Tall and toned with perfectly sized breasts that make my mouth water, she’s the epitome of the female form in my eyes. She always has been.
I shove down my pants and boxers and kick them out of the way.
Her eyes go right to the rod that’s straight up.
“I know, it’s formidable.”
She giggles.
“What’s so funny?” I say, looking down at it.
“Nothing. It’s just . . . I’ve waited so long, and I’m nervous . . .” Her voice trails off.
I reach down and palm her head, kissing her. “Me too. I feel like a teenager with you.”
She leans over and takes me into her mouth, her hand pumping my shaft as she explores me with long licks, pushing down with her lips until I feel the tightness of her throat.
I toss my head back, not prepared as she works me over, sending my heart into overtime as she sucks me off. “Fuck . . . Rose.”
She moans, humming against me, and I let her suck me down a few more times before I pull away.
I want to taste her . . . be inside her.
I ease her back to the quilt and kiss her again. She cranes upward, wanting more as I move down her body, not stopping until she’s spread out in front of me. My lips explore her, the bend in her knee, the curve of her hips, the slope of her neck. Part of me wants to take her hard because it feels like I’ve waited forever, but the other side of me wants to be gentle. I don’t know which one is going to win.
I roll her over to her side and pay special attention to the tattoo at the top of her back, the one with my old number inside the butterfly. My tongue traces the outline, my lips brushing across her satin skin. Working my way around to her hip, my fingers slip inside her slit and finger her.
“You’re fucking wet, love.”
She moans as my mouth follows, tasting her. She calls my name and parts her legs wide, arching closer as I strum her, reaching for her G-Spot.
“You like?” I say against her center, my tongue toying with her clit.
“Don’t stop,” she murmurs, a hitch in her voice.
I can never deny her anything. I pulse my tongue over her, taking her nub and sucking hard as she screams my name and breaks apart, her walls clenching around the two fingers I have inside her.
She falls back against the pillows. “No one’s ever done that.”
My eyes flare, and fuck, I don’t want to say his name, but a million questions burn in my mind.
She looks down, obviously embarrassed. “I never wanted him to.”
I shove thoughts of him away and focus on her.
“We got a lot more to go.” I grin. “Do you have condoms?”
She nods and tells me where they are then I dash to get them. In ten seconds, I’m back inside the fort and her arms are open. “Took you long enough.”
I laugh and ease between her legs then flip us over, rolling her on top of me.
“What are you doing?” she says softly.
“This.” I spread her apart with my thumbs and seat her on my cock, groaning at the feel of her tightness against my dick as I slide inside. Yes. This.
She moans and arches her back as I hang on to her hips and pump. Her tits bounce with each thrust, nipples straining toward me, and I divide my lips between them, my tongue tasting her sweat, my nose inhaling her skin.
She’s beautiful.
She’s everything.
We work each other, my cock sliding nearly all the way out and then back in. The sound of our skin meeting is intoxicating, pushing me higher. She pants and cries out when I thrust harder, getting deeper, wanting every single inch to be encased by her. Everything fades away, and all I see is her.
I want to burn fast and hot.
She seems to have the same urgency, as if this moment might be our last.
I flip her on her back and slide back inside, the brief absence enough to make her gasp at the renewed contact. I take control, moving in and out of her, hard and fast. I hitch her leg up over my shoulder. More.
My free hand finds her pussy and plays with her clit, strumming her to the rhythm of my thrusts. “You’re mine,” I mutter hoarsely.
I bite her palm and grunt as I take her, the motion frenzied, more intense as she arches closer, her legs squeezing me in a vise.
“Always. Always. Always,” I say, my voice like gravel.
I push into her faster, feeling the tingle at the base of my spine. We fuck like animals, and I’m about to blow. Sweat drips down my face and lands on her breasts. “Come for me,” I push out, twisting on her nipple with my fingers.
Her eyes are wild as she comes apart again, her muscles milking my cock and sending me over into bliss with her.
With my heart still flying, I sag down next to her, my emotions all over the place. That was . . . fucking amazing.
She turns until we’re lying face to face, our legs intertwined. A worried expression flits across her face.
“What’s wrong?” I say, running my hand down her cheek.
She bites her lip. “Is it always like this with you? So . . . intense?”
Satisfaction fills me and I grin. “Best you ever had, huh?”
She rolls her eyes and pops me on the arm, making me grunt. It doesn’t hurt, of course, but I like making her smile.
“Maybe,” she admits as she props her head up with her elbow. “What about you? Was it the best?”
I grow serious as I stare into her eyes. “Everything is different with you. I’ve never had sex with someone I cared about, so yeah, it’s mind blowing. Hell, usually by now I’m dressed and out the door.” My heart squeezes. “I’m not leaving . . . unless you want me to.”
Rose
THE NEXT MORNING, I WAKE up before Spider. Sometime in the night, we left the fort, blew out the candles, and moved to the bed.
We slept curled up next to each other, spooning with my back to his chest. During the early hours, I felt his lips brush my shoulders, almost reverently . . . hopeful.
But this morning, as I look at the glare of the sun coming in through the blinds, guilt is brewing, especially as I check my phone.
