And then he began. It was slow. Achingly slow.
He was tight, so tight that it nearly hurt, in the most wonderfully strange way.
But above all, whether I was inside of him, or him inside of me, we were one. As different as we could be in practically every way, but we were one.
Twenty-Six
Russell
The second the head of Jasper’s cock popped into me, a sharp burst of pain left me gasping. If I hadn’t been overly conscious of making sure to go easy and smooth to keep from hurting Jasper’s tender body, I probably would’ve shot right back off him. As it was, I froze, and forced myself to breathe deep.
Jasper sucked in a breath of pleasure, and his eyes widened.
I focused on that, on him. On the expression of wonder and desire over his face. His left hand gripped tight on my thigh and then relaxed to smooth over my skin and find my cock.
With that distraction, his beautiful face, and the pleasure of his touch stroking my dick, I started to breathe again and relaxed.
“Like you said, go slow.” He grinned up at me. “If it hurts too much, we don’t have to do it. We can stop.”
“Like hell.” At my own laugh, I must’ve tightened around him, because he let out a hiss and a shot of pleasure rocketed through me. I sank a little further. Though it felt like a lot, I doubted it was even a millimeter. But just enough to increase the stretch, to increase the burn, but it also felt… good, maybe, or something close to it. “I’m seeing this thing through. Granted, I have no delusions that I’ll ever be the world-class bottom that my man is, but I’ll learn to hold my own.”
Jasper’s chuckle was all the reward I needed, and I sank a little more, causing him to tremble and his hand to pause in its stroking of my shaft. “Damn, you are so tight. It kind of hurts but it’s awesome.”
“Really? It hurts you?”
He nodded. “Yeah. You’re like, really, really tight, but I think I’m loving it.”
I laughed again. “Well, good. I’m glad this can be an uncomfortable experience for both of us.” I sank a little more before I was entirely ready, and my eyes rolled back in my head of their own accord as I forced in another breath and then another, and then another, before finally feeling my body relax, give in to the intrusion, and start to enjoy it. “Wow.”
“You’re telling me.” All humor was gone from Jasper’s voice. When I looked down at him, his pupils were blown, and his expression was completely overtaken by desire and heat. He started to stroke again.
“Holy fuck.” I grabbed his wrist. “You have to stop that right now.”
He did, freezing in place. Then he grinned, playfully. “You about to come?”
I had to consider, and then nodded. “I think so? Is that what that is? It feels so different this way.”
Jasper moved his hand back to my thigh and began to stroke. “Yeah. That’s what it is. And if you come now, this is over. It’ll take a while before you can come and then keep having a cock inside you.”
I waited for the burn in my cock to pass. It really was such a different sensation. One that left me feeling out of control and marveling at my own body. I hadn’t expected it to feel so different. And even though it hurt, even though it was unlike anything I’d felt before, the pleasure was undeniable.
“Thank you, Jasper.” As I continued to impale myself on him, deliciously excruciating bit by bit, I trailed my fingers over his skin, circling his nipples then making swirling patterns, careful in the places I knew he was fragile. “I’m so glad this is with you. That this is something I’ll only have with you.”
He blinked rapidly, but if he was close to tears, he successfully kept them at bay, though I heard them in his voice. “Me too.”
The process was slow, so very slow, but it worked for both of us. Though he was only able to reach my right thigh with his uninjured hand, I never stopped exploring his body as I gradually took his entire length and girth into me.
That was the slowest, when I felt the base of him flush against me, as I waited for his thickness—that seemed to threaten to rip me apart—gradually transition to an unreal sensation of being completely filled, and in a way, completely owned. Which, considering, is exactly how it should be. He owned me. Maybe he always had. Jasper owned every bit of my heart and my body.
Though I wasn’t sure if it was possible, both because of my body and his, with him so deep, I bent over Jasper and kissed him.
His hands stroked up my back, over my neck and his fingers sank into my hair the same moment his tongue filled my mouth to dance with mine.
I began to move gradually, but as we kissed, I started a rhythm, lifting off him just a touch and then pushing back down.
Jasper’s soft moans and gasps into our kiss encouraged me on, letting me know that he was experiencing as much pleasure as me.
I felt my orgasm begin to build from a place a million miles away and yet all around me. Build from a place and in a way that it had never done before.
As I sat back up, I started to reach for my cock but then didn’t, knowing that at the slightest touch I would come. And at the new position, I discovered that as I rocked him, Jasper’s long shaft hit places I’d not felt. It stroked and bumped some magical part of my body that had me groaning and gasping loud enough that I doubted the curtain did any good at all.
When his hand returned to my thigh, Jasper squeezed, then met my gaze. “That’s it, Russell. Ride me. Just like that.” His breath was ragged, his fingers dug deep. “Just like that, you’re gonna make me come.”
The heated pleasure in his voice spurred me on, causing me to increase my rhythm, and though it brought with it a new wave of pain, it also heightened my own pleasure.
Suddenly, Jasper released my thigh, shoved his fist into his mouth, strangling his cry as his body jerked. Inside me, his cock pulsed, growing thicker, and with each surge of his release, sent blazing white pleasure through my body.
