by Romi Hart
Crawling up her body, his skin slid easily over hers, their sweat mingling to remove any friction, and he kissed her enticingly, the languorous motions of his tongue belying his obvious eagerness to burying himself inside her. If she had to plead…
But then his tip slid along her folds, and she shuddered at the contact, the anticipation eating her alive. “You’re so wet,” he spoke against her lips.
“And you’re hard and ready,” she countered, wrapping her arms around his neck, her legs around his waist. She dug her heels into his hips, urging him forward. “Stop teasing already.”
Her words triggered something primal in him, and Marc let out a low, rumbling growl as he thrust into her, deep and hard. Reesa gasped, his size almost too much, and she trembled as she adjusted to how he stretched her. It was delicious, and as he began to piston in and out of her with a carefully controlled rhythm, she lifted her hips to meet each thrust of his cock. Marc squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his teeth, goosebumps raising on his skin as she drew her hands up and down his back, dragged her nails over his shoulders. Then, his eyes opened, his gaze capturing hers as he moved faster, shoved deeper, and their bodies joined to the deepest point.
The pressure built again, threatening to throw her over a cliff in a freefall to crashing waves below, and Reesa fought the desire to let it go. She wanted more, wanted to embrace an eruption the likes of which she’d never felt. If she only got one chance at this, she would milk it for everything she could.
But her body betrayed her again, too weak to hold on by a thin thread. She snapped, and spasms of complete ecstasy racked her body as her pussy tightened around him, her walls squeezing and releasing over and over until Marc lost his own control and sheathed himself fully with a scream, spilling into her as his body rocked and shivered on top of her. For one brief moment, they were interlocked, and Reesa thought she could hear his thoughts, feel what he felt. She shared everything with him for just a second, and then she came down from her high, exhausted and spent.
Her limbs fell heavily at her side, and her head lolled, her eyelids weighing a thousand pounds each. But somehow, the dead weight that was Marc on top of her was light and comforting, like a familiar blanket. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she noticed when he rolled off her and covered her with a blanket, but by then, she’d already found the peace of a deep sleep and couldn’t bring herself out of it.
Chapter 5
Reesa shot out of bed as her alarm rang, trying to remember falling asleep. She reached for her phone beside the bed, but it wasn’t there. Where was the infernal racket coming from?
Something shifted beside her, and it all came flooding back. The game, the date. Her nakedness.
And a very naked Marcus Winters in bed beside her.
She shifted, turning to find him smiling up at her with his arm cocked behind his head. “Good morning,” he said in a raspy voice full of sleep.
Something else heavy caught her attention, lower on his body and thrusting against the thin blanket that barely covered him from the hips down. Blushing hard, she focused on his face and tousled hair. “Morning,” she mumbled. She grabbed for the sheet to wrap it around her but thought better of it, realizing she’d be exposing him entirely.
Even more mortified, she looked away and muttered, “Could you close your eyes for a second?”
He chuckled. “Come on, Reesa. I’ve already seen everything.” She felt him move, and an arm curled around her waist, teasing at the tender skin just under her breasts. She tried to ignore the way her pussy clenched and responded to the mild touch. “And I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Clearing her throat, she gently pushed him away. How could she rectify this situation without everything getting awkward? She couldn’t deal with awkward today. She had to get ready for work. “Marc, last night—“
“Was worthy of a repeat performance,” he finished for her, sitting up and brushing her hair aside to kiss her shoulder. “You were incredible, and I don’t just mean the sex.”
At that, she rounded on him, not caring if she was dressed or not. “Knock it off, Marc. You don’t have to turn on the charm in the wee hours of the morning or try to convince me this meant anything. I know guys like you. This was your conquest. I was a challenge because I didn’t fall at your feet, and now, you’ve won, so you’ll go about your merry way. And that’s fine because I’m an adult who made my own decision last night. Just don’t make me regret it by pandering to what you assume are my needs as a woman.”
