If You Only Knew (Harper Falls #3)

by Mary J. Williams

  “Books,” he reassured her, his mouth continuing its journey. “Long, lonely hours at the library.”

  Tyler’s laugh turned into another moan, this one longer, louder.

  “If you learned that from a book, I’m calling Lila to have her send the author flowers.”

  Drew lifted his head just long enough to look into her eyes. What she saw took her breath away.

  “Get ready to buy out the store.”

  What he did next could not have come from a book. This he had to practice because he did it to perfection.

  Drew slowly kissed his way up her thigh. Firm yet so soft under his lips. The scent of her arousal was a heady perfume filling his senses, making his head spin.

  He reveled in taking his time. He didn’t have to keep an eye on the clock or worry about someone finding out. They were free to spend all night together. All week if they chose. The knowledge was a heady aphrodisiac adding to his already raging libido.

  “I loved doing this to you.” He went in for his first taste. His tongue taking a long, slow swipe between her open legs.

  “I loved when you did it.”

  Drew smiled at the catch in her whispered words. He did that to her. He caused that catch in her breath, that moan, that sigh. Knowing he could do that to her made him feel ten feet tall.

  “I had no idea what I was doing. You were the first. I never wanted to do it until you.”

  How could she want to laugh, cry, and scream out in pleasure all at once? Drew was making her crazy — in a very good way.

  “You didn’t come the first time.” He tasted again. “Or the second.” And again.

  Tyler’s fingers slipped through Drew’s hair until she gripped his head, pulling him closer. She needed him to stop teasing. She was so close.

  “Third time was the charm.”

  He covered her with his mouth, his lips and tongue taking her higher and higher. Closer. Closer.

  “Drew.”

  Tyler called out his name as she spiraled out of control. Her hands massaged his scalp to the rhythm of her pulsing orgasm. On and on. Starting at her center, radiating out to the tips of her toes, the ends of her fingers.

  Did he feel that? That final jolt? Some of that energy had to go from her back to him. She refused to believe something that strong wasn’t shared.

  Drew kissed the inside of Tyler’s thigh before joining her on the bed. He gently rearranged her pliant body, settling next to her. He smoothed her hair from her face.

  Such a lovely face, he thought. At the moment relaxed, a small, satisfied smile lifting the corners of her mouth. He bent and gave her a light kiss.

  “Feeling good?”

  “You might say that. You might also say the sun is a little warm in July. Both would be accurate. Both would also be huge under-exaggerations.”

  “Really good?”

  Tyler chuckled. “Close enough.”

  She slowly opened her eyes. Clear gray, Drew observed. The color of relaxation. Contentment. Happiness. He had done that.

  “You look mighty pleased with yourself.”

  “I have good reason to be.”

  “That you do.”

  Tyler turned on her side to face him. She leaned close, kissing his chest, his chin, his lips. She lingered on his lips.

  “Thank you.”

  “Believe me, it was my pleasure.”

  He made a big production licking his lips, causing Tyler to laugh again. Her eyes drifted from his smiling face down. His chest, broad and lightly dusted with dark hair. Her hand touched, so hot and powerful, his muscles jumping slightly as her touch became a caress.

  “You had such a beautiful body. You were long and lean.”

  “You seemed fascinated. You would touch me, explore. I was more than happy to let you.”

  “This.” Tyler wrapped her cool fingers around the heat of his erection. “I never got tired of seeing how different you were here, before and after.”

  “Mmm.”

  “Oh, that is a sound I remember very well.”

  She bent to take him in her mouth, letting her tongue become reacquainted with the feel of him; his taste.

  “I should have been nervous, the first time I did this.”

  “Weren’t you?” Drew’s voice was slightly hoarse. “I was so busy watching my dick sliding in and out of that gorgeous mouth, I didn’t notice anything as mundane as nerves.”

  Tyler snorted, the vibrations eliciting another groan from Drew.

  “Do that again.”

  “Only if you make me laugh.”

  “Knock knock.”

