Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
XANDER
M y babycakes is up for anything, which is why I knew she couldn’t resist the little note I sent with her flowers.
Have you ever fucked under the stars?
I’m pretty sure this was some of my best work, I chuckle to myself as I cruise into the underground parking garage at Ty and Sasha’s place. Pulling up in front of the elevators, I wait a little impatiently for London. The need to see her face, touch her again, is so impossibly strong, my fingers twitch with each passing second. But I’d texted her I was a few minutes away, so she should be right down.
The ding of the elevator pulls my attention away from my phone, and there she is, dressed in all black again. I’m starting to think she knows just how much I love the color on her. I’ve noticed she’s typically in bright, happy colors, but I like to think she prefers being dark and dirty with me. Tossing my phone to the side, I hop out to greet her and of course she eyes me and my big ass pickup truck warily.
“You always look like the sexiest cat woman alive, but this coat…” I trail a hand over her black furry thigh length coat before pulling her into my arms for a kiss. I told her to dress in layers since it’ll be cooler once the sun goes down. “Did you murder her instead? I mean, I like it and all, I’ll be your alibi, but I’m curious.”
Slapping my hand away, her eyes go to my black-on-black extended cab pickup truck, the apple of my eye.
“What is this monster? Are we riding off into the sunset or are you getting rid of my body?”
“Don’t worry, babycakes,” I say as I help her into the truck. “Getting rid of you is the last thing I’d ever do. We’re just getting started.”
Her eyes widen as she looks down at me, before she gives a sly smile. “You’re right. These benefits are too good to waste.” Her eyes search mine and I don’t know what she needs, but I’ll give her anything.
My hand rests on her thigh as I hold her gaze, the blaze growing between us too quickly, but I don’t hesitate to bring my hand to her cheek. “You’ve got that right. You’re too precious for me to even consider saying goodbye to.” My thumb strokes her smooth skin, lost in this little bubble, before the sound of a car door slamming nearby pops it and I pull away. Offering her a small smile, I give her one more perusal.
“Nice boots.” She laughs, probably remembering the last time I gave her that compliment. I give her leg another squeeze before I close her door and hustle around the front of the truck.
“How’s house hunting going?” I ask, throwing the truck in gear. “You’re going to need one hell of a closet with all those shoes. I don’t think I’ve seen you wear the same pair twice.”
She snorts. “Things a stalker might say. You cataloging what I wear now?”
“You have no idea.” I mean, I call it recon, not stalking.
She just shakes her head and turns to the window. “The options have dried up a bit. But everything looks so different in person. The pictures online just don’t tell the tale. I visited with my parents yesterday and they told me about how they just knew they’d found their forever home when they walked into it. They said it felt like the most perfect place to fill with their story. I’m hoping to get that feeling soon. I don’t want to wear out my welcome here.”
She finally turns back to me, asking, “What about you? You seem to love your place. Did you know when you walked in that it would be home?”
“Not really. I mean I loved its potential, so I tore it down to the studs and remodeled the entire apartment.” I share as I switch lanes, zooming past someone who probably shouldn’t have a license. “I grew up in a quaint small town a few hours from Denver. My childhood home has the vibe your parents were talking about. My place here doesn’t quite feel the same, but I love it for what it is.”
Stopping at a light, I lean back against the headrest, turning to her to find she’s already watching me.
We stare at each other for a few beats before she licks her lips, asking, “How did your parents meet?”
I follow the movement before I respond, my voice a little gruffer. “They met in college. She was studying fashion merchandising, and he was getting a business degree. Let them tell it, she was wearing some outlandish outfit when he spotted her across the quad, and he just had to talk to her. They fell in love, secretly married within a year, and Mom moved to Colorado to be with him.”
“Aww, I love that story. Tell me more about your family.”
“They are still married and happily in love. They’ll be celebrating their anniversary soon. I told you I’m the youngest of four kids? I have an older brother and two older sisters. My sisters were my best friends growing up. That relationship with my brother came a bit later. But I’m the best uncle to three nephews and two nieces. I don’t get to see them as much as I would like to, but I spoil them rotten every chance I get.”
