Paper Roses (Confetti Hitched #3)

Chapter 13

thirteen

. . .

artie

I let myself into the hotel suite, looking around appreciatively. The hotel is very exclusive and perched on the edge of Bodmin Moor. The suite that Jed booked is enormous, with a seating area of comfy sofas, a bed you could get lost in, and a terrace overlooking the moor. The French windows have been left open, and I wander out, hoping to find Jed, but the flagstone terrace is empty, and the stars momentarily catch my attention. I’ve never seen so many. They’re spread across the sky like a sparkly blanket and look close enough to touch.

In the distance, a horse whinnies, and I shiver as the cold wind blows my hair back. I edge nearer to the patio heater and lean on the cast iron railings, feeling the strain of the day slowly slide away. The wedding from hell is finally done, and the thought that I now have Jed all to myself makes me glow inside.

I wander back inside after a few minutes. “Where are you?” I call. His suit is lying across the chair, and his shoes have been kicked off to the side. I brighten even more because the likelihood that he’s naked is high.

“In here.” I follow the sound of his voice into the bathroom. It’s very luxurious, with a huge sunken tub and not one but two showers. But it’s empty. Then I spy a door on the other side of the room, I walk across and fling it open. What I find has all the blood draining from my head to pool in my groin.

It’s a small sauna, and the scent of warm wood is pleasant, but my attention is all on Jed. He’s completely naked and stretched across the long wooden bench. Sweat glistens on his body, and his wet hair has been shoved back from his handsome face. His hand is between his legs, sliding along his hard cock. He opens his eyes, which look like silver in the low light.

“There you are,” he says lazily. He looks me up and down, and I swallow hard as he arches into his hand, the head of his cock very red. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

“I—” I stop to clear my throat. “I think I might be overdressed.”

“I’d say that’s a certainty.” He smiles at me, and it’s pure sin. “Get your clothes off and come in here.”

I nod, going to take a step back into the bathroom, but pause when he shakes his head. “No. I want to watch.” I swallow hard, and he smiles. “Do it slow.”

In the past, whenever I’d felt awkward, I’d run away. But that was pre-Jed. Now, I know the pleasure of removing an article of clothing at a time, enjoying the way his eyes flare with arousal. When I’m naked, I stay still, patiently waiting because I know the reward will be an aroused Jed who would never leave me unsatisfied.

He motions for me to turn around. I obey, waiting for the catch of his breath when he sees my bottom. Ah. There it is. He has an obsession with my bum and can spend ages sucking and licking it until I’m crazy with lust.

“Hands on the wall and bend in front of me,” he orders.

I hasten to do as he says, inhaling the scent of warm wood and feeling the sweat dampen under my arms and drip down my body. He reaches out one long leg and kicks the door open a little, and I sigh in pleasure as a stream of cooler air immediately hits me. I shoot him a grateful glance, and he winks at me. He’s so domineering in bed, but underneath, there’s always this care for me, which is why I feel so safe with him. I can let him take charge, knowing he won’t hurt me. Physically, at least.

My breath catches when his big hands land on my cheeks, spreading them. My head falls back, and I moan loudly as his beard tickles the sensitive skin and then his tongue flirts over my hole. I’d never had anyone do this to me before Jed, but I have to say it’s now one of my favourite things.

He licks and sucks, occasionally pulling back to blow over the entrance or press a stinging kiss to the lower curve of my buttocks. I drop one of my hands to my cock, and he lifts his head. “Hands on the wall, Artie.”

I do as he says and then groan as he goes back to licking. He pushes his hand between my thighs, cupping my balls before gripping my cock and stroking me. I grit my teeth and shove into that tight, warm hold, a sudden tingle in my balls making me catch my breath. Before I come, his hands and mouth leave me.

I wait, holding my breath and shifting position where my leg has gone numb. There’s the pop of a cap in the quiet room, and then I groan as I feel his fingers massage my hole. I’ve learnt that it’s the key to fantastic sex, and so I lean forward and spread my legs a bit more, giving my bottom a wiggle just to hear his husky laugh.

