Because of Them (Because of Love #2)

Chapter Fourteen

MICHAEL

I ’m out of the car before Audrey has switched the engine off. The air has chilled as the sun falls behind the trees, but electricity buzzes around us.

Anticipation floods my veins, arousal swells in my groin, making my balls ache. But a heavy feeling of dread settles unexpectedly in my stomach, freezing my feet to the gravel driveway.

I want Audrey, sure. But I want her to know that this is so much more than just ‘fun’ for me. I need her to know that I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her since the day I let her down. I need her to know that I will spend the rest of my life trying to make it up to her. And I need her to know that the baby, my baby, has nothing to do with those feelings.

Finding out I am about to become a father was a huge shock, there’s no denying that. When I first found out I was terrified. Then I was upset, disappointed in myself for making Audrey feel like she couldn’t tell me. Now, I’m excited to meet my child, and grateful that it tied Audrey and me together in a way nothing else ever could. Our little avocado sized baby has given me a second chance with Audrey, and I don’t want to ruin it.

“Audrey,” I whisper as she steps out of the car and heads to the house. She pivots on her heel, wrapping her cardigan around her the way she always does when she is nervous. Her neck and cheeks are red with the same heat that burns my lungs.

Closing the gap between us, she places her fingers on my hips. They squeeze as she draws in a breath.

“Michael,” she exhales.

Her eyes glow in the dying sunlight of the late afternoon. They still remind me of the ocean, but the golden, sand-coloured flakes sparkle against the deep blue. As she stares up at me through her lashes I see right through them, to where her true feelings rest.

She always tries to hide them, always so cautious and unsure. I want her to know that when she is with me, she can let them out. That she doesn’t have to shy away, because I’m here, and I am hers.

“It’s just fun,” she whispers, mostly to herself as she looks down to the gap between us. Her voice shakes and she grasps my waist like she might fall without me to hold her up.

I close the gap, pressing our chests together and wrapping one arm around her back. With my free hand, I caress her cheek with my fingers and drag my thumb along her lower lip. Her mouth falls open with another shaky breath.

“Keep telling yourself that, Audrey.”

And then I can’t help but kiss her. The icy dread of what this could mean melts away, replaced with a burning need for it anyway. An understanding that we are well past the moment to talk right now so it will have to wait until later.

I tug her lower lip between my teeth, claiming her even though she might only be mine for this moment. Unease that this might be a one time thing still claws at my insides, but I push the sensation away.

She tastes too good. The sweet flavour from her lemonade mixes with the minty gum she chewed in the car. Running my tongue along her lips, I hold her tight against me as she opens her mouth to let me in. I explore her mouth with my tongue, savouring the moment because I have no idea how long it will last. We said it would be fun, but it will be so much more for me. How long before she grows tired of it? Will she end up wanting more?

“Michael,” she moans into my mouth. Blood pulses below my belt. I don’t think I’ve ever been this hard and I am desperate for some kind of relief.

“Inside, now,” I growl, hoisting her up. She wraps her arms and legs around me as I carry her up the small path.

“Key. Pot. Rock.”

I don’t stop to tell her it’s not safe to leave a key so close to the front door, I just reach for it in haste. One hand under her ass, supporting her weight, I fumble at the lock with the other and let us inside.

Audrey slams the door shut behind us and I’m done waiting. I need to feel her again, all of her. I need to feel the way she fits so perfectly laid out beneath me. I need to feel how fucking well her pussy clings to my cock while she comes. I thrust against her, and pull away from our frenzied kiss.

“Feel how hard you make me? Feel how my cock is just begging for that pretty pussy of yours?”

Audrey gasps, and I steal the sound with another kiss. I’d have her right here against the entry mirror if I had my way, but Audrey wriggles her way down until her feet hit the floor. She breaks away from me, grabbing my wrist and pulling me towards the bedroom. I fight the urge to scoop her up, instead following her like a lost puppy, waiting patiently while she closes the blinds. With a hand below my waistband, working to unbutton my pants and pull down the zipper, I reach behind me to turn on the light.

“Don’t,” Audrey whimpers.

She’s removed her cardigan and top, but in the darkened room I can’t make out her features. The delicate dimples in her hips, the freckles on her chest, the way they turn red when she blushes. I can’t see any of it, and I hate it.

