Best of 2017

by Alexa Riley

  I flip him off and he laughs.

  “Seriously. Does she know the depths of your obsession?”

  “I told her I’d do anything for her,” I grunt out. “Even kill that fuckface Vaughn.”

  His eyes widen in surprise. “And she didn’t run for the hills?”

  “Nope.”

  “Well, Jesus Christ, Hawk, I think you found yourself the perfect woman,” he jokes.

  “Goddamn right I did.”

  “Good for you,” he says with a chuckle. “Don’t fuck it up. Maybe lay off the stalker shit now that she’s into you.”

  But there’s so much more to learn about her…

  “Hmph.”

  He snorts again. “Don’t get arrested, psycho.”

  “I’ll try not to, asshole.”

  His smirk is my parting gift as he leaves for the day. I thumb through the folder and read through Vaughn’s rap sheet. He’s a fucking stalker too. The guy has more restraining orders against him than I’ve ever seen one person have. This could work in my favor…

  I shut the folder and hide it in my drawer. Once the drawer is locked, I grab my jacket and go look for my woman. When I find her leaned over the planter of violets I bought for her empty desk, inhaling their sweet scent, I can’t help but smile at her.

  She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

  “You ready?”

  She swivels around and beams at me. “Let me run to the restroom, and then we can go.”

  I love how eager she is to want to spend more time with me. When she’s gone, I sit down in her chair. Her phone buzzes.

  Sean: How about lunch one day this week to discuss some business? Same place as Friday? I promise to be a perfect gentleman.

  Rage bubbles in my chest. I’m dying to write him back and tell him he’s a fucking idiot but the clack of her heels tells me she’s on her way back. With a huff, I set the phone back down.

  “Trying to steal my chair already?” she teases as she grabs her purse.

  “The chair isn’t the only thing around here I’m going to steal.” When I smirk at her, she laughs but then her smile falls as she picks up her phone to read her text. With a frown, she taps out a response. I’m dying to know what she said to him but I know I can sneak a peek later when she’s asleep.

  “What are we doing?” she questions as we start out of the building.

  I guide her to where my car is parked. “Well,” I say as I open her door, “first we’re going to go eat.” She pulls her bottom lip between her teeth as she regards me. “And then I’m going to take you back to your place and fuck you.” Her eyes widen, but I shut the door before trotting around to the other side.

  “Gray,” she hisses as soon as I sit inside and start the car. “What if I don’t want to fuck?”

  I flash her a panty-melting—not that she’s wearing any—grin. “I’ll convince you.”

  SHE’S BEEN LOCKED AWAY in her bathroom for a good forty minutes now. After we ate a nice steak dinner at one of my favorite restaurants, I brought her back to her place. And just like I’d arranged, her locks had been replaced. I’d asked the locksmith to leave me the extra key under her doormat. I swiped that when I’d heard the shower running.

  While she takes forever in the bathroom, I use the time to rifle through the closet I’d been searching through last night. Coats hang from the racks and boxes line the shelves. I’d been in the process of checking the pockets when she woke up.

  I locate a letter in one coat pocket addressed to “Momma.” It isn’t sealed but it is addressed already. With my phone, I snap a picture of it for later investigation. I open it and read it quickly when I hear the hair dryer going.

  Momma,

  I miss you. One day maybe things can be different. You know I love you. Everything just got so bad, and I needed to get away. You know this. Of course you know this. I’ve been telling you the same thing for years. I hope the money helps. It’s all that I can afford to send, but I hope it’s enough so you don’t have to break your back every night at the diner.

  Love you always.

  She didn’t sign the letter nor did she add a return address. The money she sends away—the reason she lives in this shithole—makes more sense now. I fold the letter back up and stuff it in the coat pocket. I’m just closing the closet door when her cell phone starts ringing from the bedroom. Figuring it’s Sean, I stalk in there. The number is unknown.

  I answer it but don’t speak.

  Someone breathes heavily on the other line and my hackles raise.

  “Is that you, Letty Spaghetti?” a deep voice growls.

