Rev Me Up

by Kylie Gilmore

  “Tell me what you’re into,” he growled in her ear, his heat warming her back.

  She was nearly vibrating with need. She had no idea, no experience to draw from. “I’m into whatever you’re into.”

  He groaned and rolled her to her back. She grabbed him, pulling him in for a frantic kiss, feeling like she was on the edge of something marvelous. She rocked her pelvis against him, his thick erection pressing into her belly.

  “I promised you slow,” he said, his voice rough and gravelly.

  “I need more. Please.”

  He kissed her, hot and deep, and she was lost, there was nothing but Nico’s mouth claiming hers. His hand slid between her legs, and she arched into him, moaning like a crazed sex-deprived woman. Which she totally was.

  “Easy,” he said, before sliding lower and slipping his fingers inside her. “Geez, you’re tight.”

  She couldn’t speak, could only move restlessly, wanting more.

  “Lil, look at me.”

  She opened her eyes with great effort.

  “You have to tell me if this is your first time.”

  She shook her head. “It’s not. I’m sorry I’m so tight. It’s been a while.”

  His fingers were back, sliding in and out of her, stretching her. “How long?” His voice was raspy.

  “Two years. Please don’t make me wait any longer.”

  He groaned and then his mouth slammed into hers, a thorough claiming that had her almost dizzy with want. Oh, this was what she’d been missing all her life. This passion. His fingers slid out of her and then slid up and down her, and she writhed under him before he pressed firmly in the spot where she needed him most, and she exploded again. His forehead dropped to hers, his breath coming hard. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “Is that good or bad?”

  He chuckled and kissed her gently. “That’s very good,” he said against her mouth.

  “Now?” she asked.

  “Just a minute, you horny little thing.” He went to his suitcase to get a condom, she figured. She felt giddy. No one had ever called her horny or little. And then he was back, settling between her legs, and she wrapped her arms and legs around him. He propped himself on his forearms and gazed down at her, his eyes dark and heated. “I’m so glad you picked me. You’re incredible.”

  She could scarcely believe the words, but they shot right through her heart, settling there in a strange uncomfortable way. She kissed him and then he was sliding inside very, very slowly and her body ached as she strained to accept him.

  He stopped and looked at her. Sweat beaded on his forehead. She wiped it away and ran her fingers through his soft dark brown hair. “It’s okay,” she said. “You don’t have to go slow.”

  “I do.” He slid further in, and she ached even more. Two years was a long time not to be with a man, and he was so thick.

  “Are you almost in?” she asked in a strained voice.

  He dropped his head and kissed her shoulder. “No.”

  She let out a shuddering breath. And then he lifted off her slightly so his hand could slide down and stroke her where she was coming to crave his touch, and that so distracted her from the ache that she completely relaxed, and he slid further in. She gasped and then his magical fingers were back, stroking her up and down lazily, like he had all night, and the orgasm snuck up on her, making her cry out, her hips lifting of their own accord, and then he was fully within her. And now she was the one sweating.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said as he started to move slowly in and out, and the words combined with the easy strokes made her relax a bit more as she tried not to think about the intense stretching that heated her and made her ache at the same time.

  “You’re so wonderful,” she said.

  “Lil.” He slid his fingers between them once more and she lifted up, eager for his touch, and unexpectedly took him deeper. They both groaned. “One more time,” he told her, his fingers stroking quickly even as he pumped slow and deep. It was too much, the combination of electric strokes and deep aches filling her. She went off like a rocket, clenching around him.

  And then he thrust hard, over and over, taking what he needed, and she clung to him until he let go with a hoarse sound that might’ve been her name. Her arms and legs dropped to her sides, her legs quivering from the tight hold she’d had on him.

  A few moments later, he took care of the condom and pulled her close in his arms, placing a kiss on her hair. Her ex never held her after. She snuggled closer, resting her head on his chest, listening to the solid thump of his heartbeat.

  She couldn’t imagine saying goodbye to him in ten days. Why had she acted so casual about going their separate ways? Would he feel the same? She didn’t want to be clingy. She had abandonment issues, she well knew, on account of what waited for her in Vegas.

  She pushed that uncomfortable thought aside. Her body still felt electrified. Four orgasms in one night! She was a very lucky woman.

  Chapter Twelve

  Nico was freaking out as he set out on the eleven-hour drive to Vegas. He could admit it. To himself, not Lily. Because he was feeling all gooey and tender toward the woman he was supposed to say goodbye to in nine short days. She would start her new lawyer life in the city; he’d go back to being a grease monkey in Eastman. She was way out of his league, and he couldn’t afford to screw things up with her father. Not to mention he was never getting married again.

  Whoa. Where had that thought come from? He pressed the accelerator even harder. It must be because they were going to Vegas. Lots of people got married there. He was never—

  “Nico?” Her sweet voice cut through his panic, and he answered in a tender tone because she’d trusted him last night.

  “Yes?” He glanced over at her. The headphones were askew on her head, her red hair was all windblown, her lips plump and pink. She had whisker burn on the side of her neck. He wanted her so freaking bad.

  “Maybe we should slow down a bit,” she said.

