by Kennedy Fox
“Are you sure you didn’t mean to say riding me instead?” Holding her hand as I drive back to my house, I press her knuckles to my lips as we fall right back into our old rhythm. “Or are you two not that close?” I flash her a cocky grin.
“Ha! Still as confident and arrogant as I remember.” She squeezes her hand in mine. “Quite the opposite actually. She probably knows more about me than I do. She takes care of my schedule and everything, down to what underwear I wear that day.”
“Really?” I arch a brow in her direction before sliding the material of her dress up her thigh and revealing red, lacy panties. “Remind me to send her a thank-you card.”
She bursts out laughing. “Please don’t. She’ll take it to heart and frame it or something.”
Once we arrive at the house, I study Vada’s features, and I’m positive memories of us here together are flooding through her mind. She looks around, her face contorting into something unrecognizable.
“What’s on your mind?” I ask once we’re standing on the sidewalk in front of the house. Grabbing her hand, I pull her body toward mine. “I’m really happy you’re here.”
“It feels a little like déjà vu,” she says, honestly. “And it scares me a little.”
“Don’t be scared, sweetheart.” I press a soft kiss against her mouth. “I don’t bite, unless requested of course.”
“Why can’t I get you out of my head, Ethan Rochester?” She tilts her head as she asks the question. “You’re bad news.”
“Probably because I’m the best sex you’ve ever had,” I say, confidently.
Her eyes widen as the realization hits her. “Oh my God.” She covers a hand over her mouth, laughing. “You read the book.”
“Of course, I did.” I smile in return. “It was the church’s book club pick of the month. Very popular with the older ladies, by the way.”
Her cheeks redden, and her eyes bug out in embarrassment. “Stop it!”
“I’m serious! I couldn’t look Aunt Millie in the eyes for weeks once she learned of my cock piercing.” I chuckle, shaking my head at the memory of her reading those parts.
Her face falls into her palms as she dies laughing. “Guess they read between the lines.”
“Yeah, Nathan?” I quirk a brow.
She’s still laughing. “Fuck. I honestly didn’t think you’d even hear about it.”
“Seriously? It’s been in the local papers for weeks and in those ‘anticipated reads’ articles. Apparently, being with the bad boy excites a lot of people.” I wink.
“Aunt Millie must think I’m a slut,” she blurts out as I lead her down the path to the front of the house.
“No, but she thinks I’m a manwhore. So thanks for that,” I tease, taking out my keys and unlocking the door.
“She thought that long before I came around.” She laughs.
“True.”
After walking into the house, I lead her into the kitchen and pin her against the wall. I know I should be taking it slow with her, considering we still have so much to discuss, but I can’t pass up this opportunity. I have no idea what it’ll lead to—if anything at all—and I’ve been miserably waiting for this day to come.
“What do you say we skip dinner and go right to dessert?” I ask against her neck, inhaling her sweet scent.
I feel her chest moving rapidly as she breathlessly responds, “Yes.” It’s a whispered plea, and I don’t waste any time. My lips on hers, her hands on me, our bodies pressed together as if we’ll float away without the weight of the other.
“Tell me what you want, Vada,” I murmur in her ear.
“You.”
Wrapping my arms around her hips, I dig my nails into her ass and squeeze. Lifting her up, she circles her legs around me, and I carry her to the table.
“I can’t wait any longer, I have to taste you.” After setting her down, I kneel and part her legs just enough for my hand to slide up her leg and tug at her panties. “Red is officially my new favorite color.” I smirk, looking up at her as she blushes.
Sliding her panties all the way down, I pull off her heels and toss them aside. “When I’m done devouring you for dessert, I want you bent over this table wearing only those heels.”
“Oh my God…” She moans, leaning back on her elbows. “You’re giving me way too much book material.” She smiles, and I know she’s not joking.
