Her fingernails skated up my back to dig into my shoulders. I pulled back and slammed into her, swallowing her fragile cry.
“I want to come inside you, all over your body, to mark you as mine,” I growled as I pumped into her a second time, the force of my body rocking hers. “I want you to ache when you walk, knowing my dick did that to you.”
“Yes,” she whispered, meeting my pounding thrusts with sharp slaps of our skin.
Every word I said made her more wet, made her pussy grip me tighter. She started to tense up, reaching for her release.
“I fucking love you enough to take your fear away.”
As I growled those words, she shattered around me and burst into tears all at once.
“Cody,” she sobbed. “Oh God, Cody.”
Two more strokes and I let go inside her, feeling my hot, thick cum mixing with her own wetness. The rush of my orgasm shot into her in bursts, triggering her body to shake and tremble around me. I held her tight, soothing her tears, feeling the power of this connection between us.
A connection she didn’t want, but it was there all the same, and I wasn’t about to just let it go. To let her go. Wasn’t happening. I tried to say it without saying it, kissing her eyelids and holding her tight as her tears began to fade.
I rose up on my elbow to look down between us as I slowly withdrew, still semi-hard, mesmerized by the glistening wetness all over my dick. Almost completely, and then pushed back inside. Again. Over and over, watching the cum collect around the edge of her pussy.
It was fucking beautiful… and mouthwatering. That twisted thought ripped through my brain and, before I could stop myself, I pulled out, knelt before her, and closed my mouth over her sex.
“Cody,” she moaned, her fingers wound tight in my hair, pulling hard as I licked her clean. The salty taste of my own cum and the sweetness of her orgasm exploded on my taste buds. I swept my tongue deep inside, swirling around and around, and my cock began to stiffen again at the carnal abandon of this act. Ready and alert, throbbing with a sudden renewed need.
Rising to my knees, I lifted her body and flipped her over like a rag doll, then grasped her hips and pulled her pussy back up to my lips. With her legs in the air, her mouth found my dick, and she moaned loudly with the first taste, sucking me deep down her throat. I lay back on the couch as she rode my lips and sucked my dick. The moment was so hedonistic, so wrong and forbidden. Swiveling her hands up and down my cock as she licked me, making me hard as fuck all over again, and sucked me off.
And there was the beautiful little bud of her ass, right there before my eyes. I slid a finger inside her soaking wet pussy, then pressed it against her rear entrance and pushed inside.
She bucked her hips and groaned. With my cock at the back of her throat, the vocalization sent vibrations straight to my balls. The beautiful curve of her ass shook, tremors coursing through her legs as we feasted on each other.
I twisted her around again, back upright and sitting on my lap with her back to me. I lined her up and plunged back into her pussy with a hoarse growl. She bent her knees, tucking her feet alongside my thighs in the couch and leaned forward, giving me the most incredible view of our connection as she rose and fell on my hard length.
Pressing my finger back in her ass, I caressed us both through the thin walls, feeling the touch in my dick. I could feel the motion of every stroke as she fucked me, as she broke around me. Sobbing softly, shaking violently, digging into my thighs with her fingernails. The pulsation of her pussy around me ripped another orgasm from my body, pulling it up from deep inside my soul, giving it all to her.
I could barely move for a few minutes. Ilsa fell back against my chest in exhaustion, breathing in harsh gasps.
“I love you,” I whispered against her ear.
Her response was hazy, barely audible and sounded almost delirious. I almost wondered if I dreamed it.
“You can’t, Cody,” she murmurs dazedly. “You can’t.”
In the gray morning light, I stood and pulled my T-shirt down over my chest, then leaned over to grab my work boots. It was only about six o'clock, but I had to drive back to Ophir for work, and I really needed to stop at home and take a shower, especially after all the sweaty sex. I almost took a shower in Ilsa’s bathroom, but she was sleeping so soundly, and I didn’t want to wake her up.
I glanced over at her as I laced up my boot, though, and saw her eyes open. Watching me with a sleepy, solemn gaze.
