by Haley Travis
Leif came over to lie beside me. “I’ve never been able to meditate. So once in a while when I’m stressed out, I lie here under the stars, and just slow down my breathing. I figure that’s close enough.”
“I’m scarcely an expert, but that sounds like a good start.”
He took my hand, threading our fingers together as we stared at the ceiling, breathing slowly. For my first time in bed with a man, it was remarkably wholesome.
I’m sure that he was doing that on purpose, so that he didn’t frighten me. But it was making me want him even more.
“I’m trying to think of a way to say this so that it doesn’t seem like I’m being too forward,” he said slowly, “but you’re welcome to sleep here under the stars with me tonight, if you like.”
Squeezing my hand, he quickly added, “Or I could put the projector in your room. There are, as always, as many options as you like.”
The thought of sleeping beside him was exhilarating. I wanted to let down my guard. I wanted to let him in. I wanted to stop being so stupidly nervous about everything.
“Well, there is plenty of room in this bed,” I said softly. “If you’re sure you don’t mind.”
Leif released my hand to prop himself up on his elbow, so that he could stare down at me. “Maybe through the power of sleep osmosis, some of your sweetness and light will transfer to me in our dreams,” he said with a saucy smile.
“Sleep osmosis? Is that from some sci-fi movie?”
“Nope. I just thought of it now. It could totally be a thing.”
“It’s not a thing,” I deadpanned
“Are you a scientist?” he asked. There was just enough light from the projection to pick up the sparkle in his eyes. “Until you show me your science degree, Missy, there’s definitely a microscopic chance it could be possible.”
Rolling toward him, my hand landed on his hip, then ran up his side, finally settling in the center of his chest. My racing mind was being chucked aside by the brand new physical feelings that demanded my attention.
I wanted to explore. I wanted to know what it felt like to share a lot more of myself with him.
Leif remained perfectly still, and I realized that he was waiting for me to come to him. That thoughtful gesture was the straw that broke the back of my reserve. My hand snaked around his neck, pulling his lips to mine in a slow, intoxicating kiss.
As his thick arms wrapped around me, pulling the entire length of our bodies together, I heard myself moan with contentment.
Leif’s large hand slipped up the back of my thin top to caress my skin, making him murmur softly against my mouth. “Hayden, I don’t want to scare you, but the things I’m feeling for you…so much, so fast…just touching you makes my head swim.”
“I feel the same way,” I murmured, reaching my hand into the neck of his shirt to explore the muscles across his back.
I couldn’t reach very far, so he asked, “Do you want me to take this off?”
“Yes.” Which was more surprising, that I wanted him to start undressing already, or that my answer came so darn quickly?
Leif pulled away just long enough to yank off his shirt, throwing it on the floor behind him. It was hard to keep from gasping. Now that my eyes were more accustomed to the low light, I could make out the chiseled abs and broad chest clearly.
He was gorgeous in the sun while we were in the pool, but everything certainly seemed a bit different here in the dark.
“Hayden,” he whispered, pulling me against him again. “I want to touch you, taste you everywhere. But I’ll wait if—”
“Yes.”
My lips parted as his tongue slipped in, tasting me as his hand glided under the front of my little camisole. We both shivered as his thumb coasted slowly over my nipple.
“Honesty is good, right?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“Am I allowed to be a terrible pig of a man for just one second?”
I giggled. “Yes.”
He leaned up on his elbow again. “You have the most perfect tits I’ve ever seen in my entire life, and if I don’t get to taste your skin, I might pass out.”
My mouth fell open as he quickly continued, “This is the part where you are free to slap me and we both laugh.”
Laughing, I reached down to help him pull off my top. “Passing out sounds dangerous. I wouldn’t want to risk that.”
I loved how he kept everything so light to keep me from getting skittish. The cycle of the stars overhead was growing brighter, with more purple and amber so I could make out more of his face.
The feather light pressure of first his palms and then his lips across my sensitive skin was driving me into a sort of frenzy. My fingers slid into his hair, holding him as his tongue swirled around my nipple, and he kept sucking gently until I moaned.
“That’s it,” he murmured. “Let everything out, Hayden. Anything and everything you want.”
I’d always felt more comfortable staying quiet. As if that would make me invisible, and people wouldn’t realize how shy I was. But with Leif encouraging me to speak up at every opportunity, maybe I was actually starting to come out of my shell.
He kissed up my throat to meet my lips, then as soon as I was breathless and squirming, he kissed a path down to my other breast. The way he tongued my nipples so hungrily felt incredible.
Then his hand skimmed down my stomach, as his fingers tucked into the side of my panties just a half inch. His head lifted as he studied my expression, waiting.