  “Stop.” Tyler laughed so hard she had to sit back to breathe. “Keep in mind, if I’m laughing while I’m down there, I might start biting. Not on purpose, mind you. You never know.”

  Drew didn’t respond; he just looked at her, eyebrows raised.

  “No. You like that? When did you acquire a taste for pain? And should I be worried.”

  “Not pain, per se. More like an edge. Bite me, a little. Not too hard.”

  Drew noticed she didn’t look the least bit worried. Tyler looked intrigued.

  “You’ll tell me if I go too far?”

  “Believe me, honey. You’ll know.”

  Drew held back Tyler’s hair so he had an unobstructed view. She kept her eyes on his as her mouth enveloped his cock. Slowly, she lowered. He was a mouthful, yet Tyler had no problem taking all of him. Up. Down. Up. Her tongue lapping at the fluid gathered at the tip.

  She didn’t bite. Instead, she bared her teeth, running them down his length. The pain was slight — noticeable. It added that edge he mentioned.

  “You like that?”

  “Heaven, Ty. You have no idea what you do to me.”

  If it was half of what he did to her, she had a good idea.

  Tyler went back to pleasuring him. She could tell he was close. She wanted to feel him come undone; to know she was the cause. Putting her hand at the base of his cock, she squeezed, harder than she would have before his little pain admission. She was rewarded when his breath hissed out, followed by a groan of pleasure.

  Drew wondered how much more he could take. He wanted this to go on and on. He tried his damnedest not to blow too soon, but Tyler made it impossible. He raced towards the finish. When she reached for his balls and gave a forceful tug, that was it. With a shout, Drew came in a glorious rush.

  He held Tyler’s head as she took all he had to give, before falling back, drained and sated.

  Tyler lay sprawled over Drew, a goofy grin plastered on her face. Never a big fan of the swallowing portion of a blowjob, she hadn’t hesitated. It was natural with him, everything was.

  “I like that we can have fun. Who says sex has to be serious all the time?”

  Drew ran his hand along her back. Soothing and affectionate.

  “The last time I laughed in bed was…” He thought hard but couldn’t think of another woman what hadn’t been a quick fuck, a tension easer. It wasn’t a fact he wanted to brag about. It just was.

  “Yes?”

  “The last time was with you.”

  Tyler turned her head to look at him. She gave a small nod.

  “Same for me.” She sighed. “Does that make us sad and pathetic?”

  “No. Maybe. Hell, I don’t know, Ty. I’ve always enjoyed sex. I never considered giving it up.”

  “Me neither.”

  “I don’t want to worry about what was.” He rolled off the bed, taking her into his arms as he went. “I have you now. You make me laugh. You make me come. You make me feel like the top of my head is going to blow off. I don’t need anyone else, ever again.”

  That sounded good to her. It sounded perfect.

  “Hey. Where are we going?”

  Drew gave her a quick kiss.

  “I want to show you my new pool.”

  Tyler wrapped her arms around his neck. She really liked being carried. Especially when they were both naked.

  “You want to take a swim
?”

  “Eventually.”

  SEX IN THE water was not as easy as the books and the movies would have you think.

  If you didn’t know what you were doing, it could be awkward at best, dangerous at its worst.

  “We could use one of those nice lounge chairs. They look sturdy.”

  “Trust me.”

  “I do.”

  Tyler looked at the pool. She imagined it was an engineering masterpiece. Great for swimming winter, spring, summer or fall. She didn’t think sex in the deep end was a good idea.

  “I read about these people who hit their heads and drowned.”

  “They both hit their heads?”

  Drew put her down on a white wrought iron chair. Tyler wiggled a bit. The cushion was nice and thick. Good thing, because Drew took one off another chair and tossed it on the textured cement, saving wear and tear on his knees when he knelt in front of her.

  “No. He hit his head; she drowned trying to save him.”

  “Sounds like a pair of amateurs.”

  He gently spread her legs, putting one over each of his shoulders.

  “I’m an amateur.”

  Smiling, Drew moved closer. “That’s okay, Ty. I turned pro years ago.”

