by Joya Ryan
He stood at the end of the bed and raised an eyebrow. “Ordering me around now?”
“Just a suggestion. It would be helpful for you to be naked for what I have in mind,” I teased, deliberately flicking my tongue to taste my lips.
A deep rumble broke from his chest as he unfastened his belt and removed his pants. Standing in all his glory was every edible inch of Preston Strauss, but there were several inches I wanted to taste first.
“Come here.” I reclined backward, resting my weight on my forearms.
He climbed onto the bed. The dark gleam in his eyes was that of a man intrigued. Preston didn’t get ordered around a lot, but in this moment, he let me issue the commands.
Crawling up my body, his knees on either side of my legs, he didn’t stop until he was at my hips.
“I said, come here.” I lifted my chin. He scooted higher up my body until he straddled my chest and his impressive cock bobbed right in front of my face. Giving him the wickedest smile I could, I locked my eyes on his and opened my mouth.
“You asked me once if this was real…” He fisted his cock and ran the crown along my lower lip. “Now I’m the one wondering if this is a dream.”
I flicked my tongue out and tasted him. Hot steel encased in velvet. He removed his hand, resting his cock on my open mouth, so I closed it around him and sucked hard. He hissed and threaded his fingers through my hair.
“Fuck, you’re amazing.”
Pressing further, I took more of him, raining my tongue along the underside of his cock as I went. The grip he had in my hair was tightening. Not enough to hurt me, but I knew he was on the brink. I wanted to be that for him. The place he could lose himself in.
I retreated, leaving a shiny trail on his thick length, proof of where I had been. Laving at the tip, I sucked the crown just enough to get his hips rocking toward me, seeking more. Exactly what I was going for.
“Take me,” I said, and gave a loving kiss on his beautiful cock. He frowned down at me, gently massaged my scalp, as if silently gauging my seriousness.
“Take me,” I said again, licking him from base to tip, then opened my mouth once more. Waiting for him. “However you want.”
With a firm grasp on either side of my head, he slowly pushed his hips forward, impaling his cock between my lips. Breathing through my nose, I relaxed every muscle. He must have felt it because he pressed deeper. The crown bumped against the back of my throat and he groaned.
“Look at you.” He stroked his thumb along my cheekbone. “Taking me deep.”
He pulled almost all the way out then thrust back inside. I moaned around him. My pussy clenched for something to fill me, but there was only emptiness.
“You like this?” He moved in and out, slowly at first, then picking up pace. “Me fucking this pretty mouth of yours?”
I nodded and sucked at him greedily. A thin sheen of sweat broke over his tan chest and every inward glide caused his abdominals to flex so hard they nearly cut out of his skin. My God, he was gorgeous. The way he moved was like watching live art and I had a front row seat.
I tilted my head back even further, allowing for deeper access.
“Fuck, sweetheart, you’re going to make me come.” His eyes locked on mine and I nodded again. Telling him it was okay to stay right where he was.
His hard dick twitched and Preston’s entire body wracked tight with so much tension, there wasn’t a relaxed slice of muscle anywhere on him. Holding himself to the hilt, his hot release coated my throat and I swallowed around him, drinking him down.
“Goddess,” he whispered.
When the last of his shudders eased, he slowly withdrew and I lapped up every last inch of him as he pulled from my mouth.
He scooted down my body and kicked my thighs open with his knees.
“What are you doing?” I said, trying to catch my breath.
He positioned himself at my core and surged inside. I gasped.
“H-how are you still—” My words cut off because he thrust again, so determined it made my teeth clatter and the orgasm that had been simmering beneath the surface rise quickly.
“You, sweetheart,” he growled. “You keep me hard.”
He was unyielding. Driving into me over and over, hitting every nerve ending until I lost all awareness of everything except Preston. There was no build-up. No easy accumulation of pleasure. I lost myself so completely to the sudden onset of his pistoning hips that white light blinked behind my eyes.
“Oh, God, yes!” My climax exploded, intense and fast, rocking my entire being from the ends of my limbs to the center of my soul. Preston had branded me with his heat and overpowered me with his will.
Trying to breathe. Trying so hard to locate reality, I laid there, clutching to him, not wanting this moment to end.
Chapter Thirteen
I stretched and buried my head deeper into the pillow, which was hard and smelled like a yummy man and sex.
“You’re killing me, sweetheart.”
The rumbling accompanied with that deep voice affirmed that it wasn’t a pillow at all, it was Preston’s impressive chest.
“Well, you killed me last night,” I mumbled and nipped his torso. His arm tightened around me.
“I hope not.” He trailed his hand down to my ass and squeezed. “Since I opted to stay in bed and forgo my routine, I’m in need of exercise this morning.”
He flipped me to my back and was on top me in one quick movement. I giggled like a fool but clutched him closer. Cradled between my thighs, he sunk inside of me. Sighing deeply, I let happiness and contentment wash over me.
This was a great way to start the morning.
***
We walked beneath florescent lights, dodging strollers and shoppers while licking our ice cream cones.
“Of all things to do, you brought me to an outlet mall?” Preston said.