I skim through texts.
All of them are from Trenton.
You okay? Sent at around the time the lights must have gone out. His apartment is about five blocks from here, but I imagine all the sirens and news reports probably alerted him of the blackout.
Another one was sent a few minutes later, probably around the time Spider knocked on my door.
Rose, I know you’re up. You there? You scared?
Then, half an hour later, Okay, you must be asleep. Good night. I love you.
“Everything okay?” Spider murmurs, rising up to peek over my shoulder. His hair is everywhere, a small smile on his full lips.
I set my phone back down and try to push thoughts of Trenton away. I gaze over at Spider as he rubs his eyes and stretches. He looks . . . hot. I catch a glimpse of his broad chest from the covers and all I want to do is throw myself on top of him.
But I can’t.
“Everything’s great,” I say brightly. But that isn’t true. I’m worried about Trenton and what I’ve done.
I slide off the bed, wrapping the duvet around my naked body as I dart for the bathroom.
“Hey, come back here, woman. I’m not done with you.” His voice is teasing, and it makes me smile a little.
I head to my dresser, feeling deliciously sore. “I have a class in a couple of hours. I need to shower and get out of here.”
I’m not looking at him, but I know he’s watching me. I hear him rustling around as he sits up in the bed.
“Rose?”
“Yeah?” I shuffle through my underwear drawer, my nervous fingers snatching at whatever I can find. I go with the white satin—plain, simple . . . meant for girls who don’t cheat on their boyfriends.
“You okay?”
I look over at him as he stands up in his full naked glory, the sun creating a halo effect around his head.
&n
bsp; I blink at the magnificence of him. Besides the incredible ink he has, his chest is tan and rippling with muscle. And the deliciously chiseled V that leads down to his waist is damn near the most beautiful piece of flesh I’ve ever seen. It directs my gaze straight to his cock, which is currently long and thick. My mouth wants to suck on it.
My body hums, needing him again.
He is without a doubt the most beautiful creature I’ve ever had.
And I had him for sure.
I want it again. Right now.
A wave of remorse hits.
I’m terrible! I’m supposed to meet Trenton for dinner tonight. How will I be able to face him?
Spider stalks over to me, and leans his palm on the wall behind me, unease on his face. “Are you having regrets?”
This man made me fall in love with him and then walked away.
“I’m not sure I can trust you, Spider. You left me.”
He stares down at the rose on his hand. “I left you to let you breathe.”
Emotion clogs my throat and I step away from him, sliding out of his reach.
He brings me back by grabbing my hand and lacing our fingers together, his expression moving from unease to determination. “What’s wrong?”
I bite my lip. “I’m kinda in a hurry . . . I have a test I really should study for.”
He runs his hand down my neck. “Don’t make me beg to spend more time with you.”
“Spider—”
He cuts me off and kisses me, his tongue tangling with mine as his hand slips under the duvet and cups my ass, pulling me against him. “This . . . this is what I want. Tell me you want me too.”
“I do,” I moan.
Every coherent thought I have flies out the window.
He knows he has me.
Spider
WITH MY BLUE-MIRRORED AVIATORS AND a Yankees baseball cap pulled low over my eyes, I feel fairly incognito as I saunter out of the building and make my way down the street to the bakery to get Rose and I breakfast. I stop at the corner and see a shabbily dressed older man sitting on an old milk crate and playing a ukulele. He has a hungry look about him with gaunt features and a scraggly bit of gray scruff. His eyes are red and bleary.
That might have been me someday.
The small mutt that lounges beside the music man barks at me, as if reading my thoughts, making me smirk. I stop in front of him, getting jostled around, yet determined to stay and listen as the old man plays a little tune that sounds familiar, though I can’t place it. I drop a hundred down in his open case.
He looks up at me. “May you find joy and happiness today.”
I nod, turning to reply to him as I walk away. “Already have, and she’s gorgeous.”
I jog down to the bakery and stock up on a few things I think she might like—two croissant sandwiches with egg and bacon, several blueberry scones, and two strawberry muffins. On impulse, I grab some freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. We worked up a bit of an appetite last night, and I, for one, am starving.
“Hey, don’t I know you?” the barista asks me as I pay in cash.
“Nope.”
She narrows her eyes, studying me as she wraps up the cookies and adds them to the bulging bag of goodies. She eyes the tattoo on my neck. “You look like that guy Spider from Vital Rejects.”
“Who?” I ask, plastering a bemused expression on my face.
She cocks her head. “Yeah, you’re like his doppelganger.”
Just give me my change, I think.
She leans in conspiratorially. “You can tell me. I won’t tell anyone.”
I exhale. “Yes, I’m Spider.” After all, it’s pretty obvious with the tattoo.
“OH MY GOD,” she squeals.
I hold my hands up, motioning for her to quiet down. People are staring.
She licks her lips and flicks a strand of hair over her shoulder. “Hey, you know, you’re my free pass.”
My brow furrows. “Is that some kind of free coffee thing?”
She giggles. “No, it means I get to fuck you and my boyfriend has to be okay with it.”
I blink, staring at her now instead of salivating over the bakery case.
