by S. M. West
During the call, I also ask him to arrange for a DNA test, stressing I wanted the results as soon as possible. We’re going to get to the bottom of this.
What Costa hopes to gain by messing with Daisy isn’t clear, but I’m putting an end to this. And if I have to, I’ll put an end to him.
17
Gray
Impatient to get naked
Soundlessly, I slip into the bedroom, expecting the lights off and Daisy in bed. I’m mistaken. Slack-jawed and tongue-tied, I just stand there, staring. Any thoughts of Costa or all that I have to do tomorrow vanish like a puff of smoke.
Daisy stands at the edge of the bed, a dark and sexy butterfly in black and iridescent purple. Utter temptation.
Lace bows, mesh, and crystal buttons fashion bra and panties that are near life-like butterfly wings. My cock hardens at the jaw-dropping vision. It’s like she’s stepped from the pages of a French lingerie catalog.
Golden tresses dance around her heart-shaped face. Big blue eyes shimmer like sapphires, and a naughty grin skates across her pouty mouth, a pale shade of pink. She’s only got eyes for me.
“What’s this?” The question comes out like a croak as if I’ve lost my voice, and it’s a dumb question. It’s pretty obvious what this is.
“Isn’t this what you planned for tonight?” Hips seductively swaying, she strolls toward me like a coy feline. “What you expected. The candles, the music, the flowers.”
“I didn’t expect anything.” The urge to touch every inch of her smooth, silky skin burns my palms, and I flex my hands, shoving them into the pockets of my pants. “I only want to spend time with you. Celebrate your award, the recognition you so deserve.”
“So you didn’t want to have sex with me?” She halts, only a foot or two from me, and places a delicate hand on her cocked hip.
“I’d never say that.” I bark out a raspy laugh, shaking my head in disbelief.
This woman is killing me. Slowly. And I can’t say that I object. What a fucking magnificent way to die—Daisy, the last thing I see.
“I’ve wanted you for a very long time.” My stare is fierce, locking on her bright eyes, filled with excitement, lust, and maybe something more, something deeper. “But tonight, it was never about that. We’ll only do what you want, Daisy. It’s what you want. Always. You choose.”
“I want you.” She cups me over my pants, wicked lust tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I want all of you, tonight. All the time.”
She doesn’t have to tell me twice, and my hand grasps the back of her head as my mouth crashes onto hers. Our tongues tangle, and her hands dive for the buttons of my shirt and my pants.
Reluctant to break our kiss but impatient to get naked, I rip my mouth from hers, shucking my shirt, dropping my pants, and slipping off my shoes.
I drink her in, watching me. Her eyes are heavy-lidded and dazed, lips swollen and pink.
“That’s better.” A hand scores a path down my chest, resting at the band of my boxers. “But these have to go.”
My fingers wrap around her wrist as hers dip below the waistband. “Uh-uh, you too.” I flick my eyes over the sexy lingerie I might destroy, tear from her body if she isn’t naked soon.
Amusement sparks in her jewel-colored eyes and she nods, pulling her hand away from my body. She slides one bra strap down, and before she can go any further, I bring one hand between her legs, pressing into the barely-there fabric.
Her panties are soaked, and my balls tighten, cock twitching, and I almost come from the sheer heat of her, throbbing with need against my palm.
“Fuck, Daisy. You’re so ready.”
She nods, teeth sinking into her bottom lip. “I need you.”
“I need you, too, but are you sure?” I won’t say anymore, not wanting to ruin this moment with all the shit we left outside this room.
But if she needs more time, I want to give it to her. I’ll wait for however long she needs.
“Absolutely. I want this. Us. Now.” Her lashes flutter closed, and she tilts her head back on a whimper as I grind the heel of my palm into her core, feeding from the steady pulse of her need under my hand.
Together, we remove the last of our clothing—bra, panties, and boxers piled on the floor—and again, my mouth crashes onto hers before she can say another word, stealing her breath.
