Chapter Ten
Cleo slid her finger over her bottom lip, blending her lip gloss.
She usually didn’t wear much makeup when she worked at the motel.
Or ever, for that matter. There’d never been a good reason.
This afternoon, though, she found herself spending more time picking out an outfit, primping her hair, and adding some extra touches to her makeup routine.
She made her way down the hallway and the stairs.
She stopped at the bottom, peering down the hall to her right.
There were a few rooms that served the club, but at the very end were three bedrooms. Cross, Gent, and Wraith’s.
The house was still quiet, and no one was milling around.
She peeked inside the main bar area. Empty.
Cleo usually made herself a quick lunch and headed to work.
It had been the same routine since she started.
She glanced back at the hall leading to Wraith’s room.
I’ll just say hi. That wasn’t weird, but it wasn’t something she’d done before. Is it weird?
So much had changed yet kind of stayed exactly the same.
One kiss didn’t mean much. Right? She was sure Wraith had kissed hundreds of women.
That thought alone had her slowing her steps as she walked toward his bedroom.
Regret was setting in quickly. She had no business knocking on his door.
It was just a kiss. It probably didn’t mean half as much to him as it meant to her.
She stopped at the door, clasping her hands and twisting her fingers.
It was the only thing keeping her from knocking.
This was a mistake. She was being too forward. Right? Heat spread over her cheeks with the realization most women her age didn’t struggle with these dilemmas. But I’m not like everyone else. Sharing a kiss didn’t constitute any type of relationship or commitment. It was just a kiss.
Cleo rocked back on her heels. I should leave. Yes, she definitely should walk away. Cleo blew out a heavy breath as an ease filtered through her chest. It was the right decision. She was about to turn when an arm stretched over her shoulder and knocked on Wraith’s door.
What the….
She spun around watching Gent walk down the hall, smiling over his shoulder. “How’s he supposed to answer the door if he doesn’t know you’re standing there, darlin’?” He winked. “You’re welcome.”
You asshole!
Cleo balled her fists and was about to rush down the hall when the door swung open. Wraith stood in the doorway, dressed only in a towel with beads of water scattered on his chest.
Oh shit.
“What’s wrong?”
She forced a smile and shook her head. She was beyond capable of forming complete sentences.
It was better to stick with nonverbal responses.
Cleo tried to keep her eyes on his face, but his chest was too distracting.
It wasn’t the first time she’d seen him shirtless.
He’d done it plenty of times for the fights in the cages, but she’d never gotten an up close view.
“Cleo.” He growled and her gaze shot up to meet his stare.
“I’m sorry to bother you…”
“You’re not.”
“Okay.” She laughed nervously. “Um…”
Before she could finish her thought, he wrapped his hand over her wrist, pulled her inside his bedroom, and slammed the door shut. She’d been in his room to clean but never when he was present. It felt different.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
He cocked his brow. “Then why are you knocking on my door?”
Technically that was Gent. But she wasn’t going to share that tidbit of information.
“I was just getting ready to leave for work, and I thought I’d…” She cleared her throat. “Stop by and say hi. So, hi!”
His gaze narrowed and dropped down her body, inspecting. “Going dressed like that?”
She nervously shifted on her feet. “Well, sometimes I dress up a little for work.”
In a sundress to clean dirty bedrooms? Never.
He pinned her in his stare. “No, you don’t.”
No, I don’t.
Wraith moved closer, grasping her jaw and forcing her to look at him. His eyes fell to her mouth.
“You also don’t wear that shit either.”
She was being completely exposed. She turned her head, but his grip tightened.
He reached past her, grabbing a tissue from the dresser and handing it to her. “Take it off.”
She wiped her lips, licking them to make sure it was completely off, then tossed the tissue in the garbage can near his dresser.
So much for trying to look pretty for him. Obviously, Wraith wasn’t impressed in the slightest.
“It didn’t look good?” she whispered.
His gaze softened, and he inched closer. “I don’t like the way that shit tastes.”
How it tastes?
Before she could wrap her head around the comment, Wraith had her pinned against the wall and kissed her.
She fumbled slightly, completely caught off guard.
It wasn’t their first kiss, but it was aggressively initiated by him.
