by S. L. Scott
When I reach the edge of town, there is only one place I want to be and that is with my Dove. I don’t go to the penthouse for clean clothes or a shower after a day of riding.
Alex turns off, heading home and I ride straight to my Dove’s house. Without giving her advance notice, I’m greeted with a messy bun, face clean of makeup, tight jeans, and a tighter tank top worn without a bra. Cocking my eyebrows up, I shift to make space for my growing hard-on. “You’re a sight for sore eyes.”
With flair, she twists her hips and kicks the door open wider. “Get in here and kiss me.”
Fucking sexy as all get out. With a head full of bad intentions that will feel so good, I move forward, grab her around the waist, and put her over my shoulder. Her laughter echoes behind us while she drags the back of my shirt and jacket up and dips her fingertips into the back of my jeans. “I take it you missed me?”
Although her body slightly tenses, she replies, “I missed you so much.”
Sentimental?
Sad?
I’m not sure what emotion I hear in her voice. Flipping her in front of me, her legs wrap around my waist and I hold her ass. “I missed these pretty eyes.” Leaning in, I kiss her.
She rubs my biceps. “I missed these arms and might have had a dream about them.”
Her lips meet mine again but this time she doesn’t sit back after. I like where this is going. Giving her ass a hard squeeze, I say, “I missed this fine ass.”
Kiss.
“I missed . . .” She drags the pad of her finger across my bottom lip. I bite it. She jumps but smiles. “These lips.”
Kiss.
“Where did you miss these lips?”
“Right here.” Her body wiggles against mine, the heat between her legs warming my abs.
“Fuck, I need to be inside you.” I carry her the rest of the way into the bedroom and toss her on the bed. “Tell me you’re wearing those tiny white panties of yours.”
She pops the snap on her jeans and slides the zipper down just enough to flash me. “You mean these?”
Jesus. Fucking. Christ. “Take your jeans off before I shred them with my teeth.”
Her eyes are set on my straining cock. I drop my jacket and tug at the back of my collar, pulling my shirt off over my head. Shoes, and jeans come off even quicker. Hers don’t come off fast enough, so I give her a helping hand by tugging at the ankles. When that fine ass of hers lands on the floor, I bend to pick her up just as fast. “Fuck, sorry about that. Are you okay?”
The shock on her face—wide-open tempting mouth to wide eyes—morphs into a smile and laughter. “Oh my God, Cruise. You’re so rough—”
“I didn’t mean to yank you off the bed.” With my hands under her arms, I right her to her feet. “Damn tight jeans.”
“I was going to say that I kind of like it.”
“You do?”
Even with her ankles caught up in her jeans, her hot little body presses to mine. “With you, I do.”
Trust.
It’s more than a word we talk about. It’s found together.
She steps out of her jeans and climbs back on the bed while I watch her. “You’re sexy as fuck.”
Flipping onto her back, her hand dips under her tank. “Less talking. More . . .” She smiles but doesn’t finish the sentence.
Toeing my socks off, I then climb on the bed right over her. Resting my dick against the hot spot between her legs, I ask, “More what, Dove? Tell me what you want.”
There’s a pause, just long enough for me to take a breath. “I want.”
When she bites her lip, I say, “Tell me. I’ll do anything you want.”
“I want your mouth on me down there.”
Down there. I’ll take it. That’s more than I could get out of her when we first met. “Down there on your pussy?”
She nods, and I take a slow descent downward after giving her a quick kiss. Spreading her legs, I eye those little cotton undies of hers. I exhale to slow my hunger for her. Not able to resist for long, I dip my head down and rest the bridge of my nose against the apex of her softness. The tips of her fingers slide against my scalp and I close my eyes and inhale what’s mine deep into my lungs.
Opening my mouth, I slide my jaw together while scrapping my teeth against her. Her flat stomach rises against the palm of my hand and I hold her down when she moans. I want to eat right through this fabric to get to her, but I want to eat her more.
“I missed you,” I say, kissing the inside of her thigh.
She tugs my hair to get my attention. When I look up, she says, “Come here.”
Sentimental for sure. I recognize it in her tone, because I feel it being back with her. When I’m hovering over her, I want to kiss her, but I want to hear what she wants more.
Touching my cheek, she lifts up and I bend down, our lips meeting and our mouths open, our tongues move together like our bodies. “Is this what you wanted, Dove?”
“Yes.”
She’s gotten more adventurous sexually. Just like our trust, it’s built over time. Rolling over, I lift my ass to remove my boxers. “You gonna take those panties off?”
“I thought you were going to shred them?”
“Thought or hoped?”
“Both.
When my dick springs free, she can’t keep from touching it. She’s fascinated. Like I am by her. The head is touched, causing my stomach muscles to clench in anticipation.
I maneuver down until my knees are between her legs. “I want that top off too. Let me see those tits.”
Her nipples are hard, even through the thick fabric of her tank. Her body’s reaction is a total turn-on. I used to be more careful how I talked, but together, we like a little dirty with the love we make.