A tremor ran through me. I was actually in charge of this huge man’s actions. I could push him away, and I knew that he would obey me. Or if I wanted him to go further, all I had to do was say the word. I decided to say it.
“Yes.”
His grin nearly knocked the wind out of me, but then he slipped my panties down my legs and tossed them aside. My thighs opened wide to make room for his shoulders, as he stared at me intently.
“Every single inch of you is so beautiful,” he murmured. He parted my skin with his thumbs, his wet tongue gliding all the way through my crease, nearly making me faint.
I was floating, spinning, no longer in command of my limbs. Yet my heart was also spinning wildly out of control.
Leif was so sweet with me that I knew he couldn’t be pretending. If the eyes were the window to the soul, his were glowing with a flashing neon sign every time I looked into them.
He was falling in love with me.
And I was right behind him.
Chapter 10
_____
Leif
Tasting Hayden’s sweetness on my tongue was so pure and powerful that I heard myself moan in bliss. I loved that she was so wet for me already. With every long, languid stroke of my tongue, more of her juices slipped across her tender inner lips.
Moving my mouth slowly across her skin, I kissed and licked along every fold, every curve of flesh. I took my time circling her clit, not quite touching it directly. I couldn’t help wanting to tease her a bit.
Every time she sighed, every time she trembled under my touch, it felt like the bond between us was strengthening.
Pulling back to stare into those precious eyes, I let my breath warm her pussy, twirling my tongue around her button. She was so responsive, every gentle touch making her twitch and shiver.
“Do you like that, gorgeous?” I whispered, breathing every word across her skin.
“Yes,” she gasped. “You can tell that I do.”
Sliding my middle finger straight through her crease, her shuddering exhale made my cock harder than steel. It had been years since I touched a woman, and never anyone who truly meant something.
Hayden already meant everything.
Sliding my hands up to caress her stiff nipples, I skated my lips up and down her inner thighs before returning to her delicious clit. My middle finger sank inside her just to the first knuckle, as she quivered and shook.
Pumping in and out of her snug, wet tunnel, I licked and sucked at her tender
nub until her fingers latched into my hair, holding me in place. Feeling this beautiful creature becoming absolutely intoxicated by my touch was like discovering a magical power.
Her hips raised off the bed, humping against my face, groaning wildly as I felt her pussy open for my thrusting finger. As I reached across to rake my thumb against the nipple of her other breast, my forearm rested across her belly, feeling it tighten.
“Yes,” I mumbled, in that moment needing to feel her release more than I needed air. “Let go, baby.”
Her sex clamped around my finger as a loud cry filled the room, and her moisture flooded my mouth and hand.
Hayden’s head thrashed from side to side as she held my lips tightly against her, squirming and squealing as the climax took hold of her, clamping her thighs around my head as she surged. Then she collapsed, completely drained.
Lapping up a bit more of her sweetness, I kissed my way up to her lips. She looked dazed, blinking slowly as she stared at me. “Wow.”
I turned to address the lamp beside the bed. “I think she liked that. At least, I’m pretty sure. I might have to do that every single day for a long time to make absolutely certain.”
Hayden giggled weakly, then reached out to hold me against her. After snuggling for a few minutes, I kissed her forehead, then got up to get her glass of water.
After I returned I said, “I’m just taking off my pants so that I can sleep. My shorts are staying on. I don’t want you to get the wrong idea.”
“But don’t you—”
“We’re going to have many nights together, I hope,” I said as I slipped back into bed, throwing the blankets over us and pulling her into my arms. “I’m not going to bother telling you about my huge, sloppy feelings for you right now. I’m going to assume that you’re high as a kite from all the endorphins and stuff and wouldn’t take any of it in. You know, a sex high.”
Her laugh shook her head and shoulders against me. “That’s not a thing.”
“It might be. It probably is. It sounds right to me.”
“You have many strange ideas,” she said. Her palm snuggled into the crook between my neck and shoulder, as she shifted to press her entire body against mine.
“Hayden, I’m so glad that I found you,” I said, kissing the top of her head. “If you mean this much to me after just a few days, I can’t wait to see what you do to me in a few weeks.”
She snickered slightly, then her breathing became slow and deep. Rocking her for a second, I fell still, reveling in the beautiful feeling of her relaxing completely against me.
Hayden trusted me completely now. She was definitely getting over her fear of my size. On some level I was already in love with her, and she was beginning to feel the same way.
Chapter 11
_____
Hayden
As I arranged the plates in the dishwasher after yet another incredible dinner on the patio, I should have been exhausted. Leif had made the most of a summer Saturday, driving us to all sorts of summer activities.
