by Ciara Cole
“Forget it. Don’t eat that,” he’d growled, the same moment that Gwen had picked up the fork and had begun to dig in.
“I’m serious. You might really die from eating that,” he’d said, straightening from the sink and coming back to the table. But Gwen had merely shrugged and had chewed happily, looking up at him with a bright-eyed smile.
She’d seen his face soften into an indulgent smile as she’d went on eating. It had been the first thing he’d cooked for her, and Gwen had no plans of passing it up, though it really had tasted awful. It had just felt like a dream. She’d taken another forkful and had tried not to make a face, but she had smiled when she’d looked up at him, unknowingly having a smudge of sauce on the side of her mouth. She’d teased him with a smile, asking if he didn’t have any salad.
He’d been staring at her with a strange look in his eyes, but he’d grinned and said, “Of course I do.” Then he’d moved away, while Gwen had proceeded to devour another mouthful of pasta. But the next second Trent had been back, his hand gently grabbing the back of her neck, just as he’d suddenly swooped down to seize her mouth in a kiss.
Gwen had stiffened in shock, feeling the warmth of Trent’s lips crushing hungrily over hers. Her mouth had been full of pasta and she’d been so surprised by the kiss she’d tried to tap against his shoulders with her hands in protest, but he hadn’t stopped kissing her and instead had deepened the kiss. Moments later Gwen had no longer been pounding on his broad shoulders, and instead had melted into the kiss, her hands resting on his chest.
Never had a kiss felt more magical. Gwen also remembered later that night, both of them snuggling on his patio, playing games and chatting. Of course. Trent had been a big fat cheater and had made her lose at their game of Jenga, having distracted her with his cough and making her topple the tower of blocks onto the table. Then he’d chuckled and dragged her closer, trying to make her take the penalty for losing, which had been a playful smack on the forehead with his thumb and forefinger. But instead, squealing, Gwen had made her escape, running into the lawn just as Trent had given chase.
She’d managed to evade him, always skipping just out of his reach. Then he’d suddenly tripped on the lawn, and then held a hand to his side in pain. Gwen had stilled when he’d groaned, her eyes filled with concern as she saw him grimace.
“Are you okay?” she’d asked, inching closer. Trent had just groaned again and had shaken his head, and worried, Gwen had closed the gap between them. Just as she had bent over him he’d grabbed her arm and tugged her down to the ground with him. Grabbing her close again he’d made to deliver the belated smack, even as Gwen had squealed and struggled. At last, he’d merely grinned and then pulled her into his arms and kissed her forehead instead of smacking it. He’d hugged her close and Gwen had hugged him back, loving his lips in her hair as he’d kissed her there, too. Then he’d pointed out the starry sky above, and Gwen had alternated between staring up at the beautiful night sky, and the beautiful chiseled face beside her. She’d hugged him again.
The serenity of that moment, and all the joy and innocence, had filled her with pure bliss. She must have dozed off because her eyes had drifted open again later when she’d felt the feather soft pressure of lips on hers. Trent’s arms had still been around her, but now he’d had his lips on hers again, kissing her in that bone-melting way that had made her almost forget her name. They’d kissed and kissed, under the blanket of stars, and before long the bliss had ignited into young, fervent passion, that had carried Gwen on a new, fantastical plane of pleasure and discovery. Her first time, her first love. And it had been perfect.
Now, about nine years later he had her feeling like a breathless virgin again. Maybe, because it had been so long, everything felt so new. Back to the present, his lips on her neck felt like fire, when all those years ago, they were a gentle simmer. Yes … this was way different from teenage love or passion. This was red-hot, pounding, fracturing carnal lust. Sinful, dirty, forbidden.
Just like the last time, they’d chosen somewhere unconventional. Before it had been underneath the stars, while alone on his parents’ estate. Now they were in a classroom in the school where she was principal, and just like back then they didn’t care if they could get found out or if someone would spy on them. Because fuck that—nothing else mattered when the churning started up between them.
