by Opal Carew
Her lips found his again and she pushed her tongue into his mouth and swirled.
“You said you’d be the man I need. And I need this. I need to be with you.” She gazed deep into his eyes. “Don’t you want me?”
“Oh, God, sweetheart. Of course I do.”
His lips found hers and she pulled him with her as she leaned back on the couch. The feel of his body over hers, his hand gliding down her side, set her heart racing. He cupped her breast and she arched against his palm.
She unbuttoned her shirt and pulled it open. She wore a simple white lace bra underneath, but his eyes lit up as he gazed at her. He sat up, perched on the edge of the couch beside her and cupped both her breasts. The warmth of his hands around her took her breath away.
She hadn’t been with a man in months. Not since the last time she’d been with Reid. And not since the accident. She was a bit anxious, but she knew Reid would be patient and guide her through it with a gentle hand.
His fingers slipped from her breast and stroked down her belly, then he unfastened her jeans. He pulled down the zipper, the raspy sound sending tingles through her. Soon he’d be touching her there. Where she ached for him.
But a little panic set in because … when he pulled down her jeans …
The scars …
She knew she needn’t worry. Reid wouldn’t walk away because she wasn’t perfect. But she wasn’t quite ready to face his reaction yet, whatever it would be.
She slipped off her shirt, then arched forward and unfastened her bra. Then she peeled it away. His gaze fell to her swollen nipples and sparks danced in his cobalt-blue eyes. He cupped her soft mounds and caressed them. When his thumbs glided over her hard buds, she whimpered.
He leaned in and took one in his mouth, his thumb continuing to tease the other.
“Oh, God, yes.” Her fingers curled around his shoulders, a deep need pulsing through her.
“Reid, it’s been so long. Please make love to me. I want to feel you inside me.”
He kissed down her belly, then grasped her jeans and eased them downward.
When they were partway down her thighs, his gaze locked on her scars and he stopped. The shock in his eyes as his gaze followed the lines marring her body tore at her heart.
“My, God, Stevie. What am I doing? You’ve been hurt.”
“That was months ago. I might not be able to walk perfectly, but that doesn’t change how I feel. What I want.” She stroked her hand through his hair. “And I want you.”
He nodded and drew her jeans the rest of the way off. His gaze traveled the length of her legs and back again and she could see he was disturbed by the extent of her scars.
“Reid.”
His gaze shifted to her face, his eyes filled with shock and sadness.
“Kiss me,” she urged.
He dipped his head to hers and kissed her. She wrapped her arms around him and responded with passion, deepening the kiss. Gliding her tongue into his mouth and coaxing.
She felt the fire ignite in him again and he drew her tighter to him, then he lifted her in his arms.
“Where’s the bedroom?” he asked.
She pointed and he carried her to it, then laid her on the bed. He sat down beside her, and very gently drew her small lace panties down, paying total attention to her legs rather than her newly exposed flesh. She wanted to arch upward to pull his attention back, but she patiently held herself still.
When he discarded her panties and turned back to her, she smiled.
“So did you miss seeing me like this?” she asked.
The depth of need in his eyes took her breath away.
“Of course I did.” His hand stroked over her breast, then down to her waist. “I could hardly sleep at night thinking of you. Wishing you were naked in my arms.”
“Then do something about it.” She took his hand and guided it lower.
With their gazes locked, she cupped his hand over her intimate flesh, then pressed his fingers into her folds until he could feel her dampness.
“Oh, fuck, Stevie.”
As if he couldn’t help himself, he stroked her slick folds. Heat shimmered in his eyes and he dipped his fingers deeper.
Oh, God, the feel of his thick fingers inside her was divine.
“Oh, yes, Reid. That feels so good,” she encouraged.
He glided deeper still, his fingertips gently stroking the walls of her sensitive passage.
She ran her hand over the bulge in his pants, wanting to feel the thickness of it. Wanting him to drive it inside her.
But he drew her hand away and moved to the end of the bed, then parted her legs. He knelt on the bed and caressed her inner thighs, his touch gentle and a little uncertain. Then he stroked over her intimate flesh again. She moaned softly, wanting his cock inside her so badly.
“Reid, I want you.”
“I know, baby. I want you, too.”
He leaned forward and his lips brushed her sensitive flesh. When his tongue burrowed into her, she moaned. Her fingers curled in his hair as he licked her slit, then he opened her soft folds with his thumb and …
“Oh, God, yes!” She arched against his tongue as it rasped over her clit, sending quivering waves of pleasure radiating outward.
He suckled and teased. Then he slid two thick fingers into her slick opening. They pulsed inside her. She trembled at the delicious sensations.
Pleasure rose inside her as he kept sucking and pumping.
She arched. It had been so long, and she was so close.
“I want you to come, baby,” he murmured against her slick flesh. “I want to know I’ve made you happy.”
“Oh, so happy,” she moaned.
His tongue swirled and his fingers drove deep. Over and over again.
“Yes! Oh, God!” The white-hot wave of pleasure crashed through her, swirling over every cell, her nerve endings singeing. She gasped, clinging to his head … then moaned as the orgasm claimed her.
