Chapter 29
It’s the electric charge of desire that turns the air in Pearl”s bedroom into a living thing, pulsing and humming between us. It’s so real I could almost touch it. My heart thuds against my ribcage.
The reminder is as real as the deal I closed just this morning. Still, I shove that thought right out of my head. Sex with Pearl is on the table now… and that crowds out all other thoughts.
”River,” she breathes. Her voice is a siren song that always draws me in.
I take a step toward her, closing the space that separates our bodies and our futures. Every fiber of my being is attuned to the magnetism that pulls me to her. The scent of her perfume fills my senses. It”s intoxicating.
She’sintoxicating.
”Hey.” My voice comes out steadier than I feel. I reach up, my hand betraying the slightest shake. I brush a rebellious strand of hair from her forehead. The strand slips through my fingers like silk, but the touch of her skin on my skin is what sends a shockwave through me.
Did I just fuck up?I wonder.
Pearl’s eyes are brown pools of mystery and allure. They scan my face and lock onto mine.
”River?” Her whisper cracks the tension, turning my name into both a question and an answer.
”Yeah, darlin. I’m right here.”
I kiss her hand. My thumb grazes the soft skin below her ear. Her eyelids flutter like she”s fighting the urge to close her eyes and just feel.
”You’re always so in control,” she teases lightly.
I see her, though. Her cheeks are flushed with the same heat I”m burning with.
”Control is overrated,” I admit. The truth, if I’ve ever known what that is.
”Is it now?” Her lips curve into a half-smile that suggests she knows exactly the kind of fire I”m talking about.
”Absolutely.” I let my fingers trail down the side of her face, barely touching. But it”s enough to make her lean ever so slightly into my touch. ”Sometimes, you”ve got to let go to really hold on to something.”
Pearl”s eyes sparkle with a mix of challenge and desire. ”And what are we holding on to, River?”
”Let”s find out.” Heat radiates from Pearl”s body as I edge closer. Her chest rises and falls in a rapid tempo that syncs with the pounding in my own. My hand still lingers near her face from tucking away that rebellious strand of hair, burns with the need to explore further.
Her chest heaves, rising and falling in a rhythm that beckons me. It tempts me beyond reason. There”s no more room for words. There’s no need for them. I crave her with a possessiveness that”s both primal and profound. So I act.
In one fluid motion, I bridge the gap between us. My lips find hers with a fervor that”s been simmering since the moment our paths crossed. The kiss is an explosion, a supernova, a world-ending event that binds my world to hers.
It’s always this way with Pearl. If I’d known that from the beginning, maybe I would have chosen to stay away from her.
But just as likely is the scenario where I found another parcel of land to build my dream resort on. It’s all moot at this point, anyway.
She gasps into the kiss. I seize the opportunity to deepen it, savoring the taste of her. Kissing Pearl is like diving into an ocean where the only thing that exists is the sensation of drowning. I want nothing more than to be submerged forever.
”River...” she pants when we break apart. “I need?—”
”Shh,” I soothe. I press a quick, soft kiss on her lips. ”No more talking.”
We dive back into the kiss. Each movement of our lips is a promise, every shared breath a vow. The kiss escalates. Our tongues are locked in a dance that”s as old as time yet feels brand new with every twist and turn. The rhythm of our desire beats a drum inside my chest, urging me on.
My fingers trail down from the softness of her hair to the delicate slope of her shoulder. The path is marked by her delicate shivers and raised goosebumps at my touch. The contours of her body beckon me. I am promised secrets and pleasures with every whiplash curve.
She moans gently at my touch.
”River...” Her voice is a caress against my name. It stokes the fire that rages within me. I feel like a greedy child. No matter how much of her moans and desire she gives me, I will still take every chance to steal more from her.
”Let me...” I murmur back. My words are cut short by the urgency of her lips reclaiming mine.
I can’t think straight. Has any woman ever wanted me so nakedly as Pearl clearly does right now?
I map her form with my hands, reverent and hungry all at once. There”s an artistry to the way her waist cinches before flaring into hips. Her curves fill my palms with a warmth I can”t get enough of. My touch dips lower. I skim the silk of her dress with my palms. The fabric does little to hide the heat of her skin.