Her smile is soft as she watches me, and we ride in comfortable silence for several minutes before I spot the turnoff onto the dirt road.
Her eyes widen as I drive deeper into the wooded area. We have about ninety minutes of sunlight left but darkness still surrounds us.
“Okay, seriously. What’s going on?”
“What did my note say?”
“Have you ever fucked under the stars?” She does a poor imitation of my voice, making hers deeper, and I laugh.
“Smart ass. You answered no, so I’ll be fucking you out here, in the middle of nowhere, where you can scream as loud as you want.”
She doesn’t say anything as we finally come to the clearing, and she spots everything I’ve set up.
“Xan,” she whispers. “What did you do?”
Xan . I love when she calls me that.
Pulling to a stop, I take in her wide eyes and my smile grows at her shock. Score one for me.
“This is more than fucking under the stars.”
I shrug. “We’re a few hours away from you seeing stars, the sunset will be nice to look at from here. So, consider this foreplay. You can do with some delayed gratification, can’t you, London?”
She doesn’t respond as I jump from the truck and rush around to help her out.
“Come on, babycakes. Check out what I got for you.” My excitement overflows as I try to see everything through her eyes.
Helping her down from the truck, I lead her to the surprise. She wanted a simple date, and I needed to finally get her naked, wet, and begging for me in a bed. So, I compromised.
In the center of the clearing is a California king raised up on a wooden platform. A fluffy white comforter, silk sheets, and pillows invite us to relax. The canopy bed frame is carved from these very trees and is draped in sheer white panels and protected by retractable netting. Our bed faces the gigantic cinema screen I set up for a movie night. The screen stands proudly in these last rays of afternoon sunlight as the portable heaters even out the temps under this awning of trees.
To our left, Adirondack chairs encircle the blazing fire pit, so we can roast marshmallows for our s’mores. To our right, is the concession stand with all her favorite sweet treats. Skittles, peanut butter M&Ms, Reese’s cups, popcorn, sour patch kids, Haribo sour gummies, lemonheads, nachos with all the toppings, and the necessities for our mega double stuffed s’mores. Staked lights line a path to the bathroom I had built that’s equipped with a generous enclosed shower.
“Xander, this is too much,” she whispers.
“Now, what did I tell you about that? It’s never too much, especially for you,” I say, stroking her cheek.
Leaning into my palm, her smile is soft as her green eyes glow golden in the sun. “I really can’t believe you did all of this just for me.”
“Believe it, baby. I’ll do it all if you let me. There’s nothing I want more than to bring a smile to your beautiful face.”
The smile that lifts her lips is so breathtaking, my heart stutters a few beats, and I have to close my eyes to gather myself.
Pulling away, I plaster a smile to my face, not wanting her to see just how deep I’m in and scare her off.
Bending at the waist, I make a sweeping gesture. “Wine slushie for milady? Right this way.”
“Wine slushies?!” she squeals as she moves toward the set up. “You know the way to my heart, Alexander Grant,” she calls over her shoulder.
“From your lips…” I murmur, following her to the slushie machine.
She starts with the white wine mango slushie, and I grab a water before taking her hand, leading her to the bed.
“Right to bed, Mr. Grant? I knew you were a cad.”
Helping her up on the platform, she sits at the foot of the bed, and I go to my knees before her. “I’m sure we’ve talked about this before, Ms. Cameron. You can call me that as much as you want, but tonight, you just might be calling me stud, because I’m about to fuck you into this mattress,” I murmur, lifting her foot and placing it on my thigh.
Her breath hitches as I caress her calf, my eyes never leave her face as I undo the first boot and slip it off, before doing the same thing with her other foot.
“Get in bed, London. You’re going to get comfortable, and I’m going to ply you with wine and your favorite treats, and we’re going to Netflix and chill. Got it?”
Her wide eyes scan my face before she scrambles up the bed, somehow not spilling a drop of her slushie. “Okay, I guess I can accept outside clothes in a bed outside.”