  The secret, it seemed, was to get slicked up before hitting the water. Claiming he was all out of the bottled variety, Drew went about making sure she had plenty of nature’s lube. Using his hands, his mouth, a little dirty talk. In no time, she was more than ready.

  “Shouldn’t I return the favor?

  “Honey, keep thinking like that and you’ll lose that amateur status in no time.”

  Tyler didn’t worry about where the condom had been hiding. She watched as Drew expertly rolled it on. She then used her mouth to make the latex nice and wet.

  “Thanks, Ty.”

  Drew kissed her, keeping contact while he sat.

  “Straddle me,” he whispered against her lips. “You know what to do.”

  “You do know the water is over there?” Tyler asked, eyes twinkling.

  The teasing light left her eyes, the color going from bright to hazy gray as she rested a knee on each side of him. Lifting slightly, Tyler began a slow decent, taking him into her a little at a time.

  Drew put his hands on her hips, not to rush, just to hold her steady. He let her set the pace though it killed him. He shifted slightly, a subtle hint to take him, all of him. Now.

  “Patience, fella. I’m riding you this time.”

  Taking one of his hands, she brought it to her breast. She didn’t have to tell him what to do. Her head fell back, her mouth slightly open as he gently squeezed her sensitive flesh. She finished, joining with him at the same moment he took her nipple into his mouth.

  “Yes, that’s right,” she moaned.

  “Don’t move.”

  “I have to.”

  Tyler tried to rise up only to be stopped by a combination of his hand on her hip and his teeth on her nipple. Drew scraped the distended bud, smiling as she cried out again, not in pain but pleasure. His tongue soothed before he reluctantly moved away.

  “Hold on, Ty.”

  Drew rose to his feet, his arms under Tyler’s butt making sure she didn’t slip away. In seconds, he lowered them both into the shallow end of the pool.

  “So you do know where the water is.”

  “Smartass.”

  To emphasize the remark, Drew gave her a slap, not too hard but enough to sting.

  “Hey,” Tyler exclaimed, more startled than hurt. It was awkward because of her position, but she managed to reach around and slap him, returning the favor.

  “There, how do you like it?”

  “Honestly? Not a fan.”

  “Me neither.”

  Drew kissed her, his mouth gentle.

  “No more of that, I promise.”

  The water was lovely, lapping around them like a warm caress. Drew turned, his knee going down on one of the steps. He settled Tyler, leaning her back, his hand cushioning her head against the rim of the pool. Their bodies were only half submerged, almost as if they were in the world’s biggest bathtub.

  “Ready?”

  Tyler answered by threading her hands through his hair, pulling him down for a deep, carnal kiss. Tongue against tongue, her sighs mingling with his. She lifted her hips, seeking movement from him. Drew happily complied.

  The water lent itself to slow and easy movements. It was hard to rush, which was fine with them both. The build took time, bonding them, moving them closer. Not to where they had been. There was no going back. They weren’t those young people anymore. This was different, richer. Hopefully, with time, stronger.

  Their eyes met as he gave one final thrust tumbling them over. They rode the wave high and long, coming down slowly. Breath ragged, Drew rested his forehead against Tyler’s. He didn’t have to look to know she was smiling. That little, contented curve to her lips that she got after he pleased her. He considered it his reward for a job well done.

  “I’m not going to ask how you got so good at pool sex.”

  “Probably wise decision.”

  “I thought maybe there was someone I should send a thank you note to.”

  Hiding his grin, Drew lifted her into his arms, leaving the pool.

  “No.”

  “No, I shouldn’t send a note? Or no, one note wouldn’t be enough.”

  “Just no.”

  Happy enough with his answer, Tyler let him dry her. Getting back into the elevator, she watched as the doors closed, shutting off her light mood. They couldn’t put it off any longer. Drew took her hand, linking their fingers. He was going to answer the question that plagued her these past ten years.

  Tyler sighed. She hoped it didn’t turn out to be a case of be careful what you ask for.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  TYLER WATCHED DREW turn off the bathroom light.

