Chapter 26
26
[Cort]
I know .
Because I’ve never felt anything like this either.
This yearning to please her.
This desire to take care of her.
And it’s not just the sexual side of things, because I like feeding her and massaging her and dancing on the deck beneath the stars with her.
She’s flirty and funny and makes me feel so damn lighthearted.
I hadn’t realized how heavy my heart was in my chest until Vale re-entered my life.
“Let me touch you,” she whispers, reminding us both of my apprehension.
In the times we’ve been together, it’s been more me exploring Vale than the other way around.
Even back at Ford’s camp, where Vale took me in her mouth, I didn’t allow her to touch me with her hands.
She sits upright, holding my eyes with hers.
“Please.” Her plea asks for more.
She wants me to trust her.
Trust she isn’t going to turn on me, isn’t going to hurt me.
Slowly, I nod, falling back on the couch.
Vale scrambles off the cushions and stands in front of me.
She wedges herself between my legs and folds down to her knees.
With her eyes still on mine, she lifts her hands for the snaps on my shirt.
I dressed up for her.
If we can’t go out, I want to look nice while we stay in.
With the pop of the first snap, I flinch.
The sound is almost too loud despite the low volume on the television and the hammering of my heart.
Vale drops her gaze and we both watch her fingers unsnap the next closure on my shirt.
Down she goes, working her way through the snaps until the two sides of my shirt fall apart.
She places her hands on my lower abs, holding them still like she did when I first started massage therapy.
She’s letting me get familiar with her touch.
With her hands on me.
I suck in my abs and Vale’s gaze flicks up to my face.
With hesitant hands, she brushes aside my shirt, exposing more of my belly and chest.
She hisses, the sound more a sizzle of appreciation.
“You are magnificent.”
Dammit, she’s always complimenting me, making my face heat and my heart saw faster.
Cautiously, she runs her hands up my midsection.
Over my abs, beneath my ribs, across my chest. With her eyes still on mine, she lowers her head and presses a soft kiss to my sternum.
My breath hitches.
Vale pulls up, checking on me once more, her eyes speaking volumes while neither of us utters a sound.
I’m afraid I don’t have words; she looks afraid she’ll break me.
And God, I want her to shatter me.
I want her to tear apart the pieces and put me back together.
Make me feel again. Make me whole.
Reaching up for her face, I swipe my thumb over her cheek, then tuck her hair behind her ear.
She’s so good for me.
Too good to me.
“Bee,” I whisper, my throat rough.
Sweetly smiling, she leans forward again and peppers my chest with soft, deliberate kisses, taking her time to cover every inch.
Her tongue swirls around my nipples.
Her fingers comb through the dusting of hair between my pecs.
Eventually, she reaches up for my shoulders and presses at my shirt, forcing me to sit forward and allow the material to fall off my arms. I shrug out of it and lean back again, waiting for this queen on her knees.
However, I’m at her service.
I’ll let her do anything to me.
When her palms skim back down my chest, reversing the pattern she originally pressed, until reaching the waistband of my jeans, she pauses.
“May I?”
I nod, watching her take further control by unbuckling my belt and popping the button on my pants.
In short time, Vale has the sides lowered and me kicking out of the denim.
In only my boxer briefs, I boldly sit on my couch, Vale between my knees, her hands on my thighs, staring at where I’m long and hard, thick and bulging behind thin cotton.
“Let me touch you,” she whispers again, addressing my dick with hunger in her eyes.
I tip up her chin with the side of my hand.
“My eyes are up here.”
Vale lets out a sweet, light laugh.
“But you’re so pretty down there.” With a steady finger, she strokes the length of my dick, over my boxer briefs, and I close my eyes, tipping back my head .
“Cortland.” Her voice trembles, as if her desire is strangling her.
I lower my underwear, revealing myself to her.
Hard and proud, my dick stands at attention, ready to do whatever bidding this woman wants from me.