“I’d be happy to give you more inspiration…I have all night, sweetheart.” I meet her eyes and wink before parting her legs farther. Hooking her knee over my shoulder, I kiss a line until I reach the sweetness in between her legs. “Goddammit, Vada,” I growl, flattening my tongue against her slit. “I’ve been craving this for months. Fuck.”
She releases a throaty moan as I find her clit and circle it with my tongue. Her fingers wrap around my biceps, and her nails dig in as I slide my tongue inside her.
“Vada…” I breathe out, desperately.
“Ethan…” she whimpers in return.
I bring my hand up her thigh and rub the pad of my thumb along her clit as I kiss along her inner thigh. My fingers slide down her pussy and push inside her tight cunt. Her hips buck at the intrusion, and she bellows out another moan.
“Do you know how fucking mad at you I was when you left me, Vada…” I slip a second finger inside her. She stretches her neck and looks at me with hooded eyes. I push in deeper. “I lost my shit when I realized you were really gone. Your luggage was gone. The drawers in the cottage were empty. You took the last sliver of hope I felt and ripped it to fucking shreds.” I increase the pace, finger fucking her hard and fast.
“Ethan…” she begins, but she bites her bottom lip, and a moan slips through them.
“I called and texted you a hundred times. For the first time in years, I felt something. I hadn’t realized it until you left, and my heart broke all over again.”
“Ethan, stop talking…” she orders, and I spread her legs wider and sink in deeper. The more I think about it now, the angrier I get, knowing she could’ve called or texted me so we could’ve worked it out. I still would’ve given her space to finish her book, but I was left in limbo.
“Aunt Millie told me to go to you. She said to fight for you, Vada. I wanted to, tried to convince myself I should, but I couldn’t bear the thought of you telling me to leave or that the feelings were no longer mutual. So I fucking chickened out. Sent you flowers instead. Tried telling myself it was for the best, that one week with you was enough.”
“Ethan, please…” she begs, her eyes filling with tears.
I slow my rhythm but don’t stop.
“I’ve been lying to myself for twelve fucking months, hoping you’d realize how much you meant to me and come back to me, but now that I have you here with me, all I want is for you to know how much you hurt me…”
“Ethan…” she begs louder. “I’m sorry!” I rotate my wrist and slide my finger in and out of her again. “Fuck. I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. It’s been torturing me ever since.” Her honest words fuel my anger even more.
“Then why didn’t you come back sooner and let me explain?” I fire back. “I needed you as much as you needed me.”
She winces before her body tenses, and I feel her tighten around me. Her orgasm starts to build, and she’s no longer in control as she arches her back and releases a deep, desperate moan. Desperate for more, desperate for me.
“I was scared,” she finally admits. “I’m still scared.”
Standing up, I push my fingers inside my mouth and taste her sweetness.
“Don’t be, because, for the first time in six years, I’m not. I know exactly what I want.”
She adjusts her body and sits up so she can look up into my eyes. Reaching for me, she wraps her petite hands in mine. “Isn’t getting closure this time a much better ending to our story?”
“This isn’t the end, baby. We’re just beginning.”
21
VADA
The moment his lips t
ouched mine, I was transported back to the first time we kissed. He tasted so good and memories of our week together were front and center in my head. I’d been anticipating this moment, wondering if it’d ever happen, and now that it has, I’m more scared than ever.
“Vada…” he says my name in a pleading drawl. “Please tell me you want this as much as I do.”
I do. I want it so bad.
“I don’t want to hurt you again, Ethan,” I say, softly. “I don’t know what I can offer you.”
“You.” He presses his lips against mine again, silently pleading for me to give us a chance. “I only need you.”
I release a moan as our bodies press together and his hand wraps around my neck and holds us there, waiting for my response.
“Say yes, Vada…” he begs as his mouth brushes against mine. “Let me love you.”
God. This man was the full package, and I’d be a fool to walk away from him again. No guy has ever fought this hard for me and knowing he waited a year for me lets me know how serious he is about us, too. After a moment, I finally nod, giving him the approval he needs.
