by K. G. Reuss
“I want you, Lexy. I want to feel you from the inside. I don’t beg women for sex, but I can’t get you out of my head. Our night in Vegas. Me, buried deep inside your tight pussy.”
She shivered in my arms.
I whispered in her ear, enjoying the goosebumps popping along her skin. “How you clawed at my back as I filled you with my cock. The way you whimpered my name as you came.”
“Travis,” she groaned. Her sounds did things to me no other woman had ever been able to do. “Ava won’t be home next weekend.”
“Mm, I’m listening,” I growled, peppering a line of kisses south. I moved her tank top strap aside and kissed her collarbone.
“Uncle Marty wants her to visit for Thanksgiving,” she rasped, arching her neck as I pressed a kiss to her pulse point.
“All weekend?”
“Mhmm,” she answered breathlessly.
“Fuck, I’m moving in,” I growled, kissing between her breasts.
“I have to work—”
“The fuck you do,” I said as I darted my tongue out to tease a pebbled bud before pulling it into my mouth and sucking it. She whimpered beneath me as I lavished her breasts.
“Call out. This weekend, you’re mine.” I moved to the apex of her thighs and looked up at her. “I intend on putting myself in a place I don’t belong.” I tugged her shorts down, pleased to see no panties. Her glistening pussy greeted me. I took a slow, languid lick up her wet slit as her breath hitched.
“Do you understand?” I asked. I pushed my tongue through her folds and found the hot button that made her dance.
‘Y-yes,” she choked out as I gave her clit a gentle nip.
“Say my name,” I commanded softly.
“Yes, Travis,” she answered, breathless.
“Good girl. Let’s make you say it louder now.”
And with those words, I dove in.
Forty-Seven
Lexy
“When will you be back?” I asked Ava the day before Thanksgiving as I packed her a lunch. The drive north to Uncle Marty’s was a few hours, and Ava hated stopping along the way. She was convinced someone would kidnap her after seeing she was alone.
“Sunday night,” she answered, taking the bag of food I handed her. “I hate you have to work and aren’t going home for Thanksgiving. Will you be OK?”
I waved her off. “Yes. I’ll be fine. Mom and Dad are out of town. And Alex is heading home with some friend or something for the holiday. And I’m going to work to earn some extra money. Then I’m going to come home, watch my documentary, and eat popcorn. At some point, I’ll edit my essays and interview responses for my second round of med school applications. But since I’m caught up on all my homework, this long weekend is a good chance for me to get some quality me time.”
“Good. You deserve it, sis.” Ava wrapped me in a tight embrace.
“What’s wrong?” I murmured when she held on longer than normal.
She sniffled and pulled away. “I love you, Lex. You’re my best friend. I don’t want that to ever change.”
“Aw.” I hugged her again. “It won’t. I promise.”
We broke away, both of us misty-eyed.
“OK. I need to get on the road. I’ll see you Sunday.”
“Sunday,” I confirmed, butterflies fluttering in my chest. Travis would be spending the weekend with me. The team should’ve arrived back in town a few hours ago from their away game. Since it was Thanksgiving week, they’d played their last regular season game on Tuesday. It was an easy win for them. I watched in my room, my eyes never leaving Travis’s form when it was on the screen. He’d done it. Finished the season undefeated. I was so proud of him. Now, it was just a matter of him getting here. I fully intended on having sex. It had been killing me to hold back. Travis had that effect on me. But I had to hold fast to my word. I wanted that romance. And yeah, Travis was sweeter than I’d ever imagined. It made for a very confusing time. One my heart wasn’t sure how to sort out. The tingle of feelings was there, and I kept fighting for them to stop.
If this was a different situation and I wasn’t me and he wasn’t Travis, I’d have fallen for him. I knew it was a dangerous thing to even think, but it had been going through my mind a lot lately. I also knew Travis had said countless times how he wouldn’t be able to give me what I wanted and that he didn’t feel anything for me other than a raging boner.
