by Flynn, Ava
He must have sensed it because the hand on her back skimmed its way up her spine and underneath her hair. Without really thinking about it, she leaned back to look up into his face. She wondered if there was a sliver of moon hanging in the sky or if her eyes had just adjusted to the time in the dark because she could see the strong outlines of his jaw. Noticed that his hair looked a little longer than she’d guessed based on their time together the night before.
Could he see her face? She nearly pulled away until she realized he’d given no indication that he could see the scar that ran in a cruel diagonal from her lower left eyelid to the lower curve of her jaw. Even with him being paid to be with her, she didn’t think he could fake not seeing that. She was a bit like a piece of china that was still intact and functional but with a nasty crack across its surface, whatever beauty it once held forever marred.
"Can I kiss you?" he asked, the warmth of his breath wafting across her cheeks.
"Yes."
His lips lowered much too slowly toward hers, but when they finally made contact it was so worth the wait. A flood of warmth flowed outward from every point they made contact. Lips to lips, hand to the back of her head, other hand to the lower part of her back. Lower, aroused regions drawn together like magnets.
She moaned into his mouth, causing him to deepen the kiss. Lily ran her hands up his back, feeling the play of lean muscle as he moved to pull her even closer. Suddenly, she hated the shirt that kept her hands from touching his skin. At the thought of his naked flesh, her entire body started tingling, urging her to move things along.
Connor pulled away, but only slightly. "Lily?"
"Yes?"
"What do you want from me?"
She opened her mouth to answer then paused. What did she want? But then the answer came to her. "I want you to make me forget. Keep the doubts at bay."
His hand came up and he let his fingers trail down her cheek, thankfully her right one. "You’re sure? I don’t want to make you cry again."
She placed her hand over his on her face. "You didn’t. That was...someone else."
As his hands slid down to the bottom edge of her T-shirt, she thought she felt a slight tremor go through him. But the question about what that could possibly mean dissolved and flowed out of her mind the moment his fingers touched her overheated flesh. Her pulse kicked it up a few notches as he pulled the shirt over her head and tossed it in the general direction of the couch.
Need slammed into Lily like a boulder barreling down a mountain, and everything seemed to suddenly be going way too slowly. She lifted her hands to his shirt and made quick work of the buttons down the front. When she spread his shirt wide, she paused and looked up into his eyes.
"I wasn’t lying this morning when I said I didn’t know if I was cut out for this, for anonymous sex."
"I know."
"I feel like a hypocrite now."
He rubbed the pad of his thumb over her well-kissed lips. "A lot can change in a day. I don’t feel anonymous anymore, do you?"
She realized that she didn’t, as absolutely crazy as that might seem. Somewhere in the midst of one night’s conversation, he’d ceased being a faceless stranger. Sure, she still didn’t know what he looked like, but she knew his scent, the deep sound of his voice, the way his laugh made her smile. And even though they’d only been together once, the contours of his body had somehow burned themselves into her memory. Contours she was looking forward to exploring again.
"No," she finally said.
He started to lower his mouth toward her again, but she remembered that morning and took a step back, stopping him.
"Is something wrong?" he asked.
"No. I just wanted to thank you for the flowers you left."
"It was nothing."
"That’s where you’re wrong. They made all the difference in how I was feeling this morning."
"Nothing’s changed," he said. "I’m still the same man you hired."
"Call me crazy, but I don’t think you are. You didn’t send a big, expensive bouquet. Nothing showy, like you were trying too hard."
"I felt bad leaving you when you were so upset."
"I know. That’s what those flowers told me more than any words could. They showed me you’re a good man. One I would very much like to be with for the rest of the night. And no crying, no thinking about real life this time. Not for the rest of the week."
He smoothed her hair. "You can stop me at any time."
"I know, but I won’t." She wasn’t sure how she knew that for certain, but she did. She was tired of holding herself back, worried about what others would think of her if they found out. But there was no way they could, and she was going to enjoy this week to its fullest. Try things she’d only fantasized about or explored with dream lovers. "I want to really let go, and I need you to help me do that. I don’t want you to hold back and treat me like I’m fragile. I’ve had enough of that. I don’t ever want to be that person again."
The longer she talked, the more she felt empowered. Screw what anyone would think about what she was doing. She was a grown woman, one who’d survived a brush with death. It was high time she started fully enjoying the life that had been spared.
"You’re sure?"
She ran her hand down the front of his jeans in answer, and his penis jumped to attention, straining against the denim. "Does that answer your question?"
"Yes, ma’am," he said, his voice suddenly thicker and deeper than normal.
In the next moment, he backed her against the wall, startling a gasp from her. But then his mouth was on the swell of her breast, and his teeth captured the top of her bra and dragged it down until her breast popped free. He ran his tongue over her nipple, and she went suddenly wet at her center.
"You ever fucked against a wall?" he asked, his voice alone enough to make her hornier than she could ever imagine being.
"No."
