by Lila Fox
He grinned. The women in the past he’d dated would have thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes in a packed closet and still think they needed more.
He continued to wash away the blood, concentrating really hard on keeping his gaze on her knees and not the junction of her thighs and pink panties.
He wiped a drop of sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
“If you’re hot, turn off the fireplace.”
He bit his tongue to keep from blurting out. It wasn’t the fire making him hot, it was her pussy a foot from his face.
“I’m fine. Okay, they are clean,” he said and then turned around for some antibiotic cream and bandages.
She looked over his shoulder at the box. “Do you have any pretty ones?”
He chuckled. “No, baby. I’m sorry. I’ll make sure I get some.”
He got a fresh bowl of water and washed her hands off. He looked over the small hand he had cradled in his palm. “I think these are fine.”
“But, I think I should have a Band-Aid on this.” She pointed out a dark-red scratch on her hand that still bled a little. “Don’t you?”
He bit his tongue to keep from laughing at how serious she was. “I think you’re right.” He put a Band-Aid on her hand. “Any other places I missed?”
She shook her head and smiled. “You’d make an excellent doctor.”
He couldn’t prevent the laugh that burst from his throat. He hated blood and had previously passed out when he’d seen something gruesome, but he wasn’t going to tell her that.
“I’ll be right back.” He came back with one of his shirts and a pair of socks. “This will have to do until we get some clothes for you.”
“You could just take me home. I’m planning on wearing my pants home.”
“It will hurt your knees. You’ll wear this shirt. Now, I need to feed you.”
“Okay. I am hungry, and then I’ll go home.”
He didn’t say anything. He made her lie down on a pillow and then covered her up with a blanket he’d brought from the bedroom.
She giggled. “You’re acting like I’m sick.”
He crouched by her head and smoothed the hair from her face. “I just want you to rest. Can you do that for me?”
She nodded slowly.
He could feel her gaze follow him as he went into the kitchen.
“Dammit,” he hissed under his breath. He’d gone through all his cupboards and refrigerator, and there was nothing. Screw it. I’ll just order in.
He walked back in with a sheepish look on his face. “I don’t have any food.”
Her eyes widened. “None? Why?”
He sat down at her hip. “Because I don’t eat here, and I never cook.”
“Then what were you going to make me?” she asked with a smile.
“I was going to make you scrambled eggs. I didn’t think I could screw that up to bad, but I decided on take-out.”
She laughed.
“I’m having something delivered. I hope you like Chinese?”
“I love it.”
“Good.”
He maneuvered her into sitting, sat where her head had been lying, and then pulled her onto his lap.
“What are you doing?”
He briefly closed his eyes. “Holding you.”
“Why?” she asked as she looked up at him.
“Because I want to,” he said simply.
She snorted.
“While we wait for the food, I want to talk about a few things.”
She got more comfortable against his chest. “Okay.”
“Would you mind it if I pick you up after work every day?”
Her eyes widened. “What? We haven’t even had a date.”
“We could count the other night. We sat and talked and had chocolate milk in your apartment.”
He smiled when she laughed.
“But it doesn’t matter. I want us to get to know one another, and I have a strong urge to take care of you.”
She rolled her eyes. “We hardly know each other. I think it’s asking a lot to have you pick me up every day.”
“Why?”
The smile fell away from her face at the seriousness of his tone. “I … you really want to take care of me?”
He rubbed his thumb over her cheek. “Yes, baby. I want that very much.”
“But you don’t know me.”
“I know enough. With a little time, I’ll know everything about you.”
A frown puckered her brow. “What if you don’t like me when you get to know me?”
He lifted her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I’m pretty sure I’m going to want you no matter what.”
“But…”
“No buts. I know a good thing when I see one, and I’m not letting you go.”
“What about me?”
“What about you?” he asked.
She tilted her head to the side. “Do I get a choice?”
“Of course, you do.” He said the words even when a sick feeling twisted his gut at the thought of her not wanting him. “How do you feel about me?”
She stared at him for a moment. “You make me feel safe and cared for. I like spending time with you. I like you even though I get stomachaches…”
“I give you stomachaches?” he asked, affronted.
“Yes, but just listening to your voice does it, too.”
His mood brightened when he understood what she was talking about.
She looked at his smile and frowned. “It’s not nice to find this funny.”
He tightened his arms around her. “Oh, baby girl. What you’re feeling is desire, and I feel the same way.”
She was quiet for a moment. “Really? It’s the same as arousal, like Lana talked to me about? Does your stomach hurt, too?”
“No, my stomach doesn’t hurt, but I’ve felt this way before. Yes, desire and arousal are the same things. Do you want me to show you?”
“What will you do?”
“I’m going to touch you.”
Her eyes widened. “Where?”
“Everywhere,” he stated. “I won’t hurt you, ever. Do you trust me?”
“I … yes.”
“Okay, good. Now lie back and relax.”
“I’m trying.”
He smiled. “Good girl.”
