Lost in the Beat

by Gracen Miller

  Frustration detonated from the brittle line of his shoulders. He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked heavenward as if in prayer. “And to think I didn’t believe women like you existed. Be careful what you pray for, huh?”

  She shrugged and without thinking blurted out, “I wouldn’t know. He doesn’t answer mine.”

  “What do you pray for?” His voice dropped a dark notch, washing over her like his tongue had that one blissful evening.

  She never prayed, but she supposed she wanted what most every woman fantasized about. The white picket fence wasn’t necessary, but she could do with a faithful man to love her, offer companionship, and provide security. None of that was too much to ask for. Someone that’d come home to her each night and make her feel like she was the sole reason he lived. Jase might be a family man, but he wasn’t that type of family man. He’d fail at the first qualification. Faithful would never be in his vocabulary.

  “I pray for Faith.” Coward, she mocked herself. But the coward’s way was easier than having him ridicule her daydreams.

  “Such a pretty, little liar.”

  Dismissing him, she walked toward the bathroom. “I’m going to shower.”

  “Your parents are eating dinner with us tonight.”

  Oh shit! She spun around so fast she tripped over the rug, but managed to catch herself before she embarrassed herself. “Why?”

  “Don’t you think I should get to know my daughter’s grandparents?”

  In a normal world, yes, but this was her parents. Her dad was the biggest conspiracy theorist alive. “I think you have no idea what you’re getting yourself into, Jase. My dad will accuse you of things that will be so far from the truth, it’ll shock you and embarrass me.”

  He scoffed. “Like what?”

  Fallon fidgeted, but said what she was thinking regardless of the discomfiture she’d suffer. “Like you’re angling to get me in your bed on a regular basis.”

  “Huh.” He made a face she couldn’t read. “Your dad’s an astute kind of guy.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “If he makes that particular accusation, he’ll be right, Fallon.”

  Her jaw dropped.

  He gave her his hundred-watt smile. “Except that’s not all I want from you.”

  What else is there?

  He winked at her.

  Horrified, she realized she’d uttered that question aloud.

  “They’ll arrive around six.” He strolled to the door but stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder after wrapping his fingers around the doorknob. “I canceled my exclusive interview to showcase Faith. Tomorrow you and Sam have a girl’s day at the spa. No arguments.”

  “You can’t just boss me around, Jase.”

  “Cooperate just this once. It’s for Faith’s benefit. And yours.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and would’ve demanded an explanation how a spa would benefit either of them. She couldn’t get a word in edgewise with the way he talked.

  “The day after, you are doing the interview with me.” She was shaking her head as he said, “We gotta show solidarity or the press’ll continue to eat you alive. And, darlin’, I’m telling you now, if anyone is going to be eating you, it’ll be me.”

  Turned on and shocked all at the same time, a sharp gasp exited her lungs. “Don’t be crass.”

  “Don’t be a prude. I have an excellent memory of our night together. You liked the way I ate your pussy. I recall your fingers griping my hair, holding my head to your sweet, wet cunt, hips rocking, begging for more, until you almost came beneath my tongue. That was my moment to shine. Until I shoved my dick into you too hard, too fast, and took away your pleasure along with your virginity. You should’ve told me, darlin’.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this.” Fallon spun on her heel and beelined for the safety of the bathroom.

  He caught her, pressing her face first against the door. She flattened her palms against the wood, but his hands captured her hips, and he ground his pelvis into her ass. Fallon bit her bottom lip to halt her hiss at the hard outline of his erection pressing against her.

  “I want to fuck you until you’re desperate to tell the world you’re mine.” He nudged her hair away from her neck with his jaw and pressed his mouth to her ear, while the length of his hair tickled her cheek. “Why’d you give me your innocence, Fallon?”

  “Stupidity.” She felt him flinch against her and regretted her words, but she refused to retract them.

  “Yeah, rat bastards like me don’t deserve women like you.”

