Thankful for You

by Cindy Spencer Pape

  When he collapsed onto her, Elsie mustered enough energy to lift her limp noodle arms and flop them off the mattress and back around him. She moaned low in her throat when that simple movement sent off a series of mind-blowing aftershocks. For a long time they lay there, sweaty, winded, and still shuddering with reaction.

  So that’s what all the fuss was about. Nothing in Elsie’s life had even come close. She clung to Sig, not wanting the magic to end, though of course it would.

  She might have dozed off for a moment, because she didn’t notice Sig moving until he’d pulled out and off her to lay on his side. He brushed damp strands of hair out of her face. “You okay?”

  Elsie wanted to laugh. “That’s like asking if an elephant is big.” Her voice came out as little more than a husky whisper. “Pretty sure I’ve never been more okay in my life. Except for not being able to move. That could become a problem later on.”

  “I know what you mean. I can’t even feel my toes.” He laid his head against her shoulder for a moment and then kissed her temple. “Thank you.”

  “Likewise. You did all the work.” Elsie was amazed that he didn’t seem to mind.

  “Baloney.” He nuzzled into her neck and lightly nipped the tendon. “I was on top, but believe me, I’d have noticed if you weren’t participating. I wouldn’t have claw marks on my back, either.”

  “Oh, God, I’m sorry.” Elsie sat upright. “Let me look. Do you need any bandages?”

  “Hey, settle down.” He caught her in his arms and held her against his chest. “I’m fine.”

  “I totally suck at this, don’t I?” She wanted to shrivel up and crawl under the bed. “I’m so sorry, Sig.”

  “Sssh.” He stroked her hair. “That’s the biggest load of horseshit I’ve ever heard. What we had a few minutes ago was amazing. Hell, I’d say you’ve got a natural damn talent. I wasn’t complaining about the scratches. I was bragging.” He managed to keep his voice soothing, even when he swore.

  A giggle burbled from Elsie’s lips. “You always say exactly the right thing. Sorry I overreacted.” She hugged him tightly, enjoying every second of being held in his warm, strong arms, savoring this one night.

  “One of these days you’re going to tell me about the bastard who hurt you.” He continued to stroke his hands along her back. “That’s the only way I can think of that such a passionate woman could be so insecure about her own sexuality.”

  “Not now.” She didn’t want to ruin the magic of the night by thinking about Alex, let alone speaking about him. Besides, Sig didn’t need to bear her burdens for her. He had enough of his own. Fortunately, Elsie could think of one surefire way to distract a naked man. She trailed open-mouthed kisses down Sig’s chest, stopping to pay special attention to each and every scar. Quite content to quit talking, Sig gave a little hum of approval, then leaned back on his hands to give her better access. When she reached his navel, though, he stopped her and lifted her face away from his skin.

  “Condom. Forgot.”

  Elsie winced. How had she forgotten that? It would kind of ruin the idea of a blow job.

  He swiveled, grabbed a handful of tissues off the nightstand and balled up the spent latex. After a quick look around, he found the trashcan. Then, with a smile, he leaned back onto the pillows. “C’mere.”

  “I wasn’t done.” Elsie ran a finger down the line of hair from his navel to his cock, which had already returned to almost full erection.

  He pulled her into his arms and kissed her until all her resistance melted away. “Don’t worry,” he said between soft nibbles on her lower lip. “I’ll let you have your fun—and I intend to have mine. Like you said, we’ll have to get creative.”

  “That sounds like fun.” Of course he didn’t mean he’d have fun going down on her. Men hated that, so of course she wouldn’t expect him to actually do it. But it was sweet of him to offer.

  “It sure does.” Sig dropped a kiss on her nose. “I should have said this earlier, but I’m a little out of practice. I’ve been tested enough in the last year to be absolutely sure I’m clean. Otherwise, I’d never let you….” He gestured toward his cock.

  Elsie smiled at his consideration. She hadn’t even thought about the risks of oral sex, which showed how long she’d been out of the dating pool. “I haven’t been with anyone in three years, and I have a full checkup each spring on my birthday.” She’d had herself tested the day after she learned Gary had been cheating, and every year since.

