by Layla Hagen
“Quick and dirty?” I wiggled my eyebrows.
“Never quick, always dirty.”
“I like the sound of that.”
We tumbled on the comfy couch right next to each other.
“I’m waiting for the dirty part,” I whispered.
“It’s gonna have to wait until after dinner.”
“Then why is your hand on my ass?” I pouted, batting my eyelashes.
“It’s mine,” he said seriously.
Grinning, I kissed the tip of his nose.
“I’m not questioning that... but you are sending me mixed messages.”
He slid it back up to my waist, taunting me with a smile.
“Happy?”
“Not at all.” I moved his hand back to my ass cheek the next second. “I’ll take the fondling, mixed messages and all.”
He kissed me lazily, taunting me, but I wanted more of his touch. I wanted to be connected to him in every way possible. I already felt so emotionally entwined with him that my whole body hummed with pure joy and happiness. I wanted that physical connection too, right away.
***
Cole
Laney was feisty tonight. She rose to her feet, flashing me a saucy smile before stripping off all her clothes. Fuck me.
She walked toward the bedroom. I eagerly followed her. I had a prime view of her gorgeous, round ass. Her body was exquisite. I loved the tiny waist, her curvy thighs, but that ass was my kryptonite. I loved how confident she was in her nakedness, and I had to make an inhuman effort not to just press her against a wall. I breathed in and out slowly through my nose, willing to calm my racing pulse. Inside the bedroom, I immediately pulled her against me, pressing that gorgeous ass of hers against my crotch.
“Fuuck.”
She turned around, licking her lips. “I need to get you naked.”
“I’m not stopping you.” I held my hands up, letting her take the lead. She quickly undid the buttons, pushing off my shirt, kissing my shoulders and then down my right arm. Once my shirt was on the floor, she looked between us, cupping my erection over my pants.
“Jesus, Laney!” I groaned, clasping her wrist. She smiled saucily, but I needed her touch too much to play around. I needed the real deal. I unclasped my belt with my free hand, lowered my zipper, and then brought her hand inside my boxers. She wrapped her fingers tightly around my erection.
Fuck, fuck, fuck. I cupped her face, watching her lips, before looking her straight in the eyes.
“You’re so important to me,” I said.
Her expression lit up, but that was the last thing that registered, because she tightened her grip on my erection, and instinct overpowered rational thought.
I kicked away my pants and boxers before gripping her hips, aligning them with mine. My cock was between us, and I pressed the length of it across her slit but didn’t enter her. I just wanted that flesh-on-flesh contact.
My balls tightened. A groan tore from me. I rocked back and forth, keeping her in place by her hips, right until she moaned.
Stepping back, she turned around, climbing on the bed on all fours, looking over her shoulder at me. Damn, she was gorgeous like this, demanding what she wanted. I was more than happy to give her just that—but on my terms.
I climbed right behind her, leaning over to kiss the side of her body, from her breast down her ribcage, then further down to her hip. I drew my fingers from her knee up to her ass. Her skin turned to goose bumps, even more so when I brought one hand between her legs. She moaned when I slipped two fingers inside her. I curled them against her sensitive flesh, and she rewarded me with a long, deep cry before she buried her head in a pillow. My erection pressed against her outer thigh, and I could barely hold back.
“Cole, please.”
“Please, what?”
“Touch me. Fuck me. Please.”
Her voice was shaking, and so were her legs, but I wasn’t done.
“I want you to come like this, Laney. After, I promise I’ll fuck you so good, until you come around my cock too.”
My words spurred her on. I slid my fingers out of her, pressing against her clit, and she exploded. Fucking hell, she was gorgeous, pulling at the sheets as one leg shot backward.
She cried against the pillow, and her whole body was shaking as I pushed her on her back. I slid on a condom before placing one leg on my shoulder. I entered her while she still hadn’t finished coming, but I wanted to feel that tightness around my erection. She felt exquisite.
