I felt her nipples harden against my chest. It was by no means cold out here—in fact I was starting to break a sweat—so I knew her body was reacting to my words. But her eyes said more than her body ever could. They were guarded. She wasn’t entirely sold on the Marcus Grayson bad-boy-to-boyfriend transformation.
“I don’t want you to change for me, Marcus.” She tipped her head, looking down at our bare feet. “Part of the reason I… part of the reason I’m here, in this moment, with you, is because I fell for the whole package. Don’t get me wrong, I love this sweet side of you, but don’t give up yourself for me—for anyone.”
I didn’t know if it was just with me or if Tessa found a way to incorporate her issues with Zack into all her relationships. “This is a good thing, Tess. This whole growing up and settling down is long overdue. I’m not saying we have to hang up our party hats and ditch all the carefree fun, but I’m ready for a change and it’s all because of you.” I tapped her on the tip of the nose and she giggled. I loved that sound, the way it vibrated through her chest and escaped her plump, delicious lips.
“Don’t go changing too much.” Her finger traced a path from my neck down to the waist of my shorts. “I kinda like the smooth talking, chiseled, tattooed sex god that weaseled his way into my panties with his smoking hot charm and his dirty mouth. Let me get my fill of you in all your glory before you go retiring your bad-boy status.”
“Bad boy, huh?” My cock was so hard it was actually painful. I needed to be inside this woman before my balls turned all shades of blue. “Come here. Maybe I can turn you into a bad girl.”
“Oh please, baby. I want to be very, very bad tonight.” Her hand dropped from around my neck and she lifted the T-shirt up and over her head in one swift, but graceful, movement. “I can play the guitar for you later, but first I need you to fuck me under the stars again.”
She didn’t have to ask me twice. I picked her up and carried her against my chest, dipping down to taste one of her ripe, pink nipples. She laughed and kicked all the way to the blanket where I laid her down against a pillow and quickly shucked my shorts.
“Commando, perfect. Now get down here so I can taste you.”
Sweet mother of God! Dominating Tessa was the biggest fucking turn on ever.
I knelt down on the blanket, facing her. My hands roamed her body, the dampness of sweat creating a glistening glow on her skin. When my fingers tugged at her hair and I pulled her face to mine to kiss her, she resisted. “Lie down.”
With her delicate little hand, she pressed me down to the blanket and covered my body with hers. The skin-to-skin sensation, out in the open night air, was incredible. The shit you saw in movies. But I wasn’t thinking about The Notebook right now with Tessa sliding her way down my torso and cupping my tightening balls in her hands. This blew all that shitty porn I used to watch to get my rocks off to shame.
With her head between my legs and her hands stroking my cock, she looked up to find me watching her. “I don’t think I ever told you how big you are, have I?”
I shook my head, concentrating on her parted lips and how it was inches away from my throbbing flesh. “No, you haven’t.”
She dipped down and circled the head of my cock with her tongue, sliding it around the top and then tracing a wet trail down my length. “Biggest I’ve ever seen. I think about it all the time. How much it satisfies me. And on the nights when you’re not with me,” she paused to lick me from base to tip, tormenting me. “I touch myself and wish it was your big, delicious cock inside me.”
Damn! Every day, at least once, I jacked off imagining Tessa clenched around me, but to hear her say that! “So you are a bad girl, after all? That’s hot.”
She nodded and then proved her bad-girl skills by sucking me deep into her mouth. Her hand clenched around my shaft and she stroked me while her mouth worked the tip, licking up the liquid that couldn’t help but escape. I propped myself up on my elbows to watch, grabbing a fistful of her smooth hair and urging her as she moved. Watching her pleasure me was almost as good as the pleasure itself, but I didn’t want to finish in her mouth. I wanted to explode inside her tight, addictive walls while they clamped around me. “Baby, not in your mouth.”
She peered up at me, her lips still wrapped around my dick. She released me, but held on tight with her fist, licking her lips. “Tonight, we do it my way. I want all of you. That means I want to taste all of you. So, sit back, enjoy the show, and give me all you got.”