I scoop Daisy up and spread her flat on the bed. Hovering above, I lower my head to hers and she lifts up, opening her mouth to me. My tongue slips in, stroking, and she wraps her legs around my waist, hooking me closer.
“Not yet.” I pull back, the weight of my body on my forearms, sinking into the bed. “Do you have any condoms?”
My jaw clenches, and I hold still, cursing internally for not coming prepared. But I meant what I said. I hadn’t planned anything tonight.
Tonight, like any other time, is about what Daisy wants. Sex isn’t my goal. Sure, I wanted it, her, but the only thing I needed, demanded, was to be with her, in any way she allowed.
“No.” She shakes her head, and my heart sinks and cock cries. “But I don’t want anything between us. I’m clean and I’m on the shot.”
Bare. She wants me bare inside her. Fuck. I’d never done that with anyone.
“I’m clean too, tested, and I don’t do drugs.” I hadn’t had sex in ages—more than a year.
Before, when we were becoming the best of friends, I had casual relationships. And while I didn’t hide this, there was never anyone I cared enough about to have them meet Daisy and my friends.
Then when I realized Daisy was it for me, the one I wanted, casual sex no longer held any interest. It felt like a betrayal, not to Daisy, but to me. And it had been long months of no sex. Well, I jacked off to thoughts of Daisy, maybe an unhealthy amount of times, but nothing more. And even with all that, I still got tested regularly, more out of habit than for any real reason.
“Daze.” I rest my forehead on her to still my wildly racing heart. “It’s been a long time, and I’ve never been without a condom with anyone.”
“Oh, if you don’t want to—”
I kiss her to stop her rambling. “No, I want to…with you. I just might not last long.” I feel the heat of my blush creeping up the back of my neck, and I kiss her again.
How fucking embarrassing. It’s like I’m a teenager again and lasting a few minutes is the best I can hope for.
She laughs quietly into my mouth, and I pull away, sliding down her body to her ankles. She shudders as my hot breath shadows the trail of my lips, working their way up her thighs.
“So pretty and pink.” The tips of my fingers tease her pussy, coaxing her open.
She giggles and writhes as I hold a hand to one of her thighs. Lifting her head, Daisy stares down at me.
Heat spreads within me at just her look, as if I’ve just downed a bottle of scotch, burning and tingling all of my nerve endings, stoking the fires of need low in my belly. My cock is hard as steel, pushing into the mattress.
She widens her legs, granting me full access, and my lips kiss a trail up to her flat stomach, gently kissing and stroking the faint and few silvery lines.
“I love all of you,” I murmur into her flesh, loving the signs of Henry on her body.
My body looms over her, and she arches her back, moaning at the sight of my hand fisting my cock, edging myself between her legs.
She reaches between us before I can slide inside and grasps my erection. Hard. Stars. I see stars.
Everything is bright and blazing, then hazy and electric as my toes curl at the feel of her long, slender fingers pumping up and down my shaft. Her thumb swirls the bead of cum around my tip and then she guides me inside of her.
Her hips rise from the bed, her breathing heavy, and she cries out as I thrust into her as deep as I can go. I drop my head to the crook of her neck, planting open-mouthed kisses on her skin.
I taste salt, vanilla, and Daisy. My mouth latches onto her flesh and sucks, dragging my teeth and tongue along the
tender spot between her neck and shoulder and then across her collarbone.
“Gray, I need…” She pants, nails digging into my back. “I need you to move.”
Nodding, I push up, rotating my hips in a slow circular motion that causes her back to bow and lips to part on a breathless groan.
My tongue swipes over one taut, pink nipple, and I grind my hips against her, teasing. Although I’m not sure if I’m torturing her, or me, or more likely, both of us.
“I love these.” I flick at her nipple, and she plunges her fingers into my hair, holding me to her breast, and I oblige, taking it into my mouth.
I release a low laugh against her flesh, loving how readily she responds to my ministrations, telling me what she likes without words.
Moving inside her, slow and sweet, I draw out the pleasure, not wanting this to end. Daisy moans, meeting me thrust for thrust. And when my hands blaze a trail down to her ass, fingers cleaving the sweet flesh apart, she tenses.
