Chapter 10
Cliff knew that it would be wrong to kiss Stella.
But he did it anyway.
And now, he regretted it. Because after a taste of her lips and feeling that sweet, tight pussy of hers gripping his fingers, he would now have the memory engraved into his mind.
No other woman would come close to the few short moments he’d had with her.
Fuck.
He banged his head on the steering wheel for what seemed like the hundredth time after she left.
Stupid idiot.
He’d been so consumed with jealousy over that fucking pretty boy gym teacher, he couldn’t see straight. He could barely control himself, watching them together today. When she said she was going to sleep with that fucker, he had lost his Goddamned mind.
His wolf, on the other hand, howled with delight for some reason. It had been riding him hard, driving him crazy, telling him to go after her and also tear apart the rival that dared to sniff around Stella.
If he was smart, he wouldn’t have let his wolf—and cock—do the thinking. And he didn’t even have anything to show for it, except the scent and feel of her being permanently stored in his brain.
Devon would kill him if he knew what he had done. That was all the more reason to stay away from her. Besides, he meant every word he said to her tonight. He respected her too much. He couldn’t offer her anything more than sex, because once he was done with this job, he was outta here.
Sooner than later, hopefully.
He wouldn’t leave her alone now, of course. Not when she was vulnerable. Did he forget that she was still in danger? That it might even be one of their own trying to harm her?
Moss and dirt. With a touch of hay.
That was the scent he had smelled in the hallway after he found Stella running toward him, fear in her eyes. She’d been scared—good, because it was likely her instinct that had saved her today.
His wolf let out a growl. It did not like that another’s scent was so close to her.
And neither did he.
That someone had stalked her, followed, and God only knew what else they would have done to her, made him rage. At the very least, he would make sure she was safe before he left.
Grabbing his phone from the dash, he dialed the number for the office and then pressed Uncle Quinn’s extension. He was assigned as head of this particular operation, so Cliff told him about what had happened.
“That is strange,” Quinn remarked. “And you don’t recognize the scent at all?”
“No.”
“All right, I’ll make a note of it. Everything okay over there?”
“Yeah. Except … do you think you guys can send anyone else to help out? I need to get back to New York.”
“Well, you’re in luck. Jacob should be done with a job down in New Orleans soon. I’ll have him head straight there.”
“Thanks, Uncle Quinn.”
While he still did not like the idea of leaving Stella alone with Jacob, his cousin was the best person for the job. Jacob would be able to protect Stella, not to mention, as a hybrid who could control fire, he could burn anyone who tried to get within six feet of Stella.
They chatted for a few minutes to iron out some more details before they hung up. Cliff stared at the blank screen for a moment, then glanced back at the house. There was no way he could spend the night in there with her. Not when all he wanted was to break down her door, pin her to her bed, and make her moan for him again.
God, I’m so screwed.
Truthfully, he hadn’t been with that many women since Madelyn. Casual encounters had met most of his needs, but not all of them. There were still parts of himself he hadn’t exposed to partners for fear of scaring them away. Only Madelyn had been able to gain his trust enough for that.
But with Stella, he was torn. She was sweet and kind, so he didn’t want her to see that side of him. Hell, she might have glimpsed it already—the way he was obsessed with her from the beginning and how he just hauled her out of her seat and onto his lap. He’d half expected her to scream and slap him, but she accepted his dominance. She did so beautifully, riding his fingers, coming at his command.
That only made him want her more.
Which was why he was even more determined to leave her alone.
Cliff spent the rest of the afternoon—and a very uncomfortable night—inside the truck, keeping an eye on the house. He went inside some time before dawn to change and shower, then trudged back to the truck to wait for her.
It was better that way as he wasn’t distracted, and he could catch any intruders if they tried to break in. The fact that someone out there got close enough to scare Stella did not sit right with him, and he swore no one would ever get that chance again.
At least while he was here. Because once Jacob arrived, she would no longer be his responsibility.
But for now, he had to do his job.
“Good morning,” she greeted as she entered the truck.
God, she looked gorgeous, just as she always did. But there was something about her today that made it impossible to keep his eyes off her. Maybe it was the way her blue sweater brought out the color of her eyes. Or maybe because said sweater clung tightly to the breasts he had felt press against his chest. They had been soft, and he guessed were just the right size for his hands and?—
“Cliff?” She cocked her head at him. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he grumbled as he started the engine.
