I rode in the center of the bench seat in his truck on the way home with my hand running up and down his thigh.
“Do you want to come back to my house to watch another movie? Or do you want me to take you back to your house?” he asked, his voice gruff, as he drove up the driveway.
“Let’s hang out at your house for a while. Your dad left this morning with Grandpa to go fishing, so we’ll have the place to ourselves.”
He only nodded as he steered the truck toward his house. As soon as we came to a stop, I grabbed my purse that had the condoms in it and hopped out. I followed him up the steps and waited as he unlocked the door. I walked past him as he held the door open for me. The minute the door closed behind us, he grabbed me and pulled my body tight against his. His mouth crashed down on mine, and I opened up to allow his tongue entry. My arms wrapped around his neck, and my fingers latched on to his hair. He picked me up, and I wrapped my legs around him.
“Damn it, City,” he gasped as he pulled away. “You’ve been driving me crazy all night.”
“That was the point,” I said.
I jerked his head down, so I could kiss him again. I nibbled on his bottom lip, and he groaned.
“You’re making it really hard not to lose control,” he whispered against my lips, his breathing heavy.
I untangled my body from his and took his hand to lead him back to his bedroom. My heart was pounding out of my chest as we walked. My body was tight with tension as I wondered whether or not he would turn me down. I knew his body wanted me, but I wasn’t sure where his mind was.
As soon as we made it to his room, I shoved him down onto his bed and pounced on top of him. I didn’t give him a chance to speak as I kissed him hard. My body was begging for more. I wanted him tonight more than I’d ever wanted anything in my life. I kissed him one last time before sitting up. He watched me with glazed eyes as I grabbed my tank top and pulled it over my head. I felt his body stiffen.
“What are you doing, City?” he asked.
I reached around behind me and unclasped my bra. “I want you, Cowboy—tonight.”
His eyes dropped down to my naked breasts, and he swallowed roughly. “Are you sure? We can wait until—”
I pressed my finger to his lips, silencing him. “I’ve waited long enough. If you want me, take me.”
A shiver ran down his body as he stared up at me. I saw it in his eyes the minute he decided. His brown eyes turned black with hunger. He flipped me over and climbed on top of me, kissing his way from my mouth to my chest. I whimpered as he wrapped his lips around my nipple and sucked.
“God, City, I want you so bad.”
“I’m yours,” I whispered.
And I’d meant it. I was his, totally and completely. I’d spent enough time moping over Joel. I had Landon right in front of me, and I wasn’t going to waste any more time.
He switched to my other nipple as his hand explored my body. He stopped at my hip bone and started rubbing circles. His fingers felt like heaven as they caressed me. He stood and pulled his shirt off before tossing it to the side. I sat up on my knees and grabbed his jeans to pull him closer. My gaze never leaving his, I unbuttoned his jeans and unzipped them. I pulled them down over his hips and down his legs, and then he kicked them off.
I ran my fingers down his chest and stomach, enjoying the fact that he shuddered at my touch. My tongue snaked out to run across first one nipple and then the other before I kissed a trail down his stomach. His breathing became erratic as I slipped my fingers into his boxers and tugged them down. They dropped to the floor, and I stared at a completely naked Landon.
My eyes dropped to his shaft. He was bigger than Joel. I reached out and ran my fingers across his hips before wrapping them around his shaft. His sharp intake of breath told me everything I needed to know. I ran my hand up and down his dick over and over again until his legs were trembling. I stared up at his face as I leaned forward and took him into my mouth. His hips bucked as he thrust forward into my mouth.
“Oh fuck, City,” he groaned.
I sucked and ran my tongue along his shaft. His fingers found my hair and tugged gently, wanting me to go faster. He tightened his grip as I obliged. A minute later, he pulled away and cupped himself as he came.
The throbbing between my legs was almost unbearable as I watched him come. I needed him now.
Then, he turned and walked out of the room, and I nearly cried.
Did I do something wrong? Am I moving too fast? Terror gripped my heart as I stared at the empty doorway.
He returned a few seconds later with a towel in his hand. He gave me a sheepish grin. “Sorry, I needed to clean up.”
Relief washed through me as I realized that I hadn’t scared him away. He threw the towel to the floor and picked me up off the bed. He stood me up and unfastened the clasp on my skirt. It dropped to the floor, leaving me in only my black thong and knee-high boots. I knew I probably looked like a hooker, but I didn’t care.
“Damn, City. Those boots are killin’ me,” he whispered as he knelt in front of me.
I watched as he unzipped one and then the other. I lifted my legs one at a time to let him pull them off of me. Next, he reached up, grabbed the thin strings of my thong, and pulled it down my legs. I stepped out and waited, completely naked, to see what he would do next.
He stood and picked me up again, only to lay me gently on his bed. “You’re the most beautiful girl I’ve ever seen.”
He climbed into the bed with me and started to kiss my jaw and my neck. I turned my head to the side to give him better access. I gasped as he ran his thumb over my nipple. My body was hypersensitive, and every touch was almost unbearable.
“Landon, I need…” I whispered, my breath ragged.
“What do you need, baby?” he asked just before his tongue replaced his thumb.