  She wrenched her head about, and over her shoulder she met his gaze. “That’s not what I meant.”

  “I am a rat bastard.” His left hand shifted off her hip, and he dragged his palm real slow along the waistband of her jeans. “Don’t ever fucking doubt that. I’d have taken your virginity even if you’d told me. I wanted in that tight pussy of yours, and I didn’t care what I had to do to get inside you.” Her eyes widened at his directness, and she would’ve squeezed her thighs together to eliminate the throbbing there, but he pressed a knee between her legs terminating her intentions. “That’s right. I have zero morals. I’ve done things that would shock a normal person. I regret none of it.” Her breath stalled in her lungs when his hand navigated downward and cupped her pussy. A languid rub and her lips parted on a moan. He blew into her mouth. “Breathe, darlin’, so you can come for me with one of your delightful moans.” His other hand released the button and zipper on her pants and dived inside.

  She gasped when his fingers found her, two pressing inside while his thumb descended on her clit.

  “Fuck, yes. Wet.” His triumph at her body’s arousal was evident in his voice.

  Elevating her arms she captured the back of his head. “Jase, please—”

  The plea for him to stop froze on her tongue as he pumped his fingers inside her, a slow movement that teased her, had her aching for a harder drive, while his thumb flicked her clitoris fast, shoving her toward orgasm. She hadn’t even masturbated since being with Jase because each time she tried, she could only think of him, and she’d been trying to get him off her mind.

  Heat spread through her loins, and she trembled against him.

  His breath rasped against her ear, increasing her arousal, evidenced by the slick sound of their union. The rapid swishes of his thumb halted, and she whimpered a protest.

  “Don’t want you coming too fast. Enjoy the agony.” He licked the shell of her ear, and she clenched the cool strands of his hair, grinding down onto his hand with each thrust into her body.

  She was so close, on the verge of orgasm, and she was desperate for further clit action. His other hand curled beneath her chin and anchored her head against his shoulder. Two more thrusts and his fingers halted knuckle-deep inside her body.

  “Why are you crying?”

  Her eyelids flicked upward, and he was bathed in a watery landscape. “I didn’t realize I was.”

  “I told you I was a selfish bastard. Here’s proof. I’ve hurt you?”

  “No. The opposite. I h-haven’t came since y-you.”

  A pure male smile of satisfaction dressed up his face. “Yeah?”

  He gloated. Typical man.

  She swallowed and tried to nod, but the way he anchored her head against his shoulder limited her range of motion.

  He kissed each of her eyes, his mouth coming away shiny from her tears. He licked his lips. “I want you. Bad. This is evidence”—he fucked her a couple of times with his fingers—“that you want me.” She felt a ‘but’ coming up. “But…I want more than a one-night stand.”

  At the moment, Fallon just wanted to get off. Something other than a one-night stand was more than she wanted to ponder.

  His fingers exited her body, and she whimpered. He held her eyes as he popped his middle finger into his mouth and sucked her moisture off. She wasn’t aware her mouth was open until he removed his finger from his mouth and he slid his index finge
r into hers. “Lick yourself off me, Fallon.”

  She complied without a single thought of protest. He groaned as she swirled her tongue around his digit. “I bet you’d give a mean blow job.”

  “Don’t know,” she admitted when her mouth was object free. “Never given one.”

  His pupils dilated. “Virgin mouth.” Using his fingertip, he outlined her lips. “I’m a lucky fucker. I get to teach you what I like if you allow me the opportunity.”

  Jase released her so abruptly she collapsed against the door. His finger traveled through the crevice of her ass, and until that moment, she hadn’t been aware her pants or panties had been shoved to her ankles.

  “Lift your arms.”

  “Why?” She would’ve turned, but he caught her hips and immobilized her.

  Instead of providing a response, he pulled her shirt up, forcing her arms to lift as he removed her top. Mortified by the dinginess of her over-washed and over-used bra, she froze when he unsnapped the hooks.

  “Turn around and present yourself to me.”