“I know it’s hard for someone like you to understand moneybags, but wandering around with no agenda, people watching and eating ice cream is fun.”
He smiled down at me and wove his fingers with mine. Since we woke up this morning, everything had been pleasantly peaceful. Like we were a real couple. He wasn’t distant or even harsh. I didn’t want spoil today with questions I knew he didn’t want to answer but they were gnawing away at me.
“So,” I started as we passed Banana Republic. “Your dad seems really great.”
Preston nodded. “He is.”
Not quite the response I was hoping for.
“How was it growing up with him?”
He frowned at me. “What kind of question was that?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. Just wondering how your childhood was? You and your brother don’t seem to get along. Was that always the case?”
“My brother and I never got along. We hadn’t even met until I was thirteen and I went to live with my father.”
“You never visited you dad before then?”
“Of course I did. He was around a fair amount actually. I just never met his other family.”
I knew that based on what he said and the way his Charlie had behaved at dinner the other night, Preston was the child out of wedlock due to an affair. But I didn’t know the whole story. We continued walking and I licked at my cone a bit.
“Did your mom know he was married?”
“Yes.”
“So they got along, your mom and dad?”
“She was in love with him.”
His tone was getting terser and his answers quick and sharp. Getting him to talk was like pulling teeth. I was treading dangerously close to a total Preston shutdown.
“Can I ask you one more thing?”
“You can ask me anything you want, doesn’t mean you’ll like my response.”
Yep, I was losing him. Time to back off.
“Never mind.”
He stopped and gripped my hand. “I don’t like games, Megan.”
“It’s not a game, I just…I don’t want to ruin today.”
“I don’t either. Talking about my past isn’t pleasant. But I understand your curiosity. You didn’t read all about it like I did with yours.”
“Yeah.” The thought that Preston knew all about Tim, my parents, my past…It was embarrassing as much as liberating. I couldn’t hide from him, and yet, he still chose me.
“My father had an affair with my mother and I was the result. They kept up this charade of a secret relationship for several years until she died. I went to live with him. He’s always treated me well, even though his wife never liked me for obvious reasons and when she passed away a few years ago, things got really bad with Charlie. I worked for my stake in the company while his was handed to him. But once Charlie’s mother died, my father started talking about changing the will and Charlie’s been gunning ever since.”
I nodded, appreciating his honesty. He spoke quickly and bluntly as if wanting to move past the topic. I couldn’t really blame him.
“Thank you for telling me.”
My phone buzzed. I pulled it out and didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello?”
“Megan, it’s Darlene, I was hoping we could have lunch on Wednesday.”
“Oh.” I looked at Preston who was frowning at me. I mouthed Darlene and pointed at the phone. He clenched his jaw. “Ah, sure. Lunch is fine.”
“Great. I’ll just pop by the hotel at noon.”
“Okay, bye.” I hung up.
“Looks like I’m having lunch with Darlene on Wednesday.”
“Lucky you.” Preston took my hand to continue our leisurely walk. There was so much more I wanted to know. But I was pretty sure I had already met my quota of information Preston would dish out in one day.
“How did she even get my number?” I asked.
“Who knows? But I wouldn’t put much past her.”
“Creepy.”
“Yep.” He stopped and pulled me closer. “I think we should go in there.”
I looked across the way and saw Victoria’s Secret. I didn’t even answer before he was damn near tugging me toward the bright pink storefront.
“Oh yeah,” he said, looking around like a kid in a candy shop. “This is going to be fun.”
***
I shimmied into another garment that Preston had picked out for me. He was surprisingly patient for a man shopping, but I was showing him all the “outfits” so he couldn’t complain much.
He sat right outside my dressing room and somehow talked the sales lady into giving us complete privacy. After giggling and fiddling with her hair, she closed off one whole batch of rooms so we could be alone. It was nice to know that Preston’s charm didn’t just work on me.
I heard him speaking, but couldn’t make out the words. I adjusted the French maid-inspired pink and black get-up and slipped my black heels back on for effect. When I opened the door he looked at me and—
Was that my cell phone he was talking into?
“Hang on just a second, Kate, she’s right here. It was nice talking to you too.”
My whole face went cold and I knew blood must have drained from it. Preston confidently rose from his perch and handed me my phone.
“By the way,” he looked me over and traced his fingers over my thigh, “this one is a keeper.”
I swallowed hard and put the phone to my ear.
“Kate?”
“Oh my God, Megan! You’re getting married and you didn’t tell me? I called you to see what was going on and your fiancé answers the phone and…just…wow!”
“I ah…it just sort of happened.” I glared at Preston who went back to sit down and looked at me with the smuggest grin I’ve ever seen a man wear.
“Well, I understand how that goes, but…is everything okay. I mean, are you okay?”
“Yes, I’m good.”
There was a pause and I knew poor Kate was struggling. She cared. I knew she did and I would have been floored, hell, I was floored, when she told me she and Adam were engaged all those months ago.
“Are you happy, Meg? Does he make you happy?” Her tone was soft, doing the same thing I would have—gauging my reaction.
“He does.” I left out, “most of the time.”
