Lila
My face burned with humiliation. After the night we’d had, I was sure he would make a move. I’d flirted with him and danced with him, throwing out all the signals. Did I need to wear a flashing sign that said tear my clothes off, please?
Grumbling to myself, I unzipped the dress and laid it on the bed.
I had no idea how I’d pay for it. The dresses had just appeared, and the doorman had taken the ones I didn’t want before we left.
But there was no returning this one now.
It hadn’t been marked with a price tag, but I wasn’t dumb, and I wasn’t interested in charity.
But that was tomorrow’s problem.
Tonight, I was frustrated.
Sexually frustrated.
Anger coursed through me as I undressed and threw on an old T-shirt, then stomped to the en-suite bathroom.
Why was this so hard?
I cared about him so much, and I wanted more. But I couldn’t get out of my own damn way.
I was tired of playing it safe all the time. Being a good girl.
Worrying about what other people wanted and thought.
Ignoring my gut.
My gut that was, at the moment, telling me to take the leap.
And I swore Willa and Magnolia were perched on my shoulders, like an angel and a devil—only neither was being very angelic—urging me to take what I wanted.
So I washed my face, brushed my teeth, and formulated a plan.
Once I was fresh-faced, I marched out the door and across the living room to Owen’s bedroom. I didn’t stop, afraid that if I did, I’d talk myself out of it. So I pushed the door open without knocking. The moment my feet sank into the plush carpet of his room, I came to an abrupt halt.
He was standing near his bed wearing a pair of boxer briefs and nothing else.
“Lila?” he said, his eyes wide. “You all right?”
I didn’t respond. I was too busy processing the sight of him almost naked in front of me. The broad, strong chest. The thick thighs. The heat that ignited in his eyes as they roved over me.
Overwhelmed, I strode straight for him, and once we were toe to toe, I threw my arms around his shoulders, popped up on my toes, and kissed him.
For a split second, his body went rigid, and I was sure he’d step back. Instead, he clung to me and pulled me flush against his body.
“What are you doing?” he asked into my mouth, his voice low and husky.
I pulled back a fraction. “I can’t lie in the guest room all night thinking about how I want to be in here with you.” I inhaled a steadying breath. “I’m tired of playing it safe. I’m taking what I want.”
He put his hands on my shoulders and pushed me back a bit. “This isn’t a good idea.”
I popped up on my tiptoes again and kissed his jaw while trailing my fingertips down his chest until they landed on the waistband of his boxers.
He was hard against my stomach and swelling with every second we were pressed together.
Knowing I had such a visceral effect on him sent a surge of power through me.
He wanted this too. It was time to stop letting all the bullshit life threw at us stand in our way.
“I don’t care. We’re not in Lovewell, Owen. Tonight, I got to be the best version of myself, and that’s all thanks to you. You inspire me and push me. I’m tired of pretending I’m not wildly attracted to you.”
With a single step back, I pulled my T-shirt over my head and tossed it to the floor. Chin tipped high, I stood before him in nothing but a pair of panties.
“Fuck.” He hissed. “Are you seducing me, Lila?”
Pressing my teeth into my lower lip, I nodded. “Are you going to let me? Or should I beg?”
He threw his head back and groaned. “How are you so perfect?”
I stepped in close, pressing my breasts against his warm, naked chest, and kissed him, long and deep.
“How am I supposed to control myself with you?” he asked against my mouth, skimming his hands up my hips and ribs and settling on my breasts. “How can I hold back?”
“Don’t,” I said, shimmying out of my panties. “Just don’t do it. Control is overrated.”
Blue eyes lit with desire, he brought his fist to his mouth and took me in.
“Don’t hold anything back. What if we’re completely real with one another? No pretense, no artifice, just authenticity.”
With a grunt, he picked me up and carried me to the bed. “I’ve never felt this way with anyone.” He gently guided me to the mattress and hovered over me. “I’m more myself when I’m with you.”
“Same,” I whispered as he lowered himself on top of me, kissing my neck and exploring my naked body. “And if I don’t take this chance, I know I’ll regret it. The connection I feel with you is special, and, just for one night, I’d like to be yours.”
“So that’s what you want? For me to make you mine?”
“Yes, please.” I arched off the bed, moaning. “Make me yours, Owen.”
His hands roamed hungrily over my body as we kissed. His weight pinned me to the bed, his skin pressed to mine driving me wild with lust. This feeling, the need, the want. It was exhilarating.
His stubble scraped deliciously along my neck as he kissed his way down, teasing, torturing.
I wiggled beneath him, angry that he was having all the fun.
My fight was interrupted, though, when he grasped my wrists and pinned them above my head. “If you’re not going to behave,” he growled. “I’ll have to punish you.”
Heat flooded my core. My brain didn’t have the first clue what that might entail, but my throbbing clit did.
“I just want to touch you,” I whispered, wiggling beneath him.
Keeping my arms immobilized with one hand, he used the other to grab my chin so I was looking straight at him.
“Since the moment you first walked into that office building, I’ve been thinking of your naked body under mine. I’ve waited so long for this moment. You’re going to be a good girl and let me play.”