Chapter Five
Kaleb tilted her head back with a finger under her chin. “First, I need to kiss you.”
Her eyelids fluttered closed. “I’d like that.”
He lowered his head and gently took her lips, licking and nipping at them until she gasped for breath, letting his tongue in. His tongue tasted and dueled with hers until they were breathless.
He slid his hand until it sat on her stomach as he continued to kiss her and slowly slid it up until he lightly cradled her breast.
Aleena’s head snapped up. She waited to see what he would do. Anxious but at the same time wanting to beg him for something she didn’t understand.
Kaleb cupped her breast and used his thumb to swipe over her hard, little nipple. He smiled when her body jerked in reaction.
“Do you like that?”
Her eyes slid closed, and she nodded. Her whole focus was on how good his hand felt. His large hand moved, and she waited in helpless fascination as she felt it slide down her torso under her shirt to lay on her upper thigh.
“How are we doing?”
She swallowed. Her need for him grew rapidly. “I … ah. More, please,” she begged.
He groaned and chuckled at the same time. He slid his hand under the shirt to cup her pussy.
He stayed still for a long moment. “Still good?”
She nodded and moved her legs apart.
He slipped one finger in between her cunt lips and pressed down on her clit over her panties.
She grabbed on to his shirt and arched off his lap as a startled and muffled scream slid from her throat.
“Oh, now I know you like that,” he said huskily. He did it a few more times. Her p
anties were sopping wet, and she was already making mewling sounds, getting close to coming.
“Here, baby, let’s try this.” He pulled her panties to the side and slowly slid a finger into her pussy. “Do you like my finger stretching your cunt?”
She gasped at the crude words even as it made her stomach tighter.
“Do you?” he asked gruffly.
She nodded.
“Good. Let’s try two.”
A scream tore from her as his fingers threw her into an orgasm. Kaleb seemed captivated by the look on her face as she came, and he watched her ride the wave of ecstasy and then gently brought her down. He murmured encouraging words to help settle her.
Her breathing seesawed in and out of her lungs as she stared up at him in wonder. She blushed when he pulled his fingers from her and stuck them in his mouth.
“Mmm, you’re fucking delicious.”
She stared at him in shock.
He placed his hand flat on her lower stomach. “So, tell me. How does your tummy feel now?” he asked.
She thought about it a bit. “You were right. I do feel better. Tired, but better.”
He placed a quick kiss on her lips as the security called up to tell him his food was there. He laid her on the sofa and covered her up.
“I’ll be right back.”
She nodded and closed her eyes.
She must have dozed because when she opened her eyes, Kaleb was setting out all the cartons on the sofa table and had even grabbed some plates, forks, and glasses of water.
****
“Hey,” he said when he glanced at her. “Come here and eat.” He helped her sit up. “How are the knees?”
She kept her head down and nodded.
He tilted her head up and noticed her blush of embarrassment.
“Don’t you dare be embarrassed. What just happened was beautiful, and it meant the world to me that you trusted me enough to let yourself go.”
“It’s just … what about you?”
He grinned. “All in good time, little one. I want you to be sure you’re ready. Besides, a hard-on won’t kill me. I promise.”
She bit her lip.
His thumb caressed her cheek. “I promise you. You’ll get to the point that nothing between us will embarrass you.”
She snorted. “Oh, I don’t know about that.”
“I do. Now let’s eat.”
He watched her take dainty little bites and smiled. Everything about her was so feminine. He loved it.
“How about we watch a movie tonight?” he suggested.
“I’d like that.”
She stood the same time he did, and as he grabbed both plates, he said, “Sit down, and I’ll be right there.”
“I can help.”
He shook his head. “Some other night.” He was gone long enough to rinse the plates off and put them in the dishwasher.
He sat in the corner of the sofa and grabbed the remote. “What do you want to watch, baby?”
“Something funny or romantic.”
Kaleb grinned. He should have guessed that. He couldn’t find any John Wayne movies, so he found one of the older funny videos he’d heard about, and he thought she’d like it.
“How about this?”
She nodded and smiled at him from her seat in the middle of the sofa.
He dimmed the lights with another remote and settled in. He kept glancing at her as she watched the show, but her eyelids moved slower.
“How about you come over here, baby? You’re starting to nod off.”
Aleena scooted over to him and plastered herself to his side, making him grin.
“There. Now relax.”
“Shouldn’t I be going home soon?”
He shook his head. “I don’t want you to worry about it. Let me take care of you. All right?”
She nodded and turned her attention back to the movie.
He noticed she’d fallen asleep soon after. He turned off the TV, picked her up, and took her into his bedroom where he laid her on the mattress. He tucked the blankets around her and then walked into the bathroom. He carefully shut the door and turned on the shower.
He hissed when the first drops of cold water hit. It was unpleasant, but he couldn’t go to bed and hold her and poke her with his hard-on all night. He stayed in as long as he could and then washed quickly.
