19. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter nineteen
Kennedy
“Crawl to me.”
The words are out of my mouth before I can process the weight they carry.
What did I say?
Am I having an out-of-body experience?
Who is this person who uttered such powerful words?
Refusing to back down and hide from what just escaped my mouth, I keep my shoulders squared as I stare at the man before me. Something about being in Tristan Nelson’s presence emblazons me with a boldness I’ve never felt before.
The air around us swirls and thickens, more palpable than the St. Lucia humidity. The tension we’ve both been fighting for so long has built to the point it can no longer be ignored. Standing across from him, my heart pounds the soundtrack of every emotion coursing through my body, getting louder and louder, and I’m sure he can hear it too. A tremble ripples through my limbs, and I clench my fist, hoping he can’t witness the nervous energy I’m expelling.
With wide eyes, I watch his conflicted expression. He looks as caught off guard as I’m feeling. Right here, right now, we’re throwing caution to the wind. This moment will alter us for the foreseeable future. “Wh-what did you just say?”
“Crawl to me.” My voice shakes subtly, with a mixture of defiance and desperation, but the words have never been clearer. “You want to know how you can fix it? Then show me.”
Those hazel eyes I’ve found myself staring into far too many times darken to a rich mocha. Stunned, his chest rises and falls in rapid succession as silence falls over the room. Neither of us moves as our eyes stay locked. The command hangs in the room, a challenge, a plea waiting to be answered.
In a flash, long gone is his moment of hesitancy, and my heart skips a beat. In its wake is something deeper, something raw, something unguarded.
With a slow step, he starts his approach. One foot and then the other. His movements are deliberate as he eats up the space between us. My pulse races as my nerves quickly melt into something else. Desire courses through my veins as flutters take flight in my stomach. My core aches at what’s to come, wetness ruining the lace panties I wore tonight.
Just when I think Tristan’s not going to listen, he falls to his knees. My breath catches in my throat as I struggle to breathe. The urge to rub my legs together to satisfy the ache as I watch my enemy submit to my words has my pussy clenching.
He’s doing it.
Tristan Nelson is crawling to me.
Jaw clenched, his darkened gaze never leaves mine, my own desperation reflected back at me. Each inch he closes feels like an eternity, and it won’t be long before I’m a mess before him. I’m beyond desperate to feel his touch.
The air crackles, sending out electric shocks. Rivalry and resentment give way to raw desire. This was a surrender, a breaking of barriers that had kept us apart. Years of our competition, torment, childish digs, and professional facade all fade into a problem to be dealt with another day.
Witnessing this man, who oozes confidence and charm, drop to his knees to prove I can trust him is liberating. Seductive and erotic. It’s opening doors I never knew were kept closed inside my brain.
When there’s no more space to erase, he leans back to rest on the backs of his legs as his fists twitch at his sides. It’s nice to see that he’s having a hard time fighting this pull as much as I am. My heart hammers harder as his perusal trails up from my feet to where our eyes meet once more.
His hands hesitate briefly before I feel his warm touch against my ankles, making my breaths shallow. Shivers race down my spine as goosebumps erupt over my skin, and he slowly glides up my legs. His touch is light, almost non-existent, as if he was afraid I might pull away.
Only, I won’t. I’m fully immersed in this force field. My feet are rooted to the ground as if they were mixed with cement. As terrifying as this feels, a thrill rushes through me, the anticipation seeping into every fiber of being.
He parts the slit of my skirt, exposing my golden skin as his lips meet the sensitive flesh outside of my knee. My breathing becomes ragged as my skin tingles everywhere he touches .
The languid ascent continues as his fingers trace the curve of my thighs while his mouth trails over everywhere his hands reach first. As close as he is to the apex of my thighs, Tristan never allows his fingers the chance to graze my pulsing center, where he would no doubt find me embarrassingly soaked.
Those darkened eyes are laced with so many emotions swirling around the amber, green, and brown specs as he stares up into my soul. Lust mixes with a promise of trust, but underneath it all is submission.
Is Tristan giving himself to me? Has this been something he’s been desperately craving?
