Chapter 27 River
River
“You’re going to have to keep quiet if you want to do this,” I pant into Cleo’s mouth.
God, I hope she still wants to do this. I think I might die of sheer frustration if she stops us now.
I can’t believe how the day is shaping up.
I know I look good—physically, I mean. I put a lot of hours into training my body to manage the harder parts of my occupation.
Plus, I like how women look at me when I’m naked.
I didn’t think about that when Cleo stepped into the gym, though.
In fact, it was the first time in days I was completely focused on something not related to her.
It felt good to lift weights…an excellent substitute for what I’ve really wanted to do, and that’s Cleo.
Which seems to be what is about to happen right now.
We are taking a huge risk by sleeping with each other on the ship, in broad daylight no less.
If we’re caught, my head is on the chopping block for sure.
But as Cleo answers my statement with a flick of her tongue against my lips and a hard squeeze of my arse, all argument as to why we should absolutely stop vanish into thin air.
In our rush to get to her cabin, I didn’t stop to shower, which is kind of gross because I’d really worked up a sweat. I don’t know how I would explain being in her cabin in my wet gym clothes. Then again, I wasn’t exactly thinking rationally when Cleo propositioned me and told me to follow her.
“I’ll be silent as a mouse,” she eventually answers.
The second we entered her quarters we collided with a flourish of lips and limbs. It’s like we couldn’t get close enough quickly enough.
We still can’t. I want every part of me on her. However, I force myself to slow down. This isn’t a race to the finish line. I’m not here to see how many times I can get her to come.
Cleo chases my lips as I pull back and settle my hands on her hip. “Are you really sure, Cleo?”
Her nostrils flare as she reins in her lust. I need to know this is genuinely what she wants and is ready for.
We only made the agreement a few days ago.
I thought it would be at least a month before Cleo even contemplated sleeping with me again.
I…I really don’t want this to happen if it’s nothing more than her being horny.
Oh my god, who am I?
“I’ve thought about it, trust me,” she says, looking in my eyes. “I said I’d let you know when I’m ready, and I am.”
“But—”
“I know,” she begins. “I thought it would take longer too, but then again, River Dawson, you’ve surprised me every step of the way. I put the no sex condition in place because I didn’t think you’d take it seriously.”
“Yeah, I get it.”
“I was scared you’d never open yourself up to the possibility of something more than—”
“Trying to get you back into bed.”
“Yes,” she nods, “but then we went on our first date, and we had our pause moment.” She smiles, clearly reliving my magnificent ‘boop’ button.
“And I could see you were committed to really trying this. We talked, like really talked, and I loved every second getting to know you. Then last night, and that picnic.”
I grin because I smashed that fucking date out of the park.
“Alright, Ms Cocky.” She laughs. “In fairness you have every right to gloat because it was perfect. You’ve been perfect and honest and open. If anything, it’s me that’s had trouble trusting, even though you’ve shown me time again that you’re not here to hurt me.”
I pull her close and cup her face. “I don’t want to hurt you, Cleo. I want to be with you…and…and no one else. I haven’t thought about another woman since you walked into my life.”
She cocks her lovely red eyebrow, which has a perfectly placed freckle. How did I not notice that?
“Ruby,” she says, with a grin added on for effect.
Rolling my eyes, I huff. “She doesn’t count. That was a massive mistake on my part. The truth is, Cleo, you’ve taken over my brain. It’s a little inconvenient if I’m honest.”
I love the smile she gives me because it brings out her dimples. Fucking hell, this woman is everything I look for in a sexual partner. Add her personality that is the opposite to mine in so many ways and yet we complement each other…I think…fuck, I think she could be…
“I could say the same,” she replies, interrupting my thoughts. “Which is why I know I’m ready for this.”
Right, sex. We’re about to sleep with each other again, and I’d be lying if I didn’t admit I’m feeling suddenly nervous.
Pulling away, Cleo drops her hand to mine and intertwines our fingers. She pulls me the two remaining steps to the bed.
“Are you ready? This isn’t just about me, River. I can’t lie and say I’m not ready to ravish you, but I want you to want it just as much.”
“Jesus, Cleo, I want you, trust me. I’m just…nervous. I want to do this right.”
“What do you mean?”
I feel my face blush and I drop my eyes to the floor because I can’t look at her. “Normally,” I stutter, determined to get it out. “When I’m with a woman, I pull out my metaphorical playbook of moves. Um, like I did with you when we met.”
“I remember your moves, River,” she purrs.
“Right, but…I don’t want to do that this time. I don’t want to sleep with you in a way I’ve done with…others.”
“So don’t,” she breathes against my neck. Her tongue creeps out and brushes the faintest line from my ear to the base of my neck.
Okay, I can do this. I might not want to pull the same shit as I have in the past, but that doesn’t mean I’m a newbie. I know how a woman’s body works. I just need to work out how her body works. What will make her sing to the heavens?
So, I do the one thing I’ve never done before—which, looking back, means I’m a fucking neanderthal. “What do you want, Cleo? Tell me what to do.”
