Love's Learning Curves

by Diana DeRicci

  He’d dropped his gaze, paying a lot of attention to her hand lying in his palm as he traced the lines with a fingertip.

  “Dario, I’m not disappointed. Your money only means that you’re established and responsible. You work hard. There’s no reason you shouldn’t have a little something to show what that has gotten for you.” So he had a mortgage and bills? It only further proved he was real, and not a dream, because to her, it seemed every moment with him was a wish come true.

  Relief filled his body, a breath rolling his shoulders. The gleam in his eyes told her just how much her answer mattered.

  With a hand cupping her neck, he drew her up to him. Gently, he sipped at her lips, making her heart flip. “Come on. Let’s go change into something relaxing.”

  The raw edge of want was in his voice again, melting her from the inside out. When he deepened the kiss, shaping her body to his, Sheridan knew she was in trouble.

  She was falling for him.

  The bigger worry was she didn’t think she wanted to fight it.

  Chapter Eleven

  Dario purred. Nuzzling into the nape of the woman in his arms, he’d never felt more at peace. A peeked glance at the clock only confirmed what the shadows were telling him. The sun was on its way. He wished he could stop the sun and time. He didn’t want her to wake, didn’t want her to leave. Rousing next to her, her soft body against his every morning made his skin itch to tell her the truth. And it wasn’t all his cougar’s impatience.

  The larger question was how to break it to her? How do you prepare someone for this kind of a secret?

  He’d thought he’d been crafty the night before, hinting, but even in his own ears he knew he’d been too obscure, too vague. Dario had never thought he’d be exposing himself to someone not of his own pride, much less someone who may not accept at all. It was a sobering prospect, because now that he’d found her, he knew he couldn’t lose her. Her head rested beneath his chin, both sharing the pillow, nestled together. His fingers flexed, curling around an unfettered breast. Sheridan twitched.

  How hard would it be to convince her to stay in bed all day? He quietly chuckled. It wouldn’t take anything to convince him. It had been years since he’d indulged in a day of nothing, and never with a woman at his side.

  Sheridan didn’t know it, but she was the first he’d brought home, the first woman he’d ever invited to stay over. Dario also knew that within hours of their arrival, and her lack of leaving, the entire community would be abuzz with questions about his guest.

  Hard to avoid considering the majority of the Taja pride lived in this community, his parents among them. Hopefully, they left him alone until he was ready to introduce her, if he got to. He wouldn’t before he’d told her the truth. It would be shocking to learn their secrets from anyone other than him.

  “Do you always do that?” she mused.

  He tensed, unaware he’d been doing anything. “What, love?”

  “That quiet purr. I can tell when you’re thinking. It’s like you’re humming to yourself, but much deeper.”

  Dario chuckled. “No, I never even knew I did it.” He lifted enough to nip at her ear. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

  Stretching, she formed along his length, and he brought her closer. His cock stiffened along her ass. Now, that almost made him purr for a totally different reason.

  “You didn’t.” She jerked. “Is that clock right?” Horror filled her words.

  “Yes, why?”

  “School!” She tried to leap from bed.

  He caught at her shoulders, holding her steady. “Sheridan, it’s Sunday.”

  She froze, half in and half uncovered. “Oh.” She giggled through an embarrassed sigh. “I remember. I was dreaming about our final, or actually, all the hours and practice I’d done to prepare it. I had this awful feeling I’d forgotten it.”

  He held her closer as she readjusted at his side under the comforter. “Nope. You turned it all in on Wednesday. You told me you did.” Poor baby. Too much stress this week. Definitely.

  She burrowed into the pillow. “I’m sorry, I don’t know what got into me.”

  “Time to unwind, lovely.” Gliding a foot over her calf, he enticed her. “Stay today. Stay in bed, stay in any way you want, just stay.”

  “Hm. Will you stay with me?”

  “Of course,” he replied, nipping at her shoulder. His cougar perked up. Claim. Ours. Dario ignored him. Who knew he had such a demanding feline? Though if he could get her to stay, he could work in the shifter explanation. He could make her see, understand, and hopefully, accept. Then he could claim her. All Dario knew was his cougar hated plotting. That lack of patience was showing up again.

  Arching to mold to her shape, the full swell of her breast filled his palm again. The beaded tip hardened beneath the gentle flick of his touch.

  “Mm,” he breathed against her neck. “You feel so good.” It was impossible to not tug and play with the sexy nub. It begged him for attention so prettily. Ignoring her body’s request wasn’t an option.

  He stroked her side with his loose hand, roaming from her shoulder to her hip. She was so smooth, he glided over her skin. Her curves… He shivered as his desire flared to life. He hated holding a woman and feeling their bones through their skin. He loved Sheridan’s breasts, that simply was a fact, but she had the sweetest hips and thighs. There was strength in her limbs.

  She called herself fat, which he hated and refused to see. He saw lushness, a soft woman to come home too, to hold him when the world demanded too much. Brushing his nose against her neck, he inhaled her gentle scent. He let his hand drift over her ass, palming her shape. She shivered against his chest when he slipped his fingertip down the crease of her ass, following the curve of her body until he hit the moist, dewy flesh of her center. A low hiss escaped. “You’re hot, babe.”