  Relief coursed through him. She must be feeling it too, this headlong crash into dangerous territory. Love territory.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” he said.

  A beat passed in silence while he pondered how to pull up at this point. Because he felt like there weren’t any brakes on this thing between them.

  “You’re still not slowing down,” she said. “You’re going one hundred miles per hour.”

  He glanced at the speedometer. Shit. He eased off the gas. “Sorry.”

  “Everything okay?” she asked, almost shyly.

  “Fine.” He didn’t want to hurt her feelings with his panicky thoughts. Not after the way she offered herself again this morning, even as she admitted upon questioning that she was sore. He’d gone down on her instead, and she went off in two minutes flat. Freaking amazingly responsive. He wondered if it was just him or if she was like that with all of her lovers. Though he knew there couldn’t have been many.

  “Hey, Lil, not that it matters, but how many people have you slept with?”

  “How many have you slept with?”

  “I dunno. Maybe forty?”

  “Forty!” she screeched. It was probably more. He didn’t keep track anymore, but he’d been hooking up since he was sixteen. He’d been faithful for the year he’d been married, they’d only dated three months before that, so that had slowed him down.

  “Don’t worry,” he said. “I always use protection. I get tested regularly. I’m clean.”

  A long silence.

  “Are you upset?” he asked.

  She said something so softly that he couldn’t make out what she said.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I said two. Including you. I’ve slept with two men.”

  That explained a helluva lot. But she enjoyed it so much he couldn’t imagine why she’d deprived herself for so many years.

  He reached over and squeezed her hand. “Can I ask why? Were you with that one guy for a long time?”


  “We were together for a year.”

  “Oh. Then why?”

  Silence. He tensed. What had that one guy done to her? He’d kill him.

  “Lil, you can tell me anything. I won’t tell a soul.” Then I’ll kill him.

  She let out a sigh. “The reason why I haven’t slept with a lot of men is because a lot of men haven’t wanted to sleep with me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean I don’t get asked out a lot. I’m not, you know, the ideal woman in terms of, um, looks.”

  “You’ve got to be kidding me. You’re gorgeous, sexy.” He gestured up and down her body. “Look at all those curves. You’re like a redheaded Marilyn Monroe. Smart—”

  “Really? You think I look like Marilyn Monroe?”

  “Better.”

  “Omigod, I’m going to cry.”

  He looked at her with alarm. “Don’t cry. It’s a compliment.”

  “I know.” Her voice sounded choked with emotion. “You’re something, Nico. Really. Thank you.”

  He shrugged. He’d only pointed out the facts. That one guy must’ve done a number on her to make her think she wasn’t sexy. She was sexy in anything she wore and anything she did. Even now, in just a simple T-shirt and shorts, Sex Lollipop. He didn’t know where that thought had come from, but that got him thinking about that mouth again on him, and he wasn’t going to make it to Vegas with that erotic vision stuck in his head. They still had ten more hours to go. He forced his thoughts to marriage, the ultimate doomsday scenario that always put him in a cold sweat.

  Only this time, it didn’t work.

  ~ ~ ~

  By the time they got to Vegas around ten at night, Lily was freaking out. Not over Nico. He was impossibly wonderful. She still couldn’t quite believe he was into her. No, the problem was what she knew she had to do in Vegas. Which was why she promptly decided to get drunk.

  They checked into the Paris Las Vegas hotel because Lily loved the kitschy Eiffel Tower in front. Nico crashed on one of the two queen-sized beds, kicking off his shoes and stretching out. He must’ve been exhausted after that long drive, but she wasn’t.

  “C’mere,” he said in a sultry, seductive voice that pulled at her.

  “I’m not tired.”

  “Don’t make me get up,” he said on a near groan.

  “I’m going to go gamble and get drunk,” she said, grabbing her purse.

  He leaped out of bed. “I’m coming with you.”

  He couldn’t come with her. Then he’d meet the one person she didn’t want him to meet.

  “You just relax,” she said. “I plan on staying out all night, so you might not want to come.”

  He crossed his arms. “So I’m just supposed to let a young, beautiful, sexy woman loose on this town all drunk? Fuck that.”

  She melted. He was just so charming. Really good with the sweet words.

  She shrugged. “Suit yourself.”

  He eyed her as he put his shoes back on. “I will.”

  Lily rode the elevator downstairs with Nico, who kept staring at her with a hot look in his eyes. But she couldn’t be distracted from her mission. When they got to the casino, she went straight to the bar and ordered tequila. The one drink she knew would do the job fast. Nico got a beer.

  She downed the shot and sucked on a lime. Nico groaned and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close and nuzzling into the side of her neck. She sighed, already feeling looser.

  “The way you suck that lime, Lil.” He whispered in her ear what it made him think of, which made her go hot all over. That was one move she knew how to do, and what she wouldn’t give to see the very experienced Nico lose control, completely at her mercy.

  He flashed a smile that said he knew she was into it too. “You want to go upstairs? Just for twenty minutes or so?”

  “Yeah, I wish.” She needed more liquid courage for her mission. If she took the easy way out and went to bed with Nico, she’d never want to leave the hotel room.