“You burn me up. Can you feel that?” he razed against her skin with lips of flame. His body pushed up against her so she could feel what she did to him. He felt up the sides of her waist and met skin, which caused him to dig possessively into her flesh with his fingers.
Gwen groaned, throwing her head back and clutching at his chest. He licked her neck, sucked on her collarbone, and nibbled on her skin. He popped her blouse the rest of the way open, shoving down her bra and freeing her breasts.
They were far fuller than they used to be. Trent tore his mouth from her throat and drew slightly back to gaze down at her exposed flesh, already spilling into his ready palms. Her breasts were warm and soft, the shape of watermelons and the same deep brown shade as the rest of her. Despite their size they didn’t droop but stood out proudly, with tips like tiny bites of fudge. Trent squeezed on them, hefting them, and fondling them, before holding one upright to lick and suck on the turgid nipple, listening to her moans and sighs.
“You know how much I missed these?” he growled against her skin, popping one nipple from his mouth for a second, before snatching it between his lips again. The sensation of his tongue on her hard nipple shot bolts of lightning pleasure straight down to her toes. Her back arched, his glorious assault on her breasts causing her to bite on her lip to keep from crying out. He released one aching nipple and took in the other with even more fervor. The tugs he gave her swollen tip with his teeth did impossible things to her libido. She wanted him inside her, now.
“Trent,” she whimpered, virtually clawing at his shirt.
“I know, baby.” He gave her nipple one last hard suck and pulled away with a loud pop. “I can’t have enough of you. And I need more.”
So did she, Lord help her. Gwen couldn’t look away when Trent held her face between his hands and held her gaze. She knew he saw the spark of lust and indecision that crossed her eyes. He also knew that just that sexy smile that crossed his lips made her so crazy hot for him, so that she couldn’t fight her need when he bent his head and kissed her softly and sweetly. He drew in her bottom lip, nibbling and sucking.
The relentless seduction had begun, Trent’s tender foreplay even more enticing than his more aggressive side, which also got her too wet for her peace of mind. Gwen’s blood felt ready to boil right over when Trent reached down and grabbed her ass. He kneaded the soft jiggly flesh and groaned, right before he smacked it gently. Gwen gasped into his mouth, and he did it again, a bit harder. Ooh, now he had her all worked up.
They walked backwards, headed for the nearest table, not splitting apart and managing to knock stuff down on the way and bump against the walls. Finally they made it to the nearest horizontal surface, his powerful arms easily lifting her and setting her down on the edge. The next instant she was wrapping her legs around his waist as he stood between her parted thighs.
They went on kissing, all but inhaling each other through their fiercely eating mouths. His member ground into her core and he let out an animalistic growl. “You’re so hot for me, I can feel it.”
Gwen could feel it too, even through the layers between her sex and his. He broke away from the kiss and Gwen was left feeling bereft, until she saw him reach underneath her skirt for her panties. Gwen lifted her hips enough for him to slide them down her thighs to her calves where they somehow got hitched on one of her ankles. Neither of them noticed, Gwen busy with her hands joining Trent’s to unclasp his belt, followed by his fly. Working together they had him free in seconds.
Gwen liked that he didn’t wait. He pushed her legs open and guided his raging manhood into her waiting cove. His silky hard member sp
lit her lips apart and had her creaming on him instantly. “Oh, Christ,” she panted, as he propped her knees higher and got her legs wrapped around his waist again. He filled her up in slow, torturous increments while she stared into his taut, lust-driven features. “Fuck,” he snapped, throwing his head back as his eyes rolled into his head. Gwen knew he felt it too, the pulsating pressure of her walls clamping around his massive shaft. She was dripping wet but she was extra tight, and everything felt so intense.