"First time for everything." He took her breast into his mouth and sucked hard as he worked the button on her jeans loose and jerked the zipper down. He made quick work of the jeans then shoved his hand down the front of her panties, pressing the heel of his hand against her as his fingers explored her folds.
She expected his fingers to slide inside her, but he pulled his hand free of her panties as quickly as he’d invaded them. And then almost before she could take two breaths, she was completely naked and he’d shucked his clothes, too. He lifted her up so that her back pressed against the wall and her legs straddled him.
His lips blazed a flaming trail from her breast to her ear. And then he shoved inside her in one forceful thrust.
"Oh," she cried out, pleasure instead of pain causing her to press her head back.
Connor paused. "Did I hurt you?"
"No," she breathed. "And don’t you dare stop."
He laughed and pulled out of her only to thrust in again with a grunt that made her feel primal and animalistic. She gripped his shoulders as his hands slid up her legs to dig into her hips. Connor slammed into her like a wild animal in rut, and she loved it. All her attention shifted to where they were joined, where her inner muscles were beginning to contract around his penis with each thrust. She’d had sex in the past, made love, but this was the first time she’d been well and truly fucked. And she didn’t know if she could ever go back to relatively calm sex. This, this made her body burn, like flames were licking at her skin and she welcomed them.
Connor picked up the pace right as she felt her orgasm starting.
"Faster," she breathed, sucking in breath as quickly as she could.
He complied, and the banging of their bodies against the wall caused something to rattle. If they brought the cabin down around them, she considered it well worth the cost of rebuilding.
Lily cried out as her orgasm exploded. Connor threw back his head, and all of his muscles tightened to what must be the breaking point as he found his own release. Even after they both came, he stroked a few more times, sliding easily in and out, in
and out, making her want him all over again.
He must have sensed this because he scooped her up and carried her to the couch. He lay her down and reclined beside her. "Did you like that?"
"I don’t think you need to ask that question," she said. "This is going to make me sound like a madwoman, like someone else inhabited my body since this morning, but I don’t want to stop. I’ve never felt anything like that, and I like it."
Despite the darkness, she detected his smile. He licked her breast. "Then turn over," he whispered.
* * * *
CHAPTER SIX
Connor had rarely had a problem making himself ready for a woman, but this was different. Though he’d never seen her face, he didn’t have to do anything but be near Lily to be rip-roaring ready. He’d just fucked her silly against the wall, and now he flipped her over so that her shapely ass was pointed toward him.
"Hang on to the arm of the couch," he said.
Lily spread her legs more, and he went rock hard. Had he ever been ready that quickly after an orgasm before? And why now?
Don’t think, stupid. Just get inside her.
He slid his hand around to her mound and positioned himself at the sweet spot, then pressed back with his hand as he sheathed himself. He closed his eyes and felt the thrum of a pulse around his cock. He had no idea if it was his or hers or both, but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was the burning desire to move, to let those muscle contractions milk another monster orgasm out of him.
For a guy who had spent the day trying to find another job so he could leave Pleasure Ridge behind, he sure was enjoying himself. He pulled out, thrust, pulled out, thrust, all while working her front with his hand, flicking her nub, pressing hard against her mound each time he buried himself inside her.
She felt so damn wonderful, like she was perfectly sized to give him pleasure. And damn if she didn’t seem to be enjoying this ride, too. He didn’t know what had changed since that morning, but he was sure glad it had.
Lily’s panting spurred him to move faster, riding her closer and closer to another orgasm of her own. When she started rocking hard back against him each time he thrust, all his muscles jacked to full attention. When she breathed, "Harder," he was a goner. Literally. He came hard, shuddering with the power of his release.
"Don’t stop," she said, and he complied, pummeling her as fast as he could, slipping and sliding easier in her channel until he felt her inner muscles seizing, contracting, capturing him as if they’d never let go.
Lily thrust hard back against him one more time before she came then collapsed as if her arms would no longer support her. He fell too but made sure it was to her side so he didn’t crush her.
Lily made a sound of disbelief, and he was able to see her lift her hand to her face, covering it as if embarrassed. "I can’t believe I just did that," she said.
He ran his hand lazily down her ribs with what fraction of energy he had left. "Are you glad you did?"
She lowered her hand, and he wished he could see her expression, her eyes. "Yes. I...I felt more in control of my life than I have in a very long time."
The way she said it, like there were a lot of layers of pain inside her, ones she was finally shedding, did something to Connor’s heart. He didn’t know what had happened to her, but he wanted to make whoever had hurt her pay. He dropped his head back against a decorative pillow and stared at the ceiling, wondering what was going on with him. How could he feel so protective of a woman he didn’t even know?
Maybe it wasn’t such a great mystery. His father had raised him to treat women with respect, to never think they weren’t strong enough to fend for themselves but to be ready to defend them if they needed protecting. He hated it when he heard stories of men beating their wives or girlfriends, had even broken up a domestic fight or two during his days on the rodeo circuit. That’s all this was, sensing that Lily had been hurt and wishing he could erase that pain.