Who could argue with that? Not fucking me. I did as she said and watched as she took all of me, just as she wanted to, taking control. When my body tensed with the threatening release, I tried hard not to thrust too deep, but every muscle, every nerve, every drop of blood inside me rejoiced in the ecstasy of letting go and erupting into her mouth. “Fuck!” I cried out into the quiet night sky. I gripped the blanket underneath me as she drank every last drop and swallowed with a series of sensual gulps.
“Mmmm,” she moaned. “So good.”
“You’re fucking incredible.” My head dropped against the pillow and I took it all in. The sights, the sounds, the smell—Tessa dominated every sense even in this wide-open space. As I came down from my high, she hovered over me, her naked body rubbing up against mine. I was replete, but ready for more. It was always like that with her.
“The stars are getting quite the show tonight, huh?” she whispered against my neck.
I smoothed her hair with my fingers and kissed her on the forehead. “Stars are fine, I just hope the neighbors aren’t around.”
“Shit!” she said as she giggled. “You think anyone’s watching us? Can they hear?”
I wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. “I’m kidding, baby. I wouldn’t have brought you out here if I knew anyone could see. No one’s up here yet. It’s the middle of the week. We’re the only ones pre-gaming.”
She sat up and straddled me. Her long hair flowed over her shoulders, her tits peeking through the curtain of blond waves. Her legs pressed against my hips as she rocked her body over mine. “Good, because I’m not done with you yet.”
The past few days with Marcus had been pure bliss. Like sickening-get-a-room you-guys-are-so-cute-together bliss. Our night under the stars was remarkable in every way imaginable. Between the lovemaking and the conversation and just being together so freely—I was pretty sure, no, pretty positive, that I was head-over-heels in love with this guy who was once just my best friend’s little brother. Yes, I was in love with Marcus Grayson—the kid who used to fart with his armpit at the dinner table and throw spitballs in my hair while I was applying make-up for a double date with Riley. He was so much more now—he was everything I had been waiting for all my life. How ironic that he was right under my nose for most of it?
“What are you daydreaming about, huh?” Riley interrupted my internal replay of our earth-shattering evening on the dock and then our more subdued, but still toe-curling evening last night. It had been our final night alone for the weekend, as everyone would be arriving for the party soon.
“Just… daydreaming. That’s all.”
“Fucking goo-goo eyes over my idiot brother. How the fuck did this happen?” She rolled her eyes as she sipped her second cup of coffee since she walked in an hour ago. I paid her no mind—I was getting good at ignoring her displeasure toward my “thing” with her brother, as she liked to call it.
“I’ll give you goo-goo eyes. Have you figured out how you’re going to be in the same room with Beck and Marissa? You know, his girlfriend of two years. The one he was just going to ask to move in with him.”
Riley slammed down her mug, nearly shattering the flimsy ceramic. She leaned in close to me, riveted by my admission. “What do you mean just going to ask her to move in with him? When? And how do you know all this shit about him anyway?”
“Your brother and I do talk in between all that spine-tingling, awe-inspiring sex, you know?” I shot her a devilish grin and an evil glare to go along with it.
She scrunched her nose up so tight it distorted her beautiful face into something oddly unattractive. “You. Are. Gross. I don’t want to talk about what you and my brother do. Back to Beck. When’s Marissa moving in?”
“She’s not. According to Marcus, he decided not to ask her after all. Marcus thinks he’s seeing someone else and holding out on him. I’m just feigning stupidity, playing Switzerland.” I got up from the table to wash off the teething ring Luca dropped on the floor.
“You cannot say a word, Tessa. Marcus would kill me!”
Sitting back down at the table, I leaned back in my chair and clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth… that sounded disapproving enough, right? “Ohhhh!” I dragged out the word, emphasizing the irony. “Looks like the shoe’s on the other foot now, doesn’t it? Sucks not to have approval when it’s something you have no control over.”
