by Bloom, Nikki
7
Crystal
The silence dragged on as I continued to stare at Erik, dumbstruck. I should have said something before the silence dragged on into awkwardness, but I couldn’t find a thing to say.
“Sorry you asked?” he drawled, with a sinful glint in his eyes.
“Like I said, incorrigible.” My words came out a bit too breathy because I was stuck on the part where he said he wanted a taste of me. How much of a taste, I wondered? A kiss? More than that? Catching up on myself, I couldn’t believe I was entertaining the idea.
But why wouldn’t I? For too long, I had been alone without any meaningful human connection. With Erik’s charm, his apparent interest in me, and the setting we found ourselves in, I was bound to entertain the idea of sex with him.
“Why are you so interested? I don’t know much about you, but I can tell I’m not your type.” In my mind, I saw him with models or women who looked like models.
He blinked, his brows dipping. “You’re right; you’re not my type.”
Ouch. His bluntness struck a nerve and I shifted uncomfortably, but then he said,
“That’s the appeal. I’ve never met a woman like you. You keep me on my toes.”
“So what, you’re entertained by a good chase?”
“No. I’ve never been interested in chasing anyone…” He turned to hit me with the full brunt of his gorgeous, intense eyes, and I felt like I was drowning in them. “Until now. I’m no longer hung up on what my usual type is. I met you and the idea of my type narrowed down to one frustrating woman.”
Whether Erik was saying those things to get what he wanted or he meant them― it was hard for a girl not to feel flattered. My heart galloped so fast, I was surprised it didn’t jump right out of my chest. At that moment, I wanted nothing more than to give in to his advances, but there was the matter of my very complicated life. “Erik, I... it wouldn’t be a good idea…” I had no idea how to put my thoughts into words without raising suspicion. I did know that I wanted him, though, when I shouldn’t.
He smiled slightly, his eyes flickering with regret before he said the words. “No pressure. You’re free to walk away.”
“I honestly don’t want to.”
Erik’s wide gaze swung back to me. I was just as shocked as he was by the words that came out of my mouth. It was like I was off to one side, watching and hearing myself admit something I never thought I would.
He blinked, his eyes gleaming with uncertainty. It was the first time I’d seen Erik appear unsure about anything. “You should go back to bed. I don’t think you know what you’re saying-”
Closing the distance between us, I covered his mouth with mine. Sure, it was pure insanity on my part, but just for one night, I wanted to feel something other than despair, loneliness, or fear.
Immediately Erik latched on to my mouth with a guttural groan. It sounded almost as if he was in pain. “Don’t start something you can’t finish,” he growled against my mouth.
In response, I moved closer and deepened the kiss, but I wasn’t in control for much longer. In a swift motion, I was pulled closer to Erik and closer still until I straddled him. He tore his mouth away from mine to hold me captive with his eyes. Eyes that burned with such potent carnal intent it made me shiver with delight.
“Are you sure about this?”
I wasn’t really sure about anything other than the fact that my body was on fire for him. I’d never felt such a need for anyone in my entire life. Peering at Erik, I wondered what it was about him that ignited such a fire within me.
“I’ll worry about the consequences later.”
“You don’t sound sure,” he said with a frown.
“I’m sure that I want you right now.” I squirmed against him, and he hissed an expletive when I brushed against the hardening bulge at his crotch.
“Well, then, that’s good enough for me.”
Fingers laced in my hair, he pulled my head down to command my mouth. The kiss was so dominating and searing, I melted against him. He coaxed my lips apart to do a slow, sensual exploration of my mouth with his tongue. Just his kiss alone was enough to send me into a daze. I’d never been kissed before the way Erik was kissing me now. He was a master with his mouth, and I anticipated whatever else he’d do to me with it. The thought caused moisture to seep between my thighs and my pussy muscles to clench in anticipation. With a moan, I shuffled closer to feel his hardness pressed against my hot, aching center.
Erik hissed, “Keep that up and we won’t make it upstairs.”
