by Kristen Echo
“I’m getting out.” She climbed the stairs and walked to the pile of folded towels in a stand near the table.
Before she could unfold one, Spencer wrapped his arms around her from behind. He scooped her hair to one side and nuzzled her exposed neck. “You shoot me down every time I bring up the past. At some point we’ll talk about it, but for now I’m thrilled to focus on the present and make up for lost time.”
He pinned her against the table. His chest pressed against her back, tilting her forward. He licked the outer shell of her ear and sucked on her earlobe. She dropped the towel when his fingers pressed against her mound and teased her slit.
“Is this your way of getting reacquainted?” she murmured as two fingers entered her.
Within seconds his digits were dripping wet. “Hell yes, darlin’. I’m not sure what I did right in this world to get this second chance with you, but I plan to make the most of it.”
He continued to finger her and bent her over until her chest was flat against the wooden tabletop. His lips moved down her spine. She shivered and widened her legs as he dropped to his knees. He bit her ass cheek hard enough to leave a mark, and she whimpered. His tongue licked over the spot and dipped between her legs. He plastered his face against her sex.
Through a crack in the wooden boards, she watched his knees shuffle by her feet as he devoured her from behind. His tongue went deeper than his fingers. She moaned and shook as the waves of bliss washed to the surface. He lapped at her until she shattered.
“I’m coming,” she panted.
Before she caught her breath, he stood behind her again and pushed inside. Stretching her walls and driving to the hilt. He plastered his chest to her back. “Do you remember our first time?” he breathed next to her ear.
“Yes,” she replied. Bringing up the good times brought tears to her eyes. Gwen had fallen hard for the college hockey player. In less than a month, she’d given him her virginity. He’d made it special with candles, soft music and so many pillows she thought she’d lose him in the heap.
“I was the first man to claim you,” he whispered and nibbled on her ear. He pulled out and slammed back in. His strokes were relentless and hard. “I wanted to be your only.”
She’d wanted that too. Only it hadn’t worked out. He’d made sure of that. “Stop talking and make me come.”
Those words unleashed a beast. He wrapped her wet hair around his fist and turned her face. His lips smashed against hers as he dove in and out of her womb. Each stroke went deeper than before. He pounded her G-spot until an electrifying orgasm sparked, pulsing through her and frying her senses. His climax followed. He howled as he came, releasing every drop inside her.
He collapsed onto her. “I’m sorry if I hurt you.”
She doubted he meant the past, but it eased the sting a little. “I’m fine.”
“Just fine,” he teased. Then pulled out and placed a kiss at the top of her spine.
Gwen smiled as he handed her a towel. “Okay; I’m way better than fine,” she said, standing on weak legs. “I’m sexually exhausted and might not be able to move for a few days. Does that soothe your ego more?”
Spencer’s lip lifted on the side and his eyes twinkled like the stars. He’d never looked better. “Come to bed with me. I don’t want to let you out of my sight.”
That was a bad idea. She knew it and this time she had to stop herself. Gwen wrapped the towel around her torso and grabbed her clothing from the chair. “I can’t,” she said, backing away from him slowly.
Sharing a bed meant this wasn’t a fleeting, heat of the moment encounter. It wasn’t old feelings bursting into the present with no future. If she cuddled with him and fell asleep in his arms, it would make this all real. As her bare feet contacted the edge of the grass, she wasn’t sure she could handle real.
Spencer eyed her like she’d grown two heads. “You can,” he declared, reaching for his own towel.
Those blue eyes reached deep into her soul. But she wouldn’t let him in. Not again. Gwen turned, and the towel loosened when she charged forward. The plush terry cloth slipped down her body and fell to the ground as she scurried towards the house. A dignified run as a naked person wasn’t possible. Her reasons for running made little sense, except that she had to get away.
