by Milly Taiden
He’s silent, and I just about lose it. “Don’t you dare do that long-stare-so-I-squirm thing. Answer me.”
He clenches his jaw, and I don’t care if he’s pissed.
“I’m tired and filthy. I want a hot bath and sleep. I want Cleo to be okay, and I know I won’t sleep much because I’ll feel the need to check on her through the night.” He pauses, and I’m about to say he didn’t answer my question when he continues. “But I’ve had a hard-on for you since the first time we met. I’m not letting anything keep me from having you tonight. Got it?”
“Yeah. Sorry.” I feel the need to give him a little something, even if he did put me in my place. “I’ve had a hard-on for you since we met too.”
His low chortle makes me smile, and a surge of courage lets me say more. “You’re not my type, you know. I like lanky, tattooed guys my parents would hate. They would like everything about you.”
“Yeah?” The blinker tick echoes through the car, and I wait for him to say more. The tires hum quietly as we roll along the smooth, new pavement of his road. “You’re not my type either. Not enough makeup, too few dresses, and you’re…” We turn into the driveway and he puts the car in park. The light that flashed on when we pulled in reflects in his eyes, and he appears dangerous. Luring me with his gaze, he says, “You’re a free spirit and you fascinate me. You don’t take my shit or like my orders.” He traces my lip with a finger. “I go from wanting to fuck you to being pissed off in an instant. And it’s so amazingly sexy, I wouldn’t want it any other way.”
I smile. “Same. You take me from zero to sixty—” I snap my fingers. “Just like that.” I know his words should make me feel better, but adrenaline surges through me. This is dangerously close to caring about each other, and that scares the shit out of me.
He kisses me, and my fear subsides because now I’m lost in everything Derrick. His lips scorch me, and I should heed the warning. This is so much more than sex. It’s as if I’m the breath he needs while I nearly drown in my desire. My whole body trembles from fear and lust.
The dog in my lap keeps us from getting too far, and when Cleo’s cold, wet nose nuzzles my neck I break away. “We should get her settled.”
“Yeah.” Derrick sighs and the car dings when he opens the door with the keys still in the ignition.
Metal creaks as I open my door, and Cleo hops down. Derrick has let the boys out, and they trot to the grass to do their business. Crickets sing in the night air as we wait.
I stifle a yawn when we walk into the house. I ask, “Where do they all sleep?”
“Nika’s room when she’s here and mine when she’s not.” He walks up the stairs slowly, making sure Cleo can manage.
At the top Derrick turns to me and holds out his hand. “My bathtub is big enough for two.”
I take it and follow him down the hall, very aware of the three dogs behind me. I wonder what they’ll think of what we’re about to do.
The light switch flicks to reveal navy and dark green surrounded by white walls in the brightness. Derrick dims it to something softer. He says, “I’ll get these guys settled if you want to run the bath.” He raises his eyebrows at me. “I think you’ll find everything we need.”
I step through the door to my left into a warm, yellow-tiled room lit with a nightlight. I slip out of my running shoes and socks to step onto a thick throw rug. It cuddles my toes as I dig them in and scope out the area. Candles are on the edge of a bathtub the size of a Jacuzzi.
There’s a square showerhead like the guest bathroom has, and a hand-held one attached on the wall. There isn’t a shower curtain, but the tub is big enough, I suppose one isn’t needed. It must be a bitch to clean.
A skylight draws my eyes to the night sky twinkling with stars. I imagine what this room would look like during the day. Off to the left is a long counter with double sinks, and past that is a toilet in a room with a door.
Clearly designed as a master bath, I guess Nika had two built. It would seem odd to many, but I can imagine being that close to my brother if we had been twins. He’s my original best friend.
I twist on the water, and it thunders into the tub. This could take a while. The odor of sulfur floats to my nose as I light candles and place them around the edge of the tub.
As I’m finishing, the light dims and Derrick’s voice captures my attention. “The dogs are exhausted. Hopefully they won’t care about us.” Classical music begins to play softly, and a small remote clatters on the counter when he tosses it. It’s nice, even if I don’t have any idea what I’m listening to.