”God, Pearl,” I groan against the sweetness of her mouth. I can feel her body respond to every stroke. Every press of my fingertips results in an open-mouthed moan. She arches into my touch. There is a silent plea that I answer with a firmer grasp.
She begs me to explore her deeper. And I vow that I will. I’ll find every nook and cranny on her body. I’ll memorize her shape. I’ll be able to recall her curves like a map that is seared into my brain forever.
”More,” she whispers. Her breath is hot against my cheek. Flames ignite in places that only she can touch to dowse them.
”Always more,” I promise. “I want to give you everything that I have, Pearl. My pleasure. My pain. My eternity.”
Panting, we break apart. Pearl”s gaze locks onto mine, a wildfire blazing in her eyes.
With one swift move, she reaches for the nightstand and opens the bottom drawer. She produces a small, unassuming box. It’s black with a delicate white satin bow.
”I got us a present.” She wrinkles her nose, excitement shining in her eyes. “Maybe it’s more of a present to me? We’ll see.”
My eyes fix on the box. What could it be? My mind fills with possibilities.
She flicks the lid open. Nestled within is a sleek black vibrator. Its contours reflect the dim glow of her bedroom. I press a small on-off switch on one side, turning it on and off as a test. It buzzes sharply.
Her eyes sparkle with mischief as she cradles it in her palm. She licks her lips. An unspoken challenge hangs in the air between us.
“God damn.” It”s not just the toy itself. It”s the certainty in her movements, the boldness of her choice. “I’m pretty sure that this is actually a gift for me.”
”Only the best for my man,” she replies cheekily. ”Lucky for you, I”m willing to share.”
The hum of the vibrator fills the room. I swear I get turned on more by its sound than Pearl does. I press her back into the pillows.
“I can’t wait to watch how you touch yourself, darlin.”
Her gaze latches on my face as she hikes her dress up around her hips. She raises her knees and takes off her panties, exposing herself. I edge toward the end of the bed. Here I can see everything. Her pussy lips are already dripping with moisture.
I watch, absolutely transfixed, as Pearl lets the device dance across her skin. She flexes her legs and her toes curl. I bite my lip. Her skin is glorious, molten mahogany, and I’m thrilled I can be here in this private moment when she touches herself.
”Enjoying the view?” Her voice is a velvet caress against the tension that crackles between us.
”Immensely,” I admit.
She runs the vibrator along her collarbone. It”s a tease, a preview of what”s yet to come. Damn if it doesn”t make me want to upend every plan I”ve ever made.
Who cares about my business? I would give anything to actually belong right here where I am at this moment.
”River...” she murmurs. “Kiss me.”
I move up to kiss her lips gently. There’s a hitch in her breath as she presses the buzzing tip against her nipple. The soft pink peaks harden instantly. She throws her head back, lost in the wave of pleasure that visibly ripples through her body.
”Fuck, Pearl.” My voice is a rasp. I’m strained with desire that I am rapidly losing interest in controlling. ”You”re absolutely stunning.”
Her eyes meet mine. Hers are heavy-lidded and brimming with heat. I see a reflection of my own hunger in them.
Soon, I chide myself. Be patient.
”Only for you,” she breathes out. Her voice is a promise wrapped in a whisper. It seals the fate of the evening. Her fingers move in slow circles down her chest, tracing a path of ecstasy across her tits.
I know that this woman is both my ecstasy and my undoing.
The vibrator”s hum whispers against Pearl”s silken skin as she drags it lower. Her thighs part and settle ever so slightly. It’s an invitation I”m burning to accept.
I want nothing more than to plunge my cock inside her pussy and ruin this moment. Every instinct I have says that I would make Pearl feel better than some buzzing toy.
But I hold myself back. I am a silent observer to the ritual she lets me watch. It hurts to be respectful. But sometimes a little pain now will equal a lot of pleasure later. It’s the quick addition and subtraction of being a man.
”River,” she purrs. Her voice is laced with a command that has my pulse thrumming in my ears. ”Watch me. Am I as fun to watch as I am in your imagination?”