“Oh God! I need to come. Please,” I cried.
“I’ll take care of you.”
He kissed his way down my stomach. I nearly came off the bed when he ran his tongue across the inside of my thigh. He pushed my legs farther apart and kissed me where I needed him the most. His tongue thrust out, and I screamed at the sensation. My body came up off the bed as he sucked my clit into his mouth. I grabbed his head and held him in place as I came. His mouth never once slowed as I shouted his name over and over again. My body was on fire.
When I finally came back down to earth, he climbed on top of me and positioned himself at my entrance. “Are you sure, City?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life,” I said as I stared up into his beautiful eyes.
My heart nearly stopped when I saw the love shining in them. Dear God, this man loves me. Me.
“Protection!” I blurted out.
His face fell. “I don’t have anything, City.”
“I do.”
He gave me a questioning look.
“I, uh…I bought condoms tonight. They’re in my purse.”
He grinned as he leaned over and grabbed my purse off the floor where I’d dropped it when he carried me to his room. He grabbed the box of condoms out of it and took one out. I watched as he ripped it open with his teeth and slid it on. He positioned himself again and thrust into me quickly. He waited to give me time to adjust to his size before pulling out and thrusting back in again.
“You okay?” he asked.
“I’m more than okay,” I said.
He leaned down and kissed me. Sex had never been this way with Joel, not even in the beginning. He had never been gentle with me like this. The only time he’d ever stopped to ask me if I was okay was when he’d taken my virginity.
Landon started thrusting, keeping up a slow but steady rhythm.
“Go faster,” I said as my hips rose to meet his.
He did as I’d asked, moving in and out of me faster and harder. I wrapped my legs around him, allowing him to go deeper.
“You feel like heaven, City,” he grunted as he continued to pound into me.
I didn’t bother to reply. I was too busy matching him thrust for thrust. I never wanted this to end. I positioned myself so that he hit my sweet spot each time he entered me. I clawed at his back and groaned as his thrusts became erratic. I knew he was close.
“Come with me, City,” he groaned into my mouth before he kissed me.
I felt him let go, and so did I.
We lay together for a few minutes, both of us trying to remember how to breathe. Landon peppered my face and neck with kisses before finally standing up. He pulled the condom off and threw it away before climbing back into bed with me, still naked.
He wrapped his arms around me and kissed me softly. “That was incredible.”
I stretched before snuggling into his side. “I agree.”
We fell asleep that way—naked and clinging to each other.
Landon was it for me, and I knew it. I felt safe and loved whenever I was with him.
I awoke in the middle of the night, my body throbbing and needy. I raised my head up to see Landon sound asleep on his back, a peaceful look on his face. I smiled as I leaned forward and nibbled on his ear. I knew he’d be happy with the way he was about to be woken up.
I kissed my way from his ear to his neck and then down his chest. He moaned in his sleep but didn’t wake up. I cupped his shaft in my hand and started squeezing gently. He moaned again as his eyes opened.
“Hey,” he whispered, his voice thick with sleep.
“Hey yourself,” I said as I continued to squeeze and stroke him.
“This is a really good way to wake up,” he mumbled.
“That was the plan,” I told him as he grew thick in my hand.
I could already tell that I was going to become addicted to being with him like this. I reached across him and grabbed a condom from the box. He watched me with hooded eyes as I opened it and rolled it on.
“You got to play last time. Now, it’s my turn.”
“I’m all yours, City,” he whispered as he watched me climb on top of him.
I bit my lip to keep from moaning as he filled me. He didn’t try to hide his own moan as I rose up and slammed back down onto him roughly.
“Jesus, City.”
I smiled as I rolled my hips and tightened my internal muscles. While I loved how gentle he’d been with me earlier, I loved rough sex. I raised my body up again and slammed back down onto him.
“Ah!” he groaned as he grabbed my hips.
After that, he met me with a hard upward thrust each time I came down on him. I leaned forward and ran my tongue across one nipple and then the other. My fingers dug into the hard muscles of his stomach. I couldn’t help but admire his body. Every part of him was hard and chiseled as if he were made from stone. I wanted to explore every inch of him.
He was gripping my hips so hard that I was sure I would have bruises in the morning, but I didn’t care. The room was filled with our groans and the sound of our bodies coming together as we slammed into each other over and over again. I went down onto him one final time and came. He followed right behind me. Completely spent, I dropped down onto his chest.
Once we were both breathing normally again, he gently grabbed my chin and lifted my head so that I was staring into his eyes.
“You’re incredible, City. You’re the most incredible woman I’ve ever met. I…I love you. I know it probably scares the hell out of you to hear me say that, but I do.”
Unsure of what to say, I froze. “I…uh…”
“Don’t worry. I don’t expect you to say it back—at least, not right now. I just wanted you to know.”
“I care a lot about you, Landon. You make me feel things that I’ve never felt before. I know I’m safe and loved when I’m around you, and that means more than you know. Just…just give me some time, okay?”
He nodded as he pushed my hair away from my face and tucked it behind my ear. “I’ll wait. I don’t care how long it takes. I’ll wait for you to love me back.”