"So, rather than letting me tell you what I want or how I feel, you're just going to make assumptions?" Marc fired back at her. It was the first time he'd actually looked angry since she'd met him, and it made her hesitate. He threw the cover aside and stood, crossing his arms over his chest. Reesa trained her gaze on his face, not wanting the incredible sight of the rest of him to break her will. The truth was, if he advanced on her right now, she knew she'd fall into bed with him again. That would just end badly.
“Listen to me, Reesa. I have kept my word with you from the start. I’ve been a gentleman. I’ve let you make the moves, let you decide where we go, what we do, how close we get. And I’ve hoped that, through all of that, you’d see that I respected you. That you weren’t just some chick I decided to pick up and bone one night. Because that’s not how I think of you, at all.”
Now, she crossed her arms, ready to go toe to toe with him. “Really, Marc? Then what is it you want from me? Why are you here?” Even as she asked, Jordan’s words ran through her head. He’s never brought anyone to a game. He doesn’t do anything casually.
“Dammit, Reesa! You’re a smart woman. Can’t you see I really like you? I like you more than I’ve ever cared about any woman, especially one I’ve known for five minutes. Why can’t you accept that?” She didn’t respond, not sure what to believe and definitely having no idea what to say. Marc took a step forward and placed his hands on her cheeks, forcing her to meet his gaze. She saw so much emotion there, but nothing that told her he wanted to run out on her, to cast her aside. “I. Really. Like. You.” He punctuated each word.
Reesa started to shake her head, but he held her still. “No, don’t even try to tell me you don’t like me. Don’t tell me you don’t care. You’re not the kind of woman who can separate emotion from sex, not entirely. You wouldn’t have invited me to your private space, wouldn’t have asked me into your bed, if you didn’t at least like me.”
“I do like you,” she spat, defiantly.
A victorious smile spread across his face, and for a second, she considered slapping it off. “Thank you! Now, if you can like me, someone you’re so determined to hate, why is it such a stretch to think that I really like you? I’m not the heathen you think I am, Reesa. You know, I’ve never spent time with a woman that I wanted to share anything with. Not my past, not my career, not my friends. That’s saying a lot.”
She felt her anger draining and hated that it left only fear and questions in its wake. “You can have any woman you want, Marc. Why would you waste your time with me?”
He looked exasperated, and rather than answer her, he kissed her, hard. Reesa resisted for a moment but then relaxed and opened to him, unable to hold back, especially after tasting the full force of his passion once. His exuberance faded a bit, replaced by tenderness and yearning, and when he pulled away, Reesa realized she clung to his arms. “What was that for?” she asked breathlessly.
“Do you really need to ask why I want to spend time with you?” He rolled his eyes. “You strike me as a very confident woman, and that kind of question belongs to meek and scared women. Don’t ask me that again, okay?” He chucked her under the chin and winked. “Now, I’m guessing you’re going to be late for work if we don’t get you out of here. What can I do to help you get ready?”
She gaped at Marc, trying to compute his words into something she could readily comprehend. Had he really just told her he wanted to keep seeing her and that he would help her get ready for work? The last t
ime someone had been around in the mornings, she’d had to tiptoe around, hoping she didn’t disturb his sleep. This man…
Well, he'd only spent one night with her, but still, he was up and bright-eyed, offering to do what he could to make up for the time they'd spent arguing. "I know," he said before she could answer. "I'll make you breakfast. Will that help?"
Laughing incredulously, she shrugged. “Sure, though I usually just grab a cereal bar on the way out the door.” He kissed her on the forehead, grabbing his jeans and pulling them on sans the underwear and then heading out to the kitchen. Shrugging again to herself, she padded toward the shower, in a bit of a daze. Wait until she told Kylie about this. And she was definitely going to share most of the details with her best friend this time. She’d never seen Kylie truly turn green with envy, but now, she thought the girl might actually turn a putrid shade of envy.
Chapter 6
Reesa laughed as Marc came up out of the freezing cold water gasping again, the young man who had just hit the target jumping up and down as he giggled in delight. He’d been dunked at least two dozen times, and he never seemed to get used to the icy plunge. And the beautiful part was, they were making a killing for the charity.