But I swore I saw different when he looked at me. Felt it when he kissed me. Maybe that was Travis’s charm though. God knew he had truckloads of it. It was why all the women threw themselves at him.
I bid Ava farewell and closed the door behind her. I’d picked up an afternoon shift and needed to get to it
I went to my bedroom, pulled my work uniform on, and put my hair up into a long ponytail. My phone buzzed on my dresser, so I grabbed it to find Travis’s name on the screen. Despite knowing better, I couldn’t help the smile that spilled onto my lips.
Travis: Challenge?
Lexy: Accepted
A moment later a photo appeared on my screen. My cheeks heated as I peered down at Travis completely naked in bed, his hard dick in his hand.
Travis: Send me one back.
I swallowed hard at his message. I’d never sent a nude in my life.
Lexy: I’m already dressed for work.
Travis: Are you backing down? Tsk, tsk, baby doll. Maybe a nude run around campus is in the stars for you as punishment.
I ground my teeth and tossed my phone onto my bed before taking off my uniform. With as much courage as I possessed, I angled the camera and snapped a few photos. Trying to calm my rapidly beating heart, I attached one of the photos to an outgoing message and hit send. A moment later, Travis messaged back.
Travis: I’m calling you.
I stared down at the phone as it rang in my hand. It took me a moment to snap out of it.
“H-hello?”
“You’re fucking beautiful,” Travis growled in my ear.
I fought the smile trying to erupt and took a deep breath. “Yeah?”
“You have my dick rock hard right now. Call off work. I want to come over.”
“You know I can’t. I have to help get ready for the Thanksgiving meal service.” I laughed softly as I slipped my panties back on.
“Can’t or won’t?”
“Both,” I answered.
“Fuck, Lexy.” He sounded breathless, and my core heated knowing he was probably stroking his long, thick length. “Please?”
“Are you begging me?” I chuckled.
“Yes.”
“Tell you what. Let me go to work—”
He let out a groan of protest.
I laughed. “And when I get back, we can, um, maybe get naked. Together. Uh, in my bedroom.”
He went quiet on the line for so long I thought he’d hung up.
“Yeah?” he finally asked in a throaty whisper. “Sex?”
“I-I think I’d like to,” I answered softly, now fully dressed.
“I haven’t romanced you enough,” he murmured.
I shrugged even though I knew he couldn’t see me.
“You want to have sex?” he pressed quietly.
“I-I do.”
“Waiting for you today is going to kill me.” He chuckled softly.
“It’ll be worth the wait. I hope.”
“Oh, it fucking will, Lexicon,” he growled. “What time are you off?”
“Seven,” I answered. “You have a key to the apartment if you want to come over early and wait for me. There’s some ramen Ava bought. I can cook for you when I get home. You can stay the rest of the week. Ava won’t be home until Sunday.”
“Really?” He perked up, sounding like his old self and not some throaty, sex-crazed monster with a giant dick. I liked both, personally.
“It’s just ramen, Travis.” I laughed, grabbing my bag and leaving the apartment. “It’s not five-star or anything.”
“No, I mean Ava’s really staying away the rest of
the week? Where did she go again?”
“Uncle Marty’s up north. I think her whole family was planning to come up there at different points during the long weekend.” I got into my car, started it, and snapped my seatbelt into place. My Bluetooth took hold, and Travis’s voice sounded out inside the car.
“Alex left already too.”
“What? He wasn’t supposed to leave until tomorrow morning. He said his friend wasn’t heading home until then.” I pulled the car onto the street and headed to work.
“He left early. He didn’t tell you? And he’s not coming back until Sunday night.”
“No. He was just going to be gone for a couple days. We talked about getting together on Saturday when he got back into town.” I frowned at the information. “Did he say where he was going? Or what friend he was going with? You know all his friends.”
“I think that plan changed. He said he’d decided to meet up with some chick he’s been talking to online.”
“That doesn’t sound like Alex,” I muttered. “He likes knowing a girl in person.”
