Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Aria
I stripped off my jeans, tossed them across my bedroom, then reached for the lacy, flowy green skirt. I wiggled inside it, wondering if I needed to change my panties, but figured the thong was going to have to do. I was already running late enough.
I had on a cute cotton eyehole black crop top and a jean jacket over it. Since the skirt was pretty short in the front and yet longer in the back, I put on my knee-high brown boots and called it a win. It was a little southern, not quite matching, and I figured with some chunky silver jewelry, I could make it work.
And why was I so stressed about what I was going to wear to meet Crew?
“Maybe because this is a real date, dumbass.” I shook my head at my own inner reflections and told myself everything was fine. Crew and I ate meals together all the time. We went to games, movies, and events together routinely. Either with family and friends, or just the two of us.
Crew taking me to a new place without telling me exactly what it was, wasn’t anything special.
I stared at myself in my reflection, finger combing the curls out of my dark hair.
I was lying to myself. Because today was something special.
I pinched my cheeks, annoying myself because I had gone pale just thinking about an actual date with Crew, and quickly finished my lip gloss right as the doorbell rang. My stomach tensed, and I tried not to run to the front door.
After all, I didn’t want to seem too eager, and I didn’t want to trip in these heeled boots. Crew had a key to my place and could walk in whenever he wanted to—just like I could at his place—but we set our own boundaries. Yet when I opened the door, my breath caught in my throat and all ideas of boundaries flew out the window .
I had always thought Crew was especially handsome. But with those high cheekbones, and strong jaw you could see even beneath that big beard of his, it was hard not to stare at him. His light eyes were piercing as he studied me, and my gaze raked over his body. He had on a dark Henley, worn jeans, and biker boots. I couldn’t help but notice the way his jeans were tight around his thighs, and I remembered the last time I had been kneeling in front of him, my fingernails digging into the muscles of his thighs as he thrust in and out of my mouth. His cock was so huge that my lips had been stretched to the limit to accommodate him, my teeth scraping along his length.
I might’ve been the one sucking him down, with his hand wrapped in my hair, but he was in control as he fucked my face. Then I’d slid my hand down to between my thighs, fingering myself because he’d told me to—not coming until he’d let me.
I pressed my thighs together at that thought, and when Crew raised a single brow, that smirk on his face, I knew my blush was showcasing all of my emotions.
“If you don’t stop looking at me like that, I’m going to bend you over in that skirt and see exactly how wet you are.”
With the growl in his voice, I nearly turned around to bend over so he could slam into me. Except I was trying to act normal. Meaning, a normal date. And not wanting to fuck his brains out every time I saw him .
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. However, I’m hungry. You promised me food.” I leaned to the side to pick up my crossbody bag and loved the way that I could practically feel his gaze on me as I did so.
There had always been a combustible chemistry between us. But ever since we had stopped fighting the pull, it had increased exponentially. I wasn’t quite sure what I was supposed to do with that information, so I set it to the side and brushed against Crew’s body as I walked past him. Of course, the action backfired, because it just made me wetter as he let out that oh so dangerous growl of his.
“You are playing with fire, girl.”
I ignored the warning in his tone and made my way to the passenger side of his lifted truck. “Again, no idea what you’re talking about.” Then I gestured toward his truck. “You usually drive the SUV, the convertible, or the bike. What is with the compensation mobile? Because I’ve seen what’s between your legs, and you don’t need to compensate for anything.” I winked as I said it, and Crew threw his head back and laughed.
Then he leaned forward, gripped the back of my neck, and slammed his mouth to mine. It was rough, sensual, and everything I needed in a kiss. And when he pulled back, we were both panting. “I needed to get this one out of the garage for a bit. It’s not good to let them sit idle for long.”
“You know, you have way too many cars, rich boy.”
He rolled his eyes at that, then opened the door for me and gripped me by the waist. Before I could say anything to the contrary, he lifted me with ease and set me in the passenger seat. I jokingly fanned my face at the action, and he snorted, closed the door, and walked to his side of the truck.
