One-by-one, I pulled my arms out of my sleeves as seductively as possible, given the bundle of nerves I was. Thankfully, the open back of the dress made it easy to look smooth. His eyes were trained on my every movement. He didn’t blink—not even once. I let go of the fabric, letting the top half of my dress drop, and squared my shoulders. He inhaled on a hiss and looked straight up in the air. He was mumbling a long, unbroken string of words under his breath. By the time he brought his gaze back to me, I had shimmied the dress down and stepped out of it, standing before him in only my barely-there panties.
“Come here,” he commanded, his tone dark and guttural.
I win. My inner vixen did a quick victory dance. I bit my lower lip and casually closed the short amount of steps that had been separating us, stopping directly in front of him.
“So beautiful,” he whispered, almost reverently. His expression was so intense and possessive that it truly made me feel like the most beautiful girl in his world. He leaned down and kissed me slowly. I slid my hands up his chest, feeling the smooth, hard body under the thin fabric of his shirt. He took a step back and said, “Arms up.” It was more of a command than a request.
I obeyed without hesitation. My inner vixen was now grabbing popcorn and getting ready for what she hoped would be an amazing show. I was so sexually wound up that I failed to remember the T-shirt he held in his hand. Before I could object, the cotton was falling down my arms. When he tugged the shirt down over my head, I was scowling at him. He pressed his lips together in an effort to contain his amusement. I smacked him on the chest, and his laugh burst out.
“I’m never stripping for you again,” I taunted, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Yes, you will,” he said confidently. “Just not tonight.” He picked me up and laid me on his bed. “This is for me as much as for you, so please stop trying my willpower,” he said, his words sounding so much like a plea for mercy that I conceded.
“Okay,” I sighed. I crawled under the covers. The smell of his bedding was a million times better than the pillow I’d coveted over the past several days.
As he stripped down to his boxer briefs, I questioned if I had the willpower to sleep next to him without mauling him. He turned off the bedroom light and crawled into bed. He pulled me flush against him and wrapped me in his arms. The feel of his body against mine, even with the shirt between us, was out of this world.
“Am I doing this whole big spoon, little spoon thing right?” he asked into my hair. I let out a slight giggle. “Did you think that I didn’t catch your reference to spooning Courtney tonight? Well, I did, and I must admit it makes a nice mental image.”
“We don’t really spoon. It’s just an ongoing joke,” I clarified.
“I figured as much.” He pulled me tighter to him. “Sweet dreams, Princess.”
“Hey, Adam.”
“Hmm . . .”
“I secretly like you calling me Princess,” I admitted.
“Good. Cause I lied when I said I’d stop.”
I smiled in the dark and was probably still smiling when I fell asleep.
***
Bright morning light filtered through the window and shone directly on my face, blinding me. I pulled up my arm to shield my sensitive eyes. As soon as the recollection of last night entered my mind, I instantly looked to my left, only to find an empty bed. Not again! My eyes quickly darted around the room. Holy Mother of Mercy! He had a pull-up bar in his doorway, and I had a glorious view of tattooed back muscles flexing as he pulled his sculpted body up.
“Good morning. I must say this is a pleasant way to wake up.” My voice was still scratchy from sleep.
He dropped and turned around, walking to the bed with a panty-melting smile on his face, which made my heart speed into overdrive. His whole body vibrated with sex appeal. He crawled onto the bed and propped himself above me with his arms. “I needed to get rid of some tension, so I did pull-ups. It was that or wake you up and have my way with you.”
A Cheshire Cat smile spread across my face. “I’m awake now.”
“I’m still not having sex with you.” My smile fell. He peppered kisses on my now slightly frowning lips until I was smiling again. “But I don’t have the control to not touch you.”
“Sounds like you have a bit of a dilemma, Mr. Korbell,” I said, my tone slow and inviting.
His knee slipped between my thighs, opening them. “Hold onto the headboard. Don’t you dare let go.” His voice was absolute.
My lips twisted. “I think you like pushing me around.”
