by Anthology
“Confused and horny?”
He laughed and she turned her head slightly so that her cheek was pressed to his. She soaked up the smell of him—soap and coffee. He’d showered before coming here.
“Dinner sounds good. My place?” Sydney wanted—needed—to spend some time alone with Chas. They’d only managed to have one very brief, very serious conversation out of earshot of others since his return. Even now, she could feel Jeannette and Macie hanging on their every word, though they were both pretending to be busy.
“Yeah. But you’ve been cooking all day. What do you say we pick up a pizza and a six-pack on our way there?”
She nodded. “Sounds perfect.”
“We can take my truck and I’ll bring you back here tomorrow for work.”
She crossed her arms. “Tomorrow?”
He gave her a wicked grin. “I’m not settling for just the dinner part of your invitation. I also heard something about fucking like rabbits.”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you?”
Chas chuckled. “I like to consider myself an optimist.” He glanced around at Macie and Jeannette. Sydney knew he wanted to say more, but wouldn’t in front of her cousins.
“Shouldn’t you be manning the bar, Macie?” Sydney asked.
Macie nodded. “Of course, I should, but it’s way more interesting back here.”
Sydney pointed to the doorway. “Go away.”
Macie laughed as she left. Jeannette turned to look at them, then sighed. “I need to grab some stuff from the storage closet. But you two are going to have to wrap up this mating dance pretty quickly. I have four orders to fill.”
Jeannette stepped out of the kitchen as well.
“Chas. I’m not sure where this is going, but I think we should take it slowly.”
He shook his head. “Twelve years is about as slow as two people can go. If I’ve learned anything since I’ve been away, it’s that life goes by too fast. Maybe you weren’t waiting for me, Syd, but you’re here now and I’m not going to let this opportunity slip away again.”
“I’m not the same woman I was. God, I wasn’t even a woman when we were together last time. I was a girl.”
“And I was boy. I’m different too. But we’re ahead of the dating curve. Maybe we haven’t seen a lot of each other these past few years—”
“Twelve years,” she interjected.
Chas ignored her interruption. “But the friendship never wavered, never died.”
She wanted to debate that, but she held her tongue.
Chas grasped her waist and pulled her lower body to his. There was no denying the desire was still there. She could feel his erection beneath his jeans. “I want you, Syd. I want you so bad, it hurts.”
His admission pierced her heart, touched a part of her she thought she had lost forever. She had told everyone that same lie, even herself. The truth was, she had waited for him. And now that he was here, she’d fight the devil himself to keep him.
Sydney ran her hand over his cock, squeezing slightly. “The feeling is mutual.”
He gripped her wrist, tugging her hand away. “We better get out of here now or no one in this restaurant is getting fed tonight.”
She started to laugh, but something feral, unleashed in his gaze, sent flashes of electricity through her. She thought she understood some of that painful desire he’d mentioned, but last night’s lukewarm horniness was nothing compared to this scorching hunger.
Chas held firmly to her hand. “What do you need to grab before we go?”
She pointed to a cabinet in the corner. “My purse. My keys.”
He led her to the cabinet, opened the door and picked up her bag. “Yours?”
She nodded.
“You good?”
She nodded again.
“Then let’s do this.”
Sydney didn’t have a chance to say goodbye to anyone. Instead, she followed in Chas’ wake, sharing the same sense of urgency he seemed to feel. He opened the door to his pickup truck, helping her inside, then buckling her seat belt. She started to tell him she was perfectly capable of doing that herself, but something in his expression stopped her.
He’d warned her that he wasn’t the same. She was only beginning to understand exactly what that meant. Chas climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine.
They drove to her house in silence, but that quiet didn’t mean they weren’t communicating. Chas’ large hand rested on her knee as they traveled through town, distracting her so much she didn’t realize he’d bypassed the pizza place. Once they hit the divided highway that led to the little cabin she lived in near the lake, his fingers began to inch along her thigh.
She opened her legs slightly as he reached higher, silently asking for a more compelling touch. She cursed her jeans, wishing she’d worn something with easier access.
As if reading her mind, Chas ran his finger along the seam at her pussy. “I liked yesterday’s sundress. You have more?”
She shook her head. “Just that one.”
“Do you own skirts?”
She nodded. “A couple.” She wasn’t exactly the queen of fashion or femininity. Give her a pair of loose jeans and a t-shirt and she was a happy camper.
“Would you start wearing them for me?”
She licked her lips. She’d walk around naked for him at this point. “Yes.”
He glanced at her. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known.”
She blushed, wanting to contradict him, call him out for something that couldn’t be true. She wanted to tell him she was nothing special. But she didn’t. Because she could see in his eyes, she was beautiful. That idea touched a place inside her that had been cold and dark for so damn long.
“Chas.”
His finger stroked along the vee between her thighs once again. “We’re almost to your place. You keep looking at me like that and I’ll say to hell with it, pull over here and fuck you where you sit. If we do that, Evan is sure to catch us.”
Her cousin, Evan, was part of the Maris police force and he patrolled this highway quite a bit.