He obliges, and I gasp as he suddenly spanks my bum. It’s only a playful slap, but the thrill that runs through me is surprising, and I can’t help my groan of pleasure. Jed stills and then I feel him drop a kiss on the small of my back. “A thought for another time,” he murmurs. He kisses that spot again. It’s one of his favourite places on my body, and I think if I ever had a tattoo, I’d put it there on the Jed spot.

I press my fingers more firmly into the wood panels, getting my balance as he fingers me slowly, adding another digit, scissoring, and occasionally tapping my prostate. Each tap shoots electricity through me, making my toes curl on the tiled floor.

By the time he’s satisfied that I’m ready, my body is covered in sweat, my hair is wet, and we’re both breathing loudly.

He pulls his fingers out, and I moan at the sensation. When I look back, I have to quickly count from five to stop myself from coming. He’s sitting with his legs spread and his hand working his cock. It’s huge, the head angry-looking and wet with precome. Even as I watch, he licks his lips and then lifts his cock in my direction.

“Go and get a condom from my bag, and then I want you to sit on this.”

I blink. We’ve never done that before. Whenever we’ve made lo… er, fucked, he’s been on top, taking the control and the lead in the way I needed him to.

I bite my lip, worry stirring. “What if I do it wrong?”

There is no one else on this earth I would ever admit that fear to, but I don’t even hesitate when it’s Jed. Even so, I hate how I must appear so young and inexperienced next to the men he’s previously had in his bed.

His eyes soften. “There is no right or wrong in sex, baby. I want you to do whatever makes you feel good, and I absolutely guarantee that it’ll make me feel even better.”

“You promise?”

“I swear,” he says seriously.

Nodding, I swing around, but then a sudden thought occurs to me. “Erm, Jed?—”

“What is it?” he asks, concern rising.

“What about what we said yesterday?”

“The condom?” he says, as usual, understanding me immediately.

I nod and heat flares in his eyes, making them gleam. I watch open-mouthed as he clenches the base of his cock. My question turned him on enough to make him come. It’s a thrilling thought, but his tone is very serious when he says, “It’s a big decision, Artie. Maybe you shouldn’t make it during sex. It needs thinking about.”

I put my hands on my hips and watch him steadily. “I don’t make any decisions on the hop. You do know me, don’t you?”

His lip twitches. “I certainly do. Outside and deliciously inside.”

I drift closer. “Then I know my own mind. What about you?”

I gasp as he reaches out and grabs my hips, pulling me into his lap and kissing me. It’s a deep, wet kiss full of tongues and sighs, and when he pulls away, I sway. Ever concerned, he shoves the door open a little more with his foot. A welcome breeze drifts in, but he needn’t have bothered. It was the kiss and him that made me dizzy. Not a sauna.

I wiggle in his lap, rubbing my cock against his stomach and feeling him shove hard and wet against my bottom. I reach back and spread my cheeks invitingly, and he gives an approving groan when his cock pushes up into my channel. The head catches on the rim, and I push back, feeling it pop in. Before I can move further, he grabs my hips, staying me.

“Turn around.”

I blink. “Away from you?”

He nods, dropping a kiss on my nose. “I want to look at that beautiful little arse stuffed full of my cock, and when I come, I want to watch it slide out of your hole.”

Another shudder rolls through my body. “You’ll make me come now if you’re not careful.”

He slaps my bum again, two swift, hard slaps, and then rubs the skin as I grind against him, frantically mouthing his neck and panting into the skin.

“Again,” I whisper and then cry out when he does as I ask. I never thought anything like this would appeal to me, but the sting of pain and then the glowing warmth as he rubs my bottom turns me inside out, and I thrust faster, the hair on his stomach rubbing my cock in a way that makes me squeeze my eyes shut.

I groan when he lifts me off his lap and pushes me to my feet. He keeps a firm hand on my wrist to steady me and then grabs my hips and spins me around.

“Get on my cock,” he demands. The dirty words uttered in his familiar voice are so hot. “Hands on the wall and get your balance.” I do as he says, feeling him part my cheeks. He pets my hole, rubbing the lube in. “Yes, you’re ready. This greedy little hole is open wide.”