Derrick rummages in the cabinet under the sink and pulls out a small bottle. Filled with amber liquid, I’m wondering if it’s for the bath or us. He pours it into the water and a spicy vanilla scent permeates the air. Wow, he definitely knows how to set the mood. I sweep my hand. “This is nice.”
He shuts the door gently and stalks over to me. “Nice? I hope not.” The low tone wraps around me. Me either, because naughty is what I had in mind.
CHAPTER 16
Derrick stares at me and kicks off his shoes. I fight my squirm when he reaches to the middle of his back and pulls his shirt off with one hand. While I’m not sure if he means it to be sexy, it is to me, and my juices start to flow.
Without a word, his gaze travels my body, expecting me to return the favor. I make quick work of getting out of my clothes. As he pulls off his shorts and underwear, I walk toward him and stop mere inches away.
I want him to talk dirty to me, so I say, “Tell me what you want and how you like it.”
He closes the distance between us and presses his hard cock against my belly. “Right now I want it fast and rough.” He squeezes my ass with enough force that I gasp and I reach for his neck. His kiss bruises me as he lifts my thighs up, swiftly forcing me to wrap my legs around his waist.
I’m so wet he can’t help but feel it against his thick shaft. I rub against him and moan. He steps into the tub and drops my legs to turn off the water. The temperature is almost too hot, but I sink down onto the shelf seat to immerse myself in it.
Derrick drops to his knees and moves between mine. I throw my head back so he’ll kiss my neck. He grabs my ponytail and pulls it back further as he bites his way down to my breast.
The sharp nip of his teeth on my hard nub makes me cry out in surprise. He does like it rough, but so do I. I grab his cock and stroke hard. Derrick groans. “Yes.” And I grip tighter.
He shoves a candle over, and it falls into the tub with a slight hiss. He says, “Get up on the edge.” I scurry to comply.
Dripping water onto the shelf that stretches behind me, I lean back when I understand what he has in mind. His hands shove my thighs open, and he growls as he moves between them. I jerk the moment he latches on. Sucking me hard at first and then thrusting his tongue into my channel, he brings me so close I begin to moan.
“Don’t stop; eat me until I drip down your chin.” He mumbles his approval at my words, and the vibration sets me off. Twitching and flexing my core, I ride the wave. “Oh, God.” He drives his fingers into me just as I begin to quake, and it throws me over the edge.
Before I can recover, he’s up and turning me over like a rag doll. The tile is hard against my hips, but I barely have time to complain because he’s rubbing his cock between my ass cheeks, and all I want is to get him inside me. A condom wrapper flies by, and as I begin to lift up onto my elbows Derrick rams into me. “Fuck.”
“That’s the plan. I’m going to fuck you hard and fast.” He thrusts deeply into me, and I arch back into it. Fingers are digging into the flesh of my hips, and I guess I’ll have bruises later. I barely feel it as I revel in the way Derrick fills me.
Panting echoes around us, and my consciousness wavers. “Derrick! Harder, please. I’m so close.”
“That’s it. Drench me while I take you. You’re so tight; I’m going to fucking rip you apart. Scream for me.”
I buck back into him until sweet release comes. I
can’t form words, and utter a cry. I’m about to collapse when Derrick explodes.
“Gretchen! Aggghhh.” He trembles and pumps slowly a few more times before he lays on me. Derrick’s arms extend, and his hands cover mine, trapping me against the cold tile. His breath is hot against my back. “You feel so damn good.”
The click of nails saunter over to us and Jake climbs on the shelf to lick my face. I giggle and feel my core twitch around Derrick.
Derrick stands and says, “Go lay down.” Jake returns to the bedroom, and I slip back into the water to recover. Derrick deals with the condom and returns to sit across from me.
I remove the elastic from my ponytail and dip my head back to get it wet. Derrick says, “C’mere. I’ll wash your hair for you.”
I turn to sit between his legs, and his fingers work their magic. “You’re good at this. Hidden talent?”
“Something like that. I love your hair.”
I snort. “Thanks. You know it’s not really this blond, right?”