“I thought the same, but I didn’t want to pressure him about it since he thinks you’re giving me a free pass to fuck some co-ed this weekend to keep my dick happy. And he isn’t bothering me about it even though I know he’s dying to ask who the lucky lady is.”
I snorted. “Lucky lady?”
“You know you are, baby.”
I chuckled.
“I think he and Ava are seeing each other. So does Mason,” Travis continued. “They’ve been awful cozy together lately.”
“No way. They wouldn’t do that without telling me.”
“Lexy, we’re fucking married, and tonight I’m going to be balls deep in your pussy. Did you tell Alex and Ava that?”
“Travis,” I hissed at his crude words.
He let out a loud laugh. “That’s what I thought. So no, they wouldn’t tell you.”
“Maybe it’s a coincidence that they’re both gone now.”
“Yeah,” Travis snorted. “And maybe I’ll fall in love with you.”
His words cut me, making my heart skip a beat and not in a fun, butterfly sort of way. In a painful way.
“Right,” I said softly.
“Hey, Lexy, I’m sorry. That was rude. I’m a dick—”
“It’s fine. I, uh, I’m at work. I’ll talk to you later.”
I didn’t wait for his reply. I hung up and dialed work instead, since I’d lied through my teeth about being there. His words had hurt me. Was I not good enough to fall in love with?
We’d said there’d be no feelings involved, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel a little something for Travis, as much as I hated it. We’d gotten close the past few months.
I shook it off when Jackie answered.
“Hey, Jackie. It’s Lexy. I’m not going to make it in today—”
“Good, hun! I was just going to call you. Fred wants us to close down early tonight anyway. It’s been dead all day. We were able to get everything ready for tomorrow ahead of schedule. So, I was going to tell you not to come in.”
“Oh, OK,” I said, not feeling nearly as bad now about skipping work.
“We’ll see you later, OK?”
“Sure. Thanks, Jackie!”
“Have fun! I know I would if I had that sexy arm candy you brought in the other night.” I could hear the smile in her voice. Travis had come by to wait for me a few nights ago and had drunk a chocolate shake, his eyes glued to my every move.
I laughed softly and said goodbye.
Travis didn’t think he could fall in love with me. Or maybe he thought I wasn’t worthy of more from him. I hated feeling the way I felt, but I deemed anything and everything to do with Travis a challenge. And I’d just accepted the one I silently issued myself.
Hauling in a deep breath, I turned to drive out of town. We had a mall in our city, but south of us was a massive one.
And it had a lingerie store. I’d start there.
Forty-Eight
Travis
I pulled the pan out of the oven at Lexy’s apartment and grinned down at my creation. Eggplant Florentine with fire-roasted tomato sauce and toasted ciabatta. I had to make up for my dickish words I’d said to her earlier. I hadn’t meant for them to come out sounding so rude or harsh.
It wasn’t that Lexy was hard to fall in love with. Quite the opposite, in fact. I could see myself falling hard for her and regretting it when things ended. My protest was a way to guard my heart. The woman was totally lovable. It was a bitch to fight it all the time. I pulled away from her when I’d rather have gotten closer.
Hurting her wasn’t an option. So it needed to be this way. I had to keep my distance. I wouldn’t fall in love, just as I’d promised. We’d continue our practice marriage and learn from it. But fuck was I in a helluva lotta like with her. She was the only girl in the world I’d ever felt like this for. And it wasn’t a new feeling. It was more like an expanded feeling.
I put the place settings on the table and turned out the lights. Then I adjusted the candles I’d placed in the center of the table and looked at my watch. It was seven. She’d be home soon. I rushed to her bedroom to give it one final look. I lit the candles I’d scattered all over her bedroom. I’d purchased loads of candles earlier to set the mood. She deserved romance, and god knew I needed practice at it.
