Poison

by Cora Bell

  “You don’t understand. I can’t. I’m sorry, but—”

  “Stop apologizing,” I growled.

  She yanked in a breath, making me feel like shit. I was supposed to be making this easier for her, not scaring her.

  I held out my hands in a soothing fashion. “Okay, wait. Just…hear me out. I want to make sure you’re okay after what happened. And I need…”

  “What?” she whispered. “What do you need?”

  I reached out to rub my thumb on her cheekbone. When she responded to my touch, her eyelids drooping, I knew she felt the same way.

  “Come home with me,” I said quietly. Her eyes popped back open, making me chuckle. “So you have somewhere safe to stay. No strings.”

  I thought she’d argue. Or apologize again. Instead, she ducked her chin with a smile. “Yes. I’ll go with you.”

  Relief swept through me. “Good.” I grabbed my jacket off the chair at the desk and turned to her. “You need anything?”

  “Just my bag. The things I got from home earlier today.”

  “You went back there?”

  “I…” She shrugged. “I needed to get a few things. Clothes.”

  God, she looked so small and vulnerable. I hated thinking of her going back to a place she was terrified of.

  “You can’t go back there anymore,” I told her.

  She lifted her chin. “I know.”

  I walked with her to get her bag and then guided her to the back door, watching as her shoulders tensed. “It’s okay,” I told her. “It’s safe.”

  She glanced down when I linked my fingers with hers, then nodded. Trusting me completely. We walked outside, and I stayed vigilant just in case.

  But Hale must have met with the police out front because all we saw were cars in the parking lot.

  I tugged her hand, encouraging her to walk to my truck. She kept glancing at the dumpster, so when she got inside the passenger seat, I stepped in front of her to block her view.

  “It’s okay,” I told her softly. “You can trust me.”

  She lifted her eyes to mine. I saw the moment she gave in, when her hesitancy vanished. She lifted a hand to touch my cheek, and God, just her simple touch almost brought me to my knees.

  “I trust you,” she said.

  I leaned in, inches away from her, and felt her breath touch my lips before they met hers. Her tongue darted out to trace my lip, and I groaned. Dammit. I was getting hard in the parking lot.

  All I wanted was to have her home with me. Safe. And then…

  …then I could explore where that might take us.

  Her hand moved up the front of my shirt to rest on my chest. I groaned again and then caught her hand in mine.

  “Let’s go,” I said, voice rough. I couldn’t stand much more of this.

  “Okay.”

  No arguments or apologies, just “okay.”

  I kissed her one more time and then got in the truck to take her home.

  9

  I should have been exhausted by the time we reached Ransom’s house, but instead I was wired. Something had shifted between us. We weren’t boss and employee anymore. We were something more.

  And it scared the fuck out of me. I hadn’t ever been with a man before—my lack of experience with that was embarrassing.

  But I wasn’t going to let it scare me away from Ransom. At least, not tonight. I was going to take whatever he gave because it was such a relief to, for once, feel like I was a normal woman. A normal woman with normal needs and a man who could more than fulfill them right in front of me.

  Ransom’s apartment was on the top floor of a historic building a few short blocks from the bar. I wasn’t sure what I’d expected but not something as charming or as simple as this.

  It felt more like home to me than my real home had since my mother died.

  After walking up the stairs, Ransom kept my hand in his and guided me inside. He couldn’t seem to stop touching me, and I didn’t want him to.

  Ransom set his keys on a hook by the door and walked to the middle of the apartment with my hand still in his.

  “You live close enough to the bar to walk,” I said to him.

  He nodded. “I do sometimes.”

  I scanned the living room, then saw the kitchen. My eyes widened. It was beautiful.

  When I glanced back, Ransom smiled and released my hand. “Go ahead. Look around.”

  I missed the warmth of his hand immediately, but I was intrigued with his place. There were brick walls that might have been cold, but there was enough furniture and other colors to make it warm. The kitchen was like a dream. All stainless-steel appliances and a large island with a warm wood butcher board.