  I can fucking growl too.

  But I don’t.

  “I think you’ve reached the wrong number,” I bite out, my rage barely controlled. But I’ll be damned if I let on that this is her phone.

  Click.

  I quickly block the number and delete the trace of the call from her phone. I’ve just set it down when the bathroom door opens.

  Violet steps out of the bathroom, a nervous look on her face. “Were you talking to someone?”

  “Wrong number,” I assure her. My eyes peruse her perfect body that’s barely covered by her silky robe. Her nipples are hard beneath the fabric, and I can tell she’s completely naked underneath. All the anger and fury from learning that fuckface has her number washes away as heat rushes to my cock. “Wow,” I growl. “So much wow.”

  A smile tugs at the corner of her lips. “Oh, this old thing,” she teases as she spins in a circle. My cock jolts when I see her delectable ass beneath the robe.

  “Come here,” I order.

  She stiffens and shoots me an unsure look. “Gray…”

  “I just want to kiss you.” Not entirely a lie. I want to kiss every part of her. My words seem to calm her because she walks over to me and tilts her head up as if she’s waiting for that promised kiss.

  My palms grab her gorgeous ass, and I pull her against me so she can feel just how hard I am for her. A gasp of air escapes her.

  “Anyone ever tell you you’re the most beautiful woman on this fucking planet?”

  She chuckles but I’m dead serious.

  I squeeze her ass as I drop a kiss to her supple lips. Our kiss is sweet at first, but soon she’s helping me peel off my suit jacket. Her palms roam up my chest and then she’s working frantically at the knot of my tie. I tug at the strings on her robe and she wiggles out of it until she’s completely naked before me. Grabbing hold of her shoulders, I push her away until she’s at arm’s length so that I can properly view her. Sure, I’ve seen her naked plenty of times over the last few days but never like this.

  “You’re so goddamned beautiful,” I praise and then run my tongue along my bottom lip.

  She chews on hers and stands there looking uncomfortable under my scrutinizing stare. I let my gaze drink up every beautiful curve on her perfect body while I rid myself of my tie and shirt. When my eyes dart up to hers, she’s staring at my chest.

  “You have tattoos,” she whispers.

  I frown. “I do.”

  “I like them.” Her brown eyes are molten with lust. “I like them a lot.”

  Smirking, I look down at my colorful chest. Dad ingrained in me to be structured and focused, but Bull helped me rebel. He was there with me for every single tattoo inked on my chest and arms, in solidarity. I unbuckle my belt and lift an eyebrow at her. “You ready for this?”

  She laughs. “It’s a penis not an introduction to the president.”

  I let my slacks fall to the floor and step out of them. Her greedy eyes find my cock that is straining through my black boxers. “That’s Mr. President to you.”

  “Hmmm,” she says, amusement in her tone. “Let’s see him.”

  I flash her a wicked grin as I lose the boxers. When I start stroking my impressive length, she lets out another one of those sexy, needy sounds I’ve grown to love.

  “Crap,” she breathes. “We’re really doing this.”

  I lif
t a brow. “Unless you don’t want to.”

  “Oh,” she says with a wild look in her eyes, “I certainly do want to.”

  Releasing my cock, I step toward her and capture her face in my hands. I brush kisses along her soft lips and jaw until she’s clawing at me. My cock is hot and throbbing and oh-so-fucking eager between us. When her hand reaches between us and grips my dick, I let out a guttural groan of pleasure.

  She’s my fantasy come to life.

  A dream come true.

  With each stroke of her hand, I feel closer to coming. So after another selfish moment of having her small hand wrapped around me, I pull away and regard her hungrily. “Get on the bed and show me your pussy.”

  Her eyes widen at my brazen words, but she sits down on the edge and scoots back. Once she lies back and her body is ripe for my visual tasting, I take hold of her knees and spread her apart. Her cunt glistens with her arousal, and I can’t wait to have my nose buried in it. I want to suck her taste until she can’t speak or think.

  “Touch your nipples,” I growl.