“And I think you like it when I do.” He winked. “You touch me, and I quit.”
“Quit what?”
He pushed up the T-shirt I was wearing and placed a single kiss on my bellybutton. He slid down my body, pulling off my panties with his fingers, and softly kissed my inner thigh. Holy shit! That’s what!
My hands never left that headboard.
Chapter Twenty
“And after all of that, he still won’t let me touch him. I’m going nuts!” I banged my head theatrically on our living room coffee table.
Sophie laughed so hard she missed her nail and got red polish on the top of her toe. “Now look what you made me do!” she chastised. “It looks like a kindergartener did my nails. You’re lucky I didn’t get it on the rug.”
“It’s not my fault you laughed,” I retorted. “This isn’t funny, so I don’t see why you two keep acting like it is.” I was getting irritated that they found everything I said hilarious and kept bursting into fits of giggles. Especially when I said the word “nipple.” Apparently, nipple was a very funny word, and I just hadn’t gotten the memo.
Courtney held up her zebra print nails and wiggled them. “Pretty awesome, right?”
I sighed exasperatedly. “I don’t know why I even try to talk to either of you.”
Courtney smiled sweetly. “Because you love us.” She made kissy lips at me.
“Not right now, I don’t,” I said, although the small smile on my face contradicted my words. I leaned against the couch and brought my legs under my arms. “I’m having a sexual crisis and neither of you are helping one bit.”
Sophie finished wiping off her botched paint job. “Sexual crisis? You’re joking, right?” She picked up an unopened nail polish and shook it. “You’re super-hot boyfriend has gone down on you basically every day for a week, he won’t let you return the favor, and you’re complaining?” She shook her head disbelievingly and rolled her eyes.
“No kidding. You should totally not be complaining,” Courtney agreed. “You’re living my dream fantasy right now. Daily orgasms as long as you keep your hands on the headboard. Gee, where do I sign up?”
I gave her the stink eye. “Of course I’m not complaining about that part. It’s just that I’ve had sex a total of one time in my entire life. I’d like to increase that number. I just don’t get why he won’t sleep with me again?”
“He told you why. Personally, I think it’s really sweet.”
Courtney nodded. “Sophie’s right. It is sweet. I think you should look at this as a positive thing.”
“I guess. But it’s been a week now. Maybe he’s not sleeping with me because he’s not sure of us.” I started to panic a little. “What if he really doesn’t want to be with me, and that’s the reason?
“Now you’re just being stupid,” Sophie stated bluntly. “You and Adam have been joined at the hip all week. The boy has little hearts in his eyes when you’re around.”
“Plus, when you all helped me move my stuff into the dorms yesterday, he not only stared at your ass the entire time, he looked like he was going to murder every other guy who stared at your ass.”
I quirked my brow at Courtney. “Huh?”
She giggled. “How do you go through life this oblivious? That poor boy’s eyes were glued to your butt every time you picked up a box. I figured that you were bending at the waist, instead of the knees, on purpose just to torture him.”
Now that I thought back, he had been pretty grabby with my butt yesterday. I didn’t know why I was being so insecure. Heck, he’d been around a dorm full of girls, and I couldn’t remember him paying attention to a single one of them. Maybe they’re right, and I’m just being paranoid.
A slow smile spread across my face as I took in this new information. “I wasn’t trying to stick my butt in his face, but I’m glad to hear that he liked what he saw.”
Sophie snorted. “I think he more than liked. He was practically salivating. The best part was when you pinched your finger.”
Courtney burst out laughing. “I almost forgot about that. Damn, even I went a little lesbian at that one.”
I glanced between my friends, trying to figure out what I was missing. “What on earth are you two talking about?”
“Remember the cartoon where the wolf sees a hot girl, and his tongue rolls out onto the floor?” Sophie asked. “That’s what Adam looked like when you pinched your finger.”
“Still not making sense,” I chided.
