by Cari Quinn
“Mama,” he began.
“Wait. Let me speak. I put things on your head that no child should have to deal with. There were problems in my marriage, but it had nothing to do with you. You were a blessing from day one, and don’t you ever doubt that.”
“I understand. You were worried I’d become like him, maybe from seeing—”
“No. I was worried for nothing.” She stepped forward and reached up to take his face in her hands as she had a million times since he was a child. “You might be his son, but you are not like him. You are the kindest, gentlest soul I’ve ever known. Far more compassionate than I am. Any worries I’ve placed on you are my burden to carry, and I’m sorry. You didn’t deserve it.”
Saying nothing, he swallowed hard and tipped his forehead against hers. “It’s okay, Mama. You went through a lot.”
“But not because of you. You always had this bright light inside you. If you shared that light with Hollie, she’d be the luckiest woman on this planet.” She tucked his hair behind his ears. “You will never hurt that girl. My knee-jerk reaction in the kitchen was just that. Knee-jerk. Based on my own past and nothing to do with reality.”
He risked the commingled scents in the alley and sucked in a breath. Funny, it still seemed to clear out his head. “I will never let you down, Mama. I promise.”
“Oh, mijo, you couldn’t. You’re the best man I’ve ever known, and that had very little to do with me and everything to do with you.” She stepped back. “Now go talk to that girl and don’t mess it up.”
He nodded and led the way back in to the kitchen. He said goodbye to everyone, and swore to his mother that he’d bring Hollie back soon.
All he could do was hope that she’d want to come. That maybe this wouldn’t end up as some sexcapade weekend and might lead to more.
Hollie’s singing reached him before he’d even made it back to his car. She was singing along to Sir Mix-a-Lot, which wasn’t really a song meant to be sung to. She was sort of rapping too, but more singsonging along. As usual, she was doing her own thing.
He loved her own thing.
Catching sight of him, she leaned out the open passenger window. “Hey stranger. Give me a ride home?”
“Is this the reverse of me offering you candy to get in my car?”
“Mmm-hmm.” Her lips curved. “I’ve got sweets for you, big boy.”
For probably the first time in his life, he didn’t glance around to see who might be listening. He just grinned and got behind the wheel.
“Lucky me,” he murmured, turning the key in the ignition.
“So, I have a thing to do this week.” She wiggled her nails. “Work-related. Usually really boring. I hate fundraising dinners. Not the act of raising funds, just that they tend to be really stuffy affairs.”
“I hear you. We do a couple of them a year too.” He signaled out of the parking lot. “A necessary evil.”
“Yeah. Would you come with me? As my date?”
He slid her a sideways glance. His heart was beating way too fast, which made him feel like a high schooler that had been just asked out to the prom. “A real date.”
“Uh-huh. If you’re not going to flip out and start acting weird again. If you are, then never mind. Pretend I didn’t say anything. We’ll just go back to talking about my sweets. It’s pink, and warm, and wet. Tastes like—”
“Jesus, Hol.” He stopped the car at a light and leaned over to snag his hand in her hair to drag her close. “I’d be honored to be your date. For real.”
“Yeah?” Her eyes sparkled. “No weirdness?”
“Absolutely none.” He captured her lips with his own as the cars behind them started to honk.
Turns out he could be a bad boy when he wanted to be, because he made them wait until the next green before he finally relinquished her mouth.
“Sure you have to work tonight?” she asked breathlessly.
“Unfortunately, yes.” He grabbed her hand and brought it to his mouth. “But I’ll be thinking about you all night.”
“Ditto, Rafael. And I may even dig up my old cheerleader uniform, just for you.”
He groaned again. “Tuesday night. I’m coming over Tuesday night to help you start packing.”
“Make it Wednesday. Tuesday, the parents will be home. Wednesday, we’ll have the place to to ourselves.”
Nearly three days without her. He could make it that long.
He hoped.
“Oh, and Rafe. I won’t be wearing panties under my uniform.”
He sucked in a deep breath. Yep, he was officially in big trouble.
12
“Hol?”
Hollie whacked her elbow on the edge of her counter at Rafe’s voice. “Dammit.” She sucked in a breath as the slim butt plug slid into place thanks to some coconut scented lube. “Whoa.” She stood up and straighten the skirt of her black and silver cheerleader uniform.
It was a little weird. Full in a way she wasn’t used to at all. Her muscles kept contracting around it. Awareness throbbed from there right to the front of her.
In fact. She swallowed. It made her clit pound without even a touch. The website had given some directions about getting herself revved before…insertion, but if she got any more worked up about today she would have to be institutionalized.
Who knew that flirting with a bit of role playing would get her so turned on? She’d never even wanted to act in the high school play.
She swished from side to side and there was no hiding the fact that she wasn’t wearing bloomers for this one. Okay, so the skirt was a wee bit shorter than she remembered, but still.
She turned to check out her butt in the mirror. The little flash of sparkle at the end of her plug made her grin.
Rafe was a dead man.
“Hollie?” Rafe banged on the back door to her half of the house. He usually used the front door.