“I’ve wanted this for so long.” His whispered admission is rough with emotion, spoken against my hipbone as he leaves a featherlight kiss. “I’ve wanted you , Firecracker.”
Flames lick across my body as his words ignite a fire deep inside my soul. The walls I’ve built around my heart start to crumble. Reaching down, I trail my fingers over the neatly faded sides of his dark brown skin. It’s his turn to shiver at my caress before my fingers thread through the longer hair on the top of his head. I can’t resist the urge to tug at his soft, messy locks. A soft groan escapes his perfectly parted lips as I continue my perusal. Our eyes never break contact as I cup the side of his angled jaw, feeling the stubble against my palm. I’m eager to feel it graze against my inner thighs.
“Then show me, Tristan,” I say, the words tumbling out as a low tremble mixing with my breathy tone. “Show me how much you want me.”
Before I even blink, he’s rising from his kneeling position, his hands never leaving my body as they roam over my hips. His exploration continues over the sliver of exposed skin, over my ribs, before cupping my breasts and rubbing his thumb over my hardened nipples. Each touch is like a jolt of electricity slicing through my body and straight to my throbbing pussy.
Tristan’s six-foot-three frame hovers over me as he leans in. His eyes dart from each of mine, as if he’s reading my soul, waiting for me to shatter this moment. There must be something in my gaze he approves of because, within seconds, he’s leaning into me. My pulse stutters as he captures my mouth with his.
The kiss has fireworks exploding behind my closed eyes. Colors burst in this fierce, all-consuming kiss. Years of pent-up energy and longing are erased in seconds. His hands dart to my hair, where he tangles his fingers in my loose curls before he’s gripping the back of my neck.
Gone is the swishing of the overhead fan blades and the whirring of the air conditioning unit. No noise is left except for the whooshing of our hearts beating at a rapid pace.
His hold tightens, squeezing the delicate flesh near my thundering pulse. When I gasp at the feeling, Tristan takes full advantage of my lips parting as he plunges his tongue into my waiting mouth. The movement has me melting into his broad chest.
As our tongues tangle and lips devour, we exchange moans filled with hunger. Everything in this moment is heated with raw desire. This is when everything changes. Our working relationship will never be the same again. All the years of dueling are being erased with every kiss and sensual touch.
Tristan is the first to break the kiss as his eyes land on mine. Our chests heave, my panties are completely soaked, and I can tell he’s just as aroused as I am based on the erection digging into my stomach .
As we watch each other, our gazes reflect the same thing. This was just the beginning. It’s been a long time coming and both of us are ready to embrace whatever this spark between us is.
“Dammit, Firecracker,” he rasps. “I knew kissing you would blow my mind, but I never realized how much you would ruin me.”
“Then why did you stop?” I ask, holding back a whimper. He has me feeling needier than I ever have and we’ve barely done anything.
He flashes me his signature smirk. “Oh, we’re just getting started.”
Tristan drops to his knees in front of me again. Never in my wildest dreams would I imagine this scene. Fingers trail up my legs as he finds the hidden zipper on the side of my skirt and pulls it down the rest of the way from where I started it before he came marching into my room. Fabric pools at my feet and I watch his eyes widen. I’m standing before him in sandals and a sage-colored lacy thong, my upper half still covered by the off-the-shoulder cropped top.
“So fucking perfect.” His voice is deep and raspy as his fingers smooth back up my legs before slipping underneath the tiny strap holding the scraps of fabric together. Trailing the lace down my legs, he tosses it behind him before finding me watching him again.
“Such a pretty pussy.” His eyebrow quirks, as if he’s asking for permission, and with a terse nod, I grant him what he’s desperate for. His nose slides across my bare pussy, a groan rumbling past his lips before he’s covering my mound with his mouth.
His words make me tremble. I’ve never had a man speak to me in such a filthy manner. The words only turn me on more, causing me to spread my legs wider to make room for his strong shoulders. I’ve become so desperate for this man’s touch, and we’ve barely begun.
Tristan licks me from slit to opening, before flicking my clit with his tongue. My head snaps out as I release a guttural moan, one I don’t even recognize the sound of. It’s been so long since I’ve been touched by a man. So long since someone has tasted me. Not that I have much experience in that department, which is why his sudden action surprises me most. Reaching one hand behind my thigh, he widens my legs before propping my leg on his shoulder. “Keep this here, baby.”