That’s right, I submit to her. Instead of taking over and trying to show her how good I am in bed, I do the most basic thing and think of her needs.
“Will you kiss me…everywhere?”
“My pleasure,” I whisper back. Starting from her lips, I trace her jaw, placing gently open-mouthed kisses on her skin. God, she’s so soft. My eyes focus on the faint freckles dotting her face. “Do you cover up your freckles?” I ask in between touches.
“Um,” she gasps. “Yes.”
“They’re beautiful,” I say.
“T-thank you.”
Travelling down, I take my time inhaling her scent and committing the feel of her skin to my long-term memory. Those thoughts are going to get me through the lonely nights at sea, I know it.
My tongue slips out the second I get to her cleavage. Her top needs to go. “Can I?”
I have to hold back a laugh as she rips the garment off and throws it somewhere before taking my head in her hands and pulling me back to her chest.
Her bra is of the lacy variety, which is totally impractical for life in the Navy. “This is nice,” I comment as I flick the tip of her nipple through the fabric. I swear to God she growls at me.
Without answering, she curls her arms around her back and unclasps the bra, sending it tumbling to the floor.
“Okay then.” I snicker.
“You too,” she moans as I suck in her breast. Delicious. It takes me but a second to haul my sports bra up and over my head, dropping it to the floor where it sits nestled next to Cleo’s. I like the symbolism of it. Maybe now’s not the time to be contemplating what such a sight means to me.
Focus, River!
I’ve lost track of time as I explore her torso with my mouth and hands. Cleo encourages my movements with little nudges, and I find it turns me on.
Down on my knees, I look up and am momentarily stunned at the sight above me.
Cleo’s chest has a flush of red from one shoulder to the other, stopping just above her breasts.
Her chest is moving rapidly as she grows more excited, and her head is back with eyes closed.
Her hair hangs in luscious waves. The red captivates me and, for a second, I contemplate standing back up so I can run my hands through it.
She looks…lost in her pleasure. Is this what Cleo was trying to explain to me when I confronted her about our night together?
It must be, because I didn’t see anything close to this…
complete euphoria that night. That night, she was performing for me.
Just like I’ve been performing for every other woman.
But now? Now she’s not performing. She’s just…feeling. And I’m the one making her feel this way.
Brushing my nose across her stomach, I run my hands up her legs until they’re close to her trouser button.
“Can I?”
“Please,” she sighs, keeping her eyes shut. Her body sways gently as I flick open the button and gently pull the trousers until they’re pooled around her ankles.
Her matching thong should surprise me, but it doesn’t. It just steals every particle of moisture from my mouth.
“Tell me what you want now, Cleo. I’ll do anything you want.”
Slowly, her eyes open and adjust to the sudden rush of light. I watch her pupils dilate and find myself fixated on them.
“I just want you to touch me, River. However you like.”
Nodding, I place my hands on her hips and encourage her to sit down on the bed. It’s not ideal considering it’s a single, but we’ll make do.
“Lean back a little,” I say, watching her watch me. I’ve never held eye contact with a person for so long. Never in a sexual situation, so this is new for me. I should feel awkward, but I love having her eyes on me. I love that she wants to watch me worship her body.
Her legs part as soon as she sits down. My hands trace from her hips to her knees.
Leaning forward, I place the same open-mouthed kisses I lavished on her breasts, over her knees, and up her inner thighs.
I can smell how excited she is, but I’m not quite ready to reach her pussy just yet.
Not when I have all this creamy, freckled skin to touch.
“River,” she breathes.
“Tell me,” I plead.
“Lick me, I’m begging you.”
I do as she asks. I lick her thigh, and then her lips until my face is buried in her slick folds. Taking her thighs, I lift them effortlessly onto my shoulders and feast.
At this point, I don’t mind pulling out a few tricks, because I want her to enjoy every second, and I know how to give head better than most.
The difference, though, is I listen to her body.
Every twitch and gasp is stored until I’ve mapped out every area of her sex, which makes her quiver.
I’m so attuned to her, I’m not even thinking about my performance, which, regrettably, I would have been with any other woman.
All I’m thinking about is her. The taste of her.
The feel of her. The sound of her breathing, her gasps, her moans.
She’s everything. And I’m going to make sure she knows it.
I realise how selfish a lover I was. Even though I thought I made my nightly trysts about the person I was with, I can see it never was.
It was about proving something to myself.
Yes, I’m sure some of the women thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but I’d wager there were plenty who were left less than satisfied.
Just like Cleo, they needed something deeper, something I couldn’t give them.
Never mind, because I know I can give Cleo what she wants if I just ask her.
“Like that,” she pants.
Her hips roll and I match her rhythm. At some point, she must have discarded my cap because I feel her fingers sink into my hair and pull at the roots.
Her breath is coming in short, sharp bursts. I want nothing more than to hear her scream my name, but she can’t. Not entirely convinced she’ll be able to keep herself quiet, I slip a hand up and cover her mouth.