I looked around at the decked out interior and shook my head. I knew that Crew had money. He had always been pretty secretive about it, and I didn’t blame him. The difference in incomes, money, and privilege always came with strings. And Crew was a pretty private person, even if he was always nosy as hell when it came to me. But he couldn’t hide the fact that his house had to be worth a few million dollars, and he had way more vehicles than anyone I knew. A few of my family members had money and they liked to play with toys just like Crew did. And while my family’s investments meant that we had been very comfortable growing up, technically, we had come from blue-collar roots with my parents’ upbringing. My photography at the moment paid well enough that as long as I continued my investments and savings, I wouldn’t have to worry about retirement, but it was nowhere near in the sphere of Crew. I had no idea how many businesses he owned, if he had more than that one house, or how many zeros he had to his name. But I knew that it wasn’t any of my business. We might be dating—something that was still a novel idea to me—but some things were personal. And if he wanted to tell me all about his family money and every kind of toy he owned, I’d be there. But for now, I was still getting used to this new aspect of our relationship. Like how we actually had a relationship.
“Your mind is going in a million different directions over there. Care to let me know what you’re thinking about?” Crew asked, and I realized when I had been lost in my thoughts, he had started the truck, and we were already on our way to wherever he had planned.
I shook myself out of my far too serious thoughts and smiled. “I was just thinking about how much I’m enjoying the fact that you’re now my Sugar Daddy.” I fluttered my eyelashes, hoping he understood the joke. Again, we didn’t talk about money. However, me ignoring it completely would just make it awkward.
Crew’s hands tightened on the steering wheel for an instant, and I was afraid I had said the wrong thing. Then he smirked over at me and clucked his tongue. “You know, that’s right. That makes you my, what, Sugar Baby? I should be taking out interest at this point. So what is it, an orgasm for a dinner out?”
Chuckling, I shook my head. “You really think your orgasm is worth a dinner? I don’t know what you think more highly of. Your dick or my mouth?”
“I suppose we will have to see later. But first, you’re going to want dinner.”
I tried to hold back my laughter and failed. This was a ridiculous conversation, but I loved making him smile and act all possessive. “I wouldn’t mind your cock. Just saying. It’s a nice cock.”
“You say the sweetest things, Aria.” He paused, and I leaned back in the seat, enjoying the smooth leather. “You never ask about the money.”
I stiffened and looked over at him. “I was just thinking about how it wasn’t my place. You let me pay for dinner sometimes, and we’ve always been good about helping each other out. And I think you like the mysterious act when it comes to you owning the gym.”
His lips twitched as he pulled into the parking lot of the place I had never seen before. “People get weird about the money. Especially my family.”
My hands tightened into fists. “My family and I aren’t typical people.” I held up my hand. “Joking aside, you’ve always been just Crew to us. Even though it’s taken me a while to realize what ‘just Crew’ means to me.” I swallowed hard, ignoring that knot of emotion. “But your family also makes me want to throw something, so I tend not to think about them at all. If that makes me a terrible person, I’m sorry.”
Crew looked at me for a moment, and once again I was afraid I’d said the wrong thing. Then he leaned forward and brushed his lips along mine. “You just do something to me, Aria Montgomery,” he whispered before he shut off the engine. “Now, as much as I would like to talk more about this and figure out what is going on inside that big, beautiful brain of yours, you haven’t noticed where we are. And I, for one, am shocked.”
I frowned at him, my heart racing because it felt like we were having a moment here. A moment for what? I didn’t know yet. But it was something. And then I turned to really look at the building in front of me.
“Oh my God. It’s the Cheese Bar?” I turned to him, my stomach rumbling, my mouth watering. “You can’t get reservations here. It takes months.”
“You can when you know the owner because you happen to own the building next door.”
“I love all of your Machiavellian connections. This place not only has a cheese bar, but on Wednesdays, it’s all you can eat charcuterie, and they have a special menu depending on the week. I follow them on every social media, trying to get ideas for dinner with the family. It’s so hard to get in here, I’ve never been able to come.”
“Well then I’m glad that I brought you here.” He paused, looking a little uncertain. “I’ve never brought any other Montgomerys here. Just thought you should know.” And with that, he hopped out of the truck and made his way to my side.
Feeling oddly warm inside, I let him help me out of the truck, and then slid my hand in his as we went inside.
