by RC Boldt
“So, um, I just wanted to give you this and to say that if this whole thing,” she gestured between them with her hand, “was a random occurrence, I totally understand and we can just forg-”
Her words were cut off by his lips slamming down on hers. He walked her back against the deck railing, tossing the ice pack aside, and pressed his body into hers.
His hands slid to cup her face and he tilted her head to the side so that he could press deeper, taste her more fully. He moaned as she returned the kiss with fervor, her arms wrapping around him, pulling him closer. Mac’s lips broke away from hers, slightly brushing against them as he spoke.
“Raine?”
She looked up at him, hunger blatant in her eyes. Her tongue darted out to wet her lower lip. “Yes.”
Mac let out a heavy sigh. “Can we do this? I mean, without it messing things up?”
He ran a hand over the back of his neck. “As much as I want you . . . and, believe me, Raine, I want you . . . I don’t want to screw up our friendship.” He studied her face. “I can’t lose you, Raine,” he said with a soft fierceness.
Mac knew they were treading muddy waters and actually felt almost, well . . . torn. His friendship with Raine was special. They just clicked. She was like his right hand, his best friend, confidant.
But the chemistry had always been lingering in the background, almost as if it were biding its time to strike. Could he take a chance and experience a connection like he’d never had before?
FURROWING HER BROW in thought, Raine looked at Mac. “I think we need to be respectful and smart about this,” her words drawn out slowly.
A look passed over Mac’s face but it was gone before she could begin to decipher it. “Raine, you know I don’t-”
“I know,” she quietly interrupted. “No relationships. Nothing past tonight.”
“Nothing past today,” he reminded her as they were already into the next day.
Stepping closer to her, reaching out to play with the ends of her hair, he said, “We have until midnight tonight.” That dimple peeked out at her with his sweet smile and she felt herself sigh inwardly.
“We can get it out of our systems and go back to normal?” she asked him, hesitantly. Mac nodded.
“Well. All I have to say is,” she slid her hands up his chest, “Happy,” she kissed his jaw. “New,” she trailed a kiss lower onto his neck. “Year,” she kissed further down to his collarbone, touching the tip of her tongue to his skin, nearly smiling when she heard him let out a sharp hiss.
“Wait.” He pulled back from her. Just as she was about to protest, Mac grabbed her hand and pulled her in the direction of the house, up the stairs quickly.
Raine laughed. “Mac, slow down,” she called out to him. “I’m going to end up face planting in my heels if you keep-”
Mac suddenly stopped at the top of the stairs and dropped to his knees. Raine looked down curiously, watching him as he slipped her wedge heels off her feet, caressing her calves as he did so.
As soon as her heels were off, he opened the sliding glass door and kicked off his flip flops. He turned back to her and scooped her up in his arms, walking them inside the house after closing the door behind him. That was when Raine felt herself, quite literally, melt. Had she ever been carried by a man before?
He set her on her feet at the foot of his bed. Man, it was a huge king size bed. Suddenly, she realized that she was going to be just another in the long line of countless women who would have been in this bed with Mac.
“Raine,” he growled, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Meeting his blue eyes, she saw unexpected tenderness there. “You’re the only one who’s been in here.”
She blinked in surprise. “But . . .”
“I don’t bring anyone back here, Raine.” His words were soft, his gaze on hers, as if carefully watching for her reaction.
Oh. So he went back to their place. Raine wasn’t sure if that really made her feel any better.
But, still. She glanced over at the bed, again. The fact that none of his “ladies”—and she used that word very loosely—had ever stepped foot or brought their questionable parts in here was a definite plus.
“Hey,” came Mac’s soft voice, drawing her back. “If you’re having second th-”
Raine raised to her toes, pressing her lips to his in a tender kiss. She pressed kisses to the corners of his mouth and Mac seemed content to let her lead the kiss. But when she reached her hands up to cradle his face, he seemed to snap.
