Chapter 11
eleven
GRAY
Between a killer orgasm and jet lag, Gray barely managed to stumble to the big bed that had been calling her name for hours. Falling onto the plush pillowtop and sleeping until morning sounded perfect.
However, the minute Ciar’s towel dropped, and it was clear that he was far from sated, a shot of adrenaline catapulted through her body, knocking the drowsy right out of her.
They stood facing each other, him naked and wanting, her draped in a towel and wanting. “I thought we were taking things slowly.”
“I still taste you on my lips, Gray. Slow went out the window the moment you didn’t kick me out of your shower.”
He wasn’t wrong. “True. What now?” She had a comfort level after years of being friends, but she wasn’t exactly some female lothario.
Ciar took over and walked her backwards until her legs hit the bed. With his fingers curled over the edge of her towel, he loomed over her. “Did you like my mouth on you?”
“You know I did,” she answered truthfully. When Ciar crowded her, Gray’s body shivered in anticipation, clearly loving his domineering side.
“How many men have you let do that to you?”
His question took her by surprise. Speaking of past conquests hardly seemed appropriate, but if he wanted to know, she wasn't ashamed.
“You’re the second.” She felt his grip on the plush cotton at her chest tighten.
“Who?”
“I’m not discussing him with you, Ciar.”
“Did you fancy yourself in love?”
She refused to allow him to bully her about her past. “I didn’t fancy anything. I did love him.”
That took him back. He winced at her honesty. “Why wasn’t he the man in your shower instead of me, then?” He tugged roughly at her towel until the tuck came free and fell to the floor.
He lifted her until her legs had little choice but to wrap around his waist. Gray moaned as his sex aligned with her incredibly sensitive one.
She tried to kiss him, but he pulled out of reach, not giving her what she wanted until she gave him what he wanted first. “We…we broke up because he moved to the States,” she stuttered, because he might not have allowed the kiss, but he was slowly driving her mad below.
Truly, Cannon wasn’t taking up even the slightest bit of her brain right now. She couldn’t understand why Ciar was pushing the subject.
“Do you speak to him still?” He grasped her waist and lifted her, tossing her naked body on the bed before quickly covering her with his. His skin was hot as a furnace, and she groaned at how good he felt.
“Answer me,” he demanded.
It took her a moment to remember the question. “Occasionally.”
He pinned her head between his forearms, his fierce countenance hovering above her. “Lose his fucking number, Gray. Never again. You’re mine, and I don’t fucking share,” he growled.
The spell his dick had put her under fizzled at his autocratic tone. “I suppose you’ll promise me the same level of exclusivity?” She smirked, knowing he’d never been exclusive with anyone in his life.
“I swear it to you, Gray. I meant it when I said I wanted to make a go of us. I haven’t been with another woman, sexually,” he grumbled as though he was embarrassed to discuss his sexcapades, “for almost seven months, and even then, it was a meaningless one-night stand.
Hell, the totality of my experiences has been meaningless.
“You’re different, and I want to know that I’m different to you too.” He nudged her entrance with his length, causing her to momentarily lose the train of her thought.
“Are you committed to me, Gray?” He sucked one of her nipples into his mouth, making her squeal as pure sensation flooded her body.
“I want to be,” she said quietly, pulling his head more firmly into her chest.
“Not good enough.” He followed that announcement with a long slide of himself through her slick folds.
Her mind was melting along with her inhibitions. “Please, Ciar. I want you.” She actually whimpered when he pulled away again.
“Are you committed to me? Through thick and thin. Even when I do something to piss you off. I want to know that you are mine. Tell me, damnit!”
Who was she kidding? He wanted her. Therefore, she was his. “I’m yours, Ciar,” she hissed before grabbing his ass and pulling him in tight. “Now make me yours. Now!”
“Of fuck, baby. Yes. You are so mine. I’m clean,” he stuttered over the omission. “Are you on birth control? Have you seen a doctor?” He was panting as heavily as she was, rubbing himself back and forth over her center.