“I don’t mind doing this here.”
His deep chuckle vibrated in his chest. “God forbid Mason happens to wake up and come out here. I’m already a bad enough influence.”
Mason! How could I forget that the little boy was only a few doors away? And I was supposed to be the paragon of responsibility. It both amazed and frightened me how Erik could make me lose my head. With a gasp, I attempted to pull away, but he held me to him.
“Don’t even think about it,” he hummed against my ear. “I’m taking you upstairs to finish this. I want you in my bed.”
There was a possessive note in his voice that for some reason sent my arousal into the stratosphere when it should have frightened me. He stood up with me still wound around him and took long strides to the staircase.
“Put me down. I can walk.” I was a mere five feet three inches, though I was on the curvier side, and I felt self-conscious about Erik carrying me, especially up a flight of stairs. He ignored my plea with a grin. When he reached the top of the stairs and didn’t appear winded in the least, I relaxed.
Shouldering his way into his bedroom, he flicked on the light. “I’ve fantasized about having you so many times the last two days. You have no idea what you do to me.”
Knowing that he’d been thinking about sex with me, fueled my confidence. Feeling wanton, I moved my hips against him again, nudging his erection. “I have a pretty good idea.”
He groaned. “I had no idea you were such a little vixen. Full of surprises as always.”
The second he laid me on his bed, he wasted no time. He grasped the bottom of my tank top and pulled it over my head. His nostrils flared at the sight of my bare breasts that I always thought were too big for my frame, but unmistakable male appreciation gleamed in Erik’s eyes. My shorts went next. He slowly slid the garment down my thighs, bending to slide them completely off with his gaze lingering hungrily on my mound. He made the simple act of taking off a pair of shorts so erotic it was ridiculous.
“No panties,” he noted with a satisfied smirk.
“I was going to bed,” I explained, hot-faced.
Smoldering eyes moved over my body, leaving trails of fire everywhere they touched. He declared, “I’m going to take my time tasting every inch of you.” The pure carnal intent I saw gleaming in his depth made my breath hitch. Every inch? My body shuddered with excitement and a sliver of nervousness. The impulse to cover myself from his intent scrutiny emerged the longer his eyes raked my body. He must have sensed my case of nerves because he said, “You’re even more beautiful than I imagined.”
Just like that my insecurities flew out his bedroom window. With a gulp, I whispered, “You’re overdressed.”
Erik’s lips curved upward. “You should do something about that.”
I rose to my knees and with shaky fingers, I lifted the hem of his shirt and he pulled it over his head. Reverently, I ran my palms over his hard chest and abdomen. I’d itched to do that since seeing him shirtless in the kitchen. He felt as good as he looked, his skin like warm velvet over steel beneath my fingertips. I traced the narrow trail of hair down his stomach with an index finger and stopped at the waist of his pants.
Erik sucked in a breath and his abdominal muscles bunched. I lifted my eyes to his. He didn’t move or speak, just watched me as if silently giving me permission to continue my exploration. And I did. I tugged at his pants and watched them drop. He wore no underwear either and his c
ock sprang free, the thick, long member jutting proudly.
My sharp intake of breath was audible in the quiet room. He was impressive. Of course he would be. I was starting to think Eric was created in a lab because who was that perfect? Though I’m pretty sure it was because I was so potently attracted to him that I found no flaw. Hesitantly, I lifted a hand to stroke him, reveling in the feeling of him filling my hand.
He inhaled, his nostrils flaring as he gazed down at me with blue eyes turned midnight by the swirl of desire in them. I was tempted to take him into my mouth to discover what he tasted like. It wasn’t something I’d ever done or thought I’d enjoy, but for some reason, I wanted to do it to Erik.
But, realizing my intent―probably because I was gazing at his cock so hungrily― he took my chin between his fingers. “I want to pleasure you. Are you a moaner or a screamer, Crystal?”