You can’t…
Her breathy whisper echoed in my ears.
I wanted to ask her why, but I knew she wouldn’t tell me. I’d slept fitfully, trying to figure her out. Wondering when she would give in. She had to feel the way I did. Her mind fought this thing between us, but her actions—her body and the way she pulled me to her and kissed me last night, the way she looked at me and the way she held me—everything else said this was real and strong.
So what was she afraid of?
I rested my elbows on my knees, sitting in a chair angled up by the couch, and looked straight at her. I didn’t want there to be any confusion about how I felt.
“I wasn’t just saying that last night,” I began.
She dropped her eyes and scooted upright a little, holding the plush blanket up to cover her breasts. I stood and moved closer to the couch, sitting by her legs and lifting her chin with my fingers.
Her lip quavered when she met my gaze, and I gave her the most honest, heartfelt expression I could possibly make.
“I love you, Ilsa.”
“Cody—”
“I’m not sure what you’re afraid of, but I know there’s something powerful between us,” I said and cupped her cheek in my palm. “I know you feel it, too.”
Tears filled her eyes and her entire body began to tremble. I leaned forward, brushing her lips with mine in a soft kiss. Rather than releasing her, I held her still and dipped my head so our foreheads touched.
“Ilsa, you touch the deepest parts of me,” I whispered. “I think about you all the time. Something happened to you, something that has you running scared, I know that. But you need to know that I’m patient. I’m stubborn. I’ll wait and I’ll love you. I’ll protect you and give you time because I know with every fiber of my being how good we can be together. Just give us a chance.”
Her arms lifted to wrap around my neck and, as the sun rose over the mountains and a faint golden light glowed in the room, I held her close to my heart.
I could love her through this. I had to. I didn’t have any other choice.
“Why do you want me?” she whispered. “Why me? You could have anyone, and you set your sights on a barmaid mother with a boatload of issues.”
I combed my fingers through her hair and drew back to press a soft kiss on her nose.
“Because you’re you,” I replied. “You’re soft and sweet and kind and warm. You have an adorable kid, and you’re a gentle and patient mom. But more than anything, I've never known a soul that made me feel like you do, that made me want to be a better man like you do.”
“I don’t think you could get any better, Cody,” she whispered. A wistful cast lit her eyes for a split second, so quick I almost missed it before she dropped her eyes.
“I’ve gotta get to work,” I murmured, “but I’ll see you tonight at the Copperline, okay?”
She gave a hint of a nod and lowered her arms to rest her hands on my chest.
My heart simply ached as I pulled away and stood. I walked to the door and met her sad gaze one last time before I left for work.
I had no idea what to expect after those couple nights. I wondered which Ilsa was going to come into work. The new, sweet Ilsa that I’d held and loved, or the timid, evasive one that pushed me away.
Every time I’d made headway with her before, she avoided me after. I hoped this time would be different, that she wouldn’t pull back, at least as much as she had before. For all I knew, though, she could just up and disappear. She sure didn’t have much t
o pack.
The girl had me completely turned inside out. I barely knew which way was up anymore.
So, expecting the worst, I damn near fainted with relief when she showed up at the Copperline and actually flirted with me a little. She was still my Ilsa. Shy and quiet, understated. Still ghosting around the room unnoticed.
But she murmured little things to me when she was close. She brushed her fingertips down my arm as she walked by.
She waited for me in the hallway when the sets ended, slipped outside to make out with me behind the bar.
All reclusive and clandestine, but so very hot.
The fact that she was coming onto me a little was really, fucking hot. My obsession with her clearly wasn’t just about the chase because when she gave me one of those scorching looks, it was all I could do not to throw her over my shoulder, carry her out to my truck, and fuck her until I dropped from exhaustion.
For all that shy and evasive Ilsa intrigued me, flirty and forward Ilsa had me hard as a rock about ninety-nine-point-nine percent of the time. (The point-one percent came after I came until I was ready to come again, which really didn’t last long with her around.)