Somehow, he managed to get them through the drive, despite the urge to keep looking at her and her scent teasing him. He let out a sigh of relief once they arrived at the parking lot. “I’ll wait here for you.”
“Okay.” She didn’t even give him a backward glance as she headed toward the main building.
Cliff spent the rest of the afternoon listening to podcasts and the radio while keeping his eye on the entrance. Even before Stella went back to work after the kidnapping attempt, Lizzie had checked out the security at Crestholm and mentioned how it was top-notch, so he wasn’t too worried about her safety while she was inside. The carnival yesterday had been open to the public, which was probably how that Lycan he scented got in. But, during school hours, there was only one way in and out of the campus, and roving security patrolled the perimeter.
Three o’clock rolled around, and Cliff went into full alert, knowing Stella would come out anytime. But by three fifteen when she hadn’t appeared, alarm bells went off in his head. So, he got out of the truck and marched over to the main entrance.
He sighed with relief when he saw Stella there—but a snarl of displeasure escaped his throat when he saw she wasn’t alone. That prick gym teacher was there, but so was another woman—a pretty, young brunette who was giggling at something the prick said.
“And so, I was … oh hey, it’s your bodyguard.” Tyler nodded at Cliff. “I didn’t get your name by the way, buddy.”
“That’s because I didn’t give it. Are you ready, Stella?”
She glanced over at Tyler and the brunette. “Uh, yeah, I was about to head over to you.”
Cliff frowned. Something was not quite right here. Stella’s shoulders slumped, her posture hunched in. The tiniest frown line appeared between her eyebrows—minuscule, but he’d never seen it before.
“All right, we’ll see you tomorrow, Stel,” Tyler said. “It’s gonna be awesome, right, Jane?”
“For sure.” She blushed as Tyler put an arm around her. “Free booze is always a plus.”
“We should go.” Stella turned on her heel and marched away.
Cliff narrowed his eyes at Tyler and the brunette, then followed her. “Stella.” She kept walking, as if she didn’t hear him. “Stella!” It only took five strides for him to catch up to her. “Hey, what’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
Sidestepping her, he blocked the path and crossed his arms over his chest. “Nuh-uh. Something’s wrong, and you’re going to tell me. Did that douchebag upset you?”
“No.” But the tiniest twitch of her lips gave away the lie.
“Stella …”
“It’s silly, okay?” She huffed. “And really, I’d forgotten about it, with everything that’s happened. Maybe I won’t even go tomorrow.”
“Go where?”
“To the Nevada Association of Independent Schools Awards Night. It doesn’t matter anyway.”
“It doesn’t sound like it doesn’t matter. Tell me what’s wrong.”
“We … that is …” She glanced back as if to check that no one was watching or listening to them. “Tyler and I had made plans … that is, we just talked about maybe, possibly going together. But we didn’t set anything solid.” Her teeth chomped at her lip. “I just … I thought I had a date, but apparently, he’s bringing his own date. Again.”
“Again?”
“Never mind. It’s fine. I’ll go alone. Or not go.”
“I can go with you.” The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them.
Fuck.
“What? As my date?”
“As your … friend. And bodyguard. It would make things easier, so I don’t have to stay away and watch you from afar.”
Or pound that asshole’s face in if he even breathes wrong on you.
She raised an eyebrow skeptically.
“Hey, I know I don’t look like much now, but I’ve been told I clean up good.”
Her lips quirked with the smallest smile. “I’m sure you do. But you probably didn’t bring anything to wear.”
“Is it formal? Black tie?”
“Cocktail attire. There’s a dinner and supposedly we have a couple of VIP tables at the nightclub afterward.” She winced. “Oh dear …”
“What’s wrong now.”
“It’s … on The Strip. At the Panorama Hotel. I know you don’t like?—”
“That’s fine. And I do have a suit.” It was SOP for agents to bring one wherever they went, in case they had a VIP client. “So, it’ll be okay.”
She eyed him suspiciously. “Are you sure you want to go? Because, really, I could always tell them I’m sick.”
“It’s fine. Unless you don’t want to go.”
Her face faltered for a moment. “I … I should go. Everyone will be there, including Crestholm’s board members and other important people from other schools.”
“Then we’ll go. Come on, we should get you home.”