Holy bossy Batman. My body lit up at the demanding tone. There was nothing tentative about his touch. He knew what he was doing and did it well. Unlike the reserved man I’d come to know, bedroom Owen was all confidence, especially as he kissed, licked, and nipped his way down my body.
When he took one nipple into his mouth, biting down, I arched off the bed.
“Oh yes. God, these are perfect. You have no idea how crazy you make me. How badly I’ve craved your body.” He trailed his hand down my stomach, idly stroking my inner thighs.
My eyes rolled back at the sensation. “Please.” I gasped as he scraped his beard over my sensitive nipples. “Touch me.”
“I’ve waited so long for you to say that.”
He pushed my legs open with his knee and teased me with his fingers, making me writhe with anticipation. His fingers were gentle but firm, giving me just enough to drive me wild but not provide any satisfaction.
“Patience,” he growled, nipping at my earlobe. “You’re so damn wet.”
He slid a finger inside me. It wasn’t nearly enough, but I moaned at the friction, relishing the tingles that worked their way through me. But then he pulled away quickly, leaving me bereft.
He brought that finger to his lips and licked it. “Fucking delicious,” he declared with a smirk. “You gonna let me eat your pussy, Lila?”
“Later.” I’d never been into oral. I always felt guilty, like the guy was doing me a favor. I’d rather just get to the main event, especially since I was more than ready. “I want to feel you inside me.”
His eyes widened. “I want you warmed up first.” His hand returned, fingers teasing my clit. “If you won’t let me taste you, at least ride my hand a little.”
Before I could object, he slipped two fingers inside me, and I temporarily lost the ability to speak. Goddamn, he was good with his hands. He used his fingers and the heel of his palm against my clit, making it impossible to argue with him.
“That’s it,” he said, curling his fingers and ratcheting up the tension building inside me. “Oh, I can feel you clenching my fingers. Right there, keep going. Come for me.”
As if my body was desperate to follow his every command, I hurtled toward the edge. I closed my eyes and cried out, pleasure mounting as I gripped the sheets and arched my back.
My mind went blank as the pleasure washed over me.
“Fuck,” he growled, still stroking my clit as I shivered beneath him. “Even more gorgeous than I imagined.”
Panting, shaking, totally wrecked, I opened my eyes and tried to find my bearings.
Owen was sitting back on his knees, stroking his hard cock. The sight alone almost sent me over the edge again.
“God, this view,” he said, his blue eyes ablaze. “You. Lying on my bed, naked and spent. Dream come true.”
I pushed up onto my elbows, the heat pooling inside me going molten, and palmed his cock. When he groaned in response, my heart flipped over itself.
With a hum, I slid my hand down his thick length, loving the feel of him. “What else did you dream about?” I asked, watching his chest rise and fall as he fought to keep control.
“You riding me.” He panted. “Lying back and watching you come on my cock.”
I pushed up to sitting, then pressed a hand against his chest, gently forcing him to lie back, then leaned down to kiss him.
“Condoms?”
He nodded toward the bedside table.
Once I’d pulled one from the box, I straddled him, tore the foil, and carefully rolled the condom down his length.
I positioned myself over him, keeping my focus locked on his face and reveling in the power of this position. His eyes were hooded and his chest was heaving as he watched me just as intently. He wanted this just as badly as I did.
With one hand flat against his chest, I slowly lowered myself onto him. Beneath me, he tensed, gripping my hips and guiding me until I had taken every single inch of him.
Once I was fully seated, I let out a long breath, adjusting to his size. Then I started to rock gently, letting myself warm up.
He groaned, pulling me down for a kiss as I circled my hips, increasing my speed.
My eyes were scrunched shut as I worked his length, pausing to find the perfect angle and fighting not to lose myself in the feeling of being so full.
“Eyes on me,” he growled, snaking his hand up my chest to grip my chin hard.
I obeyed, taking in the hard lines of his face and the desire in his eyes.
“Look at me, Lila. I need to see you when you take my cock.”
His words sent a shock straight to my clit, urging me to arch my back and grind against him. My God, this felt incredible.
Not one to sit back, Owen slid a hand down to my breast, teasing one nipple, then the other.
I worked myself over his length, throwing my head back and letting my body take over.
His hands went to my ass, gripping me hard as I found a rhythm. “That’s it,” he encouraged. “Take what you need.”
The muscles in his neck and shoulders went taut as he tilted his head back. He was close, but he was holding back.
I knew what he wanted, and I wasn’t sure I could get there. Not twice. Even so, this felt so good, and I was beginning to think it may be possible.
“Don’t overthink. Just feel.” He trailed his fingers around my hip and put pressure on my clit.
Instantly, a jolt shot through my body.
“Let go. Just let it all go.”
I rolled my head back as I let the sensations caused by his cock, fingers, and words wash over me.
I increased the pace, feeling all my nerve endings light up as I got closer.
And then I let go.
Of my self-consciousness.
My doubts.
My anxiety about what this all meant.
And I soared, crying out as the wave broke over me, freeing me from all the baggage I’d been carrying.