He wrapped one strong arm around her, dragging her up closer to him, while the other hand delved into her hair. Mac fisted his fingers into her hair, not enough to cause pain, but merely securing her to him even more. As if he were afraid she would move away.
He drew her bottom lip gently between his teeth and instantly soothed the spot with his tongue and lips. His lips moved across her jaw to her earlobe which he ran his teeth over before sucking it into his mouth.
Raine couldn’t hold back her moan as her senses were on overload. Being held in Mac’s solid embrace and being thoroughly kissed, his mouth was wreaking havoc on her.
She ran her hands down his back, feeling the firmness of his fit body, and let them trail down over his hard ass to grip it and pull him more firmly into her. She felt the evidence of his arousal, nearly moaning again at the feel of his hardness against her.
“Mac,” she said breathlessly.
He pulled away slightly from her.
MAC STARED DOWN at Raine, still in his arms, looking up at him and probably wondering why the hell he had stopped. Hell, he was wondering the same thing right now as he stared down at her lips, wet and glossy from their kisses, eyes still a bit dazed.
“Mac?” she asked, her tone cautious.
That. That was what had made him stop. Suddenly, he felt like he was a scrawny fifteen year old boy asking a girl on a date.
“Callum,” he said finally.
Raine’s head tilted to the side in question. “I’m sorry?”
He grimaced but forced himself to continue. “Callum . . . my first name.” He paused. “Can you please . . . use that name tonight?” Jesus, he sounded like a fucking wuss right now.
Raine studied him for a moment, eyes searching his face for, what exactly, he didn’t know. Finally, she leaned in to press a kiss to his lips. But just before their lips met, her eyes locked onto his, she breathed out, “Callum.”
Her husky voice saying his name -his real name- pushed him over the edge. He kissed her like his life depended on it, nearly devouring her. His normal finesse was long gone. Mac just felt like he had to have Raine right this minute. His fingers began searching for whatever it was that secured her dress. He was getting impatient and felt the desire to rip it off.
“Don’t you dare,” Raine’s voice warned him, huskily, as if she knew his thoughts. Which, she probably did. That was the advantage -or detriment- of being best friends. She reached her hands to the side to release the zipper and slowly slip the straps down over her shoulders, pushing the dress down over her hips. As she let it drop to the floor, her arms moved to cover her breasts but he caught her wrists in his hands.
“No,” came his firm response. “Don’t hide from me, Raine.” He reached up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. The vulnerability in her eyes killed him.
RAINE FELT LIKE her heart was going to beat right out of her chest. This was it. This was the moment of truth, of sorts.
She didn’t think this through. How could she have forgotten that Mac had all of those other women, none of whom has anything less than D cup size breasts or larger? Her barely B cups, one of which she knew was slightly less . . . full than the others, couldn’t compare to any of that.
“Stop.” His voice was a little gruff.
He reached a hand out to cup her jaw and make her meet his gaze, looking deeply into her eyes. “Let me see you, Raine. Let me see all of you.” His thumb brushed against her cheek in a caress. “I already adore ever
y other part of you.” His eyes conveyed his sincerity.
Breathing out a long sigh, she brought her shoulders back, arms at her sides, forcing her eyes to meet his, trying to muster up some confidence. Mac took a step back and let his gaze run over her from top to bottom before he stepped closer and reached out a hand.
He let his fingers trail through her hair before they stroked from her temples down to her jawline. Her eyes fell closed at his gentle touch, nearly making her breathless. He continued trailing his fingers down to the slope of her shoulders and then sweeping back over her collarbone before starting their descent. Raine felt herself stiffen and knew the instant Mac noticed it because his fingers stopped their movement.
“Raine.” She couldn’t bring herself to open her eyes. “Yes, Mac?” she asked hesitantly.
Silence.
She opened her eyes, her green gaze meeting his dark blue one. “Callum,” he reminded her.
“Callum,” she repeated.