  She lets out a whimper but obeys me. I crawl toward her and inhale her sweet scent. When I drag my tongue along her slit, she jolts on the bed.

  “Grayyyy…”

  I chuckle and press a kiss to her clit. “Mmmmm?”

  “Oh, shit,” she breathes. “That’s too much.”

  I cock an eyebrow up and challenge her. “When I hum against your clit?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes are wild and frantic as she pinches her nipples.

  “Good,” I murmur before capturing her clit between my lips. I apply pressure with my lips and let out a growling sound that no doubt reverberates to her sensitive bundle of nerves because she cries out. Slowly, I push one finger into her soaked entrance. She’s so fucking tight, and I can’t wait to feel her perfect body gripping mine. We were made to be together. Everything about this feels right. She doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to make her my wife. My partner. The goddamned mother of my children.

  Mine.

  “More,” she moans.

  I urge another finger inside her and she starts to tremble. With firm circles, I begin pleasuring her clit that’s hot beneath my tongue. My fingers slide easily in and out of her because she’s so wet for me. When I start pushing a third finger inside, she loses control. An orgasm tears through her quickly and forcefully. Her tight channel grips my fingers as she goes wild on the bed. The moment she stops shuddering, I slide my fingers out and crawl over her. My cock slides against her drenched pussy lips, but I don’t let it enter her.

  “Gray,” she begs, her eyes dark with lust and need. “Please.”

  I inch the tip of my cock in but don’t let it go any farther. I want her juices soaking me from the tip to the base. Those other men Vaughn made her sleep with didn’t deserve her perfection. She was always mine…I just hadn’t found her yet.

  “I want to fuck you bare,” I tell her boldly, my eyes fixating on hers. “I want to feel every hot part of you wrapped around me. I want to drain my orgasm inside of you. I want to watch it pour from your sore pussy when we’re finished.”

  She lets out a moan. “God, why does that sound so hot?”

  “Because it is,” I assure her and tease her some more by pulling the tip back out and letting it run along her clit before pushing it barely inside of her again.

  “It’s irresponsible.”

  It takes every ounce of self-control not to slam into her. “I’m going to fuck you bare,” I growl again. “We both want it. All we’re waiting on is for you to admit it.”

  Her body wiggles as if she’s trying to get me to slide in all the way. When her heels dig into my ass to pull me closer, it takes everything in me to fight against her. I want to hear the damn words.

  “I’m going to come inside you,” I murmur and dip down to nip at her bottom lip. “So fucking deep, Violet.”

  “This is…oh, God…” Her body trembles with need.

  “Beg for it, baby. I want to please you. All you have to do is ask for it.”

  My stubborn girl bites on her bottom lip. “I don’t know who you’ve been with…and my past is…we hardly know each other…this isn’t me…”

  Our eyes lock as I inch deeper inside her. My cock is halfway in her tight cunt. I almost pass out from the pleasure. I reach between us and capture her clit between my thumb and finger, twisting it just enough to hug the line between pain and pleasure.

  “Gray,” she mewls, her fingernails clawing into my sides. She’s losing control. This woman is usually wound up so tight, but right now she’s unraveling fast and just for me.

  “I’m going to take care of you,” I assure her with a fierce growl. “Let me take care of you.”

  I slide the rest of the way in and my cock throbs almost painfully. I’ve never been inside a woman bare before. It’s as if I can feel every part of her. Her eyes are wild and those pouty lips of hers are parted.

  “Do you like this? Me inside of you like this?” I question, my nose dragging along hers.

  “Y-Yes,” she chokes out. “So much yes.”

  “You want me to fuck you so hard you scream?” I trail kisses to her ear and nip the flesh just below it. “Hmmm?”

  “Yes,” she whines. “Fuck me hard.”

  “I’m going to come inside you, Violet.”

  Her fingernails claw at me as she becomes positively manic. “Stop talking and fuck me. I want to feel all of you inside of me.”