  “This is so great. It’s…” I flashed him a smile and walked to the island.

  He followed me, eyes hungry, and stopped on the other side. “What were you going to say?”

  I glanced away. “Just that I’d love a kitchen like this.”

  I would. The whole place was perfect. Perfect for him—but I could imagine myself there, too. Enjoying the space with him. Enjoying a life with him.

  God, how pathetic was that?

  Ransom stepped in front of me, his boots in my vision first before his entire body was there, consuming me.

  “You’re welcome to use the kitchen,” he said, voice so low it vibrated in my chest.

  I looked up, met his eyes, and was instantly charmed by the dazzling smile he gave me. I rarely ever saw him smile, and it took my breath away.

  “You’re welcome to use any space in the apartment that you want,” he continued. He pointed. “There are two bedrooms that way. I use the spare one as an office sometimes but there’s also a bed.”

  I swore his voice dropped slightly when he said “bed.” It definitely went huskier. I was practically soaking wet at something so simple. Fuck. I was in Ransom’s house talking about his bed, and for a moment, I believed he’d take me right there if I asked.

  “I—I don’t want to impose,” I blurted because it was the first thing that came to mind.

  His eyes darkened, enough to make me take a step back. “You know I wouldn’t have brought you here if I didn’t want you here.”

  If possible, that made me even wetter. He wanted me here, and I wanted to be here.

  I met his eyes. “I could use a shower.”

  His eyes automatically dropped, making a quick circuit over my body and turning me on even more. Then he grabbed my hand again and dragged me to the bathroom, eager enough I was halfway convinced he was going to try to shower with me.

  The bathroom was just as contemporary and comfortable as the rest of the apartment. The shower was huge and exactly what I needed.

  “Here are towels,” Ransom said, pointing. “And shampoo. Soap. If you need anything else, let me know and I’ll figure it out.”

  I believed him without a doubt. He’d already fixed tonight for me in the blink of an eye. I believed he do anything he could to make sure I was comfortable.

  “I’m good. Thanks.”

  When he left the room, I was almost disappointed. Especially when I undressed and realized that Ransom was only a room away and I desperately wanted him in here with me, touching my body. Doing whatever magic he could with his hands.

  The idea of magic was lost, however, when I stepped under the water and remembered my bandaged hand. It wasn’t easy to wash my hair or my body without getting it wet.

  Water seeped under the bandage and stung. I hurried to finish even though the water felt amazing.

  But when I stepped out after wrapping a towel around my body, I reached up and still felt shampoo in my hair.

  Dammit. My choked laugh turned into a sob. It hit me all at once, what had happened tonight. And what was going to happen from here on out. I had no idea. After tonight, where was I supposed to go?

  I leaned against the counter, closing my eyes briefly and taking a few breaths. I’d dealt with worse before and I’d survived. I could do this.

&nbs
p; I jumped when a knock sounded on the door. “Sky?”

  “I’m here,” I said, then cleared my throat when it came out barely more than a whisper. I faced the mirror and lowered my head, determined to get my emotions under control.

  Before I could try again, the door eased open slightly. “Hey. I didn’t hear anything. Are you okay?”

  I bit my lip to stop it from wobbling. “I just… I had a little trouble with my hand.”

  “Oh, sweetheart,” he murmured.

  The endearment slammed into me with a sweetness so poignant my knees nearly buckled. Since my mom died, I’d been dealing with everything on my own. It was so nice to have someone who cared and wanted to be here for me.

  Ransom didn’t say anything else, but I heard his footsteps, and my body came alive when he stepped up behind me. His arms wrapped around me, holding me close. His cheek rested on my wet hair; arms folded tightly around me with one palm pressed flat against my belly to hold me to him.

  It was wildly erotic knowing he was fully dressed, and I was practically naked. Even more erotic feeling his cock harden behind me, pressing into my back and telling me exactly how he felt.

  “I’ll be okay,” I whispered.

