by Layla Frost
Rough, then gentle.
I knew the rhythm.
Hard, then soft.
My hips rocked with the torturous pattern.
Tender.
Savage.
Crying out, my body locked up. My mind raced before going blissfully blank. My breath caught, my neck arched, and I was lost. Coming undone.
Drowning.
Kase pulled away quickly, and I missed his mouth immediately. His arms wrapped around my back and pulled me forward, making me realize I’d been swaying backward.
“You’re always doing that,” I whispered.
“Making you come?”
“Well, yeah, that too. But I meant catching me before I fall.”
He dropped his forehead to mine. He tucked my hair behind my ear, his fingertips trailing down my neck. “I’ll always catch you, Harlow.”
Something passed between us, intense and chest tightening.
Before it could settle, Kase’s mouth dropped to mine, his arms wrapping around my back. The sound of my zipper sliding down was barely audible over my pounding heart.
Pulling away, I lifted my ass so he could pull my dress off, tossing it behind me. My bra followed.
I pushed my hand into his jeans and stroked him. The head of his cock stuck out of the band of his boxers. I rubbed my thumb across it.
Kase pushed his hips closer, his groan low and rough.
His response drove me. I wanted to make him do it again. Needed to. I wanted to spend hours slowly exploring his body and finding all of the different ways I could make him groan like that.
But not right then.
Right then I was selfish. I wanted him to make me moan.
Undoing his jeans, I shoved them and his boxers down.
Kase stood and kicked them off, pulling his shirt off, too. Naked in front of me, he was a work of art for my personal viewing. His defined and chiseled body was a canvas, every part of him offering a glimpse into his soul.
“Fuck. When you look at me like that, Harlow…” He shook his head.
“What?”
Instead of answering, he grabbed my waist and shifted me down onto the couch.
I turned around, my knees on the cushion, my ass in the air. I held onto the back of the couch and looked over my shoulder.
At the expression on his face as he looked at me, my heart jumped into my throat.
It wasn’t want.
Not even need.
Attraction, arousal, lust.
Nothing did it justice.
Leaning over me, Kase’s hands covered mine. His tongue followed the curve of my ear, down to my neck. He kissed, sucking and biting lightly.
I tilted my head to the side, arching my back.
His lips continued their journey to my shoulder. Reaching around, his hand spanned my pelvis. His middle finger rubbed my clit.
“Fuck,” he muttered.
“Yeah.” I wiggled my ass. “Kinda what I’m hoping for.”
“I’ll be back. Gotta grab—”
I reached into the couch and pulled out a strip of condoms, tossing them back to him. I heard the crinkle of the packet.
“Not even gonna ask?” I looked over my shoulder just in time to see his fist around his cock as he put the condom on.
His lips tipped up. “Nope.”
Curving his body to mine, he covered one of my hands with his. The other went between us, guiding his cock into me.
Begging would get me nowhere. Nor would ordering. I could push, pull, twist, and shout, but the results would be the same.
Slow.
Leisurely.
Gliding in and out.
I closed my eyes and savored it. Each inch stretched me, filled me, heated me.
It consumed me.
My own lani.
*******
I’d forgotten what it was like.
I knew I’d been living a hectic life. Anxiety had weighed me down, my constant companion.
I was stressed, overworked, and exhausted. But I’d still been happy. Deep to my soul, when it came down to it, I really was.
But I’d forgotten what it was like to be happy without all the other stuff. There were no ‘in-spite-ofs’, no ‘even-thoughs’.
Standing on Kase’s deck, surrounded by friends, I was just happy.
“You okay, ipo?” Kase asked from behind me. Wrapping an arm around my waist, he reached his other one over my shoulder and handed me a fresh drink.
“Happy.”
“Good.”
Taking a sip of my drink, I covered his arm with mine.
“You don’t get over here soon, the cake is gonna be gone, dudes!” Piper yelled.
“We haven’t even eaten dinner yet,” I pointed out.
She shrugged and handed me a corner piece. “Opposite day.”
Mmm, maximum frosting-to-cake ratio.
Deciding to take full advantage of my first school free weekend, I’d asked Rhys for the time off from Rye. Since I was still majorly helping him out and kicking ass at it, he’d been more than happy to give me a break.
With the weather warming up, I’d suggested to Kase we grill out. That snowballed into having the Hyde crew over, Piper baking another cake to celebrate the end of my semester, and Kase grilling a cow’s worth of steak and an ocean’s worth of seafood.
Not that I was complaining, of course.
Especially when everyone showed up with side dishes, assorted booze, and a congratulatory margarita machine from Key.
I never would’ve guessed he knew my drink of choice.
Setting down my freshly made margarita, I ate a forkful of cake.
“Give me a bite of that before I put the steaks in the oven,” Kase said, releasing me.
“No. And I thought you were grilling them?”
“You sear them on the grill before baking them. Now give me a bite.”
“Fine.” I forked up some cake from the cut edge and held it out to him.
“You’re stingy with your frosting, Cooper.” He put the fork and plate on the table, pulling me close before whispering, “Lucky for me you’re not like that with other sweet things I want on my tongue.”
