Taking another sip of champagne to hide the lusty blush heating her cheeks, she laughed, “Actually, I considered threatening all the women here to stop giving you their numbers. Announce that you’re off the market.”
He grabbed her glass and set it on the table next to her. Pulling her over for a dance as the music started, he whispered again, “None of them hold a candle to you. It’s a small town; word travels fast. I’ll tell five people here that I’m madly in love with you and the whole town will know within a week.”
Grinning, she twirled into his arms and glided with him across the dance floor.
21
All Night Long
Laughing, Sophie grabbed Asher and pulled him directly into her bedroom. Smiling against his mouth as he kissed her again in the doorway, she demanded, “I’m not hiding this anymore.”
Dragging her through to his bedroom, despite her protests, he added, “Agreed. However, your bedroom is directly over my parent’s, and I want to hear just how loud I can make you call out my name.”
It had been unbearably difficult to wait until the bride and groom left the wedding. After throwing birdseed, cheering, and doing a cursory initial clean-up, Paul had waved them off when Asher had attempted to stay and help. “We got this. You two get home. You’ve had a rough couple of days. I’m real sorry to hear about Jack.”
“Me too. Thanks, Dad.” At the mention of it, Asher’s features looked drawn as he thought about his trip to San Diego. Rubbing the exhaustion from his eyes, he hadn’t argued when Sophie dragged him out to his borrowed car. Knowing he’d be wiped out after the last few days, she’d caught a ride to the wedding with his parents, so she could drive him home early, if needed.
Lifting her into his arms, he’d clearly caught his second wind as soon as they got upstairs. So much had led up to this moment. Glad they waited; Sophie was ready to take the next step. Call her old fashioned, but knowing he loved her made this moment that much more miraculous.
Setting her down in front of the bed, he was tearing off his suit jacket and kicking off his shoes before she could even catch her balance, then moved on to getting her clothes off as quickly as possible. Struggling with her zipper to slide the dress off, he laughed out loud. “What the hell? I had this off of you so easily, what, a week ago? I feel like a green, virgin groom.”
Normally remarkably adept with his hands, his clumsiness was endearing. Any other time, Sophie would have found it humorous. Maybe she did, but more, she was thrilled he was as nervous as she was.
Reaching behind her, Sophie slid the zipper down and let the gown pool at her feet. Down to her panties and heels again, he groaned in response. Eager, she reached for the waistband of his pants.
He stilled her hands, “Slow down. I’m not going to make it very long as it is.” Looking her up and down, the hunger in his eyes was enough to drive her over the edge. It’s not like they hadn’t explored every inch of each other’s bodies already, but tonight was different.
Reaching behind her, he unhooked her overly helpful strapless bra and tossed it across the room. “I hate that bra. You have magnificent breasts.” In stark punctuation, he wrapped his hands around each perfect breast and pulled one deeply into his mouth.
Gasping, the sensation rocketed like an electric current through her entire body. Writhing in his arms, sensation scorched from deep in her core. Urging him on, she buried her hand in his hair, gripping him tight to let him know she was close.
Gliding down across her sensitized skin, his hand reached her center and cupped her soft curls. Tantalizing, stroking her core, he brought her to the edge. Already, he knew her so well, knew exactly how to drive her wild.
“Yes,” she chanted breathlessly, crying out for more as her climax neared, letting him know how he affected her.
Shifting his body downward, he trailed his tongue along her abdomen, circling her navel before reaching her core. As he had that day in the dressing room, he grasped her hips and pulled her against his waiting mouth. Licking, sucking, velvety heat stroking her slick nub, an eruption of sensation tore through her.
Already there, her veins rapidly filled with molten lava. She called out his name, unable to contain the crushing orgasm. Hand still gripped in his hair to steady herself, she rode wave upon wave of pleasure that built inside of her until her vision blurred and her legs couldn’t hold her up any longer.
