by Marie Harte
“I guess.” Grace sniffed. “I should go check on Mom.”
“Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch?”
Grace gave a watery smile. “Sure. Mom and I would love it.”
Beth watched her go inside the house, then decided to make a phone call to her son. She’d get to the bottom of his situation with Del, then see how she felt about it. She’d already let Mike hide his heart for way too long. Now that she’d almost lost her husband—partly due to her own stubbornness, but still—she understood how every second counted. She hated that Mike seemed to have forgotten that fact, especially after all he’d been through. It was time she reminded him.
She entered her house and smiled at her husband. “A mother knows best.”
He turned from the TV. “Beth?”
“Nothing, dear. Where’s the phone?”
Chapter 10
Mike grimaced as he pulled into Del’s driveway for their Friday night date. Oddly enough, thinking the word date didn’t send him into a panic or make him want to flee like it did with most women wanting more. He and Del knew the score, and he appreciated her honesty. Almost as much as he appreciated how incredibly fine the woman was without clothes.
Trying to calm himself down, he glanced around and didn’t see her car. She must have stashed her precious GTO in the garage. In this neighborhood, he’d have done the same. Not that it was all that bad, but he’d seen a few sets of bars on windows.
He parked and got out, prepared to deal with one of the many women currently making his life miserable. At least with Del, a happy ending waited on the other side of her bedroom door. His mother… He’d deal with her later. And tonight, he didn’t even want to think about Grace Meadows.
He knocked on the door of the two-story town house, noting its run-down yet cared for exterior. She could use a new coat of paint, some minor repair work on the door and the tilted window boxes under the first-floor window. The home had a charm about it, though, from the pretty pansies in the ceramic pot by the door to the cheery welcome mat under his feet.
Del answered after the third knock. She cracked the door open and peered at him through the gap. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Nice greeting. You should write for Hallmark.”
She chuckled and opened the door a fraction more. “So about tonight—”
He pushed the door open and walked inside before she could keep him from entering. After his mother’s phone call, he’d had a feeling the night wouldn’t go as smoothly as he’d hoped. Not unless he fixed things before they went to hell.
“Come right on in,” she muttered and closed and locked the door behind him.
He looked around, noting the worn but comfortable furniture, the myriad books and magazines organized into stacks all over the living room, the sectioned-off kitchen, and hallway leading to the rest of the first floor with the stairway to his left, right by the entryway.
“What’s down there?” He nodded toward the darkened hall.
She sighed. “My bedroom. Rena has the upstairs.”
“She’s here?” He hadn’t thought Del would take him up on the offer of her cousin watching, but he was more than game. Because if she thought her cousin being around would throw him off, she didn’t know Mike.
“No, she’s out with some friends tonight.” She frowned. “So get that hopeful look off your face.”
Rena was pretty, but she was no Del. “Not sure what you’re implying.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Let’s talk about you.” He paused, ready to put his game into play. “And my mother. And Grace.” And the earful he’d gotten.
She blinked innocently. “What?”
“Do you know how long I had to listen to my mom yammering about my responsibilities as a good neighbor and inviting kind of guy? About how I should be nicer to Grace because some people”—he glared at her—“didn’t understand a joke? Because I know all about being a single parent, and that in this day and age, it’s so hard and terrifying to make new friends…blah blah blah? What the hell did you say to Grace, anyway?”
“Not much.”
She looked guilty. He knew Del well enough to understand she’d never deliberately hurt someone. Grace had obviously said something to put her back up. No way Del would just verbally attack the woman for no reason. But his mother had implied Del had been too sensitive about some innocent remarks. He was dying to know what the hell had gone on at Abby’s book club.
“Why did Grace collapse in tears in front of her house after her talk with you at the party?”
Del stared. “How do you know she did that?”
“My mom found her and had to console her. Then I had to hear about it.”
“Jesus. Tell me you aren’t buying that. Collapsed? Really? This is the woman you want to tie yourself to? A woman who resorts to crocodile tears to suck up to your mom?”
He swore he heard a hint of jealousy, and he wanted to puff up with satisfaction. “I never said I wanted to tie myself to her.” To anyone, he reminded himself as he once again unconsciously imprinted Del’s image into his tomorrow. She was just so incredibly sexy. Her hair hung around her face, silky strands caressing her sharp cheekbones. She wore a gray long-sleeved T-shirt that emphasized the brightness of her eyes and a pair of lightweight cotton pants, showcasing her long, toned legs. Legs he soon planned to have wrapped round his head while he made her really, really happy.
“You want to know what she said?”
“Uh-huh.” He subtly stalked her until she backed into the wall.
She flushed. “Quit moving in on me.”
“Make me.” He planted his hands on either side of her head, gratified to see her rapid breathing, her gaze settling on his mouth. It had been nearly a week without her, and he was dying to feel her around him again, to sense that connection and relive the powerful orgasm that had rocked his world.
“You’re being very immature about this.” She sniffed.
He leaned close and nipped at her throat, smiling at her soft moan. “I’m waiting.” He leaned back to watch her.
“Fine. She basically called me a man, said my muscles were too big, implied I was a lesbian, then told me not to worry about Abby basing her book on you and me being a couple, because we’re too different to ever get along like that.”