Despite his warning, Chas stroked again, pressing harder.
She opened her mouth to tell him doing it on the side of the road was fine with her, that she didn’t give a shit about Evan, but he shushed her, then lifted her shirt slightly, his fingers dipping beneath the waistband of her jeans.
His touch tickled against her stomach. She tried to suck it in to allow him better access. Then, with his thumb and forefinger, he slipped the button free and drew the zipper down.
Sydney was impressed with his skills. Even with one hand and his eyes on the road, he was doing a better job at getting her out of her pants than most of the yahoos she’d dated in recent years.
Once the denim was parted, Chas lost no time burrowing his fingers deeper, diving under her lace panties until he struck pay dirt.
She gasped when he found her clit on the first pass. He hadn’t lied. This older, more mature Chas sure as shit knew his way around a woman’s body. While their first time had been magical, romantic and sweet, they’d both been too innocent, their touches exploration rather than experience.
She much preferred the latter. Sydney’s head flew back against the headrest when he pressed her clit more firmly. She’d been a woman on the edge since last night and though the vibrator had relieved some of the pressure building between her legs, it hadn’t fired her up as much as Chas’ single finger on her clit.
Her eyes drifted closed as Chas made the turn onto the road that would lead to her cabin. They were so close, yet it felt as if they’d never reach it. Her body was feverish and her head fuzzy. Chas pushed his finger lower until just the tip breached her opening.
She shifted on the seat, spreading her legs more as she tilted her hips. She was coming at him like a cat in heat, but no force of nature could stop her from responding.
She was surprised when the car stopped. Opening her eyes, she discovered
they were at her cabin. Thank God.
She’d expected Chas to take his hand out of her pants and drag her inside. Instead, he pushed his finger a bit farther, not stopping until he was two knuckles deep in her pussy.
Sydney moaned. “That feels so good.”
Chas unfastened his seat belt and hers, then he tugged her closer, turning her to face him. He twisted his hand around and pressed his finger into the hilt as he leaned closer, his lips against her ear. “I want to hear you scream before tonight is over.”
Her lips lifted in a grin that died when she realized he was serious. “I’ve never screamed in bed, Chas.”
He didn’t seem concerned by that admission. If anything he looked even more determined. “That’s a shame, Syd. A woman like you should be screaming in bed every night. Guess I’m going to have to make up for some lost time.”
Chas pulled his finger out slowly and—again—she thought they were going to go inside. But he surprised her when he pushed it back in faster. He added another finger to the first, fucking her with a strength and speed that would have been frightening if it hadn’t felt so freaking good.
“Pull your pants down,” Chas demanded as his fingers continued to stroke her pussy.
She lifted her hips, gasping as the movement allowed him to dive even deeper. She shoved her jeans and panties to her knees as Chas continued to fuck her with his fingers.
“You’re not getting out of this truck until you come twice.”
She didn’t think that was going to be a problem. She was damn close already. Chas added another finger to the dance as he pinched her clit with his other hand.
Sydney jerked. “Oh! Oh my God!” She’d never been taken so roughly, and she liked it. She really liked it.
Chas didn’t relent or give up his pounding pace. Instead, he continued to pump his fingers inside her as her inner muscles clenched and her body trembled.
She reached for his shoulders, digging her fingers into his shirt. She needed something to hold on to. He was fucking her into oblivion with just his hand.
“God. Please.” She had no idea what she was asking for, but Chas seemed to understand.
“That’s right, Syd. Beg me. Beg me to fuck you harder.”
“Harder.” The word came out on a gasp and Chas responded. He gripped her hips and pulled them closer to him until she was sprawled out on her back on the seat. His fingers returned, moving faster, deeper. She lifted her hips toward him on each inward thrust.
He used his free hand to stroke her clit, alternating between firm caresses and pinches.
Sydney gave up all hope of holding on to her sanity. Chas played with her body, twisting and moving her in different positions—each one pushing her closer to a place she’d never been before. She felt like she was on fire one moment, the next she was floating, whirling, spinning. She writhed and cried out. She scratched Chas’ upper arms, pinched, even punched when the pressure built too much.
Chas took it all, then he gave her even more. When he bent his head and took her clit into his mouth, she was a goner. He sucked roughly on the sensitive flesh, then bit her.
She screamed as her body flew apart.
She’d heard people talk about out-of-body experiences—usually in relation to terrifying, life-threatening situations—and Sydney suddenly understood the concept. However, rather than terror, she felt nothing but bone-shattering bliss.
As her strength slowly returned, she opened her eyes, her gaze meeting Chas’. He was back behind the driver’s seat, fully dressed and looking completely normal. On the flipside, she was sprawled on the seat, her clothing in disarray and feeling like she’d just spent eight seconds on the meanest bull in the rodeo.
Part of her expected him to give her a cocky grin. After all, he’d earned the right. He’d promised to make her scream before the night was out. It had taken him less than ten minutes to achieve that goal.
However, his expression was more pensive than arrogant, more concerned than pleased.
She slowly tried to push herself up. Chas gripped her upper arms and helped her.