When they arrived back at her house, he expected her to bolt right out like he did yesterday. To his surprise, when she unbuckled her seat belt, she turned to face him. “Cliff … I don’t want things to be awkward between us. I mean, especially with Charley and Devon and the baby and all.”
“Of course.”
“We’re going to be running into each other for the next couple of years and maybe … well, we could forget about what happened yesterday and just act like adults. We can do that, right?”
Sure, he could act like an adult around her. But forgetting her taste and scent was an entirely different matter. “Sure.”
“Great. Now, please don’t sleep in the truck again, okay? I feel terrible that you’re avoiding me and making yourself suffer. It’s hot and cramped, and I bet you didn’t get a good night’s sleep. You don’t have to spend time with me, and I can stay in my room, just … don’t sleep out here.”
Cliff shouldn’t be surprised by the fact that she genuinely didn’t want him to be uncomfortable. But then again, that’s who she was. Sweet, generous, and kind Stella. “I won’t.”
“Great.” A smile lit up her face, making his stomach flip-flop. “I’m gonna have some of those leftovers. You’re welcome to join me if you want.”
“Sounds good.”
Despite his own feelings, he knew Stella was right. They were adults, and they could act like it. For Charley’s and her baby’s sake, he would make the effort to be normal around Stella. He would forget about his obsession with her, forget about how much he wanted her, if only to keep everything normal and back to the way it was. Perhaps over time, this craving for her would lessen and disappear altogether.
Yes, that was it. That was a good plan.
* * *
For the next twenty hours or so, Cliff reminded himself that this wasn’t a date, and he was doing his job, i.e., protecting her from crazy kidnappers who were still out there. Jacob would arrive any day now, and he would leave Vegas—and Stella—behind and forget everything that happened.
Yes, that was a good plan.
Of course, that plan went out the window the very next day when, as he waited for Stella in the living room, she walked out looking like a goddess. Her golden hair hung in sexy waves around her pretty face, while the short, off the shoulder blue dress she wore showed off her shapely legs and delectable cleavage. The spiked black heels on her feet made his temperature rise a few degrees.
His inner wolf yipped in delight.
“How do I look?” she asked as she twirled around, the skirt flying around her.
He swallowed, trying to moisten his dry throat. “G-great.”
“You look nice too.” A blush bloomed on her face as her eyes roved over him.
“Thanks.” Thankfully, the suit he had in his bag wasn’t too wrinkled, though his shoes didn’t quite match his outfit. Still, he preened under her appreciation. “Are you ready? We should leave soon or we’ll be late.”
“I just need to grab my purse and we can go.”
They arrived at the ballroom of the Panorama Hotel and Casino with a few minutes to spare, and there were still people milling about outside the entrance.
“We need to find our table assignment.” Stella looped her arm through his. “I think that’s the registration table over there. Let’s go see.”
“Stella, you made it!” Tyler greeted. He stood at the front of the registration table with his date and waved them over. “You look great.”
Cliff curled his hands into fists. There had to be hundreds of people at this thing, but they had to run into this prick and his date first.
Stella ignored him as she checked the list on the table. “Looks like we’re at table twenty-three.”
“I like your dress,” Tyler’s date said to Stella.
“Thanks, yours is nice, too, Jane.”
“Thank you. I—” Her mouth dropped open as she looked over to Cliff. “Oh. Hi. I don’t think we were introduced yesterday.” She held her hand out.
Cliff did not miss the woman’s appreciative leer nor the way Stella stiffened at his side. “No, we weren’t.” Placing a hand on the small of her back, he steered her away from the couple so they could go inside the ballroom.
“That wasn’t very nice,” she said.
“I don’t have to be nice to anyone I don’t want to,” he replied. “And neither should you feel obligated, especially to people who disrespect you. You deserve better than that.”
She flashed him a small smile. “Thank you.”
Stella led him to their assigned table and sat down for the dinner and awards. Thankfully, Tyler and his date were seated at the table behind them, and Stella’s back was to them. Once in a while, though, he glanced at them and saw the prick looking at Stella with a frown on his face. His date, on the other hand, pouted as she tried to get his attention.
Good.
He placed an arm around Stella’s chair as she watched the awards ceremony, and once in a while, he would brush his hands against the sleeves of her dress or lean over close so his nose was millimeters away from her hair. While it was all innocent, from Tyler’s angle, it likely looked very intimate, which Cliff hoped the asshole watched all night.