“Yeah, but it’s pretty.”
I refrain from making self-depreciating comments and moan in pleasure instead. When he’s done, he massages my neck and shoulders. I say, “You’re spoiling me. This is glorious.”
“I’m just making sure you aren’t done with me.”
“Really? It’s not part of the ‘charm their panties off’ package?”
He chuckles softly. “Nope. It’s part of the real relationship package. What do you think?”
Oh shit. My shoulders tense. I think I’m in over my head. Derrick stops massaging, and I know I’d better say something quick.
“I think you may have a successful plan.”
I turn around and cuddle up to kiss Derrick’s neck. “Let me wash your hair now?”
He smiles at me and reaches for the shampoo. I rub away the sweat and dirt on his head and tell myself it will be okay. Because right now, there is nothing I’d rather do.
***
“You awake?” Derrick is leaning on one elbow and hovering over me.
The scent of fresh sheets and the oil we bathed in reminds me where I am. The caress of gentle kisses on my arm pulls me into reality, and I roll onto my back. I reach up and pinch his cheek. “Is this a dream?”
“Ouch. That wasn’t nice.” His eyes dance with humor.
“Neither is waking me up in the middle of the night. I have a job, you know.” A single candle flickers on the nightstand, and I watch our shadows dance slowly on the wall.
“Call me selfish, because I can’t sleep.” He kisses his way down my neck, and I wiggle under him as he climbs over me.
“Convince me to keep you company.” Not that I need him to. Moisture is pooling between my legs, and I won’t be sleeping again anytime soon.
His mouth is near my stomach, and he twirls his tongue around my belly button ring. Hot breath tickles me and my stomach flexes. “I like your piercing. I thought about doing this when I should have been concerned about the dead man I was sitting next to.”
“That’s what you were thinking about?” He moves down lower, and I inhale quickly. “Because I—” Derrick teases me with his tongue, licking the edges of my slit when I want him to suck more. He thrusts a finger into me. “Jesus!” I whimper. “Mary and Joseph.”
Clenching the sheets with my hands, I arch up. “Fuck you’re good at this.”
I tremble and let him take me to new heights. When I return to earth, he kisses his way back up to my face. “You taste good. Here.” He kisses me and I sample my nectar. I quiver with a post-orgasm spasm and snake my way out from under him.
“Okay, I’m awake now. Your turn.” I wiggle my eyebrows at him, and he props himself up with his arms behind his head. I snort at the blatant alpha-male display. “You think you’re all that and a bag of chips, don’t you?”
He glances down at his crotch. “I’ll let you tell me.”
Knowing I excel at giving head, I smile, thinking about how I’m about to rock his world. Minutes later he’s semiconscious.
I crawl over his body and lay on his flaccid cock. “You taste damn good too. Here.” I kiss him and make sure he samples the heady flavor. He twitches under me, and I think we may not be done yet.
He grabs my hand and kisses the tattoo on my wrist. It’s a vine of small purple flowers. “Tell me about this.”
“It’s myrtle and in honor of my grandmother. She was my biggest fan when I needed one.” I think back to my teenaged years when I was nothing but trouble for my parents. No matter what I had done, my grandmother managed to make me feel loved just the same.
“I was a wild child, and when I would get grounded my grandmother would rescue me. We would make soap, garden, or can vegetables. She talked to me about travel and adventure, and encouraged me to follow my heart.”
My throat gets thick thinking about her. I’m not a crier and I quickly force the emotion down. “She died two years ago, and I got this tattoo so I would always have her with me. She had myrtle planted by her front door, always welcoming me.”
Derrick doesn’t say anything and rolls me over onto my back. He moves a finger slowly down my chest and flicks my nipple. With a low noise, he lowers himself and suckles my breast. I release a deep sigh and let myself focus on his breath on my skin as he moves slowly down my body.
I inhale the scent of our combined lust and revel in the sensual delight of a tender touch. This is not what I usually like, but right now I do.
I’m craving him inside me, but I’m not in a rush. The desire is a slow burn, increasing in intensity by tiny increments. We’re running a marathon, not a sprint.