“That’s my good girl,” I say rising. Removing my boots and socks, I move to join her in bed as she pulls the comforter back for me to slide in.
Running her hands across the bedding, she smiles at me. “Silk sheets? Silk pillowcases?”
“Oh yeah.” I turn to the little basket next to the bed and side table. “Here is a silk bonnet for your hair, but the silk pillowcases should work too, right?”
She laughs, the tinkling sound shooting warmth through my veins.
“Xander, you… The silk sheets, pillowcases, and even this bonnet. You thought about my hair for this date?”
“Of course. I think about you and what you need a hundred times a day. I want you to enjoy tonight without any worries. I like to take care of you,” I say, stealing a kiss. “Is that okay?”
“It's more than okay, stud,” she says as she looks around. “You've thought of everything. You have all my favorite foods, wine. This sumptuous bed.” She sighs dreamily. “But the real question is what movie are we going to watch?”
“Well, something we’ll both enjoy,” I tell her, grabbing the remote.
“Is that right?” she murmurs before taking another sip of her drink.
“Yes. It’s something that we share a love of.”
“What's that?”
“ Casablanca .”
“Oh, Xander. Tonight is perfect.”
“Anything for you, my love.”
Her quiet whimper at my words breaks through the last of my restraint, even with all the romantic plans I had in place. It was over for that for now. The pull to her is too strong. Tossing her wine over the side of the bed, our lips are drawn together. My tongue caresses the seam as I pry them open, plunging in, tasting the sweetness of the wine, her tongue cold from her drink, and I suck and nibble to warm her up.
Moans fall from her lips, and I eat them up, kissing her greedily, the taste of her drags me deeper into this obsession to own her.
“Xan,” she whispers when I finally let her up for air.
“I know, baby. I know.” Rising, I pull my sweater over my head, tossing it aside. “Let me take care of you. Can I do that for you, baby?”
She nods, and I remove her jacket and long-sleeved shirt, before she lies back against the pillows. Her lip caught between her teeth as she follows my movements.
“Will you let me cherish you tonight, London?” My voice is low, desperate, as I trail fingers down her delicate neck to her exposed collar bones.
Kissing down her body, I position myself at the end of the bed, removing her socks, my thumbs running along the delicate arch of her feet.
Teeth sink deeper into that plump lip as I continue to stroke and caress her. To have her here like this, to be able to finally touch her, love her, the way I’ve wanted since the first time our eyes clashed at the wedding has euphoria flying off me in waves.
Bringing her foot to my face, our heated gaze’s fuse together as I kiss along her soft skin, her pretty pink painted toes wiggling in my embrace.
Her black leggings emphasize her long legs, the tempting curve of her hips, and my hands seek to feel her delicious softness, and every dip and swell of her beautiful body.
“You’re breathtaking,” I whisper into the quiet surrounding us.
When she lifts her ass without me saying a word, I reward her, tugging the tight garment down those shapely legs, my fingertips trailing along her supple skin.
“Stop teasing,” she pants as my fingers dig into her hips.
“None of that, babycakes. You gave me permission to cherish you and that’s what I’m going to do all fucking night.”
The shiver that runs through her has the blood pulsing in my dick. I need to get inside her, but I’m enjoying unwrapping my most precious gift too much to rush it. Once she’s naked, except for the sexy black lace panties and bralette, I allow myself another moment to be mesmerized by her beauty.
“How are you this perfect?” I murmur against her skin, inhaling the fresh clean scent of her. “Everything about you is what I want, what I fucking crave,” I moan in her ear as she exposes her neck to me. Biting into her flesh, I quickly lick it when she whimpers.
“God, you’re driving me crazy. Rip these panties off and fuck me, Xander.” The desperation in her voice pouring gasoline on the raging inferno already blazing along my skin.
Growling, I cup her pussy in my hand, the skimpy lace soaked through, but the heat of her practically burns me.