“Thank fuck,” he mutters against my lips before taking my mouth. He positions my body between his legs and kisses the hell out of me. My heels dig into his ass as he rubs his fingers over my hard nipples.
Without warning, he scoops me up and carries me down the hall. I squeal with a laugh and cling to him while he takes us upstairs. I know exactly where we’re going, and the smile on my face never falters.
Once we’re inside his bedroom, he kicks the door shut and flashes me an evil grin.
“I’ve imagined this for a long time,” I admit because it’s the truth. I’ve spent many times in my bed, getting off to thoughts of him.
“Yeah?” He sets me down on the bed, towering over me with hope in his eyes. His mouth lands on my collarbone before he brushes his lips along my exposed shoulder.
Deciding to mess with him first, I reply in all seriousness, “I want to use a strap-on and fuck you in the ass while stroking your dick until you come.”
He immediately chokes and leans back to face me, reading my expression. “Just because Nathan’s into that, doesn’t mean I am.”
I burst out laughing. “Dammit. You really did read the book.”
Smiling, he presses his lips back to mine. “Of course. Several times.”
I wrap my arms and legs around him, pressing his body to mine. “Several times?”
“Yup. Memorized it like the fucking Bible.”
“Had I known you were going to read it, I wouldn’t have gone into such grave detail about your cock,” I tease, loving the way his body feels pressed to mine.
“Speaking of which, Henry’s butt hurt that you gave him a chick name.”
My head falls back, laughing, which I seem to be doing a lot around him. “I’ll explain to him that it was for his privacy, and hopefully he’ll forgive me.”
“I’m sure you two can work out a deal.” He winks, sending butterflies straight to my core.
Leaning back, his hands push up my dress until he’s pulling it over my head, and I watch as he tosses it to the floor. His eyes widen as he stares at my bra, which happens to match the red, lacy panties I was wearing.
“I think your assistant needs a raise.” He smirks, rubbing the pad of his thumb against my nipple.
“I can dress myself, you know. She just so happened to pack everything for this trip so I could work on edits.”
“Another book?” His brows raise, intrigued.
I nod. “There’s always another book.”
“Does Nathan make an appearance in it?” He kneels back slightly to remove his shirt. My eyes trace down his chest and abs, wandering all the way down to his happy trail that leads right to my happy place.
“He doesn’t, but don’t worry, Nathan will always be my number one.” I flash him a wink as I reach over and help him unbutton his jeans.
“Good. Now let me fuck you like in chapter thirteen, because I’m in the mood for some backdoor adventures.” He grins, waiting for my reaction.
“Nice try, Casanova.” I unzip his jeans.
“A man can dream.” He shrugs, standing and removing the rest of his clothing.
I swallow as I take in his beautiful body. “Well, keep dreaming.”
“I think I am,” he says, genuinely, kneeling between my legs again and brushing his fingers along my cheek. “I still can’t believe you’re really here.”
“Me either.”
He presses his lips to mine, sweet and slow, then slides his tongue in just enough to part my lips. My hands hang around his hips before my fingertips trail along his deep V line that brings me to his erection, hard and solid. I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t missed the feel of his cock, the way it tastes, the way it filled me so fucking deep, and that piercing.
I feel the warmth of his hands wrap around my body and unhook my bra. He slides it down my arms and tosses it, cupping my breasts and massaging my nipples with his fingertips. I groan at the contact, loving the way his hands feel on me.
“I told myself once I finally had you back in my bed, I’d take my time with you, but fuck, baby. I don’t think I can.” He groans, moving his lips along my jaw and neck.
“We have all night,” I remind him. “I need you as much as you need me.”
“Fucking hell,” he growls, leaning back as he grabs the back of my knees and pulls me to the edge of the bed until my ass nearly hangs off.
