by Opal Carew
“He struck me,” she said in such a matter-of-fact tone it chilled him. “His blow sent me flying across the room like a rag doll. Then I hit the wall.” She sucked in a breath. “I don’t remember the impact. Or the pain. I must have been in shock or something.”
She drew in a deep breath, then let it out slowly.
“Then he walked out the door. Mom picked me up and put a cold cloth on my neck. I guess that’s where he hit me. Then she sent me to school.”
She tipped her head back and forth, as if stretching her neck. Her eyes looked dead.
“The worst was what happened later. My teacher noticed that my neck was red. She asked me about it right in the middle of the class, wanting to know what happened. I was embarrassed, so I told her I didn’t know.”
“Why were you embarrassed?”
“Because my dad slapped me. That meant I must have done something wrong. I didn’t know what. I was confused. But I didn’t want to tell my teacher I’d been bad.”
His heart ached for her. He wrapped his arms around her and held her close. She rested her head against his chest, sitting quietly as he stroked her hair.
“Ah, sweetheart. I’m sorry that happened to you.”
She nodded, then drew away, staring at his chest.
“So to understand why I’ve never been with a man,” she said, “you need to understand that I saw my mother, an otherwise intelligent woman, have no sense when it came to falling in love. She absolutely insisted she loved this man. She didn’t see him for what he was. She was not dissuaded from her feelings even when he hurt her.” She paused, her lip trembling. “And me.”
She gazed at him again.
“So after that, how could I ever trust my judgment about men? How could I trust doing such an intimate thing with a man who might be just like him? Someone who would hurt me.”
He didn’t know what to say. His heart twisted at the thought of how the shattered little girl she was had grown into a young woman terrified to love anyone for fear of being hurt that way again. Afraid to form such a fundamental and intimate bond.
“Sweetheart, if there’s anything I can do…”
She blinked, then her brow furrowed. “You’re doing it. You came to get me when I needed you. And you’re helping me. That means the world to me.”
She drew in a deep breath.
“You’ve always been very kind to me. And you always seemed interested in my life. When I was in trouble last night… you were the only one I thought I could actually depend on to help me.”
He gazed into her wide green eyes, transfixed by the depth of emotion he saw there. And the raw and disturbingly poignant feelings her words had evoked in him.
“The fact is,” she murmured, “the only man I’ve ever really trusted my feelings for… is you.”
As Christina stared into Kent’s solemn teal blue eyes, her heart began to race.
The truth of what she’d just said was like a punch in the gut. She knew he would never hurt her. She knew she could trust her feelings for him.
And right now, with their gazes locked, and her heart pounding, she knew those feelings went far beyond what she’d ever realized. She wanted to be with him. To give herself to him completely.
And in his eyes, she saw the same spark of desire. The distance between them diminished, as their lips drifted closer. Her insides tingled as she anticipated the first touch of his mouth on hers. As she yearned for the sweet intimacy that was only a breath away.
Her eyelids half closed and just as their lips were about to meet… he pulled back.
Turmoil swirled in his eyes.
“I’m glad you trust me, sweetheart. And I intend to be worthy of that trust.”
Her heart ached as she realized he was putting a barrier between them.
“Kent—”
“No more talk for now.” He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “I have to go to a meeting in an hour, but after that we’re going to figure out how to get your belongings from your apartment. Once you have your own clothes here, and some of your things so you can make your room feel more like yours, you’ll feel a lot better.”
He took her hand and led her from the room, then down the stairs. Clearly, he was disturbed by the thought of being with her, and taking action was his way of distracting them both from the situation.
But she would not be distracted for long.
That night, Christina tossed the cushions from the bed to the couch, then pulled back the covers. Kent had taken her to the apartment and paid the back rent so they could pick up her belongings. She hated that he was paying her debts, but at the same time, it made her feel very cared for.
And she’d definitely pay him back once she got a job again.
He was right that having familiar items like her cat-shaped cushions made her feel better. As if she belonged here.
She climbed under the puffy duvet and turned off the bedside lamp, then stared at the ceiling, glowing softly in the moonlight. She couldn’t believe that Kent had almost kissed her this morning. She couldn’t believe how much she’d wanted him to kiss her.
She drew in a deep breath. She was totally thrown off balance by these deep feelings of attraction for him bubbling to the surface. She’d never allowed herself to really explore these feelings before. There were so many differences between them. The most obvious was that he was so much older than her.
But the gap that had always seemed too immense to conquer, seemed less daunting now that she was an adult.
Kent didn’t seem to feel the same way, however. He had backed off, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of touching her. She could understand it. Because he was older, he worried about taking advantage of her, but that’s not what would be happening. She wanted to be with him.
They’d be living under the same roof for the next month. As it stood, he’d be uncomfortable with this attraction simmering between them. They needed to talk about it, like two adults. To bring it out into the open.
And, hopefully, to act on it.
He was probably still up, so why not talk to him now?
