Give Me a Shot

Chapter Seventeen Jess

Chapter Seventeen

Jess

Jess felt warm for the first time since the previous afternoon. The soup had helped a little, but kissing Mo made things much better. The gentle scratch of his beard on her palm, the heat from his body drawing her closer and pushing away the chill that had settled in her bones. She knew he wouldn’t take the lead in deepening the kiss, so she did, nudging his lips open with her own. She shifted closer, nearly in his lap, and ran her hand into his wavy hair. He groaned, and she felt the sound moving through her, shuffling away the last traces of sadness. After a moment’s hesitation, she pulled back enough to look him in the eye.

“Ready?” she asked.

“Uh…”

She shifted quickly, straddling his lap. The shock on his face made her laugh.

“Mo,” she said. “You look a little scared.”

“I…” His cheeks reddened as he chuckled and tipped his chin down. “I’ve never been the most comfortable leading, the uh…dance,” he said. “It doesn’t mean I don’t want to.”

“Ah,” she said, taking his hands and putting them on her thighs. “Well, leading doesn’t bother me one bit.” She slid one hand up his arm, savoring his impressive biceps, and well-muscled shoulder. She used the fingertips of the other to caress his chest.

He was completely still, searching her eyes. She flattened her hand on his chest; his heart was pounding. She leaned closer.

“Mo,” she whispered, smiling. “Why don’t—”

He lurched forward, wrapping an arm around her lower back and sliding his hand into the base of her hair as he pulled her into another kiss. But it wasn’t like the ones they’d shared before. This was much deeper, much more passionate. This was a different Mo and she liked it very much. She pressed herself hard against him, running both hands through his hair, dragging her nails on his scalp. He shivered and groaned but didn’t let his lips leave hers. Trying to match his energy, she found herself quickly out of breath and needing much more of him. She leaned back and he loosened his grip, going along with her to continue kissing her. Pulling her lips away, she pushed him enough to make a little space.

“Wait,” she breathed, grabbing the hem of her shirt and ripping it off.

His eyes went wide as his gaze fell to her chest.

“Jess,” he panted.

“Mo,” she breathed back, lunging at him again, greedy for his lips. Her hands back on his chest, she tugged at the collar of his Henley, unbuttoning the last button. He understood and leaned forward, pulling where it was tucked into his jeans, but he still had an arm around her, keeping her from falling off his lap. She chuckled lightly and helped him get rid of it. Suddenly, there wasn’t any air in the room. She hadn’t been prepared. Of course, she’d guessed, but he looked like he lived in the gym.

“Damn, Mo,” she said, running two fingers down the dark, wiry hair between his muscles.

He chuckled.

“It’s a ‘damn’ situation from my perspective, too.”

She laughed.

“I am enjoying myself,” she said. “But I think we could find somewhere more comfortable.”

“And where would that be?” he asked.

For a second, she didn’t understand. She thought what she said was pretty clear. Unless he wanted to do it on the couch or something.

“Um…my bedroom,” she said.

“And where’s that?”

“It’s uh…down the hall.” She gestured over her shoulder.

“Got it,” he said, sliding his hands under her thighs and tipping her against him before he stood with her in his arms. She couldn’t contain her laughter as she wrapped her legs around his waist again, linking her fingers behind his neck as she held on.

“This again?” she asked. “Do you like picking me up?”

“Do you like it when I pick you up?” he asked.

Stifling a giggle, she nodded.

“Off we go?” he asked, smiling broadly.

“Off we go,” she said, still laughing.

A small part of her chided herself for turning into a giggly teenager. But she pushed that thought aside as he wound around her coffee table and started down the hall. She should enjoy all of this, even if she turned into a cliché. She leaned in to get another kiss but kept it brief so he could see where he was going.

“Straight back,” she said as they got closer. Once they’d crossed the threshold, she caught the switch and turned the light on.

He walked around to the side of the bed and started to sit her down, but she began kissing him again and tightened her grip on his waist. He chuckled against her lips and laid her down on her back, resting a hand on the bed. He was close, but she wanted him closer. She tugged a little on his shoulder, but he broke the kiss.

“I don’t want to crush you,” he said.

“Who said I wouldn’t like to be crushed?”

He raised an eyebrow, freeing his other arm so that he could stay close, but still off her.

“I’m a big guy,” he said.

“That’s an understatement,” she said, laughing. “But I won’t break.”

He leaned in, resting his weight on his forearms.