Chapter 9
Her feet hadn’t reached the top of the deck before his calloused fingers had gripped her hips. He’d caught her. And the bastard wouldn’t take no for an answer. Like a barbarian he’d tossed her over his shoulder and carried her to his bed. With his arms snuggled around her, she’d closed her eyes and stopped fighting.
Without opening her peepers, she knew Spencer was close. She’d been his captive all night. His delectable scent and his heat surrounded her. She breathed him in and relaxed against his hard body. His hand rested against her stomach and their legs were tangled.
Cuddling should have sent alarm bells ringing, but she smiled. Resisting him was too much work. If this was a mistake, then so be it.
“Are you awake?” she whispered.
He groaned and nuzzled his nose at the base of her head. “No.”
She giggled. “It’s early, but I wasn’t sure if you thought this through last night.”
“Still trying to get away?” His breath tickled the back of her neck.
At some point between falling asleep and waking up, she’d realized she didn’t want to push him away. Spencer was like the sun. A powerful force with the ability to burn her, but her world was brighter with him in it. “That’s not what I meant.”
“Enlighten me,” he said as his hand moved south, grazing the top of her mound.
The pressure sent a pulse of heat flooding her gates. Her body ached in all the right places. She couldn’t recall the last time she’d come so hard. “Kids… I mean, does Connie enter your room in the morning? Wes is out, but I wouldn’t want your daughter to catch us like this.”
His fingers slipped between her folds. She moaned as he circled her clit. He kissed her neck and his tongue left a wet trail to her ear.
“The door is locked. She won’t get out of bed until her second alarm goes off.” He leaned over her, pressing his erection against her hip as he peered at the clock. “We have another two hours.”
Gwen rolled on top of Spencer and straddled him. Her smile grew wider as his fingers continued to pleasure her. With his long, thick cock poised between her legs, she sat back and enjoyed the view. His body was in prime shape. Her fingers trained over his chest and stomach before she gripped his cock. His muscles flexed when she stroked his shaft.
“In that case, you should kiss me good morning.”
“Good morning, darlin’,” he said with a grin. If she’d worn panties, his smile would have melted them from her skin it was that hot. “I will make you feel so good, you’ll never dream of running from me again.” He grabbed her face and pulled her in for a kiss more powerful than a nuclear blast.
The love she’d had for this man had never left. It scared her and thrilled her to be back with him. Wherever they went from here was unknown, but she’d roll with it because she had no intention of running again.
“We’ll see about that,” she teased.
Taking her time, she explored his body and enjoyed watching him come undone. No rushing. Getting intimately reacquainted with her ex was something she never expected to happen. But this was the most fun she’d had in ages. They spent the next hour under the covers, not sleeping. Morning sex with multiple orgasms was the best way to start the day.
When their exploration time ended, they parted ways discreetly. Spencer joined Connie for breakfast and Gwen showered alone. As the steam filled the room, she tried to process the huge turn of events. Her first love was back in her life. The magnitude of their actions hit her like a wrecking ball. She leaned against the cold travertine tiles for support.
“I spent the night and the morning getting down and dirty with my ex,” she whispered into the mist. “What the hell am I
doing?”
The downpour of water offered no answers. Her eyes scrunched tight as she pressed her hand over her heart. The beating thundered inside her chest. Her feelings for him were strong as though all those years apart had never happened. He was the same charming man with big dreams and ruthless determination. He’d set his sights on her and just like the last time, she was caught up in him.
She was falling for Spencer Northcote all over again. She sat on the river stone floor and let the water cascade over her. “Think. Stop being impulsive and stop talking to yourself.”
Making love to him hadn’t felt like a mistake, but she questioned the risk of giving him her heart. It could all backfire like it had before. She hadn’t been ready for his brand of intensity then. They’d met right after her mother passed away and she’d clung to anything that got her out of the house and filled the void in her chest. Spencer had become her escape, and she’d fallen hard and fast. She had to be smarter this time.
Maybe he only wanted sex and nothing more. She couldn’t be sure. They hadn’t discussed much beyond what felt good. And it all felt great. Gwen bit her lip and hugged her knees. For the first time since they’d split, she wondered if she should have stayed.
