Marley: I miss you too, so much.
Talon: How are things going with the new facility? Everything running smooth?
Marley: Yeah, we got everything transferred over, using Jett’s super-cool tunnel. As dumb as it sounded when he proposed it, it’s actually the best idea he’s ever had.
Talon: Don’t tell him, his head will get too big to fit through it. Are you all moved into the barn?
Marley: Yep. All moved in. And my dad has been here every day, making sure that Jett and I have no chance to hook up.
Talon: I’m good with that.
Marley: You going to be good with Dash in residence when you’re home from touring and we don’t ever have a chance to be alone?
Talon: Yes. Because when I get home, we’re coming clean with your family. Right?
Marley: I heard Jett having sex in the basement.
Talon: Um. Okay. I’d not sure what to do with that clearly deflective information.
Marley: It’s my basement too. I think we should have sex there.
Talon: We’ve done lots of naughty things in that basement, baby. I’ve eaten you on that table more than you’ve eaten meals.
Marley: Do you have any idea how horny I am? All the time. And you had to go and talk about eating me in the basement? Ugh. I literally want to cry right now.
Talon: Great. I left on tour and my horny girlfriend moved in with the world’s biggest fuck boy. It’s like a real-life porn setup.
Marley: Hilarious.
Talon: You want to try phone sex?
Marley: No. I don’t think I’d be able to say all those dirty words out loud and keep a straight face.
Talon: Where are you right now?
Marley: Upstairs, in my new bedroom, sitting at my desk going over the soil samples after the big move. I was afraid that it would hurt the plants, transferring them to a new facility. But they seem okay.
Talon: Baby. I’m trying something here, stop talking about work.
Marley: Oh.
Talon: You have a lock on your door?
Marley: Yeah.
Talon: Go lock the door, then get up on the bed.
Marley: Done.<
br />
Talon: Now take off all your clothes.
Marley: Ah… okay.
Talon: Ready?
Marley: Yeah, but I feel weird.
Talon: Give me a few minutes, and you’ll be feeling something else entirely.
Marley: Promises, promises.
Talon: I got my hand wrapped around my dick. What should I do now?
Talon: M, what should I do?
Marley: Stroke, T. Stroke all the way up and down, twist, like I do.
Talon: I’m picturing your hand on me. Fuck baby. Touch yourself.
Marley: I want you here, I want your fingers moving inside me. It feels good, it does, but….
Talon: Shit, baby. I can taste you on my tongue. You have no idea what this does to me, picturing you spreading that perfect pussy, knowing how wet you would be.
Marley: I need…
Talon: Harder baby, I know how you like it. Don’t hold back because I’m not there.
Marley: Talon.
Talon: I…
Talon: Fuck…
Talon: Damn, M. You made me come so hard.
Talon: Baby?
Talon: M?
Marley: Same.
Talon + Marley
Before
Talon: I had a dream about you last night.
Marley: Yeah? Was I naked?
Talon: No.
Marley: Boo.
Talon: You were in the kitchen, burning pancakes, wearing nothing but my old Clashing Swell shirt.
Marley: Ruined pancakes? Doesn’t seem like a good dream.
Talon: You looked so beautiful and I felt so lucky that you were mine, that you even wanted to make me pancakes.
Marley: I love you.
Talon: I love you more.
Marley: How’s Brody doing? Landry is getting pretty big. She’s already started to waddle.
Talon: He’s as miserable as I am. He hates that he’s missing another pregnancy.
Marley: It’s almost over.
Talon: I don’t think we were made for this life, touring and being on the road. When we were younger, it sounded like freedom and fun. But the reality is, it’s neither of those things. Even Dane and Brax are getting cranky about it.