Hearing her say his first name, she watched as an indescribable look came over his face. He watched his own fingers as they began to slide over her breasts, delicately gliding over her nipples, bringing forth a quiet gasp.
His eyes moved to hers at the sound. “You like that?” He brushed his thumbs lightly over her now puckered nipples.
“Yes,” she breathed out, closing her eyes and arching into his touch.
“You’re so beautiful, Raine,” his voice sounding almost reverent, causing her to open her eyes. His were still watching his own hands and fingers as they stroked her breasts and nipples. The way he was looking at her, like this, made her almost feel . . . beautiful.
Mac’s eyes came up to meet hers. “You are beautiful, Raine,” he told her decisively, as if he could read her mind.
And in that moment, even with her imperfections from the surgery, she actually believed it.
MAC HAD TO force himself to breath. Good God, she was breathtaking. Her body was fit from running but still curvy in all the right places. That tiny scrap of black, lacy underwear was making it hard for him to maintain control and not toss her to the bed like a caveman. Those breasts of hers -he didn’t understand how she could think they were anything less than perfect-and those sensitive nipples? Unbelievably hot.
He bent to take a nipple in his mouth, suckling it gently before flicking the tip of it with his tongue. Raine arched into him as if she couldn’t get enough. He switched over to the other breast and glided a hand down the smooth skin of her side to slide around to her ass. Feeling no fabric, just the softest, silkiest skin, he groaned as he gripped her ass in his hand. Sweet Jesus, this woman was wearing a thong.
“Raine?” he growled.
“Yes?”
“How attached are you to this underwear? Because I’m seconds away from tearing it off of you.”
She looked at him, lust darkening her gaze. “Do it . . . Callum.”
Christ, he didn’t think he’d ever grow tired of the way his name rolled off her tongue. He didn’t want to acknowledge why it meant so much for her to say it. But it did.
His eyes closed briefly before opening, hunger flashing in them. He tugged on her panties and they snapped in his hands, baring her to him. As soon as he saw she was all shaven and smooth, he pushed her onto the bed abruptly, all thoughts of finesse gone.
He heard her give a little laugh. “In a hurry?”
“Yes,” his voice rumbled. His hands slid up from her calves to her thighs, spreading her legs. His thumbs lightly caressed over her there as they teased and stroked her, touching her so close to where she needed his touch.
“Callum . . .”
Suddenly, Mac slid a finger deep inside her, sliding it in and out in sure strokes before adding another. “You’re so wet,” he mumbled before bending his head, lips latching onto her clit.
Raine’s responsiveness, the arch of her back, her hips lifting instinctively to get closer to his touch, to his mouth was like adding fuel to the fire inside him.
“Callum,” she called out and the sound of her saying his name pushed him further over the edge. His thrusting fingers kept an unrelenting pace along with his tongue lapping at her clit, then his soft lips sucking ever so gently at it. He felt her tighten around his fingers, knew that her orgasm was near.
Mac raised his head briefly to meet her eyes, fingers still moving inside her. “Let me taste you when you come, Raine.”
And with that, he placed his lips back around her clit, sucking harder while using his tongue, driving her over the edge.
RAINE DIDN’T KNOW if it was the way he watched her, his eyes burning with intensity or watching the way his muscles were working in his shoulders as he caressed her, but she just couldn’t look away.
Not when she felt her orgasm wash over her, arching into his wet mouth, calling out his name. Not now, as his tongue soothed her, lapping at her gently, carefully.
Throwing an arm over her eyes, she exhaled loudly. “Sweet mother of God. Your tongue needs a shrine.”
She heard him give a low laugh, as if surprised by her words. “A shrine, huh?” She could hear the smile in his voice. “I like the sound of that.”
Still lying with her eyes covered, she continued. “I’m frankly surprised there isn’t one already.” She removed her arm and leaned up slightly on her elbows to look at him sharply.