He frowned. “We’re not that different.”
“That’s the part that bothers you?” She huffed. “But me being manly and gay is okay?”
“What?” He didn’t like the thought of anyone making snap judgments about him and Del. Who the hell did Grace think she was, anyway? He and Del suited perfectly. Not that they’d ever intended anything more permanent. But they could—that was the point.
Del blew out a breath, one that landed on his cheek with warmth and the hint of chocolate. “Forget it.”
“No way. She said all that? So what did you tell her?” This had to be good.
“You really want to know?”
“I asked, didn’t I?”
She smirked, and he went from semi-hard to full-out erect. “That you’d be lucky to have me again. And that all her simpering and wimpiness wouldn’t get your monster cock inside her anytime soon.”
He blinked. “No shit?”
“No shit.”
He couldn’t contain a grin. “You really said that? About my monster cock? To Grace Meadows?”
“We were in the kitchen when she went all passive-aggressive nasty on me. I hate her type. You want to call me a lesbian, say it to my face. And for the record, I see nothing wrong with being gay.”
“Me neither.” His heart skipped a beat. “I don’t suppose you have any girlfriends you want to call over…?”
She groaned but couldn’t seem to stop herself from laughing. She had a gorgeous smile.
Time to get right down to it. Mike traced her chin with a finger, captivated by her soft skin. “Now. To the matter at hand.”
Her smile faded. “Matter?”
“Not only did we
make plans for a Friday-night date, which made the week drag, but I had the added frustration of dealing with my mother. Cruel and unusual, to say the least, that I was forced to suffer for my girlfriend’s”—he used air quotes—“overly sensitive temperament.”
“Overly sensitive, my ass,” she growled. “Wait. Girlfriend?”
Her frown and that tone pushed him past patience. He kissed her, taking possession of her mouth. He licked and teased his way into her good graces, gratified as all get-out when she clutched his neck and kissed him back. As hungry for him as he was for her, and damn, but that set him off.
She ravaged his mouth, but he was in charge. He didn’t want to come yet. Mike broke the kiss, panting, and pushed her shoulders against the wall. He held her there, loving the fact that she tried to move but couldn’t.
“You’re really strong.” She swallowed.
He groaned, wanting her to swallow him. “And really hard.”
“I can feel it.” She rubbed her pelvis against him like a cat.
He teethed her throat, and she arched her neck, giving him better access. He sucked, not too hard, but enough to remind her who was in charge.
Apparently she liked his dominance, because she responded when he took control. Heavy moaning, increased air intake, her desperation to get closer…
For years he’d fantasized about rougher sex with a partner. But for one reason or another the opportunity hadn’t materialized. With Del, he didn’t think she’d mind. He didn’t fear hurting her with a small show of strength. The woman handled him on a regular basis. God, he wanted to let loose for once.
“You mind a little rough handling?” he asked, staring into her eyes as he waited.
She grinned, a mean smirk that made him ache to tame her. “I doubt you can handle me, but by all means try.”
“You’re itching for a spanking, aren’t you?”
Her breathing hitched, and he thought he’d found one of her kinks. One to match his.
“Go ahead. Try it.”
“I won’t hurt you, sweetness. Not much anyway.”
She tried to glare at him, but her desire was impossible to miss. “Do your worst.”
“Oh, I plan on it.” He pulled her from the wall and hefted her over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry. She yelped once but didn’t protest again, and he walked them down the hallway to her bedroom.
Done in lavender and white with accents of deeper purple, her room looked both modern and eclectic. A lot like Del. The area was mostly neat, save for those odd piles of her things stationed around the room. She had a sense of neatness mixed with a cluttered chaos that charmed him without meaning to.
His attention focused on her spindle-board bed and stayed there. He’d have no problem tying her down. He couldn’t wait.
Mike tossed her onto the bed. “Don’t move.”
To his surprise, she didn’t balk at the order and watched, frozen, while he stripped to nothing and took out a few condom packets from his pants pocket, placing them on the bed stand.
She licked her lips, and he held himself out to her. “Lick me.”
She raised a brow.
“Now.”
“Make me.” She stuck her tongue out at him, and he grinned.
In seconds he stripped her naked and kissed his way down her belly to the thin strip of blond hair over her mound. “You look so fucking sweet. Let’s see if you taste as good as I’ve imagined.” He didn’t wait for a response but prodded her thighs wider and clamped his mouth over her.
A responsible adult would have discussed safe sex with her again before licking her pussy, but Mike damn well knew the woman wouldn’t chance her health on a one-night stand. Not without being smart about it. And he couldn’t wait any longer, not with her naked and splayed out on the bed before him.
She tasted like flowers, a lavender scent that went straight to his head. Had to be a lotion or soap, but now the scent was intrinsically linked to Del. He opened his mouth wider to take her all in, and he licked and stroked her clit, lapping up her cream.
“Mike. Yeah, baby. That’s so good.” She clutched his head with strong hands, encouraging him with those rough fingers. “I’m so close,” she moaned on a breath.
So he pulled away.
“Wait. No, come back.”
