Schooled in Love

by Emma Nichols

  “Pretty close already.” Her stare dropped to his lips ever so briefly before finding his gaze once more.

  “Trust me, we’re not nearly close enough.” Slade kissed her.

  All thought and rationality fell away like silk gliding to the floor. Her flavor poured into him, reviving him in ways he hadn’t known he was even missing. Unsure as how to describe it, he stopped thinking and enjoyed every second.

  She angled into him, hands smoothing along his torso, nails raking lightly along his skin.

  Chest tight, he jumped from the glancing brush of her hand over his groin. Skimming his hands along her ribs and up under her breasts so his thumbs brushed them. Her breath hitched and his smile grew wicked. “So sensitive,” he rumbled, making sure to swipe his thumbs over her nipples even though they were behind the satin of her bra. Each pass drew the same reaction.

  Fuck, if she’s like this with clothing on, how is it going to be once I get her stripped naked? He couldn’t wait to find out.

  Piper sucked his lower lip into her mouth and latched on gently with her teeth before pulling back. Her gaze burned him as she released his lip. Meanwhile, the heel of her palm rubbed against his dick, increasing with pressure each time. “I’m willing to bet I’m not the only sensitive one,” she muttered.

  His retort fell away at the feel of her hand closing around his cock. He trembled.

  “Thought so.” She swiped over the large head of his shaft, smearing the pearl drops there with the pad of her thumb. Piper flicked her tongue along his lips once more before using her other hand and pushing against his chest.

  He inched back slightly, not wanting much space between them. Even so, he reached out and undid the buttons on her shirt, the silver-gray material falling open, allowing him to view her perky breasts captured in their blue lace bra, pushed up as if an offering for him.

  Piper tossed her hair and added her second hand to his exposed cock, touching him. Stroking him. Fisting him. In the time it took him to breathe, she had readjusted and her hair brushed his thighs as she bent to take him in her mouth.

  “Holy shit!”

  Her mouth slid over his cock, tongue skimming along the crown. Below her heated mouth, was the incredible touch of her palms on his shaft.

  I’m fucking going to explode and die.

  What a way to go.

  5

  Piper closed her eyes, relaxing her throat as she continued to suck Slade. The second she closed her fingers around him, she’d salivated to have him in her mouth. When the opportunity came, she hadn’t been about to ignore it.

  His musky scent filled her nose and she wanted to stretch out between his legs and truly enjoy him. The rocks of an old retaining wall weren’t the most comfortable but she didn’t care. He was with her and she didn’t want it any other way.

  He sank his hands into her hair and tugged.

  She ignored him, no way she was stopping now.

  “Christ, Piper. Stop.”

  “Uh-uh.”

  “Baby, please. At least move to the softer ground.”

  She released him, reluctantly. Dragging her tongue along her lips she gave him one last stroke. “Turn.”

  He did and she knew he’d planned on getting on the ground, but she beat him and settled between his legs first, kneeling on dirt. “This works.” Those words spoken and she opened her mouth once more to capture him. His curse had her smiling. She loved this, that she wielded this kind of power over him. She never would have believed it.

  “Fuck me, Piper, you’re a goddamn witch with your mouth. I want nothing more than to fuck this mouth, to stand up and thrust deep into you while you look up at me.”

  Gripping his hips, she inched back until she believed he could do just what he’d stated. Her own slit wet, with need and longing, begged for a touch, but she ignored it. She didn’t want to bring herself relief, she wanted him to do it.

  He stood and all the while, she continued sucking him. “Open your eyes, Piper.”

  She couldn’t ignore that command any more than she could stop the sun from rising.

  “Do you have any idea how fucking sexy you are to me? Especially right now? Kneeling there, shirt open allowing me to see those luscious boobs of yours. How you’re watching me with your brown eyes with green flecks as my cock slides in and out of your mouth? You’re a goddamn wet dream.”