  With a wicked grin, I slide out just so I can slam into her violently. The scream that escapes her is pure heaven. Thrust after thrust, I drive into her. I don’t neglect her needy clit either. I massage her in unison to the speed I’m pounding into her. Our mouths meet for an uncoordinated kiss that has our teeth knocking together. Neither one of us cares, though. We’re too wrapped up in our moment.

  I manage to pull a lovely scream from her as another orgasm crashes through her. The moment her pussy clenches, I lose control. My seed gushes out inside of her, marking her with me.

  She’s mine.

  Fucking mine.

  I slow down until I’m completely still inside of her. Her eyelids are heavy, and I love how red her mouth is from where my stubble scraped her. She’s completely sated and at ease. The soft, easy look in her eyes is one I could get used to seeing every day.

  “Come bathe with me,” I murmur as I press kisses to her parted mouth. “I want to take you again in the shower.”

  She whimpers and the familiar tension that always seems to have its tentacles around her tightens its grip. “What we just did…Gray, I’m not on the—”

  I silence her with a kiss. At first, she protests but then her mouth joins in. Our tongues aren’t interested in what’s right or wrong or fucking irresponsible. Our tongues just want to fuck each other.

  My cock starts to harden again but I want to take her when her soapy, slippery tits are in my grip. So instead of fucking her once more, I slip out and revel in the way my cum runs down the crack of her ass, soaking the bed. I wonder if this is how Bull feels about Sadie. The overwhelming need to consume her in every way.

  I saunter off toward the bathroom. She lets out a sharp breath, but I don’t stick around to see why and turn on the hot spray of the shower. I climb inside, and seconds later, she joins me. I’m grinning at her but her brows are furrowed together in sadness.

  “What’s wrong?” I demand, concern dripping from my voice.

  She turns me to face the wall. Then, her palms skate over my burn scars on my back. I tense up which makes her hesitate. “Does this hurt?”

  “Not anymore.”

  Her palms continue to ghost over my mangled flesh. I know it’s hideous and ruined. I’m hoping she’s not turned off.

  “What happened?” she whispers, her lips kissing the flesh. A shiver ripples its way straight to my dick, making it bounce.

  “I was a sniper in the Marine Corp during the Gulf War. RPG nearly got me,” I say with a sigh. “The explosio
n did a number on me.”

  Her arms wrap around me and her cheek rests against my mottled flesh. “I’m so sorry. That had to have been horrifying.”

  I shrug and cover her arms with my hands. “I don’t remember the explosion. All I remember is waking up in the hospital on my stomach and being in excruciating pain. It took many skin grafts and months of recovery. A very dark time in my life.”

  She sniffles. “I suppose we all have dark times…they’re just different. No less terrifying.”

  I twist back around so I can hug her. Whatever that fucker did to her must have been bad if she’s comparing it to RPG explosions and third-degree burns. Under the hot spray of the shower, I hold her to me and stroke her hair.

  “I want to take you to the resort in a couple of days. We’ll miss a few days of work and stay through the weekend. When was the last time you got away?” I question.

  “I’ve been on vacation the past six years since I’ve lived here,” she says with a humorless laugh.

  I grip her chin and tilt her head up. “Working for me was no vacation.”

  “But I was free of…” she trails off and her bottom lip quivers. “Him.”

  “Yes,” I agree and press a kiss to the wobbling lip. “But when was the last time you splurged and spoiled yourself?”

  “Never.”

  “Which is exactly why we’re going on Wednesday.”

  She doesn’t get to argue anymore because I grab her tiny ass and lift her. My mouth covers hers in a hot kiss as my dick slides into her.

  I’m going to show her over and over what it means to be spoiled.

  T-minus eleven days…

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  VIOLET

  I WINCE as I sit in my new comfy desk chair. The chair may be comfortable but it does nothing to ease the ache between my legs. It’s all Gray’s fault. Last night, he fucked me until I kicked him out. I needed sleep, and if he stayed in my bed, neither of us would get it.

  God, did he ever fuck me, though.

  Life after Vaughn has been cold and difficult. But last night, I was on fire. Everything was easy. For once in a really long time, I relaxed and enjoyed myself.