Stiff_A Graves Family Romance

by Kim Linwood

  “Stop.” I put my hands around her waist and hold her still. “Coffee is fine, but maybe we should just take a minute and decompress, alright?”

  Her body is stiff in my arms, but the longer we stand together, the more she relaxes into me. Giving in to my earlier impulse, I work the pins out of her hair and it tumbles down over her neck in rich, brown waves. I slide my fingers into it and press a kiss to the side of her neck.

  At first she stiffens again, but then she closes her eyes and sighs softly. “You’re a very good distraction, did you know that?” she whispers.

  “I do my best,” I say with a chuckle, kissing her again, closer to her ear.

  Her breath catches as my hand slides up her side. “Maybe something other than coffee would be a good idea. Something more physical?” Capturing her chin with my finger, I angle her towards me so I can kiss her beautiful lips instead. “Where’s the bedroom? I haven’t gotten the tour yet.”

  The coffee sits forgotten on the counter as she leads me through her home. Our hands stay connected the whole time. The upstairs has a bathroom and what looks like two bedrooms. She leads me straight to the one at the back.

  Unlike the rest of her home, the walls here are nearly bare. It’s the bed that takes center stage. It dominates the room, not just because it’s a king sized mattress, but because it’s covered in vibrant pillows and topped with a crazy quilt made of what looks like every color of the rainbow. Even the rest of the furniture is different in here. It’s an eclectic collection of different pieces that look like they come from everywhere from IKEA to a Middle Eastern bazaar.

  She laughs when I pause to take it all in. “The rest of the house is for showing off my artistic side, this is for inspiration.”

  I liked the way she’d organized things downstairs, but this, this I love. This is Sadie without rules and boundaries. Messy Sadie.

  Good thing I’m great at messy.

  I spin her around so quickly she gasps. My hands capture her face, and I lean in to kiss her deeply. There’s no resistance now, she melts into me, her tongue playing eagerly with mine. I pop the top button of her blouse while she attacks my belt, pulling it off with a snap that echoes around the room.

  She laughs and throws it to the side, eyes sparkling. Then a shadow crosses her face and she stops. “I shouldn’t be laughing today, should I? Maria…”

  I pull Sadie close and kiss her on the tip of her nose. “Maria would be thrilled to know we were together.”

  She smiles, even if it’s not quite as wide as before. “She would, wouldn’t she? And I know she hoped for lots of great-grandchildren.”

  “Whoa!” I laugh. “I don’t know if we’re quite ready for that yet.” The idea doesn’t exactly scare me either, though, which is a really fucking weird realization.

  “No! I didn’t mean—” She shakes her head, eyes big and round like she hadn’t even considered what she’d just said. “I’m not ready for that either.”

  “Relax, one step at a time, alright?” I loosen a few more buttons on her blouse. “We have the rest of our lives to worry about stuff like that.”

  Her breathing grows ragged as my fingers trace the edge of her lacy, white bra and the sexy valley between the cups. “Right.”

  “How about we worry about the big questions later?”

  “I’m okay with that,” she says, tugging my shirt out of my pants and running her hands over my stomach while I kiss along her jaw.

  She reaches for my fly, but I pull her shirt down over her arms and spin her around so she’s facing the bed with her back against my chest. One of my hands skims up her satiny skin until I reach her throat. She’s breathing heavily, and her pulse pounds wildly under my fingers.

  My other hand cups her breast through her bra. It clasps in front, and with a twist, falls loosely to her sides, leaving nothing but bare skin. “Tell me what you want and I’ll make all your dreams come true,” I whisper in her ear while rolling a nipple gently between my fingers.

  Sadie draws a sharp breath and pushes back into me. “Make me forget, Carter. Just for a little while.”

  “That I can do.”

  I undress her slowly, pulling off her shirt and bra. Next, I work her skirt down over her perfect ass and let it pool on the floor around her feet. Her white panties follow, leaving her fully exposed to my touch. My hands caress her sides while I kiss my way down her back, starting at her neck and tracing a soft trail across her shoulder blades. Goosebumps follow in the wake of my mouth, marking the path I take until I’m on my knees behind her, nibbling at her ass cheeks and stroking her thighs. She trembles in anticipation. Her skin burns under my touch and tastes so sweet.