She pushed back the covers and went into the hall, then walked to the glass and metal railing to gaze down to the main floor. The lights were off, but a spectacular view of the city skyline glittered beyond the glass. She walked to the stairway leading up to the third floor where he’d told her his bedroom was. He couldn’t have been up there for more than a few minutes, so it wouldn’t hurt to knock on his door. She walked up the carpeted steps.
As she reached the top of the stairs, she saw an open space rather than the hallway she’d expected, then realized this whole space was his bedroom. His bed faced the windows, so he could see the striking view beyond. A couch and armchairs were also angled to face the wall of glass.
She bit her lip. The lights were on and Kent wasn’t in the bed. Should she wait, or—
A door opened and Kent stepped out.
Her eyes widened and her pulse raced.
Oh, God! He was completely naked.
CHAPTER 4
Kent stepped out of the shower and dried off then tossed the towel over the hook. He opened the door and as soon as he stepped into his bedroom, he saw Christina standing at the top of the stairs.
Her eyes widened, then her gaze fell right to where it shouldn’t be.
“Christina, what the hell?”
His heart pounded as he grabbed the throw from his bed and draped it around his waist.
“I’m sorry.” Her face blossomed a deep rose. “I didn’t realize the stairway led right into your bedroom.”
“All right. But why did you come up here?”
“I…” Her gaze had moved from his now covered cock—which was rising to attention despite the awkwardness of the situation—and drifted up his bare chest and settled on his face.
“I wanted to talk,” she said.
She drew in deep breaths, which made him all too aware of her firm, round breasts under the thin cotton of her pullover pajama top
, and wrung her hands together. He wasn’t sure if it was anxiety, embarrassment, or both.
Concern swelled through him.
“What is it? Is there something wrong?”
“No… well, yes.”
Protective instincts bubbled through him. What was so important that she would come looking for him in the middle of the night?
“All right. Come in and we’ll talk."
He walked to the couch and sat down and she walked further into the room.
He was surprised when she sat down beside him instead of in one of the armchairs. His groin tightened even more.
Fuck, he’d just taken a cold shower to calm down his body from his lascivious thoughts about her. Now with her so close, the sight of her in her pajamas—which were modest enough, but her nipples peaked to points under the light, cotton fabric of the top—made him want to jump under a stream of frigid water again.
He should send her right back down those stairs. But if she needed to talk, he couldn’t turn her away.
“I think we should talk about what happened earlier,” she said hesitantly. “When I told you that you were the only man I trust.”
Fuck.
“Nothing happened earlier.”
“That’s not true. We had a moment.” Her green gaze caught on his. “We almost kissed.”
She rested her hand on his arm and the softness of her skin on his made him all too aware of his nakedness. Of the intimacy of the situation. Of how easy it would be to take her into his arms and…
He lurched to his feet, holding the blanket securely at his waist and paced.
“I think you should go back to your room.”
She stood up and walked toward him, determination in her emerald green eyes.
“I’m attracted to you.” She rested her hand on his cheek and sparks flared across his skin. “Are you going to tell me you don’t feel the same for me?”
His jaw clenched. “I’m old enough to be your father.”
“I’ve never had a father in my life. I don’t know what that’s like. But with you, I’ve always felt safe and cared for. I’ve always felt protected.”
She stepped closer and rested her hand flat on his chest, right over his heart, which started to pound faster. She pushed herself on her tiptoes and her lips brushed his ear.
“And I like the feeling.”
Fuck, his cock was aching with her so close.
She nuzzled his neck, the light flutter of her lips on his skin sent his pulse racing.
She cupped his face and found his mouth.
Time stood still as the overwhelming sensations of her body against his, the delicate feel of her tongue nudging between his lips, made his body harden.
His barriers crumbled and his arms glided around her. He pulled her tight, his mouth opening and he drove his tongue deep into her, tasting her sweetness.
She sucked in a breath, then wrapped her arms tight around his neck as he plundered her mouth.
His heart pounded as his cock swelled and he backed her up to the bed. Seconds later, she was on her back beneath him, her breasts crushed against his naked chest. His hand glided along her ribs, then he cupped one soft mound.
At the feel of it in his hand, her nipple hard and thrusting upward, heat surged through him. She arched her lower body, pressing against his aching shaft.
He tore his mouth from hers.
“Fuck, what the hell am I doing?”
The age thing was bad enough, but she was a virgin, for fuck’s sake.
She stared up at him, her eyes wide and filled with need.
“Don’t stop,” she pleaded.
He pushed away and surged to his feet.
“Christina, I want to protect you… not take your virginity.”
She stood up and grasped his hand, her small fingers curling around his.
“Please. You’re the only one I trust enough to do this with. You can help me past my fear of being with a man. I know you’ll be tender and loving—and won’t judge me or try to force me into anything more.” She gazed up at him. “And that’s what I need right now.”
She moved closer and rested her hand on his chest.
“I think you want to protect me like a father would.” She pushed herself up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his ear. “But you’re not my father. So you can do anything you want with me.”