  Suddenly shy, she worried what he’d think. He was the world-traveler, had seen the best bodies, and she knew she wasn’t anything special. “I don’t know if I can.”

  “Do you want me, Fallon?”

  “Yes…but I think that might be wrong.”

  “What might or might not be wrong is entirely irrelevant, darlin’.” His fingertip ran down her spine. She gloried in the rough texture of his touch as it sizzled along her senses.

  “It’s not the right thing, Jase. We have Faith to think about.” Her voice shook on the last sentence. “Sex can complicate everything.”

  “Never has for me before.” That was because he was worldlier than her. His palms landed on the doorframe above her head. He placed wispy kisses against her temple, before meeting her eyes. “Turn around now.”

  Cupping her boobs so the bra didn’t drop, she rotated into his kiss. His tongue thrust into her mouth and, maintaining his hands firmly planted on the doorframe, he kissed her until she wanted more.

  “How many men have you kissed?” he asked against her lips.

  “A few. None that do it as well as you.”

  His nostrils flared, but he didn’t address her compliment. “I’m going to step away and look at you now.”

  With a gulp she nodded. He kissed the tip of her nose and took that step backward, lowering his arms. His sapphire gaze traveled from her head down to her toes and back up in a slow perusal.

  “Let your bra go.”

  She shook her head hard. Her nipples were so tight they ached.

  “Fallon—”

  “They might leak milk. I don’t want you to see that.” Her cheeks burned. Her milk was almost dried up, but her nipples still leaked on occasion.

  He leaned his forearm against the door above her head. “You’ve lost weight.”

  “You can’t possibly remember what I looked like before.”

  He elevated his eyebrows. “Tell me I’m lying.”

  She couldn’t. Despite her pregnancy, she’d lost fifteen pounds. Skimping on meals would do that to a person. After a week here and regular meals, she’d gained five of them back.

  His finger slid along the underside of her breasts. “These are still gorgeous.”

  He gave her time to object as his fingers curled around the middle section of her bra. A sharp tug and the material dangled in his grasp. He made no move to lower his gaze, but instead held hers.

  “You have a choice to make, Fallon.” A solitary finger circled her puckered nipple, and she bit her bottom lip. He still didn’t peek lower. “I want to fuck you, bury my dick all the way inside you, but if we do that, you’re my girl. No turning back. Exclusively mine. And you’ll agree to make an honest-to-God go at a real relationship with me. Not for Faith, but because you like me.”

  “What if I said nothing but fucking?”

  He flicked his nail across her nipple.

  She bit her cheek to stifle her sound of pleasure.

  He studied her a long while before responding. “Well…I know you wouldn’t say that because you don’t like me. I think we already established that you do like me very much.”

  “That’s just sex.”

  “It’s a place to start. As for your question, I’d probably take your offer and try to win you over through sex. I could, you know, win you over through sex. I’m a filthy sex god.”

  “You’re conceited.”

  “You calling me a liar after all the coming you did with me?” He elevated his eyebrows and waited for her to deny his skill. A slow cocky grin teased the corners of his mouth when she remained silent. “I’d fuck you every way imaginable, make you come until you admit no other cock is for you.”

  She shivered despite the crudeness. “That sounds possessive.”

  “You have no idea.”

  Heat hit her cheeks as he palmed the weight of her breast and ran his thumb lightly over the peak. Wetness surged from between her legs, and thankfully not from her nipples.

  “Are your nipples sore from nursing?”

  Surprised by his intuitiveness, she admitted, “They were a little in the beginning, but I don’t do it enough now.”

  He released her breast and pushed away from her. He made no effort pretending he wasn’t gawking her assets. “On second thought, I can’t settle for just a fuck, Fallon.” His gaze dive-bombed hers, his seriousness evident in his features. “I wanted you after our one night together. I can’t pretend I don’t want more. To fuck you without a commitment feels wrong, like I’m disrespecting you.”

