by Ashley Ladd
Something flashed across Erica’s eyes he didn’t want to see. Suspicion? Caution? Wariness? Maybe all of the above.
After several moments, she finally said, “Sure. Come in.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t find the tone of her voice as welcoming as her words. Still debating whether to convey his message, he followed. The house was cool and dim since the curtains were closed and the air conditioning whooshed from the vents.
His blood freezing in his veins, his palms clammy, he remained standing. He pushed his hands deep into his pockets and fidgeted. “I hope I wasn’t interrupting anything important.”
Erica sauntered to her kitchen sink and ran water from the tap over her hands. Then she dried them on a kitchen towel. “I was just gardening. I planted a couple of banana trees and more flowers. Did you notice how my tomato plants are blooming?”
He hadn’t but nodded anyway. He noted for the first time the inside window boxes brimming over with herbs and wondered if they were new or if he’d missed them his last visit. “You’re becoming quite domesticated.”
“Just nesting like I’ve always wanted to.”
Nesting… Did that mean Erica wanted to settle down with her own man and raise a family? Did she have a particular man in mind?
A big lump dropped in Trey’s stomach. He looked around for signs of a man but saw none. The house looked quite feminine with soft whites accented by pastel pinks and greens. Lace and ribbon adorned several throw pillows. Doilies sat under several flowering plants.
“So, tell me…why do I have the pleasure of your unexpected visit?”
Trey flinched, knowing it wasn’t going to be at all pleasurable. He’d rather be anywhere than here right now, doing this. He rocked back and forth on his heels, measuring how far his escape route was.
Erica perched on the arm of her white tweed couch. She smiled up at him. “You can sit if you like. I promise not to bite.”
What if I want you to bite? The unbidden thought caught him unaware and he restrained the growl rising in his throat. The sensation of Eric’s nibbles and nips made him quiver. A sudden intense desire overcame him to take Erica in his arms, to lick and nibble her all over. Instead, however, he took a seat across the room.
Erica frowned. “Can it be that bad? You can talk to me. We’re friends.”
His lips tugged down at the corners, too. Did he really want to be just friends? Even if he was the one to say it first? He didn’t like the sound of friends in this instance.
“You’re starting to worry me. What is it? Did someone die? Or is somebody hurt?” She wrung her hands in her lap.
He felt like a schmoe for worrying her. He leant forwards over his knees. “Nothing so bad. I want to talk to you about seeing your uncle.”
She sat ramrod straight and stared at him. Her face paled. “We’ve already been through that.” Then her eyes narrowed. “You know he’s coming for a visit tomorrow, don’t you? Who do I need to muzzle? Mom or Amber?”
Trey’s annoyance meter shot way up. “It’s not as if it’s a secret. Your pic is on your Facebook profile for everybody to see.”
She thrust out her chin and said in a thin voice. “My aunt and uncle don’t do Facebook.”
“But your cousins do. Wouldn’t they tell him? Or forward him a picture?”
When her expression fell, he felt as if he’d sustained a victory. A very hollow one, however. In this case, he’d rather be the loser. Unfortunately, he knew he was right.
“Maybe. How’d you know my cousins are my friends?”
Trey squirmed. Since they’d reconnected that first night at the ball field a month ago, he couldn’t stop thinking about Erica. He’d been checking out her profile. Now caught, he felt like a stalker. He shrugged nonchalantly. “I don’t. But most people are.”
“Liar.”
He met her stare for stare. “That’s twice today you’ve called me a liar. I don’t think I like it.”
“Then don’t lie to me.”
“So? Why don’t you prove you’re not ashamed of yourself and see your uncle tomorrow?”
She hugged herself and stared into space. She rocked back and forth in silence for several long moments.
Just as he was growing very worried, she said in a small voice, “I’m scared. At least he still writes to me so I don’t think he knows. I made Mom and the sibs swear they wouldn’t tell him.”
