by Kira Blakely
He parted her labia with his thumb and finger, holding them open as he slid lower. He wanted to taste her. He kissed down her body until his tongue snaked out and touched her, causing her to groan and arch her back to get even closer to him. The sensitive, butterfly-like labia were slippery with her juices, and he licked them, wanting to taste her sweetness.
Laura wriggled and squirmed below his caress. She wanted him so badly. His tongue found her clitoris and circled it then massaged it before lashing across it from one side to the other. Her fingers curled into fists, her nails digging into her palms. The sheets grew messy beneath them as she writhed in absolute pleasure.
He began to use his fingers. He slid first one and then two inside her hot, well-oiled tunnel. He moved them into her, sliding them in and out, while his clever tongue continued to drive her crazy.
She wanted to touch him as well. She wanted to please him. She wanted to give him something as exquisite as he was giving her. She put her hands on his shoulders and pulled hard, even though she was so close to an orgasm that she badly wanted. Ashton came up. His mouth came down on hers and imparted her own flavor to her.
His tongue was coated with her salty – sweet aroma and taste. The kiss was long and hungry, and when it ended Laura rolled over on top of him. She moved down his body, her tongue met his nipples and belly while her nails raked lightly at the flesh of his upper thighs.
She took his pulsing rod into her mouth. Her tongue went to the base of his shaft and then upward, making circular motions until she reached his head. She slid back down, taking him fully into her mouth while tightening her cheeks and lips to apply pressure so that she could give him even more pleasure.
Her fingers slid down to the area between his testicles and his anus. She gently caressed him there, and his hips shot up and forward while his fingers dug into her hair. More of his hot organ slid down her throat and she cupped his testicles in one hand, letting her thumb stroke them as she did so.
She felt them tighten and began to move upward on his body. She worked harder, opening her mouth wider and using her tongue to create a duel sensation on his hard cock.
“You need to stop now.” Ashton’s words were a harsh and ragged moan.
She knew how close to the brink he was, and he wasn’t ready to come yet. She wasn’t ready for him to come yet either. She needed him; she needed him more than she could say.
Ashton rolled over on top of her. His long, strong body arched above hers as he positioned himself on his forearms. His cock pressed at the wet and slippery entrance to her body.
He entered her slowly and gently. He was large, and she had to stretch to accommodate him. Her legs spread wide her as she opened herself further. Her fingers went to his back, her nails raking down it as she reached for his flexing buttocks.
He was all the way inside her now. He lay there for a moment, allowing her heated oil to encase him. Neither of them moved, because they knew if they did, they would go right over the brink, and neither of them wanted that just yet.
When he did move, he did so slowly. He withdrew from her all the way. She felt empty, desperate with lust. She could smell her wet sex mingled with his sweat. His hands went to her wrists, and he held them down gently as his hips began to move faster and faster.
Her ass lifted and rose towards him. They moved together in a rhythm that was undeniable. His hips began to pump faster and faster, and her fingers clutched at his ass cheeks. Her nipples were hard points, poking up at the ceiling. Her mouth opened in a cry that was loud with pleasure.
Laura felt the orgasm hit her. It took her along like a wave, lifting her before crashing her back into a shore, only to pick her up and take her back out again. It was not aftershocks; it was multiple orgasms. She was lost, drifting in a haze of satisfaction that was tinged with the absolute need for more.
Ashton came as well. She felt him pulsing and throbbing inside of her. His face buried into her shoulder and his moan was muffled, but she heard it anyway. His weight felt good on top of her body; she wanted to feel it there for the rest of her life. It was amazing the way he made her feel.
He stayed inside her, rocking his hips gently from side to side every now and then as he gradually went limp. The aftershocks that had worked their way through them subsided until they lay tangled together, satisfied and drowsy.
His mouth rained tiny sweet kisses down on her face, throat, and breasts. She stroked his back and massaged his shoulders while he did that, both taking comfort in the small, soothing motions.
He looked amused. He asked, “Do we cuddle now?”
“If you want.” The laughter in his voice made the question – one that would have been awkward under other circumstances – feel funny and cute.
“I don’t mind.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders to illustrate the point, and she snuggled in beside him. A huge yawn cracked her face, and she rested the heel of her hand against her lips before saying, “I have to admit it. This was probably the best time I’ve had in months.”
“Is that because you were out there kicking ass in the parking lot, or because of this?” His hand swept over them.
“I think both.” Her smile was radiant. “You sure know how to show a girl a good time.”
His laughter joined hers, and Laura rested against his body, her skin meeting his. She’d just been satisfied so well, but she would not have minded just a little more.
Before she could act on that thought, the adrenaline rush she had been riding since stepping into the fight wore off and sent her hurtling first into exhaustion and then into sleep.
***
Morning light hit her eyes and the taste of wine filled Laura’s mouth. She cracked an eye open. Ashton lay beside her, obviously waking up, too. His hair was rumpled and mussed, and when he turned his face to hers, she saw a red stripe across his cheek made by a crease in the pillow case.
“Too late to sneak out,” she said groggily, correctly reading his thoughts.
He smiled. “I see. I was actually going to wake you up.”
