Craving Redemption: Forbidden Series #4

by Lorraine, Tracy

  Flicking the switch on my vibrator, I throw the covers back, shimmy my knickers down and press it to my clit. The new batteries I put in it the other day means it’s extra powerful, and my breath catches in surprise. I soon get used to it and my hips start to roll with my need for more. A moan falls from my lips as my long awaited release starts making itself known. Making sure I’m putting on a show, I drop my other hand between my legs and plunge two fingers into my heat.

  “Ah fuck,” I moan before continuing to fuck myself. “Can you hear that? I’m gonna make myself come so hard. I don't need to cave to your demands to get what I need. I don't need your cock when I can do this myself.” My breathy voice continues to explain what I’m doing and nail the point home that I don’t need him—or any man, for that matter.

  I call out his name as my orgasm rolls through me. It's nowhere near as strong as the one he gave me earlier, but like fuck am I telling him that. My entire body is limp with exhaustion by the time I pull my vibrator away and drop it on my bedside table. I end the call on my phone, roll over, and almost instantly fall into a deep sleep.

  Chapter Nine

  My muscles pull and my head pounds when I roll over the next morning. Little flashes of the night before play out in my mind and I groan, knowing that I embarrassed myself once again.

  Dragging my body up to sit against the headboard, I look over to my bedside table, hoping that I was sensible enough to at least get a glass of water before passing out, but no such luck.

  Something cold hits my leg, and when I reach down my fingers wrap around my phone. The screen lights up and I find a missed call and four messages.

  “Oh fuck.” Rushing to unlock it, I drop the phone to the duvet and curse myself for drinking so much last night.

  Ignoring the missed call, I go straight for the messages. My breath catches the moment I see the dick pic staring back at me. My hand flies to my mouth in shock and my eyes widen in delight. Even with his hand wrapped around it, it’s fucking impressive. My core clenches and regret fills me that I didn’t follow orders last night. I could have been waking up in his arms right now, not just staring at a picture of his cock.

  Underneath the picture are two messages. The first is his address again, the second is one single word…Waiting.

  Fuck if he doesn’t know exactly how to get me going. I’m tempted to have another session with my battery operated friend, but when I see another message sitting on my phone from Lauren asking me to brunch, I push the idea aside and drag my sore body from the bed in favour of getting freshened up to go and gossip with my friend. I need someone to put my head on straight. Getting into something with Trey is a bad idea, and I need someone beside me to nail the point home.

  Stripping out of my vest and knickers, I wait for the shower to heat and then step underneath, hoping the hot spray will help wash some of my tension away. That picture sitting on my phone is still front and centre of my mind. I need to do something to get rid of it—something besides following orders and sitting on it.

  After getting myself a mug of coffee, I spend a ridiculous amount of time drying and curling my hair in an attempt to pass some time before I need to meet Lauren. I apply my make-up flawlessly, telling myself that it’s pointless because under no circumstances am I going to end up at his flat.

  After pulling on a black V-neck jumper and my favourite red and black tartan skirt, I dump my mug in the sink and tug my knee-length boots on my feet.

  Just as I’m about to pull the front door open, Joe appears looking worse for wear from his bedroom.

  “You look too good for this time of the morning,” he mutters, running his hand through his messed up hair.

  “It’s gone ten.”

  “Yeah, on a Saturday. Too early. I’m surprised you’re even here.”

  “Why? Where else would I be?”

  “I had a feeling you were going to sneak out to visit your booty call.”

  I wasn’t intending on making his message common knowledge, but before I could try and hide it, Lauren had dropped me in it to Joe, announcing that I’d been summoned to Trey’s bed.

  “Nope. I told you, I’m done. I need to focus on my job. Plus, he’s not exactly a forever kinda guy, and I think that’s what I need. It’s time I stopped messing about and thought about my future.”

  “Whoa, when did you grow up and get all sensible and shit?”

  “Since now. I’ve pretended I’m eighteen for long enough. I want what Ben and Lauren have.”

  “Don’t we all.” I narrow my eyes at him, still concerned with how he’s taking things after their fall out. I know she says she’s forgiven him, but even I can see that she’s not as open with him as she once was, and he’s taking it harder than he’ll ever admit. “Where are you off to?”

  “Meeting Lauren for brunch. Wanna join?”

  “Nah, I’m gonna have a couple of strong coffees and then hit the gym. If I’m lucky I’ll find a gym bunny to spend the afternoon with.”

  “Do you ever think about anything other than sex?”

  “Do you?” My face flames red as what I did last night fills my mind. “Exactly. Wish me luck.”

  Laughing, I pull the front door open and head out into the hall. I’m still a bit early for meeting Lauren, but seeing as the weather’s nice, I figure I’ll walk and make the most of trying to clear my head of all things Trey.

  I’m walking down the stairs, looking at a message that’s just come through from my sister when I bump into a brick wall—or more so a hot and sweaty man chest.

  “Shit, I’m so…oh fuck!”

  “Erica?” he growls, sending heat racing to my centre.