  After a quick shower, Tyler went through her nightly routine. Skin lotioned, teeth brushed, face cleansed. Her hair was dry and shiny. Drew had given her a Spokane Chiefs t-shirt to wear.

  “Comfortable?”

  “Yes. Great bed.”

  “Can I get you anything? Water? A shot of whiskey?”

  They were both nervous. It helped, being in this together.

  “Come to bed, Drew.”

  Nodding, he dropped the towel from around his waist and crawled in beside her.

  “Not a big jammie guy?”

  He settled in, drawing her close.

  “I dropped the jammies when I was twelve.”

  “You’ve been sleeping in the nude since you were twelve?”

  “It’s been a progression. T-shirt and underwear. Just the underwear.”

  Tyler snuggled into his side. She approved heartily. All this long, muscular male in nothing but his birthday suit. He smelled good too. Big and citrusy. Yum.

  “I wouldn’t object if you wanted to lose the shirt.”

  “Later,” Tyler said, kissing the side of his neck. “After.”

  “Right.”

  Drew took a deep breath. Tyler rubbed his arm. It was meant to comfort, to encourage. I’m here, she was saying. I’m not going anywhere. It was what he needed. The nerves dropped away, the butterflies calmed.

  “It was Monday morning. I had an extra spring in my step. One more month and I would be free. I could taste the end of high school. Harper Falls was practically a distant memory.

  “I was almost out the door when Regina called me into her office. I didn’t think anything of it. I assumed it would be her usual reminder of my duties as a Harper. In a way, I guess I was right.”

  TEN YEARS EARLIER

  “CLOSE THE DOOR, Andrew.”

  Drew refrained from correcting her. She was the only person who insisted on using his full name. She would simply tell him it was a mother’s prerogative. It was a ridiculous statement. Regina Harper was not a mother. Not by any definition Drew was familiar with.

  The fact that she threw the word around whene
ver it suited had long ago stopped pissing him off. He didn’t care because it didn’t matter. What hurt when he was eight, now was a minor annoyance. Regina didn’t understand that. She never would.

  “I don’t want to be late. Last week. I would hate to miss anything.” Another thing she never understood — sarcasm.

  “I know your schedule, Andrew. Your first class isn’t for another hour. Have a seat.”

  Of all the rooms in Harper House, Drew hated this one the most. The heavy smell of French perfume. The dark furniture. The dark carpet, the dark walls. No light, no air. Someday, when he was head of his own company, his office would be nothing but windows. No shadowy corners or walls of books that nobody was allowed to read.

  In his office, he would be able to breathe.

  “Stop fidgeting, Andrew. You are eighteen. Mature young men sit politely and pay attention.”

  “I guess I’m not that mature.”

  Oh, boy. He knew that look. The tightening around her mouth, the narrowing of her eyes.

  She was only a few years past forty. Attractive, trim. Regina Harper was as rigid with herself as she was with others. Regular exercise, sensible meals. She had the body of a woman half her age. It was her discontent with life that would be her downfall. Plastic surgery and chemicals could smooth the wrinkles; nothing could wipe the icy disdain permanently etched between her brows.

  Had she ever been happy, Drew wondered. Had there ever been a twinkle of joy in those dark brown eyes? He had inherited her eyes. The same color, same shape. That was where the similarities ended. Drew looked at the world with wonder. Saw the endless possibilities right there for the taking.

  Regina’s world was Harper Falls. She had power, influence. People looked to her to make decisions. She ruled. The rest of the world held no interest beyond the occasional shopping expedition to New York or Paris.

  That lack of curiosity for the outside world was not something Drew could understand. He would have been sympathetic if Regina showed any signs of being happy. In a world of her own making and not a content bone in her body. What a miserable way to live your life.

  “Who are you escorting to the Lilac Ball?”

  Regina’s annual charity function to raise money for the town’s hospital. Drew knew it was a worthy cause. No one was turned away who needed medical attention. Lack of insurance, no money. It didn’t matter. He was proud that his family founded and supported Harper Memorial.