I like this. Wraith had shown a certain restraint when it came to touching her.
It was as if he was letting his walls down.
When he wrapped his arms around her waist, lifting her up, she slipped her arms over his shoulders, angling her head to deepen the kiss.
The coarse hair of his beard sent a biting tingle around her mouth.
It should’ve been a distraction. Instead, it fueled her desire, and she locked her arms around his neck, wanting more.
He carried her to his bed, dropped her back to the mattress, and the hem of her dress slid up her thighs. She scissored her legs, driving it up an inch more. If he needed a hint of where she was hoping this would lead, Cleo was going to give it to him.
Unfortunately, Wraith seemed to be cautious. His body hovered over hers, but they were barely touching. Without much thought, she spread her legs, wrapping them around his thighs and pulling him over her.
He emitted a feral growl when she swiveled her hips, driving her core against his cock.
He dropped his hand to her neck and slid over her chest, squeezing her breast. On pure instinct, she jutted forward.
Even through two layers of cotton, his fingers teased her nipple and heat raced through her blood.
“Wraith,” she muttered against his lips, but he immediately silenced her, slipping his tongue between her lips. His hips ground against her.
Cleo untangled her arms, caressing his broad shoulders and down his chest. This was a moment she’d fantasized forever.
Touching Wraith always seemed outside the realm of possibility.
Now, look at me. Cleo took full advantage and slid her hands over his stomach, down to the edge of his towel.
She grasped the knot and tugged, but it remained fastened. Is it double knotted?
Before she could try again, Wraith grabbed her wrist, forcing her arm above her head, pressing into the pillow.
His lips brushed against her cheek and down her neck.
She arched her head, giving him better access, and shivered when he licked her throat.
Her nipples immediately beaded and she thrust her hips, feeling the length of his cock nestle against her pussy.
At this point, her dress was wrapped around her waist. There was only a towel and thin panties separating them.
Asking if they were going to do it seemed crass, but she was getting to the point of euphoric need and desire.
Couth was seconds from leaving the room.
Wraith inched back and straightened on his knees.
She watched him grab her thighs, close her legs, and slide his hands up to her ass seconds before he ripped her underwear down her legs, tossing them over his shoulder.
All the while, he kept his darkened stare locked on her.
Her heart pounded in her chest, and moisture pooled between her legs.
It was like starring in her own dirty movie.
Wraith pushed her legs apart and lowered his head.
His mouth skimmed over her pussy, and without control, she jackknifed on the bed, gripping the sheets in her fists.
Oh God.
Her breath shallowed, and her mouth fell open.
She drove her head into the pillow and tightened her grip on the bedding when his tongue circled over her clit.
She’d masturbated hundreds of times, usually to mental images of Wraith.
It had never come close to everything her body was experiencing at this very moment.
He gripped her thighs, digging his short nails into her skin.
The small shift of pleasure to pain had her driving her pussy against his mouth.
His rumbling growl vibrated against her, adding a new element. Do it again, do it again.
Cleo stretched her neck, tingling desire spreading across her body, and her blood rushed through her veins. She wanted to savor the feeling, but her body was too stimulated. She grabbed his shoulders, squeezed tightly, and gasped for a breath seconds before letting out a loud and long echoing moan.
Damn. Her body went from over-stimulated to a pool of Jello, sinking into the mattress. She blinked her eyes, staring up at the dusty ceiling fan while trying to regain control of her breathing. Goosebumps covered her skin when he kissed her inner thigh.
That was fucking amazing. And mind-blowing. And surreal.
And over.
The end of the mattress dipped, and Wraith stood.
She gazed over his body, fighting against a smile.
If the bulge in his towel was any indication?
It wasn’t completely over. He headed to the bathroom, passing the bed.
Cleo pushed up to a seated position and reached out, skimming his hand.
Wraith glanced down at her. His heated stare sent butterflies to her stomach. This was definitely not over.
“Don’t you want me to…”
To what, Cleo? Suck you off? Her face heated as she scrambled to find the right words that didn’t sound so vulgar. Service you? Oh God no, that sounds worse. This is when experience with men would’ve come in handy.
“Go change into jeans. We’ll take a ride.”