With a cry, I barely had time to grasp my cock and give one pump before my orgasm gushed through me, practically tearing through my body in a punishing explosion and covering Jasper from navel to cheek.
It seemed to go on forever. The pulsating inside of me harmonizing with pulses of my cock. So much pleasure. Unlike anything I’d ever experienced—
And then it wasn’t pleasure. Just pain. Just too much pressure, and too much pain. I shot upward, Jasper and I both cried out again as he ripped from me.
I arched back, frozen both in pain and panic, worried that I’d hurt him. “Are you okay? Are you okay?” I wasn’t even sure if I was understandable through my gritted teeth.
“Yeah. I’m fine.” Though panting, Jasper didn’t sound in pain. “Are you?”
I relaxed slightly, trusting I hadn’t hurt him with the sudden jerk. And as I did, I realized that… some of the pleasure was back. My cock softening with the familiar thrumming contentment of release, and my ass had an oddly satisfying, pleasure-like burn. “You know… I think I am.”
Slowly, I sank back down so I was gently straddling Jasper’s lap, his own fading erection pleasantly thick against my inner thigh.
“I might have come up off you a little too fast.”
Jasper laughed as he beamed up at me. “You think?”
Chuckling, I started to reply, but then we both froze, wide-eyed as we heard the squeak of the door slowly opening.
A cautious female voice whispered into the dark. “Umm… everything okay in here?”
Completely losing my cool, I slammed my hand over my mouth to keep from laughing.
“Oh, yes. Everything’s good.” Proving to be the more mature one, Jasper managed actual words even though his gaze never left mine and he was smiling goofier than I’d ever seen. “We were just…” He snorted. “We’ll be quiet now. Sorry.”
There was no response, and after a couple of seconds the door clicked closed again.
We made it a couple more seconds ourselves, before we nearly died laughing.
Epilogue
Jasper
a few nights later
Russell and I lay in bed, my head on his chest, while I marveled that this was real life. That this was my life.
Though Xander had been in charge of the first day of the bookshop being open again, and I’d more or less listened to Harrison’s and Russell’s demands of taking it easy, I was tired and worn out.
Russell and I had gone to bed early, but I’d not been too worn out to make use of Russell’s body before curling up beside him. Sleep could wait. Life was there, in the here and now, and I wasn’t going to miss a second. I’d come too close to losing it all. It was a strange and miraculous wonder that we were together. Something I never would’ve envisioned. My own love story.
I knew Mom was smiling down on me. On Harrison too. She’d been such a lover of romance novels and now both of her boys got to live out their own. She’d want it no other way.
Maybe if Lamont and Tyler ever did a second edition of Lavender Love, Russell’s and my story would have a page. While I kind of liked the idea, I found that ultimately it didn’t matter if our relationship was documented within the covers of a book or not. It didn’t even matter if it was fate, destiny, or just the bizarre and random twists and turns life took that brought our love story to life. I didn’t care what had brought me to this place, given me this life, or allowed me to spend the rest of my nights with my beautiful man by my side. I was just thankful it had, and I was going to spend the rest of my days treasuring every moment. I would’ve treasured them no matter how Russell and I had come together, but nearly losing them all, made them so much more dear. God, we’d come so close, so very close to having it all taken away.
“Hey…” Russell’s sudden whisper in the dark nearly made me flinch, but I’d already trained myself from making any sudden movements—though the danger was gone, Neal’s impact on my body was going to take quite a bit longer to fade.
“I thought you were asleep.” I shifted to look toward his face.
“Close.” He stroked my back. “I could hear you thinking. You okay?”
I nodded. “Yeah, just… thankful. I almost lost you.”
“Babe. I almost lost you.” Russell gently pulled me closer. “But don’t think about that. It’s over. You’re safe, and neither one of us is going to lose the other.”
“I know.” And how wonderful was that?
Another thought hit me and I shifted again, propping myself partially up. “Maybe you told me early on, when I was still drugged up, but I don’t remember. Why were you in the parking lot that night? How did Neal get you?”
He was quiet for so long, I nearly decided he wasn’t going to answer. “I’m almost embarrassed to say. It’s so stupid, especially when I was here to protect you. So stupid.”
I hated that I’d asked. I knew he felt horrible about it. “None of that. All is good, remember? Things happen. It ended how it should. I was just curious.”
After several long moments, Russell sat up with a surrendering sigh. “How about I just show you?” He slid out of bed. “It’s in the other room.”
I followed, not wanting to lie still, even if it meant the hassle of using the crutch beside the bed. I waited in the living room to give him some space.
When he rejoined me, his hand was closed around something small. “I threw it away that first night we got home. I was so mad at it, at myself. This thing nearly made me lose you.” Russell let out a long breath, then shrugged. “But I dug it out the next morning. I wasn’t even sure why, other than I couldn’t believe it hadn’t been damaged. I’d found it by one of my truck’s tires. It was there the entire time we were in the hospital. How could I throw it away after that? It should’ve broken that night and probably several times since, or at least been carried off by someone or something.”
“It’s a gift? For me?” I supposed that was obvious.