He brushed his teeth and pulled on a pair of boxers before he walked into the bedroom. He turned off the lights, climbed in on the other side, curled his body around hers, and sighed. He thought about taking her clothes off her, but he knew she’d already be freaked being in bed with him, and he didn’t want her running because he was going too fast.
It was fucking perfect. Everything about her was exactly what he’d been looking for. He stuck his nose close to her head and drew in her scent, cursing under his breath when his cock started to harden again. He took a few breaths and relaxed.
He had always been an analytical man, so he knew Gregory might pose a problem. He thought about his best course of action and decided he’d go to his office on Monday and tell him when he dropped her off at work. Face-to-face, he’d also tell him that he was the best man to take care of her, and if Gregory trusted him at all, he’d agree. If not, he might just lose his friendship, but he was willing to take the chance because he wasn’t giving Aleena up. Ever.
Chapter Six
Aleena came awake slowly. The softness of the bed and the warmth that surrounded were the best things she’d ever felt.
“Good morning, baby girl.”
Her eyes popped open. She realized she was in bed with Kaleb, with him wrapped around her, and one of his hands cupped her breast. She stiffened.
“Easy. Everything’s okay. We just slept last night.”
She exhaled and tried to relax. She’d never slept with anyone before, and although it was shocking, she found she loved sleeping with Kaleb. He made her feel safe and loved, and it allowed her to get the best sleep she’d ever had.
She tipped her head around to see him. “Good morning.”
“I’m sorry I scared you. You were out last night.”
“I’m sorry.”
Kaleb swept the hair from her face. “Don’t be sorry. I enjoyed every minute of it.” He kissed her temple. “Are you hungry?”
She nodded. “And I have to use the restroom.”
He pointed toward a door that she assumed was the bathroom.
“Is it okay if I take a shower?” she asked timidly.
He smiled. “Sure. I’ll bring your pants in. You can wear them and my shirt until we get to your place to change. We also need to check your injuries from last night.”
“Oh, okay. That would be good. Thank you,” she murmured and then closed the door.
After using the toilet and brushing her teeth with her finger, she started the shower and then undressed quickly.
She worked the shampoo into her hair.
The bathroom was as luxurious as the rest of his condo. The place held a lot of modern things, but antiques, wood, and oriental carpets softened it.
She squeaked and froze when she heard the bathroom door open. She was standing under the shower spray, buck naked. She knew he couldn’t see her clearly because the glass was frosted, but she did notice he only had on a pair of shorts or underwear. Had she slept next to him all night while he was half-naked?
“Here are your pants, baby. And I got you a clean shirt. Remember, don’t put them on until I check your knees.”
“Oh, um. Okay. Thank you.”
“I’ll go make coffee,” he said.
Five minutes later, he knocked on the bathroom door as she was buttoning up the shirt he gave her.
“Come in,” she called.
He walked in with two cups of coffee. “I didn’t know how you liked your coffee, so I put cream and sugar in it.”
“It’s the only way I can drink it,” she admitted as she rolled the sleeves of his shirt up.
Kaleb set hers down, leaned agains
t the counter, and sipped at his cup. “Ready for me to check over your knees? I see the bandages slipped off.”
Aleena looked down. “Yeah, but they look okay. I don’t think I need any more bandages.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah.” She pulled on her pants.
She felt his gaze roam over her. She had her long hair twisted up in a towel. She already had her pants on and was tying the ends of his shirt at her waist, trying to keep it up so it wouldn’t fall to her knees.
His gaze took in her tiny bare feet, and little pink toenails to the top of her head. “You are so beautiful.”
Aleena froze as she pulled the towel from her head. She stared at him for a moment. “I … thank you.”
“Hasn’t anyone ever told you that?” he asked.
She held the towel to her ribs and nodded. “I guess, maybe. It’s just that…”
“Just what, baby?” he asked and tipped his head to the side.
“Coming from you, it sounds different.”
“Good different, or bad?”
“Good. Definitely good.”
He set his cup down and stood in front of her. He cupped her face in his hands, bent, and kissed her a few times. “I’m very glad.”
She held on to his wrist with one hand as she tried to keep her gaze on his face and not the massive chest with a sprinkling of dark hair right in front of her nose.
Kaleb smiled. “Do you want to touch me?”
She bit down on her lip and nodded.
He took the towel from her and set it on the counter. He lifted her hands and flattened them over his chest. “You can touch me whenever you want.”
Her gaze scanned his broad shoulders, the strong tendons in his neck, to his defined pecs.
“You’re beautiful,” she murmured in awe.
Kaleb chuckled. “I’ve never been called that, but coming from you, it makes me feel very good.”
Her hands spread over his chest and slid down to the valleys and hills of his stomach. She’d heard about six-packs on men but had never seen one up close or been able to touch them.
She glanced up at him. “How do you stay in shape?”
“I put in an hour at the gym in the basement of our office building in the mornings before going into the office.”
“I should work out. I walk a little, but it’s not enough.”