  “Three years? I’m honored.” He kissed her again, stroking deep into her mouth with his tongue. “I’ll have to make sure tonight is worth your while.” His warm chuckle melted a little of the ice she’d so carefully built around her heart.

  “It already is.” She’d replay this scene in her mind for the rest of her life. She traced the lines of his cheekbone with a finger. “This is the first time I can see that your eyes are different. The real one is much more dilated.”

  Sig nodded. “I don’t always get the movement right, so a lot of people think I’m only looking at them with one eye, but that gets easier over time. But even high-tech acrylics don’t fluctuate with the light.”

  “So it’s not glass? It is an amazing match for your real eye.” She traced the scar that ran up his forehead from the eye socket.

  “The part you see is actually acrylic, and custom made to match. It’s sort of a curved shell, or cover piece, with a little peg into the bioceramic implant underneath, so my eye muscles can move it back and forth.” He pulled her hand away from his face and kissed her palm. “I don’t mind talking about it—my fake eye is part of who I am. But I don’t want to talk now. I want to make you scream again. Come to dinner at my house tomorrow night and I’ll answer every question you have.”

  “Sig, we agreed this was only for one night.” She licked her lips and pulled away from him.

  “Why?” Both of his eyes looked straight into hers. Damn, but he was good at that. “We’re having fun aren’t we? We’re being safe. So who are we hurting if we see each other again?”

  Me! She repressed the shriek and swallowed. “I told you I’m not ready for a relationship.”

  He sighed. “Elsie, we’ve already had a relationship for months, of a sort. We’re friends, if nothing else, and we’re also attracted as hell to each other. Why do you think I come into your store so often?”

  “For your fish?” She shook her head. “Yes, we’ve become friends, and obviously I’m attracted to you. Is that what you wanted me to say?”

  “It’s a start.” He took the hand he still held and kissed each finger. “Now we’re a little different kind of friend. Is that so wrong?”

  Elsie shook her head. She had no response for that.

  “So here’s my suggestion. We stay friends—and lovers. It doesn’t have to be serious, we don’t move in together, we don’t make any big announcements. But as long as we’re both having fun, we see where things go.” He inhaled deeply again. “I’m serious about this, cupcake. One thing I’ve learned in my previous line of work is that life is too fucking short. When something this good comes along, you don’t throw it away because you’re afraid of how it might end.”

  Elsie held his gaze and trembled. He was offering her the perfect relationship: affection, friendship and sex, without any of the control and ego issues of being married or living together. Did she have the guts to take him up on his offer?

  She exhaled and nodded. “Two conditions—no, three.”

  He tipped his head. “Name them.”

  She pulled her hand back from him and counted on her fingers. “One: we don’t broadcast things, but we don’t keep it a dirty secret, either.”

  “Agreed. This town is too small for that anyway.” He nodded once. “Next?”

  “Two: the minute one of us wants out, the other agrees, no fuss, no muss, no dirty tricks.”

  Sig stared at her for several heartbeats. “Addendum. There has to be a fair and reasonable discussion first, so both partie
s understand what the hell is going on.”

  “I can live with that.” Elsie found, somewhat to her surprise, that she trusted Sig to be fair when she reached the point of breaking things off. “Number three is the most important. No cheating. None. While we’re together, it’s the two of us. Period. If you decide you want someone else, you tell me, we split, and there will be no recriminations. But I need your promise that while we’re involved, you won’t be sleeping with—or anything approaching—anyone else.”

  “Done.” Sig took her chin in his hand. “For the record—that’s not going to happen. I can’t imagine wanting anyone else when the alternative is you.”

  “You’re sweet. But I’m serious. Even if we’re friends with benefits, I won’t share.” She cracked a grin. “I lied. I have a fourth condition.”

  He grinned. “Now what?”

  She smiled back. “You never, ever, call me ‘cupcake’ again.”