Well, well…Maybe he was just as anxious.
She rushed to her private entrance and unbolted it. “Who’s there?”
“It’s Rafe.”
She peeked her head out, keeping her and her uniform out of sight. “Rafe Martinez, number twenty-six on the team, Rafe?”
Rafe snorted and looked down at his letterman’s jacket. “Will you look at that. That would be me.”
She opened the door wider. “Are we going to the bonfire?”
Rafe said a string of Spanish words that she didn’t understand. From the heavy lidded condition of his eyes and the quick tightening of his jeans she was pretty sure it was something either way dirty, or…nope. Pretty much dirty was the only thing on the menu with that look on his face.
She tucked a lock of hair around her ear that had fallen from her high ponytail. Her hair wasn’t exactly long enough for it, but she’d managed to get it all up in there. Where there was hairspray there was a way.
Oh, and bobby pins.
Many bobby pins.
“We are definitely not leaving the house.” His voice was even deeper than normal.
“Oh, really? I had my heart set on s’mores.” She linked her fingers with him and drew him through the doorway.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
She grinned up at him. “I like the sound of that.”
Once she got him through the little hallway that lead to her bedroom she tugged at the pleat of her skirt. She was really exposed. What if he laughed at her?
Rafe crowded in on her, his fingers scoring lightly up the side of her thigh. “I don’t think you’re wearing a regulation uniform, Miss Bennett.”
She swallowed and clenched. God, her thighs were already wet with excitement. Is this what a butt plug did for everyone? She nibbled on her lower lip and tugged at her skirt. “You won’t tell my squad leader will you?”
“Is there an incentive to turn a blind eye on such an infraction?”
She drew her knuckle along the ridge behind his zipper. “What kind of incentive?” His jawline tightened and a little muscle jumped. She tapped his smoot
hly shaven jaw, inching up to his full bottom lip. “A kiss?”
“A kiss is good way to start.”
She went up on her tiptoes to swipe her tongue lightly along the seam of his lips before she pressed a chaste kiss there. “Is that good?”
He shook his head, his face serious. “Not nearly enough payment.”
She drew her hands up to his shoulders and leaned in until her breasts brushed over his chest. The acrylic material didn’t hide the fact that she’d gone sans underwear all around.
Her nipples beaded up under the scratchy material. She pushed his letterman jacket off and groaned. He was wearing his everyday jersey just like he used to in school. She hadn’t been in school at the same time as he had, but she’d seen him wear it a million times at the house.
At the games.
At the drive-ins in the fall.
She’d lusted after him in that jersey. She circled his nipples under the shirt and moved lower. She crouched until her eyes were level with his buckle. Her eyes went wide as the plug shifted. She clenched to keep it in place. “How about a kiss here?”
He looked down at her, his dark eyes blazing with lust and a little bit of that dangerous boy she remembered so well. The devil lurked just under the surface.
She flipped out the tail of his belt and pulled it tighter to free the pin. His cock pushed at the denim. She was pretty sure her heart was going to beat of her chest.
Or maybe right out her soaking wet slit. Her ass clenched and unclenched around the plug which made her pussy contract in a counter balance.
God.
She licked her lips and the string of Spanish started again. She tugged his zipper open and took him in hand. She bounced once to keep her balance and groaned.
He frowned at her. “You don’t have to do this.”
“Oh, I want to.” She curled her fingers around his shaft, her thumb catching the hot drop of pre-cum that was already spilling free. He seemed as turned on as she was.
She wasn’t sure how could be. She was going to come just from crouching in front of him. She flicked her tongue along his slit. Salt and Rafe burned the tip of her tongue as she made a bowl with her tongue to curve around his head.
His skin was silky soft and tight over his straining cock. She took him deeper as she rocked on her heels to create a gentle rhythm. Each time he filled her mouth, her body clenched and her nipples flamed in reaction.
The rough fabric of her uniform was causing a friction she hadn’t been prepared for and honestly, she was afraid she was going to come just from giving him a blow job.
Talk about amazing.
She drew him deeper, sucking harder as she moaned around his length.
His fingers clenched at his sides. She grabbed his hand and put it on her ponytail as she let him free with a pop. She licked her lips. “Is this good?”
He grasped her tail and held her tighter as he slowly pumped into her mouth. “Relax.”
She closed her eyes as her body started to tremble. She moaned out a low purr as she deep throated him. Her pussy vise around nothing, all she could focus on was the plug and how much she wanted him inside her.
“Fuck,” Rafe bit out. “Okay, stop.”
She looked up at him. “I don’t think I can.” She rocked back and forth lightly as she licked around his head.
He gripped her hair. The lick of pain only pushed her closer to the edge. “Hollie I’m going to come down your throat if you keep that up.”
“Do it.” She tighten her grasp around his shaft. “I want you to.”
He groaned. “Are you sure?”
She sucked on him and swayed again. God, she was so close and she hadn’t even touched herself. Her nipples ached with each shift of the material. She took him deeper as her nails spread across his belly for balance.