Trey’s heart broke for her and he wanted to take her in his arms and tell her everything was all right. He longed to make everything perfect. “Did he reject you when you told him you were gay?”
Erica’s eyes watered up. “At first. He didn’t talk to me for a year. I think Aunt Georgie bullied him into it.”
The idea of Erica’s sweet Aunt Georgie bullying anybody made Trey grin. The smile died quickly on his lips when tears slid down Erica’s cheeks.
When Erica choked on a sob and turned away from him, Trey couldn’t take it anymore. He felt like the worst kind of heartbreaker. In one swift motion he stood. In two long strides, he was at Erica’s side. His heart longed to beat against hers. His arms yearned to hold her, to make everything better. He gave into his desires, pulled her up and put his arms around her. “If it helps, I’ll go with you. I won’t let him be mean to you.”
She lifted her face from his chest and looked up at him. Hope dawned in her eyes.
They reminded him of a pastel watercolour painting of a sunrise. His heart melted and before he could help himself, he lowered his lips to hers in a soft kiss.
She slipped her arms around him, curled her fingers over his shoulders and deepened the kiss. She pressed herself closer inviting him to drink deeply of her.
Unable to stop himself, he gave into the temptation and plundered her mouth. Her tears tasted salty. They intoxicated him and he felt the old addiction overtake him. He didn’t just want her—he needed her. Desperately.
How long the kiss lasted, he wasn’t sure. He didn’t care. He didn’t want it to stop. Ever. Eric or Erica, this person’s kisses drugged him. He was a goner. Love, deep and irrevocable, overflowed his heart. He’d do anything for her, even build a nest and face her ogre of an uncle.
When he pulled back for air, he leant his forehead against hers. He searched her eyes hoping to see his love returned or at least longing. The passion and love made him catch his breath. “Baby, don’t cry. I’m here for you.”
She shook her head and tried to pull away. “No, you’re not. Not the way I want you to be. I didn’t mean to do that. You should leave.”
“You didn’t mean to do what? Kiss me?” Trey shovelled his fingers through his hair, not caring if he ruined his spiky do. “Maybe I want you to kiss me. Maybe I want to kiss you.”
Chapter Five
Erica couldn’t take anymore. Between her uncle’s imminent arrival and the heartache that came with it heaped together with Trey’s teasing, hot tears stung her eyes. Annoyed and embarrassed that she was losing it in front of Trey, she swiped at them with the back of her hand. “Please leave. I mean it.”
His nostrils flared. His shoulders squared and he planted his feet firmly in her carpet. “I mean it, too. I want to kiss you. I want you to kiss me.”
Her heart shattered. She reeled on him. “Kissing isn’t enough! I want more than just kisses.”
A roguish smile tilted his lips. Passion and promise glowed in his eyes. “I want a lot more than kisses, too.”
As much as she longed for him to sweep her off her feet and carry her to her bedroom and have his wicked way, that wasn’t enough. Her heart couldn’t take another one-night stand. Not with him. “I’m not looking for casual sex, so I’m not your woman.”
His thumb caressed her cheek. “What if I want you to be my woman? What if I confess my deep, undying love for you? What if I want very uncasual, deeply committed sex? For however long we both shall live? And beyond?”
His touch was almost ephemeral—as if he was afraid she was made of porcelain. Erica couldn’t believe she wa
s hearing this. Her mouth gaped. She must be dreaming. After several seconds, she found her composure enough to ask in a stunned voice, “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Trey closed the gap between them. To her shock, he bent on one knee and captured her hand in his. When their gazes locked, she felt as if she was drowning in his.
“I’m saying, I want to be your man, your husband, forever. Will you marry me?”
Her throat constricted. Her heart swelled. Flames licked her fingers then spread like wildfire through her body.
“Well?” Trey asked when she’d been silent a long time. “Will you put me out of my misery and be all mine?”
