“Have to be. Too easy to get distracted, especially doing this for a living.”
Louise nods, then gives me a puzzled look. “Then why did you offer to let me stay with you? You’re clearly not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of guy.”
I flush, making me grateful for not shaving today. “Because I didn’t want you to owe Mike.”
She tilts her head. “You wanted me to owe you instead?”
“Not exactly.” I take a deep breath. “I had a feeling that the two of you weren’t on the same wavelength. Especially after overhearing that argument you had with Macy at your apartment. I didn’t want to see you blindsided.”
“Why do you care?” she asks.
“I don’t know.” I fold my arms defensively. “Why did you shove your hand up my towel and kiss me?”
Louise cringes and now it’s her turn to flush. “Listen, about that—”
“Let me guess. You were drunk?”
“I was drunk,” she admits. “That’s not normal for me. I am sorry.”
“You’ve never given me a hell of a lot of encouragement.” I feel myself glare at her. “Now the only play I get is struck down with drunken deniability? Thanks.”
“You’ve been really nice to me.” She tucks back into the corner between the circuit box and cage wall with her arms folded. “Thank you for everything. I mean that.”
“Nice?” I repeat, frustration filling my voice. “Nice? In a place like this, what the hell do you think that means?”
“I don’t know.” Sweet Lou gives me a pleading, troubled look. “It’s not right for me to read into that just because you don’t act like a Neanderthal. God knows I hate it when that happens to me.”
I blow out a long, slow breath and scratch my beard so hard that there are going to be visible marks. My eyes meet hers and she looks away.
Fuck it.
One of my hands grasps the cage wall, while the other finds the curve of her hip, gripping and releasing it gently as I work up the nerve to speak.
“What are you doing?” she rasps.
“There’s a lot of kicking in taekwondo, right?” I ask.
“Um…yeah,” she answers in a tentative voice.
“So as long you’re standing, you can defend yourself, right?”
Her eyebrows bend in confusion. “Pretty much.”
“Good.” My frame lines up in front of hers against the wall as I inch closer. “You don’t ever need to defend yourself against me, Sweet Lou,” I whisper into her ear. “Don’t kick me.”
“Kick you?” she repeats.
I release her hip and place my hand on the other side of her head against the wall, caging her in. Lou’s gaze follows my hand before she turns to look at me.
“What are you doing?” she asks.
“Changing my tactics.” Her mouth parts, just a little and I bring my lips down on hers.
It takes every bit of my self-control not to own that mouth. My kiss is slow and gentle as it’s ever been, and I’m as patient as I know how to be.
I…need.
Need to know this isn’t all in my head, that the physical signals she puts out aren’t all about her being drunk or stressed or even celibate for way too long. I…need her to want me, too. And moments later, pieces of the puzzle slide slowly into place.
Sweet Lou’s lips press against mine, stunned and unmoving. I feel her palms spread open against my chest. My breathing stops as they still there, hesitant and undecided. I pause, expecting her to push me away, but the opposite happens.
She exhales and groans while her hands grasp my shirt, pulling me close as those perfect lips part and she kisses me back.
Her hands inch up my shoulders, stroking them through my sweat soaked shirt, until they slide around the back of my neck and pull me down as her breasts crush against my chest.
“Christ, Louise.” My fingertips explore the curve of her hip, its ultra-smooth skin a stimulating contrast to the rough calluses that cover my hands.
As the pad of my thumb traces along the smooth muscles of her pelvis, she shudders and gasps aloud. Sweet Lou’s back arches against the wall and those endless legs coil themselves around my waist, drawing me in, the skin of our stomachs now flesh to flesh.
Damn. It’s on. And so am I.
One of my hands secures the leg coiled around me, while the other grips the flesh underneath her fine ass. Sweet Lou’s hold tightens around my neck as I lift her out of the tiny corner and lean her against the fenced wall of the equipment cage.
My hands reach around her arched back and unclasp two different sports bras. As my fingers twist the freed nipples, my mouth makes its way to the tips of her breasts, delivering licks and gentle bites.