We’d gone on an easy hike through a forest just outside of town, with a break for snacks at a lookout over a breathtaking valley. Then we’d driven back to the beach, getting some sun, chasing each other through the waves, and discovering the perfection of chocolate hazelnut mint ice cream.
Leif even took us to a farmer’s market just outside of Kingsville, so that we could have grilled corn on the cob for lunch. “Not with lunch,’” he had been sure to point out. “For lunch. Big difference, and necessary at least once a summer.”
He was right. I had missed so many summer things this year. Now that the stress was gone, I was able to enjoy absolutely everything.
It was hard to believe how deeply kind Leif was to me. Even though he was spoiling me rotten, it never felt like it was coming from a place of trying to show off. He wasn’t trying to impress me, he was genuinely trying to make me happy in every moment.
Well, it was working. I’d never felt like this before. Carefree and secure at the same time. Perhaps it was greedy to want even more, but I didn’t care.
“You don’t need to rinse those,” Leif said, bringing in the last of the glasses and cutlery. “It’s a brand new dishwasher with some sort of super turbo pre-rinse.”
“Old habits,” I said, grinning as he took the last two plates from me.
He started the dishwasher, then turned to see my mouth agape. “What? I’m not allowed to be domestic?”
“Of course you are. It’s just…” I forced myself to stop biting my lip. “Cute.”
His eyes lit up, then he took me by the waist, grabbing my hand to dance me around the kitchen. “We must do the Celebration Tango of Awesome if a gorgeous girl thinks a jerk like me is cute.”
My laughter was too loud but I couldn’t stop it as he spun me around. “You’re not a jerk, and this is certainly not a tango.”
“You can’t judge me. You just said I’m cute.”
Leif spun me into the foyer so that we could dance across the marble floor. Surprisingly, he was an excellent dancer, sweeping me around and leading me easily.
Then he laid me back in a dramatic movie star kiss that made my heart melt. Even though I was sprawled in his arms, helpless with my head hanging back, I felt completely safe.
His mouth moved lightly against mine, burning with the heat we were both feeling more and more with every touch.
His lips wandered down to graze my throat, sending chills through every inch of me. But he paused, bringing his nose almost to mine as he stared into my eyes.
“I know I joke around a lot, but this is real, Hayden. I’ve never had feelings this huge for anyone else, ever. I already know that you’re the one for me. Please tell me that you’re feeling this too.”
Swallowing hard, I couldn’t think of what to say, so I just nodded.
“Yes?” he asked, those sharp blue eyes locked on mine. “You feel this crazy magic sparkle that they write all the love songs about?”
I nodded again, darting forward to kiss his nose.
He set me back on my feet, still holding me tightly against him. “My sweet baby,” he murmured, as my hands stretched up to caress his neck.
I just loved the way he shivered for a split second whenever I touched the very back of his skull.
“Snuggling beside you all night long was one of the highlights of my entire life, gorgeous,” he murmured against my hair as he rocked me gently. “But I’m making no assumptions. Would you prefer the guest room tonight, or my bed?”
Stretching up to kiss him, I let my body language convey my answer, making him groan with desire. Then I pulled away, holding up a stern finger. “I’ll make you a deal.”
“Anything.”
“I’ll sleep in your bed if I’m allowed to walk up the stairs by myself.”
He clutched his heart, reeling backward. “She won’t let me pretend to be a manly man from the movies,” he whined to the chandelier overhead. “How am I supposed to prove to her that I’m that whole powerful-but-gentle guy that those cheesy Sunday afternoon movies tell me that women want?”
Leif’s head cocked to the side as if he were listening to the lamp. “Just do as she says all the time? Okay. I’ll try that.”
He held his hand out to me, and we walked up the stairs together. “See? I can be easily trained.”
I was giggling by the time we got to his bedroom, then the wind rushed out of my lungs as he scooped me up to carry me over the threshold.
“Cheater,” I gasped, as he strode to the bed and laid me down gently.
“I’m terrible, I know,” he chuckled.
The movement of his lips over me had so much passion it nearly took my breath away. His fingers in my hair, his hand running down my side, every touch made me shiver against him. Every single part of me felt energized and liquid. His hand slipped under my shirt, sliding across my belly to gently caress my skin.
I felt like I was being swept along on a river of raw passion, as I pulled off Leif’s
t-shirt, and he yanked off my top and bra.
The way he stared at my breasts made my nipples harden. He sucked on them lightly, switching back and forth until I could barely keep enough air in my lungs.
I loved the way he overpowered me, but oh so gently. I arched my back, pressing myself into his mouth as I grabbed his hair, moaning uncontrollably.
Never in my life had anyone been so finely attuned to my feelings. My palms couldn’t stop moving across his chest, his shoulders, as I felt my desire kick in, ravenous for his touch.