Supporting her, grinning with pure, primal masculine ego, he scooped her in his arms and tossed her onto the bed. Before her sighs even began to diminish, he’d ditched the last of his clothes and was sheathed in protection. Propelling the orgasm that still tremored through her, he drove into her with a dynamic thrust.
Exhilaration, desire, and love consumed her as he buried into her. They fit so perfectly; she knew he was it for her.
Carefully building, he tried to steady his movements.
Climbing higher and higher in the delirious pleasure that resonated through her, she wouldn’t let him slow. Tightening around his thick, pistoning cock, she cried out as orgasm overtook her.
As she rode the crest of bliss, she dug her fingertips into his shoulders, urging him faster. Wild, he drilled on. Coming fast and hard, powerful and vital, he climaxed with her, letting out a rough groan as both collapsed, lost in a haze of euphoria.
***
Drained, exhilarated, Asher collapsed atop her. His muscles had turned to heavy lead, yet he soared like Icarus. Pounding in his chest, his heart clenched with unfamiliar emotion. He’d known they were more than compatible, but this was something record-breakingly miraculous.
Taking her with him, he rolled onto his back, so her head rested on his shoulder. His hand lightly trailed along her arm as they caught their breath together. From the moment she’d cocked her hip out and taunted him with that damn bolt that he’d lost in his engine, he’d been a fucking goner and had known it would be different with Sophie.
Couldn’t even count the number of women he’d been with before, but none could hold a candle to Sophie in or out of the sack. Nor would there ever be anyone else for him. Ever. His heart was well and truly hers.
“Confirmed. You have made me a noisy orgasmer,” she breathlessly proclaimed. “I see why you moved us to your room.”
A satisfied chuckle rumbled through his chest, jostling her head on his shoulder. He wanted to counter with a quippy response but was too busy feeling quite pleased with his discoveries. As much as he hated to admit it, he’d never been so anxious about a partner’s response before. Historically, he’d been more focused on getting a quick, yet satisfying, bang and getting the hell out of there.
“You might be right. We’d better test this out, maybe run a few trials. You could build a spreadsheet for us.” He traced his hand along her side and splayed his hand around her waist.
“If we’re running a complete data analysis, I’m game as long as there’s a spreadsheet involved. No control groups, though.” She lifted her head off his chest and raised an eyebrow at him.
He knew that she knew that he was all-in when it came to their relationship. But did she know exactly what that meant? “Sophie, I love you so much. You’re the only one for me. I’ve been waiting for you a long fucking time.”
He craved her again, cock already thickening. “Just so you know, I’ve never not used a condom. Protecting you; I just didn’t know it until recently. Sappy as that sounds, I’m feeling rather poetic at the moment.”
Her lips turned up in a provocative grin. “Me neither. I’m on birth control… I wonder what it feels like, the smooth skin of your cock gliding into me…” Damn; just like on the phone, her words shattered him.
Shifting atop him, she straddled him like riding a stallion and rocked against him. Moving rhythmically atop him, not yet letting him in, she explained exactly what she had in mind. Drove him out of his fucking mind at her words, her motions.
At her command, he leaned up and sucked on her breasts with the pressure she demanded. Pulling and suckling unti
l she cried his name, he felt her need building as she rocked against his rigid erection.
Fuck, he already could feel her slick heat ready for him, and he wasn’t even in yet. Reaching between them, rising up to the challenge of bringing her to unrestrained, unmatched orgasm, he circled her clit with his thumb to bring her just over the edge, more intensely than before. Instinctively, she pressed against him and climaxed again at his touch.
Breathless, she looked down at him. Gazes locked together, he was lost in her gray eyes that had shifted into full thunder storm.
Slowly, with all the control he could muster, he slid into her tight, wet heat. “Fuck, you feel so good.”
Deliberately at first, each savoring the exquisite sensation of the intimate contact, they moved stronger, fiercely together. Crying out in ecstasy as he gripped her hips and drove deeper inside her, she rode him to his undoing, stars flashing in his vision. More than he could ever have imagined, he was completely, forever hers.