My lips parted and all I did was croak out an unintelligible sound. When it came to sex, I was so reserved, I was on my way to becoming a puritan. I’d never been pleasured to the point of screaming so I guess I was…a moaner? Erik was peering down at me with a teasing glint in his eyes and a smirk on his lips. I wanted to slap his smirk away for teasing me and then kiss him in apology. The devil.
“Not sure?” He grinned. “It’s okay, we’ll find out together.”
I let out a moan, thinking Erik was going to be too much for me to handle. I didn’t have time to dwell on the thought because he descended on me like a predator pouncing on prey. A very willing prey. He started with my mouth, kissing me slow and deep until I was breathless. Then he tore his mouth away from mine and moved lower, feathering kisses along the sensitive areas of my neck, making me moan.
He snagged my right earlobe between his teeth and growled teasingly, “Hmmm, a moaner so far. I wonder what I have to do to make you scream.”
That, of course, elicited another moan from me and he smiled. I learned something else about Erik. His teasing and wicked sense of humor continued in the bedroom. His hot mouth was on the move again, stopping at my chest. He gazed at my breasts hungrily before taking a nipple into his mouth. Taken by surprise and the jolt of pleasure that shot through me, I gasped and arched into him.
His tongue did a lazy swirl before he gave the beaded flesh a nip. It wasn’t painful, just hard enough to have me gasping, “Erik!”
With a chuckle, he soothed the skin with his tongue and move on to the other breast. By the time he moved lower, I was a panting, squirming mess, shamelessly begging. “Please, now. I can’t wait.”
“You have to. The foreplay isn’t over yet.”
There was more. If I received anymore, I’d probably go into cardiac arrest. Who knew my breasts were so sensitive? It was like every part of me was hypersensitive to his touch. “Oh, God,” I moaned when I felt his breath on my thighs. He kissed his way up the inside of one thigh and then turned on the other. By the time he finished teasing me, I was dying to have his mouth on my pussy and I wantonly lifted my hips to beg for it.
“Stop torturing me.”
“But you like it,” he said, sounding very sure.
Did I ever. “Yes.”
Finally, when his mouth found my moist aching flesh, I nearly hit the ceiling. He found my bundle of nerves and began to tease the bud. Before I knew it, I was shattering and screaming his name. Shuddering uncontrollably, I peered down at Erik who looked as shocked as I did. A few swipes of a skillful tongue and I went off like a rocket. Face hot and chest heaving I peered at Erik through my lashes.
His lips kicked up at the corners. “Incredibly responsive,” he mused. “You’re a screamer and a moaner.”
With a groan, I fell back and covered my face with both hands, making him laugh. He pried them away from my eyes and I stared into a sea of blue. “I could watch you come all night. You’re beautiful.”
I was at a loss for words as I gaped at him, still lax from my surprisingly quick orgasm. I wasn’t even fully recovered when Erik briefly disappeared from my line of vision and I heard something being torn. I glanced over at him to see him sheathing himself with a condom. I was ashamed to admit that I’d been so wrapped up in Erik that I hadn’t even thought about protection.
Back at my side, he swooped down to capture my mouth and my lips parted instantly. The kiss was hard and fast and over before I even caught a breath. Trailing a finger over my bottom lip, he purred, “I love kissing your lips. Both upper and lower. Both so delicious.”
Good lord. The things he said were almost orgasmic.
“Did you taste yourself on my mouth just now? So sweet.”
I gulped. The one time I had sex before Erik, there wasn’t nearly as much tactile and verbal teasing. Maybe that's why it had been so horrible.
Eyes holding me captive, He settled between my thighs and eased his way between my folds. He set a slow pace, fanning the flames inside of me, but holding back just enough to keep me from combusting too quickly like I had before.
“You feel so good,” he mused. “I knew you would.”
He felt good too. It was the most incredible sensation being possessed so fully by him. It felt right—us being connected so intimately. So right, I almost panicked. It was supposed to be good, but not so good that I’d miss him. This wouldn’t happen again— a thought that caused an ache in my chest.
