by R. C. Martin
“I don’t know,” Joe interjects. “She appears quite taken by JD. I think they look good together.”
“No, you’re right,” she says, reaching over to pat his hand. “You do make a fine couple. I just worry. I wonder how long it’ll last; how long before she changes her mind about what she wants. It’s what young people do—and she’s at that stage in life where nothing is certain. I remember being in my early twenties. Don’t you? You’re not the same man you were then, JD. There’s so much self discovery that takes place within this window of time.”
She hasn’t yet revealed what she’s getting at—but I don’t appreciate the assumptions she’s making. We’ve been here for all of an hour and a half, and already she thinks she knows the nature of Teddy’s heart. But she doesn’t know. She doesn’t know Theodora’s past. She doesn’t know the ways in which she is mature beyond her years. She doesn’t know about the intricacies of our relationship. I love my mother, and I won’t argue with her—but I also do not wish to subject myself to much more of her opinion.
“Make your point, mother,” I insist, wishing for the conclusion of this conversation.
She sits up straighter before she continues. “I see the way you look at her. She’s not the only one smitten. I just don’t want to see you in ruins if it all comes crashing down. You think I don’t know,” she says, pointing at me from where she sits. “You think I don’t know about that girl who broke your heart all those years ago. A mother knows these things, Judah, whether you speak of them or not. She changed you. I know you came out stronger, but this is different. Your decision to even bring her here speaks volumes. You’re invested. Your heart is on your sleeve, JD, and I just—”
“Enough. Please,” I mutter. I try not to frown at her, but I fail. Not once has she ever spoken to me about the aftermath of Aubrey. To bring her up now is uncalled for—and to question my ability to handle myself, regardless of the direction that my relationship with Teddy goes, is unwarranted. She knows not how I conduct myself. She knows not the depths of Teddy’s feelings for me. She doesn’t know, therefore she cannot understand, and I will no longer entertain the conversation.
“She’s good for him, mom. And she’s not a flight risk. I—”
“Benjamin…” I shoot him a warning glare. I don’t need him to fight my battles. Neither do I wish for him to defend my woman. I brought Teddy down for an introduction, not an evaluation.
“JD, you know I trust you—”
“Good,” I interrupt. “Then there’s nothing more to discuss.”
Before she can say anything else, the girls return to the table. As Teddy takes her seat beside me, I slip my hand beneath the hem of her skirt, gripping my fingers around her thigh. My cordial mood is waning, and I no longer wish for Teddy to be here—underneath the scrutinizing gaze of my mother. This is exactly what she was afraid of, and I want her out of here before she even suspects that my mother has a single doubt.
“Hey,” she whispers, placing a hand over mine. It’s then that I realize my grip is tighter than I intended. I loosen my hold as I look down into her pretty, brown eyes. “Is everything okay?”
I take a deep breath, willing myself to calm down before I lean over to speak directly into my sweetheart’s ear.
“We have dessert to sit through, and then an hour-long drive home—but all I want to do is bury my dick in your sweet cunt and fuck you until you can’t walk straight.”
She gasps softly, squeezing my hand as she ducks her chin in an effort to hide her burning cheeks. I chuckle under my breath and press a kiss against her forehead, all the while allowing her presence to relax me.
Today, she loves me.
Today, she chooses me.
Today, Teddy is mine.
Tomorrow will take care of itself.
Tomorrow, I will take care of myself—whether she is with me or not.
But unlike my mother, I’m not worried about tomorrow. I’m not worried about tomorrow at all.
Benjamin and Harper manage to keep the conversation lively as we all endure the rest of our meal. When the check comes, Benjamin and I split the tab, and then we all bid each other farewell, with promises of meeting up again in the near future.
The five minutes it takes for the valet to pull the Porsche around feels like much longer. As soon as Teddy and I are both buckled in, I gun it out of the parking lot. When we’ve reached the interstate, I’m not shy with the gas pedal, and I speed toward home. I can tell I’m making Teddy nervous by the way she grips the edge of her seat. I move to comfort her, cupping my hand around the back of her neck, giving her a gentle squeeze.