22
The Day After
Trapped in a Sophie-cage of arms, legs, and her wild blondish hair, Asher tried to roll out of bed the next morning. Limb by limb, he attempted to free himself, but she just gripped more tightly. Those long limbs were incredibly nimble.
“Wake up. Let’s go for a run,” he pleaded, his voice raspy from too many sleepless nights. Although, as long nights went, he would happily repeat last night as often as possible.
Sophie had been worth the wait. Not that most would consider three weeks waiting, but for him, it had felt like an eternity. Hell, his longest wait before Sophie had been about three hours. All that pent-up sexual frustration for both had led to a fucking amazing night.
Brushing her hair out of her face, she squinted at the sun shining in the window. She pouted, “Didn’t you get enough exercise last night?”
Grinning, he dragged her out of bed with him. “Yeah, but if we move along, we can do it in the shower before anyone else wakes up.”
By eight o’clock, they’d run, enjoyed a spectacularly erotic shower, and were downstairs to enjoy the quiet of the morning. As usual, his parents either slept in late or had taken their coffee to bed to watch the morning news.
Asher carried his coffee out to the front patio and held the door open for Sophie. “I think I’ll go shopping for a new truck today. Wanna come?”
Bundled in his sweatshirt to combat the cool breeze that had blown in overnight, Sophie curled up in her usual chair. “Fun as that sounds, we have to go to the station today.”
Shaking his head, he scowled as he settled into his chair. “Shit. I forgot. After?”
Sophie nudged him playfully with her foot. “How about I drop you off at the dealership while I go look at some rental houses? As much as I appreciate your parents letting me crash here, it’s time.”
“Fine. I’ll shop alone. I hate dickering. If they give me the runaround, mind coming down to make sure I’m not getting fleeced?” He waggled his eyebrows at her.
“I can do that. I’ll play dumb, then tear apart the crappy deal they’ve proposed.”
Nodding, he was already turned on by her brain. When had he found math skills so damn sexy? “It’s a date.”
She rolled her eyes playfully. “I’m starving.” Pleasantly sore from head to toe, she stretched like a sleepy cat as she rose from the chair. Asher liked seeing her wear his sweatshirt; although she swam in it, she looked adorable.
If he played his cards right, maybe she’d take pity on him and cook a real breakfast rather than the toast he’d likely stuff down out of laziness and culinary ineptitude. “Eggs? Bacon?”
“Only if you’re cooking. I was thinking yogurt.” Her accusatory glare was comical.
Moping, Asher followed her into the kitchen and stared desperately into the fridge. “You don’t want to suffer my cooking.” He could cook some basics, but nothing anyone wanted to actually eat. Alone, he could survive off of rubbery eggs for breakfast, bagged salads and PB&J for lunch, then an overcooked steak for dinner. Didn’t enjoy it, but it was something.
“I know. Your mom implied you may be looking for a sweet little wife to cook all of your meals for you.” Reaching around him to grab herself a yogurt, she leaned against the opposite counter and opened the container.
“Looking to help me with that?” He shut the fridge, no longer interested in breakfast, and stepped up to her. Pressing his body against hers, he nibbled along her neck, her jaw.
“Fifty-fifty, pal,” she teased as he traced his hands up her sides, gently pulling up her shirt. Laughing, she set the yogurt down so she could tug her shirt back down.
He nipped her ear. “How about we work out a mutually satisfying system. You cook and I find other ways to balance our relationship.” Skimming his hand along her skin until he reached her pert breast, he left the shirt in place this time as a compromise. See? He could be fair.
A soft, breathless sigh escaped her lips. Continuing his exploration of her body under her clothes with his hands, his mouth explored hers, plundering in hasty urgency. Increasingly desperate for her, he scooped her up and set her on the counter. He pulled her against him, and she wrapped her legs around him, holding him securely.
Realizing the kitchen was a stupid place to start this, he tried to pull away. Sophie gripped the waistband of his jeans and pulled him close again. “Let’s go upstairs,” she whispered breathlessly.