  She bowed outward, pressing her breast into his teasing hand, giving him even more to play with of her body.

  “Keep that up, and I can promise you’ll love what I do,” he joked.

  “That’s what I’m hoping for,” she replied, breathless.

  Bending her leg to arch over his thigh, he ran his fingertips over the smooth edges of her pussy, teasing the sensitive skin until she shuddered. “This is sexy.” Not increasing his pace, he worked his finger up and down her smooth slit. Almost immediately, she began to tremble with hunger. “You drive me insane, do you know that? I love the way you taste, sweet and hot.” Keeping her close, he licked warmed skin in slow swipes with his tongue. “I go to sleep thinking about you, dream about you.”

  Sheridan inched closer, pushing against his touch. It didn’t make him speed up; he moved with definite control. The scent of her need filled the air. His body throbbed in answer, and he was grateful they had all day to enjoy each other.

  “I love how wet you get. This hot pussy is all mine.” Tapping her clit with a stiff finger brought out a row of whimpers. Swirling along her edges, he felt the flushed warmth of her skin, enticing her arousal until her pussy lips were plump and begging for more. “One of these days I’m going to watch you make yourself come. I want to watch you play with this pussy until you scream. Do you ever do that? Do you ever play with yourself? Play with the wet jewel…right…here?” He rubbed over her clit hard and she gasped, her length shuddering. Drops of cream filled her channel to fall to his hand. He groaned. “Damn, baby. I could eat you out for days.”

  Sheridan clutched at the bed, rocking onto his hand, needing.

  With her lying in the crook of his arm, the mound of her breast rested in his palm. As he rolled over her clit, he tugged lightly at her nipple at the same time. Slicking his thumb with her juice, he pressed the pad of his digit over her anus, plying all three sensations. She cried out as pleasure sang through them both.

  “Like that baby?” he asked, sounding rougher by the minute as his hungers rose to match hers. “Has anyone ever been with you here?” Dario hooked is thumb, scraping gently over skin. />
  “Ahhh!”

  “I’ll take that as a no.” He chuckled. “I will. I want to love every inch of this sweet body of yours.”

  She whimpered through his name. It was music to his ears. She was so turned on. He wanted to play with her for hours, make her body quiver with desire, weep with need. He wanted to watch her play with her pussy, could imagine how wet she would be. Stroking her, he shuddered. Shit. Next time. He had absolutely no control around Sheridan.

  “Get me a condom, sweetheart. I can’t wait any longer to have you.”

  Groping, she yanked on the drawer, handing over the square with trembling fingers. Fitting his cock with the condom, his vision blurred. Holding her hip, he braced himself behind her, gliding into her hot channel from behind in slow increments. A sharp exhalation hissed through his teeth. “So fucking tight,” he growled. He stopped, grasping for any strength while held between convulsing walls. Pulling out, he knew what he wanted. Whispering, he told her, “Roll over to your stomach.”

  Kneeling behind her, he lifted her to her knees. “Oh, sweetheart,” he groaned. She rested on her elbows, her ass presented like a gift. Her slicked pussy opened for him, glistening and pulsating. He’d never seen anything so fucking hot in his life.

  Holding her tight, he lined himself up and thrust home to her delicious shout. “Yes! Howl for me baby.”

  Gripping her hips, he pounded into her, the sound of his balls smacking into her wet body drove him crazy. The sharp tingle of each slap tightened his spine. Gritting his teeth, he held on. He refused to let his lust make him lose control.

  “I’m going to make you come, sweetheart,” he warned her. “I want you to cream all over my cock.” His eyes crossed when she convulsed, gripping his length tight within her silken walls at his words. She was close. Leaning on his calves, he drew her up with him, straddling his body. With a hand on her hip, he thrust upward and she shuddered. “That’s it, Sheridan. Come for me.” She drove him wild as he hammered upward. “Touch yourself, baby. Come for me. I want you to.” Dario was gasping, growling. So close.

  His balls tightened hard into his body when she stroked over her clit, her pussy clenching down on him, capturing him deep inside. “Shit.” He moaned through the word. He craved to feel her slickness over his balls. Her hot cream dripped down his cock, slipping over his tight skin, but he wanted more. When he reached around and pinched her nipple, she screamed, her head tossed back, the sound deepening to a howl that sent his blood pounding. He wanted to bite down on her so bad, wanted to mark her as his, her shoulder bared and right there. Closing his eyes, he focused on their heat, the wet proof of her pleasure soaking his groin.

  “One more time, baby. Want to come,” he groaned, his voice raw, his restraint to hold back slipping. “Play with your pussy. Please.” Her body reacted as she glided over and tortured her clit. He lifted his hands, cupping both breasts, pinching and tweaking her nipples into diamond hard points. She whimpered and cried out, her body clenching down on his as rapture spun tighter between them.

  Sparks ignited in his balls and he shouted, his orgasm racing like lava through his veins. He groaned long and deep as he pulsed, her body sucking at his as she came again, juicing his dick with hot cream. “Oh, God,” he moaned. “I love that.” The sensation blew his mind.

