by Lauren Dane
And then he lost himself in her.
He left her shaking.
Asa Barrons more than anyone else she’d ever met knew how to push her every single button.
She hung her head, holding on to his headboard hard enough she might have heard the wood groan.
His beard abraded the inside of her thighs as he ate her pussy like he’d been starving for it. She’d be just a tiny bit sore. He’d told her he liked that, liked knowing he’d be on her mind.
That was hot too.
He sucked her clit between his lips and she nearly jumped off the bed. Here he dominated her like everything else. He wanted to touch and lick every part of her and took his time, setting a slow pace at first, building sensation and speed as he went until there was nothing left but a climax that hit her so hard and utterly that she could do nothing else but keep holding on to the headboard until he moved at last, helping her to her belly on the bed, a pillow under her hips.
Asa ignored the slight shake in his grip as he rolled the condom on and lined himself up before pushing all the way into her body.
“Earlier, as I looked at you, all I could imagine was fucking you so hard pictures came off the wall. But given the way the bed is situated, I think I can settle for making a lot of noise instead.”
She grunted, pushing back at him, and he smiled. Okay then.
On his knees between her thighs, he looked down, hypnotized by the sight of his cock disappearing and pulling nearly all the way free from her before pushing in again. He held her hips up a little to adjust the angle.
Sweat beaded down his spine as orgasm settled in to his balls. So close.
She made these needy, breathy sounds into the pillow and they only drove him harder. He needed deeper and so he dug in, and whatever he stroked over inside her worked for her too because she was suddenly hotter and wetter as her body squeezed his cock.
And then there was nothing but pleasure as climax sucked him under. He continued to fuck into her deep and fast as wave after wave hit him until he finally flopped to the side to keep from crushing her and rolled from bed.
“Now then.” He got back into bed and she sought his body immediately, resting her upper body on his as she looked at him.
“Being fucked is better than medication. I’m drowsy and feeling far better than I did before we got here.”
It was his job to make her life as easy as he could, so if sexing her up was what he needed to do, it wasn’t so big a chore, was it? He brushed the hair back from her face.
“Always available to play my part.”
“I love you, Asa.”
He cupped her cheek. “I love you too. So rest up, because you’re going to need your energy for round two.”
She started laughing and he joined her.
“Come on downstairs. We’ll crack open a bottle of wine and drink it out on the deck. I got some of those anti-mosquito candles you love,” he said.
“You did? You hate citronella.”
“You love it. Now come on. There’s something for you hanging on the back of the closet door.”
She got up quickly and headed to look. He smiled at the happy sound she made and got up to receive her hug as she pulled on the deep purple robe he’d bought.
“I love it. So soft.”
“I was walking by a shop and it was hanging just inside the door. I saw it and wanted it to be yours. Wanted to see it against your skin.”
“It has a lotus on it. You didn’t just find this at all. You went looking for it.”
Busted.
He tried to stay gruff, but she saw right through him, so he shrugged. She petted his beard, which they both loved though he pretended to tolerate when he really wanted to preen around when she was done.
“You like me.” She said this in a singsong voice, making him laugh.
He pulled on a pair of sleep pants. “I do. How can I not like a woman who can quote Arthur C. Clarke while having sex?”
They headed downstairs and she pulled down two glasses while he opened a bottle of wine.
“I’m what they call a Renaissance woman, Asa.”
“So that’s what it means? Saying no to anal with literary quotes?”
“Totally.”
“I’m a lucky, lucky man.”
She put the glasses down and lit the candles. “That so?”
He wanted to pat her ass, but he figured he’d give it a break after the caning. Instead he sat back, satisfied with his life, and poured two glasses of wine. “That’s totally so.”
CHAPTER
Twenty-three
She opened her front door to find her sister standing on her porch.
“Hey, come in. I wasn’t expecting to see you.” PJ hugged Julie on her way past.
“I was in the neighborhood. I had to deal with the Department of Licensing and as it’s just a few minutes away, I thought I’d take a chance and see if you were around.”
“I just got home about ten minutes ago.”
“I won’t stay long. I know you have dinner at Asa’s mom’s tonight.”
“Yes. She’s making tamales. From scratch. I didn’t eat any lunch today so I can have extra. Well, if I can manage it without looking like a hog.”
“I have faith in you and your ability to eat a lot of what is going to be really good food.”
“Apparently they’re fantastic and legendary. Which are two things I love when it comes to food. She used to bring in extra money at the holidays making them by special order for people. Asa says she used to take orders for them months in advance for Christmas and New Year, so he’s really leading me to expect some pretty awesome stuff.”
“Try to put one in your purse for me. Or maybe not. Wouldn’t that be a great way to introduce yourself to his mom? She finds a tamale in your purse, but you can say, ‘Ma’am, this is so good I knew my sister had to taste it. I’m only human.’ ”
“Did you have drinks with lunch today?”
“I’m just naturally hilarious, Penelope.”
Julie clearly had something to tell PJ. Her big sister wanted to share, so PJ needed to pay close attention.
“You actually are. What are you up to? Come through and help me look for something to wear. If you’re thirsty there’s juice and stuff in the fridge.”