“Fuck. Fuuuuck.” I rocked my hips back and forth, watching her face twist with pleasure, her breath becoming more frantic.
She was so damn tight that I couldn’t breathe, couldn’t do anything but watch her beautiful face, and her body respond to me. I looked down between us, and somehow watching myself slide in and out only intensified the pleasure. She lowered the leg I’d put on my shoulder on the bed, pushing herself against me.
I leaned down on my elbows, kissing up her chest and her neck. I wrapped my fingers in her hair, keeping her head tilted to one side, and my mouth on her neck, tasting her skin.
“Fuck, fuck.” I swelled inside her and came so hard that my vision faded.
And when Laney tightened around me, climaxing again, pleasure gripped me completely. I lost control of my limbs. My body jerked forward. All my muscles were burning, but I didn’t relent, didn’t slow down until we both rode out our climax.
Shifting to one side, I kept her pressed against me until she murmured, “I am not sure I need dinner anymore. Just this.”
“I like the sound of that, babe.”
She looked at me, smiling. “If you want to spoil me with your famous whole-body massage, I’m all up for it.”
“My pleasure. Just need to draw my breath.”
My cock twitched when I got rid of the condom. Laney was watching me intently, holding a pillow under her head. I lay on my back next to her, and she immediately moved her fingers down my abs.
“I liked being there with Skye today,” she said.
“Glad to hear that, babe. How was your time with Isabelle?”
“She likes the space but needs to crunch numbers first and see if she can afford it. Says she’ll ask for more tours. It’s harder than she expected.” Worry laced her voice.
“Isabelle’s tough. She’ll find something that works for her.”
“I know. Wish she’d let me lend her money so she wouldn’t have to account for every cent, but—”
“I think all we can do is support the people we care about in every way they let us.”
“You’re right.”
“I like this,” I said.
“What?”
“Having you in my bed, sharing how our day went, bouncing ideas off each other.”
She grinned, tapping her fingers over my sternum. “I like it too. I like you. You’re making it awfully difficult for me to climb out of bed.”
“I have a dangerous proposition. Don’t.”
She opened her mouth, closed it again. “So your idea of feeding me dinner is... starving me?”
“Sweetheart, my idea of dinner is eating you out. But we can get back to that after I feed you. I was going to suggest I bring you a tray to bed.”
She grinned. “Ohhh, I love the sound of that. But first things first. I want my whole-body massage. If you’re ready.”
“I am. Lie on your stomach.”
“Yes, sir.”
I grew semihard when she rolled on her stomach, putting that gorgeous ass right in front of me. Dinner could wait for a long time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Laney
Upon researching the Winchester galas, I had a mini panic attack. The events were at a much grander scale than I’d imagined, not only in terms of the sheer number of attendees, but the dress code required. Isabelle and Tess had offered to go shopping with me, but honestly, carving out time for that was proving more difficult by the day.
After looking online at a few dresses, I realized th
at I couldn’t drop so much money on anything without trying it on first. That meant that I actually had to carve out time for a shopping trip. Ordering something online and then sending it back if it didn’t fit was even more of a hassle, though, so I was going shopping with Isabelle and Tess. After some back and forth messaging, we decided tonight was the night. Not that we had too much time left since the gala was in two days, but I wasn’t a big shopper, and I’d sort of forgotten I needed a dress.
On the way there, I was surprised to get a phone call from Ian and Dylan.
“Hey, boys,” I greeted.
“Ace,” Ian said.
“Hey, Laney,” Dylan added.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of having both of you call me?”
“We just wanted to check on you,” Ian said. “And ask you how Isabelle’s doing.”
“She sounds a bit down on the phone,” Dylan added.
My heart just about melted at this. “She’s hustling, but it’s harder than she imagined, I think. Just putting it out there, but if you two were to visit, I think she’d be very happy.”