My cheeks heated, my nipples tightened, and I swayed into him. I put my forehead on his chest. “You don’t play fair, Teo. This part of your plan to get me distracted so you can steal all my frosting?”
“No. This is part of my plan to get you distracted so I can insert myself so deep into your life, you’ll never get rid of me. The second part of that plan happens later.”
“What’s that?” I wasn’t sure if the words could be heard over my pounding heart.
“To make you come so hard you won’t want me to go.”
Once I’d stopped fighting, our relationship progressed easily.
Almost effortlessly.
We worked around our insane schedules and grew closer in a natural way.
So close, in fact, he’d long ago accomplished his goal.
Gripping his shirt, I quietly told him, “You’ve already done that.”
His arms tightened around me. I could feel his heart beating and his hard cock pushed against my stomach. My fists clenched as I fought the urge to touch him.
Psst, perv, there are people here.
I looked up at him and smiled, trying to lighten the mood and control my lust. “That said, I’m still totally cool with your plans for tonight.”
Throwing his head back, he laughed. “Gotta get those steaks, ipo.”
I pried my hands away. “And I’ve got frosting to hoard.”
When he left to handle grill duty, I sat down at the table with everyone else.
Boba was sprawled happily on Xavier’s lap, soaking in the gentle rub down.
Chewy found a way to wiggle his big body under the table to collapse on my feet. I could feel him snoring.
The men were debating a new project at work. It was a common theme any time they got together. I listened intently because it was surprisingly fascinating.
Some visuals and a translation book might’ve helped me understand more, but I was starting to do okay.
“I hope it doesn’t bother you that you invited everyone over and they’re still talking shop,” Piper said to me from across the table. “Hanging out and discussing cars means they’re having a good time. Or breathing.”
“I’m used to it.” Because it was my luck, there was a lull in their heated conversation as I continued. “I’m just glad that Kase’s giant deck is finally getting used.”
Silence.
No one else was talking. I was pretty sure birds had stopped chirping, waves had stopped crashing.
Instead, all eyes were on me.
I scrunched my face and held up my hands. “I heard it as soon as I said it!”
The table erupted into laughter.
I laughed along with them.
*******
Kase
“These steaks are fucking huge, man,” Eli said, grabbing a second one from the platter Harlow was setting down.
“My meat is huge, my deck is giant.” I winked at her.
Her cheeks flushed again even as she rolled her eyes. “And your ego is ginormous.”
Grabbing her hand, I yanked her into my lap. “You good?”
She nodded, her eyes warming. “Yeah.”
“So what’s it like at a news station?” Xavier asked her as he grabbed a second and third steak.
“Insanely boring or can’t catch your breath hectic,” Harlow answered. “And nothing really between.”
Key shifted his chair toward us. “Is that anchor chick as big of a bitch as she seems?”
Harlow threw her arms in the air. “Thank you! Everyone always thinks she’s so nice.”
He gestured to his eyes. “Not if you look here. Then it’s evil.”
“Like Satan’s boss.”
As she spoke, answering questions and sharing crazy stories, I got sucked in. Beyond her hot as fuck looks, her cute as hell voice, and her whole appealing vibe, she was also seriously fuckin’ smart.
And, while I was a dude that loved some tits and ass, a big brain was what really did it for me.
The fact she also had the tits and ass was just an added bonus.
I slipped my hand under her long t-shirt and curled my fingers around her waist. My thumb stroked her soft skin.
When I lost my folks, I clung to Wil. I should’ve let her go long before I did, but then I’d be losing her and the only family I had left.
Then she was gone.
But I hadn’t lost my family. I just hadn’t found them all yet.
After I met Jake and started making money, I’d saved it all. Lived in a shitty studio apartment and hoarded my cash like I was preparing for the apocalypse. When I finally had enough, I’d had my place built.
For the first time in years, I had a home.
I had a family
But I didn’t have everything. Not then.
Looking around the deck I built, I saw my family. And with her ass in my lap, my woman talked to my brothers.
Laughing.
Happy.
Giving me everything.
“Baby,” Harlow said, shifting to look at me.
“What?”
“Did you float away to your own island?”
I chuckled, pressing my lips to the top of her head. Her citrus shampoo mixed with the smell of the water. “Nah, I’m right where I wanna be.”
She smiled, small and sweet, holding up her empty cup and my empty bottle. “I asked if you wanted another drink.”
“I got it.”
“That’s okay.” She kissed the corner of my lips. “What do you want?”
“Whatever.”
Getting up, I watched her legging covered ass as she went inside. Chewy, the traitor dog, followed after her like he always did.
Key leaned over and lowered his already quiet voice. “How’s everything?”
“Almost done. Now I’m dealing with the logistics.”
He smiled, which was huge for him. “Let me know what you need.”
“How are your acting skills?”
Before he could answer, a small shriek came from the house.
Bolting up, I ran inside, almost tripping on Boba who was running in to investigate.
“What’s wrong? You okay?” I looked around, trying to figure out what had her freaked.