I might have been messing with her when I told her earlier that all I could think about was fucking her until she couldn’t walk straight—but it’s not a joke any longer. I need to be inside of her. I need to hear her scream my name. I need to feel her unravel beneath me. I need to prove that she is mine—unequivocally. The desire that burns within me is stronger than it has ever been before. I cannot explain it, and I won’t attempt to try. It doesn’t matter. I want her. Now. And I shall have her.
I’m the king of her motherfucking world, and tonight, I will reign supreme.
By the time I pull into my garage, my patience is nonexistent. As soon as she unbuckles her seatbelt, my hand is around the back of her neck again, and I draw her in for a kiss. She responds to me instantly, reaching up to hold onto either side of my face. Her simple touch, coupled with the sound of her soft moan, has my cock hard and fucking ready. I groan, giving voice to my need, and she whimpers in response, thrusting her tongue further into my mouth.
When one of my hands grips her around her waist, she starts to crawl over the center console into my lap. I’m quick to push my seat back, making room for her as she straddles me, her fingers slipping into my hair. Her desperation intensifies my craving, making me even harder. Just for her. I am hers just as she is mine, and I want no one else.
I kiss her deeper still, holding her hips and guiding her back and forth across my erection. She breathes my name into my mouth and I can no longer wait to feel the warmth of her around me. Reaching up her dress, I grip hold of her panties and tear them in half. She gasps in surprise and then moans in pleasure as I push two fingers into her tight, wet pussy. With so little room to maneuver, neither of us has the freedom to fully indulge in what we want. It’s not long before she’s whimpering her frustration.
“Please,” she whines, pressing her forehead against mine. “Judah, I need more. I need you.”
I pull my fingers from between her legs, bringing them to her lips, coating them in her arousal before dipping them into her mouth.
“Suck my fingers, sweetheart. Taste how fucking delicious you are.”
She closes her eyes, humming around my fingers as she sucks them clean, and I can feel my pre-cum soaking through the leg of my pants. It’s in this moment that I conclude I will not be gentle tonight. Not even a little.
“Inside,” I grunt, pulling my fingers from her mouth. She opens her eyes and stares into mine. “I want you in the middle of the bed. Naked. On your stomach. Legs spread. Go. Now.”
She nods, kissing me once, leaving the taste of her arousal on my mouth before she reaches for the door handle and climbs out of the car. I pause for just a second, just long enough to run my tongue across my lips.
Such a goddamn tease.
I follow after her slowly, giving her a chance to do exactly as I’ve instructed. As I enter the house, I find her shoes discarded at the mouth of the hallway that leads to my bedroom. Her dress is in the doorway—the scraps of her panties tossed on top. Her bra is a couple steps further into the room. My eyes travel from the floor to the bed, a satisfied smirk pulling at the corner of my mouth when I see her spread out just as I told her.
I undress urgently, leaving my suit in a heap at my feet. As soon as I’m completely naked, I crawl onto the bed after her. Her hair is loose, covering her back, and I use both hands to gather it into a single fist. With a
slight tug, I turn her head to the side so that I might admire her profile. Her lips are parted open, her breaths ragged, and the sound is like music to my ears.
I graze the fingertips of my freehand down her back, tracing the intricate lines of her tattoo—the ink that assures me my shy girl is strong and capable of handling anything I give her. She’s felt more pain than her delicate body should have ever been exposed to, but I will never hurt her. I may not always be gentle, but I will always bring her pleasure, as I have promised.
I wrench her head back, pulling on her hair as I press a hand against the small of her back, and she arches her neck and her spine, bending beautifully for me. She moans when I rub my erection through her pussy lips, drenching my dick in her desire, grazing her clit before I pull away. Her porcelain like skin makes my mouth water, and I lean down to bite the space between her neck and shoulder. She cries out, my name on her lips, and then she sighs as I lick and kiss around her tender flesh.