“Oh God,” she rasps. She tugs the hem of my shirt, lifting it over my head. She devours my naked torso with a scorching gaze from her heated amber eyes. That smoldering mouth descends on my hardened nipple and licks it before tracing circles around it with her taut one, still wet from the exploration of my tongue.
“Louise.” My voice quivers. Bolts of pure heat shoot from my nipple straight to my groin. I swell harder and larger against the cup in my compression shorts until it’s tight and painful.
I release my grip on her other breast and put my hand down between us, halting the friction between those sleek thighs and my groin. I gasp for breath, but not before she starts riding the hand I’ve put between us.
“Louise, wait.” I plead, but she misunderstands.
“How do we take this off?” Her fingers tap against my cup before they explore the waistband of my shorts.
I contemplate it myself, but this won’t work. I’ve been dying to bury myself inside her for weeks. But between me being super torqued and her being unaware of my…my…size issues, there’s a serious chance I’ll hammer her insides. And damn it, I refuse hurt any woman like that, especially Sweet Lou.
“Just lean back and enjoy the ride, sweetheart.”
‘But—oh…” She gasps as my fingers slide beneath her clothes. Her folds are slick and sticky as I slide my hand down their center crease. As I push my hip against her inner thigh, Sweet Lou’s stance widens, giving us both more room to move.
My hand moves in perfect rhythm as Sweet Lou’s pelvis grinds up and down against it, both becoming wetter and faster with every stroke, her rapid breathing punctuated with grunts and tiny gasps.
She digs her elbows hard into my upper arms, bracing herself for better leverage against my hand. I’m solely focused on giving her the king of all hand jobs when our two-person cocoon shatters.
“Where the hell is Usalv?” Rodgers explodes from the main entrance to the gym.
“Oh fuck!” The sound of Rodgers voice clouds the hazy pleasure in Louise’s eyes. She freezes, then tries to dismount.
“Shh,” I whisper without stopping my strokes. “He won’t look here. Just keep quiet.”
“Are you sure?” she asks.
I cover her mouth with mine and increase the speed and pressure of my hand inside her pants.
“He’s probably cooling off, Coach. He sure was pissed off.”
“Well, that makes two of us.”
Her eyes fly open, but I shake my head and she closes them a final time and concentrates.
“You’re close. Come for me, sweetheart,” I beg. I need to be able to do this for her, to make her feel satisfied.
The speed of her hips increases then stops while her entire body shudders. Louise bursts into loud panting gasps, and I cover her mouth with mine to stifle the noise.
My hand remains buried in her folds as they pulse with pleasure, and a deep feeling of male pride mixed with relief wash over me as the sound of Sweet Lou screaming penetrates deep into my throat.
“I’ll go check the men’s room. If you see him, let him know to come find me.”
“Sure, Coach.”
Our bodies heave a mutual sigh of relief. As Sweet Lou’s leg buckles and her grasp slackens around my neck, I gently lower us to the f
loor and kneel next to her.
“Didn’t they go to the hospital?” I glance over my shoulder then turn around, shaking my head.
“The nearest one isn’t far.” She pulls her ponytail and twists it hard around her fingers. “If they took a cab, maybe he’s gone and come back.”
I nod in agreement then let my eyes skate over her. Sweet Lou’s tongue glides across swollen lips and her face is covered with a thin sheet of sweat. Red scrape marks from my beard dot along her breasts, throat, and neck while the flesh starts to bruise from the marks left by my lips, teeth, and tongue.
She’ll probably be pissed about that later, but right now, I’ll just enjoy the view.
She looks like she just got fucked—in a good way.
“You good, Lou?” I don’t even try to hide my smug smile.
She flushes deep red and rolls those gorgeous amber eyes. “Yeah, I’ll do.”
“Glad to hear it,” I let her know.
“Good to know.” She shoots me a look of distress. “But what about you? You never—”
“Don’t worry about it. Everything’s good.” I take her hands in mine and kiss them.
