Chasing Dreams: A Small Town Single Dad Romance (Harper Family Series Book 1)

by Nancy Stopper

  She stretched up and pressed her lips to his as her hands stroked his back, her fingers digging into his ass. The delicious pain of her nails in his skin had his cock thickening.

  It was as though she couldn’t get close enough to him. He knew the feeling all too well.

  He thrust his hand between her thatch of curls, her dampness coating him as he slid a single finger inside her. She gasped and pressed into the bed as he circled her core. With each stroke, her breathing grew more ragged and her body tensed.

  She reached between them, wrapped her hand around him and squeezed. He couldn’t take much of that. This was about her. She was going to come at least once before he’d even consider being inside her.

  He broke the kiss and whispered against her mouth. “Not yet. I’m too sensitive.”

  She didn’t let go, but she slowed her strokes as he quickened his. He found her clit and circled it with his thumb while thrusting two fingers into her. Her hand stilled, her body stiffened, and a moan grew deep in her body. She was so close. He pumped his fingers in and out and then pinched her clit. That did it. She cried out and clutched at his back, digging her nails in while she rode out the crest. He kept his gaze locked on her face, her lips open slightly and her eyes squeezed shut. Damn, he’d thought she was beautiful before, but seeing her giving herself to him was like nothing he could imagine.

  He continued to stroke until the muscles that clenched his fingers relaxed and she collapsed against the mattress. Only then did he slide his hand up her body.

  He stroked her cheek until she opened her eyes and locked her gaze with his. “You’re so sexy when you come.”

  Her eyes seemed to shutter, and she withdrew emotionally as she rested her arm over her face. What had he done wrong? He pulled back slightly, but kept his arm around her.

  “Izzy, look at me.”

  She lowered her hand and turned her head toward him. Pain and embarrassment swirled in her watery, hazel depths.

  “Please… tell me.”

  “It’s just that I, uh… This is so embarrassing.”

  “You have nothing to be self-conscious about.” He threaded his fingers into her hair and pulled her head onto his chest. If she was uncomfortable looking at him, she didn’t have to.

  “I’ve never, er, I mean that…”

  Tension rolled off her in waves and it finally dawned on him what she was trying to say. “You’ve never had an orgasm before?”

  “Not with a man.” She shook her head, her face still buried in his chest.

  He pressed her tighter to him. He couldn’t believe it. What kind of assholes did she date in New York? He tucked his finger under her chin and leaned back so he could look her in the eye.

  “Izzy, look at me. Please”

  Her gaze finally locked on his.

  “Did you think you couldn’t?”

  “I guess… maybe. I mean, I’ve tried some things myself but… but it was nothing like that. That was… I don’t know… unbelievable.”

  He brushed a kiss across her lips, his erection twitching between them. He drew in a deep breath and willed his body to calm down. This conversation was too important to be interrupted. “You have to know. There is nothing wrong with you. I mean nothing. If you’ve never had an orgasm having sex before, that just means the men you were with were all selfish assholes.”

  That drew a laugh out of her. Finally, she was relaxing.

  “A man should always make sure the woman is satisfied and ready before they make love. I’m sorry that you’ve never felt that kind of pleasure before, but I gotta tell you…”

  Her eyes sparkled now. “What?”

  “I love that I got to give you your first orgasm.”

  Her fingers moved tentatively, circling his nipple. He squeezed his thighs around her. His body was strung tight. It wouldn’t take much to drive him over the edge.

  And then she sucked on his nipple.

  Oh God. That did it. He couldn’t stand it anymore. “Enough.” He pressed her back to the mattress and sat up. “Wait just one minute.”

  He snatched the condom off the bed and ripped the wrapper. Before he could slide it on, she grabbed it out of his hand. “I want to.”

  She positioned the condom at his tip and rolled it down. Slow. Very slow. Way too slow. He groaned. One look at her face, though, told him everything he needed to know. She was taking great pleasure in tormenting him. She finally reached the base of his cock and squeezed. God, her touch drove him nearly out of his mind. He closed his eyes as she slid her hand up him and then back down again, applying pressure along the way.