I froze as I looked at the gorgeous wood interior with comfortably warm booths and tables set up everywhere. It was one of the most inviting areas I had ever been to, and I nearly wept at the center of the room.
Because there, in all its glory, was a conveyor belt of cheese.
“Is this heaven?” I whispered, and the host laughed softly under his breath.
Crew wrapped his arm around my waist and led me toward the table. “I think the look on your face means I did a good thing.”
“You did an amazing thing.” Even in heeled boots, I went to my tiptoes, cupped his face, and kissed him softly on the mouth. It wasn’t one of those hard and fast kisses that we used to gauge one another. One that would let the other know they were craving them. No, this was much softer, much kinder. And as our gazes met, I swallowed hard.
The host cleared his throat. “Here you go, you’ll have this corner area of the belts, and if you’d like to sit at a table, for fondue or a full meal, let us know.”
We took our seats, and I practically danced in my chair as I looked at the menu. The server came over and began explaining a few things, and I kept dancing.
“Are you going to be able to sit still for this?” I could hear the humor in his tone, but I didn’t care.
“No. Not at all. I can’t believe it’s all you can eat on this belt right now.”
Our server smiled. “And we can add extras. There’s this Kirkham’s Lancashire paired with a Yorkshire fruitcake that sounds awfully pleasing.”
“I’ll take fourteen of them,” I teased, and I couldn’t help but feel as if I had found my true home at this place.
Cheese and meat plates went around the conveyor belt, calling my name, and I laughed as Crew snapped a few photos of me, knowing I probably looked ridiculous. When he took a bite of a soft cheese and fig jam combination, I was the one to snap a photo.
“Are you going to show that anyone?” he asked, his voice low against my ear.
I wiggled in my seat and moved to whisper so only he could hear. “No. Because I’m pretty sure you look like that when you’re coming.”
He barked out a laugh, kissed my cheek, and we moved on to the next phase of our dinner.
I wasn’t sure when I had had a more fun meal in my life. And it didn’t all have to do with the amount of cheese in front of me. Yes, we probably ate too much, but I didn’t care. Everything was fresh, delectable, and the pairings made it feel like it wasn’t too rich.
Full, but not overly so, I made sure my to go container of Yorkshire Parkin tiramisu and clotted cream panna cotta were safe in my hands as Crew drove me back to my place.
“Is it wrong that I could eat more?” I asked, rubbing my belly. “I probably shouldn’t have worn a crop top.”
“You look fucking sexy, and if you want to eat a second round of dinner later, I’m all for it. But first, let’s get you home so I can have my dessert.” He gave a pointed look between my legs, and I snorted before setting the to-go containers safely in the section between the seats. Then, meeting his gaze for an instant as he drove down the highway, I hiked up my skirt ever so slightly and spread my legs.
“Aria, do you really want me to wreck this truck right here?”
“I have no idea what you mean,” I teased. And then I slowly slid my hand under my skirt. I knew he couldn’t see exactly what I was doing, but as my fingers slid over my clit, a moan escaped my mouth.
“Fuck. Don’t you dare.”
“I’m just imagining my fingers as your tongue.”
“If it was my tongue, I’d be lapping up that sweet cunt of yours, teasing you. I’d spread you before me, making sure you were right at the edge, but not close enough. You’d beg me for my cock, but I wouldn’t let you have it. You’d be squirming, your nipples hard little points, but still, I wouldn’t let you come.”
I hadn’t realized I was panting until I arched my back, my middle finger slowly sliding in and out of my pussy. “Crew.”
“Is that pussy of yours swollen for me?”
“Please. I need to come.”
“You’re really going to come right in my truck, are you? When we’re only two streets away from your house?”
I nodded, nearly there, the edge so close. And then Crew slammed on the brakes at a stop sign, leaned over, and speared me with two fingers. Shocked, I arched my back, coming with the intrusion. My toes curled in my boots, and I rocked my hips against his hands. Somehow Crew was still driving, his fingers deep inside me, but I couldn’t think .
When he pulled out of me, I whimpered, and realized we were at my place. Blushing, I nearly screamed as Crew ripped open the door and pulled me out of the truck after he undid my seatbelt.