Rafe hissed out a breath and his body tensed. The veins came out in his arms and neck. She took him deeper. When the splash of warmth hit her tongue she took him deep again.
She milked him as she clenched around the plug and her pussy contracted. She cried out as the first shudder passed along her thighs and up her body. Her hands shook and her lips trembled as she released him.
Rafe lifted her off the floor and threw her onto the bed. She curled into herself as the orgasm flashed over her and left her gasping.
“Fuck. So fucking beautiful.”
His fingers slid over her slit and she jerked in reaction. “Too much.”
“What?” He rolled her onto her belly and gripped her ass. “Oh, fuck me.” He buried his face between her legs and she rolled onto her knees as he thrust inside her with his tongue.
“Rafe,” she managed to gasp out.
He held her still and eased two fingers into her pussy as she screamed. Her body shook as pleasure and pain went to head-to-head in her body. He gentled the strokes and pleasure won out as she found herself in his arms.
She wasn’t quite sure how she’d gotten there. Things had gotten a little fuzzy when he’d put her on the bed.
Rafe tucked his chin into her shoulder. “That was the hottest thing I’ve ever seen.”
Hollie laughed. “Yeah? I’ve never tried that before.”
He curled around her from the back. “You clenched on my fingers so hard. I want it to be my cock. I don’t know if I could take it, but fuck baby I want that to be me.”
She rubbed against his thighs. “Yes. I want that too.”
“You might be too sensitive. We can wait.”
“No.” She reached behind him. “I feel so full, but I want to see how it feels with you too.”
“You’re going to kill me.”
She giggled. “Death by orgasm is definitely the best way to go.”
She heard the crinkle of a wrapper then the head of him pressed against her entrance. “Oh.”
He turned her chin toward him and kissed her as he slipped into her. She moaned into his mouth. She thought she’d felt full before. God, nothing could compare to now.
She reached back to grip his hair and broke the kiss to yell out his name. He pumped inside of her a few times and that was all it took to push her over again.
She curled her knees up against her body and he held her tightly as he rocked into her again and again.
“Hollie,” he groaned.
Her name was the last thing she was aware of as she sunk into the sweetest fade of pleasure and exhaustion.
She was vaguely aware of Rafe taking care of her little toy, of a warm washcloth, and then his warm body wrapping around her.
She yawned hugely. “So, did you like my uniform?”
“I’ll let you know when I recover.”
She laughed and turned in his arms. “I wanted to surprise you.”
“Well, you did.”
She brushed back the stubborn lock of hair that always fell forward on his forehead. “It’s never been like that with anyone else.”
He pressed his forehead to hers. “No. For me either.”
She grinned against his mouth. “So, what do you say to coming with me to the Valentine’s Day Dance then? I’m sure we can find a locker room to debauch.”
His smile slid away.
“What?” She frowned. “Is that lame? I mean all our friends are going to be there. Or is that the problem?” She pulled away from. Her body was still trembling from him for God’s sake.
He was ashamed to be with her?
“No, no. It’s not the problem. I want to go. I do.”
“But?”
He shook his head and dragged her into his chest. “No buts. I do.” He smoothed his hand down her short tail, pushing at the pins and tie until her hair was free. He liked it loose.
She pressed her face into his neck. Things had been moving really fast. That was the only reason he’d have for pausing.
It had to be.
13
Valentine’s day was for suckers. And so were Valentine’s day dances. All they did was make people feel romantic and think about coupling up.
Rafe stared at the tickets in his hand and had to resist the urge to reach up and loosen his bowtie. He was being an idiot. It was too soon.
Obviously, it was too soon, because Hollie had called him at the last minute and made up some story about running late at the library so she’d have to just meet him at the community center. He knew she worked on Saturdays, but not this long into the evening. Clearly, she was just trying to blow him off.
After the fundraiser Thursday night, he’d been sure things were moving along well. He’d chatted amiably with some of her co-workers, made jokes at the appropriate time, and done his best to help Hollie shine. It wasn’t difficult, because she did that naturally. Everyone seemed to like her. She made people laugh.
God knows she made him laugh, except when he was churned up with nerves.
She’d made him feel a whole different emotion as the fundraising dinner had wound down to a close. He was pretty sure he’d never forget that night for the rest of his life.
Her tugging on his hand, pulling them away from the planned tour of the library’s new wing. The rest of the group had continued on, and she’d given him her own very personal tour of the stacks.
His dick was still humming two days later.
The successful night—hell, successful week—had made him take a huge leap and call his travel agent on Friday. Okay, so he hadn’t actually had a travel agent until Friday, because why would he have needed one? He never went anywhere.
That was going to change.
He was tired of living in a box of his own making. It was time to bust down the walls and expand his field of view. Go hard or go home.
Well, he’d spent enough time at home. Now it was time to just go, with a hopefully willing partner to chase adventure with right by his side.
Assuming she showed up at the dance, so he could show her the tickets and tell her everything he’d been stuffing down since probably long before last summer.
She brightened his life in so many ways. She was like a torch that illuminated even the darkest corner, making him see everything in a new way. She didn’t let him take the easy route, ever.