“Clean and pills,” she panted. “Don’t make me wai— Argh!” The sudden invasion was intense. Thankfully, he stopped halfway to let her adjust.
After a few deep breaths, Gray was able to relax around the intrusion. “I’m ready,” she moaned, clenching her inner muscles around him.
He pulled out before sliding all the way in and going completely still. Her breath whooshed out, and she whispered his name at how good he felt. “Ciar.”
“Christ, baby, you’re tight.” He kissed her deeply and slowly until her hips started to roll into his.
“Can I move?” His voice cracked with restraint.
“Yes. Kiss me again.”
He was on her, taking her mouth in a parody of sexual penetration. Their tongues glided together, building a heat that overwhelmed.
She moaned, holding his nearly shaved head tight. Her hips undulated with increased force, causing his thick member to glide faster, his breaths to saw harder. Leaning on one arm, his free hand moved over her breasts until she was quaking.
“Yes, Ciar,” she wailed. “Faster, baby. Harder!” Her demand made him frantic. He could do nothing but obey. His pace quickened, and a sheen of sweat covered their bodies, making the skin-on-skin friction almost unbearable.
He looked down at her with such a serious expression that her heart stuttered. “I’ve dreamed of this for longer than I should have,” he grunted as he kept pistoning in and out of her.
Leaning back to put space between their bodies, his fingers played her body perfectly. “Come for me, baby. I’m…oh Christ, I’m close.”
She felt her body falling. “Ciar,” she cried, “I’m there.” And she was, her body already flexing and tightening.
“That’s it, Gray. Yes, baby.”
After three more pounding thrusts, he roared, and she felt his release pulse deep inside her.
Although she had only had one lover before Ciar, she couldn't deny that this experience was on a whole new level of sin.
She should have known that being intimate with Ciar would be nothing but raw sensation and passion.
Ciar stayed still in the cradle of her body as their breathing evened out. Ciar placed small kisses over her face and neck, thrilling her with his sweet side.
Gray was captivated by the intricate tattoos covering Ciar’s body, wishing she could devote the next seventy-two hours to tracing every single one.
“Are we telling our friends about us?” Ciar asked.
Gray felt her body tense at the thought. Once they went public to their group, there was no going back—and if he hurt her, it would be that much worse.
Gray skimmed her fingertips over his back while she considered his question. “I want to claim you, Ciar, but only because I know my feelings. I’m not convinced you understand what I need from you.”
“Gray,” he started, his voice gruff, “if I wasn’t into this one hundred percent, I would never have even laid my eyes on you.”
“I’ve been into you for a while, which is why I only had one boyfriend. I always hoped you would find your way to me. Instead, I had to watch you go out with women who weren’t worth your time, over and over and over again.
“You say you’ve wanted me for some time, Ciar, then why all those women?
I know we’ve just had sex, and honestly, I’m not happy with myself.
Being with you was everything I hoped—more than everything.
I never knew sex could be this way, not to mention you gave me the best orgasm of my life,” she grinned and kissed his cheek.
“I want more, though. I want commitment, but I’m not sure I can trust you to give it to me.”
He sighed and placed a lingering kiss to her throat.
“I went out with other women because, honestly, I never thought you would look at me twice.
I screwed up by lying to you because relationships, being in one, and with someone that I care about, is a learning curve, sure, but one I plan on giving my all to.
“I know you’re scared that I’m not in this with you. I can only ask that you let me prove it. Will you?” He didn’t admit it, but he was afraid too—afraid that if she ever found out who he really was, that she would turn her back on him and run far away.
“What choice do I have? You’re a great lay,” she giggled, kissing his strong jaw.
He chuckled with her, giving her side a tiny pinch before turning serious again. “Keeping us a secret is a big ask, Gray. I want everyone to know you’re mine.”
“Let’s give it a few days, at least. Sneaking around might be kind of fun.”
Gray might try to convince herself and him that hiding their relationship would be exciting, but he wasn’t fooled. She didn’t want their friends to know in case he hurt her. All he needed was time to prove himself.
With time, she would learn to trust him when he said he wasn’t going to hurt her.
With time, she might not run away from his past.