“You’re even hotter,” I assure her. “I want to see you make yourself wet, darlin.”
I can”t tear my eyes away. Not that there’s anywhere else I would look.
My girl is almost touching her pussy now. When she rubs her clit, I want to be right there to lick up the pool of moisture that leaks down her thighs and ass.
Each pass of the vibrator along her inner thigh kindles a fire that spreads through my veins. She’s incinerating any last vestige of restraint I might have clung to. With every delicate sweep of vibration, her arousal mounts.
Her pussy is fucking juicy. My fingers curl, clinging to the comforter beneath me in an attempt to still them.
”God, yes,” she gasps. My own breath hitches as she finally runs the vibrator between her legs. “Fuck!”
I sit up. My eyes fasten on her wet, ready pussy lips.
My name is a moan on her lips. The sight of her back arching like a bow pulled taut with pleasure makes my fucking cock jump. Her eyes, those deep pools of whiskey, lock with mine.
There”s no mistaking the raw need reflected back at me. There’s hunger there, too. Look at her makes me ravenous.
”Fuck, Pearl.” The words sound rough around the edges. They match the deep well of desire churning within me. ”You”re breathtaking, darlin. Touch yourself again.”
”You make me feel so good,” she whispers. “You make me feel this good, River. This wet. This ready. You make me want you to stretch out my pussy with your thick cock.”
”Fuck, Pearl,” I grit out. “I love when you tell me how good you feel.”
Pearl”s gasps fill the air. Her pupils dilate slightly. Her hips rock in jerky movements.
”River,” she breathes out.
I move in between her thighs, propelled by the urgency in her voice.
”Show me what you want, Pearl.” My words are barely a whisper. But they carry the weight of my desire. “Tell me how to please you, baby.”
She turns off the vibrator and sets it aside. Then with a confidence that ignites something primal within me, she grabs my hand. She makes me move to the edge of the bed.
”Sit,” she commands.
I obey without hesitation, the CEO in me swiftly replaced by the man who craves her commands. Anything she says right now will happen, no matter how impossible it might be.
Anything for Pearl.
Her fingers wrap around the length of my cock. I suck in a breath and close my eyes for a second. When her touch shapes my cock, firmly and with certainty, and a low growl escapes me. I open my eyes and search for her gaze. She strokes me with a hunger that mirrors my own, her touch both commanding and giving.
I watch, entranced, as she takes what she wants. What we both need. I thought I was going to blow my load when she touched her clit. But now, I’m weak and about to topple over the edge just from the look of hunger on her face.
”Stand up for me, River.” Her voice is a sultry whisper that cuts through the haze of my desire.
I rise to my feet. I’m hovering on the precipice between restraint and surrender. Pearl positions herself just so, sitting on the edge of bed, knees wide.
”Like this?” I ask. I fist my cock and guide myself to the entrance of her hot, wet pussy.
”Exactly like this.” She hisses as I thrust in shallowly.
I groan as I thrust in again, going inch by torturous inch, claiming her with a fierceness that leaves no room for doubt. This is where I belong. Buried in her pussy, at her mercy. I have no other reason for living.
Pearl moves her hips against mine with purpose. I groan. Each shift of her hips sends waves of sensation crashing over me. It”s raw and real. It feels like the kind of passion that will swallow us both whole.
She turns on the vibrator and lies back. ”Use this, sweetheart,” she instructs. She holds it up and I take it from her.
”Where do you want it, darlin?” My voice is strained. The effort of holding back is evident in every syllable.
”Everywhere,” she hisses. I oblige, pressing the device against her nipples first. As I watch, her head tilts back in ecstasy.
”River...” Her voice is a siren call. It draws me deeper into the promise pleasure.
”Tell me what you need,” I urge. I trail the vibrator down, seeking out the epicenter of her pleasure. “Tell me what feels good, Pearl.”
I lift her pussy lips and swirl the vibrator over her engorged clit. She stiffens, crying out.
”Right there,” she groans. I focus my attention on her clit. The vibrations mingle with the rhythm of our bodies clashing together.