“Yeah?” She sat up. Ashton had kicked his way out from under the covers at some point, and she had time to appreciate his magnificent body once more. “Let’s make a deal, okay? Don’t lie to me, and I won’t lie to you.”
“Okay. I was going to sneak out. I hate morning afters and when women want me to stay.”
“Well, you’re in luck. I hate guys who expect me to cook breakfast.”
His laughter spilled into the room. “You cook?”
“Nope. But if you want breakfast I could give you a couple of bucks so you can stop by the local drive-thru.”
She snapped her lips shut after she said it. Most guys didn’t appreciate her humor, or her wanting to not be bothered. Ashton just laughed again and slid out of the bed. He bent over to get his pants off the floor, and she felt a small pulse of desire that she fought back.
Ashton shrugged into his pants and turned to face her, his fingers working the buttons. “Thanks, but I can afford breakfast.”
“Glad to hear it.” She watched him slide his shirt over those incredibly tight abs of his.
Ashton paused, one hand reaching for a shoe. His eyes met hers. There was amusement in the depths of his and, she was sure, hers, too. He asked, “Did I ever thank you for saving my ass?”
Laura smirked. “I’d say yes. Several times.”
He grinned at her. “You’re a hell of a woman, Laura.”
“Thanks.” She knew she should say something else, but she couldn’t think of anything to say. This was, by far, the most pleasant morning-after conversation she’d ever had, and she wanted to ask if he wanted to do it again, but his shoes were already on and he was headed for the bedroom door.
He went out of it with a last wink and smile.
Laura heard the front door close and she slumped into the pillows. The room still smelled of them, and of him. She rolled over, letting her face rest on the pillow where his head had lain. It smelled of his cologn
e, and she sighed.
It just figured she would meet the perfect guy, and he was as imperfect as all hell. He was no more interested in a relationship than most guys she met, and he was at least brutally honest about it.
She was not truly interested in a relationship either, but that honesty of his was massively appealing and so was the memory of how well he had made love to her.
She shot the clock a look and got up, heading naked toward the shower. It was a work day, and while the night before had been one for the record books, it was over.
3
ASHTON
DAWSON ASKED, “So what are you going to do now?”
Ashton took a fast gulp of the strong drink that he held. The party was in full swing and was far more sedate than he would have liked. Dawson had a reputation to protect, so there was a decided lack of craziness happening. In truth, the only reason Ashton had even come was because he was hoping Lexie might have talked Laura into showing up too.
So far, she hadn’t shown up, and Ashton was a little frustrated with himself. In the week since he’d seen Laura and spent the night with her, he had thought about her a lot more than he would have liked to.
Realizing he hadn’t answered Dawson, Ashton said, “I have no idea. I guess I should have some idea, but I can’t seem to think past it all. I mean, it’s a lot of money, and while I like expensive stuff, I don’t like it enough to end up broke again. So, I was thinking about making some investments or something.”
“Good idea. I’ve got a guy that can help you with that.”
Nothing sounded less appealing than sitting down with some guy to discuss his money. Ashton summoned up a smile. “Thanks. I’ll get with you on that.”
Dawson chuckled. “It seems weird that the two of us have so much money, doesn’t it? I mean, I keep remembering that one house we stayed in. You remember, the one where the walls were so thin and all we got to eat was bologna sandwiches and Hamburger Helper.”
Ashton grimaced. “Don’t remind me. That was not even the worst one either.”
Dawson shook his head. “No, it wasn’t.”
Ashton’s eyes went back around the room. Still no Laura. “Man, I can’t believe we got out of there and did so great.”
“Me neither. But we did.” Dawson nodded toward a lean blonde in a very expensive cream-colored sheath. “Some advice. Stay away from that one.”
“Oh yeah? Why?” Hell, if Laura wasn’t showing up he might as well try to find some fun.
Dawson said, “She’s looking for a husband, and a rich one.”
“Thanks for the warning.” Ashton chuckled. “No way am I interested in getting married. Not to a woman who doesn’t want me for my money and really not to one who wants me for that and nothing else.”
Speaking of women…Laura strolled into the room, wearing a stunning red dress that accented her amazing figure and dark hair. Ashton’s dick stiffened, and he grinned.
Dawson asked, “What’s so funny?”
“Oh nothing. Just thinking about what all those assholes who said we’d never amount to anything would say if they saw us now.”
That was true. That had been exactly what he had been thinking right before Laura walked in, and he lost all ability to think about anything but her and that dress, and ways to get it off her.
She spotted him and smiled. Lexie and Laura were deep in conversation; that was easy to see. No way was he going over there and interrupting her. His eyes scanned the room as he considered ways to get her into a corner so they could talk privately.
Dawson turned away to talk to someone else, and Lexie crossed the room, leaving Laura standing alone. Ashton strolled across the room and asked, “What brings you to a party like this?”
She gestured with the glass she held in her slim fingers. “The same thing that brought you, I’d say. It’s hard to say no to friends.”
He sipped from the heavy tumbler filled with a single ice cube and scotch. “Yeah.” He’d been hoping she’d say that she’d come in the hope of seeing him again. His grin drooped a little at the corners of his mouth. Damn. The first woman he’d had a one-night stand with that made him want more, and she wanted nothing else.