"Alright, Winters, I suppose I can relieve you now." Jordan strolled up to the booth and knocked on the side while Marc wiped water from his eyes and combed his dripping hair back from his face. Reesa had to admit she'd grown fonder of the Aussie over the last few weeks, and she also noticed how Kylie's eyes roamed over his bare chest and strong legs, his body clad only in board shorts. He definitely wasn't an eyesore of any kind, but as Marc hoisted himself out of the tank and strode around the booth, she decided there was no comparison.
She handed him a towel, and he dried his face and rubbed his hair with it, shaking and dancing as the cool air outside really hit him. Reesa shivered just watching him and hugged herself, even though she was wrapped in a warm sweater. “Cold?” she asked teasingly.
Marc narrowed his eyes at her and, in a flash, he had her in a bear hug, the chilly droplets of water soaking into her clothes and freezing her blood. She gasped and shoved at him as he rubbed his wet head on her shoulder and neck, squealing. “Get off me!”
He laughed riotously and let her go, wrapping the towel around his waist and reaching for the duffel bag that held warm, dry clothes. “That’s what you get for making fun of me. I’d like to see you get in that water and handle it with a straight face.”
“Hell, no!’ She shook her head emphatically. “Besides, I’m not a celebrity. No one’s going to pay to dunk me.”
“I would,” Kylie giggled.
Reesa gave her a scathing look and hissed, “Maybe you should go dunk Jordan instead and really get your eyes full.”
“Not a half bad idea.” Kylie wiggled her eyebrows suggestively and disappeared, leaving her alone with Marc.
The last three weeks had been a whirlwind, and she couldn’t believe how her life had changed in such a short time. With Marc around, she felt lighter, happier, and stronger, like for once, she was in control of every aspect of her world. Sure, she had a hold on her career, but her personal life had always seemed just a little beyond her reach. But that changed as she found herself growing closer to him, almost on a daily basis.
They were both busy people, so they didn’t get to see each other all the time, but even when he traveled, they talked on the phone or video chat at night, sometimes late into the night, almost falling asleep still chattering away. She felt like a teenager sometimes, but she welcomed the euphoria and the newness of things.
She’d even managed to ignore the feeling of dread and wondering when it was all going to come crashing down around her. Reesa was nothing if not a realist, and she knew that, at some point, Marc would pull away from her, destined for a different path. Still, she focused on the present and the joy she could find in the day to day things, just as Kylie always told her.
“Well, now you’ve gone and made me cold,” she told him, pouting out her bottom lip. “I’m not going to enjoy the rest of the carnival.”
“We can’t have that, can we?” he said, combing his fingers through her hair. With a wink and a glint in his beautiful eyes, he said, “I thought ahead. I’ve got an extra set of clothes in here for you.” He patted the duffel bag. “Care to join me in the bathroom while I change?” This time, he was the one waggling his brows.
Reesa had to laugh, even though she was flushing at the insinuation. “I appreciate the invitation, but I’ll take a rain check for later tonight. I’d be more than happy to say thank you and take those clothes to a separate bathroom so I can change.”
He sighed, feigning deep disappointment. “Fine.” He set the bag on one of the folding tables where tickets were sold for chances to dunk a soccer star and pulled out a Bolton’s shopping bag. Raising an eyebrow in question, he shrugged. “Maybe I went shopping because I didn’t get a chance to come over and pack anything for you.”
With a sigh of her own, Reesa felt her heart skip a beat at his thoughtfulness. He was kind and giving, and he had good taste, choosing things that were very much her style. She pushed up on her toes and kissed him, something she rarely did in public. The media hadn’t caught wind of their blossoming relationship yet, and they were trying to maintain a sense of privacy as long as they could. “Thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” He brushed his thumb over her cheek with an adoring smile. “I’ll walk you over to the restrooms and meet you back out in front in fifteen minutes.”