The environment, their crazy chemical force, and just all that pent-up need from who knew how long it had been for them both … it was a chaotic rush. He drove the last inch into her and let out a string of curses as Gwen shuddered and moaned in response. Their lips found each other again, Gwen’s tongue twirling with his as he started to drill his hot tool inside her. They both gasped on each slammed-in thrust, Trent massaging her walls with the pressure of his length grazing every inch of her tunnel. Their lips tore apart as Gwen let out a squeal of ecstasy. Trent’s response was to pound into her even faster and harder. Her head couldn’t stop spinning then.
He looked down between their joined bodies and Gwen also peeked to see what had him so riveted. His thick ivory meat looked angry and hot gliding in and out of her cocoa lips. Gwen gasped and contracted even more on him, her inner muscles wanting to engulf him whole. The slick evidence of her juices coating him was just as erotic as the contrasts of their flesh clashing together.
Trent ducked his head and latched his mouth over one engorged nipple. Good golly, thought Gwen as her spine arched sharply, offering him more of herself in supplication. Her nails raked his rippling chest and back, her hips pumping off the edge of the table to meet him thrust for thrust.
The pace grew tempestuous. Gwen’s body caught multicolored flame with how much sensation was taking over her. Trent sucking hard on her teat while plumbing her depths rough and sweet, threatened to crash her fragile balance between control and abandon.
Trent’s passion for her body was so fierce and irrevocable, it shook even her. A shudder echoed between them in unison and it was just like it always had been. The way they could sense each other’s rising pleasure pitch. Between them was a raw, grinding objective that was unstoppable at this point. Gwen foresaw her powerful orgasm even before it streaked right through her, and she knew it would be monumental.
Boundless, infinite space erupted around them until their meshed bodies felt like a single dot in existence. Suddenly they came together, expanded together, and liquefied as one.
Gwen had walked away from this the first time, all those years ago. But the moment her orgasm hit that high note and made her body and soul sing, she wondered if she could bear to give it up all over again …
***
“We shouldn’t have done that,” said Gwen.
“Well, it’s done,” Trent told her, his tone calm in contrast to her shaken demeanor. Gwen could barely straighten her clothes, feeling jumpy now that their passionate sex romp was done and she’d hit a reality check. What if anyone had walked in and seen them?
Trent moved to stand in front of her, gently pushing her shaky hands aside and helped do up her buttons. “My men know we’re alone here and would have done everything to ensure no one else interrupted us.”
“Oh, what a relief. Thanks for letting me know your guards will have suspected you’ll be seducing me right here on school property.”
“But then who’s to know who seduced whom?” teased Trent, and pulled her into his arms even as she strained away and pounded him with her fists. “It was reckless, and I should have had more self-control and yet, I don’t regret a second that I was inside you.”
He growled the last few words into her ear, making Gwen squirm. “Well it’s not happening again, I guarantee that,” she said, finally managing to break away as his arm loosened even as he chuckled at her words.
Slowly his humor faded and his hand raked his tousled hair back from his forehead. “I’ll give you time to change your mind. And some of the space you need,” Trent said.
“What do you mean?” Gwen asked with a frown.
“As you know, the unveiling event is coming up next week to conclude the classroom project. Just earlier, my secretary rang me to confirm that I’ll be unavailable for the party as he couldn’t reschedule my London trip as I’d hoped.”
“That’s unfortunate, but maybe it’s better that way. And you’re right, your absence will give me the chance to think things through. About just how much of you I intend to have in my life. If at all.”
She held his gaze squarely, but Trent didn’t push the subject. Gwen could never really figure out what Trent could be thinking but it didn’t matter. At the end of the day it would be her making the needed choices, not him.
Chapter Four
“You look fabulous!” said Gwen’s secretary in awe as she took in Gwen’s ruffle off-shoulder pencil dress in carmine red, its fitted style and mid-calf length adding a longer silhouette to her slim shape.
Gwen smiled nervously. “So do you, Amy,” she said sincerely. Amy loved bold colors and patterns which somehow always went well with her plus-size figure. Tonight she wore a flowery dress with an A-line skirt and even had her spectacles in flowery frames to match.