  Her body hummed and she wanted to touch herself, bring herself relief but not more than she wanted him to. If her hands weren’t on his dick, she had them on his thighs. Slade tightened his grip and thrust faster. She alternated the pressure around his shaft as it moved between her lips.

  He came with a low growl and the moment he stopped coming, he pulled from her mouth and hauled her to him, claiming her lips. “You’re mine, Piper.”

  Yeah, she pretty much felt claimed. And she was okay with that. It was a weekend, no need to worry.

  He undid her jeans and turned her around, bending her over the retaining wall he’d just been sitting on. “Tonight, I make this up to you.” Ripping down her panties and jeans, she gasped as he pushed deep inside her with one stroke.

  Her muscles adjusted to his size, rippling around him as he powered in and out of her, not giving her time. She didn’t care. This was what she needed and what she’d craved.

  In and out, he stroked. Hard. Deep. Fast.

  The stone scraped up her palms with the force of his thrusts. None of it mattered. She pushed back into him, silently asking for more. Deeper. Faster. Harder.

  This wasn’t about slow, gentle, soul twining making love. This was raw, almost angry, need that he was addressing perfectly. His strong fingers gripped into her hips as he pistoned in and out.

  She trembled as yet another orgasm washed over her. Head hanging over the wall, she gripped the stones with desperate fingers, not wanting to lose this position, loving the angle and penetration he found from it. The fit was snug as her pants were still on, so she couldn’t adjust her stance.

  “Slade,” she gasped as her entire body shivered from the force of her release.

  “Fuck, Piper. I love you coming on my cock.” He looped an arm around her midsection to support as he bent over her, adjusting the angle again, and getting her to turn her head, so their lips could meet.

  Teeth clashing, tongues dueling, it again, wasn’t gentle and she didn’t care. Allowing her eyes to close, she moaned as he stiffened and came hard inside her. His shaft pulsing with his release triggered another in her.

  Weak, she gave him more of her weight to hold up and thankfully he did. Slade ended the kiss with a gentle peck on her nose before he carefully pulled free of her. It didn’t take either of them long to set themselves to rights.

  Suddenly unsure, she looked anywhere but at him.

  He gripped her chin and forced a visual connection. “We’re far from done, Piper. Far from it.” He tugged her close.

  She went willingly. When she was against his chest, she closed her eyes again, allowing herself to enjoy the moment.

  The ride back to the hotel was slow and she enjoyed the ride, even if she was a bit sore. He parked in the lot and held out his hand to her. Holding it, they walked into the Hilton, he wouldn’t let her go as they moved by classmates to the elevator. He didn’t speak to any of them, just kept his gaze on her.

  “Which floor?”

  Slade pushed the button when she provided the number. As they went up, he still never looked away from her, his eyes conveying something she wasn’t sure she wanted to address right now. Once in her room, he locked the door behind them and brought her closer before starting to undo the buttons on her shirt once more.

  His smile grew wicked as his knuckles brushed against her breasts. “My turn.”

  6

  Slade opened his eyes and checked the clock… the barbeque at the lake had already started. Skimming his fingers along Piper’s back, he smiled when she burrowed closer to him, and continued to sleep. Honestly, he didn’t want to share her with anyon
e. Much less classmates who would take her from his side as they caught up.

  But it wasn’t about him, apparently. And she’d mentioned she wanted to at least swing by and see people. Brushing her hair back from her shoulder, he smiled before sliding his fingers down her body until he pushed them into her.

  Her moan was like coating his cock in iron. She widened her legs, shifting as if asking for more. He kept his thrusts slow and gentle, well aware she had to be sore. She’d been so tight, it had to have been a long time for her. Not that he minded. Quite the opposite.

  “Piper,” he said, nipping her shoulder. “Come on, baby, wake up.”

  “Do I have to?”

  “We’re already late to the lake. We need to get some beer and sides to share.”

  She ground down on his fingers, taking them in deeper. “It’s going to be a few hours long. Surely, we don’t have to leave right now.”