When she released him and lay panting on the bed, he kissed her belly, then across her hips and down her legs. She gazed down to see him staring at her scars as he brushed his lips over them in light kisses.
She opened her arms to him. “Come and make love to me.”
He prowled upward, but lay down beside her. “I think that’s enough for now.”
He pulled her into his arms and snuggled her against his body. The hard column of his cock pressed against her hip.
“I think your body has different ideas.”
It twitched gently against her. She wrapped her hand around it and stroked, but he captured her wrist and drew it away.
“Stevie, I’m not going to make love to you now.” He stroked her hair, and his solemn gaze locked on hers. “It’s not that I don’t want to. I just … need a little time to get used to the idea. I…” His lips compressed. “I don’t want to hurt you.”
Chapter Twenty-six
At Reid’s words, Stevie’s throat tightened.
She stroked his cheek, loving the raspy feel.
“I’m not made of glass.” She nuzzled his neck, then dragged her teeth across the stubble on his chin. “I won’t break. And in fact”—she grinned and rolled over, presenting him with her ass—“I can take quite a bit of punishment.”
His hand stroked over her ass, but then he rolled her back again.
“It’s not going to happen right now.” His expression was resolute.
She frowned. “Okay, but I’m going to feel you inside me one way or another.”
She stroked down his tight abs and grasped his cock. God, it was so hard and throbbing she didn’t know how he could deny himself.
“Stevie…”
“Surely, you don’t think you can hurt me if I do oral sex, do you?”
The haunted look in his eyes dissipated as a slow smile spread across his face. He stood up and then helped her sit up, watching as she slowly pushed her legs off the side of the bed and to the floor. Then he positioned himself in front of her.
She smiled as she wrapped both hands around the big cock presented to her. She stroked, her insides quivering at the feel of the thick shaft gliding between her fingers. His breathing accelerated as she pumped him faster. She swallowed his big cockhead into her mouth, watching the growing need in his eyes, and suckled as she cupped his balls in one hand, continuing to stroke with the other.
His hand glided over her hair.
“Oh, fuck, Stevie, I’m so close.”
She was tempted to pull off him and offer her pussy instead, hoping he’d be so close to the edge he wouldn’t resist.
But she didn’t.
She squeezed him tightly in her mouth and sucked deeply, continuing to stroke him.
“Oh, God damn!”
He jerked forward as his cock erupted into her mouth. She suckled and swallowed, delighted she’d made him come.
A moment later, he dropped to his knees in front of her and held her close, his big arms around her, and his lips captured hers in a passionate kiss. Then he lifted her onto the bed and drew her against his body, pressing her head to his chest. He held it snugly against him, the quick beat of his heart pounding in her ear.
“God, I’ve missed you.” He held her tighter, as if he was afraid she might slip away. His lips brushed her temple, sending tremors through her. “I love you so much.”
“I love you, too,” she heard herself whisper before drifting off to sleep.
* * *
Reid hardly slept that night, holding Stevie close to his body, fretting at how he’d let her down.
He hadn’t been there for her after the accident, to help her deal with the difficult healing process, both emotionally and physically. And even last night, he’d been so thrown off by her extreme difficulty walking, and then the sight of her scars … his gut clenched … by her physical vulnerability and his need to protect her, even from himself … that he’d denied her what she had really wanted.
To be physically intimate with him.
Sure, he had relented enough to give her an orgasm, and then, when she’d insisted, to allow her to give him one, too, but … she’d wanted more.
She’d wanted him inside her.
How badly had he screwed things up by denying her that? Had he scarred her emotionally, making her feel unattractive? Or too fragile in his eyes?
He stroked her hair from her face, his fingers following the strands down her back. Lightly so he didn’t wake her.
He couldn’t lie here any longer. In agony with her snuggled so close. Not wanting to wake her. Not wanting to face making the same mistake again.
Because he still didn’t know … not for sure … if he could do what she wanted. As much as he wanted her … he yearned to slide his aching cock inside her … he wasn’t sure if he could do it.
He eased away from her and slid from the bed, careful not to wake her, then pulled on his boxers and walked to the kitchen. Once he had a hot cup of coffee, he went into the living room and sat down, staring out at the dawn sky. The clouds were bathed in a pink glow from the rising light of the sun, still below the horizon.
It was still early and Stevie would probably sleep another couple of hours.
He wanted to check his e-mail, but he’d left his phone in the bedroom. He walked down the hall, hoping to slip in and out without waking her, but at the door, he heard her voice. She must be talking to someone on the phone.
He wanted to give her privacy for her conversation, so he went back to the living room and picked up his coffee, then finished the last of it. He decided he’d grab a shower, then join her in the bedroom again.
He walked to the bathroom, but hesitated at the door. He would love to take her in the shower with him. To soap her naked body and stroke every part of her. But he didn’t know if her legs would hold her stable enough. And he didn’t want to chance her falling and getting hurt.
He stepped into the shower and let the warm water spill over him. He took a long shower, reluctant to return to Stevie in case he found out he couldn’t get past his debilitating protectiveness.
Finally, he turned off the water and pulled back the shower curtain. He dried himself off and combed his hair, then wrapped a dry towel around his waist. He opened the door, then walked to the bedroom. As he reached for the doorknob, he heard Stevie’s voice.