Please don’t hurt me .
I swallow thickly, fighting back fears I don’t need to have with Vale.
Wrapping her hand around my heavy cock, she squeezes, and I’m lost. Closing my eyes once more, I give in to the sensation.
The sweet tug. The slight pump.
The light tickle of her tongue on my tip.
My eyes fling open, and I stare down at Vale, who is watching me.
Eyes up. Mouth open.
I don’t think I’ve ever wanted anything more than for her to take me.
Not disappointing me, she lowers and draws me into the heat of her mouth, sucking, swirling her tongue, licking up my length.
“Oh Jesus,” I groan.
My eyes falling closed once more before I force them open, not wanting to miss a minute of this woman— my girl —worshipping me.
“Sweetness,” I grunt, stroking over her hair, petting her head while my other hand fists at my side.
Enjoying every lap, every deep suck, and yet struggling not to lose myself, buck my hips, and go wild within Vale’s mouth.
That fucking mouth.
Thankfully, I last a little longer than I did a few weeks ago when Vale had her lips wrapped around me the first time.
She sucked the life out of me in under thirty seconds then.
However, I don’t hold out much longer, and within a few short minutes, I’m warning her.
“Vale. You’re so good, honeybee. I can’t hold on.” I didn’t want to hold out.
I wanted to fucking come down her throat.
“That’s it, sweetness,” I encourage, wrapping some of her hair around my hand and holding it at the back of her head.
Whether to keep me steady or keep her on me, I’m not certain.
I’m lost to the sensation of Vale.
Her care. Her patience.
Her fucking tongue.
“Vale,” I groan, choking on her name as my lower back tightens and my balls pull up, and then I’m jetting off, jolting against her tongue.
Vale swallows and gags a bit, and I feel every fucking movement.
“Baby,” I moan, as my head tips back, and my dick pulses again before Vale slowly pulls up the length and pops off the tip.
I lift my head to look at her.
She swipes the back of her wrist over her mouth before a smug smile graces her lips.
“You little vixen,” I tease.
“Thought I was a little bee?”
I pull up my boxer briefs and then scoop her up, tossing us down to the couch to face each other on our sides.
Brushing back her hair, I watch my fingers trace her face.
“How much longer do you have?”
It’s not like Vale has a curfew, but she does have Hudson, and Stone is watching him for her.
“A little longer,” she says with a sigh.
If I didn’t know better, she sounds as disappointed as I feel.
I don’t want her to leave.
“Let me get something to clean you up.” With a swift kiss to her lips, I hop over her and return with a warm cloth then hand her underwear to her.
“I’ll be right back.” I scoop up my clothes and head into my room, changing into something more comfortable.
Joggers and a Haven Exteriors tee.
Once back on the couch, I tuck behind Vale, keeping us both on our sides and wrap my arms around her.
With my lips on the back of her head, I stare at the television, not really watching the silent game.
Time passes too quickly until Vale has to leave and I’m walking her to my front door.
I hate this part .
“I don’t like you traveling alone in the dark this late at night.” I don’t want her to leave and yet I can’t ask her to stay.
Giving me an understanding smile, she tips up on her toes and kisses me.
Long and sweet, showing me she doesn’t want to go either, but she must.
“Call me,” I say when I pull back and rest my forehead against hers.
“As soon as I get home,” she states for confirmation, softly smiling at my concern.
“No. When you get in your car. Keep the phone on while you drive home.”
“Cort.” she giggles.
“That’s silly. It’s late.”
“We don’t have to talk. I just want to know you’re safe. Play the radio and keep me on speaker.”
Vale smiles wider and tips up once more, wrapping her arms around my neck like she doesn’t want to let go.
We kiss again, seeking extra seconds with every suck of our lips and clash of our tongues, until finally Vale whispers, “I have to go.”
I know .
I know she does, but I hate separating from her.
I hate being her secret.
Yet I have no one to blame but myself.