  “Damn, that feels good.” He let her stroke him for another minute, until tension built in his gut again. He wrapped his fingers around her wrist and stilled her movements. “I want to be inside you.”

  He shifted so his back was against the headboard and then positioned her facing him, her legs straddling his crotch, her body flushed from a recent orgasm and her eyes filled with desire.

  He slid his fingers down her belly and stroked her intimately, making sure she was ready. It didn’t take long before her breathing shallowed, and she threw her head back. With his hands on her hips, he lifted her up and then lowered her onto him slowly, giving her a chance to adjust. Her body took him in, one excruciating inch at a time. A moan built deep in her gut and grew until he was fully seated within her.

  He pulled her to him. “You feel so good around me. God, Izzy, I’m not going to last long.”

  She lifted up on her knees and he slid out of her, almost completely, before she lowered herself again. They quickly found a rhythm, her body taking him in over and over. She clutched his shoulders and threw her head back, her breasts bouncing with each movement. Her muscles grabbed him tighter. She was close.

  So was he. The feeling of her surrounding him, being completely together and intimate with her, was driving him over the edge. But he refused to take his own release before she came again. She deserved to know what it felt like to have an orgasm with someone, to feel him inside her as she tumbled over.

  He reached between them and stroked her clit. Her gasps filled the air, her arms clinging to him as her thighs squeezed. Their bodies molded together like one. He stroked again and then pinched her. A scream escaped her lips, followed by panting as her inner muscles clenched him. A few more thrusts, keeping pressure on her clit as he finally exploded and came harder than he ever had.

  He groaned and pressed their sweaty bodies together as they rode out the last waves of their orgasm.

  She collapsed, her arms around his back and head on his shoulder as she caught her breath. He rested his head on hers. He couldn’t look at her yet. If he did, he was sure she’d see what he wasn’t ready for her to know—that he was falling in love with her. It was too fast, and they both had complications to work through, but how could he not love the most intriguing woman he’d ever met.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Izzy woke up with a heavy weight on her chest. Had she overdone it at the studio yesterday? Nope. That delicious weight was attached to a warm body. A warm body that had made love to her over and over last night.

  When Tanner had first turned on the light, she’d immediately been reminded of every negative insult to come out of Erik’s mouth, every berating word about how her boobs were too big and her waist too thick. But Tanner banished those feelings with his touch and she finally believed she was as beautiful as he said she was.

  She snuggled back into Tanner, and his hand tightened around her waist. His erection thickened against her ass, and she wiggled. Just a little. Sure, she was teasing him, but it was so much fun. She’d never woken up in the arms of a man. Erik had never wanted to snuggle, his need to be dominant in their relationship transferring into their sleeping arrangements.

  She stretched and felt a soreness between her legs. Memories of their night together flooded her mind. She had fallen asleep after their first time, only to be awoken by Tanner later with one hand on her breast and the o
ther working its way down her belly. Once he knew she was awake, he slid into her from behind. He thrust slowly, his body surrounding hers as he made love to her while holding her like she was fragile and precious. He’d come with a deep groan and had fallen back to sleep by the time her breathing had returned to normal.

  The next time had been all her. She’d wanted to explore his body without any interruption. She’d carefully traced each muscle and ripple, her fingers brushing over the sprinkling of hair that covered his pecs, working her way toward the trail of hair that led down to his groin. She’d been so focused on his chest that she hadn’t seen his erection grow. How she could miss that, she wasn’t sure. She didn’t feel him stir, hadn’t known he was awake, until he flipped her onto her back and was inside her before she could catch her breath. It was hard and fast, and she loved every minute of it. He was no less loving and caring with her than he had been the previous two times.