After a long shower, she dressed in a casual summer dress with capped sleeves. As she headed downstairs, she heard voices coming from the kitchen. She headed towards the sound of laughter. Spencer and Connie sat at the kitchen table with empty plates in front of them. They both smiled as she walked in.
Her eyes caught Spencer’s. Her cheeks heated. She waved as her gaze darted to the young blonde. “Hi. Good morning.”
“You look different,” Connie said, tapping her finger against her chin. “Maybe too much sun yesterday. Your face is red.”
Gwen’s blush deepened as she headed for the coffee machine. Her hair was still damp, and she’d left it down. Shaking her head slightly, she hoped it shielded her burning cheeks. “Too much sun is probably it.”
Spencer stood and kissed the top of his daughter’s head. “Are you ready? Walter’s waiting outside to take you to class.”
“My bag is packed,” she beamed. “Will you pick me up later?”
“Absolutely,” he replied. “Let me walk you out.”
“Have a great day,” Gwen added as the pair left the room.
Placing her phone on the counter, she inhaled the aroma of freshly pressed coffee. She poured a full cup and grabbed a croissant from the basket on the butcher-block island. Once seated at the table, she bit into the flaky piece of heaven and moaned. It was fresh and melted in her mouth. She ate another before Spencer returned.
Licking her fingers, she sat back, patted her belly and sighed. “Those things are beyond amazing. I love croissants.”
“I remember.” He filled his coffee mug and added a splash of cream. “That’s why I asked my chef to bake some for us,” he said, sitting next to her.
“You’re mighty thoughtful. I’ll have to think of a creative way to show you my appreciation.” She placed her hand on his knee.
He placed his hand on top, leaned over and kissed her. “Have I mentioned I’m glad you’re here?”
“Only every other minute.”
He blew into his mug before taking a sip. “Out of curiosity, what happened between you and Cherie?”
Her body stiffened. “I’ve done some things she’s not happy about. I owe her. Let’s leave it at that.”
“I’m glad it had nothing to do with me,” he said.
Why would it be about him?
She wondered what he meant. Questions rested on the tip of her tongue when her phone rang. She raced to the counter, hoping it was Reba. Her smile brightened when she saw her sister’s name on the display.
“Hi Cherie-bo-berry.” She covered the mouthpiece. “It’s my sister. I’ll be back in a minute,” she said to Spencer before stepping outside onto the deck.
“Good morning Gwen. Have you found a new place? Where should I drop Wes?”
“I’m working on it, but we’re still at Spencer’s,” she admitted.
Cherie let out a frustrated grunt. “I’m glad he’s out of town. Let me see if I can find you something before he returns.”
“He’s back,” she said with a smile. “Arrived home late last night. We were… um… having coffee. If you’re done avoiding me, you are welcome to join us.”
“Oh. I see. Gwen, I need to tell you something.”
The morning sun was bright but not overly hot. She stopped at the top of the stairs. The same spot Spencer had twirled her around the night before. “You can tell me anything.”
“I’ve been keeping my distance for a reason. Don’t be mad.”
That warning usually meant the information to follow was best served while seated. Gwen sat and braced herself. “Nothing you do could make me mad.
“Spencer and I are dating.”
Gwen blinked repeatedly as the words registered. “Come again.”
“I know he’s your ex. It’s only been a few dates, but I like him. I’m certain he likes me too. When we kissed—”
The blood rushed between her ears, drowning out the rest of the words. Her sister and Spencer were dating. Bile crept into her throat at the image of them kissing.
The bliss bubble she’d been living in popped. No wonder Cherie wanted her to stay away. She hadn’t interrupted a business meeting, or friendly celebration, she’d messed up their date. Gwen covered her mouth with her hand.
Spencer and Cherie. Those words twirled and swirled, like a puzzle piece in her brain that didn’t fit. They didn’t belong together.