Her pussy grows tighter, her muscles locking. I thrust in and out and concentrate the vibrator in the same spot. “Give me everything, darlin. Give me your words.”
”Fuck, yes,” she hisses. I feel her tighten around me, a testament to the force of her pleasure. ”More, River. Give me more.”
”Anything for you,” I swear.
The world becomes nothing but the cadence of our bodies. Our relentless tempo has us both spiraling into delirium. I”m thrusting my cock with a ferocity that”s borderline primal. Every movement is engineered to stoke the flames licking at Pearl”s core.
”More,” she breathes out. Her nails are digging crescent moons into my back as if she”s holding on for dear life. And maybe she is holding on. This moment where pleasure obliterates all else.
”Fuck, River...” Her voice shatters against the onslaught of sensations. Her pussy spasms. But I don’t slow down. And she just keeps urging me onward.
”Don”t stop, don”t you dare stop.” There”s a command in her plea that drives me wilder.
So I don”t stop. I wouldn’t if I knew how to stop.
I”m a machine in human form now. I’m calibrated to her desires. Each movement of mine is designed to elicit that sweet sound of surrender from her lips. Her breath catches. She comes undone beneath me.
Once, twice… I lose count of the litany of climaxes that leave her breathless and quivering. I come so hard that I lose consciousness for a moment. All that exists is pleasure.
I’m being carried away by a river of gratification, into an ocean of carnal satisfaction. Only Pearl’s sweet voice can bring me back.
”River...” It’s a caress that somehow steadies the torrent within me. I cling to her, making a shelter for her out of my arms.
”Shh, I”ve got you.” I ride it out, letting it crash over me, through me. It is a few more moments until every last shudder wrings itself from my body.
Spent, we collapse into a tangle of limbs, too exhausted to do anything more than breathe. I pull her close. Our sweat-slicked skin sticks in the most intimate of embraces and the heat of the night doesn’t do anything to hinder the situation.
My cock remains nestled inside Pearl. It’s a silent vow of possession and surrender all at once.
”Stay,” she whispers, half-asleep, her fingers tracing idle patterns across my chest.
”Wouldn”t dream of leaving,” I assure her.
Eventually, Pearl gets up and puts on her bathrobe. I mumble discontented sounds and she shushes me.
“I’m just going to get the mail. I’m waiting on a tax refund check. Just relax, I’ll be right back.”
She shoves her feet into her fluffy alien slippers and disappears. I hear the trailer door open. Less than a minute later, I hear her close it softly.
Pearl heads back into the bedroom, taking her bathrobe off while she studies a piece of mail. In the dim light, I watch carefully as she opens a cream-colored envelope.
She makes a strangled sound. “It’s a wedding invitation from Bishop. That slimy motherfucker.”
I sit up, motioning for her to hand me the invite. Scowling, I read the whole thing quickly. They have picked a Saturday a couple of months from now, and intend for everyone to wear formal black-tie.
“This sucks.” I set the invite on the bed. “It’s a pretty low blow to invite you.”
“Like I would be caught dead at their wedding.” She makes a face. “Ew, no way.”
I can see the tension in her face. Casually reaching out to the invite, I sweep in off the bed. Pearl gives me a funny look. “You know what?” I tell her. “Forget them. Who cares? We’re going to be too busy fucking to give two shits.”
She snorts. “How eloquent.”
“It’s the truth, darlin’.”
There is a moment of silence that stretches between us, and hangs like a spider’s gossamer web. Then she purses her lips, picking at the duvet cover. “Do you think we’ll still be… together… in two months?”
When she looks up, I can tell from the look on her face that I need to tread carefully. I wonder if she has any idea
“I hope so.” I shrug. “I can’t see the future. But if I have any say in the matter, we will.”
If I have thing my way, we will be together indefinitely. Not really forever. Just… longer. I need more time with her, pregnant or not. I think my feelings for Pearl have grown into something stronger than just a fake fiancé fling.
Her face is disappointed though, as if I’ve said the wrong thing. I don’t know exactly how to fix it. So I draw her closer, tip her head back, and kiss her.