When she’s bare before me, I start kissing her neck and thrusting against her leg. Fuck, I don’t care. She’s hot and she’s my girlfriend. “You look so good, baby. Forgive me. I just want to make love to you.”
“Make love?” She eyes me suspiciously. “Or fuck?”
My breath stops as I stare at her. Is she going to pray her way out of that curse word? The sides of her lips curl and she sighs a breath of relief. Whispering, I say, “Fuck.”
“Then fuck me, Cruise.”
“God, your mouth. I want to kiss it and fuck it.”
“We have all night, but stop teasing me. My body feels empty without you.”
Thank you, God, for sending me one of your angels.
When she giggles, I catch her eyes on me, and she asks, “Did you just thank the Lord for me?”
Damn, I thought that was in my head. “I did because I am. I’m grateful for you.”
The feel of her hand caressing my cheek feels good, so I lean into it. “I l—care about you so much, Dove.”
This is one of those times she has every right to be mad at me, but she’s not. She smiles. “I care about you, too, Cruise. So much.” Wriggling beneath me, she adds, “Please, babe. I want you inside me.”
Reaching toward the nightstand, my forearm is grabbed. “Just us tonight.”
I rest on my elbows. “No condom?”
“No. I want to feel every part of you.”
“You’re still on birth control?”
“I am.”
“If you’re sure.”
“I am.” Running her hands through the hair on the side of my head, she says, “Only if you want to.”
“I do. I really do.” I’ve never done this before, but I want this with her.
“Okay,” she replies with a smile.
I wanted those damn sexy panties off minutes ago, so I could ravage her. Now the mood has shifted, just like our relationship, and I want to go back to taking it slow and appreciating every part of her body while romancing her mind.
The tip of my dick touches her entrance and I push just enough to test her wetness. That wasn’t needed.
She’s slick with desire.
For me.
Just like I’m hard.
&n
bsp; For her.
Another inch deep and another kiss shared. Our tongues exploring each other’s mouths until I’m in to the hilt of her luscious body. “You feel so good.”
Her arms wrap around me and she moves her hips. “Don’t stop. Keep moving, babe.”
Our bodies slide together as a sheen of sweat covers us. I want to watch her face as she comes. I want to see how her body reacts, but my eyelids are heavy, the feeling of being buried inside my soul overcomes me and I close them.
I thrust and she takes.
She gives and I take.
Never this good. So good.
I kiss her once more, and then whisper against her shoulder, “Soul mate,” before biting down gently. Adrenaline rushes my veins, my body fucking until I hear her fall apart and feel her body tremor around me. I let go, moving on instinct, driving toward that goal. I pour my heart and soul into her. More than physically, I give her everything I’ve been holding inside for her—my cares and love, my worries, and protective side. I’m so tempted to tell her, but drop down on top of her, my mind freed from burdens and black after I gave in to the brightness.
“I could fall asleep right now,” I say.
Stroking my head, she whispers, “You can.” She kisses me. “Sleep.”
I keep my eyes closed, but I shift to the side so I don’t crush her. Licking my lips, I kiss her shoulder and then rest, my head next to hers. My arm tightens around her middle and I pull her closer, her back against my front, and hold her.
I’m just about to fall asleep with a smile on my face when I hear her whisper, “I missed you.”
I love you.
22
Cruise
I hang up the phone and look inside the front window. Turning it over in my head, I’m not sure what to think about that call.
From the porch, I can see Clara walking through the living room, fresh out of the shower with wet hair. Watching her worry that bottom lip, I feel I might not be the only one with shit to settle. Do I want to open that door to my past? Am I ready? Is it time? Will it put it to rest once and for all?
The screen of my phone lights up, a photo of Clara and me lying on a blanket in the backyard under the stars stares back me.
“Hey,” she says, causing me to look up. Standing in the doorway, she leans against the wall with her arms crossed over her chest. “I need to talk to you about some stuff going on.”
I slide to the left, giving her room on the swing to sit down. “Yeah? What’s on your mind?” She sits but keeps her eyes on her lap. “Talk to me, Dove.” That’s when I notice light bruising on her cheek. “What happened?”
I can see her reverting to her secrets and the wall rising around her, but then she surprises me and opens up. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
“Was this here last night?”
“I wore makeup,” she says, “I didn’t want you to come home to my mess. I need to talk to you about my brother. He’s been acting erratically. Not himself.”
“Teenage hormones?”
“It’s not hormones. It’s genes.”
“Genetics?” I press her knees down as they start to find their way to her chest. She doesn’t need to feel vulnerable around me, and I don’t want her closing herself off.
“My father’s to be precise.”
Red flags fly up. “What are you saying? Did he do—”
“He hit me.”
“What the fuck? When?” I stare at her sweet face where he hit her.
“Two nights ago—”
“You should have told me. I would have talked to him.”
“I talked to him and he apologized.”
“When I say talk, I mean punch in the fucking face. An apology is the least he should have done. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine, but I need to go back to my mom’s house. I’d like you to go with me.”