To add to the tone set by the candles, I sprinkled rose petals all over the floor and bed. On a whim, I’d made her a teddy bear. The local bear building store in the mall had Rayton University jerseys in bear sizes. I’d grabbed the number one jersey and put it on the soft brown bear. He now sat at the head of her bed along with her favorite box of chocolates. It all seemed cliché, but if it got her to smile then it was a victory I’d take.
Breathing in deeply, I surveyed the room once more. Soft, flickering candles adorned every empty space I could get them in. They cast a warm, orange glow over the area. The smell of the rose petals permeated the air.
If she didn’t love this, then I really needed lessons. Hell, I wasn’t a chick, and I loved it.
When I walked into the living room, her keys were jingling in the door. I hauled in a deep breath, wondering if I’d done enough to make up for being a dick earlier. Not only did I want to apologize for that, but I also wanted to show her the sweet side of me. This was supposed to be practice after all.
At least that’s what I kept telling myself.
“It smells good in here!” she exclaimed, stepping into the room, her hair a beautiful mess.
I grinned and approached her, my arms open. She fell into them easily and held onto me. I let out a breath of relief. Good. She didn’t hate me for being an asshole earlier. It had been plaguing me all damn day.
“I made you dinner,” I said, planting a kiss on her lips and leading her to the kitchen.
She placed the bags she was carrying by her chair and beamed up at me. My heart clenched at the simple gesture.
“Oh Travis,” she breathed, her blue eyes gleaming as she took in the plate I filled and set in front of her. I quickly lit the candles in the center of the table and sat in my spot across from her.
“This is so wonderful! Thank you!”
“You’re welcome, Lexy,” I answered, offering her a glass of wine.
She took it and gave me a shy grin. Damnit. I rubbed my chest to calm myself the strange feelings bubbling up in me.
I cut into my meal, suddenly feeling awkward.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, cocking her head at me, her fork in hand.
I forced a smile. “Nothing. I-I guess I’m nervous. First time with you. Again.”
“Aw, Owens, are you going soft on me?” she teased.
I grinned at her, the tension leaving my body. “Never, Hale.”
She winked at me as she lifted her fork to her mouth. Her eyes widened as she chewed my creation. I followed suit, eager to share the experience.
“Oh damn. If football doesn’t work out, I coul
d be a chef,” I said around a mouthful of delicious eggplant.
Lexy nodded, stuffing another forkful into her mouth. “So good.”
We both tore through our meal, talking about our friends, football, and our project.
“I’m thinking we can each present our side of the marriage,” Lexy said, finishing her meal. “You know, like our experiences, feelings, how we dealt with things and how we could’ve dealt with things better.”
“Like not getting really married in the first place?”
She gave me a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Right.”
Shit. I’d screwed up again.
“Look,” I sighed, placing my fork down. “I’m an asshole, Lexy. We both know that. But we also know what we agreed to on this. No feelings. Right?”
“Right.” Another tight smile.
“You’re not… I don’t know… feeling anything for me, right?” I ventured. I held my breath as she looked down at her plate.
“Does annoyance at you count?” she finally answered, lifting a brow at me.
My breath whooshed out, and I grinned. This time it was my smile that didn’t feel right.
“Doesn’t count,” I said, getting to my feet. I grabbed her plate and carried it to the dishwasher before returning to her. “We’re just frenemies with benefits and a little romance.”
“Yeah.” She stared up at me with those big fucking blue eyes that made my heart clench. I ground my teeth, forcing myself to remain calm beneath her stare. No feelings. It was nerves over what I was going to do next.
“Come here. I have a surprise for you,” I said, taking her hands and bringing her to her feet. I planted a kiss on her lips that made her hands grip my shirt.
“Is it a good surprise?” she asked as I led her to the bedroom.
“I hope so.” I pushed open her bedroom door and watched as her eyes lit up and wavered.
“Travis,” she breathed out, stepping into the room, her hand covering her mouth. “Oh my god! Candles! And rose petals!” She let out a squeal and turned, wrapping her arms around me and burying her face in my shirt.