  Placing one hand at the small of her back, I push gently. “Bend over the bed.” She does, putting her hands down and looking back at me over her shoulder with lust burning in her eyes. I tap the inside of her thigh. “And spread your legs a little.” She obeys, opening herself up to me. A flush blossoms on her cheeks, like a beautiful rose. I don’t waste any time, leaning in to swipe my tongue through her folds.

  With a gasp, she pushes her ass backwards. “Carter,” she whispers.

  I stroke her thighs, her ass, anything I can reach while I tongue her. Her skin is sweet, but her wet pussy is ambrosia. By the time I’m done, there won’t be anything in her mind except what I’m doing to her, and from the way her hips wiggle back at me whenever my tongue strays even just a little, she’s nearly there.

  Let me do this for you, Sadie.

  Let me be your everything.

  She moans out loud and her hips twist so much I have to hold her thighs in place. I tease her clit and tongue her sweet sex. Beneath my fingers, her legs begin to tremble. A tense shiver goes through her.

  “Carter!” She gasps my name before a deep groan escapes and her whole body goes taut.

  I keep licking, pushing her through her climax until her moans turn into ragged gasps. Fuck, I love watching her come, and knowing that it’s me who gave her that.

  Sadie seems to tremble forever, but eventually, she slumps onto the bed. “Oh, Jesus, that was intense,” she whispers. “I need to lie down. Please.”

  “I love it when you beg,” I say with a soft chuckle. “And I fucking love how you look after you’ve come. From now on, I want to be there every time it happens.”

  Gently, I ease her forwards until we’re all the way on the bed, then roll her over onto her back. She moves like a rag doll, sweaty and flushed, and one foot still hangs over the edge, but she’s wearing a satisfied smile. I lean down and kiss her belly button.

  She grabs my shirt collar and tugs me up until I’m stretched out beside her so we can kiss properly. “Then you might want to rethink the whole traveling thing, because a girl has needs. If you’re not around, I might have to take matters into my own hands.” Her fingers slide across my collarbones as she spreads open my shirt. “Aren’t you awfully overdressed?”

  “Easily remedied.” My shirt’s off so quickly it might be a new record.

  “Very nice,” she observes huskily, propped up on one elbow so she can watch my show. “But I might have to take off a few points for lack of showmanship. A little shirt twirl would’ve been nice.”

  “Oh, that’s how we’re playing this?” I slide off the bed and hook my thumbs into the waistband of my pants. With my fly already open, it doesn’t take much to start working them down my hips. Just before anything interesting comes into view. I turn around and strip completely, showing her the full moon before spinning my slacks over my head like a cowboy at a roping competition. I turn my head to glance over my shoulder then throw them right at her.

  Sadie laughs and clutches them to her chest. “Much better. But maybe you could…” She twirls her finger to indicate she wants me to turn around.

  If a little clowning around is all it takes to put that smile on her face, I’ll count myself a lucky man. I’m hard as a fucking rock, and I’m sure she knows it. “I don’t know. I’m feeling a little shy.”r />
  She giggles. “You? Yeah, right.”

  “Maybe you could cover your eyes?” I tease.

  Still laughing, she crawls to the edge of the bed and raises her hands to her face. Pretending I don’t see her peeking, I start to turn, then stop and scowl at her. Her lips press into a tight line to hold in her laughter. I tease her one more time before she practically growls at me and then reaches out and pulls me to her. Her expression goes quickly from amused to aroused as my hard cock bobs right in her face.

  She leans forward and gives the head a swipe with her tongue.

  The hot, wet sensation of her tongue on my most sensitive area pulls my balls tight and zings right up my spine. Oh fuck. I hadn’t meant to push her into anything, but when her lips circle my crown and she draws it into her mouth, it takes all of my willpower to run my fingers through her hair and push her away instead of pulling her down onto my cock.

