19. A distraction of the naked variety
A DISTRACTION OF THE NAKED VARIETY
Ro
I can practically feel her stomping behind me toward the water and I grin. She can pretend she’s grumpy about it, but I know perfectly well that Lor doesn’t do anything she doesn’t want to do.
My demon urges have taken a sharp turn in the last few hours, shifting from general chaos and destruction to a singular focus of protecting Lor. From others, from herself, from anything that might hurt her body, mind, or soul.
It’s killing me that I can’t help with her star-chaser gift, but I’m trying to meet her where she’s at and give her what she needs. Starting with letting her talk, giving her space, and then offering a distraction when I sensed she needed an escape.
I glance over my shoulder to see her scowling at the water ahead, and bite my lip to hold in a laugh. She’s so fucking cute it kills me.
“Race you in,” I say, letting a taunting tone underline my words as I raise my eyebrows at her again.
Lor turns that sweet little scowl on me, but her lips twitch, and I know she’s trying not to grin. I let mine grow to make up for it. I can smile for the both of us until she’s ready to let hers shine.
Her gaze flicks down to my straining cock before jumping back to the water, but mine doesn’t stray from her face. This moment is for her, not for me to ogle, although it’s mighty hard to resist. She’s stunning, her silky bare skin like a siren song drawing me in.
I keep my eyes fixed on hers, though. She heaves a dramatic sigh and I chuckle, then she nods once.
“Fine,” she says, taking a step closer to me. “Count us down, then.”
Lor braces herself in a lunge position, and my heart jumps in my chest. She’s about to be so mad. It’s gonna be great.
“Ten… nine—”
“What the hell,” Lor interrupts.
Her back leg steps forward as she straightens and turns, hands on her hips while she glares at me. “Who the fuck counts down from ten?”
“You didn’t specify. What’s wrong with ten?” I widen my eyes and blink, giving her my most innocent puppy-dog look.
“Oh my god,” she says, rolling her eyes again with a huff and getting back into position. “Whatever, just go.”
“Go!” I yell, my feet pounding the wet sand as I race into the water with a rambunctious cheer.
I dive under as soon as I hit waist-deep, then surface and turn, slicking my hair back and the water out of my eyes. Lor’s scowl has turned magnificent where she stands on the beach still, glaring daggers at me.
“I win!” I holler.
Her chest starts to shake and she purses her lips, then twists them to the side as her eyes crease at the corners. I break out into a little happy dance, shimmying my chest at her as I twist and turn, swaying my hips through the water in an incredibly over-the-top celebration.
Finally, she gives in. She lets out the most glorious rolling laughter, and wades into the water toward me. I whoop with victory, her grin lighting me up inside.
“You cheated,” she says with a crooked smile on her face.
“Did I?”
I reach forward to scoop her into my arms, one behind her back and the other under her knees. Before she can get her hands around my neck, I turn and toss her further into the water. Lor lets out a laughing shriek as she goes under, but then she disappears and doesn’t come back up.
My smile falters and my heart pounds in my chest as rush toward where she went in.
I didn’t throw her far, I’m not a bodybuilder or anything, so she should be…
right here… Where is she? Flames jump to my fingers and distort my vision, creating rippling reflections across the surface as I attempt to search the water for her.
I plunge my hands below the water, which would normally put the flames out, but I guess my demon is so panicked that the flames keep coming.
Fire flickers below the rippling water as I spread my arms out and spin around, searching.
“Lor?” I call, my voice frantic. “Lor!”
I yelp and leap straight up when something bites my ass cheek under the water. Then Lor pops up behind me. She’s cackling before her mouth has even breached the surface, throwing her head back as she laughs. Water streams from her silver hair, and her wet skin shimmers in the light of the moon.
My breath hitches in my throat. She’s so gorgeous it’s dangerous, and when she laughs… There’s no better sound in the world. I think I might die without it.
Her laughter trails off as she meets my heated stare.
“Ro?” she says, her voice a soft rasp.
“Lor,” I reply just as quiet, drawing out the end of her name.
Her nipples harden, and she shivers. I’m not sure if it’s from cold or want, but I sweep her up against my chest either way.