“I’m having dinner with Shawn in about an hour, so I’ll last until then.”
PJ pulled out two dresses. “So a dress is obviously in order. I need to look nice when I meet her. She’s very important in Asa’s life, so I really want to make a good impression.”
“I like that. It says good things about him. I’m jealous, and happy for you too.”
PJ smiled. “He has a marshmallow center. He thinks no one knows.”
“Well, you look at him and before he says a word you’re a little wary and then you see his eyes. He’s intense, yes. But he’s got kind eyes.”
“He does, doesn’t he?”
“You’re in love.”
PJ nodded. “Yes. Get this, I told him in the car on the way home from Salty’s last week. But he loves me too, Julie. I know it’s improbable, but he’s someone special. He’s everything I never knew I was missing until I had him.”
“I like that. I like him, actually. He’s insightful and deliciously alpha male. Mom has a crush too. And if he can love you after having looked that mess at the restaurant in the face for two hours, he’s a keeper. So, I have to know. Does it get in the way? The piercing, I mean. When he’s downstairs?”
“His nose piercing or the cock one?”
“These are words I just never expected to be saying in my day-to-day life, you know? My goodness. You’re a thrill a minute, Penelope Jean.”
“Neither piercing does a single negative thing when he gets up to any sort of sexing.” PJ waggled her brows at her sister, who gave her a face. “Maybe Gavin can get something pierced when he gets back. Maybe he already did. Maybe you can get something pierced!”
“I’ve had all the piercing I plan to, b
ut thanks. And stop with the Gavin talk. Maybe.”
Ah! That was it. Something about Gavin. PJ grinned at her sister. “Have you heard from him?”
“No. I was thinking this last week that maybe I should just send him an e-mail. It’s been a while. I send him birthday cards. Christmas cards. It’s not like I just dropped off the planet, you know. Anyway, we’re done with this topic now. We were just talking about your clothing options.”
She let Julie off the hook and held the dresses up again. “Preferences?”
“The black-and-white one is super cute with the fit-and-flare thing. Plus you have those spectator pumps that’ll match perfectly.”
“Thanks!” PJ started changing. “You’re coming to the show, right?”
“There’s nothing that could make me miss it. I’m so excited to see your work on display.”
A trade show had chosen cars with PJ’s paint work to fill two of their slots on their custom floor. It was a huge deal with great exposure not just to the locals, but the trade show people, which got her work in front of even more potential clients.
“I’m proud of you.” Julie handed her two Lucite bracelets, one black and one white. A smile bloomed over her face as Julie realized where they’d come from. “These were Gran Colman’s.”
“She used to let me play dress-up all the time. I had a little box at their house. We all did, remember? Anyway, after she died all that stuff went into storage. My box of dress-up stuff was in the trunk of the Z28 when it came to me. These were inside it. I love them. If you ever want to wear them just say so. They’re meant to be shared.”
Julie hugged her. “Come to think of it, after the will was read, a box of books came. All my mysteries were in it. I bet Grandpa stored each one of our boxes. I like that.” She kissed PJ’s cheek. “Anyway, I love the bracelets but they’d look wrong on me. On you they’re perfect. Just like it’s perfect that you’re having so much success with work.”
That meant a lot. “Thanks for being so supportive.”
“Of course. I’m your sister. We need to meet, though. All of us. Shawn and I are having dinner tonight, like I said. He had a meeting with Fee today and wanted to talk about it. We’ll loop Jay in once I hear what Shawn has to say. He’s really upset right now. He and Dad are at odds.”
“Fee must be in heaven.”
“He is extra smug. But Dad has been keeping a low profile since the dinner. I think Mom is still punishing him. Which she should be. What he said was wrong. I told you this that night and I’ll say it again. You aren’t a failure. He was cruel to have said that.”
It had hurt. And it had made her ashamed of having worked so hard for his approval all her life just to have him slap at her in such a petty way. Like he had no idea of her value.
“I don’t know about meeting with you guys. I mean, I always want to meet for dinner or whatever, but I don’t know if there’s anything left for me at Colman. Especially now.”
“Hear us out when the time comes. You’re going to make your own choices and we all respect that too.” Julie looked at her watch. “I should go.”
PJ walked her sister out, hugging her and promising to call soon.
Asa watched her interact with his mother and knew he’d be getting two thumbs up from Pat later that night.
He’d told his mom and sister some of what had happened the week before, so it was extra nice that they’d been so welcoming and warm to PJ from the moment she’d walked through the door.
He’d brought women to his mom a few times over the years. Ellen, of course. His mom had been where Ellen was at the time, and a big part of why he’d married her was because he would have done anything to ensure his children didn’t grow up without a dad. Now, years later, he knew he could have done that even if they hadn’t married, but he didn’t regret his choice at the time or right then, as he watched a woman who’d taught him what bone-deep, forever love was listening to his mom tell a story about Asa’s childhood.
He hadn’t known you could feel this way about another person, and everything he’d done until the point PJ walked into his life had brought him right where he needed to be to cross her path when he was ready for her. So he couldn’t regret any of it.
“Help me bring in the good dishes.” Courtney nudged him out of his thoughts.