I feel him tap his cock against my hole, and I don’t need him to tell me what to do. As his hands help me balance, I lower down, taking him in slow and steady.

The breach pinches because he’s big, but I quickly forget the slight pain. In fact, I’m coming to love it, and before I know it, I’m sitting in his lap with his cock fully inside me. I lean back and cry out. “Oh god .”

“Are you okay?” His voice is strained, and when I clench my bum, he cries out, too, his hands like claws on me. “Artie?”

“I’m fine,” I whisper dreamily. “You’re just so high inside me like this.”

“Do you like it?”

I twist, searching for his mouth, and kiss him. “I love it.”

His grin is almost a grimace. His hair and body are soaking wet with sweat, and his eyes are feral. “Then move. Use me.”

I wiggle a little, clenching my eyes shut as it rubs his penis against my prostate. Then I lean forward, rest my hands against the wall, and rock on him. I don’t bounce up and down like in a porn clip he showed me the other week. We’d watched it lying naked in bed and fucked while it played. At the time, I’d thought it looked so good to ram up and down, but now I know it feels better to shove against him, keeping him inside and rubbing against the spot that makes me whine. The root of his cock stretches my hole like this, and the pleasure is sublime.

I writhe and twist, sweat dripping into my eyes and stinging. But I can’t stop.

“That’s it,” Jed gasps. “Fuck yourself on me. Make yourself come, sweetheart.”

I sit back. “I need you all around me,” I mutter.

He gives a groan of agreement, his hands instantly all over me—one hand over my chest holding me tight and tweaking my nipples, while the other rubs at the root of my cock.

I grind down on him, and he gasps, clutching my hip. Then he grabs my cock. It’s wet with my sweat, and the lube on his hand makes the slide so good I’m done for.

“Coming,” I gasp, forcing myself down on him.

He cups my balls, and I start to come, white cream shooting out and coating his hand. I let go with moans and gasps and when I come back to awareness, he’s still hard inside me, his entire attention on making sure I’m fully pleasured. I squeeze my buttocks, and he groans, arching up into me.

“Can I stay inside?” he whispers.

“I’d kill you if you tried to leave.” I sit back in his lap, raising my arms and twining them around his neck. It brings his cheek next to me, and he buries his face in my shoulder, gasping and groaning as he shoves up into me. Within seconds, he gives a deep groan and goes still. I feel warmth inside me and shudder, knowing it’s his come. It’s sexier than I thought it would be.

He collapses back onto the bench, and I go with him, loving that I can stay here without him having to move to get rid of the condom. I feel hot liquid slide between my thighs, and Jed gives a pleasured groan and lifts me slightly. I feel his fingers trace my hole and raise up so he can see properly.

“Fuck, that’s so sexy,” he says in a low voice. “Your little hole is white with my come, all sticky and used.” It makes me shiver and tighten around him, and he grunts. “We’re definitely doing that again.”

He reaches forward and kicks the door open before lifting me off his cock. I feel a gush of liquid, and then he settles me back on his lap so I’m facing him. We kiss, and I’m so dreamy I’m almost dazed. My only reality is the cosy darkness of the sauna and his arms around me.

It seems to take ages before I finally stir, feeling his hands holding my arse and cuddling me in his lap. He’s affectionately nuzzling my neck, dropping kisses along the sweat-dampened skin.

I clutch him close, the words on the tip of my tongue like always. I love you .

I say them silently, but that doesn’t mean I mean them any less.

I sigh. And it will all come to an end soon, and we’ll go back to the way we were. Not for the first time I wonder if that’s going to be possible.

I assured him it would, but I lied because I’m not sure I can go back to being his assistant and meeting the revolving door of men he has in his bed. That would break my heart. I tighten my grip, press a kiss into his sweaty hair, and repeat it silently. I love you .

He stirs, opening his eyes. The green is soft now, like the underside of a leaf. “That was a heavy sigh.”