“You are going to be punished for that,” he growled.
“I’m pretty sure I was rewarded.” I laughed. Thankfully he let me grab the desserts, then he carried me over his shoulder into my house and slammed the door behind him.
“Go put those in the fridge, while I try not to walk with a fucking limp.”
He smacked me hard on the ass, then set me down on my feet. I looked between us, and because his cock was so hard his jeans were straining, I licked my lips.
“You’re going to hate yourself for wasting a cheese dessert, Montgomery.”
Blushing, I practically scampered into the kitchen to put everything in the fridge. I wasn’t even sure what shelf I put them on, because as soon as I closed the door, Crew was on me.
He pressed himself to my back, pushing my hands over my head.
“Did you like nearly wrecking us? By touching that sweet pussy without my permission?”
“I don’t need your permission to come,” I snapped back.
Crew licked my neck before gently biting down. I shivered in his hold. “We’ll see about that.”
Then he shoved up my skirt and tore at the side of my panties.
“Hey! I liked those.”
“Did you?” he asked, and I was afraid of what that meant. However I had my answer when he stuffed my panties in my mouth and gagged me.
Eyes wide, I arched my back for him, needing him. He pulled up my crop top, shoved down my bra, and fondled my breasts to the point that my knees went weak. He was rough, and yet I knew the moment that I needed him to, he would be gentle. Because that was Crew. Always knowing my needs before I did. That should’ve worried me, but it didn’t.
Instead I moved into his touch, letting him take control. And at the sound of a zipper, my inner walls clenched, and I rubbed myself on him.
“Stay still,” he snarled. And then, with one tease at my entrance, he shoved into me in one stroke.
I gasped, my body stretching at his length and girth, knowing that I would be sore tomorrow. But I didn’t care.
Instead, Crew kissed at my neck, then tilted my head to take my mouth before he took me.
He pounded me into the fridge, and I held on for dear life, meeting him thrust for thrust. “That’s it. Take my cock.”
“Crew,” I panted through my panties.
He pulled out of me, and I whimpered. But before I could feel the loss, he turned me around and lifted me up by my thighs. I wrapped my legs around him, rubbing my pussy against his cock as he walked me to the bedroom.
“I want to see those eyes when I come. I want to see your face as I feel you. Can you do that? Can you come on my cock when the only thing that matters is us?”
Tears pricked my eyes, but I nodded, taking his mouth. He kissed me hard, and then tossed me on the bed. He shoved my skirt up fully, my boots still on, and I reached for him, my gag falling out.
“Take off your shirt. I need to see.”
He nodded, his eyes so dark I couldn’t even tell where his irises were. Then he took off his boots and stripped off his pants as well. He stood there naked, glorious.
And all mine.
I quickly pulled off my shirt and bra, and tried to do the same with my skirt, but he didn’t let me finish. Instead he lifted me up by the waist and licked up my slit. I moaned his name as he continued to feast on me, licking and sucking his fill .
“Play with your tits. I need you to come on my face when you’re making those nipples even harder.”
Somehow, I knew if I let him, I could come from his words alone. This man just did things to me. But I listened to him, cupping my breasts and rolling my nipples between my thumb and forefinger.
He continued to eat me out, licking and sucking before finally my inner walls clenched, and I came right on his face. Before I could do anything, still orgasming, Crew had his mouth on mine, and I could taste myself on him.
Tears slid down my cheeks, and I couldn’t help them. So he kissed them away and teased me with the tip of his cock.
“Are you ready for me?” he whispered, the question so fragile that I couldn’t speak. Instead I just nodded, and then he sank into me, inch by inch.
This time was different. It had started hard and fast, and yet there was so much more in this moment. He rocked in and out of me, one hand lazily playing with my breasts, the other wiping away tears.
I cupped his face with one hand, the other arm wrapped around him, and smiled.
“Mine,” I whispered.
“As long as I can claim you too.”
And as I nodded, he picked up the pace, and I came once again, my body growing lax. And he filled me, one thrust after another, whispering my name into my mouth as he took me. When he came, I threw my head back, my body shaking.