He sucks my folds into his mouth as he places a finger at my entrance. I’m wet and needy and desperate for more, more, more. Looking up at me, he chuckles against my skin. Apparently, I mumbled “more” because that’s what Tristan gives me.
“Oh god,” I moan.
He plunges a second finger into my pussy as he begins working me from the inside while he sucks my sensitive clit into his mouth and nibbles. A tightness coils inside my belly as I ride his face and fingers.
“Yes, Tristan. Oh my god, right there,” I chant, reveling in the way he’s playing my body as if it’s his favorite instrument.
Breaking away, his tongue laps at my entrance as he eats me like a starved man while he finger-fucks me with fervor. It doesn’t take long before I feel the build-up pushing me right over the edge of ecstasy.
“Tristan!”
His mouth pops free, but his fingers continue pumping in and out of my pussy. I can hear how aroused I am by the sounds of my wetness against his hand. He stares up at me from his vantage point on the ground as he watches me fall apart .
“That’s it, Firecracker,” he grunts as he pushes a third finger inside of me. “Fuuuuck. You look so perfect coming on my fingers. I can’t wait to watch you come on my cock.”
His filthy words are the final push I need before I’m coming with a cry as my body trembles. Chest heaving, Tristan continues to rub circles against my swollen clit as he milks the rest of my orgasm, which feels like it’s never going to end. My knees weaken, and before I have a chance to sag onto the carpet, a strong arm wraps around my waist.
Looking up in a pleasured daze, I find my Tristan’s lust-filled eyes. He brings his fingers to his mouth, the ones that were just inside of me, and sucks them clean. I swear I could come again just from the sight. A drunken smile spreads across my face, and I reach my hand around the back of his neck. Pulling his face to mine, I kiss him deeply. The saltiness of my essence hits my tongue as I let out another moan.
But before I have a chance to climb back onto my bed and pull Tristan on top of me, he’s planting tiny kisses on my forehead before trailing them down my cheek and across my jaw.
“So fucking perfect when you come, Kennedy,” he whispers in my ear. Grazing my hand down his still-clothed body, my fingers find his hard cock and, suddenly, I feel the moisture beginning to drip down my legs. He’s huge, and my pussy throbs at what it would feel like to have him sink inside me.
A soft chuckle leaves his lips, always reading my mind. “Not tonight, Ken.”
I can’t help the pouty lips I give him, which has him even more amused. “Tonight was about you, but don’t worry, Firecracker. I cannot wait to sink my cock inside your tight pussy. ”
“Who knew you had such a filthy mouth?” I question on a sigh. “And who knew I would be into it?”
“Only with you,” he whispers against my lips before he kisses me. It seems he can’t keep his hands off my body now that we’ve opened the door. And I can’t say I hate it.
With a smack to my ass, he reaches for my hand and ushers me to my bed. “Now sleep, pretty girl.”
Nibbling on my bottom lip, I start to crawl into my bed. As I stand on my knees, facing him, a brazen feeling rushes over me, and I reach behind me and pull down the zipper holding my top in place. The material skims down my arms as my breasts bounce free. Tristan’s eyes widen and flare with desire.
“Stay with me tonight?” My question sounds meek, nowhere near the confident woman I was when I forced the man to crawl on his knees to me.
He nods, running a hand through his mussed hair. “I’ll stay with you, but we’re sleeping tonight, Ken. I’ve waited way too fucking long to have this, and I’m not fucking rushing it.”
His admission has my heart sputtering against my ribcage. How long has he been wanting this? Us?
Lying back on my bed, I pat the space next to me, a silent agreement that nothing more will happen. But after everything he’s arranged tonight, I need him next to me.
After stripping down to his boxers, Tristan slides under the covers and wraps his arm around my naked waist as he pulls me to him. Our heated skin meets, and we both let out matching sighs of contentment .
Tonight, I’m falling asleep wrapped in the arms of Prince Nelson, my enemy turned rival turned something much, much more.