He rose and headed to the sideboard, where his mother kept what she called the good dishes. The set of china Asa and his sisters had given her about ten years before wasn’t actually that expensive or anything, but she loved it and brought it out on holidays, birthdays, and other special occasions.
PJ came in as he and Courtney were pulling out four place settings. “I’m supposed to tell you to remember the big platter.”
“She trusts you with that? Good sign.” Courtney gave PJ a thumbs-up and then thrust two stacks of plates her way. “Take those in; I’ll grab the platter.”
“Gotcha.” PJ carried the dishes to the table and began to put them out.
“I figured you’d be prissy,” his mother said to PJ as she worked.
Asa hurried up to see if he could prevent any more of those kinds of sentences.
Courtney snorted, grabbing his arm to slow him down. “She’s going to say whatever she wants to say. You know how she is.”
“If you had ever spent two minutes with PJ’s father you’d understand why I want to protect her,” he murmured to his sister.
“Mom isn’t that guy. She’s pushy and nosy and bossy, but she’s not mean. But you know what? I like you this way.”
Asa turned to face his sister. “What way?”
“Protective. That’s what way. Oh sure, even if she was just a friend you’d look out for her because you’re a good friend and it’s in your nature. But… with her it’s different. You’re different. You’re sweet. It’s more than fast driving and motorcycles and all that crazy stuff you do. Please don’t tattoo your face. That’s an aside. Back to my subject. Mommy and Lettie and me, we know you’re generous to a fault with people you love. I’ve seen you on dates. I’ve seen you with your wife. But you look at PJ like she’s part of you. You look at her and your face brightens. You want to take care of her. You think about how she’ll feel about this or that interaction. You’re in love with her, aren’t you?”
Asa nodded.
“Asa! I need that platter.”
“Sorry, Mom. Coming right up.” He turned, put the dishes he’d been holding on the table, and grabbed the platter, taking it to his mother.
“Thank you. I was just telling PJ I figured she’d be prissy. She laughed, though, so she knew what I meant. Don’t frown, it makes your nose look worse.” His mother looked back to PJ, who struggled against a smile. “Don’t you think that thing in his nose makes him look like livestock?”
Courtney coughed over a laugh as she continued to set the table.
“I already got a request not to tattoo my face from Courtney, so we can skip this.” Asa attempted to project some order, but as usual they all ignored him.
“No, ma’am. I think Asa is very handsome.” PJ and his mother looked him over and he sighed. PJ smiled and was so pretty he couldn’t help but smile back. “I saw the pictures of him with barely any hair at all when he was in the military. He was handsome then too. But I think the piercing and the tattoos and the hair give him a whole different type of good looks. He’s very fierce. But he’s that way in general, isn’t he? He gets a look on his face when he’s working on a car.” She mimicked his expression and his mother burst out laughing.
“He got that look even when he was a baby.” Her face went wistful for a moment. “When he’s trying to exert control over something or someone, trying to learn something new or that sort of thing, he gets that face. He’s a very serious boy.”
“Definitely. Smart too. Creative. Handsome. He works hard. He didn’t dump me after he met my family. You did an amazing job raising a good man.”
Pat beamed at PJ and then over to Asa and finally to Courtney. “You were right.
She gets him.”
Asa winked at PJ, flattered, flustered, touched that she’d see him the way she did.
“Asa, put the tamales on the platter. PJ, put the rice in the bowl on the counter.”
His mother headed to the table after she’d put out a pitcher of iced tea. Asa and PJ moved around each other in the kitchen in an easy rhythm after all the times they’d made dinner together.
He paused to kiss her. Just a quick peck and she smiled. Bending a little more, he took a deep breath and let her scent settle.
He was happy.
“Watch it, mister. I have food in my hands. You distract me too much,” PJ teased.
“I’d apologize, but I’m not sorry for stealing a kiss.” He indicated she head out to the table with the rice, and he followed with the tamales.
They settled, filling plates as they continued to talk. It was just like any other family dinner. Just like that, PJ had been welcomed at their table the same way Duke and Mick and Courtney’s friends had. His mother had treated her like family.
And PJ had responded like family.
It didn’t freak him out. He liked it. Liked how she fit into his life, liked how she made the effort to be with him the way she did, even with something as normal as hanging with his mom and sister.
He charged forward in his life. It’s how he operated. He knew she was different, knew this thing between him and PJ was the real deal. The certainty of it was automatic, like breathing. He’d been missing this connection, though he hadn’t had any real sense of just what it was before she’d come along.
His mom looked at him from her place at the head of the table and smiled. He’d presented PJ and she’d approved, and it didn’t matter that he was thirty-seven years old and a grown-ass man. It meant something that his mother liked the woman he loved.
From then on, Asa knew his mother would include PJ when she thought of family. She’d be welcome—and expected—at family dinners and events. He probably should have told PJ that to start with. He grinned.
PJ eyed him warily and he found that pleased him. He liked to keep her on her toes.
After dinner, she helped clean up without having to be asked. She made his mom laugh. She and Courtney seemed to get on well too. The marked difference between this dinner and the one he’d had with her family was something he knew PJ hadn’t missed.