  Sig laughed out loud and pulled her back into his arms. “We have a deal.”

  Chapter Four

  Sig wanted to find Elsie’s ex—or exes—and teach the asshole a thing or two with his fists. He might be a broken-down wreck, but he’d muster the strength to kick some righteous ass for her sake. How the hell had she been convinced she wasn’t any good at sex? Jesus, if she was any better, he’d be dead. By the time this night was over, he might still be. At any rate, he was going to give it his best shot. He couldn’t think of a better way to go.

  Right now, he was determined to focus on Elsie. She was so insecure, yet so giving and so damned sexy. She deserved a little special attention. He kissed her ear, then her throat, nipping when she groaned. A shiver raked her spine and Sig growled in satisfaction. He’d found a few of her hot buttons so far—by the end of the night, he’d learn them all.

  He sucked a little harder on her neck and felt her shudder again. Sig pressed her back until she lay beneath him on the bed. “Roll over,” he whispered.

  “What?” Her eyes widened as she looked at him. “We’re not going to…that is, I’ve never….”

  Sig kissed her to stop her talking. It had already proven a sound tactic. “No, I’m not going to fuck your sweet little ass. Not tonight. Maybe not ever, though that would be your call. Right now I want to explore. All right?”

  Elsie beamed. “All right.” She rolled onto her stomach, stretching her hands over her head. “Like this?”

  “Yeah.” Sig stroked his cock, which had grown hard as a flagpole. “What’s your opinion on being tied up?”

  She thought for a minute. He swore he could actually hear the gears turning in her brain. “I’m not sure. Maybe.”

  He licked the curve of her shoulder blade. “Maybe is good. I’m never going to pressure you to try something you don’t like.”

  “I—I get that. My rational side does, anyway.” She stretched when he traced the length of her spine. “I do trust you, Sig. As much as I’m capable of trusting anyone.”

  “That’s a good start. Now stop talking and feel.” He followed his hand with his lips, tiny nibbling kisses down the ridge of her backbone, all the way to the crack of her ass. “Elsie, if you don’t believe anything else I say, believe this: you have the most amazing ass I’ve ever seen.”

  “It’s too wide.”

  “No.” He nipped one cheek and then the other. “It’s fucking perfect. Now be a good girl and let me enjoy it.” He took both globes in his hand and nuzzled them with his cheeks. “I’ve wanted to do this since the first time I saw you, standing on a step stool in those tight, faded jeans.”

  This time she didn’t speak as he kneaded and kissed her rounded flesh. When he pressed one finger against her puckered rosebud, careful not to dip inside, she whimpered.

  “Do you like that? Or do you want me to stop?” He rubbed the tender hole gently. “Remember—nothing you don’t want me to do.”

  “It’s…weird, but nice,” she admitted. Sig’s cock swelled even further. “But maybe…another time?”

  “You’ve got it. Now lift up on your knees a little.” He caught her hips and eased them into position so he could taste her center. “Ah, sweetheart, your pussy is every bit as beautiful as your ass. I wonder if it tastes as good.” He licked between her lips and moaned at the rich, salty-sweet flavor of her. “Better.” He went back for more, licking and sucking as if he could never get enough. At the same time, he reached with both hands and toyed with her nipples, still tender from before.

  Soon, her muscles tightened and she began to tremble. Sig slid two fingers into her slick, tight cunt and latched his lips around her swollen clit. He sucked lightly at first, in time with his fingers fucking her softly. The more she moaned and shook, the faster he pistoned his fingers and the harder he drew on her nub. His balls drew tight and his stomach clenched as he took her over the edge, fighting like hell to hold off his own orgasm.

  When Elsie cried out his name again and creamed all over his hand, Sig pretty much lost it. He wanted more than anything to fuck her like this, but that was impossible. Instead, he wrapped his other hand tight around the base of his cock and lapped at her as she came down. Long moments later, she rolled to her back and smiled at him as he knelt above her.

  “Let me take care of that.” She slid down the bed between his legs until her chin was right below his balls. She took him in both hands urging him to bend lower so he hung right above her lips. “It’s my turn to taste.”

