Chapter 11
Paige
SHE’D BEEN NERVOUS about a lot of things lately when it came to Leland, but having sex with him now sat at the top of the list. What if he thought she was terrible at it?
Or worse, what if he was terrible at it?
They’d each dated other people over the years, and she had to assume he had just as much experience as she did, so hopefully…
“I feel like you’re overthinking things right now.” Leland shifted around just inside her front door as he kicked off his boots. “I’d really appreciate it if you didn’t do that, because I can’t imagine it’s going to make my job any easier.”
A little laugh escaped. “Are you already making excuses?”
The weight that had been trying to crush her evaporated with Leland finally there. She’d missed him—missed this—so fucking much. And now that she was thinking about it, aggravation bloomed in her gut. “What have you even been doing for the last ten days?”
She had struggled to stay away from him for seven after the kiss at the bar. Knowing he could just skip out on her for even longer chapped her ass a little.
“A good chunk of that time, I was hunting down that ring you still haven’t put on your finger.
” Leland started up the stairs, easily carrying her to the second floor.
“Then I did a few little projects before I called the realtor to come over and look at my house.” He reached the landing and went straight for her bedroom.
“And, Beverly somehow roped me into watching Rosemary and Will a couple times.” His eyes came to her face as he bumped through the doorway, accidentally tapping her knee against the jam.
“You’re timing on all this was total shit, by the way.
I could have absolutely handled your help with that.
Rosemary now expects you to bring your iPad and a dumpster of chicken nuggets every time I watch her. ”
For some reason that made her smile. It reminded her she was already a part of his life. Of his family. “I’ll make it up to her.”
Leland reached the side of her bed and, in a swift and surprising move, tossed her onto the mattress. He stood over her, face shadowy in the darkness of her room. “How about you start by making it up to me?”
Paige angled a brow. “Do you want me to get you some chicken nuggets?”
Leland picked up one of her feet from where it dangled over the side of the bed.
He worked off her rain soaked sneaker, slipping it free before chucking it into her bathroom where it came to rest on the tile floor instead of the carpet beneath his feet.
“You can start by putting my ring on your finger.”
Her eyes zeroed in on the diamond still pinched between her pointer and thumb. She stared at it as Leland removed her other shoe and peeled away both socks, sending them sailing. “It really is so pretty.”
“It is. That’s why I bought it.” He gripped the fabric of her knit joggers, peeling them away from her damp skin. “I know I’ve fucked up a lot lately, and I was hoping pretty jewelry would help convince you to look past all that.”
Carefully, Paige slid the gold band onto her finger. It fit perfectly. “How did you know what size I wear?”
Leland freed her pants and tossed them in with her shoes and socks. “They lined up every woman in the jewelry store and I figured out which one had hands the closest in size to yours.” He paused, taking a second to peel away his coat, adding it to the mounting pile. “That’s the size I bought.”
Paige continued staring at her hand. “You could pick out whose hand was closest to mine?” It was a feat she might not even be able to accomplish. And she spent every moment with her hands.
Leland scoffed. “Of course.” He gripped the hands in question, using the hold to lever her upper half off the mattress. “I could pick you out of a lineup wearing a blindfold, sweetheart.” He lifted his chin. “Arms up.”
She did as she was told, hands—and the brand-new diamond adorning the left one—reaching for the ceiling. Leland tugged her hoodie and the long-sleeved shirt under it off as a single unit, pausing at the top of her head to use the layers of fabric to squeeze the excess moisture out of her hair.
Then, she was sitting in front of Leland—her best friend—in nothing but her panties and bra.
She shivered in anticipation, nipples pricking against the mostly dry fabric covering them as Leland went to work on his own damp clothing, peeling away the layers until he stood in nothing but his underwear.
And then those were gone, leaving her staring at his fully naked form for the first time.
He was silent, nostrils flaring, muscles tense, as he waited. Like he was giving her time to judge him. To decide whether or not she approved.
And fuck if that didn’t just make her love him a little more because it showed how obviously ridiculous the man was. He was utter perfection—in all ways—and the possibility that anyone, especially her, would find something to complain about, was laughable.
Meeting his intense stare, she gave him a quizzical look. “Are you just going to show it to me, or are you going to use it?”
A little of the stiffness in his body abated as he huffed out a laugh. “I was thinking you might actually start to do some work here and finish getting naked, but I guess I’ve got to do everything.”
Her mouth dropped open as she lifted one foot and planted it in the center of his chest, intending to give him a playful shove.
But she was too slow. Leland caught her ankle, lifting it to press his lips against the arch of her foot.
It was an unexpected move that sent heat racing through her insides to pool low in her belly.
After pulling his mouth from her skin, Leland propped her heel on his shoulder. Grabbing the calf of her other leg, he lifted it to his opposite side. Then his warm fingers traced a path up her thighs to hook into the waistband of her panties.
She hadn’t planned for this, so there was no telling what he was going to find under there. But if there was any man in this universe who wouldn’t give a shit, it was Leland. He knew everything about her. The good. The bad. The ugly.