  “Uh…” I’m totally lost for words. He’s standing before me with a pair of shorts hanging low on his hips, his sculpted chest and abs on full display and covered in a perfect sheen of sweat. His t-shirt is draped over one shoulder and his hair’s wet and all over the place. But it’s his eyes that really capture mine. They’re dark. Darker than I’ve seen them before, and they hold a promise that has me squirming.

  What was I just saying about forgetting about this man?

  “I knew you couldn’t fucking resist.” In one quick move, he’s got me over his shoulder, and together we’re running up the stairs. His fingers dig into my arse as he holds me, my hair hanging over my head as I stare at the rippling of his back muscles every time he moves.

  It’s only minutes later that I hear the unlocking of a door and I’m sliding down his body.

  “That sure was something special I had to wake up to this morning, sweetheart. I’ve been hard ever since. The sounds of you moaning are on constant repeat in my head.” He reaches out for my wrist before placing my hand against his length. I can’t help myself and I wrap my fingers around the width. “And I jerked off at least three times before going out.”

  “Trey,” I whimper, my own body now trembling with need.

  “It seems my reply had a similar effect. Are you ready to give in to me now?” My teeth sink into my bottom lip as I try to make sense of his words. “That’s mine.” He pops my lip free before slamming his down and sucking it into his mouth. He bites down and I squeal, but the pain only makes the throbbing of my pussy worse.

  “You tease me and I’ll tease right back, sweetheart. Now, I need what was promised to me.”

  “I didn't promise anything.”

  He doesn’t respond. Instead he takes a step back, places his hands on my hips and spins me around. My face is pressed against the cushion on his sofa as he presses down on my back to bend me over the arm. With my arse in the air, I’m in the perfect position for him.

  He flips my skirt up, the cool air rushing across my heated skin. His fingers grip the sides of my knickers and he tugs until the lace gives and they fall away from my body.

  Kicking my feet wider, his fingers find my heated core and I moan like a whore when he presses them down on my clit.

  “You really fucking liked that picture, didn’t you?” I groan as he
starts to circle my swollen clit. “Answer me, or I’ll stop.” Moisture floods my core at his demanding tone and a growl rumbles up his throat.

  “Yes, yes. I loved it.”

  He rewards me by thrusting two fingers deep inside me. My muscles clamp around him, desperately trying to drag him deeper to hit the magic spot too.

  “Greedy little bitch. You’re not getting off until my cock’s buried deep inside your pussy.”

  Holy fuck.

  “Please,” I moan, needing what he’s just suggested right fucking now.

  The rustle of fabric fills my ears before the heat of his cock presses against my clit and rubs down to my entrance.

  “Trey.” His name falls from my lips without me realising, a plea for him to stop teasing me and to give in to what we both need.

  I don’t have the chance to beg any more; his restraint must snap. Finding my entrance, he slides all the way in in one quick thrust of his hips. My feet leave the floor, his fingers bruising my hips to stop me falling completely onto his sofa.

  He doesn’t give me much time to adjust before he’s pulling back out and slamming into me once again. His thrusts come harder and faster, telling me that maybe I made the right decision in ignoring his demands last night if it’s made him this desperate for me. His balls slap against my pussy and he circles his hips, ensuring he grazes that perfect spot deep inside me.

  I cry out when his palm lands on my arse cheek, pushing me closer to falling over the edge into the mind-numbing pleasure I so desperately need.

  My orgasm is about to crash into me when my phone starts ringing.

  “Leave it.”

  I panic and tense. No one ever rings me, which has me on high alert in case there’s a problem.

  “I need—”

  “I said leave it.”

  Any argument I might have dies on my tongue as he grinds his hips into me. His movement reawakens my orgasm, and with only one more thrust I cry out his name as I fall over the edge. My body shakes, my muscles tensing as he continues to pound into me, desperately trying to find his own release.

  I’m just coming down from my high, my body getting heavy and melding itself into the sofa cushions, when his cock swells, filling me even more than before. His roar bounces off the walls around us before his twitches inside me and the feeling of his hot cum filling me has me on the verge of another release.

  “Fucking hell,” he pants, folding over my back and resting his forehead against my shoulder. He’s only there a few seconds before he stands and pulls out of me.

  Pushing my exhausted body from his sofa, I turn to look at him. His hair’s sticking up in all directions, his cheeks are pink from exertion and his lips swollen. I’m hit with a need so strong to walk into his arms that I reach down for where my bag fell on the floor when we entered and run for his front door.

  “Thanks for that. It was…fun.”

  Throwing the door open, I run for the stairs, hoping like hell that he’s not going to chase me because I’m not sure I have it in me to deny him what he so clearly wants right now.

  There’s a taxi idling across the street. I don’t give a fuck if he’s waiting for someone; I jump in the back and demand he takes me away right this second. He opens his mouth to argue but takes one look at the state of me and floors it. He probably thinks I’m trying to escape from a mad man or something, although as I sit back and think about it, it’s not that far from the truth.

  “Just here’s fine. Thank you so, so much.” I hand over more money than the journey was worth and hop out, knowing I’m a safe distance from our building now.

  My shaky legs just about carry me to the wall, where I lean back against it and desperately try to suck in some much needed air.