I release her hands and stand to put my shirt on. “We should get out of here before someone does find us.” When my clothes are back on, I offer Lou my hand and pull her up.
“Yeah. There’s not much to conclude besides the obvious,” she replies, then leans over to fasten her bras.
I nod, distracted by the massive, painful erection that’s not going anywhere without an ice-cold shower or something that’s not going happen soon enough.
“Let me go first. I want to find him instead of the other way around.”
“Sure.” She nods.
I plant a quick kiss on her forehead. “See you at home?”
She nods again. “I’ll be there.”
“Good. Gotta go now.”
With a final backward glance, I turn the corner and hurry away.
14
The distant sound of a door closing startles me awake. “Usalv?”
After our gym encounter yesterday, I rushed home, hoping he’d be here. Since he wasn’t, I grabbed my class notes and headed out to the neighborhood café and hit the books, determined to avoid the appearance of waiting around to get naked.
It wasn’t only for appearances, I admit to myself. After his spontaneous handiwork, Usalv left in a big preoccupied hurry. If all he’s after is someone to get him off in a quiet corner when the mood strikes, then he needs to know that I’m not his go-to girl.
Because that’s not…not who I am.
Truth be told, my eager participation shocked but didn’t surprise me. What heterosexual female could deny Usalv’s appeal?
Martial arts keep me in close proximity to fit, hot athletic guys. Before moving in to Usalv’s house, I told myself that he was just another hotshot jock that I’d get used to being around.
Damn if that wasn’t my biggest screw-up in recent memory.
I sit up on the daybed in my bedroom behind the kitchen. Piles of class notes and textbooks that were my only companions last night are arranged around me on the bed. As my legs swing down, stacks of study materials fly off the bedside and crash to the floor. Cursing silently, I arrange them in a makeshift pile then head out to the hallway.
“Hey, are you here?” I yell up the stairs.
The high-pitched vibration of the water pipes from the shower in Usalv’s bathroom are the only audible sound. I shrug, then head into the kitchen to make coffee as usual.
But not only is the coffee made, it’s half gone. On a normal day, Usalv showers, then comes down to eat before he leaves. But now I remember the sound of the front door waking me. Did he come home last night?
My hands still on the coconut creamer carton when the creak of the stairs straining under the weight of his heavy frame comes closer. Usalv hurries through the kitchen door and a look of surprised alarm flashes across his face when he sees me by the counter.
“Morning, Sweet Lou.” His voice is calm and controlled, the surprised look long gone. “Didn’t think you’d be up this late. Or early, I guess.”
“I went to sleep about one last night. That’s early for me.” I stir the creamer until the contents of my cup is tawny brown. “You’ve already had yours?” I look up and gesture toward the coffee pot as the spoon clanks against my cup.
“Yeah. I got home late. Or early, depending how you look at it. Anyway, I couldn’t wait.” Usalv nods toward the hallway. “Saw your door was open this morning. I know you don’t get too much sleep, so sorry if I woke you.”
“You didn’t come home last night?” I blurt out, ignoring his small talk.
“No, I didn’t” He gives me a curious smile. “Why? Is that a problem?”
“Not at all.” I backtrack quickly. “I don’t…really have the right to ask that, do I? I…just hope everything’s okay, that’s all.”
I take my coffee cup and attempt to exit the kitchen, but somehow that big body ends up in my way. Usalv’s large hand reaches down and cradles the side of my hip, a gesture that’s becoming all too familiar, all too welcomed.
“I spent the night at my uncle’s.” He plants a chaste kiss on my forehead. “Talking business. It got late. Happens once in a while.”
“You don’t have to tell me that.” I bring my coffee cup between us and cradle it with both hands, willing myself not to touch him.
“Maybe I want you to know.” He snaps the embroidered waistband of my gray silky pajamas. “I like these, by the way.”
“Yeah. Listen...” I pull out of his grasp and retreat behind the island counter. “About yesterday. You’re…um, really good at…you know. You know that, right?” I stammer. “But maybe we should just keep it at a one-off. Okay?”