Someone up there hated him.
Laura sipped from her glass. “Did I miss anything?”
“I’d be lying if I said yes.”
Her low, throaty laughter stroked along his senses. He shifted a little and asked, “Why so late?”
She pulled a face. “Work. They’ve got it out for me. I swear to God, I need a better job.”
“Then why don’t you get one?’
Laura sighed. “I was just so happy to have any job here in the city I took the first one that would get me out of that shitty small town – hindsight, as they say. It’s tough in my field. The whole city’s crawling with accounting and IT companies, both of which are my only specialties.”
He nearly spewed his drink out of his nose. “You’re an accountant?”
Her eyes danced. “I am. So? I would love an IT job, but if I don’t get one soon I’m afraid I am going to be left behind. Tech changes so fast and what I have in the way of education might be obsolete tomorrow if I’m not careful.”
“Believe it or not, the local community college has great classes, and they’re cheap if you only sign up for the continuing education and not the full program. That’s how I stay afloat in the tech world. That, and I read every book I can find on the subject. But having the cred on paper is helpful.”
“Wow. I never would have thought you were so serious. Or so up on tech.”
A grin tugged at his lips. “What did you think I do for a living?”
She surveyed him over the rim of her glass, then lowered it. Her tongue snaked out and licked along her lower lip, whisking away a few drops of the wine she was drinking. “I don’t know. I guess I never thought to ask.”
He shrugged, “I do a little tech stuff.”
They were interrupted by a friend of Dawson’s, who obviously had the intention of hitting on Laura. The man, older and carrying himself like he had every right to everything in the world – that rich, trust fund kid arrogance blatantly emanating from him – horned right in.
“Well, hello,” he said to Laura, ignoring Ashton completely.
“Hello.” She frosted him right out, giving him an icy smile and making her words chilly enough to freeze the air between the two of them. Ashton fought back a sudden spate of jealousy and sipped at his drink again, interested in seeing what would happen next.
Obviously, the new admirer was not used to women who didn’t just fall right at his feet. He shot her a smile that was a little less assured than his original one. “I’m Richard Davenport.”
He said nothing else. Laura just gave the dude a blank expression, obviously discomforting him. Richard shifted on the balls of his high-end loafers. “Of the Davenports, of course.”
Laura’s face stayed blank. “But, of course.” There was a thread of contempt below the words – thin, but there.
Richard looked even more uncomfortable. He looked around, said, “Well…er…”
“Nice to meet you.” Laura’s tone held sheer dismissal.
Richard took the hint. Ashton lifted his mouth in a half-grin. “Wow. I’m glad you didn’t run me off like that. That was harsh. Hell, that was the work of a master.”
Laura’s eyes gleamed, and she grinned right back at him. “Oh well, thank you. I’ve had a lot of experience with douchebags, unfortunately.”
“I bet.” He twisted the glass in his hands. He had no idea where he stood with her, but he was eager to find out. “I’ve had a few experiences with them, too, usually after they find out I right-swiped their girl while she was mad at them.”
Laura giggled, then said, “Now I’m dying to know. Is that what happened? I mean, I wondered why those guys at the bar were so mad, but I wasn’t sure if I should ask, all things considered.”
“Gerald’s had it out for me since I was a kid. We grew up i
n the same hood, sort of. I was a foster kid and none of the fosters that took me and Dawson in lived in the better places. Gerald’s dad…well, he’s a dope dealer, or was. I heard he got locked up for the rest of his sorry life not so long ago. Gerald was always a bully, and I used to have to fight him every now and then. It would not have shocked me at all to find out he put that chick up to asking me for a drink just so he could try to fight me again. But to answer your question, no, sleeping with her was not why he was mad. I would never have swiped right for her on any app.”
“Yeah you got to be careful with those apps. The worst one has to be Fly by Night.”
That was his app and it had made him rich. Biting back a grin, Ashton asked, “How so?”
“It’s all for the guys, haven’t you noticed? There’s no way to block dick pics, and the guys on there are animals. The women who use it are usually aware of what they’re getting into. Hell, I used it a few times. It’s okay for what it is – no apologies, no strings attached – but women must fill out detailed questions and give photos and then take a picture of themselves holding a sign saying ‘this is me’ just to prove that’s really us and all. But guys get to lie like hell. None of them have to prove how hot they are, and I know a lot of women who got stuck with some knuckle dragging, potbellied jerk as a result. Myself included. Oh, and let me tell you, when I walked out, he came after me yelling at me that I owed him four bucks for the coffee I had ordered.”
Wow. Why hadn’t he and Jackson considered those things?
Because they were guys, and like a lot of guys, they’d been pissed off about a woman who didn’t look anything like their pictures showing up. It had never even occurred to him that some guys were liars, too.
Damn.
Laura said, “You know what would be great? An app that’s somewhere between the hookup and the ‘oh my God, I love you forever’ app.”
His ears perked up. “Come again?”
“Me and my friend, Holly, were just talking about this the other day. I don’t want to get married. It freaks me out just to think about it. Seriously.”