She longed to yell yes and jump into his arms. But had he forgotten about her drinking? About her lying? Would he tire of her being a woman? “Can you honestly live with a drunk and a liar?” She took a deep breath, steeled herself and asked, “You can forsake sex with men?”
He gave her a stern glare and squeezed the hand he was holding. Then he kissed it. “I’m monogamous and only want to be with the person I love with all my heart for the rest of my life. That person is you, Erica. Tell me now…are you still an alcoholic? You haven’t taken a drink in at least two years, have you?”
Feeling chastised for doubting him and so very thankful for Chantal’s support, for stopping her the day she’d had the urge to down a drink when upset over him, she said with fervent conviction, “No, I don’t drink anymore.”
He nodded. “I know. I’ve talked to your mom.”
She paused and thought about what he said, not sure she liked it. “You did?”
He nodded. His voice softened a notch. “I hope you don’t mind. If I didn’t care about you, a lot, I wouldn’t have bothered.”
His words burned in her heart and melted it. How could she take offence?
“As for lying, we all get scared. We all have secrets. I forgive you for not telling me. I just wish I’d been someone you felt you could confide everything in. That you felt you could lean on in times of need. I hope I will be from now on. I’m here for you and I want to be here for you forever. I want to be the white knight that slays your dragons.”
She tried to swallow the smile that played around her lips but failed. “And protects me from scary uncles?”
“And dries your tears. And stands by you no matter what.”
Her heart beat so strongly she was certain he must hear it. Her pulse was so strong he must surely feel it in her wrists. “How can I refuse?”
His thumbs stroked her pulse hypnotically. The overwhelming love in his eyes bewitched her. “I love you, too,” she confessed. “Yes, yes and yes! I’ll marry you.”
He let out a sigh of relief and a sunny smile split his face. “You don’t know how much I needed to hear you say that.”
His sunshine warmed her to her core. Her thighs quivered and she wanted much more than just his kisses so she tugged on his hand.
Instead, he pulled her down to him and into his arms where he knelt on the floor. “Come here, you.”
The phone in his pocket rang and he scrunched his nose. “Ignore it.”
“That’s probably my mother or Chantal looking for a progress report.”
Trey quirked his brow. “Who’s Chantal?”
“A good friend. I’ll fill you in later.”
“I’ll give her one later.” Trey pulled her on top of him then rolled over, pinning her to the floor.
She smiled up at him and batted her lashes. “She’ll just keep calling. If you don’t answer, she’ll hunt you down.”
He screwed up his lips as if thinking even as his hand insinuated its way into her blouse and caressed her breasts. “Maybe I should rethink joining your family. Or maybe we should move away from here.”
When his fingers brushed the sensitive aureole of her nipple, she moaned. When his hard cock rubbed against her pussy, she swooned. She sighed in relief when the ringing stopped. When it rang again, however, she knew they’d have no peace until he responded, whether it was her mother or Chantal. “Get the phone.”
He narrowed his eyes but pulled the ringing annoyance from his pocket. “Who’s this?”
She rolled her eyes. Then she unbuttoned his jeans and slid her hand inside his pants. She found his cock and ran her fingers down its long length. Then she curled her hand around it and gently pumped.
Ecstasy lit his eyes before he closed them. He muttered into the phone, “Great! Okay. Thanks.”
When he hung up, she waited for him to report on the call. When he buried his face in her chest, she asked, “Who was that? What was all that about?”
He turned his face but didn’t lift his head. “That was Dave from the baseball league. The board just voted and you’re in.”
She pressed against him and helped him to unbutton her blouse. “I’m in? What do you mean?”
“I mean,” he said breathlessly as his words began to slur. “The petition worked. You can play ball with us.”
Feeling very happy and very evil, she beamed at him. She cupped his balls in her hand and gently squeezed. “I want to play ball with you.”
“Ooh, bad cliché.”
“Thank you,” she said, smiling against his lips. “You know, you talk too much. Don’t your lips have better things to do?”