She took his hand and pressed it to her breast again. The softness of it unraveled his resolve.
She leaned close to his ear again.
“Daddy,” she murmured.
“Ah, fuck.”
Her hand slid to his waist and the coverlet fell to the floor. His cock sprang upward and she wrapped her hand around it. As her feminine fingers curled around his hard shaft, he sucked in a breath, his blood boiling.
“I think you like me calling you Daddy.” She kissed his ear then nibbled his lobe, sending tingles racing along his spine.
Like was too mild a word. It was electrifying.
She squeezed his fingers around her breast as she ran her hand the length of his cock. When she began to stroke him, he knew he had to stop her. His groin tightened painfully and he was getting too fucking close too fucking fast.
He grabbed her wrist, intent on pulling it away, but she nipped his ear, then arched her breast tighter into his hand.
“Oh, Daddy. I love you touching me like this.”
Fuck, he’d never been this wildly turned on in his life.
His grip loosened and she stroked him faster.
Without thinking, he walked her backward until she was against the wall. She released his cock long enough to pull her loose-fitting pajama top over her head, revealing her generous, round breasts. His breath caught at the sight of them.
He claimed her lips, pressing his body tight to hers, excited by the feel of her soft, naked breasts crushed against his chest. As he claimed her with his passionate kiss, she squeezed his cock and stroked it. Moving faster and faster.
He groaned into her mouth. She pulled away and gazed up at him.
“Oh, Daddy, I want you so badly,” she whispered breathily.
“Ah, fuck!” The raging ache in his groin spiked, then incredible heat burst through him. He groaned as pleasure surged through every part of him, and he erupted in a fountain of hot come.
He was shocked at how much it turned him on when she called him Daddy.
He’d just come and he was still hard, for God’s sake.
He realized he was leaning against her, so he drew back, still panting.
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the bed, then lay down on it. She pushed down her pajama bottoms, exposing her sweet, naked pussy.
God help him.
“Please. Make love to me now. I want you to be my first.”
He ran his fingers over the glistening white goo on her stomach. Smearing it over her creamy skin.
Instead of answering, he glided to his knees and pulled her to the edge of the bed. He widened her legs and stared at her intimate folds.
“You’re beautiful, baby girl. Do you like me calling you that?”
“Oh, yes, Daddy.” Her voice quivered with need.
He chuckled as he ran his fingertips over her, feeling the slickness of her arousal. “You’re so wet for me.”
He opened her folds and stared at her opening, so soft and inviting.
“You want me to push my big cock into your innocent little pussy?”
“Yes.” She licked her lips, her eyes wide and full of desire. “Please.”
He chuckled. Fuck, he couldn’t believe he’d soon be driving his cock into her untried passage. Because he’d gone past the point of saying no. She wanted this. And he certainly fucking wanted it.
He stroked over her folds again, eliciting a soft moan. Then, watching her, he pressed his finger inside her. Gliding in past the first knuckle, then to the second. He pushed another finger inside, delighting at the tight grip of her around him. Her eyes glazed and the look of need on her
face made him ache to drive inside her right now.
But instead, he leaned forward and covered her pussy with his mouth.
“Ohhh,” she moaned.
He lapped at her folds until he found the little button inside. Then he teased it with the tip of his tongue.
Her fingers glided through his hair and she pulled him tighter to her wet flesh.
“That feels so good,” she murmured, a note of desperation coloring her voice.
“You like that, baby girl?” he asked.
“Mmm. Yes,” she breathed.
He sucked on her clit and she gasped, then arched against him.
He began moving his fingers inside her. Surging in and out as he suckled her sensitive button.
She pivoted her hips up and down, as if riding his mouth and hand. He kept pulsing into her. His tongue quivered over her clit.
“Oh, God…” She gasped. “Oh, it feels so…”
Then she moaned, her body shuddering as the orgasm claimed her. He kept his fingers moving inside her, his tongue teasing, his gaze turned up to watch her beautiful face glowing with bliss.
When she finally collapsed against the bed, he slowly drew his fingers from her tight canal and gave her one final lick, then lifted his head, smiling.
She looked so wonderfully sated, he wondered if he should stop here. But she opened her arms to him.
He prowled over her, then captured her lips. She drove her tongue inside his mouth and stroked with vigor.
“Please, now, fill me with your big cock.”
He stared into her wide green eyes. “Baby girl, are you really sure this is what you want?”
“Oh, yes.” She pulled him closer and nuzzled his temple. “Please, Daddy. Fuck me now.”
Goddamn. He couldn’t refuse her. Because he wanted this so fucking badly, too.
“I’ve got to get a condom.” There were some in his bedside table.
She tightened her arms around him.
“No. I’m on the pill and… I want to feel you inside me. Nothing between us.”
He hesitated. He’d gotten tested after his last relationship, so he knew he was safe, but he needed to discuss this with Christina later to ensure she keep herself safe with other men.