I continue to glide back and forth along her slit, wishing to tease her until she’s reached her breaking point—until she’s begging me for more. An impish grin spreads across my face when she balls her fists around a handful of my sheets, her body trembling with want.
“Judah!” she mewls. “You’re driving me crazy—please!”
“Please, what, sweetheart?” I mutter, pulling her hair tighter.
She whines, but then arches her back even further, sticking her ass out in a silent plea.
All at once, it hits me—a longing that calls from the deepest part of me—the darkest part of the beast she turns me into. All at once, I’m overwhelmed—realizing that I’ll never truly possess her until I’ve had her everywhere.
I want in her ass.
Slowly, I shift on my knees and pull my dick from between her pussy, sliding it through the crease of her backside. I want to play with her, to see how far she’ll let me go. She stiffens beneath me, but I do it again, grazing over her back entrance. When I apply pressure to her tight hole with the slick head of my cock, she tires to jerk away from me. It only takes her a second to realize she can’t, and then she murmurs—
“Danyl—Danyl!” Her voice is timid and anxious, but there’s no mistaking her use of her safe word. I’ve scared her—my shy girl.
I freeze immediately, wanting her to know that I’ve heard her—but I sure as fuck need to bury my dick, so I shove myself into her cunt until I’m balls deep. Her breathing is rapid and ragged, and I can still feel her resisting me. I let go of her hair, sliding my hand underneath her jaw, tilting her face up and steading her head as I bring my lips to her ear.
“You’re okay, sweetheart. I’m not going to hurt you. I’d never take your ass without permission,” I promise, pressing a kiss to the soft spot just behind her ear. “I’d never force myself on you—and I sure as hell wouldn’t bury my dick anywhere other than your mouth or your cunt without the necessary preparations. I just wanted to play with you, Teddy,” I assure her. “Do you hear me?”
“Yes,” she says feebly.
“Do you trust me?” I ask, pulling out of her slowly.
“Yes,” she sighs.
I ram back inside of her, hard, and she gasps.
“You sure about that, sweetheart?”
I pull out and pound into her again.
“Yes!” she answers.
“I’ll have your ass, sweetheart—you and I will play,” I warn her as I continue my slow, unforgiving pace. “But tonight, I’ll fuck this cunt ‘til you scream. I want to hear my name, Teddy.”
“Oh, yes—please,” she pants. “You feel so good, Jude.”
“So fucking wet,” I grunt, her hot, slick core turning me on even more. “Such a greedy pussy.”
Gripping the side of her hip with the hand not around the front of her neck, I look down and watch as I enter her over and over with my coated dick. She’s so perfect, our bodies fitting together just right—her tiny, delicate frame underneath my large, hard one. She moans my name, and I feel something bigger than victory. This is ownership. This is binding. This is my foreseeable future.
This woman is mine.
Mine to touch.
Mine to fuck.
Mine to pleasure.
All. Fucking. Mine.
“Jude…” she breathes, covering the hand around her neck with one of her own. “Tighter.”
Holy shit.
Her request pulls me under completely, my lust making me ravenous. I squeeze her neck gently, just enough to cut off a bit of her air supply without strangling her as I fuck her even harder. I know she’s about to come when she grips the sheets once more, using her arms as leverage to try and push back against me. As soon as her pussy clamps around my cock, I let go of her neck, and she screams my name—my obedient girl.
I ride her through the duration of her climax and then I pull out. Teddy collapses on the bed, and I kiss and nibble my way down her back before I climb out of bed to stand beside her. When she looks up at me with a sated, doe-eyed expression, I pull my lip between my teeth. She’s breathtaking.
“Make me come, sweetheart. Suck me off.”
She nods, pushing herself up in a seated position before she scoots to the end of the bed. She places her hands around my hips, feeling her way over my ass—her touch making my dick jerk before she swallows me whole.
“Fuck, yes!”
