by Abbi Glines
A low groan came from his chest, and I looked up at him to see his eyelids had lowered to that hooded expression I loved. Sliding my wet, soapy hands over him with long strokes, I watched as his jaw went lax, and he backed up and leaned against the wall. I moved a hand underneath to cup his tight sack and began soaping him there, too.
“Reese,” he moaned, reaching for my hand.
“Let me,” I begged, pressing my breasts against his chest.
“Ah . . . fuuuck.”
I kept my grip firm and slow as the tip of his penis grew red. Clear fluid began to leak out, and I became anxious to hear him come. I quickened my pace, and his breath hitched.
“I’m gonna . . . come. Shit, baby, I’m gonna come,” he said, and then a deep cry fell from his lips as his release shot out onto my stomach and over my hands.
“Don’t move.” He gasped, and I looked up to see his eyes zoom in on my stomach, covered in him. “Oh, goddamn . . . don’t move. Just let me look at you. Like that.”
Feeling brave, I ran my fingertip through the white stream of come that had landed on me. Then I lifted my gaze to look at him. His eyes had gone hot again. A possessive gleam shone in them.
“Rub it in,” he said in a hoarse whisper.
I did as he said. I used both hands and massaged it into my skin until it was gone.
He reached behind himself and took the bar of soap and began to soap his hands. Moving away from the wall, he closed the space between us until his hands covered my breasts. Then he began to wash me. Or them. Thoroughly. He pinched my nipples and squeezed them gently before moving down my stomach. When he got to where I’d rubbed his release into my skin, he washed it with a reverent touch that made the ache between my legs turn into a throb.
By the time he moved his hand between my legs, I had to put both my hands out to hold on to the wall on either side of me. My legs began to buckle, and Mase whispered in my ear that I was beautiful. That I was his. That he loved every part of me. That seeing his come on me made him crazy with need.
Holding on to his shoulders, I felt the buildup coming, and I knew I was about to be hit with an orgasm that would very likely send me to my knees.
Mase slipped an arm around my waist and held me as he pressed on my clit one more time. He held me while the pleasure crashed over me, and my knees finally gave in and buckled.
By the time I was coming back to earth, he had rinsed me and was carrying me out of the shower. He didn’t dry me until he set me on the end of his bed. When he had me dry, he did a quick once-over on himself, then moved me back on the bed.
His mouth covered mine as his hard, naked body brushed up against me. I arched my back, trying to feel more of him as he continued to hold himself up and over me. This would be another reason I was thankful for my long legs. I wrapped them around his waist and forced him down on me.
“Yes, oh, God, yes, that feels good,” I said against his mouth, as my breasts were finally smashed against his chest and my center was open to him while his thick erection rubbed against it.
Mase tore his mouth from mine and buried it in my neck. He was breathing hard. And I realized his hands were in tight fists by my head.
“Mase?” I asked, running my fingers down his back, enjoying the feel of the muscles flexed under my touch.
“I want . . . I can’t . . . God, baby,” he groaned, and his fists clenched as if he was fighting something hard.
I felt the swell of his erection jerk against me, and I knew then. He wanted inside me. I’d been so wrapped up in feeling him close that I hadn’t once gotten frightened.
The pain from my past. The pain that I once marked any contact with, sexual or otherwise, was no longer in my life. This man was my world. He loved me. He was gentle and careful with me. And I wanted to be as close to him as possible. I wanted to know what it was like to be one with him. This wasn’t dirty or wrong. This was beautiful and pure.
Lifting my hips, I moved my hand down and angled him until his tip was right there at my entrance. In one thrust, we would be joined. This was what sex was made for, a magical connection between two people who loved each other so much they became whole in body, if only for a moment. Just like the hearts they’d already joined together.
“Make love to me, Mase. Show me what love is like. Please.” I added the last word to remind him of all the times he’d asked me if he could touch me and ended it with “please.” I wanted this as much as he had wanted those things.
“You’re my life,” he whispered in my ear, as he sank inside of me, filling me up.
Tears filled my eyes, and I wrapped my arms around him and held him close. With a gentleness that I’d only known from him, he began to rock into me, while he kissed my face and neck and told me I was beautiful. That we were beautiful.
I had never known anything could feel this complete.
Sliding my legs up and down his back and his perfectly defined bottom, I sank into the luxury of being loved by Mase.
“I love you,” he panted in my ear.
“I love you, too,” I said on a small cry.
“I want to come inside you. But I won’t until you’re ready,” he said, as he kissed my neck.
I wanted him inside me. But I wasn’t on any birth control. I needed that. I had never had a need for it before.
“God, Reese, you’re so tight. I swear, I don’t want to ever pull out of you,” he said on a growl.
Lifting my legs up so his thrust went deeper, I felt him rub something inside me, and I instantly shot off into the brightest explosion I’d ever felt. His name tore from my lips, and I locked my legs around him and held on so I didn’t fall away.
His body shook as he shouted my name. As he jerked above me, I peeled open my eyes to see his eyes closed tightly and his head thrown back. Sweat had broken out on his forehead, and a small drop rolled down his face and landed on me.
When he finally opened his eyes, he looked directly at me. “I can’t apologize for that, because, God, Reese, I swear, angels just sang, and this house just rocked on its foundation.”
Smiling, I ran my hands through his damp hair and pulled his mouth down to mine. “What would you apologize for?” I asked against his lips.
“For coming inside you,” he said in a whisper.
He was still inside me. I’d been so lost in the aftermath of heaven that I hadn’t realized it.
“Oh,” I replied.