“Much,” he murmured. He pushed her lacy bra aside, claimed her other nipple and suckled it. Playfully, he nipped at the raised peak as he unsnapped her bra and flung it behind him.
Finding it unfair that she was naked and he was fully clothed, she pushed his pants down. Then she tugged at his shirt until he removed his clothes the rest of the way. When she had him how she wanted, she moulded herself to him and fit his cock between her legs. “This is much better. Naked flesh to naked flesh. You’re at third base. Don’t you want to make a home run?”
A primitive growl rose from his chest and he spread her legs wide. “You know the answer.”
He stared at her so intensely she squirmed and arched her hips, silently begging to be fucked. “Now?”
A mischievous smile pushed aside the passion in his eyes. “Clay will like how anxious you are to play.”
“I don’t want to play with Clay. I just want to play with you.”
“I’m not playing, sweetheart. I’m deadly serious.”
“So am I.” She slid her hand between them and captured his penis. Then she guided it to her pussy lips. Anxious for him to drive into her, she rubbed it against her clit.
“Impatient little minx, aren’t you?” He smiled down at her seductively. He lifted his hips to plunder her pussy, then paused. “Don’t you need lubricant? That’s what I read when I was studying about transgender women.”
She blinked and pulled back. Then she smiled ruefully as heat crawled into her cheeks. “There’s some in my bedroom, with my dildo…”
A growl rose in his chest and he lifted himself up. Then he pulled her up. “Lead the way. I don’t want to hurt you.”
She smiled her appreciation then captured his hand and pulled him to her bed. She rifled through her drawer, shoved the vibrator aside and brought out the lube.
She gently but erotically applied it liberally on his cock.
He closed his eyes and moaned in pleasure. “Much more of that and I’m going to come in your hands.”
“I can’t have that. I want you too badly now.” She tugged on his cock.
He rolled over and straddled her. With a lopsided grin, he said, “I love you,” then drove into her pussy hard and deep until she was in utter rapture. They fell into a rhythm harder and faster than their usual slow lovemaking from a long time ago.
Longing for his seed to shoot deep inside, she milked him. She met him thrust for thrust. Soon the pressure became unbearable and the heavens exploded.
As spasms racked his body, he caught her to him and they came together. When their orgasms subsided, he rolled to his side and pulled her with him.
She snuggled against his heart, spooned into him and finally felt whole. Eup
horia filled her and a deep, abiding peace. She ran her fingers lightly over him, still in awe that he was hers. She trailed kisses from his one breast to the other. Against his warm flesh, she murmured, “With you by my side, I feel as if I can face anything.”
“Even your Uncle Bob?”
She tilted her head and smiled contentedly. “Especially my uncle. I hope you meant what you said because I’m holding you to all of it.”
He pulled her so close she was left with no doubt that she couldn’t get away if she wanted to. And she didn’t. Not ever.
About the Author
Ashley Ladd lives in South Florida with her husband, five children, and beloved pets. She loves the water, animals (especially cats), and playing on the computer.
She's been told she has a wicked sense of humour and often incorporates humour and adventure into her books. She also adores very spicy romance, which she weaves into her stories.
Email: [email protected]
Ashley Ladd loves to hear from readers. You can find her contact information, website and author biography at http://www.total-e-bound.com.
Also by Ashley Ladd
Abracadabra
Bon Appetit!
Whirlwind Relationship
Carnal Lust
Bad Conduct
Crazy In Love
Recipe for Disaster
Simon Says
Last Man on Earth
Heart and Soul
Submissive Dreams
Wild Fantasies
Confessions of a Nympho
The Perfect Gift
Shipwrecked
Bats and Balls: Doggy Style
Bats and Balls: Secret Admirer
Bats and Balls: Naughty Boys
Cougars and Cubs: Scene of the Crime
Homecoming: Naked Ambition
Friction: Sorry Charlie
Caught in the Middle: Charity’s Auction
Night of the Senses: Welcome to Paradise
Christmas SpiritsChristmas Miracles