12. Lily
Lily
A fter closing the door, I lean against it with my eyes shut for so long, I lose track of time. I’m consumed by that near-kiss, reliving the memory in my head. I might not be experienced, but even I know, Gage Hollingsworth was going to kiss me.
And I would’ve let him.
I bet Gage’s relationship with my father caused him to change his mind.
At least, I hope that’s the reason.
It’s as if I can’t go far enough from my father without him still pulling the strings to my life. Even if I were to fly to the moon, he’d still be my puppet master.
Argh.
That brief bit of attention from Gage lit me up like a firecracker.
My skin is still tingling.
I’m used to a man with power. I’m not used to a hot man with power.
With a groan, I push off the door, drop my bag on the console, and kick off my heels, as I stride through the elegantly appointed suite. I enter the bedroom, flip the light switch with my elbow, and stroll to the full-length mirror to remove my pretty dress.
Before I do, I admire myself.
This expensive dress makes up for him being so callous about forgetting another milestone in my life.
I was never brave enough to confront my father about not acknowledging my sixteenth and eighteenth birthdays. This is my act of defiance. He’ll get the message loud and clear when he receives the credit card statement.
With a sigh, I unzip the dress, let it pool at my feet, bend to pick it up, walk to the wardrobe and hang it. As I walk by the mirror again, I stop.
I’m in nothing but bra, panties, and necklace. The soft pink French Appliqué lingerie showcases my body in such a way. I’ve never felt prettier.
Scratch that.
I’ve never felt sexier.
Is Gage a legs man?
An ass man?
A boob man?
Does a short girl with raven hair have a chance with Gage Hollingsworth?
I shake my head.
He must only date tall, leggy, blonde-supermodel-types with double D’s. God knows a whole army of them walk the streets of LA. A bunch of them were at tonight’s event.
I shouldn’t even be entertaining these questions that cloud my mind like a new obsession.
But that doesn’t stop me.
I run my fingers along the bra’s lace detailing, eliciting a throb between my legs .
Would he love this lingerie on me?
The expression on his handsome face as he held my gaze had me hot and bothered. His eyes were veiled with something I couldn’t pinpoint. They were much darker than I’d seen them earlier. More menacing. Dangerous, even.
Myriad emotions run through me, all laced with lust.
A heart-thumping rush courses through my body at the thought of sexy Gage.
I’m drenched.
As I stare at myself, one hand travels down my stomach, until my fingers flirt with my pussy hair. The contact is enough to cause my pussy to clench.
God.
I take several steps back and lower myself to the king size bed.
I stare at myself in the mirror as I spread my legs, pull the fabric of my panties to the side, and glide a finger between my wet pussy. Remembering how my body felt nestled in Gage’s protective embrace, I stroke a languorous finger over my hard clit.
Urgency slams through me.
Fuck.
I wiggle against the mattress until I remove my panties, throwing them somewhere in the room. I unclasp my bra, releasing my breasts. It goes flying across the room. Then, I work my chignon with impatient hands until I pull out the pins, letting my long cascade of hair fall over my shoulders.
Better.
My nipples are so hard, they hurt.
I flick at my peaks and groan, surprised by how sensitive they are.
I hitch back a little and spread my legs wide with my feet flat on the edge of the mattress, stretching my pussy open, exposing my swollen pink lips.
What a provocative sight.
I imagine it’s Gage looking back at me and my breath hitches, my heart racing.
The desire in my eyes is unmistakable. Desire for him.
Under heavy lidded eyes and with my lower lip trapped between my teeth, I examine the woman I don’t recognize in the mirror.
She’s brazen.
Bold.
Unafraid.
Assertive.
Unwilling to bend to other’s will.
Uninterested in compromising.
This badass came to life when I landed in Los Angeles.
This is the first time I’ve touched myself in front of a mirror. I blame Gage Hollingsworth for pushing me outside my comfort zone.
I follow the trail of hair until my finger slides between my pussy lips, lodging deep inside me.
I don’t allow my head to loll back and I don’t close my eyes. For the first time ever, I want to watch myself come.
The thought makes me wetter, hotter, and I insert another finger and pump a few times, sending tingles to my needy clit.
I’d much rather if it were him.
Down there.
Sucking me.
Kissing me.