“Unless you’ve been holding out on those poor girls.” She gave him a look. “Which would be just cruel.” Raine collapsed back on the bed, closing her eyes with a sigh. “Just cruel,” she murmured.
“Are you done mumbling?” he asked her, a teasing tone in his voice.
She sat up quickly and looked at him expectantly. “Round one point five?
He huffed. “More like Round One, period. That, right there?” He gestured to where her legs were still spread. “That was just an appetizer.”
Raine looked at him, her eyes sparkling with humor. “Interesting reference.” She grabbed the waistband of his pants and began to untuck his shirt. “If we’re starting Round One officially, you’re going to need to be on an even playing field with me, buddy,” she gave him a slow smile as she unbuttoned his pants and worked the zipper down.
Pushing his pants and black boxers down all at once, she stared for a moment at his cock, so hard, thick and firm. She wrapped her hand around it, reveling in the softness of the skin and stroked him once before leaning down to swipe her tongue along the tip.
Mac gasped. “That’s enough,” his voice was dangerously low. Pulling back, he shucked his clothes faster than anyone she’d ever seen. He slid his body over top of hers, his arms braced on each side of her head and propped himself up.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he told her, tenderly, his eyes serious as he looked down at her.
Raine reached her hands up, fingers gripping the back of his head, feeling the softness of his short hair.
“Kiss me, Callum,” she said before pulling him down to meet her lips.
THIS WOMAN WAS going to be the death of him.
Mac reached for the bedside drawer to get a condom, trying to tear the damn thing open when he realized his hands were shaking.
It’s because this matters to you, a thought rang out in his mind. She matters.
Shoving those thoughts aside, he was about to make another attempt at opening it when soft fingers wrapped around his wrist, making him pause. He drew his gaze up, meeting hers tentatively but all he found was the gentleness always present there.
Raine gave him a small, sweet smile. “Let me help.”
She ripped it open and handed it back to him. He slid on the condom and looked deeply into her eyes; eyes that radiated a gentle affection and . . . something else he couldn’t decipher. He pressed the tip of his cock against her opening, brushing it lightly as if teasing her, before slowly pressing in further.
Jesus, she was tight. He slid deeper inside of her, her gasp accompanying his at the feel of the way their bodies fit together. When she wrapped her legs around his
waist, he felt himself slide all the way inside.
Gripping her hips tightly, he began to move, his pace fast and steady. He had a feeling this was going to be embarrassingly quick but he couldn’t stop himself. The way she felt was beyond words, her snug, wet heat surrounding him.
Perfection. As if she were made for him.
Before he could panic at the turn of his thoughts, he watched her hand begin to graze a trail starting from the base of her throat, brushing over her nipples causing them to harden even more, before moving slowly down past her stomach to touch herself.
Mac watched as if in a trance as Raine moved her hand in rhythm with his thrusts. He felt her get impossibly tight, knowing she was close, and caught her hand just as she was about to pull away.
“Don’t stop,” his voice guttural.
He gripped her hips even tighter, thrusting deeper and harder, his body soon arching as he found his release with hers following. He felt her inner muscles clench around him, causing his orgasm to continue longer than ever before.
As he nearly collapsed onto her, his arms shaking, he brushed his lips over hers before rolling off to lie beside her on the bed, disposing of the condom in the trash bin beside it.
He lied there for a moment, listening as their heavy breathing was the only sound in the air. She was unusually quiet, so much that he wondered if she were having second thoughts.
He turned his head to see her in profile as she was lying there, staring up at the slivers of moonlight and shadows on the ceiling. Mac wasn’t sure what made him do it but he slid his hand over almost hesitantly, his fingers linking with hers. He watched as she turned her head to look at him, an easy smile coming over her face.
“So.”
“So,” he echoed, returning her smile. Lying there with her, her hand in his, with that trademark smile on him, he felt like his heart staggered a bit in that moment.
Mentally shrugging it off, he spoke. “That was . . .” he trailed off, trying to find the right words.