  She looks up at me and licks her lips. “No?”

  Fuck. I almost give in.

  But I have better plans.

  “Not right now.” I push her back onto the bed by her shoulders, until she’s spread out beneath me. I look straight into her eyes as my knees push between her thighs, spreading them wide for me. “Right now, I’m going to show you how much I love you.”

  38

  Sadie

  I’m going to show you how much I love you.

  And with those simple words, he thrusts forward and sinks into me, filling me up like only he can. My eyes slide closed and a deep moan slips past my lips. The pleasure of it is heightened by the feeling of emotional completeness that comes from having Carter with me. And more than that, trusting that I really do have him.

  His arms frame me on either side, strong and powerful. I run my fingers up them, enjoying the play of muscle beneath his skin as his thrusts rock me into the mattress. I hook an ankle behind his thigh and urge him on, loving every hard inch he gives me. One of my hands grips his toned ass as the other tangles in his hair.

  “I—” My words are lost as a jolt of ecstasy scatters my concentration.

  Carter leans down and kisses my neck. Nuzzles my collarbone. “Hmm?”

  I try again. “I lo—”

  He rolls his hips and the movement presses his pubic bone right against my clit. Oh God. I spread my legs wide and thrust with him, searching for more. Pleasure arcs from nerve to nerve, making my whole body sing. My hand tightens in his hair until I’m worried I might leave a bald spot, but he doesn’t seem to mind.

  Carter stops moving. He holds himself completely still and stares down with a cocky grin. “Am I distracting you?”

  I push my hips upwards with a little growl. He chuckles, using his size and strength to pin me in place. What I want to say seems so much bigger now that I have his full attention. “Don’t stop,” I whine.

  He raises an eyebrow.

  Flopping back onto the mattress, eyes squeezed shut, I force out the words. “Ugh! I love you, too! Okay? Now fuck me.” I’m met with silence, and even worse, no movement. I crack open one eye to peer at him.

  Carter’s staring down at me, his lips split into a wide grin. “Say it again,” he commands.

  “I—Ooohhh!”

  He pulls out slowly and then thrusts suddenly, laughing when I’m interrupted by pleasure. “Come on. I want to hear you say it again while I’m inside you.”

  I glare up at him, but the expression quickly morphs to something softer, needier, because I’m not really mad. I’m too much in love for that. “I… love… you!” It comes out in choppy gasps as he gives me what I begged for.

  Gently disentangling my hands from his hair, he pins them down over my head, trapping me helplessly beneath him. Not that I’m trying to get away. He presses his full lips against mine. I open to him, and our tongues slide together until I’m desperate for more. Then his hips start moving again, his cock branding me as his and only his, one relentless push at a time.

  Letting up for just a moment, he says, “I love you, Sadie Williams. I think a part of me did from the moment you defended those flowers the day we met.” He thrusts, and for a moment, my world is nothing but stars. “And every time you opened that beautiful mouth, I fell a little bit harder.” Another thrust. “So never stop challenging me, because I want to keep on falling.” Again. “And never get to the bottom of you.”

  There are tears in my eyes as he shifts his grip on my arms so he can lower his mouth and take one of my nipples between his teeth while he continues to do amazing things with his cock. Heat burns me up from the inside, starting as a slow build in my core and stretching out to engulf me entire body.

  He works my nipple, nibbling and biting just hard enough to send erotic shocks rushing straight from my breast to my swollen clit. The room fades, leaving nothing but me and Carter.

  “Fuck, you’re so damn perfect,” he groans, rolling his hips against mine. Every time he does it, he grazes my clit and a moan slips out. He feels so good.

  It’s easy to lie back and revel in what he’s doing to me, but I force my eyes open so I can look up at him and hold onto that intimate thread of awareness that binds us together. I smile, though it probably looks more like a gasp. “I’m perfect for you,” I mirror back at him. “And you’re perfect for me.”

  He laughs and pushes deep.

  Oh God. “And thick. So damn thick,” I add breathlessly.