Courtney looked at me disbelievingly. “Okay, sparky, let me spell it out. As soon as you pinched your finger, you shut your eyes, stuck it in your mouth, and sucked on it really hard while moaning and bouncing up and down just enough that your boobs were jiggling.”
“Even Conner looked a little dazed,” Sophie said, laughing.
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “Oh my God! I must have looked like a floozy.”
She waved her hand, dismissing my comment. “A little, but it was fun to watch their reactions.”
Courtney grinned. “Sienna, if we hadn’t been in the room, I’m pretty sure Adam would’ve screwed you right then and there.”
I joined in on their laughter. “You assholes should have left the room then. From the sound of it, I missed a golden opportunity.”
“Next time we’ll go stand outside the door and wait,” Sophie said sarcastically.
Courtney’s phone buzzed. “Will you check that?” she asked me, flashing her newly painted fingernails. “I don’t want to mess these up before they dry all the way.”
I hadn’t been in the mood to paint mine, so I didn’t have that problem. I glanced at the text on Courtney’s phone.
CASSIE: b dorm in 30 with bro. u b there n ready 2 help me move
I translated instead of reading that mess verbatim. “Cassie and her brother will be at your dorm in thirty minutes, and she wants you there to help her move in.”
Courtney looked at her nails and pouted, “There’s no way that my pretty nails will survive now. Oh well. Text back that I’m on my way.”
I typed her message and put her phone in her purse.
“I guess I should get going then,” she said, standing up. “What are you two going to be doing later?”
A devious smile lifted the corner of my mouth. “You know what? I’m going to go seduce my reluctant boyfriend.”
“Atta girl. Have him come here. I’ll stay at their house,” Sophie instructed me. “It’s easier to seduce in your own element.”
Courtney gingerly picked up her keys and purse. “Good luck. If all else fails, pinch your finger again.”
I snorted. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
We said our goodbyes, and after Courtney left, Sophie went to her room to put together an overnight bag. My insides started to flutter as I sent Adam a text.
ME: Come over 2nite?
I stared at my screen impatiently. Luckily, he replied back instantly.
ADAM: U read my mind. Will be there at 8. Should I bring food?
ME: Sounds good and sure.
ADAM: See you then Princess. X
He gave me a kiss at the end of the text. He’s never done that before. I grinned so wide that it hurt my cheeks.
ME: X
Three hours to shower, shave, get ready, calm my nerves, and plan my strategy. No problem.
***
“I brought subs,” Adam said as I opened the door. His mouth fell open when he saw that all I was wearing was a black bra and matching boy shorts.
I grabbed the bag from him and pulled him with my other hand to my room, only stopping briefly at the fridge to drop off the food. He was chuckling, but otherwise didn’t comment as he let me lead.
“Someone’s got a one track mind,” he said with amusement in his voice.
I pulled him to the edge of my bed, and I hopped up onto it, standing above him with my hands on my hips. My strategy was less “seduce” and more “take control.”
“Arms up,” I said, trying to sound as demanding as possible.
He raised his arms and flashed me a killer smile. “Yes ma’am.”
I pulled his shirt up and off and threw it across the room. “Pants.” I held out my hand and tried to appear impatient. “Take off your pants,” I repeated with more force when he didn’t immediately comply.
“You’re cute when you try to act all tough.” He grabbed me by the waist. I swatted away his hands and pursed my lips in an attempt to hide my smile from showing, but the corners of my lips curled despite my effort.
He took his wallet from his jeans pocket and tossed it on the bed. Good sign. Then he pulled off his jeans and put them in my waiting hand. I held them off the side of the bed a moment longer than necessary before dropping them to the floor.
“Underwear too,” I stated daringly. My inner vixen was super proud of me.
He didn’t hesitate in complying on that one. I took in the view of a naked Adam, in all of his sexy glory, standing below me. My eyes drifted lazily over the sight of pure, lean, solid muscle all the way down to his . . . My eyes widened and froze. Blinking wasn’t an option. Wow! Someone’s happy to see me! Yes, we’d been naked together before, but this was the first time I saw him naked with the lights on. Impressive was an understatement.