I realized I was shaking as he pulled out of me, leaving gentle kisses on my cheeks. Then he slid his fingers over my mouth, and I realized he’d covered them with his cum and I couldn’t help but lick them clean.
“Those fucking boots just do something to me,” he said with a laugh.
I grinned up at him and then down at my boots and haphazardly put together skirt. “I would joke and say that it was the cheese, but we both know that would be a lie.”
He came back from the restroom with a wet towel and chuckled. “It’s okay if it was both. This time.”
I blushed as he cleaned me up, wondering when this would start to feel real. Because it still didn’t. It didn’t matter that we had slept together long before we had allowed ourselves to think about that. Everything still felt new. I was so afraid somehow we would mess it up.
But I pushed those thoughts away for now, because I didn’t want to fulfill my own prophecy.
“Come on, I’m sure you want dessert now,” he said roughly .
I could have called him out on it, but he wasn’t wrong. “It’s shouting my name.”
“Pretty sure that was me,” he mumbled.
I finally took off my boots and skirt, and reached for a tank top and tiny shorts to sleep in. Crew and I usually slept naked, but I really didn’t want to walk around my kitchen that way.
“Crap.” I paused.
“What?” Crew asked as he pulled on a pair of gray sweatpants he had left here a few nights ago.
“I’m going to have to scrub my kitchen. My family eats in there sometimes.”
He rolled his eyes and left me alone in the bedroom. “I’ll go get the bleach,” he called out.
“You know we had to scrub your living room last time,” I replied.
“True. I have a cleaning team that comes in but I’m not about to have them clean up after orgasms.”
I shivered. “No, thank you.”
Crew pulled out two forks, and then gestured for me to sit at the breakfast bar. I hopped on the barstool, and he took a seat beside me as the two of us opened the cartons and began eating.
“This feels so domestic,” I teased.
“It’s food. And talking. So sure.” He rolled his eyes, but I saw the blush on his cheeks. This was different for Crew as well—whatever this was. So who knew what we’d do with this.
I licked the whipped cream off my fork, before setting it down and hopping off the chair.
“Where you are going?” he asked, a frown on his face.
“I forgot I got you something.”
“It’s not my birthday. Is it because I made you come? Because I think you owe me a few more gifts.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled out the box I had put together earlier that day, and feeling suddenly self-conscious, I handed it over without looking at him. Then I hopped back on the barstool and took a huge bite of dessert.
Crew gave me a weird look, and then pulled the top of the box open, his eyes widening.
“I forgot you took this,” he whispered.
He set the fork down and looked over at the photo I had given him. I didn’t do portraits often, because it wasn’t my specialty—it was my dad’s. But I couldn’t help doing this one.
It was from our picnic in the mountains, when Crew had been laughing, and then glaring at me. I had somehow caught the in-between moments, when he was just himself. With the mountains and green trees behind him, and just that look in his eyes that said it was the two of us.
I put it in a dark frame and adjusted the color a bit so his eyes stood out, so it wasn’t fully black and white.
“You do damn good work, Montgomery.”
“It helps that the subject is pretty.”
He snorted. “Pretty, my ass.”
“Well, your ass is also pretty.” I paused, self-conscious. “I don’t know…I just wanted you have it. It’s just a gift. A token.”
He met my gaze, but he didn’t smirk like he usually would have in the past. Instead he leaned forward and brushed his lips against mine. “Thank you. I have some of your artwork in my place, but I always want more. I’m greedy like that.”
I bit my lip and leaned back into my seat. “You always make me believe I can do more. Without making me feel as if I’m doing less.”
He stared at me for a moment, before finally setting down the photo and pulling me into his lap. “You have always been spectacular, Aria Montgomery. Even when I pretended to hate you. So you are going to have to get used to the fact that I believe in you. Got it?”
For some reason tears pricked my eyes again, and I leaned into his hold, letting him cradle me. “This means I get to have one of your paintings in my place though, right?” I teased, needing to lighten the moment.
“I’m expensive.”
Laughing, I snuggled into him more. “I’m sure I could get a few orgasms out of you. As payment.”
He threw his head back and laughed. I settled into his hold, finally feeling happy for the first time in a long while.
And hoping to hell I didn’t fuck things up.