Riley shook her head and then brought her French-manicured fingers to her temples, trying to erase the headache this whole situation must have brought on. Seems Beck had an interest in Riley. He tried calling her a few times after their… tryst, but Riley was too ashamed to acknowledge any of it. I was in similar shoes not too long ago—it sucked, but letting it unfold, naturally, had worked in my favor.
Another person might not be as understanding and supportive, seeing as she had put me through the wringer with her brother, but the pain and confusion was evident on her face and I couldn’t give her the ‘Karma’s a bitch’ spiel. She was my friend. “Listen,” I reached over to squeeze her hand. “Why do you seem so tortured by this? Is there something there?”
When she looked up at me, her eyes glistened with fresh tears, rimming the corners. “Tess, I’m lonely. I want a guy, like a permanent, boyfriend-for-more-than-ten-minutes guy. I’m not saying Beck’s that guy—especially since he’s already someone else’s boyfriend—but it definitely wasn’t just sex. Does that sound crazy?”
How could that sound crazy? If it was then I was certifiably insane myself. The “thing” with Marcus may have started out as a teeny tiny fragment that was just sexual, but even from that first kiss in the bar I knew there was something undeniable. “You need to talk to him, Ry. If you think there’s something worth fighting for, then fight!”
She swiped at the lone tear that managed to escape and crawl down her cheek, and then peered down at Luca, who was again gnawing on the frozen toy. “I want this,” she said as she pointed to my son. “I’m not getting younger and I just feel so empty. I did the career thing—that part of my life is fulfilled, but I still feel this… void. Like I’m missing out, you know?”
“Do you think Beck can fill that void? You think he wants the same things you want?” I also waved a hand over Luca. A relationship was one thing, but a family—that was a whole other ball of wax. The same ball of wax I had to tackle when it came to Marcus. He was so loving with Luca, but was he ready to be completely selfless? To grow up and be a stand-in daddy? I wasn’t so sure and I hated having any trepidation when things were going so smoothly.
“Maybe,” she surrendered. This was the real Riley—the one who wore all her insecurities plain as day for the whole world to see. As much as I couldn’t stand her chewing me out about my love interests, it made me happy to see she’d become more strong-willed. But this—the truth that lay underneath her I-am-woman-hear-me-roar attitude—this reminded me of back in the day.
“Riley, be real with me,” I deadpanned. “Do you want to pursue this or not? Did he give you the impression that he wanted more or was it just a good time?”
Her eyes sparked to life again, her knee bopping up and down. “I like him, and I’m pretty sure—based on the numerous texts and voicemails from him this week—that I wasn’t just a I-need-a-break-from-my-ball-and-chain rebellious fuck. Yes, we were tipsy and yes, it was spontaneous, but he said things to me—things that made me think he’s been wanting this to happen.”
Ha! Looked like birds of a feather definitely did flock together. It all seemed so similar to my situation with Marcus. It was almost uncanny. I was dating little brother and Beck had his sights set on big sister.
“What’s so funny?” Riley slapped my arm when she noticed the amusement tickling the corners of my mouth into a grin.
“It’s not funny. I’m sorry.” I straightened my posture—time to get serious. “Okay, let’s strategize. Do you want to talk to Marcus about it? Get his take on it?”
“Um, NO! Are you bananas? After what I put you guys through—what I’m still putting him through—over this? Don’t think that just because I’m having a mini-crisis right now it absolves you from the limelight, missy. I still think the two of you are making a big mistake and one of you is going to get hurt.” She pointed to me as if her finger was a huge neon sign indicating I was this one she was talking about. “It’s all peaches and cream right now because he’s a sweet talker, and presumably he knows what he’s doing in the sack, but he doesn’t know how to feel, Tessa. He never really ever grieved the passing of our mom. He went out and did his thing and kept his mind off it—that’s not the same thing. I’m not saying he’s heartless, because I know he has a heart of gold, but I still think he’s too young and immature and goddamn cocky to settle down and give you what you need.”