I must have been gawking a little too long because he snidely asked me, “Is it your master plan to get me naked and just stare, or are you going to join me?” Smartass.
My eyes moved back up his body, stopping when I met his gaze. “Hmm . . . On second thought, I’m kind of hungry for those subs you brought. You can put your clothes back on,” I told him nonchalantly.
A grin played across his lips. “You little tease.”
With a firm tug, he grabbed me by my hips and tackled me to the bed. I gasped as his body covered mine. My little game was over the moment he kissed me. He was in control now. Fully. His hands worked extremely fast, almost ripping my clothes as he rid them from my body.
“Are you done with your whole abstinence kick?” I jibed.
“You’re a spitfire today, aren’t you?”
I smirked in response and then used my hand to feel around the bed for his wallet. As soon as it was in my hand, I took out the condom and handed it to him.
As he put it on, he said, “I promised myself one week. Week’s up, Princess.”
“Finally!” I squirmed under him in an attempt to get even closer. I was so intently aroused, I thought I was going to explode. We’d already had a week of foreplay, so I was more than relieved that he wasted no time in entering me. I screamed out in excruciating pleasure, and he drank in my cry with his mouth, kissing me fiercely. He clamped my arms above my head as he rocked into me harder and harder. I relished that he wasn’t soft and gentle. He kissed and teased my nipple, pushing me even closer to the edge. The instant he bit it, shutters overtook me. He followed me only moments later. It was raw. It was all-consuming. It was incredible.
“That was totally worth the wait,” I managed to say as I regained my breath.
He rained gentle kisses across my jaw. “You’re worth the wait.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“How are you not bowlegged?” Sophie asked as I walked into the kitchen wearing my bathrobe. She was sitting at the island, drinking coffee. She was already dressed in a skater skirt and pink tee. Adam was sitting next to her, drinking chocolate milk from my Alvin glass. He was just in his black cargo shorts, his chest on full display.
Damn, he looks yummy.
“Good morning to you too, skank-breath,” I said in a cracked morning voice.
I zombie walked to the coffee pot, extremely relieved to find it was already brewed. I filled my Gone with the Wind mug and began to drink my favorite hot liquid. My nose wrinkled involuntarily. “Did you buy a different brand?”
She looked at me as if I was insane. “Don’t be silly. We’ve drunk the same brand since we were seventeen.”
I looked to Adam. “Did you make it? It tastes funky.”
“Thanks for the vote of confidence. But no, she made it.”
I slouched against the counter. “Sorry. I’m just tired.”
He smiled wickedly. “What did you expect after an entire weekend of non-stop sex?”
“Yuck.” Sophie smacked his shoulder. “I’m eating! It’s bad enough that I had to listen to your crazy monkey sex last night. You don’t need to talk about it while I’m trying to enjoy my breakfast.”
He chuckled. “Fair enough. I’m going to get dressed.” He stood up and kissed my cheek before heading to my room and shutting the door behind him.
“Okay, I was just kidding. Fill me in on every little depraved detail,” she urged, her eyes twinkling with mischievous delight.
I giggled at her enthusiasm. “It’s too early in the morning for an inquisition. I’ll fill you in later.” I poured my coffee down the sink.
“That was coffee abuse,” she scolded. “And I don’t want to wait until later to hear everything.”
I got a bowl and spoon and sat next to her. “I’m not filling you in on anything right now. He’s just putting on a shirt, and will be back any second, so you’ll just have to wait. Haven’t you ever heard that patience is a virtue?”
“Virtues and I don’t get a long,” she deadpanned. “I had to listen to you complaining all last week about your lack of sex, and now I don’t even get to hear about the good stuff. This is not a fair tradeoff.”
I rolled my eyes. “Fine. Let’s just say it was amazing every time, and leave it at that.” I grabbed the box of Fruity Pebbles and the milk and got my breakfast ready. “Besides, I don’t ask about your sex life.”
Believing Lies Page 20