“I’m a bit hot,” I lie, and he’s immediately in action, standing up and lifting me with him. I curl my legs around him, holding on like a monkey as he steps out of the sauna and walks into one of the showers. He starts the jets, shielding me with his big body until the cold spray warms just a little and then steps fully under the water. It’s cool and lovely against my hot skin, and I make a move to get down.

“What are you doing?” he murmurs.

“Giving your back a rest.”

He scoffs. “You’re no weight. I like having you like this.”

I tighten my legs around him immediately my whole body warming at the affection in his eyes.

“I’ll do your hair then, seeing as your hands are full.” I reach for the shampoo bottle and pour some into my palms. A mint and herb scent fills the stall, and Jed leans back against the wall. I start to lather his hair. I make the massage hard the way I’ve learnt he likes, and his immediate groan of pleasure is gratifying.

He moves, and I clutch his big shoulders in alarm, but he’s just sitting down on the marble bench inside the shower. “You make my knees weak when you do that,” he mutters, and I grin. He shakes his head. “How did I never know you were such a minx?”

I laugh, feeling his silky hair slip through my fingers. “Maybe you bring it out in me. I’ve never been that for anyone else.”

He shakes his head, a wry look on his face. “I like that more than I should.”

I stare at him, my hands falling still. “What does that mean?” He shrugs and tightens his grip on my arse, his fingers starting to caress the wet skin. My dick stirs, but I need to know. “Well?”

He looks up at me, and I catch my breath. The beauty of his bone structure is very evident when it’s wet. “I mean that I like the fact that you’re different with me.”

My heart starts to hammer, but I know him very well. If I react to that statement with the hope and joy it brings out in me, he’d run a naked mile to get away.

“How very caveman,” I say lightly, and I chuckle when he beats his chest and makes a very credible Tarzan roar.

He falls silent while I make devil horns in his hair. He snorts, and I rinse his hair, holding my fingers over his eyes to stop the soap. I look up when he cups my chin in his hand. His eyes are solemn. “Artie, maybe?—”

I jolt as a bell rings in the room. “What on earth is that?”

“Someone’s at the door of the suite. Who would be here at this time of night?” he asks, whatever he was going to say forgotten. I want to scream. He grimaces. “Not a member of the bridal party, I hope. I’ve had enough of them. It’s our time now.”

I repress the big smile that wants to emerge at the possessiveness in that statement. “I ordered dinner,” I say lightly. “You haven’t eaten all day.”

I’m cursing my forethought at the moment, but he gives me a smile full of gratitude.

“Thank you,” he says fervently. He hesitates. “You always think of me.” The bell sounds again, and he sets me to one side. “You finish washing up, and I’ll get the food. I’ll set up on the terrace. It’s a gorgeous night, and the heaters will make it nice and warm. You need the fresh air and peace after today. Join me out there, yes?”

I nod, accepting the kiss he lays on my lips. Then he’s gone, fastening a hotel robe around himself, the white towelling emphasising the golden tone of his skin.

“How can I not think of you?” I whisper. I lick my lips nervously. I keep telling myself to stop dreaming—that he’s given me far more than I ever expected, but lately, I can’t stop this hope. He’s so different with me now. It’s as if the sex has loosened his tongue, and he tells me things all the time. Little inconsequential things that I nevertheless hoard with the passion of a man in love, because everything is interesting about him.

After finishing my shower, I grab a robe and make my way out to the terrace, hope growing inside me—like a tree reaching for the sky. Dozens of candles have been lit, and their golden glow flickers over his handsome face.

“Where did all these candles come from?” I ask in amazement.

He shrugs. “The hotel did it for me.”

It looks romantic, and his awkward expression indicates to me that this was his intent.

Maybe he’s falling for me a little bit too. Maybe it’s enough that we can make something of this fake marriage. I try to dismiss that radical thought, but it stays there all night as we eat and talk and laugh under a starry sky, and later, when he moves inside me, his whole attention is focused on me like I’m the most fascinating person he’s ever met.

When I wake up in his arms the following day, tumbled together in the sheets, his body warm and our arms and legs entwined, I know I’m more in love with him than ever, and all I can do is hope.