I almost put my hands up to my ears and jabbed my fingers into them. I’d risk the ruptured eardrum just so I didn’t have to hear this shit again. But instead of sticking my tongue out and screaming “la la la” to block it out, I changed the subject. “Yeah, anyway, so back to Beck. What are you going to do?”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have come this weekend. Maybe I should just turn back around and go home.”
“Why the hell would you do that? You just got here.” Marcus bounded into the kitchen with three bags of ice in each hand. The muscles in his arms bulged so deliciously that I wanted to get up out of my seat and lick them. But instead, Riley and I just stared at him, not even offering our help.
He dropped the bags into the sink, walked over to the table, and then planted a kiss on my cheek. “What? Did I catch you two in a girly-girl moment? You have your period or something, Ry? Afraid you’ll look fat in your bikini?” He poked her in the belly and she shooed his hand away.
“Yeah, that’s exactly it.” She stood from the table and brought her empty mug to the sink. “Typical guy, thinking a woman’s issues always stem from PMS.” She started to walk out of the room, but Marcus leaned back in his chair and grabbed her by the wrist, stopping her.
“Seriously. You can’t go, whatever your issue is. And I hope it’s not about me and Tessa because—”
“It’s not about you two, although it still sickens me. I’ll be fine. Seriously, just having a shitty day and I’m tired from the ride. I’m gonna take a little cat nap and then I’ll help you set up before everyone gets here, okay?”
Marcus released his grip and brought a stiff hand up to his forehead. “Aye, aye matey. Sounds good.”
“Later, Skipper.”
“Skipper? I’m the Captain of this here ship, wench.”
“Uggghhhh,” she huffed out in exasperation. “Whatever, Captain, let’s just make sure this ship doesn’t sink tonight while everyone’s trashing it. I’d hate to see it destroyed after you put so much work into it.”
I watched the two of them go back and forth—it was oddly refreshing. I was so happy to be here with the both of them. It might take some buttering up to convince Riley that Marcus and I would be okay, but I was hopeful that the three of us—well the four of us, including Luca—had a lifetime of new memories to make together.
“Go take a nap, Ry.” I finally said. “I’ve got set-up covered. Marcus and I can handle it.”
“Thanks, chica. I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me. And by if anyone needs me I mean, don’t wake me up.”
She vanished into the living room and up the stairs, her flip flops flopping on each of the wooden steps. When she was out of earshot, Marcus took my hand and placed his other one at t
he nape of my neck. “What was that all about, huh, gorgeous?”
“Ah, now I’m gorgeous?” I asked as I licked my lips. “I’ve moved up in the world.”
He pulled me closer and brushed his moist lips against mine, leaving a trail of heat that could only be extinguished by indulging. “You’ve always been gorgeous, you have to know that. I just call you pretty girl because it reminds me of what I used to say.”
I tilted my head, the kiss would have to wait one more second. “Say to who? When?”
He brought both hands up to cup my face, looking deep into my eyes with an adorable enthusiasm. “I used to talk to all my friends about you when I was a kid, drooling over the knock-out who hung around my house. They’d say ‘which one of your sister’s friends are you talking about?’ and I’d say, ‘You know—the pretty girl’. You were the prettiest one she ever brought around. Everyone knew it.”
His story was so goddamn adorable, it made me love the tailor-made endearment even more. I thought it was sweet when he called me that, rather than the generic ‘baby’ or ‘sweetheart.’ But hearing the meaning behind it— “You just keeping getting better and better,” I said as I leaned in for that kiss.
His hands massaged my scalp as our tongues tangled together at a slow, gentle pace. Our kisses were usually frantic and rough, a prelude to what would come next, but with Luca at our feet, it had to stop somewhere.
He was the first to pull back, leaving me breathless and wanting more. “I can say the same about you—like a fine wine, we’re both better with age.”
I laughed, just wanting to stay in this moment. The simplicity of just being together was like a breath of fresh air—it warmed my heart and made it feel safe and cozy, embraced and protected. “Maybe we should get started on a few things before everyone gets here. How many you expecting?”
Keep Me Page 18