Her legs circle my waist, and her arms loop around my neck, one hand trailing into my hair as she draws me closer.
I palm her ass, then slide one hand up her back to press her into me.
Her nipples scrape across my chest, and she shudders at the contact.
Her eyes dip down to my lips as she licks hers, then parts them.
Our mouths are a scant few inches apart, but it feels like miles as I wait for her to close the distance. I won’t push her. Not tonight, anyway.
Lor releases a shaky breath, and then her eyes gently close as she leans forward and presses her lips to mine in a sweet, soft kiss.
My arms tighten around her, and she arches into me, my warmth seeping into her chilled skin.
I squeeze her ass, and she tightens her legs, her kiss turning harder, more demanding.
She licks the seam of my mouth, then twirls her tongue around my lip ring.
I can’t hold in the groan of desire, and she smiles against my lips in response.
Then her tongue is plunging into my mouth, hot and wet and demanding all of my attention.
I’m dizzy with desire for her. Physically, yes, but emotionally too.
No one has ever affected me this way, and I don’t care that I’m gone for her already.
I just hope I’m good enough, that I can be what she needs.
I break our kiss to lick the fresh water off her jaw. Lor tilts her head, giving me more access, and I grin, knowing I’m about to push her buttons again.
“That’s my good girl,” I murmur into her neck.
As expected, she stiffens in my arms, but I also feel her nipples get impossibly harder as her thighs clench around me. I smirk and continue moving my lips in a lazy path to that soft spot beneath her ear.
“I’m not…” Lor rasps, panting. “Don’t… call me that.”
I simply ‘hmm’ into her skin as I kiss, suck, and lick my way down the column of her throat to the hollow between her collarbones.
I lick up the droplets of water pooled there, her skin cool against my tongue.
She’s already relaxed against me again, settling all her weight into my palm cupped under her ass, buoyed by the waist-deep water.
“Alright,” I say, bending lower as I lean slightly away from her. “My naughty girl, then.”
Before she can deny it this time, I suck her nipple into my mouth and pinch it between my teeth, then tug gently.
She gasps and arches into me, shoving her tit further into my mouth when I release her nipple.
I groan at the feeling of her soft breasts against my mouth as I switch to the other one, giving it the same attention.
“Ro,” Lor chokes out.
“What do you need, Starfire?” I say between sucking marks into the pale skin above her breast.
“You… Your…”
I pull back, palming her breast and arching a brow.
“My?” I tease.
She attempts a scowl, but it’s not even half as fearsome as she normally manages. Lor reaches around her legs to fist my cock beneath her, and I jump, not expecting it, but then she doesn’t move. She holds it, squeezing, and glares straight into my eyes.
I grin, loving her ferocity. “Yes, Starfire? You want to come?”
“You know I do.”
“All you have to do is ask,” I say, pressing a sweet kiss to her sharp cheekbone.
Now her scowl turns properly fierce. She grips my dick tighter, but when I moan and thrust into her, she seems to realize her threat is having the opposite effect she wants it to.
She shifts her grip to my balls instead, but that won’t get her what she wants either.
There’s nothing she can do that will come close to my cock cage, so she can go ahead and do her worst.
I dip my head to lave my tongue over her stiff nipples again, switching between them and nipping every so often until she’s writhing against me.
Lor grinds her hips into me, pressing her hot pussy into my pelvis.
She’s so slippery with desire I can feel it, even though our waists are still submerged in the water.
She’s panting, breasts heaving and eyes half-lidded when I pull back.
“Ask, Lor,” I murmur into her neck, then take her earlobe between my teeth.
Her needy whimper almost makes me give in, but then she caves.
“Please, Ro,” she pants. “Make me come.”
I figure that’s close enough; we can work more on her begging later. “As you wish,” I whisper into her ear.
I adjust my grip, shifting her so I can fit one hand down between us. As much as I’d like to fuck her, that’s pretty much asking for a UTI for each of us, so I’ll stick to fingers this time. I don’t expect or want anything other than to make her feel good, anyway.