I kissed him softly, trying to tell him everything I couldn’t say.
I should have known that my world would come crashing down around me soon. Things had been too perfect, but I never would have guessed how it would actually happen.
I was locking the barn door when strong arms wrapped around my waist. I grinned as Landon pulled me back against his body and nibbled on my ear. It had been like this for the past two days. Even though we’d spent both days together, working around the farm, he couldn’t seem to get enough of me—or keep his hands off of me. I loved it. He made me feel wanted, and that was the most amazing feeling in the entire world. Every time I would look into his eyes, I could feel my heart healing just a little bit more. He was slowly erasing the pain that Joel had caused me.
“I missed you,” he whispered.
He turned me to face him and started kissing along my jaw. I sighed as I wrapped my arms around him. This was heaven.
“You were only gone for half an hour.”
“Still too long in my opinion.”
I smiled as I slipped from his grip. He took my hand in his, and we walked back to my grandparents’ house. From the very beginning, I’d known that Landon was sweet, but I never would have guessed he could be like this. I regretted the time I’d spent moping over Joel and pushing Landon away. I’d wasted so much time, and summer would be over soon. I still had no idea what would happen once I went home, but I knew Landon and I needed to talk about it. I thought neither of us had brought it up yet because we didn’t want to think about it.
“I’m starving. I hope Lily has something to eat,” Landon said.
“It’s Gram. She always has food ready. I think she’s afraid that we’ll starve,” I joked.
We walked inside and kicked off our boots. Landon followed me as I walked into the kitchen. Gram was sitting at the kitchen table, staring down at it. I was surprised to see her like that. She never sat still. She was always cooking or cleaning. When she wasn’t doing one of those, she would be washing clothes or gardening. Before this moment, I couldn’t think of a time when I’d seen her just sitting.
“Hey, Gram,” I said.
Landon and I took two of the seats at the table. She glanced up and smiled at us, but it was forced. Something was wrong.
“Are you okay?” I asked cautiously.
“What? Oh, yes, I’m fine. I was just about to start dinner.”
Landon and I glanced at each other, unsure of what to say. Gram always had dinner ready by the time we finished our chores.
“Are you sure you’re okay, Lily?” Landon asked, concern filling his voice. He knew something was wrong, too.
She looked between us before her eyes landed on me. Of all the emotions I expected to see on her face, pity wasn’t one of them, but it was the one shining through.
“I need to talk to Alexandria, Landon. Can you give us a minute?” she asked.
“Uh…sure. I’ll be outside.”
He started to stand, but I held up my hand to stop him.
“Gram, whatever is going on, you can say it in front of Landon.”
She hesitated before nodding. “All right then. I just…I don’t know how to say this.”
“Say what?” I asked.
“Your mother called earlier while you were outside. She had some news that she wanted to share with you.”
“What kind of news?”
She sighed. “Oh, Alexandria. I’m so sorry that I’m the one who has to break the news to you. Your mother called because she wanted to tell you that something happened to Joel.”
I raised an eyebrow. “This is about Joel? How would she know anything about him?”
“He’s…he’s gone. He was reported missing yesterday, and they found him this morning. Your mother’s friend was one of the responding officers. I guess the police have been watching him for a while because she instantly recognized him. She called to let your mom know what happened because of your relationship with him. She wanted to make sure that you were okay.”
“What do you mean, he’s gone? I don’t understand.” My voice didn’t sound right. It was too low, too deep. I couldn’t process what she was telling me.
“He’s dead, sweetheart. I’m so sorry.”
“He can’t be dead!” I shouted. “He’s Joel! Everyone knows that he’s untouchable!”
“I’m so sorry,” she repeated. “Your mom said that it looked like a drug deal had gone bad. They found him behind one of the dumpsters at the park. He was shot.”
The world seemed to tilt, and I lowered my head to the table. Joel is gone. Joel is dead. This can’t be happening. I was angry with him, but I still cared about him. A small part of me still loved him. A sob escaped as I lost control. With my head still on the table, I hid my face in my arms as the tears took over. My body shook as I tried to process what was happening.
“Shh…” Landon whispered as he wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into his chest.
I clung to him as I continued to cry.
“This can’t be happening,” I managed to get out between sobs.
“I’m here. Just let it out,” Landon said softly.
I knew it had to hurt him to watch me cry over another man, but I couldn’t stop myself. Joel had been my whole world for so long. No one spoke until my sobs finally quieted.
I looked up at Gram. “When did it happen?”
She seemed unsure as to whether or not she should tell me any more. “He was reported missing yesterday morning. They think it happened sometime the night before.”
He’d been dead for over a day, and I hadn’t known.
How could I have not known something like that? I should have felt it.
I pulled away from Landon and stood up. “I…I need to be alone right now.”
Before either of them could reply, I turned and walked upstairs to my room. I shut the door behind me before walking over to my bed. I lay down on the bed and curled into myself. This hurts so bad. I shut my eyes, trying to block out the pain, but all I could see was Joel. He had been such a hard-ass when we were around others, but with me, he’d always been laughing and joking. His smile had been like the sun to me.
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