  Ransom’s lips moved against my hair. “I wish you’d stop saying that. It’s okay to fall apart sometimes. I’m not judging you. I want to help you.”

  God, I wished I could believe those words. I wished I could believe that he’d be there for me no matter what. But my life was so fucked up and I was the only one I could count on.

  But maybe…maybe it was time I started letting other people in.

  “You said you trust me,” Ransom murmured.

  I turned to face him. “I did.”

  “Then do it. Even if it’s just for tonight. Forget it all and just let me be here for you.”

  He could see the moment I gave in, because his arms came around me again and his lips were on mine.

  10

  Fuck. I couldn’t stop myself. One minute I was chiding myself for taking advantage of an employee and the next she was in my arms. The thing was, I didn’t care. I’d crossed the boundary I’d been trying so hard not to and it was okay. In fact, it felt good. I needed to be here for Sky so I was going to be. It was that easy.

  I cupped Sky’s cheeks in my hands, a touch as gentle as the kiss I pressed to her lips, then her jaw. She exhaled and her eyes dropped shut. Fuck yeah. I knew I could make her forget her shitty day. And it meant everything to me that she trusted me to do so.

  Running my tongue along her lower lip, I tasted her slowly. Got my fill as she stood with her hands clenched on the counter even as her body strained against mine. I wasn’t going to rush her or push her—even if I did want her hands all over me.

  But when I leaned in, her breasts pressed against mine through the soft towel and I almost snapped.

  Touch me, I almost said. Touch me and let me lose myself in you.

  She must have had telepathy because she did just what I hoped for. She ran her hands up my chest, fingers featherlight and exploratory. My cock went rock hard, throbbing and straining against the zipper of my jeans. I wanted them off. Everything off. Including her towel.

  Sky used her good hand to slide under my shirt. Her fingers ran over the ridges of my abs and then to my chest, where they skimmed my nipples. My cock twitched, precum leaking into my underwear.

  As I massaged her tongue with mine, I reached to the lip of the towel, snug above her breasts. Her hand caught mine.

  I leaned back, my eyes searching hers. “It’s okay. We don’t have to—”

  “No, it’s not that—” She dropped her gaze. “I want this. And you. I’m just… I haven’t done this before. I don’t really have any experience.”

  Why the fuck did that make me even hotter for her? Either way, it was relief that ran through me. She wanted me, she said so herself. And I couldn’t care less about lack of experience.

  Besides, Sky was several years younger than me. I could show her everything.

  “It’s okay,” I whispered, kissing her again. “You’re perfect. But we can take it slow. Tell me what you want.”

  She blinked and then her eyes locked on mine in wonder. Her lips parted. I could see she knew it. She knew exactly what she wanted.

  “Your shirt,” she said on a whisper of breath. “I want it off.”

  I nodded right away and reached for the buttons. But she shook her hand.

  “I want to do it.”

  Goddammit, that was hot. Sky knew just what she wanted. Even though part of me was dying to grab her and take her against the counter and then back in my bedroom, I controlled myself. Reminded myself how much fun it was going to be to explore this with her.

  She undid each button almost painstakingly slow. Almost like she wanted to make it take as long as possible. When she was done, she ran both hands up my chest, fingers sifting through the short hairs.

  Her tongue flicked out to lick her lips, and I snapped.

  I yanked her against me and devoured her mouth with mine. My tongue shoved in deep, massaging hers and making her moan in pleasure. My mind went wild with images of her underneath me as I buried myself deep, or her riding me, her hair wild around her shoulders as we both peaked at the same time.

  This time when I reached for her towel, she let me remove it. In fact, she wouldn’t stop kissing me, almost feverish with her need to be as close to me as possible.

  Her towel dropped to the floor and my hands were on her in an instant, running up to her breasts to fill my hands.

  “Ransom,” she murmured between kisses. “That feels so good.”

  I thumbed her nipples, making them hard as diamonds, and drawing out a moan from her.