My palm settles over her pussy, hot against my skin as I press the heel of my hand into her clit. Her forehead drops to my shoulder, and I shudder at the idea of her wanting to watch as I pleasure her. I drag my fingers over her slit, then slip one inside to stroke up into her.
“More,” she says, and I grin.
“Greedy girl,” I murmur, but I don’t know if she hears me this time.
I plunge my middle and ring fingers inside her, curling them toward me as I press my outer two into her folds.
Lor’s breathing is shallow, sending goosebumps across my chest with every quick exhale.
The heel of my hand is still pressed up hard against her clit, and she starts rocking her hips.
I swipe my fingers side to side, then curl and uncurl them, pressing harder and softer until I find what she likes.
“There,” she gasps. “Right there. Don’t stop.”
She throws her head back, body shuddering as I hit that spot over and over.
My eyes trail down her pearly skin, taking in every freckle and baby hair and drop of water covering her.
Lor arches her back, and I have an out-of-body moment where I’m looking down at us together and marveling at how incredible it is that I have this woman in my arms. That she would trust me enough to share her story, to give her this pleasure, to be so vulnerable with me… A demon.
I jolt back into my own skin when her fingers curl into my biceps and her body tenses.
“Pinch your nipples,” I say, my voice hoarse. “Play with your tits.”
Lor’s hands fly to her breasts. She squeezes and kneads them, then twists her nipples. Her body goes rigid, tendons standing out on her neck as her pussy starts to tighten around my fingers. My eyes are glued to her face as her mouth drops open, and she lets out a desperate, breathless moan.
“Look at me,” I demand.
Her eyes flutter open to meet mine just as her pussy clenches around my fingers.
Her eyes flare, and her entire body pulses with her orgasm.
I gentle my strokes when her inner walls relax, and she trembles, dropping her head back to my shoulder.
I pull my hand from between her legs and bring my fingers straight to my mouth, licking them clean with a groan.
Lor’s breathy laugh catches me off guard, but I squeeze her tighter to me, relishing the closeness of this moment. Air saws in and out of her lungs as she struggles to catch her breath, and her body sags against me.
Precious, vulnerable, strong.
I’m in awe of her.
She kisses my neck, and my heart leaps at being gifted such a sweet gesture.
I know how much that means coming from my prickly star-chaser.
I hold her close as I start wading through the water to get us back on dry land.
When we reach the packed sand, I gently lower her to her feet, thrilled when she runs her palm down my arm to settle her hand in mine.
I never want to let it go. My demon is all but purring in my chest.
Then I realize the folly of my plan: we have no towels. I grab my t-shirt and shake it out, then turn and start drying Lor with it.
“I have no say in this, do I?” she says, a small smile pulling up one side of her mouth.
“Nope,” I reply, continuing to soak as much water from her skin as I can. “That’s probably the best you’re gonna get.”
As I straighten, Lor squeezes my shoulder where her hand was resting for balance. “Thanks, Ro.”
We’re flying down the highway with me alternating between riding next to Lor and dropping back behind her as we return to Chicago.
My body thrums with the memory of her in my arms, her slick skin against mine, the vision of her pleasure at my hands.
I absently rub at my chest while my eyes remain locked on her.
I’m admiring the strong lines of her body, her straight back and the angles of her arms and legs as I contemplate my next moves.
Things with Lor are looking up, much more than I could have anticipated. Of course, I always hoped she’d share more of herself with me, but I never expected her to be carrying so much generational trauma. Perhaps I should give her my therapist’s information?
I shake my head, that’s probably pushing it. She’d ask if she wanted it, and it’s not my place, but I can’t help wanting the best for her.
And that brings up the topic of whatever mob boss she’s involved with. I have no doubt she’s working for him against her will, otherwise he wouldn’t threaten her so blatantly—and she wouldn’t be absolutely miserable day in and day out.
Now my body thrums for a different reason.
Vengeance lights up my veins, and I take a deep, slow breath to avoid lighting myself on fire while on my bike. But then I realize the flames aren’t hounding me like usual. It feels like they’re banked, but ready and waiting.
Like they know their time is coming.