“We plan to do that anyway. We’re coming to the gala,” Dylan said. The guys were running their own company in Washington and were flexible with their time.
“Perfect. I think she misses her friends. I meet with her as often as I can, and Tess and Josie are too, but the more familiar faces the better. I’m actually meeting them now. They’re helping me buy a dress.”
“Okay, we’ll leave you to it, then,” Ian said.
“Have fun. And Laney? Take care of her, okay?”
“I will. Promise. Got to go.”
“Bye.”
I met Isabelle and Tess directly in front of the store in Soho. Tess was already there when I arrived, and Isabelle arrived two minutes after I did.
“Tess, I love your shoes,” Isabelle said, her gaze glued to Tess’s high heels. They were absolutely gorgeous: bright red peep-toes with a five-inch heel.
“Thanks,” Tess said, smiling, taking my arm. “Let’s get you dressed, girl.”
“Oh, yeah. I’m ready.”
I wasn’t a big shopper, since I wore scrubs at work and practically lived in jeans and simple tank tops when I was outside the hospital. My last shopping spree had been before Rome, where I’d gone to H&M and Zara, but this was something else entirely.
The shop had dark hardwood floors, and the scent of jasmine was thick around us from the air fresheners set on the round, marble table.
The salesclerk, Danielle, approached us with a big smile.
“What can I do for you?” she asked.
“I need a dress for a gala,” I explained.
Danielle looked at Tess knowingly. “Would that be one of your galas?”
“That’s right,” Tess answered.
Danielle looked me up and down. “Size six, I would say. Maybe four with some European designers. Can I bring you a wide selection, just for fun? A mix of styles and colors? Or do you want something specific?”
“A wide selection sounds good.”
When I’d looked at dresses online, I was fixated on A-shaped gowns, but I had a feeling that I was missing out.
Danielle led us to the back, where there was a very luxurious seating area in front of the changing rooms. There was a velvet couch with two marble tables identical to the one in front of the entrance.
“Skye and I usually come here for dresses,” Tess commented. “We love Danielle. She has a knack for picking out things that make one look like a supermodel. It’s a great boost to one’s ego.”
Ten minutes later, Danielle brought dresses in wildly different styles. One reminded me of a ’20s flapper dress, another of a princess dress, and yet another was Roman style. I couldn’t identify all styles, but I was absolutely psyched to try them all on.
“Do you girls want some champagne?” Danielle asked after I stepped into the changing room.
“Holy shit, the service includes champagne?” Isabelle exclaimed. “I’ll shop here too.”
“As usual, that’s a hell yes from me,” Tess said.
I parted the curtain, sticking my head out. “Can I have champagne too? Pretty please with a cherry on top? I promise not to spill it on the dresses.”
Danielle winked. “Of course. I’ll be back with three glasses and a bottle right away.”
I grinned as I slid the curtain back. A bottle for the three of us? That was going to escalate quickly. Many people didn’t understand why you got tipsy much faster from champagne versus wine, but the bubbles did the trick.
I put on the Roman-style dress first, and I couldn’t believe my eyes, even though I hadn’t even finished zipping up yet.
It made my waist look tiny, and my cleavage huge, but somehow still classy. It was also perfect for an event happening mid-May; not too summery.
I stepped out of the changing room, twirling. Tess clapped, taking pics and sending them to Skye.
“This one gets my vote,” Isabelle said.
“No, no, no. Wait until she tries all of them on. I’m telling you, Danielle has a special talent.”
By the time I changed into the second dress, a dark green with a thread of silver at the hem, Danielle had returned with the champagne and poured it generously in three glasses. We clinked them, grinning as we took our first sip.
“Feel free to sit down and keep them on for a few minutes,” Danielle said. I appreciated that she wasn’t hurrying me. When she asked what type of shoes I preferred, I blushed.
“I’m not very good with heels, so something elegant but as flat as possible.”
“Don’t worry, I have just what you need.”