  Remembering last night with Tanner, combined with the feel of his erection on her ass and his hands across her belly, had desire building deep in her gut. She rolled her hips into Tanner, and his hand cupped her breast, his fingers brushing her nipple until it grew almost painful. She clenched the muscles in her core as her arousal built. It had only been one night, and Tanner already knew how to play her like a finely-tuned instrument. His other hand slid down her belly, and—

  Freddie started barking on the other side of the door. He never begged her to get up and feed him, and he had his doggie door if he needed to go out. His insistent yipping could only mean one thing.

  Someone was here.

  She sighed and sank back into the mattress. Tanner sucked the skin at the base of her neck. “What’s wrong.”

  “I think one of my siblings is here.”

  “Ignore them. Maybe if you don’t say anything, they’ll go away.”

  “It doesn’t work like that. They seem to think that—”

  “Izzy!” The muffled sound of her name reached her ears. Yep, Justin had walked right into her house. Again. Had he not even noticed the strange car parked outside? Or did he not care? It was probably the latter. No, scratch that. He’d probably rushed inside when he realized she had a guest. “That’s my brother, Justin.”

  Tanner groaned and thumped his head on her back. “So much for keeping this between ourselves for a little longer.”

  She laughed. “I think we blew that out of the water the minute I had dinner at your house last night.”

  “Yeah, probably.”

  Izzy lifted his arm and slid out from under him. What she wouldn’t give to stay in the cocoon that surrounded the two of them here in her bed. But if she didn’t come out, she wouldn’t put it past Justin to barge into her bedroom. Geez, it was like growing up, when none of them had any privacy.

  She flexed and stretched her knee deliberately. If she stood too fast, she’d find herself on the floor and spending most of the day laid up.

  “Izzy!” Damn, her brother was insistent.

  “Just a minute, Justin!” She turned back to Tanner. “Sorry about that. I don’t know what’s up with him today. Walking in unannounced is par for the course, but usually he’ll just drink my coffee and eat breakfast out of my refrigerator until I come out.”

  “It’s no problem.” He propped up on his elbow, the sheet pooling at his waist and barely covering the erection that she was regretfully leaving unattended. “Is your knee hurting today?”

  “Not really. This is normal. It gets stiff while I’m sleeping.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t think about that last night.”

  “It was nothing you did.” She smirked at him, memories of last night flooding her mind. “If anything, you kept it moving and limber… more than once.”

  He waggled his eyebrows. “I aim to please. I’m happy to help you exercise your knee anytime.”

  She swatted at his bare chest. “Behave.” Once she had her knee beneath her, she grabbed her silk kimono and pulled it on. What she wouldn’t give to drop the robe and climb back into bed with Tanner. But not with Justin hovering outside her door. But she wouldn’t leave before she had one more kiss. “Feel free to go back to sleep. I don’t know how long it will take me to get rid of Justin.”

  She made her way to the door and turned back one last time.

  Tanner had tucked his hands behind his head, and an easy smile graced his lips as he stared at her.

  “What?”

  “Just looking at my beautiful girlfriend in that sexy robe with her ass practically hanging out.”

  Izzy grabbed at the hem. Okay, maybe it was a little short. She snatched a pair of leggings out of the dresser and tugged them on just as Justin bellowed again. “Izzy!”

  She pulled her bedroom door closed behind her and hurried down the hall into the kitchen. “Hold your horses, I’m here.”

  Justin’s backside was poking out of the open refrigerator. “Are you out of cream?”

  “Are you kidding me? You’re screaming at me because I don’t have any cream for your coffee?”

  He shut the fridge and leaned against it, grinning. “No, I’m yelling down the hall because you’ve got someone over. I am your big brother—it’s my job to scare the crap out of anyone who likes you.”

  Izzy smacked him on the shoulder. “I’m not in high school anymore.”

  “No, but I’m going to make sure no one hurts you like Erik did.”

  Dammit. How could she stay mad at him when he said something like that? She wrapped her arms around him and he rested his head on hers. For all her complaining, she had missed her siblings while she lived in New York, only able to come home for brief visits between shows. She loved being able to see them more often, although she wouldn’t choose early on a Saturday morning after a long night with Tanner.