“So fucking bossy,” I say, massaging her with my palm. “Do you tell me what to do? No. You ask fucking nicely, on your fucking knees, and only then can you beg me for what you want. And if you ask nicely enough, maybe I'll give it to you.”
Her moans shoot fire through my veins, and I can’t stop the rambling words from falling from my lips.
“This is my pussy,” I growl. “And I’ll love it and fuck it when and how I want. Do you understand?” she whimpers her agreement, and I reward her with a nip to her exposed skin. “But since you’ve been such a good girl, coming out here with a smile on your face to get fucked in the woods, under the stars, I’ll reward you. You want that, don’t you, cakes?”
“Oh, god, yes.” Her hips rise to meet my palm and I fucking love when my baby’s inhibitions fall away.
“That’s my perfect little slut.”
Ripping the flimsy lace from her body, her legs are up and spread before she can blink, and my head is buried between her silky thighs.
Her cries as I feast on her fill the silence around us and urge me on as I practically hump the bed. Those sounds and the taste of her have me hard as fucking steel and I just need to relieve this pressure so I can enjoy her fully, completely, and let my body show her what my words can’t.
She thrashes as I split her roughly with two fingers, my tongue still lapping and delving deep within her pussy. A light sheen of sweat covers her body as she jerks and twists, trying to get away from the intense pleasure, but not really wanting to.
“Don’t run from it,” I growl. “You’re so fucking wet. Your pussy is begging for me.”
She pants, her hips thrusting to meet my mouth. “Yes. Please, Xan.”
“Fuck, you taste so good, baby. I can’t stop. I never want to stop, but I need to get inside you,” I speak into her, loving every moan my mouth and words evoke.
“Don’t stop, I’m going to come. Please, don’t stop,” she begs.
“That’s it.” I dive deeper, fucking her with my tongue. “Come for me. Paint my tongue, my face, in your cum.”
My words do the trick. Her thighs clamp against my head like earmuffs as she fucks my face greedily, and I’m just as savage, pressing into her, my mouth licking and sucking everything before me. Those delicious cries of ecstasy are drowned out by her thick thighs and I’m only slightly disappointed before I’m rewarded, as she comes with a shout. And I lap up every drop.
Slowly, the tension squeezing the life out of me lessens as her thighs fall away, leaving her open for me, and I continue to nip and suck. Strong hands grip my hair, pulling me from my happy place, and glowing eyes meet mine.
“Enough.” Her voice has a hoarse little rasp to it now. “I need you inside me. Please .”
My heart lurches at the look on her face, her eyes so soft, as she strokes my hair, her thumb rubbing small circles on my forehead. The tenderness in the moment is not what I expected, but it’s so fucking welcome.
Moving up her body, our lips find each other in a hungry kiss, as we share the taste of her between us. Greedy hands move up and down my back, grip my ass, and pull me closer.
“Pants. Off. Now,” she huffs against my lips, and I laugh. Her little hands working my fly open before she’s pushing my pants down over my ass, and I help as much as I can without pulling my lips away from hers. Shifting, her feet push them down the rest of the way, before her hands find my ass again.
“You were naked under those? You’ve just been slanging all this dick around in my face?”
I’d laugh if I weren’t so fucking hard it hurt.
“All this dick?” Taking her hand, we circle my cock, and I thrust into her warm palm with a hiss. “You feel what you do to me?”
“I need this,” she moans. “Split me open, stud. Do what you promised.”
Sitting up, I grab a condom from under the pillow. Ripping it open with my teeth as London’s eyes trail me, I roll it on, then give myself another squeeze.
“I swear that thing gets bigger every time I see it.”
“Don't worry, it’ll be a perfect fit. You know, I don’t call him Magic—”
“Don’t finish that sentence. I don’t want to know what you call him badly enough to ruin our night.”
I chuckle, sliding between her thighs. This , I fucking loved this. Laughing during sex is my new kink.
“Fuck, look at you.” Pulling her bra down under her tits, her nipples hardening under my attention. “Open and ready for me.”