“Still, I—”

She cut him off by grinding herself hard against his waist. The position wasn’t right, but the message was. He groaned and shifted his weight so he could scratch his hand down her still-covered thigh. She took it as a cue to take off her jeans. As she slid her hands to her belt, he shook his head.

“I think it’s time for a little slow again,” he said.

Jess didn’t follow until he burrowed into her neck. She let her hands go slack. He took his time, kissing and whispering along her skin from the bottom of her neck to the base of her ear.

“What does Jess like?” he whispered. He found a sensitive spot and Jess moaned. “Ah,” he said. “There’s a good one.” He nuzzled into the same spot, kissing and nibbling. She shuddered, and he dragged his tongue across it. She moaned again, turning her head to give him better access.

“Why do you always smell so delicious?” he asked, continuing his search for sensitive spots. “Vanilla,” he sighed. “Like…cookies.”

Jess gulped. Heartache tinged the arousal that had been building.

“You like it?” she asked, voice tight. He looked up.

“I love it,” he said, searching her eyes. His brow knitted together.

“Good,” she said, pulling him close again. He resisted.

He kissed her chest but didn’t lose eye contact. “Why wouldn’t I like it, Jess?” he asked softly.

She took a deep breath and rolled her lips. Her nose stung.

“It’s…I don’t think it’s really me, but…it was a present from…” She took a breath. “This way she’s always—”

“Always with you?” he asked, grazing her cheek with his thumb.

She nodded. He shifted closer, tucking his cheek against hers.

“She made a good choice. I’ll have to thank her,” he whispered into her ear. Her eyes burned, and she swallowed hard.

“Do you need to stop?” he asked. She shook her head hard. Her emotions were all jumbled up, but she’d been wanting this to happen for too long to let him walk away. She tightened her legs around him.

“No,” she said. “You stop and I’ll have to threaten to shoot you again.”

He chuckled, nipping at her earlobe, then moved to the other side, his beard grazing her collarbone, sending chills over her skin. She giggled. He looked up.

“What was that?” he asked, smiling.

“Your beard,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting it.”

“Not expecting good, or not expecting bad?”

“Oh, very good,” she whispered.

He grinned broadly and swept the edges of his beard across her chest. She gasped again, and he chuckled. She decided she loved feeling his deep laugh even more than hearing it.

“My turn,” she said, tugging at one shoulder and pushing the other until he rolled along with her and settled on his back. He laughed.

“This seems more like you,” he said, smiling.

“Does it?” she asked before kissing him briefly and nuzzling into his neck. She kissed just under his ear, then dragged her open lips down to his shoulder. He shuddered and groaned deep while tracing his fingertips down her back. She nipped him with her teeth, and he laughed again.

“You know,” he said, nudging her head with his so she would raise it and look at him. “It’s uh…I’m out of practice.”

She kissed his chest and pulled back again.

“It’s been a while for me, too,” she said. “But I think it’s like riding a bike. Well, I’ll be the one doing the riding.” She winked at him.

His laugh bounced off the walls, and she laughed, too. But she was impatient.

She reached behind her and undid her bra. The straps slipped down, and she held the cups in place. “Ready?”

Looking very solemn, he nodded once. She pushed a bit of nervousness aside and threw her bra across the room. Mo didn’t move. She wondered if he was breathing.

“Are you all right?” she asked, throat suddenly dry.

“I’m more than all right,” he said gruffly. He slid his hands up the sides of her torso, pulling her to him as he leaned up. He caught one of her nipples in his mouth and sucked. She moaned and leaned into him farther. He sucked gently, then let go to swirl his tongue around her nipple, groaning deep again. He took her breast in his hand, massaging, as he moved to the other nipple and hungrily took it into his mouth. He massaged and sucked, and Jess thought she was going to go out of her mind. As he thumbed one nipple and sucked the other, he groaned like he was starving.

“God, you’re beautiful,” he whispered quickly as he moved from one to the other.

Jess would have thanked him, but words were gone; she could only answer with moans.

“Your skin is perfection,” he said as he shifted again. “All of it.” He caressed her side.

She wanted to stop him so she could do the same to him, but she felt weak. Mustering the strength to sit up a little, she put a hand on his chest.

“Thank you,” she breathed. “I think we’re overdressed.” She rolled off him, onto her back and went for her belt and zipper. As he did the same, she caught a glimpse of a very substantial bulge. She ripped her jeans off and started to take off her panties, but Mo grunted.

“Will you let me do the honors?” he asked.

To her complete shock, she felt bashful.

“Um…sure,” she said, lifting her hands.