  She poured herself a cup of coffee and perched on one of the barstools in front of her island. The heat of the liquid warmed her face as she inhaled the delicious scent. The first sip exploded on her tongue and immediately set her world right. Her caffeine addiction was a byproduct of sixteen-hour rehearsals, seven days a week.

  Justin didn’t say anything while he sipped his own. He knew better than to get between her and a good cup of coffee.

  She opened her mouth to ask him about his early morning appearance when footsteps echoed down the hall. Of course Tanner didn’t heed her suggestion. There wasn’t enough coffee in the world to prepare her for this introduction. She barely whispered, “Behave,” before Tanner entered the kitchen. His dark T-shirt hugged every hill and valley of that chest that she’d explored last night. Not an ounce of fat on his body—she could attest to that. And those jeans didn’t leave much to the imagination either, wrapping around his ass and thighs. Just looking at him had her mouth watering, and wanting to drag him back down the hall, to hell with what Justin needed.

  But Tanner clearly had other ideas. He strode across the room like it was the most natural thing and held out his hand. “Tanner Ross. You must be Izzy’s brother.”

  Justin eyed the offering suspiciously before taking it, holding it much too long as his glare bored into Tanner. “Justin Harper.”

  Tanner stared at Justin for a minute longer and then rounded the island. He popped a kiss on her lips and whispered, “I think I’ll be going. Text me later.”

  Tension poured off Justin in waves. She got that her brother was protective, but she wasn’t about to contribute to a display of testosterone between her brother and her boyfriend. “Grab a cup of coffee before you head out. I have travel mugs in the cabinet.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll pick up a cup at Secrets on the way home.” He leaned in so his mouth hovered over her ear. “I had a great time last night.” He then headed toward the door. “Nice to meet you, Justin.”

  Izzy’s face heated and she covered her cheeks. She heard Tanner say something else and then the door close. A minute later, Serena ambled into the kitchen. As if he’d sensed Serena’s arrival, Freddie burst through the doggie door and skit
tered across the floor to her feet.

  “Hey, sweetie.” Serena scratched between Freddie’s ears and then laughed as he circled between her legs. It was like he was thanking her for rescuing him every time she came over. After Serena gave Freddie his love, she poured her own cup of coffee and climbed onto the stool beside Izzy.

  Izzy listened for Tanner’s engine to start and his car to pull out of the drive. Then she glared daggers at her brother. “Did you really have to do that?”

  She loved her siblings, but moving home did not give them carte blanche to stick their noses into her life.

  He barely raised his head from his coffee. “What? I didn’t do anything.”

  “You know exactly what you did.”

  “Ooh, this is going to be good. I’m glad I stopped by.” Serena rubbed her hands together.

  Justin acted like he hadn’t heard Serena. “Well, when I find my sister shacking up with some guy, I’m gonna say something.”

  “I think he’s yummy.” Serena drank her coffee as if they were talking about the weather and not the man who had spent the night in Izzy’s bed.

  “You’re not helping here, Serena,” Justin said, but his features had softened and his hand had relaxed on his coffee cup.

  Izzy took another sip and gave her heart a second to slow down. It wouldn’t have been how she’d chosen to introduce them, but at least now they’d met. Besides, based on how Justin looked right now, harsh words might push him over the edge. “So, what’s going on?”

  The easy smile on his face fell, and he dropped his gaze to the cup in his hand. Poor Justin. Things with Maddie didn’t appear to be improving. She couldn’t imagine how stressful it was in their house right now.

  “I’m not sure how much longer I can do this, Izzy. She’s become obsessed. Daily tracking, taking her temperature, calling me at work to come home because it has to be right now. God, I don’t even want to make love with my wife anymore. Who says that? Who feels that way? And when do we say enough? We want more kids, but not like this. I miss my wife.” He raked his hand through his hair and huffed out a breath.