“But nothing close to your Bardot-worthy gorgeousness. I just love the leopard print pumps. Manolos, right?” asked Amy in admiration and envy.
Gwen groaned. “They are. I went too over the top tonight, didn’t I? I just felt like celebrating.”
“Of course you should. Come on, Gwen, I know for a fact it’s been over a year since you got anything remotely nice for yourself. So why feel guilty?”
“You’re right,” Gwen said with a reviving sigh.
She looked around the venue and felt a surge of pride. She’d bought the hot new dress and heels, got a babysitter for Jonah, and now she felt ready to enjoy herself. The party had all of the donors as well as the administration from the various schools they’d aided. It was a swanky occasion meant to be a PR fest for the donors, though Gwen felt that like her, the schools would be happy, too. Who didn’t like an evening of glamor and excitement?
Gwen felt her happy mood dwindle somewhat at the sense that something was missing. And then she quickly shook her head to mentally ward off the notion. I don’t want to think about him.
Her cocktail tasted delicious, and she took another appreciative gulp. She liked that the alcohol gave her more of a confidence boost. She wasn’t that accustomed to rubbing shoulders with high society types, and she did get awestruck a bit when some handsome celebrity gave her an appraising smile. She was simply here to have fun, she decided. She was in no way interested in anything more than socializing and letting herself loosen up for once.
So what if suddenly, the night just fell short of being perfect? Gwen couldn’t let herself be bothered by the fact that a part of her just couldn’t go all out the way the others seemed to be doing. She saw many begin to lose their inhibitions, dancing and flirting—even the most staid of those she knew. Now that was a surprise, Gwen thought as she smiled into her drink.
Then she saw him.
He simply walked into the room and she felt his presence, like a cosmic vibe emanating from him to her. He was dressed in all black, his golden tan, green eyes, and dark hair adding more gleam to his sleekly handsome persona.
Women gaped in lust and awe and men admired him for his taste, style, and uncommon bearing. He was courteous and full of charm, greeting other guests and the notable faces he met along the way to where he was headed—straight for the frozen Gwen.
When he reached her, it was all she could do to keep from flinging her arms around his neck. He looked so hot and sexy, and she’d never been happier to see anyone. Was she crazy? Why couldn’t she figure herself out and stop being so needy just because Trent had showed up out of the blue?
“What happened? What about your trip?” she managed to let out, and paused as a passing waiter offered red wine and Trent took a
glass, offering her one. She shook her head, holding up her cocktail which was one she intended to nurse all night.
“I cancelled it. Involved a hefty penalty fee but it was worth it to get to see you tonight in that red dress.”
Gwen felt her face flush. There it was, that feeling she’d lacked since the night began. The butterflies in her tummy, the fevered rush of heat between her thighs, the skipping beat of her heart—only Trent could evoke all those emotions in her so effortlessly and all at once.
“I guess the party was too important to miss. After all the effort you put into the PR process, it would have been a waste if you didn’t make it.”
“I don’t really care about that,” he said with a shrug, surprising her. Gwen had always been aware of the importance of Trent’s publicity drive and the whole image campaign. What had changed?
As if reading her thoughts he added, “I’ve slowly begun to realize that some things aren’t the be-all and end-all when it comes to my life. That’s why I’m here tonight.”
His eyes shifted from looking casually around the room to rest on her with a proprietary heat. “Yes, the party’s important, and I do need the exposure for my PR. But you’re wrong if you think that’s all that matters to me right now.”
Gwen wanted to stop him from saying more. She didn’t want to be swayed by his sweet words and honeyed gaze. She’d tried her best to be independent and strong, someone her son would be proud of. She couldn’t start being selfish now and think more of her needs and all those hidden wishes of her heart, the ones that made you want to know what it felt to be desired, appreciated. And not just by anyone—but by someone who truly mattered.
Was Gwen starting to admit to herself that she was developing feelings for Trent? Or maybe it was that they had never really died. Which prospect shook her more?