“I’m good,” she said, her face bright red. She looked behind me, waving away whoever was there. “Sorry, I thought I saw something.”
“What?” I asked.
She glanced to the side. “Nothing. It doesn’t matter.”
“You’re a bad liar.”
“No I’m not.” Inching away from the counter, she forced a smile. “Let’s go outside.”
“Harlow.”
“Hmm? What?” she asked, distracted as she glanced to the wall and shifted again.
I followed her line of vision to try to see what had her so freaked.
“Ladybugs?”
“I, uhh, thought they were spiders,” she lied.
“Bright red, circular spiders?”
She nodded, moving away. “Mmhhmm. Ready to go outside?”
“You gonna grab your drink?”
Looking back to her cup on the counter, her eyes darted up to the ladybugs before returning to me. “No, I’m not very thirsty.”
Walking over, I snagged the cup and handed it to her. Wrapping my arm around her shoulders, we headed back outside.
Note to self: Install screens ASAP.
Chapter Sixteen
Moeʻuhane and Automotive Jargon
Harlow
Time to get up. You’re oversleeping. You have so much to do.
Disoriented, I woke up the next morning already in a panic. My heart was racing, my palms embarrassingly sweaty.
I was just too tired to care.
“What time is it?” I asked as I rolled over, wedging my head between Kase’s shoulder and the pillow.
I heard rattling and my water bottle hitting the ground as Kase swatted around the side table for his phone.
“It’s ten,” he muttered, his voice rough and sleepy.
“Shit.” Trying to roll off, I ended up down the bed, wrapped in the sheet.
“Nothing to do today, ipo.”
“Oh yeah.” Kicking around, I got out of my sheet cocoon and crawled back up. With an immense amount of grace and seduction, I flopped onto my belly.
The dogs came storming in, Boba jumping up and pouncing between Kase and me.
Turning my head, I made eye contact with a drooling Chewy. He yawned and snarfled, making it clear how he felt about us waking him.
Unable to stand the sad puppy eyes, I looked back at Kase. “Chewy’s pissed you woke him.”
“Me?” He rolled out of bed, his ass and back muscles a glorious sight.
I answered with an incoherent grumble as I covered my head with a pillow.
“Gonna take the boys out. Try to control all your morning cheerfulness.”
I wanted to flip him off, but it was too much effort.
When I wasn’t able to fall back to sleep, I snagged one of Kase’s tees, wishing I’d brought my robe. After washing up and brushing my teeth, I threw on the shirt and returned to the bedroom.
Kase was already back in bed, leaning up on his elbow. The blanket covered him from the waist down. Since he slept naked, I was willing to bet it was the only thing covering him.
Still hoping for that gust of wind.
Anytime now, Mother Nature. You know you want a peek, too.
The corner of his lip curved up. “You coming back to bed, or you just gonna stand there and stare?”
“Stare. Though, fair warning, I might also ogle, leer, and objectify.”
He laughed, pushing his dreads back. “Come here.”
Reaching the bed, I hopped up, bouncing as I landed on my knees next to him. “What’re we doing today?”
“You don’t wanna get more sleep?”
&
nbsp; I shook my head. “I haven’t slept that late in forever. I feel awesome.”
“So no coffee needed?”
Holding my hands up, I raised my brows. “Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let’s not get crazy here.”
“What do you wanna do?”
“It’s all rainy and blah. I thought maybe we could go see a movie, unless you already have plans.” I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been to the theater. I had no clue what movies were showing, but it’d been too long since I’d eaten my weight in popcorn.
“Only plans I have are with you, ipo. You wanna see a movie, pick it out. Just aim for late afternoon or tonight, ‘cause I have a couple things I gotta take care of before then.”
“I thought you said your plans are with me.”
“They are.”
My brows lowered. “What’re we doing?”
His eyes darkened, his voice rough. “First, I’m gonna fuck you so hard you have no choice but to wrap your long as fuck legs around me and hold the fuck on.”
My muscles tightened and clenched, my hard nipples obvious through the thin tee.
“And,” he continued, “since all of the condoms are spread around our house like a latex scavenger hunt, I’m gonna finally feel nothing between my dick and your tight pussy.”
Multiple thoughts and feelings slammed into me at once. Like they were all fighting to jam through my tiny dingus mind, they got stuck, and I was left speechless.
Me.
Speechless.
I didn’t think it was possible, and yet, here we are.
We’d long ago had the awkward, yet important, talk about birth control and safety. I had an IUD, we were both tested and in good health, but using a condom was a natural part of the routine. That he was ready to be done with them wasn’t that big of a shock.
What had me at a loss for words was him calling it our home.
Ours.
As in, him and me.
Us.
Our home.
Jump starting my brain, I blurted out the first thing that came to mind. “And the second thing you have to do?”
Yeah, good choice. Because out of everything he said, that’s the important part!
Some humor replaced the heat of his gaze. “I’ve gotta get rid of all of the ladybugs from downstairs.”
My eyes darted to the door and Kase burst out laughing.