  “No, we need to shower, dress, then leave.”

  She inched up his body before reaching down and pulling out his fingers. Curling her hand around his dick, he bit back a moan as she put it at the entrance to her pussy. Eyes locked on his she sank down, taking him in all the way. “Being fashionably late isn’t a bad thing.”

  Sucking her flavor off his fingers, he palmed her breasts. “You’re right.”

  Her smile made him feel like the only man in the world.

  It wasn’t until after noon that they rolled up to the park on his motorcycle, she’d actually asked to stop off at Shelly’s grave and had paid her respects. Then they’d headed over to the lake. Now, Piper had balanced the sides they’d picked up carefully, and he’d made sure not to drive crazy. Running his gaze over her as she waited for him, he wanted to dump the food, put her right back on the bike and hightail it out of there.

  She was his and damn it, reunion or not, he still didn’t want to share her with anyone. Piper had drawn her hair away from her face in a high ponytail and he knew she had a sexy as fuck bikini on beneath her capris and tank top.

  With a deep breath, he reached for the food and took it from her. Together, they made their way to the pavilion and as he set down the food, he found she’d already been waylaid by other classmates.

  He watched Susan pull her toward the volleyball game that was going on and he shook his head, well aware she was out of his hands for a while now. May as well have some fun of his own.

  After claiming a table, he looked up when a shadow passed by him.

  “Slade?”

  “That’s me.” He ran his gaze over the man but couldn’t place him. Blond hair and brown eyes with a medium build. Fairly tall.

  The man smiled. “Grady Cox.”

  “You’ve changed, how’ve you been?” Gesturing to a chair, Slade stole one last look in Piper’s direction before focusing on the man joining him at the table.

  Time passed and he found himself actually having fun. There were the few moments where his sister was mentioned but they weren’t often. Before he knew it, their time had come to an end. He dropped some trash in a receptacle and scanned the crowd for Piper.

  Down by the lake’s edge, walking up in her vivid green bikini. Water droplets glistened on her darker skin, making his hands itch to touch her. To cover her up from everyone’s gaze. It didn’t hurt he knew exactly what lingered beneath those scraps of clothing she wore.

  Anger simmered within him as he caught other men staring at her. The boy from high school would have punched them. Slade took a deep breath and willed himself to remain there. She was a grown woman and he didn’t have any claim on her.

  Yet.

  The longer it took her to get to him, the more antsy he became and eventually, he just strode toward her.

  She stood talking to Jordan Mitchell and Donovan Buchanan, clothes in one hand and a towel in the other.

  “Guys,” he said upon walking up.

  They both looked at him, eyebrows shooting up when he bent his head and kissed Piper full on the lips. “Ready to go, baby?” His momentary jealousy was appeased as he watched her struggle to focus on anything else. It told him all he needed to know. His touch affected her, she wasn’t drawn to either of the other two.

  “Yes. I think I need a nap before the dance tonight. Good to see you both. See you tonight.”

  “Sure thing,” Donovan said. “Save me a dance.”

  “Will do.”

  Jordan didn’t say a word, just looked at Slade with a wink.

  Arm around her waist, he turned her back toward the parking lot and his bike.

  “Hang on,” she said.

  “What?”

  “I’d rather get dressed now than have to walk in the parking lot without my shoes on.”

  He held the towel for her as she shimmed her firm ass into her capris and tugged her shirt on over her head, hiding the luscious body that had just been on display.

  Better.

  But not really because he still wanted to peel off the clothing and indulge.

  “Want to tell me what that was all about?” she asked as they began again for his motorcycle.

  “What, what was about?”

  “You being all possessive acting. It’s not like they’re interested in me in that way.”

  “Trust me, Piper, it’s not acting. I’m extremely possessive about you.”

  Always have been, ever since that night.

  She shook her head and took back the towel.

  Allowing his hand to caress her ass, he didn’t say anything else on the way to the bike. Only once she had wrapped her arms around him did he start the engine.