  Dammit—I shouldn’t have waited so long to do this. Now that Sky was here, in my hands, it felt more right than anything had in a long time.

  My dick throbbed out of control, more precum leaking from the head. She had to be as wet as I was, soaking for me. But if she was as inexperienced as she said she was, I couldn’t rush this. I had to make sure she was taken care of.

  I slid one hand down her stomach and to the apex of her thighs. Her breath yanked in and she kissed me deeper.

  I cupped her sex, then moved one finger inside. “Fuck, Sky. You’re so wet.”

  “God, that feels good.”

  I could see it in her eyes, the blur to them that told me she was living for the pleasure at this moment. So I’d give it to her. Right here against the counter. I’d made her come so I could see how good it made her feel. So I could see her body shake when the orgasm went through her. And so I could catch her when she fell apart.

  I pushed my finger in further and fuck, she was tight. A virgin. This was the first time she’d probably ever had a man’s hands on her. And I was going to make sure I was the only one who did from now on.

  When I flicked my thumb against her clit, her knees nearly buckled.

  “Hold onto me,” I murmured, wrapping my free arm around her.

  She gripped my shoulders tightly and bowed her head to my shoulder. Fuck, this was turning me on so much. She was barely touching me but knowing I was going to make her fall apart in my hands was the ultimate turn on. Especially because I knew no one had ever touched her like this before.

  When I pushed another finger inside of her, stretching her wider, she whispered, “Yes.”

  “More?” I asked.

  Her body shuddered against mine. “Please. Keep going.”

  A smile curved my lips. I looked down, taking in her tight body, the luscious curve of her breasts pressed against my chest, and her sweet pussy in my hand, wet and ready.

  My fingers moved faster. In and out, mirroring exactly what I wanted to do to her with my cock. I pressed the pad of my thumb against her clit. Her body jerked, and to my surprise, she moved her hips against my hand.

  God, she wanted to be fucked so bad.

  I pumped my hand faster, her fluids making it smooth and quick. And with the
next press against her clit, her body tightened. Her fingers squeezed like a vice on my shoulders and her pussy clenched around my fingers, convulsing as the orgasm raged through her body.

  “Oh, God,” she choked out, eyes slamming shut.

  I watched her face as waves of pleasure streamed through her. Her lips parted in a silent “O” and her breath came quickly.

  She clung to me for another moment until she was finally spent, and then her head dropped against my shoulder. “Fuck,” she whispered as I wrapped my arms around her again. “That was…”

  I smiled, my cheek touching her hair. “That was what?”

  “So good,” she said. She looked up at me almost shyly. “I didn’t know it could be like that.”

  “That’s just the beginning,” I told her. Then my eyes narrowed on her hand, still clenching my shirt. “Shit.”

  She followed my gaze to the blood that was seeping through the bandage and winced.

  “It’s fine,” I assured her, stepping back and taking her hand. “We’ll get it cleaned up and you’ll be good to go. Okay?”

  She nodded.

  “You trust me, right?”

  Her smile was a ray of sunshine. “I do.”

  11

  I slept on the couch last night. Even though Ransom had offered the spare room, once we’d sat on the couch to rebandage my hand, I’d been overcome with exhaustion. When he’d stood and said he needed to check in at work, I’d curled up on a pillow that smelled like him and fallen asleep where I was.

  I’d felt safe. That was why I’d been able to fall asleep so quickly and completely.

  My eyes opened slowly, still tired but feeling relaxed. Like I could see the world from a better place. I heard soft humming and spotted Ransom in the kitchen. He wore one of his usual flannels that looked so soft I wanted to rub my cheek against it and a pair of jeans slung low on his hips. He was barefoot and his hair was wet like he’d recently gotten out of the shower.

  My pussy clenched. Fuck. He was so hot without even realizing it, and it was all I could think about. Last night, I’d fallen asleep to the memory of his fingers shoving inside of me in the most intimate way. If that felt so good, I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to have his naked body covering mine, his cock wedging tight inside of me. Would it feel as good for him as it did for me?