"It's a she." I smiled back at him.
"You might have some competition." His eyes darted around the interior of the car.
"She would never steal my man. She knows better."
"Is that what I am? Your man?"
Ohh, he was good. My stomach tightened. This was the first time we'd hinted at defining the relationship. Hell, it was the first time I'd ever defined a relationship.
His hand trembled as it ran on top of mine. My insecurity told me it was his injuries. I gripped the wheel with clammy palms, trying to sound confident in my response.
"Are you asking me to be your girlfriend?"
He admired my face as I clutched the wheel, turning to lock onto his eyes. His gaze swept over me and his fingers slid down between mine.
"Yes."
Cody exited the car in the parking lot of a small diner, nestled in a shopping center on the corner of a main intersection. He walked over and opened the door, grabbing hold of my hand while I stepped out of the car. I started toward the entrance when he stopped me.
He held both my hands and leaned down a little, inches from my face. I broke free from his eyes, studying the stubble that dotted his chin, following it down where it disappeared under his t-shirt.
"Will you be my girlfriend?" His look was heavy and intense.
It seemed like a cheesy question, but butterflies riddled my stomach. He had no idea how happy his words made me. I looked over and saw my twelve-year-old self in the window of the car, before reality smacked me in the face. The backdrop was perfect. The skyline was visible. The old buildings full of character filled the canvas. My heart palpitated into a drum roll, the tempo increasing with every moment. His hands trembled in mine and his knees knocked together like they might give out at any moment.
"Yes." I looked up to his emerald eyes and grinned.
Lips locking onto one another, both of our cheeks turned pink and flushed. His eyes sparkled. Colors grew vivid as we twirled slowly, wrapped in each other, heated lips bound to one another in the parking lot of the diner, oblivious to the cars whizzing past on the busy roads. We came to a stop and my lips rested on his, never wanting to part from him.
We eventually walked through the door of the diner, taking a seat in the corner. We quickly realized we were the only patrons. It was perfect. The waitress brought a few plastic menus over and we peered over the selection. I opted for a club sandwich. Cody ordered a bowl of soup.
We sat googly eyed for most of the meal, permanent grins affixed to our faces as we held hands, rarely pausing to eat. I became caught up in the moment. Thoughts of terrible things I'd done disappeared from my brain. For once in my life, I forgot my past and all the anguish that accompanied it.
Looking at my boyfriend, I finally broke the silence.
"I don't have a fucking clue what I'm doing." I laughed as his back stiffened in the chair.
"No, no. I don't mean that it's a mistake. No. I just mean, I have no clue how to be a girlfriend. What do I do?" My question was sincere but Cody grinned.
His face relaxed. Relief wafted over him as he breathed a heavy sigh.
"Damn, thought it was over before I said a word. Don't worry. We'll figure it out. But for starters, you just sit there and look beautiful while I stare at you."
He released my hand reluctantly to sip his tea. A lemon wedge hung off the side. Some of the tea spilled down his chin when the ice met his wound. I moved my napkin to wipe it from his face, noticing the disappointment in his eyes.
"Have you never let anyone take care of you?" I stared at him, serious.
"No. I've always taken care of myself."
"Isn't being a team what this relationship stuff is all about?" I didn't get the smile out of him that I expected.
"I guess. It's just not supposed to be this way." He looked to the checkered tile floor.
"What do you mean?"
Cody shook his head and stared out at the street.
"I just feel helpless, you know? I'm supposed to be the strong one, take care of you. You're so independent and I respect that. I like that about you. I just..."
"Just what?" I was in a trance. Caught up in his eyes.
His brow furrowed, eyes narrowing.
"The way I was raised, the man is the protector. He takes care of the woman he lo..." He stopped himself.
My heart erupted and my stomach cramped simultaneously.
"You know what I mean. A man should treat a woman with respect, but he should be the man. She relies on him. Sorry, I'm screwing this all up. I sound like an idiot."
"No, babe. I get it. I think. Yes, I own a big company. I grew up raising myself. I'm in the media and they portray me as being powerful, influential..."