“You okay?” he asked.
She nodded. “Jesus. Yeah. Way okay.”
Her response prompted a small smile. “Good.”
“Where the hell did you learn to do all of that?”
He ran his fingers through her hair in what she assumed was a way to push it out of her eyes and fix it. No doubt she looked a mess.
“The past doesn’t matter anymore, Syd. All I want from now on is a present. A future.”
His words fired off her curiosity about his time in the Middle East. She could only imagine the horrors he’d witnessed that he longed to forget. Sydney had brought up the subject a few times when he’d been home for visits, but he’d always brushed off her questions, told her he was home to forget, not to rehash.
Only once, this past Christmas, had he offered her a crumb, shared a bit about the night his two friends had died. And she knew he’d only done that because he’d consumed too much eggnog.
His silence had hurt her feelings the first few times he’d come home for visits because they’d been each other’s confidantes in school, sharing every secret.
Then she’d accepted and respected his need for privacy. The secrets of teenagers could hardly compare to the hardships Chas had seen while away.
She leaned close to him, offering a kiss. It was the first one she’d initiated, that fact lost on neither of them. This time, Chas did give her a cocky smile.
When they pulled apart, she glanced over her shoulder at her beloved little cabin. She’d moved in several years earlier after scrimping and saving for the down payment. Chas had only been there a few times, usually over the holidays when he was home on leave.
“You want to come inside?”
“I promised you two orgasms in the truck.”
She shivered in response, her body still weak, exhausted from the first. “Can I get a rain check on the second? I’m still trying to recover.”
He grinned. “I like the idea of a rain check. Means you owe me one. Just so you know, I will collect on that.” He opened his door. She was just climbing out of the truck when he reached her. He helped her down, but this time she didn’t hold her tongue.
“I can get in and out of your truck on my own. It’s not that high off the ground.”
He shrugged, unrepentant. “I’m going to take every opportunity I have to touch you. You might want to get used to that.”
She graced him with a sassy smile. “That won’t be a hardship.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist as they walked toward the front porch. She was glad for his support as her legs felt a wee bit wobbly after her orgasm. Her pussy still tingled and she felt the slightest twinges from unused muscles that had gotten one hell of a workout.
They hadn’t even gotten undressed or in bed and she was already feeling well used. Once she unlocked her door, Chas led them inside. He didn’t bother to look around. Instead, he kept a firm hold on her hand as he directed her straight to her bedroom. She wished she’d taken a few minutes to tidy up this morning. Instead, she’d been so distracted with thoughts of him she hadn’t even bothered to make her bed.
Then she realized her vibrator was lying on the nightstand.
She crossed the room quickly, hoping she could block his view. Unfortunately, Chas was too observant, his all-seeing eyes noticing it immediately.
“Rough night?” he teased.
“Screw you.” Her tone held more bravado than she felt as she reached for the sex toy, planning to stuff it in a drawer.
She was startled when Chas came up behind her and grasped her wrist. “Give it to me.”
Sydney turned to face him, intent on arguing, but her words died when she caught sight of his dark, demanding expression. Something about this new Chas sent tremors of excitement through her. She was finding it impossible to resist. She relinquished the vibrator to him.
“Take off your clothes, Syd.”
Chapter Four
Sydney hesitated for only a moment. Chas narrowed his eyes, which prompted her to respond. She tugged her t-shirt over her head. Chas had seen her naked before, too many years and more than a few pounds earlier. Time had changed her looks. She started to lift her shirt to cover her breasts, but he was waiting for her, his hand stripping the cotton away from her grasp.
“Keep going.”
She reached behind her back, unfastening her bra. Again, she felt a strong urge to resist, to hide behind the clothing. Chas’ gaze was relentless, all his focus on her body. Taking a deep breath, she dragged the bra away, dropping it to the floor.
Her nipples budded in the cooler air. Or maybe it was Chas’ hungry look that fueled the reaction. She’d just come, but her body acted like she hadn’t had sex in years. It was revved up, ready for more. And something told her Chas had plenty more to give. He was exposing her to a sexual being she didn’t realize lurked beneath her skin.
There was something about his dominant stance, his commanding tone, and his intense focus that left her off-balance in a very good way. Sex had never felt this exciting, this dangerous.
Chas captured her attention as he crossed his arms, his face darker. “I’m not going to keep prodding you, Syd. Take off everything. Now.”
While he didn’t add “or else,” it definitely felt implied. She wondered what he’d do if she continued to stall. He took one step toward her and she sprang into action, not sure she wanted to know.
She tackled the button and zipper on the jeans she’d only just done up in the truck. Then she tugged down her pants and panties, kicking off her sandals as well. Within seconds, she stood before him completely naked.
And he was fully dressed.
There was something very arousing about standing in front of him like this. The way his gaze traveled along her body made her feel as if she were on display. Most shocking of all was the realization that she didn’t want to shield herself from him. Her modesty in the face of his genuine admiration had faded. Once again, he made her feel like the most beautiful woman alive simply with a look. She could get used to this.