  “Now you’re just flattering me,” Carter says with a husky chuckle that makes me shiver.

  One shiver turns into more, his deep, long strokes bringing me closer to the edge. We’re made for each other. I’ve never known anyone else who can drive me as crazy as he can, in bed or out of it. The way he touches me, holds me, claims me. The way he makes me come.

  It’s all perfect.

  Our movements speed up and the sound of his hips against the backs of my thighs fills the room, drowning out our hurried breaths and soft moans. He drives me higher and higher, until I’m hanging on the edge, waiting for one last push before I tumble into bliss. With the way he’s going, I’m not going to last much longer.

  “Carter,” I moan, struggling helplessly against his grip.

  “Just let go. Let me see it.” His eyes glow with lust as he fucks me harder and harder, determined to force me over the edge, whether I want to or not.

  And I want to.

  Need to.

  The fire that’s been building, explodes out of me like a volcano. I’m flushed and burning, and he’s stoking the flame to even greater heights. His kisses on my skin fall like tracks of lava, wild and unpredictable.

  My orgasm crests. I tighten, arching myself against the solid weight of Carter, so very aware of every place we touch. He groans, deep in his broad chest, driving into me harder and faster. Each stroke draws out my climax. I’m trembling, barely remembering to breathe and way too busy enjoying myself to care.

  “You’re so fucking tight when you come,” he hisses into my ear before driving in one final time and reaching his own climax with a groan. He swells inside me, thicker and harder as he pulses like a heartbeat between my legs.

  For one long moment we’re perfectly still, pressed against each other in complete awareness of what we just shared before collapsing to the bed. Carter falls to his elbows and stretches out over me without breaking our connection.

  We release our breaths together, still in perfect sync. He looks down at me through hooded eyes, wearing a very satisfied smile. I imagine mine looks much the same.

  “You’re fucking amazing,” he murmurs.

  “And you said you love me.” I walk my fingers up his side, lingering over his tattoos. “No takebacksies.”

  He laughs. “Why the hell would I want to take that back? I fucking love you, Sadie Williams.”

  I snuggle closer. “You can keep saying that for as long as you want. I love you, too. From here…” I give his hair a playful tug, then slide my hand down to where he’s still in me, wrapping my fingers around the base of his cock. “T
o here.”

  He twitches, which in my current overstimulated state is enough to make me gasp. “Not all the way down to my toes?” He frowns.

  I laugh, making him groan as my muscles tighten around him. “I can’t reach your toes, but if it makes you feel better, they’re very nice toes.”

  “Damn straight they are,” he says with a grin, twitching inside me again and getting another gasp for his effort.

  “Stop it!” I say with a laugh, which just sends us into the same cycle of overstimulation.

  He tickles my side and we end up wrestling playfully on the bed until we’re both left gasping and spread out side by side. His hand finds mine and our fingers intertwine.

  “I love you,” he says quietly.

  I squeeze his hand, letting the words seep into me and fill up all the dark insecure corners. “I love you, too.”

  “And I love your toes.”

  “Dork.” I slap his chest with my free hand.

  He catches that hand too, holding it to him. “And I’m glad I told Dad to shove it and came back, even if you beat me.”

  I pull my hands away and sit up. “What do you mean, you told your father to shove it?”

  “Just about that. I made it clear that while expanding the business was important, either it’s my call to do it the way I want, or he can find someone else to play puppet to his plans.”

  “And how did that go?” I don’t know his father, but from what I’ve heard, I can’t imagine he was thrilled to have his youngest son stand up to him like that.

  “About as well as you’d expect.” He shakes his head and then smiles at me. “No, that’s not fair. We had a bit of a… discussion, but by the end we were more or less in agreement. I’ve been given free rein for a while. I’ll still be doing some traveling, but I can finally put that new office furniture to work. If you have the room.” He winks.

  My heart skips several beats. “I can probably find somewhere. Do you just need space for work, or…?” I might have told him I love him, but asking if he’s moving more permanently seems like a huge step.