Mo shimmied out of his jeans and boxer briefs, and Jess’s heart stopped. He was big all over.

“Uh…” she said.

He stroked himself once and looked a little embarrassed.

“Yeah,” he said. “It’s been a problem in the past. All the more reason for you to be on top. You’ll control how deep I go.”

Jess swallowed around the lump of intimidation in her throat.

“Yes,” she said. “You’re right.”

“My turn?” he asked, sliding onto his knees on the floor. He gently pushed her legs together. She didn’t get why until she remembered the picnic. He ate slowly, savored his food. He was being consistent. Placing his hands on each ankle, he slowly drew his fingertips up the outside of her legs. Chills ran all over her. When he’d reached the sides of her panties, he hooked his fingers in them and slowly began pulling them down. She shifted so he could take them off but kept her legs together. When they were gone, he placed his hands on her knees and looked up at her. He smiled. Following his gentle lead, she let her legs fall open. He sighed.

“My orchids have nothing on you, Jess,” he said, gazing between her legs. If Mo, a man who adored plants, was complimenting her in that way, it was high praise. Her skin warmed. He pressed a soft kiss into the inside of one knee. Then another a little bit higher on the opposite thigh. He turned to do the same on the first, but she leaned up to stop him with a hand on his shoulder.

“Not now,” she panted. “Another time. Right now, I want you inside me.”

“Your wish is my command,” he said, mouthing her thigh again. She twisted herself to reach her nightstand. Thankfully, she’d bought two boxes of condoms. One the regular size, the other extra-large. She got that box open as he began kissing up her stomach, reaching one breast. He slowly licked the underside. She grabbed a condom, but her hands were shaky, and she dropped the box, spilling them all over. He chuckled.

“I do have a good bit of stamina,” he said. “But not that much.”

She laughed.

“Something tells me it’s safer to only go one round with you.” She shot a glance at his crotch. He grinned as he clambered back onto the middle of the bed. He stretched out beside her.

“Have your way with me, m’lady. And we’ll see if that’s true.”

She laughed again.

“M’lady?” she asked. “Never been called that before.”

“Since we’re on this Ren Faire adventure, I’d say it fits,” he said, winking at her.

“Makes sense,” she said, smiling.

She knelt beside him and handed him the condom. He barely had it on before she straddled him again.

“Riding a bike,” she repeated, reaching back to grab him.

“Riding a—” Mo groaned, and his eyes fluttered shut as she guided him inside.

Jess needed a second, too. She sighed as she settled onto him, before bringing his hands to her hips.

“Let’s go,” she breathed, not recognizing her own voice. She began to move, anchoring herself with both hands on his chest. Mo’s eyes were darker, his breath keeping time with each of her strokes. After a minute or two, he let go of one hip to cup and massage her breast.

“Yeah,” she breathed. He squeezed and began dragging his thumb back and forth across her nipple. Her pleasure doubled. She began riding faster and he blew a stream of air out of his pursed lips. She could feel the pressure building. Leaning back, she put a hand on his thigh to stay balanced. Her cries became more desperate when he began moving his hips to meet her thrusts.

“God yes, Mo,” she panted.

“That’s it, Jess,” he said through gritted teeth.

Hands on her hips again, he began bucking harder, faster to meet her.

“Mo,” she cried. “So close.”

“Don’t hold back,” he growled. “I can feel you.”

She leaned forward again, hands on his chest and broke, the orgasm exploding and tearing through her body. Her eyes rolled back, and her arms gave out. She fell into his chest. His arms wrapped around her, and she felt him kiss her head before he groaned long and deep and his hips stuttered a jerky rhythm.

Neither of them moved as they caught their breath. Then Mo slid a hand in her hair and ran his fingers down its length. She began drawing gentle circles on his skin. Closing her eyes, she focused on the rise and fall of his chest, the beating of his heart. She was in the perfect place, the frustration over the Ren Faires, even the almost ever-present pain in her body gone. She felt safe and free and as light as she did when she was with Cassie.

Maybe that’s the feeling Cassie wanted me to have.

“Are you okay?” Mo asked softly.

She lifted her head to look at him.

“I’m great,” she said.

“Me too. But are you sure it was enough?” he asked.

She didn’t quite follow. He looked like a worried little kid.

“Enough?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he said, his fingers still gliding through her hair. “You only came once, I think.”

“Only once?” she chuckled. “Please don’t tell me that you feel like you have to make a quota.”

He smiled.

“I want you to be satisfied,” he said.

“Oh, I am, Mo,” she said, resting her head against his chest again. “Very satisfied.”