Inside, she opened the package and admired the soft black sweater and insulated leggings he’d given her, knowing instantly they would fit perfectly. She smiled and eagerly started to strip off her now wet clothes. “Reesa?” Kylie’s voice echoed in the empty space.
“In here,” she said, waving her hand above the stall door.
“Oh, my god! You two are so adorable together! Please tell me you’re happy.” Her friend nearly squeaked with her delight.
It warmed Reesa’s heart and made her really assess things. “I am happy,” she said decisively. “You know, I’m still a little in shock about the whole thing, but I’m taking your advice and just rolling with it.”
“I’m proud of you for that. And in case you didn’t notice, Marcus Winters simply adores you.”
As she pulled on the sweater and shivered at how comfortably it fit, Reesa frowned. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, please! It’s obvious, Reesa. He can’t keep his eyes off you, no matter what. And he’s got this glow about him every time you’re nearby that sort of dulls when you’re out of sight. Plus, Jordan tells me he can’t stop talking about you.”
“Ha! How much time have you spent talking to Jordan?” Not only was this a juicy detail; it also gave her a reason to change the subject.
Meekly, Kylie answered, “We just spent a few minutes talking while we were watching Marcus get tormented and you laughing at him. But he’s a really nice guy. But don’t change the subject!” Kylie exploded. “So, should I assume you and Marcus are, like, a thing now? is it official?”
They hadn’t really discussed it, but Reesa felt like things had moved in that direction. Still, she wouldn’t speak out of turn, so she chose her words carefully as she finished settling the new clothes on her body and exited the stall. “I’m obviously not seeing anyone else. I’m not sure if Marc is or not, but it seems like he’s fairly committed. We haven’t talked about exclusivity or anything, though. I mean, when it comes down to it, what do we really have in common? How can I expect it to last?” She tried to keep her tone light, ignoring the prodding emotions that threatened to surface, all her doubts trying to burst forth.
“You are such a pessimist!” Kylie threw her hands up in exasperation. “Do you know how hard it is to find someone who likes you for who you are? If you try to add common ground to that, you’re screwed. Three and a half billion men in this world, and there’s maybe three or four of them that meet all the standard requir
ements. You and Marcus seem to come pretty close to it, though. You at least have a fighting chance.”
Reesa snorted and patted her friend on the shoulder. “If I’m a pessimist, you’re a dreamer, Kylie. That’s why we get along so well. We balance each other.” She pursed her lips and considered herself in the mirror. “Maybe we have something in common. He’s got really good fashion sense,” she muttered.
“See? Open your eyes, and you’re surrounded by a world of possibility.” She wrinkled her nose. “And now, I’m going to send you back out to that gorgeous hunk of man while I relieve myself in here. Otherwise, I can’t watch anyone else get dropped into cold water!”
Reesa cackled as she left the bathroom and found Marc leaning against the wall of the building, his hands in his pockets and his head bowed. He looked for all the world like some model in a high fashion ad, and as he lifted his gaze to meet hers, the smile that crossed his lips drove home the impression, heating things low in her stomach.
He pushed away and stalked toward her, making her blood pump faster and hotter through her veins. “Marc, I told you we should save this for when we got home,” she cautioned as he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her tight against him.
He grunted at her. “I know, but you look so luscious in that outfit I can’t help myself. Besides, we’re alone here. And I just want to hold you for a minute. Can’t a man desire his woman?”
She quirked an eyebrow at him. “Since when am I yours?”
He frowned at her, and she knew he read as much into her words as she’d tried to hold back in her discussion moments ago with Kylie. “Wait, are you still worried that I’m not one hundred percent committed to this?” She didn’t respond, turning her face away from him to hide the truth in her eyes. But he captured her chin in his hand, gently turning her back to him. “Reesa, I can’t believe you’re still questioning this. I think about you every waking moment, and I spend as much time with you, physically or virtually, as I can. I have no interest in anyone else. I wasn’t seeing anyone else before I met you, and I certainly haven’t developed interest in anyone else since. So, unless you’re still playing the field…”