13. Reath
13
REATH
I n the kitchen, I got busy making hot chocolate. I’d kept the lights on low, just a few lamps filtering gold light into the darkness. I stirred the contents of the pot.
I’d pulled on some black pajama pants, but I’d left my shirt off. I wasn’t sure it was a good idea, because I could see Frankie stealing glances.
I was stealing some of my own. My T-shirt was draped over soft breasts, and left her legs bare. Her dark hair was mussed.
I looked back at the chocolate. I hated that she’d heard my nightmare. I didn’t get them all the time, but often enough. I was used to living alone, so I never talked about them. It was how I preferred it.
After pouring the hot chocolate into two mugs, I then pulled out a bottle of local rye whiskey and splashed some into my mug. I held up the bottle. She nodded. I added a slug to hers and handed it to her.
We walked to the couch, and I was careful not to look at her thighs as she curled up in the corner and sipped her drink.
“Mmm,” she said. “I’m not usually a whiskey drinker.”
“Drinking rye whiskey is a requirement if you live in New Orleans.”
We fell silent as we drank our cocoa.
“You want to talk about the nightmare?” she asked.
“No.” A muscle ticked in my jaw.
I never talked about them. Not even with my brothers. I didn’t want to relive it or dissect it.
My nightmares barely made sense to me. They were always a weird mash of terrible things from my childhood, the military, and the CIA.
All the things I’d left behind.
Frankie didn’t seem put out. “I had nightmares. After my father died. And again, when Jack joined the Army.”
I hated the idea of her being afraid.
“It’s normal,” she said. “It’s the way our brains work to process our emotions. Especially the ones we don’t want to face.” She cocked her head. “It can help to talk to someone.”
“I don’t need a therapist,” I bit out.
“Fine.” She rubbed the side of her mug with her finger. “I’m guessing that’s why you leave the bathroom light on.”
Shit . No one knew that I preferred to sleep with the bathroom light on. Like a scared little kid.
“I used to leave my lamp on for a long time after Dad died.”
“You were a kid.”
“And I’m guessing your nightmares are filled with worse stuff than mine were.”
I looked at the wall. “I’m sorry I woke you.”
“I wasn’t asleep for long. I kept thinking of that asshole who messed up my lab.” She took a big sip of the chocolate. “So, we make a good pair.”
I took a sip as well. I knew I should go back to bed. Alone.
And yet, I still sat there.
“You’re safe, Frankie. I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
“I believe you,” she said softly. “Even if I’m still a little afraid.”
We finished our drinks, and I set my mug on the coffee table.
“It’s easy to just want to forget,” she said. “To block it out. At least for a bit.”
I was the king of compartmentalizing. I took her mug and set it on the coffee table as well.
We stared at each other across the couch. It felt like the air turned electric.
We both moved at the same time and closed the distance between us. The kiss was frantic, and I slid my hands into her hair. Our tongues dueled, and she pressed closer. She tasted like chocolate and sin. I tilted her head back so I could take more.
“Make me forget,” she whispered.
“We’ll both forget.”
“ Yes .”
I deepened the kiss. With her pressed against me, I realized she was naked under the shirt. She wasn’t wearing any panties.
Fuck . My cock was hard, surging in my pajama pants.
She landed on my lap, moving like she couldn’t sit still. Her tongue stroked mine, and I slid a hand up her side and under the shirt. I cupped one soft breast.
“ Oh .” She made a sexy little sound.
“So damn sexy.”
“Touch me,” she pleaded. “And don’t stop.”
I kneaded her breasts, toying with her nipples until they were hard nubs. Her skin was so smooth and soft. The opposite of mine. She pushed into my touch eagerly. There wasn’t a shy bone in her body.
Then I moved my hand lower. I delved between her thighs, and the sounds she made were filled with hunger. I stroked and found a trim strip of hair. I stroked again and found damp folds. She was wet.
“ Yes .” She rubbed against the bulge in my pants.
Need exploded inside me. I slid a finger inside her and she moaned.
Fuck . I couldn’t stop. A distant voice said that I should, but I wasn’t strong enough.
“I need to taste you, Frankie.”
A flush filled her cheeks. I spun her and slid down on the couch so I was lying on my back. She tumbled forward, her hands on my thighs, her sweet ass touching my face.
“ Oh, God ,” she panted.
I flicked the shirt up and bared her curves. “Best view in the world.” I palmed one buttock, and she made a husky sound.
Then I yanked her back, got my mouth on her pussy.
“Oh, God.” Her voice was desperate. “Shit. Reath .”
I licked and shoved my tongue inside her. She was slick and hot and spicy. I gripped her thighs, and she rode my face as I lapped at her.
Yes. I wanted to stay right here and eat Frankie until she came on my face. I loved every sound she made. She wasn’t afraid to let me know she loved it.
I was so focused on what I was doing that I missed what her hands were doing.
Suddenly, she shoved the waistband of my pajama pants down and freed my cock.
I felt her hot breath on me.
“I knew it would be big and beautiful.” Then she swallowed my cock into her warm mouth.
Fuck .
My hips jerked up, and I drove my cock deep into her throat. She choked, but her fingers dug into my thighs, and she sucked harder.
I found her clit and sucked.
Soon, she lifted her head and moaned. I felt her fingernails dig into my skin.
I smiled against her.
A moment later, she started coming. “Reath!”
I licked her through it, holding her still as her body shook and she cried out my name. Finally, she slumped against me.
Her soft pants filled the room. “That was…”
“Good,” I said.
“Way better than good.” Then, she latched onto my cock again.
“Fuck. Frankie .”
She sucked me deep, her tongue doing something that made me groan.
My best friend’s sister was sucking my cock, taking it deep. With her hand gripped tightly at the base, she found a rhythm, head bobbing up and down. She didn’t let up, taking her time working up and down my cock.
Nothing had ever felt so damn good. I pressed a hand to the small of her back.
“I’m going to come,” I groaned.
She sucked harder.
My release poured out of me. I groaned, my hips thrusting up. She made a choked sound, but swallowed every drop.
Fuck . I dropped back on the leather, my hands on the sweet curves of her ass.
For a few minutes, we both took our time recovering.
As I did, guilt seeped in.
“That shouldn’t have happened,” I rasped.
“Be quiet, Reath.” She spun to look at me. “We both needed that.”
“You’re my best friend’s sister. I promised him I’d look out for you.”
She smiled. “You did. By giving me a stupendous orgasm.” She leaned down and curled up on my chest. “Can you save the guilt for the morning? I’m tired now.”
I slid an arm around her and sighed. “You’re trouble.”
“Probably.” She yawned, then pressed a kiss to my chest.
She snuggled in, and I glanced at the ceiling. There was no way I’d sleep. I never did after a nightmare. And I never did with someone else in my space.
I held her as she drifted off, her breathing slowing and evening out.
I held her, and tried not to let myself think about how much I liked it.