If bringing them both physical pleasure was the way to helping her move forward, who was he to argue? As if he could protect her from things that had already happened, he pulled her back against him, spooning them, and pulled a quilt from the back of the couch to cover them.
"Rest," he said next to her ear.
"I don’t want to waste any time."
He chuckled. "Think of it as giving me time to recharge."
"Oh, okay."
He smiled then planted a kiss at her temple. Then he closed his eyes, relaxed and felt sleep tugging at him. As he drifted, the oddest sensation that he was the happiest he’d been in a long time settled inside him like an indisputable truth.
* * * *
When Lily woke, she felt safer and more relaxed than she could ever remember feeling, at least since she’d been a child tucked away in her childhood bedroom with her parents a buffer between her and anything that went bump in the night.
It was truly odd that she could feel so at ease with a virtual stranger lying naked behind her, but his arm was draped over her as if he could shield her even in sleep. She let herself wonder why Connor was different, why his unspoken protective gesture didn’t rankle like the smothering protectiveness of her family and friends. She knew they all meant well, that they loved her, but their actions only served to make her feel like a victim over and over again. Connor, by allowing her to explore parts of her sexuality she’d only dared to daydream about before, had somehow broken down a wall inside her.
Not to mention he’d made her feel damn good in the process. Need blossomed to life again, and she rolled over to face him. He came awake as she started kissing his neck and letting her hand wander much lower. With one glide of her palm down his shaft, he was rock hard and ready, even before he fully woke.
"Have you recovered enough?" she whispered.
"Only one way to find out."
This time, she pushed him onto his back and positioned herself above his erect penis.
"You need me to make you ready?" he asked.
"No. Just thinking about this was all I needed." And with that, she slid down onto him, taking him in fully.
Connor uttered a curse that told her that this felt every bit as good to him as it did to her. She began to undulate her hips, and Connor’s hands went to her hips, his fingers spanning her flesh as he began to meet her thrusts. She’d thought to take it slow this time, but after a few delicious strokes, the desire to go the fast and furious route overtook her.
Lily impaled herself on Connor’s dick over and over, faster and faster, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Connor’s grunts of approaching release only served to fuel her.
Connor lifted himself so that he was facing her, and his hands slid up her back before he pulled her body close to his. Her breasts pressed against his chest as they fucked themselves into mutual orgasms that had them both crying out their release.
When they’d finished riding the waves, Connor dropped his forehead against hers. "I really do think you’re trying to kill me."
She smiled, the surge of feminine power filling her with a joy she’d never thought to feel again. "I think you’re tough enough to take it."
He nuzzled her ear, nibbling a little on the lobe, before his lips found their way to hers. After his tongue invaded her mouth and led to her panting some more, he moved his hands toward her hips and pushed her forward against his, making her very aware they were still joined. His length began to stiffen, and flutters of awareness and welcome made her ready as well.
This time, they did make love slowly. Slow strokes, slow kisses, slow licking. By the time Connor brought her to completion again, quickly followed by his own, she felt like little more than a sweat-slicked noodle.
"How do you feel about a shower?" he whispered against her ear.
"I’d say I’ve had a lot of fantasies about them."
"Do tell," he said, teasing in his sexy voice.
She ran her fingertip over his left nipple. "How about I show you instead?"
Connor found some hidden wel
l of energy, stood quickly and lifted her in his powerful arms as if she weighed no more than the quilt that now pooled in the floor at his feet. With long strides, he carried her through the bedroom to the bathroom. After turning on the water and letting it warm to a comfortable temperature, he led her inside the large, walk-in shower. He grabbed the soap and started lathering her body.
"I’ve never done this before," she said.
"Showered with a man?" He sounded surprised.
"Yeah. I guess I worried that the real thing would never live up to my fantasies."
Connor pulled her to him, their slick bodies wrapping around each other. "What kind of fantasies?"
Instead of speaking, she captured his left nipple between her teeth and tugged gently, then slid her tongue across the sensitive bud.
Connor slipped his fingers through her water-slicked hair to the back of her scalp then lowered his mouth to hers. She met his kisses with equal enthusiasm as he rubbed the lower halves of their bodies together. One of her fantasies floated up from her memories, and she pushed Connor against the far side of the large shower. She ran her hand down the middle of his soaked chest then lowered herself in front of him.
"You don’t have to do that," he said. "I’m here to pleasure you."
"And what if I told you this was one of my fantasies?"
She heard the catch of his breath even over the sound of the shower, and it filled her with a surge of excitement. At first she just teased him with her tongue, lapping at the tip of his penis where it jutted forward, torturing him if his groans were any indication.
As she ran her hands up the back of his legs to his hips, she felt a shudder race through him. "Tell me what you want, Connor."
He let out a shaky breath. "I want your mouth on me. I want to be in your hot, wet mouth."
She gave him what he wanted, taking him fully into her mouth and slowly working him, flicking her tongue against his velvety flesh, sucking him a little harder with each movement of her head down onto him.