  “I thought that was a bullshit line you fed me this morning.” Had he said that just this morning? Too much had happened in between then and now it seemed like years ago since he’d made that allegation. Now she reconsidered his sincerity.

  “I’m not big on blowing smoke up people’s asses. I tend to be straight-up honest about what I want. Ask anyone, they’ll tell you I had a P.I. on your ass the moment I came out of my coma.” He ran his thumb along his bottom lip, before hooking his hair behind an ear. “I want you as mine, Fallon. Time to fess up…what do you want?”

  Jase was more nervous than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rockers. Fallon’s parents would arrive any minute, and he wanted to make a good first impression. He was already the underdog, fighting to prove he was worthy of being daddy and hopefully boyfriend.

  He’d delivered his intentions to Fallon earlier, deciding in the heat of the moment honesty would gain him more ground than simple flirtation. She knew everything he desired. All actions from here on out, she’d have no doubt what goal he worked toward.

  After showering and shaving, he’d pulled his hair back at his nape and secured it with a rubber band. He’d taken special care with his appearance, putting on a charcoal-gray button-down shirt and a pair of slacks. He’d even bribed Fang into wearing something nice.

  “Stop worrying.” Sam relocated the spiral ham from the roasting pot to an ornate tray Omega had given her to celebrate her engagement to Fang. “They’re either gonna like you or not. Ain’t much you can do about it, except be you.”

  “Yeah.” Forgetting he’d clipped his hair back, Jase jammed his fingers into his hair. “Shit.”

  As he released his hair and smoothed his fingers through his locks to tamp down his strands, Fallon entered the room with Faith. Upon spying him, his baby girl started jabbering her head off.

  “Leave it down,” Fallon halted his progress with his hair by touching his arm. “I like it better down.”

  “Your wish is my command, darlin’. Watch this, Faith,” he said in a stage whisper as he made a slingshot out of the rubber band and launched it at Sam.

  “Ow!” his sister yelped when it pegged her on the ass.

  “Jase!” Fallon’s shock was evident in the way she gaped between them.

  At Sam’s outraged glare, Jase chuckled.

  Like always, Faith mimicked him.

  “Even she thinks it’s funny.
”

  “Only because she hasn’t been tormented by you yet.” His bratty sibling massaged the spot where the rubber smacked her butt.

  “Why are you so mean to her?” Fallon looked to be struggling to hold Faith as she kicked her feet and squealed, as if she were part of their sibling ribbing.

  “Trust me, she gives me hell every chance she gets.” Relieving Fallon of her squirming little baggage, he held his child to his chest. Faith gawked at him with her big green eyes as if he were the most fascinating person in the world. That look made him all soft and gooey inside. “You thought it was funny, didn’t you, baby girl? Ha! Ha! Ha!”

  She mocked him with a silly laugh, humoring him once again.

  God, she was precious.

  “You’re teaching her bad things,” Sam accused, shaking her finger at him.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever, sis, we both know you will be partners in crime against me when she’s older.”

  She offered him a noncommittal shrug, and a guilty glint hit his sister’s eyes. He knew that look, and trouble followed it every single time.

  He perused Fallon, who stood silent near him. She’d put on a pretty, one shoulder yellow dress, and applied a little makeup. She wore no jewelry and needed none in his opinion. Shifting off the barstool, he curled his free arm around her waist and pulled her against his side.

  Jase nuzzled his lips against her ear, taking a deep breath to fill his head with her decadent aroma. Just woman, with no perfumes to enhance her fragrance.

  “You’re looking hot, baby-momma.” His lips moved against her ear, and he felt a shiver move along her body.

  “You too,” she said a little breathy. “But you already know how hot you are.”

  The doorbell interrupted them, and his nerves returned in full force.

  “You must put a good word in for me with the grandparents, Faith.”

  In response to his request, his daughter prattled back.

  “Just be yourself, Jase.” Fallon gave him a small hug. “This isn’t an inquisition. But don’t put up with my dad’s high-handedness or he’ll walk all over you.”