Before they could release each other, he suddenly became very aware they were not alone. Pippa stood in the doorway, her eyes wide with horror. Biting her lip to keep from screaming out, she fled, slamming the door shut behind her.
“Shit.” Asher raced full speed for the door. Sophie tried to follow. Holding up his hand, he pleaded, “Give me a minute.” Shit. Shit. Shit. She’d never forgive them, finding out like this.
Tearing out the front door, Asher ran and caught Pippa before she could climb back in the car. He leaned against the passenger door to block her from running away. Lincoln was just getting out of the driver’s door and knew immediately what was up.
“Please, Pip. Let me explain.” Asher’s chest throbbed with a deep, gnawing ache, hating that he’d hurt his sister. Knowing she’d understand and maybe even be happy if she could just hear him out. Folding his arms across his chest protectively, he braced himself for her disapproval.
“Explain what? That you needed a little something last night and slept with my best friend? Again?” She was furious, pacing and kicking dirt. He’d never seen her quite this angry before.
From across the car, Lincoln tried to speak, but she shot shut-up arrows out her eyes at him.
Asher clenched his jaw in rapid fire, panic rising. “Yes.”
As anticipated, she had not expected an admission of guilt. Simple wording. She’d expected defensiveness and long explanations. Spinning on her heel, she stepped a few paces closer and stood stiffly with her hands gripped at her sides. At least she was listening for a moment.
“Yes, I slept with her last night. And I plan to again. Every night for the rest of my life, if she’ll have me.” He paused, allowing for the inevitable retort. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sophie coming out and waiting at the front door looking worried. He didn’t dare break eye contact with Pippa.
“How could you do that to me? You’re not driving away another one of my friends because you’re so damn impulsive you can’t think about how it affects me.”
She stomped her foot and stalked a few feet closer to Sophie, but didn’t get too close. “And you? You knew how I felt. You. Knew.”
Tears flooding her eyes, she stalked back to the car before Sophie could respond and shoved Asher out of her way. Broken hearted for his sister, he didn’t try to block her this time.
“Lincoln, let’s go. I’ll buy a new hair dryer on the way. Mine was old anyway.” Sliding into the car, she refused to hear anymore.
Before getting back in the car, Lincoln looked to Asher. “Sorry, man. She’ll come around. Give her time.”
Walking to his side, Sophie was teary-eyed. “Let’s go to the station.” She clearly didn’t want to dwell any more than he did. Subject change approved.
Nodding, Asher ran back in and grabbed his wallet and phone. Behind him, Sophie grabbed her purse, and shot a quick text to Grady that they would meet him at the police station. Neither said a word the whole way into town.
***
It didn’t take long. Jonah took their statements and reassured her he’d do what he could to help sort things out with Yvette. Grady had met them there and helped with all the necessary paperwork, promised to follow up on everything.
At this point, Sophie didn’t give a flying fuck what happened to Yvette. She could threaten all she wanted, spread all the rumors she could come up with and even try framing Sophie for something. Sophie was done with her. And, she had good legal support.
“Do you still need a ride to the dealership?” She wasn’t in the mood to look for a rental but needed something to focus on.
Nodding grimly, Asher responded, “If you don’t mind.”
Sophie dropped him at the dealership and started driving. She’d compiled a list of places to check out. Maybe it was her mood, but none of the houses appealed in the least so far.
Until the last on her list. She pulled up to a stunning three bedroom outside of town. Overlooking the valley, the spot was perfect. Sadly, the place was way outside of her price range, so she’d only been looking to torture herself.
The place could use a little love, but nothing major. Although it was a one-story craftsman-style, it looked surprisingly light and airy. Lots of windows. Could use a new paint job, the trim in particular. In front, the curb appeal was lacking, but nothing some decent landscaping couldn’t fix. She wouldn’t mind learning a little home repair if she could have this house, especially with its expansive view of the valley.
All the Days After Page 23