Still pounding into her, I capture her gaze, seeing the question in her eyes. Do I dare go to that taboo spot?
“Not tonight,” I murmur against her lips, and her body relaxes.
“Okay.” Her mouth hovers near mine, bedazzled eyes set on mine. “I want you everywhere. I’m yours.”
As if striking a match, her offering ignites my already pounding tempo. I’m relentless, and the slap of skin against skin only feeds the chase of the climax, thrumming and coiling at the base of my spine.
“I need you to kiss me,” she whimpers, hands reaching for my neck to bring me to her.
I claim her mouth and rock my hips upward, deep into her, aching to get closer as if it’s possible.
“Yes. Yes. Don’t stop.” Her fingernails sink into my flesh.
“Come for me, Daze.”
Her body goes tight and liquid at the same time, and her arms and legs shake as she cries my name. I feel every glorious bit of her warm, wet pussy clenching around me and hiss.
Ecstasy tunnels its way down my spine. I pump, hard and fast, in and out of her. My climax, like a massive tremor, explodes and burns my insides like lightning singeing the earth.
18
Daisy
Hello, crazy, I’m over here
Lazy and more alive than I’ve ever felt, my hands slide into his hair, grabbing fistfuls, and I pull his head closer, closing the only inch between us.
The weight of him on top of me is indescribable, and that alone makes my toes curl. I don’t want to move. He chuckles into my neck, and his tongue sweeps long and languidly against my skin.
“Daisy.” His voice brushes over me like a lover’s caress, and I release my hold on his hair as he lifts his head to look at me.
His stubble scrapes along my palm and the inside of my wrist. I tremble. “That was amazing.”
My body still quivers, and I moan as Gray slides out of me. “Fucking incredible.”
He plants a quick kiss on my temple and ducks into the bathroom, coming back with a washcloth to clean me up. Then he slides in beside me, arm draping over my waist.
“I’m hungry again.” My confession brings a flush, heating my cheeks.
“Wow. You’re ready so soon?” His hand rests flat on his abdomen, still rising and falling faster than usual.
“No.” I gently hit his solid chest, not wanting to move my hand from the warmth of him. “Not for that, although maybe later. I’m hungry for food.”
“Really?” He arches a brow, and I narrow my gaze.
“Yes, really. We just burned a gazillion calories and dinner was hours ago.”
“Hey, I’m with you. I could eat. What do you have in the kitchen? I’ll grab something.”
“I’ve got popcorn.” I wink, wondering if he’ll remember. “Oh, and bring the champagne.”
“Popcorn and champagne. Yes.” He’s already up, sauntering to the doorway in all his naked glory.
Damn, his ass is one fine piece of muscle. I just want to gawk at it, maybe even sink my teeth into that hard globe.
“Or maybe you’ve changed your mind? The popcorn can wait?” Gray’s staring at me over his shoulder, a naughty glint in his eye as he turns around to face me, already semi hard.
I huff out a laugh and throw a pillow at him. “Food and drink first, then more of that.” I wave my hand at him, knowing if he comes any closer, any thought of food will vanish.
Minutes later, he’s back with a tray, laden with a big bowl of hot, buttery popcorn, two flutes of champagne, plus the bottle, and two water bottles.
He sets it on the table, handing me the bowl and bottle and my glass before slipping in beside me. We sit with our back against the headboard, sheet only covering from the waist down as we munch on the salty, kernelly goodness.
“Do you know what this reminds me of?” I ask between bites.
I think back to the time I first visited his bachelor pad on the beach. He’d just come back from Trojan’s final tour. He had invited me over to check it out.
“How could I forget, although I must say this time is better.” He eyes my bare breasts, licking his lips, and I giggle, ogling his lean inked torso.
“Fair enough, I have to agree.” I lean in and kiss his cheek.
“You came over with Henry asleep in his car seat. You looked beautiful but exhausted.”