And considering she was in the midst of a very long dry spell, things could be pretty ugly down there.
He dragged her plain cotton panties all the way down, freeing them from one foot before sliding them off the other and letting them drop to the floor.
Hooking his forearms over her legs draped along his chest, he dragged her closer, bringing her ass all the way to the end of the mattress.
For a second, she thought maybe he was getting straight to business, but then Leland dropped to his knees, going to the floor and bringing his face level with her unkempt pussy.
His hands went to the backs of her thighs, pushing them up and open until she was bared before him, her feet braced against the solid muscle of his delts.
He leaned so close she could feel the warmth of his breath when he said, “You have no idea how long I’ve wanted to do this.”
Paige opened her mouth to say something snarky. Bantering with him had eased a little of the butterflies in her belly. But before she could get a single word out, Leland’s mouth descended upon her, and all those butterflies exploded.
All that wanting he’d done really paid off, because the man zeroed in on her clit with laser precision. He was relentless in his pursuit of her orgasm. And, in a shamefully short period of time, the steady flick of his tongue had her thighs shaking.
She was about to topple over the edge, when he lifted his head, breaking contact and stalling out her climax.
Paige shoved up to her elbows, hair stuck to her skin—now from sweat in addition to the rain—as she wildly met his gaze. “Are you kidding me?”
Instead of answering, Leland asked a question of his own. “How many times can you come?”
“I was right there.” She tried to bring her thighs together, fully intending to finish the job he started, but Leland’s hands gripped tighter, keeping them apart.
“How many times can you come, Paige?” He repeated his question, punctuating each word.
She scowled at him. “Like, a day?”
One brow angled. “I’d be interested in hearing that answer later, but right now I’m more concerned with a per encounter type of answer.”
“Oh.” The word rushed out with all the breath in her lungs. “One.”
Leland almost looked disappointed as he stood up.
He wasn’t the only one. She was plenty disappointed too. “Why?”
He adjusted her legs as he rose, making sure her ankles ended up right back at his shoulders.
“Because I was really hoping I’d get to feel you come on my face and my dick, but now I’ve got to pick one.
” The tip of his cock nudged at her entrance.
“And I’ll be damned if I don’t get to feel you come with me the first time. ”
She was panting now, turned on by his words and dizzy with anticipation. “You sound pretty confident you have options.”
“You’re right.” His hips flexed, the solid line of his cock easing into her body. “I am.” Leland didn’t look the least bit worried she wouldn’t be able to get there like this.
And she was going to have to burst his bubble. He felt good—so good—but penetrative sex had never quite been able to scratch her itch.
“Umm.” She lifted her eyes to the ceiling, feeling awkward for the first time since getting naked. “I can’t really finish this way.” Her eyes dipped to Leland so she could gauge his reaction to her admission.
His sinfully sexy lips pulled into a slow smile. “Understood.” One hand slid from where it gripped her thigh to flatten on her lower belly, pushing down the tiniest bit. The next time his body sank into hers, she jumped, toes curling from the way that small amount of pressure changed the sensation.
Then his thumb settled against her clit, and her toes weren’t the only thing acting out. Her back bowed. Her legs shook. Her eyes might have even freaking crossed at the combination. It was like a new level of sex had been unlocked, turning this encounter into a whole new game.
And she was about to accidentally reach the finish line.
“Leland.” She grabbed for him, fingers scrambling to find purchase as an orgasm unlike anything she’d experienced barreled down at her. “I—” The warning she was trying to give him cut off as her body seized, every inch of it clenching tight as bliss broke her brain and took over everything else.
“Fuck.” Leland’s curse came a second before his cock jerked inside her. Heat pulsed from him, and the already slick glide of his thrusts eased even more.
Instead of pulling out when he was done, Leland lifted a knee to the bed.
Using it for leverage, he pushed her back to the middle of the mattress, moving with her as his mouth sealed over hers.
His tongue slid between her lips, teasing against hers as he kissed her the way he did at The Creekery. It was encompassing. Possessing.
Perfect.
By the time he pulled away, she was already thinking maybe she might be ready for a second round soon.
Leland slid off the bed and went to the bathroom, returning with a warm cloth that he used to gently wipe her clean. After tucking her under the covers, he took the washcloth back to the sink, flipping off the bathroom light before heading for the free side of the bed.
His eyes raked over where she lay, like he could see right through the blankets, as his dick twitched and lengthened, looking like it might be ready for another round soon too.
Good. They had lots of time to make up for.
“Oof.” Leland stumbled, his eyes dropping to the floor. “What the?” He bent, picking up the basket she’d abandoned hours ago, determined to forget its existence. “Are these your emotional support socks?”
She wrinkled her nose. “I was already in a bad mood. The last thing I wanted to do was fold socks.”
Leland’s lips quirked. “Fair enough.” He slid onto the mattress next to her, passing over the remote as he settled the basket in front of him.
Which was disappointing.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m going to fold your socks.” Leland dumped out the pile of laundry as he tipped his head at the television. “And when I’m done, I’m going to fuck you while you watch Persuasion for the millionth time.”