The contrast between the white sheets and her rich dark skin highlights her beauty and perfectly outlines every luscious curve of her body.
“I’ve woken up hard and aching after dreaming of you naked beneath me, and I’m going to savor every second.”
Taking a nipple into my mouth, she arches as I suck and lave like a starving man.
“Fuck, every inch of you is delicious, my favorite flavor. You have to stop being so stingy with my favorite treats.”
Another moan shoots adrenaline through my body. I want to hear it over and over again. I’d pay to listen to her cries on a fucking loop, and it still wouldn’t be enough. This woman has consumed my waking thoughts and my dreams for months.
Fuck.
I want to devour her, tease her, until she’s just as wrecked and as out of control as I am every fucking day. I wasn't lying when I said I wanted to fuck her into this mattress. It’s a need. A desire to fold her up like a pretzel as I fuck into her without abandon, because she’s mine to do with as I please.
But I also want to hear her laugh, hold her hand as we walk down the street, show her off, and kiss her lips anytime I want. But, in my heart, I know that it’ll never be enough. I'll never get enough of her. She's my addiction and I'm happily indulging.
Shifting, my eyes meet hers again, those glowing orbs stealing every bit of breath from my lungs as she nods, and I plunge into her.
Our moans are simultaneous, as we melt together, our bond forged in fire. Bringing my forehead to hers, we’re locked in a stare, our eyes giving away the secrets that haven’t crossed our lips. Grinding deeper, I eat up each gasp that escapes through those pouty lips. If I thought our coming together tonight would be fast and chaotic. I was wrong.
We rock together in this perfect wave of giving and taking, loving and caressing. Our mouths find each other again and again, the soft sweeps of our tongues leave behind words unsaid, impressions, thoughts of forever, and pleas for more.
Time seems to stand still. It’s as if I were outside of my body looking down and cherishing each moment, every exhalation. Moving slowly, I drive deep, dragging my cock through her pussy, her nails dig into my skin. Up and down my back, my arms, even my chest. We're floating in this cloud of euphoria, our bodies relaying just how much we need each other and just how deeply we are connected. Not just in this moment but for always. Fuck, I’ve never felt like this, experienced anything like this before.
I was gone. Gone on her for fucking ever. This was it. She was it for me. I’d known it for weeks, maybe even months. I love London Cameron with every fiber of my being, and I was never letting her go. Even knowing every moment wouldn't be this perfect, this incredible, I still wanted each one of them with her. My love. My life. My one wish upon a star.
My hand shakes as I work between our bodies, finding her clit, rubbing and circling how I know she loves it. I’m treated to her cries before her teeth sink into my chest, her mouth wet and wild as she sucks a bruise into my skin. I love how feral she is when she lets go, allowing me to break her down to this animalistic need we share only for each other.
“ Xan , gah ,” she gasps, “I'm g-gonna come. Fuck, no… I don't want this to end. I never want this to end.”
“We have forever, baby. Come for me. Let me hear you,” I grunt into her slick neck.
Her scream splits the air as she comes, fucking strangling my dick. I give her no reprieve, doing just what I said I would. In the span of two heartbeats, her knees are up to her chin, her shiny eyes locked with mine as I pound into her, the sound of our skin slapping echoing through the trees surrounding us.
I can’t stop the growl that starts deep in my chest. “You’re mine, London Cameron. You know that, right?”
She cries out when I hit a spot no one has ever reached deep inside her. “Yes, yours!”
“Fuck, yes.” The relief that flows through me triggers my own orgasm as it flows through my body, lighting up every molecule of my being. I go rigid as spurt after spurt busts from my dick filling the condom. Yet again I regret not being able to truly mark her as mine.
Her legs fall away, and our heaving chests come together as I hold her in my arms.
“Holy shit, babycakes. Did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine,” she pants. “I mean, I came so many times, I almost passed out. That was…”
“Perfect,” we say in unison.
Our lips meet again, drawn like magnets, and my heart nearly skips a beat. What if she’s not ready? How would I go back to before? Before her. Before this. Before I gave her my heart.