She sucks me hard, knowing just the way I like it, and I gather her hair up and away from her face. When she hums, the vibration of her voice sends a zing of pleasure up my spine, and I buck my hips. My dick grazes the back of her throat, pulling forth a groan from my own. I restrain myself for as long as I can, but when my balls start to tighten, I can no longer hold back. I tighten my grip in her hair, keeping her still as I pump in and out of her mouth until I find my release—spilling my seed down the back of her throat. She takes it all. Every last drop.
When I pull out, I reach underneath her arms, lifting her up against my chest. She clings to me, and our lips smash together as we both lean in for a kiss. It’s not sweet or kind. It’s desperate. It’s passionate. It’s wet, hot, and unrelenting.
And it tastes like us.
Just us.
I slide into my black, platform stiletto heels and then turn to face the floor length mirror that hangs on the back of my closet door. The gown I picked out for the evening is elegant, and it makes me feel beautiful. Carrie and I went shopping last weekend, and she talked me into splurging for MTA’s first gala exhibition tonight. For those of us closest to the gallery and its owner, tonight will certainly be about far more than art. It’s a celebration in Andy’s honor, for all the hard work he’s put in over the last few months, as well as a party for the return of our dear Andrew, who can breathe a little easier after the night is through.
The satin dress that I have on is black, clinging to my every, barely-there curve, the skirt flaring out after it passes my hips. It’s long, the hem grazing the tops of my shoes, but sleeveless. The straps are made of thick, black lace, connecting with one another in a high collar that covers the top of my chest and shoulders. There’s no fabric between the satin that covers my breasts and the length of lace that lays across my collar bone, exposing my pale skin and the tiniest bit of cleavage. I’m sure the dress is made for someone who has more to show off, but I don’t care. I love it. I also hope the man I love likes the way it looks, too.
The gallery has been closed all day, in preparation for tonight. There was an insane amount of activity when I arrived this morning, and things were barely calming down when I slipped out. I left early so that I’d have time to get ready, and I managed to find the patience to curl my hair. My long beach waves now hold a little more bounce than usual as they hang down my back, polishing off my look for the evening. With my fresh coat of make-up, I’m officially all dolled up and ready for Geoffrey to swing by and get me.
The event starts at eight and Judah promised he’d meet me there. Like usual, I can hardly wait to see him. He said he’d b
e at the office late tonight and he wouldn’t have a chance to stop at home for a shower and a change before I had to be back at the gallery. I know he’s putting the final touches on a couple different projects, and he wanted to wrap them up before the weekend. I hope he was successful. I’ve been sharing him with work a lot over the last three weeks, and I’d like him all to myself for once.
Besides—this weekend marks our three-month anniversary.
I doubt he realizes that little tidbit of information; he’s not really the type to keep track of sentimental dates like that, but I am. I’m not sure that I’ll mention it, in case he thinks it’s totally silly, but it’s enough that I remember. I’ll make sure to kiss him a little more than usual this weekend. I know he won’t refuse my affection, and that’ll be enough to keep me satisfied. What matters more than the date is the relationship itself. For two people who have actively avoided relationships for so long, I’m really proud of us and the happiness we’ve managed to find with each other. I love him so much—a truth I tell him every day, just as I promised I would.
A knock at my front door pulls me from my thoughts, and I take a deep breath, turning to catch a final glimpse of my back in the mirror before I go answer it. When I swing the door open, I’m greeted by a dapper looking fellow in all black—pants, shirt, jacket, and bowtie. I grin at him, chuckling a little as I check him out.
“Copy cat.”
“What?” he asks innocently. “It’s slimming.”
I burst into laughter, holding my middle as I admire the man I often refer to as my favorite Viking. He’s certainly nowhere near fat, though slim is something I doubt he’ll ever be. When he smiles and winks at me, my heart is filled with warmth. He looks so very handsome, and the sadness that lingered in his eyes for the first couple months after Reeve left him is finally starting to vanish.
“You look amazing, Freckles. I’m honored to be your honorary date—for at least the next hour or so,” he tells me, holding out his elbow.