  As they rode away, he made a decision and headed out of town into the mountains. This was his time and he planned on keeping her to himself right now. He stopped at an old cabin his parents owned and parked.

  “What are we doing up here? I have a prom to get ready for.”

  “I’ll have you back in time. I just didn’t want to share you right now and I know there are people at the hotel who would want your time.”

  She took his hand as they went to the door. “I kind of thought that was the point of a reunion, to reconnect with people from your past.”

  “We’re reconnecting.” He unlocked the cabin and ushered her inside.

  “You do know this thing starts in an hour right? And I’m not even close to being ready.”

  “You want the cocktails and beer?”

  She smiled at him and spread her hands over his chest. “I like part of a word in that sentence. And I’ll give you a hint. It’s not and or beer.”

  “I’ll make sure you’re there for the dance.” Slade kissed her.

  7

  The dance was in full swing when Piper entered the ballroom at the Hilton. Slade hadn’t lied, she wasn’t going to miss the dance but she was definitely late to her own prom. She skimmed the room, not seeing Slade and took a deep breath.

  “He’ll be here.”

  She turned at the sound of Jordan’s voice.

  “I’m sorry?”

  “Slade. You’re looking for him. He’ll be here.”

  Am I that obvious? Piper smiled and shrugged best she could. “Okay.”

  His laugh hadn’t changed much from high school, still allowed people to see his charisma. Personally, it’s what she believed contributed to him being such a good team captain. Then again, with his God given talent, that didn’t hurt either.

  “You know, I knew about you two. He told me. You were the one woman who had managed to get beneath his skin in school. Trust me, Pipes. He’ll be here. For you.”

  Her heart pounded at a near painful pace within her chest. Was he serious? And why am I wanting to run around in a circle and pump my fists in the air. Christ, after all this time, I still have it in me to act like a high schooler.

  “I believe I was promised a dance.”

  Donovan entered the conversation and she smiled at him. “So you were.” She put her attention back on Jordan. “Excuse me, Jordan.”

  He toasted her with his drink
as Donovan whisked her away onto the floor.

  As she danced with Donovan, her mind whirled with the news that Jordan had just conveyed to her. In school, Slade hadn’t been all that into dances or anything of the like. She hadn’t even see a hint of him at their first prom, which had to be moved outside onto the football field thanks to some flooding. Definitely hadn’t been her best night, not with the shoes sinking into the field. Even so, she hadn’t seen him at all. Not at any throughout school and the only reason she attended them was because her mother felt it in her best interest.

  After her dance with Donovan, she retreated to the side of the room and found another drink to nurse. All she wanted to do was leave and head to her room. Fingers curved around the glass, she rested against the wall and watched the couples dance.

  “And here I thought you’d be out there in some other man’s arms, so I’d have to control my temper.”

  His voice was like a warm snifter of cognac heating her from the inside out, spreading slow but not missing a single inch of her. Worrying her bottom lip, she shifted her weight to allow herself to see the man beside her. Her breath hitched.

  Slade looked delicious in his one-button peak lapel design tuxedo. Broad shoulders were draped perfectly by the jacket, the narrowing at his waist made her mouth water. Holy Christ, he was a walking sex ad.

  The royal blue pocket square matched the blue of his eyes and she wanted to yank him close and plant a huge kiss on his lips. Then wrap her arms around him and see what happened from that point on.

  “I’m game if you are,” he murmured, dipping his head close.

  In that moment, she realized her thought had been spoken. “But you got all dressed up for the prom.”

  “No, baby. I got dressed up for you, don’t give a damn about the prom, but you wanted to be here and for that reason, I’m willing to dress up in this damn monkey suit and stand here with you in this group of people who are reliving their past.”

  Piper skimmed her hands along his lapels and patted him. “I for one happen to love you in a monkey suit. Jordan said you were coming, I didn’t believe it, but he was right. He said you’d be here for me.”