“Everything okay?” she whispered to him.
“Yeah.” Even under the dimmed lighting of the ballroom, she looked luminous, glowing with an unearthly beauty he’d never seen before. On impulse, he pushed back a lock of stray hair from her face, his thumbs “accidentally” brushing her cheek, making a blush bloom there. “Everything is perfect.”
Still red-cheeked, she turned back to the ceremony. Maybe he did what he did because he knew Tyler was looking at them, but he actually didn’t give a fuck about that asshole anymore.
Once the awarding was over, the host announced that everyone was invited to the VIP section of the nightclub attached to the casino.
“I’m not much a clubbing person,” Stella confessed as they got up from the table.
“Me neither.” Not anymore, at least. Sure, he liked going out for a boys’ night with his cousins back in New York once in a while, but that wasn’t something they did every weekend.
“Should we head out?” She bit at her lip. “We can if you want to. Honestly, I was worried about you.”
“You were worried about me?”
“Yeah. That being here might bring back bad memories for you. Or maybe someone might recognize you.”
He hadn’t really thought of that. In fact, nothing about being here bothered him, at least not as much as he thought it would. However, he wasn’t quite ready for the night to end. “I wouldn’t mind going back, but since there’s free booze and all, why don’t we just have one drink?”
She chuckled. “All right.”
They followed the other guests toward the nightclub, located in the top level of the casino. When they reached the club, the hostesses ushered them up to the VIP balcony, which had a view of the main dance floor below, but also scenic views of the glittering Las Vegas skyline through the humungous windows around them. Servers were already handing out drinks, so he got a whiskey for himself and a vodka soda for Stella, then joined some of her coworkers at one of the reserved tables. Cliff found himself content by her side, watching her as she chatted and joked with the people around them. There had been no sign of Tyler so far, and Cliff hoped he had walked off a very short bridge somewhere, never to be heard from again.
“This club is bangin’, right?” Jim, a coworker of Stella’s said.
“Sure.” Actually, Cliff was beginning to hate this place. The throbbing lights, the thumping noise, and the stuffy air were starting to get on his nerves.
“Say … Cliff, right?” Jim narrowed his gaze at him. “I can’t help but feel I know you. Have we met before?”
Cliff knocked back the rest of his whisky. “I don’t think so, Jim. Stella?”
She stopped chatting with the blonde on her left. “Yes?”
“I think I’m ready to head out.”
“Sure.” She glanced back at her coworkers. “Sorry, guys, I gotta go.”
“Aww, come on!” the blonde said. “Just one more drink!”
“I’m really tired, guys.” She shook her drink, the remaining ice tinkling against the glass. “But I do want to finish this one at least.”
“Of course. I need to go to the men’s room anyway.”
“I’ll be done by the time you get back.”
“Great.” He squeezed her shoulders. “I won’t be too long.”
Cliff made his way down from the balcony, then headed toward the men’s room. He quickly finished his business and made a beeline for the staircase, but before he could go through the ropes, a hand landed on his arm.
“Cliff?”
He whirled around at the sound of the familiar feminine voice.
Fuck.
The world spun under his feet, and he grabbed at the railing.
His inner wolf, recognizing who she was, let out a warning bark.
Madelyn flashed him a smile. “I thought it was you. How have you been?”
Throat suddenly dry, he could barely speak. “What are you doing here?”
“Me?” She chuckled, her hand clutching at her chest, which was nearly spilling out of the neckline of her tight sparkly silver dress. “I should be asking you that, shouldn’t I?”
“I should get back?—”
“Wait! Don’t go.”
Fury began to bubble in him. “I have nothing to say to you.”
She twirled a lock of hair with her finger. “So, I guess you’re still mad about what happened?”
“Mad?” That word didn’t even begin to cover how he felt. She ruined his life.
“I guess I’d be angry too.” She put on that pout he had been so familiar with—the one she used to get what she wanted. “But you just left that night without a word!” She stomped one platformed heel. “You blocked my phone and all my socials. Why, you didn’t even pay for the hotel bill. I should be mad at you too.”
“Whatever, Madelyn. I’m leaving.”
“Please!” Sidling closer to him, she gripped at his biceps, her fingers digging into him. “I’m so sorry. I haven’t forgotten about you all these years. Do you ever think about me?”