When he slides his finger lightly over my folds, I arch up and sigh. “Derrick.” He rolls on a condom and nestles himself between my legs. Gently parting them with his thighs, the hair on his loins tickles my tender skin and he enters me.
I tremble from the slow, exquisite torture of his thick cock slipping in. Twitching around him, I raise my hips to take more until I’m full. My mind wants to take control and make this forceful, but my instinct is telling me to savor the sensations.
Derrick kisses my neck and whispers, “You’re so beautiful, so warm and wet. I could stay here forever. I’m drinking in the intoxicating smell of you, the silky feel of your skin, and your delicious taste.”
I’m so close to the edge, but I let him nudge me toward it instead of lunging. When I’m almost there, I cry out and an orgasm takes me in slow motion.
“That’s it, darling, let it drown you.” Derrick’s voice is in my ear and I land softly. Tears spring to my eyes and I let them fall as Derrick tenses and comes as my name escapes in a low, throaty voice.
Why am I crying? That has to have been the most all-encompassing orgasm I’ve ever had, and I’m weeping?
“Hey, what’s wrong?” Derrick is up on an elbow, and his brow is furrowed.
“I don’t know. That was incredible.” A dry laugh comes from me, and I reach to wipe the tears, but he grabs my wrist and holds it gently.
“Don’t.” He leans down and licks the tears from my face. And that’s when I realize why I’m crying. This wasn’t sex. It was so much more.
CHAPTER 17
The familiar odor of dog breath wakes me, and I realize the soulful eyes I see are Cleo’s. “Hey, princess. Sleep well?”
A heavy arm curls around my waist, and Derrick says, “I was about to ask you the same thing.”
“When I was allowed to.” I turn and snuggle against his warm chest. God, this feels good. Since when did I like cuddling? Fu—dgesicles. Since I started crying after sex.
I sigh. “I have a job, you know. It’s going to be a long day that requires a lot of coffee.”
“Well then, I better get on that.” Derrick climbs out of the bed and claps his hands for the dogs.
I watch his sexy, naked ass walk out of the room, and I roll over to look at the clock. Six seventeen? I could get another couple hours of sleep. I close my eyes and try to make it happen, but my mind i
mmediately goes to the things we did last night.
I push the tender stuff out of my head and imagine the bathtub instead. Damn if that doesn’t make me horny as hell and ruin any chance I had of sleeping. An evil smile forms on my face, and I decide what I need is a little morning romp. In the kitchen.
Wood scrapes and thuds when I search Derrick’s drawers for T-shirts. Finding them, my fingers feel a super-soft tee and I pull it out. It’s white with Greek letters on it. Frat boy. I snort. No surprise there.
I grab a condom from the nightstand and make my way to the bathroom. Water rushes over my hands as I notice my backpack. I had put my dirty clothes near it last night, but now they’re gone. Huh.
The invigorating odor of dark roast coffee floats around me as I tromp down the stairs. Derrick is sitting in front of his laptop reading The Wall Street Journal. I flick the condom in the palm of my hand in time with my steps.
When he glances up at me I throw the packet at him. “Saddle up, stallion. It’s time for a ride.”
I hop up onto the counter and move the laptop out of my way. The granite is cold on my bare bottom, but I don’t plan on noticing that for long. Placing a foot on either side of his leather bar chair, I sink my toes into the padding and pull him to me by his shirt. Kissing him, I taste coffee and mint.
I suppose I should have brushed my teeth too, but Derrick doesn’t seem to care. He reaches between my legs and immediately thrusts two fingers into me. “Fuck, you’re so ready.”
I reach down his sport shorts and grab his cock. “Should I catch you up?” He’s almost there, and I feel his silky smooth length harden in my hand when I stroke. I let go and yank his pants down.
He takes over and drops them to the floor. The tearing sound of the packet is quick, and he rolls the condom on in a smooth motion while I wiggle to the edge of the counter.
Grabbing my hips, he’s in me in one quick movement. “Yes.” I hiss at the intrusion, and dig my fingers into his ass. “Fuck me hard, Derrick.”