She’s a statuesque blonde with pretty features and a set of boobs that are tight.
“I don’t fuck random people,” I say. Not anymore.
She arches a brow. “Not according to all those supermarket rags.” She grabs a notepad, scribbles something on it, and tosses it in the bag—her phone number, no doubt.
I fume, my mouth tightening. I fish it out and hand it back to her. “I don’t want this.”
A sullen look crosses her face. “Fine, I just thought you’d be into it is all.”
I might have been two years ago—but not now.
A few minutes later, I’m back inside Rose’s place with the bag and she’s looking at me uncertainly. I figure she’s thinking about Trenton, and what comes next. I’m terrified frankly. I want her to tell me she’ll never see him again, but there’s a distance in her eyes that gives me pause.
I run my eyes over her casual gray yoga pants and NYU sweatshirt. She takes my breath. “You look gorgeous.”
“Thanks.” She smiles hesitantly as I help myself to her cabinets and get us plates for the pastries.
We eat together, both of us quiet. I’m nervous; she’s nervous. A few moments tick by as the room fills with silence. I watch her eat the muffin, my eyes on her perfect lips, the way her hair curls over her shoulder. My cock is hard, and all I can think about is spreading her out on the table. I tell myself to chill out. I don’t want to overwhelm her.
She peeks up at me as she chews. “We had sex, and now things are weird.”
I stuff the last bite of a croissant in my mouth. “I know how to make it not weird.”
“Oh?” She arches a brow.
“Let’s do it again,” I say with a little growl.
She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear and lets out a shaky breath.
“What are you thinking?” I ask, leaning over the table to wipe a crumb from her cheek.
She doesn’t speak, but her eyes are low, her lashes fluttering.
“Tell me what you’re thinking.” My voice is verging on pleading.
“I want you so much, I can’t breathe. I can’t think straight—”
She doesn’t get to finish her sentence.
I sweep her up in my arms and carry her back to the bedroom.
Rose
I’M A HORRIBLE PERSON.
A cheater.
A liar.
I sit on the subway, my gut churning as I rub my forehead.
All I think about is my time with Spider.
About how we had sexy times all over my apartment today.
He is intoxicating.
Fascinating.
Enthralling.
Mesmerizing.
He is all I can think about.
It’s happening all over again, and I’m scared he’s going to ruin me.
The subway clangs to halt and I look up to realize it’s my stop. Trenton . . . God. My gut twists as I think about how to tell him.
I enter his company’s suite inside the huge office building and stop at the front desk that sits in the center of the room. The lobby has two windows, each decorated with custom upholstery. Along the wall sits a line of cushy, formal-looking chairs in a Queen Anne style, reeking of old money and family tradition. It reminds me of Highland Park.
The receptionist is turned around filing papers, so I clear my throat to get her attention. She turns around to face me and I do a double take.
“Aria?” My voice is surprised, and I’m fairly certain my mouth might be open.
The last I heard from Trenton, she was still in Texas and attending college. Yes, she’s his cousin, but he’s rarely seen her except for holidays when they were at the same family gatherings. I avoided any event where I knew she would be, but I did see her once at a wedding for another cousin. We barely spoke to each other, which
was easy enough to do since it was crowded.
Why didn’t he tell me she moved here?
She’s still beautiful, of course, her brown hair shorter and cut in a blunt, straight style. Wearing a short red pencil skirt and a printed button-up shirt, she looks amazing. I glance down at my yoga pants and sweatshirt. I’m practically a hobo compared to her.
“Helloooo, Rose!” she says, dragging out the greeting in her soft southern drawl. “I started last week. Didn’t Trenton tell you?” She arches her brow.
I shake my head.
Her laugh tinkles across the darkly paneled office, grating on my nerves. “Well, here I am . . . the new office clerk.” She holds her arms out and does a full pirouette in her black stilettos.
I nod. “Trenton’s been so busy with that new case, I guess he forgot to tell me.”
She smiles tightly, not showing me her teeth, her eyes raking over my attire and landing squarely on my red Converse. “You’ve got something on your sweatshirt there,” she says, pointing at me and squinting with a look on her face like she smells something bad.
I look down and see a tiny spot of white, which I figure is either sugar from the muffin Spider brought me this morning or, more embarrassingly, my toothpaste.
It feels like Highland Park all over again, and I’m right back in my greasy Jo’s Diner polo.
The tension that has always been between us rears its head, and I exhale.
I return her tight smile. “So, Trenton’s dad got you this job? Couldn’t find anything else in the city?”
“We’re family and we do stick together.” She sighs, placing her hand on her heart, flashing a huge diamond engagement ring. “I’m just lucky to have my real family, ya know? So many people don’t these days.”
My teeth grind at the insinuation.
She leans in over the counter. “Of course, I hope we can work past our differences. Trenton is my cousin, and I want us to be friends.”
“I didn’t think I had the right pedigree to be your friend.”
She shrugs. “We just moved here, and I’m positive Trenton will want to hang out with us. This is a rather large city, and we are family.”
“We?” My eyes land on her diamond again, nearly blinded by its size.
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