I stopped for a moment. Cody looked uneasy and I didn't want it to sound like I was gloating. He fidgeted with his thumbs and glared back at the floor.
I reached across the table and smothered his frigid hand, warming it with my touch.
"Look at me."
His eyes slowly rose as I unconsciously batted my eyelashes at him.
"I'm still a girl."
I couldn't believe those words left my lips, but they were true.
"And when you hold me...it's the safest place in the world."
Shallow breaths escaped my tightened lips. The words sunk in. A new, strange feeling radiated through my body. My brain realized my words were the absolute truth. Cody smiled at me.
The elevator rose as I felt his fingers locked between mine. I was surprised we hadn't encountered any rioters. I knew that would change when the sun went down.
Cody's apartment looked the same as before. He quickly offered to cook for me. I didn't want to decline. This was the first time he'd felt up to doing much, but I didn't want to overwhelm him.
"That sounds fantastic." I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"But?" He stared at my eyes.
"But, we just ate and you need to take it easy. Let's get some rest. Hang out for a bit and go back home."
"What are you thinking?"
I batted my eyelashes again, this time aware of my actions. What in the hell? I snapped back to my fairy tale, intent on keeping it alive as long as possible.
"Would it be a total cliché if I said I wanted to lay on the couch and snuggle?"
"Yes."
I slapped him gently on the arm, laughing. "Jerk."
He held out his hand and I took it. He led me around to the couch and he sat down. I climbed up next to him, tucking my feet underneath me, nuzzling my chin on his chest while I turned on a movie. Before long, I was asleep on top of him.
Sometime later I woke. Briefly in a daze, I scanned the room before everything clicked. Cody was focused on my face. I stared at his familiar smile. The smile that caught my attention in his store the first time I saw him.
Surprisingly, I had no missed calls or messages when I peeked at my phone. Arms stretching for the ceiling, I peered out the window.
"Fuck, it's dark out!"
"What? Sorry, I nodded off too."
"Shit. Shit. I have to call Grandpa and make sure he's okay."
"I'm sure he's fine. You live in the most guarded house in the city."
I knew he was right, but hated being away. I could already see fires starting to dot the streets in the distance.
"Do you want to try and make it? We may still have time."
"Let me call him real quick."
I walked to another room and pressed his name on the screen. I looked around at the scattered pictures on the wall. Cody's nieces and nephews were always smiling and laughing with their uncle. Grandpa and I spoke. He told me to quit worrying and to have a good time. "I've got four medals from 'Nam for fuck's sake." I started to choke from laughing.
"You are too much. You call me if anything happens."
"I will, sweetie. You tell that boy Big Brother is watchin' his ass...and his hands."
"Oh hush."
"Mags?"
"Yeah?"
"En
joy yourself. You deserve it, baby girl. It's okay to be happy."
"I love you."
"Love you too. 'Night."
I walked back to the couch and curled up next to my boyfriend.
"You can say it."
"I'm not saying anything." He looked straight ahead, grinning.
"Yeah, yeah. You were right, okay?"
"Not saying anything."
I tickled his ribs and he winced.
"Oh my god, shit. I'm so sorry."
"It's okay." He groaned. "I promise. I'm fine."
"I suck at this being a girlfriend thing."
He tilted my chin up with his index finger.
"Come here." He pressed his lips to mine.
My lips tingled at his touch. The feeling migrated south as the butterflies in my stomach intensified.
I worked my way from his lips around to his ear.
"Let me make it up to you." I breathed heavy in his ear.
I straddled him gingerly, careful not to hurt him as I placed my palms on the sides of his head, parting his mouth with my tongue. I felt him growing underneath me and I slowly began to grind my hips on him.
His hands moved to my ass, massaging it over my pants as the kissing turned to a passionate embrace.
Synapses fired into my inner thighs and radiated through my body. Cody nibbled along my neckline, up to my earlobe, running his fingers through my hair and tasting my neck.
"I want you." His warm breath penetrated my ear.
I cooed, taking in his lips once more, grinding along his cock that was now fully erect. My panties grew moist as I bit on his bottom lip playfully.