“Never.” Was she insane?
“I don’t believe that.” Her eyes blazed with anger—but also something else Cliff recognized right away. The look of desperation.
And he had an inkling why, because even though he vowed to never even think about Las Vegas and what happened that night, he couldn’t help but hear some rumors and speculations over the last few years. “What’s wrong, Madelyn? Is Bonetti not giving you everything you need? Still hasn’t left his wife, has he?”
Her mouth twisted. “Joe and I have an understanding.”
“I bet you do.”
“I can walk away anytime and?—”
“Cliff?”
He froze.
Fuck me.
He had hoped he heard wrong, but when he turned, saw that it was definitely Stella. She stood above him, a few steps up the staircase. “Stella, I?—”
“Who is this?” she asked. “An old friend?”
Madelyn’s lips pulled back into a malicious smile. “You could say that.” Before Cliff could stop her, she grabbed at him, pulled at his lapels, and brought his head down for a kiss.
“Fuck off!” He managed to push her off before their lips touched. A low, feral growl made the hair at the back of his neck stand on end. At first he thought it was his wolf, but he realized it was Stella—towering over them, her shoulders hunched, fingers in a claw gesture, and her eyes ablaze with the presence of her wolf.
“Fuck!”
Stella lunged at Madelyn, but Cliff managed to catch her. She thrashed in his arms, managing to elbow him in the chest.
“Stop it!” Gritting his teeth, he swung her around and threw her over his shoulder, then rushed toward the back of the room.
He didn’t know where he was going, but he had to get her out before anyone saw her shift, so he hurried through the first door he saw. It led him through the service area, where he rushed past bewildered waiters and dishwashers, then bolted toward the nearest exit sign. It turned out to be the staircase, and since they were fifty stories up, he headed toward the roof.
“Put me down!” Stella shouted as they burst out into the empty rooftop. “Get your hands off me!”
He obliged and dropped her to her feet. “Stella, calm down.”
She swayed side to side before she found her balance, then her hands clawed her unruly locks away from her face. “That was her, wasn’t it?”
“She doesn’t concern you.”
For some reason, that only made her angrier as a snarl ripped from her throat, and her eyes glowed brighter. With her hair mussed, dress disheveled, and face filled with indignation, she looked like an avenging angel coming down from heaven.
Cliff wasn’t sure if he was scared or turned on.
“What I mean is, you shouldn’t let her bother you, sweetheart.” Carefully, he inched toward her, hands raised in front of him so she could keep an eye on them. “She means nothing to me.”
“Then why was she all over you? Why did you kiss her?”
“She was the one who pulled me down—and I didn’t kiss her. Told her to fuck off and pushed her off before her lips even touched mine.” He was right in Stella’s personal space now. “I don’t want her.”
Her shoulders relaxed and her expression softened. “I know. My mind tells me that. After what she did, the trauma she put you through, I told myself that there was no way you could want her. But …”
“What?”
She massaged her temple with her fingers. “It was like something was taking over me. I think … I think it was my wolf.”
“It was,” he confirmed. “I saw it. Your eyes were glowing.”
Her face paled. “It wanted m-me t-to harm her. Cliff, I swear I’ve never?—”
“Shh …” Not knowing what else to do, he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her. “I know. You would never hurt anyone, sweetheart.” Her body shook as he held her, so he kissed the top of her head. “It’s scary, right? Your wolf wanting to take over. Feeling its emotions. It’s like losing control of a car you’re driving.”
“Yeah.”
“It’s natural. And you’ve never done it before, so it’s okay to be scared. I’m sorry I carried you up here like a sack of potatoes, but I didn’t want your first shift to be so public and in front of your coworkers. I wanted you to have a choice.”
She inhaled a deep breath, then blew it out. “What am I going to do? I thought … I mean, to be honest, I’ve never given it a thought. The whole Lycan thing. Charley asked me if I’ve ever shifted or felt my wolf, but I didn’t know how to answer her. The truth is, I think I’ve always felt it. When I was a kid, I thought it was my imaginary friend. Then I grew up and forgot about it, but ever since I found out, it’s like it came back again.”
“You feel it, don’t you? Like it’s lurking inside you?”
She nodded. “Yeah. But it’s never tried to come out before. What am I going to do? W-what if you’re not around next time and I accidentally shift? What if I hurt someone for real?”