“Yeah, I got it for you at the conference.” He grimaced and then uncurled his fingers. “It’s silly. But it reminded me of you.”
I took a porcelain figure from his hand and held it up to inspect.
It was a twisting stack of five books, each one a different color, but sprinkled with crackled gold leaf. On top, sat a reclining, mint-green worm wearing black glasses and reading an open book.
I laughed softly, my heart warming at the sight. “It even has red hair.”
“Yep.” Russell ran his fingers through my hair as if confirming. “Just like my real-life ginger bookworm.”
I studied the cartoonish version of myself a few more seconds then smiled up at Russell. “I have just the place for this. Follow me.” I handed him the figure, then shuffled along on the crutch to the alcove.
The alcove had been where I’d kept the treasures of my past and the symbols of my present. But with Russell, it now protected the keepsakes of my future as well, our future.
Retrieving it from him once more, I placed the little figurine next to Russell’s row of cozy mysteries and gave an affectionate tap on his little green and red head, then sat down, propped the crutch against the wall, and motioned for Russell to join me. “I know it’s late, but how about you curl up here with your bookworm for a while.”
He grinned, motioned for me to make room and then squeezed in behind, resting his back on his side of the shelves and pulling me to him, wrapping me in his arms.
In unison we sighed, then chuckled.
Russell’s beard scratched pleasantly over my skin as he nuzzled my ear. “I never dreamed I’d be so happy crammed in between a bunch of books.”
I stroked his arm as I settled in against his chest. “I told you, books are magic.”
“Nah.” He kissed the side of my head. “That would be you, Jasper Getty. You are magic. All the magic I’ll ever need.”
Family Trees & Lavender Shores Maps
For all things Lavender Shore, visit:
LavenderShores.com
About the Author
Rosalind Abel grew up tending chickens alongside her sweet and faithful Chow, Lord Elgin. While her fantasy of writing novels was born during her teen years, she never would have dreamed she’d one day publish steamy romances about gorgeous men. However, sometimes life turns out better than planned.
In between crafting scorching sex scenes and helping her men find their soul mates, Rosalind enjoys cooking, collecting toys, and making the best damn scrapbooks in the world (this claim hasn’t been proven, but she’s willing to put good money on it).
She adores MM Romance, the power it has to sweep the reader away into worlds filled with passion, steam, and love. Rosalind also enjoys her collection of plot bunnies and welcomes new fuzzy ones into her home all the time, so feel free to send any adorable ones her way.
Author Note
Dear Reader:
What is it about a man who loves books? Goodness! I had such a lovely time telling Jasper and Russell’s story. I hope you adored them!
When we return to Lavender Shores in a couple of months, you’ll get to journey along as Will Epstein finds redemption and love in The Wilderness. I think I’ll be mean and keep it a secret who travels along side him, for now…
Thank you so much for reading The Alcove. If you swooned over Jasper and Russell’s love story, I would greatly appreciate a review on Amazon and Goodreads. Please drop me a note on Facebook or on my website (RosalindAbel.com) whenever you like. I’d love to hear from you. Also for fun, hop on over to LavenderShores.com to have a behind the scenes peek at what the town looks like, read its rich history, and get to know the characters just a little better.
Thank you for loving my men!
Much love, Rosalind
Acknowledgments
A special thanks to Agatha Frost, Lucy Lennox, and Mildred Abbott who gave their permission to include so much of their own writing within these pages. Agatha, you write my favorite cozy mysteries of all time. Lucy, I hope I did the Marian boys and the dildos justice. Mildred, what’s not to love about corgis? While we’re at it, thanks to N
ora Roberts/JD Robb for endless hours of joy.
Desi, you make me brave. AngstyG, you make me beautiful. A huge, huge thank you to all of the lovely souls who proofread the ARC versions of The Alcove and helped me look somewhat literate (in completely random order): Ann Attwood, Melissa Brus, Janie Beaton, Cinnamon, Ron Perry, Rob Andresen-Tenace, TL Travis, Sue Paulsen, Nicole Davis, Tanja Ongkiehong, Marie Namer, Debra Edwards, and Anita Ford. Thank you all, so very, very much!
Mike Martinez, thank you for helping come up with the name for Merman’s Cove—you dirty bird! How did I not think of that myself with my merman obsession? It was perfect and you’re brilliant!
Zara Park, thank you for naming Lamont’s bathhouse series! He is in your debt!
A further and special thanks to some of my dear readers and friends who support my passion: Andrea Johnson, Fiona Wilson, Katie Pizzolato, Maggie Johnson, Marcia Gleason, Rob Andresen- Tenace, Robert Winter, Jason R., Victoria Smiser, and those of you who wanted to remain anonymous. You make a huge, huge difference in my life and in my ability to continue to write. I’m humbled and grateful beyond belief! So much love to you all!
Also by Rosalind Abel
The Palisade, Book 1
The Garden, Book 2
The Veranda, Book 3
The Shipwreck, Book 4
The Hideaway, Book 5
The Glasshouse, Book 6
The Alcove, Book 7
The Wilderness, Book 8 (Coming Soon)
Also available in Audio Format,
Read by Kirt Graves
The Alcove (Lavender Shores Book 7) Page 29