I squeal, grasping onto his arms. My head falls back with laughter at his urgency. “You make me so horngry,” he says with a devilish grin.
“Horngry?” I ask, amused. “What’s that?”
“It’s when I can’t decide if I wanna fuck you or eat you first.” The corner of his lips tilts up in a knowing smile.
I laugh as he brings his mouth to my pussy and sinks his tongue inside.
“Guess I know which one won,” I say.
“Yeah, I decided to spend some quality time between your legs first.”
Sinking a finger inside, his tongue circles my clit and works me up until I explode. I barely recover when he flips me over and takes me from behind.
His hand wraps around my neck, tilting my head back so he can stare into my eyes as I unravel around his length. I love the way he’s looking at me as if he can’t get enough of my body.
“Vada, fuck.” He groans, pushing into me deeper and harder. “You feel so fucking good. So tight and wet, baby.”
He pulls back slightly, the tip of his piercing rubbing against my pussy. God, I missed that piercing. Pushing back in, he increases his pace and sinks deep into me until I explode again. Fuck, he’s so good at that.
Fisting my hair, he pulls my head back again until our lips collide. He continues his rhythm, fucking me so good and hard, I can barely keep up with my breathing. I feel his body tense, his kiss deepens, and then he moans against my mouth as he releases inside me.
“Vada…” he whispers after a minute, against my lips, so soft and sweet.
“Yes?”
“Stay with me,” he pleads, running his tongue along my bottom lip. “Give us a second chance.”
He kisses me before I can respond, which gives me the time I need to process his words.
“I have three more weeks of my promo tour,” I begin to explain as he arches his hips.
“Baby, I’ve been waiting twelve long months for you. I can wait another three weeks as long as I know you’ll come back to me.”
His words send shivers down my spine because they’re everything right and perfect; any girl would die to hear them.
“I want to…” I start, unsure of how to answer him.
“Then do. Take a leap of faith, Vada. I’m not like those other douchebags you’ve dated. I won’t hurt you,” he pleads with such promise, and I want to believe his words with every fiber of my being.
Before I can respond, he pulls out of me and lies down on the bed next to me. I turn my body, so we’
re facing each other, and he moves closer until our chests press together.
Cupping my cheeks, he stares directly into my eyes. “Vada, baby. I’m not proposing marriage here. I’m asking you to give us a second-chance at making this work. I gave you space because I knew you needed it till you finished your novel, but I’m only a man of so much patience. I can’t keep putting my heart on the line if you aren’t willing to meet me halfway.”
His confession hits me like a ton of bricks. This man is too good to be true, and I’d be a fool to run away from him again.
My eyes begin to water because his words are so strikingly beautiful. No man has ever fought for me and definitely not this hard. I want to savor everything.
“How would we make this work? I live in Chicago,” I remind him.
He gives me a look that says it’s not a good enough reason, and deep down in my heart I know it’s not. “Yes, and last I checked, you’re a writer, who can literally do her job anywhere.”
I swallow, realizing all the excuses I’m making.
“Vada, what is it? Tell me,” he asks, noticing my hesitation.
“If I moved here, to be with you, it’d put a lot of pressure on us to make it work. I already have a mile-long list of relationship and anxiety issues. I don’t know how it’d work with that kind of pressure on us.”
“There’d be no pressure, babe. I know writing is important to you, and I have my pottery, so I’d never put you in a position to choose one over the other.”
“Okay…” I finally respond with a nod, giving him the reassurance he needs.
Enthusiastically, he grabs my face, and our mouths collide together. I laugh against his lips at his eagerness, and he smiles in return.
“As long as Henry doesn’t try to eat Oliver.” I grin, weaving our legs together.
He presses a long kiss on my lips. “No promises.” Winking, he pulls me off the bed and starts leading us down the hall, and before I can question what he’s doing, he brings us to the bathroom.
“Showers just haven’t been the same without you.” The corner of his lips tilt as he runs the water.