“Well, okay then. This is amazing! I had no idea you were even dating someone. But Preston filled me in a little. He sounds great.”
“He’s something alright,” I grated between clenched teeth.
“He said you were waiting to tell everyone and nervous because it’s all happened so fast but Meg, I’m so happy for you. I’d never judge you, you know that right?”
My heart hurt a little. I did know that. But this situation was complicated and I had waited to tell Kate not because I didn’t think she’d be supportive, but because I didn’t want to lie to her. And omitting the details that this was a contractual thing was technically lying.
“You aren’t going to tell me that this is happening too fast?”
“With anyone else, I might,” Kate sighed. “But this is you, Meg. If you say he’s the one and you’re happy, then I’m not going to tell you otherwise. Sometimes love just sneaks up on you.” I could hear the smile in her voice and once again was so happy she and Adam had found each other. But the word “love” and Kate’s unconditional support tore at my chest like a fresh wound, and the guilt was already starting to fester.
“Thanks, Kate. I ah, I want to talk more about this but I’m kind of,” I looked down my body, “indisposed at the moment, can I call you tonight?”
“Of course! You have to call me.”
“Promise I will.”
“Okay, bye!”
“Bye.”
I hung up the phone and threw it at Preston. He caught it effortlessly and smiled. “Ooh, looks like I’ll have to punish the maid for throwing a tantrum,” he teased.
“I can’t believe you told her.”
“I can’t believe you haven’t told anyone. A man might think you’re ashamed of him.”
I looked at the ceiling and begged for patience. “I told Emma.”
“Because you had to.”
“I was waiting on everyone else. Planning my moment.”
“Uh-huh, well with the wedding coming up quick, I suggest you get on that.”
“I will.”
“Good.”
He twirled his finger. “Now, let me see the back.”
“You’re joking, right?”
“Nope, let me see the goods, sweetheart.” He winked and I couldn’t help but hide my smile. He was so cute when he was at ease and playful like this. But I still feigned being somewhat upset. Part of me was grateful Kate knew.
I spun in a slow circle and Preston took a rough breath. When I turned back around his eyes were still on me but he was pulling out his own cell phone from his pocket.
“What are you doing?”
“Calling the hotel. I think I just found the new housekeeping uniforms.”
***
I took a deep breath and walked into the hotel restaurant. Darlene was sitting at a small table in the corner. Four days to prepare and I still wasn’t ready to face her.
“Hi there.” She stood and kissed my cheek.
Weird. My friend Kate was the one with space issues, but right then I understood not liking someone too close to your face. Especially when you were pretty sure that person was harboring some serious claws.
“How are you, Darlene?”
We both sat. I opted to go for a causal look in jeans and a pink sweater. Darlene however was dressed to the nines in another tight red number with a plunging neckline. I was seeing quickly how attention tended to divert down when speaking to her.
“I’m great! I just thought we should get to know each other, you know, sister to sister.”
Something about the way she said that made a gross taste rise in my mouth and it wasn’t this relentless flu bug I had been fighting recently. Feeling exhausted almost all th
e time now was bringing on dizzy spells and I had little patience for games. I wasn’t an idiot and it was obvious Darlene wasn’t happy about me marrying Preston.
Preston however had no desire for Darlene. I replayed last night in my mind when we tested out the new maid uniform. I believed Preston when he told me things. Darlene wasn’t a threat…not in a sexual way at least. Everyone had a past and this woman was not atop my “people I like” list but she was going to be my—gulp—sister-in-law. No sense in adding to the awkwardness. The fact that she was a ragging bizzo was apparent and accounted for.
“That’s nice of you.” I smiled.
The waiter came and took our order. Salad and mimosa for Darlene and chicken for me.
“So, you and Preston seem to have happened pretty fast.”
Here we go. This wasn’t a get-to-know-you session, this was an interrogation. One thing I was learning from Preston was that the truth could be taken a lot of different ways, but it was still the truth. Keep it vague without it being a lie. Guess it was my turn to test his tactics.
“Really fast,” I said. “Like, ‘what’s your name, wanna get married?’ kind of fast.” I smiled wide, loving how the truth—sort of—felt good to say.
Darlene didn’t seem as amused.
“So you must be really thrilled that John is giving Preston his three percent as a wedding present?” she hissed. My mouth hung open and shock tingled along my spine. “Oh, did I spoil the surprise?”
“I didn’t know John had made a decision.”
“I find it interesting that Preston turned up to be engaged so suddenly and even more odd is that the wedding is happening so soon.”
“We have our reasons for that,” I muttered, trying for confidence but not wanting to go into those “reasons,” like my father’s illness, with this woman. Or the other fact that Preston did want to get married because of the three percent. It looked like Darlene wasn’t an idiot herself. She was obviously a schemer. The way she played Preston was enough for me to dislike her.
“Oh, I’m sure you do. Preston, he always has a plan after all. Don’t think that I’m blind to that or that I am going to let John sign over the stake of the company to him. Charlie is the oldest, legitimate son. And married or not, I know the kind of man Preston is. He’s never going to produce a family. Whatever you’re up to, I’ll find out.”