She wanted to vomit. She wanted to scream and ball her eyes out, but she wouldn’t. Not while sitting on Spencer’s deck. Not with him less than ten feet away. Her hands balled into fists. The asshole was playing games. Again. She should have known better than to trust him. Expecting someone to be monogamous was apparently way too much to ask.
“Cherie, I’ll call you later,” she wheezed and hung up. Her breaths were shallow. It took several minutes of sitting and staring into nothingness to calm the rage inside.
They had done nothing wrong. She had. She’d assumed things when she should have asked. Those were her mistakes. Gwen stood and marched back into the house. Spencer smiled when she neared. Those full lips had connected with her sister. Her eyes burned with tears, but she blinked them away. With her hands on her hips, she stopped in front of him.
“Answer honestly. Have you been out with Cherie?”
The smile disappeared. Silence hung in the air. He didn’t deny it. With every passing second, her heart splintered into more pieces.
“Unbelievable,” she rasped.
He arched a brow and placed his hands on the table. “We recently bumped into each other and went out for drinks a few times. It’s not a big deal. We talked a lot about—”
Gwen scrunched her eyes and held up her hand as she pictured them holding hands and laughing. “I don’t need the particulars. One last question. Have you and my sister kissed?”
She opened her eyes and read his face. His nostrils flared, and his lips pursed. A simple no would have ended the conversation, but his mouth remained shut.
Fuck. It was true. She gasped for her next breath and backed away.
His phone rang. He glanced at the screen and swiped to ignore it.
Deep down, she suspected this and had ignored the signs the other night. She shook her head. “This,” she said and pointed her finger between them, “was a mistake. A onetime mistake. It won’t be repeated.”
The phone rang again. “Gwen, this conversation isn’t over. I need to take this.” He picked up his cell. “Talk,” he barked.
She couldn’t stay there anymore. Nothing he could say would change the truth; they were over. As he spoke to the person, she left the kitchen. He didn’t follow. She went up to her room and grabbed her bag. She’d never unpacked. It had all been too good to be true. She slipped out a side door and headed for the bus.
&
nbsp; Broke with less than two pennies to rub together, her options were limited. She checked back into the seedy motel. Spencer blew up her phone, but she refused to answer his calls. The text messages said it was nothing with Cherie. Nothing to him, but it had meant something to her sister.
Poor Cherie. Gwen didn’t know the details of their relationship, nor did she want to. Spencer could date, kiss and fuck anyone he wanted. She’d been the naïve one, thinking she was special. The image of her sister with Spencer made her stomach twist and unleashed the tears. Gross. She didn’t want Westlyn to see her like that. She picked up her phone and called her daughter.
Two rings and she answered. “Howdy.”
“Hey you. How’s your morning?”
“Great,” Wes replied. “Just finished lunch. Aunty took the morning off. Crazy right?”
“That was nice of her. Can you stay with Cherie for another night?”
“Why? You want some alone time with Spencer?”
Being alone with her ex was the last thing she wanted. “No. I’ve got a splitting headache and… I think you’d have more fun at her place.”
“Hold up. Aunty Cherie, Mom wants to know if I can stay with you tonight?” Things got quiet for a moment. “She said sure. You okay?”
Wiping the non-stop tears leaking from her eyes, she shook her head. “I’ll be fine. Have fun. I love you.”
“See you tomorrow and love you too,” Wes said and then disconnected.
Rather than call Cherie, she sent her a text. “Thank you.”
Gwen wasn’t ready to talk to her sister. She’d really messed up rebuilding their sisterly bond by sleeping with Spencer. It had never been her intention to hurt her sister or herself, but her actions had caused damage. The fallout remained to be seen.
Her phone buzzed with Cherie’s response. “We’ll talk soon.”
A massive heart to heart was due, but not today. Westlyn had a safe place to sleep, and that’s all that mattered.
“Dammit!” she screamed into the empty motel room.