  Sig’s eyes crossed. “I’m close,” he warned. If she didn’t want him to come on her face, he’d understand.

  She licked a circle around the crown and dabbed her tongue into the slit, tasting his pre-cum. “Good. I love the way you taste.” Then she sucked the entire head of his cock deep into the wet heat of her mouth. Her hands moved along his shaft in short, strong strokes and she sucked his tip while tickling the underside with her tongue.

  Sig’s body tensed as pleasure coiled in his gut, ready to spike. She swallowed, caressing his cock with the muscles of her throat. Sig lost it. “Elsie,” he groaned as he spilled hot streams of cum down her throat.

  Elsie swallowed repeatedly, still sucking and pumping him until Sig was wrung dry. Once he was done, she delicately licked him clean before his arms gave out and he collapsed on his side next to her.

  “Can I ask you something?” Her words were heavy and lazy, as if she was nearly as wiped out as he was.

  “G’head,” he managed to mutter.

  She rolled so they lay face to face. “I thought men didn’t like…doing that. But you were hard, so you must have been, well, at least sort of into it.”

  Sig snorted. “Way into it. Damn near came from going down on you. Some guys are idiots.” It was the most his frazzled brain could put together.

  “Really?” She yawned and snuggled closer.

  “Really.” He pulled her so her head was pillowed on his chest and dragged the comforter from around their feet with his other hand. “’Night.”

  “Good night, Sig.” She kissed his pec. There was something more, but it came out as a mumble. Sig rubbed his cheek against her hair. Tomorrow he’d probably have to convince her all over again to give this thing a chance. But it was worth it. With a smile on his face, he wrapped his arm around her and fell asleep.

  Chapter Five

  Elsie woke the next morning stiff and sore. Not everywhere, but between—

  She sat bolt upright. Sig. Sex. More Sig…. More sex. And was it possible she’d actually agreed to let this…thing continue? Holy shit, what the hell had come over her?

  Sig had. All over her breasts when they’d woken in the middle of the night. Down her throat. Inside her—well, inside the condom. And she’d had two orgasms to every one of his. He’d insisted. After the first bout, she’d been too mindless to argue.

  The bed beside her was still warm from his body and the comforter had been tucked neatly around her. So where was he? Had he woken, freaked out at his actions, and bolted? She couldn’t say she’d blame him. She’d
have bolted, too, if this wasn’t her apartment.

  A glance at the clock told her she hadn’t slept through her alarm. The store wasn’t due to open for another hour, so she had time for coffee and a long, hot shower. She swung her legs over the side of the bed, pausing before she stepped down. Was that music? Or was one of the kittens downstairs making zombie noises?

  The bedroom door swung open and Sig stepped in, a cup of steaming coffee in each hand. The scent of it made her want to swoon almost as much as the sight of him in his boxers. But the noise? Arrrgh. It sounded like a cross between a movie zombie and a squealing pig. Apparently, music was the one thing she’d found so far that Sig wasn’t good at. That made her smile as she reached for the coffee. She meant to say, “Thank you,” but what came out instead was, “I thought you’d left.”

  He shook his head and sat on the chair beside the dresser. “We’ve got to work on this trust thing, don’t we?”

  She nodded, sipping the dark, rich brew. “Thanks for the coffee.”

  “You’re welcome.” He raised his cup in a silent toast with a wide, sexy smile. “There’s toast and orange juice out in the kitchen. You didn’t have much in the way of breakfast food.”

  “I don’t usually eat much in the mornings. Calories and all that.” She looked down at her wide hips in disgust and realized she was still stark naked, carrying on a conversation.

  “You don’t need to worry about dieting. You burn off a lot of energy in the shop, and your body is perfect as it is.” As if he read her mind, he handed her the robe off the back of the chair behind him. “Let’s go eat.”

  After another worried glance at the clock, she nodded. “At least I have a short commute.”

  He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “And my walk home is pretty short. My place is a couple blocks north of here.”