  He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her off the bar stool to stand between his legs. “Don’t wish,” he crooned in her ear. “Let’s make that dream come true. If you only knew—”

  She laughed and pushed at his chest. “I didn’t gamble yet. I’ve got two hundred dollars in my pocket looking to multiply.” She slipped away, headed over to the roulette table and watched the pretty wheel spin round and round.

  “That is a sure loser,” Nico said, grabbing her by the hips and pulling her in front of him. She could feel why as he pressed hard against her hip. “Why don’t you try blackjack? At least there’s a little skill involved. This game is rigged to lose.”

  “Pshaw,” she said. They stood together, watching the game. When the casino guy called for bets again, she put all her money on red three.

  Nico appeared at her side and shook his head. “I hope you have more cash.”

  “Nope. This is it, but I think I’m going to win big.”

  “I hate to break it to you—”

  “Red three,” the casino guy said.

  Lily screamed and started jumping up and down. “That’s me!” She giggled madly and took her winnings. She’d won twelve thousand dollars.

  “I can’t believe it,” Nico said.

  “Drinks on me all night,” she said airily.

  “I don’t want anything. Maybe we should put that money upstairs in the safe.”

  Lily scowled. “I need it with me to have fun.”

  He shook his head. Lily collected her winnings at the casino cage in the form of a ten-thousand-dollar check and two thousand dollars in cash. She drank more tequila and wasted many quarters in slots while Nico stood nearby like a soldier, guarding her. Finally it was midnight, she was drunk, and she was ready for what she had to do.

  “C’mon,” she told Nico, pulling at his arm. “We’re going to see a show.”

  “A show?” he echoed.

  “Yeah, this is Vegas, showgirls, feathers, the works.” She lifted her arms over her head and did a little hip wiggle to demonstrate.

  His brows scrunched together as they often did with her. “You want to watch showgirls? I thought that was just for men.”

  She stopped and rolled her eyes. “It’s entertainment.”

  He held up his palms. “Okay, but I’m holding that check.”

  “It’s perfectly safe in my purse.”

  “Everyone in the casino heard you screaming about your win. I don’t want someone trying something with you.”

  She pouted. He kissed her, sucking her lower lip into his mouth. When he released her, he was holding her purse.

  “Nico!”

  “I’ll give it back to you when we get back to the room. I just want you to be safe.”

  She opened her purse and handed the check to him. He glanced around and stuck it in his wallet before sliding it into his pocket. “Thank you.”

  “Since when did you get so bossy?” she complained.

  “Since you drank three tequilas and won—” he lowered his voice “—a buttload of money.”

  She giggled. “The check has my name on it, you know.”

  “I’m sure someone could forge your signature.”

  “Ha!” She turned and headed to the exit, weaving in and out of all the shiny slot machines. Nico gripped her elbow suddenly and steered her in the opposite direction to the exit.

  Once they were outside, she looked up and down the strip, trying to get her bearings. She pointed right. “This way!”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’m sure.” She pulled him along, way down the strip and to a side street to a seedy-looking club that she’d been to before, The Pink Navel. “This is it.”

  “Is this a strip bar?”

  “No, they don’t strip. They dance.” She paid the cover fee, and they went into the dark, dingy room with the stage at the other end. This was the entire purpose of her trip. She didn’t care about her grandfather’s things, who she’d never met
, didn’t care about the Mustang, what she cared about more than anything was the knowledge housed in the brain of one forty-three-year-old showgirl.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Nico was confused. Lily was acting so strangely. For most of this trip, she’d been bubbly and enthusiastic about visiting weird stuff like rubber stamps, salt and pepper shakers, and giant forks, yet now that they were in Vegas, where most people would be having a good time, she was grimly working her way toward complete drunkenness and losing all her money. And this seedy dive was not what he ever pictured someone classy like Lily being interested in. The music started, a real old-school striptease type of song, and a dozen women filed on stage in barely there costumes made up of feathers and strategically placed sequins. Each woman wore her hair up, fake smile plastered on, their heads held high to hold up an elaborate plume of pink feathers.

  It didn’t do much for him, but Lily was entranced. She studied each woman, carefully watching their movements, before she fixated on the woman on the end.

  He studied the woman too. She had red hair. And then he suddenly realized why Lily had been acting so strange. This must be her sister. They looked similar except the other woman looked hard and tough, her body sculpted with toned muscles.

  “Is that your sister?” he asked.

  Lily startled and downed her tequila. “No. Why would you say that?”

  “She looks like you.”

  Lily kept staring at the woman, swallowing visibly.

  “You know her?” he asked.

  “Shh. Can you get me another drink?”

  “No.”

  “Please? I’ll do that thing you wanted.”

  “You’re seriously bribing me with a blowjob for another drink?”

  She finally tore her gaze from the woman and leaned into him, her voice a throaty purr. “I’m seriously bribing you with a blowjob. Interested?”

  His cock was at full attention, so yeah. He gave her a curt nod and headed for the bar in the back to get the drink. While he waited in line, he thought again about the woman that Lily was so fascinated by. Then it hit him. If it wasn’t her sister, maybe it was her mother. He knew she had a stepmom back home.