I drop my hand and take long strides towards Audrey. With my hands on her cheeks, I drag my gaze up her body, pausing on all the bits I love the most—her thighs, her hips, her breasts—before looking her deep in the eyes. All the sand has gone, replaced with the darkest blue.

“I want to see you, Audrey. All of you. You are fucking beautiful and I want to appreciate every inch.”

She nods the tiniest of nods and I reach down to flick on the lamp on her bedside table.

I guide Audrey back until her legs hit the bed, then lower her down. Leaning over her I kiss her, tenderly this time. First her lips, then her cheeks. I kiss her nose, her chin, the soft pocket of skin below her ear. I make my way down until I reach her chest, leaving a trail of wet kisses in my wake. My tongue teases her, licking along the top of her bra while I palm at her breast. Through the thin padding, I feel her nipple draw firm.

She reaches between us, undoing the front clasp of her bra. It falls to the sides and I pause to appreciate her beauty.

“God Audrey, you’re perfect.”

I tease her nipple with my tongue, savouring the tiny whimper she releases. My mouth closes around her breast, teeth grazing against her. When she writhes underneath me, I trail my fingers lower to toy with the waistband on her pants. The elastic band stretches easily and I dip my hand in. Her panties are soaked. Pushing them to the side, I run my finger through her hot, wet sex. With my thumb, I press on her clit.

“Is this okay?” I ask, hesitating at her opening. “For the baby?”

She doesn’t answer, instead lifting her hips and guiding my finger into her. She gasps as I pull it out, adding a second finger and pushing deep to massage her inner walls.

“Kiss me,” she whispers.

I pop my mouth off her breast, moving up to claim her mouth again. With a firm kiss, I curl my fingers inside her, pumping in and out.

“Please, Michael.”

She doesn’t have to ask me twice. I will do anything and everything she asks of me, now and always.

I rub my thumb around her clit. Her muscles contract around my fingers as I move them ferociously, drawing the orgasm out of her. When she reaches a fierce peak, she grinds her hips up to fuck my fingers.

“Are you going to come all over my hand, Audrey?”

Her back arches off the bed. She moans into my mouth, and I continue to rub my fingers against her inner walls as she rides through her orgasm. She lets out a final whimper and collapses softly back against the mattress. Bringing my hand to my mouth, I lick my fingers clean.

God. Fuck, I forgot how incredible she tasted.

My cock strains, aching for relief, but all I want to do is bury my face between her legs and drown in her. She pushes against me, rolling us over until she is positioned over me.

Audrey kisses me firmly, then drops her hands between my legs. Her fingers unbutton my denim shorts but for some ungodly reason I reach under her shoulders and pull her up.

My balls scream at me, but I don’t care. The relief I was craving is no longer important. Nothing could ever be more important than Audrey. I need her to understand this was not about me. Wrapping my arms around her, I hold her close.

“Not tonight. You don’t owe me Audrey.”

She hesitates, her fingers still twitching as she reaches between us.

“I mean it. Plus, there’ll be plenty more of this if I have my way.”

Her head drops to my shoulder and I hold her close, ignoring the intense throbbing in my balls. It’s not exactly what I meant when I said not tonight, and I’ll probably have to deal with my cock later, but it’ll be worth it for this moment. To have been this close to Audrey.

To feel her completely relaxed in my arms. To get a glimpse into what our life could be like.

She lifts her head to look at me. “Should we get dinner then? I still want that greasy rotisserie chicken and hot salty chips.”

“Not yet.”

I kiss her forehead and she lays back down, snuggling into me. Her back glistens with sweat, goosebumps erupting where I caress her skin with my fingertips. We breathe in sync, soaking in each other’s comfort.

There’s something about this moment that is entirely foreign, but also intimately familiar. It’s so different to all the one-night stands and short-lived flings. It’s warm and comforting, the closeness filling a space inside me I didn’t realise was lacking. It feels … right.

Until she wriggles free, snatching her bra and top off the bed. She holds them over her chest as she stands at the foot of the bed. Hair ruffled, eyes wide, chest heaving.

“Well,” she squeaks. “That was fun.”

And I think being called fun is even worse than being thrown in the friendzone.