His brows slowly drew together and I realized that he was probably seeing every emotion flicker across my face. My sadness and regret. Before he could say a word, I wound my legs tighter around his waist and pulled him deeper. A groan was torn from his chest and I could practically see his control shattering to pieces. Seemingly losing the battle for his control, his thrusts increased along with the volume of each moan ripped from my throat.
Taking me by surprise, he rolled us over. Blinking, I found myself straddling him and the new position caused him to hit a sweet spot inside of me that had me gasping.
“You look good on top too,” he choked out, grinning wickedly, palms gripping my hips.
Falling into rhythm, I let go of all inhibitions and rode him like a wild cowgirl. It was exhilarating. I’d never felt so sexy, especially with the way he gazed up at me with such lust and male satisfaction. It was when he said, between groans of pleasure―“I bet you’d look amazing if I fucked you from behind too―” that I lost it.
I spiraled into a blissful haze, inner muscles clenching around him and body tingling. I didn’t even recognize the scream that bounced off the walls as mine. Erik tensed beneath me and then he too shuddered with a satisfied groan.
My body went totally lax and I collapsed on top of him, my breaths coming out in short huffs.
“That was mind-blowing,” I heard him say. He sounded far away because I was drifting in some kind of dream-like state.
All I could get out was a drowsy, “Uh huh.”
I could feel Erik’s arms around me, engulfing me in warmth. For the first time in a long time, I felt content. Safe. And I fell into a peaceful slumber.
8
Erik
My focus had never been so divided before. No matter what, when I was in the office, I had laser focus. Until I met a woman who frustrated the hell out of me, that is. There I was sitting in my office, staring blindly at my computer screen with Crystal on my mind. My mind kept reverting to two nights ago when I thought I’d finally had her. Then, she slipped right through my fingers the next morning.
The woman had erupted like a volcano around me, drawing out what was probably the most intense orgasm I’d ever had in my life and then she’d pretty much passed out. She hadn’t even stirred when I managed to finally separate us―I really didn’t want to because falling asleep with my dick still in Crystal’s tight sheath was hot as fuck. She still didn’t budge when I got up twice to check on Mason during the night, or during the commotion downstairs of Christine’s arrival to collect Mason.
When I teased her about it the next morning, she said she’d been exhausted because she hadn’t been getting much sleep. Of cou
rse, when I asked why, she flew into a panic and all but ran out of my apartment, refusing my offer to take her home. It was a first for me―having a woman run out on me the morning after. It sucked. It was usually me doing the running.
I thought about how I’d called her several times since that morning and she hadn’t answered. Crystal was fucking ghosting me. Oh, how the tables had turned. And it was irritating. I should just let her go. We had our one night; it was incredible. Now would be the time when I moved on. But I couldn’t!
“Mr. Crawford? Mr. Crawford?”
“Erik!”
My eyes flew to the door to see my assistant, Keri, whose face was flushed. She adjusted her glasses and smoothed her pencil skirt. “I’m very sorry about that outburst, but I’ve been standing here trying to get your attention for a while now.”
Blinking, I sat up. “No, I’m sorry. What is it?”
“David Hayes is here to see you.”
“Right. Send him in.” Keri nodded and her auburn bangs fell across her forehead. Shoving the hair out of her face, she eyed me with concern. “Are you okay?”
Keri had been with me since the very beginning of my company. She was the best damned assistant anyone could ask for, but sometimes irritatingly observant. She would know if something was off with me. And something was way off. “Fine.”
Her green eyes narrowed behind her wire-rimmed glasses, but she nodded. I’ll send Mr. Hayes in.”
“Thanks.”
David, a big surly character, stomped into my office. Frightening outward appearance aside, I happened to know that David was a big teddy bear. We were acquainted in high school and when we ran into each other years later, we’d forged an unlikely bromance. He’d been a cop then, but David wasn’t a stickler for rules, so he quit and was now a private investigator.
He plopped down in a chair and threw his feet up on my desk like he owned the place. “Crawford,” he greeted.