"Follow me." He took my hand.
Cody led me through the bedroom door and I sat down on the bed. He hovered, nibbling up and down my neck. His solid frame pressed into me. I wasn't sure how long I could hold out before tearing his clothes from him.
"The lights." I stared into his eyes.
"I don't care if you see me."
Fuck. That wasn't the problem. I couldn't let him see me. My body was bruised all to hell. It would ruin the moment. It would ruin everything. "The lights, please." I ran a hand along his cheek and moaned.
Cody scurried over and flipped the switch on the wall.
"It's really okay..." He leaned over me and my finger interrupted his lips.
"I don't want anyone below to see the light on and know we're home." I breathed a sigh of relief. Good one, Maggie.
"Right, right."
"Shut up and kiss me." I grabbed his shoulders and pulled him into me.
My breasts pushed into the ridges of his pecs. His neck was tense when I wrapped my arms around it. I spread my legs, inviting him closer. His erection teased against my clit as I moaned into his ear, dragging my nails delicately over his scalp before throwing my head back to the bed. His left hand ran down to my breast, massaging it gently, his palm on my tight nipple. I grabbed the sides of his head and leaned up.
"My turn."
I ran my hand up his shirt, feeling his smooth, chiseled abs under my fingers as my hands neared his chest. I dragged my nails back down his stomach, staring up into his eyes, and lifted his shirt over his head.
I flipped him over and pinned him down on the bed, his legs hanging over the side. I moved my feet down to the floor. A hand on each knee, I spread his legs, inching between, kissing him deeply.
I grabbed a handful of his hair as I rose from his lips.
"Mind if I take care of this?" I caressed his dick, stroking it slowly. His eyes rolled into his head at the slightest touch as the moon lit his face. I turned around and pressed my ass to his cock, grinding up and down against it as I slowly unbuttoned my blouse and slid it from my arms. My hands ran over my lacy white bra that corralled my breasts, tweaking my nipple as it grew hard between my fingers, breathing heavy for him to hear.
My pants slid to my ankles and I kicked them aside. Reaching back and clawing at the sheets, bits of light traced the outline of Cody's face as I watched his reaction. I smiled, teasing him with my body.
I continued grinding my ass on him, nothing between us but his jeans and the thin lace of my panties. I turned and massaged his shaft, staring at him, logging every reaction in my memory.
I wanted him so bad, but I wanted to make our first night memorable.
I ran my fingers up his stomach and chest, all the way to his shoulders before moving them back down, feeling every curve, every muscle, every inch of detail on his body. He tried to sit up and I shoved him back down.
"Not this time." His legs tightened at the sound of my whispers.
My hands passed his lower stomach, feeling down the v-shaped muscles in his hips. I unbuckled his belt and heard him groan as I pulled the leather strap to the side. Unbuttoning his jeans, I kissed his stomach and my fingers grazed his muscular thighs, up to his ass to grip the top of his jeans from behind. I dropped to the floor and his pants came down with my body, revealing a tight set of boxer briefs concealing what I ached for. My panties were soaked against my hand when I reached down into them and my clit swelled between my fingers. I rubbed small circles around it as I kissed the tip of his cock. It jerked as I exhaled down the shaft, teasing it delicately with my teeth through his briefs.
Shudders in his torso brought a smile to my face. I wanted to please him more than anything in the world. Not for money. Not for power over his actions. Not out of fear of what would happen if I didn't. I wanted to please him because I cared for him. I wanted to please him because he cared about me. Because he was a good man. Because he deserved it.
I pulled my hand from my panties and felt the bulge in his briefs as I gripped the waist band with both hands. I pulled his briefs down and released his cock. He moaned when it wobbled free in the air before halting, lined up with my salivating, eager mouth. I tossed his shorts and they flew against the wall.
I wrapped my small fingers around the base of his dick and felt his hips jerk. Waves of ecstasy heated inside me as I explored him. His head tilted back as I caressed it. His cock grew rigid in my hand from the friction against my palm.