She returned with gorgeous black velvet shoes with rounded front and thin, two-inch heels.
I went back inside the changing room. No matter which dress I tried on, it just fit me as if it was custom made. I looked as if I was some sort of actress at an Oscar event. At least, that was how I felt.
“Okay, I have a serious problem,” Isabelle said. “I love all of them.”
“That’s my problem too.” I pouted, swinging from one foot to the other. I was trying on the Roman dress for the second time.
“Tess, help.”
“Well, I vote for this one. You tried it on a second time, which means you have your heart set on it. Unless you want to buy more than one?”
“No, no, no. Don’t tempt me. I don’t even have space in my closet for more than one.”
Tess stared at me. “Girl, burn that closet and buy a new one.”
I giggled. “I just have to move out. My apartment is far too tiny.”
Winking at me, Tess refilled her glass and Isabelle’s. I debated holding back, but why deny myself this pleasure?
I’d already decided on the dress, I had tomorrow free, and I was out in the city with these two kick-ass women. Time to have some fun. Who cared if I was tipsy? I held out my glass for Tess to refill and then I sipped half of it at once.
“I need to cut off a few inches,” Danielle commented. “I can do it tonight if you want. Just give me twenty minutes. Looks like you girls still have half a bottle to drink.”
“Oh, yeah,” Tess exclaimed.
“Twenty minutes sounds great,” I said.
I put my glass down on a coffee table, heading back inside the changing room to take off my beautiful dress and hand it to Danielle.
I’d already changed into my jeans and tank top when I heard Isabelle whisper, “Laney’s sooo happy.”
I peeked out of the changing room again.
“Are you girls talking about me?” I asked.
“No,” Tess answered suspiciously fast.
Isabelle was avoiding my eye. Aha. They thought they could fool me this easily? I wasn’t even tipsy yet. My instincts were still sharp. Others were fast asleep, judging by the fact that I stepped onto the curtain, nearly ripping it, on my way out of the changing room.
“I definitely heard my name,” I said. Isabelle sighed, shrugging.
�
��Fine, we were talking about you. Nothing bad, I promise.”
“I didn’t think it was bad. I just want in on it.”
Tess laughed. “You, miss, are very brave. Usually when someone in the family realizes we’re talking about them, they run in the opposite direction.”
I sat next to them on the velvet couch, sipping from my glass.
“So? Which one of you will fess up?” I asked.
“Shall we be one hundred percent truthful?” Isabelle whispered to Tess, who nodded excitedly.
“Well, I was just telling Tess that you look very happy. And that I’ve known you for a long time, and on a happiness scale of one to ten, you’re somewhere at twenty.”
“That’s very accurate,” I confirmed, sipping some more champagne. This was fun.
“She gets so exuberant when she talks about Cole. Her voice gets a little higher pitched, and she smiles all the time. I can tell from her voice,” Isabelle added.
Tess held up her glass toward me, winking. “You definitely passed the test.”
I felt my eyes widen. “I was on a probation period?”
“Well, not exactly, but I was trying to gauge just how much you’re into Cole.”
“Very, very much,” I assured her.
“I like this evening. So full of confessions,” Tess said with a whisper.
“You have one to make too?”
“Well, now that we’ve established you’re super into Cole, I can get attached to you. I don’t have to hold back anymore.”
I pulled her into a hug, and we both laughed. I was bursting with affection for Tess. I’d never met anyone who wore her heart on her sleeve the way she did.
“I knew I liked you from the first time I met you,” I told her.
She straightened up, grinning. “You were such a champ, calming Skye and Rob, putting up with everyone in the family panicking.” To Isabelle, she said, “She’s a tough one.”
“And don’t I know it?”
Danielle returned with the dress just then, asking if I wanted to try it again. Since she’d really only shaved off a few inches and hemmed it, it wasn’t necessary. I was just about to head off to pay when my phone beeped. I had a message from Cole.