“There are ways to control it. All of us train to control our wolves when we’re young.”
“But what about me?” Lifting her head, she gazed up at him with those shimmering blue eyes. “Does that mean I’m too old?”
“No. Devon learned a couple weeks ago, and it didn’t take him too long. If you want, I can ask my Uncle Jackson—he’s the one who trained Devon—if he could help you.”
She bit her lip. “But I should probably consider it.”
“Yeah. For now, you need to restrain your emotions. Extreme stress, emotion, and trauma have been known to cause a Lycan to lose control. Find out what triggered you and avoid it.”
“Trigger? Like—” She squirmed in his arms, and her face flushed.
“What’s the matter?” He loosened his grip around her.
“Nothing.” She turned around, hiding her face from him. “I mean … never mind.”
“Do you know what triggered you? Is it—oh.”
Madelyn.
That’s what—or who—triggered her.
“I’m so sorry you had to run into her.” Stella was so kindhearted, she was probably mad at Madelyn for his sake. “Listen, you don’t have to worry about her. It’s in the past. She ruined my career and my life, but really, I’m much happier now. I don’t even think about her. Bumping into her was pure coincidence.”
“I know. But it’s not that.”
“It’s not?”
“No. Not just that, I mean.” Her teeth chomped at her lips. “I was … jealous.”
“Jealous?” He felt like he’d been struck in the head with a brick.
“Yeah. It’s silly, right?”
Warmth spread across his chest and all over his body. “You don’t have anything to be jealous about.”
“No?”
“No. Why should you? You’re gorgeous and kind and—mmmph!” This time, he was the one caught by surprise as Stella launched herself at him and pressed her lips to his.
Holy shit.
But the kiss was over as quickly as it started as she let go of him and shuffled backward. “Sorry … I shouldn’t have. I mean, you’ve already been forced to kiss—Cliff!”
His arms snaked around her waist, and he hauled her against him. “I would never feel forced with you.” To show her he meant it, he leaned down and brushed his mouth against her.
“Cliff …” she murmured against his lips. “Please … I don’t care about the future or where you want to live or don’t live, whether this is just for now. I just want to be with you tonight. I promise, if this is all you have to give, then I’ll take it.”
“Stella … you don’t know what you’re talking about.” Still, he pressed his mouth to hers and drank from her lips. “Stella, Stella … what am I going to do with you?”
“I can think of a few things,” she replied saucily, then pressed her hips against him, causing his cock to harden instantly.
“I can’t. We can’t.”
Her arms tightened around him. “Yes, you can. We can. I give you permission.”
God, she didn’t know what she was saying. Cliff desperately wanted to do the right thing, but she was making it difficult. Maybe if she heard the truth, she would decide he wasn’t worth it. “Stella, you’re so sweet. Much too sweet for me.”
“I’m not a virgin, if that’s what you’re thinking.”
“It’s not that.” He didn’t care either way. “But …” His hand inched up her back, to her neck, then he wound her hair around his hand and gave a not-so-gentle pull, making her gasp. “I won’t be able to hold myself back with you. If I fuck you, I’m going to want all of you. I’ll mark you, make you mine.” He nuzzled at her ear. “I can’t hold back.”
“Then don’t.” Her pupils blew up, and he could hear her heart pounding in her chest. “I want it all, Cliff. Please.”
Without a second thought, he backed her up against the wall. “I can’t wait. I’ve wanted you too long.”
“Me neither,” she mewled. “I want you so bad.”
Taking her hands in his, he held them above her head and pinned them. His heart thumped with excitement. “If you feel uncomfortable at all, I’ll stop. Promise me you’ll tell me if you want me to stop. Anytime.”
“Yes,” she breathed. “I promise.”
He caught her lips in a rough kiss, his tongue thrusting inside her mouth to taste her sweetness. His hands tightened around her wrists, and he pressed his erection against her belly. She moaned against his mouth and gyrated her hips up at him, the friction causing shivers up and down his spine. He broke the kiss, fearing this would end too soon.
“Keep those hands in place,” he ordered, then trailed kisses down her neck. He breathed in her lavender and sage scent right under her ear where it was concentrated most. The smell sent a deep, primal longing inside him, something about it calling to his most base instinct. He gave her a nip there, and to his surprise, she let out a growl but kept her hands over her head like he asked.