I’m sidetracked from her brother when she invites me to meet her family. This is a big step neither of us has formally taken. “Why are you going back?”
“I didn’t get to finish talking with my mom and I feel like I need to try to talk to Vaughn again.”
“No.”
“No what?”
I take her hand in mine and our fingers weave together. “You shouldn’t talk to him. You should have him arrested.”
“My family needs me.”
“I need you.”
“And I need you. That’s why I’m asking you to be a part of this.” Leaning back, I push off with my feet. She likes to swing out here. She relaxes and when she’s relaxed, she opens up to me. “Cruise, it’s a lot to ask. I know this. It’s not under pretty circumstances, but I have to make sure my mom and Toby are okay. And Vaughn.”
What the fuck? “He hit you, Clara.”
She’s withholding, looking away from me. “We’ve been through a lot as a family. He’s just acting out. I can’t give up on him at the first signs of difficulty.”
“I admire your will, but what if he does worse to you next time?” No man or boy should ever hit a woman. I hate the Senator, but he never hit my mom.
“He won’t.”
“You don’t know that and I’m not willing to take the chance with your safety.”
“You can’t stop me.”
Her defensive tone catches me off guard. “You’re right. I’m not stopping you. I’m asking you not to go.”
“I’m going, so I’m asking you if you will go with me.”
“If you’re going, I’m going.”
A winning grin appears. “Thank you.” I nod, but look at my phone again. She asks, “Who were you talking to?”
“The family lawyer.”
“Wow. What’s going on?”
“Duty calls. I’ve been asked to make an appearance.”
“What does that mean?” The space between us is closed and her head leans on my shoulder. I like being covered in her. It makes me feel protected in a weird way, like I can hide away with her behind that curtain of silk.
“It means the Cristleys have to come together as a family unit.”
Sitting up, her surprise is evident in her expression, concern forming a line between her eyebrows. I’m tempted to rub it away, hating when I worry her, but I don’t because this is my life. “I don’t understand.”
“My father has been rallying for his political party. Every so often, the family comes together to support his agenda. This time it’s an interview where he’ll discuss his life, his career, and the report will highlight his family.”
“Your family is full of assholes.”
She doesn’t flinch or drop to pray. “You’ve broken your habit with flying colors.”
Smiling, she replies, “Yes. Your dirty mouth has a way of rubbing off on me.”
I squeeze her leg. “I like rubbing off on you.”
“Why do I get the feeling we’re not talking about swearing anymore?”
“Because we’re not. How much time do we have?”
“Three hours.”
“C’mon, let’s go rub off together.”
“So dirty.”
Waggling my eyebrows, I pull her from the swing and lead her inside.
With the blinds closed and the curtains hiding the last of the light that wants to filter inside, I can see the stars. I tighten my arm around her back, her body curled around me, both of us comforted in the afterglow of our lovemaking.
I don’t know how we got here so fast—love has a way of working its magic when you least expect it. The universe having pity on me, and finally showing me the light . . . or in this case, the stars on the ceiling. My little dove flew right into my life when I needed her most. When I had given up hope, along came Clara.
She whispers, “What’s on your mind?”
“The stars.” She shifts and looks up, her body not tensing much, but enough for me to notice. I say, “My sister Paige used to have stars like this in her bedroom. They covered her ceiling and down half her walls. We would lay on the floor in th
e middle of the room with my brother, Matty, and search for the constellations.”
“Did she have the constellations mapped out on her ceiling?”
“No.” I laugh. “But that didn’t stop us from looking.”
“Sometimes we have to hold on to faith. Just because we can’t see it doesn’t mean it’s not there.”
“Like you. That’s how I feel about you. Here we were in the same city, moving like magnets around each other.”
“Until we crashed together.” She points at the ceiling. “There are twenty-one stars.” Her lips purse as she blows out and then blinks several times. “They gave me comfort, something to focus on when my mind couldn’t find a happier place . . . when bad things happened to me.”
She doesn’t have to go into detail for me to understand it was during her darkest times that she found comfort in the stars above, even if they came in the form of plastic, glow-in-the-dark stars.
“I’m okay, Cruise,” she whispers, the tips of her fingers trying to tickle my chest.
The tensed anger filling my muscles slowly starts to drain away. She’s all right. Taking her hand, I bring it to my mouth, and kiss.
She says, “Now they give me comfort for a different reason. There is one for each year of my life.” There’s no hesitation as she opens up. She’s never used her out—donut. I remain quiet, listening to all she’s willing to share. “One for each year I survived that monster, and thrived thereafter.”
When her body becomes heavy against mine again, I say, “You deserve a sky full of stars, Dove.”
“Maybe one day I’ll have it.” She runs her hand over my chest and down lower, awakening my body. “How tired are you?”
Taking her hand, I put it on my erection. “Wide awake.”
She giggles, but slips out of my arms and moves down under the covers. Her hands wrap around the base of my cock and my balls tighten. When she takes the head in her mouth, I flip the covers off so I can watch my girl get me off.
Hot. Wet. Tight. “This is what I hope heaven feels like.”