Was she still talking on the phone?
Then his stomach tightened as he heard a man’s voice.
Someone was in the bedroom with her. And the only one who made sense was her ex-fiancé, Sean.
Fuck, he hadn’t confirmed that the two of them weren’t together. When he’d found out that the accident was the reason she hadn’t shown up that night … and then when he’d seen this small apartment … He was sure Sean wouldn’t live in a small place like this with her. If they were living together, since the man had money, it would be in a large, luxurious apartment.
But despite all of that, maybe she was seeing Sean.
He was an idiot. He knew they were still in touch because it was Sean who had told Dylan that Stevie would be at the diner last night.
He paced to the living room, unsure of what to do. Should he slip away and leave them to it?
A strong resolve settled into his gut. No. He would fight for her.
He turned to stride back to the bedroom, when he heard someone tapping the combination into the lock on her door. He knew it wasn’t the superintendent because when he’d talked the man into letting him into the apartment last night, the man had had a key.
The door opened and …
What the hell?
Sean walked into the living room.
As soon as he saw Reid standing there, he stopped cold.
“Damn, I’m sorry, I should have realized. I didn’t mean to intrude.”
Sean walked to the coffee table and set down the cloth bag that appeared to contain some groceries. A smile turned up the man’s lips.
“As much as I wish she would have chosen me,” Sean said, “I’m glad that you two finally connected. She’s so clearly in love with you, but with her fierce pride, she wouldn’t allow herself to be taken care of by you or anyone else. That’s why she didn’t let me contact you, and I had to honor her request.”
Shock still held Reid immobile. “But you told Dylan last night—”
“I only told him where she’d be. I know that’s pushing the limit—a lot—but I had to do something.” Sean’s gaze locked with Reid’s. “I want her to be happy. And you’re the man to do that.”
He offered his hand to Reid and they shook. Then Sean turned and left.
Reid turned toward the hall.
It clearly wasn’t Sean in the bedroom, so who the hell was it?
He strode down the hall and stopped at the door, ready to thrust it open and storm inside. But he drew in a deep breath and knocked on the door.
“Who is it?” Stevie called.
“How the hell many men do you expect to walk into your bedroom?” he said as he flung the door open and stepped inside.
Chapter Twenty-seven
To Reid’s total surprise, Dylan stood by the window talking to Stevie. She was still in bed—naked—but she was sitting up with the covers tucked around her.
She giggled. “Well, I was pretty sure it was you.”
“Hey, man,” Dylan said. “Stevie called me and told me you two reconnected last night. Then she asked me to come over.”
“Really?” Reid glanced at Stevie. “Does he know about the accident? How badly hurt you were?”
“She told me,” Dylan said somberly.
“And I told him I really need a man and that you were a bit … reluctant. So he said he’d come over and…” She grinned. “Cheer you on.”
“Or show you how it’s done,” Dylan said with a smile. “In case you’ve forgotten.”
They both glanced at Reid and he drew in a breath. Could he allow Dylan to give her what he couldn’t?
Stevie smiled invitingly. “Maybe if you both come over her
e and—”
“No,” Reid interrupted. “You’re right. I think maybe Dylan should show me how it’s done.”
* * *
Stevie glanced at Reid’s face. He was struggling, she knew that. She’d called Dylan and asked him to come over, thinking maybe he could talk to Reid. Help him figure things out. But when Dylan had teased him about showing him how it was done, she was surprised Reid had accepted the offer.
She glanced at Dylan and he shrugged, then nodded. Dylan knew Reid pretty well, so if he thought it was okay …
She settled herself a little higher on the pillows, and after one last glance at Reid, who stood leaning against the doorway, she turned to Dylan.
“Dylan, I’d love to see you naked.” With that, she dropped the sheet to her waist.
Dylan’s appreciative gaze took in her naked breasts and he smiled.
“Whatever you want.” Dylan stripped off his shirt, revealing his muscled torso accented with tattoos that continued across his thick biceps.
Then he dropped his jeans to the floor. His swelling cock was already stretching the fabric of his boxers and she watched hungrily as he tucked his thumbs under the waistband and pushed them down. When he stood up, she couldn’t stop staring at his thick, rigid erection.
“It’s beautiful.” Her voice turned throaty as she said, “I want to feel it inside me.”
Dylan walked toward the bed, a big smile on his face. Then he pulled the covers the rest of the way off her and scooped her into his arms. She curled her hands around his neck as he carried her across the room, into the living room, and sat on the couch, with her sitting across his lap. Reid followed them and stood watching.
“Can you kneel over my lap?” Dylan asked. “Will that work?”
She smiled. “Yes.”
He wrapped his hands around her waist and helped her turn toward him and rest her knees on either side of him. He nuzzled her neck. Electricity fluttered across her nerve endings and she arched toward him. His hands glided up her back and he pressed her closer, then captured her lips. She cupped his face and kissed him.
When their lips parted, she smiled. “I’m wet and ready. I really need your cock inside me.”
His fingers stroked over her intimate flesh, then slipped inside to feel her slickness.