“Good girl.”
Moving lower, he kissed the top of her chest before pulling down her dress to pop out one breast. The nipple was already hard, so he teased and sucked it until she was moaning and pleading. He wished he could see her entire body naked, but he had to admit, seeing her half-dressed, one tit out, and squirming against the wall was even more exciting. He had so many things he wanted to do to her.
But first, he wanted a taste of that pussy.
Kneeling down in front of her, he lifted her skirt and pulled her panties off, which he slipped into the pocket of his coat.
“Don’t move those hands,” he said in a warning tone. Lifting one leg up, he slung it over his shoulder so her pussy lay open and slick in front of him. He plunged right in, licking and sucking at her folds.
“Cliff … oh …”
Her hips pushed up at him, and he grabbed them, keeping her in place with a tight grip that he was sure would leave marks. He continued to feast on her, teasing her clit and plunging his tongue into her tight slit until she was writhing in agony. At the same time, he unzipped his pants and took out his throbbing cock, stroking it as he ate her out.
His tongue flicked at her, faster and faster as he increased the pressure on her clit. His own excitement was at near bursting level. He put her leg down and shot up, hauling her up against the wall, then lined up the tip of his cock with her entrance.
“Yes?” He asked, searching her face for any hesitation.
Blue eyes gleamed with want and promise. “Yes. Please.”
That was all the encouragement he needed. While all he wanted was to plunge into her and fill her, he didn’t want to hurt her either.
“Hold onto me … yes, that’s it.” Her arms wrapped around him in a tight embrace.
Slowly, he pushed into her, inch by inch. God, he felt much too thick for her. She squirmed, but her body adjusted to his girth.
“Please, Cliff,” she moaned. “Don’t hold back. Not with me.”
Fuck.
He wrapped her legs around his waist, the spiked heel of her shoes digging into his back. Once he had her in place and on his cock, he gave her a first thrust, driving her up higher against the wall.
She let out a choked scream as her pupils blew out.
“Shh …” His large palm wrapped around her mouth. “Can’t be too noisy.” She didn’t struggle or scream when he covered her mouth. In fact, her pussy grew even slicker and pulsed around him. Still, she was tight. He already knew he wasn’t going to last long, but he just had to hold on until she came.
He jerked up into her, sliding his cock along her inner walls. She moaned and mewled with each motion, her pussy milking him, rippling around him as he continued his relentless movements. Changing the angle of his hips, and cupping her ass, he thrust deeper into her, finding that right spot that had her crying out and sobbing his name.
Her fingers dug into his shoulders. “Please, please, Cliff. Oh! I’m going to—” She cried out as her pussy rippled around his cock, squeezing it as her orgasm made her writhe against him and the wall. Pushed past his breaking point, he let go, the pressure building up at the base of his spine finally releasing like a valve. His cock pumped out what seemed like ropes and ropes of cum into her, leaving his body shaking like a leaf when he was done.
His knees weakened, but somehow he managed to keep them upright. “Oh, sweetheart.” He groaned into her neck. “Fuck … that was …”
“Amazing,” she finished. “Cliff …”
He withdrew his still-stiff cock from her, then bent down to set her on her feet. “I shouldn’t have?—”
“Don’t say it.”
“No, sweetheart.” He kissed the tiny frown line between her eyebrows. “What I meant to say is that I shouldn’t have taken you here. Not for our first time.” He scrubbed a hand down his face. “And I didn’t last too long either.” Sheesh, he hadn’t been a one-pump-chump since he was a teen, but it was so hard not to come right away when Stella’s sweet little pussy gripped him so tight.
“I came too,” she reminded him.
“Only once.”
“Only once?” Her jaw was practically on the floor. “Isn’t that enough?”
“Oh no, sweetheart. Not with me.” He shoved his hand under her skirt, seeking out the dripping folds of her sweet cunt. She gasped when his finger slipped inside her. “This was just the beginning. I’m going to make you come all night long. I hope you can take what I have to give.”
“I can.” Her eyes glazed over. “I want it.”
Fuck, if he didn’t do something now, he would screw her against the wall again. “Let’s go now.”
“My house?”
“Fuck no, too far. There’s four thousand rooms in this hotel and a hundred fifty thousand up and down The Strip. I’m sure we’ll find a room quicker than if we drive back.”