  I can’t believe I just did that.

  The image of him with his semi-hard dick hanging out as he watched me run for the door fills my mind. I try to fight down the little voice inside my head that’s screaming for me to go back.

  I did the right thing, I did the right thing, I repeat over and over again.

  I probably look like a crazy person on the street right now, but I tell myself that this is London, and there are much odder people around than me.

  My phone rings in my bag and it’s only then that I remember it going off earlier. I rush to pull it out and breathe a sigh of relief when I see Lauren’s name lighting up the screen.

  “Hey, I’m sorry. I’m running a little late. I’m just around the corner.”

  “Okay. I’ll wait to order then.”

  Attempting to smooth down my hair, I rub at my lips, knowing my lipstick is going to be all over my face. Trying to hold my head up high, I walk towards the café my best friend is sitting in. I need her level head right now.

  Chapter Ten

  “What happened to you?” Lauren asks the second I step up to the table.

  “Trey happened.”

  “Couldn't resist then, huh? Temptation just too close to handle?”

  Dropping down into the seat opposite her, I grab the menu and quickly make a decision before the waitress comes over. Lauren’s stare burns into the top of my head the whole time.

  It’s not until the waitress has been and gone that she says any more. “So…didn’t care to mention that you lived in the same building?”

  “I was trying to ignore it. He’s been stomping around above my head, taunting me, daring me to go up since the first night I met him. It’s been torture.”

  “So why didn’t you just do it?”

  “I don’t need a man, Lauren.”

  “I know, you keep saying. But, honestly, none of us need a man, E. Life would probably be a hell of a lot easier without one, but sometimes they’re impossible to ignore. Especially when they’re stomping around above your head.”

  “This is a fucking nightmare,” I moan, dropping my head into my hands.

  “Yeah, finding a hot man who’s crazy about you…there’s nothing worse than that.”

  “Don’t, please. I need you to tell me that this is a bad idea. That he’s going to break my heart like all the others and leave me with nothing. I’m already getting too attached, and I haven’t allowed him in at all.”

  “You don’t know any of that. Yeah, it could end in disaster but it also could be the best decision you ever make.”

  “I don't need to hear this,” I mutter, making her laugh.

  “Oh, come on. Where’s the happy-go-lucky Erica who’s up for anything? You used to be all about seeing where the ride took you and embracing the bumps along the way.”

  “She’s been burned one too many times.”

  “You’re going to allow Matt and my dad of all people to stop you from taking a chance? They were both arseholes. You can’t let what happened with them stop you from living.”

  “What happened to you? I liked it better when you were heartbroken and hated men with a passion.”

  “Sorry, my heart was put back together again. Proof that happiness is out there. You just need to put your heart on the line sometimes. I told every single one of you to do anything in your power to keep me away from Ben when he first returned, but look how that turned out. There’s no way I’m going to stop you doing something that might turn out to be the epic love story you crave.”

  “Who says I crave an epic love story?”

  Her eyebrow lifts as she sits back in her chair and studies me. “Who doesn’t?”

  Our conversation slows as our meals arrive, but I can sense Lauren’s stare every time she looks up at me.

  “So tell me,” I say, pushing my plate away and sitting back. “What do you think I should do?”

  “I think you need to put the past behind you, forgive yourself for what happened and allow yourself a chance at happiness.” Her words sound so simple, so why does even the thought of giving him a chance have my stomach tied up in knots?

  “What if it’s not that simple?”

  “I never said it was going to be simple. You’ve been let down by men your ent
ire life, I understand that. But he might be the one.”

  “Or he might be another one to let me down.”

  “Only one way to find out. Now come on, I want details from this morning. You turned up looking like you’d been fucked six ways from Sunday.”

  “I literally bumped into him coming back from a run as I headed down the stairs to come and meet you.”

  “What did he think you were doing there?”

  “Following orders.” Her brows pinch, so I tell her about the message exchanges we’ve had.

  “Okay, that’s kinda hot. But he still has no idea you live only a floor beneath him?”

  “Not that I know of. And I’d like to keep it that way, if that’s okay with you.”

  “Don’t you think being honest might be the best way to start whatever this thing between you is?”

  “And have him turning up whenever he wants, making crazy demands? No.”

  “Crazy demands…hot and sexy demands…” she trails off with a laugh. “Seriously though, just take it one day at a time. If he deserves your trust, he’s going to have to earn it. You’ve been burned; he’ll understand. That could be one of the benefits of an older man. Nothing wrong with a little life experience.”

  “Why do you have to be so level-headed?”

  “Because it’s happening to you. You know for a fact that I was nowhere near level-headed while Ben and I were trying to get our shit together.”

  “True story. More coffee?”

  “Yes.”

  * * *

  The rest of my weekend is pretty much as it usually is, aside from the tempting footsteps from the man above my head. Joe tries to convince me to go out with him on Saturday night, but I point blank refuse to change out of my pyjamas and move off the sofa. His face was filled with disappointment, but he didn’t push me on it. I think he thought I was lying and had plans with Trey. I feel guilty enough that I haven’t told him Trey is actually our neighbour, so if I did have plans with him I would have owned up.