I adjusted my position and touched the tip of my tongue to his throbbing, swollen head.
I swirled my tongue around it, eyeing him eagerly, stroking him at a rhythmic pace. My velvet tongue pressed to one of his balls, warming it with my breath.
Licking to the top, my lips took him whole. His hips hammered down into the bed but I followed, guiding him into my mouth. I slid halfway down, teasing. Then a little farther. He grunted when I repeated, and sucked my cheeks around it.
As I went down on him, I felt his hand work into my hair. It did something for me. I gripped one of my breasts firm, my other hand exploring my thighs, taking him deep in my throat. A leak of pre-come only made me hungry for more.
Two of my fingers parted my soaked folds and caressed my clit. Synapses fired down my thighs to the tips of my toes as I increased the tempo, sucking him and stroking my fingers back and forth against my throbbing, wet pussy.
Two of my fingers slipped in, plunging to my core. I hummed on his prick, pounding my fingers into my slick cunt, but they weren't enough. My aching pussy yearned for more. I had to feel him.
Staring up at his face, I pulled him from my mouth.
"I need you inside me."
He nodded, scooting to the middle of the bed. He leaned to a nightstand and pulled a condom from the drawer. I crawled on all fours to him. Our eyes met as my tight nipples teased at his stomach and chest. I took the condom from him.
Biting the wrapper with my teeth, I ripped it open and threw the wrapper off the bed. I smoothed the condom down his stiff cock in delicate strokes. Hands on his shoulders, leaning down for a kiss, I lifted my leg and straddled him. His hands inspected my soft, creamy skin, kneading my ass. I moaned into his ear, breathing down his neck, whispering to him.
"I need to feel you in me. Over—" I bit at his ear. "—And over—" I grabbed a fistful of hair. "—And over."
He n
odded as I eased onto the tip of his cock. I rocked my hips back and pressed down on him, pushing him deep inside of me as I moaned up to the ceiling.
I leaned down and our foreheads met. I stared deep into his eyes, and felt his heart beat in his dick deep inside of me. My head angled to the ceiling, back arched, my breasts flattened into his chest as I slid back and forth on him, pushing onto him harder in time with each thrust of his hips.
I sampled his neck and his collar bone, then nibbled on his lower lip, careful not to irritate the stitches in the side of his face. My eyes a few inches from him, I pulled my hips up so the head of his cock barely parted my slippery entrance. I sunk my hips back onto him. His hands squeezed each of my breasts. A light moan escaped my lips.
His face tensed as he fucked me harder. Our bodies timed each thrust perfectly. I squeezed every inch of him inside of me.
His palms went to the side of my face and he stared into my eyes.
Tension built in my clit. I leaned back from his face and sat up on him. My hands spread my cheeks, grinding his balls against my puckered asshole. My pussy completely filled. His fingers dug into my thighs as he grunted, trying to push his cock even farther inside.
My moans grew loud as I rocked my hips faster and harder. Cody clawed the sheets and my legs as the headboard rapped lightly on the wall. The oak bed frame creaked beneath us in rhythm with my grinding hips.
My hands found his chest and I squeezed my breasts together with the inside of my arms.
"Fuck me. Fuck me hard, Cody."
He gripped my ass and began to thrust into me. I moaned. He thrust again, this time harder. His knees bent and his weight shifted to his feet. He went into me harder, a steady rhythm as my moans grew louder. I was on the edge, so close to taking the fall and coming all over his cock. My right hand went to my pussy, fingers circled my clit. He drilled into me.
"Oh my god, just like that." I gasped. I could feel his cock against my clit with my fingers on top of it.
He increased the intensity with each push into me, soon pistoning me with everything he had. My moans turned to screams and then to uncontrollable panting as he hammered into my cunt. I'd never been so hot and wet in my life. My vision started to blur. Smacking sounds echoed through the room as my pussy streamed into the bedsheets and down his thighs. He grunted, pounding me harder than I'd ever been fucked in my life.
The Matriarch: An Erotic Superhero Romance (The Matriarch Trilogy Book 1) Page 19