  His throat was raw, his lungs ached, but he’d never felt more replete, never felt so pleasantly weak in his life. He almost blurted the words that were pounding through his heart.

  Instead he looped his arms around his woman and held her, cradled in her into his chest as shudders rolled over them both, memories of their shared pleasure that he couldn’t wait to relive.

  Chapter Twelve

  Relaxing in the slow swirling heat of the hot tub after their nap and a late breakfast, he wrapped his arms around Sheridan, bringing her onto his lap. He swept her hair out of the way, the length thick and dripping from her playful antics in the bubbling water, exposing the silken length of her throat for exploration. “Ever have hot tub sex?” he asked, licking beneath her ear. A cool breeze rattled the leaves of the closest trees, but otherwise, it was a calm and quiet Sunday.

  She laughed, bending to give him room. “No.”

  “Want to?”

  Her laughter was belly deep. “You’re insatiable.”

  He shrugged, not at all repentant. “What can I say?” He lifted her closer, letting her get comfortable over his thighs. Her arms looped lazily around his shoulders, her fingers toying with the short ends of his hair. Each touch sent a shiver down his spine. His erection nestled neatly against her cleft, making him ache all the harder. “You make me think sex.” Proving it, he leaned forward and lipped at a nipple, toying and teasing her with light swipes of flesh.

  Her lashes lowered, though her cheeks filled with a blush red that rivaled any rose he’d seen. Sunlight warmed her skin, making her glow. Water clung to her lashes like dewdrops, just waiting to be sipped away. The water dancing around them glittered like jewels in blues and reds as the sun climbed higher. Watching her, his chest trembled. Somewhere in the last week, he’d fallen head over heels for the beauty before him. Mates be damned. Instincts could be tossed out the window. He loved her.

  He silently screamed on the inside to tell her how he felt.

  Dario had to explain his cougar first. He refused to be one of those who used the mating to bind her before she was sure. It had been done, but he couldn’t. He respected her choice. And considering the assholes she’d been involved with, he never wanted her to feel like she wasn’t worthy, over anything.

  “Remember when I said there was a part of me I wanted you to meet?”

  Her blue hazel eyes glistened. Drops of water trailed down her cheeks to drip seductively over her shoulders and breasts. Cotton candy pink nipples brushed against his chest, making him crave to lap his tongue over them again. He swallowed, fighting to keep his mind on his purpose. It didn’t help that he’d miscalculated her position over his lap. Blood pulsed hotly through his cock as the gentle sway of the water rocked her over his hips.

  “I do. Last night.” She drifted forward and touched her lips to his. “I trust you, Dario. I wouldn’t have come this far if I didn’t think I could.”

  Relief made his chest stagger as he exhaled a sigh. Her eyes were wide and clear when she straightened. “In fact,” she drew a breath, “there’s something I’ve been wanting to tell you, too.” She caught her lower lip between her teeth, then, “I really care for you Dario. I hope you’re not pressured to know that.” Peering through her lashes, she seemed to be waiting.

  Something light filled his soul, giving him that weightless feeling again. Shaking his head, he whispered, “No, not at all.” Forgetting about his raging hard-on, he ran caressing fingers into her hair, holding her close. “I think there could be something very real here,” he murmured, pressing his lips to hers.

  Rubbing a hand over her arm in slow sweeps, he said, “This is important to me, what I want to—”

  The doorbell interrupted.

  He frowned. What the hell?

  “Maybe they’ll…” The bell pealed again. “…leave.” He groaned a sigh, rolling his eyes. “Damn it. They couldn’t give me one damn day?”

  “Who?”

  “My family.” With a loving kiss to her mouth, he set her away from him to stand. “Don’t go anywhere. I’m getting rid of them and then turning off the phone.” Water sluiced from him as he hopped over the side and grabbed a towel to briskly dry off. Wrapping it secure over his hips, he gave her one last smile. Turning away from the nymph in the water, he marched toward the source of the repeated peal of his doorbell. “This better be fucking important,” he muttered under his breath.

  “Look, Dad—” Only he was stopped short when he opened the door. It wasn’t his dad.

  “Good, you’re almost ready.” Muffy walked in like she lived there, nodding and arranging her keys and handbag. “Go on, go finish getting dressed. We’re going to be late.”
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  “Late? What the hell? What are you doing here?” Dario felt his blood pressure rise as the woman stood eyeing him imperiously, impatience making her toes tap.

  “The pride meeting, remember? We’re supposed to be there in half an hour.”

  Antonio! “Fuck!” He raked stiff fingers through his hair. “Look, Muffy, I’m not going. Whatever Antonio said or did—”

  Muffy approached and put her palm flat on his chest. Gazing up at him, she smiled. “If you’d rather take a few minutes before,” she said with lusting enticement, licking at her lips as though she wanted to lick him. She eyed his bare chest like he was a delicious snack. “It’s about time the pride heir took a mate, don’t you think?” Golden hair rippled as she bent closer, though careful to not get her business suit damp. “I knew you were waiting for me. I’m ready. I’ve been waiting for you.” Her voice had taken on the seductive growl he’d heard too many times to count.