Licking me…
I pull my fingers out of my slick warmth and use my juices to take care of my clit.
Brushing against his unmistakable erection was so hot .
I pick up the tempo, my pace frantic.
Life is unfair.
My previous chaperones set the bar low, so there was zero chance I’d be attracted to them. Perhaps if I’d done my homework, I wouldn’t have such a visceral reaction to the devastatingly gorgeous grump. A quick search would’ve given me ammunition. I wouldn’t have been consumed at first sight.
My body shivers as I flashback to his hands. His strong hands.
I bet the man has magical fingers.
My pulse quickens.
And a magical cock…
I push two fingers inside my yearning pussy, pumping them in and out of my wetness, as the digits of my other hand skate over my clit.
Dear God.
I’m so turned on.
I’m so slippery wet, it’s ridiculous.
My insides clench hard.
My breaths grow ragged with every thrust of my fingers.
I can’t believe it when the girl in the mirror slaps her pussy and gasps at the blissful sensation.
Good God. This is too good.
My fingers are practically sucked back into my pussy and I pump them like crazy, my horniness jacked up to another level, the orgasm starting to burn from somewhere deep.
I yank my fingers free and bring them to my breast, circling my nipple and coating it with my slickness. Needing more, I close my fingers around my other nipple, squeezing hard as my other hand teases my engorged clit.
There’s only one man occupying my thoughts right now.
A tall, brooding, mountain of a man.
I was desperate for his sexy mouth to kiss me .
I imagine his mouth, sucking on a nipple while he pounds my pussy with his big cock.
I stroke my clit faster, taken over by the desperate need to climax, gyrating my hips in a circular motion to intensify the sensation.
I’m delirious with pleasure.
A familiar hot sensation blooms at my core.
I stop with a groan and then gasp when I slap my pussy once, twice, and three times is more than enough as I pick up my pace, back to rubbing my clit like crazy.
And then…
Holy shit. Time stands still. The girl in the mirror seems to lift from the bed. How I manage not to throw my head back as the orgasm bursts through me, I’ll never know. But I keep my astonished eyes on the girl in the mirror as she bucks and squirms.
Still panting for breath, I stare down at my trembling body.
My eyes shift to the mirror again. I don’t recognize myself.
My hair is disheveled.
My skin is flushed pink.
My pose is indecent.
All signs of a woman who’s come undone and enjoyed every toe-curling second.
I’ve never had such a strong orgasm in my life.
All thanks to one man.
A wicked thought enters my mind.
I can’t.
Yes, you can.
There’s a tug of war taking place inside me.
Should I?
Should I not?
The hell with it .
I channel the badass that embodies me now. “You only live once.”
I rush to the console where I left my handbag to retrieve my phone. I don’t even bother putting on a robe. Naked as the day I was born, I compose a message.
With my lower lip pulled between my teeth, I reread it.
Nope.
I jab a finger on my screen, erasing my paltry first attempt.
“ Sans vergogne, ma vieille, ” as my best friend Nadine would say.
Translation: Without fear, dear friend.
Lily: You were going to kiss me earlier?—
Too desperate. And too lame.
I erase it.
I compose another message.
I erase it.
I do this song and dance another ten times.
I grumble, frustrated with myself.
The brazen courage coursing through me earlier is fizzing faster than day-old champagne left in a flute.
“Just do it.”
Lily: I’m looking forward to tomorrow night. And it’s not only because of the birthday party and the chance to meet your friends. Hanging out with you tonight was fun, and I wouldn’t mind a repeat. Sweet dreams, Gage.
You’ll be the star feature of mine.
It’s a subtle invitation. I hope it doesn’t end up causing him to retreat further in his cave. I can’t handle the silent treatment two evenings in a row .
With my heart beating in my throat, and the post-orgasm buzz fueling me, I press the send button before I can change my mind.
There goes nothing.
My phone rings, making me yelp.
Oh my God, is he calling?
Panicked, I check my screen.
Disappointment prickles at me for a nanosecond.
It’s not Gage, but it’s one of my favorite people. With a huge smile splitting my face, I accept the video call. “Nads!”
“ Salut toi —” My best friend’s greeting is cut short, and her brown eyes grow wide. “What’s going on in Los Angeles?”
“Huh?”
“Why are you accepting a video call naked?”
“Oh, shit.”