“Not yet.” He sat up on his knees and reached over to grab a condom. Waiting to take her wasn’t going to happen. Not this first time, but he’d make their initial go worth remembering.
She watched him roll the rubber over his cock, then gripped him tight. “You’re so thick. I want to feel you inside me again.”
His eyes nearly crossed, and he hurried to pull her hand away. “You want? Uh-uh.” He scooted to the headboard and put his back to it. Then he grabbed her and manhandled her belly down, in paddle position, over his lap. Awkward with his erection, but he managed.
“Hey, what are you…” She ended on a moan when he stroked her ass.
“Bad girls who need discipline get spanked.”
“Mike.”
He swatted her ass, and she jerked. He spread her legs wider and shoved a finger in her pussy, keeping it there while her body clamped hard on him. Jesus, he needed to be inside her. “You’re so wet. You want this, don’t you?”
She buried her face in her crossed arms on the bed. Strewn across his lap, she dangled at the edge, her breasts almost clearing the mattress. Mike cupped her and toyed with her nipples, still keeping that one finger inside her.
“Oh God. Do it again.” She wriggled her ass, and he smiled.
“You’re a bad girl, aren’t you?” He needed to fuck her in the worst way.
“Yeah, I am.”
“Tell me all the bad things you did.” He withdrew his finger from her and sucked it, loving her taste. “You taste so good.”
“Oh man. Did you just lick your finger?” She tried to push up, to look at him, and he planted his hand on her back and shoved her back down, her belly to the bed. She lay perpendicular to him, which wouldn’t work if he planned on taking her any time soon. But in this position at least, he couldn’t forget himself and “accidentally” thrust inside her while he played.
He spanked her again, harder this time. A rapid succession of forceful pats that had her panting and crying his name. He thrust his finger back inside her, then added another. “Damn, you’re wet. And tight. I’m dying to be inside you.”
“So what are you waiting for?” she rasped.
“So bossy.” He grinned despite his iron-hard cock. He smacked her a few more times, then unable to bear any more, eased her off his lap and left her face down on the bed to circle around toward her feet. The bed stood at the perfect height for pleasure. Grabbing her by the ankles, he dragged her across it, so that the V of her thighs met his erection.
“Mike, please.”
“Tell me what you want.” He palmed her reddened cheeks and toyed with her slick folds, edging his thumbs close to her pussy before backing away.
“Don’t tease,” she whispered. “Oh God. I’m going to come.”
“Not without me you don’t.” He spread her thighs wider and positioned the tip of himself at her entrance. “Want me to come in?”
“Yes. Fuck. Now.”
He entered her slowly, putting just the head inside her. Then he spanked her.
She jolted. “Mike, yes. Yes, again.”
He pushed more and spanked her while he entered her. To his incredible satisfaction, she cried out, “Mike, yes. Fuck, yes,” and clutched the bed sheets, coming hard while he pumped and swatted her ass.
He couldn’t wait any longer. “I’m gonna ride you so hard.” Taking her from behind, staring down at the beautiful artwork over her sides and lower back, her forearms, hastened his need. He thrust himself balls-deep inside her and rested only a brief moment before withdrawing, then pushed forward again.
He slammed into her, encouraged by her throaty moans and the way she raised her ass to allow better penetration.
Mike
took her like he owned her, and in that moment, he did. He gripped her hips tight as his orgasm neared. “Oh yeah. I’m coming. So hard.”
“In me. All in me,” she whispered and pushed back against him.
He felt surrounded by her, welcomed inside that taut warmth. He tightened his hold on her hips and rammed harder, going as deep as possible as he reached his end and yelled out. He spasmed, shaking as he jetted inside the condom, wishing against sense that nothing separated them. No rubber, no rules. Just him and her, together.
The orgasm left him light-headed, and when he caught his breath, he eased his hold on her and kissed a path along her spine to her shoulders. He pushed aside her golden hair and kissed his way to her cheek. “You feel so good around me,” he admitted in a throaty voice.
“You too.” She squeezed him with inner muscles, and he moaned and leaned up, propped on his hands. “Oh, that’s nice.”
“Shit, yeah.” He glanced to where they joined and grimaced at the marks on her skin. “I left fingerprints on you. Sorry, Del.”
“I’m not,” she rasped. “Oh man, that was hot.”
“I told you I wanted to bend you over. And let’s face it, you really did need a spanking.” He swore as he withdrew. “Be right back.”
He left to dispose of the condom in her bathroom trash and returned to see her lying naked, on her back, in the center of the bed. Not content to leave her alone, he joined her and covered her with his body, levering his weight on his elbows.
“You’ll crush me.”
“Quit your whining.” He kissed her on the lips, loving her scent. “You need a blanket, and I’m volunteering for the position.”
“Mmm.” She opened her mouth, allowing his lazy kisses that felt like so much more than just sex. He would have been more worried if he could think past the pleasure still filtering its way throughout his body.
“I taste me on your lips.”
“Yeah. Sweet as sugar.”
She chuckled against his mouth, and he broke the kiss to watch her.
So fucking beautiful. He sighed. “So I guess we should have the safe sex talk now. You know. Before you blow me.”