“When you locked your legs, I tried to hold off until you finished, but you’re so tight. And you’re so damn gorgeous when you get off. And you squeezed me like a glove, baby. I was coming before I realized it.”
I wasn’t ruining this moment because we’d forgotten ourselves. “Mase, that was . . . that was more . . . more than I ever imagined.”
He rolled over onto his back, still buried inside of me. I liked that he wasn’t in a hurry to leave me. I wanted him as close as possible. I was now on top of him. “I love you. You’re my world. But there are two things running a really close second,” he said in a serious tone. “Those long legs of yours and that tight little pussy are going to own me if you’re not careful,” he added with a teasing grin.
Laughing, I kissed him. Because he was mine.
Mase
I had written my address with a Sharpie on each box, now stacked by Reese’s front door. She was busy cleaning the now-empty fridge. Jimmy had just left after tearfully hugging her during their good-bye.
He’d done just as I asked. He’d been there for her. He had kept her safe. And I owed the man one. I wasn’t sure how I would repay him, but I would. Somehow.
Reese bent over, distracting me as her shorts rode up her legs and flashed my favorite freckle at me. “Freckle, baby. You want to finish that without my mouth on your ass, then don’t bend over,” I warned her, as I closed the door and stalked around the boxes toward her.
She stood up and swung around to grin at me. “Sorry. I had to clean the bottom of the fridge.”
“Don’t apolo
gize. I’ve decided I want to kiss that ass. Bend back over,” I said, with a wicked grin.
Reese backed up, putting her hands in front of her to stop me. “No. We will never get out of here if you don’t stop it. We’ve had sex on the sofa, in bed, over the bar, and on the dresser. And it’s only been like thirty-six hours since we got here. We will never finish.”
I grabbed her hands and tugged her to me, careful not to hurt her. “Baby, whose pussy is this?” I asked, sliding my hand down the front of her shorts.
“Yours,” she said on a sigh.
My possessive monster roared to life. “That’s right. And I want to play with my pussy. And hear my girl scream my name.”
Reese’s eyes glazed over, and her breathing hitched. I knew I had her. She was so easy to convince. The first few times, I had been careful and taken our time. Made sure she was with me and that she knew I worshipped her and would never hurt her.
She didn’t need that anymore. All I had to do was talk dirty, and she was melting up against me, ready for me to do whatever I wanted. Again, this woman made me feel like the king of the world.
A knock on the door stopped me from pulling her shirt up and sucking on her tits. I fought back, muttering a curse, because it was probably someone else come to tell her good-bye. Reese needed to know she would be missed. That more people here cared about her than just Jimmy. And for that reason alone, I kept from complaining.
“I’ll get it. Miss Popular has more guests,” I teased her.
Her musical laugh followed me.
I jerked open the door, expecting to see someone I knew, but instead, I was greeted by a tall, distinguished-looking man dressed in what I knew was an Armani custom suit because I had one for special events. His black hair and olive skin made me think he was Italian. There was something about the way his eyes were shaped. They were brown but familiar.
“Does a Reese Ellis reside here?” he asked, his accent not as thick as I was expecting. He kind of reminded me of the Hollywood version of a Mafia lord.
“She did,” I replied, not liking that this man knew Reese’s name and was looking for her.
“I’m Reese Ellis,” she said, coming up behind me.
Shit. I didn’t want her coming to the door. Something about this man concerned me.
“Can I help you?” she asked, studying the man curiously.
“Baby, I got this,” I whispered, moving her back behind me with one arm and making sure my body covered her.
The corner of the man’s mouth lifted as if he was amused. “I’m glad to see Reese has someone to protect her. However, I’ve waited twenty-three years to meet her.” He held out his hand to me. “I’m Benedetto DeCarlo, Reese’s father.”
Acknowledgments
First of all, I want to thank the Atria team. The brilliant Jhanteigh Kupihea. I couldn’t ask for a better editor. She is always positive and working to make my books the best they can be. Thank you, Jhanteigh, for being awesome. Ariele Fredman for being not only brilliant with your ideas but listening to mine. Judith Curr for giving me and my books a chance. And everyone else at Atria who had a hand in getting this book to production. I love you all.
My agent, Jane Dystel. She is always there to help in any situation. I’m thankful that I have her on my side in this new and ever-changing world of publishing. Lauren Abramo, who handles my foreign rights. I couldn’t begin to think of conquering that world without her.
The friends who listen to me and understand me the way no one else in my life can: Colleen Hoover and Jamie McGuire. You two have been with me from the beginning. Knowing I can call you both at any time when I need advice or just an ear is priceless.
My beta readers, Natasha Tomic and Autumn Hull. You both are brilliant and know exactly where to point out what is missing. Thank you so much for keeping up with my hectic schedule. Beta reading for someone who is always writing a book isn’t an easy job.
Abbi’s Army, which is led by Danielle Lagasse and Natasha Tomic. These two ladies lead a group of readers who support everything I do. They make each release day a success, and when I need a pick-me-up, I can always go to their group and find reasons to smile. They remind me daily why I write books. I love all their faces.
Last but certainly not least:
My family. Without their support I wouldn’t be here. My husband, Keith, makes sure I have my coffee and that the kids are all taken care of when I need to lock myself away and meet a deadline. My three kids are so understanding, although once I walk out of that writing cave they expect my full attention, and they get it. My parents, who have supported me all along. Even when I decided to write steamier stuff. My friends, who don’t hate me because I can’t spend time with them for weeks at a time because my writing is taking over. They are my ultimate support group, and I love them dearly.
My readers. I never expected to have so many of you. Thank you for reading my books. For loving them and telling others about them. Without you I wouldn’t be here. It’s that simple.