She still didn’t really offer up any information about her past or family or how she ended up in the area. She remained secretive even as she gave herself to me in every other way. I tried to ignore it, tried not to let it bother me, but it did. Her secrecy remained a barrier to real, true intimacy between us.
Yet, every day, she seemed to relax a little bit more. She genuinely found comfort in my presence, of that I was certain. She cared for me. It wasn’t just a physical desire. There was a depth of emotion that bound us together.
So, as hard as it was, I would be patient. I would give her the time and the space, and someday she would trust me enough to truly let me in.
I spent every evening after work in the Copperline, even if we weren’t playing, and spent every night in her tiny apartment, curled up on her couch with her delicious, naked body pressed tightly against my chest.
Sometimes, it almost felt like playing house. Like Justin had said, my girl came complete with a cute little kid. Max was easy to adore. Every morning, he and I had some man time, eating our Cheerios and drinking mook while I tried to let Ilsa get a tidge more sleep. Then I’d leave, off to work until I met up with her in the bar.
Rinse and repeat, as us drummers often said.
“You really need another bed,” I murmured as I traced my fingertips down a fine sheen of sweat on her bare back. “This couch is comfy for a bit, but it might be nice to sprawl out a bit.”
“It’s got a built-in bed actually,” she replied. “It’s a pullout sofa.”
“Seriously?” I asked. “Why haven’t we pulled it out?”
She exhaled a drowsy little sigh. “Too tired. By the time you’re done with me, I can barely move.”
Okay, that was really fucking nice to hear. It was awesome knowing that I fucked her into exhaustion on a regular basis.
But I still wanted to sprawl out.
I gathered Ilsa up in my arms, ignoring her muffled protest, and set her in the chair, all wrapped in the throw from the couch. Pulling off the cushions, I saw a lever to pull up, and, sure enough, out came the hide-a-bed. Blankets and all. I pulled back the sheets and once again lifted Ilsa up against my chest, settling her on the bed.
“I’ll be right back,” I said quietly as I tucked the blanket around her bare shoulders and kissed her forehead.
“What are you doing?” she asked with a wide yawn.
“Just going to check on Max,” I said.
Her eyes flew open, and she looked up at me with a mixture of shock and immense warmth. I traced my fingertips along the curve of her jaw.
“I figure,” I said with a teasing smile, “after how loud you were a bit ago, I should make sure he’s still asleep.”
She pursed her lips with mock indignation, then lifted up on her elbow to give me a quick, tender kiss. “I wasn’t that loud.”
“It was beautiful… it always is. Music to my ears. I love to hear you come apart around me.” I touched my lips to hers in a firm, yet gentle, kiss.
I checked on Max who was out and looked way too comfortable all sprawled out alone on the full-size bed. Reaching out to tug the blankets up a little, I tucked them around his chest and went back out to join Ilsa on the sofa sleeper.
It was somewhat more comfortable than being crowded into the couch. There was room to spread out some, but I still wanted Ilsa spooned up in front of me.
Fortunately, she seemed to kind of want that too, and as I drifted off to sleep, I realized I was doing so smiling.
Lazy Sunday. I’d been looking forward to today all week. Spending my early mornings with Max, my days working, my evenings at the Copperline, and my nights doing my best to drive Ilsa wild was starting to wear me out. I was burning the candle at both ends… along with a couple spots in the middle.
Max and I had his usual breakfast while I sipped my coffee, but seeing the sofa pulled out into a bed got him all excited. He wiggled until I put him down, toddled over to the sleeper sofa, and stared at it for a minute.
“Mama!” he exclaimed.
Ilsa’s eyes drifted open and she smiled at him softly. “Hi, baby,” she murmured sleepily.
“Up?” he asked.
Ilsa shot an uneasy look at me. “Um, I should probably get up.”
I walked over to her and handed her a cup of coffee, with cream like she liked. “It’s Sunday. You don’t have to get up. We can just lie around.”