His response is pin-drop silence, a raised eyebrow the only indication he heard me. Usalv slowly removes the phone and keys from his hoodie pocket, then throws them on the kitchen table before he approaches me.
“A one-off?” An edge creeps into the controlled calm of his voice. “Really?”
“I think that’s best right now.” I’m resigned. “We both have a lot going on at the moment.” I pause while he grabs the counter on each side of my waist. “And we never talked about it before I moved in.”
He nods, his face inches from mine. “Okay. Let’s talk about it.”
“All right.” If he wants honesty, I’ll give it to him. “I can’t do friends-with-benefits.” My eyes meet his without flinching. “It works for some people, I get that. But it’s not for me.” I shake my head.
“You sure about that? Sometimes we just have to take things how we find them.”
“I know. But not this time.” I try and scoot sideways, but that arm is as strong as a steel girder. “I’m a nurse. I spend a lot of time imposing emotional distance between me and my patients and their families. I can’t do that with someone I’m sleeping with.” My voice sounds defeated, even to me. “I’m sorry.”
“Mmm.” Usalv nods, his face a stoic mask before his eyes skate down my body. I feel my temperature start to rise and hope like hell he doesn’t notice.
After an intense few moments, I start to squirm. “Um, I should go.” I have no idea where, so here’s hoping he doesn’t ask.
“You know what I think we should do?” he asks, toying with the slinky strap of my cami.
“Not really.” I look around for a way to escape the human cage he’s trapped me in.
“Here it is…” Usalv pulls the strap and releases it, causing an audible snap. “We’ll take this slow.”
“Slow?” I repeat as my throat becomes dry.
“Very, very slow.” Usalv’s hand leaves the strap of my cami and grasps my chin, tilting it upward for me to look at him. “And anytime we go too fast, or it feels like too much, you tell me to stop.”
“Tell you to stop?” I ask in disbelief.
“Tell me to stop and I will.” His eyes radiate sincerity. “Promise.”
; “I’ll think about it, okay?” I pat his hand softly before I try and slide out of his reach.
He sighs, exasperated with my attempts to get away. Then without another word, he lifts me up onto the counter like a tiresome child. Those strong hands gently part my legs and he crowds me until there’s nowhere to go.
“You do that, okay Sweet Lou?” He places a possessive kiss on my lips, trapping me in his erotic web.
That strong hand travels to the strap of my cami and yanks it off my shoulder. When I feel my arm lift to hasten its removal, a primal part of me admits defeat in this ongoing battle of wills between us.
Usalv tugs the cami down my torso until it rests on my waist, exposing my breasts. He gives a primal grunt as his face descends on them, his beard making my flesh quiver, tickle, and burn as he nips and licks the tender skin.
“Look out, sweetheart.” Usalv wraps one arm around my back while he pushes an empty colander and a set of wooden salt and pepper shakers onto the tile floor. Then he lays me down with one hand, while the other pulls off my bikini underwear and PJ bottoms in a quick single motion.
“Careful,” I beg as my body shivers against the uncomfortable cold of the stone counter top. “Please.”
“Always.”
Flat on my back, I shudder as his arm lies across my torso, resting on my breast to keep me in place. I try to shift, but he has me pinned. God, he’s strong. I’m ready to protest, but then his tongue touches my abdomen, and licks a tender trail down to the space between my thighs.
He’s careful without being timid. At all. Our previous encounter has stamped a possessive familiarity into his demeanor. Fingers. Tongue. Teeth. Lips. Chin. Whiskers. Groping. Tasting. Grazing. Kissing. Pushing. Quilling. It goes on, and on, and on until I lose track of time.
“Usalv, please.” I beg as my pelvis starts to pulse in waves of heat up and down my core.
His lips make a smacking sound before he answers. “Please what? Tell me, Louise.” His voice is calm and certain, like he’s got all the time in the world.
I know what he wants me to say. I know he wants me to beg. But something inside me refuses. “Oh, for Christ sake,” I mutter before reaching down to soothe myself in the absence of his touch.
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