I gasp, surprised to hear his take on that night. He looks to me and holds my gaze. “I was a mess. Exhausted for sure. I was hungry, and you didn’t have any food. Come to think of it, you didn’t have much of anything.”
“Hey, I’d just moved in. I offered to order something, but you had popcorn and I had champagne. Pansy had brought it over when I’d bought the place. It was chilled and unopened.”
“And delicious. The good stuff, like this one.” I sip at the bubbly drink.
“Yeah, it was good. And we ended up watching a movie after what felt like hours of trying to decide what to—”
I interject, hitting the bed with my palm. “Hey, you kept insisting on watching that scary ass movie, Us.”
“It was a good movie that I ended up watching without you.” He straightens his spine as if he has superior taste, and I roll my eyes. “And what was it you kept coming back to? Little Women.” He mock shudders. “I’m just glad you agreed to watch John Wick: Chapter Three.”
“Hey, I was the one to suggest it.”
“And smart choice at that.” He winks, tossing a handful of popcorn into his mouth.
I toss a kernel at him, and he grabs at my body, bringing us to a lying position with him half-lying on me. His fingers are possessive on my body, coasting up one side.
His kiss is gentle, and he tastes salty and buttery mixed with the toastiness of the champagne. “Yum, you taste delectable.”
Kisses, one after the other, are at first gentle and warm—firm lips against mine as if he’s testing my willingness. Or maybe, if he’s like me, wondering if this is real or just a glorious dream.
“Gray.” My arms slide around his neck, and I roll my body fully into his, telling him with my body that I need more. Want more.
He shudders, and from the back of his throat a strange sound erupts. Sort of like a gasp and it causes a shudder and half growl, half moan from me.
My need for him, the love I feel for him, all of it sends shivers of panic darting through me. The hunger behind our kisses scares me just a little, because it feels like us, together—we’re too much and not nearly enough.
His nose nuzzles into my shoulder, and the warmth of his chest against my back is heaven. Last night was amazing, better than my wildest dreams. Only Gray could salvage my heart—take the horrible ordeal with Costa and make me forget, if only for the night.
He’s amazing. Where would I be without him? The thought scares me, and I snuggle closer and he murmurs into the crook of my neck.
I could stay here forever. Forget about the world and all that’s waiting for us once we leave this bed.
“Good morning.” His voice is a sleepy rumb
le, sending a hot shiver up my spine.
“Morning.” I wriggle once more into him, and he groans in a way that makes me smile, loving what I do to him.
“Hey, stop that.” His grip tightens on my hip and he grins, planting a quick kiss on my cheek, then bounds from the bed.
“Where are you going?” I already miss him, and he pauses at the bathroom door.
“I’ve got to shower and get out of here.”
I grab my phone from the side table to look at the time. “But it’s only six thirty.”
“Yeah, but the studio. I’m only going to be there half the day.” His hand slaps on the doorframe and he disappears from the room.
Seconds later, the shower is on, and I flop back onto the bed. I could join him, try to distract him or keep him hostage. As much as the idea is tempting, I can’t. He’s rearranged his entire day for me because of my problem with Costa, and I can’t make him late to the studio on top of everything else.
I can only imagine how pissed both Silas and India would be at him. As tempting as it is, I can’t do that to Gray.
In under ten minutes, he’s out of the bathroom in faded jeans, and one hand tugs down a well-worn white T-shirt that now covers some of his ink and muscled glory.
His light hair is damp, slicked back from his face, and he studies me, still in bed.
“What have you got planned for today?” He rummages through the small duffel bag he brought with him, pulling out a pair of black socks.
“I’ve got more editing to do, and then I’m visiting Sasha before I pick up Henry. She got in yesterday.”
“That’s great. It’ll be good to see Sasha again. You excited?” He’s now on the edge of the bed, back to me as he puts on his socks, and a hand grabs my ankle through the bedsheet, squeezing.
“Yes. I can’t wait to see her and to tell her…” I stop myself before dampening the mood. Until we get the results, it’s insanity to keep running through my conversation with Costa.