“Yeah,” she said quietly, almost whispering, “but I’m naked.”
I laughed. “As much as I’d like to keep you that way, I can see where it might be a little awkward.” I reached out and snagged my shirt off the chair by the couch. “Here,” I offered, “slip this on.”
I picked up Max, drawing him away while Ilsa pulled the shirt over her head and tugged on her panties.
And then the three of us laid in on the hide-a-bed while Ilsa read Where the Wild Things Are, and I couldn’t help but wonder where we could get Max a little wolf suit.
It was hot as fuck that day, and Ilsa had no air conditioning. The heat made Max miserable, and Max made Ilsa and me miserable. Around noon, Felicity called and asked if we wanted to meet them at the splash park.
Still timid around other kids, Max stuck pretty close, but would tiptoe around the spray nozzles and run giggling back over to Ilsa when he’d get wet. He and Eoghan sort of played more by each other than with each other, but we started to notice that Max would follow the gregarious little Eoghan around a bit. They even sort of started to communicate some, parroting each other from time to time.
At one point, I looked over to Ilsa as she watched them and noticed she had tears in her eyes.
“Ils?” I murmured, walking over and tucking my arm around her. “You okay?”
“He’s playing,” she whispered.
“Yeah, he is,” I replied.
Right then, he and Eoghan walked right into a heavy spray, and both boys came squealing back over. I caught Max in my arms and lifted him high up over my head, tossing him up into the air as he giggled.
“Nanana,” Max said, lifting his tired head from my shoulder to point at the bananas in the produce section of the grocery store.
“You want bananas, baby,” Ilsa asked, grabbing a small bunch.
“Cody?” a woman’s voice said from behind me.
Oh shit.
I turned around slowly to see my parents standing there looking completely mystified that I was holding some random kid. Ilsa stood beside me with a total deer-in-the-headlights look.
“Hey there, Mom…” I said. “Pops.”
Uh oh.
“What an adorable little boy,” my mother gasped. She was normally much more articulate, but also clearly shocked.
“This is Max,” I offered. “Ilsa’s kid.”
My mother looked to Ilsa, who seemed to shrink back right before our
eyes, her face showing obvious signs of panic.
“Ilsa…” my mother said, trying to smile through her surprise. “It’s lovely to meet you, Ilsa. George, isn’t it lovely to meet her?”
“Yeah,” my dad replied, looking equally dazed. It suddenly occurred to me that I’d never really introduced my parents to a girl before. I’d never been very serious about one until now.
“Ils, this is my dad, George, and my mom, Alice.”
“It’s… um… nice to meet you.” Ilsa’s voice was shaky.
“So what do you do, Ilsa?” my mom was trying to make polite conversation to loosen the tension, but that question seemed to make Ilsa even more nervous.
“I… um…” she began, and then she looked up at me. “I’m going to run and get milk before I forget.”
And she was gone.
“I think you scared her, George,” my mother frowned at my dad.
I shook my head. “I think you scared her, Mom. Ilsa’s pretty shy. She, um… I think…” I didn’t really know how to explain her in a way that didn’t make her sound like she was scared of the world. Even if she actually was a little scared of the world.
“Have you been seeing her for very long?”
“A little while.”
“And she has a child,” my mother said glancing pointedly at Max in my arms. Max was kinda looking at her the same way Ilsa had.
“He’s a great kid,” I said. “And she’s… well, Mom, she’s great, Mom. She’s the most beautiful soul I've ever known.”
My mom smiled, genuine and sweet. “Oh, Cody. My sweet boy.”
“Okay,” Ilsa said, walking back up to us. She looked a bit more together, like she’d pumped herself up to face my folks. “Got milk. Sorry, I was afraid I’d forget if I didn’t grab it and then Max would be bummed in the morning.”
“We’ll let you go, kids,” my dad said, putting his arm around my mom to guide her away.
“Maybe you could come over for dinner some night,” my mom offered. “I could make something special, and—”
Easy Little Lick (Copperline #3) Page 13